Note Pad Cover Tutorial

Still not sewing. Despite my plans to do so.  I found a cache of little 3.5x colorful note pads that come in a pack of 5 from Dollar Tree.  I love these little pads.  And they are such fun, and so easy to cover with coordinating papers.  

Here you see the 12x12 flowered lavendar paper, and a piece that was cut 4x12 which I fold in half,.  My Scor-it helps me with the second step which is to score just 1/8th of an inch down from that fold mark. These pads are not thick and that small siding works great when the whole piece of paper is folded over.   (Once the notepad is glued in, you might want to trim away some of the cover.  That is optional.)

 I have added the bottle of glue.  These are one-time covers so I simply glue the cardboard back of the notepad to the inside cover.  If I wanted to make a notepad cover that can be used over and over again, I will cut a 6"Lx2"W strip and cover it with the pattern paper.  I score 1 inch on each end, and those are folded over a reinforced panel (covered with matching papers) which is then glued to the inside bottom.  This allows the cardboard backing of the notepad to be slipped into the strip, and therefore it becomes something that allows a new pad to be replaced.   Also shown here is a folded strip with the notepad glued in.

 Once the notepads are glued in, then it is time to decorate the outside.  Again, if this notepad is one you design for repeated use, I put an additional cover with design papers on to sturdy the cover.  In this case, however, I simply added a Nestie's mount with a butterfly from several punches.

These make great gifties.  And so easy to create in very little time. Thanks for visiting.  Have a happy week.

Slam Dunk 'em

I still had trays of prefolded cardstock, trays of embellishments and trays of stamped and printed sentiments.  That alone always seems to fling me into a stressful state because I feel like I should be using everything.  So, with that said, here is my latest "slam dunk adventure"... The cards are put together as usual by grabbing up and assembling.  I like to share my slam dunks and I know there will be some takers one day.  Meantime the aforementioned trays are just about empty and that makes Carole a happy crafter-girl.  

Thanks for visiting. Hugs to ya all...

Fishy stuff....

I cannot seem to wander off from my paper crafts to get back to sewing.  My mind floods with ideas, and gifties I need to make for friends.  AND I had a little idea to surprise the local fish restaurant.  We have a wonderful Fish n' Chips restaurant called Pete's that has been around for years and years.  It is awesome food, and without a doubt the best red sauce I've ever had  I made these little tags to hand to the gal in the drive-in window next time I pick up an order of Shrimp n' chips.  Not sure what they will do with these, but hopefully they will say "oh how cute"....  I figure everyone ought to have a hanging tag that says they eat at Pete's. 

Card Orders...

A friend I hadn't heard from in a while popped up, and I was so delighted to hear from her.  And she's ordered about 36 cards for herself and 2 other friends.  I was able to pull up the 14 birthday cards out of my stash but I had to create the Get Well and Thinking of You cards.  They went together fairly quick and now I am free to start my sewing tomorrow. 

Thanks for taking a look at my cards.

Cards and More Cards

Recently I had a great adventure attending a group representing the First Families of Arizona.  My grandparents, my mother and her 5 brothers came to Arizona in 1909.  To join this respected group of pioneer families one must have come to AZ by Statehood which was 1912.  Although I am not quite ready, time wise, to join the group, I offered to do some cards for their Social Committee to send out to members when needed.  

This first batch is just 4 cards to give to the lady who actually invited me and my friend Brad.  Brad runs an absolutely fantastic web site to honor old Phoenix in it's glory.  

 The cards needed were "Thinking of You", "Get Well", and finally "Sympathy".  I moreorless constructed the cards using some left over papers and embellishments so these came together quickly.  Hope they like them, because I was honored to do them for this wonderful group.

Thanks for your visit.

Crochet Coasters

Today I will deliver the tub of sewing projects (shown earlier) to Lucy Anne's place, and I've added some bright and colorful crochet coasters.  Initially I had each color in a stack of 6, but the blast of delightful colors were muted.  So I separated them into 3 of each color.  As the little red head gal on the Wendy's commercials says "now that's better"....

Sewing For Giving

When my son went to college, I took a second job at a fabric store near my house.  I worked all day at a mortgage company, rushed home, fed the dog, changed into slacks and a tee shirts and headed for a delightful store full of fabrics.  It was a moment to moment inspiration as I cut each fabric for the customers.  I was home by 9:30, sewing by 10:00 and forced myself to quit so I could get the rest for the work the next day.  I was paid $1.10 an hour which was scale back then, and in retrospect, I paid them to work there.  I worked 3 days a week from 6PM to 9:00, all day Saturday and noon til 5PM on Sunday and I think everytime I left the store, I was carrying a bag of delightful fabrics. This was 2-1/2 years of buying in 1987-1989.  I think I still have some of that fabric in tubs...  I am the proverbial ole' lady who has the bumper sticker that says "she who dies with the most fabric, WINS". (I need a bumper sticker for paper addiction as well). 

I sew willy nilly things... my favorite description for picking up a cut of fabrics and on the spot deciding what I wanted to sew with it.  Now, at long last, I have another "cause" which is a delightful place called Lucy Anne's Place. This is an Adult Day Care Center in the conclave of Benevilla in Sun City West.  I sew, they take it.  How much better could that be?...  They have little games, Bingo, and daily activities that allow a drawing for a winner.  And now they have a big tub of "things" to chose from that I have donated.  

Below are some bibs I just made for my high school friend who had a stoke.  Her towel bibs are now replaced with bright and colorful bibs from me.  

 I love making Tissue Cozies.  It takes only a little 6x9 cut of fabric, a little rickrack or buttons or decorations to make a cozy.  All of my friends have them in their purses because I love using up little scraps of fabric that I simply cannot toss out. This batch goes to Lucy Anne's place, as well as the projects below.

Below you see  Eyeglass cases and one little pouch.  I love the little felt red flower that I added.  Long ago I did a lot of little whatnots with felt so now I make felt flowers.  I have tubs of rick racks and ribbons and the little sewing projects easily use up that stash ...

 Here you see some cell phone purses.  And little felt flowers I cut using one of my Sizzix die cuts.

 More Napkins.  I am told they can always use as many as they can get.  I try to make the napkins in a finished size of 16x16 but if I have less fabric, I make whatever size that is still decent.  A great way to use up fabrics not of quilting quality.  I found a wonderful easy way to miter the napkin corners so the finished napkin looks pretty nice.

Thanks for wandering through my sewing adventures.  Soon I hope I have a few cards to upload.

A worthy delight

Happy Wednesday.  I am driven to create be it paper, beads, fabrics, .. And recently I decided I wanted to give back a little more than I had in the past.  I love to share the things I make, and I've donated to some pretty wonderful agencies in the past.  Last month I went with my friend Pat to a place called Benevilla.  In this conclave of several agencies resides an Adult Day Care Center.  Pat told me they loved to get handmade fabric napkins so I made a batch and she and I delivered them.  I decided if they wanted an array of sewing things, I was the gal to give them.  Monday I drove out to Sun City West and I delivered about 22 napkins, 4 placemats, 8 bibs, a small lap quilt in colors of Christmas and a few "giftie" items like an eyeglass case, a little purse of corduroy.  The napkins, of course, were gratefully accepted but I was also told that the other are indeed "gifties".  The Center has a Bingo game, and a drawing for prizes.  The quilt could become someone's special lap cover, the little eyeglass case could be a tagalong in someone's purse.  That particular day the Center was full of gentlemen, and the nurse told me that when a prize was won, basically the men pick out something they think their wives might like.  BINGO..... Carole has a new place to share some willy nilly sewing items ...

 This is one of the bibs I made.  I sew a little pocket across the bottom of each bib and although sometimes the fabrics aren't completely coordinated, I am using up some scraps much to my delight.

 This is a tub I shall deliver tomorrow.  It is full of 9 fabric totes, some purses, eyeglass cases, coin purses, wall hangings, some felt Christmas tree ornaments and some tissue cozies.  I am a happy girl.  I am creating, I am sharing and I believe my fabric items will be used.

Baby Stuff....

Happy Saturday....  I love weekends.  I worked for so many years (50+) and weekends were so precious.  Now, even after over 5 years of retirement, I still cherish a Saturday or two.  Recently one of my wonderful clients from my work years asked if I had a pre-made baby scrapbook.  I said I didn't have one pre-made, but I would be so happy to do pages all designed so that the recipients could just add photos.  I did 40 pages, 20 for each scrapbook. I pulled out every cartridge that had baby die cuts available.  

A Child's Year, All Mixed Up, Creative Memorie's Stork Delivery, Cricut Sampler, Cuttin' Up, Doodlecharms, Gypsy Wanderings (Gypsy) Heritage, Life Is a Party, B is for Boy, Lyrical Letters, New Arrival, Paper Doll Dress Up, Simply Charmes, Stamping, Stretch Your Imagination, and Wild Card.  

I kept two trays, one for a new baby boy and a second tray for baby boy twins just born.  So basically I was cutting 3 die cuts almost in each case. . Once all of the die cuts and sentiments were cut or stamped, I pulled out a new designer's paper pack with baby theme papers.  The pack had 48 pages, and once they were trimmed to the 12x12 size, I started designing assembly line style (my fave way to go...)   I was so pleased with the finished pages, and I made one final little baby themed door hanger.  

My friend just has to decide which new parent or grandparent to give it to.

Thanks for stopping by.

Post It Note Covers

*CORRECTION MADE ON MEASUREMENTS: You all know my penchant for "slam dunk" cards.  Another one of my favorite things is to whip up a batch of Post It Note covers.  I buy the packs of Post It Notes with great abandon, and then they end up in a drawer until they have gathered so abundantly, I cringe when I open the drawer.  After I finished the my personal card marathon (a secondary card camp after the gals left from  the real Card Camp), I grabbed up about 20 post it notes of all colors, grabbed up some left over  pattern papers and voila', I have a big batch of gifties to share.  These are the simple covers, using pattern cardstock cut 3-1/4x7, with a half inch score area in the center for the fold over section.  It is a great way to use up piles of little scraps.  I punched out flowers and butterflies, added some blingy jewels.  My typical Post It Note cover is generally done using chipboard squares that are covered with papers.  The style below goes together in a snap.  I will say, however, that on the cover, inside cover and bottom part are strengthened with additional cuts, perhaps 3x3.  This is especially important for the top cover because that little bit of extra weight allows the cover to lay nicely over the post it notes inside.  Before I add the embellishment for the top cover, I add yet another mount for weight.  These are so much fun and the use of different patterns brings them to life. 

Have a wonderful week...and do try some Post It Note covers just for fun.   They are addictive.  I promise.

3D Cards

 At Card Camp, there is a 'gifties' exchange.  Pat gave each of us 3 sheets of 3D punch out floral designs that make awesome cards that have such a delicate and glorious presence to each one made.  The sheet has multiple prints of the same flowers, they are numbered so that the design can be applied correctly.  Once each 3D flower has been added with a small popdot, maybe some pearls put here and there....the final effect is fabulous.  The embossing folders you see are the Anna Griffin Cuttlebug folders.  Truly beautiful stuff. 

                     Just behind the two cards below you can see a glimpse of the 3D punch out page.

                                 Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek. Have a wonderful day.

CARD CAMP 2013

Our 6th annual Card Camp at my house was February 22-23 and part of the 24th and I realized I hadn't posted a photo or two.  We had such fun.... Here you see Pat, Kris and Sandy.  We missed Deb this year as she was on a trip. I posted this on Facebook and Kris said "that spot where we stand previously was filled with tables and tools and there was hardly room for anything else".  I made Sweatshirt Jackets for everyone and you can see Pat wearing hers. 

 Tacky me.... Did I both to comb that hair that morning?...

Thanks for your visit.  It's raining here and I am lovin' it.  I am doing two baby boy scrapbooks for a former work client and it is delightful to sit in my craft room and look out on a bit of rain.

Starting the journey....Heritage Cart

Happy Monday.... here I am, and for the first time since about 2007 I am not posting my weekly challenge for BBTB2.  I've stepped away for now and I will concentrate on "giving back" in a more dedicated way.  I have donated a lot of cards and paper artwork to my friend Lanette who organized graymattersfoundation.com after she had endured brain tumors...and to date she has had 5.  This sweet lady sends greeting cards, decorates hospital rooms, and is there to support anyone encountering this dreadful disease. I have had a lot of fun making turtles for Lanette to slip inside a card or letter, and some larger turtles that can be hung up in a room, on a door.  Her logo is  a turtle with a gray shell, sticking his tongue out and the sentiment is "brain tumors stink, that's what we think"... I told her I had made about 100 cards lately and asked if she needed anything. She told me she had plenty of girly girl kind of cards but needs "guy cards".  Those are always a challenge for me.  But I dug out my Heritage cart and was able to cut out some pretty cool cars and some bikes.  I added a bunch of stamped sentiments so she can make the decision if she wants to add one to a card she is sending.  Here are just a few of the cards Lanette received.  Here is Lanette's web site. 

http://www.graymattersfoundation.com/lanettes-story/

This stack of napkins I made will go to an agency that serves cloth napkins with the meals.  I have a lot of fun making these.  And I am so happy they will be used.

I have a stack of lap quilts I made and soon those will be given to special places.  I am on my way to "giving back".  Thanks for stopping by.  Do have a very wonderful week.

BBTB2/3D Flower Power

Happy Monday.  Our hostess this week at BBTB2 is our lovely Susan who asked us to use a 3D flower design.  I borrowed Flower Shoppe from my dear friend Pat, and this is the flower cut I selected.  I embossed my flower cuts, I added some leaves from one of my Sizzix cuts, and the butterfly is a die cut from Cheery Lynn Designs.  All are mounted on a Cuttlebug Plus embossing folder.  The center of the flower has pearls and card candy.  

I hope that you check out BBTB2 for some flower power inspiration.  Join up on the challenge by following the rules on the BBTB2 sidebar.

Now for a little news.  I am stepping away from BBTB2 for now so I can devote my time to sewing for some shelters and worthwhile agencies.  For those of you who have followed along my bloggy journal you have seen posts where I donated artwork or sewing projects to worthwhile causes like Breast Cancer Awareness, Gray Matters (which is a brain tumor support group), the Banner Oncology support groups, some fund raisers for Pet Rescues, and a few others.  I now have the opportunity to donate my sewing projects to several care centers, nursing homes and Homes for Abused Children and Adults. I have about 14 quilts I have finished with many more to work on.  I love sewing and this new adventure will take a lot of my time.  So for now.... a fond fond goodbye to the wonderful design team sisters and to my friends and followers.  I will post cards now and then, and maybe some sewing projects.

BBTB2/Amethyst

Happy Monday.... our hostess this week is Stephanie who asked us to design with the color Amethyst or purple.   I am really not a purple kinda gal...it will always be the last color 

i would select.  

i will say that I did enjoy making this purple cupcake.

Thanks for taking a peek.  We'd love it if you join up with our challenge.  Please follow the rules shown on our sidebar.
Among others, some really important rules ask that you mention on your blog that you have joined with the BBTB2.  Another is please NO WORD VERIFICATION. And finally, this is a Cricut based challenge and you have to use a Cricut cut for the selected theme..and be sure to tell us what Cricut cartridge you used.  No back dating.  Make a new project....  This past week I saw several entries that were not eligible.  What a shame to have a really cute card fall short of what we ask for.

Love Is In The Air

Love Is In The Air

Welcome, Happy Monday...  Our hostess for BBTB2 this week is our sweet Brenda who asked us to design with a heart or cupid so we could honor Valentine's Day.  I went to one of my most fav cartridges for this challenge.  STAMPING.  It has wonderful die cuts, and fabby sentiments.  I cut a variation of hearts,used two of the sentiments  embossed almost everything, and added a few red jewels, and a ribbon so this could be a wall hanging. 

Be sure to join up on our challenge..... just follow our simple rules.  Our challenges last for one week so after that, a winner will be named by the hostess.  Thanks for visiting.

BBTB2/Spring

Welcome to BBTB2 and our Monday challenge.  I am the hostess this week.   We've had an unusual cold snap in Phoenix and surrounding areas, and after the temps dipped to the low 20s and the frost burned all of the tree and plants, the cold wandered away and Mother Nature gave us temps in the high 70s and a few 80 degree days.  Only in Arizona!... I know that so many areas have battled frigid brutal temps with snow in abundance so I decided I would pick a theme of Spring.  It's gonna come sooner or later so let's honor it with some pretty spring cards. 

I used April Showers for my card.  The birdhouse, the cute little bird, and that darling little caterpillar are from April Showers as is the title "Tweet".  The edge has been punched with a MS punch, and I added some MS butterfly and flower punches as well. Everything sits upon the usual embossing.  I added a few little ribbons for some bling.  

We love it when you join in our BBTB2 challenges.  Create a new spring themed card or project, upload it to Mr. Linky, be sure to name the cartridge (must be a Cricut cut for the theme) and give us a shout out.
Thanks for visiting....  Happy Monday.

BBTB2/Frosty Snowman

Mr. Snowman AND some Blog Candy

The winner I named did not check back to see the results and since the commenter had no blog or email, I am going to name a new winner of the Gypsy Tote.  Brenda.  Yay Brenda.  I will mail the Gypsy Tote out tomorrow (THURSDAY 2-13-2013) 

It's our BBTB2 month end challenge ... and we were  asked  to design with Frosty the Snowman.  While I love designing with such a cute fella, I am oh so glad that I live in Arizona sans the cold snow.  I was born here 75 years ago, and my blood is so thin that even the slightest cooling temps will send me shivering, seeking warmth. 

Here is my Snowman, happy to see the snow.  He is cut from Christmas Cheer, embossed properly and with little buttons on his snow-suit.  The snowflakes are a MS punch, double layers and sprinkled with crystal glitters.  Sweet little snowman!!!

We hope you will join in our Frosty The Snowman challenge. Create something new and link it up to BBTB2, be sure to give us a shout out on your blog, and mention the cartridge used for your card or creation.   NOW....onward.... I am destashing some of the things I have sewn.

Here is some blog candy.  It's a brightly sewn Gypsy Tote.  It will fit your Gypsy like a glove, and with that bright fabric, you could probably find it in the dark.  I've embroideried "Hangin' with My Gypsy" on the front and there is a pretty little orange ribbon should you wish to hang the tote nearby. If you leave a comment on my Snowman card and you own a Gypsy and want to be in the drawing, please ask.  I am not sure if all of my visitors own a Gypsy so mentioning this will help me put the right names in Random.org.

Font-astic....

Welcome to BBTB2 Monday challenge.  Our lovely Suzanne is hosting this week and she asked us to design with our favorite font.  No doubt about it....I headed right for Cindy Loo.  I like Blackletter font and a few of the others but CL is my fave.  I am a bit early for the Valentine spirit but I think this card sort of fell into that category.   The heart background is also from Cindy Loo.  I needed to highlight the word LOVE so I put a strip of MS decorative strip between the word and the heart.  Added a few white dots with my gel pen, a few Dazzles and I considered this a done deal. 

Hope you join up with our font-astic challenge.  So many things can be created by just using a single word with your favorite font.  Make sure it's a Cricut cut, tell us which cartridge you used, and when you link your card up, give us a shout out on your blog so others can come and join in the fun.  Happy Monday, dear friends.

Sewing Sewing Sewing

I never have been able to wear a sweatshirt....or a long sleeved heavy sweater, or a heavy coat.
I feel confined.  About 30 years ago my mom and dad gave me a sweatshirt and try as I might, I simply could not keep that on me for more than 5 minutes.  I decided to reconstruct the sweatshirt, so I made it into a jacket by cutting down the center and adding a placket.  For that creation, I added appliques in a southwest fabric and I put a lot of beading all over the areas where designs were sewn on.  I pulled that jacket out a few days ago (because of the recent 5 day cold snap we had) and I couldn't believe the attention that jacket drew.  So...... I decided to make a new one.   I bought a black sweatshirt and started my creation using the most gorgeous fabric evahhhhhhh.  I had purchased this fabric at a small fabric and yarn shop in Sun City West.  Had no idea what I was going to use it for but I knew I had to have it.  Out it came for this new jacket....and I am really happy with the end results.  I added some prairie points to give the creation some pizazz, and the pocket is a nice touch.   This tossed me into the blender for a wild sewing spree on making sweatshirt jackets.  So far, I've done 5, and I have 5 to go.  Having fun!.....  I like the different sweatshirt colors mixed with pretty fabrics and each creation has a different flair to it.  TFL....

BBTB2/Bird on a Branch

Welcome, friends.  Our hostess at BBTB2 for this challenge is Jayne.  She asked us to design with a bird and a branch.  I found what I wanted on my French Manor cartridge which was a delightful gift a while back from friend and former teammate Sandi Kelly.  I like the lines of the bird.  I set the bird and branch in the open window from an embossing folder with cut out.  This is just a simple note card that might brighten someone's day.

Please.... join in.  Create a new card with the subject theme, follow our simple rules.  Remember...NO word verification.

BBTB2/Snowflake

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

We've arrived ...it's 2013.  Sometimes I reflect on those numbers representing the "now of it all" and I think back to 1959 when I was typing Mortgage Documents at the bank.  The 30 year maturity was 1989 and I could not wrap my mind around that time.  And look at us now.

Our very first 2013 challenge at BBTB2 is hosted by our lovely design team leader, Susan.  She has asked us to design with a snowflake.  There are quite a few snowflakes on cartridges but I selected the one from Christmas Cheer.  My card is 5x7, and I made the snowflake 4-1/2 inches in size.  Then I grabbed up my Martha Stewart Snowflake punches in 2 sizes and added a few more along with a jewel to bling it up. The snowflake has been embossed with the Snowflake embossing folder while the background mount is embossed with Swiss Dots (my preferred folder).  The sentiment is a clear stamp. 

Thanks for your visit... Please join in our Snowflake challenge.  Just follow our simple rules.  We love it when you share with us your creations.

Riley The Napper Cat

Riley The Cat

I love my Riley Cat so much.  He gives me daily giggles, and loves to lay on my lap while I pet and tell him how sweet he is.  He also loves to lay at the foot of my recliner.  Most often I've shucked off my shoes and he hastens to lay his head on the shoes.  He's so cute...