Bubble Monkey Valentine Box

     "Grammy, can you make a Bubble Monkey Valentine Box?" Sure - why not? But who is Bubble Monkey? I had to do a Google search. It turns out that Bubble Monkey is a broken toy cured on a Doc McStuffins episode. 

     I started with a Silhouette File. This gave me the base for the box and monkey. I designed mats with patterned paper. This glitter paper makes me think - Valentines' Day. 

     I added a crown, bubble blower, and bubbles from Silhouette Files. I die cut Brooklyn's name. Those green gems on the crown are 5/8 inch and glittery.

     To make the bubbles, I made nesting circles, then glued them onto vellum. I then fussy cut them and added CS highlights on each.

     I also used a Silhouette File to make Brooklyn's exchange Valentines. Here is a pictures of those. 

Materials: 

     Patterned Paper: Recollections - Monsters and Robots

     Card Stock: My Colors - Dark Molasses

                                        Tropical Surf

                                        Ballerina Pink

                                        Golden Yellow

                                        Spearmint

                       Vellum

     Ink: Distress - Vintage Photo

     Silhouette Files: 3d Monkey Valentine Box by Jamie Cripps

                             Bubble Blower and Bubbles by Sarah Hurley

                             Crown by Echo Park

     Die: Anboo - 3/4 inch alphabet    

     Marker: Signo - white gel               

     Embellies: 5/8 inch green glitter gems

Challenges

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Love/Valentines - #4 - *

Crafty Creations Challenges - Anything Goes - #41 - *

Die Cut Divas - 3D - #6 - Showcase Winner!!!

Paper Funday - Anything Goes - #30 - *

Pile It On - Land Animal - #100 - *

Winter Calendar

     This is a very simple calendar. It is made on a tri-fold nameplate fold. 

     I will be making 16 cards and 4 calendars with this Graphic 45 Seasons Paper. All of these SEASON cards can be made using:

• one sheet of each of the patterned paper 
• one sheet of each of  Prints and Solids

In order to make All Seasons cards and calendars, you only need purchase the following items once:

• Tags and Pockets
• Chip Board
• Ephemera
• Stickers
• Season's Patterns and Solids 

Stay tuned for more cards this year.

Spring

Spring Double Gate Card

Spring Shutter Card

Spring Seed Pack Holder 

Spring Center Step Card

Spring Calendar

Summer

Summer Poppy Block Card

Sweet Summer Pocket Card

Summer Pen Nib Butterfly

Summer Embroidery Hoop Easel

Summer Impossible Calendar

Autumn
Autumn Joy Fold Plus
Autumn Patchwork and Feathers
Autumn Shaker
Autumn Scarecrow
Autumn Calendar 

Winter
Winter Birdhouse
Winter Cozy Snow Day
Winter Pop Up Gift Card Holder
Winter Box on Card
Winter Calendar  - You are here!


  

Materials: 

     Patterned Paper: Graphic 45 - Seasons (Winter)

     Card Stock: Paper Cuts - Metallic Gold

     Ink: Distress - Walnut Stain

     Embellies: Gold Mini Brads

                     Twine - Ivory

                     Puffy Heart Stickers

Challenges

Winter Box on Card

     Here is card that I have seen here and there. I have been looking forward to making it. The hardest part about this card is giving up on the tutorials. I have yet to find a tutorial that has accurate cutting directions to make it. It's a good thing I start a project like this one with inexpensive Hobby Lobby heavyweight card stock. I would have thrown away lots of patterned paper if I had started there. 
  
     Ultimately I ended up designing the card base and mat on the Silhouette. Since I wanted a scalloped edge, this was the easiest way to achieve this.

     I embossed antique gold snowflakes on the mats (inside and outside). Most of the components are from Graphic 45 Season's Collection. In keeping with the winter theme, I added die cut mittens.

     This metallic gold card stock from Paper Cuts pairs well with the embossing powder I used. 

     I have been asked how to get the box into an envelope. The answer is that you don't. I gifted 3 of these this Christmas even though there were no Christmas items on them. I placed the card in an envelope, then placed the box on top of the envelope. These were hand delivered. 

     BYW: Inside each box was a pair of handmade earrings with beads made from this patterned paper. A matched set you could say. 

Matching patterned paper earrings with snowflake charms

     I will be making 16 cards and 4 calendars with this Graphic 45 Seasons Paper. All of these SEASON cards can be made using:

• one sheet of each of the patterned paper 
• one sheet of each of  Prints and Solids

In order to make All Seasons cards and calendars, you only need purchase the following items once:

• Tags and Pockets
• Chip Board
• Ephemera
• Stickers
• Season's Patterns and Solids 

Stay tuned for more cards this year.

Spring

Spring Double Gate Card

Spring Shutter Card

Spring Seed Pack Holder 

Spring Center Step Card

Spring Calendar

Summer

Summer Poppy Block Card

Sweet Summer Pocket Card

Summer Pen Nib Butterfly

Summer Embroidery Hoop Easel

Summer Impossible Calendar

Autumn
Autumn Joy Fold Plus
Autumn Patchwork and Feathers
Autumn Shaker
Autumn Scarecrow
Autumn Calendar 

Winter
Winter Birdhouse
Winter Cozy Snow Day
Winter Pop Up Gift Card Holder
Winter Box on Card - You are here!
Winter Calendar

  

Materials: 

     Patterned Paper: Graphic 45 - Seasons (Winter)

     Card Stock: My Colors - Muslin

                       Paper Cuts - Metallic Gold

     Ink: Distress - Pumice Stone

     Die: Stamps of Life - Mittens 2 Stamp

            Spellbinders - Petite Scalloped Circle Large

            Sizzix - Circles

            Gina K - Snowflakes

            Anboo - Word Set - Seasons                     

     Stamp: Gina K - Seasonal Sentiments

     Punch: Fiskars - Notebook

     Embellies: Elizabeth Craft Designs - Gold Starfoam Stickers

                     Gold Embossing Powder

                     Button

                     Gold Cord - 4 inches

                     Copic - E42

                     Confetti - Snowflakes

                     

Challenges

Crafty Cardmakers - Winter - #30 - *

Cuttlebug Mania - Winter - #2 - *

Die Cuttin Divas - 3-D - #2 - *

Paperminutes - Winter Magic - #2 - January 27

Winter Pop Up Gift Card Holder

     It seems that everyone loves a gift card holder. This winter themed card is no exception. This card features a collage of Graphic 45 Season's patterned paper, embellished with brown pearls, a brown seam binding bow, and a silver snowflake charm. Every piece on this card is matted; most of it is double matted. I have pop-dotted each individual element. This card weighs a ton!!! Very substantial indeed!!!

     I had lots of fun making the inside of this card. The pop up gift card holder was super simple to construct. I got the idea from a Kathy by Design tutorial. I used a Karen Burniston die to cut winter from the envelope. I saved it to add to the bottom. Since it was a cursive font, I added a feather quill.

     Once again everything here is matted or double matted. Like I said earlier: THIS CARD WEIGHS A TON!!! Extra postage is definitely required. 

     I will be making 16 cards and 4 calendars with this Graphic 45 Seasons Paper. All of these SEASON cards can be made using:

• one sheet of each of the patterned paper 
• one sheet of each of  Prints and Solids

In order to make All Seasons cards and calendars, you only need purchase the following items once:

• Tags and Pockets
• Chip Board
• Ephemera
• Stickers
• Season's Patterns and Solids 

Stay tuned for more cards this year.

Spring

Spring Double Gate Card

Spring Shutter Card

Spring Seed Pack Holder 

Spring Center Step Card

Spring Calendar

Summer

Summer Poppy Block Card

Sweet Summer Pocket Card

Summer Pen Nib Butterfly

Summer Embroidery Hoop Easel

Summer Impossible Calendar

Autumn
Autumn Joy Fold Plus
Autumn Patchwork and Feathers
Autumn Shaker
Autumn Scarecrow
Autumn Calendar 

Winter
Winter Birdhouse
Winter Cozy Snow Day
Winter Pop Up Gift Card Holder - You are here!
Winter Box on Card 
Winter Calendar 



  

Materials: 

     Patterned Paper: Graphic 45 - Seasons (Winter)

     Card Stock: My Colors - Brown Eyes

     Ink: Distress - Walnut Stain

     Die: Spellbinders - Petite Scalloped Circle Large

                                 Scalloped Circle Large

            Burniston - Word Set 3 - Holiday

            Little B - Envelope

            Art C - Feathers

     Embellies: Pop dots

                     Snowflake Charm

                     Twine - Ivory

                     Pearls - 8 Brown

                     Seam Binding - 1 1/2 yd brown

                     

Challenges

As You Like It - Pearls - #14 - *

Cardz 4 Galz - Dimensionals #31 - *

Cut It Up - How's the Weather - #19 - *

My Time to Craft - Winter Birthday - #17 - *

I Am Here Postcard

     In honor of the purchase of our new Motor Home, I have created this postcard. 

     The USA map in the background is stamped on Bazzill's Honeycomb paper. I added a gold star in Denver to mark the vacation spot. I made several of these postcards. The star can be placed anywhere in the US. I stamped a camper on the back of the postcard as well as on the envelope. 

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Carta Bella - Old World Travel

     Card Stock: Bazzill - Honeycomb

                                 Sugar Wafer

                                 Aquatint

                                 Fudge Ripple

     Stamps: Inkadinkado - Our Adventures

     Dies: Fancy Postage Edge            

     Punch: 1 1/2" scalloped square

     Embossing Powder: Stampendous! - Aged Gold

    

    

Challenges

Alphabet Challenge - V is for Vehicle - #7 - *

Cardz 4 Guyz - Trains, Planes, Automobiles - #3 - *

TN - The Journey Begins

      TN Time with Lisa & Lori has come to my aid. They have started a monthly Traveler's Notebook Challenge. There are two challenges in one. On Lisa's website there will be a sketch and on Lori's website there will be a design challenge (this month is use 3 patterned papers). Here is my first entry: 

TN Sketch #1 by Lisa Hidy

        I purchased a 12 x 12 Bo Bunny calendar themed paper pad at Tuesday Morning quite a while ago. After getting it home, I was wishing that I hadn't bought it. I couldn't think of any use for it. Looks like I have found the perfect use for it. There is only 1 double-sided sheet for each month. I will have fun going through my paper stash looking for coordinating papers.

     Pattterned Papers:

1. Bo Bunny: Calendar Girl - January (side 2) - This paper is a grid of white mini icons on blue paper. A great paper for making borders.
2. Go Bunny: Calendar Girl - November (side 2) - This paper is gold with splashes of white.
3. Authentique: Frosty Winter - Gray with white polka dots.

     Bo Bunny January (side 1) was full of journaling cards of varied sizes. This is where I got the "Predict the Future" cut out.

     Just love these little Tim Holtz cars and traffic light. With the dotted swirls, they look just like they are zipping about the page. 

     This Heart on Globe die was a bargain purchase. I decided to die cut a little bit of map to put inside. I put Fort Worth front and center, because I think Benbrook (a suburb) will be our first try at camping with our RV. We thought we would make our first trip short and going to see our 2 year old granddaughter seems like a great objective.

     The globe and car dies are probably old news, but they are new and first time used for me. 

     When I stopped at Staples to get my ARC supplies, they were out of (or is it discontinued) ARC hole punchers. This was disturbing since the ARC has such unusual holes. Turns out you really can find out how to do anything with Pinterest or a Google search. I found a tutorial at Hello Creative Family that demonstrated a way to make the holes. As you can see the holes on my project don't look too bad - and they work!!! Now I can add anything to my TN.

For more information on the organization of my Traveler's Notebook, go to yesterday's post: HERE.

Materials List:      

     

     Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny - Calendar Girl (January & November)

                              Authentique - Frosty Winter (Polka Dots)

     Dies: Sizzix - Circles (2 inch)

                         Cityscape Communte

             Amboo - Alphabet 3/4 inch

                          Globe with Heart

Challenges

Cardz 4 Guyz - Trains, Planes, Automobiles - # 2- *

Dies R Us - Anything New - #16 - *

Sparkles Monthly Challenges - New Year New Stash - #9 - February 14

Stinkin' Inkers - It's News to Me - #23 - *

TN Time with Lori - 3 Patterned Papers - #1 - *

TN Time with Lisa - Sketch #1 - #1 - Winner

TN: Getting Organized

     My husband retired on December 20th. We have been looking at RV's since October 29. Well . . . we took the plunge last Saturday. We purchased a Thor Chateau 31Y. We brought it home yesterday. We spent the afternoon peeling off the stickers. Looks like today we will be lining the drawers and cabinets with shelf paper.

     6 years ago my husband announced his retirement goal: to see the CUBS play in all 30 stadiums. This has become "our" goal. Being the CUB fan that I am, I am totally on-board. I have added my own goal: to document our journey. 

     Now that we have purchased our RV, I have been trying to think of a simple way to document our travels. I want it to be something that I will not throw to the sidelines, because it is complicated and time-consuming. 

     Flash-back 3+ years: I started a notebook using Staples ARC system. I love this notebook, because the pages can be removed and moved to a new location. Pages can be deleted or added anywhere in the notebook. I have been using this notebook exclusively up to this point, to keep records of my cards, layouts, etc. designs, ideas for future projects, and contact information of my students. Each year I remove the records, archive them, and start anew. 

     I have decided to use this same notebook for my Traveler's Notebook. I started by making a trip to Staples. I purchased: larger discs (to accommodate more pages), calendar pages (to get rid of the desk calendar I had been using), dot grid pages (to write and doodle on each travel day), and a new leather cover ( the plastic one is totally worn out).

     Now my Design Notebook has become 4 Notebooks:

1. Calendar - Planner
2. Design Notebook
3. Traveler's Notebook
4. Ballpark Record Notebook

     Today I added a cover for Notebook #3 - my Traveler's Notebook. 

We named her "Addie", short for Addison. Wrigley Field sits on the corner of Addison and Clark.

     I brainstormed some prompts for daily travel.

     I plan to design a 2-page motivational insert each month. I posted my first one here. 

     We are planning to take a couple of short trips in order to get the logistics of travel in an RV. Our first trip may be to Fort Worth to see my daughter, just to give it a try. We plan to make some 3-5 day trips to Round Rock to see the Iowa CUBS play the Round Rock Express. We also plan to go to New Jersey to see my sister - this may or may not include a stop in Philadelphia to see CUBS vs. Phillies. WE NEED TO START CHECKING OFF THOSE STADIUMS! 

Learning About China

     My granddaughter and I made a stop at the library on the way to pre-school. It happened to be storytime for 3-4 year olds. The presenter read Goldiluck and the Three Pandas. She brought bits of Chinese culture to share and had examples of Chinese dress and a large fan. Ellie enjoyed trying on the jacket and waving the fan about. During the read-aloud, we practiced counting to three in Chinese. Ellie learned this quickly and was counting to three over and over on the way to the car. 

2-Page Layout

     I love starting with a sketch from Sketch N Scrap. It makes it so much easier to make that first paper cut. I used the sketch for the right page only.

Sketch #169 by Heather Hall

     I used an old paper line by Graphic 45 called "Bird Song". The collection is actually geared for a Japanese theme. I stayed away from patterned papers that contained Japanese writing and Geisha girls. There was plenty of paper left to work with.

Right Page

     For the title, I purchased a font from Silhouette Designs. I really like the way it gives a Chinese feel to the page.

     I placed red ric rac on the Tuscan Sun card stock. I wrapped it around to the back and secured it with tape. I then used a needle to sew it down with black embroidery floss. I recently learned this technique in a scrapbooking class at the Scrappn' Savvy. I couldn't wait to repeat it on a layout of my own.

Title and Stitching

     The photos look like tags, because of the chipboard tabs attached to the top of each. I didn't have any landscape photos, so I made a landscape-shaped mat and placed a wood veneer piece on the mat. In total there are three of these floral cluster wood veneer pieces on the layout, as well as a bird cage. I wanted them to be shiny and antique gold. I rubbed them in Versa Mark ink and added embossing powder. There were some spots that didn't get enough ink. I solved this by using my Versa Mark pen and then embossing again.

Pictures made into tags.

     The journaling card is cut from the 4 x 6 journaling page. I double matted it and pop dotted. The cute little tag is from the chip board selection. I ran a piece of ric rac through the hole and used embroidery floss to secure it. 

Journaling Card

     I knew that I wanted to add a 5 x 7 photo to the left page. I extended the right page 4 inches onto the left page. The mats for this photo are 6 layers thick. The more the merrier - I always say!!! 

Left Page

     Graphic 45 has a challenge each month. I used this opportunity to double dip on challenges. They are asking for any projects made with Graphic 45 paper that have stamping. I stamped an oriental floral vine with versa mark ink above and below the photo. It is embossed with antique gold powder.

Wood Veneer and Stamping/Gold Embossing

     I repeated the stamping on the Tuscan Sun card stock, but this time I used black embossing powder.

     

Stamping/Black Embossing

     I repeated the ric rac border over the 5 x 7 photo.

Stitching Over Photo

     I enjoyed making the bird cage tag for the page. As mentioned above the wood veneer is embossed with antique gold powder. I traced the shape onto black card stock and fussy cut it with an extra 1/4 inch to make a mat. I wanted the shape of the bird cage to pop on the page. The birds inside the card are from a 4 x 6 journaling card. I used red card stock behind the row of holes across the bottom. I repeated the top of the tag by placing a piece of ric rac through the hole and using embroidery floss to secure it. 

Bird Cage

Materials List:      

     

     Patterned Paper: Graphic 45 - Bird Song - Shanghai Girls

                                                                  Tranquility

                                                                  Longevity

                                                                  Joy Luck

                                                                  Harmony

                                                                  Jasmine Dream

                                                                  Chipboard Tags

                              Bo Bunny - Double Dot - Wild Berry Vintage

     Card Stock: My Colors - Black Magic

                                        Tuscan Sun

     Ink: Versa Mark

     Silhouette Font: zp chinese zodiac by ScrapNfonts

     Notions: 1/8 inch red satin ribbon

                  red ric rac

                  black embroidery floss

     Stamps: Gina K - Branching Out

     Embossing Powder: Antique Gold and Black

     Wood Veneer: Kaiser Craft - Bird Cages

                                               Asian

Challenges

Alphabet Challenge - U is for Use Stitching - #56 - *

Graphic 45 Facebook Challenge - Stamping - *

Lasting Memories Layout Challenges - Trims - #27 - Winner!

Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers - B is for Books - #9 - *