Cute Critters with Flower Soft

Good Day!

Today I'm sharing Flower Soft used on animals. They are so cute.

These images are preprinted,they are like a card front. Flower Soft sells them and have different designs as well as some of them are 3-D, like when we used to do paper-tole. Over the next couple of days I'll post one of those too.

The first three pictures are of the card I made yesterday and the last image is the card I did at the class I took. I'll give you a couple of tips that I've learned since I started playing with this stuff.

For any of the small areas, such as the flowers and grass I used a paper clip to apply the glue. A tooth pick would work good too, I just happen to have a paper clip handy and it doubles to poke down the nozzle on the glue when you can't get the glue to flow. Also notice on the first critter you can still see some of the printed image of the hair. The last image I had placed flower soft right up to the edge of the fur and that lost some of the depth on the character. So you want to leave some of the lines showing.

The heart and the sentiment under the bow are done with stickers. I told you...I'm working on using stuff in my stash. The word "Love" wasn't colored in but I used my copics and just wrote over top. I tried it first with a Stampin' Up marker and of course it didn't dry on a non-porous surface. Two hours later I wiped it off with a tissue and then colored in with my copic and it was dry within seconds. Just thought I would share that little tidbit.

Working on my flower bouquet today. Will probably post that on Monday.

Toodles

Yvonne

Flower Soft & Rub On's

Hello,

I returned home from CHA. It was quite the experience. I should have logged how far I walked each day.

Over the next few days I'll try and show some of the projects or products I used at CHA.

For today's card I used "Flower Soft". Previous to attending CHA I had heard about the product but had not used it. I did take a class and have projects to share from that but todays card was my own. I made it last night.

I'm going to start by talking about the embellishments...I've decided to try and use more "stuff" from my stash and maybe even "stuff" that I've received but just haven't even tried. The flower strip down the side are fabric flowers. Sticky on the back and I had picked up these flower borders from the Dollar store. For added impact I placed a little pearl in the centre of each flower.

Are you ready for this?.....I used rub-ons. lol I know, me with all those stamps...The rub-ons are from Stampin' Up and I decided to give it a whirl. I liked it. So if you have some that are just sitting there, why not give it a try, you already have them. You probably can't read the saying at the top but it says "Life is Beautiful." The flowers on the bottom right hand side are also rub-ons but the one flower was the same size as the flower strip so I cut out one flower and placed it overtop. Oh yes, I also put a flower beside the words...that's because I made an ooooppps! But you'd never know after my little fix.

I used the Spellbinder ovals and scalloped ovals in three different sizes and a gold pen to outline the stamped oval.

Pop to the bottom of the post if you want to hear about "Flower Soft".

Flower Soft comes in lots of different colors and now TWO textures. The regular that you've seen for the last year and now also an ultra fine. I've only had a chance to play with the regular but I think my preference would be the ultrafine. You know me...I like everything so it can be neat & tidy. It reminds me of styrofoam that has been finely shaved and colored.
To adhere it you use a good glue. I used their brand but it was a white high tack PVA glue. I cannot comment as to how well other brands would work. You place small drops of glue or cover an entire area with glue, then sprinkle the flower soft over the glue and gently tap off the extra. If you want you can lightly pat the area that has flower sofe before you remove the excess. I believe using less is better than over doing it.

If you click on the photos above you will be able to see the flower soft on the card where flowers should be. You can use this flower soft anywhere you want texture or added depth. Each container has a generous amount so I might suggest finding a friend and sharing different colors. The color I used on this card is called "Spring". The have them in solid colors and then multi-colored as well.

I'll be back with some more samples and instruction on making a flower bouquet and using it on animals. I'll also try and get a good picture of what the product looks like.

I've had my card sketch up since the first of January...if you're planning on posting your take to it please do so by the 31st. I will be giving away a little something one lucky entrant.

Hope you enjoyed todays post and come back tomorrow.

Yvonne

Making Memories - Slice

Hello,

No card today...just me!

You could have your picture taken at the Making Memories booth and then if your picture was posted on the winner board you would win a Slice machine. Sad to say I didn't win but it was fun.lol

I did do a class by Spellbinders this morning. They are showcasing a new diecut/embossing machine. It will use approximately 2 x 2 dies. We used the prototype in class this morning. You place your die into a plastic folder and then into the die cut machine which is battery operated and you push a button and it will cut the image by compressing the die.

Did I like it???? My opinion...no. We did make three projects which I will share upon returning home. I believe it will be spring when it will be ready for sale. I find the folders that the dies go into will wear out quickly. My suggestion would be to wait awhile and see what other blogs/community groups etc have to report on it. It's new so there are bound to be glitches.

Heading home tomorrow so I hope to share something on Thursday.

Yvonne

Hearts,Hearts, Hearts & Cricut Cake

Hi There,

I've come back to the hotel early this afternoon for a little rest before heading out again.

This time I'll talk about the card first and after the picture I'll give few updates from CHA.

I promise once I return I'll post a litle more variety. I preloaded these all these cards. A very simple card...just get out your scrap paper and a punch. That's all. Punch out 8 hearts and glue those to your cardstock. Don't have a stamp like I have on the bottom of the card. Two options...use something else you like or go to your computer type something up and print it onto your cardstock before you cute it. This way you can get the typed words where you want them if you're not good at figuring out where the wording is going to print.

Also on this card the pink layer that has the border edge is acutally the card base. So think of it this way. Fold your pink cardstock (5 1/2 x 8 1/2) in half. Punch a border along the edge and then take brown cardstock (5 1/2 x 4 1/4) and place this underneath the pink layer so just a little of the brown shows through.

Now onto some updates: Cricut has come out with another new machine called the "Cricut Cake". Not used for papercrafting but for baking...it will sit in your kitchen. It comes in a pretty red color and will revolutionize cake decorating. You can utilize all your existing cartridges in this machine but it is specially designed to cut fondant and gum paste. It really is very cool. I've been doing my best to win one. I've been walking around for two days wearing a bakers hat. I did win a ticket today for entry but didn't end up winning. There's always tomorrow. Steph you could use this!

I also had an opporunity to try out Cricut's Gypsy. I really didn't think I needed one of those, well I still don't but I want one. lol I currently have Cricut's Design studio that works through your computer. For demos and find out more go to www.cricut.com. Anyway the biggests feature for me was that anything you design you have the ability to make a larger or smaller size for layering purposes. When you create a project with the design studio you don't have the option to re-create that exact item a 1/4 of inch larger. They've been giving some of those away too...I'm hoping to get lucky.

I had my picture taken with a celebrity today while they were signing my book and free die. Anybody know who that might be....stay tuned as I post the photo when I get home.

Hope I haven't bored you too much with my rambling....have a good afternoon.

Yvonne

CHA Update - Another Valentine Card

Hello There,

I know I promised updates from the CHA Show...well the wireless internet I was to have in the room is really only wireless in the lobby of the hotel...hmmm so here I sit.

First off...Many of you sent me notes about the Valentine Card treats from the last post. The little treat heart cups can be purchased from Stampin' Up. They have them in heart shape and circles.

CHA Show...it is huge. Friday I seemed to wander aimlessly from booth to booth. Both Friday & Saturday were days open to the general public and you could purchase stuff. I behaved and purchased almost nothing...except at the close of business Saturday one of the booth was having a sale on an organizer for your stamping/scrapbooking tools. I decided I needed it and now I have to figure out how it's getting home. lol
I've attended a Copic Card Class, Flower Soft (that was pretty cool and I will have samples to share), a class by Tim Holtz (an amazing presenter, very fast paced. We made some grunge paper rose flowers. Today was a Sizzix class.

It's very cool to see all the new lines of products but it is so huge it's hard to take it all in. Flower Soft has come out with a finer product than their regular stuff. I was at the Robin's Nest booth and they have some lovely new diamond drops. You all like the Dew Drops, so now they have diamond drops and also and smaller version of the original Dew Drop.

Little Yellow Bicycle has a great boys line of scrapbooking paper. I did do a 12 x 12 page at their booth this morning and am sure I need more of that paper.

That's all I have time to comment on for now. Here's a short version of todays card that I loaded to the computer before I left home. Again ALL products used on this card are from Stampin' Up. Card not designed by me...this was part of a card class I took. Love the colors they choose. Also do you see the border punch. That is a free punch earned through Sell-a-bration. You can also purchase a corner punch to co-ordinate with it. I now longer sell SU but do still enjoy their stuff.

It's been a long day...need to put my feet up. Supposed to be sqeezing in an afternoon at Disneyland too. Move over Minnie....Mickey here I come!

Thanks for reading and I look forward in sharing projects with you on my return.

Yvonne

So Excited...

Good Morning,

And it really is morning...4:00 a.m. to be exact and I've been up for awhile. Can't seem to sleep. Don't know if it is because I'm excited to be going on a little vacation or the fact that there is a snorer in the house tonight! Either way I need to be heading to the shower as my flight leaves at 7:30 and I want to make sure I have lots of time to get to the airport.

So while I'm waiting for the time to pass I thought of you and will share a card.

This is another card made at the stamping class. I really like the grey base that this card has. I wouldn't normally paired up these colors for a birthday card. The flowers are made with a thin sizzix die from Stampin' Up. The dot background is also a new embossing folder that they carry. Very similiar to the swiss dot folder by Cuttlebug. The flower edges have been inked with grey and a brad for the centre of the flowers and some dimensionals to create depth.

Hopefully I will be able to sleep a little on the plane so I'll be refreshed when I arrive.

Have a great day and I hope to check back in with you tonight!

Yvonne

Valentine Treats

Good Morning,

I've been busy trying to get ready to go away to CHA. I think I have all my tickets printed off, a list of supplies I need for the classes I want to take and money. lol Actually there the show is more for wholesalers so there won't be much money spending going on.

The cards I show over the next few days were made at a class I took last week. Terri Mills is a Stampin' Up demonstrator so all supplies will be SU and a lot of them projects were completed with items either from the new mini catalogue or the Sell-a-bration catalogue.

Todays card is just cute. The pattern paper is new.. Sending Love Specialty...and there are some glitter designs in there. The heart shaped treat cups are super easy to use as there is adhesive all around the edge and there's a punch the shape of the heart.

Keeping it short as I have things to get done.

Have painted the toe nails now I have to remove the polish from the toes themselves.

I'm going to try and update you from Anahiem. Taking my camera with me.

Yvonne

Distressed Dahlia - Tutorial

Good Morning!

Not only do I have a scrapbook page to share but a bit of a tutorial as well. I'm almost finished Adam & Steph's wedding album. Down to just three more pages.

These two pages are featuring some of the stuff that went on "Behind The Scenes". Food preparation for the wedding and transforming the hall from a community room to a place for a wedding reception. To all of those who helped with the task my heartfelt thank you.

The photographs are not the best but I worked with what I had. Our photographer Stuart wasn't around for these and nobody wanted to stop and pose for me! It's so hard to get co-opertive help! lol Just kidding!

The layout design was inspired from PageMaps - May 2008. Of course I tweaked it a little. The scallop borders using Stampin' Up's border punch. The branch from Cricut - Zoobaloo, the love birds - Wedding, title - Lyrical Letters cartridge. Cardstock Stampin' Up and pattern paper - Costco. They matched pretty good. Spellbinders for the flower and circles.

The flower image is the Dahlia from Spellbinders. For the scrapbook page I used the four smallest flowers. This technique could be used with any punches or flowers cut from your cricut in various sizes.          

Next I distressed the edges of the flower with the edge distresser. No fear if you don't have one. Roughing up the edges with your fingernails works fine too. Takes a little longer!

I used my Tim Holtz ink blender and SU ink to color the edges of the cardstock.

Now grab that flower and crumple it up. Yes, I mean crumple it up. When you're finished rolling it into a ball and pinching it open it up. You know if you've done it enough cause the paper will almost feel like suede. If you overdo it your cardstock may start to separate. That's okay...you can always glue those edges together or you might like the look.

You'll notice how I only applied the ink to the raised up areas. Don't try to get uniform coverage.

Give this a try and let me know what you think. Between a couple of the layers I also used dimensionals for more depth.

Hope you enjoyed todays tutorial.

See you tomorrow!

Yvonne

Christmas Elf

Hey, It's The Week-end!

No big plans for the week-end here. DH arrived home last night so I think I'll cook supper tonight. Real food. When he's gone I tend to eat the microwave dinners and the last ones I bought were not so good. Should have stuck to the ones I usually buy.

This page I created with a challenge in mind. I was blogging around and ended up at Practical Scrappers. I already had it in my mind to use some bling so when I saw the challenge it just fueled the creative juices.

The pattern paper is from Bo Bunny Christmas Line. The circles just begged to have some cut out and his cute little face inserted behind. I used the cricut and design studio to make the garland across the top. I punched out little brown circles to glue onto the garland followed by the bling.

The Christmas tree in the lower corner was embossed with the Christmas Tree folder onto Co-ordination paper so it could be sanded. I carefully cut around the image and used Tim Holtz distress ink to darken the edges. Then I carefully placed on more bling.

The pattern paper already had snowflakes on it so a jewel in each centre tied it together.

Lastly the title was done on my computer and the snowflake was cut with the cricut and of course more jewels.

By the way his Mommy made him his little "Christmas Elf" outfit.

I need to start getting ready for the CHA show that starts next Friday. I'm getting excited.

Yvonne

Treat Boxes

Hi There Bloggers!

Another week has passed. Goes by so quickly. I've been working on Valentine's Day projects. I was waiting for some sunshine to photograph these projects but I didn't want to wait till Sunday.

Not much to report on what I'm doing. Keeping pretty close to home.

The little Valentine boxes were made using the Cricut and the "Bags, Tags & More cartridge. Used the window feature for the heart cutout and then placed a piece of acetate behind the cutout so the candies wouldn't fall out. I also used the heart folder from cuttlebug to emboss the paper after I had cut it out on the cricut. Quick and cute!

Can you guess who the next project is for? Must send this out to Xavier. He's still too young for chocolate (for this year, next year will be different) so I filled it with Teddy Grahams. I always bought my kids one of those small Valentine hearts for them. The little ones that only had about five chocolates but I think they always looked forward to it. I did it even when they were adults. Now that we are so far apart I can't justify mailing it out.

I got sidetracked there....I found the directions for the little box on Splitcoaststampers. The link I've provided is to the creators tutorial which is on her blog.

If you're going to make this a couple of things to keep in mind. Make sure you make your oval down low enough. I wanted the oval to be at the Aligators mouths. My paper was already precut (scraps) so I couldn't just recut it. After I had cut the oval I realized that the flap on the box lid was going to hang down to low so I had to trim that also. The heart brad I used (thought it was so cute) however it would have been better if the prongs of the brad would have been in the centre of the brad instead of closer to the top. It made it difficult for the flap to be able to tuck in.

For tomorrow or later today I have another scrapbook page. I need to get this one up as it is for a contest. It has lots of bling!!!

Bye

Yvonne

You Are My Q-T Pie!

Morning All!

A quick post today as I'm heading off to a card class. Will give me lots of stuff to post for a few days. lol

I need to get away from the house. Getting tired already of construction stuff. Back hoes are running up and down the lot beside us making everything ready for concrete. It's going to be crazy until the houses are framed. Won't be so bad once they are working inside the houses. Can you imagine the noise when they are doing the framing.

I did make a Valentine's Day card for a special little person in my life.

Border punch is by Fiskars, the paper and stamps are Stampin' UP. The eyelets I've had forever and finally get to use a couple of them. I've got hearts, hearts and more hearts not to mention lips, x & o's, cupids and arrows....I probably have way more valentine embellishments than I'm ever going to use. If I'm totally honest I probably have way more of everything than I'm ever going to use. How about you....are you a collector or a user? Let me know. lol Oh...and it doesn't have to relate just to stamping/scrapbooking stuff. What about those quilters/knitters,out there? How many balls of yarn have you picked up cause it's pretty? Getting sidetracked....

That's about all there is to say about the card. I have also made a couple of candy holders...mmmmm....sadly all the candy didn't make it to the containers. I'll share those tomorrow.

A special thank you to all who comment on my blog, it is appreciated. If you leave and e-mail or a link I'll respond. However, if you just leave a comment I don't receive an e-mail address I can respond to, sooooo if you don't hear from me it wasn't cause I didn't appreciate your comment!

Time to be off to my class....

Yvonne

Daydreaming About Tear Drops

Happy Monday,

We had a cool week-end but the temperature should stay above freezing tonight. Yippee.

Going to get right to the card today. The image is from SU's set Summer by the Seashore. I love that stamp...makes me think dreamy. Just into your own thoughts.

I used two different cuttlebug folders. Script and Distressed Stripes.Also border scallop punch by SU. Distress inks by Tim Holtz on the edges and across the script words. The layers on the images were cut using the nestabilities and the image colored with copics.

See those cute embellishments. Santa brought them to me. What a good Santa. They are Tear Drops. Just a different shape from Dew Drops.

Now I'm thinking about working on some Valentine's Day cards. I have one almost completed so it might be ready for tomorrow.

Have you been following all the new Spellbinders releases? They've got lots of new releases coming and some of them are only available for a limited time.

See you tomorrow!

Yvonne

I've Been So Good!

Good Morning,

Saturday isn't it? I'm shivering down here. -5C this morning. This is not funny.

This is Xavier's page for the month of December. I think it is so adorable but of course I'm his Nana!

I used Bo Bunny paper from their 2009 Christmas Line. I also used the Cricut to cut out the ornament shape and popped his cute little face into the centre of it.

The HO HO HO was first cut from paper grungeboard with the Cricut. I used the multicut feature on number 3. I then cut the image again from some double sided sticky tape. I adhered that to the grungeboard and then took off the top coating to add the glitter.

I sponged around the edge of the ornament to give it some dimension using Tim Holtz Cordory Distress Ink.

The snowflakes were already on the paper but I wanted a sparkly centre. I covered the end of a brad with Crystal Effects and then dipped it into co-ordinating glitter.

Not shown here I also cut out the letters for December and covered them in red glitter. Just so sparkly!

That's all I have to share today.

Yvonne

Mojo Monday

Happy Friday,

Todays card is for the Mojo Monday Challenge .  Click the link if you want more info on the challenge.

the stamp is from SU  - Summer By The Sea. The verse is also from the same set. Instead of using ribbon I used pattern paper and cut it to represent ribbon. I added a tab to my card for a little differnt spin on it. Also I put brads along the ribbon so it would look more like a belt.

There is a card sample up on the sketch I posted earlier in the month. Way to go Marilyn! I will leave this sketch open for additional posts until the 15th of January.

Enjoy your week-end.

Yvonne

Do You Remember Magic Mesh?

Good Morning,

Well there has been a flurry of activity around our house. The contractors for the pool showed up at 7:00 a.m. to start digging. The hole is almost done, then they will put in the plumbing and tomorrow the gunite goes in. And if that isn't enough construction there are three lots across the road being prepped for the concrete slabs for the base of the house. At this time it looks like there will be construction all around us. Two more houses are going up beside ours and one directly behind. At least if they do it all at once the mess and noise will be over in about 5 months.

With a show of hands "How many people remember Magic Mesh?" It was sticky on one side, had a grid pattern to it and you could get it in different colors. If you didn't want to spend your crafty money that way you could go to the hardware department and buy drywall tape, I believe it was called. It came in white but you could change the color with inks or chalks. Now that you know what I'm talking about this card needed something else but I couldn't very well but dew drops, pearls or ribbon on a card for a seven year old boy.(Notice the 7 candles...the stamp only came with six...had to add an extra!) Placed random pieces of magic mesh on the card and then added linen thread to the button and attached them with glue dots.

The rectangles were done with Nestabilities and the edges of the image were sponged with distress ink. I'm starting to like that distress ink more and more. The pattern paper is about eight years old and have no idea where it came from but I am working on trying to use up stuff that I have.

Can't forget the stamped image was colored with Copics and the stamp is from "Stampendous". Years ago I colored in about 30 of these little guys for birth announcements for my niece. In those days I designed most of the cards all differently too. Now I'd be smarter and do just one design. lol

Working on a couple more cards this afternoon and then perhaps think about another scrapbook page.

Wondering if anybody is working on the sketch challenge card I posted on the first of January?

Happy Crafting Day!

Yvonne

Baptism and Brads

Good Day,

Yesterday my DD flew back to Toronto via Montreal. Didn't make her connecting flight due to late plane. Finally arrived in Toronto but not all the luggage made it. She's still missing one piece. We had a great visit and we were sorry that she had to leave but I'm sure Joel and the "Cats" will be happy to have her home.

This morning we had the pool construction guys over to layout the pool. Now they just need to start digging. Hopefully tomorrow. Kinda hard to think about a pool though when it is chilly. The fire pit we are putting in has a lot more appeal right now! lol

Did a couple of scrapbooking pages over Christmas. These are photos of Xavier's baptism in October. He was six months at the time.

The paper used on the first page is from Basic Grey, a Christmas line a couple of years ago. The other pattern paper was Costco bulk. The ivory paper with the design was made cusing the textile folder with the Cuttlebug. Have you ever used one of the sponges from Tim Holtz? They attach to a handle. They work great for placing ink just on the raised embossed areas.

You can see on this page I incorporated the textile design again and made a patchwork background. That was a little challenging getting everything to line up. I had my trusty ruler though! Looks like Xavier is standing by himself. Actually he sort of was... he was leaning against Moms legs but he was supporting his own weight.

The brads in the centre of the flowers were made with the brad maker from Imaginisce. It works pretty cool and you can have a brad to match everything. You can make them in three different sizes and this was the smallest. A little large if you wanted them for cards. The tool isn't too hard to operate once you get the hang of it. The tool also comes with a DVD with instructions. Who needs instructions...just keep trying till it finally works. Might have been quicker if I'd watched the DVD though!

Hope you enjoyed todays page.

Children's Birthday Cards - Boy & Girl

Good Morning,

I'm checking things out to see if the new delivery system is working.

A couple birthday cards today for a niece and nephew. It's so much fun using brighter colors. Don't get much of an opportunity for that.

Do you see the bugs crawling in and out of the card? I really wanted to make some interactive cards but I ran out of time (I was already late on the cards, not counting the mail time it would take to get to Canada).

Heading off to do some girl stuff with Kristen today and I might take down the Christmas tree. The branches are starting to look pretty droopy.

Enjoy your day and if you have any comments on the new delivery system let me know.

Also don't forget to try the card sketch challenge on yesterdays post.

Yvonne

News To Subscribers

Good Morning,

This news broadcast is specifically for my e-mail subscribers. You will be seeing a little different format of my blog. I find there are some links that won't show up to the e-mail subscribers in the present format. What will happen in the future is you will get the e-mail but it is only going to show part of the entry. You will need to click on the link where it says read entire article.

On the up side it will present itself in a nicer format. When reading directly from my blog there won't be any ads on the side of the article. Yesterdays post wouldn't show the "Mr. Linky" information. If you go to the blog it is there.

I will be posting later today with the new version. Just wanted to give you a heads up so you knew what was going on.

Later.

Yvonne

Happy New Year! - Sketches For You!

Here we are...2010!

Do you wonder what this year holds for you? I do! Just when life starts to settle down something usually happens to spice it up. I already know January will be busy. DD leaves on the 4th and then hubby leaves on the 11th for a week. He gets back and I leave to go to the CHA show in California and that pretty much takes care of January.

Did you do your resolutions last night? Mine are the same. I usually lose the weight I want to over the year and then put it back on at Christmas. lol You'd think I'd learn. I also want to be more consistent in my blogging. I have a new cartridge for my Cricut that makes calendars. More specifically cuts the grid and the numbers nicely. I want to to do one page per month of the calendar so next Christmas I can give them for gifts. A 2011 calendar. Other than that, just remember to enjoy what we have here and now as the future will always become the present and there is no point in wishing our time away.

I've been toying with the idea of posting a card or scrapbook sketch once or twice a month and getting people to play along by uploading links to their cards. Is that something you would play along with? I've gone ahead and posted the first card sketch. These are my designs to the best of my knowledge.

Oh look. Here's that cute little mouse in my house again. This time he's in the orange juice. Is it really JUST orange juise though...after all it was New Years! Cuttlebugged the background with the bubble folder and liked the addition of the buttons for something different.




Just click on the link below to post your card creation. Bear with me on this process as I'm just trying to figure out "Mr. Linky". If you don't have a blog you can send me a scan of your card and I'll try and figure out how to upload it. It'll be a learning process for all of us.My e-mail ybalmer@hotmail.com



Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!