Website Update

In addition to the "new look" that I posted about previously, I have added a lot of new information and some pictures to my gallery on my personal website www.javamels.com . This site is not just about stamping. There's lots of information about chocolate, coffee, stamping, nutrition & weight loss (coming soon) and much more. I will also be adding a new "cafe" to my site very soon titled "Marriage Cafe". I just feel so strong about marriage and keeping families together that I felt moved to work on an online "support" for married couples. Family is an institute that God created and it's one that is worth fighting for and keeping together. So watch for this coming soon.

I have also added a guestbook to my site.....please stop by and leave your comments, suggestions and requests.

Magnetic Plaque Gift for Mom

Ok, so this project has absolutely NO STAMPING whatsoever on it. But I wanted to share. My mom got divorced and remarried in 2008 and I am just NOW getting around to doing something for her and her new hubby. Yeah, I know, I'm pathetic. LOL Anyway, I snagged this idea from my good friend and business partner, Kim. She gave me something similar only minus pictures and I just thought it would make a great belated wedding gift for mom and Walt.

Supplies used to create this are as follows:

• Metal plate things from Lowe's Home Improvement (I forget what they are called but they have lots of holes in them and are kind of thick).....you need 3 or 4 of these depending on how long you want the plaque to be....I used 3.
  

2 or 3 colors of CS that contrast each other.
Paper flower petals
Magnets
Ribbon
Tin Name plates and tin squares
Spellbinders in various shapes and sizes.

Other embellishments of your choice. I used colored wire, a mini clipboard, mini paper clips, etc. Adhesive, Stickles, pictures, etc. Rhinestone shapes

Directions:

1. Cut CS to fit the metal plates and adhere with adhesive roller.


2. Cut out photos and matting for behind them using Nestabilities or other die of your choice and then assemble.


3. Add magnets to the back of photos.


4. Add paper flower embellishments at this time if you plan to do so.


5. Remove adhesive squares from back of tin name plates and tin squares and put a magnet on them instead.


6. Adhere rhinestone shapes to tin squares.


7. Write or stamp what you want on the tin nameplates. I just used black permanent marker and then went over the writing with Diamond Stickles.


8. Add photo to mini clipboard if you are using one.


9. Using the Crop A Dile, punch holes in the corners of each metal plate through one of the holes and then line up the tin plates with the top and bottom and punch holes so they can be attached.


10. Make large wire jump rings using a heavy gauge wire. These will be used to feed through the holes and attach each section to each other. This is also used to attach the tin name plates to the top and bottom.


11. Attach all sections using the jump rings.
    
12. Make wire spirals (if this is what you are using as embellishment) using various colors of wire. Attach these to the jump rings and name plates as desired.
    
13. Punch 2 holes at the top of the top nameplate and feed your ribbon through them and tie in a knot.
    
14. Punch holes at the bottom of the bottom tin nameplate and add another photo if desired.

New Look

WooHoo.....I am so excited. I have a completely new look for my logo image and my main website. All the graphics and website template are from Scrapless Creations . Be sure to stop by her site as there are so many wonderful website templates available and her prices are so very reasonable. AND, she's super fast at delivering your order.

Hoppy Frog Mini Album

Hey ya'll, I bet ya'll thought I'd forgotten all about my blog and posting new projects. ;-) Well, I have been busy working (this working an outside job is sooooooo overrated. LOL). I so miss being home with my little ones and I miss having the time to stamp and play. BUT, some day I will be independently wealthy and be able to stamp and play and spend as much time with my kids as I want (yep, I'm dreaming but a girl can dream can't she????).

Ok, on to my project. This is a little mini Album or Journal...whatever you want to make of it. I really enjoyed making this and it was super easy. The most time consuming part was waiting for the stickles to dry.

Hoppy Frog Mini Album
All supplies used are from TAC and can be ordered HERE









Supplies Used:
T2349 Hoppy Frogs Stamp Set
K409 3X3 Mini Sheet Protectors
V901 Brighten My Day Paper Pad
F919 Cotton Candy Boot Loopy Brads
B214 Lilly Anna Ribbon
F516 Crystal Stickles
F02 Tombow Markers Pastel
D91 Kokuyo Adhesive Dispenser
V222 White Ultrasmooth Cardstock
TT220 Noir Palette Pad
F83 Spring Bright Spiral Clips
Hole punches for binding and mini brad (Crop-A-Dile)
Paper Flowers in colors of your choice

Directions:

1. Add stickles to paper flowers so they will be dry when ready to use them.
2. Cut background papers to 3x3 to fit into each of the sleeves. If you use 5 of the sleeves you will get 2 mini albums per package of sleeves. YOu will then need 10 background papers per mini album.
3. Cut 10 white CS papers at 2 1/2"X2 1/2" and adhere to the center of each of the background squares.
4. Stamp your frog images using Noir Palette Ink Pad on the white CS in the desired location.
5. Optional - Use one of the Journaling stamp sets to stamp journaling lines in the blank space beside, above or below the stamped frogs.
6. Color frog images using markers.
7. Add mini brad to end of frog's tongue to be the "fly".
8. Check to see that flowers are dry. If so, add them to the pages you wish to add them to.
9. Slip decorated pages into sleeve protectors.
10. Adhere sleeve protectors together using Adhesive Dispenser and be sure to line them up correctly.
11. Cut a scrap of patterned paper from Brighten My Day Pad to 1 1/2" x 3 1/4". Score lengthwise at 1/2" and 3/4" and fold. Line up on edge of sleeve protectors and punch holes in front and back so they line up with holes in sleeve protectors.
12. Adhere patterned paper scrap to sleeve protectors to form the spine/binding.
13. Feed ribbon through and tie in a knot or bow....cut length as needed.
14. Using tiny hole punch...punch hole in center right edge of front and back pages and apply loopy brad. Tie with matching floss.

HINT: Before punching holes in scrap patterned paper for binding use a pencil to mark where the holes need to be punched. This will ensure they are in the correct position.