~ Parting Gifts

 

So, this is my last week at my current job.  Far be it for me not to have one last share of my craftiness before I go.  I made candy goody bags for the co-workers in MILCON and special bags with extra stuff for my branch.  I wanted to make use of my latest Fiskars punch in my projects since I wasn’t able to teach a class using it. =(  We have a long-standing “purple Thursday” in MILCON so I had custom buttons made by the awesome Emily Adams.

The bags below are filled with other good stuff are what I’m giving to the ladies in my branch.  There is a prolific amount of lilac and honeydew twine from The Twinery, which I totally love!  The bags were 59 cent gift bags I bought from Target and embellished.

Goody bag supplies:

• flat plastic bags, Dum Dums, Smarties, Kit Kats
• My Mind’s Eye – patterned paper
• The Twinery – twine
• Tim Holtz – mini staples
• Emily Adams – custom buttons

Gift bag supplies:

• Fancy Pants – patterned paper
• The Twinery – twine
• Tim Holtz – tissue tape
• American Crafts – ribbon
• Tim Holtz – mini staples

 

 

~ Fiskateer Secret Agent Challenge – Fall Gatherings Border Punch

I was a lucky girl when Fiskateer Rebecca picked me for a secret mission involving a black frame and the new limited edition Fall Gatherings Border Punch.  My finished project is shown above.  Click on the following PDF for details on how to make this project – Secret Agent 003703.  Happy fall, y’all!

P.S.  The winner of my Twilight Bracelet blog contest is Anna Hong!  Congrats, lady!  I will hold another contest soon so stay tuned, Twilight lovers!

~ Treat Boxes, Card Class and Flowers (oh my…)

Wow!  What a busy day it was today, full of fun moments in between meetings, conference calls, emails, etc. 

First thing this morning, I feverishly finished putting bows on the treat boxes I made the night before and delivered them to my co-workers’ cubbies.  I made each of the boxes from scratch and filled them with lollipops and chocolate. 

  

At lunchtime, I taught my first Fiskars class of the year.  Heavy emphasis on border punches, we made Valentine’s cards.  Thanks to my co-workers – Linda, Janet, Danielle, Intern Mildred, John and Yoram for joining the class today!

When I got home, hubby was out running errands.  Little did I know he was out buying me flowers for Valentine’s Day.  OMG!  Do you know how long it has been since he’s given me flowers?  Like since before we were married!  What a nice surprise.  Thank  you, Brian–you’re the best!  (hee hee)  I’ll post another picture when the lilies are in full bloom.

~ 2009 Layered Flower Calendar

I was going to use this little calendar project on the Zutter site at the end of the month but decided to post it on my blog instead! =)  I love the simple but bold colors of this 4″ x 4″ square desk calendar.  The flowers are made from layering Fiskars Oopsie Daisy Squeeze Punches.  Can’t tell you the name of the parchment paper I used for the months of the calendar.  I picked up a bunch of it at an office supply store years ago in Nola, a small town at the foot of Mount Vesuvius.

Stuff:  patterned paper, ribbon – Foof-a-la; acrylic covers and o-wire – Zutter/Bind-it-all; cardstock – Stampin’ Up; bling, chipboard letters – Heidi Swapp; gem – Doodlebug

~ Thanksgiving Card Class (Late WCMD Event)

I had another class at work today–a little late for World Card Making Day but close enough!  We made Thanksgiving-themed cards on Carolyn’s request.   Pictures of her, as well as Maureen, Janet and Dee are below in the slideshow.  Heavy emphasis today on Fiskars border punches.  The picture above and close-ups below are the cards I created as samples for the class.  I ended up giving my three samples away to co-workers who weren’t able to attend the class so that they can share with others. =)

 

Stuff:  cardstock – Stampin’ Up, patterned paper, cardstock and epoxy stickers, leaves – K & Co; ribbon – assorted manufacturers

~ You’re So Corny!

Guess what I got today in the mail from Fiskateer Nikki — a brand new Halloween squeeze punch that I named way back at the beginning of the summer.  I totally forgot about it and didn’t know until today that the name I submitted was chosen for the punch.  So, if you’re out there at the local scrapbook store and see the punch below, please think of me!  Happy (early) Halloween! =)

Fiskateer Wendy Jo’s posting about the new punches and who named them from July 15:  http://www.fiskateers.com/blog/2008/07/15/another-sneak-the-fiskateers-who-helped-name-them/

P.S.  My brother went in for his cancer surgery just a couple of hours ago.  I’m hoping to hear from my parents or my sis-in-law regarding his progress.  I spoke with him last night and he seemed in good spirits.  I’ll keep you posted.  Thanks all for your prayers and well-wishes.  I will pass them on to Jimmy when I speak to him soon.

~ Monkey Fun

Here is a small project I made for my daughter’s welcoming home.  She’s coming home this week from her summer vacation with my parents in Las Vegas.  She had asked me to make a mini album for her with these monkey papers a while back and I just got around to making it for her.

I kept the book simple in design so that my daughter can easily add photos or other keepsakes to it without much fuss.

  

Stuff:  patterned paper – Reminisce; cardstock – Bazzill; wire binding – Bind-it-All; ribbon – American Crafts, SEI and Wal-Mart, extra-large eyelets – We R Memory Keepers; alphabet stickers – Lil’ Davis Designs and American Crafts

~ My Fiskars Travel-themed Project

 

Hooray!  I’m a guest designer this month on Fiskars!  My travel-themed purse, mini album and clipboard projects are featured on the Fiskars Craft site (just newly posted today!).  Fiskateer (Legend) May sent me the Away We Go paper collection from Li’l Davis Designs and asked for a Fiskars tool-heavy project and this is what I came up with.  This one is a keeper–I don’t think I’ll give this set of projects away like so many of my others. =)  

 

 

Please go to this link and view the project details, steps and a downloadable PDF:  http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/projects/t_travel0808.aspx

Oh, one last note–I completed this project after I had fallen down my stairs leading to the first floor.  You just can’t keep a crafter down–hobbling but not down!  The calf pain was sharp (now a dull annoyance) but I was still crafting!

Stuff:  wooden purse, clipboard – A.C. Moore; paper collection, embellishments – Li’l Davis Designs; stickers – Cloud9; cardstock – Stampin’ Up!; rings – 7 Gypsies; large eyelets – We R Memory Keepers

~ “Boo-tiful” Halloween Minibook & House

{Click on the picture for a closer look at the three different Fiskars punches used on the cover–Leave it to Weaver, Threading Water, Give it a Swirl.}

 

I love Halloween!  I couldn’t wait to finish this minibook and matching house and share it with you.  This is my second Bind-it-All project and I think I’m getting the hang of my new tool!  (Lea’s lesson–Don’t try to cram too-thick materials into your BIA if you want it to work for you.)  Though I love straight lines, I like the challenge of making odd-shaped projects like this one using a chipboard album from Crafty Secrets.  This mini is pretty full with pockets, acrylic tags and hanging cardstock tags.

 

{acrylic tag close-up}

 

{back and front of house}

 

 

{inner pages}

 

Stuff:  chipboard house – Michael’s; chipboard album – Crafty Secrets; paper collection, rub-ons, cardstock stickers, tags – Rusty Pickle; textured cardstock – Bazzill; alphabet stickers – American Crafts; ribbon and ink – Stampin’ Up!; ribbon – eFavor; extra large eyelets – We R Memory Keepers 

~ Wedding Card

I have a wedding to go to today and realized that I need a card!  Just made this card this morning to match the Engagement Mini Album a few posts down.

The little words are actually cut from the strips of the patterned paper you would normally discard.  How’s that for using your resources?  I used two Fiskars punches – Threading Water border punch and Read Between the Vines border and corner punch. 

 Close up of the words

Close up of the border and corner punch

Stuff:  cardstock – Bazzill; patterned paper – Cosmo Cricket; flowers – Prima; ribbon – Target; jewels – Doodlebug

~ Is there a dinosaur in the house?

Well, maybe there aren’t any dinosaurs inside but there sure are dinosaurs outside the house!  Here is another boy-themed craft, a paper mache house covered in the Basic Grey “Archaic” collection of patterned papers and chipboard stickers.

 

Click on each picture for a closer look.

Afternoon P.S. —  Basic Grey chose my dino house to include in their online gallery!  Hooray – here is the link – http://www.basicgrey.com/catalog/idea_gallery.php?cPath=81

Stuff:  paper mache box – no brand; paint – Making Memories; patterned paper and chipboard stickers – Basic Grey

~ Whatever!

I made this craft for Scrap Crazy Week on the Fiskateers site.  I covered an inexpensive wooden container with Making Memories paint, Cosmo Cricket “Get Happy” patterned paper and diecuts. 

This paper collection has a bit of an attitude.  I gave my little boy the choice of “You make me happy,” or “Whatever it is – I didn’t do it!”  You can see which one he picked. =)

Stuff:  wooden container – Michael’s; paint – Making Memories; patterned paper and die cuts – Cosmo Cricket; permanent marker – Bic 

 

~ Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

 

Here is my project for today’s “crafting holiday” — an acrylic minibook that I will be sending off to either my mom or my mom-in-law (don’t know which one yet!) as part of a Mother’s Day present.  I don’t know, maybe I’ll keep it for myself for Mother’s Day (yeah, that’s the ticket).  The Cosmo Cricket line “Love Notes” is sooooo pretty I might have too difficult a time giving this one up. =)  There is prominent use of Fiskars border, corner and circle punches throught the book as well as use of the Bo Bunny flex ruler on the cover. 

 

Pictures of my kids are brought to you via my mom-in-law’s birthday present to me–an Epson Picturemate printer!  Yay =)  No more long waits at the store or for online photo orders! 

Click on each picture for a better look.

Stuff:  acrylic – no name brand from my LSS; patterned paper, cardstock stickers, die cuts – Cosmo Cricket; flowers – Jolee’s Boutique; rings – 7 Gypsies; ribbon – Target; large and extra-large eyelets – We R Memory Keepers; ink – Stampin’ Up! 

~ “Pockets Full of Tags” Book

 

This project is a take on the “Perfect Pocketbook” class by Christy Tomlinson from Scrap-a-Faire.  The Gretel line from Cosmo Cricket “spoke” to me last night, beckoning me to make something of all its papers, tags and other goodies.   Each of the inner pages has a pocket and each pocket has a tag for journaling or to add extra pictures or other mementos.  

Finished book size is about 5 1/2 x 6 inches.  Lots of space for pictures, journaling or just adding mementos.  Click on each picture for a closer look.

  

Stuff:  patterned paper and tags – Cosmo Cricket; ink and ribbon – Stampin’ Up!; ring – 7 Gypsies; extra large eyelets – We R Memory Keepers 

~ Frame to match the Live Love Laugh Minibook

I was a busy bee!  Here is my second craft for the day–a matching photo frame to go with my Live Love Laugh Minibook that I posted a few days ago.  Both the frame and minibook feature the Cosmo Cricket line – Fleuriste, as well as a lot of alcohol-inking and Fiskars border punches.

Click on each picture for a closer look.

Stuff – frame – DecoArt; patterned paper – Cosmo Cricket; ribbon and ink – Stampin’ Up!; alcohol ink – Tim Holtz/Ranger; gems – Doodlebug

~ Tag Coaster Minibook

Here is my entry for Fiskalead May’s Mother’s Day craft.  This minibook is a combination of chipboard coasters and acrylic tags.

Stuff:  coasters – Rob & Bob Studio; acrylic – no brand from my LSS; patterned paper, stickers, chipboard embellishments – Little Yellow Bicycle; ring – 7 Gypsies; ribbon – eFavor

Click each picture for a closer look.

Update 05/26/08 – Pictures added to the book (see below).  Sorry about the poor lighting–I was in a hurry to snap these pix before leaving my mom-in-law’s house.

~ Lunchtime Bookmark Class

I had my second “demo” at work on Thursday and Friday this week.  Very heavy on Fiskars squeeze and embossing corner punches, we made acrylic bookmarks using Heidi Grace papers, stickers and rub-ons.  Alas, I didn’t make a video this time.  It just didn’t work out but here are pictures of some of my co-workers who came to enjoy a leisurely lunchtime of crafting and socializing.  It was a great time showing them the possibilities using the different tools. =)

Stuff:  acrylic – no brand from my local LSS; patterned paper, rub-ons, stickers – Heidi Grace; ribbon – Stampin’ Up!; eyelets – We R Memory Keepers

~ Live Laugh Love Minibook

Wow!  Has it really been a week since I last posted?  Bad Lea, bad!  So here is my latest, a 5×7 inch minibook which smacks of Tim Holtz (in a good way, of course!)  I was inspired by Irene’s alcohol-inked leaves.  I alcohol-inked a full 8×10 transparency and used pieces of it throughout the pages.  It has very little in the way of embellishments as the Cosmo Cricket paper, tags and sayings are perfect.  About the only additions are the stamping and Fiskars border punches.

 Click on each picture for a better look!

 

Close-up of the alcohol-inked transparency.

Stuff:  book board – 7 Gypsies; textured cardstock – Bazzill; patterned paper – Cosmo Cricket; alcohol ink, distressing ink and grungeboard – Tim Holtz/Ranger; extra large eyelets – We R Memory Crops; ink and ribbon – Stampin’ Up!; felt flower – Creative Imaginations; transparency

~ 2008 Calendar

I liked doing the 2009 calendar so much that I made another one for the current year.  This one has a very different style than the last one–kind of Tim Holtz “light”.  Still very square but threw in some curves in the way of Grungeboard, flowers and subtle Fiskars embossing corner punches.  

This project, though it is hard to see it in the pictures, is very glimmery. The book board, first layer of paper (glimmer misted, inked, crumpled) and grungeboard have been altered with combinations of Perfect Pearls, alcohol ink and distressing ink.  Scale – the book boards are 6 x 6 inches, the calendar stickers are on a 4 x 4 inch piece of patterned paper, mounted on a 4 1/2 inch piece of cardstock.

Stuff – book board, patterned paper and rings – 7 Gypsies; cardstock and flowers – Bazzill; chipboard – Grafix; alcohol ink, distressing ink, Perfect Pearls, Grungeboard – Tim Holtz/Ranger; calendar stickers – EK Success; crystal brads – Stampin’ Up!  

~ Birthday Card for Grandma

Here is the birthday card I made for my hubby’s mom.  This is a push-pull card.  There are tabs inside the card that come out from the sides when you pull the left tab.  To return the tabs to the “hidden” position, you push the tab on the right.  Click here for a tutorial that I read on Jen’s site – push-pull card.  I didn’t follow the measurements exactly.  I winged it for this project. 

Click on each picture for a closer look.

 

Stuff:  cardstock and flowers – Bazzill; patterned paper and stickers – Basic Grey; ribbon and crystal brads – Stampin’ Up!; extra large eyelet – We R Memory Keepers

P.S.  Happy Birthday to my mother-in-law – April 10

~ Butterfly Minibook

Here is the project I worked on today – a Tim Holtz-inspired 4″ x 4″ minibook.  I concocted a couple of glimmer mist mixtures using Tim’s recipe and spritzed all of the pages and cover. To tie everything together, I stamped and added Fiskars Oopsie Daisy Squeeze punch flowers.  The finishing touch is the inked and glittered Grungeboard butterfly. 

I am using this project in conjunction with a RAK I will be offering tonight on the SAF Friends chat scheduled for the Scrap-a-Faire Lounge #3 at 8 Eastern tonight.  You’ll have to show up at the chat to find out how to get a Fiskars Fingertip Control Kraft Knife!

Update 10pm – Congratulations to Rozette and Holly.  They both get a RAK mentioned above!  Hooray =) 

  

Stuff:  plain minibook pieces – Lineco; patterned paper and sticker – K & Company, glimmer mist – Perfect Pearls, Distress Ink Reinker and Grungeboard – TIm Holtz/Ranger; ink and buttons – Stampin’ Up!    

P.S. Happy Birthday to my sis-in-law, Karen – April 4! 

~ Fiskars V-Day Card Contest Prize

Aaaaaahhhh!  I finally got it!  Hooray!  It was sooo worth the wait!  I got a box today filled with lovely Cloud 9 and Fiskars goodies for the card I submitted to Fiskars for the 2008 Valentine’s Day Card Contest.  Click here to see the winning submission:  V Day Card

~ Easter Purse and Mini Album

 

Happy Easter, everyone!  I was inspired once again by Fiskalead May’s Lovely Challenge.  This project is a small purse with matching accordian mini album.  I used Fiskars scalloped deco scissors and one of the newer embossing border punches – A Dozen Roses.  I must emphasize and give snaps–use Glue Arts High Tac adhesive to keep chipboard pieces adhered together.  I really like how this one turned out and I hope my parents like this, too, because I’m sending it to them filled with pictures as soon as I get to printing! 

     

Click each of the thumbnails for a closer look. =) 

   

Update 03/26 – Just finished putting the pictures and embellishments in the accordian album and it is heartbreaking to give this project away!  It’s okay though, it’ll stay in the family! =) 

Stuff:  purse and album – 7 Gypsies; paper, rub-ons, stickers and fabric-covered buttons – K & Company; ribbon – Stampin’ Up!; paint – Making Memories

P.S. Happy Birthday to my Mom – March 27! 

~ Extreme Makeover for Coasters – Part 3

I couldn’t resist–just one more coaster book to complete my set of 3!  I made this one a while back but didn’t get around to posting it until today.  I used the Fiskars sunburst border punch for extra embellishing.

Click on the links to see the first two coaster minibooks: Part 1,  Part 2 

Stuff:  paint – Making Memories; patterned paper – Basic Grey and Bohemia; extra large eyelets – We R Memory Keepers; rings – Staples; ribbon and ribbon charm – Stampin’ Up!

~ Embellished Acrylic Tags

I can’t seem to get enough of acrylic tags!  I punched the tags at my LSS.  I made one decorated tag to add to the Easter Egg Purse (see post below) as a gift tag but then I made another and then another (you get the picture).  Punching and layering the flowers is so addictive!  I used my Extra-Large Oopsie Daisy Fiskars Squeeze Punch for the flowers.  What I didn’t like was peeling off the protective plastic from both sides of the acrylic.  That part was for the birds!

Stuff:  acrylic – from my LSS, no brand; patterned paper – Basic Grey; ribbon – Stampin’ Up!; buttons – can’t remember 

P.S.  Happy Birthday to my little 34 year old brother, Jimmy!

~ Hooray Part 2, I’m a Fiskars Certified Demonstrator!

I woke up this morning a fledgling Fiskateer.  After spending the afternoon basking in the knowledge of Fiskateer #127, Kelly Edgerton, I ended up a new Fiskars Certified Demonstrator!

If you’d like to join the ranks of the Fiskateers, visit the Fiskateers site to find out how.  There is a nice group of crafters there who share projects, post on the message board and promote the love of crafting and kindness.  Come join us, you won’t want to miss all the fun!

~ Hooray, I won the February Fiskars Crafts Contest!

Hooray! This is the first time I’ve ever won a contest by submitting a piece of my work! For a closer look at the submission, please see my older Valentine post – Your Love Gives My Heart Wings.