Fix a Fella and more

Here are a couple cards I did for a friend of my husband's company. I was happy how the fella came out. I have just a few Copic Markers (not enough to do all the cool shading) but I used my colorless blender marker to "erase" some of the color to try to give it more dimension. I was pleased....take a look. The stamps was FixaFella from Stamping Bella and the words were printed on the computer.

Thomas the Train Pop Up Card

Well - Here is my first Draft of my Thomas the Train Pop-Up Card for my son's 2nd birthday. I still have a little tweaking to do...but I'm pleased with my first draft. I got the idea from Splitcoaststampers.com. To view another Pop-Up card and where to find the instructions ----> Click Here

Below is what the card will look like closed.

Here is the card Open.

I did cheat with the actual face. I scanned a album cover of Thomas. Then used a circle punch to punch it out. I also used several different size circle punches and corner rounder punches to add different elements to the card. I just love punches...they make everything so much easier! I'm so excited about these!!!

September Project Night

Well, with the new Stampin'Up! catalog, and I finally got my shipment of goodies here is what I came up with for the next project night. I hope you like it!

We will be using watercolor paper, aqua pen, and ink pads to color in the adorable elephant!

This card uses one of the two faux metal techniques I will be teaching that night.

Create a unique card from Stampin'Up! Scallop Note card collection.

The above card has the second method of the faux metal techniques.

And last, but not least create a fun pop-up card! See the post below for another pop-up card I did for my husband's birthday. It shows it open and closed.

You will get to create all 5 cards - plus get a Fall 2008 Idea Book and Catalog. The next project night is September 12, 2008.

Pop Up Card

Here is a Pop Up card I saw on SCS. I thought it was too cute and I had to try it. Surprisingly, it was very simple. Here are the instructions on Splitcoast Stampers ----> HERE

Pop Up Card Closed

Pop Up Card Open

Give it a try! It is super easy! :)

Use your own computer fonts with your Cricut(TM)?

Are you dreaming? Nope, I found this software that works with your CricutTM machine to allow you to use all your fonts and dingbats that you already have on your computer. No more buying expensive cartridges!!

Quote from the website: "Sure Cuts A Lot" is an extremely easy program to allow you to cut your True Type fonts and various shapes on your Cricut^TM Machine. With the combination of using your Fonts and importing custom artwork (SVG), the possibilities are endless!

I've downloaded my software already and have played with a few fonts! It works great! I'm very excited to start working on some projects using this new software!

You can even weld your letters together!

To get your version today --Click Here --> http://www.craftedge.com/products/products.php?rfid=9012270&ref=957d91caff604dbd762c02680e06131b
If you purchase the product use this link above and it lets them know that you found out about this product from me and that I sent you to there website.

I bet you are going to love this software!

Project Night

For my last project night here is a picture of what we made.

We made a 3 cards using each using a different technique or tool. We did the polished stone technique, the marble effect, and we used the stamp-a-ma-jig tool. We also altered a dollar store 4x6 photo album front and back cover.
The Heartfelt card was made by soaking a cotton ball with alcohol and adding a couple drops of your favorite reinking colors (I used Sahara Sand and Almost Amethyst) Add the drops directly on top of each other. (hint: whatever color is your favorite or the one you want to stand out more add that reinker last). Then in a circular motion rub it onto GLOSSY card stock. And let it dry. We added a step before we did the polished stone. We did Embossing Resist -->Click Here < -- for another post talking about this. On the Wonderful card we took the same color reinkers and placed them into a Stampin'Up! Storage box then added a couple drops of each color along with the paper and marbles. Then just shake everything up until you get the coverage you like. P.S. I could not find any marbles in the stores - crazy - I know - So I used my sons Hungry Hippos marbles (He was quite concerned that they were getting "dirty" - Ha) Then set the paper aside to dry! This is a great background accent.

Moms Give Away

If anyone is interested in some blog candy and does some sewing please visit my moms blog at http://susansews.blogspot.com/2008/07/give-away.html
She is giving away a pin cushin/sewing kit! VERY CUTE. If I sewed more I would pull the daughter card and beg her just to give it to me! haha Hurry just 3 more days.

I Know, I know.....

I need to stop organizing and start crafting. Check out these shelves I just put up to store some of my embellishments. They are cubes ...you can put pictures in them. I changed all the pictures to black and white so they would flow better! I got these at Big Lots! I just feel better and more creative when I am organized and can see all my embellishments! I love these cubes! I'm thinking of getting more and use them as book ends!

Cool Scrapbook Sketch Blog

Just thought I would share this cool blog I found the other day. I tend to get in"ruts" when I scrapbook...so sketches sometimes help get me out of those "ruts" here is a cool blog I found that the author creates and post sketches by the number of photos she used (VERY COOL). Take a look. Just click below.

Inspiration Boards

If you have seen my craft room it is FULL from baseboard to ceiling (hanging baskets included) I really don't have alot of room to display my work, but I've been wanting to think of something small. I found these old dollar store bamboo looking place mats in my dining room hutch the other day. The place mats were cool, but they started scratching my dining table, so it is time to find another use for them! I decided to try to use these as "display boards" in my craft room. Here is what I came up with. I put them on either side of my bookcase.

All I did was hot glue small close pins in different angles and positions on the place mat and added some cards I've made recently. It is too small for my scrapbook pages, but at least it is something creative. Plus it shows off some of my new bella stamps!

Flowers

See the flowers my sweetie got me...and for no reason too! They are sooo pretty!

Almost!!!

Ugh, I have been spray painting all my plastic bins and drawers dark chocolate brown and I almost finished! I need one more bottle. I was so bummed that I did not finish it! But they will look cool. Take a look...

Magazine Storage

I can't help it! I LOVE to organize. My husband thinks I like to organize more than I like to work on my paper projects. There is just something about about a neat, organized, and LABELED space! haha. I wanted to take my magazine of my bookcase (it was starting to look too cluttered with 4 subscriptions of magazine coming to me. So, I decided to put them into a filing cabinet, but I did not want them to start bending and curling. I tore apart regular hanging folders and used the metal rod to put inside each of the magazine. Then I separated the magazines titles and by months.
I also started spray painting my while plastic shelves brown to match the rest of my room. My goal is to get my room Chocolate Brown, Bashful Blue (SU! color) and white accents. I used that Krylon Fusion paint for plastic.

New Ribbon Storage Idea

Many of you know that I am a HUGE ribbon addict! I love to use ribbon on my projects. I'm always looking for new ways to store my ribbon. My favorite is using the ClosetMaid shelves seen on this post. But I don't have anymore room to put this racks on my wall ....so I purchased one of triple level hanging fruit baskets. I put them my "plain" colored ribbon in the basket.

Paper and Embellishment Storage

Here is a picture of my new paper and embellishment storage. The embellishment storage is from Making Memories. I got it at Michaels with my 40% off coupon. The paper storage is from ABC Distributing. It took awhile to put all these together! But I love them. Now I keep my StampinUp! 12x12, 8-1/2x11, and scraps all together. It definitely helps me conserve my paper. Now it is SUPER easy to look for small scraps of a certain color instead looking through plastic ziploc bags.

My Craft Desk

I promised pictures of my desk that my AWESOME dad made me! I love it! It has a built-in shelf that holds all my white drawers (I got these from Michaels). The best thing about this desk is the pull out drawer! My layouts stay on this ledge and I stamp glue and work on the actual desk above. No more accidental glue marks on my layouts! And it is perfect when my two little ones wake up from a nap and I'm not finished with a layout. I just push it in away from sticky fingers.



My dad is working on a sewing table for my mom too. Check out her blog to view her table. http://susansews.blogspot.com/search/label/Sewing%20Table

I think my dad should retire and start making craft tables and ribbon holders! He made me this ribbon holder on the right at this post