Tree Tag

We spent Christmas away from home last year.  Since my daughter Melody was graduating from BYU-Idaho on Dec 19th and my oldest son Matthew and his wife Meghan were expecting a baby on Dec 25th, it just made sense to stay in Utah for the holidays.  It was the first time we've all been together for Christmas in three years.  It's all this mom wanted!  Benjamin got home from his mission last November and it was wonderful to have him home.  We left him behind in Utah after the holidays so he could start college at BYU there in Provo.  He's lucky to have his older brother nearby.  Our little grandson Elliott was born a week early on Dec 18th so we got to spend lots of time with him before coming back.  This grandmother wishes they weren't so far away!

Anyway, I didn't get my Christmas tags made until the day before we left for our trip.  Talk about last minute!  This year I made five sets of tags.  I finally took pictures of them yesterday and will be posting them all over the next few days.  Here's the first design.

I cut a tag from Early Espresso cardstock using the Tag Builder Blueprints 2 dies from My Favorite things and layered a piece of Candlelight Chrsitmas paper on top.  I added a little Early Espresso over the tag hole as well.

I embossed the sentiment from Tag-Its #8 by Papertrey Ink with white embossing powder.  After stamping the tree from Chalet by Avery Elle, I colored it with Copic markers and cut it out by hand.  Then I put White Blizzard Nuvo Drops on the tree for some sparkle.  I adhered the tree to the tag and tied on some gold ribbon for the final touch.

Stamps:  Chalet (Avery Elle); Tag-Its #8 (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  VersaMark
Paper:  Early Espresso, Candlelight Christmas (Stampin' Up)
Copic:  C3, YG23, YG25, E44, E59
Misc:  Tag Builder Blueprints 2 dies (My Favorite Things); White Blizzard (Nuvo Crystal Drops); gold Wink of Stella pen; white embossing powder (Filigree); gold ribbon

Arcos Wrap Bracelet

I love to make things.  If fear didn't get in the way so often, my whole home and wardrobe would be handmade things.  I've been wanting to try bead-weaving for years.  If you don't believe me, just look at my bookshelf full of jewelry magazines such as Bead & Button, BeadStyle, and BeadWork.  I've daydreamed about it for ages.  I really admire all the beautiful jewelry designs.

I subscribe to Potomac Bead's channel on Youtube and when the Arcos Wrap Bracelet popped up, I immediately saved the link.  I loved the design and it looked simple enough for a beginner like me.  After stalling for months, I finally ordered the beads and took the plunge.  It was super easy to make!

I love how the design hints of butterflies.  I picked some gorgeous mottled blue/silver beads for my project.  I made the wrap bracelet twice, once for myself and once for my sister as a birthday gift.  She really loves bracelets and knew it would be a fun surprise for her when we went to visit family in August.

Well...technically, I made it three times.  When I gave it to my sister, it was just a bit too short.  I added an additional motif repeat and that solved the problem.  Glad it was an easy pattern!

Of course, I had to make a pretty gift box to hold the bracelet.  I used the same design as the one for my mom, just in different colors.  (see the previous post for more details)

Now I just need to pick my next bead project!  I had planned to make my mom a necklace and earrings set for Christmas, but completely ran out of time.  Life was pretty busy last year!

Stamps:  Hardwood (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Dark Chocolate, Blueberry Sky (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Cocoa Bean, Blueberry Sky (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Gerbera Daisy dies (My Favorite Things)

Two Earring Designs...Double the Fun

I've had these two earring designs photographed since last August when I made them for my mother's birthday.  It's about time I got on here and posted them!  Look for several additional posts this week as I catch up with some of last year's projects.

I purchased a strand of lovely floral circle beads at either Michaels or A.C. Moore and they were languishing in my bead drawer for months.  I made simple earrings with the addition of some tiny clear crystal faceted beads.  I love this design and need to make a pair for myself!

I made an additional pair of earrings using some cool mottled green beads that I bought at A.C. Moore a couple of years ago.  I strung them with simple silver ball spacers.  Both earrings have a great summer vibe.  My mom really liked them!

Naturally, I had to create some packaging to gift the earrings, so I pulled out a nugget box pattern I got from Splitcoaststampers.  The depth is perfect for earrings once you add a little batting.

I stamped the Cocoa Bean cardstock in Dark Chocolate ink with the Hardwood background stamp from Stampin' Up.  It's one of my favorites!  I cut a layered flower from Raspberry Fizz cardstock using the Gerbera Daisy dies from My Favorite Things.  I then inked the edges to define the petals, as well as the flower center, using the matching inks.  Simple, but it makes a striking box.

Stamps:  Hardwood (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Dark Chocolate, Raspberry Fizz (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Cocoa Bean, Raspberry Fizz (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Gerbera Daisy dies (My Favorite Things)

MFT Summer School 2018: White Space

Here's my card for the White Space challenge of My Favorite Things Summer School.  I pulled out the adorable Puppy Kisses stamp set this time.  The sentiment is from an older set called You Make My Tail Wag.

I had an embossed white cardstock panel in my scrap stash already that worked perfectly for what I had in mind.  It's hard to see the subtle stripes in the picture, but it adds a bit of texture to the background.  I added two layered strips of Green Parakeet grass cut using the Grassy Edges die by My Favorite Things in the lower left corner.

I stamped two of the cute puppies from Puppy Kisses, colored them with Copic markers, and cut them out by hand.  I tucked them into the grass and then framed the little scene with a black stitched circle cut using the Single Stitch Line Circle Frames by My Favorite Things.  I've been wanting those frame dies for ages and finally bought them in the retirement sale.

I stamped three hearts from Puppy Kisses.  After coloring them with Copic markers, I covered the hearts with a layer of clear Wink of Stella and cut them out.  They are so sparkly in person!  They also add a lovely pop of color to my scene.

I used the leftover black cardstock circle from the frame and adhered it to the upper right corner.  I then stamped my sentiment from You Make My Tail Wag by My Favorite Things on a white cardstock strip and cut it into two pieces.  After gluing it down, I felt the area needed something, so I stamped and cut out a pawprint from the same stamp set.

My card turned out really cute!  I'll save it for a special occasion to give to my husband.  :)

Stamps:  Puppy Kisses, You Make My Tail Wag (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White, True Black, Green Parakeet (Papertrey Ink)
Copic:  0, C1, C3, E30, E42, E57, E59, R24, R29
Misc:  Single Stitch Line Circle Frames die, Grassy Edges die (My Favorite Things); Stripes embossing folder (Stampin' Up); clear Wink of Stella pen; white gel pen

MFT Summer School 2018: Repetition

Here's my card for the Repetition challenge over at My Favorite Things Summer School.  My stamp positioner was invaluable in making it!  No way I would have gotten all those sentiments even otherwise.

I used the Radiating Rays stencil by My Favorite Things and sponged Broken China Distress Oxide ink through it onto white cardstock.  I then stamped multiple lines of a sentiment from Sow Much Cuteness by My Favorite Things in black ink.  After I finished stamping, I cut the piece with a stitched rectangle from the Blueprints 20 die set.

I stamped a cute pig image from Sow Much Cuteness on white cardstock and colored it with Copic markers.  I went over the whole thing with a clear Wink of Stella pen for lots of sparkle.  Then I added Glossy Accents to the belly, nose, and hooves.  Hopefully you can see it in the close-up picture.  I fussy cut the image.  Again...note to self...get the matching dies.   lol

I popped up the pig with foam tape and adhered it to the center of the sentiment block.  Doesn't he look so happy about a birthday?  I love how the stenciled lines make it look like he's singing out loud.  Or dancing.  Perfectly natural!

I glued the white panel (raised slightly with additional cardstock) and a piece of Perfectly Plaid: Rainbow patterned paper by Lawn Fawn onto a black card base.  Finally, I added a few clear sequins by Pretty Pink Posh for additional sparkle.

It's sow cute!  (pun intended)  This card really makes me smile.  It was a lot of fun to make!

Stamps:  Sow Much Cuteness (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Broken China (Distress Oxide)
Paper:  White, True Black (Papertrey Ink); Perfectly Plaid: Rainbow (Lawn Fawn)
Copic:  C1, C3, R01, R20, R30
Misc:  Blueprints 20 die (My Favorite Things); Radiating Rays stencil (My Favorite Things); Glossy Accents (Ranger); clear Wink of Stella pen; Sparkling Clear sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); stamp positioner; sponge tool

MFT Summer School 2018: Primary Colors

It's nice to be back creating in my studio again.  Lately, I've been doing more organizational projects rather than stamping.  I decided to participate in the My Favorite Things Summer School challenges to get me going again.  Here is my card for the Primary Colors day.

I pulled out these adorable monsters from the Monster Sized stamp set by My Favorite Things.  They look great in bold, bright colors!  I colored the images with Copic markers and added Glossy Accents to the eyes for dimension.  (hopefully you can see it in the close up photo)  I also jazzed up the teeth with a clear Wink of Stella pen. 

Note to self:  get the matching dies.  These images were a challenge to fussy cut!

I glued strips of Bright Buttercup, Enchanted Evening, and Pure Poppy cardstock to a white panel for a fun backdrop.  The sentiment is from another My Favorite Things stamp set called Monster Love.  I thought it went perfectly with my crazy stack of monsters.  I popped them up slightly with a couple layers of cardstock underneath.  I then glued the whole panel to a black card base.

Isn't it fun?  It's a bright and happy birthday card that works for any gender!

Stamps:  Monster Sized, Monster Love (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White, True Black, Bright Buttercup, Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink)
Copic:  0, C1, C5, Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17, R24, R29, R59, B34, B37
Misc:  Glossy Accents (Ranger); clear Wink of Stella pen

Baby Girl Card & Gift Wrap

I made this card and gift wrap for a baby shower present several months ago.  I used an old set by Stampin' Up called Baby Firsts.  It's one of my personal favorites for baby cards.

For the gift wrap, I stamped baby images repeatedly on kraft paper with black ink.  Soft pink ribbon added the perfect touch to match the card.

After stamping the baby image on a scalloped notecard and coloring it with Copic markers, I paper-pieced the little pink onesie with Sweet Blush Bitty Dot patterned paper by Papertrey Ink.  I added little details to the dots with a white gel pen and colored the zipper with a silver Wink of Stella pen.

I cut the word "baby" using the Wonderful Words: Baby die by Papertrey Ink and stamped the word "girl" underneath with the matching stamp set.  Simple and super cute!

Stamps:  Baby Firsts (Stampin' Up); Wonderful Words: Baby (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White, Sweet Blush Bitty Dot (Papertrey Ink); unknown pink
Copic:  E000, E00, R20
Misc:  Wonderful Words: Baby die, Don't Forget to Write dies (Papertrey Ink); white gel pen; silver Wink of Stella pen