Sunday Scrappin’ July 26, 2009

Please join us over at Sunday Scrappin’! All you have to do is post your papercrafting “ta-da”s and “to-do”s for the week and participate in the optional challenges!

I just got back from vacation so I don’t have much to show. I did make a card for my grandmother’s 80th birthday before I left and I don’t think I posted it, so here ya go:

She likes country decor, so I kept that in mind when making this card.   I used this “Country Hearts” stamp kit (RubberStampede) that I don’t use very often due to the fact they are foam stamps and I don’t like foam stamps. But the little squares make up a nice quilt look. I stamped on Martha Stewart PP instead of directly on the cardstock. One of the stamps had an extraneous ink mark, so that is how the photo corners came to be on the card, LOL. I actually like how it looks. I colored in the squares with colored pencils, and then added eyelets and ribbon (“pool” from Paper Source), and used some Martha Stewart jewel embellishments but stuck them to the ribbon so they’d look like charms (they don’t show that well in the photo, for some reason).

In addition, I am now a contributor at Going Green Greetings! Check it out for ideas on how to be a little more environmentally sound when it comes to papercrafting!

TO-DOs:

I’m getting caught up on work.  But I need to make a birthday card for my stepfather, so I’ll try to get that done this week.

Sunday Scrappin’ July 12, 2009

TA-DAs

• I’ll include THIS because it is a paper craft, kinda.
• I also managed this little card for some friends who are getting married on Saturday. I quilled the flowers and the pp is BasicGrey’s Wisteria line:

• I also managed an anniversary card for my husband (we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary with a lovely day and a half in the Berkshires…Tanglewood, Hancock Shaker Village (my new favorite place) and the Norman Rockwell Museum) but I wasn’t absolutely thrilled with the results. The pp is BasicGrey’s Wisteria line, the swirl stamps are Rhonna Farrer, and the letterpress tag is from Paper Source.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do Christine’s red, white and blue challenge.

TO-DOs:

I’ll be surprised if I get any crafting done in the next 10 days because I am going on VACATION!  To the other side of the country, in fact. I’m very thrilled about this, but will miss crafting while I’m gone..especially since Amy’s challenge for this week is so enticing:

…pull something out of your “someday” file and give it a try. Always wanted to try a certain technique? Been thinking about experimenting with a new layout or embellishment? Let’s get one of those things crossed off our list this week!

But I hope everyone else has a stellar crafting week!

Sunday Scrappin’ July 5, 2009

TA-DAs

• Birthday card for a friend, based on SK011009 (sketch at Paper Craft Planet, original attributed to Becky Fleck). I love the Wisteria line from BasicGrey. The beads were threaded on to craft wire, and the base (which you can’t see), is lavender cardstock. The letterpress tag is from Paper Source.

• I bought these beautiful letterpress tags from Paper Source and they are true inspiration for cardmaking. This follows a sketch by Melanie Muenchinger (SK120608 at Paper Craft Planet). All materials are from Paper Source except the PP which is from Making Memories Travel Collection.
• I also worked on my altered book.
• And, because I hate to miss a challenge, I did this little tag to fulfill the “Summer” challenge from last week’s Sunday Scrappin’.  All materials are from Target, except the cute epoxy flip-flops.

TO-DOs

• fix anniversary card for husband (oops)
• buy some graph paper

I probably won’t  do next week’s challenge, which is “and the 4th of July is all about red, white and blue, let’s create a page using those colors. It doesn’t have to be a 4th of July layout just use the patriotic colors.” I’m on deadline for some projects, so I’d best deal with some non-crafting stuff before I go on VACATION!!!

Sunday Scrappin’ 6/28/09

TA-DAs

Well, this was another good crafty week for me (which means I didn’t get a lot of other important stuff done, but shhh….don’t tell).  Last week’s challenge was to do something in honor of dads, about dads, etc…and I managed to do a component of a LO here.  I tried the iris folding technique several weeks ago and loved it, but it does create lot of bulk behind the mat.  In an attempt to rectify that, I tried an iris effect without folding the strips (and using ONLY scraps).  It came out ok, but I had to add white gel pen because the scraps had such a busy pattern, the effect was obscured.  This will go on a LO about my family, since it is a picture of my dad and his mom, circa 1943 or 44.

iris effect

My biggest accomplishment from last week is that I completed my first quilling project!!

And here are two ta-das from previous weeks that I couldn’t show because the recipients hadn’t received them yet!

You can find all the particulars on the cards in my gallery at scrapbook.com.  I did want to mention, however, that the last two cards use some great Anna Griffin border stamps that I got from Anita at Anita’s Arts.  Do check out her site!

Finally, I whipped this quick card together mostly as an excuse to use my new cherry blossom stamp from inkadinkadoo:

TO-DOs

Amy has challenged us with this for next week:

I’d love to see something that represents your summer. Not necessarily a layout of summer activities… though that would work… but maybe something inspired by the color of your neighborhood pool, or something that reminds you of your garden. Get creative with summer inspirations!

Maybe I’ll integrate it with my next quilling project!

Sunday Scrappin: June 21, 2009

Well, it is Christine’s first Sunday at host over at Sunday Scrappin’! I hope you’ll come join us.  This week wasn’t QUITE as fulfilling craftwise as last, but I managed to get some stuff done!

TA-DAs:

Last week’s challenge was to use complementary colors (opposites on the color wheel) with your favorite color.  Well, my favorite color is green, and its complement is red.  I took a more liberal view and stayed within the color families, LOL (not in the mood to do Christmas layouts!!)  Here are the two LOs  of my rehearsal dinner:

As you can see, they fulfill the challenge!  The second one was created using the Non-Conformist collection from ScrapInStyleTV with some Marrakech papers (BasicGrey) thrown in for good measure!

I also tried a brand new technique–iris paper folding! I’m quite excited about this and used it for the frame of the picture on this LO:

I wove the ribbon through the paper and interspersed it with some cute owl epoxy stickers (Paperchase).  The sentiment is from Anna Griffin Friendship rub-on kit.  The wooden tulips I picked up at Cost Plus World Market (I think!) and I placed them around a journaling tag from Maya Road.  I think the photograph is too dark for the paper I chose, but c’est la vie.

And finally I finished this mixed media card up this morning (which just coincidentally happens to meet last week’s challenge):

I was curious to see if some old fabric dye I had would work on paper. Well, it was so old it was gooey, so I smeared it with a tissue. It also was very sticky, so I coated the entire card with mod-podge to get rid of the tackiness (it worked!). The Mod-Podge allowed the orange ink from the fish to bleed a little and I liked the sort of batikish effect.

STAMPS: “Happy Birthday” (All Night Media) and “Gus” (Mostly Animals)
EMBOSSING POWDERS: clear (Ranger) and gold tinsel (Personal Stamp Exchange)
INKS: Versamark and Gold Pigment (Colorbox); fabric dye (Tulip Tye Dye); Marvy Orange Le Plume II (on fish)
OTHER: braided sequined thread, eyelets, Mod-Podge

I also made another birthday card that I can’t show you yet.

TO-DOs:

Next week’s challenge: Show off a card you made or a scrapbook page you completed featuring dear ole Dad or someone who is like a dad to you.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!

Sunday Scrappin’ 3/29

Come play with us over at Sunday Scrappin’!  It’s getting lonely over there—rememember: the challenges are optional! We just want to know your scrapping projects and goals for the week!

Without further ado:

TA-DAs:

Illness breeds crafting productivity. I was sick with some nasty stomach bug, but managed these projects:

This is a birthday card for my sister’s 14th birthday. PPs are “Grandma’s Wallpaper, HP 393″ (Hambly) and the green is from Target’s dollar bins. Ribbon is from the “Uptown Green” (flipside) Elements set by American Crafts. Flower and buttons are “miniMarks: Market Accents” by American Crafts, plus some assorted vellum stickers.

These thumbnails are different views of an easter card for my friend based on a very cute picture of my friend’s baby mistaking his dad’s nose for a food source… The caption reads, “Somebunny’s hungry…”
Trifold pale pink cardstock is pre-cut from Paper Source, epoxy eyelet charm is from Making Memories Spring Fling line, PP on inside of card is from the Marrakech 6×6 Paper Pad by Basic Grey.

Hopefully the recipient of this LO won’t read my blog before she gets this in the mail.   I’m not totally happy with it, but I liked the sentiment of “surrounded by love” and having the baby surrounded by his family including: paternal grandma, maternal great-grandma, maternal step-grandma, maternal grandpa, maternal grandma, maternal step-grandpa…and yeah, I got mom and dad in there too. The alphas didn’t come out as well as I would have liked.
Background paper is #NT 104 “Far-Out/Buff” dbl. sided paper from Paper Loft; PP is Jack’s World: Animal Friends from Cosmo Cricket and the alpha stickers are from Target.

TO-DOs:

• Easter cards…I went to an antique store yesterday and bought a bunch of vintage Easter cards and other materials.
• LO for another friend

As for next week’s “single-layer challenge”….we shall see.   OH! And here is a new find.  I just LOVE the patterned paper…I can’t wait until Scrapbook.com starts carrying their stuff (I have hope).  Of course, I think, in honor of Earth Day in April, I’m going to pledge only to use my stash/recycled goods & papers for the entire month.

Thanks for visiting!

Sunday Scrappin’ 3/15

Come join us over at Sunday Scrappin’ the weekly meme for paper crafters.

TA-DAs for this week:

Actually, it was pretty darn good…two cards and a layout!

NEW BABY CARD (Sunday Scrappin’ “use pastels” challenge):

Patterned Paper is  Heidi Grace for Fiskars “Baby Boy/Buggy”; scrap of gold ribbon, blue brads from Frills (Textured Trios-Spring) from Queen & Co.

BIRTHDAY CARD for ALICE (my niece)

White cardstock, covered in “Blossoms on Chocolate/Pinwheel” double-sided PP from Paper Source (#23908); ribbon and brads (lavender/green set) from Making Memories (#27199); Cosmo Cricket – Hello Sunshine Collection – 12×24 Die Cut Button Fashions – Alphabet

OREGON, 2005

I’m finally going through my old photos and starting to get them in scrapbooks…these are from a trip/conference to Eugene, OR (these bridges aren’t in Eugene, but nearby).  As it often is in the PacNW, it was a grey and drizzly day, but still very beautiful.  I wanted to use muted colors that would complement the photos.  I might go back and add some journaling, but we’ll see. PP: Making Memories Travel Collection; Cardstock stickers: Scrapworks Magpie Collection.

TO-DOs:

I don’t plan on getting much accomplished this week since I’ll be in Denver, CO.  However, I WILL take lots of photos to scrapbook (maybe in another four years or so…LOL).

Sunday Scrappin’ 3/1

It has been a long time since I’ve participated in Sunday Scrappin‘!  But since I did do a week bit of paper-crafting this week, I figured I’d post!

TA-DAs:  I completed some more coasters.  I tried to re-use some paper from a gift bag (the chartreuse ones with green flowers), but the paper was too thin I think. While they will still work, they don’t look as nice because the ridges from the can lid stick out too much. I’m also looking into a glass cutter (at the suggestion of a friend) so that I can make them resistant to heat and condensation.  These latest ones I did while on the phone with my mom (shh…don’t tell her!).

TO-DOs:

• probably more coasters!
• Scrappin’ Sunday challenge: try something new (whatever that may be…)

Sunday Scrappin’ 12/14

Join us at Sunday Scrappin’–the weekly blog/meme for Paper Crafters.

TA-DAs

Well, it has been awhile, but I did actually do some papercrafting this week! Unfortunately, I cannot post a photo of it until after Christmas on the offchance that the recipient actually reads my blog. Bummer. Instead, I offer you a picture of my latest furniture purchase: a vintage telephone table! We got a good price for it at a vintage and antique store near our house. It has been repainted and distressed, but the wood is in great shape. Someday I’d like to redo the pillow as wheat isn’t really my thing…? Of course, like every other horizontal surface in our house at the moment, it has already accumulated CLUTTER!

To-Dos:

• If I can find my stamps (!!!) I hope to make a few more papercraft items for Christmas before I leave for warmer shores next week.
• Not sure I can do next week’s challenge: something unrelated to the holidays! That is a challenge…

Sunday Scrappin’ #50: Bonne Fete!

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TA-DAs

Well, given that official moving day is WEDNESDAY, the only papercrafting I did was “necessary.” My godson/nephew and MIL both have their birthdays on the same day. So, with some fun chipboard and some embossing powder, I whipped up these two. The first card also completes the Sunday Scrappin’ challenge: “FUZZY” (velvet ric-rac!) Next week’s challenge is: use up some of your ribbon stash. Make a border, make a bow… it’s up to you, but let’s see some ribbon on this week’s projects!

This first one is for the nephew. He’ll be TWO! I heat-embossed each piece of the ladybug by hand with striking pigment inks and clear e.p. I had red embossing powder, but I liked how the scarlet pigment turned out against the black, so I went with clear e.p.)

MATERIALS: ColorBox pigment inks (scarlet & black); “Butterflies and Bugs” chipboard kit (Maya Road); “Sentiments” sticker letters by Pamela Woods (Creative Imaginations); velvet ric-rac (stash); Designer Mat pad by Amy Butler (K & Co.); Clear embossing powder (Ranger)

This card is for the MIL. I was pretty stressed about this one. Like my nephew, French is her native language (although she speaks English too), so hence the “Bonne fete” instead of Happy Birthday! She is a trained artist, so I had to set my standards pretty high, LOL. I rarely do anything this modern, so I’m very happy with the results! She’s a wonderful person so I’m sure she’ll say she likes it too!

MATERIALS/TECHNIQUES: The “B” is from “Hello Sunshine Alphabutton Fashions” (Cosmo Cricket); the chipboard letters are Maya Road–heat embossed with scarlet and black pigment ink (ColorBox) and clear embossing powder (Ranger). The accent circonflexe is an upside down “v” sticker from “5th Avenue Shimmer Stickers” (Making Memories). The patterned papers are both Marah Johnson for Creative Imaginations.

TO-DOs?

‘Nuf said.

Have a great week everyone!