Saturday, November 29, 2008

Sneak Peek at 2009

For several years now, I've been making these calendars for family and friends...last year being the exception...just didn't get them finished. When you figure I do about 25 times 12 months...well, you get the idea. I'm not going to post every month...yet...because these are gifts and I don't want to spoil it, but this one is going to be donated for an auction so thought I'd give you a sneak because I also made

this box to put it in.
Don't you just love it?

This is the first box I've constructed for a specific project. I must admit, the bottom was easy peasy. It's just an 81/2 x 11 piece of SU Real Red. I laid it on my Scor-Pal, laid the calendar on top, measured my ends, then flipped the CS and did it again. I cut the flaps, folded and secured with Scor-Tape and done.

The top, however, gave me fits. I've made lots of boxes so I'm not sure what in the world the issue was, (maybe because it was 11:00 p.m. and the brain was already asleep?) but it took 4 trys before I got it right.

I am thrilled with the way it turned out. If you're interested in seeing how I did it, let me know and I'll post a photo tutorial.

The cardstock is Martha Stewart Gingerbread collection,(Michael's) tag is from Papertrey's Holiday Tag Collection, stamped in SU Garden Green, cut with Spellbinders Circle dies.


Charlene
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Kicked Up Serenity and Hot Cocoa

Remember this Cocoa card? Well, I wasn't really happy with the plain look of it, so I decided to "kick it up a notch"...

First, an apology for the photo...not sure what's with my camera...got a new battery but it still occasionally takes a grainy photo...and in this one, the brads are blindingly bright and I couldn't dull them....Oh, well.
This is the exact same hot cocoa gift card but here are the changes I made:
  1. I added a strip of the patterend paper that I used on the chipboard flower.
  2. I moved the flower a bit to the right.
  3. I added the sentiment, cut with Spellbinders die, stamped first in Really Rust, then Versamark and clear heat embossed.
  4. Sponged the edges of the sentiment panel and added a smaller brad (SU) and ribbon.
  5. Used a rust/copper colored gel pen to add dots to the sentiment panel as well as to both sides of the tan border strip although you can't see them well in this photo.
  6. Used a Basic Grey magnetic dot as the closure instead of the ribbon...
What do you think?
Blessings and Happy Stamping,
Charlene
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Friday, November 21, 2008

Serenity and Hot Cocoa

Today's project is inspired by Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply #62 Write It on Ribbon. You could use ribbon with writing on it or stamp on ribbon...or as Sharon did, make your own.

I've had this ribbon for ages...admit it, you have some like that too. :-) I had other plans for this project but decided to use some of my hoarded ribbon and besides it was the perfect sentiment for the person to whom I'm giving this little gift. What is more serene and peaceful than a steaming cup of gourmet hot cocoa on a cool Florida night? We don't get many of them so we have to take advantage of the fireplace, chili and hot cocoa when we do.

Here's the inside...there's a gift certificate tucked behind the hot cocoa but don't tell anyone. The wonderful template for this design can be found on Debbie Olson's blog. She has great style.

I printed the template directly on my Crate Paper Cowgirl cardstock. This a soft red with very pale blue dots. I can't wait to use it again. I LOVE Crate Paper. It's got a great weight, beautiful texture and awesome patterns. Wish I could have them all. The chipboard flower (SU) is covered with another pattern from the Cowgirl collection. I adhered it with Mono-Multi, trimmed and sanded the edges then added the flower brad - another SU pretty. I popped the flower up on dimensionals to make sure the ribbon would show.

Since the gift certificate will be signed, I didn't add anything to the solid panel but if you do, I would suggest doing it before taping the box together.

Supplies:

Paper: Crate Paper Cowgirl Collection
Accessories: Chipboard flower, flower brad (Stampin Up), ribbon - Michael's, Colluzzle, Scor-Tape

Blessings and Happy Stamping,
Charlene
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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

This is What Love Looks Like

I was asked to make a wedding can and card for a very special friend of a very special friend. The wedding colors are pink and brown and I know from their site on "the knot" that she likes polka dots. The background lights in the photo reminded me of polka dots as well.

My friend supplied the photo so that was my inspiration.  I printed it out to be 3.5 x 5 but it still left a small white border so I cut it off top and bottom, thus the straight edges.  (I know it looks crooked but it wouldn't stand up any other way.  It fits on nice and straight.)

They looked so in love and they were on a cruise so I knew this had to be fun as opposed to elegant. In addition, I always include a scroll with ideas for using the can after the wedding.  The bride is a fun young lady so I wanted their gift to be fun as well. I think they'll feel comfortable leaving the can out so they can use it according to the suggestions on the scroll.

The cute paper is American Crafts adhered with Scor-Tape, of course! The ribbon wrapping the handle is from the wedding dept. at Target. Such a bargain at 15 yds. for $2.99. The checked ribbon came from Michael's and the ribbon on the card is Martha Stewart.  That tool is a paint can opener...nice, new and shiny to open their gift....money is going in there so want to make it easy for them to get into their gift.

I ran the card base through my Cuttlebug embossing just the bottom half with the Swiss Dots folder. I think you can see it if you click on the photo. I just cut some remnant strips of the double-sided DP and layered them covering the layers with the MS ribbon. I used my craft knife to cut slits in the spine of the card and ran the ribbon through and around the front. The top ribbon on the card is adhered with 1/8" Scor-Tape.

Hope they have a long and happy marriage!

Blessings and Happy Stamping!

Charlene
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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

It's Good to be King!

Aren't cards for men the hardest? Well, at least for me they are. I'd rather do glitter and pearls and ribbons.

I love the humorous designs of Whipper Snapper designs. I don't have too many but this lion is one of my favorites. He's colored with my Prismacolor pencils, water brush and on the mane only, baby oil. The jewels on his crown are adorned with Stickles and Crystal Effectsand his nose has just the tiniest bit of Crystal Effects as well.

I computer generated the saying as well as the inside sentiment. The brads are a really more of a rivet and I heavy handed a couple of them with my Crop-a-dile. Can you say, smooshed?

The size of this card is a bit bigger - 5" square. The base of the card is PTI white cardstock. I found the paper at JoAnn's awhile back on a super sale 10/$1. It's paper not cardstock so I used a strip of black cs on the back of each side. One to hide the rivets and one for symmetry. I ran the edges of the card over my black ink pad to hide the white edges.

Don't you love that little box? It's a 2-5-7-10 box with the top 2" cut off. Easy peasy with the stupendous Scor-Pal and Scor-Tape. The base is SU Handsome Hunter. Covered the front and back with more of the matching paper. I punched the tag with an old Marvy tag punch in black cs, punched another in white and trimmed it down before stamping my sentiment. Inside is a bag of Hershey Kisses. They come with different sayings now...isn't that cool? These say Happy Birthday. I removed the generic ribbon and tied it with some black grosgrain.

I think he's rather regal, don't you?

Blessings and Happy Stamping,

Charlene
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Saturday, November 15, 2008

Black and White, a little Red and a Computer

I love the holidays but sometimes the busyness is too busy...I needed some really fast cards for thank yous...now when I say "fast", I mean the creating part not the thinking part.  Wish I was faster at it.  The simplest cards seem to take me forever....DUH, should just case or use a template!  In addition, my camera is acting up so some of my photos are grainy like the one below....it's much prettier IRL.
I didn't have the stamps to say what I wanted to say to I typed these on the computer and printed them out onto Papertrey heavy white cardstock then used my Nestibilities dies to cut and emboss.  Added some sheer organza from Michaels and beaded stick pens from the SU Pretties kit.   The DP are all from the Basic Grey Scarlet Letter pad.   I was wishing I had black beads for these two sooooo.........





while I was at Michael's, they just happened to be having a sale on these cool crystal and pearl beads.   I had a few red ones that I had picked up on clearance at JoAnn's.  Much better I think.

Would love to know what YOU think!

Blessings and Happy Stamping,

Charlene
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Blog Candy for...

ME!  I never and I mean NEVER, win anything.  I wasn't even trying to win anything and guess what?!
I was the 4,000 (!) visitor to Tammy Hershberger's
site and this is what I got. 

They are really cool felt snowflakes and sparkly brads that I can't wait to play with.  If you haven't checked out this talented lady's site yet, you need to pay a visit....you never know.....

Fun!

Blessings and Happy Stamping,

Charlene
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Friday, November 7, 2008

Turquoise Christmas


Don't you just love this gorgeous turquoise color? It's from Bazzill. I originally had planned this using Bashful Blue but didn't enough ribbon. Wasn't sure how this would work, but I love it!
This simple set is for a volunteer appreciation dinner where I was asked to come up with a few simple projects for the ladies to make and take.
I had to keep in mind that none of these ladies were stampers so simplicity, cost and ease of finding the supplies was important.
The card  is simply the Snowflake Cuttlebug folder trimmed a bit and then wrapped with Martha Stewart binding. I used my glue pen to add glitter to some of the snowflakes. The center medallion is punched from the So Many Scallops set from SU. I ended up changing the background on the medallion to the solid turquoise after I took this photo. The center portion of the medallion was punched out with the 1-1/4" circle punch and popped  up on dimensionals. I glittered the snowflake on the medallion as well.
The tin came from JoAnn's in the wedding dept. I picked them up using a 50% off coupon so got 25 for $10. Just wrapped the base in the matching paper, punched a scallop using the SU Scallop punch, punched the center out again, glittered and popped up.
The package on the bottom is a wrapped Dove Bar....think they'll like that one? :-) I stamped the Bazzill paper with the Snowflakes from Inkadinkadoo (got mine at Michael's) in SU craft white ink, glittered some of them and wrapped the bar using my Scor-Tape to adhere the paper securely. I wrapped it  with the MS ribbon, cut a scallop with my Petite Scalloped Circles, and another glittered medallion. I got the plastic snowflake last year after Christmas. (Michael's)
Love to know what you think!
Blessings and Happy Stamping!
Charlene
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A New Place to Play

Hey, have you heard there's a new place for sharing and inspiration?  It's called Paper Craft Planet.  You can sign up or just visit but be careful....you'll want to stay awhile.  Lots of online friends and familiar stampers there...look for me and be my friend.


Have Fun!


Charlene
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Thankful and Grateful

I really do miss the colors of fall...not necessarily the raking of leaves that come with it, but the beauty of leaves turning colors of gold and red.
Sharon Johnson used the One sheet wonder technique to create her beautiful cards. I wish the Spectrum pad she used was still available as I LOVE the richness the purples add to her cards. I changed my backgrounds out a bit and added some ribbon. A great way to make multiples.
Supplies:
Cardstock - Olive Olive, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Stamps - Papertrey First Fruits
Accessories: Cuttlebug and Nestibility used for scallop edge on card #1, Nestibilities Ovals
Ribbon - Michael's and JoAnn's
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder
Blessings and Happy Stamping,
Charlene
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Thursday, November 6, 2008

Update of Hope

Isn't this the most beautiful photo? My DH loves to take nature photos. I think this is one of my favorites. Even with a damaged wing this beautiful creature still lives and amazes. It reminded me of my brother, Lance.

I had told you in an earlier post that he was facing liver failure and transplantation due to doctor error. While he is not yet "out of the woods", he is much improved. His doctors told him he was as near death as anyone they had seen. They had given him 10 days at most. Even his head had swelled from the failure of his liver. The body swelling has mostly subsided as has the pain.

He credits the improvement to diet. He now eats what he calls "funny food". Lean protein, lots of greens, beets, fruits, and other veggies, and soy milk. No sugar, processed food, no supplements or even an aspirin. This for a guy who wouldn't touch a vegetable when he was a kid (unless it was pumpkin in pie) and admits he ate pizza several times a week.

He has told his doctors that he will not have the liver transplant choosing quality of life over quantity. He is grateful for the improvement God has granted him. He's changing his life....and mine.

Card info...I found regular ink wouldn't dry on the photo but SU black marker dried beautifully.

Supplies:
Photo, Cardstock - Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black
Corner rounder, sheer black ribbon

Blessings and Happy Stamping!

Charlene
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Saturday, November 1, 2008

Christmas Card for Team Cookies and Cards

As promised, here is the card I made for Team Cookies and Cards.  I thought it might be best to make a card that either a man or woman might be comfortable sending.  I wish you could see the sparkle on this...my little Sony digital just doesn't do it justice.  The base card is elegant Fabriano from Dick Blick.  I just love texture, the deckled edges and small size of these elegant note and envelopes.  The color is somewhere between white and ivory...not too much of either.  Wonderful for watercoloring, takes ink beautifully and great for quick cards.  For this card I used Stampin Up's new Snow Swirled set.  Like the notecards, simple and elegant. 
 I first stamped the tree in Versamark, the sprinkled with gold Tinsel EP (the tinsel sparkles as opposed to regular Gold EP) and heat set.  I stamped the greeting, repeated the process and then added the clear bling from Martha Stewart to the snowflakes on the tree.  DONE!
This design is so simple and elegant, I'm thinking this may be my Christmas card this year.  What do you think?
Blessings and Happy Stamping!
Charlene
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