Beauty-Full Banner

I've had a thing for banners recently.  And around the blog world I've seen this play with words on "Beautiful" by writing it "Beauty Full" instead.  I got to thinking that my own little life is pretty darn full of beauty as well.  Thus the banner.  I love this "Bloom" paper collection by Creative Imaginations, the jewel tone colors are so me.  I used both sides of the papers and a pack of die cuts. 

Close-up of the letter "e".  I inked my edges, since that appeals to the earthy parts of me.  Then added a touch of sparkle with Paprika colored Stickles and some gems by Hero Arts. 

I gave the backside of the banner has a finished look as well for it's nice to look good coming and going!
Here's the back of the letter "e".  I strung the banner with garment pins and sheer ribbon by May Arts.

This project came together quickly for it'd been bouncing around in my head for some time.  I find it full of beauty!  If you're interested in making one just like mine simply email Paper Studio and register for a class or purchase a kit.   Have a "beauty-full" creative summer!

"No More Training Wheels" ATC

Had a final (for the summer) ATC swap with Paper Studio on June 20th.  The theme was open so I decided my card would be about a very important event that took place just a few weeks ago.   No more training wheels for both Rubes and Teo!  A little sibling peer pressure helped these two learn quickly.  I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful this is. 

On this ATC aptly titled "No More Training Wheels" I used a stamp set from Hero Arts for the bicycle and the sentiment, ric rac by May Arts, Stickles for sparkle and papers from my stash.

Photo proof of my two-wheelers!  We practice in a local church parking lot.  Lots of space to master using brakes, turning and speed.

Both are finally tall enough to stop with their feet able to touch the ground.  Nothing more disheartening than needing to stop and having to fall over to do it.

Looking forward to the first official family bike ride, a bit more practice is currently required but we're on our way...

Painted Flower Pot

Many projects come to me by way of the following...Could you make/paint/sew/draw/create/_____ for me?

I tend to like these little requests for they generally have few restrictions and get me out of my current creative rut, I mean routine.  So when I was asked to decorate a plastic flower pot for a wedding I said sure.  I'd been toying with the idea of adding color to my doodling and this project seemed right to give it a try.  Hello paint!  First I sanded the pot where I intended to paint.  Then I painted a light green base coat.  I used acrylics for this project since I had them on hand and they dry quickly.  After I drew my design round the pot in pencil it was just a matter of painting it in.  I was having a garage sale at the time so there was plenty of sitting time available for painting.

I knew from the start I wanted to outline the image but when I tried black it was all wrong.  Too harsh looking.  My next thought was to use gold as a base coat for brown but decided to keep it once I saw how lovely it looked.

A final coat of clear sealer finished this fun project.  Sort makes me want to paint all the pots in my yard and house!

Paper Flowers

Paper flowers.  A class I designed for Paper Studio for the month of June.  It show cased six flowers: stacked square, rose, black-eyed susan, accordion fold, carnation, and box top.

I really enjoyed designing and teaching this class.  These flowers are stunning in their simplicity.  Paper choice can completely change their look.  The class show-cased use of Fiskars Squeeze and Border punches, inking and the Ranger Mini Mister.

Most of these flowers are versions of what's floating around out there on the web.  Really, try typing "paper flowers" in a search engine sometime.  Mind boggling I tell ya.  These just happen to be some of my favorites and how I go about making them.

I'm toying with a potential "ribbon" class for August, all bows and frills.  We'll see,  I could probably come up with a Paper Flowers Class II!

Hello and a Layout

Hello. I feel like I should reintroduce myself... seems I've taken an unexpected blogging break.  All I can say is the transition from school ending to summer break has been a struggle this year.  So I'm hoping to catchup as today it's raining and we all feel like just hanging around the house.

Sometime in April, I believe, I made this layout titled "Reminisce" using papers from We R Memory Keepers 2011 "Tres Elegant" Collection, May Arts ribbon, Nestibilities dies and a few Fiskars punches.  The photos are of my lil' people from 2007.  Time goes too fast.