Paper flowers with Kiwi Lane Designs templates

I posted a video on youtube on how to make 3D flowers using KLD templates.

Card Making Spree

The challenge make as many cards as I can with my old (super old) stash of papers from a cardmaking kit club I used to belong to and a few sets of stamps...nothing else EXCEPT my Kiwi Lane Designs templates of course. I have the card sized templates and they made this challenge a breeze. See for yourselves.

I made 42 cards in about a week.

Mini Album Swap

I am currently working on a holiday mini for a swap, but I just remembered I never shared the mini I made for a summer album swap.

I chose to use this brightly colored Mango Frost DCWV paper that was completely out of my comfort zone. The mini had chipboard covers and 6x6 page protectors inside. I used my KLD templates (card sized) throughout the book.

Using up stash = priceless

I made this simple, fast and easy layout with the help of my KLD templates and some great photos of my nieces and nephew. I was glad to finally get these pictures in an album and doubly glad to use up some of my MME papers. I even managed to use a couple Martha Stewart flowers that I bought when she first released her line at Michaels about four years ago.

Templates used: Chestnut Drive 3A, Aspen Court 3B, Abbie Road 2B, Tiny Floral 2

Trying to get organized

Getting close to the new year, that time for resolutions. I start I'd get a jump start or catch up on years of failed resolutions rather, and get to trying to tame my craft room now. I have a library card catalog which I love. It sits behind me and things are at my fingertips (In a way), but still I hate digging through drawers and containers to find that perfect embellishment.

So finally after years of being too cheap, after jumping on other storage bandwagons, I have decided to get a ScrapRack I have put it off long enough, I think this will be just the thing I need to keep my embellishments accessible, and therefore usable. My hubby is getting it for me as an early Christmas present and I cannot wait! I ordered some file folder pockets (like the kind they use to hold legal case files) to start sorting my stuff using Tiffany Spaulding's system (the creator of the ScrapRack).

My card catalog

The ScrapRack

Scrapbook pages as gifts

I like to make framed layouts instead of just giving a plain photo. I've made a few lately for my grandmother, my mom and my mother in law. I quickly snapped pics before shipping them off. (sorry the pics aren't great. I need to remember to take the photo before framing and to use my canon instead of my phone.)

 Same picture - two different ways.

This one was for my mom. Didn't it come out cute?

How I design a layout

I am working on a layout, using my Kiwi Lane templates of course! At the rate I'm going I will be done with my entire backlog of  photos. I am a sketcher, before I discovered Kiwi Lane I used to take my pencil and paper and sketch out designs. Now I use the templates to visually design right on my mat. I love this hands on approach and it is taking me less time to create.

Here's a peek at my latest layout design.

Project Life 4x6 cards

I signed up for a 4x6 card block swap on Splitcoast Stampers. These little cards were so much fun to make and they will come in handy for Project Life scrapping or quick pages. I used my Kiwi Lane templates (the card bundle & tiny accessories) which made it all come together so easily.

Supplies: paper - MME, K&Co, American Crafts; rhinestones - Wanna Scrap; stamps - Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday, Unity Stamp Co., CTMH; flowers - Prima Marketing, inks - Memento, Prima Chalk inks, Colorbox cat's eye ink

Halloween Treat Bags

A little late but Hurricane Sandy postposed Halloween here in New Jersey for a bit. I made these bags for a swap on YPP. I used my Kiwi Lane Design templates - just my absolute favorite tools of late - and some Heidi Swapp and Colorbok paper from my stash. Oh and of course some Primas...don't make much without them.

Mini made with my stash

Finally updating my blog.

This is a mini I made with tons of primas from my stash. I just recolored them with Lindys and Glimmer mist.

Martha Stewart Paint

So Martha Stewart just came out with this new paint line that is sort of amazing. It is one paint that works on multiple surfaces. I definitely like the idea of using one paint for glass painting, fabric painting, wood and paper. And the colors are yummy.

So I have 160 paints now - not sure how many total. There are different finishes: satin, glitter (which is really sparkly), pearl, metallic, and high gloss. I got my old paint spinner (that I never really used) out of the garage and it fits them all perfectly. I organized them by color and they are right at arm's length.

Perfect Glimmer Mist Storage

When I first saw the informercial for the Swivel Store I knew I had to have it. I thought it would be the perfect solution for my glimmer mists. My local Walmart had them in stock, so I didn't have to order it. It works wonderfully.

I made a video showing all the details.

Making Memories Photo album box

My mom "commissioned" me to spruce up these Making Memories photo album boxes for the Women of the Year nominees at her church. Instead of just giving them a framed certificate, she slid a mini certificate in the front of the box. Now they get a keepsake of day and something they can use for years to come.

I used my cricut and cut some chipboard flourishes (I think Home Accents). Then I painted them with Ranger gold paint dabber and some walnut stain distress ink. The red ribbon was too bright so I grunged it up a bit with walnut stain distress ink, water, and walnut gold glimmer mist. I added the clusters of paper roses and leaves and VOILA! I think they turned out pretty cute.

Cricut Message Board Swap Mini for Sandra

Finally got a chance to put the pics up from this swap mini I made for Sandra. It is 8x8 chipboard...all Cosmo Cricut and Prima.

Vintage Tag Swap on Two Peas

I had so much fun with this swap...I made there...Love, handmade florals, and vintage kitchen.

For the Love tags I used Martha Stewart heart shaped coasters that I painted inked and glimmer misted. I handmade the flowers and I used some starburst sprays and used a vintage looking bead for the centers. I cut gold swirls on my cricut and used some amber/brown/gold beads for the stick pins. I added some feathers and some red lace...and stamped the word LOVE on the coaster.

The handmade flower tag I used a page from a vintage book (published 1920s), stickles, a pearl top pin, tons of mists, paints and inks, buttons, ribbons, and stamps...so fun. I made the cream flower with my cricut.

The vintage kitchen tag - I used again mists, paints and inks, chipboard embossed with cuttlebug, stamps, primas and my Martha Stewart double scallop border punch.

Another Flower Swap for YPP

For the vintage theme flowers..I used kraft paper and cut butterflies with my cricut and embossed them in my bigshot and used them instead of leaves on my flowers.

Birthday Cards

Made these for my mother in law and grandma for their birthdays. Used Tattered Angels Chalkboard mist, KandCo paper, kraft cardstock, chipboard, Imaginisce stamp, paper flower

Cricut Messageboard swap album for Lisa

Just wanted to share the mini I made for Lisa from our Cricut messageboard swap. She just had a baby and I am hoping she can use this mini to put pictures of her in it.  I used tons of swirls and handmade flowers that I made using my cricut in this one. Did a video too...

October Flower Swap on YPP

I am so behind on posting to my blog. I have this backlog of pictures and videos that I really need to get up.

So I am going through the photos on my phone looking for more pictures of my favorite soap actor I had the pleasure of meeting in October, and I come across these picture I took from the flower swap for October over at Your Paper Pantry. They are bad quality because my phone is better at texting than picture taking...but I think you all can get the jist.

The theme for October was breast cancer awareness/pink. The large daisy like flower is made with like 6 layers and that I painted, inked, stamped, and chalked..I wanted it to have a petal soft looking texture. The centers are Asian coins with a dab of stickles. Then I made a few smaller flowers out of this vintaged patterned kraft paper which I glimmer misted in Vintage Pink and I put pearl centers. The green card the floweres were packaged on was embossed with my Sizzix Pink Ribbon set (it had texture plates, a die, and an embossing folder with proceeds being donated to breast cancer research.)

Birdcage mini

So I am a part of a new blog devoted to mini albums, since I am quite addicted to making them. Our theme for the month of September was Birds and Birdcages. So I pulled out my Mariposa paper (finally) and got to work. I had a lot of fun making this one. I used library pockets, which was cool, since that is my profession, and tons of Moonshadow Mists (by Lidy's Stamp Gang) and pearlescent watercolors. I am going to do a video where I go into all the details for this one. And if anyone is interested in making a similar one...we are giving away a kit to do just that on Mini Book Anonymous. Be sure to follow that blog. The team is so talented.