Sprinkled Expressions Stamp A Stack

On Thursday evening my (SO much older *giggles*) sister and I went to Terri's FABULOUS Stamp-a-Stack (SAS).  This was the first time my sister had ever been to one and she just loved it.  It was fun to stamp with her and the cards were fabulous (as always)!  Terri does such a great job on her card samples.  

This image is from the Sprinkled Expressions Sale-a-Bration set.  It was a very fun set.  I've played with a two of the three images.  I'm sure I will hang on to the set for a little while before I decide to put it up for sale in my webstore.  I have a box full of new retired sets that I need to get put in my webstore.  I'm hoping to find some time to do it one day this week.  Well, not entering all of them but a lot of them!!! It would be nice to get them all entered!  It's one of those "monkeys" I have on my back.  Some days I think I have the whole tribe of them!!!  I love it when I can get some of those bigger jobs finished.  I have been working on getting my beads organized and put away (at the same time).  I am just about done too!  I have two shoebox size containers to sort through and two small photo holder containers to sort through.  Not photo boxes but the containers that go in the photo box.  I use them for my beading projects and when the project is done the stuff never gets put back where it belongs.  Probably because it really didn't have a place to "belong".  Well, now it does and let's hope I can break that bad habit of not putting things back.  I'd take a photo of my worktable to show you how much I do NOT put things back (and these things have a place to go!) but I am too embarrassed to.  And when I'm done posting this I will be cleaning off one of the worktables!  Having one done gets me motivated to get the other one cleaned up!

Anyway, back to the card (I get sidetracked SO easily).  I am not sure what the decorative paper is called so if you know you can leave the name of it on a comment please.  It's fun paper and I know I don't own it!  It looks like something my sister would want.  She loves the bright bold colors more than I do.  And of course she LOVED making this card at the SAS.  And naturally, we HAD to shop too!  I was surprised that she didn't get this paper but she did have a ton of things to order and between the two of us it was a workshop order!!!  That's what happens when we go to these things!!!  There's always "stuff" we need or want!  But most of all we had a LOT of fun together and the cards were FABULOUS!!!  I will share them with you too.  Tomorrow I have a fun card/project to share with you.  It's SO colorful and has such a "spring" feel to it!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Sprinkled Expressions Notebook

Here is a notebook I made a few weeks back and forgot that I had it!!  I put it in a tote so I wouldn't lose it and I forgot about it.  UGH!!  Which is worse, losing stuff or forgetting stuff?  I guess they are about the same.  Forgetting stuff ranks up there with losing your mind so they must be the same!!! LOL

I had fun making this and I must say it was SO simple to do too.  I just took a notebook I had gotten at Michael's and wrapped some of the Spice Cake decorative paper around it.  I marked it and trimmed it to fit the notebook.  Then I taped it on top of the notebook.  

I stamped the flower from the Sparkled Expressions set and added the word "notes".  I had a custom stamp made for that.  I layered the image on top of a piece of Chocolate Chip card stock and then taped that in place on the notebook.

I tied a piece of ribbon around the front of the notebook and it was done! See, I told you it was SO simple and it was quick to make too.  I think I'm going to do up a few of these for the fall craft fair!  And hopefully make some quick sales too!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Decorating a Plain Notebook

 Isn't it fun when you can turn a plain ordinary notebook into a work of art?  Ok, not a true work of art but it's not plain and ordinary anymore!!!

I still had the pack of the "Everyday Enchantment" decorative paper out and I was looking for something and ran across this notebook.  And somehow the two got together and this is what i came up with!!

I did cover both the front and the back of the notebook.  I didn't want the front to be decorated and have the back being purple. That would look a bit tacky.

I taped the decorative paper in place and then stamped the image.  It is from the "Fresh Vintage" set.  Soon to retire too!  I may hang on to that set for a while though, it is very pretty and fun to make notebooks with!

The word "notes" was done on my computer and I found the RGB code for the Real Red color so it would match.  The "notes" was punched out and then layered on top of a scalloped circle.  I set it in place on the notebook using Dimensionals.  I made it for a friend, I thought it would cheer her up. 

And on the front bottom part I did add 3 of the larger pearls.  It was exactly what that bottom corner needed!!  And last but not least I used the ribbon punch and placed the piece on top of where the original binding and the decorative paper met.  There was a bit of a gap at the bottom and the purple was showing.  I had to cover it and this worked perfectly.  I guess the binding piece was not on even so it didn't match up.  But it was easy enough to hide and it added a bit more color to that side.

I like how it turned out and I'm sure my friend will like it too.

These are fun to make and you can often get a good deal on them at Walgreens.  They have coupon sales on them several times a year.  I have a few of them and I plan on making more notebooks for the fall craft fair and for stocking stuffers.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Sprinkled Expressions Sketch Challenge

This was a very fun sketch Split Coast Stampers put up today!  I LOVE all the layers.  I am a bit disappointed in how the card stock and the ink do not photo well and I didn't even use a flash.  Odd!!

Anyway, I had a lot of fun because of all the layers on this card.  I SO love making cards with lots of layers.  I thought I would use an image from the "Sprinkled Expressions"  set since it will be retiring in a few days.  It's the only image in the set that I have used.  I saw some cute cards made using some of the other images but I never got around to reproducing them.  That is really telling me something about how I should be buying my stamp sets in the future too.  I buy too many and then I don't have time to use them all before they retire. 

My card was made using the Everyday Enchantment decorative paper. It's such pretty paper and I think I have used every sheet in the pack now!!  That is not like me.  Though I don't hoard the pack anymore.  They retire too quickly to hoard!!  

On my card I opted for the wording on the #4 panel and used the punched flower for the #5 panel. I thought I would mix it up a bit!!  

Tomorrow I am going to a Stamp-a-Stack (I have not been to one of those in a very long time.  I am taking my sister who I think is looking forward to it more than I am (if that is even possible!!).  It was at the Open House I was at that I suggested we go and she was all for it.  So I will have some cards from there to show you too!  I am also making another bracelet.  I actually considered to do the "A Bracelet a Week" thing but then realized that I didn't need the stress in making bracelets and I don't always have time every week to bead!  I wish I did!  

It was a fun challenge so if you have time I highly recommend you playing along!

Tomorrow I will have a fun project to share with you so be sure to stop back.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Perfectly Penned Birthday

The only image I have used in this set has been the "thank you" one.  Little did I know there is a very beautiful "Happy Birthday" one in the set as well!! LOL

I thought I would make a card using only a word set.  And yes, it is possible!!!  

This was actually a quick card to make too.  I cut my strips 1-1/2" wide and just ran with the length.  I cut whatever looked right with the words   Here the long strip on the left is 3-1/2" long and the horizontal strip is 3-3/4" long.  

I stamped the words and then trimmed them later.  Normally when I stamp my words and most images I measure the wood block.  But here I didn't have a wooden block, this set is the clear mount type.  So I stamped and then trimmed.  I trimmed this to 3" x 1-1/4".  All pieces have a back layer that is 1/8" larger than the pieces on top of them.  

I used the Lattice texture for the background of the Pool Party piece and layered that on top of a half sheet of Very Vanilla card stock that was folded in half.

And there you have it. A very quick and easy card to make!  And with no image stamping.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Faith in Nature Thank you Card

I started out making this card using the "You're my Type" set but I didn't like the typewriter in the middle of this layout.  I set it aside figuring something would come to mind to use on it and it did.  What surprised me the most was that it didn't takes weeks for me to find something to do with it!!  Shocker, I know!!! LOL

I have not played with the "Faith in Nature" set much and I was looking at some blogs and saw this set on a few cards.  SO I got out the set and thought I would play with it today.  And this is what I ended up with!  It's a simple card but yet colorful enough without being blah or boring! 

I like this layout and I have used it on a few cards but not many. 

The decorative paper here is from the Spice Cake pack.  It's a very fun pack of decorative paper and I won another package of it at an open house last month so I'm going to have some fun making cards.  My goal is to use up all the pieces in the pack before it retires!!!  Now that's a BIG challenge for me!!!

The card stock here is Pool Party and so is the ink used on the background of the image.  It doesn't really match the card stock very well in the photo though, does it?  It does blend better in real life though.

I'm working on a quick project that will be fun for gift giving, stocking stuffers, teacher gifts (useful teacher gifts), hostess gifts, customer appreciation gifts and even a fun Make n Take that serves a purpose!!  I like getting things like that, things I will actually use when I make them or things that I can give away after I make them. So until tomorrow!!

Thank you ever so much for visiting today,

Wanda

You're My Type Birthday Card

I was playing with the "You're my Type" set again before I have to give it back to my sister in a few days.  I want to make a couple more cards to give her to say thanks for letting me play with the set.  

This was a fun and quick layout.  It is actually a Split Coast Stampers Sketch Challenge layout.  It's SC118.  I chose that one because of the focal image was the perfect size for the typewriter. I also chose it because it looked like it would be a quick and simple card to put together. 

My sister is going to be thrilled with this card and I have a couple more I want to make so I can give her a set of 4 cards.  I'm hoping to see to that on soon.  I've got a very busy day tomorrow and I'm sure I will be too exhausted to jump into that.  I'm off to work on a new bracelet and of course I'll show it to you when I'm done. 

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

It's a Wrap Gift Box

 It's a Wrap (holidays and occasions) sets are among my favorite ones to play with.  I LOVE being able to stamp on a label and wrap it around a candy nugget and make some fun gifts and party favors!!  It's quick and easy to do too!

Here I used the Happy Birthday image and wrapped them around Hershey Nuggets.  Six of them fit in this recycled Build a Brad box.  I save everything because I never know when I'm going to need it.  Ok, not quite everything but everything I think is cool and can be used for something in the future.  Sometimes it's the near future but most of the time it's way off into the future.  I have been running across "stuff" and actually using it now!!! Amazing and a bit shocking, isn't it?? LOL

After setting the candies in the box I tied it shut with a ribbon.  Then I stamped the happy birthday from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  I punched the words out using the Word Window punch and then I used the Label punch and taped the words on top of it.  VERY easy and super quick too!  What more can you ask for?? Well, more empty Build a Brad containers would be nice but I only had a couple of them!!  This is a fun gift.  My other container is going to be filled like this but in a Christmas theme and will be used as a stocking stuffer. 

This was a lot of fun.  I may have to make some more soon but using a die cut box!!  A little more work but not much, it is a die cut after all and they not only cut but they score too!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

You're My Type Notebook Weekend Project

Tuesday night when I was at Terri's FABULOUS Technique class there were LOTS of samples of cards and projects to see and take photos of.  There was a notebook that she had gotten in a swap that had this typewriter on it.  This is from the "You're My Type" set.  I didn't buy this set, my sister did and left it here with me when she came to pick up her part of the order.  This set and the whole "theme/era" of it is SO out of my element.  That is probably why I didn't buy it.  I have seen LOTS of cute cards made using it but it didn't tempt me enough to buy it.  I was glad my sister ordered it and even happier when she left it here with me to play with.  Now this has been several weeks that I have had this here and had not had time to play with it.  Seeing the little notebook on Tuesday night inspired me to play with her set.

I had taken a photo of the notebook and decided I was going to deviate a way from that one and try something a little different.  I added some background paper to my notebook.  I stamped the typewriter on white card stock and cut it out. It wasn't that bad to do since there wasn't a lot of coloring or anything special you had to do to the image.  Stamp and cut, not a big deal!!!  

Next I stamped the words on the paper in the typewriter and it was ready to tape to the front of the notebook.  I took the decorative paper and used a glue stick and stuck it to the front of my notebook.  I tied on a ribbon and ran the coil through the punched holes and it was done.  I am going to give it to my sister when I see her next week.  We are going to be going to Terri's Stamp a Stack.  My sister has never been to one of them and I know she is going to LOVE it!!  It's part of her birthday present.  I do have a feeling I'm going to have to take her there again sometime!!  But that's ok, Terri has fabulous cards to make and I love spending time with my sister.

A note on the punch here.  I use the RubiCoil punch machine to make my notebooks.  You can find a notebook that is big enough for the image, remove the coil, cover the front, punch holes individually (matching the holes in the cover) and putting the coil back on.  Altered notebooks are always fun and make great gifts.  I find that my little notebooks sell well at craft fairs!  They are priced low enough and sell out fast.  People LOVE to find little bargains to use for stocking stuffers!  Who doesn't?

And that's it, there you have it.  My little notebook for my sister.  I am going to make a couple of cards with that set and then get it back to her next week when I see her.  Well, probably a few more cards because I will have to make extra ones for her too!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Spiral Netting (Bracelet is Sold)

Today I am going to break away from the cards and card projects to share with you a bracelet that I made.  I am going to be posting this on my beading website The Shape of Beads to Come.  It is available in my web store. 

What I love most about this bracelet is that it will fit most wrists.  If your wrist is between 7" and 8" it will fit perfectly.  I have a smaller wrist and I can bend the metal to make it fit but I didn't because I knew I was making it to sell. 

We have a family we buy for at Christmas time.  I am told they live nearby (in our town) and there are 5 children.  These children are getting bigger and a Fischer Price toy just doesn't cut it anymore.  So we need to buy more age appropriate gifts and of course they cost more.  So I thought I would make and sell some bracelets to raise the funds so we can get these kids nice gifts this Christmas.  

So back to the bracelet.  It is made using black 1.5mm cubes and #15 silver lined clear seed beads.  A Briolette is in the middle of each end of the bracelet along with Swarovski bicone beads.  

This bracelet is not my original design.  I got the pattern from the April/May issue of Beadwork magazine.  It's one of my favorite magazines, that and Bead & Button or any other magazine that catches my fancy at the time!!! LOL

I'll have a fun project for you to view tomorrow.  Yes, a stamping one!!!  I'm off to post this on my beading website and then get it posted in my web store.

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Fabulous Florets Wednesday Sketch Challenge

 I kept the sketch pretty simple and clean.  I was going to add some words to it but when I got it all together I thought I would just leave it as it is and use the card for whatever occasion I need and write something on the inside instead.

This was a very fun sketch to play with.  I LOVE that big oval in the center and I can see myself making more cards using this layout.  

I have not used the Pool Party color much and I thought I would open up the pack of it that I bought last summer and play with it some more.  I wanted my card stock to match the decorative paper so that I why I went with the Pool Party color too.  

The decorative paper is from the Everyday Enchantment pack.  I've used almost all of the sheets in it except for the one I used here on this card.  I was surprised I let that little gem slip by.  It's SO pretty with the card stock!

The image is from the Fabulous Florets set. A set I have used a lot and still like very much.  

The flower was stamped using black StazOn and colored in using a blender pen and the Pool Party ink pad.  I also colored in the center of the flower using the blender pen and the Daffodil Delight ink pad. 

The layer marked in blue on the pattern was set in place using Dimensionals as was the oval and the cut out flower.  Yes, I did cut out the flower. In fact I stamped the larger flower at the same time, colored them both and cut both of them out but I ended up using the smaller one.  The larger one was WAY too big for that oval. 

It's a sweet and simple card and can be used for quite a few occasions.  I'm not sure what I will use it for but for now it's getting a protective sleeve and going in the file on the ledge and in a few weeks it will end up in one of the two drawers I have FULL of cards.  I'm going to be going through them soon.  We are having a HUGE garage sale and I am going to be putting them in there to try to get rid of some!!

So, to recap:  the card went together quickly, it was easy to make and fun to do!  If you have the time I highly recommend this layout!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Sew What!!! Weekend Project

 Ok, here is the long awaited project!!  I hope you are not disappointed and were expecting something HUGE.  It's just something average but it took a while because I didn't have much time to devote to it each day.  Though I am glad to say I'm done with it.  I am one that likes to finish up my projects ASAP and when they linger I lose interest.  Though this one did linger but I didn't lose interest.  It was fun and I think I would like to make another one but using more layers.

You take the idea from one of those exploding boxes.  Add some padding where needed and put it all together.  It's not difficult to make, it just takes time because there are so many steps to it.

You start out with the base which is pieces of thick cardboard and not corrugated cardboard, you want something like book board.  My cardboard came from some Stampin' Up! decorative papers like the ones that have textures or glitters. They seem to use thicker cardboard in those.  I save it all.  If you saw my workroom you'd know I save it ALL!!!  You never know when you will need it, right????  The sounds of a true crafter or hoarder?  Is there much of a difference?  LOL

Anyway, back to the exploding sewing box.  The top photo shows the outside of the box.  I have only one regret about that.  I wished I would have sewn a button in the middle of the padded top before gluing it in place. 

The sides all drop down to expose the inside square.  The inside square opens as well.  I tied it together with a ribbon in the even that you needed to get something stuck at the bottom.  I just tied it in a bow but of course I took the photo of the side and not the front of that ribbon but you all know what a ribbon tied in a bow looks like so it's nothing new to you.

I was going to try to make it with all Stampin' Up! products but I had to revert to using elastic.  I was hoping to use ribbon and just tie it but it wouldn't hold the items as well.  The elastic holds everything in place nicely so I had no other choice.  The fabric is all Stampin' Up! products and it was a perfect print for this project.

My squares started out at 3" x 3" and there are 5 of them.  The padded layer on top of that measures 2-3/4" x 2-3/4".  I don't have any instructions for this.  You just glue and wrap fabric around cardboard pieces and assemble it as you go.  I do want to make a bigger one with more layers inside that drop down too.  I would like to be able to add more needles and a tape measure too, plus a nicer pair of scissors and more threads.  It took me this long to get this one done I wonder how long it will take me to make another one the size I want??? It will be weeks before it is done!!! LOL 

This makes a very fun gift to give to someone who sews.  You can have all of your important sewing needs in one little cube.  Just grab the cube and go!!!

I hope you liked this project!

Thank you ever so much for stopping by today,

Wanda

Easter Gifts Weekend Project

These are quick fun little projects that the kiddies can get involved with too.  You can stamp the image(s) and the kids can color them.  Once they are all assembled the kids can give them out to their friends, teachers and Sunday school teachers!! 

Aren't the tiny chocolate bunnies adorable?  They are made by the Russell Stover company.  I think the package said there was something like over 60 bunnies in it or it could have been more.  Just look at it, there's LOTS of bunnies in it and these two little baggies were from just one package!!

The bunny image is from one of the dollar stamps at Michaels.  I just thought he was a cute bunny!  I thought it was something fun that the kids could do.  Kids love to be in the workroom/craft room and they love to get their hands on your "stuff!"  What a perfect project for them to have some fun with and be creative too AND without a lot of mess!

The bunnies were colored in using watercolor crayons and a blender pen.  For smaller kids you could color in the images and then just hand them the blender pens to blend (and probably mix) the colors!!!  It's just nice when you can get the kids involved in some creativity and away from the tv!!!

Ok, great news here.   Tonight I have one more "thing" to do on the project I've been talking about for what seems like months!!!  And it will be ready to show you tomorrow!!  So be sure to check back tomorrow to see what all the hype was about!!  I am happy with the way it turned out.  For my first one I know there's a few things I would have done differently but like I said it was my first one and I'm sure I will be making more!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today!
See you tomorrow,

Wanda

Goodbye Millie

October 26, 1999 - March 19, 2012

Tonight we had to say goodbye to Millie.  She was an interesting cat.  She was a lot of fun when we first got her but when we took her to the vet to be declawed and spayed something happened to her there and she  was never the same.  She was so traumatized that she became afraid of everyone and everything.  She would run and hide when the doorbell rang or even if you just said the word "company."  She was no longer cuddly and you couldn't hold her for very long.  She did let us cut her bib hair. It would get so long that she couldn't bend her head back far enough to get it out of her mouth.  In this photo the bib hair was trimmed about 2" or so.  She would let me trim it but I had to be quick.  And it took two to trim the hair between her toes, which grew over 2" too.  And she HATED to have her feet touched at all.  She even growled because she herself touched her back foot with her front one while she was sort of sleeping.  WOW, huh???  LOL

She did occasionally climb up on my lap but she preferred to sit on the arm of the chair, especially if the TV remote was there.  I guess she liked to keep it warm!  She didn't really associate much with the other 2 cats either.  She preferred to be by herself. 

She was a soft fluffy kitty.  She was part Ragamuffin.  They are a branch off the Ragdoll cat family.  

She got diabetes and her health just went down from there over time.  The last few days her health declined SO much.  And today she was just laying around, not eating and barely moving.  She struggled to lift her head.  It was a tough decision but we had to take her in.  I just didn't want her to die of starvation. 

She had a good life here.  We tolerated her behavior and allowed her to be who she was.  Unlike KC, Millie's death was expected due to her age and failing health.  It is much easier to accept when you know it's coming.  So tonight we said goodbye to Millie.  I gently held her for one last time and I kissed her head one last time and now she is free of any pain and she didn't suffer.

Wow, that is two cats within 9 months.  I told Boo she better stay healthy.  And Bella Jean, well... I didn't say anything to her. She's only 2 years old and is full of life and the naughtiness that goes along with her age!!!

I'm missing her already,

Wanda