http://samhailey.blogspot.com/ 

Time to get crafty, people!

Jan

I'm also excited to announce the return of the Monday Super Steal!  Today's special price will be good tomorrow, as well!  Get 50% off on my Flag Banners 2 set!

Have a wonderful Labor Day!  I hope you got the day off!

Jan

I really enjoyed my time off.  It was our last summer before my baby went to Kindergarten.  I know... Hailey in Kindergarten?  That's just crazy talk!  Alas, it is so.  Hailey started Kindergarten yesterday.  With darling Samantha in 3rd grade, it means I'm home all by my lonesome these days.  Well, not entirely true, I do have the world's cutest and tiniest dog, Bandit to keep me company.  He's keeping my lap warm right now, in fact.  Although, if he doesn't stop sticking his cold nose in the crook of my elbow, my lap might just get a bit cooler, very suddenly.

Even though I don't have any new designs to share with you today, I thought you might enjoy hearing about our first day of school.  At least, I know my Mom would like to.  Plus, there are pictures.

I have to spend a little time on my sweet Sam before I tell you all about Hailey's first day of Kindergarten.  Samantha started a new school this year, as well.  Our schools here are broken up into three or four grade blocks.  Since Sam is in the 3rd Grade now, she is heading to the Intermediate School.  Hard to believe she's that old now.  When she realized that I wouldn't be able to take her to her classroom on the first day of school like I always have, she was a little worried.  But we talked about how important it was for me to take Hailey for her first day of Kindergarten, and she realized she was going to have to be brave.  And she really was! 

We got there pretty early so I was able to get out of the car and give her a big hug goodbye there at the curb.  My only regret is that I didn't get a picture of her until she was inside the school grounds.  It looks a little stalkerish so I decided not to post it.

Both my girls were up early that day and dressed even before I dragged my sorry self out of bed at 5:45 am.  I'm glad they were so excited to go to school..  I'm not sure how long that will continue!

 After we dropped Samantha off at the Intermediate School we drove the block over to the Primary School.  It was so fun to take Hailey into school.  When Samantha started Kindergarten she was pretty shy and reserved.  Hailey was just super excited, ready to run off to the playground. 

She was anxious to be the first one to the classroom and just had to be the first in line.  When it came time to say goodbye, she didn't even blink... see ya, Mom!  That girl is totally ready for school.

It was fun to get them both off the bus in the afternoon. 

They both had such a wonderful day! Samantha already had homework, so she settled right down to get it done.  Hailey was obviously exhausted.  I laid down with her for a few minutes and she was out like a light!

I think this picture says it all! 

It was a great first day of school. But, that means it's time for me to get back to work.  

Time to get crafty, people!

Jan

Well, I must say that Customer Appreciation Days on Paperthreads has been a blast!  I had so much fun hosting Bingo this weekend.  Congratulations to Kelly who called bingo about an hour ago!  I've decided that I'll be re-posting all the inspiration about Trendy Tools and Techniques here on my blog over the next few weeks.  Why let all that research languish away in an old Bingo thread?  

I had a Make-N-Take in my head for the past two weeks.  It was just rolling around in there and I had to get it out!  Finally I was able to complete the project today and post it on the forum for you.  Click on this link to go to the Make-N-Take posting to sign up.

This project is a mini album made from a file folder. You could use a real file folder for the project, or cut and assemble your own from my cutting file. The design also includes overlays for the different sections, a tab for the folder, and tags for photos and/or journaling. Full color instructions are included.

 Note: My sample has a cutout on one of the sections. I didn't include that in the file because I wanted you to have the flexibility to add a cutout shape of your own.

I want to encourage you to actually make this project, so here's a little challenge:

1. Sign up on the thread in the forum by Friday, February 25th, and I'll send you a link via private message on the forum to download the file.
2. Complete this project and post it to the Make-n-Take section of the gallery by Monday, February 28th.
3. Include at least one design from the Paperthreads Store (can be purchased or a freebie).
4. Every person who posts an entry will receive their choice of my new Flag Banners files!

 I just finished up these Flag Banners to use as a prize in the Bingo game.  I thought they turned out so well that I'd offer them to the Make-n-Take-ers, too!

Now you'll get two free files - The File Folder Mini Album and your choice of the above Flag Banners just for participating! Join up!

One last thing!  I've extended my Customer Appreciation 50% Off Sale through Tomorrow Night, 2/22!  Take a peek around!

Time to get crafty, people!

Jan

Have you seen all the paper Rosettes all over the place?  I've seen them on several big name craft supply sites.  Don't bother spending money on them!  Make them yourself with my Rosette Fold Flowers files and this tutorial.  Most of the die cuts I've seen to make these flowers are made by pleating a long strip of paper.  I think that my method of using a pleated circle is much much easier.  I hope you'll agree!  Be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom to get the download to go with this tutorial.  It will be available through Midnight Monday, February 21st.

Materials:
Rosette Fold Flowers 1 (download below for a limited time) or
Rosette Fold Flowers 2 (available in the Paperthreads Store)
Lightweight Decorative Paper
Hot Melt or Fast Drying Liquid Glue (I use hot glue but if you're concerned about the acid content, be sure to check your label.  A fast setting wet glue would also work well.
Buttons or other embellishments for center

1. Cut out desired flower shapes. Be sure to set the red lines to dashed before cutting
2. Save the center of the flower, it will be used during the assembly.

3. Work on the back side or lighter side of your paper. It's easier to see the dashed lines.

4. Fold the flower like and accordion, alternating mountain and valley folds.
5. As you work around the flower pinch the center yightly gathering up as much of the flower as you can at once.

6. Continue gathering the flower until all the pleats have been tightly creaseed.
7. Skip this step for a loosely gathered flower. For a tightly gathered flower: Lay the flower flat on your work surface and gently gather the flower to the center by pressing in on the sides. Release the flower (you'll gather it back up again in a moment).

8. You'll now use the center of the flower you cut out as a base to attach the flower to. Apply a bead of glue in the center of the base circle. If making a tightly gathered flower, this bead will be about the size of a dime. If making a loosely gathered flower, this bead will need to be just larger than the opening in the middle of your flower.


9. Lay the flower over the top of the base. For a tightly gathered flower, draw the sides fo the flower in to the center again. Hold until glue is set.

10. Repeat above steps for each subesquent layer of your flower.


11. Apply a bead of glue inbetween each layer of your flower to attach them together.
12. Add buttons, beads, brads or a cutout flower center over the top of the center of your flower.


13. Embellish further as desired.

I just love how these look!  They would be great for scrapbooking, cards, or even home decor.  I'm thinking they'd be really cute pencil toppers or even cupcake toppers on a toothpick!

Okay, here's the download for this weekend!  Please remember that by clicking to download, you are agreeing to abide by my terms of use.  It's included in each download.  If you have any questions about it, please contact me!  If you'd like to share this with a friend, please send them a link here to my blog.  Please don't share this file without my permission.

Before you go on in the Blog Hop list, please support independent scrapbook artists by checking out the designs in the Paperthreads Store.  Most of us are having big sales this weekend to say thank you to all of our loyal customers.  You rock! You'll find all my designs AND collections on sale for 50% off this weekend through Monda, February 21st at Midnight US Eastern Time.  If you'd like to see all my recent additions to the store, click here.  If you want to see the whole shebang, click here!  Happy Customer Apprication Days!

Happy Blog Hopping!  Here is a list of the other Paperthreads Blogs participating in this weekend's Blog Hop.  If you find one that wasn't quite ready with their blog post, be sure to check back later!

Accents by Eddita

Diana's Designs

I Scrap Designs 

Time to get crafty, people!

Jan 

This is a special Customer Appreciation Edition of Bingo.  You'll need to go to the forum (click on the Bingo image to go there), read the rules, and then submit your words.  Your word list is due in by Friday at Midnight.  I'll start calling words on Saturday.  This is also a Ligtning Fast Edition of Bingo.  The final word will be called on Monday, so you an imagine that the words will be coming fast and furious all weekend long.

Our theme for Customer Appreciaion Days this year is "Trendy Tools and Techniques".  Did I say "Days"?  Yes, I did!  What used to be Customer Appreciation Day has expanded to take up the whole weekend.  Why not?  There will be a lot of fun challenges, games and prizes on the forum all weekend long, so be sure to check it out.  

But I digress (as usual)... back to Bingo.  Our theme for Bingo will also be "Trendy Tools and Techniques," of course.  I've scoured cyberspace for the hottest trends from CHA and beyond.  As I call the words (or phrases), I'll be posting links to inspiration on the forum and throughout the internet. 

Along the way, I'll be having some "First-To" challenges.  If you've got a project that goes along with the topic of the word or phrase called, be the first to post it in the Paperthreads Gallery and you'll win a prize!  At the end, everyone that posted a project to the "First-Tos," whether they won or not, will be entered in a drawing for a special prize.

THIS JUST IN:  You'll also recieve my "Background Cuts - Rounded Rectangle" design just for signing up!  As soon as I receive your Bingo list, I'll email you the design right back!  You could use it today!

So come along and join the fun!  You'll have fun, win prizes, and get inspired at the same time!

Time to get crafty, people!

Jan

It's a good thing for my kids keeping me on track.  Last year I drew a really cute Digital Stamp for Samantha's valentines.  This year she wanted me to draw one again for her.   How can you say no when you child actually wants to make homemade valentines and you are a paper crafter?  Some day she might not think it's so cool, so I've to to take the opportunities now.  Last year's stamp was my first ever attempt at creating a digital stamp.  I like it a lot for my first attempt.  I've learned a few things since then but probably have a long way to go in the stamp department.

This year's stamp creation started the same way.  I took a picture of Samantha that I really liked.  And drew the face and body based on that picture as accurately as I could.  That's when I chose to deviate from reality and make her into a fairy.  I added some flowing hair, a wand, a wispy skirt, a pocket full of hearts, and, of course, some dainty wings.  Despite the departure from reality the stamp took, I think it overal is much more realistic than last year's attempt.  I almost forgot to add a sentiment, but I decided at the last minute to include "May all your Valentine wishes come true!" as the perfect saying.  It's maybe a tad bit frou-frou-y for my true tastes, but I was making it for my extremely frou-frou-y daughter so it was just perfect in the end.  She took one look at it and said, "Oh, Mom! Look at the freckles... it really IS me!"

The downside to this?  I'll probably have to do it again next year.  Okay, that's not really a downside since I enjoyed creating it for her.  But next year, Hailey will be in Kindergarten and I can bet you she won't be content to use a Samantha Valentine and will want a Hailey Valentine of her own. Hmm... the upside is that Hailey will be in Kindergarten next year... enough said!

I thought you might have a frou-frou-y person that would enjoy this little stamp as much as my girl did.  This download will be available until Midnight, Tuesday, February 15th.  After that, you'll find it in the Paperthreads Store.  It is covered by my standard copyright and terms of use, so please make sure you are willing to abide by it before you download it.  Basically, no sharing and no selling without my permission.  Pretty please!  You can read all about it in the terms of use file included in the download.  

I should also mention that this download comes with matching cutting files to cut out different portions of the stamp.  You can then layer them on top of each other for a fun dimensional look.  Be sure to get the correct file type for your cutter when you download.  If you don't have a digital cutter, just download any of them and ignore the cutting file folder!

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!  Victor and I celebrated with lunch on Saturday because it's just too hard to go out to dinner on Valentine's Day and actually be seated in a reasonable amount of time.  I was lovely weather in Tucson so we went to the Olive Garden and sat on the patio.  Having a nice relaxing lunch on a Saturday afternoon was just what we needed.  We barely even talked about the kids.  It's comforting to know we still have other things to talk about. 

We then went to two home improvement stores looking for PVC pipe fittings.  We need to repair our irrigation pipes that froze and burst week before last during the big unexpected deep freeze we got.  Did I mention I live in Arizona?  It definitely felt like we'd been transported back to New England for a few days.  Strangeness all around.  Alas, everyone else's pipes broke, too, and there wasn't a pipe fitting to be found in any store.  So, now I know what we'll be doing next weekend!  We did get to look at materials for the garden boxes we'll be putting in soon so the trip wasn't wasted.  Plus, we were on our own and it was fun to be together and not have to wrangle wiggly kids, whiny kids, or kids who have to go to the bathroom in the middle of Home Depot. 

It was a fantastic day spent with my wonderful hubby.  He never reads my blog so he probably won't see this and blush or anything.  Of course, if I wrote more regularly, he'd probably read it, so it's my own fault.  

Well, before I go, I'd better let you know that next weekend is "Customer Appreciation Days" at Paperthreads!  It's our annual weekend of fun and games plus big time sales across the store.  You won't want to miss it so put it on your calendars!  From Saturday through Monday (2/19-2/21) all my designs and collections will be 50% off in the store!  Yippee!  Plus, on the forum there will be PRIZES PRIZES PRIZES!  I'll be hosting a lightning round of Bingo starting up on Saturday and ending on Monday.  I can't wait!  See you there!

Time to get crafty, people!

Jan

Time to get crafty, people!

Jan

In that spirit, today I have a project for you that is all of those things.  I used some scraps of vinyl to embellish a simple purchased journal.  I think it is just lovely, if I do say so myself.  The whole project took me less than an hour to complete.  I made two, the first a trial run with a small Moleskine notebook that I already had.  I use it to keep all kinds of notes and ideas in.  I also made one for Samantha.  She's just about the right age to start keeping a journal... at least I hope so.  I know she'll love it because she saw the one I made for myself and oooh'd and ahhh'd over it.  The vinyl I used was part of a pack of remnants I got when I purchased my KNK Maxx electronic die cut machine a couple of years ago.  They threw a roll of vinyl strips in the box for me to play with.  I liked using them because a) they are permanent vinyl - good for a book you'll be handling - b) they are sparkly and shiny, and c) they were free.  It makes me happy to use free stuff in my projects.  I feel extra frugal that way.  The book I used for Samantha's journal was one I had purchased a while back at a local discount store.  It's a little bigger than my black Moleskine but better for a younger child to use.  It set me back less than $5.00.  I've included the whole tutorial here for you.  Make sure you read to the end so you can pick up my Swirly Style Circles 1 digital cutting design.  It will be free on my blog for a limited time. 

Quick and Easy Vinyl Embellished Journals

Materials:

Notebook
Vinyl scraps
Transfer tape (clear contact paper works great for this project)
Tape measure or ruler

Instructions:

1. Measure your notebook to get the width and height of the cover.

2.  Open your cutting or designing software and the design you plan to cut.  In this example we have two swirly circles layered on top of each other.  I welded a letter in the center of the circle I planned to have on the bottom layer.

3.  Draw a rectangle the size of your journal's cover.

4.  Move your cutting design over the top of the rectangle and size to fit.  It's okay if it runs off the sides a bit or even quite a bit.  You'll just wrap those parts around the journal.  You should, however, make sure your focal point fits well within the limits of the rectangle.

5.  Cut your two pieces from two different colored vinyls.  Weed the vinyl so that only the finished design is left on the backing.

A note on using vinyl scraps:  Since you are trying to use a little bit of vinyl, before you cut, rotate your design until it takes up the smallest horizontal space.  You'll save vinyl that way!  One more thing, so what if the design you are going to cut doesn't fit on your scraps?  You can do what I did for the pink journal at the bottom of this tutuorial.  I used the "Ginsu Knife" tool in the KNK Studio software to cut my design in two.  Then using the clear transfer tape I was able to line them up just right on the cover. Okay, back to your regularly scheulded tutorial.

6.  Use your transfer tape to transfer and apply your first layer to your journal.  

7.  Wrap and ovehanging parts to the back of the journal or inside the front cover.

 8.  Remove the tranfer tape, leaving the vinyl behind.  Rub it with your finger to make sure all the parts adhered well.

 9.  Repeat the proecess for your second layer of vinyl.  This is why clear contact paper works so well for this.  You can really see where your second layer is going.

 10.  Wrap around any overhaning parts again.  Remove the transfer tape, and voila!  You are done!

This pink and green one is Samantha's.  The pictures don't really do it justice. The grey is the same silver sparkle vinyl as above and the green is shiny outdoor vinyl.  I think she's going to love it!

Sorry! This download has expired!  You can find this design in the Paperthreads Store today!

That's it!  What are you still doing here?  Time to get crafty, people!

Jan

Every year we like to make all kinds of Christmas treats and goodies and take them to our friends and neighbors.  One of my favorite things to make is good old fashioned fudge.  It's dangerous for me to make it becuase we end up eating as much as we give away!  I like the classic  "Marshmallow Fluff" fudge recipe.  I also enjoy looking for new cookie recipes and trying them out on my unsuspecting friends and neighbors.  

Today's project really involves two really great ideas. 

The first is - not a surprise - homemade fudge.  I've created a cutting design for a classic 1/2 Pound Candy Box.  I call it a fudge box because it's the size you get at the country store when you get 1/2 pound of fudge.  You can fill your candy box with anything you like to make!  It's a fun way to show you are thinking of someone at the holidays. This box is super easy to make and the download includes a two-piece version for smaller format cutters.

The second project is a more involved project but it's so gorgeous that I know you're going to want to make one!  I call these Flower Balls but they are really called Kusudama Balls.  They are a traditional Japanese origami taken a step further like modular origami.  You make a bunch of the individual flower petals and then glue them together to form the flowers like these.

Then you take those flowers and glue them together to form the ball. This is actually quite a versatile project. I made a Half Ball to top my Fudge Box with (above).  Doesn't it look gorgeous?  You can make a whole Flower Ball Ornament like the one below.

I've used the single flower for the most beautiful cupcake toppers.  Just dab a little glue on the end of a toothpick, poke it into the end of the flower then top your cupcakes with them!  Combine them with a cute Cupcake Wrapper and you'll have a very elegant cupcake display. I made these below for Samantha's birthday party last year. Since I wasn't putting them together in a ball - and I was short on time - I only used four petals in each flower.  I even made some "buds" by using just one petal.  Aren't they beautiful!

Folding these flowers does take some time, but like any project where you make a lot of the same thing over and over, pretty soon you'll be making them in your sleep.  It's a good thing to work on while watching a movie.  

To make these Flower Ball, I've created a cutting design called "Star Fold Flowers" that will cut out the squares and score dashed lines for each of your folding lines.  It really takes all the thinking out of folding them up.  Less Thinking = Faster!  Now, I have to say that you DO NOT need a cutting file to make these.  It just makes it a lot Lot LOT easier if you do!  You can search on the net for Kusudama tutorials if you don't have a cutter or missed the free download.  A really great tutorial can be found at the Folding Trees website.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Just a quick note to let you know I'm having a sale!  For the first time I'm having a 60% off sale.  And not just for one day, either!  This Thursday and Friday, all my designs and collections will be 60% off!  That's Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday here in the States for my overseas customers.  Just in case you miss it, Saturday and Sunday everything will be 40% off.  Still a good deal, especially if you shop the collections!  So, get your list made today for the big sale!

Time to get crafty, People!

Jan