Monday, December 29, 2014

Deadlines are Looming!

Good Morning Everyone!

Just wanted to play catch up and blog this morning!  WOW!  I have not stopped since before Christmas.  I'm sure we all are in the same boat!  I hope everyone had an AWESOME Holiday!

I had an amazing time with my family for Christmas.  It was an amazing experience to help build a trampoline on actually what was Christmas morning around 2:30 a.m.  It was a chilly night and dark of course!  I don't think I have laughed so hard with my sister, brother-in-law, nephews and nieces trying to get this thing built for the little ones!  It seems to be a Christmas Eve tradition to build things for the kiddos!  Just thinking, last year it was an IKEA Vanity!  Whatever building is involved, I so enjoy being with my family!  My sister is quite the hostess!

I came home and back to the studio on Christmas day!  Deadlines are looming...actually deadlines are Thursday, but to avoid the overnight charges I normally pay to ship these goodies, I am so trying to get them in the mail no later than tomorrow night...I have one last project to work on today!  It's built, but now it needs the amazing paper!  So, hopefully I can press through and get this done!  A total of five projects and I am so excited about every one of them!  Can't wait to share them with you all!   I will be able to do that the first day of CHA, which is, I think Saturday, January 10th!  So stay tuned...

Well, I know this is short and sweet, but I have to get cracking!  Almost done!  Yahoo!

Have an awesome day!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter


Friday, December 19, 2014

What Day Is It? Graphic 45 Calendar Day!

Good Morning Everyone!

I would be honored if you would join me over on Graphic 45's Blog today!  I've designed a fun and simple little desktop calendar for them and they are featuring it on their blog

Here's a few pictures of the Calendar...




For more pictures and the tutorial on how The Desktop Calendar was made, please visit Graphic 45's blog by clicking HERE.

Thank You All For Coming By!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Step Out For Secret Slider Gift Card!

Good Morning Everyone!

Are you having a GREAT day?

Thanks for coming by Take Out Tuesday last night!  It was fun and it sure helped me get some of my card making done!  As promised, I wanted to give you the measurements and all the details on the Secret Slider Gift Card.  Please watch the recorded video on my Ustream channel if you need more help...

So here we go...




From Chipboard Cut the Following:
(3) 5 x 7-inches Front/Back and Middle Card
(2) 1-3/8 x 7 Left/Right Interior Sides
(1) 2 x 2-1/8 Slider
(1) 1⁄4 x 2-1/4 Bottom Stop

Adhere the (2) 1-3/8 x 7-inch Left/Right Interior Sides pieces to one of the 5 x 7 Card pieces with Scor- tape or glue. Do this flush to each left and right side.

Adhere the (1) 1⁄4 x 2-1/4 Bottom Stop piece to the bottom open edge between the two side pieces.

Jumping ahead of all the matting, we need to cover this piece first...Cut a piece of patterned paper to 4-7/8 x 6-7/8-inch. Apply adhesive to the backside of the patterned paper and adhere to one of the 5 x 7 chipboard pieces.

Mark this 5 x 7 card piece down 1-inch from the top and centered at 2-1/2-inches. Repeat for bottom side.

Punch a 1/8-inch hole on each mark. Line the marks up with a ruler and mark again from the left side of the top hole down to the left of the bottom hole. Repeat this for right side.

With a steel ruler and a craft knife cut on the marked lines...Do this for both sides of the punched hole.

Punch a 1/8-inch hole centered 3⁄4 inch down from the top of the 2 x 2-1/8-inch Slider piece.


Cut a piece of LIGHT WEIGHT or thin ribbon to 4-inches. Double the ribbon over and place both ends through the hole on the Slider piece. Flatten the ribbon down on the backside well.

For the interior gift card holder...Cut a piece of cardstock to 2-1/8 x 3-inches and set aside for the moment.

Apply glue to the backside of the Slider piece and adhere the cardstock piece to the backside covering the ribbon ends.

Place the ribbon through the Middle Card piece and set aside.

Apply Scor-Tape or similar to the left and right edge of the (2) Left/Right Interior Side pieces. Apply Scor-Tape or glue from the bottom left across the Bottom Stop piece to the right edge.

Pull the tape backing and gently adhere the Middle Card piece down and flush with all edges of the lower card. Note: Ensure the Slider piece is in the open track when gluing.

Cut a piece of cardstock to 1-1/4 x 7-inches. Score the strip at 1⁄2-inch and again at 3⁄4-inch. Apply Scor- Tape or similar to the left and right of the score lines leaving the center 1⁄4-inch untapped. Fold the strip on the score lines to prepare it for the spine of the card.

Remove the tape backing from one side and adhere to the backside of the card. Last, remove the tape backing from the remaining side and adhere to front of card.

Card is built! Yahooo! Now to mat the card.... Cut the following from patterned paper:
(3) 4-7/8 x 6-7/8-inches.  Distress all patterned paper edges with ink.



Last, pull the ribbon tab up all the way revealing the cardstock from the Slider piece. Apply a piece of Scor-Tape to the cardstock. Pull the tape backing and adhere the gift card. Pull the slider back down and you have made The Secret Slider Gift Card.!   Yahoooo! 

Hope you give it a try!  Have an awesome day!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Secret Slide Up Gift Card Holder Tonight!

Good Afternoon Everyone!

RUSH!  RUSH!  RUSH!

This afternoon, I was working on tonights project and thought...Jimbo!  Are you nuts!  No one has time to put this project together for the holidays!  Save it!  So I am!  LOL!  No, I'm not telling!

Tonight, I'm going to kill two birds with one stone!  I'm going to do the Secret Slide Up Gift Card holder on my Ustream Show, Take Out Tuesday.  Maybe some of you have seen it and maybe not!  But a refresher isn't a bad thing!

Come on over at 7:00 p.m. Central Standard Time and check out how to make this easy and fun card. It's so cool for this time of year!  Especially, if you are like me and give out gift cards to the folks in your life that just want MONEY!

Here's what you need....One sheet of 12 x 12 chipboard, a little ribbon, scrap piece of cardstock, an 1/8-inch hole punch and a couple of sheets of patterned paper and OH YEAH..the gift card would help!

Come on by and chat...

The Gentleman Crafter's Take Out Tuesday Ustream Link HERE.

Or copy and paste the URL below into your browsers address bar:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-gentleman-crafter

See you at 7:00 p.m.

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Kit and Mystery Box Sale!

Good Morning Everyone!

Yep, It's Clean Out Time AGAIN!  We finally tackled part of the guest bedroom closet last night!  When I say tackle... I mean tackle!  It is stuffed full of kits, supplies and craft goodness...Not to mention winter clothes that we haven't really been able to wear yet!  We turned on music, ate pizza and had an awesome time with this tedious task!  Cesar packed boxes in the kitchen and I sorted on the bedroom floor with piles all around me 2 foot high!  This morning the closet is clean and boxes of a few kits and mystery boxes await a hopeful new home.

I would like to invite you to my Etsy shop for a Kit and Mystery box sale while supplies last!  Let me give you some details...

Kits- Since these were class kits they include: Printed tutorial, 12 x 12 paper pad, pre-cut chipboard, embellishments, structure strips and a small bottle of Glossy Accents.  Everything you need to make the project except the tools! LOL!

Mystery Boxes-  These boxes could include 12 x 12 paper, embellishments, ephemera, etc.  The contents fill a U.S. Post Office - Medium Priority Rate box.  So take a chance and grab one!

My Etsy store can be found by following this link HERE:


Happy Weekend Everyone!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter



Thursday, December 11, 2014

Taco Soup Thursday Baby!

Good Morning Everyone!

Well, this Thursday morning is another dark and dreary day which means CRAFTING!!!  Got to love that!  I received my box of Graphic 45 goodness yesterday night which means....TIME TO GET CRACKIN' BABY!  The heat is on!  CHA Samples...samples...samples!!!  Can't wait to see what I can come up with!  You guys are going to be thrilled with the new collections...and...STAPLES from Graphic 45!  Yahooooo!

It's funny, or at least I think it's funny...Ever since I've retired from my "real job", I absolutely MUST have noise in the background.  When I design something... I usually have totally quiet...that way I can hear myself talk!  LOL!  True story!  Lately the silence is killing me!  I think it may be the lack of people and chatter around me...I don't know.  Yesterday, while in the studio creating, I wore out the TV remote with the "Play Again" button.  I literally LISTENED to NOT watched...Seven Years in Tibet with Brad Pitt and David Thewlis...FOUR TIMES..I seriously have this movie memorized!  LOL!  True Story Again!

So, I guess the ability to take time to pot pansies is over and the real work begins!  The only way to work...On a deadline!  Love It!  Truly I do!  With that said, I wanted to leave you with my most comforting thought for the day...Dinner....Taco Soup Thursday!

My friend Barb made this for me one night and I devoured it like I hadn't eaten since Thanksgiving day!  It's TOO-LICIOUS BABY!!  She was kind enough to send me the recipe and it's easy enough for me to make!  Just serve it with some shredded cheddar cheese and some tortilla chips!  AWESOMENESS!  Hope you give it a try...

Here's the Details:

TACO SOUP
  
2 LBS, GROUND BEEF
1 CAN HOMINY WITH JUICE
1 CAN PINTO BEANS WITH JUICE
1 CAN KIDNEY BEANS, DRAINED
1 ONION SLICED
1 CAN CHOPPED GREEN CHILES, DRAINED
2 CANS TOMATOES
2 CANS WATER (TOMATO CANS)
1 PKG, TACO SEASONING
1 PKG. DRY RANCH DRESSING

BROWN BEEF LIGHTLY AND DRAIN. MIX ALL OTHER INGREDIENTS TOGETHER AND COOK UNTIL HOT. 


MAKES 10 TO 12 SERVINGS

Well off to get busy!  Have an AMAZING Thursday!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter



Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Tim Holtz Petal Drop Die Wintry Wonderland Tree Done!

Good Morning Everyone!

Thanks tons for coming by Take Out Tuesday's Ustream Show last night!  I had such a great time showing you how to make this totally simple and easy to make tree.

It's an awesome decoration to add to your Christmas decor....Just wanted to take a second and give you some of the details of how it was made...But first, let me show you the finished tree...




The video for the tree can be found HERE:

Part 1
Part 2

What you will need:

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Petal Drop Die
(6) 12 x 12 Light Weight Chipboard
6 x 12-inch Scrap piece Medium Weight Chipboard
Cardstock
Scor-Tape or similar
Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun
Paint
Paintbrush

The class was taped last night however, I wanted to give you a ROUGH rundown of the steps.  This is not a stepped out tutorial...just the steps for clarification....So here we go....


  • Cut 72 petal pieces.  The die has (3) petals to it, so 24 sets of petals.
  • Make (9) layers of "boughs" by adhering the petal drops together with cardstock strips.
  • Start with (12) Petals as the bottom bough, then (11), (10), (9) and so on until you do your last bough of (4) petals.
  • Once the layers have been made cut (3) 1-1/4 x 12 strips of med. weight chipboard.  Form into circles and tape ends together.
  • Apply the circle to the top of the (12) petal layer with hot glue.  Next, apply hot glue to the top on the circle and set the (11) petal layer to the top.  Add another circle to the top of the (11) petal layer.  Apply hot glue to the top of the circle and add the (10) petal layer.  Add the remaining circle to the top of this layer and glue on the 9th layer.  
  • Cut a piece of chipboard to 1/2 x 12-inch.  Form it into a circle as we did above.  Glue the circle onto the top on layer (9) and adhere layer (8) on top.
  • For the remaining layers, just add hot glue to the top of the previous layers and glue into place.
  • To finish off the tree, paint the tree with white gesso and allow time to dry.  
  • Once the tree has dried add modeling paste to the branches of the tree and allow to dry.
  • Last, add different kinds of glitters to make it sparkle!


That's It!

Thanks for coming by!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter






Monday, December 8, 2014

Take Out Tuesday Ustream: Wintry Wonderland Tree

Good Morning Everyone!

It's a fresh new week just ready for some cool inspiration!  I'm ready to be inspired... how about you?  If so, I would like to invite you to my Take Out Tuesday Ustream Show.  A glittery night of sparklin' goodness I guarantee!  I think!  LOL!

I've been working on a frosty new project that I hope gives you goose bumps!

The Wintry Wonderland Tree...A fast and fun festive decoration to help festoon your fabulous flat!  



If you get a chance...come on by...Here's the details:

The Gentleman Crafter's Take Out Tuesday Ustream Show

Tuesday, December 9 - 7:00 p.m. Central Standard Time U.S.

Follow this link HERE!

Or-

Copy and paste the URL below into your browser's address bar-

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-gentleman-crafter

Thanks for coming by!  See you tomorrow night if you can make it!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter






Sunday, December 7, 2014

Craft Crossing Class Coolness!

Good Morning!

WOW!  What a wonderful day at Craft Crossing in Gonzales, TX yesterday!  I finally had a chance to see Pam's new store.  It's literally a hop and a skip away from the old store, but you know what they say about Location...Location!  She scored!  Gorgeous corner building, incredible space! AND...Right across the street from an AMAZING Italian restaurant!  Yes, we had to partake of their fabulous dishes.  YUMMO!

We arrived in time to do a little shopping... of course.  Pam has everything!  I ended up with a few dies to add to my collection (love dies because you can always find a way to use them even 10 years from now!) and a couple of tools I know will make my life easier.  Did I mention Pam has everything!  LOL!




Then it was time for class in the new classroom! We did my Diane's Jack-in-the-box in Graphic 45's 'Twas The Night Before Christmas collection.  The ladies did an amazing job!   There is nothing that makes me happier or more proud than to see these projects come together and everyone enjoying themselves.











Thank you to Craft Crossing for having Cesar and I!  We had a blast!  And thank you to all the ladies who attended the class.  Had such a fun time!

Have an awesome Sunday Everyone!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter

Friday, December 5, 2014

Kits Done and Gonzales Bound!

Good Morning Everyone!

I'm off in to Craft Crossing in Gonzales, Texas to teach the Graphic 45 Christmas Jack-in-the-box.  Such an amazing store in an awesome town!  Pam Malatek, the owner of this fantastic store has moved the shop to a beautiful new location just off the square in downtown Gonzales at 525 Saint Joseph Street.



The class kits are done and waiting to be loaded in the car and I'm excited to be with these lovely ladies once again!



If you get a chance, make sure you come down to Gonzales this weekend for the grand opening of the store and the amazing Winterfest Celebration in town.  It's going to be too amazing...friends, parades, lighting of the town, merchants open late and so much more...Yahoooo!

Thanks SO Much for coming by!  See you in Gonzales!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter







Thursday, December 4, 2014

Window Screen Votive Cup Tutorial

Good Morning Everyone!

Again, this morning seems to be dark and dreary.  For some reason I love these days!  Especially this time of year!  I turn on the tree lights, light candles...I love candles... and start working in my cozy house.

This morning, I thought I would do a little tutorial on some Window Screen Votive Holders.  I used to make these all the time and give them as an easy and inexpensive gifts.  So I thought why not pull out the screen, give it a shot and share it with all of you...



Here's How...

Supplies needed:

Wire Window Screen (They make this screen in either a silver tone or a golden color)
Votive Cup/Small Glass Vase/Mason Jar
A little Wire or a Pipe Cleaner
Ribbon
Gloves
Scissors
Tea light or Votive

Let's Get Going...



Cut a square or circle of screening with some scissors.




With gloves (the wire can be sharp) fold up the edges twice to make finished edges.  This is easy to do as it flattens perfectly.  Remember, the circle or square doesn't need to be a perfect shape...



Once the edges are folded, place the votive cup in the center and draw up the edges.




Secure with wire or a pipe cleaner and manipulate/form the edges of the screen into desired effect.



Tie a ribbon around the holder to hide the wire...



Place a votive in the cup and your done!  The light from the votive picks up the wire screening and shines and sparkles. Place around the house to add a little festive touch.



That's It!

Hope this gives you some creative inspiration... Thanks for coming by!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Catching Up!

Good Morning!

I was determined to blog more and what have I done?  Not blogged!  So, with coffee in hand, here I go...

Let's see... to catch you all up since last week...I had a wonderful thanksgiving with my Mother and Cesar.  We had fun being together and had a delicious dinner that I helped ONLY by staying out of their way in the kitchen.  Felt that was the least I could do...




My birthday is so close to Thanksgiving that we celebrated my birthday with some awesome presents. Mom gave me the coolest battery operated lantern to use when I go camping.  Since camping is on hold until Spring, I have used this lantern to help weed whack the yard, run back and forth to the barn and help escort guests to their car.  I LOVE IT!  Yes, if you didn't know by now, I live in the country and there is nothing but moonlight to light the way...And yes, I do own flashlights.  However, they are just like the five million pairs of peepers I can't ever find when I need them.  So the lantern is FANTASTIC!



The Second Annual Black Friday Sale in my Etsy store was just AMAZING!  Thank you all so much for your support!  I am so VERY GRATEFUL for your purchases.  I will have more tutorials out soon and hope you all come by and check them out.



My birthday Sunday was very low key, partly due to my total soreness from the day before when I weed whacked the entire front property.  It was an awesome day full of my favorite foods, relaxing and a scenic drive...mainly because I wanted to see how the yard looked when you drive up!  LOL!  The yard looks beautiful me thinks..



This week has been crazy busy.  Since I have been home, the days seem to be non-stop, and filled with so much!  My days start early and end late.  I need to remember to just walk away for a few minutes and take my mind off whats at hand.  But, this is all a new experience for me and I'm learning.  Each day is a learning experience.  AND the one thing I've realized is that I am THE DOORMAN for my cat.  In and out all day long.  Can't help seeing the little booger standing in the cold by my studio door...But he's in for a second for probably two kibbles of food and then he's back at the door waiting to go out again....Repeat this process  a dozen or more times.  I guess that's walking away for a few minutes to get my mind off my crafting!  LOL!



Well, need to make a run to the craft store this morning.  I'm trying to get there soon after they open. I walked into Hobby Lobby like Monday and had my arms full and when I walked to the front.  The lines were wrapped around the building.  I dropped everything and said another day Jimbo...another day!  So I'm off to try and beat the crowds....

Have an Awesome Day!  Until Tomorrow!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter