The WonderBasement

Tonya Dieterlen Independent Stampin'Up! Demonstrator

Repotting my succulents: Almost as fun as playing with glitter!

Tonya DieterlenComment
the WonderBasement Succulents

Wonder if I could glitter a succulent? Hummm....

Seriously, I love succulents. I wasn't much into plants while the kids were little. I just couldn't give them the attention they needed while tending the children. And with boys, everything is a target for throwing a ball of some-sort, ultimately ALWAYS landing on something breakable and dirty...and I just didn't want to deal with the mess. 

But now, I can't get enough! However, I'm kinda cheap. I live in the Midwest and we can't have succulents outside all year long, and they apparently don't get out to the local big-box stores very much. When they do, they are outrageously priced. So I have purchased 2 or 3 when I see special ones that I REALLY love. The rest I tend to pick up on clearance....the kind that no one else wants and that look just this side of the pearly gates! However, I have LOTS of patience. I am learning how to propagate and I've been successful in the first part, where you take off leaves and let them sit until little roots start growing. I'm still getting the hang of it. 

New little baby succulents

I have great hopes of having a whole slew of the lovelies  so I can make a living succulent wreath. I have my heart set on it. But I'm going to need A LOT. I maybe a couple of summers away, but I am determined! Do you know anything about succulents??? Do tell, any recommendations?

A snow globe and stamping??? Oh, yeah!

Tonya Dieterlen

I made a little discovery this past week and I'm so excited to share with you! I was playing with the SU! treat tubes, filling them with fun treats and gifts. I put some glitter inside and was trying to figure out a way to drop some cute little sequins and shapes inside...and I had a brain blast?! What if I could make a snow globe, of sorts with the treat tube? Could it be done? Would I possibly have everything I need to create this masterpiece of creativity???

Okay, ya'll know if you have this great crafty idea, for you to actually have ALL the elements to make said idea is clearly a sign from above that YES, you are suppose to make this amazing little item. Oh, the joy of looking at online instructions to see all you need to create a snow globe is a waterproof container,  water, glycerin or corn syrup and a way to seal the container. My brain was pumping and firing on ALL creative cylinders and...and...well, this!

Easy Peasy Directions: I filled the container up to about 1/4" away from the bottom of the cork stopper, then added 10 drops of glycerin, and SU!'s dazzling diamonds glitter. Look at that SPARKLE!!

Oh, then I thought what if I would add some ink to color the water??? 3 drops of Pool Party re-inker and BOOM! What a lovely shade of Caribbean blue!  I sealed the cork with a little hot glue around the cork and pressed it into the top.

It was SO much fun to make. I plan on making these at several gift classes AND wouldn't this be cute for a little girl's mermaid party?! They make super cute ornaments, too. 

I couldn't stop with just one! I made another with water tinted pink, then put some red seed beads and punched window sheets. I used the Seasonal Chums stamp set and sat the snowman on top of some White embossing paste and sprinkled it all with GLORIOUS dazzling diamonds glitter. 

What has been your latest, greatest crafting creation??? Tomorrow I'll share a little video of these beauties in action!!! love, Tonya

SU! Seasonal Chums

Wonder what we DO at a Mini-Camp?? Here's a peek!

Tonya Dieterlen

We just finished up a Mini-Camp class on Wednesday and I wanted to give you a peek into what goes on at these fun events! We make 3-4 quick, simple projects. First of all we have a wonderful time! It's definitely a girls night out with coffee, and some chocolate. I've got all the project's paper cut and ready to stamp, so you do all the fun stuff. This night we made cute little treat bags with the Creep It Real stamp set. I can't wait to hand these out to some of my favorite friends!

Wonderbasement mini-camp

My favorite part was coloring the teeth with watercolor pencils and a blender pen....I imagined what teeth a dentist might see after a weekend of chomping on all kinds of candy! So they were a little dinghy and little gross. Because, well, Halloween! 

SU! Creep it Real Stamp set
Back of treat bag Creep it Real

And LOOK what I got to put in the treat bag!! Yes, gummy teeth!!! How hilarious is that?! This whole post makes my own teeth cringe just a little. I got them at our local TJMaxx. They have the best novelty items. So much fun! Here's the other treat we made with some Pumpkin Spice Latte mix from Starbucks....we keep it classy around here! HAHAHAHA! This little treat was shared with me by my friend Cheri of Cheris Cards.

The Halloween Card was a creation shared with me from Stampin' Up! corporate. They send us great ideas as demonstrators. If you ever get stuck with stampers block, (it's real, ya'll) you can whip out some of our corporate correspondence and just copy a card. They make it so easy to create! If you are interested in becoming a demonstrator, I'd love to share more of the fun with you!! You can check out the details on my website >>> Here! If you like to chat with me, don't hesitate to send me an email or fb message @thewonderbasement page on facebook. 

The final Thankful card was a creation out of my head! See, I told you if you get stuck, copy something and that usually gets your creative juices flowing! Anyway, we had a great time and everyone felt accomplished and we can't WAIT for the Holiday Mini-Camp coming up on October 25! 

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Here is a list of products we used at this Mini-Camp. You can click on any item to order though my Stampin' Up! website.

Last Day for World Card Making Day Specials! 10.10.2017!

Tonya Dieterlen
The FAST fuse is sold out! 10/5/2017

The FAST fuse is sold out! 10/5/2017

Don't miss out on these great stamp sets offered at a great price! I had to order the Brightly Lit Christmas, Colorful Seasons and the Birthday Delivery. The Coordinating DSP is included in the Buy 3 Get 1 Free, special! Great time for Great products! Be looking for some fun projects with these adorable sets. Photos linked to sale site. Happy Stamping! Tonya

White Pumpkins visit the WonderBasement...

Holiday DecorationsTonya Dieterlen

Oh. My. Word. I LOVE these little white pumpkins! They are SO adorable. I've been eyeing them for a couple of years, and I could never find them in the craft stores the size I wanted. This year, I seem to be able to find them everywhere. I purchased a couple of large foam pumpkins. But then, I stopped at Menard's and found these wittle, white, wadorable, ...eh, em...I mean I found these adorable small white pumpkins. For 1.99! They had found a home...a forever home....well, hopefully, at least forever, until Thanksgiving. 

White mini-pumpkins go glam!

You see, I like decorating for the Holiday's. I really, really do...but when my boys were about mid-way through elementary school, I thought to myself, "I can't keep this schedule of re-decorating the house at every. single. Holiday". SO, I look for things that I love, that also can be squeezed out for more Holidays than just one. 

For example, if you notice, the same red that is used in Christmas ribbon is the EXACT same color red that is used for Valentine's Day! You just add some pink and purple with the red....violå!... Valentine's Day!

We like to celebrate Halloween, but I hate the thought of putting up Halloween decor, and in less than a month pulling it down and replacing with Thanksgiving decor. SO, these little white pumpkins, well, I think they'll make the transition flawlessly. And a white pumpkin wreath! Oh, my! {{{love}}} My creative juices are flowing! A white pumpkin gives an honorable nod to Halloween, passes seamlessly to Thanksgiving, and might even survive the season into Winter! Well, they are actually pumpkins, so I don't know how long they will actually last, but the thought of getting possibly 2-3 months out of a decoration AND it looks like I really am in the ((insert Holiday here)) spirit! I love win, win, win!!!! 

Washi your pumpkins with Glam

In order to give my little white pumpkins the proper festive air, I decided to turn to my washi tape. Not just any washi tape, but this gold, copper, silver and black delicious washi tape! Stampin'Up! washi tape! 

I cleaned my pumpkins well, and dried them off and let them air dry for a little bit. I wanted the surface to be completely dry, because sometime washi can roll off when the surface is damp. Then, I just started at the top and pressed the washi down the side of the pumpkin, following the ridges and groves of the fruit. I just kept going until I got the pattern and look I wanted...I'm sorry, I can't tell you what your "look" is...it just one of those things you'll know it when you see it! 

Mini-white pumpkins, for more than just one holiday!

My hubby even loved them so much, he had to go back to the store and he bought me FIVE more pumpkins to decorate! I love it when a plan comes together better than you planned. :) I hope this little project will bring you some much needed relief from feeling like every Holiday you have to decorate/undecorate/decorate again. It really is exhausting and some of that stuff is not necessary to have a happy, festive holiday! love, Tonya