Easter Cards

Happy Spring!  Today I wanted to share with you some Easter cards I made.  

 

For these card I needed a custom size, so I made the card bases from card stock that was trimmed to size.  To make a custom size card base, determine the desired width and length of the card.  Trim card stock to the longest length, then double the width and trim for the width.  For these cards I started with a piece trimmed to 7 1/2" x 11" for a finished card size of 7 1/2" x 5 1/2".

 

I embellished each card a little differently.  Ribbons were attached with brads and strong adhesive.  Some pieces were "scraps" from other projects, like the blue rhinestone swirls on the flower card.  These "scraps are perfect for little embellishments on cards.

Hope you have a wonderful Easter!

Thanks for looking!

Valentine's Wreath

The other day while at target I was inspired by a Valentine's wreath I saw.  It was several red and pink metal rings attached but overlapping each other and a row of felt flowers and hearts across the bottom.  I wanted to create a similar look without the cost and this is what I came up with.

 

 

I wrapped several sizes of hoop rings with red and pink ribbon.  For the outside ring I used the outer portion of the ring to use as a hook for hanging the wreath.  Then I hot glued the rings to each other. 

 

 

I die cut felt flowers, layered them and attached decorative buttons for the flower centers. 

 

 

Thanks for looking!

Project Life Layout

I've been hearing a lot about Becky Higgen's Project Life lately.  The little I new about it, I really didn't think it was for me.  I love the creative process of making a layout and picking out premade coordinating cards and sliding them into pockets takes most of the creativeness out of it.  But then I attended a demo at Craft Warehouse during one of their scrap club meetings and let me tell you, my outlook changed.  Jeanean Brown did an excellent demonstration of how basic Project Life can be and how you can incorporate the creative aspects of scrapbooking to make quick and easy layouts. 

 

Each month for club we are given a challenge to create a page using at least a piece of everything provided.  This month's challenge was to create a Project Life layout.  Everyone received one page protector, a Project Life pen and five cards (we got to choose our own).  Here's my very first Project Life layout.

 

 

 

I selected cards from two different kits and I added a variety of things to the different cards.  The top left, I added ribbon, brads and pins.  The pink flowers on the left middle section is a rub-on.  I added acrylic flowers to the "Love This" card and the butterflies are actually attached to the outside of the page protector.  I really enjoyed creating this spread and I love how quickly it all came together.  It helped that I had pictures that worked with the paper. 

 

Thanks for looking!

Heidi Swapp Memory File Folders - Part 1

Awhile back I had the opportunity to take a class from the wonderful Jennifer Evans.  In the class we received supplies to create our own Heidi Swapp Memory File mini album.  My mom joined me and we loved it so much we purchased supplies to create more of our own.  As with most of the items I purchase it sat there waiting for me to create something with it.  Then in February, Jennifer offered another class, this time we made three cards, using the same line of paper and accessories as the memory files we made in October.  This inspired me to get working on mine and knock a project of my list of things to do. 

I made three files in addition to the original we made in class.  Today I will be sharing the first of these with you. 

I started by sewing the smaller file inside the larger file.  This was a challenge since I'm not a sewer.  Once that was done I started work on the cover.  For this cover I used a Spellbinders Rose Creatioins flower die.  Each flower has a brad for the center, for the larger brads I used my I-top tool to make coordinating brads.  Then I simply layered the flowers over and around the tag and added the word sticker delight. I used my fingers to pinch the petals up to add some dimension.

 

This is the first page on the inside.  I trimmed down a small file to fit the inside and topped it with one of the three cards we made in Jennifer Evans' class.

 

This is the inside what you see when you open that small file.  So you can add photos to the inside of the file and to the inside of the card. 

 

Here I covered some chipboard banner pieces from Maya Roads with patterned paper.  Attach some embroidery floss to the back and tie some knots between each banner piece and you have a fun coordinating banner.

 

On the next page I used the extra top piece to the pocket card that we made in the card class.  I didn't want to waste it so I used it on this page.  It is a bottem less pocket, so you could attach something or slide something through it.

 

And here's the pocket card.  This particular card is not my design but it makes a great addition to this file album.  Jennifer Evans made this one for us to make it class, but she got the idea from the talented Jamie Pate who is on the Heidi Swapp media team with Jennifer. 

 

 

 

Here's a glimps of the inside of the pocket card.

 

 

Back side of the small file insert.  I used all scraps on this page, with the exception of the scallop border and the epoxy stickers.

 

The original memory file we created in our class contained an insert that had some plastic sleeves in them and multiple tiered layers to add photos and journaling to.  Definately a great way to add a lot in a small space.  I loved the idea but only found one pattern available, so I picked up some 12 x 12 sheets and made my own with the use of a couple tools. 

 

All you need to make a tiered insert like this is a paper trimmer, a scoring tool, a decorative border punch and a strong adhesive like scor-tape.

 

This is one of three memory files I created, stay tuned for the others soon.

 

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle

 

 

Die Cut Heart Mobile

I got a cricut not too long ago and wanted to share one of the projects I created with it.  I had seen a cute mobile at a Saturday Market and had been wanting to make one of my own for awhile so that was one of my first projects.

I used the inside of a hoop ring for the top and white thread is criss crossed across the ring to allow me to hang strands around the inside and outside.  For the hearts I used my cricut to cut the shapes and I love that with a press of a button you can flip and cut the mirror image.  Then I cut lengths of thread and attached two hearts back to back at several points on the thread.  Attach each strand to the hoop or a piece of thread in the middle until you get the desired look.  Then I covered the hoop with ribbon. 

This is one of my favorite projects and will definately be making another one soon.

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle ~