Scrap Cards

I've been making cards with scraps again, and I know a few weeks back I shared a few projects I've made lately with the Fairy Belle and the Sunkiss papers from Prima.  Today I thought I would share with you the cards I made from the scraps.

I find that making cards with my scraps is so rewarding.  Since I participate in a lot of swaps I usually stuff one of these in the box before I mail it.    What do you do to control the scrap population?

Thanks for stopping in today,

Mixing the Old with the New

There's nothing I love more than getting a big box of Happy Mail from Flamingo Scraps! (Can I get an amen?)

I've been having such a great time with everything from my last box, especially the Heidi Swapp 'No Limits' collection! I love that the line is themed enough to be great for travel stuff (like my vacation planning folder), but versatile enough to work for other things too (like my '1st Field Trip' layout).

When I was looking at the papers I still had left, I noticed that one featured navigational tools. I dug through my older Flamingo Scraps stuff and came up with some wood grain letters from Crate Paper. Two photos, a few ancient stickers, and some journaling... and then I had this.

From Flamingo Scraps: Heidi Swapp patterned paper, Crate Paper letters

Other: It Takes Two stickers, Clearsnap ink, Recollections brads

Of course, getting out my older Flamingo Scraps goodies inspired me to push aside the newer stuff and use some of that stash.  Here is a layout featuring Fancy Pants stickers and die cuts from several years ago, plus some even older rub-ons.  I used some newer Thickers for the title.

 

From Flamingo Scraps: Fancy Pants patterned paper and die cuts, BasicGrey rub-ons (heart, dots)
Other: American Crafts Thickers, K&Co. rub-on (amazing)

How fun to mix the old with the new!

Heidi Swapp 'No Limits'

Remember the vacation planning folder I made using the Heidi Swapp 'No Limits' collection? Here's the latest project I made with that line:

From Flamingo Scraps: Heidi Swapp patterned paper
Other: BasicGrey letters, Fiskars punch, Clearsnap ink

It was perfect for a layout about Trevor's first field trip.  Actually, it was my first field trip too, in a way.  I led around 50 field trips as a teacher, but this was my first field trip as a parent.  Much easier!

Heidi Swapp's 'No Limits' is in stock- you can get it here.  Stay tuned for more projects from this awesome collection!

Oldies But Goodies - Tools of the Past

With CHA right around the corner – I know there are going to be heart stopping products that will become must haves.  We will replace yesterday’s must haves with these latest and greatest products.  It is a vicious cycle.  We have a lot of money invested in these tools, and they are still very useful.  I found myself resurrecting a few of them this week, and thought I would share with you how I showed them some love.

1.     Eyelet setting hammer  -  Remember having to BANG BANG BANG your eyelets into your projects.  Then the Crop-a-dile, from We Are Memory Keepers, was released and the hammer was tossed to the side.  Recently, I pulled the little hammer out of hiding and used it to distress a wooden cigar box. 

2.    The Grommet Setter from Making Memories had my toes tingling.  I HAD TO HAVE IT! It was like the coolest thing with the ginormous flower grommets.  I recently pulled it out to set an Eyelet too big for my crop-a-dile.  Also - Now that I'm thinking about it, I may just use it again this week to add a few of those flowers to a canvas. SO FUN.

3.     Dekled Edge Scissors  - GASP – you say.  Well, if used properly, these scissors can be a lot of fun.  I wanted a really tattered edge on an envelope  and decided to use these scissors.  I’ve also used them to cut fun shapes for mixed media projects.

4.     The old old Sizzix Dies remember the ones with crazy frames – no one ever shows them love anymore.  However,  I’ve been going through my stash of dies lately and found some great oldies to include in my mixed media projects and journals.   Example:  This frame was so popular,  but I haven't used it since 2007.  I recently cut some packaging with it, then dry embossed it and used alchol inks to give it new life.

5.     Remember this guy? I never could get this to cut properly. I have hurrled that little tool into the air so many times out of frustration.  I recently used the cutting plates as a stencil to spray interesting patterns on a project in my art journal.    Take your distress applicator tool and use the sides of the stencils to make beautiful borders on your journal pages.

Do you have tools that you have put away and forgotten about?    I challenge you to pull them out and find a new use for them.

Next week I want to explore products of the past that are making their way into my current proejcts.

Thanks for stopping in today,

Pink Paislee - Declaration

I loved Pink Paislee's Declaration line the first time I saw it.  It has classic colors and a timeless feel.  Somehow it is both vintage and modern at the same time.  I had this idea to make a welcome banner to hang on our back fence during our next BBQ.  

I fussy-cut two shapes from the "Pinwheel" paper to hold my banner.  I attached them to a piece of twine and taped it to the fence.  So far, so good!

My idea was to make the letters in the shape of oven/grill mitts and hang them from the twine using mini clothespins.  Cute, right?  I cut out my mitts, added the letters and pinned them onto the banner.  Adorable! Totally BBQ and perfect for hot summer days!

 

Or.... maybe not.  Both my husband and 6 year old son asked why I had made a mitten banner during the summer.  In my mind, they were grill mitts.  It never occurred to me that they look exactly like winter mittens.  Sigh.

Flamingo Scraps has Declaration in stock... perhaps you can think of a more appropriate use than a mitten banner for the summer!  :)

Summer Memories!!!

Two of my Summer 2012 faves -- Maya Road's Vintage Memory Box and Pink Paislee's Declaration paper collection!  This fun project is perfect for your summer memories!!

Though the title of the box says it is 3", you will want to cut your paper slightly smaller for the exterior, slightly smaller than that for the interior, and even smaller for the coaster album.  If you plan to store the coaster album in the box, make sure you do not add bulk to the edges or even to the pages as it is a tight fit.  The box can be sprayed with mist, painted, inked, or left bare -- I chose Maya Mist applied with a paint brush.

Maya Road Vintage Memory Box was painted inside and out with Cherry Metallic Maya Mist
Studs from my stash were attached as feet
24 squares of Pink Paislee Declaration paper cut, corners rounded, and edges inked
Paper attached with Claudine Hellmuth Matte Medium, edges of album sanded  

 Studs, wood stars, Martha Stewary glitter, rhinestones, and tiny acrylic stars and fireworks bursts from my stash.  Inside the lid is a shaker box made from a Maya Road Journey Tin.

Bottom with stud feet
Top with glittered wooden stars
Interior
Inside lid with shaker box

Queen & Co Washi Tape reinforces the lid hinge; carefully pierce the edge of the lid and the lip of the box, insert trinket pin to secure the lid much like an old fashioned cigar box.  Layered rosettes made with Tim Holtz Alterations Dies -- rosettes die cut and attached to slightly wider strip of paper with your choice of punched edge.

Paper pattern accented with small rhinestones
Faux stitching heat embossed
Paper pattern selectively highlighted with Glossy Accents
Layered paper rosettes with punched edges
Embellished Maya Road Trinket Pin secures lid

Vintage Memory Box with Album

And there you have it -- a perfect summer project for your sunny memories!  Thanks for looking!!!

Once Upon A Springtime - Cigar Box

I guess you could say I've been on a Fairy kick lately.  Graphic 45's Once Upon A Springtime is one of my all time favorite paper collections.   I have been wanting to alter a cigar box with it for a long time now.   This past weekend I finally had the chance.

From Flamingo Scraps: Graphic 45: Once Upon A Spring Time: Pixie Post and Once Upon A Spring Time, Ranger: Claudine Hellmuth Matt Multi-Medium and Forest Moss Distress Stain, Prima: Rose buds, Mini Roses and Trellus Roses; Tattered Angels:  Gold Glimmer Mist, Mist Fits Glimmer Chalks. Other:  Floral Vine, Gelly Roll Clear Star Pen.

The base of the box was painted with the Ranger Forest Moss Stain then I sprayed Gold Glimmer Mist on top so that it has a nice shine to it.  I cut out the book and Fairies from the paper collection and flanked it with some Roses from Prima. Then I fussy Cut Fairies and birds from the paper collection and nestled them into the floral spray.

I love the way this box turned out, and I hope that my friend likes it too.

Thanks for stopping in today,