Apron Recipe Gift Books

Here is a picture of the Christmas Mice the girls had made. :)

I made these little Apron Recipe Gift Books for my daughter's "Cookin' Birthday Party." In each book there are five pockets. I put in the first pocket a friendship poem that I printed out from my computer on White card stock and adhered it to Real Red card stock from Stampin' Up!. The next four pockets had stamped recipe cards (What's for Dinner Stamp Set) with our recipes, we used at the party, written out on each card on alternating red and green card stock. The girls had made Sparkling Punch, Santa Sacks, Christmas Mice & . During the party I had taken a lot of pictures with Tiffy and the girls. With each girl I took one picture of just Tiffany and that girl. I had daddy print them out a little smaller than the size of the recipe cards. So, each book had a picture with Tiffy and the girl on the back of the friendship card and pics of the party on the rest of the backs of the recipe cards. We adhered them to the backs of the five cards. I also had slipped lollipops in the first pockets of each book. The girls took them home with them after the party was over along with white cotton chef hats filled with candy and tied with a matching ribbon.

Apron Recipe Gift Books

I started out with 4x6 pieces of thin cardboard. The top of the Apron is 2 inches wide and the side of the Apron measures 2 3/4 inches. The pattern paper is made by Basic Grey. I glued the pattern paper onto the cardboard and cut it out as close to the edge as I could then sanded the edges and edged it with a gold Painty pen. I did the same to the back piece of the book, also. Next, I punched out the holes for the spiral wire on the front and back pieces of the book. The Real Red card stock on the front (3 3/8 x 2 1/4) has been scalloped at the bottom and cuttle bugged with the Snowflake plate. I used the "Backyard BBQ" stamp set for the front of the apron. The Green paper measures 2 x 2 and the white "What's Cookin'" paper is 1 7/8" x 1 7/8". I stamped the "What's Cookin" image onto the white paper and rubbed the edges of the White paper with green ink. The five pages/pockets in the book are very simple, they are 2 3/4" x 8" pieces of card stock folded in half lengthwise to measure 2 3/4" x 4". 1" x 4" strips of coordinating paper are placed on top of the pocket at the bottoms edge and stapled across the bottom three times. At this point you punch the holes out for the spiral wire. Repeat for next four pocket pieces. When all of the pockets are finished and the front and back pieces are done you align the holes up with each other and with needle nose pliers spiral your wire through the holes and bend the ends of the wire in. To make the recipe cards, cut 5 pieces 7" x 3 1/8" rectangles of card stock, 3 red and 2 green. Stamp 4 recipe cards on white paper with the "What's for Dinner" stamp set and cut out and adhere to the 7" x 3 1/8" pieces of card stock. I printed out the Friendship recipe card with a border. It says:

Friendship Recipe

Mix kind words and a smile,

A little Pinch of niceness,

Then stir it up awhile.

Now put it in the oven,

And make it nice and warm.

The way you know a Friendship

Should always grow and form.

Finishing touches: With the Snow Blossom punch, punch out three in green cardstock and with a small snowflake punch, punch out three in white card stock. I used mini pop dots to attach them together and to the card. I used stickles in the center of the snowflakes. You could leave it just like that or you can punch two holes at the top of the fronts and backs of the aprons and add large eyelets with 2- 6 1/2" pieces of ribbon to make the handles.

My Christmas Cards for 2009

I had received a Christmas card from my friend Megumi living in Japan and loved her layout! I used her Gate-card style and made my cards with Real Red, Bashful Blue and Brocade Blue card stock.

My Mom & Dad's Anniversary Card

I had bought these little paper Japanese kimonos while stationed in Japan. I intended on making this card last year for my parents Anniversary but, just got to it now. Their Anniversary was yesterday, January 5th. They have been married for 53 years!!! Wow! Thank You Mom & Dad for Blessing "US" with 53 years of marriage and being the BEST example that anyone could have had! God has made you into the evidence that you want to teach us!

The card details: The wooden Japanese heads were bought separately to go with the kimonos. I matched up my papers with the colors of the kimonos. The background behind the people was a scrap I had made previously with the Ink & Smash technique. Always keep your scrap papers! I had been playing around with the technique, trying out different colors, and it didn't work for that project but really worked well for this one! I have a Torii stamp I stamped in Versa Mark and stamped it on the Ink & Smash glossy paper and used Glassy Glaze over it. While still "wet" from the heat gun I sprinkled diamond dust over the top. The main flower patterned paper is Stampin'Up!'s Ginger Blossom and the circle paper is from Basic Grey. The circle paper was stamped with Art of the Orient-Kanji stamp in Brocade Blue ink. The card's dimensions are 51/4" x 51/4" and made with textured grey SU paper as the main top fold card. I used Bordering Blue and Ruby Red as the other layer colors. To "age" the patterned papers I rubbed chocolate chip and Brocade Blue on the edges. I used the Ginger Blossom patterned paper to make the paper beads and covered them with Crystal effects. I added a copper brad and tied a bow with the silver cording holding the paper beads. The Cherry Blossom punch was given to me as a gift and was bought in Japan. I punched nine flowers out of the Ink & Smash paper I had used to make the card face and added diamond stickles to the centers.

Stamping Again!!

Wow! It has been almost a year since I have posted anything on my blog. I am really missing stamping and am going to make a conscious effort to get back into it. I will post some of the projects I have planned for this holiday season. I have just purchased a New Snowflake Longaberger basket and can't wait to fill it with goodies for Christmas! Check back soon! It is good to be back!

Pear Butter

I did some canning this year and made Pear Butter and Apple Butter to give out as gifts for Thanksgiving. The card is from my friend Kanetha a couple of years ago. Love her card!

Tiffany's Invitations to her Cooking Birthday Party!

Tiffany will be turning 9 years old in December! I started making her invitations for her party today. She told me she really wanted to have another cooking party. I believe this will be her third! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, that's for sure! I decided to use the "Accordion Tag Book" design. I used my Backyard BBQ set for the aprons and the oven mitt. The letters were from the Whimsical Alphabet Upper. The date and time stamp was from my bundled in love set.

While in Japan I had Bought online this cute little metal spatula cooking set. I used pop dots to secure them to the front of the card. The "Cookin' " came from the Backyard BBQ set. My paper is Real Red, Whisper White and Sage Shadow card stock. The patterned paper is from the Basic Grey Collection "Fruitcake."

Pumpkin Bread Recipe Book!

Pumpkin Bread Recipe Book

I found these small 6x6 canvas boards at Beverley's for about $1.29 a piece. I am always looking for alternatives to the pricey chip boards that everyone is using to make books. It looked like it would cut well and make a great book. I picked up a bunch of them.

I cut one of the boards at 1 1/2 inches and left the second one alone.







I cut my pieces of paper that I will attach to the front and back of the boards. The 6x6 back board paper was cut at 7x7(Always Artichoke) and the two front boards that I cut will be covered with a piece of 2 1/2 x7(Always Artichoke) and the other 5 1/2x7(Pumpkin Pie).





I used my sticky tape close to the edge of my boards. I set the boards centered evenly on top of the paper with the tape facing up. I took the plastic red strip off the sticky tape and continued to wrap the edges up over each side and press onto the sticky tape. The corners are a little tricky and I should have taken pictures of the way I cut them. If you need help I will post a picture later of the corners.

I then cut the pieces that will cover the inside of the boards. Each piece measured 5 7/8x5 7/8 for the back inside board, 4 1/4x5 7/8 for the front inside board and 1 3/8x5 7/8 for the front inside side board.

I cut a piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock at 5 3/4x5 3/4 then a piece naturals ivory at 5 5/8x5 5/8 for the inside back piece of board. secure the pieces with sticky tape.

Secure a strip of sticky tape to the left side of the back inside board.

I used my computer to print out a picture and the recipe using the "Scrapbook factory"program. I printed it out onto Skilcraft ink jet transparency film. Cut the piece to measure the same as naturals ivory piece 5 5/8x5 5/8. It is going to be placed over the naturals ivory piece. Make sure the picture is off to the right and the picture measures 4 1/4x5 5/8.

Place another piece of sticky tape on the left side of your book on the transparency film. Start cutting your pieces of ribbon folding them and laying them onto the sticky tape.

I took my front side board piece and covered it with my piece of always artichoke card stock(2 1/2x7) secured it with sticky tape. Placed a piece of always artichoke card stock (1 3/8x5 7/8) on the back of this piece and secured with sticky tape. On top of the 1 3/8x5 7/8 piece I added two long pieces of sticky tape. I then turned the piece over and added it to the right side of my book. I cut a piece of Pumpkin pie card stock 1 3/8x5 7/8 and stamped it with the leaf stamp from Autumn Harvest in really rust, close to cocoa and more mustard ink. I centered it and secured it to the top of the left piece of my book.

Next I drilled out three holes on the left side of my book with my husbands drill!:o) I added the eyelets by placing a little crystal effects in the hole and pushing the eyelets in. Once it has dried just a little put your rings through the eyelets. This part is finished!

Now for the face: The right side of the front of your book- This piece measures 4 1/2x6 so you need a piece of Pumpkin pie card stock that measures 5 1/2x7. This you will wrap around the front and a 4 1/4x5 7/8 piece of pumpkin pie card stock you will attach to the inside of the board. You will need a 4 1/4x5 7/8 & 2 7/8x4 1/4 pieces of Always artichoke CS, 2 5/8x4 & 4x5 1/2 pieces of basic grey green patterned paper and a 3 3/4x5 1/4 & 2 3/8x 3 3/4 pieces of Naturals Ivory CS.

Center and Layer your largest piece of Always artichoke and tape down. Center and layer your largest piece of Basic Grey and tape down. Next, take your Naturals Ivory and stamp with the peaceful wishes berry branch around the edges in more mustard, really rust and close to cocoa, use your pastels to rub around edges and onto stamped images. Take the Versa Mark pad and cover the whole piece. Sprinkle iridescent ice over the piece and emboss. Now it is ready to be placed on top of the basic grey layer. Center small always artichoke piece on top of embossed piece and tape down with sticky tape. center and layer small basic grey piece and tape down. Take the small naturals ivory piece and stamp with the Autumn Harvest leaf stamp in more mustard, really rust and close to cocoa ink just at the top. Rub the leaf images with your pastels and Versa Mark the whole piece then emboss with iridescent ice. Tape piece to the small basic grey layer. Stamp pumpkins from Autumn Harvest onto Naturals ivory with basic black ink and color with watercolor crayons. Versa Mark image and sprinkle with glassy glaze. Emboss. Cut out pumpkins and place dimensionals behind images and place on to iridescent ice layer. Punch a tree out of the basic grey paper and add dimension with close to cocoa marker. Tape tree behind pumpkins. Add P monogram by doubling up on dimensionals place to the left on piece. Adding hinges: Make sure before you start screwing the hinges down that you place them where you want them and open and close the book to see if hinges are placed properly. Slide hinges under always artichoke layer on the right side of the book cover and screw in with a small screw driver. Screw the left side of the hinges down. And it is Finished!

Halloween Frankie!

Frankenstein Treats!

I made these little boxes for my children's classes. They are holding orange boxes of Nerds. I used the "Hey Ghoul Friend" stamp set and the background stamp "Print Pattern." I used Old Olive card stock and naturals Ivory. I water colored Frankie with my water color pencils cut him out and placed dimensionals behind him.

Halloween Treats!

Halloween Treats that were made for my children's class rooms. I don't think I ever posted them. Inside of the witch bag I used "Witch's Brew" candies.

This one was my favorite. I found the "Bag O' Blood" candy at the Oriental Trading Company online and used my Dracula stamp from Best Fiends. The saying is from Just between Fiends.

Haunted Spellbound

I made this Halloween pouch with the Making Memories Spellbound papers. I used the Home is where the Haunt is and Batty for you stamp sets. This is my first time using the haunted house stamp and I have had it for so long! You score a piece of 12x4 1/2 card stock at 5 inches and again at 10 inches. You have two inches left over for the front flap. I have a bag of candy in the inside attached to the pouch with sticky tape. I used my scalloped punch and my 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 circle punches. The house and scull stamp were embossed in black EP. I doubled up on my dimensionals so the house really comes off the papers. When taping card stock or designer papers to glitter paper you need to use your sticky tape not double sided tape. It just won't hold.