Monday, April 26, 2010

Pink and Black Polka Dot Apron card

Before I put my apron swap package in the mail to my polka dot apron swap partner (see post below) I wanted to include a card with her surprises and introduce myself. This is one of my favorite apron stamps and lends itself well to paper piecing. The apron stamp is by Lockhart Stamp company and the sentiment stamp (Queen for a Day) is from Anna Griffin.

Time to wrap up the package and get it in the mail now.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Polka Dot Pretties Apron Swap

Once again, I've joined an apron swap and this time the theme was "POLKA DOT PRETTIES". What's more fun than a festive polka dot apron to wear while baking up some kind of yummy goodness in the kitchen? This is the apron I made for my secret partner.

I've been seeing handmade bows on garments, headbands and apron pockets in books and magazines so I decided that this polka dot pretty could use a big bow on the pocket too. I don't know why, but it reminds me of Lucille Ball or at least something that I Love Lucy would wear.

I wanted to include a little something extra for my secret partner to coordinate with her apron so I made her this matching hot pad. The top of the hot pad has pockets in which you put your thumb in on one side and your fingers through the other and then just pinch the pot handle or pan.

See how it works?

Each participant is also to include a cookbook of any type you'd like. I am sending my partner a special cookie cookbook. I must say that I've glanced through it and I may have to go back and get my own copy of it. There are some yummy looking cookie recipes in it.

So tomorrow I'll wrap up and mail all of this polka dot pretty goodness to my secret partner. I hope she'll enjoy it.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Magnetic bookmark

Today's Serendipity Stamps design team challenge is to create bookmarks stamped and embellished with Serendipity Stamps. The stamp I used for my bookmark is a new design. It is titled STAMP OF APPROVAL and is catalogue number: 1205E I thought this bookmark would be a fun end of school year project for teachers to either have their class create or even perhaps teachers might like to give them out as summer reading incentives. These magnetic bookmarks really hold the pages in place to mark your spot and don't fall out easily.



I stamped on shiney metalic blue cardstock with Versamark and heat embossed the image using white ultra fine embossing powder. Next I cut the image out with a small circle die and matted it on a larger gold circle cardstock. Next I used the pointy circle nestibilities circle die (wow...say that three times fast!) to create the points.

Now that I have the top circle (it is merely three circles adhered together) I attached a small magnet to the back. Then I cut a strip of metalic blue cardstock 8 1/2" by 1 1/2" wide and scored it in the center and folded it. This is the body of the bookmark that will slip between the pages of your book. I stamped the front with "Enjoy!" (Serendipity stamp 1206B) and embossed with white ultra fine embossing powder.

Now the bookmark is ready to assemble and insert in your book. Attach the circles to the top of the front of your bookmark. Turn your bookmark over and on the back attach the second part of the magnet. It isn't hard to perfectly line up the magnets because they are quite powerful magnets, despite their small size. Attach it to the back of the bookmark and VOILA! Your bookmark is ready to use!


BOOKMARK RECIPE:

Stamps: Serendipity Stamps of Approval #1205E and ENJOY! #1206E
Cardstock: Royal blue metalic cardstock and gold cardstock
Ink: Versamark and White detail embossing powder
Accessories: 3 graduated sizes of Nestibilities circle dies, white detail embossing powder and small circle magnets

For more bookmarks using Serendipity Stamps, be sure to check out the rest of the Serendipity Design Team members work:

Amy Cokley
Anya Schrier
Kathie Bailey
Lynda Benden

Cheers!

Jennifer

Monday, April 19, 2010

Oh Poo!!! My sewing has gone to the dogs!

The past several weeks, in preparation for the arrival of my new Newfoundland puppy, NOAH, I have been sewing for him. This has been such fun for me to allow my sewing projects just go to the dogs! Tee hee hee!

Noah will eventually need an extra large size collar but even Newfoundlands start out as wee babies. Rather than invest in small collars as he grows I decided to make them for him as he grows.


This is Noah's first collar. I did have a bowtie attached to it but my husband is not happy about adorning our dogs with "frou-frou"! So, here is the collar, sans bow tie.

Collars are the easiest and fastest things to create. All you need is the hardware which includes the clasp, size adjuster slide and tag piece. I liked this blue dog bone fabric for a newborne pup.

I had hoped to get some adorable photos of Noah modeling his new collar. Noah has informed me that he has no desire to be a collar model and would not hold still for photos.

Try as I might to get my sweet little bear to pose, he just wouldn't cooperate.

Finally, Noah said, "I'm outta here!" and waddled off to see what the other dogs were doing.
OK...the above photo is just because he IS so stinkin' C+U+T+E!! You can't see the collar but it is under all of that soft puppy fluff!

Now let's get to the "bottom" of things. When you take your dogs for a walk, you want to be a good citizen and responsible pet owner. Yes, that's right. You MUST pick up the dog's ... ahem..."droppings", "deposits", "biscuits" .... ok, let's be blunt! You MUST pick up the dog's POO! But how many times have you been out on a walk and have forgotten to take along bags for the collection process?

I designed this simple to use "Poo bag holder" to attach to the leash and make carrying bags with you easy to get to and a supply available at every pit stop!

This little dispenser bag clips to the leash handle or to your belt loop or buttonhole...whatever is most convenient for you. I find it easiest to keep it clipped to the leash handle and then it is always ready to go when you are ready for you walks.

The bag is about 6 inches long in total so it isn't real big or cumbersome but it will hold about 6 or 7 plastic grocery sacks. Just pull one at a time from the bottom and you're ready to clean up after your pooch.

I have some more projects for the pooches that I've been working on. Perhaps if there is interest after displaying my wares, I may set up an etsy shop if anyone is interested in purchasing haute couture dog accessories.

What do you think?

Time to walk my dogs. See you soon!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Introducing NOAH

No cards. No sewing. No cooking for today. Today I want to introduce to you my Newfoundland puppy NOAH.


Noah is 8 weeks old and is the sweetest, most cuddly little bear.
He looks so serious in these photos but he is the mushy-est, most huggleable Newf pup ever!

I just had to introduce Noah to my dear blog friends. You'll be seeing a lot more of him, as well as his big brother Gabriel and big sister Paige who are also Newfoundland dogs. I've been sewing a lot lately and I have some dog related items that have been a lot of fun to make for my pups so I'll share those with you later.

Now come on...isn't Noah just about the most precious puppy ever? I think so.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Serendipity Stamps Mother's Day challenge

Today is another Serendipity Stamps Challenge and this week's challenge is to make a Mother's Day card using the sketch layout below.
Mother's Day always falls at the time my lilacs are blooming so I thought this Serendipity Stamps set, titled Butterfly Bush, was just right for creating a card for mom.


Card Recipe:
Stamps: Serendipity Stamps Butterfly Bush
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black. Image colored with Copic Markers and gel pens
Paper: K&Company
Accessories: Nestibilities oval dies, Martha Stewart Butterfly punch and lace scalloped border, Flower Soft product, Sheer ribbons, stickles.

For more Mother's day cards using Serendipity Stamps and this week's layout challenge, be sure to check out the rest of the Serendipity Design Team members work:

Amy Cokley
Anya Schrier
Kathie Bailey
Lynda Benden

Cheers!

Jennifer


Mother's Day

These sweet dresses hanging on the clothesline is such a nastolgic image and I think it makes a sweet Mother's Day card. This stamp set is from Serendipity Stamps and this cling set is simply titled Three Dresses.

I stamped the dresses twice and cut out the second set and popped them up on foam tape to add dimension and the appearance of hanging on the line.

While this card doesn't actually wish a "Happy Mother's Day" in the sentiment, I think this sweet quote by Samuel Butler (which is also one of the stamps included in this Serendipity Stamps cling set) is perfect for remembering mom and thanking her for all she did. The sentiment reads, "How dear to this heart are the scenes from my childhood." Above is the inside of my Mother's Day card.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Serendipity Stamps 017QCL Three Dresses
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black. Image colored with Copic Markers
Paper: K&Company
Accessories: Martha Stewart eyelet lace border punch, foam tape, machine stitching and eyelet and lace and ribbons.

Cheers!

Jennifer