Spiral Rossette Topiary

Like the ribbon wreath, this project doesn't have any rubber stamping--oh, the horrors! This topiary turned out better than I expected--I love when that happens! 

 

I couldn't find the a container in the color and I liked.  So, I bought one the size and shape I wanted and just spray painted it black--just use a spray paint for the type of container you have.  Before...

After...

The styrofoam base for my topiary came just like this from the craft store.  I just had to find the right container for the base to fit in. 

The flowers and grass are made with the spiral from the Table Setting Big Shot Die (soon to be retired June 30th).  Cut many, many, many spirals from lots and lots and lots of DSP.  You will need more than you think--I didn't actually count them, sorry!  I used all colors and patterns of DSP--no need to worry about being matchy, matchy!

The next step is not hard to do, but it took me many days and long hours to roll up all the flowers and grass.  I worked on it a little bit at a time over a period of a couple weeks.  Start by rolling up the spiral from the outside in toward the center. 

Roll up your spirals as tight as possible.

When you get to the center, let go a little bit to acheive the desired "flowered" look.  Form your flower up a little bit in your fingers.  Add glue to the center--I used Tombow Multi. 

Hold flower together for a few seconds.  Set aside to dry. 

 

Repeat many times.

Glue flowers onto styrofoam form with hot glue.  Repeat for the grass.  Wrap ribbon around wooden dowel and add a pretty bow.  Add Beautiful Butterflies (Big Shot) with Rhinestone Brads in the center.  Spray with Smooch Spritz for a sparkle and shine.

Happy Creating!  Bye for Now, Maria

Ribbon Wreath

My ribbon wreath was inspired by the one on page 190 in the 2010/2011 IB&C.  It is easy to make, and only requires three items--ribbon (well, a lot of ribbon!), a wreath and scissors.  I used an extruded styrofoam wreath.  Cut ribbon to desired length and tie in knot around wreath.  Do this until your wreath is fully covered.  I kept pushing the ribbon together to cover the wreath.  It will take A LOT of ribbon to cover the styrofoam completely.  Tie a loop of ribbon at the top to hang your wreath. 

I said it would be easy, but it was a little time consuming.  It took me a couple of hours from start to finish. 

A wise friend once told me that part of crafting is collecting.  So, it was a good way to use up some ribbon I have been collecting--still didn't make a dent in my ribbon hoard--I mean collection!!!  Happy Creating!  Bye for now, Maria

June Stamp Club

Altered Composition Notebooks

It has become an almost yearly tradition at Stamp Club for the Rubber Duckies to make covered notebooks.  Mostly because I have been stocking up on (a.k.a. hoarding) DSP all  year, and SU! is getting ready to retire all of it!  So, it's time to get out the fancy papers and ribbons you've been hoarding and create something beautifully useful.  I really do use the notebooks I create.  They make great gifts that can be personalized with the recipent's name hand-stamped on the cover. 

Start with a blank composition book.  For the covers, you will need 2 sheets of 9" x 12" DSP.  Since your DSP is already 12 x 12, just slice one side at 9".

Use a generous amount of adhesive--doesn't matter what kind--snail, tombow, sticky strip--just use a lot!!!  This is one project you do not want to be cheapo with the adhesive especially if you or your recipent are going to be carrying it around.  I start with putting my adhesive on my notebook cover, and then placing my DSP on top of my tape.  Line up the edge of the DSP with the edge of the black seam of the notebook. 

This is how I finish the corners...

Open the notebook.  Turn up the corners and tape in place--again, don't be cheap with your adhesive!  Use your bone folder to smooth down your edges.  I also like to run the pointy part of the bone folder on the DSP along the edge of the notebook so it will fold over toward the inside easier--just don't press down too hard because you don't want to poke through your DSP.

Fold up the flaps and tape or glue down.  Your corners will have a nice smooth covered edge.  Move over Martha Stewart and Anna Griffin--no mitering the corners for me--this is papercrafting not carpentry!!!!

Add a 9" x 7" piece of DSP to finish off the inside cover. 

Repeat with back cover.  Tie ribbon around front cover wrapping ribbon on the inside front cover.

Embellish as desired.  I added chipboard and some letters from Play Date Quick Accents. 

Even though summer is just starting, be sure to keep an eye out for composition notebooks to be on sale--sometimes 4/$1--before school starts again in September.  Here are a few more examples from stamp club...

Here are a few of this month's swaps...

If you need to order retiring stamps and acessories from the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog, hop on over to my SU! website no later than June 30th.   Happy Stamping! Happy Notebook and Journal Creating!!

Bye for now, Maria