Frightful Wreath

It’s funny…..I’m not much on decorating for Halloween.  Sure – I put up a few pumpkins and things that I’ve made over the years, but I usually just stick to traditional fall items.  This year, though, the items in the Holiday Catalogue are simply so amazing I think I am going to have to take out a loan so I can buy them all!!!! 

Take, for instance, this Frightful Wreath.  Any other year I would not buy a wreath for Halloween.  I’ve never had a Halloween wreath!  My two year old son, though, has played this little game with pretend spiders leftover from last year’s Halloween all summer.  We throw them out of a drawer…onto the floor….into the bath…you name it – he runs around screaming like he’s just seen a ghost.  “Piders!”  he screams with a look of terror on his face.

To anyone who doesn’t know him, they think he is truly petrified.  They feel sorry for him.  Poor little thing.  And then he does it over….and over…..and over……and over…..and over….

You get the point.  This has been his favorite little game all summer.  Needless to say, when he cried out, “Piders!” upon looking at this wreath in the catalogue…..he had me – hook, line, and sinker!

 

 

This wreath was pretty easy to make.  Here are a few tips.

*Get your hot glue gun ready and keep lots of glue sticks at your side.

*When you hot glue the center of the accordion fold – put lots of glue in there and hold it.  Then hold it some more.  Keep holding.  Take a nap and hold it!  Just kidding!

*Re-ink your Basic Black ink pad just before you sponge those doilies and be very gentle.  They tear easily.  Fresh ink will make certain that they turn really black.

*In light of the last tip…..keep paper towels or napkins close by to hold those doilies if you don’t let them dry completely. 

*The spider took the longest to make – it is not hard – just tedious!  Good wire cutters and pliers/tweezers for wire will be very helpful!

Supplies:  Frightful Wreath Simply Created kit, Frightful Wreath photopolymer stamps, Tangelo Twist ink, Basic Black ink

Calling all Superheroes to the City!

I saw the idea for this card on another demo’s blog and couldn’t resist it!  I loved how she took a boy superhero stamp set and turned it into something elegant!

I started with a Daffodil Delight background (any yellow color will work for this, though).  I sponged Crisp Cantaloupe on the bottom and Calypso Coral on the top.  I stamped the cityscene on the bottom twice.  Make sure that you get the city scene all inked up nice and juicy!

I finished with the sentiment from Let Your Hair Down and a piece of Crushed Curry chevron ribbon across the center.  It really was that easy!

Stamps:  Calling All Superheroes, Let Your Hair Down

Ink:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Memento Black ink

Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Crushed Curry chevron Ribbon

Work of Art plaid

I love the the Work of Art stamp set is so versatile!  We used it during our last club meeting to create our own plaid patterns.   We also played with Burlap Ribbon and found that our scallop edgelit is a great tool to cut ribbon!  (I just can’t use it very long…..I am terribly allergic to burlap!!!  Hello sneezes!)

Stamps:  Work of Art, Let Your Hair Down

Ink:  Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise

Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Sweet Taffy DSP

Accessories:  Burlap Ribbon, Scallop Edgelit, Tag Topper Punch, Melon Mambo 1/8” ribbon, 1 3/8” circle punch, word window punch

Maritime DSP

I used the remnants of my Maritime DSP to create some different birthday cards.  I always need plain and boyish looking birthday cards, so I thought Maritime DSP + Age Awareness= perfect boy birthday cards!

I really like this image – it’s cute and swirly, but not too much!

And….once again, I like the fish on the DSP, but I don’t have any nautical stamp sets.  I cut some waves around the fish and used some scraps from the other cards and had a nice little finish.  Nothing too special or frilly for those boys!

Maritime Ocean Gel Card

So recently I got some of the Maritime DSP to play with.  You will see quite a few cards coming that I made while playing with the DSP.  It is really cute and fun with the nautical theme.  Anyway, I loved the little octopus scene so much I wanted to really highlight it in a fun way, so I decided to make a gel card.  I haven’t made one of those in a while, so why not?! 

Dimensions:

Pool Party Cardstock - 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Maritime Cardstock - 4" x 5 1/4",  4 X 4”, 3 ½ X 3 ½”

Real Red Cardstock - 4" x 4", Scrap – 2 X 3”

SCRAP Whisper White Cardstock - 2" x 3"

Supplies:

Boys Will Be Boys Stamp Set

Real Red Ink Pad

Pool Party Ink Refill

Circle Framelits

Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits

Aloe Vera Gel

Plastic Baggie

Sticky Strip

Stampin’ Dimensionals

Paper Snips

Instructions:

1. Fold the Pool Party Cardstock in half with a Bone Folder.

2.   Cut the Octopus image out of the Maritime DSP using the 3 ¾” circle framelit and adhere to the Pool Party base with SNAIL adhesive.

3.  Take a plastic baggie (I re-used an accessory bag) and fill it with the desired amount of Aloe Vera gel. 

4.  Add a few Pool Party re-inker drops into the aloe vera gel and mix inside the bag to the desired color .

5.  Apply Sticky Strip to the top and the bottom of the plastic bag and adhere to the Pool Party base.  Make sure the baggie will not hang out past the DSP that will cover it.

6.  Cut a 2 ¾” circle out of the Night of Navy Maritime DSP so it will go over the Octopus DSP .   Set aside.

7.  Cut a 3 ¾” circle out of the Real Red paper using Circle framelits.  Using the same piece of Real Red paper, place the 2 ¾” circle over the center and cut the inside of the Real Red circle out using the framelits. 

8.  Adhere the Real Red circle to the Night of Navy Maritime DSP, framing the circle.

9.  Cut a 3 ¼” circle out of the Pool Party Maritime DSP using the Circle Framelits.  Using the same piece of Pool Party Maritime DSP, place the 2 ¾” circle over the center and cut the inside of the Pool Party Maritime DSP circle using the same framelits.

10.  Adhere Pool Party circle to the Real Red circle, framing the circle as shown.

11.  Cut a Real Red label using the Project Life framelits.

12.  Stamp Happy Birthday sentiment using Real Red and cut the scrap to fit the label using Paper Snips. 

13.  Adhere red birthday label to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

14.  Using lots of Stampin’ Dimensionals (I used all of the outside edges of my package) adhere the card front over the plastic gel baggie. 

Sweet Taffy card

Nothing too special about this card – simple and yet perfect for accentuating some fun patterned paper!

Dimensions:

Daffodil Delight Cardstock - 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Rich Razzleberry Cardstock – 4 ¼” X 4 ¾”

4 pieces of Sweet Taffy paper – 2” X 2”

4 pieces of the same Sweet Taffy paper – 1 ¾” X 1 ¾”

Accessories:

White Stampin’ Emboss Powder

Tempting Turquoise Candy Dots

Basics Hodgepodge Clips

Supplies:

Endless Birthday Wishes photopolymer stamp set

Versamark ink pad

Project Life Corner Rounder Punch

Heat Tool

Instructions:

1. Fold the Daffodil Delight paper in half with a Bone Folder.

2. Adhere the Rich Razzleberry Cardstock to the Daffodil Delight Cardstock with SNAIL Adhesive.

3. Using the Project Life corner punch, punch two opposing corners of each square of Sweet Taffy Designer Series Paper.  For instance, punch the top left and the bottom right corners of each square.

4. Adhere the 2” squares to the center of the Rich Razzleberry paper with SNAIL adhesive allowing the right angles to meet as shown. 

5.  Adhere the 1 ¾” squares to the center of each matching 2” square with Stampin’ Dimensionals allowing the right angles to meet as shown.

6.  Slide the arrow clip on the top left square.

7.  Stamp sentiment in VersaMark ink on the bottom right corner of the Rich Razzleberry paper.

8.  Emboss sentiment using White Stampin’ Emboss Powder and Heat Tool.

9.  Embellish as desired using Tempting Turquoise Candy Dots.

Geometrical set of cards

Okay, so these cards are not in any special geometrical shapes, they are made using the Geometrical stamp sets.  They were inspired by some cards that I saw that were made by Andrea Walford.

So first we start with the circle and triangle combination to create the pieces of candy.  If I wanted to go all out, I could add Baker’s twine and clear wrap….but I didn’t! 

I combined the Geometric stamp set with the Just Saying stamp set for a sweet little card I can sneak into my husband’s bag the next time he’s gone.

And, of course, what would a good card set be without the addition of a flower?  This time the flower is made with triangles….lots of them! 

Stamps:  Geometrics, Just Saying, Something to Say

Ink:  Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Crushed Curry, Tuxedo Black (Memento), Bermuda Bay

Paper:  Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White

Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones, Brads

CASE of the Mondays #2

I was inspired enough by this quick and easy sketch to actually create two cards for this challenge!  Yikes!

The first card was simply an attempt to use my new DSP stack All Abloom.  While it sounds like a girly stack, this turned out to be a boyish card.  Not the best picture, though….sorry.

The base is Lost Lagoon (swoon!) and it is accented with Daffodil Delight paper.

You probably can’t see it, but I colored the rhinestones to match with my darkest Old Olive blendabilities marker.  That just makes me happy!

My next boy birthday card uses the stamp set Boys will be Boys.  I just love that name! 

For this card, I went with Andrea Popp’s idea to make my own background paper.  I repeatedly stamped the lego stamp in Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise and Real Red.  What boy wouldn’t love this card?!

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes, Boys will be Boys

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Lost Lagoon, Old Olive Blendabilities

Paper:  Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, All Abloom DSP

Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones, Candy Dots, June Paper Pumpkin

Blendabilities Class Coming Up!

Here is a card I made just this weekend that was quick and easy.  My blendabilities markers made it so easy to color these beautiful flowers. 

I will be hosting a Blendabilities class on Saturday, July 19 at 1:00 p.m.  The cost for the class is $50, but it includes 2 sets of Blendabilities (Cherry Cobbler and Pumpkin Pie), as well as a color lifter pen, Memento Ink, and the Blended Blooms single stamp.  To purchase all of those items it would cost you a little more than $54 with shipping and tax! 

Everyone must register before this Friday, July 11 so that the supplies will arrive in time for our class. 

We will be learning how to use the blendabilities markers to achieve beautifully blended colors on your cards and of course we will make some lovely cards to go with them!

Stamps:  Bloom with Hope

Ink:  Memento

Paper:  Whisper White, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:  Candy dots, Paper Pumpkin June, Circle framelits

Baby Boat

I got the idea for this card from Aly Schilling.  I used lots of scraps to put together this darling little baby boy card. 

The base is basic grey and the waves are made using the negative pieces of the large scallop edgelit.  The boat is a half circle stamped with the June My Paper Pumpkin stamps.  the sail is one of the straws from the kit and the mast is from the Moonlight paper pad.  Very simple!

Stamps:  Express Yourself, June My Paper Pumpkin

Ink:  Night of Navy

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Grey, Night of Navy, Moonlight

Accessories:  June My Paper Pumpkin, Large scallop edgelit, circle framelits

Happy Independence Day!

Today….the day we celebrate our freedom.

The day we say thank you to those who have served and continue to serve for our freedom.

We celebrate the bombs bursting in air with fireworks……and cookouts….and apple pie! 

Here’s a little start to our 4th of July décor for the day.  We used our Paper Pumpkin from June to make some decorations for the occasion.

We accented our pinwheel (or windmill as my daughter calls it!) decoration with a makeshift flag.

And what’s the fourth of July without a fun banner to decorate your eating area?

Here’s where I think I will put it – above our outside eating area.  Fun decorations always make steak taste better don’t they?!

And one final glimpse into our day – a few steps away in our wooded haven we call home!

Stamps:  Work of Art

Ink:  Real Red, Daffodil Delight

Paper:  Real Red, Whisper White, Night of Navy, Basic Grey, Midnight Muse

Accessories:  Real Red Grosgrain ribbon, June Paper Pumpkin, Lots of hot glue!!!!

Oh, Happy Day!

I have found a fun new place to find inspiration.  It is called Downloads on Demand, so this is the sketch used for the CASE of the Mondays.  Don’t you just love that little play on words?

Here is the card that I created using the sketch.  I mostly used some leftover pieces from my Starburst Sayings card class to create the card.  In addition, I had some baker’s twine and a paper clip from my June Paper Pumpkin that I wanted to use for the card.  I was afraid to add another sentiment – I didn’t want to make it too busy! 

Stamps:  Starburst Sayings

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Pacific Point

Paper:  Real Red, Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Accessories:  Large dot embossing folder, Circle framelits, Starburst framelits, 1 inch circle punch, paper clips, Smoky Slate baker’s twine

Weekend Warriors: Jenny and Carolyn

So the weekend craft warriors have been at it again!  Look at these cards in a box they made!  This is one of those projects I would always like to get around to….and then I remember I have a two year old and a seven year old…..gorgeous, ladies!

Now, if this isn’t patriotic inspiration, I don’t know what is.  I have an idea to use the pinwheels from my last Paper Pumpkin to create a patriotic wreath.  I just haven’t been to Hobby Lobby to get a wreath base.  You may see a similar project from me soon!  We will keep our fingers crossed on that one….

		Bug Me and Peaceful Petals VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Finally, we have an entire album of gorgeous cards that were made using tutorials from Jenny Moors, a favorite blogger and Stampin’ Up demonstrator of theirs.  Of course, they have so much time together they never get to do all that they plan….but I’m just saying they get an incredible amount of crafting accomplished!  Personally, I have to sneak it in when the munchkins are sleeping….so maybe I’ll do some right now!  They aren’t awake yet!

Chalkboard scrapbook layout

Here is a layout I am certain I CASEd from someone else.  Probably Rachel Tessman if I were to guess.  I love her scrapbooking style. It is very much like my own!  I started with a Basic Black 12X12 background and sponged Whisper White all over it.  I took my white Uniball gel pen and doodled a border.  I used my Perfect Pennants framelit to create a pennant and stamped dots in Real Red on it.  I accented it with a wooden heart. 

Stamps:  Geometrical

Paper:  Real Red, Basic Black

Ink:  Whisper White, Real Red

Accessories:  Wood accessory pack, Perfect Pennants framelits, White uniball gel pen, Brights buttons, linen thread

Starburst Sayings Card Class

Tomorrow, Saturday, June 28 at 1:00 p.m. I will hosting a Starburst Sayings card class.  These are the 4 cards you will make during the class.  The 4 cards and envelopes will be $10 for the first set and $7 for each additional set.

While I did make these cards myself, I got the ideas and measurements for these cards at Papercrafter’s Library.  They were one of the Creative Inspiration sets. 

We just finished our 5th day of Vacation Bible School – we sang Oh, Happy Day every single night!  I love this stamp because it always makes me sing that song in my head!

I love this combo of stamps here – very fun and summery.  I think this stamp would also be a great stamp for a little back to school gift for the teachers…

And one final rainbow of color that makes a perfect birthday card. 

Wanna’ come?  Just let me know – leave me a message with your info or you can email me at

tv durham @ me (dot) com

Carolyn and Jenny: At it again!

		Flowers by Carolyn and Jenny! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I am posting an entire album of gorgeous card that were created by the creative masterminds of Carolyn and Jenny.  Carolyn is my downline and Jenny is her sister.  Together, they make a dynamic duo…..and they are super fun to be around, I might add!  Today I am just going to let Carolyn share for herself about the cards.  I think that you, like me, might just enjoy her perspective and ideas about getting together just as much as I did!

Jenny was over this weekend and these are the cards we made. The first set was made using the Flower Shop & Petite Petal stamp sets. The second set was made using the Betsy’s Blossoms Set.  Both of these set were tutorials that I purchased from Jenny Moors a UK demonstrator.  The last set I cased from Stampin Connection and I don’t remember who posted it.  We had lots of fun.  Some times we got to talking and realized we assembled it upside down or assembled it wrong but we were always able to correct it. If it was just assembled wrong there are times we liked it better and just went with it the way it was. We never have enough time to do all the cards we plan to do, time just gets away from us.  I will go to her house in two weeks so it is time to plan what we are going to make.  We try to stick to 1-2 stamp sets so the one visiting doesn’t have to take so much.  We always share markers, ink pads, embossing folders and punches so we never have to include those when we travel to the other ones house.

Carol