Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Mr. Bones

Heather Nichols is using her Mr. Bones stamp and die set is many ways this week.
She asked us to join in the fun!
Halloween is around the corner. I love to bring out non scary cuties to stick in corners and on shelves around the house. I got out some of last year's Halloween papers and decided to make a decorative box.
The photo is taken with a mirror in the background, so you can see it has 5 Mr. Bones, each a different color, stamped with white embossing powder.
Love how they can be bent to sit!
Like the pumpkin?
Here's how it's done.
Loopsy die!
1st with Purple Passion dot paper, then with Orange Zest (PTI).
Using  a bbq stick, with the orange zest paper down 1st, I looped each petal on the stick, but didn't go all the way down. Then did the same with the orange paper, glueing each petal, and closing up the pumpkin.

Finished off the pumpkin with a paper stem, and simply chartreuse felt 'leaves', and some twine thats been wrapped around a skewer (dipped in white glue and dried).
If you have any questions I 'd love to answer!
The tall bottom box opens and will contain goodies for the grandkids, if my hubby doesn't get to them first!


Saturday, September 1, 2012

The Shabby Tearoom Challenge #129

The Shabby Tearoom's Challenge this week is 'Summer Cottage'.
This is the 2nd tearoom challenge I've entered. It's fun to change gears and think 'vintage', shabby chic, and rather Victorian, don't you think?
The challenge 'cottage' was full of slightly aqua, sort of minty, comfy chairs, toile drapes, camelback sofa in pink, just everything you would picture an elegant cottage to be.
I had these great images from Paper Whimsy, just couldn't decide which to use. So I did 3 cards!
The last one is the card I'm submitting.
Plenty of vintage style elements, with a touch of sanding glitter.
We were to include the colors in the photo, with distressing/shabby elelment, and a title/sentiment.
The lace is from an antique store we have here in Clovis. It seemed so light and airy, like the challenge photo.
There was a chandelier in the photo as well, that seemed to fit above my lovely lady like a crown!
Lovely lady in the 2nd card was die cut from Papertrey's limitless circles, and matted onto a Mat Stack 5 die. The banner at the top is also PTI, as well as the sentiment, and lacy border at the bottom.
By the way, I use only PapertreyInk cardstock to make my A2 cards. Nothing comes close to their sturdy body and fine texture!
All the other elements are from my stash. There's a diamond pattern robin's egg blue sewn to the card behind everything, from Tim Holtz.
A little detailing.

Aren't the faces enchanting?
And card #3, with a bit of changeup in the layout, papers and trims, and there's now a trio of cards to send to someone who needs a hug! And that's just about all of us!
Have a wonderful Labor Day, and be sure to check out The Shabby Tearoom to see what other 'shabby ladies have done!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

MIM #80 Making Garland

MIM with PapertreyInk, this week's tutorial by Ashley.
Making Garland
Or how to secure a die cut image on the garland.
I particularly found her stamping technique helpful. Standing over the die cut image to be stamped.
The sweet Mr. Bones stamp and die set became my choice for this week's challenge.
Can't help it, already thinking fall, and Halloween.
And this set is as fun to work with as it is to look at!
The skeletons are imbossed, while the 'webs' are stamped with fresh snow, so the 'BOO!' stands out.
Just happened to have some orange and black twine from last year.
So glad I included the Royal Velvet paper pattern pack in my order!
This will be a fun card to send to grandkids.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

The Shabby Tea Room Challenge Week #128 - Shabby Patterns

The Shabby Tea Room has a challenge called 'Shabby Patterns' featuring pink damask.
Remembering that I had a damask embossing folder, I set to work on an entry.
The challenge photo was a gorgeous pink and white dining room, shabby contemporary.
The white in the inspiration room was a pure white, with a white washed dining table.
Tall vases of white flowers (peonies?) and sheer white drapes with silver edging.
Oh so elegant!
Check out the challenge at the Shabby Tea Room's Blog, and also some of the most glorious
entries I've seen from my 'shabby sisters'.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

PTI August Blog Hop

August Blog Hop time at PapertreyInk
Always fun times at Papertrey, especially when an order hits the doorstep just prior to the blog hop!
So, having been forwarned, my card was all ready.
I used a paper bead for the butterfly's body that I learned to make at summer camp.
I know I saw this somewhere in a magazine, or online.
Here's a closeup of butterfly's body
When August's stamps and dies came, forget it! Time for a redo.
Our inspiration photos were warm fall colors, with gorgeous teals, full of woolens and textures.
Yummy!
This is my original card for the challenge.
The base is designed to hold premade tags, in case I need a card quickly.
An idea also pilferred somewhere.
More of those delicious fall colors in our challenge pix

Here's the same card base with another tag
Don't know about you, but just have to use the new stamps and dies the moment they arrive!
This one is Framed Out #7.
And finally, if it's a thankyou card I need,

This one is Think Big Favorites #19
Can't wait to see all the other's have done,
but hubby wants to go to lunch, so I reluctantly leave my post... for now.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Moxie Fab World Minty Challenge

Minty Fresh Challenge in Moxie Fab World

I ran across a challenge over at Moxie Fab World, looking inviting.
The challenge was to create something 'Minty'.
Explained as, "not too yellow, not too blue. Mint, that soothing shade in between".
Since I seem to love a good challenge, thought I'd play along.
My inspiration was a cool minty kitchen just made to welcome.
Photographed head on it's hard to see, but almost every element is lifted with foam dots.

Even one of the drawers on the cabinet is 'open' with foam dots, and a little lace tablecloth is peaking out.
Here's some basics on how I did it.
Got out the cricut machine and used these cartridges:
Sentimentals, French Manor, From My Kitchen, Birthday Bash and Joys of the Season.
The wainscoat on the bottom was a piece of minty cardstock I hand scored.

Last Christmas, several of my immediate family got this card.
A few adjustments, and it was adapted for the challenge.
That's my granddaughter Analise framed in the background. One of 10, I shamelessly boast!
White Cardstock, dotted melon berry, sentiment is from PapertreyInk.
I slightly bent the sentiment from Back Pocket Basics to fit the curve on the platter on top of the hutch.
Posies, aluminum 'handles' from my way too large stash.
Back in August of '11 a very talented Tracey Kelly was featured in the Cricut Magazine with the inspiration for my projects. She did a much more detailed cabinet, with many more elements. Gorgeous!
This is my first entry with Moxie Fab. Seems like I'll be visiting often.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

MIM #79 Fabric Die Cuts

Good Wednesday morning, from Clovis, CA, where we have broken
a heat wave of 2 straight weeks of over 100. Phew!
PapertreyInk's MIM is with Melissa Phillips, who did an outstanding tutorial
on how to die cut fabric on out cards.
I did 2 cards.
No. 1
Liked it, but wanted to polish up aspects. So did another, with some changes.
Like it better...
What do you think?
Cuttlebug folders are used on both, but I rolled on Ocean Tides ink on both (reverse side)
Gave it a suede look.
Dies used (all Papertrey) Wine bottle tag, tag sale #5, loopsy-daisy die, framed out #6, and top of tag is a piece of fabulous frames.
All fabric is from Moda, French General, a quilting pack I had.
Sentiment is from framed out #6.
P.S. My sweet daughter is helping with my 'blogmonster'. I found I love doing cards, but my brain
stops when setting up a blog! So this will be a work in progress. I love 'comments', both receiving and giving!

Saturday, August 18, 2012

The Shabby Tea Room 'For the Love of Books' Challenge

The Shabby Tea Room has a challenge titled, "For the Love of Books"
Colors to use are cream, aqua and pink and use of book print.
I had the perfect stamp from 'Crafty Individuals', a stamp from England.
Lots of layers, laces and lovelies and we're ready!
I dusted the entire card with a fine glitter, and all is mounted on
Papertreyink's vintage cream cardstock.
All inks are Papertreys's as well.
There is a mat stack 5 behind the silouete,
with lots of foam popping up the layers, which is hard to see.
and a sewn piece of Freckled Fawn washi tape.
The finished card is 5 1/2" square.

My blog is new to me, actually all blogging is new to me. My dear daughter helped set this up and it seems to need a stronger, saner trainer. I call it the 'Blogmonster'.
If you try to leave a comment, and it gives you trouble, be patient and please
try again, I love to hear from fellow card creators.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

PTI's MIM Challenge #77

Dawn McVey had a lively challenge for us. Watercoloring with inkpads.
What better inkpads than PTI's? So many yummy colors.
I love the Pretty Peonies stamp set! Loved it since it first came in the mail.
Had to use it for this challenge. And who doesn't love coloring?
Watercolor is no easy medium, but I'm no stranger to working with them.
But this challenge from Dawn is to use inkpads.
I started with printing out the peonies on white cardstock with a permanent black ink.
The peony on the top right is die cut.
Inks used include: Harvest gold, Summer sunrise, Melon Berry, Berry Sorbet, Simply Chartreuse, and Ripe Avocado. Oh yes, and filled in some of the background with Aqua Mist. All PTI inks.
Kinda hard to see, but the peony centers are glittered black.
Popped up the peony on the right to hilight the sentiment, from Lovely Layers.
Thank you Dawn for another great challenge!


Buttons Color Trends Challenge

Embellish Magazine has a challenge with some bold colors and the use of buttons.
This card is my take.
The colors, fushia, navy, tealy green, and soft pale blue were a challenge
in themselves, and I decided to go with a dressmakes' theme, since the challenge picture had costumes.
The buttons from my stash wre fun, cuz 2 of them were transparent.
Dressform stamp is from Oxford Impression. PTI tag dies. Washi tape from Freckled Fawn.
PTI Spring Rain card base.
This shot give you an idea of the glittered body of the dressform that was handcut and popped up with foam dots.
As anyone knows, who enters these challenges, they can consume one's life! But oh, so much fun.
Thanks for checking it out!

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Tags for All Things Tinsel

Tags for 'All Things Tinsel'
Sweet pixie (dusted with pixie dust!)

Captured in a die cut
PTI friendship jar.


allthingstinsel.etsy.com
Check it out! Beautiful jewelry for the bridal party.

Talented Alisa Hopper has expanded to include a children's line.
These tags will be included with each
purchase.

A jewelry shop on etsy.