FAB Teacher Gift Idea

I know, I know! It's still summer & YOUR kids are OUT of school!!

But my little one has gone year-round at a little pre-school down the street 

& today is her last day there before she enters Pre-K at the public elementary school! 

WHOA! They grow up so fast!

So, I spent the last 2.5 hours pounding out these great teacher gifts for all the teachers & staff!

It only took me about 3 hours to do 16 candles! (Funny how that worked out, me being a product of the 80's & all!!) 

I had seen these adorable cards in the dollar bin at Michaels & just knew that I wanted to use them for a teacher gift project!  Then I remembered these beautifully decorated candles I saw on the Martha Stewart site, (that & incidentally, my best gal-pal Shirley made similar one's for my 40th b-day party decor!) & bingo! I had a quick & easy idea ready to roll!!

Here's my list of supplies:

1. 16 candles from Walmart. You will find these with all the other candles, but in the aisle with the religious candles. They were only $1.30 each!
2. 2 sheets 12x12 white textured cardstock, such as Bazzill
3. 2 sheets from a child's writing tablet found at the Dollar Tree (you could also use other school themed papers or even ledger paper!)
4. Glimmer Mist in assorted, coord. colors. (I used 1 on the white paper & a combo on the tablet paper)
5. 8 Cards from Michaels with Apples on them or simply use a stamp & 
6. some craft colored cardstock!
7. Good, strong adhesive - I am addicted to my ATG gun, but I did have to use a smaller tape runner on the little apple squares
8. A ruler, paper tearing tool, trimmer & Distress Ink.

The first thing I did was Glimmer Mist all the papers & let them dry. (You can speed up the process w/a heat gun, by kitchen was already 80 degrees today!!)

Because I wanted a soft yellow & didn't have any, I used a pretty "Sunflower" yellow to change the white paper; the ledger got a combo of "Tattered Leather & Mustard Seed." 

While the papers were drying, I cut the apples from the cards...

Because I wanted to re-purpose the other parts of the cards (the odd looking craft colored pc on the top left is the leftovers!), I trimmed as close to the apple cutouts & prints as possible. I then adhered them together (a large Xyron would have been great for this part!); I also had to trim up the edges a little inking them with walnut stain (a staple around here!). I set those aside for later.

Once the papers were dry, I measured the cirumfrance of the candle - approx. 7.25 & cut my papers to that length.  I then decided to tear the edges of the yellow background paper, but I needed to figure out the width first - easy peesy - use the finished apple squares that were approx. 2.25 inches & decide what you want the band to be like! I decided that I wanted mine to be a tad smaller than the apples, but with the tearing, they turned out about the same!! LOL! And I'm fine with that!

Next, I trimmed the tablet papers to 1" strips.

(You can't really tell here, but the table paper has this nice green/gold tint to it from the "Mustard Seed" mist! Looks great w/the yellow & the reds in the apples & the candle!!)

After that, it was just a matter of putting it all together! I ran my adhesive gun down lengthwise on the torn edges of the yellow first, applied it to the candle as straight around as possible - didn't need to worry about overlap too much since the apple square would go over the seams. Then, I did the same with the tablet paper strips.  (I did try to adhere the strips together first & then to the candle, but I got some buckling.) I continued doing all of the yellow & tablet strips on the candles first since the squares took a little more glue & placement.

Once all of those were done, I applied tons of my tape to the apple squares (so the edges that curved around the candle don't lift too badly) & placed them over the seams. Viola! All done & ready to take to school this afternoon!!

You'll notice that some of them are centered lengthwise & some not - the silly manufacturer put the price label ON THE SIDE on some of the candles!!! So, in the interest of time (& frustration!) I decided not to remove them before hand & simple just staggered the placement on the each one a little. This would have really driven me bonkers if all the candles were in the same room at the same time, but since everyone was only getting one candle each, I didn't think it mattered as much!!

I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial - it's the first one I've ever done! So, let me know what you thought ok?? Maybe I'll do more!!

TTFN!!

New Blog Design!

Please bare with me as I re-design a few things on here! Things might be a little squished or out of place right now as I play with a few things!

I am trying my hand at creating my own banners & such using some great digi elements from Summertime Designs.

I kind of like the new look, but not sure I'll keep it this dark...what do you think? 

I would love to hear from you!

After I get this blog squared away, I am planning on tackling the Scrap-a-Teeny Girls blog! We need something fresh there too!

Thanks for looking!

Redo? Hopefully re-DONE!!

I am starting to wonder what I was thinking when I agreed to make my future sister-in-law's wedding jewelry! Not that she's been a pain. It's more that the long-distance designing has been a pain! I think that if she were right here with me, we would have knocked this thing out in a week!!

But as things stand, it's taken over a month of re-do's & countless amounts of supplies (not to mention $$!). I don't know that she fully understood that I would go through tons of head & eyepins to re-do each little change she requests. It's probably my fault for not mentioning this to her, but I wanted to do this as my shower gift to her & not ask for money! Everyone keeps telling me to either tell her I need some dough or say, "this is what you're getting" & I just can't do that! I want her to get the necklace she's envisioning - it's her day & hopefully the only one she'll ever have!!

Anyway, after the last post, we tweeked it a little more (2x) & this is what I've finally come up with...I made the cluster smaller & moved it down a bit so it looked more like one with the larger crystal. She also wanted the inner necklace to have more of a dangle, so I re-did that too.

Because she's a little concerned that the cluster will be too busy for her dress, I made it removable with some small jump rings & also sent her a photo without the cluster...

Personally, I like it with the cluster as it adds a little interest to the drop, & ties in the inner necklace better. We'll see what the bride thinks though.

Next, I offered her two earring options:

These are similar to a photo she sent me. I am not crazy about the larger pearl (on the left) & will probably swap it out with a smaller one & maybe change the bi-cone crystals with round ones. But I'll wait to see if this is the design she wants. It looks nice with the necklace (the simple necklace here, but works with the clustered one too), but I like the other earring sample better...

This one uses the matching drop-crystal with only 3 beads in a cluster. I think this ties in much nicer with the necklace (if we include the drop). She has a very narrow face & long neck, so she wants more of a "lean" look & will probably go with the first one.

It's definitely been a learning experience! I think that from now on, I will just say no to these types of requests & make the finished product for Etsy! LOL!!! I will breath a big sigh of relief when it's off in the mail to her & an even bigger one when she's wearing it down the aisle!!

I'll keep ya posted as to her choices!

TTFN

Just Chill...And Feel Guilty!

Happy Friday to everyone!
It's been a little bit of a crazy week for me as I try to finish my future-sister-in-law's jewelry for her wedding at the end of July.
Here's a little look-see...

After spending 2 days designing, turning pins & hooking little rings through chain, I took all of yesterday off! 

Yep, dropped Maggie at school at 8, went for a 4 mile run/walk (although I never got into the groove with running - I just felt very clumsy, but I did walk a long mile all uphill to really work my bun!), came home & got cleaned up & parked my arse on the couch all day watching Elizabeth I. 

I just didn't feel like doing a single thing! Ever have days like that?

So, today I feel a little guilty about being such a vegetable!!

Of course, today will be a little more normal - 

Laundry/chores

Maggie & Daddy are going to school this morning for a special Dad's Day lunch

Later, miss Maggie & I are going to see Marmaduke. 

I know, the new Toy Story is out, but I don't really want to fight the crowds on opening weekend!

We don't really have any big plans for Dad's Day & we have a BBQ to attend tomorrow.

Nothing too exciting, which is fine with all of us!

TTFN!!

Migraines SUCK!

Today was going to be a great day, darn it!!

Before we left for Greece a few weeks ago, I pinched my neck really bad. You know the kind that keeps you from turning your head to the left & makes driving all but impossible? And, it only got worse in Greece by moving to my shoulder joint! Ugh!

Last night I finally had the brilliant idea of changing my pillow & low & behold a good night's sleep followed! I finally awoke feeling rested & in a good mood!

I dropped Maggie at school at 8, went for a little 3 mile run/walk (I've finally dropped 8 pounds & a few inches here & there! Wahoo! Only 10 more to go before July 21st!) & felt surprisingly well afterwards (I am NOT a runner, but I am trying when my knees allow it!). When I got home I had a light breakfast because I started to get one of those little headaches that feel like a "hunger" headache. (Not even thinking that it could be one of my monthly cycle headaches!)

Ignoring the headache, I went out to weed the garden before it got too hot out. Eventually the headache started to really nag at me. So when I came inside I ate a little more protein & took one of my migraine pills & settled in to finish my project for the Creative Cuts & More Blog Hop on the 14th - a little circular album with pictures of Maggie playing in the sprinkler a few years ago!

Well, I managed to finish the album before my head got worse! I thought the meds I took were working, but by mid-afternoon I had this piercing pain behind my left eye with EVERY heartbeat! Usually when I get these headaches, it only throbs when my heart rate accelerates or I bend over to pick something up, but this one was totally different! The pain was so bad that I was crying (which made it worse, of course!) & Tula (our dog) came over to check on me several times! I laid on the couch with an ice pack over my left eye for the better part of 2 hours before I tried to get some rest in bed. But I just couldn't get comfortable & finally gave up just before 6. Grrrr!

Luckily, Nick was able to pick Maggie up from school so that I could take some percocet just before they got home! I hate taking narcs because they always make me feel sick & sometimes don't really help these types of headaches. I would love to hear from anyone out there that gets these vascular-heart-throbbing-type headaches to hear what works for you!

Sorry to complain, but I am finally feeling better & just felt like writing about my day.

I promise to post a few sneak peeks from my project & some Greece picts later this week!

Thanks for listening!

Spring

Spring is one of my favorite times of year (the other being Fall, when the weather turns cool & the colors change), with it warmer temps & showers interspersed with snow.

I love that the grass gets greener & the trees start to show signs of life again - especially the cherry blossom trees!

But mostly I love the return of all the tulips! 

Our good friend Tim brought me these beautiful tulips last weekend & they are still holding strong in our front room!

I love seeing them every morning when I open the shade to let the light in.

I love that they start off all closed, standing upright & slowly open up & begin to flop over.

They just make me happy!

Happy Spring to Everyone!

Gotta Get My Hands On THESE!!!

Tim Holtz is truly an amazing artist (not to mention, ADORABLE!)!

He just released a series of videos on his blog to introduce all the great Sizzix dies he's designed for his new Alterations line with them...http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/04/all-about-alterations.html

I got a bunch of his stamps for my birthday & now I've got to get my hands on some of these dies! I have to admit that I have picked them up several times at the store, but then I talk myself out of them because I wasn't sure what I'd be using them for. Now I can SEE the possibilities!!

He manages to cut through so many materials - even thick craft foam & made a foam stamp from it! He also used the Tattered Flowers Die to make a really cool layered fabric flower that would be awesome in an album or to wear!! (I tried to copy the image from the video(s), but it didn't work, so be sure to check it out when you have a sec on his blog or You Tube!)

The other day he wrote a little something about some of the new products that were introduced at CHA that look like a lot of fun to work with as well...

Glossy Enamel Accents!

Very cool way to add dimension to your pages!

I can't wait to try some on what is my most anticipated release from him...

The Texture Fades!!!!

Yes, they're embossing folders, but SOOOOO much better!

They are deeply etched in some places & fade out in others for that altered/aged look. AND, they are deep enough to really give great impressions on thicker materials, like chipboard & METAL (he shows these in one of his videos too)! Another great thing he thought of with these - they go ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE of your paper! No more funny line where the pattern stops! I Can't Wait!!!! That BINGO card needs to live in my studio!!!

If you're a fan of the 7 Gypsies fabric-like Gaffer tapes, you'll probably want to play with Tim's new Tissue Tapes too! They are thinner, so the uses might be totally different, but, OH the possibilities...

FYI- For those of you that live near an Archiver's, they are having a Tim Holtz Demo weekend April 16th-18th & I know I will be there right when they open on the 16th!! I have been wanting to get my hands on some of this for weeks, but have been holding out until I know that they have more of it in stock at the store! (BTW, some of the above products may not be in by the demo weekend, since there were production delays.)

His never-ending creativity is so inspiring! It makes me want to throw out my to-do list, be irresponsible & just play all day!

Anybody up for that?!!!

LOL!