A Moment in Time

Spider Eggs!

Here's another cute idea to dress up your typical Halloween candy.  One of the great things about our glass test tubes is just that! They're glass! What's so great about that? Well, firstly it means that you can heat emboss on them!!  Although I will caution you now they get HOT when you do this!!!! Make sure to have handy some sort of utensil to hold the tube while you heat it (I use a long handled wooden spoon).  Another must have for this project is an embossing buddy or static cling sheet such as Bounce to prepare the test tube before embossing. Glass is has a lot of static to it and if you don't eliminate it before hand you'll regret it later!

Firstly, prepare your tube with your embossing buddy or static cling dryer sheet. Next, carefully ink your image, I like pigment ink for test tubes and glass. Now here's the tricky part; place your test tube on your table surface and sort of "roll" it while you stamp your image onto it. This can take a bit of practice but once you get the hang of it it's fairly simple. The good news is... if you have trouble here, just take a moist paper towel or rag and wipe the tube clean and start over! I used the spider and Happy Halloween sentiment from RBD's Happy Halloween set.

Next, cover your image with embossing powder. Here's where you'll see how successful you were in removing the static! 

Now, insert your tool (my wooden spoon) into the tube and hold vertically. Heat emboss, being careful not to touch the glass!!!  Also, it does need a bit of cooling time before it is handled or filled with candy (it'll melt!!) I also punched out a matching circle with my 3/4" punch to add a little something to the corks.

Voila!!! There you go! A quick and super cute idea.

Brittle Bones

Hello hello,

I often celebrate many traditions in our house. One of my kids' favorites is this one in particular. Every year at Halloween, like most families, we carve pumpkins, roast the seeds and light our jack-o-lanterns. One other thing we do is make bones!  Yup, they're meringue and they're so cute!

This is the recipe I use, however if my oven is not able to be surrendered overnight, I just bake them for an additional hour.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups sugar

Pinch of salt

5 egg whites at room temperature

Pinch of cream of tartar

1 teaspoon almond, vanilla, orange or lemon extract

 

Preparation:

1.

Preheat oven to 220°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Prepare pastry bag with round #10 tip (about 3/8-inch diameter).

2.

Combine sugar and salt in small bowl. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in small bowl with electric mixer at low speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar mixture, beating constantly. Beat until stiff peaks form and meringue is shiny and smooth. Add extract; beat just until blended.

3.

Fill pastry bag with meringue. Pipe log 3 to 4 inches long. Pipe 2 balls on both ends of each log. Smooth any peaks with wet finger. Repeat with remaining meringue.

4.

Bake 30 minutes; turn off heat. Leave cookies in oven overnight; do not open oven door.

 

Tip To give the "bones" an ivory or "aged" look, add 1 to 2 drops yellow food coloring with the extract.

 

I've taken these bones and put them into our Large clear take out container and fancied it up a bit. I've also used our stamp set from RBD Happy Halloween.

 

Happy Spooking folks!  My youngest is going to be a ferocious lion, and my oldest is going as a ninja. I'll try to snap a few pics to share! :)

Wooden box gift bag

 
Good snowy afternoon to you. I can't believe this weather! Last week I was sweltering in flip-flops and tank tops and considering the lake, and today I wake up to mother nature's sense of humor and a blanket of thick snow. WOW, makes me feel like I'm already behind on my Christmas shopping!

So we are officially up and running at RBD once again and if you've stopped by the site you'll se we are offering a coupon for 20% off your entire order for being such patient customers! Many other markdowns throughout the store as well so go have a look!

This little wooden gift bag is a little something I created this morning using the vine from Blossom & Wilt and the other images from the Happy Halloween set. I stamped three of the pumpkin image and then cut and layered them to give the 3D effect. I tried to take the picture from the side to get the effect but it may be a bit tough to see.

I'll be back early next week with more projects for the season!

I will be finalizing all of the monogram winners' proofs this weekend to send off  for production so if you are a winner and have been wondering when I'll get back to you, you can expect me soon!

Keep warm!

September Release!

Hello hello!  Here I am to unveil the newest set from RBD Happy Halloween. I wanted to design something which could be used both by the scrapbooker and the gift or treat giver. Since I haven't been able to play with this set myself (see previous post about the chaos while I move!) both Tina and Deb have done a beautiful job in using this new set.

Here are a few projects created by our talented guest designer, Deb. Please visit her blog and tell her what a fabulous job she's done! Don't you just LOVE how she incorporated our scrolls into her designs? Fabulous job Deb!

For all of you interested in purchasing this set, the shopping cart access will be restored on September 15th! Don't forget to order all of your bags and tins and alterables for those special goblins this year! Remember, if you spend over $50 CDN you receive FREE shipping within Canada and the US!

Okay! Back to unpacking! I can't wait to ink this set up and post some ideas for this one!!!

A few more ideas

Just thought I'd pop on and show you a few things from the design team.

First is a cute little emergency list by Tina using the new Listed set. Check out her blog and let her know that you love it! There is added versatility in this project because she has added a magnet from her junk mail onto the back to stick to her fridge if she didn't want to keep it on the counter... great idea.

Secondly, another fabulous project using the listed set made by Amber. This cute little purse buddy is just the thing for on-the-go organization.

Click on the picture to see the entire book. It is cleverly designed with sectioned dividers and perforated pages!! Another great idea to use up some coasters.

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend! It seems spring has finally sprung around here and so we got a bit of spring cleaning taken care of this weekend.  I can't wait to get my garden going! I will drop by later in the week and show you a few more things for inspiration!

~D

Introducing..... Listed

***********Second post today so make sure you SCROLL DOWN!************

Hello everyone! Happy April Fool's Day! I was lucky, I only almost fell for something but I caught myself!

For some reason we are having some technical difficulties with the store today but I am told the host is working on fixing the problems.. please be patient!

Here is the second part of today's release from RBD, the new set Listed. I think this will become a staple in my collection because I am a compulsive list maker and post-it writer.

I created this little purse pal today using crafty board (in the RBD store).

I used the Bold Blossoms set to create the subtle flower pattern on the outside cover of my case.

I then took the lines stamp from the Listed set and created my own little notepad. I used the Shopping List heading because that is mostly what I will be using this for. Of course you could change this to any other requirement that you would have!

Don't you just LOVE how easy it is to make beautiful lists!

I then repeated the pattern on a long envelope (from SU!) and used the "Coupons" stamp on the flap.

I adhered this to the other inside flap to hold all of my various coupons that I carry when running my errands.

I of course had to add a pen handy and punched a hole (do this before covering with paper) to tie a ribbon through to hold my pen in place. I think this looked prettier than having a pocket. An elastic loop would've also done the job nicely.

Here is a close up of the inside view. Click to enlarge

I think I am going to try my hand at a wedding planner version of this later which lays out the guest list, table seating planner etc.

This set has so many possibilities that I can't wait to try!

Thanks for stopping by today, I've got a few more posts lined up to show a few things the design team has created using the new sets from April!

Cheers!

Introducing...... Coffee and Tea!

WOW, can  you believe it is APRIL!! You wouldn't know it by looking around here though! We got another dump of snow, the only bright side I can see to this is that I can delay my spring cleaning a little bit longer.

Since it is April first I suppose that means I should reveal some Stamp sets!!!  You may have caught the teaser on Keri Lee's blog for this first set I am revealing, Coffee and Tea.  I am in love with the thousands of options this set has to offer.  It is divided into two for coffee lovers and tea lovers. Then, to make this set even MORE versatile, there is an add-on set which extends it even further by adding a cocoa sentiment and marshmallows!!

For my first project I made this sweet little tea gift set. I found that cute little white teapot for $1 at the local dollar store!! It's perfect for two cups of tea.

I also found that cute little tea infuser at IKEA for a steal of a deal to complete the set.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

 

For the tea, I purchased loose tea in bulk and put them into our square french glass bottles and labeled them with my rectangle nestability dies. I modified a template I had to fit 2 bottles perfectly. Just print out this template on the wrong side of your cardstock and assemble! I lined it with the gorgeos vellum from SU!.

Download Square bottle caddy box 

If you like the little curly accents under the main focal point and on the cardfront and tops of the jar labels you may* want to keep an eye out for the May stamp set release *hint hint*

I acheived that variation in the color on the tiny cups by stamping the image in the lighter blue color first and then sponging on some cocoa colored ink onto the edges. I also put them inside the scribble circle from the pampered package set and punched them out and put them on the caps of the bottles.

I used the "Enjoy" sentiment from RBD's Pampered Package set as well.

To make this teapot (don't you just LOVE that teapot!?) I simply used the same technique on the teapot as I did for the cup image above. Stamping it in the lighter color first and then sponging the darker color around the edges. I pierced a few little designs in the corners for some interest and used the secret stamp as a border behind the focal image (that stamp is from a set to be released in May).

I tied one of my favorite types of bows here, it's a little tricky to get the hang of it at first but basically, what you do is when you are looping your ribbon around your rabbit ear instead of going around clockwise, go around counter-clockwise and you'll end up with one loop on top and the other loop and two "tails" on the bottom. It takes a bit of practice but once you get it you've got it for life! hahah I love how it makes the bottom of the bow a bit heavier allowing me to stick in two pearl pins for balance on top.  

Have a great Wednesday everyone!!!

I will have a few more posts in the next little bit using this set to show you some other ideas to put it to good use!!

A few cards

Hello folks!

I was emailed pictures of some beautiful cards done by a few talented ladies and I thought I'd share them here with you!

This first set is done by Lea L. and I am in LA-ha-ha-HOVE with this set. Isn't it DARLING! It uses the stamp set Bee-Mail and some square clear top tins. Wouldn't you just die if you got this as a gift!! Be sure to visit her blog and let her know what you think about it!

Next up is an adorable birthday card done by Keri Lee Sereika using the sets Everything Birthdays, and Darling Damask. Isn't it beautful!? I love the white on black of the damask. Make sure to pop by her blog and let her know that you like it!

Thanks for stopping by, I'll post some done by me later this week!

Cheers!

Thanks Martha!

 Like every day that I get a new magazine I was thrilled to see I had a delivery (I'm a junkie, I have like 10 subscriptions!)! I ran home from my mailbox, Martha Stewart Living in hand (april 2009), and completely devoured it!  I mean 2-3 times! Anyway, they have a fabulous article on decoupaging eggs using napkin prints (p.54). Well this IMMEDIATELY got my mind thinking and this is what turned out!

I used the stamps set Darling Damask and standard gift tissue paper!

Firstly, remember yesterday when I posted saying I use foam for packign electronics as my cushion? Well here is a little picture of what it looks like. We are considering adding a piece of this into every stamp set we sell, what do you think?

Now I must say, be sure to put a layer of scrap paper under the tissue paper you are stamping because it will bleed through a bit, wouldn't want to ruin your kitchen table!!

 

 I also want to let you know to use a waterproof ink such as palette (which I used) or Staz-on. 

 

Once you've stamped the damask pattern repeatedly onto the tissue, trim around all of the images you wish to use... no need to be exact although if you want to dye them after you may want to get as close as possible (the dye only adheres to the egg part, not the tissue part). 

Now take your Mod Podge and a paintbrush and decoupage your tissue onto your eggs, making sure not to get the tissue too saturated as then it will come off if you accidently touch it. If you have the time (and patience! Which I don't!) decorate the bottom half, and then the top half, letting the egg dry in between sitting in an egg cup or ring.

Here are three finished eggs, one I tried to dye after  I had mod podged it to see what would happen.

 

 

I then added them into our cute little Jute tote to make a little easter display!

This could be dangerous! I think I will be decoupaging everything in sight!!! I love how these turned out!!

Thanks for looking! I will be away for the weekend on a scrapbooking retreat!! I KNOW, it's about time!!! so I will post again on Monday!! Cheers!

~D

Accordian file box tutorial

Hello all! This is a continuation to Friday's post and a lot of the techniques used in this tutorial are the exact same as that post, so if you don't understand something, check that post because I went into far more detail than I will be here.

What you need to make this matching file box:

-Chipboard sheets 2 which are 5"x7" and three which are 7"x2"

- two pieces of Cardstock 8"x5"  for accordian sides

- cardstock and designer paper to cover both sides of cardstock pieces, scraps to decorate, embellishments

You will need a 12"x7" piece to cover the bottom and back (one for inside one for out) and  5"x7" pieces for the lid (inside and out) which will leave you with a bit of overhang to cover the back seam nicely. Of course you can use whatever you'd like!

-Darling Damask stamp set

-Scor-pal, scor-tape or adhesive, paper trimmer, paper piercer, binding or hockey tape

-clasp and brads to fasten

Begin by laying out your chipboard pieces as shown in the picture. Tape all of the seams together on both sides with binding or hockey tape. I like to leave a small space between pieces to ensure they are easy to position into a box form later. the single 2inch section in between the larger pieces is the bottom of your file box.

Cover both sides with designer paper and cardstock as you like.

line up your 8"x5" pieces of cardstock on your scor-pal so that the longest side is across the top. Score at half inch increments along the entire piece. Repeat with other 8"x5" piece.Now fold back and forth in an accordian fold as you did in Friday's tutorial. Now adhere with scor-tape the accordian on either side of the file box ensuring that the folds are running vertically.

Line up your clasp on the front of your box and pierce holes with your paper piercer to allow for the brads to penetrate the chipboard and attach your clasp parts.  THis is what your file should look like.

This box is pretty straight forward, especially after making the accordian file tote . However, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to send me an email!

Wouldn't it be cute to add a "strap" and make this into a purse? Or use the same concept but on a larger scale and turn the accordian tote file into a large file box! Endless possibilities!

Thanks for popping by today! It's my oldest son, Braden's, 5th birthday today! Where does the time go! We celebrated this past weekend so hopefully I can post a few pictures for you to have a look!

Have a SUPER week everyone! I'll try to stop by again this week with some more cards to have a peek at!

I provide my tutorials and templates for free for you to use and create with, but I ask that you please reference me and credit where appropriate! Thank you!