a fun afternoon

You are looking at one happy 5 year old boy and a bouncy ball that he made. Yes, we made bouncy balls. It was a kit we picked up at amazon.com. Bouncy Ball Blast from Alex Toys.

The mess factor was low and no heat was involved! A perfect rainy day activity. Not to mention that he chased them around the house for the remainder of the afternoon. :)

The color choices were all made by the little man. Oh, he was happy.

One last photo. Look at those precious hands. Excuse the gushing/sentimental momma. :)

And there are funny foods in the works for tomorrow night's dinner. I did it last year and the little man requested that I do it again. Which makes a momma feel good. :) It really was a bunch of fun for everyone. You can check out last year's meal HERE.

thanks for stopping by!

Video Tutorial: Faux Letterpressing with Images, day two

Its day two of the faux letterpress with images technique. I hope you are inspired to give this a try. Its such a unique look, with unlimited possibilities!! Today there is a couple more projects, building off the original idea. Here is the video again. Please be sure and watch, so all of these images make sense! :)

Direct link for those that need it: FAUX LETTERPRESS WITH IMAGES

The “letterpressed” images on this card are behind the hearts. I thought this would be a great look, layering the Nestabilities, without the traditional two layers of paper.

The Scalloped Hearts were “letterpressed” into the patterned paper. The raised edges were sanded, to make them stand out. Then I die cut Classic Hearts from a different patterned paper and layered. Love this. LOVE this!

A frame!

For this one, I cut my chipboard to the size of a standard card front. (4.25 x 5.5) Cut Wonky Rectangle from the center. Then “letterpressed” the entire piece into the card base.

I hope this as fun for you, as it is for me! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies “I appreciate you”: Spellbinders-(Scalloped Heart, Classic Heart), Patterned paper-Crate (Emma’s Shoppe), Stamps-Hero Arts (Thank you for Being my Friend), Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black), Lace-Hero Arts, Twine-Pink Paislee (Soiree), Button-Crate (Emma’s Shoppe)

Supplies “Thanks”: Spellbinders-(Reverse Wonky Rectangles), Stamps-Hero Arts (Type), Ink-Versamark (Watermark), Embossing Powder-Stampendous (Chinese Red)

Video tutorial: Faux Letterpress with Images

Playing around the other day, I came up with this crazy idea, and it worked! I wanted to “letterpress” solid images into cardstock. Once I saw that it could be done, I made a video and started making projects. In fact, I have two days worth of projects for you!! Be sure and watch the video, so all these project photos make sense! :)

Direct link for those that need it: FAUX LETTERPRESS WITH IMAGES

This is the first project that popped into my head…making clouds.

Just like I created in the video. Still so pumped that it turned out! :)

This technique is like having your own embossing folders!

I die cut Spellbinders S3-038 Butterfly Reflections several times and lined them up. Imagine this with flowers, flourishes, circles, boy, I could go on for hours!

And not only your own embossing folders, but dies to match!!

Are you excited to try this? Are you inspired? What would you do with this technique? I still have so many ideas!!! Be sure and stop back tomorrow for more project ideas!!

thanks for stopping by!

Supplies “Thinking of You”: Spellbinders-Labels Six, Patterned Paper-Echo Park (Playground), Stamps-Hero Arts (Everyday Sayings), Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black)

Supplies: “Thank You”: Spellbinders-Butterfly Reflections, Patterned paper-Echo Park (For the Record), Stamps-Hero Arts (Type), Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black), Sticker-Echo Park (For the Record)

The Winner!

Congrats! The winner is Nana Jo!! I will be emailing you shortly with your prize information!!!
Thanks to everyone who played along!!!

hydrangea video tutorial

Yes, I am back! Sorry for the absence. We went away for a long weekend. And I have been buried under projects, that of course, I can’t share or tell you about yet. :) It always seems to be that way!! :)

Today I have a video tutorial for you. Remember this project from a few weeks ago? Well, I got so many emails about it, I figured I should get a video tutorial together about how to color with the Fantastix from Tsukineko. Enjoy and I hope it inspires you to give it a try! :)

Here’s a direct link for those that need it: HYDRANGEA COLORING

thanks for always stopping by!!

Supplies: Stamp-Stampendous (Jumbo Hydrangea Cling), Inks-Ranger Distressing (Tumbled Glass, Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Peeled Paint), Memento (Tuxedo Black), Fantastix

***AND did you see I am giving away a $60 gift certificate to CSN stores? You can buy anything your little heart desires, no obligation, just follow the rules on this post HERE. What are you waiting for?!?! Its $60!!!

butterfly and a giveaway

This contest is now closed. Thank you for your interest.
The winner will be announced tomorrow evening.

"If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies." –Author Unknown

Continuing with this butterfly kick. I am pretty sure that my fondness for them will never go away! :)

You might be wondering why I am showing you table lamps…CSN has generously given me a $60 gift certificate to give away to one of my readers!! You could pick up a fabulous table lamp, or any of the thousands of items they carry in all their stores!

Here’s what you need to do to enter this drawing:

1. Click on the table lamps link above and browse the lamps.
2. Leave a comment here telling me which lamp you would choose.
3. You MUST leave a way for me to contact you if you are chosen as the winner. Type your email like this: Kimberly1Crawford at gmail dot com to avoid spam issues. Please leave this information in your comment.
4. You have until Friday March 25 at 10 pm CDT to leave your comment. The winner will be announced here on Saturday, March 26.

happy shopping, good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

butterfly blessing

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun

And find your shoulder to light on,

To bring you luck, happiness, and riches

Today, tomorrow, and beyond.

-Irish Blessing

Life is crazy busy. I will be back posting soon. But today, I wanted to give you a taste of summer, from my backyard, last August. Blessings!

thanks for stopping by!

the little things

Just wanted to share the project that we did in the Spellbinders class that I teach monthly at All About Pictures in Cedar Rapids, IA. All three panels were strung together to make a wall hanging. The base of each page was Grand Scalloped Squares, new large format dies from Spellbinders. (Please scroll through all the photos, as the close-ups show the project in a better light.)

A look at one of the pages. The photo is 4x6, to give you an idea of the size of the project.

Flowers and leaves created from Spellbinders Blossom Three, Foliage, and circles. The center of the flowers was made by die cutting cork and stamping upon it. Cork takes ink beautifully. The stamp is from Hero Arts set, Type. Its a typewriter key. Isn’t that cute?

The banner from the middle panel. This was made using Spellbinders Nested and Lacey Pennants. Plus more cork stamped with a typewriter key.

A closer look at the stamped cork. Give it a few minutes to dry. I used Memento ink.

Each page also had words stamped onto it. The sentiments are from Hero Arts set, Thank You for Being my Friend. This sentiment was masked to get the saying. This was an easy spot to mask a sentiment, because the photo let me line up the words.

How perfect! :)

And again, couldn’t have found a more perfect set of words!

And one final look at the butterflies on this project. They were made by splitting a die cut square in half, on the diagonal. Glue two of the corners together and add a button. Kind of fun and different. :)

Busy, busy, busy here! Spring fever has hit full-force in our house, as they opened the golf course yesterday!! Can you guess what we are doing tonight? :) Will I be able to wash my hair tomorrow? My back and shoulders could be very sore after a bucket or two of balls. Oh well, it will be worth it! :) Have a super day! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Hero Arts (Type, Thank You for Being My Friend), Spellbinders-Grand Scalloped Squares, Grand Squares, Foliage, Nested Pennants, Lacey Pennants, Circles Small, Squares Small, Patterned paper-Cosmo Cricket (Togetherness), Cardstock-Bazzill (Kraft), Cork & Twine-Creative Impressions, Buttons-PTI, Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black), Ranger Distressing (Frayed Burlap)

sunshine in my pocket

Happy Monday morning!! I hope that you all had a good weekend and didn’t wake up too late for church! :) This bright and fun card is all Jillibean Soup goodness, with some Spellbinders thrown in for good measure.

I used Inverted Scalloped Circles and Circles to create this sunshine, that fits inside a small pcoket. To give the small bag its shape along the front edge, I placed a Spellbinders Circle inside the bag and then ran it through my Grand Calibur. You know, if I did that with my Inverted Scallops, I would get a scalloped edge on my bag, wouldn’t I? Hmmm…excuse me while I run back to my crafty space! :)

This card started with this darling sticker, to which I just had to add a small heart sticker. :)

A cute postage stamp border and some twine polish off this sunny and bright card. I love the rainbow colors of this!!

Have a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Patterned paper-Jillibean Soup (Soup Staples, Blossom Soup-Corn Kernals), Sticker-Jillibean Soup (Blossom Soup Stickers), Twine-Jillibean Soup, Bag-Canvas Corp, Border punch-Fiskars, Spellbinders-Inverted Scalloped Circles, Circles

friends

Yep, its going to be a week, or even two :), of rejects. Its another card that I really am happy with the results, so it not getting chosen is a-ok. The sentiment area was masked off and then the background was inked. Its a one-layer card. I love the angle of it. I am thinking about trying two smaller layers like this…

I know you are waiting for videos, and I have a list of them to make! :) Hopefully the house repairs will all be finished soon and we have some peace and quiet back. :) If you have any video requests, drop me an email, or leave your suggestion in the comments.

Have a superb day! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Hero Arts (Friend Definition, Designer Woodgrain, Friends and Treasures), Inks-Ranger Distressing (Peeled Paint, Broken China, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo), Patterned paper-Jenni Bowlin, Embossing Powder-Stampendous (Clear Detail), Flowers-Prima, Brad-Crate Paper (School Spirit), Gems-Hero Arts (Neutral Mixed Accents), Spellbinders-Nested Pennants

rejected but happy

Last Friday the acceptance emails went out for the Paper Crafts magazine special sketch issue. When your project/s are chosen for publication, you receive an email with your next step of instructions. Its a very happy email day when those arrive! While I had several cards chosen for the issue, and that is always a huge honor, I also had several rejects. This being one of them. Does it make me sad? Possibly, but you know what? Not really. This is a card that I would never had made on my own. But I love it. LOVE the way it turned out. LOVE the way the sketch pushed me out of my usual comfort zone. I made something that makes me happy and when I send it, someone else will be happy. I guess my point is, submit, submit, submit. You never know what they are looking for. Maybe this card didn’t work in the color scheme. Maybe this was not creative enough. You just never know, and because of that, just submit. :)

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! We did some Iowa exploring. Its nice to keep learning about our new home. And yes there is more than corn, pigs, and cows here! :) thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Sketch #31, Spellbinders-Nested Pennants, Chipboard-Jenni Bowlin, Twine-May Arts, Gems-Hero Arts, Buttons-Papertrey Ink, Stamps-Papertrey Ink

ice cream

These photos are of the little man’s first ice cream cone (actually IN the cone, that is) from 3 summers ago. He surrendered and grabbed a spoon after the first few minutes of licking. :) My hubby asked him what his favorite kind of ice cream was, and he responded quickly by saying, “mommy’s!” That’s because the little man and I would share an ice cream treat, usually something with chocolate and nuts in it. Of course he would like mine the best. Too funny!!

I used some older My Mind’s Eye papers on this and one of my all-time favorite Spellbinders die templates, Nested Ice Cream Cones. I just love cutting them out of felt and making a double cone.

One more close up…take a look at the wording on these ticket embellishments. I adore that the words on these match what is happening in the photos. Doing things like that on my layouts is important to me. I want everything to point to the story and have a reason for being on the page. Having a cute and hip factor doesn’t hurt, though. :)

I don’t know about you, but I am very ready for warm weather and the “need” to stop at the Dairy Queen in the evenings! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Patterned paper-My Mind’s Eye (Breaking Away, Ooh La La), Spellbinders-Nested Ice Cream Cones, Letter stickers-Cosmo Cricket (Tiny Type), Letter stickers-Making Memories

just saying hello

The background on this card was a unique twist on resist embossing. You can see a video tutorial I did on this technique HERE. If you have never tried heat embossing before, I have a video tutorial on that as well. You can find that one HERE.

The butterflies were made by cutting a small piece of muslin, accordion folding it, and securing it with a mini clothespins. Kind of a fun way to make butterflies.

We are just chugging along through a crazy week in our house. Fingers crossed that the roofers are finally done. Now its just a window replacement, siding, and gutters to complete. Its amazing the damage that hail can do! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Hero Arts (Antique Brocade, Truly Appreciated), Ink-Versamark Watermark, Ranger Distressing (Peeled Paint), Embossing Powder-Stampendous (Aqua), Gems-Hero Arts (Teal Gemstones), Muslin-Hancock Fabrics, Clothespins-Canvas Corp (Natural)

having fun

Hmmm, let’s see, fun stuff on this card…flower pop top from a new company at CHA called, Bottle Cap Company, wood button (stamped with text by me) and a crocheted flower from LA’s Fashion District (colored with Distressing Ink), new Spellbinders die templates, new My Mind’s Eye Stella and Rose papers, Hero Arts stamps, new Unity/Jillibean Soup stamps…it was definitely fun to play around!

hope your week is off to a great start! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Hero Arts (Friend Definition, Classic Fabric Design), Unity/Jillibean (Sweetest Day Itty Bitty), Patterned paper-My Mind’s Eye (Stella and Rose: Hazel), Ink-Ranger (Distressing-Frayed Burlap, Fired Brick, Black Soot, Peeled Paint), Punch-Martha Stewart, Spellbinders-Foliage