Santa Head Ornie

I love to recycle empty ribbon Spools and this adorable #1901 Santa Face Ornie by Sandra Caldwell was a natural to turn into an ornie to hang on the tree and keep the children in line. LOL He's colored with Copics and fussy cut to hang on a mini pine branch.  I've covered both side with DP and used marabou feather garland around the spool (for the Outlawz Festive Fridays something with feathers theme) and a wire loop, bow and  computer generated sentiment.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art November Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #69 AG, Aud Sentiments #193 AG w/Sentiment (3/5), Inspiration Destination #193 AG, Crafty Girls Creations November #41 AG... 

Ballerina Kitten

Here's a fun little project I did for my Jezebel, who dreams of being a "boofy"(beautiful) white prima ballerina kitty.  She also wants to remind everyone that "Warm and Fuzzy" are her middle names and Saturday is your last chance to join HER (everything's about HER) Warm and Fuzzy Challenge at Aurora Wings.

Here's a closeup of the adorable Swan Lake Ballerina Kitten (I mean Jezebel). She's colored with Copics and Prismacolor pencil for the fur details with a good dose of Stickles and Perfect pearls on her lovely costume.

I've made the ornament from a recycled ribbon spool with DP from MAMBI, cut with Spellbinders scalloped circles, on either side.  I've wound marabou trim around the middle for more fuzzy goodness and added a bow and gems so it can hang on her pink (of course she loves pink, she's a girly girl) Christmas tree. 

Please note that although Jezebel admits the trim is soft and fluffy, it isn't nearly as soft and fluffy as she. (Ya think?)

Jezzie also wishes to remind you that here is now a monthly "Kitties Only" challenge Blog called "Show Us Your Pussies" which Mommy will be harassed regularly to enter.  LOL  This month's challenge is Furrything Goes.  Now it's nap time...TA!

I'm also entering this in the C.R.A.F.T. Not a Card challenge, Crimbo Crackers ATG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday ATG/optional twist favorite card shape, Crafty Ribbons Anything but a Card, In the Pink ATG, TTPH ATG, the ABC Christmas Challenge "A" is for Anything Goes and the Southern Girls One for the Girls.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!  Hope your weather is better than ours today.  After weeks of sunshine and very warm temps we expect a high of 59 degrees and rain. Bummer! Will be off to our annual Easter dinner at Auberge du Soleil. Guess no sitting on the balcony today.  Thought I'd share some cute Easter crackers I made with TP rolls and adorable images from the Gecko Galz Easter Circles and 1x2" collage set.  Another easy recycling project but pretty fun little favors, if I do say so myself.  Covered the tubes with paper (not card stock, it's easier to stay stuck) and resized the 1x2's in my printing program to fit the tubes.  Wish I'd printed them on copy paper instead of card stock as you really need some strong adhesive to keep them on there.  (It helps to sort of roll the images a bit, but still!)  I cut them out (3 per roll), inked the edges and added pom pom trim.  Rolled up goodies in tissue paper, stuffed the tubes and tied with ribbon on each end.  Added some Melissa Frances embellies to the top and there ya go. Have a wonderful day.


I'm entering these in the Outlawz Twisted Thursday Easter or Spring challenge, and Decorate to Celebrate ATG Challenge.

New April Customer Challenge at Gecko Galz.

Our new Customer Challenge begins today at Gecko Galz with an Easter Time theme.  

I made a basket using the corrugated inserts that reinforce the tuna in a pouch display boxes at the grocery store.  Yup, I each a lot of tuna.  It makes me popular with my cats.  LOL

I took 2 of them and glued the center sections together, punched holes at the corners, tied some bows and VOILA!  A basket! Used my threading water punch to trim the top 

Each side is decorated with one of the circles from the Easter Circles and 1x2" collage set, enlarged in my printing program and cut and matted with my Nesties.  Here are the rest of the sides.

I've twisted wrapped wire, raffia and buds from a Spring wreath I got at J's and disassembled to make the handle.  I punched holes at either side and twisted the wire into a know with pliers to secure it on each side. 

I also used the wired buds from the wreath to trim each image and attached moss to the bottom corners with hot glue.  My GG teamies have made gorgeous Easter creations so be sure to stop by the Gecko Galz Challenge Blog and find further inspiration.  There's a $25 gift certificate to be had and all you need is a single GG product on your submission. It can even be a freebie which you can get for signing up for the monthly GG newsletter (sign up on the left side of the GG Blog) or grabbing them from the GG Board on Pinterest.  Can't wait to see what you create.  and don't forget our GG Papercrafting FB Group with fun challenges every month.  Hope to see you there.

Gecko Galz Haunted Bingo Card Challenge

Nothing like just squeaking by!  Yes, I know, I always say that, but with my DT stuff it's getting harder and harder to play.  However, I've been a member of the Gecko Galz Scrapbooking Group for a long time and only been a lurker, but this year I've managed to join in a few challenges and had a ball.  This one offered Freebie Bingo Cards at Fripperies and Butterflies and I just couldn't let it go by.  You know how I LOVE Halloween!  I've used an empty ribbon spool to construct my little tableau.  The checked paper circle on top was cut from the Sept Freebie DP from Gecko Galz Scrapbooking.  Conveniently, I had ribbon to match to go around the base.  I use the "Boo" card and cut circles with my Spellbinder's and popped little pumpkin stickers so it ended up with a Bingo that spelled out "Boo"-tiful.  The gorgeous witch was from the GG Blog post promoting their annual Blog Hop (see my sidebar).  Their hops are super fun and there's loads of Freebies to be had, so mark you calendar.  the little witches dancing near the right bottom side are from the GG Little Witches Jewels found in the Jewel It section.  

Here you can see the dimension of the witch.  I printed her 3 times, fussy cut her, and then just her arm with the book, then just her arm.  I used Tim Holtz Game Pieces for the Halloween date and stitched the rosette from mesh ribbon, which is supposed to look like a spider web. there's always lots going on at Gecko Galz and the FB group is fun and friendly with additional monthly challenges, so why not check them out? I promise you'll be glad you did.

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Wednesday ATG Challenge. 

Another for Stampotique (SDC 107 Recycle it)

Catching up again on this month's Stampotique Challenges.  I'm really trying to use more of my "real" stamps.  This is for the Recycle Challenge and I've used Daniel Torrente's adorable Carrot.  I've used an ADFD digi from the Veggie Lover Past Release behind him to make the "bunch". 

The digi was printed on a background I sprayed with Dylusions through a piece of mesh cut from a potato sack.  Carrot was stamped, colored with Copics and fussy cut.  I punched through the background and thread a twistie to tie him to the bunch.  Sentiment is computer generated. 

The Altered Alice Week 3, Chapter 19: Lovely Garden, Bright Flowers

"...she tried the little golden key in the lock, and to her great delight it fitted! Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small passage, not much larger than a rat-hole: she knelt down and looked along the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw. How she longed to get out of that dark hall, and wander about among those beds of bright flowers and those cool fountains, but she could not even get her head though the doorway; `and even if my head would go through,' thought poor Alice, `it would be of very little use without my shoulders."-- Chapter 1, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Our challenge this month at The Altered Alice is garden or flowers.  My project is a Wonderland garden telescoping box using empty recycled ribbon and tape spools for the base.  Grab a cuppa (tea would be fitting) 'cause this is a LONG one!

Our sponsor this month is the fabulous Stamping Boutique. Tracey Malnoski is the owner and illustrator, and she has previously designed stamps for Unity, InStyle, Squigglefly, and The Digi Shack. Her Stamping Boutique has it all: digital images, red rubber stamps, and themes that include fairytale, whimsy, sentimental, and candy.  We are showcasing her wonderful Alice in Wonderland line. Please visit her Store and Challenge Blog.

Enter your Flower/Garden creations by Friday, Sept 28 for a chance to win 3 images of your choice.  Multiple entries are allowed, but to count as a separate entry, each must be on its own blog post. All entries are welcome, but projects that feature Wonderland will have two chances at the drawing instead of one.

The top of my creation has Alice peeking through the keyhole into the beautiful garden beyond.  I've replace the key featured on the stamp with a chopboard one that was wet embossed with Pirate Gold embossing powder.  Use the Hitch Fastener to slide open the door.

Next Alice has entered the garden.  See, she has already plucked flowers for her hair.  The images were colored with Copics and the layered tops and images were cut with Nesties.

Deeper into the garden she goes.  The day is warm and wonderful, the sky covered with fluffy white clouds.

Looks like she's happened upon the Mad Hatter's tea party.  See his hat?  I printed the images several times to allow for the dimension (which unfortunately doesn't show too well in the pic).  The mushroom tops, teacup, grass and hat are all fussy cut and popped.  Prima flowers and adhesive beads complete the scene.

Here you can see Alice's complete journey.  The layers are held together with brads through the lovely flowers.

                         And there are loads of flowers in Wonderland.

In fact they're hiding everywhere.  So I hope you have enjoyed this little journey and are inspired to create a project of your own.  My DT sisters have gorgeous examples of the Wonderland garden, thanks to The Stamping Boutique, so please visit The Altered Alice and be sure to scroll all the way down to Week 1 so you don't miss a thing.

 

I'm also entering this in the Smudger Reduce, Reuse, Recyle Challenge, the Recyle, Re-Purpose and Re-Invent Anything Goes Challenge, the Challenge Up Your Life Fantasy Challenge, Inspire me Fridays Anything Goes, Delightful Challenges Anything But a Card, and the Anything But a Card Texture Challenge.

BAh! Humbug! "Green" Challenge

Okay, I'm not really thrilled that Blogger ate my last post but I'll do an abreviated rerun just so it's here. This week's Bah! Humbug! Challenge was going Green, meaning either recycling or the color and I chose to do both. The laser cut stocking is from and old Christmas card, the Nesties frame made from Labels Seventeen. I added peelies and beads.

And popped the layers. I'll spare you my disenchantment with the American Crafts foil card stock, (the color rubs off) and all my moaning about my tooth, bescause I'm fine, the surgery took about 20 minutes total, no swelling AT ALL, and I'm eating regular food today after a fab day of ice cream yesterday. WooHoo! Thanks to those who commented on that post. I guess it's lost in cyber space FOREVER. I sure hope that doesn't happen again, Blogger, because I was pulling my hair out! Can't you just leave well enough ALONE!?

It's Good to be Green!

It's a rainy Sunday here in CA but at least that means it will stay green a bit longer into the summer. Believe it or not, my DH loves this weather and is out on a "storm hike". Not me, I'm staying cozy. Looking outside, things really are greening up which made me think of one of Regina's new sets at The Cutting Cafe for upcoming Earth Day. The Earth Day downloadable printable stamp set includes 20 images, suitable for celebrating Earth Day, as well as reminding us to do our part to take care of our beautiful planet. I resized and printed the earth and sentiment in green, and colored the oceans with my copics. The circle word was resized so the earth would fit in the center. I cut all of the stamps with my Nesties and popped bits for dimension. In keeping with the "green" theme the designer papers are from the DCWV Green Stack which is 70% recycled paper. Be sure to top by The Cutting Cafe to see what's new. We have a whole new video team with loads of great projects to share.

Bah Humbug Challenge #9 Cool Combos and ABC Christmas Challenge

After last week's dismal entry for Bah! Humbug! I decided to try and redeem myself. The challenge this week was to combine at least 3 of the previous challenges but of course, 2 of the ladies on the fabulous DT used all 8 so I had to give it a go. I used the Joys of the Season Cricut Cartridge for the snow globe. The globe itself is packaging from Terrifically Tacky Tape (#1-recycling), the die cut Tree (# 7) is a new (#2 new stash) Cottage Cutz die (Hmmm, I don't see the specific die at the moment,( perhaps it's out of stock) from the from the Camping release, available at The Scrapping Cottage and is trimmed with red adhesive beads (#4 baubles). The Snowman (#6) is also a Cottage Cutz die from Holly Jolly Christmas (thanks Leah!) which I simplified a bit by leaving off his nose, arms, hat and broom (poor guy, but there's just so much room in there and I wanted to stick to the color scheme) and glittered (#3) by running it through my Xyron and sprinkling him with Doodlebug sugar coating. I also stickled the tree and the globe is filled with MS mica flakes. (You can never have too much #3! LOL)

I made a pedestal and trimmed the folded bits to match the contours of the snow globe.

The base of the pedestal is trimmed with holly (#5) paper and the berries were enhanced with more adhesive beads. Finally, the sentiment is ribbon that looks like it's been cross stitched (#8 stitching real or faux). WooHoo! I'd already had this card in my mind for ages and wasn't it convenient that I could incorporate all of the previous challenges? Thanks so much Ann, Max, and Irene for coming up with the perfect challenge to get me off my bum and finally make this card! I don't always have time to do something this elaborate (and I don't want to miss a challenge) but I'm happy it worked out this time. I'm also entering it into the ABC Christmas challenge which is F for Frosty. Thanks Sheryl! xxD

A New Challenge Blog- Bah! Humbug!

I was visiting my friend Barb's BLOG and came across her post today about a new Christmas challenge blog called Bah! Humbug! WooHoo, this blogs for me! I love Christmas year 'round but coming up to the holiday I NEVER have time to do all I want. I get so motivated AFTER Christmas and then start to feel a bit silly. I bought TONS of Christmas stuff AFTER Christmas that I was dying to use so here's my first Challenge card (for the first challenge) at Bah Humbug which was recycling an old Christmas card, wrapping, etc. I knew what I wanted to use, I just had to find it because this challenge only lasts 'til noon Mt. time TODAY! Yikes! I never get cards done in an hour or two but I was determined! Found the card, (it must be a laser cut, gorgeous, huh?) cut it with my Nesties, used some of my NEW SEI Winter Song Paper, embossed the sentiment with my Cuttlebug and Voila! I'm so excited about this new blog and sure hope I can keep up the challenges. Thanks Barb! and thanks Bah! Humbug! Bummer, I may have misinterpreted the deadline which may be the UK time in which case I've missed it. I posted it anyway and hope to be ON TIME in the future when at all possible.

Recycling from a Catalog-Another Joy Fold

Yesterday was one of those days. I've got tons of Design Team and personal projects in the queue but for some reason I just couldn't get going on them. I still felt like creating though and when I looked down on my messy table I saw a cover from a Nordstrom catalog I'd saved since March because I thought I could use it on a card. I carefully cut around the lovely image. She reminds me of a wood nymph or a fairy and her floral headpiece really begged for more embellishment so I added some gorgeous Primas. I loved the Joy fold card I used yesterday and adapted the dimensions to fit the image. I have no idea what I'll use this card for but I had a good time making it. Now back to the drawing board.

Paper Blooms Challenge 4

In honor of Earth Day the Paper Blooms challenge this week was to alter or use something you'd normally throw away. I've been saving these octagonal jars that yummy olive spread comes in because I love the size and shape. Happily in the mail today I received my latest Paper Blooms order with Leah's new daisy shaped hand crocheted flowers so I just HAD to use one. Isn't it gorgeous!?!

I found a tiny spool of adorable blue and yellow ribbon and the color scheme was born. The lid cover I did with my Nesties, used my Threading water border punch for a band and some blue and white gingham ribbon and tiny yellow buttons around the jar. I finished it off by layering another of Leah's blooms and tiny blue button in the centerof my new daisy. I think I'll keep it to store either buttons or Paper Blooms. I'm loving this new challenge blog and you don't have to use Paper Blooms to play along but since I've been ordering up a storm I can't help myself.

Paper Blooms Challenge 2, Take 2 and a Bit More Recycling

Happy Easter everybody! Hope everyone is having a lovely day. I just couldn't relax until I made another basket for the Paper Blooms challenge using Paper Blooms. LOL I eat ALOT of tuna in the pouch and whenever I go to WalMart I buy the entire box of it at a time. Inside these boxes is corregated cardboard for reinforcement and of course I've been saving it for crafting purposes. I took 2 of them and glued the center sections together, punched holes at the corners, tied some bows and VOILA! A basket! Used my threading water punch to trim the top and decorated it with some neutral primas and some of Leah's GORGEOUS hand crocheted flowers. For the handle I wound a bunch of raffia with some wrapped wire. I really love the mix of the rustic with the refined. I'm not a particular fan of hard boiled eggs but darling little quail eggs are a different story. Too bad they're such a bite to peel. LOL If you haven't hopped over to Paper Blooms you're really missing something. Leah and her Design Team have made some fabulous boxes and baskets for this challenge and one lucky participant will win some of Leah's beautiful blooms. Click HERE to go see!

The Cuttlebug Spot Easter Basket/Bag Challenge

This week at The Cuttlebug Spot we were challenged to alter a bag or basket for Easter. I went rooting through my stuff to look for something, even purchased a cute pail, but while browsing the Martha Stewart website I came across this inspiration. (Pix and explanation to follow below.) After making the basket I used one of my 12x24 sheets of Provocraft cardstock to go around it with only 1 seam. The flower folder from the With Gratitude set is nice and even (like Swiss Dots so I was able to emboss all along the strip and the images matched up perfectly. The handle strip is the dotted border folder and the basket edging is the threading water border punch.

I did a bit of recycling with the grass (it's sushi grass LOL) and I added tons of primas with skittle centers. The adorable chicks are a Cottage Cutz die available exclusively from The Scrapping Cottage. I've gone absolutely nuts over these dies! SOOOOO CUTE! The panoramic "egg" is done with my Nesties and another packaging bubble from some brads. I cuttled both inside and out with D'Vine Swirls and Swiss dots and added some little beads for bird seed.

The little treat bag topper is cut with my Nesties Labels 1 and the egg is also a Spellbinders die. I just love the way you can use them as a stencil so I decorated the it with my metallic gel pens. This was one FUN challenge. Why don't you come play along at The Cuttlebug Spot and while you're there take a look at the fabulous projects my design team sisters came up with this week.

Paper Bag Basket

I actually thought about using a variety of different things to alter for this challenge but was browsing the Martha Stewart website and went to her gallery of Easter basket pictures. One was a simple basket cut from a brown paper bag. I had a bunch of white paper bags I had bought for a craft project years ago (and never did) so I thought why not alter one of those bags into a basket? It couldn't be simpler. Just cut right above the fold when the bag is lying flat toward the center from each side and stop when you've reached as wide as you want the handle to be. I used Martha's double scallop punch along the handle sides to give it a bit of detail. Open the bag and tape the handle in the center and you've got a basket. Then embellish away! Great way to recycle too!

Paper Blooms, Vintage and a Bit of Recycling

I was so lucky to win the gorgeous Blog Candy Leah offered over at Paper Blooms to launch her new challenge site and introduce her design team. Her beautiful hand crocheted blossoms and stick pins scream for something lovely and vintage and though I'm not very good at this style, I truly love it. I can't wait for the challenges to start April 1st. Her beautifull blooms are available on Etsy and are sooo reasonably priced. She even does custom orders if there's a particular color or style you'd like to have. Be SURE to check it out HERE. She better be getting her little fingers busy because I just bought 3 sets to add to the ones I won so I'll be ready for the challenge. LOL

The doll image is a postcard I received from a fabulous store in Pleasanton CA called American Harvest that features many artists who craft with a distinctly vintage style. This doll is by the very talented Nicole Sayer who just so happens to live in Pleasanton. I cut her out and matted her in chocolate and popped her on top of a crocheted doily I had recently uncovered in the attic. The pretty paper is Basic Grey. I used some ecru lace from J's across her bodice and the glitter heart and vintage keyhole are from Melissa Frances. After taking these pix I realized I had neglected to ink the edge of the chipboard heart. I popped it off and it's all fixed now (okay Shelly? LOL)