What a week! You know when you feel like you are just maxed out? Our 91 year old stepdad moved in with us this weekend. We had hardwood floors installed and all the furniture is piled up everywhere until I paint the first floor. The pantry was ripped out and a first floor shower installed. My daughter is getting married in 5 weeks. My next line of Sizzix dies are due March 1. Seriously??? Calgon take me away!

Sometimes you just have to go to your happy place. 🙂 For me, it’s my studio. I came down and just fiddled with stuff- nothing with a deadline- just for fun- just for me. The other thing I came to realize was that not every project has to be complicated. I had to stop myself from getting crazy and make a little box for these and allow myself to just kind of… create.

I decided to die cut some tiny flowers included on my Box with Scalloped Flap die and a beautiful piece of light blue suede matboard that I had on hand to make a pair of earrings.

You will need:

Box with Scalloped Flap die
Circles #2 die
Big Shot
matboard
1/16″ hole punch
jump rings
earring wires

Instructions:

1. Die cut two of the larger pieces from matboard. I saved the piece of matboard and then cut out the negative space with a circle surrounding the flower to use for another pair of earrings.
2. Punch holes at the tops of the flower petals.
3. Thread jump rings through the holes and add to earring wires. (I could not for the life of me find my jump rings so I made some from white wire using a chain nose pliers)
4. Cut a piece of matboard to hold the earrings. Punch two holes, insert earrings and add text, sentiment or embellishment.

Once again, a craft project has saved the day!

Also, I’m being interviewed by Pat Sloan of FaveCrafts Radio on Wednesday, March 2 at 3 PM EST along with my creative friends, Lisa Fulmer and Lorine Mason. To listen, click here. The show is recorded in case you miss it. Hope you can stop by!

While I was out in LA for the CHA show a few weeks ago, I spent some time with my friend Jonathan Fong, an amazing designer and all around talented guy. Not only can he design, but he has written three beautiful books and speaks all over the country giving his unique approach to home decor. (read this post to hear how we happened to meet up)

When Jonathan found out I was coming to California, he invited me to appear as a guest on his weekly web TV show, Style With a Smile. It was so much fun to get behind the scenes and see all of the equipment, lighting and camera. Many thanks to my friend Lorine Mason for her help with the filming- you might not realize it but she was also Jonathan’s stunt double. This was some operation!

As you will see in the video, we were making guest towel cupcakes, which I posted about here. Jonathan used some cool cardstock and rolled it through the Sizzix Big Shot along with the ScoreBoard Cupcake Ruffle die in the video to make the wrappers. ScoreBoard dies are actually designed to be used with thicker materials such as matboard and chipboard to cut and score into boxes, folders and totes. This is a very versatile die and one that you will use over and over. I hope that seeing the video might encourage you to try a ScoreBoard die.

Just this past weekend I had reason to break out my cupcake die myself. My daughter Jess is getting married in April and she had her bridal shower. It was decided (by the shower committee) that we would serve cupcakes in Sizzix die-cut wrappers instead of having a cake. Lorine baked up some delicious vanilla and chocolate cupcakes. (I had to try both because I didn’t want to offend the baker). We then placed them in blue and white corseted cupcake wrappers. Unfortunately, as I went to take a picture, my camera died! NOOOOOO! But believe me, they were the hit of the shower. What a nice time it was- thanks so much to Tina, Lorine, Pam and Mary. I know Jess was very touched by what you did for her.

Thanks for stopping by!

You will need:
Sizzix Big Shot die cutting machine
Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die – Cupcake Holder, Ruffle by Eileen Hull
6″ x 13″ piece of matboard
double sided tape

1. Die cut matboard cupcake. Decorate if desired. Fold cupcake on score lines and adhere ends with strong adhesive. Save the remaining die pieces for another project.
2. Lay a washcloth down in front of you with a point facing you. Fold into a triangle. Starting with the wide side, start folding over about every inch or so toward the small end.
3. Turn the strip toward you and roll it up. Secure with a rubber band. Push up the middle of the cupcake into a dome shape.
4. Place washcloth into cupcake holder. You are done!