Friday, September 28, 2012

The Play Date Cafe 151 and a new file

Hello again!
Can you believe it?  I just posted yesterday and here I am back again!  I am going to try really hard to post on my blog more regularly...as long as life doesn't throw me any more curve balls I should be able to make that goal!

I decided to participate in The Play Date Cafe's color challenge.

Aren't those colors wonderful!  I just love Autumn colors.  I actually like these cooler temps too.  Granted I'm not ready for Winter coats but I am ready for snuggling under a warm blanket and drinking hot cocoa!
Here is what I came up with for the challenge.

This card base file will be in my store next month.  I used my Build a Jack-o-lantern file for the pumpkin.  I do have other pumpkins in my store but I like the details of this one.  In order to cut it at a small size and still preserve the details I used vinyl.    I didn't have any organge or green vinyl so I colored white vinyl with Copics after cutting.  It didn't blend well but that is okay...I think it gives it an artsy look.  I probably should have airbrushed the Copics on the vinyl.  I bet that would have produced a more even coloring.  I'll have to make a mental note for next time.  If you would like to purchase my pumpkin file please click on the preview below.


I managed to get some new files into my store.  As I mentioned yesterday it's nice to have some sympathy and get well cards on hand just in case you have to give one on the spur of the moment.  Thus I have created a file that will easily allow you to give some sunshine to friends and family.  It's called Sunny Day Card.

I gave this card to a friend of mine who was in the hospital and she just loved it.  It looks better in real life as I added glitter to the clouds and sun.  I have never been able to get glitter to photograph well.  I also embossed the cloud with a swirl pattern.  I am soo used to using clear stamps.  I pulled out a rubber stamp to do the greeting since the scale of it fit well with the sun.  But..since it was rubber and wood mounted I couldn't see where the stamp was positioned.  Ahh well I think my friend could still read it crooked or not!
The sun ray background is actually one piece that you layer over a rectangle thus making the two colored background.  Easy Peasy!  I think that background would look great with two different patterned papers and a scallop circle added to the middle.  Ohh wouldn't that be great for Christmas!  I need to make another mental note!  Hmm I'd better make a list...don't think I can rely on my brain that much!  LOL! If you would like to purchase my file please click on the preview below:


The file is also available in digital format.  It comes as a layered PSD or individual PNGs which ever you prefer to use you simply download that version immediately after purchase.



Well once again it's time to make supper!  Gee sometimes I wish we live like the Jetson's did.  Just push a button and instant food!  Wouldn't that be great!?!  Thanks for stopping by and have a marvelous weekend!






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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Card Inspiration and Sneak Peek

Howdy!  I have a treat for you today!  My talented design team member has whipped up some lovely cards. 

 
See I told you they were stunning!  Kelly used some lovely K and C patterned paper.  I have some of this paper and I never thought to mix them this way.  Kelly sure did make them look amazing!  I love the glitter paper!   Both cards used my cutter file Card Base 12.  along with Elegant Sentiments.  She also used my 3-D Butterflies on the top card and the tulips are from my Think Spring file.  It's always nice to have sympathy cards on hand.  I should definitely make a set like Kelly did.  The file does all the work for you..instead of cutting pieces for one card simply cut enough for 3.  If you would like to purchase any of the files Kelly used please click on the previews below.

I am working on some new things just in time for Halloween.  I thought I'd give you a sneak peek!

I'll be back tomorrow bringing some sunshine!  Thanks for stopping by!  Come back again!





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Friday, September 21, 2012

MIM#83, PDCC#149 and Pirates!

Hi,
It seems like it's been ages since I created something!  We've had a rough time lately with sick kids and such.  So it feels great to finally get crafty again!  I decided to join two challenges with one creation!

First up Papertrey Ink issued a challenge for us to go to the store and browse the card aisle for inspiration.  Melissa made up a wonderful card from one she purchased.  Check out her video here.  I haven't bought a card (except bulk Christmas cards) in years.  I was amazed at how nice some of the cards were.  I found plenty that truly inspired me.  I chose the one below because it seemed the easiest to duplicate.  Sorry about the poor photo it was taken with my cell phone.  I'm too cheap to buy the card! 







So now I knew what design I was going to use but what colors?  The Play Date Cafe to the rescue!  They are hosting a challenge with great colors.  You can check out the deets here.  Oops!  Looks like I'm too late to enter this challenge it is done!


So thus my card was born:

It went together quite quickly.  I had stamped this background before in different colors so I knew it exactly which stamps to use.  I also used the word "Birthday" from my Infinity Card:  Birthday cutter file.  I think this style of card would mak a great little gift set stamped in different color combos. 

If you would like to purchase my file please click on the photo below.  This is one of those cards who panels just keep opening and it never really ends.  The birthday word I used is in the bottom picture along with the word "Happy".  All the items shown cake, mouse, balloon, present, candles are included in the file.

Supplies:
Cutting files:  Shelly's Art Infinity Card:  Birthday
Stamps: Papertrey Ink:  Rosie Posie (daisy), Turning a New Leaf, Paper Tray (smaller flower and center), Honey Bees (happy sentiment), Round and Round Anniversary set (butterfly)
Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink:  Aqua Mist
Ink:  Papertrey Ink:  Aqua Mist, Berry Sorbet and Momento Lulu Lavender
Rick rack, rhinestone and ribbon from my stash



On Wednesday the kids were asked to dress as pirates for school.  They were asked not to go out and buy things to make up there costumes.  Fortunately, we had two eye patches from training Tyler's lazy eye when he was little.  Daddy had some handkerchiefs and knew how to tie it onto their heads.  Although Tyler watched Daddy do it once and he was able to do it himself instantly!  We had some striped material leftover from the church quilts which served as sashes.  Adoree wanted a girl skull on her shirt so I found a coloring page of a skull with a bow.  I printed it on sticker paper and she colored it multi-colored.  It looked great stuck on her shirt but unfortunately didn't stick well by the end of the day the skull was curly?!  LOL!  The kids had fun being pirates for a day!

Okay I've gotta go make supper.  Thanks for stopping by!  Please come back again!




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Saturday, September 08, 2012

PTI MIM #80, colour Q #153 and first day of school

This week's Make it Monday video at Papertrey Ink features using stamps and dies on clay to make your own embellishments.  Check out Betsy's informative video here.  I just love her card design!

I had some very old clay and apparently it was past it's prime because....
Those were my first 3 attempts.  No matter how much I decreased the time the clay kept burning.  It really didn't get hard like ceramic but more the consistency of an eraser.  In hindsight I should have mixed up some salt dough or something.  However, I was bound and determined to make this clay work...



I don't have many papertrey ink dies so I decided to use a Spellbinder's die with the flower from Rosie Posie. In my original attempts I stamped before baking as shown in the video but the color seemed to fade so for my last attempt I baked first then colored the stamped imprint with Copics. I used an embossing stylus to poke the small holes in the flower center prior to baking.   I think this technique would be great to make ornaments for Christmas to decorate the card.  That way the recipient not only has a wonderful card but also an ornament to hang on the tree.  I just have to remember to get some new clay or make some before making any ornaments!

Isn't this color combo yummy!  I got it from the current colour Q challenge # 153 so I am entering this into their challenge also.   Check out the deets here.


Supplies:
Stamps:  Papertrey Ink Rosie Posie and Spots and Dots (pattern on berry sorbet rectangle piece)
Paper:  Papertrey Ink Melon Berry the rest from my stash
Ink:  Momento:  Dandelion and Rich Cocoa, 
        Papertrey Ink :  Berry Sorbet,
        Versamark
Baker's Twine: twisted myself using embroidery floss and Dremmel tool
Button:  Papertrey Ink
Clay: Fimo

My kids started school on Aug 29th.  I can't believe both my kids are in school now!  Adoree is in Kindergarten and Tyler is in third grade. 

Adoree was super excited to start Kindergarten!  Tyler not soo much but after a few days I think he is finally happy about going.  He really likes his teacher!

Adoree was especially excited to buy a lunchbox.  She made good use of it too.  She definitely is more picky about what she eats than Tyler.  She's only bought once so far!  I used vinyl to display the grade level on the apples.  I hope to continue this tradition every year.  I figured it will look great in their scrapbooks!

Poor Adoree has been sick with cold like symptoms since Aug 17th.  She had to stay home from school yesterday since she is running fevers.  We've had her to the docs 3 times now and are waiting on results from a culture to hopefully get some answers on how to make her better.   She is on antibiotics but they don't seem to be doing much.  Poor girl has not only been enduring Kindergarten with nose blowing a common activity but also going to soccer while coughing away.  Next week she start gymnastics too so I really hope we can find a way to help her.  She is soo active and hates being sick!    I had to pick Tyler up from school yesterday too because he was sick.  It was some sort of stomach issue or possibly his migraines.  He seems better now but still has some coughing!  Hope he gets better soon too!  UGH!  Germs goooo away! 

Have a wonderful weekend!  I hope you are all healthy and stay that way!  Please stop by again!














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Sunday, September 02, 2012

Papertrey Ink MakeItMonday#80: Making a Garland

Ashely shares a wonderful technique for making garlands to add to your paper crafting projects. Check it out here. At first I was going to make a card like usual. However,I remembered I had this layout I started at a crop. It had a vast area of white space. I don't accept white space well. I have seen others use it effectively but ME I am quite uncomfortable with white space. So... I decided to fill the space with a cute little garland made of flip flops.




The first photo is of the layout complete but I did this photo just by piecing together both sides.  I should have just taken a layout of the two sides already together in real life as it really does line up better that way.  Oh well..live and learn!  The last photo is a close up (sorry it's blurry!) of the adorable flip flops.  I used PTI's flippin' out die.  Once again burlap (are you tired of me using that yet?) was used for the straps.  I cut out white felt flowers and colored them with Copics finishing off the centers with rhinestones.  On the left hand side to carry out the theme I made a garland for the date and a matching flower mimicking the supplies used in the flip flops.  I think this is a cute way to fill in all that white space!  Although the photos really don't do justice to the layout.   Note to self: must work on photography skills! Oh and the wavy yellow borders were cut using my lovely layers digital cutting file.  If you would like to purchase it please click here.  I also stitched little starburst uing my Sew Easy and variegated yellow floss.



Supplies:
Shelly's Art Lovely Layout digital cutter file
Paper from and old Transparent Touches kit
Dies: Papertrey Ink Flippin' Out for flip flops, Title and Beach ball from a Cricit cartridge (used this at a crop..sorry don't know which cartridge)
Sew Easy stitching tool with yellow variegated embroidery floss (starbrust)
Burlap and Twine from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by!  Please come back again!





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