So many things in production this summer that I have not taken time to update my blog.  Coming soon are alternatives to the expensive Gelli plate and pictures from my summer art journal.

Changing the size of your pinwheels

I mentioned in my last post that I thought these pinwheels could make nice jewelry.  I did a little experimenting.  Here is what I discovered.  Take the size of your square and double it for the base square.  If you want some color to show around the outside edges then add about 1/8".  Then proceed as in the earlier post on making pinwheels.  The smallest one I have done so far is 1/2" square base with 1/4" squares.  I had to use my "Pick Me Up" to handle the tiny pieces but they would make darling earrings.  The blue and purple pinwheel was done on 1 1/2" square base and 3/4" squares.  The green one just above it is a 2" square base with 1" squares.  I think I have done the small end of the spectrum now I am going to see how the larger ones look.  Imagine big ones in Red White and Blue for a Fourth of July wreath!   The pinwheel at the top is the one we started with that has the 2 5/8" square base with 1 1/4" squares.  I hope you enjoy this.

Ann's paper pinwheels

I would love just once to position the type and the imagesIi right where I want them.  It is nice to see that they are in the order I wanted them...SIGH... We will proceed from here.  The photo above shows the square sizes that are needed.  I have pictured four neutral squares that look blue in the picture.  You will actually need eight of those.  For the one inch squares you will need 4 and two of the 2 5/8" squares.  In a world where the artist knows what she is doing on the computer you would already know that these are directions for the pinwheel card I am doing for a class at Paper Boutique.  Step one follows...AMAZINGLY!

 The two 2 5/8" pieces are going to glued together to make a star.  It is easier to do this on graph paper if you are very fussy about details.  Lovely!  Moving on...

 I used a one inch postage stamp punch to give some detail to the flowered paper I used on four of the 1/1/4" squares.  You will see this is optional when you have done a couple of your own.  Glue the scalloped 1" squares in the middle of the 11/4" squares and put aside.

 I used a sliver of scrap paper to remind myself and you that we do not want to glue the bottom side on the first square firmly down yet.  It will need to be lifted up to accommodate the last square.  Place the square in the corner of one point of the star with a tiny bit of the base color showing.

 Alternate the placement with a plain 1 1/4" square placing it over the first one and into the next point of the start going clockwise.  Glue it down. 

Note:  This picture might be out of order but I have no clue how to fix it.

 This is how it should look. 

 Alternating one plain with one decorated square around the star you will find yourself back at the scrap of paper holding the place where you can see to lift up the first square and slide the last square into place. (remove the scrap paper for another time) Take a look at the placement of the whole and if you are happy, carefully place glue where it needs to be to hold all the pieces of your beautiful pinwheel together.

 This is the almost finished product.  It needs something in the middle.  Yes, you are right.  Now go through your stash and find a button or a brad and get ready to wrap this up.

 I decided first on a brad so I made a small hole in the center.  The brad did not suit me so I removed it.

 I punched a small flower and placed a little blue stone in the middle.  Not completely happy but it is there until I find something perfect.

Here are three of the pinwheels I have completed.  I hope you enjoy this project and find lots of ways to use it.  Check out Paper Boutique in Springfield, Illinois at Facebook or on their web site for the time and date of my class.  It is a wonderful store so if you are in the area please stop by and be sure and say where you heard of them.

FLASH!  Wouldn't this be darling made about half this size for a broach or tiny for earrings or glued back to back for a pick for cupcakes.  WOW!  One more cup of coffee and I will really be ready to create.  OR... three times this size for a wreath or
                                                                                    yard ornament!

This is a punch art owl I designed using the darling owl paper from ADORNit .  It is called "Owls All Around Us".  I purchased the paper at Paper Boutique in Springfield, Illinois.  Pulling ideas from the owls on the paper I was able to use the punches I had to make this owl.  Think of all the designs out there that could be made into a punch design.  Just in case you are interested, here are the punches I used to make Miss Owl.
Body  fat oval from Marvy
Grey head    "
Grey eyes  3/4" punch
Bib  Stampin up scalloped oval
White eyes 1/2" punch
Blue eyes   1/4" punch
Black eyes  small hole punch
Eye brows  Stampin Up Boho blossom punch
Red wings  Stampin up Big blossom punch
Dotted wings  "
Branch  Stampin up Bird punch
Middle flower from a tiny thumb punch I have had for so long I do not know its source
Feet  and beak are bits of paper leftover.
Have fun with this and do not hesitate to use other punches.
I will be teaching this owl card and a really cute monkey card on the 21st of March 2013 at Paper Boutique in Springfield, Illinois.  There are still spaces left!

Letterpress Halloween cards for 2012

Halloween is fun for so many reasons.  There is the candy and the decorations.  The darling children in costume.  The candy and the cards.  The leaves and the wonderful colors and the candy.  Presented here are my Halloween cards for 2012.  I will not be giving directions for them because they involve the use of the Letterpress machine by Epic.  There is no reason you cannot use the same design using stamps or stickers.  I kept it fairly simple because I am new to this form of Letterpress.  While I did enjoy it very much it is not up to the standards of letterpress machines I was fortunate to be able to use in college.  It has some limitations but is worth the effort and you substitute some of the materials that come with the basic kit.  A really good soft brayer was my first substitution.  I also stopped using the foam pads to mark placement almost immediately.  They were a bear to clean up from your platform.  Enjoy and don't forget the candy!

Welcome to my blog.   I was going to make a video to show you how to make the stars pictured here but there are some wonderful videos on youtube about the StampinUp star that are much better than what I could produce.  The only change I made to the original design was to use my punches, Cricut  and Sizzix to cut the pieces.  I do not own the lovely set that is offered in the catalog but once you watch the videos you will see how easy it was to substitute shapes and accomplish a similar end result.
   I would recommend you start with the bottom layer being at least 3 inches.  When you try and fold the smaller pieces in half it gets very tedious.  Use up some of that light weight paper you have been trying to find a use for first.  Cricut Craft Room offers two free ornaments to cut which are good for this project.  It would be so easy to make the star with simple ovals if you happen to have a Sizzix die that cuts those for you.  If you have any questions do not hesitate to leave me a message. You could always draw your own ornament and use that for a pattern.
   My sincere thanks to StampinUp for the excellent work of their design team.  The Cricut cartridges I used in producing my designs were:
Joys of the Season
Ribbons and Rosettes
Flower Shop
The tree that is in the middle design is from Ribbons and Rosettes, page 28.  The single leaves are from Flower Shop.  The ornaments were in Joys of the Season, page 62.  Any shape that can be folded in half with both sides the same will make a shape you can use to build your design.  Make the stars big or small to suit your needs.  

Bunny bags for Easter

The bunnies were cut using Cricut cartridge Creat a Critter in 5" size. I found treat bags at the craft store to cut down for the basket. Now they just need some Easter grass and candy and they will be ready to drop into the cellophane bags for presentation. The Create a Critter cartridge has many applications for dimensional projects for children.