Q is for Quinceanera!

1. Start with a lot of Bashful Blue card stock.

2. Add in some Whisper White card stock and a little Vellum.

3. Sprinkle with tons of Crystal Stickles and white gel pen dots.

4. Punch out hundreds of scallop and stamped circles.

5. Fold and cut paper for many hours.

6. Use every scrap of red line adhesive you can lay your hands on.

7. Run your Elegant Bouquet embossing folder through the Big Shot hundreds of times.

8. Quality control check each belly band for the perfect fit.

9. Keep plenty of foil and wax paper on hand to keep scallop border punch fine tuned!

The end result is 150 Quinceanera Invitations and envelopes!

That's a lot of paper, adhesive, and ink, but what a great project!

Happy Quince Anos and crafting!

Versamark and Chalk?

Yes, you read correctly.  During my YouTube video tutorial marathon session, earlier this week, I saw not one but two videos talking about using chalk with Versamark.  I decided to try it for myself because I couldn't tell what the end product looked like from either video.  I have owned a box of chalks for about 5 years and I can count on one hand the number of times I have opened that box.  Most of the chalks have never been used, but I will be using them now!

I started the project with some Very Vanilla, left overs from when I made my Squash Book.  The stamp set is  Merci by Stampin' Up--I love everything French!  I inked my stamps with Versamark and applied chalk to the stamped images with a q-tip. It was as simple as that!

I love the soft fuzziness of the image.  When you are satisfied with your image you simple tap the paper and blow away any excess.  I was concerned that the image might smear because you do not emboss it with a heat tool, but it sets without heat.  I had a couple of my initial attempts in an envelope in my purse for a couple of days. They looked the same each time I took them out of the envelope.

I also used the Versamark to stamp the More Mustard card stock with stamps from the Merci set to give it a tone-on-tone look.  I did set the Versamark on the card stock with clear embossing powder and a heat tool.

I mounted both panels on DSP Patterns Stack Regals Collection. The polka dot is Bravo Burgandy and the stripe paper is Not Quite Navy.  I love the Regals Collection!  The colors are so warm and vibrant.  The gem stickers are from the Martha Stewart birthstone  package--I love these embellishments also!  I hope you will give this technique a try!  Happy Crafting!

Love Letter DSP Squash Book

Earlier this week I was watching videos on YouTube, one of my new obsessions, and I came across a tutorial called Squash Book with Dawn.  I had never heard of a Squash Book.  This project is fast, fun, and completely awesome!  Dawn Griffith's video tutorial is at the end of this post.  Here's my cover!  

I used Very Vanilla to construct the pages and Love Letter DSP for the background papers.  These DSP papers have a vintage quality to them, so I inked the edges to age the Very Vanilla card stock.  Journaled with my stampin' write basic black marker and added a miscellaneous black ribbon and Martha Stewart birthstone gem stickers to give the cover a simple old world look.

When you untie the ribbon and fold back the cover, the first page of your squash book is revealed.  

Open the squash book further and you will find an amazing amount of space for photos, journaling, and embellishment!  

What's more you have even more room on the flip side of this paper album!

The finished album is 4.25" square.  I decided to print my photos in black and white to go along with the aged look.  If you decide to cut your photos on the diagonal to fit the triangle shaped folds--lay your photos out first!  I ended up repositioning a few of my square photos so the photos all flowed the same direction.

As promised here is Dawn's video!  I hope you try this project out! :) Happy Crafting!

Jo-Ann Craft for a Cause Contest Announced

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores have announced a new Craft for a Cause contest!  

Crafters - Enter to win $1,500 Gift Card and Jo-Ann will donate a total of $90,000 to three causes--see link below for details!  If you decide to enter the contest, and we hope you will, please e-mail us a photo of your submission to: info@crafthavenretreats.com  We will be happy to share your project with our followers.


Contest Dates are as follows:

Begins August 15, 2010 and ends October 30, 2010
Charity voting ends December 4, 2010

Click here to  Enter On-Line Now

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Sneak Peek - August Stamp Club

Oh--you peeked!  Well, it's to be expected--we did provide a photograph!

This is a lovely example of one of the projects we will be making at Stamp Club this month!  If you live in the South Suburban area of Cook County, IL and you are interested in joining Nanci's Stamp Club, please add a comment to this post and she will contact you!  If you are a Demonstrator who is interested in our Demonstrator Special and would like to offer classes and/or workshops at Lake View Lodge in Dowagiac, MI, please comment to this post also.

Paper: Greenhouse Gala DSP, Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, and Chocolate Chip cardstock
Punches: Modern Label, Word Window, Boho Blossoms, and Ornament Extra-large
Stampset: Awash with Flowers and Teeny Tiny Wishes
Misc: Dazzling Diamonds and Dimensionals

Note Card Sets with Mini Milk Cartons

 Isn't this note card set adorable?  It looks so cute with the pumpkins from Sew Many Pleasures (Saturday's post) in the background!  There are six matching 3.75"x4" note cards with envelopes inside the box.  The mini-milk carton is perfect for storing paper clips, rubber bands, thumbtacks, or my personal favorite--chocolate!  Nanci based it on the design from a kit she purchased from Pine Cone Press at CHA Summer 2010.

Here's another look at the same project.  Same papers in a smaller size and a completely different look!  The Play Date DSP is extremely versatile.  The matching cards in this set measure 3"x4"--5 cards will fit inside the holder.  The flower has four layers and is adhered with dimensionals.  Either set would make an excellent gift! 

Supplies: Play Date DSP, Crumbcake, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Old Olive, So Saffron Cardstock, Chocolate Chip Ink, Apple Blossom Stampset, Boho Blossom, Five Petal Flower, Scallop border, Modern Label, and Word window Punch, Tim Holtz hinge clips, Misc. Brads and Ribbon

Thanks for visiting our blog--we love your comments!  Happy crafting!

Fall - Chenille Pumpkins - Retreats!

Fall is right around the corner and so is our first full season offering crafting retreats at Lake View Lodge!  We were out and about in Dowagiac, MI the other day and found this great store less than 3 miles from Lake View Lodge!  It's called Sew Many Pleasures  and it is absolutely a pleasure to visit!  Kathyrn Wise, the owner, specializes in Gifts and Collectibles.  We fell in love with these chenille pumpkins!  

Nanci bought them for her house, but they are at my house right now--I don't know if I can give them back! :)       


Kathy's shop is filled with hand-made "gems" like these pumpkins.  She is a charming woman and a master-crafter!  Kathy has graciously offered to teach a class at Lake View Lodge on how to make these adorable pumpkins.  If you would like to sign up for a class with Kathy at Lake View Lodge, please contact us at info@crafthavenretreats.com.  We are still accepting reservations for our 2010 fall weekend special--$199 per person!  Visit our website at CraftHavenRetreats.com.


If you are in the Dowagiac, MI area, please stop in and visit Kathy at Sew Many Pleasures her shop is a delight to the eye!  Sew Many Pleasures is open Wed-Sun from 10 AM-5 PM, May-November, Phone: 269-424-3467, Cell: 269-208-3094.  Happy Crafting!