Friday, March 25, 2011

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time there lived a princess. Somehow her cowboy prince found her... just kidding. Well, I guess that did kind of did happen;) One can't make a fairy tale album with out thinking about their own fairy tale. A couple of weeks ago my wonderful mother-in-law asked me to make her an album for a conference she was attending. She needed a gift for a basket they were going to raffle off. I thumbed through my ever growing stash and decided on a fairytale theme. What woman doesn't like a princess story? I used DCWV stacks (the fairytale one and the rustic one), prima and my own handmade flowers, my cricut for the scalloped mats, scrolls, leaves, and some of the flowers, distress ink, border punches, bling and pearl embellishments, and my new butterfly punch... and ribbon... and oh my heck there is a lot of "stuff" in these albums! But totally worth it! I had a ball making it. I hadn't made a mini in a couple of weeks and I was getting sad. I hope my MIL liked it and the person that won it gives it a happy home. Hope you are having a fun day and get to play with paper. Happy Friday!
































































Friday, March 18, 2011

So much for keeping things clean

So for the record, I did get my table cleared... for a few minutes. I actually did organize and shift lots of thngs to that craft room in the basement. Then I got this urge to make one of these necklaces. I've wanted one for a while, but haven't wanted to spend the money and couldn't find the colors I wanted. I was pretty sure I could make one, but I think I can make lots of things and end up with a mess sometimes. I'm so happy I finally made one. It wasn't as hard as I would have thought. It took a little time, a little patience, and a couple of burns from hot glue:) But it was worth it to me. My little girl really liked the necklace too! She couldn't stop touching the fabtic flowers and little bits of bling! So sweet.

If you'd like to make one, here is a brief idea of what I did.
1. Find fabric in a variety of colors that you like and cut them into 3"x21" pieces. ( I used a bunch of fat quarters) The more cokors the better I think.
2. Use your hot glue gun to tack the fabric together in half (wrong sides folded together). This keeps the patterned side of the flowers showing as you roll up the flowers.
3. Trace various sized circles onto the non transfer side of fusible webbing paper in the design you want your necklace.
4. Trim that shape down and iron on fabric to what will be the back of the necklace. This will give you a good base to work your fabric flowers onto.
5. Start towards the middle of the necklace and and with the biggest flower circles. To start the flowers, tie a knot on the end. Glue the knot to the center of the outlined cirlce. Start to roll and wrap the flowers to the desired size. You can make the flowers as thick or as thin as you'd like. When the flower is to the size you want, trim off the excess fabric and neatly roll, fold and glue the excess down, making a pretty rolled flower. Finish all the flowers but the two that the ribbon are under.
6. I attatched ribbon just before my last two flowers because I didn't want to be fighting with the ribbon as I rolled the other flowers. I cut about a yard of ribbon and attatched each end with hot glue to the necklace base in a spot that I thought would look nice. I then finished the last two flowers on top of the ribbon, added beads, bling, buttons, to a few flowers and knots to finish it off and tied the necklace on to my desired length.

I'm sorry I didn't take pictures the entire time. I really didn't know if it would turn out. I'm sure I will make another( I really want one with pink in it;) I'll try to take pics next time. If you have any questions, or if you give it a try let me know. I want to see what you come up with. I hope you are having a great Saturday.











Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Proceed with caution...


I don't know if its Spring fever, but I've got the cleaning bug. So where do I start? At my mess of a kitchen table. Now I love all things scrappy, but this is out of control. I have a perfectly good craft room in our basement, but everything seems to migrate up here where I can watch my kiddos and create at the same time. Does this happen to you? I know that I will be posting a blog similar to this again in the future (maybe very near future knowing me;) but for the time being I am taking back the kitchen table... for food and family gathering! As I look at this pic I can't help but think how sweet my husband is. He doesn't walk in mad about the table being covered with paper and not dinner, but happy that I got to do what makes me happy at some point in our hectic days. Thanks sweetheart:)
A couple of you posted about the flowers on my last album. I am going to try and do a tutorial in the near future. Let me know which ones were your faves and I'll be sure to do those first. I hope you all are having a great day!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Time Flies...
















I can't believe I haven't posted in two weeks! But in all fairness it has taken me that long to finish my latest album. I am so excited about this one... just like I am about every other one I finish! Once again I used a kit from Echo Park. It's one of the latest called Springtime. My husband will cuss me if he reads this, but I am aching for spring, and warmth, and sunshine, and pretty flowers. (He is a die hard skier that hasn't had a powder day yet this year). He is hoping that winter will last a little longer and I am hoping Spring will hurry up and get here. Sorry sweetheart;)


Back to the album... It's called Blissful Days and the colors in the papers are an adorable mix of pastels and brights that just make you happy and ready for Spring. I made a few new types of flowers that were fun to figure out how to do. Let me know what you think of it.


I did decide to keep my These are the Moments album. I just couldn't part with it and that is the first time that has ever happened, so that must mean something, I guess. I am trying to find some of my very favorite pics to put in it. I'll have to see if I can find some of the non digital ones that I am thinking of. Cross your fingers for me. I'll show it to you when I am all done. I hope you all are having a great night. I think I'm headed for my comfy bed:)