Saturday, April 30, 2011

Chipboard-Palooza

Nothing like waiting at the last minute to enter a contest well things are super hectic this month so I'm really happy to have had a chance to do a page at all!  But when you see the awesome prizes offered by swirlydoos and dusty attic well I just have to play along... you have until midnight tonight if you want to play!

Here is my page.


Everything on here is from Swirlydoos some from the store and some from the kits with the exception of the coordination cardstock I used as the dp it is sanded and distressed!  I love there cardstock lines... it is so much fun to play with... I tried to keep this page simple to add so that my chipboard would stand out more Here are some close up of the DA peices...



I love how delicate the titles are they are so detail and incredibly beautiful.  I painted the chipboard white and I added a little Chestnut Roan to the top and bottom of the title  so that it gradually fades into the white.  It is a technique that I've seen Gabrielle do on her chipboard titles and I just love the look of it so I thought I would try to recreate that.



The snow flakes I did pretty much like Krissy showed with the Glitter video... all the video tutorials were fabulous! 

Oh the page is based on the sketch over at Lasting Memories... They have great weekly challenges... I was in the middle of applying for the DT when I realized how little time I actually have so I think it is better if I just play along when I can for now... at least till things die down... but it was such a great sketch that I still wanted to use it! 

I created the background by stamping a Large elegant word background stamp from Heartfelt Creations.  I then ran my distress ink pad directly on the paper to give it a grungy look.  It just so happens that the challenge at Noel Mignon is Stampy Mcstamperson.  He he I love when that happens!  Well thanks for looking

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Heartfelt Creations Wednesday

Good morning!

Hope every one is having a great day!  It's Wednesday which is my favorite day of the week... Please note that is favorite day of the working week.  LOL.  Wednesdays I get to share with you what I've been up to in my craft room, I still prefer my weekends because that is when I get to actually PLAY in my craft room (OK technically my kitchen but beggars can't be choosers, or so I'm told).  I'm happy to be sharing a few projects with all of you today.  First up is this super easy pocket and it smells so good... I've got vanilla potpourri in there!  Super SWEET!

Product Used:


Others:

Jean Pocket, Trim, Tim Holtz – Mini stapler, Scribble Scrabble paper – Sweet Shop Collection, Crafter’s Newspaper print, Memento Ink, Color Box fluid chalk - Chestnut Roan & Dark Moss, Distress Ink – Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo & Walnut Stain,  Smooch – Sunkissed spray & molasses paint , Dusty Attic chipboard – Foliage, Prima - E-Line pearls, Speed-Sew glue, Glossy Accents, Glue gun & a button.  Potpourri & wide lace

Directions:

Cut out a denim pocket from any old pair of jeans, tear paper to cover the pocket, ink edges with chestnut roan. Glue paper to the pocket, I cover the paper with a thin layer of Speed-Sew and place on to pocket.  You can add more paper layers; I tore a few strips, inked edges again and glued them with Glossy Accents.  Attach trim around the edge of the pocket, securing with mini staples as you go around, make sure you leave extra trim at the top for your handle.  Stamp all 3 sizes of sunflowers on white cardstock and spray with Sunkissed Spray, once dry, cut out the flowers using coordinating die cut or scissors, snip between each petal.  Shape petals by curling downwards and layer the flowers using hot glue.  Add a button for the flower center.  Cut out 2 leaves from newspaper print, ink with green and brown inks, crumple leaves and attach to the bottom of the flower.  Use molasses smooch paint to cover the chipboard piece, decorate with pearls.  Glue chipboard and flower to the pocket as shown.
Sew a pocket out of the wide lace, fill pocket with potpourri and staple shut, add the lace pocket inside your denim pocket.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


For my second project I decided to make a card... I had been meaning to take a class on paper tole for a very long time now.  I thought these images would look wonderful done up with this technique.  I went to my local craft shop with my stamps, copics, cardstock and scissors and here is what I came out with.  It is a very time consuming process but the results are super special.  I know I will do this technique again and again!  I loved every second of this project... for one I love learning new techniques and I like the tediousness required in this technique, I know most people like quick and painless but to me the more tedious the more love I poured into my card and isn't that the point of making a card for those special people in our lives.  OK so I wouldn't do this on every card but you can definitely count on seeing a card here and there done in this technique!! 

Products used:
Other Products
Momento Tuxedo Black Ink, Cryogen Iridescent Cardstock, Bazzill Pale Green Cardstock, My Mind’s Eye – So Sophie, SEI – Velvet Clover Paper, Martha Stewart doily lace edge punch, ribbon, Glossy Accents.

Copic Markers:
Cardinal – R59, R29, R27 & R20
Cherries – R59 & R29
Flower – RV29 & R32
Leaves – YG03 & YG67

Directions:

Start with a 6’x 6’ card base (Light Green), cut out a 5.5’x 5.5’ piece of pattern paper.   Cut a 1 ½’ strip of paper and punch out both sides of strip with lace punch to create a ribbon secure to each corner of pattern paper and add a ribbon as shown in picture.  Adhere pattern paper to base card.  Image was done using a paper tole technique; the image was stamped 4 times, a color and cut template will be available on my blog.   Color in with copic markers various parts of image that are not touching anything else.  Pieces are then individually cut out and shaped using stylus.  Stamp base image once again on white cardstock and die cut that image.  Layer individual pieces on die cut background starting with parts of image that are furthest away or underneath other pieces.  Mat image with a second die cut piece and adhere to card base with foam spacers.

A few more views.  I'm really hoping you can all see the dimention I was able to get on the image.  It was so worth the extra time it took to to the paper tole!  It is the perfect technique for those extra special cards



And the inside.
I'm out of time... but I still have to scan the color and cut files.  I will add them to the post as soon as I get home.  Well I'm off to get ready for work!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Heartfelt Creations Wednesday

I'm so happy that I get to share a couple of projects with you today!  The first project I'm sharing is the second project I had sent in for my application for the Heartfelt Creations Design Team.  Once again let me tell you that I am so thrilled to be part of this super talented team!

Sunflower card with Envelope Box

 

Products used on this project
HCPC 2293 Aztec Gold Sunflowers
HCPC 2294 Aztec Gold Sunflowers
HCD 702 Decorative Butterfly-Border Die

Other: Cryogen White Iridescent Cardstock, Dark Brown Bazzill cardstock, Kraft cardstock, Smooch Spritz – Sun Kissed, Diamond Dust, Alcohol Ink – Hazelnut, Distress Ink Walnut Stain

Copic Markers: YR07, YR04, Y08, Y06, Y02, E37, E35, YG67, G99 & YG11

6’x 9’ Brown cardstock folded in half for the card base. Layer a 5 ¾’x 4 ¼’ piece of white cardstock and a 5 ½’x 4’ piece of brown cardstock; sew along the edge and attach panel to the card base.  Stamp 2 large flowers on white cardstock using Walnut Stain distress ink, color 1 flower with the copic markers listed above; spray the second flower with the Sun Kissed Smooch.  This will match the copic colors perfectly.  Cut them out and make slits in between each petal.  Fold the petals up, round them down using your fingers and pinch the tip, use a stylus tool (a retractable pen would work too) shape the middle of the top flower till it is rounded, the one that was coloured with copics.  Add pop dots in the middle of the bottom (Sun Kissed) flower and layer both flowers together, making sure that you offset the petals. Pour some diamond dust in a baggy and add a few drops of alcohols ink to die the glass brown.  Use some Glossy Accents in the center of your flower and sprinkle with Diamond Dust.  Cut out a stem and leaf from your white cardstock and color with copic markers, I free handed these shapes, glue down the stem and secure the leaf by running a stitch along the center vain and using a strong adhesive add the flower.  I used glossy accents for this project.  Stamp out 2 seeds on Kraft cardstock with Walnut Stain and cut them out attach them to your card using pop dots.



Cut a 5 ¼’x 3 ¼’ piece of white cardstock.  To create a border, stamp seeds all along the edge using Walnut Stain, color with E35.  Stamp you sentiment and round the edges.  Attach this piece to the inside panel.





To create the envelope box cut 2 pieces of  Kraft Cardstock 6 ½’x 8 ½’, score and fold 1’ from each edge, make a slit along 1 of the folded edges in each corner, make sure you cut only to where your folds intersect, using a strong adhesive, glue tabs together to create the 2 box halves.  The top half will slide over the bottom portion, you may have to play with them a little the first time you put on the lid.  Punch out a half circle from each of the long sides of your top piece.  I normally will try to follow the theme of the card to make a matching envelope box.

Created the same panel as the front of the card layering 4 ¼’ x 6 ¼’ brown cardstock; 4’x 6’ white cardstock and 3 ¾’x 5 ¾’ brown cardstock and sew them together, glue down to the lid of your box. Die cut 2 corner flourishes out of yellow cardstock and spray them with Sun Kissed Smooch to make them extra bright, secure the 2 corner pieces together with brads and glue onto the middle of the box, stamp the smallest of the sunflowers from the 2293 sunflower set on white cardstock with Walnut Stain and spray with the Sun Kissed Smooch, dab a little walnut stain on the flower to dull the color a bit.  Attach a button to the center of the flower using wire.  Punch out 2 leaves (Martha Stewart Rose leaf punch) crinkle them up and layer them along with the flower on the corner pieces, use a strong adhesive, I used Glossy accents.

Thinking about you


Products used:
HCPC 3383 Cardinal Posy Branch Pre Cut Set
HCPC 3303 Posy Patch Flowers Pre Cut Set
HPCP 3353 Cardinal Family Pre Cut Set
HCD 706 Cadinal Family Die

Other Products
Momento Tuxedo Black Ink, Cryogen Iridescent Cardstock,  Core Impressions – Vanilla Beans – Buds cardstock (Core’dinations),  Victorian Velvet Distress Ink (Ranger), Cotton Candy Stickles, E-Line pearls (Prima), Glossy Accents

Copic Markers:
Cardinal – R59, R29, R27 & R20
Flowers – RV29 & R32
Leaves – YG03 & YG67

Start with a 6.5’x 5.25’ card base (red), mat a 6.25x 5’ piece of core cardstock, inked with Victorian Velvet, with black cardstock and attach panel to card base. Stamp main image and sentiment on 5’x 4’ piece on Cryogen cardstock, color leaves, branch and flower buds with markers.  Color in bird and flowers using darkest shade of copics, these will be covered by additional layers.  Stamp 3 large cardinals and cut using coordinating die.  First image will be the bottom layer for tail and feet, second layer for body, third layer for wing and beak. Using a stylus form each layer and stack your cut layers to form the bird, attach layers with glossy accents.  Use the 3 smallest posy Patch flowers stamp set, stamp the smallest flower 3 times, and the other 2 once each.  Color and cut images, add gems to flower centers and glue over top of original stamped image.  Add stickles to flowers as desired.  Mat the completed image using black cardstock and the base card color and attach this panel to the card.  

Here are a few more views:



Sunday, April 17, 2011

Isn't it pretty??

I just wanted to share with you the nightmare that is Kapuskasing right now!  The weatherman confirmed 28 CM of snow as of right now with more on the way!  It is insane.  Here are a few pictures I just took now... it is completly INSANE!!


Yep that is my car under there!  I should be going to the grocery store today but I think I'll make due with what I have... LOL! As you can see the snow is over the bumper!  There was litterally no snow left before this storm hit!



And the back porch!  There is my bar-b-que in the back there! and my daughter's bike as it WAS spring!! 

Well thanks for sharing in my misery!  Going to go do some chores around the house now since I am trapped here!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Bear sighting!

OK so I'm planning on having a quiet weekend at home doing what I love to do best of all, playing with papers, OK my favorite thing is spending time wiht my daughter but since she is too busy to pay any attention to me this is the next best thing!  On top of that it is too darn cold to do anything else!  We are in the middle of a freak snow storm!  It is completly insane... I can't see my neighbour from here.  Ughh!  Can't wait for it all to be gone!  I love winter but now it is just getting annoying!  I am so ready for sunshine and flowers!  Speaking of Sunshine and Flowers Scrapbook Star is hosting an online crop this week and the them you guessed it Spring Fling!  I always love playing along with there crops!  They are full of inspiration and a great way to get moving on some of those pages I've been meaning to scrap like this one

I'm actually entering this page in a few different challenges in and around blogland!  Of course there is still the challenge at Lasting Momeries, there challenge this week was to include journalling on your page.  As you can see I journalled beside the picture!  Not an easy thing for me to do!  It is even hand written!  This is also my submission for the Pattern Paper Flowers at Scrapbook Star,  I handmade the rosette flowers... I really like the way they turned out, it is the first time that I try them.  I also made the leaves using some crafty journal pieces that I cut and sprayed with homemade mist.  Another place I like to get inspired at is ScrapFIT.  I love there challenges this month Workout 41 Stop and See Flowers is all about making your own flowers!  Well that is it for me right now.  I'll probably have a few more pages to share tomorrow! 

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Heartfelt Creations Wednesday


It's that time for the new Heartfelt Creations stamp release. This one is The Springtime Cardinal Collection. And it is gorgeous!

The Springtime Cardinal Collection features 8 new PreCut Sets. These new sets coordinate with existing exclusive Heartfelt Creations dies manufactured by Spellbinders.The images in this collection are very classic and elegant, perfect for your copic markers, and you will love the fact that they coordinate with some of the existing Heartfelt Creation dies, so this is an added value for some of the dies you might already own. Leave a comment the Heartfelt Creations blog by April 19 and one lucky person will win the entire release valued at $119.92. The winner will be announced on the HC blog on April 20. Please go see the entire collection, see what the Design Team has created and don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win the entire collection!!
 I'm still waiting on my new stamps... darn Canada Post... so I'm sitting out this reveal but trust me, I can't wait to play with these new stamps, and neither should you... so what are you still doing here... hop on over to the blog and tell us what you think... you never know, the very lucky winner could be YOU!!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Simply You

Hope everyone is doing well.  I'm a little sore right now... I just came back from a very strenuous workout... after 20 years of sitting on my bum I started a new journey towards getting healthier.  I managed to loose 60 pounds through Ideal Protein and I decided since I'm so close too my goal weight to add in a little exercise... who am I kidding I don't do a little bit of anything... I'm an all or nothing kind of a gal and right now every muscle in my body is on fire and yet here I sit because I can't wait to share my latest project with you. 

Right now Lasting Memories is holding a DT call.  I've played with there weekly challenges a few times and they are truly motivational so I'm throwing my hat in the ring so to speak... It is a great way for me to keep my mojo flowing!  I'm a little behind though so this on is for last weeks challenge Spring is in the air , I found this picture in my huge to scrap pile and I thought it was perfect.  I based my page on the April BAP sketch.  I always love the monthly sketches and I it gives me an excuse to break out my huge stash of all things PRIMA.  OK so here it is



For this project I started with a 2 sheets of Bazzill CS.  The pink sheet was sprayed with Tattered Angel - Glimmer Mist - Piece of Heart and Smooch Sprays in Splash and Cosmic pink.  I added some splotches by dripping the ink directly on to the paper... I like splotches! I sowed the cardstock together and then using a paint brush I wet the edge of the top CS to wet distress, using my fingers and nails I scrunched up the sheet to add a little texture to the page.  Don't you just love all these technical terms... splotches... scrunch!  It is all good!  Oh then I hit the edges with some Color Box ink in Robin's Nest.  I just adore that color.  Here is a close up of my edge so you can see what I'm talking about.



I used some Prima paper to frame the photo, it is the "Avondale" paper from the Annalee collection, I did some fussy cutting so that I could use the wonderful flowers in the patteren paper to add to my flower cluster.  I used the back side of the same paper to mat my picture and the paper block behind it.  The Butterflies were cut from the "Miss Pretty" paper which is from the Flights of Fancy Collection. 


All the flowers are Prima; most of them were leftover from other projects so I don't have all the names for them.  I find was told that building clusters from various types of flowers as well as layering different types of flowers adds interest to your project and I love the look of it so that is what I try to do now.  


Here is a trick for titles, learned the HARD way... I stuck the letter stickers on some clear packaging and cut the title out instead of sticking the letters directly on the layout, that way I could play with the title until I had it exactly where I wanted it... It is so much easier then adding them to the page only to find out you don't really like where you put them or that they aren't spaced properly. 

Well thanks for looking and if you read this whole thing... God bless you! LOL!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

The Suitcase

Have you ever had a project that so thoroughly kicked your butt that you didn't think you were ever going to get it done... Well that is what this project did to me.  It is for a swap over at Scrapbook.com and I started it well over a month ago... my due date is coming up fast and I've been trying to finish it up since the first of the month and it just did NOT want to cooperate.  I finally got it done... I found myself talking to the case this morning... trying to reason with it, I gave up and finished it to the best of my ability!  I truly hope the new owner of this case will love it because man, I worked hard on this silly thing!

OK so here are a few pictures of it!

This is the front of the case.  I used some prima papers on this, I love the thickness of prima's papers... It holds up very well for this kind of a project.  I didn't do much to it as the pattern is already SO PRETTY but I did use the Love rub-on!!  I added a few butterflies that I punched out with a Martha Stewart punch and some Prima Bling to the bodies and for a tail. 


Here is a side view.  I added some ribbons and lace to hide the seams


The view from the top... I added a hinge to close the case.  I punched out  some flowers oon a strip of cardstock and backed it with a second piece... added a few pearls and there you go... I know it sounds simple but mad did I strungle with this thing



And the last picture... as you can see I used some hinges from the hardware store so that the case opens.  I secured the hinges with brads... clever I know I have my moments!  LOL!  Adding the hardware was definatly my biggest challenge!  But I did it and now it is done and I can move on to the next project.


The only thing I'm not showing you is all the goodies going inside for my partner, lol some things have to be a secret... don't you think?


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Heartfelt Creations Design Team!!

OMGosh you could have knocked me over with a feather this morning when I went to the Heartfelt Creations and saw that I made the team... and what a team this is I'm in complete awe of the girls that I will get to play with for the next 6 months!  Just a big WOW.

Here is part of the text that I'm plagiarizing from the Heartfelt creations blog... is it plagiarizing if I'm telling you guys that it is a copy and paste job... Oh well, here it is regardless.

Ten of the current Heartfelt Creations design team members will continue for another 6 month term: Lisa Gregory, Angelica Turner, Kristina King, Olga Jewell, Lisa Somerville, Cheryl Walker, Giovana Smith, Loretta Lock, Olena Levchenko, and Kerry Urbatch. We are excited for another creative term with these ladies.
Thank you to each one of the talented semi-finalists. After a very hard decision,
we would like to extend a warm welcome to 10 new design team finalists that will be joining the Heartfelt Creations design team for the next 6 months: Glenda Brooks, Therese Broman, Carla Suto, Lori Leng, Jan Hennings, Heidi Erickson, Lisa Lynne Wright, Marsha Sanderlin, Sue Walsh, and Joelle Hancox. Congrats Ladies! We look forward to working with you and taking the paper-crafting industry to new heights of inspiration.

I also get to share one of my projects with you all since it is featured on the blog this morning.  Here is my Heartfelt Thanks with Envelope Box.



Products used on this project
HCPC Large Elegant Word Background
HCPC 2294 Aztec Gold Sunflowers

Other: Neenah Classic Crest Smooth Cardstock, Dark Green Bazzill cardstock, TCP Shimmer cardstock – Evergreen, Versa mark Ink, Clear Embossing Powder, Distress Ink Vintage Photo & Walnut Stain

Copic Markers: Y17, Y08, Y06, Y02, E37 & E35

6’x 8 ½’ white Cardstock folded in half for the card base. Stamp word background with VersaMark ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder on a 3 ¾’x 5 ½’ piece of shimmer cardstock.  Ink the cardstock with Vintage Photo ink using a blending tool or a foam pad and add the Walnut Stain ink around the edges; layer over a 4’x 5 ¾’ dark green Bazzill cardstock, this panel is attached to the front on the card using your favourite glue.  Stamp the small flower using Walnut Stain Distress Ink on 3 square 1 ½’ pieces of white cardstock, color with Copic markers and mat on 1 ½’ square pieces of green cardstock.  Attach squares to card using pop dots.




Cut 2 pieces of  Kraft Cardstock 6 ½’x 8 ½’, score and fold 1’ from each edge, make a slit along 1 of the folded edges in each corner, make sure you cut only to where your folds intersect, using a strong adhesive, glue tabs together to create the 2 box halves.  The top half will slide over the bottom portion, you may have to play with them a little the first time you put on the lid.  Punch out a half circle from each of the long sides of your top piece.  I normally will try to follow the theme of the card to make the envelope box.

Created the same panel as the card, this time use white embossing powder to create a stronger contrast this will be attached to the front of the card.  Cut a 2 1/4’ x 3 ¼’ green cardstock, a 1 ½’x 3 ¼’ strip from the shimmer cardstock and 1’x 3 ¼’ stripe on the white cardstock.  I added a sentiment sticker that I also matted with the green cardstock.  Once all glued together as shown, round the edges and attach to box using cardstock, add lace to the edge so box.