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Welcome! This is the place where I share my artsy and crafty projects. I am an evolving artist these days ... finding myself enjoying less of the cards and mini albums that I have made for years, and turning to art journaling and more artistic endeavors. I have always enjoyed some craft or other, and some of my earliest memories of my mother helping me make paper dolls and other crafts. I am now in my 60's and finding myself more passionately enjoying creating beautiful things and learning new skills and techniques and products.

While you are here I hope you will find inspiration and ideas for making your own projects, however any images or projects you find here are my personal property and should not be used for your own monetary gain, or for contests or challenges. Thank You!

3/25/2013

The Kraft Journal 'Chicks Rule' Challenge

Hello there!  Today marks a bittersweet moment for me as I am stepping down from the design team at The Kraft Journal and today is my last post for them.  But it is time and I am ready for a change.

Here is my project - a cute Easter treat bag - for this week's challenge ...




Please go to The Kraft Journal and check out my final post and the great projects by the rest of the design team!  Blessings,

 

3/22/2013

Websters Pages Giveaway




 Check out this great new collection from Webster's pages, along with several chances to win a prize pack!  You can find it here!  Blessings,


3/18/2013

The Kraft Journal ... Kraft and Your Favorite Color!

Hi there!  Welcome to Make it Monday for The Kraft Journal.  This week's challenge is to make a project with kraft paper and your favorite color.  Well, this kind of got me to thinking ... and I decided that kraft goes with all colors!  And then I had to decide which colors I wanted to use, and what kind of kraft paper I wanted to use ... I'm telling you, I was in a dilemma!  But, as I looked through my stash I noticed my lowly little kraft shipping tags and decided I would take something very simple and basic, and make it lovely by using a fancy paper, and different colors of embellishment.  And yes, I know I kind of deviated from the challenge, but the 'challenge' is only a suggestion anyway!  So here are my tags ...




I made three different tags using the same paper, but different embellishments.  The one on the left used some black tulle ribbon and three stacked ribbons ... white, red and black on top.  The center one I used yellow seam binding and a flower made of paper with a button center.  The one on far right is simplest of all, using a Prima flower, black grosgrain ribbon and an Epiphany Round 14 bubble cap for the flower's center.   All of the sentiments are from SRM Stickers.










So these are just proof that you can take a very basic supply such as kraft paper or tags, and turn them into something lovely with some pretty embellishments.  I hope you have enjoyed visiting today ... and please come back next week for my last post as a DT member for The Kraft Journal.  Blessings,


3/13/2013

The Kraft Journal ... Watch Us Wednesday Tutorial

Hi Folks!  It is my week for the 'Watch Us Wednesday' tutorial over at The Kraft Journal, and since our theme is 'Lucky Green' I decided to show you how to make a cute shamrock embellishment using two punches ... one a heart, the other a circle.







Please go visit The Kraft Journal blog today for step by step instructions on how to make these cute little shamrocks!  Blessings,



3/04/2013

The Kraft Journal ... Home is where the heart is ...

This week's challenge over at The Kraft Journal is 'Shapes or Folds', and when I sat and thought about what I wanted to do, I a) knew I wouldn't do a fancy fold ... just not in my realm of reality and b) thought of all kinds of shapes that are trendy in paper crafting right now and c) just knew that a pennant banner would be perfect!  Pennant banners are very trendy, easy to make, and can be used for dozens of different uses!   Here is my project .....




Here are the details ......

Supplies:
  • Brown Kraft Cover Weight Card Stock - Kraft Outlet
  • Natural Burlap Ribbon - Kraft Outlet
  • 7 Gypsies 'Savannah' 8 x 8" Patterned Paper Pad
  • Prima 'Essentials' Flowers
  • House Chipboard and Canvas Heart - Basically Bare
  • Stickles 'Platinum' - Ranger Ink
  • Epiphany Crafts 'Round 14' Bubble Caps
  • Brown Card Stock - Paper Studio
  • Vintage Buttons - My Stash

Tools:
  • Scissors, Ruler, Kraft Knife
  • Martha Stewart / EK Success Paper Trimmer
  • 1/4" Hole Punch
  • Epiphany Crafts 'Round 14' Shape Studio Tool
  • Cricut Expression and 'Plantin Schoolbook' Cartridge

Step by Step:
  • Cut 5 pieces of card stock to 5" x 6" (H x V)
  • Cut 6 pieces (1 for a template) of card stock to 1 1/4" x 5", adhere to one edge of the rectangle.  This will provide stability and reinforce the holes in the top of the pennants.
  •  For the rectangular pennants, find the center of the 5" edge of the card stock.  Measure up 1 1/2" toward the center of the card stock.  Using a pencil, draw a straight line from the center mark, down to the two bottom corners of the rectangle.  Cut out on the lines you have drawn.  You will now have your basic pennant shape.  If you are careful about cutting out the triangular shaped piece, you can use it as a template for the remaining two pennants.
  • For the triangular pennants, once again find the center of the 5" edge of the card stock and mark it with a pencil.  Using a ruler and pencil, draw a line from the center point of the bottom, up to the corners of the top of the rectangle of card stock, on either side.  You will now have drawn the shape of the triangle.  Cut away the excess using scissors or a paper trimmer.
  • For the patterned paper, cut three rectangle banners and two triangle banners 1/2" smaller than the cardstock shapes.
  • Ink all edges of the card stock and patterned paper with brown ink.
  • Adhere patterned paper to the cardstock shapes.
  • Using the 6th strip of card stock, measure 1" in from each end and punch a hole.  Now use this as your template for punching holes in the 5 pennants.
  • Cut out your letters from card stock, adhere them to the pennants, and embellish them with Stickles.
  • Cover the chipboard house and door with coordinating papers, ink edges.
  • Ink edges of canvas heart with brown ink.
  • Adhere heart and then house to pennant.
  • Thread ribbon through holes.
  • Embellish pennants using flowers, buttons and Epiphany bubble caps.

And that is it!  The measuring isn't hard, but maybe a bit tedious, but makes for a great effect.  This would be so cute hanging over a fireplace, the inside of a door, or just about anywhere in your home.  Thanks for visiting me today, and please don't forget to visit the Kraft Outlet website and The Kraft Journal blog!  Blessings,