Practical Scrappers Stamping Challenge

For all intent and purposes, this will be my last Design Team project for Practical Scrappers.  I've enjoyed two terms working with a fabulous group of Designers there, but big changes are in the air.  For both myself and Practical Scrappers it is time to move forward. Beginning in October, they will change over to a free magazine-style format that for them will be a fresh approach to the blog. More information is available at the blog right here. For myself, I will be spending more time focusing on the challenge blog Papercraft Star, as well as making time to seek publication of more of my cards and layouts.

So... for the last time as a member of the Practical Scrappers Design Team, I created this card for the stamping challenge. I hope you'll join us for this last challenge before the format changes in October!

I've had this Cornish Heritage Farms, Domestic Love stamp set for quite some time and although I used a number of the stamps in that collection, I had yet to use the old-time vacuum along with the sentiment.   Wanting a more dimensional look for the vacuum, I stamped it twice and cut out parts of it to layer with pop dots for the subtle 3-D effect. I also stamped the polka-dot background onto Kraft cardstock to create my patterned paper for this card. All of the products that I did not already mention are Papertrey Ink except for the Webster's Pages sparkler that adorns the bow.  Although the sentiment reads, "There are times when love sucks" on the inside of the card I wrote, "...this is not one of them." Then I popped it into my honey's lunchbox for him to find at work. 

I wish the best of luck to all the Designers who are leaving Practical Scrappers along with me and I encourage everyone to get in on the new happenings at Practical Scrappers beginning in October!

Practical Scrappers Ribbon Challenge

I've been hardly waiting to write up this post for the ribbon challenge at Practical Scrappers this week!  I love ribbon, so naturally I got pretty excited to learn about the ribbon challenge.  However, I wanted to do something new with it so I went on a quest across Internet-land and found this FANTASTIC tutorial over at Scrap A Little by Helen Croft.

To doll the ribbon flower up a bit, I used my Cricut and my Cuttlebug to cut and emboss leaves for the flowers and to add just a bit more zip... I cut a couple of flourishes for the flower too.  The cuts are from my Accent Essentials cartridge which I have been using quite a bit lately I suddenly realized!

The cardstock and patterned papers for this project are from Papertrey Ink. I used Martha Stewart's Royal Butterfly punch for the butterflies and the ribbon and stamped sentiment are Papertrey Ink as well. The pearls are Hero Arts.

I do hope you'll pop on over to Practical Scrappers to check out all the other wonderful Designer inspiration pieces and then join us for this challenge too!

Practical Scrappers Button Challenge

Okay, Okay, I admit it! For this week's button challenge over at Practical Scrappers I really hit a wall.  I tried and tried to think of something unique to do with buttons....and I failed before I even got started really.  So, I guess you can say that I attempted to make up for the/lack of button uniqueness with the quantity of buttons I chose to use for this layout.

I do have a great idea now that I am on the subject of a lack of being unique in the way I used the buttons on this layout.... how 'bout you go ahead and join us for this button challenge at Practical Scrappers and you can inspire all of us on how to use buttons in a unique way!  Doesn't that sound fun?! 

As for this layout, I did do two things I don't normally do.  I wrote the journaling in my own handwriting (yuck, I really hate it, and you can see why I don't normally do so, because I think my writing actually DETRACTS from the layout.... but alas, I am trying to love my handwriting since I am reading the book by Heidi Swapp that is suppose to help me learn to write better and love my writing too).  The second thing that I did but don't normally do is keep my embellishments to a minimum using almost exclusively buttons, because I didn't want to detract from THAT FACE! :-)

Okay... I think that is it for now... if you want to see what I wrote for the journaling...just click on the photograph, I believe it is large enough read (if you can actually read my writing - ha!)


Supplies Used:

A whole bunch of stuff that I wrote on a piece of paper that I misplaced... ugh. :-)

Practical Scrappers Friday Sketch

It's Farm Market time around Michigan and this put me in the mood to use this fun Practical Scrappers sketch by Sasya to create a "veggie-style" card with the Garden Variety Cosmo Cricut papers and chipboard. This card is a great way to let your "Sweet-Pea" know you are thinking of them, me thinks anyhow! :-) 

If you head on over to Practical Scrappers right now you can check out the other Design Team creations that I'm sure will spark your creativity.  We've got a link up over at the blog right now so that you can join us with this sketch challenge!

For the record, everything that went into creating this card is Cosmo Cricut and Papertrey Ink.

Do enjoy your weekend and have a safe holiday!

Practical Scrappers Challenge and Cri-Kits

I've been hardly waiting for this week's challenge at Practical Scrappers and the reveal as well for that matter.  A while back the manufacturer of Cri-Kits sent me their fantastic pen kits to try out.  They have four kits that include, Regular and Neon, Glitter, Mettalic, and Pastels.  They also have two sweet swirl pens that you can get for free right now just for buying the other four sets.  It's a super great deal to be sure! 

Anyhow, since I received the kits I meant to post a few projects right away, but the time just go away from me...until this challenge that is.  The kits include everything you need to draw with your Cricut or Pazzels machines.  You simply replace your blade and blade housing with one of the Cri-Kit gel pens and the pen housing, adjust your pressure and blade settings, select an image and press "cut",  The pen draws the image out for you (as opposed to the cutting that the blade would do.)  You can read more about their kits (and buy them too) by clicking right here.

Okay, now for my project.  The challenge at Practical Scrappers was to use a white pen on your project.  So I decided to make my patterned papers and my sentiment for the card with the Cri-Kits white gel pen from their Pastel kit.  After replacing my blade housing with the pen housing and pen, I adjusted the settings on my Cricut per the manufacturer directions and selected two different images from the Cindi Loo cartridge to create my patterned paper.  I printed the first doily image I selected at 5 3/4 inches (my card base here is 6  x 6).  I cut that image out to use as the first layer of the card and adhered it to the cardbase.  I then selected another doily image and set the size at 1 1/4. I selected that image four times and press cut.  I then cut out the strip of printed mini doilies and matted them on white cardstock and adhered that to the front of the card. Finally, I selected a thank you sentiment from one of my Cricut Cartridges (eek, I can't remember which one and forgot to write it down) and used the Cricut to print it out on black paper which I matted on white cardstock and adhered to the card front.  Here is what the finished product looks like.... remember the only thing I used on the paper was the white gel pen with my Cricut Machine...

Is that just totally awesome or what?  To finish the card off, I added some sheer white ribbon I purchased at my LSS and some rhinestones I've had in my stash for I don't know how long.  I loved how this card turned out and I envision being able to create many of my own patterned papers using the wide variety of pen color selections and cardstock colors I keep on hand. Between the pens, your cardstock colors and all the different images on your Cricut Cartridges your options are unlimited as to what you can do to create your next paper project.  Not to mention the fact that you can write just about any sentiment you can think of using these pens and your Cricut!  Stay tuned for more Cri-Kits creations coming up over the next few weeks and don't forget to enter your own project over at Practical Scrappers too!



Supplies Used:

Cri-Kits Pen Holder and White Gel Pen from Pastels Cri-Kit
Cricut Cartridge: Cindi Loo and another one that I forget
Cardstock: True Black and Stampers Select from Papertrey Ink
Rhinestones and Ribbon from my stash

Practical Scrappers Stitching Challenge

Dust off your sewing machine or get out your needle and thread and stitch your way through this week's Practical Scrappers Challenge. The challenge is to use stitching on your project and so to help inspire you to sew too,  I revved up my Singer and got stitchin' like a mad woman!  I actually whipped this card up for a young couple that eloped.  Their parents then threw them a reception at the home of the Bride several weeks later.  Since they eloped and had already been married for a few weeks I decided that I wanted to have a some fun with the card and do something a little less traditional (while also including some cash for the happy couple...young couples always appreciate cash!). 

I combined some Webster's Pages patterned paper with a kraft envelop (for the cash) and a journaling card from the Webster's Pages journaling card set.  I sewed a straight stitch around the paper, card and envelope and then inked up the edges with some white opaque ink to give it a clean but slightly vintage feel.  A brad to close the envelop, some crisp white ribbon, a couple of flowers die cut from a vintage book page and a stick pen from JBS finished off this pretty, non-traditional wedding card.

I hope you join us for this week's Practical Scrappers challenge and don't forget to check out all the other Design Team inspiration pieces at the PS blog right here.


Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper:  Petite Papers Collection Triple Pack (Webster's Pages)
Cardstock: Kraft (Papertrey Ink)
Fibers: White Twill (Papertrey Ink) Rustic Cream Button Twine (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Opaque Cotton White (StazOn)
Embellishments: Brad (American Crafts), Pearl Stick Pin (JBS), Kraft Envelope (Maya Road), Vintage Book Print Flower Die Cuts (Stash), Journaling Card Set (Webster's Pages)
Other tools: Singer Sewing Machine, White Thread

Tutorial - Summer and Altered Clothespins

This week at Practical Scrappers the challenge is to create a summer-themed project.  Besides, sun, sand and Michigan's Great Lakes, few things scream summer to me like clothes hanging on the line to dry.  It may sound odd, but the fact remains that clothespins remind me of my childhood days.  They bring back thoughts of spending time with my grandmother and helping her take in the laundry after hanging on the clothesline to dry in the sun.  So when I saw these plain jumbo clothespins at a recent trip to Hobby Lobby (for only a bit more than a couple bucks a piece), I purchased two to create my own variation of a summer-themed project. 

These Jumbo clothes pins are fun and so quick and easy to alter, and they are perfect for displaying your favorite summertime photographs or clipping up a note or memo.  Here's a quick tutorial to help you make your own.

To begin, I removed the packaging from the clothespins and then took the pins apart by removing the spring in order to paint and paper the bare wood.

I used the packaging from the pins to mix some white acrylic paint with a few sprays of water from my Mini Mister to thin the paint because I wanted the wood grain of the pin to show through the coat of paint. I then painted the wooden pins with a thin coat of paint and let them dry.

For this tutorial I used the Cosmos Cricut Delovely collection of patterned papers and the Ready-Set-Chip for a quick way to embellish the clothespin as well.  (I papered and embellished the second pin with items from Girls Paperie.)

To ensure that I got an exact fit for the paper, I laid the pin upside down on the back side of the patterned paper and traced the outline of the wood.  I then cut just inside the lines with my paper trimmer while also leaving the long end about 1/8 of inch longer at the bottom.

Then I used my bone folder to score the paper in the groove where the spring will be reattached.  Once you score the paper, that extra 1/8 of an inch will be taken up and the paper fits perfectly from end to end.

I then used Mod Podge to adhere the paper to the wood by first spreading a thin layer on the wood and then on top of the paper as well.

I repeated the process for both sides of the pin and allowed them to dry.

I then selected the embellishments I wanted for each side of the pin and replaced the spring that holds the two sides together.

I had two photographs that I wanted to display using this wooden pin, so I also matted each of the photographs with coordinating cardstock by Papertrey Ink.

I didn't want the clothespin to be too "fussy" since I wanted to display photograhps of my grandsons (one with my mother) so I used some chipboard from the Delovely collection by Cosmo Cricut and added some pearls from Hero Arts as well.

This photograph shows one side of the finished clothespin (the opposite side was displayed at the top of this post)

For this second clothespin I used Girls Paperie On Holiday Collection and vintage pieces from that collection as well. I also decided to paper the inside of the clothespin with red and white polka dot paper from that collection.

Okay, that's it for today, just remember to stop by Practical Scrappers for more inspiration and don't forget to enter your summer-themed project by uploading on the blog!

Happy First Anniversary PS!

This week over at Practical Scrappers we are celebrating the blog's one year anniversary! I feel so fortunate to be part of the Practical Scrappers Design Team and a top-notch challenge blog as well!

We have a whole bunch of fun challenges going on this week in celebration of this big event and hope that you can join us by creating a project and linking it up at the blog!  The challenges for this week include creating one or more projects that fall into these categories: 

1.  Use your number one favorite product.
2.  Use just one photograph in your layout.
3.  Use the number 1 or word one on your project
4.  Use just one embellishment, but as much of it as you'd like (i.e. flowers only)

5.  Do a project about a first (ie first tooth, first birthday, first anniversary etc. )

For my Design Team project, I chose to use just one photograph and create a black and cream layout that features red accents using Webster's Pages Bloomers and Pure Poppy cardstock.  Because I didn't have a chance to participate in the weekend sketch from July 16, I used it to inspire me for this layout.  It's such a fun sketch... I just couldn't NOT use it at some point. I simply replaced the three small photographs with a banner in keeping with my one photograph layout. 

I used patterned paper from October Afternoon and also created a third pattern by stamping Vintage Cream paper in black ink using a Hero Arts background stamp. I used that "Patterned" paper to create the florishes and the banner as well.  Then I inked them all up with Distress Ink to match the other "vintage-look" patterns by October Afternoon.
 
Although it is difficult to see in this photograph, I added the work "Senior" above the title and wrote a bit of journaling, "Cydney with her bodyguards, May 2010" using a silver gelly roll pen. 
 
Hope you join us for these fun challenges and Happy Anniversary Practical Scrappers!

 
Supplies Used:
 
Papertrey Ink
Vintage Cream and Pure Poppy Cardstock
October Afternoon
Thrift Shop Collection Patterned Paper
Webster's Pages
Bloomers
Hero Arts:
Flowing Flowers & Leaves Background Stamp
Ranger:
Jet Black Archival Ink
Antique Linen Distress Ink
Provocraft
Cindi Loo Cartridge
Calligraphy Collection Cartridge
Copic
E 31 Sketch Marker
DMC
Black Craft Thread
Paper Studio
Pearls
Sakura
Clear Star Gelly Roll Pen

Using Seven Things on One Project

It's time for another hot challenge over at Practical Scrappers...whoot whoot... and this is yet another fun one that is sure to get you crafting!  We want you to use seven different things on just one project!  I had a great time creating this card for the challenge and although I didn't use my Cricut like I normally do for my projects at Practical Scrappers (because I am part of the Wednesday Cricut team)... I did pull out my Cuttlebug and one of my newer embossing folders. Cricut... Cuttlebug... I love 'em both!

The seven things I used to create this card were, in no particular order: Cuttlebug with Embossing Folder, Ribbon, Pearls, Diecuts, Patterned Paper, Cardstock and Inked Stamps.  What seven things are you going to use?  Whatever you may chose, don't forget to link it up over at Practical Scrappers to join us in this challenge! 

Supplies Used:

Papertrey Ink
Vintage Cream and Hawaiian Shores Cardstock
Hawaiian Shores Perfect Match Hybrid Ink
Beautiful Blooms Die Cuts
Pine Feather Press Fillable Frames #4 stamp and die cut
Hawaiian Shores Twill Ribbon
Rustic Stripes Stamps

ProvoCraft
Cuttlebug with embossing folder

Zva Creative
Pewter Pearls

Use Up Your Old Supplies!

Before I start my post about the challenge this week at Practical Scrappers, I just want to stop and wish my mother a very happy birthday!  Born in the summer of 1942 (have you seen that movie?) my beautiful mother (and best friend in the world) turns 68 today! I hope that I can wear that age as well as she does!  Here is a photograph of my mother with my youngest grandson (her youngest GREAT grandson) taken back in April.  She has both of my grandsons call her "Granny" (so they don't get grandmothers confused) but she doesn't look like the sterotypical "Granny" to me!

Okay, now on to the business at hand.  I love the challenges at Practical Scrappers because they encourage you to use all of your supplies.  This week's challenge is especially useful because we're asked to use supplies that are at least a year old.  Although I truly hate to admit it, I've got plenty of stuff to choose from too!  Anyhow... I looked through my old Creative Memories organizer and found some gorgeous stickers that to tell the truth, I simply can't imagine why I hadn't used them before now! They are that pretty and they are over a DECADE old... yes, that's right. I have had these stickers for more than 10 years and hadn't used them yet!  Geez, another 10 years or so and they would be vintage wouldn't they?... lol.  Anyhow, I created this tag with some not so old paper and as I said, some very old stickers...

Speaking of stickers... many of you know how much I love ProvoCraft, even though I must admit, I didn't know much about them before the Cricut was introduced... but I learned a bit about the company's history when I attended the Demo Army Training for Provocraft, and found out that they were first known for making scrapbooking embellishments and STICKERS.... and 'lo and behold after I made this tag and started writing down my supplies list I was blown away to find out that these stickers were manufactured by none other than ProvoCraft! LOL. Way... back in the day. :-) Go figure.

Okay, enough of the chit-chat now... here is a close-up of the tag featuring these 10 year old (or more) ProvoCraft stickers. 

On this close up you can also see (sort of) that I finished the tag off with a few sprays of Glimmer Mist to give it some sparkle and aged the tag ever so slightly with some Antique Linen Distress Ink. I created the tag using my Cricut and the Sweet Treats Cartridge too by the way!

P.S. Don't forget that a new challenge starts today over at Papercraft Star! This week you are challenged to create a project using "Circles" as your inspiration! Join the challenge right here. 

Supplies Used:

Paper: Kraft, Aqua Mist, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Antique Linen Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Fibers: Aqua Mist Swiss Dot (Papertrey Ink) Twine (Wal-Mart)
Cricut Carts: Sweet Treats
Embellishments: Vintage Button in Aqua Mist (Papertrey Ink), Memo Pin (Tim Holtz) Nature's Way stickers (ProvoCraft & Novelty Inc.) Old Lace Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels)
Other Tools: Cricut, Cuttlebug and Embossing Folders

Practical Scrappers Embossing Challenge

Practical Scrappers has something fun in store for you this week! In fact, it's so much fun that I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to create a fabulous project and join us for this super-sweet embossing challenge.  Whether you like to emboss stamps, dry emboss or something in between, get out your paper, glue and embossing folders or powders and join us at Practical Scrappers!
 

I started this project by creating some pretty poppies inspired by Lisa Johnson a Designer for Papertrey Ink (my all-time favorite store for paper, stamps and even dies I use in my Cuttlebug!).  Lisa provided an excellent tutorial so you can make these sweet flowers, it is on her blog right here. I opted to use gems instead of ribbon as the flower centers... a small difference from the actual tutorial. I loved how these blossoms turned out and plan to use them in other projects again and again!  In fact, I loved Lisa's project so much I even ordered the leaf ribbon from Papertrey Ink that you can find right here and as shown below on this close-up shot of the flowers and ribbon.

Now, since this was actually an embossing challenge and not a flower challenge (grin), I did a lot of dry embossing with my Cuttlebug and used several different embossing folders.  I even embossed the flower blossoms before I used Lisa's technique to create them!

You've still got plenty of time to join us at Practical Scrapper's for this challenge... hope to see you there! I'm one of the three Designers who will select the winner for this week's challenge and I simply can't wait to see what you all design.  For more inspiration and ideas by all the Designers, visit Practical Scrappers!

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Beautiful Blooms collection (Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock, Pure Poppy, Stamper's Select (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Stamps: Fillable Frames #3 (Papertrey Ink - Pine Feather Press), Signature Greetings (Papertrey Ink)

Fibers: Fresh Snow Twill, Leaf Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)

Other Tools: Fillable Frame 3 die cut (Papertrey Ink - Pine Feather Press), Cuttlebug, Embossing folder

Oh Boy it's Practical Scrappers!

It's time for another challenge at Practical Scrappers! This week we are asking you to create a project using Animation or Cartoons.  I had great fun using my Cricut and Disney's Mickey Mouse Font cartridge to create the always adorable Mickey Mouse face.  He is layered with black, white, cream and red papers from Papertrey Ink (me, using PTI...can you imagine?... ha-ha). 

I also cut the seniment "Oh Boy" using that same cartridge and embossed it with the Swiss Dots embossing folder and my Cuttlebug to give it some fun texture that repeats the pattern in the polka dot paper from the Beautiful Blossoms patterned paper pack by Papertrey Ink. To add interest, I used a border punch on one side of the patterned paper. Finally, I edged the card with black ink for a finished look.

Now before I give you the details, I just want to remind you that you still have time to enter this challenge!  By the way, they've invited me to join them for another term on their Design Team and I am so happy and honored to continue serving with the other talented Designers at Practical Scrappers. See you there!

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Beautiful Blooms (Papertrey Ink)

Cricut Carts: Mickey Mouse Font

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Other Tools: Corner Chomper, Cuttlebug, Cricut, Swiss Dots embossing folder, Fiskars Top Crest Border Punch

PS Sketch & Audrey Pettit

One of our talented Sketch Designers at Practical Scrappers put together this ultra snazzy and super fun sketch that inspired me to create a layout using photos of my mother with my youngest grandson.

It worked out perfectly that my mother happened to be wearing a black top in these photographs, as I had some very pretty paper from October Afternoon's Thrift Shop collection that I was anxious to use.  I also FINALLY used some of my Webster's Pages Bloomers that I've had for months but simply was afraid to use - I just couldn't seem to apply them in a way that looked attractive to me even though they are so very pretty. That said, I get a whole lotta inspiration from stalking...errr, umm, I mean FOLLOWING Audrey Pettit's blog and it was really her that inspired me to finally use them on my page after seeing the gorgeous projects she put together with Bloomers. Thank you Audrey!  I think these blooms were a perfect addition to the layout and if it weren't for Audrey, those pretty Bloomers would still be in the package for sure! I found Bloomers inspiration from Audrey right here and here (just for starters).

Anyhow...my goal when creating this page was to end up with something feminine because it really is a layout focused around my mother, but I didn't want it so girly that my darling grandson looked "out of place" on the page either. I think I accomplished my goal by using these yummy Thrift Shop papers and fonts for the title that were more relaxed. (I used my Gypsy to weld the letters in the title and subtitle together).

Now before I give you the deets on this layout don't forget to skip on over to Practical Scrappers and join us in this weekend's sketch challenge! 

Supplies Used:

Cardstock: True Black, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Thrift Shop Collection (October Afternoon)
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Antique Linen Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cricut Carts: George and Calligraphy Collection
Embellishments: Journal Card (Maya Road), Bloomers (Webster's Pages), Pearls (Hero Arts), Distress Tool (Tim Holtz)

Practical Scrappers - Border Punches

This week over at Practical Scrappers we are challenging you to dust off some of your unused border punches and get crafty!  Border punches have to be one the least expensive ways to dress up your paper projects.  I mean, you only have to buy them once and you can use them over and over and over and...well, you get the point.  Did I mention how much I love border punches?  I also love the fact that I can cut all sorts of different borders using my Cricut as well...and if you add the Gypsy into the mix, well you can come up with all sorts of groovy ideas...  kinda like this retro-feel card I did for this challenge (see there is a REASON I said that word... "groovy", well, that and I am kinda of stuck in the 70's myself)... hmmm, did we even say "groovy" in the 70's??  Heck I don't know...but here's the card just the same.

To pull this card together I used patterned paper from My Little Shoebox and combined it with matching cardstock from Papertrey Ink.  The pearls are from Hero Arts.  The layered scallops I cut using Plantin schoolbook and the Gypsy and a Fiskars border punch finished off the purple mat.  With my Nestabilities die I cut the tag and stamped it with a Papertrey Ink sentiment.  The butterfly is the Martha Stewart Royal Butterfly punch.

Okay, now that all the deets are out, why not go and visit Practical Scrappers, take a gander at the other Design Team creations and then join us in this week's challenge.

Practical Scrappers Challenge - Flowers

This week at Practical Scrappers the challenge is to use flowers. I love flowers and typically I love making them too, but I've been swamped recently and so I didn't make handmade flowers for this challenge like I originally planned. Instead I used my trusty Cricut and the new Cindi Loo cartridge (the images on that cart are adorable!) to create the cute blossoms in this layout that features my middle daughter with some of our rehabbing raccoons. I also used some really yummy Jillibean Soup patterned paper with flowers and some teeny-tiny chipboard blooms too (perhaps to make up for the fact that I didn't hand-make any flowers!)

Actually for as simple as this layout really is... it took me FOREVER it seemed to finish it! Go figure!

Supplies Used:
Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink
Cricut Cartridges: Cindi Loo and Give a Hoot
Chipboard and Felt Embellishments: Dear Lizzy and American Crafts
Doiley: Wilton Cake Supplies
Other Tools: Martha Stewart Border Punch

Practical Scrappers Weekly Challenge - Eyelets

This week at Practical Scrappers we are challenging you to bust some of that eyelet stash you got hanging around in your supplies.  You know you have it... so pull it out and create something crafty to play along with us for this challenge. 

Way back on May 21, at Practical Scrappers, Lisa designed this really sweet sketch, I especially loved it because I am so totally into banners right now. Unfortunately I didn't get a layout done to play along with that sketch challenge, so I decided to use it for this eyelet challenge.  Lisa's sketch looks like this (see above) (just in case you missed it at the Practical Scrappers blog). Isn't it great!!??!! Yep, I thought so too!

Okay so a lot of metal went into the making of this layout for sure!  I not only pulled out all the eyelets stops, I stapled in some metal too with Tim Holt's tiny attacher.  You can buy one for yourself right here.  I used patterned paper from two of my favorites, The Girls' Paperie and October Afternoon and my Cricut got a work out with the Mickey Mouse font to create my "Puddle Jumper" title and the stars.  And hey, don't forget about those eyelets I put everywhere I could think of to put 'em, they are from We R Memory Keepers Toasty Tin collection.  Add to all that the double-cute photos of my sweet puddle jumping grandson and you got a finished layout that made me oh, so happy.  I mean, cute kid, handmade banner AND banner paper, what more could a banner-loving gal like me what from a layout? :-)

Okay, now it's your turn to create something using eyelets and don't forgot to enter it over at Practical Scrappers so we can all admire your handywork!

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: On Holiday (The Girls' Paperie), One of Kind (Thrift Shop Collection by October Afternoon)

Cardstock: Red (American Crafts) Vintage Cream and Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink)

Cricut Carts: Mickey Mouse Font (sentiment and stars)

Other: Eyelets in Toasy Tin (We R Memory Keepers), Rustic Twine (Papertrey Ink) Distress Ink in Tye Dye and Tiny Attacher with staples (Tim Holtz) Pure Poppy Button (Papertrey Ink), Market Stickers (October Afternoon)

Practical Scrappers Weekend Sketch

Practical Scrappers's June sponsor is Squigglefly Stamps and they generously provided the Design Team with a number of digi stamps to test drive.  I decided to combine this week's Practical Scrapper's Sketch (by Sasya) and Squigglefly's Father's Ties stamps to create my project.

Despite the fact that the sketch was suppose to inspire me to create a scrapbook page (I had photos out and everything)... I tossed that idea aside and opted to create a card instead (and just when you thought you had me all figured out... I throw a curve ball... lol).

I used Cosmos Cricut "The Boyfriend" papers, colored up Father's Ties with some Copic markers and even used Gypsy Wanderings with my Cricut (for just a second) to create the swirl on my card. The sentiment is a stamp from Just for Fun Rubber Stamps. I added a button from my stash, some rustic cream button twine, Summer Sunrise and Kraft cardstock from Papertrey Ink.

It was a very overcast day when I took this photograph and oddly enough everything looks gray, try as I might to fix it, I just could not figure out how to do it... all that "gray cardstock" is actually KRAFT...go figure! LOL.

Anywhoooo....here is my oh, so, loose interpretation of the sketch...

Practical Scrappers Challenge - Vellum

This week's Practical Scrappers challenge has us using either vellum, transparencies, acrylic accents, or a combination of the three.  To inspire you to join us for the challenge this week, I created a gift bag with vellum flowers for accents.  This was the first time I used vellum to make flowers and I found it a bit tricky to work with (it's slippery stuff!)... never the less I managed the task and now I'm hoping you create your own project using one of the mediums I listed above, then link it up at our Practical Scrappers blog for the whole world to see! 

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper:  Vintage Findings collection (Making Memories)

Cardstock: Kraft, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)

Stamps and Flower Die Cuts: Beautiful Blooms II (Papertrey Ink)

Fibers: Lace (Ellen Hutson), Scarlet Jewel Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)

Other: Copic Marker, Distress Ink in Tea Dye (Tim Holtz), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Provocraft), Pearls (Hero Arts) Handmade paper (green) from stash, Brads (American Crafts), Kraft bag from stash, Medium scallop die (Papertrey Ink)

Practical Scrappers Challenge - Felt

Can you believe that yet another week has gone by and it's time for a new Practical Scrappers Challenge?  Yep, me neither!  Time flies when you are having fun...and we are all having fun crafting, right?! This week's challenge has us pulling out our felt, fabric or tulle!  Use any or all of these to create a paper project of your choice and then be sure to link it up to Mr. Linky over at Practical Scrappers in order to play along with our challenge this week!  My designer inspiration layout highlights a photo of my youngest grandson swinging.  That little guy sure loves to swing! 

I embellished this layout with felt "Woolies" from Basic Grey's Green at Heart collection and cut a scallop edge of white felt using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge.  For a little extra "fiber" I also added ribbon in Orange Zest from Papertrey Ink.  I just love that fab shade of bright orange! I have to admit that I am really loving this patterned paper from Sassafras Apple Jack collection, you can buy some for yourself right here.

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper:  Report Card collection (October Afternoon), Apple Jack collection (Sassafras)

Cardstock: Orange Zest and Summer Sunrise (Papertrey Ink)

Cricut Cartridges: Don Juan and Sweet Treats

Ink: Distress Ink in Antique Linen (Tim Holtz)

Embellishments: Orange Zest Ribbon and Rustic Button Twine in Cream (Papertrey Ink) White Felt (Joann Fabrics). Memo Pins (Tim Holtz Idea-ology)

Other Tools: Y32 Copic Marker, Fiskars Top Crest punch

Practical Scrappers Challenge - Patterned Paper

This week Practical Scrappers challenges you to use your patterned paper to create a layout, card or other paper project.  Speaking of layouts, there was a time in my early scrapbooking days that I wouldn't dream of using patterned paper on my layouts, it just seemed far too "busy" to use.  However, over the years, as my scrapbooking evolved so did my use of patterned papers and I eventually started to accent my layout pages with a little patterned paper here, a little there.  Now..., I'm a patterned paper-aholic for sure... I love to use whole sheets of 12 x 12 patterned paper for backgrounds and even throw in coordinating patterns of smaller cuts, typically from the same collection. Sometimes I will use three and four (or more patterns on the same page!) The layout I've done to inspire you to take part in this week's patterned paper challenge at Practical Scrappers is no exception to that current trend of mine. 

One look at this layout is an example for why not much patterned paper in my stock-pile is left to collect dust for very long.  Here I used three different patterns from Webster's Pages. One 12 x 12 for the background and two different partial 6 x 6 papers.  Not to mention a rather large piece of cardstock and several pieces of ephemera that has it's own patterns as well.  When I buy patterned paper I either purchase collection packs or I buy at least two sheets the same 12 x 12 two-sided papers.  So I can use both the back AND front of the paper on one layout. 

If you find that you are having trouble bringing yourself to use patterned paper in your layouts, here is a article written by Denise Gormish. While the article itself is a bit dated (2007), the techniques and ideas she shares with regard to the use of "busy" patterned paper is still right on target!.  To read the article for yourself, click here.  Oh, and when you finish with that task... pull out those patterned papers, get crafting and make something to show off!

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Garden Gala "Fresh Air" and Petite Papers Collection triple pack (Webster's Pages)

Cardstock: Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Distress Ink in Tea Dye (Tim Holtz)

Fibers: Rustic Button Twine in Cream (Papertrey Ink), Premium Ribbon "Greeting" pack (American Crafts)

Embellishments: Vintage Findings School Kit (Making Memories) Memo Pin (Tim Holtz Idea-ology) Life Journey Epemera (K and Company), Chip Stickers in Granola (Basic Grey), Digital Graphic (Peggy Loves Vintage Esty Store), Time Piece (Tim Holtz) Pearls (Hero Arts), Glitter Mist in Old Lace (Tattered Angels).

Cricut Cartridges: Life's a Beach (page 76 with charm feature key selected) and Tag Bags Boxes and More (page 91, Row 1, Key 12 with shift key selected)

Tools: Ripping Ruler (Karen Foster) Pop Dots.