4-19-09 thru 4-26-09 creations

I've been working on projects on and off this week.

I did these two LOs for Friday night's mini crop on Tally.

This one we had to use at least 2 arrows, primary colors and a verb in the title.
We went to the county Fair this weekend as a family all 5 of us! That never happens. We had a blast checking everything out and had some yummy food. I so wish we had a dippin' dots here.


This one was done using the song "girls just want to have fun." It's my friend Heather and I before I meet Justin. She and I would go out to club nearly ever weekend for about 3 months.


I altered a recipe box this week to use on my desk to hold my tape runner refills. It's the perect size too!





I also worked on a few cards today. I've been very spoiled this week. Mom bought me nearly the whole set of the new Fiskar Border Punches and a Xryon Design Runner. And Justin bought me the Animal Cricut Cart this weekend. I had fun trying out my new tools. I used the Xyron runner on the ribbon on the top right card and a border punch and the animal cart of the lamb card.

Blog Challenge #2

Hi Ladies I hope you all are ready for this next Challenge!!

Instead of Following a sketch I would like you to pick our 4 or more Elements below to use on your LO (Layout). The size of your LO is up to you. Have fun with this!

Remember Due Date for this is May 15th. Email me your layout at monteslori@hotmail.com or leave a comment here with a link to your LO. Only one entry per person.

Pick 4 or More of the Following Items:
~ Handmade Tag
~ No Pattern Paper
~ Large Letter
~ Use 1 Large Flower
~ Bling
~ 4 or more Photos
~ 12 Buttons
~ Use the colors pink, brown, and white
~ Corragated Cardboard
~ Use Rubons
~ 3 Pattern Papers
~ Black & White Photos
~ Machine or Hand Stitching
~ Use Paint

Just like the last challenge if we reach 10 entries I'll be giving away a Second RAK.

The MAIN RAK has been voted on and is a Whimsy Jar, which has been decorated and filled by me. :) Check it out!




The Second RAK is a Making Memories Calendar you decorate. It's really cool!



GOOD LUCK, Ladies, I can't wait to see your creations! The lucky lady(Ladies) will be announced Saturday May 16th.

Entries so far:

My Layout

Stamping with Bleach

WARNING: BLEACH CAN RUIN AND EVEN DISOLVE SOME STAMPS. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

I'd never heard of stamping with bleach and when Kalena asked me to do a tutorial I was all for finding out how and the best way! I researched it was completely pleased with how simple it is. You can use regular bleach from the bottle or use one of the those on the go Clorox Bleach Pens like I did in the video below. (I happen to be pretty messy and carry the tide to go pen with me. my husband bought me the bleach pen but I was scared I'd end up ruining colored clothes so it's been in a drawer this whole time and now it's found a new and very cool use!!)

I like the idea of using the bleach pen for a few of reasons though.
uno: It's easily portable and you can store it with your craft stuff
dos: There's no danger of spilling liquid everywhere
tres: I'm sure i'll have more after I try the regular bleach :).

(Notice my minamal use of spanish, well thats because I don't know it lol!)






I also wanted to show you a project using the stamps and bleach so I did a pretty simple card to show you the different effects.

Strung Out!

Strung Out was part of the business name I was going to go under for my bead work. I started seriously beading in September 2007 upon returning home to AZ. I even did a craft show in October that year. I sold a set or two but mainly just bracelets and earrings.

Mom was running her own business at the time with a big red trailer parked in front of the Post PX and December she owned a Kiosk inside the PX. That's when all my jewelry went on display. My first customer there was my favorite and dearest friend by the time we left the PX in December 2008.

I sold alot of jewelry but was noticing the trends of smaller priced items went faster and more often. I branched out to accessories like cell phone charms and bookmarks. MY biggest let downs were the rosaries and the lanyard that for months people bugged me to make. I did alot of custom work and re-stringing, which I did have to start charging for.

I love beading but it's so expensive. At the time I had more room for storage for beads than scrapbooking, so it dominated my time and money. Its at the point of do I want to spend more $ on beading or scrappin'? Scrappin' is definitely winning, and I've only acquired minimal beading items in the past months.

Today I'll share with you some of the items that were once for sale in the store or I still might have in stock. Most will be sold at future craft shows and some here as RAKs.

Sets:






Spring Bracelets






Key Chains



I'd like to give credit to my Mom who first showed me how to make flower bracelets and got me into beading long ago and also to my Mother-In-Law Lori who showed me how to make the spring bracelets. Thank you ladies!

Bird House Dos & Charm Jar

I seriously love decorating these tiny bird houses. This is my second one and soon you'll see a pink one. But for now this one will do.


This is a jar I'll be using to hold all of my charms. I'm loving the frost effect of the modge podge.