Note GIft Set Simple Stories

Simple Vintage Traveler 6x8 paper pad and stickers make quick set of note gift cards!

Note cards make a great quick last minute gift item!

Fly Away with Activa Ridge Wrap!

December is special for the Altered Pages Design Team... our product partner for the month is ACTIVA.  I am really excited to share what I have done working with their products this month!  Today I am playing with Activa Ridge Wrap. 

 

 

To start gather your supplies to work with Ridge Wrap: scissors, balloons ( small water balloons), container for warm water, protective cover for table.

 

Cut the Ridge Wrap in strips (about 1 1/2 x 4) and blow up balloons... you are now ready to start applying Ridge Wrap.

 

 

 

Wet Ridge Wrap thoroughly in the bowl of warm water, remove excess water.  Slightly overlap each piece as you add them to the balloon.  When applying, rub the Ridge Wrap to help close the plaster holes in the wrap.   

 

 

 

Apply the first layer of Ridge Wrap in one direction.  No need to let is dry before applying the second layer.  

 

 

Apply the second layer in a different direction.  Here you can see the second layer at a slight angle. 

 

 

 

When finished applying Ridge Wrap set aside to dry.  Cut sections of a tube to the rest the balloon on. In about 30 minutes you can remove the balloon. 

 

 

Snip a little hole in the balloon and it will release from the sides. Remove the balloon and let dry over night.

 

 

One package of Ridge Wrap (roll 4" x 180") was able to cover 3 small balloons. 

 

NOW THE FUN PART

 

Making the balloon in to something!!!

 

 

This balloon is going to be covered with Sari Silk Ribbon.  Cut pieces about 8 of Sari Silk Ribbon long enough that they will go over the top of the balloon and be able to tuck the ends into the opening of the balloon.

 

Press with cool iron, then layer the Sari Silk Ribbon alternating bright colors with other colors.

 

Tie the Sari Silk Ribbon in the center with a ribbon (this will be what you can use as the hanger) and adhere to the top of the balloon with Tacky Glue.

 

Apply glue stick to the dry Ridge Wrap and layer the Sari Silk Ribbon overlapping pieces a you go.  I didn't use Tacky Glue because I didn't want it to show through the Sari Silk Ribbon.

 

 

 

Once the balloon is covered trim the excess, leaving just enough to tuck inside the balloon.

 

Use Tacky Glue on each piece of Sari Silk Ribbon and fold to adhere to the inside of the balloon!

 

Make a box for the balloon basket!  Here you can see I used a onion mix box.

 

Cover the box with paper from Laced with Grace, paint inside and distress the outside. Punch holes in each corner for lightbulb safety pins! The balloon ropes will be attached to the pins later.

 

 

 

Tie twine to hold the basket: one piece around the top of the balloon and four pieces about a yard each to attach to the basket.  Trim the ropes leaving enough for charms to hang. You can see the ropes are attached to alternating corners!

 

 

Add keys, transit tokens and charms or whatever else you like to embellish your balloon!

 

Have fun creating with Ridge Wrap from Activa!!!

 

Christmas Cards ~ Tree Ornaments!

Christmas is one of my favorite times of year.  I love making cards! Today I have a couple of cards that the recipient can cherish forever on their Christmas tree!  All papers used on my cards are from The Robin's Nest!

HOT AIR BALLOON ORNAMENT

 

 ~

 

A beautiful hot air balloon ornament on a Christmas card!

 

 

To make it: Cut 9 balloon shapes using Gold Classic Swirl Glitter Cardstock and Silver on Creme Classic Swirl Glitter Cardstock.

 

 

Ink edges using brown ink using a dauber, the dauber will help keep the distressing smooth and not show any lines.  

 

Stamp the back of the 7 of the balloons with a word stamp like the one pictured or harlequin stamp. Then distress the back with brown ink like on the front.  Fold seven of the balloons in half, glue each of them on the center fold and place them inside each other.  Then glue them on one of the flat balloons set aside earlier. 

 

 

Cut Winter Snowflake Cardstock as mat for card. Add sparkle to the snowflakes with Wink of Stella. 

 

 

 

Punch pennant flags from Winter Snowflake Cardstock (use the backside for the pennants.) Paint each with Wink of Stella.    

 

 

Add flowers and Metallic Gold Dew Drops with tacky glue.

   

 

Add lace and yarn to the balloon using tacky glue as pictured above, additional glue maybe needed as each piece is added to the balloon.  Fold excess yarn and lace onto the back,  let dry.

 

When the tacky glue has dried, add the pennants to the yarn.  On this balloon five pennants were used. 

 

The final balloon set aside will be used to cover the back.  First, cut two pieces of  Honeycomb Daisy Glitter Cardstock for the basket of the balloon.  Sandwich two pieces of yarn between the two baskets and tacky glue together.  Glue the yarn from the basket to the balloon and then attach a piece of yarn to the top for the hanger.  Spread glue over the back and attach to the balloon. 

 

 

Hang the balloon on the card with non-permanent adhesive.

 

 

 The recipient is able to remove the balloon and use as an ornament!

 

The Robin's Nest products used:
Gold Classic Swirl Glitter Cardstock
Silver on Creme Classic Swirl Glitter Cardstock
Honeycomb Daisy Glitter Cardstock
Winter Snowflake Cardstock
Metallic Gold Dew Drops

Other items:
Wink of Stella
Lace & Yarn
Flowers
Tacky Glue
Snowflake charm
Brown ink
Stamp with words
A2 Card Base

Tools & Supplies:
Pendent Punch
Dauber
Scissors
Cutter
Tacky Glue
Non-permanent adhesive

BIRD ORNAMENT
 

 

A bird ornament on a Christmas card!

 

 

Create a pattern of a bird and trace it twice onto Cindy Lou Dot Glitter Cardstock, cut the two pieces out.

 

Adhere one piece with glue stick to the chipboard let set for a few minutes.  Use an emery board to distress edges.

 

Adhere feather for tail and ribbon (sandwich between the paper and chipboard) before adding the back side of the bird.

 

 

Punch or cut out four hearts, two slightly smaller. 

 

 

Glitter glue around the edges of the bird and the hearts, let it dry, glitter glue around the other side of the bird.  Add Metallic Gold Dew Drops to the plastic eye lashes. Set aside to dry.

 

Cut Cindy Lou Dot Glitter Cardstock and Cindy Lou Swirl Glitter Cardstock to mat on card.  Cut a strip of Cindy Lou Dot Glitter Cardstock to use the backside for contrasting paper on the card.

 

Adhere the eyes and  wings to the bird!  Use  non-permanent adhesive to attach to the card.

 

The recipient is able to remove the bird and use as an ornament on their Christmas Tree!


The Robin's Nest products used:
Cindy Lou Dot Glitter Cardstock
Cindy Lou Swirl Glitter Cardstock
Metallic Gold Dew Drops

Other items:
Chipboard
Plastic Eyelashes
Glitter Glue
A2 Card Base

Tools & Supplies:
Glue Stick
Scissors
Tacky Glue
Cutter
Emery Board
Non-permanent adhesive

Hope you enjoyed these ornaments! 

Have fun creating!