Button, Button - Who's got the Button?

Here are some of my button charms for my SSSD swap. We have up to 10 ladies swapping and we are creating 3 charms per person. I've added these to the other two types (see below).  I really wanna do bottle cap charms.... since I have a good bit of time before these are due, I may have to do 10 and add them to the swap just cuz. =)

I will say these little guys are just adorable in person. My whole family thinks these are too cute, even the hubby!

These charms were labor intensive and really kinda hurt my wittle fingers! Opening and closing all those jump rings!! Even with my baby pliers, my hands & fingers still hurt! They are worth the pain to me. I sure do hope the other swappers feel the same as me!

Charming, aren't I?

I was able to spend time in my studio today. First I had to lay down for a bone density scan. My 1st ever. Whoot, whoot. No, but I did get to work on my charms for a swap. 

My 1st charms were the single strand charms.  My daughter tells me they really are pretty, but I wasn't really super happy once I finished. So, I moved up to double stand at the bottom attached to a single. Those were much better. I am afraid mine might be longer than most. Then, today I started working on loose button charms. It takes waaaay more time cuz I am attaching each button with a jump ring. The average # of button, you ask?? Between 20 and 24! I decided to tie little ribbons on the charms here and there cuz the buttons looked lonely! I will finish up ALL my charms tomorrow and post pics here! I know the waiting will be agonizing!

I should be stop swapping so much and work on more of the cool things I have on my sewing bucket list! LOL  It's just swaps are soooo much fun and so addictive. I've even signed up to swap ATC's now!! I've never created ATC (knowingly that is). But, I am super excited to give this a whirl and I have some great ideas.  Okay, gotta run. I have a casserole in the oven that needs me. Isn't nice to be needed?? I say "Yes!"

Flowers Obsession!

Oh my, this started with a SCS swap for hand made flowers. I couldn't stop! There are so may tutorials on line I've wanted to make forever. So, it was the perfect time. I even took 3 spots in the actual swap!

Okay, the tissue looking flowers are made from an old sewing pattern that I cannot find the directions for. They were super easy and way fun! I made yo-yo flowers by stacking different sized yo-yos. I made burnt edge flowers gathered flowers, wrapped flowers and I even hand wrapped a flower of of muslin, sewed it together using my doll needled and then mounted it on canvas! I gave those flowers a little spritz of home made glimmer mist! I still haven't even broken the surface of all the lovely hand made flower tutorials out on the great wide web. So, this flower obsession is far from over.....

So, I have more than I needed for the swap. I will use some for another swap I am in. That one you make special gifts for a fellow swapper. It's addictive and so much fun!

Happy 4th of July

We are the land of the free because of the brave who fight for us each day. I send a HUGE thank you to all those who have served, are serving or will serve for our country!

Happy Pumpkin Day!

It's still Halloween here at my house! Well, at least in my studio! I finished another swap for SSSD today. This one is a sketch swap for September. Yes, we've already discussed how severe my OCD / Over Achiever problem is...

Aren't the stamped images just the cutest?? Now, pardon my image quality, remember my beloved camera is in Italy right now!! "major frowny face: BUT, yeppie it comes home tomorrow!!! Oh yeah, so does my hubby.... LOL   He's been gone pretty much for the whole much of June (France from the last week of May, mid-month he moved over to Italy). Okay, now I must take my little wild man up to Burger King for the indoor play ground! He's been such a good kid the past few days. We have coupons!! :sing song voice:

Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater

I finished a swap today and I colored 14 large pumpkins. Who knew I could use all the color in the Copic nib?! I have to see now if I used all the ink and need to replace it?? How?? Guess I'll find out, huh? Anyhoo, here are the cards:

I'd never made an easel card before and decided to use the Stampin Up scalloped circle die. I had never worked with mulberry paper before either and used it under the stamped image. I even sprayed it with glimmer mist, although it is a little hard to tell. Of course I used my Copics to color the image. I also used some Queen & Co. charm brads I've had forever as the place to tuck the card front into to hold it up. I think they turned out so cute! 14 cards in all, and I am tired of coloring! LOL

I also made a cute little 4th of July box for a friend. She's having me and wild man up for dinner tonight. I have to go and get chocolate squares to put inside. I used the SU scalloped envelope die for this little box and some left over patterned paper. Making hte box was fun, but I killed my embossing mat! Cut slap thru it!! Guess I don't really know how to use it! LOL

I know, I feel like I just didn't do this little box justice! I could've decorated it much better, but after coloring 14 pumpkins, I just wasn't feelin' it. Sorry, next time I'll make a little gift and it WILL rock I tell you!! Now, it's off to eat cereal. I've been up crafting since 6am this morning. For me that is ridiculously early!! I will pay a high price for being crafty this early! I'll fall asleep before dinner, I just know I will.

Happy July 1st

Wow!!  Half of summer break is over. Can you believe that? I can't. 

Here's my project for today! I am learning to machine quilt. I am hand piecing a hexagon quilt now. The design is called Grandmother's Flower Garden. I am crazy enough to think that when I finally finish this baby, I will hand quilt the top! But anyhooo,  I made this Cricut Cover for my Expression 2. 

I know I was a little over  zealous in my meandering of quilting. But it was my 1st real machine quilting. I am still tickled pink with my results.

 

I will have to take pictures of my flower garden and post them here. It's pretty and very relaxing. I'll post this weekend. =)

What my kids see...

HA HA You need to know my nickname is Boo. Hubby gave it to me, of course, it really didn't come from this Disney character. But, it's turned into it. SO, this is what my kids see... I thought it was funny anyway =)

Happy Halloween

It's a candy corn Halloween! Yes, another swap for SSSD. I hand cut all the cards. I stamped then colored with my Copics. I enjoy learning how to work with blending - it's a blast!  The bat was embossed. It's hard to tell the white was embossed with circles, the orange was left plain, the yellow with squares and the black stripes were embossed with squares before I cut them into strips. I saw this card while looking thru the gallery at Splitcoast Stampers. Can't remember who, I'm sorry.

I adore Halloween!! I cannot wait for fall, it's just so much better than summer!!

Square punches!!

I love doing swaps when I am ahead of schedule! This is when I can get creative and try new things. I like trying to do things I've not done, but have had on my little list. Here's a card I've done for a swap where we were to use square punches:

I learned how to make a faux pinwheel! It was neat and I enjoyed learning a new trick! I used paper I'd used in a swap like 3 years ago!! Nothing like using up what cha got! But, I think it turned out nicely. Now, I am off to create some more! =)

Oil Cloth Love

I have always like oil cloth. I finally bought some almost a year ago. O would fondle it from time to time but never could figure out exactly what I would do with it. Ya know, it had to be the perfect project!!  Well, I am still not sure what I will do with the bulk of the 3 cuts I did buy, BUT, I did make this:

It's a coupon wallet!! BUT, it's for special coupons. I will keep it in the van and this will hold restaurant coupons!! It's Murphy's Law to be out somewhere and decide to eat on the fly and not have coupons!! Well, now THAT won't happen again!!

Now, lemme tell you just how hard it was to turn oil cloth right side out after sewing together!! Pain my my thumb! =) That's okay though cuz I love this little cutie!

She's waiting in Italy....

Here's the other woman. The woman my hubby is going to meet up with....

Here DH is "working" his magic on his "woman".

He's the tire changer - I have to admit, they make a great couple!! =) When he's not over the wall he's one of the 2 lead mechanics in charge of this little lady.  I like this lady cuz she undoubtedly weighs more than I do!! HA HA  Ok - now I HAVE to go do laundry, she is waiting for his arrival. They have a race this coming weekend to prepare for.