Friday, April 30, 2010

Dressed Up Notepad Template Tutorial

Problem - Need lots of little gifts, small budget, and no time to create.
Solution - Quick and cute little personalized notepads.  Just the right shape to tuck into a purse or backpack, jot a grocery list or keep your computer passwords safe. This technique isn't new but I figured there might be some newbies out there who might enjoy this.

We're going to turn ...                                            

this
                                                                                                               
into this

                                                             
We're going to make a template so that  you don't need to take your notebooks apart each time. This allows you to make one of these little beauties in  mere minutes.

Supply List: :  3 x 5 notepads
                    Designer Paper or Cardstock (DCWV Citrus Pack was used here)
                    Mono -  Multi or other adhesive
                    Corner Rounder
                    Handheld hole punch
                    Scissors
                    Optional - Ribbon or other embellishments

First, cut a piece of heavyweight (80-110 lb. cardstock) 3 1/8" x 5 1/8". This will be your template so you want it to be sturdy. Unbend one end of the wire spiral and turn to remove it completely. After making your template, you will never have to do this part again! Lay the cover of the notepad over your template making sure ends are even and mark each hole with a pen or pencil.

Using your hole punch, punch a hole at each mark.  Use scissors to cut from the top edge just to the center of each hole. This will allow you make future covers without removing the wire because you can just press the edges through the wire! Easy Peasy time saver. Gotta love that!


Now choose your papers for the front and the back. Round the edges with a paper rounder to match the notepad. Note: I always round the bottom edges of the original notepad cover as well since they're done by machine and aren't always nice and neat.
                             
Using Tombow Mono-Multi or other adhesive, attach your DP covers to the notepad cover.  Replace the wire.  Remember, now that we have a template we don't need to this part again...yeah!!   Now decorate as desired and make some more!
                                                      
                                                     

Thanks so much...hope you enjoy the tutorial! 

Blessings!!

Charlene




.
Pin It!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

CTD90 - TSG52 Sentiment-al Greetings

Ethereal Forest Designs is featuring their Sentiment Stamps this month.  I chose this fun sentiment from the
Garden Sentiments set to use on this card I made for the Color Throwdown 90 this week and the There She Goes Sketch Challenge (TSG52). 

I cut a couple of the birds from my DP to add to the sentiment panel.

Supplies and Techniques:
Stamps - Ethereal Forest Designs Garden Sentiments
Paper - SU Old Olive, Barely Banana, Pale Plum, Rich Razzleberry,  PTI Smokey Shadow, SEI Lovebirds DP
Accessories - Flower Brad, ribbon, Cuttlebug folder
Techniques - Distressing, Sponging




 
 
 

Pin It!

Cutting Cafe Flower Pot Card


 
Today's card is for the Color Challenge on SCS.  Tough colors this week...Ballet Blue, Old Olive, Barely Banana with the option of using Red as embellishments only.  It's also for Roseanne (Sumtoy) on SCS who is recovering from back surgery and if that wasn't enough, her MIL passed last Friday.  You can read about it here if you would like to send a card to Roseanne or Cambria Turnbow...Roseanne's MIL was her grandmother. 

This card is from a brand new set at The Cutting Cafe called Flower Pot Shaped Card.  This cute set comes with sentiments but I used a sentiment from the Everyday Greetings Set.  I popped the sentiment onto a toothpick to look like the picks the florists stick into arrangements. 

Thanks so much for coming by...I appreciate you!

Supplies:
Stamps - The Cutting Cafe
Paper - SU, Basic Grey Periphery DP
Accessories - Brads, toothpick

Pin It!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Yea! I'm back up!!

Whew...I was in a panic there for a few days but thanks to Hilary at  Simply Yours Designs, I'm back up and running although I've lost a few of my widgets. 
 
This is the first card I've made since we got back from vacation.  Believe it or not...I'm still fighting to get over that cold. 
 
This is for CAS64 Color Challenge Orange.  Today is Miss Boo's birthday aka Jen.  She's the awesome moderator of the CAS challenges and orange is her favorite color.    I just picked up the Citrus Stack from DCWV so it was perfect timing.
 
 
 
Supplies:
Stamps - Heidi Grace Quotes
Paper - DCWV Citrus Stack
Accessories - Ribbon, dimensionals, brads
 
 
Pin It!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Excuse my "Mess"

Yes, I've gone and done it!  Messed up my html code and not techy enough to fix it.  I've contaced Hilary and I'm hoping she can  make it all right again quickly.  Sorry for the mess....I've got some cool things coming up so hope you'll hang in there with me.

 
 
Pin It!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Blog Candy Winner!!!!

Here's my Blog Candy Winner.  Thanks to everyone who linked up, followed and commented.  Stay tuned for another candy surprise soon.  :-) 

 
Random Integer Generator
 
Here are your random numbers:
 
20
 
Timestamp: 2010-04-23 03:33:13 UTC

 
Beth said...


Soo glad you are back and your hand is heeling. There is nothing worse than a burn..ugh. Thank you for a chance to win something fun and awesome to create with!

bethgennicks@comcast.net

April 12, 2010 8:25 AM

Congratulations, Beth!!  Just email me with your snail address and I will get your candy to you right away.


 
Pin It!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

I've Been "Paper Cubed" and Cricut Cake Giveaway!

  
Hi Everyone!  I am so excited and feel so blessed to be asked to join the very first awesome Design Team on a new challenge blog called,  Paper Cubed or P3

The team will be charged with making one wildly awesome 3D project each month  (no cards)  that hopefully will inspire YOU to think outside the paper box.  You'll have a whole month to complete your project so no pressure and lots of time to be wildly creative.

Here are the rules from KIM our lovely DT leader for each challenge beginning May 1:
The one major guideline is this, the challenges are for 3D projects only (hence the name paper cubed, get it?) so cards are pretty much excluded here. Think big, think OUT of the box so to speak and really go wild! The challenges will be posted on the 1st of each month. The deadline is midnight EST on the last day of the same month. Winners will be announced on the 5th of the month following the challenge. 


The Top 3 winners each month will receive a badge for their blogs.
One caveat from me....my illness may prohibit me from participating in the first challenge but I'm sure gonna try.  In the meantime, click the link on my sidebar to visit the rest of the lovely ladies on the team. 



Have you seen the giveaway on The Cuttlebug Challenge Blogspot to win a Cricut Cake machine?  If not, head on over there and sign up. 


Woo,Hoo...we're gonna have some fun!!!


Pin It!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Posh Designs Blog Candy Alert!!!

 

First of all, thanks to everyone who's sent get well wishes either through my blog, email or phone. A special thanks to Patty who fed my DH the most scrumptious homemade chicken pot pie.  (good grief, I just typed pot pit!!)    I am still not quite "normal"...hmmm, some would say I never was, so let's choose another word...how about "better"...that's it...I'm not quite all better, but almost there. 

I just had to tell you about this awesome blog candy Nini is offering over at Posh Designs in honor of Spring!!  Brand new hot of the presses for spring Designer Paper!! 

Here's the details:
 36 (3 sheets of each pattern) single sided 6x6 sheets - Sassafras Lass CHERRY DELICIOUS wee bundle
36 (3 sheets of each pattern) single sided 6x6 sheets - Sassafras Lass NERDY BIRD wee bundle
36 (3 sheets of each pattern) single sided 6x6 sheets - Sassafras Lass APPLE JACK wee bundle
30 single sided 6x6 sheets - Pink Paislee QUEEN BEE paper pad
30 single sided 6x6 sheets - Pink Paislee 365 DEGREES paper pad
30 single sided 6x6 sheets - Pink Paislee BAYBERRY COTTAGE paper pad

That's nearly 200 sheets of awesome creativity just waiting for you to win it!

Nini will draw the winner on May 4th so head on over to the Posh Designs Blog HERE and sign up.  While you're there, head over and play along with the newest sketch challenge  to win again!

Thanks again for stopping by.  I sure miss my paper and ink.  You still have time to play for my blog candy.  I will draw the winner on April 22nd after 6 p.m. Eastern time.  Stamps and ribbon to go with all that yummy paper!!!

Pin It!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Vacation and Sick Leave

Hi Everyone,
Just want to let you know that I've missed a few days posting because we have been on vacation visiting our family.  We had a wonderful time but have come home sick, sick, sick.  Fever, body aches, head cold.  I hate traveling because it happens every time.
My brain is foggy so will be off for a few days more until I can stop aching at least. 
Thanks again to every one who visits regularly.  I appreciate you!!
Don't forget about the blog candy drawing on 4/22!!
  
Pin It!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Happy Birthday, Cupcake!!

Want to know how to take a simple cupcake and turn it into a sweet gift?  Wrap it up!!
 
 
Here's the card by itself.  I used the sketch from Posh Designs CSC13 and the All About Cupcakes set from The Cutting Cafe.
 
Supplies:
Paper - SU Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday DP
Accessories - Spellbinders circle, Scalloped circle dies, dimensionals, Crystal Effects, Copic markers, SU scalloped edge punch, stick on pearls
 
 
Pin It!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Plan Ahead Notepad

"Plan Ahead.....It wasn't Raining when Noah Built the Ark!"    Richard Cushing
 
I just love this quote!  I think it's just perfect for a little notepad I made for our granddaughter.  It's available from Ethereal Forest Designs in their awesome Floral Sentiments set. 
 

I used the cute paper from Debbie Mum called, of course, "Noah's Ark".  One sheet has all these little animals (yes, they're shiny) and many more so I cut them apart and pieced them on the front and....

the inside!

I ran the shapes that were left through my Xyron so our granddaughter could have some stickers to use on her notepad  to decorate the pages or for other projects and tucked them into the notepad holder's pocket. 

Love to know what you think!

Supplies:
Stamps - Digital Stamps Ethereal Forest Designs Floral Sentiments
Paper - Papertrey Hibiscus Burst, Vintage Cream,  SU Barely Banana
Accessories -  PTI Lemon ribbon, MS daisies, Scor-Tape, Xyron, PTI notepad & free download

                                                               
Pin It!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Hi Bunny!


Just a little peek at what we found gathering grass on the side of the house.  You think he/she's making a nest?  Remember these little guys from last year?


Maybe we'll have another bumper crop in the herb bed?

Pin It!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Friend to Friend on Mackinac Island, Michigan

This week's CAS (Clean and Simple) Challenge 62 is an inspiration challenge featuring Mackinac Island, Michigan.  Jen, the CAS forum coordinator, grew up there.  It sounds absolutely idealic.  You can take a look at the inspiration photo I chose HERE
My bicycle is cut out  (don't ask and don't try this at home)  and "propped" against the window of my card.  The flower panel is actually mounted on dimesionals on the inside of the card on the piece I had when I cut a window in my card front with a Spellbinder's square die. 
 I cut another square using a larger die that fit my window out of black CS.  I then centered the die I used for the "window", on the black square and cut with my Big Shot.  Instant window frame!

Cutting that bicycle isn't something I'd like to do again, but I do like it.

Supplies:
Stamps - Papertrey Button Bits, SU Pocket Silhouettes
Paper - Papertrey Soft Stone
Ink - Papertrey Hibiscus Burst, Summer Sunrise
Accessories - dimensionals, buttons

 
 
 
Pin It!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Patty Cakes and Strawberries


Don't forget to get in on my  Blog Candy Giveaway!  Just click the link on the right.  Good Luck!!


Happy Monday!  Today's card is for the Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS.  This week's featured Stamper is the awesome Pat Smethers.  Talk about an awesome gallery!

I chickened out and chose a CAS card to case.  Here's Pat's card.  I love everything about it. 

You have to change 3 things when you participate in the challenge so I:
1.  used strawberries instead of hearts
2.  used a Fabriano notecard on top of the colored CS
3.  added ribbon and changed the sentiment color
I always love to know what you think!

Supplies:
Stamps - Papertrey Fruitful, Simple Little Things
Paper - Fabriano notecard, PTI Leaf Green, Vintage Cream
Accessories - ribbon, dimensionals

Pin It!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

It's Blog Hop Time!!

Welcome to the “Ethereal Forest Designs” Blog Hop!!!
If you've just happened to drop by my blog today, be sure to go back to our Design Team Coordinator, Darsie Bruno’s Blog HERE  to start the hop.

Along the way, please make sure you comment on each one of the design team members blogs, then return to the Ethereal Forest Designs blog and make a comment! At the end of the hop, one lucky winner who has commented on all the blogs will receive a $10.00 voucher to the Ethereal Forest Designs Store!!

Here is my submission for the EFD Blog Hop:

I used one of the images from Mom Sentiments.  I just love the elegant script used in this set!  My sketch is for SCS Sketch Challenge 275.  I love this sentiment because we have friends who have been like mothers to us and we like to honor their gift to us on Mother's Day.  You can click on the image for a closer look.

Supplies:
Stamps- Ethereal Forest Designs Mom Sentiments
Paper - PTI Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbert, Pink DP
Accessories - PTI ribbon, pearls, Spellbinders oval dies
Now, make sure you visit each person's blog in the order listed.  If you stopped here first, you can use the links below to catch up. 



Charlene - that's me!!



The winner will be announced on the Ethereal Forest Designs blog on Friday, April 16th. Deadline to complete the hop will be Thursday, April 15th!

Thank you for taking the time to play along.   Your next stop on the blog hop is Melissa.   All of the images used in the design teams creations can be found at the Ethereal Forest Designs Store.


 
Pin It!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Play Ball!

Hi! 
Our little grandson LOVES sports...all sports.  Right now, he's playing soccer but we had a long discussion on the phone the other day about baseball.  He's almost 5 and just so cute.

My DH brought home a little booklet he got free at Lowe's that lists all the baseball teams, their schedules, and some facts about baseball....nice, but the cover is paper and would never stand up to a 5 year old's little fingers.  Besides, we know it can be cuter, right?













 
 

Kids love to see their names on anything and Regina at The Cutting Cafe has designed some awesome letter shaped cards and digital stamp sets.  I've used the "D Shaped Card Set" for the "D" on the booklet as well as....

this adorable "D" folded card!  If you want to see how I covered the booklet, head on over to the Posh Designs Scrapbook blog for my Fun Friday post.  I've done a photo tutorial for you.  This is also for the "One for the Boys" challenge at 
 A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge Blog
 
Thanks for stopping by...love to know what you think.
 

Supplies:
               Baseball player - Inkadinkadoo
               name - Snap stamps (retired)
Paper - Papertrey Leaf Green, Enchanted Evening, Neenah Classic white, Papertrey DP
Ink - SU Not Quite Navy, Copic Markers
Accessories - Scor-Pal, star confetti, Mono-Multi glue



 

Pin It!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Happy Mom Day!


Don't forget to sign up for my blog candy...I've added some surprises. You have until 4/22. Just click the link on the sidebar!

It's not to early to think about Mother's Day cards.  This one features a CAS design and a new image from Ethereal Forest Designs Mom Sentiments set. 

Love the elegant script Lee has used in this month's sentiments...head on over to EFD to see them all.   Blog hop starts Sunday!

This card is for the CAS61 Sentiment challenge and the AiFactory Challenge 31 - Mother's Day.

Supplies:
Stamps - EFD Mom Sentiments
Paper - Papertrey white, Hawaiian Breeze
Accessories - Cuttlebug flower die, pearl






Pin It!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

It's Sketch Challenge Time at Posh Designs Blog

Don't forget to sign up for my blog candy...I've added some surprises.  You have until 4/22.  Just click the link on the sidebar!



It's sketch challenge time once again on the Posh Designs Scrapbook Store blog.  I love this sketch...so many possibilities, especially for those small stamps that can get lost on their own.

Be sure to check play along....Nini always has a great prize just for linking up your creation and you've got two weeks to play.... so no pressure.
You could win Pink Cat Studio's Lily at the Beach stamp set!!  How cool or, um, hot is that?!

I've posted the sketch on my sidebar so you can check back to play along then click the sketch to link your card up.  Be sure to play by Tuesday, April 19th to qualify for the prize.

This is also for the Crafty Creations Anything Goes challenge.  Now that makes it even easier!!

Supplies:
Stamps - PTI Wonderfully Whimsical
Paper - PTI
Accessories - ribbon, felt flower, Spellbinders flower die, paper flower, brad




 
Pin It!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

CAS61 - Sentiments

I've been keeping a secret!  I was asked to be the one of the Guest Designers for the April CAS Challenges on SplitcoastStampers and today's the day!!  I am so humbled to have been asked to join the talented group of CAS creators and hope I've created something to give you some inspiration. 

The CAS61 Challenge this week is :

"Ways to Use It: The only stamping on your card is a sentiment (or verse). (Use any colors, papers, embellishments & sentiments) – just keep it simple *wink*"


.  I've created two cards totally different in style featuring a sentiment as the focal point.

This first one was difficult to photograph due to the sheen on the ribbon.  The ribbon is not so shiny IRL but after about 20 shots (including wrangling DH to take a few...this is one of his), I just decided to go with it.  It's soft, delicate and I just adore that sentiment by Joni Eareckson Tada.   You can read here story by clicking the link.   I have been fortunate enough to hear her awesome testimony to the grace of God, in person, several times.  Each time I am humbled, awed and amazed.


This second card is simple and understated.  I think it would serve well as either a sympathy card or a "thinking of you" card for men or women.
Hope you get a chance to play along this week with us on CAS61. 

I'd love to know what you think of my samples.

Blessings!

Supplies:
Stamps - SU Words of Wisdom
Paper - Papertrey Ink, Crate Paper
Accessories- pearls, ribbon, Spellbinder dies, rose
                                                                             
Pin It!
01 09 10