Doily Tags

Here are a few simple tags I made with My Thoughts Exactly Dainty Doilies set.  Love, love this set!

Add gorgeous Grape Fizz Trendy Twine, a few buttons and you are good to go!  These look adorable on gifts or to give as a gift set all on their own.  What do you think?  Have a great day and happy crafting!

Supplies:
kraft paper
Dainty Doilies by My Thoughts Exactly
Trendy Twine in Grape Fizz

Toad-ally Sweet!

Yes, I know that "toad" in the stamp is technically talking about the amphibian variety but since the digi is called Toadstool, I thought it was cute.  You people are just going to have to live with it.  ;P  You should know by now I am toad-ally weird.  HA!

Anywho, I made this card for the Sweet 'n Sassy challenges.  You can check them out over at the Digi Challenge Blog and The Sweet Stop.  Now on with the card!

I love entering these challenges because it gives me an opportunity to practice my coloring with my Spectrum Noir markers.   Hopefully I can get as good as some of these Copic artists one day.  It really doesn't matter to me because I just love to color, always have.  I do think I am getting better.  What'cha all think?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great crafty day!

Supplies:
Restorations Collection by Crate Paper
Toadstool digi stamp by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps
Coloring with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers
Charming Whimsies stamp by A Jillian Vance Design

Update Your Summer Wardrobe Cheap

Here's a quick little project to get you ready for summer - bling up an old T-Shirt!  Need a new summer wardrobe but don't have a lot of money?  Then this is just the thing you need!  You might have already heard I was afraid of rhinestones.  But not anymore.  I am pushing forward and moving on to bigger things!  OK, the rhinestone flower might not be big but it's a step up.

I wanted to use the Parker Flower again.  One because I love that flower and two because it would go great with my new hair clips.  Once again, I took out the middle pieces out of the file to make it look more defined in rhinestones.  I wrote what size rhinestones the pattern was cut for on the template.  If you need help using Funtime with your Gazelle to make rhinestone templates, please see Terri's awesome tutorial.  I can't say it any better than she can.  I really learned a lot when starting with rhinestones from Terri.

Just thought I would show some action shots.  hehehe  This rhinestone placing technique is shown in the video.  It would probably make more sense to see it then me writing it.  I just used a paint edger you can get at your local hardware store to gently push the stones into the template.  Most will be right side up, there may be a few that don't, just flip them over with your fingernail.  Now they are ready for the transfer tape and placement on your garment.

As I have stated before, I am kind of a plain jane.  Now I have the perfect solution to jazz up my many T-Shirts.  In fact, so plain am I, that I have about 20 of these shirts in various colors with slightly different styles and no markings.  Maybe I should make a bunch of Rs or Bs to monogram them all like Laverne from Laverne & Shirley.  Wow, I probably just dated myself, didn't I?  Ooops.

All done!  Doesn't my shirt look look flashy?!?  I love it!  One little tip, since the stones are on the transfer tape, it would probably be a good idea to put on the shirt and then stick the tape where you want it.  I put my design just slightly too far to the left.  Lesson learned.  While it's placement looked OK to me with the shirt flat, on my body it looks a tad off.

Close-up!  Ooooo, sparkly.  I think this would look good with an R for Rebecca too.  What do you think?  What are some other cute simple designs to bling-bling up an a boring ol' shirt for summer?  Hit the comments and let me know!  Thanks for looking and happy crafting!

Supplies:
rhinestone template material
rhinestone transfer tape
6SS pink rhinestones
Parker Pop Kut Flower by Boss Kut
plain shirt

New! The Stringbeans are at Lettering Delights

Simple shapes are designed to make your creative life easy, regardless of your cutting machine. Introducing a new limited edition bundle of Simple Shapes: Stringbeans Simple Shape Bundle.

You’ve asked for clever characters in a variety of themes and Lettering Delights is happy to harvest something special. Their artists have been hard at work creating a village of Stringbeans to celebrate popular occasions like weddings, graduation, sports, culture, career, super heroes, hobbies, and more. Come fall in love with Stringbeans!

For the next 10 days, you can add all 380 shapes to your collection for just $30! Purchased separately you’d spend over $100. But hurry, this special pricing ends on Monday, July 2. Buy the Stringbeans Simple Shape Bundle.

Don't forget about the Friday Freebie!  Get the Stringbean dogs absolutely free!

As an added bonus, we are giving you our Stringbean Dogs absolutely FREE! Happy Friday! Offer ends Sunday at midnight, MST.

I Love Weddings

.....and I am sure to cry!  But in a happy way.  Belinda of Bee's Hive O' Drama & SVGs by Bee was the Make the Cut forum challenges special designer and she was kind enough to give us all a tent card file to use and she donated a collection of her adorable designs to the winner.  We could make anything as long as we used the tent, I decided on a wedding card since I have one this weekend.

I forgot to take pictures again and now I just don't have time but I realized it was hard to see the couple dancing behind the gate so I added a white shadow.  Looks much better now.  The couple pops out more with the white behind them.

I don't remember where I got the silhouette of the couple or the set of rings.  It was early in my file collected days and writing a blog wasn't even a though in my head.  Sorry all.

Supplies:
Decorative Gate by Hero Arts
More Big Thoughts by My Thoughts Exactly
Rose background - Love & Wedding by DCWV

Graduation Invitation

Hello all!  Hope you are having a very happy Wednesday.  I just thought I would do a super quick post showing my super simple graduation invites.  I found the design online and designed it in Make the Cut so I could make a bunch without having to score by hand.   That file in different formats will be available to anyone who would like it at the end of this post.   *our info has been blocked out, I can't afford to feed all of you!

Isn't that Trendy Twine tassel the cutest?!!?  I love it.  It's so tiny too.  If you download the file, be aware that none of the writing or graphics are included.  They are not mine to disburse.  It is blank and ready for you to fill in.  The file can be downloaded on my freebie page or just click the following links:

MTC    SVG    STUDIO

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!    Back to party planning.....

Refrigerator Chalkboard

Welcome to another round of Becki's crafty corner.  Where I am all about trying out the new (to me) crafty materials available.  This month has just been one of firsts.  First time using rhinestones now chalkboard vinyl!  I have always wanted to try it out but just couldn't think of a project to use it with.  My kids are older so it wouldn't do any good in our classroom.  But, with our busy life, I really could use something to get the attention of the kids and hubby when they are raiding the fridge.  Why not put the chalkboard on there!?!

I went looking for the perfect file for my chalkboard.  I found this Framette by Boss Kut Die-Cuts.  I know this is going to sound weird but this framette reminds me of the cool talking wardrobe from Beauty and the Beast.  That's probably why I like it so much!

As you can probably tell, it doesn't look exactly like the file pictured at Boss Kut's website.  I never use files they way they are intended and always have to mess with them.  If I had used it as is, I wouldn't have been able to keep the beautiful scroll work with this vinyl.  I also wanted a little color.  So I took the scroll frame and made a shadow, that makes the whole back one piece.  I then cut the top swirly scroll out of a piece of scrapbook paper that matches my kitchen.  Now in order for the paper to not get yucky when we wipe the board off, I covered it in ModPodge before gluing it to the base vinyl.

My new chalkboard in action!  Of course, I would use pink chalk right?  I have one of those Chalk Ink Wet Wipe markers in Piggy Bank Pink.  I put a small piece of Velcro on the side of the fridge and the pen so it is readily available.

How do you like my memo board?  It's in the perfect place in our house, the most used area - the fridge.  Have any other ideas where placing a chalkboard would be a good idea?  Let me know in the comments.  I would love to hear other ideas.

Supplies:
chalkboard vinyl
Chalk Ink Wet Wipe marker
Framette by Boss Kut

Stars and Stripes SVG Kit

Oh my word!  Check out the new kit from SVG Cuts - Stars and Stripes!  I knew they would knock it out of the park for Fourth of July.  This set is amazing.  Check out the 3D lantern.

Here are the details from their site:  "Create a festive, spectacular July celebration! Invite a couple friends over for The Fourth and make it extra-special with a cute little invitation! Have fun using all kinds of embellishments and sparkles and glitter on any of these projects! You'll love the wow-factor Lantern, which lights up with an electronic LED candle. It's useful for so much more than just Americana themes! Create the Firecracker and use it for so many other projects as well (as a cylinder-shaped container). Put some goodies in the cute, flat Star-Shaped Box and make an extra-special Scrapbook Page with minimal effort (your machine even cuts your photos for you)!"

You can get this kit free for a limited time with a purchase of $9.98 or more.  Follow the directions below to get yours.

FREE GIFT INSTRUCTIONS

• Visit www.SVGCuts.com and make a purchase of $9.98 or more between now and Thursday, June 21st 2012.
• Add Stars and Stripes SVG Kit to your cart.
• During Step 2 of Checkout, type FREEGIFT into the Discount Coupon section. Doing so will subtract the value of the SVG Collection from your total. This gift is a $6.99 Value!
• All of your files, including the free gift, will be available for immediate download after you complete your purchase!

Have a great weekend and happy crafting!

The Sky is the Limit

Hey everyone, I'm back with another My Thoughts Exactly stamp preview.  This week I just had to use the new Up, Up and Away set.  I have always wanted a hot air balloon stamp set.  Alyssa delivered in spades.  But to have it a mix and match pattern set is even better!  I just made an encouragement card.  Super quick and easy.  Take a look.

You might be wondering why the balloon's parts are spaced so far apart.  That was the look I was going for.  Don't ask why, I don't know but I really like it that way.  You might not.  But I'm weird and love the fact that I can put this set together anyway I want.  How's that for choices?!?  I also stamped the balloon and sentiment in three different colors for a shadow effect - light orange, dark orange and black.  

I also added a tad bit of glitter to my clouds for a shimmer effect and popped them off the card.  What do you think?  Yea or nay?  Go grab the Up, Up and Away set and show me what other ways you would display this adorable hot air balloon.  Looking forward to your creations.  Till next time....

God Save the Queen

Hehehe, boy do I have a card for you today!  I just happen to be cruising the internet and came across the Kuretake blog and they were having a challenge.  A very cool red, white and blue challenge with a bit of added bling.  Since they are a UK company, I decided to make my card something they would be familiar with - the Union Jack!  Oh and a bulldog wearing a crown.

I really wanted to have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi wearing the crown but my youngest informed me it might be offensive (hey, the Queen and I have those pooches in common.  My next dog is going to be a Corgi!  If I can get past the shedding).  OK, I guess to be on the safe side the bulldog will be wearing the crown. *shrugs*  Plus I needed an excuse to use the Royal Wedding set by Lettering Delights again.

The white was much too bright to my eyes, that gave me an idea to grunge it up a bit.  As you can tell, I am not that great at grungy.  I like the way the card looks anyway.   I just learned how to get stuff nice and neat so it is going to take time to make it look worn.  Since I didn't feel right entering a Kuretake ZIG challenge without using any of their products, I used my ZIG Two Way glue pen and ZIG Millennium pen in black to draw the sentiment using my Boss Kut Gazelle.

I'm going to send this to my mom for Fourth of July.  She will wonder what in the world I am doing.  I love messing with her.  hehehe  Let me know what you think in the comments, you know I love to hear them!!  Have a great day and happy crafting!

Supplies:
Royal Wedding by Lettering Delights
ZIG Memory System Millennium in black
Recollections papers in red, white, blue and gold
Recollections rhinestones

Challenges entered:
Kuretake Blog
Cupcake Craft Challenges

Iris Folded Onesie

I love Core'dinations card stock!  Especially when I can get it to coordinate with an patterned stack I already own.   When I saw they made a pastel colored set and I have an upcoming baby shower to attend, I knew I had to purchase it.  Besides, any excuse to get my embossing folders out is an excuse worth having.  Core'dinations is the perfect card stock to use with embossing.  It gives a nice look with a deep impression.  Knowing I wanted to make some kind of card, I got my supplies together and started crafting!

I have always wanted to try my hand at Iris Folding.  For those that don't know, Iris Folding is the layering of folded strips of paper within an aperture in a spiral pattern that resembles the iris of a camera. So I scoured the 'net for a free baby pattern.  I decided on this onesie pattern.  Those make great baby cards, right?

Once you have your pattern, you want to print out two copies.  One to tape your card stock down to, the other as your pattern.

Take the patterned or solid card stock you are going to use for the front of your card or project, flip it over (as you see I put a "B" to signify that it was the back, on patterned paper this would be pretty obvious) and trace around your pattern.

Once you have your pattern cut out, tape it to the other copy with the instructions and then start on your strips.  My pattern called for 4 different papers.  I cut mine to 6" x  1", ran them through my Big Shot with four different embossing folders then folded them in half lengthwise making them 6" x 1/2".  Don't forget with Core'dinations card stock, when you emboss, lightly sand over the raised pattern to bring it out!

Now I am ready to start placing my paper strips down.  Decide what colors are going to be A, B, C and D so you can make sure you are laying down your papers in the correct order.  Then I just followed the pattern making sure the folded side of the strip is toward the middle of the card.

I used regular invisible tape to hold my paper down.  It's quick and easy and doesn't give any bulk.  Besides it holds it pretty well.  I tried scrapbooking glue and it took too long to dry and move on to the next piece.

I finally got all of my pieces down, cutting them as I went along so they wouldn't hang over the sides.  If you do see any overhang, just grab a pair of scissors and cut off the extra.

Here's my card completed and all gussied up.  What do you think?  It's a little work but oh so fantastic results!  I think Iris Folding gives projects that extra special, I put a lot of love into making this, look.  Iris Folding would also look great on scrapbook pages or even as framed art!

Supplies:

• Core'dinations Core Essentials Pastel Collection
• DCWV Nana's Nursery stack
• Darice Finishing Accents Flower Petals - mauve assortment
• Sizzix Big Shot Machine
• Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Circles set
• Spellbinders Embossing Mats
• Sizzix Embossing Folders
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folders
• twine
• buttons

Have a great day and happy crafting!!