Paper Piecing

This is my completed project for the ClearItOutChallenge paper piecing challenge.  Since I have now been accepted on the DT, placing it for consideration of a prize doesn't feel right.  But yet, it's turned out so beautifully that I couldn't NOT post it somewhere!!

Theme:  Paper Piecing
Stash: scrap paper

supplies:  Digital stamp from DigiDarla -- it's called Blowing Dandelions, paper for hat, dress and log from scraps.  Background papers are from Echo Park This and That Graceful, liquid pearls on dress ribbon, Tombo art markers used to color remaining image.  Thanks for checking out my card and commenting.  Please also check out ClearItOutChalleng's blog for more info on challenges!

http://www.digidarladesigns.com/

Father's Day Card

Father's Day Card I just made to post to a newly found blog....http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.ca/ for their latest challenge.  Card needed to be masculine and have metal.  I've got both of those! :o)  So here goes nothing!

Image is from Bugaboostamps.com.  When I saw the challenge posted, I went to their website.  Cute digital images!!  Thanks for the looks!

Some recent cards....

Since my favorite online store, CropChocolate.com, has closed and the design team was released, I haven't had a reason to post.  But going through some of the cards I've recently made, I think they are pretty good and could use some viewing! :o)

Thanks for checking them out and telling me what you think! :o)

CB True Friends 6x6 (scraps from DT project), Slice (for tags), pebbles bling, TH walnut distress ink, trendy twine, white offray satin ribbon and VLVstamp.  This was for a "bright spring color" challenge.

CB Cardstock, MM Butterflies, MM rub-on letters, TH distress ink, doodlebug washi tape. I think the button is also from CC but can't remember. I cut the frame from a leftover piece of cardboard....freehand! pretty impressed with myself! I love this card! Lifted from a card I saw on FB!  This was for a "frame it up" challenge.

Carta Bella True Friends 6x6, TH distress ink, jillibean soup twine, doodlebug button (I think that's the name). I hope twine works as "ribbon!" :o)  This was for a "anything goes" challenge.  Needed image, ribbon and a button.

CB Traditions cardstock, Jillibean soup pink twine, MM butterflies, BG Opaline pearls, random craft paper and alphabet stamps.  This was for a twine challenge.  Neutral base and twine for pop of color.

CocoaChallenge #1 - the paper is CB Paris Girl (hot chocolate), pink twine, stickles, white offray satin ribbon, Kraftin Kimmie stamp.  This was a celebrate birthday's challenge.

Jillibean Soup Red twine, UmWowStudio chipboard clouds, liquid pearls, Unity stamp, Bazzill Bling.  This was a "recipe" challenge.  Chipboard, red, white & fluffy and bling.

Not sure of the challenge but I did send this card to my brother for his birthday!  Masculine and chevrons.

Not sure of the challenge on this one either.  Sent this one to my cousin's wife who's battling breast cancer.

leftover glimmer misted background, SU stamp, crystal stickles, Webster's pages flower, TH sentiments stamp.  This was a wedding/anniversary challenge.

Thanks for checking these out.  I always love reading comments!! :o)

Happy NSD (National Scrapbooking Day)!

But if you are really cool, you celebrate for the whole weekend!!  Head over to CropChocolate.com for some NSD contests and challenges!!  Although, sadly, CropChocolate.com has announced that they will be closing the retail side of the site, the social side is going strong!  At the top right, click on community, then go down to contests.  There are 8 separate NSD Challenges with instructions.  Each with it's own prize!  Enter as many (or as few) as you like, but be sure to enter!!  The challenges are open until 8am MST on May 10th.  Get busy crafting and you could win a scrappy prize!!

Gramma's Quilt - CC April DT Project

April’s theme is Grandma’s Quilt.  When I heard that, I immediately thought about the quilt my Gramma made me when I was about 9.  She made one for me, my brother and my 4 cousins.  We all got to pick what color scheme we wanted.  Pink being my favorite color at the time (oh who am I kidding, it still is) that’s what I choose.  She would go to flea markets and get any sort of material she could find.  I pulled out my well loved and tattered quilt and carefully looked at the pattern.  That’s when I realized that it was hand stitched!  I thought pictures of Anna would be appropriate for this as she’s named for my Gramma and was born almost a year (to the day) of when she passed away.

Having not done a quilt myself, I have since found out that this pattern is called Log Cabin (thanks Jasmine!)  This is my inspiration.  My plan is to have it repaired and then be able to display it or at least have it out to look at more often.

The smaller patterns of the 6x6 Carta Bella True Friends resembled the calico so well, it was a great match. 

 I measured out how big I wanted the pieces and after trial and error; this is what I went with.

Once I figured out the sizes and layout, I started cutting……and cutting……..and cutting!  In order to position the strips correctly, I used my hermafix squares and pieced the pieces together using lots and lots of squares.

I made four “panels” to complete my background for my layout.  Just like a real quilt, some are not exact, some pieces are off just a little, but that’s what makes it great!  There was something about the actual piecing of these squares together that was somewhat relaxing!  I’m scared to death of an actual fabric quilt, not sure why, but after doing it with paper, I may just be ready to take some classes and actually do it!

After it was all pieced together, I started to add the goodies.  Since the right edge wasn’t exactly even (I’m giving away a little secret here), I added a scalloped border to cover up the bare edge.  White Pebbles paper flowers, covered in stickles with some brads.   For those of you who have been around for some time, you may remember these…..these came in my very first box of chocolate in June 2010!  Then some Bazzill bling and a sweet tag with a ribbon and charm.

Paper piecing really isn’t all that hard…..the hardest part is keeping everything stuck where you need it long enough to get the whole piece on the page!  Making a quilt has always been a goal of mine….maybe this will put me that closer to actually getting it done!  Thanks for your comments!!

CC Products used:  Carta Bella 6x6 True Friends, Sassafrass Custom Brads, Jillibean Soup - Pink Twine, Crystal Stickles

Non-CC: Bazzill White, Pebbles paper flowers, White offray satin ribbon, bazzill bling, "feet" charm.

Nature Inspired - March CropChocolate DT Entry

There are many things about nature that are inspiring… beauty comes immediately to mind.  Have you ever stopped to just look up into the tree tops?  The beautiful, deep green of the leaves, the bright, blue of the sky the reddish, brown of the bark?  This is what inspired me for this month’s challenge.  After a trip to Yosemite National Park in California this past summer, I couldn’t help but be in awe of the beautiful colors Mother Nature has placed before us for our enjoyment!  

I started by choosing the pictures I took on our walk through the park and sat down to look closely…..actually study……the colors in the pictures.  The sequoia’s red bark against the beautiful blue sky and the green of the brush and leaves all combined together for a stunning color palate.

Carta Bella Traditions had the perfect blend of these!  Grabbed some paper and started cutting!  For the record an entire sheet of 12 x 12 paper makes A LOT of hexagons when cut at 1 ½”….just saying!  So you may be seeing more of these in the future!  

After cutting them and inking them (both the patterned paper and the cream mats), I thought they needed something more.  Doodling!  I had a favorite LSS I used to go to and they always had lots of doodling on their layouts and I thought it added just that little bit of detail that brought it all together.  I got out my pen and started dotting and lining!  Here you see the before and after.  There is quite a difference in the appearance.

I popped some up and left some flat, arranged them in a simple pattern and moved onto the actual pages.  I doodled around the edge of the pages as well…..for the same reason, I thought it needed something more.  But I didn’t stop there, I also doodled on the title letters too!

Then to add some details.  The butterfly came from another CCer quite some time ago and I’m so sorry that I didn’t write down who it was!  I keep thinking Becky or Michelle or Beth.  If you look very closely, the cool thing about the tree picture in the middle is that it has the moon it it too! 

The flower I cut with my flower die, used some burlap ribbon for the base, the crocheted flower in the middle is compliments of CropChocolate.com's own SharonDoesBaskets (thanks Sharon)!!!  

Don’t be afraid to doodle and add your own flair to any part of your layout or project!  There is no wrong way to do it!  Have fun!!

CC Product used:  Carta Bella Traditions paper pack and solid cardstock, Bo Bunny Double Dot Vintage Chiffon and regular Chiffon, AC Earth tone Pearl brads, AC Precision Pen, Flower Nesting Die by LifeStyle Crafts, Slice machine

Non CC Product:  burlap ribbon, Sharon's Crochet Flower, hand crafted butterfly, Slice cart - Great Outdoors, Cricut Accent Essentials cart.

Fur-baby Love!

The month of February is so full of love!  Many of my family members have birthday's (including your's truly) and the BIG love day.....Valentine's Day!  Our project this month was to show love to our fur-babies.  Our fur baby, Blue, came to us as a Christmas gift and at the age of 6 months old.  Friends of ours knew we were looking for a family pet and had to let this beautiful boy go because of space.  They sent me these pictures that they had taken of him as a baby before we got him.  The one of him in the grass shows his personality perfectly!!  He is a mixed breed.......1/2 Australian Shepard and 1/2 Catahoula Leopard Dog.  "Cata-what" you say!  That was my reaction as well.  Both breeds are herding breeds and the Catahoula, I came to find out after much research, is the state dog of Louisiana and a hunting dog.  Mine on the other hand, only hunts for crumbs and snacks!!! 

I wanted to try out a new technique I read about in the most recent month's scrapbook magazine that arrived.....it's called "stamp kissing."  Step one gather your stamps and ink.  You will need a background stamp (or two), a solid stamp (any shape or size just so it's a solid surface) and inks.  Step two, ink the background stamp.  Step three, take the inked background stamp and stamp it onto the solid stamp.  Step four, stamp the inked solid stamp onto the page.  Repeat as necessary!  A couple things I found out during the process......you do need to clean the solid stamp after at least 2 inkings, be sure the stamp is dry before stamping again and try not to "rock" either the background stamp on the solid or the solid on the paper, it will smudge and blur the image.

This is what it looks like when the page is covered.

Next I wanted to add more texture and dimension so i took some circles of the patterned paper, roughed them up with a nail file (step 1) and then crumpled them into a ball (step 2), flattened them out and layered them (steps 3 and 4). 

Put a brad in the center and viola flower!

I added some twine and a banner, cut my title inked some edges and there you go!  

I love my boy, even though he's in the 60 pound range and thinks he is a lap dog!!  

CC Product used:  Carta Bella Traditions cardstock and stickers, MM Flutter Stamp, Jillibean Soup Twine (turquoise, green and red), BG Nordic Holiday brads, Slice machine and Paws and Claws cart

Non CC: SU mustard ink, SU Simply circles stamp, studio 112 Clear mini stamp.