Upcycle Toilet paper tubes

My family saves toilet paper tubes, labels, tins,bottle caps.... on and on.
 My husband says I have everyone well trained. Even my brothers and sisters save "stuff" for me!! Not only do I love getting the stuff I like to see what I can come up with.   Whatever I don't use I donate or put in the recycling bin.

Here are two Gift Card Holders I just made.

I use my Big Shot to flatten them. Just roll a few times back and forth.  Then I paint the inside edges ( and sometimes the sides) glue the bottom edges together add decorative paper.  The insert can be tricky. You do have to measure each roll as the sizes vary. Sometimes I stamp the tab or add decorative paper or just leave as is.  As always though I have to ink the edges...thats my thing  lol

I have sold a few in my Etsy store. You can check it out HERE

The Star Die Cut and Designer Series Paper (Occasions Catalog) is from Stampin Up.

You can check them out HERE

If you cant click on the links here are the web site addresses:

www.Craftnique.etsy.com

www.Hermyacosta.stampinup.net

I think I will make a table top using bottle caps...until next time.

Have a Great Day!!

CRAYON RESIST

1) Stamp your image in Basic Black Classic ink or StazOn ink on Glossy White or  plain white card stock.

2) Color areas you want to remain white--or that you want different from your background color--using White  Crayon.

3) Use a brayer or sponge daubers to cover the entire surface of the card stock with ink.

4) Wipe off excess ink with a tissue.
Tips:

·  Give the ink time to dry before coloring your image with your crayon; otherwise the lines of  your image may smudge.

·  After  Step 4, you can color over the masked area with Stampin' Write markers or using watercolor tools.

Click Here

envelopes

 Here are some envelopes I made using the Envelope punch from Stampin Up!

I made a 3 1/2" x 3" note card with  matching envelope.

Here are two small envelopes different shapes

This is the smallest size envelope and the largest size envelope

Small fits a 2"x 3 1/2" card. Large envelope fits a 6" x 8 1/2" card

Hermy's Shop

Brayer Technique

I love going to thrift shops. I especially love it when I find a great "deal" on craft supplies.
I came across a Clear 12 x 12 plastic case filled with goodies. All for $2.99. The case was sealed with tape so I couldnt open it up to look inside at all the goodies.(But) Looking through the plastic container and turning it upside down etc....I did see some ribbon, paint brushes, thread, and a Brayer!!!!  I bought it. The brayer was still in the original package, unopened!!! New paint brushes too.  So much "stuff" inside, well worth the $2.99.

Here is a cool technique to use with the Brayer

LAYERED BRAYER

Directions:

 Heat emboss your chosen images on Glossy White card stock using VersaMark ink and Clear Stampin' Emboss powder. Bold images work best for this technique.

 Ink your brayer with a light color of ink, and bray your card stock.

 Use a sticky note or scrap paper cut to desired shapes and sizes to cover portions of your card stock.

 Ink your brayer with a darker color of ink, and bray your card stock again.

 Repeat process if extra layers are desired.

 Remove paper scraps and wipe embossed images to remove excess ink. 

          

Hermy's Store

Stamping Off!!

I like to try different techniques when stamping.. One of  my favorite techniques is called "Stamping Off".
This Technique is a great way to get several shades of color from one ink pad.
It is also a great way to show motion ,such as a ball moving through the air.

Here is how to do it.

Ink a Stamp using any color ink pad

Stamp the image

Re-stamp the image one or more times without re-inking it.









www.Hermyacosta.stampinup.net

My Etsy Shop

Stampin' Up! 25th Annivesary Collector's Set: Best of Flowers

As part of our 25-year anniversary celebration, we're bringing back some of our favorite stamp images from the last quarter century and combining them into 12 sets, which will release-one set per month-during 2013. Even better, along with some great classic images, each "Best of" set will also include a never-before-seen image! 

Some things to remember:

All Best of stamp sets will include 3-5 images, including a never-before seen image, and will be priced at $14.95.

All of the Best of sets will be available until March 31, 2014.

All Best of stamp sets are available in Clear-Mount only.

While we are releasing just one Best of stamp set per month, all of the Best of sets will be available until March 31, 2014.

As a special incentive to collect the Best of stamps, we're including a collector's card and 25-year proof of purchase sticker with every Best of set. Collect six stickers, and send it in to redeem a FREE set of your choice valued up to $14.95! Free sets must be redeemed no later than April 30, 2014.

Click the links to see the other sets - still available for purchase.

January - Best of Birthdays

February -Best Of Love

March - Best Of Flowers

Thanks for stopping by. www.Hermyacosta.stampinup.net

Monthly Card Kit

Calling all Crafting Cinderellas….your Paper Pumpkin awaits!

Let this creative coach whisk you away to a 30 minute journey into creativity once a month. Emerge rejuvenated and invigorated with something to share or keep and enjoy.  Everything you need (except adhesives) is included to create fun and unique projects you will love sharing with friends and family.

How it works:

Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep.  Each provides the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family-every month!

·         Each month we send you a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We've even color-coordinated, measured, and precut everything for you!)

·         Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.

·         Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape.

·         We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.  

·         You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let's say you sign up on May 10th, we'll send your kit around May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, we'll send your first kit around June 15th.)

·         A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95 per month (and shipping is included!). 

·         There's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.

·         Starting in early March, we'll offer a Try-It kit if you'd like to try Paper Pumpkin for one month only.

Sign up for your monthly Paper Pumpkin starting Monday, January 14 by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it.  Starting in early March, you can try Paper Pumpkin for one month by visiting our online store.

Stampin Up! Demonstrator is   Hermy Acosta   www.Hermyacosta.stampinup.net

A Free Gift in Your Very First Kit

The Welcome Kit is the very first Paper Pumpkin you will receive in your first month of membership.  The Welcome Kit includes a free gift-a clear acrylic block!

Whether you are an old hand with Stampin’ Up or are entirely new to crafting and creative paper endeavors, you are going to love Stampin’ Up’s new Paper Pumpkin program.

I have been busy making some Valentine projects. I made  some ACEO's,  Gift box with matching Gift card, and of course a few cards.

These were made from Stampin Up! products.

Main Catalog:

 Kraft Gift Box #124106
 Large Oval Punch #119855
Real Red Ink #126949
Rhinestone Basic Jewels #119247

These Products are in the New  2013 Spring Catalog:

Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Honeycomb #129378
More Amore Specialty Designer Series Paper  #129309
Hearts a Flutter Stamp Set and Framelits Dies Bundle # #131097 you save $$ by ordering the Bundles!

Core'dinations Card Stock  Primrose Petals (which is sandable) #129322

www.Hermyacosta.stampinup.net

Getting things done!

  My mom had to have surgery  the end of Oct.  We are staying with her during her recovery which will take about 8 weeks!!  My mom will be 90 on the 28th of Nov.. She is so active and her mind is good and  she is VERY independant!!!   Trying to keep her still..... yeah right!....sitting in the waiting room during her 3 1/2 hour surgery was much easier!! lol  She is recovering well, her positive attitude has helped her heal.

I have a craft show coming up on the 1st of December in Lompoc Calif. at the Veterans Memorial Bldg on Locust. Stop by if you are in the area.  I am making a lot of craft items for the event using my Stampin Up products.  

Right now I have a shoulder injury so I am resting (and seeing my chiropracter) . Hopefully I will be better next week.

Here are a couple of items I made.

Scallop Snowman Tag

 

Post It Notepad holder and Pen

Holiday Ornament

 

I also added a few new items and cards to my Etsy and Artfire shops

www.craftnique.etsy.com      and/or        www.craftnique.artfire.com

Have a great weekend!!!


Stampin Up Products used:

Snowman Tag

Naturals White CS #102316
Basic Black CS  #121045
Soft Suede Ink #126978
Basic Black Stampin Write Marker #100082
Pumpkin Pie Stampin Write Marker  #105115
2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch #118874
1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch # 119854
1 1/4" Circle Punch #119861


Post It Note Holder

Midnight Muse CS 126843
Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper #126898
Whisper White CS  #100730
1" Circle Punch #119868
Night Of Navy Ink #126970
Rhinestone Basic Jewels #119246
Gel Pen from Staples
Post It Notes

Holiday Ornament

Whisper White CS # 100730
Real Red Ink #126949
Old Olive Ink #126953
Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper #126896
Rhinestone Basic Jewels # 119246
Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334
Framelit Dies # 127816
Ornament Keepsakes Stamp Set # 128051
( I purchased the Bundle Set clear mount #129950 and saved 15%)
3 1/2 " Scalloped Tulle Ribbon Cherry Cobbler #127841

you can log on my site to browse or purchase these products.

www.Hermyacosta.stampinup.net

Here I am!

I have been MIA lately. Been busy.
My husband and I are moving!
I need to live where the climate is warmer. Too damp and cool here for me, healthwise.. Wont be too far away, my mom is about 30 miles east of here and yes it is 20 degrees warmer so we will look around and decide where we want to settle.
We are packing our belongings and putting it in storage. As I am packing I am also tossing out or will sell at garage sale or donate!!  So much stuff that I really dont need or use.
We will take off for a month or two! Just travel here and there....play tourist,  visit family and friends, whatever!
 Why not.
My husband retired a few years ago so now is as good a time as any.
I will blog and take pictures of our travels.
Also I will be taking my Stampin Up supplies with me. I have a couple of workshops booked, one in southern Ca. and a few online ideas so
......stay tuned!

Pinwheels

I have always loved Pinwheels! I seem to have them scattered around my house ...in flower pots, vases, houseplant decor, even have a few scattered out in the garden! All colors and all sizes! I love them!!
Then, on you tube I saw a lady named Frenchie make a card and embellished it with a pinwheel!!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkmuNQZvXHc&feature=plcp

I saw that and .......
I had to make one...then two and so on and so on. My craft table is now covered with pinwheels of all sizes and colors!

With all these pinwheels I had to make some cards Right!??

Here are 2 cards that I made and listed in my etsy store

www.craftnique.etsy.com

Cardstock from Stampin Up:

 Certainly Celery, Early Expresso, Very Vanilla

Cherry Cobbler,Crumb Cake 

and Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper

www.Hermyacosta.stampinup.net

www.craftnique.blogspot.com

www.craftnique.etsy.com

www.craftnique.artfire.com

Recycled Aluminum Cans

My sister and I were sitting on a swing in her  backyard, ..her backyard is BIG!

 I was admiring her pond, garden art and flower beds as we chatted. She mentioned that she wanted to hang items on the fences, and trees, an eclectic style, a lot of color.... Hmmm.... I thought to myself..her birthday is coming up (6/18), I could make some cool items from aluminum cans and my Big Shot!
 
When I got home I started working on my idea. 

I have a box full of soda and beer cans cleaned and ready for cutting. I used Scallop Dies of all sizes, a Flower Die, Butterfly Die and Circle Die from Stampin Up. I also used a few Embossing Folders to emboss after I cut the designs. Then I pulled out my Piercing Tool and Mat, a few Brads and thin Wire.

                                                             

                                                                Voila! Ready to hang!

www.craftnique.blogspot.com 

Paper and Envelopes

I have all sorts of paper...cardstock, designer paper, fancy and not so fancy.
When I got my Simply Scored Diagonal Plate from Stampin Up I decided to make use of some of this paper.
I made envelopes of all sizes, small to big, square to rectangle.
Then I decided to make some large file type to store large papers and/or important papers.
 I made a few for my mom.  I stamped an image on yellow cardstock and used a scallop punch for the bottom edge. On the box envelope I made a flower using the Blossom Punch and inked the edges. She loved it ! I made a few boxes to hold cards and now I am thinking of making some small gift boxes with the thicker cardstock.
Its a nice way to use up the stacks of paper

www.craftnique.blogspot.com

www.Hermyacosta.stampinup.net

Mixed Bunch

I have this thing for Flowers! Real, fabric or paper...I love them.

In the Stampin'Up! Jan to April 30, 2012 Occassions Mini on page 17 is the Mixed Bunch Stamp Set(#125535 wood-mount, #125537 clear mount) and the coordinating Blossom Punch   #125603)! I saw that and  I knew "I gotta have it".  I am having so much fun with this coordinating set!

Coordinating stamps and punches make creating terrific looking projects fast and simple. Beyond the obvious you can use this floral set to create window cards, flower stencils, folded flowers, butterfly and dragonfly punch art, just to name a few!
Here are two cards that I made with this set.. One is a Window Card (more on that later).

www.Hermyacosta.stampinup.net

www.craftnique.blogspot.com

StampinUp!

I have been busy with Stampin Up. I have a great Upline, always ready to share and she answers my questions as best she can. I have been attending classes, learning new things, having workshops and meeting new people.

I did a  small craft show last month. Sold a lot of the paper rosettes, wreaths, gift card holders and even had a few people sign up for workshops and classes starting in January. I am excited about that. My husband even helped out, of course he spent a lot of time at the bakery sale items! Yes he did share with me. : )

I have a Craft Show coming up  December 3 and 4 at the Veterans Memorial Bldg in Lompoc, Calif. The event opens at 9 am and closes at 5pm. Stop in if you are nearby. Many Vendors, Handmade items, food, prizes, Santa lots of fun. This show is always a success. So much so that this year instead of a one day show, it is 2 days!!

I am also busy with the American Legion Aux. Dist 16 California. I am the Historian and Special Project Chairman for our District President. Her Special Project is Financial help for Miltary spouses/families. She asked me to make some cards, candles etc to sell to raise money for her Project.I am more than happy to help. I sell them at our District Meetings, Posts, and my Etsy and Artfire shops. Here is one of the cards I made.

I made a few different cards but this one is my favorite.

Thanks for stopping in.

Where did April and May go?

It has been a hectic past few months.  In April my 95 yr old step dad fell , 5 paramedics had to pick him up. Luckily no broken bones. He is a big guy (and a sweetheart). He is a retired Lt  Colonel so a bit stubborn too!! Now he is in a convalescent home for physical therapy. He wants to come home. : (  The home is an hour drive one way. I take mom to visit which is another 1/2 hour drive one way to her house....so 3 hours of driving....whew.................. It is worth it though to see his smile when we walk in.
We are hoping he can come home soon as we all miss him.
Prayers are appreciated!
Over the weekend my brother took mom to visit him and today moms neighbor is taking her Last month.my older siblings even came to help out... one lives up North the other out of State. Thank God for a wonderful close loving family.
   On Saturday I went into my craftroom and just went into a creative mode....awww felt good... It has been awhile.
I made some cards and I am slowly listing them on etsy and artfire.

I made the Butterfly cards from my Strength and Hope Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!

Stampin' Up! will donate $2.00 from the sale of each Strength & Hope set and Strength & Hope digital kit to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). 

 For more info check  here  www.Hermyacosta.stampinup.net

I have a lot of catching up to do so I best get going..........
Have a wonderful day!

www.craftnique.etsy.com
www.craftnique.artfire.com