First Project of the New Year! Welcom 2015!

Happy New Year Everyone! Welcome 2015! So long 2014!

Every new year I set a goal or "resolution." This year I just want to be healthier and continue to be crafty. I hope to post at least once a week some of the different projects I've been working on.

So....here goes....

My first project for 2015 is an altered cabinet. I purchased the unfinished cabinet from my local Goodwill.

I figured it would be perfect altered with Graphic 45's French Country paper collection.

I started by taking apart the cabinet by removing all the hardware. I then painted all of the wood with black acrylic paint.

Next I measured all the sides and pieces of the cabinet. The height of the cabinet is taller than the paper in the 12x12" G45 French Country collection. So for the longer sides I used a piece of the rooster and hen border to cover the seams between paper strips.

Once I had finished cutting and laying out all of the pieces of paper I wanted to use, I distressed the edges with Tim Holtz Walnut Stain ink. I used Mod Podge for furniture to adhere the paper to the painted cabinet. Using a plastic putty knife I pressed out the extra glue and any air bubbles.

I covered the doors as well. The larger square door was easier than the smaller heart doors. I used an x-acto knife to trim out the heart openings.

Once all the paper was adhered, I let it dry for about 2 hours. After which I covered every edge with the Mod Podge to seal it. I waited another 2 hours before installing the hardware to the doors.

I really like the wired piece that came with the cabinet and tacked it back to the larger square door.

Next I adhered pieces of paper to the backside of the cabinet to enclose the shelf. I did this to both the top and bottom portion of the cabinet.

Then using a cereal box I created a back to the cabinet using black cardstock.


My next step is to create altered pieces to place in the cabinet. I'm so excited to have finished this cabinet as it has been sitting in my "To Do" bin for a few months.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my first project for the 2015 year.

#Graphic45, #G45, #French Country

13 Days of Halloween-Day 2

Good Morning World!

It's warm and sunny here in New Hampshire. I love warm Autumn days. Today I have a vintage looking Autumn card that is super simple to create.

I used paper from the 2011 Fall/Halloween stack by DCWV and some Core'dinations Vintage cardstock to create the card. The image is stamped using Memento Rich Cocoa ink and distressed around the edges using Tea Dye ink by Ranger. The image is called "Colonial Fall" and is made by Impression Obsession.

I love how this card turned out. It's warm tones reminds me of Autumn joys from my childhood.

There are two card kits and a set of six (6) finished cards available for purchase in my eBay store. Just click the tab above.

Video:

Challenge: Today's challenge is to create a project that uses the vintage feel. It can be a card, scrapbook page or a piece of altered art. To enter your creation, just post your blog address where I can find the creation in the comments below by November 1st.

Thanks for stopping by.

Steampunk Banner Using G45 and the Cricut

Good Morning Everyone,

Above is the Steampunk Version of a Halloween banner I saw on Xyron's Facebook page a few weeks ago. I love the original banner. So I decided to first make my own Halloween version then I decided to create a Steampunk version. I used paper from Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante collection along with cardstock from Core'dinations. The keys and hot air balloon are from the Victorian Romance Cricut Cartridge.

The quote is from Edger Allen Poe; one of my favorite authors.

Here is a picture of the original banner I saw on Facebook.

I thought it was very cute, and something I could create with my Cricut and the Happy Hauntings cartridge. So here is a picture of my version of the Halloween banner.

I used paper from Die Cuts with a View and various embellishments I had in my brad and rub-on drawers. The pattern papers are inked with Walnut Stain Distress ink by Tim Holtz.

I hope you find this inspiring and create your own version of the banner.

Thanks for stopping by!

Technique #1- 3 Tier Stamping

3 tier stamping is a fun and easy way to create a layered card or background for a scrapbook page. This technique uses three layers of paper that gradually shrink in size. When stamped this layering creates a cascading effect with the stamped image. When practicing this technique, it is easier to use a stamp that has a flourish image.

You can find a printable version of these directions here.

Materials-
-(1) 8 1/2x11" piece of white cardstock
-(1) 8 1/2x11" piece of colored cardstock
-(1) stamp with a flourish
-(1) card base of 8x5 1/2" folded in half
-ink in your choice of color (chose an ink that won't run when using the distressing ink like Memento)

-distressing ink a coordinating color to the ink used to stamp the flourish-this should be lighter than the stamping ink
-distress ink applicator
-ashesieve
-1/8' pop dots
-fibers or ribbon for embellishment

Directions-
-Cut the colored cardstock into three pieces measuring (1) 3 3/4x5 1/4, (2) 2 3/4x4 1/4, and (3) 1 3/4x 3 1/4"
-Cut the white cardstock into three pieces measuring (1) 4x5 1/2", (2) 3x4 1/2", and (3) 2x3 1/2"
-Using a small piece of adhesive, layer the three white pieces of cardstock so that the smallest piece is on top (You may have to dull the hold of the adhesive by pressing and lifting your finger off of it)
-Ink up the stamp using selected color
-Stamp randomly across the three layers of white cardstock making sure the flourish overlaps the layers of paper.
-Continue inking and stamping (for this size card about 3-4 times)
- Peel the three layers apart and apply distress ink using applicator tool.
-Adhere the stamped pieces to their coordinating sized background paper.

IMPORTANT- Check your stamped images to make sure they are going the right way and mimic the stamp image across the layers.


-Adhere the top and middle layer together by centering the top layer over the middle.
-Wrap ribbon or fibers to embellish around the top and middle layer.
-Use pop dots to adhere top two layers to bottom layer.
-Adhere bottom layer to card base and enjoy. 

Entry for Melissa's Handmade Embellishment Challenge

Here is a quick card I made using straps and hand cutting the pieces to make a coffee cup. I also embossed the Whitewash red paper using the Candy Cane Cuttlebug folder.

Entry for Core'dination Online Crop Challenge #3- Antiquing

Two and a half hours to go!

So on with the show....

Challenge #3- Char-Antiquing

I decided to use papers from the Chocolate Box with Graphic 45 Steampunk paper to create layouts of one of the costumes I created.  Here is the final layout. It is a two page spread.

I cut and antiqued the banner pieces that rest under the Graphic 45 paper on both pages.

I also antiqued the photo mounts. Then ripped them around the pictures.The gears are cut using the Indie Art cartridge for the Cricut. I also used real gears that I got at Lowe's.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Entry for Core'dination's Online Crop Challenge #4- Card stock only

Good Morning,

The sun is up and I am working away at my craft table. This morning I finished up my entry for Debbie's Card stock only challenge (#4). Here is a final picture of the layout I created.

The only thing not core'dination paper is the photo and the brads in the center of the flowers.

I cut the Lady and gentleman kissing from the Victorian Romance Cricut cartridge then sanded them for a softer look.

The photo was taken in September of 2011. Jerad, my boyfriend, flew out to New Hampshire from Washington (the state) to be with me. We went to high school together and were great friends. It took a few years, but he told me how much he cared for me. So here we are almost a year later and still together. I really feel loved. I thank the powers that be for letting this relationship have a chance to bloom.

Entry for the Core'dination Online Crop Challenge #5--Strips

Good Evening Everyone!

Only one day left to the Core'dination Online Crop. I have a lot of work ahead of me. So far I have completed seven of the thirteen original challenges. I'm felling really good about them as this goes along. Now I am working on Debbie's card stock only challenge. My plan is to have that one posted tonight before I go to bed.

Here is my layout:

I used a sheet of paper from the Moulin Rouge Collection by Prima Marketing. I used three sheets of Core'dination Essentials in Celery, Burgundy and Pea Pod for the strips and the photo mount. I folded the strips and antiqued the photo mounts before sanding them.

 I stitched the stripes into place using my sewing machine.

 I used lacy green ribbon around the photo mount and embossed the word "Hope" using bronze embossing powder and my VersaMarker.

Thanks for stopping by my  blog.

Entry for Core'dination Online Crop-Challenge #9

Good Morning Everyone!

It's day four of the Core'dination Online Crop. I fell a little behind yesterday. I hit a creative block, but I think I'm good today. I'm new to the Pintreset scene. Challenge #9 is from Ellen using a layout that was pinned. Here is that layout:

Here is my take on the layout:

 Here I etched the snowflake into the Whitewash Core'dination called Cottage Porch. Then I added Stickles in Waterfall to bring out the color and sparkle of the season.

The vellum words are held in place using gem brads. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Entry for the Online Core'dination for Day One, Challenge One

It's day two of the Core'dination Online Crop. Personally I think I'm a little behind in my projects for the challenges, but I love how they are turning out as I write this.

This morning I worked on Lydia's Challenge from yesterday. The Ad Challenge. I decided to use the shape and paper from the Black Magic collection. I decided to create a layout that showcased the peacocks I was watching over the weekend. They are beautiful birds, but a pain in the butt to put to bed at night.

The peacocks live with ducks, chickens, geese, guinea hens, and pheasants. My responsibility was to let them out in the morning, feed, water, clean the beds and put them away at night. The chickens, ducks and geese go inside the coop when it starts to get dark. However, the peacocks sit on top of the coop and watch and wait and watch and look over the edge to come down before going to the middle of the roof.

Anyway, the shapes are cut using the George and Basic Shape cartridge for the Cricut in six different sizes. Then sanded them completely or just around the edges.

The shapes were cut from Freeze, Voila, and Protect. I sanded the edge about half an inch in around a 12x12 piece of Hypnotic.

I used a white opaque pen to trace the edges, shapes, and pictures.




Each corner has three gem brads in green, blue and purple to match the peacocks feathers.

And this is the final layout:

 Thanks for stopping by my blog and happy cropping to everyone.