Use Your Scraps part 2

As promised, I have another card using the scraps of paper I have left from card making.  I decided to
grab some scraps that I had left over from embossing projects.  I love bright colors, and I decided to
go with some fresh Spring colors.  I used different embossed papers to give my card some variety of texture.  I recently purchased new stamps on clearance and I loved the sentiment.  My Martha Stewart butterfly punch finished off the card nicely with some tiny pearls.  I punched two butterflies and
glued them together to give the illusion of flying.

What to do with your paper scraps?

I decided to challenge myself to come up with new cards using scraps of paper I have leftover from my card making and scrapbooking.  Because St. Patrick's Day is a few weeks away, I decided to start with a green card with a St. Patty's Day theme.  I went thru my green scraps (I separate my paper scraps by color) and picked out some printed paper that coordinated well together.  I then pulled out some of my Irish stamps.

I love using baker's twine, buttons and rhinestones on my cards.  I plan on posting a new card
every day this week using just scraps from my paper leftovers.

What to do with an old punch!!

At one time I purchased quite a few punches.  Then all those punches just sat in drawers in my craft room.  I recently pulled out a punch I purchased and came up with an alternative use for the design.
Because I have been creating Christmas cards lately, I was thinking of a Christmas tree and looked at the punch and a light went off!!  Sorry for the lousy picture, my camera broke and I had to scan this card.  Haven't been able to edit the picture better.  I'm going to pull out more punches and think outside of the box.  Can you guess what this punch is ?  It is a Fiskars small hand punch. Great for using for kids cards, but also can be used to create a Christmas tree!!  The thumb is hidden under the layers and I just cut the thumb off when I came to the edge of tree.

I started by die cutting a Christmas tree base from the Create a Critter cartridge.  The reindeer page had a tree which was perfect for my card.  I used green and light green glitter paper from Joann's Fabrics and Crafts.  Then I started punching out lots of hands.  I covered the tree base with adhesive so my hands would stick well.  Starting at the bottom, I layered hand alternating the colors.  I had red and white pearls which worked great as Christmas balls.  I used my embossing folder to creat the white dotted background and found some great snowflake acetate stickers for snowflakes.  I cut a strip of white card stock to create the hill and added a strip of glue and glitter for  some snow.  I popped up my snow bank because I love dimension on my cards.  I just love the way this tree came out.

Old Crafts in New Ways

I decided to pull out some old Plaid stencils I had in the basement.  My challenge to myself today, was to create some new cards using stencils, both plastic and brass.  I like using other craft tools in different ways.  So first I decided to use the sun stencil and create a background.  I mixed yellow and orange inks together using makeup sponges.  I lightly pounced the stencil and came up with a beautiful background.  Next, I thought I'd do a card for a child using the frog stencil.  I used a few different color green inks. On my third card I thought I'd use some southwest color inks.  I inked the lizard and then cut it out.  And finally, on my 4th card I dry embossed the seahorse and then used the brass stencil and inked the seahorse so it would stand out.

Christmas is coming so fast!!

Wow!  I just realized this morning that Christmas is a short 23 days away.  I haven't put up a decoration yet!!
We will be celebrating Christmas in our new place.  I am very excited, especially since we now have a fireplace and a mantel to hang stockings.  I wanted to post a few pictures of Christmas cards I made yesterday. 
Last year I got a lot of Christmas stamp sets, punches and diecuts.  I was overwhelmed when I got all
my new stuff out.  So I decided to take one stamp set at a time.  I'll come up with gift cards, tags, and other fun paper crafts.  I figure this will help me focus more!  I also wanted to post some pictures I took of my craft room.

I didn't have a background stamp I liked for this card..  So I used a small snowflake stamp

to create an embossed and unique background.  Small white pearls fit perfectly inside each flake.

For this card I pulled out some flowers I bought on clearance.  They remind me of poinsettias.  I embossed
a swirly background with an embossing folder.  Love to use these for quick backgrounds.  I then die cut a label and stamped a greeting.

I die cut a holly branch to start this card.  There were small spots for the berries where I added rhinestones.

On the tree card, I again embossed in white.  I then added small rhinestones.  I found some glitter printed paper which matched so well.  I just love when it all comes together!!

 My fiance built me shelves which I needed for all my boxes which hold stickers, embellishments, etc.

 I found a lot of fabric boxes at the dollar store.  They hold and a lot and are sturdy enough for my supplies.

 Anyone who scrapbooks or designs cards, knows paper is our biggest supply.  I found a cardboard paper holder at Staples and I also got a wooden cabinet from JoAnn's which holds my cricut and sissix machines.

 

 Trying to keep a clear work area is my biggest problem.  I start pulling out stamps, glitter, inks, and scissors and I have a real mess in no time.

My creative space is small, very small. 

Where did the month of May go?

I am in the midst of switching jobs, so for the last few weeks I have been working 2 part time jobs, as well as a weekly farmer's market in Moorestown, NJ.  I wake up and have to figure out where I need to be that day!  Fortunately, I will be down to one job soon and the market.  Then I can focus on my Etsy shop which has been depleted with lots of sales at the farmer's market.  I've got so much to make!  I wanted to share a card I made this past Friday.  I worked 10am - 10pm, and I'm still trying to recuperate!  I purchased a Personal Cricut Machine last year on sale with my employee discount.  My favorite cartridge is Create a Critter.  I love owls and just thought a blue owl would be a perfect color to coordinate with my background paper.  I found a company named The Pink Stamper which has stamps made specifically to go with the Critter images.  The stamps are great quality polymer stamps and I love the adorable sayings.

A few rhinestones and glitter add a wonderful look too.  I use my odds and ends of embellishments to add  extra pizazz.  Ever wonder what to do with left over alphabet stickers?  I mixed and matched 2 different sets for the hogs and kisses card.  I hate to waste anything!

I hope to post at least once a week, now that my crazy schedule is getting a little bit better.  I'd like to get out some of the supplies I've purchased and never used.  Another idea I have is to show one stamp used in  different cards or layouts.  The Scottish have a saying about "make do" - use what you have.  What supplies and materials do you have that can be used in a new and fresh way? 

Keep it simple

I am not good at doing anything with moderation.  I've always been a "more is better" kind of girl.  That kind of thinking can get you into lots of trouble!!  So today I strive to keep some balance in my life.  I try not to let my life get cluttered with "stuff", either the physical or the mental.  I love the message on this card and I wanted it to be the main focus.  Shadow inks are great for creating a soft background.  I stamped the scroll in a soft wheat colored ink.  The Serenity Prayer was stamped in black ink.  In order to cut down on all the white space, I took a small dauber brush and lightly tapped some linen ink into the background.  For a final touch, I punched the corners and added some white pearls.  This card says serenity to me - which I haven't had  lately.

Create an embellishment

There are times when I just don't have the right embellishment to add to one  of my cards.  I was making a card today with an Asian theme.  I got out my box of Asian doo-dads, and found some covered wire I bought.  Then I went thru my floss boxes (this is where I keep most of my brads, buttons, jewels, etc.) and found some little buttons I got on sale.  I cut off the back of the button and attached it to the silver strand which I tied into a bow.  A few mini glue dots to secure it all, and I had the perfect embellishment for my Good Luck card!!

Bits and pieces

Ever wonder what to do with the leftover punches and diecuts you have?  I pulled a few things out of my jar of leftover scraps.  The butterfly was colored with distress ink  to the color I needed.  I added a little gel pen dots to the scallop.  A few more scraps out of my paper boxes and voila!!  So check out those punch outs laying around.  Can you add some color or glitter? 

Tip for Today - check out the clearance shelves and racks

I work in retail and our store like others has clearance items.  Check with your favorite stores, and find out when they mark down items.  Being friendly with sales people helps - I always chat with sales staff and thank them for their help.   I bought 3  packages of clear stamps orginally priced $9.99 for $.97 each!!  These stamps had been marked down a few times, but I waited until I knew the price would be at it's lowest.

From scraps to cards

I wanted to share a card I created for Valentine's Day using some scraps of paper I had.  I gathered a few pieces of printed black paper and started trying out different combinations of patterns and prints.  I liked how the polka dots and music and flowers combined together without overpowering each design.  I cut out a red heart from leftover card stock using my cricut cartride George and Basic Shapes.  I then embossed the heart using a cuttlebug embossing folder and my Big Kick Sizzix machine.  I added a red satin ribbon and punched a white scallop.
One of my favorite embellishments are pearls available at most craft stores. I used two small red metallic pearls on this card.  The base of the card is white.