Joy Fold Card

The other day I came across the joy-fold card, and decided I had to give it a whirl. It was so easy for such a unique looking card. If you've never made one,  it's basically one card with a second placed inside, but backwards. That probably doesn't make sense, so check out the second photo for the visual clarification :)

I apologize, because I made this weeks ago and don't remember the measurements I used for each card. BUT just google or youtube "joy-fold card" and many, MANY tutorials will show up.

I wanted to do a quick and simple card, so I just grabbed a stamp and used some gel pens to color it in. The yellow buttons on the left are attached using pop up dots, which helps the front card flap stay closed. You can experiment with different objects to help keep your card closed. I tried decorative paper clips but didn't like the clutter. As long as it has height so the card can slide under it and stay shut.

 

Easy.Peasy.

Yet, unique.

 

The last few days I've been busy making things for my nieces 4th birthday. She's obsessed with the Disney movie Brave, so naturally that is her theme. I just finished her banner tonight. I'll have pictures and a post on that next :]

 

 

Getting Settled, and some re-upholstering

We drove for three days. The drive surprisingly wasn't so bad. I was pretty sure I would go crazy along the way... I'm still not sure how I didn't.

When we got here, we only had the few necessities we were able to cram into my little Malibu- being our pots and pans, pillows, blanket, a Pyrex set, my sewing machine (that was a MUST), some silverware and toiletries. And clothes. We were told the moving company would have our stuff here in a week.

 

First dinner together in our new place! (No table yet)

But for any of you who are familiar with the military, you things are rarely as they say.



our sleeping arrangements

yes, that is a broken dresser mirror... :(

So FOUR weeks later, we finally get our things. Yes, FOUR weeks of sleeping on the the ground, not having a couch, or lamps, or laundry baskets, or basically any of the things we typically take for granted. But it left us with some fun memories and learning to be like MacGyver.

 

Alas! The crafting can resume!

So my first project was to re-upholster our dinning room chairs. The set was given to us from my hubby's parents. It was his dad's mother's set, and the seats were already re-upholster once. In some AWESOME 70's style fabric.

 

So I went to Hobby Lobby, got some fabric, and a staple gun, and went to work.

I had some extra fabric and decided to make a place mat for the center. I added brown lace to the edges to give it texture and flair.

Sorry I don't have a close-up.  I love the end results! Even the Mr. liked the fabric and place mat. And I couldn't pass up the wall decor from Hobby Lobby. I'm in a lot of trouble having one only a few miles away! (Compared to 40 mins away at home)

Have a great week :)

 

 

Changes Along the Way

It has been quite a long time since I blogged... I'm pretty sure I lost all my readers, but rather than starting completely over I figured I'd start right where I left off. Well, kinda.  So in my hiatus I had gotten a new job, had my boyfriend deployed to Iraq, had my sister along with her 3 young boys move in with my parents and me, gotten engaged, planned a wedding in 6 months, got married, and moved 1700 miles away to start a life with the man of my dreams.

Needless to say, my crafting was put to a bare minimum. But I'm back on board, and since I'm currently an unemployed army wife, I've had LOTS of time to regain my creative bug. I just wanted to start off by sharing our story through photos of our wedding and travels to Texas. Then I'll begin to share all the adventures in craft - land I've been having :]

So it starts with this. Our engagement. He flew home on Christmas Eve. (After just finishing a deployment in Iraq). An hour after he landed, we were on our way to my Aunt's. Before walking into the house filled with my giantic family, he "realized" that he left the camera in the car (totally planned) and walked me back to the front yard to get it from the backseat. As he grabs the camera and closes the door, he kneels down, opens the camera bag to get the ring from it, and proposes.

Well, clearly I say YES! And now full of tears and joyfull anxiety, I had to face the 32 family members inside.

The next morning we were off on our 3 hour drive to visit his family. The next few days will packed and went VERY quickly. 

And a week later he left. The next time I would see him would be two days before the wedding.

 Let's just say that was an interesting 6 months.

But it was all worth it to have such a beautiful day. A day full of excitement for the future, as well as complete sadness to be leaving my family and friends behind for a few years. But after two long years of being away from my boyfriend, he was now my husband, and we could finally begin to have a 'normal' life again.

 

 We got married on June 30th. And by July 5th we were on our way to the desert, aka, our new home.

 



View from our hotel room in Little Rock

chuckin' along...  

And slowly it became less and less green around us. After driving on a road with absolutly nothing, going 75 mph, for 2 straight hours, without sight of a gas station or rest area (something straight out of the horror movies) we got to our destination.


Hello El Paso. Let's see what this side of the country has in store for us...

All Things Grow with Love

Who doesn't love the sun?
It's finally shining a lot around here, but I probably just jinxed it.
All the rain we've gotten is at least keeping the grass green and the flowers pretty :]

Inspiring me to make these two cards

Recipe: K and C Comanpy background paper
Fiskars stamp sentiment- heat embossed with copper powder
Freshly Picked cartridge
Twine
Flower brads

Enjoy your week!

Chaos Challenge

Going through my blog photos, I realized I'd never posted a card I made in March, for my new nephew :]
And it just so happens that it coordinates perfectly for this weeks CCCC hosted by Paula at More Than Favors.

I don't have the New Arrival cartridge, but I have Popurri, which has samples from many various cartridges, including New arrival. How perfect :]

The yellow paper is embossed with spots and dots
Sentiment- Stampin' Up
Cartridge-Popurri
Ribbon and buttons

And here's a pic of the cute little man

<3 Rae

Summer is ALMOST here!

Only 8 days of school left! The kids are so ready to be done, it makes teachers want it to be over even faster. Plus it's finally getting warm here! Acutally, it was absolutely disgustingly hot today... but I loved it :]
So warmer weather means...

BASEBALL! Which, unfortunately, as awesome as the Tribe is doing, every game I've been to we have lost. I'm convinced I'm the bad luck charm.



Grady is in here somewhere... :]

                                                                  




Downtown Cleveland


But I'm sure I'll still be going to many more. In other news- I've uploaded tons of projects to share on here! I decided to start with my fabric daisies. I've wanted to post these for months now. I'm such a procrastinator...

These flowers are simply and very versitile. The could be placed on a t shirt, headband, purse, etc.
I actually came across a youtube video that showed how to make these months ago, and finally gave it a try with my own spin on it.
Start by taking a 3 in circle (or smaller or bigger, depending on the size you'd like)
And cut about 5-6 out of fabric. Then, make a slit cut halfway up the center of each one:

Then, starting at the slit, fold the side up, making a triangle. Then, flip it over and fold again.
Continue folding the fabric into an acordion, back and forth and back and forth.

Until you go around the entire circle, and it looks like this:

This is the first petal. Take a needle and thread and tack it together at the tip. You will make the rest of the petals and sew them all together to make a circle of petals.

(I use one long piece of thread and slide each petal on the same continuous thread line, then pull it tight to make them form a circle)

Then add a button or piece of felt in the middle.

You can attach the flowers to basically anything imaginable. I put one on a headband

Hope you enjoy! Share your ideas on fabric flowers- there are soo many different ways to make them!

<3 Rae

I'm Still HERE! : ]

It's been a month since I've last posted- and I send out my appolgies :[
Sometimes life just grabs us and rips us apart from the computer... so, for all my faithful followers, I appreciate you still following, and I have LOTS of projects to share and comments to leave you all as well.

The good news is that I only have two more weeks of school/work and then it's summer time! What will I do with all my free time?

-oookay--Time for crafts! The first thing I want to share is a clock I made as a gift. It was simple, quick, fun, and a different change of pace from paper crafts. Plus, it's so simple that children can do it, or at least help out in making it :]

Here's my finished product: (sorry for the blurry picture)

I went to Joann's and found a wooden square with the back hollowed out, for like $3. And in the same isle, I found a clock kit, which was my insipiration, for $7. Then I grabbed a few wooded flat dowels for like 25 cents.

1st- sand, if necessary or desired, with sandpaper-then paint the dowels and wooden base. I sponge painted mine black and gray.

    



Paint the wooden dowels and attach them to the edges of a 4x6 piece of glass or plexi glass.

 This will be the frame for your picture and covering/protector. I then affixed that to the wooded base. ( Using Tacky glue, but I assume wood glue, elmers, or hot glue guns would work just as well)

Center where you would like to have the middle of your clock, making sure the hands of the clock will not go over the base ends. Drill a hole.

Flip the base over, and attach the clock fixture according to the box's directions.

Then, place your clock numbers on. They are sticky on one side, but you can glue them for extra support. I didn't, and mine haven't come loose yet.

You can add ribbon or other embelishments, engraving, etc.

It's easy, fairly simple, cheap, and I think it's a great DIY gift :]

Happy Crafting!

(...and many more posts to come! on fabric flowers, sewing maching covers, and many cards)