Need a Fan?

Geez, it has been so hot in Northern Michigan.  Yesterday, we were not so fond of the 93 degree weather.  I'm so thankful we have a finished basement where we can hang out and cool off.  How I wish I can move my craft room down there, but it's not going to happen.

Typically, especially in the Philippines, we would have a fan in hand when it's awfully hot.  That made me remember a project I made for Creative Vision a few months ago.  I designed this paper fan, utilizing chipboard for the handle.  But let me tell you a secret:  this fan fell apart after a few days because of wrong choice of materials.  That's the reason why I haven't posted a tutorial.  So I looked for a better handle for my paper fan, and I found this:

They are 7" wood paddles by Tree House Studio, and it's only $2.33 per pack of 24.  I got them at Hobby Lobby.

So with some modifications, I was able to make my newly designed and a lot sturdier paper fan:

Materials used:

cardstock/dp:  ColorBok, leftovers
tools:  paper piercer, needle, Martha Stewart embossing tool, EK Success edge punch

embellishment:  twine

misc.:  wood paddles (Tree House Studios), stretch cord

adhesive:  Scotch, Zips Clear Adhesive Lines

This paper fan can be used as party favors, decorations, and even invitations.  Or you can just make one for yourself to use during a hot summer day. 

Please check back tomorrow for a tutorial of my paper fan.

'Til next blog!

Everything Beautiful

Hello crafty reader!  My card for today is for Our Daily Bread Designs' "Stampin In Time Challenge", where we are to use anything recycled on our cards. 

I always love to recycle, as some of you may already know.  I try to save anything that I can possibly use in the future, like the labels that come with the packaging of stamp sets because I can use them for backgrounds of card fronts.  I also save the plastic packaging like that of Spellbinders or Cricut Cartridges.  In fact, I have made mini albums out of them.  

 

Today, some goodies came in the mail - three background stamps from... you guessed it:  Our Daily Bread Designs.  As I was storing my new stamps, I thought I could use the images on the labels.  So I started cutting with one of my Spellbinders dies.

I was in the mood for something mint green and black, so I ended up with this A2 card: 

Materials used:

cardstock/dp:  @theoffice, Creative Imaginations, leftovers

image/sentiment:  Our Daily Bread Designs

ink:  Tsukineko

tools:  Spellbinders, heat gun, Tim Holtz distressing tool, sponge dauber

embellishments:  Robins' Nest, rhinestones (Bead Design Co.)

misc.:  embossing powder (Ranger)

adhesive:  Scotch, Zots, mounting tape

Now who would think that my background was just from a packaging label?

'Til next blog!

How Old Would You Be?

TGIF dear reader!  When I found out about Heartfelt Creations' "Decorative Lace Border Die", I got excited.  Spellbinders has not made a die like that before.  Thanks to a good crafty friend from NY, I was able to get a hold of this fabulous tool.

I made a set of four 4.75" x 6.75" cards to show the intricacy of this die.  With white cardstock as my base, I chose four complementing colors from the Earth and Sky cardstock pack of The Paper Company.  I also used the border die from Parisian Accents, along with the other Spellbinders dies.

The cardstock underneath the sentiment is embossed with a Quickutz A2 folder.

The tricky part is adhering the cut image to the card front.  See where the rhinestones are?  Underneath them are glue dots attaching the cut image to the card front.  And I also applied some ATG tape underneath the area where the lace is adhered.  And instead of cutting the die cut shape to the edge of my card front, I folded around both sides.  This way also, it won't be a hassle putting the card inside the envelope and vice versa.

Materials used:

cardstock/dp:  Wassau, The Paper Company

image/sentiment:  Inkadinkado

ink:  Tsukineko, Stampin' Up

tools:  Spellbinders

embellishments:  rhinestones, lace trim

adhesive:  Scotch, Zots, mounting tape

'Til next blog!

Get MOWtivated

Hello everyone!  If you were able to ready yesterday's blog entry, I mentioned there about a missing stamp.  I did find it.  It was stuck at the end of my Tim Holtz ruler.  So I decided to make another card with the lawn mower image:

Materials used:

cardstock/dp:  DCWV, leftovers

image/sentiment:  Unity

ink:  Tsukineko, Copic, Staedler, Spica

tools:  Spellbinders, paper piercer, Martha Stewart edge punch

embellishments:  ribbon, brads

adhesive:  Scotch, Zots, mounting tape

Well, I have to say that this card is dedicated to.... ME! Mowing the lawn is one of my main tasks during summer vacation. Don't get me wrong... I like to mow. In fact, I want to make sure those lines are straight (talk about OCD). I love the look of a freshly mowed lawn.

I'm pretty proud of myself because there's a bow on my card.  I have always been leary in making bows... but at least this one looks ok.

'Til next blog!

For You

Hello crafty friends!  Today I made a card for the latest Unity Challenge entitled "Sun & Fun".  We are to make a card using their summer stamps.  Good thing I have the Watermelon Gazpacho Soup set, which is perfect for the challenge.

I wanted to use the lawn mower image and the matching sentiment.  And as I was putting the pieces together, somehow the sentiment stamp went MIA.  That happens to me quite often, where some small unmounted or clear stamps fall off the desk, or get stuck on a certain tool, and it usually takes a while for me to find it.  The most it took was weeks.  There was also a time when I had to dig in my trash can and search for the darn stamp.  It turned out, it was just stuck underneath my paper cutter.

And because I wasn't patient enough to look for this sentiment stamp, I decided to use a different one instead.  It seemed to work after all.

Materials used:

cardstock/dp:  Fiskars, Copic, leftovers

image/sentiment:  Unity

ink:  Tsukineko, Copic, Stampin' Up, Spica

tools:  Spellbinders, paper piercer, EK Success edge punch, Sizzix

embellishments:  flowers (K & Co.,), brads

adhesive:  Scotch, mounting tape

 'Til next blog!