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 #124: Funky Christmas!

For our final challenge of this calendar year, our DT member, Raquel, has asked that we create any project using NON-traditional Christmas colors -- no typical green / red / white combinations or white / blue combination.  You can use those colors but MIX it up!

I started out thinking this would be really hard OR that I'd not really like what I created, but in the end I LOVE this non-traditional teal and pink card totally!!!  Michaels recently had stamps on sale, BOGO (buy one / get one free), so how could I resist, PLUS I had a 25% off entire purchase coupon -- WOO-HOO!  I chose two Hero Arts Christmas stamps, mainly because I liked the large A2-card-filling sentiments on one and the mistletoe branches on the other. Then, as luck would have it, a couple days later I happened upon the card on the right (perhaps Pinterest?) by Shari Carroll!

Changing up the colors and greeting using the 2nd Hero set, I started with PTI's Hawaiian Shores CS for my top-fold A2 card, adding a DP layer (7gypsies 'Venice' 6x6" variety pack). My large ornament is stamped using Encore Ultimate Metallic "Pink" ink, the smaller one & sentiment in Encore's "Teal" and all embossed in Martha Stewart Clear EP. After stamping my mistletoe in Memento Tuxedo Black, I colored my leaves using Copic #'s YG41 and BG11. A small teal seam binding bow and a sprinkling of pink Bazzill gems finishes it off.  Best part of all, I know exactly who's receiving this card -- another important one crossed off my list!

Sew, Sometimes I Craft Without (#5) (Oops, this s/be #7) . . .

paper --  this is the fifth seventh in my series of posting handmade American Girl doll clothing made from patterns from various sources, both free and purchased ones.  I'd intended to get this sweet little dress posted over a week or so ago, but my dear sweet hubby of nearly 35 years had a medical emergency. Thank God, he is much better and we hope to have many more healthy, wonderful years together!

This darling little dress modeled by Kirsten (an original Pleasant Company AG doll from 1990) is from the Feedsack Fun: ebook of 1930's patterns, available in several different sizes in one pattern -- all original designs created by JenWrenne. The above link is for her fabulous Etsy storefront!!!  She's a very lovely and TALENTED lady and her awesome blog (including lots of FREE patterns you'll LOVE!) can be found here!  Please go visit Jen's blog and her Etsy store -- you'll NOT be disappointed!  She also does fabulous contests every so often and has one open through November 22nd!

For those of us who remember 'feedsacks', this is such a fabulous array of darling dresses that Jen has beautifully drawn for our enjoyment.  I also LOVE that Jen gives lots of historical information along with her patterns -- she's truly an educator & doll lover!  I just purchased a couple more patterns from her and now have so many that it's hard to know what to sew for my DD's dolls first -- a great dilemma to be in -- Hee!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today; I love to hear from you, so please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks!!!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #123: Thanksgiving

Our challenge @ My Sheri Crafts asks simply that you create a project that's Fall or Thanksgiving related -- so let's see yours!

Simplicity ruled for me, as a family emergency consumed several days. All ended well, so that's ALL that matters in the end and I now need this card for a neighbor that helped me in my time of need. I designed this card with him in mind and kept it very simple and as masculine as I could. I chose Kraft CS and a deep red-orange Bazzill CS to add behind my Spellbinders' die-cut bottom edge. Using JustRite's stamp set (Give Thanks Nested Frames & Occasions - retired) and two coordinating Just Rite die sets (retired), I stamped my leaf/acorn frame and sentiment and popped them up with foam dots for dimension atop my brown ribbon. That's it for me now, but I'll be watching for your project @ MSC!!!

JustRite Friday Challenge #109: It's WOW!

Guess you could say, I'm dreaming of a White Christmas' with this card that I created for JustRite's current Friday Challenge to create a 'white-on-white' card and sponsored by Spellbinders.

This was such a FUN Christmas scene to design! My favorite thing about this card is that you can see light through it along the Radiant Rectangles open edges. I lined it with vellum and then cut a large rectangle out of my card front. For this card today I've used various white card stock and vellum pieces from my stash, lots of pearls, several Spellbinders' dies and my sentiment from JustRite's Antique Christmas Tags: One.
The gifts under the tree were difficult to capture with all the white, so I've added a close-up of them below. Thanks so much for stopping by to visit!





Dies Used:  Radiant Rectangles, 2012 Holiday Tree, Frosty Forms (pkg & bow) and various rectangle dies.

JustRite Friday Challenge #108: Sketch

Needing Christmas cards, I thought this JustRite Friday Challenge #108 would be the perfect time to knock another one out, following Sheri's fabulous sketch!

Think this card is pretty simple construction-wise, so I'll simply list the 'ingredients' used below. Any questions, just comment and I'll be happy to reply and thanks for stopping by today!!!

Paper: Papertrey Ink's Vintage Cream and Pure Poppy CS; October Afternoon's Holiday Style 8x8 Paper Pad
Stamps: JustRite's Christmas Antique Labels One and Just Because Set (retired) for the From Our Family tag
Dies: JustRite's Vintage Labels Four and Antique Labels One and (retired) Nested Sentiment Dies

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #122: A Little Comfort

Our current challenge @ My Sheri Crafts is a simple (but important) one: to create a card that brings 'A Little Comfort' to it's recipient(s), either a sympathy card or simply Thinking of You!

I did a new take on my favorite simple sympathy card previously created here in black/cream, making it instead in shades of cream/light brown sugar. I started with a Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream CS base, added a DCWV light brown shade of textured CS and finished it off with PTI's Fine Linen CS. On that I stamped/embossed my BG vine stamp also from PTI's With Sympathy set) and embossed with American Crafts Brown Sugar Zing EP -- LOVE this color. I stamped a sentiment from the same stamp set onto a Petite and Scalloped Oval by first using VersaMark Ink and adding American Crafts Brown Sugar ink on top and heating with my heat gun until dry. A few pearls were added below my sentiment and cream seam binding bow at the side for an understated sympathy card. Always good to have a couple of these in our stash, so I hope to see your version of "A Little Comfort" posted soon for our challenge @ My Sheri Crafts!!!

Sew, Sometimes I Craft Without (#6) . . .

paper -- and oh my, did I ever LOVE making this ADORABLE little Penny Lane Jacket by Liberty Jane Clothing -- it is my FAV, at least at the moment, but I'm sure it will be a top FAV for years to come!

I purchased Linen fabric for this little beauty and I'm sooo glad I did, as it is just sooo sweet!!! I used what I believe to be a tiny piece of vintage fabric, probably from my Mother's stash from many years ago and just love that it went so well with the linen, IMHO!  Ohhh, what I would make IF I only had more of this sweet little flowery print -- sigh!
I've also used some possibly vintage buttons, but who remembers where all those buttons come from?! Molly is modeling for us today, wearing her Peplum Top and Skinny Jeans (also from LJC), but this top is not quite ready for 'prime time' yet. I absolutely LOVE that sweet green fabric that I found at my local Wal-Mart of all places and I'm ever so tempted to make myself a top from it -- that's how much I like it!
The first Peplum top I made is a bit too snug on my original/plumper American Girl dolls. The added 10% is a bit too much though, so more tweaking will happen as I just adore this top and will get it's fit perfected soon. When I do, you know I'll post it!  ;~)

JustRite Friday Challenge #107: Easel Cards

Card Open w/all 3 Layers

Easel cards are the theme this week @ JustRite's Friday Challenge -- something I've only done once or twice before, but they're a really fun way to create a card that's a bit more unique! I decided to make it a real 'challenge' and create a triple-easel Valentine's card basically following this video.

For my card I've used various Spellbinders' heart-shaped dies (Nested Hearts; Lace Hearts) and Labels One to create my Valentine's Day card using gold CS and red/gold sparkly DP as well as JustRite's Winter Words, Ooh La La French Fills and JR Grand Sentiments for my three sentiments. With the above-mentioned video, I think what I did is self-evident, except to say that I added Viva Inka Gold Metallic Rub to my largest heart, the key from the Lace Hearts die cut in Spellbinders Red Foil and several red gems.

What a FUN challenge and although it took a bit longer than I'd hoped to finish, I LOVE the result!

Card Folded Flat for Mailing

Largest Heart

Medium Heart

Smallest Heart

My Sheri Crafts #121: Nighttime!

My Sheri Crafts 'nighttime' theme this week reminded me of a pair of owls that had taken up residence in our former Phoenix neighborhood. We lived very near the Indian Reservation there also and since our older, established neighborhood had lots of big  trees and some 2-story homes it attracted owls. Sitting atop the chimney of our next-door neighbor's house, the male would have a conversation with Mrs. Owl! It was always a joy to fall asleep listening to them, almost like he was guarding the area, though I doubt the smaller critters he was hunting felt very safe!

Several variations of 'toilet paper or paper towel roll' owls can be found online at Pinterest and a friend sent the Bazzill blog link where a mutual friend shared hers. They are so fun and a great creative activity for kids as well! Using SEI's older Madera Island CS I covered both rolls. Then you simply fold down the back and front at the center to form the ears. Mr. Owl has wiggle eyes, while Mrs. Owl's are made with pearl brads and stick-on enamel dots. I used a Spellbinders' leaf die to cut wings from CS/felt and  beaks were hand cut from velvet paper. The possibilities are endless for embellishing your owls, so just let the creativity flow and have FUN!!! Hope to see your version of 'nighttime' posted over @ My Sheri Crafts!