Baby Thank You Samples

I was asked to make some quick baby shower thank you samples for my cousins to look at, see if there is anything I have in rubber stamp images that they liked. The shower theme was rubber duckies and the babys room is zoo animals. It's a boy.

The "Thank Yous" for the baby shower are plain white 5x5 notecards with a scalloped edge that has a touch of glitter on it. They wanted to see if there was something that we could stamp on them quickly to get them done this coming weekend. Above are a few quick ideas I threw together. I think they are going to use the adorable baby feet (in light blue) . I suggested adding iridescent glitter around the edges of the stamped white panel before adhering it to colored card stock then mounting it on dimensionals/pop dots onto the card front.

Baby Gift Set 4

Another old set of items I made for a baby shower in 2005.

Gosh, it doesn't seem like it has been 7 years since I've made this gift set !

I used to really like making gift bags like this.

Making the top cover took a bit of engineering, 

but it isn't too difficult. 

Decorate a plain handled gift bag as you like

(I used various stamps from Stampin' Up! and Bliss Blue ink)

Make a matching gift card.

Make an envelope either from scratch if you have an odd size card or by sealing a regular envelope then cutting off an edge. Be sure to punch a semi circle on the top edge to make it easier to remove the gift card. Adhere envelope  to bag.

The easeiest way to try to tell you how to make the bag cover is to measure the length and the width of the opening. Add at least 2" to each of these measurements. It really depends on how far down you want the sides to come or if you want to use a border punch on the edges as to how much more you need to add to the length and width measurements.

Score along the these measurements one inch (or more depending on how far you want it to come down the sides of the bag), fold on score lines then snip in on one section of each corner so they can fold in. it's just like making a box lid. 

Cut  a slit with an xacto knife along the long folds on the top of the bag just long enough and wide enough (about 1/4" wide) to go over the handles.

Fold in all edges and adhere. It will look like the lid to a box.

Slide over the handles on the bag. 

 before

after

A plain old 5x5 photo album bought at a dollar store. 

The plastic cover had "Our Wedding" embossed on it so 

I removed it then stamped the cover of the album with Stazon ink 

and stamps from Stampin' Up!

I made a tag with Sculpey clay that I smooshed the footprint rubber stamp

from Cuddles and Tickles stamp set (retired, Stampin' Up!) into. 

I baked it then painted it, adhered it to layers of card stock

and gingham check ribbon.

I added super simple, plain pages to the album. 

before

after

A little 6x6 shadowbox bought at a dollar store that I dismantled and repainted.

I added some home made doo dads to make a little memory box. 

I made this when using bottle caps was all the rage !

Thanks for looking =) 

Baby Gift 3

A gift I made in 2007 for a mother to be :

box filled with 50 (yes 50!) thank you notes

and matching envelopes.

Since I posted the baby gifts the past two days, I decided to look through old blog posts to see if I ever shared a few others I've made over the years.  They are quite old, but I'll share them anyway because they may give you an idea. 

Actually there are a few others I made but never photographed. 

I've made so many projects over the years, most of which were never photographed. 

The box came from a dollar store, it was designed to hold CDs.

I decorated the front flip flap with my own plaid card stock that I made using the Plaid Maker from Stampin ' Up! (no longer available). It was a fun tool, a plastic stencil with lines that you would sponge or brayer inks onto to make plaids. Barely Banana, Bliss Blue, Brocade Blue were the colors I used I believe.

I stamped "baby" with the jumbo alphabet and Bliss Blue ink from Stampin' Up!, cut out by hand with scissors.

The cute little words were stamped with Brocade Blue ink and a tiny roller stamp from another company. 

The adorable footprints were from the Cuddles and Tickles stamp set, retired from Stampin' Up!

Thank You is also from a retired stamp set, Stampin' Up!

The baby feet were stamped in Bliss Blue ink, overstamped with Versamark ink then heat embossed with an iridescent/clear embossing powder.

The polka dot organdy ribbon came from an online source.

Bliss Blue and Whisper White card stock for the card - with real stitching done by sewing machine !

I used the Sweet Feet stampin' around roller and Bliss Blue ink to stamp along the bottom of the inside of the cards and the edge of the envelopes.

I included a list of ideas to use the box for afterwards.

Thanks for looking =)

Baby Girl Shower Gift

At the request of a local lady wanting to know 
how to make onesie cards she was seeing all over the internet, 
I made this card sample back in September 2010.
I added the ruffled bottom and embossed edges idea
to the photo she showed me. 
 She decided it was too much work and
aggravation to make dozens of invites like that
(especially since she had such a short time to get them done!).




The ruffled bottom was made by punching light weight paper
with an eyelet border punch then scrunching them together.
I attached the rows of ruffles with super sticky double stick tape.

Baby boy onesie card instructions and photos 
are posted here on my blog,

however there are many other patterns 

and tutorials available on the internet. 

This has been in my card box waiting for the opportunity 

to be sent to a new baby girl -

I should be able to send it out in June finally !

Supplies from Stampin' Up!:

DD Noah stamp set -

    for the sheep

black embossing powder -

    to heat emboss the sheep

Empressor stylus and home made template -

    to make the edges of the onesie have dimension

Pink Passion (?) card stock and marker

metallic silver card stock -

   to make the faux brads, mail friendly

1/4" circle punch -

   for the "brads"

large circle punch - 

  to punch the leg openings

Supplies bought elsewhere:

dimensional puff paper paint -
  for the sheeps wool
fine point black Sharpie marker -
  for the sheep eyes

Another brag book that didn't sell from the 

craft fair a couple of years ago.

I will give it, along with the card above, to a mom to be in June.

We'll get her a basket of goodies and stick this in there. 

I may even make a baby headband (or several!) with some of my dies,

especially if we get some adorable baby clothes for the basket of goodies.

Baja Breeze and Pink Pirouette card stock and ink, Stampin' Up!

green mulberry paper

striped paper was actually a disposable paper placemat!

white grosgrain ribbon - Stampin' Up!

daisy punch - Stampin' Up!

rhinestone brad - Stampin' Up!

"M"and "S"  from the Jayne's Type Alphabet, Stampin' Up! 

Elements Of Style stamp set, Stampin' Up!

"Brag Book" was made with Snap Stamps 

Thanks for looking =) 

Baby Boy Shower Gift

front

This mini photo album/brag book was originally made for a craft fair I had a booth at a few years ago. It didn't sell, not even for $1 ! I didn't have good luck there and haven't been to one since. There are many other projects from that weekend I posted on the blog, during September 2010. This little 4x6 album will be put in a basket of goodies we are giving the mom to be at her shower. 

This little album has been patiently waiting in my stash for someone in the family to have a baby. The time has come. In fact, I have a second album leftover that will be given to another expectant mom in two months ! I'll share that album and card in another post.

This album was made with various craft supplies from my stash. I don't really know where all of the items are from, but here is what I can tell you:

The "my" and "carson" were made by stamping the Jumbo Outline Alphabet letters from Stampin' Up! onto pale yellow and white striped paper then hand cut out with scissors. I didn't have any alphabet dies or a cool Cricut machine when I made this.

The word "little" was stamped with Snap Stamps and Summer Sun ink from Stampin' Up!

The turquoise card stock is embossed with the Stars embossing folder from my Cuttlebug collection.

The star punches are from various manufacturers.

The ribbon came from a dollar store years ago.

The gold brad was found in the office supplies section of a discount store years ago.

Mat pack and paper piercer to pierce the top edge of the white card stock.

back

This is SUCH an old card ! I've hung onto this sample for (I'm ashamed to admit this.....) 

11 years !!!!!!!!!!!!! 

The card was made with supplies all from Stampin' Up!, most of which are now retired:

Whisper White, Bliss Blue and Brocade Blue card stock

Brocade Blue, Blush Blossom, Pretty In Pink, Bliss Blue inks

Cuddles and Tickles Stamp set

White organdy ribbon

large square punch and coordinating brass template for the paper piercing

Here is the cute invite we received:

Thanks for looking =) 

Blog Award

Seriously, this post has been sitting as a draft that I overlooked ?!????

I wrote SEVERAL posts and set them up to publish each day the last couple of weeks 

so I wouldn't spend so much time on the computer when I should be working in the yard. 

Somehow this got lost in the queue,   oops!

http://blackshadowcreations.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/its-major-award.html

THANK YOU  to Margaret at Black Shadow Creations for bestowing this award on my blog =)
I was supposed to pass it along, but I don't really follow other blogs, gasp! Nor do I "Pinterest".... I know, I know get up to the 2012s already.  I do follow Margaret's blog (my  #1 cheerleader, thank you so much!) as well as two long time email friends, but that is it due to internet that has a limited monthly usage allowance. Blog surfing uses a LOT of my allowance plus so many blogs have lots of photos and such that take so long to load, if they even load at all so I've decided it isn't worth the hassle to try. This is why mine is so plain, less load time for readers. I know I miss a lot of fantastic ideas, but by not surfing around to several blogs a day I have more time to create my own things (yeah, right, I like to tell myself that ! )

Anyhow, despite my not passing the award along, I wanted to thank Margaret for the honor and send you to her blog. Be sure to leave some nice comments on her projects and sign up as a follower while you are there =)

Repurposed Jar = Flower Vase

** Happy Spring ! ** 

Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day.  ~W. Earl Hall 

I love to repurpose items, giving them a second life.

BEFORE:

This was a jar that held jam in it .

It may have been the one from the Cornish Game Hen recipe I made.

It had a little bit different shape to it so I held onto it for a

 "one of those days I'll do something with it" projects.

That I did, I made it into a vase a couple of weeks ago 

when the daffodils bloomed early here !

As for spring, it has felt more like summer these past couple of weeks with highs in the mid 80s ! 

I think we are skipping spring and going right into summer here this year.

We only had one snowfall - and that was 2" that barely stuck to the grassy areas for a day !

I'm so not ready for summers heat and humidity. 

All supplies for this project were from Stampin' Up!,

some of which are no longer available:

Barely Banana card stock

Daffodil Delight card stock and ink

Certainly Celery card stock

Groovy Guava (I think...) card stock scrap

Flexible Phrases stamp set

Mixed Bunch stamp set

Blossom punch

Build A Blossom punch 

Ribbon Lace punch

circle punches

paper piercer

Brass template 

Butterflies embosslits die

Stripes embossing folder

rhinestones - color with a permanent marker

Available where craft supplies are sold:

Sunflower acrylic craft ink 

Thanks for looking =) 

Mixed Bunch Birthday Card 1

Mixed Bunch stamp set and Blossom punch from Stampin' Up!

Celebrate Today is from an old retired stamp set from Stampin' Up!

I rolled the edges of the large flower stamp with the Vintage Violet ink after inking up the entire image with the Wisteria Wonder.

Glitter in the center of the flower petals was adhered with clear drying liquid glue.

The center was stamped with Daffodil Delight ink, punched out and attached with a dimensional.

The leaves were punched from Old Olive card stock then the edges sponged.

Thin strips of Old Olive card stock were "quilled" to make the curly cues.

The base is a speckled card stock.

The "mat" is a white core decorative card stock that I think was from Lasting Impressions. I used the new edgelits die and coordinating embossing folder from Stampin' Up! to make the decorative edge that was then lightly sanded to reveal the white core.  I really like using white core card stock for some projects; it does add a little extra something to the right project.


Thanks for looking =)

Mixed Bunch Card 2

Stampin' Up! Items used:
Mixed Bunch stamp set
birthday wishes from     stamp set
Blossom punch
Ribbon punch
3/4" circle punch
Wisteria Wonder, Vintage Violet, So Saffron inks
So Saffron card stock
other items:
scrap of unknown patterned cardstock
unknown speckled card stock
clear drying liquid glue
glitter

There wasn't much difference between the two purple inks, not like I had hoped. I rolled the edges of the large flower stamp with the Vintage Violet ink after inking up the entire image with the Wisteria Wonder.

Drew lines of liquid glue in the center of the petals and sprinkled on glitter.

The center of the flower is on a dimensional (pop dot).


Thanks for looking =)

Happy St. Patricks' Day !

St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time - 

a day to begin transforming winter's dreams 

into summer's magic.

                                               ~Adrienne Cook

Above are a couple more quick St Patrick's Day cards I made to send out this year, nothing too fancy.

Thanks for looking =)

Happy Birthday - chipboard monogram

I can't tell you a thing about this card other than it was a free kit from a magazine or craft club 

that was trying to get me to sign up several years ago. 

They sent a mini kit of card making supplies along with their advertising material 

and stated to keep the card kits regardless of my decision. I never asked for information from this company or requested the card kits.I was not at all interested in subscribing to a craft club through the mail when I already have so much stuff of my own to use as it is ! Or if it was a magazine, didn't need another subscription. Whichever it was, I did not sign up. I can not imagine their costs for that campaign -

and wonder how many new subscribers they got from it ? 

TIP: You could easily make your own chipboard monogram piece with a die cut machine and lightweight chipboard from a food packaging box, such as a cereal box. 

Thanks for looking =) 

Classic Pickups - masculine card

Another favorite stamp set of mine, Classic Pickups, retired from Stampin' Up!

I really, really wish Stampin' Up! would come out with more of this type

of stamp. I've used mine over and over and over, time for some new auto images.

The image was stamped with Basic Black ink onto Whisper White card stock

then water colored with classic inks and an aquapainter.

Faux black card stock layer (Tip posted previously).

Baroque Burgundy card stock base and

a scrap of unknown decorative paper. 

Silver Signo gel pen for the wheels.

Another flat, mail friendly masculine card. 

Thanks for looking =) 

Classic Convertibles - Chevy masculine card

We are looking at near record, if not record breaking, highs this week.

84 Monday tied the record high, close to it again Tuesday 

and looks like we may break it today.....

much too warm (hot!) too soon ! 

Yep, perfect convertible driving weather - if I had one !

Just playing around with an idea.... it turned out okay.

It is a simple, colorful variation of the faux black and white card I made.

It is also a variation of the crayon resist technique.

All supplies were from Stampin' Up!

Stamp the image (from Classic Convertibles, retired from Stampin' Up!)

with Basic Black ink onto glossy white card stock.

Use a white crayon to mark on areas that you wish to remain white.

Over stamp the image (I used a large scrap of rubber cut out from one of my frame stamps)

with a classic ink color. I used Tempting Turquoise.

Once it is totally dry, lightly rub a tissue on the areas where you used the crayon. 

This will remove the ink, revealing the white. 

Stamp the image from the Riveting stamp set with Whisper White craft ink

onto Basic Black card stock and punch out.

Punch out a smaller circle from metallic silver card stock and 

adhere to the center of the Riveting image to resemble a wheel and tire.

I used the retired Tire Tracks Stampin' Around wheel with 

Versamark ink on Tempting Turquoise card stock. 

The black layers are actually done with a marker, 

using the Tip I posted on yesterdays card. 

Thanks for looking =) 

Classic Convertibles - Thunderbird masculine card

It is going to be so unseasonably warm here this next week, 

near 80 degrees almost every day !

Too warm, too soon, ick. Mosquitoes are already out.

Weather like this makes me wish I had a convertible to drive. 

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Stampin' Up! would release new images such as these ?

 I will be sharing over the next three posts similar images, masculine cards.

They are some of my all time favorites and most used stamps. 

All items used were from Stampin' Up!

Highways and Byways background stamp

Classic Convertibles (Tbird)

greetings

Whisper White card stock

metallic silver card stock for the faux brad

large chisel edge permanent marker to make the faux black card stock layer

Basic Black, Real Red, Bashful Blue and Going Gray inks

 water color pen/ aquapainter

Silver Signo gel pen

TIP:

I like to use a wide chisel edge permanent black marker on some projects 

to decrease the number of card stock layers.

 It makes it a bit less bulky and a bit lighter to help with mailing costs.

Plus, I think most guys don't really care or would know otherwise

 if it wasn't layers and layers of card stock.

Make sure it is a good, inky marker to get good coverage.

Run it just barely off the edge of your card stock

(be sure to have scrap paper underneath!)

in a continuous straight line, one smooth motion. 

If you'd like to try this, I would recommend making the fax black layer 

on the card stock you wish to stamp first, 

that way if it doesn't turn out quite as you like, it won't ruin all of your hard work. 

Thanks for looking =) 

Thoughts of Father - masculine card

What car guy doesn't dream of coming across a "field find" or "barn find" old car, 

one that has been long forgotten but could be brought back to life ?

This image reminds me of those types of cars 

and I think most car guys would like the image - even if it does have flowers on it.

The image is from the Thoughts Of Father stamp set from Stampin' Up!

It can be time consuming to color though.

I like to try to color the old car so that it looks rusty. 

I use classic inks from Stampin' Up! and a watercolor pen to paint with.

The image was stamped on Naturals Ivory card stock.

I distresed the edges. 

The mat is Chocolate Chip.

The base is Kraft that I ran the bottom portion of through a paper crimper.

Chocolate grosgrain ribbon. 

A button off of an old shirt destined for the rag bag

(I love repurposing items!) for embellishment. 

Thanks for looking =) 

Antique Autos - masculine card 2

DID YOU REMEMBER TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK ?

CHANGE THE BATTERIES IN YOUR 

SMOKE DETECTORS, TOO !!!

Another card using images from the same stamp set as the previous post,

 this one using the large antique auto image. 

It is a retired stamp set, Antique Autos, from Stampin' Up!

I bought this set specifically for the Route 66 image.

The background Stipple Plaid stamp is also retired from Stampin' Up!

This card is an oldie, a sample I came across while cleaning out the craft dungeon.

I remember that it was a near copy of one in an old Idea Book.

I believe the card stock colors are:

Creamy Caramel (base)

Really Rust and Old Olive (mats)

Naturals Ivory to stamp the images on with Really Rust ink

tiny scraps of Mulberry Paper

Thanks for looking =) 

Antique Autos - masculine card

Another simple card design I've used many, many times over the years. 

I made several masculine cards for birthdays this month.

I don't know what it is about March,

but there are several guys I know (or have known in the past)

that have March birthdays.

This is the first of several I will be posting over the next few days.

My two best long time pen pals also have March birthdays - and on the same day !

They are ladies so I will share a couple feminine cards, too.

Thanks for looking =)

all supplies from Stampin' Up!

Whisper White and Night Of Navy cardstock

Night Of Navy ink

Highways and Byways background stamp (retired)

Antique Autos stamp set (retired)

Stampin' Sponge to sponge ink on the edges of the small white pieces

Happy Birthday, Sport !

This is such an old card..........super easy to make, too.

When I first started stamping a dozen years ago this was

my "go to" card design. 

Simple to do (and demonstrate) with any style stamp set/wheel

plus there are so many variations that can be done.

Use a Stampin' Around wheel to roll on the background.

Stamp a greeting, trim, lightly sponge the edges with the same color of ink that you rolled the background with. Mount to coordinating colored card stock then to the front of the card.

Stamp and cut out a football and basketball, adhere to the card front with dimensionals.

Adhere finished card to a coordinating colored base. Simple ! 

All supplies were from Stampin' Up!

Whisper White and Rocket Red ink / card stock

(Rocket Red was retired sooooooo long ago!)

Have A Ball stamp set

Stampin' Around Wheel - All Sports (?)

 Dotted Greetings  (I really don't remember the name....)

Thanks for looking =) 

Thanks Coach - Basketball two step card

I made this pretty simple card in 2007 for the team to sign and give to the then basketball coach. I used the Have A Ball (retired) stamp set and an alphabet stamp set (Brushstroke Alpha I think?) from Stampin' Up! . I also used an unknown clear stamp alphabet set. Inks and card stock from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for looking =)

Attic Tour

I thought I'd share a few photos of the old attic since I mentioned it yesterday.  

The pull down ladder we installed. 

The floor - and this is the best part, everywhere else I balance on rafters or a few old boards tossed down.

There is a decent amount of space up here. Granted not as much due to the sloped ceiling/walls, but enough and certainly with plenty of head room to make a nice sized room for me . Seems like a wasted space to me.

Yikes ! Charred wood ! We have no idea how this happened - or how the entire house did not catch on fire. It was like this when we bought the place. The home inspector and the roofing contractor were both amazed at it as well.

  

The large old window that has been laying on the floor in a corner since we moved in 13 years ago. I have always wanted to drag it out, see if I could salvage it into a frame. I have no idea where I would hang it since we don't really have wall space large enough for it. I did bravely, after all of these years, work my way over to it and drag it to the center of the room for a closer look. Great idea but one I may not be able to do since it looks pretty bad, fragile.

I have much more work to do to get it organized as I would like. And I may just call a couple of contractors for ha-ha's to see what it might take to turn this into a really neat space !!! Perhaps I could find out how to be entered on a home improvement show, they could see the potential and help finish it off ?

The Lorax/Vintage Tshirts

*Ooops ! I meant to post this last Friday!*

I loved The Lorax story / movie as a kid and 

found this shirt in 1994.

I'd been taking advantage of the mild weather recently, working on reorganizing our attic and cleaning some stuff out.

It must be sunny and around 60 degrees or so to work in the attic. If it is too cold, the cold air falls down (as the heat rises), making the rest of the house cold. If it is too hot, it is like an oven up there. Even pleasantly warm outside it gets too hot up there with the heat rising, sun beating on the roof. It needs to be sunny so I have light entering the two windows since there is no electricity/lights otherwise. So the recent 60ish degree, sunny days have been perfect to start tackling that long put off chore.

I'd LOVE to finish the attic off into usable space (my new craft area, get out of the dungeon basement!), but it would take so much money and engineering to do. There is only a ladder up through a hole in the ceiling to get up to that awesome space, so if it were even possible to put in a real stair case I imagine it would be super expensive.

Currently it is a catch all storage area, perfect because no one ever sees the junk up there. Old school papers/projects, some mementos, die cast car and ball cap collections, the old car models I put together, so on. Oh, and zillions of ladybugs that overwinter in the attic !

I also have some old clothing stored up there that I had no intentions of getting rid of. Some of them are a few of my old tshirts that I thought perhaps, one day, the kids may want.

I tossed a few of them down and both kids wanted The Lorax tshirt (from 1994) and my well worn vintage ZZ Top Afterburner Tour shirt, circa 1986. 

My daughter wore the ZZ shirt to work last week, but before she did she listened to some of their music to get familiar with them in case anyone asked ! My son plans on wearing The Lorax this week since the new movie ("We have to go see it!") came out in theaters. 

Yes, I am a sentimental old pack rat. . . . I'm really not that bad, I certainly could have saved many more things with the amount of out of sight space up there in the old attic!