Pretty Paper Blog

How to make Accordion-Style Paper Flowers:

1.  Start with a long strip of paper (8 to 12 inches).  I cut this strip about 1-1/2 inches wide with scallop-edged scissors.  And yes, I used the beautiful new Graphic 45  paper again today.

2.  Fold the strip of paper accordion-style from one end to the other.

3.  Gather your edges together and tie twine (or ribbon) in the center.

4.  From the center (where the twine or ribbon is tied), gently fold out the top and bottom edges from the right hand side and glue together.  You should probably use some strong glue and hold it in position for a few seconds until the glue dries a bit.  Repeat this process with the left hand side.

Ta-da!  Your Accordion-Style paper flower is complete!

Mix and match these Accordion-Style flowers with the Circle-Punch Flowers from yesterday for a interesting twist!  Have fun!

How to make Paper flowers using your circle punch:

First of all, I must apologize for my photo quality, I made these flowers late at night, therefore I had poor light for taking photos.

I used the new Graphic 45 paper to make all the flowers pictured.

1. Punch Six Circles from your choice of patterned paper using a circle punch.  In these photos I used a 1-1/4 inch circle punch but you may use smaller or larger if you prefer.

2.  Crumple each circle and then smooth it out again (I like to chalk the edges of each circle with liquid chalk for added character).

3.  Arrange five circles in a flower shape and staple the center to hold them together.

4.  Use glue dots to add a silk flower of your choice to the center of the stapled circles.  Then use glue dots to adhere an additional circle to the center of the silk flower.

5.  Tie ribbon or twine through a button and use glue dots to attach it to the top of the circle. 

Your first paper flower is complete!    I prefer to make several different flowers and bunch them together.  I’ll post another paper flower tutorial tomorrow! 

Another layout created with the new Botanicabella Line from Graphic 45.  This is one of the projects that DHL has hidden somewhere in the abyss (*sniff*).  I can’t say it enough, I love working with this paper. 

I spoke with Karen and I’ll be creating this layout (but make it 2-pages) for a class at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique in August. 

Take a close look at this paper, it’s gorgeous!

I created a little hidden journaling tag on the right hand side of the photo.

Do you like the first photo of the paper flowers?   I think I’ll run a little course on how to make paper flowers here on my blog next week….what do you think?  Is it something you all would be interested in?  Let me know.

And please keep your fingers crossed that my DHL package finds it’s way to Graphic 45 in time for their trip to Chicago!

You simply must visit the Graphic 45 Blog they have just released their new paper lines, Bontanica Bella and Playtimes Past.

I’ve been working on projects with this paper and I LOVE IT!  I have been trying help out by making some example projects for CHA Summer in Chicago.  We’ve had a little mix up with DHL and my projects are somwehere in limbo.  I hope that they get to the Graphic 45 headquarters before they leave! 

I can’t possibly post everything I’ve done in one post, but here’s a peek at a couple projects, a gift bucket made with the Playtimes Past Line and a card made with the Bontanica Bella Line:

I’ll be posting more projects throughout the week.  What do you think?  I would love your input!

Do you ever feel like you’ve wasted your time on the things that don’t really matter?

For instance. Today I dwelt on: “I can’t” a little to longer than I should have. It seems like when the word “can’t” enters my mind it immediately cancels any chance of “can”. So, I’ve decided to start chanting “I can” instead. I can, I can, I can…kind of like “I think I can” (in the movie Dumbo), except I going for the I know I can. Goodbye grumpy old “can’t” - I’m finished with you! And I CAN!!!

If you’re curious about the card above…I made and sent it to my Grandma Crabtree. She bonked her head pretty good and ended up in the hospital! Her and my Grandpa do read my blog, so hopefully Grandma already received the card in the mail! By the way, Grandma, if you’re reading this…I sure hope that you’re doing better!

OK, now I can turn off my computer and go to bed…goodnight sweet friends.

The other day my husband sent me a link to a post called “Wisdom of the 6 year old“  Where a first grade teacher asked her students to finish well-known proverbs.  It was so cute and hilarious I had to ask my kids to do the same thing. 
Here are their answers:

1. Don’t change horses…..saddles.
2. Strike while the………..ball is in the air.
3. It’s always darkest before……the day time.
4. Never underestimate the power of…….God.
5. You can lead a horse to water but…….you can’t lead a fish to land.
6. Don’t bite the hand that…….is poisonous.
7. No news is……………no television.
8. A miss is as good as a………….can we skip this one?
9. You can’t teach an old dog new…….tricks (they knew this one).
10. If you lie down with dogs, you’ll……….get sick.
11. Love all, trust……………love.
12. The pen is mightier than the……..the paper clip.
13. An idle mind is………stupid.
14. Where there’s smoke there’s……..dust.
15. Happy the bride who………..gets married.
16. A penny saved is…………a penny earned (yep, they knew this one too).
17. Two’s company, three’s…….a factory (it took me a minute, then I understood what they thought a “company” was).
18. Don’t put off till tomorrow what……….can burn you up.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and…..the whole world cries???
20. There are none so blind as…….I don’t know…what animal is blind?  A dog?
21. Children should be seen and not……..Captured.
22. If at first you don’t succeed……..try again!  (Sheesh they’re little smarties).
23. You get out of something only what you…..find inside the present.
24. When the blind lead the blind……………..they crash.
25. Better late than………………………………….never (yep, they got this one too).

If you want to see how the 1st grade class answered these proverbs click HERE.

Here’s a photo of my kid’s with the gang that stopped by for the weekend…ha ha hearty har har…

P.S.  If you’re wondering about the butterfly on the top of this post…I stamped it twice on G45 paper, then glued one on top of the other for a 3-D effect.  I LOVE this butterfly stamp set (by Autumn Leaves).  The butterfly is on a wedding layout I did for a friend of mine. 

Have a great day!

Win a $25 Gift Certificate - TIMES UP! Thanks for your comments!

Congratulations to the winner of the $25 Gift Certificate:

Vicki Morris!

Paradise Scrapbook Boutique is my all time favorite Scrapbook store! From the first moment I walked in the front door, I was awe-inspired. Karen, the store owner has such an eye for detail (if you read my blog…you know I love the details). I always feel warm and welcome there…and an added plus: the women who scrapbook there are amazing too! To top it all off, Karen actually thinks that I’m cool enough to teach at her “Boutique” and boy oh boy is it fun!

So, you know I love to give stuff away…today I am going to share the love! I’m giving away a $25.00 PSB gift certificate!!! Karen is willing to sell class kits/product over the phone (for those of you who don’t live in the area). Simply visit her blog HERE and check out the classes/new product!

Leave a comment on any post, I’ll even add an extra entry for those who comment on old posts…I’ll draw a random winner this Sunday (June 1st).

I wish that I had time to make handmade cards for all my friends…

To me, nothing says “I care” like receiving a card in the mail…Don’t get me wrong, I love to get emails from friends too.  There’s just something about a card in the mail.  When you open up the mailbox and there is a card or letter addressed to you.  Handwritten with love…and then even better; when someone sends a handmade  card…wow! 

I love to make cards…I should probably make  time to create more of them.  Along with the time I’ll make  for everything elseI want to do. For instance…I want to make time to learn Spanish, or travel to Egypt, or make the perfect pie crust…Darn, instead I have  to make time for folding the HUGE pile of laundry sitting on my bed…Time to call in the troops…”Honey, can you come here for a minute….? “

It’s raining here today…I welcome the nice cool weather after it’s been so hot!  I know heat is just around the corner again and the kids will be jumping in the pool as soon as the sun is shining! 

It’s funny how different weather can transport me to old memories.  I’ve been trying to find some extra time to work on my pictures from France (years ago) and this weather actually brings back memories of being over there.  I remember the sudden summer rain-storm the day we visited The Louvre.  Walking down the steps and spending the day amongst the worlds art masterpieces.  These memories I will treasure always…I stood in front of the Mona Lisa and she smiled at me!

Today it is raining…

I’m teaching my “Birthday Book” class today at PSB.  While I’m up there I will be designing a “Father’s Day” mini-banner and a “love my dog” layout for next month.  I’ll share photos when they are completed (or when they are posted on the PSB website).

I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday - if you’re a local hopefully it will stop raining long enough for you to visit the Silver Dollar Fair this weekend! 

Drawing for the TC Mini Album is tomorrow.  For details click HERE.

…thank you so much for reading and commenting on my blog!  It is so much fun to share life’s little details with all of you…I can’t believe you all are actually interested in viewing my projects (and my life for that matter…since I can’t help but share that too).  I appreciate your comments and all the “blog love” and hope you keep coming back to visit!

In other random news…

Orange Crush is my all time favorite soda.  I’ve always enjoyed a good soda, I admit I’m kinda a Pepsi girl too.   That is I was a Pepsi girl until about 2 minutes ago when I read THIS.  Now, Readers beware…if you click on the word “THIS” above you will most likely be shocked into never drinking soda again.  I’ve officially sworn it off myself…goodbye beloved Orange Crush.  *sniff* 

P.S.  - Enter to win, for details click HERE.