Thinking Ahead...

Working on some Valentine's Day designs. Lately I've been spending time with paper collage and sculpture instead of just pop-ups. These roses are hand cut petals that are chalked, glittered, scored, and glued together.

Vote to Win!

The Etsygreetings team is having a December challenge based on a snow theme. Click on this link to view all the entries then vote and you can possibly take home the winning entry!

http://etsygreetings.blogspot.com/1999/12/vote-in-our-december-team-challenge.html

The Finished Product

Here is the finished design - with a better body shape, better contrast, and minus the messy glitter!

Design in Progress...

This little guy is not the final version, but he's almost there. I'm creating him for a design challenge (snow themed), but he still has "issues". The mechanics of his push/pull tab that scissors his arms and legs are working well. It's the glitter and the color scheme that's not working. The glittery snow I plan on changing to felt or flocked paper (the card sheds glitter all the time!), and he needs more color contrast in his snowsuit.

The Mistaken Teacup

This is what happens when you daydream! I was happily plugging along when I accidentally cut the cord to what was supposed to be a large round basket. Instead I had to turn it into the shallow saucer. What goes with a saucer? A giant teacup!

Sliding Gift Tags

Tha back looks the same as the front, so they are nice enough to use as gift cards or tree ornaments.

Winter Wonderland

A couple of deer enjoy their snowglobe blizzard...

Etsy front page!

That's mine, lower lefthand corner - wahoo!

Let it.....Rain??

Well, this one is a 'blast from the past' for me. One of my originals, newly resurrected.

Guest Book

Or an autograph book, with my favorite binding style...

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17364764

Simple Flower Pop-up

I do a lot of the more complicated pop-ups, but this one is simple and easy, and just a modified version of Sabuda's free pattern.

Heart-shaped

These two baskets are exactly the same length of cord, yet one came out a little larger and the other came out a little deeper.

Hinged...

This was a custom for a filmmaker afficionado. It also opens like a typical card, otherwise it wouldn't stand up. This style would work well as an interactive scrapbook embellishment.

Almost Done

This one is a custom for someone who wanted carolers around a piano. Technically, it's finished, but two things are bothering me: The overcast day we're having here is messing with my pics by making them grayish and obscuring all the glittery embellishments. Second, the cover is just not festive enough for me. Those piano keys are all glittered, but nothing on the cover really speaks, "Christmas".

So, I'll stew over listing this one until my brain unclouds :)

Holiday Decorating

Happy Halloween!

This is as scary as it gets for me :)

Dr. Suess and Christmas

Or maybe Target?

Pop-up Poinsettia

This year's version is smaller, and centered in a circular "Peace" stamp.

Festive Post-Its

This is a great way to use those 12x12 sheets with large images on the border.

Off the Paper

A little dimension added to the dove helps to create the illusion of flying.

What's Black, White, and Red All Over?

This pair of nested baskets! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16441367

Paper piecing...

New for this year. Each 'petal was handcut, glittered, and layered to create the pinecones. I literally went into the back yard for a branch and pinecone to copy!

More Fun with Punches.

I can't seem to stop buying them, so when I can use six of them for the same card design, I'm happy!

Flowerbox for the Holidays

The hardest part about making this card? It's the envelope. Because this uses a rubberband mechanism, the envelope needs to be strong, like a rigid photo mailer. Unfortunately the premade ones for CDs are too small.

This Card Needs a Pine Scent!

Simple in design, but a little time consuming. Made from punches. A lot of punches.

Crazy Busy!

My snowman snowglobe is back! He's so much fun to make, too!

Colorfest - Thurmont, Maryland

This pic doesn't even hint at how crowded it actually was! Over 350 craft vendors were set up, not including all the yard sales. It was 3 deep in front of every tent, and there was no indication that the economy had turned here!

More Fur!

Over fifty pieces of paper in each of these Iris folded cards...

Just for Fun...

I couldn't resist adding this neon faux fur trim. Makes me smile :)

Army Ten Miler

Another really huge event this past weekend, this time in DC!

Sea Gull Century, Eastern Shore, MD

An expected 6000+ cyclists converged in Maryland today for this 100 mile bike ride. (I was just a spectator.)

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Community Market Festival

My son gets comfortable before it started.

3-Sided Tableskirt Tutorial for your Craft Table

Double click these images to enlarge the instructions. I made two of these this weekend for some upcoming events, and thought it'd be nice to share. Only basic sewing skills are needed. There isn't any hemming involved since all the edges use the hems from store bought items.

Let me know if anything is unclear in the instructions - I was up pretty late creating this tutorial!

Pictures of the ones I made to follow in a few days.

Candy Please!

My Halloween basket is empty! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15541839

Iris Folding for Autumn

The picture doesn't do these justice! If they don't sell I will cut the fronts off and frame them.

Crankin' Em Out...

...for the Columbia Market Festival at HCC, Wednesday, October 1

Bird's Nest or Basket?

I'm always looking for new ways to photograph things, so up in the tree it went...

Still my Favorite!

I'm always thrilled to have a reason to make another one of these! The picture frame is left blank at the customer's request.

Getting Organized

These albums serve dual purposes. I use them as references when working on my projects, and also to take to craft fairs. Patrons seem to like flipping thru them, and it makes it easier for me to talk about my work. The smaller size works well: only one project per page means I can reorganize the pages, and they take up less space. The only drawback is that they cost a little more, and are harder to find.

Double-sided Cardstock

Not pop-ups, but I need to use up supplies!

Gobble, Gobble!

My version of the sabudaturkey here, complete with feathers and googly eyes!

Christmas Already?

Sadly, yes, I have to start now developing new designs for this season. This angel was initially supposed to be a mock-up for a color design, but I liked her in white, too.

Sunglasses Required....