Gift Set for a Friend

I’ve mentioned before that I have a friend who is battling cancer. I made her a gift basket a while back and I posted the card I made for her. I didn’t have time to make everything I had intended to add to the basket so I finally finished it this week. I am entering this in the Moxie Fab Around the House Challenge to use something from around the house. I used coffee filters.

I made her a notepad, a sticky note pad, a bookmark…

… a decorated composition notebook, a decorated pencil, a clip and a pencil holder. I made the flowers with dyed crinoline, tulle and coffee filter layers. They were cut with a 5 petal flower dies by Heartfelt Creations. They are just like Spellbinders dies and come in a set of 7! I dyed and scrunched the layers before they dried. The crinoline in particular scrunches really small so I had to flatten the layers a bit before using them. I stamped and dyed the book binding tape. I was surprised how well the adhesive held, I highly recommend this product!

The pencil holder is a simple folded ribbon. I folded the ribbon and sewed it to make a pocket; the top front edge folded over so it was sewn in to finish it. The upper area is also folded over and the end tucked in when I sewed the rest which leaves a large loop at the top. It looks decorated but what you see is the top of the pencil with a large flower on it. The pencil also has pink ribbon wrapped around the top half. I wrapped the clip in patterned paper and decorated it with a matching chipboard bird and a coffee filter flower. I kept the sticky note holder very simple and flat in case she wants to put it in the book.

The notebook uses a doily cut with a PTI doily die layered with more handmade flowers, buttons, pearls and a silk ribbon bow. The leaves are also made from coffee filter. To get the variegation on the leaves, I pressed celery and olive ink pads on my non-stick craft mat. I spritzed with pearlized water and pressed the leaves into the celery ink. Then I dragged the edges in the olive ink. The lace was made on my mom’s sewing machine with her embroidery hoop. It was made using wash out stabilizer so really all it is is thread in the end. Pretty nice huh? For some reason she didn’t use it so passed it on to me! Yeah!

Next is the notebook. The colours aren’t very accurate in this photo. The green cardstock cover isn’t quite as yellowish and neither is the flower; it looks way too peachy. IRL it is slightly corally but definitely pink. Sigh…

There is more lace peeking out from under the flower and I stamped the ‘note to self’ stamp all over the blush coloured paper at the top in different directions making it look like patterned paper. I CASEd a notebook design by Mish Wooderson of Mish Mash; credit where credit is due. I LOVE her notepad layouts.

This bookmark is so simple that I don’t think it needs much explaining. I have no idea what colour the mist is as I made it ages ago and since I didn’t use it up, I just saved it. Maybe regal rose with a bit of burgundy thrown in seems to ring a bell?? I was happy with the collagey feel I ended up with as I really try hard for this style often and don’t usually manage to get something I like. The butterfly was coloured with Copics.

This last photo shows a box I made ages ago along with some of the new things I’ve made.  I was going to add the box to the gift basket I made but it wouldn’t fit. So when I designed this gift set, I decided to use the same DP pack, Botanique by American Crafts, to make everything.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: script-Hero Arts, all from bookmark except tiny flourish and script-American Crafts, all from notepad plus tiny flourish-Take Note-PTI,
Ink: memento brown, Chocolate, blush, celery, apricot, olive-SU!, soft rose-Hero Arts, Stazon brown
Paper: Spring moss CS-PTI, DP-American Crafts, bookmark base-Hero Arts, doily-Wilton, bird die cuts and chipboard-American Crafts,
Accessories: Metal edged tag, hardware, brads-SU!, crinoline-Etsy, coffee filter, buttons, doily die, notepad, button die-PTI, silk ribbon-May Arts, Perfect Pearls, flourish die-Marianne, Divine Twine, ribbons (sticky note pad and pencil holder) unknown,  ribbon on book-American Crafts, foam dots-Jody Morrow, binder clip, Composition notebook-Dollarama, EK Success mini scallop punch, Copic markers-R11, 32, 24, Copic refill R20 (dyeing flowers),  Labels 14 (I think) die, leaf dies-Spellbinders, book binding tape-Prima

Clear Dollar Stamps Sneak Peak – Air Flair

What a fun set! I really enjoyed working with this it – OK, I know I’ve said that about all of them but I really love Clear Dollar Stamps!

This is a card organizer file, made from a Timeless Template from PTI. I used the dandelion image on the base CS in watermark ink. The main body is stamped directly on the DP so the legs would show up without having to cut out those skinny lines! I stamped and cut the wings out, glittered them and adhered the wings to the stamped body. Then I stamped another body on CS and popped it up on dimensionals. The wings are glittered and the body was painted with Lumiere, a pearlescent paint.

This set will be available May 1st. The link on Lori’s blog, Clearly iStamp will be active then. Be sure to visit the rest of the DT who are previewing sets today.

Angela Thomas
Tricia Traxler
Cassie Trask
Linda Anderson
Laurie Wilson
Lori McCrosky
Linda Borneman
Nancy Grant
Katie Renz
Candy Fosta
Sarah Taylor
Trudy Sjolander
Wendy Hall
Tori Wild
Stacy Morgan
Sarah Gilreath
Tracy Johnson

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Air Flair – Clear Dollar Stamps
Ink: Versamark Champagne, Versamark, amethyst-SU!
Paper: Basic Grey-LilyKate DP, amethyst, celery, bashful blue CS-SU!
Accessories: Lumiere, white opal Stickles, foam dots-Jody Morrow, brads-stash, celery dotted ribbon-stash, scalloped punch-SU!

Spring Ribbon Sampler Basket for May Arts

I love playing May Arts challenges. Not only do you get up to 16! yards of ribbon (4 yards of 4 types) to make your project, you can win THREE spools for first place and there are 10 winners of 1 spool too!

I used a variety of ribbon techniques to make the flowers and leaf you see here.  The white flower is made from the new May Arts Linen ribbon, it is a joy to use, soft and semi sheer but stands up to handling. It is ruched; the bottom edge is sewn with a running stitch, every couple of inches (I think 3.5”), you sew up to the other edge with long stitches and back down. When gathered, the long stitches pull tight and create the petals. It does leave a gap in the middle though so in the center of the white flower is a simple gathered flower with the gathering thread run down the center. The ribbon is gathered then folded in half. I wanted it to stand up more than it was so I ran some more stitches around the flower just above the original thread which pulled it into more of a cone.

The flower to the left is a traditional rolled rose. There are tons of directions out there right now for these, often made from crepe paper. I’m pretty sure Melissa Frances had one on her blog a week or two ago. You can also fold wide ribbon in half to make a smaller rose. The center came undone a bit, as a result, wasn’t perfect so I added a crystal to the center. The tendril is wired string I curled around a small pencil.

The flower to the right of center is another gathered flower, but this time I ran my running stitch about 1/3 of the way across the ribbon. This gives you a double ruffle look without making two flowers! how to make the leaf (light green, hiding between the white and pink flowers) is kinda tricky to describe. Start with a piece of ribbon about 1 1/2 times the length of the finished leaf and slightly wider than the finished leaf. Fold it in half and then fold the bottom (folded) corners up to the finished edge on a diagonal. You will have what looks like a small boat. Sew a running stitch along what would be the bow of the boat from corner to corner. Pull the thread until you have the length of leaf you want and trim the excess ribbon away. I trim mine in a way that I can glue the raw ends to the back. This technique can also be used to create pointy petals. If you visit the Offray site, they have another way to make this with narrower ribbon and pictures. I can draw diagrams of my version for anyone who wants them; just email me!

The top green flower is also simply gathered but because the ribbon is already pleated, it doesn’t require much gathering. To hide the middle, I used a rhinestone brad which also attached it to the handle. The basket is an enlarged version of PTI’s Pack a Picnic template. I can’t post pictures of their template online so email me if you want details of how I enlarged it. The top edge is punched with the embossed scallop punch from EK Success. The handle is punched with a double edged MS punch.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: watercolour joy wheel-SU!
Ink: pink pirouette-SU!
Paper: white-SU!, sweet blush-PTI
Accessories: May Arts Ribbon, rhinestone brad, crystal, circle punch (to hide sewing on backs of flowers)-SU!, PTI template, Copic marker (to colour leaf)

Baby Organizer for Whimsical Wednesdays

Isn’t it cute? I used a PTI template, From the Desk of. I have made a few tweaks to the pattern to accommodate the punching and to refine the fit of the insert. The first time I made it, it was a bit too big. I also had to redesign the angle on the sides so there wasn’t an odd bit of paper from the punching. I am going to add a set of card to this and hope to sell them on Etsy or at the craft show I am going to Feb 7th.

I added the bookmark just to add the verse to the organizer but it can also be hung on a wall or doorknob which is why I didn’t cut the ribbon. The magnet I used was just from one of those rolls. I usually use it to keep Nesties in CD cases. Simple and cheaper than those magnetic dots you can buy from Basic Grey and I’m sure other places. The clothespin idea was from Mishie of Mish Mash. She has done them a few times in different ways. If nothing else, it is a cute accent but it can be useful too.

Here is an important announcement from Whimsical Wednesdays. Drumroll please…

Starting January, this blog will be sponsored EACH MONTH which means there will be a PRIZE EVERY MONTH!! WOOO HOOO! Sweet right? Next week we will announce the first sponsor of 2010. Can you believe that it is almost 2010! Whoa Nellie! Tune in next week to find out what you can win!!

Here’s the sketch from Nicky…

Pretty cool huh? I do hope you will all play this super fun sketch! There are so many awesome possibilities! And, as usual, you don’t have to only make a card. Any project you want to do would be awesome! Be sure to upload to a gallery with DDSC16 or to your blog and come on back here to leave the link! Please make sure it is a DIRECT LINK, not a link to your blog!

Make sure to visit the DareDevils blogs for more inspiration! A few of us are still busy with holiday visiting so please forgive Cassie, Debbie, Heather, Jessica and Valerie for not playing this week. The rest of us would LOVE to have you visit so, hurry up, on to the next blog! Have fun!

Want to enter for some blog candy before next week? Please read the last paragraph in THIS POST and leave a comment to qualify!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Ink: regal rose, pretty in pink-SU!, Memento brown
Paper: pretty in pink, white CS-SU!
Stamps: bundle of joy, shoes-JustRite Stamps, verse and images on bookmark-Cloud 9, background hearts-SU!, stamps on clothespin-PTI
Accessories: MS punches, clothespin, oval nesties, 1/2” circle punch-SU!, ribbon-stash, Copics

Gift Card Holders for Verve Blog Party Challenge 5

This challenge was super easy because while the challenge email was sitting in my inbox, I was making gift card holders for hubby to take to work to sell! I had wanted to spread the love, posting several times rather than all at once but oh well, it is worth the chance to win a prize!

All tags are Cuttlebug dies with white CS-SU! using JustRite Stampers for the lettering. All gold and silver cord are by SU!

Gift Card Holder #1

Template: Cash or Charge by Lauren Meader for PTI
Paper: Alpine kit-CTMH, silver shimmer and white CS-SU!
Accessories: silver ribbon,  Basic Grey notch and die tool for insert, snowflake punch-MS

 

Gift Card Holder #2

Template: Cash or Charge by Lauren Meader for PTI
Stamps: snowflakes, joy, hearts-SU!
Ink: celery-SU!
Paper: celery CS-SU!
Accessories: rhinestones-stash, ribbon-May Arts

Gift Card Holder #3

 

Template: Cash or Charge by Lauren Meader for PTI
Stamps: Taylored Expressions
Ink: riding hood red-SU!
Accessories: Copic marker, foam dots-Jody Morrow

Gift Card Holder #4

Template: copied from Mastermind Toys
Stamps: snowflakes-SU!
Ink: Versamark
Paper: rose red-SU!
Accessories: Pilot gold paint pen, gold EP-SU!, ribbon-May Arts

Gift Card #5

Template: copied from Mastermind Toys
Stamps: SU!
Ink: memento black, handsome hunter-SU!, Versamark
Paper: handsome hunter, white CS-SU!
Accessories: gold EP, Pilot gold paint pen, Copic markers, foam dots-Jody Morrow

Enjoy, Rebecca

Baby Girl Miracle Gift Box

Anybody out there play along with the challenges on Stampin’ Out Alzheimer's? I only got a chance to play along with four, three in one card! YEAH! I just didn’t have much time this week. I didn’t manage to even get to the site until Tuesday because my iPhone wouldn’t connect to the site. Stupidly, I kept trying instead of using my laptop- DUH!! DH was crazy busy at work, basicallycoming home to eat and fall asleep on the couch. Our baby HAS to  be watched ALL the time, no way can you be asleep. So, no crafting time.  ***SIGH***  This afternoon and evening I raced to get a couple things done, loading my last photo at 11:59! No kidding.

So this project was for the Timeless Template Challenge. When I make them, they aren’t exactly timeless as I prefer to trace them instead of printing on the cardstock. I like using scraps and they don’t feed through the printer so well! Part of the challenge was to use a clear element. Mine was quite the challenge in and of itself! I ran a piece of plastic packaging through my Cuttlebug using a textile folder. Then I cut it into a heart shape with a Cuttlebug heart die. I  painted the back with pink acrylic paint, then wiped off the excess leaving paint only in the cracks. When I placed it on the green patterned paper, it kind of disappeared so I painted the back with white acrylic paint. It looked great but wasn’t white enough.

Here is where a not-so-clever move came in. Not wanting to get out the paint again since I had already washed the brushes, I tried adding white pigment ink to the back. Looked great but it didn’t dry! I added clear (why didn’t I use white??) EP to the back. I heated the heart but it started to flatten and lose it’s dry embossing! Bummer, I should have thought of that! The powder still wasn’t melted so I moved the heat gun further away but even so it started to shrink. AHHH! I eventually got the powder to melt and the plastic to flatten instead of curling but all the embossing was gone. Next time, NO HEATING!! It still makes for a pretty embellishment and I am happy with it.

Why is my description of my projects always a tale of my goofs  and efforts to fix them? I tried using a marker to edge my cardstock in pink around the handle punch out. I missed and drew a huge line across the most prominent part of the handle. UGH!! So I added flowers to cover it forgetting that the side panels wrap over the handle. It still goes over obviously but it is tricky! Some things I got right? I like the sheep even though I couldn’t wait for the Liquid Appliqué to dry before heating to puff it and so their coats are a bit lumpy. Have you seen a real sheep? I see them every summer at the CNE, Canadian National Exhibition. Their coats are uneven! I really like the tag too. Two Melissa Frances stickers the same size, one on each side of a piece of chipboard the same size. (Stolen from the back of a Stampin’ Up paper pack.)

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: MFT Baby Firsts
Ink: pretty in pink, dark brown ColourBox chalk ink
Paper: confetti white, pink pirouette CS, DSP and button-SU!
Accessories: flowers and ribbon-UK, Melissa Frances, Liquid Appliqué, foam dots-Jody Morrow, clear plastic-recycling bin (LOL), Bow Easy, pretty in pink, close to cocoa SU! markers, Cuttlebug heart die and textile embossing folder, Making Memories white and pink acrylic paint.

You’re a Star Box-Dad or Grad

I don’t usually make items specifically for Etsy but since nothing has sold yet, I figured I’d make a couple things specifically for the season. Hoping to get more traffic! This box was created with my slightly altered version of Papertrey Ink’s Timeless Template called Ready, Set, Wrap. I found that it was NOT symmetrical which I found very annoying but it wasn’t hard to remedy by folding it both ways and fixing it. Still worth the $5.

The base is close to cocoa sponged with the same ink. The side panels are stamped with vintage images and sponged with close to cocoa also as well as both front and back paper panels. The chipboard star is covered with cardstock and stamped with a crackle background stamp.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: rough edges alphabet, weathered background stamp, various stamps from Office Ephemera and Travel Post
Ink: close to cocoa, riding hood red, old olive, Adirondack black, night of navy, chocolate chip, bravo burgundy, creamy caramel
Paper: kraft, close to cocoa, confetti ivory, riding hood red CS, DSP
Accessories: button-Basic Grey, hemp twine-UK. All products by SU! unless otherwise noted.

Parisian Embellished Purse Box

Isn't this pretty? I try not to toot my own horn too much but I am really happy with this purse box. This is the first Timeless Template I have used and I am entering it in the Paper Trey bag challenge. If you are interested, go to Paper Trey Ink and click on Packaging. You pay for them (ONLY $5 each!) and download them right away so no waiting for shipping. You get a file with the template and another with 5 ideas of how to use the template.
The base is made from cardstock; I covered the front and flap with designer paper. I went with the Ways To Use It Challenge from today to embellish the purse fastener. I believe the title was called Embellishment Pile-Up! Cute name huh?? The fastener is just a little cardstock tab you attach to the underside of the flap and slip into a slit in the front of the purse. My slit was a bit messy so I needed to cover it up anyway. I made the ribbon rosette and sewed on the buttons. The pretty pin from CTMH comes with the pink flower head only. I added the beads and the rhinestone from my stash. After adding the pretty pin, the back of the ribbon rosette was very uneven and the whole thing is quite heavy. I chose to sew the whole thing down to the cardstock. I used my 1/16" hole punch to create holes in the CS so the needle would pass through more easily.

You will notice a slight difference between the original photo and the close up. I finished taking the photos and realized I HADN'T STAMPED anything. {{ARGH!!}} Seriously, is that possible?? So I went back and added a tag on the pretty pin. Sorry it is so hard to see the handle; when taking close-ups, it is hard to get everything in focus. It has a small bead then a large bead then a small bead with a slight space between each on both sides just above the insertion into the purse flap.

Enjoy, Rebecca

OH, one other thing, be sure to visit Jessica at The Whimsical Butterfly - she has really yummy  BLOG CANDY! You have to make a card using Madelynn's Twinkling Tuesday Sketch 8 by Feb 10, 8am so get working. Be sure to check out the other rules on her blog.

RECIPE
Stamps: love-retired SU!
Paper: pink pirouette, white, chocolate chip CS, Parisian Summer DSP
Ink: pretty in pink-SU!
Accessories: ribbon-Offray, round buttons-Basic Grey, flower button-SU!, thread-Mettler, pretty pin-CTMH, rhinestone-Zva Creative, pearls and beads-UK, crystal-Swarovski, tag die Quickutz, sterling silver split ring (to attach tag)-UK.