Sunday, May 15, 2016

Kitty's Memory Box - Winter Side









The final side to Kitty's memory box/urn: Winter

Click here to see the  Spring side
the Summer side and the Fall side.


This is the lid.
I move it so the name tag is on the side
that is on display during the current season.



Supplies:

  • paper mache box (found at a thrift store)
  • Bordering Blue and glitter papers, Stampin' Up!
  • snowflakes die and metal "snowflake" brad, Stampin' Up!
  • single large rhinestone came from a pumpkin decorating kit of all things
  • snowflake border punch, unknown manufacturer; bought years ago from Walmart
  • gray satin ribbon 





Thanks for looking =)

I'm entering my project in the following challenges:

Through The Craft Room Door Anything Goes

PDE Linky Party #123 Anything Goes 

2 Creative Chicks May Anything Goes 

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Kitty's Memory Box - Fall side








The Fall side of Kitty's memory box / urn.
Click here to see the Summer side and
the Spring side. Winter will be shared soon.



I started with a paper mache craft box found at a thrift shop.

I wrapped gray satin ribbon around the top edge.

I used a Fiskars shape cutter and template 
to cut out the leaf shape from Early Espresso textured card stock.

I used my sewing machine to add real stitching along the edges of the card stock.
I then distressed the edges and layered it over green mulberry paper. 

I snippet of ribbon and twine are glued above 
a metal heart charm. I will add a tiny paw print
to the heart once I find the stamp set it is in.
I have yet to reorganize all of them after moving
them up to the new craft room from the craft dungeon basement.
I've no idea where particular sets are still !
I'm still getting used to everything being out of place
after having worked out of the basement for years,
knowing exactly where everything was down there. 

Monday, May 9, 2016

Kitty's Memory Box - Summer side




The Summer side of Kitty's memory box / urn. 

The base is a paper mache craft box.

Background paper was found at a discount store
years ago. It is leftover from the box I made for Mulligan cat.

The paper flowers were gifted to me, manufacturer unknown.

The polka dot brad was from Stampin' Up !

I cut up a plastic scrapbook page protector and wrapped it around
the photograph, gluing it into place with double stick tape. 

Gray satin ribbon wrapped around the box lid.
I should have stamped it with paw prints !
I'll take it apart and do it.

Thanks for looking :) 




I'm entering my Memory Box / urn into the following challenges. Check them out for lots of great inspiring projects !

PDE Linky Party Anything Goes Challenge #122

Through The Craft Room Door Anything Goes

Crafting By Designs May Anything Goes

2 Creative Chicks Anything Goes

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Mother's Day Cards


Three cards I finished up this morning for Mother's Day.




outside


inside - created with an element from the Love You Mom digi kit by JMC Designs 
that I recolored in Photoshop Elements




The first, very colorful one was given to my Mother. Not the typical card, aside from having flowers on it, that I gave to my Mom. It's much bolder colors than I normally use, which was a fun change. Why did I go so bright on this card ? It was originally designed for an upcoming design team project. After having completed it, I found out that I had to go a different route with my project so I added the Happy Mother's Day tag and gave it to my Mom.

This colorful card creation fits the newest photo inspiration challenge at Sunny Day Crafting perfectly, Challenge #6 Make A Colorful Project OR A Project With Fruit. 












The second card is one I've had in my premade cards stash for quite some time. The colors faded shortly after stamping it,  so I never gave it away. It was a precut card gifted to me, the card stock seemed more porous on the inside and semi glossy on the front panel, neither side held the ink well. I added more color, a touch of glitter glue on the flower petals, vellum strip for the sentiment and a piece or peach organdy ribbon knotted before giving it to my sisters mother-in-law.

I'm entering the above card in the Week #275 Pastel Colors Challenge at Less Is More. 







The last card was from a premade kit that Stampin' Up! sold. I trimmed the front die cut panel off and adhered it to a regular card, adding yellow paper behind it. The cards in the kit had both the front and back panels die cut, along with the envelope flap. Although a unique shape, the card can't be stood up easily for display if the recipient wants to. I gave this card to my sister.



Thanks for looking :)   I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Kitty's Memory Box - Spring

Kitty's Memory Box is finally done and I'm happy to share it with you today, National Scrapbook Day ! 

I confess, it's not totally complete because I still need to finish the very top. It took me a while to get around to making it, so many things going on since her passing. Plus my craft dungeon was on the move to higher "ground", crafty things had been in disarray.  I also just didn't feel up to working on it........   

I've made one of these Memory Boxes (they also serve as urns for those that we had cremated, like Kitty) for each of our pets. I make each side seasonal and turn them as the seasons change. They are on display in my living room.

Today I am sharing details on the Spring side. 








Supplies:

  • Mache' kraft box (found at a resale shop!)
  • Melon Mambo card stock and matching ribbon from Stampin' Up!
  • Pool Party button and card stock, Stampin' Up!
  • White twine, Stampin' Up!
  • Miss Kitty tag - unknown (I built this side around the tag I have had in my stash for quite some time)  
  • Crystal Effects - used on the heart printed on the tag
  • Paw prints texture plate by Fiskars
  • Scallop edge border punch
  • Stampin' dimensionals and adhesives
  • Clear sleeve for scrapbooking, trimmed down to cover my photograph
  • Metal tag
  • Going Gray card stock for name plate
  • Miniature alphabet stamp set for name
  • Black embossing powder for name
  • Gray satin ribbon






Thanks for looking :)  I'll be sharing the Summer, Fall and Winter sides over the next week. 



I'm entering my project in the following challenges. Visit each of them for fabulous design team inspirations as well as many, many wonderful creations by other challenge entrants. 


Through The Craft Room Door Anything Goes

Crafting By Designs May Anything Goes 

PDE Linky Party CH #122  Anything Goes 

2 Creative Chicks Challenge #10 Anything Goes 

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Silk Florals Birthday Card



Another card I made using old silk florals from my stash.
See yesterdays post for another card and matching topiary
with hand painted ombre pot made with the same flowers.

Although it looks quite bulky, it actually isn't.
The flower elements squished flat
into the envelope and fit well since I removed
all of the thick plastic pieces from the backs of them.
I included a top piece of scrap card stock
inside the envelope so there wasn't really any bulky parts
poking through that required extra postage on it. 
When I take my cards to the post office to mail them,
the postal clerk seems to always require me to buy 
an extra stamp for my cards since they have 
a little bump that requires hand cancellation. 





SUPPLIES:
white and two shades of pink card stock
vellum to stamp sentiment on
rubber stamp
black ink
Texturz plate - polka dot background
PearlEx paint - used on polka dots and flowers
scallop edge border punch
1/8" handheld circle punch - holes on punched border
scoring board -created raised line on punched border
silk florals and greenery
tiny yellow rhinestones -to replace bulky flower centers
low temp glue gun - to adhere flowers and leaves


Monday, May 2, 2016

Ombre Topiary Gift Set






Putting some more old random craft supplies to use,
repurposing them into a pretty little topiary
with matching handmade card.
I'm donating this set to a local charity gift shop
along with a handled gift bag and tissue paper. 






SUPPLIES:
old terra cotta pot
white and magenta acrylic craft paints
clear sealant
styrofoam ball and scrap for inside pot
excelsior / moss
silk flowers
twig / dowel rod
scissors
hot glue gun (low temp)
ribbon

card stock and stamps for the card
embossing folder





Before
Reusing a styrofoam ball and clay pot from
 another project I made years ago.
I removed the old moss from the top of the foam
in the pot and the styrofoam ball. 
I don't remember where the florals came from.
I have a feeling they were picked up at a yard sale.
Or maybe a dollar store. They've been in my stash
far too long, that is for sure ;)

Using a low temp glue gun, I adhered new excelsior 
to the foam pieces. The glue was also used to hold 
the flowers in place. I did leave a little piece of stem
attached to each flower and shoved it into the foam
to help keep them in place even better than the glue alone.




STEPS:
  • Base coat pot white or perhaps use a gesso or primer. Add a second coat of white. While paint is still wet, brush on a small amount of magenta along the bottom then blend it into the white paint, making it lighter as it goes towards the top of the pot. Paint the rim white. Allow to dry thoroughly then apply a clear sealant. 
  • Hot glue scrap of styrofoam in base of pot. Push twig (or dowel) into the styrofoam. Hot glue excelsior / moss on top of foam insert in pot, surrounding the dowel/twig. I removed the twig then inserted it into the ball to leave an indentation and glued the excelsior around the ball.  I did not leave the twig in while doing this, but you could if you find it easier. 
  • Use scissors to trim the flowers off the stems. Hot glue in place all around the ball, leaving the space open to push the twig back into the base. 
  • Once the ball is covered with flowers, push it back onto the twig/dowel and glue in place if needed. Insert into pot, glue in place if needed. Wrap ribbon around the twig and tie into a bow. 
  • Add any other embellishments you'd like.  A die cut butterfly would be cute. Maybe even a spritz of perfume !


Thanks for looking =)

I'm entering my project in

Challenge #10 Anything Goes at 2 Creative Chicks

 Challenge #121 Anything Goes at PDE Linky Party

Anything Goes at Crafts Galore Encore Challenge

Home Decor at Simon Says Stamp 

The card portion of the project is being entered into the

flowers/greenery challenge at Clear It Out 
and
Just Us Girls challenge at Cards In Envy

Fairy Garden digi kit



facebook timeline cover





digi scrap page -





The above pieces  were created with the new
Fairy Garden  Bits N Pieces kits by JMC Designs
Each portion of the kit is on sale for $1 through May 8th.








Thanks for looking ! 

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Clear Papers Challenge




The first of the month means it is time
for another challenge at House of Cards.
This month we'd like to see your card creations
that feature clear papers such as acetate or vellum.
It's difficult to tell in the above photos, but my card uses acetate.
I'm not sure what the technique is called, 
but I "painted" on the back of my stamped acetate
piece with Pearl Ex powders.

I also ran a piece of acetate through an embossing folder.
It is attached behind the "painted" panel.










SUPPLIES:
clear acetate
stamp image
black Stazon ink
Pearl Ex powders
Xyron sticker maker machine
small paintbrushes (dry)




Stamp your image with Stazon ink
onto acetate.

Trim to your desired size and
run through a sticker maker machine.
I applied the adhesive to the back. 

Carefully pull the protective paper back 
to expose the adhesive.
I do this in sections to help protect the adhesive
while I am "painting".

Lightly dab the small, dry paintbrush into 
the Pearl Ex powders. You only need a little bit
on the paintbrush, it doesn't take much.
It is also easier to control where you want to color.
Adding too much can get it in places you don't want.
Spread the powder around on the adhesive,
it will easily stick in the places you want to add the color.




When it is completed, it will look shimmery.
I attach the painted side down 
on top of white card stock. 
I've never tried to use adhesives to attach
it to the card stock as I am afraid it would
come undone or cause discolored spots
on the painted areas where the glue is.
I use brads or eyelets to attach these
Pearl Ex "painted" acetate pieces.





Thanks for looking at my project =)

I'm entering it in the following challenges:


Be sure to check out all of the other inspiring
projects created by the design team:

Cohenna | Donna | Dotty Jo | Em | Emily | Heather
Jane | Judy | Karen | Katarzyna Ewa  | Katy | Leslie | Linda
Merethe | Merlina | Michele | Paula | Rocky | Rosi | Ruza
Shawna | Shirley | Steph | Sue N. | Sue T. Susan | Tina | Toni


You have all month to play along with our challenge



Love You Mom digi kit



card front



facebook timeline cover






Page created with the pretty new kit,
This kit is 50% off until May 8th.
The page layout is based on the image below (found on pinterest,
actual link to template was no longer working)
and created with My Memories Suite 7. 












8.5 x 11 page











KIT CONTENTS
9 Cardstock -12 X 12 - 300dpi
8 Glitter Papers - 12 X 12 - 300dpi
15 Patterned Papers - 12 X 12 - 300dpi
9 WordArt

18 Extra Elements -
 50 Unique Elements -




: