Bella Carta

I tried something new ....

I love ABC projects (anything but a card!) and wanted to try something "new" (for me at least!).  So, I decided to do "stamping on soap"! 

You don't really stamp on soap, much like candle projects, you stamp on tissue paper and then stick it to the soap.  Here are a few things I've learned, along the way:

1)  If your soap has a deeply embossed/impressed logo - take your vegetable peeler and just peel that away, give yourself a smooth canvas!

2) You can use all sorts of stuff to stamp and color with ... everything from stazon to coloring with colored pencils.  You want to make sure the ink won't run when you're adhering to the soap.

3) I used modge podge, but I think you can use crystal effects, or just even lightly wet the surface of the soap with water and stick your stamped design on it.

4) If you have clear "melt and pour" soap (available at craft stores) you can set your design by dipping it in the clear melted soap.  I've also seen some folks use parafin to set the image in, or just seal it in with your favorite sealer OR crystal effects.  Depends on you ... and how permanent you want it to be.  If its just for display, don't worry about it!

5) This is a great way to use up those little "hotel" brand soaps you've collected on your trips!

This one is a "hotel" soap, a little square with ginger fragrance!  I stamped from my beloved "Roses in Winter" set.  I then adhered with modge podge and sprinkled a little glitter on it. 

The power of cards

For today's post, I wanted to share with a message that was posted on the Stampin' up demonstrator's website. I think it helps remind us all "why" we stamp .....

The Power of a Card
April 28, 2008

Last December, Shelli Gardner lost her mother. She shared the news in a personal message to demonstrators and employees alike. Almost immediately, Shelli began receiving messages of sympathy and support, compassion and concern. Many demonstrators shared their own memories of  Shelli's mother, while others shared treasured memories of their own mothers. Some messages were simple; others were longer. Shelli read each message, and each one touched her heart and reminded her of what really matters in our lives--those we love and care about.

Chances are good that you have experienced the power of a hand-stamped card yourself. Maybe you've been struggling with sorrow and pain when a card has brightened your day. Perhaps you've sent a card that helped someone feel appreciated and worthwhile. Whether you're the giver or receiver of these heartfelt expressions, you've seen and felt the difference they can make.

Cards made by Stampin' Up! demonstrators and customers hang on bulletin boards and refrigerators and are tucked in scrapbooks all around the world. And just because a card isn't kept, doesn't mean it isn't treasured. Anytime we realize that someone is thinking about us, is aware of us, is reaching out to us, we are buoyed up, strengthened, and encouraged.

That's the power of a card--the ability to quietly change someone's day for the better. As Shelli read each of the cards expressing sympathy for her loss, she resolved to make sure she sent out a card every opportunity she got. We invite you to do the same. It's a little thing that can make a big difference!

My card below is a rather simple one : cards don't have to buy complex, multi-layered, distressed, embellished masterpieces that took hours, they can be simple, with just a pop of color.  This is a Fabriano notecard, with a birdsnest.  I choose to color the eggs "Robin egg blue" (in this case Cool Caribbean from SU, a retired color) and add a touch of ribbon - Aqua Mist twill from PTI.  When I was a youngin' growing up in Wisconsin ... one of the sure signs of springs was the return of a robins!  And robins meant nests, I don't think there was prettier color than the color of robin's eggs!  I still think its one of the most fabulous colors that only nature can create!  I did go over the Robin's Eggs with stickles - cause even nature deserves a touch of glitter!

Repost of my butterfly card

After looking at my butterfly card for the April blog hop, I didn't think I had captured it true colors.  The cardstock is Barefly Banana (SU), with a chocolate chip mat (SU) and a bit of Spring Moss twill ribbon (PTI).

So, I photographed again ... hopefully the colors are truer this time.

Neckties and Butterflies (My Papertrey Blog Hop Challenge)

There must have been a great deal of participation in the April Blog Hop, so this time the folks over at PTI selected 25 names at random as "official" participants ... everyone else (including me) are able to participate as "extras" :-) We were given a swatch sheet of sorts to work with .... download and print!  I thought it was a great concept.  I had very good results with a new color cartridge and I printed it out on the "Best" setting on the printer.

The paper swatch sampler we were given to use was entitled "Father's Knows Best" .... and what's more fatherly than a necktie?  So, the necktie was my inspiration!  I carefully cut out six squares (one of each pattern) with a "postage stamp" edge decorative scissors.  Then, using my exacto knife, I make little v-shaped slits at the top and bottom, these hold the edges of the ribbon in place and help form the "necktie" - which is simply made from two pieces of ribbon.  I used "Chocolate Taffeta" ribbon from Stampin' Up! as it had a nice silky feel to it.  I haven't decided if this should be my Dad's Birthday card or Father's Day, so I haven't put the sentiment on it.

After that, I decided to really push myself a bit further and think of another card - maybe something "softer" this time.  As it turns out, I received an email earlier this week letting me know that someone I knew had passed away, and I needed a sympathy card.  For some reason ... the song "Butterfly Kisses" was rolling through my head.  So .....  I decided to print another of the swatch sheets - but this time on vellum cardstock. Then use my MS Butterfly punch.  I stamped with "Out on a Limb" and used "Spring Moss" twill ribbon (both from Papertrey Ink) to finish it out.

Enjoy!

April Blog Hop Challenge

I am participating in the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Challenge.  This month's challenge is "to use this “Paper Pieces” sheet creatively (available for us to print).  Whether that means leaving it whole, cutting it into strips or punching out shapes."

I have a couple of projects in mind and can't wait to share them with you!  Please check back :-)

Worst 10 minutes!

Here's a fun little card. Its part of a set that is a little off color ... but I have found some other great uses for it!  I think its a great card for saying I'm sorry to a friend or spouse - as in the "worst 10 minutes" were spent arguing with each other or being mad.  You can view the set here, I also think I just might omit one of the words and it would read "I gave up coffee and chocolate!"  Gosh, that would be rough for me!

It says "It was the worst 10 minutes of my life"  and this is simply stamped on a Fabriano Mediovalis note card, and then "watercolored" using my aqua painter and the lids of my ink pads.  I topped it off with a little bit of ribbon out of the $1 bin at my local Mike's.  It had all the colors I used, the blues, tans, cocoa's.

Altered Frame Project!

You know me ... I love "fast and fun" or "quick and easy", those are definitely my type of projects!  This frame easily fits into those phrases!  This starts out as an unfinished wood frame ... I bought mine at the dollar store but I think Mike's has them too, or just about any other craft store. 

I flipped my paper upside down and traced around the inside and outside of the frame, then cut.   I choose two coordinating colors (Summer Picnic DSP from SU), so I did the trace and cut = twice!  Next, I took glue - I like Perfect Paper Adhesive, but you can use modge podge or others.  Smear the frame face with glue and adhere your paper, set aside to dry.  When its dry, go ahead and use your sanding block - and sand those edges!  Anywhere the paper did not fit just right, it will sand down smooth and perfect! As you're sanding .... start thinking about the embellishments ..... ribbon, brads, metal frames, flowers, bling, letters, stickers, just about anything you want!  I simply used grosgrain ribbon where the two patterns met, plus a wider ribbon for the bottom with the new Stylin Silver HodgePodge Hardware frame.    Lastly, a few paper flowers with a rhinestone brad for a little bling.

Look closely in the middle:  there's a slight reflection of me taking the pic.

 

Enabling Alert!

Have you seen the banner ads at SCS for the new Rachelle Anne Miller stamps?  I preordered two of them and CANNOT wait for them to get here!  (Should be before the end of the month!).   

You can order them at 7 Kids College Fund along with the new Sarah Kay stamps AND they have several great specials this month including 35% off Crafty Secrets (through April 20th) and 20% of House Mouse.    Check out the new 7 Kids blog to see great samples and get the scoop on the sale items!

A little fluffles love!

I love my little Fabriano Mediovalis notecards, they are soo handy!  I did this one featuring "Bea Fluffles" in my favorite shades (pomegranate, rose red, chocolate chip and just a little mellow moss).   I used a little stickles for accent on the bee and flowers.

The ribbon was a little find from a Friday evening shopping expedition with a few friends (Judy and Helene) the other night.

Dragonflies and summer memories

Its barely spring and its getting quite warm here ... although we're supposed to get a "cold front" this week (it will probably drop down to 70!).  This card features the Cotton Scraps from Crafty Secrets in the Summer series.  They are screen printed vintage designs, in a variety of themes, printed on cotton fabric.  You just cut them apart and embellish your card!  I loved the touch of teal with the dragonfly, I think it really makes the softer colors *pop*!

The details, the base is Bashful Blue, the cuttlebugged layer is certainly celery and its matted on Taken with Teal (all Cardstock from Stampin' Up!).  There is a little scrap of ribbon (from a local craft store) and the whole thing is accented with Copper shiny brads.  Copper is probably my most fav of all the metals - I just love it, especially with deeper colors!

We had a pool growing up (in Wisconsin that's a bit of a treat since you can only use it during the summer months!).  But ... dragonflies used to terrorize me!  I'd be in the pool, enjoying the cool weather and there they would come, hovering around you.  Actually, they were quite harmless and beautiful in the jewel tones, the twinkling irridescent blue green wings!