More earrings

I have 3 more pairs of earrings to share with you this evening.  I've had fun playing around with this new technique over the past couple of days and I'm excited to make a trip to the local hardware store soon to pick up some different sizes and shapes of washers to make more jewelry. 

For these pairs I used International Bazaar DSP again but decided not to punch a hole right through the centre.  I think I like this look better.

Here's a closer look at each pair:

The reflection of my camera flash on the Crystal Effects really makes them look really shiny here.   For instructions on how to create your own jewelry out of hardware click here.

Happy Crafting!

Washer Woman

I was doing a little blog surfing last night when I came across a post from Terry at "Going Over the Edge"  where she showed how she had made some jewelry using washers and bolts (yes, the kind you find in your garage or at the hardware store).  I was SO inspired that I immediately sat down to make my own....even though it was 11 pm and I was tired.....that's how excited I was!!!!

I made a trip to my local arts and crafts store tonight to purchase some jewelry hardware (E.M. why do you live so far away?!) and voila....earrings and a necklace.....sweet!

It is really ridiculously simple to make these.....you might need a little patience though while everything sets : )  Here's what you do:

1.  Find some washers and/or bolts....any size will do.

2.  Cut or punch (I prefer the latter) your DSP to size.  For this set I used my favourite DSP of the moment....International Bazaar.

3.  Adhere the DSP to your hardware using Tombow liquid adhesive.  Let is dry.

4.  Punch or cut out the middle of your washer/bolt.  I used a hole punch for the smaller washers and my hobby blade for the larger one.

5.  Cover the whole piece with Crystal Effects and let set overnight.

6.  Repeat on the other side....either with the same DSP or with another pattern.

7.  Tie on some Baker's Twine or attach to earrings.

What do you think?  I'm super excited to try some more.  I think I'm going to have to discipline myself to get back to cards after this : )

Happy Crafting!!

Simple Anniversary

How time flies!  Today is my 10th wedding anniversary!!!!  It's really hard to believe that I've been married for a decade : )  We don't have much planned to celebrate as we've just returned from a 5 week trek across the continent (Ontario to Vancouver Island and back) with a 3 year old and a 4 month old.  Having a night in a hotel doesn't have the same appeal when you've been out of your own bed for that long : )  My brother and his wife have graciously agreed to babysit while we go out to supper tonight. 

I also haven't made my husband an anniversary card....what's that saying about the cobbler's children going without shoes?  Yeah, that's kind of what happens here with cards.  So in place of my own card I'm going to post the one my sister-in-law made for us that arrived in the mail yesterday.

Simple Anniversary card

I love how she used the butterflies.  I find that this Elegant Butterfly punch is very versatile and I know that my SIL likes it to add interest to cards too.  She doesn't have a Big Shot so this is a nice way to add some depth.  Such a simple card but so pretty.

Happy Stamping!

Another Manly Birthday Card!

It is my brother's birthday today and I created a simple card for him using some of Stampin' Up's new goodies.  Check it out:

I know, I know....more Comfort Cafe.....have I mentioned how much I like it?!!!  It's a must (in my opinion) for everyone's stash of Designer Series Paper!!!  And isn't the Itty Bitty Banner Framelit so cute?!!  The Framelit dies are great.....and there are some FANTASTIC ones coming in the new Holiday Catalogue! 

Here are the rest of the details:

Stamp Sets:  Teeny Tiny Phrases

Paper:  Midnight Muse, Pool Party, Very Vanilla card stocks, Comfort Cafe DSP

Ink:  Midnight Muse

Other:  Itty Bitty Banners Framelits dies,  Word Window Punch

All A-Twitter

There is a baby shower for my cousin's new daughter today.  She is very special to me because she was born 2 days after my daughter but quite prematurely.  She is doing very well now and we praise God for her life.

I wanted to do something special for her so I put together another owl, this time using Stampin' Up's Twitterpated fabric.  It is such pretty fabric and I knew as soon as I saw it that I wanted it!  I was pregnant at the time and hoping to have a girl so I could use.  So....my daughter and my cousin's daughter will have matching owls.

So cute!  Stampin' Up's products are so versatile that I even used the Big Shot and a punch to create the eyes.  I ran the white felt through the Big Shot using the Circles #2 die.  To create the pupils I punched out felt using the 1/2" circle punch.....although I don't think you can punch fabric out using these punches the felt was soft enough that it worked.

Happy Crafting!

Another Birthday Card

If you are a regular follower of mine you may be getting a little sick of all the birthday cards I've been posting....but there are I've got 4 birthday just in my immediate family within three weeks of eachother....and that does not include the extended family birthdays that occur within the same time frame : )

Here is a card that we sent to my husband's grandmother for her birthday last week.  I was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.

Isn't it pretty?!  I used the "Mixed Bunch" stamp set, Blossom punch and 3/4' circle punch from Stampin' Up to create the Primrose Petals flower.  I paired the Primrose Petals with Baja Breeze and Whisper White to create a relatively simple, soft card.

The sentiment comes from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" stamp set.  I used the "Bitty Banners" Framelits die to cut it out and matte it.

Here are all the details:

Stamp Sets:  Mixed Bunch, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Whisper White and Baja Breeze card stock

Ink:  Primrose Petals

Punches:  Blossom and 3/4" circle.

Accessories:  Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folder, Stripes Textured Embossing Folders, Bitty Banners Framelits dies, Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon, Silver Brad.

Happy Stamping!

Happy Birthday Dad for SSC 261!

My father's birthday is this week and I turned to Stamping 411's Saturday Sketch Challenge to help with a layout for a card for him.  I had fun creating a "manly" card using my brand new "Clockworks" stamp set from Stampin' Up's new catalogue!  Love it!  I admit that visualising what could be created with this set is a little difficult for me, it really does lend itself to some cool designs.  Check out what I came up with:

Manly "Clockworks" card

I was really pleased with the result.  I had fun with lots of new product to make this card.  As I mentioned, "Clockworks" is a great new Stampin' Up stamp set and includes a great "splat" stamp which I stamped in Crumb Cake first.  I then used the "seagull splat" stamp in Soft Suede and finally stamped the cogs in Cajun Craze and Midnight Muse.

One of the other new product "bundles" I used was the "Itty Bitty Banners" stamp set and matching "Bitty Banners" Framelits dies.  What a great combination.  The DSP is "Comfort Cafe"....love it!  This collection of Designer Series Paper contains such versatile patterns and I really like the colour combinations.

I finished off the card with Early Espresso Baker's Twine and Linen Thread.  I found that the Baker's Twine was a little too white against the Very Vanilla so I took a sponge inked with Soft Suede ink and ran it along the thread a few times to "antique" it a little.  I also distressed the edges of the cardstock.

I mailed it off almost as soon as I finished it.  I hope he likes it : )

Here is a more concise list of products used:

Stamp Sets:  Clockworks, Itty Bitty Banners
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla card stock.  Comfort Cafe DSP.

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Midnight Muse and Cajun Craze

Accessories:  Bitty Banners Framelits dies, Early Espresso Bakers Twine, Linen Thread.

Happy Stamping!