Christmas for the Boys

The OSAAT challenge this week is a card for the boys.  And it's also Christmas card week.  I used the sketch and free image from ABC Christmas Challenge and then combined the recipes from Corrosive Challenge and Christmas Cards All Year 'Round since they are very similar.

Since this is a card for a young guy I thought I would get a bit industrial and included some hex nuts under the brads and used a washer for a charm.  I think my days as an industrial designer are numbered!  I'm way too much a girly girl.

There is a ribbon threaded through the plaid paper and the bear is paper pieced digitally. 

Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!

Challenges I will enter
OSAAT Christmas Challenge:  for the boys
 ABC Christmas Challenge:  sketch and free image
Corrosive Challenge:  3 papers, 2 ribbons, 1 image
Christmas Cards All Year 'Round :  3 patterned papers, 3 brads, eyelets or gems

Lavender and Lace Christmas

This week the challenge at Die Cut Dreams Christmas Challenge is to use lavender and lace with Karen's sketch.

The stamp is an old one from Hero Arts.  The papers have all been distressed with Tea Dye and I used a MS punch for the scalloped border.

The ruffle and center of the flower is crepe paper which I stamped on with Dusty Concord distress ink.  The center of the ruffle has microbeads.  I used Crystal Lacquer to adhere the beads and it flowed a little too freely. I thought I would have to discard it and start over but now I think it looks like snow.  So I decided to keep it.
There is a silver snowflake in the center of the flower.

Thank you for visiting and have a blessed day!

challenges I would like to enter
Die Cut Dreams:  lavender and lace and sketch
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge:  silver
Sentimental Sundays:  sentiment
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge:  sentiment

An Altered Tea Box

I've been wanting to make a box for the TP valentine mini I made for my husband, which you can see here.  This little tea box is just the right size.

I followed the same design as the mini; painting the edges in black and using paper from the Deja View global treks pack.  I cut a window in the front and used  a piece of acetate I had saved from some packaging. 

The acetate is clear; it's just picking up the reflection from the doily.  And see that little bit of trellis behind the box?  I'm outside on my deck.  Such a beautiful day!  So glad for some warmer temperatures.

The frame for the window is a digi stamp from Sugar Creek Hollow.  I have an embossing pen that I haven't used in years which I used to emboss the frame.  Amazed it still works!  Added a small rosette with some Prima bling.

The top has some recollections swirls, a handmade flower which I learned to make from Tracy, and a tag made with my Cuttlebug.  Love, love my cuttlebug.  Both are sprayed with Lindy Stampgang starburst spray.  And here is the box with the mini inside.   



Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!

supplies:

paper:  Deja View  global treks

digi stamp:  Sugar Creek Hollow

Lindy Stampgang starburst spray:  Rudolph's Nose Red

recollections swirl, Prima bling, clear embossing powder

tools:  Cuttlebug, Rubber Stampede embossing pen

challenges I will be entering

Sugar Creek Hollow:  anything goes

The Secret Crafter:  anything but a card

Our Creative Corner:  don't throw that away

It's Spring!

And time for a change of wardrobe!  Time to think about sleeveless shirts, shorts, sandels, sunglasses, and fun in the sun.  And this young lady looks like she's got everything under control.

I followed the sketch at The Corrosive Challenge.  The image is from Digi's With Attitude.  I used a Spellbinders die and then used glitter glue around the edge sprinkled with more glitter for extra sparkle.  I also used some rhinestone brads that I've had for ages.  I used an MS punch on the pink border and embossed it with the Cuttlebug swiss dots.  I love using the Spica pens for makeup.  It doesn't show in the picture but her eyes are all nice and sparkly.  "Happy spring" is computer generated.

Thank you for visiting and have a blessed day!

supplies:
paper:  DCWV It's All About Girls
image:  Digi's With Attitude
flowers:  Prima
ribbon:  JoAnn's
colored with Prismacolor pencils and Copic Spica
my stash: pop dots, feather, pearls
tools:  Cuttlebug, MS punch

challenges I will enter
Corrosive Challenges:  sketch
Pollycraft Monday Challenge:  teens
The Crazy Challenge:  brads or eyelets
Scrap-Creations:  anything goes
The Beary Scrap Design Team Challenge:  spring
The Creative Cottage:  spring
Stampin with the Dragon:  spring
Charisma Cardz Challenge:  to "die" for (die cuts)
PaperPlay Challenges:  embossing
Southern Girls Challenge:  flowers
Shelly's Images:  anything goes
Amber's Crafts N Stuff:  stash/anything goes

A Little Green Card

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here is a little green card to celebrate. 

This is the first time I tried a diamond fold card and I love how it turned out.  However, I'm also learning what photographs well and lots of angles just don't do it. 

This little black and gold charm is actually an old earring.

Last fall I made some jewelry to participate in several craft shows and so I have lots of beads which I love using in my cards.

All the supplies I used for this card were just things from my stash.

Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!

challenges I will be entering
Card Cupids:  green
Tiddly Inks:  green
For Fun Challenges:  green
Scrap-Creations:  anything goes
Creative Card Crew:  green
Fab 'n' Funky Challenge:  green
Rainbow Lady's Challenge:  St. Patrick's Day
Shelly's Images:  Anything goes

Congratulations

I need a gift for our neice who just graduated from college and since I'm no good at buying gifts for someone else I tend to fall back on gift cards.  That way I know they'll get something they like.  So that means I need a card for the gift card.

The cute digital image is from Paper Pretties.  I colored it in PSE.  I cut it out with my Nestabilities die, sponged around the edges with distress ink and then did some faux stitching.  It doesn't show in the picture but I used a Copic Spica glitter pen on top of the stitching.  Adds a little extra sparkle.  I need to say a big, big THANK YOU to Papercraft Star for the Copics I won several weeks ago.  So exciting!  And then I added a ribbon flower,  paper doily, some rhinestones for bling, and a feather, just for fun.  I printed an extra sentiment, cut it out, and added it with pop dots.

The base of the card is made with an envelope folded in half.  The flap on the top half is glued down and the gift card is placed in the pocket of the bottom half.  Before I adhered the paper on the outside I added some ribbon to tie it closed.  I just need to add my personal greeting to the inside.  The paper pack is from K&Co., Sweet Nectar.  The papers have lots of sparkle and glitter.


And then I needed something to put the card into.  In my search for gift boxes I discovered Mel Stampz.  Oh my goodness, if you need a template, check her out.  There's at least 180 for purses plus lots of other types of templates.  I finally chose this one.

It was very easy to make.  The top is the same Nestabilities die I used for the card.  It tucks into the flower brad on the front. 

I added another feather and a little ribbon rosette that I made on the handle.  The card tucks in perfectly.  I think I'll add some tissue paper to the inside.

I hope she likes it as much as I enjoyed making it for her.

Supplies
paper:  K&Co Sweet Nectar
digital stamp:  Paper Pretties
distress ink:  tea dye
Copic,Spica, lilac
brad:  The Paper Studio, antique flower brads
tools:  Cuttlebug, Nestabilities die, MS score board
my stash:  flower, ribbon, doily, feathers, rhinestones

Challenges I will enter:
Corrosive Challenge:  green
Creative Inspirations Paint:  green
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge:  You Lucky Duck/congratulations
Paper Pretties:  ribbon
Paper Play Challenge:  green
Shelly's Images:  green
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges:  green
Aly's Sunday Challenge:  anything goes
Simon Says:  anything goes

Girly Girl and Lots of Layers

I tried several new (for me) techniques and since Totally Stampalicious asked us to use a new technique this will fit their challenge.  One new technique was paper piecing.  I really like the effect and think it's one that I will be using a lot even though it takes quite a bit of time. 

The other new item is the crepe paper flower.  I love how soft and delicate it looks but one thing I learned is that I would not recommend the inexpensive crepe paper you get at the party store (which was the only place we could find it; do you know how hard it is to find crepe paper? I have to thank my dear, sweet husband who hunted it down for me).   As soon as I added the glue the paper fell apart.  Since it was all I had I was determined to make it work but it became very time consuming and for someone who has a short attention span, that was not good, LOL.

I actually had seed beads that were the same color and even stickles; would you believe?  We live at least 25 minutes away from the nearest craft store and if I don't have what I need it's just too bad.  But this time I was lucky.

Shelly's Images was asking for lots of layers; I made it up to 6.  I wanted to add one more but I ran out of room.  I used a sketch from Beary Sweet Challenge; I hope it's still recognizable after all the layers!  Totally Paper Crafts specified pearls and lace; the bottom of her skirt seemed just the right place to add some lace.  Tammy Miller provided this adorable image at A Day For Daisies.  The charm is for One Stitch At A Time and Card Cupids is making it easy with anything goes.

I'd like to thank everyone who makes these challenges available.  Your hard work is so very much appreciated!

supplies
paper:  Colorbox; Anna Griffin
punches:  EK Success scallop and corner punch
image:  A Day For Daisies
Prismacolor pencils
stickles:  waterfall
crepe paper, pop dots, charm, ribbon, lace, pearls, seed beads

challenges: 
A Day For A Daisies:  image, girly girl
Beary Sweet Challenge:  sketch
Card Cupid:  anything goes
One Stitch At A Time:  charm
Shelly's Images:  lots of layers
Totally Paper Craft:  pearls and lace
Totally Stampalicious:  new technique

Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!

Celebrating Thoughts of Spring

I'm glad to see so many challenge blogs asking for spring cards.  It just makes me feel happy to work with these fun colors. 

I have had this Sonburn Pink/Lavender Floral Row paper for a long time and I immediately thought of it when For Fun asked for these exact colors.  I cut out the diamond shapes to use for tags which Tuesday Throwdown and A Spoonful of Sugar both asked for.  This sweet image is a freebie from sliekje stamps.  You'll have to visit her; she has many more gorgeous images.

I have no idea what possesed me to sew seed beads along the edge.  It took For.Ev.Er!  My eyes just are not good enough for such tiny work anymore.

Lollipop Crafts and City Crafter both called for spring creations and Digital Tuesday said "Celebrate".  Believe me, I am celebrating the anticipation of spring, LOL!  Papertake Weekly said "anything goes/old".  (paper)

I want to give this card to a friend who is going out to dinner with us tonight.  She is such a sweet person and always enjoys a handmade card.

Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!

challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown:  tags
Papertake Weekly:  anything goes/old
Digital Tuesday:  celebrate
For Fun:  purple, green and yellow
City Crafter:  spring fling
A Spoonful of Sugar:  tag
Lollipop Crafts:  spring

supplies:
paper:  Sonburn Pink/Lavender Floral Rows
stamp:  sliekje stamps
Prismacolor pencils:  910,912,914,932,938,942,943,994
crystal stickles, glass seed beads
tools:  MS punch, Cuttlebug swiss dots

Vintage Lady

A Day for Daisies is offering a gorgeous image called Vintage Lady.  I wanted to do a very soft, romantic design and so I pulled out my chalks, which I hardly ever use, to color the image.   I created the background with distress inks and stamps.  Two opposite corners are done with the emboss resist technique.  I then knotted some ribbon to give a little more interest. 

I also added a handmade flower,some lace and beads.  I don't think I like the position of those; design is something I'm still trying to improve.
The lace under the flower and the brown background paper are my "old".
Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!

challenge
A Day for Daisies:  very vintage
City Crafter:  spring colors
Papertake Weekly:  anything goes/old