Friday, October 21, 2011

3D pumpkin

Paper Craft Planet has a wonderful 3D challenge group every Tuesday.  This week, Susanna's challenge is an awesome 3D pumpkin which she saw on the Archiver's website. 

The directions call for 8 pieces of orange 12x12 cardstock and I didn't have it after all the Halloween cards I made.  So, I used K&Co. papers - lucky for me they have a lot of orange hued papers.  I also used small pieces of Sassafras and DCWV papers, but you can't see them in the picture.  Now, being the former blonde that I am, I followed Susanna's advice about scoring first and then cutting to save time, I did that and then cut the pieces in the wrong direction so I needed to score again.  Luckily you can't see this error in the finished product!  I twirled thin pieces of green CS and glued to the top, a simple stem and I was done!


I'm going to add some stamped leaves and make it my centerpiece for Thanksgiving Dinner.  I'm also thinking I can incorporate this into placecards.  I'll post those later.

Thanks, Susanna, for a great project!

Have a great weekend.


Thursday, October 20, 2011

Monochromatic Stamping

Today I want to share 3 cards I designed.  All stamps are from Stampscapes - I have been intimidated by these stamps since I first saw them.  However, I keep on plugging away and now I'm teaching classes using them.  This Saturday 10/22 and Monday 10/24, I will be demoing these at my LSS, Inspired Designs.

I originally was going to make these Halloween cards, but I'm not sure they ended up that way. LOL


 This card was done with Memento black ink.  The only other color was Brilliance silver for the bear.

 This scene used Cool Peri, Purple Twilight and Eggplant from Adirondack's ink line by Ranger.  It's a very peaceful scene (at least I think so).  These inks work really well on glossy cs (from Stampin' Up) and blend beautifully.

The window is a Spellbinder's die for Heartfelt Creations.  I cut and embossed the black and then embossed again onto gray paper and cut it to back the black. The PP is Theresa Collins.

So, if you are in Auburn, Maine at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday or 6:00 p.m. on Monday, come to class - it's free!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Halloween mini-album

Happy Monday!

I participated in the Paper Wishes message board Halloween ABC (anything but a card) swap .  I have been watching the new My Craft Channel and Heidi Swapp showed a back to back album, which I 'lifted.  I had an old piece of packaging that I've had forever and I decided to re-purpose that.  This first picture is fuzzy, my apologies, but it was the only one I took of that view and the album itself is long gone.

I painted the cardboard with Plaid purple and  brushed on a gold shimmer top coat by DecoArt.The DreamWeaver stencil and black soot Distress Ink (Ranger) were perfect for an eerie background.  Added some black Dazzles (HOTP) and K& Co. Stickers.  The ribbon is glued to the back.




This is the front cover without the ribbon.
I used a combination of HOTP, My Mind's Eye, and (I think) Sassafras papers.  I've had most of these for so long, I don't know the manufacturer for sure beyond HOTP papers (they came in a kit).




The next few pictures are various interior pages, this is very simple to construct; my base was roughly 5 1/2" square so my papers were 5 1/2 x 9 which I scored at 5 1/4.  I glued one to the base and then continued adhering the papers wrong sides together - I think I used 6 total.

 

 
The cat and pumpkin are Design Adhesives from Clearsnap and black Crushed Velvet by Doodlebug.  On each of the shorter pages I added various embellishments utilizing Dazzles, Tonic Punches and embellishments from Jolee's, K&Co. and Joanne's Fabrics.

The swap required 2 items, so for my second, I did a quick ATC.  The background CS was sprayed with Goosebumps and rubbed with Adirondack Ink as a resist.  The spider and web are HOTP and the stamps are Inkadinkado.  I embossed with PK Glitz Stardust Pumpkin, added a bit of Stickles and I was through.

I was very happy with both of these projects and sent them on to their new home in Texas.

Thanks for stopping by - let me know what you think of these 2 projects!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Good morning!  I was looking at some of my older posts and I came across the 2 projects I did last year to "celebrate" this event.  I decided to re-post them as a gentle plea to take care of yourself and your loved ones.  Ladies don't forget your monthly self-exam (if you have a partner, let them help and double the fun!) and get mammograms as recommended by your doctor.  Don't want to forget this is a disease that also attacks men as well.







This card ended up going to a co-worker whose sister had a double mastectomy last September. For details about the products used, check the original post here






This was a very odd but fun card which I sent to my oldest sister, she gets my offbeat humor.
Details can be found here











I know we all have busy lives, but stop and take the time!  Your family will thank you for it!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

World Cardmaking Day Recap and new cards!

I was certainly busy last Saturday!  I spent the day participating in the HOTP message board festivities and got a lot of cards made!  I thought I would post a few - the vast majority of supplies on all the cards are HOTP products.  I won 2 of the activities and am (not so) patiently waiting for my goodies!

Let me know what you think of these cards!  There are some I really like and a few I'm not so happy with - but I won't tell you  which is which.

 This card was for a challenge to emboss - either kind.  I used Sizzix folder and sanded it to get a hint of the black core.
 This card was the green challenge.





This card was made to the following requirements: sympathy card, green and vellum.  The sentiment (an Outlines stamp) is on green vellum and the focal is gold vellum.




















This card was the use a button challenge.  The button is a die from Ecstasy Crafts.


 This challenge was to create a mini album using bling, 2 PP, 1 CS and a mist.  I used purple glimmer mist on light blue paper and a Crafter's Companion stencil.  The 2nd PP was on the inside.




This is one of my favorites - a red, black and white card.  I am thinking, though, that I should use a bit of Stickles bling - what do you think?














This challenge was to use Dazzles.  I used double sided hearts as the focal and border.  The sentiment is from Kaisercraft and one of my favorites.













 This was use a flower and diecut.  The die is from Nellie's Dies (my new favorite!)







This challenge was to tear paper - something I'm not sure I like.  What I chose to do was pretty mild though.









So there you have it!  There were more, but that's enough for now.

I would love some feedback and thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Paper Wishes World Cardmaking Day Blog Hop!

If you are looking for the Operation Write Home blog hop please click here.



Welcome to the Paper Wishes  BLOG HOP - we are so glad you are here to help us celebrate World Card Making Day! Some card making day trivia for you:
  • Today, card making is a worldwide hobby, especially popular in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • 1 in 6 U.S. households participates in making cards
  • 86% of scrapbookers also create handmade cards
  • 92% of paper crafters create cards more than any other type of project
Be sure to check out all the blogs in this blog hop, as well as visit the Paper Wishes message board  as there are tons of things going on there today, all sponsored by Paper Wishes, with loads and loads of great prize packages! You don’t want to miss a chance to win!

This blog hop gives you TWO ways to win!!!
First – leave a comment on ALL THE BLOGS and a random drawing will be done to choose the winner, who will get a prize package from Paper Wishes.
Second – play H.O.T.P. (Hot Off The Press) bingo with us.
  • Visit each blogger on the blog hop to find their bingo square. (Make a note of the blog name for each square too!)
  • Click on this link to find the official BINGO CARD. (If you aren’t a member of the Paper Wishes message board yet, you are not only missing loads of fun but you may need to register to access the bingo card!)
  • To win, you will need to make a bingo (4 squares in a row, horizontal, vertical or diagonal) by doing what it shows in each square. There are some free squares; there are some where you just have to post something specific on the message board, and there are some that tell you to use something. Where it tells you to USE something, that means to make a project (any kind of papercrafting project – a card, an ATC, a bookmark, a tag, etc.) with the item listed in that square.
  • When you have your BINGO ready, follow these directions:
    • Go to the Paper Wishes Message Board and click on “post reply” on THIS THREAD.
    • In your reply tell us the four squares you are using for your bingo.
    • Tell us the square number AND the name of the blog for any squares you are using that were mentioned on a blog.
    • Post the items for each square in your reply, including a picture of the project you made for any square with directions to USE something.
  • We will randomly select a winner from all the correct bingo entries! Be sure that we have either your blog address or your email so that we know how to contact you if you are a winner!!!
  • Your bingo must be posted to the Paper Wishes message board not later than midnight U.S. eastern time, Sunday, October 2nd to be eligible for the prize drawing!

The BINGO SQUARE FOR THIS BLOG IS: _08_

Here are all the participating blogs for this blog hop:

Penny     >>>>>>>> YOU ARE HERE!
Sam 

So on with the fun – it doesn’t matter where you start the blog hop, just see where you are on the list above and make sure you visit them all and leave some sweetness behind!

Now that we've got the "business" end of the hop out of the way - here are some cards I have made using products from Paper Wishes.



The background was made by spraying white paper with Goosebumps and when dry rubbing orange ink all over it.  Very simple, but a great look; I stamped the image with Staz-on.  The papers and ribbon are from Paper Wishes.












I used many different Halloween papers to make the background weaving - it's amazing what you can do while watching tv!  The brad buddy is from the Paper Wishes Finished in a Flash Halloween set as are the brads and ribbon.  I had enough of the woven piece to make several cards - it's a pretty cool look.












This card used one of my very favorite PW supplies - the Color Me papers.  I simply cut the 12x12 sheet to size needed and sponged on Distress Inks by Ranger.  I finished it off with a mini collage and polka dot ribbon.  The colors are more vibrant in person. 










I love to read comments, so please take a moment to let me know what you think of my blog!  Enjoy the rest of the hop and don't forget to play along with all the great challenges on the Message Board today!

Your next stop carries you all the way to Ireland and the wonderfully talented Michelle!
I am having trouble getting links to work! Michelle's blog can be found at http://www.preciousthoughtscards.blogspot.com/