Toy’s Haven

Good morning, friends!

I know, two posts in one day… what’s up with that, huh?    Well, I’ll tell you.   I rarely get a chance to play in the There She Goes weekly challenges because of the other commitments I have on the weekends.    Then the week starts and I get sucked into the void.  Well, I had this brilliant idea (inspired by several other stampers!).   I am going to make a desk calendar for each month of the year.

Since today’s TSG challenge (TSG41) is to use the colors Pink, Red, and Brown… in a Valentine project, I thought that was the perfect springboard for my project!

A few weeks ago, I found (somewhere online) a PDF with little calendars for 2010.   That got me to thinking about this.   So I just ran with it!

Next month will have a St. Paddy’s theme, April an Easter Theme.. and so on.    Get it ?

The calendar itself is a hefty 6″ square.   The base is an easel type configuration.

Here are my deets:

Stamps:  There She Goes’ Roses & Chocolate

Colors: Regal Rose, Real Red, PTI White, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Copics, Real Red

Accessories: Ribbon, heart border punch, oval punches, printer generated grid, “month” and calendar, dimensionals

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Come on over to the There She Goes blog and join in the challenge!   Thanks for stopping by!   Hope you have a blessed day

Hugs,

Holly

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you Saints fans are enjoying your win!  I won’t pretend to be a Saints fan, but it was awful nice to see them win.  What a boost to the community… much needed!   Since my Pittsburgh Steelers were not playing, I only watched for the commercials.   I have to say I wasn’t really that impressed with the commercials or the half time show this year.

It’s time for a new Technique challenge!   This week, we are going to do a technique that I (think) created.   I call it the frosted window.   I did it for the first time a week or so ago and I so loved the results that I wanted to share it with all of you.

This one is super easy!   Here’s what you do…..

First, stamp your image on (white is suggested) cardstock and color it.   I suggest you use bright/bold colors, but I haven’t tried it with muted colors, yet.

Next, stamp the same image on vellum (don’t use colored vellum for this).   Make sure you use a quick drying ink or you will have to wait until your image is dry to proceed.

When your vellum image is dry, flip it over and color the back with lighter colors than you used to color your cardstock image.

You’re going to want the image panel and the vellum panel to be the same size (leaving a border around all sides for the next step).

Now take your vellum image and place dimensionals in the corners.   Pop that on top of your cardstock image, making sure you line them up precisely!!

This is where the frosted look comes in!   The gentle coloring on the vellum mixes with colors on the cardstock image and gives off a sort of glow.

You will now want to cover your vellum with another piece of cardstock, or at the very least, cover your areas where the dimensionals are.

 I left the sentiment off my card as I am not sure what I want it to be just yet.

Here are my deets:

Stamps:  SU’s Stipple Rose

Colors: PTI White, Vellum, Tangerine Tango, Always Artichoke, DP

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, copics

Accessories: Ribbon, 1/2 pearls, scalloped circle nesties, circle nesties, embossing folder, dimensionals

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Thanks for stopping by!   I hope you’ll pop over to the Technique Challenge forum on Splitcoaststampers and play along!   Have a blessed day!

Hugs,

Holly

Welcome, Friends

Right about now, my friends and family on the eastern seaboard are battling what is to be the ‘’storm of the century”.   I am praying that they are staying safe and warm.   Here in Colorado, we are enjoying a moderate day, just ahead of a wee storm coming tomorrow.

I got the chance to spend some time with my aunt Marci, yesterday.   She came over to play in my studio.   It’s fun to watch someone else go through your stuff and oooh and aaah.   Yeah, I do have some cool stuff!

I’m going to share one of the things we made!   Another sample from Our Craft Lounge’s Barnyard set…. this is going to be my valentine to my hubby.

These sentiments just crack me up.   My hubby is from Pennsylvania (or Pennsyltucky) and we’ve called him a PA plowboy for years.   I even think he was wearing overalls when our first son was born.   There is an actual John Deere tractor in his dad’s old garage!

Here are my deets:

Stamps: Our Craft Lounge’s Barnyard and Barnyard Banter

Colors:  PTI white, Basic Black, dps

Ink: copics

Accessories: ribbons,  red acrylic heart, branch punch, oval nesties, heart nestie, curvy label nestie, diamond plate embossing folder, dimensionals

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This is the last of my OCL peeks for a few days.   I have quite a list of things to do this weekend and next week.   I will be sharing a lot, too!  Please stop back whenever you can :)  Blessings!

Hugs,

Holly

Hello, Friends

Welcome to Friday!  If it’s Friday, then we must be talking about packaging.   I felt a little different yesterday when creating this, so we’re going ROUND today!

Today I am using a couple new sets from Our Craft Lounge….. Barnyard and Barnyard Banter.

I wanted to find a way to package up some delish oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that I make and since they’re round, I needed to make a round container.   I thought a little basket type holder would be great.

First, I cut a piece of cardstock 8 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ (bashful blue here).   Then I scored and cut as follows:

Add sticky tape to the ”tabs” and center it on a larger circle (I used a punch, but a nestie would work great, too).

Then I used a smaller circle punch to line the bottom of the basket and cover the tabs.

The images were then stamped and wrapped around the front of the basket and handles were attached.   Finally, I added the sentiment with ribbon.

Here are my deets:

Stamps:  Our Craft Lounge’s Barnyard and Barnyard Banter

Colors: Bashful Blue, Kiwi Kiss, PTI white

Ink: copics

Accessories: ribbon, brads, circle punches, oval punches, scoring blade, xacto knife, sticky tape, dimensionals and cookies!

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Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you’ll stop back by tomorrow for more OCL fun!

Hugs,

Holly

Good morning, friends!

As I sit here typing this, the snow is falling.   Mind you, it is light snow… nothing to write home about, but still it is snow.   We are being forecast for upwards to 20 inches this weekend.   I am *so* ready for spring!

I have another Our Craft Lounge sneak peek for you today.   Before I share it, I just have to *geek* over the owners of Our Craft Lounge for a moment.   Back in November/December, they gifted us some goodies for Christmas and I opted to get the new pale copic set.   At first, I was confused by them as they didn’t have much color.   Well duh!  That’s the whole point of them!   Now I am just loving the gentle color they bring to an image… as if it were watercolored!

Ok, so today’s share is from the new Spring Sketches set.   These are the most gorgeous butterflies that I have ever seen!

I actually made this prior to OCL going to CHA, so as you can see I used my sewing machine sans thread.   I was still getting use to how the thing worked!   I still like the effect

Here are my deets:

Stamps:  Our Craft Lounge’s Spring Sketches

Colors: Buckaroo Blue, Certainly Celery, PTI white, basic grey dps

Ink: copics

Accessories: Ribbons, 1/2 pearls, sewing machine, corner rounder, dimensionals

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I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of you who support me during my difficult times.   You may never know the depth in which you touch my heart.    I have been ”away” from my computer a lot over the last few days and quite frankly it has been good for me.   I have gotten more done than normal.   I have created a journal for myself to keep track of my activities and also I am working on things that are due 10 days from now instead of tomorrow!   I love that feeling!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!   I hope you’ll stop again for a visit.   Have a blessed day!

Hugs,

Holly

Good morning, friends

Over the next few days, I will be sharing some new sets coming from Our Craft Lounge.   Be sure to check out all the OCL girls’ blogs for more sneak peeks.   Also, starting next week, there will be daily doses shown on the Our Craft Lounge blog (The Lounge).

Let’s get right to it!

For this first peek, I wanted to do something springy and fun.   Love these bright colors!

Here are my deets:

Stamps:  Our Craft Lounge’s New Digs

Colors: GP White, Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Grey dps

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, copics

Accessories: ribbon, candy dots, label nesties, oval punches, heart pearl, flower soft, Aleene’s tacky glue, dimensionals

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Now, on a personal note… this has been a particularly difficult week.   One friend is having severe marital problems and I am her EARS.   Also, one of my sons’ best friend got into a bad car accident this past weekend and one of the passengers was killed.   The others were all injured to various degrees.   We are doing a lot of praying right now.

I am staying away from the computer this week, except for when I need to make a post.   It’s just too difficult for me to concentrate on what I need to while being distracted by the web.   I am sure I will be back as soon as possible.

Thanks so much for your continued support.   May you and yours be truly blessed.

Hugs,

Holly

Good morning, friends

What could be a better way to start a Monday than with a fun project I did using the photos I took last week?!

I actually took the pictures to work on a scrapbook layout, but since I purchased duplicates,  I thought it would be a great opportunity to make a little gift for my son’s girlfriend.    Over the years, the boys have paraded numerous ”girlfriends” around the family, but this one (Zeke’s girlfriend, Kim) is a keeper.   She looks at Zeke like he hung the moon.   He treats her with respect.   I am glad, too, because she is a 3rd level black belt and could likely kick his butt! LOL

The frame was a WalMart find.    It has a linen/paper covering, so it was easy to stamp on.   I liked the whiteness, so I left alot of that showing and just random stamped.   The guitar is mounted on black, then cut out and poppped up.

Here are my deets:

Stamps: Artful Inkables‘ Music ala Carte

Colors: PTI white, Basic Black, su dps

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx

Accessories: black 1/2 pearls, sticky tape, dimensionals, small red heart

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Thanks for stopping by!   You can find the TLC post just  below.   I hope you stop by again!

Hugs,

Holly

Welcome, friends!

I am posting a wee bit early tonight as I have to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow.    You know, the mornings that I don’t need to get up early, I’m wide awake at 5:00am.   But since I have to be up that early tomorrow, I am sweating it! LOL

A couple of days ago I received a private message on Splitcoaststampers from Joanne (sleepyinseattle) after I commented on a cute bag she had made.    She sent me the link to a forum where Mel (stampztoomuch) had posted the templates and instructions.   I just {heart} this little bag!

I liked them so much that I made TWO of them.   I intend to fill them with goodies and give them to my aunties.   You can find the template HERE.

My butterflies are cut out of vellum and pink pirouette.   I cut the “body” off the pink pirouette butterflies and adhered it to the vellum to cover up where the butterfly adheres to the bag.

Most all of my supplies come from Sharon Johnson’s Stamp Simply store.

Here are my deets:

Stamps:  JustRite’s  Seeds of Kindness and JustRite’s Decorative Boarders ~ Stamp Simply

Colors: Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Vellum

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx

Accessories: Ribbon (Stamp Simply), Border punches, leafy branch punch, scalloped circle punch, circle punches, oval punches, scalloped oval punch, sticky tape, bone folder, ruler, dimensionals

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Thanks for stopping by!   I hope you will jump on the forums at SCS and join us in this challenge!

Hugs,

Holly

Good morning, friends

It’s been a whirlwind week here in the McMillen household.   We went from DH being indefinitely laid off to him going back to work this coming Monday.   My nerves can’t take much more of this back and forth stuff!

My sleep patterns are all messed up, too.   I had been sleeping pretty much ok, then I did something stupid to my ears and ended up rupturing my ear drums.   Not to worry, though, I am told they will heal on their own within a week to ten days.   In the meantime, I can’t hear a thing.   Good thing I don’t need to hear in order to stamp!

I woke up quite early this morning and since I was awake, I figured I may as well take on this week’s Inspiration challenge.   Our challenge this week comes from a site called ESPE.   I chose this image for inspiration:

http://www.espe.ca/product/products_accessories.html

I was inspired by the colors and the simplicity.

For the bee, I used a 1/2″ circle punch.   I first punched a yellow piece.  Then I punched a black piece and cut strips to make his body stripes.   Then I punched another black for his head and two punches on vellum to form his wings.   I trimmed the vellum circles to a teardrop shape.  Then just a little sliver of black for his stinger.

The final step was to paper pierce his flight track.

Here are my deets:

Stamps: There She Goes‘  Bloom

Colors: Taken with Teal, Summer Sun, PTI White, Basic Black, Vellum

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, copics

Accessories: bracket border punch, paper piercer, scissors, dimensional

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Thanks for stopping by!   Tune in next week for some exciting news!!

Hugs,

Holly

Welcome, friends!

Well, these last three days have been fun.   Getting to play with the new There She Goes sets is such a pleasure.   I’m sure after you see them all, you’ll want to play too!

If you’ve arrived here from Gretchen’s blog, then you are in the right spot.  If not, you should start back on the There She Goes blog to get the lowdown on how to win the loot and where you should start!

Today we’re sneak peeking the new Chemistry set.   This set has the CUTEST images and sentiments!   Perfect for those valentines!  In fact, for my project, I made a little valentine box with minis.

Ok, this box is so easy to make.   I am going to give you a quick tutorial.   I started with a piece of chipboard (the backing from a package of designer paper).   I cut that to 11″ x 6 1/4″.   Score along the 6 1/4″ side at 1 1/2″ and 4 3/4″.   Score on the 11″ side at 3 1/4″, 4 3/4″, 8″,  and 9 1/2″.   See diagram below:

Cut the tabs on the side as shown and form your box.   I die cut a heart in the front and added a vellum window.   The box will hold up to six minis with envelopes (or you can cut to the chase and just fill it with chocolate!).

Here are my deets:

Stamps:  There She Goes‘ Chemistry set

Colors: PTI white, Real Red, Pale Plum, Pink Pirouette, Fancy Pants “Dancing Girl” dp, Vellum

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, copics, Pale Plum, Real Red

Accessories: Ribbons, various nesties, oval punch, circle punch, swiss dots embossing border, eyelet border punch, dimensionals

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Ok, now it’s time to send you off to Jackie’s blog for some more chemistry fun!   Make sure you do the entire hop and put your name in Mr. Linky on the There She Goes blog!    Thanks for stopping by!  Have a blessed day

Hugs,

Holly