WOYWW 178

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

It's time for our weekly whirlwind of creative desks courtesy of Ms. Julia at Stamping Ground.  It's always so much fun to sneak a peek at everyone's work areas!

As some of you know, I've been working on a table centerpiece for a ladies dinner this Friday at my church. I've been teasing you with bits and pieces of it, but never confessed my grand plan to you.  Well, today is reveal day!

First, my desk as it was late yesterday:

I gave you this teaser of the centerpiece yesterday.  Ginger and Jazz were quite perplexed as to why I would bring sticks in the house!

And here's the finished product.  I keep resisting the urge to add more to it.

The scallop circle danglies have the bible verse of our theme on them (Psalm 90:17)

I also gave you this teaser yesterday:

These are going to go on the table around the centerpiece basket.

And each person seated at the table will get a little milk carton gift from me!  They will find chocolate yumminess inside!

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Centerpiece Sneak Peek

Some of you have been wondering what I'm going to do with the various paper rosettes/medallions you've seen in progress on my desk.  I'm giving you a little glimpse today, and I'll post more tomorrow.

As you can see, my dogs are somewhat confused why I've brought some of "their" sticks into the house.



To go along with the centerpiece:

Any guesses?????

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

WOYWW 177

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

It's time to zip about the blogosphere and sneak a peek at wonderful crafty desks everywhere.  As usual, this fun party is courtesy of Julia at Stamping Ground.

This was the state of affairs last night, and shockingly it looks the same this morning.  Where are those overnight clean up elves???

Still working on goodies and decorations for my contribution to the ladies dinner coming up at church.  I made these little milk box cartons with my new Cricut cartridge (Tag Bags Boxes & More 2).  Anyone know how to get the blasted score lines to score where they're supposed to?  I didn't even try on these.....just cut them and scored by hand.  I figured that was the best solution after the epic fail of the scoring feature on the pillow boxes I tried to fashion.  Arrgg!  I'll be glad when I figure this blasted machine out.  Mighty expensive toy for it to not do what I thought it should do.

I printed our theme verse out on my computer and mounted to a scallop circle.  Inside each box is some chocolate yumminess.

I'm also still trying to figure out my table centerpiece.  Somehow these unfinished rosettes will play into the whole thing.  Just not sure how.  I may have given up on the paper flowers for now.

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

WOYWW 176 - Experiments with paper flowers

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

It's time for our weekly jaunt across the globe to view other creative desks courtesy of Julia at Stamping Ground.  This was the state of my desk last night when I went to bed.

I've been experimenting with different sizes of rosettes and different versions of paper flowers.  My church is having their annual fall Ladies dinner next month and I've been asked to provide a centerpiece for one of the dinners tables.  Our theme this year is Beauty and the verse is Psalm 90:17 "Let the beauty of the Lord be upon us, and establish the work of our hands."  For some reason I immediately thought of beautiful papers flowers....nature, made by hand, the work of MY hands, etc.

This rose was made following this tutorial from Stamp with Bernie.  Very pretty and not too bad for my first attempt.

This was an experiment using a retired SU punch.  Not real thrilled with this one....yet.

This is my favorite so far.  It's made with five scallop circle punches, cut at every other scallop, shaped, fluffed up and layered.  I added a button for the center as it needed something.  It's a wee bit time consuming, though, with the extra cutting and shaping required.

Rolled paper roses.  I love the way these look when other people do them, but I think mine are uber ugly!  I tried to "distress" a couple of them by smooshing, rolling, tearing....desperately hoping it would help.  No such luck.  The one in the upper right corner was cut with wavy scissors, which I think helped it somewhat.  I've watched countless tutorials.  I'm doing it exactly the way as described.  Why don't mine look as nice?  I classify this pretty much as an epic fail.   I may go buy some crepe paper streamers and work with those.  I think they might be more "forgiving" to work with for the rolled roses.

This is one I did a while back.  It's also made with five scallop circle punches.  They're simply scrunched up, layered and spritzed with smooch spritz and held together with a brad.  I like this style also.

If you have any recommendations for some pretty (and easy) paper flowers, please let me know!  I only have about three weeks before the ladies dinner. 

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Earring Extravaganza

Happy Monday Everyone!

Ok, so you're used to seeing mostly paper crafts from me.  And, yes, I might be exaggerating to call it an "extravaganza."  But I did make almost a dozen pairs of earrings this weekend!  And being new to this jewelry making thing, I'm sorta proud of myself!  So thanks for humoring me and looking at my collection!

Lookie:

These are vintage buttons that were my grandmother's.  That makes them extra special to me!

Aren't these little bird charms adorable???

I liked them so much I made two different pairs!

Leftover raspberry beads from a necklace/bracelet/earring set I made for myself.

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Christmas Gift Tags

Happy Friday Everyone!

It's been a busy week around here.  I finally jumped into the world of electronic cutters and have been learning to use my new Cricut Expression 2.  I think I'm going to like it.  Any tips or tricks on how to get the longest lifespan out of the cutting mats?

Anyway, earlier in the week I made a couple of sets of Christmas gift tags.  I've been trying to come up with some items that are easily reproducible to feature on both Tophatter and my Etsy store for the holiday season.  Since Christmas is right around the corner, I thought some tags with a vintage feel might be nice.  Both sets feature edge sponging (front and back) for that vintage feel, as well as some pretty satin ribbon.

The first set features a poinsettia image stamped simply in burgundy.  I added a bit of gold shimmer to the flower centers.

Next I went for a holly and berry theme.  I gave the berries just a hint of red to perk them up.

I was pleased with how these came out.  Both sets are simple yet elegant, with a bit of that vintage feel.  I'm sure I'll be making more versions of these.

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

World Card Making Day!

Happy Saturday Everyone!  And happy World Card Making Day!

There are all kinds of fun blog hops and sales going on in honor of this day!  Be sure you google it and don't miss any of the fun.  Thank you for following along with me as I counted down to this day.

Make someone's day today.  Send them a beautiful handmade card!!  And have an awesome weekend!


Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Countdown to World Card Making Day - Day 10

Happy Friday Everyone!

This is our last countdown day on the way to World Card Making Day tomorrow.  I just got this adorable Hostess set last night and couldn't wait to jump in and make a card with it.

I used one of my favorite Kaleidacolor ink pads for the leaves and focal image, and Versa Mark for the leaves on the rust panel.  I added a bit of shimmer to the bird with my clear Atyou Spica pen.  Not sure if it showed up much in the photos.  :(

Roughed up the edges to add a little character.

Popped up both the scallop piece and central bird piece with dimensionals.

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

World Card Making Day - Day 9

Happy Thursday Everyone!

I hope you've been enjoying our journey toward World Card Making Day!  I've enjoyed the challenge of bringing you a new card each day.  It's forced me to get back into regular blogging, and I've been enjoying it.

Today's card features a sweet little image in a style I just love....line art that cries out for water coloring.  Water color is definitely one of my favorite techniques and there are so many ways to accomplish it.  Inks, markers, pencils, blender pens, aqua pens, paint brush....there are so many combinations.

This little cuckoo clock is so sweet.  I tried to give it a "traditional" color scheme and hint at some metal on the pulleys, leaves and clock border.

A little touch of Twinery twine in Flax over a striped embossed piece of card stock gives a nice accent.

See you tomorrow for Day 10!!


Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!