Shhhhhh!!!

The E-Team and Crafty Secrets teamed up for a special blog hop today!

And I have a secret to share!  Shhhhh......come closer.......I hear that if you leave a comment on each of the DT blogs that you will increase your chances of winning one of SIX fabulous prizes! Three of the prizes will be from eP and three will be from Crafty Secrets. You will have the weekend to visit each of the blogs and the winners of the eP prizes will be announced Monday on the eP Blog!!

E-TEAM

Daisy/eP blog

Broni Holcombe

Latrice Murphy

Linda Duke

(who is participating for both eP and CS!)

Linda Ledbetter

Micki Harper

Sherry Cheever

and

Me!

Crafty Secret

Vicki Chrisman

Pam Hooten

Michele Kovack

Melissa Phillips

Flo Teixeira

Julie Campbell

Mary Hamer

Crafty Secrets equals vintage.  While I like the vintage look, I find it out of my little comfortable creative box.  But I think I may have found a way to create that vintage look fairly easily.  Creative Scraps.  These are pre- printed images on thick card stock.  There are two sheets, double sided.  That is a LOT of images to inspire layouts, color or themes. 

My project today actually came from The Toad's inspiration while looking at the Wonderland Tea Creative Scraps.  He suggested that I make a dimensional card based on the Mad Hatter.

I took it a step further.  I created my own version of the Mad Hatter's top hat.

Or should I say Mrs. Mad Hatter's dress hat?!

The elements on my top hat were inspired by the details on the "tag" that was cut from the Wonderland Tea Creative Scraps.  I began with a paper pattern that determined my size to make the crown of the hat.  I then made a metal sheet sandwich with TenSecond Studio's Pearl metal, some vanilla textured card stock from my scrap pile and Scor-Tape to give more stability to the thin metal.  I would have preferred to use the Humungo Killer Adhesive sheets, but it would seem SOMEONE ran out!  I am impressed that the Scor-Tape seems to be doing a fine job of holding the metal together.  Good to have a back up on the Killer Adhesive!

I then ran the metal sandwich through my Big Shot with TenSecond Studio's new Kabuka mold #15.

NOTE:  these molds are NOT designed for the various die cutting machines.  BUT!  You can use them in these machines by adjusting your layer sandwiches.  DO NOT force a tight sandwich with the mold through your machine.  Either the machine or mold will pay the price.  For MY machine I used the following sandwich for this particular project:  Essentials Platform, Kabuka mold, metal sandwich, paper shim, thin cardboard (think packaging) shim and acrylic plate.  I will not guarantee that this same sandwich will work in your machine.  You may need to adjust the number of shims.

Since I had added the paper to the back of the metal, the embossing is not as detailed or "deep" as it would have been had I just used the metal alone.  But the slight texture was perfect for the embossed "fabric" look I was hoping for.  I used a burnishing block to lightly sand the color off the raised embossing. 

The top of the crown and brim of the hat were created the same way.  I used my old Creative Memories adjustable circle cutter to customize the size of circles needed. 

The hat was assembled with Scor-Tape.  Vanilla silk ribbon (from Target, I believe) was adhered around the top edge with more Scor-Tape.

The "rose" ribbon is from the Findings section of the Idea-ology line Trimmings. I used Tattered Angel's Glimmer Mist in Cherub Pink, Candy Apple Red and S.W.A.K. to dye the ribbon.  The wide silk ribbon (from my stash) actually has a very faint, pale pink tint.  Did you notice the FABULOUS bow?!  Yep.  The ribbon challenged fingers managed to tie that beauty in only FOUR attempts!  I'm improving in my ribbon skills! LOL!

The "tag" was cut from the Scraps and the corners rounded with a punch.  Hat pins are from Maya Road.  The 1/2 back self adhesive pearls have been in my stash for a while. 

If one was to host a tea party, I could see this hat being one element of the centerpiece.  Or perhaps, made in miniature, a place card. 

While I got  two "That's pretty cool" comments from all the Kiddos and "I came up with a good idea" comment from the Toad, I don't think that they would appreciate having to sit down for proper tea! LOL!  But I must admit, I do like how this came out!

I'm already thinking of ideas for the other images on the Scraps.  I just might get into this vintage look after all!

'Till then.......................make some time for creativity this weekend!