Impressive Crafts

Quick Card

2010-03-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a really quick card I did for a young man in our troop for his Eagle Court of Honor. I gold emblossed the fleu'de lis. The gold behind the puch is gold paper. I think all of the supplies except for the punch are Stampin Up.

I do have a lot on the horizon. Things after April slow down a lot. No more teaching at co-op & no den meetings until September. I went through my yarn stash and made myself some knitting kits. (I can't take credit. I read the idea on the yarn harlots blog.) Now when I want something to knit and don't want to hunt down the pattern to go with the yarn I had in mind for it. It is all in one place now. I made about 11 of these kits. Not all of them are socks. Some are unfinished projects. Sadly, some of those unfininshed projects are still on needles and ready to go. No excuses to finish some of them.

I bet I could make myself some card making kits too. One day make up a card I like. Which I think is half the battle. Then make a kit to make about 20 of them. I would always have a gift of cards for someone after finishing a few of those kits.

Ideas are bubbling. Since our wreck getting through just life has been a battle. With nicer weather and slower days it seems I am getting my mind around being creative and making things. I miss that over the last six months.

Till the next time.

Purely for Function

2010-03-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

I have three male dogs. They are constantly spraying so I saw this idea to save my floor and furniture. I just tied a piece of felt around him with a bow. This was a temorary solution. I got them all neutered and it worked like a charm. Yeah, I am happy about that.

I know this isn't much. I have been so busy with scouts, school and life. I haven't had time to do much crafting, creating, or knitting. I see summer on the horizon. I am thinking sweaters will be my projects for the family. Maybe workout as Christmas presents for this year. Who knows?

Hope all is well with whoever may read. Till the next time I hope to have something to share.

Happy Heart Day

2010-02-08T08:37:00.001-08:00

Valentines Day is this Sunday for those of you paying attention. It is another time to make crafts and cards for those whom we love. I saw the idea for the candy here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L33HIre830Y

My husband's Valentine Day card. He doesn't read my blog so I am safe sharing it with you. I like that it is sparkly. I used some stick on jewels things. I don't know what they are called but I like them.

Hope your week is good. Mine is a busy one.

Frugal February Hmmmm?

2010-02-04T15:20:00.000-08:00

Anyone ever heard of Frugal February? I recently did. Here is a simple explaination.

Goal 1:Empty the pantry of all food especially stuff that has been there for awhile.

Goal 2:Live on less for the month. (example: no shopping except for real neccesities, no eating out, free entertainment, low heat)

I don't know that Iwill follow those goals but I am for spending less when I do spend money. I thought that using coupons are a great way to keep costs down. So where are we going to put those small pieces of paper, to keep them handy to use when you need them? I saw this at a Recycle Art class I teach with a friend. One of the girls found this in a magazine we were cutting up for a project. Thats the picture on the left with my coupon holder. As you can see by the picture on the right, it is simply made with six envelopes sealed and cut at 4". I glued them all together and made a cover.

Sweet huh? Have a great day and blessed weekend.

Topper

2010-02-03T07:09:00.000-08:00

This hat would look so much better on the top of the head of the person I gave it too but I don't have that photo. I had fun making this hat. It was on small needles. That seems to be my choice of projects. Tiny stitches and lots of them. This hat went pretty fast after I got it started. It starts at the top and is worked down. The yarn is very soft too. It is called Mini Mochi, 80% Merino wool, 20% Nylon. The pattern is called Springtime in Philidelphia. It is a free pattern and can be found here: http://www.kebournewoolens.com/springtimeinphiladiphia.html

Was a fun project and I think a great gift.

Till the next time.

Many Thanks

2010-01-20T07:49:00.000-08:00

This card was made last year when I sat down and made a bunch of thank you cards just because. You never know when you will need one for a wonderful person who helps you out.

I made a bunch and over the last four months I have used them up and need to make more for the birthday and Christmas thanks yous. Saturday is the day I plan on doing some. So.............you will have to wait and see what creations become of it.

Valentines Day is coming up and I have ideas for my class. Must order pretty red paper and new stamp set.

Have a great day!

When the Scouts........oh when the scouts........

2010-01-14T08:29:00.000-08:00

I made these for a 100 years of scouting and it got snowed out. I cut them out with my Cricut machine. (So worth the investment.) Cut them each from the top and from the bottom. I then pushed them together at the cut marks . Voila' instant table decor. I am going to use them for a Blue and Gold banquet and hopefully in the future an Eagle Scout Banquet.

I discovered one thing about knitting. This is obvious to anyone who knits but it makes me a much nicer and patient person. I can work a project while I wait and my life involves alot of this kind of activity. Then I have a functional piece of knitting to show for my patience. It is also great for the stress in my life. Which like most people I have alot of that too.

Have a project blocking. May be done for tommorrows post. See ya then.

Create.

Beary Thankful

2010-01-13T11:20:00.000-08:00

Here is a thank you card I made for a dear friend. I found the button brads and couldn't resist using them with the bear. He has buttons at those spots. The bird ended up being a cardinal. It looked much better that way.

I have some projects to share at another time when I have more time. Cards and knitting of course and another peek at a big one for next month.

My busy boy is working on one too. May share that one too. Just for fun.

Have a great Wednesday.

All Wrapped Up

2010-01-06T09:06:00.000-08:00

Here is a knitted project for you all. I made this last week for the oldest son. He was at the knitting store with me when I was using up my gift certificates that I got for Christmas and my birthday. (Thanks you my sweet husband and friends.) He has some cash and wants a scarf. I said I would make it. Free yarn and project for me, scarf for him. Win, win all the way for both of us. I knitted a simple 2 by 2 rib pattern on 10.5 needles. The yarn is called Cyprus. It is soft and warm. It was hard to let this one go.

Hello My Friend Hello

2010-01-04T07:13:00.000-08:00

It has been way too long for this post. I noticed it was last April that I made the last one. Will try to be better at this. I will try to remember my password. I will post at least once maybe twice a week, maybe more. I will not get to busy to create.

There you go a simple and hopefully able to be accomplished New Years resolution.

Let's catch up.

The last card I posted I sent to my grandmother, it was the last one she recieved. I regret to say the day before Mother's Day she passed and all the cards I sent her came back to me. I made quite a few. She lived a distance and I didn't get to see her much, but when I started making more cards I tried to send her one a week and then one a month. The cards above are hers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did getting to see them again.

Happy New Year four days late and lets make it a good one.

Spring has Sprung

2009-04-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

This card expresses some of my favorite things in nature: birds, flowers, and butterflies. This was a little different color combo. The image and all colors and paper are from Stampin Up. The image is Serene Spring . The colors are Only Orange, Garden Green, and black. I used a Tim Holtz ink pad called Tea Dyed also.

I inked the image on white card stock. I colored it with Stampin Up water color pencils. I also hightlighted the flowers, bird, butterfly, and pot with a white pen after I wet the image and it dried. Then I sponged around the bottom with Garden Green and the top with Yo yo Yellow. I wanted to tie the orange in so I sponged some of that around the top too. The green card stock I sponged on the edges with the Tim Holtz Tea Dyed. On the orange I made lines up and down with the Tim Holtz Tea Dyed Pad and then pulled it across left to right. I really like the texture to the card stock. I foam dot mounted the image part on textured black paper from Stampin Up. Well, I have to say this is one of my favorite cards I have made. I sent it off to my grandma today. Hope she likes it too.

I have been knitting alot lately. It really calms the nerves. Its getting close to summer and as busy as I have been it will be here before ya know it. So I feel stessed at times. Hope to have something to share soon.

Hope you all have a fabulous rest of the week.

Happy Easter

2009-04-10T11:56:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite "holidays." Since I became a christian about eleven years ago. It has been a wonderful thing to celebrate the act that has brought such change to my life personaly and many others I know. I am reminded of my sinful nature and what was paid to cover it. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice for me.

Before I became a christian it was all about the candy. I still like that aspect, so here are the Easter baskets. I bought a big bag of candy and didn't want our family to eat all of it.

Each one is made with Stampin Up designer paper cut at 6"x6". I scored the square at 2" & 4". Then I scored them on each corner. Folded the corners out, put sticky strip on the flap. I then stuck it down added the brads voilia'. Easy baskets you can use for any little gift. I can't take the credit, I got the idea on a blog called "Dawns Stampin Studio". Well, I hope all of you have a blessed weekend.

Blueberries Oh How I love them.

2009-03-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

Blueberries oh how I love the tast of them.I made these today for a very late breakfast. I don't know but I have been hungry for blueberries. I googled blueberry breakfast bars and got a really delicious recipe.I used blueberries that I bought at the store in the frozen section. I didn't have enough left from when I picked them last year. A pie and a couple of blueberry muffin recipes pretty much wiped out my supply. Here is the website I got the recipe from. I would use less sugar. I have a sweet tooth but these are a little sweet. The oatmeal crust was the best!

http://foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com/2006/06/blueberry-breakfast-bars.html

I just got a couple of books yesterday. I have made time to read. I have been so busy with end of school year stuff and cub scout pack stuff it was a treat to see them at my door yesterday.One of the books is called "101 Designer One-Skein Wonders" by Judith Durant. The other book is called "The All New Square Foot Gardening" by Mel Bartholomew.

The knitting book it just my level of time and attention right now. I hopefully will have some knitted items to show off soon. All of them are knitted with one skein of yarn as the title dictates. There are patterns for kids to adults, hats to bags. I was impressing with the variety of projects, the nice quality of the yarn suggested, and that there really are 101 projects. ( I counted them.)

The gardening book has opened a really different way of gardening to me. I like he has these tips to save money on the margins of the pages. That really works for someone who does not have much money to invest in a square foot garden. So I hope to get that going soon. Will chart progress for anyone who shares a like to gardening.

Well that whats up lately. I hope everyone has a fabulous rest of week.

Paper Sack Photo Album

2009-03-23T09:55:00.001-07:00

Here is my attempt of a photo album. I am not much of a scrapbook person. I took 3 lunch paper sacks and put big eyelets on the side to hold them together.

The tree image and paper is Stampin Up. The beaver (being my last name) I found online. I really like it!

Hope you has a fabulous weekend and following week.

Here is a photo of a family members crafted item. I think he did well. That is a third place ribbon there. Too bad he didn't have on his Cub scout shirt. Oh well, maybe next time.

Happy Anniversary to Me

2009-03-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

I forgot I had this stamp set. Isn't it cute. The words say "I Chews U". Isn't this a great card for a Beaver Anniversary. The papers are Stampin Up: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip Designer Paper (I have had it for awhile, it's probably retired), and the Printed Kraft paper in the Taste of Textiles.

I stamped the image with StazOn black on white cardstock, colored with Creamy Carmel, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Ruby Red, and YoYo Yellow. Opps forgot to color the centers of the flowers. I colored the background with Old Olive and retired Bliss Blue chalk. I think. It gives the senery look.

Well, that's it. Have a Fabulous Day and maybe I will have some new things next week.

Mother

2009-03-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

Here is Mother's Day card number one.

The colors used were Stampin Up Boarding Blue, Bravo Burgundy, and So Saffron. I also used clear embossing powder and the distressing powder from Tim Holtz called Weathered Wood from the last card. Here is a step by step if you want to give it a try.

1. I clear embossed on white card stock the butterfly image from the Stampin Up retired set Wonderful Wings.

2. I sponged the paper Boarding Blue with Stampin Up chalk. The butterfly was invisable so I colored over it with the Stampin Up marker So Saffron.

3. I stamped the flower image from Stampin Up Organic Grace with Stazon Black Ink.

4. I embossed the Stampin Up French Script on the side with the Tim Holtz distressing powder.

5. I colored the flowers Bravo Burgundy with a marker.

6. Tore the left side of the paper. I pulled the paper toward me holding it upside down so the ripped paper showed better.

7. I mouted the top image with two brads to a 1 1/2" piece of Bravo Burgundy.

8. I popped it up with foam dots on top a piece of Stampin Up Designer paper. I don't know the name someone gave it to me.

9. The words Mother are stamped with Alphabits another retired Stampin Up set. I stamped them on the designer paper with Bravo Burgundy. I punched them out with a 1/4" square punch. I then glued them on with clear glue.

9 steps and you get a nice Mother's Day card.

I like the layered images one on top of the other. Even if you don't have the stamps I used you can use what you got to make what every card you want. I tend to like butterflies, flowers, and birds. It makes it hard to make a card for a the males in my family.

Well, till the next post have a fabulous day.

Dead Camera

2009-03-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hi. I have a post for today and my camera died. It's Mother's Day card number one. I just wanted to let you know if you check in today. I will get my camera charged and hopefully get a decent pic. I am still working on that. Till later. Have a fabulous Day.

Thoughts and Prayers

2009-03-08T16:12:00.000-07:00

Here is the posting of my first card on the world wide web. Hope you all like it? It was kind of fun to add colors and watch the effects of them on each other. So here is what I used and how I did it.

Some of the colors are Stampin Up: Brillant Blue, Green Galore, and Chocolate Chip. The other colors are Tim Holtz Distressing Embossing Powder color "Weathered Wood" and the ink is "Tea Dyed." I really like the distressed stuff. Gives it an interesting texture.

I embossed the tree first. I then took the tea dye ink and sponged it all over the white card stock. To add some color I sponged the bottom in Green Galore and the top in Brilliant Blue. It gets wet when you add alot of ink so I dryed it with the embossing gun. It keeps the paper from getting torn unless you like that. After drying the paper I added the greeting in Chocolate Chip (I wish I embossed it like the tree, would have looked better) and assembled the card as you see it. You can't tell from the photo but the tree is distressed. I think I will have to try it with a larger image. I think it would look better.

Well, that is it. Have a fabulous day. Hopefully the next post will be some Mother's Day cards. Will be here before we know it. I have some ideas brewing.

Hello World

2009-03-05T09:24:00.000-08:00

Here I am. I hope to post a project by the end of the week for the world to view. Hope you enjoy it. I have a few things stewing in the pot of creativitly.

I just got a book called "Intertwined" by Lexi Boeger. That has been one of the most fascinating books I have read on spinning techniques. Gotta pick one up. It will inspire you. Guess I will have to get the spinning wheel out soon to give some of them a try.

Well, short post. Writing has not been one of my talents. Till later. Have a fabulous day.