1st Stamp'in Up workshop

Had so much fun at my first workshop, met some great girls and checked out some different product. Have not seen any stamps yet that I like but they carry other stuff as well. Ordered some fabric, vinyl sayings. Have other things selected out that I will purchase every month, planning on replacing all my stamp pads, getting some of their multi punches and maybe more embossing folders.

Here is the first of 2 projects we made that night. The heart was used from the second project, we punched it out of the bag to use here. The bird is 2 pieces. After punching everything out we used a sponge to distress the edges with ink. I like the effect the sponge does and that I don't have ink all over my fingers after word. Using the Big Shot we die cut the white card stock. After placing and sticking all the pieces together we put in through an embossing folder. I found that this made it look like on piece and gave it a very professional look. On a punched out circle we stamped Love you and then stuck it on the card.

This treat bag was die cut with the Big Shot. After punching out the Heart we folded the bag and glued the cellophane bag inside. Gives it a neat little window to see the treats. Stamped some boarder hearts, then wrapped red and white twine around to help it stay closed. Attached to the top is a white punched circle stamped with Feb 14 on it.
All stamps, dies, punches and other products used are available from Stamp'in Up.

Blessings Journal

 So sorry I have not posted since the beginning of the month. I have been very busy trying to get some swaps done that I have committed to finish.
I love being involved with creative swaps were I am stretched with my creativity. Martcia of Martica Designs has some of the best swap ideas ever and really I need to give her credit for encouraging me and inspiring me to constantly try something new. Her latest swap on http://www.scrapbook.com/ was to decorate a journal for a secret sister. I love secret sister swaps, most of them that I do involve buying product, this is the first to make something. The pictures are out of order but I had a hard time the last time I posted a series to move them around so I left them and will just post beside them what products I use and how I applied everything.
This first picture is the inside front cover. All card stock use is from DCWV Luxury Stack. Very rich looking prints and paper. Made a pocket to hold a couple of tags/pics. The embellishment is Prima Say it in Pearls pink Swirls, Brads I made with my i-Top and fabric. Then covered edges of the pocket with eyelet lace. I used Scor-tape in 1/4 in size to adhere the pocket and Arlene's Tack Craft glue for the lace.

 Here is a picture of the 3 tags/pics I included in the pocket. First is one that matches the pocket and has a frame for a picture, next is a picture of a boy playing a trumpet, on the back it reads "Because my Savior loves me, I will praise Him through my talents." And last is a card that has a frame on it with one of my cross stitch and beaded flowers. On the back I stamped a journal spot Punched the corners with Martha Stuwart corner punch Arches.

 Here is a picture of them in the pocket, as you can see the top half of the Swirl is covered.

 I wanted to do something simple but elegant on the inside back cover. I believe I achieved what I set out to do. Here I used Prima Say it in Crystals Swirls with Lace in White and a pink butterfly from Recollections Signature line

 On the binding I used a piece of fabric because I did not like how the card stock did not bend perfectly with the binding. Also pictured is the string of beads and charms I made. This was a first for me. I have a ton of beads from my cross stitching, old jewelry that I have taken apart to use in different altering projects and charms I have received from swaps. It begins as one line but then breaks into 3 small trails of beads. You can't see it here but I also added 2 ribbon page markers in a iridescent blue ribbon.

And here is the vision I saw and was able to recreate. This turned out exactly like I wanted. I really wanted my journal to be soft and dreamy that is why I used cream, blue and pink for the colours. First to the products I used, The branch is by Recollections Signature series Floral Embellishments, this is held on using Arlene's Tacky Craft glue. Seen on the end of the branch is a cross stitched and beaded dragonfly, had to add another handmade by me. I LOVE sharing my talent with others. The medallion was cut with Spellbinders Nestabilities Blossom Four second largest die then traced with Stickles in Waterfall. Stamped saying using Tim Holtz Clear embossing ink for Distress Powders by Ranger. Love this stuff, didn't even know such a thing existed until a pal sent it to me for Christmas. Stamp used was My Pink Stamper Faithful Sayings. The butterfly and flower are both Recollections Signature series and so is the bling trail for the butterfly. White lace used from my stash, think I bought it at Walmart. I used my Crop-a-dile to punch 2 holes in the covers and then added to grommets, laced translucent iridescent blue ribbon through to tie the Journal closed. This was a labour of love and I an SO happy with the finished project.

Tool Review - Crop-A-Dile

Hello my crafty friends, I am so sorry I missed a post this week. All I can say is I have a new toy and needed to try it out for you.
This week I received from http://www.ohmycrafts.com/ a Crop-A-Dile by We R Memory Makers. Now I would of preferred the pink one but that was not available when I made my purchase. This tool has been around for a while so some of you might already have one or at the least seen one. I love using eyelets and had a punch and hammer style set. I hated it, I craft a lot of the time either at night or when the little ones are sleeping so for the past 2 years I have not been using eyelets. In one of my Christmas swaps at http://www.scrapbook.com/ I received a $25 GC to ohmycrafts so it was the perfect time for me to pick this up. This is the year to get more tools and use my stash, I have a lot LOL, I am sure that you do too. Well, I hostess a Birthday card swap at sb.com and was making cards when this arrived in the mail. Of course I had to try it out right away. Also had to tell my DH all about it with him humoring me with a silly grin on his face. Men just don't get it LOL. I added eyelets right away and then threaded ribbon through them and tied a pretty little bow. This little tool is very easy to use and could not but compare it to the i-Top by Imaginisce. Imaginisce obviously was inspired by the Crop-A-Dile. Now this tool wont only punch pp and CS but leather and chipboard too. I myself dont use chipboard much but I can see how handy this would be for making chipboard albums or embellishments. Its not that heavy and squeezes very easily which is good for anyone that might have strenght issues in their hands and wrists. The grip is rubberized and comfortable.
Well now I am off to make more cards, need to make 33 Valentine's cards to send out to my sb.com friends. This year is my goal to send out cards for different holidays and just because. Lets see how well I do LOL.
Have a most wonderful day, and get busy crafting!

Tool Review - SewEasy

 In a Christmas Secret Pal swap on sb.com I received the SewEasy piercing tool with several different heads and twine. If you follow my blog you know I love to cross stitch and love to marry my to hobbies together when I can. Cross stitching or even transferring a pattern to CS is a pain! So when I saw this little tool I wanted to try it. When you get it out of the package it has a pink head on it that is a straight stitch head. I chose to start with the vine head to see how easy this really is.

 You need to put the CS you plan on piercing the pattern onto on a soft surface. I used a mouse pad, you can buy the SewEasy self healing foam mat, which is on its way, or a foamy surface of anytime. It just needs to be soft because the piercing head is made of plastic and you don't want to damage the patterned piercing teeth. Here you can see what the CS looks like after running the Vine head over it. Really doesn't look like much yet.

On the reverse side of the CS I used a glue dot to adhere the twine to. Then following the pattern and instructions on the back of the card that the head was on I start to stitch. Now this one was pretty easy for me as I do Cross Stitch and Embroidery. The Vine stitch is an Embroidery stitch. 

On the next picture you can see what it looks like after a couple of stitches.

 Here is a picture of the finished vine. I have to say it is a little time consuming but it looks really nice. I did about 18 cards with this stitch in one day. The next head I will try out will be the double hearts one. Need to make some Valentine cards LOL.

 This one shows some pearls I used at the end of some of the leaves, you could also use brads maybe with flowers or stickles.

I like how the card turned out, the CS is all DCWV, cut and embossed using Spellbinders Lacey circles, miscellaneous ribbon and I cant recall were I got the stamp. What a great Spring Thank You card.

Happy Crafting, my next post will show another new technique I have just learned. Here's a hit, I need to buy a lot more fine glitter!

Altered desk storage

 I have a bunch of the new tools by Imaginisce and I need to have them close at hand. I found this little organizer at the dollar store and figured it would be perfect. The front has two compartments and the back is one large one.

First I needed to trace the different panels on some CS, I used some iridescent lilac purple CS not sure who its made by. I buy it in single sheets at Micheal's.

 Here is a top view. I should of sanded it down but decided to proceed with painting it right away. Painted the whole thing in and out in silver as purple and silver are the colours I have chosen for my scrap room. Using Mod Pod to attach the CS after the paint has dried.

On the front I applied a gem design that I had in my stash. I picked up all the gem designs used on this project at the dollar store. I am always amazed at my finds there.

 Here is the right side. You can just make out some of the white of the Mod Pod as I used it to seal the gems onto the paper.

 Here is the left. I use a total of 3 different designs, I did not put one on the back because it would never be seen.

As you can see by the pink that my Imaginisce tools fit perfectly in here. In the back compartment is my i-Top 2.0, up front on the right is my i-Rock, on the left is my d-Stress, I believe its called a Snip-it, a piercing tool for brads. I re-organized my desk so this has a place in my clear storage cubes and is close at hand. Now to find other little projects to alter, decorate and be functional on my desk!

Happy craft one and all. I will have a new post for you again soon.

Mini classes

I got an invite to go o some mini classes. Its with a company I have heard of but never seen their products before, Stamp'inUP. I checked out their stamps but I don't like mounted ones so most likely wont be buying any of them but I do need to replace a lot of my stamp pads. The first class is on January 18 and we will be making some cute Valentine treat bags. This ones is a closed group of 8 ladies and we each commit to $25 a month, each month a name is drawn and she is the "hostess" for that night. She receives the hostess benefits so gets free stuff or discounts. Great way to grow your supplies. The second group that I will be attending will be a card making group, she plans on us making 15 cards. Now I am not sure if that is in one night or more but that is the plan. I look forward to these 2 nights because I can get out and meet new people who enjoy to craft and I will also learn some new and different techniques. All very important when it comes to upping my creativity for DT calls.

I am also thinking that if this works out well, I might talk to her about doing a Saturday crop here at my house. I just need to get more chairs. I have several tables that can be set up to display product or just lay it out for easy reach as well as give the ladies lots of room. I will think about this and decide later if that is what I want to do. Of course it will be determined by who the other ladies are at the swap.

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable New Year and I am looking forward to the great experiences I will have in my family, life and crafting. Always smile someone might need that little bit of sunshine!

Winner Winner

I promised to do a draw today for my followers, Random.org selected MarleneF as the winner. MarleneF if you could pm me your postal info to Shana@ghosst.com with January winner in the subject line before Friday I will make sure the prize gets sent out to you. It is one of my favourite tools Imaginisce i-Rock!
If I don't here from MarleneF by Friday I will draw a new name. Thanks everyone for sticking with me this year and for all your wonderful comments I really appreciate you and the encouragement you send out to me. Wishing you all a 2012 more incredible and creative then last year!