Merry Christmas

I'm going to wish you all a Merry Christmas one week early. I have lots of things left to do to get ready for our handmade Christmas. I will be back in the swing again after Christmas. But for the time being I leave you with this cute little Elf.

I made this Card using the Evensong paper pack. I stamped the elf and colored him in using my markers. I made a swash of delta ceramacoat paint to highlight the sentiment. Then I added some red sparkles to accent it. The edges of the image mat are roughed up using the Edge Distresser.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Polished Stone Resist Tutorial

I decided to play around with this technique the other day, as it's quite fun and I hadn't done it in a while. Here is a step by step guide with pictures for you to follow should you *dare* to try it.

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Tools You will need:

• Glossy Cardstock
• 2 re-inkers that compliment each other (I used Twilight and Crystal Blue)
• 1 metallic re-inker ( I used Platinum Planet)
• Versamark
• Stamps
• Isopropyl alcohol (I used 99% variety)
• Gloves if you don't like alcohol getting on your hands
• Cotton Balls

First you get a sheet of glossy paper and stamp it with versamark using your desired image and then set it aside to dry. Now you may want to stamp it and let it sit overnight to really dry. You can try to heat it with a heat tool to speed the process but keep it moving or it will warp the glossy paper. I have stamped with snowflakes on the paper above, although it's a little tricky to see.

Once your images are dry, take a cotton ball....lightly wet it with alcohol. Then apply some drops of the re-inkers to the cotton ball. Sorry for the blurry cotton ball apparently my camera didn't know I was doing a tutorial and the cotton ball was the center of focus not my hand.

Then dob, smear, smoosh, (I know not exactly the proper technical terms here but what can I say!!!) whatever technique get's you the desired look you are going for. You can go back over areas that are not to your liking as well. Then I take a dry cotton ball and repeat the dob, smear, smoosh deal till I really like what I see. The versamarked (is that a word???) snowflakes resist the ink and stand out making it look cool.

This is the final product using my custom made patterned paper. I stamped the elf using Staz-on, then layered it on a piece of scalloped CS. I stamped the "snowflakes" and the little snowflake in White Daisy pigment ink. I tied a little white hemp around the card and called it good. I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial and I would love to see projects that you come up with.

Slipper Pattern Available & some Blog Candy

I have been really busy these last few weeks. Sorry I haven't been posting my creations. I will have some up for you in the next few days. I have been working on a pattern for my crocheted slippers that I posted a few weeks back. I have had so many people saying that they would love to have little slippers for their kids so I did some work and came up with a pattern complete with instructions on how to make them. I have added a picture and a button on my sidebar where you can purchase the pattern through paypal. I will email the pattern out to you in a pdf file.

I am really excited to be able to share this with others. I may even make some actual slippers to sell after Christmas. I'm looking into setting up an etsy account. Right now i'm just a little swamped because I have a few people that I am making them for in time for gift giving.

I have a few other unique items that I have been dreaming up and trying to figure out how to make as well. I think I need a nice new sewing machine (I've been using my mother's old one) to help me with my projects. :) So for now I will sell my pattern and save up my money for one that I have had my eye on at Costco. I really hope you have fun with these cute slippers and let me know if you have any questions at all, I am happy to help.

Now on to the blog Candy, I will be giving away one of these patterns to a lucky winner. All you have to do to be entered is post a comment (1 entry) and Blog about this giveaway and post in your comments where I can find it (1 entry). You can have up to 2 chances to win. Have fun. *smiles*

Frosty

I made this card the other day....I used a product called sculpting foam. It's a soft pliable foamy substance that when dry is set in the shape it is, but still retains some softness. Does that make sense or do I just need to have y'all over to play with it?!!! lol Anyways, it was lots of fun. I stamped the snowflakes on the little circles as well using Crystal Blue ink. I drew the snowmans face and buttons using my ink markers. His hat I used dimensionals on the back to make it the same height as his head. His arms were fashioned out of cocoa ribbon.

I hope you like him.

Button Wreath

I got the idea for this card from somewhere, but ask me if I can remember where???? I have no memory lately, it's crazy how bad it is. LOL So whoever made it thanks for the inspiration, because I love this card. I used some of the Wassail paper from Basic Grey, so pretty. The brads are also the matching brad set to the paper. The buttons are the holiday buttons from CTMH, and the wreath was cut out using my nesties. Have you seen the new nestabilities by the way???? I am seriously thinking about robbing the bank so I can buy them all. {OK not seriously but the thought may have crossed my mind ;) LOL}

I hope you enjoy this card as much as I do, it's fun to just let the creativity flow from within.

One Card Idea 3 Ways

This is the same Origami trees that I created a few posts ago. I had the ladies from the shop that I sell my cards to asking me for more because they just loved them. I didn't want to create the exact card over again, so I decided to change it a little for each one. That way they are all unique and one of a kind. The tree is the same basically but the rest of the card is different. On the one in the middle I used my stipple brush to add some embossing ink to the bottom then sprinkled white embossing powder on and only heated it until it barely melted. This created a speckled snow looking effect. On the left card I took a metal charm that had the word "cherish" stamped in it, but I turned it over and stamped a star in Staz-on to add it to my white hemp ribbon. The one on the right has the edges sponged with Garnet ink for a soft subtle accent.

Stay tuned in the next few days because I have a couple cards that I made that I am very proud of. Where is this inspiration coming from?? I'm not sure, but keep it coming, I'm on a roll. LOL

Christmas Cards and a Mouse.....

I apologize for not posting this last week. I had a visiter to my scrap room. I was working away one night and I saw out of the corner of my eye a little critter run in to the room and behind my husband's desk. I quickly got my hubby and we tried to catch it. More like me shrieking every time I saw it lol. It eventually dissapeared and was no where to be found. We got a trap and set it up and I abandonded my room :( till the mouse was caught. Thankfully the mouse no longer resides in my house. Whew!!!

I had a card class where a few ladies got together and we made some Christmas cards. It was lots of fun so I will share with you those cards.

I did however get some of my other projects finished which I suppose is a good thing. I finished these slippers for one of my daughters for our homemade Christmas this year. I didn't use a pattern, just figured it out as I went along. I wanted the heel to be nice and fitted and the other patterns i've seen have a straight back heel. I'm pleased with how they turned out, and I know she will just love them. She never wears socks so I'm hoping she will at least keep these on her feet. :) *fingers crossed*

I hope you're having a good holiday.

Elegant Snowflakes

I joined an online class called UStamp It was started up by two Stampin Up consultants. I have to say that I've been loving the projects. This is one of the bonus projects done by A lady over in the UK. It's so easy that I just had to make some right away.

I asked my hubby if it was too early to start putting up Christmas decorations. :) He told me "what ever makes you happy". Such a good husband. So I hung them over the table. lol

If you wanna check out the link for UStamp above you totally should. I've been very pleased with the projects and I think it was well worth the $25. If you decide to join up please mention that I referred you, and find me to add me to your friends list. :)

Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to set your clocks back one hour.

Origami Christmas Tree

I created one of these last year and they are so cute. So I decided to do another one on a card this year. I used White Pigement ink to add a snow looking effect to the branches, and accent to the edges of the card. I also added red sparkles to look like ornaments and add a little glitz to the tree.

I hope you like it and if you would like instructions on how to make one let me know in the comments section and I can send you instructions.

Stamp Storage

The last little while I've been accumulating some rubber stamps that are usually mounted on wood blocks. I am going to share how I store these stamps because I don't mount them on the wooden blocks. I love the acrylic block system, I am able to stamp way better while using it because I can see where I'm stamping.

There are however some really cute stamps that I like that are rubber so I've mixed the two systems. When I get my rubber stamps, I pull the rubber off the foam adhesive. I then mount them on EZ Mount which is sticky on one side and has a smooth cling on the other side. You can then mount them on your acrylic block and stamp with them.

This is how I have chosen to store my cling mount rubber stamps. In a CD case. I found an old CD that I didn't listen to anymore and took the black holder out. This now leaves a nice empty smooth back for you to work with.

I cut a piece of cardstock 4 3/4 square and applied the labels to the cardstock and slid it in the side with the tabs. That way if my case gets broken for some reason I can just slide it out and put it in a new case. I also applied the little label for SU stamps on the outside binding that way it's easy to see which stamps they are.

Here is a look at the stamps inside the case. As you can see they cling right to the plastic. I think it's a great way to store the stamps and doesn't take up a lot of room like they would do if I had them mounted on the blocks.

What are you going to do with all the wooden blocks you have leftover???? Well I'm working on that one, and when I figure something out I will do a post up on it. I'm sure there are tons of things I could do with them. Got any ideas?

Snowman Shaker Card

I made this shaker card tonight and I have to say it was a lot of fun.

I used my nestabilities and cut out a circle from the heavy cardstock, not quite as thick as chipboard but heavier than cereal box weight. Make sense??? Then I lined up my patterned paper and cut the same hole in it.

I stamped my image on some White CS, and put adhesive all the way around the hole leaving no gaps. Then I added some glitter and white fun flock for snow. I adhered a window over the hole of my patterned paper. Then added ahesive around the hole where the glitter was leaving no gaps as well. I sealed the windowed patterned paper over the hole evenly and pressed it to make sure I had a good seal.

Then I decorated the front a little with some striped paper and a scalloped circle to spotlight the shaker portion. Stamped my sentiment and inked the edges of the whole card front. I hope you enjoy my little shaker card as much as I do.

Today I have a Autumn themed card to share with you. I made this just before Thanksgiving. I really love this kit, Boom-Di-Ada is so fun and versatile, you could use it for a ton of different themes. I also used some of my felt flowers, love those. I hope you enjoy it.

I have some fun news, I was looking through blogs last night and found Christina's blog she is so talented. She does a fun little thing called Sunday Suppers, I thought it was a great idea, so I submitted one of our family favorites. She featured it today :) I was kinda shocked and very pleased to be highlighted on such a fabulous blog. Thank you Christina you just made my day.

Happy Birthday Little One

My baby girl who is not so much a baby anymore is turning 4 this weekend. We are having a little party with some of her friends from pre-school today. It should be fun. I made some little gift bags using small brown paper bags, genie bags I think they are called on SCS. They turned out quite cute and it helped me to use up some retired paper that is in my stash, because they are the perfect colors for a little princess.

Items used:

Paper - Pink Carnation, White Daisy, and Kiwi CS, Precious Paisleys DP

Stamps - Princess

Ink - Pink Carnation

Ribbon - Heavenly Blue Organdy

Tools - Word window punch, cutter

Blog Candy

Sooooo Tisha you were the only one who posted what you liked about Autumn so you get the Sarah Kay card I made. I will bring it to the workshop. :) Thanks for your support girl, you're awesome.

I'm Thankful......

For families around the Thankgiving holiday. I'm sorry I didn't get this posted sooner, I just didn't have a whole lot of "my time" this past weekend. We cooked a turkey and have my whole side of the family (about 15 people) over for the big feast. I really wanted to space things out too so I didn't get stressed on the big day. I baked the pies a day ahead, the buns and did a lot of the prep work for the monday. I have a couple of pictures to share with you. And I have a project that I did as well to use for a centerpiece, save the best for last......

The delicious pies, I also made my husband's favorite....raspberry apple crisp. Yum!

The turkey, my dh bought me a new roasting pan to cook him a turkey in lol.

My girls pullin the wish bone to see who gets to make a wish.

This is the little project I did, I bought these ornamental pumpkins for like a $1 each. I stamped on them using Staz-On. If you plan to try this let me warn you how SLIPPERY Staz-On is. Oh boy I had no idea what I had gotten myself into lol. I think I had to stamp each letter at least twice to get a semi decent looking image. The grooves in the pumpkin weren't very helpful either hehe. Anyways, it can be done, and I was pleased with how they turned out in the end. I did get a "you are just too creative" out of my sister so it was all worth it. :)

Autumn has arrived....

I've been working on autumn themed cards lately. I created this one yesterday, but couldn't post is because my camera was in the van with my husband at work. I used some older paper that I'm trying to use up. I tend to stash paper and don't use it because I don't want to run out. I know it's silly, but that's just the way I am.

The sentiment is from the Autumn Splendor stamp set. Paper flower and leaves are the Just Blooms sunflower and leaves. Cardstock is Autumn Terracotta, and a Barn Red bigger brad to hold the flower in place. (All products are CTMH)

I hope you are enjoying autumn, i'm just really hoping it doesn't snow tomorrow like it's forcasted to do.

500 Hits......some blog candy.

Woohoo, I just hit 500 views of my blog. I know that's not really tons but it's a baby step for me. So I thought to celebrate this little milestone I will give away the Sarah Kay card I just made (you can see it a few posts back) All you have to do is post a comment and let me know what your family traditions are for the fall season. It is hands down my favorite season, and I would like to hear how you celebrate it. The winner will get a bonus little something if they posted about this giveaway on their blog. I will draw a winner on Monday October 13th.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Anniversary Card

I had a request for more anniversary cards, so I put this one together. I struggled with it a little, but i'm pleased with how it eventually came out.

Items Used: Tulip, Col. White, black and white daisy cardstock, patterned paper from the Silhouette kit, Clear sparkles, Say it in Style D1283 Stamp set. (All CTMH) I cut out the circle and scallop circle using my nesties. Inked the edges using a foam sponge as well.

Playin Catch Up

I've been playing catch up lately, trying to get a bunch of cards done before the big holiday card season hits. Which is already knocking on the door. So here is one that I created today.

Items used: Patterned paper from the Silhouette kit, Juniper Cardstock, D1306 Treasure Life Stamp set, Designer Black Ribbon, Black Ink, Edge Distressor. (All items CTMH)

More Time.....Yay!!!

Now that the kiddos are in school, and I've started a carpool with another mom, I have more time to create. Woohoo. Although first I think I need to tidy up my desk. Whenever I start scrappin or baking for that matter, I end up making a huge mess. Does this only happen to me? Or are there others in the same boat as me? It's a good thing I have a maid husband who doesn't mind cleaning, the kitchen that is. He wouldn't dream of touching my paper crafting stuff. I'm so grateful for that cleaning gene he has, couldn't ask for a better husband. Anyways on to the card.

I created this the other day using an image I ordered months ago from Sweet N Sassy Stamps. It's a Sarah Kay image and I love all of her images, they are just beautiful. I colored it in using pencil crayons, I may try using a watercolor technique next time, just wanted to try it out first before I broke out the big guns (aka techniques). I layered the image on some pink carnation cardstock (I know retired, but it matched her little dress perfectly). Then pop dotted on patterned paper from the Sweet Pea kit, on a base of more Pink Carnation. It was missing a little something so I added some buttons to finish it off.

Catalogue Links are Fixed

I noticed that the catalogue links I had posted on the sidebar were not working properly so I've changed them and they all work perfectly now. Whew, I hate it when stuff like that happens. Anyways, now you can view all the catalogues for this year online. Remember, you can order items from any of the catalogues till the end of this year. Then they retire certain items.

Hope you are having a great week.