Happy Monday!

Hope you took some time to do something for yourself this weekend. It's so important to take care of ourselves so we can take care of those we love.  I've been trying to exercise more, sleep on a schedule, rest when I have to and stay hydrated. For me that means sipping hot tea almost constantly.

Today's creative share is a pincushion I made for the splitcoast stampers hat pin swap.  The swap is on its way back, I can't wait to see all the unique hat pins that I get back.  These are a few of the pins I made.

When I saw this idea I just had to try it. The entire hat is cut with spell binders scalloped dies. The trim is Websters and the flower is Prima.

To make the pins I used salt dough.

Recipe
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1cup water

Mix with your hands a roll out.  Then I used stamps and die ink to stamp directly onto the dough. I didn't have little tiny cookie cutters so I cut my dough bu hand.

 Once the dough was cut I put a pin in each on and placed them on a cookie sheet.

Here is my messy counter while I was having fun.

 I tried both older stamping up and new papertrey ink inks and they both worked equally well.

I then baked them at 250 *F for an hour and a half, then turn the oven off and leave them in the oven until they cool.  Once they are cool apply sever layers of spray modge podge. I sealed them each side 3 times, letting each coat of sealer dry 15 minutes. Then let them sit overnight as they will be sticky. 

I'm thinking this is something you could get very creative with. If you give it arty I would love to see.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week! 

TGIF!

I always love Fridays! To me Friday is all about hanging with the family, going out to dinner and starting off the weekend.  I'm so happy it's almost spring, Rita's opened here and I'm just waiting for things to warm up so I can break out the new spring dresses. I'm always cold so I only wear dresses in the winter for very special occasions.  One more month and ill have a week of wearing dresses in the Caribbean, I'm so excited! 

Today's share is one of my favorite pin books I made for the hat pin swap at Splitcoast Stampers. The fabric is Moda and the felt is from Papertrey Ink.  I used heat and bond to adhere the letters and flowers. 

These are some of the inside pages.  

 I used stazon and stamped on canvas. Heat and bond works great with the canvas!  I loved the mini friendship jar.

The book turned out a little smaller then I would have liked but I used my new serger to cut and sew the fabric I had pre-quilted.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fun weekend!

Wordless Wednesday!

Hola Monday!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend!  I've been playing with a new stamp set that needed to see some ink.  I just received my February Papertrey Ink package and in the package was the Birds In Bloom, this years anniversary set.  It's very pretty, with lots of little flowers and vines. 


While searching some of my favorite internet places this morning I came upon CAS-ual Fridays blog, which led me to CAS-ual Fridays stamps, which I now am in need of:)  The CAS-ual Fridays blog hosts a challenge weekly and I thought I would play along this week. This weeks challenge is to make your own background.  I made my own background using Birds In Bloom on a mailing tag. 

I have wanted to try adding new colors in unusual ways so I thought I would try stamping the leaves and vines in smokey shadow.  I think I'll be using this technique more often. 

 

The tag is for the packaging to go along with my Mad Hatter pin cushion. 

 

I use PTI and felt and ribbon a a prima embellishment to complete the hat.  I love how it turned out!
Thanks so much for stopping by and we will see you next for Wordless Wednesday.  Have a fabulous week!

 

PTI Make it Monday #105

Make it Monday on Sunday!  Of course any day is a good day to make something and today's project just happens to be my Make it Monday project for this weeks challenge.  The challenge is to make your own glitter border.   I used the filigree die and Martha Steward glitter, then finished the Melissa Frances tag envelope with PTI Pretty Peonies stamps and patterned paper. 

My husband is busy in the kitchen making us lobster for dinner, so I'm going to run and watch:)  See you tomorrow when I share one of the pincushions I made this week. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Determined.....

That's my word for the month of March!  My first determined goal is to blog more frequently. I just hope I don't fall into the category of "In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb". I have a few projects in mind that I should be able to post at least weekly, if not twice a week.  And honestly how often do you really care to read my ramblings!? 

The Hat Pin/Corsage Pin and Holder swap at Split Coast is coming to an end so I thought as I package up my projects I would share them with you.  For my first project I really had my heart set on making a tea pot pin cushion.  I only found one pattern on pinterest and it just didn't come out to my liking.  So I sat down in my studio and went to work on an idea for a tea pot pin holder.  I think for a first try it came out very cute.  I even kept the pattern and jotted some notes for next time.  The best part about the project I was able to combine stashed fabric as well as some of my favorite dies. 

The entire project can be made with a fat quarter with fabric to spare. 

 I used PTI dies to cut the leaves and tags.  I embroidered the leaves to give them an extra pop of color.  I cut the back tag on burlap and the front tag on canvas.  PTI stamp for Tea for Two then I used fusible web to adhere all three pieces then added a few machine stitches to make sure they were secure.  I finished it by pulling a piece of burlap apart for the string for the bow and tied it to a bow.  I still used a needle and thread to secure the button and ribbon because I hope the recipient actually uses the pin holder. 

 The inside I added some simple embellishments to hod the pins and made the pages a little prettier. 

And that's my teapot pin book.  Thanks so much for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!

Happy Thursday!

I'm back, and twice in one week!  I have a few things to share with you today.  First, I want to tell you about a sewing swap I found via a project I found on pinterst.  Its a new twist (for me anyway) to a Secret Sister swap.  It's a one time swap of something homemade. The only rule is it has to be home made. I already have a few ideas brewing for my gift. I can't wait to find out who I sent to. And it will be so fun getting something handmade back in the mail.  To learn more about the swap or join just click on the picture below or in the side bar. 
  I've also joined a Secret Sister Swap at Split Coast Stampers.  Its a one time swap, which I like so much  better then a yearly commitment.  You can find the swap information HERE if your interested.    For today's crafty share I'm playing along with the Flybaby Blog Challenge at Split Coast stampers.  This months challenge is to use food on your project.  Right now I have a love/hate relationship with food so I thought I would base my project around one of my favorite things.  Tea.  I'm such a tea snob.  Last night at dinner I tried 2 different teas and hated them both.  It seems the only tea I really enjoy is Twinning English Breakfast tea.  And it has to be sweet, preferably with Stevia in the raw.  Here is one of the packages I made for the Hat Pin with holder swap.  The tag gives a clue to what's in the package. I'll post more about that project in a few days. 

 

I used a mailing tag, stamped the tag twice with a PTI Boutique Accessories stamp in classic kraft ink. Then die cut the tea top and stamped with PTI Tea for Two tea pot in Aqua Mist ink and sentiment in pure poppy.  Then finished the tag with a ribbon in Aqua mist.  

 Thanks so much for stopping by!  I'm off to clean up my craft room for my next project.  Check back soon as the next 6 posts will be filled with fabric love in the form of pin cushions in all shapes and sizes!   

Happy Monday!

Hope you are having a fabulous start to your week.  I was able to squeeze some time for crafting into my weekend so have a sneak of a fabulous project to share with you!  I'm in a swap and have been working on my swap packages.  One of the thinks I like to do is package my swap items like the recipient is getting a gift.  Don't we all like to open pretty packages!?  I know I do!

Today's post focuses on the Papertrey Ink February blog hop.  This months hop challenge was to use monogramming in your project.  I wasn't sure what to do as I didn't have a stamp set.  But this morning chatting with my husband I was telling him how would love personalize ribbon tags for my craft projects, but I have no idea where to get them or what design I would want.  Then I thought I have a wonderful sewing machine that maybe I can come up with something for myself.  So I set out to embroider my very own monogrammed ribbon! And the best part is I actually was able to easily monogram the ribbon to match my project.  I need to play with my new sewing machine more because I'm sure it will do some fabulous sewing. 

This is a sneak peek of one of the swap projects I'm working on.  I wanted you to see how the gift packaging coordinates perfectly with the project.  And I just love the cluster of die cut flowers and butterflies!  I think I squealed when this project came together so perfectly!  I'll show you more on that later....

This is the tag I created for the packaging using PTI Homemade Hodgepodge stamp set and Hawaiian Shores ink.  The flower is die cut with PTI felt and flower die. 

I used a craft store bag and tied with matching bakers twine and added my handmade, hand monogrammed tag!  Love it! 

You can see all the fabulous monogrammed projects for today's blog hop Here! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Papertrey Ink Make it Monday #104

Chalkboard technique in metallic

PTI watercolor#1

PTI color combo #3

PTI color combo #2

PTI anniversary celebration continues!

Today's cards will be made using the color combinations you can findHERE.
 I also combined the color combination with a sketch taken from one of Ashley's cards
 you can find HERE

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your enjoying the anniversary festivities as much as I am!

PTI sketch #5

PTI sketch #4 and MIM 103

PTI sketch challenge #3

PTI sketch #2

See This post for challenge and sketch.

Products:all products PTI except clothes pin.

PTI sketch challenge

I just love sketch challenges. The hard work is done for you, you just get to have all the fun cutting and pasting! Just like elementary school art! Today Nichole provided 5 fabulous sketches for today's challenge.  You can see the sketches HERE

Products:
Cardstock- PTI
Patterned paper- PTI
Stamp- PTI Round and Round
Dies-sizing
Butterfly punch-Martha Stewart

Thanks for stopping by!

PTI design team favorites inspiration

It's been a relaxing winter day here in Pennsylvania! Complete with a trip to then gym, sleigh riding, and homemade chicken soup.  The fire place is keeping us cozy and I enjoyed the evening making this beautiful card for another challenge celebrating PTI's 6th anniversary!

For this challenge you had to choose a design team favorite as your inspiration. I chose Dawn's project.

All products used are PTI. Stamps and dies Pretty Pionies.

Thanks for stopping by!

Year of Flower PTI challenge

Today's challenge was to use one of the year of flower stamp sets. I combined this challenge along with the idea from today's newsletter to make a birthday gift tag. 

I made the tag using a half and half die, along with the double ended banner die for the sentiment.  The stamp sets are YOF Violets and Birthday Basics.  Paper, button, twine and ink are all PTI.

To color the image I first stamped with the wrong side of the violet stamp in lavender moon, then I inked the right side of the stamp with black and stamped the outline.  I aged some center glitter with a spica marker.

It will be so nice to hve dies to use with some of my favorite flower stamps, but for this one I had to fussy cut the flower.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sweets for my Sweet

What a fabulous celebration this week has been so far!  Lots of f going on on the PTI Blog my make sure you stop by and check it out.  For this project I used the free printables to make a tag for a Valentines treat. 

The sentiment is the Free Printable, cardstock is PTI, Parisian lace doily, background is Mehndi Medalion Impression Plate, stamp on the kraft paper is from Delightful Doilies stamps.


I finally have a little quiet time after having a 3 year old for a few days so I'm looking forward to playing along with more of the PTI challenges today. 

Have a great day!

PTI Anniversary Celebration Project #1

What a fabulous way to start off a week!  Nothing like a fun celebration to get my mojo flowing! 
Today's the very first day of Paper Trey Ink's Anniversary celebration.  And they have issued a very fun challenge with a faboulous prize to start things off.  You can learn more about the challenge and prize on Nicholes blog HERE. 
For this project I chose Melissa Philips as my inspiration. I just love Melissa's style and how all of her projects just come together so beautifully!

I just love the berry basket and strawberry patch stamp set and have used it to make several projects.  Today I made a gift bag to hold 2 PTI stamp sets and dies, as well as the berry basket to hold Bath and Body Work strawberry lotion, candle and a fragrance air freshner.  I find myself looking for fun things to put in the berry basket. 

Here is my project for todays challenge. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you get to play along, and have a fabulous day

PTI MIM 102

Woohoo! PTI Make It Monday #100!

Thanks for joining me today. I just love getting new stamps in the mail, that coupled with todays 100th Make It Monday challenge at PTI gave me the perfect oportunity to play with my new stamp set.  Todays challenge was to share how you package bulky items  My go to packaging for bulky items are kraft bags.  I buy them by the case.  They are purfect for all kinds of handmade items.  And one of my favorite things to do is to make little card kits to send to friends who scrap as a pick me up, or just to say hello or thank you.  After all who doesn't like to get scrappy goodness in the mail. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a fabulous week!

PTI Make It Monday #99

Hello everyone!  And Happy New Year! 
I thought I would share with you today one of my first creations of the new year.  This weeks challenge was to use Repeats and Rainbows along with a selection of color pallets you can find on the PTI Blog Capture the Moment. 
I decided to make this card and immediately mail it to a friend who was sounding a bit down today. 

Isn't nice to just get mail just because.  Take a moment today to help put a smile on someones face today, send a card, make a phone call or just share a smile!  And most of all have a wonderful day! 

Thanks for stopping by,
Joyce