Thursday, August 14, 2014

Fun with foldy stuff!




I purchased this template for 5 bucks from ARCreations.com It was super easy...it only took me TWO tries to get it right! Normally, I'm looking at 3-4.

It takes a bit to cut everything out. Getting everything cut and pieced together took about an hour...maybe a little more. The decorating took three times as long! I attached both the drawer pull and label plate in the back with glossy accents, brads and E6000. It'll pretty much survive the zombie apocalypse, I figure.

I glued the K&Co labels to the front, after stamping some cute sentiments from Verve's Sunny Days. I propped it up on 4 buttons and it's heavy and solid enough to handle some wear and tear. I like how it holds your EF's or blank notecards and envelopes in reach...not to mention it's purdy!!!!

I figure I can make about 17 more by the time the prizes for DTGD are announced, so I'll get started on that now.

heh heh

Thanks again to the Dirty Girl's for this year's challenge and for the extra work they're doing tonight to hand out prizes on top of everything else they've done!! BIG MMMWWAAAHHHS! to you all!!



Wednesday, August 13, 2014

I took the plunge...

Heartfelt Creations, one of my favorite companies, is in the process of selecting some design team members. So, at the urging of one of their former DT members, I'm giving it a shot. Two of the projects I've already posted...here's the one I sent to them as the final of the 3. I had to have an altered project and we ALL know how I've become enamored with Altoid tins. Here's is my 2nd project with the tins and what I submitted last night.



My favorite part of all is a tie between the little starfish and the seahorse. Those came in a cute kit from Hobby Lobby.

I'm not sure if anyone is ever sure they're good enough to be on a DT...esp on of HC caliber. But I figure that nothing attempted is nothing gained, right?  We'll see what the end result is and-at the end of the day-it's ALL a learning experience. At least I'll remember that ONCE I'm not fetal in the corner, curled up in a writhing ball of rejection.

heh heh

The other 2 projects I submitted-ty to Lee Ann Barrett of Greytpapercrafts, who learned that there's always a punishment for doing a good deed, by my begging her to go through my ENTIRE SCS gallery and tell me what she thought I should submit.

Sidenote: My blog title is, and began, as tongue in cheek. LAB's is woefully understated. "Great" doesn't describe this girl. She was in the first handful of blogs I stalked because even though I don't have a knack for 'layering', Lee Ann makes incredible, showy flowers...the kind of flowers I'm crazy about!...along with her knack with layering. I love the vintage look, but Lee Ann has a way of capturing that look without making it look uniform. It's a vintage look that, instead of making you feel as if you're looking at something old, makes you feel like you've gone back in time and are seeing it just created.

Sigh. I don't know how to say it properly...suffice it to say that she is unique in her style and I simply love it. When she mentioned the DT call and that she thought I should enter, I can tell you this:

Even if I DON"T make the team, the fact that someone I really admire said she thought I was good enough to try, was the reward. Seriously. That's a BFreakingD to me!! Thank you, Lee Ann!!!

Here's the 2nd and 3rd project I submitted. First is my Sunflower. I used 4 McGills punches. The lily, Sun, Birch leaf and Large Highland Snowflake.


For the last, my little Penny Black Mermaid card. I used Copics and I'm in LOVE with this stamp set! What cute baby mermaids!!!

I signed up for Copic coloring classes in Feb. I've not been able to practice as much as I want, but I feel like I'm coming along.

Let's hope these 3 will pique some interest and that HC feels I can help them sell their product! Heck, the product sells itself once you try it. LOVE the stamps and dies...in fact, I just got this stamp and die set and made this card.
I used the stamp to get the bird image but used the Garden Romance set to cut the birdhouse and bird, and the layered poinsettia HC/Spellbinders set for the flower. The stamp set is called Holiday Haven. After cutting the birdhouse out of cardboard, I trimmed the top and bottom off and coated it with chipped sapphire distress paint and the main part of the house in picket fence. Then I aged it. I got this from a tutorial from Kittie C. HERE at her blog. The poinsettias I cut 3 times...once in green for the leaves and 2 for the petals. I'm crazy about their stamps! I'm getting ready to do a card with the pumpkins from their Pumpkin Harvest Stamp Set. It's awesome!

This is a long enough entry...I'm already tired of myself, so I can imagine how YOU feel! ;)  Thanks for going along with me and thanks for being so kind and supportive. I hope that I can return all of that to all of you. MWAHHH!









DTGD at Splitcost Part 2


Once a year, Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) has a challenge week for members. During that week, beginning at 9am for 6 days in a row, the SCS 'Dirty Dozen' (the SCS current design team and former Dirty Dozen Girls) post anywhere from 7 to 8 challenges a day.

You would be surprised to learn that there are actually quite a few members who finish all the challenges and receive the title of 'Challenge Queen'.

You would NOT be surprised that Yours Truly is NOT in the running for that title.

The main reason this title is out of my reach is due to the fact I've gotta go 'BIG' or go home. I can't just do something simple and move on.

Anyway, I'm going to post some of my work to date. We aren't allowed to reveal the specifics of the challenge, so I'm just going to post what I posted for each pic at SCS. Here we go!

Image is 'Fairy Sweet' from Saturated Canary with woven paper background and wooden sentiment. Colored with Copics

Poinsettia from Poppystamps die and stamp is Over the Edge LE Joy stamp. Backed with textured gold cardstock

Verdigris Geraniums. Flower handmade using McGill punches

I love this flower!!! Happened to have this frame in my stash and figured I'd use it....this flower isn't hard to make, but looks it...that's why I love it!! Flower handmade using McGill punches



I have been saving this specifically for DTGD14!!! I was hoping it would look 'bigger' but no technology in the world will shine when your iphone hates you.

Anyway, this is supposed to be a store window, with dress, garland and snow at the bottom. The best part is that the store window is lighted. It's impossible to see on camera unless I shoot it in the dark, but trust me when I say it's REALLY cool looking in full light, too! The possibilities are endless!

I'll do a full blog post about it later. It's a new, very inexpensive technology that I discovered on Robert Sabuda's site. In the 3rd photo, you can see how tiny everything is and it's very easy to make work. I can't see me using this on a lot of cards, but I can definitely see me using it on some cool Christmas cards and really special friend/family creation. The name of the technology is called Chibitronics and the website is here. My 10 year old can do this and, more importantly, so can I!! Woot Woot!! http://chibitronics.com/







Thursday, August 7, 2014

DTGD at Splitcoast Part 3

Once a year, Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) has a challenge week for members. During that week, beginning at 9am for 6 days in a row, the SCS 'Dirty Dozen' (the SCS current design team and former Dirty Dozen Girls) post anywhere from 7 to 8 challenges a day.

You would be surprised to learn that there are actually quite a few members who finish all the challenges and receive the title of 'Challenge Queen'.

You would NOT be surprised that Yours Truly is NOT in the running for that title.

The main reason this title is out of my reach is due to the fact I've gotta go 'BIG' or go home. I can't just do something simple and move on.

Anyway, I'm going to post some of my work to date. We aren't allowed to reveal the specifics of the challenge, so I'm just going to post what I posted for each pic at SCS. Here we go!



Create your own Fabric!

What You'll Need-
Sticky Back Canvas (I used Rangers)
Stamp with fairly large areas to color
Distress Inks
Archival Ink
Blending Tools
Mister
Paint brush

1-Cut canvas to 2-3/4 x 3-1/2. Throughout the entire process, I left the paper backing on the canvas. I only took it off at the end, when I finished and was dry and ready to mat it on black cardstock. The canvas will also tear easily. At the end, I used my craft pick to pull a few threads from the sides to fray it just a bit.

2-Using 2-3 inks, take your blending tools and, in a circular motion, begin layering your background.Take your first color and randomly ink the background, leaving blank areas for additional colors as you go along. I dabbed my blending tools directly on the inkpad before using on the dry canvas. Here, I used Salty Ocean and Squeezed Lemonade

3-Stamp images in your preferred choice of Archival Ink. Here, I used black Archival Ink and my stamp is Penny Black's Botanial Notes

4-Take your paintbrush and mist once with water. Careful not to get it too wet, and don't get any water on your canvas. Rinse your brush well between colors but keep brush on the slightly damp-not wet-side. You can lift the ink with your brush directly from the ink pad. Paint your image completely. Keep loading your image up with color. The more the better. Distress Inks dry lighter and you will be using a mister later, so don't hold back!

5-When your image is completed, take your mini-mister and mist once or twice. The colors will start to run. As soon as they begin to bleed outside the lines, use your heat gun to begin quickly drying it.

**It took me a couple of tries to get the effect I liked! I have what I call the 'Rule of 3'. That means, it takes at LEAST 3 tries of something new for me to get a feel for it and figure out how I want it to look. Don't ever think ANYONE sits down and gets it right the 1st time! If it bleeds too much or you don't like the end result, toss it in your stash and start over. I used to think everyone else could create something fabulous the minute they sat down. HAH! So, take your time and tell yourself that you are LEARNING. Do NOT get discouraged! And PLEASE send me a note if you need help or have a question! Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming :)**

6-If you're happy with your coloring and want to mat, then great! But, you can always use archival ink and stamp a background-such as words or filigrees or whatever you think is pretty. Also, you can use a fine tipped black marker to trace the lines of your stamp if they seem too faint. I did exactly that to my flower and butterfly.

There you go! It's EASY and what you create is completely YOURS! There's no duplication with this project! I just love it when things come together! Don't you? ;)

I saw a tut on how to watercolor on canvas but it didn't work for me at ALL. And I mean 3 TIMES it didn't work. I'm sure it was totally me because the tut was great and you can find it here http://ellenhutson.typepad.com/the_c...-stainton.html So, I changed it up and figured out how to get it to work for me. I sponged Salty Ocean and Squeezed Lemonade on the canvas. Then stamped in archival ink. With a dry waterbrush dipped sparingly in ink, I colored everything. Then, when it was all done, I lightly spritzed it with water and as soon as the colors started to bleed, I pounced on it with the dryer. I don't know why I couldn't make it work the other way, but I'm pleased with this result!
Remember when I said that, during DTGD, I was pushing myself to try different things that I don't use much? Like doing this image in prismacolor and blending with gamsol and *%&^* LAYERING. GRRRRR. I've heard a lot about those Perfect Layers rulers and the only reason I haven't gotten any is due to having to use craft knives. I don't know if my using a craft knife to create layers is all about "making the right choices". But maybe later.

As always, I like to share things I learn as I go about my life. Today, I learned that if you're talking to your close friend about using the pencils and gamsol, and that friend happens to be a native of Jamaica, you probably shouldn't refer to your blending stumps as 'blunts'. Apparently, 'using blunts' has a TOTALLY different meaning there.

Hope this helps...



Altoid Can photo album

I've been dying to make these cute little note cards I found on Amber's blog. Today ended up being the perfect day!! Here's the link and TY Dina! http://www.damasklove.com/easy-like-sunday-morning-7/
I haven't tried a frame like this in awhile. Last time was the first of April for an IO challenge (blog entry here) http://papercraftgoddess.blogspot.co...nge-green.html Flowers from rubbernecker in watercolor

Reflection in watercolor






It's Dare to get Dirty Week at Splitcoast Stampers!


Once a year, Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) has a challenge week for members. During that week, beginning at 9am for 6 days in a row, the SCS 'Dirty Dozen' (the SCS current design team and former Dirty Dozen Girls) post anywhere from 7 to 8 challenges a day.

You would be surprised to learn that there are actually quite a few members who finish all the challenges and receive the title of 'Challenge Queen'.

You would NOT be surprised that Yours Truly is NOT in the running for that title.

The main reason this title is out of my reach is due to the fact I've gotta go 'BIG' or go home. I can't just do something simple and move on.

Anyway, I'm going to post some of my work to date. We aren't allowed to reveal the specifics of the challenge, so I'm just going to post what I posted for each pic at SCS. Here we go!


 THIS was a LOT of fun! As in today's Pointillism tutorial, I went all dotty on her tail with my copics. After coloring, I fussy cut and took some tulle and used the heat gun on it to make it draw up and form holes. I know someone here did this recently...made it look like a net...I know this because I commented on it!!! PLEASE...if you or you know who did this first, let me know so I can link to it!! It's not that visible in the pic but DANG it looks good!!!

I got the map printout from one of my classes at kit and clowder. We're using it to make a project with a different mermaid, so I decided to use it here, too. The papers in the back are BoBunny and I distressed and inked all the edges with vintage photo.

I'd found these little bottles at Hobby Lobby in the 'Tim Holtz knock-off section'-yes, they actually have signage saying that ;)-so I distressed a piece of scrap paper and rolled it up and put it in with a couple of sequins and shiny things.

Now, you all know how I'm constantly badgered by my OCD. If I don't listen, I can assure you I'll be up sorting cooking utensils by size and name at 3am. So, when the OCD said 'Hey...you know what I'd like you to do? To stay with the whole theme, go learn how to tie a sailor's knot and adhere the knot to the neck of the bottle"

"But...but..." I stammered, thinking fast, "No one is going to see it! You KNOW how difficult it is to see little details like that!!"

I could hear my OCD tapping its foot. "Are ya done?"

"Yes." I whimpered.

"Great," it said. Now, I'm thinking a figure 8 knot would be good. It's also fairly easy. If you want to discuss it even further, that figure 8 is going to become a double bowline knot and you'll be fetal in the corner by sunrise. So get to it."

So I did. And here it is. Thx for DTGD! I'm having a blast!








The matching envelopes are black, but I couldn't get them in the pic! I followed the notecard box tut here on SCS http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/re...x3notecardbox/


First, a definition for us 'old people'. My 10-year-old, upon seeing this creation, remarked "Mama! You got all UP in the cray-cray on that card!" Apparently, 'cray-cray' is the youth's vernacular for 'crazy'. As with any linguistic trend on the part of today's youth, it'll last about 7 and a half minutes before changing again. I'll be sure to let you know.

This all started innocently enough. One of my fave blogs is confessions of a papersniffer. The title alone makes me laugh. But this girl ROCKS some papercrafting! I'd CASEd a window scene quite some time ago, but when I stumbled upon THIS, I knew I HAD to CASE again. http://confessionsofapapersniffer.bl...itter.html?m=0

I even went so far as to buy the stamp!! So, I finally found the right time to CASE, don't you think ;)

(lowering voice so OCD can't hear) I've already shared the painful struggle of not being on speaking terms with my OCD, since discovering I wouldn't be in the running for challenge queen. Quite frankly, it hasn't been a bad thing! I think I've done some of my best work! But let's keep that between us, k?

(Resuming regular voice) But just because I'm not on speaking terms with ONE of my tics, it doesn't mean the rest aren't there just waiting to party! That's where the 'cray-cray', seeing its chance to take the lead, jumped in and took over.

When you see the project I CASEd, you'll be astonished as how beautiful it is. I wanted to work in blues so I just did a basic watercolor, then stamped the image and began with the silver, Elizabeth Crafts silk microfine glitter and a glue pen.

Then I lost consciousness.

When I came to, I'd used enough crystals to cause a national shortage. I'd used about 17 different mats-two of them glitter based, and managed to give my 'cray-cray' its own starring role in my gallery.

The reason I included TWO pics is because I needed to include something with some attitude-some 'sass', if you will-and chose to do that with a sentiment that I modified just a bit. Let's face it...it works for me BOTH ways.

This card will take its place as a cautionary tale in the box I keep to place everything I create that becomes a warning. And yes...the box is almost overflowing. ;)