FLOWER POWER

so...do you have some stamp sets that have the itty bittiest sentiments?...well...get 'em out and ink up to make some adorable embellies!....just grab a silk flower and stamp on the a petal with stazon ink!...cute, huh?...



the reason for stazon ink?...that way it won't bleed...



stamp for whatever occassion!...



best thing....if you mess up...just snip off the petal and start over!...no silk flowers?...paper will work just as great!...

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

GOT CORKS?...

so...a little while ago...i bought some corks off ebay...i say some...but that's an understatment...considering there are more like 200...which would fall into the "buttload" category...anywho...they are super cool...because they're all from french and italian wines...oh là là...

well...needed to figure out what do with 'em...and remembered a little keychain craftie a gal pal told me about...wine not finally try it out?....hee hee..did you catch that?...see...i said wine instead of...never mind...



these could not be easier!...go to your hardware store...yes...shopping for craft supplies there again...and get some screw eyes....


then head to a craft store...and pick up some of those split key rings...these are the smaller size...


put the key ring on the screw eye...then screw into the cork...try to find the center...if not...you'll have that crafting while drinking look!...lol...



and we're done!...told ya that one was easy!...i ended up cutting some key shapes using my cricut and a design studio cut file....then stamped with a very appropriate sentiment from pink by design girls just wanna have fun set...

another variation on the idea that would be a great wedding favor idea is using champagne corks!...then just attach a little tag with the happy couples names and date!...

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

SUPER TWEET COASTERS

so...when in lowes...i came across the most fantastic 4" x 4" glass tiles and knew instantly i wanted to do coasters!...plus...it's been a while since i did a little etching...cause we all know i love me some etching!...lol...all packaged up, these make such a cute giftie for housewarmings or whatever!...

 

got out my cricut and songbird cartridge for this project...i love the birdie font and thought that it was the perfect compliment to the robin's egg blue tile color!...using some vinyl...i cut the bird at 3 1/2" inches...then centered the image on the tile...i did't want the sides etched...so i took painter's tape and ran that all around the edges...then piled on a hefty layer of etching cream...let it set for the 5 minutes and rinsed off...

 

using cork contact paper...i cut a square that was a 1/4" inch smaller to put on the bottom...the contact paper had plenty of adhesive....so no extra was needed...that cork's not going anywhere!

 

a little birdie told you me you might want a tutorial...so here ya go!...

grab some glass etching cream...mine came from michaels...a foam brush for application...painters tape...your image cut out of vinyl...and some cork shelf liner....

 

clean off your tile...you gotta make sure all oils and dirt are off!...

 

then slap your vinyl image on the tile...trying to center it...rub all around the edges of the vinyl...you don't want any bubbles or gaps...now...i do have a bubble...but since it's towards the middle of the image...it'll be fine...

 

grab your painters tape and cover the edges...making sure that it's really adhered...you don't want any of the etching cream to seep under...

 

see...egdes are all taped up!...

 

time to apply the etching cream!...

 

keep applying until the whole thing is covered...now...i'm very generous with the cream...if you don't apply enough...it'll be blotchy...better safe than sorry...because you can't re-etch!...

 

after waiting the 5 minutes...or 15 if you forget you're working on a project...like i do most of the time!...lol...take tiles over to your sink...and start to rinse off!...

 

once all the cream is off...peel off your vinyl and painter's tape...when wet...it does not look like much etching is going on...don't panic!....that's normal!...

 

dry off your tiles...

 

now take a lookie!...see...the etched goodness has appeared!...the cream worked it's magic!...

 

taking your cork square...remember...i cut mine 1/4" inch short in both height and width....peel off the backing...

 

and slap on the back of the tile!...press down to make sure it's adhered....and we're done!...

 

i bundled all my coasters up with some ribbon and topped off with another cut from the songbird cartridge...inked up the edges...added a cute sentiment and pop dotted...it's all ready for gift giving!

 

now that this idea is "etched" in your mind...you can do up these for any occasion!...and don't think you only need vinyl...you can use stickers for the shapes...or even just some randomly placed strips of painters tape to make some snazzy stripes!....

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

A DIFFERENT WAY TO STAMP

so...seems that imprinting is very popular right now...you know...gives it that touch 'o class...well...i figured out a way to do it...with using some items from the hardware store...what?...you don't shop for craft supplies there?...

anywho...i give you the poor man's letterpress!...the "thank you" is stamped in there!...

 

all you need is a hammer and steel stamps like these!...figure out what you want to say...and pound away!...

{picture courtesy of harbor freight}
now you can really make an impression with your cards!...make 'em look all fancy schmancy!...