Happy New Year's Eve!

Another year has passed by too fast.  So since it's the last day of 2012,  I thought I'd look back at and share my top 10 favorite projects from this past year. 

Here they are in no particular order: 

This card is one of my faves because I love this blingy sparkly paper!   And since I've run out of it, I'm going to need to buy some soon.  This cardstock is so hard for me to photograph, but in person it's really awesome.

I love creating and designing jewelry, and this necklace is one of my favorite necklaces I made using Bombshell Stamps.   I love tattoos and tattoo designs, which is obviously why I love Bombshell Stamps.  There really are so many things you can do with their stamps, mix and match the sets up, the possibilities are really endless.

DIY ornaments that were so easy and fun to make with the eBosser.  Seriously, I have so many of these clear ornaments just waiting to be used, and I am really happy about they way these ornaments looked on my lil white tree. Did I mention that these were sooooo easy to make?!

 

And speaking of ornaments, this Skull Snowflake ornament may actually be my most favorite ornament that I made this year. 

One of my faves because I really love this bat.  It's so awesome.

 

 

Senora Muerta is one of my favorite Bombshell stamps and this project was one of my faves.  Unfortunately, it has gotten smushed by a falling object while cleaning my room and no longer exists. =(  <---very sad face.  But, I did manage to save the Senora Muerta colored image from the project so I may re-make this or change it up a little. RIP shadow box, you are missed.

 

 

Well, I love butterflies, so I guess now you know why I love this project.  But this paper by Lori Whitlock / Echo Park is really beautiful and co-ordinates really well.  I also love making flowers with my electronic cutting machines.  This project was made with my eCraft.

 

 

Fun to make, and yes, I'm addicted to coffee. (and stamps too.) 

 

 

Paint, stamps, jewelry... what's not to like?! 

 

 

Guitar Gift Bags, Rock Card, Guitar Pick Garland, Stamped Tissue Paper. This is one of my favorite projects I have ever made, Ever.  These did take a little time to make, but making this project helped me learn how to use my eCraft better. Oh and that Echo Park Paper is awesome, definately my favorite paper collection by them.

 

 

So there's my top 10 favorite projects of 2012.  Now, I need to start working on some project's for next year and to actually keep my resolutions this upcoming year!

 

What are your crafty resoliutions?  So far, mine are to start using things I already have (you know those items for the projects that I said I was going to do but still haven't done yet) and to keep my stuff organized! 

 

And thank you to all of my blog readers (yes, that's you!) for reading, for all of your comments and for a great 2012!

 

- Kim



2013 ornament - Craftwell DT Project

Hi Everyone!

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you and your families too! I can't believe the year is almost over and 2013 is around the corner. Have you started making any resolutions yet? I have a few in mind for the upcoming year. 

It has occurred to me that I don't really have any New Year's Decorations. Which is weird, because I have plenty of decorations for every other holiday. So, I used my eCraft and eBosser to create a 2013 ornament, that I can hang on an ornament stand for New Year's Eve.

Supplies:

-eCraft

-eBosser

-SCAL3 - SCAL3 Basic shapes: star; Times New Roman Numbers 2013

-Dies - Tag Dies by ProvoCraft

-Embossing Folder - Whimsical Wishes

-Cardstock - white cardstock; WorldWin Papers - High-Gloss De-Lights Holographic Foils in Champagne Bubbles; High-Gloss Stripes in Black Stripes

-Hole Punches - Fiskars Punches - 1/4 inch Star Hand Punch; 1/8 inch Circle Hand Punch

-Ribbon

-3.15 inch (80mm) clear plastic ornament by Darice (this ornament opens up in the middle/center of the ornament.)

-Adhesive

-black marker

How To:

In SCAL3 - I sized a star to 2.95 inches wide and cut it out with the eCraft in the black high-gloss stripe cardstock. Then I sized 2013 in Times New Roman at 1 inch height and cut that out in the same black cardstock. Next, I selected the 2013 in SCAL3 and added a shadow layer at 1.5. I cut out the shadow layer in the champagne bubble cardstock. Using a black marker, I inked the edges of all the die cuts and adhered the 2013 layers together. Then I arranged them onto the star and adhered them together. With the hand punches, I cut out circles and stars in the black and champagne bubbles cardstocks to make my own confetti. Then I opened up the clear plastic ornament and placed the star in one side and then added my confetti. Before closing the ornament I used some adhesive around the edges so the confetti won't fall out. Below is a picture of the 2013 star and confetti before it was placed in the ornament. It was hard for me to get good pics of it inside the plastic ornament.

This champagne bubbles cardstock is so fun! It's one of my favorites. I first used it on a Cheers! card I made back in September, which would be a good addition to this ornament if you are making it as a gift. (Not me, I'm keeping mine! Lol.) Here's another pic of it so you can kind of see how it shimmers.

Then I took a square tag die and cut out two tags in white cardstock with the eBosser. I took one of the tags and embossed it with the shooting star from the Whimsical Wishes embossing folder. On the other tag I wrote Happy New Year, and then adhered the two pieces together and inked the edges with a black marker. I added a few stars and circles confetti on the tag too, and then attached it to ribbon and attached the ribbon to the ornament. 

So there you have it, my new 2013 decoration!

I hope all of you and your families have a Happy Christmas, Holiday and New Year's!

- Kim

12-25-12

Hi All!

I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! 

- Kim

12.21.12

Hello!?  Is there anybody out there?!

Ok, so if the world has not ended like the 'Mayans predicted' and you'd like to see how I made these gift bags

or these cuff-links (great handmade present to give a guy! or a lady that likes cuff-links)

 

Then please head on over to the Bombshell Stamps Blog (click here for link) to see today's Fun Fabulous Friday Tutorial! 

 

 

Hope you all have a wonderful Friday!

- Kim 

Get Ornamental!

Monika, Ms. December at Bombshell Stamps, has a challenge for us this month - Get Ornamental!  Using our Bombshell Stamps we are to make 'an ornament for our Christmas tree, Hanukkah bush, wreath, etc etc.'

I had quite a few ideas and was ready to get started until some things came up, such as life, and when I finally sat down to create my ornament I started asking myself, "What to do, what to do?" I had too many ideas swirling around my head and not enough time to think them out! 

So I took out a Recollections cardstock pad I had, my eBosser, a Harlequin die by ProvoCraft, my colored pencils, stamping ink, pop dots, some ribbon and of course, my digi set "Gingerbread Pin-Ups" that I had printed out.  The below is what I came up with, which I must say was waaaaayyyyyy different in my head, and I have to admit, not as long lengthwise.

 

The Gingerbread Pin-Up set is a really fun unique set. I added some 'naughty' ribbon in between the diamond cardstock.  I dunno, this Gingerbread Muscle Man just seemed like a good fit for the ribbon.  He is winking after all.

 

 

Since, I wasn't 100% happy with my first ornament, I decided to 'alter' a second ornament.  I took a rustic brown metal snowflake ornament and adhered some Sugar Skulls that I colored with Copics and a banner from Banner Sayings.  I also colored and cut out some of the hearts and flowers that are part of the Sugar Skulls design and used them as embellishments on the snowflake. 

 

Bombshell Stamps Sets used Sugar Skulls and Banner Sayings

 

I love the way this snowflake ornament came out.  So the lesson I learned from this challenge: Stop getting overwhelmed and don't overthink your project!

 

Now it's your turn... Seriously! Create a rockin' ornament, head on over to the Bombshell Stamps Blog and link it up for a chance to win a cool stamp set! 

 

Have a great day!

- Kim







Holiday Hot Cocoa Gift Set - Craftwell DT Project

Hi Everyone!

I think hot cocoa gift sets make for the best neighbor gifts for the winter holidays. Well, unless your neighbor is allergic to chocolate... Luckily for me, mine aren't!  

Using my eBosser, I created a hot cocoa gift bag and an etched glass snowflake mug for a neighbor of mine. You may already have most of these supplies on hand! The glass mug was very inexpensive, I bought it at the local dollar store. It was (yep you guessed it!) one dollar! Not really breaking the bank there but shhhh... don't tell my neighbor!

 

Supplies:
-eBosser by Craftwell
-Dies: Spellbinders Shapeabilities Create A Flake Two; Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One
-Stamp: Penguin Coolness by Unity Stamp Company
-Ink: Multipurpose water based pigment ink in Real Black by VersaCraft
-White Fabric
-Cooler Concepts Dark T-Shirt Transfer Film
-Digital Paper - Frosty by Lori Whitlock (available at JessicaSprague.com)
-2 Small Safety Pins
-Adhesive
-Twine
-Jute Bag
-Scissors

-Printer/Ink/Computer

-Iron

-Glass Mug

-Contact Paper

-Armour Etch Glass Etching Cream

-Vinyl Gloves/Sponge Brush/Glasses
- hot cocoa packets / candy canes

Hot Cocoa Gift Bag

Hot Cocoa Gift Bag
-Using my eBosser, I cut out the 3 1/4 inch label die in white fabric and then stamped the Penguin stamp in black ink. I printed out two patterned digi papers onto dark t-shirt transfer film and then ironed them onto white fabric. Then I cut out the snowflake dies from the patterned fabric using the eBosser. And stamped the "you're so cool" banner onto the patterned fabric and using scissors, cut around the outline. Now it's time to put everything together! I took an empty jute bag and attached the penguin fabric label to the bag with 2 small safety pins in opposite corners. Using a little bit of adhesive, I attached the "you're so cool banner" to the top of the stick on the stamped image. Then I attached the diecut snowflakes to the bottom and left of the bag with some adhesive. I used glue dots, but a small amount of fabric glue may work as well. Just make sure not too use to much glue or adhesive because you don't want it to stick the inside of the bag together. I placed a hot cocoa packet and 2 candy canes in the bag and tied some twine around the top to finish the gift bag.

Snowflake Mug

Snowflake Mug
- First I cut out the snowflake die in my eBosser with a piece of square contact paper. Next I adhered the outer piece of the snowflake contact paper onto a clean glass mug and also the inside star piece. You won't need the actual snowflake diecut piece. (See pic).

 -After smoothing out the bubbles and making sure not to touch the glass inside the snowflake cut out, I put the armour etch glass cream onto the mug inside the snowflake and waited 5 minutes and then washed it off. Now there's a beautiful etched snowflake on the mug! (see pic)

-Make sure to wear vinyl gloves (so the cream won't touch your skin) and glasses (so you don't get any into your eyes) when using the glass etching cream and follow all manufacturer's directions and warnings. This is not a project for the kiddo's.
 
My local dollar store doesn't always have the glass mugs in stock, so when I do see them I pick up a few to keep on hand for projects and gifts since they are so inexpensive. The etching cream is a little pricey but there is more than one brand available now, so do shop around to get the best bargain! When using the etching cream, like I said above, do follow the manufacturer's instructions and warnings. Stamping on fabric is easy, but make sure that your fabric is on top of a piece of scrap cardstock so the ink doesn't seep through the fabric onto your table or tablecloth! (That may or may not have happened to me once....)

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Let me know, have you tried to die cut fabric with your eBosser yet? It's really simple to do and it gives projects a nice texture!

Have a great day!
- Kim

Skully Santa Christmas Ornament

Hi Everyone!

 

Today I thought I'd share with all of you an ornament I made for my own tree. It will be going up on the non-traditional tree that I'm putting up this year. Everyone that knows me knows I love skulls (must be my love for all things Halloween) so of course I had to make a skull wearing a Santa hat ornament using my eCraft and eBosser.

 

 

Supplies:

-eCraft

-eBosser

-SCAL3

-Cardstock - white, black, red

-twine

-adhesive

-SVG's - SVGCuts- skull from Toil and Trouble SVG Kit; santa hat from Warm Gingerbread Cards SVG Kit

-Regency Letter Embossing Folder by Craftwell

 

Using my eCraft I cut out the following (make sure that keep proportions is checked off when re-sizing in SCAL3):

-Skull top at 4.25 inches wide

-Skull bottom at 4.25 inches wide (x2)

Import the red and white elements from the gingerbread card and then ungroup all items and resize the santa hat and white fur elements for the hat.

-red hat at 2.4 inches wide

-white fur trim at 1.96 wide

-white circle at .55 wide

 

I embossed the white fur elements with the Regency Letter Embossing Folder in my eBosser and then adhered them to the red part of the hat. Then I adhered together the skull top and bottom piece and then glued the hat on top of the skull. With the second black bottom piece I cut out, I adhered twine to the top of it and then glued it to the back of the skull finished piece so that the twine was sandwiched in between both black bottom pieces.

 

Speaking of that non-traditional tree, I better start putting it up... There's only 2 more weeks until Christmas!

 

Have a great Tuesday!

 

- Kim

Retro Sketches #40

Hello, hello...

I just recently got the "Gingerbread Pin-Up" digi stamps from Bombshell Stamps and thought I'd try them out using this week's RetroSketches Challenge. 

My Copics are seriously drying out, and I need to buy some refills (oh hey Santa...you know what I'd like for Christmas!) so I attempted using colored pencils.

And since this is a digi stamp, I of course still felt the need to get inky, so I inked the edges in chestnut ink.

Supplies:

"Gingerbread Pin-Up" digi stamps from Bombshell Stamps
Colorbox Ink in Chestnut
Colored Pencils
Cardstock: Jolly Holiday by Recollections
Brads- unknown


Thanks for looking!
- Kim

Stashing Through The Snow...

Happy Winter!!!

 

It's been cold here on the East Coast this past week, and we even had some snow! Even though I dislike driving in it, the snow did help get me into the winter spirit. I grabbed some hot chocolate and got to some more wintery craftin'. I stumbled upon this awesomely cute new kit at Lettering Delights called 'Stashing Thru The Snow'. If you like mustaches and cute winter characters, then this kit is for you! These svg's gave me a good laugh, I mean seriously, come on a reindeer with a mustache?! A penguin holding a mustache on a stick?! Hilarious and cute! 

 

 

So after being really indecisive on which image I wanted to use for my card, I decided to use the snowman. This card is great for a winter hello or a happy holidays card or just for someone who really loves mustaches. And I'm sure you know at least one trendy person who is into the mustache craze!

 

Supplies:

eCraft by Craftwell

eBosser by Craftwell

SVG's - Stashing Thru The Snow by Lettering Delights (snowman)

SCAL3

Embossing Folder - Sizzix Frost (Basic Grey)

Cardstock - polka dot and tree prints from the Be Merry 6x6 paper pad by My Mind's Eye; white, black, orange, grey, light blue solid cardstock

Bling - Pearls in Nightfall by Queen & Co

Twine - Red & White by Doodlebug

Stamp - Let It Snow from One of A Kind Winter by Unity Stamp Company

Pop Dots

Adhesive

Paper Trimmer

Scorer

Black Ink

How To:

 

First, I imported the Snowman svg at 4.5 inches in height into SCAL3 and then ungrouped the layers. (I didn't choose the svg by layers option because it takes a little longer to resize everything that way. ) I cut out all of the layers in the solid cardstock colors with my eCraft. For the polka dot shadow layer, I took the blue background piece and broke it apart and deleted the snowflake and dots on it, then I clicked to add a shadow layer to the blue background at 4.0. I deleted the blue layer and cut out the shadow layer with my eCraft in the polka dot cardstock.

 

Then I assembled together the snowman, using twine on his top hat and black pearls for his eyes and buttons. I took the Blue background shape and embossed it with the Frost embossing folder in my eBosser. I adhered the blue and white layers together, and then placed the snowman on top of that layer with pop dots. The blue layer was then adhered on top of the polka dot shape with pop dots.

 

For the card base, I took a 12x12 piece of white cardstock and cut it down to 6x12 and scored it down the middle to make a 6x6 card. Then I took a piece of the tree printed cardstock and cut it down to 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 and adhered it to the top of the white card base; then took the snowman and background piece and adhered it on top with some more pop dots. (You know I love pop dots!)

 

 

 

I stamped "Let It Snow" on a piece of 1/2 inch x 2 1/4 inch blue cardstock and adhered it to a piece of polka dot cardstock that was 3/4 inch x 2 1/2 inches. Using 3 layers of pop dots underneath, I then adhered this to the bottom right corner of the tree print cardstock.

 

Have a great Tuesday!

- Kim