CardMaker Blog Hop: What A Difference You Have Made

Welcome to another CardMaker Magazine blog team hop! Today we are sharing cards (or in my case, projects( thanking people for the difference they have made in our lives. This time of year, and this week especially, is about thanking teachers, nurses, and of course, our moms!

In the craziness of getting all these thank you gifts together, I found myself trying to figure out ways to wrap these small tokens up in ways that would make an impact as well. And using some scraps and die cut pieces already in my stash, I was able to make this beautiful gift box in about 5 minutes!

This is a small jewelry box from a local department store. I hoard these like crazy because they hold gift cards beautifully and aside from the name on the box, they are totally white.
Instructions:

1. Adhere a piece of patterned paper to the lid of the box only. Use a Scor Pal to get a crisp fold where needed.
2. Repeat with a coordinating strip of patterned paper, placing it on top of the first.
3. Adhere a die cut oval.
4. Adhere die cut leaves to the right side of the oval. Bend the leaves to add a bit of dimension.
5. Die cut and create a rolled flower. Adhere to the oval, over the leaves.
6. Add a decorative brad to the center of the flower. In this case, I had made this custom brad with an I top tool.
7. I did not add a tag to this, but I would add a stamped tag with a to/from and attach it.

Check out the other cards and inspiration from the rest of the team:

• CardMaker Magazine blog
• Kimberly Crawford *you are here*
• Carolyn King
• Colleen Schaan
• Anya Schrier
• Trudy Sjolander
• Michelle Woerner

thanks for stopping by!
~kimberly

P.S. Sorry its been a long time since I have posted. I have been struggling with some serious health issues. Soon I will explain what is going on with me. I am awaiting an appointment with a specialist at the end of the month. I am hoping to have answers and a plan then. A few prayers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Paper Crafts magazine presents: Bonus Sketch Blog Hop

Welcome to the Paper Crafts magazine Bonus Sketch blog hop! Today we are celebrating the release of the latest special issue, Card Ideas for Paper Crafters. The issue of full of inspiring sketches to jump start your creativity and I am very honored to have several cards in this issue!

Typically I am not a sketch user, but I found these sketches made creating projects flow easily and quickly. These sketches are easily adapted to mixed media projects, or even scrapbooking. I mean, look at that cover! I am totally making those candles on the little man’s next birthday page!  And on days where the mojo just isn’t around , I will be grabbing this issue for inspiration!

In the back of the issue are 12 bonus sketches, and if you are waiting to get your hands on the issue, you can find the sketches here: Paper Crafts bonus sketches. For the hop today, we all chose a sketch and created a project.

I took the sketch very literally because the whole thing just spoke to me and my usual style. To create the panel with the sentiment, I die cut a journaling card with Spellbinders Labels Seventeen (just use a little low-tack tape to hold the die template in place while cutting). And I just had to use one of my favorite lines from CHA, Kaiser Craft’s Miss Nelly.

For more inspiration, and of course a chance to win, visit these talented ladies:

• Julia Stainton
  
• Teri Anderson
  
• Chan Vuong
  
• Lindsay Amrhein
  
• Kalyn Kepner
  
• Regina Mangum
  
• Angeline Yong
  
• Heidi Van Laar
  
• Kimberly Crawford *you are here*
• Vanessa Menhorn

What’s up with the winning I mentioned? Well, you have two ways to try and win a copy of Card Ideas for Paper Crafters! One, visit Paper Crafts Connection and leave a comment. And look at the loot also up for grabs there!

· My Little Shoebox’s Playtime collection

· SRM Stickers (25-Sheet Set)

· Close To My Heart’s My Acrylix: Art Philosophy Seasons

· Go-to Sketches

· Card Ideas for Paper Crafters

Two, leave a comment on my blog because I have a copy to give away also! You have until midnight (MDT) on Sunday, August 28 to leave comments.

For your comment, I would love for you to help a mom out! :) Our little man has asked for his training wheels to be removed from his bike. He is trying hard, but, you know how it goes. :) Do you have any special tips, tricks, or advice to help him conquer bike riding? We would really appreciate the ideas!

good luck, enjoy the hop, and thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

Supplies: Sketch-Betsy Veldman (Card Ideas for Paper Crafters), Patterned paper-Kaiser Craft Miss Nelly (Her Smile, Her Eyes), Stamps-Hero Arts (Live and Laugh), Ink-Tsukineko (Memento Tuxedo Black), Brads-Creative Impressions, Spellbinders-S5-025 Labels Seventeen

happiness is…

 

…well I think his smiling face says it all! We made bouncy balls one winter afternoon, with a kit we ordered online. It was so much fun!

I am thrilled to be able to share some of my Spellbinders Presto Punch artwork! One, I haven’t been in my crafty space since July 1, and two, its so much fun to be able to share “secret” projects finally!

The Spellbinders Presto Punch machine will be shipping oh, so very soon. This machine has a motor that is run by the buttons at the top of the machine. The buttons raise and lower the cutting and embossing platform. The punch templates are specially made templates for this machine only. Its brilliant really, the size and flat nature of the templates, compared to the bulkiness of punches. Not to mention that you get the embossing and stenciling part not possible with punches. And for those that are losing their manual dexterity, what a helpful tool. The Presto Punch is battery operated (AA), but if you desire, you can purchase separately an A/C adaptor. (Video tutorial)

Wanting to create the feel of the bouncy ball, I punched/embossed several circles from various patterned papers. Then I scored them each in half, gluing the backs to one another.

I used the same circles to place the title letters upon. The letters were also punched, using the Plain Jane Capital alphabet. Super font for all your projects.

It’s a super simple layout, but I was happy with the bright colors against the grey and black. And even better than that, the little man loves this one, and that is what really counts.

The same idea mimicked on this card. This would be fun for birthday cards or invitations, or even for a baby shower.

We started putting things back into our lower level last night. It feels s0oo good to get our house back into some order. Especially when company will be arriving shortly! We are looking forward to having my mom, dad, and sister stay with us for a bit. There will be lots of shopping!! Oh, how I miss shopping with them!!

thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

Supplies: Spellbinders Presto Punch Templates (Plain Jane Capital, Circles), Patterned paper-KaiserCraft (Shaken Not Stirred; Sean, David), Crate Paper-Snow Days (6x6), Stamps-Hero Arts (Typewriter Letters, Thank you for being my friend), Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black), Pearls-Hero Arts

By the way, if you haven’t yet, be sure and check out the new Spellbinders Paper Arts website. Its pretty impressive. Tons of new projects, videos, and more!

CHA-S favorites

Here is a look at the latest product coming out over the next few months. Not all of it was new at the show. But they were my favorites.

JustRite Stamps Signs of Life
Love this stamp set! How beautiful to be able to hang all these signs.


JustRite Stamps You are the Best
Very cute and trendy. Lots of layering potential! I am thinking fabric and canvas for sure! Look for a project soon.

 
Kaiser Craft Miss Nelly (available early August)
This line is SO pretty. The colors are bright and fresh and one of my favorite combinations. And a huge thank you to all the companies for having 6x6 pads for all of us card makers! Look for a project soon.


Pink Paislee Wood Shop letters
I love all things made from wood and this line of letters is just fantastic! Many possibilities, from stamping to ink to mists to stains and paint!! There are several fonts to choose from. And be sure to check out their new Mistables line of products too!


Pink Paislee Vintage Vogue Spool Buttons
This was a fun collection from Pink Paislee. A unique color combination reminding me of my junior high days. This take on thread spool ends caught my eye right away.


Graphic 45: An ABC Primer
This is a sweet line of paper. It all screamed my name. Maybe it’s the former teacher in me. :)


Graphic 45: An ABC Primer, School Days
This paper was my hands down favorite of the whole line. Its going to be perfect with first day of school photos that will be happening oh, so quickly. I will have to break it out before then, so look for a project soon.


Basic Grey: Picadilly
Bright, country in style, and fun, this collection has a ton of great embellishments, which should not be missed. Hero Arts has collaborated with Basic Grey to create stamps and those should not be missed either.


Basic Grey: Canvas, Rook Large Sampler
These are cool, they are a pre-designed canvas. It has the lines painted on in black, leaving you to fill in the rest. Click over to see more photos.


Echo Park: Victoria Gardens, 6x6 pad
All of Echo Park’s new releases do not disappoint, but this one was my favorite. Soft and shabby, and look at that music note paper! Echo Park also has a great new Dots and Spots collection for Christmas.


October Afternoon: Farmhouse
This line has some fantastic colors, including yellow and grey, which is a personal favorite. And check out the Wrap pack, beautiful trims!


October Afternoon: Sasparilla
My little man is obsessed with being a cowboy and our recent trip to South Dakota just made it worse. :) It will be fun to use the embellishments and papers to create a mini album.



My Mind’s Eye: Lost and Found 2 Sunshine: Forever
Everything in the My Mind’s Eye Lost and Found Collection 2 is beautiful, but I am in love with the Sunshine part. For the obvious color reasons. :)


My Mind’s Eye: A Beautiful Life, 6x6 pad
My Mind’s Eye also released an entire collection of 6x6 pads, exclusively in that format. This is one of my favorite ones.


WR Memory Keepers: Sew Ribbon
This new tool looks like a ton of fun. It punches holes to allow you to thread ribbon into a pattern. There are several different styles. In a side note, I did not try this tool, so I have no idea its ease of use, or those details, just loving the idea of it.


WR Memory Keepers: Fancy Floss, Glitter Secondary
The Sew Easy now has baker’s twine and glitter floss. Yay!

Some trends that I spotted:

• texture, lots of texture
• flowers, flowers, flowers
• purple
• borders, the fancier, the better
• sewing and quilting themes
• turquoise in Halloween collections

There you go, just a few of the things that will *need* to come home to my house! Have a fantastic day and thanks for stopping by!
~kimberly