Graphic 45 French Country Wall or Door Hanger

Hi y'all,
    I am really enjoying the holidays and being off for a couple of days before we hit the ground running for the new year.  I have been having an incredible good time using up the remnants of my Graphic 45 French Country.  Today, I want to share a quick little project.  I did a wall or door hanger using...you guessed it-FRENCH COUNTRY!  It took less than a day to complete the project.  I looked around on the internet for some ideas of how to make a door or wall hanger.  I had some idea of what I wanted my hanger to look like but just wanted to make sure my idea was headed in the right direction.  I could not find one good tutorial!  I found a lot individuals showing their finished projects and I also, saw a project completed on the Graphic 45 website but again no true tutorial.  So I set out on my own way! Products or supplies I used:  BLACK Gesso! Yes, black Gesso for those of us who did not know of it's existence.  Thank goodness for our small business Scrapbook and Paper Crafting stores.  I got the idea about the black Gesso from Carolyn at the Crafty Scrapper in Waxahachie, TX.  I wanted the coaster to be black.  I started out trying to ink them but I got nothing but fatigue and numb fingers!  Then, I got the idea to use some Distress Stain but that wasn't doing the trick either.  The answer was Gesso!  I highly recommend this product.  I got a small 4oz container for $6. I used the Ranger brand but you could probably find it elsewhere (Liquitex might have some, my white Gesso is by Liquitex).  Other products included Pressed Petals Chip Chatter Tall letters (from JoAnn), you probably passed this letter pack every time you go in JoAnn's and unless you are a scrap-booker you didn't give them a second thought.  I bought these letters over 4yrs ago and stuck them down in the chipboard drawer.  Since, I don't scrapbook, I didn't think I would ever use them but they worked out perfect for my door/wall hanger.  I used a little Petaloo Sunflower, some black CS (Recollections Brand), the ribbon is 1/8th inch satin and 3/8th inch gross grain from JoAnn's, tassels are from the JoAnn upholstery dept., tiny metal Fleur De Lys and vintage queen bee from Hobby Lobby, I did some distress inking (Walnut Stain), and a little fussy cutting. I covered both sides (you know my motto).  Check out a few pictures below.  I will try to do show and tell (not a tutorial = teach and tell) on YouTube later.  Well, I hope you enjoy and give it a try.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by, hugz from me



   

Banner Christmas Card

Just a simple Christmas Card...I saw a similar card to this one while surfing the net.  It was created by Debby4000, hers was a birthday theme, very pretty with blue, green, and white; click on the link to get to the post Pinterest.  I thought how lovely it would be as a Christmas card.  I used WOC flowers, Prima stems, Martha Stewart pine and decorative PATP punch, K & Co patterned Christmas paper, gold shimmer paper from JoAnn's, Stampin' UP! sentiments (outside and inside), the inside frame is from a Cricut Cartridge (I cannot remember which one for certain) I think it's Ornamental Iron I. I also cut the banners out with my CE.

inside

Hugz from Me!!

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

Merry Christmas Tim Holtz style

Okay, this card is one of my favorites.  I was really trying to get in-touch with my inner Tim Holtz spirit.  I would say some of it came through, while some parts got stuck in limbo.   I really wanted it to have that old dusty look, so I ink and smeared until my little fingers were numb!.

 

 

 

I used some patterned paper from Hobby Lobby, Walnut Stain Distress ink, hemp, distressed the edges, used some corrugated board, Spellbinders' Foliage, WOC roses, Martha Stewart pine punch,  Tim Holtz Christmas Stamp, Clock die, and Adage Ticket. The tag shape I cut out on my Cricket Expression using TBB (retired).  I also used a Stampin' UP! punch to make the hole at the bottom were the hemp goes through the card (that punch is retired).

 

Happy Holidays, Hugz from Me

 

A Kenny K Christmas!

Next up, we have Kenny K.  I'm not sure but I might have posted this one previously; my apologies if that is the case.  I still had this in not posted, so I thought I would share it.

 



This was a really quick card!  I used Bo Bunny patterned paper (6x6 paper pad) which was quite busy in itself, so not a lot of decoration required.  I just coloured this little cutie with my Copics and that was it.  This card was pretty weighted because of the layers (little extra postage required).

Hugz from Me

Ava Merry Christmas

I just love Bugaboo's Ava and Deacon, they are my absolute favorite of the Bugaboo line.  Something about them just makes you want to smile and think happy thoughts; like puppies and kittens.  I couldn't wait to finish this cute little Christmas Card with little Ms. Ava giving us some Christmas rah-rah!

 

The patterned paper is from JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby (sorry, I can't remember which one specifically). I used some Spellbinders dies both the classic circles and the Exquisite Circles, CS from my stash, and she is coloured with Copic Markers.  Need to work on the blond hair but it was fair start I think. 

Well, on to the next card; hugz from me

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Merry Christmas to all.  Just a short post (so I planned).  I wanted to share a few Christmas Cards I completed using Sarah Kay, Bugaboo, Kenny K, and Tim Holtz.   I think I'm going to do this in different posts, it could get pretty long.   First-Sarah Kay- I used some CS that I have had in my stash for forever, I think the Christmas Paper might be some K & Co. remnants I had.  I embossed the circle with an Tim Holtz  embossing folder and inked it over with Vintage Photo Distress ink. The flowers are WOC, the holly and pine are Martha Stewart punches. I used some kind of puff stuff to make the dimensional snow and added a little glitter. Oh and of course she is coloured with Copic Markers!  The inside I kept very plain; I figure the out side was busy enough.

 

Hugz from Moi

 

 

 

Bee Happy Shadow Box

Happy Holiday folks,
    Sorry it's been a while.  I just can't get into my craft room like I would like to.  Well, it's the end of the year and I have a little time between getting the house in order for the holidays and planning ahead for the up coming year.  But I have done a few projects in my MIA time.  One of which is very near and dear to my heart.  I will wait until the beginning of the year to post that one.  Over the next couple of weeks I will share some of the things I've have been working on. 

    Today, I would like to share with you a project I did using a tutorial by Tammy Tutterow, called Bee Happy Die Cut Shadow Box.  You can check out her tutorial by clicking on the link Be Happy...
It's a pretty good tutorial; however, she does not give you specific dimensions but you should be able to figure them out (you have the dimensions of the stamp die cut).  I had a lot of the products she used and substituted what I did not have.  I changed up a couple of things to my liking and I'm pretty pleased.  It's a very little frame so there's not a lot of room for my millions of flowers.  I am also stuck and I do mean STUCK on Graphic 45's French Country paper line!  So, all the projects I've been doing lately and am currently working on are all about the FC! 

The products I used of this project: Tim Holtz Postage Stamp die, movers and shapers rectangles,  Stampin' UP! Crease Pad (for cutting out the frame), Tim Holtz small easel frame, JoAnn THIN chip board, patterned paper from Hobby Lobby (Harlequin Script 8 1/2 x 11), some metal embellishments from Michael's and Hobby Lobby, Sunflower patterned paper from Graphic 45 French Country, Honeycomb stamp by Pam Carriker (Punchinella Honeycomb C8503 $9.99), Crafty Secrets-Card Sentiments, Bee image from Stampin' UP! (Stamp set is called Nature Walk), water coloured paper for the body of the bee, Tim Holtz Distress markers to colour the bee, Acetate or clear CS from Michaels,  Ranger Distress Inks, and Staz-On.

Here are a couple of pictures of my finished project, I hope you'll give this a try.  My rating for this tutorial.  B = good.  Degree of Difficulty = Intermediate, you will need to know how to make certain adjustments.   Example: Tammy used a Xyron to put adhesive on her postage frames.  I found this to be a bit sticky, too much webbing you have to get rid of. 

side view to show the easel attached

Hugz, from Me

 

 



 

Dust Cover Crazy

Hi all my crafting buddies,
     Today's show and tell... Dust Covers!   My original goal was just to make a cover for my Pazzles; however and for no apparent reason I started with my Cricut Expression (that already has a built on dust cover).  Well, the Cricut cover went pretty well, so then I felt confident I could do one for the Pazzles; turned out pretty okay.  With minimal trauma to my fingers from pin sticks and hard negotiations with my sewing machine, I was on a roll.   I made dust covers for all my crafting machines (expect for the Cricut Cake (sold), Cricut Imagine (sold), and original Cuttlebug (to be sold).  Some of the dust covers are a little too big but that's okay, the general purpose/use has been achieved and I am satisfied.  Now, for the big shot I used a tutorial on You Tube, for the Pazzles and the Cricut I used patterns I found also on You Tube.  For the Vagabond, this was actually the first attempt at the Big Shot cover but in all my sewing wisdom, I decide the pattern looked too big, so I cut the fabric more-NOT!!!  If you do the Big Shot pattern FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ENTIRELY, unless you have some knowledge about sewing (which I do not).  So, I didn't want to through it out and since it fit over the Vagabond, I decided to use it.  For my Grand Calibur- I tried to follow a little of the concept of the Big Shot pattern or idea.  I could have cut the fabric down more on this one (but with the Big Shot nightmare, I decided to leave it).  I wasn't sure where the ties at the top should be placed.  I placed them too high but it still works, the bottom tie is in a good position- so not too bad for making up my own pattern.   The Sewing machine- I tried to follow this ladies basic pattern (the Crafty Gemini) but I have the 160th Anniversary Ed. Singer Sewing machine and  the measurements are difficult to get exact.  This cover is pretty big but again it works for it's intended purpose and I'm happy!.   Check out my handywork...



Cricut Expression

Pazzles

Grand Calibur

Vagabond

 

Big Shot

Singer

 

Hugz from Me

 

Fall Treat Bag

Just a quick post to show you a neat project for treat bags.  I know some people don't celebrate Halloween, this project can be used for celebrating the Harvest or even Thanksgiving.  I used a burlap sac that I purchased at Hobby Lobby ($2.99 each), Copic markers, Neenah #80, my Pazzles (swirled Maple Leaf cut file), and some Stickles. The stamp is a digi from Bugaboo, the letters are from Wal-Marts craft section and I used 1/2" and 3/4" circle punches to make the fall.  The front image is a removable card.   I hope you give it try, thanks for stopping by.

inside the card

I just attached the remaining leaves I made to the back of the bag.



 

 

Hugz from Me

 

New Hire Welcome

Hi everyone, today I want to share a quick and cute project that I did for our new hires.  Just a little something to say congratulation, welcome, and glad you are apart of the team.  I used my Cricut Expression and Tags, Bags, Boxes and more 2 cartridge along with my Storybook cartridge to cut out these charming little gable boxes.  I cut them on the largest setting in the manual for that particular box.  I used a Textured Cardstock Pad by We R Memory Keepers (Wal-Mart $4.79 on clearance).  I thought the colours were nice for fall. I used a wet glue to put them together (Aleens).   HEADS UP: you will need that score blade (purple).  You have to make the score marks first, DO NOT REMOVE YOUR MAT when the scoring is finish!!!! YOU HAVE TO change to the cutting blade (greenish yellow or blue for deep cut), then PUSH LOAD MAT  this will return the blade housing back to the original position to ensure your cut matches up with your scoring.  It seems like a lot of work but once you do 1 or 2, it's a breeze.   It just so happened that I purchased that scoring blade on one of my "Olivia Pope" moments...My eyes kept coming back to this blade while I was in the store (months ago), so my GUT told me get the blade...It's on sale anyway...you will need this in the future...I don't know why but you will. Something I fervently believe and has proved correct since I started paper crafting is...IF YOU ARE IN A CRAFT STORE AND YOUR EYES KEEP COMING BACK TO AN ITEM, IF YOU HAVE THE FUNDS AVAILABLE...GET THAT ITEM!!  It does not matter when you will use it, just know that YOU WILL. It will come at a time when you least expect it and you will be darn glad you got that item.    Thank goodness for Olivia Pope (lol).  That woman fixes stuff she doesn't even know about!  This was also a last minutes project so, I did not have time to make them breathing-takingly gorgeous; but they are cute.    They are great for special events such as birthdays, weddings, etc. 

 

Hugz from Me

 

Tilda Writing

Happy Football Sunday everyone,
     It's been an absolutely great weekend.  I want to share a really cute card I did using a Magnolia rubber stamp.  This is Tilda Writing, what a little cutie.  Some other supplies used were MME 6x6 Sunshine paper pack, Recollection metal corners, WOC flowers, Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Squares, Paper Studios Countryside Villa paper pack (12x12), Rubber Stampedes Fleur de Lys stamp, lace trim, crafter's floss, Copics, and did a little stitching.  I made a little pocket for the inside.   Up coming sneak peak... a video (if I can ever get it edited). Thanks for stopping by...

 



Hugz from me

Just Because

Hi everyone,
  It has been a little while since my last post.  I thought I better let you know I'm still here.  Today, I want to share a card front that I did over the weekend.  The CS is Michael's Recollection Brand, the patterned paper is Kay & Co.   I used Spellbinders Floral Ovals and Classic Ovals, Stampin-Up Butterfly die, Basic Grey pearls, Just Rite Stampers sentiment, Cherry Lynn leaf die and fringe flower, and Tim Holtz alphabet background stamp.  Came out pretty good.    I'll be back soon. Have  a great day and an even better tomorrow!

 

 

Hugz from Me

 

Rick St. Denis' French Clown

Hey everyone,
     Wow! It seems the more I try to keep up with posting, the busier I get with other stuff.  Certainly not enough time to do what I enjoy the most...CREATE!  It's late but I want to share a card with you  that I did for Memas Crafts September challenge as an inspiration card.  I used a Rick St. Denis digi called French Clown.  I absolutely love anything French, so I had to do this one.  Since this is a quick post, I won't go into too much detail.  I used to some old textured paper and cut the FLEUR DE LYS or LIS border using a Spellbinders die.  The checker paper I believe is from Hobby Lobby and the printed paper is from Fab Scraps.  I coloured lil' Frenchie with my Copics and Atyou Spica -Gold pen, added some WOC fleur, a little mesh material and voila! my Hommage en France is complete.  Well, got to go for now. I've another full day ahead of me tomorrow.  

 

Hugz from Your Grace, the Duchess

Hugz de Votre Grâce, la Duchesse 





The Circus is in town!

Hey everybody and the circus is in town and today I want to share a mini album/card that I saw on You Tube. I believe the card was made by Gloria Stengel. I tried to find it again on You Tube but it is not listed, not sure if I have the correct name of the card. It was called a mini album in one place and a card in another.  If anyone knows the path to tutorial please feel free to share it.   Gloria used Graphic 45 Place in Time.  And she really embellished it beautifully.  I used Graphic 45 LeCirc to do a demo card.  It turned out pretty good for demo.  The border is my favorite from Cheery Lynn Designs  the Anastasia Border.  My CS is from Michael's Recollection - smooth black.   I may try it again later on.  Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave me comment to let me know what you think. 

I put mini  clear Velcro dots in the inside cover to keep it closed.



I added a pocket (that is just some old tag I had laying around).

 

Hugz from Me

 

Wedding Projects

Hey Y'all,
     A big hot Texas howdy!  It is hotter than blue blazes today!  But never mind about that...on with the show and tell.  First, I made a decision to do the "Big Chop"!  It was not as bad as I thought it would be.  I will try to change my profile photo so yins' can check it out; leave a comment and tell me what you think.  I also want to share my finished wedding project that I mentioned a few post back.  I was commissioned by a very good friend of mine Cheryl, who's son got married a about 3wks ago.  A special thank you to Tre and Lisa for allowing me to have a small part in your special day.   I made some table tents for the wedding tables and two wedding rehearsal table cards for the bride and groom.  I did two collar cards (see July post).  They turned out great! (if I do say so myself... an I do-lol).  Just kidding but I was pleased with the way they turned out.   I used Pion Design's From My Heart II paper collection the sheet names are "Roses" and "Bottom of My Heart".  I used Hobby Lobby cream CS for the base and the mat CS is Bazzill, the colour is call "Arroyo".  Other supplies were Tim Holtz and Spellbinder dies.  I printed the message using my computer.  I know I said I would probably not make that collar card again but I have to say... It actually went faster making them the second time.  I think it was because I was so familiar with the process.  The table tents were even easier- cream CS, Spellbinder 5x7 Elegent Labels Four,  and the Paper Studios Blanc Boutique Paper Pack with Pearl Finish (AWESOME)!!! this is one of those paper packs that I highly recommend.  It is $14.99 regular price but of course I went on a day when it was fifty percent off.     Well, I hope you enjoy the projects; have a great week!

 

Hugz from Me