UFO Challenge #47: A Book

I am continuing to challenge you to get your Un Finished Objects done, by posting a weekly challenge inspired by wedding anniversary gifts.  This week I post my 47th challenge, and the 47th wedding anniversary present is a book.  So, this week use a book or book theme in your UFO project and get an extra entry!  Don't have a book UFO?  You can still get an entry for working on any of your UFOs!  Just pull out a UFO you are working on write a blog post, on your UFO, then post a link to your blog post below, or photo online. 

I am using an online challenge to inspire me to work on two of my UFO's in one projects in the book theme.  I love the Scrap Your Stash blog and wanted to try their November Sketch +3 Challenge see the photo of the sketch above.  So for their challenge I used Glitter in column one in my small buttons in the banner in the upper left hand corner.  I used the # in the second column from Anna Griffin's planner embellishment kits near the oval title.  For the third column I used printed index cards from Anna Griffin's Vintage French Card kit.  

I continue to work on my Quotes to Live by Scrapbook.  This week I am making a cover for the book.  I used an old Franklin Quest ring binder that I used to use for storing my planner pages.  Now I am using it to store my planner pages for my Anna Griffin planner.  And later it will be my cover for my Quotes to Live by album.  
Supplies
Anna Griffin Paper (floral print)
Anna Griffin 12 Month Planner Insert
Anna Griffin Planner Embellisment Kit (#, arrows, banner)
Anna Griffin Vintage French Card Kit (Red and brown printed cards)
Anna Griffin Card Kit (Title oval and butterfly)
Cricut Audrey Cartridge (red damask printe tag)
7 gypsies Life is Good Paper (red newsprint paper)
We R Memory Keepers Storyteller For the Record Paper (lined background paper)
Clock die cut
Buttons
Franklin Quest binder

UFO Challenge #36: Anything Goes

This week marks my 36th Un Finished Object Challenge and there are still a few people who join us regularly.  So, for the 36th Wedding Anniversary the traditional gift is bone china.   Not a thing most of us craft, so I am making this an Anything Goes challenge.  Just pull out a UFO you need to work on and post a link to your blog post below, or photo online.  You can even join us on Facebook with your project.  Work on any un finished object this week for two entries.
My card above was made with Anna's Elegant Embellishments and the blues are the standard Cricut palette navy and light blue.  I changed the layer colors and flattened the image to print.  I will try and post a card using this later.  The flower and sentiment are from an Anna card kit.

August with Anna Day 7: Mix and Match

One of the things I love about Anna Griffin is the ability to mix and match her products!  I have papers and kits that I have had on the stash for several years that work with new items beautifully!  Here is a birthday card I made with several AG card kits.
And, yes the UFO Challenge continues!   It turns out there is no traditional 32nd wedding anniversary gift.  So, this weeks challenge is open to any un finished object project.  To enter the challenge, just leave me a comment or post your project to the Facebook Group.  Work on any project and get two entries this week.  
Supplies
Anna Griffin Vintage French Card Layers and Envelopes (taupe and blue papers)
Anna Griffin Sweet Salutations Pop Up Card Kit (flowers, band & sentiment)

UFO Challenge 30 Anything Goes

Another week another UFO Challenge.  Can you believe we are 30 challenges into this year?  So, going with the traditional anniversary gift theme as an inspiration, I am offering extra entries for the July/August prize for any project with pearls.  My project is made with an Anna Griffin embossing folder (Matelasse), DCWV paper, white card stock, ribbon and a sentiment made with the Cricut.  The pearl embellishments are from Want2Scrap.
Want more details on how I made the sentiment?  Visit my blog post here for more info.  And don't worry if you don't have an imagine, you can use your Cricut Explore, and your home printer!

UFO Challenge #28: Anything Goes Again

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  It turns out there is no traditional 28th wedding anniversary gift.  So, this weeks challenge is open to any un finished object project.  To enter the challenge, just leave me a comment or post your project to the Facebook Group.  Work on any project and get two entries this week.  
Lately, I am finding a bit of creative time to work on two UFO's.  I have always wanted to make a "Quotes to Live By"  scrapbook and I LOVE planners.  This year, I was able to find a planner by one of my favorite paper crafting brands:  Anna Griffin.  So, it occurred to me that I can scrap both at once and save the pages for my Quotes scrapbook!  This page says, "Don't get irritated, because it's 50% self pity!  Instead, give, thanks for everything."  I am a big Anna Griffin fan and cannot get over her card kits and how well they are priced!  I just shopped her HSN event and ordered the planner embellishments, some border dies, and another card kit!
The image is cut with Cricut Anna Griffin Lace Cards and Embellishments cartridge.  I stamped the Thanks for Everything with CTMH Artbooking stamp set.  All other 

UFO Challenge 26: Photos

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  This week's challenge is perfect for all of you scrap bookers!  It turns out the traditional gift for the 26th wedding anniversary is photos, or something to do with photos.  So, use any photo in your UFO this week for an extra entry.  Remember you get an entry for working on any unfinished project and leave a comment on your project for an entry or post a comment to our Facebook group.  And the prize for May and June is listed two post below.

Supplies
Doodlebug Boys Only Patterned paper
Blue card stock
Scraps of paper
Cricut Holiday Cakes Cartridge (star border)
Cricut K-12 Cartridge (4th Grade Banner)
Cricut Star
Cricut Silver Pen
Want2Scrap Silver Pearls

UFO Challenge 25: Silver

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  And working with the Anniversary theme, the 25th anniversary, this weeks extra entry is for using a silver in your unfinished object, or a musical instrument themed project.   Remember you get an entry for working on any unfinished project and leave a comment on your project for an entry or post a comment to our Facebook group.  And the prize for May and June is listed two post below.
My Father's Day card is made with Anna Griffin Card kit, Anna Griffin die, and Cricut Explore.   I am a scrap hoarder and love to use my metallic cardstock scraps on Anna's Cards!  If you don't have enough to cut an entire die, just treat the die like a border die and cut a portion.

UFO Challenge #24: Musical Instrument

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  And working with the Anniversary theme, the 24th anniversary, this weeks extra entry is for using a musical instrument in your unfinished object, or a musical instrument themed project.  Like my gift box UFO pictured above.  Remember you get an entry for working on any unfinished project and leave a comment on your project for an entry or post a comment to our Facebook group.  And the prize for May and June is listed in the post below.
I started this gift box for a donation to a school music booster fundraiser and got bogged down in the finishing touches.  I wanted to add some teal flowers or embellishments to pick up the color in the patterned paper.  Once it was out of site, it was out of mind.  I got this cut file from an Etsy Store here.  You can see some suggestions for finishing the box if you visit the link!  Thanks MySVGHUT!
So, how do you remember your out of site projects and get them done?

UFO Challenge #23: Anything Goes

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  It turns out that there are no traditional 23rd wedding anniversary gifts.  Modern gift traditions are silver plate or topaz, so I am opening this up to anything goes.  Work on any UFO this week and post a link here or on the Facebook group and get two entries for one UFO! 
My photo above is a screen capture of a page layout I scrap lifted from the Kaisercraft blog.  I love that I can use the Cricut Design Space to virtually layout a page before I actually cut them.  And I will actually use printed paper rather than print and cut with the Cricut for this.  I use the Insert Image and search for what I want, for example doily.    I can filter for images I own or can get on my subscription and quickly filter out items I don't own.  I may even get a little scrap booking UFO's done this way!

The prize drawing at the end of June is for a $25.00 Starbucks gift card.  Contest is open to U.S. residents only, who have worked on a UFO in May or June and posted it to my Facebook challenge group or blog in the comments section. 

UFO Challenge #22: Copper

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  And working with the Anniversary theme, the 22th anniversary, this weeks extra entry is for using copper in your unfinished object.  Remember you get an entry for working on any unfinished project and leave a comment on your project for an entry or post a comment to our Facebook group. 
For my project pictured above, I used copper sheeting, with my Cricut Explore to make this Happy Birthday Card.  I used Anna Griffin's Sentiment with an Iron Ornamental Frame cartridge frame and embossed them both with the embossing tip.  I found a tutorial on how to here.   I then sprayed it with Dylusions Ink Spray in London Blue.  This was so much easier than using the Stazon and alcohol in the tutorial and I wanted to use blue instead of black.  Once I sprayed it, I just wiped off the excess with a tissue.  The die cut cuts are all Anna Griffin too!

UFO Challenge #21: Brass or Nickle

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  And working with the Anniversary theme, the 21th anniversary, this weeks extra entry is for using brass or nickel in your unfinished object.  Remember you get an entry for working on any unfinished project and leave a comment on your project for an entry or post a comment to our Facebook group. 
Above you can see a page I made with metallic paper, Heartfelt Creations dies and the Cricut.  Find more details on this page here.  You can use metallic paper for an extra entry this week too!
Also, I am late to posting our next prize, so this prize will be awarded to one name picked from any entry in May or June and is open to all US residents.  The prize is for a $25.00 Starbucks gift card.

UFO Challenge #20: Platinum

How are your UFO's coming?  We are 20 weeks into this challenge and I have seen a drop off in our entries.  I know my family is busy with end of school year projects and field trips.  So, even if you can't get to a UFO this week, consider what you can get done this Summer! 
Work on any Unfinished Object for an entry and for an extra entry this week, work on any project with platinum or silver paper, yarn, paint etc. 

I just finished up some thank you cards for our Music Booster President and Vice President.   There terms end this year and we needed a special thank you.  I started with Anna Griffin Card bases from her pop up card kit.  The swirls and sentiments are from her kits.  I wrote "the gift of Music" with my Cricut Explore (from Quarter Note cartridge).  The French horn is also from the Cricut Quarter note Cartridge.  The 427 is made with Thicker stickers.  I took the Spartan motif off our high schools website and with some cropping of the photo I was able to use Cricut Design Studio to make my own cut.  Fabulous!

I am loving Anna Griffin's card kits so well that I am considering only adding her product to the stash and using up all my other items to supplement her products.  

UFO Challenge #19: Aquamarine

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  And working with the Anniversary theme, the 19th anniversary, this weeks extra entry is for finishing a with the color aquamarine.  So work on any UFO (unfinished object) with the color aquamarine for an extra entry this week.  Above you can see a portion of a baby quilt I made with aquamarine and purple!  To enter the challenge, just leave a link to your UFO project below or join my FB group.

Finish Your UFO Challenge 18

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  And working with the Anniversary theme, the 18th anniversary, this weeks extra entry if for finishing a porcelain UFO, a paper clay project or a paper craft with the image of porcelain in it. 
Since I am not sure how possible it is to start a porcelain project, abandon it mid project and then finish it later; any project you have supplies for and haven't started is eligible for this weeks challenge extra entry.
Here are some projects I would like to try that are related to this weeks challenge that I would love to make one day:

• DIY Stamped Clay Bowls like these found on Gathering Beauty (See photo above).
• DIY Lace embossed Clay Bowl like the one found on this Duitang blog.  See the photo below.
• DIY Lace embossed Clay trays that the link no longer works for below.

Finish Your UFO Challenge 17: Furniture

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  And working with the Anniversary theme, the 17th anniversary, this weeks extra entry if for finishing a furniture UFO.  Do you have a piece your refinishing, reupholstering, or simply stamping with an image of furniture, you can get an extra entry for working on it and posting your work to my comments or my Facebook Group. 
Above you can see my finished kitchen backsplash.  I have yet to try a furniture project, but my Pinterest board is full of ideas!

Finish Your UFO Challenge 16: Go Green

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  And working with the Anniversary theme, the 16th anniversary, this week's extra entry theme was hard to find.  Turns out there is NO traditional 16th anniversary gift, only modern traditions for this anniversary.  The modern tradition is the gemstone Peridot.  So work on a UFO that involves the color Peridot green or an actual Peridot for an extra entry this week.  Above you'll see a paper purse I made with cereal boxes covered with some Basic Grey paper.  You can find more information about the purse project here.  What a great idea for Mother's Day!

And since this was such a struggle and the color is green, I'm also accepting any UFO that is environmentally green.  So, finish a UFO with a recycled or up cycled supply and get an extra entry too!

Finish Your UFObjects Challenge 15

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  And working with the Anniversary theme, the 15th anniversary, this week's extra entry theme is for any use of the crystal gems, or glass.  Can you see the bling in these flowers?  What a great way to embellish your stamped or paper flowers! I made the teal flower with coffee filters. See more on this project here. 
If you're not a stain glass artist, you can still craft with glass!  Check out a necklace made with glass at Courtney Lane Designs here.  Or etch a casserole dish with this tutorial from Make it and Love it.
To enter this challenge, leave me a comment with your blog post address, or comment in my Facebook UFO challenge group.

Finish Your UFO's Challenge 13: Lace

Happy Easter!  This basket was made with a Silhouette file designed by Samantha Walker.  I bought it some time ago and didn't get to cutting it until this weeks challenge and Easter inspired me to get it done.  I would post the link, but I can't figure out how to get to the file unless I am in the Silhouette software.  I plan to fill it with some goodies for my niece.
This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  And working with the Anniversary theme, the 13th anniversary, this week's extra entry theme is lace.  So work on a UFO that involves lace or paper lace for an extra entry this week. 
To enter this challenge, leave me a comment with your blog post address, or comment in my Facebook UFO challenge group.

Finish Your UFO Challenge #11

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  And working with the Anniversary theme, the 11th anniversary, this week's extra entry theme is Turquoise.  So work on a UFO that involves the color turquoise or something with Turquoise for an extra entry this week.
And speaking of Anniversaries, today is our 23rd Wedding Anniversary.  The card I made above is made with Cricut Explore and the Simple Everyday Cards Cartridge.  I added the 23 using a computer font Arial Black.  To make the Anniversary stand out, I added a bit of sparkly pen.  I just layered the 23 under the word Anniversary and inside the center circle of the design motif.  What a great way to customize the Cricut design to fit the anniversary. 
To enter this challenge, leave me a comment with your blog post address, or comment in my Facebook UFO challenge group.

Finish Your UFO's Challenge #10: Team Challenge

This week I am continuing with my Finish Your Unfinished Objects Challenge.  And working with the Anniversary theme, the 10th anniversary, this week's extra entry theme is tin/aluminum.  So work on a UFO that involves metal for an extra entry. 
Since the beginning of 2016 I have volunteered as an assistant basketball coach for my son's basketball league.  While this volunteer job was outside my comfort zone as I know little about basketball, it was important to me because it was important to my son.  The league was short coaches and I believed in volunteering and I believed in the importance of sports for my boys.  So in honor of March Madness, I thought I might share a few lessons learned in basketball to help you finish your UFO's.  One of the important lessons our children get from sports is how to be a valuable part of a team.   Sometimes, our UFO's become unfinished objects because they are team projects and our fellow team mates are unable or unwilling to finish the project on our time table.  So, if you have a UFO that involves more than yourself to finish the project, try the great tips on finishing an unfinished object inspired by March Madness and basketball.
How to Finish a Team Project

1)  Be Prepared-Most of us know what our final goal is for our projects but may not be prepared.  As an example of a team project in may own life, my husband and I have been working on remodeling our kitchen since October of 2015.  We replaced our counter top first.  Our original counter top was laminate and we chose granite to replace it.  We had decided to keep our cabinets, as we love the quality and design and weren't interested in refinishing them.  But once the counters were in we struggled to chose a tile back splash.  To be prepared for pick our back splash, I ordered samples, shopped for samples,  and searched the Internet for photos of tiles in kitchens with similar counter tops and cabinets.  We consulted friends and family.  We took photos of our kitchen and the tile and copied and pasted the small samples into our photos to help us decide.  Below is an example of one of our cut and paste photos made with photos of the kitchen and sample tiles.  Not sure why the hubby took a photo with dirty dishes on the counter!

2)  Learn the fundamentals-Research design principles and current trends to help you decide.  Save photos of things you like that will work with your
3)  If the Plays Aren't Working Readjust the Game-Remodeling the kitchen has been on our to do list for a while, but it simply wasn't in our budget as a one time expense.  So, when our appliance began to fail with age, we began to replace them.  Below you can see a mocked up photo of a tile we tried and determined wasn't working.

4)  Be a Team Player, Be Unselfish-My husband and I tend to have very divergent tastes and this is has led to much inactivity in our decorating and remodeling.  I stayed home for 10 years when my boys were small and remodeling the kitchen was not a priority.  Now that I am working again we discussed adding this back on our to do list.  As a fashion design student, I worked in the same department with many of the interior design students and saw the value of a design board.  My husband struggled to see a finished room from small swatches and wanted to make one decision at a time.  So, I have worked on one small goal for the kitchen project every few months and we are close to the finish!  At the top of this post you can see one of our small steps, the cabinet and drawer pulls.  On the left is the before (brass and white) and on the right is the after (nickel).
5)  Never Give Up-When we were unable to make decisions, I took a small break from trying to design our kitchen by ourselves and then asked my husband about getting help from a designer.  We have met with a designer and seen samples of his suggestions in our kitchen.  We've made a selection that is timeless and works!  Now to place an order and schedule an install!