SKEWER BINDING MINI

Hi Everyone! I just finished up a Skewer Binding Mini Album, I learned how to make this album from the incredibly talented, Jim, The Gentleman Crafter. He did a u-stream class Tuesday night on this album and I couldn't wait to try it out. Here is a link to Jim's blog: http://thegentlemancrafter.blogspot.com/ 
You will find the post on this awesome binding technique which will direct you to his u-stream channel where you will find the recording for the tutorial on this mini. Thanks so much Jim, I love that you share your talent with us!
For my mini, I wanted to make something small enough to carry around in my purse. I wanted a place to keep an inventory of all my craft supplies. Inks, dies, sprays, stains, coupons etc.  I made the cover pretty plain so I could cover it with contact paper, so hopefully it  will hold up to being kept in my purse. The paper line I used was Graphic 45's Curtain Call. I inked everything with black soot. My book is 5 x 8 inches and has seven different pages, some are envelopes that I made with my new envelope maker (which I absolutely love) some are fold outs.
I have to figure out some kind of closure for this album yet and I might embellish it more. I will label all the tabs with the different categories.

 

Let me know if you like it and leave me a comment, It really makes my day! Shari

A couple of weeks ago Jim The Gentleman Crafter made some valentines cards with modeling paste and utee. He has video tutorials on his blog http://thegentlemancrafter.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-02-06T00:16:00-06:00&max-results=7 
I was so intrigued with the modeling paste I immediately went down in my crafty space and played. I didn't make cards, I just made tags. I didn't have some of the supplies he used so I made do with what I had.
You have to check Jim out, he is now doing live u-streams on Tuesday nights. Thanks Jim for the inspiration! I love your comments they make me happy!!!

This year I'm participating in the http://timholtz.com/12-tags-of-2013-february/  with Tim Holtz. It's so much fun to follow along with Tim while using the supplies I have to create a monthly tag. 
 I didn't have a lot of the supplies he used so I made due with what I had.
He used his the blueprint stamp of the queen of hearts, I used a image of a card I printed out on my computer and colored it with TH Distress markers. I didn't have the red distress stain so I used red re-inker and water and spritzed it on the tag. I didn't have the kraft core seasonal paper so I used coordinations paper and embossed it.   I am really having fun with these tags!

I'm really

Distress Ink Storage Tower

While on my way to an appointment a week or so ago, I was passing by my local Salvation Army resale shop. I visit this stores a few times a year looking for things I can alter, but it had been a long time since I had been there. For some reason while traveling down Euclid Ave. something told me I had to stop in quick, I had 5 minutes before my appointment and of course had to run in. This is what I found: An old shelf on a lazy susan type base! I instantly knew what I was going to do with it, and with the price being 95cents my day was made.

 Click on

the pictures

for a closer

view!

It took me forever to figure out how to divide it off into sections. First I did it out of heavy chipboard but wasn't happy with it. Finally I found some scraps of OSB board that my husband had laying around and divided it off. It didn't look the greatest but it was

sturdy and I knew I could cover it up with something. Next I cut shelves out of heavy weight chipboard and small 1inch structure strips to hold the shelves up. My hand was killing me cutting all that chipboard with a knife. Next I took Vintage Photo stain and stained all the pieces and glued them all in.

I then took some TH grunge board and cut strips and inked them with vintage photo distress ink. I used them to cover up the yucky finish of the OSB. Next I used a combination of Graphic 45 paper and Tim Holtz paper and covered up the wood. I wanted a knob on the top to turn the unit, what I had in mind was an old glass door knob, but couldn't bring myself to pay the price. Then I found this glass ornament holder at my local antique store and thought it might look kind of neat. I got it home and it was too bright, so I took some alcohal inks and grunged it up.

I then took Modge Podge, matte finish and went over all the paper to give it a protective coating. I added a TH clock and spinner, a metal closure, a couple of metal pieces I had in my stash, some scrabble tiles to spell ink, a decorative key and a Graphic 45 clothes pin and called it done.

Next I printed out all the colors of inks I had on the computer, added a color sample of each to make a label.  I love how this turned out, it holds 40 ink pads and I have 30, so I have room to grow my collection. I think I will enter this into: http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-what-are-you-known-for.html I'm also entering this into the http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com/2013/01/spruce-it-up.html the challenge is to Spruce It Up, I think I took this old worn out item and gave it a new life.

I'm not really know for anything but I do like my distress inks on everything and like organizing my supplies.

  What do you think? I love your comments. Shari

Can you tell I can't figure out how to put the photos side by side?

The start of a New Year!

I decided to start the New Year off right and get my mojo going. For the first time I'm going to participate in Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2013. I made my first tag for January last night and it felt good to get back to crafting.
I pretty much followed Tim's tag for the most part, but I didn't have the stamp he used, on one tag I just typed the saying on the computer and on the other I used a different TH stamp. I didn't have the distress stain so I used Ranger paint dabbers instead. I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out.
Check out Tim's blog for step by step directions on how to do your own tag. http://timholtz.com/12-tags-of-2013-january/ 

 

I hope to make the time to do a little more crafting this year so I will post more ( I hope!) Happy New Year, Shari

SNOWFLAKES

I made some snowflakes tonight from a great tutorial from Jim, The Gentleman Crafter. If you have never been to Jim's blog, check it out! This man has so much talent and is kind enough to share it with all of his followers. http://thegentlemancrafter.blogspot.com/2012/12/snowflake-project-done.html#comment-form  Thanks Jim for sharing this video with us, they were so easy and just what I needed for this corner in my kitchen. Shari (cricutrookie)

I will take pictures of the rest of my Christmas decorations in the next day or two and post them also.

I'd like to tell you.....

I'd like to tell you about a great giveaway that Melissa is having. http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/ click on the link to go to her blog. She does some Awesome projects so it's worth checking out. You have until Dec. 2nd.

"Funkie" Thanksgiving cards

 

I'm back with a couple more cards, I don't know what is going on with me but I actually have some ambition to craft. You say it's about time, I agree!
I follow many blogs and one of my absolute FAVORITES is  http://thefunkiejunkie.blogspot.com/
If you have never been to Linda's blog you must check it out! I've always admired her work, it doesn't matter what she makes it's wonderful. Recently I ordered  a couple of cards and a tag from her (she's moving and trying to clear out some of her stuff) I've been looking over her cards and I thought I would try to make a couple of my own. I made the flowers from Linda's tutorial on her blog, I'm really happy with the way they turned out!! Thanks so much Linda for the crafting inspiration!!
My image is from: http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/2012/11/vintage-thanksgiving-image-chef-with.html
I'm entering one of these cards in http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/ The challenge is to show some pearl. There is a pearl in the acorn on my bow. (Another fabulous idea of Linda's)
Double click on the pictures to see more details. Let me know what you think, I love hearing from you.  Shari
 

Sorority Cards

 MY DAUGHTER DENI IS IN HER SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE. HER AND HER ROOMMATE JUST GOT INDUCTED INTO AN ENGINEERING SORORITY. I DID A LITTLE INVESTIGATING AND FOUND OUT THEIR COLORS, FLOWER MASCOT ETC. AND SET OUT TO MAKE CONGRATULATIONS CARDS.

THEY BOTH ARE EASEL CARDS AND THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE THEM PROUDLY ON DISPLAY ON EACH OF THEIR DESKS. I'M PRETTY HAPPY WITH THE WAY THEY BOTH TURNED OUT. AS I'M NOT THAT GREAT AT  MAKING CARDS.

I THINK THE CHARMS ADD JUST THE RIGHT TOUCH!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

 

STARBURST LAYOUT CHALLENGE

Kathryn at http://thescrapbeach.blogspot.com/ is having a challenge. You have to create a layout or card using her technique on making a starburst layout. She has a video on her blog showing how to do it. It was alot of fun and a good way to use up those 6 x 6 paper pads you've been collecting.

This is my daughter Deni and our dog Maggie on the beach at Silver Lake State Park in Michigan. I love lighthouses!!!

Thanks Kathryn for the inspiration and video tutorial.
Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think. Shari (cricutrookie)

I've been crafting!

   Imagine that! It has been so long since I've done any crafting at all. Life just seems to get in the way, but I actually made a card for my cousin Tricia who just found out she has cancer. Thanks Tricia for helping me to get my craft on my prayers are with you!!

   I used Graphic 45 Ladies Diary paper, inked some doily's, fussy cut a few images from the paper line, inked up some seam binding for a bow and added a charm. I hope you like it (that is if anyone is still following me) Maybe you could leave a comment so I know someone is still following my blog. Have a great day! Shari

6 x 6 chunky dressed for a party swap

Hello, is anyone still following me??? I'm so sorry I've been MIA for quite some time, but I'M BACK.... Life does get in the way, but I've been making a few projects, I just haven't had time to post to my blog. My bad!!

Recently I was in a swap at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AllThingsTim/ We were to make a 18 pages 6x6 dressed for a party chunky book pages. We were to take the Tim Holtz dress form and dress it for a party. I really had a good time making these pages.

For my page I used TH vintage shabby paper and pages from an old piano book I found at a garage sale. I put silver metal tape on chipboard and cut out the dress form using my vagabond. I then embossed the bottom portion of the dress form with the swiss dots folder, I used latte alcohol ink to color it. A cream colored eyelet lace was used for her skirt and pink satin pleated ribbon was used for her top I used cotton balls to give her a bust.

I found the cute New Year baby at http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/ I used a program and cut out the background. I then put the image on a TH clock sticker and scanned the image and printed it out 18 times. I sprayed the image with goose bumps for a funky texture. For the hand that points to midnight I used TH pen nib.

The Happy New Year sign was computer generated and cut out with the TH mini label die. On this project I used TH distress inks, vintage photo and tea dye. Liquid pearls was used for her necklace, the tiny rose is from I am roses and sprayed with Tattered Angels cream de rouge.

I hope everyone likes my page and I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else did with their page. Let me know what you think if your still following me. Shari

Check out this great giveaway!

Melissa is having a 40th Birthday celebration. She is having a giveaway that includes $140.oo in Michaels gift cards, plus a whole lot more. Check it out, it ends February 1st. Happy Birthday Melissa!
http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-birthday-giveaway.html

My Baby Graduated!!!

I'm so sorry I haven't posted in so long, This summer has been so busy!

My daughter Deni Graduated 10th in her class, and we couldn't be prouder!!!!! We threw her a party at our home with 150 people in attendance. We spent a lot of time getting things ready making favors etc. But it turned out to be a great party, a good time was had by all.

I made ribbons for all of us to wear to the graduation with her picture on them. I got the idea from Tammy at tammyskinner.com. Thanks so much for the great idea Tammy, everyone loved them.

I also made sour cream favors with her school paper and purple and gold card stock. It took forever to do 150, but they were a big hit

Here are a few pictures, let me know what you think. I LOVE your comments. Shari