Exploding Box and PaperCutz Challenge #88

Hi everyone!  I missed last week's challenge, but am here now.  This week at Papercutz Challenge you need to make any project using purple, green, pink, blue and white.  A bit of black is also allowed.  This one had me thinking hard and then I stumbled across this unfinished exploding box which I had cut out in blue and green - problem solved!

I have templates for several different shapes for exploding boxes and this is a hexagon.  They are very easy to make and instead of using photos inside, I chose to make this a quotation/sayings piece of different things that always make me stop and think.

To use all the colors for the challenge, I stamped the words/sayings on white cardstock with black ink and matted those pieces with another color from the challenge.  The cardstock I used has a pearlescent finish so there is a subtle shimmer to them.  Because of the small sizes, I embellished each panel very simply.  I recently bought the large pink flower in the center from Maya Road, it is made from fabric and has wonderful texture.  I surrounded it with blue and pink rosebuds to finish it off.

I made the lid, used sheer ribbon for the bow and added more blue rosebuds to cover the Zots holding the  ribbon in place.  A few flowers from HOTP and a purple jewel brad and I was done.


This was a time consuming project and I have a whole basketful of stamps that need to be cleaned, but I am very happy with the finished project.

Be sure to upload a picture of your project on the Papercutz Challenge blog to be eligible to win a prize.

Have a great week and a wonderful Easter!

PaperCutz Challenge #86

It's Friday again!  We continue with an Easter theme this week as your Papercutz challenge is to make a card using any colors you'd like to make a project using a hand stamped, digi stamped or die cut image of a lamb, chick, bunny or Easter eggs.  I made a card with a chick last week, so this week I went with eggs.

I made a tag this week starting with white paper I sprayed with Fully Purple Glimmer Mist.  I then used an EF from Cuttlebug's Lotus Blossom set.  After I dry embossed it, I gently rubbed Versamark over the raised images and heat embossed with Stampendous Lavender Pastel EP.  I also heat embossed the greeting using Inkadinkado stamps and Ranger purple EP.  I layered the 2 papers and lace and added the eggs and flowers.
The egg stamp is from Michael Strong which I stamped in Versamark and then used polished pigments and a paint brush to rub on the colors.  Unfortunately, my camera hates me these days, so the vibrant colors aren't really showing through.  I finished up the eggs with Stickles for more shine!  The color combination of purple, pink and green is actually quite lovely.  This tag is definitely a departure from my usual "style", but I do like it, there is lots of color and texture and will look great on my DH's Easter present.

PaperCutz Challenge #85

Happy Friday!  We are now into April but you wouldn't know it by looking out my windows - it is snowing!  One of the prices I pay for living in the beautiful state of Maine.  My Spring bulbs had started peeking through and I'm hoping they make it through.


Easter is on its way and this week at PaperCutz Challenge Easter is the challenge!  Make any kind of project for Easter with any colors you'd like.  I made a simple card for my son and his family.  The stamp is a sweet one I just got from HOTP and the suede paper is some I've had for quite some time.  (I never used these papers because they felt to good to cut into LOL).  I used Nestabilities for layering and all the pastel colors I had.

I stamped the chick twice with purple Staz-on, cut out the egg portion and popped it with foam dots.  Simple and quick, but sweet at the same time.  You can see in the bottom left corner where the pink paper is crumpled - but you can't see it on the card itself.  Oh well...

Please join us this week!

PaperCutz Challenge #84

Good morning everyone!  The sun is shining, I can actually see grass outside of my window and my daffodils and tulips are starting to peek out of the ground.  Must be Spring!

This week at Papercutz Challenge, your task is to create a project using 3 patterned papers with any color/theme you like.  Sounds easy doesn't it?  I have a lot of trouble combining patterned papers so they actually coordinate! LOL  So, for this week, I took the easy way out and used papers which came together in a pack.  Figured even I couldn't go wrong that way.

 



Papers and sentiment are HOTP.  Flowers and bling from my stash and twine is from Kim Bell's Etsy Shop.

I think I made it too easy on myself and did finish a layout from Thanksgiving which used papers from different manufacturers. I'll post that a little later.

PaperCutz Challenge #83

Happy Friday everyone!  I've been MIA from some of the challenges recently, but I think I'm back on track (she says keeping her fingers crossed).
 
Challenge #83 is your choice! Make a card, LO or craft project using any colors and any theme you'd like.

I've been busy playing with a new die set I bought from Inspired Designs.  It reminds me of doilies and is very pretty.  I made several cards with it I'd like to share:

 All the patterned paper is from HOTP.   The die set includes the medallions and the flower in the middle.  I used glimmer paper for all the die cuts - it is very difficult to see the shimmer in these pictures, but it is there!  I also used the reformulated Liquid Pearls in the first and third cards.  Very pretty and "springy".  

Please play along with this week's challenge and link your creation here for a chance to win the monthly prize!

Have a great week!

Operation Write Home Bunny Hop Blog Hop

Good morning!  If you arrived here from Patricia's blog, you 

are in the right place. If not, the blog starts here.  It is 

time for Spring and OWH is celebrating with a hop to feature

Spring cards. 

I apologize if this post looks odd, blogger and I are not getting

along at the moment! LOL 

Please remember the following dates for your cards to be at 

your shipper.  Easter is March 18th and Mother's Day is 

March 31.  If you ever have questions about due dates,you can 

check the OWH web site for their one page calendar. Spend some 

time exploring the website; I particularly like the tutorial page, 

I always find new techniques and tips which helps keep my 

creativity fresh.

I've got 5 cards for you today - I couldn't pick just one! As you 

can see, my "hello" stamp is a favorite.  I figure it can be used for

just about any occasion.  I try to keep my cards fairly simple, but I love

dimension so all the butterflies add that to the cards.  They'll flatten out

for mailing but will pop back up. 

I just spent the week at a wonderful camp called Camp Kieve in 

Nobleboro, ME.  The wonderfully generous people there offer programs 

for veterans for free.  They have had family weeks, Vietnam Vets week 

and a Women Veterans week which I went to.  This is a time for reflection

on our service and an opportunity to center ourselves.  Many of the women

I met had multiple tours in Iraq or Afghanistan along with the first 

Persian Gulf war, there were "peacetime" vets and vets who served as 

peacekeepers such as my time in Bosnia.  All had poignant stories to 

share about how serving in the military changed their lives.  I even 

had a reunion with a woman I served with whom I haven't seen in almost

10 years. There were many generous contributors who made this experience

possible for us and I'd like to thank them all.

The next stop on this Hop is  Christy  at lone pine designs!  Have 

fun as you continue on!  I love to read comments, so please feel free

to leave me a hello and browse through my other posts.

Happy Spring!

Mid Week Throwdown - Operation Write Home

This week at OWH the Midweek Throwdown Challenge is to make masculine cards for the troops to send to men and boys.  I also used my card for the Paper Wishes MessageBoard Challenge #4 to use scoring in a project.

 All papers are HOTP, the twine from Kim Bell's Etsy Shop.  The stamps are from Stampscapes.  It's a very simple card, with no sentiments, but I do like it.

This was my second card for the challenge - defnitely not masculine!  All supplies are HOTP.  The folding was in the rosettes, I've never made them before (these are attempts #3 and 4).  It is a very soft feminine card.

As always, would love some feedback!