Belle Papier {pretty paper}

I love to hear from you! I did though, recently get an e-mail that some people are having problems commenting on my blog. I am trying to get that problem addressed so please be patient, I’m sure that it will be fixed ASAP. If you are having problems commenting…please feel free to let me know at the e-mail link to the right. It is hard to know when the issue is resolved! Many thanks!

I will give you a little hint…another blog treat coming up soon. I didn’t want to get into a rut so I bypassed the 15,000 hit mark and decided celebrate something different to shake it up a little. I’ll be having another draw… this time when I hit 500 comments. I don’t think you can see it but it is not too far away. I can see it behind the scenes on my blog stats.

 It’s Thursday again and time for another Ways to Use it Challenge on SCS! This week my challenge is to use Glossy Paper on your design project. All are welcome….if you’d like to play along click WT105! Lots of info and two techniques for you today, so enjoy!

Faux Linen

For this challenge I decided to use the Faux Linen technique. It has been quite a while since I used this and I love the vintage look you can get with it. To do the Faux Linen technique, you simply need glossy paper and sandpaper along with your regular stamps and ink. First stamp your image on the glossy paper then take some medium grit sandpaper and first sand one way and then turn 90° and sand the other way. This should remove the shine of the glossy paper and if you look closely, give you a little sanded grid. Take a sponge and rub ink into the paper…it will pick up more in the sanded grooves and give you a fabric-like texture. Easy! Enjoy!

Mon Amie Simple Diagonal Tri-fold Card

This fun, easy diagonal trifold card gives you a peek at the inside. The card opens by pulling the bottom left hand corner. The diagonal fold, allows this card to swing and pivot so that it appears on the inside of the card when opened….so much fun! I love how it immediately makes the inside of the card very special. The central image was stamped with my favorite roses set from SU and then sanded in the above Faux Linene Technique. I then rubbed in the Close to Cocoa ink and added extra to the edges. The main image was then matted with squares of cardstock…the outer mat measures 4″square. For Fold directions, read on…

Simple Diagonal Tri-fold Card Technique

I just adore the Triangle Tri-fold card that Beate recently did a tutorial for. I decided to design a simpler version of it and share the instructions with you. First cut your cardstock base to 5.25″ x 10.5″…fold in half. With the hinge at the left hand side…take the top right hand corner and fold on the diagonal so that it meets the bottom left hand corner of the card front. Press well. Unfold card. If you wish to decorate/stamp the card front…you actually decorate the left inside panel as you actually never see what is traditionally the card front. I rolled the unfolded diagonal  section with the matching wheel to Carte Postale in Close to Cocoa Ink and sponged the inks with the same ink. To decorate the inside that also peeks out…I cut a square  4″ piece of this beautiful Autumn Leaves Patterned Paper. A layered square is mounted onto the patterned paper panel to create a nice space for you to write your sentiment and sign the card. This layer is designed smaller than the front square panel so that it hides discreetly inside when the card is closed.

After finishing the insides of the card, fold the card closed and the front flap back down. Tie ribbon around panel and then adere ONLY the bottom left half of the card with strong adhesive. I added a beautiful Prima flower with brad center for decoration. I purchased my gorgeous Prima flower box from Jacksonbelle and the fabulous striped ribbon from Anna Wight.

Inside View (click on pic to enlarge)

Supply List:

Cardstock: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Glossy White, Cool Caribbean - SU

Patterned paper: Autumn Leaves

Stamps: Roses in Winter, Carte Postale - SU

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Black - SU

Other: Essentials Collection “Lucid” - Prima, ribbon, Thumbtack Brad - karen Foster Design, sandpaper

I LOVE altering things…unfortunately, it always takes some time so I usually put it off! I’ve had this frame for a few years in my room. I got it for a “steal”…love the frame, love the verse…the pic just wasn’t me. I hung in on the wall of my bedroom, thinking I would get around to fixing it someday. I’m happy to say…someday arrived today. Today’s sketch challenge seemed to work perfectly for a layout I needed for this frame and so I thought…NO more procrastinating…I do it today! Now you probaby know by now…I just adore the new Basic Grey paper lines, but none so much as Stella Ruby. Imagine my delight when I discovered it worked perfectly with my room colors… sage shadow, cranberry crisp and so saffron! Yippee…playing with my fave paper, gotta love it!

Here is the Before Pic!

I carefully peeled off the backing of the frame and went to work. The frame is a mix of all the things I love best…after all…I’m going to be looking at it every morning when I get out of bed! The verse that it came with on the glass is one of the reasons I bought it in the first place.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we weill rjoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

What a great way to start the day, remembering that the day is given to me by God and being reminded to rejoice! You can see the verse much better in person. SO hard to get a good photo when there is glass to refect the light. I added the little verse from the Happy Harmony set…the verse and size and style worked perfectly. In everything give thanks. Rejoicing and giving thanks, both together to remind me…love it! The little bird image seemed so pretty I just had to use that. I do wish it had been facing into the pic, but you just can’t have everything! The prima flower comes from my favorite package of Prima flowers…Martinique. The center of the flower is a lovely pearl brad from K& Company and I just had to get that Michael’s dotted ribbon in there as well! I knotted it behind the flower and adhered it with a glue dot to give the apprearance of leaves. The beautiful dark red velvet ribbon is from May Arts and can be purchased from Starlit Studio. The Stella Ruby Basic Grey paper is from Jacksonbelle. I just adore these copper thumbtack brads by Karen Foster Design. My fabulous designer friend Michele loves these and I just had to try them out for myself. To finish it all off…I just had to add a little stitching. I just LOVE sewing on paper and I added a little freestyle stitching to the left right hand side to balance the design and finish it off! I’m really excited with my “new” frame! Great sketch challenge! To see the sketch or play along…everyone is welcome here.

Rejoice Frame

for a close-up…just click on the pic

Supply List:

Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla, Cranberry Crisp - SU

Patterned Paper: Stella Ruby - Basic Grey

Stamps: A Touch of Nature, Happy Harmony - SU

Ink: Basic Black, Close to Cocoa, Cranberry Crisp, Old Olive, So Saffron - SU

Other: Maritinique Flower - Prima, sewing machine, Thumbtack brads - Karen Foster Design, Velvet ribbon - May Arts, Pearl Brad - K& Company, organdy ribbon - Michael’s, Aquapainter - SU

Thanks so much everyone for your feedback on the new blog template. I too, loved the old Daisy template but unfortunately the sidebar set-up was driving me crazy. I think this new layout is much easier and cleaner to read and the colors are nice and fresh for spring. It is also to date…the only SCSblog template with an alterable header…Yippee! Enter Beth Silaika from Freckled Fun Designs. She designed my new Banner for me, helping me translate the design that was in my head, into something digital. Love the fresh, pretty look for Spring. It was also a fun challenge, taking the blog color that is not alterable and combining it with colors and a style that is much more ME! I love it! So what do you think now? I hope you like it too! If you want to add a comment…the place to go is now the top of the entry. If you click on “add a comment” or “(2) comments so far”, it will take you to the comment page for that entry.

& I wasn’t going to do the color challenge today…so many things to do, but I came across this scrap of My Mind’s Eye patterned paper. It is a perfect Marigold color with rust distressing…well…I just had to jump in. if you’d like to play along with this color challenge (Real Rust, Marigold Morning, Brocade Blue) on SCS challenges….here is the link. It is so hard to take a picture of this card! I had finished watercoloring the flowers, put the card all together but it still needed a little flash. I remembered a technique that I haven’t done in ages! My pearl ex has been languishing in a bottom drawer…I pulled it out…super copper…perfect! To get a beautiful shimmer all over your card…mix a small trial sized bottle of hairspray with about 1/2 teaspoon of Pearl Ex. Spray carefully on your design. I just couldnt’ get a great picture of it. The image looks washed out because of the shimmer reflecting the light off the image…but trust me…in real life, it looks great!

Supply List:

Cardstock: Marigold Morning, Brocade Blue, whisper white - SU

Patterned Paper: My Mind’s Eye

Stamps: Delight in Life, Happy Harmony - SU

Ink: Basic Black, Marigold Morning, Real Rust, Brocade Blue

Other: Prima Flower, Really Big Brad “Earthy” - KAren Foster Designs, Copper Pearl Ex, Twill Tape - Stampin UP, hairspray

I’ve been working really hard on a bunch of design projects while contending with a sick baby. He is starting to feel a little better and I really needed a little time to unwind tonight….time to make something just for fun. I was putting this Prima Lucid paper away last week and was struck by how original and pretty the colors were together… teal, celery, old olive, and a hint of blush. I loved the vintage look and think they are so pretty mixed together on a kraft card. This card reminds me of all the beauty and new greens of spring. I order my Prima paper and stitched ribbon here. Now tomorrow, desk cleaning (and floor cleaning) is on the agenda. I’m about 98% sure, I’ll just have to make another card with my scraps…fun!

Spring Delight

Supply List:

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Kraft - SU

Patterned Paper: Lucid line by Prima

Stamps: Touch of Nature, Delight in Life - SU

Ink: Chocolate Chip craft, Basic Black, Marigold Morning, Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue, Old Olive

Other: Prima Martinique Flower, K & Company Brad, Linen thread & Aquapainter - SU, stitched ribbon

I’ve decided to see what this new blog theme looks like for a few days. It is so hard to find one that suits you and does what you want! I like the legibility of this new theme and the clean look of the sidebar. You can also customize this header so if I keep it…that’s what I’ll be doing. I do miss the warmth of the Daisy Template though so I’ve decided to ask you for your opinion. This one with a new  custom header pic or back to the old?

Some of you have e-mailed me that you are having problems commenting on my blog. There seems to be a little glitch right now that the tech guys are working on. Most comments are coming through…even if you get a strange error message and they don’t appear to be. Thanks for your patience and your comments…I LOVE to hear from you.

The flu still rages on here and there is a design call that I am madly finishing up for so stay tuned tomorrow…I’ll hopefully be back stamping then!

The flu hit Joshua about 2 am this morning…SO not fun. I’m praying that it won’t go through the rest of the house! Needless to say, it has been a busy day here and I am just now getting around to posting this card.

I made this card during the week for another new little baby girl. Lots of spring babies this year, but I think this is the last for a while. This card was once again created from scraps I found while cleaning my desk. The acetate layer was an old 12×12 sheet for scrapbooking that I had bought for a baby page. It never seemed to happen and then the acetate managed to get creased. I salvaged it by cutting it strategically in places and using it to make cards instead. I also had this striped piece of My Mind’s Eye paper on my desk….it worked perfectly under the acetate and I love the bright fun look. The card is hinged on the left side and once again…3/4 inch trimmed off the right hand side. I scalloped the right inside edge with a small corner rounder by EK Success. I used my new SU tab punch again to hold down the acetate layer. The brown velvet ribbon is so gorgeous…I just want to use it on everything I make. It is by May Arts and I get mine from Jacksonbelle. Once again I used the retired K&Company Baby Girl tags that I bought at Michael’s about 6 months ago for $1.50. The little “sweet” word is stamped at the top left is Everyday Flexible Phrases by SU. I just love that word set…it is so flexible, I use it on almost everything!

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Thanks so much everyone for your visits to my site! I’m so excited to have been in the Stamping Top 100 this week. This morning I’m at the Stamping Top 89! Thanks so much for coming back day after day to view my designs and listen to me ramble! I try to update daily, even if I’m not able to share the designs I’ve been working on. I especially love the comments…I always love to hear from you, what you are doing and what interests you on this site. {{{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}}}}

My daughter has been asking me to teach her how to make sticky buns. I told her we’d make them on the March Break….can’t believe how fast the week has slipped by! So Friday afternoon…I decided we’d better get down to business and just do it. I couldn’t even find my recipe, it has been SO long since I made them. So I did some cookbook looking, so web surfing and pieced together a recipe from various sources to make up one the most like my old recipe. I think we hit a winner!

Julia’s Sticky Buns

1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/3 cup butter or magarine, cut up
4 cups bread flour ( I just used All-purpose)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons bread machine yeast

Add all ingredients to bread machine. Set on dough cycle and start. When dough cycle is complete…remove dough, punch down and let rest for 10 minutes.
In bottom of 9 x 13″ baking pan mix 4 tablespoons melted butter, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup light corn syrup. Add pecans if desired.
Divide in half dough in half. Roll out dough into large rectange. Brush with melted butter, then sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar. Roll up length wise and pinch seam. Cut into 9 pieces and arrange in half of pan. Repeat with other half. Cover with Cling wrap and tea towel and allow to rise for 30-45 minutes until doubled. Remove covers and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. Turn over onto large tray so that glaze runs over the buns. Enjoy!