Faux Turquoise Tutorial

Hello, blog friends! This post has been sitting on my computer since Monday. I love the technique but, I am not thrilled with my video. I do not like hearing my voice. The lighting is horrible because I recorded at night. It seemed like a good idea since the little ones were in bed and it was quiet. Today I decided I am still going to share the video with you because watching the shrinking process is the best part and I am really excited to share this technique with you. So, here it is...flaws and all.
Wait, here's a pretty picture first to help me feel better about my ugly video. :) I attached a faux turquoise bird charm to a wood pendant to add to a necklace. My sister, Amy, took apart an old bracelet and designed the earrings. I just love them! She was nice enough to share her copper circles with all of us at Stamp Club. (Thanks, girl!)

{I feel better now. Thanks!}

(Not sure about the volume settings so you may need to turn it up or down on your computer. I'm new to this, I don't know.)


Watching it shrink is awesome, right? I freaked the first time it curled up! I discovered as you keep heating it, it will flatten back out when it is finished.

We had a wonderful time at Stamp Club making all kinds of jewelry. I like to think we kicked shrinky dink up a notch!
Here are a few photos and other ideas for other shrink film jewelry items from my sister Amy. I forgot to bring my camera that night so she took a few photos of what she created afterwards. Thanks for the pictures! (Check out her beautiful photography on her photography blog here).




Thanks for stopping by and checking out my first video tutorial. So, what did you think? You going to give shrink film a try?

*Edited to add the tutorial using You Tube so those using an Iphone (like me) can view the video.*



Who's ready for the weekend? I'm hoping I can get a few crafts checked off the "I wish I had time to do" list.
Happy Crafting!

Linking to:

Cute Carrier {Tutorial}

Here's a quick how-to for the Cute Carrier.
Step 1
Cut a 5x12 inch strip. Fold the strip in half making a 5x6 inch rectangle and run it through the Big Shot making 2 scallop envelope die cuts.
Fold on all creases, folding the scallop flap opposite of the side and bottom flaps.


Step 2
Cut 2 strips in the remaining cardstock measuring 3 1/4x12 inches.
Score strips at 2 inches from the bottom.
Punch a handle using the large oval punch at the opposite ends. (see photo above)


Step 3
Place adhesive on the flaps of the envelopes and adhere the side envelope flaps to the 3 1/4 strips.
Fold in bottom flaps and adhere.

Step 4
Cut a 2 1/4 inch strip in coordinating designer paper or cardstock and adhere around the bottom portion of the carrier, going under the scallop flaps. This will not reach all the way around, so cut and 2 1/4x2 inch piece to fill in the gap.
Adhere the scallop flaps to the side to keep them down. (no photo for this step, oops)

Step 5
Decorate.



Tip: Run a strip of ribbon through the handle and attach to the bottom of the carrier with double sided tape, then using a different strip of ribbon, tie a bow just below the handle. Tell the recipient to peel the ribbon from the bottom to make it easier to open and the packaging stays nice and pretty.




I hope you enjoy this tutorial. If you have any question feel free to ask, I'm happy to help!
If you create your own Cute Carrier please share it with us using Mister Linky below my signature. I look forward to seeing your projects!
Thanks for visiting.

More Christmas Crafts

Here's a look at what we will be creating at Stamp Club tonight.

I finally tried "stamping" on candles. (How-to found here.) It's addicting! So fun and easy, but super cute and personal. I will be making many more of these, for sure!







Here's a non-Christmas one just to show these candles would be cute decorated in any theme. There are so many personalization and theme possiblities with this!



I purchased the glass etching cream last year and finally pulled it out. It was a little tricky but I think my decorated mug is pretty cute. I used the big shot to cut snowflakes out of contact paper. Stuck it to my glass mug and used the glass etching cream to make the snowflakes look frosty. You could do this on any smooth glass surface. Perfect for a jar filled with holiday candy, a plate of cookies, or a mug stuffed with hot chocolate mixes.





I hope my Stamp Club ladies enjoy our projects tonight.

Make & Take Monday

Supplies:

Stampin' Up! rhinestone brads (I used one medium and one large rhinestone brad for each earring)
2 Fish Hook Wires
2 Round Jump Rings 6mm

First cut the ends of the brads prongs just where the prongs begin to seperate to attach to the brad.

Slide one prong of the medium brad into the loop on the fish hook earring and fold down prong.

Slide the other prong of the medium brad into the jump ring and fold flat.

Slide one prong on the large brad into the jump ring and fold flat.

Repeat for the second earring.

You can also make a matching bracelet using these brads and the jump rings. You will need to add a clasp to the end. You can buy those in the same section as the jump rings and fish hook earrings in your local craft store.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Make & Take Monday

It has been a really long time since I've shared a sketch. A year or more I think. Someone found my sketch blog Scrapbook Page Possibilities about a week ago and left a comment wondering if I was going to post more sketches. I dug out my sketch notebook and found lots of sketches I'd drawn up but never shared and never used. So I thought I would start sharing a sketch once or twice a month.

I've inclued the measurements of the papers and photos to help make it that much easier to use and plan your page.

Here's a page I've created using this sketch.

I used snowflakes in place of circles but you could use flowers, butterflies, stars, all sorts of fun things. I titlted the blue paper a little and used two wallet size photos instead of one 4"x4".

Papers:
Razzleberry Lemonade
Melon Mambo
Pacific Point
Whisper White

Punches:
Scallop Edge

Big Shot Dies:
Snowflakes #2 set
Lots of Tags
Top Note
Billboard Decorative Strip

Chipboard

Loads of Letters

Tip - An easy and quick way to color chipboard is to use a sponge dipped in an ink pad. Don't want to get messy fingers? Use a binder clip to hold the chipboard while you sponge. I used a huge clip but any size should work.

Below you will find Mr. Linky. You can easily share your pages created using this sketch by filing out the form below. I look forward to seeing what you create!!

Hope you are having a wonderful Monday. Thanks for visiting.

Make & Take Monday

When I'm out and about I've always got an eye out searching for cute little gifts or fun things to alter and make crafty. I had found little flower growing kits packaged in a tiny flower pot with soil and seeds inside. Super cute. So bought a few thinking I could decorate them and give as a thank you or something. While visiting one of my favorite websites Splitcoast Stampers I came across these adorable paper watering cans. Right then I knew it would be perfect for my tiny flower pot. I was hoping the flower pot would fit down inside but the top was too large. I'm still in love with how it turned out! 



Since it is so easy and so cute I thought I'd share it for Make & Take Monday. Because there is a printable template it took little time to put it all together.

Step 1
Print the template from the link below on cardstock or patterned paper and cut out the four pieces: watering can body, spout, curved handle and back handle. Stamp any designs at this time.

Watering Can Template

Step 2
Working on the "wrong" side of the paper, score and fold the dashed red lines on the watering can body. I also inked the edges and folds to add depth.

Step 3
Apply adhesive to the folds on the "right" side of the paper and bring sides together to form the can body.

Step 4
Curve the front flaps and tuck into the sides of the watering can using a dab of adhesive to keep in place.

Step 5
Take the spout and fold with "wrong" sides turned to the inside as indicated by the red dashed lines in the template.

Step 6
Apply adhesive to the end of the spout's inner sides to hold them together.

Apply adhesive to the base of the spout and attach to the front of the watering can body.

Step 7
Attach the curved top handle ensuring that the handle curves to the back. (I didn't add this to my example because the flower pot would not fit.)

Step 8
To cover the printed words and the other side of the designer paper I cut a second strip for the handle for the back and glued the wrong sides together.
Fold the handle for the back on the dashed red lines as indicated in the template.

Step 9
Attach to the back of the can to form a ‘D’ shape.

Step 10
Now your can is ready to be decorated!





Stampin' Up Supplies:

Paper:
A Walk in the Park designer series paper (retired)
Chocolate Chip cardstock
So Saffron cardstock

Stamps:
Great Friend ( Butterfly and "for you")

Punches:
Scallop Circle
Boho Blossoms

Big Shot:
Swirls Scribbles Die


While I was working on my watering can I thought how easy it would be to use the same template to create a teapot. Of course I had to try it out right away.



I changed the spout and created a lid, tada...a teapot. I used the picture of the teapot in the background as inspiration for my little paper teapot. It is just the right size to hold a few packages of herbal tea. 

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Paper:
Whisper White cardstock
Basic Black cardstock
Melon Mambo cardstock

Stamps:
Baroque Motifs (swirls)
Cold & Cuddly (sentiment on tag)

Punches:
Boho Blossoms
Word Window
Modern Label



Two cute ideas from one template! Love it. I hope you enjoyed this Monday Make & Take. If you have any questions just ask. I'm happy to help. If you would like to purchase any Stampin' Up supplies, I'm here to help with that, too. Just email me at r.ricks@mchsi.com to place an order.
We'd all enjoy seeing what you create. Simply add a link to a photo of your creation in the comments.

Hope you have a wonderful week.

Make & Take Monday

It's already Monday again and time for Monday Make and Take! Have I got some eye candy for you...literally! LOL.
This make and take was postponed due to my little goblin and ghouls gobbling up the goodies while mummy was away.
I've been searching the world wide web for fun Halloween ideas and found these candies. Once I found these I knew I wanted to create a jar of eyeballs to go along with my spell book and other potions set out for Halloween. I found this jar at the local craft store. I collected some eyeballs, filled my jar, and created an eyeball label. My little goblin and ghouls LOVE them and they taste really good, too.

To make the eye candy you will need:
-Lindt White chocolate truffles
-Cookie icing (because it hardens)in the eye color of your choice
-Chocolate cookie icing for the pupil

Create a circle in the eye color icing then fill it with the chocolate icing. Let the icing set for 4 hours (or what is instructed on your icing package) before placing in the container.

Tip: I scrunched up the wrapper to lay the truffle in while I decorated it and let the icing set so it didn't roll every where. Eyeballs can be slippery little guys.

There you go. Super easy but so cool.

To create the label you will need:
1 1/4" circle punch
1" circle punch
1/2" circle punch
Basic Black and Whisper White cardstock
Cardstock in the eye color of your choice
Black ink and sponge
White Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen
Adhesive
Step one:
Punch a 1 1/4" circle in Whisper White cardstock.
Punch a 1" circle in the eye color cardstock.
Punch a 1/2" circle in Basic Black cardstock.
Step two:
Ink the edges of the eye color circle with black ink and sponge.
Step three:
Adhere the eye color circle on top of the white circle.
Adhere the black circle into the center of the eye color circle.
Step four:
Add a catch light to the black circle with the white gel pen.
Step five:
Attach your eyeball to your project.

I centered one eyeball onto the stamped image from the stamp set Gallery. The eyeball was just the right size to for the center! I also attached one to the the top of the jar because it was a perfect fit.
I hope you enjoyed the make and take. I plan to have more Halloween goodies and packaging ideas soon. If I can keep little goblin and ghoul fingers out of the goodies, that is.
Have a lovely Monday.

Make & Take Monday...a little late

Sorry so late. With our children out of school this week for fall break it has been a little crazier than normal.

I wanted to make a little thank you for a friend. She has been teaching girls ages 8 - 12 at our church how to sew. I knew I wanted it to have a sewing theme. I saw a sewing kit while out shopping and thought the tiny spools of thread and scissors were super cute. I grabbed it thinking I could use it somehow. I thought a sewing basket would be cute. I googled sewing baskets and a pretty nantucket basket came up in the search. So I took the basket I made last month with my stamp club and tweeked it a little bit more using the nantucket handles as inspiration. I really like how it turned out and thought you may enjoy learning how to make one as well.

I created the basket idea using a basket called 2, 4, 6...I think. Then just built the design from that.



You will need:
6x6 square carstock or designer paper
2 one half x 6 inch strips of cardstock or designer paper
scoring tool
scissors
1" circle punch
corner rounder
4 brads
adhesive

Step one
Score your 6x6 inch square at 2 inches and 4 inches
Turn and score again at 2 inches and 4 inches
The scored lines will create something that looks like a tic-tac-toe board

Step Two
Following the score lines cut 2 inches deep at the 2 inch line and 4 inch line
Do the same on the opposite side
It will look like this:


Step Three
Cut the center flap into a triangle and both side flaps into thirds.
Like this:


Step Four
Trim 1/4 " off of the 2nd and 3rd strips (counting from the outside edge)


Step Five
Starting with the first and longest strip bring the two side together and attach.
Then layer the next two and then the last two.


Then attach the triangle flap on top of the flaps.
(I inked the edges of everything first to give it more depth)


Step Six
Punch two 1" circles. Attach them over the points of the triangle. (I trimmed the point off before attaching the circle)


Step Seven
Cut two 1/2" x 6" strips. Use a corner rounder on the ends.


Attach about 3/4 inches from the end of the basket with brads.


Step Eight
Decorate!

You can add layers of paper onto the bakset, line the inside, create an edge, stitch on the basket, so much potiential.

I kept this one simple.


I wanted to cover up the brad backs so I added a strip of scallop edge paper on the inside.


Then I punched a tag using the Curly Label punch. I stamped "thank you" and then stitched the word "sew" below. Since I don't have a small stamp that says much I just hand wrote it under "sew." I added a button and used embroidery floss to tie the tag to the basket.



Inside I have 4 tiny spools of thread wrapped in a strip of Window Sheet paper to keep them in place, tiny scissors, and a tiny wrist pin coushin I made.


I used this tutorial (click here)to make the pin coushin. The only thing I changed was, I added the elastic by punching holes on opposite sides using the cropodile, threaded the elastic through and tied it in knots at the ends.

The COOLEST thing about this basket design is you can make the same basket in 3 different sizes!! You can use a 6x6 inch square, a 9x9 inch square, or a 12x12 inch square. Just score your square into thirds and go from there. So I HAD to try out the largest. All put together it measures 4 inches deep and just under 7 inches across!



Again I kept the decorating simple this time.


I filled this one with a bag of tortillia chips, a packet of seasonings to use to make the best chili ever, and the recipe.

I wasn't really planning on making this basket so I didn't have all the things I'd like to add on hand. I think a nice pot holder and laddle would be nice added to this gift basket. Instead of chips a cornbread kit and a small decorative muffin tin may fit. Tons of ideas! You can decorate this with so many themes and fill it with so many goodies.



Hope you think it was worth the wait, since I was late.

I'd love to see any of your decorated baskets and ideas. Just leave a link to a photo of your creations in the comments so we can all be inspired.

Have fun creating!