My Sheri Crafts Challenge #95: It's Picking Time!

Time for another My Sheri Crafts Challenge -- it's 'picking time', so we're asking you to include a pumpkin or apple on your project.  I took 'artistic license' and went with my 'pumpkin' in the form of a jack-o-lantern face on my burlap silverware (or plastic ware) holders -- Hee!!!

My first glimpse of the original idea for these with a gorgeous flower was here on Pinterest -- of course! Since I'd recently purchased a bunch of burlap in several colors (can you say 'new obsession'?), I just had to modify these to work for either a dinner table or an outdoor get-together with plastic ware, especially if you're doing something around Halloween for a child's or even adult's party. Thanks, sweet friend, for that clever idea -- add a little fun to a party and keep it simple when it comes to clean-up!

Then, inspiration struck as I was writing this post and it was back to the 'drawing board', as I had the idea for the apple -- great for back-to-school with any number of items tucked inside other than silverware -- pencils, pens, ruler, bookmark, large candy bar -- I'm sure many Moms, most children and certainly all teachers could think of dozens of ideas?!  Might be a cute/inexpensive idea for the upcoming fall/Christmas/winter holidays!!! NOW my head is spinning again and I don't even have any school-age children!!!

DIRECTIONS:
Cut burlap 14 1/2" long by 4" wide
Fold over 1 1/2" and zigzag stitch about 1/2" from raw edge (forgot
this on cream holder, but no big deal)
Fold bottom up 5 1/4" from last fold
Stamp with paint (I slipped bottom of holder under my craft mat at fold and stamped, then just wiped paint off mat where it bled through fabric -- easy/peasy!)
Once paint is dry, zigzag stitch up right side from bottom edge, in about 3/8 to 1/2", across top and down left side
Pull long threads from top/both sides for fringe 

NOTE: These are not washable, spot clean only, but burlap is sooo inexpensive and once you have the measurements, which I've included here, they are sooo quick/easy to whip up!

To create my orange/tan holder, I cut 1 piece from each color and layered tan atop orange and made per above directions. For my face, I merely cut pieces of craft foam for stamps and attached to acrylic block with 1/2" wide strips of Scor-Tape, squirted on a dollop of black craft paint, smoothed it out a bit with a sponge brush and stamped, beginning with the mouth, then nose & eyes for easy lining up -- simple/easy/non-perfectionistic!
Apple was stamped using . . . an apple, of course! Found a Pink Lady that had a tiny spoiled spot, so perfect for my needs!  Cut in half, spread my red paint with a sponge brush, stamped (had to do a little touch-up as my cut wasn't perfectly 'flat'), cut a Spellbinders's leaf from craft foam, and took the actual stem, held with a tweezers, dipped in brown paint, and added a bit of touch-up to the stem. If I can do it, you CAN TOO!
Hope you enjoy making these and hope you'll come up with an idea for a project for My Sheri Crafts to share with us too -- look forward to seeing your crafty pumpkin/apple idea -- hmmm, now another idea just hit me -- time to cut more burlap!!!  ;-)

JustRite Challenge #078: Christmas in July

Christmas in July with JustRite gives me a chance to begin plans for our Christmas dinner this year! I know I want place holder decorations and napkin rings, so began there.
Using Tim Holtz tutorial, I cut five rosette strips in cream w/gold metallic paper to create a decorative tree for place setting decor. Next I stamped them with the various JustRite Lace Borders stamps, some 'upside down' for variety, and embossed in gold. After folding them, I varied how much they flared while hot gluing to achieve my tree's shape. Using Spellbinders' Lacey Circles I cut a tree skirt in chipboard, one in cream/gold paper and then a smaller one in burgundy. The cream circle is stamped/embossed with a holly border from JustRite's Christmas Ornament 3 1/4" set. This set is AWESOME and still available for a mere $8, at JustRite's Super Sale, while they last! To finish, I cut a dowel for the trunk and the smallest star die from JustRite's Charm Dies for a tree topper and added burgundy pearls for holly berries.

To create my napkin holder I used the same process on the smallest rosette strip, adding a chipboard strip with score tape underneath for strength. My ring is topped with a Nested Oval Medallion Labels Die, a coordinating rosette and burgundy Lacey Circle. I added my guest's name with JR's retired Curlz font (if you HURRY, there are still a few fonts here), folded and slipped my napkin through -- inexpensive, but pretty, I think, and each one can be personalized!
My final piece today is our Christmas dinner invitation created by first cutting Spellbinders' Nested Pennants from cream CS on the fold for my card base. Then I cut a Lacey Pennant from cream/gold paper, again embossing Lace Borders in gold and attached to the card front. My sentiment from Christmas Nested Frames is stamped onto a tag die cut from JustRite's Nested Sentiments (retired die), a single 'loop' is added to each end from Lacey Pennants and then it's tied to my card with a small bow. Inside I added my dinner invitation wording typed in Microsoft Word in the shape of a tree which fits the card's shape perfectly -- sooo FUN and a nice chunk of my Christmas prep is already figured out!

I hope you're also getting an early start on your holiday planning -- it will be here before we know it!

Joy Fold Card - Part 2

I so liked the idea of this new fold and can think of so many ways to change it both with different papers and how you might play with the directions you turn/fold it. I decided to try the other way shown in the tutorial HERE with the leftover pieces still on my scrap table from my previous post using this tutorial! I just think with different papers and a variety of embellishments this card can be made to look so fun & so different each time! You could totally turn either one of these cards upside down for another unique look. Or how about trying it with rounded or scalloped edges, as shown in the tutorial's second sample? It just might become my current new favorite (at least for a little while anyway)! ;-)

Paper: Kelly Pannacci for Sandylion from Joann's; cardstock from stash

Embellishments: Fibers: Making Memories; Bubble Sticker & Photo Turn: Joann's

Joy Fold Card - Part 1

The tutorial for this fun new (to me anyway!) fold and how it can be created in
two different directions can be found HERE. I'm always excited when a new way to fold/open cards comes along to spice things up a bit!!! ;-) This card would also make an awesome giftcard holder by simply adding a pocket inside the left flap! I've left the inside blank until I decide to whom I'll send it. I think this card would work well for a male or female recipient.
Paper: Kelly Pannacci for Sandylion from Joann's; cardstock from stash
Embellishments: Bubble Sticker: Joann's

Pink Passion for Papertrey Birds of a Feather

I'm posting this card as my entry for this week's Pink Passion challenge @: http://caardvarks.blogspot.com/.

Since I just received my first Papertrey Ink order, I wanted to play with the Birds of a Feather set. I have to say, "I just LOVE it"!!! These stamps are so detailed and just so sweet! There are so many phrases included to use in so many ways!!!

Did I say yet that I just LOVE these stamps?!!! If you're not familiar, go immediately (do not pass GO, do not collect $200 -- though you're surely going to wish you could spend that $200 when you get here): http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/ for her wonderful blog & to the left you'll see her store -- enter at your own risk, as I'm warning you, you're going to fall in love too!!! ;-) I also have to say that I love that their stamps sets include a matching "hand stamped by" phrase to coordinate with that set!!!
To make this little card I actually used this tutorial: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ee/index.php/resources/tutorials/camis_trifold_card/.

Paper: DCWV's Pink #1 cardstock; white cardstock

Stamps: Papertrey Ink's Birds of a Feather set

Inks: Papertrey Ink's Custom Palette Hybrid Inks: Spring Moss, Berry Sorbet & Summer Sunrise

Ribbon: Martha Stewart's Valentine Ribbons

Tools: Crop-a-Dile II; SU's Slit Punch

Gathered Ribbon & Ribbon Rosette Tutorials

I wanted to share what I did to add interest to the ribbon and to make the center rosette of the Heartfelt Flower card posted earlier today. I've seen a lot of beautiful ribbons lately that are slightly gathered & I love that look. I've purchased one or two, but needed black today so decided I'd just make my own!

Gathered Ribbon Tutorial
I used an inexpensive 5/8" black sheer ribbon approximately 11" long to go with my pink/black theme.
I simply centered the cut ribbon strip under the presser foot on my beloved old Singer sewing machine, set the straight stitch length to 3 1/2", lowered my needle into the center of the ribbon and simply guided it through to the end of the ribbon. A basting stitch would work fine; I went a little smaller here since the ribbon is so sheer. You'd probably want to use the largest stitch available for a tighter-woven ribbon. I'm anxious to try this on other ribbons now!

Next, tie a secure knot in the threads at one end of your ribbon. I always tie a triple knot; I don't want it to come undone in the process of finishing whatever I'm working on!

Then simply begin gathering by pulling the top thread only from the untied end of the ribbon. The thread should pull easily. You may gather it as tightly or loosely as you prefer; I wanted mine to be only slightly/loosely gathered.

Then simply adjust your gathers by pushing them along the ribbon as evenly as you wish to from end to end.

When I had it gathered as I wished, I simply secured the ribbon end to the back side of my cream linen paper strip on the right edge with a big glue dot and then again on the left edge.

That's all there is to it!

Ribbon Rosette Tutorial:

As I was gathering my ribbon I realized that if I gathered it very tightly, it would curl up and form into a rosette. I decided it would make an awesome center for my bleached flower, but I needed a narrower ribbon for this flower. I took a 2 1/2" piece of 3/8" black sheer ribbon & simply stitched, tied and gathered it just as I'd done it above, only very tightly, forming the rosette. I then tied both ends tightly together, snipped the threads and used a couple of glue dots to secure the rosette & threads so they wouldn't show & popped it onto my flower center!

Here's the finished card again; if you have any questions, please leave a comment & ask. I'll be glad to try to help you!

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!

Rosette Flower Tutorial 2008-001

This rosette flower was inspired by a Martha Stewart Gift Packaging Ideas handout I picked up at Michaels. To create a flower cut a one-inch wide by 9 1/2" long paper strip from text-weight paper. I cut the outside edge with my decorative rotary cutter (a scissor would also work) for added embellishment. To pleat the entire length of the strip to create folds at 1/4" intervals, I used my Scor-It Board. Next, fold the pleats along the entire strip. Secure the two ends together and then for the somewhat tricky part, secure the center to keep your flower flat. I took my Martha Stewart one-inch circle punch & punched a circle out of scrap paper and ran it through my Xyron "X" to stick it to the back of my pleated circle flower. Then I used Crystal Lacquer in the center of the flower & just slightly along the top edges of the flower center. Since it tends to want to pop up at this point, I put a waxed paper scrap torn from the end of my glue dots roll on the flower center and to hold it down, I just set my circle punch on it for weight and let it dry. Once dry, add the embellishment of your choice onto the flower center and it's ready to take center stage on your card! NOTE: Although you could make these flowers using a wider pleat, I think they'd be difficult to get into an envelope, as well as to mail, however they're darling in any size for embellishing a bag/package as shown in Martha Stewart's handout!