Fun with Pencils

I always have loved to color.  I loved the way new Crayons colored so well fresh out of the box with a new coloring book as a child.  It was always a treat to get to pick one out at Ben Franklin's Five & Dime way back in the day!

I am having even more fun taking classes from Alyce Keegan at Kit & Clowder.  I love how she goes over each step so slowly in her videos and details in the class booklets.  This past month's classes were wonderful!

I played with the images from Molly Harrison.  She creates the most wonderful fairies that are available on her Etsy shop.  I tried to do a night and a day version.

Here is my night:

And here is my day:

I can't decide which one I like better but I sure had fun doing them!

Gracie

Beauty from a File Folder

Oh, my!  This was such fun to make!!!  A beautiful stuffed envelope from a file folder!  You can purchase decorated file folders or do like I did and decorate a plain one.

I covered my folder with paper from my stash and found another coordinating paper to play with.  I used red double-sided tape on each seam to be certain the "envelope" would hold together after everything was folded.  I added the coordinating paper to the front flap and used it to make a pocket on the front of the file.  I used hot glue to add lace, ribbon, the birds (from Michael's), a key charm, some mulberry roses, and a pretty pink feather.  Then the real fun began!  Stuffing it!

I added ribbon, rick rack, three tags, three embellished paperclips and a host of other goodies tucked inside.  I tried to give everything a vintage look.

Now go pick up a pack of $1 folders and have fun!

Gracie

A Clipboard? Really!

I really love making items look vintage.  I have a growing collection of mulberry roses, butterflies, buttons, vintage photos, etc.  Today's fun started with a $1.98 clipboard!

I love how it turned out!

I started by covering the clipboard with paper from "The English Garden" by Hackney & Co.  I then hot-glued lace to the outer edge of the entire board.  Next I began adding vintage embellishments.  There are several pictures from Tim Holtz and images from The Graphics's Fairy printed and the edges curled to look aged.  I added a beige doily, metal charms, mulberry roses in several colors and flat-backed pearls.I added an organza bow to the clip with a rose in the center.  The final touch was a large butterfly I received from a crafty friend.

You can take just about any object and make it lovely!  I hope you are encouraged to make something lovely today!

Gracie

A Happy Box

Do you have a crafty friend who would appreciate some crafty goodness in a box?  I had the pleasure of putting a box together for a swap.

I bought a plain box at Hobby Lobby for $1.99 but there are also some smaller at The Dollar Tree.  My box had 17 compartments.  I tried to place different colors in each compartment and added embellishments to match the ribbons or flowers or lace in each compartment.  I even added stick pins and embellished paperclips.

After I finished I tied it up with bows and stuck a beautiful butterfly a wonderful crafty friend made!

I really think I will be making more of these for gifts!

Gracie

A Simple Calendar

I have the hardest time keeping up with dates.  Seriously.  I have had a problem with numbers ever since I developed epilepsy - I even have a hard time with my home address and cell phone number!  So if it is not on a sticky note stuck on my craft table in front of me I will probably forget an important date.  To try to help I have several calendars.

This is one of my favorites:

It was really fun to make!  

I started with a center step card base sized for an A2 card.  I used peach card stock (don't know if you can tell but peach is kind of my favorite color).  I had a printed card stock in my scrap box and used it to trim out a background.  I also used raspberry card stock to mat the print on.  I offset the calendar in the corner and decorated the upper corner.  I hot glued a metal clock charm, mulberry roses, pearls, and a large rhinestone.  I then simply tied a ribbon around the center step and made a bow.  

The calendar is small enough as to not be in the way but pretty enough to enjoy and I can keep up with the date.  Sort of.  If my phone is handy.  And my watch...

Gracie

When a Paint Brush Isn't a Paint Brush!

Today's project started with a trip to Dollar Tree.  I bought a regular 3 inch paint brush.  When I got home I started playing with my box of left over embellishments from other projects.

Here is my finished paint brush:

I started by painting my paint brushes wooden handle with peach acrylic paint using two coats.  After allowing plenty of drying time, I dragged out my dreaded hot glue gun.  

I started by adding gathered lace around the handle and lace around the base of the handle.  I added some black lace on top of the lace at the edge of the bristles.  I also added 4mm string pearls above the black lace and over the gathered lace on the handle.  

I made a peach bow using organza ribbon (also from the Dollar Tree) and added a bow made of peach lace and hot glued both below the circle on the handle.  I then hot glued a mulberry rose in the center of the bows.  I added five more mulberry roses on the handle.  

I die cut a butterfly twice and glued it together in the center.  I placed 2 black rhinestones to the center.  I added a black flower stamen bent in half to form the antennae.  I added pop dots between the wings to make the butterfly stand out.  I found the white metal key in my embellishment box and glued it also.  I then added more mulberry roses.  I still felt it needed a little bit more so I added the chipboard label and a small chipboard bird to the label.

It sounds like a lot of steps but it came together rather quickly after I gathered the embellishments.  I will be using it for a swap.  I am told they are lovely to brush crumbs away at gatherings such as showers or teas.

Take a trip to the Dollar Tree and dig out those scrap embellishments!  I bet you can make a lovely one, too!!!

Gracie

Pretty Little Things

My friend asked me to make some earrings for her to give as a gift.  She wanted dragonflies and pearls.  I don't make a lot of jewelry but I had fun trying!

I started with a few supplies from Hobby Lobby (Vintaj).

I had to hunt high and low to find my jewelry-making tools.  I found the bells for stones in my tool kit.  I think I need to do some organizing on my jewelry supplies!  But I was really pleased with the results.

The first pair...

The second pair...

My granddaughters loved them!  I hope my friend likes them.  Her friend is getting a pair but she is too!

Gracie

A Little Dap Will Do Ya!

Oh, my!  I have found a new addiction!  And it is thanks to a dear friend!

You need to take a trip to the hardware store or hardware department in your local big box store.  You are buying Dap.  Yep.  Dap.  White caulking for your windows.  Pick up a spatula for the caulk while you are there.

Next you need to head over to the cake making supplies.  Pick out some molds.  I found some butterflies, lace, roses and doilies for fondant. 

Then the fun really begins.  All you have to do is squeeze out small amounts of Dap on the molds and press it in flush with the spatula.  Try to keep the edges of the designs as clean as you can.

Let the molds dry overnight.

Then carefully remove the Dap from the mold.  It pops out really easy!  If you have little edges they peel away easily!  You can embellish it, paint it, have fun with it!  

This was done with glue and Nuvo Gold Gilding Flakes.

There are YouTube videos out there that show different techniques you can use - resin (chemical reaction), hot glue, etc.  But I had fun playing with the Dap and it's very inexpensive!  You can attach them to your projects with hot glue or glue dots.  Now head on off to the hardware store...

Gracie

Remembering Our Veterans

I'm not going to do a craft today.  I do want to talk about my Dad.  He was born in 1912.  He graduated from high school and his uncle drove him to Ole Miss.  My Dad didn't want to go to Ole Miss - he wanted to go to Mississippi Agricultural College (which is now Mississippi State University).  After my uncle dropped him off, he got on a bus and went back home.  My uncle wouldn't send him to the agricultural college so he put him to work in his dairy.

My Dad went through the Great Depression.  He worked on building the Grand Cooley Dam and dams that were built in Mississippi.  He learned to operate heavy equipment.

He was drafted into the Army during World War II.  He was at Omaha Beach at Normandy on D-Day where he was wounded.  He did not wake up until about three months later in England and was then sent home.  My Dad talked very little about the war until he was well up in age.

I am so proud of my Dad.  He passed away in 2000 and there isn't a day that I don't think about him.  I see his eyes in my son.  He was a fine Christian man who never had an unkind word for anyone and would literally give you whatever he had if you were in need.  He raised 9 children; he worked selflessly even in retirement to provide for his family.  He was the best man I ever have known.

My Dad as a Master Supply Sargent in WWII.

My Dad at my wedding.

My heart goes out to our Veterans today - those who came home and those we have lost.  Say a prayer for our Veterans today...

Abracadabra!

Today is another fun project all 3 of the younger granddaughters love!!!  I have to be careful when I am actually making one for a swap.  I have to keep them up out of reach so they will know they are going out in the mail!

Here is one of my wands:

Some are really intimidated by these but they are so simple to make!  I chose 2 complimentary papers.  The green polka dotted paper (source unknown - has been in my stash a long while) I cut into 2 1/2 x 11 inches x (3) strips.  The darker green (again - source unknown) I cut 1 x 11 inches x (3) strips.  

I then dragged out my trusty Stampin' Up score board and scored all 6 strips on the long sides at 1/2 inch intervals.  I fan folded each strip and adhered them together to make a circle.  I cut (3) 1 inch circles.  Then came the glue gun.  I have a love/hate relationship with my glue gun.  I can't count the number of times I have burned my fingers - even using a low temp.  I started gluing the back of the light green to a white circle then placed a white circle on front also.  I adhered the second green layer to the first on the circle, then secured the top with another circle.  Then it was just a matter of choosing embellishments.  

I picked out some green ribbon, some buttons from my button box, some green rhinestones, white mulberry roses and 2 enamel tags I found in my Scraprack.  The larger says "party"; the smaller says "birthday girl".  After I arranged all my embellishments on the front, I hot glued them all down.  I managed to save my fingers!  The wand is made from an acrylic straw I bought on Amazon (the kind that goes in your thermal cups) with a white pipe cleaner inserted to give it color.  I send wands out in swaps, especially with loaded envelopes (more on those later).

If you have a special little girl, make her a wand!  She will be saying, "Abracadabra!"  Then she will turn you into a frog!

Gracie

Thank Heaven for Little Girls

It is so much fun making cards for girls.  I struggle with masculine cards but if you need a card for a girl, just drop by my craft room!  Today's card used another thing I like - coloring!  I am not the best at it by far!  I struggle but I am learning and it is one of my outlets for stressful days.  You can find me in my recliner when I am coloring.

I signed up for and take both pencil and marker classes from Kit and Klowder.  Alyce Keegan has a wonderful website and a wonderful Facebook group to learn the art of coloring!  I encourage you to sign up for her Facebook group Kit and Klowder.  I promise you start to learn right away (plus she is from Australia - I love her accent!)

Here is my simple card today:

Another thing I love is digital images.  I have bought quite a library.  The image today is from Beccy Muir at Beccy's Place.  She is the sweetest little bear!  I printed her on white card stock and cut out a panel 3 3/4 x 5.  I colored her using Prismacolors.  I know everyone has their favorites.  I'm happy just having colored pencils!  Some days I use Crayola pencils if my youngest granddaughter is here because she loves to do what I am doing and I am not letting her use the Prismacolors...  Gray Gray can just stretch her craft supplies so far!

I used light blues and tans, orange and grass green and white.  I tried to get shadows in all the right places but that is a work in progress.  I cut a blue and white card stock panel 4 x 5 1/4 and wrapped a pale blue organza ribbon around it.  I attached my little bear to the panel and a couple of rhinestones in the corner.  I started to add a bow but I didn't want to distract from the pretty little bows in her crown of flowers or her ballet slippers.  I added the sentiment to the inside which says "You are so Beary Special!"

My Emma likes to wear crowns, too!

Well, today I encourage you to get out those markers, those colored pencils or even those crayons and just relax and color your troubles away!

Gracie

School's Out - Thank a Teacher!

We are going to pick up our grandson after his last final at boarding school.  He will be home until May 30 when he will leave for a month to go to Ole Miss for a class while still in high school.  He has had classes this year at Mississippi State University as well.  The poor kid doesn't know whether to yell "Go Rebels" or "Go 'Dawgs" lol!  But we are die hard Rebels...  Go SEC!

This is our Elliott:

His teachers are the most kind, wonderful, caring staff any school could have.  They take the students (there are only juniors and seniors) and keep them under their wing.  They are encouraging and spend time tutoring on their own time if need arises and keep parents informed of everything!.  It is a rigorous process to get accepted and quite an honor as there are less than 300 students.  Needless to say, we call our grandson an egg head!  The school has been ranked eighth in the nation; the staff, first.

I had to make something to send to his teachers.

Here is my card:

I started with a whited card stock base.  I added a panel of red and white polka dotted paper from Stampin' Up.  I made a "clip board"from craft card stock by cutting a rectangle and using a corner rounder from Creative Memories .  I put "the sheet of paper" down on the board and added a die cut of a file folder tab cut in half using silver glitter paper from Co'ordinations.  I attached the "clip" using pop dots and placed to metal dots on the clip to make it look realistic.  The "you're" sentiment is from Little B.  I am unsure where I got the "sweet" die from but I love how they stand out in white.  The pencil is an old sticker in my stash (usually the ones that end up in Emma's scrapbook making box) stuck on card stock then placed on pop dots.  The "clip board" is attached with pop dots.

It is a simple card but I think a teacher would appreciate it attached to a happy!

Gracie

Faux Water Coloring

Today we are going to get messy on our craft mat!!!  Everybody loves the water color look but not everyone can water color.  Here is a way to get a water color effect using distress inks and water.

Ink Smooshing

Here is my card:

I love playing with distress inks (and I really love the new oxide inks but more on those later).  I can be messy and it doesn't matter!  Ink smooshing is a fun way to create a card!  There is more than one way but I chose to put my ink on my acrylic block.

I dug out my Tim Holtz Distress inks Broken China, Dried Marigold, and Ripe Persimmon.  I simply swiped each pad across my largest acrylic block it that order.Then I spritzed my block with water.  I believe I ended up with more water towards the top but that's OK - we don't make mistakes lol!  Just opportunities for embellishments!

I took an A2 size piece of white card stock and laid it on the craft mat and quickly flipped the block over on the card.  If you put something heavy on it for awhile it will smooth out nicely and smoosh.

Another method is to swipe your mat with ink then spritz with water then lay the card stock down and push to smoosh the color.  They really look like you did some water coloring.

After my card stock dried I trimmed my panel down to 3 3/4 x 5 and stamped it with an image from Inkadinkado "Beach" set several times in my MISTI (if you don't have one, you don't know it but you are missing one!)  I embossed the image with Whispers clear embossing powder.  I mounted my image on orange card stock and tied with some black twine.  I put the panel on a yellow card stock base and lightly inked the edges black.  I don't make a whole lot of masculine cards but I think this would work.  Now go.  Get your ink.  Add water and play!

Gracie

Pretty Little Pocketbooks

I have granddaughters and if there is one thing they like it is anything 3D!  Today's little project is perfect for our youngest granddaughter, Emma.  She loves being a princess.  She loves everything cowgirl!  But she really loves dressing up and has her own wardrobe of long, pretty dresses at our house.

Today I made little purses:

Before this past Christmas I had a Silhouette Cameo - an old Silhouette Cameo my husband bought me for Christmas while I was still working (I stopped working in 2012).  I did not realize how age was creeping up on the old gal until my husband bought me a new Cameo 3 for Christmas.  It purrs like a kitten.  My other one sounded like a chainsaw but I didn't realize it until I plugged up the new one.  Happy Cameo 3 girl!!!

I used a Silhouette file to cut out my little pocketbooks with Heidi Swap card stock.  I used the red super strong adhesive to make sure my seams would stick.  I decorated the hearts with mulberry roses and a single flower on the light green one and added twine bows.  I also used flat-backed pearls.  I attached Velcro dots to the bottom of each heart and the pocketbook for a closure.  They are perfect to fill with candy for the youngest, and nail polish and lip gloss for the older girls.  They are also wonderful for shower happies.

Emma's eyes were very wide when she saw them  :)  That's what makes a grandmother happy!  

Gracie

Playing in the Glitter!

I don't know about you but there are certain people in the world who actually like glitter.  Seriously.  Did you know that?  I think everyone else runs from it.  There is a saying, "You've got to act cool, calm, and collected around glitter.  It can smell your fear."  Give me a good jar.  I'm happy!

One thing I love about glitter is you can make some fabulous cards!  I have made a glitter card today and here is a YouTube video for inspiration using three ways to apply glitter without having to get out the iron and the cling wrap (although that is a wonderful method but I don't want to burn the house down lol)!

Applying Glitter Three Ways

Here is my card:

I do not own a large Xyron to create a large sticker but I do have Stick It!  Stick It is a double-sided adhesive that can be used to back card stock before you run your intricate dies through your die cutting machine so you don't have to worry about making a gluey mess when you try to stick it down.  I trimmed an A2 size (4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches) of Stick It and carefully removed one side of the lining.  I placed a white card stock panel the same size on the Stick It.  Then I carefully removed the other side of the lining.  I took my napkin which I received in a swap and peeled away the back three layers.  The top layer is all you use.  I chose the part of the napkin I liked the best and carefully placed it on the Stick It trying to prevent wrinkles.  Small ones probably will not be noticeable.  Then my fun really began.

I love the smell of Stampin' Up Sticky embossing powder.  I know.  Weird.  Glitter.  Embossing powder.  Strange woman.  I coated my napkin with Versamark clear ink then covered it with the Sticky embossing powder and heat set it.  Hm mm, that smell...  Now the panel was ready for glitter.  I used Stampin' Up Dazzling Diamonds but any sparkly glitter will stick.  I then heat set the glitter.  There is no way in the world to contain every flake of glitter so just plan to sparkle!

I trimmed the panel down FROM THE BACKSIDE (important to remember - you don't tear the napkin and it helps save your blade on your trimmer) to 3 3/4 x 5.  I use a Fiskars Triple Track.  I adhered a ribbon to the back of the pan (light peach organza from The Dollar Tree) and tied a ribbon.  The butterfly is from the napkin also (I just trimmed around it and glittered it the same way then fussy cut it).  The butterfly is attached with pop dots.  I then adhered my panel to a piece of green vintage-inspired paper from my stash and used the same paper to stamp my sentiment "Thinking of You".  The sentiment is from Raisin Boat's Formal Phrases set.  I then put the panel on a cream card stock base.  I think it turned out lovely!  Now go play with your glitter!!!

Gracie

A Warm Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog!  I am Gracie - just a regular wife, mother, grandmother, and fur mother!  I am so happy you are stopping by!

I have several passions in life.  The first is Christ.   He is my Lord and Savior.

The second is family and dear friends.  I have a sweet husband Kenny of many years (#40 is approaching).  We have one daughter, Bethany and her wonderful husband Zack, who is our "2nd son."  They have three children - Elliott, who is in boarding school and will be graduating next year (Oh, my! I am feeling old!), and Lilly and Izzy, who are both home-schooled.  We have one son, Pat, who has two daughters, Morgan and Emma.  Emma is our youngest and I hate to say it but is the most spoiled.  We have two rescue kitties, Miracle who is pure white with one blue eye and one green eye (and she is possessed with evil.)  Our other cat is Mr. Myles.  He is a beautiful grey and white striped cat and is the most gentle thing on the planet.  He takes a daily beating from Mean Miracle despite spraying her with water, water with vinegar and just in general swatting her to no avail.  Poor Mr.  Myles...  My best friend in the whole wide world is Betty; she is my partner in crime, shopping, cruising, trips to the mountains and anything else we can think to get into.  We have a Wednesday and Saturday routine of breakfast at 8 am in a local restaurant.  They know what we are going to order.

The third is card-making and crafting.  I was a Registered nurse for 32 years before I became disabled.  That is when crafting became serious as I had time on my hands. I live in rural Mississippi with nothing but cows and donkeys for my nearest neighbors!  My home overflows with love for our grandchildren and my love for crafts.  So does my craft room (can I get an Amen lol?)!  Seems I am forever in a state of organizing, reorganizing, and re-thinking how to reorganize...  I do all things crafty from card-making to sewing, painting, jewelry-making and others in-between.  I can't wait to share projects with you!

I want to share today a pretty made for Mother's Day - an altered embroidery hoop.

I started with a six inch round simple wooden embroidery hoop (the $2.00 variety).  I have some vintage lace I ordered several years ago from EBay that is about 4 inches wide.  I cut two seven inch lengths and sewed them with needle and thread connecting them in the center (in the ditch stitch).  I stretched the lace over the hoop and tightened the hoop.  Then I got to play!  I hot-glued a sting of 5mm pearls around the edge of the hoop.  I added mulberry paper flowers from different sources (Prima, bulk purchase, and unknown from my stash).  The vintage picture is a public domain picture from The Graphics Fairy.  The stamp, bird, butterfly and sentiment were from my stash in my Scraprack (source unknown).  I gathered some straight lace with needle and thread and hot-glued it to the underside of the hoop.  The finishing touch was the gold bow made of ribbon from The Paper Temptress.

I want to encourage you to look at normal, everyday objects around the house or in your craft room and think of some way to alter them into a wonderful hand-made gift!

Thanks for joining me on my creative journey!

Gracie