Paper Pleasing Ideas

Cinnaheart Art

Russ is having a hard time with everything.  Yes, I am too, but I am not in the position that he is in, so there is no feeling sorry for myself.  I do what I have to do, and lean on my Almighty God at ALL times for the strength to get me through.

One of the hardest things for Russ is eating.  He is so hungry, but he has an awful taste in his mouth.  One thing he does is suck on mints to help.  He has always loved cinnamon hearts and so I crafted for him today.

I took a Sea Salt refill bottle and covered it with the new Love Letter DSP (#117162).  I used 2 new ribbons from the SU catty, Victoria Crochet Trim (#118481) and the black 1/8 taffeta (#119261).  The red CS strips on the top and bottom of the DSP are  from a new Sizzix Die in the mini that STARTS TODAY !!  It is called Tasteful Trim (#120893) and it cuts 4 different strips appr. 12 inches long!!  The black rhinestones are also in the new mini (#120987).

Here is a close up of the tag that I created.  The red layer is punched with the Decorative Label (#120907) and then matted on black.  I cut that layer by hand, and then added the eyelet to it for my ribbon.  The sentiment was stamped in black from Oval All (#113790), and I used my white gel pen (#105021) to accent the letters.  I stuck on one more rhinestones and then adhered it to the botte with dimensionals, so that it wouldn't move around.

This will hopefully be a nice surprise for his desk this morning.  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

 

Make Your Own ...

GLOSSY CARD STOCK !!

Yes you can, I figured it out yesterday.  I am so pumped about it, as you can tell ... hehehe.  I got my first stencil from the new Stampin' Up! mini catalog, and wanted to try something different.  EVERYONE can sponge down color, (and they all make it look fantastic), but I wanted to be unique.  So, here is what I did with a picture tutorial.

 

I laid down the stencil on top of my 12 X 12 CS.  I proceeded to fill up the holes with Crystal Effects.  You have to WORK FAST, since it will dry to your CS and you can rip your paper.  Take it off immediately, pop all the bubbles and let it dry (overnight is best).

 

You can see some spots where it flooded over, but that was because I did not have it on a flat surface.  Who cares, though, look how awesome that is!  Think of all the things you can stencil with your Crystal Effects(#101055), and the way it adds texture without overwhelming the CS.  Now if this page was finished it would be even better, but I am working on a card to show you!  If you try this, make sure to link below and show everyone what you came up with.  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

Anemone Flower Tutorial - Yep, FREE!!

Well, I did get it done.  And now, you can make the fabulous flowers for your scrapbook pages and cards.  Isn't it awesome when we can CUSTOMIZE things to our projects ~ YAY !!

I pictured what you need to get started, but through the rest of the tutorial, you will see some other things that you need.  Pretty much everything else you will have in your craft room.  I have the Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch(#118073), the Boho Blossoms Punch(#119858), Island Floral Die(#118871), scissors, and dimensionals.

I folded the green CS in half over the leaf part, so that I will get two leaves.  Then, I laid my CS for the flowers over two of the flowers on the die.  You do not need the 3 petal flower.

Then you can punch out the other flower : see how it is the same as the other, just smaller.  Now, you need to cut the petals of the two bigger flowers like I have pictured.

Then, on ALL the flowers, you need to cut in about 1/4 inch between each petal.  Then you can pull out the foam piece in the mat pack (#105826), and a something to distress and shape the flowers.  I am just using a Crayola Kids paint brush.  The embossing tool does not work, you need a large end.

With this tool, you are going to go in circles in the center of the flower, and in the petals.  This is going to cause the flower to fold inward.  For the bigger flowers, I used a piece of wax paper to help it slide better.

Now, using a tweezer, you need to fold back each side of the petal.  This is where it helps to cut out that little curve in the center.  The second picture shows what it looks like from the side.

Time to put the flowers together.  You need dimensionals between each layer.  Also, try to stagger the petals, as it will make your flower fuller.

Your flower is almost done, so we need the stamen for the center.  Punch out the sun shape in our boho blossoms punch with yellow, or whatever color you want.  I used a burgundy marker to color each tip, ON BOTH SIDES, this will give it the look if the pollen on the tips.

Then from the tip of each petal, cut in to just about the center.  Don't cut in to far that you cut apart the flower!  Now, using the same technique as for the other layers, start to shape it.

Here is the finished flower!!  I used a glue dot(#10383) to attach the stamen to the center of the flower.  For the leaves, I just folded them in half to get the veining.  As I was searching for images of these flower in Google, I found some that weren't so full, and were a stunning white with black centers.

So, using the smallest flower and the punch, I created this one.  It is a smaller flower, not using the biggest layer, but I think it would be stunning on a card.  I hope you enjoy using this tutorial to create stunning flowers for all of your projects.  To buy the products used, Canadians can shop at the link featured in my signature below.  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

 

Anemone Prayers

When I feel  the NEED to craft and stamp, I tend to go a bit more challenging to myself.  I want to see that I have truly accomplished something at the end of it.  This card is no exception to that rule ~ I probably spent 2 hours on it !  Here's why.

ETA : FREE Flower Tutorial is HERE !!

This is a 5 X 5 card, and I made those flowers!!  They each measure about 2.5 inches across and while I don't usually toot my own horn ... THEY ARE GORGEOUS !!  They turned out exactly how I had pictured in my mind.  The first one took the longest, and the second one came together a lot faster.  The bonus - EVERYTHING IS STAMPIN' UP! 

The colors I used are wild wasabi, pink pirouette, so saffron and white.  The leaves are textured wasabi, though, which lends to a more realistic feel.  The stamp sets are Belle Toile (#111598) and Thoughts and Prayers (#113252).  The centers of the flower are embellished with the new Basic Pearls (#119247).

Tomorrow, we have an appointment with the C word Clinic here to see what our options are from the medical side of it.  We are also still waiting on the call from a couple of specialists regarding surgery or whether that is even an option.  Please pray for wisdom for the doctors, as they treat his case.  Also for Russ and I, that God will guide us to the right decision.

We are feeling pretty good mentally and spiritually - The peace of God passes all understanding!!  And that comes from being lifted to the throne of grace, for where 2 or 3 are gathered, he is in the midst.  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

 

Mini Paper Roses ~ Video Tutorial

It is uploaded and ready to go!!  Enjoy making these for your cards or scrapook pages!!

Tootles, have fun and happy stamping !!

The Last Of Them

Well, I got the video part of the tutorial done last night, and will have that up and running this afternoon some time.  The picture one is going to be done this weekend, though, since I have a grad tonight.  Meanwhile, you can feast your eyes on the last of the teachers gifts, and also a masculine version.

I used DSP for the flowers (retired, don't know the name), and sponge the edge of the one flower to really show off the petals.  There are so many things you can do with these flower, TRY THEM !!  The tutorial is HERE.

This is the masculine one.  I made a tag (just a rectangle with the corners cut off), after stamping on my images from Natures Silhouettes (#111542) in chocolate chip and the new crumb cake ink!!  The sentiment os from Thank You Kindly (#111700).  I probably would have made a smaller tag, but we needed to write a message on the back.  This is the last year that Wally will be driving the bus for our kids, he is retiring.  Both the boys signed their names on the back, as well as Russ and I with a little note.  He is a hunter, hence the image.  If you want to make the almond bark for yourself, or a gift for anyone, HERE is the step-by step.  Well, I better get to work getting that video edited.  Have fun and happy stamping!!

 
 

Almond Bark Gift Bag - With Tutorial !!

Jayden had his last day of school on Monday.  I needed to whip up something for a teacher gift, that did not look last minute would look FABULOUS!  So, I devoured the internet for something quick and came up with almond bark!  So easy to do, tastes great and looks like you spent a ton of time in the kitchen.  I did a step by step, so you could make some too!

I chose the Dairy Milk chocolate bar.  You can buy a box of 24 at Costco for $17 here in Canada, but any PLAIN milk chocolate bar will do.  I set up my double boiler station and started it boiling.  While I waited for it to heat up, I chopped my almonds (small handful), and took the wrappers off 10 chocolate bars.  That is about 1 lb of chocolate, and this will be enough to fill 4 bags.

Break the bars into the top of the double boiler, and start to stir.  It will not take long to melt everything, maybe 5 minutes!  Make sure to keep stirring until everything is smooth!

When it is all liquid, you can pour it out onto a baking sheet that is lined with a silicone baking mat.  THIS IS IMPORTANT.  Spread out the chocolate evenly.  Now, you can sprinkle your almond pieces over the top.  I also added some Skor bits for a little bit of flavor.  So far this has taken you about 10 minutes, but now you need to grab a book.  Put the pan in the fridge and wait 10 minutes or so.  By then it should be all cooled off.  Or you could go play Bejeweled Blitz on facebook, and forget about it for a bit longer.  It really doesn't matter, it is not going anywhere.

And the fun begins!  The silicone mat makes it easy to peel off the almond bark, and then you can break it into pieces.  Doesn't that look FABULOUS ?!?  Let me tell you that it tastes pretty awesome, too ... hehehe.  So now it is time to package it all up.

I used the same Island Floral Die as in THIS TUTORIAL, and attached the brad through the ribbon.  That way, the flower will stay on the ribbon, even when they untie it.  The leaf is also from the same die.  I added a Thank You tag with the Think Happy Thoughts set (retiring soon!  #115092), and used my Tag and Small Tag punches (#105934, 108264).  That's it, and it looks FANTASTIC !!  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

 

Flower Power - For Teacher !!

So many of you that live QUITE south of me are already sleeping in and enjoying your summer. Well, the last day of school here, is June 30, and so it is time for me to get teachers gifts on the go.  Here is one that I made up, and I put together a little tutorial on the flower for you.

I cut this flower out, using the new Island Floral Die (#118871) in the summer mini.  It is a larger flower, almost 3 inches across ~ LOVE it!  So, I cut 3 of them out, then rolled each into a ball, distressing it so the paper is more pliable.  Then, after flattening it out a bit, I rubbed the ink pad right across the top of each.  It really only gets onto the crease lines and makes for a more tattered look.  I used Pumpkin Pie CS and ink here.  Now it is time to assemble.

Is that not a STUNNING flower ?!?  I used the 1 1/4 circle of sahara sand CS, and one of the boho blossoms (#119852) in old olive.  It is all held together with a build-a-brad (#109128), and the leaves are the large ovals (#119855) in olive, as well.  The sentiment is from the Fresh Cuts set (#111634).

Here is another close-up, isn't it great?  It almost looks like a big poppy!   Don't worry, I have the FREE tutorial for the box HERE!  Even if school is out for you, this is a great little gift box for just about anything.  Man, you could even put one of these beauties on a card.  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

 

Rhinestone Tri-Fold Friend

  This was the last card that was made in my final class of the catalog season.  Classes start again in fall, but I wanted to finish off the year with something a bit more involved.

I also showed them how it can be made into an album, though that was not what we created.  They love going through my DSP stash - this is the first year I have used it a lot in class, and even for myself!  With this card, I used sheets from the Sweet Pea pack.

Here is the open view - love the colors, so cheery!  Everything is Stampin' Up! except for the rhinestones ($ Store).  I just LOVE all the little places for embellishments, and the fact that you can't see until you open it up.  The flower was made with barely banana CS and a Kraft corduroy brad.  The tutorial for this card is HERE on Splitcoast.  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

 

Tri-Shutter Album Tutorial !!

Yep, I finally got 'er done.  I have had it ready for awhile, but it takes A LOT of typing, about 20 pictures AND a video for the final product to finally get it all up.  So, let's get started.  First is the video to show you what you will be making ...

And now for the tutorial ...