My first attempt at quilling!

I've been threatening to try quilling ever since I started following Helen's fab blog, Let's Create, over a year ago, and after a few false starts I've finally made a project featuring the technique.

Mom gave me the quilling paper & tool, which she got free with an issue of Crafts Beautiful magazine, but even with the "right" tools I found that it was trickier than I had hoped... but Helen has offered many good tips, and I'm really quite thrilled my my first attempt!

I wanted to keep this card very clean and simple, so there's no edging or nuttin'. For the banner, I cut the shape out of white cardstock, ran it through my sticker machine, and smoothed on the natural cotton material. I folded the edges in, adhering them with double-sided tape. I stamped the Stampin' Up! sentiment with brown Memento ink, added some rafia, and glued the butterfly on with Glossy Accents. Easy-peasy!

Inspiration/Challenges:

Amusing Challenge: Sketch (right)

Color Throwdown #194: Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade, Very Vanilla, Soft Sky (left)

Tutorials: The Quilling Patch, My Creative Scrapbook, Origami Resource Center

Update: This was one of only 2 entries, but I still won Amusing Sketch Challenge #3! Was in great company with E.T., my Feline Playful teamie.

Thank you for visiting!

Dude Time Doodles May New Release Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Dude Time Doodles New Release Blog Hop! You should have arrived here from Charlene's fabulous blog. Your next stop is all things Anne-made.

The Design Team is featuring three fantastic new DTD images, and one of the Dudettes - or Dude - will be named our MYSTERY HOST at the end of the hop and one lucky person who comments on that blog will win a free Dude Time Doodles image of their choice; So be sure to comment on each blog. You have a whole week to hop (through next Tuesday).

I used Sagremor the Foolhardy by Dude Time Doodles/Bonibleaux Designs, along with a quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, to make this royally nerdy card:

I have a very special place in my heart for Monty Python and the Holy Grail, as it's one of the movies my husband introduced me to when he was "courting" me way back when. This is the kind of class-specific joke that I love, and after conferring with the Dude Time Hollow brain trust we decided that it's not really cursing, it's just an archaic use of a word!

I used several techniques for this card, so here's a little tutorial-ish list:

1. Crenelated Castle Wall Top: Cut the dotted strip from the Sizzix Sizzlits Dots & Scallops Decorative Strip Die with your die cut machine. Using your paper trimmer (or scissors, depending how straight you can cut!), cut the strip in half horizontally. Ta-da, easy crenellation!





Castle Wall embossing plate

2. Castle Wall embossing plate: I followed the tutorial by Carolina Girl. (I totally get a kick out of the fact that I made this with cardboard from a Tsingtao beer six-pack box!)


3. Small banners: Fold a strip in half, keeping it in place with a binder clip (don't crease the fold!), and cut a triangular notch in the bottom. Glue it together, leaving about a quarter of an inch at the top unglued. Cut small notches on the top to make hanging strips. Outline the banner with a gold pen (I used a Sakura gel pen for the main part and a thin Elmer's pen for the tops). String the banners; here I used a gold thread-covered elastic ribbon that came with a box of chocolates my husband bought me for Mother's Day ... he's a pretty awesome guy, isn't he?!) 
• I adhered the ribbon to the card with a thin line of ZipDry silicon glue, plus a gold brad on each end for extra support.


4. Message banner with faux gold stitching: Gold-embossed using the Cross Stitch stamp from SP Stamps Stitchery Doo set. See my tips for making such a banner in my tutorial.  


5. Paper choices:
• 12x6 blue cardstock, folded twice at 4 inches. I used my papercutter to cut the slight incline before folding.
• Textured gray cardstock for wall top
• Flat gray cardstock for walls: After embossing the pieces, I sprayed it with a matte coating to bring out the dimension. Then, I gently ran a silver ink pad over it, and then used a damp wet-wipe to blend it. Easy, and the result looks like I knew what I was doing, ha!
• 100lb Bright White cardstock (Hammermill): This prints beautifully in my little HP inkjet, but I know that a lot of people get it stuck in their printers. I like it best for Copic coloring, and it prints & stamps so well that it's my all-around favorite white too. Be sure to dry it with your heat tool after printing though; it definitely needs extra setting before coloring.


6. Lacey "grass": Wrights seam binding, adhered with a strip of double-sided tape and a touch of ZipDry on each end.

Hope this inspires you in some small way! Your next stop on the Dude Time Doodles New Release Blog Hop is Anne. Have fun with the rest of the hop, and be sure to check out this week's "Heroes" challenge at Stampin with the Dragon, sponsored by Dude Time Doodles.

Thank you for visiting!

Part of Your World...

I met some local crafting friends thanks to Stampin' Dymonz's Scrap Shack, some of whom are so local they are literally in my neighborhood! We get together when our schedules allow, and last Monday we spent a good 6 hours crafting! Most of the ladies in the group are working on Disney-themed scrapbooks, so we had our Cricuts running all day! I couldn't resist joining in, as I haven't done this kind of paper piecing in quite some time. I used the Disney© Dreams Come True Cricut® Cartridge, along with Cuttlebug's Disney Bubble Frame Die/Emboss Combo and Tiny Bubbles Embossing Folder, to make this Little Mermaid-inspired Wedding card:

Many thanks to my buddies for helping me with this! Since they were already working with the Disney Princesses, I was able to use some of the paper they hand on hand ... check out the great hair & skin paper colors they chose. I had the glittered blue cardstock with me, so when I got home it was easy to match. I wanted to make it 3 inches tall at first, but the hostess wisely advised me to go with 5 inches. Geez, I forgot how small those pieces can be! I ended up coloring in the eyes with a white Sharpie and black pen. I used a gold Sakura pen, and added some Liquid Pearls to her dress. Everyone just loved how it came out; I only did the cutting & piecing with the group, so someone asked me to send a photo of my final project ... and then someone else said, "You know she'll be making something and putting it up on her blog!" Oh, they know me so well!

My sister-in-law is marrying a lovely man at the end of June, and since they both have daughters who are huge Disney fans, I know that this will give them all a big smile!

 

This card was inspired by the following Challenges:

Dynamic Duos #4: Monochromatic / same colours in different hues (light/dark) / Bashful Blue & Marina Mist

Fabulous Friday Challenge: Weddings

Getting Cricky Simply Sunday Challenge: All about Disney

The Sweet Stop #160: Sketch

Color Challenge at OSAAT: Red, White & Blue

With this weekend being Memorial Day in the U.S., the Queen's Diamond Jubilee coming up in Britain, and probably several other holidays in countries with Red, White & Blue flags, we're having a color challenge at One Stitch at Time! Wait until you see teh beatufiul DT projects...many of them aren't flag-inspired, and really showcase the color palette.

I was really inspired by this Peace Word Art by Floppy Latte Designs; as soon as I saw it, this card idea popped into my head.

Hope you'll join us at One Stitch at a Time for our "Red, White & Blue" challenge. We have two prizes up for grabs this week! For entries using a StitchyBear Store product (be sure to add a # after your name when entering), the prize is a £10 UK gift coupon to Joanna Sheen's shop. You're welcome to enter the challenge using different products, but will instead be entered into the draw to win a $3 coupon to StitchyBear. Can't wait to see your projects!

Inspiration/Challenges:

Craft Your Days Away Challenge #46: Red, White & Blue

C.Y.D.I? Challenge #10: Love of Country

One Stitch at Time Challenge #115: Red, White & Blue

Our Craft Lounge Challenge #119: You're a Grand Old Flag!

Papertake Weekly Challenge: True Colours (use your national colours)

Party Time Tuesday #69: Shabby Chic

Willow Sketchie Challenge: Theme - Red, White & Blue

Guest Designer at SP Stamps

Today I have the pleasure of presenting a project & tutorial for the SP Stamps Blog. I've been following the Scrapmaster's blogs for a couple of years now, and I've learned so much from her and her team. I've also acquired a nice little collection of SP & Company Stamps, although I don't have half of what I want, ha ha!

SP Stamps are some of my favorites to use for technique-specific projects, like this simple, embossed banner using the Christmas Emma and Stitchery Doo stamp sets. You can see the my tutorial and lots of photos on the SP Stamps Blog, but here's a taste:

As you can tell, this project was a bit hit; my husband helped me take these photos, and he gave me lots of ideas for more banners. Guess we'll be decorating this year! Plus, with all these cute photos, I'll also be scrapbooking this experience!

I'm entering this project into the following challenges:

LEJ Designs Challenge #4: Anything But A Card

Secret Crafter Challenge #197: Anything but a Card

Speedy Fox & Friends Challenge #109: Heat emboss your main image

Thank you for visiting, and be sure to check out the great products & tutorials at SP Stamps!

Never saw a Purple Calf...

I simply couldn't resist joining in with this week's Vintage/Polka Dots Challenge at A Day for Daisies, certainly not once I saw this sweet freebie, Cow Dress, provided for this challenge:

Thank you Tammy & ADFD! I just had to make a card based on that familiar verse by Gelett Burgess. I printed the poem (now in the Public Domain) in Garamond onto a light lavender, textured Core'dinations cardstock. I wanted it to feel like an old design, so I didn't over-design it; technology has made anything possible, and sometimes it's nice to keep it simple. I cut out the pieces using a heart-shaped embossing die from the Pot Pourri Becky Fleck/Spellbinders set (which I won from CropStop; Thank you!). I used a violet Offray ribbon to tie on the heart button, made with the die from the same set.

I attached the purple tulle and wavy border with gold brads, which I heat-embossed in shiny purple.The wavy shape was cut from a two-tone purple Core'dinations cardstock with a Sizzix die, and I sanded it to add dimension.

"Purple Cow," The Lark, 1895

Check out how the Burgess poem was originally presented in 1895 (left). Here's my version:

I never saw a purple calf, 

I never thought to see one. 

But if they are this cute by half, 

I'd rather be than see one!

And, in case you thought this was all very fanciful, check out this article on purple cows!

Inspiration/Challenges:

A Day for Daisies Challenge #43: Go Vintage & Add Polka Dots

Cardabilities Challenge #55: Sketch (right)
Craft Your Days Away Challenge #45: All Creatures Great & Small

HotShot Crafts Challenge #8: Die Cuts
Tammy's Scrapin Corner Weekly Challenge #11: Show us your Distress (LOL!)

That Craft Place Challenge: Monochromatic

Update: This placed in the Top 3 for That Craft Place Monochromatic Challenge. Thank you!

Thank you for visiting!

OSAAT Challenge #114: ANYTHING GOES!

Happy Sunday! This week at One Stitch at a Time we want you to strut your stuff... or, just link up some crap because ANYTHING GOES! Just kidding; crafters never make crap, just pieces of art!

I used Sunflower Vase by Gingerloft Digi Stamps, which was chosen for me by OSAAT teamie Nataliya:

I fussy-cut the flowers (after coloring them with Copics), gently curled each, and then layered them with silicon glue. 

I cut out the buttons using a die from the Pot Pourri Becky Fleck/Spellbinders set. I found matching heat-shaped buttons in my stash. Both tyes are just glued on, but I did add some fake thread with a black microliner & a green gel pen.

For the lace border, I ran a green ribbon through the lace and tightened it so that it furled a bit. I attached the white silk ribbon with sparkly brads.

I heat-embossed the sentiment in blue, then cut out the banner shape, added stitching with a microliner, and distressed the edges with both TH Antique Linen distress ink & a distressing tool. The buttons, vase, and background were embossed in my BigShot using a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I sanded the background, and added dimension and color with TH distress inks. For a final touch, I did some more faux stitching around the outer edge.

Hope you'll join us at One Stitch at a Time for our "Anything Goes" challenge. We have two prizes up for grabs this week! For entries using a StitchyBear Store product (be sure to add a # after your name when entering), the prize is a £10 UK gift coupon to Joanna Sheen's shop, or this month's Stitchy Bear Store Artist Collection. You're welcome to enter the challenge using different products, but will instead be entered into the draw to win a $3 coupon to StitchyBear. Can't wait to see your projects!

Inspiration/Challenges:
A and T Challenge #24: Embossing wet/dry
Alota's Challenge #83: Tic Tac Toe (see blog for play card; I used the left vertical row: Die cuts, Lace, Buttons)
Card Makin' Mamas Challenge #45: May Flowers
Inky Impressions Challenge: Use Lace or Trim

Mema's Crafts May Challenge: Bingo ((see blog for play card; I used the top horizontal row: Buttons, Lace, Bling)

Midnight Madness Challenge #138: Fancy Sketch (right)

Thank you for visiting!

Dude Time Doodles Birthday Challenge

This week at Dude Time Doodles, we're focusing on BIRTHDAYS! I used one of my favorite images, Cletus:

I quoted "Birthday" by the Beatles for the sentiment, and used the LD Music font to give it a musical feel. I could only find one video of someone playing this song on a banjo, but I think it would sound great!

For the background, I used a Fiskars texture plate to emboss the music-note pattern and distress it with TH Marigold ink.

I used Birthday Candles by Daisy Doodles, and colored all the images with Copics. Well, I actually colored the tiny candles on the inside (left) with colored pencils.

Hope you'll join us at Dude Time Doodles: make a fun Male Birthday card, link up, and you could win three Dude Time Doodles/Bonibleaux Designs images your choice. You're going to love the DT inspiration too!

Inspiration/Challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Week 154: Card for a Man or Boy
Crafty Creations Challenge #170: Male Birthday Card

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 50: (right)

Dude Time Doodles: Birthdays

Little Claire Monthly Challenge # 21 'Male Theme'

Mad for Markers May Challenge: One For The Boys/ Use Masculine Colors

Pixie Dust Studio Challenge #126: For the Boys

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #48: Masculine with Ribbon or Trim

Use your Favorite ... whatever!

This week's challenge theme at One Stitch at a Time is 'Use your favorite'.

I used Bargain Hunter from StitchyStamps and some of my favorites: Found paper (newspaper, notebook sheet), heat-embossing, stamping on fabric, distress inks, tiny paperclips, and Funkiness! Can funkiness be a favorite thing‽

I used last week's Baltimore City Paper, a free weekly newspaper. 

I got the idea for the torn-pages background from a Whiff of Joy tutorial.The "hello" stamp is from Studio G, and the "Just Sayin" sentiment is from a RRD set. The tiny paperclips are from 7Gypsies.

Hope you'll join us at One Stitch at a Time for our "Use Your Favorite..." challenge.

For entries using a StitchyBear Store product (be sure to add a # after your name when entering), the prize is 3 Promarkers from Creative Craft World. You're welcome to enter the challenge using different products, but will instead be entered into the draw to win a $3 coupon to StitchyBear. Can't wait to see your projects!

The Craft's Meow

Inspiration/Challenges:
CES Challenge #85: Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #109: Distressed or torn edges
The Craft's Meow May Challenge: Sketch
Delicious Doodles Challenge #19: Try Something New (This is my first time using heat-embossing to create this effect)
Inspire Me Fridays #58: Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting!

May FREEBIE Challenge at Dude Time Doodles

Can't believe it's already time for our monthly FREEBIE Challenge at Dude Time Doodles! This month Boni is sharing Moe Stooge, and we look forward to seeing your take on the image. Remember, you could win a spot on the DTD Design Team for the month of June!

Although I wish that we only had occasion to send Congratulations cards, sometimes life isn't so fair, so I like to have some "Cheer Up" cards on hand as well!

The sentiment is from Rogue Redhead Designs' Just Sayin' set, stamped it with watermark ink and heat-embossed it in white. It picked up a little bit of the cardstock's texture too. The light-brown strip and Moe's hair are the same Core'dinations cardstock; I sanded the strip to give it a different look.

I don't usually use my scallop dies for Male cards, as they tend to look a bit lacey, but I was inspired by the Cardabilities Sketch and also felt that it could look classic rather than lacey. Hope I pulled it off! Same goes for those pearls in the corner!

The groovy background paper is from the Classic Calico Vol. 2 Paper Pad by Studio Calico (part of a 6th-month Design Team Anniversary present from Boni! Thank you!!!), and the ribbon is one of my favorites from my stash. The Sizzix borders and Spellbinders scalloped-circle were cut/embossed from Hammermill #100 white card in my BigShot.

Inspiration/Challenges:

Cardabilities Challenge #54: Sketch (right)

Ooh La La Creations: Make it Manly

Tammy's Scrapin Corner Challenge #9: Punches & Die Cuts
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge 76: Clean and Simple

A little bit of Fantasy at Pile It On, with StampFairy

Get those challenge lists ready, because it's time for a new Pile It On Challenge! This week we have an especially fun theme: Fairytales, Fantasy & Daydreams.

I'm a volunteer at PIO, not an official member of the super-talented Design Team, but as a perk I get to play along from time to time! This week my excuse is that I'm pinch-crafting for Lorianna. I'll admit that one of the reasons I like the theme is because I chose it! We're sponsored this week by StampFairy, and they have so many fun images perfect for this challenge. Just wait till you see the beautiful projects our Design Team came up with!

I used a Sizzix flourish die to cut a pattern directly on the message portion for the inside:

As soon as I saw this sweet Mermaid digi by StampFairy, I knew I wanted to pair it with my Sea Critters stamp set from Recollections.

I colored the StampFairy image with Copics; the body is two pieces, as I had to make the tail separately. I added some "seaweed" to her hair with a FlowerSoft mix (two greens & a tan). I added some green flocking to the seaweed elements on the background pieces.

For the tail, I used Stampendous enamel & mica and their Fran•táge technique. I totally got this idea from Stampendous Designer Jennifer Dove, during one of her classes (for more info, see my post from January).

The plastic shaker card portion is a from a Impression Obsession "Shake It" set. I filled it with clear tiny marbles. The background was embossed with a Cuttlebug texture folder. I made a simple "poof" out of tulle for a final touch.

Thank you for visiting!

Use a Digi / Mothers Day Challenge at One Stitch at a Time

One Stitch at a TimePanda Love by Delicious Doodles

From time-to-time, we get to choose an image for ourself and a teammate; this week, I chose for both myself and Nataliya. Wait till you see her gorgeous card using this image!

The sentiment is a freebie I found online by Kate Pullen. It's difficult to see in these photos, but I added some detail to the sentiment with a Sakura glitter pen. I used foam pop-tape to mount the sentiment piece to a die cut. I wrapped the piece with a pretty black-and-white ribbon and added some gemstones.

Al the pieces are cut/embossed with a Spellbinders scalloped-circle die set. The white paper is a 65LB Core'dinations textured paper; the black paper is also Core'dinations, but a black/white sandable cardstock. I sanded down some of it to give it texture. I also added tons more gemstones!

Hope you'll join us at One Stitch at a Time for our Use a Digi / Mothers Day challenge.

For entries using a StitchyBear Store product (be sure to add a # after your name when entering), the prize is this month's Collab collection from the artists at StitchyBear! You're welcome to enter the challenge using different products, but instead you'll be entered into the draw to win a $3 coupon to the StitchyBear Store. Can't wait to see your projects!

Inspiration/Challenges:

1. Allsorts Week 153: Black and White
2. Art Impressions Challenge 61: Circle Cards
3. Card Crafter's Circle Challenge #21: Mum's the Word!
4. Crafty Creations Challenge #168: Mother's Day
5. The Cutie Pie Challenge 17: Monochromatic
6. Deep Ocean Challenge #24: Use Punches/dies
7. Delightful Challenges: Mother's Day
8. SweetStamps Challenge #63: For Mom

Thank you for visiting!