Card Candy ~ Blog Candy Giveaway

I saw some of this on Pinterest and loved it so much that I immediately made several sets.  Here is a pic of one of the sets that I made.  I hope you love it as much as I did.  I'm making a set for Valentine's day.  I'm giving it away as Blog Candy...all you have to do is join my blog and comment on this post for a chance to win.  I will announce the winner on Wednesday, February 5!  Thanks so much for looking

~Rebecca

Altered Tin

Made this tin for my best friend.  Used a combination of her favorite colors and my favorite colors.  I'm filling it with chocolate and Starbucks Via Coffee packs.  She loves those.  I colored the Maggie.  She's one of my favorite!!

 

I hope you've enjoyed seeing her.  Please feel free to share any comments.  Thanks for stopping by

~Rebecca

Thursday Tutorial ~ Paper Mugs

 

Since it's the new year and I'm trying to really get this blog cranking, I'm going to TRY to post a tutorial on each Thursday.  If I don't get a chance every Thursday, I will for sure do it every other...but the goal is every week. 

Thursday Tutorial~Paper Mugs (didn't get a chance to post the pics.  Chemo today and now I'm exhausted.  I'll try to remember to do it tomorrow, if not I will definitely do it as soon as I can)  Enjoy!

What you'll need:

12 x 12 heavy cardstock cut to 4 1/2" x 12"
2- 3 1/4" circles cut from same cardstock
1" x 7" strip from same cardstock for handle
3 3/4" x 12" cardstock or heavy paper for decorating the mug (cut this into 10~ 3 3/4" x 3/4" strips.  HINT:  when cutting these strips ...if you're using patterned paper...place each strip (one on top of another) in a stack, as you are cutting each one, take care not to mix them up or your pattern won't work out when you put it on the mug)

Scoring tool
Bone Folder
Scissors
Pencil
A really good strong adhesive: Aleene's Tacky Glue, Tombow or Redline Tape are all good choices

After you cut  your cardstock to 4 1/2" x 12"  you're going to score on the short side at 1/2 an inch.  Then turn your paper a quarter turn, and on the long side, score at every inch.

Then use your bone folder to fold and crease each line that you've scored.  The half inch score line is the bottom of the mug.

On the side where you have scored at 1/2"... at every inch, cut up to the 1/2" score line from the bottom of the paper.  You will have 12 small squares when done.  This will make it easier to fold and glue later on.

Cut a notch, at an angle from the bottom of the paper to the corner of each square that you've cut.  This will make it lay better when you glue the circles in.

Now glue down one side and attach to the other to form the mug.

Flip the mug upside down and put glue on each of the tabs and then place one of the circles over all of the tabs, I'm a perfectionist so I try to keep it even all around and keep the mug from losing it's shape.  :)  Hold it down for a minute or so till the glue somewhat adheres and then flip it over and using your pencil go around the inside bottom edge to push the glue down then add glue to the other circle and put that one on the bottom inside of the mug, again run your pencil around the edge of the mug this will help the glue to adhere better.  This will reinforce your mug and make it much stronger.  Now you can add your handle.  Glue it on the same place where you glued the ends together to create the mug shape.

 Take the 1" x 7" strip of cardstock and using your pencil roll one side under around the pencil till most of the paper is rolled leaving about 2" unrolled.  Then roll the other end up just a couple of times.  Unroll and manipulate the cardstock till you get what should look like a large "question mark".  This will be the handle of your mug.  Add the handle to the panel where the two ends come together to form the mug.

Now you can add your decorative strips.  Starting on the right side of your mug handle use the strip on the top of the stack, add a very thin line of glue as close to all four edges as you can get and then down the center of the strip as well (remember less is more you really don't want to use a lot)...place it in the center of the 1" x 4" panel and work your way around to the other side of the mug centering each strip as you go.  Every so often (if you're using glue and not redline tape you need to go back and press them down again.  And you're done!! You can add any other embellishments you like if you like more...

Hope you've enjoyed this tutorial.  Leave a comment if you need further instructions.  I'm going to try to make a video of it and post that as well.  I like having the directions in writing along with the video.  I didn't get to the video today.  I'll try to post it soon.

I've also done Mini Mugs and will happily share the dimensions for those as well.  You can also do this with a sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock.  I also have the dimensions for those if anyone would like them please just leave me a comment.

Hope you love making these as much as I do.  Thanks for stopping by

~Rebecca

Paper Christmas Mugs

These are the Christmas Mugs that I made for the ladies that take care of me at the Cancer Center.  These ladies are extraordinary examples of the spirit of love that it takes to be in the health care field.  They are always compassionate, caring and kind and I wanted to do something to show my appreciation!  I love making these and have made them several times.  I made 32 of them in 3 days....I will post the directions on how to make them soon.  They are super easy to make!  You will love the ease of making these in large quantities so that you can give them as teacher gifts, people in your office, maybe a wedding shower, baby shower etc. 

I filled them with hot chocolate, cookies, chocolates and a candy cane.  Thanks for stopping by

~Rebecca

Altered Paint Can

The Altered Paint Can that I made for a swap on Facebook. The flower on top was made with my Blossom Punch from Stampin' Up.  I added a magnet to the back so that she could use it for something else if she wanted too.  I filled the can with Washi Tape.  I hope she loves every roll of it! 

I really enjoyed this project.  Hope you all like it.  As always, thanks for stopping by

~Rebecca

Name Plate

This is a project that I recently made for a Stocking Swap.  I made this for my Secret Sister.  I used black paint on a piece of wood and then cut the letters and flourishes on my Cricut.  I glued everything down then put a glossy coat on top using Glossy Accents. I made quite a bit more and will be posting each day.  I also did Tim Holtz style tags again this year in a swap...I will be posting those in the next couple of days.  I hope you'll come back to see more.  As always, thanks for stopping by....

~Rebecca

Paper Heels

 I have been wanting to make these for quite some time.  I don't have a die so I kept putting it off.  I finally went online and found a free template and cut and decorated it and really enjoyed what I thought was going to be very difficult.  At my husband's urging I added a band to the heel and it really makes quite a difference.  I haven't had time to photograph it but will do so and post soon.  I hope you'll come back to see.  As always, thanks for looking

~Rebecca

Easter Basket Decor

Made for a yellow and green challenge on FB.  Using my 2 favorite colors this was a very easy project to do!  I had a great time.

~Rebecca

Easter Cross

I made the almost the entire cross out of paper and cardboard.  I handmade the Callas.  It was a little bit of a challenge but when I got on the way it just flowed.  I added the butterfly at the top at the very end.

The little white flowers were the only things that I didn't make by hand.  I gave this to a very special friend of mine. Enjoy~

Note Card Purse

I made this note card purse for my great niece.  I've never made anything for her and wanted to do something special.  I love the way this turned out.  I hope she's enjoying it too!

To make it a purse I added a little carrying handle after I took the pictures. I didn't take a picture after.

As always, thanks for looking~

Altered Altoid Tin

This was done as a Blue Challenge on our Crafty Divas on FB.  I love the way this turned out.  I was going to give it to daughter number 2 because she loves the color blue but so far it's still in my craft room.  I just don't want to give it up ;)

Altered Mousetrap

This was done as a swap on Cricut.  We were to alter a mousetrap and make it usable for our swap partner.  I made mine a note holder/magnet.  I was really challenged by this swap and was thankful that it turned out to be something worthy of swapping! 

Easter Baskets

Here is one of the 12 adorable little Easter Baskets that I'm going to be making to use a place markers for Easter Dinner.  We had a "purple" challenge to do and purple is the favorite color of daughter number 3 so this one will be hers on Easter Sunday.  I've got lots of projects planned so keep coming back.  Thanks for looking...

~Rebecca

Handmade Mardi Gras Mask

I made this for a partner swap.  The project is to alter a plain mask ...My sister is my partner in the swap.  I spent days finding the right embellishments to do this mask as I wanted to make it really special for her.  I got it all done and left it lying on my craft table.  The next morning my grandson got up with my husband before I woke and picked all of the embellishments off of the mask.  I was devastated. :(  I called my sister and she just thought it was a hoot!  Go figure.  I'm now working on a replacement mask and will publish pictures when it's done.  :)

Altered Ticket Strips

I've done these for several swaps and I'm always amazed by how much you can actually put in such a small space.  I've determined that I'll start using them for card making.  But some of them are so lovely and just so darn cute that I hate to take them apart!  But...I have to do it because right now they're just taking up space.  I do love to look at them though ;)

I made these for the "Winter" Swap.  I wanted them to look "icy"...I think they turned out very well. 

These were done for the "LOVE" Swap.  Just in time for Valentine's Day.  Will be using the ones I get in return on some of my Valentine's Cards.  I will post pics of all of them when I finish!  I love making these.

Tags & Christmas Chunky Charms

My daughter and I spent an afternoon together making these Chunky Charms.  I swapped them on the Cricut MB with some of the other ladies.  I got 5 in return.  I used them as adornments on each of the girls' stockings.  Some Christmas accessories were just what the stockings needed.  For the boys I hung giant Candy Canes from them.  I loved the way they looked on Christmas morning!

Altered Spool

Spool that I altered for a Cricut swap.  I love that butterfly cut.  I knew instantly what I was going to do with the spool.  I used a few Stampin Up punches to do the ovals on the friendship card and the flowers are an EK punch!  I had to think outside of the box for this one.  Next month we are going to alter a mousetrap.  I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.  I can't wait to see what I come up with ;)  I have no idea what to do with a mouse trap.  Thanks for looking...

~Rebecca

Fun Stuff

These are all the projects that I made for a Swap that I was in where we had Secret Sisters and many directives.  It was loosely based on the 12 Days of Christmas Song.  We did a project for each day of the 12 days.  I'll explain each day as I post the picture.  I really loved doing these projects and hope you enjoy seeing them. 

Paper Pumpkins

Here are some of the sweet little pumpkins that I made for the Fall Swap.  I love these little guys.  Finished project is about the size of a baseball.  Here's the link for the tutorial that I used to make these.  I have a leaf punch and that's what I used for the leaves.  I cut thin strips of paper and twirled them around a pencil to make the vines.  The stem is just a thick piece of cardstock cut out and glued down with the glue gun.  I hope that you're enjoying all the new projects as much as I've enjoyed sharing them with you all.

http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/mini-paper-pumpkins-tutorial

Fall Blocks

I made these out of wooden blocks.  They were also for the Fall Swap that I was in.  I loved making these and plan to make a set for my daughter.  She has been after me to make several things for her before Christmas.  She has no idea that most of her gifts are going to be handmade this year.  She's going to love, love, love the ideas that I've come up with for her.  I'll keep posting pictures as the projects are done and I have time to take and download the pics.  Sometimes I get so busy at the craft table that the whole day disappears before I realize that I've been sitting there that long.  I love crafting...