Sites of the week

Through the past few weeks I have received several emails and have seen comments asking particular questions. I have emailed answers to many of them, but have decided to take a few moments to answer some here.

What kind of camera do I use?…
Canon Digital Rebel XTi. I LOVE this camera and would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a good digital camera.

What kind of photo editing software to I use?…
I use PhotoShop Elements. I purchased it at Costco last year.

How do I get my stamped images so dark?…
I use Brilliance Graphite Black ink {usually on Papertrey white cardstock} and I always keep a re-inker on hand to make sure that my ink pad is juicy.

Where did I get the ball chain thread that I used on my MFT baby tag/card?…
I got that particular one at a scrapbook store in Oklahoma City while visiting some friends. Since then, I have picked up a package at JoAnn’s.

Can you give me specific information on the Guest Designer’s card?…
I do not require a recipe from my Guest Designers, so it is best that you contact them directly. There is always a link to their blog. I’m not trying to cop out of getting an answer for you, just want you to know the most direct and quickest way to obtain the info you seek.

What Copic colors do I use in my projects?…
I don’t list what colors I use because often my desk is a complete train wreck when I get done with a project. Also, I will use a little of this and a little of that and that pile adds up. So, in short, no I won’t be listing the colors I used on every project. However, if you ever have a project regarding any project, please feel free to email me about it and I will be more than happy to discuss.

Finally, the last question leads me to the tutorial that I promised.

How did I create this Post It Note holder {click for larger view}

Here’s the “how to”…

What you will need {as shown in photo}:
3 1/8″ x 8 5/8″ Kraft cardstock to use as base
Smaller pieces of red and black cardstock to use to embellish base
Cuttlebug & Cuttlebug embossing folder
Punches {SU! Scallop Circle punch, 1 3/8″ and 1 1/4″ Circle punches}
Apple Stamp
Red Ink
{not shown} Velcro

Instructions:

1. Score Kraft cardstock base at 3 1/8″, 3 9/16″, 6 11/16″, 7 1/8″

2. Emboss red pieces of cardstock with Swiss Dots embossing folder.

3. Adhere red and black pieces to base.

4. Stamp apple image {All Night Media stamp I got at Michael’s thanks to Susan’s enabling} on white cardstock, punch out, and layer circle punches. Adhere to flap of Post It Note cover.

5. Adhere Post It Notes to inside of cover.

6. Adhere Velcro to circle punch and front square of cover.

These are SUPER quick and easy to make, easily making them a great project to mass produce. There are several ways you can “kick it up a notch,” too. You could add a pencil holder, or make purse like handles, etc… Obviously, the image and colors can be switched out, too. Let me know if you make any of these. I would love to see what you come up with!!

Tomorrow is another Sketch For You To Try. AND…there might be a little blog tart to go along with it. Wink Wink!!

Well, I promised a box template today, so I am delivering a box template today. Of course I had to make another sample, tho! This box uses the PaperTrey set, Out On A Limb. I did not get this set when it first came out, but then I kept seeing GORGEOUS creations made with it and I realized that it really fits my style and I will get a lot of use from it. So, now I the proud owner of yet another PTI set!

Here are the previous open and closed samples, and the template. **Click for larger views**

Please note that the template is not to scale is drawn for you as a reference to the directions. If your box “bows in” a little at first, don’t worry. It will stabilize when you add your decorative layers. If you have any questions, just let me know. My email link is under my pic.

Tony went to OU {University of Oklahoma} and is very much a Sooner fan, along with all his OU buds. A couple of his friends married UT grads {blasphemy according to Tony}. I made this for one of the girls that went to UT we are friends with.

In Texas, they say “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 10 minutes.” Maybe not literally, but from day to day there can be some drastic changes! This week has been CRAZY. Monday night we were under a Tornado Watch, Tuesday it lightly snowed, Wednesday it was 80 degrees, Thursday is snowed 5 INCHES! {I know some of you have no pity on that!} and today it is sunny and cool. Here is a pic from yesterday’s snowfall.

Before I get started, just wanted to let you know my final article for Craft Critique is running today. It’s all about papercrafting with the Janome Sew Mini…something that I love!! This is my final article for Craft Critique, as I have stepped down from my Senior Reporter position. I hope to continue writing here and there for them in the future, tho!

Yay!! Nichole named my project an honorable mention last month. Since then I have had quite a few requests for the template/measurements of this project. Below I have posted a template. Please note that it is not to scale. It wraps around the box and there is a seam in the back. This can very easily be altered for a hidden seam. I attached the bottom portion with red liner tape, but the top portion is not attached so that it can easily be slipped on and off. We made one of these for my last stamp camp and the box was filled with peppermints. The boxes are available from PaperTrey and also through Impress. Hope this helps everyone with the question, “How did you do that??” ”

**Click for larger view**

TOP:

BOTTOM:

Come on back tomorrow for a sketch for you to try!! This one is pretty interesting!! Happy Friday!

Did you attend the MFT Cocktail Party last night? It was a blast! Carole is now offering pole dancing lessons at church…LOL!! Who says stampers aren’t a little crazy!?!? My eyes still hurt from trying to keep up with the conversation! If you missed, you can still check out the challenge and the coupon code HERE.
Here are a few more projects using the new releases from My Favorite Things. The first couple of projects use the digi paper that was just released. This stuff is so much fun. I never even thought to use digi paper in the past, but I am hooked now!!…probably not too bad of a thing since our local paper place is closing its doors as of the end of the year {pass the tissues!}.

This box uses the digi paper printed on acetate (thank for the idea Cindy!)…

This box follows the same directions as the one in THIS TUTORIAL, but the score marks are at 4.5″, 5.5″, 10″ and 11″. For this box I just created a folded over piece on the top, but you can easily create the same kind of top as the tutorial using the score marks given here.

Finally, here are a few samples using the Icing On The Cake Set. The first is the card that was used as a sample for the challenge, to incorporate an ATC into a card. The second is a box (from Cricut’s Bags, Tags, Boxes and More cartridge) that I decorated/embellished using this set.

In the world of papercrafting there always seems to be “the next biggest thing.” Last year it was the Cuttlebug, Copic markers have been on everyone’s wish lists lately and now there are Nestabilities. If you would like to read more about Nestabilities, Sharon Harnist recently did a WONDERFUL article about them on Craft Critique and you can read it HERE. I recently received the scallop and straight edge squares and circles, and while I have not had a lot of time to play with them, I did discover something cool that you can do. You can make your very own scalloped cards. To do this, I made a 4.25″ square card. I then lined up the folded edge of the card to the edge of the cutting part of the die {see pic}. Next I ran it through my Cuttlebug once and then trimmed the part that was cut {these dies do not cut through several sheets like the Cuttlebug or Sizzix dies}. I lined it up exactly as before and ran it through again and then tore away the excess. I did have to do a little trimming with my scissors. I account that to the learning curve that I am on with these. Finally, I decorated the front of my card and viola!… a cute little scalloped card.

Line it up like this, so that your fold does not get cut.

Decorate and send to someone special…

I’ll have some more Nestabilities fun here tomorrow.

Dimensions: 4.25″ square {before die cut}
Stamps: Cupcake from Memory Box, Sentiment from A Muse, Stripes from My Favorite Things
Paper: SU! Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, SU! Markers
Other: Stickles, Clear Gel Pen, Sakura Stardust Pen, Brads, Dimensionals