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 1, Day 1

(Updated version!)

Following Jennifer's colors and her sketch
quite literally for a flap-style card (wherein the recipient's greeting will go underneath the flap) and building a dimensional die cut, this is my first 'homework' for class -- life got crazy again! I love the 'chevron'-style BG stamping she taught us in her video -- really FUN and quite easy to achieve with her tips/tricks.
EDITED to add: New updated photo of same card, but I added orange gems (colored with a Copic marker) and ribbon -- after looking at this card for a couple days and battling allergy symptoms ever since Card Camp began, I felt this needed a 'punch', so here's my changes. Sure I'm not the only one who likes her cards better after a change or two?!

(Original version)

SUPPLIES: 
Paper: PTI's Aqua Mist & Spring Moss; white CS from stash
Stamps: PTI's Beautiful Blooms II and Everyday Button Bits (sentiment)
Ink: Memento Rose Bud, Tangelo & Dandelion
Dies: QuicKutz/Lifestyle Crafts Spring 2011 Gift Set (Alpha Letters)

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #62: Beach/Summer Theme

This week's challenge at My Sheri Crafts perfectly fits a project I just completed using Tattered Angels Seaside Beachcomber Embossed Glimmer Chips/Tiles, various Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists and Tim Holtz Distress Inks.
This brings back memories of visiting the CA beaches when our kids were little, since we lived within 30 minutes of the ocean. Although I was never a big fan of actually being in the water or the hot clingy sand everywhere, the ocean itself is such a gorgeous powerful force rolling onto shore. I think I'm much better suited to dry land and now living in the SW desert, I definitely get to experience that -- LOL!
This project was something definitely out of my comfort zone, but it was fun to experiment with the mists and play with the tile and especially the fish/seashell chips, all while taking a little walk down memory lane!



Products used:
Tattered Angels Seaside Beachcomber Embossed Glimmer Chips
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists (various colors)
QuicKutz/Lifestyle Crafts 2011 Spring Gift Set RV (Alpha letters)

Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Antique Linen/Wild Honey)

Lifestyle Crafts Spring 2011 Wildflower Gift Set Album

I recently received the Lifestyle Crafts Spring 2011 Wildflower Gift Set (on sale right now at Creating Everlasting Memories), which includes this album, plus 11 dies, mini alphabet die set and 24 patterned papers. I don't normally scrapbook, but this was just too tempting.
For the cover I've used one of the patterned papers and solid papers also included to die cut the darling bird. I chose cream felt to die cut the flower petals, edged them in Tim Holtz Mustard Seed Distress Ink and added a glittery brad. One day I'll finish it off with some treasured photos, but in the meantime I'm really enjoying looking at it every time I enter my craft room.
If any of you are Tattered Angels fans, be sure to check out the giveaway at our Creating Memories in Time blog. The monthly challenge there is to create either a Father's Day or Independence Day project -- very simple -- and you could win a ton of TA goodies!!!

Double-Pocket Tag Card

This double-pocket card follows a pattern I’ve had for years on a piece of folded computer paper and I don't recall who first shared it with me now. It requires one 8 ½” x 11“ sheet of double-sided CS (all-over patterns work; one-way patterns will not).
Fold top left section over top right section with folded corner to inside. Create a 4 ¼” folded corner at bottom right just as you did on top left corner and fold this section up over top right section, folding left bottom section to the back of your card.To complete double-pocket card, tape first pocket edge to card front; tape bottom left pocket edges down. For my card front I die cut 4 Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Tags (CC-TAGS-01 available at Creating Everlasting Memories), stamped a different birthday greeting on each, set an eyelet at top center, embellished with fibers and added them to my pockets.


















I then stamped a large birthday sentiment on the inside of my card.

Simplicity

I took a little break from paper crafting recently and wanted to begin my first day back in the craft room after my "stay-cation" (spent at home enjoying our son's visit!) by posting a sweet little simple card I created recently that is perfect when you need one ASAP!

Using LifeStyle Crafts (formerly QuicKutz) Nesting Rectangles die (CC-RCTANGLES-01 available at Creating Everlasting Memories) I cut my Bazzill CS frames and flower (discontinued QK die) and added my Papertrey Ink sentiment (Everyday Button Bits). Keeping it simple, I merely added a row of ZVA Creative Pearls to my main image frame and additional leaf and pearls to embellish the sentiment.

Just add your handwritten message inside -- a "grab and go" handmade card that shows you care!

Happy Mother's Day Card 2011

I couldn't possibly think of a more fitting Mother's Day card for my nearly 95-year-old Mother-in-Law who still occasionally makes a new dress for herself. She's always been the most amazing seamstress, as she could take the bodice from one pattern, the sleeves from another and the skirt from a third pattern and create the most elegantly beautiful silk-embroidered, pearl bedecked wedding dress you'd ever hope to envision. She did exactly that for one of her Granddaughter's several years ago! She first purchased nylon net and made up a prototype dress that fit her like a glove, making necessary adjustments before cutting into the gorgeous, expensive silk. She also would just see a dress in a store and sketch it out on scratch paper, then go home and perfectly re-create the dress. I have always been in awe of her! When I got this QK/Lifestyle Crafts Sewing Machine Die (REV 0211-S), I realized it would be perfect for her Mother's Day Card. Here's how I created my card:

Die cut sewing machine (REV-0211-S) from cream and silver CS;

Die cut pin cushion (KS-0954) from red and green CS; additional stem piece from clear plastic (to strengthen stem);

Stamp sentiment (Little Paper Shop {All Occasions set}) on stem/tomato pieces; punch tiny hole through stem/plastic backing; add green safety pin and 3 sequin pins to pin cushion securing with pop dot on back;

Using Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink, distress sewing machine and card edges of 4 ¼” x 5 ½” cream CS;

Assemble sewing machine, winding thread around spool die cut (DMC Floss #814);

Cut DP (Cosmo Cricket’s “Material Girl”) to 4” x 5 ¼”, secure to card with double-sided tape 1/4” inside DP edges, then zig-zag stitch with cream thread to card;

Attach sewing machine with pop dots; add Bobbin Ribbon “Tape Measure” to left edge, tying in double knot  and fraying edges;

Add sentiment pin cushion with safety pin to knot.

Hope you're having a wonderfully crafty day today wherever you are and Happy Mother's Day to all Moms out there!!!

Just Because . . . in Lavender

We can never have too many "Just Because" cards made up ahead for those times when we need a quick card to dash off in the mail to someone, so I chose Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Ovals dies for this simple greeting in shades of lavender to add to my card stash.

All lavender shades of CS and Kraft CS are from Papertrey Ink, as are all my stamped images.
I chose ZVA Creative Pearls for decorative accents, as well as Martha Stewart's Eyelet Lace border punch and 1 1/2" wide sheer ribbon. Quite simple, yet still elegant -- just because!

For all your Lifestyle Crafts dies, MS punches and ZVA Creative needs, visit Creating Everlasting Memories, where you'll currently find great sale prices on my many items, including these Nesting Ovals!

Patchwork Heart Mother's Day Card

I originally saw a similar torn/patchwork heart card years ago in Papercrafts' Magazine. I recall they used blue/brown papers and I've always loved that original card. I CASEd it at the time, but it was before I had a camera, let alone a blog! I decided to re-create the torn/patchwork heart using Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Hearts (CC-HEARTS-01) by cutting the next to largest heart once from white CS (for a backing) & 3 from different Making Memories "Sabrina" patterned papers. I  hand tore sections from the patterned paper hearts and attached them to my CS heart,  edging my heart with coordinating ink. Next, I cut a 3 ¾” square from decorative CS, punched all corners with my ticket punch & attached it to a 4 ½” Bazzill square card, adding coordinating ZVA Creative Pearls at the corners. Die cut your next to smallest Nesting Oval  (CC-OVALS-01) from white CS, stamp a sentiment & edge with ink. Attach eyelet & jump ring to ribbon & tie around card front and secure patchwork heart over ribbon. A fairly simple card, but still pretty, I think!
For a great sale price right now on both Nesting Hearts & Nesting Ovals see Creating Everlasting Memories!

Paper Doll Friends

This was such a fun set of Lifestyle Crafts (formerly QuicKutz) dies to play with!!! I first embossed the Paper Doll Border die (#059) onto my BG paper and then die cut my 2 Paper Dolls (#0281) from cream CS. Now for the really fun part, I cut various DPs from the Dresses (#0282) die to dress them, adding buttons for trim and even socks/shoes by simply cutting different DPs and trimming with my small curved scissors. NOTE: For boy dolls, simply use the Paper Dolls die and cut his shirt/pants from it too, as well as socks/shoes!
All DPs are by Heidi Grace Designs and sentiment from Papertrey Ink's Friends 'til the End stamp set.  Three coordinating ZVA Creative Pearls finish off this card!
Hope you enjoyed your visit here today! For these dies, ZVA Creative Pearls and much more, please visit Creating Everlasting Memories for great selections/great pricing!!!

A Pirate's Life for Me!

I kept this 6-inch square card very simple because I felt my die-cut pirate ship made quite a statement all on its own on this gorgeous BG paper! My BG paper is by Creative Imaginations and the ship was cut and then lightly sanded using Core'dinations papers.
I used Distress inks to antique the ship and the edges of my card. Ahoy Matey!!!


Products used here available at Creating Everlasting Memories include:
Lifestyle Crafts (formerly QuicKutz) REV-0081 pirate ship die
Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Antique Linen and Vintage Photo 

Flourish Happy Birthday Card by Lifestyle Crafts

I thought it would be fun to cover myself and my studio in glitter -- LOL -- so I die cut this Lifestyle Crafts (formerly QuicKutz) Flourish die from double-sided adhesive, arranged them and pressed them onto my card front. I then covered the flourishes with Martha Stewart's Tourmaline glitter. It truly does "get everywhere", but it's sooo BEAUTIFUL!
I kept the rest pretty simple so my glittered flourishes could take center stage and simply stamped my Papertrey Ink sentiment in PTI's Raspberry Fizz ink on another die cut (from the Lifestyle Crafts A2 Collection shown on my April 2nd post). I then took a Stampin' Up punch to each edge, threaded my May Arts sheer pink ribbon through, tied a bow and rounded the corners.
Other than glitter clean-up time, a quick, sparkly birthday card for my stash! Hope you're having a lovely & crafty day today!!!
Both these dies and many May Arts ribbons are available at Creating Everlasting Memories EBay store so be sure to check those out, as well as our DT Blog at Creating Memories in Time, where you can play along for our monthly Blog Candy!

All Occasion Bird Cage Card

This bird cage is only one of 2 cages in this 2-die set (the other sits on a floor stand!) available from Lifestyle Crafts (formerly QuicKutz) at Creating Everlasting Memories EBay Store. My sentiment is stamped on their Nesting Ovals die. I just love these dies paired here with this fun Heidi Grace Double-sided CS and Papertrey Ink's Smokey Shadow and Vintage Cream CS. I hand cut my little yellow bird from a felt flower I'd had forever and added a Kaiser pearl for his eye, along with several other pearls to the cage and my sentiment oval. Just think this makes a fun little all-occasion card to have in my stash! What do you think? I think I need to get a card made with the other fabulous bird cage die from this same set!  ;~)
Don't forget our Design Team has a monthly blog hop with Blog Candy that has begun here: Creating Memories in Time.
Supplies list:
REV-0313-D Bird Cage
CC-OVALS-01 (used for sentiment)Heidi Grace Double-sided patterned CS
Papertrey's Smokey Shadow and Vintage Cream CS; Birds of a Feather stamps; Vintage Cream Ink
Kaiser Craft Pewter Pearls

A2 Collection Die Set by Lifestyle Crafts: Birthday Wishes

I had so much fun playing with this new Lifestyle Crafts (formerly QuicKutz) A2 Collection die set and My Mind's Eye Lush papers and coordinating Lush gems. The dies in this set include the front gatefold piece, the inside mat shape, the envelope liner die, plus 6 other shape dies for tags, enclosures, etc. I'll definitely be making more of these A2 Collection die-cut cards very soon! This set will be AWESOME for invitations or announcements of any/all types, so I may do that for my next project with these dies. My sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.

This A2 Collection die and MANY others are available at Creating Everlasting Memories EBay store so be sure to check it out at your first opportunity, as well as our DT Blog at Creating Memories in Time, where you can play along for Blog Candy this month!

Happy Easter Chick Gift Box: QuicKutz Style and BLOG CANDY

I've had this wooden "egg-shaped" box for a looong time, so decided it was the perfect shape for an Easter treat. The box is covered in handmade paper that reminded me of hand-dyed eggs.  I cut the chick (QuicKutz/Lifestyle Crafts die #Rev-0184-S) using craft felt and the egg from the same die in Bazzill Shimmer CS. The egg and box edges are distressed with Antique Linen Distress Ink. Chick/egg are grounded with Toffee FlowerSoft.
A Happy Easter greeting and small egg adorn the front side of my treat box, die cut with QuicKutz Nameplate die RS-0624, edged with Antique Linen Distress Ink and stamped by stamping off once. This is achieved by stamping the inked egg/sentiment first on scratch paper before stamping onto the die cut, which lightened my Memento Bahama Blue dye ink so it better matches the blue in my handmade paper. The die cut and my chick's eye are accented with ZVA Creative light blue pearls.


This chick die, plus MANY others, ZVA Creative Pearls, Tim Holtz Distress Inks and FlowerSoft products are all available at Creating Everlasting Memories EBay store.
You also don't want to miss our Creating Memories in Time blog for April, including Mary's sweet Easter project tutorial, more upcoming projects from all the DT Ladies, as well as BLOG CANDY that you can play along to win -- so click on the link above!!!

Happy Birthday: Lifestyle Crafts Letterpress Style!

While I had my QuicKutz/Lifestyle Crafts supplies out, I played with this border/edge plate from the Letterpress Wedding printing plates set and Hot Pink ink. I think I may have "accidentally" turned the plate upside down (it's the large solid strip/narrow strip plate), but I'm glad I did, as I love this edge!  :-)
For my sentiment, I inked it on a separate piece of LP paper and then ran the inky brayer along the edges for added detail.
Lastly, I inked up the single daisy outline flower from the Everyday set, punched it out and pop dotted it over my sentiment strip. Adding a pearl to my flower center, plus one to the dot over the "i" in birthday, finished off my card.
Do you ever get a card totally finished and photographed (and maybe even mailed, as in this case?), only to wish you'd done something differently? Looking at my photo now, I'm wishing I'd have thought to also run my inky brayer along the circle flower cut-out -- maybe I'll  remember next time?!
For a great selection of Lifestyle Crafts' Letterpress supplies, be sure to visit Creating Everlasting Memories, where you'll find these products, as well as pearls in many sizes/colors and decorative punches too! Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!