Elements For Mom

I finally put ink to new rubber stamps today !

And I had "help" while I was working.........

This was a first for these two cats to be on my work table together.

I can not believe that Kitty was able to get herself up onto my table!

Ringo has been sleeping down here every day for over a week now

since Mulligan passed suddenly.  This was Mulligan's domain,

hanging out in the craft dungeon with me regularly.

I wonder if he is missing Mulligan, too ?  

I have such a stash of cards as it is, so many samples I made for classes, that I don't really need to make any new cards. However, I had good reason to make a brand new creation today: my mothers birthday !

I tried something different, an experiment, unfortunately it didn't quite turn out as I had hoped. I stamped a scrap piece of fabric with Basic Brown ink then attempted to lightly color the image with markers from Stampin' Up! I just barely swiped the brush end of the marker over the fabric. I used a hot iron as soon as I colored over a section so it would dry it, try to keep the ink from running. I added a little bit of pastels/chalks, too. I know that it is not going to be permanent.

Unraveled the edges of the fabric, a little sewing, distressing of the Marina Mist card stock and sponged on a bit of ink. Quickly swiped vanilla acrylic craft paint on the Pink Pirouette piece after I ran it through the embossing folder. Added some mauve ribbon from my craft stash and made my first ever hat pin with the Pretties kit from Stampin' Up! to finish it off !



Supplies from Stampin' Up! :
Elements of Style and Teahouse stamp sets
Embossing folder
Marina Mist card stock, ink and marker
Basic Brown ink
Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana markers
Very Vanilla card stock
Hat pin supplies from the Pretties kit
Stampin' Pastels

Mauve satin ribbon: unknown
Acrylic crafters paint

This is a 5x7 card


Thanks for looking !

Stampin' Up! buttons to the rescue

So it wasn't a real rescue, not even a true emergency.

I bought a sort of olive green t-shirt back in June, a totally new color for me to wear, and had no coordinating accessories. I don't wear jewelry and such anyway..... but I wanted a little something to go with this new t-shirt I planned on wearing to the Sting Symphonicites concert that night. I went to the craft dungeon and stood there thinking then an idea popped into my head: I'll make a quick barrette and maybe a simple bracelet with my new buttons. A snippet of ribbon, a few tiny bits of linen thread, hot glue and three buttons made a quick barrette that matches almost perfectly ! I also made a very simple bracelet by threading some buttons onto several strands of hemp that I twisted together. I tore the bracelet back apart so I could reuse the buttons - I think that I need to add more to the barrette.
I liked that the buttons matched so well, I was able to quickly make the barrette to wear with my hair down. However it was soooooooo unbearably hot that night I ended up pulling my hair into a ponytail. Perhaps I should have made a ponytail holder and added the buttons to that instead !

Thanks for looking =)

Fabric Napkin+Clean Empty Jar=Flower Vase

I had this beautiful large bloom on my hydrangea plant I wanted to show off .

I took an old empty glass jar and wrapped it with a fabric napkin that was held in place with a rubber band. It might have been neat to add an old pin to it (don't have any) or a big bow (no ribbon the correct color/width).

Thanks for looking =)

More CD/DVD Envelopes

Since I shared the CD/DVD envelope/mini scrapbook earlier this week I thought I'd share a couple more ideas. They are quite old, just a few I found that I had photographs of. Like so many of my projects, I know I've made more and given them away than I have photos for.

At the time I made these I did not have a pattern, I just fiddled with scrap paper and folding until I came up with an okay pattern. I believe this first one started off as a large circle then I just folded in around the CD that was in a simple lightweight paper sleeve. Inks, card stock and stamp images are from Stampin' Up!, now retired. The purple cardstock and ribbon band slides off.

This second one started as a 12 x 12 square, folded around the CD that was in a plastic case. I cut out the corner portions and trimmed off the remaining edges to make them rounded. Once again, stamp images, inks and organdy ribbon are from Stampin' Up!, now retired.

These are the media envelopes that you can buy at an office supply store. A friend gave me several to play with. This is a card I made for her using the faux linen technique.  Roses In Winter (one of my all time favorite sets!!!!) stamp set from Stampin' Up!   Classic inks and 5/8" organdy ribbon from Stampin' Up! as well.

And these are several of the same type of envelope that I made into Christmas card gifts. One side had a slide out stamped card similar to the anniversary card above, the other side contained a CD of old family photos that my mom scanned. These were gifts to my aunts and uncles. Most stamp images are from Stampin' Up! - and now retired. Decorative papers are from various vendors. Inks are from Stampin' Up!, some now retired. Organdy ribbon from Stampin' Up! (retired), except the blue that was from the dollar store.




There are so many fantastic ideas for creating your own envelopes that can be found online.





Thanks for looking !

Video Game Controller Card

My son really likes video games, hand made cards not so much. Typical teenager, he's more interested in what is inside the card - and I'm not referring to the sentiment ! His older sister is the same, rip open the card to see if there is any cash or a gift card ! Anyway, this is the card I created for his birthday this year. He liked the idea, but informed me "it doesn't look like a real X*** controller because it doesn't have these buttons on it here.........." Geesh !!!!!!!! I imagine this type of card has been done before.

I traced the shape of the controller onto scrap paper to create a pattern.


Cut out and traced the pattern onto Black and White card stocks, cut out.


Raided my paper punch collection to find the right sizes and shapes to punch out the "buttons" for the controller out of various colored card stocks.  1/2" , 3/4", 1" circle punches, horizontal slot punch.


Glue all of the buttons on, added a little detail with markers and pencil, done !
I also used acetate and a green Sharpie marker on the "logo button".


Thanks for looking !

CD/DVD Envelope / Mini Scrapbook

Outside front of finished project

Several years ago I received junk mail that contained a CD. I had no use for it so I planned on recycling the mailer and CD, but then I had an idea...............

I wondered how big it was opened up, could I make my own like that.

Sure enough, I was able to tweak it a tiny bit to make my own version of this mailer out of one piece of 12x12 card stock ! I liked how the project turned out so well that I entered it in a Stampin' up! contest; it did not win.



It is a bit involved and can be somewhat confusing since there are several folds, cuts and flips. What's neat about this folder is that you can make it a sort of mini scrapbook too if you wish by adding photos and other embellishments. Or print out a listing of what is on the CD/DVD then attach it to one of the flaps.

I'd recommend completing the basic folder portion, except for gluing the seam, before you do any stamping or decorating to be sure you are working on the correct sides, facing the proper direction. You may wish to use sticky notes to mark each portion once you have all of your cuts and folds marked so that way you will know as it is laying flat on your work surface which way is "up" and which portions to decorate.



There are two outside areas to decorate if you wish as well as four inside. With all of the fantastic double sided designer papers available today, it would be easier to make one of these, no stamping required.



Score from the left edge of your 12" x 12" card stock at 5 1/2" and again at 11". Do the same from the top edge down. These score lines will be your guides for cutting and folding.


The curved area where the CD/DVD is inserted is optional. If you don't have a circle or oval cutter, trace around a can, plastic container, etc then cut out with a pair of scissors.

Ribbon can be simply wrapped around and tied in a bow or if you wish to have it permanently attached, glue the ends into the "spine" of the envelope when you are sealing it together. You can also attach an eyelet in the little front flap to run ribbon through. Another idea, attach a brad to the front and another brad to the flap then wrap string around them to close them like one of those office supply envelopes.

Below are a few photographs to help show the project. Unfortunately I tried to make diagrams and realized they were backwards ! I posted this project with instructions and a diagram to splitcoaststampers.com in 2004 - and was surprised that I could still find them there !

                                


Inside of
CD/DVD envelope
Decorate each of these four areas however you'd like, add photos or a menu of what is on the disc, etc.



The numbers on the above photographs correspond to the numbers on the photograph below. This is to try to help illustrate how the top portion is "flipped" so you need to be sure your images are stamped upside down to be right side up once assembled.

                                                            Inside of the envelope

                                     

                                                Outside of the envelope

The flap that is glued to the opposite portion to create the envelope isn't showing well in the finished project photo since it is already folded over.

All stamps, ink and card stock used on the above project were from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for looking !

Caramel Apple Tin and a Card

I loved embellishing these little dollar store tins in so many different ways !

This is another old project, one I shared with a group of ladies several years ago.

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!, many of which are now retired:

Real Red, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Naturals Cream card stock
Decorative paper
Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Summer Sun, More Mustard classic inks
Bleach for the apple cut out on the caramel apple tin note card. I had hoped it would bleach out to a rusty color. You can safely use bleach on your stamps, but be sure to clean them right away! Using bleach as your "ink" on colored card stock creates a unique look. Each color of card stock bleaches differently, so you may want to experiment on a scrap first. I use a piece of white felt or wadded up paper towel dampened with bleach on an old plastic lid as my "stamp pad".
Bud Basics, Flannel Plaid, Happy Everything stamp sets
Round Tab Punch to create the apple core. Punch one out of white and another out of red. Lightly sponge Creamy Caramel ink on the edges of the white piece to create that discoloration apple cores seem to get =) Cut the top and bottom off the red piece and glue to the white piece to create the red peel on the top and bottom of the core. You may wish to stamp speckles of darker red ink or bleach on the red pieces before adhering to create those spots many apple peels have. Cut a little snippet of Chocolate Chip card stock then glue to the back to create the stem. Stamp seeds with a trimmed eraser or small rubber scrap if you do not have any stamps that would work.
Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon and button for the card

Distressing tool or carefully use the edge of scissors to ruff up the edges of the card stock





The card is called a triangle tri-fold card. Instructions can be found here.



Fill the completed tin with paper shred, an apple, caramels and stick. Wrap in a cellophane bag, tie with raffia and attach the small note card tag. Makes a cute gift for welcoming teachers back to school !



Thanks for looking !

Kountry Kitty Kat

Sigh..... missing my Mulligan buddy......

Today I'm posting a cat creation I made several years ago.

The pattern was found, I think, in a Country Handcrafts magazine.

I made several of these country cuties to donate to the school holiday bazaar.

They were easy and fairly inexpensive to make.

Thanks for looking !

In Memory Of Mulligan

It's been a sad, sad weekend here, my buddy Mulligan cat passed away unexpectedly.



I do not know the exact cause since he had been fine, showed no signs of illness, until I applied Hartz UltraGuard Flea and Tick Drops. He started seeming out of sorts the evening I applied them and was gone within 36 hours. It never crossed my mind that he could be getting sick from the flea drops.



There were no external signs of trauma.



I was absolutely shocked, just could not believe it. I still am...........



I was curious about the flea drops (a brand I had not bought before) so I looked online and was horrified to see so many references to products by Hartz being injurious, even deadly, to pets !



I'll never know for sure if that is what caused his untimely death, I am sick with guilt thinking it could even be possible that I caused it by applying something I assumed was safe.



I want to let other people know what I only just found out about these EPA approved pesticides and the harm they can cause to your beloved pets in hopes of saving the life of another. Please see the web sites below:


http://www.hartzvictims.org/
YouTube - Dangerous Pet Products?


You can do a search and find more web sites regarding this.



Should you use these products, be certain to follow the guidelines and read the disclaimers thoroughly. I've read, now that it is too late, that if you use these products and notice any reactions, bathe the animal in Dawn dish detergent with lots of clean water and contact your veterinarian immediately.



I am missing him terribly right now as he would normally be sitting in my lap as I work on the computer, proofreading for me.....sniffle. And today throughout the day I couldn't help but look for him to give him a head scratch as I walked by his favorite table to nap on. I also missed his MEOW! to let me know the food bowls were nearly empty this evening. He didn't like it when they were half empty and he let me know it . Sigh.....................

Cute Pink Shoes, Repurposed Bag and a Trophy =)

My son and I participated in a just for fun Youth/Adult bowling league this past summer - and we finished in second place for our division! Surprising news to us !

The repurposed bag was a brand new bag that I found at a neighborhood wide yardsale for $2 last summer. I actually left it there since it had another company logo debossed into the front of it. On the way back to my car I stopped at that sale again to see if it was still there because as I was walking to other sales, an idea came to me: maybe I could cover the logo up. It was still there so I bought it . I immediately went to rummaging through my stash in the craft dungeon when I got home and decided that I could indeed cover it up.



I used a piece of Hodge Podge Hardware, two rhinestone brads, two snippets of polka dot grosgrain ribbon, printed out the Stampin' Up! logo onto cardstock that I then covered with Crystal Effects to make it look like an enamel label. I punched two holes into the bag with my Cropadile, pushed the brads through, finished with a dab of E6000 glue to the brad tabs to make sure they wouldn't come undone . I never used the bag for anything until this year - it was the perfect size for my cute pink and white bowling shoes !



Thanks for looking !