Cross Canada Hop: Home Decor

Welcome to another Cross Canada Blog Hop!  We're excited to show you some fun home decor this month.  If you arrived from Arlene's blog, you're on the right track.  Remember that this is a cyclical hop, so just keep hopping until you get back to where you started.  If you would like to literally "hop across Canada" you can click here to start at Michelle's blog.  She also has a complete list of hoppers in case you get lost along the way.

Using papercrafting as a way to add to your home's decor is super popular right now.  If you follow my blog, you've seen quite a few of these types of projects lately!  I just love it.  My love of paper, stamps and embellishments is creeping out of my scrapbooks and off my cards into my home and it makes me smile every time I look at them.

The project I chose to showcase today isn't a new one.  If you've been in my basement studio, you've probably seen it.  I created it about a year ago, but realized I never posted about it on my blog.  So, it seemed like the perfect choice for this hop.  Here it is:

I've made three of these topiaries now, all different styles.  You can see my first one here.  It takes a lot of time, but the finished project is well worth the effort.  The rolled flowers are all cut on the Cricut, with the Art Philosophy cartridge (Font function, shift, Tag5 key) at 4".  I used only Wonderland paper and Moonstruck cardstock (both retired).  Here's a close up:

I used Liquid Glass on the rolled flowers, but have since started using a hot glue gun.  It goes a lot quicker.  After they were dry I pinned them with regular pearl-topped pins right into a styrofoam ball.  The wooden dowel was stuck in after all the flowers were added. I didn't even add hot glue to keep it in place.  This way I can take this project to other places by just popping the top off!  The dowel is stuck into some green floral foam in the bucket, which I bought at Michaels.  I added some hot glue in the bucket before covering the whole thing with rocks from Dollarama.  To finish it off, I used some ribbon from the Blue Designer Ribbon collection (also retired) to tie a bow.

This now sits proudly on my shelf in my studio.  Want to make one of these, but don't have a Cricut?  The post with my first topiary includes instructions on cutting these flowers by hand.

Now it's time to hop on over to Sheri's blog and check out what she's created.  Happy Creating!

CTMH: Join the Excitement!

Have you heard the news?  Now is a perfect time to join the Simply Creating team!

When you join our team during the month of April, you will get the Stamps-of-the-Month from April all the way to July for FREE!  Not only are free stamp sets an awesome deal, but it'll give you a great heads up on preparing beautiful projects for your new business or just for the fun of it.  

Not sure?  Think about what an extra several hundred dollars a month would mean for your family.  What would you get to do?  What would you get to do with or for your family?  What would you buy?  Would you pay off some debt?  Would you splurge on your favourite products?  Would you get that vacation you've been saving for sooner?  What difference would it make?  If you think you might be interested in learning more, email me. (You'll find my address by clicking on view my complete profile.)  We'll set up a time to chat or meet and I can answer your questions and help get you started.

Ready to start now?  Click here to sign up, and then email me to share your excitement!!

Paper Rose and Burlap Wreath

Wow, did I ever love making this wreath!  As I said on daytime Durham, I'm really starting to enjoy making Home Decor with my paper supplies.  If you've been following my blog for a while, you also know that I adore burlap, so when I saw some burlap wreaths on Pinterest I knew I just had to make one.

Here it is, hanging on my door.  (I finally took down my Christmas one!)

I used a wreath form and a roll of burlap from Michaels.  I love the smell of the burlap!  The roses are all cut from the Artiste cartridge, Key F, Accent 2.  The two biggest flowers are cut at the largest possible size.  Love rolling BIG flowers.  The smaller ones are cut from Chantilly paper, at various sizes.  I also used Blush, Buttercup and Cotton Candy cardstock.  For this time, I glued the flowers together using a hot glue gun so it went pretty quick.  Here's a close up of the flowers:

Inside the big flowers I added some pearl opaques as well as pearl badge buttons.

After the flowers were hot glued on, I wrapped some Sweet Leaf Grosgrain ribbon around the top a couple times, tied a bow and added some more hot glue.  My glue gun is getting a workout!

I hope this project gets you in a springy mood.  It's definitely beginning to look and feel like spring here and that makes me happy.

Happy Creating!

CTMH Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop

Hello everyone!  Happy Easter, again.  I hope you're having a wonderful weekend with family like we are.  If you came from Mary's blog, you're on the right track.  If this is your first stop, then just keep hopping until you get back here and you will have feasted your eyes on every bit of loveliness the CTMH consultants have created for your inspiration.

The stamp set we're spotlighting this month is called My Sunshine and as soon as I saw it, I fell in love!

Isn't it adorable?  Those red lines around some of the images mean they can be cut on Cricut, with our Artiste cartridge.  Here is my project:

If it looks familiar, it's because I just used this same frame for an Easter project.  I just swapped out all the bits and created this fun summery frame.  To stamp the balloon, I used sponge daubers to ink up the image with Lagoon, Sunset and Honey ink.  The sun is stamped with Honey as well, the centre being done with a second generation technique.  The sentiment is in Black Archival ink.  The balloon was cut from Lagoon cardstock at the suggested size, 2 3/4".  Then I cut it again from White Daisy, at 2 1/2" and stamped it so there would be no white edge.  I used Lagoon, Black and White Daisy cardstock.  Here's a close up of all the layers:

Now, it's time to hop on over to Traci's blog and discover another way to use this stamp set.  I'd love to see what you create with this set over the month.  

Happy Creating!

Happy Easter! He is Risen Frame

I want to take some time to wish everyone a very Happy Easter!  I don't know what your long weekend is like, but here in Ontario, we not only get Good Friday off school, but we also get Monday off.  My hubby is off as well, which makes a perfect 4-day weekend.  It means we've done lots of visiting family and enjoyed some yummy meals, but we've also had a chance to celebrate in special ways, with two church services.

This holiday is super special to me; the time we spend thinking about Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is always an emotional time for me.  Yup, I'm often in tears during our Good Friday service.  But, it's also so exciting when we get to rejoice in His resurrection on Sunday morning!  Sunday morning, I'll have the privilege to participate in an Expressive Arts presentation.  We'll do some really neat moves/sign language/liturgical dance to this song, I Am, by Eddie James.

Such a powerful song and I have so much fun being a part of this group.  It's something I get to do more often.  Bet you didn't know that about me.  ;)

I know, you want to get to the artwork.  If you follow my Facebook page, you've already seen this.

I loved the layers in this frame I bought at Dollarama.  Stay tuned.  My next post, for the Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop uses this frame, too!

Products used:

White Daisy, Smokey Plum, Ruby cardstock

Archival Black ink pad

Gold embossing powder

Versamark ink

Happy Easter and Happy Creating!

CTMH: You+Me=Heart!

I'm trying hard to catch up on some blog posts I promised to do.  It's been a little while since my Valentine's Day appearance on daytime Durham, but I did say I would post photos of the card I made.  Here it is:

It might be all about love, but I think you can give this to your main squeeze any time of the year.  I used the Dakota paper packet, Pacifica, Slate and Whisper cardstock and the Whoo's Your Valentine stamp set with Barn Red ink.  The pocket was cut with the Cricut but I can't remember which cartridge.  I also sponged Slate ink on all the edges.  I added a couple Artisan studs, but I can see that one fell off.  The Baker's Twine is Grey Flannel (retired).

Happy Creating!

Easter Basket

Hello!  Welcome to my blog.  If you're here because you saw my segment on daytime Durham yesterday, you're in the right spot.  Here is the project we made on the show:

I had so much fun coming up with a quick and easy project to complete on air.  When I need quick and easy, I go to my Cricut.  Every piece for this little basket was cut with the Artiste and Art Philosophy cartridges.  Here are the instructions:

1.  Cut the basket, using Buttercup cardstock.  Use the Artiste cartridge, page 73.  3-D creative function, Spring/Easter key, at 2 1/4".

2.  Cut the handle, using a piece of patterned paper.  (I used Chantilly.)  Use Shift, and the same key and function, at 2 1/4" as well.

3.  Cut the grass, using green patterned paper.  Use Accent 3 function, Shift, same key, Fit to Length mode, at 11".  

4.  Cut the tag, using cardstock.  Use the Art Philosophy cartridge, page 39. Use Shift, Tag function, key, at 2 1/4".

5.  Assemble the box following the instructions in the provided booklet.

6.  Adhere the grass, but just applying adhesive to the very bottom.  You can use your finger to curl the tips out a bit.

7.  Attach the handle with two brads the same colour.

8.  Stamp your sentiment on the tag.  I used Twilight ink.

9.  Tie your tag onto the handle using Baker's Twine.  I used Smoothie.

10.  Fill with some sweet grass and yummy treats!

Here's another look.

If you make something like this, let me know by posting your link in the comments.  I'd love to see it!  Stay tuned, because I'll be posting photos of my paper rose wreath soon.

Happy Creating!