AFTCM Coffin Swap

This was a fun project. I tried more for the macabre
but I think it still has a little cute in it. The back of
the coffin is covered with the paper with the writing
that's used on the lid sides. I couldn't pull off the idea
I had imagined for the top of the lid, but I've just spent
too much time searching for what I wanted to do.
At some point I just have to stop because I become
obsessive. When it was done I'm not sure I loved it..
but it's grown on me. I hope my partner likes it enough.

This week's swap projects. AFTCM Halloween or Fall Steampunk Swap and Tag w/related ATC Swap .

Ribbon Winning Fair Projects.

The fair is over and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. I came home with ribbons on all 6 projects (if you count the participation ribbon for the 1 item that didn't win anything).  Of note.. 5 of the 6 projects were made using Graphic 45 papers.  Upper left red ribbon was 2nd place, upper right white participation ribbon, lower left 3rd place ribbon. Lower right blue is 1st place, green is Honorable Mention and the white ribbon is 3rd place.  This was my first time submitting anything in the Hobby Hall.  It certainly won't be my last.

Masculine 1 page mini book.

The base for this mini page book was made using 1 12x12 sheet of card stock. . Used Graphic 45 Boardwalk and Perfect Gentleman Papers. This mini book style was designed by Dawn S. and her how to YouTube video can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czu41mN0_1A&feature=plcp   Once I made a couple I was addicted.  It's amazing how much page space there is in the book.  They measure approximately 5-3/4 x 4-1/8 when closed.

Pink & Green Floral 1 page mini book.

Made using papers from K & Company.

Vintage Floral 1 page mini book.

Made using paper from K & Company.

Christmas themed 1 page mini album.

Made using Graphic 45's Nutcracker Sweet paper line.

One more project

One more project that I

finished is a 4 x 4 mini
book with a Halloween
theme.  I made little
pockets on the inside to
hold tags.  Love making
mini books!

Asian Triptych

I started this project last night at around 10 pm.  I'd been waiting for the Graphic 45 "Bird Song" paper line to come in at my favorite local craft store and I finally was able to pick it up on Friday night.  An idea came to me and I thought I would just get it started on it. I made the triptych base using the cabinet card dies from Tim Holtz.  Once I started I just kept going and before I knew it, I'd finished it and it was 2:30 in the morning. Yikes! It's a good thing church wasn't until 12:30 and I could sleep in this morning. I won a scrapbook page contest on Graphic 45's facebook page and I received their new Christmas paper "Nutcracker Sweet" as well as some staples including the hinges I used in this project.  It was a little tricky on some parts... but all in all I love how it turned out.

Latest ATC projects.

Some of the recent ATC swaps from various groups
feature Halloween, fall and real postage stamps (I
chose an Egyptian theme).  The great thing about
doing ATC projects is they are small (2-1/2 x 3-1/2)
and it doesn't take a lot to fill the space.  So they
work up really quick.  They're also a great substrate
for using up all those scraps you have a hard time
throwing away. 

A Craft-a-Holic at work...

One of the projects I did for the Mini-Books Yahoo Group's September swaps.  It is a mini album made from 1 sheet of 12 x12 paper (the green base).  It's a pattern of folds and cutting that create an amazingly page high capacity, more so than any other 1 page mini I've seen.  The closed size is about 4 x 6 in size. Three of the pages I turned into pockets with tags in them.   I love my flower combination on this project.. I'm really getting the hang of the paper flower making.  I used the Tattered Floral and Rosette Tim Holtz dies for this flower combo. (I made an error in the assembly, forgetting to glue a panel together for a 4th pocket.)

Unfinished projects..

While working on the clock, waiting for glue to dry I worked on an  unfinished card project.  When I go to the craft store's scrapbooking night I seldom actually assemble the card projects there.  I often find that some elements don't appeal to me so I bring them home to complete.  Which I seldom get around to doing. I did however like this Graphic 45 inspired card they put together for us.  I did the arrangement a little differently and added the tattered flowers.  I had several flowers left over from my coffin project.   I also put a little work into a second coffin project.  This will be a little more on the scarier side.  It is for a partner swap on my ArtForTheCreativeMind yahoo group.

Made myself a clock for my living room mantle.

A month or so ago I purchased a Creative Imaginations clock kit at TJ Maxx for about $8. I had already purchased the clock face paper some time before that not really sure what I'd do with it.  But when I saw this clock kit I knew it was perfect.  Well except that the clock kit is 11.5 x 11.5 and the clock face had swirly scrolls flying off of it.. that I had to cut off because the went beyond the edges of the wood clock.  I glued the clock face to chipboard so it was raised off the background a little.  For my background I used one of Prima's paper lines, Nature's Garden by designer Jodi Lee. She does such beautiful designs.  It's too bad most of the image is covered. For the most part I'm pleased with how well it turned out. If I was doing it over, I don't think I would have inked the edges in such a dark color.  I wanted to use brown but none of my browns were really dark enough.  I used Mod Podge for a nice matte finish on the papers.  The clock leans on my mantle in the living room.  Now I can stop asking the hubby what time it is.

12 Tags of 2012 - My September (ATC) Tag

Here is my September ATC for the 12 Tags.
Pretty pleased with how it turned out.  It
came together really fast for me since I love
to work in this style of art.  ZIf you want to
see Tm's tag version click on the link in the
right column.