Archive for May, 2009

Now that Amber’s birthday is over, I’ll show the information and tutorial on her card.  This will be broken up into a couple of postings since it gets pretty lengthy.

So, let’s begin…..

Cricut E & Cartridges: Beyond Birthdays (BYB), Plantin (PL), George (G)

CuddleBug – Happy Birthday Folder

Card stock:  Stampin Up Royal Regals (Olive Green and Mustard Yellow, Brown)

Gold Metallic Thread:  Ribbon – Michael’s $1 bin:  Pins – JoAnn’s Decorative Pins

Stampendous Embossing Powder – Jeweled Gold Transparent & Marcasite Opaque

Scribbles 3-D Paint – Shiny Hot Chocolate, Iridescent Cooper, Shiny Lemon Yellow, Shiny Black, Iridescent White Mist, Iridescent Gold.

MPCT Technique: Odorless Mineral Spirits; Prisma Pencils – #1 Group of leaves – Dark Umber PC947, Spanish Orange PC1008, Pale Vermilion PC921, White PC938; #2 Group of leaves – Tuscan Red PC937, Orange PC918, Canary Yellow PC916, Creme PC914.

Colorbox Chalk Ink – Creamy Brown – Note:  All parts of the card edges have been inked.

Tip:  At this point, let me say you don’t have to use the exact same things I used, for example if you don’t have the Prisma Pencil and you have Chalks use them.  The difference will be a softer color on the petals.  If you don’t have 3-D Scribble paints, you can use acrylic paint to make the dots in the center of the sunflower.  Take a pencil that has been sharpened or the end of a paint brush and dip it in the paint and then dot it on the center.  If you load the end of the pencil or paint brush in the paint and then on the center each time (ex. pencil, paint, dot on the center) the dots will all be the same size.  If you load the pencil/paint brush with paint then dot it on the center three times consecutively, each dot will be smaller than the last.

 Cut 3 cards 1) mustard, 2) olive green using the Beyond Birthday cart @ 10″ x 5″.

Cut 2 mats in mustard that are 5″ x 5″.  Tip:  You can  cut 2 mustard cards with ovals and 2 olive green cards with ovals; however, you will have 5″x5″ mustard card with an oval cut left over and you will still need to cut a mustard mat 5″x5″ to cover the back of the card (more about this later). 

 

 

 

Score the Mustard cs at 5″ and fold, cut the Olive cs in half and take the side with the oval and cut it down as a mat for the front of the card and align it with the oval on the Mustard card. 

Tip: When I have this where I want it I use a repositional tape runner to hold the mat in place while I sew around it. 

The black you are seeing through the oval is a black foam board the card is sitting on.

 

Using the shift key in PL cut 24 -25 leaves @ 1.237″ x 2.475. 

 

 

 

  

Tip:  I cut these using the mustard colored card stock.  The MCPT works best on a very heavy smooth paper; however, this particular card stock holds up well to the coloring and layering of colors.  Since the petals are varying shades of yellow, browns, oranges and reds this mustard base color helps with obtaining a vibrant color underneath.

You will need to cut the stems off of the leaves to make them into petals.

Ok, I’m going to stop here for this tutorial and I’ll add to it tomorrow.  I also reserve the right edit this after it posts in case I figure out I forgot something (you know how that goes).  There is some exciting information coming so stay tuned or as they say on  TV “to be continued”……

Today is my youngest daughter’s birthday.  It has been a very busy day for us.  Our church had 12 baby dedications today.  We know that dedication services are more about the parents because they have been assigned the task of raising that child.

We left church, picked-up my Mother drove about 30-40 minutes to Amber’s, picked her up and headed to meet the rest of the family at the restaurant.  We ate at a place call “Buca’s” (Italian) and you know the rest of the story we ate too much.

One of the things Amber said she wanted for her birthday was to have help hanging some blinds.  She had mentioned this earlier and I came prepared with my drill/screw driver.  I got one hung, and then because I don’t have a very powerful drill, I could not get the other two hung.  I broke off one drill bit and another is stuck.  Hopefully, we can get that stuck drill bit out and find a more powerful drill (hmmmm, I’m sure I need a professional grade power drill/screwdriver and I also discovered I need a table saw).

My Mother’s air conditioner brace needs replacing, so I decided I could make it myself.  We tried the one they sell at HD but it puts a lot of weight on the window frame and Mother was not comfortable with that.

What you can’t see is this is a rectangle with a middle board for a brace and I have metal corner anchors to keep the corners square.  I’m painting everything white to go with her house.

Finally, these are the two side panels that will go on the inside of the house between the air conditioner and the sides of the windows.  The air conditioner came with plastic expandable panels but they are coming apart.  I’ll place these new white (Masonite) panels then caulk around them.

Right now I have kilz on them and then I’ll finish painting them white.  Yep, we measured nailed, screwed, cut the masionite and painted.  Now we’ll see how well these fit, I’m shooting to get this completely painted and installed next Friday.

The picture at the beginning of this post is an Asparagus Fern that is in the flowerbed as you walk up to my front door.  This fern has been divided and moved numerous times and it is about 5-6 years old.  I love it’s beautiful green color and because it has been in my garden for years it feels like an old friend.

Ok, now that Amber’s birthday is here, I’ll be putting up the information about her card.  Thanks for looking and be sure and leave me a comment, I love hearing from you!

This is a columvine flower.  I have two of these and when they bloom their blooms are 5″ wide.  They are very striking and this is a vine that runs up a trellis by my front door.  It grows in partial shade.  The other one is similar in color and runs up the pole of a birdhouse and it grows in full sun.

This will be a short post because I am so tired!  I mowed three yards (my yard, my neighbor’s yard (this was a RAK) and my Mother’s yard), came home and cleaned up and ran to Garden Ridge to get a new umbrella (it is chartreuse), then to lunch, over to Fry’s Electronics (needed a personal hard-drive), then to my Mother’s to pick up stuff she needed taken off (our city is having a Green-up), then to Home Depot for lumber, a few moments of rest and out to clean out the garage.

We are suppose to have a lot of rain here today and I’m building my Mother a brace to hold her air conditioner and panels for the sides of her air conditioner where it doesn’t meet the sides of the window.  I’ll have to paint and caulk them.  I’ll be sure and take some pictures so you can see my handy work with power tools.

Once that is done I’ll work on my Granddaughter’s nap sack.  I want her to have it for day care on Monday.  Oh yea, then my youngest daughter’s birthday is Sunday.  That means I’ll be able to show everyone the completed card and some how to pictures.

So stay tune things are about to heat up!

The forecast said only a 20% chance of rain.  Then the next thing I knew the sky was green and the wind was blowing like crazy.  I heard the crash and knew instantly that my table on the deck had bit the dust.  Unfortunately, it scattered the glass in millions of pieces and broke the umbrella.  Fortunately, most of those pieces of glass were on the inside of the unbrella.

I get to add to my list of things I’ve done in my life….fishing for glass in grass.  We cleaned up the mess and our city was also having a “green-up” week so the remains of my lovely table and umbrella was taken out to the dumpsters for scrap metal.  It was a matching set, so now I have to start the process of finding a table, umbrella that will coordinate with the chairs that were left and not cost us an arm and a leg.

I know I haven’t posted any cards or tutorials lately, but I’m currently working on three different cards and a napsack for my granddaughter.  So, coming up very soon (that would be next week) there will be a series of new items to look at.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure and leave me a comment, I love hearing from you all!

There are all sorts of phases and degrees of love but nothing more significant than that agape love, that loves without conditions.

Our heavenly Father loves us that way and oh for a world that would do the same.

 

 

 

This is one of my favorite cards.  I think it is because of the black, red and white color theme. 

It’s pretty simple, black CS with two pattern papers, some rub-ons, a bracket with a couple of grommets and I stickled the heart.  The word love was cut out of one of my cricut cartridges (unfortunately, I can’t remember which one).  The ribbon is from Michael’s.

 

The hearts are actually flocked red and then I drew in the sting on which it looks like they are hanging.

Simple, sweet and an easy peasy one to make.

The flower at the beginning of this post is a Day Lilly in Blush Pink.  I have fallen in love with Day Lillys the beauty is so fleeting but when you catch a glimpse of it, it will take your breath away.

You just click on the picture to get a larger view and don’t forget to let me hear from you!

Good afternoon all!  I apologize for the late post.  I’ve been very busy with a challenge on the Cricut MB and got lost in the moment.

I have two daughters (Brandy and Amber).  When I was pregnaent with both I prayed that God would give me girls and my prayer was answered both times.  These girls are the light of my life.  I don’t know that a mother has loved two girls any more than I have.

These girls are so different, isn’t it amazing how they can be raised in the same household and come out differently.  I love them both because they are so different and equally as challenging.  They keep this Mother on her toes .

This is the card daughter #1 gave me.  She always seems to get those cards that make you LOL and make your thoughts go in one direction and then when you open the card and read the the punch line you realize she had you right where she wanted you.

This child works a full time job, has two children and runs her household (with an awesome SIL) like a well oiled clock.  She is truly a beautiful woman at heart and loves her little family.  Her gift to me on Mother’s Day was this website.  My SIL set it up and got me started and it is a gift that I am enjoying long after the package has been received.

 

This is the card that daughter #2 gave me.  There is a store here in the Dallas area called Paper Source and you can find all kinds of creative things in that store.  This is a very beautiful and simple card.  Bonus, she gave me the template for the vase.

This child has a gift for creating and along with that the eye for those unique items that just seem to work no matter what you put it with.  She is constantly on the go but seems to find time to allow herself to be creative in various mediums and elements.  She is a beautiful women with self confidence and desire to give to others.  She is a wordsmith and poet.  Her ability to paint a picture with words amazes me.

This is also one of the items from Paper Source and as soon as I get them made you will get to see them here on the website.

 

 

 

And finally, the card that keeps on giving for awhile and they wonder why I have so much stuff in my craft studio…..they keep enabling me.

 

 

 

The flower at the beginning of this post is a Marigold.  I love the cherriness of this flower and the dual tone in the petals.

To see a closer view of the picture just click  on the picture.  Leave me a comment, I love hearing from you.

This is a Bradford Pear in full bloom in our backyard this year.  Right next to it is what we call “the little house”.  It’s an aluminum storage shed, but when the girls were young we just called it “the little house”.  Now my #1 daughter wants one for their back yard and when she asked for “a little house”, her husband reminded her, “that is not a little house, that’s a shed”.  One of our best friends laughs everytime we call it “the little house”.  Must be a man thing to be hung up on what it is called.

The paint is peeling on the door (which I keep telling myself it adds character) and it needs to be completely redone.   It doesn’t matter that it’s a shed, or a building or “the little house”.    What matters is  “The little house”, is 23 years old and has been well worth the money and can we talk about how beautiful that tree is standing next to it, really that is where the focus should be.

One thing I have found in card making is it is difficult to find ideas for masculine cards.  This is the B-card I made for my dear SIL.  Although, the card looks complicated, it’s not, it is made out of an 8-1/2″ x 11″ piece of paper.  A little shadowing on the edges, a few brads down the front and a little note in the pocket. 

Tip:  Be sure and use a small uniform pattern paper, they seem to work the best.

 

 

 

A simple little note with some stickers on the inside and the card is complete.

 

 

 

 

This is a sideview of how the shirt folds together.

 

 

 

 

Here you can see the sleeves.

 

 

 

 

I wouldn’t leave you hanging.  One of my favorite websites is Paperwishes.  Paperwishes offers a variety of things but they offer “webisodes” and here is where they show you creative ideas, new products and new techniques. This  webisode ”Folded Shirt” provides you full instructions and you can even pull a template off their website.  You can watch this particular webisode as many times as you need to in order to get all the little details on how to fold the card.  Plus, they have taken this shirt and made it look like a Santa Claus suit as well (I’m thinking this may be my Christmas cards this year).  So, here is the link and let me see your shirts after you’ve made them.  http://www.paperwishes.com/webisodes/?page=high&id=165

Don’t forget you can click on the pictures to make them larger and be sure and leave me a comment, I love hearing from you. 

 

 

I spent the day before Mother’s Day making my Mother a Mother’s Day Card.  It took me most of the day, mainly because I had the privilege of keeping Rylan. 

So, while she was awake I was at her beck-n-call (gladly).  If you get down in the floor with her she thinks that is the signal to jump on you.  I love it, because then giggles and tickling and laughter ensues.

 

 Elements that make up my Mother’s card.

White CS: 1 @ 5-3/4″ x 10″, 2 @ 4-3/4″ x 5-1/5″;  Pink CS: 2 @ 4-7/8″ x 5-1/2″; small Pink and Blue mats for “Happy Mother’s Day”.

Patterned paper: 1 @ 4″ x 5″; MS – Lace Doily punch;

Medallion - Mini-Monogram Cart – 1 blue cut @ 2.5″; 1 blue and 1 pattern cut @ 2.5″ with 2″ welded in center to make a scallop ring.

Butterflies & MOM Medallion  - SCAL cut file; Leaves from K&C with Glossy Accents added; Ribbon  (cut to 6″ lengths) & Rhinestone- $1 bin Michael’s; Glitter – Artglitter (Lemone, Hotkiss) and Stampendous – Pink; Sakura – glitter pen; Stickles – Black for butterfly body and Star Dust to add some sparkle  on the mats.

The butterfly was first colored with Prisma Color Pencils and odorless minieral spirits on the out edges.  The spots on the wings are glittered and then the entire butterfly itself is glittered.  The body is black Stickles and the antenne are drawn in.

The solid blue medallion is the base with the Mom medallion glue on top. I used pop dots to lift the solid blue medallion off the card.  I glued the blue scallop ring to the pattern paper scallop ring (off-setting the scallops) and then tied the three ribbons around them.  Trimmed the ribbon and used pop dots to lift it up off the MOM medallion.

 

 

The inspiration for this card came from “Paper Creations” magazine.

The finish product and of course the inside with another card for M’s attached.  Wow! She got two cards in one!

Here is a bouquet of the first roses off of my Knockout Rose Bush that I planted this Spring.  Thought this was a very fitting and beautiful picture for Mother’s Day.

Enjoy the beauty of God’s creation and as they say, don’t you wish we had smell-a-vision!

 

 

 

So here we are, three generations honoring my Mother on her 80th Birthday back in September, 2008.  Mom’s in the chair, her name is Mauedina but she goes by Dena.  On the left going to the right,  is my #1 daughter (meaning the oldest), Brandy, then Amber is my second daughter and youngest, and then me.

Not long ago, I decided to see if I could get my Mother interested in card making.  I talked to her about it and told her if she was interested in trying a new hobby I would be glad to share some of my stash.  Mother loves to work in her yard,  flowerbeds, she is an avid reader and she loves to crochet.

Mother was definitely interested and so I went through every thing I had and shared with her all the items I had duplicates of or items I didn’t use anymore since I got my Cricut E.  She was a little timid at first but I kept encouraging her and ever so often we would have a day where we would get together and work on a technique. She has made several cards and is doing an outstanding job.

My Mother has crocheted since she was 16 years old.  She said they couldn’t afford thread back then so she would take flour sacks and unravel them and take the threads and roll them in a ball.  She certainly has an appreciation for the balls of thread she can get today in all colors and sizes.   When you look at her work every stitch is perfect, beautiful and a masterpiece.

This is one of her first cards and she made one for both my daughters and me.  Looks a lot better than my first card.  She loves being able to mix her love for crochet with her new found hobby “card making”.  She is working on a cute crochet pin cushion for my stick pins.   I’m also encouraging her to make some crochet flowers, who knows maybe she’ll be able to sell some of them and earn a little extra money for her new hobby.  As soon as we have a completed project I’ll post it. 

I’m so fortunate to have my Mother in my life.  She is healthy, very sharp and always trying to improve her self.  Thanks Mom, for being so supportive and a good friend.  I want you to know I love you very much!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Thought I would post a real easy project.  I did this project when I was creating my Craft Studio.  I got the idea from an overhead banner in the ribbon department at Michael’s.  I happened to notice it is still up when I went the other day.

I had a can that some word graphics came in; however, a Pringle can would work equally well.  I painted the cylinder black and then wrapped it in 3 styles/colors of ribbon, tying the ribbon in a knot to secure it to the cylinder.  You are not limited to the number of colors or patterns.  I just have a tendency to work in odd numbers (3, 5, 7 etc.).

Since my craft studio is in yellow, white and black I chose ribbon to match the decorating theme.  By the way this is $1 ribbon from Michael’s.  Yes, some of the ribbon has a little glitter on it.  We need the bling!

The length of ribbon you will need will vary depending on how big the cylinder is you are wrapping the ribbon around.

Tip:  Once you have figured out the length of ribbon you need to wrap around the cylinder and tie it off with a knot, cut 1 each of the different styles/colors  of  ribbons to the correct length and then lay them out in the pattern you want to achieve.  This will show you how much ribbon you need to cut and keep the pattern in tact as you start tying it around the cyclinder.  It also gives you a chance to play around with the ribbon to figure out a pattern before you cut more than you need.

I worked from the bottom up.  I then folded each strip of ribbon in half to find the center of the ribbon and attached a glue dot.  Press the ribbon (which has the glue dot)  to the center back of the cyclinder and wrap the ribbon around to the front and tie the knot.  The glue dot keeps the ribbon in line and secure as you tie the knot and move up the cyclinder.  I also put a glue dot under the knot to hold it in place.

Here it is sitting on my workstation holding all my rulers.  It’s pretty, has a great form, recylced and functional.  What more could you ask for?

There is something about this piece that makes me smile everytime I see it.  It’s probably because I did something good for the environment….or it could just be I like getting to look at the ribbon!

The flower at the beginning of the post is an orange Day Lily on the Southeast side of my flowerbed.  They are so beautiful but you have to catch them early because their flowers are only here for one day.

Remember, you can click on the picture to enlarge it and get a better look.  Be sure and leave me a comment, I love hearing what you think and as always thank you for stopping by.