lindaalbrecht

May...finally!

I've been waiting for May and not very patiently either, but it's finally here and now it's time to get out and work in the yard and plant a garden.  I am so ready!  Love digging into the dirt and hoping something will grow.

This year I don't get to just experiment with gardening.  This year it's serious because I am growing flowers for my son, Cole's wedding on September 24.  Hopefully I won't be a nervous wreck every time it storms.  I may have to ask all of my friends and fellow paper crafter's to pray for the flowers once in awhile!  Never hurts, right?!! :-)

I spent a few months over the winter going through Seed Catalogs looking for the perfect apricot colored Dahlia that his fiance wants for the bouquets.  I think that I found it!  If you ever need Dahlia tubers or seeds you should visit Swan Island Dahlia's on the internet.  They have every kind imaginable.  The rest of the seeds for the centerpieces, etc I found at Thompson and Morgan Seeds.
The have a great selection and a very informative site for what flowers to get to suit your needs.

 

Here is my latest project for the Glue Arts Blog. 
 
Maya Road sent some of their lovely product to glue together for April.  How I love Maya Road.... 

 
These pin cushions are made from their Canvas collection.  You can find the full instructions and supply list with a few more images on the Glue Arts Blog HERE.  If you check out the Glue Art Blog you'll find too that they give away lots of product...both from the sponsers and from the Glue Arts supply of adhesives.  I promise you will not be disappointed if you win!

 
 

I promised a blog Giveaway last post, so the name drawn was:

Angela who posted April 18,2011 at 8:12 pm... I guess it 'was' your turn to win!  Congratualtions and my surprise giveaway is the Bunny Garland from the "Like I always say" post.  I hope that you like it and have a spot to use it. 
 

I'm off to work on my next Glue Arts project.  I want to wish all of your mothers out there a very happy day this coming Sunday.  I hope that you get to spend it with everyone who loves you and it grateful that you are mom.

Linda :-)

Red and Pink Harmony

What is it about putting red and pink together for Valentines Day that makes it sooooo good?  Really, I wouldn't use them together very often for anything else, but I adore them together for February 14th. Then add the look of a little white eyelet lace and it is perfection.

 
Add in that soft blue green color and it doesn't hurt either.
 

I made this project for the Glue Arts Blog.  The focus on the Glue Arts product is their "Accent it All" Vinyl.  They are 12x12 vinyl sheets that you can cut or punch shapes from to create interesting projects.

 
I used the vinyl to make the flowers on my Treat Pockets.

 
The vinyl (which is self adhesive) sticks nicely to paper, so I layered onto the backside of my paper then used a Sizzix "Big Shot" Die cutting machine to cut the flower shape. 
 
Who knew that vinyl was so cool?  I love it mixed with the shabby papers that I used.  The white eyelet looking lace and doilie's are also cut from the Glue Arts vinyl.

 
I also used it on my "Message in a Bottle" project.  It stuck right to the old vintage bottle that I used, so no glue necessary. I also added some pretty May Arts ribbons to my projects and that cute little "Be Mine" label is from Shabby Chic Crafts.

Go to the Glue Arts Blog for more information on the supplies  and instructions.  Then give one of your sweeties a love note tucked into a wax sealed bottle or stuff a paper pocket with treats or maybe a gift card.
 
 

One more non-Valentiney thing to share from a new company called "Vintage Street Market".  They will be spending their first CHA show together as manufacturer's next week in California.  Here's wishing them a bunch of good luck!
 
 
Their product is very vintage retro.  It reminds me of items that you'd find in an old sewing box or in an antique store. Like something that you'd find tucked away in your great grandmother's old trunk or scrapbook.  You can check them out here and here is their Blog.

For my projects I made some birthday celebration items and a little sewing box. I think that one of my favorites is the colored foil paper that comes in their kits.
 
 
Last I want to share a product/tool that I recently found. Did you know that Martha Stewart products sell this little lovely?  http://www.createforless.com/Martha+Stewart+Tools+Fringe+Scissors/pid167025.aspx

 
 
A Fringe Scissors!!!!! Are you kidding me?  Now, I know that would come in so handy and when I get mine I am going to create a project just because of it. Be on the lookout!
 

I see snowflakes in the air again today.  We live in a snow globe this winter...as it seems to be constant. At least it isn't below zero like it was last week.  You'd open the door and the warm air inside would instantly create frost on the cold window of the storm door.  Brrrr....
 
Just a little taste into our frozen haze....

 
Yes, we stay inside whenever we can because...baby, it's cold outside.

Linda

 

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" Giveaway

My house is getting all decorated up for the holiday.  I feel like I have a pretty good start on it, but still need to do a couple of big things....like the trees.  It's so fun to take out the things that I love to decorate with each year.

Like my collection of bulbs that I place around the house in baskets and amongst the greens.
 

 
I looooove sparkly stuff at Christmas...and things that look like ice and frost.
 
 
 

I love my little paper houses....pretty painted houses with their tarnished silver accents.....
 
And silly, happy snowmen.......
 

 
And the angels that I made with my Dad years ago.....
 
What are your favorite things about the house this time of year?  I'd love to hear!
 

I have a fun project to share with you that I did for the Ally Scraps Blog.  I downloaded patterns from the Victoria Magazine website to make these Vintage Village boxes.
 

 
The papers, mini pom pom trim, chipboard snowflakes, crystal topped stick pins and stickers can all be purchased from their store HERE.

 

 

 
I used Mica Flakes and clear glitter for the sparkle and distressed up some jingle bells and used silver pipecleaners for trimming.  I love silver pipe cleaners!  

You can go to the Ally Scraps Blog to get the complete list of supplies and directions, plus the link to the Victoria website for the templates for the houses.  They'd love to have you stop on by.
 

So I also mentioned a GIVEAWAY in my title, so I want to let you know how to have a chance to win a bit of Christmas from me.  Above I asked what are your favorite things around the house at Christmas time, so just tell me about that and you will be entered into the drawing to win.....................

the striped (pink, red, and blue) "Home for Christmas" Vintage Village House Box shown above!  I'd love to share this with one of my blog readers.  I hope that you'll enjoy it as much as I did making it.  So go ahead and leave me your comment-- I can't wait to read them :-) 
 
Thanks for stopping by!  I plan to be back again in about a week to announce the winner of the Village House Box and to share another project or two.  I've been making a few little clay pieces to add to projects so stop back when you can.

Have a wonderful winter weekend!
Linda

 

She lives!

Truly, I did not die......or leave the land of blogging forever.  Although, I did have the worst cold that I have had in years and may have felt like I was going to.  I still have a few symptoms, but it is so much better than it was 3 weeks ago.  All that I wanted to do was sleep, but didn't because I couldn't stop coughing.  Cort passed it on to me and when he had it we gave him a cough suppressant at night before he went to bed and there wasn't a noise from him during the nights of his bout.   No such luck for me.... I claimed my favorite chair in the living room as my bed at night so that I wouldn't keep everyone upstairs awake.

Spring is trying to make an appearance here in MN, but with almost 30" of snow that was in our backyard,  it's a slow process.  It's been raining for several days which is helping and I even saw a few spots of green grass today.  Last Saturday my husband saw robins in our big maple tree in the front yard, so spring can't be far away.  Yes!!!!  I am so ready for color.  I've seen enough white, gray and brown for now and need to see the fresh colors of nature as she awakens from a really long winter's nap.

I'm in love with these colors right now.
 
The spring egg images are from Pottery Barn , the rooms are from CountryLiving.com, and the flower images are from Irene Suchocki's Etsy Shop.  (FYI, Irene's photos sell for a very reasonable cost and they are so, so, so, beautiful.  I want to be her when I grow up ;-)   I love the teal blue and greens and the pop of pink's.  Just gorgeous-- I want to be surrounded by it all. 

I recently worked with some papers in these colors that were sent to me from The Ally Scraps Store and this is what I created.

 
That's a frame, not a layout (which it looks like it might be in the photos) and a fun butterfly and button garland strung onto thin jute string.  Would be cute for a party, shower, or a girls room.  The butterflies were cut from an AccuCut Die.  Check your local scrapbook store --you may just find the machine and diecuts there available for your use. 
 

 These papers are manufatured by Cosmo Cricket, Advantus, and We R Memory Keepers.  The links are to the Ally Scraps Store where you can purchase them.

EDITED TO ADD:  I received this email from a reader and wanted to share it with any of you that are trying to make the garland and need a little more information.  Below is her question and my response.

"Hi Linda, first off I love your work! My friends and I are trying to make your Butterfly
and button banner. We are having trouble keeping our butterflies laying towards the room. Did you tie them in the back and did you use glue on the backs? They are darling, just frustrated they won't fly right! "

"Hi Cathy-

The larger butterflies have 3 pieces-- one large piece and 2 smaller.  Layer one of each of the small ones on either side of the larger piece so that it won't matter which way they fall.  For the smaller butterflies it is just 2 of the same size, but I used 2 sided papers so that it wouldn't matter to see both sides.   Or if you want to use only one patterned paper for each butterfly, just cut extra pieces of the same papers to back them with.  I did do that on a few of them.

Mine are laying flat on my photos because they are against a window.  I turned the butterflies when I did the photos so that people could see just one side.  I did not use glue or tie them-- just slipped the jute string through the 2 holes that I punched in each butterfly.  I tied the buttons in place though, but with the butterflies I'm able to slide them around a bit.  When you free hang the garland you can adjust them if you want, but I kind of like them not to be all facing the same way (for instance, some of them look like they are flying with the body facing toward the floor.)

I hope that information helps.  Glad to hear that people are making them-- they are fun for spring! "

Another project that fits my new favorite color scheme, was a layout that I made for the Melissa Frances Blog.  Go visit to see what supplies I used and instructions on how to make the layout.



 
Just a couple of things to show now that have kits for sale if you're looking for something new to work on...

This 7 Gypsies Printer's Tray was sent to me by Frost It Pink and is for sale in their store.  You get everything seen here plus there are plenty of leftovers for other projects.

Also for sale now at The Scrappy Gourmet is a "Snowman Joy Wall Hanging" kit that people were asking for before Christmas.  Hey,  might as well start really early for next year, right? ;-/  Click on the link to see the kit if you are interested.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  You are sweet to remember me-- I will return sooner than last as I'm in the middle of quite a few projects here.  I want to show you the new Crepe Paper flowers that I am making and of course, the team over at the Tattered Angels Blog is working on new projects for March along with Fancy Pants Design products and I love the papers that they sent me to work with.  Look for more teal blue's, green's and oranges too. 

Enjoy the coming of spring!
Linda   

   




 

  

A place to rest....

... that's what I need.  Some place warm, with a soft breeze and the fragrance of flowers in the air.  I'm ready to smell the Lilies of the Valley and the lilacs  through the open windows on my front porch.  I want to do nothing for at least an hour but float away on a daydream on my front porch swing.  Is it almost spring?

 
So, you think that I've been too busy dreaming of spring for the past 4 weeks in my absence? 
Oh... no.  I've been buried in CHA assignments,  partly.  I've done 19 layouts for Melissa Frances and miscellaneous altered projects.  Like this....

I made the roses with Melissa Frances Tissue Paper. 

These were created with her new Vintage Posey collection.

I guess looking at these beautiful papers didn't help my spring fever! ;-)  Speaking of spring....
 
This bunny in an Easter basket is now on it's way to California for the CHA show too.   

 I also worked with BasicGrey but can't share anything with you just yet.  But, soon!  Come back later for that.

Then there is Tattered Angels... 
 
They have some sweet new Glimmer Screens for Valentine's Day.  Beautiful heart images in the Timeless Romance collection. Love the Calling Cards,  those love sentiments, and the little cupid.  Oh and that chipboard frame and letters are also new. 

 
They have a bunch of new Glimmer Mists too.  I used the new Spring Rain color on the Calling Card, which is the softest of blues.  So subtle and romantic.  I always think that the soft muted colors are my favorites, until I use these....

Yummy, vibrant oranges, yellow, and blue/greens.  I LOVE these Mists!!!!  The colors that I used were Sunshine (yellow), Tuttie Frutti (pink, but misted with the Sunshine it makes a lovely orangey red color), Electric Blue and Hula Hoop (green). 

The big brown stamp is also from Tattered Angels and is called Notes From the Garden.  It is huge and so so fun.  I used a brayer to apply a dark brown acrylic paint mixed with a little glaze to the stamp then immediately after stamping sprinkled on a clear fine glitter.  The stickers and paper are from BasicGrey's new Origins  collection.  Oh, by the way have you check out BasicGrey's new website?  So fun and inspiring!  

The inside of the heart was brushed with a Ranger Distress paint called Rock Candy.  It made the orange/red color pop!   The fun little rub on images mixed in amongst the stamping are from Fancy Pants.
 
So if that isn't enough to fill my days I also took individual player and team photos for 8 Hockey teams.  After editing and printing, now I am taking game photos.  Those take a bit more editing and cropping as I am far away from the ice using my zoom lens.  No wonder I want spring when I spend so much time in cold ice arena's!  Here's a couple of my son and one of our goalie.

 

   

  Okay, I've got to go and make supper, but I'll be back much sooner than last time with more new product shares.  Thanks for not forgetting about me!

Linda