So far the contest is not going well because viewers can’t get the link to work to get to the contest info. So this morning, I added the contest info to the information below the video, and hope that a few people can make it work. Holy Cow! I don’t know what I did wrong that people can’t make it work!!!! I feel so foolish and know a lot of viewers are frustrated because they can’t get the link to work. YIKES! I guess at this point, I’ve done all I can do to rectify the situation.
On to brighter topics. I went shopping with a girlfriend today, and found some fun vintage Ford and Mustang t shirts for Rich. He has a 1966 Mustang convertible that was his dream car since he was a kid. My dad worked for Ford in a car dealership as the parts manager for almost his entire career, so whenever I find any Ford memorabilia that Rich can wear/use, I buy them for him. He likes to wear Mustang shirts while he’s driving his car. Yes, he’s that kind of corny, probably one of the reasons why I love him.
I found some unique stamps for Easter, that had animals without their bodies, and an egg shape that you lay where the bodies would be. It’s kind of hard to describe, but I thought they’d be fun for some cards. I decided to make a waterfall card with them, and so far, some of them look natural, and some look like a face on an egg, with legs sticking out. I’m a little concerned that the recipients will think I’ve sent them a blob, but since I’m sending them to our family, I don’t think they will mind.
I started working on them today and should have the video done in the next couple of days, as I have another one ahead of it. I think I already talked about the first video, but it’s a split card design and is really simple to do. I thought this card wouldn’t be too difficult that I’m working on now, but it’s starting to get a little more cumbersome with all the stamping I need to do. Oh, well, another day, another video.
I was sent a great box of goodies from a friend, Aileen from Ireland. it was so thoughtful and generous, and I wanted to share them with you.
Heather, from Glue Dots, wanted to send me a prototype they have developed, and I was thrilled that they thought of me. She not only sent me the prototype (that I couldn’t show), but also a lot of other Glue Dots. I really wanted to show you all of the other Glue Dot products she sent me.
I have been wanting to try to make a split design card like Jennifer McGuire made several month ago, but never got around to doing it. So I made a set of two cards as a trial, and foolishly, didn’t record them, and they turned out great. I had to make a second set, and by that time, I was tired and whining, but I persevered and finished the set. They are really easy to make, especially when you make them like Jennifer did. She cut her sentiment in half and it was a simple way of doing it. On my first card, I decided to layer some die cuts, and glue them over both colors of card stock. I really liked that look so much better, than having half the sentiment in one tone, and half in another. I hope you’ll let me know what you think.
I haven’t checked facebook yet, to see how many people have posted photos for the contest, and I really hope at least a couple of people do, because I’ve got the Easter basket full of all kinds of crafty goodies. If you haven’t submitted your photo yet, it’s a simple process, and if you don’t know how to use facebook, you can email it to me at saundralparker@yahoo.com…I’m really looking forward to seeing what other deem to be their favorite paper crafty projects.
I’ve seen lots of people make this basket, but not as big as this one. You’ll need to start with a 12 x 12″ piece of scrapbook paper, and score it on the reverse of what you want for the front of your basket, score it at 4″ and 8″, then turn one turn, and score again at 4″ and 8″. (You’ll need a total of two pieces of matching paper (12″), as you’ll need to create a handle for the basket with the second piece.) I don’t recommend harder paper that will crack, but more of a mid-weight paper that won’t.
Take your paper out of your score board and use a t-ruler if you have one. (You will only need to do this step if you are using scissors. ) If you are using your paper trimmer, you’ll only need to make a mark at 6″ on both side at the bottom, and draw lines to the scores that meet on either side at 4″ thus creating a triangle. You’ll cut each of your marks with long bladed scissors, and then cut the center triangle out, then turn the paper around, and cut all of those score lines and the triangle. If you have a paper trimmer, you’ll put your paper in to 11″ use the cut tool, cut to the first score line, then take it to the top (remembering to lift it so it doesn’t cut your paper), put it down at the top, and pull the blade toward you until it reaches the first score line. You’ll move your paper to 10″, 9″ and 8″ and make the same cuts, then move it to 4″, 3″ 2″ and 1″ and cut all of them. If using scissors, simply cut from the bottom mark to the mark at the first score line and stop, then repeat for the first 4″. Then make the 6″ mark and cut the triangle as explained above, and cut the remaining marks at 8-11″. Turn to other side and make same cuts.
Use your bone folder and fold down all of your cuts and your score lines, so your basket is easy to fold. To assemble, you will start with the two strips closest to the center “V” and put wet glue on the top of one strip and glue it to the top of the strip closest to the other side of the “V”. You want the strips on the first set to meet so the two tops completely cover each other as shown in the video. Then take the next closest strips and glue those together, (the angle changes with each set of strips, just make the tops overlap at the angle they prefer. Then the next and the next. The last set of strips should almost be straight across when they are glued. Then put a clothes pin on the top to ensure all of the strips stay glue. Turn the basket around and do the same to the other side. Put the clothespin on it, and set the basket aside. Make two, one inch circles and two 12″ strips of matching paper for your handle. Keep in mind this is a paper basket so it won’t have strength of a wicker basket. Always carry it by holding your hand under the bottom and not by the handle, as it will rip off once the basket is full.
To make your handle, turn your paper so the long cut will show the pattern in the direction you would like it to run, then cut it so you have about a 1″ wide strip. In my case, I cut one of the squiggle lines, and then cut another strip that had the same squiggle. I glued them together with tape runner and wet glue, so that when I lined them up, the wet glue allows you some wiggle room to ensure it can be lined up exactly. If you have any excess on one side, simply trim with scissors. I used Stampin’ Up ink that matched my paper and ran the sides of the handle on the pad so the sides weren’t white. You could use a marker or acrylic paint if you don’t have ink.
It’s time to glue the triangle to the basket. Put wet glue on both sides of the back of the triangle and use about an inch of the top of the triangle and cover it with glue. It should be even with the top of your strips, but if it’s too tall, just snip off the excess. Press inside the basket for a minute to make sure the sides adhere to the strips, if you see gaps, put more glue inside. Punch two 1″ circles, fold in half, then glue on the inside of each circle, and put one over the top of each triangle, then put a clothespin on it to hold it. To apply the handle, rub it on something that will help it be rounded. Then put tear tape or wet glue, or both on the outside bottom 1″ of both ends of the handle. Center one side of the handle behind the half circle on the inside of the basket, then apply clothespin to hold it. Do the same to the other end of the handle on the opposite side of the basket, again remembering to apply it to the inside of the basket. Then decorate the basket to make you happy.
CONTEST AND RULES:
The winner will be chosen randomly, and will receive this basket full of craft goodies. Only people with USA addresses are eligible to enter due to the weight of the basket, sorry.
ENTRIES must be submitted by midnight of March 26th, and the winner will be announced on the 27th.
Submit your favorite paper craft project THAT YOU MADE, by facebook: http://www.facebook.com/craftingforallmosteveryone/
and simply post your photo there with your name, and I’ll contact the winner back through facebook.
I prefer you use facebook, but if you don’t have a facebook page, you can email me your photo at saundalparker@yahoo.com and Rich will link your photo to the facebook page.
I always encourage interaction on projects on facebook. You’ve always been very kind to each other on my facebook, any negative comments will not be accepted.
I wanted to figure out a way to encourage people to go to my facebook page and share their projects. Our viewers are extremely kind to each other, and for that, I’m truly thankful. So in order to really get people to check it out, I’m having a contest and included it in the Easter basket video that’s going live tomorrow. (It should have gone live today, but Rich got distracted with his camera and updated his tablet, so I lost him for the editing. Drat!) Anyway, I’m just happy I have a couple of videos in the can (that’s technical jargon for you. Aren’t I smart?)
When I thought about how to run this contest, I’m asking people to share the project their most proud of. There’s such a wide range of skills and experience, that it wouldn’t be fair to judge by beauty….Rich and I talked it over, and decided the best thing to do, would be to choose by random numbers. For those that are not familiar with Facebook, I’m allowing them to post their photos to my email, and Rich will include those on facebook, so all submissions are in one place. Then we’ll go to random.com and it’s simple from there. They ask how many numbers of entries are included, and then they tell you the number that’s the winner. Couldn’t be easier for me. I’m sending the Easter basket full of all kinds of crafty goodies. I have so many things to share, and now that some small companies are sending me things, I can share even more. I’m really looking forward to it. Those of you who read the blog will have a jump on finding your favorite paper project to share. I can’t wait to see all of the really wonderful things that viewers have created.
I made and finished an Easter basket that I think everyone can make, and it doesn’t really take very long. I’ve seen this in a smaller size, but I think if you’re going to make one, go big or go home. I wonder where that saying originated from…Let’s check it out.
I went to a site called Quora and this is what they came up with…three completely different origins.
Robert Charles Lee, Printbroker, financial printer, non-practising lawyer
The first documented use was in the Disney TV movie Johnny Tsunami (1999), according to most Internet sources I’ve looked at.
It’s actual usage was much earlier than that. I well remember we were using “go big” and “go big or go home” in London in the mid-1980s, and we (certainly I) picked it up from older American exchange students (also Californian surfers) then. So that might be a clue.
It is military expression used by pilots involved in bombing targets. It means the longer you stay on the target the high probability of a direct hit. The go big means to expose your aircraft to ground fire for a longer time period to insure a direct hit. The go home means if you haven’t the intestinal fortitude to go big just tuck your tail and go home.
Apparently it was a marketing term for Porker Pipes in the 90’s – they made exhaust systems for Harleys in Southern California – “Go big or go home” was on their packaging.
So there you have it…As for me, I’m feeling much better and am hoping to continue to do so. I finished another video of gifts I received from a friend as well as a huge supply of Glue Dots from the company. They’ve asked me to help them with a prototype to determine if it is workable for a left handed person and if it will work in the craft world. I’m not allowed to show that, but did show all of the other super generous gifts that they sent me..
My hands started swelling badly yesterday, and tingled, as my elbows are so swollen, they pinch nerves that go to my hands. It’s not a good sign, and I think I’ll probably need to go back on steroids, after I worked so hard do go off of them. Drat. You can do a single day steroid dose, which I did last night and I’m hoping by tonight, I’ll be able to make a simple project for Easter, and will let you know. I can’t tell you how frustrating this is, as my arthritis hasn’t been this out of control since the early 1990’s. You have no idea how much I hate admitting this, as I’ve always been pretty private about my health, but when I just watched my latest mixed media card, I could see the swelling, and it’s so disheartening. And of course, I had trouble making a lot of sense, so talked about the steroid withdrawal near the end of the video.
A viewer from Ireland wanted me to make a mixed media card with butterflies, so I’m giving it a try. I began by putting Faber Castell Texture Luxe Pearl on a stencil from Stampers Anonymous that came with flower stamps (but I don’t know the name of it.) I used painters tape to adhere it to the card base that was teal colored and 5 1/2″ wide by 4 1/4″ tall.
Used Best of Butterflies and Butterbly Basics by Stampin’ Up, and from Amuse Studio, For Peeps’ Sake stamp sets.
I started by putting scrap cardstock in the MISTI and put a couple of the butterfly stamps inside and using a paint brush with Kuretake Gansai Tambai watercolor set of 36, and painted the stamps with a damp brush and the blue and green watercolors that I mixed on a tile.
After they were dry, I took the same stencil, and put Bo Bunny Glitter Paste over the stamped images. I stamped Happy Easter on a long piece of the same white scrap card stock, and used Taken with Teal ink from Stampin’ Up, which I believe is the same color as our card base to stamp with.
I used pigment ink on two basic butterfly punched imaged then put clear embossing powder and heat set it, then put Versafine Onyx Black ink and stamped a plaid image on them, then put more embossing powder on them, then heat set them again.
I took a long line from Butterfly Basics and put it in the MISTI, and stamped Versafine Onyx black ink on it, and put embossing powder on it, then heat set it. The stamp had some issues and didn’t stamp well, even with repeat stamping, so I used a black Sharpie to fix it.
I used Studio G glitter glue in blue and irridescent on rubbed it on the texture paste on the card base as well as on the line I stamped near the bottom of the card and then wiped it over the butterflies.
Trimmed the butterflies and punched vellum with the same stamp so they would layer, then added Tonic glue to glue them together.
There was a small honeycomb stamp in Butterfly Basics, so stamped with some chambray and green inks and attached a small butterfly over the stamped image, inside the card. Added Happy Easter sentiment in the inside of the card, with chambray ink.
Added glue foam tape to the back of the sentiment for the front of the card and attached it, then attached glue squares to a lot of the butterflies and attached them to the card. I added some Nuvo Drops and sequins and crystal drops to the front, then added ribbon under the banner on the front and made a bow.
My exhaustion has caught up to me once again. I didn’t think the last video that went up reflected it, but I got a call from Carol Held, a fellow YouTuber from Canada. She called me twice today while I was still asleep (and our ringer was turned off,) then again this afternoon. She said she watched my last video and I seemed like I might be ill. She said she was so concerned that she was going to call me until she spoke to someone, as she thought I must be coming down with something.
I really appreciate the comments I got on this blog when I talked about my health and feeling so tired. I am blessed to have supportive people in my corner.
So I added a commentary on the newest video that should go live tomorrow, as I had a hard time thinking and making cohesive sentences in that video. I don’t want others to be concerned, so told my viewers the whole story. It made me feel better telling them the truth, but still, I wish it wasn’t like this. I’m hoping that I start feeling more energized in the next few days. And luckily, you’ll be the first to know.
CraftingForAlmostEveryone.com 