Happy Independence Day!

How about some patriotic party elements to celebrate? ---and link to Crafty Secrets July Linky Party, since Crafty Secrets American Beauty stamp set is full of fabulous and fun patriotic images.

 This little container is a cute way to serve some snacks to guests, especially when paired with a cool drink served in blue mason jar with decorated paper straw. The snack container was made with a Silhouette cut file. The 4th of July and stars from  American Beauty were stamped, fussy cut, and attached to die cuts from PTI.

The USA stamp, also from American Beauty, is a another neat little element to add to this drinking straw.

I'm hoping the sun will break through  by this afternoon so we can fill these and head outdoors.

Happy Birthday, USA!


Supplies:
Stamps: American Beauty (Crafty Secrets), Gingham (CHF)
Ink: Pure Poppy (PTI), Memento Paris Dusk (Tsukineko)
Paper: Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy, Stamper's Select White(PTI)
Other: Seeing Stars dies, Limitless Layers 1 3/4 circles (PTI); Silhouette file #28397

Check It Out

Gingham and flowers pair perfectly for summer!

So I had to use this combination to make more little bags.Following the steps I explained in this post, I again used Crafty Secrets Creating with Vintage Patterns CD and Lori Whitlocks's bag Silhouette Studio file.

These are perfect for tucking in a note, gift card, or favor. Plus with the Silhouette you can adjust size.

I'm linking this to Crafty Secrets June Linky Party here.

What colors or patterns say "summer" to you?

Hi Ho Silver!

Yikes! It's been a month since my last post. May was a busy month with the following activities among others: finished tutoring for the year and was so pleased to see my students graduate, spent a few fabulous days at the beach, planted flowers,  worked on Project Life pages, made some bracelets for my sister, and celebrated my birthday.

 We've also enjoyed more dining on the screened porch and outside which leads to this crafty project.
 These little bags are great for favors or corralling silverware for picnics and summer outdoor dinners.

Here's a brief summary of the steps, using Silhouette Designer Edition, Silhouette Cameo, Crafty Secrets digital paper and stamp, and Silhouette Studio files.
1. Add digital paper selection from Crafty Secrets Vintage Patterns to patterns file in the library. (Being able to add digital paper from other files  is definitely a wonderful advantage of the Designer Edition.)
2. Open Lori Whitlock Studio file #40187 for the bag with rounded top.
3. Fill bag with pattern.
4. Open Lori Whitlock Studio file #31874. Choose tag, remove hole, and fill with color.
5. Remove cut line of tag.
6. Open silverware image from Crafty Secrets Digital Art Stamps: Kitchen Classics. Layer on tag and adjust size.
7. Group image and tag. Layer on bag. Adjust size.
8. Remove perforated lines for scoring. (I do this simply because I prefer to score with a score board and bone folder.
9. Duplicate bag. You can cut two bags from an an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper. I use matte photo paper.
10. Follow steps for the print and cut feature of the Silhouette.
11. Carefully remove bags from cutting mat. Score, fold, and glue.

I chose the red checked pattern to coordinate with these acrylic dishes.

Of course,Lucy wandered by to see what was happening."What! No grilled chicken on those plates!"

 I am linking this to Crafty Secrets June Linky Party. Be sure to check out the fabulous projects by the designers and other entrants. The party ends Sunday, so you still have time add your project.

I'll be back tomorrow with some sweet little floral and checked bags.

Another Snapshot from the Past

As I mentioned in my last post, as the keeper of a few boxes of old family photographs, I've decided to pull the photos from the boxes, do some editing, and create some digital scrapbooks. This photo is my big sister before she became my big sister. I love this sweet photo with her fuzzy hair (aahhh the humidity of the South), her patent leather shoes, and her stuffed animals.

I used several papers and elements from Crafty Secrets Creating with Vintage Patterns CD #1 along with Crafty Secrets digital stamps from theses sets Fairy Wishes and Bird Notes.
I also used these products:Lori Whitlock's 3x4 Life Cards Brushes and PNG, Katie Pertiet's Banner Twine Templates No.2, Lynn Grievson's Ripped and Stitched DIY No 3, Katie Pertiet's Journaling Strip Masks,and Adrienne Looman's Stitched Frames.

I am linking this to Crafty Secrets May Linky Party here. Be sure to check out the wonderful inspiration and tutorials from the Crafty Secrets Design Team.

I'm headed to the kitchen to put a roast, carrots,and potatoes in the Crock Pot before I head to my Pilates and Zumba classes.

Have a great day,

A Dip Into Digital

We had another milestone birthday in our family, so it was time to use PTIs  By the Number stamp set again.

I haven't been stamping much lately. In fact, last month's PTI purchased stamps haven't seen ink.
I've been busy dipping into the world of digital scrapbooking.  I have many old family photographs,and for quite awhile  I have been considering creating some scrapbook pages with them. I started a course at Jessica Sprague a year ago but never got far with it. Then I started it again this year and have really enjoyed learning how to use Photoshop Elements and how to create digital scrapbook pages. This page features my sister several decades ago. :)

I have also been inspired by Rhonda's digital Project Life . Thanks,Rhonda. After explaining  Project Life and my consideration of starting this project to my husband, he responded very enthusiastically. While I enjoy making cards and other paper projects, I like the idea of starting Project Life. I know it may seem odd to some that I would  do this not having any children to pass these photo journals to, but I if Ed and I can enjoy them now and later then that is a good reason for me. When I showed these first completed pages to him, he seemed sincerely pleased that I had done them. It made my heart happy that I could this for us. In addition,  I enjoy the creative process and  I am learning new skills that will help keep the brain cells active. :)

I have long believed it is the little things that make life wonderful. I am always saying, "oh this is a special moment". So I am excited to record the little things and special moments of our lives.



Supplies:
Card:
Stamps:Big Birthday Wishes(PTI),Banner Stamps (Pink Persimmon)
Ink:Ocean Tides(PTI)
Paper:
Other:Super Star Border, By the Number, Buttoned Up #1 dies; rustic twine (PTI)
Scrapbook Page:
Victoria Paper Collection (Adrienne Looman)
Victoria Elements (Adrienne Looman)
Photoshop Brush & PNG files:Doilies (Adrienne Looman)
Photocuts Masks 7 (Carina Gardner)
Project Life Pages:
Photo FreedomVol. 1 (Echo Park)
Life Cards 3x4 Brush and PNG (Lori Whitlock)
Jessica Sprague Now We're Rocking Lesson 3
Antique Flair Buttons (Polka Dot Pixels)

50 and Fabulous

One of our nieces had a milestone birthday recently, so a handmade card to celebrate this important birthday was in order.

I used Crafty Secrets digital Party Cats stamps with the trace feature and print and cut feature of the Silhouette Cameo.  Learning to used digital stamps with the Cameo means more digital stamps will be finding their way to my projects. Then I colored these party cats with Copics and added them to the card with dimensional tape. I also used PTI's Big Birthday Wishes stamp set and By the Number dies. 

I am linking this to Crafty Secrets April Linky Party. 

Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the air.... somewhere, just not here. The jonquils, forsythia, and rhododendron buds are shivering. And I've been wearing fleece and Uggs since snow, rain, and cold have ruled here this week.

I quickly snapped a few pictures before these cards and treats headed out the door.
A step card with Peter Rabbit

And a carrot box filled with chocolate.

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!