Etsy

I recently re-opened my Etsy shop.  It's been awhile since I was on there.  With my recent pregnancy I lost all interest in all hobbies I once loved which included crafting and reading.  Now that the little one is here I am ready to get back to everything my "normal" self loves. 

Here's a link to my Etsy shop:  19Eighty Expressions on Etsy

and

Here are some of my latest creations:

Oh how I missed crafting!!!

Announcement & Design Team Project Friday

Well, I told you I had a big announcement and today is the day you get to find out what it is! It actually has nothing to do with paper crafting, cards, scrapbooking, etc. Sorry to disappoint if that's what you were looking forward to. I actually think it's better news than anything that has to do with paper. :)

Since it's my day to design for SVG Attic I decided to combine my announcement with my DT project. Ready for it?

Can you guess who? Hehe, it's me silly! After two long years (to the month!) we are ecstatic to announce that we are expecting child #2! This is going to be an interesting new addition. My daughter is already 10 and will just about be 11 when baby Blueberry Nugget Bean (long story) is born so there's a huge gap in age. It's actually nice though because I will have an automatic live-in nanny! Hahaha. This child is going to be annoyed by this baby before it's born if I keep teasing her!

This is my excuse for being around a lot less lately.  I have been absolutely exhausted!  I'm still in my first trimester and I really hope this fatigue goes away.  It's zapping ALL my energy and creativity from me.  My mind draws blanks when I try to think up something to make.  This better go away soon or I'll have a craft room that never gets used.  :(  *sigh*

On to the details of the announcement card.

I used the Tent Cards from SVG Attic as the base of the card. I also used the Give a Hoot collection from SVG Attic for the 3D owl inside the tent card. I added glitter to the owl's eyelashes to bling her out! I used some pink and white Trendy Twine as a border for the frame where the owl sits behind. The front circles were actually the left overs from the cut of the card. I decided to recycle and use it as a slide window. I used my Sew Easy to stitch the floss around the outter circle to create a border. I set some snaps that I purchased on Etsy from wickedwoolgathering with my Crop-a-dile. I added a pink brad to the top so the outter window can slide up to reveal the rest of the message.

That's about it for this project and announcement! Stop by SVG Attic and browse around. You won't be disappointed! New sets are always being released!

Pumpkin Patch Mini Notes

Welcome to another Friday! Today I have a cute little project for you but first a few things. If you look to your left you will notice that I have made blog button. You can grab it and add it to your blog if you want. To the right I added a blinkie. It's for the Spook-tacular SVG Blog Hop that I, and a lot of talented ladies, will be apart of. It's going on September 30th through October 2nd. Make sure to mark your calendar and hop along with us! On to my project. I'm still obsessed with kraft paper. I know, I know....still!? I can't help it. I keeps calling my name every time I sit at my craft table. I used one of SVG Attics' new sets, Pumpkin Patch SVG Collection, to make some mini note cards that are perfect for fall. Take a look at the adorable collection!

And here are the mini note cards I made using that awesomely cute collection.

The mini note cards are pretty small and measure 2.75" x 3.5". I used one of each of the pumpkins from the Pumpkin Patch SVG Collection so each mini note was slightly different. I shaded each piece of the pumpkin with Tim Holtz' distress inks to give each little guy some depth. I also used sandpaper to add a little more depth and additional color. I was contemplating adding twine but I decided against it. I kind of like these little cards naked! I hope you enjoyed today's project! Remember to mark your calendar for the blog hop and to grab my blog button! Also, check out SVG Attic for more awesome SVG collections. There is ALWAYS a new set being released so you definitely won't be disappointed!

Another Set of Mini Note Cards

My favorite color is brown.  I know that may sound weird but for some reason it is.  My wedding even featured quite a bit of brown in it!

My love of the color brown is quite apparent here!

Wedding table set up

And here....

Me and my bridesmaids

 I am just in love with brown.  Awhile back I discovered kraft paper and ever since then all I ever want to do is make cards, projects, etc. with that darn brown paper!  Uhh, well lately I have been giving into that urge and making everything with it!  I can't stop.  Brown is so easy for me to work with.  I can match colors to brown easier than I can any other color combo.   With all this talk of brown kraft paper can you guess what the project I will post pictures of is?  The colors, paper, etc?

If you guessed brown kraft paper then you guessed right!  Woohoo!  You smarty pants, you!

My cute and simple mini note cards!  I used a punch I had laying around that I knew would come in handy one day!  I really have no need for punches anymore...well, yea I do.  It's easier to punch out then set it all up on the Silhouette.  Don't cry Silhouette, I still love you!  Hmm, I just realized I haven't mentioned my Cricut yet...wonder why!?   *wink wink*   I set a button on the middle pinwheel and threaded some hemp through it and double tied it to make sure the sucker stayed. 

OK, so now that you know what my favorite color is and if you happen to be invited to my baby shower (if I ever decide to have another kid) remember this post so you get the answer right just in case it's on  game at the shower.  Got it?

Mini Note Cards

I took a break from selling on Etsy for a few months and wasn't sure if I'd go back to it.  My sales were dismal there.  I was selling a lot outside of Etsy and not having to worry about fees but I was starting to get stressed with custom orders so I took a break from that as well.  This past week I had been considering starting up again but wasn't sure I should and then things started happening.  One person mentioned selling their handmade goods so it got me thinking.  Then another mentioned the items I make and then another person did as well all within a few days.  It pushed me to get back into it. 

I reassesed my items and came up with a new idea on what I should sell based on what I like and what I see people buy.  Simple and sweet is my new take on the items I plan on sellling.  I'm sure I'll throw in more intricate items but for now simple works.

Here is an example of a set of mini notecards that I absolutely love.  They are cute, simple, and classy.  Sometimes less is really more and I found that I wasn't following that saying before.

Mini Note Cards

 

Challenge Entry

I decided to throw a little something together last night for the Paper Dolls third weekly challenge.  For the challenge you are required to use at least one SVG file created by Belinda of Bee's Hive O'Drama.  I used two in my entry which is a mini note card measuring 4" x 2.5".  Not sure if length or width is supposed to go first in that whole measurement thing.  I know I work with numbers all day long but I have a calculator that tells me what to do...completely different than these numbers.

Of the SVG files available (by the way go get yours...they're free...and submit a project too!)....OK, back to what I was saying before my mind wandered (as usual), of the cute SVGs that Belinda created, I used one of the hearts with the scalloped edge and the scalloped edge frame.

I crinkled the scalloped part of the heart, inked it with Tim Holtz' Dusty Concord (purple) Distress Ink then spritzed it with water to make the ink run.  I then sped up the drying process by using my heat tool.

I used a small snippet of hemp cord (teehee, that always makes me giggle) for the middle of the heart to make it appear to be a button.  The holes were in the SVG but with the lovely Cricut you won't get holes that small.  You'll just end up with some torn and wasted paper.  Now the Silhouette can probably do the job...*sigh*...I'm dreaming.

I stamped the sentiment in the same ink color as the tie-dye looking heart.

The purple base of the card was embossed with a swirly design then lightly inked in Ink It Ups! Lavender.

I think that pretty much it.  It was fairly simple to make.  Don't forget to head on over to Paper Dolls and Bee's Hive O'Drama.

Mini note cards anyone?

Part of my crafty weekend was spent making cards and the other part was spent making tags.  Here is yet another set of items I made while I had steam.  The contest I held was actually for a set of this item.  Unfortunately no one guessed the theme correctly.  I would have taken "spring" or "garden" as an answer or even something close to that.  Maybe next time. 

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas whether it be new techniques, new tools, or new items I can make.  I have a list of what I would like to make and this was one of them.  I can now cross off mini note cards from my list.  Yay!  I wanted a theme for these cards but I didn't want to make each card exactly the same so I delved into my brain and picked an item I liked to make.  I chose the butterfly from the "Spring Butterflies" card since I really really love the look of them.  What goes with butterfly was my next thing to work on.  The theme that popped into my head was "garden" and so off I went in search of more ideas that would work with a garden theme.

Side note - I actually made the butterfly tags after I made these notecards and as you can see, they are the same colors.  I liked the colors enough to use them again. 

Spring Garden mini notes

Set of 5

The bee has googly eyes!  What's a garden without bees hovering over the flowers!?

You've seen this little lady before on my lunchbox notes set

And of course the pretty two-toned butterfly!

Here's something new!  A plant waterer?  Not sure what it's called!

Each card measures 3"x3.5".  I actually made them a decent enough size that they can fit into little envelopes.  Not a perfect fit but a good fit.  In fact these guys are so small I was able to cut quite a few of each card out of one sheet of cardstock.  Awesomeness!  I ended up making four sets!  I am struggling choosing my favorite design.  

My question to you....which is your favorite?