Monday, July 30, 2012

Photo Cube done!

I FINALLY finished it and I love it!  I cut all the PVC pipes to 1 1/2' length from the 2' length.  Definitely more manageable.


This is the side view.  I purchased a cheap white sheet at WallyWorld and it is MORE than enough.  I might change it out for a piece of poster board but, who knows.


Here's the front view.  The card was posted earlier but, since I haven't stamped for a few days, I didn't have anything new to photo.


These are the light bulbs I used.  WAY better than standard flood/spot lights.  I don't have to lighten my photos on PhotoShop now and no shadows!  And the cube is so light weight, too.  Very easy to remove from the freezer.  Not sure if I'll use it when I've baked something.  But then, the sheet is washable! LOL!
Now I need to figure out what to do with 12 6" pieces of PVC pipe....  Oh, I don't use the flash on my camera when I use my cube.  Don't need to.

Here's the link to my original post and cube.  Click HERE
I got the directions from Paper Crafts Magazine.... click HERE  but I changed the lengths of the pipe for better handling.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Looking forward to Autumn, Part 2

I've gotten another 2 sample cards done for my upcoming Autumn card class. It's been very hot and muggy here since it's our monsoon season and I'm looking forward to some autumn coolness.


I'm using the same Hot Off The Press papers and some coordinating card stock.  I colored these beads the same way as I did the one in the previous post.  Same stamp, too.


The leaf border was made with a Fiskars border punch.  But isn't this paper (not card stock) just gorgeous!






I had some huge orange rick rack that I thought would work wonderfully with this design.  The text stamp is from Impression Obsession.  I have to come up with one more card and am blurfing (ya know, blog surfing!) for inspiration.  I look for sketches mostly but one never knows what will click in my mind! LOL!  Hope you have a great weekend.  We're forecasted rain for this afternoon so gotta get some weed-eating done quickly!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Looking forward to Autumn

I'm currently working on some Autumn cards for my August 22 class at AZ Scrapbooking in Green Valley, AZ.  I was asked to use paper by Hot Off The Press.  Here's one of 4 cards....


The stamp is by Inkadinkado called Corn. I colored with Copics but didn't try to do any shading or anything.  The leaves are by Petaloo and the bead is from my Clear/Pearl Gem collection.  Want to see it closer?


I colored the bead with a coordinating Copic marker!  And, after getting my fingers colored I figured out what to do.  I added a mini glue dot to the tip of my CutterBee scissor protector and then put the bead on that.  I could then color without getting my fingers colored!  Well, duh!  Took me a while to come up with that!  And I had no fingerprints on the bead! Cool beans! (as my sister-by-choice would say - Hey Sandi, I quoted you!)

It's been hot and muggy here in southern AZ.  We've had over 4" of rain at our place and the weeds are knee high!  Love the moisture! Garden is growing well but do have some problems with ants. Well, off the make more cards!  Hope you come back soon!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Accordion Card

While at the Christmas In July Retreat sponsored by AZ Scrapbooking in Green Valley, AZ  I took a gander at the newest Card Maker magazine that Andi brought.  There was a cool accordion card that caught my attention.  I was having a bit of a problem with the directions so I decided to try it.  I had to change the dimensions a bit so that I could use just 1 12"x12" solid card stock instead of 2 and I love how it turned out.  I have made some card similar in design but I played with some paper I got from Memory Works.  It's Simple Stories Awesome with matching solid card stock and stickers.


Here's the card closed with the belly band.


And opened!  I used a T.A.C. stamp on the label from a set called Wonder & Joy.  The store owned, Debi, liked this and I ended up giving an impromptu class for about 20 gals!  (Did this in 2 settings.)  It was enjoyed by the participants and 1 gal was up at 4:30 the next morning and made some more!  What a hoot.  I plan on making this a class this fall.

And, I think I'll clean some drawers and have a blog candy drawing.  Any interest?

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Taco Boats

Taco BOATS???  Really?  Well, that's what I call them.  I seen this really cool post on FaceBook last week and was intrigued.  I love tacos and love the ease to make them.  Check this out!


This is what I started with.  Muffin pan???  Yeppers!


I sprayed the underside of the pan with spray oil and carefully put the small tortillas in-between the cups to form a bowl or boat.  Bake these ate 375* for 10 minutes.  It probably would have been better to use a larger pan but my big ones looked horrible underneath!  I do wash these rascals but WOW! Time to get out the S.O.S. pads!


Voila!! 


Now, doesn't this look just yummy!  I have romaine lettuce growing in my "box" garden and am getting LOTS of lettuce.  Been making some salads and using the leaves on hubby's sandwiches for his lunchbox.
Anyway, give this a try and let me know what you think!

Friday, July 20, 2012

Block stamping

I've told you numerous times that I'm a Technique Junkie.   Each month I take part in a 1 on 1 swap and I just finished my card recently.  I used a technique called Acrylic Block Taping technique and, though it didn't come out quite like I envisioned, I like it!


I used my Desert Heat K-Pad and some pink and orange card stocks along with the white. My flower is made of 3 different flowers trying to use similar colors in the background.


The label is a Spellbinders Nestie Labels 11 and text is from a The Angel Co. set called Tag Tidbits.  I edged and sponged the label with Palette Hybrid Claret ink.  And I just had to use some pink scrappers floss!  What do you think? 

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

What's On Your Workdesk Week 163 (for real)

Well, it's Wednesday!  And what do you get to do on Wednesdays??  You get a peek at my work area!!  This was started by Julia at the Stamping Ground and has developed into a monster blog tour!  It's so cool to see other crafters' desks!  Click on her blog name to all the links available.  So, without further ado...


As usual, its a mess.  I'm still playing with some ideas using Authentique paper (the poppies) and tags (Sizzix die).  But what I'm really happy with is my bottom drawer where all my dies and embossing folders are!  Now that my Spellbinder dies are in their storage case I can find what I'm looking for in this drawer!


What a relief!! I used to have the first Sizzix machine but sold it years ago when I got my purple Wizard (with which all these work great).  But I kept all the dies and some of these are VERY old!  My next organizing project will be my closet so we'll see what happens there in the future.


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Stars and Stamps Sketch Challenge 129

I was blurfing yesterday and one of my favorite blogs is the Stars and Stamps/Operation Write Home blog.  This challenge originated Sunday but I liked the sketch and gave it a try....


I used some DCWV white core card stock and a Cuttlebug Embossing folder.  Of course, I sanded to bring out the design.  I had fun picking the colors... kinda different, huh!


The text is from a The Angel Co. set called Label Lingo.  Since the embossing was of buttons I added coordinating real ones on the ribbon under the text.   To see some really cool cards using this sketch just click on their blog name!

Monday, July 16, 2012

Class sample

My previous post showed a little cowboy treat bag and now I will show you the actual sample for my class.  I've yet to give the class a title but I will ask for suggestions soon.  The class will consist of the bag, a card, and a gift tag.


I tried 2 different ways of adding ribbon to the binder clip.  Here the ribbons are just tied on.  Not sure I like this.  What do you think?


Here the ribbons are "looped" on.  They want to fall forward.  Oh, pattern paper is by Authentique.


I used my Spellbinder Beaded Circles Nestie die (in my old Wizard machine) for the black card stock and cut out the poppy and added mini rhinestones to the stamens.  Can you see the bit of black stardust gel pen too??  I'll show the card and gift tag shortly.  I still need to come up with 1 more class. I might get some ideas at the AZ Scrapbooking's Christmas in July retreat this weekend in Green Valley, AZ.  I plan on joining in Friday and Saturday to help where needed and play with others for a while.  Maybe I'll even have some pictures to share!

Friday, July 13, 2012

A class idea....

My friend, Paula Kay B., made the cutest little treat box and I thought it'd be a great class at the AZ Scrapbooking store where I teach.  This is my first attempt at one.  Not real fancy (you know I like simple) but I like it...


I made the initial box (oh, I didn't get a pic of the side view!) out of an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of card stock.  The star pattern paper is some left over from some projects and the little cowboy is a The Angel Co. stamp.  I used Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 3 die and colored with Copic markers.


How do you like the little boot charm?  It came off an earring!  I colored a piece of white scrappers floss with a Copic marker and strung the charm.  Then I used a glue dot to attach it to the button and bag.
I have purchased paper from the store and hope to make a matching set of the bag, a card, and a gift tag.  Hopefully I'll get started tomorrow.

We had a very strong storm go through last night and the power was off and on several times, thunder shook the house, lightening was VERY close, and this morning, no water.  Apparently the power problem took the community well pump off line.  I didn't sleep well due to the thunder and the shaking of the house it caused.  I didn't have to water the garden anyway!  And tonight we're planning on going into Tucson, AZ to see the San Diego Padres play the Fresno team (base ball).

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

What's On Your Workdesk Week 163

If you've been following me you know that on Wednesdays I join a large blog hop/tour of crafters' desks sponsored by Julia over on the Stamping Ground.  Just click on her blog name after reading my post to get the links of all the cool gals (I haven't seen any guy posts yet) and their work desks.  I think this is actually week 162 but I'm not going to argue with Julia! 

I have been on a bit of a cleaning spree over where that pile was on the floor.  To help me I purchased the Magnetic Die Storage Case by ArtBin and 3 extra magnetic sheets.  The case came with 3 sheets.


After loading my dies on the 6 sheets I've come to the conclusion I need another 3.  Kinda tells you I have a bunch!


I'm hoping that if I keep my dies next to my Wizard machine I'll use them more.  The case did free up some room in my die drawer as I have about 25 Sizzix (the old red original ones) and other dies along with lots of texture sheets and embossing folders. Since that drawer isn't crammed full I can find things easier!  Funny how that works!

Now, leave a comment if you choose and click on Julia's blog and get some great ideas!  I am working on a cute One Sheet Treat Box for an upcoming August class and will post my samples when I get them made.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Happy Heart

I got a few minutes yesterday to play and hopped over to the Stars and Stamps blog by Operation Write Home.  I loved their sketch challenge and decided to give it a try.


The floral paper is a left over from a class long ago at the AZ Scrapbooking store in Green Valley, AZ.  And I had all these orange flowers that looked to work well with the paper.  The text is from A|Muse Studios.


I did edge the bigger flowers with orange ink.  The little flowers are Paper Posies by Doodlebug Design Inc.  I have quite a few packages of assorted colors and need to use them.

I need to start getting some ideas for my August classes at the store.  Guess I need to do some blurfing!

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Phoenix Zoo Family Photo

I finally made a page of our family photo taken at the Phoenix Zoo on May 27 this year.  I have to admit, I'm not a good scrapper.  It's a real struggle for me.  I'm using some Bo Bunny Zoology paper and an alphabet stamp set from The Angel Company (not available at Red Rubber Designs, at least, not yet).


I laid out all the elements and played with placement for quite some time before I decided on this.  I'm still trying to decide if I need to add something just below the word Family and I'm thinking I should but I don't know what yet.  I have attached the photo stub along with the map cover and a little tag with May 2012 written on it (covers the FB and twitter logos).


I stamped all the letters then cut them out and attached them to the yellow strip.  That made them pop so that they could be read.  The yellow strips are raised up with foam mounting tape.


Update: I added a little tag in the area I was wondering about.  Since there were 4 generations in this photo I had to commemorate that!


I think this helped a lot!  And now I really like my page!

Friday, July 6, 2012

Cut Fold Tuck and Bo Bunny

My folks' anniversary was yesterday and I wanted a cheery card plus use some really cool Bo Bunny paper called Back to Basics.  And I'm still playing with a Spellbinder Cut Tuck Fold dies so, are you ready to see what I came up with?


I still haven't finished my photo box and we're going to be out playing this weekend so the light isn't so great on this. Anyway, isn't this paper cool?  This panel came from a sheet called 12" Alora Cut Outs.  I hope to play with it more.


Here's a close up of the flower.  I added a 3" scalloped circle behind it to show it off more and a coordinating button with white scrappers floss.

I've been playing with some of my photos from our Phoenix trip and some BoBunny Zoology World paper.  Funny how one can look and look at the paper yet the brain just goes into nap mode.  Gotta get some mojo!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

What's On Your Workdesk Week 161

I want to thank Julia at the Stamping Ground for this opportunity to hop around to view other crafter's work areas! I'm not going to show you my work desk today.  Instead I'm going to show you the results of what I was up to yesterday!  Our local scrapbook store is having a Christmas in July retreat July  20 - 22 in Green Valley, AZ. I think it is almost sold out so I was asked to help make some of the goodies. Since yesterday  didn't get so hot (we were about 92* F.) I got to work!


This is my sink after I got stuff in the oven.  I made 3 dozen butterscotch scones and 8 honey scones.


Here's the 2 dozen butterscotch scones for the retreat.  And yes, the platter is stamped.  (I made it many years ago and I don't know the company that made the stamped sheet into a melamine platter. I made quite a few items in about 2001 for Christmas gifts.)

But, I do want to show you how my floor looks now!  You'll have to look back to last Wednesday's post to see the knee-deep pile on my floor in front of some shelves.  It was pretty bad...


But now!!!!  I'm not showing the top of the shelf as it hasn't been touched yet but it will be soon.  It isn't nearly as bad as the floor was!  I did throw out quite a bag of garbage!  I wonder how long it will look like this....  LOL!  My cat does enjoy laying in this clean spot so she does keep me company now and then.

And I hope you have a safe and blessed celebration of our anniversary of Independence Day! May the United States of America, the great Republic that it is, remain free from tyranny and oppression!