Wednesday, March 31, 2010

I Challenge You - Chipboard Books

My friend picked the challenge for this week.  She wanted us to use chipboard books in some way.
Here's what I came up with:
I started with this purse chipboard shape
and added another one -- like this
I traced this design on a large piece of cardboard and cut it out.
Here's the little purse notebook I made and decorated from the purse chipboard shape.
For the inside I used my scallop nestabilities and cut typing paper to make lots of blank pages for my daughter to write and draw on.  I folded the typing paper in half and left just a little of the scallop shape off so as to make the left and right pages attached in the middle. These I glued to the middle of the chipboard book.

My daughter took over it immediately and had several pages written on before I had time to type up this post!
Now go to my friend's blog and see her creation(s) for the week.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Easter Things

The castle post has been moved to Friday -- come back then to peek inside.
Going to a Kid's Easter Party -- here's one of my contributions.....bunny cakes.  While I know Easter isn't about bunnies, they are a spring thing that I make every year.  I am also taking the stuff to make Resurrection Rolls -- the recipe follows:
Resurrection Rolls
1. Crescent Rolls
2. 8 Lg. Marshmallows
3. Melted Butter
4. Sugar
5. Cinnamon
Directions:
Give each child one triangle shaped section of crescent roll.  This represents the tomb.
Each child takes one marshmallow which represents the body of Christ.
Dip the marshmallow in the butter and roll in cinnamon/sugar mixture.  This represents the oils and spices the body was anointed with upon burial.
Lay the marshmallow on the dough and carefully wrap it around the marshmallow.
Make sure all the seams are pinched together well. (Otherwise the marshmallow will "ooze" out of the seams)
Bake according to package directions.
Cool.
Break open the tomb and the body of Christ is no longer there!!
Celebrate Easter and God's Love!

Here are the treat containers I made up for the kids at the party....they include this little lamb card.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Castle # 2

As I mentioned when I made Castle #1 I plan to give these to two special little girls.  Why is it that the second one isn't nearly as "fun" as the first and can actually become a "drudgery" to complete.  Maybe it's just my personality that has problems like this.  Anyway, I FINALLY completed my second castle and will share it's pages this week.  For the most part it's just like the first castle only different colors........though not all the pages are exactly alike.  Here's the front of the castle - tomorrow I'll show you inside the front cover.

Supplies used in this album:
  • Paper from Everyday Stack 
  • Brown/Red Cardstock
  • Martha Stewart Heart Border Punch
  • Free coloring pages --on-line (clip art on pages)
  • Small Flower punch
  • Crayola Markers
  • Hole punch
  • Red Ribbon
  • Rhinestones
  • Alphabet Punches   
  • Flower/Heart Stamps (on notebook paper) 

Friday, March 26, 2010

With Sympathy II



Supplies:
  • Sentiment printed on computer
  • Utopiary Stamp Set (Inkadinkadoo)
  • Flower Punches
  • Pink Ribbon
  • Circle/Scallop/Blossom Nestabilites
  • Scallop Scissors 
  • White photo corners
  • Chalks/ Versa Mark

Thursday, March 25, 2010

I Challenge You - Easter (a day late)

The theme for this week is Easter.  I haven't had very much time to do cards of late, but did manage to get two cards for the challenge done....neither one are all that creative but here they are:

Supplies:
  • Birds and Blooms Embossing Folder
  • Easter Stampin Up Set
  • Pink Chalk (1st card)
  • MS Heart Border Punch (1st card)
  • Black Embossing Powder (1st card)
  • Crayola Markers (2cd card)
  • Wide floral ribbon (2cd card)
  • Key hole shape from here (somewhere!)
Now go here to see what my talented friend created!

    Wednesday, March 24, 2010

    With Sympathy

    Supplies:
    • Script/Textile Embossing Folders
    • Circle/Scallop Nestabilities
    • Florals Inkadinkado Stamp Set
    • Autumn Leaves Stamp Set
    • Purple Got Flowers
    • Green Glitter
    • Butterfly Punch
    • Dove Charm
    • Purple Ribbon

    Wednesday, March 17, 2010

    I Challenge You - File Folders

    This week's challenge was chosen by my friend -- and it was........Use Decorative File Folders in your project.
    At first I thought it was a hard challenge to do seeing I didn't have a archive of ideas built up, but then inspiration struck and the following project was "born."  In this project I was reminded how "less is more" -- by that I mean that you don't have to keep piling things on to make your cards look nice.......Clean and Simple was the order of the day.
    If not for this challenge I wouldn't have accomplished anything "paper wise" in the past week!  So busy with so many other things!  My project this week was very quick and easy so here goes...
     I started with this file folder

    And turned it into a card portfolio -- this uses the back of the file folder
    Here it is opened up
    Here are the four cards I made -- using the front of the folder
    The really great thing with this project is that it took less than 1 hour to complete the whole thing and used only 1 file folder, some ribbon, two pieces of cardstock, and the Organic Flourish Embossing Borders.
    Here's what I did:
    • Cut the file folder in half
    • Cut the tabs off
    • On the plain piece --- Score 3 inches from the bottom and fold up to make pocket
    • Turn folder
    • Score at 5, 10 1/8, and 10 1/2 
    • Fold on score lines
    • In picture # 2 you can see that I cut 1 Inch off of the pocket fold on the right hand side to make the flap fold easier. 
    • Make closure however you want -- either with Velcro, buckle, or a ribbon tied strap like I did
    Now go over to my friend's blog and see what she came up with for this weeks challenge.

    Wednesday, March 10, 2010

    I Challenge You - One Stamp 5 Ways

    I chose the challenge for this week, and I think I shot myself in the foot!  I shouldn't try things when I'm feeling low on inspiration, but.........  Anyway, the challenge was to use ONE stamp on FIVE different projects.  Could be different styles, different mediums (ink, chalk, embossing powder etc.), different projects (cards, candle, scrapbook, portfolio etc.etc.) or just whatever. Well here's my creations for the week using the medallion looking stamp from Autumn Splendor (Making Memoreis).
    Supplies: Organic flourish embossing borders, circle/scallop/blossom nestabilities, scallop scissors, mini alphabet set (Studio G), pink/burgundy ink, versa mark

    Supplies: Organic flourish embossing borders, dictionary pages, purple ink, MS leaves stamp

    Supplies: Circle/scallop/blossom nestablities, clock stamp (sorry no details on it), black embossing powder, blue ink, organic flourish embossing border, sentiment (Studio G), black photo corners

    Supplies: Besides the stamp I used on all of the cards, I used versa mark and chalks to create this design.  The Gratitude stamp is also part of the Autumn Splendor set (Marking Memories)

    Supplies: Dictionary page, purple ink, small brad, design scissors.  



    Now go to my friend's blog and see what she came up with for the One Stamp Five Ways challenge.

    Friday, March 5, 2010

    "Ewe" are special


    Supplies:
    • Take Note Clear Stamp set (Stampendous) -- Michaels had it on clearance for something like $2.50
    • Grass Stamp - from the Florals set (Inkadinkado)
    • Lamb Stamp (Studio G) $1 at Michaels
    • Small Alphabet set (Studio G) another $1 set from Michaels
    • Sun/Tulips punches
    • Crayola markers
    • Homemade Flower Soft

    Wednesday, March 3, 2010

    I Challenge You - Using Silk Flowers

    My friend picked the theme for this week -- Using Silk Flowers on your cards.  I'm afraid inspiration was a bit slim for me this week (as well as time to create), so I chose to use my flowers in a fun sort of way rather than a elegant/beautiful way.
    I actually made this hat card sometime last year and never used it.  The little paper flowers in the middle were already on it.  I cheated and pulled them off, attaching two silk petals underneath for card #1 of my silk creations.  (I think the actual hat pattern came from a Paper Creations Magazine last year.)
     Another very quick and easy card --- this one uses a pattern from an old Paper Crafts Magazine (for the shoe) and adds the silk flower near the toe.  The white cardstock is embossed with the Textile embossing folder and the word "style" penned with a sepia calligraphy pen.
    This card uses one of the petals from the big Gerber daisy I got some time back.  The center is a flower (Making Memories - Flowers) stamped onto white cardstock, chalked with blue chalk, and cut out (and layered) with the circle/scallop/blossom nestabilites. The word friend is penned with a black calligraphy pen. The white card is embossed with the textile embossing folder.
    This card was inspired by one that my seven year old made.  I copied hers, just changing the colors.  The blue patterned paper is torn and inked across the top and mounted on a white piece of cardstock (embossed with textile embossing folder).  The silk arrangement has a white button center (with blue DMC floss in center) and is mounted on a square blue piece of cardstock.  The sentiment is penned with a black calligraphy pen and outlined with a blue marker.
    For this "silk arrangement" I added a purple flower to this little ladies hair. The image comes from Polly Craft Designs, and is colored with Crayola markers and matted on green and light purple cardstock.  I added rhinestones to the the background for some extra "bling."
    A special niece has a birthday today, and this is her card creation.  A paper purse made from pink cardstock and princess paper.  Front and Center is a pretty silk flower arrangement with a stone sticker for it's center.
    Happy Birthday Abby --- Hope your day is extra special!
    I saved my favorite one for last.  This image comes from here, and is so very cute (even to a person who isn't overly fond of cats!).  I colored this cute kitty to match one that we have name Oreo.  I attatched the "I Love You" stamp (Studio G) because it looks like this kitty was trying to tell someone she loved them, but did a very naughty deed in pulling up that flower (just like a cat - huh?!?).

    Well that's the end my my silk creation cards for the week --- these were all fairly fast and easy to make (It probably took me less than 3 hours to complete them all --- good thing too as I didn't have a lot of extra time this past week).  You can view a few previous creations using silk flowers here, and one on a card box here,
    on a bulletin board decoration here, and in the center of this card here.

    Now go here to see what my friend created with her silk flower stash.

    Tuesday, March 2, 2010

    Time ........and some of my daughters creations

    The end of this sentiment says "...to grow old friends."  Used my pocket watch stamp to create this card.  Stamped if first in versa mark and then blue ink on the background.  Then used gold embossing powder and cut out just the center of the watch for an embellishment. Used scrip embossing folder and scallop scissors for that border, and small, clear/colored square stickers to accent the bottom.
    Haven't had much time for making cards lately, so thought I'd share some of my daughters creations.  She hasn't been in the mood to do much paper crafting of late (she's only seven so many other things draw her attention) -- but of late she's been on a roll --- turning out cards left and right.  I actually used one of her cards for inspiration in the challenge tomorrow.

    Monday, March 1, 2010

    March Bulletin Board

    Here is the Bulletin Board decoration for the month of March.  I think the general sentiment I'm hearing is "I'm so ready for spring!"  Since spring begins in March (at least on the calendar - whether or not the weather cooperates or not we'll see!), I thought I'd make this as springy as I could.
    The fence, trees, kites, and clouds all came from here.

    The trees, top of the grass, the sky, the birds, and the little tiny hummingbirds were all chalked.
    The flowers and tiny butterflies are punches.
    The clouds are embossed with the Swiss Dots Embossing Folder.
    The kite (and it's tails) are paper pieced with my paper scraps..
    The grass in front of the fence is freehand cut.
    This was so much fun to make-- I'm feeling more like spring already!