Accordion Flower & Ribbon Technique

What do you do with old pattern paper that you have sitting around that you don't care for? You smooch it! I made this little accordion flower out of a strip of baby blue & white patterned paper that I wasn't fond of. First I used a little distress ink on it, then I stamped it with SU's baroque motif's swirls with distress ink, and then I sprayed it with spun sugar smooch spritz. I ended up with a vintage strip that I tried out Leica's accordion flower technique on (http://10-4livingoutloud.typepad.com/leica_forrest/2010/05/accordion-flowers-step-by-step.html). And then I played with Nadine's accordion ribbon technique from last weekend too (http://delitetechniques.blogspot.com/2010/05/accordion-ribbon.html) :)

Paris Tags - part 2

Paris Tags - part 1

Paris Tag Set

I wanted to make a little tag book/set for my coffee date with a friend this weekend who just returned from a trip to Paris. I took a little 'Tim-z-peration' and used some of the techniques I've seen from Tim Holtz recently (for some reason I still can't link it, but here's the addie...I'll add it to my sidebar too... http://www.timholtz.typepad.com/). I also used my favourite of Tim's distress inks, 'vintage photo' on each of the tags. Stamps used include Tim's 'Mini Classics' collection and Hero Arts 'Paris' set. Cardstock was all from SU (kraft, sahara sand and going grey). I figured that she could either keep it together as a reminder of her experience or she could use the tags separately in her photo album from the trip:) I'll post close ups of the individual tags over the weekend.

Accordion/Envelope Album

I'm working on this little mini-album made out of 3 envelopes using a pack/kit I picked up the last time I was in Edmonton & Treasured Memories (I think the pack was put together by Nadine... links to both can be found on my sidebar... for some reason blogger isn't letting put live links in my post today;). I just loved the Pink Paisley papers in it (Cupid Collection)... lots of French inspired images. I've been missing Paris and decided I'd use this for part of what I have planned for my husband for Father's Day. I intend to put some pictures of us in Paris in it and journal about the things I love about him - one of which is that he made the Paris-dream come true!

Inspiration

So I've given away the mother's day cards I made without photographing them -oops;) I got some inspiration for one of them from Shawna - you can look at hers here (love the way you make the rose!)

Speaking of inspiration.... I'm sure I've mentioned how much I enjoy visiting 'Treasured Memories' when I'm in Edmonton. I love vintage and they usually have lots of vintage:) Well, in the last couple of weeks I've discovered the blogs of several on their design team, and I'm loving Nadine's blog and site (Delite Designs) - lots of great inspiration there...her sidebar reads: "She pursued big dreams instead of small realities. Celebrate her priorities." That's very kindred to me right now - kind of where I'm at, what I'm working through and trying to figure out.

Also, there's a quote on her 'techniques' page that I discovered today and I think it so true, so that's what I'll leave you with today:)

"The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself." -Alan Alda

C R E A T E!

Bon Voyage

One of my dear friends is leaving on a trip to Paris today - so you know I had to make her a card;)

Smile

This is a card I made for a 3 1/2 year old boy who I've never met, but pray for and love dearly. It kind of took me back to basics when I thought about what I had that would work for a little boy that age and the outcome was simple but bright:)

Sentiments

The first sentiment I should really express is an apology for my long absence. As I've dealt with some life-things recently this was one of the things that I set aside and most of the cards and things I've made this past month have been given away without a photograph, and to be honest that felt pretty good. Sometimes I find I end up putting pressure on myself even in this area (my hobby, for relaxation and enjoyment) to make everything perfect. Trust me, what you'll be seeing in the next couple of days is far from perfect, but I'm liking creating more now that I'm taking that pressure off of me - getting my 'bliss' back;)

This is just a little packet of sentiment stamps I assembled for a dear neighbour's birthday. I'm loving the sentiments that are currently available at Michaels!

Vintage thank you

Just a little thank you note I made for one of the ladies in my stamp club who did me a sweet favour! The yellow block is sponged through a mask I made by using some scratch paper and punching a couple of 1 1/4" squares out - I had seen Connie do something similar:)

Vintage Birthday

Another vintage vogue card. I decided not to fight it - my favourite style is vintage, romantic, parisian, burgundies, etc. so I'm being indulgent and doing what I like.
I also drew inspiration on these vintage cards from Connie.

Happy un-birthday, friend!

I'm meeting a friend for a birthday lunch in a few days...her birthday is in February and mine in June...we're a little late, so I made an un-birthday card:) I'm loving vintage vogue these days!

Paper toile?

...well not quite, but I saw the idea of popping up layers on a flower stamp and had to try it out. Here's what I came up with...

Friend Card

I had borrowed the stampset this sentiment is in to see if I needed to order it. I didn't, but it was fun to play with;) Still loving my medallion stamp:)

Inspired by Shawna

I made this card last weekend I think. It's inspired by Shawna's card here. My flowers are made out of scallop punches though - I thought it would be fun to try to create that look:)

Altered Frame

I had a tough week at work and really needed the hour I took today to be creative. I decided to make a frame for a picture of my husband and I that I plan to take to the office for my desk...something positive to focus on on a tough day, you know?!

The papers come from the Be Mine Stack. Stamps used are from SU - baroque motifs & wing it, and Inkadinkado. Flowers are from Prima. Brads are $ Store actually. Lace is from Treasured Memories (Edmonton); ribbon is kraft taffeta from SU, and the heart charm is from A Charming Place.

Oh, and the frame is just a $1.50 wood frame from Michaels:) I used Chestnut fluid chalk ink from my Q to do the edges...

Tri-Shutter Album

I made this mini-album for my hubby for valentine's day (well, I finished it today, but he loves me just the same;) I liked the idea of Andrea's album that was similar to this at Christmas so I spent some time figuring it out. Andrea is selling partly constructed albums like this that you can embellish and make your own if that is of interest to you.

Birthday with Nesties

I was playing around with my nestabilities I received for Christmas and the new Vintage Labels by SU (which I received for free:) and I think it worked out fairly well:)

Another Marshmallow Treat

I posted one of these before, but this is the one I made on the weekend...

V to D

...valentine for my daughter:)

As you can see, I don't have any of the 'valentine' sets...so I create my own...instead of happy birthday day, it becomes...happy *heart* day:))

Happy Valentine's Day!

...a valentine to the man I love! :)

Friend Valentine #2

Here's the other card inspired by Andrea:)

Friend Valentine #1

I made a couple of valentines for friend on Sunday evening, and I took my inspiration from some things that Andrea posted last week while I was at conference:)

A Little Birthday Card

This is just a card I made for a little princess' birthday...

The dsp is from My Mind's Eye (Penny Lane).

My Cup of Tea

I got this cute tea stampset from Basic Grey just after Christmas - couldn't resist it. I tried to work with colours that I don't typically choose on this card...

Oh and the background embossing was done with one of SU plates:)

Chocolate Covered Marshmellow Treat

I saw the tutorial for this over at the Sunny Stamping Studio and had to try it out...

The dsp is from SU's collection last year - as I did with Christmas, I'm not buying new valentine dsp when I still have some last year, but boy it's hard, this year's collection is so cute!

Treat Can

I finally learned how to make one of these at club this week - it's made out of a fruit cup tin - only you don't pop it open, you open the other end with like a Starfrit opener, then you decorate, put treats in and reattach the bottom of the tin.

Sorry the picture is so dark - we've had a ton of snow and lots of very grey days, so not the best windowsill lighting;)

Ornament Fish?!

I went to stamp club last night and this is one of the projects we made - and while I'm not that fond of it, I thought I'd post it since it is a neat idea for those who ordered ornament punches at Christmas and are looking for other uses for them...

Another Matchbox Post-it Note Pad

See this post to the link to the instructions. I purchased the stampset I used on this purely for the fact that I could tick off 'never' as an option on some of my 'to do's';)

Note/Picture Holders

You've all probably seen various versions of these. This set I made out of some coloured bull clips I found at Michael's - I liked them because the area under where I've attached the scallop had a circular disk.

Altered File Folder

I made one of these previously, but this one was part of Caren's gifts for this year. I flipped the closure side on this one, but otherwise the directions are the same:)

Happy Birthday Caren!

Today is our friend, Caren's birthday! This was her birthday card for this year:)

Pillow-button box

I'm still not feeling it for the pillow box die - I have a very hard time keeping the ends closed in my projects (even with ribbon) - any suggestions you have out there would be appreciated:)

This is just a small gift for a crafting friend:)

New Posts are coming...

Sorry for the lag in posts - it's a combination of two things...(1) being insanely busy with work and (2) most of the things I've worked on over the last 10 days have been for a friend's birthday and she checks this blog. Well, tonight we're having her birthday party, so starting tomorrow I should be able to post a few things... :)

Inspired by Dawn

I totally took the inspiration for these friend cards from Dawn - who had a post on her blog this week explaining how to make a poofy flower - gotta love it:)

I didn't use scallop punches of vintage print though for the flowers, I used some flowers I had sitting around from Making Memories (Paperie Rouge) because these flowers were very papery and I didn't like using them on their own, so i thought they'd be perfect for this!

Damask

So over the holidays I got this Heidi Snapp damask stamp and I keep using it in different ways. This is a card I made after an especially hectic day at work this week. I was surprised how similar it was to one of Dawn's - only discovered her blog this week and her work keeps resonating with me:)

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #21

I just discovered Dawn McVey's blog! How have I gone so long without finding it?! Looks like I've found someone who loves bows and buttons as much as I do! :)

So this is my very first time participating in her color challenge. This week's colours were soft yellow, light aqua, chocolate and cream. They felt perfect for a baby card which I needed to make.

I took the photo in the evening - so can never get the lighting just right (daylight is best:), but I used the photo box idea and I do think that it helped a bit:)

Emboss Resist - Damask

I got this wonderful Heidi Snapp damask stamp for a steal at a boxing week sale and I had seen an idea in SU's current idea book (pg 100) that I wanted to play with - this was the result...

Matchbook Post-It Notes

I saw this tutorial on Splitcoast and you know my love of office supplies, so you know I couldn't resist making one of these:)