Sunday, January 18, 2015

Tip of the Day: Stop that Dreaded ATG Tape Slip

One of my very favorite tools in my craft room -- something I use every time I'm crafting -- is my "Adhesive Tape Gun" (ATG) by Scotch 3M.  I use the pink one, where the refills are typically 1/4".

From time to time, I sponsor a group "buy-in" of off-brand tape refills which seem to me to be just as great as the brand variety, though they are a lot less expensive.  I buy them from Tape Jungle, where with a purchase of 144 rolls (12 dozen), the price is $1.16/roll, including shipping. 

No matter if you buy off-brand or brand refills, many of my crafting friends say they've experienced the dreaded "tape slip".  Even a perfectly-threaded refill will fall off the applicator roll in the front, causing the tape to jam and the need to rip, disconnect and rethread the tape.




There just HAD to be a solution. Well here it is....












The tape needs a shim over the roll of tape, and you can create your own, either electronically, with punches, or by hand.  I used my Silhouette Cameo 2 (new, this Christmas -- thank you, Hubby!)  to create a disc out of cardboard that is 3" in diameter, with a 1" cut-out in the center, like this:



Just place the shim over the roll of refill tape that you've loaded into the ATG gun. 



Here's my offer to my readers:  If you just don't feel like making one of these shims yourself, just leave a comment here, and send me an e-mail (to cardmonkey@comcast.net) with your address and I will mail one to you, free! 

Be in touch if I can help you with this crafty tip!


DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Friday, January 16, 2015

Close To My Heart Announces Retiring Stamp Sets

At the end of this month, Close To My Heart will be forever-retiring 28 stamp sets.  

In case you have had your eye on any of these stamps or stamp sets, please be sure to order them before midnight (Mountain Time) on January 31, 2015, by going to my CTMH Online Business Address, which is (http://www.cardmonkey.ctmh.com
and SHOP (search/order) these stamps:





DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Saturday, January 10: Frozen Blog Hop

Welcome to the FROZEN Blog Hop!

Whew! You've made it!!  
I am the very last stop on this super-chilly, wonderful blog hop. I hope you've enjoyed your visit and have been inspired to create your own wintery wonderland in your craft room.

So pull up a chair, a wooly blanket, and a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy one more fantastic project.  

I signed up for this Hop a long while ago, knowing that by the time January rolled around, our family would have been able to enjoy the Philadelphia presentation of "Disney on Ice: Frozen" to feature in my project. In addition, my granddaughter Charlotte -- a true Frozen fan -- would have celebrated her Frozen-themed fourth birthday party by the time of this Hop.  

I decided to make a mat/frame for a Memory photo of the occasion. What's a memory photo?  It's a 12x12" one page layout that I'll get framed. It's for those of us who just aren't scrapbookers enough to do a 2-page layout, but want to make the picture like a layout.  Here it is:



Charlotte was delighted when she saw this! The "snow maiden" cut-out is a file from the Silhouette Online Store, cut with my Silhouette Cameo 2 (a Christmas gift from hubby), using Close To My Heart "Glacier" paper.  The sentiment "Let It Go" is also a SOS/Cameo cut file, and cut from American Crafts silver glitter paper.  I glittered the cuts using Ranger Silver Stickles and CTMH Glitz, a retired product (that I LOVE!)

While I have an opportunity, let me say that the Disney on Ice production of Frozen is beautiful -- fabulous costumes in this story retold on ice. It was an exciting production even for adults, and Charlotte was enthralled, as you can see in these pictures:



Here are just a few shots from the show. We didn't bring cameras (silly us!) just cell phones, so the quality of these pics isn't great. We just wanted to focus on Charlotte's delight, and we weren't disappointed.



We had great front-row seats on the ice!! that my hubby "Pot" bought as a Christmas gift to Charlotte's family.  Thank you so much Pot for making this wonderful memory!

Now official Hop information:

I am the last stop on this Hop. If you've missed any stops, be sure to go back and start at the beginning, which is at the "Connie Can Do" blog of our hostess, Connie.  Do be sure to Hop along and leave comments for each of the participants, so you can be eligible to win prizes from our two sponsors:
Craftin Desert Divas is giving one lucky winner an awesome stamp set, and Golden Goddess Designs is giving one lucky winner the Adventure Templates from Kiwi Lane Designs. 

Here is a full list of the stops:

1.Connie- http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com
2.Holli- http://www.sunflowerholli.blogspot.com
3.Jenny - http://crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/
4.Janet - http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/
5.Alicia - http://www.goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com/
6.Lori - http://scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com/
7.Sarah - www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com
8.Audrey -http://kreativekreationsbyaudrey2.blogspot.com/
9.Theresa - www.scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com
10.Miranda - www.nanasscrapspot.com
11.Jessica- www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com
12.Lisa- http://lisakelly110803.blogspot.com
13.Melinda- http://www.mypapercrafting.com
14.Ellen- http://cardmonkeyspaperjungle.com





Thank you again for joining us!



DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Friday, January 9, 2015

The Buckle Boutique sparkles in the New Year!

In December 2014, it was my great honor to be an independent crafter chosen by Kathy Davis Studios to participate in their annual "Joy Market," a craft exhibit/sale held at the KDS Gallery in Horsham, PA.  This year, the Joy Market was extra-special, because it was held in the new Scatter Joy Center for the Arts, in a beautifully restored barn just behind the KDS Gallery.

One of the products I sold at the Joy Market was this sweet Post-It Note holder, that I made using Dazzling Diamonds rhinestone resin adhesive sheets from The Buckle Boutique.  The sheets cut like butter -- using standard scissors (as I used in this case) or even an electronic cutting machine such as a Cricut, Pazzles or Silhouette Cameo.

As a gift to the Scatter Joy Center for the Arts, I made two banners, including this one that hung over the Center's stunning stone fireplace. The banner also features TBB's Dazzling Diamonds -- can you see them?  Subtle, and lovely!


Here's a close-up of the banner. Up top, I cut the sheet of clear Dazzling Diamonds into strips of three rows high, then peeled off the adhesive backing and affixed them to the top of each pennant. I cut the pennants themselves on my Cricut Explore, and the snowflakes from Close To My Heart's Colonial White paper, using my Silhouette Cameo.

Have you had a chance to use some of the terrific products from The Buckle Boutique, whether the adhesive sheets or rhinestone bling like buckles and pins?  Well, WHAT are you waiting for?  Perhaps a brand new and exciting product???

If you're waiting for that, do *I* have a sneak-peek for you...
this weekend at the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA, booth #2535), The Buckle Boutique and "The Modern Surrealist" Marisa Pawelko are unveiling a line of printed rhinestone sticker sheets with incredible new designs: 

Check out this Graffiti print:


Isn't that nifty?!  There are other sweet sheets, with lips, leopard prints, flowers and more. Do swing by The Buckle Boutique, either at CHA or by hopping over to http://thebuckleboutique.com to see what fun is available to you now.

For more information, here are links to The Buckle Boutique:

The Buckle Boutique’s Website . . . click HERE
The Buckle Boutique Blog . . . . click HERE
Facebook Page . . . click HERE
Twitter Page . . . click HERE
Pinterest Page . . . click HERE


DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,