Dilly Beans Summertime

Don't faint, this is my second post of the day.  If you're looking for Simply Steampunk, please scroll down.

It's Friday and you know what that means.  It's another new Challenge at Dilly Beans.  We're celebrating Summertime and it could be a more perfect day for it.  The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and it's gonna be HOT!   Perfect flip flop weather if you ask me and I'm dreamin' of the beach.  I've used the adorable #184 Flower Girl (scroll down to find her).  She is still one of my all time faves.  I've paper pieced her hair, added a fun felt flower and used adhesive lace for her dress.  The cool embossing is the new Cuttlebug Wicker folder.  There's lots more summer inspiration at the Challenge Blog and we can't wait to see what you come up with.  But remember, you must used a Dilly Beans image to join in.

I'm also adding this to the Through the Craftroom Door Anything Goes Challenge 6/4-6/10, Delightful Challenges Here Comes the Sun, Dutch Dare Paper Shelter Summer's Coming Challenge, Creative Creations Paper Piecing Challenge and Crafting by Designs Summer Fun.

Dilly Beans Layers (meaning "Pop it Up") Challenge

Oh yeah!  The Dilly Beans Challenge this week was made for me.  Megan asked us to layer and "pop it up".  You know, use "pop dots" (or whatever) to give some dimension.  That's pretty much my FAVE thing to do but, of course, choosing the image was the hard part.  Megan's been a busy gal and there are tons of new images in the SHOP so why not go have a look?  After much debate, I finally decided on #425 3 Penguins.  (Too cute!)  I printed them a bazillion times, colored and fussy cut up a storm.  Because they were sort of floating out there (and the fact that I'd cut the image so close I couldn't find the right size Nestie to frame it), I tore some cardstock and embossed it with Merry Christmas, added some Stickles and there ya go, instant snow.

Second hardest part was deciding on mat paper.  Would you believe I cut 6 of them before deciding on this one?  I wanted to keep the color scheme but didn't want to detract from the images.  What do you think?  The frame was cut with Labels Twenty Three and you'll be seeing a lot more of it when I start using up my rejects.  LOL  Simple embellies, just a fabric covered button and some twine.  Wait 'til you see what my teamies have in store.  Fabulous!  Take a look HERE (in a little bit, I often jump the gun) and please come play along.

I am also entering this in the Dutch Dare #193 Winter Wonderland Challenge,  Pixie Dust Winter Holiday Creations, Crafty Sentiments Red, White, and Green, LEJ Designs Favorite Technique (fussy cutting and popping up), Simons Says Stamp Anything Goes and Sweet Stamps Cold and Snowy.

Bermuda Bag Using the New CTMH Artiste Cartridge

Here I am with 3 DT projects due by Monday and I'm messing with my new Close to My Heart Artiste Cartridge but I just couldn't help myself.  The whole package of goodies is a crafter's paradise filled with chipboard pieces and coordinating stamps as well as the Cartridge, but while flipping through the book, one little bag in particular caught my eye and sent me on a trip down Memory Lane.  My first love in high school had a sister whose hubby was in the Navy and they were stationed in Bermuda.  On one of her trips to visit them, his Mom came back with the most adorable handbag for me as a gift.  It had wooden handles and was made of white embroidered linen which buttoned to the frame so you could actually switch out different fabrics.  I adored that bag and when came to page 32 of the handbook, I had to recreate it.  I chose to make it white on white becasue that's what my bag was, but I also cut it in a light brown and trimmed it for the handle and embossed it with the Tim Holtz Woodgrain folder.

To add interest, I used two different textures of white card stock and cut the bag a second time, slightly smaller for a second layer and trimmed and embossed it with Swiss Dots.  The beautiful motif on the front is also from Artiste (Accent 3, page 44).  The shadow was cut with the base texture, the top layer with the other.  To add more dimension, I popped the motifs.  Then I added buttons along the top, just like my bag had.  I'm really thrilled with how it came out.  Now I can't stop thinking about island breezes, gorgeous sunsets and the pink sand of Bermuda, as I was lucky enough to visit with his family the next summer. 

Hope you like my little bag and my little story.  There are tons of fab 3D projects on Artiste and really something for every holiday or special event.  I can't wait to play with it some more.  My dear friend and DT sister Susan is my CTMH consultant so please stop by her blog to see some amazing projects using this cart.  She has info about the special CTMH deals this month that I'm sure you won't want to miss.

I'm entering this in the Sugar Creek Hollow something Old (the embossing folders), Something New (my Cricut Artiste cartridge) Challenge, Dutch Dare Anything but a Card Challenge, Fab 'N Funky Anything but a Card Challenge, Anything Goes Let's Not be Square Challenge, and Ruby's Rainbow anything but a Card Challenge.