Outgoing Pocket Letters!

Yes, I may be just a tad bit addicted to this craze called Pocket Letters!

 I've been making, sending and receiving pocket letters almost every weekend.

 This is one that went out last week to a sweet member of our Facebook Group "Pocket Letter Inspiration and Ideas".

 

This is part of the same swap as the one above.  We did a 3-way swap, meaning we each made two letters and each received two letters.  So Fun!  Our theme was happy.  It could be colors that make you happy, words that make you happy, or whatever happy means to you.

 

I use a combination of colors, words and quotes that make me happy.  

Of course you know, Heidi Swapp Products make me happy.... so there you have it!  Join us for inspiration and ideas and a few swaps!

Incoming Pocket Letter from Laura

Most of the fun in creating pocket letters is the anticipation of the letter that you will receive from your partner.  Laura, my sweet friend, is the very first person I swapped Pocket Letters with, we are now working on our third swap, but I just received her 2nd pocket letter (You can see her first one in the prior post).  Isn't this fun!?!?!  I just love her style, it's fresh, happy and just so "laura".  I can't wait to add this to my binder! 

Pocket Letters - My newest obsession

Hello everyone!  Have you heard of Pocket Letters?  This is a pocket letter I sent to my friend, Laura.

Basically, it's a penpal/scrapbook/share your stash/pretty to collect way of interacting with friends.  The concept was created by Janette Lane and you can read all about how she came up with these awesome little goodies on her blog, you can also join the Pocket Pal Network to find partners to swap with.

 

First, you start off with a baseball sleeve which has 9 pockets that are 3.5H x 2.5W each.  Then you start filling them with goodies.  I like to add lots of fun treasures to my pocket letters, but some people just keep them flat.  There's no right or wrong way, whatever you and your partner decide.

 

Normally, you have a theme of some sort.  Most of the ones I've been involved with to this point have the theme "heid swapp" as they have all been a group of girls I've met through Heidi Swapp in one way or the other

 

It's really fun to collect these little treasures and put them into a 3 ring binder.  If there are multiples of goodies in them, I sometimes take them out and use on my next pocket letter, but sometimes I just leave it all as is just because it's so darned pretty.

 

 

 When you get a group of partners you can either send a pocket letter to each individual, or you can do it in a chain fashion, i.e. person 1 sends to person 2, person 2 sends to person 3, and so on.

 

 This (above) is another one I've sent to my friend, Laura.  You can either do a one time swap, or multiple times.  It really is up to you.  You can see, I love to fill mine with fun little die cuts my friends can use on scrapbook layouts, project life or cards.

 

 When you're all finished, you fold it in 3rds lengthwise and it fits nicely into a #10 standard envelope.  How cool is that?

I am loving this so much!  I've enjoyed creating each and every letter above and have a few more I'll show soon (I'm waiting on the recipients to receive them).

Here are some pocket letters I have received from friends:

Colette

Kathryn

Jill

Laura

Joyce

Nancy

 

Wedding Card inspired by invitation

It is June and with June comes lots of wedding showers and weddings.  I've made so many wedding shower/wedding cards already this season I am running out of ideas.

My nephew is getting married later today.  I was looking at his invitation this morning and immediately knew what I wanted to do for their card.

They are having a barn theme wedding and reception.  Their invitation is above on the left (I've covered all the personal information).    You can definitely see where my inspiration came from for this card.

I am so excited how it turned out.  I simply used a piece of Kraft Cardstock and a woodgrain stamp to heat emboss the wood finish for the background.  Then a simple doiley, some gold twine and a super simple tag.

A quick and easy stamp and hearts on the inside and project complete!

Of course a fun card needs a pretty envelope.

Stamp is by Simon Says Stamp
Kraft Cardstock by Stampin' Up
Tag and Doily - Target
Woodgrain Stamp - Heidi Swapp
Vellum - Hobby Lobby
Gold Cardstock - DCWV

Pattern Toner Sheets with Deco Foils

Hello!  I'm so excited to share with you a fun technique to use with your Deco Foils.  I created a series of patterned toner sheets.  They are simply 8.5 x 11 sheets that you can print with your laser printer or at your local office supply, then cut with your digital die cutter, punches, by hand or even use as background paper.  I recommend printing onto 110# white cardstock.

You can download these toner sheets HERE.
Now for the fun part!  Cut some fun shapes out of the toner sheet.  I used my Cricut Explore to cut these shapes, letters and numbers.



Grab your favorite color of Deco Foil, heat up your laminator and decide which shapes you'd like to laminate.


Using a piece of copy paper folded in half, lay your shapes down inside the folded paper with the pattern facing up, then apply the Deco Foil color side up, close the copy paper and run it through your laminator (make sure you laminator has been preheated and it nice and hot).
Remove the foil (look at this fun negative!)
Now stand back and admire your beautiful work.  How cool are these blue foiled shapes and letters!
The possibilities are endless!


If you'd like to see the entire process, here is a quick video:

If you'd like to see this project from start to finish, here's a quick video!   Don't forget to pick up your toner sheets from the link above!

Thank you Card

A quick and easy card for today.  I realized when I woke up that I needed to send a thank you card out today. I put this together before I headed to Work. In my mind it was a soft card with pinks and as you can see, I ended up in a totally different place.  Do you ever do that??  

Watercolor Card with Distress Inks

I've been playing around with watercolor techniques. I have no idea what I'm doing, but I love it!  It's just so much fun to see something come to life.  I don't worry about my shadows being technically correct, or my colors being graphically right.. I just turn on music and paint.   This was by far the most terrifying video I've ever made.  I know there are those who know what they are doing, who know where the shadows should be and probably even giggle at my style... but that's ok.  I wanted to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, try something different.  You really never know what will inspire you and where it will take you.  When I start painting with this technique... I have no idea of the end result.  I pick some colors, but beyond that, nothing is planned. 
Here's a quick video of me painting this card front.  Give it a try... I think you'll be surprised how relaxing it is!

Deco Foil Thank You Card

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by.   Today I'm up on the Thermoweb Blog with this fun Thank You Card. This card features two different ways to use foil.

For the "thanks" sentiment, I used Deco Foil Foam Adhesive Sheets.  This is by far the easiest way to use Deco Foils.  No mess, no tools and super quick.  Simply cut your design on the foam adhesive sheets.  Remove the protective lining and apply Deco Foil shiny side up, rub gently and remove.  That's all there is to it.  

For the feathers, I simply cut them out on a sheet of white cardstock that had been printed with a black square on a laser printer.  Apply Deco Foil (Color side up) and run through a laminator.

You can watch the entire process in the video below.  For a link to all of the products used, see product list below the video.

Products Used:
Thermoweb Deco Foil
Thermoweb Deco Foil Foam Sheets
Thermoweb Tape Runner
Thermoweb Small Zots
Thermoweb Foam Squares

Thanks Card with Cricut Explore

 I had so much fun creating this card with the Cricut Explore.    Super simple and really could be used for any occasion.

Check out the fun shiny "thanks" sentiment.  Want to see how I did that?  Watch the video!  To see a list of products used, follow the links below the video

Products Used:
Cricut Explore Air
Cricut Pens
Cricut Paper Trimmer
Cricut Mat
Cricut Tool Set
Clear Embossing Powder
Heidi Swapp My Favorite Things 6 x 6 Paper Pad
DCWV Twinkle Glitter Stack
Heat Embossing Gun
Ranger Multi Mat Medium

Watercolor Thank you Cards

 A watercolor artist, I will never be, but every once in awhile I like to get out my Distress Markers, a paintbrush and a little water and play around. 

Both super simple, easy cards using a fun new stamp set I received from Ellen Hudson.  I just love this sentiment.  Someone on facebook asked me if this was a card to me from my dog.  Ha!  I love it!  It's from the show Grey's Anatomy.  When Dr. Grey told Dr. Yang... You are my person (her best friend).    Anyway... I'm not real happy with the background on this card, so I think I am going to disassemble and try it again.

Happy Sunday!  Hope you have an awesome day!

Mystery Box Video Hop

Are you playing along with our Mystery Box Video Hop?   Old Well Craft Supply supplied 6 of us with one of their subscription Mystery Boxes.  Beginning on Sunday, May 31st and each day after one of us will present what was in our Mystery Box.   There's a clue word in each video you need to write down in order to put together the Mystery Sentence and solve WHO DONE IT?     Get all six words right, enter them Friday on Ian, The Off Kilter Crafter's video and you win 10% coupon code off any subscription box and you're entered to win a free 3 month subscription to any box!   So easy and so much fun!!  

A link to all of the videos is in the description below my Youtube Video!   Go watch and don't forget to catch the first three.

Cricut Design Space is coming to the Iphone!

Have you heard the news?  Cricut Design Space is coming to the Iphone App!   Check the video above for a preview!  I'll have lots more news on this coming soon.  Android Users, your app is under development and will be released at a later date!