Work the Stash Wednesday Fashion Inspired Card

Today I am entering the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge me Monday #100 with a card inspired by fashion. As part of this week's challenge, I had to use purple, turquoise and green. I was inspired by a lace dress I saw in this Sunday's paper with flowers on top of the lace.
So, I started with Paper Lace and cut two of the same pieces. I hid the center of the flowers on one of the cuts and then hand cut out the flowers and added embellishments in the center. I once again layered Dew Drops by The Robin's Nest on top of glitter! There is a layer of glittered vellum between the lace layer and the turquoise layer. One of my goals was to use paper in my scrap stash.
Along with Paper Lace, I used the CTMH Art Philosophy and matching stamp set for my label and sentiment. Under the label I added a bit of fringe yarn.

Get Well Soon with Simon Says Stamp Challenge

Just finished up a get well card for a young lady in the hospital in Cleveland. I am forwarding it on to her Mom at the Ronald McDonald house there. I scrapbook with her grandmother and hope this card brings her a little cheer. I'm gonna enter it into the Simon Says Stamp Challenge for using Three Paper. I love this store and they have challenges!
The background paper is by CTMH, the pink paper and blue paper are K & Company by Amy Butler and I used some white card stock. The flower is an SU stamp and punch and the sentiment is CTMH. I punched the lace border with Martha Stewart Punch around the page and added a bit of ribbon. I cut the scalloped pink circle with Elegant Edges and whipped stitched some ribbon around and through the holes.
I am gonna tuck a snowflake ballerina inside for her to hang in her hospital room. Her grandmothers says she loved to dance before she got sick. You can find the information on how to make them here.

Erica's Craft Room Feb/March Challenge

This month Erica's Craft Room is hosting a challenge with a sketch and the prize is a Sophie Cartridge. Since the circle is not in my budget, I am so thankful for this challenge! Below is the sketch from Erica's Craft Room.
I used paper by K and Company Amy Butler and My Mind's Eye. The cartridge is Cricut Elegant Edges. You needed to use an animal in the challenge (or a person), and I found this sweet bunny in Elegant edges. I made my title with my Imagine the Cricut Easter 2010 and the patterns and colors are from Heirloom.
Be sure to check Erica's Craft Room and her store, she has great prices! And you will love her blog and all the inspiration.

Cure for the Winter Blues Challenge at Moxie

I love that Moxie Fab World always seems to pick a challenge theme that fit my creative plans! So, today's post is a entry into Moxie Fab World's Cure for the Winter Blues Challenge. I liked my entry into Going Buggy's Butterflies and Lace challenge so much that I planned to make a page. Once again, Moxie motivated me to get it done!
Since childhood I have been obsessed with blue and white. I loved going to my Grandmothers' cottages and seeing their cobalt glass, and delft china! So, what more perfect photo to scrap, then a photo of one of my Grandmother's cottages? Such fond memories, scrapped in my favorite colors with some of my favorite products!
So, I started with the Decorative window die from Heartfelt Creations. I love this custom die, and wanted to use it on a page. So, I cut four white windows and embossed them too. I carefully trimmed them apart and cut out the center mullions. Here is how the die looks, before I cut it apart. I glued it onto my Cricut Imagine Heirloom paper, and cut a circle in the center.
I used the Stampin Up, Sizzix Designer Rosette Die to cut and score my rosette. I needed three of the cuts to make this size rosette. Again, the paper is printed with Heirloom Imagine cartridge.
I stamped the flower and the fern swirl with another Heartfelt Creations product called Innoscents Flowers PreCut Set, and used the matching Blossom 2 Nestabilities to cut the flower. I love the matching stamp sets and dies that Heartfelt Creations has, they were way ahead of this trend, and had them before anyone I know. To the center of the flower, I added Art Glitter Dragonfly Dazzlers and Primary Dew Drops by the Robin's Nest on top. I love this technique of layering the Dew Drops over glitter! So, sparkly and rich! The small leaves are made with a Creative Memories punch.
I created my title using the Cricut Craft Room software, Storybook, Heritage, Ashlyn's Alphabet and Heirloom. I have so been wanting to make my own label with my Imagine to match a project.

Thank You Graphic 45!

I just received a collection of the Graphic 45 Little Darlings Line, that I won on their Facebook Page. I wanted to make a thank you note and be sure to thank them. So, I used some Graphic 45 Paper I had in my stash called Curtain Call to make up my Card. I started my using my George Basic Shapes Cartridge and the Center Point button to cut the dancers in the center of my cirle. I used a bit of the border strip from the Curtain Call Borders. I cut the sign from the Cricut Picturesque Cartridge (size 2") and stamped with Pink By Designs Label Stamp. The flower is Bazzill Basics and I used a bit of red and white ribbon with some buttons and crochet thread from my stash.
I love their classic lines, with beautiful colors and their retro aesthetic. Below is a photo of the line that I won (Little Darlings), I just wasn't ready to scrap with it yet, but I will try and post photos when I have a little something scrapped! Can't wait to get a chance to scrap with it!

An Altered Clock

I have been wanting a clock for the craft room, as I often try and estimate time by the number of songs on my MP3 player and get up and down trying to make sure I am not late. So, when I saw a clock on clearance at Hobby Lobby, I snapped it right up! But as you can see from the original photo below, it was pink. My craft room is blue, green and white, so I got out some beautiful paper from The Robin's Nest and made it my own.
I started by carefully taking apart my clock with a screw driver. If you alter a clock with glass, be sure to place this on a flat surface so you don't break it! I then cut my circle using my Cricut. If you have a digital cutter and software, you will find this is the best method to make sure you accurately cut the correct circle size and the place the center of the circle for the hands of the clock. I also used this to make sure my clock face numbers were placed perfectly! If you alter a clock by hand, make a map for the placement of your numbers before you cover the original face!
To help disguise the cut I made for slipping the circle over the clock hands (mine were NOT removable), I used an X-acto knife and cut along the edge of one of the tree trunks on the clock. See photo below. A scissors will make this cut visible, so use a craft knife if you have one!


I added some of The Robin's Nest Black Starfish paper (plain side to the edges of the clock face) to hide the black plastic and the green coordinates perfectly with my craft room color scheme! I loved the starfish motifs on the other side, so I used my Cricut and my DS software to cut in free spaces and I will use the starfish in another project! I cut the swirl using a free SVG I found via Pinterest (please find the link in the supply list below). I actually cut one swirl and hand cut it into three pieces to use on my clock. I added The Robin's Nest Fr Mowed Grass Dew Drops to embellish the swirls.

I cut the blue velvet rolled roses using the My Favorite Things, Rolled Rose Die. There are some things, the digital cutters won't cut. So, dies are wonderful for cutting specialty fabrics like velvet! The blue and white leaves and flowers are actually from a vintage bracelet my cousin gave me. I love to use vintage costume jewelry on my crafts! I use the Fr Mowed Dew Drops in the center of the flowers. The punched leaves are a Creative Memories punch.
Supply List
The Robin's Nest Blue Glitter Trees Paper
The Robin's Nest Black Starfish Paper (Green paper leaves, swirl & edge of clock face)
The Robin's Nest Fr Mowed Grass Dew Drops
Clock
Ashland blue poinsettias (Michaels)
My Favorite Things Rolled Rose Die
White Pom Pom trim
Vintage Jewelry (white and blue leaves and flowers)
Buttons
SVG flourish by My Time to Create
X-acto knife
Cricut and software (optional)
Songbird Cricut cartridge (for numbers, optional)
SCAL 2 (to cut the SVG swirl, optional)
Creative Memories leaf punch
Hot Glue gun & glue sticks

Lace & Butterflies Challenge Entry at Going Buggy

If you have hung out at the Cricut MB, you may have run across a blog called Going Buggy, written by Enfys. She is a talented paper crafter, who never seems to have an off day. I love her work, and she has started to hold challenges. You know, I have a challenge addiction! So, Enfys' second challenge is to use lace and butterflies. Above it my entry.
I used my Cricut Imagine Heirloom Cartridge to print the background paper, the rosette paper and even the tennis racket! The stamped little girls is Pure Innocence: Flower Girl. I cut off her flower and used the tennis racket from the Heirloom Cartridge, because this is a birthday card my sister. She loves tennis as much as I love scrapping! And quite frankly, I love the blue, white and taupe combo! I used my Copic markers, but would love a chance to try the Letraset markers (the prize for the Butterflies & Lace Challenge). The lace doily is also a My Favorite Things item, Die Namics High Tea Doily. Once I cut the doily, I used my Creative Memories circle cutter to cut out the center, so my rosette could show through. The blue flower, is another My Favorite Things, Die Namics die, called Mini Rolled Rose. I cut this in some blue velveteen. The sentiment stamp is K. Andrew's Fashionable Friends. The taupe border was made with Martha Stewart's Loop border punch and Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing border folder. And I hope Enfys, can see that there is a butterfly! She's landed on the racket. And it is punched from The Robin's Nest Blue Glitter Trees paper with a Creative Memories punch, and then embellished with a bit of Stickles in white.

Moxie's Chiclectic Trigger

I just may be too mad for Moxie! I saw their Tuesday Trigger this week: Chiclectic and the Toile wall paper in the inspiration photo and the pillow shams and had to give it a try! But Toile paper is hard to find, so I pulled out my Damask Decor cartridge and my Cricut Imagine and filled the pattern with the pink and orange from Moxie's inspiration photo. Along with that, I pulled out some home decor trim in teal and a scrap of Cherry Arts black and white hounds tooth paper. I added a bit of antique gold with another item from the sewing stash, and stamped the sentiment from Pink By Designs Stamps. I distressed the image with ink, a orange marker, and some distressing tools and my card is done.
There will be so many fabulous simple cards submitted this week, you may want to check it out over at Moxie Fab World and play along too! Thanks Moxie, for helping to get another birthday card finished!

How to Fix Your Costume Jewelry: with Stickles!

I picked up a costume jewelry ring on clearance some time a year or two ago and loved the ring. But shortly after I bought it, several of the small rhinestones fell out. So, last month I got out my Ranger Stickles and made my own faux rhinestones. If you have costume jewelry you want to fix, give this a try. I used Ranger Stickles and let it dry over night. These repairs have held up very well to hand washing with the ring on too! I am sorry for the poor picture, but my camera doesn't like this fine detail!

Sexy Sirens Blog Hop Day Two

Welcome to day two of the Sexy Sirens Blog Hop! You should have arrived here from Sherry's Blog. The hostess for the blog hop is Dena at missdjones.blogspot.com and the sponsor is Kenny K. Downloads.com. There is blog candy for the hop: a gift certificate for the Kenny K Downlaods shop for 5 digi downloads. To be eligible to win, you must, comment on each of the blogs in the hop. You will get one entry per day if you comment on Day One's posts as well as Day Two's posts. You do not have to become a follower on each blog, but it sure would be nice if you did! You MUST include an email address where you can be contacted should you win. Please leave an address in a safe manner, ie. ssmith at hotmail dot com is safer than ssmith@hotmail.com. The winner will be notified by February 20, 2012 via email. Winner must respond no later than 3 days after being notified. Otherwise, a second winner will be selected.
For my day two project, I used the CTMH Art Philosophy Cartridge and Cricut Craft Room software to weld the heart together to form a card. I also had to hide the cut outs for the back side of the card, as this image had no black out on the cartridge. I stretched the heart before I copied and welded, it to make it long enough for my image from Kenny K. The Kenny K. image is called Harleyryder, and I colored it using the following Copic colors:
E00 Skin White, R20 Blush, E13 Light Suntan, E0000 Floral White (Penny's skin)
R29 Lipstick Red R 27 Cadmium Red, E0000 Floral White (Penny's Outfit)
E29 Burnt Umber, E49 Dark Brown, 100 Black, C7 Cool Grey
I fussy cut around the Harleyryder. I then used stickers by k i Memories. Oh, these have been in the stash forever. But here's my trick to make them new again...just make small snips in one end to make the rectangular stickers look like banners! I added a bit of the bakers twine and my card is almost done. On the inside I took a quote from the same k i memories set, that says, "Grow old with me, the best is yet to come. -Robert Browning"
I'm also going to enter this card into the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge blogs challenge #97: use a heart from a Cricut Cartridge. Your next stop on the hop is Haidee's blog HERE.

Here are the stops on the hop:
1) Dena : http://missdjones.blogspot.com/
2) Lynne : http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/
3) Ashley ; http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com
4) Zenita : http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com
5) Gill http://creationsbygillm.blogspot.com
6) Jamie : http://myamusinglife.blogspot.com
7) Jen : http://www.expressivelyme.blogspot.com
8) Jill: http://craftwithanangel.blogspot.com/
9)Sherry: www.patternsbysher.blogspot.com
10) Clare: http://www.cricutcraftyclare.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE
11)Haidee:http://created2bunique.blogspot.com/
12)Michelle: http://craftychelle.blogspot.com
13) Lisa L: http://craftylam.blogspot.com
14) Amber J: http://pixiperfectcreations.blogspot.com/
15) Cely : http://hawaiipaperparty.blogspot.com/

Sexy Sirens Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sexy Siren's Blog Hop! You should've arrived here from Sherry's blog. The hostess for the blog hop is Dena at missdjones.blogspot.com and the sponsor is Kenny K. Downloads.com. There is blog candy for the hop: a gift certificate for the Kenny K Downlaods shop for 5 digi downloads. To be eligible to win, you must, comment on each of the blogs in the hop. You will get one entry per day if you comment on Day One's posts as well as Day Two's posts. You do not have to become a follower on each blog, but it sure would be nice if you did ! You MUST include an email address where you can be contacted should you win. The winner will be notified by February 20, 2012 via email. Winner must respond no later than 3 days after being notified. Otherwise, a second winner will be selected.


My project is made with the Cricut Cartridge Love Struck. I welded the blackout heart to the cut out heart to form the card. Behind the cut out I put a piece of red cardstock. I then embellished the cut out with some bling and stickles. I love that the red stickles look like teeny tiny bling!
For the inside of the card, I used the Kenny D. "Pitstop Penny" image. This image was for my hubbies eyes only, so inside the card it went. This is a great way to use a sexy image, and still feel comfortable with who sees it. I must confess, that I am new to digis and to Copic markers! Here are some things I loved about using a digi image, it did not run when colored with Copics. If you stamp and use Copics, you must use Momento's ink to prevent smearing, but I think the printer ink was even better! And I loved that I could print out as many copies as I need to practice my Copic coloring technique. I used the following Copic colors:
E00 Skin White, R20 Blush, E13 Light Suntan, E0000 Floral White (Penny's skin)
R29 Lipstick Red R 27 Cadmium Red, E0000 Floral White (Penny's Outfit)
E29 Burnt Umber, E49 Dark Brown, 100 Black
Your next stop on the hop is Haidee's blog and I have listed the other stops below in case you get lost!

Here are the stops on the hop:
1) Dena : http://missdjones.blogspot.com/
2) Lynne : http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/
3) Ashley ; http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com
4) Zenita : http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com
5) Gill http://creationsbygillm.blogspot.com
6) Jamie : http://myamusinglife.blogspot.com
7) Jen : http://www.expressivelyme.blogspot.com
8) Jill: http://craftwithanangel.blogspot.com/
9)Sherry: www.patternsbysher.blogspot.com
10) Clare: http://www.cricutcraftyclare.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE
11)Haidee:http://created2bunique.blogspot.com/
12)Michelle: http://craftychelle.blogspot.com
13) Lisa L: http://craftylam.blogspot.com
14) Amber J: http://pixiperfectcreations.blogspot.com/
15) Cely : http://hawaiipaperparty.blogspot.com/

Great Display Piece for Less

Looking for the Sexy Siren's Blog Hop? Please scroll down to the last post! Thanks!

If you saw my last post for The Robin's Nest, you saw the 3 dimensional flowers and noticed that I hang my bulky pages on the wall. I have a Creative Memories Display board on which I display my 3 dimensional pages. It is hung near my home computer, so that I can store all those many secret passwords for the websites I visit. But it was so expensive and I cannot afford another one. We got another computer for Christmas and I wanted to make my own. So, I got to thinking how can I make it on a budget and today I'm sharing my idea.
Supplies
12 x 12 canvases (two)
The Robin's Nest Fleur Green Olive Paper
The Robin's Nest Black and White Holly (Red side)
The Robin's Getaway Paper
The Robin's Nest Black Journaling
The Robin's Nest Germany Stickers
Modge Podge
Small Brass Hinges (2)
Ribbon
Foam Tape
I started with two 12 x 12 canvases from Michaels. I got a two pack on sale for $4.00. I chose to make the front plain but chose The Robin's Nest Fleur Paper because I wanted something that looked beautiful, even if I was not displaying a page at all times. I hope to make a page for each season and swap them out. Here is how my Valentine's Day season page looks in the frame. I used The Robin's Nest Black Journaling cut in half as a photo corner, and matted them on the red side of The Robin's Nest Black and White Holly.


I used The Robin's Nest Getaway, more of the Black and White Holly's (red side) on the inside of the frame, so that it would look nice when it is opened to retrieve the contents inside. The ribbons help to retain slips of paper with my computer passwords and other paper clutter. The stripe on the inside of the frames and on the outside edges is from The Robin's Nest Fleur as well. I used the sticker from The Robin's Nest Germany set. I loved the color with the other papers, I speak German and have visited there so it fit so well. You can see how both sides look together when the hinge is attached in the third photo below.
To the side of the two canvases I added the brass hinges. Here's a tip to a help you add those teeny tiny nails and not hurt yourself: use an awl to mark where you want them to start and then hold them in place with your paper crafting or sewing tweezers until they are started. It kept me from some colorful language!
If you make a similar piece, be sure to make a note about the finished dimensions of the page that will fit in your frame. With my photo corners, the finished page that fits in my frame is 11" x 11". I will also make template, so that for future pages I don't cover my title with the photo corners of the display piece. I love this look for less, made with The Robin's Nest for less than $15.00!

You Might Be A Craft Addict If...

Alright, I confess, I am addicted to the crafting high! There is nothing like making a little something and loving how it turns out. So, today I had to share that I may have gotten a little out of control because I actually took the yarn from one of my son's school celebrations to craft with! He had to estimate 100 inches of yarn for his 100 days of school celebration. He brought home the yarn in the goody bag and I snapped it up when he went off to school the next day. He was much more interested in the candy! Wasn't he?!
I loved the chunky goodness of this fat yarn! So, I played with it today and zig zagged it onto some circle felt pieced I cut with my Sizzix die. Here is how the circles looked before I assembled my butterfly. After I sewed on the yarn, I made a small pleat, folding the circle where there was no yarn and sewing into the center about 1/2". I rolled a hot pink circle up to make the thorax and added a button.
I made this butterfly for my latest Pazzle Cover, which can be found at my Etsy Shop. This is the last of my Michael Miller butterfly fabric and I am a bit sad to be finished with it.

My Imagine More Cards Counterfeit Kit

After participating in the Once Upon A Sketch February Challenge, I became obsessed with the winning page from the OUAS January Challenge (see second photo below). The winning page was made by Maiko Miwa in Japan. I visited her blog and for some reason, did not get a Google translate button. So, I have no idea whose products she used to make her page.
That got me thinking about the Counterfeit Challenge blog. Have you ever visited there? So, I determined to make my own counterfeit kit and page with my Cricut Imagine (my page is at the top). Thankfully CricutKris had just post a tutorial on how to print and stack images as one on the Imagine. So, I used CricutKris's instructions to make the background page with the Imagine More Cards and Paper Lace. This is the polka dot, white and teal lace paper. Love it! I will try this technique again, so thanks CricutKris!
For the pink scalloped circle I actually cut some of my Bo Bunny card stock using CTMH Art Philosophy. So, no Imagine required. To the scalloped circle, I added Poinsettia Dew Drops by The Robin's Nest.
The flower are all from the Imagine More Cards cartridge and I used the separate layers to get only the roses and leaves. The white bird and frame, as well as the banners are also from CTMH Art Philosophy and I used a Sizzix SU embossing folder. The title and the butterfly are cut with Martha Stewart Elegant Cakes Cartridge. I also added some Making Memories pleated brown ribbon and some yellow zipper tape to coordinate with the papers from the Imagine More Cards Cartridge.
So, that's my counterfeit kit made with supplies I had in the house for less money. Give it a try and you just might find it fun and addictive! While it is not as beautiful as Maiko's, it is a page that I love.

More Planner Pages with Once Upon A Sketch

I was so happy with my first planner page inspired by Once Upon A Sketch that I decided to use another sketch challenge by OUAP to scrap in my 2012 planner today! I am scrapping the inside cover with the OUAP February Challenge. And, I am entering this in She's A Sassy Ladies, scrap a layout HERE. As part of the challenge, you are to use the sketch and journal about love. So here is my page, adapted to fit a rectangle and I did journal about love too! Below is the OUAP February sketch.
I used the Pinecone Press calendar kit for the background polka dot inside cover. On top of that I added a circular motif from the Cricut Elegant Edges cartridge cut with My Minds Eye paper. All of the embellishments, except the journaling block, are The Robin's Nest. I love the folk are Frame and the Timeflies rubons! Can't believe she celebrated 92 years this year. The journaling block is a Fiskars stamp.
My journaling block says, "I'm so glad my children have known your love, Great Grandma!" My mother passed away before I even married, so I have been so thankful that my children had a Great Grandmother to love on my husband's side!
Supply List
The Robin's Nest Christmas Dew Drops
The Robin's Nest Time Rubon (title frame and Timeflies,clock face)
The Robin's Nest Olive Fleur Paper
The Robin's Nest Glitter Snowflakes
Fiskars Stamp
Buttons
Martha Stewart scalloped circle punch
cardstock
Pinecone Press Calendar Kit (with My Mind's Eye paper)

Below is the opposite page, page layout is from the Pinecone Press kit.

And the Winner is...

And the winner of the Imagine More cartridge is # 3: MakeIt Craft Center. They said, "Wow, Looks really nice. Would have never thought to store mine that way. Guess what I'm getting ready to do :)
Thank You for sharing." Please drop me a note with your mailing address and I will get the Imagine More Cartridge to you!

Material Moxie Cover

Moxie Fab World had another great challenge this week called Fancy Schmancy that inspired me to finish another Un Finished Object. Since it is a sewing project I cannot enter it into Moxie's challenge, but that's OK! I am happy to be inspired and finish something I love! Below is the Moxie inspiration photo. I loved the color combo and the little sprinkles! I used the sprinkles to inspire my felt flower embelly which I made with my Sizzix circle die and a few beads. You can find this cover in the Etsy store as well!

Two Left Legs

If you have sewn for as long as I have, you probably have cut or sewn two left legs for the same project. This is my sign to take a break from the project and come back later. But these days, I am not making clothes, just dust covers. So, some time last year, I cut a dust cover in Toile and since Toile is printed in one direction, I cut one side of the cover in the wrong direction.
Today, I am working on UFO's or Un Finished Objects. So, I pulled out this half of a cover and made sure to cut the rest in the right direction! I made my first cover as a custom order for a Cricut Cake Machine to match a Kitchen Aide Red mixer. This cover will fit a large Cricut Cake or a Cricut Expression and can be found at my Etsy store: Scrappincovers (see links on the right).