The last time I cooked, hardly anyone got sick.

September 26, 2016June 6, 2019Leave a comment

For some people, cooking defines them.

I AM NOT that person.

Ask me to bring chips and soda to a potluck and I’m totally fine with that.

But… don’t let the apron fool you.

It’s not that I can’t cook. I just don’t like too.

If I had a personal chef, I’d be one happy girl.

So… If I’ve got to do it, I might as well have a little fun. (and keep the expectations low)

This apron should do the job.

Want an apron like mine?

A while back, I asked the good folks at Canvas Corp Brands if they made an

apron with Red Ticking (they only had blue) and they made this apron special just for me.

The lovely lettering is Iron-on Embroidered Letters from Joy SA.

Look for them at your local Hobby Lobby and Michaels craft stores.

“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Joy® Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas. The views and opinions are my own.

*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!

Autumn Woods Pop-Up card and Fall Collage

September 23, 2016August 6, 20211 Comment

One of the best things about being on a design team is the opportunity to work with awesome

products. When I got my last box of goodies from Paper House Productions I instantly fell

in love with the Autumn Woods Collection.

The sweet water colored woodland animals are cute without being to cutesy.

I knew as soon as I saw them that they needed to be made into a pop-up card.

Tips…

I apply baby powder on the back of my stickers with a small paintbrush to remove the tackiness. That way I can use my stickers like die-cuts.
On the front of the card: I love adding dimension… so under the “Autumn is in the Air” and the “bunnies” I used 3-D foam mounting squares.
Add even more dimension to the inside of your pop up card by adding thin foam mounting squares to the stickers “tree” and “autumn woods” and strategically placing them on the background.
I created a couple of pop-up steps for my forest friends.

While cleaning up the Autumn Woods scraps laying on my desk, I decided to make a Fall

Collage using a rummage sale frame I picked up last month for next to nothing.

All in all… I would have to say that the Autumn Woods Collection has to be my favorite

Paper House Productions collection so far. (at least for the time being)

Here’s the list of the Paper House Products I used:

These projects were created for and sponsored by Paper House Productions.

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!

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

Gel Press and the Colors of Autumn

September 21, 2016September 22, 201610 Comments

The first time I watched a video of someone using a Gel Press I was completely intrigued.

The project they were making was artsy, colorful, very cool and it looked like so much fun.

When I got the chance to participate in the Designer Craft Connection monthly design challenge

and receive a Gel Press plate for “free”… I was more than excited.

Never heard of a Gel Press? (Well…It’s just about the coolest thing.)

The Gel Press is a reusable Gel Printing Plate.

Gelatin printing is a form of mono-printing in which a gelatin slab is used as a printing plate to create a variety of images and backgrounds using acrylic paint. Simple to use. Ready for Printing.

Here’s how I created “The Colors of Autumn Print”…

Supplies Needed:

Gel Press Printing Plate 10810 – (5″ x 7″)
Ranger Inky Roller Brayer, Medium 3-5/16-Inch
Acrylic Paint
Metallic Acrylic Paint
Texture Tool
Paper (non-glossy)
Tim Holtz Spiral Bound Sticker Book: Small Talk Occasions

Directions:

Remove clear protective film from your gel press. Apply paint to the exposed Gel Plate.
Roll paint on as a thin layer with brayer.
Create design by pressing textured item into wet paint.
Lay paper onto painted surface.
Gently rub paper with hands to create a transfer image onto the paper.
I traced guidelines around the paper onto my scratch paper to make it easier to line up the second printing.
Pull paper away from printing plate to reveal your background.

I created a second background just like the first by using fall colors.
I placed 3 leaves into the paint.
I place a second piece of white paper over the gel press and pressed. This removes most of the paint from the background. Leaving the paint underneath the leaves.
Remove leaves from the gel press. I masked the corners with a couple of additional leaves.
Lay the first blue background paper over the press. Lining the paper up with the guidelines.
Gently rub paper with hands to create a transfer image onto the paper.
Pull paper away from printing plate to reveal your leaf prints.

Mat print and embellish with “the colors of autumn” chit chat sticker.

The “Colors of Autumn Print” was created for and sponsored by Gel Press.

Make sure to check out the video on the Gel Press site.

*This post uses Amazon Affiliate links. I am a Amazon Affiliate. If you choose to purchase an item from Amazon by clinking on the product link, I will receive a small commission that helps offset the cost of running this blog.

It’s getting to be that time of year again…

September 13, 2016September 13, 2016Leave a comment

It’ll be here before we know it.

Did you know it’s only 103 until Christmas?

To me that means one thing…

It’s time to start thinking about Sue’s Holiday Workshop.

I’ve got the date and place reserved and a couple of the projects decided on.

It’s going to be good.

So save the date. Details Coming Soon.

Old Frame Make-Over from last Friday’s treasure hunt.

September 9, 2016September 9, 20162 Comments

When I asked what the price was for the old terra pot, she paused and said “a quarter”.

When I asked her how much for the next item, she said “a quarter”.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that this was going to be fun.

By the time I put my pile on the table she said “a dollar……..ummm fifty?”

I love a good treasure hunt.

Especially when it’s ran by an old lady who just wants to get rid of everything.

Honestly, I wasn’t completely sure about these heavy metal frames when I first picked them up.

But…at a quarter how could I go wrong?

Armed with a can of off-white spray paint…

I deconstructed the frames and gave everything a couple coats of paint.

I sprayed the black velvet matting with spray adhesive and applied a piece of a woven tan fabric.

I marked the two holes in the matting where the metal flowers had been previously.

I was able to use the prongs on the back of the metal flowers to line them up exactly where they

had been before. (so easy)

I trimmed the excess fabric from around the matting and re-inserted everything back into the frame.

A super simple project with a modern up-dated look.

How to make a Halloween Hauntings Treat Bag

September 7, 2016September 2, 2016Leave a comment

You can make a Spooky Halloween Treat bag using only one piece of 12″ x 12″ paper.

That is as long as you’re not afraid of a few measurements… it really is pretty easy.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Directions:

Cut All Hallows Moon double sided Halloween paper to 8 1/4″ x 11 3/4″.
Score the long width of the paper at 3/4″, 4 3/4″, 5 1/2″, 6 1/4″, 10 1/4″ and 11″.
Score the top of the paper at 3/4″.
Score the bottom 1 1/2″.
Fold along score lines
Cut away the first 3/4″ corner piece.
Fold over the top 3/4″ and adhere in place. (top diagram)
Fold along lines to create a 4″ x 6″ box.
Tape Side and bottom of the box.
Cut “toad saliva” bottle section from the Apothecary scrapbook paper and adhere to the front of the bag.
Add 3D foam mounting squares to the back of the “raven” and “bottles” stickers and use to embellish the bag.
Punch two holes on the top of the bag.
Fill with goodies (or NOT) and tie with a black cord.

The Halloween Treat Bag was created for and sponsored by Paper House Productions.

How to Create a Birthday Card for the Football Fanatic in your Life…

September 2, 2016October 30, 2020Leave a comment

Everyone has that one family member that really LOVES football. (maybe it’s you?)

Here’s a card I created for Craft Ideas magazine’s Fall Issue. (page 69)

A fun football themed birthday card for young and old.

How to make a Football Birthday Card…

Made with papers and stickers from Paper House Productions sports collections.

Supplies Used:

P-2058 MVP Tags 12” Double Sided Scrapbook Paper (Paper House Productions)
P-2060 All Star 12” Double Sided Scrapbook Paper (Paper House Productions)
P-2056 Footballs 12” Double Sided Scrapbook Paper (Paper House Productions)
STCX-1010 Football 12” Cardstock Stickers
Brown Cardstock
Black Cardstock
3D Foam Mounting Squares
Double Sided Tape Runner

Paper Cutter
Scissors

Directions:

Make a 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ top-fold card from brown cardstock.
Cut a 4” strip of the green football sidelines border sticker and adhere to the bottom of the MVP tag. Cut 3 ¾” x 5” panel from “All Star” scrapbook paper and adhere MVP tag off-centered as shown. Adhere All Star panel onto 4″ x 5 1/4″ black cardstock panel. Adhere all layers onto card front.
Embellish card with letters and football stickers as shown. For added dimension, adhere “Go Team Go” sticker with 3D foam mounting squares.

On the inside of the card:

Cut a 3 ¾” x 5” piece of “Footballs” scrapbook paper. Layer it onto a 4” x 5 ¼” piece of black cardstock and adhere it in the inside of the card. Embellish with stickers.

Make sure to check out Craft Ideas Magazine for Craft Ideas for Every Occasion, Every Skill Level.

DIY Canvas: What the World needs now…

August 31, 2016August 30, 2016Leave a comment

A Quick and Easy DIY canvas and a throw back to the 1960’s.

Song Trivia:

The song “What the World needs Now is Love” was first recorded in 1965…

and was written by Hal Davis with the music composed by Burt Bacharach.

To make a canvas you’ll need…

8″ x 10″ white canvas
Iron Embroidered Letters from Joy SA
Blue Acrylic Paint
Paintbrush
Water
Craft Adhesive
Clean Soft Rag or White Paper Towel

Directions:

Using watered down acrylic paint I created a light watercolor wash on the canvas.
To create the cloudy look, I dabbed the painting, while the background was still wet, with a clean towel to remove portions of the paint.
After the canvas has fully dried, arrange letters on canvas.
Draw light pencil marks on the canvas to keep your lines straight.
Adhere to canvas with adhesive.