Friday 27 July 2012

Pause Dream Enjoy #30 Favourite Sport or Hobby

Friday has rolled around again and that means its time for another Pause Dream Enjoy challenge!  This week's theme is to create a project using your favourite sport or hobby.  This is what I came up with:


OK, so I have something to confess.  I am not sporty in any sense of the word. . With that said, my brother played basketball when we were kids, so when I saw this digital image from  Squigglefly, called  "Big Dreamer" I knew I wanted to work with it. 

I coloured the image first with some bic markers.  Since the image is very simple I tried to keep the colours very simple.  I was going to leave the background white, but I found it was too plain, so I masked the main parts of the image and used an ink blending tool with light brown first.  I didn't think this was enough so I added some blue and yellow mists.  I like the effect it has, not to mention the slight shimmer.  :)



Once the main image was completed I chose coordinating cardstock, trimmed everything down, dry embossed the main panel, inked it, and matted it, then computer generated the sentiment.  I trimmed out the sentiment, inked the edges and sprayed with a bit more blue mist.  Brads and baker's twine were added to the main panel then everything was adhered together.



I kept the center simple with a lightly inked piece of white and an appropriate sentiment. I missed yet another birthday so this will be a belated birthday card.  Despite this being a belated card  I really like how this one turned out!


Now its your turn!  If you haven't guessed already this week's sponsor is Squigglefly and this week's winner will get to choose 3 items Squigglefly store. They have a ton of beautiful items to choose from!


Whether you link here or at Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges your project will be entered into the same draw.  And don't forget, if you miss the deadline you can still join in the fun as you have until the end of the year to participate in this or any past challenge from 2012.


I used the following supplies:

Card Stock:  Stampin' Up!  Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand.  Gina K Designs Pure Luxury 120# Pure White.

Stamps:  Digital - Squigglefly Big Dreamer, Sentiment - Stampin' Up!  On Your Birthday.

Ink:  Color Box Fluid Chalk Ink Creamy Brown, Memories Black.

Markers:  Copic W5, E00, E21, R20, 0.  Bic Mark It Tiki Hut Tan, Yellow Blaze, Blueskies Blue.

Mists:  Shimmerz Paints Spritz Sapphire, Chick-a-dee.

Embellishments:  Recollections brads, We R Memory Keepers Baker's Twine Lemonade.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam squares, Dotto re-positionable adhesive.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Seeing Spots, We R Memory Keepers Brad Setting tool, Ranger Ink blending tool.

I would like to enter into the following challenges:
  1.  Hiding in my Craft Room - Lets see those layers.
  2. Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything goes.
  3. Speedy TV Simple Salutations - Anything goes.

Thursday 26 July 2012

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Use it Tueseday #36 Use Your Uncut Paper!

Its time for another challenge at Use it Tuesday!  This time we are asking you to use some of your uncut paper.  You know you have some!  Here is what I came up with:


Part of the reason I had really wanted to be a member of a design team was because I thought it would challenge me to come up with things that I might not have otherwise.  This is one of those projects.  When presented with the challenge I knew immediately which paper I wanted to use - this sheet of Melissa Frances paper:


Simone Paper - Click Image to Close

I love the sheet, the colours, the imagery, everything.  The problem is, I didn't really know what to do with it.  For this reason I searched through my 6x6 paper pad stash and came up with a holiday pack from Fancy Pants.  I think I bought it for last year's holiday cards and didn't get around to using it.

Once I had chosen which patterns to use I chose card stock, then trimmed and inked everything.  Two patterns were adhered for the main panel, and I added some Prima ribbon.  These colours I had been saving for a special occasion, and I think they suit this card perfectly.  

The main panel was ahered to the card front. I added the banners with foam tape, and the sentiment came from a sheet of quotes and phrases in the 6x6 pack. I trimmed it out and matted it with inked white, and adhered with more foam tape.  The snow flakes were created with my trusty snow flake punch, sprayed with some mists and inked.  Once gemstones were added to the centers I adhered these to the card with foam tape as well.



I had intended to leave the center fairly plain, but once I stamped the sentiment I decided to add some ends from the remaining banners I had leftover. 







Now its your turn!!  Create a project (it doesn't have to be a card - whatever you can think of!)  and go to Use it Tuesday. Add your project using the inlinkz by Friday August 3rd, and make sure to tell us in your post what you used that was hoarded! One lucky crafter who joins in will be randomly chosen as featured guest designer in an upcoming challenge!!

We can't wait to see what you create! Now go Use It!!


These are the supplies I used:

Card Stock:  Gina K Designs Pure Luxury 120# Pure White.  Stampin' Up!  Whisper White.  Melissa Frances Simone.  Fancy Pants Winterland 6x6 Pad.

Stamp Set:  Stampin' Up!  Many Merry Messages.

Ink: Stampin' Up! Baja Breeze, Going Gray.

Mists:  Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Frost.  Shimmerz Paints Spritz 4 Leaf Clover, Cotton Candy.

Embellishments:  Prima Ribbon, Stampin' Up! Basic Jewels Rhinestones.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam tape, Zots.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Stampin' Up! Snow Blossom punch (retired), sponge, Stamp-a-ma-jig.


I will be entering the following challenges:
  1. Ladybug Crafts Ink - Christmas in July
  2. Hiding in my Craftroom - Lets see those layers
  3. Allsorts - Distressing
  4. Speedy Fox - Christmas in July

Friday 20 July 2012

Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge #29 - Your Favourite Sweet Summer Treat

Its time for another fun challenge at Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges.  This time the theme is "Your favourite sweet summer treat".  This is what I came up with:


When I think summer sweet treat I always think of ice cream .  When I think of ice cream I think of my favourite Oreo or cookies and cream ice cream.  Mmmmm yummy!  For this reason I started with the ice cream cone.  I die cut and embossed the triangle for the cone and the three circles.  After sponging the circles with brown ink, I added brown glitter too look like the chocolate cookies, then added some 'waffle' lines to the cone with a brown marker and some glitter pen The ice cream cone was adhered together.


Once I had my ice cream cone I chose the base cardstock and patterned papers.  At the last second I decided to also add some washi tape.  Once I adhered the main panel together I added the burlap, twill tape, and bakers twine.  I made the little flag out of a die cut triangle stamped with a sentiment and a tooth pick.  To adhere I stuck the end of the tooth pick to the burlap, and a foam square behind the flag.  I decided a little more embellishment was needed so I adhered a threaded button over the bow.  Lastly I added my ice cream cone with foam squares.


For the centre of the card I added a sponged piece of white with the sentiment stamped in the corner, and added glitter pen to the sentiment.  I cut out some of the hexagons from the pattern, sponged the edges and adhered. All set with lots of space for a note.  :)

Why don't you join us in the fun?  This week's prize is a $5 gift certificate from Ginger Snap Scraps.  How fun is that?!





Whether you link here or at Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges your project will be entered into the same draw.  And don't forget, if you miss the deadline you can still join in the fun as you have until the end of the year to participate in this or any past challenge from 2012.


This was a fun challenge, but it I must admit that I am starting to get a bit of a craving.  Please excuse me while I go get some ice cream....  ;)


I used the following supplies:

Card Stock:  Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Soft Suede.  American Crafts Hello Sunshine 'Glee'.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! Petite Pairs.

Ink:  Color Box Fluid Chalk Ink Chestnut Roan.  Bic Mark Its Honey Brown.

Adhesive:  Quickie Glue Pen, Scotch ATG, Scotch Quick Dry, Zots, Foam Squares.

Embellishments:  Hampton Art A-la-mode Brown Glitter, My Minds Eye Indie Chic tape, Really Reasonable Ribbon Burlap, Stampin' Up!  Twill Tape, We R Memory Keepers bakers twine Lollipop, Sakura glitter pen clear star.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Nestablities Standard Circles Large, Spellbinders Shapeabilities Nested Pennants, Spellbinders tan mat.


I am entering into the following challenges:
  1. Everybody Art - Summer
  2. Simon Says Stamp and Show - No Rules
  3. Twisted Tuesdays - Glittery Chocolate Lovers

Sunday 15 July 2012

New Challenge at Pause Dream Enjoy!!



Hey everyone!  Just a reminder that there is a new challenge over at Pause Dream Enjoy.  Challenge #28 asks you to create a project with a jungle theme. You could win a great prize!  Lynn from Boots and Bling Time is sponsoring this week's challenge and offering this great prize pack:


This prize consists of 4 great coordinating products from Paula Deen (yes, that Paula Deen, lol) - a 6"x6" Paper Pack, Tag Book, 3D Embellishments, and package of Flowers.
 
As I was away this week I didn't get a chance to participate, but the rest of the DT did an awesome job with their projects.  You can see them  here, which is where you can also link up your creation to particpate. Make sure you do so by Thursday, July 19th at midnight eastern time to be entered for the prize. Of course if you want to participate and you don't get the chance you have until the end of the year to catch up with this and previous challenges.  :)

BTW, I have great Pause Dream Enjoy related news.  Before I was officially a member of the DT I had entered a few of the June challenges and this project was randomly chosen as winner for Canada!  How exciting!

Winners - grab your button!

Janis assures me that my project was chosen randomly,  but I am still excited! And I will be receiving a Close To My Heart Stamp set!  I can't wait! See, it does pay to play.  :)

Now that Ì`m home I still have to unpack, do a ton of laundry, and organize, but once I`m done I am itching to get some crafting done.  Stay tuned, I will probably be posting some projects in a few days!  :)

Wednesday 11 July 2012

A Diamond Anniversary

I'm currently on vacation but my husband and son decided to take a nap, so I am taking the opportunity to post this card. :)

This week has been a special one for me. I was adopted at birth, and this past weekend I traveled to meet and spend time with my biological father and his family. Exciting as that was, his parents - my grandparents - were having their 60th wedding anniversary celebration as well. This is the card I made:


Of course I wanted to make this card special, so I started with one of my favourite paper packs from Kaisercraft called Bonjour. I chose a sheet with various postmarks that were embossed with silver, it is not just silver though - you can't see it in the picture but the metallic embossing has a multi-coloured sheen to it. I chose a crown pattern and die cut to go with the base piece, and also some coordinating card stock and ribbon.


After trimming and scoring my card base, I cut the base pattern to the size I wanted and matted with some white. I cut a band of the crown pattern and inked all three pieces and the card base with some olive green. I adhered the white and the patterns together and added some lovely green vintage seam binding. I love working with seam binding, the bows always look so nice. After adhering the panel to the card front, I heat embossed the die cut with a sentiment and inked the edges with more green. The piece was adhered with foam squares over the ribbon, and as the 60th is the diamond anniversary I added some gemstones.


For embellishment I used a kraft paper flower I had made previously (you can find the original project here). I happened to have made an extra and I must say I love these flowers so much I may make a whole bunch so they are ready to go when I need them. Also, I love the gemstone in the center - it is very sparkly and diamond-like. I had already inked the flower with some pink so I just added some green around the bottom layers. Once the big flower was adhered I felt more was needed so I added the green Prima flowers, which also had gems in the middle.


I also decided to use a butterfly image from the same stamp set that the sentiment came from. I coloured it with a pale pink shade, cut out the image and inked the edges with green ink.Once adhered to the card front I added more gemstones.  I also added foam squares under the wings to help them stay raised.


To the center of the card I added some inked white card stock and stamped the sentiment n green.  I coloured in all of the enclosed letters with glitter pen. 


I put a lot of thought into this card and I was really pleased with the result.  I felt so honoured  have been invited to the anniversary event, and I hope that my feelings show in this card. :)

I used the following supplies:

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Whisper White. Kaisercraft 6.5x6.5 paper pad Bonjour.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers Today Tomorrow and Always, Stampin' Up! Congrats.

Ink:  Colour Box Fluid Chalk Ink Olive Pastel, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic R20, Sakura Gelly Roll Clear Star, Versamark Watermark Ink, Stampin' Up!  embossing powder Silver.

Embellishments:  May Arts Vintage Seam Binding Moss Green, Stampin' Up Basic Jewels Rhinestones, Prima Flowers Melisse Nature Green.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, Zots, foam Squares.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Tim Holtz sanding block, sponge, Stamp-a-ma-jig


I am entering into the followng challenges:
  1. Deep Ocean - Sea of Love
  2. Moving Along with the Times - Make it Sentimental
  3. Simon Says Stamp and Show - Layered
  4. Party Time Tuesday - Lets get Punchy

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Use it Tuesday Challenge #35 Use Embossing


Welcome to my first post as an official design team member for Use it Tuesday!!  The challenge this week is to use embossing on a project.  This is what I came up with:


Oh, and by the way it was my mom's birthday yesterday.  Happy Birthday Mom!!  (Don't worry, I wished her a happy birthday yesterday too, lol)  This is the card I made for her.

I love embossing, but I still had some stuff in my stash that I hadn't gotten around to using yet.  For example, the pink and yellow embossing powder I bought from Scrapbook Steals well over a year ago and have never used.  I almost always use metallic or white embossing powder so I just don't think of it.  Well this was the perfect opportunity to haul them out and I love how it turned out.

Once I decided on the shades of embossing powder I chose card stock to coordinate, cutting both a card base and a panel for the front.  I decided to use my Cuttlebug and an embossing folder I haven't used in a long time.  After dry embossing the card base, heat embossing the main panel, and inking everything with some pink chalk ink,  I added some washi tape and ribbon, and adhered the panel to the card base.

I made one of my scrunchie flowers and this time I decided to use some regular old kraft paper from a roll. This stuff is great to have around because you can use it for almost anything - lay it down over your table when you  have a particularly messy project, lay a big piece on the floor so children can draw or paint on it, and my favourite thing is to use it for presents as you can decorate it according to the occasion.  I've never used it on a card though, so this time I decided to use it to make a flower.  It worked  really nicely because it is so thin. Once my flower was assembled I inked it with more pink and added a lovely sparkly gemstone to the middle.



To finish I adhered a birthday sentiment, added a cheater knot, and added some Prima flowers with my scrunchie flower.  For a bit more sparkle I added some Sakura glitter pen to the embossed flower images.



I kept the middle of the card simple with a cream panel inked with pink and a simple birthday sentiment.  I think this turned out to be a lovely summer birthday card!  :)




Why don't you come play along with us?  You can make anything, not just cards, as long as you are using 'hoarded' supplies.  Visit Use it Tuesday  and add your project to the Inlinkz by Friday July 20th. The winner will be asked to be a guest designer for an upcoming challenge.  Be sure to tell us in your post what you used from your stash and that you are participating in the Use it Tuesday challenge.  I can't wait to see what you all come up with!!  :)

These are the supplies I used:

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up!  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla.  Kraft paper from a roll.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up!  On Your Birthday, Bitty Birthday.

Ink:  Color Box Fluid Chalk Ink Rouge, Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark Watermark Ink.  American Crafts Zing Opaque embossing powder Rose, Lemon.

 Embellishments:  Prima ribbon, Prima Flowers Camille Almanac, Le Box Boutique washi tape, Recollections Gemstone stickers, Sakura Glitter Pen Clear Star.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam squares.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug embossing folder from Paperlace II set, sponge.

Saturday 7 July 2012

More Great News!!

Remember a while ago when I said good things come in threes?  Well, I was referring to the number of posts I did that day, but as it turns out my good news came in threes too.  Shortly after that post I was offered the position of design team member for Use it Tuesday!!!  I"m sooo excited!



Yet another fun challenge blog with another great twist.  The premise at Use it Tuesday is to dig into your stash!  Who doesn't have piles of stuff you have collected over the years because you love it, yet it just collects because you keep collecting more stuff?  At Use it Tuesday your challenge is to dig out the stuff you have burried in your craft room and  use it!  Now you don't have an excuse to hoard all that stuff.  :)

My first post will be on Tuesday (July  10) so be sure to come back and join in the fun!! :)

Friday 6 July 2012

Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge #27 Sunset



Welcome to my first post as an official design team member for Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges! I am so excited to get started!!

This week's challenge is being sponsored by Ginger Snap Scraps with a $5 Gift Certificate. They are a great site so be sure to stop in and have a look at what they offer!


The challenge theme this week was 'sunset' and this is what I came up with:


The process to make this card was fairly simple although it took a bit of time.  I started with a panel of Pink Paislee Mistables paper.  I haven't used it in a while and it was fun getting inky.  I blended various colours of chalk ink with a blending tool to get the sunset sky effect.  I added some Smooch Spritz to add a bit of shimmer.



For the sun I die cut a yellow circle, trimmed it down to the size I wanted, inked the edges with orange and a smidge of purple, and adhered it to the main panel. I used my Crop-a-dile to punch a few holes around the circle, and corresponding holes around the outside edges.  I threaded lengths of satin ribbon in a sunny yellow shade through the holes and adhered them on the back with Zots. 

For the card base I chose white and inked the front edges with orange and purple.  Once the main panel was adhered I added some gemstones and  adhered the sentiment with foam squares.  More gemstones were added as if they were sprinkled over the sentiment.



I kind of went to town with the gemstones on this card but I love how sparkly it is!  This would be a lovely card to receive on a rainy day, don't you think?  :)

Why don't you join in the fun with us?  You can add your project to the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post, or you can visit Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges.  Either spot will add you to the same list!  Add your project by midnight eastern on Thursday July 12  to be entered into the draw for the Ginger Snap Scraps prize, but if you miss the deadline don't worry!  You can jump in at any time through the year!  You can even catch up with past challenges as they are all open until December 31, 2012. 

Visit Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges on Friday July 13 to find out who won the prize! The winners will be included in the next challenge post.  :)


I used the following supplies for this card:

Cardstock: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury 120# Pure White, Pink Paislee Mistables.

Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Wisteria, Warm Violet, Tangerine, Yellow Citrus, French Blue.  Smooch Spritz Pralines and Cream.

Embellishments:  American Crafts Premium Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Up! Basic Jewels Rhinestones.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam squares, Zots.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large, We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-dile, sponge. Ranger blending tool.



Sunday 1 July 2012

Oh Canada!

Happy Canada Day everyone!  We will be joining in with our city's Canada Day celebrations a little later but in the meantime I came up with this card:



I obviously got some inspiration from the Canadian flag, but I started with the maple leaves.  You'll never believe where they came from! One of the teams at work was having a bake sale for charity and where selling these cute little Canada Day cupcakes and they were decorated with these felt maple leaves.  As I was admiring how cute it was I realized that it was a felt sticker.  Only a small bit of the stem had touched the icing, so I wiped it off and it was good as new!

When I peeled the felt off of the backing I realized it was just clear acetate, and since it was already in the shape if a maple leaf I decided to use it too and coloured it with a red alcohol marker.  Perfect Canada Day embellishments!



Once I had my embellishments I chose cardstock (went with the easy choice of red and white)  and pulled out my Cuttlebug.  I used some new embossing folders I got from Scrapbook Steals, roughed the edges of both panels with a distressing tool.  I added ribbon to the red panel, and added the maple leaves to the white panel.  As a last minute thought I decided to add the heart button with some more white ribbon.  The button came from a pound bag of buttons I bought years and years ago that I never think to use but since I thought the card needed something I thought a button might work.  Once the white panel was assembled I foam taped it over the ribbon.

I didn't want this card to be completely without sentiment, so I added a simple white panel with distressed edges to the middle of the card and added a simple 'thanks sentiment'.



Making this card was fun to make - patriotic with just a touch of fun.  :).   And now I better go get ready to join in the celebrations.  I can't wait to see my son's reactions to the fireworks this year!

Happy Canada Day everyone!!


I used the following products:

Cardstock::  Stampin' Up! Real Red, Whisper White.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up!  Kindess Matters

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black.

Marker:  Bic Mark Its Rambunctious Red.

Embellishments: Button from stash, white satin ribbon from stash, maple leaf decoration  from a cupcake.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam tape.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Cuttlebug, Lifestyle Crafts Embossing folders Bloom set, Tim Holtz distressing tool.


I am entering into the following challenges:
  1. Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes 
  2. Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes
  3. Simon Says Stamp - Sporty and/or Patriotic
  4. Use it Tuesday - Be a Patriot  (button from stash, ribbon from stash, maple leaf cupcake decoration)
  5. Hiding in My Craftroom - Freestyle