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Monday, March 31, 2014

Apothecary Art and Peaceful Petals

The first card has a faux patina background. I've done this before, but this time I really wanted to try to get the lighter look that Michelle Reynolds did on a recent card. I got a little carried away with the sponging, next time I'll leave more white. Look at Michelle's here.


Project Details
Stamps
Apothecary Art
Card Stock & Papers
Marina Mist, Always Artichoke, Brushed Gold, Whisper White
Ink
Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Ultimate Metallic Gold
Accessories
Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools
Labels Framelits, Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folder, Copic Alcohol ink markersMarkers


Project Details
Stamps
Hardwood, Peaceful Petals
Card Stock & Papers
Whisper White, Primrose Petals, Smoky Slate
Ink
Primrose Petals, Smoky Slate
Accessories
Stampin Dimensionals
Tools
Banners Framelits, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Copic markers

Friday, March 28, 2014

Happy Watercolor and Pleasant Poppies

I just LOVE flowers! Don't you? I love this part of the country, because it feels like flower central to me, especially this time of year. I can not get enough of these two stamp sets. they are so versatile.







Project Details
Stamps
Pleasant Poppies
Card Stock & Papers
Real Red
Basic Black
Whisper White
Ink
Black Stazon, Wild Wasabi, Real Red
Accessories
Black Chevron Ribbon
Tools
Blender Pen, Circle Framelit, Window Framelit



Project Details
Stamps
Happy Watercolor, From My Heart
Card Stock & Papers
Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black, Crushed Curry
Ink
Black, Crisp Cantaloupe, Crushed Curry
Accessories
Basic Black Chevron Ribbon
Tools
Chalk Talk Framelits, Scalloped Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder


Happy Watercolor By The Tide

Sounds like I've been painting at the beach huh? Although that does sound heavenly, I've been here at home this week creating away, catching up on housework and grousing about the high pollen count and how it wreaks havoc with my respiratory system. It's the price you pay for living in this area, paradise though it is:)
Oh, good news on the rodent front. Well, good news for me, not for the mouse. He no longer resides in my pretty little SUV. RIP Mickey.

Project Details
Stamps
By The Tide, Gorgeous Grunge
Card Stock & Papers
Midnight Muse, Island Indigo, Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Ink
Old Olive, Night of Navy, Island Indigo, Marina Mist
Accessories
Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Tools
Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Chalk Talk Framelits, ¾” Circle Punch,  Sponge Daubers
 
Colored With Copic Markers

Project Details
Stamps
 Happy Watercolor
Card Stock & Papers
 Whisper White
Ink
  Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories
 Glimmer Brad
Tools
 Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

Colored With Copic Markers

Project Details
Stamps
 Happy Watercolor, Gorgeous Grunge
Card Stock & Papers
 Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White
Ink
 Soft Sky, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories
 Strawberry Slush Ruffled Ribbon
Tools
 Scalloped Tag Topper Punch



Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Who Needs Stienbeck?

Of Mice and Men Woman

Dear Universe,
Please tell all the mice that live on our property that my car is not the place they should be. It is a pristinely clean car. There is no food in there for them, not even crumbs. They couldn't even use dust, because it is vacuumed so often dust never has a chance to light. There is nothing for them to tear up for a nest. The only things in this car are an umbrella and a CD case. Food? There is a whole 20 acres for them to forage on, with plenty of corn in the woods that I'm sure the deer and raccoons wouldn't mind sharing. There's plenty of bird seed in the bird area in front of the house. Indoor space? Yep, we've got that too. There is perfectly nice shed which boasts a warm cozy interior with a couple bags of bird seed and corn inside. If they prefer more upscale living, I'd suggest the shop. It is spacious, with high ceilings, climate control, food and paper towel for nesting. It's a virtual paradise for mice.

My car, dear mice, is not a safe place for you. Two of your brethren have met their demise in my car. You see, call me prejudice, but I simply do not want your kind in my car. Therefore it is up to Mr. Wonderful to dispose of any of you who make their way into my vehicle.  Mr. Wonderful is extremely adept at setting mice traps, and not the humane ones either. These are neck breakers. He doesn't fool around when something upsets his wife. He has one in there now jaws wide open, with mouth-watering peanut butter inside. It's just waiting for some poor unsuspecting mouse to try and steal a bite.

Seriously, why would they want to abide in a mobile home which is a known death trap, when they could lively happily in a shop?



Hardwood, Gotta Love It!

The more I use this stamp, the more I love if! At first I thought of horses and then flowers against a barn wall... And it keeps evolving!


Project Details
Stamps
 Hardwood
Card Stock & Papers
 Very Vanilla, Smoky Slate, Pear Pizzazz, Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo
Ink
 Basic Gray
Accessories
  Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools
 Pansy, Petite Petals,  Boho Blossoms, Itty Bitty Shapes Pack, Bird Builder Punches



Project Details
Stamps
 Hardwood
Card Stock & Papers
  Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry
Ink
 Soft Suede
Accessories
 Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools
Pansy, Boho Blossoms, Itty Bitty Shapes Pack, Bird Builder Punches


This is how I gave the flowers some dimension. This is a pad from the old paper piercing pack. I have the larger mat that we sell now, but this little one is so convenient for things like this. You could use a piece of fun foam as well. For this size flower, I needed a larger surface than an embossing tool, so I used the rounded end of a pen. I placed it in the center of the smaller flowers and twisted a bit, while pushing in. For the larger flower, I did the same thing in the center, and in each of the petals too.
Design from Patti Bennett


Project Details
Stamps
Trust God, Petite Petals, Papillion Potpourri, Hardwood
Card Stock & Papers
Crumb Cake: fence
Cajun Craze: flower pot 2 x 5/8 angle  sides w/scissors
top rim of pot 2 ½ x 1 ½
Old Olive for leaves
Ink
Soft Suede, Night of Navy, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Elegant Eggplant, Rich Razzleberry, Raspberry Ripple
Accessories
 Sponge Dauber, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin Dimensionals, Glimmer Brad
Tools
 Petite Petals Punch, Bird Builder Punch
 


Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

You know this Tag Topper Punch is the coolest thing!! I was going to use this in Card Ministry, but now I'm thinking that having to untie the bow would be a bit problematic for the Church's use.


Project Details
Stamps
Flowering Flourishes, Trust God
Card Stock & Papers
Pistachio Pudding 8 ½ x 5 ½  card base
Midnight Muse 5 ¼ x 2 ¼ base layer
Venetian Romance 5 x 2 DSP layer
Very Vanilla 1 ½ x 4 ½ stamped layer
Venetian Romance inside background (didn't intend for the left side to have DSP - I had to cover up an ink smudge!)
Ink
Pistachio Pudding, Midnight Muse
Accessories
Midnight Muse Satin Stitched Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Tools
Scalloped Tag Topper Punch


This card design was done by Josee Smuck, a Stampin' Up! Demo from Canada. I loved it sooo much, I just had to copy it. So now, I'm thinking this card shape would be cool with other stamps and colors....

Project Details
Stamps
 Petite Petals, Blooming With Kindness, Gorgeous Grunge
Card Stock & Papers
 Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White
Ink
 Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush
Accessories
 Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, White Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools
 Petite Petals Punch, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch


Friday, March 21, 2014

Envelope Punch Board - Basket

I thought this basket was such a great thing to make for spring and I wanted to do something else with it. I saw this flower basket that Pip Todman, a demo fron the UK, filled with flowers made from the Spiral Flower Die. I just used the basket we made in class. I filled it with green tissue paper and glued the flowers on the paper. Here is a picture of the basket Pip made. Below is my version.


You thought I was done? Nooooo  I made this butterfly chain to hang in my craft room. You punch out five butterflies of each color. Fold all five in half and glue them together back to back. Just before gluing the last side, insert the ribbon in the middle.


Those are two Dahlias hot glued together.
Aren't these the cutest things?
You can order a box of the dalhias here.
Now I want to make one with green ribbon and flowers. I thought about using the Pansy punch, but then one of the ladies in class, said those flowers made with the spiral flower die would be pretty.

Stamp Your Art Out! Envelope Punch Board Basket

We had such fun at class today! The NICEST bunch of ladies to spend a morning with and I just love meeting new people:)  I told them I'd have this tutorial put up today. I thought since I had it in Word that it would be quick and easy to put on my blog. Uh, that would be a big NO!  Ha Ha took me a little while longer than I thought. I had to stop and fix dinner for my husband. Silly man thought he had to eat! lol

This envelope punch board is a pretty cool little tool for only 19.95. Not only can you make envelopes, but boxes and baskets too! You can order one online at my store here. The basket design belongs to Caroline Hallett from the United Kingdom.

Project Details
Stamps
Postage Due
Card Stock & Papers
Crumb Cake:
·     card base 5 ½ x 8 ¼ - score at 4 ¼
·     layer under collage stamp 4 ¼ x 3 ¾
Very Vanilla:
·     postage stamps 1 ¾ x 3
·     collage stamp 4 x 3 ½
·     embossed layer 4 x 5 ¼
Ink
Stamp in Soft Suede, sponge with Crumb Cake
Accessories
Soft Suede Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Tools
Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Postage Stamp Punch, 1" Square Punch,  Sponge Dauber













Envelope Punch Board Easter Basket


1.   Cut a piece of cardstock 8” x 8” and another at 1” x 8 ½” for the handle.
2.   Line up at 2 inches, punch and score as far as you can on the board, rotate and repeat on the three other sides.
3.  Flip the cardstock over, line it up at 2 inches again and punch and score, rotate and repeat on the three other sides.
4.  Place the punched notch on the right side and line up the pointer to the score line and the punched notch on the right side with the score mark on the board. Score only, don’t punch. Rotate and repeat on the three other sides.
  5.  Cut two slits on the top and bottom of the center square as shown in the photo below. Be sure to cut away a sliver of cardstock so that you basket will fold and form neatly. You do this by cutting the slit on each side of the score line.

6.  Fold all the score lines and sharpen the folds with a bone folder.  
 
7.  Cross the triangles over until you get a basket shape. If you look at the bottom, you can see I’ve formed a triangle.





8.  You can just fold the flaps down and crease with your fingers before gluing.

   9.  Glue handle, and the two triangle corners.





Bunny Punch Art



Whisper White Cardstock:
Ornament Punch for the head
(2) Extra Large Oval punch for the ears
(2) Small Oval Punch ¾ " x 15/16" for the cheeks
(2) Small Oval Punch ¾ " x 15/16" for the arms
(2) Large Oval Punch for the feet (cut to square off insides)
(2) Bird Builder Punch wings for the eyes
Owl Punch for the body
Pink Pirouette:
(2) Large Oval Punch for the inner ear
Itty Bitty Punch Pack (use the circle for the nose)
Teardrop Punch for tongue
Basic Black:
Standard hole punch for the iris



  • When positioning the cheeks, put them on a slanting "V" position, like a smile.
  • Cut off the owl’s ears and feet. Cut the other piece in the opposite direction, so your bunny won’t have 2 left feet.
  • Highlight your bunny with black and white gel pens. Your punch art will look more dimensional.
  • Sponge white cheeks and Pink Pirouette inner ears, and nose with Pink Pirouette or Blushing Bride.
  • TIP: Use your ¾ x 15/16 oval to make an egg for your bunny to hold. Use Dazzling Diamonds to glitter the eggs.