Valentine Frame

I recently purchased some Spellbinders Nestabilities - Classic Scalloped hearts and had fun die cutting and embossing all different sizes of hearts.  I had a small frame with a 4 x 6 opening which I painted a baby pink.  I also picked up a Heidi Grace 12 x 12 paper pad called daydream which was discounted and had some lovely double sided prints.  The one I choose has hearts and is a glitter paper which really makes it pop.  I traced the frame onto the paper and cut out using scissors and my trusty exacto knife.  I love Modge Podge for decoupage projects and it worked real well on this frame.  I layers my hearts and added a pearl on top.  I then attached the heart embellishment to my frame - after first adding a coordinating piece of ribbon.  A few pearls on the ribbon added just the right touch.  This would also be lovely for a wedding picture frame.

Cards For Guys

I love using stamps with flower designs and butterflies.  For a more masculine look I decided to create a card a little outside of my comfort zone.  Geometric shapes aren't something I do very often.  For a card with a more masculine feel, I decided to die cut some circles from some printed paper I had from a 6 x 6 card pad from Basic Grey called Shine On.  I also pulled out some stickers from American Crafts.  For the birthday word I used my Create a Critter cartridge from Cricut.

Using My Craft Tools

Where did 2012 go?  I cannot believe we are already nearly 2 weeks into the New Year.  I got married on December 21, 2012 and traveled to North Carolina for the wedding.  Needless to say, December was one heck of a busy month.  Now I am starting 2013 as a married woman just recuperating from the nasty crud of illness that has hit most of the United States.  If you are like me, you see a new craft tool at your local craft store or maybe a stamping/scrapbooking convention.  You purchase this must have goodie and it sits and sits and sits in your craft room.  I've got a lot of tools I bought and some I've forgotten "what do you do with this thing"?  I had purchased a Martha Stewart punch around the page in 2011.  I used one punch a lot as a border punch, but I hadn't used the set.

                                                      DOUBLE LOOPS SET

I found out that you can only use certain size pieces of paper with these punches, using 1 1/4 inch increments.  I used a 3.25 x 5 inch piece of paper for my card.  I experimented on some scrap
paper to get the hang of the punches.  I punched the corners first, and then used the guide on the
large punch to complete punching around the page.  I really love the romantic look of this punch on a Valentine's card I created.   I think I will try a 5.5 x 5.5 square card next, using a 5 x 5 piece of paper to punch.  I'm hoping to continue opening my must have goodies and actually using them for 2013!!

Christmas Gift Tags

I found some great stickers and embellishments and decided to create some gift tags
and bags.  Here are the results!  I used some sissix dies and a cricut cartridge Christmas Dreams.
Some of the tags have already sold in my shop, but I'm hoping to make more for myself to use for
my gifts.  I think it's so nice to add a personal touch to a gift and these gift bags just came out
so beautiful!  I also used some punches and spellbinders dies for the smaller tags.  I may even
create some tags to hang on my tree this year.  Nothing says Christmas like paper arts!!

Christmas card using Alcohol Inks

I love to create backgrounds using Ranger alcohol inks.  I decided to run the glossy card I made using some green and butterscotch inks and emboss the piece using an embossing folder.  I then pulled out my Sizzix dies and cut some leaves.  The berries were created using some different shades of red, cranberry and currant inks.  I used my Spellbinders die to create the scallop and Creative Memories to cut the oval.
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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.

Trying to Create when Grieving

Since my Mom's passing on September 20, 2012 I have been slogging thru the last few weeks.
Grief is indescribable unless you have experienced the pain and sorrow which overwhelms you.
I haven't been able to even step foot into my craft room until a few days ago.  I know doing what I love will help ease the constant thoughts of my Mom's last weeks in the hospital.  Today I am teaching a class which will also help me to get back into some sort of normalcy.  Before my Mom got sick, I decided to play around with the ceramic tiles you can purchase at any home do it yourself store.  I found some black tiles I thought would be great for a Halloween theme.  Hope you enjoy them.

I used paper from Debbie Mum's Harvest and Holiday 8 x 8 paper pack.  I love the glitter which is hard to see in the photos.  I used modge podge and a clear acrylic spray - about 5 coats.  I think next time I will try some clear non yellowing varnish.  I used felt for the backing to prevent the tiles from slipping.  I could also try some cork next time.  (The felt was cheaper).  I am going to start on some Christmas themed tiles next.  Yes - Christmas is only months away.  I am still trying to catch up to fall and Halloween.  Have a great day and don't forget to tell loved ones "I love you"!!