time for love

Hello friends!

I finally altered my Tim Assemblage Clock. 

It took me forever to get this to come together. 

I just was not happy with every idea I had until this one and I really love it!

Since February is the month of love that's the theme I went with.

 To start I took the glass out of the clock so I wouldn't mess it up when I painted it.

It was easy to take out, I slid the 2 little metal bracket thingys on the bottom over with my fingers to release the glass and I slid it out. Then I painted it with 2 coats of gesso. I sprayed a matt sealer on it, thinking it might keep the gesso from chipping off. You may not have to do that though.

I cut paper from the Fancy Pants Park Bench 6x6 pad and I cut the heart from Primas Anna Marie 6x6 pad and adheared it to the back of the clock. This piece comes right off the back of the clock to get inside.

I cut the cupid and heart from chipboard and covered them with glitter. I printed a picture of me and Terry in black & white and cut it and adhered it to the heart, but, it was so dark and it wasn't working for me, so I painted gesso over it and sprinkled on the glitter. Glitter makes everything better! I colored the white Kaiser Pearls with a Copic marker r27 to match the red heart.

I cut a burlap flower with the Tattered Florals die. I had some lace flowers in my stash that I made, you can see the tutorial here. I put the glass back in and glued all the flowers and cupid inside with a hot glue gun.

I colored some crinkle ribbon with some watered down Distress Stain in Fired Brick made a bow, hot glued it to the outside and put some heart trinket pins through it.

What are you making for the love month?    

You can get all of your love supplies at Inspiration Emporium and you can get 10% off your order using my coupon code ieirisgarden!

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Have a great day!

IE February Love

I'm baaaaaack!

Yep, can you believe it? I haven't blogged in so long, I haven't had the urge to do any paper crafting. 

I slowed down during CHA and it's been really hard for me to get back in the grove!

I've been holding out on my journaling for Dyan Reaveley's new couture stamps, but, Valentines day is almost here so I had to give it a go with her older stamps and stencils :)

Her stuff is always fun, I hope you like this page, my first in Dyan's new journal.

The Inspiration Emporium theme this month is love, sweet love.

I've decided starting this year, to use it up, use as many embellishments, ribbon, paper etc. on my projects as a I can. I have SO MUCH stuff, I really need to start using it. For instance, the red heart doilies and rhinestone hearts I've used here. I gave my granddaughters and niece tons of patterned paper that I've been hoarding, they'll put it to good use.

Now, it's your turn, go to the IE blog and upload your lovely creation for your chance to win $50 in goodies of your choice!

Remember to use my discount code ieiriegarden for 10% off your purchase!

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Supplies:

stamps - dyan's background basics (i used the dotted stamp on the background), word love, love struck lucy (i used the large and small heart stamps, I made the flowers using the heart stamps and the head, wings and legs and the circle stamps) su! rough edges alpha (for the sentiment) date stamp from an office supply store.

paper - dylusions journal 

ink - dylusions ink sprays in bubblegum pink, postbox red, melted chocolate, black and white pens, archival rose madder, monach orange, vermillion, jet black.

acces. - rock candy stickles, claudine hellmuth gesso, martha stewart pink ribbon, red paper valentine doilies, red heart rhinestones from Hobby Lobby, washi tape.

tools - paint brush, dylsions 5x8 dotted flower stencil (i used the stencil for the edges with gesso), spray water bottle, fine tip water brush(for painting the circles, hearts, wings, legs and face) I filled the pens with ink using the pipette.

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Thanks for stopping by!

I hope you have a sweet, sweet Valentine's Day!

 

Crafty Secrets Valentine Kit

Hello friends!

I've got some Craft Secrets to show you today. Everything is printed from the Crafty Secrets Valentine Kit., the card box, card, cupcake wrappers and cupcake picks.

I had fun with this set, isn't the little girl sweet? I found this bouquet of heart lollipops at Walmart for $1, I knew they would be perfect for this card and to use on the cupcakes. I punched the holes in the card to slip the sucker through. I don't have the long reach Crop-a-dile, so I used my awl to make the holes where I wanted them.

This is the card box. You print it on white cardstock, cut it out and its ready to use, so simple. I cut out the cupcake image and put red Damask vintage glass glitter around the heart. I adhered the cupcake with foam squares and made a bow with Martha Stewart ribbon and a vintage button. 

This is the back of the box,  I used a rosette for the closure and a velcro circle. The center of the mini rosette has Cotton Candy Sparkly Fluff on it.

This Valentine Kit would be cute for a little girls birthday party too, the invitations, everything you need for a party! You don't have to add the sucker, just print, score and fold the card, simple.

The back of the card.

The inside. I cut out the heart image to cover the holes and stick.

Another little image for the cupcake pick.

There is so many images in this kit, they are so vintage and so fun!

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We are supposed to have some winter weather moving in tonight. If we are going to have snow I wish we would have a bunch of it, 12-18", I don't want to mess around, LOL!

Y'all have a great day, and a lovely Valentines Day,  thanks for stopping by!

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Crafty Secrets Downloadable Valentine Kit & a give-away

Hello friends!

Have you seen the new downloadable Crafty Secrets  Valentine Kit Sandy is offering for only $5.00? It's really cute, the vintage images are adorable! There are some sweet Valentine cards, tags, paper, a box, cupcake wrapper and much more! All you need for a Valentine party, some cute cards, anything you want to create.

I printed off some papers and a tag sheet for my card.

I used my Alterations Mini Love Struck heart die to cut the hearts. I sewed them down the side and pinched the hearts together to give them some dimension. I added some heart stick pins and May Arts ribbon.

I cut out the sweet little clown image from one of the tags and one of the coupons  from the tag sheet. I distressed everything with my blending tool and Ranger Distress Vinatge Photo ink. The little heart bling on her hat is a Martha rhinestone and the red corner rhinestones are by Kaiser.

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It's give-away time!

It's been awhile since I've done a give-away. Sandy sent us a couple of the new Creating with Vintage Illustrations CD's, so, it's up for grabs along with a sheet of Love Mail Creative Scraps, Altered Fairies Creative Scraps, Babyland Vintage Cuts, Baby Boy Vintage Postcard Kit and Childhood Images & Journal Notes. That's enough goodies to keep you busy for awhile!

Leave a comment on this post and I'll pick a winner next Tuesday, Feb. 7th. Please leave your contact email in your comment so I can reach you if you're the winner.

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Terry had surgery on his hand today. His joint capsule was torn, the Dr. said the joint capsule holds the bones together from his wrist. He fixed that and put in a graft of some kind, not a skin graft, he said they may have to do that later after it heals. His main concern now was getting it healed. So, he'll be going back and forth to the Dr. for awhile, maybe another surgery and then there'll be physical therapy.

 He's very lucky.

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Vintage Cafe Card Challenge ~ chipboard heart

Hi friends, it's Vintage Cafe Card Challenge time and we are using chipboard hearts.

It's the perfect time to bring out my new Alterations Mini Lovestruck dies!

I sure do miss Tim Holtz's class, I know they are having a blast now at CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) in CA. I got to take his class when I went to stay with Joy a few years ago during CHA and I was amazed at his work and generosity! The whole gang is so nice!

OK, enough of the CHA envy :)

The gorgeous papers I used are from the Crafty Secrets Creating with Vintage Illustrations CD 2 and the Love Mail Creative Scraps.

I painted the chipboard pieces with Distress Crackle Paints in Worn Lipstick and Fired Brick. After it dried I added Rock Candy Distress Stickles to the angels wings and heart for a little sparkle.

I cut the bottom edge of the blue cardstock with my MFT Jumbo Scalloped die. The Creative Scrap piece is cut with my Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Rectangle die. 

The LOVE ticket is from the Creative Scraps. I distressed everything with Ranger Distress Antique Linen and Vintage Photo ink and my blending tool. I rounded the bottom corners with my corner punch. I added the tiny pom-pom trim with my Tiny Attacher. The buttons are vintage from my stash.

Now, it's your turn. Go the Vintage Cafe Card Challenge blog, upload your creation for a chance to win some fun supplies!

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I'm sad to say I'm stepping down from the VCCC design team. I've had a lot of fun on the team, Olga and Lana have been so nice, and it's been a fun experience working with a team filled with so many talented girls around the world.

I'm staying with my mom more, she has a lady that sleeps at her house 5 days a week, and nurses come to see her 3 or 4 times a week so, I'm trying to stay with her on the weekends as much as I can. I live an hour away from her and I work, I'm still figuring all of this out now. She'll be 87 Feb. 10th and she's needing more care now. My daughter is going to help out and stay with her too. I have so much going on now, it's hard for me to keep up. I've been in a terrible funk and haven't been in my craft room much at all. On top of everything else my back is acting up again, my Dr. talked about surgery, but, now is not the time for that. So, more pills to take, blech, LOL. My husband got hurt Tuesday at work, his hand got caught in a wire reel between the reel and the reel frame. We go see the Ortho hand specialist tomorrow, the ER Dr. said there will be skin grafting involved.

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Thanks for hanging with me I really appreciate your comments, they brighten my day.

Crafty Secrets Challenge ~ envy's

Happy Monday!

It's Crafty Secrets challenge time and Sandy has given us a fun challenge this month! She gave us a link to a video on making little sacks or gift bags out of envelopes! We had to choose a theme for our little bag and mine is I Love You Ü

Instead of making a gift bag I made a little bag of love notes.  

 I've had these envy's with foil along the edge for a long time, I got them at a flea market. I thought it would be fun to use one and have a little bling along the bottom of my little bag. I used 2 of the gold metallic corner stickers from Crafty Secrets on the top corners to match the foil on the envy.

All of the images I used are from the Love Mail Creative Scraps, the little inserts are to write love notes on. I topped each one with trims, vintage lace and pieces of paper doilies, then I added vintage buttons. I covered the chipboard heart with book text and distressed it and everything with Ranger Distress Vintage Photo ink and a blending tool. The little stamp is attached to the heart with my tiny attacher. I love this little tool, you can attach something with out having a big ole staple on it. I stuck 2 little trinket pin hearts behind the stamp image.

Go check out the other design team girls and see how they used their envy's, check out the Heartwarming Vintage Blog too, Sandy always has fun stuff going on over there!

Vicki Chrisman Team Leader

 Heidi Blankenship

Linda Duke

Michele Kovack

Julie Campbell

Amy Teets

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Fauve van Maanen

Gini Cagle

Jan Hennings

Tammy Roberts

Victoria Warren Mears

Viola Mahr

Heartwarming Vintage Blog

Have a great day!

OCL51 ~ Color Challenge ~ Bubs the Beaver

Good Morning! TGIF!!

Boy, did we ever dodge a bullet on the huge snow storm across the US! Our temp stayed just above freezing so we just had a cold rain here. North and west of us got ice and snow though. YUCKO.

Today is challenge day at Our Craft Lounge

and it's a color challenge! Check out The Lounge to get the details on the challenge.

I used the cute Bubs the Beaver set. This set would be so cute for the little boys in your life for Valentine's Day, don't you think? I made him a her for this pink, brown & white color challenge, it works I think. I paper pieced her and added some Crafty Sparkles on the heart and on her little beaver teeth.

I accordian folded some pink crepe paper on the card and added some stitching.
The sentiment says I chews you.


These are the Copic markers I used.

Supplies: Stamps - OCL Bubs the Beaver. Paper - Neenah Solar white, pink & brown cardstock, Bittersweet 6x6 pad by Basic Grey. Ink - Ranger Distress Walnut Stain, Antique Linen, Copic markers. Acces. - Rose Pink & Ice Crystal Crafty Sparkles, May Arts ribbon, Kaiser Pearls, vintage button, white string, paper doily, pink crepe paper. Tools - Woodgrain Texture Fade, Spellbinders Labels 8, stipple brush, sewing machine.
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I hope y'all have a great weekend!

Wonderful Pig ~ Crafty Secrets

Good Morning!

I have a whimsical Valentine to show you today.

This is the Wonderful Pig small stamp set by Crafty Secrets.
This little guy (or girl) cracks me up!

The set is not a Valentine set, but, it's easy to make any kind of set you want out of it.

I paper pieced the pig and gave him some angel wings from the Altered Fairies Creative Scraps. The cut out words on the heart and the xoxox across the bottom are from the Message on a Bottle small stamp set.

The chipboard heart and photo corners are from the Sweet Chips Chipboard Die Cut Shapes.

These are the Copic markers I used to color the stamp background behind the pig.

Supplies: Stamps - CS Wonderful Pig (I don't see it on Shop-a-tron yet, ask Sandy about it), Message on a Bottle. Paper - Neenah Solar White & pink cardstock by Bazzill, Bittersweet 6x6 pad by Basic Grey. Ink - Ranger Distress Walnut Stain, Worn Lipstick, Copic markers. Acces. - Sweet Chips Chipboard Die Cut Shapes, Altered Fairies Creative Scraps, glitter, white pom-pom trim, buttons, Martha bakers twine, Wilton's heart doily. Tools - Spellbinders Labels 4, double scalloped punch by EK Success, blending tool, Tim's Tiny Attacher.
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Have a great day!

Challenge 48-Supply ~ Our Craft Lounge ~ Fun News!

Good Morning!

Have you submitted your card for the Our Craft Lounge challenge yet?

Aren't you loving the new weekly challenges? I know I am!

Check out this weeks challenge...

Ribbon? Ahhhhh, I love me some ribbon, if you saw my stash you'd understand, LOL!
I have an on-going account with Cindy at Starlit Studio, LOL!

I used Granny for this Valentine card, I'm like her, Chocolate is my fave color!
I put some Sparkly Fluff on her pink houseshoes and platinum hair.

Her comphy chair is paper pieced. Copic markers I used.

Supplies: Stamps - OCL Granny's Truffles. Paper - Blush and vanilla cardstock, Basic Grey Ink - Ranger Distress Walnut Stain, Antique Linen, Copic markers. Acces. - Sparkly Fluff in Platinum & Cotton Candy Pink, May Arts ribbon, heart stick pins, tag from an office supply, Wilton's paper doilie from Walmart, Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist, pink Kaiser Rhinestones. Tools - MFT Jumbo Ric Rac die, Spellbinders oval die, blending tool.

Now, for my FUN news!

Inspiration Emporium has a design team now (Inspiration Team) and guess who they asked to be a team member? ME, I am beyond excited,WOOHOO! I love the Arevalo family, they are all just so sweet and Mrs. Arevalo makes a mean pot of oatmeal, mmmmmm.

Their store carries all of the in style paper and altered arts supplies. Oh, and did I mention all things by tim holtz, yeah babee!
You can visit the the blog, Inspiration Journal to see what the team and store are up to! Make sure you check the other DT members and their work, you're gonna be wow'ed!

Jay Arevalo- owner

Michelle Fowler~DT leaderBeate Johns
Kelly Booth
Kisa Peters
Linda Cain
Pam Hooten
Sherry Goodloe
Tammy Tutterow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Have a great day!

little valentines ~ our craft lounge

Good Morning!

Valentines Day is next month, can you believe it? That means Spring is just around the corner, YIPPEE!!! I'm so ready for Spring!

I've got some little Valentines to show you using the Our Craft Lounge Hearts & Hugs stamp set.
I did this fold, I'm not sure what it's called, a diaper fold maybe, I dunno. It's a great little candy holder though. You can make them any size, but, you have to start with a square piece of paper, I used 4" squares. Double sided is best but, you can use single sided and then cover up the white. I used a couple of the hearts in the set and stamped some of the sentiments inside them. This set is great for this because there are so many hearts and cute sentiments!

These little Valentines are perfect for kids to give to their friends or you can give them to co-workers and friends.

Supplies: Stamps - OCL Hearts & Hugs. Paper - confetti cream, Fashion District Mat Pad by Me & My Big Ideas, Early Bird Mini Deck by Cosmo Cricket, Webster Pages Seaside Retreat, Garden Gala & Nature's Storybook Collection Pack. Ink - Ranger Distress Walnut Stain, Tumbled Glass, Worn Lipstick, Bundled Sage, Dried Marigold. Acces. - buttons, Martha bakers twine. Tools - 2 1/2" square punch, Glue Dots, bone folder.

There are some fun new things going on over at The Lounge including a Guest Designer spot, you have to check it out!

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I hope you have a great day, thanks for stopping by!