It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas ...

When my latest order arrived, the inspiration hit and so I made some Christmas cards.  I also had a little stamp together with a bunch of my best customers last week and it got the ball rolling.  So here are a few of the cards that we made and a few shots of how they came together.  Hope this gives you some ideas and gets your inspiration started too!


I bought the new snowflake punch and the first thing I did was to test it out on a scrap piece of velum.  Then I used it as a stencil with craft Whisper White and a dauber to make the background on my first card.  I then used the trio of small snow flakes from the Serene Snowflakes stamp set with Encore Silver to accent between the large white flakes.  I used Real Red to mat the whisper white stamped with the small Snowman from the Snow Buddies Level 2 stamp set from the Holiday Mini (09).  I coloured him in with Bright Bold markers and then highlighted the "snow" with White Frost shimmer paint.  Used the Season's Greeting stamp from the four the Holidays stamp set and wrapped a bit of silver elastic cord around the whole thing as an accent.  I love how it turned out and can't wait to send it off to some lucky friend or family member to enjoy!

The next card that we made is a single layer card and I have to say, I've wanted to try this technique for a while and finally have and I'm pretty impressed with how it turned out.  I've always had a hard time with single layer cards but this one just shouts "I'm Awesome!" *chuckle*

To get started, I used the new ornament punch to cut out the shape in a scrap piece of cardboard (used a piece that came in the back of some paper) - keep the ornament that is punched out too so you can use it to mask off to overlap your ornaments!

I used the platinum shimmer paint with a dauber, Real Red and Glorious Green (markers and ink pads), 2 of the 3 small stamps from the Delightful Decorations stamp set and the Merry Christmas stamp from the Four the Holidays stamp set.

Lay you stencil over your card front and then with the dauber, brush lightly along the edges towards the center to create your boarder of the ornament.

If you space them apart, then you won't need to do any blocking.  But, if you want to layer your ornaments, put the ornament that you cut out, onto the one you just finished and move the stencil over and repeat the process.  Use the template again, to help block for the decorations.  Using the small stamps in Green & Red (alternate between ornaments to change it up a little.) Don't forget to use the cut out of the ornament to block the overlapping pieces.

I used a ruler and the Real Red & Glorious Green Bright Bold markers to draw a boarder around the edges of this card after stamping Merry Christmas from the Four the Holidays stamp set.  I also used the Soft Suede marker to draw the strings to the top of the card.  And here is the final product...

I'm so pleased at how it turned out and the stamp together group really liked it too.  I alway enjoy how everyone puts their own little twist on their card that makes each one so special! 

For the next card, I started off by using the snowmen stamp from The More the Merrier stamp set, a level 3 hostess set from the current catelogue.  I stamped using basic black onto a piece of whisper white card stock, then using the in colour markers to colour them in.  I then used the new frost white shimmer paint to accent the snow and high light each of the snow men.  I assembled my card using Bermuda Bay card stock for the background and ribbon accent and Taken with Teal to mat my whisper white.  I embellished my card by stamping with Taken with Teal the onto whisper white card stock and punching out with the 3/4" circle punch 2 small round stamps from the Delightful Decorations stamp set and jazzing them up with some blue glitter.

I used a couple of dimensional dots to lift up the accents a little and tied a knot in the ribbon and that's another card done.

We did one more project together and I cased this idea from Split Coast Stampers after the project was highlighted on their newsletter a few weeks back check out the Luminary project and see the step by step instruction as well as a video clip.  For my version of the luminary, I again used the Snow Buddies level 2 hostess set from the 2009 Holiday Mini and the phrase "Some of my best friends are Flakes" from the retired stamp set Flakey Friends.  I used my ruler, the lines from my SU work mat and my embossing styles to score the luminary at 2.5" intervals, as I do not have a score pal - this technique works just fine in a pinch.  I also needed to use an alternate method for putting the oval windows into each panel of my luminary.  I used a hand cutting tool with a template instead of spellbinders or a bigshot (either of these would have worked much better for the number of luminaries I had to cut out for my stamp together - the cutting blade on my alternate tool went dull before I was finished and did not cut as smoothly for the remaining luminaries - sorry gang!)

Cut 4 pieces of velum slightly smaller then the frame of each oval window, 2 3/8th" to 2 1/4" wide.  I used craft whisper white to stamp the phrase "Some of my best friends are flakes!", Encore Silver to stamp the snowflakes around the corners and then heat embossed it with Iridescent Ice.  I used the snow swirl in Encore Silver as well to stamp around the oval windows on the outside of the Luminary.  Then flipped it over to place the velum panel on the inside using a bit of glue in each corner and along the bottom.

 Here I am using the small snowman from the Snow Buddies stamp set on the velum, adding a toque and arms, I then coloured him in using the 2009 In Colour Markers, and Bashful Blue from the Soft Subtle markers for a bit of highlight.  Stamped the snowflakes from the same set (small & medium) around the edges with Encore Silver and then put him into the next window.  Each window was slightly different by changing the stamps used and the accessories that went with them so that each side of the luminary will be different.

Once all 4 windows are completed, use tacky strip to stick all the edges and the bottom together, add an LED flame less candle and viola, you're done!  Cute eh?  You can decorate or embelish these little devils however you like - check out the SplitCoastStamper's gallery to see more examples of this craft (including this very project!).

That's all for now Crafters!  Hope you give these a try and let me know how you did!

Have a great day!

e

Deck the Halls ... The How To Part

Well, now I've done it!  I started off with Stampin' Up! Designer Series paper in my original "Deck The Halls ..." post and then I got a comment on how you can also make them with ribbon!! Oh boy!

The Supplies You'll Need!!

So, here is what you will need to complete this project.  Styrofoam ball(s), flat head pins, ribbon (I am using 5/8" wide grosgrain ribbon and 1/4" satin ribbon for the loop to hang it from the tree with), scissors and I highly recommend a thimble as those pins will make your finger tender after a while (especially if you try to make 2 within 24 hours without a thimble!!)

Step 1: Making Your Triangles

When you get started, if the end of your ribbon is not already squared off, snip a straight cut across the end to make it so.  Then fold one corner across to the opposite edge, then flip it so you are pinching the folded edge.  Then, on the same side as the first fold, bring the excess ribbon down.  Again, flip it so that you can pinch the tip (pressing the folded edges firmly) while you snip the excess ribbon straight across the bottom, leaving a nice equilateral triangle.

** Note:  If you want to try this with paper, the steps are the same, but you will have to cut your paper into 1"x2" strips, then fold as above and continue with the steps outlined below.

 Step 2: Covering the Bottom

Once you have snipped your new triangle free from the remaining ribbon, take a pin and put it into the point of the triangle and  pin it to the center of the bottom of the styrofoam ball.  Pin each corner in place and line up the other three triangles (repeat step 1 to make all the triangles you need).  The four points into the middle will make a nice neat square when you're done this step.

 

Step 3: Starting the Next Row

Turn the square to a diamond so that the corner points up.  Lay your next triangle with the point to the center and the long edge cutting across the point of the diamond.  Only pin the 2 corners and not the center point for the rest of the rows going forward. Try to keep your triangles centered on the seam of the triangle beneath.

Step 4: More Rows & Adding the Loop at the Top

Continue adding rows, over lapping the previous seams with the point of the new triangle and pinning the corners outside the center of the triangle beneath.  Before you have added to many rows, you'll want to add a piece of ribbon, folded in half with the edges hanging halfway down the ball.  I've added a pin at the center top of the ball as well to help secure this in place until the rest of the rows are in place.  Keep adding rows until your work your way to the top.

Ooops!  I ran out of blue ribbon with only 4 rows to go!  No problem.  I just switched to the same size ribbon, in green!!  It sort of looks like a blue strawberry now, instead of a pine cone but that's ok.  I like it anyway!  Bet it will look even cooler if you alternated 2 or more colours of ribbon with each new row??!!  Oh man!  I am gonna have to buy a thimble!! *laugh*

         

As you can see, you will have to over lap and close the gap and might only have room for 2 final triangles to finish off the top.  At this point you can garnish your ornament however you like.  Add a bow, some bells or some fancy pins.  I like the look of the fancy red shiney ball pins  for the base, kinda looks like berries.

And 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 you are all done!  I tell you again, if you plan to make more than 1 or 2 of these, I highly recommend a thimble to help push those pins in!

  

Now it's your turn!  I want to see what you come up with - send me a picture or send me a note to let me know how you did!

Have Fun!

e

Organizing - a Diva's guide to Home Improvements! *wink*

Hiya Crafters!

Do you ever wonder how your fellow crafters end up with such wonderful crafting spaces?  All neat and organized with a nook or cranny for every little thing and when they put them up on their blog you think of your own pile of mahem and just wonder how on earth it could ever look as neat and tidy as the pictures on their blogs?  Well, I have been wishing and wondering the same thing for a good long time and finally did something about it!  After a trip to Ikea to pick up less than $50.00 worth of supplies to help me "get organized"... I already had a couple of floating shelves from them already that had been sitting in the corner of my dinning room since we moved into this place.


When I told my Mom about my idea, she suggested that I move my craft zone out of my dinning room up into our spare bedroom upstairs, however, since I have open houses and stamp togethers with customers and friends more often then family dinners in my dinning room, I am sticking with my plan and I hope that after she sees how great it looks, will forgive me at the next family dinner! (love you Mom!)

Have a look at what I am starting with ... please note that I did make some effort to try and put my stuff into some kind of order on the dinning room table before I got started and yes, I did "clean up" all the left over odds and ends from various other projects that had been on the go prior to this shot ... so trust me when I say that it looks a whole lot better then it did *giggle*



I think you can see some of the items that I purchased from Ikea on the end of the table.  Here is a better shot of those "supplies"... 4 rods, 1 long low basket (already filled with ribbon!), 2 taller baskets, some S hooks and a package of 5 magazine holders.  I also have Hubby's drill with bits and a package of screws and anchors (which came with the drill bit I needed - totally handy and I recommend that you buy them as a kit as it's much easier to figure out which bit you need if it comes with the anchors in the first place!! I bet a woman came up with that one! *laugh*). 


All the dinning room chairs have been moved into the hallway to make it a little easier to maneuver around without bumping into them all the time.   Then I dragged out my craft caddies (those 2 white sets of drawers on either side of my hutch).  And the plan is to move the hutch against one side of the wall to free up more space on the other side.  Here it is all cleaned out but when I tried to move it, it wouldn't budge!  Darn, am I going to have to wait until Hubby gets home from work before I can continue this project?? If I do, then he will want to "help" and I want to do this on my own *pout*.  Oh, I know, how about I clean out everything in the top of the hutch, all that glass has got to be heavy, right?!! Presto, and change-O, moved with very little effort after it was emptied from the middle up!

*happy dance with Bosco (the dog) for 15 minutes before continuing* He didn't know what to do with himself with all the discombobulations going on so I put him in the back yard for a spell to keep him out from under foot (which is really ontop of foot as he's nearly as big as I am! *laugh*

Ok, so after emptying the top part of the hutch and shoving it over as far as it would go, I checked to see if my floating shelf would fit in the remaining space *fingers crossed*

Unfortunately, with the maneuvers I had to do to get the first one up by myself, I just could not take pictures at the same time! *laugh*  So, you'll just have to take my word for it, I sat in a chair and held the support bar for the shelf up against the wall with both feet and drilled all the holes as quick as a button with the drill!  I'm sure that handyman everywhere are having strokes thinking about me doing that but it worked and the shelf was level when I was done! *laugh* 

See!! It worked.  My tools are not rolling around in any direction!  They are sitting right where I put them.  The next step is to measure the amount of space I will need over the shelf for my first rod.  So, with 1 magazine box and the larger of the 2 baskets in place, it should take about ... THIS much space!  Oh, this is so exciting, it's coming together and I just can't wait for the finished product!  Hmmmm, maybe I should have bought 2 baskets for ribbon?

Anyway ... you must be wondering by now, what I'm doing with that shoe on my shelf? Well the long story is, we're in the process of ripping up the basement and I just couldn't find my handy dandy hammer that is usually in my junk drawer in the kitchen.  In a pinch, a nice sturdy heel works great as a hammer to tap those pesky little plastic anchors into the holes!

Ok, so maybe I did it more for a laugh then anything but come on, it was pretty funny!  I love that "woman's tool kit" joke that is a butter knife and a high heel shoe!  *giggle* Ok, onward and upward we go.  I installed the 4 rods and then reached the limits of my reach (I knew I could not pull the same maneuver I had earlier to install the top shelf, so I would have to wait until Hubby gets home for that one, bless him and his 6'6" stature!)

And as it happens, that is about when he called me to come pick him up from work.  I can't tell you how excited I got from my adventures in organizing today!  Now, you will see the proper handyman way of installing a shelf using all the proper tools including a real hammer! *laugh*

And that's it! I spent the rest of the evening going through my drawers to re-organized the contents, packing away the retired items to another location and moving things that I don't use everyday up to the top shelf out of the way!  Oh, and I put all the stuff back in the hutch too.  Maybe this isn't how you want your dinning room to look but for me, it's a little slice of heaven!

I'd love to hear your comments, tips or suggestions too so please feel free to drop me a note!  And I think any of the above little tips could be put to good use in any small space you have for your crafting!  If you can't spread out, then go UP!!

Good Luck in your re-organizing efforts - hope you have as much fun as I did!

Until next time ...

e

Deck the halls ...

While going through my emails, getting caught up with what's been happening with my fellow SU Demos, someone had these cute little ornaments posted on their blog.  They had a link to another site with instructions on how to make them (I am very sorry but I can't find either page now- if you know, please let me know so I can update my blog with their information!)  The idea, stuck with me and I just had to give it a try.

This neat little paper pine cone ornaments was made with a scrap of last year's Designer Series paper cut into 2"x1" strips that are folded into triangles (outer points folded down into the center then flipped over, point down) and pinned into a styrofoam ball.

Start at the bottom with 4 triangles then work your way up (I used 5 after the first 4 triangle which made a pretty pattern alternating the 2 sides of the paper to create the patter you see.   You will also need to lay your 2 open ends of ribbon over the top half of the ball as you pin towards the top.  The paper and pins holds the ribbon secure. 

On the site that I saw, they used flathead pins to secure the triangles in place but I didn't have any when I decided to give it a try so I used a bunch of fancy pins (in multi colours the first time, then swapped them out for all red ones for these photos.)  I kinda liked the dimention the pins added to the over all look - what do you think?

I bought the styrofoam balls, 8 for a $1.00 at the dollar store and the red fancy pins 100/pkg for $3.50 at Walmart.  I plan to try more of these with the various scraps of DS paper that I have left over from other projects, I can't wait to add them to my tree this year or gift them to friends and family!

Hope you give it  a try and email me with a picture of what yours looks like!

More to come ....

You answered the call ...

I just wanted to say a nice big THANK YOU to all the crafting ANGELS that answered the call and placed an order with me last week. You did it and I am still active!

With renewed inspiration for my business I have a few projects in mind for you to keep your eye out for! The first one, which I am currently working on and will be posting soon is all about how I am trying to organize my crafting zone! I will take pictures of the items I bought and then before, during and after shots of getting organized.

I don't know about you, but I love seeing the shots of other people's crafting areas but they are always so neat and tidy (for the pictures) that I just can't imagine that they are used!! *giggle* So, I plan to show you the steps that I am going to take and the tips that I've picked up to help get organized. Maybe it will help you in your crafting rooms too?

Christmas cards, tags and gift card holder cards are all on the way too! So if you aren't already linked to my blog, enter your email address in the little window on the right and get an email when these posts go up so you don't miss anything!

Again, a special thank you to all the crafters that placed orders last week!! I am looking forward to seeing you guys on delivery day for our stamp together!!

Hugs,

Erin