craft room
Elle's Studio
Jenni Bowlin
Prima
QVC
turquoise
Vintage
Time to Share Thursday!
What an eventful week in our nation. Although we escaped the many storms that erupted around us, the Joplin tornado had me on edge. My oldest son had spent the weekend in Eureka Springs and was oblivious to the fact that the storm that hit Joplin was headed in his direction! My husband and I were on our phones texting and calling and were so relieved and thankful when we learned that all was well with him. Like most everyone, I am awe-struck by the devastation that has replaced normal lives throughout the country. It is my simple prayer that families are comforted in this most difficult time. I do believe that through adversity, beautiful things will be brought about.
I had the camera out this week, taking various pictures of our belongings to have on-hand in the event of fire or act of mother-nature. While doing so, I took a few snap-shots of a few of my favorite things in my craft room :)
1950's nursery containers. I adore vintage pink :)
Vintage locker basket filled with colorful spools of ribbon & trim
So when people ask me my favorite color...this old Laundry sign is it...turquoise!
And finally, I had to dress up these cute galvanized buckets. They sit above my work-space, so labeling them seemed the most logical thing to do. I printed the names of contents onto heavy card-stock, then circle punched, stitched onto a light weight chipboard and inked around the edges. I added a pink satin bow to the top of each....it's just the right amount of POP ♥
I also finished this sweet layout yesterday for the Design Team call at Elle's! I completely ADORE this picture of my daughter...you can tell that she is genuinely happy to be where she is...love it!
I've been trying to use up some of my older scrap supplies. The patterned papers are from Prima and Paper Trunk; rub-ons by Daisy D's and Jenni Bowlin and journal card from Luxe. Instead of feeling a need to 'hoard' the stuff that I really like, I've adapted a feeling of accomplishment when I can discard a completely used-up rub-on sheet....wahoo!
A blog post or so-ago I mentioned the red and white polka dot melamine that I ordered from QVC...it has arrived and...WOW! I'm over-the-moon pleased and happy about the quality, as well as the nice sized plates, bowls and tray. When Halloween gets a little closer, I just may have to purchase the black and white set ;)
Hope you all have a blessed and SAFE weekend♥
Shellye
Creative Scrappers
My Minds Eye
Sketch No. 156
I've participated in my very first sketch challenge at Creative Scrappers today!
It definitely made me think outside the box, as I didn't want to do just strips of paper or ribbon as shown in the sketch. So, I came across a large numeral 3 that I actually had in a give-away box. I searched for a three subject photo and voila!
I traced the 3 twice onto two different patterned papers, cut them both out and sliced them into 1" sections (alternating between the two patterns). I then stitched it down and began working the photo and embellishments around it :) Turned out pretty good if I do say so myself
3 Little Mermaids
The Sketch
Tomorrow it's back to work, so I'm not sure how much more 'play' time I'll have over at Inspired 2 Scrap. I was hoping to get most of the challenges done, but man, time is just flying right by.
We got new sod yesterday :) Hopefully no more tracking in dust when it's dry out and mud when it's wet out...at least I hope! It's amazing how much half green/half brown grass can brighten your life. Rain has been here and there today so maybe we won't have to get the water-hose after it too many times.
Off to the dreaded Wal-Mart just as soon as the kiddies get home. But we'll top it off with a Domino's pizza and a good movie (at least I'm hoping).
Have a good weekend!
Echo Park
glitter
May Arts Ribbon
QVC
Recipe
Vintage
Multiplication, Anyone?
Vintage 1965 Milton Bradley flash cards get a new lease on life! They're the perfect 3x6 size for a mini scrapbook. My inspiration was the embossed die-cut of sweet children. I paired it up with patterned papers from Echo Park, fun trims and ribbons, glitter and distressing of all the pages and cards.
Isn't it sweet and happy ♥
Things that I can't do without when paper-crafting:
1. Brother CE-5000 PRW Sewing Machine
2. Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue
3. Staz-On Jet Black stamp pad
4. Micro-tip scissors
5. Fiskars 12" Trimmer
6.Crystal Glitter
7. Vintage crochet thread (it's a staple on most of my projects)
8. Beacon Fabri-Tac
9. Fray Check
10. Ribbon
These are just my top-10 must have's! It goes without saying that I have to have pretty papers and embellishments, but these are things that I would not leave home without...and I guess the reason that I don't travel to more crops or venture into the living room LOL
I am completely enamored of this whimsical melamine set by Temp-tations that I ordered from QVC...I can't wait to get it! It also comes in black and white polka dots, which I think would be a nice addition to my ever-growing Halloween collection (plus, our school colors are black and white), don't you think? :)
Here's a recipe that would look so nice in the larger bowl
Chicken Broccoli Salad
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup mayonnaise (not salad dressing)
2 TBSP sugar
2 TBSP apple cider vinegar
4 cups cooked chicken breasts, chopped
2 cups fresh broccoli, finely chopped
3/4 cup red onion, chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup green or red grapes, sliced
salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup cooked bacon, crumbled or pre-packaged bacon pieces
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake pecans in a shallow baking dish for about 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes of baking. Cool.
Whisk mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar together in a large bowl. Fold in chicken, broccoli, onion, and cranberries. Salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Prior to serving, stir in grapes and bacon.
This is wonderful on croissants, hearty wheat bread or a nice bed of lettuce.
Cool and refreshing for the warmer days ahead ♥
Enjoy!
A layout with a side of cards
So, I finished this challenge at Inspire to Scrap's "Walkin' on Sunshine" Crop in a flash! The rule was to use a photo of a woman who inspires you. I had taken this picture on Mother's Day (of my mom and my kids) and liked that everyone had a great smile put on :)
Another challenge was to use scraps from a layout that you created, so I followed it up with a set of two cards. It's actually a very good practice to get used to: after finishing a project, create a card or two card before putting away your scraps and supplies...I love this! I never ever have a card on hand when I need it.
Aren't the felt blossoms on the layout so cool?!? I purchased them from BBD Supplies at Etsy. They have many, many color schemes, varying shapes and the prices are fab-u-lous!
Well, I'll be back at it tomorrow. I'm feeling a vintage flash card album is due ;)
Have a great rest-of-the-week!
Monday...and other stuff
Another Monday! Slept in late this morning so that I can work tonight...just one night of work this week...yay! Tomorrow night is Tyler's Athletic Banquet. He should get recognized for Honorable Mention Wide Receiver in our district...should be fun and great photo-op time :)
I've been perusing the blog-o-sphere this morning; checking out friend's and manufacture's blogs. My friend, Yvonne is a Design Team member over at Inspired to Scrap...they're hosting a crop this week! I'm off to check it out after leaving here. It's been awhile since I've done a crop and I'm looking forward to the inspiration and chat ♥
Oh my goodness! In my perusing I found a paper line that I just have to have! I love the vintage-inspired-ness of Hometown Summer by Collage Press Studio at Pink Paislee.
Isn't it the cutest?!?! Perfect for a summer scrapbook album...my customer's love vintage-y albums and I love making them. My favorite color right now: turquoise/aqua. Some people call turquoise, aqua and others call aqua, turquoise, know-what-I mean? ;) It just says H-A-P-P-Y to me!
I added a cute Birthday Party set to The Red Robin yesterday. I used an older paper line from SEI...Penelope's Potpourri...remember it? You may have to reach way back in your memory LOL I had to dig waaay back in my bin to find it *blush* I also used the Ruffled Crepe Trim that I have for sale at TRR. Here's a peek at the hat (cake topper)
There are six honeycomb cupcake toppers also in the set :)
Okay, I'm outta here for now! Have a fab Monday!
Pretties
It's been a lovely, sunshine-y day! The weather inspires me. With rays of sunlight streaming into my craft room, I can't help but want to create something fun to fit the mood.
I finished these cute tags within a half-hour (maybe less if you deduct the times I answered the phone, got something to drink, etc.!). I've added them to The Red Robin shop at Etsy
Set of three tags. I soak standard shipping tags in strong tea for a few hours, then dry out in a low-heat oven. To give them extra pop and shabbiness, I inked the edges in a walnut. The stamped images are from Stampin Up. I then water-color, add an accent of glitter to each and top them with a satin ribbon bow, vintage button, paper leaves and crochet thread. I envision these on not only packages, but on card fronts, collage projects or scrapbook pages! Anyone who loves shabby chic would love these :)
Here is a super quick and easy recipe that I wanted to share. My friend and co-worker, Andree, brought it to work one night and I just had to have the recipe. Keep in mind that you can use any cake mix and container of frosting
Sour Cream Inside Out Cake
•1 box yellow cake mix
•4 eggs
•1 cup vegetable oil
•1 cup water
•1 container cream cheese frosting
•1 tsp vanilla or almond extract (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix first four ingredients together in a large bowl. Beat as cake package directs. Fold in frosting and flavoring. Beat slowly until well incorporated.
Grease or spray Bundt pan; flour if desired. Pour in batter. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool and then invert onto plate or cake-stand. Serve with whipped topping and strawberries!
Yummy-Yummy-Yummy
I've also used a Devil's Food cake mix and vanilla frosting...it's fun and interesting to see what you can come up with...I don't think you could go wrong!
Enjoy
Super Saturday
Finally! After two days of blogger being down, I'm able to post my newest creation for Dot & Whimsy :) I picked up a package of these cute resin picture frames at Hobby Lobby awhile back. I knew when I saw them that they'd make sweet accents for album fronts and collage projects!
This is an accordion scrapbook album that's filled to the brim with princess-ness. I'm in L-O-V-E with the new Lime Twist line from My Mind's Eye...probably my favorite scrapbook company of all time...they consistently put out the greatest product and you don't have to search the entire internet to find it.
Today I'm working on an adorable party set featuring honeycomb cupcake toppers, pinwheels and a party-hat cake topper ♥ Then after that, I'm going to tackle a couple of scrapbook layouts...I'm seriously contemplating trying out for Elle's Design Team call for July-December 2011 :) It's been a very long time since I've entertained the idea, but I'm feeling up to the challenge, plus their stuff is so darn cute!
So, back to the craft table, lemon-berry slush and Glenn Miller radio on Pandora :) It's been a SUPER SATURDAY...hope you're having one too!
Monday...and other stuff
The weekend was over in a flash, like always! Saturday was probably one of the nicest, most relaxing Saturdays that I've had in a while...much needed and much enjoyed. Friday was full of hustle and bustle: cleaning house, DH installing the new full-glass storm door on the front of the house AND putting up new 6x6 posts on the porches! So, after running in and out on Friday (gauging DH's handy-work), it was nice just to enjoy Saturday :) I made a couple of new things (a set in pink and white) for The Red Robin:
Cute little banner flags for all sorts of projects. There are eight different sentiments using the Picture This stamp set by Stampin Up! I then added a little glitter, attached them to a toothpick and tied on a bow of baker's twine...sweet!
I love to poke around in places like Dollar General; you can find so many inexpensive things to use in your craft projects or items to repurpose:
♥jute: for tying up packages
♥toothpicks and bamboo skewers: for making fun cupcake toppers and other embellishments
♥sugar shakers: store beads, glitter and other small charms in
♥muffin tins: keeps small embellishments tidy. Can also be hung from a wall and add magnets for attaching magazine ideas, notes, etc.
♥silverware tray: slide this into a drawer and sort long stickers, rub-ons...keeps them neatly on their side and makes thumbing through a breeze. Also nice for storing scissors, pens and rulers
♥canning jars: add homemade goodies to the inside and embellish the outside with ribbons, trims, fun reproduction tags...a fun, quick gift!
♥trinkets from party supply section: baby rattles are amongst my favorite trinket to add to an album cover or card
♥silk flower bushes: remove from stem, insert a button or brad through the center and add to various projects
♥blank journals or spiral notebooks: simply cover the outside with scrapbook papers and embellishments...teacher's love these
♥color tipped straight pins: straight pins are all the craze...insert these into the flowers or bows of card fronts
I could literally go on and on! I can find a crafty use for just about anything, including the boxes that food comes in LOL If you have a good dollar store tip, please share :)
Okay, friends, it's time to get ready for night-shift duty. I'll see you all in a day or two!
Have a happy week!
Happy Friday!
Howdy! So many goings-on around here today. I finished my latest album..."Isn't She Lovely" and listed it at Dot & Whimsy just now. It's scrolled and features the cutest papers from My Mind's Eye Little Miss Muffett line. The inspiration came from the striped ribbon that I twirled into roses...fun! The colors are a little different from a lot of paper collections out there...kind of a raspberry-pinky thing going on :) I like it!
I forgot to mention yesterday that I've rejoined Close to My Heart as a consultant. They're hosting a wonderful, wonderful deal for new consultants! I was in awe and amazed at the tons of stuff I received for a little more than $65. From a selection of six collection kits, you get to choose THREE...PLUS (this month) you also receive the "You & Me" Kit FREE! All of this plus the business essentials and catalogs to get started. For the minimal upstart cost and future discounts, I just couldn't turn it down! If you need any info, just let me know and I'll be glad to help.
That's about all for this Friday night. Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!
Back, Back, Back...I'm Back Again
...I'm back at blogging! I've started with a clean slate and updated it a bit. I still have more to do, like sorting through the links to see who's still around and who's not and adding some new places 'n folks that I've found in the meantime.
Along with revamping The Papered Cottage blog, I've also given a new coat of paint (so-to-speak) to The Red Robin at Etsy! I'm really excited about having a shop exclusively for the shabbier side of life :) Be sure to check out my newest creation with crepe paper...ruffled crepe trim! Because the layered crepe fringe has been so popular at Dot & Whimsy, I figured it wouldn't hurt to try something a little different and yes, a little shabbier. I love the way it looks on party hats, card fronts, scrapbook pages and altered items...it's just FUN♥ Hop over to Card-Blanc's blog and see how she used it on a card recently (thanks, Kathy!)
The end of the school year is fast approaching! I can't believe that I will have a Senior, 8th-grader and 4th-grader going into the next year...wow! Both boys will be going to Glorietta, New Mexico for church camp this summer, as well as attending football camps. Sydnee will experience her very first church camp, but not quite as far away ;) Dance recital is in just four weeks and the theme is "Alice in Wonderland". It's always such a delight to see her tap, jazz and ballet across the stage. She enjoys doing her very best no matter what the task. Today she participated in her 3rd grade class' Track and Field Day. She took 1st place in the 100M Dash and Long Jump, 2nd place in the 50M Relay and 6th place in the 3-Legged Race...she was on cloud-9! I got lots of pictures and could have gotten more if my camera's card hadn't been full; I'll post pics tomorrow!
Well, I hope that I get to blog before Sunday, but if I don't...HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of my wonderful friends!
<------------------This is a current listing that I have on hand at Dot & Whimsy. The mini scrapbook album features cool vintage magazine photos and fun quips and proverbs known to be said by moms since the dawn of time. I'm also having a SPRING SALE...save 15% on your order by entering CODE: HAPPYSPRING2011 at check-out!
See ya'll later
