April Cards 2015 - Penny Black

Working on cleaning up all the random class kits I have left over from my classes.
I've had the Penny Black chicken stamps for years and never really did anything with it until now. It sat on my desk for months before  I thought it would make a funny baby card. For all of us who've had children, you know the feeling and the thoughts you have when you first see what just passed through your body. The other three cards show how to use up your scraps to make backgrounds and use up your stash.

Up coming classes at Cranberry Hill

I've been asked to do some beginner rubber stamp classes. Most teachers like to do the super fancy cool cards, which more people sign up for. Doing a beginner class takes about the same amount of time to prep for but we don't get as many people. It really helps the other teachers if people come in, knowing the basics.
So I did one board with a CAS (clean and simple) cards. Direct to rubber, stamping off, using solid stamps and masking.


The Cows Have It class Sunday July 26, noon -2:00

My mom's lucky charm was a brown spotted cow. I always think of her when I see these Penny Black line of stamps. This beginner class will have everyone working with Copic markers. The store doesn't really carry any other type of markers, so if your new to the craft, the cost for each marker may scare you away.

Garden and Crafting Time

Living in the hills, I had to battle deer and gophers for the first couple of years. Annie has kept the deer away now for almost a year and having trapped all the gophers that were under the studio, my garden has a chance. I also started planting things (in the ground) like horseradish and tulips to fill in the hillside. I know horseradish is like a weed, but it doesn't need water and has a nice big green leaf. Working out in the garden during the day and crafting at night made for a perfect weekend!

Cornflakes March Cards 2015

I've been in a card making group for several years now. Some very creative ladies!!! Always fun to get out once a month for dinner and chat about crafting. Really forces me to use up my stash of stuff, which I'm always amazed at how much I still have!

Easter Bunny Peek-a-boo

I saw this peek-a-boo Easter Bunny on Pinterest and decided it would be a fun project for my card making group.  I' m always on the look out for things to use up my massive stash of paper stuff. 

1.  See's Candy Bunny, because I had a gift certificate from Christmas and the bunny is flat on the back)
2. 1"circle punch
3.  Nestie scallop circle die
4. Flower punch (so old that I don't know if it's still made)
5. Ribbon from my stash - Michael's dollar bin?
6.  Misc rhinestones I have saved over the years.      
7. SU tag topper punch                                    

 

Chocolate Expresso Flourless Torte - YUM!

Yes this cake tastes as good as it looks!
This class was through my Meet Up crafting group and I have to say I was super surprised at how good not only was the flourless torte was but how great Chef Cliff is! He was a professional chef back in the day, when he decided he wanted weekends and nights off. Not only did we learn how to make the cake but about chocolate, the why and how to melt, whip and blend ingredients. It is fast dessert to make but you do have to have everything ready to go since once you start you only have seconds to add the next ingredient.

Right Tools

 Having the right tools makes all the difference! I've had this printer's press for years and never really used it all that much. 
Now that I teach a class at the senior center and for a Meet Up group, the press has come in handy. For the seniors who have arthritis, using over  sized stamps is hard to work with. Using the press makes it so much easier. 
The Meet Up group ladies are all new to stamping and the tables aren't the best to work on, so again the press really helps.

I also had to order TEN rolls of 
Scor-Tape, because the ladies in the Meet Up group do not know how to use tape rollers. In one class they wrecked five in less than an hour. I decided Scor-Tape was only way to go. 

Crafting Meet Up Group

My Meet Up crafting group does a whole lot of fun stuff. Next week we will learn how to make a Chocolate Espresso Fourless Torte and sculpt chocolate roses. 

Can't wait!

Crafting Weekend

This was a rare weekend that I didn't have anything scheduled. Had dinner with my daughter at CrawDaddy's which was a treat. 
I've been going through my crafting supplies looking for something to inspire me to craft. Stress has a way of making your creative mojo go into hiding.
I've been collecting tins, many of which I sell in my vintage booth. Since I discovered Pinterest, I've seen people making these tier stash holders. I gave it go and pretty happy how it turned out. The center legs came from my Dad's stash when we cleaned out his garage and a quick shot of silver spray paint.
The little butterfly is made from a soda can. The punch came from the recent used rubber stamp sale at Cranberry Hill. 
The foil pig is part of the full sheet. I picked up the sheet over 10 years ago. It survived the big purge when I got divorced and being stored outside in a cardboard box. Amazing that I still able to have it to work with.
The simply thank you card was something I saw posted on Simplicity's blog. She is not only a wonderful writer but showcases simple cards. 

Embossing Folders - Simple Card

Going through my stash and decided to use some embossing folders that haven't seen daylight in several years! It's a simple card using melted pony beads a tip I found on Pinterest. 
I think I will save this card for my class down at the senior center next month. 

Silver Clay

I've been taking classes silver clay classes through my crafting Meetup group. It's fun but very $$$. For this class we learned to make molds from found objects to form our silver clay. I plan to turn these into necklaces at some point or when my skill level gets a little better. :) 

Birthday Balloon Hat 2015

One of my co-workers has a side business doing balloon twisting. She made me a hat for my birthday in a dog theme since she is also a fan of my Annie.