Cut 'n Paste

Happy Halloween

Source: Uploaded by user via Ashley on Pinterest

I hope that you and yours have a Happy Halloween tonight!

Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop.   I was invited to create something for you using the Eileen Hull Scoreboard Suitcase Die in combination with our Melissa Frances product line.
 
I had such fun playing with this product! I had never used the Sizzix scoreboard product, and I loved making some thing a bit more sturdy with my die cut machine. Over the past few months, I've been enjoying making jewelry pieces, and once I started to assemble my first suitcase, I immediately saw it as a possibility for making darling presentation and storage boxes for jewelry.


(Supply List: Patterned Paper - Lula (PA367) • 2" resin applique wreath (CX853) • 5th Avenue Chipboard Accents (GN445) • Best wishes rub-on -discontinued • Sizzix: Scoreboards XL Suitcase Die, Cream Scorboard  • Other, non Melissa Frances supplies - Copic markers, pink seam binding.)

Here are some quick instructions for my project:
    • First, glue the Lula patterned paper to the cream scoreboard. Glue paper patterned side up to whichever side of the scoreboard you would like. Then, place the patterned paper face down onto the die. Finally, run it through your die cut machine.
    • Using Tea Dye Distress Ink (By Ranger) and an ink applicator tool (also by Ranger), apply ink around the edges of the pieces before assembly.
    • Assemble box as directed by the instructions on the die packaging with one exceiption - do not attach the handle of the suitcase to it. (We will not use the handle on this version of the project.)
    • Tie pink seam binding in a double bow around the upper third of the lid.
    • Distress the edges of the ledger piece from the  Melissa Frances chipboard accents. Using glue dots, attach it to the project as seen in the photo.
    • Using Copic markers, color the 2" resin wreath to coordinate with the patterned paper. Attach to the ledger Chipboard piece using whatever glue you would normally use to attach buttons to a project.
    •  Apply Rub-on sentiment to the bottom right of the lid.

FAQ about the Fresh Vintage Blog Hop:
How do I hop around to see ideas using the current featured die? Every Tuesday and Thursday between September 27-November 3, 2011 there will be a new Sizzix Fresh Vintage die featured on 6-10 of the 75 participating designers' blogs. The navigation buttons for "Hop Back" and "Hop Forward" will allow you to easily hop around and see projects featuring whatever the current die is, since those buttons are programmed to navigate only to the blogs that are participating for that die. On the next Tuesday/Thursday, the buttons will automatically reprogram themselves to navigate to the blogs that are signed up for the next featured die.

What if I start at a designer's blog that isn't one of the 6-10 signed up for that die? No problem! Simply hit either the "Hop Forward" or "Hop Back" button on the Fresh Vintage navigation widget on my blog's upper right sidebar and you'll automatically advance to one of the participating blogs.

Can I go back and view the ideas for a previously featured die? Of course! Go to the "Blog Hops" link at the top of the page. It will bring up all of the blog posts where you'll find direct links to each participating blog along with a thumbnail image of the project.

Where can I buy the Sizzix Fresh Vintage dies, by Eileen Hull? You can visit Sizzix.com to find a local and online retailers for Sizzix products. Also be sure to visit Oh My Crafts, one of this blog hop's sponsors, (between the dates of September 27-November 3, 2011) and enter for a chance to win a Flower Layers #9 die!

The Blog Hop has ended and the navigation widget is no longer in the sidebar. How can I see the ideas? Go to the "Blog Hops" link at the top of this post. It will bring up blog posts where you'll find direct links to each participating blog along with a thumbnail image of the project.

A manifesto of sorts...

Source: artjournaling.tumblr.com via Carolyn on Pinterest

Babysitting puppies

(sorry for the bad picture, getting the two of these pups in the same frame by myself was a challenge!)

On Friday afternoon Rick and I picked up these two 15 week old puppies to babysit them for a bit. I discovered that I'd forgotten how much work puppies are!! We've bred our own two dogs, and had litters around before, but it's been years. These two little scamps are so full of energy, playfulness and, did I say energy?! Whew, they're a handful. But oh, SO fun! The amazing thing, is that my geriatric dogs have actually been playing with them - shocker! One puppy will be going home tomorrow morning as she has been sold and has to be groomed before going to her new family. We have the option to keep the other puppy for a time, but we have not decided what we will do yet. Decisions, decisions...

Recipes from Pinterest

Source: asmallsnippet.blogspot.com via Carolyn on Pinterest

This past week I have made two dishes which I found via Pinterest and both were super yummy. The first, was the Spicy Thai Noodles pictured above. We added grilled chicken and served it hot instead of cold and it won raves from Rick. The cool thing is that you can adjust the amount of crushed red peppers to control the level of spiciness. But for those who like the heat, after the ingredients are tossed together, you can add more seasoning to individual servings to get it rip-roaring hot.

The second thing I made was this Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bar with Strudel Topping:

Source: melskitchencafe.com via Carolyn on Pinterest

This desert was delicious. (And surprisingly not too heavy even though it has the cheesecake layer.)

If you decide to make either one of these, let me know how you like them!

Green and Yellow

I am so blessed to have a wonderful job that allows me the opportunity to teach workshops around the world. Instead of purchasing t-shirts, or other chotchkes from my travels, I often ask my host if it is possible to visit an antique store or two in the cities I visit. I like to search for vintage jewelry bits which I can then put onto a charm bracelet of make into a necklace. Believe it or not, I have been collecting items for the past three years, well before I actually knew how to make a necklace, lol!

Last fall I had the pleasure to teach in Bogota, Colombia, and I purchased the large religious medal at the bottom of this necklace there. The green and yellow ribbon was on it when I bought it, and I elected to leave it in place instead of removing it. After making it, I thought that I might go back and shorten the pieces so that there is not as much room between the levels of the necklace. However, my new friends in Panama who were the first people to see it after I made it, told me to leave it as is ☺

So, that's my latest jewelry creation. I hope you like it!

New Lens

 
This past weekend I added a new camera lens to my camera bag. I have wanted a super wide angle lens for a while, especially for all the travel we do. So, after a bunch of research, I decided to buy the Canon 10-22. I was persuaded that this was the lens I was looking for after seeing so many of the fabulous wide angle photos from this blog.

Saturday night, after buying the lens that afternoon, Rick and I went to the BC Lions football game and I tried my hand at some photos of the skyline.  The photo is a bit fuzzy at full size, as I really needed to use a tripod, but I love the dynamic look this lens gives. I can't wait to play more with it!

Make a Difference

(Supply List: Patterned paper - Attic Treasures 6x6 paper Pad (GN454),  5th Avenue Paper Pad (GN444) • Rub-on - Walk for a Cure (FW055) • Pink Rhinestones (discontinued) • Non Melissa Frances supplies: Stamp - Butterfly Kisses by My Favorite Things • Markers - Copic • Scalloped Circle Die Cut by Spellbinders • Ribbon - Stampin' Up! • Tag - Avery • Sewing machine and thread • Distress ink in Tea Dye)

Hi friends! I hope that you each had a lovely Thanksgiving (Canadian) weekend. Rick only had Saturday off, and given activities that the rest of our extended family already had scheduled, we were not able to celebrate Thanksgiving with everyone. From what I understand we will be doing it in early November.

While Rick was out, I hid myself in my studio to do some crafting, and lounged in the living room pinning! A bunch of my creative endeavors were for assignments and workshops, so they will stay under wraps for now. But in the meantime, I have this card which I can share with you. I combines so many of my favorite things, Melissa Frances, stamping and Copics. Enjoy!

My Chandelier

Last week I participated in the burning house project hosted by Paula, and I thought it might be fun to share with you the back story of my chandelier, which is my favorite item in my house.

For the past few years, I have had the pleasure to head to France several times, and love to shop the flea markets and brocants for treasures. For as long as I've gone, I have searched for the perfect chandlelier to put above my farmhouse table in my eating area. One that wasn't too big as our ceilings are only 8 ft. high, but not so small as to get lost in the space. I wanted it to have that vintage look (no mass-produced look please!) with a distinctly European flair.

For 3 years I looked, never finding something that was the perfect size and price. It seemed like something was always wrong. Then, last year we were in Turin, Italy when we walked into an Antique shop. The lovely shop keeper didn't speak English, and I don't speak Italian, however we both spoke passably good French. So we had a lovely visit and I bought some brooches and pendants for jewelry making. As I was getting ready to leave the shop, I asked her, in passing, about one of the chandeliers she had hanging in the shop. As she started talking about it, my heart sunk as I made out 1930 (which I assumed was the price). It was only as she continued speaking that I realized that she was telling me about the providence of the light and not it's price. Surprisingly, she named a price which I found to be fair and after Rick saw the look on my face, he said "let's buy it".

I was so nervous about getting it home in one piece, but the shopkeeper offered to box it up safely, and she did a fabulous job. It came home in checked luggage with the airline and believe it or not, not one crystal broke on the journey home ☺
 The shop owner and me • In front of the store