2012 Artisan Design Team Projects for January - Part 2

Where does the time go? Can't believe I am already gearing up for Valentine's Day! It seems that each and every year goes by more and more quickly! What's up with that??

For my second Artisan project this month I decided to use this shadow box frame. I have had this thing forever!! (I actually have another one, too ... a friend of mine was cleaning out her crafty supplies and brought me what she had to see if I could use it. Like, I was gonna say NO??? NOT!!) I picked out several of my favorite family pictures from the last year or so and resized them to fit on 2" mats.

Closeup #1 ... upper-left corner ...

Closeup #2 ... upper-right corner ... my favorite element on this WHOLE project it the mat behind my son's graduation picture ... it's the little card/tag that the ribbon from the Artisan Designer Kit was on ... FUN!!

Closeup #3 ... lower-left corner ... more banner tags!! LOVE these, too!

Closeup #4 ... lower-right corner ... I even found a spot for the flower "bouquet" from the Artisan Designer Kit, too!

So, there ya have it!! Now I just have to find a fun place to hang this!!

I have one more Artisan project to share with you on Friday ... see you soon!

Stamps: Ciao, Baby
Paper: Real Red Core'dinations Cardstock, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Basic Black, More Amore DSP
Ink: Read Red
Accessories: Typeset Alphabet Dies, Hearts A Flutter Framelits Dies, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Petite Curly Label Punch, Artisan Designer Kit, Pearl Basics, Linen Thread, Sanding Block, 12"x12" Shadow Box Frame

2012 Artisan Design Team Projects for October - Part 1

The fall is already just flitting on by. I LOVE the colors, the smells ... the SOUP!! (I'm a self-professed soup FIEND!) And it's already time to share my Artisan projects for the month. I'm LOVING the Autumn Accents Bigz Die ... Leaves, leaves and MORE leaves!! Put it together with the coordinating Wonderfall Stamp Set and life is GOOD!

I have had the same framed art piece hanging in my kitchen FOR.EV.ER!! I was excited when I decided to update it a little to go with the goodies I received this month ... and this is what I came up with (to be honest, the trickiest part about this was mixing all my paints together to come up with a suitable brown ... isn't it always the way that when there is one color that you NEED, it's the only one you don't HAVE??!)

It is already happily hanging in my kitchen ... instead of putting the word "FALL" across the leaves in big letters (which was my FIRST inclination!), I just added the simple sentiment of "gratitude" ... that way I can have it hanging all year long as a reminder to be grateful!

Stamps: Wonderfall, Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Word Window Punch, Linen Thread, Early Espresso 1/8" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Pearl Basics, Brushed Bronze Designer Buttons, Dimensionals, Frame

Falling Leaves ... and Freaks!

It's time for my FAVORITE time of year ... FALL!! And the Freaks are doin' it in style, baby!! You should have just come from the splendiferous blog of Gretchen Barron ... WOWZA!! Her style is sooo wonderful, don'tcha think??








For any of you have are regular followers here, you know I've been playing a LOT with framed art ... particularly ones that have letters on blocks in them, like this one!! Being such a "FREAK" about Halloween, I KNEW I was gonna create this quite some time ago. And given my blog name, it's pretty appropriate, don'tcha think??










Lookie my Witchipoo!!! I {{heart}} witches!!







And this broomstick makes me all kinds of happy ... the broom bristles are actually created with the owl punch (shut UP!) and the new Simply Scored tool. Saw this idea somewhere else a while back and just HAD to make one of my own!! And the Candy Corn Witch??? Nichole Bair did an awesome swap recently with that great idea in there!! LOVE it!!

Stamps: Dark and Dreary, Wicked Cool, House of Haunts (Bats were created with Spooky Bingo Bits in MDS)
Paper: Frightful Sight DSP (printed from MDS), Cajun Craze, Old Olive, More Mustard Whisper White, Regals Patterned Paper, Basic Black
Ink: Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Basic Black, White Gel Pen
Accessories: Serif Essentials Bigz Dies, Spiderweb, Perfect Polka Dots and Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Folders, Wide (Large) Oval Punch, 1" Square Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Petite Pennants Builder Punch, Rhinestone Basics, Old Olive Scalloped Ribbon, Whisper White Bakers' Twine, Linen Thread, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals, 11"x14" Picture Frame

Thanks to my good friend, Kim Smith, for loaning me some fun stamps to play with (I am woefully understocked when it comes to fall/Halloween stamps this year ... WEIRD!! I'm gonna hafta FIX that!!) Hugs, Kimmie!!

After making this card with my "borrowed" stamps, methinks they are gonna find their way into my own private stash VERY soon! (Don't worry, Kimmie ... I WILL give yours back ... eventually!)

Stamps: Gently Falling, Petite Pairs
Paper: Very Vanilla
Ink: Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Peach Parfait, More Mustard, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
Accessories: Soft Suede Taffeta Ribbon, Pearl Basics, Dimensionals, Sponges

And last, but not least ... a medallion for the fall. More thanks to Kim (again!!) for teaching me how to make these medallions. Not as hard as you would think. Actually kinda fun!!

Stamps: Day of Gratitude
Paper: More Mustard, Pool Party, Spice Cake DSP
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Simply Scored Tool, Lace Trim, Triple Layer Blossom Punch, More Mustard Button, Linen Thread, Stripes and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folders, Early Espresso Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

Next?? Go check out Connie Babbert!! She is a stampin' GENIUS!!!

CHOCOLATE-Y Framed Art

Can you stand yet ANOTHER framed art "quilty square" thing?? I am still waiting for a friend of mine to take a picture of the"Family Frame" we made during our showbox swap at Convention using the Mocha Morning paper. But, while I have been waiting, I decided to make this gift for some friends of mine ...

They moved into our neighborhood about 8 years ago to open a little chocolate shop a couple of blocks from my house. We live int the oldest residential neighborhood in Salt Lake, which is why we are one one of the ONLY ones that still has zoning for business establishments amongst the houses (which I LOVE!). Their little chocolate shop has been such a wonderful little community gathering spot. Such a great place!!

They long-ago outgrew their space. Finally, they were able to secure a building that had housed the most wonderful little grocery/meat market that had been there for over 80 years. Sadly, the owner (who was in his 80's) died a few years ago. The building has sat depressingly empty since then.

UNTL NOW!! As of last Friday, the store reopened as the new location for our neighborhood's little chocolate shop!! HOORAY!! (and it is also fun to note that my son #2 happens to work there ... as do many of the kids from the neighborhood). I decided to make this little frame as a sort of "new store" warming gift. My kids thought I was kinda weird for doing it (what do THEY know??!!??), but I don't think so ...

And the BEST part is that the little shop is now even CLOSER to my house!! (Instead of being 2 1/2 block away, it is now only 1 1/2 blocks). And it is UPHILL ... which means I have to EXERCISE to get there ... which means I am justified in buying pretty much ANYthing I want since I have earned it with the "hike" up the hill ... and did I mention that they make the most DELICIOUS milkshakes, sundaes AND FROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE??? See????

Have a great day!!

Stamps: Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Early Espresso, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake
Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Lacy Ribbon Border Punch, Small Oval Punch, Create a Cupcake Punch, Scallop Square Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Slit Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Fluerettes, In Color Polka Dot Brads, Rhinestone Stickers, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Scallop Polka Dot Ribbon, Wisteria Wonder and Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots and Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Folders, Embosslits Scalloped Heart of Hearts Die, Old Olive Button, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Plantin Schoolbook Cricut Cartridge (you could use the Serif Essentials Bigz Die ... I don't own that ... and Jan took hers back to Michigan!!)