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!...

SOAP 'STACHES

so...you probably know you my love with items on sticks...or steeks... depending on what part on the country you're in...well...i finally found a way to incorporate that into my soapmaking!...i introduce the soap 'stache on a stick!...

the mold i used was really a lollipop mold...but hey...who says it just has to be used for candy?...so following the same method that i did here for the soapsicles...when it came time to pouring...i used the lollipop mold and inserted sticks...let 'em cool...then popped out!...



now...you don't always have to insert the lolly stick...this bunch i did without 'em...



i'd love to stick around...but i really moustache...and take a bath!...



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PICK A CHARM...ANY CHARM

so...while shopping on the bay...ebay that is...i found some beatle guitar picks and just had to have them...not sure what my plans were for 'em...but i'd worry about that later...

well...in micheals one day...my home away from home...ended up in the jewelry aisle and saw some wire hoops...bam...it hit me...i'd whip up some wine charms with those guitar picks!...



just punched a hole in each of the picks...attached a jump ring...then my wire hoop...all done...



now each guest will be able to "pick" a charm and party like a rock star!...

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THESE PAINT YOUR ORDINARY NOTEPADS

so...when attempting to clean my crafting cave...i came across a buttload of paintchips...not sure how i ended up with so many...but figured it was time to put some to use...got to thinking of ideas...and these little notepads came to mind!...



with the help of my zutter bind it all i whipped these up in no time!...the front is one of my many paintchips...the middle...copier paper cut to match the size...the back...some chipboard also cut to size....punched holes in everything...then cut my wires for the binding and went to town!...



the paintchips i used were 4" inches by 5" inches...so they make nice sized notepads...sad thing...is even if i made a hundred these little rainbow cuties...i'd still have paintchips leftover...yeah...told you i had a buttload!....lol...

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SCRAP AND STAMP REMIX

so...felt like challenging myself this week...the rules?...to first...create a card...something we all know i'm not that great at...lol....then...to take the same my pink stamper stamp that i used in this card and see what else i could come up with...lastly...only use scraps...

i must say...i'm pretty darn proud of what i came up!...i think i might've actually squealed when i was all done!....because usually what's in my head...isn't at all like the finished product...but this time it was!...lol...



grabbed some red scraps of paper...and cut into 1/2" inch strips that are 5" inches long...then created the white "stripes" with my stamp...topped off with some puffies star embellies from ki memories....did up a little white stitching with my signo pen...and called this challenge done!...

hope everyone has a happy fourth!....just like the card says!...

STAR SPANGLED BATH SALTS

so...with trying to keep the crafties patriotic...decided to do up some star spangled bath salts!...you know...because tub time needs to be festive too!...the smell?...apple pie of course!...because you can't get more american than that!...



grabbing items that i have on hand...i was able to whip up this in no time!...but even if you have to gather the goods...still won't take too much time away from the firework festivities...

you'll need some bath salts...i used dead sea salts...but epsom salts would work just as well!...a container for giving...soap colorants...would not use food colors...because you don't want the actual tub turning patriotic...fragrance oil...and a little something to make it all sparkle!...

i filled my container with the uncolored salts...just to get a measurement of how much i'll need...then dump out and divide into thirds...i found the easiest way to color and scent is just by placing the salts in ziploc baggies...in one...drop some red color in there...followed by fragrance oil...then shake shake shake...making sure the salts are all dyed...if you need a brighter color...just add some more drops!...repeat this with the blue...then fragrance the white...

now it's time to fill the container!...the trick for this...just snip the corner of the ziplock bag (like you do with frosting) and start layering!...top of with some stars or something just as sparkley!...the stuff i used was from christmas!...lol...

there ya go!...and you know what?...i'm pretty sure that uncle sam himself would even soak in these!...

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WHAT THE SCRAP?

are you gals anything like me?...you have as many scraps as you do full sheets of paper?...well...i managed to finally do something with 'em...i made i card!...pretty festive, huh?...



just took all my scraps and cut into 4 1/4" by 1" strips...then got to punching!...used a martha stewart border punch for these...then...just started to adhere the stripes to a plain 'ol card base...finished it off with a sentiment stamp and some blingage...

how's that for easy?...you can do up these sorta cards for anything...just change up the color combo and sentiment...and you'll go through all your scraps in no time!...

A TIE-NY TOKEN OF APPRECIATION

wowser...it just hit me that dad day is right around the corner...and hadn't done any projects for it!...so...here's a little last minute something something...

now...not sure why ties have become the gift standard...because seems that the only time my father wore one was for funerals...but for all those dads that dress to impress...there's no reason why your keys shouldn't be as sophisticated!...



so grab a old tie from years past and a key ring...that's all you'll need for this!...well...some scissors and glue too...

oh...you might notice that this isn't the same tie in the original pic...well...after finishing that one...i realized that i hadn't taken any pics along the way...so i had to grab a stand-in for the tutorial...just think of it as a stunt tie....



take the narrow tail end of the tie and pull it through the ring...about five inches...make sure the seam of the tie is facing down...



fold tail sideways...so it is pointing to right...now you'll be able to see the seams...



wrap the tail over the top of the tie...where it folds through the ring...



keep on wrapping the tail around the ring...until the seam shows...this should look like a knot on a tie...well...a teenie tie...



pull the tail through the ring....



and down through the "knot"....



grab the ring and the tie...pull on both to tighten...



flip your tie over....



grab your scissors and snip all the excess off...



how much to cut off?...well...try to end up with it looking like this...



snip off the edges to mimic the front of tie...or...you can totally leave it blunt cut...then add some glue to the edges...to stop the fraying...



here's how it should look all done up on the back!...



and here's the frontal shot!...



now...it's time to add the keys!...i mean...what's a keychain without 'em?...i used my cricut and a design studio cut file to do up these keys...then stamped with the perfect sentiments!...



you know....father's day isn't the only occasion for these tie-ny tokens of appreciation....anytime you need a male sorta giftie...these would be perfect!...

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WASHI + TEALIGHT = ADORABLE

so...i'm quite the fan of washi paper tape...mainly get it off etsy...but some popular companies are starting to do up these tiny rolls of cuteness now...well...i've had some plain tealight candles that has been staring at me to do something with 'em...and with my new motto..."when in doubt, washi it out"...grabbed some rolls and got to wrapping!...



now...to package up these cuties...found this little kraft box in my stash...stamped it with a very fitting sentiment from pink by design...packed 12 tealights in there...tied together the whole design with wrapping some of the washi around the box...



here's an aerial shot...lol...



pop open the box let the cuteness out!....this is such an easy peasy project!...plus...it covers all that banged up ugliness that these little guys are known for...



you don't have to only do this project with the metal tealights...these are some yankee candle votives that i had on hand...even with the clean lines of the clear...still doesn't hurt to add a little something something!....



oh...and no box for packaging?...just pick yourself up a tiny little votive holder...stack 'em in there...and tie with a coordinating bow!...now you've got a gift in a gift!...



i might not be the best at math...but i do know that washi tape + tealight does equal adorable!....

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WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER

wow!...that was one popular giveaway!...thanks to everyone who entered!....but now it's that time that everyone's been waiting for...drumroll please...the winner is...

donnabischof
Thanks for a chance to win. I love everything you do. Your crafts are amazing. 

By donnabischof on GIVEAWAY TIME!... on 5/22/11

congrats donna!...so be on the look out for an email from me!...cause i'll be needing your addy!...that way i can send you your cart!...and perhaps a couple of other goodies!...

thanks again to everyone who participated!...i just love my followers!...

GIVEAWAY TIME!...

so...when cleaning my crafting cave...i came across an extra campin' critters cricut cartridge...say that five times fast...lol...well...my inability to keep track of what crafting supplies i buy will be to your benefit!...because i'm giving it away!....i mean...that's if you guys and gals are up for a giveaway?...

well...if you are...all you have to do is leave a comment below...and you'll be entered!...not so tough, right?...now...try to only comment once...want it to be as fair as possible...and let's see...you'll have until 8 pm eastern standard time friday may 27th...so get to entering!...

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

well...even though i'm not a big fan of the sun...because...i'm as pale as they come and it burns my skin....oh...it also makes all the stuff grow that i'm allergic too...it seems that most people do enjoying basking in its rays...so...i decided to whip up a little card that won't hurt me like the real deal does...lol...

grabbed my gypsy for this one and got making a shape card!....that's about all the skills i have when it comes to the gyspy...lol...anywho...this is done up with the doodlecharms cartride....an oldie but cutie!...make the card portion with using the shadow feature and some kraft cardstock...then picked out a cheery little yellow polka dot paper for the image...grabbed my peachy keen stamps and did a happy little face...kinda sounded like bob ross there...lol...applied little pink ink for the checks...and added an oh so cute bow!...

 

i can hang out with this little sunshine cutie all day!...unlike the one in the sky...it makes this greenbean a burnt bean!...lol...

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER

ok...not too sure if you remember the insane amount of artifical grass i had to buy for my astroturf can coozie project around super bowl time or not?....well...if you don't...let me fill you in...my local hardware store only had a 16 foot by 19 foot rug of the stuff...and let's just say i have some leftover...ok...alot leftover...

i figured it might be time to put some of that turf that's been lying around to work...so...i grabed a couple of items...headed outside...and whipped up some of these adorable little covered composition books!...cute right?...

 

what you'll need is a chunk of astroturf...compostion book...some scissors...spray adhesive...or hot glue will work...but since i was outside...there was no pluggage...

 

spray the back of the turf...make sure you cover enough that will fit the book...

 

see all that gluey goodness?...

 

flatten your composition book out and slap onto the glue...then rub to get it all smooth...

 

press all around the edges to make sure you got it stuck...

 

take your scissors and start trimming...just a note...i switched out my scissors...ended up using my tim holtz ones since they can handle goo buildup...

 

when all trimmed...go around edges and pinch the turf to the book...to make sure it's all stuck together...

 

all done!...ended up adding a daisy sticker to it...now it looks exactly like a doormat my grandma had!...you know...those ones with the big 'ol plastic flower on it!...

 

pretty easy project...wasn't turf tough at all!...and best part...i'm not allergic to this grass...like i am with the real stuff!...

oooo...thought just popped in my head...how cute would this be for all those golfers in your life?...don't attach the flower and slap a tee on there instead!...

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SOCKO DE MAYO

so....with the 5th of may drawing near...thought i should do a little something that's inspired by the festivities!...maybe it's because of my love for jimmy buffett...or maybe because i was just thirsty...but margaritas came to mind!...

of course had to put a crafty spin on it!...so may i present...the frozen con-sock-tion!...yeah...that's right...there's fuzzy socks in there!...

 

can't get much easier than this one...just take a pair of those fuzzy socks....shove it in a margarita glass...and garnish with a lime...mine's from the cricut just because cards cart...

 

i know...i know...the salt's missing from the rim!...but don't worry...it's included in the salt shaker!...margarita scented bath salts...yummo!...and don't forget the lime soap slices!...

 

found the cutest fruit wedge ice trays at michael's!...did those up lime scented...cute, huh?...

 

ahhhh...a gift that would make jimmy proud!...so...if you're having a fiesta!...i suggest serving up these little cuties!...

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