Hula sheep!

I had an idea kicking around in my head and decided to put it to paper, and here it is…..my hula sheep!

My husband has family that lives on different islands in Hawaii. They are always sending us Hawaiian themed cards and gifts, so I decided I would start to return the favor!

The little sheep’s body is a nestability and I used four different Papertrey stamp sets for this card. The sheep’s body is made from a nestability, so is the mask for the clouds. I used “My punny valentine” to make the hula skirt (grass), kukui nuts along the skirt (small heart) and then the accompanying “Year round puns” for the sentiment. The present was made from the top tier of the cake from “Piece of cake” and the ribbon was from the ornament in “Take a bough”.

I thought that if I was EVER going to make a silly Papertrey card, then this “Punny Valentine” set was my chance!

Hope you enjoy it!

Stamps: My Punny Valentine, Year round puns, Piece of cake, Take a bough-Papertrey Ink
CS: White-Papertrey    creamy caramel, certainly celery-SU
Ink: palette noir, groovy guava, purely pom, handsome hunter, bashful blue, white craft-SU
Accessories: velvet blossoms, dimensional, white EP, sponge, glue dots

My rusty heart

You could call it an obsession and you might be right.

I was digging around in my drawers and folders of embellishments and came accross this heart I’ve had for years. It is thin tin and very light weight. It was also begging to be made into a pendant. So I stamped it with versamark and embossed it with a rust colored EP. Then adding a chain was the final step!

It’s a substantial piece, about 1 3/4 wide and the same length. It hangs diagonally and is oh so pretty on. I cant fit myself into my lightbox so I’ll let you imagine it for yourself!

Enjoy!

How to make a gal happy…

1) Let her sleep in on a Saturday morning.

2) When checking your email, see one from Nichole about your submission for a guest star stamper on Papertrey about my spiral bouquet jewelry! 

Lets just say that I got a little misty eyed when I read about it! Im a dork, and it doesnt take a lot to make me misty! Congrats to all the other fabulous ladies honored by Nichole. It is amazing to be mentioned in the same post as you!

Spiral bouquet jewelry

I have been hinting and talking about my “special” project involving Papertrey’s latest release “Spiral bouquet” and I finally have something to show for you!

When I saw the images I knew it would make beautiful jewelry. But I wanted to do something different than a plastic or resin. So I made a few pendants with polymer clay.

First I made custom colored blends of clay and then baked the shapes I wanted to use for pendants. Once they were cool I stamped them in versamark and then used colored embossing powder. To protect the images, I used a layer of clear resin to seal the pendants. This will help prevent any of the images from ever scratching or rubbing off.

I love the color combo on the blue and rust! The last pendant uses the border from the “Borders and Corners Monogram Edition” and it just makes me so happy to look at it! These are all sturdy and comfortable yet lightweight! And I will be adding these to my Etsy store soon.

I hope you enjoy them, and if you have any questions about how to make them let me know. If I get enough requests I may do a tutorial for you.

A few gifts and photo ideas

So a couple months ago when Papertrey first unveiled their Holiday sets, they also started to sell some clear frames from Making Memories. Now the plain are sold out but I got the polka dots because I knew I was going to put my girls pictures in there and dots are cute for girls, right? Anyway, we got the girls Christmas pictures and Audrey’s 2 year pictures back this week and I decided to put a few of Audrey into the frame and make little gifties out of them. I mistakenly only bought 4 frames, so that means not a lot of people get this cute gift. So I am making sure that for Ava’s 4 year pictures to buy more than that!

I cut the picture to 1 3/4 squared then placed it on the back. The backs of the frames have a small ammount of adhesive so when you lay your photo on it, it clings just enough to keep it in place. Then I placed some glue dots on the back of the polka dots at all 4 corners and a few in between, then  a 3 1/4 square of almost amethyst on top of it. The dotted frame is AWESOME for hiding the adhesive since the glue dots fit behind the white dots.

And here is what my sweet gal looks like in her cute little frame!

I thought I would break down my experience for you in case you hadnt seen these or were wondering. At $2 a pop, they sure make an easy FAST and cute little gift.

And now something not as fast or cheap, LOL! My dream journal that I made with my bind it all:

This is a Christmas gift for someone who doesnt visit here, so I am safe. But I’m still not saying who it’s for! Anyway, I made 3 of these today, all different. I used the measurements Nichole had on her blog HERE. Only I covered it in my yummy ‘ginger blossom’ DSP instead of stamping and painting it.

I also used my tab punch from SU to punch the glassine bags. I tried using a circle punch and it didnt punch smoothly, but for whatever strange reason the tab punch worked AWESOME! I think it might be the curve of the punch, whatever it worked. And it was less work than the way she suggests. After 30 bags, my punch is still here and working so Im ok with taking a risk.

I adhered swarovski crystals, half back pearls and fire rhinestone brads to the front of the journal to dress it up. Im hoping they will like it! I was pretty proud of it and wouldnt mind getting something like this!

I still have another bag of nuggets to wrap, and a ton of candies to fill into bags and then I am DONE with the out of state presents. And everything will be mailed out sometime this week, hooray! Then I will work on the people who live here…..it never ends. (well on Christmas Eve it will, Im not crafting all night!)

I hope you all had a great weekend!

The DEETS:

Stamps: Spiral bouquet-Papertrey
Ink: ruby red, river rock-SU
CS: ginger blossom DSP- SU white-papertrey
Accessories: half back pearls, swarovski crystals, fire rhinestone brads, bind it all, tab punch, glassine bags, tag corner punch, white ribbon, sponge, dimensionals.

My first cigar box and 1 layer cards

So without saying too much because I have no idea if they read my blog I want to show you what I’ve been up to today. I really dont think “they” read this so I’m pretty safe. But still I will be vague as to who this is for.

I have had a dream for a couple years now to make some wine themed cards. Very simple, one layer cards. And a couple months ago I found a wine set from Crafty Secrets and I was soooooo thrilled! I knew it would be wonderful to make my cards with. So I made 8 cards today, all one layer colored with my copics. Only 4 of them have ribbon and the rest are completely flat. And they are all different, I love that! I’m really happy with how they turned out!

Now, maybe I’m wrong because I’ve been staring at these all day but I LOVE them! Im so happy with how simple, yet elegant they turned out! I used the amazing Papertrey white CS to make these with. I am not over gushing about that CS either, it is fabulous! I couldnt dream of making a 1 layer card with SU cardstock.

And of course those cards need a home so I altered one of the cigar boxes from Papertrey.  I used the “Spiral bouquet” set in graphite brilliance black ink and made 2 sheets of 8.5×11 patterend paper. The black has variations in the coverage and at first I started to worry, but I kinda like it. I think it adds some character. And you know what else adds some character? That left side of the box that shows the top is offset, LOL!!!! I used the acetate sheet that comes with your stamps that seperates them to make a window on the cut out, and floated a monogram. Dont throw that stuff away! It’s all GOLD I tell ya!

Ok, I really like this set, I knew I would. And I LOVE the monogram set as well. I guess I just love Papertrey, and seriously who doesnt?

I also stamped and wrapped 2 HUGE bags of nuggets to send out with the presents! YUM!!! And I made another stationary set. But I cant show that because I know they read my blog.

I still have 2 VERY special projects to do with ’spiral bouquet’ and 3 or 4 more gifts to make tomorrow. But first I think I want to play with my new MFT sets that came today. Hopefully I will have more to show later today, Im so excited to play with my new MFT!

The DEETS:

Stamps: Spiral bouquet, monogram borders and corners, ambassador monogram set-Papertrey     wine lovers-Crafty Secrets
Ink: Graphite brilliance black
CS: white-Papertrey ink
Accessories: copics, 1 3/8 round punch, scallop circle punch, MM black textured tape set, 600 grit sander, assorted ribbon

The final swap countdown!

I finally, finally finished! I signed up for a Papertrey swap in September with the release of the first Holiday sets on SCS. I was to make 15 cards using my “Take a bough” set due on November 1st. Well, in my head I kept thinking November 15……..WRONG! About 2 days ago I see the thread again and read the date and start panicking! Luckily Keeva aka Brownee said as long as they are in her hands by November 5th all is ok. WHEW!

So last night I had about 10 hours of sleep, good sleep too! I felt so refreshed this morning and ready to craft! So I got to work on those swaps and they are now ready to go priority, or overnight to Keeva’s house.

I also got my cuttlebug today! I’m so excited!!! I had no idea that it came with 4 little bonus embossing folders and a shape to cut out. I thought I wouldnt get to play with it until the nestabilities came, but was I wrong! I got to ‘bugging and I’m in love! Even with just those silly little bonus dies, I love it and I’m so glad I bought it! Of course when it came Sean heard me open the door and said “Did you get something?” quickly I said “Mmmmmhmmm!” and ran down to my craft room. Once I showed him what I made and how much cheaper it is then buying the hand punches individually he liked it.

Instructions:

1. Starting with a piece of always artichoke cut and folded to standard size. I then wrapped some satin ribbon around the middle.
2. Next I cut a piece of white CS to 3 3/4 x 4 1/2.
3. Then I cut a piece of soft sky CS to 3 1/2 x 4 1/4 and stamped the branch in chocolate chip.
4. I stamped the leaves in always artichoke.
5. Then I applied liquid applique to the branches and poured glitter on top of it then heat set it for glittery sparkly snow.
6. I stamped the ornament holder and sentiment in pallette black ink.
7. Then I stamped the ornament in really red ink, and the pattern in white craft ink.
8. Next I placed a page pebble over the ornament, and adhered this panel to the white layer.
9. Finally I placed the layers on the cardfront with dimensionals.

Voila! Easy, breezy and simply perfect for the Holidays! This set makes cards really fast but also elegant and pretty. I love it oh, so much!

It was so nice to craft today. Now I need to get ready so we can take the girls, and Martin trick or treating! I will be home in time for all the festivities on SCS tonight though! Hope you are all having a great Halloween!

The DEETS:

Stamps: Take a bough-papertrey
Ink: chocolate chip, always artichoke, white craft-SU pallette noir
CS: always artichoke, soft sky, white-SU
Accessories: liquid applique, glitter, page pebbles, dimensionals, satin ribbon

A slice of cake

It’s Friday and time for another Weekend Sketch from Beate! My mom finally came home from Alaska on business late last night and took a very eager Ava to her house to play this afternoon. My mom left on Sunday and we had to explain that she needed to sleep 5 times before Grandma would be home. Of course she would say “Im tired, I need to sleep” hoping that it would speed up time. So at long last they were reunited! :)  And with Audrey napping I got to play!

Can I just say how much I LOVE this set???? I think you might be able to tell, I’ve been using it a lot lately! Who could have thought that cake would be so much fun or so versatile!? I made a fantastic (If I say so myself) pattern on this card with the scrolling sentiment box. LOVE IT!!!

This is a ‘Z’ fold card and Beate has a tutorial on her blog, so I wont get into the details of cutting. But I’ll share the decoration!

1. I used pretty in pink as the card base and on the left side flap I stamped a pattern with the scrolling sentiment box in pretty in pink ink.
2. Then I cut a piece of papertrey’s white CS to 2.5 x 3 and stamped the cake layers in creamy caramel. Then I inked up the icing with rose red and chocolate chip and stamped accordingly.
3. For the flowers on the cake I stamped in white craft ink then covered it in clear EP and heat set it. The leaves are in almost artichoke.
4. The centers of the flowers on the cake have small pink swarovski crystal set in them with glue dots.
5. On the top right and bottom left I stamped the small flowers again in pretty in pink ink, and leaves in almost artichoke. I dotted the middle of the flowers with pink liquid pearls.
6. And then I stamped the “Wish” in chocolate chip ink on the bottom right corner and mounted it on a piece of chocolate chip CS cut to 2 3/4 x 3 1/4 and set it aside to dry.
7. Using the large flower I stamped a wavy pattern on the right side of the card with pretty in pink ink.
8. I then used my paper piercing tool to make holes and feed rhinestone brads in the center.
9. Next I used my photo corners punch to punch out two sets in chocolate chip and pretty in pink CS and layered them. Then I stamped the small flowers in pretty in pink ink onto the pink layer. I adhered this to the bottom right of the card.
10. Finally I adhered the layered cake image to the card with some snail adhesive.

I just really love this set, it makes things so, so pretty! And hopefully if I have energy after hitting the eliptical machine tonight I can put together my project idea using this set! Lets just say it involves a special little tool that I finally used and realized how awesome it is! (No, not the ever popular nestabilities…..Im waiting for those to be in stock at PTI)

The DEETS:

Stamps: Piece of cake-papertrey
CS- pretty in pink, chocolate chip-SU white- papertrey
Ink: creamy caramel, pretty in pink, always artichoke-SU
Accessories: Paper piercing tool, rhinestone brads, liquid pearls, swarovski crystals, SU markers in rose red and chocolate chip, photo corners punch.

Hello Allison, its been a few days!

Paper cupcake

I made a paper cake, so naturally it was only fitting I made a paper cupcake!

Todays featured stamper on SCS is TruCarMa, she has a fabulous gallery full of fun, bright delightful cards. So picking one was really hard! But I narrowed it down to this one. And here is my take.

I didnt have that set and still wanted to make a cupcake so I used my noggin and came up with one on my own….pretty cool, huh?!

Instructions:

1. I started with a piece of old olive CS cut and folded to standard size.
2. Then I trimmed a piece of DSP (it’s retired from SU and the name is escaping me right now, sorry!) to 4×4 and adhered it to the card.
3. I then cut a piece of papertrey white CS to 3 1/4 x 2 3/4.
4. Next I used a 1 3/8 square punch to punch out tempting turqoise CS and trimmed the sides to create a cupcake base. Then I stamped the word “happy” from papertrey’s ‘Piece of cake’ set in white ink onto it and adhered it to the white CS with dimensionals.
5. Then I punched out positively pink with my scallop circle punch and cut it in half. I added holes to it with my paper piercing needle and placed mini rhinestone brads on it.
6. Using an old olive and so safron marker I colored the candle stamp and stamped it 3 times, then placed the cupcake top above the base again using dimensionals.
7. For the sentiment I inked the “you’re” in old olive and the “sweet” in so safron and stamped it under the cupcake.
8. This was layered onto a piece of positively pink CS cut to 3 1/2 x 3.
9. Then I cut a coordinating piece of DSP to 5 x 2 and wrapped a piece of ribbon around it then adhered it to the cardfront with dimensionals.
10. Finally the layered cupcake image was added to the card base with dimensionals.

I just think this is a fun happy card and a great way to recreate a stamp set without using many stamps!

The DEETS:

Stamps: Piece of cake-papertrey
CS: old olive, positively pink, retired SU DSP-SU, papertrey white CS
Ink: white, old olive, so safron-SU
Accessories: dimensionals, mini rhinestone brads, scallop circle punch, 1 3/8 square punch, ribbon from Michaels.

Howdy Allison, I’m keeping you busy today arent I?

Paper cake

It’s Friday and time for another weekend sketch challenge from Beate! And wouldnt you know I was able to make one on Friday!

I decided to use my new Papertrey set, “Piece of cake”. It was so fast, simple and pretty! I love this set and I know it’s images I’ll use for years to come.

I used lime stickles on the flower centers to bring some green into that plum cake. And I was pleased with the DP matching the daisies on the cake and the flowers I used for the background. Good job, I said to myself!

Oh, and a quick resin update! The clear has hardened so I’m really happy and positive that I’ll be able to have those two projects made tomorrow! I had to mention it, sometimes my resin wont set and then it’s sad. And I was especially worried today with all the rain and cold weather, but my lamp trick is working!

Happy creating and I’ll see you tomorrow with my finished resin projects!