Last post for 2010

Well, this is it, the last post I will make this year.  Not to worry though, I will be back next year. 

I made this card for my MIL's birthday using one of my absolute favorite paper collections from the Girls' Paperie called Paper Girl.  I also used a new Christmas gift, the Just Blooms II die set from Papertrey Ink.  My inspiration came from the latest issue of Cardmaker magazine. 

I hope you will have a Happy and SAFE New Year's Eve, and I will see you all next year!

~Shari

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Wishing you all a wonderful and Happy Christmas and warm wishes for the coming New Year.

All is not lost...

nor am I.  Just a quick post to let you all know that I plan to return to my regular posting schedule soon.  Beginning around Thanksgiving I get EXTREMELY busy with orders for custom products and this year seemed more busy than usual with custom orders for cards, money holders, gift card holders and gift tags.  I am no longer taking custom orders as of yesterday so that I may focus on my own projects for family and the many Christmas activities taking place.  I wish you all a most Happy Christmas and warm moments with loved ones.

~Shari

Pretty Pretty Princess

H2H Challenge

I am so excited about this week's challenge at H2H.  It's all about pink, bling, glitter and all that girlie stuff. Stop by the Heart 2 Heart challenge blog to see all the cutesy artwork.  My project is inspired by a card I had seen on a blog many weeks ago and I feel awful that I can't remember what the name of it was.  If this looks familiar at all you might let me know. 

I tried a couple of new things for this card.  I made my own "homemade" glimmer mist which I used on the clouds and balloon, and I dyed my ribbon to make a color match.  So how did I do it?  Easy, Internet and YouTube! I did a search for making glimmer mist and found hundreds of variations.  I chose one that used what supplies I had, which was water and acrylic paint, Create-A-Shade pearl paint in my case.  I mixed the water and the paint in a spray bottle and presto, gorgeous glimmer mist.  For the ribbon, I used my waterbrush, CTMH Lilac Mist marker and CTMH spritz cleaner.  I just colored the ribbon with the marker, used the water brush to get it slightly damp, then spritzed it with the cleaner a few times.  I used my hands to bunch it up over and over to work the color in evenly.  WARNING:  You will dye your hands too. 

Supplies: All CTMH unless noted

Paper:  White Daisy Cardstock and Patterned Paper from Daydream

Stamps:  Over The Rainbow (D1426)

Inks:  Black, Lilac Mist, Blush and CTMH markers in Black and Lilac Mist.  "Homemade" glitter mist was made using water and CTMH Create A Shade Pearl Paint (Z1039)

Embellishments:  Black Hemp (Z282), Pink button from stash, Lilac Mist ribbon was dyed using the Lilac Mist marker, waterbrush (1771) and My Acrylix Spritz Cleaner (1778).

Other:  3D Foam Tape (Z1151) and Cuttlebug with embossing folders.

~Shari

Out of shape

H2H Challenge

The theme this week at H2H is to create a NON-rectangular or square card.

 

My card is in the shape of a bird and I feel I might need to explain a bit of what went into the creation of this card.  I found a picture of a bird that I liked and then sketched it onto a piece of cardstock, then cut it out.  I used this as my template.  I traced my template onto chipboard, but I didn't have a piece large enough for the entire bird, so I used two pieces of chipboard.  I then traced the bird again onto cardstock and glued the chipboard onto it like puzzle pieces.  I then pasted a piece of plain copy paper onto the top of the chipboard, so I created a kind of sandwich to keep the pieces together.  On the copy paper I used a ruler and made a grid pattern to use as guidelines.  I cut 1" squares of paper from two of the patterned papers from Mistletoe and attached them in a patchwork pattern onto my grid pattern.  Some of the pieces hung over the edge of the bird, so I trimmed them close, then once I had the entire bird covered, I used the sanding block to even all the edges.  Next, I once again traced the bird onto cardstock and another piece of patterned paper and glued them together to be the inside of the card (I needed it to be a little heavier).  I used a hinge on the tail so it would open (backwards unfortunately).  I used the poinsettia flowers from the Mistletoe embellishment pack and cut each of the petals into individual pieces then pieced them together to create the wing.  I used an artificial holly sprig to dress up the wing a bit.  I used cranberry ribbon around his neck.  The little brooch looking embellies in the Mistletoe embellishment pack gave me an idea to go through all the costume jewellery I have accumulated over the years and add them to my papercrafting items, so I used an earring that I removed the post backing from for the birds eye.

Supplies used are listed above.  Cardstock color is Colonial White.

~Shari

Am I the only one that works around here?

WOYWW #75


A few experiments are on my workdesk today.  I have been trying to create an antique cracked paint effect on clear cards, with some success, though not quite what I want yet.  I am also working on a "patchwork" bird using 1" squares of paper on chipboard, but of course I didn't have a spare piece of chipboard large enough to accommodate the bird, so I traced it onto two separate pieces hoping that I can adhere it to cardstock, then cover it with my paper and ideally, it will look as one solid piece.  Of course things always work out perfectly when one is only thinking about it, but when work actually begins, nothing goes as planned.

I am anxious to get to work with the new Basic Grey paper called Curio.  I pre-ordered it and it arrived last week, but I have been busy with other projects so here it sits, still in it's packaging, waiting patiently for me to create something.  It is gorgeous paper by the way.

Behind me is my class table, which is covered with random projects that need to be finished.  I worked last night on layouts for my class this evening, and I have finished assembling all the paper bag albums for the Streams to Rivers project next Tuesday.  I still need to finish cutting the papers for the "kits" I am making for the kids, but I am more than half way finished, so just a little more cutting and that project will be ready to go.

I noticed that the kitties were on my bed, so since I had the camera out, I decided to sneak up on them and snap a few photos.  Honestly, do they sleep all day?

 Now Julius is up and about but Smokey is still being lazy.

Julius apparently wanted a close up.

Flash is being lazy too it seems.

And wouldn't you know it, here is Dallas fast asleep.  Am I the only one that works around here?

Now they have decided to wake up and Flash doesn't look very happy about it.

Enjoy your Wednesday everyone!

~Shari

May I introduce...

After blog hopping aimlessly over the past couple of years trying to find blogs that were aimed at my specific interests, I discovered an invaluable resource, The Blog Guidebook.  The Guidebook has something for everyone, everywhere and offers blog listings by category so it is simple to find what you are looking for, whether it's arts and crafts or parenting and pets.  The Guidebook features notable blogs and bloggers and also provides free blog listings as well as blog tips, tutorials and a Live Help Desk.  It is well worth your time to take a few moments and visit The Blog Guidebook and be sure to join the mailing list to receive newsworthy blog info.

~Shari

A Color Challenge

Heart 2 Heart Challenge

I always struggle with color challenges, I am not really sure of the reason.  I think CTMH spoils me becuase all the products are already color coordinated.  I went through Wishes and found a pattern I liked and this is my end creation.

Supplies: (all CTMH unless noted)


Paper:  Brown Bag Cardstock, Barn Red Textured Cardstock, Sunset Pattern Paper (Olivia) and Indian Corn Blue Patter Paper (Sweet Home)


Inks:  Brown Bag and Chocolate


Stamps:  Leaves are from "A Friend Is..." (C1243) and the branch is from "Hello There" (B1337)


Embellishments:  Opaques-Mocha, Chocolate Designer Ribbon and Prima Flowers


Tools:  Sanding block


Other:  Cuttlebug embossing folder and the Cuttlebug

Too Cute

As an owner of a Basset Hound I couldn't resist posting these photos I found of Buford the Basset Hound from The Daily Puppy.  Isn't he just too cute for words?

And this is a photo of MY Basset Hound, Flash.  I love him to pieces.

Ghosties High Tea

WOYWW #74


Before I get to my desk this week, I would like to share some "quirky" traditions that my family celebrates this time of year.  First off you must understand that my family on my mother's side, the Fitzgerald's, are Irish through and through, so I grew up observing  family customs that have been passed down through the generations.  My husband's family, the Maclaskey's, are Scottish, so we have combined our unique family traditions to celebrate with our child so that he too may pass them along to his children. 
It is customary for me to make a special meal to celebrate All Hallows Eve and this includes colcannon.  Though it is something I make quite regularly throughout the year, I do make sure it is included with our Halloween meal since it has always been that way in my family.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with colcannon, it is basically equal amounts of boiled cabbage and boiled potatoes mashed together with some cream and served with a "puddle" of butter in the center.  At times I will alter the basic recipe somewhat and make what my grandmother called "mash-of-nines" which adds carrots, turnips and a leek to the potato/cabbage mix. 
After our dinner, around 8:00,  we enjoyed "Ghoulies and Ghosties High Tea".  (High tea generally refers to tea that is taken after dinner as opposed to in the afternoon.)

Edit:  Mandi pointed out below that she thought High Tea was served with savories and cakes and afternoon tea is served with cakes and she is absolutely right.  High Tea is traditionally served with savories such as sausages, fish, etc. and in my case, colcannon,  and sandwiches and a simple dessert.  The term "High Tea" was used for tea served at dinner time and sometimes IS dinner because it was served at the high dining table rather than a low coffee table or parlor table but High Tea can be taken at any time of the day and as early as noon.  Afternoon tea is the more formal of the two and the most elegant.  It is usually served with a light meal with the best linens and silver.  So you aren't wrong at all Mandi!  :)

This year we had a sweet chocolate mint tea to coincide with the sweet treats given on Halloween.   I also made an apple pastry to symbolize the completed harvest and as a substitute for the custom of dookin for apples because we really didn't want to plunge our face into a cold tub of water this year.  (Sorry granddad.)
Halloween in our family is much more than trick or treating, it is about remembering our loved ones who have gone before us and paying tribute to our ancestors who have passed down our "quirky" customs.
And at last, I will leave you all with a look at my workdesk.  Honestly it really isn't much to speak of this week.  I am working on the Fall layout I will be teaching this evening in class.  Technically I had them finished last week, but I managed to put the left page into an ink pad and it was ruined.   I used my heat gun to heat the adhesive and salvage as many elements as I could.  Fortunately I had only to remake my base page and then re-attach the additional pieces.
I highly encourage you to visit Julia's Stamping Ground, the mastermind behind WOYWW, to have a candid peek into the workspaces of many creative souls.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Trick or Treats?

WOYWW #73
H2H Challenge - Halloween Theme


I may be cheating a bit by combining two posts into one, but I have been overloaded with things needing to be done around here.  As you may notice, I have already cleaned up my desk and checked it off my "to do" list.  Another project completed are the goody bags I made for my nieces and nephews, 8 total (one has been mailed out).  I used primarily CTMH paper from Hooligans to make the bags, but I was running short since I have also made cards and 4 layouts from one Hooligans paper pack, so two of the bags are made using paper from My Mind's Eye.  The images are all digi-stamps which I colored using copics and the pocket was made with an unknown spider's web stamp which I stamped onto vellum with Versamark ink, then embossed with black embossing power.  I cut out the web and attached it to the bag to make the little pocket to hold the name cards.  The bag is made from a Sizzix die using my Cuttlebug.  Hope you all have a wonderful week! 

Supplies:

Paper:  Hooligans Level 2 Paper Pack and The Spider's Web from My Mind's Eye, Vellum, Neenah white cardstock

Inks:  Versamark and Copic markers

Stamps:  Digi-stamps "Charcoal" from Pollycraft and "Devil Billy" and "Wilma the Witch" from Digital Delights, unknown clear spider's web stamp

Misc:  CTMH black embossing powder and CTMH black brads

Tools:  Cuttlebug and Sizzix gift bag die

Moved Again

WOYWW #72


First off, I would like the thank all of you who visited me last week and left such wonderful comments!  You are all the most wonderful ladies I have ever met who I have technically never met. ;)  I must also apologize for not returning the favor, but unfortunately I had become ill with a flu bug and did nothing but sleep for a couple of days. 


For those of you who enjoy nosing about crafty and creative work spaces, visit Julia's blog, Stamping Ground, to take a peek, it's a lot of fun I promise.


Now onto my workdesk, which has moved once more, this time to my kitchen counter.  The simple truth is I just didn't have enough clear space on my real workdesk to work on this project.  The project is a prototype for an event that I have volunteered to help with at the library.  My local library is awesome!  They allow me use of their meeting room each week (for free), for my scrapbooking classes which is such a benefit for me.  I am not sure I could supply enough space in my home for scrapbookers as it is, at times, a job in which you need to spread out.  The library also sponsors a program called Streams to Rivers which pairs the local Senior Citizens with the 3rd and 4th graders at the school to do scheduled activities together.  Isn't this a great idea?  Anyway, I will be instructing them on how to make paper bag albums for their get together in mid-November to use with the pictures each student will be taking of their families over the next several weeks.  The Seniors will help them to assemble their albums while each generation is interacting with one other. 


Happy Wednesday!

A Different Angle

WOYWW #71


Today I am taking you outside the confines of my little craft corner to share another "craft" that I enjoy, though it did not start out that way. 
Long story short, my son and I suffer from extremely sensitive skin and for years have lived with the side effects of using purchased soaps.  As a young child I was often asked if I had ants in my pants because I was such a squirmy thing due to my skin itching so much.  Several years ago I had read somewhere that all natural soaps, such as soap made from lye, are less irritating to the skin because they do not contain "detergents" as most store bought products do. 
So began my adventure in soapmaking and now it is a chore that I rather enjoy.  For many years I have left my soap uncolored, but with this last batch I gave coloring a go.  It didn't work out so well, thus the little chunks of blue soap on my table.  Once they are cured, I will shred them up and try it again by means of "rebatching". 
Soapmaking led me to also make my own lotions as well, and here on my table is the batch I made this morning.  It costs me 64 cents per bottle of lotion to make it myself, which is right up my alley, frugal as I am.  This particular batch however,  was made using emulsifying wax rather than my usual bee's wax, so technically it isn't 100% natural. 
Hope you enjoy the new angle of my workdesk, which can migrate to any part of my home.  Please drop by Julia's blog, Stamping Ground, to look at all the wonderful creative spaces that wonderful creators share.

WOYWW?

Today on my workdesk I have a little sneeky peeky at what I will be teaching for my scrapbooking class.  We are going to do a fun halloween layout with cute little monsters that sparkle head to toe.  Just ignore all the background mess, I may eventually clean it up.   ; )  Thanks for stopping by and to snoop at others' workdesks, visit Julia at Stamping Ground to get started.  Enjoy!

Happy Birthday @ H2H

This week's H2H challenge is to create a Birthday card or Birthday item.  I created a card for my FIL's upcoming birthday.  Also take a second to look at what the DT created this week for the challenge.  Enjoy!

Supplies:  (all CTMH unless noted below)

     Paper:  Magnifique Level 2 Paper, Sky, Lagoon, Bamboo and White Daisy Cardstock

     Stamps:  Celebrate The Everyday, Say It In Style

     Inks:  Pacifica, Lagoon, Chocolate

     Other:  Digital Stamp (fishing bear) from Pixie Cottage

     Tools:  Spellbinders Nestabilities and Cuttlebug

What's On My Workdesk, er, deck? Wednesday?

This week on my workdesk, well, my deck for the sunlight to take the photo, is a Halloween banner I totally CASE'd.

This banner was created by a very talented lady, Hilary Kanwischer, and was featured in the October 2010 issue of Scrapbooks, etc. Please take a moment and hop over to Hilary's blog here and check out her amazing work!  Check out her original banner here.  I used most of the same supplies that Hilary did though I did have to substitute a few things with what I had on hand.  I really like how mine turned out, but of course it isn't as cute as Hilary's.  Thanks for stopping by and just for the record, this project WAS on my workdesk before I took it outside to be photographed.

ABC Challenge at H2H

Over at H2H the challenge this week is an ABC challenge.  Our project has to include the following ABC's:

     A= Alphabet. Use alphabet stamps, stickers, etc.... in some way on your project
     B= Boy. Your project must be for a boy.
     C= Chocolate. You must include the color Chocolate (or other dark brown) somewhere on your artwork.
Hop over to H2H here and check out the DT's awesome artwork for the challenge.
I kind of feel like I cheated because my project is actually the layout project featured in the Passages Workshop On The Go.  After I finished it for my scrapbook class that I teach, I realized it fit the criteria for this weeks challenge.  The first layout is of my son's 8th grade graduation.  Enjoy!



Supplies:  (all CTMH)

• 
  
  Paper:  Passages Level 2 Paper Pack
• 
  
  Stamps:  Lifetime and Friendship Alphabet Large
• 
  
  Inks:  Cocoa and Brown Bag
• 
  
  Embellishments:  Pewter Mini-Medley and Cocoa Designer Ribbon Round
• 
  
  Tools:  CTMH 1 1/4" circle punch

Heart 2 Heart Challenge

This week at Heart 2 Heart Challenge we have a color challenge.  Beautiful Autumn colors of New England Ivy, Autumn Terracotta and Honey.  This is what I came up with.  My inspiration was remembering when I was a little girl and my Grandma and I would collect leaves and then place them between waxed paper with crayon bits and then take the iron to it.  Enjoy!

Supplies:

 
• Paper:  New England Ivy, Autumn Terracotta and Colonial White Cardstock
• Stamps:  Spring Leaves, Fall Leaves and a pumpkin stamp from my stash
• Inks:  New England Ivy, Autumn Terracotta, Honey, Desert Sand and Versamark
• Embellishments:  Crochet Trim from stash, Prisma Glitter
• Other: Copic Markers Y15 and Y17,  Martha Stewart glitter glue (I like this because when you apply it to our inks they will bleed just a bit so it makes the color more intense once the glitter is applied.
• Technique:  Emboss resist using clear embossing powder then I applied ink with a stiple brush in small circles then blended with a sponge.

These are the rest of the cards I completed this past week.  A special order from my sister-in-law.  Hope she likes them!

 
I made the rose using CTMH Just Blooms!



This one I used Tresa Black's Lollipop Flowers and Faux Stitching techniques.