Why Yes I Do Still Make Things! RAK Thank You Cards Essential Workers

Followers of this blog must wonder "does she actually ever make anything anymore?" and the answer is "she does!"

Things have been crazy busy for a while between a lot of work things, real life things, and some things had to give. I make stuff all the time. What I haven't had or made as much time for is taking photos and editing them to put up here on the blog, or writing blog posts besides my weekly party.  I finally made sure I did. 

Regardless of what our Governor decides next week (which is when he's supposed to make his decision) about relaxing our shelter at home order, we will continue to practice social distancing based on the modeling that shows we haven't yet hit our peak. I'm in a high risk group and don't want to take any chances and I'm also an only child to my little Mommy. So that's that. 

We go out strategically. Grocery shopping and essentials and do some takeout dining to help support local businesses. I've been making it a point to thank the people working who are keeping us going and don't always have a choice whether to be there. I wanted to do something more and one glance at my scrap paper stash gave me the idea to make "Thank You" cards that I could give to them. Maybe it's silly but I'm appreciative of them doing the work to keep us all going and unfortunately I've witnessed some people whose manners are let's just say, absent. 

I bought this great Park Lane Paperie in a curbside order from JOANN's. I like heaving (110 lb) card stock for my cards and this is perfect plus tons of colors to work with. Then I grabbed my baggies of scrap paper leftover from other projects and played. 

I cut each sheet in half so they measure 4.25 x 5.5.  The focal sentiment I did in PrintShop and printed out in three different colors. Measured and cut panels 4 x 5.25 from the scraps and then just mixed and matched. 

Some I did with more than one paper. Others just one sheet. Some embellished w/ glitter tape. Others just simple with the sentiment matted on coordinating scraps. 

I'm trying to be mindful of all that people are going through and I think the world can always use a bit more kindness don't you? 

Black White and Antique Gold Birthday Card

Sharing an easy birthday card that requires no cutting machines or equipment besides a paper cutter and a punch. 

Supplies: 

• DCWV "Decor Noir" Stack ( I've had this one for a while so not sure if it's still around but I know I've seen similar stacks at JoAnn)
• Black Cardstock ( I used Recollections 110 lb, Michaels)
• Antique Gold foiled transparency ( Michaels)
• Cream and Antique Gold glitter scraps
• Recollections ( Michaels) Washi Tape
• Self adhesive 3D sticker embellishment strips ( stash)
• Star Punch
• Foam Tape
• Double sided tape ( I used my trusted tape gun)

The Deco Noir stack includes a couple sheets of different sentiments / sayings like the one I used for the focal. Cut from sheet, trim, add two strips of washi tape, add 3D embellishment strip,  mount to cream glitter scrap. Punch Antique Gold star from glitter scrap and mount with foam tape as shown.

Cut the black cardstock to 5x7 and trim a sheet of the "alphabet" paper from the stack to the same size. Adhere to front of card.  Cut  the transparency to 4.5 x 6.5, and layer the front panel to it, then adhere to card and voila. Done and done!

Lavender and Gold Birthday

The  Mumster's birthday was last week and before knowing that we were losing The Purple One, Prince, I'd made some things for the other Purple One, my mom. She truly could have given Prince a run for his money with her love of purple. 

I'd picked up the lavender beads at Michaels without really having a plan. The plan came together when I found the lavender, gold, and silver handmade paper which gave me the inspiration for the necklace and bracelet I made. 

The bracelet and necklace combine the lavender beads with antique gold. For the pendants, I used antique gold bezels (Darice, avail at JoAnn's) , gold glitter paper (Michaels) and glass domes (CraftFantastic.com).  

The necklace is gold chain with sections of lavender and gold beads. 

I used the handmade paper to make some altered candles ( plain candles, Dollar Tree) and finished them with strips cut from rhinestone sheets ( DCWV) ribbon, and charms.  I used a leftover scrap of paper to cover the box for the jewelry. 

What's a birthday without a card? 

The crackled paper is from Oriental Trading company. I'll have a post later in the week featuring more OTC goodies. The flower is suede paper I picked up when I found the handmade papers. I used a Tim Holtz die to cut the flowers. 

I had some beads and charms left over from the candles so I used them to make a few ribbon bookmarks. One for my mom and a couple extra as gifts. 

Sharing At: 

Dear Lizzy Fifth and Frolic Cards...And They Can Be Yours

I recently had the chance to play with a new line of papers  available as of March 17th at JoAnns: Dear Lizzy Fifth and Frolic by American Crafts. This is a new line from designer Elizabeth Kartchner. Playing with these papers just put me in a happy mood and how could they not?

The papers are all double sided in shades of light blue, pinks, yellows, naturals, greens and they all work with each other. I decided to make some cards and went with a really random process in doing so. I chose a couple of the papers and cut several different shapes using my Expression. The papers are great for manual and electric die cutting machines.

I had some coordinating blank cards in my stash and just kind of started putting pieces together.

The collection also includes great embellishments like these coordinating brads that I used in the cards:

You can see the entire line here as well as follow the frolicking fun with American Crafts on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or

JoAnn Stores on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

And since I had so much fun making them just because, I’m giving them away “just because”. Super simple. Leave a comment and a winner ( US or Canada only) will be randomly selected.

Disclosure: I received the products used in this post from American Crafts. Opinions and giveaway of cards are my own.

Everyone's A Card Maker With David Tutera Celebrate

You might remember a few weeks ago when I posted a video about the new David Tutera Celebrate line that’s available (exclusively)  at Jo Ann’s? I’m so excited to post today about what I made with products from this fun new line of cardmaking and paper products.

This line is perfect for the novice or seasoned cardmaker. It requires no tools beyond adhesive and your imagination and takes no time at all to whip up a card that looks like it took hours and cost a fortune.

The Celebrate line is literally as easy as 1, 2, 3 which is how each of the components are labeled.

1.) The Card. Cards come in 4 x 5.5 or 5x7 and come in everything from plain white to metallic to natural and several colors.
2.) Layers sized to match you card. These are wonderful for those who may not have a fancy die cutting or embossing machine because the work is already done for you.
3.) Accents. These include borders, tags, layered sentiment stickers, rhinestones and smaller diecuts.

For the birthday card above I used a metallic silver 5x7 card  (Step 1), a grey layer with scrolled edges and a center cutout, along with a white embossed layer underneath ( Step 2) , some borders, birthday sentiment, and small diecuts ( Step 3).  1.2.3.

One of the things included in my package was this sanding block . His line uses papers by Core’dinations, one of my favorite papers to use in cards and other projects. When you sand the papers you reveal some of the color underneath and it completely changes the texture and appearance of your piece.

I love the shabbied up look after sanding and my supplies also  included a wonderful rag that wipes up all of the dust without affecting the paper.

I cut two of the  borders the width of the grey layer and adhered with a glue dots runner.

The borders are already textured for you so you there’s no dry embossing required.

I chose one of the layered birthday sentiment stickers, and placed it in the window of the grey layer and then finished off with a coordinating layered flower:

This card took me 10 minutes or less to make. Seriously. I think you’ll take longer deciding which combination of card, layers, and embellishments to use than to actually make the card. It’s so easy.

I had so much fun with it, I whipped up a Thank You card as well.

Again, 1. Card 2. Layers 3. Embellishments.

I don’t ever want to hear from anyone that they can’t make a card. Thanks to this line I’ll have to call fibs on you.

Now for even more excitement. You can enter to win $300,  yes $300 worth of David Tutera Celebrate products of your very own! How awesome is that?

Three lucky winners will receive a $300 grand prize pack of supplies fromDavid Tutera’s Celebrate cardmaking line AND a personally signed book from David! 20 additional winners will receive a $50 Celebrate prize pack.

Sign up here for a chance to win:  http://pages.exacttarget.com/tutera-optin-blog/.

You can also visit the David Tutera Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/DavidTuteraCelebrate

And follow along on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TuteraCelebrate

Blast From The Past: Tinsel Trees (Stinkin' Easy)

OK this was the easiest thing ever. So easy it’s not really even worth posting about but what the heck.

I have lots of different styles of Christmas décor. I like different looks, and since I decorate just about every room, I figure I can do different styles in each. This year I’ve caught a glitter bug and am doing a kind of retro mid-century modern mantle. Enter the tinsel!

What the heck are they you ask? Tinsel trees I answer. With Snowflake toppers.  Here are the complicated ingredients for this crazy concoction:

Styrofoam Cone and Tinsel Garland. I hoped to get the cone at Dollar Tree but apparently they don’t have them anymore so I got one at Michaels with a 50% off coupon and one at JoAnn’s with a 40% coupon. The tinsel garland I did get at Dollar Tree. 50 Feet for a buck.

For the topper, a VERY expensive glittered snowflake from Jo Jo’s ( JoAnn) $.79 and 50% off . I know…pricey!

I didn’t even use glue. Just started at the bottom of the cone and stuck a straight pin through the tinsel garland and a few more as I went around the bottom to make sure it was on there good.

And wrap. And pin…from time to time in random places on the way up to the top.

Before I stuck my snowflake pick in, I added a glittery red pom pom I had in my stash.

The mantle’s not quite finished but getting there and I’ll show it soon. In the meantime, I’m in the mood to watch some cheesy 60’s sci-fi Christmas movie like Santa Claus Conquers The Martians. OK so that may be the ONLY cheesy 60’s sci-fi Christmas movie and I don’t even know how I ever saw it but somehow I did. Don’t judge!

“Take me to your leader. No not the crazy woman with the glue gun. Anyone but her!”

Sharing At: