A is for Alex

July 29, 2014June 2, 20171 Comment

I recently got the privilege of attending my sweet nephew Alex’s first birthday.

Since the party was a Robot theme…

I decided to make a Mini Robot out of Smoothfoam to decorate his present.

Supplies Used for make the robot: (*affiliate link)

2″ x 4″ x 8″ Smoothfoam block
Hot Wire Foam Cutter*
Silver Paint Pen*
Craft glue
Letter stickers
Googly eyes
Pearl-head straight pins
Bamboo skewer

Trim out 6 pieces from the Smoothfoam block with the wire cutter as shown for a body, head, arms and feet. Paint all pieces silver and let dry.
Paint a wood skewer silver and cut into two pieces for the legs. Insert between the body and feet with a few drops of glue to secure.
Glue the head and arms to the body.
Adhere the eyes to the head, and a letter sticker for the child’s first name to the body. Place the letter “I” sideways on the head to create the robot’s mouth.
Push two pearl-head pins into the top of the head for antennae, each secured with a drop of glue.

My little Robot stands approx. 4″ tall.

This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam.

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!

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Embossing Clear Scraps Clear Shapes for Layouts and Cards

July 23, 2014October 9, 2015Leave a comment

Did you know that you can emboss Clear Scraps Clear Shapes? (I didn’t until recently.)

For my “Vintage Sisters” layout and “Smile” card, I started with a Clear Shape Flower.

To make the Flower:

I used my Big Shot and a Swiss Dot Embossing Plate to emboss my flower.
I dabbed Antique Linen Distress Paint on the front of the flower (raised dot) and Victorian Velvet Distress Paint on the back side of my flower.

This project was created for and sponsored by Clear Scraps.

Simple Decorated Linen Bag and Burlap Utensil Holder

July 13, 2014April 25, 20151 Comment

I recently got the opportunity to play along with a group of Designers using some fun burlap products.

I really love working with burlap. So many ideas, too little time. Here’s a few of the many things you can make using burlap.

My first project is a simple and elegant idea for decorating a plain muslin bag.

Start with a plain muslin bag.
Lay diamond stencil over the bag and secure in place with removable tape.
Stipple over the stencil with white acrylic paint.
Adhere a 1 1/2″ strip of burlap around center of bag.
Glue a thin piece of white lace around the bottom of the burlap strip.
For the heart: Paint a small piece of red burlap with several coats of white acrylic paint, creating the nice soft pink color.
Cut burlap with heart die.
Adhere sheer pink rosette ribbon onto pink heart and glue onto front of muslin bag.
Cut and Decorate a small tag.

The Burlap Utensil Holder uses the 3 1/2″ navy striped burlap ribbon.

Cut a 12″ strip of burlap ribbon.
Fold over one end of the ribbon approx. 1/2 end and glue using a good Fabri Tac glue. I used small metal binder clips to secure the ribbon in place while drying.
Create a 4″ pouch by folding and gluing ribbon. (love those binder clips)Glue a piece of 1 1/2″ burlap ribbon around pouch.
Glue lace over burlap ribbon and tie with a piece of cream crinkle ribbon.
Embellish with a flower and stick pin.
Add a napkin and utensil and your ready to go.

Make sure to tell your story.

June 23, 2014April 20, 2015Leave a comment

As the Mom and a Scrapbooker I’m the one who’s telling my family’s story.

I’m also usually the one taking all the pictures. Sometimes I’m even in the pictures.

As a scrapbooker, one of the things I’ve never done before was to do a layout on “ME”.

I know it feels a little vain, but, it’s important. (Don’t you think?)

Hopefully one day, my kids or grandkids might enjoy reading a little bit about me.

Isn’t that why we do it? To tell our “story”.

Last month on my blog I did a post on “10 things you may or may not know about me.”

I used that post as the starting point for this layout.

I like to use things in ways other than how their supposed to be used.

For this layout I used one of the scalloped shapes from the Send it Clear card kit from Clear Scraps.

Once I glued the scrapbook paper to the clear scallop, I edged around it with a gold paint pen.

I love how it’s a subtle enhancement for my page. I glued a small medallion onto the tip of the scallop.

The paper is from the “Americana” collection from Pebbles Inc.

I also used Tim Holtz’ “Chit Chat” stickers to emphasize certain words in my story.

It’s simple and it’s me!

Craft Ideas Magazine

June 19, 2014April 20, 20152 Comments

The other day I received this magazine in the mail.

At first, it stumped me. Why am I getting this magazine?

When I finally got the chance to sit down and look at it I noticed the name had changed.

Craft Ideas was formerly Crafts n’ Things.

Fall Addition!!! I immediately knew what I was looking for.

Ta Da!!! Here I am on pages 56 & 57.

My “Everyday Moments” accordion album with all the instructions so you can make one too.

Another thing that makes me happy: they used the photographs I took for the article.

Make Wedding Place Settings with Smoothfoam

June 16, 2014February 9, 2023Leave a comment

The Bride and Groom Place setting is a cute way to identify where the bride and groom will sit for dinner!

To make the Bride and Groom Place Settings you’ll need… (*affiliate link)

4″ Smoothfoam ball
Smoothfoam sheet (any size)
Stick ‘n Carve*
Hot Wire Foam Cutter*
Sandpaper, paint brush
Craft paints – black and white
Mod Podge Gloss Finish*
Stickles Glitter Glue, Diamond*
2 wood dowels
Gold Paint Marker*
“Story of Us” stickers

Draw, trace or print the outlines of a dress and bow tie on to the transfer paper, then stick the paper to a sheet of Smoothfoam.
Cut out the images with the foam cutter, through the transfer paper.
Remove the transfer paper and sand the edges of the foam as needed. Paint the bow tie black and paint the dress white.
Cut the Smoothfoam ball in half then paint one half black and paint the other half white.
After the paint is dry, coat each piece with Mod Podge (gloss finish).
Embellish the surface of the dress and ball with glitter glue for extra sparkle.
Cut each dowel to the appropriate size so the markers are the same height as shown. Paint the dowels with a gold paint pen and insert into the foam, connecting each piece to its base.
Embellish each marker with stickers and bling.

Shop Handmade – The Wedding Store

Catching the Sun with Alcohol Inks

June 9, 2014April 5, 20201 Comment

Now that schools out and everyone’s looking for new things to do.

How about making a Sun Catcher with the kids?

I started out with a 4″ clear acrylic circle from Clear Scraps.
After removing the thin protective film off both sides of the circle,I drew a simple picture on the circle using a black paint pen. You could also use a black permanent marker.
Next, turn the circle over and on the reverse side of the circle color the image with Alcohol Inks. You can’t tell by this picture, but for added detail, I edged the circle with a Silver paint pen.

This is something even the younger kids can enjoy. (I recommend ages 3-100)

This project was created for and sponsored by Clear Scraps.

Cherish Family 1936

May 23, 2014February 9, 20231 Comment

I recently ran across this old Family Reunion picture from 1936.

Because there is over 100 relatives in the picture, I wanted to highlight where my Grandparents are.

I used one of the frames from the “Clear Mixers”.

After removing one side of the protective covering, I painted the edges with Antique Linen Distress

Paint. I glued a small piece of scrapbook paper under the painted side and trimmed it with an exact-o

knife. I gently sanded the edges with a sanding block and distressed it slightly with Vintage Photo

Distress Ink before removing the second protective coating.

My grandfather is the one with the x and my grandmother is sitting to his left holding my Uncle Bill.

I used the Chamberry Collection from Adorn it and a scalloped circle punch and a old border punch

from Marvy Uchida.

This project was created for and sponsored by Clear Scraps.

Learn How to make a Fabulous Card with Fancy Folds in just a few Simple Steps

May 22, 2014October 9, 201511 Comments

Want to learn how to make a fabulous looking card in a few simple steps? I learned this technique from the book

Fabulous Folds for Card Making*
Design by Lisa Silver

Punch 9 circles. (mine is a 2″ circle) I edged each circle with Butterscotch Ink.
Fold each circle into four sections. (lines on the above picture are to make it easier to view)
Fold in bottom curves to make point at the bottom. (do this with 8 of the circles)
Flip Circle and fold in sides so folds meet in center.
Arrange petals on remaining circle to make a total of eight petals.

I added a little gold flower button from Buttons Galore and More. FYI: If you happen to pick up the book, I’m on pages 148, 160 & 164