April Papertrey Blog Hop

Tonight is the April Papertrey Blog Hop

This months challenge is to create a project using one of the My Timeless Templates. Last December in this post I used the Stocking template to make an ice skate. I had a hard time choosing which one to use for this challenge because there are so many of them now so I decided to use the Stocking Stuffer template again but I put a completely different spin on it this time. This is what I came up with. A gardening boot!

I started by stamping and embossing the polka dots from the Polka Dots Basic set on New Leaf cardstock with white embossing powder. After that I drew some trim for the soles,toes and boot straps then cut them out. Next I used my circle Nestabilities to create the handles then I ran all the pieces through my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots embossing folder. To finish the boot off I stamped the Celebrate Today sentiment from the orginal Mixed Messages set with Raspberry Fizz Ink on a Cuttlebug Tiny Tag and attached it with some twine colored floss.
I orginally wanted to put a little pot filled with flowers in the box but when I went looking for one yesterday I could not find any so I improvised and put some tulips into a paper cup and added them to the box instead. I think these boots would also make great mothers day gifts so I will be putting them up for sale in my Etsy shop if anyone is interested in buying them.
I look forward to seeing what the others come up with now and am hoping that by seeing what they have done with them it will make it easier for me to decide which one to try next. I also hope that by seeing what I have done with the Stocking Template it will help inspire you to make something like it too. As always thanks for stopping by and have a great night.

Technique Tuesday Video

We have been dealing with some really wacky weather here. Friday we were having a spring blizzard. If you look on my sidebar where my Twitter updates are you can see a picture of it. On Saturday it was raining and today it is going to be in the 70's I am really glad that spring has made it's return. I just hope my tulips survived though.
It is time for my monthly technique video. This months technique is an acrylic paint resist. The main image stamp is called Bridge of Sighs and is from Lasting Impressions With Panache. Instructions supplies and dimensions are at the end of the video.If you can't view the video and would still like to know how this technique is done email me for the directions.


I would love to hear what you think of the card and the video so leave me a comment. This card will also be for sale in my Etsy shop if anyone is interested in buying it. As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day.

Mothers Day Gift

Today I am sharing with you a great idea for a mothers day gift. I started by stamping images from the Papertrey Guidelines 2 stamp set on SU Tempting Turquoise cardstock to create the pattern paper then I hand painted the the images with Adirondack Wild Plum and Butterscotch acrylic paint. After that I made it into a mini box using this template. Next I added a tag that was made by stamping an image from the Papertrey Boxes, Bags and Tags set with Versamark Ink then I embossed it with silver embossing powder. The word mother is from the Papertrey Mixed Messages set and is embossed with silver embossing powder as well. When I was done making the taag I cut it out and added it to some silver organdy ribbon that I tied around the box in a bow. Inside the box you will find this.
A matching Bangle Bracelet! In the current issue of the Technique Junkies Newsletter there is a new technique for making them. Their technique uses wood bracelets for the base but I ended up using cardboard tubing for mine the kind that holds posters. I started out by painting the base with Turquoise Start burst Stain. After that I stamped the flower image from the Guidelines 2 stamp set on it with Versafine Black Onyx Ink and hand painted the flowers with Adirondack Wild Plum and Butterscotch Acrylic Paint as well. I finished the bracelet off by adding tiny nail rhinestones to the centers of each flower then I sealed it with Matte finishing spray.
Bangle Bracelets seem to be very popular right now and my mom is the the one who gave me the idea to start making bracelets like this. I will be putting this one up in my Etsy shop if anyone is interested in buying it. I have a lot of other ideas for making more of these bracelets too so be on the lookout for more of them in the future. That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day.

Walking In The Rain Quilted Journal

Today I have something to share with you that has no stamping involved. Some of you may know that another love of mine is quilting. I have been wanting to try free form quilting for awhile now but hadn't gotten around to trying it yet. A few months ago I joined the Sheteam which is group of homeschooling moms that sell things on Etsy. Every month they have a challenge and this months theme was rain. You can click on this link to see what the other people on the team made. I originally thought about stamping something with umbrellas but after searching through my enormous stamp collection I realized I did not have any umbrella stamps. I almost bought a new set of rain themed stamps but after thinking it over I decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to do some free form quilting. I started by cutting out all the pieces then I pieced them together using Stitch Witchery to hold them in place. After I had everything pieced together I machine quilted the scene with different colored thread. When I was done with that I attached the quilted scene to a 51/2x51/2 piece of light weight cardboard then I sewed around the edges with a sm zig zag stitch to seal them down. After that I attached a piece of PTI Spring Rain Cardstock to the back. Rich created a template for the pefect size of lined paper to fit in the journal. I printed copies of them out and then used them for the inside pages. The back cover is a piece of lightweight cardboard that was covered with the same light blue fabric I used for the sky on the front then I machine stitched a border around it too. I used my Bind It All to bind the jourmal all together and added some white O wires. I am pretty happy with how this turned out and look forward to making more of these in the future. This journal is also up for sale in my Etsy shop if anyone is interested in buying it.
I have also been meaning to tell you that Emilia has been making friendship bracelets
to sell and will be donating the proceeds to our local animal shelter to help the dogs and cats there. You can buy them here in my Etsy shop as well. That's it for now. I have some more crafty things to work on this weekend and hope to share them with you soon in the meantime I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Happy Passover

Passover begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan which is tonight and lasts 8 days. There is a lot more history and information about this holiday but way to much for me to share here. This is a good place to find out more about it if you are interested though. One thing I can tell you about Passover is you are not suppose to eat anything with leavening in it for the 8 days so in honor of that I made these Coconut-Honey Macaroons this morning. Here is the recipe if you any of you would like to try them. They are really good!

2 large egg whites
1/2 cup of sugar
2 Tablespoons Honey
1 3/4 cups dry unsweetened coconut
2 Tablespoons potato starch

Beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add the sugar and honey and continue beating until stiff shinny peaks form. Stir in the coconut and potato starch until well blended. Drop by Tablespoons on cookie sheets greased and floured with potato starch for 18 minutes in a 325 degree oven. For another variation you can also substitute ground blanched almonds for the coconut.

I decorated the small paint can that I packaged the cookies in by cutting strips of Silver Shimmer and Night Sky Cardstock then I stamped Happy Passover on the bottom strip and embossed it with CTMH Denim Embossing powder. After that I attached the strips to the paint can. On the lid of the can I stamped the Sedar Plate stamp from the Paper Trey Mazel Tov set on a piece of Night Sky Cardstock then I embossed it with Silver embossing powder. When I was done with that I cut it out with a circle Nestabilitie die and embossed it again.

For all of you that celebrate this holiday I wish you a very Happy Pesach!

As always thanks for stopping by and I will be back soon with more stamping stuff to share.

Happy Birthday Emilia!

Today is Emilia's 11th birthday. I don't know where 11 years have gone. She is growing up way to fast but will always be my baby and the light of my life. I am so grateful to have her for my daughter. Even though today is her birthday She will always be the best gift I have ever been given.
Every year on her birthday she gets to pick something special that she wants to do. This year it was riding a horse. Rich,Emilia,my niece Alexandra and I got to spend the afternoon at the Urban Farm here in Denver. The kids got a private lesson with a Palomino horse named Phoenix. They learned how to groom him, get him ready to ride and ride him. They had a great time and something I know they will never forget.

Emilia's big present this year was a Wii. She has been wanting one for awhile and now she finally has one. So far she has been having a lot of fun with it and her dad has too. I also made her this bookmark. I was asked to be a guest designer for the Rubber Road Ezine which comes out in a few weeks and I made one similar to it. She has been asking me for one like it ever since.

There will be more details and directions for how I make these bookmarks in the ezine when it comes out on April 20th. I will post a link to it then so be sure to check back.
Tonight we had my family over for dinner to help us celebrate and the menu Emilia requested was her dad's special lamb, my garlic mashed potatoes, and salad. For desert she wanted an angel food cake. I made one for her from scratch this morning but the recipe I used did not come out right so I had to buy one. I hate it when that happens but I was still able to make the chocolate glaze so at least it was semi-homemade and she really enjoyed it.
Overall I think it was a great birthday for her and one we will all remember for a long time. Hopefully her 11th year will be just as good as today was for her. I hope to be back soon with more stamping things to share. Until then have a great night and thanks for stopping by.