More flowers!

OK, I love flowers!  I'm always on the lookout for different ways to make flowers rather than buy the premade ones in the stores.  I've found a bunch of different techniques but what I really want is something easy and quick and these crinoline/buckram flowers are just the ticket.   I've been seeing these flowers all over the internet for the past couple of months but I'm not really sure who did it first.  Anyway, I was contemplating buying another diecut tool in order to make these and it occurred to me that my Slice should be able to cut these out.  After doing some research on the capabilities of my Slice, I found that it has always been able to cut fabric (no need to buy the Fabrique!!) so I went for it.   My first challenge was finding the crinoline which I eventually did at JoAnns.  However I also found some stuff called buckram and I really like it much more than crinoline.  It is stiffer and as I suspected didn't need anything ironed on to be cutable by the Slice.  The crinoline was stiff as well but I had mixed results when I didn't use a fusible web.  I think either would work just fine in a manual die cut machine though so if that is what you have, you are in good shape.

Here are my first two attempts.  The yellow flower was colored with my smooch misters and the pink one was colored using Copic pens.  I think I'm going to add some glitter to the pink one and really girly it up. 

If you love flowers (like I do) and can't see paying the high prices for those in the store, you need to try this.  You can use just about anything to color the fabric and then you get exactly the color and look you want. The fabric was 4.99/yard at JoAnns but if you have coupon you can probably get it for less.  Also, a yard of fabric is going to yield a ton of flowers.  Very economical!!!

-karen

Denami Blog Hop

Welcome blog hoppers!

I am so happy you have joined us for the DeNami Girlie Girl blog hop.  If you are going in order, you should have come from Karen Baker's Blog.  However, if you have gotten lost or want to start over, head on over to the DeNami Blog.

So without further ado, here is my card for the hop. 

Your next stop on the hop is the very talented Kristy Smith

Please do not forget to leave comments on all the participants blog to be entered for a chance to win a $20 Denami gift certificate.  

Extra Challenge: This blog hop filled SO quickly, so we thought we'd bring an additional opportunity for those who weren't able to get on the list, and also those blog hoppers who had additional girlie girl projects to share. We will have a link widget on the blog hop post where you can upload additional girlie girl creation(s). We'll choose one winner to be guaranteed a spot in the next blog hop AND they'll get to choose a few stamps of their choice!

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a great hop!

-Karen

  

New Mini Album

I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out because these papers by Graphic 45 are a little out of the box for me but this may be my fav mini yet. I really do love their papers but I usually get stumped when I try to do anything with them.  Maybe my creative juices were in overdrive this week or something.  The other challenge that I had was I didn't allow myself to buy anything (with the exception of the paper) new to complete this.  I had to rely only on what I had in my stash. 

The book itself is a series of pockets that are "hinged" together with each other and a flap.  I was actually watching a youtube video by Kathy at Paper Phenomenon where she used paper bags to create the flaps but I didn't have of those nice ones that you can buy at Michaels.  I only have the bulk variety from Costco and they didn't really work well for this.  Anyway, I came up with a way to recreate the pocket and flaps and get a similar look.  I also switched it to a portrait orientation rather than landscape.

Despite it's size (5x7), the book has a ton of space for photos and journaling.  I also added pockets and envelopes to some of the pages.   Each page main page is also a pocket but I haven't complete those tags yet.  All in all there are 16 4x6 tags and a couple of smaller ones as well.  The one improvement I would make for my next one is a better binding method.  Once I got all the embellishments and tags in, the book doesn't really close nicely.  Oh well!

So here it is...

Cover

Inside cover and 1st Page

Fully Extended Page

Pocket Page

Inside Book with Flaps Folded

Inside book with fully extended flaps

Thanks for stopping by!

-karen



 

Fabric Rosettes

I was wandering around the craft/fabric store looking for materials for a completely different project and happened upon these little plastic templates/tools called yo-yo makers.  I almost walked past because these were after all in the "quilting" section and I most certainly do not quilt.  Anyway, I gave them some of my attention and looked at the packaging more closely.  Hmm...these look like rosettes!!!  Hmm...these could be used in all sorts of way for scrapbooking and cardmaking.  OH NO!!   All the different sizes went into my shopping basket.  They also had a butterfly and heart shape which I didn't buy but maybe on my next trip.

This then made me wander deeper into the quilt department to find fabric and I discovered these things called "Fat Quarters" which as far as I can tell it's a smaller piece of fabric. PERFECT! I also found a stack  of really cool looking fabric already cut into 4x4 squares so I bought that as well.  I left the store feeling quite happy with myself and very eager to get started.  Of course that would end up being a day later since regular life happened and I got distracted.

I finally found some time to play with my new toys and all I can say is THESE ARE SO EASY AND FUN!!  As I've mentioned, I don't quilt and certainly don't sew.  However, I can hand sew and that is all this requires.  Below are two of the flowers I've made so far.  Unfortunately, I think I'll be going back to get the butterfly now....lol

I put these together really quickly and I'll admit, I'm not thrilled with the button on the larger flower.  I'll probably be changing that as soon as I can find some better buttons.  I also recommend that the buttons be adhered using a hot glue gun though I did use Glossy Accents (it's my fav wet adhesive and it works on everything) with success.

If you like flowers I highly recommend a trip to your local fabric/craft store and buying these templates.  The ones that I bought are made by Clover. 

ETA: I've just recently been informed that you can do the same thing without a template if you are adept at a running stitch.  Since I'm not, these templates are the best solution for me.

-karen

Denami Floral Frenzy Blog Hop!

Hello! Welcome to the Denami Floral Frenzy Blog Hop!  You should have arrived here from Carol Hartery's Blog.  If you've gotten lost along the way, no need to worry just click here to return to Denami Designs Blog and the beginnig of the hop.

I started with cardstock that I coated with a microfine glitter, stamped the image using StazOn Ink and then colored the flowers using Copic markers.  The stamp I chose to use is G109 Single Daisy and trimmed using just the flower part.   I then arranged layers in a circle and added a little bling to the centers of the flowers on the top layer. 



I hope you have enjoyed looking at all the fabulous creations.  Your next stop is Tenia Nelson.

Be sure to comment on each blog for a chance to win one of three $20 gift certificate at Denami

Extra Challenge: This blog hop filled SO quickly, so we thought we'd bring an additional opportunity for those who weren't able to get on the list, and also those blog hoppers who had additional floral projects to share. We will have a link widget on the blog hop post where you can upload additional floral creation(s). We'll choose one winner to be guaranteed a spot in the next blog hop AND they'll get to choose a few stamps of their choice!



Spring is in the air

The weather has been terrible here lately and it really has me wishing spring would get here already.  So to help things along I thought I'd do a little mini-album/acordian book in a spring theme.  Each page is built like a card and slips into the bottom pocket.  Journaling and pictures can go on the inside of the page/card.

I hope you enjoy it.

-karen

Meandering Mini Album

I have a little secret to share....I'm addicted to making mini albums.  I don't know why but I just love making them.  I rarely put pictures in them or even finish embellishing them, I just simply enjoy the construction of them.  Today's mini album is no exception either.  It's based on the meandering mini album that has been around for ages but this one uses two pieces of 12x12 paper so it's a little bigger.  I've also varried it by having pockets at the top of some of the pages and the side of the others.  Of course it's not completely embellished but I was so excited to post it that I didn't want to wait to have it finished completely.


Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. BTW, I love the "Sit Quietly Do Nothing" quote.  It sums up my life perfectly right now ;)


Most of the papers are from K&Company and cardstock is from Bazzill.  I made some rolled flowers for the first time which are the only embellishments on the tags thus far.  If I get around to those soon, I'll post the finished tags.

I've changed the cover just a bit because I wasn't in love with the flower and I wanted to make some more rolled flowers.  Anyway, here is the updated cover and the tags...

Which one of the covers do you like better?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

-karen