Try Fresh Techniques and Tools ... Freebie Too!

I can hardly believe that the year is half over with and it means it's time to wrap up some projects that I have started and not finished. I've abandoned these projects because they needed something I couldn't quite put my finger on. After getting some feedback and viewing some new techniques to energize my project-mindset, I'm getting my creativity flowing again!

So, take time for yourself this summer. Immerse yourself in a design and techniques workshop in your area. Expand your horizons and learn new techniques. :0) Strathmore has FREE Visual Journal online workshops ... they have a PDF workshop series available or scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up! And for you digi scrappers and crafters Scrapbooking Gems by Genie Balfour offers FREE Exclusive Sketches - just click on the SKETCHS tab! Experimentation is all part of the fun and you might find that one technique and tool that just makes crafting SO much fun!

Oh "wow"! Over at Two Peas in a Bucket they've got a wonderful Class Lesson: Scrapbook Stamping video by Nichol Magourik on making your own pattern paper. Although it's called Scrapbook Stamping, those of us who are card crafters or paper project crafters will enjoy this video's information ... it sure inspired me to be more creative! I'm always searching the paper aisle looking for that just right paper print and color to go with my design elements, and it seems, it's seldom or never out there when I need it. This video has opened me up to all sorts of possibilities in making my own stamped paper that will compliment my project and lessen my crafting woe's.

              

                    



If you are not into all that stamping, Paper Wishes is the place to go for HOTP Color Me Sampler Packs. Don't forget to view the Color Me 2 Featured Webisode too! Of course, video webisodes from Paper Wishes new 'Stamp Camp' program is full of exciting products to work with along with some inspirational designing! Be sure to DOWNLOAD THIS VIDEO to add them to your video collection. Then you'll always have it at your finger tips.

    

Viva Decor has such an amazing array of products! A new arrival over at SCACD is an embellishment product called, Crystal Gel! And, if you're my age, who hasn't played with Shrink Plastic?! Jane Johnson at Whiff of Joy Stamps has a tutorial on making shrink plastic BUTTONS and making some SANTA EARRINGS. These Santa earrings, or something similar in design, would be just too cute for gift-giving a little 'something' when added to a matching card?! Hmmmm, already this has got me thinking of Christmas card ideas with a gift. OMG! Shrink Plastic holiday pendnat pins too! Pink Persimmon has a Banner Pendant tutorial by Nancy Grant that uses stamp sets sized for Shrink Plastic projects. Click on their 'Clear Stamps' tab to see their assortment of stamps!

I've noticed that buttons are all the rage to use on projects, but they can be awfully bulky and heavy in mailing a project. I came across Sculpey Ultra Light Oven Bake Clay after making some molds using Suze Weinberg's Mold-n-Pour Quick Set Custom Mold Compound that creates three dimensional embellishments - I now know I'd go crazy re-creating many objects other than just buttons with this stuff! :0) It's available at Scrapbooking Warehouse! I did come across this Etsy site called, Silicone Molds by Mold Muse and found a wonderful variety of pre-made molds for sale! For even more variety Mad About Molds is another site of pre-made molds that you should visit too!       

Freebie ~ Freebie ~ Freebie!

This image was ONLY available for a limited time ...
until July 31st 2011 12:00pm CST.



Use this freebie digi image on your project ... by adding an image of your project in the Links To This Post you will receive another free image via your email of this unpublished digi series of images (to make delivery easy, be sure to leave me your email address). If you've acquired this image prior to the limited availability deadline and haven't had time to create something with it, you can still add your project ... it's the only way to get a free emailed image!

NOTE: To add your "project" to this post (or any post on this blog) click on, Comments. Click on the POST A COMMENT below the list of comments left. Type in Leave Your Comment - Santa Lapland. Scroll down and add Word Verification. Scroll down and click on NAME/URL - in the Name area enter either Santa Lapland or site/blog name. In the URL area you must first type in the "http:// " followed by your site/blog address unless of course you copy-paste your site/blog info for that particular page. You will see how it works when you click on the comment in "red" that says DIANE. :0) 

We hope you enjoy your viewing and find things you like ... your ideas and projects are welcomed -

please leave a comment on our blog.   

Diane :0)

Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says ~ "Oh crap, she's up!"

DZ Doodles Plaqued With The Mundane!!!

Sorry, I've been plaqued with the mundane tasks of everyday issues ... the blog and crafting needed to take a backseat! And my biggest issue was cleaning out the apartment storage area located in the basement. My heartbreak was the decision to sell my porcelain doll collection that's been in storage for years! Reality has finally set in that there'll never be room to display them like I once did in a house. Besides, I have other interests now that take up plenty of space as it is! :0) If interested she's available under my Dizzy Designs Store tab.                                

Amoungest my many creative hobbies I'm a clay-addict, although I haven't had time to create, I did come across these adorable handcrafted originals by Buttonwilloe that make for great gift-giving ideas!

And for you pursey-people, another addiction of mine as well, Mel Stampz has Purse Templates Galore that you'll truly enjoy using!! :0) And she uses some awesome crafting techniques that you could also apply to scrap pages and card crafting or any paper craft project!

Even though the "mundane issues" are preventing me from staying on-top-of-my-crafting projects, I did manage to quickly throw this card idea together - actually it was a quick card creation that I needed for a birthday! I'm not particularly pleased with the background idea for the front, but it's cute and got rave reviews ... just love the simplicity of the pop-up character inside.

                        

                                                                             

                                                            

Now I don't know about you, but when I would look for a card in the card aisle, I was always on-the-hunt for one with a 'wow' factor whether it was on the outside or in the inside. I'm a pop-up-card-fanatic and have an extensive collection of books by authors who have done some amazing pop-up designing - as well as a collection of cards from friends. I have done some elaborate card designs based on some of theses authors creations that I've given to family and friends. But this card in its simplicity has the 'wow' factor to bring a smile on your recipient's face and perhaps a few chuckles within as they entertain themselves by pinning the tail on the donkey (held on by velcro).  Images are handrawn by me and only availabe for purchase as part of 'my projects' for sale under Dizzy Designs Store tab!  

MELTED ICE CREAM CUPCAKES! Confessions of a Cookbook Queen says that ice cream is such a fun summer party theme, and you don't have to save it for just birthdays. Slumber parties and cook-outs are the perfect excuse to serve these fun treats.

Plus, people will think that you worked really hard on them and you will get tons of compliments. And all the other moms will spend the rest of their born days trying to live up to the party treat standard you've set!

To keep your creativity flowing duing these dog days of summer I've got some freebie card template shapes, listed in our FREEBIES tab, that you may want to use on your next project (or scrap page). I'll be adding more templates throughout the week until there's plenty to choose from. Then I'll do some type of template rotation so you aren't checking back and seeing the same 'ol thing. 

Oh my gosh ... the knock on the door meant that FedX just brought my craft stuff order. I hope to have tutorials available explaining some of my many uses of them in the cards and projects I create. Hope your weekend has been a good one! "I'll be back blogging soon."

We hope you enjoy your viewing and find things you like ...

please leave a comment on our blog.

Diane :0)

NOTE: Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning
the devil says ~ "Oh crap, she's up!"