Dot & Whimsy

What's poppin' Monday crafty friends!?!

Today I'm going to show y'all another easy 'n quick 

idea for party favors, class treats, teacher gifts, etc.

I mean, who doesn't L-O-V-E popcorn :)

Happy Snow Day!

I've been making a lot of embroidery hoop art as of late

and today's snow day was the perfect day for it.

Hello and welcome tothe

May Arts, Authentique and Imagine Crafts Blog Hop.

I hope that you've had a chance to check out all of the fun

and inspiring stuff that's happened throughout the week!

 I chose to use the brand spanking new Christmas collection, "Believe" to

create this pretty altered tree that I found at Hobby Lobby.

Along with that, I'm using some ink and textured spray from Imagine Crafts and ribbon
 and trim from May Arts!  I purchased the inexpensive tree with a vision of covering
 the slats with Christmas patterned paper!  The sides of the tree are longer than a
 12X12 paper, so I went with a strand of 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, which worked perfectly.  

 I cut the paper strips to a 1" width and distressed around the edges with some 
Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black.  Next, I blended the ink in with one of the Ink Blushers 
sponges by Imagine Crafts.  To the plaid strips I also added flecks of irRESISTible
 Colored Textured Spray (Bamboo Leaves).  I removed the spray applicator from
the bottle and gently flecked the paint over the paper. It's hard to capture in a photo,
but there is a nice, raised and shiny texture to this spray!

The sides of the tree were longer than 12" so I went with a 5/8" grosgrain ribbon in
covering the sides.  First I attached a border of the new Adhesive Scallop Trim by 
 May Arts with the grosgrain ribbon following on top of that.  To attach the ribbon,
 I used the Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker to create an adhesive backing.

To the back of the tree I added some of the off-white mini pom pom trim.

 Instead of going with a large bow at the top of the tree, I added two layered
boutique-style bows to the bottom sides of the tree.  I really love the Faux Canvas ribbon...
it has the look of seam binding but holds its shape much better when making bows.

I used several die-cut shapes and some of the punch-outs from the  
Believe Collection for the focal point of the tree.  I distressed with the same
 Tuxedo Black ink around all of the edges and then layered on to the
 front with foam adhesive.

Authentique Paper- Believe Collection: "innocence" 12x12 paper; "tidings"
 12x12 paper; "ideal" 12x12 paper; "components" 6x12 paper die cut; 6x6 "bundle"

May Arts Ribbon-  5/8" Faux Canvas Ribbon; 5/8" Dot Grosgrain Ribbon;
Mini Pom Pom Trim; Scallop Adhesive Trim

Imagine Crafts- irRESISTible Colored Textured Spray Bamboo Leaves,
 Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black Ink, Ink Blushers Sponge Applicators

 Be sure to stop by the Authentique Paper Blog and leave a comment
for a chance at a Prize Pack!

Hello, hello friends!

This is what I'm calling a "Fast Friday" project that I made using

Pumpkin Finisher Dies and Halloween Trio Dies.

This project took less than 30 minutes to put together, so it's great

for any of those quick gifts that you're needing to whip up.

It all starts with a couple of wood berry baskets that I painted burnt orange.  Once dry, I attached them together with a large hinge at the back that I screwed in place.

I die-cut the jack'o lantern's face from black cardstock, ran them through a Xyron 3" Sticker Maker and then attached to the front.

To the top I added a ribbon bow along with a die-cut bat that I attached to a 

small length of pipe cleaner.  I also fashioned two other pieces of pipe cleaner

 in a qurly q fashion and then glued them all to the top with fabric glue.

Fill him up with paper shred and lots of yummy goodies!  

Dies: Pumpkin Album Finishers and Halloween Trio Set

Visit Top Dog Dies for more ideas using their dies, along with other 

major brand dies that they carry!

Have a happy weekend!

 Happy Monday!  Welcome to Day #1 of the
Newton's Nook September Releases!
Newton has been at it again and you're sure to
love he and his friends in all of their adorableness :)

Today we're featuring "Newton's Perfect Pumpkin"

My sample card made with this sweet stamp set:
I love that you get to decide what kind of face (or no face) that you'd
like for Newton's pumpkin to have!  I colored the stamped image with watercolor pencils
and dressed up the card with new patterned papers and enamel dots by
Doodlebug Design and a swatch of ribbon and jute by May Arts.

Would you like to win “Newton’s Perfect Pumpkin”?
 This set will be given away to TWO lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  
Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs release posts.
 Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win.  
You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment 
on the better your chances are of winning! 

 You have until Thursday, Sept 18 at 9pm CDT to comment 
 -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, September 19th--

Newton's Nook Designs
Taheerah Atchia
Lydia Brooke
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Shellye McDaniel
Jess Moyer
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Tessa Wise
Kimberly Rendino (Guest Designer)

Back tomorrow with  Day 2!  Enjoy the hop!

Happy Sunday, fellow crafters!

It was quite a thrill to be asked to join the alum at

The task: use Tombow's Xtreme Permanent Adhesive

to create a project of my choice!

Let me preface by saying that I wasn't a stranger to the Xtreme adhesive

before beginning this project... I all ready knew that this was the ultimate in

permanent adhesives!  But, being that the adhesive is so tenacious I was happy

to learn a little tidbit that may go unnoticed on the back of the product packaging:

You can see a video --here--

I purchased this set of pre-cut wooden letters at Michael's for my daughter's room.

I chose three different patterns of black & white patterned papers by Doodlebug Design.

After tracing the letters onto the patterned paper and cutting out, 

I applied the Xtreme Permanent Adhesive around the edge of each wood piece.

The letters will be hanging on her wall for the foreseeable future, so I wanted

to use an adhesive that I knew wouldn't give-way after a month or two!

I added some sequins and rhinestones to each letter and also added baker's twine 

around the edge of the letters; this helps to give a clean, finished look!

To do so, I used Tombow's Glue Pen...just use the glue pen as you would a 

writing pen and draw a line of glue around the edge of the letter.  

Press the baker's twine into the glue and hold for a few seconds to secure in place.

I attached a length of ribbon tot he back of each letter for hanging.

Lastly, let me share a photo of me in my SU t-shirt and holding my diploma!

 Visit the Tombow Blog to see more great stuff from the Sticky U Alum!

Can you tell that I'm a little ready for Halloween? :)

I created this whimsical witch signage for 

Today is day five of the "Meet the Design Team" at 

and there are three chances for you to win some ribbon!

Each new 2014-15 team member will be sharing some about themselves

as well as some of their favorite May Arts projects :)

And be sure to stop by each day this week to have your name entered

for the prize drawing www.mayarts.com/blog

GOOD LUCK!

New Release showcase time at 

this week!  Today wraps up the final day, but it's

not too late to join in on the action :)

I was excited to work with the Adhesive Scalloped Border Ribbon

for my projects today.  They come in an assortment of your basic colors:

white, ivory, black and also in bright red, tiffany blue, light blue and pink...

they're all gorgeous when paired together too!

I designed three different cards, with three different looks and with

an assortment or a single ribbon:

First, use the ribbon to decorate behind a die-cut opening as I did with

this "Hello" card:

I cut a square of cardstock a little larger than the star opening and then adhered

the light pink Adhesive Scallop Border Ribbon in an overlapping pattern.

Make your own embellishment!
I used a couple of simple die-cuts to create this cute bumble bee.
Using the black Adhesive Scalloped Border Ribbon was just the right accent
for the bee's body, while also adding some texture.

Lastly, create your own background for a card by
layering a single or various colors of the ribbon together:
Again, just cut a piece of cardstock to the desired size and begin
adhering the ribbon in the pattern that you'd like.

All three cards featurw papers and accents from different
 Simple Stories Collections.

**Here is a line up from the entire week**