Papertrey Ink September Blog Hop

Hey Everyone!

Its been a while since I've had a chance to play in the monthly blog hop over at Papertrey Ink but this month is different!  Yay!  Found some time and some energy and some inspiration!  The challenge this month is: Wreaths!  Seriously!  I thought it was a little odd at first.  I think of wreaths and I pretty much think of Christmas.  But of course those wonderful creative peeps out there have surely expanded this concept beyond the holiday season.  I have (hopefully) done the same.

I used a pipe cleaner for the frame of the wreath.  I then tied various ribbons to it.  Easy.  I attached it with jewel brads.  I cut a window out of the front using a Spellbinders die and stamped the sentiment from PTI.  I used a white gel pen to make faux stitches.  I masked a circle around the sentiment on the inside and coloured it with Colourbox  Cranberry Ink.  Easy peasy.

Be sure to head over to the PTI Blog and join in the fun!

I'd also like to submit it to the following blogs:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Sister Act Anything Goes Card Challenge: #25

Thanks so much for dropping by! 

Liz

 

Blogger Ate my Post for Color Me Scrappy! (RE-POST)

Hey Everyone,

I was going over my blog this evening when I realized that my post for my Color Me Scrappy submission has disappeared!  It was there.  I did post it and I know the folks over at colour me scrappy even left a comment.  When I head over to Color Me Scrappy my linky is up...but it no longer links to anything.  WAAAAAAHHH!  I guess I'll have re-post it.  Here goes:

I stumbled upon the challenge blog Color Me Scrappy through a fellow DT member over at 123 Get Scrappy, Raechelle Bellus.  I love their little concept over there.  A colour scheme and a twist.  Very cool!  And it just so happens that this week's colour scheme contains some of my absolute fave hues!  I couldn't decide on a select few ocean/water photos I had (since the colour scheme screams ocean/beach) so I decided to pick photos from my "Random Photos to Scrap" folder.  YAY!  I got to work.

The twist: Texture.

Here is my grey matter concoction:

I used jewels from the Dollar Store, embossing folder from Hero Arts/Sizzix, paper from DCWV

I achieved texture through the crimped paper, jewel dimension and the embossed doily.  These photos make me smile.  How cute is she?

Here is the colour scheme:

I'd also like to submit this (again) to the following blog:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Stamp-tember Blog Hop
(You can find the embossing folder I used in the Simon Says Stamp Store HERE)

I think I'll go check to make sure no other posts were eaten!

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

Sooooo Excited to be Chosen!!!

WOWOWOWOWEEEEEE!  It's such a great honour to be chosen!  I'm sooo excited that I was picked as faves in the following challenges!

Anyone For Anya: TOP 3 for "Like A Boss Challenge" for THIS entry!

Use it Tuesday: Top 2 for Challenge #63 "Friendship" for THIS entry!

THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH for all the inspiration!

Liz

Some More Greeting Farm Goodness

Hey Everyone!

Not a bad weekend.  Saturday was a write off and we spent most of the day in our PJs due to the non stop rain but Sunday was fun.  A bike ride around the town with a coffee and hang out with friends in town.  A good day!

Got some crafting in too.  (always a good day when that happens!)  Here's what I created with a little help from the folks over at The Greeting Farm Farm Fresh Friday-Paper Piecing and sketch #83 from Cardabilities and Moxie Fab World Trigger Tuesday:  In Transition this week!

The image is from The Greeting Farm, the papers are from KI memories and Jilly Bean Soup.  Flower from Prima and stamps from Hero Arts and TCP.

I used some Glossy accents and Stardust Stickles on the coffee cup and white embossed the sentiment which is made of 2 different stamps.  I love the flocked texture on the flourish which I cut out of a patterned paper.

I was inspired by the stripes and the fall colours of the Trigger Tuesday.

Oh yeah.  And here is the Cardabilities sketch.  Be sure to head over and play along!

I'd also like to enter this in the following blog:

-Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog: Stamp-tember Blog Hop
(The Greeting Farm Image can be found in their store here!)
-Sister Act Anything Goes Card Challenge: Challenge #25

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Liz

September Avery Elle Monthly Challenge

Hey Everyone,

I'm back!  It's been a busy busy week.  Wasn't feeling so good yesterday but today is a new day and I've got another creation to share!

The folks over at Avery Elle have their monthly AEI<3U Challenge for September up and running!  Be sure to check it out!

Here's my little contribution.  Simple.  

Heart stamps and sentiment are from Avery Elle.  The embossing folder is from Lifestyle crafts.

Here's the inspiration photo:

I was inspired by the colour scheme as well as the loopy cables and cable car shapes.  Keeping my fingers crossed for some good GDT karma!

The Avery Elle stamps and embossing folder are all available at Simon Says Stamp.

I'd also like to submit this to the following blog:
Simon Says Stamp: Stamp-tember Blog Hop
Sister Act Card Challenge: Anything Goes #25

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz

Busy at the Farm....the Greeting Farm ;)

Hey Everyone,

I'm back to day with some fun cards I made for a couple challenges over at the Greeting Farm: Garden Variety Tuesday: Based on a Sketch and Retro Fresh Friday: Use Autumn Colours.  I also incorporated the Challenge over at A Blog Named Hero: Game, Set, Match where you need to make a set of at least 3 cards that co-ordinate like a set.  I've never tried that before and I certainly could use some fast and fun cards these next few weeks so it was a win-win!

Here's what oozed out of my grey matter (with a little help from my hands and stuff ;))

These cards were all based off this sketch from Garden Variety Tuesday:

background stamp and sentiment: Hero Arts, image stamp: The Greeting Farm, Paper: Jilly Bean Soup, Diecut: Spellbinders, Distress Markers.

Sentiment stamp from Hero Arts, Image stamp from The Greeting Farm, paper: Jilly Bean Soup, Diecut: Spellbinders, Copic Markers

sentiment Stamp: Hero Arts; paper: Jilly Bean Soup, MME; image stamp: The Greeting Farm; flower: Prima; washi tape

I kept to a fall colour palette for each card.  The sentiments are heat embossed on vellum paper and I attemtped to colour the image using various techniques but kept the colour scheme of each image the same (i.e. red coat, green scarf and flower, brown shoes).

The last card I used washi tape to colour her scarf and jacket by taping over the entire part and then using a craft knife to cut out the shape (gently not to cut through the paper beneath!).  Since washi is translucent you can still see the image underneath.

I would like to submit this card to the Challenge over at Moxie Fab World: Handmade Cards-Stickers and Tape Challenge.

The "Find Joy" sentiments stamp set from Hero Arts, Spellbinders die and Background "Everything Flower" Hero Arts Stamp are all available at Simon Says Stamp.

I would also like to also submit these cards to the following blog:
Anyone for Anya: Like a Boss
Simon Says Stamp: Stamp-tember Blog Hop

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Liz

Photo Birthday Card for Special Someone

Hey Everyone,

Gorgeous day today!  Went for a run.  Did some post-run yoga in the glorious outdoors and now feeling pumped to create (and clean).  Wish me luck that I can get a lot of both today.  The folks over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge have a Blog Hop going on!  Lots of inspiration to be had there!  Be sure to check it out!  Here's a card I made using some of Simon's great exclusive products.  So versatile and so pretty.  I love making photo cards for the family and since it's birthday season here in my neck of the woods here's the first card I made for a special lady.

The 3 tiered banner and the sentiment and 'you' die cut are all from Simon Says Stamp.  The paper is from MME and the butterfly punches are from Martha Stewart.

I love how my little ladies are posing so nicely for me in this photo.  Especially the little one who really doesn't sit still for ANYTHING!

I'd like to submit this to the following blogs:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Stamp-tember Blog Hop
Sister Act Card Challenge: Anything Goes: Challenge #24

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

Twisted Tuesday Challenge #59: Splatter and Chatter!

Hey Everyone!

Curse me for thinking that once school started I'd have more time to get down and creative.  HA!  But at least I'm not being entirely preoccupied with my 2 year old that's left behind and have actually managed to get some much needed home decluttering done!  YAY!  I've got the declutter bug!  Next stop: the computer craft room (shhhh!  I just call it the computer room because it's got the desktop in there and thus hubby feels better going inside ;))

This fortnight's challenge over at Twisted Tuesday is a fun one (but then again aren't they all!?).
The Challenge: Splatter (use paint, mists, etc to make a splatter)
The Twist: Use at least 2 words in your creation!

Here is a little inspiration to (hopefully) gain some momentum.

Doily stamp from Recollections, Newsprint stamp from Hero Arts, die cut letters from Quickutz, edge punch from Martha Stewart (used to make rosettes), scalloped circle die from Spellbinders, butterfly stamp from Inkadinkado.  The butterflies are stickers that have been in my stash for at least a couple years but I don't know who makes them.

This layout started with a plain white sheet of 12 x 12 cardstock.  I then stamped 9 doily circles in Versamark Ink from a set made by Recollections (Michaels) that was previously 'kissed' with the Newsprint background stamp from Hero Arts (previously stamped with black ink).  I embossed each doily with clear embossing powder then let the Glitter mists run amuck.  I have had some of these Glimmer Mists for quite a while and rarely use them.  I'm happy to get them out and play.  The background looks quite cool with the shimmery goodness of the Glitter mists but alas the photos do not convey this well...so you'll have to trust me ;)

I would also like to submit this to the following blogs:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Emboss it!
Use it Tuesday: Challenge #63 Friendship

This Challenge actually inspired me to make a quick other project using Splatter and Chatter.  Here's the other one:

The image stamp and sentiment is from There She Goes Stamps.  The mist is from Glimmer Mists.

For this second card I used the less is more technique.  I first stamped the image and then masked it.  I then added some cloud shaped masks.  Then I cut an oval shape out of a piece of copy paper and used it as a mask for the spray mist.  I sprayed the card, removed all the masks and coloured the Panda's shirt with Copics.  I added a balloon punched from a Martha Stewart punch and popped it up with pop dots.

There is some good stuff to be won so be sure to play along!

I'd like to submit this card to the following blogs:
Sister Act Card Challenge: Anything Goes
PSSSSSSSST!!!! They are having a DT Call over there as well so be sure to check it out!!!

Be sure to check out the other design team creations over at Twisted Tuesday Challenges and show them some love.  You'll be sure to be impressed and hopefully we'll inspire you to play along!  I certainly hope you do!

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

Get Ready, Get Set, Get Scrappy!! Challenge #2!

Hey Everyone,

What an AMAZING turnout for the inaugural 123 Get Scrappy Challenge.  The talent and creativity we saw was wonderful!  I'm hoping we can inspire you to continue to create such masterpieces!  Great job!
It's time for Challenge #2 which is up and running over at 123 Get Scrappy!

So many options to play with!  I hope you play along!  (And be sure to tell your friends!)  For some inspiration, be sure to drop by the blog of my fellow DT members for some awesome projects!  Check out their links on the 123 Get Scrappy Blog!

Here is my contribution to your inspiration pleasure!

The patterned paper is from DCWV, the flowers are from Prima, the die cut bicycle and stamp are from Hero Arts, the butterfly punches are from Martha Stewart.  The white cardstock was stamped with a bicycle stamp from hero arts in Versamark and embossed with pearlized embossing powder.  The other side was dry embossed with an embossing folder.  The black letters are from Thickers.

I used the middle row: circles-rhinestones-diecuts

Sooooooooo.....check out the new bingo board for Challenge #2:

I originally printed all the little pictures in colour and put the whole thing together with them.  After looking at it over and over again in different lighting and different photos I took of the layout I couldn't get over the busy-busy-busy-ness of the layout.  The circle paper is so bold and colourful I thought it overpowered the photos.  I thus reprinted the smaller pictures in black and white and it seemed to tone down the busy-ness and ease my otherwise overwhelmed visual senses.  I hope you agree.

I can't wait to see what you come up with for this month's challenge!  I look forward to seeing your creations!

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Twisted Tuesday Challenge #58-Primary Colours and Buttons!

Hey Blogworld!

It's back to school for the kidlets today and what excites me the most is that I can (hopefully) get back on blogging and crafting track.  If it weren't for the awesome challenge blogs that I am blessed to be a part of, my summer would have been a virtual crafting drought.  Thank goodness for challenge blogs!!!
With that on the brain.  Over at Twisted Tuesday Challenge, we have a new challenge for this fortnight and it's right in line with the back to school goodness upon us!

The Challenge: Use Primary Colours (i.e. Red, Yellow, Blue)
The Twist: Use buttons!

The design team has some fabulous inspiration for you.  Be sure to drop by their blogs and give them some love!
Here is my creation:

I used Distress Paints for the colour splashes.  I used watercolour paper for the paints.  The stamp in the background is from Hero Arts.  The butterflies are from a Martha Stewart punch and the sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp.  

The background stamp which was stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder did not pop as much as I had hoped.  I think the ceiling fan running full speed above me in my craft room may have 1) dried out some of the ink before I got the powder on; 2) blown off some of the powder prematurely from the stamped image.  Live and learn.  Hopefully with the cooler weather on the way I won't have the fan working quite so hard (tee hee).  The Distress Paints didn't blend as well as I hoped.  I swiped the colours on using the built in dauber top and then sprayed some Perfect Pearls laced water over the paint quite generously.  Not much happened.  I then tried to blend a little using a thin, flat paint brush which I don't think did much either.  I think I'll need to practice using this media to perfect the technique!

The Sponsor this month is Little Blue Button Stamps.  Be sure to check 'em out!

Be sure to join in all the Twisted fun and I hope to see your creation real soon!

I'd also like to submit this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz

Christmas on the Brain...

Hey Everyone,

Today was a strange weather day in my neck of the woods.  Rainy and chilly all morning then humid and stinking hot in the afternoon and by dinner time the wind blew cold and fresh.  Our last summer BBQ with the family outside quickly turned into what seemed like our first autumn one.  BRRRRRRR!  No complaints here.  I love fall.  The colours, the temperature, the clothes.  Can't wait!

I've been a bit A.W.O.L. on my blog as of late.  Been squeezing in the last bit of Summer 2013 with the kidlets while I can!  Not too much crafting going on in these parts.  Not to mention I've been re-organizing my craft room so things are a bit upside down in there!  I did come across some Christmas stamps and had the motivation and the little bit of time to start my Christmas card creations.  And what better motivation than a Farm Fresh Friday challenge over at the Greeting Farm featuring: Anya.

The image is from The Greeting Farm, the sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp as is the banner diecut.  I used Distress Inks for the background.

I would also like to submit this to following blogs:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz