Valentine's Day Frame

While at Michael's the other day (only there as was equipped with my 25% discount off of total purchase coupon) I stumbled across these heart shaped frames for the bargain price of $ 1.00.

I remembered that I had some of this heart paper left over from the Kid's Valentine's Day class that my friend Karina had done for kids last year of which my son participated (yes, I still have year old Designer Series Paper - and look now it has been used!) and the new silver glitter paper from Stampin Up along with the red would be awesome.

The paper was cut to size and then Mod Podged (not sure if that is a word - took a noun and tried to verb it...).  Once it was dry, I coated over the DSP with another layer of Mod Podge.  Then after this had dried, sponged all wooden edges with Real Red Craft Ink (worked AWESOME) and then used the Stampin Up Heart punch to punch out the red and silver hearts. 

Currently, this sits on my buffet along with some of the other Valentine's knick knacks I have gathered to make a little theme area next to the dining room table.  My son thinks this whole collection is quite great.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Oh S"crap"! It's Monday - Rag Quilt Stampin Up Style

If you follow my blog at all you know how much I love rag quilts.  Today, for my project to to use up some of those scraps of paper in my scrap box (paper stash - in addition to fabric and cookie stash) I decided to make a rag card (if it were a problem with my fabric stash I would make a rag quilt).  The paper is cut in 1" squares and placed on a 4" x 5" piece of paper.  Then I stitched it all in place so that it would look like a proper rag quilt.  Was not sure what to put for a greeting until I saw this one from the Touch of Kindness stamp set.  Rag quilts really are about appreciating "the simple things in life".  Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Everyday Enchantment Card

I found these little chipboard cut out birds at Michael's the other day (only there because had 25% discount coupon), and could not resist them for this purpose.  

The bird is sponged with Peach Parfait Ink, and the branch and leaves are sponged with Pear Pizazz and Wild Wasabi Ink.  

Once dry I adhered them to a Early Espresso Card Base on which the Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper and the Pool Party Paper had been run through the lattice embossing folder.  

Very quick project, but kind of Top Drawer I think.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Field Journals

A few years ago when I bought my Bind It All tool I made a small journal for my son and put a dinosaur on the front so it would look proper for a little boy.  Ever since that time, he has carried small notebooks in his pockets (pants, snow pants, mud pants, back pack, lunch box, probably even some under the bed) and all of them are visibly scribed on "FIELD JOURNAL".  

Now, I love finding these "journals" when he forgets to put them away or I find them in the laundry as they are a glimpse into the very important matters of a seven year old boy.  I learn about the baby rabbit in the shrub behind the school, and that it does not like to be fed leaves, that the bug population on the boys bathroom floor at school has increased in population size since yesterday, what James had for lunch and what it looked and smelled like, and other assorted sundry matters that are of paramount importance.  

As I looked at my stack of these books that I keep on hand for that inevitable call "Mom, I need another journal" I decided I would use up some of the Twitterpated Designer Series Paper (DSP) and make some "girly" Field Journals.  The books are first covered in DSP and then the fabric flower from the Flowers Die are put on (there is Wonder Under on the back to fuse the flowers to the paper).  Various oddments are added on including buttons and on the middle one I cut and sewed the ribbon together to go around the book and then fused the flower to the ribbon.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Cookies a la Evelyn

While I love the idea of the Cookie Stamps from Stampin Up, I have difficulty with getting good images from the snowflake and now the heart Cookie Stamps.  The Halloween one was great because the image protruded from the stamp face, the other Cookie Stamps all have recessed images and this makes them difficult to work with.

My son and I decided to make the heart ones tonight (used the recipe that was included with stamp set - will not use it again, very bland flavour). 

After cutting out the cookies with a heart shaped cutter I tried using the stamp dipped in red decorator sugar and found the granules to big.  Then I tried coloring granulated sugar to see if that would work - didn't got a big gob of sugar.  Hmmmmmmm

As I stared into the cupboard wondering what else I could do I spied a box of wild cherry Jello!!  When I was a kid if my mom needed to color icing she would use Jello powder to color the icing rather than food coloring.  What if I dipped the stamp in Jello powder prior to stamping???

Well, this is what I got.  The cookies have a light flavor of wild cherry (my son has requested strawberry for next time), and the image comes out visible.  The baking process seems to intensify the color as well, the cookies were not this bright when I put them to bake.  

So there you have it, cookies a la Evelyn.  Thanks mom.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Sale-a-bration Cards

I think I may have crafting commitment problems.  Not sure that there is a group or therapist out there trained in this exact niche of the psych world....hmmmm.

I started to make this card this morning with the intent to showcase the Every day Enchantment Designer Series Paper (DSP)  that you can get for free through Stampin Up's Sale-a-bration promotion.

I decided on my colors, Poppy Parade, Very Vanilla, and the Dsp, then decided to start building my card.

First I went for my Cuttlebug (not SU issue).

Then I took out this swirly embossing folder (might have come with the Cuttlebug as the lettering is all worn off - not SU issue).

After embossing the very vanilla I decided I would use my distressing kit (actually SU product) and used the flat stamp and Tea Stain ink on all the very vanilla images.

While getting out the Cuttlebug I came across an old set of Spellbinders die cutters in this scallop square shape and I thought that they looked kind of similar to the shapes on the DSP so I cut out matching Very Vanilla and Poppy Parade shapes.  

I stamped on the Very Vanilla using the You Are Loved stamp set (Christmas Holiday Mini 2011 - actually SU product).  The colors I used for the image are Cajun Craze, Old Olive and Baja Blue. 

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

How to make Envelopes Kathy style

I have been playing a lot with my Simply Scored Tool, and I love it.  Over the Christmas holidays, I decided to make envelopes with it, and here is what I have come up with.

Cut Designer Series Paper at 6 3/4" wide, and 10" long.  

Score along with length side at 1/2" on both sides.

Turn paper so that the width/longest edge is along the top measurement line of the Simply Scored Tool.

Score Designer Series Paper at 1 1/2".

Score Designer Series Paper at 6".

Make cuts as seen above (cut out 1/2" wide rectangle on either side of 1 1/2" score mark - creates envelope flap).

Cut 1/2 inch on either side at 6" score mark.

Fold on scored lines towards inside of envelope.

Apply sticky strip along 1/2" edges on lower portion of envelope and fold upwards.

Insert card and enjoy.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy