Invictus

Because it's too cold to plant outdoors, I'm going to send some pansies in postcards to my friends in the  Yahoo! Postcard_xchange group.

Using the computer, I printed a poem directly onto the card stock then cut the paper - 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" for each postcard. Using the clear acrylic CTMH stamp from "My Life, Cricut Bundle" and "Love Life, Everyday Life", I put a frame around the title of the poem and added swirls along the side and bottom of the card.

The CTMH clear acrylic stamps make it easy to add a stamped image right where you want it.

A few cards were stamped with the "Heartfelt Birthday Wish" CTMH stamp. Watch this video to see how two tones are used to highlight a stamped image. 



I stamped the pansies using two dye ink colors.  The Stamp-a -ma- jig helps with placing the second color in the correct spot when using a stamp that is not clear.

A tool helps when stamping with wood mounted stamps and creating a two-toned image.

Image has been stamped twice.

I used a marker to ink all four sides to create a border.

Ended up with 20 handmade postcards that will be mailed out as part of the March postcard exchange.

Repackaging Mint Patties

Peppermint patties and thin mints are two of my favorite treats.  To commemorate a day with friends and family, I'm adding a little splash of paper crafting to wrapped patties.

To make these, I used the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to quickly cut out 60 circles (settings: 1 3/4" of  on page 21) on card stock.   I stamped them with the text using blue ink then used a marker to ink the edges.

I added a stamped image of a baby bottle then used a light blue marker to color the bottle top. 

These were affixed to the peppermint patties with glue dots. It took about an hour to make 60 party favors.

This favor used a very simple shape from the Art Philosophy Cricut  Collection.  This video gives an overview of all the treats tucked inside this cartridge.

Dreaming of Kenya

As part of a monthly card swap with very creative women cross the United States, I am creating eight greeting cards which use a recycled material and the same rubber stamp image more than once. After hearing President Obama deliver his first State of the Union address, I decided to use one of the colorful and detailed postage stamps adhered to an envelope sent to me from Kenya.

Technique. Gently peel the postage stamp from the envelope. Glue to coordinating cardstock then ink the edges. Glue to another piece of matching card stock then trim the edges with decorative scissors (postal ridges).

For the main image, I stamped a woman's face (Embossing Art) on a scrap of glossy white card stock and layered onto two pieces of card stock. I used Copic markers to add color to the image.

My favorite item to recycle are pages torn from books written in foreign languages. I cut this one to 5" x 4" then inked the edges of the page before gluing to the card front. I used a text stamp to randomly stamp "dream" (Inkadinkado) on the front of the card before adding the framed woman's face then the framed postage stamp.

I stamped "Dreams Come True"(Inkadinkado) on scrap glossy paper and embossed with clear ink. I used a blue Copic pen to color the text. I used Stampin Up window punch to cut out the embossed text then glued it to the front of the card.

Because I have only one envelope with Kenyan postage stamps, I am looking forward to discovering what may be used for recycling into cards for this month's card swap.

Mail Makeover

BEFORE

AFTER

Through participation in several mail art swaps, I've been introduced to different methods for reusing envelopes. Instead of starting with a brand new envelope to create a gift bag or send a letter, I re-use envelopes I receive in the mail. This approach allows me to use up scrap pieces of paper and reduce the amount of envelopes being tossed into the recycling bin.

Technqiue: To make this gift bag, you begin by re-sealing the envelope. For this one, I used a glue stick to keep the flap down. To form a gusset type sack, you will need to score 1/4 inch from the edge along the top (where the envelope flap is located) and along the bottom. Fold and make a sharp crease along the score lines to form the center fold which will be tucked into the envelope to make the gusset.

I used pages from a discarded French novel to cover a portion of the envelope. Scraps of patterned scrapbook paper cover the top. I used the Cricut - Calligraphy letters to cut Happy Birthday and the star from white glossy card stock. With Copic markers, I added color to the die cuts then glued them to the front of the envelope. The die cuts help cover places where the two papers did not meet perfectly.

Use decorative scissors to make the opening for the gift items. Add a bit of ribbon to make it more festive. To close the gift bag, I put a small amount of repositionable glue on the opening. The ribbon adds a decorative touch; however, it is not needed to close the gift bag.

Here's a link to a video which demonstrates how to create a "bagelope": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj3Q54QtLgY

Obstacles

Several radio talk shows discuss the delays in getting water, food, and medical assistance to survivors in Haiti. NPR identifies numerous obstacles.


Trying to eliminate relatively insignificant obstacles at home, I sorted through my craft storage and found a Santa door hanger my mother had purchased with possible plans to give to one of her granddaughters. There were other similar items on which she had written "Elisia" and on another "Michele".

I flipped the Santa hanger to see if a name had been written on the back. I saw the possibility of an elephant trunk but not a name.

Using acrylics, stamps, walnut ink, and dimensional glue I created a picture frame. It holds a photo of my mom and her first grandchild, Cassandra (aka Grandma's Princess). The photo was removed from a frame that had hung in her foyer for more than 17 years. My mother collected elephants. I don't know why, but she did.