StarLitStudio

altered mini chest of drawers

This five-drawer mini chest was purchased at a local Michaels store, and I've covered it with October Afternoon Sidewalks papers.

The chest measures 4-1/2" in width, about 10" in height and is 3" deep, not including the protrusion of each knob.

I'll detail how I did this in tomorrow's post - here's her rear shot:

and a look down her front - oh I'm on a roll with the wordplay today...

The knobs are idea-ology's curio knobs.  Best wishes for the rest of the week!

The unit was first stained with Peeled Paint Distress Stain.  I'll have to show you how I store these stains in another post, as I use them frequently.  Hope your week is going well!

another butterfly bag

The first butterfly bag I did was a few posts ago - very inspired by the bags of Anabelle O'Malley.

I used Spellbinders' Wonderful Wings dies, and paper from a 12x12 pack of Amy Butler for K & Co.   The edge punch along the top of the bag is a Martha Flower Bed punch. 

The bag was made by cutting a 9" x 6" piece of patterned paper, folding in half so the unit measured 4-1/2" x 6", adding the two doilies then sewing three sides to form a pocket. 

White cardstock tag was hand-cut to fit the bag; the big pink butterfly brad is from K & Co (this same Amy Butler line), and the butterfly body was created by wrapping 20 gauge silver wire around an idea-ology pen nib, then using Mini Glue Dots to adhere the body to the die cut. 

Creating and making these pocket cards is addictive...

Thank you for stopping by today!!

butterfly bag

I used Spellbinders' Wonderful Wings dies for today's project, and a Martha Flower Bed punch.  Inspired by Anabelle O'Malley's bags today!

Folded a brown bag in half vertically, adhered two English doilies, then trimmed off the top so it (along with a tag) would fit into an envelope I had on hand, then machine stitched three sides to form a pocket.

Centered the Martha punch along the opening and punched the bag top.

Tag was hand-cut to fit the bag; patterned paper used is Fly a Kite; turquoise cardstock is Robin's Egg (Memory Box).  The big white button on the tag insert is from Papertrey, adhered to the tag with Glue Dots and embellished with bling from Jolee's.

The butterfly body was created by wrapping 20 gauge silver wire around an idea-ology pen nib, then using Mini Glue Dots to adhere the body to the die cut...

...like I did with this butterfly back in 2008.

The bling 'trail' is leftover Zva crystals.

When the sewing of the bag is complete, you will actually have three pockets, due to the fold.  Ideal for inserting additional notes (for me - three kids = three thank you notes), thin chocolates such as Andes or Ghirardelli along with the tag - only possible to ship these chocolate goodies due to the now cold weather - wouldn't recommend this in the summer months!  Best wishes for a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!

sidewalks print tray

In digging out some old supplies I found this white, six panel tray from 7gypsies. 

Using October Afternoon Sidewalks I created this altered piece.  Getting my thrill out of this line before Farmhouse and Holiday Style arrive, and then those lines take over my creativity.

Other 7gypsies retired goods used, along with some idea-ology products.  This was a fun project.

It is what I look at when walking into the art room - and I love that photo of the five of us! 

Up since 5:30am - did not eat breakfast  - not hungry and body needed a run.  Plus I can't eat then run or - well, let's say that's not a good thing.  Plus with the braces on my teeth I gotta brush after I eat anything, so I just don't.

Got all kids on their buses, hit the gym, ran a 5K and did weight training.  Hit the steam room and showers.  Grocery shopped for the week on the way home.  Put the cold stuff away then shipped packages for the store - mailcarrier comes in late afternoons on Mondays - usually do this before I hit the gym. And it's only 3pm!

I love Mondays!

pretty notepads - they feed my soul

As long as I can remember, I have always been in love with pretty stationary, paper, stickers, kewl pens, pencils, and especially notepads.  There's something about being able to make them that feeds my soul.

 

Sizzix bird die, Spellbinders label dies, want2wcrap bling, idea-ology adornments, corners, and a Quietfire verse.  Patterned papers are retired October Afternoon Hometown.  The vertical olive caterpillar (chenile) ribbon is from May Arts and the velvet leaves are 7gypsies. 

I left the Spellbinders label die in place and applied Antique Linen Distress ink using an ink blending tool.

I used a layer of matboard and patterned paper and die cut both, adhered together, then applied Walnut Stain Distress ink to the edges.

The notebook is a simple, eco-friendly compostion one from staples.com.  I love this verse; more notebooks to follow tomorrow.

miss you, opi and old keys

OPI has some wicked colors for fall 2011.

(l-r) Color to Diner For, and A Taupe the Space Needle are above.  The names of OPI colors are consistently entertaining in an of themselves.  I never would have bought the taupe, but after reading these reviews and viewing the color swatches I said yes.  Have not tried the espresso yet...maybe this weekend. Never been one for painted fingernails but they seem to not split (weather is getting colder) when painted.

Computer generated sentiment; papers are Memory Box Kraft and Licorice, and the lovely patterned papers and tag are from KaiserCraft.  Black brads on a metal rimmed tag from Staples.  Idea-ology game spinner. 

The KaiserCraft pad takes the guesswork out of matching up papers.  Saves me time and I likey that mucho.

I'm making these in bulk with 'I miss you..." in place of the 'we' for Operation Write Home, and omitting the cutsey lace borders...hopefully resulting in a more masculine appeal.

Old family keys finally found a home - some of these were my maternal grandfather and great grandfather's keys - used hot glue to keep them in place.  The shadowbox is from Exposures.  Need to locate a spot to hang these lovelies.  Best wishes for a great weekend!

grunge gears birthday card

Quietfire sentiment - stamped on a piece of white cardstock burnished with Antique Linen and Walnut Ink Distress inks.  Patterned paper is Idea-ology Retro Grunge.  Card base is from Memory Box.

Gadget Gears die from Sizzix - diecuts were cut from white cardstock and inked with Distress inks.  Phillips and flat head style brads source is unknown.

Interior sentiments are from Papertrey Ink.  Best wishes for a great weekend!

masculine notebooks using idea-ology

These notebooks were created for the male teachers for my oldest child.  Notepads are from Papertrey, and the finished size is roughly 2-1/2 inches wide and eight inches in height.

Retired Tim Holtz papers used - these are 9x9 and some are left in the store here.  Cardstock was cut to eight inches tall and six inches wide.  I created a half-inch flap on the notebook cover to provide a nice edge when opening it - more details/photo regarding the cover flap in Thursday's post.

Supplies used:  Ruler Ribbon, Lace Chain, Sprocket Gears, Hinge Clips, Game Spinners, Mini Pins, Light Bulbs and Muse Tokens.

I collaged the mass of metal paraphernalia onto a one-inch by eight inch strip of patterned cardstock (matted in black licorice cardstock), then adhered that completed strip onto the notebook front using two, side-by-side, eight inch lengths of foam tape.  The light bulbs have two handy holes in them, and I simply and quickly wired them into place. Some gears were adhered in place using Glossy Accents.

The ruler ribbon - dyed with Antique Linen Distress reinker - was adhered with red line tape.  Thanks for stopping by today!

traditional sympathy

Today's cards were based on this card.  These metal plates are a great size to use on cards, adding a nice heft to them.

This patterned paper is older than my 11-year-old son.  We once had a wonderful, local stamp shop, and I purchased this lovely marbled paper there.  Sentiment is Papertrey Ink and butterfly punch is Martha Stewart; pearls are Zva; card base and coordinating envelope is Memory Box Jack O Lantern.    Best wishes for a wonderful week!!

idea-ology notebooks

edited to add:  These notebooks were photographed on a refurbished printers tray that I hope to store reinkers and precious stamps in.

These notebooks were created as gifts for a birthday boy (turning 9) and a birthday girl.  Lots of idea-ology goodies used on these!

Striped notebook materials:  Graphic 45 papers, frog & date dial images are from Lost & Found Salvage Stickers, a Papertrey Ink number die and Sizzix Tag & Bookplate die were cut from Grungepaper (crown is from a retired Grungeboard pre-cut set covered with 7gypsies Conservatory papers); the bookplate was painted with Distress Tarnished Brass Crackle paint and the numeral nine was inked with Crushed Olive Distress ink; Facets, Game Spinners and Sprocket Gears further embellish the notebook.

The girl's notebook uses My Minds Eye papers, Stampers Anonymous Odds and Ends stamps which coordinate with the Sizzix Ticket Strip die.  Bling is Zva Thriving Crystal; the pearl baubles and chain tassel are fastened onto a Lace Chain using jumprings.  The French doily was colored with Spun Sugar Distress Stain.

Interior features a handy pocket.  Both notebooks use idea-ology corners set with a Home Pro LR (bonniesbest.com).  Congratulations to Gilda on the Memory Box giveaway!  Thank you and best wishes for a great weekend!