Inspire Me

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.

What's for Supper?

So this is a very different post for me but this was so yummy I just had to share what we had for supper tonight.

My 8 yr old & I share some pretty wicked food allergies:

• Cow's Milk, Goat's milk, eggs, wheat, sesame, oats, yeast, almonds, cranberries and that's just to name a few of the biggies - whew!

So anytime I can come up with a recipe that the kids love, I like and my husband enjoys well that one goes in the recipe of life cookbooks. I created this dish myself and think it has a slightly Thai flare. I'm going to call it Gingered Cashew Carrot Pineapple garlic Chicken or Mom's Chicken dish:

Here's what you'll need:

• 8 oz. Cashew Carrot Ginger Soup (Made by Pacific Natural foods)
• 1 Tablespoon of crushed garlic
• 1 8 oz. can of crushed pineapple (juice & all)
• Safflower oil
• Chicken (I used 2 chicken breast and sliced it into thick pieces)

Directions:

• In a medium frying pan pour approx. 3 tablespoons safflower oil. Turn on medium low heat as safflower oil has a much lower burn temperature than regular oils.
• When oil is heated add garlic - saute for 1 minute
• Add Chicken slices, braise one side then flip
• Add Cashew carrot ginger soup
• Add entire can of crushed pineapple
• Stir to blend
• Cover and walk away to go and craft, lol

Seriously just leave it for 15 to 20 minutes with the cover on and temperature on medium low.

As a side dish I browned potato chunks, julienned carrots & broccoli pieces with red peppers, salt & pepper to taste. As a side dish we had sliced strawberries. I also made fruit smoothies with frozen strawberries, blueberries and a few raspberries - 1 container of soy vanilla yogurt and enough rice milk to help it all blend together. Now I have a photo of the dinner but they sucked down those smoothies so fast there's no picture. I guess that's a good thing!

Here's what it looked like:

We have some pretty creative meals in this house and not all of them are this successful. So I just thought I would share and even if you don't have any food allergies this is a low calorie, healthy meal for anyone. 

I'm looking at this photo and thinking that it doesn't look as good here as it did at suppertime and what's that Emeril always says? "You definitely need smell-a-vision" Cause the aromas in this house were heavenly.

So if you do decide to try this I would really love to hear what you thought of it.

Happy Eating everyone!

On the Day that You were Born

I just love that song. I always sang it to my four yr old, I still do only now he's old enough to tell me to stop. Cause, well I don't sing it all that beautifully. American Idol contestant I'm not. Anyhow, don't fall over - two posts in one day - YIKES! But I am just having so much fun with my new Close to my Heart stamps.

So I promised you a card made from the Moments in time set:

It really is so much more than just a calendar set. However, I wish I could take credit for my card but I cased it from Celebration Moments, take a peek at what she did with the set. So from there I came up with this for my daughter:

I used the That's Amore paper pack,

Moments in Time Stamp set and a few stamps from the Key to my Heart set. Remember you can get any of these from here.

Yup, My DD was born on March 28th - it seems as though it was just yesterday - she was so beautiful and so tiny. When she came home she was wearing Cabbage Patch clothes! Can you imagine?  Oops, sorry I digress.

The card - finished size is 5 x 7 with coordinating mats and fibers. Check out those fibers, they come in a package that looks like this: This set is called Spring Harmony. Plus there are at least 7 other sets.

The hearts were stamped and cut out and the hang heart hanging from the fibers is acrylic. Simply take a clear acrylic heart place Liquid Glass on one side and adhere to your patterned paper. When the liquid glass is dry then trim away the excess paper & boom instant embellishment that matches perfectly!

So now I know you want to order these right? First let me tell you that I am not working for Close to my Heart I am just overly excited about my new stamps so I love to share and better yet enable, lol. I just found out that the Moments in Time and the key to my Heart sets will not be available after January 31st so go here quickly and order!

I just got off the phone with some great friends in California, "Hi" Linda, Priscilla & Mary! They say the weather is beautiful - UGH! However, as much as I complain (and sometimes I can really whine!) I would rival anyone's sunny day for the amazing beauty of freshly fallen snow on the trees.

Calendars in a CD Case

I have been working on this really cool project, a calendar that fits inside of a CD Case. So it closes up for traveling or gift giving and then pops open to act as a stand while holding your calendar of the month.

Here is January: 

For this calendar set I am using all Close to my Heart stamp sets. I now have an awesome collection and thought I had better put them to good use. For the January page I used Moments in Time. Actually I used this whole set to create each month. It has a ton of great features to it and can even be used to make a great card. I'll try to finish one up later today and show you. I also used the set Make it Count.    As you can see I used that great Number border and the big clock. Now my page isn't the most classic Happy New Year page ever but it sure does symbolize our home. We were all sound asleep by 8:00 that night. The boys had wanted to stay up so badly, I told them they could. Like I said none of us made it past 8:00 p.m. And my little Nicholas fell asleep in his new Diego chair from Christmas. Hopefully he was having the sweetest dreams of a very happy new year!

I have one more calendar page to share with you for this post - It's February: I have to admit I just love this page! All my guys! Isn't that amazing?!

  For this page I added the set called Key to my Heart. Now this set is a must have! Just look at it:

 This set has so much versatility that I even used it for the May & December pages. also.

  Wondering how this all works with the CD case? Take a look at this: Isn't that the coolest thing? Doesn't take up much space and it's low profile. But you get to have it close to you for the whole year!

Then when you are done with each month you can scrapbook the entire page. Just think about it, a calendar and a scrapbook page that's already been started for you! 

So if you're in my area I will be hosting Lisa Moore at my store, Inspire Me as we teach this whole calendar project on Saturday the 31st (If the darn snow has stopped by then!) And if you're to far away and would like the instructions and paper used to do this then just drop me a line and I'll let you know how you can get it. Or you can go straight to Lisa's site and order any of these sets today. That was how I got my addiction started and as you know I'm always happy to enable someone else!

Well it appears as if it's gonna be a doozy in the good ol' State of Maine. School has already been canceled and for that matter so hasn't everything else. The snow hasn't started yet but they say it's coming and it's going to continue for today and tomorrow - Whew! The kids are excited, the hubby is groaning and I'm just tired of it! The store parking lot is getting smaller by the day! So when snow starts to impact my play time well then - that's enough!:)

I'll be sure to share some photos for those of you in the sunny states.

So for today stay dry & warm - bling on!

Hi everyone!

Hi everyone, I'm back from my very long sabbatical, but this great post from Libby has got me revived!, I hope you enjoy it and guess what?! I'll be back tomorrow...........

Check out Libby's great card at http://stampinlibby.blogspot.com/. I had sent her some of the buckles from the past. Remember these?

And here is the post where I used them in so many ways http://cherylhorton.typepad.com/inspire_me/2008/08/bling-me-gems.html

And in case you're wondering - those slippers are long longer around. When we got that darling new kitten and he grew and grew and grew (And now I think he's actually a dog) anyhow he thought they were the greatest toy. He would chase my feet when I had them on and when they were off he chewed the bling buckles. That cat (Leopold) is a character!

So have a great day and I'll see you soon!

Cheryl