Andmore Zebra Hat

Something about the nose....but the origina pattern called for a circle and it looked too much like a pig! So, I attempted to create my own shape.  I don't know...maybe take away the white "nostrils". Hmmm.    Animal hats are quite popular for little tykes these days and I decided to try this Zebra Hat.  I love the touch of fun fur between the ears (and down the back of the hat) for the Zebra's mane.  Want to make one too?  the pattern I found was at:  http://amray1976.blogspot.com/search/label/Crochet%20Zebra%20Child%20Ear%20flap%20hat

Christmas Sparkle

Quick like a bunny...no this is Christmas.  But, quick was what Joan's Garden challenge was all about this week.  Make a quick Christmas card...anything goes. How fun.  What could be faster than taking an old Christmas card, making a window in a piece of paper, Stamping/Embossing Merry Christmas, tying a ribbon  layering it in gold, adhering it to card stock base...done!   What makes the image special is the technique of spraying it with adhesive, covering with a dryer sheet, and rubbing in glitter.  Can you see the sparkle?                                                          

   Ingredient List

*Rubber Stamp:  Just Right

*Embossing Powder:  Zing

*Ribbon: May Arts Sheer Sparkle

*Spellbinders Label 1

*Used dryer sheet from the wastebasket

Various papers and cardstock

                                                       

Shiny and Bright Merry Chistmas (Outlines 30)

Outlines http://outlineswithkathy.blogspot.com/ Challenge 30 is titled Shiny and Bright.  Where oh where is there that association with something Christmas...song.. book... "Up On the Housetop", Night Before Christmas,  or maybe just the sights and sounds of Christmas.  But with those thoughts in mind, I made this card.  How fun to use the double embossing (shiny) technique I saw on the Splitcoast Samping website. (Cornish Heritage red)  How fun to emboss Outlines Rubber stamps with Zing glitter green embossing powder (bright). Then to color with copics and smother it with Crystal Effects (shiny)How fun to create a double white silk (May Arts)  ribbon bow using my trusty Bow Easy tool. (Neither shiny or bright...but oh so satisfying).  Put it all together with a little glue and done!  A shiny and bright Christmas Card. May all who read this have a Shiny and Bright Merry Christmas!

Outlines - Not a Card-Hang it up

Ready for  challenge that doesn't allow a card?  Outlines did it this week: http://outlineswithkathy.blogspot.com/.  It waited all week while I thought and thought...then this afternoon I had the idea to stamp the angel on acetate....glitz it with Glitter glue..."watched" the glue dry...then finally I rolled it up and popped it into the "hanging" glass ornament.  Won't this be pretty on the tree with lights shining through!

and more Fashion Scarves

Chincilla Faux Fab

Sherling Faux Fab

I love this time of year...no really!  Crisp temperatures mean I can play with fabulous yarns.  I've been having fun this week knitting and crocheting a variety of scarves using Faux Fab, Frill Seeker, Eros and Zoey yarns.  I make these to sell at my local craft mall.  Do you have a favorite?

Frill Seeker Crochet

Frill Seeker Knit

Eros Ribbon-Knit

Zoey Crochet

Flower PomPom Hat

It was time to get out the crochet hook and using leftover yarns, I made this child's hat.  I also had found the pattern for a "Bee Happy" flower on the internet and following those directions made the flower that I thought would make a cute pom-pom.  So fun

Gift Card Holder-Outlines 27

Did you happen across http://outlineswithkathy.blogspot.com/ this week?  The challenge presented was to make a gift card holder using only their stamps.  I love this cute little reindeer and chose him to be the focal point of this gift card holder.  The holder itself is super simple...a 4" x12" strip of paper folded at 4 and 8 inches.  Then at 6 inches fold in the opposite direction (valley/mountain folds).  A slit is cut to hold te gift card (gold rectangle in second photo).  Just because I wanted to, I mounted the whole gift card holder on a square of gold cardstock.   The reindeer was finished using Copic markers and Stickles...this is such a perfect stamp for glittery accents!  Ready for my 1st gift card recipient!
 

Christmas 63 for JustRite

Next year, I'm starting my Christmas cards in March!  No really!! But, JustRite challenge 63 catches me this year just starting to "think" about making a cards for my mailing list.....fortunately my friends and family know me! This card started with a piece of neutral Christmas themed scrapbook paper.  I thought it would be fun to layer a Christmas tree on it, and at the time I was using Spellbinders Flourish dies for another project and wondered if I chould change them into a tree.  Voila! The white cardstock pieces swirled togeter to from a tree.  Swarovski crystals (my favorite) become the glittering lights (I wish you could see the sparkle!)  The tree base and corner pieces were colored with a Copic Marker.   I   embossed  the "Merry Christmas"  from JustRite's Merry Little Christmas set in white on a piece of the background paper.  Set in among the "branches" it is the tree's only decoration. Some distressing (Antique Linen) was done around all the edges. Perfect!  Now for the envelope and into the mail it goes!





Snowman Pops

Stamp: Serendipity Stamps
Other: Bits of yarn, cardstock, hot glue
Looking for ways to use rubber stamps other than cards? 
 After stamping the snowman on a piece of white cardstock, I cut it out and colored the bird red with a copic marker.  The base paper strip was scored and molded around a color coordinating Tootsie Roll Pop.  After gluing  the paper to the Tootsie Pop, I attached the snowman to the front.  A bit of yarn was used to make the snowman's scarf.  Cute do you think?

Blessings - Outlines 26

http://outlineswithkathy.blogspot.com/ issued the challenge that inspired me to create this card.  A couple of year ago, I saw a card by Kandis Smith in a magazine that used this layout.  With a couple of minor tweaks, I made the card my own.  Mostly it was cutting papers to layer/stack.  I'm learning to use Distress Ink more and I do like the way it changes the edges of paper.
Stamp:  Outlines Rubber Stamp Co.  "Blessings"
Paper: Cardstock and various ???
Distress Ink:  Cordoury
Stickles: Cinnamon
Punch:  Paper Shaper Maple Leaf
Ribbon: May Arts lace, Sew Easy Floss, and ?
Button: ?
  So many of so much (family, friends, etc....) I am Blessed and hope you feel you are too!

Blue Wunter Headband

A little bit of a break from paper crafting/card making....and I crocheted this snug headband ...a perfect winter accessory for those who really don't like wearing hats.  A selft crocheted button at one end fits into a loop a the other end (just can't see it in this picture).  Look closely and you will see the "jewel" is the center of a fluffy crocheted flower.  As some already know...I maintain a booth at a local craft mall.  With winter winds ready to visit us in Oklahoma, this headband should help keep ears warm.  The pattern for the headband is from Annie's Attic.  The flower is from a mikeyssmail youtube video.

Take 2

Outlines Happy Christmas #25

   Outlines Challenge #25 http://outlineswithkathy.blogspot.com/used a photo to provide inspiration to make a card.  I must admit, this challenge did just that...challenged me.  I've thought of using photo as a layout, a theme, but finally settled on using it as a color pallete. I also wanted to see if I could use the colors to make an "unusual" Christmas greeting.  So here it is!  Using Spellbinders Poinsettia and mega label (shaped card) , Cuttlebug swirls...some Copic Markers, distress ink, Stickles, silk ribbon, and an orange dewdrop, this card was crafted.  I like the idea ofmaking the Happy Christmas as a tag to put under package bows!  How many days until Christmas?

Update note:  I just wasn't happy with this card, so....a friend suggested a change.....see the new card at the next entry:  Take Two

Winter White Gift Box

I love pizza, so participating in this week's challenge at http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2011/11/this-weeks-challenge.html - create a mini pizza box was "for me"!  First challenge was to find a Christmas paer.  I don't have much in the way of 12 x 12 that was stiff enough for a box...and my Graphic 45 is only 8 x 8 so.... I turned to my pad of  - s.e.i - Winter song and used it for both the box and band. (I do love glittery images).  Thanks to Selma, creating the box was easy to do.  I made the flowers by pealing off the back layer of the paper, stacking small pieces of it together, and using Spellbinders Blossom 3 to create the flower layers. Glittery snowflakes were made from the remnants of the band using a Martha Stewart snowflake punch.  A glittered brad was used to attach the scrunched layers.  Flowers, a bit of white boa, and a spray of pearls were attached to the band.  The end result....a winter white gift box.

Peace on Earth

Thank You Selma for the inspiration and detailed explanation of your beautiful card. (http://selmasstampingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/11/may-beautiful-moments.html)
Following her guidelines and tweaking it to use materials at hand I made this card.  I used:
Spellbinder dies: Mega Labels, Labels 5, Layered Poinsettia
Cuttlebug: Swirls embossing folder
Just Rite Stamps: Christmas Treasures
Misc: Papers, Pearls, Zing Gold Embossing Powder

Already I have other ideas for "similar" cards.  Stay tuned :)

Outlines Friendly Flight #24

When I read the criteria for this week's challenge at Outlines Rubber Stamp Company (http://outlineswithkathy.blogspot.com/) I knew I finally had a "reason" to used this butterfly scrap.  Would you believe the image is  one that was "stamped" on a baby wipe.  I had actually used the rubber stamp on a card, and had stamped it on a baby wipe to clean it.  The resulting image was rather intriguing and so I dried and saved it.  To make the card for the challenge, I painted the butterflies with Stickles and framed it with narrow stripes of black.  The card base was embossed using a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  Never let a good "scrap" go to waste!

Resist Background Trees

A wonderful  challenge at Joan's Garden  (http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2011/10/this-weeks-challenge.html) was the motivating force behind this card's creation. 
Supplies:
Embossing Folder: Sizzex wreath
Embossing Powder: Glacier White
Cardstock: Various
Stamps: Holly Pond Hill (large tree), Stampendous (background trees)JustRite (bird)
Flourish: Spellbinders flourish die
Lime green Stickles.
  Note: it did take two tries to get the resist effect to work.  Just be sure to ink the stamp each time before pressing it to the paper.  I have to say...I loved working  his technique and plan to do a couple more.  Ready to try it yourself?

Ghostly Greetings JR61

Okay, so the challenge at Just Rite #61 was to use scraps.  With one exception, I created this card with scraps that were lying around on my craft work table.   
The Scraps:
Stamped Image: Just Rite Happy Halloween Set
Ribbon: May Arts Bats, Ghosts, pumpkin
Spellbinders: Doily die
Embossing folder: cuttlebug
Tree:  Cricut cut
Paper: vellum bits , torn tissue, cardstock,
Inks: memento, distress
And last but not least...a wispy piece of polyester batting

Happy Halloween!

Pretty in Pink Outlines #23



Pretty in Pink! Using Outlines Stamps, this pretty in pink Poinsettia was embossed with Zing glitter black on watercolor paper, then colored using H2O shimmer paints and copic markers. Each layer was then carefully cut out and stacked.   Stickles and Dew Drops create the center.  The flower was then mounted on cardstock which was then wrapped like a package in satin pink ribbon.  Pretty?

Scrappy Christmas JR 61

 What a fun challenge from JustRite this time....create a card using leftover scraps.  The only thing "new" on this card is the embossed (PSX Claret) " Merry Christmas"  from JR's Christmas Nested Frames and Occassions set.  (had to find a sentiment to fit the Spellbinder Fancy Label)  I've been wanting to make a tissue flower like I'd seen on Becca's blog (www.amazingpapergrace.com)  and had a piece of dusky gold tissue left over from unwrapping an internet order.... perfect.  I cut out 3 sizes of Spellbinders Blossom 3 shapes and pierced them in the center and used a brad to secure.  After fluffing the "petals", I secured a glitzy gold "button" on top of the brad.  Leftover ribbon, silk leaves, a label  I'd cut out at some time from a gold vellum like paper, a couple of pearls and dewdrops and the flower (of course) all were placed on a scrap of leftover Christmas wrapping paper.  The whole was then attached to a red(ish) card base.  ooops..the card base is new too! 

  Now, one additional picture...when I read Sharon's comment and picture of her workspace I had to laugh....Nooo...my workspace rarely looks that neat.  Mine is more like "mad crafter" at work and I always seem to have my helper to contend with.  So, here is my work space....

Cards in a Box

Card Gift Box

The box was handmade using two pieces of cardstock.  Pieces of the lace were cut and adhered to the top and sides of the box.  A floral accent, cardboard swirl pained with Mica Gloss, Spellbinders Ribbon/Tags and Just Rite Alphabet stamps were used to complete the box.

Card Box Top

The lace provided a perfect background to decorate the top of the box I’d made in which to store the cards.  With spray adhesive  I placed the lace in rows to cover the top and sides of the box.  I then decorated it with a chipboard swirl painted with coordinating Mica Gloss paint  and a flower from my silk flower stash.  A ribbon tag was made (Spellbinders) and stamped with the word “Cards” (JustRite Stamps).  Now you know what is inside the box!

The Cards

This photo is the group of cards made specifically for this May Arts Ribbon challenge.  Ribbon supplied for the challenge is draped over the Rose Quartz rock.  Other May Arts Ribbon was used on a couple of cards to further enhance the card.    

Sentimental Lace Card

I wanted the lace to be the focal point on this card.  A soft muted background paper was chosen in a complementary color to showcase the lace.  A  rosette of lace was made and affixed to the band of lace.  May Arts Silk Ribbon was used to create a soft bow that was centered in the rosette.  The sentiment (JustRite Stamps) was stamped and embossed directly on the background paper.   Several pearls were used to accent the card

Happy Birthday

For this card I used pieces of the 3/8” double sided ribbon to create a double layered flower.  The Bottom layer showcases the green/pink side; the top layer highlights the blue.  A dotted centerpiece was adhered the  middle of the flower.  Paper chosen for this card was selected for its color coordination with the ribbon.  Contrasting paper added a decorative stripe and Dew Drops provided additional dimension.  Happy Birthday ( Hero Arts rubber stamp)  was direct stamped and embossed (Zing Embossing Powder) on the colorful background paper.

Summer Elzybels

A favorite stamp ( Elzybels) was used to enhance the May Arts stripped ribbon used on this fanciful card.  Against a background of coral embossed (Cuttlebug folder/clear embossing powder) Elzybels in handing how jeweled flowers.  Keeping her grounded is May Arts ribbon which stretches across the card.  An additional piece of May Arts Ribbon was twisted to create a flower that sports a jeweled center.  Butterflies are May Arts ribbon pieces that were individually colored to provide color variations from the original red.

Flight

May Arts ribbon was used in layers to create the 4 quadrants of this card.  Each section is decorated with either Dew Drops, Rub Ons, or Spellbinder die cuts.  They center is anchored with a Spellbinders oval and scalloped oval.  The oval  was stamped (Inkadinkado) and colored with Prima pencils.  An additional piece of May Arts ribbon was used to create a swirled flower bud which highlights the ovals.  A handpunch was used to create holes in each individual scallop.

Everywhere Butterflies

I made this card with the intention of highlighting the butterflies which were in the ribbon May Arts provided for this challenge.  May Arts Butterflies against a dark green shimmer May Arts Ribbon  were used to divide the two coordinating papers in which butterflies abound.  The center in a gold embossed butterfly (Holly Berry rubber stamp) layered and layered again (Spellbinders).  A perfect all occasion card.

Red and White Christmas

                       This week Joan's Garden challenged us to make a red and white Christmas card with a sentiment and some kind of "light".  I challenged myself to keep to the red and white without additional colors and for my light, I used a translucent vellum that I both dry embosed (cuttlebug folder) and wet embossed  with (white pearl) and red.  I hope that can be counted as "light".  I folded the vellum into a Gatefold Card held together with a big red bow.   Untie the big red bow (May Arts silk ibbon) and the inside of the card is simply stamped( on white cardstock)/embossed (using a cinnamon smelling red embossing powder (Cornish Heritage Farms)...It really does give off a cinnamon fragrance....mmmmmm..... The Stamp is by Great Impressions.          

  Hooray!  I've got one Christmas card made...I'll write a personal note inside and it will be ready to mail when the time comes.  I'll just have to figure out to whom I'll send it lol!                 

Outlines 22 Birthday Bash

What a fun challenge Outlines issued...to create a Birthday card using only Outlines Stamps!  Uh oh....I somehow don't have their "Happy" word stamp...think think think....So, I created my own Happy image by stamping the Birthday Stamp several times then cutting out the appropriate letters and gluing them in the frame.  All stamped images were embossed using Zing Black Glitter embossing powder.  Images were clored using a combination of Copic Markers, Stickles, and Liquid Pearls.  To further the Happy Birthday theme, I created the backgroiund paper by making a word document of "HappyBirthday", then printing it on a piece of patterned cardstock. A green brad attaches the "happy" and Birthday pieces together.  What is left to say?  Well,  Happy Birthday!

Femininity

This week Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge is supporting the Second Annual "Hope You Can Cling To" Challenges at SCS.  They chose "Fight Like A Girl" and the challenge is to issue a "girly" card.  As a girl, I love glitter and sparkle, lace and flowers and alway luscious bows. 
Supplies
Paper: pink, green and gold foil cardstock, backing plastic from Prima Flowers (lace)
Stamps: Just Rite
Accessories: Ribbon, Paper Rose flower, crystal swirls (all unknown...from my "stash of stuff"

Cats and Pumpkins JR60

                      

Greetings from th Pumpking Patch.  I began making this card by taking a piece of cream cardstock and using the Cuttlebug Embossing folder.  I next swiped the image with Versamark watermark and wet embossed it with pearl embossing powder.  Next, a spellbinder pumpkin ws cut out of the center.  Meanwhile, I had stamped/embossed the cat in the pumpkin image on a goldenrod colored piece of vellum.  Prisma pencils were used to color it.  Once colored, I flipped it over and used my embossing tool to "pop" it out. (tiny circular strokes). A piece of gold cardstock was attached to the back, and the whole was attached behind the pumpkin cut out.  The cat is a spellbinder die cut with a tiny piece of the vellum attached behind the eyes.  Lastly, Scaredy Cat was embossed on a piece of gold cardstock, cut out with a Spellbinders and attached to the base with two glitter black brads.  I created the "frame" by layering black and gold cardstock and using an exacto knife to cut the slots.  Finally ready to finish the sketch design, I layered May Arts ribbon (ivory silk, gold sheer green leaves, and pumpkins)  Tiny Swarovski jewels (jade opal) were scattered along the vine/leaves.   Whew! done...I hope you enjoy!

  Supplies:

Just Rite Stamps: Halloween Mini Sentiments Set; Happy Halloween Set

Paper: Gold, black, cream cardstock, goldenrod vellum

Inks: Versawatermark

Embossing Powder: Zing black glitter, pearl (? company)

Spellbinders: Pumpkins and cat

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Pumpkins

Coloring: Prisma pencils

Accessories: May Arts Ribbon, Swarovski crystals, black glitter brads

Outlines Challenge 21 Halloween Sequel

 This Outlines stamp has so many possibilities, especially for  Fall and Halloween creations. I embossed in gold the image on black.  Then I used Stickles and Crystal Lacquer to add dimension. Can you see the green eyes and pink nose?  Mounting Miss Kitty on layers of Spellbinders Label 18 provided a framework for finishing the card,  I chose a pale orange cardstock for my base, covered it with a piece of fine black lace and added a stripe of May Arts black silk ribbon.

Decorated Bag

Thursday challenge at Joan's Garden is  to create a decorated gift bag using pumpins, leaves, and words.  Of course if you add ribbons, ghosts, cardstock, paper, brads and use stickles and distress inks, you can create the bag I made above.  The "unique" feature is the "gift within a gift bag gift"  On the front of the bag is a Halloween card I made. (The envelope is tucked inside the bag).  The card is lightly attached to the bag, so it can be removed and used.  The card is one that was featured at the fall workshop at Fond Memories at the Creamery in Walnut Grove, Mn..  What do you think?

Outlines Halloween

http://outlineswithkathy.blogspot.com/

Outlines Challenge 20

Supplies:

Stamp: Image from Outlines Halloween Layering Collage

Embossing Powder: Zing Black Glitter

Paper: Reminisce

Embellishments: Rhinestones, Black Grossgrain ribbon

Tools: Spellbinders scalloped square, Copic Markers

 Copic Markers were used to color the small rhinestones orange and to edge the scalloped square.



Nature's Beauty

Wouldn't you just love to take a walk and find out where this path takes you?  Somewhere in Colorado, my brother and his wife found this beautiful spot.  A photograph resulted that was then shared with me.  When I saw the guidelines for this weeks challenge at Joan's Garden (http://www.atjoansgardens.com), I knew I wanted to take this photo and incorporate it into a card.  The challenge was to incorporate a piece of nature (photograph), a border (jeweled rectangle), glitter (across top of card), and layers (photo, white,black, cardbase)  A cuttlebug embossing folder was used to create the dimension on the card base. Art Institute Black Holographic glitter was used to emboss the Just Rite Stamp sentiment and the strip across the top- so much prettier than the picture shows. A special moment in time has been captured first in a photograph and now in a card.

Fall Festival Just Rite 59

Oh the sights and smells of fall; fields plump pumpkins, juicy apples, decorating for Thanksgiving with Indian Corn...I love this time of year! I chose to use Just Rite's Autumn Blessings set to create a mobile which is my entry into Just Rite's Fall Festival Challenge. I scoured my back yard for a fallen "twig", a few acorns, and used May Arts Ribbon, Art Institute Glitter, Spellbinders Ovals, Gold Cardstock, Gold cord, Acetate, and Staz-on Ink. A Paper Shapers punch, a couple of leaf brads and an apple seed or two were also used.     My dad identified, Fall is a season of change. With those words in mind, I made my mobile medallions "change" from an image stamped on gold cardstock then with a whisper of air current "change" to the same imaged stamped on acetate which was colored with glitter. When I am not crafting, I spend a lot of time on my enclosed front porch reading or crocheting; this mobile will be placed there for friends and family to enjoy.