My Sheri Crafts Challenge #144: Autumn Abundance

My turn to choose the challenge at My Sheri Crafts this time around.  Now that it's finally fall (almost here in AZ too), I chose to focus on autumn, asking you to use Fall items seen in 'abundance':  leaves, acorns, fruits, pumpkins, gourds, etc.

I chose a bright striped fall BG paper from Bo Bunny's Apple Cider collection and ended up using some felt from my stash to cut my leaves and acorns using Spellbinders' dies.  Since I couldn't really emboss the felt very well I used a brown Sharpie to enhance the leaves veins.  My gem sentiment is one more from my stash that I grabbed @ Michaels years ago for a dime!  Gonna miss those great little word stickers when they're all gone -- sigh!  I backed it with a piece of burlap ribbon with gold thread and fringed the edges. Just a simple fall card that can be used for many occasions.

Hope you'll join us for this simple challenge @ My Sheri Crafts!

JustRite Friday Challenge #124: Sketch Inspiration

For this JRFC #124 challenge I've used a new stamp from the June release, Rose Bouquet Vintage Labels, coloring the gorgeous roses with the Spectrum Noir yellows set I won on a recent challenge -- they are AWESOME (as is this stamp set)! I shall definitely be adding to the blues and yellows set I won very soon.

My roses were die cut using Grand Labels Four and I topped the die on my card with a partial cut from Gold Labels Four in a lighter green CS.  I had to stamp that sweet little bee and added a bit of yellow to him also, along with sparkle for his wings from a Sakura pen -- LOVE him! My sentiment is from JR's With Sympathy and this card is going to someone special who is having a difficult time with medical issues currently. Hope it brightens their day a bit when it arrives.  It's quite a large card, so I wanted to construct a matching envelope with my WRMK Envelope Board, but ran out of time to get that done this week. That will be next on my agenda!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #135: Three in a Row

Our latest challenge @ My Sheri Crafts is Three in a Row (aka Tic-Tac-Toe) and simply means you choose any 3 in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row from the chart provided below to complete your project,

My simple card today uses embossed paper, pearls and flowers, so you can easily see that I used the 3rd vertical row to complete my card. I chose some Basic Grey rub-ons from my stash that I've had for many years, using the large one in the center of my Spellbinders Labels Thirty embossed BG. I also added the lady bug and sentiment rub-ons. Finishing off my card is a small bow, flowers, a pearl swirl and a few single pearls from my stash.

We're looking forward to seeing your Three in a Row creations!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #134: Anything Masculine!

Your challenge this go-round @ My Sheri Crafts is to create anything masculine -- pretty simple, huh?!

I took this opportunity to create what I will likely use for a birthday card -- always NICE to have in advance. I discovered my Distress Inks are dried out after little crafting these last several months -- especially my go-to Antique Linen! Guess now's the time to grab those new 'Minis' I've been wanting!

Used Echo Park's 6"x6" Note to Self line today, along with DCWV textured CS and a center panel of PTI's Fine Linen CS. Three pennants were cut using Spellbinders' Lacey Pennants, as well as a 'sentiment' cut from Note to Self. I then covered a chipboard arrow from my stash in solid red EP paper and finished this very simple card by adding an 'iron' textured corner @ bottom right from WRMK, using their Main Squeeze tool. Don't worry, before I mail it, I'll add distress ink to up the masculine factor -- LOL!!!

Selfishly hoping you'll all join us @ My Sheri Crafts, as I NEED lots more masculine ideas for the men in my life!  ;~)

JustRite Friday Challenge #110: Bleach Stamping Technique

JustRite's Friday Challenge was a FUN one this week requiring us to use bleach instead of ink to do our stamping.

I'd not done this in many years but it's a technique I've always liked, partly because its exciting to see what color the bleach will reveal. I used several different CS colors, but this was definitely my FAV, an 'old rose' shade from Stampin' Up, though I don't recall the exact color. I stamped in bleach using JustRite's Fleuriste Newsprint Background Stamp which left me with a cream BG image. I die cut the image with Spellbinders' A2 Matting Basics A largest die, sponged the edge with Black Soot Distress Ink and mounted it to a cream top-fold card. I then re-stamped my BG stamp on cream in black ink, hand cutting the butterfly and oval from the stamp. I added black wire antennae to my butterfly, a hand-colored seam binding double bow, 3 small paper roses and black swirls to complete this simple card.

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #120: Stitch Time

Our new challenge at My Sheri Crafts is to make a project which includes a sewing theme, so I took advantage of my Spellbinders' A-2 Fancy Ribbon Threader and Decorative Dress Forms dies to do some hand stitching on my fun little card, made with a very special young woman in mind! We seldom get to see each other, but last time we had an especially rewarding shopping excursion. She's going through a bumpy time professionally and we reminisced about the fun we had, so this little card just makes me think of her even more!
I started out cutting the A-2 Fancy Ribbon Threader die #4 and lacing two coordinating colors of 6-ply DMC embroidery thread separately through the outside holes, framing my card. I did the same with Die #1 using 3 strands of floss, as well as stamping my sentiment from Papertrey Ink's Birds of a Feather.
To die cut my dress, I folded a piece of CS in half and placed the die just above my fold, so I'd have a way to insert my tiny Tim Holtz hanger and hang it from the matching TH brad. I used a Timeless Touches Elegance Border template to create the holes on my dress neckline and hemline and again added hand stitching. A ribbon and rose finish off the dress at the waist and a cotton ribbon is laced through at the bottom of my card and tied into a bow to hold my sentiment tag.
Would LOVE to see your "Stitch Time" project over @ My Sheri Crafts, so please post it for us all to enjoy!

Masculine Happy Birthday: Fusion & Moxie Fab Style

Needing a masculine birthday greeting, combining Fusion's #18 sketch (ends 10/02) and Moxie Fab's
Metal, Wood and Cork challenge (ends 10/21) seemed the perfect pairing. My husband really liked the outcome, which is a real bonus!  ;~)
I honestly can't think of much more masculine than metal, wood and cork, so I cut my balsa wood (Michaels) with Spellbinders' Labels Twenty-one and cork from Grand Large Labels. I like their coordinating clipped corners and flipped the sketch sideways, adding my wood piece on the left.
Metal corners (source unknown) were added to my red CS layer. Then using Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets, I cut both Tim Holtz Grungeboard for strength and craft foil, securing them together with metal screws though the holes. I then centered a
Tim Holtz clock face with foam dots over the sprocket. 'Time for a party' was stamped using JustRite's Market Place Alphabet onto Nested Lacey Pennants to complete this card.

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #119: Native American Day

Our new challenge @ My Sheri Crafts is to help us celebrate Native American Day which is September 27th.

My card uses two unmounted Native American stamps that I've had for many years and unfortunately I do not recall their origin. I stamped the feather near the card's bottom edge in VersaFine Black Onyx onto Papertrey Ink's Fine Linen CS.

My American Indian image is also stamped on Fine Linen and colored with Copic Markers. I then die cut with a Spellbinders' circle die and mounted it onto green and rust-colored die cut circles that were embossed/debossed with Gold Rounds One -- LOVE the texture these dies add! My card front is mounted to a rust card base with foam dots.

Hope you can join us for our Native American challenge!!!

JustRite Friday Challenge #103: Things With Wings

The challenge ending in a couple hours @ JustRite Papercraft asks us to use something with wings on your project. This could be a butterfly, bee, angel, fairy, dragonfly or even an airplane! I see a few entrants have also cleverly thought of birds!

I began with a zipper art dragonfly after having seen many versions on Pinterest. In the end, I just combined a couple different things I'd seen and 'winged it' (pun intended) by first coloring my white zipper with blue and yellow Copics to coordinate with my gorgeous flowery Summer Fresh paper (Simple Stories). I made the blue dragonfly body first securing with hot glue and then tucked the yellow inserts into his upper wings, which really gave him a lot of character.
'Thinking of You' (JustRite's Grand Sentiments) was stamped onto die cuts from Decorative Labels Eight and Labels Eight and my flowers and leaves were created using Bitty Blossoms.
Off to post -- maybe I won't be last -- thanks so much for popping by!!!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #117: National S'mores Day

My fellow designer, Raquel, chose National S'mores Day (Aug. 10th) and National Marshmallow Toasting Day (Aug. 30th) as her theme for our current My Sheri Crafts Challenge -- isn't she ever sooo clever?!  ;~) Her challenge to you is to create a project with chocolate or marshmallows on it!

I modified Spellbinders' Nested Tea Cup a bit by trimming the top edge down with an oval die and adding my 'hot chocolate' (also using the oval die) and tiny pom pom marshmallows behind. My tablecloth is from Papertrey Ink's Dotty Biscotti 8" paper pad, my place mat and doily die cut with Spellbinders' Floral Ovals from a coffee filter and my saucer from Papertrey Ink's Vintage Cream CS, using another oval die.
After cutting the spoon from SB's Tea Service, I brushed on silver Inka Gold Metallic Rub -- LOVE this new-to-me crafting goodie! JustRite's Winter Words (retired) acrylic stamps provided the perfect sentiment and a bit of chocolate twine finishes it all off.
Stop by My Sheri Crafts and peruse all the fabulous chocolate/marshmallow designs my fellow teamies created and add you OWN!

Summer Card Camp 2: Week 3, Day 2

Do you ever make a card that just refuses to turn out even remotely like you envisioned and you have to end up making nearly each/every little part of it over. . .& over. . .& over -- until you're determined to finish & post it, regardless?!  Maybe it's just a personality disorder -- LOL?!

It was all 'operator error' along the way -- the cards @ SCC2 were FABULOUS, as were the videos/directions/explanations. My biggest problem,I think, was that I tried so many different things with the flowers that in the end even though NOT the colors I'd hoped for, I still kinda liked them and had spent sooo long on them that I just felt I had to roll with it. Of course, the colors don't even look the same in my photo since they're shiny/embossed, but I still like them.

One FABULOUS idea from camp was the embossed clear acetate, but that gave me fits too -- kept seeing scratches or I'd get a bit of adhesive on it and that annoyed me -- sigh! Oh well, I still had a fabulous play with layering different embossing powders on my die cut flowers/stems and practice working with acetate and LOVE the verse I found that I'd forgotten I had, so in the end it's all good!

Supplies:
Paper: PTI's White CS; blue CS from stash
Stamp: PTI's Year of Flowers Collection
Ink: Versamark Dazzle (to add a bit more glitz to my sentiment/stems)
Dies: Lifestyle Crafts Ovals

Miscellaneous: Personal Stamp Exchange's Woven Tapestry EP, Stamp 'n Stuff Lilac EP; Martha Stewart's Clear EP; various markers (on flowers); Grafix Dura-Lar acetate film

Summer Card Camp 2: Week 3, Day 1

Struggled a bit finding a good white ink for my stamped BG and with the purples in today's color combo, but what a FUN sketch -- LOVE the fabulous banner. In the end I feel this makes a great card, even quite appropriate for a male, which is why these geometric BGs appeal to me so much! Always love another male card idea and can't wait to try more with different shapes.

Supplies:
Papers: PTI's Kraft; Bazzill White & Blue CS
Stamps: JustRite's Pattern Basics
Inks: VersaFine Vintage Sepia; Colorbox Eggshell White
Dies: QuicKutz/Lifestyle Crafts Spring 2011 Gift Set (Alphas)
Embellishments: Buttons & brown jute from stash

Summer Card Camp 2: Week 2, Day 5

I was so taken with Jessica Witty's Layered Vellum card (and actually had two stamp sets used) that I just HAD to make my own. Once again, I pretty much CASEd her card, except I used a different color combo, mine being #4 of the 6 we were given on Friday.  Had a bit of trouble with ALL the hot pinks/raspberry ink shades I own on my vellum, both dye and pigment inks  -- NOT sure why? They only wanted to pool up/look splotchy on my flowers -- even after cleaning them extra well AND rubbing over them with a white eraser?! In the end, I used different flowers from the same set which where were a bit better.
Jessica's card layers begin with white CS. Stamp your first flowers near the center bottom in your neutral color, so that they basically look like a shadow in the BG. Mine is Memento's London Fog. Next, stamp a vellum piece the same size as your white base with grass/blooms a bit off the left edge. Finally, another vellum piece with stems/blooms at the right side and your sentiment near the top. My sentiment should have been about a half-inch or so lower, but I still think it's a sweet little card. I colored white crochet thread sporadically with a Cool Gray (C-5) Copic and wrapped it just at the edge of my vellum.

Wish I was a great photographer to truly do this card justice -- SIGH! I plan to create this card again in different colors as a sympathy card because I think it has such a peaceful, serene tone -- LOVE it!!!

Supplies:
Paper: Grey Bazzill CS; vellum
Stamps: PTI (Botanical Silhouettes); Technique Tuesday (Growing Wild & Long-Stemmed Sentiments)
Inks: Memento's London Fog & Pear Tart; PTI's Raspberry Fizz; VersaColor's Marigold

Summer Card Camp 2: Pre-Class Challenge 2

For our 2nd Pre-Class Challenge for Summer Card Camp, we were given a sketch -- really had fun working on this as my fav style is classy & elegant, which I think this is!

Working with Papertrey Ink's Mehndi Medallion stamp set, I first began with Spellbinders' Radiant Rectangles, which I inked with Memento's Dandelion ink prior to embossing. Once my 'frame' was done I stamped the three medallions in Memento's Rich Cocoa, Dandelion and Pear Tart ink.

Next, I cut my sentiment banner with Spellbinders' Nested Pennants, inked the edge and stamped my sentiment from Papertrey Ink's Iconic Images in Rich Cocoa, then added a small medallion from each stamp set. Finishing it off, I adhered my Vintage Cream CS piece to a Dark Chocolate card and colored clear gems with Copic Markers and a brown Sharpie to add to each medallion.

So excited to see what fun we'll have when our actual classes begin tomorrow -- thanks for coming by for a peek!

Spring All-Occasion Card

My 'old' card group had a get-together this past Saturday wherein we all share a card (or two) and make each others' cards. Mine was based on inspiration from one of Beate's posts on Spellbinders' blog.

Using Spellbinders' A2 Curved Borders One on SEI DP purchased over five years ago (yes, I have LOTS of 'old' paper and I still LOVE it), I cut my border and attached it to an A2 Bazzill card base in pale pink. On the reverse side of my SEI paper, I used a Papertrey Ink Half and Half die cut tab to add my JustRite Celebrations Labels One sentiment. A Wonderful Wings butterfly and some Bazzill bling finishes off this simple card!

I'm entering my little card in this week's challenge @ Make My Monday where the theme is 'Anything That Flies'. Thanks for popping by today!!!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #108: Arbor Day

Our latest challenge @ My Sheri Crafts is Arbor Day, so we're asking you to make a card/project featuring trees/nature. My CAS card, which would work for a guy too, is a palm tree in the sand on the beach under the sun -- a place I'm sure MANY folks wish they were right now and I really sympathize with all of you!!!

My palm tree is a clear stamp from Autumn Leaves, stamped with Memento Bamboo Leaves, Memento Rich Cocoa and VersaFine Vintage Sepia inks, die cut with Spellbinders Labels Seventeen and then topped off with brown pearls from my stash. A sun in Memento Cantaloupe and sand stamps by Copper Leaf Creations complete my simple scene.
JustRite's Botanical Swirls Labels 'Just Because' sentiment was stamped with Bamboo Leaves ink and die cut with a Labels Sixteen Spellbinders die. Love the leafy swirl around the sentiment on this stamp! Variegated green fiber accents finish off this card.
 We'd love to see your Arbor Day creations over @ My Sheri Crafts, so please join us!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #95: It's Picking Time!

Time for another My Sheri Crafts Challenge -- it's 'picking time', so we're asking you to include a pumpkin or apple on your project.  I took 'artistic license' and went with my 'pumpkin' in the form of a jack-o-lantern face on my burlap silverware (or plastic ware) holders -- Hee!!!

My first glimpse of the original idea for these with a gorgeous flower was here on Pinterest -- of course! Since I'd recently purchased a bunch of burlap in several colors (can you say 'new obsession'?), I just had to modify these to work for either a dinner table or an outdoor get-together with plastic ware, especially if you're doing something around Halloween for a child's or even adult's party. Thanks, sweet friend, for that clever idea -- add a little fun to a party and keep it simple when it comes to clean-up!

Then, inspiration struck as I was writing this post and it was back to the 'drawing board', as I had the idea for the apple -- great for back-to-school with any number of items tucked inside other than silverware -- pencils, pens, ruler, bookmark, large candy bar -- I'm sure many Moms, most children and certainly all teachers could think of dozens of ideas?!  Might be a cute/inexpensive idea for the upcoming fall/Christmas/winter holidays!!! NOW my head is spinning again and I don't even have any school-age children!!!

DIRECTIONS:
Cut burlap 14 1/2" long by 4" wide
Fold over 1 1/2" and zigzag stitch about 1/2" from raw edge (forgot
this on cream holder, but no big deal)
Fold bottom up 5 1/4" from last fold
Stamp with paint (I slipped bottom of holder under my craft mat at fold and stamped, then just wiped paint off mat where it bled through fabric -- easy/peasy!)
Once paint is dry, zigzag stitch up right side from bottom edge, in about 3/8 to 1/2", across top and down left side
Pull long threads from top/both sides for fringe 

NOTE: These are not washable, spot clean only, but burlap is sooo inexpensive and once you have the measurements, which I've included here, they are sooo quick/easy to whip up!

To create my orange/tan holder, I cut 1 piece from each color and layered tan atop orange and made per above directions. For my face, I merely cut pieces of craft foam for stamps and attached to acrylic block with 1/2" wide strips of Scor-Tape, squirted on a dollop of black craft paint, smoothed it out a bit with a sponge brush and stamped, beginning with the mouth, then nose & eyes for easy lining up -- simple/easy/non-perfectionistic!
Apple was stamped using . . . an apple, of course! Found a Pink Lady that had a tiny spoiled spot, so perfect for my needs!  Cut in half, spread my red paint with a sponge brush, stamped (had to do a little touch-up as my cut wasn't perfectly 'flat'), cut a Spellbinders's leaf from craft foam, and took the actual stem, held with a tweezers, dipped in brown paint, and added a bit of touch-up to the stem. If I can do it, you CAN TOO!
Hope you enjoy making these and hope you'll come up with an idea for a project for My Sheri Crafts to share with us too -- look forward to seeing your crafty pumpkin/apple idea -- hmmm, now another idea just hit me -- time to cut more burlap!!!  ;-)

JustRite Friday Challenge #081: Charm Me

For the current JustRite challenge, wherein we are to add a charm, I knew right away I'd make my own. Again using JustRite's Botanical Butterflies, even though I used it for the last challenge, I simply had to stamp that bee again to create a charm to use with Authentique's sweet Carefree papers featuring flowers & bees!

I began by stamping the round dotted frame from JustRite's Charmed cling set and my bee onto shrink plastic, die cutting with JustRite's Custom Charm Dies, then shrinking with my heat gun. LOVE how cute it turned out and the bonus with these wonderful charm dies is you don't have to remember to punch a hole before shrinking -- LOL! 
Spellbinders So Trendy M-Bossabilities folder made me think 'honeycomb', so I embossed and then sanded Core'dinations paper for the bottom section. Also from Botanical Butterflies, this fabulous sentiment is stamped and die cut with JustRite's Custom Antique Labels One Dies, a new FAV now! For my flowers and leaves I used Spellbinders' Bitty Blossoms dies and die cut my leaves from stiffened burlap and edged with a Copic Marker.
Thanks for stopping by to visit today and please leave me a comment to let me know your thoughts on my card!

My Sheri Crafts #090: National Ice Cream Month

Since July is National Ice Cream Month, our Hostess, Glenda, @ My Sheri Crafts has challenged us to create a project using an ice cream cone/dish!

Having not one ice cream stamp in my stash, I found this card/tutorial here and just knew this was what I wanted to re-create! I first used Cricut's Sweet Treats cartridge to cut my ice cream cones from scraps. Then basically following the tutorial, I created my shoppe's awning, cutting my white CS piece with Spellbinders' Classic Postage Stamp Edgeabilities' die. To complete the awning, I merely cut/glued strips from an embossed scallop-edged piece of pink Bazzill CS. I used that same CS for the card base/shelf also. Finishing touches include glitter, a 'drip' gem, Bazzill pink gingham ribbon and Happy Day Sticker from my stash.

Hope you're inspired today to create your very own cool, summery ice cream project and share it with us @ My Sheri Crafts -- we'd LOVE to see your sweet inspiration!!! It might make you 'feel a bit cooler' too?!  :`~)

JustRite Friday Challenge #076 (2): Stars & Stripes

Since I recently purchased this fun Simple Stories masculine paper pad with stars & stripes, I thought I'd create another card to enter at JustRite's current challenge. 

I've not used this card LO in a long time, so thought it would be fun for this card. The finished card measures 4 1/2" x 6 1/4". The CS is first cut @ 4 1/2"x 8", then scored @ 1 3/4" and 3 1/2".  The first fold creates a back fold-over 'tab' into which I sandwiched my card back measuring 4 1/2" x 6 1/4". When glued down front & back, you are left with a 4 1/2" square card inside & out and a 1 3/4" section down the left side to also decorate as you choose, kinda FUN! You can adjust your measurements for this card to fit whatever envelope you wish, including an A-2.
I added the striped paper and 'sprinkled' my stars, die cut with JustRite's Charm Dies and stamped with sentiments from JustRite's Going Places Vintage Labels, down the side. To complete my card I added a small metal adornment to each star & motorcycle wheels and tied some twine around it. Another masculine card for the stockpile!