New Stuff

Sizzle here, Today I wanted to share some cards that I have done in the last month.  We are finally settling into our new house and I am getting it together.  I forgot to take pictures of some of the cards I made and one of them got lost in the mail *gasp*.  So I have been trying to do better.  I also finished up a few more woodworking projects that I need to share (5) so I am behind but I am trying to catch up.

I really loved the look of these two cards.  They were fun to make.  

This one I inked the background from bottom to top  (Slate (CTMH), winter wisteria (PTI), amber rose (PTI), and melon berry (PTI).  I then embossed the dandelion stamp from Botanical Silhouettes.  My vision was sending wishes in the form of dandelions.  A brighter twist on a sympathy card.   

For this card I used Rosie Posie (PTI) and Say it with Style (PTI) , twine and pearls.  I wanted to use a modern, non-relastic color combo and this card is beautiful in person.  My photos don't do it justice.  

 Have a great weekend!!

PTI Blog Hop

Hello!  It's time for another PTI blog hop.

Here is the inspiration photo:

Here is my project:

I used beautiful blooms II for the flowers which we inspired from the polka dots and used Hawaiian Shores, daffodil delight (SU) and raspberry fizz ink.  The sentiment come from botanical silhouettes.

This card is for my grandmother who fell down and broke her hip last week.  She will be in recovery for awhile.  

All supplies PTI unless otherwise noted.

Feb PTI Blog Hop

Today's blog hop challenge was to create an interactive card.  I've dappled with this for the last day of anniversary festivities but this time I wanted to try something new.  My idea was to use balloons and make them so they would look like you were casting them off into the air.  I don't have any fancy tools so I used a pencil, a craft knife and some foam adhesive and I figured out how to do it on my own.

Here is the result.

Starting position - I really need a pull me stamp!!

When you pull the tab the balloons rise.  The sentiment was from Butterfly Dreams.  There is another good sentiment for this type of card in the Up, up and Away stamp set: Thanks for the Lift.  

I spent most of the time creating the "mechanism" to make this card work but now that I know how to do that I can pay more attention to detail on the card itself.

Tools:
PTI cardstock
My mind's eye patterned paper - Girl paper stack
elephant congrats stamp from SU
Balloons cut from George Basic Shapes cartridge at 1"
PTI Twine
Butterfly Dreams stamp set - PTI
scoring board and exact-o knife

PTI Interactive Card Challenge

After participating in this challenge this morning I kept thinking of new interactive ideas and decided to make mini valentines for my kids.  The first one is a shaker card.  I used two of PTI coasters and cut them with a spellbinders die in the middle.  I glued them together.  I cut up a PTI stamp box for the window and a scrap of red also cut with the spellbinders die in the middle to cover the sandwich.  

I forgot to take a photo of the back but I backed it with black card stock and wrote I love you because... and all the things I love about my daughter.  I used a white gel pen so it looks like a chalkboard.  This isn't a traditional card because it doesn't open.  It is more like a toy for her to carry around and play with.

The heart I used is from Bitty Bird (that is the only heart stamp I own- can you believe that?) and the sentiment is from daily design sentiments.

I filled it with seed beads and punched hearts in different colors.  

Interactive card -PTI challenge

Hello again - I hope you aren't getting sick of cards this week.  Today's challenge was to create an interactive card and I have to say I was overwhelmed.  I have never done that before and didn't know where to start but with a 500$ prize plus the Movers and Shakers Collection (gasp) I had to try.

My 4 year old is never impressed with my cards he says - I don't like that mom - its pretty and boys don't like pretty.   That was the best back handed compliment I ever received - don't you think.  So today I challenged myself to make something he would like  love  appreciate.  My kids love those books with the flaps that they can open so I decided to go with that idea.

His birthday is coming up in March and he thinks rockets and dinosaurs are cool so that was my recipe.

Here is what I came up with:

Here it is with one window closed so you can see how it looks when it is flat 

Here is what is in the little windows - Tiny Treats birthday colored with Primas.

Result:  it passed the test he loved it and now my 2 year old wants me to make her one.  I see a lot of these type of cards in my future!

Thanks for taking a look!

Butterflies and branches - Thinking of You card

Today's PTI challenge was to make a card using butterflied and branches.  I didn't think I had a branch so I was going to cut one with my cricut but then I remembered when I was like 12 or something like that I bought a set from Close to my heart called Dragonfly and friends and it has a branch in it.  So I was excited.

Here it is.  I used Butterfly Dreams and die for the butterfly.  Vintage cream CS for the focal point and patterned paper from October Afternoon.  I used a ruler and fine tip pen for the lines and the sentiment is from up and away.  I wish I had a sentiment that said better together but I didn't - darn it.

That shadow is a permanent part of my camera so I am looking around for one that is newer than my 5+er.   I have scrubbed the lens millions of times and it is still there.

Oh, I used Baja Breeze from SU to color in the butterflies.

Thanks for looking.

Any camera shopping advice??

Home Decor - Heart Paper Art

For those of you who follow me on facebook you know that I tried my hand at making some Valentines Decor and these heart art pictures are really hot on etsy right now.  I have seen several of them featured on HGTV and other popular shows. 

Here is another one that is more like mine.  I wanted the movement of the folded hearts since I wasn't going to frame it. 



This one is my personal favorite - you can find it here.



Here is an example of one on etsy right now where the hearts lay flat. 

I learned some things from trying this out that I'd like to share with you. 

1. It takes a lot more time that it looks and you need a LOT of hearts.  I used a small canvas and I needed 60 hearts

2.  You have to play with the direction you fold the hearts but I found that alternating rows was more pleasing to the eye than a random approach.  I started doing this toward the end.

3.  You need a really strong glue.  I used glossy accents and it worked great.

4. If I did this again I would probably mat it and frame it but I just wanted something to hang on a shelf for decoration.  I might re-do it next year so it looks different - maybe black and red.  



Recipe:

Cricut and George basic shapes for the hearts - cut at 1" real dial size on.

Fresh Alphabet from PTI for the letters

PTI Sketch challenge #3

This PTI Anniversary is the most stamping I have ever done.  My desk is a disaster, so messy that I lost my Aqua mist ink and had to use a substitute for this card.  I have tried to try some new things for these PTI challenges over the last five days.  This time I tried my hand at a clean and simple card. I am not good at clean and simple (as just learning everything else) but I still needed a Valentine's day card and my husband is clean and simple so I hope he likes it. 

Here is the sketch I used:

Here is what I came up with - using Love Birds stamp set and PTI cardstock.

  You can't really tell from the photo but I used Antique Linen distress ink to add some shading around the white stamped paper.  I have a really bad and OLD camera - sorry. 

PTI sketch challenge

I am still participating in the Papertrey Ink anniversary festivities.  Today's challenge was to create a card based on some sketches.  I picked sketch #2 and I tried sewing on a card for the first time, however my baby got under the table and pushed the peddle for me so I used some ric-rack instead.   I have learned not to sew with a baby in my room. 

Here is what I came up with. 

 I made this for my mother and father in-law.  They saved the day today.  My 4 year old left the car lights on all night after going back out to retrieve his toy.  We got in to take my 6 year old to school and the battery was dead.  They came and took him to school and also charged my car for me.  I am so thankful to them for always being there when I need to be saved--which is a lot, unfortunately. 

PTI Pinterest Inspiration challenge

photo from bhg.com

I found this picture on Pinterest and I just loved the color palette.  Would you consider this color canyon clay?  I don't have that one yet but I thought the others could be summer sunrise, simply chartruse, aqua mist and rustric cream. 

I was inspired by the rug and tried to cut several cardstock in several different widths to create a similar effect. 

PTI Challenge day #2

Here is my project using the free printables from Papertrey Ink.  I hope you like it.  I sure do!

I had kids all over me when I did this and a baby in my lap the whole time so it isn't my best work but I think it turned out pretty cute even if it isn't perfect. 

I tried to get some natural light by going outside to take my photo but then you get shadows - I might have to invest in one of those OTT lights if they really work. 

Looking forward to tomorrows challenge.

Sizzle

Items used: 

Rasberry Fizz cardstock

Aqua Mist ink

Tiny treat birthday

printable circle. 

PTI Anniversary - Our Favorite Things Challenge

Hello crafty friends, If you are here for the PTI 5th Anniversary first challenge - Welcome.  This is my second project for this exciting challenge. 

My second project is inspired by Danielle.  I took the button element of her project and went with that to create a simple - welcome little one card with the baby button bits set.

I still haven't figured out how to take good pictures of cards with my cheap point and shoot camera.  Can you tell the dots are green?  Well they are.  I tried every mode and this ended up being sunset mode...lol. 

PTI Spiral notebook die
PTI baby button bits stamp set
PTI cardstock

PTI 5th Anniversary

Hello crafty friends,

Today is the beginning of my favorite stamping companies 5th anniversary festivities and to kick it off they have an amazing prize package.  I have no crafting budget this month and probably for several since I got some custom framing done (expensive!!) so I would really REALLY love to win this prize package...as I am sure would hundreds and hundreds of other people. 

The challenge was to take one of the PTI design team's favorite projects from last year and do your spin on it so here we go.

My first project is inspired by Maile Belles.  She is so great at making simple cards and I struggled with not adding things to this project but here it is. 

Simple masculine birthday - simply chartreuse and black

By the numbers birthday set.

ZING silver embossing power

PTI Blog Hop

It's the 25th and that means the PTI Blog Hop.  The challenge was to use your favorite card from 2011 and create a new card using it as inspiration.  Here are my two cards:

2011 birthday card

2012 Congrats card

I used the same three stamp sets: Just the Ticket, Butterfly Dreams, and Text Style II
Ink: VersaMark, SU Calyspo Coral and PTI Aqua Mist (new)

Teacher Appreciation: You Deserve high "Marks"

Hello crafty friends - Sizzle here.  Today I am going to share with you an idea I came up with for a teacher gift.  I am on the teacher appreciation committee at my son's school and every month we take turns leaving something cute for the teachers just to show our appreciation for all their hard work.  I got assigned January and though of bookmarks. 
I read a lot in the winter because...well it is COLD and I want to go outside as little as humanly possible so I thought I'd make bookmarks for all the teachers. I came up with the saying"
You deserve high "marks" - thanks for making ____{your school}___ great. 

They turned out so cute!  I wish you could see them in real life.

I used the bookmark die from Papertrey ink and the Mehndi Medallion Stamp set ($5 - this is a steal of a stamp set!).   I stamped each one twice with a coordinating ink color.  I discovered that I love the look of Navy on colored cardstock!  After stamping the front, I decided to add a little something to the back too.  I added little sayings to the back of the stamps: "This is where I fell asleep", "Just until I finish this chapter" etc... These stamps are from the All Booked Up stamp set from Papertrey ink.  I use this set a lot. 

I then got them laminated - the home laminator I have wasn't industrial enough for a bookmark so I'd recommend taking them somewhere.  I tried to do it myself but it came off.   It cost me 4 dollars to laminate 30. 

I made little tags cut at 1.5 with my cricut using the George Basic shapes cartridge in navy.  This curvy little tag is my favorite.  I used it on my sisters wedding centerpieces too - I will have to show you those sometime (when I get the photos from Nertz). 

I used embroidery floss for the tassels.  I cut three strings the size I wanted when folded in half.  I actually cut one extra and used it as a guide for cutting all the others - 3 strings per bookmark.  I attached the tag to one of the threads - they out all three through the whole and tied a knot. 

Recipe: 
Papertrey ink card stock: assorted colors (from sampler pack)
Ink colors: SU: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Wild Washbi, Perfect Plum
Bookmark die: Papertrey Ink
Stamp sets: Mehndi Medallion and All Booked Up - Papertrey Ink
Cricut: George and Basic Shapes tag at 1.5
Other: Embroidery Floss, laminate, corner chomper

Christmas Cookie winning recipes

I've spent the last 5 days making Christmas cookies for my neighbors and my son's school class and I found several recipes that are just delicious so I thought I would share. 

Easy Gingerbread Man

1 (3.5) oz package cook and serve butterscotch pudding mix

1/2 c. butter (one stick)

1/2 c packed brown sugar
1 egg

1 1/2 c. all purpose Flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp. Cinnamon

In medium bowl, cream together the dry butterscotch pudding mix, butter and brown sugar until smooth, stir in egg.  Combine flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon; stir into pudding mixture cover and chill dough until firm, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease baking sheets.  On a floured board, roll dough out to about 1/8 in. thickness, and cut into man shapes using a cookie cutter.  Place two inches apart of cookie sheet.

Bake 10-12 minutes in preheated oven until golden at edges and cool on wire racks. 

Note: (I used a small cookies cutter from the 101 cookies cutters pack sold at walmart and craft stores and I got about 50-60)

Soft sugar cookies

2 cups sugar

1 cup butter

1/2 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

3 eggs

5 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

5 cups flour (may need a lot more - I added extra to get the dough to cut easier)

Cream sugar and butter.  Add vanilla, eggs and milk (will look runny).  Add baking powder and salt.  Add flour, working in gradually.  Roll of floured board  and cut shapes.  Dip cookies cutters in flour and flour table/board thoroughly.  Bake 350 for 10 minutes.  Makes 4 dozen.

**Note:  This recipe is a little different than other recipes and I have to admit I was skeptical but I followed the directions and they were great soft sugar cookies.  I had a hard time at first because the dough was super stick but I added flour until I got it where I wanted it and floured my cookie cutters and table well. 

I hope you try these recipes and enjoy them as much as we did.  Yummm

Bountiful Blessings

Each year as I look back on the up and downs, the successes and the setbacks, and the things I've learned along the way, I realize that who I am now is different than who I was last year or the year before that. Our life experiences truly shape and mold us. Over the past few weeks as we tried to update our profiles on this blog, we realized how much has truly changed over the last two years. How much we've changed. It was amazing to look at how different our lives were just a few years ago. Nertz (formerly Toots) and Jules were single and now they are both married. Ritz was expecting her son Carson, who is now almost two, and is expecting her second!  KK has started a new career as a communications director.  I welcomed my second baby girl this year and one in "real" school (as opposed to half-day kindergarten). We have truly grown these last few years in ever respect. We have so much to be grateful for. 

I've always felt that "becoming" was my word. It embodies who I am and who I want to be and, most of all, embodies the journey along the way. Several years ago, I composed a poem about it, just for my journal, and yesterday it was published on the Time Out for Women blog. I am humbled and honored that they would publish my poem. I hope on this Thanksgiving Day we all can look back a year or two and see how far we have come! 

On the creative front, we have come a long way too. A couple of years ago, I was just learning about stamping and card making and now it in one of my favorite hobbies. I can turn the raw stuff found at Lowe's into something beautiful for my home and something useful. I built my first piece of furniture. I taught myself to knit (although not well) and tried many, many other things.  KK just refinished her first furniture project, Jules has developed a love for business marketing and the creativity involved there, Ritz is always doing projects to improve her home and Nertz is inventing fun things for her husband and she to do together.

I'm Thankful for vinyl wall art

It is almost Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday.  So many times I feel like my life is over flowing with reasons to be Thankful - a warm home in the winter, hot coco, a good book, family, warm socks, my children and so many other little things.  I decided I wanted to make a wall art canvas to list some of the things I am thankful for to display in our home.  I also wanted to try my hand at vinyl since I have been intimidated up to this point.  (there are alternate ways to do this at the end of this post). Here is what I came up with: 

 I designed the word art in my software program (SCAL, MTC, Silhouette software).  I tried to pick fonts that fit the words and then organize them so that they would fit on my canvas.  The canvas is 11x14.  I bought a lot of these canvases when they were really cheap at Michael's. They are the perfect size for placing on shelves and on bookcases. 

I painted the canvas orange first (the color you want to show through).  I put vinyl on my mat and cut the words out and then peeled the vinyl around the words off and then all the O centers, a centers etc (that was the hardest part!) leaving the stuff I wanted to keep on the mat.  Then I cut my transfer tape to size (you NEED this stuff) and rub really hard over all the words so they would stick to the transfer tape.  Then I lifted up the transfer tape slowly making sure all the letters were picking up as well, if they didn't I would put it down and rub again. 

Vinyl isn't hard but it is time consuming for something like this will a lot of words.  I probably spent 3+ hours on this project. 

Then you lay the transfer tape on top of the canvas and rub really hard again.  I started in one corner and worked to the opposite corner (vertically) and then peeled it back a little at a time.  

After all the words were attached to the canvas and the transfer tape was completely off.  I painted over the letters and everything in brown.  I waited until it was completely dry and got a pair of tweezers and pulled off each letter. 

  

Alternate ways to do this are:

1. to cut the words for card stock and use it as a stencil.  So you'd paint the background color first and then use the orange for the words. You'd have to use a strong temporary adhesive though.   

2.  I could have used left the vinyl on.  I had white vinyl but I could have bought orange vinyl and left it on - that would have been easier but I used what I had on hand. 

3.  If you don't have design software - you could cut each word out separately and then arrange on the canvas and glue the letters down.

4.  You could use an arrangement of letter stickers

5.  You could use letter stencils and just use that.

6. Letter stamps and acrylic paint or ink. 

PTI Make it Monday - Polaroid 2-step masking

This week's Papertrey Ink Make it Monday was to do a Polaroid masking. I have never tried this before so I wanted to do the same size as Nicole. Two of my lovely sisters are getting married this year so I thought I'd make a card with that occasion in mind. I decided to use the Love Birds stamp set. I thought the cages would be cute around the border.


The bird I stamped in Red but then added their tails in pick because they looked pretty funny without their tails. It was a good experiment. Because I had the birds together I added a tulle ruffle on the opposite side and also stitched around the two sides to create some balance.

Here is a close us of the ruffle. I love adding tulle to cards. I haven't seen anybody else do this but I think it adds a soft feminine touch. Sorry you can't really see the stitching. I pierced the holes and sewed it by hand.

If you want to learn this technique the link is here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Father's Day

My dad always drove a blue slugbug when we were growing up and he loves music so that was my inspiration for this card I made for him this year. I am so not good at taking pictures of cards - if you have any advice let me know. I am not sure what setting to use....



To create this card I used the following PTI stamp sets: Fresh Alphabet, A little argyle, Enjoy the ride and Star prints.