American Falls Layout

This layout is made from all CTMH products.  The paper is all from the Lucky paper pack, except for a few pieces of lined paper from Notebook.  All the metal embellishments are CTMH.

This side of the layout was based on a layout from the book Playing with Paper by Angelia Wigginton.  "American Falls" was stamped with Friendship Alphabet; "Enjoy the" is from the Themepark stamp set; and "View" is from Token Alphabet.  The picture of Jess & "View" are raised.

The flourish in the upper right is cut out from a sheet of Lucky B&T.  "Unforgettable Memory" is from the Picture Perfect stamp set. 

Princess Birthday Card

Fit for a princess of any age, this birthday card is made up of a castle stamp from Whipper Snapper Designs, stamped directly on the white card, and a stamp from CTMH from the Piece of Cake stamp set (one of my favs).  The cupcakes stamp is raised with a little bow added.  Everything is colored with copics.

Follow Your Dreams Card

I used Gypsy and Lagoon cs for the two halves of this card.  All the stamps (including the random stamping on the Lagoon cs are from CTMH's You and Me stamp set.  That's Tim Holtz tissue tape down the middle (love that stuff) and some CTMH grey opaques to the left of the fleur de lis and to the right of "dreams."

King & Queen of Hearts card / Mojo Monday 201

I made this engagement/wedding card for the Mojo Monday challenge #201.  I've been looking for something to do with some old playing cards, and I thought they fit with this week's sketch.  The colors are black, holiday red, and sunny yellow.  The B&T paper is from CTMH's fanfare pack.  Both the tag and the heart in the circle on the right are raised.  I like how it turned out, but if I was redoing it, I'd make sure the king's face was visible.  Next time...   TFL!

H2H Paper Lantern card

I made this card for this week's H2H challenge.  The paper and color inspiration is from the Wings B&T pack.  The stamp set is Paper Lantern. The lantern on the right was stamped in vineyard berry ink, cut out and attached with a pop dot, then embellished with "pearls."  TFL!

Wedding Layout/Wall Art

I helped my niece with this project.  It's a layout for a 11 x 14 frame, which she gave as a gift to a couple who are newly married.  I think it turned out awesome!

A Little Rant -- Please Read!

Protesters Pack Hearing To Cut Help For Disabled - Politics News Story - KCCI Des Moines

I attended this rally (click on above link for details) and the legislative rules review committee meeting today as an advocate for my special needs son.   Iowa lawmakers made cuts to our budget at the expense of our most vulnerable citizens, the ill and handicapped.  I urge you to stop these funding cuts in Iowa, or whatever your home state, and maybe most importantly in the federal government, especially in response to buzz words like "smaller government."  The reality is "smaller government" doesn't mean fewer bureaucrats.  It means less money for education; fewer programs for the sick, disabled and elderly; public parks and recreation closures; less funding for road maintenance; delays for courts; understaffed law enforcement; and cuts to every other public service we take for granted.

Welcome to Finland Layout

Welcome to Finland is the name of Jimmy Buffett's 2011 tour, so it makes a great title for my Buffett tailgate layout from Alpine Valley.  The layout is based, very loosely, on the Monologue layout from CTMH's Imagine book.  I used CTMH's Sweetheart B&T papers and added Dutch Blue and Pear cs.

Almost everything on the layout is CTMH, except for the stamped woman image, which is from Art Impressions.

I paper pieced the dress with some random B&T paper, and colored the rest of the image with copics.  Her lei is made by stringing small papercrafting flowers on a piece of string and threading it through and attaching it to the back.

For the title, I used the CTMH stamp set Around the Block for "Welcome to" (barely visible in this pic), Hang Ten for the shark fins, and Bohemian Alphabet for "Finland."  I stamped "Finland" in pear ink, filled in the flowered areas with Cotton Candy marker, then cut out the letters.

You're Sweet -- Owl Card

This card went together pretty quickly.  Coloring the stamped images took the greatest amount of time.  The background tree as well as the owl & limb insert are from Hero Arts, and the "You're Sweet" sentiment is from CTMH.  I paper pieced some of the owl and the flowers on its limb.

Woodburning Oar Project -- Update

My oar was a success!  (HERE is my post about making it, if you don't know what I'm talking about.)  Attaching the shotglasses with velco was perfect--much easier to transport, and they're easily cleaned or replaced.  Here is the oar in action during our recent Jimmy Buffett concert weekend in Wisconsin.

MoJo Monday 198

I made this Christmas card using the Mojo Monday 198 sketch challenge.  The paper is all CTMH, but the snowman image is from Whipper Snapper Designs, Inc.

I colored the image with copics and added snowflake punches dappled with icicle Stickles.  Here's the inspiration sketch from the Mojo Monday blog:

To make the ribbon-like edge of the strips easily and equally, here's my trick.  Use a chevron punch (mine hadn't been used in ages), and line of the strip from the back (see pic).  It was really easy and will work for varying sizes of strips of paper.

 

Woodburning Oar Project

I've seen these drinking games at tailgates in the past, and I wanted to make one for our annual Jimmy Buffett trip to Alpine Valley.





I sanded the oar and then sketched my designs  This was my first ever parrot drawing (copied from clip art) but I think it turned out well.

More sketching, also copied from a font and clip art.

This was my first attempt at woodburning, so I bought this cheap frame for practice.  I made both projects simultaneously.

Jess took this pic of me trying woodburning for the first time.

This side all burned.  It was easy, and I enjoyed it--another new hobby.

Here's the back side.  The lettering was hard to burn evenly.

The frame completed.

Another pic of the oar, complete with shot glasses, which are attached with velcro.

And the back of the oar, which shows when you do the shots.  The words reference Margaritaville--all of you should know this.

Paper Bag Purse

These paper bag purses come together really quickly and easily.  I'm sure the idea has been around for awhile, but I was inspired by some that I saw at my LSS.  They are perfect for a small gift bag or for favors for a wedding or baby shower.  I used Close to My Heart's Wings paper pack and Sophia for these two.  Here are the easy instructions for the Wings purse:



You'll need:

1 - paper bag (standard lunch size--approx. 5.25" x 10.75")

1 - 5.25" x 5" cs for the front base

1 - 5.25" x 7" cs for back base

2 - 5" x 4.75" B&T paper for front and back (one is wrong in the pic--they should be the same size)

1 - 5" x 1.75" B&T paper for front flap

1 - 3" x 3" cs for front overhang

1 - 2.75" x 2.75" B&T paper for front overhang

ribbon of your choice

crumpled paper flower (for instructions for making this flower, click HERE)

Cut the paper bag 5" from the bottom of the bag.









Score the 5.25" x 7" cs 2" from one end and fold.





Adhere the 5 x 1.75" B&T paper to the end that's folded over.  I used gluestick for almost everything.

 

Thread ribbon through the slits, and tie small knots on each end to secure it.

Adhere the 5" x 4.75" B&T pieces to the front ande back of the purse.



Assemble the front square embellishment, and adhere it to the front flap.  I used a strip of two-sided tape to attach the square. 

Finished!  I added a little extra ribbon to the handle.  You can use a tiny glue dot to close the front flap, or a piece of velcro if you want it to open and close easily several times.