More peeks into the Boudoir!

Take another peek into the Boudoir...which is Starving Artistamps' latest Doodle Factory Release!

Embossed/textured patterned papers...awesome paired with the classy Boudoir Furniture.

Again, art deco for your home...or Valentine! 

When I was young, I read...all the time.  Now, I only read if I'm soaking in the tub! (Or so it seems like that b/c my sudoku books are all used up!)  I thought that these images would lend great to a sign to stop my own doodles from barging in on me!  The ribbon is actually a deep hunter green. And I used nestabilities to cut ou the center hole.

I used paper Temptress Papers, who has many specials going on right now.  The Leather Paper and parchment looking papers look great with the gold Sakura pen.  The other day, I got the PT paper samples ring in the mail..ooh lala. It's going to be great to flip through them when I am cyber shopping for more paper.

Paper Makeup Meets Starving Artistamps

Friday's Paper Makeup challenge was to use all things pink and all things sparkley!  I have been busy with the new Boudoir set by Starving Artistamps.  (Also recently released by SA is an Awareness Sentiment set.) So yesterday, I thought I might combine the two!

Be sure to link up your sparkley, pink cards to Paper Makeup's blog and use the keyword:  M4TW15!

Free digi files for cutting systems.

Paper Temptress is offering 2 file for free download for your digital cutters.  The zip files contain knk, ai, svg, gsd, and dxf formats. Scurry on over to her blog and download them now!  Be sure to stock up on some paper while you are at it!

Rainy day card

This rainy day card would make you smile!

To read more about it, skip over to the Paper Temptress Blog. This is another card by the very talented Adelle!

More art for your home...

Do you need a sign to remind your kids about the noise level in the house? 

Check out the Boudoir set and sentiments from Starving Artistamps.  These large stamps make great framed art b/c of their size.

This is a 5x7 inch frame from the dollar store.

Small details. The mirror is from the vanity in the set.  Gold sakura pens are great for glitz.

(Edited:  This is now the LSC258 challenge...frame some art!)

Giftie for DD

My DD has been wearing the Adelle tote all week long. She left it at home today...so I created this cute little treat for her to find in it after school.  Small notebooks are fun to make, especially when you the very fun Valentine sets by Starving Artistamps! 

BTW, she loved it! (And I used my new scalloped nesties!)

Grateful for my health

When this latest Starving Artistamp set, Boudoir, arrived at my house a couple of weeks ago, I was on the verge of getting sick.  I was able to mount the stamps before a week of illness.  This idea came to me from the start but I wasn't able to finish it until today.  (I probably looked like this fellow last week too!)

These stamps are large...perfect for some home decor.  I found some terrific 5x7 frames at the local dollar store.  I can just see myself making more framed art with these frames.  And I bet the receiver will save this longer than a card. 

Being remembered...

Paper Makeup has a stamp that reads: I count myself, in nothing else, so lucky as in my friends...or something like that.  That is true for me today. I went to the mailbox this morning, to get yesterday's mail.  Looky here!

A half birthday present from Michelle!

I had a feeling there might have been a card from her yesterday. But it was too dark and too cold to trudge out to the mail box.  I didn't want to send my kids out there either. So today, I was delighted to open this package from a fun stamping buddy!  I really "needed" the scalloped hearts. And who doesn't need a giant Hershey bar?  It's not the best shot, but Michelle used Paper Temptress' papers in this ensemble.  I've noticed some red and brown color combos theses days, so I was pleased to see this!

Happy Half Birthday

Today is my half birthday..yeah!  A day to be happy.  I thought about making 1/2 a cake...but spent most of my day at school with DS. So, it's google to the rescure.

See, I'm not the only silly one out there!  (Thanks Michelle for remembering, btw.)

Double up!

That's right!  Today, you can double up on Starving Artistamp challenges and double your chances to win some free rubber!  A week ago, Starving Aristamps issued a Baby challenge for a baby being born to one of our designers.  And today, the company is sponsering a ColorThrowdown challenge...whose colors would be PERFECT for a baby card!!!

These stamps are from the "Oh Baby" set.  Since there is always a new baby around the corner, be sure to get this delightfully cute set!  It's a must!

A fairy happy birthday blog hop

Yes!! Today marks Paper Makeup Stamps' first anniversary!  Happy Birthday, Katie. What a great accomplishment!

The Paper Makeup Artists were asked to make a card...using their favorite stamp. I can assure you that most of us had a hard time picking a favorite.  You can never have too many favorite PMS stamps!!  Originally, I thought to go with one of my first purchases...Penelope and Sprout.  But then...I changed my mind.

Instead, I chose to use Kirsten on a card. She was one that was on my wish list since the beginning.  A rubber fairy gifted it to my DD.   I decided to use it myself...as a stamp you just gotta have!  I stamped the wings on acetate and dusted them with fairy dust.  Another trick I would do since the beginning of my PMS career.  This fairy is one of the easier images to do this with since the wings are large and to the side of the girl. It's so sparkly and fun in real life! I added the iconic "swirlie tree."  Another MUST HAVE if you are collection PMS stamps.

Also, I added the iconic "swirlie tree." Another MUST HAVE if you collect (and most definitely use) PMS stamps.

 

My letter to you...of course...

You should have come from Tina's blog!  Now, flutter on to the next fairy house, Maria's, for another look back at the very grand first year of Paper Makeup.  Collect all the letters and you will have a 15% code...good for this week!  Remember to flutter back to the PMS forum at 8pm CST for the chatter, party and prizes. Have a great day!

Sherrod's Tuesday Throwdown

This Tuesday's challenge is PAPER PIECING!! I love paper piecing.  You can get so much depth and texture...without doing the work (accept for the cutting and gluing.) 

Friendship Blooms by Sherrod Studio has some large flowers and leaves which work nicely for this technique!  I love to emboss all my line images.  This also makes it easie to cut out the image for paper piecing.

Now you can see why I had to hold the card when photographing it. Only the top square is the "card." 

Now, it's your turn!  Be sure to post your paper pieced card on the Sherrod Studio Blog. Keyword:  SSTT14.

Stampmyart on Splitcoast gifted me this awesome siggy name for my blog...or anything else I want to use it on. Thanks a zillion!  I had my eye on these...and this one is so sparkly!

Sewing Smackdown Project #1...

THE ADELLE BAG

Edited: TO VOTE for me...click here to go to Jocelyn's blog.  But, please take a minute to scroll down to the next two entires where two of my kids sewed their own projects. They would be thrilled to get some feedback as they weren't invited to join in the challenge.

My DD has been wanting a hipster tote and so I decided to design my own pattern for her as part as the first sewing project.  I also recycled some of her jeans, which makes this a green project that you can easily do with items found around your craft room.

The Adelle Bag 

Basic Supplies:  A waist band from jeans, the leg of jeans, a jeans pocket, the seam of jeans, thread, ribbon or other embellishments. The length of the Adelle Tote (aka the jeans leg) is determined by the size of the user.  My finished Adelle Tote is 10 inches long. (Remember to figure in seam allowances.)

First, if you want to embellish your waist band, pin and then sew ribbon onto your jeans. 

 Next, iron a seam around the top edge of the jeans.  Sew.  I used a yellow thread which is similar to the thread already used on the jeans.

Then, place your pocket.  Be sure to embellish first.  (I added that red gingham ribbon.)  Sew around the pocket on the same seams.  Then sew the bottom seam on the hem line.

 Figure out where you want the belt loops. Use the seams of the jeans.  Be sure to see what it looks like with the width of the belt.

 Pin the new loops as shown here.  Then sew carefully so that the space for the belt is the same on each loop.  I used a triple stitch in order to make this very secure.

Also, I added 2 loops on the back of the bag.  When worn, only the front loops are used. Now, my DD can turn this into an over the shoulder bag or a drawstring bag, by threading the belt through all of the loops.

 Use fray check for the edges of the new belt loops. I think that as these fray a little, it will look super cool.

 The Adelle Tote...modeled!

 Now, I guess the voting for the projects are on my sister's blog. I'll post a link as soon as I find out. So come back and vote for the best Adelle Tote you ever seen.  She's so pleased with it that she wore it to the Blue and Gold Banquet last night. I'm pretty sure it'll be on her hip Monday while at school as well!

Oh yeah...and my DS and DD also sewed something for the Smackdown...keep reading....

M*'s Midnight Mask

Yep...DD has wanted to have a night mask.  For her beauty sleep.  A Green Project for those out there who have piles of jeans!  Actually...Jocelyn is going to be sorry she started this. I don't think I can send any more hand-me-downs to her son...I need these jeans for our projects!!

Make a template. Be sure to think of your seam allowances. (Tip, fold paper in half and draw 1/2 the mask.  Symmetry Simplified!)  Find some old jeans to use. Fold the jeans so that right sides are together. Pin on your template. 

 Cut out the template!! 

 Reuse the template.  Pin on light batting and cut it out.  Then trim it down so it is slightly smaller in size.

 

On the right side, pin in your ribbons.  DD's mask uses two 16 inch ribbons. (Boy is she lucky to have a mom who shares her good ribbon!!)

Baste. Then pin in all the ends so when you sew the entire project, you down sew in the ribbon.  The "sandwich" should be:  denim with right sides together (ribbons in the middle) and batting on top. Sew around, leaving space at the top to turn your mask.  Grade layers and then clip curves.

Turn your mask right side out.  Use a slip stitch to sew the top edge.  This is DD's first time hand sewing!!

The finished Midnight Mask as worn by the one who sewed it!

 Side view.

Again, This is the first day of the Sewing Smackdown. Scroll down to see DS's Dragon Pillow!  Scroll up to see my Adelle Tote!

C* starts smacking

My son, C* has a well loved, but pretty gross, t-shirt. I told him he could no longer wear it to school, as the arms are sort of short and very grundgey white.  Since we have this interfamily challenge going on, I suggested that he make it into a tshirt pillow.  He readily accepted the challenge.

First, start off with an old, but very well loved, t-shirt.

Carefully, cut around to make a square, with the design in the middle.

Cut through both the front the the back layers of the shirt.  Pinning first helps keep them together.

Then unpin, flip...right sides together...pin.  Sew around the square.  Be sure to pivot at the corners and leave a space to stuff your pillow.

Carefully, clip corners.

Turn your pillow rightside out.  Use the eraser end of a pencil to push out the corners.

Stuff carefully.  Fluff as you go.  Little brothers can be helpful!  Then, hand sew the opening closed with a slip stitch, which he did himself.

Success!  A finished Dragon Pillow!

C* says:  "I love it!!  If you put just the right amount of stuffing in, when you throw it up in the air, it won't come down too soft or too hard. Perfect for a pillow fight!"

When asked if he is up for the next Smackdown Project, he response was, "Yes!!