"Extreme Guitar" - Guest Blogger Card

Today's Guest Blogger is my sister Elaina. She made this card for her teen-aged nephew. Below the photo is her description of what she used to make the card.



"The base of the card is Kraft. The "red and black" paper is really just Real Red card stock that I crumpled up then dragged my Basic Black classic ink pad across. Neat right? First time I can remember crumpling good paper on purpose. I used my spritzer to spritz with Real Red and Basic Black Stampin' Write Markers on Whisper White card stock. Then I stamped the guitar guy (Extreme Guitar, set of 1, $8.95) on top of that. On the other one i stamped off twice in addition to the main image moving over each time. kinda neat maybe i will photo that for you to see too. anyway- the guy is mounted on Basic Black. The mounted image is on dimensionals too. The "you rock" is actually alphabet rub-ons, not a stamp (not Stampin' Up!)."

I hope you enjoyed this "guest blogger" post. If you want your creation featured here then send me an email with "guest blogger" in the subject line, a photo of the project, and what you used to create it!

Remember Shrinky Dinks?

If you are a certain age (like me) then you remember all the fun you had putting plastic shrinky dinks in the oven to make various charms, bookmarks, etc. Well, here is my recent version, with special thanks to my sister for the idea! These photos were taken with my camera phone, so the quality isn't the greatest - but you get the idea at least!


The BEFORE Photo: These images are from the retired stamp set from Stampin' Up! called Baby Firsts. I chose this stamp set because Liam is now 6 months old and I wanted to try to make charms with his "firsts" in mind. This stamp set has 8 stamps in it, but Liam has only done 4 of the 8 "firsts" so far. I'll make the rest later. I've included the actual stamp in the photo for size reference. The stamp is about 2x2 inches.


The AFTER Photo: See the difference? These are perfectly sized for little charms either on a necklace or bracelet.

Special notes: I stamped the images on shrink plastic using Classic Basic Black ink from Stampin' Up! Then, I colored the images with my Stampin' Write Markers. I then punched the images out with my 1 3/4 circle punch, 1 3/8 square punch, and scallop circle punch. Next, I punched the hole in each one using my Crop-A-Dile and attached the ring. Finally, each charm was heated using a heat emboss tool until it was finished shrinking! No more waiting for the oven!

On the back of each charm I plan to write the date that Liam accomplished each "first". I haven't decided whether to wear my charms on a necklace or bracelet, but I know this is something I will LOVE to wear.

I hope you enjoy these! They were fun and easy to make. And now I have personalized charms all about my boy!

~Elisa

Simply Scrappin' - "Best Ever" Samples

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today's sample ideas come from my sister Elaina! She is sharing 3 projects she made using the Best Ever Simply Scrappin' Kit. All Simply Scrappin' Kits come with self-adhesive die cuts, 12x12 double-sided patterned paper and coordinating 12x12 card stock. Click on the pictures to see a bigger version.

Adorable birthday card - great for a kid or an adult. She used the pieces from her kit and added some coordinating Riding Hood Red striped ribbon.

Really cute birthday card with coordinating Baja Breeze striped ribbon.

Scrapbook page for my nephew's 5th birthday! Once again, using the coordinating Riding Hood Red striped ribbon.

Simply Scrappin' kits make things quick and easy! Contact me with questions or to place your order today.

~Elisa

Show me your fabulous projects!

I'm always looking for samples and ideas to share on this website, so if you have made something that you are really proud of then I would LOVE to share it with everyone. I just need a photo of your project and a list of the "ingredients" you used. You will be featured here and receive all the credit, of course!

Send your projects to me!

Happy Crafting!

~Elisa

Calling All Talented Crafters!

I'm looking for your beautiful cards and other projects to feature on this website. I am especially interested in anything holiday related: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah - basically any celebration through the end of this year.

You will be featured as a Guest Blogger on this site.

All I need from you is a photo of your project and a list of "ingredients" used to make it. It is that easy. Email me today and you could be featured here soon!

Have a crafty weekend!

~Elisa

Product Spotlight - Hodgepodge Hardware

Seasoned scrapbookers and stampers know how fun it is to add "hardware" to your projects. Hardware, to me, is any metal embellishment that you can add to your scrapbook pages or cards. Hardware can add a unique and beautiful accent to your handmade items.

You can get many different colors and styles of brads and eyelets in our catalog. But some of the hardware we offer is only available in our Hodgepodge Hardware kits (p188, $27.95). The 3 kits in the Spring-Summer Collection 2008 are available in Aged Copper, Antique Brass, and Pewter. And right now in the current Occasions Mini Catalog you can get a special set called Styled Silver (p7, $29.95) - and it's gorgeous! Each kit comes with 100 or more embellishments AND 100 coordinating brads.

Here are a few samples using Hodgepodge Hardware:

My sister made this card using a ribbon-slide from the Styled Silver kit.

This card uses the large oval embellishment in Pewter - which coordinates with the Large Oval Punch (p180, $15.95)

This 8x8 scrapbook page uses a rectangular ribbon-slide in Pewter.

These are just and example of what you can do with hardware. If you have other projects using hardware that you want me to show then send them to me and you could be featured as a "guest blogger" on this site!

~Elisa

Have You Tried Rub-Ons Yet?

If you are a scrapbooker then you are probably familiar with rub-ons and how easy and fun they are to use. Well, Stampin' Up! has recently started selling these and they are a hit! The rub-ons that Stampin' Up! offers coordinate with the stamp sets and designer series paper we offer, too. We currently have 7 different rub-on packages to offer: 5 in the current Spring-Summer Collection 2008, 2 in the new Occasions mini catalog, and 1 in the Sale-A-Bration brochure.

If you have used rub-ons and want to share your project with everyone, then send me an email with a photo of your project and instructions/ingredients for my "guest blogger" feature. Just about a month ago I sent FREE rub-ons to Mirror Image Crafts subscribers. I'd love to see what you've done with YOUR rub-ons, so don't be shy!

I'll continue to offer subscriber freebies from time to time. If you want to make sure to receive the next subscriber gift then be sure to sign up in the box near the top of the page. All you do is submit your email address and you will receive an email from FeedBlitz whenever there is a new post on this blog. You won't be spammed and I keep your email private.

Have a crafty weekend!
~Elisa

Guest Blogger - Elaina!

So Cute! Elaina made this card for her son Jake's 4th birthday - and he chose the colors!

Card: Power Up stamp set, Builder Bits wheel (retired), Very Vanilla, Green Galore, and Brilliant Blue card stock, happy birthday stamp. Distressing on the brilliant blue and ink to paper on the card in general.

Now it's your turn! Share your project with me and you can be featured here as well. You got it, now FLAUNT IT!

~Elisa

Guest Blogger - Alex!

Check out this adorable frame project that Alex made!
This cutie is her daughter Camille. Alex made this using stamps on Blush Blossom card stock, which she then attached to the cardboard frame. She then attached the wooden cutout for the "Princess" at the bottom. The stamp set she used is called "Perfect Princess" and it is on page 77 in the Spring-Summer Collection 2008 catalog. Fantastic!

Share your projects with me and you could be featured as a Guest Blogger too! All I need is a picture and what you used to make your project.

~Elisa

Calling All Creative Customers!

I'm still looking for "guest bloggers" to show off their craftiness RIGHT HERE on Mirror Image Crafts. You - yes YOU - could have your cards, scrapbook pages, or 3D projects displayed on this site. All you have to do is email me with a photo of your project, a list of supplies you used, and any instructions you need to provide.

I know a lot of you have made some really cute things for the holidays, so what are you waiting for! Show it off!

~Elisa

Copying is Flattery, Right?

My wonderful and supportive upline with Stampin' Up!, Anne, is doing a feature on her blog site that I would like to offer as well. She invites her customers to submit projects they have done and she posts them on her blog as a guest blogger.

If you have designed something that you are just burning to share with others, then let me know! I will post it on my site with your name on it. All I need is an email from you with a photo of the project, what you used on your project, and any instructions if necessary. I will take anything you would like to submit: scrapbook pages, cards, 3D elements. Submissions should be your original work or you should give credit where credit is due.

Contact me with any questions and let's see what you've got!

~Elisa