Saturday, August 28, 2010

Birthday Banner Cards

Had just a few scraps leftover from my Home Wreath and Mad Hatter layout, so I created some cards. I can always use Birthday cards and the banner trend fits perfectly for them! How cute are these pigs and I have a nephew who loves giraffe's. The last two cards are simple and would be great for an adult, especially the guys! {Happy Birthday little brother}










Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The Mad Hatter

I had some leftovers from my Home Wreath banner piece so here's one of the items I created from them. It's a simple layout that I added a fun wreath to the top. Rather than the usual triangle shape I used a half circle shape. It's simply festive and reminds me of the creativity and artistic expression we experienced that hot summer day at the Utah Art Festival.




Look closely... there is another form of faux stitching here on this page. On the cocoa card stock under the photo you'll see that I've done some dry embossing about 1/4" line around the edges. After lightly sanding the line I pierced holes along the line giving the look of stitching.




Monday, August 23, 2010

Home Wreath

We have lived in our home now for over 5 years and I am still creating little items of decor to display here and there. I feel that home made crafts really make a house a home!

This week on H2H we were challenged to create something with either faux or real stitching. Why not both, or maybe 3 types of stitching!

To make the pennants I cut pieces of B&T paper that measured 3 x 8 inches. I folded them in half and then cut on an angle to create the triangle, leaving the folded edge at the top. I then used a stamp to create the look of stitching and pierced holes through the paper at the dotted sections. This is the first type of faux stitching I did.



Then I got out my little handy dandy sewing machine to do some real stitching.

I strung some twine through the middle of each pennant and glued the triangles together. I then glued some colonial white organdy ribbon to the tops of the pennants in a pleated fashion and then used a creme brulee grosgrain ribbon on the tops of that. Now comes the sewing and lots of patience. This was a lot of layers for my little machine to go through, but after awhile I got it all stitched together. By using real stitching on this section it created a stronger bond for the banner. It was finished with some threaded buttons on each corner.

The final stitching technique is also a faux stitch. This one is super easy and fun. It also gives that perfect finishing touch to my letters. After tracing chipboard letters onto card stock I cut them out, sponged the edges and then used the fine tip of the marker making small dash marks around the edges. This gives a colorful stitched look.

The letters were finished off with some brads and ribbons. I used a thin hemp to tie the letters to the wreath to make them more secure.



Saturday, August 21, 2010

August Back 2 Basics

This month for my Back 2 Basics Club they were given a choice between watermelons and school. The reason was actually because some of the ladies have children in school and some do not.

The watermelon pages were inspired from the last days of summer, sun and fresh air. I used bright colors and lots of fun details. Once I completed the pages I realized that maybe they aren't very 'basic' either. The ladies will random stamp, blend chalk, faux stitch, create scallops using watermelons, distress paper and layer ribbon.



The other choice was a rockin' Back to School layout. This pattern was taken from the newest how-to-book called Magic. The pattern is called Spellbound and will give the ladies the option of just a few pics or as many as 8. In the Magic book it also shows how to create a sliding photo on the right side of the page. Once I snap my pictures and complete my page I'll post the results here.


Thursday, August 19, 2010

For Teacher

The days of summer are almost over and we are gearing up for school. For this card I wanted to try a few techniques. The first is paper ruffling with ordinary copy paper. I saw this done on one of Tresa Black's Ustream video's. I used the ink pad and rubbed it directly to the paper concentrating more ink on the edges. I then folded the paper in a pleated fashion.

Another technique was creating the look of a chalkboard like the one you see on the ticket shape "ABC" title. I stamped the ticket frame and alphabet letters in embossing ink on black card stock and then embossed it in white powder. You could also stamp in white pigment ink and allow to dry for a more 'chalky' look. Lots of other fun stuff was added to this card, hope you like!




Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Apples 1..2..3..

*If your looking for the H2H back to school challenge project just scroll down*

I wanted to continue creating back to school themed projects. Here is a cute apple card with an interesting color combo. I used a base of white with black, cranberry and a "new" color! Can you guess what it is? It is the beautiful new SKY color. It's such a pretty blue and using it behind the apples really made them pop! To achieve this look I first stamped the apples on the card base and created 2 apple masks on post it notes. I then placed the mask over the apple and stamped the numbers in blue over the top. As I moved down the card I just continued to mask each apple. It really gives the look of designer background paper.


Monday, August 16, 2010

H2H Challenge ~ Back to School

Back to school? What? Already? It seems too soon, especially when it's still over 100 degrees outside. When H2H announced this week's challenge as a back to school challenge I thought what will I do? My kids are not back to school yet so I have no photo's to scrap. Then I thought about the morning routine, making lunches, getting on a schedule once again and of course the dreaded hours of homework when they get home. My son is really good about just getting it done and having the rest of his night free for video games or television. My daughter on the other hand is not so easily motivated. So, the answer for the new school year was to create a very cool, organized and inspired "Study Area"! We cleaned up her desk and filled little dollar tin cans with supplies. We created little labels for each and hung them by binder clips on the handles. A lamp in the corner for lighting and now the inspiration...

A hand-crafted wall hanging with fun details and her beautiful face, looking super smart with new glasses and all!




Here is the new Study Area.



This wall hanging has lots of dimension all created with just card stock.




Yes, those are real No. 2 pencils!


I mixed papers from Jingle, Animal Cookies, Tinkerin' and Veranda. Stamps are: Friendship Alphabet & Confidential. Flowers were made from the Fancy Cut Botanicals and the word 'grow' was made from tracing chipboard letters. A colonial white brad is centered in the flower and I used various ribbons and twill.



Saturday, August 14, 2010

Just Peachy!

Whew! I just completed my Recipe Box Workshop. I think the ladies had a good time and all of the boxes were wonderful. So here is one last card to inspire and a quick & easy recipe for you!

The card was inspired by Angela the Closet Crafter who did an adorable 'peach' card with a tag for last weeks challenge. I thought Angela's idea of making peaches from a 'cherry' stamp set was brilliant! The colors are sweet leaf (from Cherry-o), taffy, crystal blue and chocolate. I did some paper piecing to give the bowl and peaches some dimension. The finishing details are a scallop punch border, faux stitching and chocolate brads.



The recipe today is one that I love to eat when I'm craving something sweet, but want to keep it some~what healthy. You start with nonfat vanilla yogurt in the bottom of a bowl. Then add some canned or fresh peaches over the yogurt. Finally, I top it all with some whipping cream and low fat granola.
It's Just Peachy!


Friday, August 13, 2010

Seasonal Strawberries

Summertime not only means sunny hot days and being out of school, but it's the best time for fresh seasonal fruits. My favorite has to be the strawberry! This summer I have enjoyed them sliced up in my cereal, mixed up in a yogurt smoothie and prepared in a sweet dessert! I love to dip them in chocolate and then eat them while watching So You Think You Can Dance. {Yeah, Lauren, Season 7 Winner!} Here is a little card I created for my love of chocolate dipped strawberries. Oh! and it's design comes from this week's sketch challenge over on H2H.

Look good enough to eat? I used liquid glass over chocolate card stock and some prisma glitter on the berries.

So why just stop at chocolate covered strawberries! As Emeril would say "let's kick it up a notch". I got out my cuisinart ice cream machine and made fresh strawberry ice cream according to the directions in the book. At the very end I threw in some milk chocolate chips. I also whipped up some fresh heavy cream. Put it all together, and you have the yummiest summertime dessert!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Slide to Adventure!

I am so glad that fellow consultant Tresa Black has been sharing her talents with us through USteam videos. A couple weeks ago she shared how to make a slider card. This is a fun interactive card and really simple to create. You can check out her video here.

For my card I used a camping stamp and route 66 papers. Perfect for friends who are taking summer adventures! This is how it looks closed.


This is the card open. You reveal a message inside when you slide it open as well as some 'poof' clouds behind the tear drop camper.





Watch the video and give it a try. Let me know what you come up with!

Friday, August 6, 2010

Friday Five & a Sensational Summer Salad

Hooray! My color challenge card was chosen for the Friday Five on H2H. I'm so glad they liked it. I actually caught myself looking at it again on the shelf in my scrap room. I am just so amazed that these colors worked so well together. I would have never thought to put them together myself.

Time for some more food! In honor of my Recipe Box Workshop taking place in just over a week I am posting some of my recent favorite recipes.

Summer is the perfect season for grilling! Lately I have been grilling fish or chicken on the grill with a ton of veggies like zucchini, squash, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, peppers, onions, corn..... you get the idea. My platters contain more veggies than chicken or fish really. However, if I ever have some grilled chicken leftover this is what I love to do with it~



The next day I will prepare a box of Suddenly Salad according to directions on box. My favorite is the basil & pesto. {I believe its only available for a limited time, bummer}

Once prepared I take the leftover grilled chicken and cut into bite sized pieces.

I also chop a medium cucumber and cut cherry tomatoes in half.

I layer some salad greens over the pasta, the cucumber, tomatoes, chicken and finally top it all with some feta cheese.

YUMM-O! I could eat this for lunch and dinner the next day. It's refreshing and full of flavor, and yes my kids eat it too!

~~~~~~Now go grill something and tell me all about it!~~~~~~

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Thank You Tags!

The H2H challenge blog 'tagged' us this week. They want to see what you can do with tags. The design team had some really fabulous ideas. I like to use tags for my customer "Thank Yous". They are fun, simple and allow me to use up some scrap pieces around my desk area. That certainly doesn't mean that it has to be boring! I try to use a variety of stamps, fun embellishments and interesting techniques. Here are a couple of tags I created to add to my customers order.





All product is CTMH except: flower punch (sizzix), orange button & sheer black ribbon (misc.)

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Paper Roses & Pleasing Colors

More paper roses and cards inspired by Close To My Heart Consultant Tracey Mason. Once you start making these roses they sort of become addicting. I was able to play around with the sizes and even rolled some itty bitty ones. I was also inspired by the color combination of light blue, green, cream and black. I find them to be so pleasing to the eye.



Monday, August 2, 2010

Guest Designer for H2H!


Woo Hoo! I am so excited and honored to be a guest designer for Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog. I will be participating in a couple of the August challenges so be sure to check it out. You should play along with the challenges too!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

August Recipes & Friday Five

I am so happy! I made the Friday Five on Heart 2 Heart Challenges for my Splendor Recipe Box. I am teaching a workshop for it this month so I decided to post some recent recipes I have tried out this summer. If you recall in my original post I mentioned Frog Eye Salad. I was just introduced to this yummy salad this summer on a trip to Utah. I guess it's a big thing there and you can actually pick up a container of it right in the deli section. I found one version of the recipe online at allrecipes.com. Scroll down for a pic.


I am familiar with the pistachio pudding dessert, but this frog eye stuff was all new to me. I was thrilled when I found the specialty pasta at my local grocery store. It's called Acini di pepe and it is a teeny tiny round pasta. After boiling, it swells to double it's size and gives the dessert the texture of tapioca pudding. It's a very cool, light, fruity tasting salad that is just perfect on a hot summer day. It has pineapples, mandarin oranges, whipped topping, mini marshmallows and shredded coconut. Now, I just happened to find the 'all recipes' version, but if you make this salad and have a different variation or tips, please leave a comment I would love to know your secrets!