Today Was A Good Day

Today was a good day.   First, I got to sleep in until 9 AM!  I've had to get up very early every day this week as I have been teaching the training class at work.  After I feed the cats, I check my email and read any updates on the blogs that I follow.  I participated, for the first time, at the Catered Crop Recipe with Brads Challenge.  I submitted the card I made for my sister, Laura, for her birthday.   Well, they posted the winners and my name was on the list!  I am so excited!  I get to be a Top Chef Designer in next Sunday's Quickfire.  The new challenge is using kraft.  You can check out the details here.  This will be a fun one for me, as I love using paper sacks!

Then my nephew, Dave, brought my sister over to visit today.  We haven't seen each since the hospital.  She looks really good, still a little weak and slow, but she is getting better every day.  We went and had the best pizza in town, and then to Violette's, the best scrapbook store ever!  While we were there, the owner, Diana, was unpacking boxes of awesome stuff.  She is now carrying Magnolia Stamps.  They just received an order from My Favorite Things.  I was able to pick up a few new goodies, I wanted much much more, but I behaved. 

Today was the inspiration for this card.  I covered some tags with designer paper.  Then, I just used some embellishments from my stash to give each tag a unique look.  A crocheted flower, a button wreath and a rosette were used as the focal point for each tag.  The tags are hung "clothesline" style on some baker's twine with mini clothespins that I "blinged" up with some pearls.

Hope you had a good day, too!

Supplies:

Stamps:   Papertrey Ink-Flower Fusion #1

Ink:  Versafine

Paper:  Wasau, The Paper Studio, K & Company

Misc:  Baker's twine, pearls, buttons, crocheted flower, pearl swirl, carnival ticket, Nestabilities, mini clothespins, sewing machine, button wreath, Cat's Pajamas Easy Rosette Die, tags, DMC embroidery floss and pearl cotton

Thanks for stopping by,

Spray Starch Tags

I am the trainer for the new servers at the restaurant that is my "day" job.  Yesterday, I decided to try something new and we had a scavenger hunt for items that often our guests ask for, but are not usual things that we serve.  They did an excellent job, and I thought a prize was certainly in order.  Since, I love making tags and love personalizing gifts, I went to work.  I made a simple tag with my Cricut and then covered it with this pretty polka dotted paper.  Then, I adhered a Martha Stewart doily.  I've been working on some larger crocheted flowers and added a felt leaf.  The flower center was made with a button and a  baker's twine bow.  I personalized the tag using some alphabet beads and added a few little heart stickers.

Our Managers are  stickler's for our uniforms to be pressed and our shirts have defined creases.  The best way to achieve this look is to use spray starch.  So, I picked up a few cans and tied my tags right onto the cans with a pretty bow.

The girls loved their tags and the extra starch for their uniforms.  I even got a high five from one of Managers for a job well done!

Supplies:

Paper:  Theresa Collins, Wasau

Misc:  Crochet flower, button, baker's twine, heart stickers, alphabet beads, Martha Stewart doily, ribbon, felt, Cricut Tags Bags Boxes & More Cartridge

Thanks for stopping by,

Thank You Butterflies

Here is a quick thank you card I made for one of my Mom's friends who sent me a box of get well chocolates.

I punched out the butterflies two times each out of vellum and once out of designer paper.  I sewed through the layers in the center of the butterflies and added a button tied with DMC floss.  I "fluffed" up the layers on each butterfly to give them a little extra dimension.  Here is the side view:

Somebody wanted to be in the picture!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink-Fillable Frames #5

Paper:  Echo Park, My Mind's Eye, Wasau

Ink:  Stamps by Judith, VersaMagic

Misc:  Papertrey Ink Fillable Frames #5 die, crocheted heart, buttons, pop up dots, DMC floss, butterfly punch

Thanks for stopping by,

Catered Crop Recipe Swap with Brads

I am participating in the Catered Crop Recipe Swap with Brads Challenge this week.  You can find all the details here.  This is also the birthday card that I made for my sister. 

The paper is Cosmo Cricket Odds & Ends.  The pennant banner was made using the Cat's Pajamas Pennant Die which I sewed together.  The little stars are my brads.

The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Limitless Labels which I stamped on a strip of ledger paper.  I finished my card off with some paper punched flowers, baker's twine and a button.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink-Limitless Labels

Ink:  Tim Holtz, Stamps by Judith

Paper:  Cosmo Cricket, Bazzill

Misc:  pop up dots, star brads, sewing machine, baker's twine, button paper punches

Thanks for stopping by,



Bunny Tags

Here are a few more Easter treat holders that I made.  I have saved all of the boxes that my Paertrey Ink Stamps have come in, in hopes of using them someday.  Today is one of those days.  I thought they would be perfect to package some goodies.

I placed some kraft paper shred in the box and then filled it with some candy. 

Then, I went about making the tag.  First, I adhered a paper doily on the top and wrapped some dyed seam binding around the box.  I made the tag using the Tags, Bags, Boxes & More Cricut Cartridge.  I had some pom pom trim in my stash, and I thought it would look good on my tag.  The bunny is a  4 X 4 Rabbit Quickutz Die that I've had for several years, but had never used!  I sponged some Tim Holtz Tea Dye ink around the edges of the bunny and glued a pom pom on his tail.  With a leftover scrap of my seam binding, I tied a tiny bow on his neck.  I stamped the recipient's names on a strip of cardstock, sponged it with some lavender ink, and added a glitter outline to help it stand out.  To finish the tag off, I just adhered a button tied with some DMC floss to the center of the bow.

Close up of the tag:

Supplies:

Stamps:  JoAnn Fabrics-Alphabet

Ink:  Memento

Paper:  Recollections, Bazzill, Little Chicks by Reminisce

Misc:  Doily, pom pom, pom pom trim, dyed seam binding, Quickutz Rabbit Die, button, DMC floss, pop up dots, glitter pen, clear acetate box, Tags Bags Boxes & More Cricut Cartridge, paper shred, candy

Thanks for stopping by,

Easter Treat Bags

I made up these quick Easter Treat Bags for the nieces and nephews using my scrap tags.  I'm in a rush to get my Easter goodies done, as I ended up in the hospital last week for a blood transfusion!  They say what ever can go wrong, does go wrong.  Laura and I were both in the hospital, both getting blood, but an hour apart!  Our poor parents, we certainly worried them last week.  I missed a few shifts at work, so I have been working extra hours to make them up.  It's been a crazy week.



I just used some paper lunch sacks and filled them up some paper shred and candy.  A large doily was folded over the top of the bag.  I used the bunny from the Dandelion Designs CL-5 Happy Easter Set.  The belly of the bunny was paper pieced and the face was colored with Copics.  I traced around bunny with a glitter pen to add a little dimension.  The bunny was cut out and adhered with pop up dots to the tag.  I added a button, a little baker's twine and glittered chipboard letter to each tag.  To attach the tag to the bag with a small clothespin that I Modge Podged with some matching paper.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Dandelion Designs-CL-5 Happy Easter Set

Ink:  Memento

Paper:  Recollections, Making Memories, K & Company, Papertrey Ink, Echo Park, Martha Stewart, Bazzill

Misc:  Paper lunch sack, Copics, pop up dots, small clothespins, doilies, glitter chipboard letters, baker's twine, buttons, tags, sewing machine, glitter pen, Modge Podge, Papertrey Ink Fillable Frames #5 Die

Thanks for stopping by,

Hoppy Easter Boxes

Here is my version of Easter Baskets for my Dad and Stepmother this year.  I'm always looking for new and fun ways to package gifts.  So, I thought I would use Becky Robert's Valentine Box Tutorial for an Easter Treat.  You can find her tutorial on her blog, Inking Idaho, here.  The are very easy and fun to make. 

To make the tag, I used the Cracked Up Bunny stamp by Purple Onion.  I stamped the bunny twice, colored it with Copics, layered it foam tape, and did a little paper piecing.  The tag is cut from Nestabilities and the grass is cut using a My Favorite Things Die-Namics.

When I went to make the dividers, I made a mistake scoring, so instead of throwing it out and starting over, I just made an extra divider for more candy!  I put some paper shred in the the little dividers and then added my candy.

I used some elastic gold cord to hold the lid on the box.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Purple Onion Designs-Cracked Bunny, Jo Ann Fabrics-Alphabet

Ink:  Versafine, Memento, Tim Holtz

Paper:  Recollections, My Mind's Eye, K & Company, Wasau

Misc:  Clear acetate, pop up tape, paper punch, Papertrey Ink Double Ended Banner Die, My Favorite Things Grass Die-Namic, Nestabilties Tag Die, Copics, gold elastic cord, paper shred, candy, Scor-Pal, jute, oval paper punch

Thanks for stopping by,

Scrap Tags

Here are a few tags I made up using some scraps of paper I have in my stash.  I cut the tags out using my Cricut.  Then, I just adhered some strips of different designer papers and a die cut from Papertrey Ink Fillable Frames #3 Die.  A little machine stitching and they were done.

Thanks for stopping by,

Easter Pillow Boxes

My poor sister is back in the hospital again.  She had an unexpected complication and within 3 days of her release, she was rushed back to ICU.  It's been a very scary week for us, but she is slowly on the mend, thank goodness. 

I made these little pillowboxes with the Wrap It Up Cricut Cartridge and my Gypsy.  The stamps (both bunny and the sentiment) are from Dandelion Designs.  I colored the bunny using Copics.   I wrapped a doily around the pillow box and then attached a little scalloped rectangle I cut using the Papertrey Ink Fillable Frames #3 Die.  A little baker's twine and a button completed my pillow box.

 

Supplies:

Stamps:  Dandelion Designs-Bunny and Sentiment

Ink:  Versafine, Memento

Paper:  Echo Park, Recollections

Misc:  Cricut Wrap It Up Cartridge, doily, pop up dots, baker's twine, button, Copics, Papertrey Ink Fillable Frames #3 Die

Thanks for stopping by,

Vintage Style Library Card "Card"

 I think I've had the Coluzzle Library Card Template and Stamp for a zillion years now, I finally dusted it off and used it!  I stamped on the card on a piece of pink cardstock.  For the pocket/envelope, I did some minor surgery on a medium glassine bag to accommodate my card.  A few doilies, crocheted flowers, a little seam binding, a little bling and my card was done.

Supplies:

Stamps: Coluzzle-Library Card

Ink:  Versafine

Paper:  My Mind's Eye, Bazill, Recollections

Misc:  Crochet flowers, buttons Papertrey Ink Double Banner Die, Recollections Rhinestone Swirl, seam binding, circle paper punch, doilies, glassine bag, lace

Thanks for stopping by,

Bunny Mason Jar

I thought up this idea while I was waiting at the hospital for my sister to get out of surgery.  Laura introduced me to rubber stamping/scrapbooking/papercrafting world a few years ago. 

I had some leftover mason jars, so with my Cricut and some paper punches, I made this Easter Bunny.  Then, I thought that the Papertrey Ink Jar die would make the perfect tag.  I used the smaller jar die to make the tag.  I stamped the jar outline on both sides of the paper.  Again, a few paper punches and my Cricut, I made my little bunny head for the tag.  On the back of the tag, I added a little pom pom for the tail so it would look like the jar.  I stamped her name on a strip of paper and added a button.  The tag is attached to the bow with a mini clothespin that I sponged with some white ink to give it a white washed appearance.

The back of the tag:

I filled the jar with some paper shred and a bunch of candy.



Supplies:

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink-Summer Friendship Jar Fillers, Joann Fabrics-Alphabet

Ink:  Versafine, Colorbox

Paper:  Recollections, Echo Park

Misc:  Pom poms, ribbon fabric square, pop up dots, Cricut Bags, Tags & More Cartridge, mason jar, paper punches, mini clothespin, candy, paper shred, sticky strip, black Sharpie pen, pink chalk

Thanks for stopping by,

Another Button Card

Here is another little gift I made for my sister. My brother in law and I are in the waiting room while she has her surgery.

I bought this little pail at the Target Dollar Spot, I think last Christmas. It is filled with some Easter Pretzel M & M's.  The tag is made using the Papertrey Ink Button Boutique stamp/die set.  The flower stems are from the Flower Fusion #1 set.  I cut the button card out of a chipboard coaster as well as the piece of clear acetate.  To jazz up my button card/tag a little I tied a pretty white shear bow on the handle.  The sentiment, from the Papertrey Ink Spring Friendship Jar Fillers, is stamped onto a little tag.  The tag is attached to the bow with pearl "bedazzled" mini clothespin.

For the top, I cut a little doily with a Martha Stewart punch.  I added a few more little pearls and another crocheted flower.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink-Spring Friendship Jar Fillers and Button Boutique

Ink:  Versafine, Memento

Paper:  My Mind's Eye

Misc:  Ribbon, clear bucket, tiny clothespin, pearls, pop up dots, crocheted heart and flowers, pop up dots, paper punch, chipboard coaster, clear acetate

Thanks for stopping by,

MFTWSC62-Emma and Her Backpack

Here is my entry for the Weekly Sketch Challenge over at My Favorite Things.    You can find all of the details here.  This weeks sketch is:

I made this card for my sister, Laura, who is also a teacher.  She is having surgery on Monday.  I'm going to bring it to her when I go visit.

I used the Emma and Her Backpack set for this card.  I colored Emma with Copics and then paper pieced her dress and backpack. Diamond Glaze was added to her shoes.   I wanted to add a pencil fence, but since I didn't have a fence die (and since I'm trying not to spend any extra money because I am planning on moving soon), I used my Stampin' Up Word Window Punch to make all of the little pencils.

Supplies:

Stamps:  My Favorite Things-Emma and Her Backpack

Ink:  Versafine, Memento, Tim Holtz

Paper:  Graphic 45-An ABC Primer

Misc:  Copics, Stampin' Up Word Window Punch, DMC Floss, heart punch Diamond Glaze, pop up dots

Thanks for stopping by,

Buttons and Butterflies Kit/Etsy Shop Update

***The kits are now listed in my Etsy Shop***

I had so much fun making the button cards for the Buttons and Butterflies Cards post, that I decided to whip up some quick kits for my Etsy Shop.

Each kit comes with:

*1 Button Card with four handmade embellishments

*2 Small Clothespins

*3 yds. of hand dyed yellow seam binding

* 4 Tags ( 1 large white, 1 small white, 1 large yellow, 1 small yellow)

*2 Banner labels in aqua

*2 layered butterfly vellum embellishments, 1 yellow and 1 aqua

*1 vellum bag (2 1/2 inches x 6 3/4 inches)

* 1 white paper sack  (4 inches x 6 3/4 inches)

*Each kit is packed in a small kraft paper sack (6 1/4 inches x 10 inches)

For some reason, I can't count, so there are a few extra tags in each of the kits, but they are not pictured there.  Each Button and Butterfly Card is individually and uniquely made, so they are all a little different.

Here is a little tag I made using the crocheted flower.  I used some the flowers from the Papertrey Ink Vintage Picnic stamp set and some white ink to stamp the background on the yellow tag.  Using some scraps of paper from my stash, I layered on them on the edge of the small white tag.  I stamped the sentiment from an A Muse stamp on one of the banner strips, wrapped it around the tag.  The small clothespin was covered with a strip of paper (again from my stash) and covered with a little Modge Podge.   I added some Hershey Miniatures into the the vellum bag and attached it to the tag with my clothespin.  Easy!

For this tag, I used the same flower stamp to stamp the background onto the large white tag.   I added a little machine stitching to the bottom of the yellow tag.  The sentiment from the Papertrey Ink Button Boutique stamp set was  stamped on one of the banners.  I trimmed the banner down and re-cut the notch to make the banner to fit the tag.  I used one of the layered vellum butterfly embellishments on this tag and added a button for the center.  This tag was attached to the white paper sack using a clothespin that I also covered with some scraps and Modge Podge.

Now, if you want to give this kit a gift or you want to re-use the paper bag that the kit was packed in, here is an example.  I used a border punch to add a decorative edge to the top of the paper bag.  I wrapped  a piece of the hand dyed seam binding around the bag and tied the button card onto the front.  Then, I added one of the layered vellum butterflies to the center of the bow.

These are just a few ideas, but the possibilities are countless!  There are a limited number of these kits, once they are gone...they are gone!  I will be listing them in my Etsy Shop today, so make sure you check back later.

Thanks for stopping by,

Butterflies and Button Cards

I'm totally "hooked" on crocheting these little flowers and hearts.  I thought they would look perfect with the Papertrey Ink Button Boutique Button Cards.  The button cards were cut with the matching die and stamped.  Then a clear piece of acetate was cut using the die, the embellishments are attached to the acetate, so they can be used on another project.  Make sense?  No, but I got the idea from Maile Belles, you can check out her instructions here.

Here are a few projects/gift ideas I made using the button card embellishments:

Supplies:

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink-Button Boutique, A Muse-To One Of My Favorite Peeps

Ink:  Stamps by Judith, Versafine

Paper:  Papertrey Ink, Wasau, October Afternoon, K & Company, Bazzill, Recollections

Misc:  Paper sack, vellum bag, mini clothespins, crocheted flowers and hearts, seam binding, clear acetate, pop up dots, buttons, baker's twine, pearls, Papertrey Ink double banner die, Modge Podge, DMC floss, paper punches

Thanks for stopping by,

Swiss Miss Rosalie

Here is a card I made up yesterday before I went to work.  It's kind of hard to tell in the picture, but the polka dotted paper in the background is a mint green and the button matches.  I still have not mastered how to take pictures of pink/red, they just don't come very good (insert sad face here!).

Supplies:

Stamps:  C.C. Designs:  Swiss Miss Rosalie, Papertrey Ink:  Friendship Jar Spring Fillers

Ink:  Versafine, Memento

Paper:  Jilli Bean Soup, Bazzill, My Mind's Eye

Misc:  Nestabilities, button, baker's twine, My Favorite Things Fish Tail Banner Die, lace, seam binding, pop up dots, Copics

Thanks for stopping by,