How To Make a Monogrammed Note Pad

I was just out surfing the web and was amazed to find a "How-To" I did YEARS ago...and never knew it was "published"!!!  I remember doing it, just didn't know it was "out there".

http://www.annaboveembroidery.com/making-monogrammed-notepad.html

My First "Little" Student

This is Nicole Snyder. She is one of my best friend's daughters. She is 8 years old and decided she wanted to make her older brother a pillow for Christmas.  She ended up making two pillows and 9 tissue covers in about 3 hours!  AWESOME!!!  She made gifts for all her teachers, grandmothers, mother, brother, grandfather, and even a tissue cover for herself! (IN JUST THREE HOURS!!!)  WOW!  Pretty amazing since it was her first time to ever sew anything!

It took two trips over to her house because the "teacher" failed to bring any extra needles so when the one and only broke on the first trip, all production stopped!  I went back over today and was there just for show, I could have left my sewing machine there and she could have done it all completely without me!  She remembered everything I had said last week!  She ran in from school and got on the machine immediately, finishing the first pillow and two tissue covers, then made another pillow and two more covers!!! (in just over an hour!!!) 

YOU ROCK NICOLE!!!

You can find the "How-To" for the Tissue covers here.

How to Make Cute Packaging From a Can

How to Make Colored "Watermarked" Background Paper

Creating Watermark Background Paper

One of my favorite techniques for creating background paper use to be using Versa Mark to add watermarks on a solid sheet of cardstock .... Hummm???? How to do that with digis??? EASY!!!

Several months ago I discovered (after YEARS of not knowing about it) that there is a "borderless" printing option on the Windows "print screen" (under Preferences)! That has CHANGED MY LIFE and made creating background paper a PIECE OF CAKE!!

To use a digital stamp the same way you would have used Versa Mark (the old fashion way) just
change your stamp color to be the same color as your colored cardstock, change your printing option to borderless,
print and VOILA! You have a watermarked paper!


For the sample below I just built a one column grid and filled every other cell with red for my red paper… results:

So, you can use any digi to make your own colored background paper, and save on ink!

How to Make Clay With Bread and Glue

.
One of the good thing about being a MESS (and leaving things out) is that there are times of sudden ideas because of the things within your line of site.  That happened last night! 


I won't bother to explain why I had a loaf of bread, white glue and SU! ink pad refill ink all within a foot of each other...but, I did.  And it happened, a "suddenly"!  About 40 years ago, before the age of FIMO and Sculpy, I made my own air dry clay with 1 tablespoon of white glue and a slice of bread (w/o crust) ... add a little paint or food color and I was ready to play!


Last night I went back in time and made a little ball of "Really Rust" clay (retired color, I think) and then this flower:

Pin It

See how well the flower matches the paper!

I let it dry over night and it is now HARD and almost impossible to break.  I also made a button but didn't get a good picture of that. I will make a "how to video" and show it there.

You will need:

• 1 slice of bread
• 1 Tablespoon of white glue
• a few drops of re-inker ink

THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES!!! Anything you can sculpt in the color to match your stamping and cardstock!

If you would like to purchase some ink refill, here is a demonstrator's site:

http://lindamadison.stampinup.net/  

Linda has been very helpful to me, so I want to help her out! 

WARNING!!!

2 things:

1. This is CRAZY MESSY!  When you first start mixing everything together with your hands you think it will never come together and you'll never get the ink off of your hands! But, an amazing thing happens, it suddenly starts to come together and every bit of color comes off of your hands!
2. Roaches like the taste!  Ask me, I know.  I made a brooch way back when and then left it out in a drawer ... one day, a couple of years later there was nothing left but the backing and some pearls!  So, this is not a forever and always piece of art unless you seal it in something that is roach proof! (or, you don't live in Louisiana where they multiply exponentially by the minute!)  I live in Georgia now so they aren't as bad, but I'm not taking any chances!

How to Personalized a Mug

For just $10(plus the item) you can make personalized gift like the cup below! Just let me know what colors and what name you want and I'll get the vinyl out in the mail ASAP. (free shipping) I will request the money through PayPal or you can send a check and once that has been cashed I will send your vinyl.

To order email me at nancybabb@clear.net

I'm sorry that the video is so close up! I was trying out a new camera and didn't know how to zoom out!

How to Make Fabric Leaves

How to Cover a Pencil

How to Make a Travel Tissue Cover

This tissue cover is so easy an EIGHT year old can make 9 of them in just over an hour!  She made one for each of her teachers, her grandmothers, her mother and one for herself!  (along with two pillows!  WOW!) And this was her first time to ever sew!!!  She did EVERYTHING, I just talked her through it.  You rock Nicole!!!

(I wrote a little more and added more pictures on today's blog 12/14/2010...here.)

IMPORTANT NOTE:

In the video below I show you cutting the 1st sewn strip into 6" pieces, then pressing the seams..... It is MUCH FASTER if you press the seam (making the trim) BEFORE you cut the 6", that way you press all of them at once...MUCH FASTER!



WHEW!!!  I just watched this again (3 months later) and it is ROUGH!  I am so sorry!  I made it when I was learning how to use the camera and software so it is VERY CHOPPY!  Please forgive, I'll do it again as soon as there is time.

Crochet Flowers

Please note... I didn't say "How To" in the title.  That's because there is no way I'm going to tell you how to make a crochet flower!  BUT, I did learn how to yesterday... amazing, since just two blogs ago I said I had no interest in learning!  What can I say?... I just never know where I'll end up!  Since I have made two videos making different kinds of flowers I decided I wanted to make yet another different one. 

I found a version of it from the web (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/flowers.php) but I modified that to fit my needs.  I took the pattern to a friend and she took about 10 minutes to show me how to make one.  She said she would make a video for me, but she had to go out of town today so that may, or may not, (???) happen later.

I can't believe it, I have actually made 28 so far.  I have no clue exactly what I'll do with all of them but I got on a roll and did them while watching TV....love it when I have busy hands....don't like to just sit and watch.

Here is something I made with one last night:

If you notice, I used a yo-yo for one of the videos. The center of the flower is just a brad. I will do another video on making the "hat pin" soon.    But today I wanted to share the pattern for the flower.   I hope you can read it!  If not, I bet you know someone who can... or go to YouTube and search,  there are TONS of crochet videos out there!

Rnd 1: ch 2, 5 sc in first chain you made. Join with sl st to first sc.
Rnd 2: [ (ch 2, 3dc, ch 2, sl st) in the same sc, sl st to the next sc], 5 times, making 5 petals. Cut off.

Just FYI.... I bought variegated yarn so I can have lots of colors of flowers...all that look good with each other because they came from the same skein

How to Make a Yo-Yo Flower

How To Make Fabric Yo-Yos

OK! FINALLY a new video! You would not believe how hard it is to get one posted sometimes!!! The first couple of videos I did I used MS Movie Maker... I had it as part of the bulk MS group so it was basically free. But, I make so many mistakes, and I tend to cough A LOT while I'm filming, so I really needed more editing capabilities to edit some of that mess out (you'll see, its kind of jerky, in places).... I did the next couple of videos using a trial version of Corel VideoStudio 3x... that worked well enough, so I felt it was worth the $50 it cost. WELLLLLL, WHAT A MESS! Apparently there is a conflict with it and ITunes!!! (???)... and other Adobe packages, so I had to delete those in order for Corel to work properly!!! ARGH!!!!

ANYWAY! Long story short... I worked on that mess ALL DAY yesterday! But, you know, that's OK, I am learning a lot as I go.

Now, on topic, today's video is on making fabric yo-yos. I'll do another some other time of how to use some... Please, enjoy

Legacy

When I first started this particular blog, it was for you, the casual stranger that fell upon my site.... but, this past week I decided that I really wanted to leave some of what I know to my six nieces... it is my way of leaving my legacy to them.  Only one of the six(Mattie) actually care right now, but you just never know when the others might be curious.... probably after I'm dead!  But, that's OK, it will be here if they do ever care.  Think how cool it will be to hear me after I'm gone! (something for you to consider with your family)

I am now 56 years old, going on 57 soon, so I have been doing some form of crafting for over 50 years!  Both of my grandmothers taught me their "craft", as did my mother.  My mother's mother taught me to sew, starting with hand sewing Barbie doll clothes before I was 10.  My Daddy's mother taught me "Drawn Work", a way of creating BEAUTIFUL lace within a piece of fabric.  My mother taught me hand embroidery.  That was their legacies to me, and I'm so glad that I have those gifts from them!

I took every Home Ec. class offered in school and then I majored in Home Economics Education in college.  I have done everything from stain glass, fired glass and fused glass to simple paperwork.   Really, the only thing that I never loved enough to learn, was knitting and crocheting! Don't look for that here, I don't know how to do either well enough to show anyone "how to"!  

Anyway, that's a LOT of learning in 50+ years! The plan here is to share some of what I have learned in all that time.  There won't be a focus on any one thing like card making, you just never know what might show up here!

So, here's the deal .... 

If you are not one of my six girls you are still welcome, but, please understand that I may seem to be talking directly to them, and you may see some things that you can find on other websites, but I want a consolidated location for my girls. 

I will still offer things for sale here because I have LOTS to sale and it makes most sense to do it here. 

Please enjoy!

How to Make a Paper Flower from Circle Punches

This is the flower from my Bottle Box Template. I wanted to break the instructions apart so that you don't have to watch both at the same time.



I have also created another template for 6 different colored flowers. I used SU! colors (or close) no promises because it depends on the printer and paper used. AND, the picture is much brighter than the actual printed version...as you can see there are three shades of each color and one of those shades was taken directly from SU! colors so it should blend with their papers.


FREEBIE: (just click then "save image as")

How to Make a Water Bottle Box

Hi!  I have been having tons of issues loading my videos...not sure if its size or format, it doesn't tell you what the problem is, it just spins FOR HOURS then says it didn't work!!!  ARGH!!!... So, I finally tried loading it into YouTube and copied the code and that worked.

FREEBIE: (Click then right click and "save image as" for each page)

The flower for the front will be on the next blog.

Staining Clothes Pins

Today's lesson is "How to Stain Clothes Pins". I know, just what you always wanted to know right?! Well, wait a minute, they really can be a cool, (cheap) gift if you think about it. Put a strip of magnet down one side and you have an instant refigerator magnet... Or, add a glue dot and you can hang a recipe from a cabinet door. Think about that one! Give a gift basket of muffins with the recipe card for the muffins and include a clothes pin magnet!

Here is a SU demonstrator's website that you can use to purchase refill inks.  Her name is Linda, I've never met her but she has been very helpful to me, so let's help her out! 

http://lindamadison.stampinup.net

Here is a link that gives: 11 New Ways to Use Laundry Clothespins

MY FIRST VIDEO!!!

Hi Everybody!  Well, I am now a "movie" acTOR!  HA!  I just found out today that my little nothing digital camera would indeed film a "How To" video!  GO FIGURE!  Really its more like a WELL DUH! but I just didn't know.  It was a LOT of trial and error at first but I finally got something that I'm just gonna go with, because I could be here WEEKS trying to get happy with it!

Things you learn when you tape yourself.... UGLY HANDS and ARMS!!!  OH MERCY!  And, the voice is kinda pitiful, but ya know what...... I have to go with what I have, no changing things now!

I really hope to get better with it so I can do more, practice! practice! practice!

Anyway, here is my first shot at it!  Well, ok, take 5 or 6 of my first go at it :-)

You can get the FREEBIE sheets HERE.

LET'S HAVE A RETREAT!!!

OH MY GOSH!!!  Ladies!  Let's plan a craft retreat!  LOOK WHAT I FOUND just 40 miles north of Atlanta!!!  Start saving your money now!  Plan on $250 per person for two nights (it could be less... it all depends on numbers and how much crafting you want)  We can have up to 12 people but that would include some room sharing and there are 3 upper bunks ... so might not want a full 12 ...... all meals included for that price....  Look at some of the pictures and let me know what you think.  Fall is pretty booked, only a couple weekends left so it could be next year before we could do it... though they might let us go during the week if that works for enough folks.

Check it out!

Our retreat / craft house is designed to give you a place to relax, unwind, and accomplish those things you never seem to have the time or space to do at home. We offer a spacious workroom and comfortable accommodations for groups interested in a scrapbooking, quilting, beading, stamping or other crafting retreat. 

Let us spoil you!

Gorgeous 5,000 square foot home nestled on 14 wooded acres

Heated bathroom floors

Gourmet kitchen

Granite countertops throughout

Extra large soaking tub

Exotic hardwood floors

Magnificent furnishings

Loft with library and reading nook

Incredible covered deck with fireplace and rocking chairs

Separate ice maker

Wireless Internet/Satellite TV
 

1+ mile of hiking trails on the property

Table for card games, dominoes, scrabble, monopoly

Jigsaw puzzle table

Gigantic hammock

Tons of Changes!

Today has been a BUSY BUSY DAY! I hope you can tell by all the changes I have made since you last checked in. The fun part for me about teaching these classes is all the new stuff I am learning in order to create this blog. I spent all day saying "COOL! I didn't know I could do that!"

I'm thinking that I need to go into the "How to Create a Blog" training business!  HA!

Please note some of the new things:

1. the obvious new background ... I LOVE IT! It isn't perfect because this area is too narrow and I can't change it...I considered another template but nothing made me happy like this one. I love the color combinations and, well, just everything!
2. the menu bar across the top...gotta love that!
3. "Schedule" - You can go here to see a list of classes, and a calendar with the same. "Templates" - the place you can go to buy templates we used in the class.... the ones I created anyway, can't sell those I bought from someone else :-)  There aren't any pictures yet, I'll try to get those done tomorrow (well later today now)
4. "Tool Kit" - Just a list of things you'll need when you aren't in class... though bringing your tools to class would be an awesome thing!
5. "Gallery" - the place for pictures, when there are some :-)
6. OH!  One more thing, I just changed it so that anyone can comment, you have have to have a Google account for that.

That's about it for today... its 4:35 AM and I need to sleep!  Please check everything out and any input is welcome.  Thanks for stopping by!

Toilet Paper Rolls

Yesterday I sent a message to everyone to start saving toilet paper rolls because I had thought of something to use them for... won't say what here. This morning Diane wrote and said she would start saving them from the office! OMG!!! OK, now that's A LOT of TP rolls!!!

But, it got me to start an internet search for other ideas. Can you say CHEESY!!! Just how many UGLY UGLY things can your make with a TP roll?!!! I'm sorry but.... I need some imagination here folks! Then I ran across the following site....you have got to check this site out!



I LOVE THAT!!! I want to do that! But I don't want it to take 3-4 hours! :-) I don't have that kind of patience!

Our First Class!!!

Hi Everybody!

Well, our first class is now history.  I hope you guys had as much fun as I did!  I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures.  SHOOT!  I love that you are interested in continuing.  I have a couple of questions (OK, TEN) to help me move forward so would you please complete the following questions? I WILL NOT KNOW who says what, so PLEASE, be honest! I tried pasting the questions here but that didn't work...I also put a pop-up, lets see if that worked!!! If not try this: Click here to take survey