The Trouble with Glitter

So I'm in the middle of working on 31 decorated envelopes for 

a Halloween swap I joined, and......

while I'm going through a box of Halloween stuff I

start finding flecks of glitter. 

I start taking things out of the box one at a time and shaking off the glitter

flakes. This is the pile of the stuff out of the box and on the floor. 

The cork on the glitter bottle came out while it was put away. 

It must have popped off when I was moving the box. 

I did manage to get most of the glitter back in the tube. 

Let me tell you the corks on the glitter bottles are now taped closed. 

What a mess. Had to vacuum  up the carpet, and the inside of the box to 

get the stray flakes off. I'm still finding glitter on the floor. Let me tell

you that ultra fine glitter is a mess to clean up!!!!! 

glittery trails

Karen

Goodyear Blimp Comes to Visit

Look at what flew over our house yesterday afternoon. 

The Good Year blimp flew over our house then turned around

and flew back. Hubby said it was flying towards Akron. 

I had thought they decommissioned the blimps. 

under shot. 

The blimp was pretty loud. 

Flew over our hickory nut tree in the back yard then

it started to make the turn to fly back. 

So that was my excitement for the day.

Oh and because of this I ruined the batch of peanut butter, and

banana muffins I was making. So I was making these as I had

three very ripe bananas that had to be used. Started mixing the dry

ingredients when hubby called to me to come out side and see the blimp. 

When I came back I thought I had all the dry stuff mixed, but after the

muffins were baked I knew that I had forgot to add the baking powder. 

OMG the muffins were so dense.

For those who use to watch the Beverly Hillbillies the muffins brought to mind

Elli Mae's rock hard biscuits. LOL

Baking is a science, and is unforgiving 

when you forget to add the correct ingredients, and measurements. Oh Bother!!!!! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Modeling Film Butterflies with Stencils

I was playing around with stencils yesterday. 

The background butterflies were inked with distress

oxide inks. 

I also made this one. The 3d butterfly was made using modeling film. 

closer view of the butterfly. The first one was stamped over

the butterfly background. The second two were stamped

on the modeling film using Jet Black StazOn ink. They were

cut out, and attached over the base image. 

My arthritis is acting up this morning. I'm thinking I'll

take a day off from hiking, and give myself a rest. Stamping in the 

craft room comes to mind! 

Stamping trails

Karen

The Beatles ATC

My friends gave me Beatles stamps years ago. 

I thought they would pair well with the "hippie" patterned 

paper I've been crafting with. 

These are artist trading cards that I'm swapping with the facebook group

passbook pals. 

The images are heat embossed with black embossing powder. 

Not much going on today. Going to try to hit Hobby Lobby

at some point today, but me and hubby are hanging around

the house waiting for an order that John had sent to us. 

He ordered a TV and a stand, and wanted it delivered here since

him and Emily work during the day. 

I marinated some steak, so hubby will be grilling that and

corn on the cob for dinner. That should be good. Glad

he is doing the grilling as it is very hot and muggy here. 

Stamping trails

Karen

31 Days of October Envelope Swap

So is it to early to start making Halloween crafts? 

Well no if you signed up to do 31 days of October swap. 

Which is what I did with the Swappers Corner group. 

This requires 31 envelopes that have been decorated in a Halloween theme. 

You also need to fill the envelopes with goodies for your partner. 

While I was at Betty's on Sunday I got 10 of the 31 envelopes finished. 

These need to be ready to mail the first week of September. 

I'm making all the envelopes using Tim Holtz distress oxide ink. Spiced Marmalade, Wilted Violet, and 

smokey black. 

Anytime I have a large swap hanging over my head I like to get a good jump

start on it. Feeling good as partners haven't been assigned yet, and I have 10 done! 

After these are finished I'm going to use mini clothes pins and attach them to a 

hemp cord, so they can be hung up. The idea of the swap is to open one envelope

each day of October. Should be fun! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Purple Butterfly Shaker Cards

I've been making shaker cards. 

This one uses patterned paper called Lavender. 

I added a smaller vellum butterfly on top of the window sheet then

added some small black pearls. 

This one was made using a Darice butterfly embossing folder. 

I used a butterfly punch to make the opening for the shaker. 

I like the white on white look with just a little pop of purple sequins. 

Had fun stamping at Betty's yesterday. I've been working on a large swap that

I joined. I'll be back tomorrow with some photos of that project. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Little Girl Coin Size Trading Card

I'm working on swaps today. This little

darling is not artist trading card size, 

but instead done as a 2 1/2 coin size. 

The word hearts is from Tim Holtz idea-ology Chitchat book. 

She will be in the mail tomorrow going out to Mona. 

Me and hubby went walking yesterday, and stopped

on the way home, to do some grocery shopping. 

By the time I got home I was dripping with sweat. So hot out!

Just as soon as the groceries were put away John, and Emily

stopped over. I told Em not to hug me as she normally does.

Had to cool down a bit! 

Later in the day  hubby and I walked again around the neighborhood 

as it wasn't as hot then. Off to the movies sometime today. Going

to see Skyscraper.

Since we got a few tomatoes I'll be making bacon lettuce and tomatoe

sandwiches today. YUM

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Bliss on the Beach

So what do you craft on a hot summer day?

A nice beach chair to relax on the beach of course. 

Maybe I should be making snowman cards. LOL

Been a scorching 90 degrees for several days now. 

So happy hubby put in central air last winter. 

My friend Kym sent me this card last week. Isn't this little 

girl so sweet? Love her! Thanks Kym! 

She also made me these darling little lady artist trading cards. 

Not much going on today. I have several swaps to complete, and

a new project to start. Not cooking today. Going to have hubby

grill. Ah summer! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Doll ATC Book

Here is a little book I made to hold the

doll artist trading cards that I receive in swaps. 

Thanks to my friend Betty for letting me borrow her Santoro doll

stamps so I could make this. I do have some of the doll stamps, but

Betty has a larger collection. 

The greeting at the bottom was made with my handy dandy

Dymo label maker. I added a small red heart. 

The finished doll is popped over the embossed layer. 

All the coloring done with prisma pencils. 

Also made a matching binder clip to keep the book closed as

some of the swaps can be a little thick with embellishments. 

Inside look at the first page. 

I added a pocket to the back and front of the book to hold extras. 

Gotta run as the kids are coming over. 

Hope everyone made it through Friday the 13th yesterday! 

Going to be a hot one today, so I'm thinking about just staying inside, and

chill. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Elegance

Made this card yesterday morning. Not sure about

all the pearls, but I think it is okay. 

Stamp set and matching die was by Sizzix, and Hero Arts. 

Picked up the set last year at Tuesday Morning. 

Patterned paper by Making Memories. 

Lady was colored with Prisma colors. 

Added the same paper as used on the front to the inside card. I 

haven't stamped anything on the inside yet. Thinking this would make

a good birthday card, but leaving it blank for now. 

Going to meet a friend at Panera Bread. Then I'm thinking 

 

a trip to the craft store is in order. Haven't been in awhile, and

 

I'm going through withdrawal. 

Happy birthday to my favorite sister in law Cheryl. Hope you have a great day! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Tails from the Garden, and Owl ATC

We are starting to get veggies from the garden.

Hubby picked a basket of green beans yesterday. 

Beans after they were washed and snapped. So guess what's for dinner tonight?

We also got a truck load of cucumbers. These were the first picking. 

Skip went back and brought in 10 more. So we are already sharing with

the neighbors. 

I did stamp a little bit yesterday afternoon. I stamped the owl

image while at Betty's. Colored it in using prisma colors. 

The background was made using Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Sunshine of Life Lady Bug

My friend Kym was talking about fake ladybugs the

other day. Got me thinking about the nice ladybugs....

the ones that don't bite. Didn't want to make a traditional

colored one so I came up with this yesterday

while stamping at Betty's. 

Here is the inside.

So I was sad yesterday. It was John's 30th birthday, and the first one

that I didn't see him. He had to work all day, and we had got 

together with him over the weekend. Ah the trauma of an empty nest! 

Stamping trails
Karen

Little Pink Vintage Girl Card

We got to spend lots of time with John and Emily over the weekend. 

 

Saturday we all went out to our favorite Chinese buffet. 

 

Sunday they came back over for a cookout. Of course

 

we had to eat cake. I made him one for his birthday. 

 

Emily's mom Anne sent me a box of crafting goodies. I used

 

some of them to make today's card. 

 

 

I just love those little girls! So cute. The box was filled with lots of trims, and

doilies, so I know I'll have fun working with them. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Lady with Umbrella

I received this stamped image from a swap I was in. 

Colored her using Prisma pencils. 

The patterned paper is the same as the paper I used for

yesterday's project, but I switched it out. Since the paper pack

is 6x6 I got more use from the two sheets by doing it this way. 

Close up view of the image. Wish I knew where this stamp came from as I 

really do love the image. Wishing everyone used the same ink that I do. Jet Black Archival

ink by Ranger. Gives you a nice crisp image. You can tell by this one that the image looks

pretty faded. 

My son John will be turning 30 in a few days. Got together 

with him and Emily yesterday. We all went out to John's favorite Chinese place

for dinner. We were going to do the birthday thing today, but he was on call for work, 

and we didn't want to take the chance of him getting a call and have to take off

in the middle of dinner. 

Can't believe my baby is going to be 30. Have no idea where the time has gone. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Are Ewe Doing Okay? Get Well Card

Well I'm finished with Christmas in July week. Not

that I still won't be making holiday crafts, because I will! 

Just love the holidays. 

 

Today's card was made for my friend's mother Rose. 

 

Rose took a bad tumble. Hoping she is 

 

on the mend. Get well soon Rose! 

 

I used one of my favorite get well sets called Are you

 

Cured Yet. Made by SU. 

 

 

Stamped the sheep with Jet Black Archival ink, and shaded

it in a bit with gray Prisma colors. 

Used some patterned paper for the layers. 

Check back tomorrow as I made another card using the same paper, but

in reverse. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Christmas in July Post It Note Covers

Since I am still working on using supplies on hand I made 

some post it note holders using my stash of chipboard coasters. 

I have about 100 square coasters, and round ones. Think

I order them in bulk years ago when they were so popular to

use with stamping projects. 

Patterned paper was cut to fit the 3x3 coasters. Then was adhered to

the chipboard using my favorite medium Modge Podge. 

The kraft colored post it notes I found at the Dollar Tree. 

Decorated the top of the notes, then added some trim. 

The binder clips were also covered with patterned paper. 

Thankfully it will be cooler the next few days. I like the heat

as it makes my arthritis feel better, but these 90 plus degree days all in a row

has taken the wind out of my sails. Haven't been walking as much, as the heat

and humidity has been giving me headaches. I'll be happy to take a long walk today! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Christmas in July Rosettes

Back again with another Christmas in July project. 

This decor was based on a Christmas paper pack that I 

picked up at Michael's last year. No stamping, or fussy cutting. 

I used different dies, punches, and the score tool to make the rosettes. 

After they were finished I added some trims. 

The largest one I used Tim Hotz circle dies to cut

out the greeting and layer. The rosette is two strips of patterned paper

After scoring the strip at 1/4 inch all the way across the width each piece

was glued end to end. 

For this one I scored the strips at 1/2. 

The spool stands were sponged with walnut ink to make them

look more vintage. The rosettes have paper straws attached to the back them

the other end is glued into the spool. 

And the smallest one uses the same paper that I used to go around

the center of each spool. 

Had a fun 4th of July. We made surf and turf on the grill with large salad

to go with it. Hit the mall to do some walking as it was pretty hot and muggy.

Channel IFC was playing Christmas Vacation which is my all time favorite Holiday

program so I had to watch that! 

Later we stopped at Honey Hut to get ice cream before going to Strongsville to

see the fireworks. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Christmas in July Embellishments

For today's post I made some embellishments. 

These turned out so cute!!!! 

Three I made into shakers. I can see 

these being used on cards, package trims, adding a string

for ornaments, or putting a magnet on the back so they

can be put on the fridge. 

Little boy with the snowman is so darn cute!

Stamp set used is long since retired set from SU called Snow Angels. 

The circles are dies by Tim Holtz. 

Used mica flakes and silver beads for the shaker part. 

And here he is again making some snow angles. Of course

he has to have a hot cup of cocoa waiting for him when he is finished. 

Tree is another stamp by Tim Holtz. Stamped in black and

colored with Prisma pencils.  Can't really see the shaker part, but I used

micro silver no hole beads. 

I didn't want the white foam to show around the edges so

I used a gold sharpie marker to color it. 

This last one isn't a shaker, but it is a fun embellishment. 

Only reason why this one isn't a shaker is because I 

cut the white circle with the wrong sized die. I'm sure 

I'll go back and make another one as a shaker. 

Happy Forth of July!!!!! Hope you enjoy the day. 

Going to be in the 90's here. I have steak hubby will be grilling. 

I'm declaring my independence by not cooking today! 

Stamping trails

Karen