Shabby chic red and plum gift tags - more details

This week I made 7 gift tags for a swap (got some ideas on putting these together from the Sept. to Remember event in AZ recently where we made a whole box of gorgeous vintage tags) - although all the tags I made were similar, there were some slight variations between each one - because I had a hard time just choosing which of the pretty hearts I wanted to put on them lol.  You can see the differences in the 3 tags

pictured below:

There was little stamping involved,

Swap card received; swap tags made; Christmas craft class reminder

Hope you all had an awesome turkey day!!  I love this time of the year, because of all the yummy food!  I had to share this card with you. 

I received it in a swap for the group for Arizona stampers.  The leaves, greetings (heat embossed to make it really glossy I think), and little square brads are all in copper metallic and it is very elegant!  I am still working on being able to take decent photos of projects with metallic and bling on them...And on this card, the Stampin' Up jumbo stamping wheel was used with the Bright Blessings (p. 28) -

Swirling snowflake card out of recycled items: Foil, soda can, leftover lace and trim

There is just something about shiny foil I like, so when I found out I could use my Stampin' Up punches on foil, I had to try them out!  Then when I learned that in order to sharpen your punch, you punch using a flattened soda can (but have to be careful until the soda can is punched, because it is sharp - so I had my husband cut and flatten the cans).  Once you punch out a design from the soda can, it is not sharp anymore....I just got my snowflake punch and of course, I had to start punching snowflakes out!  I used the presto patterns designer paper (because it has white shiny designs on it), and gold and silver cardstock, and in this picture above, I "sharpened" my punch to make a soda can snowflake.  Actually, this snowflake is the inside of the soda can, since I didn't want the soda can design on it and the inside of the can is a more subtle shiny.  I wrapped a little piece of black lace around the snowflake center and then tied it, leaving the ends longer so it would look like a flying snowflake.  And I also tied a bit of the clear tinsel trim in the center to give a little more dimension to the swirling flying snowflake.

I had just gotten the Northern Flurry embossing folder,

Thanksgiving and Fall leaves cards - 2 versions

This week I made some Thanksgiving cards with fall leaves on them - I used the little leaves and swirls Stampin' Up diecuts, and the square lattice embossing folder - The cute pumpkin is from the Paisley Prints and was really easy to do. 

Lace and ribbon weaving cards tutorial - guess what?!

These are 2 mini-cards with matching envelopes I designed and made recently - I featured the one on the bottom with white edging in the Sudsol blog tour earlier this month.  The card on the top is different in that I used the azul distressing inkpad from the Stampin' Up distressing kit on the edges, and so made the envelope from the darker blueberry crisp designer paper.  I also colored the little pearls on the shoe with a blue sharpie.  When I made the lace and ribbon weaving section, I had some left over, so made another card out of it for the Royal Blog Tour, which was just after the Sudsol blog tour.  See, here is the card I featured for that blog tour:

And I said I would do a tutorial on my lace and ribbon weaving technique.  And I will be working on that, but guess what happened about that?  Remember I shared the new online paper craft magazine in a earlier post, called Papers and Pixels?   I was so intrigued by it, and so submitted the darker lace and ribbon weaving mini-card to them to be considered in a future issue.....and I was accepted!! 

I am going to not only prepare a step-by-step tutorial on this technique, but design a different version of it just for them! 

It's all about the Dogs: Doggy post it notebooks and dogsitting friend

I have a t-shirt that says "It's all about the dogs!" lol

Here is another batch of last-minute dog items for my table for the craft fair this weekend - they are mini-notebooks that have post-it-notes inside of them.  I dressed them up in a purselike fashion and added a gift tag to them....mostly they are made out of Stampin' Up products, both retired and current.

Here is a picture of my table at the craft fair 

Christmas craft class/kit Dec. 4 $10 (limited spots)

  

I will be having a Christmas craft class on Sat., Dec. 4th from 1 - 3 p.m. - I will help you make 10 Christmas tags, 6 Christmas cards, and decorate a bag to put them into.  I provide all the supplies!!  This would be a great gift to give someone, or even keep for yourself to use!

Only $10

If you want to come to the class, I would need payment by Dec. 1st to reserve your spot, as there are limited supplies.  If you cannot come to the class, I would be glad to put together a kit that you can make at your home, or keep those grandchildren/children busy during those no-school days. 

Just send me an email OK?  mklecuyer@hotmail.com 

Fussy Flower Tutorial 2 versions; Paper and Pixels

Fussy Flower Tutorial

(2 versions – one with a sewing machine, and one by hand)

Mary Lecuyer; mklecuyer@hotmail.com

You will need:  1-1/4” striped grosgrain ribbon, filigree brad with colored brad in the center for the flower center, ribbon of your choice for leaves behind flower (I used pear pizazz polyester ribbon folded like the breast cancer ribbon for the blue flowers, and a strip of the striped grosgrain cut in half the long way for the brown flower). 

This is going to be a longer-than-usual post....grab your chocolate munchies

SUDSOL and Royal Blog Tour - blog candy winners!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by during one day only Sudsol Blog Tour on Nov. 3, 2010!! 

Here are the winners of the Sudsol blog candy:

From the Garden stamp set -- Kathy Elliott

Watercolor Mini-set -- Jo Northagen.

They will be mailed tomorrow; please let me know when you receive them OK? 

Wow, I was amazed and touched by all the super nice posts and emails I received on my Royal Blog Tour projects....what an awesome blog tour, huh?  The winner of my blog candy for that was Jean Fitch!!  I sure wish I had enough of those square lattice embossing folders to send to each of you who signed up for my blog candy!  (sigh) Guess you will have to settle for a picture of it....

I will be posting a tutorial in the very near future on the fussy flower and lace/ribbon weaving.  Right now I am finishing up final projects and stuff for my first craft fair this weekend.  Tomorrow we are dog-sitting our favorite golden retriever - I will take pictures of our furbaby and her playing together and post some!  And here is a picture of our new Christmas tree!!  See that little blur in the lower right-hand corner?  That's our furbaby Inu - going towards the tree, probably because those are her toys scattered around the tree...she hasn't learned to pick them up yet and put them in the box lol.  She is not interested in the tree at all - guess you can't fool her that it is an artificial tree, no matter how realistic it looks!!

Have a great week...

Welcome to my Royal Blog Tour Castle!

Welcome weary traveller to my castle! I have been looking forward to your visit, preparing to make your stop here enjoyable, and even have some blog candy you can sign up for (information at the end). My castle’s royal colors are Bashful blue, Marina mist, and Crumb cake.

Rest a bit and view my castle’s gallery of 4 x 4 elegant cards with matching envelopes. These cards use Stampin’ Up’s satin ribbon, crochet trim lace, pearls, and the Timeless Treasure stamp set – so fitting for royalty. Here is the first card for your viewing pleasure:

Please let me offer you a hot beverage with my next card, designed to coordinate with our graceful teacups.

  

I saved the best for last – this gorgeous card took a little longer to make, but is was well worth it. It was inspired by my lovely satin with pearl buckles shoes :-))

Please don’t forget to sign up for my blog candy:  Email me your name and email address to be put into the drawing : mklecuyer@hotmail.com.  This is what the blog candy is: 

The Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die

 

Here is a snippet of a card using this embossing folder – so appropriate for royalty, don’t you think?

Now that you have rested up, your carriage awaits so you can continue on your creative journey to the next castle - Thank you for spending time here!

Princess Mary L
P.S. Check my tutorials page for the striped grosgrain ribbon "fussy flower".  For a tutorial and video of the lace flower, go to Beate's John at SCS:  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/stitchedribbonflower

Sudsol Blog Tour! Sign up for my blog candy too...

Today was the only day for the Sudsol Blog Tour,and featured an all-holidays theme! 

I created these 3 projects just for the Sudsol blog tour to share

My first project can be used for New Year's Day - you know that day when you make a new resolution and hope you can stick with it!  This card is to help inspire and motivate you when the going gets tough...It features lace and ribbon weaving - remember when you did potholder weaving in Scouts, or paper weaving in school? 

                         

Supplies I used: (All supplies are Stampin’ Up unless otherwise noted) Soft suede cardstock, sahara sand cardstock, vintage wallpaper embossing folder, chocolate chip ink, marina mist ink, pearl, dimensionals, glue dots, chocolate chip write marker, very vanilla 5/8” satin ribbon, Chantilly and Victoria crochet trims, marina mist 1/8” taffeta ribbon, Sense of Time stamp set, needle & clear & brown thread/sewing machine, Elegant Soiree designer paper, Boho blossom xlarge punch, scallop edge border punch, light blue tulle (non-Stampin’ Up).

Why am I a SUDSOL member?? There is an endless supply of advice, help, sharing, and inspiration from other SU demonstrators - you can get any questions you have answered within 24 hours – not to mention tons of projects, tips, patterns, and class/workshop plans. Here you don’t feel like you are just another person paying for a membership, rather you will “meet” and make new SU friends. The absolute best site for SU demonstrators who want to take their designing and creativity to the next level!! Check out the FREE Two Week Trial - Click here!

My next project is what I call a Fussy Flower card! When I was making the flower, I fussed and fidgeted with it to get it just right lol. But I think the messier it is, the better it looks....This is a nice card for Mother's Day - after all, mothers are a blessing, right?!   Even if they fuss and fidget with you...not me!?!

Supplies I used: (All supplies are Stampin’ Up unless otherwise noted) Whisper white cardstock, chocolate chip cardstock, old olive cardstock, Build A Bear Workshop Pawsitively Prints DSP, Play date DSP, petals a plenty embossing folder, filigree brad, pear pizzaz glimmer brad, striped grosgrain ribbon, needle & thread, God’s Blessing stamp set, dimensionals, glue dots, dotted scallop border punch, oval punch (flower cased from Deb Horst).

     Why you should sign up with Sudsol??  I did the free 2-week trial and was so impressed with how valuable everything on the site was. I knew that I could never take it all in in just 2 weeks so I signed up – it is worth every penny and more. You will get a wealth of new ideas every single day and learn so much! The Creative Library has project pictures, patterns, and instructions – it is better than surfing the web with all the ideas available to you in Sudsol! All in one spot – a one-stop site for SU demonstrators…be prepared to lose track of time on this site!!

My third project is a Christmas card - with a Perky Posy. I love this paper and the colors, so cheerful. 

Supplies I used: (All supplies are Stampin’ Up unless otherwise noted) Cherry cobbler cardstock, real red cardstock, 5/8” real red satin ribbon, whisper white cardstock, Candy Cane Christmas DSP, Chantilly crochet trim, needle & thread, red glimmer brad, Short & Sweet stamp set, cherry cobbler inkpad, baja breeze inkpad, dimensionals, glue dots, scallop trim corner punch.

Don't forget the 2-week trial with Sudsol is FREE - I would love for you to join me on SUDSOL and check out my gallery there - Your 24/7 Upline!

Thanks for looking at my projects and gallery - hope to see you in Sudsol!! 
P.S.  I will be posting details/instructions on the lace/ribbon weaving and fussy flower in the near future, so be sure to come back if you are interested in them...

Sudsol blog tour tomorrow!! One day only! Sneak peek & blog candy

I am in my first blog tour tomorrow - Sudsol - I am so excited to be able to design 3 special projects for this blog tour, and share them with you...And I will be giving away some blog candy too!!

I can hardly wait - it is an all holiday theme, so there will be lots of super great ideas for all different holidays.  I just have to give you a little sneakie peek of one of mine!!  Hope it intrigues you so that you will make sure you come by and visit tomorrow....and see what everyone else has for you as well.  I am dying to see what the other bloggers will be showing!!

Make sure you remind yourself about the blog tour tomorrow 'cause it is only one day....send yourself an email and leave yourself a voicemail!  And put notes on the bathroom mirror and refrigerator. 

Don't forget to sign up for my blog candy too - See you tomorrow!!

Royal Blog Tour - I got a castle! More craft fair items...

This weekend I found out that my princess-in-waiting list spot on the Royal Blog Tour had been moved up, and I became a Princess!  That means I will have a castle along the royal journey - I am offering blog candy too.  This blog tour will be for 4 days with over 75 castles and 6 beautiful queens (of crafting) where you can view awesomely creative galleries.  You won't want to miss this November 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th!  Make sure you sign up at:  http://www.theroyalblogtour.net/  or here:  http://royalblogtour.blogspot.com/