BFF Open House Link Party #109

Happy Friday Eve all. It's been a crazy week so apologies...no features today. We'll just jump right into the party OK? 

Glittery Gold Graduation and Retirement Cards with American Crafts

Disclosure: I received products from American Crafts but was not financially compensated for this post. Projects and opinions are mine.

I recently received some glittery gold goodies from the wonderful folks at American Crafts. I love metallics and glitter and the timing was perfect since I knew I had a retirement and a graduation card to make. Both of these occasions just scream gold to me. Yes, I am the paper whisperer.

Gold papers, metallic glitter, gold embossing powder, gold baker’s twine!

For the retirement card, I made a 5x7 card from cream card stock and then cut a piece of the American Crafts  gold and white damask paper to size. I also die cut  a layered flower from the same paper and curled the petal edges.

Since the paper is so detailed with the damask pattern and the glitter, I kept this card simple and just used this one paper for the card.

Layered scraps leftover from my card with AC gold glitter tape and spelled out the word “enjoy” using the gold glitter Thickers alphabet stickers I received. Layered these as shown.

Finished with a gold rhinestone in the middle.

For the graduation card, I used a foiled piece from the American Crafts Atlantic collection along with plain black cardstock, more glitter tape, an embossed image with the American Crafts ZING embossing powder, and the glitter Thickers stickers. I wrapped some of the gold baker’s twine around the card and even made a little graduation tassel with it.

Sometimes working with metallics and glitter you can end up covered in it. I really like the glitter ribbon ( did I mention it’s self adhesive?) because it doesn’t come off on you. Same for the Thickers stickers. The papers are incredible both in the design and the weight. I like making layered, heavy cards ( the post office just loves me) and these work great w/ die cut machines and can stand up to altering etc.

You can see more from the American Crafts line here as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

BFF Open House Link Party #108

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Welcome to the first BFF Open House Link Party of JUNE! Say it with me: "JUNE"! YIKES. School's out or getting out, graduation and wedding season, Father's Day (10 Days people!) and before you know it, Fourth of July. 

Let's take a peek at some of the great ideas shared at last week's party: 

If school's not yet out for you and you need a great teacher's gift, check out this idea from Stephanie at The Silly Pearl. She's even got the printable to go with!

Michele from The Scrap Shoppe shows how easy it is to make your own jewelry with this fab chandelier necklace perfect for Summer. 

No it's not your eyes. Yes, it's Halloween! If we can do Christmas in July, why not Halloween in June? Ohio Farm Girl whipped up this great altered piece.

And this week's chocolate feature is from the ladies at Six Sister's Stuff/ My Recipe Magic. ROLO Stuffed Peanut Butter cookies! 

Now on to this week's party. Thanks again for spending part of your week here at The Answer Is Chocolate. 

   

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Keep Calm and Study On Card: The Graphics Fairy To The Rescue

The daughter of one of my besties is off to London for a Summer study abroad program so I whipped up a card to send her off.

I knew I wanted to do a variation of the "Keep Calm" theme but also wanted a British flag so went  to my go to source: The Graphics Fairy . I downloaded the image, then aged it using a graphics program which I also used to generate the text. 

Made a 5x7 card from red card stock, layered with a vintage looking red and white striped paper from the Union Square stack by Recollections ( Michaels), added two strips of American Crafts white glitter tape and mounted the focal image on gold and cream cardstocks.

Added a couple strips of washi tape, gold rhinestones, and a silver paper crown. She may be there for the birth of the new Royal baby so it seemed appropriate.

College student in London….I couldn’t resist a reminder to actually study! Not that it’s really needed. She’s a smart young lady and she’ll do great.

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Mumster Special Orders and Field Trip to Melrose Vintage

The Mumster is keeping me busy commissioning gifts for friends and family. I think I’ve created a cigar box monster so here’s another one I did while visiting her. This one’s for my Auntie.

She also wanted some tags to match the boxes I made for her so darn, I had to make tags!

I don’t know about you but wherever I go I have to check out a local craft, scrapbook, or vintage store. I found all three in one in Melrose Vintage in Downtown Phoenix located at 4238 N 7th Ave.  It’s in an area appropriately called the Melrose District which is filled with vintage and antique stores. If you visit it’s 7th Avenue between Camelback and Indian School Roads.

It’s a great shop filled with vintage furniture and furnishings and then there’s the whole scrapbook store within a store!

I was tempted by many things but limited myself to things that can fit in my suitcase!

The scrapbook store has everything. A wall o’inks.

Tons of mixed media including 7 Gypsies, Tim Holtz, Teresa Collins to name just a few.

And my downfall: paper, paper, paper!

If you’re a local and you haven’t been here, what are you waiting for?

BFF Open House Link Party #107

Happy almost Friday all! Hope you've all had a good week. Welcome to another link up of your creative creations. First some features ( I've been a little lax lately). 

From The Crafty Lumberjacks, a great upcyle and organization project in one. Paper and washi tape? Yes please! 

The always genius Mich in LA shared a quick and easy way to create a chain tassel. Perfect addition to any pendant. 

Love this beachy blue tinted netted vase from Stephanie at Simply Dream and Create .

I have two chocolatey features for you this week. The first is a Peanut Butter Coffee Cake with chocolate chips from A Peek Into My Paradise. Doesn't this look scrumptious? You can make this for breakfast and then make these amazing swirled cheesecake brownies from Desperate Houselife for dessert later. 

Now on to this week's party! If you're a first time linker upper, please leave a comment ( not that you can't leave a comment if you're a regular linker upper!). Following isn't required but appreciated and I love to find new blogs.

Painted, Washi'd and Stamped Beachy Dollar Frame

Mr. Chocolate’s dad was recently in a production of “South Pacific” so I made him a frame he could use for a cast photo or other memorabilia from the show. He also lives at the ocean so even if he doesn’t use it for that , it works.


I keep a supply of those wood frames you can get at Michaels for $1 because they come in so handy.
For this project you will need:

• $1 Wood Frame
• Paint
• White Glue
• Stamps
• Pigment Ink
• Paint Pen
• Washi Tape

Paint your frame with base color. I used an aqua. Once that’s dry, go over it with a good coat of white school glue. I have sworn by this crackle technique and have not bought crackle medium since I started using it. I also use the cheapest white glue I can find…back to school sales are great!

When your glue is almost dry, cover with your top coat ( I used white). You can speed things up with a blow dryer or heat gun which will also enhance your crackle.

Beachy looking right? Not quite. First I added some strips of antique printed and gold polka dot washi tape. 

I am the born sucker JoAnn’s and Michaels had in mind with their impulse buys by the register. I love digging through the little bins for $1 stamps and had picked up a package of sea shell stamps on one trip.

3 pieces so that’s only .33 per stamp ( justification). I put all three on an acrylic block and stamped randomly over the frame using a good black pigment ink.  Set that with my heat gun and then colored in parts of the shells using a gold paint pen.

To finish, I coated the whole thing with an antique Mod Podge that aged it up just a bit.

These frames come with a cardboard inset and I like to cover them with paper so they look nice when presented as a gift. You can also trim a photo and use the covered insert as a background.
Quick, cheap, easy!

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