Pumpkin Punch Art

I can't grow real pumpkins so I made paper ones.

Step 1: 



Punch out five ovals from orange cardstock of your choice.  I used Dusty Durango from Stampin' Up!








Step 2:



Sponge the edges with a slightly darker ink.  I found Cajun Craze worked well with this project.









Step 3:



Layer and glue two pairs of ovals like shown.  Using a liquid glue allows a little time to move the pieces around until you're happy with their look.



Step 4:



Layer and adhere the two pairs of ovals like this.  I like to make bring them a little closer together at the top.




Step 6:



Layer and adhere the last oval on the two pairs.  Remember, you can shift the pieces around until the look is pleasing to you.




Step 7:



Cut a stem from green cardstock.  I used Old Olive from Stampin' Up! here.  No pattern was used, it was just a random freehand cut.  Several attempts were made to get one that I was pleased with.  Then sponge the edges with a brown ink.  Soft Suede was used here.


Step 8:


Adhere the stem to the back of the pumpkin.  Then, using the same green, cut a thin strip.  Use something small to curl the strips.  There's not certain way to do this.  Just play with it until you are pleased with the way it looks.





Step 9:



If you cut it down the middle and stop cutting as you get to the bottom you'll have a space to add your glue.  But before you add the glue, hold it up to your pumpkin and decide how and where you would like it to be.





Step 10:


You sponge more ink on the bottom of the pumpkin to add more shadow on the bottom if you like.  Use different punch sizes to get vary the sizes of your pumpkins.  Remember that no two pumpkins look the same and they're often lop sided.  The same goes for the little curls.  Scrunching them looks cute too.  This is a very forgiving project.



Did you enjoy a pumpkin spice latte or tea while you made these?    =)

 

Owl Pillow Box Treats

I was asked to make 80 of these for the teachers and staff at a local elementary school.  GONNA NEED SOME COFFEE

All of the ribbon came from the dollar bin at a craft store. 
I used several different patterns.

First I cut an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of card stock in half.
Second I cut out the pillow boxes using a Big Shot.
The die scores the fold lines for me. 
Third I embossed them using various embossing folders.
Then that I added double sided tape to one of the flaps.
LOVE THE SWIRLS!

 Then I stamped the little owls
using the Forest Friends set from
Stampin' Up!  I stamped these on the space left on the sheet of paper I cut the pillow boxes out of.  First I stamped a page and cut them out using a circle punch.  THEN GOT MORE COFFEE Second I arranged the punched owls on the next page to plan for the most in a sheet.  Third I punched those out and used the sheet with the planned holes as a template for where to stamp the owls on the next sheet.  This allowed for the maximum use of the cardstock so there was little waste.  Of course I'll use flower punches on what's left of that to save for later projects.  SEE COFFEE HELPS ME THINK.

I printed up a message for each one using a mailing label template from Avery.  Then cut them into strips using a paper trimmer.  I wrapped them around little fun sized bags of candies and stuffed them inside the assembled boxes.

I cut the ribbon at 5 or 6 inches to allow plenty of room to tie at the top. THEN GOT MORE COFFEE



I did end up layering the owl circles on slightly larger circles.  AFTER I GOT MORE COFFEE. I punched holes in them and tied them with string to the ribbon.  You could certainly adhere them straight to the boxes.  The ends of the pillow boxes are not glued shut.  The recipient will only have to remove the ribbon to get inside the box.  Then the whole think can be reused.

                             TAH-DAH! 




 Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.  I hope you've been inspired!   YEP, THAT WAS A WHOLE LOT OF COFFEE...

New "Desk"

I went from a workspace like this. Yes that's a file cabinet.

To a work space like this!
I took another desk apart and placed the top on the two file cabinets.  I couldn't use the whole desk because space is limited around here.

Thank You Butterfly

Here are some cards that I made for the lady I work for.



The butterfly was die cut from Color Book patterned paper using a die cut and Big Shot from Stampin Up!  The image behind was stamped and then I added glitter glue to accent it.  Half-backed pearls added the perfect touch.



Another one in a lighter color.  -->















<-- One has more shape to the wings.  This gives it "movement."












Here are some that I sponged the edges in Soft Sky ink, then stamped the image in Early Espresso.  Both stamp sets were borrowed so I don't recall their names.  However, they are from Stampin' Up! -->





                                                                     
<-- A close-up of the leaves on the tree.  I added glitter to each one. and then a little on the  "T"     and "Y" in the sentiment.
                                                                                                 

Please let me know what you think.  Thanks for looking!

Night With A Friend

The other night my friend's husband was on the night shift.  She asked me to come over and "catch up."  She has an amazing craft room.  One day I'll talk her into letting me photograph it for this blog.  But I digress.  I didn't have anything to work on so she handed me some things to do.



First she had me sort the flowers she had already punched.
She likes to do this with her scraps while she's watching television.



Then she had me shape the flowers.  I accomplished this by using the ball of an embossing stylus to press the tiny flower into the palm of my hand.



Then she had me punch and shape more! 
I think I finished around 2am.



Meanwhile, she was working on these tedious, but adorable little darlings.
 

We had a really sweet time together talking about crafting, children, and everything possible in-between.  If you have a friend you haven't talked to in a while don't wait any longer. 

Here's a link to her website if you'd like to check it out:  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stampingwithcindyowens/

 

Hand Stitched

 

 

At one time I was heavily into crosstitching.  It is a nice portable craft that has served me well waiting through countless hours of waiting.  Waiting for children to get out of band practice, off work, ER visits, and long hours waiting while loved ones were in surgery.  Needless to say it was a very busy season in our lives.  I had a friend that faithfully worked to keep me sane.  I stitched this for her more than ten years ago.  Recently she posted this picture on social media.  Her little way of reminding me that she's still with me as I start the next round of waitings.

Time Well Spent Notepads

Here are some little notepads that I gave away at a teacher's training workshop.  The little pads came in a set of four for one dollar.  I used bits of and old Simply Scrappin' Kit and a stamp set called Time Well Spent from Stampin' Up!  Honestly, I had stamped and colored the images more than five years ago.  I am on a "use up all the scraps" binge.  I apologize for the pictures that are upside down.  I cannot seem to get them right-side up.

 

 To get the measurement for the spine I just held the notepad on the paper and bent it a little, then scored it.  Nothing on this project was exact or really measured.

 

 

On these two I did use an embossing folder and the Big Shot.  All were adhered with a liquid glue.  I felt it would be safe since these were small and light weight.

 

 

These were really simple and the recipients thought they were great.  Hope you're inspired!