Happy day on the farm

I was eyeing the SU set “On the farm” for a couple of years but decided to let it retire thinking I didnt need the farmer, or the barn……all I needed were the animals. Then when they announced the wheel, “farmyard” was retiring then I knew I had to snatch it. Here it is used for yet another Beate’s sketch challenge #13:

Might I add that I really like the “muddiness” of this card, the browns, the mustard and all the sponging. It’s like a happy pig in the mud!

Instructions:

1. Starting with a piece of close to cocoa cut at 5 1/2 x 81/2 and scored at 5 1/2 and 8 1/8. I sponged the edges with close to cocoa ink and then made a criss cross pattern around the edge in chocolate chip. (You could use the stamp from “all in a row” but I dont have it, so I did it by hand)
2. Then I wheeled the farmyard wheel in black on white cs and colored it with blender pens and watercolor wonder crayons. For the sky I used the aquapainter, cover more area and make it more wet and less dense color.
3. Next I cut a 2 x 3 1/2 piece of white paper and stamped the happy sentiment from ‘polka dots and paisley’ set in chocolate chip. I then sponged the edge in more mustard and then again in close to cocoa.
4. I layered the white on top of a 2 1/4 x 3 3/4 piece of real red, then on a piece of 2 1/2 x 4 more mustard and adhered all the layers to the small side of the card with a stampin dimensional.
5. Then punched a hole on either end of the card flap and ran 3 pieces of ribbon through and tied and then trimmed the edges.
6. I cut a piece of more mustard at 5 1/4x 3, then I cut a piece of real red at 5 x 2 3/4 and glued them together.
7. Next I cut my image of the farmyard to approximately where I would want the main animals to be on the card. And then I trimed it down to 4 3/4 x 2 1/2 and glued that to the other layers.
8. Finally I attached the image to the bottom using stampin dimensionals.

And there you have another quick and easy card. I really like using the blender pens for coloring with the watercolor crayons vs. the aqua painters. But more than that, I like using the prismacolor pencils and gamasol, but alas the wheel ink was not waterproof and I didnt want to blend away my lines.

I hope you enjoy this fun little card, and my fantasy of the perfect farm; happy animals that never get eaten!

Ribbony Spring!

This week has been crazy busy for me, I suppose it’s training for later in life when I am shuttling the kids around from here to there. But right now it is only me that Im driving, down to the ProClub in Bellevue, 4 days a week to meet with a personal trainer, dietician and therapist. Im embarking on what I like to call “the Project”.

But with all of that happening, I cant let my crafting slide! While I was at Michaels on Wednesday after my MRI for my hand I looked at their 2 for $3 ribbon and saw the pretty striped ribbon that I used in this card. I knew I would use it and had to grab it, and Im so glad I did! It was the inspiration for Beate’s weekend sketch #13.

Instructions:

1. Starting with a piece of old olive cut 5 1/2x 8 1/2, it was scored at 5 1/2 and 8 1/8.
2. I sponged the edges of the card with old olive ink, then I used the single flower stamp from “Looks like spring” on the right side of the card. On the left side of the flap I stamped the bold harlequin pattern.
3. Using my white signo gel pen I hand stitched around the edges of the entire card.
4. On top of the bold harlequin pattern on the left, I stamped the thin line harlequin stamp in versamark. Then I used heat and stick powder, hit it with the heat gun and then poured crystal diamonds glitter on top heating it again.
5. Using a hole punch I punched three holes just over the flap of the card. Then I cut the striped ribbon at 3 inches and fed it through the holes and tied it. (I ended up with scraps from each piece, but I like to cut more than necessary to be safe)
6. With stazon black ink, I stamped the “giggle” sentiment from “Warm words” on white CS. I cut it out with my oval coluzzle and sponged the edges in cameo coral.
7. Placing the white oval on top of only orange CS I cut out the next largest size oval with the coluzzle. Then I sponged only orange ink around the orange cardstock. I then adhered those two pieces together, punched wholes with my hand punch and then put antique black brads in the holes. I glued the whole thing to the bottom of the right side.
8. Next I took the spring flower bouquet punch and punched out flowers in only orange. Then I stamped with the 3 flower stamp on cameo coral CS with cameo coral classic ink and then stamped those flowers out.
9. I layered the flowers on top of eachother off set, and then punched the middle and put an antique black brad through each one. I used a stampin dimensional to adhere them to the top 2 and bottom left corner.
10. Then I stamped the large flower image in versamark clear on white CS. I used my stampin pastels and a q-tip to color the middle with cameo coral chalk and the edges in only orange chalk. I cut the flower out with my paper snips. Then I took my signo gel pen and highlighted the edges of the flower.
11. I adhered the colored flower to a white flower and then placed it on the cardfront with a stampin dimensional.
12. Finally I took some crystal stickles and highlighted the base flower on the petal tips.

And that’s all there is to this ribbony inspiration! Hope you enjoy the card!

The DEETS:

Stamps: Looks like spring, warm words -SU
Ink: Old olive, cameo coral, only orange-SU versamark clear
CS: Old olive, cameo coral, only orange, white-SU
Tools: 1/16th and 1/8th handheld punches, spring flower bouquet punch-SU, oval coluzzle
Accessories: striped ribbon from Michaels, stampin pastels, stampin dimensionals, heat and stick, dazzling diamonds glitter, crystal stickles, white flower from stash.

Stinkin’ cute

I bought the “stinkin cute” set last year with the intention of making cards for Audrey’s 1 year pictures, but again my broken wrist got in the way. So now after thinking about forever,  it I finally inked it up.

I looked at my designer paper from SU and saw two pieces from the spring line last year that I thought would go perfect with it! I then noticed the new ribbon I bought from Michaels and saw it matching the paper. And then I thought about the cute little white brad looking eyelets that I havent been able to use but now I can because I got my cropadile the other day. All of that put together and it was BEGGING to be made!

Check out the cute little Skunky McSkunkersons

Instructions:

• I started with a piece of close to cocoa that I cut at 5 1/2 inches and folded to the standard size.
• Next I took a piece of the floral DP and cut it 5 x 4 and adhered it to the cocoa. I then used my cropadile to set the white looking brads, but they are really eyelets to the corners.
• Then I stamped the cute skunk in stazon black onto white CS.  I then used my markers in certainly celery and rose red to color the flower and stamp that onto the skunks hand. Using my circle coluzzle I cut it out.
• With rose red ink and a sponge dauber I lightly sponged the edge of the white cardstock and then more heavily just around the edge.
• I took the brown polka dot paper and cut out the next larger circle with the coluzzle and glued the two pieces together.
• Next I cut a 1 1/2 x 5 1/2 piece of vanilla CS and sponged the edges in close to cocoa. I wrapped a piece of pink ribbon around it and then the brown polka dot ribbon on top of the pink. And I attatched the whole thing to the cardfront with stampin dimensionals.
• Finally I used a stampin dimensional at the top of the circle and glue on the bottom to line up the layered skunk with the ribbon piece.

And there you have a cute and simple card! I dont remember the name of the DP, it was from the spring catalogue last year and it matched the “flirty” ribbons perfectly.

Oh, and if you dont have a cropadile yet, then please go get one! Not a sound was made putting on those eyelets. And it was soooo easy and smooth. I used my 40% off coupon at michaels and got the pink one, naturally!

The DEETS:

CS: Close to cocoa, DP, vanilla and white-SU
Stamps: Stinkin’ cute
Ink: Stazon black, rose red, close to cocoa classic pads. Certainly celery, rose red markers.-SU
Accessories: Pink ribbon from the “flirty” line-SU, white brad eyelets, polka dot brown ribbon from Michaels, stampin dimensionals, sponge daubers.

Pretty little box

I was inspired by Rhi’s box (link for her site on the right at ringslikeabell) and the great tip for the $1.49 pencil box at Michaels. So last week I went in and picked one up, although it took me a few days to figure out what to do with it.I ended up getting two pieces of coordinating paper, one with a paisley design and another with a harlequin design. I decided to use the paisley on the outside and the harlequin on the inside. But then I was trying to figure out what to do with the box! And then it came to me……it’s for me!

Sean and I ordered a new laser printer this week for a jewelry design adventure and this box is purrrrfect for some of the accessories. We are adding another desk to our office, one that will have all my jewelry making supplies on it, so my main desk can be all paper crafts! I left the box easy to open since it will be housing items I need to get to easily, I didnt want to fiddle with a closure of any sorts.

I really like how the paisleys turned out with the glitter and gel pen accent, the middle also pleases me with the crystal effects. I never know why I dont use that more often….I really like it! Oh, and notice no glaring shine from the box? I actually bought matte mod podge this time!

Anyway, I havent taken a picture of the inside of the box because it’s a secret. Really, it is. I am waiting until I know that someone receives one of what Im making before I ruin the surprise……in any event, here is the box.

How to:

I started by tracing the top and sides on the back of my paper and then cutting them out. I gave a nice coating of matte mod podge to the box and then put the paper on top and slathered more mod podge on, then let it dry overnight.

Next I sanded the edges of the paper to make it nice and neat.

I then took some sticky strip tape and put it around the edges where I wanted my ribbon, then put my ribbon on the box.

I stamped the paisly design from the Polka dots and paisley set in versamark on old olive paper. Then I poured heat and stick on top and then hit it with the heat gun. After that I used pink glitter on the heat and stick and set it again with the heat gun. Then I cut them out with my paper snips.

I used my white signo gel pen and colored in a part of the paisley. And then used  crystal effects in the middle of the paisleys. I let these dry overnight as well ensuring the crystal effects would be nice and hard.

Then I cut out a piece of white CS 2 x 2 and stamped the paisley image again in pink passion using the stamp off method. Then I stamped the sentiment on top of the paisley in old olive. I glued that to a piece of old olive CS that was 2 1/2 x 2 1/2. Next I put a dot of glue in each corner then covered the glue in pink glitter and tapped the extra off. I adhered that to the box with a stampin dimensional.

I used a small stampin dimensional on the ends of the paisleys to make them even with the ribbon and placed them in the corner.

Finally, I took a framed dragonfly brad and put it in the center of a white flower and then attatched that to the last corner of the box with a stampin dimensional. 

Deets:
$1.49 chipboard pencil box from Michaels
Paper, 59 cents a piece from Michaels (It took one piece for the outside and one for the inside…FYI)
Matte Mod Podge and sponge applicator
Sand paper (600 grit…again)
CS: white and old olive
Ink: versamark clear, old olive, pink passion
Accessories: sticky strip, glue, pink glitter, signo gel pen, crystal effects, stampin dimensional, white flower, framed dragonfly brad, pink ribbon from the “flirty” spring set from SU.

Silly stickles card

Today’s card is quick, and easy. With only one stamp on it! I have so many embellishments that I need to use and that’s where the inspiration for this card came. It also happens to fit into Beate’s sketch #12, which I’m getting one last card in under the wire! 

          I started with a 5 ½ x 8 ½ piece of close to cocoa that I folded in half.

Next I cut a 4 ½ x 4 piece of perfect plum and then sponged the edges with perfect plum ink and a sponge dauber. I adhered that to the close to cocoa base.

I cut a piece of rose red 3 ½ x 3 ½ and attached a piece of almost amethyst double sided paper that was cut to 3×3. I used stampin dimensional’s to place it on top of the card.

Next I cut a square of shimmer white CS and stamped the “hello friend” sentiment, coloring it with my markers on the rubber. Then I sponged almost amethyst around the edge and then roughed it up a bit.

I cut a piece of close to cocoa paper just bigger than the white and then sponged the edges with cocoa ink.

I glued those two pieces together then used silver brads on two of the corners.

I used a stampin dimensional on one side to make it even between the two papers.

I tied a small piece of white ribbon into a knot and adhered it to the top right corner of my DP and rose red.

I then added a glittery butterfly and a bunch of flowers to the card front.

I used a white signo gel pen to add a trail to the butterfly.

And then finally I used crystal stickles to fill in the wording on the “hello” sentiment.

HEY, DID YOU ALL KNOW STICKLES MAKES YOUR INKS RUN????? I didnt……-sniff-sniff!

I took pictures of my card only to realize that the memory card wasnt in it….der, then I had to hunt and find it and by the time I got back to the card with my working camera the stickles had made the ink run…………wa, wa, waaaaa! I didnt realize that would happen, I thought it was a glue with glitter. Crikey~ again, learn from my mistake.

The Deets:

Stamp: Michaels $1 bin
CS: Close to cocoa, rose red, almost amethyst DP and shimmer white -SU
Ink: close to cocoa, rose red, almost amethyst-SU
Accessories: silver brads, white ribbon, flower stickers, butterfly sticker, white signo gel pen, stampin dimensional-mostly SU

Chocolate picture frame

Every time I walk by the $1 frames at Michaels I think about covering them for gifts or just around the house. I finally bought one and decided to give it a go. 

Here was a quick picture frame that I made using the chocolate designer paper from stampin up’s spring catalogue.  Here is a quick step by step, even though Im sure most everyone who reads this has done it.

You will need:

Wooden frame from Michaels $1
Patterened paper
Mod Podge Matte (I thought I grabbed matte, turned out I didnt…..use matte)
Sponge applicator
Embellishments
Sand paper (I used 600 grit)

First take your paper that you are covering the frame with and turn it upside down, place the picture frame also upside down and trace around the outside of the frame and the inside opening. Then cut the paper to size.

Put a generous ammount of mod podge on the frame and spread it around with the sponge applicator.

Place the paper on top of the prepared frame and again coat it with mod podge, smoothing out all the air bubbles. Let dry overnight. Then sand the edges with your sandpaper, rubbing against the sharp edge of the frame the excess will pull easily off.

Choose a coordinating piece of cardstock for the edges. I chose the backside of the paper that I used for the main part of the frame. Again, mod podge first then place your paper, more mod podge and smooth the bubbles. Let it dry over night and sand away the excess again.

I used some chocolate ribbon from the SU spring catalogue from the set “Flirty” for the edges. I taped the back with tacky tape and placed it onto the frame. I then used some cheap $1 ribbon from Michaels and used the tacky tape on it again and placed it over the chocolate.

I had a silver charm that said “dream” so I ran some small white ribbon through the back and placed that at the bottom of the frame. Then I used a large silver brad and “skewered” several white flowers, placed a stampin dimensional on the bottom of it all and placed that in the bottom corner.

You can see in the picture that the mod podge I used has a sheen…..I dont like it. So please make sure you use matte mod podge and you will avoid this happening! Learn from my mistake…but at least it’s an inexpensive mistake!

Resin jewelry step by step: The finished product

Here we are at the end of the resin adventure. I wasnt planning on actually doing anything with either of these pieces but when Ava saw the glittery present, she said “Can you make it a necklace Momma?”……..how could I not.

I glued one of the little “shovels” onto the back of the present resin and I glued the teddy bear to a ring base. When you click on the picture it will take you to Flickr, and I suggest looking at it in a larger size. You are able to see some tiny air bubbles that were trapped under the teddybear image. I am thinking that hitting the first little layer of clear resin with the heat gun before I put the images in there will get rid of it, I’ll try that next time.

And here is a new project that I just dabbled in tonight…..a cute little pumpkin charm. I placed it next to the present resin charm for a size comparison. Anybody know what it is or how I did it? If you have a guess leave a comment. There’s no prize, but Im curious who know’s.

I hope this helped you understand resin a little more. It’s something I really like doing and Im excited to continue working on it and getting better. And as always if you have any questions either leave a comment or get my email on my about me page.

Tomorrow night I should have some pictures of my mod podge project……the second stage is drying in the craft room as I type this!

Resin jewelry step by step: Sanding, buffing and shine!

Tonight we will sand the edges of the resin pieces, buff them and then give them a coat of finishing spray to make them shine!

You will need a piece of 600 grit sandpaper, buffing cloth and the Castin Craft clear gloss sealer. You may notice that I have nail files instead, which you can absolutely use. But they have to be labeled 600 grit and a soft buffing file. I have a cosmetology liscence, so I am able to buy items from beauty supply stores. You will be able to find the sandpaper and buffing cloth at home improvement stores if you are not liscenced.

When you pop the resin pieces out of the mold they will most likely have a little edge on them that needs to be smoothed. Use the sandpaper/file gently to smooth the edges and make the piece even and neat. Then take your buffing cloth/file and buff it as much as possible to give it a nice shine. Continue this on all the pieces.

Next you will want to place your pieces of resin on a piece of wax paper and take them somewhere well ventilated like outside or open a window and turn on a fan. The clear gloss spray is very smelly….be warned. You will want to hold the spray 10-12 inches from your pieces and give several small and light sprays to the pieces. The spray acts like a top clear coat of nail polish, giving it amazing shine, and sealing it. You will want to leave the resin pieces undisturbed so they can dry. Please dont touch them or you will leave an imprint of your finger.

Tomorrow morning we will adhere the jewelry findings to the resin and let it dry, then this project will be complete!

Tags so much

I learned an important lesson today……..dont craft while taking percocet! Or, dont expect much when taking percocet. Of course I learned this while making a card for Beate’s weekend sketch challenge!

I like the “idea” behind this card, but I wish I had done a few things different. I think I would add a layer of color from the wheeled stamp before doing the versamark and glitter. I think that would make it better, but then again Im still hopped up on percocet….what do I know?

Instructions:

• I started with a piece of rose red CS folded to the 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 size. Using a chocolate chip marker I stitch along the edge. And then I used a sponge dauber and rose red ink and shaded the edges.
• I then took a 2 1/2 x 3 piece of polka dots and petals DP, I layered that on top of a 2 3/4 x 3 1/4 piece of old olive CS. I adhered that to the rose red CS.
• Next I cut a 2 1/4 x 2 1/2 piece of barely banana CS. I rubbed it with my embossing buddy. I inked up my jumbo wheel “petals” with a versamark pad and then ran it over the barely banana.
• I put the CS into a powder pal tray and covered it with heat and stick powder, then I melted it with the heat gun. Then I poured dazzling diamonds over the CS and heated it again with the heat gun.
• After that I cut a piece of 2 1/2 x 2 3/4 chocolate chip and layered the barely banana on top of it. I used stampin dimensionals to adhere it to the card.
• I used my SU markers in rose red, old olive, so saffron, taken with teal and chocolate chip to color the “thanks so much” stamp from the “tags so much” set. I stamped that onto a pre-made tag and then sponged the edges in rose red.
• I cut the flap off of a small vellum envelope and used stampin dimensionals on one side of the envelope to make it even with the raised portion of the card. I also used a little glue stick to keep it in place. And then I placed the tag into the envelope.
• I used a white flower with a silver brad and then decorated the petals and brad with crystal stickles. I put a stampin dimensional on the back and put it on the card.
• I then picked out an olive paper flower and a yellow paper flower and used the crystal stickles and stampin dimensional to put it on the card.

The Deets:

Stamps: Tags so much, jumbo petals wheel-SU
Ink: Versamark pad,  Rose red classic stamp pad, rose red, chocolate chip, taken with teal, old olive and so safron markers-SU
CS: rose red, old olive, barely banana, chocolate chip and polka dots and petals DP-SU
Accessories: stampin dimensionals, heat and stick powder, dazzling diamonds-SU, paper flowers- K&Co, crystal stickles, random white flower, silver brad, vellum envelope, tag and sponge dauber.

Resin jewelry step by step: Jewelry mounting supplies

Tonight the resin is set, but that doesnt mean it’s ready. I like to give it an extra 24 hours after it has set to become very hard. You could pop it out of it’s mold tonight but it will still have a teensy bit of give to it, you dont want that. You want the resin to feel like a hard piece of plastic.But I thought tonight I would post a picture of some of the jewelry supplies I will be using with the resin pieces and where you can find them.

You could find these two items at a jewelry/bead store I suppose but I have found like most boutique items……they are extremely overpriced. I suggest looking on ebay or on etsy, which caters to handmade items and is a great community for supplies at great prices.

The ring blank is an adjustable silver ring, I believe I bought this on etsy. They are very inexpensive and I would like to say I purchased 5 for a couple dollars. I would start looking on etsy first and then if you arent satisfied try ebay. I have also looked online through google but the searching is long and doesnt always get you the best deal or quality. You will use a glue for jewelry (I found it at Michaels) to glue the resin piece to the ring blank.

The pieces on the right are for making a necklace, they remind me of a tiny shovel. You will glue it onto the back of the resin so you can put it on a chain or on a cord. I purchased 50 of these on ebay for $5.00.

When searching on etsy or ebay you will start by looking at the supplies section and then the more individualized pieces, necklaces, rings etc. There are a lot of good deals to be had and many different metals and tones. I prefer to work in silver, it is my personal taste.

You will also need a piece of 600 grit sandpaper or nail file (from a beauty supply store, if you have a liscence) to smooth the edges. And a glassy finishing spray that is made by castin’ craft. It seals the resin and adds a wonderful glass shine to the piece.

Tomorrow we will smooth the resin pieces and spray them with the shine and then mount them on the jewelry hardware.