Happy to be crafty again!

I was playing with an idea that I got from a craft store in Clovis, and decided I'd try it with the new Big Designer Buttons from SU! in the Holiday Mini. Using the Candy Cane buttons, as well as a few smaller from the designer buttons, I made one keychain, adding some beads and a purse charm I had. For the Deck the Halls keychain, I had to supplement with a few buttons I had in the "button Box" since I didn't have the right colors from the designer buttons, but as you can see, it is easy enough to work in the right color sceme. Lucky for me, I have a box of beads to play in, not everyone has a pink quartz elephant bead, but I'm sure you'll find something special!

They really come together fast, and might be a great class. You could also add Simply Adorned Baubles or Findings to make it really personal and special. Hope you enjoy playing with the possibilities. Happy to be back crafting again. I'll make an effort to add to my blog on a more regular basis! Ellen

Kendall gets her braces off! Yeah!

This is my wonderful friend, Kendall, who is 17 and does my window displays at All of Me. She also keeps me sane and helps in ways I can't even describe. Kendall has had braces on her teeth for awhile now, and today, TADA, they came off! I wanted to make her a card to celebrate, and here's what I came up with. I used the new Greenhouse Garden stamp set, with Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry, punched a scallop circle with another circle cut out of it. Inside, I used my trusty stapler to make "braces" on a sheet of acetate. And when you open the card, the braces are gone, leaving a happy smiling face, just like Kendall's.

Technique #4 Faux Silk

Okay, I just LOVE this. It is just SO elegant! I think I'll be using it a lot. Have been looking through my stamp sets to find appropriate choices. Thought I'd give a fond farewell to Pacific Point and the Hostess set. I stamped the butterfly in StazOn, then used the AquaPainter (something else I've just started using more and love) with Pacific Point and YoYo Yellow (my favorite color, just ask Sharon) Used Glorious Green and Old Olive on the leaves. The sentiment is one of the "under $10 stamps" from last year. By old catalog, hello new one! and for a whole year, woohoo! Anyway, here's the card

Technique #3 Brayered Roses

Well, I'm not even going to describe this one, since it's been done so well by Patty Bennett (http://www.pattystamps.com/) but I thought it turned out nice, and the others liked it as well! Plus my DH thinks I'm brilliant to be able to accomplish this! Didn't tell him how easy and quick it is. He doesn't need to know!

Technique #2- Bleaching

We moved on to the Bleaching technique. I learned something important. You need to make the "bleach pad" right before you are oing to use it. I thought I was SO prepared and made it a few hours before the class and put is in a sealed plastic container, but when I went to demonstrate the technique, nothing happened! So, there's my tip! You can't always prepare in advance.

We used Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa and the Fifth Ave Floral set. Lovin' this technique, I'll probably do some experimenting!

Say Hello to Buckwheat

My kitty wanted to say Hi! I went out this morning and he was having a siesta in the tree. I'm sure he wasn't scouting for birds(not him, yeah right!). He's a big guy, with the wimpiest cry you ever heard! But, he's a pretty good mouser, so we're grateful for that. He's also my Alarm-Cat. Wakes up about 5am every day (when the sun comes up) and stands on me screaming that it's time to feed the cat and let him outside. Usually, I can get back to sleep. But sometimes.....

Techniques Class #1

My Stampin group and I decided that we'd start a 6 x 6 techniques album. We started last week with 4 projects.

For the first, we used the One of A Kind set and Pixie Pink and Pink Passion. I cut the template from CS Vellum, using the circle scissors. I'm still having trouble getting it to work right each time, but think I have to sit and play with it with something less expensive than Vellum CS! Maybe practice makes perfect (I know many of you are thinking "I've never had a problem" and many are nodding thinking, "Hey, me too!) Anyway, it was fun, and such a nice result.