Thank you Card Swap

Doilies are all the rage these days, so I picked up some from Wilton in the cake section of Michael's.  I chalked to add some dimension.  I used some of my new Judikins stamps for the background of the sentiment and on the layered paper:  Illuminati Cube stamped with Martha Stewart Pink Carnation & Oval Calligraphy Flourish stamped with Colorbox Rose Coral.  I used the Stampin Up Sassy Salutations sentiment stamp with  Colorbox Chestnut.   The Paper is Chatterbox's Scrapbook Walls Rosey Nook Blossoms and reverse side while the darker color is Mini Rectangle Squares (reverse) from the same line.  Spare Parts copper tone brads, white cardstock and white flowers  I sent these as part of a card swap for a FB group to which I belong.  I hope my partner enjoys my efforts.  I thought these turned out to be sweet little Thank you cards.

Creative Memories Divine Cricut Wedding Invitations

Creating several intricate layered Cricut embellishments can be time consuming.  Here is everything cut but not assembled yet.  I used the Creative Memories Divine Wedding Cricut Cartridge.  I used CM black shimmer paper, The Paper Company blackberry shimmer and gold black shimmer.  The gold is a moire also from The Paper Company.  I could not find more of this one and wasn't able to complete all the hearts with this paper. White Crackle by is the "skin" layer.  I used CM Precision Adhesive to glue on the tiny pieces.

The finished product.

Close up of couple.  I used a bling flourish and matching single pearls for the center of the flowers.

Kraftie Kre8ations DT Back to School Assignment

My assignment for the Kraftie Krea8tions "Back to School" challenge/assignment uses Graphic 45 ABC Primer paper and tags.  We had to include an apple somewhere on our project.  I mounted everything on a black card blank.

The tiny apple is also a Graphic tag, I added some red buttons that I laced with black floss.  I painted a silver Spare Parts brad with the same ink I stamped the "calculations" chunky foam stamp.  

I used Schoolhouse Ink from Colorbox Mix'd Media inks.  Great inks for mixed media but can take quite a while to dry but colors just about any material.  I have several colors, they are round and the pads stack together for easy storage.

complete with a dog hair!

I am also entering this in the following challenges:

http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com/2013/08/monthly-challenge-13-back-to-school.html

The Paper Loft Sketch Challenge using Shades of Gray

Here is my take on this month's sketch from The Paper Loft.  I used their collection Shades of Gray: papers include Silver Lining, North Star, Snowfield, Tinsmith and Thunder.  The music diecuts are old Creative Memories.  

http://thepaperloftlc.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-paper-loft-pls09-sketch-guest.html

Close up of my circles and music notes.

Of course, I made this into a two page layout!  The second page is a weekly sketch challenge for a private Facebook group in which I am a member.

I continued with The Paper Loft Shades of Gray and the CM music note diecuts.  This sketch had these beautiful flourishes in the corner...how could I make that...ribbon?  None seem to fit the papers...then I thought about my Cricut!  First I checked out my cartridge Quarter Note, where I found the title.  It didn't have any really good flourishes without other images, so I turned to the Creative Memories Divine Wedding cartridge.  I just finished using that for my wedding invitations, I knew it had flourishes!

I didn't want to use the tinsmith paper on top of tinsmith paper so I layered the smaller circles.  I used the Creative Memories Circle Punch, Round Shape Maker and the CM Custom Cutting System to create all the circles.

Special Fold Card Swap with Die Cuts with a View

I participate in a few card swaps and the latest one was really a challenge.  We were not limited to theme, sentiment, colors, or anything!  We only had to make a card using this very special fold. It is perfect for holding a gift card and fits in a regular A2 envelope!  The fold is pretty neat but it would help if I had found my scoring blade for my Fiskars trimmer.  Here is the video for instructions:   http://youtu.be/2D5MVIXsumY .  Go ahead try it and let me know how it goes...

Inside.

I used Die Cuts with A View papers from The Green Stack.  Two different stamps, the tree is from Hampton Arts using StazOn Timber Brown .  I colored it with Stampin Up watercolor pencils and then blended.  Spare Parts (HL) crochet flowers and Recollections (Michaels) copper tone brads.  Miscellaneous paper flowers and white cardstock.  Chalked the edges with Quick Quotes Powder Puff Mocha Moma.

Stampaway Stash & Judikins Products

I had so much fun working for Judikins this past weekend at the 21st annual Stampaway Convention!  It is an absolutely the best Stamping convention ever and I am so lucky to live in Cincinnati.

 

 

Friday night was crazy hat night.

 

 

 

The table around Tim Holtz was packed all night on Friday and Saturday, too!  But I did manage to get his autograph.

At the very end of the day on Saturday.

Me, Judi and Connie

 

The goodies I came home with from Judikins!

 

A sample of the beautiful techniques that Judi teaches.

Embossing powders.  Clear detail and black detail sold out in the large sizes because Northwoods Rubber Stamps were touting it as the best combo (half and half) to use before coloring their stamped images.  I at least got a small jar of each, can't wait to try it!  I tried to find a solution to this problem with my mother's day card.  It took many trashed versions.  I hope this is the solution!

Judikin's stamps

 

I can't wait to use my new snappy tray!

 

The best stuff!!!

 

I acquired more mica gloss to play with.

 

I will try to get to using some of my new goodies soon and share!  I purchased a few other stamps as well from Impression Obsession, The Stamp Doctor and Lost Coast stamps.  I hope to work with them soon, too!  I have a blog hop this weekend so check back in, thanks!

ATC's with Graphic 45, Creative Memories and Die Cuts with a View

"Happy Camper"

On this cute little card I used Die Cuts with a View Green stack.  I fussy cut the mushrooms and animals.  I added velvet ribbon for the "grass" and a cute wood pin.  I chalked with Quick Quotes mocha moma powder puff.

"Blue Moon"

On this one I used a neat little stamp I purchased at Stampaway a few years back.  www.stampawayusa.com.  I am embossed the image with fine detail silver embossing powder.  I used a two Creative Memories printed papers and TPC navy blue cotton weave.  I also used some silver star brads.  I added several blue fibers at the top.

"Just Beachy"

I used Ranger inks in a spray bottle to color the white ATC blank.  I thought the yellow color complimented the yellows in the image from the Graphic 45 papers.  I added cork flowers and bling with yellow fiber.

Ink Color Chart and Organization

During a recent card making session,  I finally broke down and took the time to "Tiffanize" my inks and chalks.   Tiffany Spaulding has a great organizational tutorial available a few times a year, The Scrap Rack Organizational Challenge.  http://www.thescraprack.com/  I started this challenge in January and I am a "have a lot" so I am still in progress of this challenge.  It only took about 3 evenings to complete my inks and chalks, but now I have a chart with all my colors!  This makes life so much easier, I pull out my chart and match up the particular colors I am using...next for the embossing powders!  I spend so much time playing around with embossing powders, it will make crafting more efficient to have that chart completed.  It is also very easy to add new inks as I acquire them.

Here is a picture of my ink chart.  I used the Stampin Up Hex set to sample my inks.  This is before I added my chalks.  I decided to stamp them with a different shape, so without even thinking I will know if it is an ink pad or a small chalk.  I also used a different stamp for rainbow ink pads.

Here are my inks in their cubby.  I keep my chalks which are mostly Colorbox cat's eyes and Quick Quote's powder puffs in more of a drawer I can "rummage" around in to find the colors I need quickly.

I am also about half way through with my stamps which is a huge undertaking.  Cataloging thousands of stamps, I just don't know how long that will take. 

I am sure I will purchase more tonight and tomorrow at the Stampaway Convention at the Sharonville Convention Center. http://www.stampawayusa.com/ I will be working for Judikins during the convention, if you are in the Cincinnati area for the convention come by the booth and say hello. http://www.judikins.com/ I am sure I will have some new goodies to show off next week.  I also have a blog hop next weekend celebrating a fellow bloggers birthday! http://carterscraftingcorner.blogspot.com/

I know I haven't posted as much this week, I AM crafting just making a lot of card swaps and wedding invitations.  I will show off these projects after they have been received by the recipients.  Thanks for reading my blog and have a blessed day!

Kraftie Kre8ations Design Team Intro Blog Hop

Welcome to the Kraftie Kre8ations Design Team Intro Blog Hop!!!  Be sure to read all the way through for your chance to win some Stampin Up product!  Here are links for our for our wonderful groups:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/kraftiekre8ations/ 

and a blog at http://kraftiekre8ations.blogspot.com

Hopefully, you found your way here from Paula's blog:  http://preciouspagesbypaula.blogspot.com

If not I have a complete list of the participants at the end of this post.  Today's assignment was to create an ATC.  I have never made an ATC!  I have been wanting to try them and I had some blanks already to go...So all week I have been playing and playing.  Here are the first three projects that I created:

I used a Tim Holtz Sizzix diecut and keyhole mover and shaper.  Graphic 45 paper behind the keyhole from Le Cirque Collection.  I believe the key and bling are from Hobby Lobby and miscellaneous fiber.  The stamps are two different 7 Gypsies collections.

.  

* What is your scrapbook "kryptonite"?

I would not say I have any one thing that makes me cringe when designing.  I like to use a lot of different techniques and brands.  One thing that always fails for me is stamping in a scrapbook layout. It always seems to go wrong!  I try and try, there's a mess on my desk now from my last attempt.

* What do you listen to or watch while your scrap and WHY?

Most of the time I listen to music.  I used to scrap in front of the television and I find I get much more done with music.  I listen to Sirius/XM, Pandora and old school cd's!  I listen to all kinds of music it just depends on my mood!  Jazz, blues, rock n roll, rockabilly, bluegrass or world music:  there is not much I don't like!

Here I used some more Graphic 45 Paper, Hobby Lobby ribbon, Tim Holtz embellishments:  metal and diecuts, scraps, more 7 Gypsies stamps and an Inkadinkado "world tour".

* How do you jump start your creativity when you find that it is missing?

I usually just start to organize my stash.  It doesn't take to long until I run across something I forgot I had and I am inspired to create!

*  At what time of day are you most creative, or do you prefer to create?

I am a morning person and would love to start every day in my craft room, but that usually only happens on Saturdays when I don't have children's sporting events.  So I try to catch an hour or so after work before dinner.

This one uses more 7 Gypsies stamps, Hobby Lobby gears, Graphic 45 paper, Yellow Bicycle wooden pin, international postage and vintage buttons from my personal stash laced with floss.

* What is your favorite technique(s) to use right now and why? What are some tried and true techniques you love to use?

Embossing folders are my latest have to have!  I can't get enough!  I use them in scrapbooking and card making.  I am also getting into more textures in general with burlap and ribbons.  Wet embossing is my tried and true technique.  You just can't match the combination of glitter and texture on your stamped image to really make it stand out.  I usually end up playing with various inks and colors and also embossing powders.  By the way all of my successful scrapbooking/stamping combo pages have used wet embossing.  Although, I must say I chalk the edges of everything!!!  I would say that is my number one go-to technique for EVERYTHING, it is such second nature I forgot it for a minute.  I chalk photos, paper,embellishments, ribbons, everything!

Your next stop is  Charmagne Welch's blog:  http://sanurascraps.blogspot.com/

Thanks for visiting and in case you get, lost here's a list of all the participants:

Shavon Borders:http://scrappingvon.blogspot.com/ START HERE
Meka Matthews:http://mmdesi9ns.blogspot.com/
La-Vie Borde-Perry:http://cestla-viedesigns.blogspot.com/
Lyne Schnable-Blodgett:http://lynnseverydayideas.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Smith:http://www.grandmacarol46580.blogspot.com/
Paula Jennings:http://preciouspagesbypaula.blogspot.com
Alicia O'Bryant:http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com/
Charmagne Welch:http://sanurascraps.blogspot.com/
Kisha Taylor:http://www.iamartserae.blogspot.com/
Kraftie Kre8ations:http://kraftiekre8ations.blogspot.com/

Don't forget to follow Kraftie Kre8ations for your chance to win!

Our sponsor for this hop is
Stampin' Up: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/scrappinvon/