Gumpaste Flowers

On Thursday I taught my last cake decorating class. I'll miss my students and I will also miss teaching. I really have enjoyed doing it. My husband will be graduating in two weeks and I am having a baby in 5 weeks so I decided to stop teaching until we get settled in our new place (wherever that may be). Here are some of the flowers I made in the Fondant and Gumpaste Cake Decorating class.

 

Mum

 

Rose

 

Calla Lilly 

Carnation with dusting powder on edges.

Daisey

Baby Sling makeover

I thought that it would be a good idea to get a sling to use for baby #2. We will be moving right after I deliver so I will need to have my hands free to get our apartment unpacked. I found a tan colored sling for $10.00 and snatched it up. I wasn't ecstatic about the color but I knew I could spruce it up.

See that red fabric under the sling? I got that in a remnant bin at Hobby Lobby and I've used it for a lot of different projects. I cut 3 inch strips of the red fabric and sewed a long line of them together. Then I changed the tension and stitched length on my sewing machine. I don't have a ruffler foot so I just ruffled my fabric by hand. Ruffling took the most amount of time. Then I sewed the ruffled strips onto my sling. It isn't amazing but I think it suits me :)

I made the ruffles different sizes on purpose. I wanted the one on the bottom to be bigger. When you put something in it it doesn't lay as flat so it looks nicer fuller.

I also didn't put a third row of ruffles on it because I didn't want ruffles in my or the baby's face. The edges of the fabric aren't finished because I am ok if it gets a frayed look for the fabric. (And I'm lazy)

Tadaa... That finished result. I think it would have been nice to take a picture with a baby in it but since mine won't be ready for another 5 weeks laying it over the balcony was my second best option.

I tried putting my 2 and a half year old in it and it was hilarious. We went to look in the mirror and we both started laughing really hard. We just looked so silly. It was easier carrying him in it but I think he is too big. I was just excited to try it out.

Feathers

I got this stamp from my friend Kelsey. It is a rubber stamp mounted on a wooden block. I have it displayed on my craft shelf but I also like to use it when I can. This was a fast card to make. I stamped the feather and then I inked the edges in brown. I back it in brown cardstock that I roughed the edges with a pair of scissors. There is a tool you can use to distress the edges of cardstock but I just use scissors and it works just fine. I tied my ribbon and then stamped my sentiment right onto my card. I was thinking of my friend Alaina when I made this card. She loves birds.

Card Night

My friend Millie is coming over after I put Austin in bed and we are going to make a bunch of cards! I'm really excited!!! We might get more talking done then actual card making :)

This card is supposed to be a wedding card but it would also work for an Anniversary card. I used my flower punch to make the flower. I wrapped ribbon around some embossed cardstock and it was done. It really didn't take long. Have I told you all how much I love my cuttlebug!!! I can't wait to get more embossing folders.

I had all these supplies in my scrap bin. The background paper is the same paper I used on the back of the shelf Jeff and I made. It is just regular scrapbook paper.

Spring Wreath

I have a Fall wreath and a Winter wreath but I don't have a Spring wreath. I love walking up my entryway and seeing a wreath hanging on my door. I think it looks much more inviting. I rent so I can't paint the door so this is my way of expressing myself and adding some homey touches. All the wreaths at the store weren't what I wanted and they were cost more then I wanted to pay. I took matters into my own hands. I found a wreath at Goodwill for $2.99 and bought it.

I don't think the picture quite captures the nastiness. I ripped all the dirty silk flowers off and dusted the wreath.

Then I looked around my apartment for something to decorate it with. I had a vase of silk flowers from a long time ago that looked perfect. I use my husbands pliers and cut three of the flowers off the arrangement. Then I separated the clusters of berries. It was easy and fast. I actually was hoping it would have taken me longer. This project didn't quite get the craft itch I had that day :)

 

And here is the wreath hanging on my door....

Total cost of the project was $2.99. I already had the flowers and berries. I didn't even need to use hot glue. I just twisted the wire in the silk flowers and stuck it in the wreath. It was fun and easy. Give it a try.

Sweedish Weave

I have been working on this project for quite some time. It took me a month to finish but it was well worth it. I loved worked on it. It was nice to be able to cozy up on the couch and work on a project and it was really easy to take it to craft groups too.

This is a baby blanket for my little boy due in June. 

I learned how to do this project at a Relief Society Quilt Group. Marlene Seymour was our fabulous instructor. I used slightly variegated green yarn. The white background is what I weaved the yarn into. It is called Monks Cloth. You can get it at Joanns and it comes in Cream and White. If you want other colors you have to order it online.

The smaller pattern is called a bush.

The large pattern is called a tree.

I loved this project. I think I will be doing more Sweedish Weaves in the future. You can buy patterns for them and the instructions are very easy to follow. I love reading your comments so don't be shy :)

You can do it

If you have been wanting to make some cards but didn't know where to start this would be a good card to tackle first. 

All you would need is cardstock, glue, ribbon, a stamp and ink (or a regular computer printer) and a paper cutter (mine is a 12 x 12 fiscars rotary paper slicer).

I took my 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock and I cut it in half. Then I folded the cardstock to make my card base. Then I stamped my feather onto a cream colored cardstock and I ran my ink pad along the edge of the square. Then I clued it to a brown piece of cardstock. I also took scissors and used the blade to rough up the edges by running the blade along the edge. Then I stamped the sentiment at the bottom and tied a ribbon onto the card. It didn't take long at all. 

If you don't have access to ink or stamps then you can use your computer. This is how I started out. Instead of stamping the sentiment right onto the paper you would print the sentiment on cardstock and then cut it out and glue it to the card. You can find all sorts of free graphics on the Internet. There are also sites out there that sell digital stamps so you can download them and reprint them over and over again. Some of them you can even color.

So what are you waiting for? Stop spending a fortune on lame cards from the store and gather up some supplies and start creating. You can send me pictures of your card creations and I"ll post them here on my blog. briellekennington@gmail.com Just include your name and some details about the card. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Toodler Bow Tie

This year for Easter I really wanted to make Austin something that he could wear to church on Sunday. I won't be getting him a new Sunday outfit so I thought this was a good way to spruce up his suit. 

I read through about 6 different tutorials from craft blogs to find one I liked. I liked this bow-tie tutorial the best.  I made a few tweaks to make my bow-tie.

I added some heat-bond thin stabilizer to the back of my fabric pieces. I also cut my small fabric piece 2 x 4 inches. I tried a 2 x 2 inch peace and it didn't fit.

I would have also liked to use a serger for this project but I didn't have one available. *some day I will :)

The last thing I changed was how I put the small piece around the bow-tie. Instead of marking the material and then sewing it with the machine and then sliding it onto the tie...I just hand stitched it on. I wanted it to be nice and tight and I really like how mind turned out. 

I was going to wait to post pictures until my little guy wore it on Sunday but I couldn't wait. I love this fabric and everything I used I already had to this project came to a grand total of $0.00!

I promise I'll post more pictures of my little guy wearing his new bow-tie.

Bold Prints

I tried something new. I wanted to use some really bold prints and see if they worked together. It isn't my favorite card I've ever made but I think it works. Next time I'll use white as my card base and maybe tweak the layout a bit.

Ruffles and polka-dots

This card was really fun to make. I love the teal and red color combo and I just ruffled the ribbon with thread and needle. Then I sewed the ribbon onto the card. I tried my double sided tape but it wouldn't stay.

Birthday Banners

I used some paper from my stash for this project. I punched 1" circles with my punch and then I put double sided tape on the wrong side of the paper and then folded the circle in half over the yarn. I came up with this card when I was looking at all the awesome Holiday Banners people have been making and posting on craft blogs.

DIY Display plate

I wanted to buy a display/serving plate for Jeff's thesis defense but all the ones I liked in the store were too expensive and were made of plastic. I decided to just make my own. I took a trip to Goodwill.... with my two year old in toe. He was a trooper while I stood in the glassware isle and tried to match goblets and plates and candle holders. He ended up with a toy fire engine for his assistance. I found two pieces I liked and a glass cup that was the right height. 

I cleaned them when I got home because they were pretty nasty. I had to soak the cup in vinegar to get rid of all the dirt. Then I used sandpaper to rough up the edges of the cup that I would be gluing to the plates. I used Goop glue. I bought it in a little tube at Hobby Lobby. You can also use Super Glue. The last step was to glue everything together and let it dry. I did that in the evening so it had all night to dry. And the end result.....

It turned out just how I wanted and I think it will look lovely with some mini éclairs on it. The total cost for the project was $5.00. Do you think the Purdue Engineers will be impressed?

A Little Bit of Houndstooth

I love the pattern on this paper. I also love the colors. I think I'm on a green kick lately. Maybe I've "gone green" haha yeah...bad joke. Anyway...this card was really easy to make. I cut gray cardstock into a square. Then I stamped my sentiment and backed it with black cardstock. Then I added my eyelets with my crop a dile and then finished it off with some black ribbon. I wanted to keep it simple because of the Houndstooth pattern paper.

New Layout

This layout was inspired by a sketch I saw in Papercraft magazine. I really like it because it is very versatile. I can make a bunch of different themed cards with this layout and if you turn it sideways and use some cute Christmas paper it looks like whimsical Christmas trees.

Card Bling

I used my new embossing folder I mentioned earlier for the background of this card. The rest of the card-stock I used was just scraps from my stash of cut up card-stock. I found the diamond button in my button jar. I love using things that I already have that may not be exactly for cards. I think it makes the card more interesting and it makes me feel thrifty.

Spring

I am so happy it is Spring. I love going for walks and leaving the windows open and watching the flowers and trees bloom. I wanted to make a card for my friend that has bold colors and pretty patterns.

What is your favorite part of Spring?

New Cuttlebug Folder

I have been potty training my two and a half year old son. We used a reward system to get him to use the potty and I am proud to say he is potty trained. I thought the reward system should apply to the potty trainer as well. I got myself a new Cuttlebug embossing folder as my reward :) I have had my eye on this folder for awhile. It isn't a new release. I just love how versatile it is. It reminds me of the old metal tiles that are on the ceilings of really old hotels. I can guarantee you will be seeing many more cards with this pattern on it.