PTI's With Sympathy: Loss of Pet

Another fairly simple card for my 2nd try @ Guest Star Stamper on PTI's forum. This one-layer sympathy for the loss of a furry friend card is one I just wanted to make because I thought that little paw would look so cute flocked. In the creative process it occurred to me to do the same flocking on my flowers. I decided to keep the tone muted, clean and simple. Let me know if you like it!

I actually had to remake this card, once I learned the "secret" to using Palette's Stamp & Stick Gluepad with flocking -- "ink" your stamp with the gluepad & pour on your flocking BEFORE heating! Yep, that's the key to make your flocking stick and it will not hurt or change the flock at all! I heated both from underneath & from the top. I even went back and added a bit more flock to my paw & reheated a second time. Try it; you'll love it!!!

Paper: PTI's Kraft Cardstock
Stamps: PTI's With Sympaty: Loss of Pet
Ink: PTI's Dark Chocolate; Colorbox Pigment: Eggshell White; Palette's Stamp & Stick Gluepad

Embellishment: Doodlebug Designs: Flock; MS's Embossed ZigZag Punch

Ribbon Storage - 10 Feet Plus!!!

I haven't posted much recently, so wanted to share one reason, which is my awesome new ribbon holder my husband so sweetly helped me install! I'd seen this on others' blogs and wanted so badly to be able to have all my ribbon sorted and in plain sight so I'll actually remember what I have and use it!
It's very simple to install & quite inexpensive. We purchased a 10' section of vinyl gutter from Lowe's for $4.65. We then cut it into three 40" sections, added the end caps, (1.99 ea.) then installed 2 curved brackets ($1.99 ea.) per section, which each require 1 screw to secure them to the wall (screws not included). Once your brackets are up, the section simply snaps in place. The whole 3-section unit totalled about $30 -- I LOVE IT!!!
My husband kept saying it wouldn't work because the spools would fall over without enough to "fill the row up"! Imagine his shock when he came in a few hours later & saw all 3 sections not only full, but overflowing! In my defense I reminded him I've been buying ribbon since even before 1995 when I started papercrafting! Now all I need is another 40" section (at least) or to create a LOT of projects using ribbon!!! ;-)

RUN -- don't WALK -- Bargain Tip of the Day!!!

I found these huge brightly-colored Clip-On daisy silk flowers for $.99 each today @ Michaels alongside their silk flowers displays!!! The package says they're for decorating pkgs., fashion accessories or wearing in your hair -- what about papercrafting???!!! ;-)

When I cut the first one apart, I discovered not only the bigger petals (3 are 4 1/2"; 1 is 3 1/2" & 1 is 2", but there are two white 1 3/4" silk flower pieces between the petals, a little hidden bonus!!! OMH, I wish I'd bought more!!! We could even use the centers too! The colors are just gorgeous -- red, orange, yellow, lime green, purple is just what I can recall. We all know how much the packaged silk flowers cost & these are just as lovely.

As Gwen (http://www.mycraftydaysoff.blogspot.com/) had so brilliantly pointed in a recent post, we can buy a garland of white silks flowers and color them ourselves. Between the 2 ideas, that should keep even a flower freak like me happy for quite a while!!! '-)

So I say, RUN, don't walk, to your nearest Michaels Arts & Crafts Store and check these out! Hopefully it will help all you needing Spring to finally arrive!!!

At the very least, it brightened my day, as well as my papercrafting stash, while saving me a few pennies to spend on more stashable items!!!

Now, I just NEED a few more of those darling felt flowers from Joann's & I'll be set . . . for a while . . . !!! ;-)

Simple Punched Thank You Card

This card was inspired by my Black/White Floral Rosette card (6 posts below) and my tutorial allowing you to temporarily modify your punch. On this card, I wanted to punch exactly half of the scalloped oval. This method (as detailed 2 posts below) makes it possible to

achieve on your first try!
Paper: White: The Paper Company's Arctic Snow Text; Making Memories 6" x 6" Boho Chic's Turquoise Box Flower Cardstock
Stamp: Stampin'Up 2001 Thanks
Ink: VersaColor's Turquoise and Seafoam
Tools: Marvy Uchida Oval Scallop Punch; Timeless Touches Piercing Tool
Embellishment: Ribbon

Simple Punched All-Occasion Card

This simple card with matching lined envelope uses my newly-discovered trick (shown in detail in the post below) to punch close to the edge of the center paper.

Paper: White Cardstock & Envelope; Anna Griffin Green DS Paper
Tool: Anna Griffin Flourish Punch
Stamp: Anna Griffin Topiary Motif
Ink: Bamboo VersaColor

Tutorial to Place Punch Closer to Paper Edge

I wanted to pass on a tip I accidentally came upon when trying to help a friend who wanted to punch just inside the edge of her card several times at less than the punch's depth and punch exactly the same distance from the edge each time. I took Scotch Removable Tape and taped across the bottom of the punch at the exact depth we wanted. If you click on the first photo, you'll be able to see my tape, (just below the round shape & directly above the Made in Taiwan label) on the punch bottom. The next one is a side view of the punch with the tape in place. Now simply insert your paper, punch where desired, and all will be the same depth from the edge!

Sequin Pins Keep Stickles Tips Free-Flowing!

If you put a Sequin pin into the tip of each Stickles bottle when you first purchase it or when it's free-flowing and you're done using it, replace the screw-on cap & replace your pin after each use, you'll never have to waste time or product clearing a clog! Because they have a diminutive head, they lay flat enough to fit right under the cap. These pins are small and therefore easy to misplace, but they're also inexpensive. I purchased mine at Joanns for about $3 for 350. They are made by Dritz and are 1/2 inch long. Hope this helps some of you frustrated Sticklers become happy Sticklers! ;-)

Simple/Easy Christmas Cards & Stickles!!!

Some simple & easy cards for the holiday! All you need besides what comes in the paper stack is a little Stickles for excitement (thanks Ilene & Deva, the Stickles' Queens)!!! For other Stickles' Queens out there, I've discovered that once I get even my old bottles (you don't want to know how old, trust me) to flow easily ALWAYS, insert a "short" straight pin in the neck before you screw the cap back on. I believe I found the pins @ Joanns, but they're like straight sewing pins, except shorter & they have a smaller, flatter head, which allows you to put the cap back on & your Stickles will always be ready to use -- easy & very time-saving!!! Also, my original reason for purchasing them, obviously, was to secure the ends of ribbon & they work great for that too, assuming your eyesight is good enough to find them once you drop them, that is!

Paper: DCWV Christmas Scrapbook in a Stack (includes textured cardstock, tiny brads, alpha stickers & velllum quotes

Stamp: Merry Christmas - DeNami Design

Embelllishment: Stickles by Ranger Industries - Lime Green, Xmas Red, Green