Last Minute Gift For Someone Who Has Everything

This is a gift for my mom who says she doesn't really want or need anything for Christmas. She hates getting money as a gift but I think the presentation take care of that.

The idea came from Susan at ScrapyLand.com. That woman has more sources and more ideas than Carter has pills. (Okay my age is showing there just a little bit but who cares! She is phenomenal!)

Before I show you my pictures I want to share the link to the ScrapyLand Blog where you can find the video for this project.

Now with that shared I will say this project changes with the type of water you buy. The bottle I bought was Aquafina and the bottle was shaped a bit differently than that of the one Susan used but it was great because it gave me more surface to work on. I also made my design go all the way around my bottle so that any seems in the paper are hidden. I also took the extra step of gluing the bottom of the bottle back into place so that it is not removable. I want her to work to get the money out of the bottle.

Casino embellishments are somewhat hard to find and I did not want to take time to make the embellishments so I cheated a bit on this project. I bought a Jolee's package but I found that the slot machine was too long so I did what any scrapbooker would do, I used Undo, took it apart, cut it down, reassembled the slot machine removing one full section of the machine which made it the perfect height for my project. I used the retired QuicKutz Katie Font and a QuicKutz Scalloped Border to further embellish the label.

This project didn't take very long to make and I have to say makes receiving money a little bit more fun and gives the recipient something to unwrap, not to mention she is going to have to figure out how to get the money out of the bottle.








There is still time to make a few of these if you have no idea what to buy for someone... and they can be adapted for any theme or interest of the recipient.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Last Minute Gift Card Idea

I am one of those people who always forgets someone (even with a list!) I didn't really forget but I forgot how I was going to present the gift. Yes you guessed it - Gift Cards. I always get my mailman and UPS man a little something to let them know I appreciate them. This year was no different.

I decided to try something new and a little different. I've always loved unique cards where it leaves me saying "how did they do that?"

I decided that I wanted to make something suspended on a card but wanted it to double to hold a gift card. So I got busy and here is what I came up with.

This is the card, closed, as you would pull it out of the envelope:



This is of the card open, still pretty plain looking because you can't tell the Santa Face is suspended in an open frame or that the green square on the right side of the card is a pocket that holds a gift card. The Santa is a double sided die cut, and both the front and the inside of the card are finish the same (and I love the fact that printed double-sided cardstock works perfectly for this.)



The next two pictures are the card sitting opening on the table and I think that you can see a little bit better that the Santa head is hanging by fishing line. (My husband never dreamed that I would be getting into his tackle box for scrapbooking supplies.)






I had a lot of fun making these and just think of the possibilities and the other holidays that you could make a card like this for.

Now I am off to make one last Christmas gift before the day gets away from me.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Dimensions on the Accordion Card

The last post I said if anyone wanted the dimensions for the accordion card to leave a comment and Deborah did.

So here you go......

Cut a piece of cardstock 10 1/2 inches x 8 1/2 inches.

Then the scoring marks will be at 1 1/4 inches, 2 1/2 inches, 4 1/4 inches, 6 inches, and at 8 1/4 inches. (So that the 8 1/2 inches is the length of your card and the 10 1/2 inches is what is scored.)

Then you fold the card back and forth accordion style. and decorate or embellish to your taste.

Because of the size of my card I did have to make a special envelope for it and that envelope was made with gusseted sides and flap.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Accordion Card

I love this style of card and I've been waiting to do another one but I needed the right kind of embellishment or die cut to make it work. The other night in bed it hit me that I've had the right die for awhile and just didn't realize it.

I used a piece of navy blue cardstock and folded it accordion style so that it is graduated in quarter inch stair steps. I then cut out the QuicKutz Nativity Border Die in a pearl white cardstock. I love the simmer of that cardstock, but then cut that border into chunks so that the 3 wise men together , 2 shepherds together and so on. I decided that the manager would be my focal point (what else would be, right?) I put it center on the highest level and then arranged the other pieces so that they would be visible and look 3D when placed on other levels. I put a slit in the fold so that I could tuck the band of the border into the slit so that it was hidden and glued the front of the die to the card.

I also used the QuicKutz Cookie Cutter Sentiments "Merry Christmas" on the front of the card.

When the intended gets the card, and take it out it is a very 3D card that can sit on a table.

I made this card very wide to accommodate the entire nativity border so I had to make my own envelope, but you can adjust the width of the card to fit a standard envelope and you can also adjust what you are using on the card to embellish it so that the height also fits your envelope.





My thought for sharing this with you is that next time that you are ready to make a card, try a new style of card. This Accordion Card is a 3D twist that gives a new look and panoramic feel to a card that is meant to be part of a gift or greeting.

If you are interested in the dimensions leave a comment and I will be happy to post those as well.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Where There's A Will....

We've all seen them, and we've wondered they are so small what do we do with them. I am referring to the mini acrylic albums. These tiny little things are about 4 inches tall, some of them not even that and they are even less wide. I was perplexed.

Recently I went to an event at a local scrapbook store and they hosted a make and take using these mini albums as individual pieces and they had us use the "Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine." I have to admit my personal opinion on this machine is that is wasn't worth the time it took to manufacture it. When I did the make and take, my piece did not emboss at all and others around me were having the same problem. We were all disappointed in the overall make and take that they were showing us. It is my opinion that if someone is going to teach you to do something that it should be well executed. This one was not. I do not know if it was the machine, the person running the make and take, or a faulty embossing folder.

With that said where there is a will there is a way. So I bought a package of the acrylic blanks and came home and started playing with my QuicKutz Epic 6 Machine and a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder. The results were much different that what I saw with the Sizzix machine. I got perfect results with deep, beautiful embossing the first pass through the machine.

So I played a little more and decided instead of using a "glimmer mist" product to color the back side of the piece as they did during the make and take, I would use "Stickles" to highlight the embossed part of the piece to give it even more depth. I love the results.

Here is a step by step look at a blank, an embossed piece, and an embossed "Stickled" piece:







Then I played a little more with another shaped acrylic album, the snowman. I put him in the embossing folder from the brim of his hat down, used "Stickles" on the back of the snowman's hat making sure to put a ribbon of another color across it. I also used "Stickles" in the embossing channels on the back of the snowman, and after allowing that to dry, added some different sized jewels for eyes, a mouth, and buttons, and a piece of ribbon for a scarf around his neck.



I won't leave you hanging with out more detailed instructions. When I told others of my results they didn't believe me so I did a video proving that I used my QuicKutz Epic 6 Machine to do it.



I don't know if I would have tried using these acrylic blanks in my machine if I had not seen them do it in the Sizzix machine in the store first because let's face it sometimes I am a little chicken. (I have broken not one, not two, but three Revolution tools and learned not to be such a dare devil.)

Enjoy this Christmas season and use a few of those acrylic blanks to deck the halls.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

A Flood Of Emails

Okay, I think I will just answer the question here because I've had so many emails about the subject.

To answer the first question - Yes, ScrapyLand.com is having an open call for the first ever Design Team and it is ground breaking. The details were posted on the ScrapyLand Blog and time is running out. If you are interested enter today.

To answer the second question - NO, I am not trying out for this team. I will continue to send Susan, the ScrapyLand Blog Master projects, videos, and other ideas, emails and such but I have no desire at this point to be on another Design Team.

I love ScrapyLand, Susan, and Dani. I love working with them but with my hectic schedule I do not have the time, the energy, or the desire to spread myself that thin.

Like I said I will continue to create and send stuff to Susan and you can always find my crafting projects here on my personal blog because I am in no way giving up crafting, I am just taking a step back and slowing down to enjoy my family and friends and to do things at my own pace.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Cheer Up!

I am still playing with the QuicKutz Paper Doll release. I love the small dolls and the fact that they can be used on cards and lay outs plus they can be made made to look like the person who is showcased on the project.

When I first got that release the first thing I thought about is how this one person always supports me. She stands out in a crowd. Regardless of what others are doing she always does her own thing and says what is on her mind. I love that in her. So I started to think about how other pale in comparison and this is what I came up with.





This card fits in a legal size envelope, so it is a bit bigger than your average card but I wanted her to know she is bigger in my world than most people.

My challenge to you today is for you to brighten someones day by making a card made specially for them, about them. Let them know that you are thinking about them and how big they are in your world. They may have no idea.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Winter and Christmas Is Just Around The Corner

Before long it will be snowing and we will all be Christmas Shopping. I hope that you will take time to make a few of your gifts this year and get back to a more simple time. I think that so often we lose site of the meaning of Christmas because it gets lost in all of the hustle and bustle.

Each year I make family and friends a Christmas Tree ornament and this year is no exception. I used a set of the newly released Spellbinder Dies to create this 3D Snowflake Ornament that is perfect for gift giving. And if you think it is too cheap to give as a gift us it instead of a bow on a package and the person gets an extra little gift.

Here is a white one:



A Blue one:



The side view of it (so you can see the 3D aspect of it):



And then if you would like to know how they were made here is a video:



A little side note for the video, I did forget to include one step when I was going through the cutting of the Spellbinder dies. After you cut the dies, emboss them, then Stickle the white ones, let them dry and proceed putting them together. They are pretty either way but the embossing adds a little touch to them.

I hope that all of you will get back to basics this holiday season and use some of your talents to make a few of your party favors or gifts, enjoy the meaning of Christmas with family and friends and simplify.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

So Many People Sick

I know so many people who are sick. The flu has everyone staying at home. This got me to thinking what is the best way to fight the flu or the cold.... soup and hot tea. But how in the world do you send soup and tea to someone? I figured it out.

Make this tri-fold pocket card and add a packet of "Cup-Of-Soup" mix in one side and a tea bag in the other. It won't cure the flu but it will let someone special know that you are thinking of them.

I have included my template with measurements on how I made this card.

The front of the card:



Then a picture of it with one flap open:



And then both of the flaps open:



I you would like to make this Get Well Card here is a template that will help you with measurements and score lines.



The new QuicKutz dies that accompany the new Santa's Workshop Gift set were perfect for this project and would also be great for embellishing a recipe book or card.

I hope that you will try to brighten the day of someone who is not feeling good with a little hot soup and tea.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Epic 6 Machine and Free Die

When I got my new Epic 6 QuicKutz machine I was so excited but my machine was one of the first ones made and I've had a few problems with it. I wrote QKs a note and they are going to fix my machine but they said it will be about 2 months. So I have set aside the Epic 6 machine and I am back to using my Revolution Tool.

I still love the thought of bigger dies.

When I received my free exclusive die from a rebate offer that QKs had, I shimmed it and decided to try to use it. After several tries it cut. I just had to use the beautiful pieces. I scraplifted this card idea from Susan at the ScrapyLand Blog.



The card part of the card is the size of the inside of the frame so the front of the card is actually bigger so that you can see through the lacy edges. I love something a little different and not so traditional.

The frame would be a beautiful frame for a scrapbook lay-out and the flowers and accent pieces would be great for embellishments.

Look around and see what you can scraplift when you are stuck for an idea.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Today Is November 1st

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Where did this year go?

Between taking care of sick or injured family members I managed to make my traditional Thanksgiving place setting cards. I got out some old dies and mixed them with some of the newer dies to make these but if you don't have the old Pilgrim and Indians (I do not have a picture of all of my place cards but did some with the Indians too,) but you did get the paper doll release make the little people to look like the person who is to sit there.

For these I used the Epic Exclusive Die (available if you buy the new Epic 6 machine, mail in rebate form for the free die,) the newer QK Cornucopia die, and the retired Pilgrim and/or Indian dies. The font I used is the new release Paper Doll Font from QK as well.





Here is a side view picture, so that you can see these stand up.



I used scrap paper from past projects to make these so they didn't cost a dime. I love it when I can save money, especially around the holidays.

Then as long as they don't get food on them while you are eating, you can remove the dolls from the "frame" and use the dolls and cornucopias on scrapbook pages. (So really you are killing two birds with one stone.)

If you have a few minutes to sit down to play, make your Thanksgiving table a little more special with some fun and inexpensive hand-made decorations. These go together in a snap.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Gotta Love The New Gypsy

I recently acquired a Cricut Gypsy. This is a handy little gadget that you load your Cricut Cartridges on and then you can take it with you and create on the fly. My Gypsy has been in the car line, the hospital, doctors offices, the mall, and any place else that I think I might have some down time.

My first impression was that the screen is going to kill me but I quickly learned how to bring things close up and that made things so much easier.

I decided to put this little tool/toy/gadget through the paces. Here is my first project that actually turned into 7 projects in all just with a few adjustments or changes to the original design. Change up the colors and facial details and the Jack-O-Lantern became a Mummy, Dracula, Cat, Frankenstein, or Witch. And then if you think of another holiday you can turn the bag into Santa's belly.

These ideas came from a project I saw on another site and were made from Pillow Boxes. I loved the ides but didn't want to go buy the Pillow Boxes and I wanted to make them in various sizes. (The Halloween bags are one size and the Santa Suit is bigger.)







I am only learning what my Gypsy can and can't do. I would compare it to the Cricut Design Studio (DS) but something that the DS will do the Gypsy won't and visa-versa. Both are wonderful additions to the Cricut machines and have many similarities but also have vast differences.

I will keep playing with my Gypsy and sharing the projects that I am successful making (I may even share a few of my failures because I learn from the mistakes.)

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

A Box For Halloween or For Christmas

I love it when I see something someone makes and then they say let's see what you can do with it. That was the case with this oh so cute Halloween box. Susan from the ScrapyLand Blog has live shows. These are always a how to do something. She finds or invents some of the most awesome things and generally ends with now take it and run with it and let me see what you can do with it.

If you Click HERE it will take you to the ScrapyLand Blog and if you click HERE it will take you right to the video taped live show of this project. She will walk you through making these really cool treat boxes for that someone special.

I went to order the QuicKutz Label Dies that she used and ScrapyLand happened to be out of them so I improvised and used my Cricut to make it but I used my QuicKutz and Boss Kuts Dies to do all of the details on the boxes. Then I took Susan's challenge and decided to make it for another holiday.






Leave me a message of what you think of my version of her Jack-O-Lantern Treat Box and if you go over to ScrapyLand's Blog and watch the video to get the directions leave her a message as well (and tell her where you got it.)

I hope that you will try this cuter than cute idea and come up with something else again.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

She Is A Teacher Now

This is my future Daughter-In-Law Kim. She recently graduated from college and now has her first teaching job. I had to do a lay out in my album just for her. When I saw the new release QuicKutz Paper Dolls I had to have them all and they were perfect for this occasion.



She is teaching at a private school and is loving her new career.

These new QuicKutz Paper Doll Dies are compatible with the ones previously released and add a whole new dimension to lay outs, pages, or other paper projects.

I hope that you will revisit your youth and pick up a few of these dies.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Trick Or Treat Candy Bag Topper

I have 6 very special children in my life this year that I wanted to make something special for Halloween. So out came the QuicKutz Dies, papers, and M&M's. this year instead of being just orange and black M&M's they added extra colors which was great in my book because it make the little toppers so much easier to make!

I pulled out several retired dies to make these. Mrs Clause was transformed into a witch, while Dracula and Frankenstein got to play themselves. Each topper also has Happy Halloween on the back and that was done with the Limited Edition Chicken Noodle Font.







I am hoping that this make my CCD/PSR students' Halloween a little more special and inspire you to dig out some of your older dies and use them.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Do You Make An Opening And Closing Page For Your Albums?

Each of my personal photo album scrapbooks have an opening and a closing page. Sometimes they are something that takes forever to make and my original work and other times I find the perfect thing for these pages someplace else.

Today I am sharing my most recent opening and closing page sets. I have to give a shout out to those who designed the work. I have listed their blogs so that if you like what I've done you can go and look around their blogs. I can not give you the patterns for the "doilies" and "borders" but you can download them from the owner's blogs.

This is my opening page:



The Doily came from a very talented person, Diane. Her blog is Capadia Designs. I have modified her design slightly (taking out the center circle,) so that I could put my family name inside the circle. This lacy design is made from the George and Basic Shapes Cricut cartridge and the Cricut Design Studio.

I used the Sure Cuts A Lot program and my Cricut along with Marketing Script True Type Font to add my family name and album number.

The closing page:



The poem is written by Clay Harrison and the beautiful borders are made by Jill. You can find that pattern at her blog, Diva In Pink's.

I want to thank Diane and Jill for sharing their talents with all of us.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Corner Bookmarks

When my friend, Rainy, sent me a bookmark nearly a year ago, I fell in love with it. It snuggled on the corner of my page. It went from book to book as I finished them. About a month ago my bookmark fell apart. Let's face it, paper is not supposed to last forever, right?

I have come to love this type of bookmark and just can't be without one. So I decided that I would make a new one. That lead to making two, three, four of them. You get the picture. I thought to myself if I like it maybe someone else out there would also like it. So I am sharing the directions as well.

Here are pictures of the ones I make:









Each is unique. Some used stamps and Copic Markers, while others QuicKutz Dies and Stickles.

If you decide to try your hand at making one here is a video that you might find helpful. I found several ways to make them but this method was by far the easiest and fastest way. I do my video's for ScrapyLand.com so if you see something that you like you can find it there and ScrapyLand has the best prices, great customer service, and fast shipping.



These bookmarks would make great little teacher gifts, a gift for a student, or anyone that likes to read.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

I'm Not Warped - I'm Misunderstood!

I had to laugh because when I made this card I was thinking a couple of things. The first I want to use my new dies right now! The second thing I was thinking was Halloween and these new dies were the holiday (Christmas) dies from QuicKutz.

I've shown my card to several people and no one seems to get it the first time they look at it but that is okay because I do get it and so did my husband. Okay so we are both a little misunderstood, or at least that is the way I am looking at it.

When I saw the new QuicKutz Snowman Die I feel in love with him and I wanted to use him right now and there were no "snow" pictures in sight. So I did the next best thing, used him for the current holiday which is Halloween. Since I was humming "oh the weather outside is frightful" it make me think the snowman is scared, not because it is cold but because it is Halloween. This is what I came up with.

The outside of my card:




An then when you open the card you see this:



I thought it was funny but not too many people got it but never the less I thought I would share it to see if anyone else thought it was funny.

Try something new this week, a twist, a turn, or play on words, just to see if you are misunderstood or not.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

When You See Something Different

Many of my friends say I have a different outlook on life. Well not really but I do sometimes have a different outlook on a die cut.

When the QK holiday dies were released a couple of weeks ago and I received mine, I quickly opened them and had a little look. The 4x4 present die did not scream "gift" to me at all but rather odd little butterfly.

So instead of cutting it and making what it was intended to be I cut it and put it through the A2 embossing folders, added a little ink, and assembled it to be a butterfly. And this was the end result.



I told you it was a little odd and maybe a little whimsical.

In any case if a die looks like it is supposed to be something else, give it a try and post what you make. Even if it looks a little odd someone else may LOVE what you have made and have the perfect use for it.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Halloween Is Just Around The Corner

Before you know it the little ghouls and goblins will be knocking on the door begging for a trick or a treat. I'll take the treat any day as I do not like fishing toilet paper out of my trees for the next week or better.

I try to keep a few non-food goodies in my basket just in case there is someone who can not have candy - those will be coming soon on my blog but for today I have a card that I made that will be going out to a few scrapping friends that live away from me and to a few special people like my small nieces and nephews.

So that is what I will share with you today is my card. The card is so easy and fast. It only took about 10 to 15 minutes to make several of them.

I stamped the pumpkin image with a stamp and then colored it in using Copic Markers, cut the square, and square scallop with Spellbinder Dies. I used QuicKutz Aquarius Font and a 4x4 Spiderweb Die that had the spider on it. Add a little dye to the edges and white gel pen for accents and you have a card. Easy as pie.



Don't forget to sent a few people a Halloween greeting and make it special by whipping up a few cards.

Happy Scrappin ! ! !

Brenda

A New Twist On A Card

I am always looking for something new to do. Sometimes these ideas come out of thin air and other times I find them in things that other scrappers are doing.

Today's idea came from a friend who showed me a card but then would not tell me how she made the card. With a little research and help from the Internet I found instructions for the card that my friend had made. Here was my next problem, I didn't had the Stamping Up Slot Punch that is used to make the card. That wasn't a big problem for me because where there is a will there is a way.

I thought about this for a couple of days and reached for my Cricut Machine, a couple of cartridges and my Cricut Design Studio and within a few minutes had the card done.

So today there is a couple of pictures the cards, a video on how to make and assemble the card, and then because I wanted the envelope to be as special as the card a video on how to make a matching envelope.





At the beginning of the video you can see how the die cut that is on the front of the card spins to the other side. A channel cut into the top of the card and secured to a card blank with pop dots and a little magic with pennies allows the die to spin from side to side.

This is so simple.

Here is the video that I made on how to make these cards. (Can you tell that I share my videos with ScrapyLand.com?)



And then I went one step farther in making a video on how to make an envelope for my cards and here is that video.



I hope that I have inspired you to make a couple of cards but also that when you see something that you like and don't have the same tools as someone else to think outside of the box and find a way to do them.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Copic Markers

I have just been introduced to Copic Markers. What a new experience.

These markers, as I understand, are alcohol bases, but they are safe for scrapbooking. They are also refillable and come in 3 different sizes (one is square, one is oval, and one is round.) These markers are also refillable and the nibs of the pens can be replaces.

A friend gave me some tips for these about using the grays for shadowing and then go over the grey with a color and then use the blender pen over that. The effects are pretty cool.

Another tip I received was if you are using these for stamping was that they only work with certain papers and stamp pads. The stamp pad name brand is Memento.

Here is my very first project using these markers.



These markers took me back to my grade school years of coloring and then my high school years in art class. I hope that you will try the these markers and have a little fun.

Happy Scrappin' !!!!

Brenda

Train Mania

I don't know why I like trains so much but I do. A few months ago QuicKutz came out with a ladder and a picket fence both of which screamed train track to me. By the way, did I mention that I've asked for a train track die. I even sent in a sketch to them and I got nothing (tells you how important or how much pull I have.)

In any case this sparked a little frenzy with me and I needed a train that was the right size for the track.

So the picket fence became a train track with a few snips of the scissors... and QuicKutz has a train engine so with a few cuts the engine became a full train. This would be perfect for a child's page or if you added some animals it would be good for a circus page.





Then there is the ladder die that reminded me of the train track head on. There is no train for it so I made one using some Spellbinder dies and Quickutz dies. This train is more for the adult lay-out or even for someone who collects trains.




These were a lot of fun to do. So when you ask for a die and don't get it (just because you think you are so special like I do,) wait a die will come along that will serve your purpose.

Happy Scrappin' !!!!!

Brenda