My First Attempt with Glass Blocks

I've been wanting to try these blocks for a long time. I had one sitting on my desk waiting for me to do something with it for weeks. I finally gave it a try this week.

I designed this in the Gypsy, and cut from vinyl. The moon is from A Child's Year and the font for Sweet Dreams is Jasmine. I used a string of 30 mini lights with white wire and a pink ribbon around the block.

This is what it looks like when lit up.

This one is the same but in blue. I didn't put a bow on it (too girly?) and used a different bulb in it. I like this one because it has a thumb wheel to turn it on and off.

These will be shown at the craft fair this weekend.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great Friday.

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Thinking of Spring

This weekend is our first craft fair of the year. My daughter and I have been doing craft fairs for several years now. She really enjoys them. I enjoy the time we spend together.

Katie has been knitting items to sell but this year, she thought she would try her hand at clay sculpting. She created these vases, adding clay to glass. She asked if I would make some paper flowers to put in the vases.

Here are a few of our collaborative efforts! Hope you enjoy.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Getting Tired of Seeing Mini Books Yet?

I hope not! Since the last week of January I have completed 9 books and will finish the 10th one this week! Next weekend is the big 2 day craft fair and I'm looking forward to showing the new books.

The feature for today is something different for me. I used tags in the past few books, but this one has a tag for each page! I had lots of fun with this mini!

The paper is from Hobby Lobby's brand Paper Studio and the stack is called Ooops a Daisy. Its got a unique color combination and a bit of a change for me from the usual bright colors.

The shape was cut using my Gypsy and the marquee shape from Accent Essentials with a rectangle from the George cartridge to make one of the sides of the marquee straight (better for binding the book.) I used binder rings to assemble the book.

Even though each page has a tag and pocket, I tried to create a little variety. This page, the tag is side loaded, and I used a flower from the paper for the pull tab.

This pocket has a window, so placing a photo on the tag, it will be seen through the pocket. I used transparancies for the windows.

This pocket was created with a half circle.

I also enjoy using border punches to edge the pocket edges.

Another variation, cutting the pocket on an angle.

This isn't really a pocket, but a border where the tag slips inside of it. A great edge for the photo to be placed on the tag

Hope you enjoyed today's feature. Another busy week ahead, gathering all I'll be taking to the craft fair. I'm looking forward to showing some new creations. Here's hoping its a nice day weatherwise and folks come in to shop!

Have a great Monday!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Latest Mini Book

I've been so busy getting ready for the upcoming craft fair, I had forgotten to update my blog. I have finishing projects that I can show off!

This is another mini book I completed. I tried new things with this one, using tags and borders and ribbon on some of the pages. I also had fun using bling too! I cut the shape of the book using the scalloped heart from Gypsy Wanderings using my Gypsy. The paper is a valentine stack by K & Company.

I am enjoying making tags...a great way to show off a photo or do a little journalling.

On some of the pages I used Martha Stewart Border punches. A nice way to embellish with adding another layer.

Instead of making basic photo mats, I used a ribbon to hold the photo in place. This way, the person using the book isn't confined to a certain size photo.

I am almost finished with my 9th book since I started in late January! Once the craft fair is over, I will have more time for posting. I appreciate all those that stop by and leave comments! I love comments!

Have a great Wednesday...although its been cloudy and raining on and off, at least its washing away the dirty snow. Spring is taking its time, but it will be here soon!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

PRECIOUS BABY BOOK

Hi all. Hope you are having a great Monday. Being March 1, I'm hopeful that SPRING is around the corner (despite the snow cover!)

Today's featured project is another mini book I completed. This too will be shown at the Craft Fair my daughter and I will be at in March. I had lots of fun with this book, as I tried some different ideas with this one.

The book measures 8 1/2" wide and 5 1/4" high. I used paper from the DCWV Nana's Nursery for Boys stack. This one and the Nana's Nursury for Girls has been my most used and popular stack. The papers are specific for each gender or can be used to make general type books for either (lots of customers at craft fairs say they don't know the gender and these type books usually sell first. Each page is chipboard covered with the above paper. It gives a nice, sturdy feel. The back page, I used two layers of chipboard to give the back of the book a strong base. Used the Crop a Dile to punch the holes. With all the layers inside the book, it got quite thick, so I used 7 Gypsies Cable Rings to bind the book. Each page edge was inked.

The title "PRECIOUS" was cut using my Gypsy and the Gypsy Wanderings cartridge. Baby feet were cut using New Arrival. Border was cut using EK Success border punch (Brackets)
I created a pocket with a tag for this page. The tag has a place for the baby's names and birth stats. I used a pen and used my Gazelle to create this page.

I like to keep the pages fairly simple. For more versatility, I use photo corners, ribbons or border strips to hold the photos in.
This page, I created a mini book to hold 2 photos, or a photo and a place for journalling.
This is the page, opened.

This page can hold a photo under the border, and on the tag.

Another "mini book" to hold more photos or journalling.






I like to use larger photo mats for the back of the book for larger photos.

I'm really proud of this book and I can't wait to make more.

Hope you enjoyed today's feature. I have more books to post, so I hope you come back to see more of my work!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day and THINK SPRING!!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy