Inspire Me

Firecracker Designs Inspiration

Lately I have been so inspired by the stamp sets at Firecracker Designs. I especially love all of the scenic/landscape type sets. There are so many and they all work so well together or individually. I hope to bring you more designs using these stamps in the near future. In the meantime I was perusing the gallery (Which is full of amazingly talented people & their designs) I came across this card:

Designed by Julie Warner and called Peaceful Nature. You can see Julie's blog post highlighting the card and her directions for how she achieved this stunning look here.  While you're there be sure to look around - believe me this isn't the only amazing project that she has! Anyhow, I wondered how I might try to re-create this card or basically case it.

In the end here were my results:

 

Let me share with you how I completed mine.

I started with a reverse mask (I cut a 5" circle from the center of a piece of paper, remove the circle and discard. the frame is what becomes your reverse mask). Temporarily adhere that to your cardstock that you will be working on.

I used 6 different inks (Barely banana, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Only Orange & Real Red).

Starting with the lightest color I sponged it on all over my paper, then went to the next lightest color and sponged that color on but not covering the entire circle  - just going to almost the middle. Basically each time you start with a new ink color you sponge it on starting from the outside edge and don't go as far inside as you did with the previous color. Which is what gives you such depth and blending of colors. So continue on until you are at your very darkest color and at that point you are really just sponging around the edge.

Stamp the Joy of nature tree in the center of your card. I also extended the water by re-inking just the waves and stamping again. I stamped in Chocolate Chip Ink.

I then highlighted the body of the tree and other spots with a white gel pen.

My orange border is stamped with the pussy willow stamp from the set and stamped in Pumpkin Pie ink. The edges are rubbed with Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Chip. My brown cardstock is embossed using a SU texture plate.

Anyhow I put my card out for display in my store, Inspire Me and everyone went nuts (Thanks to Julie's inspiration!) So I decided to have a class and mix up things a little bit. So when class started I said they had to pick different colors then were originally used. I want to share with you the results of that class and the color of inks they used.

This card was completed by Betty miles and she did use the same colors as my original project but stamped her tree in Tempting Turquoise. It was simply stunning! And even though we used the same colors both cards look completely unique.

 

 

 

 

 

This card was completed by Deb Russo and she used:

Bordering Blue - Bashful blue - Brocade blue - ballet blue & elegant eggplant. Her tree is stamped in Night of navy. It's simply stunning and gives the feel of winter approaching. Now I do have to take a moment to pick on Deb, her words are stamped upside down. I placed the stamps on the block and just handed them to her. It was my fault I didn't pay attention when putting them on the block. We were all so busy admiring how the colors turned out that it actually took us a while to notice and then we laughed for a long time. Thanks Deb for being such a good sport!

This is Fran Pickard's card and she used the same colors as Betty & I. She stamped her tree in Night of Navy. Another amazing result! Each one looks so beautiful and yet so different! matted on Dark blue & yellow it was a stunning finished project.

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly, but certainly not leastly is tammy's card. I owe her an apology since it appears I had the massive shakes when I took this blurry picture. And you gotta love that I permanently leave the anti shake button in the on position on my camera. And I still got blurry! But I think you can see the beautiful combination of colors. Tammy's card ended up feeling like a Sailor's Delight Sunset. She used, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Apricot Appeal & Taken with Teal. She stamped her tree in Always Artichoke and placed her words to the left of her tree. Way to think out of the box Tammy!

I also want to share with you a new (Or new to me) tool that I have come across that is making applying ink so easy and giving such amazing results. It's the Sponge tool from CTMH, they are called Foam Tools, product # Z1090 and be purchased here.  Applying ink couldn't be any easier or cleaner for that matter. The handles make them so easy to hold and use! In my studio these are a MUST HAVE!

So Julie, I hope we did your original card justice and we can't thank you enough for the inspiration!

As for you Pam; Simply fantastic stamps and we are having a ball here at Inspire Me. The gallery is full of amazing ideas and will keep you busy for days.

So a big thanks to the many talented ladies that took the class, to those that inspired us and to Pam for the awesome stamps!

Digi Stamping for Ethan

Okay, so I know I've been gone from posting for a while and at some point I'll try to catch up but I just had to post this and share with you.

I know first hand what it's like to live with an ill child, to live from one Dr.'s appointment to the next. To travel hours to see that one renowned specialist that you hope will take care of everything and then try to find a way to maintain your lives emotionally & financially. Anyhow, this isn't about me, it's just that I do understand that part.

Earlier this morning, I was perusing other blogs and I came across Lauren Meader's recent post. She is a wonder house to say the least. Well her connection with this family and Ethan, an amazing & adorable little boy, is what brings me to my post. Ethan passed on far to young and this is in tribute to him and his loving family.

 

Melissa from Pink Cat Studiodeveloped this Digi stamp set with all the proceeds from selling this digi file going to the Make a Wish foundation. I have never used a Digi Stamp before and always have been quite reluctant, to be honest. But for Ethan I had to do it. To the left is my result. Just in case your not sure what the background is, it's a wreath made of horse shoes with a red bandanna tied through it. I also found that as a digi image, here. I did painstakingly cut it out before matting it.

Here is what the full digi set looks like:

Seriously! Can you believe how freakin cute those images are? Now you can get some super cute images, and help a worthy cause! Plus since these are Digital Downloads you pay NO SHIPPING, NO STORAGE and you get them INSTANTLY! LOVE IT!

Help us honor the life of Ethan Weiman by purchasing the Weiman Wranglers Digital Stamps. All proceeds will go to the Make A Wish Foundation of Illinois, per request of the family, in Ethan’s honor! Make A Wish fulfilled Ethan’s wish last year, when they gifted him with his horse Sanador, and a barn! Later, when Sanador passed away, they gave him another horse, named Questions! This organization really helped make Ethan’s dreams come true! It will be nice to be able to honor him, and give back something, to help brighten the day of some other sick child.

So start at lauren's blogand see what she's giving away for purchasing, and being a part of something bigger than all of us, this Digi Set. And while you're there check to see what others have made at Pink Cat Studios and others that have linked on.

Here are the deets to my card:

• Weiman Wranglers Digi stamp set from Pink Cat Studio
• Digital photo of horseshoe wreath, Hoofprints.com

Copic Markers

• Spica Markers
• Lt Blue Bazzill CS
• Red cardstock from the Paper Co.
• White stardream metallic paper from Cut Cardstock
• Hero's have always been cowboys from Carolee's Creations
• Cowboy sign from Jolee's
• Adirondack denim ink for distressing

Here's one more photo of my card cause I really wanted you to see the awesome glimmer to it. I know they're cowboys and they should be tough, but now just didn't seem like the time to be tough and I thought a little sparkle might be just right for the situation. See how the horseshoes shine and her little pants, even the horses hooves do.

My thanks go out to Lauren for being so quick on the draw to do something for this family. And my heart is with the Weiman family as they start their lives over again. All my love to them.

Cheryl

Happy Keester

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Somehow life just gets in the wa - UGH!

I do have tons of projects to share with you and I am trying desperately to get them posted.

But I didn't want this day to go by without wishing you an absolutely wonderful Easter. I hope you get to spend time with your families, watch children hunt for eggs or just relax and enjoy the wonderful day.

Bunny Basket & Template Instructions

Here it is as promised, Bunny Basket #2. First let me share with you the photo that inspired me:

So once again, armed with my Scor-pal, just can't do it without that baby, I set out to make a paper version of these.

This time I wanted to have a bunny that was a light shade as opposed to white, so I chose to use SU Sahara Sand, and here are the results:

It can be made larger or smaller very easily and the collar can be made bigger, it's all so simple.

Here are the basic instructions for the one I came up with:

Supplies:

• 8 1/2" square of Sahara Sand cardstock
• SU Designer Series paper Spring Flowers Pack
• Small piece of SU Pretty in Pink CS (for ears & Cheeks)
• Small piece of SU Pink Pirouette CS (For mouth)
• Black multiliner - Copic
• Black Glossy (eyes)
• Chalk - Pebbles Inc
• SU Cameo Coral Ink
• SU uni-ball Signo Gel Pen
• SU Scallop edge border punch
• 1" circle punch
• 5/8" circle punch
• Paisley Nestabilities - Spellbinders
• Flower Punch (eyes)
• Scor-Pal

To assemble:

1. Place the 8 1/2" square on your Scor-Pal and score at 2 1/2" & 6". Rotate a 1/4 turn and score again at 2 1/2" & 6". You should have 4 intersecting lines. We are making a basic box and many sizes can easily be made from this same process. To see more great basic boxes visit Scor-pal and click on envelopes and boxes.
2. Cut along the score lines on two opposing sides, just up to the first vertical score line.
3. Apply adhesive to the four corners and fold the corners in forming a box. You now have the base of your bunny. NOTE: I did not line my corners up perfectly when gluing so that the sides of my bunny would look a little fat. Nothing cuter than a pudgy bunny, lol
4. To make his collar, cut a 1 1/2" x 12" strip of paper and a 1 1/2" x 3" strip. I cut mine from the yellow argyle patterned paper. Score the long edge at 1" - do this to both pieces. Fold the strip over the top of the box. You now have a decorative collar for your bunny.
5. For the ears cut 2 paisleys (Your choice of size) from the Pretty in Pink CS. Ink the edges with Cameo Coral ink.
6. For the inside of the ears cut 2 more paisleys at least 1 size smaller than the outer ear. I went 2 sizes smaller and cut the inner ears from SU pp.
7. To make the face punch 2 1" circles from Pretty in Pink CS. Rub with chalk and add 5-8 dots on each cheek using a black multi-liner or fine point marker. Slightly overlap and adhere together.
8. Punch a 5/8" circle from Pink Pirouette CS. This becomes the tongue. Adhere under the cheeks.
9. To make the eyes punch 2 flowers from the black glossy paper. Add small white dots using the gel pen. Glue 3 petals of the flower under the cheeks.
10. Now take the entire glued face and add it to your basket. Add three lines for whiskers, if desired.
11. To create the handles cut 2 strips of PP 1' x 12" Punch the scalloped punch down one side of the strip, turn and repeat the punching on the other edge. You will now have a scalloped/lace-like handle. Do the same process to the other strip. Adhere these inside the basket. Here is a photo of the handles from the top of the basket:

Isn't that the cutest way to make a handle? I just love that scallop edge punch. Now I still love my Tonic Punches but on occasion I want a smaller scallop I refer to this punch.

So that's it, my version of another bunny Basket. I'm going to play some more with this and since this one was so much easier to make I may do these for my Son's class at Easter time. I have some time.

I'm playing with another template for a St. Patrick's day box. As soon as I have worked out the kinks I'll be sure to share that with you also.

Stay warm and have a great day!

 

Key to my Heart soap box gift set

You know how sometimes you make something and just love the results? And you think that this may be worthy of entering into one of those calls. And you do enter and then you wait, and wait and wait. Until you finally realize that all this waiting is more than likely a "NO". I can handle the "no" part - I just hate the waiting. Patience has never been a virtue for me, my kids would laugh over that! So some times you enter and they pick you and sometimes they don't. But don't give up just keep trying. So instead I get to share this project with all of you:

This was an entry in the small division for a Close to my Heart call. You had to use their Key to my Heart stamp set and paper set. Believe me not hard to do. Just look at this stamp set

So many beautiful elements! And the paper set is equally as gorgeous!

The small division had to be anything 6 x 6 an under.

This wooden box is 5 x 5. I had picked it up a while back for $.50 and it had the word seeds printed on it where the love is now. And that inset was also painted blue. It was yucky!

But I took ink and inked up the outer edges of the box and then decoupaged paper in the insets and edges. The whole project was intended to be like a little Valentine's gift for that someone special. I originally stamped the frame and then lined it all up on my computer so that the words would print perfectly within the pre-set lines.

I stamped the designs for the soap on paper, antiqued it and sealed the top with a thin layer of paraffin wax, smoothing out any rough spots with a small craft iron.

The votive candles I just wrapped with a piece of the patterned paper and ink the top of the candle to take away the bright white. To make the keys look more real I stamped them on chipboard with versamark and heat embossed them in silver embossing poweder. Cut them out and intertwined them.

Here are a few different views of the box.

A side view

Another side view. Each side of the box was a little different, whether done with patterned paper or inked and stamped with an image.

 

 

 

  A close-up view from the top

The part that I liked the most was making the bar of soap and having it actually be used. By sealing the image with a layer of paraffin wax it makes the soap usable and the image then won't melt off.

Think about the cool gifts you could make this way!

Now I haven't forgotten about my other bunny basket, I had a short video to go with it and I just couldn't get it to load so I opted for this which I've been wanting to share with you for a while anyhow. So I may just ditch the bunny video and print the instructions for it.

See ya soon, I'm off to Copic Certification tomorrow so I will see you all Monday. Have a good one!

Bunny Boxes with instructions!!

Well we are all dug out from the last snow storm and I'm wishing for spring quickly. Signs of spring are everywhere - from robins and blue birds to new catalogs in the mail. Yup, Got a Current Catalog the other day filled with spring items and It inspired me. So many cute things that I just wanted to create. Well let's say, "try & create"

Here was my first inspiration, aren't these just darling?

After seeing them I thought why can't I do this? 

So out came the Score Pal & paper and this was the result. I just wish I was a little better at the drawing piece. His poor mouth, lol.

Want to make one for yourself? It's pretty simple. Here's how:

1. Cut a 4 1/2 x 12 piece of cardstock. This will be the base.
2. Using your scor-Pal, score length wise (see photo 1) at 3 1/2".
3. Then lay your paper long side against the top (see photo 2) and using a pen - mark your strip at 1" intervals.   

Cut each 1" mark up to the score line (See photo 3), creating tabs. Set this piece aside for a moment.

For the cover:

1. cut a piece of matching cardstock 2" x 12".
2. Score at the 1" mark (As in photo 1) 
3. Repeat the 1" marks as in Photo 2.
4. Cut each 1" mark up to the score line as in photo 3, creating tabs.
5. Set aside
6. Ears: I used the paisley nesties to create my ears. Cut the larger size in white to match the cover and base and the smaller paisley in pink for the inner part of the ears. I also stamped little hearts inside the ears so they didn't look so flat.
7. Using an exacto knife cut a slit in the top of your cover and slide the ears into the top. Angle them anyway you would like. I also rounded one of the ears to make it looked as if it was flopping over.
8. Once you have them in place add a bit of liquid glue to hold them and cover the glue with small flowers

To help stabilize the cover and base:

1. Cut 4 circles. I used the largest of the petite circles from nestabilities, it was a perfect fit. I used the same cardstock that matched my cover & base
2. I also cut a scalloped circle from the Lg classic Scalloped Nestabilities set. You may want to choose a different colored cardstock for this as it sits on his head. I used a blue.

Other items that you will need:

1. Ribbon for the top and bottom of your bunny
2. a small heart for the nose
3. 3 different size circles for the eyes. I used the smallest petite circle from my nesties for the blue base. I hand cut the black piece and used a regular hole punch to create the small white for his eyes
4. His tongue is a small piece of pink paper.
5. You will also use a black marker and some pink ink. I used Tattered rose from Ranger for my ink as I wanted him to have a "soft" look.

To assemble:

• Using the larger strip (For the base) of cardstock, place adhesive on one of the shorter ends.
• Slowly wrap the cardstock around itself to form a circle. The first 1" tab and the last 1" tab should meet.
• Push all of the 1" tabs inside the circle and fix any spots that may appear more square than round.
• Take one of the circles and add adhesive around the outer edge. This circle will go inside your base on top of the tabs to add stability to the base.
• Repeat with another circle that will go under the tabs of the base and give your bunny a cute bottom, Just in case anyone should turn him over, LOL.
• For the cover, place adhesive on a short end and slowly wrap. Instead of the first and last tab meeting perfectly make this circle slightly bigger than the base so that it slides on top easily. (Sorry wish I had a better measurement than slightly bigger) You could also wrap it around the base, glue it and slide it off, then you would have the perfect shape & size.
• Add a circle to the inside and outside of the cover, for stability.
• Place your large scalloped circle on the top of your cover.
• Add ribbon, of your choice, around the rim of the cover
• Assemble the eyes and glue to front of base. Draw eyelashes
• Glue heart nose to base. Draw straight line with curves for mouth. (That's where I wish I was better at art)
• Add tongue.
• Using a tissue rub into pink ink and smudge onto base to create bunny cheeks.
• Add another ribbon to bottom of base, if desired.

Aside from the drawing of his mouth I think he's kinda cute. All I have to do is stuff him with some goodies and he's ready for giving.

There are so many directions you could go in with this cute little project, use patterned paper for the base or a soft yellow, pink or brown. You decide, remember there are no rules when creating a project! I just love that, cause if there were rules I would just have to brake them anyhow, lol!

I hope you enjoyed this little bunny inspiration and that you'll give him a try. And if the directions don't make sense at any point PLEASE feel free to e-mail me and I will try to clarify. Give him a try and send me a photo. It was a quick project and I'm going to try and make a girl to go with him, poor thing he does look a little lonely. :)

Be sure to come back tomorrow for inspiration Bunny # 2 I'll have directions for that one also!

 

Let it Snow

So many of my readers are at opposite ends of the coast from where I sit, so I thought I would try and share a bit of the East Coast, Maine to be specific. We just got slammed with another snow storm this one dumping up to 24" in some places. There are still over 80,000 people without power, so Mother Nature dropped a douzy on us. To help you really see the beauty of a storm like this I took a small video. I'm still new at how this works, so forgive the camera turning. I thought it would give you a portrait view instead of landscape. As you will see I still have lots to learn.

 

On top of it all we rescued a poor lost dog this morning, that seemed so disoriented by the tall snow banking's. He was such a sweetie. We enjoyed him for 8 hours and then his owners called the animal shelter and they told him where Buddy (the dog) was. My boys were sad to see him go - but we had great fun with him. Here is my little guy just giving him some loving.

 

The kids just finished a week of school vacation and today was supposed to be their first day back. So I decided to let them lay low and hang in jammies today. Somehow he ended up in shorts only. But this is Buddy who evidently lives a few streets over.

Fortunately we have power, but we're still digging out. So here's hoping that you're warm & cozy with all your loved ones close by.

Family Ties

So the other day I was crying about my 4 yr old growing up. Now I'm going to brag on him a little. At Christmas time he received a rock guitar, as he calls it. You know one of those computerized type of things. Well he now runs around singing rock star songs. His two favorite songs that he has written are "My Mom is a rock star" (I personally love that one!) and "My Dad loves my Mom" If you can imagine the first one is a hard rock melody with him screaming the words, while the second song is more of a ballad. Here he is dressed in his rock star outfit that he has put together on his own, a vest from a western party, a dollar store bling necklace and his shades:

Don't you just love him?!

Anyhow, my point to this whole post is a card. As you know I just received this great order of stamp sets from Close to my Heart. And today as Nicholas was running around serenading me I realized that the Family Ties - Adult C1346 set matched his song exactly!

First, here is the set:

 

 

 

 

Isn't this set just adorable?!

So with the My dad loves My Mom ballad being sung ever so softly I created this card.

   

Nicholas chose all the colors for the clothes and I colored using my Copic Markers. After which we both decided it needed a little bling, cause Mom just wasn't Mom without some sparkle. So I went over the dress, tie and shoes with my Spica markers. I just love that this picture captured so much of the bling. Actually this is a pretty common scene in my home. My Dh loves to bring me flowers and he's forever holding my hand, even when we're just sitting on the couch together. He's a keeper, lol.

In addition to choosing the colors he also chose the papers. So it's a simple card but hey it was created from a 4 yr olds love song and his creative mind. I think he did a great job!

Supplies:

• Copic Markers

• Spica markers

• Riding Hood Red cardstock from SU

• Striped paper - All My Memories, Toadstool

• Family Ties - Adult stamp set from Close to my Heart

• White cardstock from Papertrey

• Chipboard rings from Technique Tuesday

• Ribbon by Offray
• Brads, unknown source

Now the real reason I had originally purchased this stamp set was cause I felt I could use it with my Cricut. I'm terrible at drawing faces and I don't have a lot of cartridges so I thought that this would work so well with Beyond Birthdays. The boy and girl that are on the cartridge. I thought that if I could cut out an image, like the boy, I could then just use the Family Ties set to decorate him. This was the result:

Not too bad, huh?! I had to re-bend the arms a little to fit the t-shirt. I haven't had a chance to play anymore but it does appear as if it's going to work well. What do you think?

Key to my Heart

I wanted to share this layout I did today. My baby is going to be 5 soon and basically I'm freaking out! The joke is that I'm not allowing him to go to school in the fall and he is to never get any older! So I've been quite reminiscent these days, thinking back to his birth. Sorting through photos, shedding some tears (good tears) I finally decided to get productive and actually scrap a photo, go figure, lol! So while playing with photos I did this quilted layout:

Actually it's paper weaving, one of my favorite things to do. The background is supposed to look like a quilt. So there's my baby, it seems like it was just yesterday. He was so damn cute! Actually he still is and thankfully he still loves to cuddle!

Since I had just received this new paper pack it was a perfect fit.

All supplies from Close to my Heart:

• Key to my Heart paper pack & Key to my Heart E1012 stamp set

basically choose four of the patterned papers and cut two of them into 6 - 1" x 11" strips and the other 2 patterned papers into 5 - 1" x 11" strips. Then start weaving the strips together, being sure to weave them as tightly as possible to keep your quilt square. Some trimming may have to be done to completely square it off. Mat on a piece of 11 1/4" x 11 1/4" cardstock and mat that onto a piece of 12 x 12 cardstock in a coordinating color.

To create the frame I used the large corner flourish stamp and stamped it twice in opposite directions. To follow the curves of the image I simply laid the stamp back onto the paper and traced the outside edge with a pencil. Now if I was a better cutter I could have free-handed this, but my cutting skills are not the best! But that's the beauty of unmounted and acrylic stamps - you can lay them against your stamped images and get the exact outlines by tracing.

The photo corners are made with 3/4" x 2" strips. I basically followed the directions at TAC.

Other paper-weaving projects I've done:

 

Mood Lighting

I want to share with you some really great little votive holders that I made. These are simple to do and can be larger and taller if you would like.

 

These were made from cardstock, from cut cardstock stardream metallics collection, that was 8 1/4" long.

Let's start with the votive holder to the left: The one to the left was made with a piece of red metallic cardstock that was 3 1/2" tall. I used my diamond print tonic punch to create that beautiful top edge. (remember that if you go to the left column on this blog and click on Tonic all my past projects and tutorial videos will come up.) Tonic punches are always available through me here at Inspire Me, just click on email me for more information. Finished size of the votive holder is 3", the Tonic border punch actually removes 1/2" as it creates that beautiful diamond print.

Then using my Scor-Pal I scored the cardstock at 2", 4", 6" & 8". Using your Scor-Pal makes it so easy since you can just lay the piece of paper on it and make all your scores at once.

To make the windows I used my square nestabilities to cut through two layers at once. It worked so quickly and easily. The windows are made from vellum and were stamped with this awesome small medallion set from I Brake for Stamps and also available at Inspire Me.

These stamps have just so much potential for more of these votive holders and cards. Trim the vellum to be slightly bigger than your cut opening and glue inside. Fold up the votive holder into a square and place your adhesive on the 1/4" strip that is left over.

That's all there is to it! Oh wait, the bling! How dare we forget the bling?! I added blue kaiser rhinestones to the tips of the decorative edge and stickles to the stamped medallion images.

The votive holder on the right shows you that you can make it taller. I started with the same 8 1/4" piece of cardstock. But made the height 4". Scored at the same measurements. The Tonic Punch I used this time is the tag 2 in 1 punch. Since the Tonic Punch when used as a border removes 1/2" from your paper the finished size is a 2" square that is 3 1/2" tall. Add a small piece of gold ribbon, some stickles to the vellum medallions and we're done.

Now picture these done in a different color, like a cream. And about 100 of them sitting on tables at a wedding reception. Wouldn't that look lovely? And since these work up so easily, it would be done in a flash. Also doing them taller or shorter allows for other types of candles to be inserted into them also. You could also make the most beautiful place card holders that would match the votive holders. Now this is a wedding that's coming together. Now I just have to find someone getting married - YIKES!

Anyhow, go and create and be sure to add some bling!

Take care.