Saturday, April 28, 2012

A Little Change of Pace...

Happy Saturday, everyone.  I took a little break from cardmaking this week...it's been a while since I did that!  Since my leg is making improvement daily, I spent time catching up on some light housekeeping chores that hadn't been done for the last month since I was healing, and a "girls' day out" with a couple dear friends. Add to that a broken washing machine, and a car with a check engine light that had to be addressed and fixed, and cardmaking took a back seat to other fun and not-so-fun things. :)

But I did finish one project, with a little help from my woodworking-loving husband.  For a while, I've been looking for a new storage solution for my Distress Inks and reinkers.  Currently I have a great work cabinet with shallow drawers on one side specifically for wood stamps, ink pads, and other stamping accessories.  But as you all know, storage solutions can be perfect one day, and overflowing the next...and my existing solution was overflowing. More importantly, storing them stacked in a drawer meant I had to pull them all out every time I wanted to find a specific color...I couldn't see at a glance where things were.

I have a lot of Distress Inks that I use often...and I have reinkers for every color of ink pad I have, both for reinking the pads, and for making my own "shimmer mists" for ribbons, laces, etc.  I wanted something to store those inks and reinkers...and found a prefab solution online with a price much higher than I was willing to pay.  So with a little design collaboration, and custom sizing, my husband built a storage unit for me from plywood (outside) and luaun (inside dividers).  Here are a couple photos of the raw cabinet...note that the vertical pieces hadn't been slotted yet, so they're not shown here:



The top has 6 sections for the reinker bottles...6 bottles can fit per section:



The slots in the vertical sections got routed this week...and a layer of clear coat was added to the whole cabinet.  Now it was my turn to get to work.

I wanted the piece to look like an old crate that had been turned into a storage solution - I didn't want it to look new, or perfect.  So after all his work, I went to town making his creation look a little aged and beat up...LOL.

I painted a single coat of light tan acrylic paint to all the exposed edges.  For the insides of the top section, I diluted some white acrylic paint to resemble the "pickling" technique.  Using some (older)  K&Co Life's Journey floral patterned papers for the piece across the top front, I cropped a French sign that I found at The Graphics Fairy and printed the text onto the floral patterned paper on my printer, ran some Picket Fence Distress Stain around the edges to lighten them, then decoupaged it to the front.  (The label translates to "commercial locksmiths," I think.)

Crackle paint was applied over the tan painted edges, and around the edge of the patterned paper (to blend the edges of the paper, since it was only 12" wide and my cabinet is wider). When that dried, I rubbed full-strength white acrylic paint into the crackles, and wiped off the excess.


For the sides of the piece, I used a postcard paper from the same K&Co stack. I chose this paper specifically because the sides are 17-5/8" high, and my papers are only 12"...so I wanted a paper that wouldn't show the seam of the piecing quite so much.  The postcard paper was made up of rectangular shapes, so it was easier to accomplish this.

And here's where my lack of time (ok, lack of patience...LOL) led me to actually use an old stamp I'd forgotten I had.  I knew I wanted to crackle the sides, too...but didn't want to wait for dry time between coats.  Then I remembered I had an older crackle pattern wood stamp...and I had white pigment ink...and I had white embossing powder...and I was off and stamping.  I stamped and heat-embossed the crackle pattern onto the postcard paper pieces, ran the Picket Fence Distress Stain around the outside edges, and decoupaged them to the sides of the piece.

The final touch was to cover the slots on the sides of the dividers. After looking at a few options, I found a package of silver snaps from JoAnns that I had never used...until now.  I pulled out 24 of them, and my E6000 glue, and applied one in each open slot left by the dividers...then when dry, "smashed" each one with my Tim Holtz hammer for a battered look.


And here's an idea of how it will look in use. It's going to be mounted to the wall, but could be left free-standing.  The slots are wide enough to accomodate inkpads as large as the Stampin' Up! inkpads, and I'll have 6 empty slots for now, so I may put some of my other often-used inkpads in there to start.


Hope everyone is having a great weekend.  I'll be back to cardmaking next week, so I hope you'll stop by again for a visit!





Monday, April 23, 2012

Just Because...

Happy Monday!  I promised a card in a color scheme other than aqua and pink for today's post, and here it is...an "any reason" card in lime green, cream, and burgundy, with lots of lacy accents. 

I made a square "doily" using a deep-edge Punch-Around-the-Page punch, and inked the edges to add a little "shabby chic" to it...


The flower layers start with a large shabby fabric rose, then eyelash fibers, a loopy flower made of ribbon trim, and a paper rose spritzed with homemade glitter mist...


I added some additional spacers and a pearl to a Tim Holtz memo pin to hold the sentiment tag...

Supplies:
Patterned papers: Echo Park This & That Graceful     Decorative Punch: Martha Stewart Double Arches PATP
Spellbinders dies: Fleur de Lis Squares, Classic Squares Large (behind flowers)     Lace: Venus Ribbon
Looped ribbon: local craft store      Fabric rose: The Funkie Junkie on Zibbett.com
Paper leaves & pearls: Recollections      Paper rose: Prima     Tim Holtz memo pin (with added gems)

Thank you for stopping by!


Friday, April 20, 2012

More Beautiful Roses for you...

I couldn't help it...I couldn't stop at one.  I had to make two cards for the "Beautiful Roses" challenge over at The Shabby Tea Room.  It uses, after all, one of my favorite color combos, and the inspiration pic is so pretty I'll post it again...LOL


For this second card, I used stronger and deeper shades of aqua and pink, and threw in a little red for fun!


A little glitter on the opened rose, and a couple little mulberry paper rosebuds...


And because it's spring, a butterfly fluttering by...


a peek at the inside...

Supplies:
Patterned papers: Crate Paper Random collection      Spellbinders Grand Labels 4
Jeweled lace trim, paper leaves, paper rose: Prima      Sentiment stamp: Papertrey Ink
Paper doily: My Favorite Things Decorative Doily Duo die      Pearls: The Paper Studio
Butterfly punch: Martha Stewart      Hug Snug seam binding

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  As for me, I've sent the crutches to the closet, and although I'm walking as quickly and smoothly as a walk in 5" heels up the aisle at a wedding (LOL), my knee and calf muscles are showing good healing signs, and that's a good thing!

Thanks for visiting!



Beautiful Roses to End the Week...

Over at The Shabby Tea Room, the challenge this week is called "Beautiful Roses."  You know just the title alone caught my attention!  Then there was this pretty little inspiration picture,
with requirements to use aqua, pink, naturals, and flowers...hmmm, I think I can do that.  In fact, I've done that so many times that if you're a little tired of seeing that combo here on my blog, I apologize and will do my best to whip up something a little different for Monday's post...LOL  It's just such a darn pretty combo that for some of us, it's hard to stray from what always makes us smile as we work.

This little number, made in pale and subtle shades of aqua and pink, practically made itself...


The flower cluster is made with a base of cheesecloth and tulle, topped with a large rolled fabric flower adorned with paper roses and a little crackled chipboard heart...


Die cut, distressed and inked leafy branches and tea-stained scalloped lace add a little more texture to balance out the flower cluster...

Supplies:
Patterned papers: Collage Press/Pink Paislee London Market collection
Paper roses & pearl flourishes: Prima      Branch die: Sizzix      Heart die: Papertrey Ink
Crackle Paint: Ranger/Tim Holtz Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle      Spellbinders Classic Scallop Edgeabilities
Martha Stewart Doily Lace edge punch      Tim Holtz Picket Fence Distress Stain
Scalloped Lace: The Funkie Junkie on Zibbet.com      Fabric rose: Creative Imaginations     Hug Snug seam binding

I have photos for a second little pretty also made for this challenge, so I'll be back in a bit for my second post for today.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit!



Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Just a Note...Mini-style...

I've used these two pieces of clipart before, but they are perfect for the little springtime mini notecards, and they're worth repeating. So for today, here's just a short and sweet post to show you a couple sweet cards...


the butterfly...


the rose...


and a peek at the insides...

Supplies:
Patterned papers: Collage Press/Pink Paislee London Market (cream); My Minds Eye Stella Rose/Hazel (green)
Clipart: The Feathered Nest (rose); The Vintage Workshop (butterfly and blossoms)
Sentiment stamp: Hero Arts      Scalloped lace: Little Red Cottage on Etsy      Pearls: Recollections
Edge punches: Martha Stewart Arch Lattice, Fiskars Threading Water

Hope your week is going well. Thank you for stopping in for a visit!



Monday, April 16, 2012

A Lovely (Mon)Day...

Are you a Monday person? For years, I was far from it...it was always the hardest day of the week for me when I worked in a profession that required long hours in an office. Weekends were spent trying to unwind, but all too soon it was time to rewind for another week. It wasn't until I left that lifestyle after an illness and move that I realized I didn't really want to get back in that routine.  Mondays are different now...every week, it's like a little "restart" button...a whole new perspective on things.

And it was a more productive week in the Korner last week. But thanks to the wind/hail/rain weather routine we had going on, I had to wait until the weekend for enough light for photos.

So even though it was hard to tell by the rain and hail outside, spring was in the air while this first card was under construction...


The layered flower started with a piece of cheesecloth, topped with a pink fabric rose from Frogfeathers on Etsy, a tea-stained Hug Snug bow,a pink felt flower made of small die-cut felt hearts, and a couple Prima flowers with a little touch of clear glitter...


Supplies:
Patterned papers: Echo Park This & That Graceful collection (damask and aqua dot);
Sassafras Sweetly Smitten collection (floral); MyMindsEye A Beautiful Life collection (yellow)
Edge punch: Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace      Fabric leaves, paper flowers: Prima
Sheer ribbon: local craft store      Hug Snug seam binding      Stick pins: Maya Road
Fabric flower: Frogfeathers on Etsy      Sentiment chip: Spellbinders Labels 20
Heart dies and sentiment stamp: Papertrey Ink       Miscellaneous: Cheesecloth, pink felt

Next up is a lacy little number using some new scalloped lace that I realized matched the scallop size for all my Spellbinders Edgeabilities...another accidental happy crafty discovery!


Ahhh....there are those Prima roses again...did I ever mention that I really like them? :)



and a peek at the inside...

Supplies:
Patterned paper: Crate Paper Random collection      Scalloped Lace: The Funkie Junkie on Zibbet.com
Spellbinders Classic Triple Scallop Edgeabilities & Labels 22 dies
Dotted ribbon: local craft store      Pearls: Recollections      Paper doily: Wilton
Paper roses: Prima      Sentiment stamp: Hero Arts

I'll be back soon with pics of more of last week's creations...thank you for stopping by!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Soft and Sweet...

After working with the strong colors in the last card, I was ready for something pastel and shabby. So out came the Pink Paislee/Collage Press London Market collection 6x6 pad for a pink & green & cream "fix."

I seem to be using die cuts on a lot of cards lately, and this one was no exception.  It went together quickly...after all, it has 3 out of 4 of my usual ingredients (flowers, gems, Hug Snug bows)...the only thing missing was glitter, but I decided to go without it...just this once. :)



I don't think I'll ever get tired of Prima roses. I guess, by now, you've noticed my "obsession" with them, hmmmm?  


Supplies:
Patterned papers: Pink Paislee/Collage Press London Market collection
Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large & Classic Scalloped Ovals Small dies
Oval doily: My Favorite Things Die-namics Oval Dainty Doily die
Sentiment stamp: Hero Arts      Paper roses, crystal flourishes, cotton rose lace: Prima
Pearls: Recollections      Hug Snug seam binding

Thanks for visiting!  Tomorrow's Friday, the 13th...and I'm one of those people who consider it a lucky day.  Here's hoping I'm right!  :)

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

One by One...

I do realize my posts aren't as photo-laden as usual these days. It's because my crafting is going at a much slower pace, so I hope you'll bear with me for a bit longer. :)

Today I have a card in a color combination that I used to use a lot, but haven't in a long time.  I was in the mood for a change the other day, so I pulled out the new Glitz French Kiss 6x6 pad filled with beautiful papers in vintage-y browns, creams, and beiges.  I had planned to use these as "grounding" papers with other colors, but I challenged myself to make a card featuring mostly these papers, while keeping it decidedly feminine and frilly.

I think I might have succeeded (?)...


The little rose "medallion" in the middle is cut from a piece of a postcard from the "Old Post Cards" digi sheet from  Digital Paper on Etsy (formerly Made By Janet)...


This little sentiment chip is from Spellbinders' Creative Book Pages Two die set.  I precut several of these to have them handy to stamp a sentiment on when I want one...


And a peek at the inside...

Supplies:
Patterned papers: Glitz French Kiss collection      Rose postcard: By Digital Paper on Etsy
Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags & Accents, Classic Scallop Edgeabilities, & Creative Book Pages Two die sets
Cotton lace & Paper rose: Prima      Sentiment stamp: Hero Arts
Pearls: Recollections      Hug Snug seam binding

I'll be back in a couple days with pics of a pastel and shabby little number that needs a couple more touches and some photos.  Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

One last card for the week...

I finished one more card using Echo Park's Melody Of Life Mini Theme Kit...this time featuring the taupe and white papers.  They're perfect as a background for just about any color, and this time, I chose lavender and deep coral. (I left the card free of any sentiment, since that's easy to add later.) 




Supplies:
Patterned papers: Echo Park Melody of Life "Journaling" "Piano" & "Life Words"
Digi collage images: The Graphics Fairy (floral); Stampington (text); Maryann Wise/Designer Digitals (photo edge)     
Hug Snug seam binding      Pearls: Recollections      Lace butterfly: Martha Stewart      Cotton lace: local craft store

Wishing joy to all those celebrating holidays this weekend , and a wonderful weekend to all!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Slowly but surely...

OK...I'm publicly admitting something most people know, but I resist admitting.  As you get older, you don't bounce back as quickly from what used to be considered a minor injury. What may have taken 2-3 days to recover from at 30, takes longer when you're....well, older than that. (You thought I was going to tell my age, didn't you? Yeah...I'm not ready to admit that...heehee!)

And, I've rediscovered how *un*sedentary I am when I craft.  I'm standing up, sitting down, kneeling down, twisting around, reaching for things, getting up to get to others...and I'm not able to do that this week.  I've never been someone who's patient with the recovery process when it's my own, and now I'm ready to get back to my normal routines...and my leg is hollering a resounding "oh no, you're not!"

Slowly but surely I'm getting there, though...yesterday I was back to crafting for a few hours, and again last night for a few more. It's just slower going than usual.  And I once again appreciate the days I'm able to wake up healthy and pain-free and safe.  It takes an occasional knock-down lesson to make some of us appreciate our good health, and I got a little knock-down lesson this week.  I get it.

Here are a couple 3-1/2"x5" mini all-occasion note cards that I worked on yesterday.  There was a wedding card by Julie Overby posted  here on the Spellbinders blog a while back, using the Romantic Rectangles die, that gave me the initial idea for this monochromatic card. I used cream instead of white, and dusted my embossing folder with a light coating of Antique Linen Distress Ink to add just a hint of contrast to the background piece.  The butterfly is lightly dusted with clear coarse glitter...




Supplies:
Spellbinders dies: Classic Ovals Large, Floral Ovals, Romantic Rectangles, & Wonderful Wings
Floral clipart: The Graphics Fairy and Dover Publications      Clear glitter: Martha Stewart     
Pearls: Recollections      Hug Snug seam binding      Cuttlebug Textile Texture embossing folder

Thanks for stopping by for a visit...I'll have another card to share on Saturday...hope to see you then!


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