Hi Hi Crafty Friends!

Are you ready for a giveaway from Craftwell [makers of the Matless eCraft cutter]!?

They’ve asked me to host this Exciting hop and giveaway —>keep reading for the scoop….and how YOU could WIN—>This is HUGE!

Valentine’s Day has always been close to my heart.  It’s the time of year brings back memories of when my kids grew up and I had flowers and a balloon delivered to each one of their schools.  As they got older the same flowers and balloon were delivered to Colleges and apartments and now I have Two kids left at home, I still get to have them delivered….ahhhhh memories.   Now,  I even get flowers and balloons delivered to me by the older kids [insert Big Fluffy warm Fuzzies in my heart here]!

Also, Valentine’s the day  of  ’Love’! haha  Hubby proposed on this day 19yrs ago and 10 years later we were married on the same day!  Which brings me to the project I did for this hop, today. 

I made my DH’s Valentine Anniversary Card.  All done with our flowers [which just happened to be His favorite football team colors-the Vikings]!  Anyway, where was I?  Ah, yes!  Back to the ‘romantic’ parts.   Our flowers are Yellow Rose [the first flower he ever gave me in 1992] and lavender Hydrangeas [signifies the northwest coast were we met and love].   Ok, enough of the sappy stuff and onto a tutorial so you can make your own sappy stuff card…haha.

[[All the Photos can be Enlarged by Clicking on them, at any time]]!

The Card: Amore-a Valentine Anniversary Card

 
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The Ingredients:

eCraft Electronic Die Cutter by Craftwell
Blockheads Stamps [Love and Hearts Collection]
SVGcuts Freebie File [Scallops Dies]
Sizzix Big Shot
Spellbinders Nestabilities [Labels Eighteen]
Tim Holtz Distress Ink [Forest Moss]
My Paper Studio [Hobby Lobby- Hearts]
American Crafts Cardstock [White]
Hydrangea and Leaf SVGs by KimberlyRae <—My Gift to You!
Portfolio Watercolor Paints [Cadmium Yellow, Mauve, Sap Green, Chinese White]
Paint brushes [#2 , #5 and 2"]
Scotch ATG
Memento Ink Pad [Tux Black]
Coffee Filters [#4]
Toothpick
May Arts Ribbon
Zots 3D
RibbonFX [String of Pearls]
Sewing machine [straight stitch]
Black Thread
Hot glue gun

The Tutorial:

1.  Prep Cardstock- Paint two-12×12  pieces of white cardstock .  One lavender and one yellow, with your 2″ brush.  Let Dry.

2.  Cut two pieces- 12×6 [yellow], 5×5 [lavender].  For card base [yellow], turn paper over and mark with a ruler 6″ up [on both sides of paper] Line your mark up with the cutting mark on the eCraft and with eCraft on the main menu screen press ‘cut’ for 3 seconds and the eCraft will cut the paper in half [no trimmer needed].  This will cut the paper in half, measuring 12×6″ [card base].  Repeat with the lavendar paper cutting 5″ up and then turn and mark another 5″ for a 5×5″square.
 

3. Turn card base inside out and Emboss [coming soon--->the eBosser by Craftwell]with the hearts folder the entire yellow card base and ink around the edges.

4. Stamp ‘Amore’ in Right hand upper corner.

5.  Then, adhere the 5×5 piece to the front of the card [only in the middle] and stitch around the square.

6.  Stamp a piece of the yellow painted cardstock with the Text Stamp from Blockheads Stamps Love and Hearts Collection and  using die cut machine [eBosser by Craftwell coming soon-debuts at CHA 2012] and using second to the largest Spellbinders ‘Labels’ Die, Cut out your stamp and ink the edges.  Adhere with a zot on each side.

7.  Decorate with Roses and Hydrangeas: 
For the rose, place one coffee filter on a cardstock stabilizer-as shown.

8. Line the filter up to the first point closet to you with the cutting line.

9. From your software hit cut [this is where you want the SVGcuts Freebie Svg Scallop File].
The eCraft cuts through Two-layers of coffee filter at the same time and it will look like this…

10. Take one scallop and cut close to the petals and the other one cut a bit farther away to leave a lip, like this:
 
11.  Start with thinner scallop and using toothpick wind a bit so to keep hold of it and wind with fingers to the end-let it spring out a bit but keeping the middle tight.  Adhere with a dot of hot glue. 

12.  Using toothpick curl down petals one at a time.  With the toothpick start the large scallop and wind with your fingers around the first scallop, adhere with a dot of hot glue. 

13. From there, using #5 brush and painting inside to outside-paint yellow and using #2 brush paint in undiluted yellow and the tops of the petals and set aside to dry. 

14.   Cut your Hydreangea petals and leaf petals in the same manner as you did with the rose. They will look like this…
 
15.  Then paint the hydreangeas and leaf petals and let dry
 
16.  To form Hydreangea place one petal on the other in a crisscross ‘x’.  Adhere with a dot of hot glue.  Pinch edges of the petals and glue a pearl in the middle, to finish it off!  Prettiness, right?  

17. To form the leaf fold in half and squish with your fingers, a bit.  They will look like this:
 

That’s it!  It’s Easier then it sounds.  Once you get going you won’t want to stop…it’s addicting!

Now!   The moment you’ve been waiting for is Here! Ya, that was a Long post..but was it worth it?   Please, Comment and let me know if you liked the tutorial was helpful for you, ok.

While the Cat’s Away, the Mice will play—>THE GIVEAWAY!

While the big cats are working away at the Winter 2012 CHA show, we will play and WIN BIG!

How big, you ask?!

BIG, BIG.

As in

HUGE!!!

 Come and hop with us, and fall in love with beautiful projects inspired by love & valentines.

There will be giveaways along the way, so jump don’t skip!

End on our blog to find out what the big cheese..er PRIZE is!  

 The Fun Starts Here and lasts all week! [winner will be announced on Saturday on the last link].

KimberlyRae Forde- http://kreationsbykimberlyrae.com/blog  <—YOU’RE HERE

Lyssa Zimmerman- http://lyssa-beth.blogspot.com/ <—Your Next Stop!

Raven Baca- http://love4stamps.blogspot.com/

Lois Hale- http://auntielolocrafts.blogspot.com/

Jennifer McCrae- http://www.firestormdesigns.com/

Debi Tullier- http://fabric-ecraft.blogspot.com/

Denise O’Connor- http://purplepaperparadise.blogspot.com/

—>Designer of the Day   End here!

 What do you have to do:
Comment on Every blog above, for chance to WIN!

Thank you for stopping by and let me know if you have any questions and good luck  :)

 Hugs and Blessings,

So, my baby girl turned 25 yo last Friday [sniff sniff] and her man got together a surprise birthday party! After singing happy birthday song he got down on one knee and proposed right there! Oh she said Yes! haha We now will have another son and one glowing daughter!
 
     

 Some of her gifts, I made included this birthday card [check out that rock..it's a beauty isn't it]! lol
I made the card with SVGcuts.com ‘Everyday Cards’ kit and Basic Grey ‘Lime Ricky’  Paper kit.   She adored the all the cutsie birds in this kit…they are on the inside of the kit, too.

and
I made her a ‘Love’ Album- Perfect for a proposal and valentines coming up, don’t you think? She loves it! I kept it ‘light’ so she can embellish and put her own photos in it   Made from SVGcuts.com ‘Love Me Do’ kit and Echo Park Paper ‘Yours Truly’ Paper Kit.

and
her favorite colors blue and brown coffee filter bouquet of Roses!

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These Darlings were made from coffee filters and my watercolor paints.  Love the way they turned out.  Tutorial is from Martha Stewart and I plan on making a lot more of these.  They were so Fun and Easy to create. 

That’s what I’ve been up to over the weekend-I’ll be back and show you what I’ve been up this super bowl week!

Thank you for visiting us and leaving your comments!

Hugs and Blessings,

Hi Hi Crafty Ladies,      [looking for the Blockheads Stamps GIVE AWAY it's Here hurry it Ends, tonight]!

Today, was some fun family time, in the Forde’s Funny Farm artroom…while my DH was giving oil painting instruction to our 16yo and 8yo, I made this paper necklace.

 The stamp is from Blockheads Paper Arts Stamps, Love and Hearts Collection.

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Madallion: I stamped the  Blockheads Heart stamp [from the Love and Hearts collection] on 110# copic marker paper with Memento Tux, 10x.  Cut out and Cut one of black card stock, for the backing.   Then, punched a hole keeping the top heart and lining it up with the other 9 hearts.   Glued all the layers together with glossy mod podge, colored the sides and  painted it all over with the mod podge.   Then, after dried,  I used my son’s dremel and sanded all around the edge of the heart.

Paper Beads:  I used a toothpick to roll up the paper beads 1/4″, 1/2″ and 1″ size beads and painted with glossy mod podge. Keep the bead on the toothpick and stick into an

 A lil sheer ribbon and some findings and that’s it! Easy peasy!

Thanks for stoppin’ by and leaving me a comment to let me know you’re out there [and you know how much I like your comments]

Hugs and Blessings,

Winners Announced at the End of this post!

Hi Hi Crafty Ladies

Oh yes! I’m lovin’ my Blockheads Stamps and today, is a day I’ve been waiting for!    I’ve had the idea for small stamped bags for a while and Now, finally, they are made and I’m lov’em,  do you?   They are easy peasy to make and so totally fantastical to give [keep reading to the end for a Fun Giveaway] that special trim, lace or other lil goodies,  to a friend.  I’ll be making more of these, for sure!

I can’t say more [yes, I can! ha] about Blockheads Stamps over at Blockheads Paper Arts! Their quality rubber and designs are so clean and detailed- they are simply A-M-A-Z-I-N-G on many mediums, such as FABRIC, as used in my project below. 

The Stamps:  Years Ago and Whimsical – Faerie Wings

My Project: [CLICK on photo for LARGER View]

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Now for the GIVEAWAY and it’s a doozey—>keep reading, Ladies!

All you have to do is Like BLOCKHEADS PAPER ARTS [Click] on Face book for a chance to WIN a stamp set valued at $15.  Just click the Like button to the left.  They’ll give out 1 stamp set for every 15 people that like us this weekend.  If 60 new people like us weekend, they’ll give out four prizes. 

Just click the Like button to the left, once you’re on the Blockheads Paper Arts site.

If you’re a lucky winner, select either a 4″ x 5″ set on cling or an 8″ x 5″ of untrimmed rubber.  See our 4×5 Sheets here.  See our 8×5 sheets here.

Click here to view our 8×5 sheets

 Click here to view our 4×5 sheets

Wow!  Awesome Giveaway, Right!  Run on over to Blockheads Paper Arts, then come back here and tell me you ‘Liked’ them in the comments below to WIN one of my Stamped Fabric Mini Bags.   For an EXTRA chance-SHARE  Blockheads Paper Arts on your facebook wall and come back here and let me know you  shared.  Then, I will come back Monday and choose a Two Winners.

Thanks  for stoppin’ by and good luck!

Hugs and Blessings,

Winners Announced! Go here to see Winners of the Blockheads Stamp Sets!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

1
8

Timestamp: 2012-01-27 03:20:24 UTC

Winners of My Mini Bag Give away are:

Janet [1]

and

Theresa Neubaum [8]

Congratulations, Ladies!

Please, send email me your addresses and I will get out your prize asap!

Hi Hi, Crafty Ladies [and Gents]~ is it snowing where you are? IT finally hit here, in a BIG way!

So you know it, poor me all cooped up in the artroom…HAHA!

I’ve been meaning to get a ‘Thank You’ card to a sweet friend of the family. She’s always there when I need her most to pick up my second grader from school [yep, you know who you are] and Vero  if you’re reading this Surprise! hehee  Hope you love it, in your favorite colors Pink and Black, too.

I used SVGcuts ‘Thanks’ SVG Freebie Blog cutting file, worked perfect for the sentiment and Cut with my eCraft by Craftwell [very detailed cut at 2.5"x1"]! 

 And all done up with Blockheads Stamps from Blockheads Paper Arts!  I used the Whimsical-Faerie Wings Collection with the large musical fareie and the 123 Backgrounds-Butterflies for my card background and and butterflies. This one is on sale for just $5.00!  Runnnnn, Ladies!

It’s Amazing how well these Outstanding stamps take to the Canvas…such fantastic demension and artsy feel. 

Make sure to stop back by- Blockheads Paper Arts will have a giveaway.  In addition, so will I. 

Stay tuned….Details coming Friday!

Hugs and Blessings,

Hi Hi!

Today, is my first-time to post as a ‘Blockhead’!   

As some of you know, I was asked to Guest Design over at Blockheads Paper Arts.  If you haven’t made it over there yet…Run!  Oh My Gosh Golly…you will be Amazed and Dazzled by just an extrodinary amount of  Unique stamps and all kinds of yumminess to go along with any of your projects! 

I used the whimsical heart stamp from the ‘Love and Hearts’ Collection and I’m so Impressed by the quality and clean stamp!

My Project ::Love Song:: A 3D Piano and Keyboard Bench Gift Box

[CLICK on the Photos for a Larger View]

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I used the Heart stamp on-top of the piano.
 

The Heart-shaped Piano and  keyboard were created with SVGcuts ‘Love Me Do’ SVG kit and Echo Park Paper Company ‘Yours Truly’ paper kit; was Perfect to form the faux keys    Inside is lined [top and bottom] with paper embossed with my Big Shot and I used the  ’Damask Set’ embossing folder by Sizzix.  As well is the paper mat under heart stamp.  

Also, to make it a Musical Box I got a musical card and took the button out of that.  Love it!

The Piano body and the top stand is made with SVGcuts ‘Green Room’ SVG Kit [pool cue stick and pool table].  Also, the Keyboard bench gift box is made with the pool table file.
  

She measures 2.5″ tall and 5″ wide and everything was cut with my only electronic cutter the eCraft by Craftwell, including the piano and bench trims.   The crochet heart is crochet by me and I love to give these as gifts.  They really add to any project. 

Here’s the recipe for it:
I used a Size ‘G’ hook/4.00mm and Doodle Bug Design Inc. ‘Valentine’ Twine [This Twine is absolutely Perfect...sturdy but soft and works up so well] Love it so much!!

Ok, to Start out CHAIN 4 and Treble/triple crochet 3 in the First Chain [all your stiches will be in this first chain], then double crochet 3, Triple Crochet1 [point of your heart], double crochet3, triple crochet 3, chain3, slip knot.  bling in the middle and you’re done.  It’s that easy

Thanks for stoppin’ by, I always enjoy your questions and comments.

Hugs and Blessings,

HiHi Crafty friends!

A few weeks ago, Craftwell asked me to be their Guest Designer and I can ‘finally’ shout it to the world and share my project…WooT!
I’m super excited and honored Craftwell, makers of the eCraft electronic cutting machine also wants to Feature my handmade paper goodies:)

As some of you know, me and my husband we were married on Valentine’s Day   
So, I thought it would be fitting to make this All Paper dress form-oh ya this baby might just rock the Parisian world! haha  I had so much fun making her and hope you do, too!  Yep, that’s right, included is a tutorial so you can make your very own.

So, here she is,  My Valentine Bride dress form all cut with my eCraft by Craftwell. 
As a Professional Textile Artist, I’m used to larger dress forms.  My lil doll only stands 9 1/2″ tall from top of the crown to the bottom of the stand and Everything is handmade by me,  including the wire stand, paper heart lace,  flowers and hearts.  I’m very happy with the way she turned out.  

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More Details:
[CLICK on each Photo for a LARGER View]

What  you will need to make your own dress form:

eCraft cutting machine by Craftwell

eCraft Fundamentals 1 SD card [1" circle shape and 1/2" heart shape]

SVGcuts ‘Gingerbread Chalet Village’ SVG kit

Echo Park Paper ‘Yours Truly’ Kit

Sizzix Big Shot

Spellbinders Donna Salazar Carnation Creations  [three smallest flower dies]

Spellbinders Heart Circles [largest die]

White letter paper

Tim Holtz Scissors

Hot glue gun

Scotch fast drying tacky glue

Diamond Dust

small paint brush

Memento Ink [lady bug]

Long nosed Tweezers

Round Jewelry Pliers

12g. Craft Wire [black, 2- 24" pieces]

Toile [white large hole 6x6" piece]

Tear Drop Heart trim [3"]

American Crafts half back Pearls

Czech Glass Beads

Lace [6"]

Strand of Pearl Trim [6"]

Ok, let’s get started!

1. First, take the two wires and twist them together all the way down leaving 2″ wire Not twisted [these four will be the legs].

2. Then, gently bend to find the mid-point [middle of the wire] this will be the head.  Shape into a circle or oval as desired and just below that twist the rest of the wire to the legs.

3. To form legs take your round pliers [or dowel something round] to curve up to form a stand with legs.

4. Next, open the ‘cracker’ SVG file from the kit.  I removed the top portion and  put my measurements to 10.5 wide and 5.25 tall and Cut it out with your eCraft  [this is the body of your dressform].  I also added a scalloped edge to the bottom hemline.

5. Matching the last notch spaces-glue.  then Ink the creases.  Then push in the diamond shapes to form waistline and glue the upper pieces together…making sure you leave enough room for the dress to fit through the wire later.

6. Cut out the Round Hearts using the Largest die, doubling over the white letter paper.  Now cut the middle out with scissors leaving the heart lace.  *Do Not* discard the little white hearts, you will use those in a minute]. You should have a bunch of tiny hearts and Two  round heart circles [these are the heart lace].

7. Now,  slip the heart lace over the bottom of the dress and just using a small dot of glue every other one [ you will have to scrunch up to make appear as gathered].  Then, turn right side up and slip the other heart lace over the other so heart points match up [does Not have to be perfect] and repeat the gluing process.

8. Prepare your tiny hearts:  crease in middle of heart and hot glue at each heart point. After that, paint with the ink and adhere the half back pearl to each heart center.  [I found a tweezers was very helpful].

9. Place the dress piece over the wire and adhere with hot glue to keep in place on the wire.

10. Embellish with a heart tear drop necklace and a lacey belt and decorative flowers.

Flowers:
Use the white letter paper double it with the 3 smallest flower dies. Take all 6 pieces and alternate them, hot glue them together and scrunch them all up, glue bead in center.

For printed paper round flower cut out 4- 1″ circles, slice 1/4 of the ‘pie’ and glue it with tacky glue do this 3 times.  Then, round the corners and glue together.  For the center take the last circle and cut around in a spiral motion and starting from the center coil it up and tack the end with a dot of hot glue and glue that to the center!

11. To form the head piece make a running stitch all crossed one side so it gathers and glue to side-top of wire.  Then glue on the beaded lace crown.

12. Cut 25- 1/2′ hearts from the fundamental 1 SD eCraft card.  Gently bend them in the centers and hot glue them all over the bride’s vail.

You’re Done!

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial. Please leave your comments and questions in the comments section below. 

If you have  not yet seen the MATLESS  eCraft cutter check it out here!

Thank you again, Craftwell for having me.

Hugs and Blessings,

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!  So happy to start my day off with a Happy E-mail!   Ok, I’ll just get right to it, my crafty friends….

Stacey, over at Blockheads Paper Arts asked me to Guest Design for their A M A Z I N G Company!  Oh Yay! 

Ladies, we are talkin’ ‘Out-of-the-Box’,  Drop your jaw—>Gorgeousness here!

Run over and take a look at All the outrageous yummies they’ve got!

Here’s just a few Categories to choose from–>There’s so MUCH MORE at Blockheads Paper Arts!

Thank you, so much Stacey and Karen, for having confidence in my abilities to work for you. I can’t wait to get started!
I’m so very honored to be guesting for you.

Look for my projects using Blockheads Paper Arts coming soon….

Thanks for stoppin’ by and  sharing with me, in my exciting news, today, I appreciate you all and I’m so blessed you’re in my life.

Hugs and Blessings,

Hi Hi, my crafty friends!

Have you seen SVGcuts New kit this week?  Love Me Do is a Beauty!

Take a look at this sweetie—> YOU WILL WANT This, Now!
and creating from this kit is so addicting, too! WooT!

My first project, of many to come, is a candy heart-shaped box but you can stuff all kinds of goodies in there!

The Kit–>Love Me Do by SVGcuts.com!

My Candy Box made for my son’s 2nd grade teacher   filled with chocolate foiled wrapped hearts and other goodies [in case she sees this] haha
I really love the way the accordion folded heart on top of the box turned out and the pansies are just awesome.  I also, added a touch of shabby chic tear drop pearl hearts around the top edge.

On the inside of the box I used PunpkinPatchStamps.com ‘Heirloom Tradtions‘ stamp set ‘From the cozy craft studio of ____________’

Stamp Set-  and PunkinPatchStamps.com also offers FREE Stamplables, which are so EASY and FAST…Love these!  I cut with my eCraft by Craftwell and was able to create the sentiment seen inside my box.
   

[CLICK on photo for Larger View]

 
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My project was made from ‘Yours Truly’ Paper Kit by Echo Park Paper

Thank you, for stoppin’ by and I appreciate your comments and questions.

Please, visit soon- I have more Valentine’s Projects, Tutorials and an Announcement all coming up….

Hugs and Blessings,

Expressions Vinyl is giving away one of these babies to ONE lucky WINNER!

That’s right we are going to give away to one lucky winner there very own new Silhouette Cameo.
We have been so impressed by this awesome new machine that we would love to share it with everyone,
but will only have one to give away.

Thanks for stoppin’ by and Good luck!

PS—>Incase you missed my I SPY Winter Seek and Find toy Tutorial it’s HERE!

Hugs and Blessings,