Sunday, August 10, 2008

Pocket Notes Purse Tutorial

Finally I finished my tutorial! Geez! I started typing this on the 10th (which is the post date) but today is the 18th. I worked all week and I am finally able to get back to my computer to finish it! Sorry for the delay....

Okay first I have to say that this is not my pattern! Jan Tink shared her template on her blog and I actually made a chocolate version a while back. You can find her template here.

Here are the steps:

I cut the base of the purse from pink cardstock. It measures 5 1/2" x 10 1/2". On both long sides, score at 1 1/4” .
Turn the paper and on both short sides score at 4 1/4”. Now cut on the last two score lines that you just made 1” to the other
score lines. It should now look like this.In this picture you see my scoring blade about 3/8" from the top of the purse front. I made a little mark so I knew where to place my word window punch. At this point I did all my stitching lines with a white gel pen (the one from SU is the best). I used my short ruler as a guide so my lines would be straight.First I went along all the score marks (on either side of the score marks) going in one direction. Then I turned my paper one quarter turn and made all the stitch marks going in the other direction. Make sure your marks are DRY before you turn the paper or move the ruler. I made the mistake of dragging my ruler after making a fresh line of stitches and smeared them all! So I had to start over! UGH!!I made lines around the punched opening and along the top edges. This is what it should look like when you are done. Okay see that center rectangle which will become the bottom?....You don't have to make stitch marks there.........I was just on a roll and kept going! LOLNext, you are going to make sure this is completely dry before you run it through your cuttlebug! Place the embossing folder with the bumps facing up (the word Cuttlebug should be facing up) and your paper should be face up as well. When placed this way, the raised bumps will be on the outside of your box. If you do it the other way, your box will have dimples. LOL I don't worry about the bottom of the box having a texture so I just center my cardstock to cover the front and back of the box. In this picture, I am doing the back of the box.Then you turn the paper around and do the front of the box. This is what it looks like when you are done. Now it's time to put it together.... in this picture you can see my Tombow but hopefully you can also see some glue dots going along the sides of the top of the box. I just used a few for extra strength. I fold the flaps in like this and then put adhesive on all four sides of the the flaps. Then I only put adhesive on the the top portion of the box where the punched out hole is.....you don't have to put adhesive on the back of the box. Once you have all the adhesive on, fold the back of the box up and attach it to the flaps. Then you fold the front of the box up and attach that to the flaps and the sides.Once that is complete, it should look like this.Now you can move on to the belly band. The pattern paper is 1 1/2" x 12". The solid piece is 2" x 12". Adhere these two pieces together and add the stitching along both long sides. In the picture below, you will see that one end of the belly band is bent. Score just one end at 1 1/2" Place this bent piece on top of your box on the front. Don't stick it down yet. Turn your box around (the opening of the box is now facing you) with the belly band laying underneath it (the bent end is still where the front is) and the long end of the band is sticking out to the right. See where the belly band is sticking out? You are going to make a little mark with a pencil right next to the box on the belly band. You are marking where your next score mark is going to be. Because each box may be a tad different, score marks can not be pre-determined. So this is how I got a nice score mark all the way around the belly band. In the picture below, I have moved the box out of the way so you can see the mark I made for the new score mark. Now score it. Okay now you have two scored lines on your band. Now the band is underneath and the box is face up. You are now going to make a mark on the left of the box on the belly band. Now keep going in this manner until you have scored the whole band. It should look like the picture below. I ran adhesive down each score mark with a glue dot on each line as well. Can you see them in the picture below? To adhere it tot he box start at the front of the box again and adhere the end of the band to the front of the box about 3/8" below the punched hole. Go all the way around until you reach the front of the box again with the other end of the band. It should now look like this. Now we move on to the closure band that goes from the back of the box to the front and into the punched hole. Cut the solid cardstock to 1 1/2" x 7". Cut the pattern paper to 1" x 7". Adhere these two pieces together and do more stitching along both long sides. Round the corners on one end of the strap with your corner rounder. Adhere it to the back of the purse inside the box in this manner.......I slid the rounded end through the punched hole making sure I had enough length inside the box so that it wouldn't slide out. Then while that end was still in the whole, I grabbed the other end and attached it to the back, INSIDE THE BOX.


Now to make the strap, cut a solid piece of cardstock to 3/4" x 11". Make more stitch marks! You're are going to hate faux stitching after this! LOL Once that is dry attach it to the box by punching a hole about 1 1/2" from each end. Then using your strap as a guide, punch holes on each side of your box. Place your strap in the box lining up the holes and place your brad through the flower and then through the holes and then open up the brad inside the box.Repeat this on the other side. This is now what your box should look like. Now we move on to the medallion. Which I punched from scallop circle punches. First I stamped the cupcake and colored it and cut it out. I used Staedler Markers for coloring. They have a nice foam tip, so they will always stay pointy. I set that aside to dry.


Then I punched out the circles I needed.Next you assemble the circles. I adhered the larger green circle onto the box first. Then I put pop dots on the pink layer. The green goes on top of the pink and the cupcake goes on top of that.
Voila! You have your finished Purse! Isn't it cute?There may be lots of pictures and steps in this tutorial but don't let that intimidate you; they are very easy to make! And fast too! Have fun! Let me know when you make one so I can see your masterpiece!

Pull Out Scrapbook

I made this for a class last month and I never took pictures of it! I finally took pictures


this weekend. I didn't take any pics of the inside because I want to decorate it a little more first. If you haven't tried to make one of these, you have to! They are really easy and I love how sturdy they are. I used pattern paper that has this antique look to it. It's paper that I have had forever and never got around to using it! Do you have paper like that?? LOL The oval frame on front is pre-cut and purchased that way in a pack with about 20 frames. The embellishment on the top corner is something I cut out from extra paper. I really like it, it came out pretty cute. :) Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Happy Sunday!

Hi everyone! Happy Sunday to you all! Today I am cleaning a little, doing laundry and I am going to try to squeeze some projects in. I have to make a sample for a class that's coming up. I was up late last night browsing other blogs and watching video tutorials. They are addicting! I am also gathering ideas on how to improve my own blog. Anyways just wanted to check in and say hello. It's raining here today so we won't be going anywhere; stuck in the house doing crafts! LOL Thanks for checking in!

Friday, August 1, 2008

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday everyone! I wish today was my Friday but I have to work tomorrow. I don't normally work on Saturdays so my weekend is Sunday and Monday this week. I don't have a project to share with you today :( but I have something else to share with you.......I love browsing blogs as I'm sure a lot of you do too! Sometimes I can spend hours at my computer visiting different blogs. Look at my list of favorite blogs and you'll see why it takes me so long! LOL. I discovered a new blog tonight thanks to Carol at SCS. Thanks for sharing, Carol!! The addy is http://www.kiyomikrafts.com/kiyomi/. Her name is Jenn and her projects are stunning! She is great tutorials and videos as well. You should visit her the next time your blog hopping!

I will be making new stuff this weekend because I have some classes coming up so be on the lookout for those.....one is a photo wallet, the other is something I call "No Calorie Desserts." Won't tell you what that consists of quite yet! :) Soon I will be setting up links to descriptions of my classes that are held in Essex Junction. I have the list started but you can't click on them yet.

I also started a new list of books that I am currently reading or have recently read. In case any of you are readers out there.........

So have a wonderful Friday and I will check in tomorrow! Thanks for stopping by and go say hi to Jenn! :)

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Pen Pal Card


Here is a card I received recently from Connie in Michigan. I love the layers!!! Great job, Connie! I love it! Thank you!!!

Wooden Recipe Box

I was just chatting on SCS but the site isn't working for me for some reason, so I decided I would post my recipe box pictures. This one I made using a plain wooden box from Michaels (by Darice). I love the shape of this box with the rounded sides. On my previous boxes I used round knobs for the handles and feet but this time I found some more decorative knobs. I believe they are called finials. The paper I got from my local stamp store, don't know which company it is, sorry. The polka dot paper is a hot pink which match the radishes on the printed paper. All the paper is attached with gluesticks. The apron on the lid is doen with pink cardstock, and the polka dot paper. I found this really cute card on SCS and thought it would look perfect for the box! So i drew out an apron trying to make it the same on both sides. The ribbon for the neck and waist line is chocolate gingham. I really love how this turned out; much better than my other ones! :) The dividers are plain ones from Staples and then I covered them with cream colored cardstock, and then added a strip of polka dot paper along the bottom. I used my Cricut to cut out letters for each tab. I didn't stagger my tabs across the top just in case I wanted to change the order of the dividers so each tab is lined up to the left. Now I just have to fill it with recipes! :) Thanks for stopping by! What do you think?

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Lots of New pics!

As promised, I have new pics for you! And of course, since I get bored very easily, I have changed my layout and colors! LOL. I love to change things around!


I have been making cards for classes but I don't know why I have been forgetting to take pictures of them before I take them to the store to display them! So today I took several pictures. You'll see some of my new creations and also some great pen pal cards I have received this month. I will be posting pics of the cards I get from now on. I should have been doing that all along!


So this first card I is very simple. I did this in my Misting with Markers class this month. There's a great tutorial on SCS found here. The cardstock is all from Stampin' Up. The top layer is raised with dimensionals and the scallop circle is done with a scallop punch. The dragonflies are on white cardstock and then placed under the green layer. Very simple card....



The next card is from the same class and also done using the same technique. I love this card and how the colors turned out. I forgot to mention that I use Staedler markers. I love them! They have pointed spongy type tip instead of a fiberous tip. It's great because it will always keep the pointy tip.



This card is for my Pearl Ex-Painted Pearls class this month. Again here is a very easy tutorial. I had a hard time finding Future Floor Wax initially until I found out they changed the name and now go under the name Pledge with Future Shine. Very easy and fun technique. Using the pearl ex gives the cards a great shimmer and the nice thing is that you don't have to seal the card with you are done. The floor wax does that for you!

This card was also for my Pearl Ex class. It was easier to do than the first because it has bigger open spaces in which to color. The scallop circle is done using my Cuttlebug and the "thank you" is raised with a pop dot.

This one is from the Misting with Markers class. I used Tapestry stamps for the background and a stamp that has 4 different sides on a wooden block. I can't remember where that one is from; sorry! The butterfly is stamped on purple cardstock and then cut out and adhered to the card.


I wish I could take a better picture of this card, but my camera isn't the greatest. These butterflies are so cute and I love the size of the card. It's 3x6". The scalloped circles are cut out with my Cuttlebug and the purple circles are punched out. The butterflies are stamped on white watercolor paper, colored and then cut out. I used a lid to one of my bowls to make the curved cut on the front of the card.


And now for my Pen Pal Cards!! I have a ton of pictures to take but here are the few that I have received recently. It's going to take me awhile to photograph them all.


This cute card is from a pen pal, Connie in Colorado! It's so cute! The little pink blossoms on the patterned paper are sparkly! Thanks Connie!!


This one is from Pearl in Montana. I love that little bee and the little details she added. Thanks Pearl!!!This one is from Bergen in Ohio. The ladybug looks like it was punched out. It's so cute! And then happiness is done on a separate piece of cardstock and adhered under the top layer. I'm pretty sure she used an oval punch on the top layer. Thanks Bergen!!!! And this card is from Liz in Texas! I love monkeys! He is super cute!!! Thanks Liz!!!!

I've been so busy!

Hi everyone! Boy it's been awhile! I've been so busy with work and classes, I don't have time to come down and check my email or post on my blog! I suck! LOL

I have several pics that I am going to post today so beware! LOL Thanks for checking in!!!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Happy Monday

Hi guys! Happy Monday! I've been going through all my favorite blogs and have added several to the list, so check 'em out when you have time. There are so many that I love that it takes me forever to go through them all!

I am going to take pictures of my new recipe box today. Gotta charge the camera again from last night.

Going to work on some samples again today. Hopefully I will remember to take pictures of them! I took 5 cards and a photo wallet to the store yesterday and forgot to take pictures of them first! DUH!! So anyway, will try not to brain fart today! LOL

Have a wonderful day all!!!! Thanks for checking in!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

To be young again....


Wouldn't you like to be a child again? Look at that face! I love this picture! This is the same night that we went to dinner on the waterfront. My two dd's are swinging together. I just love the look on her face. To be a child again..... Swinging like that as an adult makes me nauseaus!! LOL