Archive for July, 2009

Paper Wishes did an entire week of webisodes that concentrated on cards.  This card was one of them and they were nice enough to give us a free template and instructions.  I love this little flower card.  I think it is the cut out in the papers.

Although, all of it is not made from Paper Wishes paper the design is theirs.  The border mat behind the flower is from their Cards and More collection.  I had the green polka dot paper and the black & white polka dot paper to make the strip across the card.  Used a MS border punch and cut the slots in so the ribbon could run in and out.

The ribbon was a $1 find at M’s and there is a little charm hanging off of it that says Thank You.  Everything is inked and the center of the flower is glitter paper.

Here is the inside.  I made this card for my next door neighbor.  They invited us to a July 4th get together at their house and we had a great time.

I added some bling to the mat border paper and carried it through on the green strip of paper.  This picture doesn’t show it but I used a Sakura glitter pen to highlight some areas and I will be writing an “I’m sorry this took so long” message.

I’ll definitely make this card again, although it is a bit challenging to get the flower petals glued down in the right place and order.  I’ll also make it using a color card stock.  I’m not a fan of white card stock for the base of a card.  Nothing wrong with it, but for my taste it’s a little to plain.

Thanks for looking and may God bless your desires and answer them with a resounding yes!

I love ribbon and every time I go to Michael’s I walk out with a bundle of them.  Maybe it’s the little girl in me.  I don’t think I’ve grown up in some areas.

As you can see there is a mess of ribbon and yes, I took the ribbon off their cardboard spools and wound them around doll pins.  I love this method of storing because it takes up less room and I can see the ribbon.

I keep my collection of ribbons in this 3 tier wire basket and it sets in the window of my craft studio.  What this picture doesn’t show is the pretty little yellow “Duckie” that sits in the top basket and keeps watch over these little jewels.  He is needed because of Henry (the cat).

I would not be surprise if I walk in one morning and the cat has OD on the ribbon.  He loves ribbon and if he ever realized there are three baskets almost full, I’m sure he would dive right in.

Luckily, the investment in this collection has happend $1 at a time because of M’s $1 ribbon.  Sometimes, I get it at a bargain and sometimes I just have to pay the full price.  One thing I’ve noticed is that I’m missing some colors so I’m sure I need to get on over to M’s and fill in the gaps!

Thanks for stopping by and may your day be filled with the breath taking beauty of ribbon, sunshine and the wonders of life.  Do something good for someone today and watch that blessing come back to you.

Remember the flowers on an earlier post with the ugly centers?  Well, I couldn’t help myself I went back to Michael’s 10 for 10 bins and got a few more colors.

Here is the purple and orange put together with a rhinestone center.

I took the centers out (there is a blue one and a pink one).

I was playing around with the petals and seeing what some stickles would look like on them.  This one has pink stickles.  I didn’t care for the way it turned out.

I liked this one better, because the stickles was just one of the white ones (white lace, I think) and when it dried it lets the underneath color shine through.

I think by far though this one is my favorite.  I used Staz-on black ink and a floral designed stamp and inked the various layers of the petals.  Yes, you are seeing some of the stickles showing up on the back petals of the flower.  You need a little bling.

I think this would also lend itself to a monochromatic color, or maybe doing some heat embossing.  I may need to go back to M’s to pick up some more.

Here they are in all of the “Flower Power”!  What would I do we these you ask.  Well, I would definately where them on my shoulder as an accessory, but I can also see one of these in the center of a card or on a layout.

They are easily pulled apart and they are just $1.  I think the brads cost more than the flower.  I’ll keep messing around with them and see what else I can come up with.  Maybe a little spray of my favorite cologne or I could add a little tag with a saying on it.

Got to go and write down everything that is zinging through my brain on these.  Leave me a comment I like hearing from everyone!

Ok, this is my last post from the finds of our recent McKinney trip.

We would call this a hanger with clips, but according to the owner of the shop where we purchased this little jewel, it is called a French Lingerie Hanger…..Ooh, La, La!

I can tell you I’ve never had lingerie that small so I’m thinking those French ladies may want to put on a little weight.

I love this little hanger with its tag and clips.  It has found it’s home right there in amongst the created  and swapped cards on the wire rack and will actually help hold some in the near future. 

I love “little” things and this just makes me smile every time  I look at it.  I know there is no way that is going to be able to hold a pair of “granny lingerie” unless I make a card that has some “granny lingerie” on it….oh let’s not go there!

Aren’t these cute!!  These are old spools used for twine and thread.  You guessed it, this is some more of the great finds we found on our recent trip.

I like to take my ribbon off the card board spools it comes on and I usually wind them around a doll pin (it looks like an old fashion clothes pin).  This way they are neatly rolled up and they hang out in a wire three tier basket in all their beauty and splendor.  They serve as form and function and I love having them displayed so I can get a little inspiration.

However, if I could afford (they run $6.50 a spool)  200 of these type of spools I would wind my ribbon on them.  I love the old fashion feel and look.

They came with the ribbon and twine that you see here but as soon as I use it up, I’ll be placing some more exiting styles on them.  Their home is in a glass apathacary bowl.  They get a special place because …..well just because.

I had told myself I didn’t need this tool.  I had an eyelet setter that I was perfectly happy with until I saw Mary’s video on making the mini album out of TP rolls.  Mary’s blog link is on the right side of my website, just go on over and click on Cardz for U.

Since she said it was a lot easier to punch the holes and set the eyelets with the Crop-A-Dile, I decided I would go ahead and get one.  Luckily, Micheal’s was running the 50% off coupons last week so I took the dip and used the coupon to get a bargain.

I haven’t used it yet or even messed around with it.  I’m currently collecting TP rolls so I can start the project and when it is done I’ll give a review on the crop-a-dile and the TP album I’m making following Mary’s video.  Mary you are such an enabler!

Oh my, sometimes I just cannot help myself.  Over a year ago my #2 daughter bought me a few bottles of German Glass from a cute store called 120 in McKinney.  This store is very vintage and French in it’s items.  We make sure we check them out every time we go to McKinney and of course I have to add more German Glass to my new and upcoming collection.

This is not glitter it is glass that is cut in various grades from extra course to fine.  The silver German Glass tarnishes so it really gives you an old world feel.

No, I haven’t used any of it yet, but remember that wire rack I found? I’ve got an idea for something to hang on it using the German Glass.  I can’t wait for you to see it.

Remember my shopping trip to McKinney?  In one of the antique shops I stumbled across a package of vintage eyelets in various colors.  Look at the price for 20 eyelets, a whopping $.15.  There were two of this type of packages and then the longer package had a lot more brads in them.

So here is the long box turned over.  It says 300 eyelets for $.50.  I asked my daughter if it would be considered wrong to buy them and then use them, after all they were vintage.  She said, “No, that is why you are buying them”.

Well, I decided it will be two of these eyelets that will be fitting into that TP album I’m making.  We’ll see how well they hold up or if they lost some of their integrity over the years.

Tapex Eyelet Pliers, I wonder what those pliers look like?

It is so hot here in Texas (we are in a long string of over 100 degree days) and this is one of the native plants that just thrives in this heat.  The beloved Crete Myrtle, shown here it looks like watermelon pink, but it is actually “Bottle Rocket Red”.  This was taken outside in the bright sun light, but it looks like it was taken at night.  Love these trees that grow up with such beauty and grace and they have beautiful bark on their trunks.  My day started with cleaning out my flowerbeds and pulling out the flowers that had subcumbed to the heat.  One pleasure that I enjoy is working in the flowerbeds and playing in dirt.  I can’t explain it, it is something in my make-up that enjoys gardening.

 The rest of my day was spent with Amber (#2 daughter).  We went shopping and although I feel a little guilty for helping out the economy so much, I did find a lot of things.  There is a town near us called McKinney that has cute shops and restaurants around the square.  We found some super cute stuff and I think some pretty cool deals.

This is is a large wire rack.  It looks like one of those that used to be used to display potato chips.  It is perfect to display the cards I’ve made and haven’t given away and also to display some of those cards I ‘ve received.

 It immediately found it’s new home on a blank wall I had left open for some vinyl words.  However, I’m having a difficult time finding something I want up there and this fits the bill  for now.  I’m also going to use it to display my Christmas Cards I receive at Christmas, I think it will work perfectly for that too.

 I found a couple of other things but I’ll post about them later.  Thanks for looking and be sure and leave me a note.

Good morning, I wanted to do a little plug for my #1 daughter’s new website, Loop-de-Loo (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6005587).    She is a very talented lady and has some very cute and unique items.  This is the beginning post and she will be adding things to  it so be sure and keep checking back.

I personally love the black and white bracelet and I can tell you those hair accessories are even more beautiful when you see them in person.  She is always on the look out for new items to add interest and make things unique.  She also does things in custom colors all you have to do is ask.  I’ve added her to my blog roll and you guest it she is being added to the list to receive a blog award.

Be sure to hop over and take a look and leave her a comment.