lindaalbrecht

Maya Road Sneak Peeks

CHA winter has almost started in Anaheim, CA so Maya Road is showing some of their wonderful new product over on their company blog HERE.  Such lovely things. 

I made the card above using new Frayed Edge Pleated trim in Faded Cherry *LOVE!!*, chipboard letters, scalloped chipboard frame, that pretty Gauze flower and green zipper.  The green color is new-- not the zipper product. 

The tag uses their new Vintage Metal Heart Tart Tin... just imagine the possiblilities!  I painted it red and sanded it a bit to distress it, then made a little pin cushion to fit inside it. The stamps used on the pin cushion are also a new item along with the pink measuring tape (the color is a bit off in the photo, but what a cool new item.)  The Vintage Findings Beaded Flower is not new, but isn't it just yummy?

This tag uses new Yellow Velvet Band ribbon, new Mini Organza Roses trim, scalloped chipboard frame and at the top some of their awesome new Twine Cording.  This twine is not floss-like as some twines out there...it has the real weight and feel of a twine cording that you might use to wrap a package with.  Very cool.

This is a mini made using their Soar Butterfly Chipboard Album.  It's filled with thoughts about butterflies and the colors of spring.  It can't be far away now, right?




Another new scalloped chipboard frame here and that sweet mini wood butterfly along with pieces of the Mini Organza Roses trim that I filled with a bit of sparkle.  I seriously love that trim because of the netting that is along the edges.  It makes for a really great texture on projects.


New clear stamp used on the chipboard butterfly... love this set.

If any of you would like some of those vintage images, email me and ask and I will send them off to you.


One last thing for now....


A blue jean pocket tag that is embellished with more of that Mini Organza Roses trim-- this time in pink, the measuring tape, and one of my favorite things from their new release-- Linen Burlap Trim.  I know that I can use that in sooooo many ways.  Here I embroidered on the trim to add some color.  It looks so great with all of the other textures on the tag.

I will be back within the next day or two with a few more things Maya Road-- hope to see you then.  Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Like I always say.....

.....time flies!!!!  I must have too much on my plate or I am really, really slow compared to others because I don't feel like I accomplish as much as other scrappers/crafters.  But, I made it here today for a little catch up.
 
 

So, in my last post I promised a giveaway.   Amy Duff you win the scrapping goodies!  Please email me with your mailing address and I'll work on getting that off to you.  Thanks to everyone else for the nice comments... you all are so kind.

 
Anybody in the mood for spring?  Me too!  It's been a long winter so I made these pinwheels for the Glue Arts blog using my Sizzex Big Shot machine.  The pinwheels are a die cut also from Sizzex as are the flowers in the centers.  These were posted last week to the blog if you want to see some close ups and get the supply list and instructions.
 

 
The solid colors are Glue Arts "Accent-It-All" vinyl and the papers are from BasicGrey.  They add the perfect fun little boost of color for spring.

 
 
Another Glue Arts blog project using the "Accent-It-All" vinyl.  This time I cut bunnies from the white vinyl and also made a ruffley trim with it.  There will be a post soon with the supplies and instructions included.
 
It was fun to add some stitching to my handmade fabric flowers.  I love to do hand stitching and wish that I had more time to do it.  It's one of those things that seem more likely to be a treasure to someone some day because fabric and stitching lasts almost forever and is timeless. 

 
So that is my quick post for today.  I am off to edit some more photos of a happy engaged couple.  I love taking photos of people in love.

 

 

Oh, and I recently took some sweet baby photos too.....
 
Lucky me! 

Thanks for stopping by.  I am going to do a surprise giveaway too for this post.  Do you like surprises? :-)  Here's a hint..... it will be something that I made.  So take your chances and comment here to get your name into the drawing.  On my next visit I will let you know the winner is!  See you then.

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

 

January....

What can you say about January?  It's cold and long when you live in Minnesota.  Somehow, I still find a way to watch it fade away too fast because I am busy with projects for the upcoming CHA show at the end of the month. 

Details of Christmas still linger about the house.  Maybe I will plan to get everything put away before February appears, but for now it stays because I have other work to do.

 
Over at the Ally Scraps blog is a project of mine that reminds me that February is right around the corner. 
 
I put together a few things to decorate for Valentine's Day.  Lovely paper hearts that as I cut them, reminded me of my younger days of making them from red, pink, and white construction paper.  We decorated our Valentine's Day card boxes with them and made mobile's that floated around above our heads in the classroom.

My version uses pretty Pink Paislee "Sweetness" Collection papers and embellishments and one October Afternoon piece plus vintage dressmaker's tissue.

 

 

 
The garland is made from smaller hand cut hearts and bunches of dressmaker's tissue flowers cut on an AccuCut die cutting machine.  I strung them on black crochet thread and added a little piece of tinsel to the centers of each heart.

 
That cute mini hanger is by Crafty Secrets and as with all of the papers and tinsel you can find them for purchase at the Ally Scraps online store.  Go HERE to find the supply list and instructions for everything in the photos, including the heart shaped box that will hold all of the paper decorations for storage.
 

Will you be making something for your house to celebrate the day of Love?  Send me a link and I will stop by to see.  Happy creating!

Linda 

 

Winter Wonderland & Giveaway winner

In the meadow we can build a snowman......

That's what's been happening around here lately.  Not the cold, outdoor snow type but still snowmen all the same.  I 'should' be out building a snowman or two in the yard though because we are knee deep in snow here and it's still coming down.  I like snow.... it's pretty and sparkly.....and makes me feel like I live in a snow globe.  What could be wrong with living in a perfect little world that's all glittery? ;-)

So here is my first snowman project.  One morning after I woke up as the alarm was going off, I pictured this in my mind.  Maybe I had a dream about it and I was just recalling my dream, but I saw this little flat snowman standing on a snowy hill made of crocheted laces and vintage buttons. 
 

 
He's made of paper clay and sparkled up with some Mica flakes.  The background paper is by Girl's Paperie and the hat is made with a paper from BasicGrey's new Christmas collection.
 
I love those old pieces of lace.  There are a couple of them that are new, but the others were some tiny strips that I saved from an old doily...so perfect for my project.  The buttons were picked up at an antique store.

To apply the lace to the paper I used Glue Arts Perma Tac Adhesive then added some glitter in case some of the adhesive was visable through the lace.  The pearls are from Melissa Frances.  I handstitched a few snowflakes onto the scene and some french knots along one of the mini ric rac pieces then added Jenni Bowlin buttons to the corners of the frame.

 

I also did a snowman project for the Glue Arts Blog.  You can find the supply list, instructions, and a few step out photos on the blog on December 16th.
 
The papers used are from Graphic 45.  They are perfectly vintagey and merry.  I added little jingle bells to the snowman's tummy (my most favorite part about him!) and used Snow-Tex to add a snow effect to the tips and top of some of his parts.  If you use this be sure to add a light sprinkling of clear glitter to really make it look snowy.  I do this right after I add the paste while it's still moist. 

A little close up of his face and fun paper clay nose:
 
 
 
So.......it's time for the winner's name.  I wish that I could give each of you something, but you can make them yourself too.  Remember to get the instructions for my last giveaway at the Ally Scraps blog HERE.  Oh... and I have been asked a couple of times about the link.  Here are some other directions for finding the houses templates on the Victoria Magazine blog:

1. Go to http://www.victoriamag.com/
2. Move your mouse over to the "Favorites" column.  That will make a drop down menu appear.
3. Click on the "Holidays" word.  That will take you to several do it yourself projects.
4. Click on the "Harvest Project Patterns" and print out the templates created by Olivia Kanaley.  Thank you Olivia Kanaley!!!!

Okay, back to the winner.....
Karey who commented on December 06, 2010 @ 5:52 pm...congratulations to Karey!  Please email me with your address so that I can get your gift to you before Christmas. Yayyyy!!!!

I love to giveaway!  It makes me feel so good and because of that, I am going to give away another one of the houses from my last post.  I want to get this off to the winner early next week so that they might have it right around Christmas so I'll be back on Monday, December 20 to announce the winner's name.  This time I'll be giving the blue house away that sits on the oval shaped box.  Post any merry comment for another chance to win one of the holiday houses!
 
 
Thank you so much for stopping by and spreading holiday cheer!  I'm grateful for all of your comments.  May you continue to have Christmas blessings find you and yours.

Linda :-)

Happy Thanksgiving week!

 Being a lover of food, Thanksgiving is probably one of my very favorite holidays--and besides that, there is no pressure or expectations beyond the food.  It's a nice, relax and enjoy the day kind of holiday.  We gather usually at my sister's house and everyone pitches in so that it is not too big of a burden on her.  It's just great food and laughing and sharing. 

One of my favorite food features is always bread.  Bread is so comforting.  I shared in a recent blog post that my mom, sisters and I, my daughter and future daugter in law, and a girl that feels just like a family member were getting together to make bread. Here are a couple photos of the girls.
 
 
 
They were making a batch of shamrock rolls here with a portion of the bread dough.

The day was so fun and one of the bread recipes that we made was my sisters Cracked Wheat Bread.  She usually makes this for Thanksgiving and forms it into rolls.  I want to share it with you, because it's the season for sharing.  Try it and I bet that you will love it!

Just a note on the Cracked Wheat ingredient in case you are not familiar with it.  Cracked wheat is a wheat product made from whole raw wheat kernels which are crushed or cut into smaller pieces.  I buy my cracked wheat at a food co-op or natural foods store.  Most grocery stores carry a similar product, which you can also use called Bulgur. 

Bulgur wheat, is also made by cracking wheat kernels. Bulgur, however, is made from wheat kernels which are steamed and toasted before cracking, so that they develop a rich, nutty flavor. Bulgur also requires minimal cooking, since it is already partially cooked. Cracked wheat, on the other hand, uses whole raw wheat berries. 

"Cheri's Cracked Wheat Bread"

Makes:
2 Loafs or 1 loaf and 18-20 rolls (form into golf ball size)

Ingredients:
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. salt
1 cup Cracked Wheat or Bulgur

2 Tbsp. yeast
1/4 cup warm water
Flour

Method:
1. In bowl soak cracked wheat or Bulgur in 3 cups of very hot water for 10-15 minutes.
2. In a large bowl combine first 3 ingredients with 2 cups boiling water.  Allow butter to melt, drain water from cracked wheat and add to mixture, allowing it to cool to lukewarm.

3. Soak yeast in 1/4 cup of water. Once above mixture has cooled to lukewarm, combine the two mixtures and work in flour with a spoon one cup at a time until it becomes difficult to stir.  Add dough to a floured surface, adding additional flour as needed to form a soft dough which you will knead for about 8 minutes.

4. Place in greased bowl, let rise until double in size(about 1 hour.) 
5. Punch down dough in the middle and shape into loafs or rolls.  Place in greased pans and allow to raise once more. 

6. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.  Brush tops with butter. Follow the same steps for making dinner rolls.
 
Mmmmmm.......I want some right now!  Forming the dough into dinner rolls and eating them that way is wonderful, but the bread is so moist and perfect plus it's great for toasting too.
 

I neglected to share a couple of my November Glue Arts projects, so I want to do that now.  Here is a little "Woodland Snow house".  We were given lots of May Arts ribbon to work with and once I saw the faux suede leaf trim that reminded me of moss, I knew what I wanted to do with it.


You can find this little paper mache house at most craft stores and the roof lifts off, so it would be great to use as a gift wrap.  The paper is from the "Jovial" Christmas collection by BasicGrey.  All of the trims are from May Arts and the adhesive used for the roof leaves was Glue Arts Perma Tac.  You can find complete a complete supply list and directions at the Glue Arts Blog here.

 

AnotherGlue Arts project was using Crate paper's "Restoration" collection along with the wonderful adhesives from Glue Arts.  This collection is amazing!  I love the colors and it inspired me to make another Art Journal using old family photos.  Remember to click on the photos for a more close up look!

 
 
This project uses lots of GlueArts Adhesives, including Perma Tac, Ribbon Adhesive, 3D Foam blanks, and Adhesive Squares for popping up elements on the pages.  I also used several AccuCut dies to make extra pages, flower embellishments and pockets.
 
 
 

 You can find the supply list and instructions at the Glue Arts Blog here.  Check out all of the Crate Paper projects that the Glue Girls made on the blog because they are awesome.  You'll find lots of inspiration using this paper collection.

 
Last thing for this post-- I'm sure that you're wondering who won my last giveaway mentioned in the previous post.  Congratulations to Char who commented on November 15 @ 6:12 pm.  Char, please email me with your mailing address.  Thanks to everyone who participated!  Next time I will have another holiday giveaway. 

It's time for me to get back to work.  I have to start thinking about decorating for Christmas too.  Isn't that always such a big job?  Maybe after Thanksgiving I will get serious about it and get something done.

I hope that all of you have a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving day!
Linda