Sew Simple

Since I got to spend all day waiting for contractors (who never showed up, sigh), I pulled out some of my favorite products and got crafting!

I couldn't resist the "Kraft & Kreme" challenge at Less is More, and paired it with the current Clean & Simple sketch. The sentiment stamp is from Our Daily Bread Designs, and the corner stamp is from SP & Company. The sentiment is stamped in Rich Cocoa ink (Memento); the "stitching" is stamped in Craft White (SU!) and heat-embossed in Brown Sugar with embossing powder (Zing).

I cut the rosette from Kraft paper with a Tim Holtz die, and covered the edge with a "measuring tape" decorative tape that Mom got free with a British magazine. I covered the center with a paper button cut with SU!'s Sweet Buttons Embosslit die, and finished it with this stunning fabric brad from American Crafts' Amy Tangerine line.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Clean & Simple: Sketch #226
Less is More: Kraft & Cream

Thank you for visiting,

Simply Natural

If you follow this blog, you know that CAS isn't really my thing, but I like to try it every once in a while. I really love this week's color combo at The Play Date Cafe, so I paired it with the truly CAS sketch at Less Is More to make this:

 The sentiment is from the Wildflowers set by Crafty Secrets/Clear Art Stamps. I love this white leaf garland; I added color with Copics. I popped the band with foam tape, and that's it! I think I'll be making more of these... really like how it came out.
 

Inspiration/Challenges:
Card Makin' Mamas: Clean and simple Card
Less Is More: Sketch #8
The Play Date Cafe: Black & White + a Splash of Emerald Green
WordArt Wednesdays #64: anything goes

Thank you for visiting,

Your chance to win StitchyBear Stamps!

I decided to make my version of a Clean and Simple (CAS) card today, partly to inspire you to join along in a few fun challenges this week:

• One Stitch at a Time (OSAAT) Challenge #102: Collab 'Use a Digi' Spring/Easter
• Card Crafter's Circle Challenge #11: Photo Inspiration
• Clean&Simple Fall-to-Layout #179: CAS Sketch

I used this lovely word art with roses from Delicious Doodles, one of the great artists whose images are available at StitchyBear Stamps. I digitally colored the swirl, and then printed the image onto vellum & heat-embossed it in Kaleidoscope glittered embossing power by Stampendous. I colored the rose with Copics, on the reverse side.

StitchyBear Stamps
March Mega Collaboration

This week's challenge at OSAAT is extra-special, because it features the release of the awesome March Mega Collaboration (left)!

These images are exclusive to StitchyBear Digital Stamps; If sold separately, this collaboration is worth over $35.00, but right now you can get it FREE if you spend $12.00 anywhere in the store.

You could win this great collection simply by making a Spring/Easter project, using a digi stamp, for OSAAT Challenge #102!

Fall-to-Layout #179

Card Crafter's Circle

I used my handy "Fiber Friend" piercing template to create the stitching; the vellum and DP are simply sewn together with this delicious Twinery twine.

Anne-Marie inspired me to check out this week's Card Crafter's Circle challenge. The patterned paper had a lot of white roses, and I colored most of them with a yellow marker. The ribbon rose is from a white, shabby-chic ribbon. I dyed the rose with a yellow Tattered Angels glimmer mist, and dried it with my heat gun right up to the point where the threads started to melt (but not so long that it burned!)

I put the message portion on the back:

Thanks for the inspiration everyone!

Happy Chinese New Year!

I wanted to make a card this evening, so I whipped together this Chinese New Year card with help from the following challenges:

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #117: Clean & Simple w/Mo Manning Image

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #35: Clean And Simple project with scallops

clean&simple Fall-to Layout #173

I used InDesign to combine Fan's Cricket by Mo Manning and the sentiment by Create with TLC, and printed it onto the smooth side of a banana/coffee bean paper Mom bought on a trip to Ecuador. The backing paper is actual Joss Paper that I bought years ago at a local Chinese market. After coloring the image with Copics & gel pens, I glued the pieces together and ran the whole thing through my Big Shot with a Spellbinders emboss/die. I cut the bottom off of the top piece to reveal the ruffle. It's simple, but very textural.

Have a lucky day!

Peace on Earth with Fall-to Layouts and ColourQ

I've been on a stamping/embossing kick, so I decided to try my hand at the ColourQ Combo #114 (Poppy Parade, Certainly Celery, Cool Caribbean, Kraft + white) and Clean&Simple Fall-to Layout #168. Oh my goodness, be sure to check out the DT and contestant projects for both challenges...simply amazing. I was truly inspired.

The blue & white pieces are stamped & heat-embossed with snowflakes in Kaleidoscope (clear, glittery embossing powder). I used some small snowflake stamps to  heat-emboss the border on the red circle. The "shadow" is the same kind of paper, but embossed all over in Kaleidoscope. I added a little hand-drawn border on the kraft piece with a glitter gel pen.

Stamps: Raisin Boat, Martha Stewart, K&Co.