Month: December 2013

Simon Says Stamp just released their Valentine products – the stencil (shown above) has got to be my favorite! Oh the mosaic fun I’ll have. If you’re in my stencil class then expect to see a tutorial with this beauty coming real soon.

I also made a card with one of the new stamp sets + a squirt of mist…

Such fun stuff! You can see all of the new products in the shop now.

What could be better?

Simon Says Stamp will be giving away a $25 GC to the Simon store to one commenter on every blog in the hop. That’s 16 different chances to win! The giveaways for the GC’s will close at 6:00pm EST on Thursday December 12, 2013 and a complete winners list will be posted on the Simon blog on Friday December 13, 2013.

So be sure to leave a comment here for your chance to win!

Then, you can head over to the lovely Jess Larsen for the next stop on this hop.

First up: I’m all over the web today!!! You can find my “5 ways” post over at www.shimelle.com – the topic is glittering up the holidays. Shimelle also has a discount code (you’ve got to use the link on her blog!) for my on-line classes if you’re interested.

I’m also guesting at www.simonsaysstampblog.com doing a new “holiday crafting” post featuring Basic Grey.

Think I’m being too active? I promise I’m not! This was crafting done before I got sick. Now as I rest so very much (doctor’s orders!) I am re-visiting some of my favorite past projects and posts. This one was created for display at CHA (for Tim Holtz), and it remains an all time favorite but also I was thinking how I’d rather be swimming with sea turtles… and this is as close as I’ll get today.

This is the first layout I created upon returning from Hawaii. Created the morning after our return actually – and for the always amazing Mr. Tim Holtz (for display at CHA). Today I wanted to share it because it is a perfect example of how I let my photos + story lead the way.

With so much to say about the AMAZING experience that was learning + snorkeling with the Ocean Project in Maui and swimming along side Sea Turtles, these word stickers were perfect to help tell some of my story. The photos sent to us from the experience were very small files, not suitable to print large at all as I normally do. Rather than have super grainy, virtually unrecognizable pixelated photos I just printed off in a strip as seen above.

I wanted lots of journaling space, that I knew. I also wanted some kind of a circle tying it all together and swirling around. I went with it. Added more layers as needed. At the end (you can see it above) I sprinkled UTEE in platinum on my project and heated from underneath to get metallic sparkly little dots.

One of the cornerstone elements of my personal style is that I let my key inspirational element (story, photos, etc) be my guide. This means that sometimes a page will have more product, other times less technique. While that might at first glance not seem consistent, it actually is very much so. Because I let the ideas flow from a place that is real, true, pure. I do my best to keep it that way and not think about what someone else would do, or all the possible ways I could be doing something. I just roll with what feels right.

Sometimes I think that one of the reasons I’m considered a “fast” crafter is just this. When I’m making something I fully focus on it, I’m thinking about my story that I’m telling through words and photos – but also paper and embellishments. I make sure I like what I’m doing and while it doesn’t always turned out as I had hoped, I have a real good time. ALWAYS. There is a reason I’m always saying “Happy Crafting!” I really mean it. I live by it.

Supplies Used:

Heads up! I’m sponsoring a give-away today over at www.aliedwards.com – you can enter to win the class of your choice. (and if you’re already enrolled, I will refund your payment!) Also if you didn’t get the chance to take advantage of  early sign-up discounts for a class and want to now – Ali has a special discount code on her blog!! (note you have to use the link from her blog to get it to work!)

Now, on to today’s post…

Originally posted as part of a blog-hop in 2012, this card remains one I think about and long to do again. It was so much fun, and I wanted to share it here again. I’m following doctor’s orders and resting here of course, just bringing back a few favorite posts from the past…

Here are links to the supplies I used:

Steps to create:

1. Cover the front of a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 card with the text side of one of the pages from a Heidi Swapp memory file fotostack album. Stamp (with gold paint) the postmark stamp 2-3x across the card front.

2. Stamp the newspaper background stamp with clear embossing ink + powder and heat set.

3. Take a piece of book paper, stamp several daisies on it and color them. Then cut the flowers out.

4. On the card front, use a flower stencil, foam tool, and distress ink to stencil flowers onto the card background. You can see how the embossing really shows up! Adds a fun texture and detail to the card I think.

Note: I cut a hole in a piece of cardstock just barely smaller than my stencil and mounted it onto that with washi tape. That is what you see around my stencil in the photo below. This makes it much easier to color the flowers and not have ink go over the edge – and I can always remove it if I ever want to.

5. Add brown ink around the edge of your card, then wipe away any excess ink and prepare to assemble!

6. Make a flower pot from a starbucks coffee holder (or just a piece of cardstock would be fine!) and edge with brown ink, then stamp with sentiment stamp. Wrap and tie off some twine around the base.

7. Assemble the card by attaching the flowers with foam adhesive (just under the flower part), and the “pot” as well. I added a few extra stamped leaves to fill the pot a bit more.

I hope you like my project this week! I had a lot of fun with this one – and I love how it all came together. That flower stencil is one of my most favorite recent purchases for sure!!

a year of more joy, more gratitude, more careful thought.
a celebration of gladness, not a glorification of busy.
a time of giving, not comparing. of enjoying, not worrying.
This Christmas, I will take each moment as it comes and wrap it in my own holiday spirit.
I will seek out beauty in simple things and choose time with loved ones over most anything else.
All this will lead me to a holiday season of nothing short of true sparkle.

– Shimelle (Christmas Manifesto 2013)

This. Exactly, word for word, this. I am going to print this out (and credit the BRILLIANT author) and this is page #1 in my December album. I have been trying to think of how to open my book project and this really just resonated with me.

You can see more of her posts, as well as join in her Journal Your Christmas class here.

and if you’re wondering – yep. still here. resting. waiting my turn for surgery (which may be a few weeks – how fun…)

I always enjoy sharing gift ideas that I stumble across in my shopping, so today I want to share a gift guide of sorts. Things I’ve found, am loving, and will be giving this holiday season.

Decorated cookies. This particular baker is based in Placerville, CA – and I’m thinking we need a set of these for the girls this year. She has loads of designs and does custom work too. I’m blown away by the decorated cookies that can be found on etsy!

 

Origami Owl was just introduced to me last month – and I think it is really neat concept! Pick some charms that are special, put them in a locket, and create a one-of-a-kind jewelry piece. The girls and I collaborated to make these for their aunts this year – and I’m really happy with the results!

this book: Secret Garden. For a teen, for a crafty person – heck for anyone! I got a copy for myself + a very special young lady this year. It is an incredible book and sooo much fun. As I sit here resting I am enjoying coloring these pages.

For the lady who likes make-up, samples, etc – I can’t recommend ipsy enough!! I’m a member and I love it. You can give a gift subscription here. Thing is they have a waitlist + are sold out at the moment. BOO to that! But hopefully they’ll have more space available soon!

Got a crafty friend you’re shopping for? Try a Freckled Fawn kit! I love this because it is not paper – it’s all embellishments, stamps, and fun and it is in a beautiful little tin. Other crafty kits that will let you buy just one (and are lovely!) include the Simon Says Stamp card kit, Jenni Bowlin kits, and Gossamer Blue.

For your manly men, maybe try some Duluth Trading. Jason loves their ballroom pants, firehose pants, and their shirts too. Super nice quality stuff and super fast shipping too.

Somebody with a sweet tooth? How about some insanely yummy brownies! Sugar Daddy’s rocks – and it is fun to pick out flavors for someone special.

Now I’m trying to find some “will ship direct” ideas for the few people still on my list. Because yes, I am resting and awaiting surgery so I am most definitely not out braving the stores and crowds!