Sew what have I been doing?

In May, I came across an opportunity to do a Martha Pullen Licensed Teacher training online. The course was called Heirloom I and since I had never done any heirloom sewing, I decided I would give it a go. I am SO pleased that I did. I learned so much during that course. We had several required projects and we had until the end of Septmber to complete them and 'turn them in'. I was done before the end of July. By that time, I was hooked and decided to sign up for a face to face Martha Pullen Teacher Training. This one was for Children's Garment Construction and the course was held down in Florida. So, I packed up my Ellisimo Gold machine and a few other necessities and headed for Florida the end of July. I was down there for a week, and again learned SO much. I came home with a suitcase overflowing (literally) with kits for the garments. I have completed only a couple, and those were actually done while attending the training. Then, I decided to sign up for the Martha Pullen Serger I Teacher Training online. The class is going now, however I have already completed the required projects. I wanted to be able to teach what I am learning and I had to turn in my required projects before I could do that. So, now I am contemplating signing up for the Beginner Sewing II that just opened. This is anothe online teacher training through Martha Pullen. I am thinking about that one, quite seriously.
In the meantime, I FINALLY got the chance to learn how to do hand-smocking. I have wanted to learn how to do this for so very long. I am taking the two part class locally and the second part is tomorrow night. Now I can get out all those doll patterns that have smocking on them and have a go at it. I will post pictures when I get a chance.

Another year or more has gone by - I am no longer a Stampin' Up Demonstrator and this blog will either be going away, or I will be changing it to reflect what I truly love doing now - SEWING!! I have been sewing like crazy (well, in between my hours at work) and loving every minute of it. So, follow along with me as I show you what is happening in my sewing world.

2 years later!

Where has the time gone? Where have all my pictures gone? Blogger has not been at the top of my priority list these last two years. Too much has taken place over the last two years that it is unnecessary to go back and relive it. My life is ever changing and my blog may be changing as well - watch for those changes if you are still following me! :)

Snippets of time - and Ornaments

I have had snippets of time here and there and have been able to work on a couple ornaments. When the Holiday Catalog from Stampin' Up! came out - it had a beautiful ornament on the front cover. Right then and there I decided I had to have everything to put that ornament together. It was not difficult to put together - and I still don't have exactly everything that was used - but I improvised where I needed to until I can order the remaining elements. I used Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green for my colors. Really the only thing different from the sample on the cover of the catalog is the tulle that I used. I haven't had a chance to order the Cherry Cobbler tulle, so I went to my local fabric store and picked up some tulle in poppy red. Now, I am sure that the version Stampin' Up! has is nice because of the scalloped edge on it - but in a pinch, this worked for me. After I completed this one, I decided to try making another one using some of the other stamps in the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set. (By the way - this is a BEAUTIFUL set) I wanted to do a different color - so I chose to use Midnight Muse. I basically followed the same idea - and came up with this version. I love the blue. I used Very Vanilla Cardstock and stamped the ornament image with the midnight muse. After assembling the pieces, I pulled out some shimmery tulle that I also purchased at the local fabric store. I used some retired gold cord twisted into the tulle and then hot glued between the ornaments. I added a bit of the

 Victorian crochet lace on top of the ornaments Then I had to decide what I wanted to do for the center of the ornament. I wasn't sure I wanted to stamp and die cut 20 more little ornaments (as on the first one). I found one of my mixed bunch flowers that was already stamped (in the midnight muse) and had a center popped up on it stamped in bashful blue (I think) - so when I placed that on the center - it was perfect, so I hot glued this in place, added a rhinestone to the center and gold cord to hang it.

I added a tag on the back of the ornament - just in case I decide to give this away. As is always the case with pictures - this looks SO much prettier in real life. This one went together so much faster than the first one also - due to not having to stamp and die cut so many pieces - but it is more than elegant - in my humble opinion.
Thanks for stopping by to take a peek.

Items used to make the Midnight Ornament:
Beautiful Season (122682) for the sentiment on the back
Ornament Keepsakes (128051)
Framelits Holiday Ornaments (127816)
Mixed Bunch (125537)
2 1/2" Circle Punch (120906) for the back sentiment piece
Rhinestones (119246)
Blossom Punch (125603)
1" Circle Punch (I believe this is the right size for the center of the blossom)
Victoria Crotchet Trim (118481)
Very Vanilla Cardstock
Midnight Muse Ink
Bashful Blue Ink
Gold Cord (retired)
Shimmery Tulle (local fabric store)

~Paula~

August already?

My how time flies! Now it is the beginning of August and before you know it the kids will be back in school and Christmas will be here. I haven't done much in my paper spa lately - except put together a bunch of new stamp sets that I have ordered over the last few weeks. I am hoping to get in there and make some swaps items as I am attending the Stampin' Up! Regionals in Chatanooga in September. I can't wait to get inspired!! Stop by again soon, Paula

Christmas in 'JUNE'??

I love to start thinking of Christmas in July - and planning out projects to make. However, yesterday I spent MUCH needed time in my craft room and decided to work with some new papers, stamp, dies, and ink from Stampin' Up!! I have files of ideas that I save from stuff I see on the internet - in these files I have card samples, sketches, etc. So, I opened up my files to give me a jump start on ideas - mostly for sketches. I started out with this card that features the new Christmas stamp set - Chock Full of Cheer (126717) I took my color combination from the new Designer Series Paper, Be of Good Cheer (126896) that features Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla and the one of the new In colors - Gumball Green. I do like this new green. I stamped the cute little mitten stamp all over my very vanilla cardstock and then layered it on the cherry cobbler and gumball green. For the card base, I decided todo something a little different - and sort of fun. I cut about 1-1/2" off the edge and then added a sliver of embossed cherry cobbler to the inside of the card - so it just pops through when the card is closed, and adds a bit of dimension when the card is open. I used the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder (119976) for embossing and adding the texture to the inside sliver as well as the outside. I added a bow made with the new In color satin stitched ribbon - in Gumball Green (126848) Of course!! I stamped my sentiment on a sliver of very vanilla and punched it with my Scallop Oval punch (119856). It needed just a bit more to make it pop, so I sponged with Cherry Cobbler. My next card had a similar card design, but this time I decided to use some of the Designer paper Be Of Good Cheer. Rather than embossing the front panel and adding a bow, I simply used a sliver of this beautiful designer paper. I chose not to layer as much on this one, and used a different Textured Impressions folder for the inside sliver - Vintage Wallpaper (120175) This one was a little trickier to do as I wanted it to appear as an ornament - however, I wanted it to be dimensional, so I stamped and cut te ornament top and then twisted some of the cherry cobbler seam binding ribbon (120992) and ran it through the top of the ornament 'hanger'. The ornament stamp lends itself to dimension. I cut the larger circle with my 1-3/4" punch (119850) and the inside circle with my 1" punch (119868)and then added dimensionals and added it to the card front. The last card that I did I like best of all. The idea came from Vicki Lynn. ) I am not sure how long ago I got this idea - but loved the idea of a 'quilted' card. I used my 1" square punch (124094) and punched a bunch of squares. Vicki's card had 25 squares, but since my card is much smaller, I chose to go with a 3"x3" piece and covered this with the little squares. I cut the designer paper squares on a diagonal and used opposite sides of the paper to match. Once I had these little pieces on my 3"x3" base, I ran it through the square lattice textured impressions folder which gave it a lovely feel and look. I then added a piece of the satin stitched gumball green ribbon and secured the ends with one of the new natural designer buttons (127554)I toyed with the idea of adding designer paper behind the design, but just didn't like the way it looked. Next I added my sentiment -which I knew would be the sentiment from the stamp set, but wasn't quite sure how to add it. Well, I got out a couple of the new dies. The dies are from the Apothecary Accents Framelits set (127003). I just layered them on top of each other, stamped the sentiment on a piece of very vanilla cardstock and punched with the scallop oval punch. I added dimensions and popped it on my card. I really like the way it turned out and can see myself doing a few more similar to this one - but perhaps in other colors - fall, summe, spring, winter - not just Christmas colors. It looks difficult, but is rather easy. I enjoyed my crafting time yesterday and hope to do a bit more tomorrow - but perhaps I will wrk with some of the other new colors. The INKPADS are wondeful - and I plan on purchasing the whole new set of them - eventually - but there are s many more items that I want before the colors!! Thanks for stopping by - now it is time for me to head to the spa where I am hoping to have several clients today. Paula

Vacation is over!!

Yes, sadly - vacation is over and it is time to get back to my day job at the spa. Of course, I love my job - but it is nice to get away now and then.
While I was gone - the NEW STAMPIN' UP! Catalog came out. I have placed a link to it in the side bar and you REALLY need to take a peek. There are some wonderful new sets, DSP's, embossing folders, dies - take a peek and see what is new. I am hoping to get back to stampin' and making cards for OWH in the next month. I have been away from my crafting far too long and I have SO MANY new things to play with.
Thanks for keeping up with my ramblings - see you on the other side of the craft door!
Paula

Completed Beau Chateau Wreath

A few days ago, I posted the steps I took to make this Beau Chateau wreath. I finally had the time to complete the wreath. My wreath is only 5 7/8" in diameter. This is the second wreath I have done like this - the first one was made using the Everyday Elegance DSP from the Sale-A-Bration catalog. 

I wanted to show a little closer picture of the elements on the wreath - this picture shows the flowers on top - with the glimmer brads in the center and bits of marina mist and pink pirouette taffeta ribbon tied around muslin and then hot glued between the flowers. My flowers are all layered in threes.

This is the side of the wreath. I decided to do a combination of vanilla and chocolate colored jumbo brads in the center of these flowers rather than using all the same color - and because I am running low on the vanilla colored brads. :)

Once the flowers are all punched, sprayed, scrunched and then opened back up again to dry - the process to finish the wreath doesn't really take that long. Covering the wreath with the muslin gives a good surface for the hot glue to adhere too - and I doubt these flowers are going to fall off anytime soon.
I hope you have enjoyed watching this project take shape and I hope you will try this one too.
Thanks for stopping by
~Paula~

A Spring Wreath

Awhile back, I visited one of my favorite sites - Paper Crafters Library and saw a video on how to create a lovely Spring wreath using designer papers from the recent Sale-A-Bration catalog. Those papers are no longer available - but here is a picture of how the wreath turned out.
 I decided to make another wreath - (I gave away the first one) using the Beau Chateau - which is also retiring and therefore only available until the end of this month. The wreath is not completed yet - but here is a series of pictures that I took of the process I am going through in making it. I started out with a 5" styrofoam ring from a local hobby store. I then added 1" strips of muslin around the ring - it takes about 3 to go all the way around the ring.

Once I had the muslin wrapped all the way around the ring - I added some of the pleated satin ribbon found in the mini catalog. This ribbon is no longer available.

Then I took my Beau Chateau Designer Paper and started punching flowers using the blossom punch. This item was in the occasions mini catalog - and may be carried over to the new catalog that will come out next month. My wreath took 60 flowers - using four different papers using both sides. When I was done punching the flowers, I spritzed them with water and crumpled them up. Now at this point, I decided to open them back up and dry that way - as it was much harder to open up the flowers once they were dry with my first wreath.

I took srtips of muslin tied them in knots and then tied some baja breeze and pretty in pink ribbon around the muslin. I punched 3/4" circles and then used the glimmer brads in the center.

After the flowers were dry, I layered three of them - reversing the paper on the middle flower and then hot glued them together. I then added the brad center with hot glue and my flower was ready to place on my wreath.

The flowers are not all ready to place on my wreath yet - but this is the begining on how it will look when it is done. I am going to finish this up and give it to my mom for Mother's Day. She is coming to visit in a couple weeks - and will arrive just a couple days after Mother's Day, so this will be a fitting and fun gift to give to her.

I hop you have enjoyed seeing one of the few things I have been able to work on lately - work at the Spa where I work has been crazy busy - but it is starting to slow down - which might mean I will have more time to craft. We will see.

Stop by again soon

~Paula~

CONTEST

Do you like learning how to make beautiful items with paper? Well, that IS a silly question - of course you do! Do you search the internet to find ideas for your next papercrafting project? I know that I USED to. A year ago I joined the Paper Crafters Library and have never looked back. I have learned SO much through their online video tutorials and their printable PDF's. Well, now YOU have an opportunity to win a full year subscription. Just follow THIS link to get all the details.

~Paula~