Compose a Card with Becky #5

The Compose a Card with Becky Challenge # 5 was great fun to put together.  I absolutely loved the inspiration photograph...so yummy.  I think the card possibilities, even with the guidelines for the base and mats, are nearly endless.  I chose to use the inspiration photograph quite literally for my card by using an apron cut with the Cricut and even decided to add some hinges to the top of the card to mimic those seen on the dish cupboard in the inspiration photograph. 

I used two Cricut Cartridges for this project (which gets me two steps closer to completing my "No Cricut Cart Left Behind Challenge" 

Supplies:  White Cardstock by Neenah Paper, Pure Poppy and Aqua Mist by Papertrey Ink.  I stamped the Pure Poppy and and White cardstock with Papertrey Ink's Polka Basics stamp set using Pure Poppy and New Canvas ink also by Papertrey Ink.  The button is from Taylored Expressions February Key Ingredients kit. I used a green Copic Marker and Glossy Accents (on the apple leaves of the apron), the Brads are by Basic Grey.  The apron was cut using From My Kitchen cartridge and the hinges were cut from Fabulous Finds. Red and White Baker's twine is Martha Stewart. Sentiment is Hero Arts Everyday Sayings.

Practical Scrappers Stamp Challenge

This week over at Practical Scrappers the challenge is to use stamps... and that I did. I formed a "book-binding" for this card in order to set four eyelets that I used to tie the bows.  I scored the 11 x 4 1/4 inch cardstock at 6 1/4,  5 1/2 and 4 3/4.  I folded the card in half at the 5 1/2 score mark and then glued the card together between the outside score lines.  I then set 4 silver eyelets using my Crop-o-dile and tied the ribbon into bows through each of the four eyelets. 

I stamped the cardstock and frame (made using my Cricut and the Mother's Day cart) with Hero Arts Flourish Background using Big & Bossy clear embossing ink and embossed with Ranger's clear embossing powder.  Dark Chocolate Ribbon, and ink used to distress the edges and for the sentiment are from Papertrey Ink.  Soft Stone Cardstock and Sentiment are also PTI.  The humming bird is from Hero Arts Antique Engravings and I stamped it using Dark Chocolate Ink.  I embossed the the bird with clear embossing powder and adhered to the frame using glossy accents as "glue". 

Paper Crafts Magazine's Stamping Royalty 2010 - Get in on the Fun!

I just have to share this exciting news in case you haven't heard yet.  Over at Paper Crafts Magazine they are sponsoring their Stamping Royalty 2010 contest.  Here's what they have to say about the contest,

"Do you have what it takes to be crowned royalty? Each year since 2004, we've inducted the crème de la crème of stampers into a posh society known as Stamping Royalty. This could be your year to reign supreme in your sparkling tiara. Winners will be royally honored with a prize package containing the latest stamping products from some of the hottest manufacturers. The retail value of each prize package totals over $250! Winners will also have the opportunity to be published in the November/December 2010 issue of Paper Crafts magazine and be put on the Paper Crafts magazine designer list to receive our exclusive call for submissions."

Follow this link right here to learn more about the contest and how to enter your own creations.  To add to the fun, be sure to visit the Moxie Fab World blog and get in on the the Olympics of Stamping blog hop where you have a chance to win more prizes and enter your creations there too!

Geez... I need to get busy stamping! Good luck to everyone who enters!

Mind-Blowing Vintage Graphics to Use in Your Projects!

There are times when you come across a particular blog that is so full of inspiration and so fabulous that simply sharing the link on your own blog doesn't do enough justice to the actual value of that blog...this is one of those times!

The Graphics Fairy blog features free vintage graphics that you can download and use in your projects, as well as showcases the work of clever crafters who use the graphics in their projects.  This blog is so chocked full of exciting and inspirational vintage graphics and crafty projects that you just have to visit it right here and right now.  Here are just a couple of the graphics to be found on her blog...and there are so many more! Then, after you have created your projects...be sure to link to her site for Brag Monday!

Improve Your Scrapbook Layouts with Tutorials from Photoshop Girl

I'm always looking for ways to improve my photographs.  I love the special effects that you can achieve with Photoshop CS and Photoshop Elements as well.  Unfortunately, I'm no expert and while I've had the Photoshop CS program for quite some time I haven't begun to learn all the ins and outs.  Consequently, I'm also always looking for either tutorials or actions that will help me achieve the exact photographic effect I am hoping for when I edit my photos. 

Granted, lots of times, a photo simply needs an easy color adjustment and maybe a little cropping to make it great for your scrapbook layout...but for those times when you need a little something extra... Photoshop Girl has some fabulous, easy to follow tutorials that can really help! 

I just recently found her blog and tried her LOMO/Cross-processed Photo Effect.  You can see her excellent tutorial right here. My oldest daughter was born at 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany and I had one (27 year old) photograph of the hospital as it looked back then. Very boring photograph to say the least.

However with the help of Photoshop Girl's excellent tutorial, the photograph of 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt Germany went from plain...old...and oh, so boring.... to fabulous and certainly worthy of a layout for my daughter's childhood scrapbook album.  I can't wait to use some of her other techniques to improve more photographs for my layouts!

Poladroid - Return of the (digital) Polaroid Photograph!

Before digital cameras gave us instant photographs, there was Polaroid! Remember how great it was to take a photograph and watch it develop before your eyes!  One of my mother's fondest memories of my oldest daughter when she was only 2 1/2 years old (she is 27 now!) involved a polaroid photograph of my daughter in the buff on a hot summer day, filling the backyard birdbath with water from the garden hose. My mother snapped the photo of her "Punkie-Pie" with the polaroid camera and then showed my daughter the photo as it developed.   As the picture emerged she looked up at my mother and exclaimed, "Look Grandma, it's your best friend, Punkie-Pie!".... and so began our love of the Polaroid.

Alas, digital cameras replaced the polaroid and last year the film was discontinued, but leave it to the technologically advanced to bring back the beloved polaroid in a new online program that is available for Windows and Mac users alike.  Where once there was Polaroid...there is now Poladroid.  You can get the program right here for free! The program is so easy... even I can do it!  Simply drag and drop your digital picture on top of the camera and out shoots a blank photo that slowly "develops" right on your computer desktop.  So cool!

I can't wait to create some special projects using my new Poladroid photographs.  I am envisioning some retro scrapbook layouts and mini albums featuring photographs converted to the polaroid format with this program.  What kind of projects will you create using Poladroid?

Challenges - CPS and Bitten by the Bug 2

Today I have combined two challenges into one zesty card.  Card Positioning Systems is one of my favorite challenge blogs so I used their Challenge #154 as inspiration for crafting this card.  And just because I love my Cricut (and Gypsy too!)... I joined the Bitten by the Bug 2 challenge to create a card using at least one Cricut Cart (I used three) to craft a Spring card using the color orange.

I was excited to have a reason to pull out my newly purchased but as of yet unused Orange Zest cardstock, ribbon and ink from Papertrey Ink.  The color is bright and cheerful and from their Perfect Match line.  You can buy your own Orange Zest cardstock right here, the ribbon here and the ink here.

Other supplies I used to craft this card include Rustic Cream Button Twine from PTI, Pearls by E., White cardstock, Printed Paper by Sassafras "Vintage Yummy" and Making Memories Vintage, Cuttlebug machine with Birds and Swirls embossing folder, Hero Arts flourish background stamped with Big and Bossy embossing ink and embossed with Ranger's Clear embossing powder.  Sentiment and Butterfly stamp from Papertrey Ink's Tags for Spring.  I highlighted the butterfly with Glossy Accents. Cricut Carts: Plantin Schoolbook for the scallop edge, George for the large rectangle and Sweet Treats for the Tag.  Since the base of the card is Orange Zest, I also cut white cardstock and stamped it with a butterfly for the inside of the card.

50% Off Clip It Up - A Unique Storage Idea for Paper Crafters Everywhere!

Recently I have expanded my paper crafting supplies by leaps and bounds (in other words I have been spending a lot of money on products for this ummm... hobby).  I actually started scrapbooking about 12 years ago, but because I didn't have a dedicated space I eventually just stopped scrapping.  It was such a hassle hauling everything out onto the dining table and then putting it away after each session that it didn't feel fun any longer.  Then I moved to a house with a full basement (which we subsequently finished into a family room with a game area, computer area, an extra bedroom, bathroom, a new laundry room AND.... a CRAFT AREA!  Yippee!  Since I have this dedicated space I have taken up not only scrapbooking, but paper crafting in general!  However, organizing all this stuff (as anyone who papercrafts knows) is a challenge that far out-weighs any card challenge even the best designers can throw at you! 

So naturally, I've been looking for products to help me organize my space.  Since we are currently remodeling our master bedroom/bathroom suite, I don't have the extra money to put into new furniture that would help to organize the craft area right now, so I have to make due with the shevles and tables I already have... but I have been purchasing smaller items to help stay organized for now. 

One of my most recent purchases was the Clip it Up.  This item retails for about $68.00 (yikes!!) and it was out of the question that I would purchase it for that price.  But... Joann's has a 50% off coupon code right now (until Febuary 27) that you can find on the home page of the online store right here.  So I bought the Clip it Up base right here.  I have to admit... it is perhaps the best $34.00 I have ever spent toward organization!  I didn't purchase any of the Clip it Up bags (it's $10.00 for four large bags!)... instead, I used either the bags my product came in (like the Hero Arts Stamps packages)... or I pulled out my cheap store brand gallon size freezer bags (30 bags for $1.79)...  I fold the bags in half when I hang them so they don't stick out too far.  I even have my Stamp It Up stamp containers in bags (I only have about six of them, so it didn't take up that much space on the base.)... I just love this product and can't say enough good things about it!  So easy to look for and find all my favorite stamps and embellishments!  I used another 50 percent off coupon to order the ribbon organizer here.  I can't wait to get it and finally get all that ribbon organized!  Currently I have it all hanging on a dowel and while that does help, it is a real hassle to get empty ribbon rolls out of the middle!  I am thinking I just might have to expand the Clip It Up and buy the upper portion (with a 50 percent off coupon) that attaches to the base... I can't believe I filled my base up so fast!

I'm always looking for new storage ideas (aren't we all?), so if you have any, I'd love to hear about them!

Mojo Monday Challenge 126 - Cornish Heritage Farms Domestic Love Stamps

I just received the Cornish Heritage Farms Domestic Love Stamps from Ellen Hutson, it just went on sale (I paid full price...drat...lol)... you can get it during their Share the Love sale right here though. I just love this stamp set and so I had to use it for the Mojo Monday Challenge 126. 

I had fun creating this card from the Domestic Love stamps.  I stamped the iron in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and then used Glossy Accents to highlight the areas of the iron that would be silver in color.  The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye, Totally Girl paper pack (I just LOVE the paper in this pack and have used it for so many projects, plus I got the huge pack for 1/2 off at Michael's... gotta love that!).  I stamped the sentiment in Plum Pudding ink from PTI and embossed it with clear embossing powder to make it shine.  The Plum Pudding and Soft Stone cardstock (base of the card) is also from PTI.  I just love their nice thick cardstock for all my projects!  You can buy their paper right here. They offer a pack that has every color they have in their Perfect Match line.  It's a great way to try all their paper colors! I cut the square for the iron and the rectangle for the buttons and ribbon using my Cricut and the Storybook cart.  (One more cart down in my No Cricut Cart Left Behind Challenge!).  I cut the scallop edges using Plantin Schoolbook. The cute scrunch ribbon and buttons are from my stash. I also used my 1 3/4 inch round punch and 2 inch scallop punch for the sentiment that reads, "When life gives you wrinkles press right through". 

Compose a Card with Becky #4 and Pink Elephant Challenge # 54

Just a couple of weeks ago I happened upon Becky Oehlers blog.  She is part of the Papertrey Ink team and a gifted designer.  She features a weekly challenge on her blog called "Compose a Card with Becky".  Her challenges are unique in that she provides both a PDF and a Video (the last two videos that I know of have featured music from "Wicked" - I took my youngest daughter to that production... fantastic, but that is another story).  At her blog you can download the weekly PDF and watch the video, just go here.  In this challenge #4, I love the colors and the shape of the base card (4 x 8).  The larger format gave me an opportunity to use Tim Holtz's mask, "Timeworks" and really show it off on the card to the advantage of this fantastic product.  Tim provides an excellent demonstration for masks right here. You can purchase your own Tim Holtz's Idea-Ology Timeworks mask at Joann's. It's on sale for only $1.79 right here! This is the first time I used a mask and I am so pleased with the product results, I know that I will use it again and again.  I combined this Challenge with the Pink Elephant Challenge # 54 to use ribbon.

For this card I used black cardstock for the base.  I also used white cardstock and Papertrey Ink's Ripe Avocado (what a lovely shade of green!).  I had green ribbon in my stash but it wasn't quite the right color so I used my Copic Y28 (Lionet Gold) to color the ribbon.  I was really pleased with the color match after that and I loved the fact that the Copic marker made the ribbon quite stiff after it dried, so it really holds it shape well now!  For the sentiment I used Papertrey Ink's Forever Friends sentiment set (which I think goes perfectly with the timepiece mask!).  I cut the sentiment tag using my Cricut and Tags, Bags, Boxes & More  (page 98 in the booklet). I rubbed the Timeworks mask with Memento Black (I also stamped the sentiment with that color), and Distress Inks in Peeled Paint and Shabby Shutters.  I added a little Archival Ink in Sepia just for contrast.  The black button is PTI and I cut a thin strip of ribbon to weave through the holes.  Since the card base is black, I went ahead and cut a piece of white cardstock and used the mask again with just the Distress Inks, Peeled Paint and Shabby Shutters and then used the Friend sentiment from the PTI set.  The inside of the card looks like this!  Hope you join Becky and the Pink Elephant for this challenge along with me!

JUGS Technique Challenge and Taylored Expressions 100th Sketch!

Wow... it's been a while since I have had the opportunity to post anything on the blog!  It also means that it has been awhile since I had an opportunity to craft (not counting a couple of birthday cards and Valentine's gifts that I made, but didn't have time to post).  Over at Just us Girls, they have challenged us to create a project using the split negative technique. I used Lori Craig's tutorial that you can see here. I also wanted to get in on the 100th Sketch celebration over at Taylored Expressions.  Putting both the Sketch and the split negative together in this one project did pose somewhat of a challenge for me, but while I was not 100 percent thrilled with the finished project... I didn't hate it so much that I wasn't willing to post it!

I used a lot of items I just received from Papertrey Ink to craft this card including the Friends 'til the End stamp set for the split negative technique and the sentiment which I stamped using their Ripe Avocado ink.  The base of the card is Papertrey's soft stone cardstock and I coupled that with Smokey Shadow (from their Perfect Match paper line).  I used stickles to highlight the area beside the flower (dots) and used Glossy Accents to highlight the flower.  For the split negative technique I used Pure Poppy cardstock from Papertrey Ink and white cardstock.  The printed paper is Jenni Bowlin from a mini 4 x 4 stack that I recently purchased.  I also used brads from Basic Grey, green ribbon from my stash and my Cicut to cut the scallop under the patterned paper.

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge 123

I am always inspired to create when I see the current challenge posted over at Mojo Monday.  Sketch Challenge 123 was no exception.  For this challenge I wanted to create a simple card for my BFF in honor of our friendship and Valentine's day.  I wanted the card to reflect her style (she is not the girly-girl type), so I took this sketch, turned it sideways and created a card that I thought she would appreciate and enjoy. 

 

Despite the simplicity of the card, I used a lot of supplies that happen to be my favorites. 

Kraft Cardstock - Papertrey Ink

Red Cardstock - American Crafts

Stamps: Florish Background from Hero Arts and Polka Dot Basics and Tags for Spring from Papertrey Ink.

New Canvas Ink from Papertrey Ink and red ink, white ribbon, red button and twine from my stash.
I also used both a scallop and round punch for the sentiment.

I cut the tag using my Cricut and the Sweet Treats Cartridge. (I am just loving that new Cartridge!)

"Just Us Girls" and Just Bugging Challenges

This week it is a sketch from Just Us Girls for challenge #19 that inspired me as I crafted this card.  I combined this challenge with my love of my Cricut to also include the "Love Ya" challenge over at Just Bugging to use my cricut to create something for Valentine's Day.  I love the sketch from JUGS and also plan to use it for a scrapbook layout that I have in mind, but in the meantime, I created a Valentine card that I plan to give to someone I love.

To craft the card I used the following supplies list:

Cricut/Gypsy

Accent Essentials - to cut the scallop circles

George - to cut the plain circles

Plantin Schoolbook - to write "My Valentine" with a black gel pen and a gel pen holder for my cricut.

I used white cardstock for the base card and scallops. The rest of the papers are from Papertrey Ink.

I stamped (Stampin Up) flowers and embossed them with Ranger's clear embossing powder for the main circle. I also used my Cuttlebug and swiss dot embossing folders for the small circle, Raspberry Fizz rectangles and light pink circle.

The bling is from Papertrey Ink as well. This was also the first time I used the gel pen holder with my cricut. After I printed the sentiment using the Cricut, I highlighted it with Stickles for some sparkle. 

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge 124

For the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge 124 I also wanted to incorporate the elements required for Papertrey Ink's Birthday Bash Contest... even though I had the card finished in time for it, I never posted and missed out on that... however, the layout for the Mojo Monday Challenge Sketch is above.

The sentiment for my card was part of the Papertrey Ink contest.  The other supplies included, My Mind's Eye "Totally Boy" patterned paper. Peeled Paint Distress Ink, and Papertrey Ink Cardstock.  I "messy-sewed" the squares onto the card with black thread and my trusty Singer.  I also used a 2 inch scallop paper punch and a 1 3/4 inch round paper punch and twine I purchased at Wal-mart.

Altered Notebook using Grunge Rose and Pearlized Stamping.

Last night I was searching around for ideas on altering a stardard (college rule) Mead notebook for my daughter Caitlin (a journalist major at MSU) to have a place to jot down her ideas and thoughts.  I was delighted with how this project turned out.  She was too!

For the Grunge Rose I got online and found a fantastic tutorial in two parts by Creations with Christina (I love her tutorials as they are always clear and concise!).  You can find part one of her tutorial here and part two here.  I didn't have any Hodge Podge (GASP...sputter) to apply to the back of the rose as Christina's tutorial indicated, so instead I used my Scotch Quick Drying Adhesive, which worked very well as I did not have any trouble curling the petals of the flower without the paper tearing.

I straightened the end of the spiral and removed the cover of the notebook.  I then covered it with the patterned paper (outside and inside) and cut holes through the paper that matched the cover using my Crop-o-dile.  Then I wound the spiral ring back onto the notebook pages and put it back together to finish decorating. There are lots of tutorials online that show this technique for "unscrewing" the wire, I can't remember which one I used, but here is one technique by Kim M. Bayne that might be useful to you.  She actually replaces the cover of the notebook (I didn't do that, just covered it with paper).

I also used a stamping technique I learned from a tutorial posted on Jennifer McGuire's blog.  She is one of my favorite designers and I love the way she uses Hero Arts products in such fantastic ways! For this project I used the (new 2010) Silhouette Grass stamp from Hero Arts, Perfect Pearls and Distress Inks by Tim Holtz (I heart Tim Holtz!).  I also used a Stampin Up background stamp featuring musical notes that I bought off Ebay (I assume it is a retired stamp).  The paper I used for this project is from My Mind's Eye (Totally Girl), which is one of my favorite paper packs right now and I got it half off at Michael's.  Got to love a really good sale!

I also used Papertrey Ink's Take Note stamp set (this is one of my all time favorite stamp sets right now - so many fun stamps for altered projects!). I stamped the word with Walnut Distress Ink and then embossed with clear embossing powder. Then I tied it up with some pretty pink ribbon I bought at Wal-mart and presented it to my daughter!  Now my other two daughters want one too and I look forward to making them as this one was so much fun to put together using all these new techniques I learned on line.... by golly I just LOVE the internet!