Tuscany

Hello friends!

A couple weeks ago I went to my local stamp store, Buffalo Stamps and Stuff and did a little browsing.  I came upon this stamp that just took my breath away.  It reminded me so of the time Dave and I spent in Tuscany, Italy several years ago.   I had to have that stamp.  It is from Stampendous and is called "Poppy Scene"

Below is the first card I made with that stamp.  I used VersaMark embossing ink and black embossing powder on white card stock.  I then colored it with water color crayons.  

I fussy cut the image, adhered it to black card stock and again fussy cut it.  I adhered that to white card stock and added the black line around it to mimic the image.  This I did by using a Ranger Perfect Medium Pen and black embossing powder. 

The red flower is a silk flower folded and held with a black brad.

Thank you for stopping by today.  If you have ever been to Tuscany, I hope this brings back some lovely memories.  If you have never been there, this is just what it looks like.  It's beautiful!

Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Another oldie, but goodie.

Hello friends!

I have been thinking a lot about past projects lately and thought I would share one of my favorites with you. 

It took a bit for me to find it, but finally I clicked on the right date and there was the picture I needed.

Let me start by telling you that I have a friend, Mary, who lives in Toledo and when I go to visit I often take her some kind of little gift.  Her grandson used to live with her and John, her hubby, and I always took him some home made goodies of some kind.  One day I realized that I never take anything to John, so I decided it was about time to make something for him. 

John is a pediatrician and is the president and CEO of a children's hospital, so I decided to make something for his office.  Below is a picture of the plate I made for his office. 

The hippo in the center is Hugs the 'mascot' of the hospital.  I'm sure you know the rest of the characters.  I had so much fun making this for John and he loved it.  It now hangs on the wall in his office area.

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you have enjoyed seeing this project, leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!



Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose Project

Hello crafty friends! 

Recently there was a contest on the Glue Arts blog, it was to recycle, reuse and repurpose some items into a project.  I would like to share my submission with you today.  I didn't win the contest, but I had a great time making my projects.  I had to use Glue Arts products in my submission, but keep in mind that you can use which ever products you like.  To be honest, I wouldn't use the Glue Glider Max again.  I borrowed it from a friend (thanks Jen T!) for this project and I found it very difficult to use.  I would use my ATG Gun in the future.

Supplies needed:

pockets cut off old jeans
Glue Glider Max
Glue Glider Pro
Crop a Dile
scrap fabric
scrap card stock
Pearl accents
ribbon
silk flowers and leaves
charms
crystal accents
butterfly applique
old bracelet
glitter glue
Say it With Studs (hearts)
Say it With Crystals (flourish)

These are the supplies I used for the 2 projects I am showing. Any type of embellishment may be used. These just happened to be what I had on hand.

These are the two projects I made. They can be used for many different purposes. When my daughter was young I made one of these as a “locker pocket” and put magnets on the back so she could put it inside her locker door at school. She kept small things like pencils, pens, erasers etc. in it. The one with the strap can be used as a little purse, or it can be hung on a door, like in the picture to put notes into it for your child. Hang it on your child's bedroom door and leave little love notes in it, or maybe hang it somewhere it is sure to be seen and use it for outgoing mail. Keep the extra keys in it, or extra change, or maybe you sunglasses, so you know where they are. The one with out the handle can be used to put a small gift in as a gift bag, put magnets on it to go onto the fridge to hold coupons, or take out menus. There are a lot of uses for these adorable pockets.

Your first step is to find some old jeans and cut the pockets off the back. I use two matching pockets, although you could use one and back it with another fabric.

Next use the Glue Glider Max to apply adhesive to the back of the pocket right along the stitching . Fold over the extra fabric right along the edge of the pocket. Cut off any unwanted fabric. Do this with the other matching pocket.

Now you will apply adhesive to the back of the pocket, line up the 2 matching pockets back to back and press them together. You will now have a “double” pocket. You can decorate both sides, but I have only decorated one on mine.

Now you can embellish you pocket. For this first one, I used some scrap fabric to make flowers. I cut the fabric into long narrow strips, about 1” wide. I cut a piece of scrap card stock into a circle, using my Glue Glider Pro, I covered one side of the circle with adhesive. Starting in the middle of the circle, I began to attach the fabric as seen in this tutorial, I made 3 of these fabric flowers in different sizes and added some pearl accents to the centers of the flowers. I used Glue Glider Pro to adhere silk leaves to the back of the flower and then to adhere the flowers to the pocket. I embellished the pocket further with some “Say It With Studs” (Prima) hearts and a butterfly applique. You can embellish in any way you like, a little, a lot, girly, boyish, whatever you like.

Next use the Crop a Dile to make holes in the fabric between the 2 pockets. Narrow strips of fabric are again used, to make a strap for the pockets. Use the Glue Glider Pro on the back of the fabric and then folded the fabric onto the adhesive and trim off any extra threads. Then simply fed the ends of the strap through the holes and tie a knot at the end. You could also use ribbon as a strap.

The 2nd project was constructed the same way, but was embellished differently. I used all items that I had on hand in my stash.

First I took a red crystal bracelet that my daughter didn’t want any longer and I cut it, this I adhered to the pocket with liquid adhesive. I then used my Glue Glider Pro to adhere the flowers and a bow that I had made. The flourish and the small flower are “Say it With Crystals” (Prima) I found the butterfly and heart charms in my stash and adhered them with liquid adhesive.

I decided that I didn’t want a strap on this pocket project, but I can easily add one at a later date if I choose. I had a lot of fun making these and think they would make great gifts for the little girls in my life.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you have enjoyed these projects and tutorial.  If you would like to leave a comment that would be great, if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section or e-mail me (address is in right column) and I will get back to you asap.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Prizes, prizes, prizes!

This last month or so has been a very lucky one for me as far as prizes on blogs and such.  Today I received 3 packages in the mail.  All of them prizes that I had won on the internet. 

The first one is this stamp set.  When I first saw this set from

Mark's Finest Papers  I really didn't think it was something that I would be interested in.  Then I participated in their design team blog hop and saw some of the most amazing projects made with these stamps.  I fell in love with it.  Alas, I didn't win it.  BUT then the next week, my blogger friend, Roxie, had it as blog candy on her blog and what do you know?  I won it!  I was so excited.  Thank you Roxie!  I'm going to love 'playing' with this set.  Hop over to Paper Scaper and see Roxie's wonderful creations.  You will be sure to be inspired!

Then I won this amazing prize below.  These were a prize on Scrap Time which is another fabulous blog.  Christine does wonderful videos featuring product, projects and techniques.  Wonderful and informative!

Before CHA Winter (Craft and Hobby Association) Christine drew the name of a follower to win a box of goodies from the CHA show in January.  Lucky for me, that person didn't claim their prize, because when she drew again, she drew my name. 
I would encourage you to check out her blog, she has an amazing variety of products and techniques to show us.

Can you believe all the cool stuff she sent me?  Can't wait to get creating with some of these things!

The 3rd prize came from the Robert's Crafts blog  where I won a couple electric candle warmers like the ones below.  Every Friday they have a Freebie Friday where you can enter to win a prize, I entered, I won. 

So keep your eyes on my blog for some projects that I make with these wonderful supplies and tools that I won.  I will make them while I enjoy the fragrance from one of my candle warmers.

Thanks for stopping by today to share in my excitement.  Now go hop on over to those blogs.  You never know what you may learn, be inspired to create or who knows you may be the next winner!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Sign for My Happy Place

Hello friends!

My Happy Place is where I got to do my scrapbooking.  It's not just a place in my mind, it is a real place and if you live anywhere near me you should check it out.  We have a wonderful creative time there.

So let me tell you my story about this sign. 

There is a restroom down the hall for us to use.  Always been there and always just us crafty people using it. 

Another group is using a room down the hall from our space and there are *gasp* men in the group who sometimes need to use the restroom.

Now there is a separate urinal in there in a nice little stall, a nice curtain that pulls shut for privacy and everything.

But apparently the men in this group find it necessary to use the toilet and of course, leave the seat up.  Our fearless leader, Jen, talked to them and asked them to please put the seat down. 

Alas, they do not care to do so.  Thus this sign!

The image is "One of Those Days" (#10709) from QKR Stampede.  When I saw that image I had to have it, but haven't had a chance to use it before.  I think this was a wonderful use for it!

What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by today!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

You are my Sunshine

Hello friends!  Today's post is a card for the QKR Stampede Design Team Blog Hop. 

If you have just happened onto the hop on my blog, it would be a great idea to start at the beginning.  Go to the QKR Blog where you will find links to all the participating blogs.  If you get lost along the way or a link doesn't work, just hop back there and get back on track.

If you came from Monika's blog you are on the right track.

This months theme is "Space ~ Sun, Moon and Stars"

I chose Patchwork Sun (#6104)  from QKR Stampede.  This was one of the first images I chose from QKR and I love it.   Along with it I have used My Sunshine (#9302)

A while ago a friend turned me on to the idea of stamping on dryer sheets.  For this card I used an unused dryer sheet and I love the effect.  The ink and the water color crayons worked great on this surface.  It gives the card a soft fabric look.

I added a bit of stitching in the corners of the card.  I used a large needle and embroidery floss to stitch through holes I had pierced with a paper piercer.

Here are a couple tips about hand sewing on cards:

Use a scrap piece of plastic canvas as a guide to pierce your holes.  No measuring  needed, just put your punch the holes through the canvas.  Makes things much easier.

When threading the needle, us a floss threader.  These are meant to be used to thread dental floss through braces, but I'll tell ya they are wonderful for threading needles, putting yarn or string etc. through buttons and so much more.  No one eyed aiming and frustration any more.  Floss threaders are inexpensive and can be bought in any of the stores that carry dental products such as tooth paste.

Thank you for stopping by today and participating in the blog hop.

Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts, then it's time to hop on to Kristine's blog and see what wonderful projects she has to inspire you.

Until next time, Happy Crafting

Sunshiney Card

Hello friends!  Today is my QKR Stampede Blog day and I have this Sunshiney Card to show you.  Is that even a word?  Not sure, but you get the idea.
I made this card using 2 stamps from QKR Stampede,  Patchwork Sun (#6104)and My Sunshine (#9302)

I saw this style of card quite a while ago and thought I would give it a try.

The 'envelope' part of the card was made with a 12x12" piece of white paper.  The blue is patterned paper from my scrap stash.

I stamped the Patchwork Sun onto white card stock and colored it with Pan Pastels and adhered with foam tape.

The insert is white card stock cut to size with some blue Memento ink applied to the edges. 

Thank you for stopping by today.  Be sure to come back tomorrow (3/18) for the

QKR Stampede Design Team Blog Hop. 

You won't want to miss the inspiration from our design team.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!