Wordless Wednesday

Tutorial Tuesday: Primitive Pirate Invitation

Well it's birthday season at our house, with parties almost every weekend and both of my own kids' birthdays coming up. I love going all out (as much as I can on a budget) with a theme and making the party special for everyone involved. Let's face it - when they're young, the parties are for the adults as much as the kids! This year my daughter's party is Strawberry Shortcake and my son's party is inspired by the new Disney cartoon, "Jake and the Neverland Pirates". So today's tutorial is my son's birthday invitation, but also a look at how to age paper.

Let's start with the recipe for this project:

one invitation printed on letter sized cream cardstock

instant coffee

vanilla extract & ground cinnamon

shallow baking dish & tongs, paper towels
large cookie sheet

parchment paper

lighter (per your preference)

Here is the invitation before I've done anything to it:

Now the fun begins!

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
  
• Prepare instant coffee as directed on container, but just a little more volume. This container called for 6 oz. water, so I made it with 8 oz. and instead of 1 heaping teaspoon of granules, I added 1 1/2 tsp.


• Add cinnamon & vanilla to coffee mixture. Don't have direct measurements for this folks, but you want to be able to smell the cinnamon over the smell of the coffee.


• Pour the coffee mixture into casserole dish and let cool just enough so you won't burn your fingers if they were to come in contact with the liquid.

• While it is cooling, take your invitation and crumple it up, careful not to tear the paper. It's o.k. if it tears a little bit, but too much and it will fall apart once it gets wet. The creases and lines will show up great when they absorb the coffee. Now uncrumple your paper and lay it out flat.


• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place it right next to your casserole dish so that you can easily slide your paper out of the coffee and directly onto the waiting cookie sheet.
  


• Place it in the coffee mixture and use your tongs to push it down. Make sure all parts of the paper are covered with the liquid. Soak both sides of paper in coffee, and let sit just a little to really absorb the color of the coffee.





• Now slide the paper onto the parchment lined cookie sheet and place in the200-250 degree oven for 9 minutes.

I was really nervous about putting paper in the oven. It goes against everything we've been taught right? But, we need the heat to 'set' the color and 'flavor' of everything we've put on the paper.

O.k. - once you've removed the cookie sheet from the oven, let the paper dry completely. You may be tempted to play with it, but don't give in! The paper won't be totally dry yet, and you could end up tearing it. (am I speaking from personal experience? Why yes I am!)

NOTE: once it dries the paper will be crispy and not easily manipulated. This will make it difficult to fold if you're planning on mailing it!*If you want to use the lighter and burn the edges of the paper, stand over your sink and do it at this point!

For a final touch - gently roll the paper and tie it with black silk ribbon. It will be big and bulky, but these aren't going in the mail so that's o.k. This invitation looks (and smells) great!

This also works great with Halloween projects, Thanksgiving projects (pilgrims) or any history project.I used the same technique on the flashcards for a tablescape & this banner:

Thanks for looking and good luck with your own projects!

Just Do What You Do

I could spend all day (and have on occassion!) surfing the internet from one blog to another and oohing and ahhing over the beautiful and talented crafters out there. From sewing to all kinds of crafting, from party planning and decorating to scrapbooking, I have found so much joy and inspiration from countless bloggers that my head spins. You know what else I find? I find myself wishing I could be that good. I find myself comparing myself to this or that woman whose talent is light years ahead of mine. How do these women find the time? How do they come up with these ideas? Why can't I do that? Oh I wish, I wish, I wish I had that kind of ability to make that scrapbook page, that crafting element. By the end of my blog hunt I find myself paralyzed; unable to do any kind of craft because I'll never create anything that good. And so my paper collects dust, my scrapbook room lies quiet and still, waiting for my self confidence to return.
The truth is I will probably never be as good as these women, and most days I'm o.k. with that. In my own way, in my own style, I'm actually fairly decent. But when you're passionate about something, fairly decent isn't good enough, and I spend too much time comparing myself to others, frozen and a little jealous of their talent. This is where my walk as a believer in Jesus Christ comes in.
God has reminded me today that I am not to compare myself to others, for in doing so I find fault with His creation. Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..." Because I am a child of God, I know that I was created for a purpose. Right now my main purpose is to be a good wife and mother, taking care of the gifts God has given me and to grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ. He also has reminded me to be happy with who I am, and with the talents He has given me, for "every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17. I don't need to be the skinniest, prettiest, or most talented when it comes to scrapbooking. And while crafting gives me joy, it should not be the source of it. So I will keep looking at the beautiful creations of others on the internet, and marvel at their abilities. But for now, I'm just going to find happiness in my own creations, and I want to encourage you to do the same - just do what you do.

Valentines Blog Hop Day 4

Welcome back! Day 4 of the Creative Scrapbooking Divas and I am sick! Man down! So, today's post will be a short one and hopefully tonight I'll feel up to doing something new. If you're visiting for the first time, thanks for coming by and checking out my blog! I appreciate all comments and if you choose to become a follower, leave me a comment and I'll swing by your blog too. For more info. about the blog hop, see my post from yesterday that explains what the Creative Scrapbooking Divas are all about, along with the complete list of blogs on the hop!

Today's layout is one that I finished last year, but I still love it, which is why it fits in with the Valentines theme - I love it, and it explains why I love to scrapbook. Do you feel the love? After checking out my project, please leave a comment, then head over to Cheryl's blog at http://tickledpink04.blogspot.com. Thanks for looking!

Valentines Blog Hop Day 3

Good morning ladies! So glad you made it back my way and hope you're enjoying today's creations! If you're here from Brenda's blog, you're in the right place! If you're new to our hop, Welcome! We're hippity hopping our way across the internet with the Creative Scrapbooking Divas Valentines Day Blog Hop! If you'd like to start at the beginning, scroll down and check the list for Sandy's blog and then hop to the next!

Yesterday I issued a challenge to use a vintage image in your next project. I use vintage images all the time, and love the fun, whimsical and sometimes sophisticated look they add to a project. Upload your challenge entry by 2/17 to the CSDivas website http://divascreativas.ning.com/ the discussion threat VD Hop - Stephanie's Challenge Entries to win a grand prize! As a RAK for completing my challenge, I'll send you 6 vintage tags just like the ones I made for Day 2's project HOWEVER, since Valentines will be over by the time the challenge is complete, the tags you'll receive will be made with Spring/Easter images. I used another vintage image in today's layout, can you find it?

I love this layout! My husband is a great Dad to both our son and daughter. In these pics he's painting her toes (or piggies, as they're known in our house!) Patterned papers by Girls Paperie are distressed and inked (Tim Holtz Antique Linen, Vintage photo) encyclopedia page is stamped, inked and I used a crackle glaze on the right side to make it a little distorted, flower trim by Dear Lizzy, transparency with song lyrics by Paul Simon. Movie ticket and pretty brads by My Minds Eye. And...drum roll please...the sweet vintage girl is actually from an old Simplicity pattern that belonged to my Grandmother! No telling how old it is, but it was well used! I simply scanned the pattern, sized the images, and trimmed the little girl. I just love her!

Thanks for stopping by! Please take a minute and leave a comment, they are very much appreciated! Now, let's see who's next:

Sandy: http://scrapbookblessings.blogspot.com/

Denine: http://www.pumpkinspiceblog.blogspot.com/

Brandi: http://joyfullycreative.blogspot.com/

Pam: http://www.dreamersklub.blogspot.com/

Angela: http://tealfullycuttinup.blogspot.com/

Maryanne: http://www.scrappy-gifts.com/

Lori: http://scrapmomsmusings.blogspot.com/

Katie: http://www.katiesnestingspot.com/

Ann: http://www.annlenth.blogspot.com/

Brenda: http://www.brendasjoy.blogspot.com/

Alecia: http://freakalecias.blogspot.com/

Stephanie: http://todaysmagical.blogspot.com/

Cheryl: http://www.tickledpink04.blogspot.com/

Luisa: http://creativedesignsbyluisa.com/

Valentines Blog Hop Take 2!

So I am really late getting my blog hop post up today! Sorry ladies! Crazy morning with my 2 preschoolers - both having their Valentines class parties & standing in line for an hour to get them registered for next year - could not believe how many people had arrived super early to get in line for a spot! Wow. But, the show must go on and here we go!

If you're new to my blog, or missed yesterday, I am taking part in the Creative Scrapbooking Divas Valentines Blog hop (check them out here: http://divascreativas.ning.com/) and am posting my project for Day 2 of the Blog Hop! You can go to the beginning of the hop by visiting Sandy at http://www.scrapbookblessings.blogspot.com/ and then follow along until you get back to me. Next we'll visit Alecia at http://www.freakalecias.blogspot.com/. Got it? Good!

This is my first blog hop with a challenge and give away, so it took me an extra day to figure out my challenge, but here it is:

Use a vintage Valentine's image in your project: card, layout, banner, etc. There are some great royalty free vintage images on the web, and I do adore all things vintage! So, find a few that you like, use them in your project, then head over to the Creative Scrapbooking Divas and upload your project to the discussion thread: Valentines BH - Stephanie's challenge entries by Thursday, Feb. 17th. The CSDivas will award a grand prize and I'll be giving away the creations that I've made for today's blog hop. Check it out --------->

I used old Junior Encyclopedia pages and cut them into tags, inked them w/ Tim Holtz' Vintage Photo ink, backed them with white cardstock, printed vintage Valentines card images from the internet, adhered them and used stickles for glitz and pizzazz. Ribbon at the top makes them complete and ready for you to send to your special Valentine! Hope you like them - they were fun to make and I think would be a very special touch on your gift, or write a loving note on the back as a card.

Please leave a comment, remember my challenge, and head over to Alecia's blog to see what she has going on today! Thanks! Stephanie

Welcome Blog Hoppers!

I'm so excited to participate in my first blog hop with the Creative Scrapbooking Divas! They are such a great group of ladies to work with! If you've never been to their site, check it out here - http://divascreativas.ning.com/. If you're joining me from Brenda's blog (http://www.brendasjoy.blogspot.com/), you made it to the right place and I'm so glad you're here! If you'd like to start at the beginning of the blog hop, go to Sandy's blog at http://www.scrapbookblessings.blogspot.com/.

Now on to the show!

My creation for today is a Valentines inspired banner I'm calling "One Boy + 1 Girl" that I made using my cricut Storybook cartridge, papers and vintage images from Pretty Little Studio and Making Memories, Bazzill cardstock, stickers by American Crafts, Jenni Bowlin bingo card, Stickles and a lace heart from Michaels. The "LOVE" stickers are from Target's 99 cent scrapbooking section. Probably my favorite part of the banner are the pictures of my husband and I when we were kids. Please leave a comment if you're new, follow me, and head back here tomorrow to see another lovely Valentines creation! When you're done here, head over to Alecia's blog at http://freakalecias.blogspot.com/ to keep your blog hop moving along!

Thanks for looking! Please leave a comment and follow my blog! I love making new creative friends! Head over to http://freakalecias.blogspot.com/ now for the next diva's blog!