Cuttlebugging again!

It was my turn to post a tutorial over at the Cuttlebug Challenge blog this week.

I painted this little box and made the embellies at a crafty evening with some friends, then did the Cuttlebugging and finishing at home. You could use any box. This one was a simple paper mache box, I used gesso to cover the box, then painted it pearly white. You could do the same thing with one of the many boxes we all save for little projects like this...no need to buy something new for it. Gesso is great for covering patterns and papers you don't like!

Next I use regular old plumber's foil tape (available at any hardware store), and use the Cuttlebug machine to emboss the tape with the Textured Textiles folder from Provo Craft.

Once embossed, I painted it with matte black acrylic paint.

Then I sanded it lightly, so it looks like this:

Once it was sanded, I peeled off the back layer nice and sticky on the reverse), and adhered it around the perimeter of the box, so it looks like this:

...then added some little bead feet to the bottom with dimensional glue dots...

Then I painted some grungeboard flourishes with the same black acrylic paint...

...adhered a large flourish to the top, added a handmade paper flower, and this is the result:

Now you have a pretty little box, ready to hold some favourite truffles for a favourite friend! If you like these paper flowers, here's a tutorial for them.

Thanks for visiting today!

Yummy goodness!

More challenges, hope you're not bored! This one's done to meet: Created by Hand (theme: I've been working); Cute Card Thursday (theme: make your own; I made the little clock embellishment with a metal circle frame, a punched circle of paper with a clock on it, covered with Aleene's clear paper glaze); Gingersnap Creations (theme: use Kraft paper); Papertake Weekly (theme: do something different; my different thing is making my own embellishment); Pile it On challenge (theme is "make it sweet...this little guy sure qualifies!); Order of the Opus Gluei (theme is simple...just make something!); Fab and Funky challenge (no designer paper); and Crafty Creations (make your own background paper)

The stamps are from Art Journey in the Netherlands (the little boy with the chalkboard and the grungy notebook stamp at the top) and Quietfire Design (the checkerboard). I did the backgrounds with Adirondack Inks pounced on a craft sheet, then spritzed with water. I computer generated the sentiment.

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Insomnia chatter...and more designing fun!

GOSH, I'm feeling chatty tonight! Have you ever found new stamps, and just can’t do anything else till you play? That’s me today! Oh my oh my oh my! I’ve known for a couple of weeks that I’ll get to play with these a lot in future, as I’ll be designing much more with Louise's stamps (she owns “Art Journey” stamps in the Netherlands). This is my first post with her delightful musical pear...a MUSICAL PEAR...how QUIRKY is THAT!? Love it!

Once I opened Louise's shipment, and my dog settled back down after my hoots and hollers and shrieks, I went right to my computer to find some challenges to do.

So, this card’s been designed to meet several: Project Tuesday (make a folded paper frame), Crazy Amigo (birds...see the wee Crafty Secrets bird on the frame?); Three Muses (hats and crowns and wings and things...I glued a gold crown onto my little bird); Papertake Weekly (do something different...my folded paper frame); Gingersnap (use Kraft paper...I used Kraft from Jillibean); Wednesday Stamper (use something Tim Holtz...I used one of his grunge flourishes, painted it black, and I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink...LOTS of it); Creative Card Crew (April showers bring May flowers...or in this case, grunge flowers); Pollycraft and Diecut Dreams (make your own flowers); Stampin’ for the Weekend (use a favourite book...I used pages from a favourite book for altering, and created my paper flower from a page); Creative Cottage (circles); Tuesday Taggers (their theme is “memories,” and whenever I use anything at all musical, I think of my little sister , who would practice for hours and hours every day when we were children, and who has since become a “real grown up musician..." doing what she LOVES...a classical pianist...living in England...siiiigh...she’s SO gifted...and she STILL practices...and teaches...for hours and hours every day).

WHEW!! So...the card...I computer generated the sentiment at the top right of the stamped image (using the Two Peas Hot Chocolate font I bought years ago, one of my very favourites, use it lots), then stamped the pear image with Ancient Page Black ink, added a little colour with chalks, distressed the edges of the panel, then popped it in the folded paper frame. I stamped Tim Holtz Vintage Photo ink randomly, using sequin waste as a mask. These flowers are so simple to whip up! I just die cut six scalloped circles all the same size, crumpled them all up small, straightened them out, spritzed them with a little Olive Vine Glimmer Mist, then, once they’d dried, sewed the layers together with a black button and a little gold thread.

If you like handmade flowers, I posted a tutorial here yesterday for paper roses, and I’ll be posting another one here on my blog this Saturday for handmade lace and ribbon posies, in conjunction with the Crafty Secrets designer challenge and giveaway extravaganza...hope you can come back to visit!

Here are a couple more cards done with my first play with these Art Journey stamps...LOVE the stark contrast of black and white, with the images stamped on glossy cardstock. The sentiments are computer generated. Love this stamp! My husband and I engage in "social dance" twice a week these days...such FUN! So this card will be tucked somewhere for him to find.

Now THIS is the stamp that resulted in my new obsession with Art Journey! Oh my. It's always difficult for me to find stamps to use with cards for the crowds of men in my life (lol), and as soon as I saw this, I knew it needed me. Isn't it amazing!? I've seen this one used in many different vintage and distress ink formats, and it's beautiful, but I wanted that black and white contrast again. You can see the stamp here at Art Journey.

Thanks SO much for stopping by today!

I have some lovely secrets!

EDITED: Being a bit of a technological dinosaur, I don't know how to close comments, but effective Saturday morning May 1st at 10 am Atlantic time, no further comments can be counted towards the towards the Crafty Secrets draw, as the draw has been made, and the winner posted here. Thanks so much for playing along!

Well, today is my very first post for a new design team for me! Sandy, the owner of Crafty Secrets, has graciously allowed me to use her wonderful products as part of her design team. I am just SO thrilled! My first "official" project, which is part of her wonderful celebration blog-hop giveaway, will be posted Saturday April 26th.

Today I'm sharing a tutorial for a paper rose, which will form part of my project later this week.

I've also been creating little lace and ribbon posies in gleeful anticipation of other Victoriana Crafty Secrets projects...pic here:

So, here's a wee photo tutorial on creating these paper roses. I'm sorry, I don't do web-cam stuff (just a bit of a technological dinosaur, me), so I hope you can see the pics clearly enough to understand how I constructed them. There are dozens of wonderful video tutorials for paper flowers on you-tube; I'm sure not the first crafter to make these! (lol) I first learned to do these when Tim Holtz' grunge roses were all the rage last Christmas...LOVED them! Recently, I got together with some crafting friends, and we recreated the "Tim-rose" in paper...such FUN!

I wanted to use some of Sandy's fabulous designer papers, but as I'm so new to the team, I didn't have any...so I scanned an image from her Botanical booklet, repeated it several times, and used that as a basis for my roses.

So, here we go. First, you need to cut a six petal shape...you can use a Spellbinders Nestability die, a punch, an electronic cutter, whatever you have on hand. I used an electronic cutter, and here are the raw layers for the flowers. This pic shows just three layers, but there are actually five, which you'll see in the next photo:

If you use other dies or punches, you need to cut the layers as shown here.

Next, you need to bring one petal over another, overlapping petals and gluing together like so:

So, you can see that the six petal layer has now become a five petal layer, by simply overlapping and gluing one petal underneath another, "cupping" the paper as shown. I did the same thing with the five petal layer (which became a four petal layer), then the four petal layer (which became three petals). Now, you can use a small paintbrush or whatever you have on hand to curl each individual petal on each layer so they look like this:

Next, fit the first three layers together, gluing together. Your rose will look like this:

For the last two layers, you have a glued two-petal piece and a one petal piece. Just fold over the top of each petal of the two petal piece, and after trimming the bottom to fit inside, glue it inside the other three layers. For the last petal, just roll it together, trim to fit, and glue it inside as the last layer. It'll sort of unfurl inside. The end result will look something like the photo posted above. Here are two finished roses with dark and light glitters painted around the edges of each petal:

Here's another project I did for the Cuttlebug challenge blog with a black and white paper rose, if you're interested.

I'm so pleased you stopped by today, and just SO delighted to be a part of the tremendously talented team at Crafty Secrets!!

There's still one more surprise! Sandy has generously donated a Fifty Dollar Gift Certificate for Crafty Secrets products to be won by some lucky reader of this post. Each comment will receive one entry. I'd be so pleased if you sign up as a follower of my blog, and that'll get you another entry, but you'll need to post in the comments section that you've signed up. To see what I'm up to regularly, just click the "Follow" button on the right side of my blog.

Thanks so much for visiting. I wish you a happy, creative week, and good luck with the draw!

The winner will be drawn at random on Saturday, at the end of the Crafty Secrets blog hop.

Please be sure to stop by the Crafty Secrets blog to join in the fun giveaways from all the other designers all week long, ending with a designers' project extravaganza coming on Saturday!

Vintage again!

This piece was done to meet several challenges. Over at Split Coast Stampers, the Crafty Secrets challenge is to use calenders somehow. So I used the Crafty Secrets calendar (free download here!) for the month of February of next year to create this Valentine, with the design sketch from Papertake Weekly. I just LOVE this Heartwarming Vintage image...it's one from the "Best Buds" vintage postcard kit. The paper underneath the image is from a DCWV paper pad called "Ciao Bella..." what FABULOUS Victorian papers! Underneath the picture of the Valentine is a pic of the gift card, which is taped to the inside. The gift card shows much larger here than it actually is. It fits inside about a third of the card. I did this to meet yet another Crafty Secrets challenge, over at Paper Craft Planet, which was to create a gift card. The stamp on the front of the card is an old PSX stamp, and the one inside, on the gift enclosure, is a Crafty Secrets image. Over at Crazy Amigo, the challenge is flowers; at Three Muses, it's hats and crowns and wings and things; Gingersnap Creations, we're challenged to use botanicals, and the Creative Cottage designers want us to use green.

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by today. I wish you a happy and creative week!

Some different things...

...for different challenges. The current Created by Hand challenge is "for the beauty of the earth;" my card also fits the current "pick three" challenge, the Frosted Design challenge (trees) and the Paper Sundae challenge (no people) . I used a Cornish Heritage Farms background stamp, misted with two colours of Ecoline Watercolour Ink and stamped on watercolour paper. I stamped and thermal embossed the Quietfire Design crow, then paste embossed the crows on a wire at the top with a Dreamweaver stencil and Dreamweaver black matte embossing paste.

On another note entirely, if you like all things vintage and Victoriana, here's something you might be interested in. Everybody loves giveaways, and in another few days, there'll be lovely challenges and contests there. Have a browse through the shop too, there are some GORGEOUS paper crafting goodies there for your own heartfelt creations.

Thanks for stopping by today. Enjoy your week!

Happy Birthday

I created this card to meet these challenges: Crafty Secrets sketch challenge over at Split Coast Stampers, butterflies challenge at Our Creative Corner, Creatilicious (flowers and bling), Cute Card Thursday's touchy-feely (cards we want to be able to touch...hope the velvet and lace might qualify...), the ABC challenge (make it sparkle), Creative Cottage (things with wings), Practical Scrappers (glitter and bling), Creative Card Crew's birthday card challenge, and finally, the Wee Memories challenge (vintage theme, use ribbon)

This gorgeous vintage image is from Crafty Secrets. The background is Cuttlebug-embossed with the Textured Textile folder. I made the little lace rosette from lace I dyed in my microwave oven with peony petals from last summer's garden, then I added an Offray satin ribbon rose in the centre. The tiny butterfly is punched with Martha's butterfly punch, then glittered with Tulip Fashion Glitter. The bottom edge is done with Martha's lace border punch.

Thanks somuch for stopping by today.I wish you a happy and creative weekend!

Some Thursday crafty fun

I have lots of company coming for dinner tonight,so by 7am, I had Chicken Cacciatore bubbling in the crock pot (with a healthy helping of dry red wine), bread rising, lots of garlic peeled and crushed (nothing like the smell of garlic to wake you up first thing in the morning!), a couple of cups of Gruyere Cheese grated at the ready, and pastry made for Lemon Meringue Pie. I don't cook this much in a week! But OOOOHHH the wonderful SMELLS!! Do you enjoy cooking? What's your favourite dish to make?

Well, other than preparing for dinner, I'm doing another favourite thing...happily playing with paper!The Impression Obsession design team's challenge today is to work with our old school colours. Mine were blue and white. I created this birthday card, using some hoarded Anna Griffin paper and a simple Queen Anne's Lace stamp, thermal embossed in white. I stamped the IO sentiment directly on the ribbon. I always enjoy scanning blog challenges to create something to meet other challenges too, so for this one, I followed the Creative Card Crew's challenge (birthdays), Our Creative Corner's challenge (use bows), the Lots to Do challenge (embossing), and the Pick Three challenge (use a die cutting machine, use a leaf, dry emboss). I hope you take a little time to see the other IO designers' wonderful eye candy! Here's the who's who for today:

Dina Kowal

Jeanne Streiff

Jenny Gropp

Kathy Menzies

Laura Fulcher

Don't forget that you can enter these challenges too, using your Impression Obsession stamps. Just visit the IO blog for the details; there's a $25 gift certificate for the winner!

This next card was done for a couple of challenges too. Over at the Crafty Secrets section at Split Coast Stampers, their challenge is a card sketch, and over at the Play Date Cafe, their challenge is to do a black and white card with a splash of orange, and the folks at Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger is "Lovely as a Rose." Lucky me! I made up a dozen paper roses just last night!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I'll visit you too if I have a link!

Coronado Island Stamp

Coronado Island stamps are relatively new to me, and I just LOVE this one! Looking for an occasion to use it, Wednesday Stamper's challenge today is wild animals, and Papertake Weekly's challenge is to do something cute. I think these baby bears are absolutely the CUTEST things...whenever I look at them, I think...aaawww! (lol) I made this one into a shaker card with lots of snowy glitter inside.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today. I'll stop by your place too!

For a pal

This week's Wednesday Stamper challenge is to use trees, and over at Gingersnap Creations, the challenge is the "Good Earth," and the Sisterhood is celebrating Earth Day! I made a card this morning, and quickly trashed it, it was SOOOO ugly! However, a pal of mine (Germaine...who does NOT, as yet, have a blog...for shame!) created this one, which I've decided to post for her. Please do leave her some lovin,' she's not particularly confident as a new card maker, and I think this one ROCKS!

Thanks for stopping by today...and leaving some encouragement for my pal!

LOVING Spring!

Aaahhh, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining, gardening chores await. I am SO grateful for all these signs of spring, after our snowy winter!

I needed a thank you card today, so I went online, checked out the various challenges, and created this one to meet these: the Sisterhood challenge is to find something to be grateful for; Secret Crafters' challenge is "How does your garden grow;" the One Stop challenge is paper piecing; the Flourishes challenge is to use one of three photos as inspiration (I used a floral quilt).

The stamp I used here is from Impression Obsession, coloured with Prismacolour Premier Art Markers and Copics, and I used a Martha Stewart punch on the bottom border. I have a confession to make. When I initially coloured this image, I used blue on a couple of the tulips...the overall look was dreadful! (lol) And BLUE TULIPS? What was I THINKING!? So, I stamped the image again, coloured the offending tulips pink to match the pinks on the band and ribbon, paper pieced them, and voila! Saved! If you look at the close-up, you can see the offending colour underneath the paper pieced tulips. LOVE it when I can save a card from the trash bin! ;)

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today! I wish you a blessed Easter, and a happy, creative week!

Celebrating Mothers!

Over at Impression Obsession, the current challenge is to create art celebrating mothers. What a wonderful idea!

For this card, I used one of Gary Robertson's stamps ("A Day at the Beach") over a distress inked watercolour paper background (for the current Crazy Amigo challenge [inked backgrounds] and the Creative Card Crew challenge, which is vintage) , and an Impression Obsession sentiment stamp from this set. I don't know if you can see them, but in the bottom left corner, I glued three tiny seashells. I'll send this one along to my daughter, a busy Mum of four little boys, along with a "treat-yourself" coffee card.

I wanted to use spring colours today, so these two cards were created with the fabulous new "Cover-a-Card" Flourish stamp. They're HUGE, and so easy to stamp with the Mega Mount a 6" by 6" acrylic handle that rocks gently as you stamp. You can see the full line of Cover a Card stamps here...worth a look...SO versatile!! These cards fit with the Everybody Art Challenge,which is spring; Gingersnap Creation's Spring Growth and Renewal;" the current Pick Three challenge, and challenge # 4 over at Paper Garden Projects, which is embossing.

I stamped and embossed several pretty colours with this background stamp, so now I have oodles of delightful hearts and butterflies to use!

Now don't forget, you can enter the Impression Obsession challenges too! By using your own IO stamps and posting to this blog, you'll also be entered to win a $25 gift certificate for Impression Obsession stamps! See all the details, along with a schedule of upcoming challenges, right here. We'd LOVE to see what you create. Don't forget to stop by the other IO designers' blogs to see some paper delight. The links to their blogs are on my sidebar.

Thanks again for taking the time from your busy day to stop by. I wish you a happy, creative day.