by Sharon | Jun 26, 2016
This is definitely flip flop sandal weather.
I saw these cute boxes on-line and thought what a great idea.
They’re great for a 4th of July BBQ or picnic. You could put some fun goodies in them.
I thought they’d be exciting to make and fill with candies. Or they could be keepsake boxes for a summer day at the beach and put some shells in them after they dry appropriately. Maybe some beach sand . . . and little keepsakes from a day in the sun.
They would be great to put in some sunscreen or chapstick, a pair of sun glasses. Depending upon how big you make your boxes, they would hold quite a few pictures of your day at the beach or what you did during summer vacation.
These sandals are usually worn throughout the summer and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take lots of pictures to put in your keepsake flip flop sandal box..
This is a purchased SVG file. All you need to do is click the image and you’ll be taken to the website to purchase.
I know I find a lot of free printables for you, but this time it is a paid one I believe is worth the price. And, if you have a Silhouette Cameo you can get this file quite a bit cheaper from the Silhouette Store.
And, if you don’t have a Silhouette Cameo . . . why not?
The Silhouette Cameo is an electronic cutting machine that can cut a variety of materials up to 12 inches wide and 10 feet long. This new model has a responsive touchscreen, a handy on-unit cross cutter and built-in accessory storage.
I love mine, especially the Print and Cut feature that allows me to cut precisely around designs and images I have printed on my home printer. I’ve made lots of stickers, iron-on, cut-outs for scrap book pages and mini-albums. I’ve also made cupcake toppers and lots of boxes from my collection of templates. It does save me considerable time to have the Silhouette Cameo cut things out for me.
It includes a 12 inch cutting mat, a cutting blade and 100 preloaded designs. It also includes the Silhouette Studio, which is the powerful software program which allows you to create your own designs using your own fonts and images.
As I said, I love mine and I also bought:
This is a wonderful machine that I truly love using. There are things to learn, but you’ll find plenty of instructional videos on YouTube that will help you out. And you can figure things out with the on-line manual.
Some people choose the new Cricut Explore Air Wireless Cutting Machine and others like the Brother ScanNCut2.
It’s nice there are alternative cutting machine available for different people who want a cutting machine for different purposes.
Well, enjoy your summer . . . take plenty of pictures . . . and make some paper crafts during the heat of the day.
Thanks for stopping by!
Sharon
by Sharon | Jun 5, 2016
It’s so true . . . but no excuses!
All last week I thought about posting here . . . but with the turn in the weather to HOT . . . and playing around with paper strips . . . time just flew by.
It’s fun to learn something new and to be motivated to finish projects I’ve started . . . and never finished.
I’ve been giving my paper crafting a lot of thought and have been doing a lot of research, too. Just when I think I’m getting a handle on the topic . . . something new is added and blows me away. So, I’ve been busy learning . . . getting confused . . . refocusing . . .
My learning curve is as loopy as the paper strips I’m curing and twirling . . .
And I got thinking that maybe focusing upon a theme would help . . . it has to a degree . . . but it’s much like window shopping. You’re focused until something catches your eye and attention and you’re off chasing butterflies . . .
I’ve enjoyed spring . . . and I’m determined to enjoy summer . . .
Although it officially hasn’t arrived . . . but the weather has given me summer heat . . . that I’m determined to enjoy . . . under the air conditioning.
I do run my errands early in the morning . . . working on that schedule to be home when the heat of the day sets in. I’m basically a fair weather girl. I like to be comfortable . . . and a bit cooler is preferred.
In my research . . . I came across a woman who makes miniature food charms . . . and one of her very popular pieces is s’mores . . . she’s made the graham cracker charms and chocolate charms and marshmallow charms, but the completed s’mores is what sells out . . .
So, this got me thinking . . .
Yes, about s’mores . . .
I’ve posted lots of s’more recipes in the past . . . but what is so great is coming up with your own combinations . . .
I’ve had one where you put the ingredients in a sugar cone/waffle cone wrap it in foil and set it on the grill or in the oven . . .
So, far that one seems to be my favorite because you can make them throughout the year. And they’re not all that messy . . . well . . . yes they can be.
And, this does get me thinking about the taste of summer . . . and it may very well be the original version of s’more . . . The one we grew up on . . . the one that everyone knows and loves . . . Every well-planned camping trip includes a box of graham crackers, Hershey chocolate bars and a bag of marshmallows.
And while driving to your destination . . . visions of a camp fire come to mind and making s’mores . . . and more importantly visualizing taking that first bite of your gooey s’more . . . being careful not to have the whole thing slide into your lap or down the front of your shirt/blouse.
Yes, indeed this is a common taste of summer that we crave from year to year . . .
There is something positive to be said about the traditional way of making s’mores . . . and creating your own variation on them . . . that brings something special to your camping trip or outdoor cookout . . . and don’t forget the ghost stories and urban legends.
Thanks for stopping by!
Sharon
by Sharon | May 30, 2016
For most crafters this can be an issue.
I know it can be for me . . . that’s why I’m writing about it.
You see, I enjoy making boxes . . . lots of boxes . . . some for my family and friends and neighbors and some for special occasions.
When it comes to special occasions, a wedding or anniversary or even graduation party . . . I need to get a lot done in a relatively short span of time. So, mass production is the way to go when I can get things pre-cut using my Silhouette Cameo and my printer. But, sometimes I feel I need to give a bit of a personal touch as well . . . just to set my work apart from the work of others or store-bought.
And, to be honest with you, I want to have some fun and be creative . . . not just do an assembly-line process . . . which can become quite boring.
We do buy equipment to make certain tasks easier.
This does save us time.
And allows us to make a number of attractive products with relatively little effort. Which in many cases can be a blessing . . . especially when you have several orders to fill. And, as a business this is necessary.
So, when it comes to doing things for your own gatherings and hostess gifts, you would probably take more time with them.
I’ve been thinking about Halloween coffin gift boxes and how to embellish them in a very attractive or spooky manner to fit with the season. It’s fun to add pumpkins and children trick-or-treating . . . or to have spider webs and a scary spider with vampire fangs . . . or build some kind of grave yard scene . . . maybe add a witch, a ghost or a goblin 
. . .
And what to put inside . . . besides tasty treats.
We can have fun when it comes to those products we mass produce . . . by adding some nice embellishments that add to the hostess gift box. We do love having something tasty to take home with us.
And a seasonal greeting with a fun spider as in the picture to the left would dress it up quite nicely and give your treat bag or box a little something special on the outside.
It is all a matter of taste . . . as how long you have to put together your hostess gifts. I like my guests to believe that I take as much time in preparing the gathering as I do in creating the gift. My guests are special to me . . . and I want them to know it.
So, it is all a matter of what you want to do . . . and how you feel about giving your very best . . . given the situation.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope this was helpful and gave you something to think about.
Sharon
by Sharon | May 29, 2016
I know I’m a bit obsessed about quilling.
First I was curious. Then I became excited about the 3-D construction. Now . . . 
I am completely blown away.
Turish Artist Sena Runa quit her paying job to devote her time to quilling. This shows true passion . . . and a true artist.
There is definite attention to detail . . . and it seems as though Sena is having some fun along the way. That is truly passion to me.
Many of us would “rather be” doing just about anything than “work,” but very few of us leave the “job” in order to pursue it 100%.
I know of others who have . . . and things have worked out well for them . . . but they worked . . . worked harder than when they were working for a salary . . .
But, when you’re doing what you love . . . then it’s much like play . . .
This could be true for Sena Runa . . . and she is an excellent artist . . .
I am inspired by her quilled art.
How about you?
Although this feather is flat . . . it is definitely three dimensional. Just like a real feather. All made from strips of paper.
I know it is quite unbelievable . . . but so very much is indeed possible . . . if you give it a try.
I loved the coiled paper for the “beads.” And the curl of the “feathers.”
I just had to share some of Sena Runa’s work with you. I think we’ll be seeing many more of her paper quilling creations for many years to come.
She sells her work from approximately $85. to $550. depending upon the piece and the amount of detail involved. They do come framed and they are not huge . . . about 91/2 by 11 1/2 inches.
When you’re this good at your craft . . . the money will definitely follow.
I can look at Sena’s quilled art and I am amazed by how she knows what to include and how to separate the piece.
But, then, with practice and having a sense of what you feel by the shape of the piece . . . you will definitely know . . . and flow with that feeling.
It is wonderful to have such a talented artist for inspiration . . . challenging you to come forward and create something of your own that speaks clearly from your soul . . . your heart . . . your life force . . .
Music and musical instruments have a certain “feel” to them. They would be excellent subjects for quilling . . . the coils and the curves . . . you can feel the movement . . . and with the color selected . . . this reminds me of the ocean and waves . . . and the crashing into the rocks . . .
Everything blends together in a symphony of the senses . . .
That’s what I see and feel when I think about quilling and using it as an art form for self-expression.
One of my favorite pieces of Sena’s is what I believe to be an outline of Mickey Mouse.
It is beautiful as she made it, of course . . .
I see something entirely different that I would want to put inside . . . my feelings about the magical kingdom created by Walt Disney . . .
And, given my age, my experiences go way back . . . to a time of fairy tales . . . and those characters that did shape my life a bit . . . we are a product to an extent of what we’ve lived, observed and were taught . . .
If the outline is a “symbol”, then what other symbols would be appropriate to include in the piece that would say “Disney” . . .
Or . . . is this not meant to be the outline of Mickey . . . just a large circle with two smaller ones on top . . . maybe it means something entirely different to Sena . . . it is, after all her art piece . . .
And, maybe my vision of the paper elements and the colors wouldn’t work as well . . . or would involve more time than I would like to devote to one piece . . . or an element of mystery is necessary for others to discover on their own . . .
Then the question comes down to . . .
Do we create for ourselves . . . or others?
I do wonder . . . perhaps it’s a mixture of both . . . depending upon whether you want to sell it . . . or not . . . and if you actually know what the public wants . . .
I want something that “speaks to me” or something that I truly receive a positive feeling from . . . maybe even something to stir memories . . .
When I make mine . . . it will be for me to keep and to enjoy . . . I’m not interested in selling it . . . but one never knows if the time and price are right . . .
We all have our tastes . . . and when we think of Disneyland or Disney World, we’ve all had our own personal experiences . . . and how would you best depict it in a quilled piece of art?
It is quite challenging . . . and could be fun in the process.
I hope this was inspiring for you.
Thanks for stopping by!
Sharon
by Sharon | May 26, 2016
Do you know about quilling?
I heard about it several years ago, but didn’t think much of it . . . until now.
I got thinking about the layering of paper many crafters do. Then I wondered how quilling could be a part of that, especially when it involves 3-D objects. And the ability of designing them out of paper.
The rolling of paper and manipulating it into different shapes is absolutely amazing as in the picture on the right. Quilling does allow the image to come out of the paper background without the use of pop-dots or foam dots. It is truly a unique way of layering paper.
It is quite lovely, but I was looking for something more . . .
I’ve worked with clay in the past with a kiln and all that, but with paper . . . that would truly be amazing.
This is when I discovered quilling could be the answer. Strips of paper rolled up with several layers of thin strips of paper could be shaped in such a way as to make 3-D objects.
I’ve been mesmerized for the past few days . . .It is truly amazing what can be created from rolled up strips of paper. They don’t have to be glued to a piece of paper. They can stand alone . . . and they can be dressed up with paper . . . it is truly amazing what can be created with these strips of paper.
Take a good look at these graduates . . . front and back . . .
The nose is the center of the rolled up strip of paper. Eyes were added and they do have a smile . . . The hair is paper as are all the other elements.
Quilling isn’t as popular as it once was . . . if it was ever truly popular . . . There are many crafters who make quilled earrings. This is has been a nice business for them. Some make up pictures and use quilling to make them pop out.
I love this 3-D art concept of quilling. You don’t really need that many tools and the supplies are relatively inexpensive compared to other hobbies . . . but the reward you receive by creating these 3-D objects is absolutely priceless.
I was on a website earlier today where a woman made a whole family of minions. She loves them . . . Each one is different, she says . . . of course they are . . . each one is made separately! They would have their own personality given the number of eyes and how their arms and legs have settled . . . Just as these graduates. The girls are holding flowers . . . the hair is different and the way they wear their cap is a bit different . . .
And even the tassels on their cap is a bit different. And, their hands and feet and legs could be a little different as well as their bodies.
The thing is, once you get started, you’re hooked and you continue to make more and more. It is a learning process . . . and we always enjoy doing what we do well . . . and tweak it a bit.
I do love the attention to detail . . . front and back that this allows you to make. And they are solid — not hollow.
The woman I spoke of earlier with her minions, well she sold some. I think this was a good thing at the time, but she did enjoy looking at them and even playing with them. This does bring the kid out in you. Which I believe is definitely a good thing. Also the fact that she sold some of her minions, gave her an opportunity to make more.
The surprising thing is that she was able to make her minion invasion in about a week . . . It does take time to make each one, but the time spent is thoroughly enjoyable. And one leads to another and another . . . until you have more than you know what to do with . . . but they are small and will fit nicely in a shoebox . . .
Here are some quilling tools and materials you may find helpful . . . if you want to try it out:
I do hope this blog post was enjoyable and gave you something to think about. Maybe try your hand at this quilling craft.
Until next time,
Sharon
by Sharon | May 22, 2016
I Love These Rubber Stamps!!
These ladies know how to have fun . . . and fun they do have throughout the pages in my mini-albums and on various greeting cards I make for family and friends.
These stamps for me have become a “family” . . . they are very much part of my everyday life . . . And the thing is, I can’t buy just one set of these stamps . . . One leads to another . . . and another . . .
I don’t fancy myself as a “stamper”, but when it comes to these ladies . . . I am so hooked . . .
They are excellent to create adventures for them to share with you through the pages of your journals . . . scrapbooks . . . mini-albums . . . greeting cards . . .
As I said earlier, they have become “family” for me.
These are Art Impressions Girlfriends Cling Rubber Stamps. They are individually trimmed and mounted on repositional cling cushion. The detailed image gives a great stamping experience because of the high grade gray rubber used. These stamp sets are easy to store and are used with acrylic blocks that are sold separately and can be used for other stamp sets as well. These are individually packaged and include black and white as well as colored “actual size” image samples.
I absolutely love them!! They remind me of ladies I know . . . who have never really grown up . . . and have the time of their life each and every day!! Yes, life is a celebration for them!
I could go on and on with more and more links for you. I know you will be able to explore on your own once you click one of the links above to get just the right stamps that fit in with your crafting style.
There are the ladies at the movies, at the pool, celebrating a birthday . . . there they are at the beauty shop . . . and having some fun at a party. I do hope you love them as much as I do . . . they truly make me laugh!
These girlfriends are going to accompany me on many great adventures . . . Maybe they’ll feel right at home with you and your family, too.
Have fun!
Sharon
