Cardabilities Sketch# 8 Reveal!

Greetings!

I'm back home from CHA and am so excited to share with you the latest reveal for Cardabilities!  Shaped cards are so much fun and this fun sketch is just so fabulous!

Here is my take on the sketch using Little Yellow Bicycle's "Clothesline" line.  Aren't the colors and embellishments of this line so much fun?  I think so!  My favorites are the the epoxy buttons, chipboard and the tape measure paper.

 Thanks so much for stopping on over and spending a moment with me.  We can't wait to see what you do with the sketch, please share your creations via Mr. Linky at Cardabilities!

My Wild Side!

It's time for a playful and fun layout, how about getting a little wild?! 

Well ok, maybe I'm not the one getting so wild, but someone has to be on the ready with the active toddlers in our house!  We had the best time over Memorial weekend with a bunch of friends at a picnic when this photo was taken.  I just love the look on his face and it's really a rustic swing for sure.

This page was created using the Karen Foster Zoo kit from the Thoughts2Paper store.  Do you love that background die cut paper?  It worked out just perfectly for this I think!  You can find it at the store too! 

I think the characters in these papers are so stinking cute!  I had to cut them out and scape them into the tree.  To create the tree, I started just stitching the vining on my background.  I had planned it to be more random but it ended up looking like a tree trunk and then my page idea was born.  I then cut the trunk out by hand, embossed it and there you go! 

I used the Martha Stewart oak, rose and frond punches for the many leaves on here, then I inked and shaped them.  The toucan and bird are stickers in the kit.  I knew I wanted to simulate the rope into the tree so I used a Jenni Bowlin journaling card and stapled it to the hemp and voila!

Check out the Thoughts2Paper store if you want one of these super cute Karen Foster Zoo kits for your wild photos!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a super scrappity happy day!

Thoughts 2 Paper Debut Post!

I am so completely excited to share with you my first post for Thoughts2Paper as part of their Design Team!

For my first project I used the Pink Paislee Starlight line of papers and stickers.  One word comes to mind with this line, gorgeous!  I love the classic Americana vibe of these papers but with the awesome surprise splashes of yellow and green color tossed in.  I have to share with you that I just had the best time working with these gorgeous papers!

This is one of my favorite photos of our youngest little guy. When I saw the photo with the paper, I just knew my title would become... All Star Smile!

Techniques: Pierced and stitched the circle of the diecut sheet. Machine stitched border and photo. Pleated and stitched the ribbon using my sewing machine. Wrapped star with wire, used Helmar Zap Dots for dimension. I found the scored star technique over at the GCD Studios blog. Misted my corrugated alphas for interest.

Here is a closer peek so you can see some of the details:

I used the Helmar 450 to glue down my ribbon and my buttons. I played a bit with the Textured Effects on my star title block.

You can find in the store the Pink Paislee Starlight paper line with stickers, Helmar 450, Helmar Textured Effects and Ranger Stormy Sky ink.

Other items used: Buttons, jute, thread, Jenni Bowlin stick pins, florist wire, Ranger Rock Candy distress crackle paint on large star, journaling pen, star punch by Uchida, Cricut Expression and Plantin Schoolbook for stars, Fired Brick Distress Ink, two Doodlebug sugar brads, Jillibean Soup Corrugated Alphas and Cornflower Metallic Blue MayaMist.

Do you ever make cards with your leftover scraps?  I had this small piece left of my diecut and just knew I needed to make a card with it!  This card is a 5x7 size.  You simply trim a 12x12 down to 10x7, then you score in half at the 5 and you have your card base!

I just adore the fun look of banners lately and had to use these fun stickers for the sentiment on this card. I think it gives it a soft feeling. I used my Helmar 450 to tack down the bows on either side of the banner, and to adhere my paper folded ribbon.

Aren't these stick pins by Maya Road adorable?  The sentiment is part of the Kaiser set of Thank You rub-ons available in the store.  I'm not a big stamper but I really love using rub-ons for card making!  I also love Zva Creative's beautiful and affordable pearl bling, if you have not tried it yet, you don't know what you are missing!

Non-Store Items: Crinkle Ribbon, thread, Fired Brick Distress Ink.

Thanks so much for hanging here with me for a few moments on your Friday. I am so very honored to be a part of the Thoughts2Paper Design Team and can't wait to share more projects with you soon.

Have a super scrappity day and weekend!!!

Cardabilities Sketch 7 Reveal!

I have to share with you how very much I love the Cardabilities reveals!  I look forward to seeing all of the gorgeous work that the design team puts out.  Today's post is even more exciting because the new Design Team is revealing.  You will definitely want to go check them out. 

Here is sketch 7:

Here is my interpretation of it using American Crafts "I Do".:

I'd love to see your interpretation of this sketch too!  Be sure to link up on the Cardabilities blog so we can see your creation.  Thank you so much for stopping on over, I hope you have a super scrappity day!!! 

Final ScrapFit Reveal!

It's time for my final Workout #24 reveal for ScrapFit, can you believe it?!  For our final workout our challenge is to pick a favorite project from one of the other Fit Girls and lift it, but somehow change it up a bit.

Our sponsor for this workout is Thoughts 2 Paper, a fabulous new online store.  The owner, Liz was so sweet to send the Fit Girl Design Team some super cute Karen Foster kits to create with!  I selected the "Zoo Life" kit. 

I just loved this fun whimsical card of Danielle's and decided to lift it.

My lift of Danielle's card.  I used kraft paper for my scallops and stapled my trim, then added some jute:

Thank you so much to Kelly and Laura Jean for their fun challenges and to the rest of my awesome Fit Girls for their inspiration!  I'm going to miss working with you, but will definitely participate in the workouts when I can.  Congratulations and best wishes to the new Design Team, we can't wait to see your work.

Thank you so much for stopping on by!  Have a super scrap happity day!

Simply Renee: 'Penny For Your Thoughts...'

I'm so excited to share with you my first project post as part of the new Simply Renee Design Team!

My project is all about upcycling which is very much on trend today.  I finished up this chai latte mix last week and could not bear to part with this cute container!  Perhaps it is the feel of nostalgia, but I just loved how sturdy it is and overall, the cuteness factor won me over.  Am I alone here?

One of my crafty commitments in 2010 is to try to journal more often and meaningfully.  I decided that I wanted to alter my little container to become a new 'home' for my journaling pens.  I really need to have my pens organized in a single place of honor in my studio.

Here is my 'before' photo so you can see where I started:

Here is what it looks like now... Penny for Your Thoughts...













I couldn't resist the sentiment and decided that this project 'needed' a wheat penny.  I added just a smudge of liquid pearls to it to soften which created just the feel that I wanted.  You will notice that I didn't just stop with the container!  I had to create just a little more eye candy for my desk.

Here are the extra details including the fun little hat that I made by flipping over that little lid:

To create the ruffled paper ribbon on the botton, I set my sewing machine stitch length to long and stitched in the middle of the double scallop punched trim. I then got the paper slightly damp and gathered it to create paper "ribbon". To disguise my stitching I applied some trim over the top.

Here are my little creations in action at my desk next to my Clip-It-Up Mini. I just love how perfectly the Mini works for storing my bling and embellishment collections. It's just the perfect size to help organize your array of embellishment goodies.

I hope that you take a look at some of the things that you recycle from time to time and see how you can re-purpose or upcycle to help you organize your craft space. Please share your fun projects, I would love to see them!

Ingredients: 
My Mind's Eye, 'So Sophie' *
Zva Creative Pearls *
Prima Say it In Crystals
Kaiser Pearls
Cricut Expression and Summer In Paris cartridge * for 3D dress form
Martha Stewart butterfly punches and scallop punch 
Spellbinders Labels Ten * and Shapeabilities Fleur De Lis
Paper Flower *
Dried flowers, thread, trims, feathers and velvet flower from stash. 
* These items from Thoughts 2 Paper

Thank you so much for stopping on over today, have a super fabulous rest of your day!

A Big Thank You!

It's hard to believe that it is time to reveal my final projects for Life Preserver's using the June alternate kit. 

I wanted to take a moment and say a very big heartfelt Thank You to Life Preserver's for allowing me the honor and pleasure of designing with their beautiful kits!   Your kindness and generosity are appreciated more than words can say.

After looking at these papers I felt like this one particular photo was going to be just perfect to play with!  My husband in one of his ever many daredevil moments!  I had never attempted a mosaic before so I decided this was the perfect opportunity! 

The kit has so many fun extras in it from Little Yellow Bicycle, I just love the transparencies!  I found the coordinating epoxy stickers at my LSS garage sale for a whole $1.  I was in the midst of this and thought the numbers were perfect for the jump countdown!  I zig-zag stitched on the exclamation mark.  The non kit items on here:  Tag, brads, gears, mini alphas and packaging.

Some dimension details:

I saw this sentiment in the kit and just knew I had to use it!  I could not resist!!!  So I decided to get a little funky and grungy with it. 

Dude, this cracks me up!  I used ric-rak and a little strip of tiny paper pleated with my staples for some dude appeal.  I found the scored star technique over on the GCD Studio's and had to give it a try.  What fun!

Thank you so much for stopping on over and spending a moment. 
Have a super scrappity day!!!

ScrapFit Workout....

Have you heard?  We have a super fabulous sponsor over at ScrapFit for this workout!!!  It is none other than Nikki Sivils!  They were so kind and sent us some beautiful scrappy supplies to create with!

The workout:  Create 3 or more handmade embellies for your project! 

Want to see what I did?  I did a lot of fussy cutting!  I cut out the cloud, inked and glossy accented, then pop dot for accent.  I cut the sunflower and added a bit of texture using one of the fabulous burlap buttons for the center and then I cut out the little bee at the very top of the card.  I just love how my glossy accents added some oomph and interest to these fun papers!

I love the feel of pleated ribbon, so I just used strips of paper and folded, then tucked them in layers for some more texture.  The stick pins are a simple find from the sewing section at Michael's.

Thanks so much for stopping on over!  I can't wait to see what you make!  Have a super scrappity day!!!