Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Last but not Least: Photo Frames

Here are my last two Christmas Photo Frames....6a00d83495455153ef0133eda32469970b320wi.jpg





The frames are painted with magnetic paint so these can stick on them. This set says "sorry we party." 








This set says "long hair don't care."

These are my go to girls for all occasions where ruckus might be found. 


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Scrapping

Over at "Creating the Crafty Life" they post weekly challenges. This week I've been having quite a bit of fun working on them. 

This first one was the card challenge. 

On this card I worked for the first time with a mask. Although its a bit hard to see you can see it peeking from behind the images on the right. I will say, I didn't feel like they stuck as well as I expected. I had to ink quickly and keep smoothing it down. User error or design flaw I'm not completely sure. Can you see the little photos inside the glass pieces? One says Holiday Wishes, the other is a candle. Glossy Accents really adheres the paper to these well. It only takes about 5 seconds and I can cut!


This was the color challenge. We were able to create anything using the color burgundy, which was really fun. I am really enjoying how CCL incorporates lots of different people who enjoy crafting. For example (jewelry making, clay creation, scrap book, needlework, etc). So even though I entered a tag, others will create something completely different. 

USED: Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium papers, white acrylic paint dabber (for snow drift), Rock Candy Stickles, pop up foam pieces,  and of course my favorite Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. 




 The Layout Challenge

Though I've done the other two challenges in Christmas themes, I found that I was leaning toward an album I've been working on for quite some time. It is mostly filled with senior photos and high school memorabilia form my cheerleading days, but I had senior photos that also needed to be included. Did I mention this is also my first run at embossing? I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Broken China and it really made a subtle/dainty difference to the layout. 

Lots of pretty flowers from Iamroses. I have grown quite fond of using these. 

Picket Fence cut from the Monsters cartridge on my Cricut. Its really suppose to be a bit spooky but with some white crackle paint and Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo, it looks much more whimsical.


Sunday, December 11, 2011

Homemade Christmas Pt2

As I said before, I  certainly love making my gifts custom...
This particular frame is a christmas present for a friend who has a very bright&colorful personality. She enjoys hoola hooping, has been involved in many charity events for children, & has a super big heart. 

For her frame I chose a blue base of acrylic paint, then crackled the multi-toned topcoat using Martha Stewart crackle.  


A close up of the crackled effect. 


A CLOSER close up. hehe
Love how that blue came through.

I got a nice package from I am roses this week. After witnessing the gorgeous work of a truly great crafter // katie from Memories to Keepsakes, I wanted to check them out. Lovely product and great customer service from this company. I would certainly recommend them!


I also used some silver stickles in the flowered corner...



This frame came out lovely. Its very simple and bright. If I find a pretty butterfly before wrapping time, I'll definitely add it. 

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Personalized Birthday Presents//

Happy Birthday to a wonderful young lady I know, Mk. She's my daughters older half sister. So, the big 12! I must say this age puts me in my place. I was a bit stumped on what to get her. She's an edgy girl, I wouldn't say a tom boy but definitely loves skulls and chucks and skateboarding

First I made her a winter headband. I had made one for lily, which she seems to enjoy quite a bit. 



This time I used freezer paper to customize the headband with her nickname. A little E6000 and rhinestones jazzed it up.

On the inside I lined it with skull fleece. 


I went a little bit more girly with the bag, I would call this my decoy. She probably thought I got her a bunch of skirts&bows.   :)


A close up of the tag. 


I found a super awesome wallet on this blog ... it features the old school cassette tape. I am proud to say that even in high school i loved making mix tapes! 


I didn't photograph the inside once it was finished but its lined with felt. How awesome is that though?
Once again used E6000 to put bling on it. I was thrilled to discover the gems fit perfectly into all of the holes where the screws were. 




She was really excited and started putting all her birthday money into it. A good indicator I think. 


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Gearing up for the big day: Christmas

Breaking for a photo op



On our way to the Christmas Tree farm


Lily chose this as our Christmas Tree...


... but then decided it wasn't the best one. 


Finally found one that was pretty and NOT sold already, yay!


Got it!


Mom approved. 



They told her she could put all the brush she was carrying around into the burn pile, she declared that she loved fire. I can't blame her though, it smelled wonderful. 


Ended our day by going to see Santa Claus and buying a very pretty red holiday dress. 

Monday, December 5, 2011

Photo Frame Christmas Gifts

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Custom Frames 
I used:
Acrylic Paint 
Martha Stewart Crackle Paint
Modge Podge 
Old book pages
Recycled Scrabble Tiles
E6000
Tim Holtz Distress ink in Vintage Photo

Monday, November 28, 2011

A HOMEMADE Christmas

Spent some time yesterday getting into the holiday spirit by working on my oh so long list of Christmas projects. I have always enjoyed creating gifts rather than buying. Even an altered gift will show more care than something quickly purchased. 
Well anyways, I made my first Christmas card of the season with G45's Christmas emporium paper. 
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Saturday, November 26, 2011

Holiday Skirt

As I mentioned after Halloween, my daughter becomes significantly attached to clothing items for whatever reason. It may just be a phase or her way of putting her foot down and being able to control something?  I haven't quite figured that out.

There was one particular skirt she seemed to like more than the others. (she sure does love them all though)... and it had become pretty stained. I told her she wouldn't be able to wear it anymore, which included a lot of tears. It was a complete breakdown. 

What could I do though? 
I had to do something. 

Saturday, November 19, 2011

A work in progress: Mothers Day Album



I took a hiatus from working on my Mothers Day Album since I was at a standstill on what else to add. Last week I was able to pick it back up and continue since we were going to be attending Wicked that weekend. 

Now the Wicked theme of purple, green, and dark didn't really match my original steam punk decorated album, which put my mind to work. I wanted to have this event included but without taking away from the overall theme. 

I chose to add an insert into an envelope page so it would hide the inconsistency. 

Friday, November 18, 2011

Halloween/October Scrapbook, The Little Mermaid



Finally finishing up Lily's Halloween/October Album. I had put together the book quite some time ago to ensure that I wouldn't space it. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Best Batman Mask With Tutorial

If you can't tell, I'm really excited about this last project. I dont have a little boy (yet, due in March <3) so its great to get started on some boy projects. 
I was out searching for a good Batman mask for a little boy in Lily's class who's having his birthday party this weekend. I could not, for the life of me, find a realistic mask. So, after making some winter hats, I opted to use that tutorial with modifications to make it. 
Got the basic pattern (below) from a lovely blog I found. She did a great job with this tutorial and it was easy to follow using the diagram she made. 
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Saturday, November 12, 2011

Daddy's Birthday Card


Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband. I sat down one afternoon with my pile of old photos and made him a special card to tell him how much he means to me. I thought it turned out quite well so I thought I would share it. 

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Friday, November 11, 2011

Recycled Halloween Tshirt into Headband

I told my daughter after Halloween that we would need to retire some of her Halloween shirts. It devastated her as if I had just said I had eaten all of her candy. It got me thinking about what I could do with the shirts so she could still enjoy them without being dressed in Halloween clothes until Christmas. 

I wish I could take credit from this idea, but I cant! Found the inspiration on a woman's blog who had done it even better than I, but I can't seem to locate the blog again. : / Just know she's out there somewhere. 

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Sunday, October 16, 2011

Halloween Pumpkin Carving and Painting

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So goes the first blog using a terrible cell phone for my camera, I truly hope this doesn't have to continue. After last weeks visit to the pumpkin patch we decided that this weekend we should use the many pumpkins/gourds that were purchased. We were all tired of them sitting on the kitchen table.