Spellbinders’ Spring Fling Partner Blog Hop!!

Happy Monday, friends!!

Avery Elle is one of the companies participating in the Spellbinders’ Spring Fling Blog Hop, and Katie Gehring and I created projects, on behalf of Avery Elle, to share with you and all of the hoppers involved.  If you’d like more details about the hop, please click on through to the Avery Elle Design Team Blog, where you’ll find all the info you might need.  Oh, and I’m pretty sure there are prizes to be won, so be sure and click on through.

The kind folks over at Spellbinders were kind enough to send me two really fun die sets – Up and Away and Labels 44.  I’ve created a step-by-step tutorial as to how I created my project using these dies, combined with the Avery Elle Bright Days Stamp Set and Finished Frames Elle-Ments, below:

1. Trim A2-sized card base from Pure White CS.
2. Die Cut largest die from Labels 44 from Pure White CS; use trimmer to cut in half, vertically.
3. On a scrap piece of Pure White CS, blend Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks with ink blending tool. Die cut hot air balloon using the Up and Away die from inked panel.
4. Die cut tassels and basket banner from New Moon CS; adhere basket banner to basket with liquid adhesive.
5. Trim a 4.25 x 5.5 inch panel from Sea Glass CS; stamp sun rays from Bright Days Stamps using VersaMark.
6. Adhere the Labels 44 halves to the Sea Glass panel using temporary adhesive; die cut both using Finished Frames Elle-Ments.
7. Stamp sentiment from Bright Days with VersaMark and heat emboss with black embossing powder.
8. Assemble the card with foam tape; adhere acrylic dots with liquid adhesive.

Once again, you can find all of the details of the Spellbinders’ Spring Fling Blog Hop over at the Avery Elle Design Team Blog – I hope you’ll check it out!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I absolutely love it when you do!

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge–Long & Short of It!

 

Hello Friends!

You all did another bang up job on last week’s challenge – amazing work!!  Congrats to all the VIP’s and the TGIF Club winner!  This week’s CAS-ual Fridays challenge is to create a clean and simple project that measures 4” x 9”.  Resist the temptation to fill it and embrace the “white space.” 

Our sponsor this week is Lawn Fawn Stamps, and they very kindly provided a stamp set to each of the Girl Fridays to inspire you all – thank you, Lawn Fawn Stamps!!

 

Not gonna lie – I STRUGGLED with this one!  I’m an A2 girl, through and through.  It KILLS me to make anything that’s larger than that, especially when it comes to clean and simple designs.  Don’t get me wrong – I love “white space.”  But oh my gosh there’s a LOT of white space on a 4” x 9” card.  But I persevered and actually am EXTREMELY happy with the end result.  I worked with the On the Mend set – super cute stuff!!  The jar was created using a Spellbinders die set called “Assorted Fresh Fruit.”  I die cut the jar three times – once out of acrylic CS, once from black CS and once from white CS.  I stamped the sweet little bug on the white panel and colored him with my Lyra colored pencils and Gamsol.  I added a few rhinestones to the bug’s bag (to add to the cute factor), and then assembled the jar.  It was super easy to create and I had a lot of fun doing it.

PRODUCTS USED:

STAMPS:  LAWN FAWN (On the Mend), PAPERTREY INK (Tiny Tags)
INK:  TSUKINEKO (Onyx Black VersaFine Dye Ink), A MUSE STUDIO (Cherry Pigment Ink)
PAPER:  FRENCH POPTONE (Black Licorice CS), A MUSE STUDIO (Red Mini Gingham CS), NEENAH CLASSIC CREST (Solar White Ultra Smooth CS), PAPERTREY INK (Acrylic CS)
ACCESSORIES:  SPELLBINDERS (Assorted Fresh Fruit Shapeabilities Dies), PAPERTREY INK (Linen Impression Plate, True Black Polka Dot Satin Ribbon, Tiny Tags Die, Edgers No. 2 Collection Die and Pure Poppy Button), GLUE DOTS (Craft Glue Dots), White Embroidery Floss, STAMPIN’ UP! (Stampin’ Dimensionals), LYRA (Colored Pencils), Gamsol.

We’d love for you to play along with us again this week!  If I can do it, you can, too!!  LOL  You can get all of the details of the challenge, as well as some additional inspiration from the other fun Girl Fridays, HERE.  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #3–Bring On the Bling!

Hola!

So are you having as much fun with the CAS-ual Fridays challenges as we are?!!  Seriously, the entries have been mind-bogglingly (yes, that’s a word that I just made up! LOL) amazing and so freaking clever!!


This week’s challenge is just as fun as the last two – BLING!!  Like who doesn’t love to add bling to their projects?!!  Especially with Clean and Simple projects because it’s an easy way to make those CAS designs really pop, right?!  So all you have to do is create a clean and simple design and add some bling – rhinestones, glitter, pearls – whatever you’ve got, bling it on!!


Nikki Sivils is the sponsor this week and has provided a very generous and fantastic prize.  You’ll have to head on over to the CAS-ual Fridays blog in order to see what that prize is, however.  Hey, a girl can’t share all her secrets, right?!  LOL  Thank you, Nikki Sivils!!


This is my response to the Bling It On challenge.  I recently acquired a super fun new stamp set from A Muse Studio called Glamour Girl.  When I saw that hairspray image, I immediately thought of adding a Zva rhinestone flourish in place of the spray.  Fun, right?!  And how funny is that sentiment?!  You can find all the details of the challenge, as well as more beautiful inspiration from the other Girl Fridays over at the CAS-ual Fridays blog.  What’cha waitin’ for?!!  Get movin'!!

PRODUCTS USED:
STAMPS:  A MUSE STUDIO (Glamour Girl)
INK:  FRESH INK (Slate and Pool Pigment Ink)
PAPER:  PAPERTREY INK (Smokey Shadow and Raspberry Fizz CS); FRENCH POPTONE (Sno Cone CS); NEENAH CLASSIC CREST (Ultra Smooth Solar White CS)
ACCESSORIES:  WE R  MEMORY KEEPERS (Corner Chomper); PAPERTREY INK (Tin Types Impression Plate); PROVO CRAFT (Cuttlebug); SPELLBINDERS (Labels 9 and Classic Circle Dies); ZVA (Rhinestone Flourish); STAMPIN’ UP! (Self-Adhesive Rhinestones)

That’s it for me today, peeps.  I can’t wait to see what you all come up with for this uber fun and sparkly challenge.  Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I’m headed to Las Vegas for a fun little weekend getaway with my sister.  Wish me luck!!

Snow Day Fun!

Happy Monday, Chicas!

How was your weekend?!  Mine was really nice . . . quiet, but nice.  Got a little crafting done, and actually did some housework.  That part was not so fun.  LOL

STAMPS:  Typewriter Letters (Hero Arts)
INK:  Paris Dusk (Memento)
PAPER:  Raspberry Fizz and Sweet Blush CS (Papertrey Ink), White CS (Neenah)
ACCESSORIES:  Swiss Dot Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), White Eyelet (Making Memories), Classic Ovals Nestabilities, Labels 14 Nestabilities, Create A Flake 2 Shapeabilities, (Spellbinders), Cricut Black Vinyl, Cricut White Vinyl, Cricut Pink Vinyl, Navy and Fuschia Vinyl (brand unknown), 3D Dimensional Dots (EK Success), Baker’s Twine (Divine Twine), Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart Crafts), Buttons (Papertrey Ink), Glue Dots, Paint Can (JoAnn’s)

		Snow Day Fun Kit VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I’m back today to share another Baby, It’s Cold Outside challenge project for the ABC Toys & Crafts DT Challenge.  Have you played yet?!  If not, you need to get your craft on PRONTO!!  You only have until this Saturday, January 22nd to play along, so you best get on it!!

So, I thought a Snow Day Fun Kit would be appropriate for the theme.  I picked up this darling paint can at JoAnn’s the other day and thought it would be fun to decorate it with some die cut vinyl.  This stuff is a blast to work with!!  It’s self-adhesive, so I’m guessing that it will adhere to pretty much any surface.  It worked beautifully with this paint can.  So I created a winter scene with a snowman (a Sizzix die I got on sale at JoAnn’s), and some colorful snowflakes (created with the Create A Flake 2 Shapeabilities).

Once I adhered all of the pieces for my winter scene, I created a tag to go along with it.  I created the tag using the Labels 14 Nestabilities and Classic Ovals Nestabilities.  The sentiment is stamped using the new Typewriter Letters clear set from Hero Arts – I love that I can create my own sentiments with that, don’t you?!!  I attached the tag to the paint can by attaching an eyelet and then tying it on with some baker’s twine.

This could be filled with some hot chocolate, some playing cards, maybe some color crayons, and how about some hand lotion and lip balm for those Snow Days, huh?!!  The possibilities for contents are endless!!

That’s it for me today, peeps.  I got some new inks this weekend, so I’m hoping to get some stamping done over the next couple of days.  I hope you’ll play along with the ABC Toys & Crafts DT Challenge.  For all the deets, please click on the blinkie below.  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Warm Winter Wishes!

 

Hola Chicas!

 

STAMPS:  Sewing Box Christmas (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
INK:  Lady Bug Red (Memento)
PAPER:  Men of Life DP (Papertrey Ink), White CS (Neenah), Blue Sky CS (Recollections)
ACCESSORIES:  Nested Mittens Shapeabilities (Spellbinders), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Lacey Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), 3D Dots (EK Success), Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), Snowflake Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Baker’s Twine (Divine Twine), Buttons and Red Felt (Papertrey Ink), Glue Dots

Warm Winter Wishes Mittens 2 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I’m back today to share another Baby, It’s Cold Outside project for the ABC Toys & Crafts DT Challenge.  Who doesn’t think of warm mittens when it’s cold outside?!  I know I do!!  In fact, I wish I’d had a sweet pair like this Saturday night when I was freezing my bootie off at the Fiesta Bowl!!  Yes, kids, it’s been really, really cold here in AZ the past few days.  I’m hoping that the cold temps are short lived because I’m ready to get back to warmer temperatures.

 

But I digress . . . back to my project.  I die cut the mittens using the Nested Mittens Shapeabilities - one set out of red felt, and one set out of white cardstock.  I then embossed the white mittens using my fave Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (no craft collection should be without that baby!)  The circle was cut using the Lacey Circle Nestabilities, and the white strip was embossed with a snowflake embossing folder that I had in my stash.  Add some buttons and yummy baker’s twine and you’ve got yourself a fun little winter note for a sweet friend!

 

So, have you created some projects for the Baby, It’s Cold Outside challenge?  You have three weeks to create something, so we’d love to have you join in on the fun!!  You can find all the deets by clicking on the blinkie below. 

 

 

Oh, and did I tell you that ABC Toys & Crafts has all new DISCOUNTED prices – all the time?!!  You really should check it out.

 

That’s it for me today, kids.  I’m cropping with friends tomorrow, so I plan to have more crafty goodness to share with you this week.  Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Your visits mean the world to me!

ABC Toys & Crafts January Challenge–Baby It’s Cold Outside!!

Hi Kids!

I’m baaaacckkk!!  LOL  Please forgive my absence the last week or so . . . I took a much needed break to transition from WA to AZ again, and once we arrived I promptly came down with a ridiculous cold that has kept me whining and hanging around in my pajamas for a few days now.  Ugh!  But I think I’m finally back on my feet and happy to report that I’m back to my regularly scheduled crafting projects!

STAMPS:  Have a Donut  (Hero Arts ), On Ice (Papertrey Ink)
PAPER:  White CS (Neenah), Blu Raspberry CS (Poptone), Kraft and Raspberry Fizz CS (Papertrey Ink), Dotty Biscotti DP (Papertrey Ink)
INK:  Rich Cocoa  (Memento )
ACCESSORIES:  Create A Flake 2 Shapeabilities  (Spellbinders ), 3D Dots  (EK Success), Doily (Martha Stewart Crafts), Buttons and Felt (Papertrey Ink), Baker’s Twine (Divine Twine), Glue Dots, Janome Sew Mini, Cuttlebug

Cozy Winter Birthday VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Today marks the beginning of the ABC Toys & Crafts January Challenge – Baby It’s Cold Outside.  Isn’t that so fun?!!  When I think of cold weather, I think of my fave-a-lave winter beverage – a Vente Peppermint Mocha.  Now THAT is the epitome of winter to me!  So, I started my project by creating a coffee cup cozy (I picked up this green reusable coffee cup at Home Goods for $2.50!).  I followed the directions that I found on Dawn McVey’s blog HERE - super easy instructions.  I used some white felt and the Create A Flake 2 Shapeabilities to create the snowflake embellishment.  Isn’t it so cute?!!

I wanted to make a coordinating card so that I had a sweet little gift set to share with someone special.  So I inked up the coffee cup from the Have a Donut clear set from Hero Arts.  I stamped the image twice – once on white cardstock, and once on the pink polka dot DP.  I fussy cut the cup, and then paper-pieced the polka dot coffee sleeve.  Fun, right?!  If I had it do over again, I’d probably run the coffee sleeve, as well as the polka dot strip on the card base through my crimper.  I think that would be really cute, don’t you?!!  And I’d probably add a Starbucks Gift Card inside so that my special someone could indulge in the essence of winter, too!!

So, what about you?  How does winter and cold weather inspire you creatively?  We’d love to have you all join us by creating something for this month’s ABC Toys & Crafts DT Challenge.  The theme is Baby, It’s Cold Outside.  Projects that fit the theme are eligible, so get your craft on peeps!  You can find the rules of the challenge, as well as the InLinkz widget to link up your projects by clicking on the blinkie below.



That’s it for me today, peeps.  The sweet ladies of the ABC Toys & Crafts DT will be sharing fun winter themed projects with you all month.  And I’ll be back tomorrow with another fun sample that fits the Baby, It’s Cold Outside theme.  Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I so appreciate your visit.  Smooches!

Some Quick Gift Tags!!

 

Happy Monday, Peeps!!

 

Hope you had a wonderful weekend . . . mine was okay.  I flew to Washington for the holidays on Saturday, and have spent every spare minute smothering my grandson with kisses.  He is a delicious little bug.

 

So, I’m popping in today to share some super quick gift tags that I made before I left AZ.  I’ll warn you right now, there are a few pics in this post, so please hang in until the end – it’ll be worth it, I promise!!  The first tag was created using the Spellbinders Labels 14.  I cut out three labels – two out of coordinating DP, and one out of cardstock for stability.  The cutout for the sentiment was created using the Classic Oval Nestabilities.  The sentiment is from the Get Merry clear stamp set from Hero Arts.  And how stinkin’ cute is that Santa canister?!!  I picked him and the snowman up at Home Goods.  Do you know Home Goods?!!  Well, let me just tell you that it is the most amazing place for sweet little nuggets like these jars – $4.99!!  Sa-WEET, right?!  I plan to fill the jars with some Russian Tea Mix that I saw in Paula Deen’s Christmas magazine . . . loves me some Paula Deen!

 

I pretty much did the same thing for the Snowman tag as I did for the Santa tag.  How freakin’ cute is that little mitten tag?!!  I used the Nested Mittens Shapeabilties, as well as the Classic Oval Nestabilities again.  Sentiment, again, is from the Get Merry set.  Did I mention that both the Santa tag and the Snowman tag have TO: and FROM: stamped on the back.  Those stamps came from the Making Memories set called Noel.  Here’s a close up of the Snowman tag for your viewing pleasure.

 

Finally, I created a tag that’s a little bit more elegant – you know, for like those fancy schmancy holiday parties that ya’ll will be invited to this holiday season.  How popular will you be when you show up with a bottle of wine and this yummy tag?  Huh?!  Popular, I tell ya!!  I created this using the 2010 Heirloom Ornaments from Spellbinders (unfortunately, these are now sold out and won’t be restocked as they were limited editions), the Classic Oval Nestabilities, and the sentiment came from the Merry Christmas Trees clear set from Hero Arts (again, currently out of stock – sorry!).

This is what the back of all the tags looks like.  Easy peasy, right?!!

STAMPS:  Get Merry (Hero Arts), Noel (Making Memories), Merry Christmas Trees (Hero Arts)
INK:  Rich Cocoa and Tuxedo Black (Memento)
PAPER:  Santa Tag – Everybody Loves Christmas DP (Echo Park), Pure Poppy CS (Papertrey Ink); Snowman Tag – White Christmas DP (We R Memory Keepers), Pure Poppy CS (Papertrey Ink); Wine Bottle Tag – Holly Jolly DP (My Mind’s Eye), Ocean Tides CS (Papertrey Ink)
ACCESSORIES:  Labels 14, Classic Oval Nestabilities, and Nested Mittens Shapeabilties (Spellbinders); 3D Dots (EK Success), Slot Punch (EK Success), Pure Poppy Ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Early Espresso Ribbon (Stampin’ Up!)

 

 

So all of the linked products used on these tags can be found at ABC Toys & Crafts and are currently 20% off until December 18th.  What the heck are you waiting for – get your SHOP on!!

 

Lastly, have you all created something for our current DT Challenge – NON TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY COLORS?!  Well, if not, you NEED to!!  Get all the deets HERE.  You have until December 18th!

 

That’s it for me, kids.  I’ll be doing a bit of gift wrapping today, as well as attempting to finish up my shopping.  Thankfully there’s no snow here, but there’s certainly enough rain to float Noah’s Ark – NO JOKE!!  But I can live with that . . . on a short term basis.  LOL  I’ll be back soon with another crafty share!  Toodles!!

OK . . . Let’s Get Merry!

Happy Monday!!

Popping in again today to share another sample for the ABC Toys & Crafts DT Challenge, which is to create a project using NON-TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY COLORS (in other words, no green and red!)

STAMPS:  Get Merry (Hero Arts)
INK:  Tangelo Orange (Memento)
PAPER:  White CS (Neenah), Blu Raspberry, Sno Cone and Orange CS (Poptone)
ACCESSORIES:  Teal Green Gemstones (Hero Arts), Orange Gemstones (Icons), 3-D Dots (EK Success), Circle Embossing Plate (Papertrey Ink), Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), Baker’s Twine (Divine Twine)

I’ve had these Spellbinder’s Create A Flake #2 dies for what seems like forever, and was so excited for the opportunity to finally crack them open.  Oh how fun it was to create the different layers of flakes in the alternating colors!!  Of course, I had to bling them up a bit with some self-adhesive gems from Hero Arts.  And this project was super easy and fun to create – another quick possibility for my family Christmas cards (if I ever get around to making them!  LOL)  I think my color scheme definitely qualifies for the challenge, don’t you?  There aren’t too many aqua and orange snowflakes around that I know of.  Hehehe  The sentiment is from the Get Merry clear set from Hero Arts.  Another great and versatile holiday stamp set that I know I’ll use year after year.  No stamp collection should be without it!!  I'll also be submitting this for the One Crazy Stamper Christmas/Winter Challenge.

The December ABC Toys & Crafts Challenge just started yesterday and lasts until December 18th.  We’d love for you to play along with us, and of course, there’s a great prize available for the winner.  You can get all the details of the challenge, see some awesome inspiration, as well as upload your projects to the InLinkz widget if you click on the blinkie below. 


Oh, and one last thing before I go – ABC Toys & Crafts is having a storewide sale – nearly everything in the store is 20% off through December 18th.  So if you’ve got some delicious crafting supplies on your wish list, now would be a good time to tell Santa that you’ve been a good girl and would really like some goodies from ABC Toys & Crafts!  LOL

That’s it for me today, peeps!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Peace . . . and Cyber Monday Sale!

Happy Monday!!

I had such a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with the part of my family that were here in AZ.  My kids celebrated with the other half of my family in WA, so they were sorely missed . . . especially my sweet little Brecken.  But we were grateful to have the family that we did have here, and celebrated our gratitude for all the blessings that we enjoy in our lives.  I hope that your Thanksgiving was just as precious and fulfilling as mine!

STAMPS:  Sabine Watching Snow Fall (Stampavie/Sarah Kay), Merry Christmas Trees (Hero Arts)
INK:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
PAPER:  Ripe Avocado CS, Scarlet Jewel CS, Kraft CS, and Vintage Cream CS (Papertrey Ink), Tradition DP (Fancy Pants)
ACCESSORIES:  White Liquid Applique (Marvy Uchida), Classic Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), 3D Dots (EK Success), Copic Markers, Scarlet Jewel Grosgrain Ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Dazzling Diamonds (Stampin’ Up!), Janome Sew Mini, Cuttlebug

So it’s Stampavie week at ABC Toys & Crafts.  My sweet DT sisters will all be sharing their favorite Stampavie image with you all, and I’m starting the week off with my fave Sarah Kay stamp called “Sabine Watching Snow Fall.”  Is she not the sweetest thing ever?!  And check out that sparkly snow!!  That’s White Liquid Applique and Dazzling Diamonds applied while still wet, then heat set with my embossing gun.  I am so in love with the effect that the heat has on the White Liquid Applique – it just pops right off the page and adds some amazing dimension, don’t you think?

I stamped Sabine onto cream cardstock using Tuxedo Black ink.  Then I colored her with my Copic Markers – I haven’t had those babies out in a while and it felt good to play with them again.  I cut the image out using Classic Rectangle Nestabilities and my Cuttlebug.  The sentiment came from a new Hero Arts holiday set called Merry Christmas Trees (currently out of stock)– isn’t it pretty?  The layout is a SHAMELESS CASE of a card I saw on Julie Lacey’s blog HERE.  I even used the same DP and everything!  The only changes I made were the image and the sentiment.  I’d been feeling a little under the weather all day yesterday and my brain just wasn’t working right.  Julie’s work always inspires me so thank you, Julie, for helping me knock this out.

So, did you all do any Black Friday shopping?  Not me, folks!  I did that last year with my daughter, and it took me three days to recover from it!  LOL  I did, however, venture out on Saturday for a hair appointment AT THE MALL and feared that I’d never find a parking place!  I was pleasantly surprised to find a spot right out front of the salon, so I had me some PARKING KARMA!!  LOL  Anyways, I plan to do a bit of “Merry Christmas to Me” Cyber Monday shopping – how about you?!  ABC Toys & Crafts is having an amazing sale, offering EVERYTHING IN THE STORE at 25% OFF!!  Wow, how cool is that?!!  Oh, and just so you know, Santa has already delivered some of the brand spankin’ new Slice Elite’s to ABC Toys & Crafts.  AND rumor has it that there is going to be a pretty hefty price increase on the Slice Elite as well as it’s accessories in the very near future, so if you’re on the fence about buying any or all of the Slice products, you might want to take advantage of this sale NOW!!  The sale ends November 30th – just click on the blinkie below to shop, and use Discount Code BFCM2010.  Come on – you deserve to treat yourself!!  I heard you’re on the “Nice” list.  Hehehe


That’s it for me today, chickies!!  I’m so appreciative of your visit today, and hope that you’ll stop by again real soon!

Blah, Blah, Blah–All Zipped Up!

Hello Again!
Yay, two days in a row!!  I got to spend a glorious day yesterday crafting and finishing up this project that I started at the crop on Saturday.  I created this for the current Moxie Fab World Challenge, which is called All Zipped Up!  Zippers in crafting is a new trend that I find really fun and interesting.  I love taking an everyday item and incorporating it into my crafting, don’t you?  And leave to it Cath to discover what those trends are.  She’s brilliant, really.

So I figured that most people playing along will create a flower out of a zipper and incorporate that into their design.  Don’t get me wrong – I think that the zipper flower trend is super cute and innovative!  But I wanted to do something different.  I’m kind of the “black sheep” in that regard.  Get it?!  Black Sheep?!  LOL  Oh, I just crack myself up!!  I envisioned the zipper curled around to create the curls of the sheep’s wool.  What do you think?

The layout was inspired by Kim Kesti’s Go To Sketch on pg. 94.  The sentiment (hysterical, right?!) is from a My Stamp Box set called “Whatever.”  I free-hand cut the word bubble.  The body of the sheep was created by die cutting a scalloped oval from white felt.  I then cut down a 36” white zipper, twisting it into curls, and stitching it down with a needle and thread.  I then painted the teeth of the zipper with a white paint pen.  My sweet friend, Kim, free-hand cut the sheep’s head and legs, and that stubby little tail for me.  I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler.  LOL  I had some fabulous direction from my amazing cropping friends, and I am so stinkin’ happy with the end result.

I have one more idea for this zipper challenge that I hope to implement before the December 6th deadline.  So keep your eyes peeled for that!  LOL  You should play along, too – Cath’s challenges are the best!

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I’ll be spending the rest of today at the grocery store – ugh!  Have a great day!

Merci!

 

Monday, Monday!

 

I’m back today to share a card I made using a super cute and trendy Penny Black stamp set called Thinking of You.  This set contains some really sweet images, but I was especially enthralled with the Eiffel Tower image.  That’s one place I hope to visit some day.  But in the meantime, it’s such a symbol of romance for me.  After all, it’s where Tom Cruise proposed to Katie Holmes, right?!  LOL

STAMPS:  Thinking of You (Penny Black), Letter Background (Penny Black), Worn Damask (B Line Designs), Merci (A Muse)
INK:  Desert Sand and Tuxedo Black (Memento), Versamark (Tsukineko), Chai (PTI)
PAPER:  Kraft CS (PTI), Black Licorice CS (Poptone), White CS (Neenah)
ACCESSORIES:  Classic and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), 3D Dots (EK Success), White Embossing Powder (Zing/American Crafts), Black Seam Binding (Hug Snug), Janome Sew Mini

 

Merci VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

I stamped the Letter Background stamp on the Kraft CS using Tuxedo Black ink, and then stamped the Worn Damask Background in Versamark over the top of the text.  I heat set that to cure the Versamark.  Then I stamped the Eiffel Tower image in Versamark, and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I love how it just pops off the page, don’t you?  I then used some distressing ink to create the “halo” effect around the Eiffel Tower.  Sweet, right?  The sentiment was stamped in Tuxedo Black ink onto cream cardstock, and die cut using Classic and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities.  Some black seam binding and some stitching and you’ve got yourself a thank you card!  I think I’ll send this off to a sweet friend who hosted the crop that I went to on Saturday night – super fun group of girlies and lots of laughs.

 

That’s it for me today, folks.  I hope to get a bit more crafting done before I have to jump into my pre-Thanksgiving chores.  But I wanted to remind you that the ABC Toys & Crafts “Sew Special” challenge is still going on, and you still have a little bit of time left to submit a project that includes sewing.  You can get all the deets by clicking on the blinkie below.  Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you’ll drop by again real soon!