Cut Some Paper ......

..... strips and cross them is what Wendy at Splitcoast Stampers is asking for.   The Free For All challenge last Friday is all about just this.  Here is what Wendy had to say.

One of my new favorite things to do is to lay with strips of paper .... I love the effect you get when you criss-cross different patterns/textures to enhance your background.

Soooooo...... with that said, your challenge is simple ... cut out some paper strips and cross ‘em up!!! (Better yet??? Use up some of your strip SCRAPS!!! I KNOW you have ‘em!!)

Sounds like fun! 

Collecting all my K & Co. designer Christmas paper scraps, I went to work and here is what I came up with.

Wendy was right, you do get a great effect crossing the papers.  I've not made a card using this technique before but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.  Great idea!  To complete this card I added an ornament and a holly and pine embellishment also from K & Co.

As well as the Free For All Challenge #F4A80 over at Splitcoast Stampers I am entering this card into
Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge - Christmas Wishes. 

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!

Wishing you many wonderful creations

Frame It....

...Up
is the challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers but before I get to that I'd just like to say Good Morning to everyone.   Actually, it's afternoon and my morning didn't go quite as planned.

Our Internet was down until about 20 minutes ago, apparently it was a "major cable repair" according to the gentleman from the cable company.  You don't realize just how much you depend on your computer until there's no Internet.  Kinda scary!  I did get quite a few things accomplished, that was good however what normally would have gotten done in the morning had to wait and that has thrown off my LITTLE SCHEDULE!  Sorry for yelling, I can handle 5 minutes without the Internet, 10 minutes, even 20 minutes maybe ....but half a day?  Breath in, breath out and relax.

What I found irritating funny, was that I actually had to go get the telephone book and look up the (making quotation signs with fingers using both hands/fake smile ) Cable Company's (done making quotation signs/not fake smiling anymore either) phone number, in the phone book!  Why do I have to call them, they should be notifying me.  Not my issue (actually it became my issue) - it's theirs!  Looking up a phone number in the phonebook anymore is so yesterday! Not to mention, who can read the phonebook anyways?!!  The printing is so stinkin small.   I think a Smurf wrote it? 

I believe this guy wrote the phonebook

Not all that long ago, I would have had to go get the phone book, sit on the chair beside the phone - that was plugged into the wall, look up the phone number and dial whomever I was calling and actually sit there until the conversation was over!  We were fine with that, weren't we?   I remember talking for hours on end with friends, trying to stay comfortable changing positions a kabillion times, on the same chair during the phone call.  Don't know why I just wrote about this but I did.   I'm leaving it, because it's true!

Today, I google the phone number, use a remote phone, dial the number and I'm free to move about and do as I please.  Now that makes me happy!  Happy wife (and Mom), happy life!  LOL

I've decided technology is only good, when it works.  Oh...so this was what I was talking about in the first place!

Fewf.....

Over at Splitcoast Stampers on Friday there was a Free For All challenge called Frame It Up.  Dawn was the hostess this week and here is what she had to say.  "Lately, I've been enjoying making frames out of nesties and using them as an element on my cards. Let's see what you frame up in this week's challenge! Your images can be inside the frame or outside of the frame."
If you haven't joined Splitcoast Stampers you might want to, it's awesome!  There are so many wonderfully talented people there and the creations are phenomenal (my big word of the day).  Thanks for a great challenge Dawn!

I really had a lot of fun creating this card.  It's such a girl thing! 
I used two Labels 15 dies to frame both the image and the sentiment.  I ran the card through my big shot layered as follows,

Multipurpose platform
Card
Inside card - Large and small Labels 15 Nestabilities placed as shown on the card
Card closed - On top of the card, two tan mats and two thicker pieces of cardstock
Clear cutting pad

Both the image and sentiment are from Stampalicious.  The sentiment is stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, directly on the card, centered in the middle of the smaller frame.  I took Copic marker friendly paper, chose a Labels 14 die just slightly larger than the image and embossed using the tan mats to finish the edges.  I stamped the image in the centre using a Stamp-a-ma-jig and coloured same with Copic markers.  To pop up the image I used six dimensionals to give the card a bit more dimension.  Three white embossed flowers with green rhinestone were used to embellish.  Crystal effects was used on the Martini glass and a green rhinestone added to the purse.

If you got this far?  Thank you, you are amazing and I truly appreciate you taking the time to visit.

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!

Wishing you many wonderful creations.

Santa's Claus's Reindeer

We're enjoying another warm Monday and it's the beginning of the final week of July. Where has the time gone?!!! Temperatures are still hovering around 30 degrees with lots of humidity which makes for one interesting hair day after another. LOL To keep my mind off the heat I thought I would stay inside where there is air conditioning and play along with some really cool challenges (no pun intended). The first challenge is over at Splitcoast Stampers with the challenge being a free for all. What they're looking for is two by two. You are supposed to do things in twos ... two of the same image, two bows, two buttons, two brads ... as long as there are TWO of the SAME thing somewhere on your creation, then you're good to go - says Wendy!! The second challenge is over at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas. The challenge is to have at least one reindeer on your card but other than that, anything goes.

Well, we all know that Santa's sleigh is pulled by reindeer and they are hooked up to the sleigh in 4 rows of two. This will work out perfectly for both challenges and I kinda thought it would be fun to add a little information about our four legged friends that pull the famous sleigh.

Santa Claus's Reindeer are a team of flying reindeer traditionally held to pull the sleigh of Santa Claus and help him deliver Christmas gifts. The commonly cited names of the reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner (or Donder), and Blitzen. They are based on those used in the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, arguably the basis of reindeer's popularity as Christmas symbols, where Donder/Donner and Blitzen were originally called Dunder and Blixem respectively.  The subsequent popularity of the Christmas song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has led to Rudolph often joining the list.

Dasher 

Dancer 

Prancer 

Vixen 

Comet 

Cupid 

Donner (originally Dunder, then Donder) 

Blitzen (originally Blixem, then Blixen) 

Rudolph (as used in the song Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer)

Here is my card for the challenges,

I've got my reindeer which covers the one challenge. For the second challenge I've used two colours, red and white (I know white isn't a colour but for my card and today's challenge I'm going to pretend it is). I've used two buttons, two brads and two stamps. So that pretty much takes care of the second challenge.

The paper used for this card is from Stampin Up's Designer Pak III and Real Red. The stamps are Inkadinkado for the image and The Old Island Stamp Company for the sentiment which is stamped using Cherry Cobbler ink. The sentiment was punched out using EK Success Real Estate punch.

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!

Wishing you many wonderful creations.

Are You Up For It?

How does Crazy Collage sound? 

Over at Splitcoast Stampers there is a challenge called Ways To Use it.
Every Thursday a wonderful individual comes up with an amazing idea on creating a card and you're told certain items needed to create that same card and, the Ways To Use It.  This past Thursday was no exception and Crazy Collage was the name and at least four (4) different stamps, was the game.  Sounds easy right?  Wrong!  After many attempts at different stamps, ink colours, papers etc. I finally came up with 2 different designer papers, 2 different ink colours and 4 different stamps.  I added a punch here and there and an embellishment or two and finally got the job done.

Here is my entry for the challenge.

This was one pretty interesting difficult challenge.  I love that it made me think, the inspiration for the challenge was quite something.  Sometimes I feel that I can't even come close to creating a card like the ones shown for inspiration. I know that if I do these sort of challenges, it will only make me better.  I look at some of the work these ladies do and it's awesome and I think to myself, you kidding me.... I can't do that!  Had I not seen their cards though, I wouldn't be inspired and I wouldn't see the potential of the challenge.  I've learned so much doing challenges and seeing the different cards.  If you don't try, you won't succeed.  The best part though, there is always someone willing to help out.  If you're not sure of something, there is always someone ready to help.

Paper - K & Co. Designer Paper Solid Mat Pad
Stamps - Hero Arts Music Background, Hampton Art Cling Butterfly, Hampton Art Watercolour Daisy, Frogs Wiskers Ink for the sentiment
Ink - Stampin Up Brocade Blue and Old Olive
Punches - Martha Stewart Border Punch, 1 1/2" circle punch
Accessories - K & Co. scallop embellishment and flower, faux pearl

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!

Wishing you many wonderful creations.
Thanks for visiting

Got Cake?

You can never have too many birthday cards lying around, at least in my family anyways!  If I'm not sending them, there's always someone needing one and I'm only too happy to help out. 
To add to my birthday card stash, I've decided to play along with a sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers.  I think it's actually the other way around.  I'm playing along with the challenge and decided that I'd make a birthday card which will add to my birthday card stash.  Whatever!  This weeks challenge asks that you follow a sketch and get out your round corner punch, buttons, brads and bows and show your creations!  Sounds like fun, I'm in!

Here is this weeks sketch

Here is my take on the sketch

The designer paper is from DCWV and complimented with matching cardstock from my scraps bin.  For the image I used a Lili of the Valley stamp, coloured with Copic markers and the sentiment is from an unknown ovals stamp set.  The border punch is birthday candles embellished with three little matching green buttons.  The sentiment is matted and the scallops pierced.  To finish off the image, I thought I would add dazzling diamonds to the icing, skirt and stars on the headband to give it a little extra sumpin sumpin.  I hope you like it!

I'm off to do some more painting if you can believe it.  You've heard of the domino effect haven't you?  That's what's happening in my front hall.  I've recently, as early as Monday, finished painting my walls and now all the trim and doors are screaming for a new coat of paint.  You can't paint the walls and not freshen up the trim and doors, that's just wrong.  Actually you could, but it wouldn't look so great.  If your going to do it, do it right!!!  Right?
I'm off now to freshen up the trim and doors and give them the sparkle they deserve. 

 

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!

Wishing you many wonderful creations.
Thanks for visiting

Something Old, Something New

I'm playing along with a challenge today that is asking to use something old and something new on your project.  I thought it would be interesting to find out a little more about this well known saying. 

The second line of this old saying actually hints at its origin. The complete phrase is:

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. So this wedding tradition is definitely English, and many sources say that it began in the Victorian era.
Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. "Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past. "Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead. "Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.
As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true."
And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings.*

Very interesting, I've learned something new today! 

For the new on my card I used an embossing folder from QuicKutz which I was thrilled to learn would work in my Cuttlebug, along with my new stamp, the sentiment (from Hampton Art) make a big wish.  I found this stamp in the $1.00 bin at Michaels along with several others I just had to have.  They really have some neat things in those bins so check them out the next time you visit a Michaels store.  For the old on my card I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in antique linen, some rhinestones and a birthday cake embellishment.  
I've quite enjoyed this challenge today at Splitcoast Stampers.  Not only do I have fun creating I find I learn a lot along the way, and that's a good thing!
*Something Old, Something New - Information provided by Yahoo

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!
Wishing you many wonderful creations.
Thanks for visiting

Mademoiselle Noel

I'm playing along with another two challenges today and again I'm able to apply a Christmas theme to both. 

Fa la la la la....la la la la!   

At Splitcoast Stampers it's Wednesday which means a sketch challenge.  They always have amazing sketches to work with.  Here is the sketch for this week.  

I'll also be playing along with Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge.  This will be the first time playing along and I'm quite excited.  At CHNC this week, the challenge is anything goes.  Wow, that's an easy one!   Take a pop over and have a look by clicking on the link above and join in the fun!

Here is my take on the this weeks sketch and anything goes challenges.  Hope you like it!

This was a fun stamp to work with.  The image is called Mademoiselle Noel and she is from Penny Black.  I coloured her with Copic markers and added some Dazzling Diamonds for the fur and Crystal effects on her belt buckle, boots and bow that is tied around the bouquet of flowers.  All other materials are listed below.

Papers - K & Co. designer paper, red hand crafted paper, Real Red, Black and Certainly Celery cardstock
Ink - Real Red and Memento's Tuxedo Black used for image
Stamp - Christmas Greetings stamp set from Stampin Up
Accessories - K & Co. pinecone greenery and black rhinestones, Martha Stewart and Stampin Up border punches.

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!
Wishing you many wonderful creations.
Thanks for visiting

A Little Touch Of Christmas

Nothing wrong with a little touch of Christmas now and then, is there?  You can never be too ready for the Holiday Season and one more card made now means one less to make later, right?  Absolutely is what I say, after all....I am an elf! 

I was pretty excited when I saw the Colour Challenge this week at Splitcoast Stampers.  Soft Suede, Crumb Cake and Melon Mambo where the three colours chosen and if you don't have those exact colours you may use the closest colours you have.  These colours are fantastic and when combined with Christmas it's pure magic!  Another challenge I'm going to play along with is The Christmas Card Challenge and the challenge this week is to use die cuts on your Christmas card.  You are able to use your own die cutting machine or store bought dies.

Grabbing all the materials I needed I sat down and began to create, here is what I came up with.

I used two different border punches for this card.  One is the Stampin Up scalloped edge punch and the other is from Martha Stewart.  The designer paper is from K & Co. as is the poinsettia and holly embellishments.  I used Copic markers to colour the image and Dazzling Diamonds for her fur.  The card is a 5" X 7" Kraft card for the suede colour and the cardstock is crumb cake and another colour I chose to match to as close as I could get to melon mambo.  I added a little bit of lace and used labels 21 for the die required in the Christmas Card Challenge.  The sentiment is from Stampabilities and the ink used to sponge on and for the sentiment was matched to the melon coloured cardstock and from Portafolia.

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!
Wishing you many wonderful creations.
Thanks for visiting

Baby Boy

Or is it?  We aren't sure.  My niece doesn't want to know and wishes to be surprised.  I say good for her!  We'll all find out in September.  Either way, I'm going to make up cards for both little boys and little girls - because I can! 

I'm using the sketch challenge today at Splitcoast Stampers to create my first card, it's for a baby boy.  Korin has provided a wonderful sketch for this challenge and here it is,



and here's my take on Korin's sketch...so cute!

I think I might just have to use this sketch again to create a card for a little girl.

Card 5 1/2" X 4"
Paper - K & Co. designer paper
Ink - Stampin Up Brocade Blue
Stamps - Recollections Baby Boy Stamp Set
Accessories - Martha Stewart border punch, blue crystal embellishments, blue ribbon and dimensionals

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!

Wishing you many wonderful creations.
Thanks for visiting

Neglected

Before I get to the challenge of the day I want to share something.  I'm posting very late today because I was out doing something that was worth more than anything.  I spent the afternoon with my dad.  The two of us went golfing which is one of his most favourite things in the world to do.  My dad will turn 80 this year and everyday with him is a treasure, a memory and a bond that is only between a father and daughter.  It was awesome and he played fantastic.  We had to take a few breaks later on in our game so he could catch his breath.  You see the course we played is considered a short course, 9 holes but it's extremely hilly.  I tried to get him to play the first four holes and then repeat the same four holes again (fairly flat) knowing how difficult (the hills) the next five holes would be but he wanted to push on (bless his heart).  I used a cart today (I usually carry my clubs) and got Dad a cart too but there were times I had to push mine and pull his.  He wasn't having anything to do with that but I explained I needed the exercise.  Once we climbed the first hill I didn't have any problem with taking his cart after that.  Arriving at the next tee I would make an excuse to clean my ball, find a tee or contemplate which club to use knowing that Dad needed the rest as he was out of breath.  I'm so proud of him, not once did he complain as he was thrilled to be out doing what he loved the most and doing it with his daughter.
How lucky am I? By the way, on the 5th hole, his first shot landed on the green.  It was a 146 yard par 3 and he sunk his putt for par!  Go Dad!  I plan to take him out once a week all summer and I can't wait.

 

ne·glect

/nɪˈglɛkt/ Show Spelled[ni-glekt] 

–verb (used with object)

1. to pay no attention or too little attention to; disregard or slight

2. to be remiss in the care or treatment of

3. to omit, through indifference or carelessness

4. to fail to carry out or perform

5. to fail to take or use

–noun

6. an act or instance of neglecting; disregard; negligence

7. the fact or state of being neglected

So here is the challenge today at Splitcoast Stampers. 

Use your neglected stamp (sets).  The stamp(s) you had to have.  Whether it was a sale or love at first sight, you bought it because you had to have it,  and now ......(gulp) you've never used it.  There it sits ......stored in a case, box, drawer or right there in plain sight.  Neglected and so not being used.  Well people, here is your chance.  Grab that stamp or stamp set that's never seen ink and USE IT! 

Can you guess what the licence plate reads?
If you guessed Great Challenge you are correct!
Ontario, Canada licence plates are blue and white

So, this is one of those stamp sets that seemed like a great idea at the time.  It was on sale and both my kids getting their first vehicles, I thought it would make for a great scrapbooking page(s).  Needless to say I haven't got that far but I know when the time comes, I'll be glad I have it, right?

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!

Wishing you many wonderful creations.
Thanks for visiting

Piercing Sentiments

Wow, that title is loaded.  Nothing better than a catchy title to get your attention.  I chose it because I felt it covered the two challenges that I'm working with today.  The first challenge I'm playing along with today is with Splitcoast Stampers and it's about Piercing.  Why not poke some holes in your craft?  It's actually kinda fun and almost as therapeutic as popping that bubble wrap stuff.  If you've never tried it, I highly recommend it.  Here's what you do.  The next time you come across some bubble wrap, just grab one of those bubbles and squeeze it ....until it pops.  Don't say I didn't warn you though, it's addicting.  There's just something about the pop, the sound and the feeling...ahhhhhh!  The other challenge I'm playing along with today is with 365 Cards and it's all about the sentiment.  The challenge is to use a Sentiment that inspires or makes your day brighter.  The sentiment used today I feel helps to put things into perspective.

I've used another flower today, that's one every day this week like I promised I would. Look at me!

I did a little homework on piercing and I couldn't believe what I learned.  I didn't realize that you can actually purchase templates to pierce your papers.  Some of those templates were truly amazing and so detailed.  If you are interested in having a look at some of the templates I saw, click here.  

I also found this information from Tammy. She says she ran across a PhotoBucket account with a ton of templates - FREE! Here is a link to the PB album:
http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r125/madjara/embroidery-ornare/
She also found that if you use PhotoBucket, you can subscribe to that album and when/if she adds more templates, you can have them sent to your email.

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!

Wishing you many wonderful creations.
Thanks for visiting

Wonderful

Still workin the flowers, yay!  

Playing along with yet another sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers this week and I must say....lovin this sketch. 

It's very clean looking and yet there are so many possibilities.  Here is what I came up with.

I used  designer paper from Me & My Big Ideas and matted it with a co ordinating colour.  Used sentiments and ink from Stampin Up and finished it off with some paper flowers with a little bling in the middle to give it a little sumpin sumpin. 

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!

Wishing you many wonderful creations.
Thanks for visiting

Opposites Attract

Do opposites attract?   We aren't going to talk about people here (fewf), we're going to talk about colours.  While reading up on opposite colours, here are some interesting things I've learned. 

Makeup from Murale.ca
Blue’s complementary colour is orange, so to make blue eyes pop use daytime shades of soft peach or salmon,  For evening, go for dark, dramatic shades of persimmon and burnt orange or go bold with of one of the season’s hottest golden or bronze hues.
Green-eyed gals can create unforgettable eyes with rich, jewel-like tones in purple, violet and mauve with a reddish undertone. 
The best colours to flatter brown-eyed girls are shades of blue-green.
Hazel eyes usually have two colours: brown around the pupil and green towards the outer rim of the eye. These lucky ladies can wear a whole palette of flattering shades, from sea green to rich purples.
Whatever your eye colour, spin the wheel and find your perfect match.

Decorating, from House Beautiful.

Need to perk up the palette of your home with colorful design and decorating ideas? Opposite colors are key to creating stunning, dramatic rooms. "Good color schemes always have complementary colors to keep them from being too obvious," says designer Tom Scheerer.  Look to the color wheel when picking the perfect shade: Pair purple with yellow, blue with orange and red with green. These combinations - while not for the color-shy - are guaranteed to really show off a space.

So let's apply what we've learned about opposites to the challenge.  Splitcoast Stampers challenge on Friday was a Friday Free For All (design/sketch is up to you), you're to use the colour wheel and come up with colours on opposite sides.

I've chosen the colours violet and yellow.

I hope you've enjoyed today's post and perhaps learned something new about either makeup or decorating. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to try a few new shades of eyeshadow.

Wherever you are in your day, I hope your enjoying it!
Wishing you many wonderful creations.
Thanks for visiting.