How to make a Relaxing Guy Card

April 30, 2017April 29, 2017Leave a comment

I’ve always found making cards for a guy to be tricky.

Making feminine cards come easy to me.

For the upcoming summer season, I decided to make a “guy” card

that would make a perfect birthday, Father’s Day and even Retirement.

To make the Relaxing Guy Card…

TIP: Before removing the back off the 3D foam mounting squares. Brush baby powder to the back of the stickers to remove the tackiness. The stickers become like die cuts and will only stick where you want them too.

Materials Used: (*affiliate link)

Paper House-Lake Life Cardstock Stickers*
Paper House Productions PP-0052E Lake Life Paper Pads, 12″*
or individual sheets ↓
P-2001 Dock on the Lake 12″ Double Sided Scrapbook Paper
P-2002 A Day at the Lake 12″ Double Sided Scrapbook Paper
P-2005 Lake Time Tags 12″ Double Sided Scrapbook Paper
3L Scrapbook Adhesive Permanent Pre-Cut 3D Foam Squares*
Tape Runners*
Kraft Cardstock
Twine
Baby Powder
Paintbrush
Scissors
Paper Cutter

Directions:

Cut a 4″ x 6″ piece of green scrapbook (dock on the lake) layer. Add border sticker strip onto the top and bottom of the layer leaving approx. 1/8″ border.
Adhere the green layer onto a 4 1/4″ x 6 1/4″ piece of brown scrapbook paper (day at the lake) and then onto a 4 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ piece of red (lake time) scrapbook paper.
Create a 5″ x 7″ side fold card from the kraft cardstock.
Adhere scrapbook layers onto kraft card.

5. Create dimensional stickers by adding and layers stickers with 3D foam mounting squares. Add stickers to the front of the card.

6. Wrap twine around the left side of the card and tie with a knot.

*Disclaimer: This blog uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

DIY…Bloom Garden Stepping Stone

April 27, 2017June 2, 2017Leave a comment

Create a little fun and whimsy in your Garden with a Bloom Garden Stepping Stone.

(The links and instructions to make the Garden stone are included down below.)

I just got the Garden Issue of Craft Ideas Magazine and I’m so excited that I can finally share

with you my “Bloom Garden Stone”. (you can find it on page #24)

Make sure to check out the entire Garden issue of Craft Ideas,

the issue is full of great garden themed ideas and inspiration.

Materials and Supplies: (*affiliate links)

8” Cake Pan
Petroleum Jelly
Rapid Set Concrete Mix
DecoArt DS17-9 Americana Multi-Purpose Sealer*
DecoArt Americana® Multi Surface Acrylic Paint: Night Sky, Cotton Ball, Woodland Green
DecoArt Americana® Acrylic Paint: Watermelon Slice, Marigold
Decoart Decor Stencil 8×8 Garden Bloom*
DecoArt Americana DuraClear Varnishes*
Paintbrush
Stencil Brush*
White Cardstock

Directions:

Cover the sides and bottom of an old cake pan with Petroleum Jelly for easy removal.
Mix Rapid Set Concrete Mix according to manufacturer’s instructions. Fill pan with cement approx. 1″ thick. Shake pan a little to fill in the gaps and smooth. Allow a couple hours for cement to set before removing from the pan. Let the cement stone dry for a day or two before painting.

3. To create a better surface for painting and stenciling, paint cement stone first with DecoArt DS17-9 Americana Multi-Purpose Sealer*

4. Mix together Night Sky and Cotton Ball acrylic paint and basecoat entire stone.

5. Tear a piece of white cardstock with an irregular edge as shown to create a mask stencil for cloud background.

6. Place cloud mask stencil onto stone and paint with an upward motion. Move mask stencil around stone to paint additional clouds and let dry.

7. Stencil bloom flower using a mixture of Watermelon Slice and Marigold and stencil “bloom” with Night Sky as shown. Paint leaves Woodland Green and let dry.

8. Apply DecoArt Americana DuraClear Varnishes* using paintbrush over stone to help protect the stone from the outdoor elements.

You also might like this stepping stone project I created with my grandson Nick.

The Bloom Garden Stone was created for and sponsored by Craft Ideas Magazine. Craft Ideas for Every Occasion, Every Skill Level.

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Revamped Sunglass Case

April 20, 2017April 27, 2017Leave a comment

revamped-sunglass-case-sues-creative-workshop-4565

I picked up a “free” sunglass case at the Thrift Store the other day.

I was looking for something to paint using the New Patent Leather Paint

that I received from DecoArts.

I love the look of shiny patent leather. And… in red? Oh my!

Combine them all with embroidered letters from Joy*

and you have a personalized custom monogrammed sunglass case.

Here’s what I did to my case…

If your case is old, wipe it down with rubbing alcohol to remove any dirt or grime.
Apply a even coat of patent leather paint onto the sunglass case with a soft bristle brush.
The paint will have a tacky feel as it dries. Allow to dry between coats. You may want to give the case a second coat of paint.
To give the case a custom monogram. Using a good craft glue, glue Iron-on Embroidered letters from “Joy” on to the case.

*As a member of the Creating with Joy Design Team, this post was sponsored by JOY® SA.

Berry Boxes and Bunny Bubbles

April 13, 2017April 12, 20172 Comments

Berry Baskets for my Grandsons…

This year, I decided to get a little creative with the boys Easter present.

I recently received these cute little berry baskets from Leisure Arts and decided to use them

for the boys instead of traditional Easter baskets. (see Leisure Arts Ad below)

I painted the berry boxes with acrylic paint. I made tags with each of the boys names and

tied the tags on to the boxes with color coordinated twine. (simple, simple, simple)

My daughter recently told me…

she never forgot the year I made their Playdoh containers into Easter Bunnies.

I had forgotten all about it. (sounds like something I’d do)

Apparently it had made an impression on her.

So inspired by the memory… I made plain old bubble containers into “Bunny Bubbles”.

To make the Bubble Bunnies…

Remove the label that came onto the bottle.
Measure and cut a piece of white felt to go around the side of the bottle.
Use a craft glue and apply glue around the area on the bottle where the felt will go. (It’s easier to apply the glue to the bottle than the felt.) Wrap felt around bottle and secure into place.
For the bowtie…Wrap and glue ribbon around the top of the felt. Create a little bow from additional ribbon and glue to cover the ribbon seam.
Glue small buttons on the seam of the felt.
Cut two ears out of white felt. Color the center of the ears with a light pink marker. Glue ears onto the top of the lid.
Glue googly eyes and a small pink triangle nose onto the side of the lid. (Add whiskers under the nose if you like.)
Glue a small white pom pom on the back for a bunny butt.

A fun little addition to the berry box.

And…Maybe, just maybe, they’ll remember the year grandma made bunny bubbles.

*Disclaimer: This post uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

How to make a Springtime Delights Resin Magnet

April 4, 2017Leave a comment

I have to admit, working with Resin intimidated me at first.

With a little practice, I found that it’s really not hard and you can get some amazing results.

Especially when you start small. (Just make sure to read the package instructions)

My Springtime Delights magnet measures only 2″ x 2.

Materials: (*affiliate link)

Maya Road TIN003 Small Square Journey Tin
Envirotex Jeweler’s Grade Clear Epoxy Resin*
Paper House Productions STDM-0170 Welcome Spring 3D Sticker
Paper House Productions STDM-0176 Easter Egg Hunt 3D Sticker
Paper House Productions P-2007 Love 12” Double Sided Scrapbook Paper
Magnet
Beacon Adhesives Zip Dry Paper Glue*
Paper Cutter

Directions:

Cut and glue a small piece of scrapbook paper to fit inside of tin.

Arrange 3D stickers inside of tin. You may need to add extra glue under each sticker to make sure they stay in place.

Measure, Mix and pour the resin as directed in the product packaging.

Blow air onto the resin using a thin straw to help remove bubbles.

Allow plenty of drying time for the resin to cure before gluing magnet onto the back of the tin.

*Disclaimer: This post uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Easter Egg Hunt Sign

April 2, 2017Leave a comment

Any Easter egg hunts in your near future?

I whipped up this cute little sign for our Easter Egg Hunt using a DEFLECT-O Chalkboard Easel*

Simply embellish the easel with stickers and scrapbook paper for a quick DIY project.

Add your message with the chalk marker that comes with the easel.

For more fun, let the kiddo’s decorate the sign.

It also makes a cute sign to label your Easter Buffet.

(Easter stickers and paper from Paper House Productions.)

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“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.”

Stamping in White Embossing Powder

March 23, 2017March 23, 20173 Comments

Good Old Embossing Powder…

When I was introduced to stamping in 1996, do you know what hooked me?

It was the Gold Embossing Powder.

The first time I watched them melt that gold embossing powder. WOW!

At the time, I had a gift store and was looking for something new.

I can’t tell you how many people I hooked with that gold embossing powder.

Here’s a little throwback to where I started.

Back to embossing powder. (this time with a twist)

For this project, I started with a oval that was cut from chipboard.

I rubbed Colorbox White Embossing Pad* onto the surface of the oval.

Next, I poured White Embossing Powder* over the entire oval.

After pouring the excess powder off, heat the oval with a

Multi-Purpose Embossing Heat Tool*.

Make sure all the embossing powder is melted.

Repeat that step 3 or 4 times, building up a thick layer of embossing powder.

After it was thick enough, I added a little red ink to the edge of the oval and

inked up the “Windmill” stamp.

I heated up the oval again, making sure the powder was really hot and melted.

I pressed the inked stamp into the hot, melted powder. Success!

I love the way it looks like red toile. (which is something I collect)

Enabler Alert… Huge Sizzix Sale

March 22, 2017March 22, 2017Leave a comment

AD↓

Enabler Alert!

If you love die-cutting as much as I do.

I thought you might like to know that Sizzix is having a huge sale.

Up to 80% off select items. (just click on the picture)

How to make a Chippy Window for Spring

March 20, 2017March 20, 20195 Comments

Happy Spring!

To celebrate the first day of Spring I’m sharing how I made this cute little Chippy Window.

To make the Chippy Window…

I started with a 7gypsies 8×8 Shadowbox Insert that I painted with white acrylic paint

To achieve the look of an aged, worn, old chipped painted window…

I alternated layers of Deco Art Media White Crackle Paint* and

Deco Art Media White Crackle Paste* from DecoArt.

Allow plenty of drying time between each coat.

*Disclosure: This blog uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

For the background of the window…

I cut a piece of 7 3/4″ x 7 3/4″ decorative scrapbook paper and adhered it to a thick piece of

mat-board. I cut down a couple of 3″ x 4″ journaling cards from the

“Tealightful” collection from Pebbles Inc. and adhered it to the back of the window

frame before attaching the covered mat-board. Because the mat board is heavy,

I used a Beacon Adhesive Quick Grip Glue* to attach it to the frame.

I added loop screws onto each side of the window frame approx. 1/2″ in and added a thin chain

to the loop screws for hanging. Ribbon would also work.

To create the floral swag…

I snipped a few sprigs of artificial flowers and attached them together in the center with

a thin floral wire. I tied a simple bow to cover the wire.

I attached the floral swag and wood embellishments to the front of the frame with

Beacon Adhesive Quick Grip Glue*

FYI…I found the “Welcome” and “Butterfly” embellishments at Michaels.

I added the Spring Window to the center of a wreath and hung it on the front door.

I found the greenery wreath yesterday at Homegoods. It was just what I was looking for,

the perfect backdrop for my Chippy Spring Window.

FYI…Having a problem finding a window pane to use or would like one that’s even bigger?

(*affiliate link)

Hampton Art Jillibean Soup Mix The Media Window Frame-14 X16 White*

The new guy in my life…

March 15, 2017August 12, 20249 Comments

There’s a new guy in my life and I’m in love.

Meet the newest member of our family, my sweet little grandson Emerson.

Emerson is my third grandchild, my third grandson and the littlest brother.

He has already stolen all of our hearts.

I’m so excited to have a new love in my life.

For Emerson’s layout, I used the Lullaby Collection from Pebbles Inc.

- I created a lacey border for the photo using the Spellbinders Captivating Squares Die Templates* and cutting and piecing six squares together.
- I wanted some small floral accents for my layouts so I fussy cut small flowers from the floral scrapbook paper. I used thin 3D foam mounting squares on a few of the flowers.

Disclaimer: This post uses affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission that helps offset the cost of running this blog. Thanks for your support!