IT’S ALL GOOD.

{...bedroom framed decal art}

2012-02-01T14:55:00.023-05:00

This week-end, the hubs and I made a trip to Lowe's for some pretty moulding that we could make a frame with. I had purchased this decal from Dali Decals in a chocolate brown matt finish. It's big - just under 24" x 20" in size.

After assembly, I painted the frame the same wall color as our bedroom {Sherwin-Williams HGTV "Quietude" - it's a light turquoise}. Using 150 grit sandpaper, I lightly sanded the frame before applying a mixture of Valspar tintable glaze and chocolate brown Delta craft paint to the entire frame. I then waited about 10 minutes and wiped away the glaze with a clean cloth. I applied/wiped away 2 coats of glaze to get the depth of color I was going for. Pictures don't do this project justice. It is so pretty in real life! I love it. :)
Some close-ups. The glaze gives this piece a soft, smooth finish.

I'm linking up to Kara's "Look what I made", Saavy Southern Style's "Wow us Wednesdays", and Whatever you want Wednesday.Thanks for stopping by!
~patti

{....the bedroom after!!!}

2012-01-29T08:49:00.025-05:00

It's time for the "after" reveal of our oldest son, Thomas' bedroom! I posted here with details about his "before" room. Yesterday I put the second coat of black paint on the new pine slat bed we bought. The room is now put back together and looking pretty snazzy, if I do say so myself. :) I chose to go with a gray, black and white colored room. This space could also double as a guest room, since Thomas is only here during his breaks from college.

A reminder of the "before"...

And now for lots of "afters"...
The walls are a light gray - in these pics there really isn't much contrast to the white ceiling. IRL, you can see a nice contrast.

For this project, I'll list the work that was done.
1) PAINT! Valspar gravity was used on the walls, in a satin finish. Ceiling was painted with ceiling white by Glidden.
2) CARPET! I found a charcoal/black shag remnant at a carpet store and paid a guy who lives down the road $75.00 to install it for us. {Minimum installation charge at carpet store was $150.}
3) WINDOW TREATMENT! I ordered a Bali shade in gray from the internet...and it's a perfect match to the paint color. The blue sheers were added for a splash of color. Sheers and small cafe rod were purchased from Walmart.
4) HEADBOARD! The hubs wanted a wood headboard in this room. I wanted a fabric covered headboard. He won {this time}. We found the headboard at Marty's Barn Cellar - a store in Auburn, NY that sells unfinished furniture.
5) NIGHTSTAND! Purchased at Target. This was the first piece of furniture that I ever assembled. That makes it special. ;) It has a drawer, which slides nice & smooth. :)
6) WRITING DESK! This piece was purchased at Walmart. My second assembly! {I was seriously proud of myself for putting these pieces together.} :) The desk also has a sliding drawer.
7) UPHOLSTERED CHAIR! Found on sale at Target - ordered on-line. It came in one box. I only needed to attach the back to the seat, and then screw in the feet. So easy!!! {If you need an accent chair, check out Target...I got free shipping, and this chair was on sale for $99.00. It's sturdy and we love it.}
8) CLOSET DOORS! Bi-fold doors were purchased at Lowe's and hung by the hubs. Please note they are perfectly level. He is so good. :) Doors were painted with Valspar white semi-gloss trim paint, as was all of the trim in this room.
9) ACCESSORIES! I found the metal guitar at Hobby Lobby and got it 50% off, so it was less than twenty bucks. I think it adds a little unexpected bit of fun to our son's room. {Thomas has a couple of guitars and likes to play.}
The black, gray and white wall canvas art was found at Walmart. The set has a calm feel about it...making it perfect for a bedroom. Lamps: the nightstand lamp came from Lowe's, shade from Walmart. Writing table lamp came from Walmart clearance, shade is from Lowe's. Writing table artwork was found on clearance at TJMaxx. Bedding was purchased at JC Penney and Walmart. All of the pillows came from Walmart too - including the cool pillow on the chair that was on clearance for five bucks! All in all, I think I had about 6 shopping trips to Walmart and a couple to our local Lowe's & JC Penney.

That about wraps it up. I'm really happy with how Thomas' bedroom turned out! He is away at college, working on an Electrical Engineering degree. When he came home at Christmas, the only thing the room was missing was a headboard. He didn't sleep in there for the first couple of nights....he didn't want to mess it up! LOL! After a couple of weeks on his winter break....he was more than comfortable in there though. :)

Thanks for coming by my blog and a special thank you to Lisa at Shine Your Light!
hugs, patti

{bring on the cake!}

2012-01-22T10:42:00.012-05:00

Hey everyone! Happy Sunday!
I'm going on my "birthday day" with my mom today - which means shopping at Target and lunch - but first, I wanted to share a birthday card that I think turned out pretty cute. :)

Melonie, at Citrus Tree Studio is having a "pink and white" challenge, so I was inspired by her to start w/some pink bazzill and gingham check jillibean pp. I machine stitched a whimsical frame around the pp. The cake pieces were punched from my Creative Memories square punch. I hand cut some icing from pink and white floral jillibean pp, and dressed them up with Glossy Accents and a bit of sprinkled doodlebug white glitter. A tiny cs candle w/white DMC floss was added to the cake top. A little pink ruffle is meant to mimic a table cloth beneath the cake. The sentiment is also from jillibean.

I'm sending to Paige for her "use a square punch" challenge at the CREATE blog too.

Thanks for coming by!! hugs, patti

...framed {love}!

2012-01-20T10:12:00.006-05:00

Fancy Pants "love story" line is so sweet!! This black and white words in heart shapes sheet is my favorite. I just {love} it!

This is the most quick, simple project.
Cut your pp to fit the frame.
Adhere some AC thickers.
Place paper into frame and display.

That's it!
For my project I used some Alene's glue on the back of each thicker because my package was old and they weren't sticking well.

I'm linking up to Paper Issues. There's a whole lotta love over there. :)
Also linking up to Every Creative Endeavor.

Thanks for stopping by! hugs, patti

{...love is in the air w/a valentine paper garland!}

2012-01-18T12:11:00.017-05:00

Paper Issues is having an "all we need is love" challenge. The projects linked up so far are fun and full of inspiration - you should check them out! :)
I'm adding my valentine paper garland and also linking up to The Paper Variety's challenge to use a fan fold embellishment on your paper project.
Using Fancy Pants "Love Story" line, I created 9 fan fold flowers and topped them each with a hand cut felt heart. The back of each was then glued to a long string of jute. In between each fan folded embellie, I machine stitched a sandwiched, MS punched heart. This lovey dovey garland is hung from a mirror in my foyer.

I'm also linking up at 52 Mantels, Thursdays are your days. This paper garland would be sweet hanging from a mantel...but my mantel is in my bedroom, so guests wouldn't feel the love - well, 'cept me and the hubs, that is. ;)

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your day is happy.

hugs, patti

{stamped Valentine table runner}

2012-01-17T07:54:00.025-05:00

Yesterday was such a stressful day. I'm so glad that I can come home to the solitude of my craft room. This table runner was such an easy project!! I love the simplicity of it and I love that it didn't cost me a dime! Yay!!! :)

With right sides together, I stitched the long sides of the duck fabric (left-overs from altered bedroom drapes) together. After ironing the fabric well, I wrote down "Be My Valentine." to refer to, so that I wouldn't screw up my stamping. :) The MM stamps were one of the first things I purchased, all those years ago...when I started scrapbooking. Red paint is also by MM. Once my stamping was completely dry, I measured the edges, determined my equal distance hem lines, and top stitched the table runner together.

To add some color to the hurricane dish w/candle, I poured red sprinkles {left-over from Christmas} around the perimeter of the candle. Sweet, easy & cheap. :) :) :)
Linking up at Chic on a Shoestring...'cause seriously, this was zero cost. Yay!!!

Also linking up to Look What I Made!
Thanks for stopping by! Hope your day is stress-free! ;)
hugs, patti

...a painted bench for "free for all Friday"!!

2012-01-13T13:24:00.012-05:00

Hey there! We're having our first snow day of the winter here in upstate NY - and honestly, it's just plain weird that we haven't had any snow 'til now!! We've probably got about 8" so far today.

This week, I painted a wooden bench that I've owned for well over twenty years. I bought it back when we lived in a little house that had knotty pine on 3/4's of the walls. It was a charming, cozy house, really. :) It was in a corner in the basement, not being used. I'm glad the hubs didn't chop it up for kindling!

Fast foward to some brown Glidden paint, some Annie Sloan country gray chalk paint and some Annie Sloan clear wax. I didn't have a definite plan for this piece when I started...just sort of let it speak to me. :) I thought I'd stencil the top and front...but I didn't like it. Not at all.This was my first time working with Annie Sloan paint and I loved it!! The top of this bench was uneven and pretty banged up. The AS helped to give me a smooth surface on which to stencil. As for the wax...well, maybe this wasn't the perfect piece to use it on. I like the finish well enough, but I'm not wowed by it. I think the wax would be much nicer used on an ornate furniture piece - and I've even got something in mind for a future project.

This little stenciled bench (stencil by Stencil ease, purchased at Hob Lob) is by no means a show piece, but it's at least usable now....and I can say I like it next to my chair in the livingroom. :)
Linking up to Sassy Sites Free for All Friday. I really like Marni's site...there's always something new and different going on. :)

Thanks for stopping by and stay warm! hugs, patti

fUnkY JuNk junk drawer!!

2012-01-11T16:24:00.019-05:00

Marni, at Sassy Sites is having a party in a junk drawer. Well, once she sees mine, she's going to change it up to "there's a riot in a junk drawer"...'cause people, this is total foolishness.

On Monday, my oldest son (Thomas) asked me "mom, do you have a rubber band?" Hmmm. I said "there's probably one in the junk drawer". He went to it and said, "but do you think I'll find one that actually still stretches and will work?" Now, that's just wrong. Right??

This has been our catch all junk drawer for 17 years. Honestly, I've cleaned it out during those years...but it never seems to last. And another honestly...it's {mostly} because of me that it doesn't last. Time for a change!! :) :)

A quick stop at The Dollar Store after work today, and I was headed home with some white plastic pieces that were going to help hold my junk in order. A DYMO label maker came in handy for identifying items.

-closer look at all this awesome organization-

Thanks, Marnie, for this fun challenge! I have another drawer that is messy in my kitchen and am psyched to get to it. It feels sooo good to have this drawer under control.

Check out Sassy Sites for more fun!!
hugs, patti

a sweet stamped pillow!

2012-01-11T07:00:00.011-05:00

This little pillow was created using quilter's fabric squares that I already had on hand. I spent a dollar on each square and cut into four, plus a tiny bit of muslin. Using a Stampabilities stamp, I stamped the sentiment directly onto the fabric. The squares were all machine stitched and stuffed. So easy and inexpensive, coming in at four dollars!
and the back...
We use this pillow in the livingroom, on a chair that is under some photos that were taken during a trip the hubs and I took to Yosemite National Park, in gorgeous California, last year.

Linking up to At Home with K: Terrific Under Ten Tuesdays. If you made it for less than ten bucks, you're in! :)
Thanks for coming by today. hugs, patti

...the bedroom before.

2012-01-08T09:40:00.005-05:00

I found this new blog with the most fun challenge!!! Lisa at Shine Your Light has a before and after challenge the first and last Friday of each month.

You post your "before" pics of whatever it is you're currently working on. You return at the end of the month with your "after" post. Brilliant and motivating! :)

I only need to finish painting the wood slat bed that we purchased for oldest son's room. It's in the basement w/one coat of paint on it....waiting patiently for me to get my hiney down there to finish it up!

Here's some before shots of son's room (who is presently home from college for winter break). This shot taken from doorway. Please note a missing closet door. LOL!

I took these pics after I had started to tear the room apart. I needed to include this shot because you can tell that I used (yes, I am the guilty party) semi gloss paint on these walls when I painted them blue. I had taken down floor to ceiling wallpaper that I had put up when he was a child. The walls were in poor shape. I mudded them in an attempt to improve...but then I hardly sanded anything. You know the saying "you live and learn"....well, I learned from that. :)

Before the current paint job, I used a palm sander on some parts of his walls where you could see wallpaper residue. I then mudded and sanded each wall, until I had a nice smooth surface. It took me about a week to prepare the walls for paint, but it was so worth it!

I'll be back with new bedroom pics on January 27th. I have 'til then to finish the bed!! :)

Thanks, Lisa, for this very fun challenge.

patti

look what $4.57 got me!

2012-01-06T17:21:00.015-05:00

A beautiful new-to-me sofa table! Some Minwax dark walnut stain purchased from Lowe's helped me with the transformation. I sanded, cleaned, stained, and applied two coats of satin poly.

Here's a before shot I took from the front porch. A stained, chipped and generally in pretty poor shape table - just beggin' for some attention. {Yesterday was a gloomy day of about 20 degrees. I crack myself up that I was out there with the palm sander. Can't let a little bit of winter get in the way of progress!}
This table's been in my basement for a few years. It came from my MIL's attic when one of the boys needed to use it in their apartment kitchen. Fast forward to this week. I rearranged our living room furniture and was sick and completely tired of the blank wall behind the sofa. {yes, I painted this past Fall and never got it together w/wall art.}

I love that this table is the same height as the back of my couch. With it being 15" deep, it fits nicely behind the couch. I wish it were a little bit wider, but hey...it'll do. :)

I think this is where the table will stay for a bit. After rearranging the furniture for a second time, the hubs and I are happy with the new lay-out.

I'm linking this post up to the Twice Owned Tuesday challenge, Kara's Look What I Made!, and Sassy Site's Trash to Treasure Tuesday. Also linking for the first time to My Repurposed Life's Catch as Catch Can. :)

Thanks for stopping by! hugs, patti

...that's 555-FRI-ENDS.

2012-01-02T08:03:00.010-05:00

Today is the final day of the Citrus Tree Studio crop. I have made an altered item, and 5 cards thus far. 5 cards in 2 days!! That's crazy good and it feels so nice to play with paper again!!! :)

Nicole has a challenge to create a card using numbers on the front. My first thought was to make a birthday card...but then, I got the idea to go with a telephone number on the front of my card. 555-374-3637 is also 555-FRIENDS.

{Supplies: Jo-Ann Fabrics kraft cs, jillibean pp, AC thickers, dymo label maker, Maya Road wood piece, machine stitching and jute.}

I'm linking up to Paper Issues!!! They're having a we've got your number challenge as well!

Thanks for coming by and happy second day of the new year! :) hugs, patti

...a jewelry holder!

2011-12-31T12:24:00.009-05:00

Hey everyone! Happy New Year's Eve!!
Citrus Tree Studio is having a New Year's crop...and they have got some kick-a$$ challenges going on!! Lay-outs, cards, altered items - it's all covered!
Melonie has a challenge to get organized for 2012.
For Mel's challenge, I made a trip to Hobby Lobby where I purchased three knobs (50% off). I had a plan to create a jewelry holder for our niece, Elly, who will turn 11 yo this next week.

After the board was lightly sanded, I painted it w/MM coral paint and then dabbed it with TH vintage photo ink. Using one piece of Lily bean pp, I cut, inked and mod podged each piece to the pine wood board (just under 8x10"). Next, using a sponge brush (sponge brushes give you a nicer finish when the mod podge dries), I applied a top coat of matte mod podge.

Once the piece was dry, I screwed in each sparkly knob. {Note - the knob screws were really long and needed to be cut so that they didn't poke through the back of the plaque. The hubs did this part for me.}

Don't hesitate to come by Citrus Tree to participate in the fun. I was away for months and months...no matter! The girls there are sweet and welcome everyone. :)
Thanks for coming by and I hope you all have a wonderful night tonight...welcoming in 2012!!!
I'm also linking up to Creations by Kara, Look what I made!
hugs, patti

bathroom cupboard make-over!

2011-12-29T15:37:00.009-05:00

Seriously, this cupboard was so grungy and awful that I didn't even think to take a before photo. Now I really wish I had because I love the way this fresh cupboard looks. :) I bought this pine cupboard over 20 years ago, at a Country Folk Art Show. Here are the doors and center divider that I removed. I scrubbed, sanded and then spray painted it a glossy dark chocolate brown. Using Elmer's spray glue, I then applied some fabric to the back of the shelf spaces. This cupboard was meant to primarily hold my face cloths and hand towels.
This is our second bathroom. The one that guests don't use...some people don't even know it exists. ;) haha! We all shower in here every day though because we like this shower best. :)

Some fresh ceiling paint (and ceiling repair done by yours truly - I am getting so good at mudding!), bold green (I know, it's not for everybody!) wall paint, cute new curtains (2 rod pocket panels, material purchased at jo-ann's), new light & faucet and it feels like an updated bathroom.I'm linking up to The House of Grace Blog, Twice Owned Tuesday challenge and to Look What I Made! I really appreciate seeing old pieces get new life!

Thanks for stopping by! hugs, patti

Homemade wall art in our updated bathroom!

2011-12-17T16:48:00.015-05:00

We finished the guest bathroom today! The last of the grout! YAY!! :)

The hubs and I re-did a bathroom by removing the original pink mosaic floor tile, toilet and vanity. I love our new white tile floor w/bright white grout....even though I need to swiffer it twenty-four seven. ;) ;) The toilet is awesome! I know that may sound weird to be so excited over a new toilet, but this baby is sleek in design which makes for easy cleaning which makes me so happy!

The day the hubs removed (okay, more like tore out) the old vanity, I stopped him long enough to remove the doors. Using one, I painted it a bright white semi-gloss (Valspar trim paint is the best), and then traced a pattern around the inside of the door. I then mod podged down a piece of LYB scrapbook paper. Such an easy project!

Just for fun...here are some bathroom pics too.

before...

after...

I'm linking up my wall art project to Twice Owned Tuesdays, at the creating a house of Grace blog. This is the 75th Twice Owned Tuesdays challenge. Very cool!

Thanks for stopping by today!
My hubs is feeling better...well enough that we're planning to go cut a Christmas tree tomorrow. :)

Hope you're feeling the magic of the season!
hugs, patti

anything goes at the Paper Variety!

2011-12-14T14:43:00.008-05:00

I love "anything goes" challenges! They are so easy to play. :) :)

I recently punched some snowflakes, added them to red cs, and then applied this "merry and bright" rub-on. When placed inside a bright white frame, it looks like this. Simple & sweet.

I'm linking up to the Paper Variety.

Hope you are enjoying this holiday season!
I'm almost done with my shopping. I baked two batches of cookies yesterday. Still don't have a big tree up...the hub's had a bit of surgery (last week) and putting up the tree requires him to lug out the tree stand, saw, drag the tree into the house, etc. It's work. I'll be content with my little artificial tree, just as long as I have my boys home and a healthy hubby. :)

Thanks for coming by today!!
merry, merry, patti

proud to be a garbage picker!

2011-12-04T12:48:00.005-05:00

hahaha!!

Driving to work a few weeks ago, this house had some items at the curb with a "free" sign posted. I saw a wood table, and did an immediate U-turn. The leg needs to be re-attached, but other than that...it's in great shape. I plan to paint it in the near future.

There was also this metal basket that didn't have a base. It was just the metal sides -- with additional metal linking the sides together. I didn't take a "before" pic. Using some pliers, I removed the unnecessary metal. Some black spray paint, a piece of cardboard covered w/fabric, and an 8x10" glass piece from frame not being used...and I have a little tray to use in my bathroom. Total cost for this fun little ditty - zero dollars. Yay!! :)

I'm linking up to Sassy Sites - trash to treasure Tuesday.

Thanks for stopping by today!

I'm off to get ready to go out to lunch w/the hubs. His treat. :)

hugs, patti

Crate & Barrel Knock-Off Pillow!

2011-12-03T13:56:00.015-05:00

This morning, I saw this "Merrie" pillow at the Crate & Barrel website and ran to my fabric stash. I knew I had this green fleece, bought years ago on clearance, and thought it would make a cute tree pillow. C&B's pillow:

Using cream colored cotton duck cloth cut from my recently altered bedroom drapes as background fabric, I began hand stitching the hand-cut circles of green fleece into the shape of a tree. I also added some dark green felt circles for a little contrast. The bird is machine stitched red felt w/a tiny DMC black french knot for an eye. The tree trunk is a simple rectangle of brown felt, also machine stitched.

Total cost for this pillow --- zero dollars. HA!! That's one good thing about getting older, as you age...so does your stash for crafting. :) :)

I'm linking my pillow up at the House of Grace blog, for the Twice Used Tuesday Party!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you're having a great week-end. The sun is shining here today!!

hugs, patti

A holiday buffet vignette~

2011-12-01T16:43:00.017-05:00

I had so much fun with my very first vignette. I've been under the impression that "vignettes" should be and are fancy. Vignettes are for decorator's with BIG budgets and serious skills. Vignettes belong in grand homes. Well, guess what? That's nonsense! You can have a vignette in a small 10'x12' dining room, on a repurposed buffet, and it doesn't need to cost a fortune.

Mine is proof. :)

I picked up a yard of this red & white fabric at Hobby Lobby. I sewed the table runner and then covered the lamp shade. Some offray felt trim was also added to the shade. Here is a view of the open shelf that holds some red & white dishes that I got on clearance at Kohl's last year - birthday present to myself. :)
This tall glass dish can be used as a candy dish or candle holder and if flipped, it is a vase. It was on clearance at Pier One. Yarn trees - because I love yarn trees.

And, finally a peppermint candle, also from Pier One, completes my holiday buffet.

I'm linking up to A Thoughtful Place, and passing along the merry. :)

Happy December, all!!!

hugs, patti

Yarn trees!

2011-12-01T15:40:00.009-05:00

You've seen them...styrofoam trees covered with jute, burlap, fabric, yarn. I adore them!!

All you need for this trio of trees are 3 stryofoam tree shapes, yarn and some glue. I used red yarn I had on hand and Tacky glue by Aleene's. It dries quickly and comes out of the bottle in a thin line that is easy to control. Start at the base of the tree and apply a tiny bit of glue. Add your starting end of yarn and let dry for a minute, just so your starting point is sturdy. Now, apply a row of glue - sparingly - you don't need a lot and you don't want it seeping through. Wind the yarn around, applying glue, then yarn...until you reach the top. These each took me over an hour to make. Find a comfy spot - I made them while watching a hockey game.

Mine are placed on top of glass candlesticks from Walmart. I love the texture they add to my red and white holiday buffet.

Thanks for stopping by today! Happy December!

hugs, patti

a red ribbon wreath~

2011-11-28T06:56:00.005-05:00

I saw this ribbon wreath in my December 2011 issue of Woman's Day magazine and right away knew I would make one. {Honestly, my pics do not do this wreath justice.} There's just something about the color and texture of this wreath that I find so appealing. It took 8 spools (30 yards) of 1 1/2 " red ribbon - purchased at HL, half price. One round 12" white styrofoam wreath, sharp scissors, and I was good to go. Total cost - right around $20.00. The ribbon pieces were all cut 15" long. Once your ribbon is ready, all you do is tie each piece around the wreath and knot. Scrunch them up so that no white from the wreath shows through. I think one done with green ribbon would be beautiful too.

Hope your holiday week-end was happy. Ours was wonderful. Both boys were home! Son Matthew had to work - he is a new manager at a Sam's Club up north...but he managed to get to grandma's for Thanksgiving dinner. Son Thomas left last night (and texted me at 12:30 AM that he was back "safe & sound") for his college house that he shares w/4 roommates. He'll be home again for Christmas. :)

I'm linking up to chic on a shoestring.

Thanks for stopping by today!

hugs, patti

wall art inspired by grandma.

2011-11-20T17:44:00.010-05:00

This past summer, my mother gave me some pins (my grandma called them brooches) that had belonged to my paternal grandmother and also a couple that were my mother's.

Last year, I bought a shadow box from Marshall's. I had no immediate plans for it...until I painted my bedroom. I'm now putting my bedroom back together. For my wall art project, I simply pinned the brooches onto the fabric covered interior of the shadow box. Done! The easiest project ever! Using a measuring tape, pencil, and level, I hung the box on the wall next to my dresser. It is so pretty. And meaningful. It reminds me of my beautiful grandmother. I love it.

I'm linking up to chic on a shoestring budget.

What have you made lately that you love? Link me up 'cause I want to come see. :)

Thanks for stopping by!!

hugs, patti

A simple roman shade.

2011-11-12T17:16:00.013-05:00

A delivery delay with our bathroom floor tile - special order coming from Toronto - has nixed our plans to work in the bathroom this week-end. We're replacing the floor, toilet, vanity and some wall tiles. Everything's on hold 'til the floor tile arrives. That didn't stop me from making a new window treatment for this little bathroom though. :)

Browsing some awesome blogs a couple of weeks ago, I came upon Angela's 365 days 2 simplicity blog. She has an excellent tutorial for making your own no sew roman shades. Big shout out of thanks to Angela...since your directions that I printed were never out of an arm's reach while I was making my shade. :)

Anegla's directions are for a no sew version of a roman shade. I chose to stitch up the side seams of my fabric because for me, stitching is easier than using heat & bond.
A second change that I made was to use spray adhesive on my shade's slats. I very carefully sprayed the slat and immediately pressed it firmly to my fabric. Worked like a charm.

My fabric was purchased at Jo-Ann's - 50% off, $4.99 yard. It was called an outdoor fabric on the label. It's a machine washable, duck weight cotton, so it has some nice body to it. My shade was $2.97 and was purchased at Walmart.

When I finished this first shade...honestly, I was wishing I needed to make another one!

It was an easy project w/Angela's directions. My window looks out onto our private backyard. I checked outside today to see how the shade looks from there and it's cute out there too!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Hope you're having a nice week-end!

hugs, patti

hate less. love more.

2011-10-29T10:25:00.011-04:00

It's the little things in home decorating that add your own personality to your space, right? Since I am loving this cream/tangerine colored fabric, I went to Hobby Lobby and bought another yard. I had this idea to cover the back of a kitchen shelf that is directly across from my kitchen curtain, made w/same cream/tangerine fabric.

Using a tape measure, rotary cutter, scissors, and elmers spray adhesive (first time using this product - love it, but you only need a little bit and you should cover anything that you don't want sprayed), I set out to change my shelf to look like this.
Tell me it's not cute!

On a scale of one to ten, with a ten being a full blown PITA, this little project was about a 4.5. And, it is rated a 4.5 by me simply because I so suck at math. Now, one would think that after measurements are taken and written down...that the fabric would then be cut according to taken measurements. But no......that would be the easy way. 1/4 inch here, 1/2 inch there - I so hate fractions!!! {...and seriously, it blows my mind that I have 2 grown sons who are both excellent in mathematics.}...and it's a darn good thing I bought an entire yard of fabric. Here is a "before" look.
I cut an "x" in the fabric for the outlet. Sprayed the wall, placed the fabric on wall, smoothing out with a credit card as I went from left to right. The fabric is actually hung in 3 pieces. Left, center and right. You may notice that the pattern is not perfect, but I think because it's so busy, it's okay.

I used to hate this shelf. So boring. Blah. Dullsville. But now...I hate it so much less. :) :)

Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you have a happy week-end!
hugs, patti

...it's a table.

2011-10-27T07:40:00.012-04:00

After I hoed out and painted our foyer, we were left with a bench, rug, wall art and a mirror.

For 3 days straight, I cleaned up coffee spills, by the front door, from the hub's very early morning. He makes his coffee in the kitchen and only needs to carry it about 20 feet to actually leave the house. Just....cannot...be...done...without...a...spill. ;)

Browsing around the house after cleaning up the day 3 spill, I spied these two chunky candlesticks that I had on top of a bookcase. They were looking pretty blah up there....so, I thought, put them together and you may just have the perfect height for a small table that could be placed next to the foyer bench.

Hop in the shower and quick run to Hobby Lobby before work.

Go to work. Come home, make supper and then, open up that gorilla glue. This was my first time using gorilla glue. Holy crap is what I have to say about that! You only need a little bit...and once you glue 2 pieces together, it is for-ev-er.

Here is the finished little foyer table that holds the hub's coffee every work day morning. He sits there, puts his work boots on, and amazingly makes it out the door spill free. :)

He loves it. I love it. I love my coffee spill free ceramic tile floor. Total cost was $12.00. The painted wooden top piece was six bucks - 50% off, bottom pine piece was .99 and I needed to buy the gorilla glue, which was just under five. Cheap and easy. The table, I mean. :)

I'm linking up to Twice Owned Tuesday, at the creating a House of Grace blog.
Thanks for stopping by today!
hugs, patti

...one last dining room piece to share.

2011-10-24T19:46:00.012-04:00

This past summer, I was given this dresser that belonged to my Aunt Jean. Sadly, at age 80, she passed away. Her family invited everyone to come to her home and take what they might like. I saw this dresser {that had one broken drawer front}, and knew right away that I could turn it into a buffet for my dining room. Here's a before...

I used a palm sander on the top of the dresser, sanding down to the bare wood. Then I applied 3 coats of clear poly to the top - no stain, as I wanted the top to be light. The hubs cut a piece of wood (also only applied clear poly)and fit it into the top space where there used to be a drawer.
My favorite part is the beautiful wood grain that shows through on the top surface.
The bottom of the dresser was lightly sanded and painted with two coats of satin black paint. As a final step, I coated with the clear poly.
I really love the way this dresser, now buffet, turned out. I hope my Aunt Jean is looking down from heaven with a smile on her face. I believe she would be so happy to see it in my dining room. It holds all of my table cloths, placemats & napkins - the added storage is awesome!

I'm linking up to Metamorphosis Monday @Between Naps on the Porch.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Hope you're enjoying this Fall season.
hugs, patti

fabric wall art!

2011-10-22T06:39:00.012-04:00

It's true that I'm a "use what I have decorator".
BUT, while re-doing my dining room, I was striving for a more sophisticated feel.
There was one wall still blank - in need of something pretty.
I ordered a large art canvas on-line. It arrived, and the colors were not quite right. {cost me $25. to return}
This week, I bought a beautiful large art canvas from Burlington Coat Factory. Got it home, held it to the wall, but it just didn't work. {another trip to Syracuse and that's been returned too.}

When I chose that "bright, happy" fabric for my dining room drapes, I was limiting myself when it came to choosing artwork. Truthfully, this never even occurred to me...until I tried 2 pieces that didn't quite work...because of the drapes.

And then...Friday morning I woke with what I thought was a brilliant idea. :)

Since it felt like I was "competing" with the drapery fabric......why not join forces with that funky, bold fabric and create some wall art from said fabric??

How to do this without the art feel "homemade"? {not that there's anything wrong with a homemade feel...you know me, I love homemade}. I just wanted it to be a little bit classy. At the risk of sounding boastful, I think I succeeded.

Two trips to Hobby Lobby later (I broke the glass in one of the frames and needed to go buy a 4th frame. ugh!), and this is my pretty dining room wall. Makes me smile every time I see it.

Steps to creating this fun wall art:

1) Determine what you would like to cut from your fabric.
2) Rough cut around the image.
3) Iron on fusible web to help eliminate fabric fray (I had mine in my stash - bought at jo-ann's by the yard).

4) Using the sharpest scissors you own, closely trim around your image.
5) Choose background fabric (I used a cream kona cotton).
6) Pin your image to your background fabric. Use plenty of pins because you don't want your image to move - moving causes puckers.
7) Not sure you would need this step, but I ironed it, while pinning.
8) Zig zag stitch - or if you have a fancy sewing machine, this is where you would applique. My sewing machine is an oldie but goodie, so I simply set it to a zig zag stitch that I liked and went with that. Carefully stitch as close to the edge of the image as you can.
9) Iron and then spray starch the wrong side, and then iron again (and again, haha!). Wrinkles bother me. ;)
10) Using the back of the frame, center your image. Stretch it around and tape to the back. I used painter's tape because you can lift and press down again hassle free.
11) Assemble inside frame and hang.

Easy, right?
I love that this project gives me the visual impact I was going for. I love that it matches my favorite part of the dining room - my drapes. I love that it really doesn't look homemade. I love that I only needed to buy the frames - the frames I chose included the double mat - (total cost = $69. before I broke the glass in one - $82. was my final total. ) And finally, I can't wait for my mom to see! :)

It's a whatcha got week-end at Lolly Jane, so I'm linking up (for the very first time). Great stuff over at Lolly - if you don't know that already!

Thanks for coming by my blog today!
hugs, patti

...a little bit more orange.

2011-10-19T11:37:00.009-04:00

Because orange is such a happy, funky, fun color!! :)

Since my galley kitchen is small, I have an issue with food storage - you know, canned goods,
spaghetti sauce, coffee, etc. I've used this wood cupboard as a pantry since we've lived in this house - about 16 years now. Here's what it always looked like. It was stained w/a cranberry color stain and I loved it....'til I painted and changed up my colors. Then the cranberry didn't work anymore.

before...

Since I painted my kitchen a light orange, I went ahead and applied two coats of orange paint to my pantry cupboard. Then, using 220 grit sandpaper, I gently sanded the entire piece. Next I applied a coat of Valspar glaze which I had tinted with some acrylic "nutmeg" paint. The glaze was wiped away with a clean cloth, and this is how it turned out.

after...

some closer looks...

...and just because I love it so much, here's my homemade kitchen curtain that helps to tie the space together. :)

That's all the orange I have for today. :)
{I do have a couple of Pier One orange pillows on my living room couch, but no pics to share. haha!)

I'm linking up to the Piece of Work Wednesday party at Primitive & Proper.
Thanks for coming by my blog and have a super day!
hugs, patti

...use what you have decorating.

2011-10-16T08:33:00.017-04:00

That pretty much sums up my decorating style. LOL!!!! ;)

I've spent a bit of money since June on re-decorating my house. Okay, a more honest statement would be my decorating budget has run dry. That said, I thought it would be okay to have some DIY art hung in my kitchen. It's the kitchen, afterall. :)

So, I had this Donna Downey iron on by Prima.
I had some cream colored Kona cotton.
I had a wood frame and some black spray paint.

After spraying the frame black, ironing the image onto my cotton and putting them together...this is what I came up with. Really simple...but I love it. :)

The hubs put up our new kitchen light yesterday. Can I brag about the super clearance deal that I got on this light? It's made by Good Earth, purchased at Lowe's and was originally priced at $149.00. I paid $34.95!!! {Yeah, baby...I just love that deal.} As a sidenote - last week when I was in the same Lowe's, they had this light - one left, still on clearance - but it was marked $74.95. hee, hee. :)

Here is the second zero cost, 'cause I had everything already, kitchen wall art. The frames were being stored under my bed. The fabric is a jo-ann's quilt square, cut in half, that I bought last year for .99 cents. I made the first one and hung it to the left of the door frame (that's a pocket door from the 80's. haha). Since I had enough fabric and a second frame...I made another one and hung it to the right. Not sure what it is about symmetry, but it honestly makes my brain so happy. I don't think it's "too much"...do you? Please let me know your thoughts. :)

...just for fun, a before pic of my kitchen. That was the very first time the hubs ever cut any moulding. None of the corners came together evenly. LOL! That wallpaper was SO HARD to get down. My right hand is still sore from all of the scraping. Just that little bit (both ends of my galley kitchen) took 2 whole days to remove. Crazy.
I seriously dislike my kitchen cabinets (so much so that NO, I will not paint them and I will not spend the money to switch out the hardware.) I think with the little updates that I've made w/paint, curtains, new light & wall art...they are now less disagreeable to me. Our plan is to build a new kitchen in 5 years. I can wait. I can wait. I can wait. ;) :)

Thanks for coming by my blog and thanks to Donna Downey for thinking outside the box with her rockin' iron ons. I love that one matches my kitchen so perfectly!

hugs, patti

p.s. I've ordered an orange shag rug for the kitchen. Not sure though...will it be too much...will I be brave enough to use it? LOL! It's been shipped --- will keep you posted.

hey...it's me, Patti. a long lost blogger.

2011-10-14T12:37:00.009-04:00

I see my last post is dated August 2011.
To justify that......
My foyer is re-done.
My dining room is re-done.
My hallway is re-done.
My kitchen is re-done.
My oldest son's bedroom is re-done.

What started out as a wall paper removing project turned into a this room looks so nice....now I must do this next room. :) :) A bathroom is still on the list, but I'll get to that after the hub's and I replace some floor tiles at the back door.

I have loved every single minute of all of this re-doing!!!
Wait.
That may be a tiny bit of a lie.
There was a point when I was removing the hallway wallpaper from hell that I thought "what have I gotten myself into??" I just kept at it...scraping that felt backing off inch by miserable inch, and seriously, it was so worth it!!! It's amazing what removing wallpaper and simply painting the walls can do for a house. I actually said to my hubs last week "it's beautiful in here". I don't think I've ever thought or felt this house was beautiful before. We bought this house because of it's awesome location (on a river w/football field sized backyard). It's a cut-up, small ranch that I would never, ever choose. When the hub's retires - 6 years from now - we hope to take down some walls and do some reconfiguring. 'Til then, I'll keep on working with what I have. :)
When you walk through our front door, this is what you see now.
Here is the "before"...

The dining room "after". Fresh wall & ceiling paint, new ceiling fan (I know Sabrina Soto would have a heart attack that it's not a chandelier, but we need the fan.) I now have a funky cool rug under my new table set too. :) Yes, the table came w/4 chairs, I removed one for the pic. I still need some wall art, but haven't found the perfect thing...and don't want to settle.
Here are the lined drapes that I made with that "bright & happy" fabric by Richloom. I also covered a chair that sits next to the dresser turned buffet. {pics of that project to follow.}

the "before"...
Last week-end, I painted the couple of small walls in my galley kitchen a light orange (after taking down more wallpaper, of course). I was feeling so bold about that color choice. ;) This morning, I made this cute little curtain to help bring the room together. No pattern, I just measured and stitched a rectangle. The curtain is lined with part of what was a cream colored top sheet. Fabric & ribbon are from Hobby Lobby. I love how it turned out! :)

To my good scrapbooking buddies who's blogs I've neglected...I am sorry! I am off now to check out some of what I've missed. Hope you all know that even when I'm away...I still think of you. I actually have not played with any paper since June. I know. It feels weird. I'm hoping once the weather turns to crap that I'll be pulled back into my craft room. Will keep you posted on that!

hugs, patti

"get some happy, bright fabric..."

2011-08-15T12:19:00.006-04:00

That's what the hub's said when I was talking about making new dining room drapes. Happy and bright? Sounds great to me! :) :)

After spending hours (no really...I mean hours...and also after receiving one swatch in the mail), we decided on this fabric. I found it here.

16 years ago, we moved into our home and every single wall was painted pink. TRUE STORY. So, back then, wallpaper was "in". I wallpapered our foyer and dining room and it's been that way until last week. It took me 3 days to remove it all, but it's now history and I'm so happy. :)

Now I'm waiting to get my drapery fabric - and hope it comes this week - and then we'll choose a wall color and I will get my paint on. I'm already leaning toward a light gray.

Want to see what else I've purchased for my dining room & foyer make-over? Okay then. :)

Here is my table set - due to arrive in 6-8 weeks. It's made in California, by a company called "Winners Only USA".

New Hunter ceiling fan.

...and new bench for the foyer.

I've also purchased a light for the foyer (on clearance at Lowe's - originally $72. - I paid $18. w/tax!!), 2 new ceiling lights for the hallway, and 2 lamps for the dining room (lamps found while I ran into Marshall's for only a minute, wasn't really looking for them, but there they were! I told the hub's I needed to get them because if I went back, they would be gone). New lighting is complete! :) My FIL is a retired electrician. I've already told him about my purchases, and he's thinking about what I'll make him for supper when he comes to supervise the hub's with installation. {I adore my FIL!} :)

Once I'm done painting the walls and sewing the drapes, I plan to convert an old dresser (which belonged to my hub's dear Aunt Jean, who recently passed away) to a server for the dining room. Seriously, I am having so much fun with this project!!

Hope you're enjoying your summer!!!
hugs, patti

{a budget bedroom make-over!}

2011-07-21T06:27:00.021-04:00

Hi everyone!!
I've been busy changing up my son Matthew's bedroom. Matt hasn't lived at home for 3 years. He graduated from college in May, got a fab job(!!), and moved to north country a few weeks ago. Last week-end, he was home to visit friends and he slept in the basement. Green light!!! ;) ;)
My 17 yo niece Emmalee is coming to stay next week. I would normally have her sleep in Matt's room, but this year, she gets to stay in what we're now calling the guest room. {The hub's said this... "be careful how nice you make it...Emmalee may never want to leave." haha, right?} I adore Emm and cannot wait to see her next week - we only get to visit once a year. Each visit, I work on her to attend college up north. :) :)
{the before...}
Please keep the laughter to a minimum roar.
I know, I know...1990 called and wanted their white verticle blinds back. They're so gone!!! LOL!!!!

The first thing I did was to remove the wallpaper border that went around the entire room. Next, I primed the walls (the bottom was a dark green, top portion of wall and ceiling were light green). Then I chose a soft white for the walls. I wanted to keep the wall color neutral, so that I can change out the bedding and wall coverings easily.

I saw this quilt on clearance at JCPenney and for the price, ordered two...thinking I could cut one up for pillows, table cloth, etc. I ended up using the second quilt to add length to the drapes. The brown portion of the drapes was originally one panel that I cut length wise to make into two panels. (One panel purchased on clearance @Walmart for $15.00.) Chocolate brown grosgrain ribbon tops the seam of each drapery panel. I have the hardware pull backs for the hubs to install this week-end. They're white and match the white wood rod, all purchased @Walmart.

The maple bed was my hub's when he was a kid...and then it was Matt's when he was a kid. :) I went back and forth...should I paint it brown, or should I paint it white? I decided on white, but really think that brown would've been pretty too. I went for a girly feel for the room since I was totally thinking of Emmalee (and my other nieces as well, plus any girlfriends who come for a visit).

The old wood chair was left behind last year at our rental house. I spent ten bucks on a quart of semi-gloss paint and voila! It looks cute in this room, right?

See that tall floor lamp by the bed? I bought that years ago...used it in my livingroom. Years later, moved it to my bedroom. Didn't need it in the bedroom, so I repurposed it. I spray painted it brown and bought a new drum shade. I added some chocolate brown & white printed grosgrain ribbon to the top & bottom of the shade. Total cost to punch up this oldie but goodie = $17.00, including new shade. :) :)

The wall art placement is strategic. HA!!!!!

In the "before" photo, you may notice Matt's golf ball display. Well, the hub's put that up there using some sort of freakin' screw that I could not get out of the wall, no matter what. I ended up doing a number to the sheetrock, and yes, I mudded it, sanded it and made it as good as I could. Then.......I ended up painting right over those stupid screws. So, the ribbon art hangs from those very screws today. :)

I had the frame for the ribbon art floating around my craft room - it came with a matt for 4 photos. I removed that, covered the back of the frame with the ribbon (simply wove it up/down, using mostly American Crafts, Offray ribbon and a bit of Strano).

I found this oval embroidery hoop at Hobby Lobby ($5.99). Using some kona cream cotton that I had at home, along with a piece of dark brown felt and a bit of coral cotton (the coral cotton was from the packaging of the top sheet on the bed), I cut a square and a heart, zig zag stitched them both onto the cotton, and placed inside the hoop. I then cut the fabric close to the hoop and gently pulled it around to the back hoop piece and glued it down. I think this piece looks like applique. :)

I have ordered this corner shelving unit (from Walmart) and it will go in the corner on the other side of the bed. I want to get a brushed nickel clock, but not sure if I want to hang a clock, or put one on the shelf.
So, I guess that's it from the budget bedroom make-over!
We are supposed to set a new heat record today (breaking record from 1933). Temps will be in the high 90s and humidity is insane. Still...it's better than an upstate NY winter!!! We don't have air conditioning in our house, so I just closed all the windows because it's already 85 degrees at 8 AM. We are people who can handle the cold, but we're not made for this kind of heat. :) :)
Hope you enjoyed this post today and that maybe something from my bedroom project will inspire you.
hugs, patti

{moxie fab perty flirty!}

2011-07-17T08:31:00.005-04:00

I saw this image at moxie fab...and thought I must make time to play this week!!

My very first idea was to use some yellow felt. After playing with the felt for a while...I gave that idea up and moved on. :) :)

Here is what I came up with. {thinking of you...}
For my card, I used Bazzill and American Crafts pale yellow cs, coral bazzill, MME pink pp (w/lightly sanded edges), 6 Making Memories small black buttons stitched down w/black DMC, Martha Stewart edge punch, Basic Grey rub on sentiment and a little bit of machine zig zag. It's simple, but it says it.

I was inspired by the ruffles and buttons on the coat. I so love this coat - and I actually have a spring coat that's really similar to this one! :)

Thanks to Cath at Moxie Fab for the always inspiring, fun challenges!!

hugs, patti

{a sweet challenge at Paper Issues!!}

2011-07-11T10:53:00.011-04:00

Paper Issues is challenging you to create something sweet!!!

I altered this clear Art Warehouse can.

{thanks - you're so sweet.}

Using October Afternoon and Pink Paislee pps, red Bazzill, and a Martha Stewart edge punch, I added rows of paper to the can. Paper is topped off with some red pleated ribbon. I heat embossed the flower chip piece with yellow Zing!, backed it w/pp and stitched buttons down w/red DMC.

The can's top uses all the same ingredients, plus two fiskars sentiment stamps. Lemon drop twine from the Twinery was tied around the circle top. The tiny card completes this sweet gift set. All I need to do is bake some cookies and somebody's gonna be so happy. Sweet, right?!

I'm linking this up over at Moxie Fab World for their Beautiful Borders challenge too.

Hope this inspires you to create something that's totally sweet!!! :) :)
Thanks for stopping by!
hugs, patti

{it's Christmas in July...}

2011-07-07T19:51:00.009-04:00

...at the Paper Variety!
{wishing you HAPPY HOLIDAYS}

I started this card by cutting out 2 holly shapes from AC green cs. To back the cut-out holly, I cut thin strips of Bo Bunny pp and zig zag stitched them together. I then machine stitched along the top of the holly. The sentiment is an Inkadinkado stamp, tiny scalloped border punch is by ek, red offray ribbon w/LaMode button & prima pearl finish my first 2011 Christmas card. :)

Thanks to the Paper Variety girls for the fun inspiration and thank you for stopping by my blog!

hugs, patti

{happy birthday card}

2011-07-06T08:22:00.002-04:00

I have used up so many of my birthday cards in my stash lately!! I also gave many cards to my friend, Marti, who's hubby is an officer in the Army, stationed in Afghanistan. She sends him cards every few months. This way, he has a constant supply of cards for every occasion, for his men to browse through and send to their loved ones. {Very awesome, right??}
~~~~~~~~~~

{happy birthday to you...} {click image for an even better look}

A pre-made black Bazzill card is the base for this birthday card. I pop-dotted the yellow bazzill piece onto the gray worldwin embossed cs. The accordian flower was made from the worldwin gray cs, and sanded lightly to make the circle pattern more visible. The accordian flower is finished with a yellow button and prima resin flower. I layered the flower onto a jenni bowlin heart die that was machine stitched down. The sentiment is a Basic Gray rub on. The tiny flowers are older Maya Road rub-ons that I added to this card at the last minute. I think they add a touch of sweet charm. :)

Paige, at the create blog, has challenged everyone this week to make a card using accordian flowers. I now have a few accordian flowers in my stash, just because they are so pretty and fun to make.

Thanks for coming by my blog today! :)
hugs, patti

{red, white & blue dessert!}

2011-07-03T09:55:00.007-04:00

I'm really not big into jello desserts. I had never even purchased blue jello before and I'm not sure if I've ever eaten raspberry jello. That said, when I saw this fun recipe for a red, white and blue trifle dessert...I could not resist making one! A day earlier, I had purchased some beautiful raspberries and blueberries. So, you can see that this dessert was fate. :)
...and well, then I needed to make some glittered up paper stars from American Crafts cs, attached to blue toothpicks to add to my Fourth of July dessert.
The recipe for this festive dessert can be found here.
I'm going to link this delicious post up to Paper Issues. They're having a red, white and blue party!!! The projects in the gallery now -- over-the-top fabulous!! Check 'em out, just for fun!!!
Happy Birthday, America!!
hugs, patti

{paper issues rocks!!!!}

2011-07-01T17:10:00.008-04:00

I am so excited! Feeling psyched to be a part of the new Paper Issues Design Team!!!

Today, I have one of my oldest scrapbooking friends here at my house, with her 3 boys, swimming and playing. So fun!! They're all out there now!

Hope you're all having as nice a Friday as I am!!!!

Thanks, Cassie!!! :) :) :)

xoxo,

patti

{cindy's critter challenge}

2011-06-30T09:30:00.012-04:00

Cindy, at Citrus Tree Studio challenged us this month to make a gift set that included a "critter". Is an owl a critter? I hope so!!! :) :)
I started with a metal prima box that, when purchased, was filled with prima flowers. I measured the top and cut a piece of My Mind's Eye pp to cover. I stitched down a LYB die cut, added an Owl sticker, some Caribbean twine from The Twinery, a resin prima and some buttons to complete the altered top of the little box.

{you mean the world to me.}

Next I made a little card to go along w/the box. More MME pp, pop up owl sticker, twine, some machine stitching and a sentiment stamp from Papertrey Ink complete the sweet {friend to friend} card.

Now, what's a gift box if it's not filled with chocolate, right? ;)

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a creative, hassle-free day!!

hugs, patti

{sketch challenge - the paper variety!!}

2011-06-29T06:46:00.010-04:00

{lily} please click for a full view.

~~~~~~~~~~

This week, the challenge at the Paper Variety is to create a lay-out using the Page Maps June 2011 sketch. :)

I started my lo with a sweet piece of Sassafras pp. Orange cs and blue Basic Gray pp were distressed and machine stitched down. The title letters are Jillibean, "good times" sticker is October Afternoon. Yarn and felt flowers were made by me. Chip piece is Scenic Route, felt star & small flower are Fancy Pants, misc. buttons tied w/DMC, Offray red ribbon, lemon drop twine from the Twinery and Jo-ann Fabs date stamp finish my lo.
The winner this week will receive the Artful Delight July Kit!!!!!

Hope you'll get a chance to play!

Thanks again to Abby & Suzanne of the Paper Variety, for making my time on the Design Team so much fun!!! Best wishes to the new DT girls! Enjoy!!! :)

Thanks for coming by my blog and have a great day!

hugs, patti

p.s. Blogger wouldn't let me upload photos in my normal way today. I needed to upload them to a holding site and then post from there.

{happy birthday card}

2011-06-26T10:42:00.012-04:00

Hi everyone! Hope you're having a nice week-end!
I have a card to share that I made this morning for 3 challenges. It's not very often that I combine challenges, so for me to get to three is big. LOL! :)

{Happy Birthday}

I found this website called Frosted Designs - and was right away intrigued by the blog title. "Frosted Designs". Love that! They presently have a challenge to create a paper project using black, white and one other color.

Next, I wanted to incorporate a cs bow on my card because my friend Mara at Citrus Tree Studio has a card challenge to make a cs bow on your card. I cheated a little bit by using black lace under my cs, but it could not be avoided {and I'm hoping Mara will cut me some slack}.

The third challenge is for the create blog. Paige has challenged everyone to use jewels and/or bling on a card. Well, just last month, my mom gave me a little bag full of old brooches that she had. Some were hers and some were my grandmother's. Excellent score and big thanks to my mom! :)

I started with AC black cs and a Heidi Swapp sticker. Next I used some light purple DMC to handstitch around the sticker. A bow was made w/Prima cotton lace and the black cs before applying the brooch. The "Happy Birthday" sentiment is a Basic Gray rub on. Pearls are Queen & Co. K&Company pp finishes the entire inside of the card.
Thanks to the bloggin' world for the inspiration and fun challenges!! I feel so blessed to have this blog, my crafty friends, a room where I can make a wicked big mess while I'm creating, and a hubs who is totally supportive.

So glad you stopped by!! hugs, patti

{a baby card.}

2011-06-20T18:08:00.009-04:00

I needed to make a baby card to go along with the baby blanket I made last week {blogged about here}.

My sister is having a baby shower at her house, for her daughter-in-law, Rachel, this Sunday. Rachel and my nephew Jimmy are having a baby boy this fall. So exciting!! :)

The baby blanket dog fabric was my inspiration for this card. {Sidenote: I can't help but refer to this blanket as the "doggie blanket". It prompts memories of when my own boys first started talking..."dada", "mama", "doggie" were their first words. They both used our yellow lab to pull themselves up to standing positions and he was also a very handy pillow when they needed a little rest.}

Back to the card ~ the first thing I did was cut the ears from brown felt. I knew I wanted big, floppy ears and hoped my idea for attaching them to the back of the card and folding them over would work. {Worth mentioning is Aleene's quick dry tacky glue. This glue can be used with felt as it dries clear and flexible and does not leave any mark on the felt.} I also machine stitched around the edges of the dog's ears.

For the base of the card, I simply used a circle shape for the dog's head and then a trapezoid for the base. A jillibean die cut was layered with a punched heart, doodlebug letter stickers and a jo-ann fabs button w/dmc. I hand drew the eyes on white cs, inked them w/creamy brown color box ink and then added dark brown french knots. The dog's nose was also hand cut and inked. Then I added some straight stitches to complete his face.

The inside of this card is finished with jillibean pps as well.

I'm sending this card to Paige at the create blog. We'll see if it makes it into the animal shaped card gallery this week.

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Hope you're having a nice summer day. It was a beauty here today!!! :) :)

hugs, patti

{let's weave!}

2011-06-16T05:57:00.010-04:00

{congratulations!}

This week, the create blog had a challenge to make a card using the technique of paper weaving. I had never done any paper weaving before, and wanted to give it a try.

Using my 6x6" Cosmo Cricket pp pad, I chose 3 pps to cut into thin strips. To begin, I added a strip of adhesive to the top of a piece of white cardstock. The adhesive kept the very top edges of my pps straight and secure while weaving. I then machine stitched down the edges of my CC woven pps onto a piece of red Bazzill.

I love how the weaving looks on this card. Using an Inkadinkado stamp, I chose Momento cantaloupe ink to stamp on the yellow Bazzill. It looks a little faded...but in real life, you can see the sentiment just fine. {I also tried it with black ink, but liked the cantaloupe better.} My goal was to keep the focus on the weaving. :) I also added an October Afternoon "happy days" sticker, some buttons, BG fabric brad (I so love these!), and some Queen & Co. bling. The ribbon is by Offray and twine from the Twinery.

I'm going to incorporate weaving into future projects! It has a charming sweet feel to it. :)

Thanks for coming by and have a great day!!
hugs, patti

{the paper variety challenge #38!!}

2011-06-15T07:21:00.012-04:00

Get out your alphabets, ladies. Any alphabet will do!!! You are going to want to have a shot at winning this most awesome prize, sponsored by Close to My Heart demonstrator, Dana Swadling. Thanks Dana, you are so generous!!! :) :)

In my play list is "Roll with the Changes" by REO Speedwagon. The hubs and I took our sons to see REO at the NY State Fair quite a few summers ago. I chose to use some lyrics from this song for my son Thomas' lo. This past winter, after working at a {somewhat crappy} marketing job, he decided he wanted to change his life course and pursue a degree in Engineering. {He completed an advance level program in high school that was all about engineering and the hubs and I tried like crazy to get him to choose engineering when he was looking at colleges while still in HS...but that's a whole 'nother story.}

{...turn some pages} He applied and was accepted into the Electrical Engineering program at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Rather than wait until the end of August to move there, he went to Craigslist, found a house to live in (with 4 other guys that he's never met before)...packed up my Escape (yes, I paid for that...so it's still mine, right???), and was driving down the road at 7:30 AM, June first. The kid who normally sleeps 'til noon. He got a job at a Dunkin' Donuts in 2 days!! Last week, he worked 48 hours. He is happy. He is content. He is excited for his classes to start. This makes me a happy, content and excited-for-him mom. :) :) :)

So, if you want a chance to win that awesome stamp set and stamp pads and acrylic block (wow!!!), come play with us at The Paper Variety!

Have a great day!!! hugs, patti

{cardabilities DT sketch reveal #33!}

2011-06-15T06:27:00.009-04:00

Hey everyone!
It's time for a new sketch by Karan Gerber at Cardabilities!!!

{such is life.} Flipping the sketch, I started with brown Bazzill and then added some {lightly sanded} coral core-dinations cs. PP and stickers are by Crate, Prima bling and birdhouse fabric tag, Fancy Pants buttons with a MME brad, brown ribbon (I think it's by Maya Road, but I'm not positive) and some machine zig zag stitching.

The new Cardabilities DT has been announced!! Big congrats to everyone! :) You have until June 30th to play with this sketch and upload it to the Cardabilities gallery.

Have fun and thanks for stopping by!

hugs, patti

{a faux chenille baby blanket.}

2011-06-14T17:34:00.015-04:00

What's that you say? This is supposed to be a scrapbooking, paper crafting blog? I know, I know...but this blanket is so sweet that I had to share it w/my bloggin' friends. :) :)
I used this tutorial at MADE. Great instructions and photos!!!

Here's the faux chenille side. I changed up the directions from MADE a bit for my baby blanket. It's going to a baby who lives in Michigan (brrrr!). I wanted it to be warm and cozy enough to be used on a wood floor. I added a layer of quilt batting and sandwiched it between the cute dog fabric and a blue cotton. Then I also added layers of brown, cream and blue 100% cotton fabrics. All together, there were five layers to stitch at 1/2" seam rows, on the diagonal. The finished blanket is about 44" square.
{close-up} {close-up of the adorable doggie fabric}
After 3 trips to Jo-Ann Fabrics (LOL!!), I had purchased everything I needed to make the blanket. All fabrics are 100% cotton, Mountain Mist quilt batting, Wrights seam binding and 2 spools of Dual Duty thread. {Note - I needed to rethread my bobbin 7 times!} It took me 8 hours to sew and then cut the rows for the chenille. I loved working on this blanket and am looking forward to making one for my couch. :)

Thanks for lookin'! Have a great day!

hugs, patti

{tuesday trigger at moxie fab}

2011-06-11T11:30:00.013-04:00

The Tuesday trigger at Moxie Fab is Cosmopolitan Neopolitan.

Here's my interpretation ~ {love}

This is the inspiration image - strawberry, vanilla and chocolate. :)

I made my card from a Maya Road kraft scalloped edge envelope. Using light pink thread, I machine stitched the perimeter of the envelope - going around 3 times. Then I simply layered a couple of tickets, a die cut pink heart, and a Maya Road velvet flower. I removed the bling from the flower and replaced it with a FP pink brad. Heidi Grace heart pins and PP foam letter sentiment complete my card.

I attached the envelope to a brown bazzill base.

My nephew Michael is getting married in a couple of weeks. It's going to be a low-key, casual affair, so I think this card will be perfect for this occasion.

Thanks for coming by my blog and have a great day!
hugs, patti

{...it's too cute not to share!}

2011-06-10T16:49:00.009-04:00

This little jean skirt purse. :)
The denim skirt is a size 7, purchased at Good Will for $1.50!!! The fabric is by Heidi Grace and I paid $3.00 for a half yard and have a little bit left over. I made a long fabric handle for this purse, lined it and added a yo-yo flower to finish. I told ya it was cute. ;) ;)

{the back}

{close-up of open front}

I'm thinking I will give this denim skirt purse to my niece, Skylar for her birthday in July. She will be 10 - double digits. :)
Thanks for coming by my blog for a look and have a great day!
hugs, patti

{a jean purse!}

2011-06-08T07:53:00.012-04:00

hi everyone!

Today I want to share a purse that I made for myself from a pair of girl's Old Navy size 1 jeans that I picked up for $2.99 at my city's Thrifty Shopper (our Good Will store).

I purposely kept this purse very simple, only adding clear plastic handles. This way, it'll match with whatever I am wearing this summer. That said, I have plans for additional purses which will have more color and some embellies too. Here is the "back" view.

All you need to do to make a jean purse is cut the bottom of a pair of shorts or jeans off, just above the crotch, straight across, pin right sides together and sew up a seam. So flippin' easy and a fast project too. :)

To attach my handles (purchased at jo-ann's), I needed to move the belt loops and reposition them so that they would work with the clear plastic & metal ring handles. I used a seam ripper to remove the loops and then my machine to re-attach them - with the handle ring inside the belt loop. The back pockets have velcro. I especially like the deep front pockets though - my cell phone slides right down inside on one side and my keys go on the other.

We are having the nicest weather in upstate New York!! I hope you are too.

Thanks for coming by my blog and have a great day!
hugs, patti

{Moxie Fab World - I'm Sew Excited!}

2011-06-04T19:56:00.011-04:00

Moxie Fab's having a challenge to incorporate sewing icons in an innovative way. Check out the Moxie Fab blog for the details. You have until June 20 to join in this fun challenge. :)

I really love to sew. I began sewing on a machine when I was 9 years old. I used to sew barbie doll clothes. I made many jumpers (hey, they were in style) when I was in high school. As a matter of fact, and seriously...this is true...I never had a store bought dress until I was a senior in high school and going to the prom. I had been to 2 previous proms and a bunch of dances, but my mother always made my dresses (and matching purses). My grandmother sewed as well, so I guess it's just a natural thing for me to enjoy. :)

{for you}

Yesterday, I was in jo-ann fabrics and spotted this pink measuring tape by Singer and right away thought it would make a pretty fab flower. :) :)

I cut the measuring tape into strips to then fold over and staple in the center. I did this four times, layering each piece and finally topping it off with a FP black button and a FP pink corduroy brad.

Next I searched through my pps for some pink and/or black patterned paper. Didn't find anything that I thought would be perfect. This prompted me to think about what else I could use. I went to my patterns and found a McCalls pillow pattern that I felt would work okay. I cut apart the pattern top cover and hand stitched it to a piece of pink bazzill, using 3 strands of pink DMC and 2 strands of black. The big fat black ric rak was adhered w/some charcoal twine from the Twinery on top. Tiny black gems by Queen & Co. were added to the scalloped edge. A tag was made using a Stampin' Up! stamp and more buttons were stitched down. The "One Size Fits All and Sale Price" are 7 Gypsies rubs.

{side view}

Thanks, Moxie Fab for your fun challenge and always beautiful inspiration!!

Hope you're having a nice week-end! hugs, patti

{father's day card}

2011-06-01T21:11:00.007-04:00

Cindy at Citrus Tree Studio posted a challenge on Saturday to create a red, white and blue Father's Day card. (I won the challenge! A 6x6 BG Lauderdale pp pack! Yay!) I knew I wanted to make a Father's Day card for the create blog challenge as well, so this is what I came up with.

Every little bit of this card is from my stash. I started with kraft cs and added some blue and white pp by 7 Gypsies. The red cs was heat embossed with a star stamp image. For the "father" banner, I used Heidi Swapp chipboard letters and a Fiskars "you're the best" stamp w/a Queen and Co. bling gem. It's all attached to a Martha Stewart pop stick. The banner flag is tied with blue DMC; buttons are from the misc. buttons jar. :)

Thanks for lookin' and have a great day!
hugs, patti

{a new challenge at the paper variety!!}

2011-06-01T06:51:00.013-04:00

This week at the Paper Variety the challenge is to create a paper project using FRUIT! :) :) Any fruit will do!

{home sweet home} I found inspiration from a jillibean strawberry! :)

For my framed project, I started with red bazzill. I heat embossed the Scenic Route "home" stamp twice. Then I covered a MR chip house with jillibean pp, added a AC "sweet" rub on, an embossed SR stamped heart and the layered strawberry. To finish my wall art, I added charcoal twine from the Twinery. {When using twine for a frame, I carefully apply a very thin line of Aleene's quick dry tacky glue and then lay the twine down. Using a cotton swab, I position the twine so that it is straight. This glue dries clear.}

If you participate in the PV fruity challenge, you could win this!!!! The June kit from Artful Delight!!! :) :) One more thing! Abby and Suzanne at the Paper Variety are having a Design Team call!!!

They are looking for an entirely new DT!!! It's not that the present DT hasn't done a good job...'cause seriously, we've rocked that past 6 months...{smiles!!}...it's just that fresh faces bring in more followers, more participants and blog growth. All good stuff!!

If you would like to be part of a very fun, well organized challenge blog site, I encourage you to apply! The thing I love the most about the PV is that you can choose what you want to create for each challenge. :) You have until July 24 to get your application in. Good luck!!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

hugs, patti

{cardabilities DT reveal sketch #32!}

2011-05-30T06:17:00.011-04:00

Hi everyone! It's the 30th! That means it's time for a new sketch at cardabilities!

When I see circles, I think happy and fun. :)

I used Little Yellow Bicycle's "Elizabeth Park" line. This pp is one of my all time favorites!

{thank you} For my three circle flowers, I started with these self-adhesive circle canvas pieces by Technique Tuesday.

I applied a light coating of glue to the top of the circle and working quickly, added my twine, beginning in the center of the circle. (I needed to trim a bit of canvas around the edges once I was done with the twine.) To finish the circle flowers, I added sculptured flowers by Prima. The bling is cut apart leaves also by Prima. Loopy punch by MS and the Stampin' Up! sentiment stamp was stamped w/London fog Momento ink.

Did you know if you play at cardabilities you could gain a chance at being a Guest Designer?

Just upload your card into the cardabilities gallery!! You have two weeks to participate in the cardabilities challenges.

Thanks for coming by my blog and I hope you have a creative day!!

hugs, patti

{counterfeit kit blog hop!!}

2011-05-28T09:29:00.013-04:00

First of all, I think the Counterfeit Kit challenge blog and their concept of copying kits is the greatest idea!! :) :)

They're having a blog hop, so this morning I made a quick card to join in the fun.

I went to the manufacturer jillibean soup - love their stuff!!

I admired these cut-out cards by Wendy McKee and thought I'd give the cut-out technique a try.

Here is what I came up with.

The first thing I did was cut some strips from jillibean pp. Then I zig zag stitched them onto a piece of white cs. Next I cut out a house shape from Kraft cs. I inked the inside edges of the house w/brown ink and then adhered the jillibean pp to the inside front of the card. Using brown DMC, I hand stitched the outside of the house. The crocheted flower is Offray and the tiny "love" tag is jillibean. The heart stamp in the corner is Technique Tuesday (stamped twice) and the edge punch is EK.

I also finished the inside of the card. I love how this card turned out and encourage you to give a cut-out card a go.

Thanks to the Counterfeit team of awesome girls (my friend Julie Ann is one of them!!!) for their very fun blog hop and inspiration!! :) :)

Have a great day!! hugs, patti

p.s. please note - blogger won't allow me to leave blog comments {still!}. Still hoppin' through the Counterfeit May blog hop and enjoying everyone's work so much!! :)

{...it's casual Thursday.}

2011-05-26T08:21:00.005-04:00

Casual, as in denim. :) The create blog has a challenge this week to create a card that includes denim.

I cut a piece of denim from the hub's old work jeans and frayed the edges. Then I tied some of my hoarded Strano ribbon around the denim. Some AC thickers spell out the sentiment, jillibean layered corrugated flowers are topped off with a prima sculpted flower, a bit of machine zig zag and two misc. buttons finish this fun card for today.

Thanks for stopping by and happy almost long week-end! :)

hugs, patti

{sketchy thursdays!}

2011-05-25T09:40:00.004-04:00

I was so glad to have the time to play at Sketchy Thursdays this week! :)

I chose to use a pouty picture of my great niece, Kimberly -- who is is total pip! Kimberly is my only brother's only grandchild. She just might be a tiny bit spoiled -- but what do I know. ;) ;) LOL!!! :)

{the birthday girl pout} Kimberly is wearing an Easter bonnet that she received as a birthday gift. Too funny, right?

I started with AC white cs and added a piece of golden yellow Bazzill. I then went outside with some dilluted pink paint, a brush and some newspaper. After spreading the newspaper out on the picnic table, I placed the lo down and dipped my brush into the paint. I then just spattered the paint all over the cs.

Once the paint was dry, I added some Echo Park pp and handstitched w/yellow DMC. The photo was matted on white. The "POUT" letters were stamped using the same all-purpose acrylic pink paint and MM foam stamps. "birthday girl" letter stickers are by Doodlebug and the remaining letter stickers are by Echo Park. I stitched down a piece of white eyelet, added a bit of twine and finally two tiny primas w/MM heart brads.

Thanks to the Sketchy Thursdays crew for always providing the scrapbooking world with so much inspiration and very fun sketches!!

Have a great day!!

hugs, patti

{almost ready.}

2011-05-24T15:17:00.005-04:00

Berta, at Citrus Tree Studio, has a lo challenge this week to use a mirror image.

I had the best time working with these photos of my son, Matthew. He needed me to take a couple of photos of him so that he could change his Facebook profile picture to something a little more respectable. You never know when a prospective employer might be lookin'. :)

{almost ready}

I started with golden yellow and chocolate brown Bazzill. The yellow shaped background piece is by Little Yellow Bicycle and I also included some Jillibean mustard soup pps. Title is AC thickers. Jillibean stickers and corrugated flower for embellies. I also added some brown twine from the Twinery to make a frame.

A special thanks to Berta for this fun challenge to get me back to scrappin' a lo. It's been a few weeks!

Thanks for coming by my blog and have a great day! :)

hugs, patti

I'm seeing stars at the Paper Variety!!!

2011-05-18T07:06:00.016-04:00

Hi everyone! Time for a new challenge at the Paper Variety...and it's all about stars! Incorporate a star or a whole bunch of stars onto your paper project, upload to the PV gallery...and you will be entered into a drawing for an incredible star studded prize from Technique Tuesday!!! :) :)
I used some beautiful Webster's "let's celebrate" pp for my card - which I will send to my nephew Timmy who left for Air Force training last month. {My brother reports that Timmy wants mail.} I used a cotton swab to apply embossing ink to the "family" part of the star. Then I sprinkled on the embossing powder, ran my cotton swab along the edges, and heat embossed. The star was pop dotted to the top of the card. I also added 3 MM star brads and some pretty red Offray ribbon.

This is Timmy, at a party in his honor, the day before he left for his Air Force training in Texas.

Hope you get the chance to play this week at the Paper Variety!
Please upload your project by next Tuesday, May 24, 2011, 12:00 noon, EST.
I know you've got a shining star just waiting to be scrapped. ;)

Thanks so much for coming by my blog!!
hugs, patti

2011-05-15T13:52:00.009-04:00

hi everyone!!

Today is cardabilities reveal day!

The sketch~
My interpretation ~
I used a jillibean fabric flower and topped it with some Webster's trim and a Prima crystal. I love this pretty flower. :) The pps are by Webster's - their trendsetter line. I painted the chip scalloped piece black and then added silver paint and Delta crackle paint. The sentiment is an SRM sticker.

Hope you get the chance to play at cardabilities!!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. :)

hugs, patti

A new challenge at the Paper Variety - get messy with it!!!

2011-05-05T07:42:00.014-04:00

Is this a fun challenge, or what?! :)

I used red mist and white & black paint for my "HOCKEY TOWN" lo. My family went to our first NHL game to see the Red Wings vs. the Blackhawks. If you look at the center ice at the Detroit arena, you will see a "wing" with "HOCKEY TOWN" layered on top. I copied that image onto my lo. I had a brochure from the game. From the back cover, I fussy cut out a "wing", making a stencil. I placed the stencil on top of a piece of canvas and sprayed w/red mist. I also painted the title letters w/black paint. I love how it turned out!

The prize this week from the Paper Variety is the May 2011 Artful Delight Kit!!!

Saweeet!!! :) :) You have until Tuesday, May 10, 2011, noon EST, to upload your paper project using mist, paints or inks to the Paper Variety gallery. Hope to see your creative genius there!!!

Thanks for coming by my blog!!! The Red Wings are now down by 3 games after last night, in the Stanley Cup play-offs. Oh, well...I'm still a fan!!! :) :)

hugs, patti

{cardabilities sketch #30!}

2011-04-29T08:30:00.008-04:00

It's time for a new sketch from Karan Gerber at cardabilities!!! {Isn't this a beauty?}

A little reminder - cardabilities now has a gallery for uploading your creations!

Here is my interpretation of sketch #30.

For my card I used Little Yellow Bicycle pp, journaling card & the butterfly was punched from a LYB journaling ticket. The ticket has months and days printed on it - I punched the butterfly making sure to get the "month of May and the day of 8". This will be the Mother's Day card I give to my mom. :) :)

I machine zig zag stitched around the scalloped edge and then stitched down the journaling dies as well. The "xoxo" are AC thickers. The orange flower w/green stem is a Prima iron on by Donna Downey. I had never used one of these before - it was easy! The backing on the flower transfer peeled off easily and it worked like a charm. :)

Hope you get a chance to play with sketch #30! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Have a great day!!! hugs, patti

{got numbers?? the next paper variety challenge!!}

2011-04-20T06:35:00.025-04:00

Hi everyone! The challenge this week at The Paper Variety is to create a paper project and use a number or any number of numbers. :) :)

###################
###################################

This past December, I had a memorable birthday. I say it was memorable because I experienced a {tiny bit of} anxiety leading up to this day. I'm not gonna lie...I was nervous to turn what people call the "big five-oh". But, thankfully the day turned out to be fabulous and I didn't notice any new gray hairs or wrinkles. :) :)

I chose to create a lay-out for this challenge.

This photo of me was taken on Christmas Eve -- 6 days before my 50th birthday.

{i'm fifty and okay with it.}

I started with a piece of AC black cs and used some Websters trendsetters pp. The "old car" was fussy cut from the pp. I used a fiskars "I am grateful" stamp - and stamped the sentiment several times on the car. The big title letters are from my stash - I've had them for a couple of years - made by K&Co. The red felt {50} are AC thickers. The letter stickers are by Pink Paislee and the buttons are from my button jar. :) I chose to machine stitch on top of the entire title to hopefully give it some emphasis. :)

Of course there's an awesome prize to win this week at the Paper Variety!!!

Just create a paper project - remember - anything goes - and upload it to the gallery before next Tuesday, April 26, noon EST and you'll be entered into the random draw for this ---->

This fabulous prize comes to you from We Scrap Kits.

Hope to see your project in the Paper Variety gallery!!!

Have a great day! hugs, patti

{cardabilities!}

2011-04-15T07:02:00.012-04:00

I'm so excited to be participating in my first cardabilities card sketch reveal as a new DT member. :) :)

Here is Karan's middle of the month sketch #29~ Here is my interpretation ~

I started with a Bazzill white base and used Little Yellow Bicycle {Elizabeth Park} and echo park {springtime} pps. I had this yellow ruffle in my stash from long ago. It matches these pps perfectly, so I stitched a piece down. Also from my stash - the Heidi Grace heart stick pins - so sweet and irresistable (and found for a dollar at Big Lots). :) I cut the label from the LYB pp and layered the EP "thank you" sticker w/some zig zag stitching. Pink sorbet twine from the Twinery was tied around the piece, topping with FP yellow button.

If you look closely, you can see that I added two Hambly acrylic butterflies - punched from a Martha Stewart butterfly punch. (I didn't know if I would get a perfectly punched butterfly using acrylic - and was pleasantly surprised when it worked.) I also finished the inside of this pretty springtime card.

A wonderful prize is being offered by Sparkle Creations!!!

There are some big, fun changes going on at cardabilities!!! Karan is launching a gallery! If you participate in this card challenge, you could score a guest DT spot! Fun, right?? :) Hope to see you there!!!

As always, thanks so much for coming by my blog. I so appreciate your support and comments! hugs, patti

{tag & flower challenge!}

2011-04-13T14:59:00.007-04:00

My friend Jan Tatomir, card design team member at My Sketch World has a challenge for April to make a tag - with Spring being your inspiration. I combined Jan's challenge with this week's challenge at The Paper Variety to create a paper project using flowers. :) :)

Here is my tag. Flowers, butterflies and a big fabric flower to mimic the sun is what I think of while I wait for Spring. I like to sometimes make cards and tags that do not include a sentiment. That way, I can use it for whatever occasion I want to. I can also write a note on the back of this tag. I started with a 7 Gypsies office tag. Distressed & inked the edges and then layered it on top of a piece of scalloped bazzill. Next I hand stitched, using light brown DMC, a border around a Websters journaling card. The flower is made from a scrap piece of cotton fabric, topped with 2 layered buttons & a metal turquoise flower. A brown MM eyelet was added to the tag along with some twine from the Twinery.

Here is a photo tutorial for the tag's fabric flower. Fray one long edge of a piece of 8" by1.5" fabric. Baste a straight stitch close to the opposite long side. Pull the threads on each side to gather the fabric. Double knot the threads on the back side of the flower. Top with button, flower or bling.

I {love} these quick and easy to make flowers!

Thanks for coming by my blog. Hope you're having a good week!!

hugs, patti

{citrus tree studio "spring fling" crop!!}

2011-04-08T17:00:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone! Spring has arrived in upstate New York! We have robins! Daffodils have poked through! Temps are supposed to be in the 50s this week-end! It's all good stuff! :) :) To celebrate Spring, Citrus Tree Studio is having a "Spring Fling" crop. There are many fun challenges and awesome prizes! I was invited to create a challenge for the CTS crop. My challenge is this -------> Create a set of springtime cards. {a set being at least 3} Design, colors, embellies - your choice. :) All that is required is that the cards be related to SPRING. I created a set of cards from jillibean soup's blossom line.

{thank you for all you do} {friends are the sunshine of life} {smell the flowers}To hold my springtime cards, I made a box. The box pattern can be found here. I first saw this box at my friend Mara's blog and loved it!!! {thanks, Mara!}

Hope you'll have some time this week-end to stop by Citrus Tree and chat & check out the challenges. Another little something to note --- Cindy at Citrus Tree is having a call for a new Design Team for the summer and fall!!! Her kits are super fab...so if you think you'd like to be on a kit DT....here's an opportunity for you!! :) :)

Have a great week-end!!! I'm off with the hubs and my brother, sisters and mom (there are 14 of us all together) to attend an NHL game {my first}. We're all driving to Detroit for Friday night's Detroit Red Wings game!!! {My nephew is a goaltender for the Wings - his name is Jimmy Howard. He is my older sister's son.}

HAPPY SPRINGTIME to you!!! hugs, patti

{singing in the rain ~ a new Paper Variety challenge!!}

2011-04-07T07:29:00.000-04:00

It's a brand new week at the Paper Variety - which means...it's a new challenge and a new prize!!! :) :) Here is your inspiration image. Cute, right?

Create a paper project (lo, card, tag, altered item), using this image to get you going. Upload to the Paper Variety gallery by Tuesday, April 12 @noon (EST) for a chance to win this wonderful prize from Studio Calico!!!

I had some cute photos of my nieces from last summer. The two of them were "singing in the rain" - literally belting out that song while strolling up and down the street while holding a big red umbrella. Really so funny!! We have a huge festival in our city each July. It's held all along the waterfront. My BIL Donny lives right along the harbor where people dock their boats. (Location, location, location!!) We hang at Donny's during the Harborfest festival every year (and have been doing so for over 20 years now!) There is a trolley that provides transportation for people who get tired of walking or trying to find a parking space. The people on the trolley were laughing at Elly and Sky...and of course, Elly and Sky were loving it! It was a fun day, regardless of the rain! :) :)

{singing in the rain}

For my lay-out, I used Nikki Sivils "Rainy Day" line. The letters are SR, heart ribbon is AC, ric rak's been in the stash for a long while, as have the buttons. :) I cut apart a piece of pp to create the whimsical umbrella shaped line along the top of the lo. I also made a birthday card while I was working with this sweet Nikki Sivils line. I used the sketch #81 at Get Sketchy.

{inside} Thanks to the Get Sketchy girls for their sketch and inspiration. :)

I hope you'll play along with us this week at the Paper Variety. Participation has been fabulous!!! It's so much fun to see the unique projects that you all come up with every week. Love it!!

Thanks for coming by my blog. I hope the sun is shining where you live. :)

hugs, patti

{citrus tree studio guest designer!}

2011-04-05T13:18:00.020-04:00

I was so lucky to get to play with the April "Hello Spring!" kit as an April guest designer at Citrus Tree Studio!!! The April kit is filled with 3 Bugs in a Rug Chloe pps, jillibean, maya road & nikki sivils fun embellies & more!! It's a very cute kit!!! :)

One of my most favorite things about Spring is being able to hang clothes out on the line to dry. I especially love to put bedding out there - just love the smell of the fresh air. With that in mind, I altered this framed wall art.

{springtime}

I had an old frame that was painted black. I sanded it, applied a coat of MM green paint and let dry. Then I applied a coat of Delta cream colored paint and let dry. As a last step to get this crackle finish, I applied Delta crackle paint. The cute little MR canvas pieces are included in the kit - I had fun stitching pps onto each piece. :)

{Mmm chocolate}

I love these pics of my niece, Elly on her tenth birthday. Just look at that cake - she helped to bake and decorate it. :) I added some "chocolate icing" to each jillibean letter. I applied some glossy accents to the top of each letter and then sprinkled doodlebug brown glitter on top. I let dry completely and topped with a bit more glossy accents to eliminate any shedding. I love how they turned out! :) {Carnival Apples} I hand cut the polka dotted scalloped edge and then hand stitched w/DMC. The flowers on this lo are handmade, using the Chloe pps in the kit. I saw a tutorial here, on Melinda Spinks blog, for this flower. So easy and I think they are a funky little flower, perfect for this lo. :)

Thanks for stopping by!!

Hope you enjoy your Springtime where you live!

hugs, patti

{artful delight april challenge!}

2011-04-03T09:28:00.012-04:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~

My LSS had a 40% off sale on Friday. I spied the Websters "trendsetter" line and put the pps & journaling cards in my basket like the place was on fire. I love it!!

Artful Delight has a monthly sketch challenge. Here is their sketch for April.

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One of my favorite things to do while paper crafting is mix old product with new product. :) :)

For this lay-out of my niece Sara, I started with a black AC base and layered on some Little Yellow Bicycle. The edges were roughed up and machine stitched. Next, I added my photo to a piece of the Websters trensetters pp. The title letters are by Cosmo Cricket - blackboard chip, in my stash for a while now. The layered flower bases are jillibean soup. I gathered a little piece of gray felt and topped with a Prima pebbles. The butterflies are cut from a trendsetters journaling card. I tied some twine around this piece and pop dotted for added dimension.The trendy girls above were cut from the pp and also pop dotted.

I am so happy with how this page turned out. It was a really fun one to create. {Don't you just love it when the process is fun? Sometimes I sit and can't decide w/a lo. This one came together quickly.}

Thanks to the Artful Delight crew for their sketch inspiration.

Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday! The sun is shining here today. :)

hugs, patti

{the paper variety - 1-2-3 recipe challenge!}

2011-03-31T08:34:00.016-04:00

Hi everyone! Have you seen the new challenge at the paper variety? 1-2-3 --- so easy & fun --- and of course there is a super prize to win -- seriously, an entire kit from Artful Delight!!! :) :) :)

I bought this wooden "W" by Deco Art, at Hobby Lobby this winter.

I love the Scribble Scrabble pp that comes in the March Citrus Tree Studio kit!! Sounds funny, but it matches my livingroom so nicely. :) I altered this "W" to go on my wooden quilt shelf that is painted black. It really looks nice up there! :) My recipe = 1 flower, 2 pps and 3 buttons.

Materials - Deco Art wood letter, MM gold paint, Scribble Scrabble pp, Prima pp - I cut the bird and leaves from the Prima - and also applied a coat of mod podge to them for some durability. BG bling (cut apart pieces), Stampin' Up! rub on, jenni bowlin star rub, & FP buttons. The flower is made from a piece of gray felt. I cut a 1" strip of felt and then basted a stitch along the bottom of strip. Then I simply gathered the thread and tied together to make this flower - topped it with layered buttons - and I love how it turned out! :)

Thanks for coming by my blog! Hope you get a chance to play at the Paper Variety this week!!

hugs, patti

{card patterns #108}

2011-03-28T19:08:00.023-04:00

Thursday is my great niece Kimberly's birthday. She is the daughter of my godson & nephew, Ryan. Ryan is two years older than my oldest son. When they were all in high school, they spent much time here at my house. Let's just say I used to feed him. LOL!

Anyway, his daughter is turning 6 years old!! He's having a party for her. :) :) This past week-end, I bought Kimberly a wooden bead set. She loves beads!! She really is a crafty little thing already. :) I also picked her up some pretty head bands, lip smackers, skittles & orange tic tacs. Instead of putting the little things into a gift bag, I thought...why not make her a little purse? So, this morning, I got out my fabric scraps and whipped up a little bag for Kimberly.

I've had these junkitz felt flowers in my stash...for what is it...maybe 5 years now? I couldn't ever part with them, and now I'm glad I didn't! I had a piece of orange corduroy that I just folded in half. Before stitching the sides together, I machine stitched the flowers on top. I cut a couple in half and stitched them along the sides of the bag. Then I added a yo-yo flower to the top of the one big flower on the front of the bag. Handstitched (and used Helmar glue) on the yo-yo flower and button. It's not going anywhere. ;) ;)

{the back}{close-up of front}

Then I had to go to work. Then I had to walk the dog. Then I had to make supper. Now I get to make the card to go with the gift! :) I used card patterns sketch #108.

I love this sweet jillibean blossoms pp. Core-dinations & kraft cs, a FP felt flower & handmade yo-yo fabric flower, pink sorbet twine from the Twinery, buttons from stash - all tied with orange DMC, make up this card for Kimberly.

Thanks to the card patterns DT girls for their beautiful inspiration!!

Thanks, also for coming by my blog.

Hope you're having a good day!! :)

hugs, patti

{you're so sweet.}

2011-03-24T07:07:00.012-04:00

~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~
Moxie Fab - Tuesday Trigger - a citrus celebration.

My first time playing @Moxie Fab - I saw the color combination and thought

"now that's a challenge"...but a fun one, right? How can you not feel good when you look at those happy cupcake liners? :) :)

I combined the Moxie Fab challenge with the challenge over at Twisted Sketches.

"you're so sweet"

The twist at Twisted is to add buttons to your card. I worked with my stash and some new Echo Park and jillibean pps. The bright orange cs is core'dinations, BG feltie & chip, jillibean die, offray ribbon, fiskars stamp, machine stitching & misc. buttons tied w/white DMC.

Thanks for coming by my blog today!

hugs, patti

{tic-tac-toe! a new challenge from the paper variety!!}

2011-03-19T10:42:00.015-04:00

The choice is yours! Any way you choose to play, you will be a winner! :)

I went with the bottom row, three across, and created this lo.

{my favorite photo - please click for a bigger image.}
{My hubs - making my dreams come true. :) :)}

Look what you could win this week at the Paper Variety ----->

A beautiful kit from Birds of a Feather!!! Our sponsors are so generous! Thank you Birds of a Feather!! :)

To be eligible to win this wonderful prize, please link up your paper project to the Paper Variety by noon EST, next Tuesday, March 30, 2011. Create a lay-out, card, or tag - whatever you're feelin'....and it's a random draw - because we think you're all so fabulous, it would be too darn hard to choose a winner! :) :)

Thanks for coming by my blog!
Hope the sun shines on you today.
hugs, patti

{big baby blues!}

2011-03-17T08:01:00.013-04:00

The challenge this week at The Paper Variety is a sketch by Jana Eubank.

The PV's design team has totally rocked it!!!
I'm a part of team B, which means it is my "off week", but I loved Jana's sketch and wanted to play. :)

This is my great nephew, Griffin. Is he not a doll? Such a sweet boy!!

I started w/a piece of kraft, added some blue Bazzill, and some embossed brown cs - can't remember who made that, but it is too cute. The frame was machine stitched w/red. The title letter stickers are AC & jillibean. Maya Road chip banner pieces were covered w/jillibean soup pp & sanded. Jute was added and then at the banner joints, I glued down the tops of some Bazzill blue brads. Using doodlebug letter stamps, I stamped the baby boy's name onto a jillibean die. A piece of stash chip was tied down w/blue DMC and lastly, I added some buttons, just for fun. :)

{look at those sweet little hands holding onto the Christmas gift bag.}

Thanks to the Paper Variety girls for their fab inspiration and also to Jana for her outstanding sketch!!!

Hope you all have a great day!
hugs, patti

{she learned to listen with her heart.}

2011-03-12T16:49:00.007-05:00

My friend Tammy, at Citrus Tree Studios is having a challenge this month to alter a canvas.

On Friday, I saw my friend Bethany's blog; she is in a class with Christy Tomlinson - and what are they doing...but having fun w/canvas!! I googled the class and I'm too late for it this time. I need that class in order to learn how to paint a head. LOL!!

I decided to go ahead with a canvas and just use a dress form. I have this book "Taking Flight", by Kelly Rae Roberts, that I looked to for inspiration.

I plan to give this little canvas to my niece Sara. She is a 23 yo young mother of two sons. I'm sure it's not always easy for her....and isn't it nice when someone does a little something unexpected when it's not your birthday or Christmas? A "just because" kind of gesture? Sara had told me on Christmas Eve "I hope you made me something, Aunt Pat." Well, geez....all I had made for her was a Christmas ornament. So this is a "because I love Sara" gesture. :)

The pps I used on my canvas are by Crate. The wings are old Melissa Frances sparkly wings, stash trims, old k&company turquoise sparkly stickers, prima pearl bling that I cut and then placed on top of some Stampin' Up! rubs, 7 Gypsies rubs, MM & Delta paint & misc. button tied w/DMC. I machine stitched the trims down on the dress and hand stitched the button before applying mod podge to the canvas. {I just worked around the trims very carefully.} Everything was sanded, some things were inked w/brown ink.

If you are looking for a nice, friendly, fun & talented group of paper crafters to hang out with, come say "hi" at Citrus Tree! We love to welcome new friends. :)

Thanks for coming by my blog and have a great day!!

hugs, patti

{I've got sunshine on my mind!}

2011-03-10T07:17:00.010-05:00

{{This project was featured at The Twinery on Facebook. Cool, right??}}

Feeling sunshine deprived, I spent a couple of hours in my craft room working with this pretty, sunshine yellow twine. The Twinery calls it "lemondrop". YUM!!!

This funky wall art is hanging in my craft room. The colors & sentiment make me happy. :)

I bought all of the wooden spools in separate bags, according to size, at the Hobby Lobby. I just love these little spools and wanted to make something fun and different with them.

I stitched over the thickers in the sentiment - and for the record, by the time I got to the last line, my sewing needle was gunked up and needed to be changed. {The price of progress, I guess. LOL!}

I also placed some MS punched hearts - from Cosmo Cricket pp under the word "together". The frame was inexpensive and also from Hobby Lobby. It's painted with Delta cream paint.

Hope the sun shines on you today!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. :)

hugs, patti

{doggone it!! - it's new challenge time at TPV!}

2011-03-09T06:12:00.020-05:00

{the challenge}

The challenge at The Paper Variety this week is to create a paper project that reflects a "get well" theme.

I went with altering a gift bag. I've had these fabric dogs by Prima in my stash for a while...and when I got them out, I immediately thought "doggone it!!" ...thinking wouldn't it be cute to send to someone who had hurt themselves, wasn't feeling well, etc.? {I really love how this bag turned out!} :)

I first applied a Hambly white wood grain rub-on directly to the kraft bag. It went on smooth & tight. Next I added a piece of CC pp for the dog house roof. A piece of black bazzill cs, outlined w/jute made the door. The Prima dog was applied with pop dots and a black Cherry Arte rub-on was added to the bottom of the house. The title is AC Thickers letters - which I always add a bit of glue to, just to make sure they do not come loose. (Apply with a cotton swab and then it is less messy.) The tiny tag is by Maya Road. Inked sentiment is Inkadinkado, misc. buttons, and a bit of Offray ribbon finishes this gift bag. :) I can't help it. This bag makes me smile. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~
The prize this week is BEAUTIFUL!!! It is a "Sophia Kit", from Dana Swadling, of Close to My Heart. Look at the paper!! The stamp set! The buttons!! The trim!! :) :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Can't wait to see what you create for our challenge this week!

Please link up to TPV by noon next Tuesday, March 15, for a chance to win Dana's beautiful prize!!!

Thanks for coming by my blog, and I hope everyone is feeling well! :)

hugs, patti

{yay!! paper variety blog candy winner!!}

2011-03-08T05:53:00.017-05:00

The winner of my green blog candy is #24!!!

wendipooh13!! who said...

"LOVE LOVE LOVE your page!!!! and I love Monteray too, it's sooo pretty!!!! way to go girlie!!!!"

To honor my winner, I made a card. :)

I used Lucy's March sketch, from My Sketch World.

More of that Mustard Soup pp by jillibean that showed up in my mail yesterday. The yarn flower is handmade (because I refuse to spend $3.99 on a package of 3 when I have a ton of yarn in my craft room), FP button, & a tiny office tag w/dymo label maker sentiment.

Be on the look-out for a package of blog candy, Wendi!! :) :)

To everyone else who joined in the Paper Variety blog hop, I hope you had fun!!

I wish I could send you all out a prize. Thank you to all of my new followers - I hope when you come by my blog, you get a little bit inspired, pick up a tip, or at the least...smile. That would make me feel so good!! :)

hugs, patti

p.s. Here is a tutorial from Suzanne of TPV on the making of a yarn flower. Tips from me - use a chip circle for your base, use tacky glue and only a bit at a time, hold onto the yarn tail so that it doesn't get extra glue on it, and you will have a beautiful circle yarn flower. You can do it! :)

{cardabilities toot!!}

2011-03-07T19:55:00.012-05:00

I'm so excited to tell my scrappy friends that I scored a spot on the cardabilities design team!!

The cardabilities sketches, by Karan Gerber, are always so hip and creative....and I will get to be one of the first card makers to play with them! What an honor for me!!! :) :) :)

The present cardabilities sketch #26 looks like this ~ I made this card tonight. Very quickly - for me, anyway. :)

{live the life you have imagined}
I used some jillibean soup Dutch Mustard pp, stickers, & butterfly die cut, prima yellow flower, fancy pants brown trim w/yellow twine from the Twinery, MM eyelets and a bit of jute.

Thanks to Karan Gerber for giving me this opportunity to have fun on a card DT. It's my first card DT - did I already say I was excited?? ;) :)

Thank you for coming by my blog!!

hugs, patti

{i hope you know how AWESOME you are...}

2011-03-06T10:42:00.013-05:00

If you are here from the Paper Variety blog hop, please hop on over to here. :)

Our son (and baby) made the President's List last semester!! We were so totally happy for him - he worked really hard to get all A's and one A-. He posed with his letter from the college president for me, so that I could scrap it. {Made me such a happy mama!} :) :)

I used this sketch from Julie Bonner at Blue Moon Scrapbooking.

My friend, Melonie Madison, a Citrus Tree Studios DT member, had a challenge for February to stamp a background. I used some older Autumn Leaves stamps on kraft cs w/potter's clay ink by Memento. Then I cut out the circle, distressed the edges and machine stitched. Thanks for the fun challenge, Mel!! :) :)

It's snowing here today!! I'm off to bake some cupcakes.

Hope you all have a nice Sunday! Thanks so much for coming by my blog. :)

hugs, patti

{twisted sketches #49!}

2011-03-05T20:12:00.009-05:00

If you are visiting my blog from The Paper Variety Blog Hop, please go here. :)

The twist this week at Twisted Sketches is "springtime". Here is the sketch - I so love the circles!! :)

{springtime} I began with a bazzill base and used American Crafts "City Park" pps. The ribbon is also American Crafts, which was machine stitched. I adhered twine to each cloud circle and then pop dotted the kites. Yellow twine was added for kite tails. Both the turquoise blue and yellow twine are from The Twinery. The Unity sentiment was stamped with Momento yellow ink.

Thanks to the twisted girls for this springtime sketch challenge!!

I had fun creating this cute little card. :)

Thanks, also, for coming by my blog!!

hugs, patti

{it's a blog hop @the paper variety!!!}

2011-03-01T13:09:00.045-05:00

Hi everyone!

Welcome to the first PAPER VARIETY blog hop!

The creative designers at The Paper Variety will showcase their personal blogs this week. We have delicious BLOG CANDY too!!!! So much fun!!!! :) :)

If you are coming from Marilyn
you are in the right place! If not, head back to THE PAPER VARIETY to get started from the beginning and see a list of all the links if you get lost along the way. You don't want to miss a thing!
Our challenge this week is a COLOR challenge in honor of the upcoming St. Patrick's Day holiday.

You could win this grand prize from Your Scrapbook Stash!!!

In order to win this GRAND PRIZE you need to submit your own GREEN project to The Paper Variety by Tuesday, March 8, at NOON. If you submit before Sunday evening, you have a chance to have your blog featured on TPV!

Here's a little bit of green from me ~ a lay-out about the cypress tree. A wonderfully unique tree, only grown in the wild in two places in the entire world...and they're both on our California coastline. Pretty amazing, right? I think so!! :)

I used a Prima mask and some olive green glimmer mist to get my leafy effect. The pp is from the Twig collection by LYB.
I'm excited to be part of my first blog hop!!! I hope that you will become a follower of mine for a chance to win some green blog candy from me. :) :) :) I'll send you green prima flowers, green bling, green twine, green paint, green handmade felt flowers, green buttons, and a small green notebook to alter. {Go ahead and click my prize image for a scrump-dilly-icious view.}

And because it's my first blog hop.....I also want to send this along to be loved by another paper crafter. I've enjoyed this Elizabeth Kartchner book for a year now. :)
All you need to do to enter into the drawing for my blog candy is
leave a comment on this post and follow me...and you are in!!!

Now, you're going to want to hop on over to our sweet Suzy to see her green!!! :)

Hope you'll get a chance to play with us this week at The Paper Variety!!
Thanks for coming by my blog today! :) :)

hugs, patti

{something special for my friend, mellie}

2011-02-25T13:18:00.006-05:00

This is one of those projects that in real life....is so much better to see!!!

My friend from a travel board, Mellie (real name Melissa, but only her mother is allowed to call her that) had this quote on an index card on her fridge.

I thought her favorite quote by Helen Keller was totally frame worthy and told her so. She was hip to it...and said make it "blue". I just happened to have some new LYB "Twig" pp which I felt would be perfect.

Here's a close-up. I printed the quote from my computer. The flowers are by Prima, wooden pieces were purchased in the bare wood section of Hobby Lobby. I painted them w/country blue MM paint, sanded lightly and then added some "frost" glimmer mist. They sparkle so pretty, wish you could see. The Prima pearl bling was one piece that I cut apart. There's also some machine stitching, offray ribbon and a Fiskars border punch was used as well.

I would prefer to take a photo of this outdoors....but wouldn't you know it? We're having a snow day here in upstate New York. Big surprise. HA!!! ;)

Happy Friday!!!
hugs, patti

{the paper variety ~ sew much fun!!!}

2011-02-23T07:09:00.009-05:00

Hi everyone! Wait 'til you see the inspiration this week at the Paper Variety!!!!

It's all about getting your stitch on. Hand stitch, machine stitch, doodle tiny faux stitches.

Whatever you gotta do to put yourself in stitches. :) :)

~~~~~~~~~~

Of course there is a prize!

Abby has donated this -----> OCTOBER AFTERNOON. love, love, love!!!

{An 8x8 paper pad & fun chipboard!}
Hope you get the chance to play with us this week. It would be "sew much fun." :) Please link up your paper project (anything goes!) to the paper variety by next Tuesday, March 1, 12:00 noon EST.

Here are a couple more pics of my project. I used 2 square punches to punch several squares from jillibean pp. I lightly adhered them to a piece of cs and then zig zag stitched between each square. I love the quilted look I achieved!! Just what I was going for. {sidenote - I always admire hip, contemporary decorating...but, clearly, I am a country girl at heart. May was well embrace it.} :)

{getting my stitch on.....} The metal pan had been in the back of my cupboard for over twenty years. LOL! I spray painted it, and then gave the Basic Gray metal square frame a fresh coat of paint as well. The fabric flowers are by jillibean soup, buttons are a mix of jillibean & fancy pants. The trim (a RAK from my friend Kay) is also fancy pants. I folded it in half, ironed it, and then machine stitched around the edge. It's not perfect, but neither am I...so it works. :) The green fabric "home sweet home" letters are by Basic Gray.

Thanks for coming by my blog!!! Last week I received some of the nicest comments and you all need to know that each one means so much to me! I am so grateful for this hobby and the friendships I've made because of paper crafting. :) :)

I almost forgot!!!! The paper variety is hosting a blog hop next week!!! See that cute little frog on my sidebar? We're going to be hoppin' around, goin' green! We will have prizes too!!! Sure hope you'll join us. And, ladies...if you haven't already...why not become a follower of The paper variety?? There will be another prize when we reach 500 followers. I know. I so love prizes too!!! Fun stuff...all happening this winter!

Have a happy day!!

hugs, patti

{so many challenges...}

2011-02-22T06:23:00.011-05:00

...so little time. ;)

For this card "love you.", I combined 3 challenges.

Seriously, combining challenges is a challenge. :) :)

1) The Play Date Cafe - PDCC69 challenge is to use the colors BLACK, GREEN & RED.

{I found the Play Date Cafe blog yesterday and had a look around. It feels like a very nice place and I love that they challenge you with color!}

2) My Sketch World - Lucy's sketch #10 from the month long celebration going on now.

{Lucy's challenge also needs to include stitching, brad(s) & paint.}

3) The CREATE challenge to use decorative tape on a card.

{sidenote - if you look through last week's challenge card gallery, you'll see that my card made it in.}

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Remember that 7 Gypsies tape with all of the fun words? Love! This scrappy supply ranks right up there w/Heidi Swapp crimson chip hearts, if you ask me. One of my favorite scrappy things ever. Anyway, it's all gone. Used the rest up to cover this chip circle. I then zig zag stitched on top of the tape (and my machine got a little pissy with me...but we got through it, working together. LOL!).

Thank you, The Play Date Cafe girls, Lucy at MSW, and Paige at CREATE for stimulating my brain while in my craft room last night. Totally appreciate it!!! :)

Hope you all have a wonderful day!!

hugs, patti

{cardabilities #25}

2011-02-21T07:16:00.009-05:00

I had such a good time with this sketch from cardabilities!

Yesterday, I finished a lay-out and used a Prima sprig of flowers. While cleaning up my scrap table, I was about to trash the packaging from the flowers...when I thought "stop right there!" "put that cardboard piece through your cuttlebug w/a die!"

So, that's exactly what I did.

And, is it alright {sometimes} to say "I love it"?
Because I just love how this card came together. :) :)

~~~~~~~~
The base is bazzill, Websters pp on top. You know, I am so bad with my trims. I have them all in a big clear bin just willy nilly in there...so half the time I don't remember who made what. My bad. Seriously need to remedy that situation. ;) The lime green trim on top of die cut piece is Prima, Prima flower & leaf. The pink heart came in a kit, AC metal flower, misc. buttons & machine stitching. I pop dotted the die cut piece and note to self - buy more pop dots -- {I always use up the big ones first.}

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Close-up view - especially so you can see that the yellow button is embossed with a butterfly. I so love this button!!

Thank you to the cardabilities DT for their fabulous inspiration & sketch!!

Thanks, also, for coming by my blog.

Have a great day!!

hugs, patti

{Carmel by the sea.}

2011-02-20T11:45:00.010-05:00

Hi everyone! Hope you are having a nice Sunday!

I just finished this lay-out for Sketchy Thursdays challenge this week.

Lucky for me, the sun is shining...so I was able to get a photo outdoors. :)

I started with a bazzill base and used Little Yellow Bicycle "Twig" pp and Prima "Madeline" pp. {Love both of these collections!} I handstitched "Carmel", using 4 strands of brown and 2 strands of dark blue DMC. The green letter stickers are by Sassafras, tiny stickers are LYB. All of the flowers are Primas - some I took apart from a sprig. I also used a couple sculpture flowers by Prima. I pop dotted two of the photos, including the focal photo of this gorgeous beach in California.

Here's a close-up view.

{journaling: The beach at Carmel was long and wide! I was quite surprised to see just how big it was. It was gorgeous!! We stayed at the Lobos Lodge, two blocks from the ocean and within walking distance to shops and restaurants. I ate the BEST calamari I've ever had while in Carmel. Shopped at some funky shops - and brought home some fun jewelry and a beautiful scarf. Carmel was a lovely place, and I'm so glad we included it in our ten day California vacation.}

Thanks to the Sketchy Thursdays' girls and thank you for coming by my blog!

hugs, patti

The Paper Variety - card sketch by Abby!!

2011-02-16T07:42:00.007-05:00

I so love this sketch!! It's easy! Open to interpretation! And FUN!! {My kind of sketch.} Thanks again, Abby!! :) :)

April, from the Paper Variety's Design Team A, is sick this week. {feel better soon, April!!}

We were able to substitute a card I had made for this challenge. I used some Jillibean pp (found in this week's prize!) and some older thickers. Note - when your old thickers letters no longer stick, don't sweat it. Just apply a tiny bit of glue using a small paint brush to the back of each letter before applying to your project. I've been applying glue to thickers for a while now...and for me, this is the easiest, least messy, way. :) The Offray ribbon on my card was pleated and then machine stitched. Twine is from The Twinery and buttons are some of my faves from Fancy Pants.

{hello.} Hope you'll get the chance to play with us this week at The Paper Variety!! Take it from me...the prize is so fun!! These jillibean products are some of my all time favorite scrappy things. Please upload your card to the Paper Variety by next Tuesday, February 22, for a chance to win.

Thanks for coming by my blog. Hope your day is full of good things!

hugs, patti

{many thanks.}

2011-02-16T06:56:00.007-05:00

If there is a bird pp out there, I will more than likely buy it.

I sincerely believe I'm going to be one of those little old ladies who walks through the woods with her binoculars tied around her neck, wearing her floppy sun hat, w/notebook in denim shirt pocket to keep track of what birds were sighted. I can feel it. {LOL!!} Where ever the hubs and I travel, I must identify and get pics of the birds. So what that I have a BIRD atlas on my coffee table. I love birds! :) :)

Anyway, over at Twisted Sketches, the girls have this sketch up ~ The twist - use a heart on your card.
I used a Maya Road wood piece, layered on top of Cosmo Cricket's "togetherness" bird pp. The stamp is by fiskars and the cs is a mix of bazzill and AC. Ribbon is Offray. Loopy punch is by Martha Stewart.

Will also link this up at Paper Issues...since they're having fun with the birds and the bees over there. ;)

Thanks, Twisted girls, for another week of fun inspiration and thank you for coming by my blog.

hugs, patti

{twisted cards #45!}

2011-02-10T15:31:00.005-05:00

The Twisted Sketches cards challenge this week is to create a card using this sketch ~ The twist ~ Use 2 any how, any way. I so love the freedom you get when you play at twisted. :) I turned the sketch on it's side and began.

I used a happy birthday stamp ---> "happy birthday 2 u"

Perfect, right?

I'm including a close-up pic of the stamped sentiment because I did something different {for me}. I stamped the image 3 times, on white, red and green cs. Then I cut out the "2" from the green cs and cut the "u" from the red cs. I also cut the stripes on the "u" from the white & green cs. I popped up the "2" and the "u" - putting the stamp together was so fun! :)

Materials: AC cs, Imaginisce B-day Bash pp & candles tied w/MS twine, AC buttons w/DMC, and stamp (when I remember who makes this stamp I'll add it in. I bought at my LSS and don't have the packaging and I had never seen this brand before).

Thanks to the fun girls at Twisted Sketches!!!

It was another snow day here today!!! I've got supper in the crock pot, homemade bread from the oven, and a fire in the woodstove. The hubs will be happy to come home tonight. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

hugs, patti

{BEACH love}

2011-02-09T19:38:00.013-05:00

It's true. I am no longer a one-project-for-multiple-challenges virgin. :) :) This lo was created with 3 challenges in mind!

1) My Sketch World - Lucy's sketch #3

2) Crop Suey - February challenge to use 9 items on a lo, and

3) The Studio Challenge - Create a "love" lo using blue, yellow, & green.

I started with a pretty blue piece of dotted swiss Coredinations cs and used Cosmo Cricket "Togetherness" pp & a tiny bit of jillibean soup pp. My title is made from a heidi swapp chip piece that was orginally pink. I painted it gold w/MM paint and layered it on top of some gold sparkly cs (both of these items were mailed to me by a sweet lady, Elaine Akers, as part of a give-away @her blog). The BEACH letters are Prima. I also included our tickets we received when entering Magen's Bay Beach on St. Thomas. MM eyelets, yellow and white twine from the Twinery, an October Afternoon cs sticker, punches & machine stitching complete my lo. {My 9 items for Crop Suey - cs, pp, chipboard, paint, letter stickers, cs sticker, punches, twine & eyelets}

It was fun to combine these challenges.

Thanks to Lucy, the Crop Suey girls and the Studio Challenge girls!

Hope you're all having a great week!!

hugs, patti

{lovin' from the oven - The Paper Variety!}

2011-02-08T07:16:00.018-05:00

This week's challenge at The Paper Variety is to make a paper project using cupcakes as your inspiration. One cupcake or a bunch of cupcakes. Little cupcakes or big cupcakes. Chocolate or vanilla...it's all good! :)

On a recent snowy day, I cleaned out some kitchen cupboards and found this old cupcake tin. Thinking of this challenge, I knew I wanted to alter it. When the weather cleared, I made a trip to Hobby Lobby and bought some cream spray paint. Four coats later, and my old cupcake tin was lookin' shiny and new. I then used my most favorite embellies to make it into a piece of wall art - heidi swapp chip hearts and some jillibean soup buttons, tied w/DMC. Love!! The little 7Gypsies chip pieces were made into magnets using a For the Luv of Art stamp, Unity cupcake stamp, some Martha Stewart gold micro beads, machine stitching and a button tied w/DMC. To finish, I looped some Strano ribbon through the top of the tin.

I really love how this project turned out. I have it hanging above my kitchen sink and it looks so cute! My man/son Thomas asked me when I got home from work the other day..."hey, mom...how 'bout some lovin' from the oven?" He cracks me up!!! :)

Check it out!!!

Another fabulous prize from The Paper Variety! I don't know how Suzanne and Abby do it...but they offer up the most awesome prizes every single week! If you're not playing....you're not paying attention. LOL!! ;) This week's prize is from The Treasure Box Club.

~a couple of cupcake tin close-ups~

In this next photo, you can see that I used small round magnets. I adhered them to the chip pieces w/Fabri-Tac by BEACON. Great stuff!!! :)

I hope you'll get a chance to play with us this week at The Paper Variety!! Link up before noon, next Tuesday, February 15, for a chance to win that fab prize from The Treasure Box Club!

Thanks for coming by my blog & have a great day!!
hugs, patti

{awesome amy's give-away!!!}

2011-02-07T07:44:00.005-05:00

Have you seen Curly Q Mosaics' blog? Amy Baldwin is a talented artist!!

She scraps, sews, and works with mosaic tiles. Her store has some of the most awesome {!!} items!!!

In honor of her 50th post, she is having a give-away on her blog.

You can win a handbag, made by Amy! To see more of Amy's creations, check out her gallery.

~Curly Q Mosaics gallery~

Thanks for being so awesome, Amy!!! And thank you for the chance to win one of your beautiful handbags!! :)

xo
~patti

{cardabilities - sketch #24}

2011-02-05T09:42:00.010-05:00

{i love us.}

I've heard this Hallmark commercial on the radio that says...

"I love us."

I love that sentiment & right away knew I'd make the hub's Valentine using it.

Here's the sketch from cardabilities this week ~ {Card materials ~ Bazzill, Basic Gray pp, Doodlebug velvet pp, MS heart punch, SR stamp, g studio "love" stamp - embossed w/white, Prima bling (these were stems of flowers that I cut apart), Offray ribbon, AC thickers, gray momento ink, & some zig zag machine stitching.}

Here is another view ~ you can see that I built my card front, pop dotted it, and then mounted to a card base. This shaped card now sits well balanced. :)

Thanks to the cardabilities girls for this fun sketch challenge!!

I'm also going to link this card up to the Valentine's Party still going on at Paper Issues.

Thank you, also...for stopping by my blog!

Happy Saturday - the sun is shining here!! Hope your weather is nice too! :)

hugs, patti