My First Book

I have had a relaxing breaking from work. We had Wednesday off! It was so nice even though it rained, I had a little ray of sunshine come over to visit! My nephew Brody came over for his first visit to Auntie's House. He was, of course, an angel. I had not seen him for two weeks and was suffering! The good thing was I definitely noticed he had gained some weight, he was a bit more solid in my arms. My cat, Snookie, also met Brody that day. He had never really seen such a tiny little human. I did keep an eye on the Snookster since he has a reputation, not a good one. I know but here at Casa de Jasper, Snookie reigns supreme. He was up on the back of my chair with his paws on my shoulder, just looking at the little one. He behaved, I was relieved, I could my niece's insecurity and lack of trust. I knew my little one would behave with her little one. They no sooner left and my good friend, Organized One, arrived with her daughter, Little Tart, with a fresh from the oven Cranberry Bread. It was still warm! I love Cranberry Bread! And my friends are great!

So... then I decided to work on my book, Brody's ABC's. I wanted to make a book for my nephew, Brody, using the letters in his name. I had some chipboard, that I cut into 6 inch by 12 inch pieces. I then left two that size, the others I cut to make one of the following- 4 inch, 6 inch, 8 inch, and 10 inch, all were still 6 inches tall. I then chose some basic blue colored cardstock to cover them. Next I decided I like blue with yellow so that it how I did the cover. I used my Cricut Expression  with Nate's ABC's to cut the letters for Brody's and then Plantin Schoolbook for ABC's. I used Nate's ABC's for the pictures. After I finished gluing the pictures onto their respective pages, I decided to laminate the pages. Next time, I will remember that the laminating sheets for my YourStory, are only 11.5 inches long and 8 inches wide. So I used my laminator to laminate the shorter pages and they are great! For the front and back covers I used some clear contact paper and it looks ok. Brody won't mind, this book was made with love! After laminating I then used my Cinch book binder to punch the holes and bind it together. I think it looks awesome! I know my Brody will love his ABC book.  
     
Thanks for stopping by for a visit, don't forget to take some time to do what makes you happy.
Until next time,
Jasper

I really like blue and yellow together. Such a nice combination for a boy.

I used my computer to print out the words in Comic Sans to name the pictures.



Etched Coasters

One of my projects this weekend was to create some new coasters for Casa de Jasper. I must admit they were fun to make and easy! I went to Lowes and Home Depot and bought some 4 inch glass tiles. Home Depot had green and brown and Lowes had blue and green. Home Depot was fifty cents cheaper so... thrifty Jasper will be returning to Home Depot to buy more! Anyways I used my handy dandy Cricut Expression to cut my vinyl. I used the Car Decals cartridge cut at 3.5 inches. I washed the tiles and dried them. I then applied the vinyl, make sure you adhere it well especially around the edges so the etching cream does not seep underneath and ruin your project. I used Armour Etching Cream that I purchased at Michaels- use a coupon because it is not cheap. It was $12.99 for a tiny bottle. The good thing is that I brushed it on one tile at a time and brushed it off of one tile and onto another so I could reuse it. After I brushed it on very carefully, I realized that I should have used some tape to tape off the edges so would have nice edges. Live and learn. They came out nice but, when I make more for gifts, tape will go around the edges!Also, I am going to put some felt pads on the bottom of the coasters or something to keep them from sliding and scratching the furniture. I told Mr. Jasper that there was one with him, one with me and two with the boss of the house on them- our baby, Snookie the Cat! I hope you can follow my procedure if you want to make some. Just follow the directions on the bottle of etching cream.
That's all for now. More later, I don't know what will be my next surprise for you.
Happy Crafting,
Jasper


Mr. Jasper

 Jasper

Snookie

Just a little funny of my Snookie!

Baby Album using Cricut Imagine and Nursery Tails

Well, ever since I bought my Cricut Imagine,I wondered WHY I had bought it! Now I know why I bought it! I love the cartridge, Nursery Tails! I made this album for my nephew, and I think it is awesome! I put in a few pictures but, I really need to get some more of the cutie and fill it up and give it to him. You can't tell from the photos but, I did use foam dots on every page so it has a lot of dimension. It is really thick! I had used my YourStory to bind it but it was too think so I used a different binder with a plastic comb. It does look nice. I think that is it for now, I spent the afternoon with my cousin, crafting of course- I can't say what we were doing in case my aunt checks out my blog!
Until next time, I have a real cool project to show you!
Jasper

This is the cover

This page has his birth announcement- I altered his face and information- for safety's sake!

 

Just another page with a space for notes to baby.

Another page with a tag for journaling. I printed out the patterned paper form the Nursery Tails cartridge, I love the paper!

This page is so cheery. I like the bright yellow metallic paper.

Another cute page! This page needs a cute picture of the cutie having a drink.

I love the overalls on this cartridge.

Another cute page- I made this page with a piece of metallic paper for the background.

Last Page, I live the background paper, I printed out the sheet on the Imagine from Nursery tails cartridge.

October Snow Storm

Wow! We had an unusual snow storm that began on  Saturday afternoon and ended early Sunday morning.We were blessed with 6 inches of the white stuff. It was a very wet snow so we lost power at 4:15 Saturday afternoon and did not get our power restored until today at 4:30. I have never been so cold in my life! 72 hours of take out- thanks to Dunkin Donuts- only place open along with McDonalds. Lines out the door for three days! I spent time at my parents house to use their computer and bathroom and also to charge up all of my gadgets! Things are finally getting back to normal at Jasper's house. I will have some crafts in my next post, too hard to craft by candle light!
Until next time,
Jasper

Altered Lunchbox

Front

My cousin's little girl just turned eight! I decided that I was going to make her an altered lunchbox. I never made one before. I bought the lunchboxes on clearance this summer for about $.50 for this purpose. My family has so many girls that I decided I would buy all the lunchboxes to alter them as gifts. I used DCWV Nana's Kids paper purchased at Joann's. The butterfly and other embellishments are from a package of stickers from K&Co. that I bought a long time ago at AC Moore. I used coordinating solid cardstock as well as ribbon I had in my stash. I love this little lunchbox. I may have to make one for me!

Close Up of Tag

Back

Inside

Clothes pins with magnets

Post it note pad with matching pen

Baby Album-Part 2

Well, I finished the album tonight. I used my YourStory to bind it together. It is an awesome little machine. It heats up and you put the special binder in with your pages and heat up the glue and it melts into your pages. Then when it beeps, you put it in the cooling rack. Very professional looking.
That is all for tonight.
Thanks for stopping by
Jasper

This is the cover of the album. The yellow space is where a cute baby picture will soon be placed!

This is the last page of the album. I just love the colors!

Cricut Sweet Treat Cartridge

I saw this on the Cricut Chirp Newsletter and followed the directions to make my own. I like how it came out. I like it so much I just can't bear to give it away!
I saw thishere. Maybe next year!
I had an extremely busy week last weeek. My job required some extra time and my niece and her husband welcomed their new baby into the world. So understandably, my life went on hold- HOLD the baby! He is adorable and everything went well and he they are both doing well and home getting better acquainted. He is so sweet.
More later,
Jasper

Baby Album

My oldest niece,Fun Loving Little Sister, is having a baby any day now. She is having a boy. I have been working on this album for her. She is very special to me. I know that she will be a wonderful mom, I just know it. We are so excited and anxious for the next generation to arrive. He will be my first nephew. I already love him.

This will be the first page- There is a cut out on the cover and a picture will show through

(I smeared out the last name to protect the innocent)

I used my Cricut to cut the words using the Billionaire cartridge,to cut the frames I used the cartridge, Fancy Frames, paper was from DCWV Glitter Pack and the background paper was from Recollections, I can't remember which name right now. I will be putting these pages into a YourStory Cover and using my YourStory to bind it together. I did score the pages about a quarter of an inch from the edge so it will be easier to turn the pages. I will post more later about the binding process.One page is missing so I will get a picture taken of it and get it in here later this week.She will be able to jsut put pictures into the spaces I left. I am going to put photo corners in there so they will just slip in. This is an 8.5" x 11" album. I really love the colors- muted blue, yellow, orange, and green. Nice!
Let's think about Brody making an appearance SOON!
That's all for tonight,
Jasper

This is another page

And another page

And another page

And another page

Finally the last one.

My Mom's Birthday

We celebrated my mom's 82nd birthday today. She is a remarkable woman. She loves all of us unconditionally. That is hard! She is a great mom, grandma, wife, aunt, and friend. She does everything she can to help us out. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful woman to inspire me in everything I do.
This is a picture of the card I made for her. I used my Cricut to cut out the background and used a stamp I had bought a Michael's for the background. I wrapped some baker's twine around it and attached a tag to it that I had used stickers for to spell out her name, mom!
We had Chinese food since she likes it and never has it! My dad doesn't care for it so... Her birthday, her choice of food. We had a great time. My youngest niece, Precious, made a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting with chocolate chips sprinkled on top for her Grandma.I wish I had taken a picture of it! It was nice to see my parents along with my brother and my nieces. They are all very special to me.
That's all for now.
Jasper

Jasper 713 is on Pinterest

Jasper 713 is on Pinterest. I just started a few months ago and really have not spent much time pinning. It is fun and it makes easier to find all of those things that you are going to make someday and save the site to your fasvorites and then youi forget what you were going to do. Well Pinterest makes it easier and I still have not done those things yet! I will ...someday!
http://pinterest.com/jasper713/

More later,
Jasper

Fake Wedding Cake

Fake Wedding Cake

My cousin planned a destination wedding for this past June in Key West.It was disappointing that I could not attend due to my responsibilities to my job. So I got to see all of her pictures and relive that wonderful moment of her life. Well, she and her husband planned a celebration here at home for all of us to attend. It was a great party celebrating their marriage. She had asked me a year before the wedding to make a fake wedding cake for people to put the cards in. Well, she requested it be done in bright colors since she was going with the beach theme for the reception. I decided it would be really cute to do a bride and groom on top. It took a long time to create and I used more adhesive than I ever did before. The finished product was magnificent. I know she loved it and I loved making it!
More later!
Jasper

More Baby Shower Items

These are all post it note holders I made for one of the favors for the farm themed baby shower for my niece. I bought some post it notes at Staples and kind of split them apart and put about 50 sheets in each one. I used my score pal to score the fold lines and my corner rounder to make the rounded corners. The smaller piece of paper was texturized in my Sizzix Texture Boutique, I think that really added to the item. Lastly I attached a cut out that I made using my Cricut Expression. I used my favorite cartridge for all of the cutouts for the shower except the tractor, Create a Critter. I love that cartridge!! I used a Cricut Lite cartridge for the tractor. It is called Beep-Beep. It is an awesome cartridge for anything that has wheels! Since we had invited 75 people to the baby shower, I made 75 of these favors. I was so glad when I finished. I felt like it was never going to end! In the end, I was really happy since everyone who attended the shower loved everything! It made me feel so good. Most of all I was the happiest when my niece called me after the event and told me how happy she was and how it was everything she ever wanted- she even said...it was like a professional had done it. She told me that I was the best aunt ever. That is why I do what I do. When it comes right down to it, don't we all want our children to be happy? I know she was that day. 

This is the cake that my niece's cousin made for the shower. It was so cute and I know where my next cake is coming from. She did an awesome job. I have to find out the name of her business so I can let all of you know. I just love that cake!

Well, I have some more crafting to do- some birthday cards to make along with an altered lunchbox for my cousin's little girl- it is my first time doing that so I hope she likes it! I also have some jewelry to work on. A friend from work wants to host a party at her house so I can sell some there. I am excited about that. I think next time I post, I will post some pictures of my jewelry.

Until the next time,

Jasper

Farm Themed Baby Shower

Center Pieces

I recently hosted a baby shower for my niece. She is having a boy and wanted a farm themed nursery. Well, I decided to organize a baby shower for her along with some other great people and we went with the farm theme for that too. It was great! I have a few pictures to share of my projects. I have more photos to add and will update the blog when I have a few more minutes. Please be understanding, I am new at this! I did not make the cake, my niece's cousin made that and did an awesome job! I have to find out the name of her cake decorating business so I can recommend her to everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Jasper

Diaper Cake

Background of the Diaper Cake Display

My New Blog

Welcome to my blog. I have been wanting to do this for a very long time and I finally have found the time to start. Here you will find many cool crafts. I like to design my own jewelry and sell it to my coworkers and do papercrafts. I will do my best to keep all of my followers up to date with my latest adventures in crafting.
Thanks for stopping by,
Jasper