When you want to send flowers...

...but can't see the point in spending a minimum of $50! The following card looks so complicated but isn't at all! I apologize for the awful pictures...I haven't quite gotten my 'photo area' re-set up after the last quicky clean-up for a party. See I do most of my crafting on the dining room table...and when holidays come around (way too often) I have to quick clean off the table so we can actually use it...you know for EATING!

Anyway, I procrastinated again...I know shock! So I was up until 4AM the day before my son's PreSchool graduation (when did 'graduations' from EVERYTHING become the norm). I had the 'gifts' for many, many months and just had to make a card...and I had this Flower Pot card in mind. I knew it would be perfect.

Now you may be asking...4AM...no way I'm NOT making that card...but really it wasn't the card. The cards came together quickly...very quickly...it was covering the boxes and DH distracting me. Not 'that' distracting...really we've been married 6 years and have two kids...no he put on "The Terminator" my favorite movie! If I had all the pieces prepped and ready it would've been perfect craft assembly material...however I procrastinated...so I had nothing. Which meant I sat like a lummox watching a movie I've seen 100 times and then FINALLY started crafting around midnight...isn't that how it always works?

So back to the cards...I found the tutorial here (thank you Stephanie). But being 'thrifty' aka cheap, I didn't want to cut into 12X12 cardstock for a mere 1/2 inch...so I cut my cards using 8.5 X 11 cardstock...and got three per sheet...YAY! Just in case you want to do the same...here are the scoring measurements I used.

Cut cardstock 3-1/2″ x 8 1/2″. Score in landscape position at 3 1/2″ and 7". Which leaves 1 1/2" left...which is the foldover...a little shorter but just fine!

Now the first thing you may ask "Is where DID she get that COOL cardstock!", I mean is it marbled, stamped that way...well I may be that good (I am)...but nope it is designer paper...you know you buy that stack (shut up we all have) and have all that leftover UGLY paper...well this is the 'ugly' paper...looks like terra cotta doesn't it! Remember my cheap comment well I use plain white cardstock and then cover with DSP...in this case DCWV STack 3 (yea I STILL have some of that). I cut a 3.5" square piece and a 1.5" X 3.5" strip.

I was very tired so while I think if I make these again...I would add some 'fun' on the front...these were perfect for a 1AM effort! I also per Dawn Griffith (follow this link for a GREAT video), closed them with glue instead of ribbon...but note I ONLY glued the top bit and left the bottom unglued to make it easier to get the card in and out...this way you can be 'less' than perfect with glue and not have a wonderful pot with no way to get those flowers in!!

I used the Sizzix Flowers Layers #3 to make the flowers...they are one layer (really I would do more layers next time...) with a Sizzix Sizlets Button center. Best part, I used up some scraps to make these...awesome! I would love to try a 5 layer flower set! Inside of the card I wrote (didn't have time to layout on printer...remember 2AM now!!!)..."Thanks for helping me Grow!" and made DS and DD write their name. So all in all...it took me about 1.5 hours to make 6.

So why was I up until 4AM...well....
Take a look at these deceptively simple 'altered' boxes...OMG they were a complete time sink! I swear it would've taken LESS time to make the stinkin' boxes and re-package the pre-bought jewelry...sigh.

But I liked that final outcome. And I am finally getting smart...I packaged the cards in a Clear Envelope from Clearbags.com...so I got oohs and ahhs...from the other mothers AND the teachers! Hey I need that kind of recognition...afterall I was so mentally deficient I lost my keys in the church and drank my coffee (that DH went and got for me...Luv U honey) without sugar...I was half done before I noticed!


Supplies:

• Cardstock: White (Walmart); DCWV Spring Stack and Stack III;
• Tools: Fiskars Threading Water; Sizzix Flower Layers #3 and Sizzlits Buttons Round
  

Don't stop now...here are some really cool alterations I REALLY liked...because NO ONE should ever throw THIS card away!

Flower Pot Album from SCS JeanFB
Flower Pot with Stand from SCS kraftyaunt or mtgchic

Little Guy BD...

We had a BD to goto this weekend...a "NO GIFTS" party, but well I ignored that...sorry but that is the Italian in me...MUST bring something. They call it "Una Pensiera"...the little thought...I always found it amusing that the concept of bringing a thoughtful gift was in the feminine.

So I bought a simple Romper and then decided it looked like NOTHING in the typical gift bag scenario. So I decided, what the heck...I have to make a card and why not a box to match!

The initial idea was to match the box with the coloring on the outfit...but well I got the box finished and realized outfit choice #1 didn't fit...so I went to alternate outfit...which fit beautifully!
The box was made out of an 8.5" square of red cardstock...scored at 2" on all sides. It finished at a lovely 4.5" square box. The top was a little more involved but WELL worth it! I used a white cardstock square cut to 6 5/8" and scored 1" all around...the original instructions called for 6 3/4" square but that made a badly fitting lid and looked weird! So there we have it...this lid fit perfectly and after I punched it with my Fiskars Threading Water border punch...it looked all Fancy Smancy.

I decorated the top with believe it or not turquoise construction paper I got in a HUGE pack from Costco...this is the most beautiful color I wish I could find it in cardstock! The scrap of patterned paper was from the DCWV Stack 6 (I am SOO pathetic I actually bought two of these...I mean I liked...but really I didn't need two).

I ran the Paper through my Swiss Dots Folder which gave it some much needed texture so the stamped sentiment from The Angel Company "Tag Tidbits" stood up a bit. Looking at this picture I really wished I had put it on dimensionals AND not stamped Happy Birthday so that box could be reused.
The card is a 4.25" square that fits in the top of the box on top of the gift...see no need for a envelope! I mixed and matched quite a few things...my stamp table is a mess so pretty much EVERYTHING I own is within reach...sometimes that is a good thing.

I stamped the birthday sentiment at the very bottom using a dirty Angel Company "One liners" so that Palette Reflection Blue is a little muddied...but is actually works. I used a random alphabet (I think it was part of a Costco stamping kit) and Palette Reflection Blue to stamp the BD boys name then filled in the blank space with a flourish from the PTI Simply Stationery Set. Another larger flourish from the left hand corner is from The Angel Company's Curls and Swirls Set. Finally the sentiment is set on another strip of designer paper with a scrap of that Turquoise Construction paper, Swiss Dotted!

Another strip of 3/4" by 4" paper was used to decorate the inside with the sentiment stamped in the middle.

Box Supplies:

• Stamps: TAC Tag Tidbits, Circle Sampler
• Ink: Pallette Noir, Reflection Blue
• Cardstock: White (Walmart); Paper Company Primary Red; DCWV Stack 6; Costco Construction Paper Pack Turquoise
• Tools: Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Card Supplies:

• Stamps: TAC Tag Tidbits, One Liners; Curlz and Swirls; PTI Simpley Stationery; Random Alphabet
  Ink: Pallette Noir, Reflection Blue
  Cardstock: White (Walmart); Paper Company Primary Red; DCWV Stack 6; Costco Construction Paper Pack Turquoise
  Tools: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

In my world Sunday is now Monday er Tuesday...

I got my wires crossed...and the following creation was what I had PLANNED to post thinking it was all fitting for a Sunday...but well...I forgot....twice. I'm sort of addicted to the game at the bottom of my blog...I find it relaxing and with two kids undergoing some SERIOUS Spring Fever I need all the relaxation I can get! So everytime I come to my blog I get sucked in playing it. I've actually won twice!

So here it is...A Praise and Prayer book. I have a very good Christian friend that belongs to a wonderful church. They are really, really active...and even have a FREE monthly crop and quarterly overnight crop...oh my. And they let me come even though I don't belong to their church or practice their religion...LOL. I just think that is awesome and speaks volumes of the 'Christianity' this church practices and my friend. So I go along listen to Christian music....hum along until I realize no it isn't Madonna...and no I don't know the words...LOL.

Well my friend has had a challenging few weeks so when I was blog stalking...and not doing any crafting I saw this FREE My Timeless template Recipe Wrap Up from Lauren Meader at PTI and My Time, My Creations, My Stampendence, and well I had to try it. I mean really, I can't pass up FREE ever! They had SIX project ideas...really awesome and so varied I couldn't believe how versatile this template and the ideas were....go Lauren!!!

One of the projects was a Praise and Prayer Book to record Bible passages that are meaningful to you. This was right up my friend's alley (I also hope to make one for the organizer of the Crop). This template is a folding book that ties close and has pockets inside to hold rectangular cardstock cards. Here is my take on the template...overall awesome (I seriously would've bought this JUST for the Project ideas).

Now I am sort of spatially challenged (and really anal) so I couldn't figure out how exactly I was supposed to print the templates out AND my stupid printer is so complicated it 'helps' you...which is never any help...so in the end I printed it at 100% which seemed correct.

HINT: Print things out you are unsure about onto cheap paper instead of wasting good cardstock...yes you heard it from me first...I'm sure none of you ever do this.

Overall using the templates was SUPER simple and easy...but being thrifty though I WANT to use all of the cardstock so when I printed the pockets and only two printed per sheet it felt wasteful (but then again all 4 wouldn't of fit AND print to the edge) so I just cut one out and used it as a template to trace around (I know...wasn't the 'super easy to print so you don't have to trace, option the WHOLE point). Really it wasn't much work and by lining them up to an edge I got FOUR pockets per 8.5X11 cardstock sheet...yay!



So details of the project although I must admit this is rather plain...I used In My Mind's Eye paper Magnolia that I got from Costco on sale about a year ago...I have a serious paper problem...I buy all kinds of paper then make myself nuts trying to match everything. I'm a Stack-O-Maniac...but at least they are only $10.

I printed "Praise & Prayer" and the Prayer Card Titles the cardstock using Word...I always forget this trick...you can always print a phrase you love instead of driving yourself nuts trying to find it as a stamp. Duh! I do not have any Nesties...sigh so I just made flat rectangle notecards...no scallops like in the project example. And there are 3 of them to represent areas of prayer. I think this could easily be personalized to fit the person and their idea of prayer.

Alright I have to put this out there...I'm Catholic...and well we pray and I've read the entire Bible cover to cover but we don't really study the Bible like many Christians. And my prayer is a more free-form stream of consciousness or a particular prayer like the rosary (I love rosaries...again very relaxing). I am fascinated by all the differences in religious beliefs and how they evolved over history.

Okay back to crafting...sorry I'm super long winded today.

The only stamping is on the dotted Designer paper covering the 3X3 pockets. I also went wild with my Threading Water punch I just got from Fiskars...I think it matches the polka dot paper.
AND I included a Jumbo PaperClip to perhaps hold open the Bible.

So that's it for now. And I better get cracking so I have something to post!

Supplies Used:

• Paper: Paper Company Heritage Blue and Beige; White Cardstock; My Mind's Eye Magnolia
• Accessories: Offray Pink Satin ribbon; Jumbo Paperclip
• Tools: Fiskars Threading Water Punch; Super Jumbo Scallop Circle; Super Jumbo Scallop Rectangle; Recipe Wrap-up Template by My Timeless Templates

Pretty as a Princess...

Coloring Book that is. I like to include something handmade if possible with every gift I give. I ALWAYS try to make a card, but something useful that can be used after the event is even better!

We had a Birthday Party to attend, my very best friend's daughter and son...they are like my very own kids. I've seen them grow up, I babysit for them...the works. So remember that AWESOME Princess Stamp set I bragged about snagging? I finally put it to good use.

I first saw this design in a project created by StampwithGwen, she used it as a mini-Easter Scrapbook. I liked how it opened so decided to use it as a holder for, some blank cardstock pics and color pencils. Note that I scored the cardstock to make it easy to cut (and help me with where I was stamping)...so once colored these images can be used on scrapbook layouts, cards (or course)...all with that little bit of personalization from the child.

I always am striving to involve my kids in the gift giving process...so that they 'get' that well 1) you should show appreciation to those that impact your life 2) handmade is JUST as good as bought and it REALLY is the thought that counts and 3) and this is probably the most important....to quote my friend, "They don't show up with their arms swinging".

While I make/buy most of their presents I always make them sign the card (or stamp it if they don't write yet), carry the gift to the person, hand it to them...and most of all say Happy 'occasion' and Thank You!

Okay on to the project...

I took some Lavender DCWV Textured paper and made a gatefold card. I then punched out the border using a Fiskars punch. and tied a white organza ribbon around the lower edge to hold it shut. The image is the smaller Cinderella I think, matted with DCWV Primary Purple...and it is Purple because Purple is "C's" favorite color. Not please do not make fun of my coloring...I know her face looks like it needs a good washing! I was using Aqua Crayons and a blender pen BUT my blender pen was dry and I recently discovered if you just use a bit of water, miracles of miracles it works just as well...I just used WAY too much water and soaked the paper! My bad...

Inside....

I simple stamped various large and small images with Palette Noir so that they can be colored, water colored...crayoned...whatever her little heart desires! Most importantly, I scored the cardstock to ensure I stamped the image in the right place so later it could be matted if desired.

So the images just slip under the flap and the whole thing closes...viola! A cute AND handmade gift. I packaged it in a glassine envelope with a set of mini color pencils.

Supplies Used:

• Paper: DCWV Textured Lavender; Paper Company Primary Purple; White Cardstock
• Accessories: Offray White Iridescent Organza ribbon
• Tools: Fiskars Threading Water Punch

Office in a Bag

I made a few of these many moons ago...for a Craft Show at a College Campus...and well sold "Zero" But I brought them along as a 'Whatever' item at my Christmas Craft Show...figured if they didn't sell I would give them as Teacher Gifts...well...I sold all but these last two!






I cut each bag out with my Cricut Tags, Bags, Boxes, & More Cartridge...using 12X12 paper, the lunch bag setting 'fit to page'. I tell you I LOVE this cartridge and the Expression is AWESOME...easy ways to package everything!


I then used the leftover 12X12 sheet to alter the items inside the bag.


Covered Notepad, Matching Pen and Ghiradelli Holder (instructions here)

Supplies Used:

• Paper: White cardstock (Costco); DCWV Stack;
• Accessories: Black Ribbon Offray; RSVP Pen Black
• Tools: Super Jumbo Scalloped Circle punch (2"); CM Circle punch (1.5"); Cricut Expression and Tags, Bags Boxes and More Cartridge
  

Origami Flowers Oh My

I decided to play around with some paper folding this weekend. I saw some really cute flowers made out of folded circles so decided I would give it a go...I got a going and just couldn't stop. These flowers are just SO much fun to make!

The first project was a card...using the folded flowers. I took the blue cardstock and sponged around the edges using Palette Starry Night ink, then I took a scrap of green cardstock and cut down the 1/2" strip to make grass (I wish our lawn looked this good). The flower was actually pretty easy to make, but of course folding all the little circles was time consuming and then I decided I didn't like the white edges against the pink polka dot paper...so I sponged Palette Belle Rose on each exposed edge to add depth. The pink polka dot paper is from DCWV Stack 5. Then came the fun assembly...I gathered 3 petals and glued them together using a third green petal (made out of a slightly smaller plain circle). I then glued the whole shebang onto the blue cardstock and handstamped "Happy Mother's Day" with Palette Noir ink using my trusty TAC Trendy Greetings. Then I made another one!



Now I couldn't stop right there...I needed a pretty gift to GIVE along with my card. So I whipped up some nuggets in DCWV grass paper and the same polka dot paper. The belly band was made out of the same pastel blue but the flower was made using smaller plain (cuz I don't have a smaller scallop circle punch) to fit on the belly band.

Now all I need to do is gather up all the scraps and make a paper bracelet, earrings or a necklace! Yay!

Clipp-i-mania

Apparently I have an addiction to 3-D items...although I did a little stamping on these. And I have finally matched Dani (stamping etc...) perhaps enough to sort of match her little cards to present the clippy. I cheated though and used pre-made Cello envelopes rather than making my own out of acetate (sorry).


The clippies are made out of Jumbo Paperclips (silver kind) and punched 1" circles of whatever scrap cereal box type stuff I have. I glue two light chipboard weight circles to each paperclip (front and back), using silicone adhesive. I clip with clothespins and let cure for 24 hours. I glued some aluminum foil (scraps from sharpening my punch)...onto a white cardstock circle. I then layered two flower punches the same size and a smaller center punch and used a brad to attach it to the shiny metal circle, then glued the whole thing onto the paperclip front. I used Yes glue...it is usually my adhesive of choice.

I made the card out of white cardstock to fit inside my little cello envelope. The front I punched out with my Creative Memories circle punch and the back I punched with the Stampin' Up Word Window punch...so I could clip the 'clippy' to the card.

The caption is from TAC Static Words and stamped in Palette Reflection Blue and L'Amour Red.