Technique Tuesday - September - Faux Leather

Hello friends - I don't know about the rest of you all but I was sooo very happy that today was Friday!  I started a new job this week and came home every night with a brain that felt like it was going to explode from all the new information that I am taking in. Each night after dinner this week  I would come up to my craft room with the greatest of intentions to create and relax and would just sit there like a lump staring at everything. Then I would go to bed and couldn't shut off my brain to get the rest I needed - what a bummer.  But tonight, knowing that I can sleep in tomorrow (I hope!) I decided I really really wanted to try this new technique called Faux Leather and support my friend Mynnette by trying this and sharing a card with you on her challenge blog before the current challenge ends.  Technique Tuesday is the challenge site and the September challenge is "Faux Leather Using Masking Tape".  This is a really easy and fun technique to try - I think I need a bit more practice at it but it turned out pretty good for my first attempt.  Mynnette has provided you with really great instructions and pictures on how to achieve this effect so rather than repeat them I'll refer you to the site.  Plus... there are some great examples from the DT to inspire you.

Here are the deets on my card in terms of what I used (all Stampin Up! supplies):  Cardstock - Chocolate Chip (base), Old Olive, Bravo Burgundy and Cajun Craze (leaves), Soft Suede and Crumb Cake (sentiment).  DSP is from the NEW Orchard Harvest in the Holiday Mini catty.  I used 3 different textured embossing folders on the leaves - Spider Web, Perfect Polka Dots and Houndstooth.  I first used the Top Note die to cut my main shape on the card - then I placed all kinds of pieces of masking tape all over this shape (I used two different widths of masking tape).  Then I followed the faux leather technique and cut off the excess tape from the original shape. I used the Word Window and Modern Label punches for the sentiment and the new Leaves die from the Holiday mini. That darling wood button is also new from the naturals buttons set. 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me - I'm sure glad that you did and I hope you like this card.  As I mentioned there are some other great ideas and samples from the DT at Technique Tuesday - but I've also popped into several of the blogs from others who have made something to enter and share and they are awesome (and on the ball - they didn't wait til the last minute - lol).  Check it out if you get a chance.  Til next time - hugs and happy crafting!

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Anything But a Card Goes!!

Hello friends! Time for another fun challenge from 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and it's an especially good one this week - Anything But a Card Goes - Whoo Hoo!  The playing field is wide open for you to show us your crafty projects - for example, a wall hanging, a centerpiece, a  journal, a coaster or photo frame -  just remember no cards or ATC or tags this week.  I can hardly wait to see what you create to share with us!  For my project this week I made a photo frame/wall hanging showcasing my darling kiddos to share with you (and hopefully inspire you!). My apologies for the poor picture - I had a devil of a time getting a good photo that didn't have a reflection of my camera in the glass. So I finally set it up on the window frame (thus the slats in the background).

Here's a view of the finished side too (should have photographed the other side where the lines actually match up -  oops, lol):

I picked up this unfinished kraft frame at my local craft store and dressed it up with the following products from Stampin Up!:  DSP - Snow Festival Designer Series Paper (from the 2012 Holiday mini catalog). Snowflakes - Snow Flurry Bigz Die, also from the 2012 Holiday mini catalog (large layered snowflake in bottom corner by photo and middle sized snowflake in upper corner of the photo area) and a couple other snowflakes from the Northern Frost Sizzix Strip (retired). I used the brights glimmer brads and a couple of the new Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons in the middle of the snowflakes.  I also used some glittery chipboard letters that I found from my stash of stuff (non-SU) for the words on the frame.  As a last touch I ran my Gumball Green stamp pad around the edge of the frame to cover the white edge from the paper where I didn't get it glued on quite straight.  

Thanks so much for stopping in to visit - hope you enjoyed this project! Stop in and visit the other ladies on the DT of 52CCT and see their amazing projects too.  So... Ready, set, Go!! Get out all your craft stuff and get started on your project - we can't wait to see what you share with us!  Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

ATS Theme Challenge #3 {Some Exciting News!!} and PP114

Hello to all my wonderful blog friends and followers!  Today I am so excited to share some wonderful news with you all - I have been selected to be one of the newest Design Team members on the Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge (formerly Addicted to Stamps).  This is a fairly new and rapidly growing challenge that I have been playing along with almost from the start. I've been enjoying the great inspiration from the existing DT and it's also been fun to watch their numbers of followers and participants grow rather quickly.  I'm really quite honored to now be part of this team.  Whoo Hooo!!!  I think with this new expanded team we are going to have even more fun and I know all of the DT will be doing our best to inspire you each week and keep you crafting.  I won't be officially participating as a DT member until the first October challenge - but I do have a card to share with you for this current challenge - ATS Theme Challenge #3 {Spring}. 

This card was really quite quick to make as I already had the flower banners made up from a previous idea. I knew someday I'd have another reason to use them and viola! along comes this great sketch from Anne at The Paper Players Challenge #114 . I love to combine theme and sketch challenges for my cards - it makes it so much easier to come up with an idea and a finished card to share.  I do have a slight variation from the sketch with the added flowers.  Since the flowers were already stuck to the banners, I had to tear the purple one off and cover the mark with my rectangle - but it worked just fine :o).  Here's Anne's sketch: 

Thanks so much for popping by to visit me and share my great news!  Looking forward to seeing all your great creations at ATS in the near future.  But don't wait - grab your crafting supplies and give each of these challenges a go! Til next time - Hugs and happy crafting!!

 

Details: The flowers and banners are from a retired SU kit called Build a Blossom (if I remember correctly) and the sentiment is from Stampendous.  The DSP is called Twitterpated (from SU - current).  Cardstock is Lucky Limeade and Rich Razzleberry (two of my favorite colors together).  The large pearl centers are also from Stampin Up! (current).   

 



Addicted to Stamps and More! Scrapbook Challenge #4

Hello all my crafty friends!  The Scrapbook Challenge #4 theme at Addicted to Stamps and More! (formerly Addicted to Stamps) is AUTUMN.  I haven't had much time to craft lately (now making a crabby face)  but I did happen to have this stuff out for a calendar that I have been making which fit the bill perfectly for the ATS scrapbooking challenge - so I quickly put it together.  This page is all about my son, whom I recently sent off to college (boo hoo!!!). Isn't he a cutie patootie?  His birthday is in November so he gets the honor of being Mr. November for my calender - he he.  When I make these calendars I try to make each month special to a family member (or members if they have shared birthday months) or event.  So for example, the April calendar page is all about me, my husband and our daughter who all have birthdays that month (my daughter and her Daddy share the same birthday even).  October is for the kiddos dressed up in their Halloween costumes.  I vary the pictures between old and new depending on what moves me (and how far behind I am in scrapbooking).  This will be my second calendar - after the year has expired I cut the bottom strip off and stash the pages in a scrapbook. I will often put a note on the back side of the page to describe the pictures or events on the calendar page. 

Scrapbooking is really my first love - I did that before I started making cards.  For me cards are little gifts I make for people to make them smile - but scrapbooking is for me to savor the wonderful memories I have now and for my kids and grandkids (future grandkids that is) to cherish later.   

Do you like to scrapbook? If so go check out this challenge at ATS and make a page to share.  I really like that ATS has added a scrapbook challenge in addition to the cards - it will help me get caught up on my memories :o)  Hope you will decide to play along too so I can get some inspiration from you. 

Thanks so much for stopping by to vist today - I'm sure glad that you did.  Til next tiime - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Embellishment Challenge #9 and Merry Monday #33

 Hello friends - The theme this week for this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is an Embellishment Challenge using eyelets and here is what I came up with for my DT card:

Does the thought of using eyelets on your Christmas cards or other projects make you feel light-headed or weak in the knees?? Well if it does, you are definitely not alone.   I must confess that I was in a real stew for days over how I was going to make my card this week. Long ago I thought I loved eyelets and bought a bunch of them with the greatest of intentions of doing something fabulous with them.  Just within the past 6 months or so I gathered up many items that I had been hoarding and put them in grab bags at a garage sale.  There was a bunch of never opened packages of eyelets included in that sale.  Long story now short... along comes our 52CCT challenge and when I saw what it was I said "Eyelets - EEK" and my heart when "THUMPITY THUMP THUMP"!

There are times I go out to one of my favorite challenge sites and am so freaked out by the challenge that I just can't seem to come up with something to enter, and yet the DT samples make it look sooo easy.  Usually though I do try to push myself because that's what the "challenge" is all about.    I really hope that when you look at this card that look me forever and a day to come up with (maybe not quite but it felt like it :o) ) you think it looks easy too.  But the truth is that this challenge in particular was a bit more of a "challenge" then some for me due to the eyelets - LOL.  I am pleased with how it turned out eventually (so sparkly) though and am glad that I didn't give up. 

I based my card on the sketch for the Merry Monday Challenge #33 (see below) - having a sketch to follow always helps me to put my ideas for a theme into an actual project.  My main rectangle is a bit larger than the sketch and I've moved my sentiment to the middle - but I think you can still see the main sketch.

I can't wait to see what amazing thing you come up with this week!!  Won't you please also pop into the websites of the rest of our talented and amazing DT at 52CCT and see what they have come up with for this challenge . Leave them a little love while your there - its always fun to hear from you.  

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit - I'm sure glad that you did!  Til next time... Hugs and Happy Crafting!

Supplies (all from Stampin' Up!):  Cardstock - Basic Black. Glimmer Paper - Champagne, Red and Silver.DSP from the Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack in Black.  Sentiment from More Merry Messages.  Punches used: Ornament and Modern Label. Large eyelets in pewter.  Gold and Silver thread ribbon (retired). 

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Theme Challenge #9

Hello friends!  The challenge this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is a Theme challenge - "Gifts of the Season".  There's a whole bunch you can take away from this theme and we just can't wait to see what you come up with!  Here is my card to share with you today - hope you like it!

 

I decided to make my card look like a package.  The new scalloped tulle ribbon from the Stampin Up!Holiday Mini catalog sure came in handy for this card.  It's a tad bulky with the big bow but it isn't heavy and does squish down quite a bit to put in an envelope (will probably still need extra postage though).   Here's a couple other views:

I am also entering this card in the Christmas Cards All Year Round - September Theme Challenge -Christmas Presents.
 Please pop into the 52 CCT challenge site adn see what the rest of the talented DT members have made for your inspiration. It would be great if you'de visit their blogs too and leave them little love note when you do.  Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today - til next time... Hugs and Happy Crafting (guess I should say "Merry" crafting - ho ho ho). 

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla.  Stamp (sentiment) from No Peeking stamped with Cherry Cobbler ink.  I used the ornament punch to make my tag and inked ever so lightly around it with a finger daubler just to give it a little definition.  Ribbon - NEW 3/8" Scalloped Tulle in Cherry Cobbler (comes in two other colors and is great for wrapping actual packages too).  DSP is from the Festival Prints Designer Paper Stack (NEW in the Holiday mini - 48 sheets of various patterns in 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 size each).  Other - twine and dimension dots. 

 



ATS Sketch Challenge #2 and ColourQ #153

Hello and Happy Monday to all of you, my blog friends!  This card is based on the great sketch at Addicted to Stamps - ATS Sketch Challenge #2 and my colors are based on the colourQ challenge #153 (CQC153).

 I was inspired by the flowers in the photo and thought they would look great as my "Circles" in the sketch.  I also  happened to have these daisy cut outs on my desk from another project that I had changed my mind on so that was also a great bonus for me in putting this card together rather quickly.  Doesn't this DSP paper work perfectly for the colors in the colourq challenge?  I used a mix of retired and current SU products for this card - it feels good to use up some of my stash and still use something new too. 

In typical fashion for how my life has been going lately, I am entering both of these challenges at the ninth-hour so will be quick with my post today :o) The gals at the ATS challenge are also looking for a guest designer so I am happily submitting my name and crossing my fingers that I might be chosen. They do a wonderful job with this fun and growing challenge each week. Please pop over there and see the DT samples for this week's sketch if you get a chance - they are wonderful.

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today - I'm so very glad that you did.  'Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

 

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!):  Cardstock - Whisper White, Pool Party and Barely Banana (retired).  DSP - Domestic Godess (retired).  Daisies are from the Flower - Daisies #2 Sizzix Die (retired) the flower middles are Chocolate Chip cardstock which was first textured with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder (one of my favs) and then punched with the 1/2" and 1" circle punches.  The sentiment is from a NEW hostess set out of the Holiday Mini catalog called Mixed Medley.  I stamped it with Chocolate Chip ink and then punched it out with my 3/4" circle punch.  I edged each of the daisies with some Chocolate Chip ink.  The Pool Party strip is textured with the new Delicate Designs folder.  The ribbon is the 1/2" scalloped dots ribbon in chocolate chip.  The Calypso Coral brads are from the 3/8" Designer Printed Brads collection.  

Dynamic Duos #19, Paper Play Week 36 and Lollipop Crafts #89

 

Hello friends - it feels like ages since I've had a chance to make a card and share it with you.  Somehow real life snuck up on me and took control for a bit - I hate when that happens - lol!  The good news is that we finished staining our monster fence so now I have one less "chore" to take away from my card making :o)  This next week is staining the deck - oh boy!  Sorry... I digress... back to this card.

This card is based on MOJO Monday#257 (which I missed the deadline for, thanks to that real life thing :o) ) - see below, which I thought was perfect though for the colors this week at Dynamic Duos #19 - Cajun Craze and Always Artichoke,  and the theme challenges at  PaperPlay Challenges - Week 36 - Autumnal Tags or Autumn Colors w/a tag and Lollipop Crafts Challenge #89 Fall Frolic.

 

 

I love these colors together as they represent the fact that fall is not quite fully in swing yet.   I still have quite a few flowers on my bushes right now but that probably won't last much longer.  The older I get the more I love fall. The cool nights and mornings and the warm days are just wonderful!

I used lots of different patterns and textures to give this card more detail and depth. A couple different dry embossing texture patterns, two different DSP patterns, the wood grain stamp on the long banner, the textured cardstock for the larger green leaf, and the distressed edges of the one leaf.  I like how it turned out! Hope you do too.  Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today!  Hello to my new follower - glad you've joined in :o)  Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!):  Cardstock - Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake and Cajun Craze.  DSP - Patterns Designer Series paper stack (regals), Orchard Harvest (leaf). Die cut (leaves) - Autumn Accent Bigz Die,Bitty Banners (sentiment) and Two Tags Bigz (tag).  Texture folders - Square Lattice and Perfect Polka Dots (I also added some lines with my score pal on the smaller leaf). Stamps - acorn and sentiment is from Day of Gratitude.   

 

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Color Challenge #9

Hello friends! Well here it is Saturday already and time for another 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Challenge.  This week Mynnette has come up with the great color combo above.  Can you just smell the cookies in the photo? Here is my card to inspire you this week:

Hmmm... can you guess what about the photo and colors inspired me?  I LOVE gingerbread cookies to look at (they are so cute!), smell and especially to eat!!  That with a mug of coffee or cocoa and Life is Good!

 

I used a fun new stamp set called Scentsational Season - named that way because you can use scented embossing powders with this set in the scents of Sugar and Spice (what I used - wish you could smell it via blog :o)) and Peppermint Stick.  Oh yum!!  Gotta be careful not to eat the card - lol.  This stamp set also comes with a coordinating Sizzlit Framelits that I used to cut out the gingerbread men, the mug and the steam - called Holiday Collection Framelits.  These are just so much fun to use!  The DSP along the edge of the card is also from the Holiday Mini and is one of the great patterns in the Festival of Prints Designer Series Stack (48 sheets total in 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 size).  I used the Houndstooth embossing folder for the textured background.  The sparkly buttons on the gingerbread men are the Cherry Cobbler Dazzling details glitter glue.  I added some pearls to the pattern on the mug (can you see them?).  The sentiment is from the More Merry Messages set.  I layered the modern lable punched sentiment on top of a large oval punched shape. 

 

Ok.. so enough about my card.  I can't wait to see what you come up with this week using Red,Brown and White or Cream.  Don't forget to pop into the blogs of the other 52CCT DT members and see their wonderful creations.  Leave them a note when you visit - we all love to get mail ;o)  Til next time...Hugs and Happy Crafting!   

 





MOJO256, Color Throwdown (CTD207) and Divas by Design Challenge 50 - Let's Celebrate!

Hello friends - hope you are having a wonderful Labor Day weekend.  I have been staining my backyard fence for two days - whoo hoo and sadly we are still only about a 1/3 of the way around (its a monster)!  I am breaking it into sections so that I don't go stark raving mad listening to my husband and son complain about how hot it is - ha ha!  Really I just would much rather be making cards than staining a monster-sized fence.  But I managed to take a break this evening and put this card together for my sweet Auntie Renie who's birthday is today (gonna go surprise her right after I post this).  Aunt Renie is a bright, colorful, super fun, giggly person.  She was brave enough to let me try to drive her Subaru (which was a stick shift) for the the first time when I was just learning to drive.  Oh my - it was an adventure and she never stopped laughing.  Here's just a snippet for you - we were on a very small incline right outside the McDonald's drive-thru... guess how many times I killed it?  If you guess correctly I might send you a prize- LOL. 

I used the MOJO Monday 256 Round or Square sketch for this card and combined it with the color challenge over at Color Throwdown #207.  It's been awhile since I've attempted one of these color challenges but these colors seemed to be ones that I thought my Aunt would like so thought I'd give it a go.  I'm also entering this in the Divas by Design Challenge 50 - Let's Celebrate! 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did!  Gonna dash off for now so I can get this delivered.  Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!



52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Sketch Challenge #9

Hello friends! Time for a new challenge over at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and this week Mynnette has a great sketch challenge for you (see below).

 

Isn't this just a great sketch?  This bright striped paper is a pieces from a fun new DSP pack called Snow Festival Designer Series Paper (#126908) and is now available in the SU Holiday Mini.  The cute little penguin peeking out over the edge is from a set called No Peeking (knew I had to have it as soon as I saw it) - I colored the stamp with my markers before I stamped it .  The Cherry Cobbler heart is from the Fashionable Hearts Embosslets (its the largest one in that folder).  The sentiment is from the set called More Merry Messages - a definite "go to" set for me with my Christmas cards this year. I used the large oval punch around the sentiment then I punched a second oval in Cherry Cobbler and cut it in half so I could layer it behind the first one and just a little of the color would show around it.    The ribbon(s) are a 3/8" Stitched Satin in gumball green and bakers twine in Cherry Cobbler.

 

I hope you enjoyed this card - I had fun making it to share with you!  Please pop on over to the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown challenge site and check out the other great samples the rest of the DT has made for  your inspiration. Leave them a little love when you visit - we are thrilled to hear from each of you.  I absolutely love popping into your blogs and seeing your cards so go get started won't you!!!  Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!