StarLitStudio

wreath anniversary

Ellen carries a product made by Ranger called Liquid Pearls. They come in thirteen colors with a pearlescent sheen, and are waterproof.  They are a dimensional-glue-paint all in one.  Bottles are 1/2 ounce and have a fine-tip applicator with twist-off cap.  Non-toxic, non-settling and acid free.

Lots of folks this month are celebrating anniversaries it seems, and the special Lockhart Stamp Company's Heart Wreath symbolizes love to me.  The bow part of the stamp was omitted and I adhered a real ribbon bow using a Glue Dot.

Colored in the leaves with three colors of green marker, then and heart background shape with pale lavender to make the Liquid Pearls 'pop'.

Two shades of pink marker were used for the roses and some of the rosebuds.  I filled in the remainder of the circle 'buds' with white Liquid Pearls, then added the ribbon bow.

Memory Box 'Sugar' - this is HAPPY PAPER!!  A nice surprise:  50 sheets per package, cardstock, double-sided, five sheets of each....twenty designs in all!   I love it when I don't like the design on one side, then be so in love with what's on the flip side! 

faith · hope · love  sentiment is from Hero Arts (Stampin' Treasures).  Finished card size:  5-1/4" square to fit a standard 5-1/2" square envelope.  Thank you for stopping by today!!

sources:  Liquid Pearls, Copic Markers, Memory Box papers (Meadow is the card base):  Ellen Hutson, LLC.

ribbon, heart/key charms, t!m Holtz jumprings:  StarLitStudio.

b-day birdy birdcage

I would love to know...

...why bird cages and bird houses call to our hearts???

Is it the romantic notion of the bird being caged, then being set free?  Or the thought of the bird fleeing, then returning home? 

Whatever it is that pulls at my heartstrings, I saw this image from Hero Arts and it called to me - and I know, you know, *exactly* what I mean! 

Stampin' Treasures carries Hero Arts stamps and more, and are a Hero Arts premier store.  Plus they ship extra f-a-s-t and very reasonable shipping.  Love that!

  EK success paper layered onto Begonia (Memory Box) cardstock.  Faux bow from brown velvet ribbon (learned from Nichole Heady's faux bow tutorial).  Stamped birdcage with Distress Embossing Ink (or similar watermark pad) onto white cardstock; sprinkled clear embossing powder and heat set.  Rubbed a Distress Tattered Rose pad all over the embossed image then cut out.

Birdcage is mounted with foam dimensionals.  Hero Arts sentiment is stamped in Adirondack Espresso.  Black wire adds more dimension to this subtle happy card.

Interior sentiment is also Hero Arts.

Hope you have a great week and thank you for stopping by!

sources:  Stampin' Treasures!

notebook cover

Debbie Olson created an incredible layered soldered piece including tutorial on her blog, and in my amazement (it is incredible!), holding my breath then fainting, I recovered and was determined to try this!!!

I combined one of Debbie's layered creations with an altered notepad for a birthday gift.

Altered 5x8 notepads make awesome gifts (I buy them in bulk at Staples).  One of these with a gift card tucked inside provides a multitude of gift solutions for just about everyone on your list for any occasion.  I've adapted my double notebook closure template to a simplified version here:

5x8 one pocket closure template

I like using double sided cardstock for these notebook covers, but single sided cardstock will work too!

Cut and score a 12" x 8-1/2" piece of patterned cardstock (Tres Jolie used) according to the template.  Then cut a 5" wide x at least 3" to cover the header of the pad and adhere.

Create the pocket and adhere to a 5x8 notepad.   

You can add a pen easily:  elastic, eyelet, eyelet setting tools and E-6000 adhesive (or similar adhesive like Gorilla Glue); mini-pens purchased in bulk at Staples - I covered the pen with cardstock.

Fold elastic piece snugly around pen, punch hole for eyelet.  Remove pen and set eyelet.  Adhere eyelet tails to back of notepad then cover entire notepad back with cardstock.  You can find elastic by the yard at Walmart (fabric section) or craft stores.

To create the cupcakes, stamp Lockhart Best Cupcake once on a piece of 1x3 white cardstock and color all but icing with markers; stamp again on white cardstock scrap, color icing tops and cut out. 

Open up a 1x3 Ranger Memory Frame.  Layer 1x3 colored cardstock unit, then a piece of 1x3 glass.  Using mini Glue Dots adhere colored icing cutouts, then another piece of 1x3 glass.  Insert the whole sandwich into the Memory Frame and close.  Adhere to notebook using pop up Glue Dots or foam adhesive.   Cherry bling is from Ellen's store.

When the notebook is gone the framed piece can be removed and saved.

Thank you for stopping by and hope this template is useful!

sources:  copic markers, Ranger Memory Frames, bling, the entire Lockhart Stamp Company line and exceptional customer service - Ellen Hutson, LLC.

inspiration

I get hit with inspiration everytime I leaf through a Victoria magazine.  As a long-time subscriber years ago, I was delighted to see this magazine on the newsstands after a hiatus for a few years.

In last month's issue a candy store in California was featured, and a photo in the spread featured a row of candy in jars.  The jars are gorgeous, but it was the wallpaper that caught my eye.  I immediately reached for my ink and stamps to recreate it!

Papertrey Ink Garden of Life was used here along with various Adirondack ink pad colors.  I hope inspiration strikes you in an unexpected way today!!