Butterfly barrette

Here is the item I made for my bug lovin' daughter.
It's made the same way the flower was made. It has two thick layers too and it's pretty much an exact copy of the butterfly that Amy Celona used on her video. You could use different colors though and make it as wild or as real looking as you'd like. I believe Amy made her's into a pin like the flower, but I thought my daughter would like it to be a barrette. It really looks cute in her blondish hair. I liked the colors of this one for that reason, otherwise I would have ventured out into other colors. I'm still thinking about trying some other colors but I have a club, 2 classes, and a girlscout thing to get ready for. There are a few items in this that aren't SU though, but they also don't carry these items either. So I did venture out a little on this one again.
You can take the rhinestones out of the brads, but this was so much easier to buy the self sticking kind. They also went down in size which worked out perfectly.
The side view shows you what it looks like. I did make another one that had more dimension, but I shaped this one to fit onto the barette nicely and more securely.
So what do you think, do you like it? I'm still thinking about that plaque idea too. I can see several of these with flowers on a welcome plaque. Hopefully it inspires you to create too as that's what all the fun is about. So I hope you enjoy seeing this and have a great and beautiful day today.

Here is what I used to make this item:
stamps: God's Beauty (hostess)
inks: black stazon; markers: banana, apricot appeal, pumpkin pie
paper: barely banana
accessories: crystal effects
Non SU items: Modge podge, gold wire, rhinestones, barrette

3D Fifth Avenue Floral

Okay, this is the project I was working on the weekend my family went camping recently. As most of you know I'm not a camper. I like having a bathroom and I'm not big on bugs. My daughter on the other hand loves them so I have a cute part 2 of this project to show you next that I made for her.

I saw this technique from demo Amy Celona. She graciously shared how to make this in a video. This top one is pretty much a copy of her flower. The barely banana one is a color I chose as it reminded me of my grandmother as it was her favorite color rose. It's hard to tell by these first couple of pictures but they are 3D. I actually made one into a pin that you can wear on a top or jacket. The other one I'm considering using to make a plaque idea that I'm working on but would need more flowers.

As you can see by the next couple of pictures it really is 3D and it takes several parts to put it together. It actually took a lot longer time then I thought it would as you have to let the layers dry. It was fun though as I love craft making in general and this was a new technique to learn. The other picture shows several of my parts laid out drying. Each section is made with three layers of cardstock Modge Podged together.

See how the layers are shaped to fit together to give more of a semblance of a real flower? It's really pretty in real life.
There is shading on the flower but it's a little hard to see in the picture. So what do you think? Do you like them? I did and I want to try some more items to put together my plaque idea, but I have to work on some gift items first.

So I hope you enjoyed seeing the flowers and I hope you have a great day today. My challenges to you today are one try to bring some beauty to someone's life today by doing something nice for them and two break out of your shell and try something fun and different. Who knows maybe you will come up with the next cool idea like Amy did.

Here is what I used to make these flowers:
stamps: Fifth avenue floral, God's beauty (hostess)
inks: stazon black; markers blush blossom and barely banana, certainly celery
papers: blush blossom, barely banana, certainly celery.
accessories: crystal effects, craft scissors, glue dots
Non SU materials: modge podge and pin back

second scrapbooking your faith class

Sorry I didn't post yesterday as I was feeling really bad. Still a little puny today but better. I was going to use some of yesterday to make some new projects, but didn't feel good enough to venture downstairs. So I have some make up work to do as I'm low on items I can post (as the rest are gifts for people that I can't post yet. :) ) Anyways, I was looking at some of my recent posts and I realized that I hadn't posted the pages from my second Scrapbooking your faith class. These were two pages we did using the sunshine garden simply scrappin kit. The theme of this one is "I am fearfully and wonderfully made". We went over several verses in this study but the main points came from Psalm 139, which is where this quote originates. Last month we focused on God and His beauty and this month was about us and "How we can do all things through him who gives us strength" Jer. 29:11 and how if we believe we are God's masterpiece and that we are made to do good works that we can do a lot for the kingdom. So that's a little snippet that we talked about in class. The pictures and journaling were suppose to be about ourselves as we as scrapbookers tend to not scrap ourselves as much but about our friends, families and events. It was a fun class and I hope you all realize just how great you are in God's eyes.

Here is what I used to make these pages:
Papers: white 12x12, old olive, so saffron, sunshinie garden sskit bulk
ink: old olive, so saffron
accessories: sponges, Big Shot, Serif alphabet dies, 1/2" circle punch, embossing buddy

graduation day

A friend of mine is graduating today with her Masters. I'm very proud of her for her accomplishments. It hasn't always been easy and there have been sacrifices along the way, but she saw it through to completion. I'm excited for both her and her family. Now her excitement begins with a new job and new found freedoms (as she doesn't have to study all the time anymore). Hopefully she won't over commit too much. :) As many of us tend to do.

So I made her this card. I chose these colors as this is the colors of the school she attends, but could easily be adapted to match any school. If there isn't any thin ribbon that matches then you could probably use a tabbed ribbon verses one folded over like this. Also the congratulations is embossed and raised up on the card, which is hard to see here. I also used the stampa-ma-jig to help me line up the letters and the top white piece is on dimensionals.
I hope you enjoy it and get some ideas to help you out as well.

Here is what I used to make this card.
papers: black, real red, white
ink: real red, versa mark
stamps: varsity alphabet, SAB - congrats
accessories: ticket corner punch, black embossing powder, heat gun, stampa-ma-jig, sponge, silver brad, black grosgrain, dimensionals.

3 new promotions

Stampin' Up! currently has 3 new promotions going on for the month of May.
1. Become a new demonstrator for as little as $75 (or you could chose the regular kit too)
2. Purchase the Jumble alphabet stamp set (in new catalog coming out) at a 20% discount during May.
3. Buy any 3 DSPs (except taste of textiles) or textured cardstock and get one free.

These are 3 really great specials right now.

1. If you have ever thought about becoming a demo (even if just for the perks) then this is one of the lower amounts I've seen. It's also good if you have a lot of the items in the normal starter kit.
This special starter kit includes the following:

Item Code	Description	Retail Value
113510	Schoolbook Serif Alphabet stamp set*	$42.95
113059	Simply Scrappin' Petal Party	$19.95
108697	Earth Elements Assorted textured card stock (12" x 12")	$11.95
105240	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad	$7.5

*Substitutable for any stamp set up to $43.95 value.

Please note: Each of the products listed above may be substituted for like items. The Scrapbooking Starter Kit also contains all the business supplies contained in the standard Starter Kit:

• Getting Started DVD
• Getting Started Guide
• Guest Invitation Postcard (100)
• Idea Book & Catalog (8)
• Occasions Mini Catalog (8)
• To My Hostess Envelope (10)
• Recruit Folders (5)
• Recruit Brochures (20)
• Hostess Brochure (20)
• Hostess Benefits Form (10)
• Customer Order Form (50)

2. The jumble alphabet is a hodgepodge alphabet as each letter is different. It comes with both a big and little of each letter. It will be in the new catalog, but for this month you can purchase it ahead of time and at 20% off. It will normally be $43.95 and you can buy it for $35.16.
If you would like to see a picture of it email me.

3. If you need some Designer Series or texured paper, then now is the time to stock up. The buy three get one free is a great deal. Just list the 3 you want to buy and then put in the one you want free. If you are ordering online, I've heard that you will enter you free paper later on in the transaction (there is a button to click on - so don't forget that). If you enter it in the normal place it will charge you for it, so if you have issues contact me directly. Just remember if there is a $ amount next to it, then you are paying for it.
You can find out more information (or see pictures) on my SU website: http://detailmama.stampinup.net.
Click on promotions.

Hope you have a great day. :)

mother's day idea

Here is another flower idea using the flowers that you can use for Mother's Day. This is one I made for my mother (she isn't on the internet so I can show this one ahead of time).
I used the Fifth Avenue Floral flower again and colored in with markers this time. You can use the same color marker and it just adds a touch of shading. Go back over it and it makes it a little darker in spots. I then cut it out and then used the oval punch to punch leaves. I then folded in half and trimmed the edge and scored and inked the leaves. I then curled them a little and popped the flower up on dimensionals.
I hope you like it as I do. This is also a 4 x 4 card as I wanted to make something different.
Here is what I used to make this card:
paper: barely banana, summer sun, chocolate chip, whisper white, old olive
ink: stazon, chocolate chip : Marker - barely banana, old olive
stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral and Fresh cuts
accessories: large oval punch, snips, bone folder, dimensionals

Sorry I haven't posted much lately. I've been working on some items that take more time or are for specific people for specific events and that means I can't show those cards yet as they might visit here. :)
I've been trying some new techniques and I hope you aren't getting tired of the flowers. These techniques just work so well with these flowers and the die it's hard not to use them. I'll have to look through my stash and see what others I can work on too. Hmm... maybe the truck from the Loads of love set. I'll have to see what other open sets I have. I can't remember who I first learned this from as there are several demos that I learn stuff from, so if you were the first to do this let me know and I'll give you credit.
Here is a new technique. I used two different color combos so you could see some differences. the top one has more yellows with a touch of pink and the bottom has more pink with a touch of yellow. Just a slight variation but definitely different results. It's best to work with stamps that have some coloring options. This is done on Shimmery white paper. First set out a drop or two of reinker on something slick (i.e. an old CD or a plastic top, paint tray, etc). I chose 3 colors here - Barely Banana, Regal Rose and Cameo Coral. The Fifth Avenue Floral flower is then embossed in white on the Shimmery paper. Once you do that you spritz the paper really well with water (make sure you protect your work surface so it doesn't get soaked). Then take your aquapainter (make sure really wet) and pick up a touch of the reinker and touch it to one of the areas in between the embossed images. It will spread out quickly and just kind of jump onto the paper. Keep doing that as desired into every spot separated by the embossing as the embossing creates kind of like a ledge separating the areas. Once you get it where you like it, let it dry. It will take at least 30 minutes or more. I then cut mine out and then I attached it to a card. I used dimensionals to give it more depth. So what do you think? Do you like it? It's pretty isn't it?

Here is what I used:
Papers: shimmery white (for flower), whisper white, regal rose, cameo coral, certainly celery
inks: cameo coral craft: reinkers - barely banana, regal rose, cameo coral
stamps: Fifth avenue floral, heard from the heart
accessories: white embossing powder, heat gun, snips, Big shot, little leaves die, dimensionals, clear embossing powder (words)