Epiphany Crafts & Tombow Adhesives

Summer is birthday season here at the Coleman house.  Kids, siblings, in-laws, you name it.  One of the perks of being a card maker is that I always have a birthday card (or 20) on hand.  :)  This week I combined my Epiphany Crafts custom embellishment tools with Tombow adhesives to make this little beauty:

Super fun!  For added visual interest and dimension, I used my EC Pennant tool to punch regular pennants, as well as some with epoxies. 

The Tombow Mono adhesive is awesome!  It is super strong and super thin so it won't make your embellishments pop off the page. 

Happy day to you!  

-Amanda

Epiphany Crafts Supplies

Shape Studio Tool Pennant 25

Shape Studio Accessory Pennant 25 Bubble Caps

Other Supplies

Tombow Mono Adhesive
Amy Tangerine Sketchbook 6x6 (American Crafts)
Embroidery floss (DMC)
Sew Easy (We R Memory Keepers)

Kraft cardstock (The Paper Co.)

Pinterest Inspiration with Epiphany Crafts

The first time I used Pinterest, it was a total rush!  I would come back a couple of times a day to check out new stuff and pin more stuff.  As time went on, however, I found that I needed a Pinterest inspiration fix several times a day.  And heaven forbid I miss something totally awesome because I didn't scroll all the way down to where I left off the time before.  Yes, Pinterest is the newest time suck in my life, but it isn't all for naught.  I am constantly inspired by the bright and creative images I see.  

Like, forever ago, I pinned this image of a handmade leather purse (unfortunately no longer available on Etsy). 

I liked the simplicity and the depth of the color, and I can't resist trees and scenery.  While I am not about to make a leather purse, I had hoped to make some kind of paper craft reminiscent of this image.

A few weeks ago I got a wild hair and picked up some watercolor paper and paints at the craft store.  Now mind you, I haven't painted with watercolors since middle school art class.  I am more of a stick figure kind of gal and paint intimidates me.  I quickly found out that watercolors are pretty forgiving.  I think watercolors and I are now friends.  Check it out--

Using watercolors, I painted a 5"x7" piece of watercolor paper using various shades of blue.  The moon is made with EC Shape Studio Tool Round 25 and matching bubble cap.  I added die cut a silhouette of a tree and the piece was finished!

Don't be afraid to give something new a try!

Do you need more crafty inspiration?  You can follow me on Pinterest HERE!  :)   Don't have a Pinterest account?  Send me a quick email and I'll send you an invitation to join Pinterest!

-Amanda

Epiphany Crafts Supplies

Shape Studio Tool Round 25
Shape Studio Accessory Round 25 bubble cap

Other Supplies

Watercolor paper and paints (Nicole Crafts)

Yellow cardstock (DCWV)

Black Cardstock (GP)

Bare tree branch Silhouette file by Jamie Koay

Paper Dollhouse: Ninja Safe House

Amanda here with a fun project for you today!  Both of my kids love LEGO blocks so I thought it would be fun to build paper dollhouses for them to use while they are playing.   Since these houses were to be for my kids, I let them choose the papers for the outside and inside of the house.  The rest of the craftiness was left up to mom, otherwise, who knows what would have happened? 

At first glance, these dollhouses are fairly unassuming...but only until you look inside.

HIYA!  This ninja safe house goes unnoticed among their neighbors in the 'burbs. 

To make the roof tiles, cut 1 1/4" wide strips of paper and cut small wedges approx 3/4" apart.   Layer tile strips to the roof starting at the bottom.

I made little window boxes with spy cameras, uh, I mean, flowers. 

Ninjas appreciate nice woodgrain floors.  They also like coordinating woodgrain trim.  (Letter Tiles 1680, Splendor Collection)

Even ninjas have to sleep.  Like many ninjas, their weapons are never far from hand.  The mattresses are actually rolled up Kleenex.  

To make a doorknob, use wire snips to cut off the ends of brads, then adhere brads to each side of the door.

This is the LEGO family.  They are completely unaware that their neighbors are ninjas. 

Make a vent by layering strips of paper under a scallop punch. 

Robot LEGO boy is asleep in his very feminine room, complete with two beds and an oversized chair.  Use a border punch to make pretty curtains.

Mr. and Mrs. LEGO stay up and watch their new flat screen TV.   (Couch and TV construction by my 5 y.o. daughter).

The one toy my 5 y.o. daughter and 8 y.o. son agree on is LEGO.  My kids have had their houses for a few weeks now and they LOVE them!  They have been playing with them non-stop.  The Ninjas and the LEGO family have dinner together and have even started a garden.

May a few hours spent on a paper dollhouse bring your house as much unity and joy!  :)

Supplies: 
Splendor Collection: Zig Zag 1687, Pink Flora 1682, Navy Flora 1681, Candytuft 1676, Letter Tiles 1680, Heirloom 1678; Sweet Tooth Collection: Sprinkles 1560, Cherry Cordial 1553, Sweet Tart 1562, Bubblegum 1552; Oh Happy Day Collection: Mira's Pearls 1764; Country Charm Collection: Picnic Blanket 1509; white cardstock (Georgia-Pacific), border punches (Fiskars), scallop and circle punches (EK Success), brads (American Crafts), dollhouse bed cutting file (Jennifer Wambach at Silhouette America), dollhouse chair cutting file (Jennifer Wambach at Silhouette America), dollhouse cutting file (A Little Hut at Silhouette America), quilters pins, resin flowers (Memory Makers), reindeer moss

A Trio of Fun Summer Cards

Oh Happy Day is GCD Studio's collection of the month and I made a few fun and summery cards with this collection.  I LOVE this collection!  It is so bright and cheery and the roses are to die for.  You can purchase this collection at scrapbook.com.

This gal made the cover of GCD Studios free online magazine, The PaperCut.  Check it out HERE.   You have all month to leave a comment to win the Oh Happy Day collection. 

This little baby made it's way into the June issue of The PaperCut.  You can read the June issue HERE. 

My hubby graciously bestowed upon me a Silhouette Cameo for Mother's day.  :)  I have been cutting away ever since.  I love that I can use any font!  

Happy Summer to you!

-Amanda

Argh Matey, There Be a Keepsake Box for Kids Over Yonder

It's Amanda!  With vacation time approaching, I thought it would be nice to make little keepsake boxes so my kiddos would have a place to keep their special treasures.  When I saw the Argh paper (1735) from the Storybook Collection, I knew just which direction to take! 

The shipwreck and treasure map themed print was just perfect for a treasure box!  I covered a small wooden box with paper and added all sorts of fun treasures and embellishments.  TIP: Remove hardware before adding paper and reattach when finished.

I filled the treasure box with rhinestones, pearls and gold punches.  Arrrrgh! 

I included some seashells from our last vacation and a braided rope made with jute string.  

Be ye warned!  A skull and crossbones on the top helps ward off little sisters.  

And no treasure box would be complete without a lock and chain.  Now let's hope we don't lose the key!  

Happy summer to you!

Supplies:
Storybook Collection Argh 1735, wooden box, Mod Podge, jute string (May Arts), misc. pearls and rhinestones, black cardstock (Georgia-Pacific).

Ribbon Carousel Spotlight Tutorial: How to Assemble a Ribbon Carousel

Have I got a good one for you today!  A short and sweet video tutorial on how to assemble your very own ribbon carousel (you know you want one)!

Several weeks ago I ordered my very own ribbon carousel.  As I was putting it together, I thought, "I should make a video of how to do this."  And so I did.  But before you watch the video, feast your eyes on the organizational wonder that is The Ribbon Carousel. 

I kid you not, this is what my ribbon stash looked like before I got my ribbon carousel.  Brilliant!

And now for the feature presentation:

Wanna get your own Ribbon Carousel?  They are available for sale HERE at RibbonCarousel.com.

Thanks for watching!

-Amanda

Unique Crafters Challenge #5: Patriotic

Welcome back to Unique Crafters Challenge sponsored by Scrapbooking Unique!  This month's challenge is to create a paper craft with a patriotic theme.  Challenge #4: Buttons,  begins on July 1 and ends at midnight (CST) on July 31.  You can link up three different projects for your chance to win a fantastic prize package!  A winner and two runners up will be announced on August 5.  Be sure to read all of the fine print on the Unique Crafters Challenge blog homepage. 

 I upcycled a trio of toilet paper rolls and made some decorative firecrackers. 

Each firecracker is decorated with a variety of embellishments.  These would also make fun treat containers! 

Be sure to join in on the fun for your chance to win some fun prizes!  I can't wait to see your patriotic creations!

Have a crafty day!

-Amanda