The Card Trends Blog currently has a challenge going on for "lovey dovey cards" that DON'T use pink or red! Ack! What? How in the world....
Many, many months ago (November, to be exact) I saw a fantastic post at Infarrantly Creative on how to make a Bonheur Necklace. I bookmarked it and have kept it in my mind for... well, 3 months! I finally found the beads at the Goodwill a few weeks back and started my project. The necklace that I bought (for about $2) was originally a three strand choker. I took it apart, re-strung it and then set it aside. Today I finally finished it by making the organza flower. I didn't do any sort of tutorial because the post that I saw it on has a great step-by-step. Check it out by clicking HERE.
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Head on over to Sutton Grace for a fab blog-aversary give away. While you are there, check out her blog... I am a bit addicted. This blog is linked on my right-side tool bar and I hop over there several times a week... and have yet to be disappointed. Hurry over and enter before Feb 5th when she will announce the winners! (Thanks for the great give away, Erin!)
Lately I have been seeing tons of blog posts (mostly at a personal fave site, Blue Cricket Designs) revolving around re-purposing and re-crafting the old into new. This last Wednesday I was blog hopping (for HOURS... don't tell... shhhhh) and became personally inspired to give this a go. So Thursday I set out with a mission. Recently a new Goodwill opened up near my home (about 10 minutes away in the next town over) so I went to troll for trash. Yep... trash. Garbage. Nasty and useless. BINGO!! I found it!! Here is my find:
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Ugly, right?? You aint seen nothin' yet... check out this close up:
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Yep... that's metallic mauve and teal fabric on that baby, ruffles and all! I'm not sure if you can see all of the dirt and stains (mold?) on the bow and along the top of the mirror frame but... let's just say that I had to wash my hands after the next step:
That's a whole lot of ugly!! Here's what I was left with:
I started by taking 2 sheets of 12x12" paper (Pink Paislees' Valentine's Day stuff) and cutting it into 1"x 6" strips. I started wrapping them around the frame (the thing with foam on it) one at a time. I attached them in the back using scotch tape. I overlapped each one slightly over the last until I made it all of the way around the frame, which surprisingly only took about 10 minutes. Then I tied one yard of ribbon around the top of the frame to create a hanger. I used hot glue to sandwich the mirror between the frame and the backer board. Here's the finished product:
Cute, right?? I'm not sure if you have you noticed yet but, I'm a sucker for polka dots!
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And notice the cute little fox I stamped directly onto the mirror? He's so cute!! Here's a close up of the finished mirror frame:
That last pic shows you a great view of the strips of paper. I used stickles to randomly highlight some of the polka dots. I also took one of the strips of left over paper (I only had about 3 strips left over) and cut it in half. I folded each half accordian style and glued them over the green ribbon to add some depth.
I don't know about you but I love the way this turned out. It's going to look adorable hanging in noodle & bean's bedroom!!
I have created and begun managing a blog for my LSS, Scrappin' Time LLC in Derby, Kansas. Check it out?
.I finally attended a crop! And I finished 4 LOs... well, almost. I have one left to finish (we'll talk about that later).
And here's some detail of the bird (i LOVE the colors of this Bo Bunny paper!) and the title (thickers, of course):
The next one is made using a piece of Lime Ricky paper by Basic Grey:
Whoa baby that's a bad photo of it!! LOL. Here's a close upthat will do a little better job of showing off that fantastic paper. I cut one of the flowers out from the patterned paper (then covered it up using the green matting) and made the embelishment using my fiskars cutting blade (the orange one with the wishbone handle). I love the pop of dimension that it gives the LO:
I love that plum floral paper (Wisteria, by Basic Grey), the glitter thickers (Bean is Kayla's nic-name) and the amazing blue ribbon from May Arts. The bird is a covered chipboard shape by Jenni Bowlin. But... now what?? What am I missing? journaling strips up the right side of the photo? stitching along the top and bottom of where the purple embossed paper meets the patterned paper? Help!! Well, my blog has had a little make over. I hadn't intended on changing it but I sort of got bored with the old one. Then I stumbled across this cute background and... well.... an hour later I have a new background, header and footer. What do you think??
Looking for a cute blog background? Click on the link at the top left to go to "Cutest Blog on the Block". I have used tons from their site and love them, plus... they're FREE!
My LSS carries a lot of Basic Grey, which is a brand that I'm not typically drawn to. But some of their new stuff is just too fun!! The papers used on this LO are from the line "Sugar Rush". This LO was made from a single sheet of patterned paper by using both the front and back patterns as well as plenty of "white space". Here's the LO:
Sorry about the funky angle. I was propping it up against something sort of last minute. This one will be on display at my LSS for a bit. I intimidated myself with that funky pattern (the one used on the vertical stripe) but I really love the colors. Lime green, pink, soft yellows and gorgeous blues. Yum. The stickers are also from the "Sugar Rush" line. A whole set of red alphas with gentle polka dots for $1.50! yes... alphas for less than two bucks! Score!
It's no secret that I haven't had much time to create new things lately. This week has been no exception. I am taking a very condensed class that is, once again, sucking the life out of me. Typically the Managerial Accounting class that I am taking is offered twice a week for the entire 16 week semester. I am taking the exact same class in a two week period. Every day (M-F) for 4.5 hours a day! I have finished the first full week (woot!) and have completed 6 quizzes and an exam. I am sitting at an 85% so it's going well! One more week and this class is OVER. yay! Then the actual semester starts and a whole new adventure. As most of you know, this will be my final semester because I am graduating with my Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing on May 15th. Just over 4 months away. Wow. I'm gonna finally do it! I am thrilled. Going back to school as an adult with young kids (my girls are 7 and 5) has been a crazy adventure. Some of these classes have kicked my butt. Some have been exciting and inspiring. And a lot have just been blah. But the whole experience has been empowering. This semester also brings a new and exciting experience: an internship!! I am in the final interview process for one that I really want. I will know this next week and can hardly breath in anticipation. I'll let you know when I have some news. :)
...scrapping!! Well, I started 2010 by having Kayla (who's 5) crawl into my bed around 3am and pee on me. Yep. All over me, the bed, blech. So I had to force Jared to wake up so that we could change the sheets (luckily, she missed the blankets). I also had to change my clothes and Kayla's and wash up. What fun, huh? The joys of mommy-hood. :)
This next card uses more of the Bo Bunny (paper and die cut), this lace is also from Webster's Pages and the pink beads, sparkly ribbon and blue thickers are from the Sept kit at JuJu Bees. 
My mojo is still flowing so I think I am going to go make something else. I'll let you know if I come up with anything brilliant! lol.I have to say that I am very glad that today marks the first day of 2010! Last year was the craziest, funnest, hardest, sadest, happiest year of my life. Here is a quick (QUICK) run down of 2009:
* Finished ten more classes towards my Bachelor's degree in Marketing. That means just 5 more this Spring and I will be graduating May 2010! Just 5 more months and I am done!! Woot!
* Spent 5 days in NYC. See all of the photos and highlights HERE. Have I mentioned how much I absolutely LOVE that city?? I am smitten.
* I was chosen for the Dotty Divas Design Team. This is a great challenge blog with fantastic prizes. Check it out here: www.dottydivas.blogspot.com
* My mom passed away on July 18th. The only word that I can use to describe this is: heartbreak.
* We traveled to Washington (we live in Kansas) for my mom's memorial service. While in the Northwest we visited Seattle, Portland and Canon Beach, Oregon. On the way home we drove through (and camped in) Yellowstone, visited Mt Rushmore and 2,000 miles of scenic America! See the pics on THIS post.
*I completely STRUGGLED through Calculus this last semester. I cried, curses and yelled my way through it but... I passed!! Thank you Jesus for helping me through this.
* We celebrated Emily's 7th Birthday, Kayla's 5th, Jared and I each turned 31 and Jared and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary.
As you can see.... quite a year!!
I am looking forward to 2010. I am obviously looking forward to graduation (YAY!) and looking forward to a new career. I am nervous about the job search but confident that God has a place for me and because He knows me so well, it is going to be an amazing job that will have made all of this hassle worth the tassel. ;)
So... Here's to 2010!! Cheers!
