Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Friendship is SEW sweet

My friends recently gave me this GORGEOUS sewing machine stamp....I could hardly wait to use it.  Didn't get time to sit down and stamp anything this week till last night though.  I stamped it four times, but have only completed two cards --- very similar with only a few minor changes in the second one.

Supplies used:
  • Sewing machine stamp (PSX -Personal Stamp Exchange)
  • Black embossing powder
  • Black/White carstock
  • DP - Classics K&Company
  • Sizzix, Build a Lilac die
  • White Pearl Iridescent Paint (centers of flowers)
  • Martha Stewart Ribbon Shaped Tags 
  • Staple

Monday, June 28, 2010

Build a Lilac Card - revisited

After I made the hydrangea card I shared on Friday, I decided to have another go at the lilac --- this time inking the edges of each flower.  I am super pleased with the way it turned out -- much better than my 1st attempt at using the Sizzix, Build a Lilac die.
Supplies used:
  • Sizzix, Build a Lilac die
  • White Pearl Iridescent Paint (centers of flowers)
  • Purple ink pad (to ink edges of flowers and stamp butterflies)
  • DP - Classics from K&Company
  • Victorian Butterflies Stamps - Rubber Stampede
  • Purple/Green Cardstock
  • White Photo Corners

Friday, June 25, 2010

Hydrangea Card

Here is a hydrangea card that was a lot of fun to make.  I am very pleased with how it turned out.....it always amazes me the difference inking the edges makes! I have a friend whose green thumb has produced a beautiful yard full of all kinds of plants/flowers/trees.  This card is for her birthday coming up next month.
Supplies used:
  • Sizzix, Build a Lilac die
  • White Pearl Iridescent Paint (centers of flowers)
  • Blue/Green/White carstock
  • Blue Ink Pad (inked edges of each flower)
  • Martha Stewart leaf stamp (I stamped it on gr. cardstock w/black ink and then tore it out and inked the edges with a dk, green ink pad)
  • Small Butterfly punch (the little white butterflies on the flower)
  • Victorian Butterflies Stamp (Rubber Stampede)
  • DP - Classics from K&Company

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Build A Lilac Card

A simple but fun card to make.
Supplies used:
  • White/3shapes of purple/green cardstock
  • Textile Embossing Folder
  • Sizzix, Build a Lilac die
  • White Pearl Iridescent Paint

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Mod Podge Vase

This isn't exactly a paper craft post, but then again it might be.
Quite a few years ago my sister-in-law taught me how to use old catalogs to make pretty vases.  After a move and change of themes for my dining room (primitive), I decided to try my hand at one.
Step 1: Purchase a glass vase at a thrift store
Step 2: Cut out different pictures from a catalog/magazine of your choice (I used the Country Store catalog!)
Step 3: Using spray paint -- paint the inside and rim of your vase in a color that
            matches your theme/images/room you plan to display it in. (My s-i-l always used gold --- her vases
            were very pretty and gold goes with pretty much anything -- as you can see I chose red for mine)
Step 4: Paint the back of your image with Mod Podge and adhere to the vase
Step 5: Continue till you have filled your vase with images in the chosen theme
Step 6: Cover the entire surface with Mod Podge to seal and make waterproof.

Here are two close up shots of the vase --- so you can see how it's all put together.
 Here is a blog that is totally dedicated to Mod Podge crafts --- pretty interesting!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Thank You

Thank you card for a chicken farmer...
Supplies used:
  • clip art from here
  • misc. cardstock
  • two eyelets
  • black embossing powder
  • red bic marker
  • alphabet stamps - K & Company

Monday, June 21, 2010

Last Father's Day Card


I realize Father's Day is over now, but wanted to share my last card --- made for my daughter to give her daddy!  This card was (also) made around the sentiment.........I found this poem on-line by googling something about Father's Day poems/sayings.
Supplies used:
  • Clip art from my print shop program
  • blue/tan/white/black cardstock
  • heart punch
  • square punch (photo corners)

Friday, June 18, 2010

Another Father's Day Card


I made this card around the sentiment (that I found in the newest Paper Crafts magazine).  It's for my husband (in case you can't guess!).
Supplies used:
  • sentiment printed on my computer
  • clip art from here
  • green ink (sponged on bottom 1/2 of card)
  • green/tan/yellow/white cardstock
  • small square punch (photo corners)
  • Fleur de lis punch
  • DP - My Mind's Eye Glitter Book

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Birthday for a Boy

A fun card to make for my nephew who had a birthday earlier this month.
Supplies used:
  • Balloon digital image from here
  • Crayola markers
  • Blue ink and sponge (sky)
  • "Enjoy the Journey" stamp Tim Holtz
  • Black Eyelets
  • MS Scoring Board (two lines under image)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Eagle Card

A masculine eagle card....
Supplies:
  • Clip art from here
  • Fleur de lis punch (EK Success)
  • Black/Red/White cardstock
  • Circle - Scallop Nestabilities

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Apple Shaped School Album

Here are three sets of pages from my Apple Shaped School Album.  You'll notice on the last page that I clipped some of my daughter's math, handwriting, name plates to embellish the page on the right.
I also used an extra page from her handwriting book and had her write her name in cursive on the 1st page.
There are two other pages that include her actual work as background to the pictures -- it makes it a bit more personal I think.
This album was so much fun to create, and I'm very pleased with how it turned out, and especially happy to have recorded these memories from 1st grade before I forgot them!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Apple Shaped School Album

Another mini album.....this time one shaped like an apple and dedicated to preserving the memories of my daughter's 1st grade year.  I'm not sure but that this one was the most fun yet.....but maybe because I love school themed things anyway?!?!
I made my own template by "blowing up" an apple in my print shop program which I printed and traced onto cereal boxes. The rest was easy --- matching up paper and embellishments and adding pictures.
I got a few of my illustrations for a Mary Engelbreit Daily Calendar, used some of my daughters actual work on some pages, and purchased a school themed paper pack at Michael's for the rest.   I found three wooden teacher themed embellishments in my stash and added them to the cover.
It's nearly impossible to give a complete list of supplies as I'm not that detailed on a project this big...sorry!
If you come back tomorrow I'll show you a few of the inside pages.

A few details:
  • There are 9 apple shaped pages making a total of 18 sides to be decorated
  • I bound the album with 2 rings
  • I punched holes in the side off the apple pages and used black eyelets to make the holes a bit more sturdy

Friday, June 11, 2010

CAS Masculine Cards

I first printed this image on white cardstock and attempted to color it......since I didn't like how it looked I decided to print the picture on designed paper and make my cards from that.  I'm fairly pleased with how they turned out --- simple and easy or rather clean and simple (CAS).
Supplies used:
  • Clip art from here
  • white/black cardstock
  • misc. DP (from my scrap bin)
  • Fleur de lis border punch (EK Success)
  • Big Square punch (for making my photo corners)

Thursday, June 10, 2010

White Rose

This is my attempt to make an all white card......as you can see it didn't quite happen -- there is a hint of purple on it too!  I actually started out to make a sympathy card, but got stuck in the middle and didn't like it.  I started over and accomplished the card I posted on Monday, and then came back to this one.  After ripping it apart/trimming part of it off/matting the top layer on purple carstock I finally came up with something I half way liked.  I think it looks something like a wedding card, but I don't have any weddings to go to this year!  Guess it'll go in my card bin for a future use.
Supplies used:
  • White/Purple Cardstock
  • Textile Embossing Folder
  • Scoring Board (after embossing I scored lines)
  • MS Branch punch
  • White fibers
  • MS heart border punch
  • White beads
  • Rose Technique listed here
Here's a close up of that rose in case you're interested.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

I Challenge You - Masculine

I picked this time, and figured with all the graduation and Father's Day cards that needed making...masculine would be a good choice for a challenge.  As I've mentioned before (like everytime I do a masculine card) this style doesn't come easy for me...so here goes.....
 Graduation Card #1 --
Supplies:
  • Clip art from here
  • Fleur de lis border punch (EK Success)
  • Circle/Scallop Nestabilities
  • Red/Black/White Cardstock
  • Square Punch (for making photo corners)
  • Graduation Clear Stamp set (Hampton Art)

 Another graduation card
Supplies used:
  • Clip Art from here
  • Circle/Scallop Nestabilities
  • Fleur de lis border punch (EK Success)
  • Crayola Markers
  • Square punch (photo corners)
  • Graduation Clear Stamp set (Hampton Art)
 An easel  Father's Day card...
Supplies used:
  • Clip art from my Print shop program
  • Printed the sentiment on my computer
  • Blue/tan/White cardstock
  • Seahorse punch
  • Brown Ribbon

 A Slider Father's Day card
Supplies used:
  • Here is a tutorial on how to make a slider card like this
  • ABC Paper Piecing (Hot off the Press) (templates for boat/island/palm tree)
  • Cardstock of various colors
  • Small Tag die (Provo Craft)
  • Blue-green fibers
  • With Love stamp (Studio G)
  • Misc. Ink
 A Penny Slider Father's Day card
Supplies:
  • Car & "Enjoy the journey" stamp (Tim Holtz )
  • Black embossing powder
  • Misc. DP (don't know the name of them - my friend gave me a few sheets from a stack she had)
  • Tan Cardstock
  • 2 pennies
  • Tutorial on how to make a penny slider here 
I made this card a lot like the bulletin board decoration here.  
 Supplies used:
  • Clip art from my print shop program
  • Heart Corner punch
  • Black/White/Blue cardstock
  • Poem printed on my computer
(Oops looks like my friend forgot! Whenever she gets them up they'll be here)

    Tuesday, June 8, 2010

    More Feminine Graduation Cards

    I know I said in this post that I only had one more graduation (masculine) card to make.....but afraid I spoke too soon!  Not only did I receive another graduation announcement that needs a masculine card, BUT my friend ask me to make her two cards for her nieces. SO.......here are two more (feminine) graduation cards for this year.
    They look pretty much the same, just changed a few of the minor details on them.
    You'll notice they have quite  few mini roses on them ----- thanks to my friend Christa for introducing these to me and doing a picture tutorial on how to make them.
    Supplies used:
    • Circle Nestabilities
    • Scallop Nestabilities
    • Paper Piercer (small eyelet look on the scallops)
    • Ribbon
    • Butterfly die/embossing folder (Provo Craft)
    • Textile embossing folder (Provo Craft)
    • Leaf Punch (under those roses)
    • 5 petal flower punch (to make the roses)
    • Square punch (to make the photo corners)
    • Pink/White/Green cardstock
    • DP -Classics by K & Company

    Monday, June 7, 2010

    Sympathy Card

    Detail of that rose

    Here is a sympathy card I made for a friend.  
    Let's see -- I started with a 5 in. square piece of white cardstock and punch around the edges with the Fiskars Tisket Tasket punch.  I then used my MS Scoring Board to score diagonal lines in the center of this square.  Using my MS Daisy Dot punch I made a bunch daisies and glued them on intersecting lines. This piece I matted on a black piece of cardstock and attached more of those daisies all around the outside of it.  The finished square was mounted on a light blue piece of cardstock and four dew drops added to the corners. 
    For the rose I used the same technique as I used here-- once assembled I embellished with blue and white glitter and some blue beads.  Used the MS Branch punch and some fibers under the rose.  I cut a small tag, inked the edges with blue ink and stamped You are Loved (Studio G) on it.  A blue eyelet and some more white fiber finish off my creation.

    Friday, June 4, 2010

    Envelope Album Post #3

    I made my inserts using the accordion fold technique.
    The first panel has my journal-ling on it and each additional panel has a picture.  I used my MS Daisy Dot border punch along one edge when attaching a new color to my insert -- you can see it clearer in the photo below.
    These inserts have journal-ling and picture on both the front and the back -- two are 5 panels long, one is 4 panels long and the other one 3 panels. 
    Hope you've enjoyed viewing this envelope mini album --- so much fun to make!

    Thursday, June 3, 2010

    Envelope Album Post #2


    I made this album about a week with our friends.  When you open the flap to the 1st envelope you see the word "Friends" spelled out down the side.  The pictures in this envelope are "friends" pictures --- ones of my daughter and her two girlfriends, one of my friend Rhoda and I, some of other friends who joined us for a day etc.  For the journal-ling I talked about our friendship with this family and gave the significance of each picture.
    The next envelope's title is "Funny."  This pocket has pictures/journal-ling about the funny things that happened while our friends were here or the funny stuff the kids did.
    This envelope's title reads, "Family Portrait."  We have a "Friends" picture frame that we update with a new family picture of our friends.  This pocket has journal-ling about that and a few different family pictures we took while our friends were here. It also includes one of our family on the back!
    Trying to keep all the titles starting with the letter "F"....I titled this envelope "Faces."  It includes faces that tell a story.   For instance...a picture of my daughter with a somewhat "sad" looking face has journal-ling that tells why her face looks downcast.  She's watching her friends swim but isn't big enough to join them.  She's watching waiting for them to be done and come back to shore to join her!  Each journal post starts with the words, "The face of......."

    Come back tomorrow and see the inserts in these pockets.

    Wednesday, June 2, 2010

    Envelope Mini Album

    A fun little album I made from envelopes.  I used a template to cute four envelopes and bound them together with my ($3) comb binding machine.
    Above is the cover.......here are the next three envelopes
    I used double embossing on all the flowers --- you stamp with Versa Mark, sprinkle embossing powder and heat - while it's still hot - re-sprinkle with a different color and heat --- you get the look above.

    I made this album with pictures from a week earlier this year when some of our best friends were here.  It celebrates friends and the fun time we had together.

    Supplies:
    • Making Memories Clear Stamps - Flowers
    • MS Clear Stamps -Heart and Flowers
    • Black/Silver/Pink/Red Tinsel Embossing Powder
    • Octagon Nestabilities
    • All DP -Zen Garden
    • Comb Binding
    Come back tomorrow and I'll show you inside!

    Tuesday, June 1, 2010

    June Bulletin Board

    Here is the bulletin board decoration for the month of June.  It's Father's Day themed (as you might expect).
    The picture came from a print shop program I have -- I crop it some and added the poem on the side.  I printed two copies of the eagle and cut one out and popped it up from the picture.  Using my Fiskars (Tisket - Tasket) punch I did a frame on blue cardstock.  That piece is mounted on a white piece of cardstock which in turn is matted on a black piece.  All in all very simple this month --- but I like how it turned out.
    BTW - I found this poem on-line by googling Father's Day Poems --- If you want to read it - click the picture and then click again to enlarge it.