Lovely Trees

This classic stamp set is one of my favourites.  I use it mainly for backgrounds and add-ons, but never on it's own, so I thought I'd give it a try - and it can definitely stand alone!  This is a simple attempt at some vintage styled note cards.

Materials (All materials are Stampin' Up! products unless otherwise noted):

• Lovely As A Tree set

• Early Espresso Ink
• Early Espresso Cardstock

• Eyelet Border Punch 

• Flee Market Paper Pad - by Colorbök

• Red Ribbon - Offray 3/8" (from Walmart)
• Small Hemp Spool (from Walmart)

• Pearls and Accents (from the dollar section at Michael's)
• Gelly Roll Pen - Silver Star

Of course, if you've read any of my other posts, you know I always make mini cards to go into my present-topper file.

Happy Valentines Day, Morgan!

My daughter, Morgan, and I spent so much time making the Valentines for her class ... she loved it!  But because those took a large chunk of time, we didn't really get cards made for each other.  So I woke up super early on Valentines day to make this mini card and surprise her with a little owl of her own.

Materials (from Stampin' Up unless otherwise noted):

• Early Expresso Cardstock
• Sending Love Specialty Designer Paper
• Real Red ink
• Early Expresso ink
• Red ribbon (from Walmart)

• Baby Blossoms set
• Punch Bunch set (2011 Sale-a-bration set)
• Vintage Labels set

• Two Step Owl Extra Large punch
• Extra-Large Oval punch

• Dimensional Dots
• Decorative Pearls and Rhinestones (purchased in the dollar section at Michaels)

In-Colour Birthday

 

 

I just spent the last week in Kansas City visiting my family.  I packed two large bags of stamping supplies hoping my Mom, Em (my sister-in-law) and I would make some time to be crafty.  I was super excited because I just received my Stampin' Up! starter kit the day before we left.  My kit included the 2010-2011 In-Colour inks, so of course we had to try them out.  Just look at all the fun we had!! :)

 

I also ordered the Create a Cupcake set with matching punch, so we made some minis for present-toppers to match.  

*Design Note:  To get the brushed antique look around the edges, gently swipe along the ink pad all the way around. Sponging makes the antiquing look more subtle, but this look is a little more distressed and bold.

Stampin' Up! Materials (unless otherwise noted):

• In-Colour Decorative Paper pack
• In-Colour Cardstock pack
• Early Expresso Cardstock
• In-Colour inks (Pear Pizazz, Poppy Parade, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait and Blushing Bride)
• Early Expresso ink
• Early Expresso ribbon

• Baby Blossoms set
• Create a Cupcake set
• Vintage Labels set
• Itty Bitty Bits set

• Itty Bitty Shapes punches
• Build a Cupcake punch
• Extra-Large Oval punch
• Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch

• Dimensional Dots
• Decorative Pearls and Rhinestones (purchased in the dollar section at Michaels)

Easy to cut.  Easy to assemble.  Easy to share materials.  Stamping fun for all!  I'm so thankful that my Mom and Em share my love of crafting.  It's so much fun brainstorming and trying new techniques together, but the best part is - in the end we don't just have a stack of cards to show for, we have quality time with each other that I will always cherish.

Pretty Birthday Wishes

I must admit, I'm a sucker for things that are pretty!  Vintage quilts, large blossom prints of fabric in shades of pink, blue and purple, just draw me in.  While I sport a very funky, eclectic style, there's just something about those pretty girlie prints that inspires me.  That's what I had in mind tonight as I was crafting these birthday wishes.   I hope that in some way they have inspired you to create your own!

Materials:

• Stampin' Up - Baby Blossoms set and Watercolor Trio set
• Stampin' Up Ink - Rose Red, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Early Espresso for antiquing
• Stampin' Up Punch - 2" x 1 3/8" Extra Large Oval Punch and Scallop Trim Border Punch
• Stampin' Up Designer Paper - Thoroughly Modern
• American Crafts premium ribbon (from the JoAnn dollar section)
• Gelly Roll Pen - Clear Star
• Random self-adhesive pearls
• Dimensional dots 

Instructions:

Cut your paper to size (I always to the very first layer 1/4" smaller than my card.  Attach the ribbon to your first layer with adhesives before sticking it to the card.

Stamp label image on a piece of white paper - 2 images for each card.

Stamp your greeting inside on of the images at the bottom left.  Punch or cut out with scissors.

The rest of the card is pretty self-explanatory - dimensional dots, antiquing, etc.  I used the Gelly Roll pen over the greeting and a little on the darker part of the two-step flowers.

TIP - I always need birthday cards ... they seem to fly outta my house faster than any other card I make.  Since I don't have a lot of extra time on my hands, I try and craft a few of the same style whenever I'm in the groove. I make one or two large cards, then 3 or 4 minis (finished size 3 1/4" square) so I always have them on hand.  I use the larger cards for occasions that don't require a gift and the minis as present-toppers.

Valentines | Part 2

Round two of the valentine making: classmate valentines.  Morgan wanted them to match her teacher valentines (the Magnet Bookmarks), so our options were slim.  When we were at the dollar store, we were particularly inspired by the shiny valentine pencils they had ... this was the result - a bouquet of owls!

Menu Display Board

I've always considered food an art.  I love to cook and I absolutely love menu planning.  I didn't use to ... I used to dread going to the store.  But in the transition of stay-at-home mom to working full time I had to do something.  I came up with a system of menus - each having a matching grocery list.  It required a small commitment of sitting down and planning a week at a time, but once I had 8 weeks it was easy.  I'd grab week two menu, with week two grocery list and dash to the store!  I used the same menus, but shuffled them so we never ate things in the same pattern.  Every once in a while, I sit down and add a new week.  It's great if you don't have a lot of time to put into planning, but still want to give your family a home cooked meal.

The other day my friend Becca called with an amazing idea - a menu board.  What a perfect idea to display my weekly menus!  Easy enough to design the template and place it in a frame, but I needed something a little more jazzy - I have a hard time leaving things white.  So I grabbed my stamps and went to work!


Materials:

• An 8x10" frame ... it can be re-purposed (I got mine at the thrift store and spray painted it white)
• Coloured cardstock and patterned paper - I used Stampin' Up Thoroughly Modern Designer Paper and Old Olive Cardstock
• Stamps - flowers, butterflies, medallions, etc. - I used the Stampin' Up Medallion and Vintage Label set
• Buttons, ribbon or other decorative elements - I used skinny hemp and Stampin' Up Button Latte
• Ink pads - I used Stampin' Up Old Olive and Early Expresso 
• Craft glue - My favourite is Zap Dry.

Download and print Menu Template

Stamp and embellish as desired.  I cut my page down a little and placed it on a sheet of cardstock for a matte effect.

Glue embellishments on top of the glass for a layered look.

I also glued some cardstock onto my frame to give it a little more colour.

Use any dry erase marker to display your menu on the glass - I'll be buying a brown one next time I go to the store since the red is a little too funky for my taste.

Valentines

My daughter, Morgan, and I have made a tradition of hand-making valentines the last several years.  It's always fun trying to come up with something new and different.  This year we found these amazing craft magnets at the dollar store and this is what we created ... magnetic bookmark valentines!!  You could really use any combination of papers and punches - or even trace circles with jar tops.  Fun and simple!  Hopefully her teacher will love it!

Materials:

• Craft magnet set purchased at the dollar store (Dollarama if you live in Canada)
• Google Eyes
• Craft glue - I use Zap Dry

• Stampin' Up Raspberry Tart Designer Paper
• Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip Cardstock
• White Cardstock

• Stampin' Up Groovy Guava Ink Pad
• Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip Ink Pad

• Stampin' Up Vintage Label Stamp Set
• Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set

• Stampin' Up Two Step Owl Punch - Extra Large
• Stampin' Up 1 3/4" Scalloped Circle Punch - Large
• Stampin' Up 2 3/8" Scalloped Circle Punch - Extra Large
• EK Success 2 1/2" Circle Punch - Extra Large
• Nest-abilities Circle Die-cuts

Instructions:
Cut 2 - 3" circles out of patterned paper and glue onto either side of the metal circle from the craft magnet set.

Punch or cut 2 - 2 1/2" circles - one for a background, and one for the back of the "card".  I used one white and one chocolate chip.  I added a little distressing with a sponge around the edges, but you don't have to.  At this point you can stamp or write a greeting on the back.  Use snail adhesive, or double sided tape and fix those onto either side of the paper covered magnetic circle.  This completes the back of the bookmark.

Punch an extra large scallop out of patterned paper, and a large one out of white cardstock (you can use a stamp for the background if you have one before you punch).  Use adhesive to attach them together.

Punch any colour combination of owl parts and attach together with adhesive.  With craft glue, attach one or two of the magnets to the owls back.  Glue the other side of the magnet to the scalloped circles.  This should finish off the front of the bookmark.

Snazzy Pizzazz

Who doesn't need a quick and easy gift?  I love giving these fun little note cards made with the Petal Pizzazz set from Stampin' Up.  The colour and paper combinations are endless!  I just used a few scrap pieces of decorative paper and some craft paper ... cut, snip, punch ... antique with a little sponge ... assemble with adhesive and dimensional dots ...

Materials:

• Stampin' Up - Petal Pizzazz set
• Stampin' Up Inks - Pink Passion, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, and True Thyme for the antiquing
• Stampin' Up Punch - 1 3/4" Scalloped Circle and 1 1/4" Circle
• K&Company Designer Paper - Scraps I had from the Wild Raspberry and the Berry Sweet Pads
• The Paper Company - Kraft Cardstock Sheets
• Gelly Roll Pen - Clear Star
• Random self-adhesive rhinestones

One Little Word ...

Sunday night I was reminded of a truth I've known since childhood ... life is exactly what you make it.  My response to the blessings and challenges God sends my way is everything.

How many times have I seen the phrase "bloom where you're planted"?  A MILLION.  But for the first time, it actually started to mean something to me.

Almost four years ago, we picked up our lives and moved to Canada for a job I still love.  But it meant a lot of change.  Hard change.  Missing family.  Missing friends.  Missing everything familiar.  But I knew it's what God wanted for us ...

I've adjusted relatively well, but I still have my moments (Sunday) where I lose a little joy.  But a gentle reminder from Matt, my wonderful husband, that my effort can make the difference, mixed with a little inspiration from the amazing Ali Edwards and her One Little Word project, have landed me right here.

Making an effort to achieve my goals, be a loving wife and mom, succeed in my work, stay fit, and invest in friendships, while staying true to my crafty self, is quite a tall order!  I've really been mindful of it the past several days.  But in 2011 I will make the effort.  I'm not putting things off anymore ... I'm starting now.  So far this week I've joined Stampin' Up, started a blog, and made plans with some friends I'd like to get to know better ... it's a start!  So, if you haven't guessed it by now, my one little word for 2011 is effort...