Mini Clipboard, courtesy of the hardware store

I debated sharing this on my blog, because it's old, as in 2011 old.  :-)  I made this mini clipboard as a magazine submission, but it was not chosen, and I've long since mailed it to a friend.

I used a small sample of kitchen/bathroom countertop material that you find at your hardware store as my base, and covered it with papers and die cuts.

The shiny binder clip from Staples was soaked in saltwater for a few days until it developed this beautiful patina.  I tied on a couple of ribbon and lace scraps.

The ephemera is pretty much just from ColorBok's Flea Market collection, and a few bits from K & Co.

Thanks for letting me share this oldie-but-goodie with you!

Paper: Flea Market - Colorbok; Very Vanilla - SU  Ink: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap - Ranger Fibers: assorted ribbon scraps Accessories & Tools: die cuts - Flea Market / Colorbok; egg die cut, gold clear corner die cut - K & Co.; Dotted Scallop punch - EK Success; binder clip - Staples; typewriter letter stickers

One More Inexpensive Framed Wreath

At the time I posted all of my inexpensive wooden craft framed candle rings HERE, I had yet to finish one more:

The  frame was painted white, then washed with Heavenly Hues Gold Wash.  Gives it a bit of a rustic feel.  The harlequin patterned paper is retired Stampin' Up!, and the curlicue corners are Elegant Scrollwork by Memory Box.

Time to wrap it up as a gift for a loved one.  I think she'll like it.

Thanks for giving me a bit of your (in short supply) free time today!

Frosted Berry Ornament Frames

Glad Tidings to you!  If you have a moment to stop and look, I'd like to show you some ornaments I made as gifts for a few folks.

Couldn't find 'frosted' berries at the craft store in November, so I bought a 6-foot berry garland for half off (it came to $7.00), plucked them off and glittered them myself.

The wooden frames were $1.00 each, and I painted them with shimmery Martha Stewart craft paints.  I really like those paints!  I punched some Martha holly leaves and branches and gathered the frosted berries, then stamped Girl Land Tea Cup by Webster's Pages / Unity on white scrap cardstock.  They were overstamped with snowflakes and sentiments.

Hope you're doing well with your Christmas preparations!

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes - Stampin' Up!; Girl Land Tea Cup - Unity/Webster's Pages Paper: white - PTI; Old Olive, Always Artichoke - SU Ink: Sahara Sand - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Branch Punch, Holly Punch, Crystal glitter - Martha Stewart; berry garland; wooden frames; rhinestones - Queen & Co.

Merry Christmas Tree

Good morning all!  I'm sharing a Christmas project that's got personal meaning for me.  I created a wooden ornament for my church's display board, and used Inspired By Stamping's Holiday Ornaments set.

In our church, the Christmas trees in the sanctuary are decorated with Chrismons (the word is a combination of Christ and monogram).  The ornaments are traditionally white and gold.  To see a photo of a real tree with Chrismons, click HERE.   

I began with a wooden tree ornament and coated it with acrylic craft paint.

Using Holiday Ornaments, I stamped a bunch of images on white cardstock and heat-embossed them in gold.  I fussy-cut each one to add to my tree.

Using clear-drying craft glue, I added my "Chrismons" to the tree.  A scattering of pearls made it onto here too, 'cause I just love me some pearls!

The 'star' at the top of the tree is not a star at all, but a pretty snowflake from Elegant Christmas Sentiments.  I stamped it in a pale gray, then coated it with a glossy glue for dimension and shine.

I love that Holiday Ornaments set, and my favorite way that I've used it so far was this card from last Christmas:

Thanks so much for joining me!

Inexpensive Christmas gifts to make 'em say "Wow!"

Are you sitting down for a bit?  I've got a photo-heavy Christmas gift post to share.  Would you believe that each of these gifts cost me no more than $3.00 to make?  Granted, I have many, many (many) supplies on hand already -- like the paper, ribbons, pearls -- that I'm not adding in to the cost.  Each beautiful candle ring cost no more than $2.00 on sale, and the wooden frames were each $1.00.  

Each frame started off looking like this:

I'm in all things miniature (check out my Pinterest board, "Miniatures") and these candle rings just grabbed me by the heartstrings.  They're only about 3 3/4" wide, and, well, I just love 'em!

The next one has Champagne Metallic craft paint by Martha Stewart on the frame.   You can't see the pretty shimmer it has here.

I used Light Gold Metallic craft paint, also by Martha, on the following frame.  It's got a terrific pearly shine, but so hard to photograph!

The next two frames were primed with white craft paint first, and then washed with Heavenly Hues Gold paint wash by DecoArt, and wiped off.

You can see the gold better here:

Stampin' Up! lovers will recognize this retired flocked patterned paper from several years back.  It makes a dramatic piece, doesn't it?

Similar to the one above, the frame below has a slightly different 'wreath' on it.  It doesn't have white berries.

I lined the recessed part with metallic gold ribbon.  Can you see it?

Of all the frames, I fell in love with this modern one below, destined for my mother.  She loves black and all things contemporary.  Something about the simple lines and clean palette appealed to me.

I used another piece of retired Stampin' Up! designer paper (a wedding set...forget the name) behind the wreath.  It's got stripes of matte and glossy black.

Lucky me....these projects fit in the City Crafter challenge:  Wood + Frame.  It's like it was made for me!!  I'm also entering at The Paper Players -- theme is "Evergreen."  These wreaths are definitely fitting in. :-)

I'm glad you stopped by!  Which one is your favorite?

Inspired By Stamping November Sneak Peeks - Garden Seed Packets

This is one of two posts today.  For the Moxie Fab Thanks! Blog Hop, click HERE.

Hello there!  It's our last day of sneak peeks for the November release at Inspired By Stamping.  Today, we bring to you Garden Seed Packets.  (links for new items will work beginning on November 10th)

I created an ornament/decoration for a special friend.  She is so dear to me, and our friendship has indeed bloomed over the few years I've known her.

Using a couple of flower images from the stamp set, I created my own patterned paper.  Look how bright that red was before I toned it down!

A wooden heart from the craft store is the base of the project.  I simply traced its shape onto the patterned paper, trimmed and glued onto the heart.

To subdue that red, I used the dry-brushing technique with white paint, then coated it with high-gloss sealer when it was dry.

I glued pleated ribbon behind the heart....looked a bit too plain without it.  There are dots of liquid pearls along the border, too.  The banner and sentiment are from Garden Seed Packets, too.  A Red Flower and some punched greenery (and pearls; always, the pearls) topped it off.  Ta da!

The rest of our team has goodness to share with you:

Joanna - Irit - Leah - Shea - Grace - Rebecca - Vicki - Tina - Rose - Calypso   

Stuff To Know Before You Go:  
Save on the November release bundle!  10% discount until Dec 1st. -- Special Shipping prices!  Check Joanna's blog for more info.  -- PRIZE ALERT!! Joanna is giving away prizes every day during the sneak peeks.  Head over to her blog for your chance to win!

Tomorrow we can show you the November release in its entirety.  See you then!

Inspired By Stamping October Release - Vintage Birthday & A Lovely Birthday

It's Day Four of our October Release Sneak Peeks at Inspired By Stamping!  This month we want you to help celebrate our birthday bash with us! Oct 6th – Oct 9th we will be having challenges each day! There are sketches and color combinations and a few other themes too.

Oct 10th is our release day party! All the product will be available for purchase at 7pm Brisbane time or 5 AM EST.  We will also be offering free shipping for 48 hours starting on the 10th AND all our new stamps will be at a 10% discount!

Today we are featuring Vintage Birthday and A Lovely Birthday.

I created a little 'plaque' for my 15 year old daughter, to remind her that she is beautiful.  It's got a piece of slim cardboard on the back of the cardstock to give it some heft.  The pretty pink floral paper is part of the Girl Birthday Bash Digital Paper collection.  This pattern is my favorite.  :-)

The little cluster below features a "Love" postage image from A Lovely Birthday, along with a White Curly Flower, pale pink Cherry Blossom, and a Pale Pink Medium Flower.

A Lovely Birthday includes the banner frame with spray of flowers.  I stamped and trimmed two of those, then added a sentiment from the previously-released Trendy Circle Sentiments.

The frame below is part of A Lovely Birthday, too.  I trimmed out the center portion and added some shiny mirror cardstock, and of course, pearls.  Vintage Crochet Trim added a little somethin' somethin' to anchor the frame.

Our team wants to share their creations with you, too:

Joanna - Rose - Calypso - Shea - Kendra - Tina - Rebecca - Vicki - Leah - Irit - Shea  

Freebies & Sales:

• Free Shipping is available on all orders over $25, good for anyone, anywhere!  Good October 10th - October 15th.  The coupon code is Birthday. 
• Buy the bundle and save 10% 
• Purchase $50 worth of products from the IBS store and receive the Vintage Happy Birthday stamp FREE.  Good entire month of October; no code needed. 
• Take 30% off all our Birthday stamp sets:  code - IBSBIRTHDAY 
• All ribbons and flowers are marked down 25% - 50% off - no code needed.
• Dies on sale, 25% off!

One random winner each day will receive the entire Birthday Bash release, including all stamp sets, papers, and printables!  Be sure to leave a comment at Joanna's blog to be eligible.