April Card Club

We had a great time working on our cards this month. Here they are:

 Card #1 is a great card to use up those scraps of paper that you know you save and then never use. Cut 4 pieces 1.5 x 5.5 inches and then cut that rectangle in half diagonally from corner to corner. I love that CTMH papers have 2 sides of coordinating paper so you would end up with 8 triangles ( or use 8 different papers and have enough triangles to do 2 cards). We marked a line across on the base 4.25x5.5 cardstock at 1.5 inches from the bottom. Apply adhesive above the line, going from side to side and from the line to the top. You will then start lining up your triangles, starting at the left lower side and fanning out across the top. You will have pointed ends that overlap under the line, and larger ends extending over the top and sides. Just play around with them until you get them how you like and press down to adhere. Trim the pointed ends and the ones that extend past the card. I embossed a 1 5/8 x 5.5 strip of white paper with a Darice border template of a wave and added that to the bottom of the card. The flourish was cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge, page 59, Font Layer @ 1 1/2 inches and the flowers were cut from AP page 50>shift>Layer @ 1 1/2, 1 1/4, 1 inches. Little jewels left over from my flip flop wreath were used for the center and attached with glue dots. I didn't add a sentiment to the front of the card, cause this one will just go in the stash for when I need it. Maybe for Mother's day.

 Quick fun card, standard size. Hard to see but the background behind the balloon has clouds that we stenciled onto the white cardstock with chalk. I cut a frame and used a Darice embossing folder that I rubbed with Star Spangled Blue ink before embossing, transferring the ink to the embossed designs. The balloons was cut from Artiste cartridge page 70>shift Accent 1 @ 3.5 inches in Desert Sand. And the inside of balloon fro the same page from a scrap of leftover CTMH paper. The little gondola is attached with some embroidery thread to the balloon. Enjoy the ride is a stamp from the "It's Your Day" stamp set available awhile ago.

 So many different layout available for this card. My ladies each had something different and all were so much fun. CTMH doesn't have a cut for the this hexagon shape, you might find one on another cartridge, but I was lucky to have my original Hexagon shapemaker from Creative Memories and it came with two side hexagons that was perfet for cutting the shapes and the frames for this. Highlight this picture, I love the For Always paper pack and that fact that the black paper has this great floral design hinted at in the background. It looked like little honeycombs on some of the cuts and blended perfectly with the Buzz and Bumble Paper pack. The little strip at the bottom is border strip from the very top of the black For Always paper pack. The sentiment is from Fabulous You Stamp set.

CTMH supplies used for these projects.
Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge :
Artiste Cricut Cartridge
 CTMH cardstock
Buzz and Bumble
For Always Paper Pack
Fabulous You Stamp Set

Summer is a comin'

Here in southeast Virginia, the weather has definitely changed into warm summer days. Don't know what happened to spring, but the air conditioner is on and I'm already thinking of some summer crafts. One of the things I saw when the weather was frightful was the really cute Flip Flop Wreath that is all over Pinterest. So I have been gathering my supplies and today I finally got a chance to work on mine. All of these pics were taken with my phone so the pics aren't the best but I wanted to show you how I achieved the look. I did a lot of searching until I finally found a site that actually said how they attached the flip flops to the wreath.https://familystyleliving.wordpress.com/tag/flip-flop-wreath/

So here is how I did it.
Supplies:
16 flip flops ( found @ thrift stores and dollar tree)
piece of foam board (found @thrift store)
strips of fabric to cover foam board (made from a sheet I found @ thrift store, you can't really see it, but if you look close (click to enlarge pic) between the 2 lime ff at the bottom of the pics you will see it
flat assorted gems, have had for years
silk flowers
jewelry glue
lightweight wire
wire cutters
awl
large eyed needle 

Directions:
Decide how large you want your wreath. I traced a grapevine wreath on the foam board and cut it out to make my wreath base. I have a storm door and there is not a lot of clearance between the front door and the storm door so I wanted the finished wreath to be as unbulky as possible.

I then took my fabric and tore 3 inch strips to wrap the wreath form. You can use ribbon of course, I just had the perfect fabric to go with my colors. Sorry no pictures of this step.
Started laying out my flip flops, the first layer I placed all the the toes to the inside. You will use your awl to make two holes thru the flip flop and thru the foam board, I used the large eyed needle threaded with the light weight wire to place the wire in the holes I made with the awl on each flip flop around the wreath to secure it to the wreath.

Once the first layer is down, the next layer goes between two bottom flip flops with the heel into the center as shown with the blue flip flop on the bottom of the picture. I used my awl and wire and needle to  attach each flop on the top layer on each side of the top flop, going thru the top flop, the bottom flop ( in the picture above, there would be wires going thru the blue, pink and foam board on one side and blue, green daisy and foam board on the other.) Believe me when you are finished wiring, those flip flops are going no place.

Then it's time to decorate. I had a bag of gems that I purchased years ago, probably at Michael's or Walmart and I just blinged them up. Add the silk flowers and you are ready to hang. Didn't it come out cute. I love it. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask, I'll try and help.
And the finished product....

My Newest Grandson and a big request- please vote

Many of you know that in addition to my paper crafts, I also do Machine Embroidery. One of my favorite sites for designs is having a contest right now, thru Monday the 25th of February contest. Applique Momma has some terrific designs and I've used one of my favorite for Graham's outfit. I chose to do his onesie in the tartan he is named for. Isn't he just the cutest thing. I really need you to click on the contest link and vote for my photo and my little man Graham.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GO TO CONTEST AND VOTE FOR MY WORK.
thanks so much

Spring is coming....someday

A little lamb decorated basket, for Easter and a couple of cards for Mother's day or an other occasion. The rose card uses the new paper pack For Always along with a bold white daisy rosette, enhanced with the new Washi tape in slate, and last months Stamp of  the Month Rose. I've left room at the bottom right to add a small banner with a sentiment when i decides who to give this too. The banner card started with a random stamped sheet of 8.5x11 plain white cardstock, colors, olive, pear and Lagoon, a little art philosophy butterfly, stamped with the musical notes background stamped and sponged in cashmere completes the card. The nicest thing is that I still have a ton of my random stamped sheet to make some quick cards when I need too.

All the cuts from Art Philosophy, the scalloped circle is 5.5 inches, so this is large enough for some really nice surprises., If you want the cut sizes, just leave a message and I'll look them up for you.

I took this picture to show my ladies how just adding the smallest flourish to fill in the white spaces makes all the difference. click on the picture to enlarge and notice the difference between the top of the paper and the bottom.

I love comments and hope that if you like what you see, you'll leave me a little note to let me know.

January Cards for Valentines

I just love Owls, always have and always will, so when Close To My Heart introduced the Winter special, Whos Your Valentine, I knew I would be using it a lot, for all types of cards, starting with Valentines. Our club this month made the 3 cards on the left for their projects. The card on the far left is a pull out card, where you lift the little blush and chocolate owl and a separate card pulls out. I used an embossing template that I smeared chocolate ink on before embossing to impart the color on the tree bark lines. The top card with the little owl sitting on a branch was done again with a new embossing template that is made by Darcie, with the embossing sanded to remove the top layer of desert sand cardstock and expose the white core. I just love how easy this is and how dramatic it makes the image pop. Then a sentiment and a few little hearts compliment the card. The multi heart card is actually a tri-fold card and all the hearts were cut with the Artiste Cricut cartridge using the real size dial and the stamp set even tells you what page and what size to cut them. I used some retired paper for the floral hearts and the stamp set for the the chevrons and x's and o's, and brayered on color for the solid ones. I couldn't be easier and all the sentiments come from the Whos Your Valentine stamp set too. Since I have a brand new little grandson, Graham, I thought I'd send him the one on the bottom right, the banner was stamped with the chevron stamp, the background is embossed with Swiss Dots template and sanded to pop and focal points stamped in Indian Corn Blue and punched out. The top right card is just a white on white embossed card with an embossed heart accented with ruby cardstock. Think I'll use this one for my special someone of 45 years. Hope you all have a wonderful Valentines. I love to read what people think of my work, so please feel free to leave a comment.

retirement list for the 2012 products

Here's the current list of items retiring. They are available while supplies last so if you've been thinking about getting them now is the time:

Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book

Item # Item Description Page #
Z1349 Shimmer Designer Brads 127
Z1360 Rhinestone Designer Brads 127
Z1361 Brads Red Assortment 127
Z1362 Brads Pink Assortment 127
Z1363 Brads Blue Assortment 127
Z1364 Brads Green Assortment 127
Z1365 Brads Basic Assortment 127
Z1387 Wooden Designer Buttons 125
Z1391 Buttons Clear Assortment 125
Z1395 Irresistibles™ Eclectic Chipboard Die-Cuts (the alphabet) 130
Z1465 Irresistibles™ Make-It-Count Numbers 130
Z1681 Dimensional Elements Numbers 131
Z1761 Dimensional Elements Ornaments 131
Z1762 Dimensional Elements Snowflakes 131
Z1765 Color-Ready Arbor Wooden Shapes 130
X7147C Stella Complements Canvas Shapes 68
X7148C My Stickease® Pemberley Assortment 68
X7150C My Stickease® Victory Assortment 69
X7153C My Stickease® Florentine Assortment 69
X7158C La Belle Vie My Stickease® Assortment 38
X7160C Flirty Complements Dimensional Elements 50
X7161C Moonlight Complements Dimensional Elements 56
X7162C Pear & Partridge Complements Glittery Rub-Ons 62
Z1464 Milepost Shapes 128
Z1466 Bling Assortment 128
Z1695 Urban Felt Alphabet 130
Z1696 Keepsake Felt Alphabet 130
Z1709 Just Blooms® Petals Paper Flowers 129
Z1460 Foundry® Ribbon Slides 126
Z1711 Foundry® Binder Clips 126
Z1712 Foundry® Number Plates 126
Z1461 Décor Journaling Spots 129
Z1687 Bohemian Assortment 128
Z1689 Timeless Charms 128
Z1692 Tough Tags 128
Z1694 Bouquet Assortment 128
Z1741 Haunted Assortment 128
Z1749 Autumn Lane Assortment 128
Z1763 Boutique Assortment 128

Z1772 Dimensional Elements In Color—Holiday 128
Z1393 Mini-Medley Accents Black Collection 126
Z1316 Designer Ribbon Cocoa Collection 124
Z1385 Designer Ribbon Blue Collection 124
Z1615 Designer Ribbon Red Collection 124
Z1616 Designer Ribbon Green Collection 124
Z1388 Newsprint Rub-Ons 130
Z1700 Dark Chocolate Tapestry Velvet Rub-Ons 126
Z1733 Black Tapestry Velvet Rub-Ons 126
Z1743 Festive Velvet Rub-Ons 126
Z1742 Parlor Velvet Rub-Ons 126
Z1407 6" x 6" Olive Quick Pic™ Album 122
Z1408 6" x 6" Pansy Purple Quick Pic™ Album 122
Z1054 My Creations® Display Album 132
Z1378 My Creations® Banner 132
Z1614 My Creations® Memory Game 132
Z188 Craft Jars 120
Z1352 4 1/2" Colonial White Circle Cards 123
Z1353 4 1/2" White Daisy Circle Cards 123
Z1731 My Originals® Sweet Surprises Card Kit 123
X7147B My Reflections® Stella Paper Packet 68
X7148B My Reflections® Pemberley Paper Packet 68
X7150B My Reflections® Victory Paper Packet 69
X7153B My Reflections® Florentine Paper Packet 69
X7158B La Belle Vie Paper Packet 38
X7160B Flirty Paper Packet 50
X7161B Moonlight Paper Packet 56
X7162B Pear & Partridge Paper Packet 62

Z1252 Cutting Knife 135
G1041 Workshops on the Go® Avonlea Cardmaking Kit 22
G1043 Workshops on the Go® Pear & Partridge Cardmaking Kit 66
G1040 Workshops on the Go® Spellbound Cricut® Kit 14
G1042 Workshops on the Go® Scroll Album Kit 23
G1044 Workshops on the Go® Advent Calendar Kit 67
G1045 Workshops on the Go® Avonlea Scrapbooking Kit 21
G1046 Workshops on the Go® Clementine Scrapbooking Kit 29
G1047 Workshops on the Go® Dakota Scrapbooking Kit 35
G1048 Workshops on the Go® La Belle Vie Scrapbooking Kit 41
G1049 Workshops on the Go® Scholastic Scrapbooking Kit 47
G1050 Workshops on the Go® Flirty Scrapbooking Kit 53
G1051 Workshops on the Go® Moonlight Scrapbooking Kit 59
G1052 Workshops on the Go® Pear & Partridge Scrapbooking Kit 65

Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book

Item # Item Description Page #
A1104 A Tweet 90
A1111 A Tulip 68
A1116 A Melody 94
A1122 Bravo 92
A1128 Quick Cards—Shell 80
A1129 A Rainbow 85
B1365 Spring Up 71
B1369 Rosy Regards 67
B1374 Bee Happy 83
B1397 He Is Risen 74
B1402 My Peeps 72
C1439 Enjoy Life 95
C1440 Take a Picture 93
C1442 Tailor-Made 94
C1450 Eclectic Edges 99
C1452 Delight 71
C1455 Aspire 96
C1456 Heartfelt Treasures 68
C1457 Happy Camper 84
C1458 Paper Lantern 90
C1473 Remarkable Wreath 70
C1474 10 Things 105
C1485 Super Powers 47
C1498 Country Life 82
C1499 Perfect Day 80
D1195 The Works Alphabet 117
D1222 Tiny Typewriter Alphabet 117
D1296 Chocolate Alphabet Small 114
D1301 Hodge Podge Alphabet 114
D1303 Classmate Alphabet 114
D1462 Splendid Day 77
D1464 Card Chatter—Love 106
D1467 Trees & Things 76
D1472 Simple Memories 66
D1478 Bingo Alphabet 113
D1505 Roar! 89
D1508 Diverse Backgrounds 102
D1509 Magic Adventures 78
D1511 Kick Back 81
E1013 Field Trip Alphabet 114

Updated 12/4/12

Wishes and Hope for a Cure

This is a very special necklace which I am proud to offer for sale. Truly a family affair, the glass vial held the insulin which helps to keep my wonderful son-in-law and beautiful 3 year old grandson alive everyday since they both have type 1 diabetes and need this insulin to live. The fluff inside was lovingly collected by my older grandsons from dandelions in the yard, which they still love to blow into the wind with a wish. The leather stopper is cut from my hubby's stash of leather that he uses to make his beautiful native american wares. I added the charms, WISH and an awareness ribbon charm that says HOPE with a blue bead for the blue circle which is a symbol for type 1. Just let me know you want it and I'll send you an invoice. $30