The little lemon that just "couldn't"!

The last night of CHA I met with a couple of designer pals that have been working the industry for years.  We always have fun when we are together and there are always a lot of laughs.  Before we parted ways, Jean Keivlan gave us each a huge, lovely lemon from her sister's place in Phoenix and presented it with a "craft challenge".  We each took our lemon, packed it in our suitcase and brought it home with us.  Mine has traveled all the way to Oregon and as you will see, he got quite a scare!

Poor little lemon!  He shouldn't have worried.  He is stems and skin above the others of his kind!

I don't think he felt too bad until he started looking around at his surroundings....

I could never cut a lemon with a face on it!  He is a lovely lemon and I am going to keep him until he gets old and shrivels up.  Did you know that lemons actually grow hair when they get old?  Yes, the growth pattern is very random and each one is different.  Unfortunately, at this stage they are totally beyond making lemonade so they usually will go into the compost pile and help something else to grow.

Thanks Jean for the fun lemon challenge.  I am waiting now to see what Julie and Madeline have done with their little house guests.  And Jean, I think you should do one too!  

Take time to make some lemonade & Happy Crafting!

Life Life with a Flourish,

Marilyn

Chalk board signage by Deflecto.  Check out the new site @

http://www.deflecto.com/craft/

A new use for an old product!

Do you know what you are looking at in the photo above?  There is a good chance you do, but just don't know it yet!  What is it, you ask?  You have seen these in just about every store you have entered and maybe beyond.  They are the clear plastic pouches that you generally see holding a price tag!

These are clear plastic pouches made by Deflecto, LLC.  Deflecto is a manufacturer of office supplies and there is a good chance that the acrylic organizing products you might see in the office supply stores were made by them.  They have joined the world of crafts and are showing at CHA in Anaheim this month for the second time.  I have the pleasure of being on a design team that are taking their products out of the standard office supply realm on into the multi-media world of CRAFTS!    If you are attending the show this year, be sure and stop by and say Hello!  Booth 2375.

I used Close to My Heart papers and embellishments called "Brushed". www.marilyngossettdesigns.ctmh.com/retail  It is very colorful and fun for all seasons.  For one pouch, I cut the paper about 2-5/8" x 10-1/2".  Fold in in two.  Slip one half into the pouch leaving the other half out. The ribbon is stapled to the piece that is "out" of the pouch.  This is the page that I stapled the piece of ribbon to.  It helps in turning the pages and adds some extra decoration.  You now have one page you can touch and feel to place mementos and dimensional items.  The pocket is perfect for protecting your scrapbooked photos, etc.  

Here are some more photos of the mini album with the pages open so you can see how I arranged it.

The pear clip that is commonly "paired" (no pun intended...) with the plastic pouch is holding all of the pages together.  I embellished it with lots of ribbon.

If you would like to find out where Deflecto products are sold, go to their website and look for retailers at
http://www.deflecto.com/craft/ 

To see the next project, click on the blue Designer Craft Connection button and have fun checking out what our other designers have to show!

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

Steampunk Christmas Ball

Supplies:

Smoothfoam:  3" ball
Offray ribbon:  one yard of 2" wide sheer gold wire edge; 1/2 yard if 1/4" white
Decou-Page Gloss medium by DecoArt;
Metallic Lustre by DecoArt:  Black Shimmer, Copper Kettle
Small rag for applying Metallic Lustre
Tissue paper:  Metallic gold; one piece
1" flat paintbrush
metallic gold chenille stem; 1
Embellishments:  self-adhesive rhinestone trim, metal gears, metallic beads, gold bead caps, clear rhinestones
straight pins
Adhesives:  glue gun and fast grab tacky glue
scissors
water container, paper towels, paper plate
wooden skewer (handle)
straight pins

Instructions:

1.  Gather supplies.  Insert the wooden skewer into the ball to use as a handle.

2.  Crumple the tissue paper.   Spread it back out and tear into fairly small random pieces.  Apply                      decoupage medium to a small area of the ball and adhere a piece of crumpled tissue paper.  Apply more        medium to the top of the paper.  Repeat until the entire ball is covered.  Allow to dry thoroughly.

3.  Adhere the rhinestone trim around the middle of the ball.  Place and adhere the embellishments to the ball      as shown in the photo given.

4.  To reinforce the hold on some embellishments i.e. beads, use a straight pin to secure to the ball.

5:  Bow & Hanger:  Make a loopy bow with four 2" loops and two 2-1/2" tails.  Trim a V into each tail.

     Tie the 1/4" ribbon around the middle of the bow to secure it.  Match the ribbon tails and tie the ends in a      knot, leaving a 3" loop.  Trim the tails at an angle.

*Designer tip:  Look through your junk drawer, buttons and beads for old keys, metal buttons, etc.  These items all lend to the effect of Steampunk.  Use the metallic wax to give depth and definition to your ornament.

I like Metallic Lustre by DecoArt.

Enjoy & have a very Merry Christmas!

Life Life with a Flourish,

Marilyn

PS.  Here we are on our annual trek to our favorite tree farm.  We always pick out two trees.  It might be            just one next year.  It is taking longer and longer to get everything decorated!  

Wishing you love, joy and many blessings this holiday season and in the coming year!  Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Peace on earth and goodwill to men!