Paper Bead Technique

A week since my last post?  I really hadn't planned on being away that long, it's just that the weather here has been beautiful and I finally felt the urge to go outside and work in the yard.  It has left me pretty exhausted.  I'm still not finished diving perennials, pulling weeds and watering since our rainfall shut off like a faucet.  I had a nice catalyst today.  My Stampin' Success magazine came in the mail.  It's the magazine for Stampin Up demos and it's always filled with great ideas.

Here's what I had to try my hand at, the paper bead in the center of the butterfly.  Fun to try!  This is an old craft technique.  Vintage ones were often made of old magazines.  I've seen them at auctions before, so finding a tutorial online shouldn't be a problem if you want to try this one, too.

I did use the sketch challenge over at Our Creative Corner as my starting point.  What I didn't realize 'til after I had completed my card was how similar mine is to Vicki Burdick's card.  Must have been stuck in my self conscious because it is a super cute card!  Thanks, Vicki!

 So, the next few days will be busy, same story, different day!  I will admit it will be some fun stuff, just not stamping!  I'll be hitting the garage sales Thursday.  Friday I might go watch my son play in the high school district golf meet...one step away from state!  That is awful nerve-racking, though!  Saturday I may help a friend with a T-shirt quilt...so maybe Sunday at the latest...hopefully sooner, I'll be back to the blog!

Explosion Box

I think this is called an Explosion Box. I saw a version of it recently on Karen's site....the sweetest thing and it reminded me and still needed to try this one. I had an excellent excuse to make one because my good friend Deb had a birthday this week! Happy Birthday Deb!

Anyway, this is what I came up with. Turned out super cute. I used the same paper I used to make her card HERE. Just a couple of posts ago. I used an 8 1/4" x 8 1/4" piece of card stock. To end up with a 2 3/4" cube. I used a lot of different stamps on this project. I will spare you the details! If you have a question, please get in touch with me. I'd be happy to enable you!

Upsy Daisy

Here are two cards I used using the new set Upsy Daisy. I do like this set, I just love my flowers! Plus, it's on sale to boot! Until September 30th, that is. I'm also partial to the colors Pale Plum and Perfect Plum. Then, add Kraft paper, which seems to go great with EVERYTHING! See how I used the shadowing technique? I think it's technically called faux dry embossing. The one on the top was my first attempt. You really only need to move the stamp ever-so-slightly. The card on the bottom looks better I think. Stampin Up! has another great sale coming up next month, all to celebrate their 20th birthday (hint, hint!) Stay posted....I'll let you know all about it!