Oh my gosh!!

Sorry, this isn't my typical craft post. I'm just excited because Maya Road repinned my Tea Pot project to their "Roadie Inspiration" board!! Woo hoo!!!!! So excited, so excited, so excited ...

Paper Mermaids - Card of the Month entry

My favorite craft store has a fun little contest going on. Make a card, submit it to Paper Mermaids, then cross your fingers and hope that others like it! The September card with the most votes brings home a very delectable $25 gift card to Paper Mermaids, something I wouldn't mind having. ;)

Here's my entry for Paper Mermaids' Card of the Month contest:

First, I embossed a piece of Bazzil cardstock. I cut out the pumpkins and Halloween kids from some Jenni Bowlin "Halloween" paper. I stuck a Maya Road pin behind the papers, then glued on the sentiment, along with some tendril-y twine. I embossed a piece of cardstock with the "Pumpkin Vine" embossing folder from the Sizzix "Thankful" collection, distressed it a bit, then glued it over the Jenni Bowlin paper.

Supplies: 

Jenni Bowlin Halloween Accessory Sheet paper

Sizzix Texture Fadez - Thankful 

Rusty Hinge & Walnut Stain distress ink

Maya Road pin

Birthday card & envelope

I made this card using the same paper and sticker set from Colorbok. The white rose was created using my Donna Salazar "Rose Creations" Spellbinders die. For the fun corners, I used my Fiskars 3-in-1 corner punch. 

Here's the envelope:

And a close up:

Supplies:

Colorbok Dossier paper
Sizzix Button die
Fiskars 3-in-1 corner punch - "Romantique"
Spellbinders Donna Salazar Rose Creations

Maya Road Tea Pot Album

Maya Road makes some of the cutest papercrafting products, such as these fun chipboard albums shaped like tea pots.

Of course, being as cute as they are, I had to grab myself an album from Paper Mermaids before it was too late. Since my mother-in-law's birthday was coming up, and she enjoys drinking tea, I thought this album would be the perfect gift. 

For the paper, I found this Colorbok set at Walmart, featuring shades of blue, grey, and cream. 

I thought it was a pretty combo that matched some crochet flowers I found at Life's A Scrapbook in Sherwood:

The theme of the scrapbook is about family and includes encouraging scripture and quotes. Here are a couple snapshots of the cover, along with some pages:

One neat little feature of the Maya Road chipboard albums are little cut outs included in each album. For the tea pot album, you get two sets of tea cups, two spoons, and a teabag. I used a tea cup and spoon for this page:

I had a lot of fun putting this mini book together. I also snagged one of the Maya Road Dress Form albums ... can't wait to start on that project someday! 

Supplies:

Maya Road Tea Pot Chipboard Album

Colorbok Dossier paper

Sizzix Button die

Walnut Stain distress ink

Kaiser Craft crochet doily flowers

Idea board

A while back, I had the idea of making framed cork bulletin boards to pin ideas or other fun little findings (this was just before my friend Liz introduced me to Pinterest). I bought some cork sheets, a dozen 5x7 plastic photo frames from the Dollar Store, some starry night paper to cover the cork, white acrylic paint, and some fun crackle paint to give my frames an antique look.

Since I wasn't sure how these boards would turn out, I decided to try just one board and see how I liked it. I measured a piece of cork and cut it to fit the inside of the photo frame, then glued it onto the back of the frame. I then painted the entire frame in crackle paint -- only to see all my paint chip off bit by bit! Turns out crackle paint is meant more for accents than as a base. ;)

I ended up painting the frame white, then applying little bits of crackle paint here and there. I cut a piece of the starry night paper and glued it to the cork board. Whether it was distraction or some sort of craft block, this project went on the back burner until last night. I decided to distress my frame even more, so I applied some Walnut Stain around all the edges. I took a bunch of butterflies that I had punched and attached them to some twine, then wove it around my frame to create a garland. I threw some lace over one of the corners and then, voila -- my idea board!

Now, all those quotes in my head have a home! Shoot, it can even be a place to display a message for my husband, or one of my tags:

Supplies:

5x7 plastic frame
White acrylic paint (it doesn't have to be expensive, mine was just $1 at Walmart)
Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint - Old Paper
Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut Stain
Martha Stewart Royal Butterfly punch

Happy crafting!!

Autumn-theme card & tag

Ever since I saw these Autumn and Thanksgiving-inspired embossing folders, I just knew I had to have them! Paper Mermaids was so kind to save me their last set. :)

For the card below, I decided on using some brown and tan paper, along with some orange polka dot paper from Jenni Bowlin's Halloween line. I think these colors have fall all over them! I embossed my tan paper with the Leaf Garland folder, then tore the edges and inked the paper.

For my tag, I grabbed one of my Sizzix Scallop Tag die cuts, then ran it through my Big Shot using the Pumpkin Vine folder. I then inked the edges with Walnut Stain, Rusty Hinge, and Scattered Straw Distress Inks. For the sentiment, I used my trusty Martha Stewart custom stamp kit. :)

Supplies:

Sizzix Texture Fades "Thankful" embossing folders

Sizzix Scallop Tag die

Jenni Bowlin Halloween 2011 Accessory Paper

Tim Holtz distress inks

Recycled Storage Container

Lately I've been obsessed with all this recycled stuff lying around -- empty aluminum cans that once held pumpkin pie mix, glass spaghetti sauce jars, and even plastic spice bottles. (Here's an example of what you can do with a finished toilet paper roll!) There is soooo much potential with these items and while I'd love to give most of them to the recycling people, I'm keeping a few of them for some fun storage ideas.

After making a batch of pumpkin bars last week, I decided to salvage the aluminum can that they pumpkin mix came in. Its size seemed perfect to store all the larger die cuts that I have lying around with no home. So I removed the label and washed the entire can, then wrapped a piece of twine around it. I attached a tag and a paper button to properly label this new must-have for my craft area.