The Frustrated Crafter

More Christmas

2010-10-27T09:14:00.003-07:00

The card was fun to make, but took too many steps. Embossing and inking the paper and then punching out 8 large boho blossoms for each wreath. Then glueing together and decorating, etc. The flower is made from 2 strips of 12" paper scalloped edged with a punch. The size of the flower depending upon the width of the strip. The top flower is 3/4" and the bottom is 1".

Christmas Cards

2010-10-27T08:46:00.001-07:00

Trying to pull together a stamp camp for some friends. These are some samples I put together. They are all copies of cards I've seen. I seem to have no creativity lately.

Candle stamping

2010-10-03T15:54:00.003-07:00

I love the technique for stamping on candles and have been wanting to try it for a long time. Thing is, I really don't like candles. But last week, I found some fake battery operated candles with timers at Costco. The best thing is that they are real wax on the outside even though they are battery operated. So bought a couple of sets and have been playing. I even found the instructions on line for making a gift box.

To stamp on candles it's very easy - you are actually stamping on regular tissue paper first. Cut your design out and lay it on the candle face up. Take a piece of wax paper that extends around the candle and hold the wax paper tight against the candle. Heat up your heat gun for a few seconds and then use it against the image. You'll see when it starts to melt into the candle. Try not to hold the gun in one place for too long. When you are complete, let the candle cool for a few seconds and then slowly peel off the wax paper. Amazing!!

Halloween continued

2010-09-27T19:58:00.004-07:00

I've been working on borrowing some ideas for my workshop this week. I think I'm ready! Just have to cut lots of paper for make and takes.

More Halloween

2010-09-18T20:45:00.002-07:00

Playing with my stamps as well as some borrowed ones. Playing around trying to come up with something for demoing and makes and takes for my upcoming workshop. I need to get busy because I haven't come up with anything I love yet! This one's pretty easy, might have them give it a whirl.

Halloween

2010-09-17T21:51:00.004-07:00

Getting reading for another Stampin' Up! workshop. The hostess loves Halloween so we are doing Halloween themed. The candles are tealights that are "stamped". Found the technique online and it's so simple!! Also found the box directions there too. Making a couple as hostess gift and door prize! Going to make some for Christmas too I think...what great little gifts for friends.

For the card, just playing with my owl, bird and oval punches.

Weight Loss

2010-09-12T17:50:00.006-07:00

Wow I've been gone for a while! Life's gotten in the "weigh" of my crafting, lol. I've been on Weight watchers since April and since then I have taken up biking in earnest. I've been steadily increasing my mileage and speed. Just last Sunday I took my first 20 mile trip and then did the same today, but 3.5 minutes faster. During the week, I get in 14 mile trips about 2-3 times. All that biking, along with work and my violin obligations (orchestra and lessons) and then helping the 16 year old with homework, isn't leaving me any time for crafting! But in the meantime, here's some pics of my progress on the best project - me since April!

First pic is in April, with my almost 17 year old baby. It's bad enough I am at my highest weight, but what's with the hair and makeup? Looks like makeup must have melted off by the time the pic was taken. Was probably a hot day as usual!

This next picture is last week - me 23 lbs lighter and actually in slim cut jeans! I never ever can wear slim cut, usually need curvy. Cycling works!! 11 pounds to goal, but want to lose another 10 after that for some buffer. And before anyone says that's too much, when I get to that additional 21, I'll still be 15 pounds higher than before my son was born!

Me and my hubby out last night celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. Yes, we got married when we were 12. Seriously, not only is it our 25th wedding anniversay, but we've been together 30.5 years! How is it possible all that time has gone by? Here's our wedding pic from 1985.

"Miniature Masterpieces"

2010-08-08T14:06:00.002-07:00

I have my first Stampin' Up! workshop this week and wanted to create a little something for my door prizes. I already had the little post it notes created, but decided I wanted to take it to another level. I decide to create a "miniature masterpiece" for a cover - each using a different technique. I used Brayering, Punching, Emboss resist and Reinker float for this set.

Christmas in August - Embossing Folder Experiment

2010-08-03T21:58:00.002-07:00

This was done using the Stampin' Up! petals a plenty embossing folder. It was a lot of work to setup, but the results came out nice. I made myself a "cutting pad" out of cardboard that matched the thickness of one of the sizzix cutting pads. I did this by cutting up a cereal box and made 4-5 sheets the size of the pad. I then punched a hole using a nestability circle. I lined up the holes and glued the cardboard together. To emboss, I used a regular pad, then the folder with cardstock inside, then with the cardboard "pad" on top, shimming with some cardstock till it went thru well enough to emboss. The result is a nice embossing with an unembossed circle in the center to embellish. I wish I could say this was my idea but I saw this ages ago somewhere and don't remember who came up with the idea.

The rest is done with delightful decorations - I made a stencil by punching a piece of cardstock, then pounced in cherry cobbler, then some early espresso for shading. Covered with Versamark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Punched another hole in a piece of cardstork and masked off the embossing. Pounced in Daffodil Delight and the Peach Parfait around the edges.
The tree branches are done using the big pine tree top from lovely as a tree stamped in Crumb cake, Pear Pizzazz and Always Artichoke.

Sentiment is from heard from the heart stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder. Hook is a gold paper clip opened, and the ribbon is from my stash.

Workshop card

2010-07-28T18:39:00.001-07:00

Someone finally agreed to hostess a Stampin' Up! workshop for me next month! Yay! But now I need to come up with something to demo. Experimenting today alittle and came up with this based on something I've seen before. Very easy to do, took about 10 mins. It's the first time I used the bird punch as it's intended.

Beachy Girls

2010-07-25T16:38:00.002-07:00

I've got a new web site linked on the right side of my page called: Blinkin', Thinkin' and Inkin'. Ellen does the most wonderful work with punches! She claims not to be an artist, but she can see things in punches that I certainly can't. These little girls were inspired by her using Stampin' up! punches - butterfly, circle, oval and wide small heart. Not sure what I'll do with them yet - maybe brayer a beach scene for them.

Organization

2010-07-25T14:55:00.002-07:00

I don't have a dedicated scraproom, unless that's what you call my living room (and dining room). My husband and I are both crafty. He scrapbooks, I stamp and make cards, and when we really go wild, we both do tole painting. He does the big yard cutouts while I do smaller things. So we have "stuff" everywhere. My son is always saying "why does it take so much crap to scrap?". The problem is, when my little table becomes messy, I totally lose my mojo. Yet at the same time, I need my things nearby and in some semblance of order. It's very difficult.

I have the Stampin' up! ink caddy and I love it. The problem is that it actually takes up too much room and I can't see all my colors. I found this on the stampin' up! demo sample pages and had to try it. It's made of foam board and although it was rather easy to make, it was very, very time consuming. On top of that, I measured so well but it still didn't come out square. But it works well - I need to add some more glue to the shelfs as they are sagging, but the footprint isn't that big and I can see all my ink! Won't be able to see my husband anymore when he sits in his recliner, but he'll have to deal with that. :)

Monkey cards

2010-07-25T14:43:00.004-07:00

A friend of mine is always looking for Monkey cards for his daughter. I'm not happy how they turned out, but I'm sure he'll like them. The monkey face stamp rang up for .01 (yes, 1 cent) at Michaels. How cool is that?

Post it Note Key chains

2010-07-18T21:18:00.003-07:00

Found this on the Stampin' Up! Demo sample page and had to give it a try on a lazy Sunday. These are 1.5x2" post it notes - the little tiny ones. Broke each into 3 to make 3 keychains. The rings are 1" binder rings. Kind of cute as little thank you and/or hostess gifts.

My own designer paper

2010-07-15T20:38:00.004-07:00

Stampin' Up! makes a paper called presto patterns design papers. It's really cool because it looks white until you sponge or brayer ink over the top of it. I don't have any of that paper, but I have some nice stamps and figured I could make my own. So here's my attempt at doing just that. It's done by stamping with versamark and then heat embossing with clear embossing powder. Then simply sponge colors right over the top. It makes the embossed image pop. And it's very easy, you can't make a mistake. If you don't like the colors you pounced, just pounce some more until you like it!! I used 3 colors - Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight and Early Espresso. The hummingbird is Night of Navy.

Inspired by a head cold

2010-07-15T20:34:00.003-07:00

Actually, was very inspired by the product I am taking for the cold. I took one look at the bottle and thought to myself "I can make that". So here it is!

Back from a long vacation in NY and recuperating from a very "liquidy" head cold - let's just say that in one 8 hour period I went thru a whole box of tissues.

My chocolate "cake" which I posted last month was a huge hit. So much so that I think I'm going to make another to enter in the AZ State fair this year.

I've also been doing weight watchers since April, and proud to say I have lost over 16 lbs so far, but what's even more amazing is that I am down 2 sizes! Even with vacation I lost 1 1/2 pounds all while being on the Friendly's Forbidden Chocolate and hot fudge diet (yes, I love Friendlys and we don't have them here in AZ). I should say I supplemented my ice cream diet with Slim fast and Lean Cuisines and Salad, and hardly ever sat (as compared to my regular working day where my butt spreads out on a chair for 8-9 hours a day).

Father's Day Cards

2010-06-13T17:01:00.005-07:00

Scrapbook Sunday with some of my friends! Was able to get my father's day cards done!

Card with preview stamp set

2010-06-11T21:16:00.002-07:00

This is one of the new level 1 hostess sets - Because I care coming out July 1 with the new Stampin' Up! catalog. The yellow paper and ink are also new in the upcoming catalog and it's called Daffodil Delight. Waiting for this new catalog was like being a kid waiting for the annual Sears wishbook. Now I have it and am marking up all the pages for things I eventually want to get!

Looks good enough to eat!

2010-05-31T10:50:00.002-07:00

I haven't posted in a while, but it's because I've been making this cake. Doesn't it look great? But you can't eat it - it's 100% made of paper! It's a favor cake! Each slice is a box and each opens to hold little trinkets, gifts etc. This one is for my husband's parent's 60th anniversary (that's not a typo, it's really 60!). We bought the personalized M&Ms and we are going to put them in little organza bags and fill each slice. I think we are also supposed to be working on a little "thank you for coming" scroll...eek, don't have much time left to do that. Thanks to Helen...she always has very inspiring items on her blog...who knew you could be making a cake from paper.

Award

2010-05-15T15:31:00.003-07:00

I got this lovely award from Helen at http://www.helenmade.blogspot.com/. Please check out her blog as she does wonderful 3d creations! I borrow her ideas many times. Thanks Helen!!

In need of cards

2010-05-15T14:57:00.005-07:00

I gave a huge stash of cards away to my son's band to use in a fundraiser next week. I hope they make alot of money - it's a silent auction - I hope they are nice enough that people want to bid on them. I also gave them all my purse gift card holders - I know they will be popular, especially with the end of school coming up. They will make perfect gifts for female teachers (of course filled with a starbucks or other gift card!).

So with that, I have nothing left and May is a huge month for birthdays plus I have two nieces graduating college and a nephew graduating high school. I needed to get my act together today to make some cards. The music of the night card is for my nephew...he loves Phantom of the Opera and composes his own music. Thought it would be fun to distress some paper to make the music look old. The Congratulations card is for one of my nieces, and the happy birthday for one of my sis-in-laws. One more graduation card and one more birthday card to make (I think) to get thru May. I have scrapbook day with some gals tomorrow, so hopefully that will work out perfectly.

Playing with new stamps

2010-05-09T20:39:00.004-07:00

Just some fun with some new stamps. This set is called awash with flowers and when it first came out I wasn't thrilled with it. At least until I saw things made with it. Then of course I had to get it. The words are also from a set I just got called Heard from the Heart. I'm kind of shocked I just made a simple and clean card!

Paper Piecing Mother's day card

2010-05-02T20:54:00.002-07:00

This was fun to do. I stamped the flower on 3 different papers, cut out all the petals and then put it back together again on a piece of white paper. I am finally becoming half way decent with an exacto knife after 40 years. I was always amazed how well my mother could cut things out when she used to do intricat decoupage back in the 70s. I can only hope to be as good someday.

Even more purse gift card holders

2010-04-25T15:23:00.007-07:00

I sold 9 of these last week with all $ going to my son's band's fundraiser. So decided to go through my double sided paper and make more!

Loving the purse gift card holders

2010-04-19T20:05:00.003-07:00

Hoping that people will buy them at my son's band fundraiser! The pics look a little funny...they are perfect trapazoid shapes - maybe I had the camera on wide angle or something.

teacher gift card holder

2010-04-19T15:41:00.002-07:00

My husband is a teacher and gets gift cards all the time. Made me think of trying to make a gift card holder. My mind's eye saw something with a chalk board, but I'm not sure I'm loving it. I want to try to sell as a fundraiser for my son's band - the fundraiser is in May which is right at the end of our school year, so it would be perfect timing.

Purse Gift Card Holder

2010-04-18T20:30:00.003-07:00

Found the idea online...if you google, you'll be sure to find it. So cute!! Will definitely be making more.

Thank you card set

2010-04-18T15:58:00.002-07:00

Making cards for my son's annual spring concert. They do raffles and silent auctions to help raise money for the upcoming marching band season. This is one of several sets of cards I'll be donating. Most of the others I'll be donating are already on my site - been saving them up over the past year.

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-04-17T21:13:00.002-07:00

This is going to my mom, and I'm putting it on here because she may not get it until I can deliver it by hand in June (or put it in a box to send!) As you can see, it's very 3-d with the flowers. This one is just the opposite from my last post...very detail intensive, althought not hard to make at all!! The flowers are 6 scallops, 2 of 3 different sizes, pinned together in the middle with a brad. Then I just scrunch up the leaves (actually, first I cut each scallop toward the center so I can create petals). The more scrunched the better.

Experimenting

2010-04-17T20:06:00.002-07:00

I volunteered to do a Stampin' Up! workshop as a fundraiser for someone walking in the MS Walk in September. 2 problems - I haven't done one before and my style is so complicated, I'd never get anyone to buy anything because prospective stampers would say it's too hard to do what I do and then wouldn't buy anything. So I have been trying hard to experiment with easier stuff I can demo...the issue with me is I don't like my finished product when there aren't a bunch of elements going on at the same time! I'm sure these are just fine, but I have to get my brained tuned to the more simple and clean completed card.

Life is moments

2010-04-16T20:17:00.003-07:00

Got some new goodies from the Stampin Up summer mini catalog that goes into effect May 1. The butterfly is called All a Flutter, and the wording is from beautiful new set called Elements of Style. Hopefully will do more with this set this weekend. It's one of the nicest sets, with a hummingbird, flowers, scrollwork, and two sets of sentiments. the flower is my take on some scallop flowers I have seen online. It's made with 6 scallops and is very easy.

Another Tinkerbell card

2010-04-11T19:45:00.002-07:00

Happiness is being covered with diamond dust glitter at the end of the day. Isn't the charm cute? I had picked up a couple a few months ago...and when I went back they were all gone.

Lake Pleasant, Arizona

2010-04-10T22:06:00.004-07:00

People think Arizona is like the Sahara Desert, or worse, like the moon. We have lakes and greenery too. Took a nice hike up to Lake Pleasant, just an hour north of Phoenix, last week to try to catch the last of the wildflowers in bloom. Unfortunately, missed most of the season due to my pneumonia, but it was a nice day and great exercise regardless.

Tinkerbell

2010-04-10T22:02:00.003-07:00

I volunteered to make cards for a fundraiser for my son's band and I need to get moving. I got the Tink and Friends cartridge this week and have been looking forward to trying it out but have been so busy at work. Have to work all weekend too, but fit this in. Not sure I am loving it, I may redo the background. Maybe I'll love it better tomorrow when the colors mellow out. I have some other ideas for Tink cards. I hope to do at least one tomorrow while it's in my mind.

My Mom's birthday

2010-04-05T21:11:00.004-07:00

I had to wait to post my mom's card and little gift until she got them in the mail today. I filled the little box with her favorite dove dark chocolates. I designed the card in design studio on my cricut...it's an attempted copy of one I saw on the cricut message board. The box is inspired by Helen and her Let's create blog. She does wonderful roses, origami and other fun things just with paper. You can find her site on my side bar.

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T19:36:00.002-07:00

Needed an Easter card for tomorrow ... this is a non-religious card I came up with. All done with Stampin' Up! products.

Re-inker Float

2010-03-26T20:17:00.004-07:00

I learned a new technique tonight. I don't know who is so clever to come up with this stuff. First I heat embossed the stamped images with white embossing powder. Then you spray your paper with water to make puddles. Then use an aqua painter dipped in a drop of re-inker ink and when you dip the tip in the water, the ink spreads around. Just keep doing that til your done (basically til you like it) and let the paper dry. Fun and messy.

I'm so happy to have made something - I've had pneumonia (!!) for two weeks and this week, although I went back to work (third week), I'm still quite exhausted. It's hard to believe that someone my age (who is less than 50) can be hit so hard out of the blue! Anyway, I finished my antibiotics today and hopefully my visit to the Doc on Monday will go well.

Card for my Daddy for his birthday

2010-03-06T16:25:00.002-07:00

Dad would rather fish than eat (I think) and can't wait for bass season to start in the next couple of weeks in NY.

I went to a rubber stamp show today in Mesa and found these fish and cat-tail stamps and immediately knew that these would be perfect for his birthday card! The inside says: Happy Birthday to a "reel"y cool guy.

Extreme heat embossing

2010-02-21T16:25:00.003-07:00

This card uses only one stamp set, but there is tons of embossing. Started by masking a square and then beginning with the darkest color ink, used versamark and the ink to stamp flowers. Used clear embossing powder and heated after every color. If you do in this way, the flowers you do next start to look like they are behind the others giving some depth. Once done, I brayered some balck over the whole thing and wiped off the embossed images.

Playing with new stamp

2010-02-20T16:10:00.002-07:00

Found a new stamp store yesterday online...it's way down in Chandler, feels like practically Tucson! However, I had to go today because everything was 20% off! What a great store. It was pouring rain today and the store was still packed - there was hardly room to walk around. Had just enough time this afternoon before dinner and going to see Mary Poppins to fool around with one of the new stamps. This is a great silhouette, perfect for use with brayering.

Faux Parchment

2010-02-15T19:59:00.002-07:00

Just playing some more while the olympics are on. Made by using the Faux suede technique and antiquing the paper with choc chip ink.

Alternative use for punch

2010-02-15T15:59:00.002-07:00

I have the ornament punch from Stampin' Up! and thought I would be putting it away. But saw on a Stampin' Up! site that people were cutting off the bottom and using them as pots or vases. How clever! Been wanting to make something for a few days, and just played around while watching the olympics today (I LOVE Monday holidays!!).

Music card

2010-02-15T14:30:00.005-07:00

I've been able to practice with a wonderful church orchestra even though I don't belong to the church. The music director is also going to allow me to play a non church concert in May. I am enjoying this so much - the last time I played with a full orchestra was my senior year in High School. When I play my violin in this orchestra all my stress melts away. When you play, it's impossible to think of anything but the music, so this is a wonderful thing for me.

This card is to thank the music director for allowing me to join this wonderful group in practice and for the concert. I am very thankful.

Mountain Sunset

2010-02-12T20:56:00.004-07:00

Another brayered card

2010-01-31T15:22:00.002-07:00

I can't seem to make a simple card. Here's another brayered one. I'm on a roll (no pun intented, you know, brayer....roll? anyway...), but unfortunately have a lot of real work to catch up on before I go to work tomorrow. At least I feel fulfilled for now rather than frustrated (hence my blog title, lol).

Valentines Favors

2010-01-31T12:51:00.004-07:00

I am hoping to get my act together to have a workshop and to use these as gifts for those that attend. If you are a reader of my blog, you know I like to handmake paper roses which are also included.

New Stampin' Up! goodies

2010-01-30T19:01:00.006-07:00

I got my box of new goodies yesterday so I have been playing all day. Only got two cards done because I was experimenting, but I love what I did. I love love love the En Francais stamp! What beautiful rubber etching. Makes a wonderful background.

Cards from my Michelle Zindorf brayering class

2010-01-25T19:07:00.005-07:00

Oh my gosh, did we have a great time this weekend getting inky! I had about 48 ladies plus Michelle and I this weekend stamping and brayering and having an overall wonderful time. I feel energized and exhausted at the same time.

I am so excited about how my cards came out. There were so many little things I was doing wrong; things that were extremely easy to fix when the "master" told you how to do it! So without further adieu, here are my cards. I feel like an artist. All supplies are from Stampin' up!

Stampin Up order

2010-01-24T10:35:00.002-07:00

I am planning to put in an order immediately and having a workshop in the near future. If anyone is interested in placing an order with me I would appreciate it! I haven't met my quota for last quarter let alone this quarter and I don't want to be dropped! Please contact me...you can click on the link to the right to get to my SU website where you can find all the current catalogs. I am also planning my first workshop, so let me know if you are interested also! Thanks!

Michelle Zindorf Brayering Classes

2010-01-24T10:27:00.003-07:00

I am so excited..Michelle is here this weekend to teach her brayering techniques. I made the most gorgeous cards yesterday. Unfortunately can't upload the pics yet because my computer crashed, but in the meantime can send you over to my facebook page if you are curious!! There are 3 pics out there right now, so ensure you hit next!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3257179&l=52478220a8&id=840728971

Roses

2010-01-18T19:55:00.003-07:00

Happy New year! Wow, it's been 2 months since I posted last. Work has been crazy and then of course the holidays were here. I went to NY for two weeks at Christmas to help after my mom's knee replacement surgery (she's doing great). So now it's the new year and I am trying to get back into crafting. So while sitting watching TV this holiday weekend, I put my new 6 petal punch (which I found in NY) to use and made some 2" roses. Don't know what I'll do with them, but making them made me feel like I accomplished something.

Also, Michelle Zindorf is coming to my house this weekend to teach her brayering technique. Almost 50 woman are coming from all over the state to take these classes. I'm excited that she'll be here and also excited that I may finally learn those tips and tricks that you just can't get from reading a web site, no matter how well it's done! Hopefully I'll be posting some pictures.

More Christmas cards

2009-11-22T18:38:00.003-07:00

Ok, I'm on a roll now. The first is done with my new exclusive HSN cuttlebug folder. The Peace is a $1 stamp from M's, heat embossed. Very simple but nice.

The second was done with Winter Wonderland cartridge except for the flowers which were punched, scored and glued together. Losts of Angel Dust and the background paper is sparkly too.

Some new cards finally

2009-11-22T11:29:00.003-07:00

All my creativity has been sucked dry lately. I haven't played my violin, and although I stare at my craft supplies everyday as I sit here at the computer or watching TV, nothing is happening. Well it didn't help I travelled for work the past 2 out of 3 weeks either.

It was actually a local radio station that got me going today... they do continuous Christmas music starting around now, and they started yesterday. I put it on, and was able to churn out two cards!

Started with the cute house mouse image and then played around with my cricut. The tree is cut with the Christmas cartridge. Then I put tape on the back of it so the sticky side showed thru and trimmed all the edges. Then dumped green glitter all over and pressed it into the sticky. The white snow was cut, then I put thru my xyron to make them sticky and them dipped in diamond dust. The flower is made from two flowers punched from the 5 petal stampin' up! punch. The leaves are from the poinsettia from JOTs, I think. The star on top of the tree is a sticker.

Redone T-shirt

2009-10-25T21:56:00.003-07:00

I was so excited to get my band parent T-shirt, but it didn't fit! So I decided to redo it. I went to Joann's and got some music fabric and cut out our favorite instruments - Saxophone, Violin and Guitar (actually put some wonder-under underneath the fabric first). Then positioned, ironed on, painted around each instrument with gold paint, and cut down the middle. Added some iron on embellisments and now I have a little jacket instead and now I can wear it. The white you see in the middle is the design of the band program showing thru - it's all white on the back of the shirt.

Silly project for Son

2009-10-25T21:43:00.004-07:00

At school they don't celebrate Halloween, per se, but celebrate "spirit week"... (meaning school spirit). Tomorrow is celebrity day and we couldn't figure out what do to....then I had a brainstorm. My second cousin is Nicolas Cage (yes it's true, my father and Francis Coppola are first cousins, Nic Cage is the son of Francis' brother August, my father's other cousin (and to drop another name, their sister is Talia Shire). To simplify, my great grandfather and Nicolas Cage's great grandfather is the same person. My grandfather and his grandmother are brother and sisteer.

I had no iron on transfer stuff, so I just printed out a picture from the internet on cardstock and sewed it to a t-shirt, lol. And since no one ever believes my poor son that he is related, I put his family tree on the back.

PS: no, unfortunately I haven't met him, but my sister met him once at a wedding!

Another House Mouse card

2009-10-18T16:39:00.003-07:00

Wow this was a tough one to color. Used both pencils and markers on it. I'm not thrilled with the outcome, but the card all put together is nice. The poinsettia is made with Joy of the season, the other flowers are punched flowers.

House Mouse Challenge #54 - Movies

2009-10-17T21:53:00.003-07:00

I knew exactly which stamp I was going to use for this one - a new one that's all about Chocolate. Right away the move Chocolat comes to mind for me. I had gotten the sentiment stamp a while ago and could not wait to use it. Don't these two stamps go together perfectly? The flowers are homemade using a Stampin' Up! 5 petal flower.

AZ State Fair Winners

2009-10-16T21:34:00.007-07:00

I entered 7 items in the State Fair, and they all won something. They will be on display at the fair thru the middle of November!

First Place: Tole painting (I don't have a pic at the moment), Swan, Frog card, my first card (the one with the party hat
Second Place: flower pot place setting - the picture I have shows a red/white/blue one I first did, the one I entered was made of greenish flowers; Christmas card

"Best in show" for all card divisions and first place = flower pot card!

Simple Floral punch craft tutorial

2009-10-11T13:41:00.017-07:00

This is my first attempt at a tutorial, I hope it's easy for you to understand. I'm making a very simple basic flower here using punches.

Here is what you need: I have two punches, the 5 petal flower is a medium EK Success punch, and the small punch is from the $1 bin at Michaels. Two pieces of card stock. Some fun foam. The green tool is an image transfer tool - I will be using the round end. You can use a gel pen - cap end also. A darning needle. And I forgot to include a stylus in the picture.

I've also discovered you can use your cricut to cut out flowers or petals from one of many cartridges that have them.

First step, punch out your pieces:

Next I marked how I wanted to cut my leaves from the green flower and then cut them out.

I am saving that little star - might make another interesting center for a flower.

Now you score your pieces using your darning needle. Press the needle side into the leaf and drag toward the end. Push down into the foam as you do this and the leaf will automatically curl.

Now add your veins.

Here is what it will look like when your leaves are done. Then turn them over.

Now onto the flower. Score similar to the leaves. I'll be scoring 3 lines down each petal.

Here is the flower once scored.

Turn your flower over and push down into the foam using your tool (in my case my image tranfer tool; this is where you could use the cap end of a gel pen).
Here's the flower when done. Notice how the pressure into the foam gives it dimension.

Let's make the center now. Take your stylis and push down into the center of the small green piece.

Turn the center piece over. Use a little glue to hold it all together, and Viola a simple flower. Believe me these instructions take longer than it takes to make the flower!

Tag card with Flower

2009-10-10T23:24:00.002-07:00

Tag card made with Joy of the Seasons, flower cut with Plantin Schoolbook. Center is a $1 punch from Michaels. Closeup of the flower to show the work to make it pop.

Floral punch craft

2009-10-10T20:25:00.002-07:00

Found another cool craft that I had to try - it's all about making homemade flowers using paper punches. I've been making little flowers all week and tonight made a quick card. While I was at it, I thought I could also use my cricut. Here's the "recipe"

Pointsettia: Joys of the season

Daisies: medium EK Success 5 petal flower

Daisy leaves: same punch, cut out teardrops from the petals to make leaves. It's hard to see, but all leaves are veined. There are tools to do this artwork, but I am using a darning needle, a piece of fun foam and a transfer rub on tool as well as a stylus to do all the shaping and veining

Inside of flowers: $1 punch found in the dollar bin at Michaels.

I have a couple more cute flowers put together, just need to figure out what to do with them and then I'll post those too. The leaves are bigger and inked, so you'll know what I mean by the veining.

My baby's birthday!

2009-10-08T19:49:00.002-07:00

It's my baby Timmy's 16th birthday! Actually, it's tomorrow, but here's the story. He was born in NY at 12:06am after I was in labor literally all day. The child did not want to come out of his warm cozy cocoon. He was born by caesarian, finally, but not before I begged the doctor to try and get him out before midnight. Well that didn't happen. So now we live in AZ, and it pushes his birthday time to 9:06pm AZ time. So we celebrate over two days (also in memory of me being in labor all day October 8 with nothing to show for it on that day, lol).

Faux quilting

2009-10-04T19:45:00.003-07:00

I saw a version of these on the cricut message board today and finally was able to get through my brain block to do these. It's been terrible just staring at all the great stamps, cartridges and paper I have and not be able to come up with anything! At least this got me 3 new cards. Many more to go tho!

Updated paper swan

2009-10-04T15:01:00.004-07:00

I submitted my swan to the state fair yesterday as an entry, but before I did that, I wanted to add something to it. So I made a Christmas wreath using my MS branch punch. The ladies who accepted it just loved it. Who knows, maybe I'll win a ribbon. That would be so cool :)

Another button card

2009-09-27T15:14:00.003-07:00

Button came from Christmas Cheer cartridge.

Brayered Note card

2009-09-26T19:39:00.002-07:00

Practicing my brayering again...tried to do a reflection, didn't come out well. I'll call it the illusion of a reflection, LOL.

House Mouse & Friends Challenge #52

2009-09-26T14:36:00.006-07:00

This week's challenge was to pick a previous challenge as HM&F is celebrating it's year anniversary. With Halloween coming, I did Challenge #8 (Halloween) and I used one of my favorite stamps. I also did something fun - I made a home made button. Can't say it's my idea, but if was from the Splitcoast stamping Monday challenge. Its very easy:

Cut 4 pieces of same design from any cheap card stock. I cut these ovally pieces with my cricut using the George cartridge.

Cut one piece of same design from pattern or stamped card stock (or even plain).

Using a liquid glue, glue all together with your "nice" one on the top.

Let dry.

Sand the edges - this is what makes it look like one piece when you are done.

At this point punch holes with a cropodile or other hole punching device.

Use Glossy accents or other clear laquer to finish - the toughest part is keeping your holes clear. When it's almost try I start clearing out the holes with the end of an opened paper clip. Haven't experimented yet with repunching the holes or waiting until the glossy accents are dry.

This is really cool because you can make coordinating buttons for all your projects and can do them in any shape!

First card in over a week

2009-09-20T20:15:00.004-07:00

How do you get your crafting energy back when you lose it? I have no excuses, I had a very light work week. I thought I was going to be very productive in terms of making cards but no such luck. Even tonight, all I did was take some elements that were already done: the angel was already colored and cut, and the background was already cuttlebugged. The only energy I had to expend was to change the color thread in my sewing machine and sew the card. You'd think I could do more like this, but it's still not working. Still a few months til Christmas, thank goodness.

Paper Swan

2009-09-13T18:44:00.003-07:00

I was playing around with some 3D origami this weekend. It's impossible to find any instructions online. Eventually I found some very basic instructions plus this swan, but it turned out those instructions were wrong! I had gotten about 1/4 through it and couldn't get any further until I played around and figured out why the instructions were wrong. There were also some error which I had to figure out too (maybe because the instructions were translated from korean or chinese, who knows). I am wanting to make a vase for some of my paper roses, but need to figure that out next.

Standup Card

2009-09-07T20:31:00.005-07:00

I wish I was creative as some of the people out there. The card itself is not my own idea, you can find instructions for cutting and folding at http://www.cricutchristmas.blogspot.com/. But the rest is all mine. Package cut with Joys of the season at 4". Cuttlebugged and sewed the background and cuttlebugged the package too.

House Mouse Challenge #51 - Songs/Lyrics

2009-09-07T15:13:00.002-07:00

This week's challenge was to let a song inspire you...so my inspiration is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. What cute star - this little house mouse is. I finally sewed on a card again too! I was worried because I haven't done it in ages, but the stitches came out pretty straight. The red paper is embossed once, brayered on the back with white ink, and then embossed again. I like the texture it gives the paper to double emboss it, and the double embossing seems to press the ink into the paper so it looks like it's part of it rather than sitting on top.

Wedding Strawberries

2009-09-07T12:29:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Donna "Popsicle Toes" M. for the cut file. Perfect for my parent's anniversary coming up. Her blog is on the right side of my page. I hope you'll check it out because she is uber talented and I love her style of cardmaking.

Another Zindorf copy

2009-09-05T20:18:00.003-07:00

Continue to practice my brayering. I am not all that creative, but I can copy (borrow) very well.

Winter Car Brayered with soda can snowflakes

2009-09-05T17:00:00.002-07:00

Snowflakes were cut out of a soda can using my spellbinders snowflake die. Then cuttlebugged and inked. Sizzix snowflake embossed background and Inkadinkadoo snowman.

Halloween Brayered Card

2009-09-05T15:11:00.002-07:00

Still practicing my brayering. It's a hit or miss proposition sometimes. Yesterday's card came out great and today's only so-so. But it's still ok I think.

Used Stampin' Up! and Inkadinkadoo stamps, Stampin' Up! inks and cuttlebugged on Core-dinations paper. Hobby Lobby was having a sale and I got a big stack of this paper in a rainbow of colors. I really like the sanding effect. Finally, used my favorite new MS drippy goo punch!

Best Brayered Card yet!

2009-09-04T20:11:00.002-07:00

I became a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator if for nothing else to be able to get some supplies at discount so I can do more with brayering. The craft ink is just the best and it's the supplies that make the difference. This is a copy of a card by Michelle Zindorf, who is coming to my house in January to teach the technique. Go to her website - you can learn like I did!!

http://www.zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/.

Flower Pot Card with Paper roses

2009-08-30T20:03:00.005-07:00

I saw this on the cricut message board today (thanks Sheila Jones!). I had never thought to put the paper roses I love to make along with the flower pot card that I also like to make!

This was pretty much all done with the cricut:

Flowers: Made the scallops needed with George (welding circles)

Flower Pot and other items: Walk in my Garden

Leaves: Accent Essentials

And to give credit where credit is due, the beautiful roses and a tutorial can be found on Susan BlueRobots web site: www.susanbluerobot.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-make-paper-roses.html

The get well soon was done with my new design runner. What a cool tool!

Hope you like...

Christmas Card

2009-08-26T20:45:00.002-07:00

Rather quick card...I think it needs something, but it will do. Done with Noel, Joys of the Season and George cartridges. Stamped with versamark with a couple of snowflake stamps.

First on the block

2009-08-26T16:13:00.005-07:00

I'm not usually the first one to find new products when it comes to crafts, but I was in Joann's today and so, so excited to find some new Sizzix embossing folders! They were almost sold out, (Halloween was totally sold out) but I got a Christmas set and set called Textured.

Here's a couple quick cards, hopefully I will have a chance to make some more soon with them. Best part is that there are 4 in each set and they cost $10....I had my 50% Michael's coupons with me - Yay! So 2 for the price of one!

(Note to Mom: check it out - I finally finally figured out how to tie a pretty bow, even with one sided ribbon. Only took 47 years, right?)

New Stampin Up stamps

2009-08-23T20:13:00.002-07:00

A quick card with the new Delightful Decorations set and the MS drippy goo punch.

Candle Card

2009-08-23T19:18:00.003-07:00

Still trying to get my card making mojo back. This is a relatively simple card using my cricut and cuttlebug. Used Christmas Cheer, Christmas Solutions and George. I love all my stampin' up! papers...they are nice and heavy weight and the colors are great.

Hoppy Birthday - Take 2

2009-08-23T15:46:00.003-07:00

I made this card about a month ago and really liked how it turned out. So when I went into DS to open my file to make another only to find the file wouldn't load because it was corrupted, I took the opportunity to make some improvements. Added some leaves and the hoppy is in cursive 101 instead of Opposites attract. Used George for the square in the back and for the flowers, Accents Essentials for the leaves and Paper Doll dressup for the froggies. It was worth the time to make the improvements, I think!

Finally - managed to make a card!

2009-08-22T20:40:00.003-07:00

After a good week last week, I've had absolutely no ideas for cards. Tonight I forced myself to do something, anything to get a card out. It's not much, but at least it's something. All stampin' up! products. The rooster is from the level 1 hostess set from the 2009-2010 catalog.

Stampin' Up! - Manhattan Flower, Dreams du Jour

2009-08-14T19:16:00.002-07:00

If you've ever notice, it's rare I do really simple cards; everything seems to be a production. So tonight I did a really simple card - probably took 10 minutes to make. But of course I couldn't keep it exactly simple. I brayered the page with the embossed roses and then had to take my aqua painter to it to shade it a little better. Photo corners are done with a Stampin' Up! punch. Stamp is from Dreams du Jour and is quickly watercolored.

More Stampin' Up! - Wandering words

2009-08-12T20:16:00.002-07:00

Been having a blast playing with my new stamps. This one is really cute and I know I wanted to brayer a card with this as soon I as I received it. I'm a little rusty with my brayering, but it's ok. The second one is much easier done with a "spotlight" technique where you stamp the whole design first, then stamp it again with another color on another piece of paper, and cut out the area you want to "spotlight". In this case I wanted to spotlight santa, so punched him out with a small circle punch and pop-dotted him on the black design!

Another Stampin Up Watercolor - Peace Within + 2 other sets

2009-08-11T21:36:00.005-07:00

I am enjoying doing these stamps with watercolor. I almost feel like an artist. Been using my new in-colors again tonight. The bird/basket stamp is from Peach Within. The Dreams stamp is from Dreams de Jour and if you look closely I made my own designed paper from a swirl stamp that's in Simple Friendship. The swirls were stamped with versamark - which is very cool because it automatically "matches" the color to the paper because the clear versa mark which darkens the paper! Who knew? BTW, both the Dreams and Bird stamp were heat embossed before coloring.

First all Stampin' Up! Card - Peace Within with watercolor

2009-08-10T21:11:00.003-07:00

I have stamps and I have plain paper...I think I need some design paper and some embellishments. I guess that will be the next order. My demo kit brought me all the in-colors in paper and ink - I love them. And this stamp set is so cute. This is my first water color done with the beautiful classic ink pads and an aqua writer. So easy! And it looks like a mini masterpiece :) Ta-da - my first sample card!

Guitar Card

2009-08-09T18:32:00.001-07:00

Used Indie Art and George for the Guitar. For nieces' 16th birthday.

"Flower Pot" style Santa

2009-08-06T22:07:00.004-07:00

Everyone has been doing flower pot cards, including me. I saw a variation with a cupcake which I loved and it got me to think, what can I do? So being on a Christmas roll, I decided to do Santa. However, everything that could have gone wrong went wrong and this card, which is actually quite simple, took me 2 hours to make! Then I forgot to save the cut file! So I guess this will be a one of a kind unless I decide not to make the beard shaggy (that's what took all the time - I welded on at leat 30 or so little moons with the tips sticking out from the beard).

Santa is from doodlecharms, and there's some george cuts in there too.

Cuttlebugged the beard and hat.

Hope you enjoy the fruit (or in the case the santa) of all my labor tonight!

I've become a Stampin Up Demonstrator!

2009-08-05T21:44:00.002-07:00

All I can say is now what? I already have a full time job...but I think it will be fun to do this 2-3 times a quarter just for socializing and supporting my habit (crafting habit). It's also good to try out things in case a plan-B is every needed. I'll be updating my blog soon with a link to my SU site so if you feel the need for some SU stuff, please keep me in mind!

Drippy Goo Holiday Card

2009-08-04T21:25:00.002-07:00

I got a Martha Stewart Drippy Goo punch and had to try it out. This was hard to photograph as it's all metallic paper. The "snow" is glittery paper which you can't tell either...

The ornament is made from Joys of the Season and cuttlebugged.

BBTB Accent Essentials #13 and Cuttlebug Spot #42

2009-08-03T21:22:00.002-07:00

Love when I can do two challenges at once. The Bitten by the Bug (BBTB) challenge was to use the snowflake from accent essentials, and the Cuttlebug Spot challenge was to use a favorite folder. This didn't come out like I saw it in my mind's eye, but it's cool! It looks tons better in real life as the snowflakes are all stickled with icicle and they look like jewelry.

Sketch Saturday #62

2009-08-02T19:34:00.002-07:00

Halloween card using some cute paper I got at Joann's today. (on sale - 40% off)

Only 1 shopping day til....

2009-08-01T19:53:00.003-07:00

I saw this saying on a Tshirt on one of those shopping channels today and thought it would make a great card. So actually did something really simple with George and a couple of stamps.

Snowman

2009-07-27T20:40:00.002-07:00

This one came out so cute, I may make some more, and I rarely make the same card twice. He was done with the Christmas cheer cartridge and design studio. The snowflakes and stars are a from a cuttle bug die.

Gift card holder

2009-07-26T19:34:00.003-07:00

This is a copy of a gift card holder that a gift card my husband got for Christmas last year came in. I pulled it apart and re-created it with design studio for the cricut. I used Plantin School book and George for the holder. I need to play a little more as this prototype came out small but a Target gift card fit in it! The snowflake was done with Joys of the Season but there are many possibilities for decorating. It's sealed closed with re-positionable glue so that it can be opened and closed.

Halloween

2009-07-24T21:55:00.002-07:00

Wow, I've been having ideas lately. I want to submit some cards to the AZ State Fair in October, so been starting to figure out what to do. This card was done with the cricut and design studio with George, Paper Dolls Dress Up and Hello Kitty. I'm having fun with making the layers, etc.

Last year's cards part 2

2009-07-23T19:53:00.002-07:00

Some of last year's Christmas cards

2009-07-23T19:48:00.004-07:00

These are from before I had a blog, so wanted to publish. :)

The Frustrated Crafter

More Christmas

Christmas Cards

Tags

Candle stamping

Halloween continued

More Halloween

Halloween

Weight Loss

"Miniature Masterpieces"

Christmas in August - Embossing Folder Experiment

Workshop card

Beachy Girls

Organization

Monkey cards

Post it Note Key chains

My own designer paper

Inspired by a head cold

Father's Day Cards

Card with preview stamp set

Looks good enough to eat!

Award

In need of cards

Playing with new stamps

Paper Piecing Mother's day card

Even more purse gift card holders

Loving the purse gift card holders

teacher gift card holder

Purse Gift Card Holder

Thank you card set

Happy Mother's Day!

Experimenting

Life is moments

Another Tinkerbell card

Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Tinkerbell

My Mom's birthday

Happy Easter

Re-inker Float

Card for my Daddy for his birthday

Extreme heat embossing

Playing with new stamp

Faux Parchment

Alternative use for punch

Music card

Mountain Sunset

Another brayered card

Valentines Favors

New Stampin' Up! goodies

Cards from my Michelle Zindorf brayering class

Stampin Up order

Michelle Zindorf Brayering Classes

Roses

More Christmas cards

Some new cards finally

Redone T-shirt

Silly project for Son

Another House Mouse card

House Mouse Challenge #54 - Movies

AZ State Fair Winners

Simple Floral punch craft tutorial

Tag card with Flower

Floral punch craft

My baby's birthday!

Faux quilting

Updated paper swan

Another button card

Brayered Note card

House Mouse & Friends Challenge #52

First card in over a week

Paper Swan

Standup Card

House Mouse Challenge #51 - Songs/Lyrics

Wedding Strawberries

Another Zindorf copy

Winter Car Brayered with soda can snowflakes

Halloween Brayered Card

Best Brayered Card yet!

Flower Pot Card with Paper roses

Christmas Card