Operation Apron Complete

FINALLY!!  The apron is complete.  This turned out SO cute that I think I want one for myself!!  Unfortunately, it's just the right size for a 3 year old.  The matching oven mitt is in a previous post and I hope to have the chef's hat completed soon.  (Click on photos to view larger images)

Toodles,

An Oven Mitt is Born

I haven't made it very far on my sewing project.  I got sidetracked watching a movie, playing in my garden, cleaning, and baking cookies today.  If you haven't seen "Where The Wild Things Are", I would definitely recommend it.  I LOVED it!!  Anyway, I sat down to my apron/chef's hat/oven mitt project tonight and have the oven mitt completed.  It is SSSSOOOOO stinkin' cute!!  These pictures really don't do it justice.  I can't wait to get the chef's hat and apron completed now!  My back is yelling at me from sitting in the sewing room for too long, though, so I think I'm going to stop for today. Little Miss Em is going to look FANTABULOUS in her new kitchen attire!  She has the same shoe problem I have, so I'm sure she'll be wearing her apron, hat, and oven mitt along with a pair of high heel dress-up shoes, jewelry, and a purse.  As always, you can click on the photos to view larger images.

The front of the mitt:

The back of the mitt:

A side view:

Toodles,

Wedded Bliss

I had big plans of spending time poolside today, but was run inside by the rain and thunderstorms. So, I decided to work on some crafty things.  I haven't done that in a while, so it's been nice to be creative.  Pool time was almost four hours ago and the sun is out and shining brightly now... wouldn't you know it?

This next Thursday, July 1st, will be my parents' 44th wedding anniversary.  We should all be so fortunate! I was able to spend some time with them last night.  My hometown, which is where they still live, had their Independence Day celebration last night.  I picked Mom and Dad up early and the three of us went out to dinner and then met up with one of my brothers and his family at the fairgrounds for the festivities.  I enjoyed the time spent with everyone, but my time alone with Mom and Dad is always extra special.  They're just SO cute together.  Ok... I'm not going to get mushy, although I could VERY easily.  I made a card for them today.  I don't know what it is about the "Vintage Vogue" stamp set that makes me want to use purples and pearls.  I think I've done that EVERY time I've used this stamp set, though.  I've loved the results so why change now, huh?

This is what was born from "Vintage Vogue" this time.  I used Elegant Eggplant cardstock for my base.  The whisper white panel was embossed using a Cuttlebug embossing folder in my Sizzix BigShot.  The sentiments came from the "Congrats" stamp set (Sale-A-Bration 2009) and were stamped in Elegant Eggplant classic ink.  Each flower was stamped in Elegant Eggplant and Lavender Lace and then cut out by hand.  I added a rhinestone brad to the center of the largest flower and half-pearls to each of the smaller flowers. The ribbon is an organza ribbon that was purchased at Hobby Lobby.  The card turned out to be beautiful, so I hope they like it.

I have a couple of other projects I hope to get to work on this weekend.  I'm working on an apron, chef's hat, and oven mitt for my 2 1/2 year old niece, Emily.  I've got it started, but haven't made much progress on it.  I think it will go very quickly once I sit down to work on it.  I also need to get a baby quilt made for a friend of mine who's due in July.  Right now, though, I think I'm due for a short nap.  Think I'll rent a couple of movies for the evening and get some takeout.  Sounds like a relaxing evening...

Toodles,

A Father's Day Test Run

I've had this stamp set (King of the Grill) for a while and haven't had a chance to use it yet, so spent a little time in the "woman cave" today trying to come up with some ideas for Father's Day cards.  I LOVE the way this turned out, even though it took quite a while.  I used the East Coast Prep Designer Series Paper with coordinating cardstock.  The image was stamped in Jet Black StazOn and then I used watercolor crayons, watercolor pencils, and metallic pencils to color it.  I used a glue pen with Dazzling Diamonds on the smoke from the wheels (I COULDN'T leave the glitter out!!) and Crystal Effects on the apron and hat to give them some dimension.  A jumbo eyelet was set in the upper left-hand corner and I knotted (that sounds better than "tied a bow" for a manly card) a piece of Real Red Striped Grosgrain ribbon through it.  Super cute card, if you ask me!!  (To view larger images, click on the photos below.)

Toodles,

Vintage Elegance

I have to admit that I got this card design from a fellow stamper.  As soon as I saw it, I fell in love with it and had to re-create it, so here it is.  It would be perfect for someone who's name begins with an "M", don't you think?  I'm still trying to come up with the perfect card for a friend who has requested a card.  This is part of the problem with being a perfectionist... any normal person would make one card and it would be just right.  Me??  NNNNOOOO... I have to make card after card after card after card in an effort to get it JUST RIGHT when the recipient would probably be happy with the first thing I made.  I know... I need to get some help for this... or maybe I just need to accept that that's who I am! :)  This card uses the "Vintage Vogue" stamp set and I used Mellow Moss, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, and Whisper White cardstock and ink.  The butterflies were cut from vellum using the "Beautiful Wings" Embosslit die and I added half pearls for their bodies.  The monogram is from the "Lovely Letters Alphabet" stamp set and was added to the card using Hodgepodge Hardware in Styled Silver.  The flowers were stamped and then cut out by hand. The center of each flower was made by knotting ribbon, punching a hole in the flower center, and running the tails of the ribbon through to the back.  The edges of all layers were sponged and distressed, with the exception of the base layer.  I LOVE, LOVE this card!!!  The dimension is just amazing and the pics really don't do it justice.  To view larger images, just click on the pics. 

Toodles,

Blingalicious!!

It's been quite a while since I've used any glitter and I was LONG overdue!!  Some might say I overdid it a little on this card... I just call it "blingalicious"!!  I've had a request for a birthday/graduation card and it needs to have "girly flair".  This one definitely qualifies for "girly flair", but there's not one thing about it that even hints at graduation.  I'm sure this is just one of several that I'll complete in an effort to come up with the perfect card.  I REALLY like this one, though, so I may have a hard time creating something that I like better.  If any of my fellow stampers have any ideas for a birthday/graduation card, please feel free to leave your comments.  This card uses the "Razzle Dazzle" stamp set.  The card base is Whisper White and the ink and ribbon are Melon Mambo.  The sentiment is from the "Well Scripted" stamp set and the glitter is "Dazzling Diamonds".  To view larger images, just click on the photos.

 Toodles,

Graduation Gift

My cousin, Emily, graduated from Central Methodist University yesterday.  I made the trip there with my Aunt Annabelle, Aunt Fran, and my cousin, Treena.  We had an AWESOME day together I'm SO glad we were able to be there to help celebrate with Miss Emily.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Magna Cum Laude.  I'm SO proud of her!!

This is the card and matching envelope that I made for her.  I LOVE the new "Go, Graduate" stamp set.  I used Handsome Hunter and Certainly Celery cardstock with coordinating Designer Series Paper in Certainly Celery.  That was about as close as I could get to the school colors based on what I saw on their website.

I also made this super cute gift set for her.  It was made using the Razzleberry Designer Series Paper and coordinating cardstocks and inks.  I was really pleased at how it all came together.  The gift box was designed after I realized that I didn't have any gift bags, but I'm happy with the way it turned out.  The ribbon at the top of the box/bag is actually attached to the clipboard.  I made the box the same length as the clipboard so the ribbon would stick out just above the top.  To view larger images, click on the photos.

Toodles,

Mother's Day is Quickly Approaching!

Mother's Day is quickly approaching, peeps!  Have you got your card(s)?  I've been playing in my craft room this afternoon and came up with several different designs.  I'm crunched for time right now, so won't go into details on each card.  If you have questions, please post a comment and I'll get back with you as quickly as possible.

Oh... and a new birthday card, too. This went together VERY quickly, but still turned out to be a very elegant card!!

Hope you've enjoyed your weekend as much as I have.  Have a great week!!

Toodles,

Stormy Saturday Project

It's been a stormy Saturday in the midwest so, after running my errands, I settled in for some baking, crafting, and reading today.  The made-from-scratch-ooey-gooey brownies have been most excellent with my coffee while I spent some time in my craft room this afternoon.  I'm starting to feel a little sleepy, though, with one cat asleep on my craft table, one asleep in the window sill, and the dog asleep at my feet!
Here's the result of my crafting efforts today.  I'm starting to get hooked on making these bookmarks.  I LOVE them, but I have yet to make one for myself.  I'll get right on that...  Anyway, this one was made from the Razzleberry Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up! and coordinating colors.  I used the "Vintage Vogue" and "Elements of Style" stamp sets.  I think they coordinate well together.  The great thing about these bookmarks is that they're enclosed in a plastic sleeve, so they should last for YEARS.  Only the last photo shows the bookmark in the sleeve.  I was afraid there would be a glare if I took the photos in the sleeve, so took the first three before finishing it.

This image shows the entire bookmark before I finished it by putting it in the sleeve and securing it with a jumbo eyelet and ribbon.

I took this picture to show the detail in the hummingbird and flower.  I added a half pearl to the center of the flower and the hummingbird was added using Stampin' Dimensionals.  The branches were punched with the new bird and branch punch in Kiwi Kiss cardstock.  By the way.... Kiwi Kiss is coming back as a permanent color in the next Stampin' Up! catalog.  Can I get a WOO-HOO??? :)

Some days, I have a REAL problem with the format of blogger and today seems to be one of those days.  Sorry for the inconsistency in the layout of my paragraphs and photos.  I guess we'll just have to deal with it.  I took this next photo to show the detail of the embossing at the bottom of the bookmark.  I used a Cuttlebug Border Embossing Folder in my Sizzix Big Shot to achieve this look.  That Big Shot will do ANYTHING, I tell ya!!

And here's the finished product.  Actually, the glare from the plastic sleeve isn't TOO terribly bad.  The sleeve also makes this look like a professionally made project once it's complete.  I see many more of these in my crafting future... just have to come up with some more design ideas!  These would be great gifts for kids, too, so I'll have to come up with some designs that would be appealing to them, as well.

Toodles,

Craft Spasms

I've been having some SEVERE muscle spasms in my lower back.  It started last Saturday (not THIS last Saturday, but the one before) and didn't get REALLY bad until this last Friday evening.  I went to the doctor today.  He adjusted my back and prescribed some steroids to help reduce inflammation and some heavy-duty pain killers.  There's something about pain killers that makes me wanna get all crafty up in here, so that's what I did when I got off work today.  Before I get to all this craftiness, though, I have a picture I want to share.  When I go to my craft room, all three boys go with me (the dog, Ernie, and the cats, Smith & Wesson).  Ernie always takes a nap while the cats bird-watch from the window.  This one will probably wind up in a scrapbook and will be titled "Brothers"...

I just LOVE those boys!!

Well, this card is going to look familiar because it's nearly identical to one I made over the weekend.  I changed the sentiment, though, because I needed a card to go with a gift that I've made for a friend.  Besides stamping, I also enjoy sewing and crocheting.  Most of my crochet is thread crochet and I mostly make doilies.  I won't go into details about this card and bookmark since the information for products used is in a previous post.  I thought the bookmark turned out BEE-YOU-TEE-FUL and I made two matching doilies to send, as well.  I hope she likes everything!!

The doc said I probably wouldn't get much relief from these muscle spasms until about Thursday, so I'm not looking forward to the next couple of days very much.  I'm hoping and praying for some relief before then and am doing everything I can to make it happen.  Until then, maybe these pain killers will help me create some more "neato-mosquito" stuff!!

Toodles,