Studio Re-do Phase 1

Purple and green is my absolute color combination! I like them so much that I updated my blog to reflect that love affair--what do you think? I could share pics of all the purple things I have (especially my bling phone case!), but in keeping with the papercrafting theme of my blog, I'll instead share my recent shelf renovation. In fact, I'm redoing my entire studio, but it's a process.

 This is one area of the studio. I took out some shelving that was inefficient, that's why so much is on the floor! The two unfinished shelves in the back were the focus on this phase of the renovation.

We've had the shelves for years--they used to hold our homeschool books. I've often thought of painting them, and now was definitely the time! All the trim and cabinets in the studio are white, so I opted to paint the shelving white, as well. I had also wondered if stacking them was a good idea.

 And here is the completed shelving. I love the stacked look. The purple bins were purchased at Lowes.com. I was surprised at the variety of bins styles and colors they had. So glad to find purple ones!

I made tags for the bins using manila tags, spraying them with green ink spray. For the labels on the plastic bins, which I've had for many years, I just swiped a green ink pad across the labels.

There was also room on the shelf for three of my favorite machines. Underneath, I have plastic bins holding the supplies for each machine to keep everything together.

And that is the end of phase one of the studio renovation. I think I'll tackle the UM stamp storage area next!

O is for Oval

I'm back with one more entry for the OWH Labor Day weekend cardmaking challenge. This one was to use something on a card to represent the letters O, W, and H. For O, I used ovals. W is represented by the wine-colored card and flowers. And for H, there is the "hi" message. I used the same technique as my previous entry--wanted to try the frame layering with ovals, and I had a piece of the stamped print left over--couldn't waste that!

Another OWH Challenge

I'm submitting another entry to the OWH Labor Day weekend challenge. This one was to create a card using layered frames, which I created with Spellbinders dies. (I've often wondered how to do this type of layering!) The one with the large burgundy frames is okay--I wish that set came with smaller increments of dies.  That's what I like about the circle dies--the increments are perfect for this use.

I made the printed paper using Club Scrap's By the Seashore ivory and Hopes unmounted stamps. The inks are also from CS--mahogany, tangerine, topaz, and leaf. The card base and burgundy frames are from Apothecary, and the copper is from Ornamental--it's the perfect weight for this project! Now that I know how to do this layered frame method, I'll be doing it more often. Here's the tutorial I used.

Operation Write Home card challenge

I've recently started making cards for Operation Write Home (OWH), an organization that takes greeting cards from cardmakers and sends them to troops stationed all around the world. The troops can, then, send beautiful cards home to their loved ones. I was born into an Army family and married into the Navy, so this organization is very dear to me. I wish they were around when my dad, brother, or husband wanted to send a note home!

Anyway, this past weekend they had a Virtual Card Making Party, and I decided to join in the fun! The first challenge was to make a fall or winter card using 1-inch squares. Here are my two entries:

I definitely like the one on the right better--it has more dimension and visual appeal.  Both were made with Club Scrap's Apothecary collection with the copper paper and ribbons from Ornamental. This is the first time I've ever combined the kits, and it won't be the last! I love challenges--they really get my creative juices flowing! Thanks, OWH!

Embellished Candy Jar

The last few weeks I've been reorganizing my craft/sewing studio, but I've also been making some time to work on some projects. Here's one I did last week.

Bought three of these candy jars a couple years ago from my local Tractor Supply store. My plan has always been to embellish the tops, and I have finally gotten around to it!

One jar will go in my den/office to hold one of my husband's favorite candies. I opted to use the rug for my color inspiration.

And these are the supplies I pulled out. Flowers and burgundy brad from my stash. Burgundy paper from Club Scrap's Academy kit; ivory from Gimme a Ring.

                  
 

             I didn't have any navy flowers in my stash, so I inked a white one with Ranger distress ink. Perfect!

Used Nestabilities dies from Spellbinders to create my shapes.

And here are the elements for the lid.

Pierced a hole with my snazzy paper-piercing tool . . .

. . . and glued the layered embellishment onto the lid with Club Scrap bookbinding glue.

And here is the finished jar--changed the brown ribbon to navy to pull out the navy base petals on the flower.

Had two more jars, so I made these to go in my studio. Will probably put ribbon/fibers in them.

My ribbon jars are repurposed Mason jars.

 If you've made it this far, thanks for following the journey from the plain candy jar to embellished candy jar that matches my den. Think I need to go to Tractor Supply to pick up so more candy!

Time Flies

Wow! Doesn't time fly??! My last post was in 2011, and so much has happened since then. With my work, we've closed our business, but we're planning to reopen a new business in the next couple years. Traveling, I've been to Wisconsin three times (Club Scrap retreats), and we went to Seattle and on an Alaskan cruise. Family-wise, one daughter is getting married next year, another just graduated from college, and our third has finally found a social group where she fits in and makes friends.  On a sad note, my father passed away in 2012, but in 2013 my mother moved into our house next door, so that has been quite a blessing. Finally, I'm still in college, with only 12 more courses to complete before I receive my bachelor's in business management. :-)

As for my papercrafting addiction hobby, as with many things in life, it waxes and wanes, but I've been introduced to Pinterest and Operation Write Home, and they have helped get me out of my recent slump. So, please join me on this ride we call life and let's try to slow down time a bit!!