A Cool Bib and a Cute Card

Hi everyone!  Holy crap!  Three posts in one week?!  You guys are getting spoiled aren't ya? 

For this go-round, I made a card to send to my sister in law, who is expecting a baby boy this fall.  I am mailing her this card along with this awesome bib, which I did not make.  The bib is made by "The Baby Guy", who has been a SoCal gem for baby goods for years.  I still have bibs I got for my youngest.  They are just too cool and practical!

I used Pink Paislee’s “Declaration” line.  I accented it using Basically Bare hearts.  I love the natural look of the felt and the canvas with this rustic Americana themed paper.

I love the feeling the little pop of twine and bling add.  My sister in law is very girly, so the bows and the bling really fit her.  And yet, the card still has a boyish look because of the burlap letters and the stars .

A great way to add some visual interest is to mix patterns.  Who says stripes and polka dots don’t mix? 

Thanks for taking a look!  See ya next time!


Cheers!

A Sweet Summer Topiary Tutorial

Good afternoon!  I am totally diggin' the summertime and the sunshine.  Another thing to dig about the sunny summer, COLOR!  Who doesn't love a splash of fun color here and there?

As some of you know, I've been on a roll doing "first time" projects and things that are off the paper.  With that said, here's another "first time" project as well as tutorial on how to do it.  This is a ribbon topiary and honestly, I was intimidated at first.  But once I started doing it, I couldn't believe how EASY it was to do!  It's definitely a project you can sit down and bang out in a day.

A Sweet Summer Topiary

Wanna know how to make something like this?  Lucky you because I have a tutorial right down there!  And here we gooooooooo!

Here's what you'll need for the actual topiary.  There is a separate section for the filler.

4 yards of each of the following May Arts Ribbon
   * 1.5" Teal Polka Dot Sheer (345-15)
   * 1.5" Pink Satin/Center Band Ribbon (337-73)
   * 5/8" Satin/Grosgrain Ribbon (373-58-27)
   * 3/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (SX10)
Tulle (I used turquoise and purple glittery tulle)
Topiary form
Scissors
Straight pins
Pail, pot, basket, or something to put your finished topiary in

Supplies for topiary

 
Filler Supplies:

Tissue Paper (I used generic tissue paper and Pink Paislee's tissue paper from the "Soiree" line.)
Tulle
Acrylic Paint (I used white.)
Strand of beads (I recycled some party beads that are dice shaped.)
Hot glue gun

Step 1:

First, and I learned this the hard way, you'll want to paint the dowel whatever color you want.  I waited until mine was completed and was able to paint it just fine.  But it'll be easier if you just get this step done first.  Next thing you're going to do is to cut your ribbon into 4" or 5" strips.  I used 4" strips for mine.

Step 2:

Next, form a loop with one strip of ribbon like shown in the photo.  Pardon my desperate need for a manicure and a fill.  ;)

Gettin' loopy!  

Step 3:

Using a straight pin, stick the loop to the topiary form.  I highly recommend using straight pins over glue because you WILL rearrange and move loops as you work on this project. 

Step 4:

Become a pinning fool (and not in a Pinterest kind of way)!  Start pinning your loops around your topiary form.  Feel free to move and rearrange your loops to achieve the look you imagine as well as a good color balance.

Some much pinning!

Step 5:

Now it's time to start adding tulle "flares".  Cut a strip of tulle.  Don't worry about cutting it all straight and pretty.  It's not going to matter.

Step 6:

Take another straight pin and run it through the tulle like you are doing a running stitch with a needle.

Step 7:

Pin that awesome little "flare" to the topiary.  If the tulle flares are too long, just take scissors and snip the ends until you are happy with it.

Step 8:

Keep pinning loops and flares until you've covered the whole foam ball.

Step 9:

Now we are moving onto the filler.  Arrange your tissue paper however you like inside your pail.  When you are happy with the arrangement, go ahead and glue it down.

Next, you can glue your strand of beads onto the dowel then glue the topiary into the pail where your tissue paper is.

Once you have your warm and fuzzy feeling with your arrangement, cut your tulle into squares and tuck them in between the layers of tissue paper.

Fillin' and Stuffin'

And that is all there is to it!  It's very easy to get this done in one sitting.  I broke mine up into two so I could be sure to keep a fresh eye.

I really loved making this for my youngest daughter's room.  My older two daughters want one now!  And I already have the ideas and color schemes for both.  They made it easy and picked out their colors.

Have fun and if you make one, let me know so I can come check it out!

I Do Declare! That Is A Bubble Frame!

Hellooooo strangers!  Sorry for being so flaky and invisible lately.  Things have been chaotic to say the least, but hey.  We adapt and overcome right?  ;)  Well, today (and for the next 2 weeks) we have an awesome Paper Issues mini hop to ring in the new theme.  The theme for the next 2 weeks is "Patriots and Picnics".  Hop along with us and gear up for summer BBQs, Fourth of July, and good ol' American Summertime!  There is also a giveaway!  I know.  Sooooooo amazeballs!  ::snicker::

Here's the line-up for the mini hop:

• Lori
• ME!
• Patricia
• Melissa 
• Marlene
• Carrie

Wanna know what's up for grabs and how to get your sweet li'l name added to the pot to win it?  Well, wait no mo'!  Well, head on over to the Paper Issues blog and become a follower.  Then, head on over to the Paper Issues Facebook page and "like" us.  Once you've done that, go back to THIS POST and leave a comment!  Easy-Peasy!  Would you like to see what's up for grabs?  A "Declaration" mini kit!  Each kit has 2 of each paper as well as the cardstock sticker sheet.  This is up for grabs until July 7th when the winner is announced.

Now for my project.  FINALLY!  I was asked to put this together for a special friend of mine, Stephanie.  We've been friends since the 9th grade so to say that I was honored to do this for her puts it mildly. She ordered a Bubble Frame Brag Book from Globecraft Memories and asked me to put it together for her using photos of her beautiful son, Mac.  Since her house is decorated with a rustic Americana flare, I figured that the mini kit The Awesome-Sauce Cassie put together using Pink Paislee's "Declaration" was PERFECT for this project.

Now for the delish close-ups.  Sorry.  No step by step how-to with this one...at least, not yet.  ;)

I left the journaling tag blank so that Steph and write a little note or something in it.

I kept the embellishments small and minimal because the patterns on the paper were just too fantastic and work well on their own.

I did use my sewing machine and sewed a crooked border on every page.  It's the subtle details that really work well with this projects.

 

I find that when I'm working with papers that are bold in color and pattern, black and white photos really work the best and make putting this project together a breeze.

Now that we've gone through my project, I bet you're wondering about the giveaway aren't ya?  Well, head on over to the Paper Issues blog and become a follower.  Then, head on over to the Paper Issues Facebook page and "like" us.  Once you've done that, go back to THIS POST and leave a comment!  Easy-Peasy!  Would you like to see what's up for grabs?  A "Declaration" mini kit!  Each kit has 2 of each paper as well as the cardstock sticker sheet.  This is up for grabs until July 7th when the winner is announced.

"Declaration" Mini Kit

Be sure to hit up our mini hop for more awesome ideas for our "Patriots and Picnics" theme.

Cheers!

Favorite Recent Projects and A Tutorial!

Well hello strangers!  I know, I know.  ::cue Staind::  It's been a while!  You know you totally sang that in your head. I hope everyone has been doing well and gearing up for summer.  I know I have been so busy lately that it's amazing I remember to put my pants on in the morning.  I've been getting the kids ready for summer, cleaning house, entertaining company and I'm back to school!  I must say that I love being busy though.  I hate boredom.  HAAAATE it.

So, how about we get down to business shall we?  Lately, I haven't been making much, but when I do make something, I have LOOOOOOVED it.  I have been going for the quality over quantity with my projects and it's very satisfying.  (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)  I recently decided to raid my stash o' bottles and altered one of them as a gift that I have yet to mail off.

Altered bottle

I spent about 4 hours doing this one, if you can believe that.  I have this HUGE roll of jute and some gorgeous May Arts velvet and crochet trim.  I wrapped the jute around sections of the bottle and used the May Arts trim in between.  An old floral sprig that my mom made when I was about 12 (no lie!), embossed chipboard birds, and a Sass Lass brooch finish it off.

Another one of my more pleasing projects lately is a bit sentimental.  I put together a mini album that I plan on giving to my oldest daughter, Madi, when she goes to high school in a couple years.  I  am going to write notes, letters, and words of wisdom and tuck them into the pockets and envelopes in the mini.

For You mini album

This mini was so much fun because I love playing with color, pattern and texture.  I used everything from lace to May Arts trims and even made my own cabochons throughout.  I think Madi will truly love and appreciate this when I give it to her.

Now for the whopper!  This is a wreath I made for an old friend of mine.  And yes!  There is a tutorial to go with it!  Yay!! I love this wreath so much, that I think I'm going to have to make one for me.

Fluffy Wreath

Now how on earth did I make this?  It's ridiculously easy.  I can't say it's not time consuming because it is.  It took me about 14 hours from start to finish to put this together.

Here's what you'll need:

Wreath form
Large scallop circle punch
Wrapping paper or paper of your choice (I used 2 different wrapping papers)
Hot glue gun with glue sticks (several glue sticks)
Ribbon or trim of your choosing (I used a gorgeous birlap trim from May Arts)
Embellishments (I used wood stars from Joann's, Blue Moon chain, acrylic paint, and Crackle Accents)

Main Supplies (I didn't end up using the blue/ivory ribbon.)

Step 1:

Punch your circles.

Be sure to punch batches of them.  I ended up using one full roll of the gingham wrapping paper and half of a roll of the gold star paper.

Step 2:
Make your flower.  Start by pushing down the center of the circle and gathering it together and pinching it.

Push center of circle

Gather and pinch

Step 3:
Glue flower onto your wreath form using your glue gun.

You'll want to make a cluster of one paper.  Then when you are happy with your cluster size, you can add the second paper in.  I did mine mostly gingham with stars peekabooing throughout the wreath.

Cluster of gingham flowers

Cluster with gold star paper added

As the cluster grows, you'll see your design start to take shape.

Oh how they grow so fast!  ;)

Keep adding your flowers until your wreath is covered.

Progress!

Fluffiness achieved!

Step 4:
Once you have completely covered your wreath form, you'll need to cut your trim into strips.  Mine are cut into 12" strips because that is what worked for me and the size of my wreath.

Step 5:
You want wrap them around your wreath form.  Now, I was in my groove and didn't realize until after I had finished this step that I didn't take the pictures.  Doh!  FACEPALM!  But I do have a finished picture of this step.  Yay!

Step 6:
Now comes the fun part.  EMBELLISH!  I took my stars and painted them and added Crackle Accents to the red and blue stars.  I also painted some of the smaller stars white and glued them to my burlap strips.  Once the paint dried on my layered stars, I glued my chain to them and attached them to the wreath.

Oh my stars!

Step 7:
This is probably the most important step of all.  Sit back and admire!

Oooooh!  Aaaaaaah!

I hope you've enjoyed this not-so-little tutorial and if you decide to take the plunge and make one of these, let me know!  I would love to see it and leave you some love!

Cheers!




Ribbons and Trims (May Arts)
PV-34-06 (Green Velvet: Mini Album)
PV-34-25 (Red Velvet: Mini Album)
QN08 (Black Twill: Mini Album)
QN09 (Cream Twill: Bottle)
372-1-33 (Brown Velvet Crochet: Bottle)
408-05-10 (Burlap Trim: Wreath)