Barb's Flower Coaster Challenge

I've been dying to get started on Barb's Challenge and today was finally the day! These felt flower coasters she found are so cute, and they just scream, LILLY ANNA! So fun!

I was also tickled to try out by Big Bite! It does all the great things we love about the Crop-A-Dile, but it reaches 6 inches into your projects and sits on the table. It cuts metal, wood, leather, fabric, etc. and sets the popular sizes of all your eyelets, snaps, gromlets and more! The Big Bite does the punching and setting in the same area, so it takes a little getting used to its use. You slide the indicator on top to one of three positions for setting, small holes and large holes. Then you line up your project under the appropriate tool. I made a small mark on my flower and watched that dot while I punched holes in the coasters. Then I set snaps into the ribbon and flower to make a little "hanger" for my little wall hangings.

These are my girls, Katelyn and Liliana. Most days they are this sweet to eachother and I made them each a wall hanging to remind them of fun times together. Kate is done with school, so we have lots of time to play together! If you'd like to see some of the other things we're up to, check us out here.

TAC Supplies: Lilly Anna Paper, Lilly Anna Ribbon & Hardware, Designer Dries Clear Glue, This Girl stamp set, punches and/or die cuts.







Lots of people have commented on my Bella Flor desk cubes and have been making their own versions too, like Chelsea. She did hers in Mia's Cottage. So cute! People have also asked me questions about the project by posting a comment below my entry. You can follow the conversation by going to the original post, viewing the comments, or even subscribe to the comments that are posted for a given topic. I love to compare notes, so if you like a project, try it out and post a link or a question today!

Bella Flor Desk Cube

I had fun making my teacher gifts this year.

I used yellow ribbon to lace up coasters into a cube shape and used hot glue to adhere the bottom coaster. Isn't that fun? We had done a similar pencil cup at the Mile High Angel Gathering, but it was my friend Barb who gave me the idea to take these a step further to become a handy and so pretty desk caddy. I also made some thank you and notecards for the teachers that were personalized with their names. I just love giving cards because you know they have a ton of thank you's to write at this time of year.

The four different sides of the cube all have different functions. I printed off two years of calendar pages. Two sides of the cube have a layer of acetate/transparency over the top of the paper. One is for writing notes with a write on/wipe off marker and the other is to slide a photo under. The last side has sticky notes (which I personally cannot live without.) I can't wait to see what the teachers think of this goody. Now I'm wishing I had made one for myself!

Craft Candy RAK & Challenge from Barb

Barb from Barb's Craft Cave is the sweetest! We're both Angels from Colorado, separated by about 250 miles, so we get to see eachother only on occasion. The rest of the time, we email, talk on the phone and stalk eachother's blogs. (You've got to check out her Squash Book Tutorial. It's super cool.) Anyway, she sent me an RAK box filled with the greatest stuff! There's a Paper Source stapler in the "Nano" version, so I can take it everywhere! It's so awesome, you can go through a dozen sheets of paper, ribbon, chipboard, etc. The Sizzlits are Architechtural Accents and I can't wait to use them! She also sent me some Making Memories embellishement containers, since I've been reorganizing my studio! Now, how did she know I needed a new notebook? I just finished the one Donna made me and it's my favorite way to keep track of my day-to-day to do's and things.

Now, here is a closer look at the rest of the items that were in the box. This will be fun: Barb has challenged me to use these items in a creative way. There are two felt flower coasters, a little cylindrical matchbox and juice lids.

I've already gotten a couple of ideas for projects, so stay tuned to see what I come up with . . .

Magnet Noteboard in Kamalaht

I had so much fun making the Frutti Fusion write on/wipe off boards at stamp camp that I made them for the moms and sisters in my family. My sister-in-law and her husband have an awesome restaurant in Syracuse called Opus, so I made her noteboard with a downtown feel, that reminds me of being in their restaurant, with a little live music playing in the background. (If you're in Central New York, you've got to go visit them. The French chef, Nico, makes the best lamb chops and many other inventive dishes.)

I used Kamalaht paper from The Angel Company and added this little spiral clip, so a note could be attached. I hope this little goodie helps them keep track of all the yummy little details at the restaurant!

PS- Everyone asked where to get these magnetic photo holders. I got them in a big variety pack, but I have found them individually at Wal-mart as well, in the clock and picture frame aisle.

Birthday Celebration Mini Scrapbook

As you may recall, I made a Flip Flop Book for my husband's Grandma's 90th birthday. I had compiled some great pictures of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as photos of Grandma herself (including one with Grandpa when he was alive, surrounded by grandkids.) I started thinking about how my husband's mom, aunts, sisters and cousins might like copies of these photos too. So I made a few collages with my favorite Shutterfly software (see the link in this post) and made nine sets of the photos. I put them in these mini scrapbooks with Amberly Grace paper to send out for Mother's Day and I love how they came out! The paper is so soft and pretty. I think the Pemberly Bay Matchbooks would have been beautiful too, if I didn't have so many to make. If you'd like to make a book similar to this, try of TAC's matchbooks. They go together in a flash!

PS- That's my husband in the photo dancing with Grandma. I had mentioned in my previous post that he was traveling New York to surprise Grandma at her birthday celebration (we live in Colorado.) When he walked into her birthday party, with his arms full of white roses, she said he looked like a vision right out of heaven. Isn't that awesome?

Use Those Scraps for a Kids' Card

Well, I actually feel lighter after using a ton of my scraps for a project with my daughter's Brownie troop!

I got out all my dies and cutters and made lots and lots of flowers! Last night we made simple little pop up cards with flowers all over for Mother's Day. It took a little while, but now I have lots of supplies for my kiddos' crafts and I used a bunch of paper that was just taking up space in my studio! Here are some more pictures of the cards:

The card is 4.25 x 5.5 and I printed the sentiment on my computer (If Moms were like flowers . . . I'd pick you every time) and the green pop up measures 8.5 x 3.8. It is scored at 4.25 on the long side and then diagonally from center score line to corner. Email me if you'd like more info.

Round Easter Tin Mini Scrapbook

I've been so excitedly showing everyone the Easter book I made at Craft Your Art Out last weekend! I've also been selling kits, which include the round tin, a whole pack of Mulberry Meadow paper, some coordinating ribbon and a Bazzill Blossom for $10. The Marvy mega circle makes perfect pages for this cute book and I'll punch them out for you if you'd like a kit--but HURRY! This paper is being discontinued and when my kits are gone, they're gone!

Want to peek inside my book: see all the Easter fun here. I made these collages of small photos using Shutterfly Studio. Download this free software here.

The Making Memories Velvet Brads really finish off my tin. Aren't they yummy? They come in five colors and I picked the one that was closest to my project, then tinted it to match perfectly with my Versamagic Perfect Plumeria ink. (Don't you just love adding ink to your scrapbooking?) The other inks I used were Palette Noir and Versamagic Eggplant. I cut out the flowers that appear on the paper's cut off strip and the last little touches are Lavender Stickles and the White Gel Extreme Pen. I love this thing!

Lastly, you'll love having Wonder Tape to adhere ribbon to your tin or be sure the ribbons stays put in between the pages. This would make the cutest gift---better yet, make one for you and one for Mom!