Flowers for the Teacher

     This is the flower bouquet I gave a co-worker whom I've been teaching 6th grade math with for the past 2 school years.  I won't be working with her next year, and I'm going to miss her terribly!  She taught me so much about teaching 6th grade math.  Hopefully next year I can do just 1/2 as well as she has done over the past 2 years.

     I purchased the tutorial to make these flowers from Leigha Rock.  She is AMAZING!  Every tutorial I've purchased has turned out stunning!  Everyone ewwws, ahhhas, and oh mys! over my flowers each time I use one of her tutorials.  I can't thank Leigha enough for her beautiful work, wonderful ideas, and well-written tutorials!  See the other bouquet I made HERE

     Most of the flowers are made using various punches.  The daisies are made using the now retired Stampin' Up! Daisy #2 Big Shot die.  Yes, those are real pencils all the way around the "vase".  Oh, and the "vase", well, that was a bit more challenging than I thought, but not a problem!  I used the middle section of a 20 oz. Pepsi bottle.  I cut the top and bottom off (if you look at a bottle, you'll see a natural place to cut it).  I then pushed that plastic tub into floral foam.  TADAH!  Instant vase!

RECIPE

CARD STOCK:  Lucky Limeade, Pear Pizzazz, Garden Green, Daffodil Delight, & Whisper White

INKS:  Lucky Limeade, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, & Rose Red

TOOLS:  Paper Trimmer, Daisies #2 Big Shot Die, Floral Fusion Sizzlet, Fun Flowers Die, Ornament Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Boho Blossoms Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Blossom Petals Builder Punch, Basic Peal Jewels - small, medium, and XL sizes, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, & Stampin' Sponges

NON-STAMPIN' UP! ITEMS:  Floral Wire, Pepsi Bottle, Pencils, Hot Glue Gun, Ribbon, & Floral Foam

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! products from my website, 24/7

     I also made an apple card to go with this bouquet.  Please stop by tomorrow to see that card!

Happy Wednesday!

Stampin' Up! Holiday Center Piece

     The minute I saw the Candy Cane Bouquet by Leigha Rock, I knew immediately I needed to purchase her tutorial and make the GORGEOUS center piece for my Christmas table.  I also knew it would take time to make it, and indeed it did - an entire week (2-4 hours of work a night).  I do say with confidence that it was worth all the hours I put into it.

     What do you think?

     This picture just does not do the bouquet justice.  If you think the photo is gorgeous, you should see it in person!

RECIPE

CARD STOCK:  Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Soft Suede, & Whisper White


INKS:  Cherry Cobbler, Bravo Burgundy, & Chocolate Chip


TOOLS:  Paper Trimmer, Fancy Flower Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, 1-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Dazzling Diamonds, & Stampin' Sponges


NON-STAMPIN' UP! ITEMS:  Floral Wire, Glass Jar, Candy Canes, Hot Glue Gun, & Floral Foam

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! products from my website, 24/7

     I hope you like my Christmas center piece.  The final product was so worth the time I put into it.  I hope you have a project you are very proud of!

Happy Monday!

Beautiful Birthday

      I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've posted.  Between not feeling great, my mom moving here from Mississippi (and helping her unpack), class, dessert night, and a really sick child, I've had little time to stamp and blog.

     But, since you all have been so patient and loyal to visiting my blog, I thought I'd share a beautiful birthday card I made this week, for a co-worker.  I CASEd the idea from Tami White.  She has the most beautiful and cutest ideas out there.

     I used retired card stock - still working on using up my stash.  What about you?  Are you using up your stash?  Hopefully my cards and projects using retired paper are encouraging you to use up your stash.

RECIPE

CARD STOCK:  Mellow Moss (retired), Pale Plum (retired), Whisper White, & Always Artichoke


INK:  Pale Plum (retired) & Perfect Plum


STAMPS:  Create a Cupcake & Eastern Blooms


TOOLS:  Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Brayer, Build-A-Brad, 1/2" Circle Punch, Blossoms Petal Punch, Mellow Moss ribbon (retired), Glue Dots, & Bone Folder.

Click HERE to order any of these Stampin' UP! products online, 24/7

FREE MINI TUTORIAL

     To make the flower, I cut two pieces of paper - 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".  I embossed both pieces with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.  I took my brayer, and using the same color ink as card stock, I inked up my brayer and lightly brayers over the embossed image.  I then punched out 8 large flower petal from the Blossoms Petal Punch.  I then glued four petals to my card (is the shape of a plus sign).  I then took my bone folder and lightly and gently curled the remaining four petals.  I used glue dots and both ends of the four petals, and placed them on my card, staggering them from the first four petals.  I then inked up the largest flower in the Eastern Blooms stamp set, using the same color ink as the color card stock of the flower petals.  I took my 1/2" circle punch and punched out the center of the flower and used that in my Build-A-Brad.  I then "broke" off the prongs of the brad and used a glue dot (actually a few glue dots) to stick it to the center of my card.  I used Always Artichoke and punched the rounded petal/leave out.  I used the fatter end out, as my leaves.

     I made another flower in Concord Crush, yet I haven't had time to make a card yet.  Hopefully this weekend I have a little time to finish that card and post it.  Stop back to see it!

Happy Friday!

Teacher Gifts #2

     My oldest just finished Kindergarten.  He had the most wonderful teacher.  I'm so impressed with how much he learned this year.  Reading is the biggest thing.  He's reading on a mid-1st grade level and is very excited to move to first grade next year.

     Due to all her hard work all year, I needed to make his teacher something very special.

     This is what I made.  This is actually the third gift box I made.  See this post for the other ones I made.  These were inspired by Gretchen Barron.  See her box HERE.    

     Inside is a coordinating notepad and matching RSVP pen and a gift certificate.

**NOTE**  Paper used on this specific box is NOT Stampin' UP! paper (sorry!)

  I made the pansies using watercolor paper.  My colors bled easier and dried lighter (I used Night of Navy and Elegant Eggplant), these are so much lighter than the original colors.  I love how they turned out.  For my tutorial on how to make the pansies, check out THIS post.  On these pansies I added little lines from the middle out, all the way around.  I saw real pansies the other day and realized I did not add them to the pansies I made in March.

     This is the notepad and matching RSVP pen.  I just covered the notepad with a coordinating paper and made a paper flower from a Sizzix die (not a Stampin' UP! one - sorry!).  To make the matching pen, I unscrewed the back and pulled out the ink tub.  I cut a piece of designer paper 3 1/2" x 7/8".  I then rolled it tightly around the ink tube.  I then put the paper in the empty pen tube, put the ink tube back in and screwed in back in.  It's that easy.  It's also fun to coordinate all your pens.  It's a great way to use up all your scraps.

     I also made a card for his teacher, that matches the gift box.  I had him sign his name.  Too cute!

   Teachers don't get enough recognition for all that they do, I know this because I am a teacher and rarely, if ever, do parents tell me home much they appreciate how hard I work to educate their child.  I hope that you express your appreciate and gratitude to your children's teachers.  The press makes teachers out to be the enemy, but honestly we are not.  We work very hard and our paychecks do not represent our expertise and hard work we put in every single day.  Teachers are to most selfish people.  Without teachers, our world would not move forward.  Have you thanked a teacher today?

Happy Tuesday!

A Special Birthday Flower Card

     A few months ago, I made this card:

     I attended my upline's card club and this was one of the cards everyone made.  I loved it so much that I immediately bought the stamp set (With All My Heart), from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  I'm hoping it is in the new catalog coming out on July 1st.  I LOVE this stamp set.  This card was super simple and quick to make.  I also used the Extra Large Fancy Flower punch (still available and will be available in the new catalog) to punch out the flower.

     Did you find the fun technique I used on it?  Faux Suede  I used it on the stem of the flower.  Go to THIS post to see how to do the Faux Suede technique.

     I used this card as my inspiration for this next card:

Thanks Sally for designing the previous card which gave me the inspiration for this birthday card!

     I used the same Faux Suede technique on the stem of this flower.  I just love the look, don't you?  Now for this flower, I used the Extra Large Fancy Flower punch and punched out 5 flowers.  Check out THIS post to see how I made the flower.  I bought some cheap body spray in a flower scent, and before I attached the flower to my card, I sprayed it with the body spray.  This gave the flower a very light and lovely scent.  Again, another quick and simple card to make.  Due to the 3-D flower, this card really can't be mailed.  But then, when you make a card like this, don't you like to see the face of the person you are giving it to when they open the card?  I do.  It's worth all the time I put into making the card.

     My open house is this Saturday from 9am to 12pm.  I hope you are able to stop by.  I will be selling older retried stamps, have a few door prizes, special surprises for those that come, and those that place orders on Saturday, free make-n-takes with retiring items and sneak peek items.  Let me know if you are planning on coming.  This way I have enough projects and surprises for everyone.

Happy Thursday!

Teacher Gifts #1

     Today was my little one's last day of preschool for this year.  He had two very wonderful teachers, who had no trouble wrangling my little wild indian and teaching him this year, and for that I felt I needed make them something very special.

     This is what I made.  These gift boxes were inspired by Gretchen Barron.  Check out her's HERE.  Inside the boxes are gift certificates, a Post-It note book, and a pen with designer paper in the window barrel.

**NOTE**  Paper used on these two specific boxes is NOT Stampin' UP! paper (sorry!)

 

     I made the pansies using watercolor paper.  My colors bled easier and dried lighter (I used Bravo Burgundy on the pansies on the pink box, and Elegant Eggplant on the pansies on the purple box).  These are so much lighter than the original colors.  I love how they turned out.  For my tutorial on how to make the pansies, check out THIS post.  On these pansies I added little lines from the middle out, all the way around.  I saw real pansies the other day and realized I did not add them to the pansies I made in March.

     I also made a card for each of his teachers.  Both cards were exactly the same.   I had him sign his name.  Too cute!

RECIPE:   

Boxes:

STAMPS:  Note of Thanks (retired)

TOOLS:  Big Shot, Fancy Favor Die, Little Leaves Sizzlit, Butterfly Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, & Square Fire Brads

Card:

STAMPS:  Note of Thanks (retired)

TOOLS:  Big Shot, Island Floral Die, XL Fancy Flower Punch

Happy Friday!

Flower Clip #1

    I found a tutorial on how to make this flower from Patty Bennett.  Go HERE to download her tutorial.

FREE TUTORIAL: 

     I will give you a quick tutorial on how I made this one in particular.

1.  Using two different colors of Designer Series Paper and the XL Fancy Flower Punch (found in the Occasions Mini catalog), punch out 3 in one color and 2 in the other color, for 5 total.
2.  Take each flower and place them in your palm.  Place your index finger in the center, while you close your hand around the flower, shaping it to look like an actual flower.
3.  Using the paper piercing mat from the mat pack and the paper piercing tool, pierce a whole in the middle of all 5 flowers.
4.  Using a 5/8" brad, place a brad through all 5 flowers, opening the prongs on the back.
5.  Crumble each layer around the brad, really tights.
6.  Open each layer as much as you would like them open.

     For the clothes pin clip:

1.  Cut a strip of DSP (matching the paper from the flower), the length and width of your clip.
2.  Using Tombo Glue, glue the strip of paper to one side of the clip.
OPTIONAL: Ink the edge of the paper on the clip.
3.  Using a glue dot on the back of the flower, attach the flower to the clip.

RECIPE:

CARD STOCK:  Designer Series Paper (Welcome Neighbor “free” SAB pack used)

INK:  Regal Rose

TOOLS:  XL Fancy Flower Punch, Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, 5/8" brad-Whisper White, Tombo Glue, clothes pin (not SU!)

     These flowers can be used for so many uses.  They can be made in any color you choose, with any paper of your choice.  They are beautiful and very easy to make.

Happy Wednesday!

Pretty Pansy

Inspiration for this project came from Becky Jensen.  Check out her pansies HERE.

     Is this flower gorgeous?  It is as simple to make as it is gorgeous.  All you need is the Butterfly Punch and the 5 Petal Punch (both from Stampin' UP!).

FREE TUTORIAL:

     Here is how to make one:

1.  Punch two white butterflies.
2.  Add purple ink/chalk/markers/watercolor crayons to the wings.
3.  Use a mister or aqua painter to spread the color~be sure to make the edges darker than the middle.
OPTIONAL:  crumble the butterfly pieces and open up again.
4.  Attach the butterflies, one on top of each other going in opposite directions.
5.  Add a yellow brad to the center (or you could color the center yellow if you'd rather not use a brad)
6.  Punch a green 5 Petal punch and cut in 1/2 (3 petals and 2 petals)~crumble and open up again.
7.  Attach to back of pansy.

     Yep!  It's that simple!

RECIPE:

CARD STOCK:  Very Vanilla & Certainly Celery

INK: Elegant Eggplant~marker & Watercolor Crayon

TOOLS:  Butterfly Punch, 5 Petal Punch, Aqua Painter, Summer Sun Corduroy Buttons (I used one of the bards in the set), Glue Dots (to attach to the paperclip), SNAIL Adhesive,  2" paper clip (not SU!)

Happy Monday!

I DID IT!!!!!!

     Finished all my grad work, that is!  This afternoon I did my presentation to the college, my final project. I was a wreck until I stood up and just started to talk.  I knew I was prepared and ready, but my body decided it needed to worry for days.  I practiced my presentation at least 10 times, and I felt I kept stumbling over my words.  Well, I did trip up a time or two this afternoon, but nothing major.  When my professor asked me a few questions, all I could do was beam--I was very confident in my answers and it showed.  I, no doubt, showed what I learned and knew, and that I earned the 4.0 I am graduating with.

     I want to take this time to thank my husband, boys, and parents for all their love and support.   It took me 10 years to get to this point--house, babies, family--all what is most important in life, were my bumps in the road to get here-nothing I would EVER change in a million years.  My goal was to graduate with a 4.0 and each class was a challenge to get through.  When I started to doubt myself in obtaining this goal, it was my husband that never let me forget that this goal was 100% obtainable.  I just needed to believe that I could do it.  Even with the toughest class I had to take (Intro. to Research-a class very few, if anyone, earns an A in), he kept telling me, one step at a time, and the A will be yours.  And it was!  On top of that, when I needed help with my boys, while I took classes, my parents always came through for me.  Contrary to popular belief, working on a Master's degree, working full-time, and having young children is NOT easy!  Yet, it is doable.

    I will be marching on Friday May 7th.  Earning that hood I worked so hard for.  Also to show my boys what all that hard work and sacrifice was for-showing them how much I value education, for me, my students, and them.

     I want to thank all my friends who also supported me over the last few years.  You constantly have told me over and over again how much you admire me and support me.  You kept reminding me that having a lot on my plate wasn't the end of the world, but that it made me a better person.  Thank you for all your support and encouragement.  You gave me those ever so important pieces of encouragement when I needed it the most.

     And to all of my customers who have be ever so patient with me.  Thank you!  I promise that I will now have time to devote to my business and to you.  I plan to work on more fun cards and projects and post more here~sharing my creativity and talent with all of you.

     Here is a sample of what I will be posting about over the next week.  I will share each one individually, and tell how I made each of them.  These beautiful flowers were my stress relief this past week as I was preparing for my presentation.  I love all of them, and when I look at this picture, I can't help but to smile.  I hope my flowers make you smile too!

     Be sure to stop back again for details on each of these flowers.

Happy Thursday!