Card for a Special Friend

Today's share is a card I made especially for Betty.  She's a wonderful woman who is struggling with cancer.  If you would like to send her a card, contact me for her address.  She's not only a great friend; she's a great Mom, Grams, and Great Grams. 

Betty came to my stamp classes for many years with her granddaughter, Tiffany.  She loves stamping and making cards.  I know she would love to receive more cards!

I die cut the foam using the framelits from the Hold on to Hope Stamp set.  I dusted it with Brusho and then spritzed.  I did blot it to soak up some of the water.  I then cut a second cross out of Whisper White cardstock and heat embossed with Copper embossing powder.  I did this a couple of times until I got the right shine to it.  

Using my Stamparatus and Stampin' Write Markers, I colored the flowers and stem and stamped on Very Vanilla card stock.  I did this a couple of times to get the darkness I wanted.  Using the Stamparatus made this so easy!

Here's the inside of the card.

Betty, I hope you enjoy this card.  

Happy Crafting,

Desiree'

Hershey Nugget Boxes

Today's share are the gift boxes I made for my Christmas in July sale.  These boxes are made using Stampin' Up! cardstock, stamps, and ink.  The papers are non-Stampin' Up!  

Did I mention these are made with just your paper trimmer?  These are fun to make and I had help with wrapping the nuggets!  The grand kids are here and so I put them to work wrapping all those nuggets.

Hope you are staying cool and enjoying these Christmas in July posts!

Happy Crafting,

Desiree'

Christmas in July

Are you still trying to stay cool in these hot temperatures?  Well, here in Branson, MO, we're getting a little relief.  I was able to hang my banner in the store.  I used retired Designer Series Papers for this banner.

I then made another banner in case someone wanted to purchase mine!  Yes, I've had that happen before where I had to hurriedly make a "MERRY" to go with my "Christmas."

I love how this one turned out as well!  I cut the letters out of the Gold Foil Paper and attached using the mini dimensionals.  I used the Large Alphabet dies from Stampin' Up!  The papers are non-Stampin' Up! as is the die I used for the banners.  The snowflakes are a retired punch from Stampin' Up!

What do you do to stay cool in these horribly hot temperatures?  I craft Christmas stuff!  Come back tomorrow for some new Hershey Nugget Boxes.

Happy Crafting,

Desiree'

Beautiful You Card Class

Class reminder for tomorrow, Sunday, from 1-3 pm, at the Branson Mill Craft Village.  These are the three cards that we will be making.  

Stop in and play with me!  We will be stamping, paper piecing, die cutting, and layering!  

We will be using retired Designer Series Papers, but the stamp sets are available.  Beautiful You has some great sentiments as well as these two ladies.  High Tide is the set I used for the Sympathy card.  

Happy Crafting,

Desiree'

Cards, Anyone?

What do you do when you get a new pack of cardstock?  Well, I like to take one full pack and cut it for card bases.  I've been so busy that I haven't had time to do this.  Well, it was sooo hot at the Branson Mill this week (AC couldn't keep up with the heat!) that all I could do was cut cardstock!

I now have colors cut for my designer series paper shares as well as for my card classes!  

This not only saves time, it helps me better color coordinate when layering.  My next step is to cut my layering pieces -- I cut a stack of 4 X 5-1/4 to have ready to grab for cards.

How do you prepare your cardstock?  Do you leave it in the package until ready to use?  

I used to, but with cutting ahead of time, I save on space and time.

Hope this tip help you!

Happy Crafting,

Desiree'

Stained Glass Playing

SPOILER ALERT:  VERY messy!

Well, during our last play session, not only did we make the Dryer Sheet card and the Napkin card, but Julie showed me how to create a Stained Glass image.  It's different from the technique I learned years ago, but very pretty.  No finished cards, but I do have some images for you.  

The first one we did was the window which are dies from the Painted Glass Suite.  Very tiny and intricate--but I love it.

The second one I did by myself and used the large Dragonfly framelit.  I'm looking for something to use for my classes at the Branson Community Center -- not too challenging and still fun!

I then played some more a couple of days later and this, too, was too complicated with the tiny cuts.

I will continue to play so I can find a better die to use for this technique.  I think you will enjoy learning this technique for making  a card for that special someone you know will enjoy the work you put into your card.

Happy Crafting,

Desiree'

Table Napkins

Are you thinking, "What is she talking about?"  Well I saw this technique a few years back (before I moved to Missouri) and wanted to give it a try.  I made one and showed Julie, my play partner.  We then decided to make one of these during her crafting time with me.

We took a beautiful table napkin and cut it to the size we wanted to use.  We then separated it so we only work with one layer.  We placed double-sided sticky sheet on our cardstock and then adhered the napkin to the cardstock.  

Rub it real well to get any bubbles out.  We then used Versa Mark, Heat N Stick powder and Dazzling Diamonds on the front.  

Ready for the finished product?  I just love how these turned out!

Next time you're out and about, check those napkins that are on clearance.  Then stop in to see me at the Branson Mill Craft Village and see the original cards so you can see the real beauty!

Happy Crafting,

Desiree'

Puppets, Anyone?

Happy Fourth of July!

Today, starting at 12:30 and going until 3:30, we will be making puppets with children and parents at the Branson Mill Craft Village.  I have 15 spots open so come on by and make a puppet!  

I have kitty, rabbit, and fox faces already cut out for you to choose from.  We'll be using paper towel rolls unless you bring your own toilet paper roll.  I'll provide all the other supplies needed to make your puppet.

Stop in today!

Happy Crafting,

Desiree'

Christmas in July?

Whether you craft your own cards or not, you have to agree that making Christmas cards while we have 100+ degree weather cools you off!

Julie stopped in for another play date and we used the dryer sheet technique with the Heat N Stick Powder from Stampin' Up!  We thought we would try this so when I teach this class, I don't have to take a step outside to use the canned spray.  This worked just as well!

Here are our cards -- mine is without sentiment still.  

For Julie's card, we used Real Red and Garden Green cardstock.  The die cut berries are from the retired Quilter Framelit set.

For my card, I used Shaded Spruce for the base and added strips of Real Red at the top and bottom.  I also stamped the larger tree in Shaded Spruce before adding my dryer sheet.  

Happy Crafting,

Desiree'

Fourth of July

Today's share is a wreath I made using the July 2014 Paper Pumpkin kit.  My pinwheels wouldn't turn so I decided to get out my hot glue gun and glue them on a styrofoam wreath.

I used my glue gun to add these to the wreath.  I have more of these kits available and hope to make more for the Fourth of July!

Happy Crafting,

Desiree'