Lucky Me Banner

I thought I better get this posted before St. Patrick's Day comes and goes. I decided to make a new banner this year; one for upstairs and one for the entry way.I really wanted my banner longer than the one from last year, but I was really scratching my head trying to figure something out. We aren't Irish, so I couldn't do "Kiss me, I'm Irish" or anything like that. I decided just to go with "Lucky Me" and call it good. I used the PTI St. Patty's day set and another $1 stamp set I bought last year. The image that separates the two words is from Crafty Secrets.

I used my new crackle glossy accent stuff to coat the tiny stamps that I used at the top of each banner piece. I really like how it turned out even though it is hard to see in the photos. I also used the tag die-cut and coordinating stamp set "Just the Ticket" from PTI for some of the accents. I had used it in the card I made a post or two down and really wanted to incorporate it into the banner as well. I purchased all of the paper at Hobby Lobby and while it isn't St. Patricksy at all, I really like the feel. I also sewed up a little bench runner to tie everything together which you can see in the photo at the end of the post.

I decided to add a little circle of tulle to each of the accordion medallions. I had added them to a project that I did a week or so ago, which I will share later. I thought that adding a little more green couldn't hurt! I hope you all have a fun and green St. Patrick's Day. Don't get pinched! Thanks for fluttering by!

Lucky Banner

I normally don't decorate for St. Patrick's Day, but since Easter isn't until the end of April, I decided to whip something up! Making banners is kindof an addiction for me and since I pretty much have every other holiday/season, it was the perfect excuse. I don't know about you, but really cute and classy St. Patrick's Day decor is kindof hard to find; at least around here. Everything seems to be made out of shiny metallic cellophane or tinsel and just isn't my taste. Since I love green so much anyway, I just used a few things I already had with some new purchases to put together a cute little ensemble on my bench under the banner.


The paper is all from Graphic 45, but from different collections. I just grabbed the patterns that I liked in green and called it good. The little image under the letter "c" is from Crafty Secrets. I was wishing that I hadn't gotten rid of all of the horseshoes I bought for one of my kid's Cowboy/Cowgirl birthday parties. I noticed how cute the little horshoe tied up with ribbon looked next to the Leprochaun in the little image.

Everything else is pretty straightforward and standard on my banners. It whipped up quite quickly since it only used 5 letters. It is shorter than most of my banners so it doesn't span the entire length of the board. I found something green to hang on the last handle to fill things up!

Everyone loved their little Valentine's treats when I passed them out at school. I ended up making chocolate dippped strawberries for the teachers. I put them on silver platters that I found at the dollar store and tied them up with cellophane. I gave the principal the stacked boxes from my last post which she absolutely loved. She confessed to me this week when I dropped into the office to tell me that she had re-gifted. I guess her son needed something quick for his girlfriend and wanted to give her that. I thought that was cute!

Alot has been going on here; throw-up, diarrhea, more throw up (thank goodness none of those for me, I am actually feeling quite good these days), going forward with some construction (Rowan threw up all over the floor when the workmen were here), a fender-bender, weening Rowan onto a sippy cup, tantrums, we are most likely expecting another boy, homework,etc. February has almost come and gone. I will be back tomorrow with my second design for this month's SFYTT! Thanks for fluttering by!

Merry

ETA: I have had a few questions about my banners, so if you have sent me an email or left a comment, I have decided to do a Q & A soon. Stay posted!

As promised, here is the banner I have been working on for my daughter's bedroom. After I got done with my Get Well card on Saturday, I knew that I wanted to use that paper combo on another project and what better way than with a holiday project. I had so much fun making this and it looks so cute in my daughter's bedroom. Actually, this is my favorite banner I have ever made. I added a lot of details which added to the fun. I am tempted to pull off the letters when Christmas is over and add a new word and leave it up all year long. Hmmmm.....

All of the papers are from K & Company (The Bailey Collection) with the exception of the text paper at the top of each panel and the circles under the r and the y which is from Tweety Jill Publications. I didn't want to add my "standard" buttons where each panel joins, so I added a festive touch by adding some silver jingle bells tied with a bow. I simply used a glue gun to stick them on, rather than threadintg them through each panel.

Originally, I only had the banner saying the word Merry, but once I measured it with the shelf that it would be hanging from, I realized that it really should have two more panels. I solved this dilema by cutting two more panels and used Vintage images from Crafty Secrets for embellishment. The snowman got a little something extra by adding the pearl buttons to the tummy.




The angel is from Crafty Secrets as well and I added a few rhinestone gems to the corners and a retired "Snow Flurry" from Stampin' Up! Of course all of the edges recieved a generous sprinkling of Rose Quartz glitter from Martha Stewart. I had quite a time cleaning up after this project...everything had pink glitter stuck to it, including my DH last night! I don't know how that happened. Maybe while we smooched under the mistletoe? LOL!


The finishing touch was some crepe paper ruffles added to the top of each panel. I simply baste stitched strips and gathered each piece to 3 1/2 inches and then adhered it with sticky strip. I almost didn't add it, but I am glad I took the extra time to put it on. My daughter was really concerned when she came home from school and said that I had covered up two letters with the pictures. I had to explain to her that there weren't any letters on those panels. She seems pleased with it as well as her small pink tinsel tree with pink lights. Her Barbies have been ringing in the Holiday's around the pink glow! LOL! Thanks for fluttering by!

Thankful

When I made my *Spooky* Banner, I moved my *Autumn* banner into my kitchen to hang from my china hutch. It looks so great there, I didn't want to move it. It also gave me an excuse to make yet another banner. I have so much fun making these, especially this one because of the fun colors and patterns. I am proud that I didn't even go to the store once to purchase anything for this banner. I just used things I had in my stash and it ended up being perfect. I looked through my stash of K& Company papers and just grabbed ones that seemed like Autumn to me, even though they weren't necessarily meant to go together. I added two different images from Crafty Secrets. The funny thing about the image below is that the turkey has a sign coming out of his pumpkin cart that says "Eat Pizza". It got covered up with the chipboard letter, but I thought that it was funny!
As you can see, I patterned this one almost exactly after my *Spooky* Banner. Instead of the crepe paper ruffles, I used some vintage lace. My chipboard letters were first painted using Making Memories Scrapbook Paint, then glittered using some gold SU! glitter. You should have seen the glittered mess I cleaned up yesterday after I was done. I was actually glittering myself. I had to run to the grocery store, and I couldn't look anyone in the face, because I knew I was sparkling.

I wish I would have gotten this one done a little earlier, since Thanksgiving is only a few short weeks away. I decided to make a pumpkin pie yesterday to get into the Thanksgiving spirit a little bit more. My house smelled so good and my family was thankful for the treat. I love Autumn so much! My kitchen and dining area have a beautiful Autumn glow coming in from the windows since all of the leaves on my 5 trees in the back have turned. I have a beautiful blanket of yellow leaves in the backyard that we will get to rake up. My kids love to rake the leaves. We usually make a huge pile for them to jump into each year. Unfortunately, my backyard neighbors find my trees the bane of their existence. I think this is the last year that we will have all 5.

I have some more baking to do today. I will be making some refreshments for the judges that will be coming to our school tonight to judge all of our Reflections contest entries. I also need to finish up their thank you cards as well. Thanks for fluttering by!

Spring Joy

Tomorrow is the last day of school for quite some time. The kids won't go back until May 5th, so I decided to throw together some last minute Easter treats to send to their teachers. I decided to take the easy route and use some of my Crafty Secrets Vintage images rather than stamps. They are so charming and they created the perfect feel I was going for. Once I had chosen the two images I was using, I headed straight for my K & Company paper slab and found the perfect paper; totally un-conventional, but perfect non-the-less.

Everything is distressed using Vintage Photo Distress Ink (surprise, surprise). The images are mounted onto Kraft cardstock and then sugared with crystal glitter. A few buttons threaded with the retrieved linen thread are the perfect embellishment! Everything is better with buttons! LOL! I was also able to add some of the delicious ribbon I spied in the dollar bin at Michael's! Who knew such a luscious roll would be housed in such a shabby place? I must go get more!

I let my daughter pick first since my son wasn't home at the time and she chose Mr. Bunny headed on an Easter Outing. I guess my son gets Spring Joy! I thought for sure she would pick the one with the babies and bunnies! Oh well!

These were so easy to make. I just scored an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of Kraft cardstock at 2 inches on the long side. I then scored at 2, 5 1/4, 7 1/4, and 10 1/2 with a half inch tab to adhere it together. The height is 4 1/2. The handles are a one inch strip secured to the inside with glue dots. I added a strip of ribbon across the handle with sticky strip and then added the two bows with glue dots on either side! So super quick! Thanks for fluttering by!

Heartwarming Vintage Booklets by Crafty Secrets
Kraft cardstock, K & Company pattern paper, buttons, linen thread, ribbon, sponge, Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Glue Dots, Sticky Strip