What I have been up to this week....

This has been a very eventful week in my scrapbook life.

It was the last week for Alyssa in her 'Tigers' preschool class. She will be a 'Panda' on Monday. So, I made her 4 Tiger teachers 'goodbye/thank you' gifts. I made clipboards with matching cards. This was my very first attempt at this sort of project, but they turned out alright. Alyssa was SO excited to hand them to her teachers this morning and they loved them.

Front of the clipboards with matching cards

I used the Grade School Stack from DCWV to cover the clipboards. I used spray adhesive to glue the paper to the clipboard and then Mod Podged them to seal it. I was very worried that I had ruined them at that point, because the paper bubbled up. They dried fine, but I think I might use less Mod Podge, or look for a paper specific kind next time.
(One thing I learned and regret, is that I put cute ribbon across the front of 2 of the clipboards, thinking it looked nice...not thinking about the fact that it makes the clipboard unusable!)

Close up of one of the clipboards and card

Close up of the back with Miss Sarah's name

Back of the clipboards with Teachers names

Close up of the ribbon detail

 
I also decided to spread the word at work this week, that I would start selling my cards and taking requests.
I got 5 requests this week! First was for 3 thank you cards from another Mother, for her child's teachers. I made her personalized gift card holder cards, with the teachers initials.

All three cards, with the teachers Initials

 

 

 

Close up of Miss Mary's card

Close up with card holder pulled out

I used BG Eva and used my Cricut to cut the letters. Then I used foam tape on 3 sides for the pocket to hold the gift card. I just folded a colored piece of cardstock to slip in and hold the gift card and attached ribbon to it, so they could pull it out.


The second request was for a congratulations card with a frog on it.
This was the first time I made a card without stamps or using my Cricut. I drew all the pieces and cut everything out by hand. I seriously LOVE this card!

I used a fuzzy ribbon for the cattails and added Stickle to the letters, water and tadpoles for some 'bling'

That was more than enough to keep me busy this week, having a full time job and a 3 year old! I stayed up late all week, but loved doing them!

My next 2 orders are for a card with a rooster and another with a flamingo. I plan to do those this weekend, if I find time. I also need to start packing...since we are moving sometime before the end of October!

The last order I received this week was for 3 sets of 6 cards, for Christmas gifts, like this one I made a couple weeks ago as my submission for the Crop Chocolate Focus Group.

Front of the Card holder

 

 

Card holder open with Cards on one side and envelopes on the other

(Sorry for the sideways picture!)

 

 

Cards - I will make 6 in future sets (this was an example to show customers)

 I got the tutorial for the card holder and pockets here: http://justgivemestamps.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/note-card-holder-tutorial.html
 
I am doing a bunch for myself as Christmas gifts, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get done. Plus, I have a lot of time to do them. I am attending a Crop Camp for 3 days in October, so I plan to get about 9 card sets done, along with four 2012 calendars for family members and maybe my Christmas cards, all during that retreat. (Um....yeah, I better be organized and prepared, huh?)

I am so glad I decided to start this little card making business on the side! Crazy for me to decide to do it the week I was making 4 teacher gifts and in the middle of us getting approved for our new house and moving soon...but hey...I am up for the challenge!

Thanks again for stopping by!
Tawn

Confectioners Challenge #1

As part of a Focus Group for Crop Chocolate.com, we will be presented a Challenge once a month. This month was to take inspiration from this collage and create whatever came to mind (using mostly Crop Chocolate items).

The first thing that caught my eye was the beautiful black and white butterflies that reminded me of my favorite BG line - Ambrosia. So, I created a card:

I will be scrapping this weekend and making gifts and cards for my Alyssa's day care teachers...so I will have more fun stuff to post tomorrow or Sunday.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hot August Nights - 50's dress up!

Hello and Happy Friday!

Today was 50's dress up day at Alyssa's school, in celebration of Hot August Nights.
(every year, Reno hosts a very fun event with cars from the 50's and 60's).

This year, a friend of mine and I decided to be ambitious and make Poodle Skirts for our daughters. 
We found directions on this awesome blog: http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/10/last-minute-costume-easy-poodle-skirt.html

So, I took a 36x36 piece of bright pink felt and cut it in a circle. I also cut a smaller circle in the middle for the waist. The blog has a template for the Poodle, which I cut out of white felt.

I glued the Poodle (and her rhinestone collar and leash) on with Tacky Glue and added cotton balls to give the Poodle some dimension. (I am not counting on the cotton to be intact by the end of the day, with a 3 year old, but it was a cute idea)

I cut a slit in the fabric (to make it a wrap around) and used iron on velcro to close it and make it adjustable (so she can wear it again next year and for dress up) - Sorry, no picture of the velcro. (I am still learning when to take pictures for my blog!)

I ended up having enough fabric to make 2 skirts...so I made one for one of Alyssa's friends too!
(another picture we didn't get was one of them together, because we didn't get to school at the same time this morning. Maybe we will have some luck this afternoon and I can update my blog?)

...and here's a picture of Alyssa and my friends daughter Izzi in her purple Poodle Skirt!

It sure was fun venturing out of my normal paper projects! maybe I will think about doing it more often!

Thanks for stopping by. I am off to go camping this weekend! But, next weekend I will be at a crop, so I hope to get a lot done and have something to share.

Creations this weekend!

This will be my first post with actual pictures, so please forgive me if I do not do it right.

Today I worked on a Scraplift page (a fun game I am playing from Crop Chocolate.com), but I can not post it until it is revealed...in case someone on that team sees my blog.

I also worked on the Recipe's posted on Crop Chocolate. This week we had 2 challenges to choose from and I did both. 

The first was Blue Berry Muffin:
Blue or Brown cardstock or patterned paper
Brads
Something Floral
Letter Stickers
...and use 'old school' funky edge scissors

Here's what I did:

I used My Minds Eye - Fine and Dandy, White Thickers, and brown brads.
(the scalloped edge is my scissors, and the 'floral' is the blue paper) 

The second challenge was Strawberry Shortcake:
Pink and Black cardstock or patterned paper
Brads or Bling
3 flowers
letter stickers
...and re-purposing the stickers somehow

Here's what I did:

I used Bo Bunny - Forever Yours, White Thickers inked Pink and Stickled with Fruit Punch, flowers and brads also Stickled with Fruit Punch and Star Dust. (my 2 favorite Stickles!)

Thanks for stopping by! '