Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Anniversary Love


This Friday my husband and I will celebrate our 16th Wedding Anniversary.  Wow time flies when you're having fun, and having kids and living life!

I used today's sketch challenge at SCS to create a card for my man.  So..... ahem...avert your eyes hubby :) 




I think this is one of my favourite masculine sets right now.  I've used both A Guiding Light  and Antique Map
  and inked them in Vintage Photo Ranger Distress ink, and then sponged them with Tea Stain Distress ink, to really keep that rich vintage masculine feel.   I adjusted the sketch just slightly by offsetting a frame made with Nestabilities and then run through the embossing folder, so you could see the details of the embellishments.


I've added some fun detailing in the herringbone Cuttlebug embossing folder and some linen thread criss crossed around some gold brads.

The designer papers are 7 Gypsies Venice, and I've added light color to the main image with Prismacolor pencils and metallic pencils.


Well, I'm off to make lunch for the kids and then take them to the Library to join the Summer Reading Club, always a highlight for us.  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Flourishes Antique Map, A Guiding Light:  Ink:  Ranger Distress - Tea Stain and Vintage Photo;  Paper:  Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel and 7 Gypsies Venice;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Large and Small Rectangle Nestabilities, Cuttlbug Folder - Herringbone, Gold Brads, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Sponge.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Summer Reading Gifts

Today is the last day of school for the boys, we are on the verge of summer!  I'm notorious for leaving Teacher Gifts to the last minute.  So it's not a surprise that I just finished the gifts for this year, and I'll take them to the teachers at the end of the day.  I knew I wanted to give them a combination gift, a gift card to a bookstore and a bookmark.  So today I have a tutorial on how I made them.  It's really a simple gift, but sometimes it's nice to have someone show you the step by step.

Here's the trio of card/bookmark/gift certificate holders.


Inside each of these is a pocket for a bookmark and a gift certificate for the bookstore.  Lots of pictures here so sit back and enjoy!


Here are the supplies you'll need for one of these. 

  • One 8 1/2 x 11 inch piece of cardstock

  • 1 piece of 6 x 6 designer series paper

  • 1 piece white cardstock 3 1/4 x 5 1/4

  • 2 colored images

  • Nestabilities shapes (here Deckled Rectangles and Mega Deckled Rectangles)

  • Scor-It Board

  • Scor-Tape

  • Ribbon

  • Scallop Punch

  • Oval Punch (Large)

  • Word Window Punch

  • Embossing Folder

  • 1/2 inch circle punch

  • Assorted ribbons

  • oh and Dimensionals, but they're not pictured

First step, cut your 8 1/2 x 11 sheet to 5 1/2 x 11, leaving you a strip of 3 x 11 - set that aside you'll use it later.

Score the 5 1/2 x 11 sheet along the 5 1/2 side at 3 1/2, 7 and 10 1/2 inches.



On the section with the 1/2 inch tab cut down to the score line at 3 inches.  Leaving you an attached 2 1/2 inch piece.

Fold on score lines, remember mountain folds go in. 

On that smaller 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch section take your Word Window Punch and slightly centering to the right punch a window, then moving slightly to the left punch a partial window.  This will be your opening for your gift card.


Using Scor Tape, add tape to the tab and then the bottom of the center section. This will form your pocket for the bookmark, as you can see below.




This is the front of the card folder, I've just embossed a piece of white cardstock 3 1/4 x 5 1/4 with this Victorian Folder.  On a project like this I alsmot always use Scor Tape on all my layers.



Here you take your 3 x 11 inch piece that you had set aside and you'll use it for the matting of your front image and as well the Mega Deckled Rectangles Nestability for your bookmark.  Now... I'll let you in on a little secret.  The Mega Deckled Rectangle is slightly too long for the bookmark, so after I had run it through the Big Shot once, I used the top edge of the Deckled Rectangles and ran it through the Big Shot again, trimming a strip about 1/4 inch off to fit the bookmark into the card.


Add a pretty piece of scallop edged designer paper to the front of the card folder (2 1/2 x 3 1/4).

Then take a length of ribbon about 20 inches long.  Attach to the front of the card at the edge of the designer paper with Scor Tape.  This will hold the ribbon in place.


Here I've added the matted main image and the sentiment.  The flowers are all from A Year In Flowers sets I, II and III from Flourishes and the Sentiment is from Fanciful Flourishes



Here is the bookmark.  I've just added some designer paper and then a narrower piece of the same main image floral cut with my Mega Deckled Rectangles, then a 1/2 inch circle punch on the top fed with some pretty ribbon. 


Above the bookmark in the pocket. 


And above with the gift card in it's slot.


A closeup of the coloring on each card.....





And the folders open:







So there you have it!  I kept all the details pretty simple, especially on the bookmarks so that they're better for book use, and on the folders too because I was so late on everything! 

Alright I have to run to school now....!

Copic Colors Used:  Roses:  R14, R27, R29, R59, YG91, YG93, YG95, YG99
Violets:  Y17, Y19, V12, V15, V17, YG00, YG03, YG05
Cyclamen:  RV00, RV02, RV04, G12, G05

Saturday, June 26, 2010

My Bible Bookmark

Welcome to our Shining the Light Challenge with Our Daily Bread Designs this week.  Today's challenge is one I actually made for ME, moi, myself :)  A bookmark! 

I often make bookmarks for other people, in fact I made one for my Dad for Father's Day last week, I'll show it to you this next week.  But today, I made this for me.  My Bible does have a page ribbon, but usually I've stuffed other things in there to mark other pages, and now I'll have something pretty to put in instead.



I've used the very pretty Grow in Grace set, because to me, it's my heart to grow in understanding His grace for me this year.  I've used some of my favourite colors to combine, rich olives and peaches - using Webster's Pages and I cut out a window for the flowers from this set using my nestability template.  Lots of pretty ribbons and beads and a charm.  I don't know why, but I took lots of pictures of this one, I must like it :)

Coloring is done with Copics (R01, R11, R12, R14 and YG91 YG93, YG95, and some shading with W2)


Yummy Ribbons, Crochet Lace, Silk and Satin Finish as well as twine and beads. 


And then some ruffles along the bottom.  Very feminine but not too fussy or bulky to put in the pages of my Bible.  Plus now I'll never miss where my Bible is.  When I do announcements and prayer up front in Church on Sundays I'm notorius for grabbing our Senior Pastor's Bible from the pulpit after prayer rather than mine (they do look a lot alike)....then he starts preaching and instead of his Bible up there - it's mine.  It's happened like 3 times at least!  So embarrasing.  He looks at me and says "Christine I think you have my Bible"  I have to get up in front of everyone and trade him, thankfully our congregation is able to laugh WITH me not at me :)    See why I need so much grace? 

This Sunday my husband and I are preaching in the three services.  All of us on staff take turns throughout the year at least twice so our Senior Pastor gets a break.  We'll be preaching on Leaving a Legacy of Faith.  So, I'm off for now....see you next week!

Be sure to check out the other pretty bookmarks with the ODBD Challenge Team and join us in making one too.  This challenge will last for 2 weeks and you can win ODBD prizes

ChrisSabrina, Francie, and Patter

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Inspired Peonies

Isn't this room just dreamy looking???  Cindy Lawrence is our Flourishes Friday Focus Hostess this week, and she's picked this beautiful room as inspiration.  I love the colors and textures and finishes and patterns, ok, I love the whole room.  :) 


I was so taken by the neutrals paired with the soft pinks and greens...and then those flowers in the vase really got me...I thought of the Peonies set and here's what I came up with.

I stamped the peony in white on Kraft paper, and did some careful coloring with my Copic Markers.  I still feel so nervous about wrecking my markers in any way. 

This is Jen's SFYTT for the week, and I used the gorgeous new Capella papers from Basic Grey for the first time.  They are SO dreamy!  The Champagne silk ribbon is the perfect peachy color too. 

Here's some of the detailing too... 


I loved the tailored drapery and tried to create the feeling of a Roman Blind with the folding of the papers on the top.  I used the outside edge of my Top Note die to create the bottom edge.


See the Flourishes Blog for Cindy's Inspiration focus and the Flourishes Girls today:  Cindy, Julie, Dawn, Danielle, Laura, Stacy, Leslie


Stamps:  Flourishes Peony Set;  Ink:  White Craft Ink, Memento Brown;  Paper:  Kraft, Blush Blossom, Basic Grey Capella DSP;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Large Scalloped Ovals, Labels 8, Top Note Die, Bow Easy, Silk Ribbon, Glue Dots, Kaiser Pearls, Copic Markers, Scor It, Dimensionals. 

Happy Blossoms

A couple of weeks ago I did a card for the Verve Mojo Sketch, and WOWZERS I won a Verve set!  Woo Hoo!  I'm so excited Julee has such a way with really great images and design. 

So I just had to get it inky tonight with a quick card.  I used the Verve Release sketch from May for this one and some great Basic Grey Green at Heart papers.

To me these flowers needed some orange for the first time I colored them.  I used a bunch of copics....(YR12, YR14, YR18, YR09, R13, RV09, RV17, RV19, RV69 and then for the greens I started with G40 and G24, G82, but then it didn't have enough lime color in it so I used YG00 overtop) 



I SHOULD have used my finer Ornare piercer for the piercing on top, I would have had a better result, which I'm kicking myself about now, but I do like the bold deep colors against the fresh white.

I'll be back in a few hours with Flourishes Friday, and it's a pretty one! 

Recipe:  Stamps:  Verve - One Person;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Pear Tart;  Papers:  Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White, Gina K Pure Luxury Cardstock, Basic Grey Green at Heart;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Large Rectangle Labels, Scalloped Rectangle Labels, Ribbon, Martha Stewart Rings Punch, Piercer, Borderabilities, Dimensionals. 

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Polyester Pantsuit


To me this card is Mary Engelbreit meets me in the 1970's :)  Polyester pantsuit perfection.  LOL!  My mom used to be a seamstress, as I've mentioned before, and she made us alot of our close (ACK eta...correction CLOTHES - I can't type today) when we were young.  We were always the best dressed anywhere - but in the 1970's that meant matching polyester outfits for me and my brother.  Ok, sometimes it was a dress, but polyester none the less.  Come on, you were there too right? 

This is today's Sketch Challenge at SCS, a nice little combination of vertical and horizontal.  I paper pieced this adorable PI girl from MFT with some new papers by 7 Gyspies called Victoria.  I colored her hair, skin , flowers and grass with Copics (Skin - E00, E21, E31, R00, R01, Hair - Y21, Y23, Grass YG03, YG05, YG00, Shadows - W3, Flowers/Hearts - B37), and added white prismacolor to highlight her hair.  
She's just so cute isn't she?  There's just something about PI girls that I love.



Alrighty.  I'm off to clean my very messy table, and kitchen...and maybe start some laundry and supper.  Sounds so exciting doesn't it?  If I get really ambitious there's weeding to do too!  Woo Hoo.  Hope you have a fun day no matter what you're doing!

Recipe:  Stamps:  MFT - Flower Girl;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black;  Paper:  Night of Navy, More Mustard, 7 Gypsies - Victoria DSP, Flourishes Classic White Cardstock;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Rectangle Nestabilities, Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilties, Scallop Edge Punch, SU - Rich Regals Buttons, Glue Dots, Grossgrain Ribbon, Copic Markers, Prismacolor Pencils, Dimensionals.

Monday, June 21, 2010

The Creative Process - Cool Tools

Hello Everyone!  It's a gorgeous day in my little corner of the world.  It's going to be hot today, and the birds are very chatty this morning.  We had a good and busy Father's Day weekend, four Ball Hockey games for the boys, time with my family on Sunday, and a birthday party thrown in there.

Today for the Creative Process I thought I'd show you some of my Go-To tools I use each time I create, so they are definitely some of my favourites, and also how I organize one of them.  We're all looking for ideas that will work for us on organization right?


This is the Bow Easy Tool.  Now that I have it, and use it on every bow I make, I can't believe I waited this long to get it.  And I'm almost embarrased at the bows I used to make.  It is the COOLEST little tool and gives me perfect bows every time, with the tails behind, not needing any fussing or rearranging.  The only draw back is that you have to attach to your card with a stitch or glue dots, you can't tie the bow directly onto your card because you are making it on the Bow Easy.  But that doesn't bother me at all, having perfect bows is SO worth it!  I purchased mine from Sharon Johnson at her Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, and Our Daily Bread Designs sells it as well.  Nifty, portable, inexpensive and worth every penny, 4 Stars from me!



It should be no surprise that this is one of my favourite tools.  When SU came out with the Big Shot I debated long and hard about getting it.  It is a pricier tool and for me to spend that much money on something I had better use it.  Truth is, I use it every day I craft.  For me it was well worth the money I invested.  For cutting shapes with Sizzix Dies, Spellbinders or adding texture with embossing plates and folders this will do the trick for you with ease.  Fabric, felt, paper, cork, metal....anything you can imagine it will cut.  I had to laugh after I was cropping this picture, see the front leg of the Big Shot?  I left a little piece of tape there.  Often when I'm placing Spellbinders dies in the right spot to cut an image I've already colored, I'll use a little tab of tape.  I forgot I had that one there!  So....Big Shot, easy to use, generally portable (it's really not much to cart around), can multi-task use, FUN, an investment but worth it.  4 Stars again from me.

And now ....what little goodie is in this non-descript black binder?   


My Spellbinders Dies.  Let's have a brief pause for these beautiful items.....

There are other dies other there, but not with the function and flexibility of Spellbinders.  If you are a paper crafter, in my opinion, these are the dies to invest in.  There is such an amazing range of style and shape, you have the beauty of being able to see where you will place your die (and see through the die), they come in graduated sizes perfect for layering, or just the flexibility in finding the right size for your project, you can cut and emboss with them AND use the dies as a template for sponging....alright want to see the inside? 


This is how I store all of my dies.  I saw this type of system on someone's blog a LONG time ago, and I wish I could remember who it was.  I don't have a permanent crafting place, so whatever I have needs to be portable and such that I can pull it out and put it away.  This binder is perfect for storing my dies.  I purchased these photo sleeves at a photo store, the top sleeve is for 4 x 6 photos and the bottom one would fit 5 x 7's.  In each section I cut a piece of white cardboard to size (the backs of old SU 12 x 12 paper packs), label each square with the die I'm going to use it for, and then cut sticky magnet strip for my dies to attach to (I purchased the magnet roll strip at Michaels).

I also cut up the picture side of the packaging from the Spellbinders Dies to put in each section behind the die square (this gives each sleeve some firmness so I can flip the pages better).  Then I use labels from the photo sheets and label each section (to the right beside the binder rings).  This way when I have tons of dies out on my table I always know where they go back to.


Here you can see the square pulled out and the dies on the magnet.


And above, here are my dies loose.  I love how the magnet holds everything together. 



And it still works perfect for Borderabilities and smaller sizes too.  Because of the magnet, nothing slips away, and the sleeves hold it all in.

I arrange my Spellbinders in order, Labels First, Shapes next (ovals, squares etc), then Borderabilities, and Shaped accents. 

It's been such a smart system for me.  But as you can see, I'm out of space in this binder, and will need to start a second.  I'm blessed to have a lot of dies. Flourishes is my source for all my dies too, in case you're wondering.  Without a doubt 4 Stars from me :)

Thanks for popping by today, I'll have more creative things this week!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

My Soul Finds Rest


How about some F.L.O.W.E.R.S. for the Our Daily Bread Challenge today?  Today you get to choose from a recipe - and you must use any 3 items for your creation...

F - flower stamps, L - lace, O - ODBD Stamps or ovals or O shaped embellishments, W - Watercoloring, E - Embossing (dry or heat set), R - Ribbon and S - Stitching - faux or machine. 

Crazy me, I chose to do all of them!



F - Flowers - These lovely Fushias from the From Me to You set
L - Lace along the bottom of the card
O - ODBD stamps and pearls
W - watercoloring - which I've used to color the image
E - Embossing - gold Ranger Embossing
R - Ribbon - silk tied with the Bow Easy
S - Stitching - I did some machine zig zagging around the card.


Above you can see the coloring and embossing a little bit better.  Once I used the Labels 8 nesties to cut out the image I used the nestie template to sponge inside of the image to soften the look, so it had more of an impressionistic feel, and really give it a nice match to the designer papers (Memory Box Spearmint). 


The sentiment is from the beautiful Scripture Collection 4 Set, which I stamped in Mellow Moss ink.  Such an encouraging Scripture to me.  There's no where else I can truly find rest but in God, and that He is the source of stability and strength.  I need to be reminded of this often. 

So, join us in this F.L.O.W.E.R.S Recipe Challenge this week.  For more deets see the ODBD Blog

And see these fab girls for their inspiration:  Chris, Natalie, Patter, Sabrina and Angella is joining us this week!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Our Daily Bread Designs - Scripture Collection 4, From Me to You;  Ink:  VersaMark, Mellow Moss, Sage Shadow (sponging);  Paper:  Mellow Moss, Vanilla, Memory Box Spearmint DSP, Watercolor Paper;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels 8 Nestabilities, Ranger Gold Embossing Powder, Waterbased markers, Sponge, Silk Ribbon, Bow Easy, Kaiser Pearls, Wavy Dotted Border Punch, Lace, Sewing Machine, Dimensionals.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Trumpet Vine Blues

Well, I'm tuckered out!  I had a full day field trip with first-graders, we did a City tour, seeing numerous landmarks of the city on a bus and walking, and taking in the newest leg of our city's train system.  You should hear and experience the excitement erupting of a whole bus of 5 and 6 year olds seeing the landmarks they are supposed to spot.  Quite entertaining :)  

Then tonight we had the Awards Ceremony at our daughter's JH.  She not only achieved Honors, but also was awarded as the top Band Student in her grade.  I'm SO proud of her, so I just had to brag on her a little bit!  This is her holding her two awards in the Certificate form.  She looked so pretty tonight too!


On to the stamping....today brings us to another Flourishes Friday, and we're focussing on the sets that were just released last week.  Today is your LAST CHANCE to purchase the New Release bundle at a discount.  So, I hope you don't miss out!  They are all such beautiful sets!


Today I used the beautiful Humming Along set and colored it up using Copic Markers (Delphinium Collection and Spring Greens Collection).  Actually coloring did not take long, the flowers are just the right size for easy coloringg.  I added a little blue to the buds about to bloom as well.  And, I used this weeks SFYTT from Jen Del Muro, flipped, and added the little hummingbird (stamped in Brilliant Blue) from the set as part of the circle from the sketch.  The papers are Marrakech from Basic Grey, which had just the right depth of blues to make it dramatic.  For accent I've added Black Braided Trim and Black Rhinestones. 


You'll want to see what the rest of the team has beautifully created this week too...

Cindy, Dawn, Danielle, Julie, Laura, Leslie, and Stacy.