Inspired Thanks

Happy Saturday!  I hope that you are enjoying the weekend.  It is GORGEOUS weather here!!  I enjoyed an hour long walk this morning (with short sleeves!!) and have the windows open!  Ahhhh!! You can't beat Southern California weather this time of year!!

I needed to make a Thank You card for the Oldest Kiddo to give to his optometrist.  It would seem that said Kiddo threw his back pack one too many times and somehow smashed his glasses to smithereens, despite having them in the case. Well, his optometrist just so happens to be the father of one of Kiddo's classmates.  He graciously took the Kiddo's glasses into work with him and replaced the lenses, saving me a drive.

The Inspiration Challenge on SCS today was perfect to get the creative gears grinding.  Today's inspiration site was the Galleria Arts and Crafts in Calgary.  I found this Raku pottery plate as my inspiration

And here is the card that I came up with from this inspiration

Card base is (?) SU's Not Quite Navy and is 4 3/4" x 5 1/2" with the corners rounded on one side with my Zutter 1/2" corner rounder.  I embossed a piece of brushed copper card stock (from my stash) with Sizzix Texture Fade Sheet Music.

For the main image, I started with a piece of Pure Luxury Ivory card stock and made a masked for the "moon" out of scrap paper.  I then randomly squished (that would be the technical term) Encore metallic copper ink on the paper.  I then applied Distress Stain in Broken China twice, drying between layers with my heat gun. I then used some Distress Ink in  Faded Jeans to darken the blue areas even more.  Everything was then spritzed with Tattered Angel's Glimmer Mist Abominable Snowman. 

The heron is actually a line stamp from Just for Fun Stamps. I stamped the image and then used a black marker to fill in all the open space.  I then free handed the grasses around the heron. 

At this point I totally messed up my outline of the moon.  Soooo, I cut out another "moon" lightly sponged it with Distress Broken China ink and adhered it over the previous moon.  This meant that I had to use my stampamajig and re stamp the heron. Sigh....

The sentiment is from Stampin' Up (?) All Year Cheer.  I stamped it on a scrap piece of Pure Luxury Ivory with Ranger's Archival Ink in Jet Black.  I rounded two of the corners, lightly sponged more Distress Broken China along the edges and adhered. 

This is a little different than my usual, but I rather enjoyed going a different path!!  Sometimes it's good to get off the beaten path!!

I'll be back later this week with the E-Team!!  We've got another hop in the works for you!!  'Till then.....

Being 10 is Fabulous!! And other so-so creations

Hey Peoples!!  For those of you who got to celebrate a long holiday weekend, I hope that it was a safe one!!  For me, it was a busy one (so what else is new?!!)

My youngest turned 10.  His big wish was to get a PSP (game system).  His wish came true. And may I just add that I've gotten at least THREE huge hugs and "Thank you so much mom and dad, for my PSP!! It is awesome" and "This was the BEST birthday ever!!"

The goofy kid then decided to use Grandma's decorations and appetizers to make himself a "tough guy".

Then he decided that he had posed decently for enough pictures and started to ham it up, cracking himself up doing so!

Can I just say that this kid really is a crack up and there is nothing better than the sound of him giggling out of control (usually at himself!!)

The Kiddo's great grandpa (aka Big Papa) celebrated his "80 something" (I believe it is actually 83rd) birthday the same weekend.   Here are the two of them opening up Big Papa's gift:

Big Papa wanted a "new teeth fund" so this was the hint as to what the $$ was for!!

Of course, I am "expected" to make all the birthday cards.  Well, after the "wow" card I created for DS (which can be found here), my Mojo decided to start the long weekend and LEFT THE HOUSE.  After waaay to much effort, I once again called in the Toad to help rescue my sad, sad attempts at coming up with another "wow" card.  In all honesty, this one is only so-so. Not even the Toad could help me with the lack of time to come up with something better.  It is what it is:

I cut this one so close to the wire that I didn't even have time to get a decent picture!!  The card base is a piece of Gina K's pure luxury in vanilla.  I first stamped the sentiment from JFF on a piece of scrap paper (wait.  I think it was actually my first, second, maybe my third attempt at creating the WOW) and cut it out to make a mask.  I adhered it to the center of my card with some removable tape and stamped SU's Weathered background using Distress Walnut stain.  I then used my stampamajig to line up the sentiment and stamped in the center with Distress Peeled Paint.  I lightly sponged the "frame" with more Peeled paint and the edges of the card with some Distress Vintage Photo.  Pulled out some of T!m Holtz's hardware and adhered with glossy accents (the brad "arms" are positioned so you can't see them.  Don't like those puppers messing up the inside of my cards!).  All I can say is:  They can't all be winners!! (oi!!!)

*********

Saturday was spent getting the Toad and oldest kiddo ready for the week long History of California trip.  They left on the charted bus EARLY Sunday morning.  They won't be back until late Thursday evening so it is just the younger kiddo and me.  I wish I could say that I'm getting lots of creating done (you know, like the "welcome to our school cards that I STILL haven't started!! major eye rolling here______________), but instead I tackled the older kiddo's bedroom.  And the bathrooms. Sigh.  Sometimes LIFE cannot be put off any longer!!

Thanks for dropping by again today!!  I'll be back later this week with a SURPRISE!! hehe

Nature's Bouquet

Ahhhhhhhh......It's finally Friday!! I am soooo ready for the weekend!!  I still have a couple of projects that I completed this past week to share with you, but not today!! Today is Just for Fun's Friday Color Challenge.  This week week we are challenging you to join in the fun with the following colors:

 I have to admit to you that this card went on a completely different path from where it started!!  I began with my favorite technique (who is going to take a guess?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Bueller?), the wrinkle free distress technique on a piece of very vanilla card stock with Distress ink in Peeled Paint, Fired Brick and Mustard Seed.  Instead of using water to bead up the inks, I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Pearl.  I stamped Nature's Bouquet from JFF with Distress in in Black Soot and embossed with black embossing powder. I then distressed the edges with my distressing tool and sponged with Distress Antique Photo ink.  I got a little heavy handed with my distressing with the ink, so I went back and sponged some more Mustard Seed and Peeled Paint. I then once again spent WAAAAAAY too long trying to get my ribbon treatment to work with one of T!m Holtz's accoutrements buttons.  If anyone has the slightest idea how to attach a button to a bow, I would appreciate a "how to"!!  I finally resorted to using a piece of brushed gold wire to attach the button.  I rolled the ends of the wire to make a swirl flourish.

 I then punched a scrap piece of paper that had been misted with Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist Olive with one of Martha Stewart's punches (sorry.  This would be one of the punches I have NO idea what the name is).  I deliberately didn't punch to the end of the paper to give the punched image an outside border.  This was then mounted on a trimmed piece of my new pack of 7gypisies Market design paper (from the 6x 6 pad).  Everything was mounted on a piece of DCWV textured black card stock.  The final card size is 6x6.  Supplies:  Paper:  DCWV black, 7gypsies market, SU's very vanilla.  Stamps:  Just for Fun's Nature's Bouquet G3436.  Inks:  Distress inks in peeled paint, fired brick, mustard seed, black soot.  Accessories:  black embossing powder, Tattered Angel's Glimmer Mist in pearl and olive.  Ribbon, Tim Holtz's accoutrements buttons, wire, Martha Stewart punch. 

Make sure to stop by the other team member's blogs for some more inspiration and then join in the fun on the Just For Fun Blog!!

Beth Moore

Broni Holcombe

Roni Johnson

Glenda Brooks

Kat Tucker

Rita Ybarra

Sandy Sandrus

Terre Fry 

Thanks for dropping by again!!  I will be back with more projects over the weekend!  Until then......make time for some type of CREATIVITY today!!

Going Plaid

Happy Friday, Peoples!!  I know it's been quite here this week, but I've been trying to go through my kid's closets and rid them of clothes that don't fit, reorganize, find desk tops and such before school starts next week. Sad thing, there is still lots more cleaning to go!!

On a more fun note, Friday means it's time for another Just For Fun Friday Color Challenge!!  This week we were challenged to use the following colors:

My first reaction was to go with some type of holiday card.  But in all honesty, I just couldn't.  I know that there are those of you who pride yourselves on having all your holiday cards made up by the end of October.  Personally, I think you are really missing out on the seasonal joy of trying to come up with a "WOW" design and mass produce 70+ cards on December 23.  Seriously, you don't know what you are missing!!  A craft area that cannot be walked through with discarded ideas.  The kitchen table hijacked for mass production.  The wonderful holiday "LOOK" that is bestowed upon anyone who dares to ask if there is going to be dinner sometime in the near future.  I highly recommend giving it a try this year!!

So, with that rebellious thought, I started looking through my goodies to see what inspired me.  I came across my stash of "let's see what this would look like" alcohol ink plaid.  And I took the leap from that to this:

I wish I could tell you exactly what alcohol inks were used in the making of this, but this was made last holiday season during T!m Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas on Day 3.  I made so many different plaid backgrounds that day and never once thought to write on the back of the card stock as to what inks I was using!!  I think it was fate that I had a background that had the colors that were needed for today!!  I stamped the ornamental dress form image from Just For Fun® Stamps onto the background using Archival Jet Black ink.  At the last minute, I decided to emboss the image and lucky for me, the ink was still wet when I poured on the black embossing powder.  I carefully heated  the powder so that I would not melt the coating on the glossy paper. 

I then decided to use the sketch challenge this week on SCS for my layout.  I flipped the layout for giggles. This is a large image so my card base, made from Gina K's vanilla pure luxury paper, is approximately 6"x 4 1/4".  I made the "designer paper" with CHF's (no longer in business) scrapblock Vintage Text.  I stamped the block onto a piece of vanilla cardstock with Scattered Straw Distress ink.  I then laid T!m Holtz's Flourish mask over the top and spritzed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Old Lace.  The flourish was barely seen so I then lightly sponged more Scattered Straw over the mask and stamping until I had a depth of the flourish that I wanted.  This was then layered on a slightly larger Basic Black and Purely Pomegranate mats.  I use the ticket corner punch on my main image and matted that on a slightly larger Basic Black mat.  My finishing touches was the clear buttons that I added along the side.  I first punched out 3/4" black cardstock circles and cut them in half to highlight the buttons in an alternating pattern along the edge.  The buttons were adhered using glossy accents.  The ribbon is from Target, bought before they revamped their wedding section.  The bow is adhered with glue dots (and I will spare you how long it took me to get the stupid thing to look half way decent!!).  Supplies:  Paper:  Gina K's pure luxury vanilla, very vanilla, purely pomegranate, basic black and glossy cardstock.  Stamps:  Just for Fun Ornamental Dress Form, CHF's Vintage Text scrapblock.  Inks:  Archival Jet Black, Distress Scattered Straw, alcohol inks.  Other:  Black embossing powder, 3/4" circle punch, glossy accents, ribbon.

I'm so thankful you dropped by again today!!  I hope that you will check out the other design team's inspiration pieces and then play along with us on the Just For Fun Blog!!  You could be the lucky winner of a $50 gift certificate (and you don't even have to use Just for Fun Stamps!!) 

Broni

Beth

Roni

Rita

Kat

Terre

Sherry

Sandy

Glenda (a maybe as she has fresh garden goodies that need to be tended too!!)

Thanks again for dropping by!! I hope that you take time for some type of CREATIVITY in your weekend!!

Make a Mess!! Be Merry!!

Happy Friday Peoples!! Whew!! This week has flown by and I don't know how much I really have to show for it~~I still have errands to run to finalize getting my kids ready for school, even though it seems I've been all over Southern California.  My house is still a mess.  There are loads of laundry still waiting to visit the washer.  LOL!! Such is my life!!

BUT!! It's FRIDAY and that means it is time for another Just For Fun Friday Color Challenge.  This week we are challenged to use the following colors:

My first thought when I saw these colors was Christmas.  I decided to channel my inner T!m Holtz and do a folk art/distressed look.  Wellllll..........my inner T!m must be on vacation because all I got was this:

Actually, this picture does not show the entire mess made.  I spent most of Wednesday night trying to unclog my Candy Apple Red Glimmer Mist.  Of which the pump decided to expel DARK RED glimmer all over my bathroom.  I'm talking mirror, tile and MY LIGHT COLORED SHOWER CURTAIN.  I managed to get it all cleaned with some rubbing alcohol, but of course, my shower curtain.  It still has lovely splatters of what looks like blood.  Niiiiice.  Good or bad, this occurred in the office/guest bathroom.  Since our only guests tend to be teen age boys, I'm hoping they'll find my soon to be embellished story of the "blood" thrilling!

After the discouragement of my failure to be T!m, I went a in a different direction.  CLEAN AND SIMPLE. 

I started with the FTL101 on the clean and simple blog. 

And here is my take on it:

(Yes, it was late when this photo was taken.  Which means no true colors!)

I started with a base of Gina K's pure luxury card stock in white.  Another layer of white was used to add some dimension.  I then embossed some Riding Hood Red from SU with a snowflake embossing folder from Cuttlebug.  I swiped some white craft ink over the raised images.  This was matted on a piece of Kraft card stock. I stamped the sentiment from this unmounted sheet of sentiments from Just For Fun Stamps and made my "flag".   I then stamped and colored this cute candy cane from Just for Fun Stamps and covered it with glossy accents.  OH WAIT!!  The candy cane did not make the cut on the card!! Some how my card took on a different feel and the candy cane no longer fit the "look".  I pulled out my Create a Flake 1 dies from Spellbinders (no longer available. Create a Flake 2 still is!) and cute the layers from pure luxury white and kraft.  I then embossed and sponged the embossed areas using Riding Hood Red ink.  The layers were put together using rolled glue dots and dimensionals.  I then layered on some glossy accents and sprinkled Glitter Art shards glass glitter over the layers.  The snowflake was then adhered with dimensionals as was the sentiment flag. 

Not a whole lot of stamping, but I like how this turned out!! If I could figure a good way to mail this with the snowflake, this would be my Christmas cards for this year!!

Make sure you drop by all the other design team's blogs to see what inspiration they have for you!! Remember, if you play along with us on the Just For Fun blog, you have a chance to win a $50 gift certificate!!

Beth Moore

Glenda Brooks

Roni Johnson

Kat Tucker

Terre Fry

Sandy Sandrus

Broni Holcombe

Sherry Cheever

Thanks for dropping by again today!!  I'm going to tackle the mess made on my desk and see if I can't find some other creativity to channel!!  Have a CREATIVE weekend!!

Music For Dawn

Happy Hump Day Peoples!!  I've been running around the last couple of days all over Southern California trying to get my kids ready for school (ok....slight exaggeration, but not by much!!).  I will spare you the details of shopping with two boys ages 13 and 10 (insert MAJOR eye rolling here___________)!!

Despite all the running around, I have managed to find some time to be creative.  I have a project that I have had brewing in my head for ages and finally got to paper.  BUT!! You are going to have to wait for that goodie!  Today is sketch day on SCS and I just had to do it as the featured sketch came from my long time cyber friend Dawn!!  Dawn's birthday was yesterday also, and it was just another push for me to make something to celebrate her day!!  Here is the sketch :

And here is my take on it:

I started with the background piece by doing the wrinkle free distress technique using Distress inks in Antique Linen and Tumbled Glass.  Instead of spritzing with water, I spritzed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Old Lace.  I then stamped the Aged Sheet Music scrapblock from Cornish Heritage Farms with Distress Bundled Sage.  I distressed the edges and sponged with Distress Vintage Photo.  I'm sorry to say that CHF is closing and this stamp is no longer available!

My main image, Music Men, is from Just for Fun Stamps®.  I stamped the image first in Antique Linen then randomly stamped over it with Distress Tumbled Glass.  The Tumbled Glass over the Linen  changed the color tone to more of a sage, which then became my accent color.  After distressing the edges and sponging with Vintage Photo, I mounted it on a piece of SU's Sage Shadow card stock that had been punched with one of Martha Stewart's punches (sorry, never marked this punch as to it's name!) and sponged along the edges with some Bundled Sage and then Vintage Photo.  I will spare you the details of how many attempts it took to get the correct sized paper for my punching!! (geesh.....)

I made it easy on myself  as far as the flags went.  I printed out the sketch and cut out the flags from some retired SU design paper.  To make them more sturdy, I backed them onto some very vanilla card stock. The edges were all sponged with Vintage Photo.   I then used T!m Holtz's Music Mask and went over it with Bundled Sage, a bit of Tumbled Glass and Vintage Photo (nothing like totally changing the the original color of the dp!! hehe).  The brads were placed and the entire card was adhered to a piece of Gina K's pure luxury card stock in vanilla.  Supplies:  Paper:  Gina K pure luxury in vanilla.  SU vanilla, sage shadow and retired SU dp.  Inks:  Distress inks in tumbled glass, antique linen, bundled sage and vintage photo.  Stamps:  CHF  aged music sheet scrapblock and JFF music men.  Accessories:  Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in old lace, brads.

Thanks for stopping by again today!! Remember to take the time for some type of creativity in your day!!

'Till then......

Ladies Choice

Hey Peoples!!  Happy Friday! As you read this, I am probably on my way to Flagstaff, AZ., to take a continuing education course.  My family is treating this as a mini vacation, but I have informed the Toad that sitting in a classroom from 8 am - 5 pm for two days is NOT a vacation for me!!

AnyHoos!  Friday means another Just for Fun Friday Color Challenge!  I've noticed that we're getting more players each week, which is very cool!!  I try to look at each participant's project, as I find lots of inspiration in what other's create!!  Remember~~there is a $50 gift certificate from Just For Fun® Stamps that is given away each week!! Aaaannnddd!! You don't have to use Just For Fun® Stamps to participate!! There is no excuse and lots of incentive to play along with us! Just link your creation on the Just For Fun® Blog.

This week we are to use the following colors: 

I'm still trying to play along with the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges on SCS.  In looking over the different challenges and the stuff still on my desk from the last one, I was inspired to create this:

Let's just clear the air about my inability to cut metal straight!! Yes, my metal frame was cut slightly off kilter and so the entire panel looks off.  BUT! I was NOT going to redo the entire thing for a "charming, homemade, artistic " accent that occurred at the end of this endeavor!!

Moving on to the more relevant details on the makings of this!!  The base is a A9 sized card (meaning 8 1/2" x 5 1/2") made of textured grey card stock (I believe it is SU....no guarantees).  The design paper is from my old stash and again, I believe this is a blast from the past SU. 

The dress form image is from Just for Fun®. This is a large image, approximately 5 1/8" tall, so I thought it would work great for some more metal fun! It was stamped on a scrap piece of typing paper and then traced onto the backside of some Brrrrr Blue Metal from TenSecond Studios that was still out on my desk from the last project.  I then embossed the wire lines and stand, while debossing the blank areas.  *I would strongly suggest following the link to the actual image as it would seem my beginner metal working skills have taken out the fine detailed swirls at the waist and has changed the lines slightly!!  I then sanded the embossed lines, giving the image a more realistic "wired" look in real life.  I took a small wire bristle tool and brushed the color away from the main image.  I used a small wheel to emboss the frame for the image (yes, slightly crooked) and sanded it to show the texture more.  The image was then matted using Humungo Tape to the gray panel that was scalloped using SU's scallop punch.  The itty, bitty, teensy little pearls on the dress form were taken off a strip of self adhesive and adhered using a drop of glossy accents.  Half back pears in two different sizes were placed along the edge of the scallops.  The horizontal panel was embossed using the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder. 

The wonderfully tied dark navy bow was a RAK (random act of kindness) from the Queen of Bows herself, Anne Ryan.  Thank you Anne!

Make sure you check out what the other team members have for inspiration!! 

Sherry

Roni

Glenda

Beth

Rita

Sandy

Broni

Thanks for dropping by again today!!  It is sooo appreciated!!  I probably won't be be back until the end of next week as we won't be home from our trip until late Tuesday and I have work the next three days.  I'm guessing I'll get some blog cruising done in the evenings, so show me what ya got!!  Till then......

Later!!

Still Getting Dirty

Hey Peoples!! I hope you are staying cool this weekend!  Though we aren't suffering 116 degree temps like some areas, the 104 is still too hot for me!!  But!! It gave me a good excuse to stay locked up in my little cave yesterday and do some more creating!!

After I finished my Drab to Fab Soap dispenser (seriously People!  I really like this one!! The contrast of the metal against the colors for the alcohol inks is just WOW in  real life) I decided to take a look at some of the other Dare to Get Dirty Challenges and the IC challenge. When I looked at the IC site, Georgie Love, I was most taken with the little row of button flowers at the bottom of the Home page. It seemed the perfect jump start to the DTGD challenge by Ryann Salamon to Embrace the Space (again, the DTGD challenge details will be vague as it is a special forum for those who are Fan Club members on SCS.)  This is what I came up with:

This is a 9 x 4 1/4" card.  Making a card this size really shows how much I need a better set up to take pictures as it barley fit into my background area!!  Someday I'll make myself a photo box and do it like the professionals!

AnyHoos!! Onto the details of the makings of this!! Fairly self explanatory.  I started with a piece of Gina K's pure luxury as I wanted (and needed) a sturdy base of support for the flowers. I paper pierced a single row along the base of the card (actually, DS paper pierced it, he thought it looked like fun to poke holes with my piercer!).  I picked out some various buttons from SU's Playground assortment and then cut some grosgrain ribbon in various lengths in certainly celery and artichoke (or is old olive? hmmmm......).  The leaves were made separately and attached  with red liner tape.  I was going to try and figure out how to pierce the dotted line around the flowers and still keep it nicely spaced when I remembered that I had this wonderfully wavy sentiment from Just For Fun that would give me that  look without the headache of trying to line up my piercing!!  I then used a butterfly rub on from American Crafts and placed one on the card base and one on a piece of  a scrap acetate and cut it out and adhered it by it's little body to give dimension to the the wings. 

Easy Peasy!!

Thanks for dropping by again today!! I think my MoJo has decided to stick around.  I've got a few more ideas brewin' in my noggin and after I do a little bit of cleaning I'm going to see if I can get a couple of them transferred from my brain to actual creations!!  I hope you remember to take time for some creativity in your day!!  Later!!

A Moment

Happy Friday Peoples!!  I'm REALLY excited about today's Just For Fun® Friday Color Challenge!!  Today's colors are much more down my alley (meaning~~no PINK! hehe)

BUT more importantly~I had a guest designer help with today's project!!  My youngest kiddo came into my office to complain that his older brother wouldn't play with him (the cross a 9 y/o must bear when your older brother is 13!).  The Kiddo is creative, but has to be in the "mood".  He has definite ideas for his handmade projects and I try to only make suggestions instead of telling him how to do something (not that he won't say, "Nah....I was thinking of something like this")  I decided to throw caution to the wind (as I'm down to the last hours in being able to make something for today's challenge) and I asked him if he wanted to play around with my stuff and help me with today's project.  So we got out some "fun" stuff and this is what we came up with:

I had Tim Holtz's Fanciful Flight die on the desk and the kiddo decided he wanted to use that. We got out the alcohol inks and I actually demonstrated the colors that I had planned on using, but the kiddo decided that Rust, Pool and Butterscotch looked better than my blues! He applied the inks on glossy cardstock and then went over the inks again with the blending solution to mute them a bit more.  We die cut the butterfly using Tim Holtz's Fanciful Flight and the kiddo sponged the chocolate chip layer randomly with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  Believe it or not, the Kiddo is the one who came up with the idea to make a flower for the butterfly to "land on".  I told him I was thinking of using this sentiment from Just for Fun and after I explained the meaning to him, he agreed.  After some debate on how we were going to use the sentiment and the flower idea, we pulled out the Peony Spellbinder die and die cut the bottom layers from K&Company's Ancestry line and the "center" from a piece of very vanilla using the kiddos favorite machine, the Big Shot.

The Kiddo then sponged all the edges of the flowers with Vintage Photo while I sponged the "center" of the flower with some Antique Linen and Tea Dye. 

I then did some selective masking to get the image to fit properly onto the center of the card with the help of my every trusty stampamajig.  The sentiment was stamped using Broken China Ink. 

We then decided that our focal points were getting a tad large for a card.  I pulled out a small canvas that I had and the kiddo did the wrinkle free distress technique using Distress Inks in Broken China and Tumbled glass.  Instead of spritzing with water, he spritzed it with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Frost.  Now, when using a canvas, the pores of the canvas do not absorb the ink like paper does.  I have found that taking a stencil brush or paint brush and pouncing the ink into the pores of the canvas works well to spread the ink. 

We then played around with a some different flourishes and papers before deciding we liked the Flourish #2 from Sizzix the best.  It too, was cut out of K&Companies Ancestry line. 

Ok...to be honest ~~this is where the Kiddo lost interest (and the time where his brother said he would play with him!).  So, deserted, I layered the flower using dimensionals and added the 1/2 backed pearls.  The butterfly was attached in the corner, with it's body also on dimensionals. 

One last photo of the guest designer:

                                     

This was a special creative time with my Kiddo that I will put into my heart's treasure chest!!

Now, just as a reminder~~playing along with us on the JFF blog gives you the opportunity to win a $50 gift certificate for a fun shopping spree at Just For Fun® Stamps!  You don't have to use Just for Fun stamps, so there is no excuse not to play!!  For more inspiration, make sure you check out the other designer's projects to get your creative juices flowing!

Sherry Cheever

Glenda Brooks

Roni Johnson

Broni Holcombe

Sandy Sandrus

Margarita Ybarra

Beth Moore

and

Terre Fry

Thanks for dropping by again today!! I hope that maybe you can find some creative time with a loved one this weekend!! (hmmmm.....take that anyway you want! LOL!! I can't come up with another way to say it now!!)

WHOOHOO!! It's a COLOR THROWDOWN CELEBRATION!!

Happy Hump day Peoples!!  Today is an exciting day as it is the 100th COLOR THROWDOWN CELEBRATION!!  Talk about a PARTY!  Check out THIS list of companies that are sponsoring fabulous prizes!  Just for Fun® Stamps is one of the many proud sponsors of this party and will be giving away a $25 gift certificate, which can be found on Broni's blog!

Now, for the colors!!

Sitting on my desk is an invitation for my oldest  kiddo to attend a Luau theme birthday party this weekend.  When I saw these colors,  a TROPICAL theme got stuck in my noggin and this is what I came up with:

Now somehow, my "Regal Rose" took a brighter  pinkish-rose tone.  I think my subconscious took over on the tropical theme, hehe!!  I kept this a pretty CAS card as I think I will use it for the 13 y/o girl's b-day card (YIKES!! It looks like the mixed teen parties are about to begin!!).  The base is a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2 " piece of Gina K's pure luxury cardstock.  There is a slightly smaller layer of SU's Baja Breeze that has the same ink sponged along the edges.  Another scrap piece of the pure luxury was run through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots embossing folder and sponged over with Baja Breeze ink.  I then stamped the Large Cherry Blossom from Just for Fun® onto some scrap pieces of the pure luxury paper with Ranger's Archival Jet Black ink.  The flowers were then colored with my Copic Ciaos and cut out.  The leaves were cut free hand from SU's Certainly Celery and then I took the certainly celery ink pad directly to the paper to add some subtle depth of color.   Both the flowers and leaves were then spritzed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Pearl.  The leaves were taped to the card base, leaving the edges loose.  Two of the three flowers were adhered using dimensionals to add some more depth.  I then stamped the Happy Birthday (also from Just for Fun®....sorry, I cannot find the direct link at this time!!) onto a scrap piece of the pure luxury (have I ever mentioned how much I LOOOVE this paper?!!) and cut out the "flag" and sponged along the edges with the Baja Breeze ink. 

I played around with adding some more baddabling, but just couldn't get anything to tickle my fancy, so decided to call 'er done! (now you know the real reason this is a CAS card!! haha!)

Make sure you check out the other Just For Fun® Designers who are participating in this celebration!

Sherry Cheever

Kat Tucker

Roni Johnson

Glenda Brooks

Margarita Ybarra

And of course you don't want to miss

 BRONI!!

I hope you join in on the celebration and share your projects on the Color Throwdown Blog!

Thanks for dropping by again today!!  Remember to make time for some type of CREATIVITY in your day!!

Girly Washers

Happy Friday Peoples! Well, to be honest, it is actually Happy Hump Day.  But I'm having to work full days to end the week which leaves little time for blogging.  Through the wonders of modern technology, I get to skip Thursday.  Sigh.  Wouldn't it be lovely if you really could do that on occasion?  Not all the time, just every once in a while.......

AnyHoos!! I digress!!  It's time for another Just For Fun® Friday Color challenge.  This week Sherry has challenged us all to use the following colors:

Without whining, let me just make this statement:  "I, being the ungirly girl  that I am, consider purple to be in the same category as PINK."  'Nuff said.

                                                 

BUT!! In complete contradiction to the above statement, I was inspired to make a totally girly project! Remember my little rambling about having fun exploring new creative ideas?  Wellllll, here are the results!!

                          

I have wanted to alter metal washers since I saw this technique on SCS.  I have had a stack of washers sitting on my desk for MONTHS, just waiting for me to give it a go!!  I started by covering a piece of glossy card stock with Meadow, Eggplant and Stonewashed alcohol inks. I then used the same inks to cover both surfaces of the washer (see picture below).  I traced the washers onto the back of the inked card stock and carefully cut them out (as it would seem I either had a punch/nestie that was too big or too small to make this an easy task!!).  I used my Cropadile to punch out the center holes.  I then stamped Leaf Sprig with Berries and Distressed Music Block from Just For Fun® Stamps using Archival Jet Black Ink onto the cut paper.  I gave each image a blast with my heat gun to make sure the ink was set.  I used Tombow's Metal Glue to adhere the paper to the washer.  After I was sure the glue had dried, I applied a thick coat of Inkssentials Glossy Accents over the images and set aside to dry over night.  I then flipped the washer over and applied another thick coating of the Glossy Accents to the backside of the inked washer.  I then went over the all edges with a light purple copic marker to blend in the sanded paper edges and the outside edge.

I had previously bought the cording that is around the music pendant so that was a quick finish to that project.  But then I got the wild hair to try and make my own beaded necklace strand.  I found a cheap kit at Walmart and made my own pattern from the goodies.  My biggest frustrations came in not knowing what I was doing and trying to rig a way to attach the necklace to the washer (belatedly, the Toad informed me he thought he could have drilled the washer). That, and I kept spilling the beads off the wire while trying to see if my length was where I wanted it on both strands!   I'm sure that there is an easier and cleaner way to do this (besides trying to hold wires in my hands!!).  I think I will have to check out some books on jewelry making before my next attempt!!

                                    

                         

This picture shows the backside of the washers.  I thought that glazing the inked washer would give an option on how to wear the pendants.

I have to say that these washer pendants can get addicting! I'm already thinking about venturing into some matching necklace and earring sets for the girls at the office for the "small" Christmas gift exchange! Of course, that is after I do some studying on the subject instead of the usual fly by the seat of my pants! LOL!

For more inspiration, make sure you check out what the other team members came up with!!

Sherry Cheever

Broni Holcombe

Kat Tucker

Terre Fry

Sandy Sandrus

Beth Moore

Roni Johnson

Glenda Brooks

 and

Margarita Ybarra

Thanks so much for dropping by again today! I just want to take a moment and THANK those serving our country in the military for continuing to fight for our freedoms that we tend to take for granted!! And to your families~~for they are serving too!!

I hope you all have a SAFE and hopefully CREATIVE holiday weekend!!

Everything is coming up PINK

It's FRIDAY!! And that means it is Just For Fun® Friday color challenge.  This week, Glenda has challenged all of us to use the following colors:

Did you notice the PINK in the line up?  Aiiiiii, these girls are trying to kill me with the pink!!  I went searching through my paper stacks and guess what?!! I don't buy paper that has PINK in it.  I finally found a sheet of dp from K&Company's Ancestry line that has these vintage looking pale pink and cream roses on it. I decided to use the dp as my inspiration for this:

GRRRR!!!!  PINK invaded the color of the paper!! I swear!! I need to fire myself, the photographer as for the life of me, I mean, SHE, could not take a picture that captured the ACTUAL color of this paper!! IRL, the "base" of the paper is a cream/old paper look with a very soft blue (not that baby blue) and it has CREAM roses mixed among the PINK ones!!  I'm convinced that this is some type of conspiracy to force PINK  into all aspects of my project!!

Ok, deeeep breaths here.  I need to just move on and describe the process here. 

The VINTAGE CREAME background paper (ok, so I just can't let it go!!) is layered onto a Very Vanilla 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" base.  The flower is made from some scraps of vanilla~ mullberry like paper that were left over from my first attempt at this project (let's just pause a moment in respect of the attempt of something outside the "box", that ended in the trash!!). I believe I bought this "handmade" paper from Costco years ago. It actually has different types of leaves wove into the fibers of the paper, which are now composting in the trash.   I swiped some Distress Ink Victorian Velvet and Spun Sugar on my craft mat and misted with Tattered Angels Cherub Pink glimmer mist.   and smooshed the blank portions of the paper into the ink.  I cut three layers of the paper with Spellbinders Peony nestie dies, using #2-4 (with the smallest die being #1).  I wrinkled the layers and glued where ever I thought was a blank spot versus straight layering one on top of the other. 

The sentiment is Just For Fun's® quote from Alber Schweitzwer.  It was stamped over a piece of Very Vanilla paper that was given the wrinkle free distress technique using Distress Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint and misted with Tattered Angles Pearl Glimmer Mist.  The image was cut/embossed using Spellbinders Labels Eleven and lightly sponged along the edge with Distress Vintage Photo. 

The 1/2 back pearl placement is the brilliant suggestion from my youngest DS (since the Toad was not around to give me design advice, I had to call in the back up troops of my BOYS).  The oldest DS gave critique as far as the proper placement of the ribbon. 

 The final touch was the hat pin.  I have NEVER been able to figure out how to use one of these on a project, but have always liked the look of them (if anyone would care to clue me in on how one is suppose to keep the beads and such at the top without sliding down to the stop closure, I'd appreciate it!! Let's just say that clear tape was MY way!!)

For more inspiration, make sure you drop by and see what eye candy the other team members came up with:

Margarita Ybarra

Broni Holcombe

Roni Johnson

Beth Moore

Glenda Brooks

Sandy Sandrus

Kat Tucker

Terre Fry

and

Sherry Cheever

Don't forget that if you play along and link your creation on the Just for Fun® blog, you will be entered into the random drawing for 25% off your next order at Just for Fun Stamps!!

Thanks for dropping by again today!! I'm crossing my fingers for some creative time this weekend (I have a couple of things I've been playing with, just need to find the time to finish!!). Remember to schedule some type of CREATIVITY into your weekend!!