Sentiments, Stems, and Flower Tops....

A show of hands if you love flowers....I do to!

But when they wilt they really stink, so what's better than expensive dying flowers?....

GORGEOUS flowers that last forever! 

It's true! 

They are eternally the recipients with this Sentiments, Stems and Flower Tops file from The Cutting Cafe.

And what is even more ideal is that you can color the flowers ANY color combination you want!  

Here is a photo of all the pieces I assembled to make my card.

Regina is showcasing the Sentiments, Stems, and Flower Tops file this time around, but I also included with this card Jar Shaped Cards and Fun with Jars Sentiments.

I chose to color fill my flowers using the coloring prompt on my Silhouette Cameo machine and then had the machine fussy cut around the flowers and leaves.  Popping up the jar on foam squares and printing the sentiment stems on a watercolor background and adding some hot glue 'water bubbles' really made a cute little holder for these beautiful forever flowers. 

Stay tuned for the 21st when The Cutting Cafe Blog reveals all the makes from the DT.  

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Lisa x

Bendy-Bendi Love....

It's 2 degrees as I type this and I've lost the sensation in my toes, but between the 3 pair of fuzzy socks and the warmth in my heart from this lovey-dovey card, I should be just fine!

Aren't they cute stealing a kiss under the street light of this wonderful Bendy-Bendi Card from 

The Cutting Cafe?  

This file comes with so many different card options and accessories, you'll be able to make bendy cards for every special occasion.  

Hey! Thanks so much for stopping by.

Hugs and happy crafting,

Lisa x

PS... Regina now has another new shop open that carries her incredible clear stamps and more.  Click here to see them. 

ALSO...my sweet pal Lori over at Chouxchoux Paper Art is hosting her third challenge on her blog and it's all about Valentine's Day and hearts and love and sappy gooey lovely stuff like that.  So, I'm in! 

Is That a Vintage TV I See?....

 Hello, hello, hello!

It's another post for The Cutting Cafe and as you guessed, it's all about Christmas!

Regina let us pick our choice of file for this one and I couldn't resist using several, so let's get started so I can show you how to make your very own Vintage TV.

I am in love with anything vintage and when I thought of how to make a TV, I knew that if I used Regina's Configuration Box file, I could make these little ornaments come alive.

Below is the box that I used and then using my cutting machine I designed the "face" and "frame" of the TV.

Old televisions had legs and so all I used was a triangle piece that I rolled, glued, colored and sized and then adhered to the underside of the configuration box or TV.

The antenna base is a little shaving off a Styrofoam ball and a toothpick cut in half and colored black with copics for the antenna ears. The dials are just circles cut out and several layered on top of each other for depth.  The gingham bow is sporting this wonderful sentiment also from Regina's store called, Christmas Bag Topper .

And you see a little tease of that gorgeous holly that also comes from the Christmas Bag Topper.

Let's take a look at the other one now.

Now you can really see that gorgeous holly.

The Merry and Bright Sentiment is also from this set.  

And there you have it...

2 Vintage TV's (the shows playing come from The Tim Holtz Festive Ephemera Pack), but these wouldn't be possible without the incredible Configuration Box from Regina's store!

So stop on in for all your last minute Christmas needs for stock up for next year!

The Cutting Cafe

All DT projects are posted at The Cutting Cafe Blog on the 7th and 21st of each month. We'd love for you to visit and be sure to leave a comment for Regina. She selects one lucky person to receive 3 FREE files of their choice!

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Lisa xx

I miss my babies....

Helloooooooo! 

I'm so happy you stopped by my blog. Please excuse the cobwebs.  It's residual Halloween decorations and real ones. My grandmother taught me to crochet many years back and this last visit she taught me knitting and I haven't been able to focus on anything else.  I promise to visit and catch up next week.  In the meantime, here's my latest offering for The Cutting Cafe.

My baby girl will be 18 very soon and even though she's still a sweetheart who hugs me all the time and lets me kiss her in public and loves to cuddle and watch Netflix with me, she's not a little kid anymore and that's sad...

(Many apologies to my Mom for growing up too!)  

I decided to make her a girly card using this fabulous Candle Shaped Card, Assorted Banners, Birthday Number Candles, and 5 Petal Layered Flower Set.

Here's a fun little insert. 

Notice the 'due' date is highlighted.  That's what the doctor predicted and the 'date out' is when she was born.  

And that's that!

Again, please excuse my absence of late. I can't wait to come visit you all. Until then,

knit 1, purl 2......

Everything and more and even some VERY NEW ACRYLIC STAMPS coming soon to 

The Cutting Cafe. 

All DT projects are posted at The Cutting Cafe Blog on the 7th and 21st of each month. We'd love for you to visit and be sure to leave a comment for Regina. She selects one lucky person to receive 3 FREE files of their choice!

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Lisa xx

12 Tags of Christmas 2015 Ornament # 3

I don't know....I don't know what's happened here.  

It began as a challenge where I selected a theme. A primitive look was what I was going for, but then you sew them up and put their little eyes on and before you know it, you're dressing them in a little knitted decorative sweater, sliding small paper colored boots on them and making a rad reindeer hat.  

I really feel like I've lost control here....

I suppose that means that I'm completely inspired and the muse has taken over.  Let's get real.  How fantastic is Linda's tag 3 here?  It's a warm sweater hug on a tag, is it not? It's got all kinds of crazy merriment and Christmas gaiety to make anyone smile!

 This little star snowman just wanted to be a part of that.

 

And when he's done spreading Christmas cheer, he has a cozy spot to rest.

Complete with holly and snowflakes. 

There's still so much time to join in this, so very fun, challenge at The Funkie Junkie, hosted by Linda and sponsored by her store The Funkie Junkie Boutique, so please check it out and see for yourself.  

Hugs and Happy Happy Crafting to you ALL,

Lisa xx

Outhouse Halloween Humor....

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy....are we having fun now!

Firstly, Thank You SO much for all the very sweet comments that were left yesterday for the DIY Candy Corn Figures.  I'm so glad you enjoyed them. Your comments were so thoughtful.

Welcome again to the second day of the Halloween party hosted by the lovely Lori at Chouxchoux Paper Art. Today I'm going to show you what I did to make a funny Halloween Outhouse centerpiece.

I found all of these files at the Silhouette Design Store, but I know there are several file shops out there that you can use. I've also linked the supplies I used, to the shop I bought them at, The Funkie Junkie Boutique; which is also one of our very generous sponsors. Okay, so here's how they started out.

Next step was to paint and crackle and stain the outhouse before assembly.

The tree was done exactly the same....

Extra bit and bobs were added to complete the scenery.

A closer look at the black powder embossed street light and the folder embossed aluminum foil tape that I used to make the outhouse roof. I used a spiderweb folder and then Adirondack inked the tape.

Beware of ghosts that lurk in the trees!

And bats that swarm 'by the light of the silvery moon!'

And the horrors that befall you when you're a Mummy and the outhouse is out of paper!

And one last time all together....

There you have it, a little idea for a centerpiece on an entry table or your desk at work or even in the restroom!  You're never too old for potty humor!

I'm linking this Outhouse Humor up to the Chouxchoux Paper Art Challenge.

Here's the fun news:

Our gorgeous hostess, Lori Hairston, from Chouxchoux Paper Art will put names "in the hat" for every comment made.  So if you'd like to be eligible to win a prize or giveaway, leave a comment on each blog each day (individual blogs may have giveaways too, you never know...so don't miss out!) to get the most chances to win!!

                  Winners will be announced on September 27th!

Also, there's MORE FUN!!

We have an open challenge for ALL to enter.  All you have to do is submit a current Halloween or Fall card or project, post about it, and link it up to Chouxchoux Paper Arts Challenge #1 where you'll find the link button!  All entries must be submitted by October 3rd and the winner will be randomly selected and announced on October 4th at Chouxchoux Paper Arts.

Winner receives a $25.00 Gift Certificate from the very generous Lawn Fawn!

LASTLY, I'll be giving away a surprise gift here on my blog, so leave me a comment on my posts and I'll draw from the names.   I'll announce the winner on the 27th of September as well, here on my blog!  Best of luck to you!!

Lots of ways to win, so don't miss out

Blog List For today

                      Lisa Minckler (you are here)

Mitra Pratt

Tracey Kelly

Maria Patrick

Lori Hairston

and a HUGE thank you to our FABULOUS prize sponsors as well:

   The Funkie Junkie   $25 gift certificate

                The Cutting Café three free files of your choice

                 Lawn Fawn   pillow box and  peek-a-bat dies

Please visit us again tomorrow for the final day of our Halloween Party hosted by

  Chouxchoux Paper Art.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Lisa x

My Feng Was SO Not Shui... Until Now!

My yin couldn't even stand to look at my yang and it had been that way for over a year in my craft room.  Sure, I'd craft in here, but I never really felt it was cozy or "me."  Then, one fine day, Regina from The Cutting Cafe, assigned this set to use for an upcoming project and OMG...happy dance, my entire craft room came together. Crazy how one piece can bring harmony and I'm so happy it did! First I'll share this awesome holder and then I'll share my happy crafty place.

File Folder Box Holder

I love the rustic country, antique, metal, crackled look, so that's exactly what I set out to make with this cut file.  It started with a roll of metal tape.  After the outside pieces were cut on my silhouette cameo with standard white cardstock, I covered them with tape.  The inside pieces of this holder were simply embossed, painted, distressed and sanded. I wanted to achieve three distinct looks in one.  

Here's a close-up so you can see the faux metal on the outside. I achieved this by painting gray paint directly over the metal tape. Secondly, I randomly blotched with rust, cream and black paints until the patina I liked was achieved. A little sanding with a nail file was done too. 

The third look is the rustic country, so I used sheet music to fit that bill!

An old wire was twisted and attached to make the perfect hanger for all three holders.

This file even come with labels. I kept my titles fairly general...

And here it is with the tab dividers as well.

I had so much fun with this file and thanks to this piece, I now have a wonderful craft room that fits my style just perfectly.

And now, welcome to my craftroom aka tiniest bedroom, where things now make sense and the muse is happy!

I should explain first, I'm a hoarder collector of things hand-me-down, thrift stored, abandoned on the side of the road, and cheap.  Now, that's all good and well, but the problem was trying to get it all to mesh and feel like a craft space that worked in the tiniest bedroom of the house and feel cozy. And by cozy, I don't mean cramped...

So here's what I did.  If it was ugly but functional, it got painted.  If it had cutesy on it, it got sanded off, if it was just a cool piece, it found a purpose.

The ladder was a yard sale find for cheap and I painted it black (it was hunter green before). The tins sitting on it were from the Dollar Store and were silver with flowers etched in. I took a hand sander to them and sanded off the painted flowers and then painted them white and made my own stencils to label them. They say "This & That" "Wingdings" "Good Stuff" and "What Nots" now. The night stand that is under the ladder was from eons ago and that was also green (what's with the green?) and as you can see, I've painted it black and added new hardware.  The piece holding various rolls of paper and wrapping is our old mailbox.  The antique cabinet is the very special hand-me-down from my mom.

Now looking to the left a little more, here's my desk.

Sitting on the top shelf of my desk, next to my basket of materials holder, is that precious and inspiring folder holder from The Cutting Cafe. 

YEAH, feng shui at last!!

The desk against the wall I found at the Salvation Army (Which I just typed incorrectly as Salivation; even though I did salivate when I saw they only wanted $10 for it.)  I

I LOOOVE the big huge corner desks that you see in ads, but I couldn't justify spending all that money if I already had a desk and a table, SO, I somehow managed to corner it fairly well and now I have double the work space. 

And turning to the left side of the room.  

The black armoire (which used to be...can you guess the color? Yep, green) and the cream cubicle piece that I found on the street one trash day.  The container holding my ink pads is an old cassette holder and then just some fun stuff that the kids made me and things that make me happy to decorate with.

The closet

Plastic shoe organizer on the inside of the right door is a great way to hold your cards when you need a place to store them.

And that's that... my hodgepodge studio.  

I've just loved having you in my craft room for a visit. I hope you've enjoyed yourself.

All DT projects are posted at The Cutting Cafe Blog on the 7th and 21st of each month. We'd love for you to visit and be sure to leave a comment for Regina. She selects one lucky person to receive 3 FREE files of their choice!

Hugs and Happy Organizing,

Lisa x