Thursday, June 28, 2012

Backpack anyone?

I wanted to make another entry for the June Taylored Expressions subscriber challenge. Split Coast Stampers has fun projects so I headed there for inspiration. As the challenge is 'Delightful Packaging' this backpack looked like one to try. I think I'm going to keep it on a shelf to remind myself of how crazy I am. As if I need reminding! :)  Actually, it was fun to make, I just didn't realize my own strength when setting the eyelets. The paper is a little creased.










The paper is from the June Key Ingredients Subscription. It's really hard to see, but I used the Delightful Day stamp set on the orange paper. The smaller flowers were stamped with Hero Hues Soft Apricot, the larger ones with Hero Hues Butter Bar and the leaves with Hero Hues Soft Green. I wanted them to be subtle and they are that! The eyelets are Making Memories and the ribbon is some I picked up at Michaels. Yes, ribbon came in the kit but I didn't want to waste it on this. To keep the flaps down, I used Basic Grey's magnetic discs.

This challenge has been fun. As I look at the backpack I'm thinking I need to make some for Christmas to hold stocking stuffers. See, I told you I'm crazy!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

31 Years ago...

I was getting ready to walk down the aisle. At the ripe old age of 19 I married my sweetie. If I knew how to scan in photos, I'd post a photo. Alas, I don't know how. Maybe I'll try and take a photo of a photo. Right.

Happy Anniversary, DH. Love you more than 31 years ago.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Recouping from Vacation

After being gone for nine days, I need a vacation! While I take this second vacation, I would really like for someone to come in and do the laundry from the last vacation. And put everything away - suitcases, groceries, just make it so when I come home this time, I don't have to do anything.

Oh, right, I haven't done anything since returning from the first vacation. We had a hold on the mail while we were gone and yesterday the mail carrier brought my June Taylored Expression Subscription. Yes, nine days without crafting is ten too many! (I couldn't do a whole lot on the day before we left as I had to pack.)

The June Subscriber challenge is Delightful Packaging. Of course I had taken my laptop with me and Split Coast Stampers' Wednesday tutorial was a slider box. Let me tell you, reading that on Wednesday and not getting my kit until Monday was stressful! The only good thing about that is I don't have to wait as long for my July kit!

Last night I did a test box. I have to do that to make sure I understand the instructions before cutting into the 'good' paper! I don't like surprises. Unfortunately, I failed to measure the length to see how it fit the Spellbinders Label 17. I should have made the box an 1/8" shorter.

Today I used the kit. Once again, Taylor did a fantastic job of putting it together. It is so nice making things without having to search for coordinating items.



Everything is from the kit except for a couple of the gems and the buttons I used for the knob. (Every rule has an exception. That's the one thing I remember from my English classes!)

I fell in love with the new dies, Petal Pop-Ups 1 and Petal Pop-Ups 2, and had to order them. Also, this month there was an exclusive stamp promotion for subscribers, 'Delightful Day.' I used it on the box as well. Oops, that is something else not in the kit. Okay, so all the paper, the two buttons on the flowers and the orange Twinkle Goosebump is from the kit, everything else, my stash and new purchases. I cut the label using Sizzix Tags, Scallop Combo #2 and left it blank so I can write the recipient's name.

Now to see what other packaging items I can make.

Uhm, I wonder where the camera is. I haven't put things away...

Added: Found the camera and inserted the photos. It would have been rather horrid to link to Taylor's site without a photo.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Rats

No, not the animals. I just went to Taylored Expressions to post my last two cards and the submissions are closed. Was there a time listed? My tough luck. Here are the cards, though. I used the May Key Ingredients kit for both.


The 'Thinking of You' is Hero Arts 657776 Floral Stamps and Dies with Hero Hues Pool AF212. The rick rack is Martha Stewart's Felt Borders. I cut the flower out of Claudine Hellmuth's sticky-back canvas using the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die. It was then colored using Distress Ink Tumbled Glass with Turquoise Perfect Pearls in a mini-mister. Finally, the gem is from Doodlebug.



The flowers were stamped using Hero Arts CL495 Blossom Art and colored with Copics B34, B37, Y35 and Y38. I put Stickles Christmas Red and Yellow on the anthers. The 'Happy Anniversary,' a font on my computer. I couldn't believe I don't own a single anniversary stamp.

Well, I have more paper in the kit so that means I must make more cards! I just wish I had gotten these submitted. I guess that's what happens when you help someone with a grad party instead of posting. Ah, I would still help with the party.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

The Box

This came in the mail today.
What is in there? Actually, I do know. I have been patiently, okay not so patiently, waiting for it.

Yes, a Vagabond!

I took the class 'A Cut Above' at Online Card Classes. What does that have to do with anything? I won, yes, won the Vagabond at this class. I've wanted one since I first saw Tim (Holtz, as if you needed his last name!) demonstrate it. And now I own one. As it came today, DH's birthday, should I give it to him? Nah, it's mine, all mine.

Now to play!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Good Decision

Just as I hit 'post' on the last entry, there was a major, MAJOR clap of thunder. If DH were home, he'd be on the front porch looking for lightening. And if it were dark, we'd probably be in the car chasing the storm.

You must keep in mind, here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, thunder and lightening is an EVENT! It ranks right up there with snow. The difference, a quarter inch of snow closes school, thunder and lightening closes school only if the power goes out. We don't have lightening rods here.

The good decision? I wasn't out weeding. Had I been out there, I'd probably need to change my pants.

As I continued to play, I used the second sketch from Taylor for this card. And, of course, my Key Ingredients kit.


This time I used Fired Brick and Mustard Seed Distress Stain on the flowers. I cut another flower apart for leaves and stained them with Peeled Paint. 

The tag is Sizzix's Tags, Scallop Combo #2. I had pulled a tag from last month's kit and stained it with Peeled Paint. However, the kraft base changed the color too much to work on this card. Live and learn. Finally, the sentiment is from Hero Arts, Thinking of You, CL140.

The forecast today is for 'dry.' Just what that means, who knows. So far I've seen a beautiful blue sky and a cloud filled sky.  It's Oregon.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Play or Weed?

I voted for play. After several weeks of nice weather, it's threatening to rain. So really, I should be outside weeding because it's not raining. But why weed when I can play?

A couple of weeks ago I received my Key Ingredients kit from Taylored Expressions. Taylor posted the Subscriber Challenge May 21 and yesterday I finally got to work on it. As I was looking at the paper, trying to figure out what to do, I remembered this post. I love sketches and Taylor sending me supplies.


I did have to pull a couple of things from my stash. I used Spellbinders S4-117 to cut the green paper. To color the resist canvas flower I used Distress Ink Fired Brick and Perfect Pearls Forever Red mixed in a mini mister. The yellow jewel is from Doodlebug. Happy Birthday was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and Hero Arts CL139, Birthday Messages. And finally my Crop-A-Dile to round a few corners.

How easy Taylor makes it!