Sketch Challenge

Happy Monday! It is my turn over at Two Scrapbook Friends to post a layout or sketch challenge. I chose this PageMaps sketch that I have used many times. I just love its versatility!

Here's my take on it with a slight rotation to fit my photo. I used some pp by K&Co. What nice memories of planting in our garden!

Friendzy Friday-- felt garland

I hope you are not sick of the holidays yet! I know I was sad to see them end. I wanted to share a fun garland made from felt that I crafted for the miniature tree I brought to Florida for the holidays. Regan made something similar back in the fall and she inspired me! I wanted to have something that would easily get through airport security. I figured felt was the least threatening holiday decoration around!

I started with some heavy duty cutting dies. They are great for felt. The only other supplies needed is some twine to string the decorations, eyelets, and some embellishments. I used ric rac and buttons.

I cut out all kinds of shapes from the felt: stars, mittens, and Christmas ornaments.







Then I punched each and set an eyelet for ease of stringing.






Then I decorated each one with some contrasting ric rac or buttons. And then I strung them all on some twine.



Here is my cute mini tree!

And a detail shot too. Maybe an idea to file away for next year?

Thanks for looking!

January 1st Reveal Two Scrapbook Friends

Happy New Year!

For this month's DT reveal for Two Scrapbook Friends, I worked with the Mix and Mend line from Sassafrass. My DT package included patterned paper, stickers, canvas pieces, three flowers and some electric green Stickles!

I was a bit stumped at first with the papers being pre-printed with amazing shabby chic designs featuring sewing remnants. Once I wrapped my mind around the fact that I wouldn't cut the papers, I chose some coordinating card stock and embellished away with things to echo the pre-printed designs such as trim, crochet flowers, battenburg lace, buttons and wool for stitching. I really like the results!

I made a few pages featuring photos of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi which we visted in August 2009. The dazzling blue sky and the striking white marble were a perfect complement to the papers. I added the measuring tape pp by K&Co., blue chipboard letters by Bisous, mini alpha stickers by MLS, kaiser pearls, a Prima paper flower, wool for stitching, some trim and a crochet flower made by my mom.

To this one I added trim, crochet flower, chipboard letters by MME, and mini alpha stickers by MM.

Here I added a large paper doilie, a bird from Prima, chipboard letters by MME and mini alpha stickers by MLS.

This final layout of the mosque features lace, trim, crochet flower, wool for stitching, pp by K&Cp., mini alpha stickers by MLS and chipboard letters by Bisous.

Then I made two more layouts, this time of our trip to the German cathedral town of Worms that same year. I added trim, clear buttons, brads, Doodlebug alpha stickers, MLS mini alpha stickers and wool for stitching.

I found this battenburg lace doilie while working on this month's DT layouts so it was a perfect fit here! I also added trim, wool for stitching and MLS alpha stickers.

I really enjoyed working with these papers since they were so different from what I usually do. Be sure to check out what the other DT ladies have done this month in the TSF gallery!

Winter themed card challenge

It is my turn for another card challenge over at Two Scrapbook Friends.

With this blast of snow and cold, I thought, why not a winter-themed card? I know I always need some non-Christmas cards this time of year as well. Here's one I made with BoBunny and one of my favourite sentiment stamps!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Well, I guess winter is here?

Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Last night I thought I would take a little break from marking and start my holiday baking. Every year I make a few traditional cookies. These sugar cutouts are always a hit with my dad and father-in-law. And they are fun to package up to give away.

Here's the recipe:

1 c. butter or half butter half shortening, softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
2 1/2 c. flour
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder

Combine butter, sugar and egg until creamy. Add flour, orange juice, baking powder and vanilla to form a dough. Divide in thirds and wrap in Saran. Chill for at least two hours or overnight. Bring to room temp. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with your favourite holiday cookie cutters. Decorate with coloured sugars.

Bake 6-8 minutes in 400 degree oven or until edges light brown.


And here they are all done!

Happy baking!

Friendzy Friday Funnel Folded Flowers

I saw these cool flowers in the March/April 2010 issue of CK magazine and fiddled around until I figured out how to make them. I thought they would feel like a bit of spring on a snowy December day!

Start with some double sided paper. Small prints and solids work best. You can even do it with scraps since you don't need a lot of one print. You also need a circle punch. I used my one inch punch, but you could do this with any size. And also a button to finish off the flower.

Punch 6 circles all the same size.



With all circles facing the same way up, fold two edges of each circle up to form a kind of funnel.

Cut a slightly larger circle out of scrap paper. Adhere each of your funnels to the scrap circle so that they each meet in the middle. This is the fiddly part. If there are some gaps, you can gently refold your funnels until they match up nicely. If there is as gap in the middle, it is OK since your button will hide that.

When you are happy with your flower, adhere the button with liquid adhesive.

And here's mine finished.

I used these on one of my August DT layouts using the great Echo Park papers.

Give these a try...they are fun and so pretty!

Thanks for looking!