Easel Cards and Using Die-Cuts ~

I'm a believer in not reinventing the wheel, especially when I want to give something handmade to multiple people.

  

That's where store-bought die-cuts come in handy! 

After making an easel card for Treasured Times Stamps and Scrapbooking  I had an itch to make more of them - three more to be exact! They are fun to do and yield pretty results. 

I used my Sizzix Weathered Clock die to cut out cardstock clocks for the front of the cards and used floral die cuts from K & Company to complete the look. You can find the K & Company sets at Michael's, JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, Archiver's or online.
 

Here is my blue version ~

I used My Minds Eye card stock, Perfect Pearls Mist, glitter, and Distress Ink.

Above is the side view and below is a closer look at the ribbon and eyelets ~

I added tiny yellow blossoms to the front ~

Here is the pink and yellow card. I used Liquid Pearls and Stickles on this one ~

I have another easel card in the wings, and an announcement of a giveaway - I am so happy I reached 200 followers! Love you ladies!

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Monday Funday 

Do You Believe In Santa?

                                                                                                  

Seems everyone around me is coughing or sniffing and now I have a little tickle in my throat. I read an article the other day about ways to avoid getting sick and I already practice them all. Alas, some germs are airborne and you just can't avoid them forever. That's when I turn to EmergenC and zinc lozenges! I swear they help curb the duration and intensity of my colds.

I picked up some Tropical flavored EmergenC packets today and they taste good.  Later I got to work on my second Santa card using a Treasured Times Rubber Stamp by Terrye French. If you missed the first one I made look here. On this card I used Graphic 45 paper (Christmas Past and Halloween in Wonderland), a houndstooth print and plain purple card stock. 

 

• Perfect Pearl Mist
• Inkessentials black enamel
• white and almond flocking on the beard and cuffs
• Stickles on the hat and wreath
• vintage mica and glitter for snow

Back on the home front, College Girl had a special day last week because she voted in a national election for the first time! Now she is preparing for Greek Week at school by going to Banner and Chant practices every evening. On Friday her sorority will perform their Chant routine, which is basically a combo of dancing while singing. This is all new to me as I was not in a sorority, and I am enjoying every bit of it. The girls have so much fun! I can hardly believe this semester is quickly coming to an end - before you know it, it will be time for finals. My life has been impacted by our daughter's school routine for so many years that I mark time by her semesters and breaks, and cannot imagine how life will be once she eventually graduates and moves into her own place! But, for now, I enjoy the familiarity and routine and am counting down the days until Thanksgiving.

 

 

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Shimmer and Shine

College Girl is quite a crafty person in her own right; did I mention she has her own scrapbook page gallery and likes to sew, knit and make jewelry? She shared this YouTube video she discovered with me, and I thought you might enjoy seeing it too. A side benefit of being a scrap booker is that I have lots of 'raw' material at hand when inspiration strikes or we stumble onto a fun idea.

Within 20 minutes of watching Ingrid 'glam' up simple wool felt collar necklaces, we were well on our way to creating our own magical Peter Pan style accessories! Following Ingrid's instructions, we gathered felt, scissors, glue and a paper pattern. The link for the pattern is at the bottom of the video tutorial, but you can easily draw your own on scratch paper.(www.sendspace.com/pro/r2c9ho from)

Fold the felt in half and place the collar on the fold. Cut out the collar. At this point, College Girl quickly stitched sheer ribbon to the narrow tips of the collar piece. In the video tutorial, Ingrid simply glues the ribbons to the back, but we wanted to make them doubly secure. Now comes the part where you brush the glue onto the front surface and cover with your choice of product - glitter, pearls, or seed beads. You can also use metallic brads, and in that case you will not need glue. I love using my Judikins Snappy Tray for applying glitter, embossing powder or flocking because it makes it so easy to pour the remaining glitter, etc. back into the bottle.

When we finished the cream collar necklace we made a black one. Oooh! It looks so nice in person! It looks expensive ~

I want to try pearls and silver brads next. These are inexpensive and simple to make, and I bet you know a teen or adult that would love one! I'm thinking one of these would come in handy on Christmas or New Years Eve. If you make one let me know. Meanwhile, we are expecting rain tomorrow and I plan to stay indoors and get crafty again :)

 

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