This Weeks Challenges

OK so here's the rest of the cards I made this week! I had to combine the colour & sketch challenge to make up time.

The first the the technique lovers challenge TLC209, rubber band stamping. Very cool technique. Wrap rubber bands around an acrylic or wood block, stamp in versamark, then cover with embossing powder & heat! makes interesting background paper. I used 2 different embossing powders, then sponged colour on the paper to get this rustic, cowboy, goldmining effect! lol The stamp is cowboy Riley from Hanna Stamps. The sentiment was computer generated, I thought it was a great font for a cowboy!

The second card combines the colour challenge CC207, pumpkin pie, summer sun & kiwi kiss, with the sketch challenge SC217.

I used my new Polka Dot Punches set. Stamp the flower with versamark onto watercolour paper, and embossed with white EP. Then I coloured them in with markers & a waterbrush, and punched them out. The fern leaves are a Martha Stewart punch, and the flourishes are the EK success punch.

My last card was made for my SIL who loves frogs. I'm also including it in the ways to use it challenge WT207, frugel finds. I didn't really use anything interesting. My frugality is not buying (ok I did buy something) not using anything new! and the thread is really old, dug out of my sewing supplies. The frog & sentiment are from Melanie Muenchinger's 'Just so Hoppy' set, sold at GinaK.

Well I'm hoping I'm wrong, but my kids have been really sick, and my Sister & Brother both had that terrible flu, and I'm not feeling so hot today! I'm hoping it passes...please please please!

Thanks for stopping by

Laurie

Trying to Catch UP!

I don't know how it happened, but once I get behind, it just seems to snowball! So I'll do a quick recap on my recent creations...may take more than 1 post! lol

So for the FS106, I made a card for the wonderful guy on our street who plows everyone's driveway with his snowblower during the winter...and we had alot of snow this year! I used this card for my inspiration.

I combined the Hanna Stamps Friday challenge HSC56, to make a Valentine without using red or pink, and the WT206 to use stripes.

I really like how this turned out, I combined the Hanna Stamps Friday challenge HSC57, to use metal, the CC206 using more mustard, rose red & kiwi kiss, and the sketch challenge SC216, Very cool sketch!

So did you get a chance to play in the virtual stamp night last weekend? I hadn't planned on it, but when I saw some of the challenges I couldn't stay away! I wish I could have played more. I did manage 4, and Olivia played in the kids challenge.

Here's my ode to Bruce Springsteen for the Celebrity Crush challenge, inspirated by his song Pink Cadillac!

This was made for the challenge 'Some man be thinkin' about you'. We were to use navy, kraft & vanilla3 brads (no more no less)no ribbons, no primas/flowersstamp had to be nature/botanical

This card was made for the 'Wee bit o love' challenge, we had to use at least three inchie squares. It's not easy fitting something onto a square inch!

This was made for the 'Tickle Your Fancy" challenge, we were to use feathers some how!

This is the card Olivia made for the kids VSN challenge, here is a link to the rules. The inspiration was the song from The Sound of Music. I think she did a great job. She was so happy to sit at my desk, I wasn't even in the room to help. Can you believe she paper pieced the jacket, scarf & hat all by herself!

The kids are sick, I had to go for a terrible test yesterday, the dog got sprayed by a skunk, and things are falling behind around here! Hopefully I will get a chance to catch up some more tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by

Laurie

How to use an Embossing Folder widthwise

So I was asked recently how to use the heart block folder on a wider piece of cardstock. My pictures aren't the greatest! The piece I used is 4 1/8" x 8 1/4"


I line the paper up below the top, you may have noticed that the heart blocks aren't perfectly straight, so you have to start lower to line them up properly.


I use the cuttlebug, and from bottom stack Plate A, plate B, embossing folder with cardstock, then another B plate.


Now take it out & try to place it along the edge so the pattern carries on.


Run it through again, & voila! It may not always look perfect, but once you add the rest of your elements, only you will notice it!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hello, I made this for the ways to use it challenge WT205, we were to use fabric. I found a piece of fabric with clovers, so decided to make another St. Patrick's Day card!

The image is clover Riley from Hanna Stamps. I stamped him on white & coloured with prismacolour pencils & oms. I used a gold marker for the coins & buckle. The clovers were made with a fiskars clover punch & covered with stickles to make it more flashy! The main image & the clovers are popped up.

Have a great day!

Laurie

A Blue Nile That Won't Die!

When I bought my first house, I loved getting out in the garden & learning about all the different flowers & bushes. I loved the Blue Nile rose, mostly because it was such a different colour than the rest. I tried several times to grow one, but for some reason they just never had any luck with them! Now this one will last!

I combined 2 challenges today. The sketch challenge SC215, and the Living in colour challenge on the Flourishes forum. The

card base is copper, with a layer of very vanilla embossed with the textile EF. Then a layer of tempting turquoise, embossed with the swiss dot EF.

The image, I Love Roses (Flourishes) was stamped on very vanilla 3 times & embossed with copper EP. They're coloured with prismacolour pencils & oms. The leaves were stamped on lime DP & I shaded them in a bit with the prisma pencils. I cut out different layers of the rose. You can't really tell from the photo, but some areas of the rose are popped up. The sentiment was embossed with copper too.

I sponged all the layers, and finished it with a spiral clip, ribbon & some brads. Is it balanced? I was going to add 3 brads in the upper left corner too, but decided against it, what do you think?

Have a Great Day!

Laurie

Perfect Pink Kiwi Valentine!

Hello, well I'm on a roll, 2 posts in one day! I made this for todays colour challenge CC205, we were to use perfect plum, pink & kiwi kiss! Apparently I never use perfect plum, so that's what's great about these challenges, makes you think outside the box!I also used the featured stamper challenge for this one. The featured stamper (FS105) was K Dunbrook (Karen) I loved this card http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1201086?cat=500&ppuser=6575 so I had to use it! I changed the stamp, colours, & ribbon placement.

The card base is perfect plum, with a layer of white, & a layer of pink dp. I used the nestie labels #1 for the plum & kiwi layers, and the image.

The image was stamped on white, coloured with prismacolour pencils & oms. I also stamped the heart on the pink dp & cut out to fit. The little heart was coloured with the perfect plum marker & I added a little green gem to the centre.

The strip down the left was made with the Martha Stewart heart edge punch. Most edges were sponged, I forgot the pink layer!!! At least I remembered to do some sponging, unlike the card I posted earlier! The image panel is popped up.

So, what do you think? not your usual valentine colours!

Laurie

Hello, I made this for TLC207 cut it out. We were to cut out an embossed image or dp & use it on our card. I used the heart block EF, on pink pirouette. I started to tear it, then remembered we were supposed to cut duh! I also wish I had sponged the edges, but I forgot!

The card base is ruby red because I only have 1 sheet of riding hood red left (so I have to save it just incase! lol) The next layer is dp from the Candy lane pkg.

The birds were stamped with chocolate chip onto very vanilla. All the circles were made using nesties. The tiny heart above the birds & in the corners were made with a Martha Stewart punch.

The corners were made with the EK Success fancy corner punch.I finished it off with ribbon, & popped up the circle image.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

Laurie

Hanna Stamps Challenges - February

Hello, I made these for challenges 1&2, posted during the release party. If you like the stamps from Hanna Stamps (I love them) then you should check out the challenges on the Hanna Stamps forum at SCS. There's a challenge posted every Friday, and during each release party (usually at the beginning of the month) there's challenges posted & chances to win FREE stamps!

The first challenge was to use fabric. I also anted to make a card for my Niece's birthday. The slumber party Hanna was perfect for this, and my original idea was to use sheer ribbon to make curtains or one of those sheer things that are usually on a ring over the head of the bead (for the life of me I can't think of the name!!!) anyway that was working to my satisfaction, so then I took another root, til I ended up here! lol The ribbon is stitched & gathered to make a flower/rosebud valance! The centers are crystal brads.

I hope she likes it!

This is the 2nd challenge, we were to make a card with different shape. There were some great ideas, check out the Hanna stamps Gallery. I decided to get a jump on St. Patrick's Day, and make a clover.

That's it for Today,

Have a great one!

Laurie

Box in a Bag

Hello, I made this for this weeks inspiration challenge & the Friday challenge on the Hanna stamps forum, hosted by Joycelyn, aka Stamps'ncoffee. We were to make anything but a card.

I chose this cushion with big flowers for my inspiration http://www.hunkydoryhome.co.uk/hunky...ion-p-270.html

Originally I was going to put a can of flavored coffee in the bag, so Cafe Hanna seemed perfect for this project. Unfortunately the can won't fit, but I could still use chocolate covered coffee beans, or any treat really!

The bag is made with chocolate chip, and dp from DCWV teen prints. The top has tabs made with the round tab punch, & jumbo eyelets. The bottom of the bag has a strip punched with the scalloped edge punch. I added some dots with a white inkssentials pen, but I'm not sure I like it!

The image was stamped on nennah classic crest solar white (Thank You Kristi) I love it & the image stamped beautifully on it!I coloured the image with copics. Then used circle/scallop nesties to cut out layers. The sentiment was stamped the same white, cut down & layered on chocolate chip & popped up.The ribbon is SU grosgrain regal rose.

Thanks for stopping by, Have a great day!

Laurie

Bugs, oops I Mean Hugs to You!

Hello I made this for the January challenge on the Hanna Stamps Forum. We were to use the new Backyard Dwellers set with another set. So Poor Hanna has caught a bug!

This card went in several directions before it was completed! I originally planned on using burgandy, pink & yellow to go with one of the Friday Challenges on Hanna Forum at SCS, but somewhere along the line & forgot & omitted the burgandy!!!

I also wanted to try a technique on my own that Sue my firend & SU demonstrated showed us. Not sure what is's called, but you dip a cottonball in alcohol, dab on some colours (one metallic) and then smoosh it onto glossy white paper. I wanted it for the comforter, & I originally planned to have it in the background, but it didn't look so hot!

The sentiment was computer generated. The inside sentiment is from the Everyday Sentiments set, and with a little adjustment it fit perfectly!

Have a Great Day!

Laurie

Olivia's Baking Birthday Party!

Back row Olivia, Emily, Cassidy, Jennifer, in the front Lauren (my neice), Daisy & Erika

Ok so we had Olivia's party with her friends on Sunday. Last year they decorated giant cookies, made personel pizzas, and made crowns for their stuffed friends (mostly webkinz). We took lots of pictures of everyone individually & together. Then my Husband ran to the 1 hour photo booth, & brought back all the pics. I had premade a brown bag scrapbook for everyone, then we broke out the punches, designer paper, embellishments etc. & they made their own! It was great, but I had no clue what to do this year until....

A while back, Melanie Muenchinger decorated an apron for her son using her set "have a Cookie", have a look and this was pretty much my inspiration for the party!

I bought the aprons on Ebay, they were great quality, but Olivia's didn't fit over her head, so I ended up cutting all the neck straps in half, and added velcro. I also ended up buying a pkg of 3 in adult size from Michael's, which honestly, were not as nice!

I made this for my Nephew Jack so the girls could see one done.

I knew I wanted them to decorate the aprons, but how was I going to bake with 7 kids in my tiny kitchen? The wheels started turning, smoke was present and then bam! I solved the problem!

1st, we decorated the aprons, with stazon ink & the pentel fabric dye sticks Melanie used, I bought them on Ebay too!

2nd, they decorated giant cookies. This is easy, 1 pillsbury cookie dough pkg makes 3 cookies. use tin pie plates, cut parchment to fit in bottom, make each cookie using 1/3 of the dough. Put out topping in bowls with spoons (cho chips, white chips, m&m's, marchmellows, sprinkles etc....constantly remind them less is better! Have an adult bake them at 350F for 20-30 minutes.

3rd, Cookies in a Jar! so they get to measure everything, & make a cool layered piece of art, then they get to take them home & bake them! Each girl had a set of measuring cups in their loot bag. I bought the canning jars at 2nd stores, score! We passed the ingredients around one at a time & they measured them into their jars. For the top, I bought napkins & trimmed them so they were round. I copied & printed the instructions of the computer, & premade the name & recipe tags. It was easy for the girls to put them together.

4th, Chocolate sprinkled banana pops. We melted chocolate, gave each girl 1/2 a banana which they put on a wood stick. Dip the bananas in chocolate, cover with sprinkles, put in the freezer.

Then they watched Olivia open presents while I got dinner ready, nachos & rootbeer floats! I found the old fashion coke glasses at Dollarama they were perfect for the floats!

The colour scheme was bright and I got a great deal (25 cents) on sturdy black gift bags to use for loot bags. Each included brightly coloured oven mitt, pot holder, measuring cups, tea towel, recipe in a jar, apron, coke glass, and whatever was left of their cookies & banana pop!

I must be crazy, because I've really enjoyed these parties & the kids have such a good time. It wasn't any more expensive than paying per person to go somewhere, in fact I think it may have been cheaper, and who needs more little party bag junk!

Hope you enjoyed the party! lol

Laurie

Recent challenges crafting & not!

Wow it's been a little crazy around here! I'm behind posting some cards I made for recent challenges, so I'm posting them now. We had Olivia's birthday party with her friends on Sunday, so I'll be back later to post some about that! Everyone had a blast!

Please be patient with me, I screwed up my lower back which had me out of commission for a bit, it's still not 100% yet, plus we've had family over for Olivia's birthday & then a party with her friends. Our dog Franky was having some issues...real stinky ones...so trying to get him better has also been crazy & neccessary! lol


Since I was falling behind, and getting upset with myself, because I had resolved to post more regularly, I combined 3 challenges last week. The SC213, CC203, and TLC205!


This is for the limited supplies challenge, LSC205, make an easy card, without lots of layers! & no fancy tools! not an easy one!


This was made for the inspiration challenge, IC165, I chose this to inspire me. I tried making the trees the mustard colour, but they were too light, so I went with the really rust!


This card was made for this weeks featured stamper challenge FS104, BevR. I chose this card to inspire me. I changed the stamp, the edge punch, and I used hearts instead of snowflakes.

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget to come back & the fun we had a Olivia's 9th birthday party! Yep, they stamped!!!

Laurie