Paper Trufflez

Inspired by...: Julie, Day 2

via stampinginspiredby.blogspot.com

I loved that card, and I'm smitten with Jill's take on it HERE.

Inspired by...: Inspired by...Julie

via stampinginspiredby.blogspot.com

Got the loveliest email outta' the wild blue from sweet Jill Foster that gave me the warmest fuzzies!

Take a peek at what she did HERE, with what I made up above!  *monkey clapping with a mondo grin on m'face*

No coloring? No coloring??!! Nope! And I likey.

I could have. But, it looked so awesome just like this, that it felt right to leave it be. I love the look, particularly on this kraft card stock!

Brought in the color with the little strip of fabric, and some Washi tape and BAM!  DONE!

At first, I was kinda peeved that the button I fished outta' the bag only had 3 holes.  *curses* And then I realized when I threaded it, because, of course, I do not believe in ever letting one's buttons run nekked, it looked like I'd stitched a little heart in the center.  And, I was peeved no more. *chortle*

I'm totally diggin' this "neutral with just a snippet of color" look.  I could do more of this.  Yes.  I could.

BTW, someone asked how I secured the fabric to the card front.  There are a number of ways you could do this, including staples (yeah, not everyone's a fan of staples, but depending on how it's done, it can look cool.) running it through a Xyron machine with an adhesive cartridge, fusing it on (ironing? egaaaadzzz, too much work for me!), or just a dry adhesive runner.  I used a dry adhesive runner (Tombow Permanent Monoadhesive, to be precise) because it was within reach . . . Seriously, if I hafta get up off my stool to do it . . . I prolly ain't a'gonna do it. LOL!

 

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Credits: "Thanks" image by A Muse Artstamps; Dogwood image by Hero Arts; Oatmeal Card Stock by AstroConverters; Patterned paper from Basics Manila Collection by Basic Grey; Chocolate Fresh Ink by Impress Rubber Stamps;  Paper Flower by Prima Marketing; Chocolate Twine (craft store supply); Ivory Hemp by May Arts; Button by Foofala; Fabric by Moda; Washi Tape in muted blue patterns from cutetape.com; Tiny Attacher by (Tim Holtz for) Advantus; Decorative pinking scissors (source unknown)

I am so toast; walked into a local quilt shop . . .

Well, you know how that went; the instant I crossed the threshold, I was toast. TOAST, I tell ya'!!! How can anybody walk into a quilt shop and walk out without some yummy fabric????  I DON'T EVEN SEW!!! But, the colors and textures of fabrics lure me in like a siren callin' to sailor. *hangs head in shame*

What saved me the other day? A "honey-bun". If you're not a quilter, or seamstress, you may not be aware that you can purchase "rolls" of fabric strips from collections of Moda fabrics.  There are "jelly-rolls", layer cakes, and whatnot.  Sound yummy?  Oh, baby, you have no idea.  Fabric is the most delicious eye candy!

When I very first started stamping (nearly 2 decades ago) the "country" look was in--rag doll images, folk stars and hearts, including images and sentiments related to quilting itself, etc. And I would buy calico yardage and cut it with a rotary cutter into strips and use it as a substitute for ribbon on my cards.

I was accumulating a lot, and while I had also dreamed of making strip quilts, I knew that would never happen . . . it wasn't instant gratification enough for me. So . . . I sold all that yardage off when we moved to E. Washington.  And, I never set foot inside a quilt shop again.  That was about 14 years ago.

Flash forward to this week . . . I had to run downtown to pick up a gift certificate at the local deli for the Mr.'s boss's birthday . . . and I had to pass by the quilt shop to get there . . . and it was "open" . . .

Imagine my delight to discover something I hadn't ever seen before:  A honey-bun.  Of fabric.  Strips 1.5" wide, with delicately pinked edges, wound into rolls of exquisite color combinations and patterns.  With just one honey-bun, I could have an entire collection of pretty patterns at my disposal.

I was a good girl; I limited myself to just one bun.  This time. *wink*  I'm in a fall mood, so I settled on one called "Nostalgia" that has beautiful earthy reds, pumpkins, cream, blue-grey, moss, and walnut tones. It looks gorgeous with our Nutmeg card stock!  I removed a single strip and used it to adorn 5 color-coordinated thank-you cards. And, I still haven't finished using up just that one strip! 

And, I pretty much PIMPd when I realized that some recently purchased Washi tape coordinated well with it, too . . .  Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh . . .*bouncing* . . .

 

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Credits-  Images:"Thanks" (one of my all time personal favoritest stamps ever in the history of the world) by A Muse Artstamps; Woodgrain Background by Hero Arts; Nutmeg Card Stock by A Muse; Oatmeal (Kraft) Card Stock (used to make the shipping tag) by Astro-Converters; Patterned Paper from "Basics" Collection by Basic Grey; Button by Foofala; Paper Flower by Prima Marketing Co.; Versamark Ink Pad; Chocolate Fresh Ink by Impress; Clear Embossing Powder; Chocolate hemp (craft store supply); Ruffled Suede ribbon by May Arts

I really wanna know. :)

What is the *coolest* AND most useful
hand-made gift anybody ever made for you?

I asked this question on Twitter yesterday, but should have asked it here, cuz I know many of you don't Twitter or Facebook, so you may have missed it.  Anyhoo, I'm asking here today, cuz I think mebbe I'm not the only one who really wants to know.

Here were a few replies I got on Twitter & Facebook:

• Katie: My friend Breanna made me (what I call) a Trash Tote for my car. It's cloth on the outside and oilcloth on the inside so I can wipe it out. I use it every day and love it!
• Holly: My aunts are quilters. I get custom quilts all the time and they are not only gorgeous, but very usable. I only wish I had the talent for that craft.
• Jill: . . . my aunt made me a garter and wrist "bag" for my wedding out of my grandmothers wedding dress ( she plans in making them for all the granddaughters)
• Joanne: A great friend made me an awesome Christmas tree skirt and we still use it every year.
• Claire:  melt in the mouth fudge, instant heaven.

I love the towels my mama has made.  Sometimes, it's bath towels, or hand towels, or kitchen towels.  She sews a band of pretty decorative fabric across one edge of a purchased towel, customizing them for the recipient's home.  Fancy or complicated?  Not at all.  And, even tho mine are showing quite a bit of wear and tear now (they are belovedly used), they make me smile and think of her every time.

Acetate Web Window

Well, I've come back full circle with this one.  What's that, you say?  Full circle?  The card that inspired all 8 of my recent Hallooweeny designs featured transparencies.  You can see Cookie's FAN-TAS-MAGORICAL Halloween design right here: Beware.....

I'd been hanging onto these fun Little Yellow Bicycle transparent die cuts for a YEAR, but Cookie's inspiration pushed me over the edge--I could hoard no longer. *chuckle*

Normally, I'm not a fan of spiders (most especially REAL ones--found a GINORMOUS house spider a few weeks ago that literally had me shrieking.  Ask my son, who, by the way, is now my hero; poor kid has probably suffered a hearing loss . . . ), but I love this Martha Stewart punch and it looks so cool sitting on the transparent web, mounted behind a cut-out window.  And, along come the eensy weensy spiders . . .

And, you know what happens next . . . eeeeeeek!!!

BTW, I thought "eeeek!" fit quite brilliantly on that little tag punch out.

 

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Credits:  Tiny Spider, "eeeek!" by A Muse Artstamps; Black Tea Fresh Ink by Impress Rubber Stamps; Halloween Acetate Die Cuts by Little Yellow Bicycle; Spider  and Tiny Tag Punches by Martha Stewart; Black Scrapper's Floss by Karen Foster

Craft Critique: Craft product reviews, crafty news and crafting events!: Halloween Blog Carnival

via www.craftcritique.com

A Halloween Blog Carnival? That's kinda cool! I added one of my recent Halloweeny designs, and gonna have fun seeing what other peeps have done!

Candy Bag

Looks like a bag, but it's not. *grin*  Stamped "Trick or Treat", so fun with that vintagey-look, onto some paprika paper, whacked off one end with some old decorative scissors I had and used some black Scapper's Floss to make the handle--that stuff is a lot like hemp in that it has plenty of body to stand up like that and not flop down like embroidery floss would, UKWIM? POIFECT!!!

This one looks so much cuter IRL, cuz things are popped up at different heights with dimensional adhesive.

The grey polka dotted background is actually a paper by October Afternoon. *love*

 

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Credits:  "Trick or Treat", "got candy?" stamp images by A Muse Artstamps; Paprika Paper by A Muse; Grey Polka Dotted Patterned Paper by October Afternoon; Decorative Scissors (maker unknown); Silver Ultimate Metallic Ink & Brilliance Graphite Black Inks by Tsukineko; Bat Punch by Martha Stewart or EK Success (can't remember which as I'm not in my studio as I write this); Black Scrapper's Floss by Karen Foster; Tiny Attacher by (Tim Holtz for) Advantus

 

The 2011 Calendar Project: Making a Difference in Honor of Charley

2011 A Muse Calendar Project

Thank you for taking a few moments out of what I know are busy days, to read about the 2011 A Muse Calendar Project.  This year, our project is in support of Charley's Fund. I'm *uber* grateful to be part of a company that strives to make a difference in the world, and it's an honor to be able to contribute towards this cause, in memory of beautiful Charley.

Among the variety of calendar styles we're featuring this year, I was most excited by the idea of making a mini calendar.  It may be mini, but I think it packs plenty of warmth and cheerfulness for any desk!  Nature stuff's my favorite, hands-down, so this project features predominantly florals and leaves. It's a good thing I can stamp these, 'cuz I can't keep a REAL plant alive to save my life.  LOL!

The pages measure about 2 1/8 x 3 1/2" in size and are designed to fit a business card size jewel case.  Even tho the calendar pages are small, they were still a bit large for layering on this particular project.  After some thought, I decided to print the calendar again, but onto inkjet transparency, instead of card stock, so I could overlay them and not totally obstruct all the artwork.  I KNOW!!! I'M BRILLIANT!!! (best Monica voice)

While the transparency sat aside on my desk to dry, I got busy cutting white blanks of card stock to size and choosing a theme.  I decided to go organic, and choose contemporary combinations to give the project some added pop and style.

After finishing all the stamping, it was time to cut the transparency calendars to size and secure them to each page.  I used a Tiny Attacher Tool because it was quick, easy, and those teeny tiny staples are too cute and totally perfect for this pint-size project!

This size calendar would make such a darling stocking stuffer, and a great gift for any nature lover!

The calendars are now available for sale HERE. You can get the entire collection for a donation of only $15!!!  I hope you'll join us in support of Charley's Fund--they are so fun to make and give, and such a wonderful, not to mention easy, way to donate to a great and worthwhile cause.

Please note: The A Muse Calendars are a download product only. Nothing will be shipped to you. Calendar orders are only processed during regular business hours {monday to friday 8a to 5p}. Once your order has been processed, you will have unlimited access to the file(s) you have purchased.

If you need more deets, here's the full Monty: A Muse 2011 Calendar Project

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Stamps used:
January: Modern Wood Block
February: Marigold Solid, Leaves Trio
March:  Bursting Blooms
April:  Bare Branch with Leaves, Daisy Duet, Mini Flower
May:  Queen Anne's Lace
June:  Gossamer Wings, Wild Rose Branch
July: Jasmine Silhouette
August: Leaf Frond, (berries) Wreath & Berries
September:  Leaf Frond II
October:  Leaf Frond, Flutterby Flock
November:  Bare Branch with Leaves, (berries) Wreath & Berries
December:  Poinsettia Cling

All stamp images by A Muse Artstamps; Fresh Ink by Impress Rubber Stamps; Versamagic Inks by Tsukineko; Inkjet Transparency by Hammermill; Tiny Attacher Tool by (Tim Holtz for) Advantus

Ric Rac & Web

Hodge-podge but in a very clean way. I like it!  I was tempted to add some ribbon to this design, but the mini brads seemed to finish it off better.  Love that EK ric rac punch, too.

The Spider Tag was designed to fit a 2" circle punch, but I only have a 1.75" on hand, and it worked just as well because then I could layer it onto a 2" scallop circle punch out. And, there I go using only smidges of those text-patterned papers I love so much! *rolling eyeballs*

 

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Credits:  Spider Tag, "Happy Halloween" stamp images by A Muse Artstamps; White 4 Bar Note card and Orange Crush Paper by A Muse;  Text-patterned papers (scraps) by Making Memories; Encore Ultimetallic Silver & Graphite Black Brilliance Inks by Tsukineko; Ric Rac, 1.75" Circle, 2" Scallop Circle, Folk Star Medium, Folk Star Small Punches by EK Success

Pair o' Jacks

Why did I only buy 2 sheets of this wicked cool paper???!!!   

It has this *uber* cool die cut edge in black on all four sides.  Next time I see a paper I love, I'm gonna buy at least 3 sheets.  OK, possibly 4.  *snarf*  One is no good; you hoard it.  Two makes you brave enough to actually cut into one of the two sheets and use only the littlest bits possible..  Three, you will actually consume the one you did cut into.  Four, might convince you that you can totally use up two of the sheets, and keep the remainder in reserve. For just in case.  Of what, I do not know.  But, there is safety in knowing you have two sheets of ridiculously beloved paper under lock & key.  Are ya' followin' my logic here?  BAH HAHAHAHAHA!!!  I know.  I'm SICK.  SICK!!! 

These jacks were stamped over the top of the paper, and then I used a trick I spied over at Jennifer McGuire's a long time ago--shading a stamped solid image with colored pencils.  I wish I could find the specific blog entry where she shows how she does this.  It's a wonderful way to add depth to solid images!

As you can see, I shaded towards the outer edges of the image so the center would appear lighter and brighter.

See that bit of pumpkin woodgrain embossed paper?  It was a leftover scrap from this card.  I know!!!  I AM BRILLIANT!!! *chuckle*

 

 

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Credits:  Jack-o-Lantern Cling Stamp set by A Muse Artstamps; Pumpkin paper, Fern Note Card by A Muse Artstamps; Woodgrain Background stamp by Hero Arts; Script Patterned Paper (Spellbound Collection?) by Making Memories; Black Button (source unknown); Natural Twine by May Arts; Brilliance Graphite Black Ink by Tsukineko & Ginger Fresh Ink by Impress Rubber Stamps;

Hooty In A Tree

Look into my eyes. 

Look deeeeep into my eyes . . . 

Now . . . give me all your candy . . .

BAH HAHAHAHA!!!  The only thing I haven't decided is whether or not the  wide-eyed owl is doing the hypnotizing or is, in fact, himself hyponotized.  Hmmm, yes, these are the deep thoughts I ponder . . . *chuckle*

Grey.  I have been crazy over using grey!  Our Slate paper is so awesome--I cannot get enough of this paper!  Who gets crazy over grey???!!!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!

Modern Wood Block looks fabulous stamped in white ink over the slate paper, and made a perfect tree trunk for him to peek out of.

I didn't really care for this piece of skull patterned paper, BUT, I realized if I punched it into a border, it worked great, because I got that great mix of oranges and greys, but the skulls pretty much disappeared. Cool!

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Credits:  Wide-eyed Owl, Modern Wood Block, "Halloween is a hoot!" by A Muse Artstamps; Slate Paper by A Muse; Copic Markers in Golden Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Salmon Red, Warm Grey No. 2; Oatmeal Card stock by Astro Converters; Skull Patterned Paper from Eerie 6x6" Collection by Basic Grey; Paper White and Chocolate (pigment) Fresh Ink by Impress Rubber Stamps; Brilliance Graphite Black Ink by Tsukineko); Donut Hole Slim Profile Punch by EK Success; Corner Chomper (Rounder) by WR Memory Keepers