ME Home Companion Project

TweetyJill is excited to have the opportunity to feature a special project on ME Home Companion’s website. Congratulations to the designer, Linda Beeson, for this project being selected! TweetyJill has been advertising in ME Home Companion’s magazine for awhile now, and this opportunity was given to us as one of the advertisers. Please check out this page featuring our special 4th of July project!

It’s time for a 4th of July party y’all! 

An ATC a day keeps the Craft Bug away!

Here are some creative ATCs designed by Design Team member Vickie Kammerer. I love Vickie’s artwork because she is not afraid to try new things, and everything I see of hers is so unique I just look for a few minutes and wonder, now HOW did she do that? Lucky for me she is kind to share her secrets! Thank you Vickie!

(Far left ATC is 1, clockwise to 4)

Materials:

• Chipboard ATCs by Maya Road
• Patterned Papers by Lazar Studiowerx
• Sea Foam and Copper Penny Marvy Heritage Ink Pads by Uchida
• Numbers, Spills & Splatters Rubber Stamps from Tim Holtz Collection
• Grunge Alphabet Stamps by PaperBagStudios
• Rain Dots Eyelets and Epoxy Numbers by Cloud 9
• Distressed Effects Rub-Ons Painted White by Dee’s Designs
• Plain Digit Grungeboard Digits by Tim Holtz Idea-ology 
• Copper Sheeting
• Tools: Liver of Sulfur, Sand Paper, Scissors, Cotton Ball, Alphabet Punch
• Adhesives: Glue Stick, Spray Adhesive

Instructions:

• Trace around chipboard ATCs over various patterned papers. Cut out papers and attach to ATC fronts.
• Apply inks to assorted rubber stamps and stamp over papers.
• Sand all edges of ATCs with sand paper.
• Grunge Alphabet ATC (1): Punch out letters using copper sheeting. Apply liver of sulfur to cotton ball, and apply to letters for distressed appearance. Attach to ATC with spray adhesive. 
• Number 0 ATC (2): Randomly apply Painted White Distressed Rub-Ons. Attach “0″ from the white Epoxy Numbers .
• Embrace Imperfection ATC (3): Embellish with metallic Rain Dots eyelets. 
• Number 7 ATC (4): Select “7″ from the Grungeboard Digits and ink number with Sea Foam ink. Rub Copper Penny ink over the top for distressed look. Attach to ATC with glue stick. 

For more of Vickie’s artwork check out rubber stamp magazines such as Somerset Studio, Rubber Stamper and RubberStampMaddness, along with upcoming titles: Seasons & Celebrations and French Inspired Romantic Creations by TweetyJill Publications. 

Father’s Day Project

Here is a cute Father’s Day project created by Design Team member Linda Beeson.

Father’s Day Decorated Tin

Materials:

• Patterned Paper by Fancy Pants Papers
• Rub-on Words by Making Memories
• Black dye ink pad
• Ruler Rubber Stamp from Vintage Collage Collection by TJ Designs
• Mod Podge Decoupage by Plaid
• Twine
• Tools: Tag punch; Scissors; Circle Template by Coluzzle; Measuring Tape

Instructions:

• Stamp patterned paper with ruler image along each stripe. (This is especially easy because these stamps mount on a clear cling block for precise stamping).
• Measure the length and height of the tin and cut paper accordingly.
• Adhere paper with Mod Podge decoupage adhesive, overlapping slightly.
• Cut a circle for the top of the tin with the circle template.
• Cut a slightly larger circle from a solid color of paper for the matting.
• Adhere circle in place.
• Cover project with a final coat of Mod Podge for a sealed appearance.
• Add rub-on words, tag and twine for embellishment.

Father’s Day Card

Materials:

• Patterned Paper from the School Daze Collection by Rusty Pickle
• Dictionary Print Paper by Creative Imaginations
• Sticker Letters by Rusty Pickle
• Brown Ribbon
• Fluid Chalk Ink Pad by Clearsnap
• Clear Embossing Ink Pad
• Top Boss Copper and Terra Cotta Embossing Powders by Clearsnap
• Large Manilla Tag
• Grungeboard Hinge by Tim Holtz
• Brads by Creative Impressions
• Tools: Scissors; Embossing Heat Tool; Paper Distresser; Sewing Machine

Instructions:

• Cut patterned paper to fit card front. Use the distress tool to give the edges a distressed look.
• Cut dictionary print to fit front of manilla tag and adhere in place. Use this tag as a pattern to cut an additional tag to glue to the card. (This is the piece you can attach the gift card to and this is the portion that will show when you open the top tag.)
• Ink edges of both tags for distressed look.
• Place the top tag over the glued tag and sew in place along the left side.
• Rub the grungeboard piece with the embossing ink pad and sprinkle on embossing powders. Apply heat tool to emboss.
• Place this hinge over the tag accents and add brads.
• Add sticker letters and ribbon for embellishment.

Thank you Linda for this cute project. And for those of us that are lucky to have a dad around, don’t forget to to wish him a Happy Father’s Day on Sunday. My father lives up in northern Minnesota while I enjoy sunny Florida, so unfortunately we won’t be together on Father’s Day. But he will hear from me of course! Happy Father’s Day Daddy!

Lindsay Haglund

Managing Editor

A little trip through Wonderland…

I have been working on compiling lists of quotes and phrases to be included in our latest TJ Designs product, pre-packaged card kits. My favorite kit is the Mad Hatter kit, with an Alice in Wonderland theme. I spent hours combing through various websites and books searching for quotes and it was quite a nostalgic time, well spent. This lovely story by Lewis Carroll is one of my favorites, as was Disney’s representation of the timeless classic. So, I ventured over to ebay and made a little purchase: The 2004 released Masterpiece Edition, 2-disc set! 

It just arrived in the mail today! I am so excited to go home on this rainy Thursday afternoon and pop a bowl of popcorn, make myself some yummy green tea and watch this cute film! I’m still a little kid on the inside…

In other news, here is a sneak peek at one of our newest card kits, soon to be released!

Yesterday our design team sat down and decided to add a little something extra to this kit. A portion of all sales will be donated for breast cancer research (notice the little pink ribbon on the side). I think for any business it is important to give back when you can, no matter how little or how much. Enough said!

Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it’s getting!

 

Lindsay Haglund

Managing Editor

 

Kitty Love!

Sometimes I find myself overwhelmed by the amount of art and craft products at my disposal in the studio. I can easily come up with a creative project or gather photos for scrapbook pages, but when it comes time to create, I often throw my hands up in the air in frustration. I will start off with some papers and ephemera and then think, what if something else would be better? So… I have developed a technique! I applied it most recently on my latest crafty project. I started off with a box. I walked around the studio picking and choosing various papers, rub-ons, rubber stamps, inks and embellishments that suited the project I had in mind. I allowed myself about ten minutes of treasure hunting and then forced myself to stop. I then began my project, limiting myself to the products in my box. I felt no pressure, just relief, as I delved into my art. This is my “little box of fun stuff” that I played with!

Includes:

• Cuddly Cats ALPHA Coupons by Rusty Pickle
• Chipboard Alphabet by Rusty Pickle
• TC Young Clearly Yours Alphabet Stickers by K&Company
• Brenda Walton Metal Art by K&Company
• Fancy-Free Paper Collection by Nancie Rowe Janitz for Fancy Pants Designs
• Kaleidoscope Papers by My Minds Eye
• Here Kitty Kitty Paper by Rusty Pickle
• Colored Buttons by Making Memories
• The Rock Star Paper Stack by Die Cuts With A View
• Impress-On Designer Embellishments by Creative Imaginations
• Marah Johnson Girl Definitions by Creative Imaginations
• Vintage Hip Trims by Making Memories
• Assorted ColorBox Cat’s Eyes by Clearsnap
• Assorted ribbons, colored safety pins, tulle, buttons and rickrack 

And here is my project! First of all I must introduce my babies, my two female sister black cats, Phoebe and Nala. Both were adopted from the humane society about 3 years ago as kittens. I went in looking for a kitty and came out with two! 

I love the black and white photos! I think they work nicely with rich and vibrant colored paper for contrast. 

Creatively Yours, 

Lindsay Haglund

Managing Editor

Crafty Projects for a Crafty Nest

Here is a cute and simple project designed by Linda Beeson, using one of my favorite crafty items, Mod Podge!

Since my early days I have used this decoupage adhesive for almost every craft project I create. I love to decoupage hat boxes, cigar boxes, tins, wooden frames, bottles and almost anything I can get my hands on. Thank you Linda for this inspiration! 

Green Wooden Purse by Linda Beeson

Materials:

• Wooden Purse from local craft store
• Patterned Paper by BasicGrey
• Metallic Peridot Acrylic Paint
• Mod Podge Decoupage by Plaid
• Black Flourish Felt by Queen & Co. 
• Green Rhinestones by Queen & Co. 

Instructions:

• Paint over the entire wooden purse with the Metallic Peridot acrylic paint and allow drying time.
• Lay the purse over the patterned paper and trace around to make front cover. Trim the cover slightly smaller than the traced image. 
• Apply Mod Podge to paper piece and adhere to purse front, carefully working out air bubbles. 
• Repeat these steps to apply a piece to the back of the purse. 
• Trim felt pieces to fit and attach to purse as shown. 
• Add mini rhinestones for embellishment. 
• ***Tip: If you would like a “sealed look,” apply a coat or two of Mod Podge over the entire purse once complete. 

Here is my latest purchase from Jo-Ann fabrics. I found this lonely “L” stashed underneath several hatboxes. At the register I caused a ten minute traffic jam while the cashier called for a price check on something she at first claimed was not for sale! After awhile they discovered it had been a return from a Jo-Ann superstore and I just happened to pick up the only one in the store. Lucky me! It is calling to me for some Mod Podge! I can not wait to alter this baby! Future posts on the lonely “L” and how I alter it to follow!

Have a wonderful weekend everybody!

“L” indsay Haglund

Managing Editor

A few fun things around the studio…

It is about time for a blog update! It has been a hectic week for our studio staff. With two publications in production, working on a new catalog and product development, not to mention a photo shoot every week… Tweety’s Crafty Nest has just about slipped my mind! 

I received these charming ATCs in the mail as a present from one of our favorite artists, Wayne Dieleman, from The Netherlands. TweetyJill is proud to feature Wayne’s artwork in several of our publications, including the most recent, Fresh Techniques for Rubber Stamped Cards. 

These ATCs are used with the Vintage Collage and Journey to France Stamp Collections by TJ Designs. If you haven’t heard about our new rubber stamp line check it out here for more details. Thank you again Wayne for sharing your talented work. 

In further news, I have fallen in love! With DCWV’s new Once Upon A Time paper stack. This book is filled with gorgeous glittery fairy tale papers that are just calling to me for a fabulous project. 

I am thinking of making some beautiful cigar box purses or perhaps some altered hat boxes. Thank you to Angela for sending us some of your latest products to feature in our books. Here are some pictures of some of my favorite sheets…

I suppose this theme reminds me of when I was a little girl and wanted to dress up as a fairy tale princess. What girl isn’t a princess at heart? 

More Design Team projects to come!

Lindsay Haglund

Managing Editor

Beach Babe Cards!

This project was submitted for a Design Team post by Vicki Garrett. As soon as I saw these cards I fell in love with the funky stamp design and the way she embellished them! Thank you Vicki for these creative cards! 

Materials:

• Rubber Stamps: Fun in the Sun Stamp Set by Hanna Stamps
• Inkpads: Pallette Noir, Creamy Caramel Classic and Tempting Turquoise by Stampin’ Up!
• Papers: Turquoise, Brown, White and Sky Blue Cardstock; Polka Dot Patterned Paper by SEI; Designer Paper
• Pens/Markers: Silver Gel Pen by Pentel; Copic Markers; AtYou Spica Pens
• Pastels/Chalks: Stampin’ Pastels by Stampin’ Up!
• Embellishments: Ribbon; Rhinestones; Dew Drop Glass Embellishments
• Adhesives: Mini Glue Dots by Glue Dots International; Adhesive Foam Tape
• Tools: Distressing Tool; Sponges; Cotton Swabs; Scissors

Instructions:

• Stamp the girl image onto two pieces of pre-cut cardstock. Add the umbrella or boom box image as shown. 
• Stamp additional umbrella image onto designer paper and cut out top-half. Adhere over pre-stamped image.
• Stamp additional images onto excess cardstock. 
• Color all images as desire with markers. Hint: Color in layers to get a three-dimensional effect. Begin with a layer of light color, and add darker colors for shading. 
• Cut images and adhere as shown. Use foam tape to create dimension. 
• Highlight bikini, boom box and umbrella with Spica pens and gel pens.
• Create backgrounds using chalks or inks. Use cotton swabs for the chalk and a sponge for the ink, blending colors together.
• Add rhinestones and Dew Drops with mini Glue Dots for embellishment.  
• Cut and layer artwork over cardstock as shown. 
• (For top card): Tie ribbon snippet around designer paper and adhere onto card front. Layer art panel on top.  
• (For bottom card): Use the distressing tool to fray the edges of a brown cardstock panel. Layer art panel on top and adhere to card front. 

This designer loves the technique of shadowing and subtle layering for a dimensional effect. The cards are not as bulky, but still have that extra dimension.

Keep on Crafting!

Lindsay Haglund

Managing Editor

Photo shoots ’til we drop!

Another exciting day in the studio! TweetyJill has the opportunity to possibly sponsor a featured project on ME Home Companion’s website, and took a few photos today for this feature. Our talented photographer Herb has almost everything you can imagine for props stashed away. One of our not-so-favorite things to play with is sand, but somebody has to do it! What a mess this can be, but with a careful hand and watchful eye things usually stay under control. 

Another funny story… I was given the task of obtaining lemons for the shoot. (Notice the pitcher of “freshly squeezed” lemonade). I had just been given a bag full of freshly ripened Florida lemons by a friend, and so I chose the brightest ones to bring. It failed to cross my mind that although these fresh-off-the-tree lemons were extra yummy to eat they were not quite as pretty when you cut into them. Lessoned learned: Yummy Florida lemons do not photograph well! Alas, that is what photoshop is for!

Rick and Jill tasting the yummy Florida lemons!

Daniel was given the most exciting job of cleaning up the sandy mess! What a sport!

Here is a sneak peek at one of our new stamp collections called By the Sea. Keep checking TweetyJill’s website for new product availability. 

And remember, when life deals you lemons, make lemonade!

Lindsay Haglund

Managing Editor 

Good luck tonight Syesha!

TweetyJill is proud to announce our support for our hometown gal, Syesha Mercado, tonight in American Idol! Syesha is from Sarasota, FL, and attended highschool at Booker High, just miles away from our studio. We are wishing her the best of luck tonight! She is a very talented young lady and what a treat it would be to have her as the next American Idol!

I have been a fan of the show since the Kelly Clarkson beginnings. I hear mixed opinions on the sensationalized idea of crowning a young adult the American Idol year after year, but I have come to my own conclusion about this thought. Good for THEM! I have seen countless talented contestants paraded across the stage and criticized or praised, or perhaps both, for their vocals or song choice. What I have NOT seen is too much poor sportsmanship or negativity among the contestants themselves. Yes, there has been some drama here or there, but overall these young adults have shown like the bright stars they truly are. 

David A. and David C. performing during last week’s show. 

Syesha, waiting to find out if she is in the top three!

Congratulations to ALL of the American Idol Finalists and best of luck to the final three performing tonight!

A true fan of talent, 

Lindsay Haglund

Managing Editor