New toy for me!

Okay.  I'm very excited to tell you about the new toy I bought.  It's a Kodak Zi6 video camera.  If you watched the People Choice Awards a few weeks back, everyone had one!  Checkout this clip about it HERE.  Soooooo, now I have to think of something to film for you!  I'm a little camera shy, so you might have to wait to see my face in front of it, but I'm thinking tutorials.  Today's the first time in weeks that I've actually gotten my hands inked up, so it's hard to think about sharing my experience today:)  That being said, here is a still picture of one of today's creations:

Want to know how I made that embossed butterfly?  It was so cool and easy:)  I cut a piece of Gluefoil (I have copper) and used my heat tool to adhere it to a piece of grungepaper.  Then, I put it into a Cuttlebug folder and ran it through my Big Shot.  I LOVE making my own embellishments:)  AND, this is a first for me -- a project withOUT a button OR a flower!!!  Shocking!!  I feel so worldly:D 

A GREAT GIVEAWAY!

You can't miss this one!  The owners of Bluemoon  Scrapbooking were lucky enough to score an autographed Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Die at CHA.  Better yet, they are going to be giving it away to one very lucky winner!  Go to their blog by clicking HERE!

Good luck!

QUICK -- Think PINK!

Check it out!  A pink week giveaway.  Go...enter...now...HERE!

My Style Statement

One book that I've been reading this week is "Style Statement: Live by your own design" by Carrie McCarthy and Danielle LaPorte.  I've only just begun this particular journey but I can tell you, I am so intrigued by this book.  I think it will help me in my creative journey.  I'm always trying to hone in on what my personal style is.  As the book says "This is an invitation to make more powerful choices...to create your life with intention...to communicate who you are in all you do." 

I will keep you posted on my discoveries through this book.  If you are interested in getting one for yourself, use my Amazon search right here.

Material Disclosure:  I am an affiliate of Amazon and will receive a commission on purchases made through this link. 

Technical difficulties

Happy Saturday!  What a crazy, busy, hectic week I've had!  To top it off, my computer won't boot up and I'll have to spend all day troubleshooting.  Thank goodness for my work computer:D  Here are some pictures of what started my troubles...

Last weekend, I whipped this handbag up.  It was fun and simple.  What wasn't simple, was getting the pictures taken and on my computer.  But trust me, you don't need to be bored to tears with the details:D  Here's to a crafty weekend:)

What to do with your old Calendars?

I don't know about you, but I LOVE my calendars!  As excited as I am to buy my new ones, I can't part with the old.  What's a girl to do?  Well, if your like me, you find ways to recycle those beauties:) 

In 2005 I repurposed my calendars as sturdy pockets on the inside of my scrapbooks.

This wall decor was created by adhering a calendar page (by Lang Company) to a 12x12 piece of styrofoam.  

This wall decor started with the creation of 4 ATCs.  If you look closely, you will see that each ATC includes a little piece of artwork.  That artwork was cut out of the back of a Lang Co. calendar.

I even repurpose the covers that Lang calendars come in -- they make for great blotter on your desk while you are crafting:) 

Paper-Piecing

Today's card is one that I made for my daughter's 19th birthday (which was this past weekend:).  As much as I enjoy stamping, sometimes your creative eye goes it's own way.  That's what happened to me when I sat down to make this card.  I started with picking out my paper (Cosmo Cricket's).  When my daughter was little, I used to sing "You are my sunshine" to her, so when I saw this saying on their paper I knew it was what I wanted.  One key when you are paper-piecing, is to remember to still add dimension and texture.  With this card, I did that by cutting out a butterfly and adhering it just in the center.  A second, smaller version was made by stamping a butterfly on the back side of some patterned paper. 

For even more dimension, ink the edges of the butterfly before adhering, and, attach the saying with pop-ups.

Happy Tuesday:D

My version of a Dot Com Notebook

One of the Christmas gifts I created for my brother and brother-in-law, was what I refer to as a "dotcom" notebook.  Basically, a notebook for you to store your online sites, logons and passwords. 

The outside of the notebook was made with cardboard that I first painted with acrylic paint, and then stamped and inked with Distressed Inks. 

For the inside pages, I created a template in MS Word on a single page and had copies made.  Everything was put together with my Zutter Bind-It-All. 

This was a very simple, fast and easy project.  Plus, my brothers loved how handy it is for them.

Enjoy your Monday:D

Floral Tutorial

The one thing that I NEVER get tired of -- FLOWERS!  So, here is a short tutorial of just one way I like to make my own paper flowers:D

Start with the following supplies:  Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, old book pages, decorative scissors, Ranger Distress Inks, your favorite craft glue, buttons and twine.

 

 The first thing I do is hand cut out 5-7 circles.  You choose the size. 

Spray each one with Glimmer Mist.  Then, crumble them up and open again. 

Next, dab some craft glue in the middle of your base piece.  Next, fold your second and third pieces in half, and place them with their straight sides next to each other. 

 Then, do the same with pieces 4 and 5, but this time place them in the opposite direction that pieces 2 and 3 are laying. 

 

 Continue to fold and glue down as many layers as you wish. 

 

 Now, pick out a button to embellish the center with and either glue or tie it on with twine.  For an added, one-of-a-kind look, brush some Distress Ink on the edges and on every layer. 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

Receiving Beauty

This Christmas, my mom made this beautiful decoupaged box for me. 

Look at all the time she put into this!

 

 

And check out that glass knob on the top!  Beautiful!  Thanks Mom:D

More Crocheting

A few nights ago I was envisioning what to do with this new skein of yarn my mother gave me.  I've always wanted to make a crochet purse, so I thought I would give it a try.  As usual, I didn't have a pattern (I hate to follow directions), but I visualized what I wanted to make and took a stab at it.  The one thing I love about designing is that my project just starts to take on a life of it's own. 

 

It started out as a simple tote, but then my one skein wasn't enough to finish it.  So, I went to the store and couldn't find the exact same yarn (different store), so I bought something to contrast what I had started with. Then I had to change it up and add a strap, instead of just attaching the two sides together.

If you know me at all, you know I have to have some type of flower incorporated, so I whipped up this flower to pin on it.  But, I had a little of this fabulous yarn left over, soooo,

That's right, I had to make a coordinating pouch:D  The top closes with a magnetic snap sewn in.  Like my little bamboo yarn flower:) 

All I can say is, FUN!  If you would like my pattern, just let me know and I'll jot it down:D

Happy New Year

Another year and decade!  WOW, how the time flies!  I've been lean on the pictures because I have a new camera and haven't really gotten into a good routine with it yet.  But, it's only Saturday and I have one more day off of work, so I hope to establish a good routine before going back.

Before I tell you about my project, I wanted to let you know about my new business venture.  I have started a new site, Handmade-Today.  I hope you will take a moment to check it out.  I won't go into all of the details here, since the complete story is just a click away.  So, check it out and let me know what you think.  Bare with me as I continue to build it up to it's potential:D

Onto my project.  For my mom, I created this tablerunner.  Super-simple!  I just crocheted the runner and then picked out some material to tear into strips and weave thru it.

 

If you recall from the picture below, I did something similar when I made this throw for my daughter.  Just a slightly different crochet stitch, allowing more room to weave thru.

 

With this same concept, I made my sister a denim throw.  It actually looks more like a rug:) 

I need to get a better picture of this one.  The yarn is a mixture of dark browns and the material weaved in is denim.  My sister loves both textures.

Have a good day:D