185

Always look on the bright side of life. :)

 

This card is for a coworker who is taking a huge step in his life.  Congratulations, I'm really proud of you.  Just keep smiling!

 

 

Ingredients

Tim Holtz: Idea-ology - Sprocket Gears (die and embellishments)

Tim Holtz: Embossing - Steam Punk

Tim Holtz: Distress Ink - Vintage Photo

Memento Ink - Tuxedo Black

Tools: Fiskars Paper Trimmer, Cuttlebug, Xyron

thirty-eight

It's a huge understatement to say that my mom and my dad have made the biggest impression on my life.  Their guidance as a child though teens has moulded me into the woman that I am today.  I hope that my marriage exudes the same love and respect that I see between my parents.

 

Happy 38th Wedding Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

 

 

As time goes on, I realize

Just what you mean to me.

And now, now that you're near,
Promise your love that I've waited to share
And dreams of our moments together.
Color my world with hopes of loving you

-Chicago

 

 

 

All products SEI and 3M Adhesive Transfer Tape.

 

Come visit Unscripted Sketches and show us what you've got! 

oh boy! ...or girl :)

So I've been keeping a secret from the blogosphere for the last, well, 13 weeks.  I'm pregnant!

We are beyond ecstatic and this happiness has gotten me through the first trimester even when I was feeling neaseous, on-a-boat and super tired.  To my family and friends, thank you for your continued support and love.  And thanks to my husband for not saying anything when all I want (and have been able) to eat for the last several weeks has been mac and cheese.  Can't wait to see where this start to our new life takes us!

Being an avid scrapbooker and picture taker, I've decided to take photos once a week and document the baby's growth.  Right now the baby is something the size of a big lemon.

 

Come visit Unscripted Sketches for this week's sketch #182!

 

Ingredients

Paper: My Mind's Eye Indie Chic Citron Party and Measure

Ink: Tim Holtz StazOn - Timber Brown

Embellishments: Home Basics - Burlap Flower (AC Moore), MME Indie Chic Brads, Scrap Burlap Ribbon for the bow

Cricut: Jasmine 3.5" numbers in Real Dial Size

Tools: Fiskars Edge Distresser, GlueDots, PopDots, CutterBee Precision Scissors

key west krazy.

Sketch #181 for Unscripted Sketches has a piggy back challenge of one of my all-time favorite crafting activities - motion.  What drew me to scrapbooking initially ws the pretty colors and the way to tell a story by photos.  When I started getting braver in my scrapbooking techniques, I started making interavtive pages.  As much as we love to show our scrapbooks to our friends and family, why not add a little element of surprise?  Make the page flip, turn, rotate, make noise...or waterfall.

 

On this page, notices how in the first picture it just looks like the photos are cascading and you can flip through them one by one.

 

If you pull the green ribbon down towards the bottom on the page, the slide show creates itself! 

One picture after another takes centerstage.  And most importantly, it's interactive for the reader.

 

The process is actually more simple than it looks!

 

The Ingredients:

(4) 4x6" photos, preferably in a sequence from an event (number 1-4)

12x12 Cardstock: (1ea) of Teal, White, Coral, Citrus

12x12 Striped Pattern Paper (Studio Calico)

(2) Eyelets (We R Memork Keepers, Sherbet)

(1) Ribbon Scrap

Letters: Thickers - Wonder (American Crafts)

Ink: StazOn - Jet Black

Tools: Fiskars Paper Trimmer, ScorePal, Scotch ATG Gun and 1/4" Transfer Tape, Fiskars Anywhere Eyelet Punch, Bone Folder. Marvy Uchida 2.25" Circle Punch, Cropadile

 

The Recipe:

Cut White Cardstock to 4.25x12"

Score White Cardstock at .5, 1.5, 2.25, 3, 3.75"

Use Bone Folder to make edges crisp

Tear Striped Paper to be approx 12x7", ink white edge

Cut (2) Coral and (2) Citrus to 4.25x6.25" and ink all edges

Cut (1) Coral 1.75x7.25" and ink edges

Cut (1) Teal 1.5x7" and ink edges

Punch Teal with 2.25" circle punch.

Hint: Since you're covering 7" of Teal 12x12 with Striped paper, cut small pieces from it first!

Adhere small Teal to small Coral

Adhere photos to Coral and Citrus

Alternate colors from the photo sequence for more visual appeal.

Adherere Striped to Teal

***For the waterfall***

Fold White Cardstock at 3.75" yielding "new 4.25x8.25" cardstock (waterfall leader), keeping scored lines on top

Run line of ADH Transfer tape just below the 1.5" score line and adhere photo #4

Repeat previous step at 2.25" score line with photo #3

Then 3" score line with photo #2

Lastly 3.75" score line with photo #1

Put each photo just below each score line because it makes it easier to fold and flip through.

Flip waterfall over.  Tape BACK of the .5" score line as you did the photos on the front. 

The BACK of the white will be taped to the FRONT of the teal small strip.

The 4.25x8.25" will rest BEHIND the teal/coral strip of paper without any adhesive.

Position waterfall onto Teal and Striped background.  Pound eyelets through small strip into background -- making sure you leave enough room for the title above and so that the photos don't hang off the layout. 

Fold Teal circle in half, adhere to waterfall leader

Punch small hole through circle, thread ribbon through.

Pull ribbon and the photos will start to waterfall!

Add title.

Amaze friends. 

Post to Unscripted Sketches #181 and leave a comment here!

 

 

 

 

Get Smashed.

When Unscripted Sketches #173 came about for some reason it screamed "Smashbook" to me.  A few months ago we went to a concert with some friends.  I had just downloaded an app on my iPhone (Instagram) that has some really cool filters that make for interesting pictures.   

 

When working with sketches, remember to look at it from all angles.  The "white space" on the sketch reminded me of a second page - perfect for concert tickets and other memorabilia. 

 

 

Happy Scrapping!

Learn to pause....

It's funny that I chose this sentiment on a card after I have taken a brief pause from my blog.  We got our puppy, Pepper, and she's amazing.  The house training is going amazingly and she truly is a great dog.  The catch is that she's got some digestive issues that we are trying to resolve, and it's definitely comanding our time.  I've been taking a few weeks to focus on my new little family, and I couldn't be happier with our addition.

Three weeks ago I went to CKC Lancaster with my momma.  We took a few great classes, bought more than our fair share, and most importantly we had some mother/daughter time.  I love how close we are and how we share the same hobbies. 

This past weekend we had some great friends visit, and it really got me thinking about how in our busy lives, it's important to stop and look around.  Work has been more than stressful and this weekend let me decompress, breathe and just relax with some great people. 

Learn to puase...or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you.

The Ingredients

Club SEI kit, July - Lexington

Adhesive: ATG Adhesive Transfer Tape, Pop Dots

Stamp: Stampers Anonymous - Just Thoughts

Ink: Tim Holtz - Vintage Photo

The Recipe

Cut 7x10" Kraft paper - score in half

Cut teal patterned paper to 4.5x6" and ink edges

Ink doily with brown to distress

Cut ribbon to 5" and wrap around card approx 2/3 from top, adhere.

Stamp sentiment on bottom of card

Adhere doiley, flower.

Use pop dots on dragonfly.

Post to Unscripted Sketches, leave a comment and create you own!

Thanks for stopping by!

Peas and carrots

A special birthday card for my dear friend Jenny. 

We've known each other since we were 11.  We would be together so much that her dad combined our names to make us one entity.  We even made up this copy cat routine where we talked in unison for about 5 minutes.  "Wait, are you like copying me because I'm like totally not copying you." 

She has this energy about her that commands everyone's attention when she enters a room, and a magnetic personality that just draws you in.  She is one of those woman that is beautiful on the inside and out and I'm so happy we met each other in 6th grade.

We've witnessed each other's first crushes, first boyfriends, first heartaches and stood by each other at our weddings as bridesmaids.  We might not see each other or speak on a day to day basis, but Jenny's heart is with me always.

Happy Birthday, Jennica!

Love,

Jessifer

The Ingredients:

Cardstock: Bazzil - White

Paper: Basic Grey - Obscure
Embellish: Rub On: Basic Grey - Basics White
Stamp:  The {Stamps} of Life - Outline4letter
Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink - dusty concord
Adhesive: 3M Adhesive Transfer Tape

Tools: Fiskars cutting board; Martha Stewart Score Pal

The Recipe:

1. Go to Unscripted Sketches and check out Sketch # 166!

2. Select color scheme. This week: Peas and Carrots.

3. Cut White paper to 7x10" and score to make 5x7" card.

4.  Stamp sentiment on right side of card.  Hint: Start with the "Y" at the bottom first and work up.

5. Cut strips of colored paper to 2x3" and affix to card in ranbow pattern using double sided tape.  Hint:  Decide on the pattern first and then take the color blocks off in layers to tape. I moved the blocks back and forth off the card several times to get the right spacing.

6.  Add rub on embellishments to taste.

7. Voila! A card for my BFF. 

8. Get creative and make it your own! Post to your blog, link to Unscripted Sketches and leave a comment here!

Thank you for joining me today!

 

Me and Jenny we was like...

 

I Believe.

It's the most wonderful time of the....

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Rockin around the...

Have a Holly, Jolly....

CHRISTMAS!

To me, Christmas comes from the heart first, and around the kitchen/dining room table second.

My fondest memories of Christmas started as young girl, sitting at my parent's dinning room table having this Christmas Eve feast my mom cooked for hours and hours.  We would eat and laugh, laugh and eat.  And then somehow like magic, always around dessert time, Santa Claus would arrive on the community fire truck with the sirens blazing to wish me and my brothers a Merry Christmas!  We would be sure to tell him that we were the most well behaved children - just to make sure he knew that we weren't naughty and would bring us presents.

Now that our family is older, our Christmas Eve table has grown to include in-laws and a new wave of children that get to see the magic of Chistmas.  We still laugh and eat, eat and laugh (although now me and my sisters-in-law help my mom cook).  Santa still comes on the fire truck and it makes me believe and remember that the magic of Christmas isn't about the presents, it's about loving and being with family.

During the Christmas season, my dining room table is also a place where I make my handmade Christmas cards every year.  I have about 65 to make.  And sometimes when I am cutting out and coloring all of the wreaths, or stamping all of the sentiments I think it's a chore.  But when I think back....WOW!  65 cards.  I am truly blessed with great family and friends. 

Here is a picture of the cards from Christmas 2011.  Instead of my craft room, I make all my Christmas cards on my dining room table.  If I whine enough, my hubby helps me :)

While I haven't created my prototype for Christmas 2012 yet, I leave you with an easy and great project to decorate your dining room table.  I can already imagine it being the backdrop to our next Christmas feast.  I can already hear the laughter and the stories. 

Finished project.  I BELIEVE in Santa Claus  :)

Step by Step Picture Tutorial:

 

1.  Gather supplies to make the blocks.  2x10 works.  If you can find a 4x10 then you can omit the gluing and clamping steps.

2.  Use copy paper to make a template to make sure the blocks are visually proportional to each other.  These also come in handy when you are marking the wood for cutting (next step).

3.  Mark the wood with a straight edge and pencil.  Remember:  Measure twice and cut once!

Measurements of mine:

B 7.5x10

E 5x6 (all three E's same size)

L 5.5x10

I 6x8.5

V 7x9.5

Step 3 1/2: Realize that a 2" piece of wood isn't thick enough to stand on it's own, so measure 2x the blocks so that you can glue them together. 

Step 3 3/4: Fnd out from hubby that Home Improvement stores sell 4x10s  :)

4.  Cut wood (x2) using table saw.

5.  Glue wood together using strong wood glue. 

6.  Clamp and let sit overnight. 

TIP: Don't use too much glue around the edges.  The clamps will make the glue spread (like jelly in a sandwhich).  Be sure to wipe the edges so that the glue doesn't harden.  --It makes sanding harder!

7.  Use a sander (wich a fresh sanding pad) to even out the blocks and make the edges flush.

8.  Decorate!

8.1:  The edges are painted (Folk Art Acrylic Paint - Snow White)

8.2:  The green backgound is paper cut 1/2 inch smaller on length and width than the blocks:

B 7x9.5

E 4.5x5.5 (x3 because there are 3 of 'em)

L 5x9.5

I 5.5x8

V 6.5x9

Adhere with double sided tape.

8.3:  Use Cricut and off-white cardstock to make the letters

I used Base Camp in REAL DIAL SIZE

B 9"

E's 5"

L 9"

I 7"

V --- I couldn't get the V to be "thin" enough so I hand drew the V.

Adhere using Xyron permanent adhesive.

8.4:  Decorate the back with coordinating Christmas themed paper in the same sizes as the green background.  Adhere with double sided tape.

8.5:  Modge Podge using Satin finish.  It gives a cohesive look and you won't have to worry about the letters peeling off!

Thank you for joining me this Christmas in July.  I hope that our Unscripted Sketches tour of Christmas gets you into the spirit of Christmas and believing in it's magic.

Please leave a comment and tell me about your favorite Christmas memories! 

Totally Tubular!

Like oh my gosh you guys...take like a chill pill and come to my killer party!  There's going to be totally radical people there and we're gonna have a b*tchin' time listening to rockin' tunes. 

Like see you there okay?! 

The Ingredients:

Cardstock: Bazzil - Black and White

Paper: The gnarliest colors I could find in my scrap bin

Cricut: Indie Art 4.5" Black and [Shift] Pink on white

Embellish:  Thickers - Grey

Adhesive: 3M Adhesive Transfer Tape; Xyron - Permanent

Tools: 3M ATG 700 Gun; Fiskars cutting board; Coluzzle - Square, Mat, Blade; Cricut Expresion and 12x12 mat.

The Recipe:

1. Go to Unscripted Sketches and check out Sketch # 165!

2. Select color scheme. This week: Gag me with a spoon, okay?

3. Crop 4x6 phots to (2) 3.5x3.5 and (!) 3.5x4.

4. Cut White Cardstock to 12x4 and mount 3 photos using adhesive transfer tape.

5.  Cut Cassette Tape using Cricut and mat.  Run all pieces through Xyron and paper piece together onto white scrap paper. Fussy cut.

6.  Make like totally rad square shapes using the Coluzzle.  Hint: Cut all the sizes that will fit nested inside the main square.  When creating, you'll have enough to play with.

7.  Play around with the shapes behind the main photo border and the cassette tape until you find the right balance.  Don't be afraid to have some on the top of your photos, too!

8. Adhere the squares. 

9.  Adhere the photo border.

10.  Adhere the cassette player and the title.

11. Get creative and make it your own! Post to your blog, link to Unscripted Sketches and leave a comment here!

 

Thank you for joining me today!

Shellibrate!

Turtles and birthdays?  Sure! 
Inspired by my coworker and the East Coast Current - Totally tubular, dude!
(Disclaimer: Please do NOT get be a turtle for my birthday)

The Ingredients:

Cardstock: Bazzil White

Paper: Blue scraps

Stamps: The {Stamps} of Life - turtle2love

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot; Adirondak - Sailboat Blue

Embellish: Blue Buttons

Adhesive: 3M Adhesive Transfer Tape; PopDots

Tools: 3M ATG 700 Gun; Fiskars cutting board; Martha Stewart Score Pal; Inkssentials - Blending Block and Foam; Scrap paper for masking; Scotch Tape; Post-Its

The Recipe:

1. Go to Unscripted Sketches and check out Sketch # 164!

2. Select color scheme. This week: Just keep swimmin'.

3. Cut White paper to 7x10" and score to make 5x7" card.

4.  Cut strips of scratch paper (I just used copy paper) into 1" strips.  Carefully mask the edges so that you get a straight-line border.  Hint: Use Post-It notes to keep the card from moving and Scotch Tape to tape the mask paper to the Teflon sheet.

5.  Use the foam blender and light blue ink to make a water pattern.  Start from the outside on the scratch paper first and blend inward towards the center of your card.

6.  Stamp the turtles in black in desired patterned (think East Coast Current) and then shell design in dark blue.  Design Hint: make one of them a different pattern so it stands out!

7.  Ink the blue scrap paper and adhere diagonally.  Add buttons to embellish.

8.  Stamp sentiment in upper right-hand corner to balance.

9.  Voila!  A Gnarly Card fit for shellibrating. 

10. Get creative and make it your own! Post to your blog, link to Unscripted Sketches and leave a comment here!

Thank you for joining me today!

I love my....

....Daddy

decause he's very pretty. 

I love to give him hugs and kisses.

I

Love

You.

Happy Father's Day to the man who loved me first.

The Ingredients:

Cardstock: Bazzil Kraft

Paper: Vellum - Over the Moon Press; White - from the scrap pile

 Stamps: Impression Obsession - Sentiments II; Morning Stamp - Wishes

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Antique Linen, Vintage Photo

Diecuts: Tim Holtz - Gadget Gears

Embellish: Time Holtz Idea-ology - Sprocket Gears

Adhesive:  3M Adhesive Transfer Tape; Xyron - Permanent

Tools: Sizzix Big Kick; 3M ATG 700 Gun; Fiskars cutting board; Martha Stewart Score Pal; Inkssentials - Blending Block and Foam; Teflon sheet

The Recipe:

1.  Go to Unscripted Sketches and check out Sketch # 163!

2.  Select color scheme.  This week: Papa Bear.

3.  Cut Kraft paper to 7x10" and score to make 5x7" card.

4.  Cut Cardstock and Vellum.  Hint: Always use up the scraps first!

Vellum: (1) 4x6"

White: (1) 1.75x3.5"

5.  Use the remainder of the Kraft paper to cut out the gears using Big Kick.

6.  Stamp sentiment on white cardstock (with Vintage Photo) and blend edges (with Antique Linen).  Use a teflon sheet when inking and blending.  Wipes away quickly... 'cause nothing sticks to Teflon!

7.  Play with gear border and gears to make a balanced card.

8.  Adhere!  I didn't have any vellum tape so I used my ATG to glue it to the card in the spots that would be covered up by the other layers (behind the sentinement and the gear border).

9.  Decide the card doesn't have "enough" and put a metal sprocket on the card. 

10.  Voila!  A card fit for a King!  (Or, the best father in the world).

11.  Get creative and make it your own!  Post to your blog, link to Unscripted Sketches and leave a comment here!

Thank you for joining me today!

Knee-deep in the water somewhere

Being in Pittsburgh last weekend in the D Family's "Backyard Paradise" makes me really want to go back to Key West, FL.  We had such an awesome time there.  The weather was perfect, the company was fantastic, the drinks were flowing and the memories were plentiful. This picture of us is a few years old already, but it's still one of my favorites of us in our favorite place. 

Hopefully we get back to Margaritaville soon!

The Ingredients:

Cardstock:  All Bazzil

Chipboard:  American Crafts - Playhouse Photo Corners

Ribbon: Berwick Offray - Sherbet

Stamps:  7gypsies - Disclaimer

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Barn Door

Adhesive: 3M Double Sided Tape - Archival Safe; Xyron - Permanent

Tools:  Fiskars cutting board

The Recipe:

1.  Go to Unscripted Sketces and check out Sketch # 161!

2.  Select color scheme.  This week: Margaritaville

3.  Cut Cardstock Hint: Use scraps first if you have them!

White: (1) 12x1.5" and (1) 5.5x9"

Coral: (2) 2x9"

Chartreuse: (1) 7-5/8x9"

Blue Calypso: (1) 12x12"

4.  Stamp it out!  When I first started this layout, I thought it looked too plain with the colors I chose.  It just wasn't "fun" enough.  In comes the tone-on-tone stamping!  It  takes a while to get the correct placement of all the stamps, so allow the creative time and a lot of patience. 

Totally worth it, end result = creative, customized cardstock!

5.  Mount 5x7 picture left justified on 5.5x9" White cardstock piece. 

5.  Cut Ribbon to 6.5" add chipboard embellie.  Wrap surplus around back of White cardstock and adhere using double faced tape.

6.  Mount White cardstock onto Chartreuse cardstock.

7.  Adhere Coral Cardstock right justified using corners of 12x12" guideline. 

8.  Adhere Chartreuse leaving equal spacing between the two Coral pieces.

9.  Run (4) white photo corners and (1) chartreuse photo corner through Xyron.

10.  Mount white strip to paper. 

Don't forget to leave enough space so there is no overflow from the photo corners!

11.  Adhere photo corners. 

Add visual interest and balance by having the chartreuse photo corner in a non-centered position.

12.  Get creative and make it your own!  Post to your blog, link to Unscripted Sketches and leave a comment here!

Thank you for joining me today!

Proud to be....

In the constant "Go Go Go" of everyday life we often take advantage of this three day weekend for the extra day to complete Weekend Warrior projects, great sales in the malls and plenty of kick-off-the summer BBQ events with friends and family.  Please take a minute this weekend to "celebrate today" and remember those who gave their all for our freedom. 

To those who lost their lives, we salute you.

To those who serve, thank you.

The Ingredients:

Card:  Best Occasions Cardstock

Paper: Bazzil Blue and Red

Embellish:  JoAnn's - Mini Stars; Embossing Powder - Fine Detail White

Stamps:  Close to My Heart - Celebration; Paper Trey Ink - Friendship Jar

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Sapphire; Versamark - Embossing Pad

Adhesive:  3M Adhesive Transfer Tape - Archival Safe (ATG)

Tools:  Cutterbee precision scissors; Fiskars cutting board; Tim Holtz Edge Distresser; EK Success Ruler; Heat Embossing Tool; Cropodile

The Recipe:

1.  Go to Unscripted Sketches and check out Sketch # 160!

2.  Select color scheme.  This week: Feelin' Patriotic

3.  Cut Cardstock to 10x6.25" and score in half.

4.  Cut (1) Blue paper 2.5x3.5" and distress edges.  Cut Red paper into (4) 2.5x.75" and (3) 5x.75" and distress edges.

5.  Stamp and Emboss stars.  Hint:  Always use odd numbers, designers say it is more pleasing to the eye.  And, use two different sizes to add balance.

6.  Adhere the Blue to the card and the first 6 stripes. Hint:  Measure twice and adhere once!  Layout all 7 stripes on the card first so they are evenly spaced.

7.  Stamp small sentiment and artisan shape onto the back of textured scrap paper and cut using precision scissors.

8.  Place artisan shape onto stripes to find placement and mark the 7th strip with a pencil where you want the stars to go.

9.  Punch holes into the red stripe and add the star brads.  Adhere to card.  VOILA! 

10.  Get creative and make it your own.  Post to your blog, link to Unscripted Sketches and leave a comment here!

have a sweet day

When I think of my friend "B" I think of popsicles (and peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches, but that's a different story).  Why?  Because, like a popsicle,  she is one of the sweetest, most geniune, love with all your heart kinda girls.  We live in two different states and don't have enough opportunities to see each other.  May 20th is her birthday, I wish I could be there to celebrate.

Love you B!

The Ingredients:

Card: Best Occasions Cardstock

Patterned Paper: 100 Days of Summer - Plaid

Embellish: Flowers from 100 Days of Summer

Stamps: The {Stamps} of Life - pops2eat, quick2border

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Fired Brick, Shabby Shutters, Rusty Hinge, Black Soot

Adhesive:  3M Adh Transfer Tape - Archival Safe

Tools: Cutterbee precision scissors, Fiskars cutting board

The Recipe:

1.  Go to Unscripted Sketches and check out Sketch # 159!

2.  Select color scheme.  This week: Summer Lovin'

3.  Cut cardstock to 8x5.5" and score in half making 4x5.5" card.

4.  Cut plaid paper to 3.5x5 and white cardstock to 3x4.5"

5.  Stamp popsicle on white cardstock in your favorite flavor and ink edges.

5.  Ink edges of plaid.

6.  Adhere popsicle card to plaid and then plaid to the card.

7.  Ink the chevron pattern in complementary colors and fussy cut.

8.  Adhere chevrons to card, stamp the sentiment in a place where it "balances"

9.  Add flower to make pretty.

10.  Get creative and make it your own.  Post to your blog, link to Unscripted Sketches and leave a comment here!

Sugar and Spice

"Babies are such a nice way to start people." -Don Herold

On this Mother's Day weekend, I am fortunate to know several moms-to-be.  I can't wait to meet all the new bundles of joy!  Here's a card for one of the girls :)

The Ingredients

Paper: White cardstock from the good ol' stash

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye - Lime Twist (Chevron)

Ribbon: Berwick Offray 3/8" Grosgrain White

Buttons: So old that I can't remember

Letters: American Crafts - Thickers, Amy Tangerine

Ink: Adirondak - Slate

Adhesive: Xyron - Permanent Adhesive; Glue Dots - 3/8"

Tools: Fiskars Craft Knife (orange), EK Success - Metal Ruler, Pencil

The Recipe

1.  Go to Unscripted Sketches and check out Sketch # 158!

2.  Select color sheme.  This week: White, Pink and Grey (for a little girl)

3.  Cut cardstock to 10x7" and score in half making 5x7" card.

4.  For the boxes:  On right of card, measure and make LIGHT vertical line from top to bottom of card at 2" and at 1/2" from right edge.  Rotate card 90 degrees (top of card now becomes left of card).  From Left to right measure and make lines between the existing 2" and 1/2" lines at the following measurements: 1/2", 1-5/8", 2-1/8", 3-1/4", 3-3/4", 4-7/8", 5-3/8", 6-1/2".  Makes 4 boxes! 

5.  Use yor ruler and craft knife and cut out the boxes.  Hint: A metal ruler is the best for this project.  Sturdy and rigid for making very straight lines.  Erase remaining pencil lines.

6.  Out of the Chevron paper, cut 4 rectangles: 1-3/8 x 1" & INK EDGES.  Cut ribbon to size of card.

7.  Run Ribbon and Chevrons through Xyron.

8.  Decorate: Add Ribbon to card.  Add chevrons to card.  Hint:  Close the card first, the Chevrons are slightly smaller than the windows, for perfect placement!  Add buttons with glue dots and the letters atop the chevrons.  [Easy peasy!]

9.  Get creative and make it your own.  Post to your blog, link to Unscripted Sketches and leave a comment here!

classy&fabulous

So I have this friend named M.  She's classy.  And fabulous.  We met in a college tap class and have been the best of buds ever since.  She's everything I've always wanted in a friend: she's smart, hilarious, strong, genuine, and just beautiful both inside and out.

May 3rd is her birthday and I just wanted the blogosphere to know that she's amazing. 

Happy Birthday, my friend!!! 

The Ingredients

Card:  White cardstock from my stash

Paper:  DCWV - La Creme Stack

Stamps:  Stampers Anonymous - wallpaper and wood; {Stamps} of Life - birthday2celebrate (inside)

Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Antique Linen, Aged Mahogany

Embellish:  Ribbon - Berwick Offray 3/8" Hot Red Grosgrain; Flowers/Button - My Mind's Eye

Adhesive:  3M Double sided, archival safe

Tools:  Font - AR Darling (20 pt)

Detail 

The Recipe

1.  Go to Unscripted Sketches and check out Sketch # 157!

2.  Select color scheme.  This week: Black and Red (our favorite colors)

3.  Stamp the wallpaper on the right of the card.

4.  Design the quote using your favorite text software and print onto card.  Hint:  Print out first on plain paper to make sure it's the right proportion for the card.  Then, tape the card in the exact position over the test paper you just printed.  Run through printer again.  Voila!

3.  The dress, inspiration from dress patterns online.  Freehand cut the bodice into a sweetheart neckline.  The skirt of the dress is almost a pie shape with the end cut off.  Scored and folded in 4 equal pieces to give dimension.

4.  Embellish the skirt and bodice pieces with ribbon, flowers and a pretty button.

5.  Adhere to front of card. 

6.  Stamp inside with Happy Birthday and sentiment.  Send card to your bestie.

7.  Get creative and make it your own.  Post to your blog, link to Unscripted Sketces and leave a comment here!

dream of being more

When I was a kid I always dreamed of being a teacher.  True story.  It started innocently reading books to my teddy bear.  My parents bought me a "teacher kit" for my birthday one year that came with a chalkboard.  I played with that for hours on end in the basement.  Had some friends that didn't mind playing school, either...until I started giving out homework.  Oh!  And we must not forget the pop quizzes I gave my brothers from the tests in the back of our dictionary and encyclopedias.

Wow.  Thanks to all my friends and family who put up with that.

My thirst for knowledge has never really stopped.  For those that know me, I'm constantly on the go, and am always trying to jam-pack as many things as I can into a day.  At work, there is something new I learn every day and/or sharing new sales techniques with my coworkers.  At play, I am always trying to learn new design techniques (my scraproom is a disaster area right now) and share them with the blogosphere.  I might not be a teacher in the conventional way as I thought when I was a child.  But, there's still plenty of life left to go and plenty of things left to learn. 

Always dream of being more.

The Ingredients

Card:  100% Kraft Recycled Paper

Paper:  (It actually started our white) From my scrapbin.  I think it came from Michaels

Stamps: Tim Holtz Visual Artistry - Life's Possibilities Collection

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink - aged mahogany, fired brick, barn door, rusty hinge, vintage photo, black soot.

Adhesive: Double Faced Tape - 3M Archival Safe

Tools: Blending Block and Ink Blending Foam - Inkssentials; Teflon mat - Inkssentials (so I don't get my desktop dirty)

 

The Recipe

1.  Go to Unscripted Sketches and check out Sketch # 156!

2.  Select color scheme.  This week: colors that made me smile from my stamping drawer

3.  White paper: Cut (1) large 2.5x4.5" and (3) 1 1/8x3" small strips of paper.

4.  Ink it out!  This one I did backwards.  I started with the darkest color (aged mahogany) in the smallest area and blended all the colors together based on my mood.  TIP:  Don't think about it too hard!  If you don't like it at the end...throw it out and start again :)  The last color I used was vintage photo to give it a little more depth.

5.  Stamp the man with the umbrella, the sentiment, and the clock (masked first and stamped on my Teflon mat).  Ink the edges with aged mahogany for a little more depth.

6.  Adhere to card. 

7.  Stamp the birds hangin' out on the wire.

8.  Get creative and make it your own.  Post to your blog, link to Unscripted Sketches and leave a comment here!