Think Pink

Just the quickest little post today, to post my entry for the Think Pink Challenge over at Do You Stack Up?.

I picked up the paper and cardstock from JoAnn's, then went with what started out as some simple layering, but turned into some banners and sewing!

I love the way that it turned out, lots of layers, but still easy to mail!



Enjoy,

Meredith

Seeing Gray...

So I picked up this pad of coordinating paper a bit ago...some lovely designs by Amy Butler, published by K&Company, that I thought have the loveliest color combinations. The papers are all shades of gray, green, blue, ivory and the tiniest bit of pink. The designs are mostly graphic, with strong lines and bold forms...truly striking.

My dilema came when I needed to choose a project to use these papers...what to do? I had seen projects around the web that ranged from simply framing them under glass (they are lovely enough) to various card projects...none of which appealed to me.

I finally decided to make a mini album, one just for me, full of ink and stamps and lovely colors, one designed to make me smile every time I flip through it...so I did.



I chose to make a 3" x 3" meandering maze album, it is a type of album that you make the pages from just one sheet of 12" x 12" paper...so clever! I used a combination of the instructions from a few different sites, just google meandering maze album and take a look, there are several great tutorials out there.

I love the look of distressing things, so I gave my sponges a workout inking all the edges of the pages and layers...



All the stamps I used are from Unity Stamp Company, from various Kit of the Month's...they do such a clever job of making the phrases look unique! I chose the phrases that make me happy!



The flowers I wanted to use were too bright and new from the package, so they got the ink treatmant too...it gave them the perfect gray tint to coordinate with the paper.



I pulled buttons and ribbons from my stash, and had fun choosing layers and shapes to add to the album to make it shabby enough to make me smile...



When you make the album, because of the way you fold the 12" x 12" paper, you have the option to include some pockets...I included four in my album, so that I could insert tags and include even more quotes that make me happy.

I love how it turned out, and look forward to finding more fabulous sentiment stamps that make me happy, so that I can fill up the pages!

This album was made to fit two challenges, The Gray is the New Black Challenge over at Moxie Fab World, and the No Stress, Distress! challenge over at the Do You Stack Up? challenge blog. You should play along too!

Enjoy,

Meredith

I Got Crafty: Rosette Frame

So, I actually whipped out the paint and glue gun over the last two days...I'ts been a while, but it sure was fun!

Like many others, I hop around blogland from time to time, and one of the sites that I am inspired by is Ucreate, there are always such wonderful things posted there! Something that was started last year is a Create With Me! monthly craft-along. I stumbled upon the January post, and saw that we are invited to make a darling rosette frame following this tutorial from The Secret Stitch Club, how cute!

So, I picked up a blank frame, dug out the paint and glue gun, and got to work!

This is the result...



My rosettes didn't turn out quite like the one's in the tutorial, I guess I'll just have to make some more and experiment until I get that tighter twist...

Here is a closer look at the embellishments, the buttons and ribbon and tulle add so much cute dimension!



I haven't decided what I want to put in the frame yet...maybe a Valentine specimen layout...maybe one of the versions of the Keep Calm sayings that are all over now...but right now, I'm so tickled that I am crafting again that I smile every time I see it!

I am also linking up to the Altered Arts Challenge over at Sweet Paper Treats, a new find for me...you should play along too!

Breakdown of the project:

Supplies:
frame: from Michael's $1
paint: Craft Smart acrylic paint, from Michael's, 3 for $1, I used cream and brown
fabrics: tulle and 3 prints from Hobby Lobby, less than $3, and there is plenty left over
ribbon: from Hobby Lobby, $1, with a ton left over
buttons: larger ones on rosettes from stash, tiny blue, green and brown ones by Favorite Findings at Hancock Fabrics, $2.30 for two packages

Instructions: follow the tutorial at The Secret Stitch Club and modify as you wish!

Update: I figured out what I would like to put in the frame!

I thought that I'd make the display more of a seasonal one, than a holiday specific one...so I chose a couple of scrapbooking paper scraps and punched some butterflies using the new Fiskars butterfly punch...too cute!



After I punched out the butterflies, I scored on both sides of the 'body', then just used some quick-drying glue to put them right on the paper. I still smile every time I see my little frame!



Enjoy!

Meredith

Birthdays!

So I have this goal that I try to adhere to when giving gifts to the nieces and nephews...

I try to give the gift of an activity, rather than just a present. So this year, for Christmas, I gave the nieces and nephews (I have two of each) a plain white ceramic frame that came with permanent markers to draw and decorate on the frame. Then I included a disposable camera and a gift card to pay for developing the camera. The intent was for the children to take pictures of things that are important or meaningful to them...without regard to adult opinions.

The gifts were a hit (yes!) but there was a problem...the frame can only hold one picture! Enter their birthday gifts...and since the birthdays are all in January and February, no one has to wait very long.

For their birthdays, I am sending each of the children a small photo album that has been personalized with colors and either their names or initials. Cool? I hope they think so!

I was inspired by the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger: Bright Spot for the album and card for my niece Belle...these bright dots just shout, "Copy me!"

Here is the Tuesday Trigger photo:



Does it inspire you? You should go join in on the fun!

And here is the set for my niece, I made the album, a matching card and stamped the envelope too, 'cause that's always fun...



And the inside of the card has more sparkly dots...



Supplies: album: Best Occasions, cardstock: stash, patterned paper: Martha Stewart, stamps: The Stamps of Life, ink: Martha Stewart, punches: EK Success

The album is so simple to make...they look like this on the shelf at Wal-mart, I found mine over close to the tiny remnant of scrapbooking supplies that they still carry, and its only $1!



And you just remove the inserts in the front and back covers to make room for whatever you want to personalize it with!

Here is one that I made for my nephew Mitchell...he loves orange.



Supplies: album: Best Occasions, patterned paper: Target $1 section, chipboard alpha: Cloud 9 design

I hope that they are as well received as the cameras and frames were!

Meredith

Back to cardmaking

Oh, I am so glad to have the world wide web for inspiration! Throughout December I was struggling to feel creative...it was a good thing that I had a stash of Christmas cards that I had made earlier to use for the card exchange that I was in...or I would have been in trouble!

So I spent most of the month surfing around the web, soaking up all of the lovely projects that are out there that I could see...without feeling the desire to head into my craft cave at all...

But, when the challenge came to use buttons on a card, I knew exactly what I wanted to do! And I ran into my craft cave and did it! (After making a quick run to the craft store for some adhesive, since the ones I had wouldn't hold the buttons on...)

And here we go!



The cardstock and buttons are from my stash...is it a bad thing that using this many buttons on one card didn't even put a dent in my button jar? The stamp is from Katie & Co.

Here is a closer look at the way the buttons are piled on...



Isn't that just clean, simple and fabulous?

It was too easy to do...I made the card, this one is a top fold A2 size, I added the pink mat and white front layer, cutting them 1/4" smaller than the layer before, then I traced a wooden heart shape onto the front of the card lightly with a pencil. Originally, I had intended to just fill the heart with buttons, but I did not have the sizes necessary to do that without distorting the heart shape or leaving too many gaps for the look I intended. So...I piled them on top of one another and voila! Fabulousness!!!

I'm linking this little card up to the first challenge over at the new Do You Stack Up? challenge blog...go have a look, they are off to a roaring start!

Enjoy,

Meredith

Knitting projects

So, as my profile states, I dabble in several crafty endeavors...of which knitting is one...

I actually learned to knit when I lived in Los Alamos, New Mexico...I had moved from Kansas, and had left behind a sewing group that was fantastic...we had a monthly sew-in, where we went to a shop from 4pm to midnight, and sewed, chatted and ate all night long. I missed the camraderie and like-minded crafty friends.

So, when I saw the notification of a weekly knitting group in the newspaper, that stated they would teach anyone who wanted to learn, I jumped at the opportunity. And to my surprise, I loved it!

I don't knit nearly as much as I did while I lived there, but occasionally I finish a project, yeah!

This first project was quite a work in progress...I fell in love with the yarn...Sensations, sold in JoAnn's stores...it is acrylic, but sooo soft, and not at all itchy, even with the fuzzyness...and it is self-striping...so I bought all the store had in this color, and started a lap blanket for myself....I knew that I didn't have enough yarn, but I figured that the store would restock it, and I would purchase the rest that I needed.

Well, that didn't happen! The store never restocked the yarn! I went to the other stores in town, no good. Then I tried online...still no yarn. I waited half a year, still no sign of the yarn...I was so bummed!

But I really liked this yarn, so I ripped out the afghan, and made myself a scarf.



I found an awesome pattern online for a reversible cabled scarf, that is really just one big cable...its fabulous! It was quick to work up, and not a difficult pattern at all. When I make it again, I'll actually use larger needles, because the 10.5's that I used actually made a stiffer fabric than I wanted...but I didn't make up my mind about that until the scarf was almost done, so I'll leave this one how it is. I love it!

Here's the clincher though...about a month after I finished the scarf...guess what I saw in my local JoAnn's???? That's right...my yarn! At first I was upset...but then I just laughed, because there is no way that I'm gonna rip out my scarf!!!

Next is my most recent project...I have a favorite pattern book that I turn to any time I want to make a baby blanket...do you have pattern books like that? My favorite is "Quick Knit Baby Afghans" by Leisure Arts. I have made four or five of the patterns...and have loved each and every one of them.



This blanket has an alternating pattern of knit and purl stitches, that make it look like it is made up of alternating squares...so easy, but so great looking! Here is a closer look at the pattern...



I almost always make baby blankets out of cotton yarn, its just a personal preference of mine, I love the weight of the blanket. All of these patterns call for knitting with two strands held together, which is why they come together so quickly. They do take a lot of yarn...usually about 700 yards of both colors.

As far as colors go, I have always used one solid and one variegated...I like the way they blend. I like the colors available in the baby yarns now...they are so much more varied than just pastel pink and blue...it's fabulous. What is not fabulous, however, is the million or so ends that I have to weave in when I use those small balls of baby yarn...ugh.

So imagine my delight when I found a huge ball of cotton yarn! And I mean, huge! JoAnn's (and other places) sell Bernat Handicrafter Cotton yarn...and the huge skeins have over 600 yards in even the ombre colors...more in the solid colors! It was great! I made this whole 36" x 36" baby blanket from just one skein of each color!

This blanket now has a new home waiting for the arrival of my newest nephew, due at the beginning of April 2011...he is coming to northern Idaho, so I'm sure that a warm blanket will come in handy!

Enjoy,

Meredith

The last of the Christmas Cards

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted...but I have some projects that I'd love to share, even though they are out of season now...

But the great thing about Christmas, is it comes every year!

My 11 yo son and I were a part of a Christmas card exchange on the Cardmaker's message board...they are so nice to let children participate! He made some great cards...not all the same, like his Halloween ones were, but these all following the same design...



I chose the sketch, he chose the papers and the stamps and the colors...didn't he do a fabulous job?

He did all the stamping himself...I helped with a bit of cutting and adhering the layers...

I made cards for the exchange as well...most have already been posted to the blog, but I have two more to share...

For this one, I was trying to capture an idea that I saw in my wanderings across the web...I'm not totally pleased with the results, so I'll be working on it again next year.



For the last one, I tried the brick wall technique from splitcoast stampers resource page...I've wanted to try it ever since I first saw it, and finally did...I love how this card turned out!



That's it for the Christmas cards...until next fall, I guess!

Meredith