Cosmo Cricket / Cards Magazine Challenge

Here's a card I created with inspiration and a sketch from Cosmo Cricket.
Supplies and tips below. I chose an Autumn theme because the winners will be published in a September issue of Cards Magazine!




SUPPLIES:
*All papers are from the Cosmo Cricket "Snorkel" line: Carbonation & Umbrellas
*Spellbinders Nestabilities scalloped circles and Grand labels
*Red Pepper Adirondak ink by Ranger Inc
* 1 1/4" apple punch and 1" flower punch (EK Success)
*Making Memories larger paper needle
* RED #321 DMC embroidery floss
*Nailhead City purple princess brad
*Sanding block
*Caning, from old wooden chair
*PC and printer, Times New Roman font for sentiment
*the Best Glue Ever, ScraPerfect

This card is 6.5 x 4 3/4". I inherited a big box of envelopes this size, so I've been making my cards a bit larger to match. It's kinda FUN because you can fit more on the card fronts.

1. Cut card base from the Umbrella paper, solid to the front.
2. Cut the Grand Nestibility and from Carbonation paper and a 1/2 strip of the circles side of the Umbrella paper and adhered into place. Distress the Grand Label with sanding block.
3. Hand sew a border with red thread, creating a french knot in each corner, end on the back side. Cover the inside threads with a panel of scrap paper.
4. Trim the caning to size and glue into place.
5. Cut 3 smallest scalloped circle nestibilities, and punch one tiny flower from the backside of Carbonation paper, ink the edges and snip each "petal" to the center about 3/4" and curl.
6. Layer the circles with the small flower punch on top and secure with the Princess Brad, glue into place.
7. Punch an apple from the circle side of Umbrella paper, ink edges.
8. Create the needed text in a word document and print on plain paper, check sizing and placement. Adhere the apple punch directly over printed text and print again. (Use temporary adhesive) This works best if you use straight feed for your paper.
9. Glue apple into place.

Cheers!

Spring Cleaning!

My new "Spring Cleaning" Broom!

I decorated it with die cuts by Spellbinders and a layered Cricuit vine coated with Krylon's Triple Thick glaze to make them sturdy and shiny. The Butterfly, Dragonfly and Bird are Spellbinders, they were embossed, then sanded, then inked. The die cuts frame a cluster of hydrangea in my absolute favorite color: periwinkle, then the handle is adorned with a lovely purple satin wide ribbon.

Now I am READY for Spring Cleaning.

Festive Friday Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to Festive Fridays Blog Hop! You should have come from Yolanda's blog: Crafty Sentiments.

We will be posting Christmas Cards on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month (Except December)
Get your creativity going with lots of inspiration and ideas. ENJOY.


Supplies:
Fabric scrap (I used old white sheet)
Color mists and spray washes- blue and green
Gold glitz spritz by Moon Glow
Heat tool to speed drying
Krylon Matte clear sealer
Perfect Crafting Pouch (ScraPerfect)
Zig Zag sewing scissors
Tree Stamp - Heartsintouch.com
Versamark pad
White embossing powder
teal rhinestones (and one yellow)
Embellie Gellie (ScraPerfect)
Gold thread / needle
Double sided sticky tape -3L
brass star charm
Spellbinders Nestability Decorative Elements S4-137
Cardstock: Storm-Murdock Country Creations,
Jack Frost, Blitzen collection by Basic Grey
The Best Glue Ever (ScraPerfect)
Cerulean Azure ink by Ranger (Vick Bantock collection NLA)

1. Cut a scrap of fabric with zig zag scissors and spray with color washes, blue/green and gold glitter. Heat set to dry.
2. Spray with clear sealant let dry. Check the size of the cloth against the nestability size. Trim if necessary.
3. Treat the cloth surface with the Perfect Crafting Pouch and stamp tree image with versamark and emboss with white powder. Mask the inner front of the tree, alternating sides and stamp branches again and emboss with white powder to make tree appear fuller.
3. Thread needle with double strand of gold thread to make a total of 4 strands. Sew the "gold garland" onto the fabric, end in the back and secure with double sided sticky tape.
4. Cut and emboss the nestability, adhere the fabric to the front with super sticky double sided tape.
5. Cut Jack frost paper 9" x 4.5", fold in half to create a folding card, ink the cardfront edges. Adhere the tree w/ nestability to the card front. Glue rhinestones and star charm into place, use Embellie Gellie for ease and placement.

BE SURE TO VISIT ALL 13 BLOGGERS FOR LOTS OF GREAT IDEAS!
CLICK THE PICTURE TO TAKE YOU TO THE NEXT ONE, BUT IF YOU GET LOST, THERE IS A COMPLETE LIST BELOW WITH BLOG LINKS.




1) Terri Sproul http://www.terrisproul.blogspot.com/
2) Chris Hurley http://www.stinkydogdesigns.blogspot.com
3) Cheryl Lindsay http://www.cherlin-ink.blogspot.com/
4) Laura Davidson http://www.lauraleesdream.blogspot.com
5) Amanda Marks http://ajsarts.blogspot.com/
6) Debbie Buckland http://artycrafty.wordpress.com/
7) Brenda Lee Burfeind http://createbyburffrau.blogspot.com/
8) Angela Bodas http://www.midnightcrafting.blogspot.com/
9) Yolonda http://www.craftyscentiments.com/
10) Becky Conley http://www.beckyconley.blogspot.com
11) Fabrizio http://www.fabsbigchristmascardschallenge.blogspot.com
12 Leslie Rahye Strickland http://leslierahye.blogspot.com/
13) Debbie Feist http://debbie-feist.blogspot.com/

HAPPY EMAIL! NEW DT

I'm very honored and excited to be a part of this new team!

Introducing the 2011 Duetica Design Team

Duetica.com, which offers a new way to work with fonts for all forms of home decor and paper-crafting, is proud to introduce our inaugural 2011 Duetica Design Team. After issuing our design team call last month, we were privileged to review many wonderful designer submissions before settling on... a team with the creative energy to truly make fonts and lettering a bold new art form for crafters the world over. The team is comprised of ten of the most talented scrapbookers, card makers, and decorators that we have ever seen, including:

Becky Conley, Candice Windham, Christy Monge, Eileen Hull, Kathy Peterson, and
Kristie Taylor, Niki Meiners, Rebecca Lynn, Suzanne Sergi, and Veronica Goff.

In the months ahead, we are sure to be dazzled by the inspiration our fabulous team brings to paper and craft design as we discover new concepts, directions, and techniques for artful lettering!

Please join us in congratulating and welcoming the 2011 Duetica Design Team!

Mark and Adrienne

Read their announcement by clicking on the image or here.

Check out their website to see more about them!

Spring Project: Designer Crafts Blog Hop

TABLE TOP EASTER DECORATION



I've had this white folding table-top trellis for quite a while, waiting for it's purpose.
I believe it was a dollar store find.

I used plastic Easter eggs, sprayed them will primer then pounced them with three shades of alcohol inks. (felt pads and pouncer by Tim Holtz/Ranger Ink) When it was dry, I sprayed them with Krylon Triple thick clear glaze. I used 1/4" super sticky tape across the center and applied gold leaf.

Next, I treated the surface with the Perfect Crafting Pouch and drew lines with The Best Glue Ever! (ScraPerfect) and let it dry completely, then applied gold leaf. I did all the tops first, then the bottoms. Lastly, glue the rhinestones into place, (use Embellie Gellie for ease and placement) and attached little hooks to the top center for hanging. These are the closed hooks for framing.

The trellis is embellished with a few silk blossoms and leaves.

PLEASE VISIT THE OTHER DESIGNER CRAFT CONNECTION BLOGGERS USING THE "HOP" PROVIDED IN THE RIGHT SIDE BAR. Enjoy!

The Promise of a REAL Spring

Living in Maine, you just never know what you're going to get! There is always a tease of mild weather, then a wake up call that it's only April. This weekend brings a storm carrying the possibility of snow with it. Only a dusting maybe, and hopefully not enough cold to damage the new signs of life springing up.

The 7 foot snow pile on the front lawn is gone and the crocus are peeking through the gardens!
I love the promise of spring that the crocus brings.



I had scheduled a short tutorial video for today, but I've caught a nice spring cold. I'm certain that you would NOT want to hear me (or see me LOL) on a video at this time. Therefore, it's been postponed another day or two.

Coming 04/14 will be Easter projects for the Designer Crafts Connection Blog hop.
Anytime you'd like to hop around to the other participating bloggers', use the "HOP" link on the ride side bar.

Coming on Monday, a little give away with a project idea.

Enjoy!

Festive Friday Blog Hop

Welcome to the Festive Friday Blog Hop! You should have just come from Yolonda's Blog. She is listed before me, and I'll provide a link at the end of this post for the next person on the list.

We will be posting Christmas Cards on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month (Except December)
Get your creativity going with lots of inspiration and ideas. ENJOY.


"JOY" Card

Deck the Halls/Sugar Cookie paper, FRUITCAKE by Basic Grey
Spellbinders: Rocking horse, Nestabilities Grand Labels Eleven, Shapeabilities Ribbon Tag Trio
Murdock Country Creations pastel stripes paper
Fiskars holly leaf, red rhinestones, Offray red ribbon
Ranger ink - Vintage Photo, Antique Linen distress inks, red stickles

If you have questions, please ask!

Now, off you go to Fabrizio's Blog

Enjoy!

COMPLETE LIST OF FESTIVE FRIDAY BLOGGERS
(2 ladies are taking this week only off and are not listed, they'll be back on the next one)

1) Terri Sproul http://www.terrisproul.blogspot.com/

2) Chris Hurley http://www.stinkydogdesigns.blogspot.com
3) Cheryl Lindsay http://www.cherlin-ink.blogspot.com/
4) Laura Davidson http://www.lauraleesdream.blogspot.com
5) Amanda Marks http://ajsarts.blogspot.com/
6) Debbie Buckland http://artycrafty.wordpress.com/
7) Brenda Lee Burfeind http://createbyburffrau.blogspot.com/
8) Angela Bodas http://www.midnightcrafting.blogspot.com/
9) Yolonda http://www.craftyscentiments.com/
10) Becky Conley http://www.beckyconley.blogspot.com
11) Fabrizio http://www.fabsbigchristmascardschallenge.blogspot.com
12) Debbie Feist http://debbie-feist.blogspot.com/

WIN $900 Prize Package!!

VISIT SCRAPBOOK DIMENSIONS FOR DETAILS!

Sand Art Collage

I discovered these Color Granules at CHA Winter 2011 in February, I'm having some fun exploring the possibilities.

This is an 11x14 mixed media canvas.

I used Liquid Laminate to adhere the granules, StampBord 2" and ephemera.

It is now framed in a 3/4" black wood frame!

LOVING IT! enjoy

p.s. Besides offering Granules in a rainbow of colors, Torginol offers Color Flakes and Color Micas! I'll share as I go. Cheers!

www.torginol.com

Reader's Share!

Blog Reader, Cindy Miller sent me this Thank You card, she was a winner in the last give away!
Thank you Cindy, you are so thoughtful, I appreciate it.

Paper piecing, ribbon, punches and bling! What a lovely "Thank You"!

The studio IS done, LOL but I had a back log of projects to work on so it's a big mess and of course when I show it to you for the first time, I want it to be clean and presentable, so I'll work hard to get it ready by the end of the week and show you a video tour.

Have a happy Monday!