All things grow with love

So on National Scrapbook Day (yes May 3 of this year) I went to a crop at my friend Lori's house. I was excited to be able to spend the day scrapping with my daughter and friends Lori and Mandie. My big goal for the day was to make my mom a present for Mother's Day. I had found this glass tray at the thrift and it was just SCREAMING to be altered!

After lining the tray with some gorgeous prima and MME papers and adding a touch of ribbon, I grabbed my new toy (the Fiskars Woodland tree shape template for the USX... courtesy of one Ms Rebecca Peck (lead Fiskateer to the stars ;) and some Prima cardstock and started a cutting. I love this template, the tree is fabulous for a 12 x 12 page and the leaves, and hearts are the perfect accent. I inked my edges (Ranger Vintage photo) and then stamped some random swirls on them (Autumn Leaves swirls and flourishes) and heat embossed with some clear embossing powder to add a bit more shimmer.) I then built my tree. Added a wonderful fall photo of the kids...All it needed was a title.

The letters I used were We R Memory Keepers Metal letters in Pewter. I carefully laid out the words only to find the box didn't have any letter "h" in it. Not a one. I tried to "alter" some didn't work. I was so disappointed. I had been envisioning giving this to my mom for Mother's day since I found the tray 2 months prior and here it was 8 days before and I couldn't finish...I tried other things...cutting them out with the Cricut, chipboard etc. But nothing looked as perfect in my mind as the pewter...

So I went on a hunt.... we looked online, I contacted WeR...apparently they were discontinued even though they were new they no longer made nor had any...I tried friends...nothing

So mom's day passed ...then came her birthday, I found something I thought I might do instead...but nothing looked as "perfect" in my mind as the original plan. I did tell her about it though... but she couldn't have it till it was DONE...(she's crafty she totally understands)

Then it happened.... Last week the shelves collapsed in my closet and I found "metal tags" that I had purchased a zillion and two years ago on clearance thinking they were cool and maybe someday I would use them (Ok now seriously I got them like in 03 on clearance I think in silver and gold and never used them but couldn't bear to toss them now I'm glad I did, score one for the scrap-pack-rats) So I roughed up the metal a bit and added some black stayz-on to darken it. Then cut it out using my trusty Fiskars Finger tip craft knife and micro tipped scissors (I used the letter "F" as a pattern.) I was quite pleased with the results....

Here it is without the tray (to avoid the glare)

And here it is with

Moral of the story: ya never know what you might use so save it??? Or maybe the help you need is right there with you all along, or maybe it's plain and simply I have too much stuff...nah that couldn't be it!

Supplies used: Fiskars USX shape template Woodland Tree, WeR MemoryKeepers Metal Letters-Pewter, Metal Tags-brushed silver, Autumn Leaves Stamps-Swirls and Flourishes, Ranger distress ink-Vintage Photo, Cardstock/Pattern Paper, Prima, My Mind's eye, ribbon, Xyron

The cat and the Hat

I cut up a book (I really did)
All because my friend is having a kid.

The nursery is adorned with Dr. Suess of all things
So naturally I had something crafty to bring!

I found this here "mobile" from a store called Ikea
and Shanon's banner inspiration gave me an idea.

I cropped and I cut favorite pictures from a book,
And layered with cardstock to give it the right look!

The shower's tomorrow I can't wait till she sees.
The gift that I brought her handmade by ME!

You can't tell from the photo because I had to stick it against the wall to get a better shot, but it spins and things are two sided. The turquoise ribbon looks 3-d swirly cause of how I wrapped it around the clear wire hangers.

Supplies used: hanging mobile photo frame from IKEA (got at a garage sale for FREE. )Various Dr. Suess books (bought at the thrift) , Assorted cardstock, Fiskars trimmer and finger tip craft knife. Ribbon.

Total cost for project..$2 (Oh and see the other photo for how it's being presented....also got for FREE (same sale...SWEET)

Basket Weaving 101

Lead Fiskateer Rebecca posted on Fiskateers about Gail. Gail is a newer fiskateer (#6870) with an amazing talent! Gail is a basket weaver. Her baskets are GORGEOUS! Now basket weaving isn't something I would normally try, BUT because of Gail's inspiration and the fact I found a "Basket Weaving 101" kit at the thrift for $2.99, I decided to give it whirl!

After opening the kit and believing the promise "YOU CAN WEAVE A BASKET" , I read the instructions, started soaking my reeds and dove right in. The process is some what simple to describe. Over, under, over, under...it's getting the basket started that is the problem. Your spokes (the pieces you weave around) need to be lined up and easily get out of line when you start. After restarting a few (ok 5) times I finally got the hang of things. I'm sorry I didn't get any "during" pictures of the process, I actually found it very relaxing and got really into what I was doing. A couple hours later I had a finished basket. I'm surprised it actually looks like a basket! I'm quite pleased with my first effort. (Granted it is a bit lopsided *grin*) So thanks Gail for the inspiration to try a new craft! It was a lot of fun!

Fun Thrify Finds!

I love the thrift! I really do. With a bit of imagination and some new paint you can find some real treasures! Yesterday's treasure was an old cassette holder. I paid $2 for it. What I wanted to do was turn it into a holder for my ink pads. It was a bit grungy, so fresh coat of white paint to match my craft desk and I have 30 ink pads at my fingertips.