World Card Making Day: Card Class Projects

Just a quick post with a picture of the cards we made at my class yesterday. Everyone made 2 of each card.

I had all of my sentiment stamp sets available, so everyone could create whatever type cards they needed for upcoming special occasions. The techniques we used were Rock-n-Roll, Watercoloring and Heat Embossing.

If you like the idea of making cards to add to your stash and would be interested in attending an all-occasion card class, please let me know. Get a few of your friends together and we can plan a class around your schedules. Other class options are: tumbled tile coasters and other gift projects, Christmas cards, scrapbooking or any type of technique that you've seen and would like to learn how to do... including any of the projects you've seen posted on my blog!

Happy Stampin!

Meet Sheldon!

This must be kept a secret, but I want to share my latest completed creation with you... SHELDON!

He is a knitted turtle that I made for my youngest son, Nicholas' birthday that is coming up on the 17th. Ever since Aunt Ruth gave Nicholas her own knitted version of Sheldon this past summer, Nicholas has felt that I should make him one too... along with interchangeable shells, of course. You see, Sheldon is unique in that his shell was made separately from his body so it can come off.

Perhaps one day I will make "my" Sheldon shells for all the seasons and other occasions, but for now, he has sort of a camo shell. As you can see, he sort of blends in with the grass when he's outside. After all the work I put in to making him, I sure hope Nicholas doesn't let him get loose in the grass and.... gasp! God forbid, he get lost!

**RED SCARF UPDATE** While I'm talking knitting, I might as well tell you how the red scarf is going. I have about 24" done so far. That's over 1/3 of the way done! Now that I'm done with Sheldon, I can devote more time to the scarf. I am getting close to using up the first of two skeins of yarn... so I know I'm getting close to being half done!

For my stampin friends, don't worry, I'm still stampin!

• I made my mom a birthday card and mailed it off yesterday.
• I'm working on making an altered journal for my niece's birthday. (shhh, don't tell her!)
• I am also working on my swap cards for Regionals.
• AND, in honor of World Card Making Day (which was officially last Saturday), I have a card class tomorrow!

I will be sure to share pictures of some of my stampin projects soon.

Happy Stampin & Knittin!

Framed Notes: Dry Erase Board

I just have to share this fabulous idea with you! While browsing Splitcoaststampers.com, I found the awesome idea to create a dry erase board out of a picture frame!
Here's my version:

I found the 8" x 9" frame on the clearance rack at Target for less than $4! It was a little chipped up, so I sanded the edges to give it a little rustic look and used a sharpie marker to fill in the bigger chips. The paper I used is Juntos from the Celebrando Creatividad (Spanish Supplement) catalog--I just love the colors of this paper! The flowers are from the Inspired by Nature set (stamped in Always Artichoke). "NOTES" is cut out of chipboard and designer paper with the Serif Essentials dies and the Big Shot die cut machine. The dry erase marker is tied on with Always Artichoke 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon. It's a very easy project--wouldn't it make a great gift? This one happens to be a gift for myself... :)

Autumn Leaves Card

Awhile back I told you that I came up with my swap card for a special demonstrator dinner that I will be going to in October and that I couldn't post a picture of it until after the event. Even though I love it, the creative perfectionist in me made me realize that it wasn't the right card for this swap. Some of the reasons include: The fact that I don't know yet how many people will be participating in the swap and I only have so many of the Designer Labels. It's also a fall themed card that uses an older set (With Gratitude) which limits the time my fellow demonstrators can use it as a sample for their businesses. My goal was to design a card around a stamp set that is new in the Fall-Winter IBC.

Well, I have been trying to create "the perfect card" for the swap before I totally toss this card idea out the window (so to speak)... and it finally happened today! What does that mean to you??? I get to share the original card with you! Here it is:

Here's a close-up so you can see the dimension:

There's nothing saying that I won't be making more of these cards to send out to family and friends between now and Thanksgiving. :)

In case you were wondering, here are the supplies I used:
Stamps:
With Gratitude
Sanded
Card Stock/Designer Paper:
Naturals Ivory
Always Artichoke (craft & classic ink)
Mellow Moss
Really Rust
Junto DSP (from the Spanish Supplemental Catalog: Celebrando Creatividad)
Punches:
1/16" circle (for the brads)
1" circle
Designer Label
Scallop Edge
Other Accessories:
Big Shot & Leaves #2 die
Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware (Designer Label Holder & brads)
1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon - Always Artichoke
Linen Thread
Sponge
Clear Embossing Powder
Heat Tool

As far as my "final" swap card goes, you'll have to wait until after October 24 to see!

Happy Stampin!

Another Non-Stampin' Project: Screen Tote

Last week, I went to a Stitch & Gab group at Fran's house. This group was very diverse in the projects they were working on. There were ladies cross stitching, knitting, crocheting, sewing, smocking and one lady was even clipping coupons. Well, I had never met Fran or most of the other sweet ladies in the group before that day--this is a military spouses group.

Fran showed us a purse she made out of pet window screen. Another lady, Genean, mentioned that she would love to learn how to make one and Fran offered to teach her. Being a bag-obsessed multi-crafter, I asked if she'd be willing to teach me too and Fran said "Sure!" We ended up meeting on Sunday for the class and I made a large bag--which is more of a tote. I plan on using it for a project bag (knitting, card making, whatever I happen to be working on).
Here it is:

Now, keep in mind that this purse/tote/bag is made out of pet (vinyl) window screen with fabric panels. It is super durable and stands up on its own--perfect for knitting! I still need to find a button for the top closure, but I'm not waiting for that to start using it! I will be proudly showing it off at my Stitch & Bitch group tomorrow night (this is a different group of mostly knitters that I met online).


I promise to post a stampin' related project soon! :)

Creative Hair Craft?

During a recent trip to Austin, Texas, we took a tour of the state capital and visitor's center. I was walking along enjoying the workmanship of the vintage hand stitched clothing, beautifully made quilts and then I got to THIS (click on the picture to get a closer look):

The placard reads: "In the 1880's, women often used their hair as a medium for making jewelry as well as home decorations. These items served as mementos of family and friends."

Now, I'll admit that the details of this piece are amazing and I have been known to recycle just about anything for a craft project... but HAIR???!

I'd love to hear if anyone reading this has made something out of human hair... anyone?

By the way, as a knitter and a shedding pet owner, I have seriously considered taking up spinning to utilize all the fur that floats around the hardwood floors of our house. I'm not sure how well dog and cat fur spin into yarn... but it's been a thought I've had. :)

Have a great weekend! Do something creative today!

Workshop Success!

Well, we had a fun time stampin' last night! The group of ladies that came to my workshop were somewhat (or very) new to stamping, so I'm glad I kept my projects simple. Here's what we made:

The hardest step for them was lining up the scallop edge punch. It can definitely be tricky. The key is to use the scallop edge guide (silver picture of the scallop edge) once you've made the first punch. If you don't, there's no tellin' what your scallops will look like... or if they'll even end up scalloped! But, once you've mastered the punch, it sure does make for a pretty edge!

I did do one more step on my card after I took this picture. I used the 1/16" circle punch to make little eyelets in each scallop. You can't really see it on this picture, but the right inside edge of the card has a strip of Naturals White card stock to create a contrast with the scallop edge.

Well, I have to rush off to knit on my red scarf with a new Stitch and Gab group! I'm at a point where hopefully too much gabbing won't make me mess up on the pattern. :)

Happy Stampin... and Knittin!