Projects with the child- a little sewing fun

My children go to a "year round" school.  As a result, spring break is a little more than 2 week vacation for them.  My daughter, Katie, got a little crafting itch of her own.  She wanted to sew a small tote bag.  Off to the store we went to pick out some fabric.

Our project is not without mistakes.  I'll keep them between Katie and I!  It ultimately took us the better part of a Sunday and then two weeknights to finish.  This is largely because my tolerance after working all day is about 32 minutes long.  That barely lasts longer than it takes to set everything up!




Still, I think it might be the stuff that memories are made of.  Now, she has plans to make a second bag a bit bigger.  This will require her to figure out the pattern, etc. herself.  I'm going to do my best to encourage her and stay out of it.  She needs to figure it out! They grow up so very fast...

A Manly Thinking of You

Just a quick post today to share a manly card I made for my husband, Dan, to send to his dad.  We've had some concerning health information and just wanted to send a little note of encouragement and thoughtfulness.  Enter my Authentique Seasons paper pad, specifically the Autumn papers.  I needed a focal point to anchor the sentiment (a Market Street Stamps sentiment!) stamped in Fired Brick Distress Ink.  I reached for my Once Upon a Time stamps and die from Heartfelt Creations which I stamped in Vintage Photo Distress Ink before die cutting the images out.  I distressed the pocket watch with Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then layered the image with some foam squares to add a little depth.  I edged the sentiment with the same inks. 

Simple, but hopefully thoughtful and a little something to brighten a day.  Now, that was worth a little time!

You Simply Sparkle

I've a few blog friends that I just adore.  This card was made to brighten the day of Jessica over at Errant Scraps.  She inspires me with her prolific scrapbook page creating.  All of her projects have multiple layers of goodness and I find her works to be more art than science and my own work sometimes seems more science than art.  She inspires me.  I thought that maybe I would string some pretty papers together and brighten her day.  Here's the details:

• All papers are from KaiserCraft's Miss Empire collection.  The pictures don't due the colors and pattern justice.  This paper is gorgeous!
• The frame is cut using my Spellbinders Labels 17 out of the patterned paper.  I cut another frame from a smaller die out of a coordinating piece and cut the piece in half hiding part of it at the end of the orange frame.
• The frame comes from a patterned paper filled with various vintage tags.  The rose comes from the same piece, just a different tag.  
• The flower is cut from glassine paper using my Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret.  This paper crinkles and colors as I shaped it.  So gorgeous and a perfect fit with a pearl accent right in the center.
• The sentiment is from a Market Street Stamps set stamped in brown Archival Ink onto a Tilted Banners die cut.  I then edged the banner with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. 

It does seem as though time passes quickly.  I've been meaning to send a card for some time.  I thought a new die cut from my Heartfelt Creations Once Upon a Time stamp and die set would fit nicely on the inside.
  















Yeah, it seems to work here.  I've long delayed posting this card in hopes that it would reach her.  Then, life got away from me, so here we are.  Yay for blog friends and encouraging others, no matter the delays we allow to slow our progress!

I'm linking this up over at Word Art Wednesday's Challenge # 125: Anything Goes.  They always have such a variety of projects on display.  Come join the fun or just stop by for a look.

A Happy Mother's Day Card

Well, I'm on a roll.  I don't know how many Mother's Day cards a person needs, but I've now at least one in spare.  This card was also made with my Authentique Grace paper pack.  Here's the details:

• All papers are from the collection, except the  brown cardstock paper and they are all edged in Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  
• The brown cardstock medallions are cut suing my Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Motifs die.

• The flowers are Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters that I put a pearl accent right in the center. 
• The sentiment on the outside and on the inside come from the tag sentiments from the collection.

Now, I have a spare card.  Who knows where I'll use this one. 

Just a Touch of Paris

Just a little card today made to brighten my Grandma's day.  I used this as a notecard to wish her well and update her on some family busyness- kids school and my work.  I just couldn't resist using some more papers from the Authentique Grace collection.  Here's the details:

• All papers come from the collection.  The large floral piece is edged with some Krystallos Shard Glass from ArtGlitter.  I picked this up from the stamp show at Heartfelt Creations.  It really is small pieces of glass shards.  I had to be really careful not to cut my skin.  However, once glued in place, the finish product is very beautiful.

• The image is stamped in black Archival Ink using my new KaiserCrafts Bonjour stamp set.  The fine detail that this stamp created- a good quality.  I then stamped the very detailed Eiffel Tower inside the frame.  A few gem pieces add a flare of bling to the stamped image.
• The flower is cut from patterned paper from the collection using my Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters dies.  The center of the flower is some more Krystallos Shard Glass.
• The greenery was cut as a part of other products and I just picked pieces that fit.
• A pearl swirl finishes off the look.

This one is pretty and I hope it brightens my Grandma's day.

I'm linking this up over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog: Transparent because that shard glass is transparent and I'm loving it!  I also linked up at Word Art Wednesday Challenge #124: Anything Goes.   Come join all the fun.

A Small School Project

My daughter, Katie, approached me a few weeks ago with this sheepish request.  She had a project due on Monday to create a journal for Juliet (based on the Shakespeare play).  Her English class had read the play and a writing assignment required the students to imagine a journal written by one of the star-crossed lovers.  They were given permission to be creative in the process.  The question from Katie was "will you help me?"  Ahhh, yes!

We started with a browse through Pinterest pins for ideas.  Katie found this example that she really liked.  Next was a selection process for patterned paper/color scheme.  I had recently purchased (on discount from my LSS) a paper pack of Authentique's Grace collection.  Katie quickly decided that the soft peach, pink and mint green of this collection coupled with gold and cream was just the right mix of romantic.  I was home one day over the weekend when she was out with a commitment and die cut a bunch of leaves, ornamental die cuts, and flowers for her to choose from.  Here's what she ultimately selected and pieced together:

• Brown cardstock floral icon using my Heartfelt Creations Ornamental Add On die.
• Mint green patterned paper leaf and swirl die cuts using my Spellbinders Floral Flourishes and ODBD Fancy Foliage dies.
• Dark green cardstock leaves with my Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters leaf die.
• Pink patterned paper flowers using my Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters dies. 
• Frame die cut with Juliet printed out from the computer using my ODBD Ornate Borders die.
• Floral patterned paper border from the Authentique's Grace collection.
• Pearl accents and a pearl swirl from Michaels clearance bins.  
• Mint green ribbon from the local ribbon store (been in the stash quite a while now).
• Everything edged with a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Ink and most edges worn using my Tim Holtz distress tool.

The book was made by stapling the computer printed pages (figure out how to get those puppies printed double sided on 1/2 of an 8 1/2 x 11 paper was... challenging) inside a cardstock cover.  The staples covered by the patterned paper both in the front and in the back.  Simple, effective and didn't take a lot of time.  After we'd made the cover, we didn't have much time left!

I think I might have had more fun than Katie.  At least I thought that until the report was turned in and Katie came home with the same sheepish grin to tell the story of how her teacher responded.  Apparently Katie was part of the group that was singled out because they "put in a little extra effort".  Truthfully, Katie's writing was mostly what she was singled out for.  Here's a sample:

The cover was shown to the class.  Too bad it's totally not-cool to be pleased by this kind of attention in high school.  She did tell me the story though, high praise and a kind of real 'thank you' from your teenager.

From the too proud mama.

A little ballerina card

After I finished the paper dolls for Yuli, my Compassion International sponsorship, I just couldn't resist a quick card with the Close to My Heart ballerina paper.  I used this card to write to Yuli and tucked it into the package with the dolls.  This is a simple card- pink cardstock was used to make the card base.  Patterned paper from the collection for the background.  I used several die cuts from my workspace- using my Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage dies and Spellbinders Floral Flourishes dies.  The flower is from a very old Making Memories package.  The sentiment is from Word Art Wednesday cut using my Spellbinders Scalloped Ovals.  A pearl swirl from the stash and I have a particularly lovely card to send to Yuli.

I linked this up over at Word Art Wednesday's Challenge #124: Anything Goes and The Shabby Tea Room's Week #210- Anything Goes  The sentiment came from Word Art Wednesday's wonderful blog.  Come on over and join the fun!

 

A Compassion International Project- Paper Dolls

I have previously blogged about Compassion International and the fact that I've joined their program to sponsor Yuli, a young lady from the Dominican Republic.  Compassion has some rather narrow guidelines on what you can send to your child, financial gift aside.  Being a crafty person, I can definitely get on board with the requirement to send paper crafted items no larger than 8 1/2 x 11 inches and no thicker than 1/4 inch.  Still, pretty cards are nice, but what is a ten year old suppose to do with them once she's read them?










Enter paper dolls.  One day I might take photos of the paper dolls that Brandy and I made for one of my daughter's birthdays many years back.  No promises as I can barely keep up with the projects I currently make.  Suffice it to say that we might have overdid it a bit.  I picked up this set off of Amazon for Yuli. 




You think I could send it intact and let her cut the dresses out.  No, I just couldn't resist the opportunity to embellish the dresses a bit. 

After trimming out all the dresses and the crowns/headpieces, I set about adding glitter with a glue pen.  Getting this to show up on film is a bit of a challenge so you'll have to take my word for it.  These dresses are sparkly. 

I even added some pearl elements to the crowns.  This is not strictly paper, so I'm not sure whether they'll make it through customs.  I thought I'd give it a try.

 I found a Close to My Heart paper collection of ballerina mice.  I used the double sided paper to make two envelopes that I adhered to the back of the paper doll book (which also serves as a backdrop to the ballerina dolls.  I slid the dresses and crowns into their separate enveloped.  The envelopes were made with my Envelope Punch Board.

I've picked up this fairy paper doll set that I intend to send intact.  Surely Yuli will like to cut out some dresses herself?  I'm hoping that both sets will help her to feel like someone half a world away cares about her.  It is joy to share the love that Jesus has given me to one of His own a long distance away. 

Our Beautiful World- Week 38- Green

I was so inspired by the photos shared by Kirsty over at Handmade Little Things and her post for Our Beautiful World that I just had to join in.

The word prompt is Green.  My favorite color.  On a day that we wear green (my favorite color) and eat green (at least at my house where I use St. Patrick's Day to celebrate, you guessed it, my favorite color) and drink green (ok, not me because I'll celebrate this evening at home with the family, but lots of folks drink green beer today!).

I thought I'd share these photos taken with my camera at the Desert Botanical Garden here in Phoenix, Arizona. 

The cactus is somewhat green- you'll forgive the photos taken with my phone.  These glass sculptures, created by Dan Chihuly, are on display until May 18th.  I snapped these photos last December on a visit.  We've been back many times since then.  The photos do not do the sculptures any justice whatsoever as they are just beautiful in person.

I've linked a photo up over at Our Beautiful World.  

Come see the entries which are much more beautiful than my photos.   'Course, they all feature green heavily.  I'm biased.

Best Mom Ever- A Mother's Day Card

I'd mentioned that I picked up a clearance priced package of Authentique's Grace collection at my LSS.  The package came with many different embellishments mostly geared to mothers and Mother's Day sentiments.  I just couldn't resist the opportunity to put together a card with these colorful and stylish papers.  Here's the details:

• All papers are from the collection, even the brown matting paper and they are all edged in Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  
• The floral and swirls are cut from matching patterned paper and cardstock using my Our Daily Bread Fancy Foliage, Sizzix Decorative Swirls, Spellbinders Floral Flourish dies.

• The flower is store bought and has long since been separated from it's package.  I also rubbed on some Vintage Photo Distress Ink to tie this in.
• The pearl swirl came from the stash.  
• On the inside, I stamped the sentiment on a piece of patterned paper to create the flag and used foam squares to adhere some of the tag sentiments from the collection.  

I'm linking this card up at Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday challenge blog: Mother's Day or Special Girl.  Come join the fun!

ETA:  I'm linking this up with The Shabby Tea Room's Week #210: Anything Goes challenge.   Come join the fun or have a look around.  The ladies who share at these challenges are sooooo talented!

A Get Well Wish

I created another get well card for my grandma.  She's got to be wondering what the fuss is all about considering how well the surgery went and how positive her healing is progressing.  If she searched her mind and heart she'd know that I need little prodding to take time to craft.  She's just been the narrow focus for a while.


Here's the details:

• The image was stamped onto watercolor paper using brown Archival Ink and colored with  Distress Markers using the watercoloring technique- Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw, Fired Brick, Weathered Wood, and Worn Lipstick.  
• The patterned papers and the flower are all from Basic Grey's Sweet Threads. A gem accent was added to the paper flower to bling it up.
• The branches and leaves were cut from various dies, most notably my ODBD Fancy Foliage set.  I actually had these on hand/leftover from various other projects.
• The organza ribbon is actually pink and I sponged it with some Ripe Persimmons Distress Ink to bring it closer to the color scheme.  
• The sentiment was stamped and cut using my Heartfelt Creations Burnished Key stamp and die.  I edged the frame with Ripe Persimmons Distress Ink to bring it more closely in line with the color scheme.  

My wish for my grandma is that she continue on the path towards healing in the rapid and productive manner that she began.  We couldn't have hoped for a better outcome and I am grateful.

I'm linking this up with Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge: D is for Distress because I used my Distress Markers to color the images and edge the paper pieces.   

 

Two Bad Mice- Another Get Well Card

Here's another quick card I made using my Crafter's Companion Beatrix Potter stamp set.  The polka dot paper is from American Crafts City Park collection.  The stickers come from my Basic Grey Sweet Threads collection.  The image was stamped onto watercolor paper using brown Archival Ink and colored with my Distress Markers using the watercoloring technique- Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw, Fired Brick, and Worn Lipstick.

These cards are becoming quite the set.  Unfortunately (or fortunately depending upon how you look at it), I'm writing them up and sending them out just as fast as I can make them.  This one was removed from the stamped, addressed envelope as I forgot to photograph it.  Maybe I'll do a repeat performance and make a gift set with a box.  Still, I'm sure my grandma will love these cards and ultimately, that was my purpose in making them anyway.