Celadon Creations

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's off to work I go

I know I have been a bad girl and neglected you; I do hope you can forgive me.  I will be updating very soon. 

In the mean time, if you are in Colorado or planning to make a trip out this way and you like to scrapbook, you might want to check out a new store that will be opening up in May.  With so many stores closing their door's scrapbookers are loosing their coppin' spaces.  Well, Scrapbook Destination plans on changing that.  The new site will be located off of Holly and County Line Road in the King Soopers Shopping center.  The store will be large enough to hold crops and classes.  Please check out their progress and sign up on their mailing list  @  www.yourscrapbookdestination.com .

Also, if you have not signed up to be on the Creative Cuts and More mailing list, now is the time to do so.  They will be launching a new and improved website very soon, and rumor has it that those on the mailing list will be the first to know and may receive notice of a special promotion available only to those on the mailing list!  Very exciting!

And speaking of this, I better get back to work.  Much to do! 

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's off to work I go.  Hi- Ho-Hi-Ho

Isn't if funny?

Isn't it funny how life has a way of taking over?  The last week has been spent tending to the sick and injured. Every one has had some version of the flu and every thing from children to my car has been injured.  I got rear-ended in the snow that blew in mid-week.  My car actually did not fair to badly, as far as I can tell just the tail light was damaged.  The lady that hit me however, suffered far worse.  Her head light, hood and fender were all damaged.  The only bright spot in this is that it was not my fault and I did not get a ticket!  That is almost cause for celebration.

Now that everyone is on the mend, I can focus on stamping and card making again. And I need to stay focused for a while.  I have a ton of deadlines ahead of me.  Creative Cuts and More is about to launch it's new website and which means new assignments.  Soroptomist is having it's annual Bras for a Cause event in March.  And then there are just the usual need a card for this or that.  And speaking of this here is a card that I did last year for the SU! convention, but I think I will use it for an upcoming birthday. 

I used a Sahara Sand tag card from Creative Cuts and More, to which I added the recollections designer paper from Stampin' Up!.   I stamped the Bithday wishes from Sincere Salutations inside of the large frame from Finials and Frames.  The ribbon was created using markers to simulate the look of Stampin' Up!'s prep school ribbon from their ribbon originals line. 

I created a pocket on the inside of the card by wrapping the designer paper around the bottom half of the tag layer and then trimming with ribbon. I stamped the  top part of the tag with  white craft ink  and finest flourishes set.   I like the overall look of this card.  And despite hand coloring the ribbon the card is fairly easy to make.   

I am still giving away blog candy.  For more information on what I am giving away read my post from February 8th.  To have a chance to win all you need to do is  either  email me your comments or suscribe to my blog.  What could be simpler?

Hang in there, kid.

Ever have one of those days where you wake up expecting it to go one way and yet at every turn it goes the exact opposite?  Today is that day. My oldest, John, got up and was the first one dressed and was attempting to eat breakfast with tears streaming down his face.  When I asked him what was wrong he said he really did not feel well and felt as though he were about to be ill.  Back to bed he went. 

The other two were ushered off to school, and clients were called to move their appointments. I hate to miss work.  I really wanted to work, really I did.  I don't ever like to reschedule anything.  Just get it done and get it out of the way - that's my motto. But so be it.  Then half way through the day, the school nurse calls to say that my youngest is ill and she is recommending she come home.  This nurse is really practical and does not even call unless she truly believes it to be worthy.  So Hannah came home.

We had not even been home for 5 minutes and I only live 3 blocks from the school when the nurse was back on the phone. 
"Do you want another one?" she laughed.
"You got to be kidding?"
"This one fell.  And he is really hurt. Can you bring him some motrin?"
After seeing how swollen his knee was I decided that he needed more than just motrin.  He needed to elevate it.  So home came number three.  Me going to work today  was not in the cards, no matter what hand was dealt. Hmmnn. Oh, well. :/

So since I can't work on someone else's house, I decided to take a break from working on mine to show you a card created a while back that is so fitting of how I see this day.  Shaky at best.
 
"Hang in there"

"Wheh!"

Card was created using a fabric panel placed inside of shaker card die and filled with cut up die cut flowers and shrink plastic die cut flowers and micro beads.  It's been played with so much it got kinked in a couple of places, kinda like...today. The fact that it got played with so much just means that somebody really loved it. 

Hear ye, hear ye, Get the latest news here!

And what BIG news it is too!  Creative Cuts and More just acquired over 300 new dies!  Not to mention 2 new alphabets, 12 month banners, 8 borders, 4 large frames, 2 ensembles and much more!  I cannot wait to play with it all. It was like Christmas, and birthdays all rolled in to one at the shop today.  I wish I could have stayed and played! I wish you could see all the new and exciting shapes, but...

It will be a while before they make it on to the website, but not too long. Terry, the owner, has been busily working on adding new dies every day.  She is in the process of revamping her existing website so that as she acquires new product she can get it out there for you to see right away.  She is hoping to have the new site up very soon.  I know that you will want to know when this occurs, so be sure to sign up on her mailing list. 

Also, I might be teaching classes again very soon! This is very exciting as well.  I can't say too much now, but I will keep you posted as details emerge.  (I'm such a tease!)

I wanted to show a project that I did a while back.  I was playing with this purse die cut, and got to thinking about  beading it.  I love the look of beaded projects.  And to think, an entirely  beaded purse would be to die for!  And if you call Terry @ 303-840-1744 she will assist you in getting your die cut's covered in killer red tape.   This is a great way to do it.   The die arrives  with the tape on it cut to the shape of the die. Just peel away the red liner and apply the embellishment of your choice! What could be simpler? I ask you.

This purse was done as a favor to me.  They currently do not offer designer papers on the website but I had this purse run in Brenda Walton's designer papers covered in the killer red tape.  When Creative Cuts and More's new website is up and running they will be offering die cuts in BasicGrey papers!  I am so excited.  So many new things happening all at once.  It is a great time to be on CC&M's design team and get to have a first choice at all that they have to offer. And It gets better every day.

When looking at the ensemble that comes with this purse you might be a bit overwhelmed, however, rest assured it will make sense.  The purse is sold with a set of 4 clasps.  There are 2 sets of 2.  One for the inside and one for the outside.  You can determine which is which by laying them upon the purse and aligning them to the clasp. If you have your die cut run with the killer red tape, align before removing liner.  Trust me on this. *~*  Tip: The smooth rounded edge is the front of the die cut while the rougher raised edge is the back side. After you have determined which clasp goes where you will want to attach the outside clasps.  Do not remove the liner all the way.  Only pull it back enough to re-align the clasp and press in to place.  If stamping a sentiment in to the purse now is the time to do so.

Before going any further you will want to attach your handle.  The purse above has a eye-glass chain purchased at a local craft store.  However if you look at the purse below (further down in this post) you will see that a ball chain with a hoop attachment was used.  For instruction purposes I will be explaining attaching this type of handle.  You will punch a hole on opposite corners of your purse just large enough to support a brad.  So in other words with your purse laid face up, open and flat, punch a hole in the upper right hand corner and the bottom left hand corner.  You will want the hole centered up and down on the clasp.  Feed the tails of the brad through the ring on the hoop attachment and then from the front to the back of your clasp thru to the inside of the purse.  Open the tails up and then cover them with the remaining clasps.  To attach the inside clasps you can use what ever adhesive you prefer. 

Now lay the purse face up and opened up flat in a tray.  Remove the red liner and then pour micro beads over the entire surface.  Press beads in to place and use your fingers to smooth out the surface.  And voila you have a beaded purse.

As we all know microbeads are lovely, but they can cost a pretty penny too.  And if doing a class, this is not always economical.  So with this in mind, I decided to see how the purse would look covered in glitter.  And let me tell you it is absolutely stunning.  I much prefer the glitter to the beads.  It's very irridescent, lighter in weight, a little goes a  l-o-n-g  way, and therefore costs a lot less.  And by using the killer red tape the glitter is going to stay. I rubbed with a fair amount of pressure after shaking the loose glitter back in to the tray to remove any excess and did not leave a bald spot.  This is impressive.

Blog Candy:

In honor of the exciting things happening this month I will be giving away a little blog candy. The 23rd person to subscribe to my blog will recieve 5 free purse die cuts run in BasicGrey Paper and covered with Killer Red Tape.  The purse ensemble will also include 4 corrodinating clasps and 1 ball chain handle with 2 hoop attachments and 2 brads.

*Creative Cuts and More has several products not currently available on line, including but not limited to certain items mentioned within this post. Creative Cuts and More does not offer Brenda Walton Papers such as those shown. Custom orders with your own special papers are welcome. For more details of what is available or upcoming product promotions, please call the store directly @ 303-840-1744 or sign up on the mailing list @ www.creativecutsandmore.com

I simply adore acetate cards.  Maybe it is the clean cut look of it all.  For some reason they never seem cluttered or over done.  This is an A2 acetate card from Creative Cuts and More.

I really prefer using their acetate cards as opposed to cutting my own.  This is for two reasons: 1- I don't have to cut and score it.  It is done for me and the score is deep and straight.  Acetate has a tendency to slip when I try to score it. And 2 - The acetate used by CC&M is heavier than that which can be purchased at the office supply store, so I know that it will stand up.  It is not going to be flimsy and fall over. 

To make this card I inserted a smaller card in Bashful Blue on the inside of the acetate card and   attached a couple vellum stickers from DCWV to the front of the card.  Simple & Easy.

7 weeks and counting

Mom: "Hannah hand me that please."

Hannah: "Hand you what? I don't see anything."

Mom: "That. Right next to you"

Hannah: "What?"

Mom: "Open you eyes and l...ook.  (my eyes now rolling in my own head) Silly Goose, no wonder you can't see what I want"

Hannah: "Sorry." - said with a big smile.

I want sunshine and lots of it.  Lots and lots of it.  We have had our fair share of snow this winter, as in 7 staight weeks!  Those of you who have not been doing your fair share of winter driving, hop to it.  Come claim your share! There is plenty to go around. 

Since I can't see any flowers or green grass on the ground, I put some on a card.  I have several birthdays to celebrate this month, from friends to family.  And I personally think any of them would be delighted to receive this card.  Of course, I am a bit biased. 

The card is simple but not understated.  I think it has a bit of savior faire to it.  Yet, thanks to the saying on the cover from Stampin Up's! "It's your Birthday" set, I can't help but think of the Beatles.   So maybe I will give this to my mom or aunt.  They would understand it. Most of my friends are far too young, however.  If you just got that feeling of being old, don't worry, I got it too.

The card is actually made from the cover wrap for the 4X4 mini album from www.creativecutsandmore.com .  I traced around the scallops with a white gel pen and drew on dots.  Stamped the saying in Chocolate Chip ink on the Sage cover, then embossed "Happy Birthday" on the inside in detail white EP.  I placed a brad from SEI into a left-over silk flower and attached it with red-liner tape.  The ribbon is fed through the holes on the sage; the brads were inserted and opened on the back.  Then the Chocolate Chip back cover was attached, sandwiching the ribbon and brad tails inside.  I used a snap for a closure on this card. But I am not sure I would do it if I thought it would get played with a lot.  I had to sew one side on under the flower and the other side is glued and poked through the sage cs to the front of the card.  It's on there, but I am not sure it would last.  But it does keep the flap closed, so I am happy.

In search of Prince Charming

Once upon a time I used to pretend that I was a princess who at any moment was going to be swept away by prince charming and live happily ever after. What?  Didn't you play dress up when you were a little kid?  Well, I did, and when I played I also dug through my mother's jewelry box.  One item stood out from all the others. 


This necklace has always been a favorite of mine.  I have never had the opportunity to wear it out and about, partly because I have always felt that it needed to be worn with an evening gown. And I rarely have the opportunity to wear such attire. O.k. so I never have the chance but who's counting. Right? 

Today's style is a mix of high fashion and casual attire.  And thanks to this trend, I might actually get the opportunity to wear this little beauty out for a night on the town.  But I will need the right accessories to go with it.  This is where the little light bulb kicked on. I will need purse.  Something not too big; just large enough to hold my driver's license, some cash, lip balm and house key. What I needed was a clutch or evening bag.  And I knew just how I was going to get one to match.

I had taught a mini-album class a few months prior.  And we used cigar tins as the base of our project.  I had a stash of these left and thought that the size would be just perfect for what I had in mind.   And yes, my lip balm did fit inside!

I started by using my home-pro punch by American Tag to make a small hole on the front lip of the back cover about 1" in from the left and right side.  I threaded my string of beads through this hole followed by a brad.  I wrapped the cord around the open tail of the brads and then secured with a small amount of hot glue.  Next I lined the tin with metallic gold foil card stock which had been cut to size and had the corners rounded.  It looked good but, it needed something else on the inside.  I had just the perfect thing.  I had found these small scalloped edged mirrors at Micheal's in the scrap booking embellishments section and attached one of them with the red-liner tape from Creative Cut's and More.  The tape is strong enough to firmly hold the weight of the mirror in place. 

For the outside of the tin, I xyroned decorative paper to the front and back. Then applied several coats of a clear acrylic lacquer to give it a hard protective shell.  Then I wrapped the 1/4" red tape around the outer edges of the front of the tin and rolled in seed beads.  I made sure every available space was taken up by the beads. I wanted the seed beads to stay; so, what better way than to lacquer them too. As I applied the first coat of lacquer, disaster struck!  Remember the tape I used to adhere the beads with? Well, when it gets wet...it looses it's ability to adhere! (In case you didn't look at my profile pic, I am indeed blond!) As the beads started to slide from the tape so did the smile from my face.  I soon realized that if I put on a thin layer and propped the tin to keep the beads from sliding until the lacquer dried, I would be able to apply several other layers directly on top of the first until the beads were encased in lacquer.  And voila! I had a clutch to match my necklace. Now, to locate prince charming to complete the outfit.

I think the over all effect came out perfect; it's classy, compact and mine. :)

I, also, made this purse for a more casual daytime outing.  It's fresh and funky! And I L-O-V-E it!