Whatever hops, part 2...

                           

Welcome to the Fiskateers Spring Blog Hop! 

If you have just stopped my blog and want to join in the Fiskateer fun (and you are a Fiskateer) you can start at www.fiskateers.com for a complete list of all the blogs. 

If you are thinking a “Fiskawhat?”, you should know that Fiskateers (www.fiskateers.com) is an online community of craftiness (paper crafts, sewing, gardening, etc.) all based around our love and appreciation of Fiskars (think orange-handled scissors to start).There is a blog, gallery, and message board led by four lovely Lead Fiskateers who along with the other Fiskateers are fabulous at getting creativity flowing via chats, challenges, on-line crops, and interviews with other crafty celebrities. After hopping with us today (see complete list of hop stops below), if you would like to join in the inspiration of Fiskateers, or would like to learn more, you can hop over to Fiskateers at http://www.fiskateers.com/join .

We’ll be hopping all weekend , March 24^th  and 25^th  to welcome spring! 

The blog hop officially ends on Sunday March 25^th at 11pm CST.

Some Fiskateers are offering sur-prizes (like ME)…check directions carefully to participate.

Now...to start the show...

I've been pushing my Fiskars tools a bit, and used shrink plastic to create my own 3-D embellishments.  No 3D glasses needed to check out these cards.

Using shrink plastic sheets (think Shrinky Dinks from when we were little--yes, they still make them!), I punched out clouds and scalloped circles with my Fiskars squeeze punches.  I also cut some rectangular strips to use as rays for the sun.  For the "berry sweet card" I stamped the berries from the Fiskars Simple Stick "Fresh Fruit" repositionable rubber stamp set and then hand-cut around the image.  I inked and colored the shapes before shrinking with my heat gun (this is when the super-power of heat vision would come in handy).

Mini-cards are great with little gifts for friends and co-workers...

a small gift seems so much BIGGER when the card is mini!

They go well with chocolate!

For this last card, I cut 6 strips of double-sided paper (1/2" by 3 1/2").  I curved each strip into a loop and glued the two ends together.  Then, I attached each loop to a scalloped circle.  It is best to place the loops opposite each other as you go along--makes spacing easier.

When all of the loops are attached, flip it over and attach another scalloped circle to this side.  A shrinky "happy birthday" embellishment is set in the center and I've got one more mini-card to accompany some chocolate!

Now, for an added bonus...my blog has a special guest.  It's PattyB #2262!  She is my Fiskateer friend and I sure hope we get to meet one day! 

I made this Spring Fling Shadowbox with Lost and Found papers from My Mind's Eye.  Fiskars tools used include the large and XL Round and Round squeeze punch, the All a Flutter Butterfly squeeze punch, and paper trimmer.  I glue dotted the butterflies to the glass to give them some dimension.  ~Patty
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Thanks Patty!  You can show off your creations on my blog anytime!

NOW, for a sur-PRIZE! 

Leave me a comment telling me your favorite color (mine is purple!) and you will be entered to win some happy happy mail, including some Fiskars goodies!  You have until Sunday, 11pm CST to enter.  And I'll announce the winner on Tuesday.

I hope you have some chocolate of your own (and maybe a little caffeine too) as you sit down and enjoy the rest of the Fiskateers Spring Blog Hop! 

Your next stop is ...

 

Jennifer Ashley #6361 www.asecretvintage.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping...I mean hopping by!

~Kelly

(aka Kellystar, Fiskateer #6446)

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If you get lost along the way, here is a complete list of all our Fiskateer Spring Hop stops!

Kelly 6446 (and PattyB 2262)   www.kellystarsallthingscrafty.blogspot.com

Jennifer Ashley 6361 www.asecretvintage.blogspot.com

Judy 5798 www.bepresentbereal.blogspot.com

Tracy M 6773  www.fiskarscraft.typepad.com

Tara 4402   www.osirisandloki.blogspot.com

Jean 7358 www.pagesintime.blogspot.com

Debby 2852 www.debbysdares.blogspot.com

Maya 351 www.mayadahan.blogspot.com

Tami 804 www.tamibayer.com

Michelle 7586 www.scrapbookingsos.blogspot.com

Divinity 6688 www.scrap-n-patch.blogspot.com

Cindy 4113 www.cindyderosier.com

Tifany 5942 www.inkblotsbytrd.blogspot.com

Sue 6150 www.sueinct.blogspot.com

Ladydoc Karen 2858 www.karenscorneroftheweb.blogspot.com

Stephenie 3 www.mycraftyadventures.com

Courtney 8459 (and Shelley 8356)   www.youwillwontyou.blogspot.com

Betsy 2572   www.aimhappy.blogspot.com

Tracie 8436   www.tinymightstales.blogspot.com

Groovy Deb 2644 www.ifitsgroovy.blogspot.com

Pamela 8040 www.cottagebelow.com

 Donna 6036 www.scissorsstampsandscrapbooks.blogspot.com

Lizzie 5926 www.ohsnaplizzie.blogspot.com

Marianne 6701   www.number1aunt.blogspot.com  

Emily 7021 http://emily.kincke.com/fiskateer-spring-blog-hop-giveaway/   (this website is very secure because it is owner maintained, you can read the certificate then simply click continue/allow to head on over to my post) 

Pink and Orange DO go together

As a special October Breast Cancer Awareness Month challenge, Tami, one of the leads at Fiskateers, had a few of us working on a secret project...create something highlighting the colors Pink and Orange. I threw a little Halloween fun in too, and I created a bracelet and earrings by stamping and coloring on Shrink Plastic (like Shrinky Dinks). And let me tell you, it sure is fun to shrink the plastic with a heat gun...then I don't have to press my nose so close to the oven door to watch it shrivel (hee-hee).

Here is a little photo tutorial on my creations.

-I cut sheets of shrink plastic (like Shrinky Dinks) into approximately 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" squares and 1 1/2" x 2" rectangles using my Fiskars bypass trimmer (the one with a guillotine-like blade).
-Using black Stazon ink, I stamped some Halloween images onto the "rough" side of the plastic sheets. I found it very difficult and slippery to try and stamp on the shiny side. Note that due to the texture of the plastic sheet, the images did bleed a bit. So, it would best to choose images that are simple and have less detail.
-Once the ink dried, I colored them with colored pencils (again, on the "rough" side).
-Using the piercing tool from my Fiskars Tool Taxi, I held down each shape as I shrunk it with my heat embossing gun (remember to do this on a heat resistant surface).
-Once they were shrunk and cooled, I used my Fiskars Craft Drill to drill a hole in each piece.
-2 important SIDENOTES: Make sure you put a piece of wood under your project while you are drilling. And, I did try punching a hole in the plastic before shrinking... But, since the hole shrinks too, I was having difficulty with the control I had over the size and placement and decided to use the drill instead.
-I added some jump rings (note to self: buy some bigger jump rings) and beads to some flex-wire and head pins and oooh-laa-laa, I have some fun and funky jewelry for October!

Now, you MUST check out the fabulous VIDEO that Tami put together to highlight all of the pink and orange projects. I'm proud to be a Fiskateer!