Boo! Three Ways

Hello crafty people! So, I will admit that I have been a rather bad blogger lately, but I’ve still been working on things and I have THREE cards to share today!

Two noticeable things, I used my Cricut and I used some new photo editing effects to play up the Halloween theme. I really like the fading effect, but it does make the photos darker so by all means, let me know if you don’t like it.

My good friend Norma and I were chatting one night and she pretty much told me I should make a card using my Cricut. Well, I decided that I wanted to work on my design skills, so I used the same image and sentiment in a series of cards. I started with something simple, and worked my way up to something more involved. I have to be honest and admit that if I were just going to make one card, my first inclination is to always make it very involved.

What I ended up doing was using a few select patterns, textures, colors, and embellishments in different ways. The chevron from the ribbon the first card inspired the use of the chevron paper on the second and third cards. The first card had a black base, but instead of using a black base on the second card, I used a pattern that was mainly black. And, on the third card, I used the same patterned paper (stars) to punch out the pattern, to tie is back to the second card. Lather, rinse, repeat!!

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a blessed day!

Birthday Wishes

Hello crafty people! I hope everyone is having a good week! I’m popping up today to share a number that I made for my mother’s birthday a few weeks ago.  I got to use some new to me goodies on it!

Okay, so there’s a lot going on here, as you can see. I would like to think that it’s organized and well put together, but I will let you all be the judge!

The base of the card is Kraft. However, I did something that I rarely do – I covered the entire base with a piece of patterned paper from My Mind’s Eye. For this card, I used paper from the Miss Caroline Dilly Dally 6” x 6” pad. I did quite a bit of inking. I used Antique Linen, Tea Dye, and just the tiniest bit of Walnut Stain Distress Inks throughout the card. I sewed the patterned paper front directly to the Kraft base with a perimeter zig-zag stitch.

Next, I cut a 3.75” x 5” piece of Kraft and embossed it with my Sizzix Square Lattice folder from Stampin’ Up. I’ve had this for a while, and just never got around to using it. I bought it during my style transformation, so it kind of sat in my little embossing folder crate. Anyway, I *think* I used the debossed side, and I sewed another piece of patterned paper to it. I then used my edge distresser to rough up the edges. This was adhered directly to the card base.

For my stamping, I used Teeny Tags from My Creative Time, and the Strawberry Patch dies and a Mat Stack 4 diecut from Papertrey Ink. The stamps I used were Strawberry Patch and Teeny Tag Greetings. The Strawberry Patch stamp set is kind of a double use set, it has stamps for those that like to color, and stamps for those that just like to stamp. Personally, I’m kind of in the middle. I would like to attend a Copic class, but they seem to avoid the South! Anyway, I used the leaf outline stamps, and stamped it on the diecut with Always Artichoke ink. I went back in with the large flower and stamped it with Paper White Fresh Ink. I colored in the center of the flower with my Spanish Orange Prismacolor Marker. After all of that, I used my Woodgrain Impression Plate to give it something a little extra.

This is where I am going to digress and let you all know why I tend to not video myself making cards. More often than note, they are very involved! But, I do have plans to make more tutorials! Back to your regular scheduled programming . . .

I diecut the the strawberries from Kraft and stamped them with Real Red and Always Artichoke inks. Then I adhered them to the Mat Stack with dimensional adhesive.

Now, putting it all together! I pulled out a doily and inked it really good with Baja Breeze ink. I did this to pull out the blue from my pattered paper. I adhered the mat with my strawberries with more dimensional adhesive. It wouldn’t be a card from me if I didn’t tie a bow. For that, I used some May Arts Chevron Twill ribbon. And, I secured my sentiment to it with a vintage button from Papertrey Ink, and Maraschino twine from The Twinery. Lastly, I added some Lime Green Stickles, cause you know I loves me some glitter.

Before I go, I have a little announcement. I have decided to step down from the My Creative Time Design Team. It was a really hard decision, but it was something that I thought over for a while. I sincerely love Emma and the ladies on the DT more than I can express. There aren’t many guys in this craft of ours, but they welcomed me with open arms. This doesn’t mean that I will stop using My Creative Time. A lot of my most favorite sentiment sets have a special place on my craft table.

As always, I thank you for stopping by, and I wish you a blessed day!

Vintage Halloween Tags & Bow Tutorial

Hello everyone! I cannot believe it’s already September. Before you know it, the Holidays will creep up on us. I was at work yesterday and I saw that the company is sending the first part of our Holiday collection at the end of this month. Eeek!

Today’s project was planned during the week I guest designed on Everyday Cricut. I wanted to revisit the tags I made, and change them up a bit.

Yes, I finally made another video! And, one thing I discovered when I was editing is that I’m not as uncomfortable as I thought. I’m trying to branch out and grow, so I know that one of the next steps for me is sharing more of my creative process.

I did not film the entire process of making these because the video would have been way too long. So, I wanted to mention that for these tags, I backed the window with vellum that I stamped and embossed a pattern on . Then I basically adhered the card so that it simply became a tag.

Before I leave, I wanted to let you all know about something new that the MCT team is doing every Tuesday. We’re showcasing different techniques. So, please stop by My Creative Time today to hop along.

As always, I thank you all for stopping by. I wish you a very blessed day!

Tag, You’re It!

Hey there! Glad you came by today. I have a really quick little tag card to share with you all. Super easy and super simple. And it’s using a cartridge that I know most of us have, an oldie, but a goodie, Tag, Bags, Boxes & More.

I know what you’re thinking, he brought back the glitter. Why yes, I did. I just can’t help it.

I intended to only make tags today. But, I saw this gem on the TBBM cartridge and I was like, “OMG window card!” You have to say it like you’re from Valley – like on Saved By the Bell. I’m a child of the 90’s, don’t judge.

Once again, I have the Gypsy file. If you want it email me. Now, down to business!

This one is pretty straightforward. I found the candy cane cut on the Gingerbread Seasonal Cartridge. I used Pure Poppy, and Stamper’s Select White. Normally, I use good ole Georgia Pacific because it’s umm, affordable. But I knew I was going to cover that layer with glitter, so I used something more sturdy.

Okay, so, between me and y’all, I cheated on Martha. Yeah, I used Doodlebug Lilywhite Sugarcoating on my candy canes today. I feel terrible, that counts, doesn’t it?

Because the card front has a window, I didn’t want any adhesive to show. So, I had to size it just right. After I cut them, I used Background Basics: Houndstooth to stamp on them. I’m an Alabama boy, what can I say? No seriously, I like the pattern, that’s all. I used Lucky Limeade and Real Red. Full disclosure, I had to lay the card flat and mask the back with Post-It Notes when I was stamping. After that, I cut my clear cardstock (Save your acetate!) to cover the window, and I adhered it with my Tombo Mono Multi. I used my Crop-a-Dile to punch a hole through the top of the card, and I set eyelets on the front and the inside.

The only tricky part was positioning the foam adhesive so that it wouldn’t show on the inside. Does it matter? Probably not, but I’m OCD, so I just have to have it a certain way. For this I used red line dimensionals from Jody, they’re super strong. I used them because I knew I was going to tie bows around the candy canes. For those, I used some saddle stitch ribbon from Hob Lob.

Last thing, a little Caribbean twine from The Twinery, and a sentiment on the inside. For that, I used another new My Creative Time set, Warm Holiday Fun.

Okay, that is all for me today, but I have a really special project for tomorrow! I cannot wait to show you all. Thanks for stopping by, have a blessed day!

My Creative Time June Release Blog Hop

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is doing great! If you came here from Tracy’s blog, then you are headed in the right direction. If not start at Emma’s blog by clicking here.

I strayed away from my shabby and I came up with this fun number!  I really wanted to do something fun and colorful with this release.

I tried my hand at coloring again. I used my Prismacolor and BIC markers to color it. My paper is from My Mind’s Eye. It’s from the Lime Twist Out of the Blue 6” x 6” paper pad.

My cardstock is all Papertrey Ink. As are the buttons, and the red twine is from the Twinery.

I used the cloud dies that coordinate with the Fly Away With Me sets to give the scene some dimension. I die cut those from Vintage Cream.

I stamped my sentiment with Versamark and I embossed it with white Zing Embossing Powder from American Crafts. I recently acquired a, “embossing buddy,” so my love of embossing has been renewed.

GIVEWAY ALERT

ONE LUCKY WINNER can choose $50 worth of Emma's products from her store HERE! You NEVER know, Emma just "might" feel generous & choose more than one winner, for some other FUN prizes as well!  All you have to do is leave a comment here & for MORE CHANCES, leave a comment on ALL blogs in this hop!  Also leave a way for us to contact you! Emma will use random.org to pick the lucky winners from ALL THE COMMENTS COMBINED!!! So, you actually have 21 chances to win~!  Again, All you have to do is leave a comment on all blogs in this hop for more chances to win! The deadline is Sunday, June 24th at midnight PST! EASY PEASY!!! GOOD LUCK!:)

Hop Line Up

Emma~ http://www.creativetimeforme.com/
Amy ~ http://www.scrappingmommy.com/
Cassandra ~ http://www.ctimz3.blogspot.com/
Cathryn ~ http://inthepinkcathryn.blogspot.com/
Cindy B. ~ http://www.cindybcreations.blogspot.com/
Cindy L.~ http://cindylee77.blogspot.com/
Glora ~ http://glorascrafts.blogspot.com/
Jeanne ~ http://www.jeannespapercrafts.com/
Katie ~ http://www.craftingwithkatie.com/
Kim ~ http://www.scrapinmomofoneinspiringlittleboy.blogspot.com/
Leanne ~ http://createdbyleanne.blogspot.com/
Liz ~ http://www.lizspaperloft.com/
Micia ~ http://yellowbirdcreation.blogspot.com/
Nancy ~ http://scrappingoutofcontrol.blogspot.com/
Nikki ~ http://scrappinnavywife.blogspot.com/
Ruthie ~ http://septemberninth.blogspot.com/
Shar ~ http://scrapendipity.blogspot.com/
Tracy ~ http://tracyscricutcorner.blogspot.com/
Trell ~ http://polkadotsandpaint.blogspot.com/
Veronica ~ http://www.vkcreate.blogspot.com/

I apologize that my post is kind of short and to the point. I’m not feeling my best today (Wednesday). But, I hope all will be well tomorrow! Thanks for stopping by. Have a blessed day!