October 30, 2011: October Masculine Card Class Door Prize

Pin It Now! I was so pleased with how this came out! It's just a simple acrylic 5x7 picture holder (from a local big box store), and a little mini calendar I got from an online bulk buy group attached to the front.

The paper is Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper - I love the woodgrain look - and I added leaves stamped from French Foliage to the upper corner. Very easy to do, just stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock with Old Olive, Crumb Cake and Peach Parfait ink using the rock and roll technique (ink up your stamp in the light color, and rock the edges on a darker ink pad before stamping). Then cut them out!

After attaching the leaves to the DSP with Mini Glue Dots, I added a scrap of Crumb Cake Seam Binding with a flat knot. The Antique Brad is actually on top of the frame; I just cut the prongs off with pliers and attached it with a couple Mini Glue Dots.

So easy to do, but what a great door prize!

October 29, 2011: So Excited!

Pin It Now! It's my upline, Heather's Christmas Stamp Camp today...I can't wait! Her events are always such an inspiration. I can't wait until I have a larger customer base and can do some of these big events!

After receiving many requests, I FINALLY did a masculine card class this month. Honestly, I really struggle with masculine cards, so I have been avoiding it for quite some time. It really was time to suck it up and get the job done. And you know what? I'm so glad I did!

I'll share the projects we made in the next few days, but today I wanted to share the favors I made for everyone. I think a favor is such a nice way of saying "thank you for coming" as well as providing a little souvenir. I love making favors. :) I wanted these to have a masculine flair, so this is what I chose.

I found these little wood frames at the $1 Store in two packs...for the price I assumed they would be plastic, but was thrilled to find they are wood - and fairly nice ones at that! I did a faux leather technique using my Heat Tool and fun foam from my local craft store. I think I learned this technique from the amazing and ultra talented Frenchie. :) Just ink up the stamp and press it hard into the heat softened foam. Wahlah! (Which I notice sounds cooler when you say it than when you type it.)

I don't seem to have a lot of masculine stamp sets, so to add to my traditional go-to favorite of Lovely as a Tree I was able to borrow In Wilderness from my MIL. Thank goodness for family! My ink is Soft Suede. I experimented with Chocolate Chip, but liked the realism I got with the lighter color.

After I topped my fun foam with the glass and wrapped a small scrap of Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding around it before FORCING it into the frame. The frames did NOT like the added thickness, but ultimately I managed. :) Then I added a tag made with the Large Oval Punch in Textured Very Vanilla Cardstock, stamped with "thanks" from Word Play (I inked just the one word with an Old Olive Marker). A Metallic Brad finished the look.

So cute and perfect for a masculine card class!

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April 18, 2011: Thank You Frame

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I wanted to do something special for the Donut House in Hayden, Idaho since they let me hold my first three monthly classes there. Summer is their busy time, and I am so blessed to have found another location so I don't interfere with sports season. :)

I've seen a couple of these frames around, and I've been wanting to do one so I thought it would be a great time. I purchased an inexpensive pre-matted frame, which I thought was perfect since the mat gives you a tiny bit of space - just enough for rhinestones!

Several stamp sets came together for this piece: Elements of Style, A Flower for All Seasons, Punch Potpourri (Hostess Level 1), Bliss (retired from last month's SAB), Nature Walk, Punch Bunch (also retired from SAB), and Birthday Bakery (also a Hostess Level 1 set). I couldn't find the right shape of "thank you" to go above the cakes in Birthday Bakery so I used Very Thankful, which retired last year. I had to keep it for the peacock. :)

The colors are Pink Pirouette, Garden Green, Certainly Celery, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum (retired), Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Regal Rose, and Mellow Moss (retired). Whew! The base is Early Espresso.

I couldn't find a donut stamp in my stash, but cakes are close, right?

March 22, 2011: Baby Boy Shadow Box

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I saw some amazing picture frame ideas on a blog called My Crafty World that I totally knew I had to CASE. I think I'm in love! I bought a bunch of frames (50% off at my local craft store, plus a 25% coupon off that, of course) and really went to town.

This one was made on commission for a brand new baby boy. I chose to use So Saffron and Baja Breeze with pops of Pumpkin Pie because it's a combo I saw recently and liked, but have never tried.

The stamp set is one I got free for SAB called Forest Friends...so super cute. You may recognize the sentiments...I still had them on my craft table from Kathy's card last week, so I figured they were fair game! The ink is Soft Suede.

I used some retired scraps I've been trying to use up, like my So Saffron striped grosgrain ribbon matted on top of some retired Tangerine Tango ribbon. Pumpkin Pie would have been better, of course, but I used what I had on hand...and I figure it's "close enough for cocktails." :D I just love the Pumpkin Pie corduroy button, which is also retired.

I just love how this came out...and trust me, I'll be sharing a lot more of them as time goes on!

April 3, 2010: Turtle Ultrasound Frame

Pin It Now! This is an adorable ultrasound frame that I made for a coworker. The flap lifts up and the ultrasound slides in. I can't remember where (or who!) I CASE'd this from, but whomever it was, I used both the design and the adorable poem. I just change up the words a bit for a girl versus a boy if known.

I always think that some parents who don't scrapbook might be at a loss for what to do with their ultrasound photos, so this at least allows them to showcase the best one. :)