Thursday, September 30, 2010

GCD Studio's September Inspiration... Jewelry

Hello everyone... its Windy back again to share my project for this month's GCD Studio's theme: jewelry! While in jewelry mode, I made a couple of ChipArt bird charms for a beaded bracelet. I stamped a bird shaped chipboard with the Iron Works and the Mini Shapes heart stamp, painted it and then backed the chipboard with fabric and sealed it with a glaze.
That's it... just a quick post with a way to get crafty with the ChipArt Tool. Thanks for visiting today!

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Monday, September 27, 2010

Mark Your Calendar...

Any plans for World Card Making Day? I'll be celebrating here all day... be sure to come back and visit because I have a few extra special things planned! And if you want to join in on the fun and be a part of the World Card Making Day Blog Tour just visit HERE to sign up. Sweet stuff! 
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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Autumn


Autumn by William Morris
Laden Autumn here I stand
Worn of heart, and weak of hand:
Nought but rest seems good to me,
Speak the word that sets me free.


Hope your 1st day of autumn tomorrow is a good one (and a little more fall-like than today... it was 92 degrees here;)!
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Image from The Graphics Fairy

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Holiday Color Combos Galore

Hello all! Thanks so much for joining me over the weekend for Paper Crafts Magazine's blog hop to celebrate the release of Holiday Cards & More, Vol. 5. The big winner has been announced today over at Paper Crafts Connection, so click over to see if you are the lucky duck that won a whole lot of holiday product:)
I just loved reading all of your responses to my question about what holiday colors you would be using this year... it was impressive to hear that so many people have already started their holiday cards... or that you already knew what color scheme you would be using. 

The top color combo mentioned is the traditional favorite of red & green... many of you expanded it to add kraft, cream or white, while others loved it with a metallic like silver or gold. I guess for most there is nothing that better than those nostalgic colors. I love them... they remind me of my grandma's house all decked out during the holidays with those big old fashioned red & green colored bulbs... I love those kind of memories:)

The second most popular combo seemed to be a variation of blue combined with white, silver and/or gold. And don't forget about kraft... that is defiantly gong to be very popular this year (which makes me happy because it is one of my favorite crafting products). It seems that many of you are pairing it with some of your favorite colors and putting a holiday spin on it... so fun!

Other cool trends included pink with variations of green ranging from lime to olive. And one that I particularly like is red, blue & white (or a variation of each) with kraft or another neutral like cream.
Other fun ideas that were shared include:
Aqua, Red & White or Kraft
Navy, Red or Green with Silver, Cream or Kraft
Burgundy, Cream & Dark Green
Light or icy Greens, Blues, Purples & Pinks
Pink, Aqua & Lime
Pink with various colors of Blue
Forms of Blue & Green
Teal & Silver
Blue, Cranberry & Cream
Forms of Blue with Brown or Kraft
Black and White
Black with Red or Maroon & Cream or Silver
Black, Ivory & Gold
Brown, Red, Cream
White & Kraft (I'm definitely trying this one;)
... for many others you can check out the comments section HERE.


Now on to the winner from all comments left here... Congratulations to Jaclyn Miller who said:
You mean I have to choose just one color combo? Oh man, well it depends on what stamps I use, but I tend to be traditional with deep greens and reds for most cards and blues for snowy items.
By Jaclyn Miller on Paper Crafts Magazine Presents: The 12 Designers o... on 9/17/10

Jaclyn, please email me at windyrobinson@gmail.com with your mailing address so we can send you your copy of Holiday Cards & More, Vol 5! Congratulations again!

Thanks for stopping by today...have a terrific Tuesday!

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Products used: patterned paper (GCD Studios, Pink Paislee), cardstock (Bazzill & ANW Crestwood), ribbon (Michaels Stores Inc.), twine (Martha Stewart Crafts), bells (Darcie), postcard (October Afternoon), thread (Coats & Clark).  

Friday, September 17, 2010

Paper Crafts Magazine Presents: The 12 Designers of Christmas Blog Hop

Hello and welcome! Today I'm here to celebrate Paper Crafts Magazine's Holiday Cards & More, Vol. 5, a fabulous holiday issue filled full of ideas & inspiration for everything from holiday cards and gift wrap to decor and gifts.

This issue is essential for any holiday crafter... my kids have even thumbed through it and marked cards that they want to make for friends and family this Christmas.  The girls are always "helping" me when I break out my crafting supplies and while working on this issue we had a blast listening to holiday music, burning our pine scented candles... even breaking out the hot chocolate, marshmallows and candy canes. We love to play... and there is nothing better than playing pretend Christmastime! The girls and I are now ready to do it all over again in mass to get our family holiday cards (and more) ready... are you?

On today's blog hop 11 designers and I will share projects made with patterns from three projects in Holiday Cards & More, Vol. 5. Here is my take on Becky Olsen's Holiday Plaid Gift Bag on page 104... this darling little gift bag is super easy recreate!
Visit Paper Crafts Connection to see all of the original inspiration projects plus you can get the patterns HERE.

If you want a chance to win big... REALLY BIG (seriously, check out the prize over at Paper Crafts Connection if you haven't had a chance to yet... one lucky person will win 12 holiday collections... wow!) simply hop to all of the 12 designer's blogs plus Paper Crafts Connection and Moxie Fab World and leave a comment on each... that's 14 chances to win some serious loot...

PLUS I have one copy of Holiday Cards & More, Vol. 5 to give away to one commenter on my blog...  just leave a comment telling me what color combo you would use for your holiday cards (even if you are not making them;)... do you love the traditional red & green or something else? All comments must be posted by midnight (MDT) on Sunday, September 19. The grand prize winner will be announced on Paper Crafts Connection on Tuesday, September 21 and the winner of a free issue of Holiday Cards & More, Vol. 5 will be announced here... good luck!

Have fun and don't forget to visit all of the Designers of Christmas for more fabulous inspiration!
Take care!
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Products: patterned paper (Ode to Joy: Christmas Past Collection by Graphics 45); gems strips and ribbon (Michaels Stores, Inc.), rose trim & chipboard (BoBunny), jingle bells (Darcie)

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Pendant Embellishments

Hi everyone! Pendants, baubles and jewelry are defiantly a hot trend right now and here is an idea for using chipboard scraps and the ChipArt tool to make pendant-like embellishments for your cards and pages. 

To create pendant:
1) spray small piece of scrap chipboard with glimmer mist or spray ink 
2) de-boss design with ChipArt stamp
3) dry with heat tool
4) age with distress ink
5) punch hole
6) apply high gloss glaze
7) allow to air dry and add jump rings
Here are a few other ideas...
just imagine the different variations and possibilities...  Have a good one!

Products: patterned paper (Lydia collection & Christmas Sleigh collection by GCD Studios), stamps (Scallop Titles, Birds, Mini Shapes, & Flourish), sentiments (Homespun Chic word strips), ribbon (Michaels Stores Inc), twine (May Arts), jump rings (Vintage), ink (Ranger), spray (Key Lime Pie Glimmer Mist), glaze (Judikins Diamond Glaze), other (thread and office tags)

Monday, September 13, 2010

Halloween Treat Bags...

Hello... just dropping in quickly to share these little treat bags...
... I really think they turned out well. A great mixture of Graphic 45 and Pink Paislee patterned papers.... stamps from Hero Arts... very sophisticated, but fun... perhaps I'll save them for boo gifts for MY neighborhood friends next month:) Anyone have a good idea for a grown-up boo treat?
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Friday, September 10, 2010

The Holidays are Coming...

Hey all! The holidays are right around the corner and Paper Craft's special issue: Holiday Cards & More, Vol 5 comes out on Tuesday! Today Cath has one of my projects up at the Moxie Fab World... check it out... and she's giving away a couple of copies of the magazine!

I also have some exciting news... I will be joining Glue Dots' Design Team, as a Glue Dottess (what a clever name). So there will more fun projects to come and many new team members to add to my sidebar and keep up with... I'm sure many more great ideas will abound ahead.

On my to do list are a lot of projects to finish and a house to clean so I'll be back next week. Have a great weekend!
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Wednesday, September 08, 2010

So excited for the new day ahead...

Hello... I hope you all are doing well. We officially made it though our first day of Kindergarten and preschool yesterday. What a relief to put that one behind us... it was a long day but at the end of it I was one proud mama... Hadley & Campbell both set off with their 3 and 5 year old independence. I snapped this photo of Campbell on the bus (with her daddy's reflection in the bus window... total accident but cool huh?)... look at that smile... she is so ready and excited for the new day ahead...
So I'm really dropping in today to share a card that I made as a contributor for Valerie Salmon's Got Sketch? blog.  You can check out Sketch 103 over at the blog... its a good one! I'm kind of stuck on yellow lately... its been so bright and sunny around here that it has been rubbing off on my crafting:)
Lastly, thanks for all of your super kind comments about my pendant for GCD Studio's blog hop... you all are awesome. When Heidi posts our winners over at the blog I'll be sure to link you up.  Take care!
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Products: cardstock (kraft/Papertrey Ink); patterned paper (Lydia Collection: Sunny Brocade by GCD Studios), brads & butterfly (GCD Studios), ribbon (Michael's), lace (American Crafts), sentiment (Mega Mixed Messages/Papertrey Ink), medallion stamps (Casablanca/Technique Tuesday), buttons (Papertrey Ink),  flower (Prima)

Monday, September 06, 2010

GCD Studios Jewelry Blog Hop

Hello all! Welcome to my blog and thanks so much for joining us today! (If you are just joining us and don't want to miss any of the fun, you can start at the top of the blog hop list HERE.)  Its a fun day because GCD Studios Design Team members are all sharing projects using the Melody Ross ChipArt Metal Pendant Kits... there will be great ideas and inspiration on every blog... fun huh? One of the best parts... 10 prizes along the way! So visit as many of us as you can and comment on each blog because the more you comment & hop... the better your chances are to win;)So here is my pendant... so fun & easy to make... possibilities & customization... endless. 

To make pendant:
1) peal off the top layer chipboard rectangle and replace it with patterned paper
2) adhere chipboard to pendant, cover with layer of glaze and dry with heat gun for crackled look
3) de-boss chipboard with stamp
4) color chipboard with Glimmer Mist, dry and adhere to pendent 
5) embellish with buttons, twine and sentiment

Now hop on for more great ideas;) Your next stop is the very talented Rita Barakat's blog: Let's Embellish.

Take care! 


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Products: *all products by GCD Studios unless noted* pendant (ChipArt Rectangle Pendant Kit), patterned paper (Artsy Urban Collection: Butterflies), glaze (JudiKins Diamond Glaze), chipboard (ChipArt birds), stamp (ChipArt retro stars), Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (electric blue), buttons (Artsy Urban Vintage Buttons), sentiment (Homespun Chic Word Strips)

Saturday, September 04, 2010

Decisions... decisions...

Today we took our first visit to the fabric store to start thinking about Halloween costumes. We went in thinking rainbow clown (Campbell) and clown with a rainbow skirt (Hadley)... we came out thinking... fairy with a cape (Campbell) and rainbow princess with a "BIG, BIG rainbow sparkly skirt" (Hadley). Obviously Hadley was inspired by what she saw there... I'll keep you updated on what they want next week.  Until then... here's a little Halloween treat tag for all of the girly girls out there.

To make tag:
1) make tag from cardstock 
2) adhere patterned paper to tag 
3) stamp witch and sentiment 
4) color hair, boots, face and broom with markers/ink 
5) stamp witch again on patterned paper and on black cardstock, cut  out pink dress and black hat and adhere to tag 
6) embellish with gems, twine and bow
* tip if your sentiment stamp does not fit on your project the way it is originally designed, don't be afraid to cut it up and re arrange it to fit your project. This sentiment used for this tag was originally all  on one line


I just love that little witch stamp, but she screams... "I'm bucking the system and wearing pink today" to me. Thanks for stopping by & happy Saturday!
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Cardstock: (white) Papertrey Ink, (beetle black) Bazzill Basics, Patterned paper: (Pink Redwork and Petite Blossom, Homespun Chic collection) gcd Studios, Stamps… clear: (Witch/Blackbird Stamps) My Minds Eye, (Happy Halloween, Clear Design) Hero Arts, Ink…pigment: (Onyx) Tsukineko, dye: (mustard seed, Distress Ink), Color media…markers: (E37 Sepia, E00 skin white, 0 colorless blender/Ciao Marker) Copic, Accent: (crystal/flourish) Zva Creative, (crystal/lines) Michael's Stores Inc.Fibers: (black, 3/8" satin ribbon) Michael's Stores Inc, (black & white, baker's twine) The Wrappery
Finished size: 3 1/8" x 6 5/16"

Thursday, September 02, 2010

Mark your calendar...


Home on Monday? Don't miss GCD Studios jewelry blog hop!
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What We Love... Hats

 We are shaped and fashioned by what we love  ~Goethe
Here is a double page layout that I made of the girls last year... we just bought Hadley a new "big girl" bike helmut for bike days at school... and it reminded me of this layout. The inspiration for this was actually Hadley's 1st bike helmet... we bought it for her when she was about a year and a half old and she wore it everywhere and anytime she could get it on her head. I think she thought she was a big kid when she put it on (they all like to ride bikes in our neighborhood and always have their helmets on). We even made her a little biker girl for Halloween that year with a "Future Cyclist" t-shirt and little black bike pants... anyway, her wearing that helmet reminded me that my girls really do wear hats a lot... and thus here's a layout featuring all of those hats that we love.

Well, we are off to tour our new kindergarten class & meet Campbell's new teacher... we've a big afternoon ahead of us. Happy Thursday!
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All products are from my scrap stash

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Frankenscars

Hold on, man.  We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," 
"haunted," or "forbidden" in the title.  ~From Scooby-Doo

Now that it is September 1st... I can start sharing Halloween stuff... right? Here is one of my all time Halloween favorites that is in the current issue of Paper Crafts Magazine
If you need ideas for Halloween be sure to check this one out... there is a lot of good stuff in it and you can pick it up on the magazine racks now;)

Take care & thanks for visiting!
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