Bunny Finds

Yesterday Crafting Ida and I went to that great Hobby Lobby together. There is something dangerous about us going together. We are both stamping addicts and enable each other something awful. Add to the mix the fact that paper was 8 for a dollar or 5 for a dollar depending on paper size, and you have crafters on the loose.

I couldn't resist this cute bunny paper. I matched it to my card stock samples and decided it would do for a little trim. I just couldn't resist the bunny. Then as we sailed down the stamp isle, Ida just had to point out the bunny stamp. She said, 'See, its the same bunny!' Darn that Ida and her fast eye for details. Of course, I HAD to have the bunny stamp. Ribbon was also half price, so I had a shopping good time. I have assembled my Hobby Lobby purchases plus a little wheelbarrow stamp from Stampin Up's Blooming With Love. I've been playing with this, but just don't have the card I want to show yet. Just use your imagination and think what could be done with all this cute stuff. I'll post a card as soon as I have something I like. Meanwhile, I just couldn't resist showing you this pile of stuff.

Fun and Fast

I'm going to come right out and admit that I made this card a few months ago. I've been busy running around buying ribbon at Hobby Lobby (1/2 price.... Stamping Brenda said I needed more) and mounting some new stamps. I felt I MUST post, so am reaching back just a little.

I really was pleased with this simple card. I used the stamp from SU Fun and Fast Notes and good old colored pencils. You've got to love the Cuttlebug and the quick embossing that adds such a nice texture. Again, I grabbed one of the quilling strips and tried my hand at mitering corners for a frame. I'm thinking it has a clean fresh look with a bit of texture.

You Cured Yet?

I just LOVE this cute little piggy from SU's Farm Fever. Unfortunately, it is retired. Did I buy it when I had the chance? NO. I used restraint and decided to practice self discipline. Donna bought this stamp, and we decided we would share. Sometimes when our group gets together to stamp, we just stamp the black images on white paper and save it to work on later. That's what I did with little piggy. I stamped several of them on white, put them in a slick in a notebook, and got it out later to color with crayon pencils. Lovely, I think.

I decided to give this funny pig an extra little whimsical flair by rolling with the SU Whimsy wheel and a turquoise blue ink. Inside I stamped 'Get Well Soon' with black ink. I may always regret not buying him myself, but we do need to learn to share and realize that we can't have everything we see. Now, where did that kind of thinking come from? Mercy!

Organizing Treasure

I just love a bargain!! I also love finding something in a resale shop and putting it to good use. I was just browsing in a resale shop in my small town the other day. I saw this little plant stand and immediately wondered if some of my punches would fit on it. I thought I could put it by the chair where I stamp, and it wouldn't really be in the way. I eyeballed the depth of the shelves and decided it might be a good fit.

Being the shrewed shopper I am, I dallied with the idea of buying it, but decided to come back later. It might even be marked down. I went back a few days later. They had moved it to the window with some cute things sitting on it. I decided that I'd best buy it if I wanted it. I invested a whole $12.00 in this little metal stand. Look! They fit. The punches exactly fit.

Then I was eyeballing that little piece of furniture and decided I might be able to add a rod to hold ribbon. I just happened to have a curtain rod and some of those little sticky backed hooks. After trying a few other things, I just attached the sticky backed hooks to the front legs of the stand and placed the curtain rod on the hooks. Tah-Dah!

I may have to get a skinnier rod at some point as the very small rolls of ribbon are a bit tight on the rod. Otherwise, I think it will work wonderfully well. I can easily take the rolls off too. If, in the future, I have too many rolls for the rod, I'll just add another rod a little lower on the back leg. I feel so..... ORGANIZED... and so SMART. I LOVE bargains! Yes, I do.

Card Class Project 3

Ida decided to give us a little experience with the aqua painter and watercolor pencils. She did tell us that we could buy white Georgia Pacific 110 lb. weight card stock for our watercolor. She mentioned that one as we can all go to Wal Mart easily.

Recipe:

• SU stamp from 'For Father' (Occasions Catalog available March 1)
• SU background stamp Weathered
• SU Earth Elements card stock: Summer Sun and Chocolate Chip
• Watercolor pencils (Yes, she used SU.)
• Aqua painter
• Little teeny brads.
• SU ticket punch

We got to practice using the BIG background stamp again. Practice makes perfect. Ida also showed us her high tech toy for punching holes for the brads. Why didn't I take a picture of this advanced technology? I can only say that I was lost in trying to make the cards. So.... this high tech punching toy was a nice thick rubber mouse pad and a punch pin (the bulletin board holding kind)

We had a good time with these cards. I know I have to practice as can't say I've mastered techniques yet, but it was a first try. I'm sure Ida will have more practice for me in the future. Of course, I MUST order some background stamps now. Ida has a way of making me want the things I use. Sneaky little Crafting Ida.

Card Class, Project 2

Crafting Ida designed the lovely little card for our group to make. I love how fresh it looks. I'm tired of winter, and this makes me think 'happy'.

Recipe:

• SU flower stamp from Bloomin Beautiful (Occasions Catalog available March 1) and Polka Dot background stamp
  
• SU Bold Bright Orchard Opulance and Soft Subtle Certainly Celery card stock
• Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi dye ink. Whisper White Craft ink and Black StazOn
• Ribbon
  
• Corner rounder.... for corners. Tah-Dah
• Aqua painter
  

Ida taught us about using an aqua painter to do the flowers. We are newbies and love learning new things. I messed mine up the first and second time. The third time was the charm. I know I'm going to need a bit more practice to really feel the 'flow' as Ida put it.

Ida also initiated us into using the large background stamps. Wow! Those SU background stamps are BIG. Laying it on the table rubber side up and pressing the card onto it seems to work. I'm going to have to work on that technique as well so I won't move it around accidentally. I just love that Ida knows all the little tricks and demonstrates so well. She was a first grade teacher for years, so we are right up her alley.

I do love the look of this card! I hope you do too!

Crafting Ida's Card Class Project 1

Our little card group met yesterday under the skillful tutorage of Crafting Ida. It is a fine thing to have a really skilled artist to teach us. This Stampin Up demonstrator KNOWS what she is doing. We are blessed in that.

I meant to take another picture of our group, but I got so busy working that I forgot. That thought just went out the window of my mind. I was engrossed, busy, learning, doing, and I just didn't think about pictures. Don't color me a photographer.


So, on with the show.
Our first project yesterday was this wonderful bookmark. I really think I've fallen in love with this one as it is just unlimited. So, here is the recipe:

• We started with a 2 1/2" x 6 1/4" piece of glossy paper. Photograph paper will do nicely. Using black StazOn, we stamped this pretty flower from SU Embrace Life.
• Using a white crayon, we colored in areas on the flower that we wanted to remain white. Mostly those were areas around the middle of the flower and on some of the petal edges.
• Next we used SU dye ink and sponge daubers to lightly color the pink and yellow areas of the flower.
• We then laid a mask of the flower over our flower and sponged the green lightly around the edges. (The mask was made from stamping the flower on a paper, then cutting it out and covering our work with it. I'll bet you knew that. )
• Taking some soft toilet paper, we gently rubbed the areas that we had colored white with the crayon. We wanted to remove that.
• We used the SU corner rounder to trim the corners.
  
• Out came that fabulous Crop-A-Dile to punch a hole at the top and insert a brad.
  
• We inserted ribbon and now have a great bookmark.

I must say that Ida let us flounder around a bit on the ribbon. Then Lindy came up with the idea of folding the ribbon in half and inserting it from the backside to the front. Then you can pull the loose edges through the loop. It makes a nice neat way to do the ribbon.

Of course, I was trying to get the ribbon out of the way to take a picture of the bookmark. I really love the technique and can't wait to get more made. I'm thinking they would be great to tuck in other cards... a little something for a gift.

I asked Ida about who thinks these up. She said our work yesterday was hers. Go, Ida!

More of Grace's Art

I published an interview with Grace about her art on my Humor and Doings site. I wanted to add more pictures and just moved over to my crafting blog to share. I think Grace has such a talent. It is something that she has just learned by herself. She just picked up pen and ink and started sketching on a sketch pad. Then someone gave her a gourd and she started working on that. She has read books and playing around with her talent, doodling she calls it. I know there is lots more doodling in her future.

Grace does her art to be doing it. It is for fun. I think the artist in her just must doodle. Only in the last year or so has she realized that her art is of value to others as well. She had to be pushed gently and prodded into timidly taking her art to a designer. The designer saw what I did and is selling her work. Grace always seems to be amazed when someone buys her art. I think that is humility coming out in Grace.

Well, I like it, and I just wanted to put some on my blog for you to see. I realize the photography isn't the best in the world. I'm not professional. I just went armed with my little point and shoot camera and did the best I could. I think Grace's art stands on its own, photography wonder or not.

Just Like You Card

With the purchase of this SU Just Like You set, Stampin Up donates $2 to Ronald McDonald House Charities.
I got busy yesterday and put this card together. I used Bold Bright Gable Green for the background paper and ink for stems on the flowers and butterfly. I used BB Pixie Pink ink for the flowers. I love the little ticket punch from SU. It is nice to trim up the squares. I also took a Green Gable marker and and edged the white square with it. I will admit that the squared decorative paper is one I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I like to put a little something on the inside of the card as well.

Birthday Card

I've been playing with my new Birthday Whimsy set from SU. It was one of those free sets with a purchase of $50 during Sale-A-Bration. I LOVE this set.

I decided to try out my new Cuttlebug embossing folder as well. This is one of the new right off the press ones: Beautifully Boxed 3 inch x 3 inch tag team set. I also got out my SU Bold Bright paper and markers and had a good time. I just happened to have one of those quilling strips that matched the paper, so added that for my very thin line.

I added a little dimension on the front by using a SU pop up to give a little depth to the pink balloon. The SU ticket corner punch was used around the birthday cake. It is hard to see here, but I did use VersaMark and stamped balloons on the front as a watermark before adding anything else to the front.

I'm thinking how smart I am to take a picture of the inside and outside before I adhere to outside to the white paper. I must have taken a think pill or something this morning.

How'd They Do That?

It always amazes me when something totally unexpected happens on the Internet. I have one little line under 'A Little Bit of Happiness' about using a quilling strip. Today I was graced by someone posting a comment there. They included an address to their website. I, of course, visited and was amazed at the beautiful work of quilling. I will admit that I had no idea what quilling was when I pulled the quilling strips off the shelves at Hobby Lobby. I just thought they might be useful on cards.

The lady who left a comment has been quilling for over thirty years. A visit to her site will show you how involved she is in this art. I'm including a link here as think it would be well worth the time to head on over and take a look for yourself. After arriving at her site index page, just scroll down and click on the words 'gallery pictures'. Prepare to be amazed. I especially loved the beautiful embellishments to her photo frames.

Head on over to Whimsiquills
You may wonder too..... How'd they do that?
Perhaps I should add a warning. Looking might be dangerous to your addiction.

Little Bit of Happiness

I've been playing today with the new Level 1 SU hostess set
'A Little Bit of Happiness'.
I stamped the hearts in black and colored with pencils. I added red and white ribbon, then decided to also add a little turquoise ribbon. The pink strips on the outside and inside are quilling. I adhered the quilling with the new Tombo Multi Purpose glue from SU. It has a large and small tip. The small was perfect to put a bead of glue for the quilling.

Inside: Phrase stamp is from SU Friendship Blooms, one of the Sale-A-Bration choices.
I used a flower pot from Blooming With Love and hearts from Loads of Love Accessories.
I made several and there are people who are going to get these. Ta Dah

New Birthday Whimsy

I love getting my new toys from Stampin Up! I got busy this morning using Birthday Whimsy, which is one of the free sets that you can get with a purchase of $50. I've been playing and must get back to that hard job.

Matching Inks Tip

Crafting Ida blessed me with Printworks ink when she was luring me into this whole card making thing. She had gone over to Stampin Up and decided to share her old inks. Ida is good that way. I loved her little tip to me about how to keep track of ink and match it to paper.

She took a piece of white cardstock and sectioned off the paper adding labels: Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Purple, and Brown. Then she took each of her stamp pads and grouped them together. Starting with Red, she numbered them on the stamp pads themselves with permanent blank ink. The matching numbers went on the cardstock. With a little heart stamp, she carefully inked each color.

Ida put her ink pads into plastic containers. One plastic container is labeled Red... another Green... etc. When I want one of the inks, I just look on this paper and can match exactly what I need. Then I dig in the appropriate container and pick out the Number. It is so simple and such a time saver.

I only have four Stampin Up pads so far, so my numbers will fall in different places. I got busy the other day and dug out my four SU inks and got my page ready to go. I really like this idea and it isn't hard to do. I'll continue that as I add more ink pads.