Easter Basket Baby and Iris Folding!

Good morning, and welcome to Monday musings here!  I have news!     We have all been a-buzz about IRIS FOLDING over at BettyBee's Buzz, and our HoneyBee, Wanda, was going to do a great tutorial on it today, however, she's a bit under the weather at the moment, so your's truly is doing the honors! BUT FIRST...I want to show you what was in our Easter Basket!!

Meet our newest granddaughter, Erin Amanda, who was born on Thursday!  Just add bunny ears, and the Just Hatched outfit that I made with the Freezer Paper technique that we showcased a couple of weeks ago!  How cute is this???

And, is there anything more precious than this???  Her little bloomers were exactly the same colors as some of the eggs...  Thanks, Easter Bunny (And Mommy Brianne and Daddy Doug!)!!! 

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Now, on with our regularly scheduled programming!

This is IRIS FOLDING!  It is a very old technique, that originated in Holland, and is called this, because the opening in the center represents the IRIS of a camera, or the eye.  There are a few basic folding shapes, and myriads of cut aperture (opening) shapes to lay over the top.  It is a very easy craft to follow, and the results are quite fun.

This is a budget friendly class, as this is one of many FREE patterns available on the internet!!

This is also a great project for scraps!

 

Here are my beautiful folded paper strips, all laid out in color specific order just waiting to become a gorgeous flower!

For my project, I decided to do a five petal flower.  I chose one from George, a Cricut Cartridge, You can cut your design opening with any die cutting machine, embossing machine, or by hand. 
 Isn't that neat!  And look at the IRIS in the center!  This is the PENTAGON pattern, and the five sided shape is very evident!  Now it's time to finish the center.

I opted to repeat the yellow paper that I had used on the outside of the card, and then added a gorgeous pink gem to reflect the pinks in the papers. 

Here is my finished card.  It is a special "thank you" for a friend who gave me a great big pad of scrapbook paper... and these came out of it!   Adhering the card front to the card base with dimensionals is helpful in compensating for the bulk of the paper and tape.  It doesn't look thick or awkward at all.

I do hope you will make a bee--line over to BettyBee's Buzz and follow the tutorial, and give it a try!  Come back on Wednesday and see what the HoneyBees have created, and that is where you will find the link to post your IRIS FOLDING projects! I will try to get a ribbon project done for you by then.... want to see one??? 

Happy creating ~



 

Christmas with the Jingle Belles

What a delight it has been to be designing with the fabulous girls from the Jingle Belles blog!  Lauren and Stef have a great idea, in keeping up with making Christmas cards all year long!  It made me sad to put away so much of my Christmas stuff after the season, and realized that I hadn't touched 80% of it.  Now I have the opportunity, {and motivation} to keep creating all year. 

I created two different kinds of cards for this week's challenge, which is to use die cuts on our cards.  The first was definitely a stretch for me.

 This is my first card for this week's challenge.  I must admit that it was a bit out of my comfort zone... this the "challenge" part... but I like it!  I was actually inspired by a commercially produced card that I saw a while back.  The papers are all from Echo Park's "Merry Christmas" collection.  The J and Y are cut from the Cricut StoryBook cartridge, manipulated with my Gypsy to make them fit the opening.  The festive ornament is from the coordinated sticker dies that come with the Echo Park paper pack, as is the sentiment.  The gems are from Studio 18. 

 Now, this one is more my usual style :)  The Magnolia image is a stamp, and she is colored with Copics  and accented with Stickles.  The tree is cut from Cricut's Joys of the Season cartridge, first in shadow, and then in layer, and decorated with Studio 18 gems.  The beautiful Holly paper is Paper Studio, "Season's Greetings" from Hobby Lobby.  The etherial blue glittered swirl background is My Mind's Eye "Countdown to Christmas".  The snowflake is a die cut from Cuttlebug, finished off with a glittered brad in the center, and the vellum and rub-on sentiment are from my stash.
                                                               
We have challenges and prizes at both blogs, and we sure would love to hear from you!  Please come by and leave us comments, and then pull out your goodies, pop in your favorite Christmas CD, and have a really good time getting a couple of cards ready for a much less stressful December in your world!  Plus, you could be a winner, winner, chicken dinner!  HA!
There is a quick turn-around on this one... you need to post your project at BettyBee's Buzz before 6:00 PM eastern time on Thursday, April 21st, and we will choose a winner that night.  The winner will be announced  on Friday, April 22nd during Buzz, Brag and Bee Happy!  Happy creating and good luck! 

Freezer Paper on Paper!

If you recall from Monday's post, I said I'd be back with another type of project, and it is using the Freezer Paper stenciling project on paper.  So Cool!!


  My additional project is the "retitling" of a special book that I made for my grandkids for Christmas.  Little fingers have picked at the original vinyl lettering, so this new stenciled lettering is now permanent.

 It is VERY easy to iron the FREEZER PAPER to cardstock.  Then carefully paint your lettering.
I cut the title from the Base Camp Cricut cartridge, and spaced it out just like I wanted it with my Gypsy.  This ABC project has 26 4x6 mounted photos, with the "definitions" written on each page with a silver Elmer's Paint Marker. 

Each page was scored at the end, and it was bound in a cardstock cover made for the Your Story by Provo Craft.  This is an easy project to create.  It features Church pictures and a few personal photos of family and friends, which make it even more exciting for the children.

 To make it a personal treasure, be sure to add a testimony page from you to your loved ones.  This started on the front side, and these are the finishing thoughts. 

Two year old Porter has loved this special book, and delights in sharing his knowledge of the Gospel ABC's.  I plan to make one for each young family.  I got this idea from another blogger, and I sincerely apologize for not giving her credit here and now.  I am away from my home computer, (as most of you know) and the link is back at home.  I will amend this post as soon as I get the proper information. If you are interested in the link to the photos, please leave a comment or send me an email, and I'll be happy to send them to you. I hope you will be participating in the Freezer Paper challenge over at BettyBee's Buzz this week.  We have a lot of different projects to whet your whistle!    I'm headed back to Florida in the morning.  It will be hard to leave these precious little ones and their parents, whom I love so much, but I will be happy, too, to get back to my dear hubby, and the other little family waiting there.  Another precious granddaughter is about to enter this world, and Nana is anxious to meet her. Blessings and Happy Creating!! 

Fabric Painted Projects with Freezer Paper

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a great weekend.  Today it's my delight to share with you our
Monday Motivational over at BettyBee's Buzz ! Last week was baby week, and we had so much fun with our designs, and the projects that were submitted (PS Still time for you to add yours!)  So this week, we are jumping off from Court's precious Onesies that she decorated with her YuDu.  Well,,,, since not too many of us have a YuDu, I thought it would be fun to revisit an old favorite, that we haven't seen in a while...
Reynolds FREEZER PAPER stenciling!
Here are the projects that I have shared today, and the info on how to do your own is here:



A precious posy for Miss Paisley.



Just Hatched chick from Easter 2010 cartridge.



Our Super Model wearing her Just Hatched shirt!  She was a little bit tired, and ready for bed, but she loved her new shirt!

 

Even nubby fabrics work really well with this technique! 



Here are today's projects, and there will be more on Wednesday!  I hope you are excited about trying out this really fun, and very easy technique! 

Have you ever done this before?  Will you try it now?  I'd love to hear from you!

Be sure to check out the tutorial here, and on Wednesday, you can join in the BettyBee's Buzz challenge!

Don't forget to squeeze all of your little loved ones!  Show them how much they mean to you.  Memories are made in the moments we share together!

Happy creating ~

Pirate Presley Kicks Booty!

Arrrrr, Mateys!!  It's New Release Day over at Digital Deligths by LoubyLoo, and it looks like the place is overrun with Pirates!!

You will find Presley, Prissy, a whole assortment of accessories, and even a complete set of sentiments, as well as a wonderful array of coordinated pirate papers. 

My project uses three digital images... Presley the Pirate, the treasure chest, and the Pirates Kick Booty sign.  The beauty of digital images is being able to print them any size you like, as well as being able to flip them so you have a mirror image. 

For my treasure chest I printed it twice, once in flip, so I could have a front and back,

then added a 2 inch wide cardstock strip, scored and folded 1/4 inch all the way along each side, adhered down one side, across the bottom, and back up the other side, to create an open box. 

(Sorry I don't have a picture to show this... I am away from home, and those photos are on the other computer!  If you have questions, please leave a comment, and I'll add more when I get home!)

I trimmed the finger/thumb line on Presley's hand so he could hold the Kick Booty sign, and secured him to the side of the treasure chest.  Add candy, and you've got great Booty!!

Everything was colored with Copic markers, and the gems were highlighted with Smooch inks.  It's too bad the lighting doesn't show how shimmery they really are!

Check out these great Pirates, and you've got everything you need for your next invasion!

Happy creating!  And take time to reach out to someone who has made a difference in your life, and let them know.  May you be blessed today.

Display Cards - a new design!

When I was working on some very special cards this past week, I came up with a brand new design, and I am excited to share it with you!  I have three different examples here today. 

 First is a baby card for my new granddaughter, Paisley.  It is designed to be able to stand up on a shelf, yet fold flat, so it can be mailed in a regular A2 envelope.

The secret is the addition of a tab on the inside.  Here you will see three little hearts.  They are an important part of the design!

This is the front of a wedding card for Ashley and Steven, who are getting married on Saturday!

 When I made their card, it was theirs that gave me the idea to score it so that they might display it, should they want to.... and the rest is history, as they say!

Are you ready for the tutorial?  It's really pretty easy! 

The cardstock is cut at 5 1/2 x 11

Score the first score at 3 3/4 inches.

The next score is 8 inches from the left edge.

The next score is 9 1/4.

The first section is your card front.

For the baby card, I covered it with another piece of 5 1/2 x 3 3/4 paper. 

For the wedding card, I embossed it with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

The second section is the inside of the card,  and perfect for adding extra accents, like the "Welcome", "Happily Ever After" and the heat embossed message on the birthday card below.

The last two sections were also embossed with a smaller repeatable pattern.  This can sometimes be a little bit tricky, because it means your card and embossing folder won't go through the embossing machine sideways.... you will have to emboss the biggest part, and then CAREFULLY match up the pattern, and repeat to get the rest.  It isn't hard, just be careful, and you will have a nice design. 

NOTE: If you have a SideKick, the small plate is just the right size for placing over the part you are embossing second, without re-embossing the first part.  Just use the regular plate on the bottom and the little one on the top.

Score all the lines, and it will have a nice flat bottom to stand on. 

To keep the card stable, you need a tab on the inside to tuck the bottom flap into.  See the hearts on the baby card?  There is also one heart on the wedding card.  That is the tab.  Just place adhesive on the bottom of the heart (balloon, star, or whatever is appropriate for your design) and leave the top unattached, so the flap can slide under it.  (Dimensionals don't work.... they leave too big a gap.)

 This little Owl birthday card for my granddaughter Madelyn, who is 11 today,  is a slight variation to the Display Card, as it doesn't tuck to the inside.... the little owl feet hold it together with the flap on the outside.  

 Happy Birthday, Madelyn!!

I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial, and will give it a try.  It really is a fun design, and it's nice to get a special card to stand on display.  I am very fond of the different textures together.

It's Baby Week at BettyBee's Buzz, and we'd love for you to create something for a baby in your life and share it with us.  The HoneyBees have a lot of inspiration to get you started.  Check them out!

What do you think?  I'd love to hear your comments!

Happy crafting ~ and don't forget to hug your loved ones!  (Especially the Bedlamites!!)  Special hugs to my Mom today.  It would have been Mom and Dad's 60th Wedding Anniversary.  I love you, Mom! (and I miss you, Dad).

Introducing Our Newest Granddaughter!

  I am so delighted to introduce you to my newest granddaughter, Miss Paisley Ann!

I didn't make it to Colorado quite quick enough to be here for her birth, but it's okay, she is very happy to see me, and I am so happy to be here with her!

 Is there anything any cuter than baby tiny little feet?  (This photo is especially for my Mom, who always checks out the tiny toes right away!) 

Big brother, Porter,  was just precious waiting and waiting to meet his brand new little sister...  she was out being bathed, and getting a check up when he got to the hospital, so he had to wait so paitently....

 Finally, Here she comes!!  He brought her a soft, chenille bunny from the gift shop, with Aunt Tori's help. 

 A tender, sweet first kiss from a loving big brother.  He is SO good with her.

 Tender moments with Aunt Tori.

 Here I am meeting our sweet girl for the first time.  She is such an easy going baby! 

Porter brought her a flower!  
Mommy and Daddy are doing very well, and things are going smoothly.  She is the most content little thing!  I've hardly heard her make a peep! 

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I've created a couple of cards this week, but those can wait for the next post.   I hope you are enjoying some happy moments in your life.  Treasure your family and friends.  Tell them that you love them...

Stand for what you believe in, and make a difference in the lives of others.
We have suffered the loss of a long time friend this week.  We have been close to Ken and his family for more than twenty years, and I teach school with him.  He was one of the most respected teachers I have ever met.  He literally touched the lives of thousands of students and their families.  My daughter taught at his school.  He was a Tae Kwon Do Master, as well as a history teacher, father, husband, grandfather, and friend.  For no known reason, he was shot to death in his own doorway this week.  He will be truly missed, and our school will never be the same.

Rest in Peace, Master Ken Ellis.