Monday, July 4, 2011

BFF Link Party #9: Wrap Up and Features

Thank you to everyone who linked up to BFF Open House #9, and I hope you enjoyed meeting Diane from Pittypat Paperie. Since it’s the Fourth of July today, it seems only fitting to feature ALL of the Fourth related projects that were linked don’tcha think?
Michelle from The Scrap Shoppe linked this wonderful “doily” banner:
Switch up the colors and you could have a banner for any season!
Bethany, from A Fish Who LIkes Flowers shared this amazing wreath made using ribbon!
Another idea that could be adapted for any holiday ( I pinned this to do for Halloween!) or in your décor colors for all year round.
Amanda Joy from Joy In The Jumble linked up some great printables (if you need some last minute decorations, printables save the day!):
Terry from Cherished Treasures shared her vintage Fourth vignette which is truly lovely!
And considering where you are, you know I have to feature something chocolate right?! So check out this “I am craving it” chocolate chip cookie cake from Tonia at The Gunny Sack:
As always, can’t wait for Friday to see what else you amazing ladies have been up to!! Happy Fourth to all.

Friday, July 1, 2011

BFF Link Party #9 and BFF Pittypat Paperie !

Happy loooonnnnnnnnnnng weekend! Happy Friday! Happy Birthday America! This week’s BFF is Diane from Pittypat Paperie where you will find all kinds of lovely inspiration and one of the sweetest bloggers in blogland.

Diane and I definitely share a love of paper as the name of her blog might imply. She does wonders with it.
Love these gorgeous paper bows she made. Who wouldn’t want to get a present decorated with one of these?
She is always putting her creative talents to use for her family and friends, especially her grandchildren. This is just a quick glimpse at the fun Parisian party she put together for her granddaughter:
There’s a ton more to see about this party here and here. And this adorable idea she did for her grandchildren…a money box!
Diane also shares printables she uses in her projects. I used a graduation themed one in many of my son’s graduation party decorations.

I hope you’ll go and visit Diane and explore. Now on with this week’s party! What are you cooking up for the Fourth? Whether you’re cooking for realsies or just whipping up something creative, link it up! You know the drill…if you made it link it…paper, jewelry, recipes, upcycle, recycle, sewing, décor, you name it. Just no advertising or Etsy stores please.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Patriotic Paper Pinwheels

Fourth Pinwheel (3)
I’m alliterative  among other things! These pinwheels aren’t a new idea but I’ve actually never made any! You can free fold  the paper accordion style or you can score it like I did using my Martha Stewart score and fold board. I love this thing! I use it for all my cards and anything I have to fold or score.

I thought it would be fun to use two papers together, So I cut 12x12 papers to 6x12, then scored and folded them at the one inch mark and joined the two different halves together.
Fourth Pinwheel How To
Once you’ve completed your accordion folding fold your folded piece in half and staple in the middle. STAPLE. You need to STAPLE. After you STAPLE stick the the two sides of each half together with your adhesive of choice ( I used my ATG gun) and then you’ll stick the two halves together:
Fourth Pinwheel How To
You could be done here. But that’s no fun now is it? So…I used some scrap paper and cut circles using a decorative edge scissor to make a layered flower center middle thingy and used leftover stickers from my medallion banner project to finish the centers. I just scatted these along my mantel for a little extra dose of Fourth of July flavor:
Fourth Pinwheel (2)
Candlesticks aren’t just for candles!
Fourth Pinwheel (4)
Fourth Mantle (2)
Or they can stand up by themselves!
Linking Up At: 




Paper Issues Blog Design
A Little Knick Knack

Tickled Pink at 504 Main




Tuesday, June 28, 2011

A Couple of Cards

Sharing a couple of cards I made tonight. A belated graduation card and so I don’t make that mistake again, a birthday card that I can send early!

For the grad card, I wanted to do some different colors than those I’d been using for my son’s friends cards. Stuck with school colors for those and am so over that! This time just went with paper I liked which happened to be from DCWV’s Lemon Flower Stack. Hard to tell from the pics, but a lot of the papers in this pack are glittered. Oooh la la!

Yellow Grad Card
I stamped the focal image using this ink which I’m in love with:
Yellow Grad Card Closeup
It’s chalky but pigmenty and provides great coverage.

I used the floral background from the paper stack along with a scrap strip of another print from a previous project from the same pack. Say THAT three times fast!  Embellished with The Twinery’s twine in honeydew and some KandCo self adhesive scrapbook borders.

For the birthday card:
Pink and Green Birthday Card
I remembered to photo my supplies which included more Twinery twine…honeydew and pink sorbet, some Ann Butler designed Kand Co paper and Tim Coffey designed KandCo dimensional floral stickers. I ran a scrap of white paper through my Cuttlebug using damask embossing plates and then layered everything as shown onto a white 5x7 card.
Pink and Green Birthday Card (4)

P6281173
Linking Up At:
UndertheTableandDreaming 

Vintagey 4th Medallion Banner

Photobucket
4th Banner
I tend to like old, vintage, Americana looking décor for the Fourth. Last year was the first time I put up any decorations for the Fourth and this year I made a new “old” banner. I decided to make several medallions to use as my banner. Cut out different shapes with my Cricut Expression:
4th Medallion Banner
I found this great ribbon at Michaels for 40% off plus they had an additional 15% off your entire purchase coupon on Sunday. Yeah!
4th Medallion Banner (2)4th Medallion Banner (3)
I also found these dimensional stickers from KandCo’s Americana Collection.
Cut the ribbon and notched the ends. Adhered to the red circle and then layered the other cutouts according to size. After I took the pic I added a 2.5” circle punched red layer. Mounted a sticker in the center:
4th Medallion Banner (4)
I used red tulle ( too bright for me but I bought it for some reason and never used it) and some clothespins I’d made for one of my son’s grad banners to hang it:
4th Medallion Banner (5)
I probably would have used a cream tulle to make it more muted but….

Linking Up At: 
homework
Photobucket


Paper Issues Blog Design

Monday, June 27, 2011

BFF Link Party #8 Wrap Up and Features!

Another great party with more fantastic projects! Thanks to everyone who linked up and so glad to see so many return posters along with some new ones. Here are just a few of the projects that caught my eye but as always, everyone is so creative!

Dreaming in Color shared a gorgeous bench transformation using a graphic from The Graphics Fairy ( I call Karen The Graphics Queen!)

Nothing I make with burlap ever comes out as great as this wreath from Michelle at The Scrap Shoppe! Perfect for the 4th but an idea easily adaptable for other occasions or all year round: 

For more 4th ideas, go visit The Pike Family and see these super cute "firecrackers" as well as an adorable wreath: 
If you're in need of a tasty treat on a hot day ( I live in the Northwest so I won't wait for one of those to try these!) look no further than Smilemonsters: 
Homemade Mocha Latte Frozen Treats
Look out Starbucks! Hope to see you all again on Friday!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Framed July 4th Collection

I have a four slot frame I keep on my mantle and switch out the artwork for different seasons and holidays. I just took down graduation and put up Foruth of July and thought I’d share. I made three of the printables and used one I found over at Me Myself and U2.
Fourth of July Printables (2)
Fourth of July Printables
Someday I’ll learn to take a picture of something framed without catching the glare but so far, no luck!
The first printable can be found here. The others I made and am sharing here:
July 4th
Fourth Birthday
4th Subway
Linking Up At: