Secret Garden Chunky ATC

Ever made a chunky ATC?  This was my first try.  You just take a 2x4 and slice it up and it makes a block just the same size as an ATC, only 3 D.  Or in my case you ask Michelle LaRue from Pine Needle Hill Co., the block making/altering expert if she and her charming husband would make up a batch for you. 

I am slightly obsessed with the Secret Garden.  It's my favorite book ever.  And movie.  Gosh that is a pretty movie.  I think it helps me survive February.  Spring is so close, and yet daffodils are so far away.

So here's my little Secret Garden...

Flowersoft blooms and ivy grows on the top while Mary's hair (a stamp from Door County Rubber Stamps) blows in the wind off of the moors.  I fussy cut her and layered her on top of a beautiful script and floral stamp from B Line Design that just happened to be a quote from the Secret Garden :-)  I got that tiny darling nest off of Etsy, on inspection I don't think it would be too hard to make if you were feeling clever.

 Jenni Bowlin mini bingo card on the back

Turn the knob hidden in the ivy to enter a magical, secret world.

Every secret garden needs a secret key (Tim Holtz)

Winter Miracle

 Two projects, but the same materials and images.  I think if I were doing this again I might paper piece the angel's cloak, since it was a bit challenging coloring in such a large area with copics.  Door County Kid stamps often work wonderfully for paper piecing.  So much fun.  Like paper dolls.

 The first project is actually a wooden block made especially for me when I need a block to hold a photo by sweet Michelle LaRue of Pine Needle Hill.  I've become a bit addicted to the larger size of these as a focal point when making a set.  Or you know, just making a single pretty block to perch around that won't get hurt if little people (or klutzy me) knock it off the display.

wooden block (snowy church is a stamp by Northwoods Stamps)

And here's the card I made from the same concept.  I did paper piece the snow on this one.  Love the texty-ness of this paper snow.  And now texty-ness is a real word.  For sure.

card with texty-ness snow

You can find the stamp here: Door County Rubber Stamps or if you are in my neck of the woods here: Backroads Plum Crazy.  Papers are from October Afternoon's Silent Night, and the Snowflake Frame is a Spellbinders die.

Beribboned Basket

I think this stamp is just the sweetest image in the whole wide world.  I might be a bit biased, living in Iowa.  And in a Dairy Barn.  But I think it just makes lovely springtime cards, especially when colored with the pale, pale Copics.

You can learn how to make the pretty ribbon weave basket here:

Basket Tutorial 

voila! The stamp and the finished basket.

 I will warn you it is a slightly epic undertaking, but it can be done :-) By the fourth panel you will be a pro.

a little bit closer detail

Just so fresh and darling.  I can almost pretend spring is here with apple blossoms, newborn calves and fluffy chicks.  And no howling blizzards and double digit negative temperatures (boo)  oh well, being stuck inside allows plenty of time for weaving ribbon panels, lol!


You can find the stamp here: Door County Rubber Stamps or if you happen to be in my neck of the woods here: Backroads Plum Crazy

Oooky Spooky Class

 This is a class I'm teaching in a couple of weeks.  It's all sold out (I ran out of castles!) but if you can snag the supplies, I've got clear shots of each page if you'd like to make one :-)

 

You'll need: 

Pink Paislee's Hocus Pocus Line, embellishments & papers

Walnut Stain Distress Crackle Paint

Kaisercraft Beyond the Page Castle Album

Black Vine Ribbon

Black Sheer Ribbon

Tim Holtz Rosette Die

Scallop Border Punch

Glue (I like Zip Dry)

 Make a pocket on the first page

 Make another pocket on the back of the page as well

 Punch holes in one of Hocus Pocus clear cards and use it as a page.

  Punch holes in another one of Hocus Pocus clear cards and use it as a page.

 Paint the rooftops with crackle paint.  When it dries go over it with distress ink.

Now go back through the book and apply stickers.  Fun and easy!  Just don't watch spooky movies while you are making it like I did.  I've got the heebie jeebies now!  I think I'll throw a Young Frankenstein Party and put the pictures in this album...

hehehe

Fall Magic WCMD 2011

Happy Monday, everyone!  It is a beautiful fall day, the leaves have changed, the mums are blooming, and the scarecrow is the next thing on my to do list :-)

It is the perfect day to announce the winner of this Fall Magic Box Kit!

Drumroll please.....

The winner is Pamela Young!  Your name literally fell in my lap during the drawing, lol.  Please e-mail me at donya at backroadsplumcrazy.com with your contact information by October 17th, 2011.

I taught this as a class this time last year at Door County Rubber Stamps in Egg Harbor.  We had so much fun!  Everybody made such beautiful boxes.  I think the most popular part was making the paper rose and coloring it with Twinkle H2Os.

Here are the instructions for everyone who wants to try this at home:   Fall Magic Box

Well I hunted and hunted for the diagram I had made for folding the sturdy little origami box that makes up the heart of this project to no avail.  But hurrah! Splitcoast Stampers are the best :-) they had a step by step list of how to make it.  

Just go here: 

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/origami_box/

Supply List Details:

• Stamps are all available at Backroads Plum Crazy or directly from Door County Rubber Stamps
• I used decorative paper from Cosmo Cricket Flueriste Paper (Vineyard & Dew Drops) & Cosmo Cricket Flueriste Cardstock Stickers on the inside of each notecard
• I used the Marvy Embossing Oak Leaf Punch and the McGill Designer Series punches to make the foilage out of vellum.  Since then Spellbinders has come out with some really excellent foilage dies that I would highly recommend.
• I stamped my main image, cut it out with Spellbinders Nested Maple Leaves (S4-228), colored the girl and branches with Copics, then created sky and leaves with a blending tool and distress ink.
• Brown Vine & the Antique Gold Silk Ribbon are from May Arts and are to die for.  Swoon.

That's all for today folks!  If you have trouble with any of the steps or questions, don't hesitate to shoot me an e-mail. Have fun and thanks for visiting!

Burlap is the New Black

I ordered in these awesome stretched burlap canvases from Canvas Corp for the shop.  Having made this project, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to be able share the boxful.  They are awesome.

 I had fun in the cornfield taking pictures of my little project.  So handy.  Hope the renter doesn't mind if I bent a few of his ears are artistically arranged.



 Supplies Used:

• Canvas Corp 12x12 Burlap Canvas
• Prima Alder Regent Flowers
• Prima Pearls and Roses Swirl
• Tea Dye Distress Embossing Powder
  
• Graphic 45 Magic of Oz Paper-  Scatterbrained Scarecrow, The Magic of Oz, There's No Place like Home
  
• Alphabet Stencil & Black Paint
• Vintage Photo & Black Soot Distress Ink
• Foam Dots
• Dried Wheat

 Directions:

1. Fussy cut out  Scatterbrained Scarecrow paper.  Stencil the burlap canvas with black paint.

2. Add a little distress embossing powder in a pleasing manner.

3. Add some pearly swirls

4. Give the Dorothy quarter of There's No Place Like Home Paper a little rough love.

5. Then a little rub with distress ink to make it all better.

6. Fussy cut out Dorothy and the Scarecrow.  While your are at it cut out the Magic of Oz banner from The Magic of Oz paper.

10. Glue the red No Place Like Home square you just distressed to the Magic of Oz banner.

11. Tuck a little wheat behind.

12. Add the straw colored flowers and a little more wheat.

And there you have your very own!  Have fun :-)

On my work desk; a Summer Fantasy

Has it been a week already?  Craziness.  I've been a busy bee this week, making banners of various forms out the whazoo.  I did manage to back off from having taken over 4 tables and a counter at the shop and am back down to my usual two.  Definitely an improvement. Gold star for me :-) !

The banner on the table is the last one to be finished of a seasonal series I'm going to be teaching at Backroads Plum Crazy.  This one is Summer.

Antique Linen Crackle Paint makes pretty good sand!

The Old Lace Glimmermist on the canvas word doesn't show up too well in person or in the photo.  I may paint over it, or maybe leave it as is, with the barest hint of glitter.  More is less and all.

A few pretty beachy flowers. Positively minimalist compared to the other seasons, but it helps keep the airy feel.  None of this is glued down yet as I ran out of hot glue and wasn't brave enough to ransack the office in search of a fresh stick.  I get the urge to organize whenever I go in there.  And by "organize" I mean take everything out of the lawn like a TLC show and put a great big "Free to a Good Home" sign on it. I'll try and sweet talk Michelle to get me one out later today.

In other news, this weekend I'm going to Galena.  What is in Galena you ask?  Nothing less than Vintaj, darling!  Oh, and a lot of other cool historic things, but mostly (for me) Vintaj.   I'm going to take their Art Metal Workshop.

And maybe a dash over to a stamp store ;-) I'm so, so, so, excited.Plus I'm staying a the Irish Cottage Boutique Hotel (ooh lala) which has a fairy ring and Woodchuck Cider on draft.  Perfect for just before St. Patty's day.

A Tisket A Tasket

My first hanging basket:


I am so sad that I can't get the Eliza collection paper from Anna Griffin any more.  I used the tar out of that collection, it was so versatile.  And it mixes so nicely with Rose Edgeability die (like I used on the trim here).  On the other hand the new collections a pretty gorgeous, as usual, hard to feel too put out.
To make your own hanging basket is very easy, you only need one sheet of double sided paper (if you want a pretty inside) and embellishing with Spellbinder dies makes you get a real bang for your buck .  To make this exact one you'll need:
S4 044 Rose Edgeability
S3 033 Cameo & Brooch
Anna Griffin 1046 (pale blue ribbon swag)
Anna Griffin 1054 (green pattern)
Anna Griffin 1037 (polka dot stripe)
Prism White Cardstock
Worldwin Doublemate Chocolate Malt
Copic R81 Rose Pink
Copic RV06 Cerise
Copic G24 Willow
Copic Airbrush System
Walnut Ink in a spritzer bottle
Black Ink Pad
Spray Glue
White glue
1/8” wide red line tape
Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Squares
Petaloo Tuscan Brown Velvet Hydrangea
Copper foil
Bee Charm
Tassel
Fancy Pants Crush Ribbon (blue lace)
Offray Ivory 1 1/2” double face satin ribbon (I have an addiction to this stuff, can't have too much)
And here's the obsessively step-by-step instructions:
Replicate the bee charm in copper foil.  Fill in the back with white glue and set aside to dry.
Use spray glue to attach blue paper back to back with green printed paper.
Using a compass, draw from corner to corner to form an arc on paper.  Cut along the line.
Put a line of red line tape along one straight edge and roll paper into a cone.
Cut a row of polka dots off of polka dotted paper and use it to trim the inside top of the cone.
Spritz the outside of the cone with walnut ink, wipe off excess and set aside to dry.
Cut and emboss Rose Edgeabilities out of white cardstock.
Airbrush through the die using Copic markers.
Pop the paper out of the die and cut off the frame part of the edgeability so all you have are roses.
Distress roses to age them.
Cut and emboss Cameo & Brooch out of the brown cardstock so the lighter brown side of the paper is the one embossed.
Stencil through the die using black ink.
Punch holes on each side of the cone, then thread and knot the satin ribbon through them to form a handle.
Feed the tassle through the bottom of the cone and hold in place with tape on the inside of the cone.
Use the big rose panel to trim the front top edge of the cone.
Put red line tape around the top of the cone and stick the blue lace trim to it.
The little roses then get glued down on either side of the main rose panel (over the blue lace).
Attach cameo frame and rose embossed center to the front middle of the cone with foam squares to make it stand out.
Embellish with velvet flowers and the copper foil bee charm.
tres jolie
I filled it with some random dried yard weeds and roses made from crepe paper.  Now it hangs on the door to Rosie's Room at the Dairy Barn B&B, serving no good purpose but being pretty.
Don't forget to check Ellen's Blog today for your chance to win a set of the new pierceability dies (which would work really well for basket trim too ;-)
Time to go join a parade! Happy 4th of July Everyone!