Live. Laugh. Love.

I'm going to share something a little bit different today.  I've had this completed and hanging on my wall since last summer, but I've never shared it.  When we moved, I needed something for the powder room that wouldn't break the bank.  It all started with a thrift store find of an early 1910's dictionary with it's brown edges and broken spine.  We gently tore out pages, mod podged (I think that's a verb!) a blank canvas and placed the dictionary pages with little rhyme or reason.  And then we waited.  :)  Waiting was the most difficult part.  When the canvas was completed dry, we placed another coat of mod podge on top.  And then...you guessed it...waited.  (Click on the image for a larger view)

(You should have seen the looks from Mr. Sweetest Design.  He was not impressed with my gluing "old books" skills.  He didn't see my vision!).  When it was completely dry I started decorating it.  I used {retired} Friends 24-7 Damask image.  It suited my decor the best.  Those are big shot handmade chipboard lettters that pop off the canvas.  The lattice die is cut out of {retired} Barely Banana cardstock and basic black.  There's a scrap of burlap and an antique brad too.  

I have some other "decor" type things I haven't shared if you're interested.  Do you just come here for cards and scrapbook pages??  

Have a sweet day and thanks for stopping by.
SHERRI

p.s.  If you're going to try this, please make sure the layers are DRY before proceeding; this will minimize the warping and bubbling on your project.  


My first ever link to Made by you Monday at http://www.skiptomylou.org
Followed my second ever link party at


Followed by my third linky party.  What can I say?  It's an addiction!TTJ Weekend Party!

Razzleberry is Exquisite

Exquisite.  Use it in a sentence today!  It'll make you smile; maybe just like this gem.  Do you know Rich Razzleberry is staying with us in the new color renovation (happy dance for me!).  Love this color.  I didn't know where this card was going when I started (don't you love when that happens?), but I had a half-sheet of whisper white cardstock.  I stamped off once with the spiral-y flower from Punched Posies (level 2 hostess set) in Razzleberry in a random but planned order.  I cut the piece in four equal pieces to create my "own" DSP.  I sponged the edges, matted it in black to give it some POP.  The For You is from the Elements of Style stamp set.  I orignally had little interest in Elements of Style, but after receiving some WONDERFUL swaps, I added it to my buy list.

Remember that cute little scallop trim border punch will be available in the new 2010-2011 catalog if you missed it during SAB.  It's dainty and perfect and I love it! 

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Friends 24-7, Elements of Style, Punched Posies (level 2 hostess set)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Staz-On
CS: Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Accessories: 3/4" circle punch, 1" circle punch, 1-1/4" punch, gingham ribbon, large flower punch, scallop trim border punch, sponges

Dry Embossing

A sweet simple card today. Sentiment to be added when I'm ready to send it. Maybe a small oval ontop of the ribbon left of the image.


Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Friends 24-7
Ink: Staz-On
CS: Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Accessories: Markers, Big Shot Final Press embossing folder, 5/8" Organza Ribbon.

Bag, Tag, Box (BTB)

HAPPY FRIDAY! Do you have a great weekend planned? We do!!!!! Fridays are FANTASTIC and a great day to unveil a new segment here at Sweetest Designs: Bag, Tag, Box!
I've got some great boxes and tags and bags in store for you. These are great for holidays, presents and shower gifts and centerpieces.

Best of all they're easily customized and ecomonical.

This is a Gable Box. It used one piece of card stock plus some for decorating. I used scraps (whisper white and suede for the focal image) and will not include that in the cost of the box. Kraft, black or white CS is about 19 cents per sheet, colored cardstock is about 23 cents per sheet. I used a about 8" of ribbon to secure the box closed (this is approx. 15 cents). Minimal amounts of sticky strip is needed! I'll guess I used 12" or 25 cents worth of adhesive. TOTAL COST OF BOX: 59 cents!

This box is quite sturdy and great trendy shape and design and very easy to measure, cut and fold.



I double stamped the butterfly and cut it out, bent it, and placed it ontop of the original image. Here's a side shot of the raised butterfly. The wide oval punch is perfect for shaping the handles! The tops are rounded with a corner rounder.

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Friends 24-7, Great Friend
Ink: Certainly Celery, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede
CS: Kraft, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Accessories: 1/2" polka dot grosgrain soft suede, corner rounder, wide oval punch

Photo tutorial here

It's Saturday Sketch Time, SSC107

I've been away for a couple of days. You'd think I haven't been stamping, but the exact opposite is true. I left GASC with great ideas and then I received my box of NEW NEW NEW product from the new catalog and I have been a busy stamping girl.













I had a difficult time with this weeks sketch challenge over at 411. Maybe I had too much new stuff and couldn't get started! Here's the sketch and my card.

After I inked up the damask stamp in melon mambo, I took my soft suede inked sponge and gently sponged the exterior of the image, I gave it a little huff and stamped it on whisper white. The new embosslit layers PERFECTLY with the wide oval punch. Because the big shot both cuts and embosses simultaneously, I used the direct-to-paper technique on the cut HI. The raised images picked up the soft suede ink. I tried using ribbon for the horizontal piece, but decided the eyelet border punch was a better choice.

Thanks for stopping by!!
Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Friends 24-7
Ink: Melon Mambo, Soft Suede DSP: Thoroughly Modern
CS: Melon Mambo, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Stampin' Up Hi Embosslit, Wide Oval Punch