Tired of Washi tape yet?

I'm sorry -- am I boring you with all my Washi tape adventures?  I've just completed this class with a total of 22 students working with Washi tape, so someone besides me likes this stuff!  Here's the class we just completed.

The card on the left was shown before -- that was my first time trying this fabulous glitter Washi tape.  The blue butterfly picture was done using a butterfly die and combining it with the "pillow" technique background.

The card on the left was the first card I had made with the tape on hand at the store.  This was a very popular card for some unexplained reason -- maybe because it was so easy?  The one on the right is done with that fabulous gold glitter Washi, narrow gold ribbon and the gold polka dotted Washi again.

We had to have something to put all these lovely cards in, so I created this box...

I have since changed the design a bit by adding white glitter to the embossed areas on the box top.  It looks much nicer than this one.  More flowers were made using various dies and Washi Tape. 

I hope you enjoyed adventures in Washi land.  I'll probably be showing more!  I'd better -- I own a box full of it now!  We crafters are such collectors, aren't we?

Ciao for now!

Ciao Bella! 

Autumn Washi

Hello Crafters!  I was away this weekend with the Queens of Inkland at the cottage on the lake in Maine.  The scenery inspired the feel of this card.  The trees are just starting to turn up there and in two weeks time it will be spectacular.  I hope I can go back up.

Anyway, there we were, trashing the cottage with all our stamp gear.  It's difficult when you go away to know what "toys" to bring with you.  I was going to do a Washi project with the Queens and got carried away as I always do with Washi tape.  But what to do?  I had limited "stuff" with me, so I created an uber-simple card with just what I had on hand.  A simple card with a few layers and a simple die cut.  I hope you enjoy it.

Let me know what you think of Washi (Trendy) Tape.  Have't tried it yet?  I made a few converts this weekend, let me tell you.  They had a grand time playing with it.  I'll post another project we did later on.  So, feel free to comment or even ask questions.

Ciao for now!

Ciao Bella! 

The votes are in!!!

The results of the Craft Room Disaster contest are in and the winner (or is that loser?) is (drum roll please):  Craft Room Disaster #2!!!

It is with deep shame, honest regret and heavy humiliation that I accept the award -- that was my craft room (it should be called a Crap Room).  I told Maria mine was worse!! And sadly, it’s still in that same shape!  I can’t seem to find a place for anything!  Looks like I gotta buy a new house just for my crafts, right?  Works for me!

So, now on to the winner of the “unloved” item being bestowed by the Loser, er... winner, er... loser -- jeez!  which is it?  I’m a winner and a loser all in one!  Well, anyway, I threw all the names in a bowl and the owner of one of my “unloved” precious craft items is (another drum roll please):   Mary T!!!!  Congrats Mary!  I know where you live, so I guess I’ll be delivering it in person.  Just don’t let me near your craft room -- you can see what happens when I’m in one.  

Now in all honesty, if you read through some of the comments, a few of you were thanking me for making you feel better about your own Craft Room Disasters.  One of you had the Red Cross in your room handing out donuts and coffee!!  Sheesh!  

Seriously, tho, thanks one and all for joining in the fun.  I enjoyed the remarks.  Oh, and Cuz, you need to come up here and organize for me -- YOU SAID!!!!

Ciao for now!

Ciao Bella! 

Craft Room Wars

You've heard of Craft Wars, haven't you?  It's a new program where they pit 3 crafters against one another to be the most creative of the challenge set forth by the judges.  It's fun to watch.  Well, I think I've discovered a new show for you to watch...

We teachers were swapping craft room nightmares while we were at the store opening of Kept Creations.  It was getting to a one-upmanship situation with how messy we had all left our craft rooms because we were so busy prepping for the store opening and classes and M&T's.  

We tried describing our rooms to one another and, well let's just say a picture is worth a thousand words (perhaps a million in this case).  Maria K. (she's threatened to stop speaking to me if I post this) and I decided to take pics of our craft rooms POST- disaster to compare.  We honestly can't make up our minds which of us has the worst disaster in crafting history.  Can you help us decide?

So, I am issuing a challenge.  I'd like to hear from all of you by posting your vote for Worst Craft Room.  I will randomly pick a name from all who respond and that winner will receive an "unloved" item from the winner of the Worst Craft Room Wars.  What?  you were expecting something new?  You do realize that we can't FIND anything that may be NEW in either of these craft rooms!

Now if you've been to either of our craft rooms and know which is which, just be fair and vote for Craft Room Disaster #1 or #2 (that's how I'll post them to be fair).

You be the judge!!

Craft Room Disaster #1

Craft Room Disaster #2

And just so you know,  I am NOT proud of whichever one of these rooms it is!!  I'll get in touch via email to the winner and get your address so that you can claim your "unloved" item.  Invite your friends and family to join in the fun as well -- we're not proud (rather obvious, isn't it?)

Ciao Bella!

Back from vacation...

Oh, it's so not good to be home!  Yes, you read that correctly.  I stayed with some friends in upstate New York for a few days in a town named Chittenango (translation:  where the river runs North).  It's the birthplace of Frank L. Baum, the author of the Wizard of Oz.  The town is quaint with yellow bricks lining the insides of the sidewalks.  There used to be stores there named The Wizard of Oz Cream and Toto's, but they have gone the way of progress.  Tsk, tsk.

Immediately upon arrival, we plunked the lobsters in the pot to boil -- a rarity for our New York friends -- fresh lobsters!  Here are a few pics before and after and then those who consumed these critters.

Here are the little fellows on the patio.  That's a 3 pounder on the left and the two in the front row are 2 pounders and followed up by 1-1/4 pounders in the rear.

Now THIS is what they should look like!

And THIS is how to enjoy them - with wonderful friends around the kitchen table.

On the far left is my friend, Joyce, who was our hostess for the long weekend.  She lives in a lovely refurbished farmhouse.  Here's a pic of the outside portion of the house.

The Gator is always gassed and ready to run us up thru the properties when we visit a neighbor or just to visit the peaceful countryside.  Here are some shots of the wonderful flowers Joyce grows.  She's a wonderful gardener!  

This is just a small sampling of how beautiful it is around her house.  She also has a vegetable garden that we raid before we leave.  The tomatoes were to die for!

And here we all are.  That's Agnes on the left next to her sister, Martha, then me and Joyce.  The Gator always plays a big part in our pictures!

So, I'm back and ready to get back into the saddle of the rat race again.  Thanks for stopping by.  Ciao for now!

Ciao Bella!

Washi tape...

Washi is one of the names of this wonderful tape.  Other companies use different names for it, but it's basically the same, a thin, printed, lightly tacky tape that you can use in your card making endeavors.  I've posted other samples previously, but I wanted to show you a card using Freckled Fawn's Washi tape in gold.  This is gorgeous tape!  It has such high sparkle and itty bitty stars and dots embedded in the tape.  You can just make out the holographic effects these little "speckles" add to this card.  The dotted Washi tape is also by Freckled Fawn and has little gold dots that compliment the glitter tape.

I used an MFT die to create the rose using the same Washi tape in gold and the green leaves were simply punched from a pre-glittered paper that I had on hand.  Note the absence of a "BOW"!  How unlike me!  I just felt it needed something simpler, so a knot it is!  (Sinful thing to do since I created the Craft-Dee BowZ - LOL!)  Oh, and the background embossing  border folder is from Sizzix.

Enjoy and Ciao for now!

Ciao Bella!

Let's try that Steampunk thing again...

I'm laughing about this post because a few of you told me that I did "miss" the look of Steampunk by a mini mile the last time.  Never a one to give up, here's my latest attempt.  I used the 7 Gypsies 6-compartment format this time as I was not up to the task of designing 12 compartments right now.  This one was actually more fun for some ridiculous reason.  So, once again, you be the judge!

Here are a few closeups of some of the compartments...

I gotta tell you I had a blast doing the Amelia Earhart block!  No rhyme or reason -- I just had fun doing it.

I will be teaching a class on this at The Crop Shop in Rockland, MA  on Friday, September 14th from 7-9pm.  So give them a call and reserve your seat!

I am FINALLY taking a few well needed days of R&R and going to see a special friend in Syracuse, NY.  I'll be baaack!

Ciao for now!

Ciao Bella!