Christmas Tea & Thanksgiving Flowers

Hello!  As happens every week around this time, a virtual tea party is on at Elizabeth and Bleubeard's blog.  Everyone is invited to join in the fun by linking up with a beverage-related post.

Today I want to show you a really cool card that my Polish friend sent me for Christmas.  (Christmas was a while ago, but it was a busy time, so I'm only getting around to showing these photos now.)

The card contains a plastic packet of real tea, taped into a teabag-shaped window!  How adorable is that?

I can't read Polish, but my friend wrote me a note inside the card to let me know that this was black tea with cinnamon and apples.  The little pieces of dried apple rehydrated when I steeped the tea.  Not only did this tea taste wonderful, but it also smelled really good...like the aroma of a freshly baked apple pie.

If only I knew how to read tea leaves!  I think these might mean that trying to design a handmade version of this teabag card is in my future.  :)

As long as I'm sharing a Christmas card out of season, I might as well share another card out of season, too.  :)

Supplies: cardstock from Wausau Paper; decorative paper & floral die cut from Doodlebug Design; ribbon from Scrapbook Fantasies; sticker from Bella Blvd.

Here's a Thanksgiving card that I made.  I made it quite some time ago, and it was published in the November 2013 issue of Scrap n' Art e-zine.  I enjoyed combining floral patterns when I created this card.

Well, I'll let you know if I have any luck creating my own version of the tea bag card.  In the meantime, I hope you're all well.  I look forward to hopping around and visiting blogs today.

Treasured Trinkets

Hello, all!  Are there art fairs, craft bazaars, or other events that you attend on a regular basis?  The Fall Twin Cities Bead Bazaar was this past weekend, but, sadly, I missed it for the first time in years.  I love this event.  When I attend it, I of course buy beads for my jewelry-making, but I also pick up interesting buttons, charms, and other baubles to use in my paper crafting.  Although I missed the show this fall, I want to share with you a scrapbook page that I made with an item purchased at the spring bazaar, which I did attend.
 

Supplies: photorealistic ruler paper from Kaisercraft; file folders, pocket, & all other paper from Teresa Collins; die cut typewriter keys from Graphic 45; flair badges & die cut labels from October Afternoon; word stickers from My Mind's Eye; all other stickers from Basic Grey; thread from DMC; cameo from Olla Podrida; pen from Creative Memories; crackle glaze from Ranger.

The page above, entitled "Graduation," features a vintage cameo from a Twin Cities seller named Stephanie Gard Buss (aka "Olla Podrida").  I always make sure to visit her stall at the bazaar, because I like buying her vintage items.  I could buy made-in-China, vintage-looking cameos at the scrapbook store. But why do that when I can buy genuine vintage, pre-loved trinkets from Stephanie?  There's nothing like the real thing!

This scrapbook layout has photos of my graduation from the University of Minnesota.  Since I double-majored in Russian and English, I thought it fitting to use papers with Russian text on my layout.

To hold notes and smaller photos, I used a twine-wrapped pocket.

This layout appeared in the May, 2013, issue of Scrap n' Art e-zine.  I have a Thanksgiving card in their current (November, 2013) issue--if you're a Scrap n' Art subscriber, please be sure to check it out.

Here's hoping that I'll be able to attend the Spring Twin Cities Bead Bazaar, when the time comes.  Until then, I still have lots of fun little trinkets from past bazaars to incorporate into my work, so I'm sure you'll be seeing more of them on my blog.  Thanks for your visit today!

Scrap n' Art

Do you subscribe to Scrap n' Art?  The latest issue came out on February 1, and I'm honored to have a layout in the "Reader Submissions" article.  Of course, I can't show you that layout on my blog right now.  But I can turn back the clock and show you two layouts that I had published in the November 2012 issue.

Supplies: background paper & alphabet stickers by October Afternoon; Bingo cards & flower sticker by Simple Stories; all other stickers by Bella Blvd; striped & dotted papers by Fancy Pants;  ink by Tsukineko; pen by Zig.

The first page is about a Thanksgiving party, and it's called "Turkey Bingo."  Next up is a different page, called "So Very Thankful," with which I showcased one of my nature photographs.

Supplies: brown cardstock by Fancy Pants; flower sticker & mini orange patterned paper by Echo Park; tan mini patterned paper by Basic Grey; alphabet stickers by Lily Bee; phrase & border stickers by Bella Blvd; all other stickers and papers by Simple Stories.

And now a few detail shots...

handwritten journaling

mixing & matching October Afternoon alphabet stickers

I used foam adhesive to pop up the maple leaf sticker.

I hope you've enjoyed this unexpected glimpse of autumn.  We now return you to your regularly scheduled weather.  :)

A Favorite Recipe

It's a new month, and I have some happy news to share.  A holiday gift project that I created appears in the current issue of Scrap n' Art e-zine.  Scrap n' Art subscribers can view the article here (in the "Monthly Reader Submissions" article of the December 2012 issue).

Today I also get to share with you a layout that I had published in Scrap n'  Art back in October.  On the layout I shared my recipe for baked apples.

Supplies: blue cardstock by Bazzill; red cardstock by the Paper Company; yellow paper by Bo Bunny; paper strips, star sticker, large alphabet stickers, & banner pieces by Jillibean Soup; mini alphabet stickers by Lily Bee; kraft notebook paper by Cachet; arrow sticker and photo corner by Bo Bunny; checkerboard sticker & tree sticker by Basic Grey; buttons by October Afternoon; thread by DMC; ink by Tsukineko; pen by Zig; corner punch by Creative Memories.

The journaling reads: "This is our family's favorite October dessert--I make it often."  The recipe is simple: 6 apples + 2 Tbsp butter dots + 6 Tbsp maple syrup--bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit [180 degrees Celsius / gas mark 4 /moderate oven].

I know that my recipe for baked apples is a bit different from the way most people make it.  I don't peel the apples (the peel is the best part!), and I slice the apples instead of just hollowing out the cores.  Basically, my version is just like apple pie...but without the crust!  It's particularly scrumptious when served with cinnamon doughnut holes, as pictured in the right-hand photo.  If you're worried about the apples sticking to the bottom of the pan, you can add a little water before baking.  Any leftover liquid from the bottom of the pan makes a delicious topping for vanilla ice cream!

I love this big apple tree sticker from the Basic Grey "PB&J" line, and I was happy to make it the showpiece of my layout.

I don't think I'll ever grow tired of banners.  I love the kraft cast of these Jillibean banner pieces--perfect for fall.

Well, after looking at these photos I have gotten kind of hungry.  So, I'm off to have a snack now.  Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  I'll be back again soon with more good news to share.

An Autumn Celebration

Hello, everyone!  Today is Thanksgiving, an important autumn holiday in the USA.  I'm looking forward to spending the day with my family and remembering all the things for which I am thankful.

Before I start celebrating today, I want to share with you an autumn layout that I had published in the October issue of Scrapstreet Magazine.  I was very honored by the fact that, besides being featured in an article, this layout also appeared on the issue's table of contents.

Supplies: ledger cardstock & striped paper by Bo Bunny; zigzag paper by Echo Park; floral paper, die cut, alphabet stickers, flag stickers, & button by October Afternoon; chipboard by Studio G; mini alphabet stickers & "a beautiful day" sticker by Bella Blvd; thread by DMC; corner punch by Creative Memories; ink by Tsukineko; photo editing software by digiKam; photo collage software by walgreens.com

Every once in a while, I make a "hybrid" page like this.  For the most part, it is a traditional paper layout.  The "hybrid" part is the computer-created text (on the cornfield photo) and the computer-created collage.  I could achieve the same effects with traditional scrapbooking supplies; it's just easier to get a neat look with the computer.  It also reduces waste, in that I don't have to throw away the scraps that would be created by hand-cropping the photos into a collage.

I have another autumn-themed layout in the current (November) issue of Scrapstreet as well--do check it out at this link, if you get the chance.  In fact, check out the whole issue--it's full of inspiration.  In particular, I'd like to draw your attention to layouts by Mary Jo Rhoda and Lisa Swift, who are frequent commenters here on Green Crafting.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Remember September

Hello, everyone!  Do you ever feel like time is moving super-fast?  To me, it seems like just yesterday that the new school year started.  But in reality school has actually been in session for a couple months now in Minnesota!

Today I have the opportunity to share with you a layout that I had published in the September 2012 issue of Scrap n' Art magazine.  That issue had a back-to-school theme, and I created a page about a certain month in my son's education.  

Supplies: border stickers & cross-hatched yellow paper by Bella Blvd; red patterned paper, flag, die cuts, chipboard, rub ons, and "N" sticker by October Afternoon; number-grid patterned paper by Pink Paislee; manuscript paper by My Mind's Eye; yellow brickwork patterned paper by Bo Bunny; mini alphabet stickers by Lily Bee Design; corner punch by Creative Memories; ink by Stewart Superior; thread by DMC; pen by Zig.

With a nod to ABC books, I titled my page "N is for Numbers and Neighborhoods."  I filled the page with school-related memorabilia (including the reproduction library record card seen in the photo below) from various October Afternoon collections.

The flag tucked behind the library record card is also from October Afternoon.  It is one of their "Little Flyers" flags.  These flags come with natural wood-colored flagpoles, but I altered this one with a black Zig pen, so that it would better coordinate with the other colors on my page.

The journaling reads: "There were two special events at school this month: a family Bingo night (to learn about numbers) and a mural project (to learn about neighborhoods)."  I have to say, though, that the neighbordhood depicted in the kids' mural is nothing like our actual neighborhood.  We only have one McDonald's restaurant (instead of the three depicted), and we don't have any saguaro cacti--they would not survive the snow, LOL.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today to check out my work for Scrap n' Art.  Their November issue just came out today, so be sure to check it out if you have not already done so!

October Afternoon Weekend

For Twin Citians, there are a lot of discounted October Afternoon goodies to be had this weekend.  October Afternoon is having their warehouse sale, and Scrapbooks Too has all their October Afternoon products on clearance as well.  Actually, they have ALL their products, not just October Afternoon, on clearance.  The store owner got a new job in the papercrafting industry, so she is closing the store.  Her gain is our loss, though--I am really going to miss that place.  If you're going to the OA warehouse sale this weekend, you should definitely stop by Scrapbooks Too as well.

Supplies: background paper by Studio Calico; mini alphabet stickers by Lily Bee Design; all other stickers by October Afternoon; journaling line template by Creative Memories; pen by Zig; red pencil by Faber-Castell.

Since this weekend seems to be all about OA, I decided to share an OA layout on Green Crafting today.  The layout you see above is called "Victory Parade," and it was published in the July, 2012 issue of Scrap n' Art magazine.  That issue had a flag theme, and my layout for it concerns a parade honoring the Russian holiday День Победы, which in America is known as Victory in Europe (V-E) Day.

This flag bearer sticker, from OA's "Sidewalks" collection, was the perfect accent for this page.  I mixed and matched  letter stickers from "Sidewalks" and "Fly a Kite" to spell out the word "Parade."

The photos on this layout are from 1995, when I was studying abroad in Saint Petersburg (formerly known as Leningrad).  The journaling reads: "V-E Day is an incredibly important day in Russia.  I was lucky enough to see the celebration of the 50th anniversary of V-E Day while I was in St. Petersburg.  There was a parade to honor the old soldiers, and the streets were festooned with decorations.  It was lovely." 

I wrote my journaling by hand, but I spelled out a few key words with Lily Bee mini alphas.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Whether or not your weekend involves October Afternoon, I hope it will be a great weekend for you.

Beach House Home Decor

I'm back today to share another project that I had published in the August issue of Scrap n' Art.  This is a "beach house" style altered picture frame.

Supplies: recycled frame; acrylic paint by Deco Art; teal/purple patterned paper by FabScraps; tan/green patterned paper by Paper Loft; alphabet stickers by Lily Bee; all other stickers by My Mind's Eye; buttons by October Afternoon; burlap by Canvas Corp.; twine by Crystal Palace; household stapler and sandpaper.

Oh, how I love sunny summer days at the beach!  To capture that feeling, I wanted to frame this old photo of my son and husband.  Although I've often seen the "beach house" style depicted in magazines, I had never attempted it before.  (As I Minnesotan, I tend to gravitate more toward a "northwoods" home decor style.)  But now that I've had the enjoyable hands-on experience of distressing the frame, I will definitely use this style again.

It's easy to give a "beach house"-style makeover to an old frame from a thrift store.  Lightly sand the frame, then apply a coat of white acrylic paint.  While the paint is still wet, press some burlap into it at random spots, to add a little texture.  While you're waiting for the painted frame to dry, layer together papers, stickers, and a special photo to fit inside the frame.  After the frame is dry, lightly sand it in random spots, to simulate a weather-worn look.  Embellish the project with buttons, stickers, twine, staples, and hearts cut by hand from the paint-stained burlap--and then your project is done! 

Now it's autumn, and the warmth of summer is fading fast, but I'll always have this home decor piece to brighten my days.

Summer Trees

Today and tomorrow I'll be sharing with you some projects that I had published in the August 2012 issue of Scrap n' Art.  The layout I'm sharing today is a called "Trees of Summer."

Supplies: zigzag paper by Echo Park; striped paper & pale blue paper by Authentique; leafy patterned paper by Creative Imaginations; tree patterned paper by FabScraps; green dot & solid brown papers by My Mind's Eye; botanical textbook paper by Jenni Bowlin; die & cutting machine by Ellison; title sticker, date sticker, & flags by October Afternoon; mini alphabet stickers by Lily Bee; owl, tree, flower, & border stickers by Creative Imaginations; acrylic paint by Plaid; pen by Zig; household stapler.

I photographed these groups of trees at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.  I love all the different shades of green represented among the foliage.

I used lots of shades of green in my layout, and I also added summery splashes of orange.

I added a bit of whimsy, too, with butterflies, flags, and a cute little owl.

People always talk about how beautiful trees are in the spring, when they are in bloom, or in the fall, when leaves are changing colors.  But I think it's important to appreciate the "everyday beauty" of green trees in the summer, too.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  I'll be back tomorrow with another summery post.

Summer Means...Ice Cream!

Supplies: paper, stickers, rub-ons, & die cuts all by October Afternoon; rhinestones by Petaloo; pen by Zig, ink by Stewart Superior.

Today I get to share with you a layout which was published last month in Scrap Street e-zine.  This layout is so typical of my style at the moment.  It's bright and colorful, it has handwritten journaling, and it has a mix of alphabet stickers.  My husband and son appear in the photograph on the layout, and the title tells how I feel about them: "Ice Cream Soda with a Cherry on Top, You're the Guys I Like a Lot!"  As the journaling explains, this is "my own version of the old jump-rope rhyme."  :)

Thanks for visiting my blog today.  Have a great week!

Yo-Yo Flower

Supplies: patterned paper (My Mind's Eye), Rub-ons (My Mind's Eye), alphabet stickers (October Afternoon), plastic buttons (October Afternoon), wooden button (Blumenthal Lansing), white thread (Singer), brown thread (DMC), household items (denim fabric scraps, stapler).

If you blinked, you might have missed this layout.  I only had it posted for a few days, then it was accepted for publication, so I had to remove it from my blog temporarily.  The waiting is over, though, and "Chillaxin' at Home" is back on Green Crafting.

This layout was published in the May issue of Scrap n' Art, in an article on flowers.  The layout features a handmade bloom made from an old denim work shirt.

Want to make your own denim yo-yo flower like this?  Using a saucer or small dessert/salad plate as a template, cut a circle from denim fabric.  (Tip: scraps from soft, flexible denim shirts are easier to manipulate than scraps from stiff blue jeans.)  Sew a running stitch along the edge of the circle, bunching the fabric as you go.  Tie off the thread when you are done forming the flower.

Next, layer a fussy-cut hexagon and a button atop the yo-yo flower, AND layer a small scrap of paper underneath the flower, directly below the hexagon.  Sew all these layers together.  By doing so, you will create a decorative center for your flower with the hexagon and button, and you will also create a place (the scrap of paper) to adhere glue dots to your flower.  Add your glue dots and attach the flower to your layout.

Thanks for "chillaxin'" at my blog today!  I'll leave you with a few more detail shots of the layout.

Like I mentioned before, I've been addicted to using staples on my layouts lately.

What looks like a stamp is actually a rub-on!  Thank you, My Mind's Eye! 

There are so many uses for denim scraps!

Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue!

ETA: This card appeared in the July, 2013, issue of Scrap n' Art.

Independence Day is coming up next week, and I'm celebrating by playing along with the Red, White, and Blue challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  I've made a card, which you see pictured below.

Supplies: patterned paper (Authentique), large alphabet stickers [used as stencils] (October Afternoon), small alphabet stickers (Lily Bee Design), paint (Liquid Pearls by Ranger), cardstock "brad" (Candi by Craftwork Cards), ink (Tsukineko).

The strip of paper with the Latin Proverb on it is the brand identification strip from the bottom of a sheet of Authentique paper.  It was fun to incorporate this strip--which would normally be a throwaway item--into the design of my card.  

I used the negative parts of letter stickers to spell out "USA."  Once again, I was able to reuse a "throwaway" item on this card.

I have explained my stenciling technique in a previous post, which you can see here.  In that old post, I used Stickles, but for my USA card, I used Liquid Pearls.  The trick to getting a satiny sheen on the letters is to apply the Liquid Pearls with a paintbrush and make sure that all your brush strokes go in the same direction.  Remove the stencils as soon as you have painted a letter; if you leave the stencils on, the Liquid Pearls will act like glue as it dries, permanently adhering the stencils to your project.  To make the removal of the stencils easier, you can leave one corner turned up (as you see in the photo above), thereby making a "handle' that you can gently pull when you remove the stencil.

I also squirted a few dabs of Liquid Pearls directly onto the paper, to create pearl-like accents.

Thanks for stopping by my blog to see my card today.  If you'll be celebrating on the Fourth of July, then I wish you a Happy Independence Day!