We're recycling @ Frosted Designs!

This week's Fabulous Friday challenge @ Frosted Designs to use recycled items on your project.
For my project, I recycled an old photo frame and used a lot of patterned paper scraps to create this country-style photo frame.

I started with this double picture frame that I found when I was cleaning out my attic.  There wasn't any glass or backing in it, so I started to throw it out but thought there had to be something I could do with it instead.

I thought about sanding and painting it, but decided I liked the vintage look of the white paint with worn places.

For the backing pieces, I cut four pieces of thin chipboard to fit inside the frame openings, then layered two on each side for some thickness.  I cut two pieces of white cardstock slightly smaller than the chipboard to use as background for the photos.   Then I started cutting paper scraps and laying them on the white cardstock in a crazy quilt style.  

 Once the cardstock was covered, I adhered the pieces.  Since I was going to be stitching over the "seams", I put the adhesive in the center of each paper piece.  If you aren't going to sew the pieces down, you would want to adhere the paper a little more securely so the edges wouldn't lift up.  I used zigzag and feather stitches on my machine to stitch around the pieces so the end result looks like a fabric crazy quilt.  I adhered the finished "quilt" pieces to the chipboard backing and inserted them into the frame openings.

To finish the project, I matted my photos and then tucked them under the edges of the frame, using a couple of mini glue dots to help hold them to the wooden edges of the frame.  This way I can easily change out the photos. 

If you don't have a sewing machine or don't like to machine stitch, you could use stitch stamps or pen stitching around the edges of the paper pieces.  You could also add ribbon or buttons or other embellishments to the finished piece.

I hope you'll join in our recycle challenge this week.  We'd love to see your creative ideas!

Cardabilities Sketch #52

It's time for another card sketch from Cardabilities, and here it is:

Here's my card from the sketch.  I raided my stash for this one, using a cardstock sticker, some flowers, buttons and twine.  (Buttons & twine have to be my favorite embellishments ever!)



We hope you use the sketch for inspiration, and link up your project to the Cardabilities blog - we'd love to see it!

Creative Chemistry Class - Embossing Powders

Day 7 in the Creative Chemistry Class was all about embossing powders.  It was so interesting to find out about the different types of embossing powders,  how some are opaque and some translucent, and how Distress embossing powders are different from all the rest. 

Here are the samples from this class.  I did one technique a little differently, embossing a grungeboard flourish instead of a stamped image.  I just thought the faux metal effect looked cool on the grungeboard.

Just a Scrappin' - Easter project challenge

Time for a new challenge at Just a Scrappin', and this one is to create an Easter themed project.  This was a perfect challenge to use the Easter basket cut from the new Tags, Bags, Boxes & More 2 cartridge. 

The smaller basket was cut from the single cut option, at 5.25", which is the largest size you can cut from 12x12 paper.   The larger basket was cut using the two-section option, at 7", which is the largest size you can cut from 12x12.   One thing I like about this cartridge is that each box has the option to cut as a single cut, which yields a smaller size, and a two-section option which gives you a larger finished project.   The smaller basket held one candy egg and the larger basket held five candy eggs, so that gives you an idea of the difference in size.

The trick in using this cartridge is to score first and cut second.  The base image + shift key = scoring.  I don't have a Cricut scoring blade, so I just set my pressure to 2 and my blade depth to 2 and hit the "cut" button.  This gives me light scoring lines.  Once you've scored the image, don't take the mat out of the machine - just hit the "load mat" button, change your pressure and blade depth, and use the base image key (no shift) to cut your project.



The "Happy Easter" tag on the larger basket was cut at 2.5" from TBBM2, using the "phrase" option, with the shadow cut in blue, the base in white, and the base/shift in pink and adhered with foam adhesive squares for dimension.

I hope you can join in the challenge @ Just a Scrappin - we'd love to see your Easter projects!

Creative Chemistry Class - Day 3 techniques

Day 3 of Creative Chemistry saw a variety of techniques, using alcohol inks, archival inks, and even embossing folders.  

This was my favorite technique - the archival resist technique.  Although I didn't have any bright colors of Ranger's Archival inks, I found that the technique worked with Hero Arts Shadow Ink (the blue & brown) and Ancient Page dye ink (the red polka dots).

These samples were done with embossing folders and Distress Inks.  For the one on the right, I stamped a textile image before embossing.  I wasn't too keen on that one, so the next time around I just embossed the leaf design and inked it with Shabby Shutters, Wild Honey and Rusty Hinge.

These samples used alcohol inks on glossy paper.  I'm not real happy with these, but I think it's due to the colors I used, although I think they would make good leaves for a Fall card or layout.



This is such a fun class!

Creative Chemistry Class - Day 5

I got a little behind on my samples for the Creative Chemistry Class, so I'm playing catch-up now.  These are samples from Day 5, working with Distress Stains.   I only have a few of these stains, so that's why my projects all are in the blue/gray palette.

One of the techniques today was using the Tiim Holtz Kraft Resist paper.  I don't have any of that (although I think it' really cool!), so I used plain kraft paper, stamped a diamond pattern with black archival ink, dried it, and then stamped the flowers with Versamark ink and embossed them with clear embossing powder. 

The samples in the middle use the stamping with stains technique, and the sample on the right shows the marbled stain technique.  (And if you could see my inky fingers, it would be obvious that I've been playing with blue and black inks today, LOL!)

Creative Chemistry Class with Tim Holtz

I signed up a couple of weeks ago for the Creative Chemistry 101 Class with Tim Holtz and have been eagerly waiting for this class to start.   It began yesterday with an introduction to the class and lots of information about inks, paints, etc. and then today we learned three techniques for using Distress Inks.  I had a lot of fun trying out the techniques and getting all inky!  Here are my samples:

Blended Distress (using Iced Spruce, Evergreen Bough and Shabby Shutters)

Brushless Watercolor (can't wait to make cards with these images)

Wrinkle Free Distress (I tried this three times because I wasn't sure I liked the first two, but they've grown on me....I think the top one looks like rusty metal)

If you're interested in the class, it's not too late to sign up.  You can find the information here.

"Home Tweet Home"

Well, after two weeks of 70 degree weather, I guess it's safe to say that Spring is actually here!   To celebrate and add a little Spring color (and also as my entry for the Jinger Adams design team!), I made this birdhouse using some Echo Park and Doodlebug papers and a little bit of Cricut.  

The wooden birdhouse came from Michaels.  First I base coated the birdhouse with acrylic paint - pink for the roof, green for the base, and white for the walls - and then I traced the parts of the birdhouse to make patterns for cutting the patterned paper.  The scallops on the roof were a little harder than I thought they'd be, since each side and each row was slightly different.  I used Mod Podge to adhere the papers to the wooden birdhouse and then coated the entire project with Mod Podge as a sealer.

The little "Home Tweet Home" sign was computer generated on white cardstock, matted with  pink cardstock and then tied on with some Doodlebug twine.  The tree was cut twice with my Cricut and the layers adhered with foam adhesive squares.  The little bird is adhered to the tree, and the tree adhered to the roof of the house with mini glue dots.  

These are the Cricut cartridges I used:
Mini Monograms & George for the scallop circle around the "door"
3 Birds for the little yellow bird who lives in the birdhouse
Just Because Cards for the tree

Hope you all are enjoying some nice Spring weather wherever you are!

Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge - Things with Wings

The Fabulous Friday challenge this week at Frosted Designs is to create a project featuring things with wings - birds, butterflies, bugs, angels, fairies - anything with wings.   For my project, I made a little 12x12 Spring paper "quilt".

I bought this little mini quilt hanger at a local quilt store a few months ago, and each month I make a little seasonal mini-quilt to hang on it.  This month, instead of making a fabric quilt block, I made one from paper and cardstock.

The base is a 12x12 sheet of blue patterned paper, with white zigzag stitching around the edge.  The flowers were cut with my Cricut Expression and the Holiday Cakes cartridge.  I cut the image a few times on various green, yellow and pink patterned papers, to get the appliqued quilt look.  The butterflies were cut from the Walk In My Garden cartridge, with one image adhered flat to the background paper and the other adhered on top, with the adhesive only on the body portion.  The wings were bent up slightly to give a little dimension to the butterflies.   I used the Cindy Loo cartridge for "welcome" and the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge for "spring".   As a final touch, I added some pen stitching with white and black pens and a punched border.  For stability, the blue paper was stitched to a 12x12 sheet of green cardstock with a straight stitch around the previous zigzag stitching.  Little ribbon sleeves were stitched to the green cardstock, and those sleeves slide onto the metal hanger to display the piece. 

Here are some closeups of one of the butterflies and the flowers:

If you don't have a diecutting machine, you can make these paper pieced "quilts" using purchased diecuts and stickers or you can use any applique pattern designed for fabric quilts.  Just cut the pattern pieces from paper instead of fabric and adhere to a paper or cardstock background.  (Note:  depending on the applique pattern, you might have to reverse it first before tracing on your patterned paper.)

We hope you'll share your winged projects at Frosted Designs this week - we'd love to see them!

Cardabilities Sketch # 51

Time for another sketch challenge @ Cardabilities!   I love all of Karan's sketches, but this week's sketch is one of my very favorites:

A couple of weeks ago, Archivers had all their stamps 40% off, so I finally bought some Unity Stamps that I'd been eyeing for a while.  The little bee images and sentiment on this card are from that set.

If you use this sketch, please link up your card to the Cardabilities blog.  We'd love to see your creations, and you have a chance to be one of the featured five for the next two weeks!

Just a Scrappin' - Challenge #2

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, the challenge @ Just a Scrappin' this week is to use a banner and the color green.  Here's my page for the challenge:

The banner was cut from patterned paper.  I used the "All Mixed Up" cartridge for the "beep, beep" in the title, and the "Boys Will Be Boys" cartridge for the little car.

We'd love to see your projects this week, so be sure to hook them up to the Just a Scrappin' blog!

Let's Celebrate St. Patrick's Day w/Practical Scrappers

I can't trace my family tree back to Ireland, but that doesn't mean I can't celebrate with Practical Scrappers today, as we spotlight layouts and craft projects for St. Patrick's Day.
For this project, I started with a 5x7 frame that I bought in a multi-pack @ Michaels a few weeks ago.  I used my Cricut (and the A Child's Year cartridge) to cut the 5x7 mat with a shamrock cutout in the center.  I adhered green buttons to a background 5x7 piece of green paper, and then placed the mat and the button piece in the frame.  The Thickers and rubons were applied directly to the glass in the picture frame, and then I added some green bakers twine and a little bow.

And in the spirit of St. Patrick, here's an Irish blessing to share with you:

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge - all about the numbers!

The Fabulous Friday challenge @ Frosted Designs this week is all about numbers and using them on your project.  I'm especially excited about this challenge because it's my first one as a DT member! 

The design of this page was inspired by a photo collage I saw in a doctor's office last week - funny how scrappers can find inspiration in odd places  :)  I cut numbers at several sizes from the same cream cardstock as my page background, and then arrange the numbers and my photos in a cascade down the right side of the page.  I added the title at the bottom left and then used a small heart punch to fill in some spots around the page.

I hope you'll join us at Frosted Designs this week - we'd love to see how you use numbers on your project!





Our first challenge @ Just a Scrappin'

It's our first ever challenge @ Just a Scrappin' - just the first of many more, I hope!  The challenge this week is to create a card with a window, cutout, or frame. 

Here's my card for the challenge:

I used the Simply Sweet cartridge, and the shadow option for the word art "birthday", and cut this at 4" from the striped paper.  Then I outlined the edges with a fine tip black pen and adhered that to the front of my card.  I cut the "birthday" word out (just the plain cut, no shadow) from red patterned paper, and then adhered that to the card front, inside the cutout portion, using dimensional glue dots to raise the letters up off the surface.  I substituted red brads for the dots on the "i" and the exclamation point.  The balloons were cut from the Birthday Bash cartridge, at 2.5", and then I added a little licorice twine bow.

I hope you'll join us in this first challenge at Just a Scrappin' - we'd love to see your cards!