Hello 2014!

Can you really believe its 2014? I've had this blog since 2007. I only had 17 post last year. Yikes. I can't image anyone is still reading it. I also have never put much "personal" stuff on my blog or online anywhere really. I have 50 excuses like what if the ex, in-laws,or my parents read it? What if people think I'm dumb or a dork? What if someone uses the info and steals my children? But what it really is is fear. Fear of putting myself out there. Fear of what people will think. Well I have noticed a trend among the crafty, DIYers, Moms, and women lately. We are getting REAL. We are posting photos of our chaotic messy house, the project that was a fail, our pouting children, our no makeup yes still in pjs self. We are writing about our pains, failures, feelings, weight gains, and the truth. And I think its...beautiful and brave. My word for the year 2014 is BROADEN. I want will broaden my world, my experiences, my heart, my soul. It WILL be super scary but I'm ready for that.

I will start out by telling you last year was hard. Really hard. My business Brandywine Designs seem to fall off the planet. No matter how hard I tried the income just wasn't coming in. My husband is a contractor and got a year long "job from hell everything went wrong"  job so he was stressed for 1 whole year. My son became a teen (enough said). That's just some of it. The most depressing part was I almost got a divorcé. But through counseling and a few amazing books and people we are happier than we have ever been together. One of those people was Alisa Bowman. She has a book and blog Happily Ever After. Let me tell you people she is REAL. She puts it ALL out there. And she is super nice too. 

I'm still going to have a "crafty" blog.  I am BROADENING my crafty, art side too.  My goal is to blog at least once a week. I have a lot to share and I don't plan on holding back.

If your still reading this...thank you! And to all any of the wonderful people that have stuck with my blog over the years THANK YOU! 

p.s. I'm mostly social network on Instagram. You can find me here  http://instagram.com/lavenderwolf7

Winter Woodland Christmas

 

Its looked like a Christmas workshop around here the last few weeks. There is glitter from one end of the house to the other. I thought I would give you a peek at whats coming to Brandywine Designs in the next few days!

Freedom

Happy 4th of July! I thought I would share the only patriotic crafts I had time for. I took some embroidery hoops and made them into decorations. Have a safe and fun day!

Tag 2

It day 2 for Tim Holtz 12 days of tags! My very favorite part of this tag is the paper! Tim used his Kraft Resist Paper Stash. I didn't have any so I made some. I will share how I did it so you can make it too.

1. I took some Kraft paper from Papertrey ink and stamped music with Versafine Onyx Black Ink.

2. I stamped the holly with green ink.

3. I used an Anti Static Bag for embossing and rubbed it over the whole tag. This step is very important. If you do not do it the sheet music will be embossed and you do not want that for this technique.

4. I stamped the sentiment using VersaMark Watermark ink. Then sprinkled clear embossing power and heat it.

That's how I made the paper. After that I followed Tim's instructions.

Just a note: you can find the greenery he used for the wreath in my shop.

Tinsel & Trim Pack

Autumn

Its really starting to feel like Autumn around here! My husbands sweet grandmother passed away this week so I am behind on listing all my holiday goodies in my shop.But they will be here soon! I thought I would share a tutorial I did a few years ago. It makes a perfect center pieces for Thanksgiving. You can find it HERE.

What!? Its November!?

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween! Ours was superb! I must say however I am ecstatic it is over! Halloween is the busiest time in my shop. I start on it in the early summer. So as you can image I am SO over it. I'm late with my Christmas holiday items as usual but I will start listing them very soon! This year besides my Banners, cards, and tags I have lots of handmade supplies perfect for card making, scrapbooking, and gift embellishing. I am only offering a limited quantity this year. I really want to have time to enjoy the season and my family. I will leave you with a few peeks

Back To School Teacher Gift

Get a tutorial on how to make this cute Teacher or hostess gift HERE. I have made this several times and everyone loves it!

Kits From The Halloween Past

Spooky Pair Halloween Tag Kit



Boo Cottage Sign Kit

Spooky Mini Wreath Kit

I know Halloween! Has she gone crazy you ask? Last year I had request to offer my Halloween Craft kits earlier in the year. So here it is in June and you can find them at Brandywine Design! I also have new spooky labels, cupcake picks, and tags coming out. I have a limited quantity on the kits and when they are gone there gone! Happy crafting!!

Something New

I have a new kit in my shop. Its a diy gift tag kit! I plan on making all kinds in different sizes, shapes, and themes. We are having the most gorgeous weather ever! So I'm spending more time outside than crafting. Hope your having pretty weather too!

He Gave Me a Rose

I love this card so much I thought I would put together a few kits so you can make one too. I listed the kits in my shop. I took craft card stock size 10 x 6 1/2 and scored it at 5 inches. I cut the wallpaper at 6 x 4 1/2 inches. Then taped the crinkle ribbon to the back. Next I adhered the doily sliding it under the ribbon. I used foam dots to add the rose card. I added gems, a bow, and two buttons. I used Walnut stain distress ink and a blending tool to give everything an aged look. I think its romantic and very shabby chic.

A Book Tree

Photo From Jeanne

How cool is this tree Jeanne made?! You can learn how to make it too over at the Joli Paquet blog.

I have a few Merry & Bright Printers Tray Kits left. They are on sale today ONLY!

Have a great day!!

Merry & Bright Printers Tray Kit

Merry & Bright- Printers Tray Kit
This is my Joli Paquet Holiday kit! You will get everything you need except adhesives and paint or stain. The tray is 16 inches by 12 inches and 1 ¼ inches wide. I designed the tray making each compartment to the size I wanted then my wonderful husband built it! A 9 inch tall bottle brush tree on a wood block is included in the kit. The wood tray comes bare so you can paint or stain it any color you want. Each one has the vintagy ceramic knob on top. Two kinds of glitter come with it. The vintage mica glitter and ultra fine snow glitter. The sheet music is from my very favorite stash. Its from 1888 and is absolutely gorgeous! You will be getting a whole page! I only have a few kits and they go on sale Thursday in my ETSY shop. Be sure to go over to Joli Paquet to see the other kits!