Reading is Sweet

More inspiration from the Shabby Tea Room (#48)…It’s the most adorable photo inspiration and an a “use hearts” rule. Check this out:

I created a bookmark for my darling daughter who loves to read. I think it is a great Valentine’s Day gift to go along with a piece of chocolate…or maybe a pile of chocolate!

Check out the closer version that shows off the “sugar-topped” chocolates.

Then, just one more look…at the top of the book mark.

Whether your day is full of romantic notions or just a good book to read…have a Happy Valentine’s Day. Come back and visit soon!

Important Stuff
Papers Brown textured (Prism), Pink Basis 80# (CutCardStock.com), Ruched White paper (WorldWin), La Paperier green patterned paper (My Mind’s Eye)
Tools Cindy Loo Cricut Cartridge, Cricut (Provo Craft),
Embellishments Letter stickers, Flower grommet (Making Memories); AtYou Spica Chocolate glitter pen (Copic)

Other Stuff PVA Glue, clear glitter, corner rounder punch, gems

 

Miss You!

subtitled {Spring, where are you?}

Color Throwdown this week features a lovely set of colors that are just begging for fun…

While I was choosing my papers, my daughter said, “Mom, what is Saffron?”

“It is a rare, expensive spice that has this great color.” I pointed to the yellow patterned paper that I used…She looked and saw the resemblance to the screen…I chuckled about it…

Here is my card:

Then check out a quick close-up…

Important Stuff
Papers Brown Ruched (WorldWin), Yellow patterned (K&Co.), Blue patterned (My Mind’s Eye)
Tools Cindy Loo Cricut Cartridge, Circut (Provo Craft)
Embellishments Letter stickers (Making Memories), Sketch Marker (Copic Marker)

Other Stuff PVA Glue, Gems

Friends card (CTD #119)

It has been over a week since I was able to post. I was preparing for a craft show last Thursday. Every minute I had was used to create more products. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to upload some of my creations soon. Today, however, it was nice to just create! I went over to Color Throwdown to see their collection of three colors this week #119

I chose a tone-on-tone for the celery color, dark brown cardstock for the espresso and a patterned paper with pears to cover all the colors. Here is the finished project:

It was simple to put together. After creating the card base and adding the patterned paper mat, I cut/embossed the S4-218 Lattice Borderabilities® Petite.

To add interest, I used the rusty-looking ink to color over the die holes, using it as a template, like this:

Then I stamped the “friends” sentiment, inked the edges and put it all together. So simple yet, elegant, I hope.

Important Stuff
Papers ColorMates Deep Creamy Cocoa cardstock (WorldWin Papers), Pears patterned paper (Making Memories), Celery patterned paper (Fancy Pants)
Dies S4-218 Lattice Borderabilities Petite, Wizard (Spellbinders Paper Arts)
Colorants ColorBox Chestnut Roan Chalk ink, Roussilon ink from Queue (Clearsnap), Stardust red/orange pen (Sakura)

Other Stuff PVA Glue, Friends stamp

Happy Thanksgiving to all. May you be blessed in the year to come with many things to be thankful for…

Cheers, Eli

Holiday Planner

A few months ago, I was at one of my favorite local stores with concentric circles in red…OK… Target. I found some discounted notebooks that I wanted to alter. The first one I changed up, I turned into a holiday planner.

I took the book apart and embellished the front cover with metallic green paper and holiday images.

The planner is divided into three parts which I labeled: gifts and thanks, cards, and notes. Each tab has a small pocket on the bottom of the page that I covered with the red patterned paper.

Each of these dividers came with a small tab. I covered them with die cut circles on both sides of the page, then I added rub-ons for the titles.  One little trick I used was spraying the red cardstock with Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels (Iridescent Gold) so it shimmered like the yellow and green metallic papers.

In between the dividers are lined pages with plenty of room for journaling gifts to give, thanks to send, cards to make and send and anything else you need to know for the holiday plans.

I’ll be putting this up onto my Etsy shop: Frolicasions. So go check it out!

Important Stuff
Papers ColorMates red cardstock (WorldWin)
Die cuts/Tools S4-222 Create a Flake One (retired), S4-141 Petite Scalloped Ovals SM, S4-116 Standard Circles SM, S4-191 Dahlia, Wizard (Spellbinders Paper Arts)
Stamps/Inks Curls letter stamps (JustRite Stampers), Memento Rhubarb dye ink (Tsukineko)
Embellishments Letter rub-ons (), Stickles glitter glue (Ranger), Iridescent Gold glitter mist (Tattered Angels)
Adhesive Glue Dots, 3D Squares (Scrapbook Adhesive by 3L)

Other Stuff PVA Glue, Green and yellow metallic papers, White seed beads, Ribbons

50th Anniversary Tags

I love working with someone on a project that they imagine in their mind and I can help bring to fruition. Last week, I began working with a woman hosting a party for her parent’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. She had purchased some Lenox vases and wanted elegant tags to go with them.

After coordinating several versions, we agreed on the following, simple, elegant and perfect for the vases:

To me, using Spellbinders die templates adds such wonderful details. Not only are they elegantly and expertly crafted but the embossing details transforms every die cut to be something so stunning. Just love them.

So, congrats to the happy couple of 50 years…

Important Stuff
Paper DoubleMates Red cardstock (WorldWin)
Die Cuts S4-125 Classic Scalloped Circles SM, S4-116 Classic Circles SM, S4-218 Lattice Borderabilities® Petite

Other Stuff Ivory paper, Gold Marbled paper, PVA Glue

Cherish (CPS #184)

Today’s sketch came from Card Positioning System.

I used pieces/parts from other cards and projects so it came together quickly.

The image below has several lines pointing out where the die cut pieces come out but I keep them nearby for uses such as this card.

Important Stuff
Paper Treasures Pewter cardstock (WorldWin)
Die Cuts S4-218 Lattice Borderabilities® Petite, S4-161 Labels One (Spellbinders Paper Arts)
Stamp/Ink/Colorants Cherish stamp (Inkadinkado), Sepia Archival Ink, Crystal Stickles (Ranger)

Other Stuff PVA Glue

The Gift of Love (CTD #110)

Today, it worked. Inspired by Color Throwdown #110:

I created this card:

This was so fun to put together. Layers of fun, I would say.  I started with the card back, added a dark patterned pink paper. Then I added a strip of the pink paper stamped with Mint Motif’s Square. Next, I cut gray textured cardstock with S4-239, added the Classic Scalloped Borderabilities® Petite scalloped border to the middle and the outer pieces to the top and bottom of the strips. Finally, I cut/embossed/airbrushed S4-049 medallion (retired). To finish off the card, I added the medallion, ribbon and the stamped sentiment. I hope it inspires you today…

Thanks for looking and hope to see you soon!

Important Stuff
Papers Summer Matstack pink patterned paper (Die Cuts With a View); Treasures Pewter cardstock (WorldWin)
Die Cuts/Tools S4-239 Classic Scalloped Borderabilities® Petite, S4-049 [retired], Wizard™ (Spellbinders Paper Arts)
Stamp/Ink/Colorants Mint Motif Very Square stamp (i {heart} papers),  The Gift of Love stamp (Hero Arts), ColorBox Silver ink (ClearSnap), Sketch R39 Garnet, W3 Warm Gray, Air Brush System (Copic)
Embellishments White organza ribbon (Michael’s), Glue Dots (Glue Dots International)

Other Stuff PVA Glue

trick or treat (2S4Y 60)

It’s the beginning of September and Halloween is the end of October but all of a sudden, it’ll be here. I used the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You (#60) to inspire this Pumpkin card. Here is the sketch:

And here is the result:

Making this pumpkin was great fun. Let me share how:

• Cut S4-227 Pumpkins with two pieces of patterned paper
• Remove one of the pieces and set aside. Then layer the following for embossing in the Wizard™: Cut mat, Impressabilities® template, Die cut with cut side up and paper in die, embossing mat, cut mat. Keeping the paper in the die will give the shape a flat edge. If you’d like embossing to go all the way to the edge, just take it out of the die.
  
• Run it through the Wizard.
• Then sand the pumpkin to enhance the embossed edges. This piece of patterned paper was a little fragile after all the “working” it. I think it just adds to the character of it. But if you prefer, use a heartier piece or maybe a colored core cardstock.
  Then just put it all together!

Important Stuff
Papers Fun in the Sun Matstack, Latte Matstack (Die Cuts with a View); Natural cardstock for card base (WorldWin)
Die Cuts S4-226 Harvest Borderabilities® Petite, S4-198 Flourish Accent, S4-227 Pumpkins, I2-1009 Flourish Impressabilities™ (Spellbinders™ Paper Arts)
Stamp/Ink Studio G trick or treat stamp (Hampton Arts), ColorBox Watermark ink (Clearsnap)
Embellishments Rust Fizz EP (Sparkle N Sprinkle), Sea Mist Glitter (PK Glitz), Orange safety pin (Creative Impressions)

Other Stuff Olive green cardstock

Shabby Chic Thank You card (2S4Y 59)

A simple but wonderful sketch challenge over at 2Sketches4You this week:

And here is my rendition of it:

In this close up you can see some of the intricate machine stitching I did. It is actually a hem stitch with every fifth stitch being created in a zigzag and “couching” the specialty fiber in order to keep it on the card.

It was fun to create and hopefully will be fun to receive.

Important Stuff
Papers ColorMates purple cardstock (WorldWin); Purple patterned paper (Provo Craft); Dark purple textured paper (Core’dinations); Green lined paper (Making Memories)
Stamps Square frame (JustRite Stampers); Stampabilities Thank You (Crafts, Etc!)
Inks/Colorants Memento Lilac dye ink (Tsukineko); Atyou Spica Mint glitter pen (Copic)
Tools/Die Cuts Wizard System, S4-161 Labels One, S4-127 Classic Scalloped Squares LG (Spellbinders Paper Arts)

Other Stuff Cream fibers, sewing machine, purple thread, white paper

Dream Clipboard (Color Throwdown #103)

I saw this color combination over at the Color Throwdown blog and it really reminded me of strawberries but for some reason (maybe the fact that I just got some new stamps, not including strawberries) when I put this little project together there were no strawberries. It’s funny how the brain begins in one place and ends in a totally different one.

Although I’m late to enter the challenge, I figured I might as well share with you all anyway.

And here are the papers and some of the other supplies I chose:

I had a mini clipboard hanging on my bulletin board above my craft table for some time…can’t even remember where I got it. I thought it would be a cute project (at least I hoped it would…you decide)

Want to make one? Here are some quick tips…

• Cover the back and front with tan cardstock, cutting the cardstock larger than the clipboard. Sand the edges of the paper to get a perfectly fitting edge.
• If you are unable to remove the clipping mechanics, measure and notch.

• Cut ruched paper with Spellbinders Labels One and Floral Accents. Cut celery paper with heart from Decorative Photo Corners. Stencil as desired.
• Trim a 2″ ruched paper strip for the front. Distress edges and adhere.
• Stamp Rubbernecker’s Woman with Parasol (three times) and Mystic Dream onto cut celery paper.
• Cut the stamped woman with Petite Scalloped Ovals, SM. Use Copic markers to color shoes and parasol.
• Use Air Brush System to color the dress. Cut it out. Cut out the woman’s arm from the third stamped image. Layer elements onto scalloped oval and add, along with the Labels One, to the back of the clipboard.
• Hand print “dreamy” words around the label on the back.
• Add heart to top of clip and Floral Accent just behind.

There are so many things you can do to decorate this little dude. Why not pick some up today and give it a whirl.

Important Stuff
Papers Red ruched and Light Coffee Brown (WorldWin); Chloe’s Closet green patterned (Making Memories)
Stamps Woman with Parasol, Mystic Dream (Rubbernecker)
Colorants Memento Rhubarb Stalk dye ink (Tsukineko); Sketch R85 Rose Red, YR61 Yellowish Skin Pink, Airbrush System, Garnet Spica Glitter pens (Copic)
Die cuts S3-107 Decorative Photo Corners, S4-161 Labels One, S4-199 Floral Accents, Wizard System (Spellbinders Paper Arts)
Adhesives Glue Dots, EZ-Dots dispenser (Scrapbook Adhesive by 3L)

Other Stuff Sandpaper, PVA Glue

Thanks for stopping by…Cheers, Eli