Summer Sweet Treats

Long before the Good Humor Ice Cream truck, we had the Popsicle Boy!  He rode up and down the streets of our neighborhood on an over-sized tricycle with a refrigerated box on the front.  There were bells on the handlebars that he would jingle has he peddled along.  All games of tag or kick-the-can would come to a screeching halt when you heard those bells head down your street.  As the kids get ready to start their summer, I am remember long summer days - playing on the sunny streets of Park Forest.  I have created this summer "treat": an "Ode the the Popsicle Boy"

I started with a flat wood ring and adhered paper from the Rustic Chic Paper Stack from Red Rubber Design.  The dimensional ice cream treats were made by stamping the stamps from "Sugar Coated Sweetness" into white polymer clay with Charcoal Palette ink and then cutting the shapes out with a craft knife.  After baking the clay, the pieces were colored with Copic markers.  I took a round piece of acrylic, colored with alcohol ink and attached it to the back of the wood ring.  Then used letter stickers to spell out "SUMMER".  "How sweet it is" is also part of the Sugar Coated Sweetness stamp set.  I finished it off with some dots of glitter around the edges and in the center.

Peacock Brass and Crystal Neclace

I've become a bit obsessed with peacock feathers lately, and love using the colors and patterns in jewelry and other projects.  If you follow my blog, I can guarantee this will not be the last time you see this theme.  This peacock feather inspired necklace brings the sparkling shine of Connie Crystals together with rustic brass for a versatile, trendy look.














I started by embossing the feather shaped pieces from Vintaj in my Sizzix Big Shot.  Then brought up the shine by buffing them with the buffing block.

The crystals are aqua octagon crystals from Connie Crystal.  They were attached by running an antique brass colored eye pin through and then bending it up so the the eye was about 1/8" above the crystal.  The long, straight end was then wrapped tightly around the shaft below the eye and the excess trimmed off.  It is important to use Connie Crystals for this because of the pressure this step puts on the crystal.  This is a weak area of the crystal because it is a thin section and there is already a hole there.  Inferior crystals will crack or break with the pressure of bending the eye pin.  Connie Crystals are as strong as they are dazzling, so they can handle the pressure!

The crystals and feathers were then attached with a brass jump ring.  I like to use split rings for security.  They are a little more tedious to get attached, but they will never come open and let your charms fall off.  I created a "Y" shape in the chain by taking a small section of chain and attaching it so that it hung vertically.  The chain I used was an "eyelet" chain that has "figure 8" connectors between the eyelets.  These figure 8 pieces are really easy to open and close so it is easy to move sections around and re-attach them.  The three feather/crystal sections were then attached so that the crystal hangs in front of the feather.

Mother's Day Card

 

It rained ALL WEEKEND and I was so tired of grey, that I needed to do something bright and cheerful!  April showers bring May flowers, and May brings Mother's Day.  So I've created a bright spring card for Mother's Day.  It was done using stamps from the Friendship Blocks collection from Red Rubber Designs.  I also used the "Mother's Day" sections from the Contemporary Greetings Stamp.  Contemporary Greetings is a MUST HAVE stamp to cover all the holidays and special occasions!!    

I colored the Friendship Block sections with Copic markers, then put it all together using card stock from the Lilly Anna Patterned Collection.  The deep pink ribbon was also from the Lilly Anna Ribbon embellishments.  

Art Glitter Design Team Announcement

This has been a very exciting month!!!  I received news that I had been selected for the Connie Crystal Design Team, and then a couple days later, I got word that I had also made the Red Rubber Designs Team.  THEN, the cherry on top was to be selected for the Art Glitter Design Team.  Crystal, Stamps and Glitter....YAHOO!!!  Let the creative juices flow!!!  Today is the official announcement of the Art Glitter team, so here they (we) are:

Design Team Lead: Kristi Parker Van Doren

Kristi Parker Van Doren has been creating since age 12 when her parents gave her a rubber stamp and ink for Christmas. 37 years later she is still creating, designing, writing, teaching and more! Kristi loves to create and has been on several design teams including: Spellbinders,Northwoods, Worldwin Papers, Luminarte, Coronado Island and several others. She served three years as a writer for Scrap& Stamp Magazine, as well as having articles published in books and magazines, most recently in Zentangle 6. Kristi is currently serving on design teams for USArtQuest, The Robins Nest, Dreamweaver Stencil, and is the lead for Art Institute Glitter and Connie Crystal design teams. When Kristi is not creating she is hanging out with her family. Check out her blog at www.kristiscreativecafe.blogspot.com!

Now For The Team:

Carrie Hannegan is a Southern California native who grew up near the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, but managed to avoid it (mostly). She has a degree in Animation from the California Institute of the Arts where she learned to appreciate the tedious side of art, one hand drawn frame at a time. After graduation, a bit of panic and a plunge, came the grand opening of her retail gift shop in the Los Angeles area called Violets are Blue. Partnered with her Mother, they filled the store with their handmade creations, hand painted furniture, hand picked vintage items and other fun stuff sprinkled in. Five years later, new chapter, they (very) reluctantly closed the store and Carrie moved to the other coast and launched a new online adventure called Violet Cottage. Violet Cottage started out as a "Violets are Blue, light" web store with lots of various inventory, but slowly morphed into a greeting card business. Inspired by vintage wrapping paper, fabrics and wallpaper, each card design is hand painted by Ms. Hannegan, who describes her card line as "sweetly sensitive, yet colorfully chaotic". The card line is still in its infancy, but has been well received and is growing daily. Violet Cottage cards can be found in many stores throughout the country or online at www.violetcottage.com.

My name is Cherie. I was born and raised in Minnesota, and went to Iowa State University. I married my husband in 2008 and we have a lab/border collie mix, Lucie, who is 3 years old. I have lived on both the east and west coast since being married, and will be moving to Hawaii this summer! I love to travel, geocache, craft, dabble in photography, and most importantly, play with glitter!

Hello! My name is Karen Taylor.

.

I am lucky to have two children Jessie and Douglas. I have been blessed with two grandson's, a granddaughter and another

on the way.

I have been a paper craftier for six years but creating has always been a part of my life.

I was raised by my grandmother who taught me the love of creating. Inspired by her 1930's scrapbooks

I love all things vintage and old. When I am at home you can find me in my studio.I love to create very special layouts, cards and altered items my mini pieces of art.

I have been lucky to have work with major paper craft companies including Spellbinders Paper Arts,Best Creations, Inc, Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker to name a few and in magazines, on TV (Local TV segments, Creative Memories TV Show, Terri O Show, QVC, Home Shopping Network US and Canada and was published in a book last year as well as work in catalogues and at the Craft and Hobby Association Show for the last six shows. For the past two years I have been a VIP speaker at Midland Memory Expo speaking along side Cardmaker magazines Editor Tanja Fox, Creating Keepsakes Creative Editor, Megan Hoeppner and NikkiSivlis, Scrapbook Paper Company owner just to name a few.
I currently am the Design Team and Social Media Coordinator for Want2Scrap and a Spellblogger for Spellbinders Paper Arts

Hi! My name is KC Eddy and I live in Central Missouri, with my husband, two daughters and our collection of furry friends - too numerous to mention. By day I am an accountant, by night I am a craft-a-holic. I also enjoy boating and camping with my family and am a huge Chicago Bears fan! I have crafted in almost every medium imaginable; including paper, ceramics, porcelain and glass. I am especially fond of jewelry, mixed media and anything that glitters and shines. Though I often get lost in a project and make things more involved than they need to be, I try to streamline my projects for teaching and tutorials so that others can learn from my experimentation (mistakes). I am a Design Team newbie so this is a very exciting new adventure for me. I hope you'll join me for the ride!

Laura Drahozal cannot remember a time when she was not creating. As a former art teacher, she has tried almost every traditional medium. She looks for inspiration all around her and loves to combine various products and techniques to achieve what she had previously thought of as impossible. Laura is currently serving on design teams for DreamweaverStencils, Twisted Sketches and Connie Crystal and has formerly served as a Guest Designer for Art Glitter. She is thrilled to be joining the Art Glitter Design Team as she loves all things glittery! Check out her blog at www.rememberinglifesmoments.blogspot.com

Linda Neff

I discovered through my first attempt at scrapbooking I could create art – my way. With rubber stamps, inks, paints, paper, fabric and other mediums, I create a soft, vintage look that is sometimes natural and sometimes a bit more romantic, but always evolving. I enjoy making mini albums, scrapbook pages and wall art to capture my little scrapped treasures.

The mother of three adult children, I live with my retired husband in Michiganand spend my time teaching classes at independent scrapbook and quilt stores. I am Ranger certified and always on the lookout for new techniques. I encourage others to dive head-first into the art of paper crafting, whether it bescrapbooking, stamping or altered art.

Hi! My name is Trudy but friends call me True.

My husband, Robert and I were high school sweethearts and are still very happily married today. I am the mother of a wonderful 26 year old son Kurt and MIL to a beautiful DIL Kristin. I am also super excited that I will be a grandma in October! :)

Since I started making cards a few of years ago, I have been blessed with many new card making friends, been asked to speak and teach at major craft events, and have been lucky enough to have my cards published and featured in magazines and books.

I love sharing my craft with others and following other artists for inspiration and fun! I will soon be teaching online classes, so keep an eye out! :)

I am a freelance illustrator, and I also design for: Want2Scrap, Inky Antics, Discount Card Stock, Really Reasonable Ribbon and Helmar. I am also very honored to be on the CardMaker Magazine blog design team.

I can hardly wait to be covered in sparkles with the rest of my new Art Glitter team members!

What an amazing team! We can't wait to see what wonderful creations they have in store for us. It will be a very sparkling year! Welcome one and all to Art Glitter!

Life of the Party Cigar Box Purse

Years ago I saw some cigar box purses and thought they looked like fun to make; so I found some cigar boxes on Ebay and they have been sitting in my craft stash ever since. Then I saw this Life of the Party stamp from Red Rubber Designs and I knew it was time to make one of those purses.

I started by painting the box black and then sanding the edges for a distressed look.  I then used the Beauty of a Woman stamp on grey card stock to create the background.  The lace strip was done by using the flourish section from the Life of the Party stamp and stamping two rows across the grey.  The grey card was then decoupaged onto the box.  I took a 1" strip of red patterned paper from the Rustic Chic Paper Stack, edged it with silver pen, and decoupaged it over the "lace".  The party girl was stamped onto a die-cut piece of beige card stock and then colored with Copic markers.  Red glitter was added to her dress, hat and glass.  This section was then covered with a die-cut piece of acrylic and then embellished with more red glitter.
The purse was finished with rhinestone flourish sections and a beaded handle, made with vintage black beads and a couple of red clay beads that had also been coated in red glitter.

The Life of the Party Purse, would be prefect for any Celebration....but today we are celebrating Red Rubber Designs GRAND OPENING!!!

To Celebrate...We are hosting a Blog Hop....
Visit each Design Team member's blog, leave a comment and then head back to Red Rubber Designs' Blog to say that you've commented on each of the blogs.  You will then be entered in the drawing for a fabulous PRIZE PACKAGE!!

Red Rubber Designs:  http://blog.red-rubber-designs.com/


Sarah:
Paula-Kay:
Louise: 
KC (you are here)
Kate:
Diana:
Debra:

Blog Hop Prize Details:
A Red Rubber Design prize package will be awarded to one lucky person.
To qualify:  Leave a comment at all the DT blog stops on the hop.  To complete the hop - come back to the RRD blog on Sunday, April 15th for a special prize post and leave a comment that you completed the hop.
Comment Deadline:  Sunday, April 15th at Midnight (Central Time)
Winner Announcement:  All qualifying names will be entered into a random drawing.  The winner will be announced on the RRD blog on Monday, April 16th.  Good Luck and Happy Hopping!!

Red Rubber Design Team Reveal

"Live - Love - Laugh".....the perfect sentiment for any celebration.  Today we have lots to celebrate!  The newly opened RedRubberDesigns.com is announcing its first Design Team and I am very proud to say I am on it!  In celebration of the Design Team reveal and the upcoming Grand Opening, I have created this Pendant and matching gift tag using a stamp from the Shine collection.  (I love the little dragon fly!)

The pendant was made with polymer clay and the stamp was done prior to baking the clay.  After baking I added some glitter glue and more glitter.  (you can't have too much glitter, right?)  I antiqued the edges with markers and then sealed it with a UV resin.

The card was done with the stamp on velum and then colored and cut out.  It was then added to spring green card stock which coordinated beautifully with printed paper from the Hip-Hop Collection.  The tag was embellished with a eyelet and ribbon from the Lilly Ann Collections.

For stamps, card stock, embellishments and other fabulous stamping supplies, head over to  RedRubberDesign.com... PLUS...Check out information on the Design Team Reveal to meet the whole team.  One team member will be introduced each day this week.  Visit all six designers' blogs and comment and you will be entered into a random drawing for a surprise package from Red Rubber Designs.  To be included in the random drawing, go back to the RRD blog on April 7th and leave a comment on the "Prize Package Contest Entry" post.  The contest will close Tuesday, April 10th at midnight CDT.  The winner will be announced during the Grand Opening festivities on Friday, April 13th.

Watch for the Grand Opening next week with more chances to WIN!!