Tutorial: String Embellishment

My card for the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge (keep scrolling to the next post to see) included some simple string art. The making of my string art embellishment went faster than it took to upload it to my blog! The picture below is the "finished" product....keep scrolling down to see how easy this is to put together...
First gather your supplies, scallop punch or die, string, tape and cardstock.

Next punch out your shape in cardstock and tape one end of your string to the back of it.

Now flip it over and begin winding your string around the valley's of your scalloped shape...

Just be sure to keep an even number of scallops between each wind...

You can change how your embellishment looks by increasing or decreasing the number of scallops. When finished clip the string and tape to back...see...easy peasy!

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: Winter Blues

Welcome to another fun Stamptacular Sunday Challenge, this week our challenge is Winter Blues, you are to make a winter project only using the colors blue and white! Our sponsor this week is IN STYLE STAMPS and our winner of this challenge will win 4 digi images from them!

This card came together quickly, although it took several hours to create BECAUSE this was my 3rd project...LOL...my other two cards just wouldn't "come together".

I had caught the tail end of a scrapbooking tv program (and I mean the last two minutes) on PBS (sorry don't remember the name of it) and saw this neat string embellishment...and thought what a great way to present a snowflake! Basically you wrap your string back and forth around a scalloped (or pinked) die and it resembles a spiro-graph (remember those?). I'll have an easy tutorial later for you today on how this is done and how simple it really is. Since I wanted my snowflake front and center I kept my stamping to a minium and just added some swarvoski crystals for a little bling. Thanks for looking, recipe below and be sure to check back later when I have the tutorial up...
Recipe:

• Stamp: Studio G
• Dies: Nestabilities Scallop Square
• Punches: Martha Stewart Snowflake, Stampin' Up Scallop
• Other: String, Rhinestones, Pop Dots, Glitter, Xyron
  

Digital Tuesday Challenge: Funny Guy

I'm always short on cards for the guys...Now I'm not sure about you, but I'm masculine card challenged...I mean gosh, no glitter, no frilly ribbon, NO BLING!?! So this weeks challenge for The Digital Tuesday Challenge (make a funny, masculine card) was perfect for getting my "manly" creative side going...
Not only that...pretty cool prize too...digi images from Dustin Pike...he's got some GREAT boy/man images (trucks, dragons, etc...), so please be sure to check him out!
Now let's discuss this card, I actually started with my sentiment for inspiration and chose my image around that...(which I found in my All That Scraps folder, Gingersnaps Celebrate. Now who says girly stuff can't become more masculine?) Anyway, I colored my main image in with Copics, airbrushed the edges and added chunky glass glitter on the rim... so easy...and actually I may have to do more manly cards...it went together quickly...since I didn't add buttons n bows n all that frilly stuff!...so now it's YOUR turn, I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Recipe

• Digital Image: All That Scraps Gingersnaps Celebration
• Nestabilities: Circle and Pinking Circle
• Paper: (scraps...sorry...cute though, isn't it...I DO remember I got it at Archiver's...)
• Other: Chunky Glass Glitter, Copics, Copic Air Gun, Pop Dot, Glue (for glitter)
  
  

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: Pop Up Cards

What a crazy weather week it has around the good ol' US... Here in Indiana we've been battling icy streets, which makes for interesting DRIVING! The kids have either been out of school or have had school delays because they buses can't drive on this skating rink roads...it's quite scary! I almost witnessed a semi sliding off the road, luckily the driver got it back safely...WHEW and it was headed right at me...gulp! Yup, a CRAZY weather week!

Since weather has been on my brain, I decided to do a CLOUD shaped Valentine's card (gotta get those Valentines made!) for this weeks Stamptacular Sunday Challenge. I couldn't resist these cute Cupid's again, gosh they're adorable...they remind me of Cupie Dolls...anyone else remember those? Anyway...

Our prize this week is a set of VERVE stamps from our own DT member Sara! How cool is this set? I just love it...just in time for spring!

Ok, well onto my card, my card was completely inspired by Kathy Daume take a look at her card, such adorableness, I could totally see my little cupids on a cloud! The smaller clouds were airbrushed and the hearts have been glittered using my Xyron machine...

The inside of my card I did the "traditional" pop up type of card, you can find the tutorial HERE.

Thanks for looking today, I can't wait to see what you create!
Recipe:

• Paper: DP Me and My Big Ideas, Cardstock Joann's
• Stamp: Fairyland Dreams Cupid Set (find it on Etsy)
• Punch: Heart by Posh Impressions
• Other: Copics, Copic Air Brush System, Glitter by Doodlbug, Pop Dots, Ribbon and Charm
  

Digital Tuesday Challenge: Sketch

This week on the Digital Tuesday Challenge, our challenge is this fabulous sketch below! Cutting Cafe is also our sponsor this week (have you been to their site...check it out, so many cute digi items!), many of our DT members used the Cutting Cafe images, so be sure to check out their work too...lots of fun stuff this week!
My card this week incorporates the Cutting Cafe Digital Paper (the hearts) and BOTH of my sentiments came from the Cutting Cafe. I LOVE the digi paper...the hearts come clear so you can make it ANY COLOR you want... LOVE digital versatility! My little cupid comes from a "new to me" digi-store off of etsy called Fairland Dreams. I just love this little guy... Thanks for looking today and I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Recipe:

• Sentiment and DP: Cutting Cafe
• Cupid Image: Fairyland Dreams
• Paper: Joanns
• Other: Nestabilities heart and scalloped heart, Copics, Pop Dots, Fiskars Apron Lace Punch, Martha Stewart Lace Heart Border (the little hearts at the negatives from that punch)

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: Friendship using only Black/White/Silver

This week on the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge, our challenge is to make a Friendship card, only using the colors Black, White and Silver!

Our sponsor this week is: SIMON SAYS STAMP
PRIZE: $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE and FREE SHIPPING

This week I made a Valentinish Card for a special friend... I didn't send ANY Christmas cards this year (I know...oh the horror!), so I thought maybe I could send a few Valentine's instead... and what better way to get started!

All my inspiration started with the paper flower and you can get a tutorial on it from Tim Holtz HERE. I didn't go quite as far as he did with the layers, but I did stamp my text, punch out, crumple, cut, adhere, assemble and then added some spray adhesive and glitter. I was then so happy with my flower I decided it needed to go on a lovely heart, which is stamped, cut and stiched onto my card. I then wanted a little more OOMPF for my flower...so I added a Cuttlebug Butterfly (embossed and then cut in two) and some mini silver garland leftover from Christmas... I added a border onto the bottom and my sentiment and WA LA...all done!

Thanks for looking, can't wait to see what you come up with!

Recipe:

• Stamps: Paper Trey Ink Fancy Flourishes and Text, Stampin Up All Sayings
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo
• Paper: Joann and Georgia Pacific
• Punches: Stampin Up Scallop (flower), Cuttlebug (butterfly), EK Success (apron border), Nestabilties (heart)
• Other: Black Rhinestones, Black Thread, Black button, Heart Rhinestone, Pop Dots, small silvery garland (bought from Hobby Lobby in the tiny tree ornament section).
  

No, I will not watch football with you...

...it's football season and K FINALLY has a hobby...watching guys in tight pants run after a ball and pummel each into the ground. Now as fun as that sounds (NOT), I really don't care to watch OR hear about other football freaks talk about it (ie sports center, NFL after show, football talk, WHAT.EVER) for hours upon hours on end and I DON'T want to hear about is so and so going to this team, that team or that he's torn a ligament in a part of his body that I don't REALLY.WANT.TO.KNOW. about....

Now I KNOW I'm a minority as it seems that MOST people revolve around this pig skin, but really, I just CAN'T get into it. I grew up with it, when the Bronco's went to the superbowl...I forget my age, but too young to drive and off to my uncle and aunts we went (so I was a captive prisoner!). We got there and everything was Orange and Blue, right down to the ICE.CUBES...uhh...yeah, the ice cubes.... I was bored out of my mind, although I have discovered I did enjoy the football snacks...and there was quite a bit of yelling and screaming at the t.v. ... yawn...

So when K asked me to watch football with him this evening...ummm no, NOT gonna happen...

WAIT...did I just see a buff guy in TIGHT pants....hmmmmmmmmmmm

Digital Tuesday Challenge #41: Embossing; SMITTEN

This week on the Digital Tuesday Challenge our challenge is EMBOSSING...one of my absolute FAVORITE techniques! Our sponsor this week is our own Digital Stamp Oasis...

This has been a crazy week, but in a good way... DH's brother and friend left after a week + of visiting, and we both now have facebook accounts. I've had such a great time catching up with people I haven't chatted with for about 15+ years...it's been good to catch up.... DH is now totally addicted and checks his status as much as he can...so funny!

Anyway, let's get onto this week's card, shall we? This week I used a freebie image from Mo Manning (if you join her Paper Craft Planet group you can get it free too...). I decided to go with Gamsol Magic and colored pencils and then I edged my image with a new punch (to me) that I scored at Joann's sale from EK Success (bracket). I added my sentiment (studio g...doesn't it just go?...all my dog's are smitten with me...I just know it, they are ALWAYS snuggling up to me...I just love it!) and added my cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder and some crystals
and just a little ribbon. I want to mail this card, so I kept my lumps at a minimum! Thanks for looking...be sure to check out the rest of the DT's creations...

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: SKETCH

This week on the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge our challenge is the sketch below! What fun...remember you have until Saturday 11:59 p.m. (EST) and you must "stamp" somewhere on your project...I can't wait to see you you come up with... Our sponsor this week is The Pixie Cottage who donated a $10 gift certificate...what fun!

Now onto my card, below I decided to go a little Tim Holtz this week and do a tag using some of his methods from his 12 Tags of Christmas (click on his name to see what he can do)...I have to admit that I've never inked and spritzed a tag (or anything else for that matter) before and it was fun to see the colors blend! What I did was take a tag, and blend red and pink dye ink, then I took a spray bottle of water, stood back and spritzed me tag once or twice, then dried it with my embossing gun... I then added my swirl and the paper.

I decided to then add a pipe cleaner heart, I made, then added my glittered flower, ribbon, stick pins and charm. I adhered it all then added my swirls and sentiments...easy peasy. I hope you enjoy and I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Recipe:

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Fancy Flourishes
• Paper: Basic Grey and Paper Studios
• Ink: Marvy Uchida
• Other: Flower, Glitter, Adhesive Spray (for glitter on flower), Martha Stewart Punch, Love Charm, Organza Ribbon, Spray Bottle w/water, red pipe cleaner and wire cutter, stick pins.

Storage

This is what K brought me home for Christmas...isn't he wonderful? It's a Yankee Candle cabinet he scored at a Hallmark that's shutting it's doors. There's actually another drawer divider type of shelf, but I decided to use that as a shelf in my room (works pretty good too)...so below is the new cabinet empty...
and here it is FULL...complete with sleepy dog! LOL and oh I forgot too mention...it smells LIKE Yankee candles.....yum!

This is another shelving unit I have in my crafty space...it's super tall, and I LOVE it's adjustable shelves.... I'll put up more of my crafty space when I have it completed...I need to do a few finishing touches...thanks for looking!

COOOOOOOKKKKEEEEEE exchange....

A few weeks ago (ok beginning of December) I hosted my first "annual" cookie exchange. For those unfamiliar with a cookie exchange it basically goes like this... you make one type of cookie, but a BIG batch and then you bring it to the hostess' house and "trade"...so you take home SEVERAL DIFFERENT types of cookies of the same amount... It was fun...and 6ish weeks later...I STILL have cookies in my freezer (yum!). They did come in quite handy with all the drop in company we had this year at our new home... Here's several pictures of the cookie exchange and some of our new home....

Below is my dining room table with SOME of the cookies to exchange....

Below is Shauna M...with her plate of "taste testing" cookies....

Below is Elaine and Janet, sitting back ...probably waiting for the line to go down around the cookie counter (see people lined up behind them...)

This is the cookie counter....

This is both of K's grandma's enjoying the "testing"...LOL

Better view of the exchange table...

While this post might be a bit late for Christmas, I still wanted to share... now maybe this weekend I'll get my Christmas decor down (wait, did I just say that OUT LOUD?)...LOL....

Digital Tuesday Challenge: Valentines!

This week on the Digital Tuesday Challenge our challenge is to create a Valentine... it's a GREAT time to get a head start on them! Our sponsor this week is Shirley's 2 Girls (who donated the adorable elephants below to the Digital Tuesday DT).

My card is fairly straight forward, I pop dotted some of the hearts and added some Stickles to my creation. I also created a simple tag to bring it all together. Thanks for looking today...can't wait to see what you come up with!
Recipe:

• Digital Image: Shirley's 2 Girls
• Stamp: Stampin' Up
• Paper: Stampin' Up
• Other: Gamsol Magic, Key Tag, Heart punch, rhinestone, organza ribbon, Stickles

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: Party Time!

Happy New Year! Did you bring in the New Year with a BANG? or just celebrate quietly? This year we actually went out with friends and quietly celebrated at a Bowling Alley...LOL...we had a GREAT time, such a nice change from sitting at home!

The Stamptacular Sunday Challenge week is:

PARTY TIME!

For this week’s challenge you will create a PROJECT that you can use at or for a party…any kind of party! Can be an invitation, party favors, decorat
ions or anything else you’d need or use for a party. Oh, and don’t forget to stamp!

Our sponsor this week is Stamping Bella and a $25 gift certificate...WOW!

For my project this week, I decided to start on Valentine's Day projects. I know many of you make MANY Valentine's favors, so I decided to go quick and simple this week...and while I made this one elegant, you can change the "mood" of your favor with just the paper and ribbon! The favor below is called a SOUR CREAM CONTAINER and if you click on the words, it'll take you to a tutorial on how easy they are to make! I've personally done 100+ of these as wedding favors...that's truly how easy they are to make! I'm so glad you joined me this week and I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Recipe:

• Stamp: Inkadinkado Hearts & Love
• Paper: Paper Studio
• Ink: Memento
• Other: Copic Air Brush System, Copic Marker, Rhinestone, Organza Ribbon, Lace, Nestabilities Labels 4