Heidi's Crafting Mecca

Labels: crafting, crafts, gift bags, Gotham City Stampers, Halloween, meetup, New York City, Pat Tillery, Sizzix, stamping classes, Trick or Treat

I love this stamp set, BIRD ON A BRANCH! I just received it at a meetup at my friend and downline, Laurel's. It is beautiful and so useful. I decided to use it with the new LOOK HERE POP UP DIE. I cut off the arrows and added birds!

Labels: Big Shot, Bird on a Branch, crafting, Heidi Davenport, Look Here Pop Up Die, meetup, New York City, pop up cards

You Glow Girl!


It’s time to get glowing skin! My first homemade bath project was a batch of sweet smelling sugar scrubs that I made for my family. They loved it! I love sugar scrubs because they’re fairly simple and cheap to make from ingredients found in your own kitchen cupboard. Plus, you can give this away as fun summer gifts to all your friends and they will think you're soooo crafty!



Here’s a great little recipe for a sugar scrub that will help exfoliate your skin in the shower and leave you feeling soft and supple. You glow girl!



Basic Sugar Body Scrub:

1 clear plastic jar
1 cup sugar (brown sugar, raw, turbinado or any type will do)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (grapeseed or jojoba are good alternatives)
A few drops of a scented fragrance oil (optional)



Directions: In a plastic bowl, mix the sugar and olive oil and if you like, you can add a fragrance to make it more fun. Try lavender essential oil to soothe your senses or a citrusy fragrance oil for an energizing experience. Fragrance oils are safe for use on skin and can be purchased at your local health food store or online. Put the mixture in a plastic container or jelly jar and keep in the bathroom for use anytime. This scrub works best during a warm shower. Rub all over your skin and rinse off. Enjoy!



Note: After time, it’s normal for the oil to rise to the top and the sugar to settle to the bottom. Give the mixture a quick stir and you’re back in business!

Labels: body products, Corris Little, crafting, Heidi Davenport, New York City, Stampin' Up, sugar scrub

Welcome to my second Guest Blogger, Corris!

Corris is a Senior Supervisor and Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in New York City. As a member of my downline, The Gotham City Stampers, she plays a very active role of leadership in our growing team. She is also a meetup organizer of two wonderful groups, Crazy For Cupcakes + Crafts (NYC) and The NYC Soapmaker's Circle. Corris is also very busy blogging about all things crafty at her popular blog Cheap Thrills at http://www.newsday.com/.



Most importantly, she is a wonderful and dear friend who I have known for only a few years. As we grow closer, it seems like I have known Corris forever. It could be that I see a big part of myself in her. I hope you enjoy her wonderful, creative post and please take moment to leave a comment. We would both very much appreciate that! Inky smiles, Heidi

Lemon loofah soap by Corris Little

Are you ready for summer? I am!

On a hot summer day, I love pouring myself a nice tall glass of homemade lemonade. So imagine my glee when I discovered this neat little recipe for Lemon Loofah soap. Trust me, it's just as good and very refreshing!


What is loofah? It's a plant that grows much like the cucumber. It can be dried, shredded and added to handmade soap for a natural exfoliant for your skin. It's a really unique ingredient to add to your homemade soaps.


Once you're done making the soap, this delightful bar smells like fresh lemons! Or if you're a candy addict, it'll remind you of a box of LemonHeads, too!


A friend who tried my soap said "It smells like fresh lemonade and makes your skin great. I didn't want to leave the shower and when I did I made a glass of lemonade."


Here's how to make your very own ...



Ingredients:
1 4-ounce bar unscented glycerin soap
1 teaspoon powdered loofah
15 drops lemon essential or lemon fragrance oil
1 4-ounce soap mold



Directions: In a double boiler on the stove or in a microwave on a low setting, melt the bar of glycerin soap until liquefied. Remove from heat and stir in powdered loofah and lemon oil. Pour melted soap into the mold and let set for three hours or until hardened.



Resources: Supplies can be purchased at your local craft store, such as Michaels or online at WholesaleSuppliesPlus.com or http://www.brambleberry.com/



Crafty Tip: For easy removal, put the filled soap mold into your fridge or freezer for a few minutes and then pop your soap out of the mold. It works every time!



Do you wanna get crafty with Corris? Join her for fun-filled soapmaking, cardmaking and scrapbooking classes in midtown Manhattan. Check out her new craft club, Crazy for Cupcakes + Crafts at www.meetup.com/cupcakestoo

Labels: Corris Little, crafting, Guest Blogger, meetup, New York City, soap making, Stampin' Up

This is a project I made as a gift for my friend and downline, Yvonne! It features some (retired) Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper. AND...it also shows off the wonderful line of Sticky Cuts and Stampin' Glitter that are both available in the new catalog!

What I love about this project is that I could pick up a really inexpensive picture frame and alter it. With the amazing products from Stamin' Up! and a great picture, I have the perfect gift. All of the wonderful ladies pictured in this frame are in my downline--(from left to right) Jen Nagel, Me (Heidi Davenport), Corris Little, Yvonne Yui, Eileen Bellomo and Bo Doodles (ok, he's NOT a team member but SHOULD be!) I hope you enjoy this and please leave a comment. :)

Labels: altered art, Corris Little, crafting, crafts, Eileen Bellomo, Heidi Davenport, Jen Nagel, New York City, picture frame, Stampin' Glitter, Stampin' Up, Sticky Cuts, The Mecca, Yvonne Yui

I always adore the jewelry that my friend, Eileen, creates. She always shows up wearing a new, stunning piece and I drool! I dropped enough hints about really, really wanting one of her newest works of art. Recently, this pendant showed up in the mail. On the back is a bail that acts as a pin as well as a loop for a necklace. Thanks, Eileen! You always inspire me!

Labels: altered art, crafting, Eileen Bellomo, jewelry, necklace, pin

Labels: crafting, How to video, Stampin' Up, stamping, techniques, YouTube

This is a brand new stamp set called FOREST FRIENDS available from Stampin' Up! It is one of the adorable sets available in the OCCASIONS Mini Catalog. If you would like a copy of this mini catalog, please post a comment and I will contact you. I am more than happy to put one in the mail for you.

Last night, I had so much fun stamping with Corris, Alexei, Jenny B and "Ballet" Melissa! We used the super cute stamp set, FOREST FRIENDS, on all of our cards. I loved combining the BIG SHOT TOP NOTE and the new paper from TASTE OF TEXTILES. Melissa has bunnies at home and loves them to bits. I knew she would just adore this card!

Labels: Alexei Nichols, Big Shot, Corris Little, crafting, flock, Forest Friends, Heidi Davenport, mecca, New York City, Spring, Stampin' Up, stamping