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!

JustRite Friday Challenge #072: 3D Project

My project for JustRite's 3D Challenge is a recycled plastic International Coffee container turned thank you gift holder. My sweet friend, Marilyn, saves these for me, as I only drink black coffee -- don't these just make the greatest little boxes?

I up-cycled some corrugated cardboard from my stash, peeling off one layer and brushing on Making Memories Manila scrapbook paint -- love the contrast/depth it adds! One cardboard piece was taped onto the body of the container and a top and bottom die cut with Spellbinders' Grand Labels Four.


To create a border around the bottom I first cut cream CS and lavender shimmer strips with Spellbinders' RicRac Edgeabilities die and then stamped a decorative JustRite stamp from With Sympathy beneath each point. Once my border was taped in place I attached a vertical strip to the back, then across the top to secure my lid. That strip is embellished with the same stamp and closes with a small magnet in front.



















My circular Thank You sentiment from JustRite's Spring Words was stamped on a Labels Eighteen die and added to the lid, along with a rose created from Spellbinders' Spiral Blossoms One and Want2Scrap gem flourish that I colored lavender with Copic V17. Now it's all ready to fill with a little thank-you surprise.

JustRite Friday Challenge #70: Pretty Papers

A really FUN challenge with great prizes is posted over @ JustRite Papercrafts:  to create your own 'pretty papers' using a JR stamp to create your BG paper. This was not my first idea (I'm still planning to do that!), but I thought this 'Showers bring Flowers' sentiment from Spring Words would make great BG paper to accompany this gorgeous rose DP from Cosmo Cricket's Evangeline 6x6 paper pad.
I've stamped the Mother's Day sentiment and a small rose also from Spring Words onto a Nested Oval Medallion Label (JR Custom Design template by Spellbinders) and popped that up on a Lacey Square. Where my DP meets my handmade BG paper, I've added Making Memories ric-rac, a tea rose created using Tim Holtz Tattered Pinecone die and leaves cut from Spellbinders' Rose Creations. Pearls from Want2Scrap finish off my card.
There's still 3 days to enter the competition over @ JustRite Papercrafts, so why not join in the fun?!!!

JustRite Friday Challenge #068: Color

I totally LOVE this JustRite Friday Challenge: to use black & white & a pop of color -- always a fabulous combo! A pop of color, such as with my Raspberry Fizz felt flower (Spellbinders' Spiral Blossom One), just seems to totally set off a black/white design!
For a bit of texture I used white letterpress paper to die cut my Spellbinders' Lattice Rectangle. Next I added Want2Scrap's Black/White Pearl Nestabling to the edges. My JustRite Loving Thoughts sentiment (Heart to Heart Set) is stamped inside a border from Hugs to You Set on vellum and heat embossed with black embossing powder. The vellum centerpiece is mounted onto a white Labels Eighteen die cut and another black hand-cut one. A few more pearls for my flower center and sentiment label and a beaded hat pin finish off this card. You have until 8 PM on Wednesday to add your project for this challenge if you'd like a chance at some lovely JustRite stamp sets!

Papertrey Ink May 2011 Blog Hop: Flowers

Papertrey Ink's monthly Blog Hop time again and this was a very fun one, as the theme was your favorite take on flowers! I was the lucky giveaway winner of the Limited Edition CHA 2010 stamp set, Four of a Kind. This set features these awesome big flowers and large-scale sentiments -- perfect for what I wanted to create -- a Shrinky Dink keychain tag. Don't you just love seeing the scale of the stamps on the accompanying card versus those on the tag, knowing both were made with the exact same stamps? So fun!
Needing a large die, I chose #3 (#1 being the smallest) Spellbinders' Grand Scalloped Oval, using it for both tag and card. Cutting my polyshrink plastic first, I then punched a large hole and stamped with Ripe Avocado, Raspberry Fizz and True Black inks. No need to let dry as heating with my heat gun to shrink sets the ink. I just love how it turned out! I simply die cut another scalloped oval with the same die, stamped my card (5" x 6 1/2") and finished it off by rounding the corners,  adding knotted PTI Swiss Dot ribbon and then ZVA Creative Pearls to both card and tag and it's all ready to give away! Anxious to see all the creative ideas I KNOW will appear throughout this Blog Hop today!!!

JustRite Friday Challenge 53: Technique, Sponosored by Spellbinders!

When I saw JustRite's technique challenge to create your own dimensional handmade flower, I knew exactly what I'd make! I recently saw several fabulous zipper flowers on the web, though apparently they've been around for awhile! Rummaging through my sewing supplies, my only long metal zipper was white. After considering coloring it with my Copics, I decided to keep the white/silver color combo.
I intended to make a card, but finally decided on a simple mini scrapbook, my first! Having seen Donna Salazar's projects and Mona Pendleton's recent creations with corrugated paper, I was anxious to try it. I LOVE how this turned out and will definitely be doing corrugated paper projects again!
I simply tore the top layer off a piece of cardboard, die cut the covers with Spellbinders' Creative Book Pages die and applied white Making Memories' paint with a foam brush. My JustRite Dream Big sentiment (Just a Note Borders & Centers) was stamped with VersaMark and embossed with silver EP on Bazzill paper die cut with Spellbinders' Large Labels #2. After embossing Spellbinders' craft foil with the same die, I cut it out by hand to achieve a sentiment frame. Inside pages are die cut using Papertrey Ink's Kraft CS, and the book is finished using a Zutter Bind-it-All with 1/2" White binding wire and a couple silver ribbon embellishments. Now I just need to work on filling my little scrapbook up with fond memories! Glad you came for a visit today -- happy crafting!

Papertrey Ink March 2011 Blog Hop: Embroidery Floss and CR84FN20 Color Challenge

Papertrey Ink's Blog Hop challenge this month is to use embroidery floss in a fun and inventive way on
your project. I kept my spring project fairly CAS, but had fun creating a much-needed birthday card for my stash in the process.
I chose Lavender Moon CS, stamping Background Basics: Petal Power in VersaMark Ink on the right side and added Bitty Box Basics in Lavender Moon on the left. After punching small holes in the points of all my Beautiful Blooms II die-cut flower petals, I laced DMC Floss #3836 through the petals and added a floss star burst to the center. A tiny purple gem completes my flower. The stem and leaves are die cut with the rickrack border die and my Everyday Button Bits sentiment is stamped on a Spellbinders die and secured with embroidery floss.
Enjoy the hop -- I cannot wait to see what everyone else came up with for this fun challenge!
ETA:  Due to a couple sweet suggestions from friends/commenters (thanks, Ladies!), I am also entering this card in the following fabulous weekly challenge: CR84FN20 Color Challenge!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #21: Labor Day

My Sheri Crafts' weekly challenge for Labor Day made me think of its significance here in the desert SW -- saying bye-bye to triple-digit temps, welcoming back our fabulous fall weather and enjoying the great outdoors again. For my tribute I stamped Papertrey Ink's vase of sunflowers and the Autumn Abundance sentiment. Needing more practice using my air compressor, I left my stamped image in the Nestie circle and added Copic Y21 Buttercup Yellow to the BG. I'm improving, but quite sure Debbie Olson has nothing to fear from me just yet -- LOL! I love trying new concepts/tools and paper crafting certainly provides abundant learning opportunities! I decided to cut a window in my card front & mount my focal image inside. Below is the inside photo.

Paper: PTI's Vintage Cream,Plum Pudding, Lavender Moon CS & Friends 'Til the End DP
Stamps: PTI's Autumn Abundance
Ink: Memento's Rich Cocoa
Embellishments: Bazzill Basics Ribbon
Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard, Circle /Inverted Scalloped Circle and Ribbon Tag dies; Various Copic Markers; Central Pneumatic Air Compressor

JustRite Friday Challenge 026: Nice Notes

My Nice Note is made using Spellbinders' Labels Twelve, Peony (flower) and Doodle Parts (swirl) dies and Core'dinations CS. After cutting/embossing my large & small frames, I sanded the Core'dinations' paper to reveal more of the gorgeous pale turquoise color and bring out the frames' embossing. I used Tsukineko's Sheer Shimmer Sparkle Spritz on the swirls before wrapping them around the large frames' sides (click on the photo to enlarge). My JustRite Just a Note sentiment is popped up on foam tape. I cut two peony flowers from an old book page, colored them with Twinkling H2O's and spritzed with Shimmer for the bottom corner embellishment. Think this little "Just a Note" tucked away would really brighten someone's day when discovered!
Paper: Core'dinations Whitewash Collection & PTI's Aqua Mist CS
Stamp: JustRite Just a Note Borders & Centers
Ink: Memento's Tuxedo Black
Embellishments: Doodlebug (brad); Tsukineko's Sheer Shimmer Sparkle Spritz
Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard, Labels Twelve, Peony & Doodle Parts' Dies

Surf's Up, Dude!

I borrowed my friend Ilene's surfboard & flip flop dies and chose this bright paper (Cosmo Cricket: Material Girl) to create a summery card for both CPS Sketch #173 and Ted's Happily Ever Challenged #7: Summer Crafting, Some Aren't challenges. (Just LOVE Ted's little play on words there!) I also realized it fits the current CCEE 1025 Challenge (to include flowers), so a first for me -- I'm entering 1 card in 3 challenges!

Paper: Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl Paper Pad; yellow & Orange CS from stash

Embellishments: Sand & felt flower centers from stash

Tools: Spellbinders' Dies; PTI's Beautiful Blooms' Die; WeRMemoryKeepers' Corner Rounder

Papertrey May Blog Hop Challenge

Fabulous felt was our theme for Papertrey Ink's May Blog Hop, so I chose Hawaiian Shores and Vintage Cream felt for my Wedding card. PTI dies include: Mat Stack 1 Die for my center and Beautiful Blooms II small & medium Dies #2 for my corners.

My Sweet Love swirly oval and happy couple sentiment stamped in Hawaiian Shores ink on Mulberry paper showed up best backed with an oval cut from Vintage Cream felt using a Spellbinders' oval die. It's just a tiny bit wider, leaving a slight border at the top & bottom of the stamped image, as seen best in my close-up photo. Love the Hawaiian Shores Mat Stack felt backing, because I had room on the edges for pearls. I simply die cut medium and small flowers in the two colors, stacked & pinched them closed with glue dots, added pearls & mounted them at the corners with more glue dots! LOVE these new dies!!!

Thanks for stopping by tonight and I'm very anxious to see what all you PTI ladies have created for your fabulous felt projects! ;~)

I'm adding this card to PaperPlay's Wedding Celebrations' challenge for this week also.

PTI's Beautiful Blooms II Card (Stamp Something & Papertake Weekly Challenges)

Using a sketch by Maren Benedict from Paper Crafts Magazine's Go To Sketches, I made this fun card in turquoise & brown shades (2 colors) for Stamp Something's 2 of Something Challenge. I also used 2 felt embellishments and 2 buttons (3 times) -- LOL! It also qualifies for Papertake Weekly's Challenge: Say it With Flowers.
I'm enjoying using my new PTI Beautiful Blooms II stamps and matching flower dies, as well as their luscious felt. Can't wait to get the newest color: Chartreuse -- YUM! I like the way my EK Success Upper Crest punch compliments PTI's die-cut flower here! For my flower center, I cut felt with a Spellbinder's circle die and then cut slits in it.
Paper: PTI's Hawaiian Shores & Kraft CS; PTI's Dotty Biscotti DP
Stamps: PTI's Beautiful Blooms II
Ink: PTI's Hawaiian Shores
Embellishments: PTI's Felt & Buttons
Tools: PTI Dies: Beautiful Blooms #1 & Rick-Rack; Spellbinder's Circle Die

PTI's Floral Embellishment Challenge

Day 13 of the Anniversary celebration continues today @ PTI where our mission was to design some type of floral embellishment, create a card using it AND an acetate sheet of the embellishments to send to/share with a special stamping friend! I chose Friends 'Til the End for my flower, stamped extra flower centers, and punched those out with a 3/4" punch, mounted with a pop dot & topped it with a green gem. Hope my friend likes them!!!

Paper: PTI's Black, Spring Moss & Raspberry Fizz CS; Friends 'Til the End DP

Stamps: PTI's Friends 'Til the End & Mixed Messages

Ink: PTI's True Black

Tools/Accessories: Fiskar's Apron Lace Punch; SU 3/4" Circle Punch; PTI's Raspberry Fizz Grosgain Ribbon; Gem (Michaels); Spellbinders' Wizard & die

"Just Us Girls" Week 6 - Sketch Challenge

Here's my Christmas card for the JUGs sketch challenge this week, taking advantage of the loaned Nested Poinsettias dies from my friend, Ilene, before she "needs" them back! Remembered this Bazzill scalloped paper when I got out some of my Christmas stuff and thought the green was a nice compliment to the large red suede paper poinsettia I made a couple days ago. Cut three of the smallest poinsettia dies and used a small flower center from another Nestie on those. Quite simple! Can't wait to see all the other challenge entries!

Paper: Bazzill Scalloped Edge Dotted Swiss CS; Red Suede Paper

Stamps: NONE -- what a shock!

Ink: Didn't need any since I didn't do any stamping - LOL!

Embellishments: Gold Rhinestone Stickers (Michaels); gold braid trim (stash)
Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard, Poinsettia and Flower Creations Three (for smallest flower centers)

K&Company Slider Sentiment Card

I cased this card after receiving it a few months ago from my sweet friend, Judy, who graciously said it was okay to post my "case" of her card here. I just love it!!! This unique slider sentiment card is made with K&Company's gorgeous Margo & McKenna DPs on a 1/4-fold ivory linen base. I made it quite awhile ago and used a combination of Nesties and punches for the center layers, plus I even hand cut one or 2 that I don't have punches/dies for. Just be sure when you pop your center piece that you leave the center area open so your sentiment can slide left to right! Sentiment stamps are from PTI's Mixed Messages.

Everyday Button Bits: Sequin Flowers

Just a simple little card post today using PTI's Everyday Buttons Bits, an unmounted rubber sun image (source unknown), Martha Stewart's fence punch and some sequins I've had since 2005. Yikes! Just thought it made such a bright/cherry little card & since I awoke with a nasty sinus headache this AM, it just "felt" right!!!
Paper: PTI's Stampers' Select White CS; Fancy Pants DP Stamps: Everyday Button Bits; sun unknown
Ink: PTI's Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss & Summer Sunrise
Embellishments: Hero Arts Sequins
Tools: Martha Stewart Punch

Everyday Button Bits Flowers

My dear sweet friend Gwen & I traded PTI stamp sets again this weekend. She so kindly loaned out her brand-new Everyday Button Bits set -- W0o-Hoo!!! I truly am a lucky girl!!!
I just happened to have these little flower buttons, which I thought would be so fun for a quick card. Unfortunately the quick part wasn't to be, as I struggled to do anything right for some reason! At long last, I did finish my card, only to discover that my greens (ribbon, ink & BG paper) which truly are close to PTI's Ripe Avacado "in person" all look like different/non-matching shades in my photo! Yikes -- you'll just have to trust me on that, as I'm greatly lacking in photographic skills, but that ribbon is NOT Kelly green!!! Maybe I'll try to retake it with hubby's better camera.
Paper: PTI's Basic White; The Paper Co.'s Mandarin & green from stash
Stamps: PTI's Everyday Button Bits
Ink: PTI's Ripe Avacado
Embellishments: Offray ribbon; buttons from stash
Tools: Spellbinders Wizard & Labels Two; EK Success scalloped punch

Wild Woodland

This simple side-opening matchbook card was one I made to share with my Designing Divas card group last month. We joined one of the Divas other card groups @ a local scrapbook store for a day @ the store of crafting, food, prizes & fun because our friend, Judy, had won 1st place in a contest there for 12. There ended up being 10 of us, so our project had to be fairly simple to re-create. This double-sided Tinkering Ink paper I'd purchased in Seattle over a year ago gave everyone the option to choose which side they liked best for their card!

Paper: Tinkering Ink's Wild Woodland CS; Bazzill yellow CS & Red CS from stash

Ink: PTI's Ripe Avacado

Embellishments: ribbon, flower & button from stash

Rhinestone Tulip Thank You

I'm on a crafting roll right now - just enjoying the ride! ;-) A sweet friend (who's often sassy!) loaned me her new Nesties to play with this week! Thanks so much Ilene! So here's a little thank you card I whipped up last evening using Labels 4 and a rhinestone tulip I got on sale @ Michaels awhile back. The fun part here was turning the Nestie on its side & cutting just the bottom front of my card and then running a pink marker along that edge - I think it's pretty cute! You can click on the photo for a better view.

It's already past spring here, but I see from many blog posts that most other places in the country are just beginning to enjoy the flowers finally bursting forth after a VERY long winter. Hope my little tulip keeps me in a spring mood while the 100-degree days rage on here in AZ! ;-)

Paper: DCWV's Nana's Kids DP Printed CS; pink metallic & white cs from stash

Stamps: PTI's Mixed Messages; Technique Tuesday's Inner Circle (msg. shadow)

Ink: PTI's Palette Noir

Embellishments: Nesties Labels Four; lg. rhinestones: Michaels $1 spot; Tombow marker

PTI Friends 'Til the End & BB: Retro Card

A simple card for my first attempt @ Guest Star Stamper on PTI's Forum features Friends 'Til the End and Background Basics: Retro stamps. I decided to use this particular background stamp and my Michaels' Black, White & Pop ribbon that mimic each other! I knew my Friends "Til the End flower would "pop" stamped in Palette Noir ink on Raspberry Fizz. I restamped the flower center, added black glitter in the middle, followed by 3 shades of pink glitter, pop-dotted it over my ribbon and added a single pink gem over the "i" in Friend to finish it off!
Paper: PTI's Raspberry Fizz & Stampers' Select White Cardstocks
Stamps: Friends 'Til the End & Background Basics: Retro
Ink: PTI's Palette Noir & Raspberry Fizz
Embellishments: Michaels' Black, White & Pop ribbon; gem & glitters from stash