THE BEAN'S BEING FEATURED!

ok...i'm so super duper excited about this...blue cricket design is featuring me today!...she loved my topiary with a twist tute and wanted to show it off!...insert the happy dance here...so go on over and check it out!...

MACABRE MONDAY CHALLENGE

so...there's a blog i've been stalking for a while...haunted design house...and they have these great challenges every week...macabre mondays...each one to create something delivish and creepy...this weeks challenge...beautifully beastly butterflies...here's my first attempt at a challenge...so be easy on me...

GOTTA HAVE MY COLOR!

i'm not really the white walls type of gal...so when it comes to color...i go all out!...i love love love green...and knew that my living room had to include it...but really wanted to add a little interest...but without giving you eyes too much to look at...so...i grabbed some flat and semi gloss paint in the same exact color...and came up with one pretty cool room!...

now...straight on...you don't see too much...just because it's all the same color...

 

but when the light shines on it...or you hit it at an angle...you see tons and tons of shiny stripes...

 

 

 

want to know how it's done?...well...you gotta get flat and semi gloss in the same exact color...starting with the flat...paint the whole room...then...i wanted vertical stripes...so i grabbed my handy laser level...shot it at the wall...and taped up...i'm a pretty random person...so my stripes had to match...no set pattern...just went with skinny and fat all over the room...and then...you paint with the semi gloss!...when the tape comes off...the jaws drop!...you don't know how many compliments i get on this room!...these pics don't give it justice...guess i'll just have to invite everyone over to see it in person!...lol...

SHRINKY DINK 101

if you haven't been able to tell by now...i love me some shrinky dinks!...i never played with 'em as a kid...so i guess i'm making up for lost time!...lol...anywho...the only problem i sometimes run in to...is figuring out for a finished project...what size do i start out with?...well...came up with this little idea and it's been smooth shrinking ever since!...lol...

here's what you're going to start out with...a piece of shrinky dink (i choose white for this one...and cut it at 1 1/2"inches by 10" inches), a ruler, a hole punch and an oven ( i wasn't able to put it on my craft table too...so i left it in the kitchen...lol)

using your ruler...mark out all the inch increments...make 'em pretty visible...you still want to be able to see when it's shrunk!..

 

now...i like to hang mine...so punch a hole on the end...gotta go with a regular size punch...if you go too small...it'll close up...

 

up to the kitchen for this next step...you'll want to shrink according to directions...and taa dah!...here's the finished product!...i took one of those beaded keychains that i got at m's and put through the hole...that way...it's ready to hang!...

 

wanted to show a side by side...letting you see the difference between pre-shrunk and post shrunk...pretty cool, huh?...now...whenever i'm feeling like shrinky dinking it up...i just grab my little ruler and there's no problem!...

 

****just a note...that the clear and white shrink differently...so if you also use the ruff and ready then i'd suggest doing one of those too!...

{INSPIRATION} {RE-CREATION}

so...i purchased this wire art a little while ago...but only got one at the time...and of course...now i'm wanting another...and it's not available any more...well...got to thinking that maybe i could make my own version...great thing...it didn't cost me a penny!...all the stuff was already in the house!...i grabbed a frame that my dad had whipped up...slapped on some high gloss white paint...found some wire...and got to wrapping!...i think it turned out pretty cool!...the original was 10 x 10...mine was alot larger at 20 x 15...but i really like it bigger!...

{inspiration}

 

{re-creation}

 

****check out my linky party directory on the sidebar to see where i'm linking to this week!...

HELLO THURSDAY!

it's that time again!...the third thursday of the month...you know...when they release the newest cricut carts!...looks like i'm in trouble this time!...i want 'em all!...and just called my local ac moore...and they have 'em already!...yeppers....that's right!...so guess where i'm headed tomorrow?...insert skipping around the room here...

                                          

STUDS WITH STYLE!

i got some earrings as gifts for my girlie girls...only problem...all 8 pairs came in one box...so...had to figure out some creative packaging...i've been eyeing up the cameo-ish cuts on the forever young cart...and thought they'd be perfect!...how great would these be for bridesmaids?...or anybody!...

now for the how to!...using the emblem creative feature i cut at 5 1/2" inches...for the girlie head i also cut a chipboard layer along with the cardstock...there's no shadow for the emblem feature...so i just cut the base 1/4" inch bigger...which made it 5 3/4" inches...also cut a chipboard layer for that one too...then...i figured out where her ears would be and punch holes...put the earrings in and added a bow!...

 

but...i needed to get some space in between the silhouette and base...so went to my box of random supplies and found 1/2" inch foam...cut a little square and adhered to the back of the head...cut a tiny little piece and did the same thing at the base...

 

here's one that's a little bit more casual...i found these adorable ant earrings and had to pair 'em up with a picnic blanket-ish pattern...punch two holes and the top and added a satin ribbon piece...aren't they ench"ant"ing?...added note...she flinched a bit when i went to pierce her ears...that's why one's a bit off!...lol...

 

TEACHERS PET

so...if you're needing a little something for teachers gifts...you can't get much easier than this!...of course...using one of my fav products, chalkboard paint....all you need to do is paint up a plain 'ol clay flowerpot...two coats...and that's it!...decorate it up as you wish!...i decided to finally use my create a critter cart...yeah...don't know what i was waiting on!...lol...and made up this little magnet!...just plop a plant in there...and you're sure to be the teachers pet!...

 

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME!

sometimes it seems that i forget i make soaps and other bath goodies...well..had to remember those skills when i friend of mine asked for "end of the little league season" gifts...and i guess i figured that soap and stinky atheletes go hand in hand...or at least it should!...lol...because this is what i decided to whip up!...

these little guys are fresh cut grass scented....just like the ballfield...and used the baseball solutions cart for the tag....i'm thinking i hit a homerun on this one!...

NEW FRIEND FRIDAY

so...i saw this over at the girl creative and thought how much fun would this be to try out!...you know...get out there and meet tons more bloggy friends...so head over to her site to see how it works!...

QUITE POSSIBLY THE CUTEST PAPER...EVER!

so...i was at joann's picking up some tulle...and ended up getting 4 stacks of paper...not sure how that happened!...lol...anywho...came across some heidi grace designs paper...omg!...this paper is so freaking adorable!....wish they had more...i would've snagged  it up!....just wanted to share!...i did alot of close ups because they have the tiniest prints on 'em...and i wanted to show you how cute they are!...hope i don't bore you!...

just going to do some highlight pages in this one...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRUMROLL PLEASE...AND THE WINNERS ARE!

remember last week for national scrapbook day we had some giveaways over at my inspiration station?...well...here's those winners!...congrats!...

Winner of the scissors charm- **treefrog**
**Treefrog** said...
You truly are amazing! You always come up with the cutest ideas! I love it. TFS

Winner of Detailing pens- Beth
Beth Said
Very nice work...the details are fab!

Winner of Lollipop Flower Pin- mshady
mshady said
I love this. I have not tried any of the flowers I have been seeing all over the place. I need to try. Sure they will not look this great but worth a try.

TAKE COVER!

so...i'll admit it...at first...i was like..."why would you cover up your bug?"...ok...that didn't sound right...lol....until i saw what clare (scrappincovers) was capable of!...are kidding me?...these things rock!...and...me being different...surprise...surprise...i wanted skulls...yeah...i'm a crafter with some tude!...what are you going to do about it?...hee hee...so...i found a fabric online...she ordered it...threw it together with some other patterns...and ended up with one bug kickin' cricut cover!....so you don't have to be jealous of mine...just have her do up one of your own!...

here's where to go!...
http://www.etsy.com/shop/scrapincovers
http://www.etsy.com/shop/scrapguild

 

 

now this one doesn't belong to me...yet...lol...but how cute is this for covering up the cricut cake!...it's so yummy i wanna eat it!...