bees4me

What a sweet stamp set to work with, gotta love those bumble bees!

This month, the stamp set from The {Stamps} of life is called bees4me. Here is the card that I made using the stamp set along with my new spellbinder border die and the flowers from iamroses.

now I am off to make Christmas tags!

Stampin Up Club Dec

Here is the card that I had made for the sketch challenge which is held each month for our club night.

I used my new SU embossing folder Northern Flurry. Love it!
I used my SU snowflake punch  to punch out my snowflake from SU silver glimmer paper. This paper is awesome! the glitter really does stick to the paper. Not messy to work with at all. It was hard to use the punch on it so next time I will have to use a sizzix bigz die.
The sentiment came from the set called More Merry Messages another nice stamp set :)


It was another great evening spent with friends and learning new techniques. Here are the items that we made

This first card  I had learned how to make the paper ribbon!
Present Card with Faux Bow
This card was CASE'd from Stamping  Jill.com-present card video

the second card is an easel card
Stand up Easel Card
The card base was CASE'd from Michelle's Stamping Blog - Clean and Simple

and the 3rd and last item we measured, scored and cut to make this adorable treat box!
Mini Treat Tote Box
CASE'd from Dawn Olchefske video

 

I will share with you on how to make these wonderful cards and box as soon as I get the links :)

I will be back soon!

Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012 Nov

Hard to believe that I have been able to keep up! we are almost at the end of the 12 tags. If I remember correctly there is 2 more to go. We started in Feburary.
Here is my take on the Nov tag

I love using these colours. The sentiment stamp comes from CTMH and the wheat stamp is a Hero Arts. The technique was to emboss the wheat and then later to remove the embossing to create a resist to the inks. I stamped the wheat 3 different times can you see the difference?

Now I am off to clean up so I can start on my next project!

Postage2stamp

Another FUN! stamp set from the {stamps} of  life!
I used papers from an older my minds eye  6x6 pad. There were some awesome papers in this little pad. I used alcohol ink from Ranger to colour the pearls, I forgot which colour I used.

It really was a quick and fun card to make :)
Have a great weekend everyone!

Gary's Retirement

As promised I am posting the retirement card using the tag that I had made last month :)

 the inside of the card

and here is the envelope that I had made for the card and what the back of the card looks like.

This was a fun card to make and I knew that the card would need a special envelope to hold the bulky card. The envelope that I created really did the job!

Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012 Oct

It's that time and once again I managed to wait till the end of the month to finish! ( I really need to stop doing that to myself)
I am  writing this post as I am handing out the treats to all those little ones :)

So here is my tag which I kinda followed along from here
I did not have all the materials to make everything the same so I improvised.

Started with the usual  manilla tag. I did not have the tissue paper for the base so I used parchment paper which  I glued down using a multi medium.
I used archival ink to stamp some words onto the parchment paper then heat set it. It didn't seem to stay once I added the paints. But stamping on the paint with archival ink worked well!
Using grunge paper which I love using. I die cut the headstone from the artfull dwellings die. I then inked it up using distress inks pumice stone and then edged with black soot.  The tree, bird, bat were also die cuts from various Tim Holtz dies and cut using grunge paper. The tree was inked using the distress inks walnut stain and then edged with the black soot. The bird was painted with black acrylic paint then a layer of crackle accents was added. The bat was also painted black but I did not have the rock candy like Tim Holtz had, so I used marcasite emobossing powder by Stampendous  I did not use heat on it I followed the steps that Tim Holtz did with his. I used the black gauze along the bottom to give the impression of a fence. The chain is unlocked to give the impression that something has broken free (hehehe)
That's about it if there is something else you would like to know I DARE you to ask! LOL

trees4Christmas

Here is my first Christmas tag this year and it's only October!

I used the {Stamps} of life stamp of the month to create the tag. The trees were stamped and cut out along  with the words Love; Peace; Joy.
I wanted to use a little mixed media so I used a Tim Holtz on the edge snow flurry sizzix die to create a stencil and pulled out some of Claudine Hellmuth's gesso from my stash and placed it at the bottom edge of the tag to create some depth. I also used white acyrlic paint all around the edges of the tag. I liked how it turned out.
Someone will be getting this tag on their gift this year :)

Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012 Sept

Oh WOW! I can't believe that I had waited this long to finally finish my tag for Sept! Life sure can get busy.
So here is my tag:
I used a manilla tag as my base, I covered it using silver tape ( not sure what it is called) cut into various shapes.Then using various tools to give the look of worn metal. The clock face was a stamp that I  used to stamp onto grunge paper. I then used some clear crackle to give it the worn look and finished it off using distress ink vintage photo. I had those clock hands in my stash :) 
 Brenda, one of my sisters had given me some skeleton keys OMG I love them!!! I used one of them here on the tag.
I printed off the word RETIREMENT and the meaning from my computer and inked it up using vintage photo ink.

My brother inlaw Gary, will retire in Oct, my plan is to use this tag on his retirement card :) He was a train car inspector so this tag will be very appropriate for him! :)
I will post more pics once I finish the card :) until then take care.

Serenity

Hello again!
As you know I have been playing around with mixed media. I joined up with  Limor mixed media group on facebook. She  posts a challenge each month. For this month of Aug the challenge is to make a sunset or a beautiful sky using at least 1 Faber Castell - Design memory craft product.

Here is my creation

I started off with one layer of gesso on my page. I then used Gelatos to create the sunset. The Gelatos is a wonderful product. They are like a creamy water colour crayon. I scribbled on the paper, then spritzed water onto the scribbles, and then I used my fingers to smear. Pretty much like fingerpainting lol.  Very easy and fun to use!
The butterfly was cut from grunge paper then colured in using the Gelatos. After stamping the leaves with black Archival ink, I coloured them in using the black gelato crayon and a bit of water on a brush.
For the border I  used distess black soot ink along with a piece of punchinello ribbon that a friend had sent me.
Once all the inking and colouring was done, I decided to give the page a bit of glitter. I used the lindy stamp gang spray and gave the page a few sprits. Oops I forgot what colour I used. I will post it here as soon as I figure it out.

After looking at my work I felt calm. That is how I came up with my title. I printed the title and words using the stampers Big Brush Pen I love this pen!
Hope you enjoy :)

Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012 Aug

I finally had time to play and made my tag for Tim Holtz's 12 tags of 2012    for the month of August.

 The little time piece is very bright from the light. It really is a lot darker than what is showing. If you look at Tim's tag you will see that I did not use the same items. I did not own them so I used what I had :) I really love how this tag turned out and I am sure that I will be using these techniques in other projects.

The black frame is a CTMH stamp. I created the bird stamp by using the sizzix bird die and cutting it from craft foam. The roses, leaves and branches were also cut using sizzix dies.

a journey into my new life

 I have been contemplating on  loosing some weight when I came across a utube video.  A video of a girl using mixed media to document her weight loss in a journal.  I had just started to play in this area and thought it would be fun to play along while loosing MYweight!
She has a facebook group called artful weightloss. 

Yes I joined the group :)
Here is my cover

I actually started my weightloss on Aug 7 right after the long weekend :)
I am keeping track of calories through both my computer and an app on my phone. It is called myfitnesspal It is an awesome program and it's free!

for Brenda and Gary

Here is a special card that I had made for my sister and her husband . They had purchased their new home and now I am on my way to visit! I did not go empty handed. I had to make a card :)

I had made some special paper scented with lavender and a few ground up flower petals to use on their card!

I purposely tore the edges, did some inking and stamping then placed it onto the green card stock.  I also used another of my homemade cold porcelain roses brushed with perfect pearls.

 You can also see that more homemade paper was used on the inside of the card.

I made my visit in July and only now getting to the post. They loved their card and it "works" for their new neighborhood which is in a VERY small town with a view of the fields.

One of these days I will learn to use my camera properly. The colours are a bit off in these photos.

Hope you all are enjoying your summer :)

I have finally decided to try creating an art journal. I know that it will be a journey filled with trial and error but it will be fun!
Here is my page that I am willing to share. I did have fun with this page. I had a few mistakes that I tried to cover up lol. I know that it will be a challenge for me, but I am okay with that.

I painted first, then I used gesso on a butterfly stencil. Distress inks; archival inks and watercolour crayons were used, and I also used a charcoal pencil to outline the butterflies. Whew,  I was one messy gal when I was done! :)

Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012 July

The technique is using alcohol inks and a can of air. I just happened to have a can of air on hand so it was easier for me to follow along rather than having to blow through a straw. I really thought I was going to have to use a straw!

For the base tag the colour kraft was used. Once again I used my good old colour kraft  file folders and my tag die :) I then white washed it with the picket fence distress ink. The alcohol inks that I  used were raisin, sunset orange, sunshine yellow and  butterscotch. I should also mention that the inks were used on Inkessentials specialty stamp paper. The edges were sanded, distressed and then inked with distress ink vintage photo. I layered using the Coredinations ColorCore Cardstock scattered straw and victorian velvet.

Whew it was fun!

Karen's birthday card

This was a fun card to make! I think this is called a gate fold with a twist  :)

This was not my original idea. I had seen a utube video and this was my take on it. The utube version  has a lot more detail.

Karen's  birthday was on the 14th of this month so she has it already. She LOVED it ! such a sweet sister :)

turtles2love

I managed to make a mini clipboard using the stamp set turtles2love from The{Stamps} of Life
I was watching a utube video on how to create a mini clipboard using a wooden clothespin and thought it would be great to use this stamp set on it.

I made the hanger big enough so that if I wanted to I could hang it on a door knob. I love how this turned out and I know that i will be using it. I need reminders all the time :) It is just so cute!

Just as soon as I find the link to the video I will post it here.

Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012 June

I finally had time to finish my Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012!!  I needed to sneak this in before leaving on my trip with my dear husband :)

Once again I found a photo of my father and decided to use it in this technique. I had edged the frame of the photo with distress ink. I did this awhile ago and now I cannot remember which colour I used, sorry.

Have a safe summer everyone and hopefully I will be able to post again very soon.

A Compendium of Curiosities vol 2 challenge #9

Yes, I am finally able to join in on another challenge. I only have about an hr left before it closes LOL
 The challenge is being held over at Studio L3 and once again Simon Says Stamp is sponsoring the challenge.

Here is the Pocket Watch Challenge coming from Tim Holtz book A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2 pg 35.

I coloured the flowers in the photo with distress ink. I used alochol ink to colour one of the pears, and the flower is one of my handmade porcelain flowers :)

pops2eat

Here is my card using the stamp of the month pops2eat from The {Stamps} of life

 I surprised myself by going with brighter colours, and it felt good! The stick pin came from a ribbon swap that I had joined earlier in the year. Thanks Mercedes Scott

Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012 May

It's the last day of the month and I am just making the deadline in keeping up with the Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012!
The feature of this tag is the faux  porcelain flowers. I seem to really like the  "porcelain" flowers lately!

For the base of the tag I had used a piece of old dress pattern paper. I then stamped on it using  the Haberdashery stamp set along with Black and Rose Madder archival ink.
The flowers used were from prima, which I edged with barn door, shaded lilac and squeezed lemonade distress inks. I then dipped the flowers into utee to give it that faux porcelain look.
 The spool was cut from grunge board then inked with scattered straw and edged with vintage photo distress inks. I then wrapped the spool with some hemp string.
I had purchased the cloth ruler from a fabric store a couple of years ago.
The quilting needles sign was punched out from the paper stash Crowded Attic, then glossy accents was applied on to it to give it an epoxy sticker look.
The ribbon was stained up using antique linen distress ink.
Here is the finished results !

and a close up of the beautiful flowers

WHEW!! I am done and ready for the weekend to start!

I Won !!!!

This was the first time I was able to enter the Compendium of Curiosities 2 challenge over at Studio L3
and I was so excited when I found out that I had won a 25.00 gift certificate to Simon Says Stamp
here is the entry that I had made and entered. Thank you Linda :)

Altered Mouse Trap!!!

Hello everyone!
I am so excited to be sharing my latest altered item. I had seen an altered mouse trap on pinterest and wanted to make my own but my style :) here is the link to Suzy's blog  THANK YOU  for the great idea Suzy :)

this is the mouse trap that I used

and here is how it looks now with magnets on the back

a close up

Once again I made my own porcelain flowers and brushed perfect pearls to colour them. The butterfly was cut from grunge paper and I had used the shattered stain technique, love that look!

I am hoping to make 12 more of these clips  and use them to clip my tags of 2012 onto them.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Donna
ps I just remembered that there was another gal who had altered a mousetrap. I will have to see if I can find it again and post the link here.

Stampn Up Club May

It is my club meeting tonight and once again Charlene has sent out a sketch for us to use.
Here is the link from Splitcoaststampers
and her is my take on the sketch

We are to use as much SU products as possible. The only thing not SU is the sentiment. I did not have one small enough to fit the rectangle so I used a CTMH stamp.

A Compendium of Curiosities vol 2 challenge #5

I just got my book!!!
I have always wanted to participate in this challenge but did not have my book.  In order to participate you need to own this book so that you can follow along.  I am hoping to participate in as many of the challenges as I am able to.

The challenge is being held over at Studio L3

Here is  my take on challenge  # 5 Shattered Stains pg 48

ps I am planning on doing the past 4 that I have missed.

Mojo monday 241

Another fun mojo monday sketch this week!

I have a sister who has been making her own porcelain flowers. I was finally able to see them and thought they turned out GORGEOUS!  I decided to try my hand at making some, but smaller so that I would be able to use them on cards. I am sharing my first creations on this card :) I love how they turned out. I will be making more for sure. The two coloured ones I brushed on perfect pealrs just to see how it would look, and the larger rose is what the flowers look like with no colour added.

The papers were in my stash waiting to be used.

Have a GREAT day everyone!
Donna

Mojo monday 240

Mojo monday 240 what a fun sketch!

here is my take

Once again I was able to use more items from the April kit! There sure was a ton of stuff to use from this kit. LOVE IT!!
The flower was made from vellum paper that I had bought years ago. I even dug out my cute little purple sewing machine and did some stitching! I had fun :) Can you believe that the only ink I used was the stamp? lol a totally new style for me!
Donna

Scrapnwith flair new design team!!!

Hello to all my readers, I am here to let you know that I have decided to step down from the scrapnwithflair design team . I gave it a lot of thought before making my final decision. The good news is that I am still very involved with Leanne and her store so I will still be making posts and making creations from time to time.

I would like to welcome the 4 new and 2 returning very talented design team members for scrapnwithflair. You can meet and view their profiles  here.

I was able to meet them all and what a  FUN group Leanne has to work with. Congrats!!

redneck wine glass

I am finally getting around to posting about a special wine glass that I own :)
Two friends of mine went on a mini vacation. While on vacation one of the gals spotted this wine glass and immediately thought of ME!! hahaha they both decided that they needed to bring it home to me. I LOVE IT !!

THANK YOU my friends!! the wine tastes great!

mojo monday april 30

It's mojo monday!!
I am really surprised that I am doing this again! lol but what can I say, it's fun!
I needed a birthday card for a child and when I had seen the circle sketch I thought of the oreo cookie card that I had made a few years back so....
Here is my take on the sketch and also using  the {stamps} of life stamp set called birthday2celebrate!

and the inside. I used a brad to make it a swing card. I think that is what you call it not sure.

and here is the sketch

Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012 April

Hello to all my followers!
I was finally able to make the April tag for Tim Holtz 12 tagas of 2012. Here is my take on Tims tag

I did not have the reflections stamp so I had used a script stamp  (something that I was not able to read lol) The flourish below the butterfly was embossed with the ancient gold embossing powder by ranger. I liked the sparkle :) both the butterfly and flourish were cut from the grungepaper.
Donna

Stampin up club card challenge

My Stampin Up club meeting is tonight!
I was finally able to make my card for our monthly draw.
Here is the link to the sketch
and here is my take on the sketch :)

 I used the SU  butterfly, the postage stamp, curly label and small oval punches. I hope you can see the shimmer paint that I sprayed onto the butterflies. The card is really nice in real time :) Oh and I also used my newest embossing folder textured impressions stripes! really like this one.
Now I must scoot so I won't be late for the meeting!

mojo monday

A day late but that is okay :)
I still have a ton of papers and embellishments to use up from the april kit I love this kit!
The stamped image and sentiment came from a close to my heart stamp set. I punched out the squares with the Stampin up postage punch and I also used the jewelery tag punch from Stampin Up.

 

 the inside

and here is the sketch

April Kit Bird Cage mini album pt 2

I am ready to post the album. Sorry it took so long.
Everything I had used to make the album came from the April  kit except for the card stock, the hemp string to bind the book, the empty cereal boxes used (lol), and the flower eyelets on the cover.

My mother was spending the weekend with me and she was able to watch me create the basic part of the album. She watched me cut the circles from cereal boxes and then covered them with the papers from the April kit. As we chatted she suggested that I sew the edges on the cover :). I agreed that it would be nice. She then suggested to do a blanket stitch and I had to ask how to do that. Her hands are crippled with arthritis but she managed to explain to me how and here is the result of my first blanket stitching.
 

the inside cover and first page. There are 3 photo mats, 2 of the photo mats were cut from the songbird papers and the 3rd one is a die cut with a place to journal tucked in behind the torn distressed pocket. The buttons are wooden and the flower I had made from ribbon that was also in the April kit.

page 2 and 3
on page 2 I used the the stamp that came in the April kit and used my embossing powder from Lindy Stamp Gang called golden angel wings which can be purchased here. On page 3 I embossed on the flap but when you open it there is room to journal and place a photo.

page 4 and 5
more journal and photo mats. The bird is a stamp that came in the April kit. The butterfly is a canvas resist that also came in the kit which I inked up.

page 6 and 7
again everything is from the April kit

page 8 and 9
more papers were used to create photo/ journal mats. The envelope was made using the songbird papers and a sizzix die that I have. The birds on pg 8 are the canvas resist inked with distress ink. On page 9
I fussy cut the bird and branch and then I added  stickles.

page 10 and inside back cover
Again everything here is from the April kit. More canvas inked with distress ink, On page 10 I had also used the spray from Lindys stamp gang called moon shadow mist the colour Buccaneer Bronze love that spray, just enough glitter in there.

back cover

That's all folks!
If there are any questions please ask.
I am hoping to make a short video on the album very soon.
Have a great weekend
Donna