Blah Paper - Bonus

Here are the sheets of paper I "printed" from the ink I applied to my blah paper.  I used 32lb bond paper I had on hand.  Once the was the ink applied and I felt I could do no more, I just laid this 8.5x11 sheet onto the12x12 sheet then pulled it up. It was interesting that not all the colors reacted the same way.  I think to the blue really spread nicely but the others beaded to varying degrees and would not spread smoothly.  You can see the stripes and the brush strokes really well in the top left.  I cleaned my brush on the others so I ended up with a more funky pattern. 

How To: Blah Paper - New Life

This was a dollar store find so I was not going to lose a lot to take the package home. It was really nice heavy paper.  Here's another set of blah paper which I have given new life.  The original paper is cream with matte and shiny stripes - the sample on the right.   I applied a few drops Nick Bantock ink to it with a bit of water and a paint brush.  Mostly it repelled the mixture. Once I had printed another sheet of paper (see that later) from it, I wiped it down to reveal what was left behind.  Despite feeling like not much had happened I did have color. Yeah!
I was expecting it to take the color much more and I would have dramatic contrast.  I'm going to use the brown and the red for fall cards for my Card Club in September.  

Photos - In search of Old Quilts

I went to Fort Edmonton in hopes of getting some good photos of old quilts.  I was not very successful. Most of the beds and quilts are not the focal point of the display and therefore at an angle that makes it not easy to photograph.  Some had wrinkles in them that made the picture not very good.  The fort itself only had Hudson Bay blankets on all the beds.  On the up side the straw flowers were gorgeous. I got several in different colors.  The top left hand photo is an art installation near Fort Edmonton of these reflective balls.  I've been wanting to take pictures of that for a while so a good day all the way around.  The sun was warm, the breeze provided refreshing bit of coolness, and the walking was good.

Card - Challenge - No Flowers

I started with a Bazzil card - Pinecone which worked well with the stripe in the canvas.  I layered onto the card front a piece of blue textured card stock cut to leave a small border. I die cut the adhesive striped canvas with the Tim Holtz Ornamental die.  I put brown eyelets in the top and bottom points and blue brads in the left and right points.  I chose a piece of ivory which matched the stripe in the canvas. I stamped the Magenta Birds stamp with Versamark Olive ink pad and trimmed the paper then distressed the edges.  The birds were adhered with double sided tape, I hope it sticks because I'm not sure what else to use.  I punched a Stampin Up! Modern Label punchie in the same color as the card. I then layered a SU Word Window punchie onto it.  It is the same ivory card stock stamped with the greeting in the same color as the birds.
I've submitted this card to the ABC Cards - No Flowers.

Card - Challenge - Use Punches

I made this card for Sparkles Weekly Christmas Card Challenges.  We were to pull out our punches and make a card.  Punches are pretty easy to use. I started with an Always Artichoke card layered with matching DSP.  I stamped my label in Always Artichoke from the Tags till Christmas set from Stampin Up!.  Punched it out with the Decorative Label punch by SU.  I added a bit of color to the pine cone with chalk.  I stamped the greeting onto the label with a small clear stamp in the same green ink.  The little girl image is from The Old Design Shop blog - Vintage Image Treasury.   I highlighted the pink in her coat with a layer of pink card stock behind the image and behind the label.  I punch a label in pink, cut it in half cross wise and then trimmed the points from the centre and glued them behind the label.  The whole layer is then added to the card front with 3D foam tape. 

Card - Challenge - Paris

I made this card for the Come & Get It Challenges - Let's Go on a Holiday.   I chose Paris as a travel destination.  The background was created with digital graphics from The Graphics Fairy.  Give Karen's site a look for vintage images. I printed the background and then layered it onto a black rectangle then onto a taupe card.  I cut the Eiffel Tower with my Cricut and the Summer in Paris cartridge.  It's a small one with just a few images.  It did not cut right through the card stock so that is why I highlighted the design with gold Perfect Pearls painted on with a brush.  I brushed my leftover onto the background with a wet brush. The tower has been mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Card - Challenge - Fishing

I made this card for the CST Home Card challenge.  This time around the theme is sports.  I color printed a digital fishing related image and I stamped 3 greetings in navy ink in the windows provided.  I distressed it's edges and layered it onto a couple of strips of aqua card stock.   I rubbed the edges of my blue card with the same navy ink pad. It matches quite well with the blue in the water where the fish is jumping out. This whole layer was mounted onto the card front with 3D foam tape. 

I found this image on my computer in a miscellaneous folder so I have no credits.  I was not able to find it on line again.

Craft Space - Labels

I have now placed labels on my wooden drawers.  I color printed the words in black. I then punched them with the Stampin Up Decorative Label.  They are held in place with decorative bull clips which have the added bonus of providing a small handle to help pull the drawer open.  I rubbed wax from a candle to the bottoms corners of the drawers to facilitate the sliding on their wooden supports.  That has helped a lot. 
I'm glad to have my card stock half sheets close at hand which means they will get used instead of my reaching for a new full sheet.

Calendar - 4x6 Photo Pocket Frame

I've reworked the easel pocket frame for my 4x6 calendar.  Last year all the easels I had cut with the Tim Holtz small easel die split and I had to take them out of my inventory.  I went searching this year to see if others had problems and found some one who suggested that she ran the die sideways instead of lengthwise and has not had a problem.  I tried it this morning and that seems to be working.  I'm moving forward with it.




The frame is a clear pocket which holds all 13 pages of the photo calendar so you don't have to remember where you put the others through out the year.  Just bring the current month forward. The easel is cut from sturdy chip board and held in place with red tacky tape.  It is stable and does not easily fall over. 

Check out my calendar page for prices and options.

Calendars - Nature and Garden - Ready to Go

I've been working on my 2014 4x6" calendars.  I've posted them on my calendar page.  I've put the index pages here for a peek.  These make a great gifts.  I hope to connect with those organized early Christmas shoppers.  Photography of animals, birds and insects in the nature calendar proved particularly challenging.  I'm happy with my selections and I hope you enjoy them as well.

Photo - Summer Camp

I spent a few days at Summer Camp this week.  I took a few pictures to remind me of how beautiful and restorative time by the lake can be.  The weather was great!  I took the camera out each day.  The chair on the dock, I spent an hour there just enjoying the sounds.  I did capture a dusty spider web, it was nearly a full moon and this is the best one of the bunch but it's not great, lichen on a piece of wood, and finally the mist on the water early in the morning.  It was a great couple of days!

Card - 90th Birthday

I made this card for a friend who is turning 90 soon and we are celebrating today!
I started with an ivory felt textured card stock where the 8.5x11 is folded in half.  I found a piece of designer paper by Basic Grey - Wisteria - white dynasty which matched the color very well.  I trimmed it leaving a leave a small border.  I found the rose spray digital on Graphics Fairy and I sized it to fit inside the Sizzix Scallop Oval Frame die.  I used this technique to ensure it was properly centered.  I rubbed the edge of the black out oval with a coordinating blue ink pad.  I reassembled them and glued them to the card front.  I cut the Cheery Lynn Ribbon Eyelet Border from the same paper as the card.  I placed a slit in the fold of the card and ran the blue seam binding through the inside of the card and then pulled it through it from the right and left and knotted it off center.  I placed a bit of double sided tape under the ribbon border and some tape on the inside of the card of the ribbon to help keep it in place.  I color printed the greeting and cut it out with one of the Stampin Up Apothecary Framelits.  A bit of adhesive to tack it down and 2 blue brads on either end to hold it to the card front. 

My New/Old Craft Space

I'm finally back in my dining room - craft space.  I had move all the stuff in the place around last August to have renovations done so it's been a year that I have been crafting on the dining table instead of my craft table.
I've been working very steady on this project for at least 2 weeks but it feels like much longer.  I want to be able to get things back to their home quicker so they will since things are handier.  I have my paper cutter on a wood stand which holds my card stock scraps in white magazine holders. Next to that is my card stock storage in a Ikea shelving unit.  Above that is a leaning tower of pizza boxes.  The Cricut in in the far corner on another wood shelving with drawers for storage below.  I'm very happy with the new blinds I bought last year.  The table is my original chrome set I bought years ago.  I have added Ikea storage boxes on the right of the table.  No sure this will stay this way. They hold my regular supplies like tape runner, DS tape, 3D tape, tools like the Cropadile, etc.  Blue garbage bin on the bottom right hand.  The lamp has a natural light compact bulb which is a great addition.

Here's a picture of the shelf that I placed my new drawers onto that I blogged a while ago. I've had the 12x12 storage drawers for designer paper for a long time.  The small drawer unit holds my regular tools, markers, pens & pencils, and pencil crayons.  The blue bins hold hot glue supplies, punches, and less often used tools.  The new drawers hold envelopes, buttons and beads, silk flowers, Christmas card supplies, All Occasion card supplies, punches, and stamps.  There's just enough room above the drawers for the thin stuff like paper cutters, boxes of little stuff, and small ink pads.

Card - Photo - First Try

The cleaning up continues and I am excavating relics from months ago.  Here are my first attempts at these photo cards.  I think these deserve a second look so I'll put that on the project pile.

The photos are being upcycled from mix ups on printing my 2012 4x6 photo calendar. I trimmed the top of the calendar to 4"x4" and then cut a Spellbinder Label 9 in the coordinating pink card stock then trimmed it to match the width of the photo. I have added a color coordinating color printed Stampin Up Word Window greeting.  On the truck on the bottom part is a TH On the Edge Ornate die in maroon to match the pick up truck.

Challenge - Glitter Tree

I started with a background leftover from this class.  I cut the tree with a Sizzix Tree thick die and trimmed it to tuck in the bottom left hand corner.  I cut the snowflake from the same paper with a Marianne Snowflake thin die.  I dug through my stash of greetings and then cut this one with my Creative Memories Wavy Cutter.  I rubbed the top edge with a blue ink pad to highlight the edge against the trees in the background. The snowflake is held in place with a tiny silver brad.
I've submitted this card to Sparkles - Evergreen Tree Challenge, and  Holly Jolly - Gimme Glitter.

Card - For my Card Box

I made a couple of these cards for my box with this designer paper from American Crafts called Metropolitan Fountain.   I cut it down to 3.75 x 5.00" and then cut a pinky red layer that coordinated with the red damask design in the center.  I placed these then onto a black card.  I added a Stampin Up Decorative Label punchie and an oval color printed greeting cut with my Creative Memories oval cutter.  These were layered then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Challenge - Red and Gold

I made the card for the Challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown which is Red and Gold. We are allowed a neutral. 
I selected a red card which I cut 4.25x11 and created the fold at the top.  I added a layer of gold foil paper with Merry Christmas all over it.  I cut a Cuttlebug ornament from the same red paper.  I added a Prima gold flower and a pearl daisy confetti flower to the centre and held it all in place with a mini gold brad. I placed 3D foam tape behind the hanger and the center of the ornament and adhered it to the card front. I placed a piece of gold thread through the ornament hanger and then pulled the ends through a hole I made in the card with a push pin.  I strategically placed the hole to fall under the bough.  I cut the bough from pearl card stock with the Impression Obsession die of a branch/bough (DEI021-N).  This die requires the metal plate adapter plate to get a clean cut.  I glued it down with quick dry adhesive from a bottle with a very fine tip.

Challenge - CCT - Diecuts or Punches

I made this challenge at Cute Card Thursday which was Dies or Punches.  and All Beautiful Cards  which was Monochromatic.  I started with a warm white card.  I cut a Tim Holtz Cabinet die from designer paper in white/craft texture.  I cut the window into the shape with a QuicKutz die.  I printed the stars, snowflakes and hill in Crumb Cake and Soft Suede on the original card.  I added a layer of Soft Suede behind the curve and the bottom. I glued the cabinet window onto the card.  I added a branch die cut with Impression Obesession die of a branch (DEI021-N) in Soft Suede.  The snowflake in the curve at the top is a Martha Stewart punchie on Soft Suede.

New Storage - Drawers

I became aware of the Blog Hop - Where Bloggers Create 2013 hosted by Karen Valentine at My Desert Cottage through Maureen's Blog.  I checked out most of the links to see what bloggers were saying about where they create and what creative solutions were being used to store stuff.  Many creators were saying that they need to see the stuff to use it.  That struck a cord with me.  I was inspired to make changes in my space so it would be more functional. I decided drawers needed to replace boxes which keeps the space defined.  After some internet research, here's what I found to fill the bottom half of the shelf in my space.  They are by Sterilite - Modular Drawer system with clear drawers. They fit perfectly across the 32 inch shelf and stacked 2 high fill the shelf with a bit of space above of thin items side by side. 
I cut down my rubber stamp collection to 3 small drawers, the rest are gone.  I have punches organized by Border, Stampin Up, Martha Stewart, and Other.  I sent a lot of 3D accents and beads to the second hand store as I am concentrating on card making these days.  I have a drawer for Christmas card supplies which is over flowing, the All Occasion Card supplies drawer is a good fit.  A drawer holds jars of buttons, another small envelopes, another A2 envelopes, and another chalk and tools.  I feel better about my space. I'm tackling the table which is suppose to be where I work but is just storing stuff now. 

Christmas Card Challenge - August - Stickers

The theme for the Christmas Card Challenge for August is stickers.  This leaves it wide open for anything Christmas.  Trees, candy canes, snowflakes, words, and a bunch more of subject matter.  Go for it!!
I bought these sleigh stickers last Christmas because I knew what was on my challenge and they were in clearance for a good price  Stickers are not something I use regularly.  These sleighs are Martha Stewart. There are red and blue sleighs so I alternated the colors accordingly.  I found that they matched Stampin Up! Ruby Red and Soft Sky so I chose those colors for my card and background.  In keeping with SU I used the Northern Flurry folder on the background layer.  I created snowbanks with my Creative Memories wavy cutter.  I created the word accent with a stamp from Peddler's Pack with fit very nicely in the SU Artisan Label punch.  I stamped it in Ruby Red and used the marker to highlight the edges of the punchie.  I glued it to a strip of card stock about 3/8" wide in the same color as the card.  I flagged the ends with a square punch.  This accent is mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape.  Super happy with these.