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Saturday, February 24, 2018

Craft room clean up

Good morning, I am still occupied with other things in my life right now.  I did however, do a clean up of my craft room when I returned from vacation last month.  Of course, one has to take pictures when it is "clean" or as clean as it gets, lol!  It has just taken a month to get the pics in a post.  


As soon as you walk in the door to the left is my stamp collection.


Next along that wall is my ink pad and refill collection.  I created my holders out of foam board.  Warning!!! Do NOT use the cheap $1 foam board, it is not as sturdy as the good stuff found at Michael's.  I had to remake the ones on the left, the one on the right is several years old and has not sagged that bad while just as full...the difference was the board.  Yes, the good stuff is more expensive but it takes many hours to make these containers and much better not to have to do the same project twice because of shoddy materials.


My old dog loves to hang out in mom's craft room.


This area is handy to my primary seat.  I have my tool caddy and solid card stocks within reach.  As is my color charts and a notebook of less used thin dies.


Webster relaxing...



My rainbow papers and embellishments.


The primary reason for my clean up was to incorporate the wood shelving that holds my electronics.  One of my printers was not even in my craft room.  Now both my electronic cutters and both my printers have a permanent sturdy home.  It also gave me more table top for designing and preparing my mats for my electronic cutters.


My beads have been relegated to the corner.


I rearranged this top shelf since it used to house one of my printers.


Even during clean up, there is a "collection" area where all the "other" stuff collects.


My die cutting area.  The old Creative Memories binders hold my embossing folders.


I have lined several areas with magnets to hang my most used thin dies.


And we are back to the door.  Thanks for stopping by for my annual clean up and 360 tour.  

Alicia

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Quick Quotes Spring Pocket Letter and ATC's

Hello, Alicia here today.  I may have gotten carried away playing with the new 2018 PowderPuff Chalking Inks.  I have stenciled, stamped, distressed and colored with latest colors plus a few others.


First I created a pocket letter to send to my sister.  I wanted to feature the Spring Showers paper with it's gorgeous flowers on the woodgrain background.  I tried to accent the papers with various spring die cuts and embellishments while keeping the continuity of the print.



I began my idea for this project with a template I created from a project during last year's Mini Reserve class.  It served it's purpose very well.  My paper piece turned out super.



I still wanted each piece to be a stand alone work as well.  On this piece I just layered die cuts, ribbons and gems while distressing with inks.


As with any good pocket letter, I have enclosed goodies on the back side for my sister to enjoy.


A close up of some more of the pockets, if you are not familiar, ATC's and pocket letters are 2.5"x3.5".  Pocket letters use baseball card holders.


Illustrated below are two of the techniques I used.  The first row of photos use PowderPuff chalking inks to stamp a word.  The next photos show me using a water brush to color the image.


I also made some individual ATC's with scraps.  I played with several stencils on these projects.  I added washi tape, gems, die cuts, layered stickers and sequins.  I inked all the edges with coordinating PowderPuff Chalking Inks.




I used a couple of  different colors of ink on the feather for the first ATC. I started with Key Largo then I inked just the edges with Tropical Punch. On the second, I did a partial background stenciling to add interest and make the layers pop.


Quick Quotes Products:

other products:
dies by Sizzix, Stamplorations
butterflies by Prima
gems and washi tape by Recollections
glitter ribbon by American Crafts
stencils by Kite (Judikins)
stamps from Graphic 45 and others
sequins


Thanks so much for stopping by today.



Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Keep looking up...Atlantic Hearts Challenge

Good morning! Today I have my Atlantic Hearts Challenge sketch inspiration.  Once again I am using a combination of brands to create a striking card using this week's sketch.


Here's the sketch:


Ingredients:
Lawn Fawn stitched kite dies
Frantic Stamper Rounded Rectangle die
Close to my Heart Rain or Shine sentiment
Distress Oxide Wilted Violet
Stampin Up punch and Tie Dyed stamps
Paper Pizzazz Cloud paper 
Quick Quotes Powderpuff chalking ink:  Red Hot, Sunset, Desert Sun, Sky Blue, Violet

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:



Thanks so much for stopping by and don't forget to play along with Atlantic Hearts Challenge this week.

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge
Alicia

Monday, February 12, 2018

You're Fintastic! Quick Quotes Adventure Awaits with Sue Wilson dies


Alicia blogging today with a neat card.  I created a fish bowl scene with dies.  I paired them with some Adventure Awaits papers for a pretty scene.  The sea life on this printed paper is perfect for the fish bowl scene.


I heavily inked the die cut fish with Terra Cotta Powderpuff chalking ink to create shadow and dimension. I layered acetate between my "fish bowl" and the fish, castle and plants to look like glass.



Quick Quotes Products used:
Terra Cotta and Slate Powderpuff chalking inks

other ingredients:
Sue Wilson Fillables Fish bowl and underwater accessories dies
misc papers and acetate


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Saturday, February 10, 2018

So Sweet Blog Hop


Welcome to the SO SWEET Blog Hop


This is a blog hop featuring projects full of yummy treats!!

You should have arrived from Angela's blog
but to start at the very sweet beginning head over to

This is a one day blog hop, but you have until Sunday at 10pm to finish hopping and leaving your love for all of these talented crafters.

You will have until 10 pm Sunday to finish the hop and leave your comments on every blog to be eligible to win. 




Rebecca Ann Designs is our sponsor for this hop!!




One lucky winner will win a beautiful stamp from Close to my Heart.

(valid to ship in the US only)



What do you need to do to win? Easy... become  a follower of each of the fabulous blogs in this hop and leave each of them a comment letting them know what you like best about their projects.

Winners will be announced on Wednesday 2/14/18 at Connie Can Crop.
Be sure to follow everyone and leave a comment along the way!

My favorite treat are M&M's...dark chocolate peanut to be exact but for my card today I used plain.  I also tried to keep the card simple.  I attempted a one layer card!  It looks okay but the back is a mess, I am not sure I can send this one out.



and the inside...some of my stamped images aren't perfect and neither is my masking but in theory I really loved this card.



I made a second sweet treat for you today since the M&M's are melting...lol



Ingredients:

M&M card
Too much fun rubber stamps
Tattered Angels mist:  Tattered leather
American Crafts inks, Colorbox Canary and Mix'd Media Schoolhouse
Zing clear embossing powder
masking paper

Cupcake card:
Fiskars Sweet life and Sweet Celebration stamp sets
black pigment ink and clear embossing powder
Lawn Fawn paper
TPC artic ice paper
Frantic Stamper Rounded Rectangle die
Alcohol markers
twine

Next head on over to Amanda's blog


Here's our line up in case you get lost along the way.
Connie- http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com
Amanda- https://salnclts76.blogspot.com/
Miranda- http://www.nanasscrapspot.com
Cindy- https://cindys-greencricut.blogspot.com/
Shannon- http://shannonhdesigns.blogspot.com/
Veronica- https://vickyscrappingpassion.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Alicia

Friday, February 9, 2018

Thanks...a floral pop-up

Hello, Alicia with you today.  I have created a card with a multitude of dies from numerous companies.  I believe it all comes together nicely.  The front boast Tutti Designs Swirly Thanks layered on top of a Frantic Stamper Stitched Rounded Rectangle.
I added some ribbon and inked the edges.  I did not want to get too ornate and spoil the surprise.


And wow!  I used several Cheery Lynn dies to decorate the pop-up and inside of the card.  I love Mehndi Botanical collection and own most of them.  As for the card base, I have so many non Christmas uses for my Karen Burniston Snowman Twist Circle Pop-up dies.  The mechanism and circles included are so versatile.


A tip I have about these botanicals as with any three-dimensional florals is to manipulate the edges and distress the cuts and embossing.  It adds life to your flowers and stems.  Some use a padded mat and tools but I find my fingers usually work just fine.

 

The pop up flower is actually the Cheery Lynn Mandala Doily 1 to which I added a circle of paper behind the center.



If you are inspired by my card I have listed the Dies R Us Products below:

Karen Burniston - Dies - Snowman Twist Circle Pop-Up
Karen Burniston Snowman Twist Circle Pop-up

Cheery Lynn Designs - Dies - Mehndi Botanicals 3
Cheery Lynn Mehndi Botanicals 3
Cheery Lynn Designs - Dies - Mehndi Botanicals 2
Cheery Lynn Mehndi Botanicals 2
Cheery Lynn Designs - Dies - Mandala Doily 1
Cheery Lynn Mandala Doily 1
Cheery Lynn Designs - Dies - Mehndi Botanical Stem
Cheery Lynn Mehndi Botanical Stem
Tutti Designs - Dies - Swirly Thanks
Tutti Designs Swirly Thanks


Frantic Stamper - Dies - Stitched Rounded Rectangles
Frantic Stamper Stitched Rounded Rectangles





Come join in all of the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.  For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.



click below for:

STORE  
CHALLENGE BLOG  
FACEBOOK  
INSPIRATION BLOG
FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE
Thanks so much for stopping by!

Alicia

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Happy Heart Day...Atlantic Hearts Challenge



 Today I have my Atlantic Hearts Challenge sketch inspiration.  I used some polka dot 6x6 papers from Lost and Found to create this simple but striking card using the sketch.







Ingredients: 
6x6 Lost and Found Blush paper
Stampin Up Tags for You and coordinating punch
American Craft ink
Judikins clear embossing powder
Quick Quotes Pixie Pink Powderpuff chalking ink
sequin ribbon

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

http://cardsinenvy.blogspot.com/2018/02/love-you-so-much-card-challenge.html until 2/17x

Thanks so much for stopping by and don't forget to play along with Atlantic Hearts Challenge this week.
Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Alicia