Simple Stories 'Summer Fresh' Leftovers Projects

Hi there!  If you have been reading my blog for very long, you will know by now that one of my favorite collections to come along in a while is the 'Summer Fresh' collection by Simple Stories.  The colors are so me, and the 'country' feel is just perfect!  From this one line I have made one mini album, a wall hanging, a happy 'challenge winning' card, and a  'back to school' gift bag.  But I am still using up my leftovers from this fun collection, and have two more projects to share with you today.

First up is the pocket card that I made for my Mama's birthday ...

I have been seeing a lot of pocket cards around lately ... especially by one of my top card making 'heroes', Cherry Nelson, and have wanted to make one and this was the perfect chance to give it a try.  I used a manila file folder to make the pocket (cut to size, stitched the edges together), then decorated 3 tags with coordinating papers for the inside.  Here are more close up pictures ...

I think it turned out beautifully, and Mama really loved it! 

And here is a very different card ... I simply used a kraft card stock base for the card, washi tape from Queen & Company, hexagons cut from coordinating papers, and a sentiment cut from the paper as well.  An easy peasy card ... except for hand cutting all the hexagons!

A very cheery and fun card with an important message ... as my husband would say "If you are vertical and moving and making an effort ... it's all good".

So tell me, how do you like these 'Summer Fresh' projects?  What is your current, or all time favorite paper collection?  I would love to hear from you!  And if you aren't already a follower, I would really appreciate seeing your picture up there on my list of followers!  Blessings,

The Kraft Journal Challenge #85 - Back to School

Hello there, I'm back again with another project for The Kraft Journal!  This week's theme is "Back to School", and of course that means stocking up on pencils and crayons and glue sticks, and all those goodies that the kids need to succeed.  With that in mind, I decided to put together a bag of goodies for a special student, and here is my project ...

  

I used the White Kraft Coffee Bag from Kraft Outlet for the gift bag, and a Large Manila Shipping Tag for my gift tag.   Here is a pic of everything I put inside the bag ...

Ten #2 pencils, 12 colored pencils, a box of 24 crayons, a pencil sharpener, safety scissors, a couple of glue sticks, and a few bits of candy for a treat.  Here are all the details ...

Other Supplies:

• Patterned paper - Simple Stories 'Summer Fresh' Collection
• Buttons and red twine from my stash
• Latte Brown Twine - Maya Road
• Stickers - SRM Stickers
• Epiphany Crafts 'Round 25' Bubble Cap

Back side of gift bag

Tools:

• Martha Stewart / EK Success Paper Trimmer
• Martha Stewart / EK Success Scoring Board
• Epiphany Crafts 'Round 25' Tool
• EK Success 'Arch Scallop' Border Punch
• Fiskars 'Apron Lace' Border Punch
• Scissors, Craft Knife, Ruler

These coffee bags are great for gifts and are food safe so they are great for sending a treat to a friend.  Thanks for stopping by!  Blessings,

The Kraft Journal 'Watch Us Wednesday' Tutorial - Felt Roses

Hi there!  I am back with my second Creative Team project for The Kraft Journal, and my first 'Watch Us Wednesday' Tutorial.  The theme for our challenge this week is 'Tag it!', and if you've visited me before, you most likely know I L♥VE making tags!  For this week's project, I made a pocket card with two tags in the pocket, and decorated the pocket itself with yellow felt roses.  To find a tutorial on how to make the roses, check out The Kraft Journal blog.

Here is my project for this week's challenge ...

For the base of this pocket card I used the Lunch Bag Kraft CD Sleeve Envelope and for the tags inside the pocket card I used the Large Manila Shipping Tags, both from Kraft Outlet.

Here is a list of the other supplies that I used:

• Patterned paper - Jillibean Soup 'Blossom Soup' 6 x 6 Mini Pad
• Felt - Hobby Lobby
• Stickers - SRM Stickers
• Red card stock - The Paper Studio
• Ribbon and Ric-Rack - My stash
• Black gems - Want 2 Scrap
• Brown Ink - Stampabilities
• Round Charm and Epoxy Bubble Cap - Epiphany Crafts 'Round 25'
• Embossing Powder 'Queen's Gold' - Ranger Ink

The two tags that fit inside of the pocket card!

Tools:

• Martha Stewart / EK Success Paper Trimmer
• EK Success 'Arch Scallop' Border Punch
• Fiskars 'Apron Lace' Border Punch
• Carl PRT-100 Rotary Cutter with scalloped blade
• Cricut Expression and Plantin Schoolbook Cartridge
• Epiphany 'Round 25' Tool
• Scissors, craft knife, ruler

Don't you just LOVE pocket cards?  Well, I surely do, and you should try one some time!  Be sure to check out (and maybe participate in) this week's challenge at The Kraft Journal.

Blessings,

Authentique 'Lively' Mini Album for Altered Angel

Hi there!  I've been wanting to share this mini album with you for a while, but never got around to editing the photos until now!   I made this very pretty mini album for 'my' LSS ... Altered Angel!   I am so overjoyed to be on the Design Team for Altered Angel, and love being in the store and seeing people looking at my projects.  It is very gratifying to have people come to me and say they love my work!

Anyway, I want to show you this mini album that I made for the store using Authentique Paper's new 'Lively' collection.  This is a picture heavy post, so watch out!

Front Cover

Pages One and Two

Close up of Page Two

Pages Three and Four

Close up of page four ... I used the 'hinge' stickers to make the hinge for the flip mat.

Pages Five and Six ... Page Six is actually made up of two 'envelope' pages, one facing/opening toward you, and one facing/opening away from you.

Close-up of Page Six ... it is a tri-fold envelope with space for three pictures.

Close-up of pages seven and eight.

Close up of page seven tri-fold envelope page.

Close up of pages nine and ten.  Page ten has a large flip mat for three pictures.

Pages eleven and twelve.

Pages thirteen and fourteen.

Back cover.

And just a photo of the mini album on the shelf at Altered Angel, along with the Authentique Paper goodies.

So, what do you think?  I've had some great comments from customers at Altered Angel, and I hope you enjoy it, too!

Supplies:

• Patterned paper and coordinating stickers - Authentique Paper 'Lively' collection
• Album covers - We R Memory Keepers 6 x 6" Heavy Chipboard Covers for The Cinch
• Card stock for pages - Bazzill Basics 'Card Shoppe' card stock
• Green, brown and rose silk ribbon - May Arts
• Gems - Creative Imaginations
• Bling Button - Bazzill Basics
• 'Believe' Charm - The Girls Paperie
• Trinket Pin - Tim Holtz Ideaology
• Striped Ribbon - Elements by American Crafts
• Brown Ink - Quick Quotes 'Mocha Mama'
• Glitter - Stickles 'Platinum'
• Hook and Loop Tape - Velcro
• Journaling Stamps - Fiskars
• Epoxy Bubble Caps - Epiphany Crafts 'Round 25', 'Heart 25' and 'Square 25'
• Binding Wires - We R Memory Keepers 1.25" Wires for The Cinch
• Corded Twine 'Latte' - Maya Road

Tools:

• The Cinch - We R Memory Keepers
• Martha Stewart / EK Success Paper Trimmer
• Martha Stewart / EK Success Scoring Board
• Epiphany Tools 'Round 25' and 'Heart 25'
• EK Success 'Arch Scallop' Border Punch
• Fiskars 'Apron Lace' Border Punch
• EK Success 'Medium' Corner Rounding Punch
• Recollections (Michaels) 1 1/2" Scalloped Circle Punch
• Scissors, Ruler, Craft Knife

Thanks so much for coming by today!  I hope you have enjoyed your visit!  If you live in the Atlanta or Northern Georgia area, you really should visit Altered Angel!  The people are friendly and you are welcome to bring your tools and supplies and scrap for free any time the store is open!

Blessings!

The Kraft Journal 'Needle and Thread' Challenge

Hi Folks, and welcome!  I am so excited and happy about my latest opportunity in the paper crafting world!  I have been accepted as a Creative Team member for one of my very favorite challenge blogs ... The Kraft Journal!   The Kraft Journal is a challenge blog sponsored by Kraft Outlet, an online retailer specializing in kraft cardstocks, bags, pockets, journals, and all kinds of other products we paper crafters just love!  I have been participating in challenges at The Kraft Journal for probably close to two years, and have even made their top three a time or two!  When I saw their DT call, I knew I had to apply, and was so excited when I got an email inviting me to join the team!

The theme for this week's challenge is 'needle and thread', and a few days ago I found a vintage image HERE that I just KNEW I wanted to use in this project!   Here is my project for this week  ...

Sew Sweet Card

When I make a project I try to come up with a theme or concept first.  Well, the theme was already given to me, and when I found the image the concept began to take shape.  I gathered together all the supplies I thought I would need, and here is what I had in mind ...

I think the only thing that didn't make it into the project was the yellow seam binding.  Here are all the details about my card ...

Supplies:

• Base card stock - Kraft Outlet #653 Buff Ivory Cover Weight Card Stock
• Patterned paper - K & Company Collage Stack
• Mini Bag - Kraft Outlet #961 Mink Kraft Merchandise Bag
• Canvas Triangle - #1199 Mini Canvas Triangles
• Blue Seam Binding - 7 Gypsies #1170 Nottinghill Seam Binding
• Pearls - Michaels
• Millinery Flowers, Eyelet Lace, pink and blue thread, blue twine - my stash
• Mini Spools - Maya Road
• Stickles 'Diamond' - Ranger Ink
• Heart 25 Bubble Cap - Epiphany Crafts
• 'Sweet' Stamp - Inkadinkadoo
• Vintage Sewing Machine Stamp - TPC Studios
• Brown Ink - Stampabilities
• Stick Pin - Hand made from elements in my stash

Tools:

• Martha Stewart / EK Success Paper Trimmer
• Martha Stewart / EK Success Scoring Board
• Sewing Machine (Sears/Kenmore)
• Epiphany Crafts 'Heart 25' Tool
• Scissors, ruler, kraft knife 

 Tips and Techniques:

• Before you sew letters on your canvas, cut a triangle the same size from scrap fabric or paper, and practice to see how you want to get your spacing.  Oh, and my sewing machine has the alphabet pre-programmed in one size, so it's pretty easy.
• Fold your strip of eyelet lace into 1/3rds, then glue together so it won't come apart.  Then glue the edge into the inside of the bag so you don't see the selvage.  Or, you could glue it to only one side of the inside of the bag, and slip a gift card or special note into the bag.
• Fussy cutting is one of the first techniques I learned when I started making cards.  It takes a steady hand, a good pair of scissors, and a good sharp craft knife.  Not to mention lots of patience!

I hope you've enjoyed my project today!  Please go pay a visit to The Kraft Journal and Kraft Outlet and participate in this week's challenge! 

Blessings folks!