Authentique & Hampton Art Week

Today we are kicking off a fun and inspirational week with Hampton Art on the Authentique blog. In case you haven’t heard yet, Authentique has teamed up with Hampton Art to create a line of co-branded cling mount stamps. Currently we have 3 sets to chose from that perfectly coordinate with the latest Authentique paper lines. If you like Authentique and enjoy stamping, then you are going to love these new stamps.

I am so excited to share an altered gift tin with you today that pairs Hampton Art/Authentique co-branded stamps with Authentique’s gorgeous Remembrance collection. Truly a perfect partnership! And a fun way to upcycle an old empty tin into something useful and new, too.

 

I have to admit that I’m sort of a sucker for pretty packaging, and I love coming up with new ways of boxing up those special gifts. It’s really quite easy dressing up the front of almost any recycled container, like this Maya Road embellishment tin. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has a whole stash of those just waiting to be used!

The lid of the tin is almost the same size as a standard card base, so that’s what I started with. Once I was done with the card, I added a bit of extra lace on the bottom, and it was pretty much a perfect fit.

I have a step-by-step photo tutorial up on the Authentique blog, if you’re interested in taking a peek.

Visit both the Authentique and Hampton Art blogs this week for more great project ideas. And be sure to leave comments on both sites to double your chance of winning some amazing giveaways.

Thanks so much for stopping by my friends! We’re starting off another week with cold and gloomy rain. I’m really craving some sunshine right about now. Hope things are a bit sunnier in your neck of the woods!

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Supplies:

Authentique Remembrance Collection: Remembrance 1 12×12 Paper, Remembrance 2 12×12 Paper, Remembrance 3 12×12 paper, Components Sticker Sheet

Authentique Paper Co for Hampton Art Stamps: Keep Me Posted Set, Grateful Heart Set, Footloose Set

Clearsnap ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Mudslide, Dark Cherry, Khaki Green

Dies: Papertrey Ink
Postage Stamp Punch: Fiskars

Trim: May Arts, Webster’s Pages, Papertrey Ink, American Crafts

Doily: Wilton

Buttons: Foofala

Staple: Tim Holtz

Tin: Maya Road

Simply Handmade Sewing

I think this may just be the strangest spring I’ve ever seen. Although Mother Nature has graced us with a few nice days here and there, it’s been pretty much non-stop cold, rainy gloom. And today we are rounding out the week with more of the same….

Fortunately, even amongst the drear, there are a few flowers blooming in my yard to remind me of sunny days ahead. I’ve been enjoying keeping a watch on them from the warm and secure confines of my sunroom, wrapped up all snug in my blankie. And still harboring the hope that all these showers will bring more May flowers, I have another pretty flower to share with you today, mixed in with some happy news.

Look who made the cover of Simply Handmade Sewing!

What a happy surprise for me! I hope your weekend is filled with all kinds of happy, too!

 

April Showers Bring May Flowers

If that old saying about April showers is true,  with the beginning of the month of May, it’s time to start thinking about planting some flowers. So today we thought it would be fun to showcase our own garden of creativity with our Fern and Forest Girl Paper Flower Kit on the Little Yellow Bicycle blog.

If you have not had a chance to play with any of the Paper Crafting Kits, then you are missing out. I think they are just about the most versatile embellishment package out there. The Fern & Forest Girl Kit alone contains 88 pieces of die cut shapes, banners, rosettes, and brads. Just think of all the combinations you could put together, like this sweet flower I made to dress up a simple gift box.

With all the layer-building shapes available in Little Yellow Bicycle’s Paper Crafting Kits, creative possibilities are endless. Use them individually, or mix and match pieces to create truly one-of-a-kind embellishments. Simply start with one of the largest die cuts, and then keep adding pieces. Adhere some of the layers with foam dots to create even more eye-catching depth, and don’t be afraid to alter the shapes to suit your project. I added a bit of machine stitching and paint to my flower and leaves for a truly unique look.

Nestled my flower onto a die cut doily which is tied with trim onto a small gift box. I used one of the papers from the 6×6 Paper Pad to dress up the lid of my simple box. The bow and flower easily slip right off and can be used by the recipient again. No fuss, no muss.

I hope my happy little flower brings some real flowers this way……..and perhaps a bit of sunshine. After teasing us with a few sneak peeks, spring has completely disappeared on us again. Maybe that old saying really is true. One can dream!

For more April Showers inspiration, be sure to stop by the Little Yellow Bicycle blog. And thanks so much for stopping by today!

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LYB Products:
FNG-304 6×6 Paper Pack (24 sheets – 2 each of 12 designs)
FNG-305 Paper Crafting Kit (88 pieces)
FNG-279 Chipboard Shapes – with glitter accents (28 pieces)
NA-SP10 Stick Pins – Wood Buttons

Die- Sizzix for Stampin’Up

Trim- Stampin’Up (green seam binding), American Crafts (pink hemp), Craft Supply
Paint- Delta

Sweet Treats with Sizzix

Making up a package of treats is one of my favorite simple gift ideas. They are quick and easy, and work for pretty much everyone on my gift-giving list. They make fabulous party favors, too. And best of all, you can adapt them to any size or theme you wish, making this gift idea perfectly customizable for any occasion.

Today I am excited to share some spring-inspired sweet treats I created for my first official design team project on the Sizzix blog. Wouldn’t these be a great idea for those end-of-the-year teacher appreciation gifts? Or perhaps some sweets for Mother’s Day? If Mom is a gardener, you could substitute seeds. Or tea for the tea lover? The possibilities are endless.

The base of these sweet containers are made from just a strip of paper and a few simple folds. I created a window opening in the front panel and secured a cello bag filled with candies inside. They really could not be more easy and quick to put together. Then have fun dressing up your containers to match your theme. For me, pretty much every occasion seems to call for flowers and butterflies.

Aren’t those flowers just beautiful? I am always so smitten with the rolled flower dies. These are the Scrappy Cat Sizzlits 3D Rose Flower die. I added the flowers to a simple topper made from die cut On the Edge Distressed Doilies, tied with pretty trim. Tuck in a few leaves and a quick banner strip, and you are done. I have a full step-by-step photo tutorial on the Sizzix blog, if you’d like to see more.

Thanks so much for stopping by, my friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and I hope today is even better!

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK – Tags Scrappy Cat Sizzix Sizzlits Die – Flower, Rose 3-D Tim Holtz Sizzix On the Edge Die – Distressed Doily Eileen Hull Sizzix Bigz Die – Leaves Sizzix Big Shot Die Cutting Machine

InLinkz.com

Cardstock: Stampin’Up (Naturals)
Patterned Paper: WeRMemoryKeepers (yellow gingham), October Afternoon (blue dots), My Mind’s Eye (green)
Stamp: Stampin’Up
Embellishments: Maya Road Canvas Butterflies
Trim: Stampin’Up (seam binding), Craft Supply (string)
Ink: Clearsnap

Footloose and Fancy Free with Therm O Web

Finishing out a fabulous week of blog hop inspiration projects with Authentique and Therm O Web. I have a fun end-of-the-school-year project to share with you today featuring Authentique’s gorgeous Renew collection. Perfect for that special graduate in your life.

The end of the year will be here before we know it, and with Mr. Pete being a senior, seems like I’ve got graduation on the brain. It hit me that the die cut sentiments from the Renew collection totally fit for a young person about to enter their next stage in life. After all, who is more footloose and fancy free than a brand new graduate?

I love that Authentique’s Titles & Phrases die cuts are the perfect size for Project life inserts, or make a great focal point piece, such as on my card. By framing the die cut and creating depth with foam adhesive, a simple journaling card can really take center stage.

The frame itself was die cut from Therm O Web’s iCraft Adhesive Sheets and heat embossed with white embossing powder. The finish is wonderfully shabby and crackled, enhanced even more with a bit of ink. I have the full directions up on the Therm O Web blog, if you’re interested in taking a peek.

I made a matching gift bag using a single sheet of 12×12 paper and a few simple folds. I used some different patterns for interest, but pulled it all together with coordinating trims and accents.

There’s nothing but blue skies from now on!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week long inspiration from Authentique and Therm O Web. Both blogs are filled with fabulous projects, and there are amazing prizes up for grabs, too.

Thanks for stopping by, everyone! Wishing you all a very wonderful weekend!

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Supplies:
Therm O Web Mini Tape Runner
Therm O Web iCraft Adhesive Sheets
Therm O Web Glitter Dust Photo Corners Black
Therm O Web 3D Adhesive Squares
Therm O Web 1/2″ SuperTape
Therm O Web Medium Zots Singles Clear Adhesive Dots

Authentique Renew Collection: Patterned Paper, Titles & Phrases Die Cuts, Hinges & Tabs Die Cuts, Mini Notes Die Cuts
Stamp: Stampin’Up
Die: Papertrey Ink
Tag: Avery
Trim: Stampin’Up, Webster’s Pages, American Crafts, Glitz Designs, Craft Supply
Embossing Powder, Ink: Clearsnap
Mini Staples: Tim Holtz
Bells: Craft Supply
Score-Pal, Pinking Shears

Going Strong with Authentique

Continuing a week of Authentique and Therm O Web projects here on the blog. Today I’m going “Strong” with a bit of a rarity from me, a scrapbook layout, dedicated to my beautiful boy who will be graduating from high school this June.

This photo makes me quite emotional. I am so proud of my boy, proud of the young man he has become. We are busy filling out college paperwork these days. Soon he will be heading out and starting a new chapter in his life. Exciting, yet so hard on a momma, all at the same time.

This is Pete’s senior portrait. Just an absolute perfect match for the gorgeous papers in the Strong collection. I used the 8×8 paper Bundle here, which was a much better fit for my smaller photo. I love that Authentique’s papers already have a soft, time-worn feel to them to compliment the vintage pressed tin backdrop panels in the photo. Lightly distressed and inked paper edges help enhance the look. I added just a slight bit of stamping using a distressed dots background stamp in dark gray ink to carry on with the whole shabby theme.

A Mini Notes die cut and Elements alphabet stickers make a quick and easy title block. I popped my title up on 3D foam squares so I could wrap it in twine and create a bit of depth. The extra space allowed me to tuck a Circles & Scallops die cut paper accent and button underneath. And a few more embellishments around the title and photo finish things off.

I hope you’ve had a chance to see what some of the other Therm O Web and Authentique designers have been creating this week. Stop by both blogs for more inspiration, and be sure to leave comments to get entered for some fabulous prize drawings.

Thanks so much for stopping by, my friends! I’ll be back soon with one more project for our Authentique & Therm O Web Project Inspiration Blog Hop. Hope you have a great day!

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Supplies:

Authentique Strong Collection: 8×8 Bundle, Mini Notes Die Cut Paper Accents, Elements Cardstock Stickers, Components Cardstock Stickers, Circles & Scallops Die Cut Paper Accents

Therm O Web: Mini Tape Runner, 3D Adhesive Squares, Zots Singles Small Clear Adhesive Dots

Trim: American Crafts
Stamp: Unity (Distressed Dots)
Border Punch: Fiskars
Mini Paper Clip: Tim Holtz
Buttons: Foofala
Ink: Clearsnap, Stampin’Up

You Make the World a Better Place

Hi everyone! Happy Monday to you! I sure hope you all had a wonderful weekend. And here’s to hoping we have a nice, quiet, and uneventful week ahead!

I am quite excited about this upcoming week here on the blog. Two of my favorite companies, Authentique and Therm O Web, are partnering up for a whole week of amazing inspiration, and of course there will be a few prizes, too! I’ve got all sorts of fun stuff to share, starting off the week with a masculine gift idea for all those fabulous men in our lives.

If your dad is anything like mine, then it’s sometimes tricky coming up with good Father’s Day gift ideas. But with the holiday coming up quickly, I wanted to make something very special for my very special dad to show him how much he means to us. So I crafted up a quick and easy accordion-fold frame for his office desk.

Since the frame is double-sided, there’s room for lots of photos of him with my two kiddos over the years, and I love that he can flip the frame around from time to time to switch things up. Perfect for the man who has everything.

The frame folds up into a compact little card when closed. But untie the bow, and you have a fun stand-up frame.

The Strong collection, with it’s masculine prints and sentiments, was just perfect for my Father’s Day project. Since my dad also happens to be a grandpa, I threw in a little Cherish, too. Paired up with Therm O Web’s amazing line of adhesives, this little project was a snap.

 Since my photos were taken at many different times and places, the colors did not go together in any cohesive way. By changing the photos to black and white, I was able to mix them together seamlessly.

For complete step-by-steps, stop by the Authentique blog. And be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win an amazing prize drawing. Then head on over to the Therm O Web blog to see what’s in store for you there.

Thanks so much for stopping by everyone!

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Supplies:

Authentique Strong Collection: Handsome 12×12 Paper, 8×8 Bundle, Foundations Cut Apart Paper, Components Stickers, Stamp Blocks Die Cut Paper Accents, Titles & Phrases Die Cut Paper Accents, Hinges & Tabs Die Cut Paper Accents

Authentique Cherish Collection: Components Stickers

Therm O Web: Mini Tape Runner, Glitter Dust Black Photo Corners, 3D Adhesive Squares, Medium Zots Clear Adhesive Dots

Ink: SEI
Trim: American Crafts
Buttons: Foofala
Staples: Tim Holtz