joy

The grand re-decoration of the “department store” tree has begun! (The name my husband has given the upper level Christmas tree.) The burlap ribbon is wonderful looking, especially for the cat who thinks it’s a treat. Yikes. :) Jingle bells have been added to the snowflakes already hanging on the tree. It still needs more, but I am enjoying the hunt. This past weekend, I knew I wanted to make some ornaments for the tree. I was inspired by last year’s Pottery Barn catalog. (You can see the projects for table décor and the original ornament I made last year on this post HERE.)

These only took a couple of hours and I made 20 of them. Here are the instructions.

1. Die cut cardstock with Spellbinders S4-172 Pinking Circles. Add Stickles to the edges. Set aside to dry.
2. Die cut cardstock with Spellbinders S4-114 Standard Circles LG.
3. Stamp Holly Leaves with black ink onto the cardstock circle.
4. Stamp Music Background with Frayed Burlap distressing Ink over the top.
5. Add Scattered Straw distressing ink to the center of the ornament, avoiding the leaves. No worries on perfection, though.:)
6. Apply Peeled Paint and Fired Brick distressing inks onto a craft mat.
7. Spritz lightly with water.
8. Using a paintbrush, paint the leaves and berries. Again, not worrying about perfection. And to add more depth, add another layer of ink, or use less water when spritzing.
9. Stamp Joy with black ink.
10. Ink edges with Frayed Burlap ink.
11. Assemble.

Sickness is still in our house. Hoping this week will mark the end for the poor little man. We have important Christmas activities to participate in! Hope you and yours are well. thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

Supplies: Stamps-Hero Arts (Music Background Cling, Get Merry, Classic Holly Cling),  Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black), Ranger Distressing Inks (Fired Brick, Peeled Paint, Scattered Straw, Frayed Burlap, Stickles-Ranger (StarDust), Twine-May Arts, Spellbinders-S4-172 Pinking Circles SM, S4-114 Standard Circles LG

Avocado Arts and an ornament

Yay! Its Avocado Arts day! Today everyone has projects to share with you using the December set, Brrr! and the Nerdy Snow Peeps.

This year I have decided to re-design our Christmas tree. My hubby likes to call it the department store tree, but I can’t help it. There is something so fun about creating a beautifully themed tree! This year I have large and small glittered snowflakes and burlap ribbon. I am wanting to add music somehow, sleds. I love sleds! As I looked at my stamp set, voila! There it was, a sled! Time to make ornaments!!

Instructions:

1. Die cut Classic Scallops LG from red cardstock. Add Stickles to each scallop.
2. Die cut/emboss Standard Circles LG from patterned paper. Ink edges. Stamp with snowflakes.
3. Stamp trees twice, one with light brown ink, the other ink dark brown ink.
4. Die cut/emboss same die template with a different piece of patterned paper. Free hand cut a hill. Ink edges.
5. Adhere to large circle. Add Stickles to the upper edge.
6. Stamp sled onto patterned paper with dark brown ink. Cut out. Foam mount to hill.
7. Adhere to the red scalloped circle. Punch hole in the top. Tie with twine.

Be sure and stop by the rest of the team to be inspired!

Avocado Arts Blog
AJ Otto
Latisha Yoast
Julia Stainton
Becky Oehlers

Another video tutorial is on its way tomorrow! Be sure and stop back! thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

Supplies: Stamps-Avocado Arts (Brrr! and the Nerdy Snow Peeps, Bring on the Holiday Cheer),Patterned paper-Echo Park (Season’s Greetings), Ink-Clearsnap (Colorbox Chalk-Creamy Brown, Chestnut Roan), Distressing Ink-Ranger (Frayed Burlap), Twine-May Arts, Stickles-Ranger (Star Dust), Spellbinders-Standard Circles LG, Classic Scalloped Circles LG

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

hello friend

 

Its the middle of the month, which means more projects and inspiration from the Avocado Arts design team, including a sneak peek of the next kit!

Today’s card uses stamps from both Sunshine and Smiles and kit 2. Can you figure out which ones are which? :)



I had to use those clouds, again. But they are so versatile, I just cannot help myself. :) I started with canvas and a Spellbinders Rectangles Large die template.



I used paint dabbers from Adirondack on the canvas. I applied in one direction. You can see the coverage it creates. It is not solid coverage. The paint does not flow from the end, like I was expecting. Honestly, I will take the foam topper off and just use the paint. The paint itself is fantastic! Great coverage, colors, and quick to dry!



For the clouds, I applied Adirondack white paint to the solid cloud image from Sunshine and Smiles. Using a foam brush gives me a chance to spread the paint more evenly across the stamp. And don’t worry about “ruining” your stamp. It cleans up easily.



Here are the clouds on the canvas. Pretty cool look, huh?



I decided that I wanted a couple of the clouds to pop out a bit more. So, I stamped over the clouds with a second coat of paint. And reason number 1 million to love about photopolymer stamps; you can see through to line up the image!!

To finish off the card, I stamped the open cloud image in watermark ink on the card base, added some super bright chevron patterned paper (SWOON!), and a stamped and Copic colored little birdie. Oh, and the sentiment…it was stamped in black ink onto the canvas. Its a little faded, which works for me in this instance.

And now, what you have been waiting for…the sneak peek of Kit #2!!

Oh it gets better with each stamp shipment!! Sign up today to get in on all the perks of membership!

Check out the rest of the team:
Avocado Arts Blog
AJ Otto
Latisha Yoast
Julia Stainton
Becky Oehlers

thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Avocado Arts (Sunshine and Smiles, Hello Friend), Canvas (Canvas Corp 12x12), Paint-Ranger (Adirondack Paint Dabber-Pool, White), Cardstock-Bazzill, Copic Xpress, Patterned paper-My Mind’s Eye (Lime Twist Fly a Kite 6x6), Ink-Tsukineko (Memento Tuxedo Black) (Versamark Watermark), Copic-R22, R24, R27, YR07, Spellbinders-Rectangles Large

felt bag and video tutorial

Here is a felt bag I created for one of the challenges presented to us during the go to gal auditions, including the video tutorial. I love the way this bag turned out. These are easy and lovely to create.
I started out by cutting a piece of felt. Then I die cut a window from what would be the front of the bag. (If you were to use this bag for treats or a gift, you would want to line the inside with a piece of acetate.) A felt frame was added. Thrilled with the fact that using Spellbinders die templates, makes all that line up perfectly! Rolled flowers and felt leaves were added to the corner. I also closed the bag with a strip of felt.

A close up look at the rolled felt flowers. And that is where the video tutorial comes in, simple, but I had my reasons. :)



For those that need the direct link: CREATING ROLLED FLOWERS

thanks for being so great, for all your emails that brighten my day, and for always stopping by!

Supplies: Spellbinders die templates (Standard Circles Large, Labels Eighteen, Foliage), Felt-Michael’s, Pearls-Hero Arts

more Mint Motif peeks

Its day two of sneak peeks! Today I am focusing on the set, Beyond Borders. What I love about this set is the fact that the borders are all 5.55” long. Meaning, you can cover a standard A2 card, the long way!

I designed this set on paper at CHA this past summer and then on the computer the second I got home. Borders and patterns like these were everywhere!!! And now you can create your own papers, in any color you want!

I like to call this border, gems. I love how easily these emboss to create a wowee look!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Beyond Borders, Very Square Sentiments), Ink-Versamark (Watermark), Embossing Powder-Stampendous (White Detail), Spellbinders-Labels One, Classic Rectangles Small, On the Vine Border Grand

Doesn’t this make you think of Rainbow Bright? Or maybe leg warmers? I am pretty sure I had a sweater with this pattern on it! :) I love it. It makes me smile! So, the warm fuzzies sentiment worked swell. :) Zig Zag borders are so popular right now and this one will let you have a ton of fun!!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Beyond Borders), Hero Arts (Everyday Sayings), Ink-Palette (L’Amour, Orangerie, Paris Lights, Giverny Green, Reflection Blue, Lavendar Sachet)

Be sure and check out the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You site this week, as this card was created before the sketch came out, but happened to be one and the same. Great minds think alike! :)

This background is called lemons. This might be my favorite one, at least right now. :) I stamped the background in the same ink color as the cardstock. Then, I used a Copic marker and colored the inside of each lemon. A small dot of white was added to the centers.

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Beyond Borders, Very Square Sentiments), Ink-Palette (Hawaiian Shores) Versamark (Watermark), Embossing Powder-Stampendous (White Detail), Copic-BG10, White pen-Uniball Signo U53 Broad, Spellbinders-Classic Circles Large, Lacey Circles

Check back tomorrow and a peek at Very Merry Sentiments. Both sets will be available on October 14th at i{heart}papers.com. Hope you are enjoying what you are seeing so far! thanks for stopping by!

Mint Monday

Its been quite sometime since we have had a Mint Monday! I am happy to say that life has once again returned to normal, we are settled, and I am ready to get back into the groove of things! :)

If you have made a project using Mint Motif stamps, be sure to email me at Kimberly1Crawford@gmail.com. I would LOVE to share your project and a link to your blog or gallery!

AND, in case you missed it, don’t forget the design team call we have going for Mint Motif! The deadline is THIS FRIDAY! There is lots of details HERE.

Please email your applications with all this information to
dt@iheartpapers.com. Deadline to apply is October 1, midnight EST.

I made a small flower, using the leaf image from Mint Motif’s school basics. Well, I made two. And I wanted to use the other one. (The first one is HERE) So, I grabbed more of the October Afternoon Seaside papers that the flower was made from and made another card.

The cork was stamped with a sentiment from MM’s Very Square Sentiments and it was die cut with a Spellbinders Classic Square. The thin cork from Creative Impressions is very easy to cut with your dies. I am sure that my love of all things kraft and twine also includes cork. :) And yes, Angela, I have an addiction! :)

The October releases will be peeking in just a little bit! (the 11th)! Oh, I cannot wait for you to see these images!! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Very Square Sentiments, School Basics), Patterned paper-October Afternoon (Seaside 8x8) Making Memories (Ledger), Cork (Creative Impressions), Twine (May Arts), Spellbinders (Labels One, Classic Squares Small)

hello, hello, hello

This layout will be published online, so I have to take it off. Sorry!!!



ETA:Feeling the need to share a project with you, here is the layout I did for the Spellbinders design team contest this year. We had to use Inverted Scalloped Circles and Filmstrip.

The first thing that popped into my head, was spiders. Then I thought, oh my, I could make the filmstrip into a downspout. And seeing as Itsy, Bitsy, Spider is one of my son's all-time favorite songs, it was a perfect fit. The photos were taken of him singing the song and doing all the actions. Could it get any cuter? :) One side note, the spiders are made from die cut felt (inverted scalloped circles and classic circles) and the legs were cut from leather trim. Love the dimensional feel to this page!

Supplies: Spellbinders (Inverted Scalloped Circles Large, Filmstrip, Classic Paisly, Classic Circles Small, Labels 6), Patterned paper (Crate-Little Sprout), Cardstock (Core'dinations), Felt (Wal Mart), Leather trim (Wal Mart), Googly Eyes (Wal Mart). Letter Stickers (Scenic Route)



Hello again!! Just wanted to give you a quick update as to how we are doing. It feels like I haven't been around forever and its such a strange feeling! We have moved into our house and are starting to get settled. There are maybe 6 boxes left to unpack and most of the rooms are in tip top shape. We even got to the point of hanging pictures and artwork on the wall today. Its amazing how simple things like that can make you feel more at home!


My parents left yesterday after visiting for a week. It was a wonderful time together and I already miss them terribly. But I did get to shop with my mom a ton. That was good. So good.


My mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law arrive on Thursday night for a several day stay. We cannot wait to show them the house and around the area too!!


So, as you can see, life has been a busy blur. A happy one, though. Hopefully I will get back to sharing a project or two, before too terribly long. thanks for always stopping by! ((HUGS))

you’ve been so kind

Shabby, shabby, shabby, with lots of texture. It was the theme of the CHA show. For this card, I created a pleated fabric border (tutorial HERE). Underneath that is a piece of fantastic tape from 7gypsies. It looks like a measuring tape. If I were to make this card over, I would have let more of that show through.

The frame was cut using the latest from Spellbinders, Labels Sixteen. The cork pieces are actually reversed, as they are printed on the other side. But adding twine-tied buttons made cute accent pieces.

thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Patterned paper-Fancy Pants (Road Show), Tape-7gypsies, Cork-Pink Paislee (Queen Bee), Fabric-American Crafts (Dear Lizzy), Twine-May Arts, Buttons & Stamp-Papertrey Ink, Spellbinders-Labels Sixteen, Classic Scalloped Border Petite

This is a scheduled post.

just saying hello

Just a quick reminder that School Basics from Mint Motif is now available at i {heart} papers. If you missed the sneak peek projects, you can see them HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE. I am SO excited about this set! And exciting news, look for Mint Motif stamps being used in projects in upcoming magazine issues!! :) :)

Just a quick card and hello. I had to start using the newest line from October Afternoon, called Seaside, as soon as I got home from CHA. I mean, look at those darling pendants!!

With the move well under way and our families due to arrive shortly, I am going to be posting few and far between for the next couple of weeks. Maybe I will get the chance to sneak in a few more posts, but sometimes you just have to let things slide. I hope you understand and don’t mind. Your visits, emails, and comments are so appreciated, so thanks for always stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Hero Arts (Truly Appreciated), Patterned paper-October Afternoon (Seaside), Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black), Buttons-Making Memories, Twine-May Arts, Spellbinders-Petite Ovals Small, Labels Eight

Mint Motif Sneak Peek and a Video

One of my favorite cake designs (yes, I have a lot of favorites), matches up cakes with fresh flowers. They lift each layer and place flowers in between. Why not do that with paper? :)

I stamped each cake layer individually onto patterned paper and cut them out. I stamped the sentiment on the bottom layer, knowing how I wanted the pieces laid out. Then several Big Scalloped Circles Large (#1 die) were die cut from patterned paper. I made my favorite flowers (Video: HERE) and added pearls to the centers. Starting at the bottom, I foam mounted the largest layer to the Labels Ten shape, followed by a row of flowers. The middle layer was added, along with another row of flowers. And finally the top layer. The leaves were added at the end.

Many of you have requested a how-to about making my leaves. They are my favorite because they are easy and the best part is, they are made with one die template! Enjoy the goofy and quick video!

The direct link can be found here: CIRCLE LEAVES

thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps (Mint Motif-Cake Shoppe, Cake Shoppe Too available July 14), Patterned paper-Cosmo Cricket (Material Girl 6x6), October Afternoon (Fly a Kite), Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black), Colorbox Chalk (Creamy Brown), Palette (Burnt Umber), Pearls-Kaiser (Pewter), Spellbinders-Labels Ten, Big Scalloped Circles Large, Classic Circles Large

Mint Motif Sneak Peek Topsy Turvy Cake

The sneak peeks for the latest Mint Motif stamp sets continue today! :)

One cake design I am fond of, is the topsy turvy cake. You know, the ones that look like an Alice in Wonderland cake. With the straight lines included in Cake Shoppe and Cake Shoppe Too, it is very easy to create one. And, there are less calories involved with the stamps. *wink, wink*

I thought I would make a video about how to create this cake. Hope you like it!

Here is the direct link for those that need it: TOPSY TURVY CAKE

Remember these sets will be available on July 14th at iheartpapers.com. thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Cake Shoppe, Cake Shoppe Too available July 14), Patterned paper-October Afternoon (Fly a Kite), Cosmo Cricket (Material Girl), SEI, Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black), Colorbox Chalk (Creamy Brown), Spellbinders-Classic Scalloped Oval, Labels Eight

more off season ideas

Cling Guardian Angel

Isn’t this a precious image? I just love it. Coloring it was fun. But I ran into a problem with the card. I had silver stickers. Silver wasn’t going to cut it with this color scheme. My brain starts churning and I wonder if my Copics can color these Class A Peel stickers from Stampendous.

Turns out…YOU CAN!!! I grabbed an E59 and went to town coloring. After letting it dry for just a minute, the color was perfect for what I needed! Which makes me happy. These stickers are great, but the silver and gold colors did nothing for me. NOW, they can work with anything!!

Here are a few more cards. I know the last few day’s projects have been very simple. These are intentionally that way. These are for catalog work. They are meant to show off the images and nothing else. And they are easy to reproduce cards for stores that might want them for a make and take or a class. I like them. I really do. I hope they inspire you to buy the image and come up with your own amazing creations.

Fluffles Wuv

I thought it would be cute to have Fluffles shooting hearts from his bow. :)

Pictures of Love (everybody start singing, Love Potion Number 9 :) )

And these, guys…what can you say, but hilarious?!!! So new, they aren’t even listed on the site yet. :)

Hope your week is going well! I taught another class at All About Pictures last night. Fun women! Good times with Impressabilities and brownies! :) Enjoy your Wednesday and thanks for stopping by!

Pleated Border Video Tutorial

S4-239 Classic Scalloped Border Petite

Today’s video is going to show you how to take Spellbinders™ Borderabilities® and American Crafts fabric-backed paper to create this oh, so shabby chic, pleated border.

Now, let me apologize straight off for the video. I honestly should have re-done it, but it was so funny, I figured, why not let you all see how things *really* go in my world?! My cat wakes up from his nap, much to my surprise, because he was under my feet! And he bumps the camera out of alignment and joins in the project making. Hopefully you can still see how to create the border while laughing in the process! :)

Here is a direct link to the video for those that need it: PLEATED BORDER

And for some questions that have been asked. I love the questions! I love helping, so please, ask away! My email is in the upper right, under my photo.

1. Can I use Spellbinders dies in other machines? Yes! Spellbinders dies are universal! I cannot promise you can cut all the materials (such as cork, fabric, etc.) with other machines, though.For a complete list of all the compatibilities and so much more information, click HERE for the Spellbinders website.
2. Isn’t there removable tape I can use to hold my dies in place? Yep! Scotch makes a great removable tape. I wanted to point out that you can use whatever you have on hand. Mine is in storage, in an undisclosed location. (I cannot wait to move into our new house!)

There is still more to come this week, including two more videos! Thursday will be about creating card and envelope edges and Friday will be about using the two-cut edge Borderabilities, of course with another cool border technique! Hope you are having fun! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Spellbinders-Borderabilities (Classic Scalloped Border Petite) Labels (Labels 10), Patterned and fabric paper-American Crafts (Dear Lizzy Spring), Cardstock-Papertrey Ink, Ink-Palette (Belle Rose), Stamps-Waltzingmouse Stamps (Seasons of Love), Buttons-Papertrey Ink, Twine-Martha Stewart)

stop and smell the flowers

Just another simple little shaped card. This one was made with Classic Scalloped Long Rectangles Large. So easy, so cute. And yes, I am still obsessed with cutting all things cork. I can’t help it. :)

Its been so wonderfully busy around here. We spent a fantastic weekend in the Twin Cities. My very cautious little man decided that rides at the Mall of America were a good thing AND he did them BY HIMSELF! The grins on his face were from ear to ear. So much fun to watch. We ate out, swam in the pool, and did some shopping. The perfect escape!

**For my Spellbinders™ loving friends-a new feature has been added to the website!! One that we all need!! Its a chart to help you keep track of which dies you have in your stash. Right HERE is a downloadable .pdf file that you can print off and check off.

**Stampendous fans-they now have ALL of their product available online!! The best part is, your orders are filled by stores, not Stampendous. Isn’t that great? Check out all the amazing details and features HERE. The store is HERE.

**And a very cool site to check out, called FAVECRAFTS. This site is jam packed with crafty ideas, in all areas. LOVE IT!! They have a wonderful BLOG too. A good read for interesting and clever ideas. They asked me one of their monthly questions and you can read all about that HERE. They also have project ideas by season and holiday. They are showing my Burgers for Father’s Day HERE.

So that leaves me working on the next Mint Motif release, which will be coming out July 14th, CHA is quickly approaching and with it all sorts of fabulous new products and work :), and somewhere in there, trying to get a series of videos together about Spellbinders Borderabilities®. Such versatile templates and I cannot wait to show you the possibilities!!

Whew! I think and hope that is it! :) Have a fabulous day! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-Cardstock, Stamps, Patterned paper-Papertrey Ink, Cork-Creative Impressions, Brad-Basic Grey, Felt Flower-Creative Cafe, Ink-Palette (Burnt Umber)