Dino Lolli Covers!

I have boys so while most treat packaging ideas out there right now are pink and red, I made these in boy colours. They aren’t for Valentine’s Day anyway so they sure don’t want PINK {{GASP, EWW MOM!}}

Awww, aren’t these cute?? I love how the one dino looks like a tree top since he overlaps a tree on the DP! These are very quick and easy to make and use very little supplies. You can get 10 from one sheet of CS and 12 from one piece of 6x6” DP, both with a scrap leftover! It did take a while to cut out the dinos but if you had a small enough punch, it would be quicker. I only have 1/2”, too small and 1 1/4”, too big!

To make them, cut strips of cardstock, 2 x 4 1/4”. Score at 2 1/8”, the center and for the ends, I moved my paper on my score board to the 1/16” mark and scored at 3/8”. I just turned the paper to do the other end rather than trying to figure out where to score it. Cut the DP to 1 3/4” wide and 1 1/2” high.

Here you can see that I have scored the cardstock, added Scor-Tape and punched one end. NOTE: I’ve used the small end of the Crop-a-dile to punch these; I ended up using the large one and I was sure glad I had scored a bit larger than 1/4”. You want to make sure that your holes at both ends line up so I used the previous holes to mark the other end. You want to add the Scor-Tape BEFORE punching so you don’t have to piece the tape on both sides of the hole.

Easy right? I hope you try these out! Can you believe I even had brown lollis to go with. What flavour are those anyhow? Maybe root beer? Hmmm…..

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Tiny Treats:Valentine-PTI
Ink: Memento black
Paper: Artichoke CS-SU!, DP-Archaic Basic Grey
Accessories: Scor-Tape, word window punch-SU!

My First Post with the OCC! Candy Test Tubes.

This week’s theme was to make a 3-D Valentine project. While I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, I still eat candy and we all love each other so making this was no problem!

Wouldn’t these make cool wedding/party favours? They’d be awesome with bath salts, lotion, nuts, buttons, beads, brads, mini flowers, spices or sprinkles for cupcakes or ice cream! I’ve recently acquired some new paper I’ve been DYING to use! I am normally not a huge fan of copper but this paper has started to change my mind! Isn’t it gorgeous! I’ve had these test tubes from PTI for ages and I just never had a worthy reason to use them. I love making boxes and such so much that I thought I’d do a tutorial for you.

But first, I’d like to thank the gals at the OCC for choosing me! I’ve wanted this spot for AGES! I’m so excited to join such fabulously talented designers! If you haven't visited before, be sure to hop on over to the blog to see all the other gal’s projects! You can enter to play in next week’s challenge too. Just click on the OCC blog anytime you see it!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: PTI
Ink: Chocolate-SU!, sweet blush-PTI
Paper: sweet blush CS-PTI, AC Botanique DP, white CS-stash
Accessories: pearls-Dollarama, test tubes, ticket die-PTI, seam binding ribbon-Etsy, reinkers-SU! (I made a spritz to colour my ribbon), foam dots- Jody Morrow, badge-AC, punch-EK Success, plastic box-CDS

Test Tube Box Tutorial

Supplies
Three test tubes 6” long
Small Plastic Box 3 3/4 x 2 3/4 x 5/8”
1 sheet CS
Scor-Tape or similar
DP
Glue dots
Embellishments

1. Cut CS. You want your CS box to be long enough to cover the test tubes (the clear box is too short) and overlap enough to apply adhesive with enough wiggle room (the + 1/8” shown on the diagram) that you can slide the cardstock box on the plastic box smoothly. So I cut my CS as shown, 6 3/4 x 4 7/8”.

RED lines are SCORE lines, BLUE are cut lines, GREEN are optional flap trims that make the box go together more nicely. PINK areas show where the adhesive will meet in case it didn’t seem natural to you. I’ve shown where I added 1/8” to my dimensions. This is so the cardstock box will slip over the plastic box without binding. I could have used 1/16th of an inch but then the math gets messy! If you do not have a box or test tubes that match mine but still want to make it, I have directions for that to at the end.

In the picture below, the middle test tube is in place in the bottom of the cardstock box. I was checking to make sure my measurements were correct before I decorated it. There is plenty of overlap which is what you need.

2. Assemble the box and decorate. I used a tiny scallop punch-my new favourite!

3. Slide the plastic box inside the cardstock box. Use your test tubes to determine how far to push the box in. Temporarily adhere with Eclipse tape or painter’s tape. Using a stylus or embossing tool, pick up glue dots or Scor-tape and slide it in along the sides below where it can be seen, remember the box is clear and you can see inside a bit if you are looking in from an angle. Perhaps you can think of a better way to do this but I couldn’t! I was worried any other method might cause the box to adhere before I had pushed it in and straightened it perfectly.

If you are using products with different measurements:

1. Make sure your test tubes are narrow enough to fit in your plastic box. D’uh! LOL!! Measure your plastic box to determine how large to create your cardstock box. I allowed for 1/8” extra on each of the width and depth. I’ll discuss how to determine the height in a minute. Mine measured 2 3/4 x 5/8”.

2. For the height, insert your test tubes into the plastic box. Then measure how much cardstock you will need to cover the bottom of the test tubes and overlap the box a bit (excluding the flaps). Just hold the ruler up to the box where the flaps meet and measure to the bottom of the test tubes. Then add roughly 1/2” to get your height. Don’t try to simply measure the test tubes, then measure the plastic box and do the math because you might find, as I did, that the test tubes do not fit all the way to the top. Had I only measured without test fitting, I would have been very disappointed! For once, I got it right the first time!!

Cut your cardstock: WIDTH: width+ 1/8” x double the depth +1/8” (double it after adding the 1/8”) plus 1/2” for the flaps (1/4” each). LENGTH: height times 2 + the depth +1/8”. It is easiest to replace the measurements I used in the diagram above with your own measurements. I missed adding in the measurement for my width in the diagram. It should read 2 3/4”.

Proceed with directions above.

Papertrey Ink. January Blog Hop - Shabby Baby Onesie Card

This month we were supposed to play with a stamp set that hasn’t seen any love or perhaps no love in a while. I absolutely LOVE Just the Ticket set so I decided to pair it with an older set I haven’t used as much, Bitty Baby Blessings.

The bottom of the card is stamped with another older favourite, BB: Hearts. I scored two lines 1/4” apart above this area as guidelines for the Scor-Tape and glitter application. Then I added half a doily above that. The word baby was cut from a larger sentiment, stamped in brighter pink ink and glittered using a glue pen. I used the bunny from the baby set to add a baby image to one of the tickets since I’d already used the ducky then I threaded all of the tickets on the twine. Then I added the flower corner and the pearls to the corners and as the onesie snaps. I will write in the name and date when I find out who I’m giving it to.

Wouldn’t this make a fabulous birth announcement with a photo of the baby in place of the onesie? Or a generic photo of baby feet or hands?

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: PTI as above
Ink: chestnut-ColourBox chalk, Rose red, chocolate-SU!, Sweet blush-PTI
Paper: sweet blush CS, pink DP-SU!, doily-Wilton,
Accessories: twine-Etsy, pearls-Dollarama, flowers-stash. Glitter-Art Institute, Copics- R00,11 YR02, Y21, 00 (to tone down the ducky), ticket die-PTI

Glitter Masking Technique

I decided to do a cool technique I read about somewhere and since I can’t remember where it came from, I decided to show you the technique here.

Here is the finished product, a matchbox cover. The awesome snowflake pattern is all glitter. You need some wide, flat adhesive; I’ve used Scor-Tape. Then you need to die cut or punch your image from adhesive backing. If you don’t have any on hand, maybe you have some stickers you don’t like or some of those free address labels you can put on envelopes ahead of time. You also need two colours of glitter.

Here you can see how I’ve applied the Scor-Tape. Instead of ripping the edges, cut them so they are smooth and finished. You can also see the adhesive backing has been die cut. Ooops, how did my favourite flavour of Hershey’s Kisses get in there… LOL!

Here I’ve placed the adhesive backing die cut in place. Be careful to place it with the waxy, shiny side down. I started to do it wrong and while it came off, it might not if I’d left it longer.

Here I’ve added the first colour of glitter. TIP: Press down on the glitter to help it stick to the adhesive. You can see there is no glitter yet on the snowflake. The last step is to remove the snowflake and repeat with the last colour of glitter. Don’t forget to press it down too. This can be done with strips of various widths of adhesive. You could do multiple shapes and colours too. It’s a great technique for one layer cards!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

Enjoy, Rebecca

One Little Word

Have you heard about this? I believe Ali Edwards started this, the latest craze out there. Forget New Year’s resolutions. Instead, choose a word that embodies not only things you’d like to accomplish but how you’d like to BE for the next year.

Think about it. It might take a while. Some of the following words are popular. Family. Love. Improve. Believe. Give. Live.

Mine, well I chose ORGANIZE. Not ORGANIZED because it is never finished, in the past, all done. And not just my house, rooms, closets, shelves or drawers. My mind, my day-to-day life. My money, my commitments.

I’ve already started. I’ve found some new organizers to replace the hodge-podge of containers on my craft desk. I’ve reorganized some of my craft shelves which weren’t too bad to start with. I’ve created some new storage from recycled items (to come when I ORGANIZE the design team work that made them a two-fer) that aren’t just functional but down right pretty.

The bigger projects are still coming up. My bedroom is a disaster. My overflow craft storage space is NUTS! My 3 yo son’s room isn’t liveable because it is too cluttered with his brother’s hand-me-downs (good thing he still sleeps in our bed and plays downstairs). My basement isn’t just cluttered, or messy or nasty. It is an ABOMINATION! But that requires hubby’s help and his word of the year is NOT Organize! (He doesn’t have one, can you believe that! LOL)

The hardest project of all. Yes, there is one worse than an abominable basement. Organize my mind. I need to remember to study the Bible with my kids, several times a week because they can’t sit for the recommended hour at once; maybe even every day! Prioritize what needs to be done most and do it first which includes design team work, Swap-Bot and cards that need to be mailed. Get used to leaving EARLY for things and not leaving EVERYTHING to the last minute. Keep track of things going on at school. Check in with my friends at a reasonable hour because I am a night owl and they are not. Get in bed at a decent hour and not watch TV until it is tomorrow.

It all takes organizing. I think I’ll make a list of things I’ve accomplished, no matter how small and keep you updated as I go. Of course, to remember to do that, well, it takes organizing. {{{SIGH}}}.

So what is your word?

With a determined spirit,
Rebecca

Fabulous News!!!

I was chosen for the OCC design team! Yeah! I’ve tried out for this team before but I was finally chosen! I am so excited!!! I start next Friday! I hope you will join me in playing the challenges! Check us out at Our Creative Corner!

Rebecca

Fabric ATCs-Tea Time!

I made these for a fabric ATC challenge. I’d never made ATCs using this much fabric before so I wanted to try it out. I used some scraps from an apron my mom made. It was supposed to  be mine but the pattern had a shaped chest area and it made up quite small so no room for my ample bosom! She’ll make me another but for now, I get to play with the scraps!

The embroidery on the right one was already done, for the left, the trim was already sewn to the  lower fabric. They were so fun and easy to make. So if you know someone who sews, hit them up for some great scraps!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Fabric: Amy Butler
Accessories: buttons: PTI and stash, ribbon-stash

Pretty Pink Bird Challenge Card

It’s been a while but it seems I’m back into doing challenges again. I kinda go in spurts! This one is for The Shabby Tea Room’s sketch challenge, also for the Our Creative Corner a.k.a OCC Design Team search challenge and the Crazy 4 Challenges inspiration challenge!

I knew I wanted to use a bird for the OCC challenge so I dug out some Basic Grey porcelain chipboard pieces and layered them. The frame lead me to the idea of cutting a hole in the center of the card so show the inside. I love how it looks with the music paper behind! Granted there is little to no room for a message but oh well!! I changed around the location of the sketch elements and omitted the middle panel but I’m sure it is close enough!

Guess where I got that rose? You won’t be able to figure out which store because I made it! Yep, I used the 5 petal flower dies from Heartfelt Creations, split the layers of cardstock for the white petals, embossed all of the petals and assembled them all according to a genius YouTube video. I don’t have the link handy but if anyone wants it, just email me. She has figured out how to copy so many fabulous store-bought Prima type flowers. I am not nearly as fast as her, this one took me an hour, so they are only for special cards but I think this one was worth it. Maybe I’ll get faster as I made more. The rose is much whiter and brighter IRL but I had to darken the photo to show the detail, the white blows out very easily.

The stick pin is really just a head pin used for jewellery making. I like them better because they are WAY cheaper, they come in varying lengths, they don’t have sharp points and unlike some stick pins, they are thin enough for almost all beads to thread on nicely. You can also get them with pretty heads though I don’t have any right now.

I dyed the seam binding ribbon myself using Copic markers RV10 and R20. I know, one of those is a purplish pink and the other is peachy. But because they are both so pale, they seem to work together. I colour lightly and streaky with the one marker, then go back and fill in the lightest areas with the other marker. Then I spray some alcohol ink on my hands then scrunch the ribbon tightly in my hands which helps blend the colours, but not too much as I wanted some variegation. Then I lay it out to dry which takes almost no time.

The background DP was too bright by itself, which I found strange since it is from the same line of paper, so I layered vellum over it. I have to say, getting all 4 papers lined up with even borders and even scallops AND all matched at the center circle was quite a feat since I couldn’t send everything through at once! But it was worth the work! I am thrilled with how it turned out.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: Music Scrapblock (hard to see, on card base)
Paper: Basic Grey Porcelain, sweet blush CS-PTI, chocolate CS-SU!, vellum, vintage music paper-stash,
Ink: Vintage Photo, Antique Linen Distress, Sweet blush-PTI
Accessories: lace-stash, flower-handmade, chipboard-Basic Grey, Copic markers R20,22, RV10, PTI scalloped edge die, head pin-Michaels, 1/2 pearls-Dollarama, pearl beads-SU! pretties kit, pink Czech bead-That Bead Lady, seam binding ribbon-Etsy, Circle Nestabilities

Cutesy Cupcake ATC

Another Swap-Bot creation! I just love cupcakes though I’m not so fond of the ones with faces (sorry Taylor) and I’m kinda picky about the shape of the icing too. This set of stamps from Basic Grey is perfect.

The adorable borders are from Doodlebug Designs I think, they were already glittered. The sprinkles are stamped and then I added Quickie Glue Pen and glitter! Since then I’ve gotten the 24 set of fine MS glitter and I can’t wait to use it. Even better, I got it with a 50% off coupon, it is normally $39.99 here in Canada!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Basic Grey
Ink: pretty in pink,  chocolate-SU!, chestnut ColorBox chalk ink
Paper: Pink pirouette, cocoa, white-SU!, hibiscus burst-PTI
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow,  borders-Doodlebug Designs, Art Institute Glitter

Capella Card for Unscripted Sketches

I needed a card for a very sick friend who recently found out she has a very aggressive form of cancer. I gotta say, no fun writing out that one. But with this sketch and some new paper, I made the outside work at least.

The sentiment was especially hard but I found a sheet of 12” long  stickers, all in strips, with several phrases per strip. I thought this one was perfect AND unexpectedly, matched the paper. I mean, how often does that happen?

http://unscriptedsketches.com/2011/01/unscripted-sketches-88/

The chipboard flourish is sprayed with Glimmer Mist, although you can’t see it, it is sparkly IRL. I added the pearls, I love getting them at the dollar store because I don’t feel guilty using so many!

The card base is a gatefold card. The main panel is glued on the left and the sentiment is adhered on the right, then tucks under the cute little clippie thing. You won’t believe where I got the flowers. I found a cute headband at Reitman’s, a business casual women’s store here in Canada. They were $5 so I left them. Then I found them for $1.99 when I went back so I bought 3! Each has about 10” of ribbon roses, 2 rows wide!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Paper: Capella-Basic Grey, ivory, blush CS-SU!
Ink: Antique Linen Distress ink
Accessories: headband ribbon, pearls-Kaisercraft, Dollarama, chipboard flourish-stash, Glimmer Mist-Tattered Angels, foam dots-Jody Morrow, clippie thing-Making Memories, ticket corner punch-SU!