Monday, April 22, 2013

New Card Projects

It has been a while since I posted card projects so here are some new ones!

1st Card
A sweet little birdie

Materials used
- Turquoise printed card stock for the actual card
- Denim print paper from an Authentique 6x6 pad, cut, with rounded corners and inked edges
- Cream card stock which was first 1) repeatedly distressed with Tim Holtz Distress Inks and sanding until I reached the desired effect. 2) stamped and embossed with a bird and nest image, then 3) colored with Spectrum Noir markers and Prismacolor pencils.  The edges were inked once complete.  A layering technique was used on the nest with a 2nd stamped, embossed and cutout nest image.
- The label  was created from a vellum quote which was a overlay for a larger label in the denim print paper.
- As a final touch, embellishments were added such as with mini paper roses, a navy polka dot bow, stickles glitter glue here and there and Turquoise pearl accents

Entering in the following challenges:
Stampin' for the weekend - Friends Challenge


 2nd card 
Blinged out birthday card with a matching handmade envelope for your darling little princess


Materials used
- Card  made from Aqua card stock
- Overlay created from aqua and pink punched card stock and glittered paper
- Turquoise pearls & pink rhinestones
- A  stamped and embossed cupcake image topped the card with a simple birthday sentiment underneath.
(sorry for the glare!)

Entering in the following challenges: 
Bling it Up - Tammi's Scrapin Corner

Cake Walk - Cute Card Thursday


3rd Card
Spring Birthday Bicycle
The layered button, polka dot ribbon and bicycle wheels all compliment the circle print 

Materials used
- Card made from pink card stock.
- Overlay created from citrus spring/summer print paper
- Bicycle image stamped and embossed on white card stock
- Image colored with Distress Inks and Prismacolor pencils.
- Simple sentiment stamped with opalescent pink ink on white card stock and framed with pink card stock
- Button, rhinestone, floss and ribbon accents added..
- matching handmade envelope

Entering in the following challenges
Birthday - Paper Dolls Challenge 

Spring flowers or colors - Victorine Stamps  I have a few of their fabulous stamps in my collection 

Buttons - Critter Challenge Blog



and finally...4th Card 
Lovely lady

- Actual card made from cream colored card stock
- Overlay of print paper in a neutral cream and pink/red print.  Corners rounded and then inked.
- Layered on red card stock with rounded corners
- Vintage image of lady stamped and embossed with deep red ink on cream card stock.  Framed with fussy-cut florals stamped and embossed in deep rose inks
- Red bow
- Stamped sentiment on cream card stock in red ink

Entering in the following challenges:
Monochromatic - Cupcake Craft Challenges 
Card for a Lady - Artistic Inspirations



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Crayola's 110th Birthday - come celebrate!



Break out the Party Hats!  It is Crayola's 110th Birthday!   The 8 original colors are hosting a virtual birthday bash on the Crayola Facebook page and one lucky winner will win a trip to celebrate in person!

Check on the new "fun-omenal" Crayola Experience, the world's only interactive Crayola family attraction. 

How can you join in on the fun and possibly win?  First off log onto Facebook and follow the crayons on their adventure by liking the page and visiting the Birthday Adventure App.  While you are there, learn more about each color and enter to WIN a trip for 4 to celebrate their birthday and the Grand Opening of the all new Crayola Experience this coming May, 2013!  Hurry - entries are accepted through April 30th 2013.  Click here to view the App and read the rules:  https://www.facebook.com/Crayola/app_316661705126536

Visit the Crayola Facebook page and click “enter now” for your chance to be first in line when the Crayola Experience reopens.   "The new Crayola Experience features four floors of new interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind attractions that will bring the magic of color and your child’s creativity to life! The winner will be among the first to experience the fun, along with a three- night, all-expenses paid stay. It’s an experience your kids will never forget – and neither will you!"


Disclosure:  This information was provided to me by Crayola.  To thank me for sharing with my readers I will be receiving a 110th anniversary gift pack.  I did not receive any form of monetary compensation for sharing this information 

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Dyeing and decorating Easter eggs


It has been a while since I have posted updates of the girls.  Here are some pictures from Sunday :)  Miss C. did not allow me to take her picture (nor did Ryan) but here are some pictures of Miss N. and Miss E.

The dye

Analyzing the dye


Listening to the dye tablets fizz

Busy at work

Small detail work

more analyzing

The finished product


Monday, April 01, 2013

My Craft Room


We had three rooms in our home that I consider unfinished - the front living room, the loft area and our sunroom.  I finally decided to re-purpose the living room into a craft room and planned on doing so when I received a small inheritance that enabled me to step it up a notch.  

I keep saying that my craft room / art studio is finished but I always seem to find new things to change or add.   My husband tolerates it but the girls and I LOVE this space.  It is our refuge - a place to relax, create and be productive.  I keep seeing other people share pictures of their craft spaces, so I will jump on the bandwagon and share what I have set up.

Most of the furniture, including the ribbon holder, desk, hutch, paper holders and punch/stamp holders are from Martha Stewart Craft Room (available at homedecorators.com)  

BACK WALL: 
This is where I store all of the ribbon and keep my recently finished pieces or work(s) in progress.

Ribbon Holder(s)

Originally I planned to store all my ribbon on this rack but I had more ribbon could accommodated so I came up with some extra storage options:

*  A board was painted in black (cork) and grey (trim).Once dry this was hung from the wall.

*  The top portion of the board was left open and the bottom half was strung with thin colored wire.  Cards, tags or papers could then be draped over the wire or hung from clips

*  Long pieces of thick hemp twine  were strung and secured on the  bottom with a button or large knot to hold the spools in place.  The spools were then simply threaded through the hemp and the top was closed with a slip knot - this then made it easy to hang from simple push pins.   Finally glass jars were filled with loose ribbon and placed on top of the ribbon holder.



SIDE WALL:

Craft Room!

This is where most of the supplies are stored.   Above is a shot of the entire wall:

On the left is a desk that I placed a hutch over.  The hutch opens and has a corkboard on one side and a chalk board on the other.  LOVE it!

The drawers pull out - I keep embellishments and small items like brads, glitter, cricut cartridges, etc in the top two drawers.  The large drawer at the bottom houses glue, glue sticks and glue guns, duct tape, finished cards and other larger objects.

On the very bottom are three baskets to store yarn, knitting and crocheting items as well as the kids craft supplies.

There are a few jars of extra ribbon, bakers twine, pinks and buttons that rest over a stamp and punch holder.  On the stamp and punch holder I have stored  various punches (on the left) and stamp pads (on the right).   To the right of this is a pen holder where I store my distress ink pens, glaze gel pens and plain colored markers



Here is a bookshelf for extra storage and the paper cubes.  Since the bookshelf is getting full I have ordered one more stamp / punch holder for extra storage.  I can then move some of the items around on the bookshelf.  I also ordered a rolling cart which i will store the cutters and miscellaneous items such as reinkers and current projects.
Paper Holder - decorative paper

Card Stock and die cuts

Here is the room from the front:

Side view (right)


Side View (left):

Here is the desk area.  I sit on the left and the girls will sit on the right.  


So that is my space.... If you are thinking of creating a craft area go for it!    You can always change up what you start with and as your space evolves, so can you.  





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