Handmade Bracelet!

This is my first piece of jewelry that I've made!! This was a lot of fun and could be very addictive!!  I got the idea from Lisa Johnson.  She has a free template that you can download to make the paper beads!  Yes, these beads are handmade from paper!   This was a gift I made for my Mom!! =)  I also put it in a little plastic bag and designed a nice label.  (the red bird was from a Martha Stewart punch).

Family Memory Game for Kids!

I can remember playing the game "Memory" when I was a kid and I loved it!  So I wanted to make a customized game for the new baby in our family, Owen.

I bought a pack of chipboard, it came in 10 sheets.  I cut 2.5" squares.

I ended up with 60 squares (30 pairs).  I went to my computer and picked out photos of all family members,  I choose closeup head shots.  I also added in a few of my own nature photographs of some animals.  I printed out 2 of each photo at 2.5" inches each onto white cardstock.  I also printed 60 card backs.  I designed those in Photoshop and did Owen's name.  I cut them all out and used matte decoupage on the back of each photo and glued to the chipboard.  I made sure all edges were glued down really good.  Then I painted a coat on top of the photo.  After that dried I did the same with the back of the chipboard and glued on all the card backs (Owen).  Then after that dried I did a second coat on each one!

Christmas Gift Bags!

I decided to make all my own gift bags this year! What fun! Here are a few below!! If you have a question about anything, just ask!

Tree Box!

I made this box for my sister Laura! I got the idea from my #1, all time favorite crafting IDOL, Mel McCarthy at Mel Stampz. She made a beautiful box with the Riley Tree Stamp (from Paper Garden Projects).  Here is Melz project, which is beyond beautiful! (like everything she does!)

Jewel Magnets!

These magnets were super easy! I bought a bag of the clear jewels(hobby lobby), a pack of round 3/4" magnets (walmart or HL), and pretty paper of your choice!
I used a 3/4" round punch to cut the papers and used zip dry paper glue to stick it all together! I made several sets of these!

Post It Note Holders!

This was a really fun little project that I saw over at Durcan Designs.  I made 5 different designs and had so much fun doing these little babys!!
- Cut the cardstock at 3 1/4" x 8 1/2"
- Score at 4 spots: 2 1/2", 3", 6", 6 1/2"
- Apply sticky notes to paper with repositionable sticky tape so that you can re-use it!
- Note: the shorter end flaps over the longer end to make the cover.
- I cut a small piece of velcro to make the fasteners!  (that was David's idea!!)

New Nav Menu

You might notice a new menu at the top of my blog!  I have BIG plans for this site as well as a new site (or 2)!
There are 2 buttons that aren't active links yet... Digi Stamps and Blog Design.... they are both coming SOON and I'm completely excited about it!!  I've been very busy!!  =)

Lonesome Dove!

This was my handmade gift to David this Christmas!  I bought this wood piece from Walmart.
To prepare the wood I sprayed on a coat of matte finisher and used fine sand paper to very lightly sand until smooth.  I used about 9 shades of browns and tans (acrylics) even mixing many of them together to get different shades.    I wanted to get a sepia tone to the painting.  I started by painting a sepia toned background that was a little lighter in the middle area.  After I painted the background I sanded it very lightly again.  It took me some time to paint the picture b/c I only did a little at a time, then finally, after I finished the painting I sprayed on 3 coats of the matte finisher (drying between coats).  If anyone wants more details just email me!  Click to zoom!  Oh, and David LOVED it and wants to hang it in our living room!! =)  It really is so much more fun to give than to receive!

Clothespin Clips!

This was another idea I saw at MishMash Blog.  These were also very easy gift to make!  I made the box from a template I made myself!  You can get the PDF Template here!  It measures 4x6 and is 1" deep.  I cut the window in the front for display.

I printed my labels onto pretty paper using Microsoft Word.  Then cut them to fit.  I added a couple of dewdrops and jewels and that was it!!  I made a set in 4 different colors!

Pen Cups!

The next easy thing I made for gifts were the pen cups!  I think everyone knows how to make these starting in the first grade! 

I also made a manly one for David!!

Bookmarks!

I know it has been a while since I posted anything, but I have been very busy with some "stampy" stuff up my sleeve that you will be able to see by the end of this month!!  I can't wait!  So for now I am finally able to share some of my Christmas gifts that I made this year!

These bookmarks where an easy creation!  I modeled them after some I saw over at PTI.  I made 4 sets of 8 bookmarks.  I used 2 sheets of double sided pretty paper and cut each sheet in half at the 6" mark then cut the bookmarks at 1.5" each.  I stamped on a monogram and glued it on top of a little piece of looped ribbon.  Then I used a punch to create a little design at the bottom.  I wrapped each set with craft paper and designed the label!!  This was incredibly easy and everyone loved them!!

Bluebird & Azaleas Painting!

It's been a while since I got out my watercolors and painted something, but I had a really good reason to blow the dust off the ol' watercolor palette.  I asked Granny what she wanted for Christmas and she said she wanted a bluebird to match the Cardinal I painted her a while back.  I'm able to share this with you b/c there is no chance of Granny seeing this before Christmas!  Needless to say Granny doesn't get on the internet!
I painted this bluebird in a summer scene!  I love fuchsia azaleas and can't wait for spring to get here!

A Wedding Gift Box!

A friend of mine got married last month and I made this pretty little keepsake box for her, a matching card, and diamond trimmed mini photo frames (from Hobby Lobby).

Here are the ingredients for the card,

• Aqua Mist cardstock - Papertrey Ink
• White cardstock - Gina K Pure Luxury 80#
• Faded text background stamp - Stampabilities
• Aqua Mist ink - Papertrey Ink
• Nestabilities square scallop die cut
• Round Monogram stamp - 1-5/8" JustRite
• Silver Dots - Mark Richards
• Glasses stamp & sentiment - TPC Studio - Elegant Greetings
• Scallop border punch - EK success
• Clear 3D laquer (on glasses)
• Angel Pink Ink - Memento
  
• Silver embossing powder
• Versamark pen
  

For these 2 cute litte frames I used the Aqua Mist cardstock and Justrite monogram stamp and my versamark ink pad to emboss their initials. I really intended this to be a nice placeholder instead of the image that came with the photo. She can keep it or put a nice wedding pic in it's place!

 

I printed these 3 words on my computer and used a sponge dauber to fill in with Aqua mist ink around the edges and Memento Angle Pink in the center.  Then embossed with silver on the little tweely.

 

The cardboard box came from Hobby Lobby.  I used a little wedding pack of embellishments (can't remember the brand).  I used PTI dot paper and some plain pink paper to wrap the box.  I used pink ribbon on the lid edge.  Somehow I didn't get a good shot of the sides of the box.  But I cut a label and stamped each side with a different shell stamp (from Flourishes) and embossed with silver and inked the edges with Aqua Mist, then used a silver dot on each end!

The cake was stamped onto Gina K cardstock with versamark ink.  (Cake stamp & sentiment - Paper Studio - from Hobby Lobby).  I embossed with silver and filled in with copics.  I cut it out and used pop dots to stick on top of pink label.  I also embossed the sentiment with silver.

The dress is part of the embellishment pack.  I went around the edges with Scribbles 3D paint in Shiny True Pink (walmart).
PS. sorry for the bad photo quality. 

I won a stamp set!!

Yeah!! I have never won something like this before! I'm so excited!  This is a brand new stamp set from Flourishes that has not been released yet!  I just love their stamp designs!  I can't wait to get it in the mail!
Visit their store to see all of their beautiful stamps!  Thank you ladies!!  You made my day! 

4x6 Box Template!

I have something to share with you today!  While crafting all of my Christmas goodies I found myself needing a box.  After searching for a while and not finding exactly what I needed I figured I'd just make one from scratch.  After a little work I came up with this template.  It's a 4x6 box 1" deep. I'll update this post to share photos after Christmas!  Below is a snapshot of the template made for 8.5x11 paper.  Here is the download link.... 4x6 Box Template by Tiffany Richards!  (Zip file contains .pdf & .png files)  PS. This is my first template!! =)  So, if I've made any mistakes please let me know so I can fix 'em up!!  See what I made with this box!!

I hope you find some use for it!  If you use if for anything, send me a pic and I'll post it to my blog!! =)

• www.TiffanysGarden.com my crafty personal blog where you'll find my watercolor painting, bible journaling, Distress Ink stuff and organizing my craft stash!
• www.TiffanyDoodles.com where you can find all of my drawings that you can color yourself!
• @Tiffer73 Instagram - ALL of my art and craftiness!!
• Distress Ink for Watercolor Facebook Group If you like to use your Distress Ink in a more traditional style of watercolor, then come join our group!
• My Watercolor Painting Facebook Page
• My Sewing and Crocheting Facebook Page

Been Busy Crafting!

I feel so bad for not having posted much lately, but I wanted you to know that I'm busy with lots of fun stuff up my sleeve! I'll be able to share some of it soon! But, some of it will have to wait til after Christmas b/c I'm crafting Christmas presents for my loved ones and they all read my blog! So you can see my perdicament (sp?)! =)

I thought I would share a few pictures I came across from last Christmas 2008 ...
This first photo is my 11' tree from last year!  It was Christmas everywhere you looked in my house last year! There wasn't one thing un-decorated!  Technically 2008 was our second Christmas in the cabin, but the first one with us living in it fully furnished and all.  2007 we were there but only had that red furnace and a blow up bed!

I made this yummy garlic cheese spread and then shaped it with my hands and stuck sliced almonds in to look like a pinecone, then finished it with rosemary sprigs!

This is me and my 3 girls!  From left to right; Emma (4 yrs), Isabelle (10 yrs), Francie (4 yrs)

While the family was there we grilled out and the girls got to have a little fun too! I let them really have at it for a few minutes, but I didn't want them to mess up their pretty Christmas dresses!! =)

Emma was really into it!  She did not want to let go!! =)

Gift Box for Mary!

My wonderful stepmom, Mary, just had a birthday so I made her one of my favorite little paper templates. The little 3" gift box. It is so quick and simple!

Inside the box I put a small gift, a photo of her new grandson, Owen!

The steps to creating this box are very simple.  Here is the template for the box. Use your score-pal to make the folds.

Then I stamped a tree image on the same patterned paper I used for the top of the box. You can either use your versamark inkpad or go over it with your versamark pen like I did. Then I sprinkled blue embossing powder over and heat set it. I used my awesome swivel craft knife to cut the tree out.

Next, I stamped a little scene with the supplies you see below.

For the top of the box, I used my nestabilities and die cut 2 shapes. I stamped a flower image with my versamark inkpad and embossed it with the same blue powder. I also stamped her name and added some pink stickles.

 

Then I assembled everything with my score tape and wrapped the little frame in tissue paper and gave it to her! She liked it a bunch!