Train Lover

A friend who loves trains just had a big birthday last month.  This card is made from the Oliver collection kit.  While "Oliver" was designed for boys having less monumental birthdays, it is perfect for the train lover, too.

Project Note:  The "Whoo Hoo" is stamped using the "Whooo loves you" stamp set. I used markers to ink the letters I wanted from "Whooo" where I wanted them.

Happy Birthday, Jimmy!  Hope you had a great day.

Ingredients:  Stamps:  Who Loves You by Hampton Arts
Ink:  Basic Gray, Basic Black by SU!; White gel pen from Signo
DSP and train sticker:  Oliver by Basic Grey; Western Sky by SU!
Chipboard Letters:  American Crafts

DSP Day - Designer Paper on the Inside

Consider using some of your pretty designer paper on the inside of your cards too.  You can often stamp and write on tone-on-tone or light backgrounds.  The designer paper  on the inside of this card shows through the stamped transparency layer so you get a pretty view open or closed.

Project Notes: 

• The card is cut on the Cricut with SCAL software.
• The transparency film is stamped with Bordering Blue craft ink and then embossed using clear powder. It gives a pretty texture and a light bit of color.  Keep the heat gun moving when embossing transparency film and always guard your fingers.  I used ink jet printer film.
• Whisper White craft ink is sponged around the edges of the cutout to accent the inside further.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Ingredients:  Stamps:  Serene Snowflakes by SU!; greeting by Inkadinkado
Ink:  Bordering Blue and Whisper White craft by SU!; Not Quite Navy classic ink for greeting
DSP:  Candy Cane Christmas by SU!
Cardstock:  Not Quite Navy
Ribbon:  Fabric store.

Distressed Anniversary Art

My parents have a wedding anniversary coming up soon.  They have been married for over 50 years!

Instead of a card, I did this 6 1/2" square design my Mother can display and remember her wedding day.  This is the only photo taken on that day.  They couldn't afford a photographer and my Aunt Betty took this picture after Mother had changed into her going away outfit.  I had scanned the photo for their anniversary party a few years ago.  I just printed another one and distressed it.

There is a lot of distressing on this as I was trying some favorite techinques and some new ones from Jennifer McGuire's video for Two Peas in a Bucket.  This starts an 8 week class they are hosting on 'inking.'  Linked here:  http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/events/9-holiday-thinking-inking-2010/The   video was very well done and I look forward to more of these.

Project Notes:

• The background paper and a light chipboard base are cut with the Cricut and the Storybook cartridge.
• I used Ranger's distressing tool featured in the video to add quite a bit of Vintage Photo distressing ink to the edges of the papers.
• The flower started out white but is colored with 4 blended colors of distressing ink and then stamped with a flourish in Basic Gray ink from Stampin' Up!
• My Mother found that button for me when we were out shopping one day so I thought it would be a pretty touch for the flower.

We are planning a trip to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville for brunch one weekend.  My friend Karen reminded me of this treat the other day.  Daddy loves their brunch and Mother loves the shopping in Asheville.  October is such a pretty time to visit the city nestled between the mountains.  It will be a treat for all of us.

Ingredients:  Stamps:  Flourishes 2 by Autumn leaves

Ink:  Basic Gray by SU!; Vintage Photo, Old Paper, Tea Dye, and Tattered Rose by Ranger

DSP:  Thrift Shop 8" paper pad by October Afternoon

Flowers:  Petaloo and large silk flower from Hobby Lobby

Rhinestones:  Kaiser craft

Metal frame:  Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware from Stampin' Up!
Brad: Stampin' Up!
Teal ribbon:  Basic Grey

The First Time they saw...the Ocean

The children had never seen, tasted, smelled, or splashed in the ocean!  It was our pleasure to introduce them to the Atlantic. 

Project Notes:

• All the designer paper is from an 8"x8" pad so I spliced together some papers for the right hand border. 
• The 'seaweed' branch is cut in two sizes with the Cricut Storybook branch border.
• Basic Grey's Magnetic Mat (featured in yesterday's post) made lining up these letter stickers a lot easier!

It's starting to turn cold here in NC.  Wouldn't a walk through the edges of the water on a warm day feel great?

Ingredients:  DSP: Daily Grind by Fancy Pants

Cardstock:  Hobby Lobby

Ribbons:  Cosmo Cricket and fabric store

Button:  Oriental Trading

Brad:  Basic Grey's Offbeat collection

Stickers:  American Crafts puffy stickers in blackberry, various Basic Grey collections, October Afternoon Mini Market, Cosmo Cricket mini

TIPsy Tuesday - Tilted Magnetic Mat

A couple of months ago I started having some awful neck and shoulder pain.  It is much better now after time and many adjustments to the way I do things.  My crafts were not the cause of the problem but they did contribute to the aggravation while it was going on.  Tilting my head down was a particular problem. 

During this time I noticed on some Internet videos the Basic Grey Magnetic Mat being used for scrapbooking and card making.  It was positioned flat on the work surface.  Yet, I wondered if everything was held on with magnets, couldn't I tilt it so that it would be easier to see and reach the items I was working on?

The solution my husband and I found was to clip the mat to a board attached to hinges that would allow me to tilt it up.  The components are:

• Basic Grey Magnetic Mat kit including 8 magnets and magnetic ruler - available through Amazon.com or Two Peas in a Bucket.
• A piece of masonite cut 15"x15".  Any firm board will work.
• Two 8" triangular hinges - available from Lowes Hardware

• Two bolts to attach the hinges to the masonite.  Be sure to countersink the screw heads into to the board so you have no lumps beneath the mat.
• Two binder clips to hold the mat to the masonite.  I didn't want to attach it permanently.  This way I can take it off and use it directly on a work surface.  The mat also works as a cutting mat and I would probably want it flat for cutting.  I still have my regular cutting mat available.
• Two small dowels cut to a length that will achieve the desired angle.  I just bought a dowel rod from Lowes when I got the hinges.

I really love this system for scrapbooking!  With the ruler and all the edge markings on the mat, I can line up letters, photos and embellishments easily on my scrapbook pages.

The magnetic mat is a great tool even if you want to just use it flat and not tilt as I have.

Cute Christmas Set

 

 

When my Stampin' Up! demonstrator, Jean, saw this set I'd ordered last month and the companion designer paper, she wanted me to bring it to October stamp club.  I offered to make one of our cards for club to help her out from her busy schedule and to show off this great stamp set.  It is really cute!

The layout was inspired by this months A Year in Cards at Two Peas in a Bucket.  I rearranged a few things and changed the orientation of the card. 

One project note:  Since I don't have all the new SU! color markers, I made do for Blushing Bride by coloring first in Pretty in Pink and then going over with Blush Blossum. It gave a very close match.

 

 

Ingredients:  (all Stampin' Up! except Staz-on black ink) Stamps:  Cute Christmas

Ink:  Baja Breeze, Garden Green, Real Red, Pretty in Pink

Cardstock:  Real Red, Garden Green, Whisper White

DSP:  Candy Cane Christmas

 

DSP Day - That 70's Craft

Help me out here.  There was a craft in the 70's where you cut up printed images and layered the images on top of one another putting a coat of varnish on them as you went.  You created a type of 3D picture with them.  I just can't remember what it was called.

Whatever... it was the inspiration for the card above.  I just cut out flowers from additional DSP to layer on the main DSP.  In some cases I created more than one additonal layer.  Brushing on Crystal Effects from Stampin' Up! created the gloss.   Some layers have dimensionals between them and others have glue dots depending on the amount of pop I wanted.

Just another way to use your designer paper and be retro about it, too.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Ingredients:  Stamp:  Upsy Daisy by SU!
Ink and Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip
DSP:  Sweet Pea by SU!
Brads:  Marrakesh by Basic Grey

HomeArama '10

The Charlotte HomeArama continues through October 10 off I-77 Exit 25.  I went yesterday with two friends and we had an enjoyable day touring the 5 homes.  Here are just a few of the photos I took:

If you are in the Charlotte area and interested in building, remodeling, or decorating, HomeArama is a great event.  Details are at:   http://www.homearamacharlotte.com/

Note: It takes 2 to 3 hours to do the self-paced tour. Parking is a mix of paved and 'field.'  There are no shuttles.  You can walk from parking to the houses. 

None of the homes have basements this year.  Also the window treatments were very simple - mostly drapery panels.  Although each house had a different interior designer, the design styles were simliar, very fresh, light, liveable contemporary.  The cabinets are gorgeous and the outdoor spaces inspiring.

Our favorite feature was a porch that converts from open to screened in with a touch of a button.  Ingenious!