Sunday, April 18, 2010

Butterfly Skies kit from Citrus Tree Studio is FABOO!!!

I really liked the April kit from Citrus Tree Studio ~Butterfly Skies. It is loaded with fun pp, embellies, and some of the faboo Smooch Spray. Trust me, I used to be a die hard Glimmer Mist gal, but after some bad Customer Service by Tattered Angels, and the chance to play with Smooch Spray, I have decided to switch loyalties. The Smooch Spray is so vivid! Go check out the Citrus Tree Studio April kits (2 for the month, hooray!), you will love them. Here are a few of my projects (the fun petal shaped envie and white cardstock card base are part of the kit) -





a few more cards -





I also used the kit to create my product spotlight (Canvas Home Basics 8 x 8 Stretched Canvas)-



I loved playing with that canvas!!! I used some gesso to paint a portion of the canvas. I wanted the fabulous Smooch Spray to really show up well, and be spatter-y looking and it worked out well. I also used some varigated floss I had in my stash to stitch out my title. Easy peasy to do on the natural canvas, it was like working on cross stitch fabric! So fun.

I have a few 12 x 12 layouts posted in the gallery too. This kit is loaded with fun stuff, you can create a lot of projects. I hope you check it out. As I mentioned, there is also an alternate kit for April, and it looks like it would be boatloads of fun to create with.

I am working on a few other projects this week for Zutter. One has taken me a long time to complete. It is a book for a friend's daughter, I hope she likes it. I tried some different things, and am pretty happy with it so far. Can't wait to show it to you all!

Well, that is about it for this week, I made a fun birthday badge last week, but didn't get pics, dang. I'll take some of the next one so I can share it with you though! I am playing some serious catch up from being gone all last week (a convention for work). I returned late last night, so it is time to get busy. :)

Wishing you a joyful and creative week ~ Pam

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Happy Easter!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter. We had a quiet family dinner on Friday, and the weather was beautiful. I took a lot of pics of my grandkids, and will be posting pics of projects soon. :) I have been playing with some kits for Citrus Tree Studio, and I have to tell you they are loaded with fun and fabulous scrappy goodness. Definitely feels like spring........... Can't share anything yet, but make sure you check out the mb tomorrow, as it is reveal day.

I do have two projects I can share that I did for the Zutter site for April. The first is a quote book -





I used journaling tags for the pages, and stamped on the flip side. There is a lot of room to write in favorite quotes now!



I also did another book for the Pediatric floor at work -







I also posted my project for the Altered Art Challenge on Challenge Masters, but I will share a picture with you here too-



I am using it to hold my copic markers -



It began life as this -



I definitely like it better in it's new life. :)

Well, I have a few other things to finish up this evening, so I better get to it. Hope you all have a creative and joyful week ~ Pam

Monday, March 29, 2010

Thanks for hopping with us! We have some winners!

First, the winner of the fabulous new Hang-It-Alls and the setter set (perfect for the Hang-It-Alls, I love my set) is -


Cher~ said...
First...the basket is adorably cute. Second, thank you so much for sharing your flowers and how you made them.


Cher, please email me your addie, and I will get it to Nan, our fearless leader of the Zutter Zisters. She will make sure it is shipped out to you. I'll send you a few flowers too. :)

Next, because there were so many lovely posts, I picked several other names out of a hat of peeps who either were, or signed up as followers on my blog, and who posted on the Blog Hop Thread below.

Here they are -

Rbarakat said...
I love all the flowers girlie! You have been a busy girl! Great projects!



Cathy said...
Wow! that was a lot of flower-makin' goodness all in one blog post! I'm now a follower and I'm bookmarking this post for future inspiration!!



michele hileman said...
I just love all the differant flowers they are so pretty and I just love the basket.


AnItA mArIe said...
"Wow" love all the flowers its spring at your house love the bunny basket cool as ...hugs Anita..



Nancy said...
Oh wow thank you so much for all the inspiration! I love all of your projects they are beautiful and so very creative! I would love to win some of your gorgeous flowers and tags! Thanks for sharing!


ellen s. said...
oh wow...so much awesomeness! i am sooooo glad i hopped!



Please email me your snail mail addies, and I will get a little goodie envie with flowers and tags sent out to you.

Thanks so much for hopping along with the Zutter Zisters everybody!!! I hope you enjoyed the hop, and found the flower making tutorial useful. Don't forget to check back for the tutorial on how to make the basket! :)

Have a fabulous week, and happy creating! ~ Pam

Thursday, March 25, 2010

WOOOO HOOOOO!!! Thanks for hopping with us on the Zutter Zisters Blog Hop!!! Welcome!

Hellllllllllllllllllllloooooooooooo everybody!!! Thanks so much for joining us on our Zutter Zister's Blog Hop!!! You know the procedure by now I am sure, but just to review, if you post on each of the blogs linked in the blog hop you have lots of chances to win some of the fab-u-looo-soooo new Hang-It-Alls, a lovely pink hammer, and setting tools from Zutter! How cool is that? Pretty stinkin' awesome I think (cause I love all of those things). :) Make sure you read all the way to the bottom of this post to hop to the next stop, which is Lynne! :)



Remember, the winners will be selected Monday March 29, 2009 after 7 pm (you can post till 7 pm EST March 29, 2010 to be eligible). PLUS, if you comment on this thread, AND sign up to be a follower of my blog, your name goes in a drawing for an extra little goodie pack from me. The goodie pack from me will include some of my flowers and tags! Here are a few pics of some of the flowers and tags that I make that might be in your goodie pack from me -





Or even some of these, (please excuse the creative mess) :) -



Winners will be announced on Tuesday March 30, 2010. :)

For my Spring Blog Hop project, besides using the oh-so-wonderful pink Bind-It-All, I used some of the white OWires, Gold Rivets, My Zutter Wire Cutters, my favo Zutter Pink Hammer, Pound It All, and Setting Tools, and the AWESOME Hang-It-Alls along with some odds and ends in my scrap stash! I will post complete step by step directions on how to create this little basket next week, so stay tuned. :)

OK, without further ado, here is my spring time project created for the spring blog hop -



Here is is with some "fillings" -



a view from the top -


from another side -



and yet another side -



a close up of the front, featuring the little hanging sign (used the oh-so-fun Hang-It-Alls, ya gotta try these!)-



I love to make flowers to use on different projects, especially projects I make with my Bind-It-All. They add so much dimension, and help finish off the project. I have also started to add some of the OWires to my flowers for an even different look -



It is super easy to do, just cut 5 rings of OWires ( I used 1/2" size), gently squeeze the rings closed, then flatten and stretch them in a flower shape, and add them to your flowers (directions on making layered flowers below)-





Here are a few directions on how I make some of my layered flowers -

First, gather either some flower shaped punches or dies, or just scalloped or circle shapped dies or punches. Use various sizes so you can have lots of lovely layers. You can also just handcut circles or flower shapes in graduated sizes if you don't have dies or punches. I like to use pages torn from old books (pick them up at Goodwill or rummage sales, great way to get older books at very reasonable prices), as well as assorted weights of cardstock or patterned paper. After I have a nice big pile of petals or shapes cut, I usually Glimmer Mist them a bit to add some sparkle. Sometimes I like to wad them up first so they are a bit softer to work with, and to add more demension. Depending on the look I want, I might also wait and fold the shapes a bit after I assemble the flowers. I find it is easier for me to make sure I have a nice large assortment of colors, shapes, and sizes to work with. I also love to add fabric or ribbon to the flowers.

Here is a pic of some f my layers in process -



Here is a picture of a little mini book I did where I wadded up the paper when I created my flowers -



It is easy peasy to make fabric and paper flowers. We will talk about those first. Find some fabric that you like. I find that small prints and monochromatic colors seem to work really well. I cut a little cut on one edge of the fabric, and then about an inch down, cut another slit. Then I tear the fabric into strips. The first strip or two might be really wacky size wise, just save it for another use. Once you have a nice strip about an inch wide, and torn on both sides, fold it into three pieces, and cut it. For instance, if you tear the fabric selvedge to selvedge(usually about 42" wide), you will fold the 42" into thirds, and cut. You should now have three pieces of fabric about 14" long.



Sew a long basting stitch ( use a machine if possible, it is so much faster), and pull the threads together when you are done. Use your own judgment as to how tight to pull the thread. If you make it a bit looser, your flower will be larger, tighter will be smaller. I usually knot the thread, and hot glue them and the ends together (faster to glue than to sew, but do what you like).





Next, layer some paper or cardstock flower layers on top of the fabric. You can also use ribbon flowers. (I make ribbon flowers the same way, just cut a length of ribbon, baste it, pull the threads together, and glue.) Feel free to mix fabric, cardstock or book page shapes with the ribbon, the more texture you add the more interesting your flower will be. You can glue all your layers together when you are happy with how they look. I like to take thin strips of fabric, twist it, and then glue the fabric in a circle to create a rose type shape. This is also fun and easy to do with ribbon.





I also love to make flowers and use the Zutter Rivets to hold them together. First I cut various cardstock shapes, and stack them up. Next I punch a hole in the center, using my lovely pink hammer, setting tools, and the faboo Pound It All. I have to say, I LOVE my little pink hammer!!! I also love the fact that the Pound It All has a foam bottom to protect and cushion my work surface.

Sometimes I use several of the same size flower shape or circle or scallop folded into fourths and stacked together to really get some dimension. This technique works with cardstock, patterened or book paper, or even tissue paper. The thickness of the paper will change the look and dimension of your petals.










Sometimes I also like to crease each petal just a wee bit after the flowers are assembled, or if I use layers of crepe paper, smoosh the layers up a wee bit. Here area few pics of flowers with smooshed or creased layers -







Here are a few additional assembly pics -














Once I have my rivet set, I can glue the paper flower to a fabric flower if I wish. The flower is nice and sturdy and won't fall apart now! If I want to change the look of the rivet, I simply use some Stickles to add a little sparkle.

Once you have created your flowers, feel free to add them to all your scrapbooking projects, and your altered art. They also make nice little embellies for headbands for little girls, or for package toppers!!! There are boatloads of ways to create beautiful flowers, so let your imagination run free.


After you finish here, it will be time to hop on over to Lynne's blog to check out what she has created. Make sure you go in order, and don't miss any stops! Remember, you could win some of the SUPER Hang-It-Alls, a pink Zutter hammer and setting tools on any of the participating blogs. Thanks again for hopping with us everybody!!! Happy Spring, and don't forget to check back for the winners! :)

Here is a list of the participants for the blog hop, make sure you check them all out. :)
Camilla Isaksson - Sweden
Linda Elbourne - UK
Fleur Smith - BC, Canada
Sophie Sim - Australia
Pam Sandy - Michigan, USA (this is me, thanks for stopping in!)
Lynne Forsythe - New Hampshire, USA
Sarah De Guzman - California, USA
Shelley Haganman - Iowa, USA
Nan Paturzo USA

Sunday, March 21, 2010

It's almost time for the Zutter Zister's DT Blog Hop! Are you excited? Cause I sure am............

I worked on several projects this weekend, as well as making more flowers. :) it was freezing cold here, so we couldn't work in the yard. That's OK, I was able to play in my scrap room, yippeee!!! Would you like to learn how to make some of the flowers that I am addicted to making? Some like these for instance?


Or how about some of the gazzillion other flowers I have been posting pics of lately? I will have several detailed flower making tutorials on my blog during the Zutter Zister's DT blog hop that starts Friday March 26th. Check out the blog hop deets here next Friday! You can also go to the Zutter Zisters Ning site for details.

I have a teensie little sneakie peek of the project that I will be featuring, shhhhhhhhhhhh, don't tell! Here it is .......



Would you like another little sneak peek? OK, here it is...................



Can't wait to show you the whole project! I had boatloads of fun creating it. Of course there will be fun prizes, and of course I will have a little extra prize on my blog too, I'll post deets on Friday. You know how I like to give stuff away! :) I sure hope you will join us, and post about it on your blogs and everything too. It's gonna be fun I tell ya!

OK, I can't share anything else today, everything else I have been working on is still under wraps. But I will post pics soon!

Have a fabulously happy and creative week everybody, and I will "see you" on Friday for the faboo Zutter Zisters Blog Hop!!! ~ Pam

How did I come up with Pam's Eclectic Stuff?

Pam- that is me. :)

eclectic --adj.- selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
*Since I like a huge variety of arts and mediums, this seemed perfect, we will talk about the best of various styles or ideas.

stuff- The noun stuff has 7 senses -
1. material, stuff -- (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object; "wheat is the stuff they use to make bread")2. whatchamacallit, stuff, whatsis, sundry, sundries -- (miscellaneous unspecified artifacts; "the trunk was full of stuff")3. stuff, clobber -- (informal terms for personal possessions; "did you take all your clobber?")4. stuff, stuff and nonsense, hooey, poppycock -- (senseless talk; "don't give me that stuff")5. stuff -- (unspecified qualities required to do or be something; "the stuff of heros"; "you don't have the stuff to be a United States Marine")6. stuff -- (information in some unspecified form; "it was stuff I had heard before"; "there's good stuff in that book")7. stuff -- (a critically important or characteristic component; "suspense is the very stuff of narrative")

*What more needs to be said? I really thought about using Pam's Eclectic Sundries, but I thought that might be tough to remember. :) Stuff is easy and conveys a variety of meanings. I like the definition- miscellaneous unspecified artifacts. I also liked whatchamacallit, but that is a lot of typing. :)

So there you have it!