Cosmo Mini

Recently I purchased some of the Tim Holtz binder rings and thought little minis would be a cute item for me to make for RAKs and gifts. My challenge was to use up things that I've had in my stash for more than 6 months. I accomplished that with the Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday paper collection, Prima packaging, Prima hydrangeas, scrap paper, ribbon remnants, Bloomers, Cardstock, and beads. Nothing in this album except the binding rings was new - NOTHING.

I decided to use Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday collection because of its bright colors and ledger styled "B sides".

On the cover, I bound the book with cardstock, and used 4x6 panels of the paper collection to decorate. I used Pink Paislee packaging to die cut the book plate, and hand wrote "A Story". Butterflies were punched from scraps and Prima Hydrangea flowers were used with buttons as centers. Webster's Pages Bloomers and eyelet lace soften the spine. I used two mini binder clips from an office supply store, and attached charms and a chain for the perfect closure.

Prima packaging was used to make a double pocket. For extra notes, I ripped some paper from a small notebook, and placed it in the pocket. I included 2 small tags in the upper pocket. On the right the banner at the bottom was printed on the bottom strip of the paper collection. Remember to look for embellishments on this strip that is often tossed.

On this page, the mini page with the tag, is Prima packaging that I sewed together to make a pocket. I love that this paper collection matches the ledger style packaging so well.

Again Prima Packaging was used to create the pocket on this page.

I used a glassine bag as a pocket on this page, and used the strips at the bottom of the paper collection as an embellishment.

On this page I used washi tape on the left page. To mimic the same look on the right I used some of the Pink Paislee Packaging cut in the same style on the right.

I always buy buy buy when the products are new, I'm so excited when I get home. Then I place them in a drawer where they are horded forever. I'm trying really hard to use the items that I have purchased, and it seems that I'm falling in love all over again.

Thanks for stopping in today

Distress Pens

So I finally got a chance to play with my Distress Markers from Tim Holtz that I purchased from Flamingo Scraps as a pre-order.

These markers are so much fun, they have a watercolor quality - but react a little different than water colors since the colors replace each other rather than contaminate.




The flower on this card is a Prima stamp that I colored with the TH markers on the Ranger stamping paper. Coloring took some getting used to, but I like how the design looks like I colored it with my Copic markers.

I decided to use the image on a card.

From Flamingo Scraps: Ranger: Tim Holtz Distress Markers, Ornamental Die, Distress inks: Tea Dye; Prima: Rose Stamp, Antques Stamp, packaging (So Happy banner); Graphic 45: Bottle Stamps; Webster's Pages: Trims, Misc. Laces; Pink Paislee Packaging, Frame stamp - Soree, Stampendous: Frantage - Shabby Blue.
Other: Tonic Punch: dotted scallop, Cherry Lynn Designs: Doily Die, Studio G: Stamp "Delight in the Little Things", Spellbinders: Label 5, My Mind's Eye: Tea Pot stamp.

I used the packaging from a Pink Paislee stamp set as the background, I also used packaging from the Rose Prima stamp set for the banner that says "So happy". I love upcycling the packaging when I can.

The bottle is from Graphic 45's new stamp Curosity Shoppe Perfume Bottles. I stamped it with Archival Ink on transparency, then warped it with my heat gun to make it look dimensional.

The tea pot was a My Mind's Eye stamp that was embossed with the new Frantage Embossing Enamel, and the cup was actually another stamped image from the tea pot, but I cut it down to make it into a cup.

To create the sign behind the vase I layered a Prima Printery stamp for the words and the Frame from a Pink Paislee - Soree stamp set.

The clock was cut from a piece of scrap paper on my desk. The table cloth was a punch scrap.

Then I added Lace and Trims to the bottom, and stamp that says "Delight in the little things" as the sentiment.

I hope you enjoy this card share today,

Thanks for stopping in,

Weekend Whimsy: Kelly Purkey and Amy Tan Workshop

When my parents asked what I wanted for my birthday, I knew exactly what to say.  I was dying to sign up for the Kelly Purkey / Amy Tan workshop at Our Paper Place, but it cost more than I could justify spending while my husband is unemployed.  The money my parents gave me paid the registration fee with some left over to go toward my 40 Things.  What a wonderful gift!

The big day finally arrived last weekend.  Amanda met me there.  Our Paper Place is about midway between us, about a 90 minute drive to each of us.  We haven't seen each other in person since we traveled together to CHA in January 2011.  It was great to catch up and so fun to craft together.  From left: me, Kelly Purkey, Amy Tan, and Amanda.

Our day consisted of 4 classes.  First, Amy taught two layouts.  Here are her samples:

 

 Fun, colorful, bright and busy.  In other words, not my style AT ALL.  But that wasn't the point.  Half the fun of a class is trying things that are outside my comfort zone, using techniques I never use, and playing with supplies that aren't normally in my repertoire.  Amy was an excellent teacher and I loved hearing her ideas and learning about her process.

I didn't bring photos with me to the class, so I didn't add titles or journaling either.  Here's how my layouts looked when her class ended:

I'll probably add photos and finish the layouts eventually, but it's also possible I won't.  As I said, for me, the experience wasn't about the finished projects.

For our next class, Kelly taught two layouts.  Here are her samples:

 

Kelly has a cleaner, simpler style than Amy does.  But she uses a lot of misting, stamping, and embossing techniques that make her style quite different from mine.  Which is great, because it meant that there was plenty for me to learn and try.  

I've only taken a handful of classes over the years, but what I've learned about myself is that I'm not capable of simply following along.  I use the techniques the instructor is showing, but I put my own twist on them.  With Amy's first class, I actually did follow along fairly well, but by the time we got to Kelly's first class, my own creativity was bursting out.  For example, Kelly demonstrated applying a small amount of mist to a piece of Hambly patterned paper, then rubbing it off.  The chevron pattern acted as a resist and the colors blended to stain the background.  I tried the technique, which was fun, but then I flipped the paper over to the B-side and did my own thing.  So much more me!

I loved the look of misting through a piece of Studio Calico die cut paper.  I loved it so much that when Amy later asked us to cut up that paper to use for another project, I chose not to.  I'd much rather keep the paper whole to use as a mask again in the future.

For the third class, Amy taught some techniques to alter her Daybook.  

 

 She demonstrated a technique of blowing watercolor paint.  I did my own thing (again).  I used the paints to alter the cover and most of the pages, added a bunch of stickers, and then the title of "Play."  I'll use this book to try out new (potentially messy) techniques.  

 

For the final class, Kelly taught us how to make a 5x5 mini.  Here is Kelly's book.  The rest of the class made one that looked like hers.

But not me.

I did my own thing on all of the interior pages too.  I had a blast.  I'll definitely be making more of these in the future.  They have great gift potential!

  

We all posed together after the event, of course!    

What a fun and inspiring day!   

Cupcake Pin Cushion

I have a friend who is an amazing artist. She recently sent me some items that she had hand crafted, so I wanted to make something special for her as a thank you gift. I decided to make her a pin cushion in the shape of a cupcake, and adorn it with butterfly stick pins.

From Flamingo Scraps: Webster's Pages: Hollywood Vogue - Spotlight paper, Rangger Glossy Accents, Mini PomPom trim, Prima: Rosebuds in pink, and prima fairytale roses in white. Other: My Favorite Things small spiral rose die, felt, Pins, Pearls, Charms, Glass beads, candle stick, candle plate, doilie.

The cupcake stand is made from a flat round candle plate and a candle stick that I put together using glossy accents. Then I placed a doily on top of the plate to give it the look of a platter or table top. The cupcake wrapper is made from the Spotlight paper from Webster's Page's Hollywood Vogue collection. I dressed it with mini pompom trim, pearls and Prima roses for added interest. For the cupcake I made tiny spiral rose buds from felt. I also made clay rose stick pins using polymere clay.


I just love how elegant this came out. I can't wait for her to recieve it.
Thanks for stopping in today,

Eggs + Mist = Awesome

I haven't done a lot of scrapbooking recently- kids' crafts, cooking projects, and holiday decorating have taken up most of my creative energies.  But that doesn't mean I haven't used my scrapbook supplies!

Here are the eggs we dyed, using a typical Paas kit.

And here are some of my favorite colors of Glimmer Mist and Maya Mist.

Add a quick spritz.... 

... and you get these!

 

 

 

Happy Easter!

Easter Egg Dyes -- Who Knew??

My dear friend Kathleen passed along this tip and it is sooooo FABULOUS, I had to share!!!! 

Have you dyed your Easter eggs yet?  If you haven't, save your leftover dye!!!  If you have, or you aren't going to, check out the half off sales on Monday and stock up on those little dye tablets!!!!

99 cents at Walgreen's

Mixed with lemon juice 

$1.00 at Dollar Tree -- mixed with vinegar and lemon juice

Note to self -- Balsamic vinegar does not work!!!

Fabric Lace and Trim

Add your favorite lace or trim to the cups of dye -- let stand an hour or so, longer for deepest colors.   This is dye, so it is messy!!!  Rinse in cold water and let dry.

Deep, rich, vibrant colors!!!

Can't you just see these with Spring Jubilee, She Art, Emaline, and Palm Beach!!!

Not all colors work the same, nor do all trims.  I had the most trouble with purple.

I am going to be at the door of  Dollar Tree  on Monday -- 2 dye kits for one dollar!!!

Check out tomorrow's blog post from Cindy on using scrapbook supplies to decorate eggs!!!

A Blessed Easter and Passover to you all!