Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Journal Project

Wanted to share a journal project I'm working on. 
I started out to make the journal for a gift, and then decided to only start it and let the recipient finish it.
So I started decorating the journal pages and then made up a journal kit to include with it.
I'll be showing you some of the pages and the kit as time allows.
I made LOTS of little pockets with pull-outs. 
I also included Scriptures and inspirational quotes.
Isn't that circle "pocket" fun?  I thought so!
Two little pull-outs in this pocket!
You can click any of the pictures to bring these up bigger and see the details better.
Come back later this week to see more and I'll also be posting links to some great journaling cards!

Friday, July 27, 2012

Simple Wreath

I have a simple window wreath to share with you today.
Those of you who follow me on facebook may remember that I had a friend over earlier this month and we worked on window all afternoon! 
Well, I didn't actually make anything myself that day, just cut out a bunch of windows, shutters, and flower boxes for her to use.  
She came up with this simple (but elegant) arrangement and I "stole" it from her and made the above card.
Here's a closer view of the wreath
Supplies used:
  •  Punches
    • Martha Stewart branch punch
    • Scalloped Daisy Border punch (Fiskars)
  • Dies
    • Small Madison window (Memory Box)
    • Small shutter (Memory Box)
    • Small widow box  (Memory Box)
  • Scallops Embossing Folder (Sizzix)
  • Distressing Background Stamp (Glitz Design)
  • Kraft Paper
  • White Pigment ink

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Wreaths

Here's some more challenge cards between my niece, my daughter, and I.
The above card is my daughter's and I like it a lot better than I like my own (below)...even though she changed the sketch and colors.
(She has quite a bit of her mother in her -- liking to "think outside the box!")
 We had a lot of fun making those wreaths -- thought you might like to see the details of them close up.
Here are the two my niece did -- so pretty, and guess what?  She changed some items too!
I just love how we are all so different and interpret sketches differently, and how we each have our own unique style.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

A Doll House Piano

My daughter LOVES music of all "varieties and flavors" (something she gets from her daddy!). A couple weeks ago she ask me to print her some instruments off so she could make her dollhouse people play and sing.  
(Here they are all lined up with their guitars, banjos, mandolins, and a bass!)
Last week she got the bright idea that she wanted a piano for the dollhouse people. 
The above creation was what she "dreamed up" with a little help from mommy along the way....mostly her ideas though! 
Would you believe that she made that piano with only:
1) a block of wood leftover from building the deck
2) some black paint
3) some black beads
4) paper
Just goes to show that "where there's a will there's a way!"
We made the "piano bench" from an old rubber stamp block (painted black) and padded the top with a scrap of material and some cotton batting.  Oh, and we added beads to the bottom to make it sit up a bit higher. 
Of course, what's a piano w/out music.  
My daughter had me shrink some music down and print it off so she could have a song book for the piano.
Oh and the lamp on top -- made from a button, beads, and a scrap of paper. 
This post linked to:
Whatever You Want Wednesday

Monday, July 23, 2012

Flower Soft

I've wanted to make those cute little flower stems with 
Flower Soft for a long time!
If you've followed my blog very long you may have picked up the fact that I like to save money on my crafting supplies.
Today's post illustrates that!
Since I don't have any rubber boot stamps, I simply searched on-line for a coloring page to fit the bill. 
I found one! The great thing about it is: I can enlarge or scale it down for any size project!
Another free flower soft container -- this time a basket from Stamper's Quest! 
 Last but not least a flower pot coloring page.
In keeping with the theme of this post (cheap ways to imitate the real thing - or something like that!) ---here's three tutorials for making "colored fluff" that looks like flower soft with Styrofoam balls.
1.  This one uses reinkers
2. This one uses both reinkers and distress ink pads
3. This video tutorial says you can even use food coloring!


Supplies:
  • Kraft Cardstock
  • Spritzer
  • Big Markers (spritzed card with)
  • Scallop Scissors
  • Flower soft
    • Summer
    • Spring
    • Fuchisia
    • Heather
    • Sweet Pea
    • Meadow
  • Free Coloring pages
  • Free Word Art - Papercraft Memories 
This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday

Friday, July 20, 2012

Sketch challenge

My nephew's wife was here a few weeks back and we had a great time making cards together. She really likes picking sketches and color combos to work with, so we decided to do it long distance.
Here's the sketch she picked (it's from Paper Crafts I think) and the color combo was: primary colors.
My (9 yr.old) daughter gets in on the fun when she feels like it.  Here's the card she dreamed up and created --- you can tell she's her mother's daughter because she fudged a bit and moved her sentiment to the bottom! (smile)
This was totally her own idea -- the only help I gave was printing off the rocket and star coloring pages that she picked.
Here's my niece's pretty card!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Jar of Flowers

Another shape card --- this time a jar shaped card full of pretty summer blooms!
Here are the details:
Posie Patch Flowers embossed in white on colored paper with glitter in their centers.
I hand cut all of these out -- each one has a duplicate  bloom glued to the back of it so that the back isn't "ugly."
Ribbon and Lace around the neck of the jar.
I stamped a floral background stamp with white pigment ink onto a piece of vellum and layered it over the blue jar by zig zag stitching around the border.
The stems are between the vellum and cardfront.
Supplies used:
This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday 

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Tree Shape Card

I had A LOT of fun creating this tree shaped card --- one thing led to another and before I knew it I had "My Favorite Teddy Bear" stamp set out again!
As you all know by now - I LOVE details, so here are a few included in this card:
1. Glitter in the middle of the wagon wheel
2. Doll in wagon came from a coloring page
3. Lady bug is a circle punch
4. Grass is cut with multi-blade scissors
5. An owl peeking out of the tree trunk
6. Tire swing is made with circle nestabilties
7. It's hung with homemade baker's twine
8. A small red bow and pink cheeks add some detail to my little bear
9. Blanket stitch around tree top
10. double layer flowers w/flower soft centers
11. A small blue bird perched in our tree top

Supplies used:
  • Green Embroidery Floss (around tree top)
  • Red Embroidery Floss (bow in teddy's hair)
  • Sweet Pea Flower Soft
  • Small brads 
  • Doll coloring page
  • White pencil (line around tire)
  • Homemade Baker's Twine
  • Punches/Dies
    • Flower punch
    • Bird punch (Martha Stewart)
    • Circle Nestabilities
    • Blossom I Nestabilities
    • Small Circle punch
  • Stamps
    • Favorite Teddy Bear (Stampin' Up)
    • Owl from Who Loves You stamp set(Hampton Art)

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Patriotic Hello

Here's a simple patriotic card I made two of so our church could send greetings to a couple service guys. 
 One is a Navy friend whose out on deployment right now, and the other is for a newly signed Marine in boot camp.
I kept the design very simple since they were for guys.
The clip art is a freebie from The Workshop Window.
The brads were "custom colored" using the technique I shared in this post.
This post linked to:

Monday, July 16, 2012

Jean Pocket Purse

Here's a little jean pocket purse I created as a gift.
The pocket is recycled from a pair of my husband's jeans -- I love how soft it is after so many washings! 
Here's the back of the purse -- all prettied up with pink gingham.
This post linked to:
Whatever You Want Wednesday

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Freebie feature

I'm sharing two masculine cards from Jennifer this week.  I absolutely love how she used my tree images with lots of layers and fun elements. 
Go check out her blog, My Cubby Crafts, for more inspiring card creations!


I'm also sharing a post from Our Sheltering Tree that uses my tea bag freebies.
If you've not visited Pam's website, you'll want too soon!
It's full of inspiration of all kinds!

Friday, July 13, 2012

Teddy Pockets

Here are my canvas pockets.
For the back of the pocket I used white cardstock.
The front is Canvas material with faux stitching on it.
Here's the insert for this card:
I also did a canvas one in blue.
 Here's the blue insert:
Supplies used:
  • Pocket pattern from here
  • Studio G glitter
  • Embroidery Thread
  • Buttons
  • Canvas Material
  • Tab #1 (Sizzix die) 
  • Inks
    • Black Stazon
    • White Pigment
    •  Bic/Sharpie/Crayola markers
  • Stamp Sets
    • Favorite Teddy Bear Stamp Set (Stampin' Up)
    • Posie Patch stamp set (Heartfelt Creations)
    • Distressing Glitz Design
  • Punches
    • Threading Water Border punch (Fiskars)
    • Heart Punch

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Teddy Pockets

Last week I had a brainstorm that included old jeans, canvas material, pockets, and my favorite teddy bear stamp set.
I'll share the canvas pockets with you tomorrow, today showcases the jean ones.
Here's the insert for the blue and yellow one.
Another pocket, this time with orange:
 The insert for this pocket card:
Supplies used:
  • Studio G Glitter
  • Pocket pattern from here
  • Embroidery Thread 
  • Buttons
  • Tab #1 (Sizzix die)
  • Jean material (from my husband's old jeans!)
  • Stamps
    • Favorite Teddy Bear stamp set (Stampin' Up)
    • Distressing Glitz Design
  • Ink:
    • Black Stazon
    • White Pigment
    • Sharpie/Bic markers
  • Punches
    • Scalloped Daisy border punch (Fiskars)
    • Flower border punch (Fiskars)