Graphic 45 Le Cirque

Wow....what beautiful products Graphic 45 produces!  This paper line is gorgeous and so much fun to play around with.  I wish I could find the cling stamps that coordinate, but they aren't sold anywhere around me....darn!  I altered these cute little paper mache boxes that I got at Michaels when Matt and I went to Ft. Smith a few weeks ago.  I used LSG Dark Chocolate Truffle Starbust Stain to paint the outside and then glammed them up with a few flowers, a bit of trim, and some delicious Le Circque paper!!  Love it...so cute and just the right size to hold all my Tim Holtz Idea-ology Fasteners: mini safety pins, swivel clasps, and hinge clips.

Le Cirque Trinket Boxes

 

Altered Projects

Here are a few of the altered projects I have 

been working on:

Vintage Valentine's Day Plaque - I got this plaque at Hobby Lobby quite a few years ago and never used it.  I was never too fond of the bright white background, so I decided I would change it.  I used Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Stains and Glitz Spritz to distress the background.  Then I used Rub 'n Buff to alter the outer edges.  I wanted a bit more texture, so I used some vintage background stamps by Glitz Design with StazOn ink to add some depth to the outer frame.  The 3 vintage valentine pictures were cut out from a piece of designer paper by Fancy Pants Design.  

Before

After

7gypsies Shadow Box Tray - I altered this tray to display in my craft studio.  I used the new 7gypsies paper line, Lille.  The papers weren't colorful enough for me, so I used a variety of papers from Graphic 45 and K & Company as well.  I used a variety of embellishments from Tim Holtz, iamroses.com, Making Memories, CTMH, Prima, and Recollections.  The trim is from atreasurenest.com.  The blank box is being saved for some apothecary jars that 7gypsies just released at CHA this past week.  Here's a sneak peek.... http://sevengypsies.blogspot.com/2011/01/gypsy-apothecary-sneak-peak.html Love them!

Before

After

New Shelf Needs Tags

I added a new shelf in my studio, so I have to create a tag for each of the bins!  Here is tag 1 of 6.

I used a new stamp set I got last week, Paper Girl by The Girls' Paperie.  The flower is from iamroses.com and the rhinestones are Prima Bling.  The background paper is from the Bee Happy collection by ADORNit.

I also used my Cricut Expression to create a vinyl saying for the bare walls in my studio.

I love the phrase, it sooo fits me! :)

    

Merry Christmas!

I thought this poem was very fitting as to why I love handmade Christmas gifts so much! 

The Gift

Bow and ribbon,

Love and glitter

Cover the gift as curiosities flitter

Of what wonders could come inside

And what this eve has been supplied

By family, friend and stranger, too

Saying with the gift,

"I Love You"

Bow and ribbon

Love and glitter

Will never make a soul grow bitter

For no matter what the gift may or may not hold

The giving is as pure as gold.

Homemade Christmas Gifts

Here are 25 handmade cards I created to give as Christmas gifts to the women in my family.  I used the "One Sheet Wonder" template and it saved me a ton of time.  You are able to create 10 cards from one 12 x 12 sheet of B&T paper.  By following this template, I was able to create all of these cards and still have over 1/2 of the Page kit left.  This template is wonderful if you are in a hurry or just can't get the creative juices flowing.

Supplies:

Colorbok Family Page Kit (Wal-Mart Clearance)

CTMH Acrylic Stamps: Say It in Style (D1283) and A Little Thanks (D1444)

Stampin' Up Stamps: Sincere Salutations Set

Notecards Value Pack (Paper Studio - Hobby Lobby)

Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo

Paper Trimmer

ATG Gun

Zig 2-Way Glue Pen

Inkssentials Blending Tool

One Sheet Wonder Template (http://www.stampin-pad.com/Files/Patterns/2008-06-18_OneSheetWonder.pdf)

Here are the 3 sets of cards I created.

For My Mother-In-Law

For My Mom

For My Grandma

Here is the YouTube video where I discovered the One Sheet Wonder template.

Christmas Cards for Cafeteria Staff

Check out these cute Christmas cards I whipped up this afternoon for our school's cafeteria staff.  I just used leftover scraps of paper from other projects and my trusty acrylic stamps! :)

Thanksgiving Family Banner

I created this banner using my Cricut and the Sure Cuts A Lot program.  SCAL is great, because you can download kits to be used with the Cricut.  Each kit costs between $3-10, compared to an $80 Cricut cartridge.  Each piece has been inked with Tim Holtz Walnut Stain and sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (colors used: Sugar Maple, Santa Baby, Creme de Chocolat, Creme de Cocoa).  The "M" has a Prima leaf, one of my very favorite things! :)

I just noticed that Family is spelled incorrectly...haha!