The Happy Room

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Merry Christmas Pat!

Now before you think I gave Pat her gift in January I must tell you that she received it well in advance of Christmas. I'm just now sharing this fun project. This is a 1.00 composition journal I purchased at Dollar Tree. I covered it with velvet paper that I had been hoarding for 6 years!! Sadly the store is now out of business and I've never seen this paper again :( I used two different sheets; the giraffe pattern and the solid brown. The paper is attached with Paper Cement (made by the same mfg. that makes Rubber Cement~you can buy it at Michael's in the glue section of the store). The giraffe image (Embossing Arts~now out of business)was colored with Prisma pencils and blended with Gamsol blending fluid. I framed the image with a technique I learned at Technique Junkies called "Torn Frames".

The matching flower is a #2 pencil I embellished with a paper flower. I learned this fabulous technique from one of my stamping heroes, Tosh. Her blog is beyond fantastic and you can find her easy to follow directions HERE. I changed it up a bit by die cutting my petals from a Sizzix die cut heart since I taught this project at one of my stamping parties. I precut all the shapes for my friends to save them some time when they were making them (I spoil my friends rotten because I *LOVE* them all!!).

I've probably made a hundred or more of theSE journals and to date, this is by far my favorite and was made for one of my favorite people!! I hope you enjoy it!

Another die cut cross card. The background technique is Faux Designer Paper, a Technique Junkies technique. Differences from previous cards posted on this blog are: Stamps are Magenta, corner die punch and cardstocks are Stampin' Up! and fibers are from Michael's. All other information about the card is contained in previous posts. Thanks for looking at yet ANOTHER cross card!

What more could any man ask for if he would get this paper bag full of tools?? I received this adorable template (not really a template but a "how-to" diagram) from a friend and couldn't wait to make a paper bag card. The next day, I was fortunate enough to receive a faulous sheet of Kraft Cardstock from Paper Temptress which was perfect for this design. I loved working with this kraft paper, as it had a different feel and texture than other kraft papers on the market. AND, it looks JUST LIKE A PAPERBAG!! Woo-Hoo! The images are from Stampin' Up!'s new catalog~the set is called Totally Tools. They are cut out and attached on the inside of the card; the shred is just for a little filler and to make it look more like a gift bag. I hope you enjoy the project!!

Another cross card (more info in previous posts).

Thanks for looking!

Holy Cross in purples. Please check previous posts for information about this project. Thanks for looking!!

Please scroll down and see previous posts for information and details on this project. Thanks for looking!!

Yet another cross card!! Not a lot different than the other cross cards, but a little different color scheme. (Info on the major components in the previous post.

I hope you enjoy!!

I created this background with a technique called "Faux Designer Paper" from the wonderful Technique Junkies Newsletter. The cross was die cut with a Sizzix die (Ornate Cross #2)from chipboard, then covered with Dries Clear Adhesive from Art Institute Glitter. After applying the adhesive, I added a chunky, sparkly fabulous product called "Glass Shards" (also from Art Institute Glitter).

My friend Judy gave me a box of Oil Pastels last week because she said she had purchased them and had never used them. (Yikes, I have a box in my cabinet that I hadn't used either). I thought since she was so sweet and generous, the first card I made with them should be one for HER. :) So, since I had no idea how to use them either, I researched and found a fabulous website called Wet Canvas which is a huge resource for art mediums. After reading all about Oil Pastels, I chose this Yvonne Albritton Designs "Calla Lilly" stamp and decided to give it a try.

I stamped the image on watercolor paper with Marvy Matchable Black #1 Ink and colored in the image with the Oil Pastels. Next, I blended the colors with Gamsol (an artist's blending fluid) and a blending stump (also called a tortillion). When my colors were blending to my liking, I sealed the image with Matte Acrylic spray which I purchased at Michael's.

I sewed the individual panels with my Janome Mini Sewing Machine and added the self adhesive Martha Stewart pearls along the scalloped edge (Martha Stewart punch) and on the side background panel. The panel was made by following the directions from a Technique Junkies newsletter~the technique is called Watercolor Resist.

The little corner flourish is a Cuttlebug die cut I purchased at my LSS(local stamp store "Stamp Works": StampWorks)
I hope you enjoy Judy's Calla Lilies in Oil Pastel!! (BTW, she came over today and I gave her the card. It was a big hit!)See? It pays to give away the things you're not using~maybe someone will make something for you and you get some of it back. Sort of!

I'm loving my new Sizzix die "Ornate Cross #2". I created a background for the card using a technqiue from the latest Technique Junkies newsletter called "Watercolor Resist". What a fast and easy and VERY beautiful background this creates. Here is a little bit about how I made the card:
#1. I created the Watercolor Resist background.
#2. The die cuts on the corners are from Cuttlebug.
#3. I added self adhesive rhinestones inside of the die cut's corners.
#4. The cross was die cut with a Sizzix die (Ornate Cross #2). I used the chipboard from the inside of the package when you purchase a sheet of postage stamps. WOW, it cuts like a dream. I've been saving mine for months now and just tried it. Wonderful stuff and it's FREE!
4. I used Art Institute Glitter's "Dry Clear Adhesive"~I applied it to the chipboard, the sprinkled on "Glass Shards" (also from Art Institute Glitter. I added a square jewel that I purchased in a bag of jewelry pieces at Michaels. When all of it was dry, I attached it to the card with mounting foam tape.
5. The cord is from the thrift store, so no brand name is available. It's basically just a cotton string with lots of silver metallic strands in it.

Paper, watercolor crayons, and stamps from Stampin' Up!

Happy New Year!! The Faux Designer Paper background on this card (which I personally made~meaning it isn't purchased background paper) is one of my new favorite techniques I learned from Technique Junkies. Love it!! It was wonderful because I could strike the perfect color match with my SU color wheel, SU inks, and SU cardstocks!! Here are the main supplies used on the card: Punch; Martha Stewart. Ribbon; Stampin' Up! and Michael's. Brads; Stampin' Up!. Die cut; Sizzix "Ornate Crosss #2". Charm; Michael's. Glue pen; 2-way glue pen Michael's. Glitter; Art Institute Glitter. Stamps; Magenta.

My inspiration came from one of my stamping idols, Amy Sheffer over at Pickled Paper Designs. Thanks, Amy!!!
I hope you enjoy!!!!!!!!!!