Notably Ornate

I'm sure you've noticed by now, I'm totally in *love* with pg 125 of the new SU catalog. From the moment I saw it, it was just me!

Supplies used on this card (all SU):

- stamps: Notably ornate; Elements of style

- cardstock: ridinghood red, chocolate chip; very vanilla

- ink: ridinghood red, chocolate chip

- other: designer label punch & hodgepodge hardware

Card Holder

I found this Eiffel Tower card/picture holder this weekend at Home Sense and couldn't resist it! ...perfect for displaying cards, I thought. In my craft-time this morning, I decided to embellish it though because it was so starkly black and that it's Paris at all - Paris has this wonderful brownish-vanilla'y-yellow tone...and antique goldish...well kind of like this tag I made:) I just love vintage!!

Embossing Charms

In the second September challenge over at A Charming Place, we were challenged to create a project using 3 charms and to emboss those charms. I never knew you could do that - what fun! I used a heart, key and slide charm and embossed them in 'pirates' gold':) Here's a link to the forum where Leah explains how:) It's really just like embossing a stamped image...stamp your charm into a versamark pad (generously!) and then emboss with embossing powder (generously again!) and a heat tool. As I was doing this, I realized a great application of this would be if you needed a silver brad and only had gold or a copper eyelet and only had silver:) I also pulled out my Big Shot for this project using several of my SU dies and my embossing plates. I think it's important to remember to pull out our stuff and play...too often we don't think to use what we have;)

Charms were, of course, from A Charming Place, and all other supplies were Stampin' Up including:

- chocolate chip, ridinghood red, vanilla, crumb cake and baja blue cardstock

- Artistic Etchings, Tiny Tags and French Flair stampsets

- Top Note and Label dies for the Big Shot along with one of the standard embossing plates

- Inks were: close to cocoa, chocolate chip, ridinghood red and black. I also used a versamark pad with the embossed pieces

- Ribbon: very vanilla satin ribbon, chocolate chip taffeta ribbon and linen thread

Flattenable Box

So I finally got around to trying this project from Kimberly! I mostly wanted to figure out how to make a flower like this and play around with a few new supplies. I worked that into my last August Challenge from A Charming Place and this is what I came up with:)

Supplies are from all over on this project: SU, My Mind's Eye, A Charming Place and even The Dollar Store;)

Altered Tin Swap

I'm part of an altered tin swap and this is what I came up with...now to figure out how to mail it;) It's filled with some crafting treasures all of which can be inked, smooched or glimmer misted to coordinate with lots of different crafting projects...

August MAP Challenge

I was a little stumped at first on this challenge (over at ACP). I didn't have any map dp or stamps?! But then I took some inspiration from a co-worker's upcoming anniversary trip to Italy and I found a map of Italy online, copied it into word and edited it a bit - then printed it out on kraft and inked it up. I stamped the background using SU's flourish stamp from the elements of style set and I clear embossed it. The flourish on the tag comes from SU's tiny tags set and the 'bon voyage' stamp is from Michael's $1.50 bin. I chose to use a wine bottle charm to finish it off because Italy is the wine capital of the world (well, next to France) and it seemed fitting with the sentiment:)

August Challenge #1 - Travel Challenge

Shawna is hosting the challenges at ACP this month and posted the most breathtaking project this morning. Her challenge was to create a travel themed project and to make it 'charming'. As you all know, I LOVE Paris...with my husband working and my daughter sleeping this morning, I had time to play. I decided to try and use some supplies or techniques I hadn't before - so I pulled out my decor elements stencils and my presto paper. I had sponged with the stencils before, but today I also used a background stamp. With the presto paper, I used my favourite spun sugar smooch spritz and some sponging. I used 2 charms from ACP, the postcard and the 'paris'....and voila!

First Challenge

I became a member at ACP this week. They have monthly challenges and this is what I made for my first-ever challenge. The challenge was to use EITHER black OR white and then only 2 other colours (and to use a charm, of course!). I chose to use white, turquoise & brown - and since I was making a flower, I used a flower charm:) I combined this challenge with a flower tutorial I found today that I wanted to try out. The DP is some old Penny Lane paper from last summer.

Card Candy Swap

I'm participating in a card candy swap over at 'A Charming Place'. This is what I came up with:)

Rocker-husbands read too!...

...another bookmark...this time for my hubby...more scraps used...more fun playing...

Reading is the 'key';)

I've made a few more corner bookmarks - mostly as a place to play with some new goodies, but also because my family really liked how they work:)

I used the new sizzex die from Tim Holtz on this one (paper is all scraps;)

Mini Album...started..

Yesterday was 'Stamp-Camp'...an annual event at Shawna's cabin at the Lake were we do projects and get to see the new Stampin' Up Catalog:) It was a fun day of projects, techniques, friends and food (I even had that first smore I've had in probably 4-5 years!)

This was the mini album I started - there's lots more to be done, but I thought I'd share it since it features some of my favourite new products - actually, everything on page 125 in the new Catalog is my favourite;) It will be fun to finish off the inside and maybe I'll get some pictures posted of that part when it's done:)

Another Bookmark

I liked the way the corner bookmark I posted on the weekend works, so I made this one for my tea-loving friend...again out of scraps...the stamps I used were from Basic Grey's Nook & Pantry, Cup of Tea collection. All inks used were distress ink...the brownish tone is my usual (and most favourite), vintage photo:) and the blue is called stormy sky:)

Corner Bookmark

I played around with this week's Splitcoast tutorial this morning and this is what I came up with. I have to say I'm really pleased with how well it works as a bookmark! I used an assortment of scraps really - the largest piece of cardstock needed is only 4 x 4. I embossed the stamped images - and the stamps were from Pink Paisley's Cupid Collection:)

Memory Glass

This was my first attempt playing around with Ranger's Memory Glass. I had a little trouble with the thickness, but I wasn't willing to sacrifice dimension for it;)

Merci

Just playing around with smooch spritz on a thank you card this weekend:)

Penny Lane Frame

Friends of ours recently went on a mission trip to Africa and the pictures inspired this frame. I used some penny lane paper and some chestnut fluid chalk ink:) The flower is made out of 3 circles punched out of coordinating paper and distressed.

Also on a side note, I finally got my 'create' up on the wall in my craft space:)

My First Canvas!

I've been seeing a new trend here and there these days...papercrafting on canvas, and I kept hoping I would find a local class to bravely equip me to try it out, but alas, I could wait no longer and I sat down and started to create. This canvas took me one delightful morning and 2 homemade cafe mochas;)

I worked on the canvas itself with some vintage photo distress ink and my new favourite, spun sugar smooch spritz:) The accordion ribbon technique was Nadine's that I also used in my last post (http://delitetechniques.blogspot.com/2010/05/accordion-ribbon.html) and the technique to make the flower came from this little tutorial from Dawn at My Favourite things (http://dawnmcvey.typepad.com/these_are_a_few_of_my_fav/2010/01/new-raspberry-suite-sneakie-peek.html). The layers of the flower are also sponged and smooched! The bookprint sheet and punches for the flower all came from a used edition of Jane Austin's Persuasion. I ripped the sheet used on the left side and white embossed it with baroque motifs (I'd seen something similar to this a long time ago somewhere but cannot remember where - I think they used black though...) The inspiration for the string of buttons along the ribboned end also came from there. The butterflies were all done with an embosslet.

The sentiment is so now for me. LIVE - we wait for perfect conditions often to create or live out or dreams. I'm learning not to wait...



Edited to add: I should note that with the accordion ribbon, this time I didn't use liquid glue...I mostly used glue dots this time and found it a little easier. Also, I'm sorry the links aren't live, I'm having difficulty giving live links within my posts these days and I haven't seemed to find an answer to this dilema;)

Accordion Flower & Ribbon Technique

What do you do with old pattern paper that you have sitting around that you don't care for? You smooch it! I made this little accordion flower out of a strip of baby blue & white patterned paper that I wasn't fond of. First I used a little distress ink on it, then I stamped it with SU's baroque motif's swirls with distress ink, and then I sprayed it with spun sugar smooch spritz. I ended up with a vintage strip that I tried out Leica's accordion flower technique on (http://10-4livingoutloud.typepad.com/leica_forrest/2010/05/accordion-flowers-step-by-step.html). And then I played with Nadine's accordion ribbon technique from last weekend too (http://delitetechniques.blogspot.com/2010/05/accordion-ribbon.html) :)

Paris Tags - part 2

Paris Tags - part 1

Paris Tag Set

I wanted to make a little tag book/set for my coffee date with a friend this weekend who just returned from a trip to Paris. I took a little 'Tim-z-peration' and used some of the techniques I've seen from Tim Holtz recently (for some reason I still can't link it, but here's the addie...I'll add it to my sidebar too... http://www.timholtz.typepad.com/). I also used my favourite of Tim's distress inks, 'vintage photo' on each of the tags. Stamps used include Tim's 'Mini Classics' collection and Hero Arts 'Paris' set. Cardstock was all from SU (kraft, sahara sand and going grey). I figured that she could either keep it together as a reminder of her experience or she could use the tags separately in her photo album from the trip:) I'll post close ups of the individual tags over the weekend.

Accordion/Envelope Album

I'm working on this little mini-album made out of 3 envelopes using a pack/kit I picked up the last time I was in Edmonton & Treasured Memories (I think the pack was put together by Nadine... links to both can be found on my sidebar... for some reason blogger isn't letting put live links in my post today;). I just loved the Pink Paisley papers in it (Cupid Collection)... lots of French inspired images. I've been missing Paris and decided I'd use this for part of what I have planned for my husband for Father's Day. I intend to put some pictures of us in Paris in it and journal about the things I love about him - one of which is that he made the Paris-dream come true!

Inspiration

So I've given away the mother's day cards I made without photographing them -oops;) I got some inspiration for one of them from Shawna - you can look at hers here (love the way you make the rose!)

Speaking of inspiration.... I'm sure I've mentioned how much I enjoy visiting 'Treasured Memories' when I'm in Edmonton. I love vintage and they usually have lots of vintage:) Well, in the last couple of weeks I've discovered the blogs of several on their design team, and I'm loving Nadine's blog and site (Delite Designs) - lots of great inspiration there...her sidebar reads: "She pursued big dreams instead of small realities. Celebrate her priorities." That's very kindred to me right now - kind of where I'm at, what I'm working through and trying to figure out.

Also, there's a quote on her 'techniques' page that I discovered today and I think it so true, so that's what I'll leave you with today:)

"The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself." -Alan Alda

C R E A T E!

Bon Voyage

One of my dear friends is leaving on a trip to Paris today - so you know I had to make her a card;)

Smile

This is a card I made for a 3 1/2 year old boy who I've never met, but pray for and love dearly. It kind of took me back to basics when I thought about what I had that would work for a little boy that age and the outcome was simple but bright:)

Sentiments

The first sentiment I should really express is an apology for my long absence. As I've dealt with some life-things recently this was one of the things that I set aside and most of the cards and things I've made this past month have been given away without a photograph, and to be honest that felt pretty good. Sometimes I find I end up putting pressure on myself even in this area (my hobby, for relaxation and enjoyment) to make everything perfect. Trust me, what you'll be seeing in the next couple of days is far from perfect, but I'm liking creating more now that I'm taking that pressure off of me - getting my 'bliss' back;)

This is just a little packet of sentiment stamps I assembled for a dear neighbour's birthday. I'm loving the sentiments that are currently available at Michaels!

Vintage thank you

Just a little thank you note I made for one of the ladies in my stamp club who did me a sweet favour! The yellow block is sponged through a mask I made by using some scratch paper and punching a couple of 1 1/4" squares out - I had seen Connie do something similar:)

Vintage Birthday

Another vintage vogue card. I decided not to fight it - my favourite style is vintage, romantic, parisian, burgundies, etc. so I'm being indulgent and doing what I like.
I also drew inspiration on these vintage cards from Connie.

Happy un-birthday, friend!

I'm meeting a friend for a birthday lunch in a few days...her birthday is in February and mine in June...we're a little late, so I made an un-birthday card:) I'm loving vintage vogue these days!

Paper toile?

...well not quite, but I saw the idea of popping up layers on a flower stamp and had to try it out. Here's what I came up with...

Friend Card

I had borrowed the stampset this sentiment is in to see if I needed to order it. I didn't, but it was fun to play with;) Still loving my medallion stamp:)

Inspired by Shawna

I made this card last weekend I think. It's inspired by Shawna's card here. My flowers are made out of scallop punches though - I thought it would be fun to try to create that look:)

Altered Frame

I had a tough week at work and really needed the hour I took today to be creative. I decided to make a frame for a picture of my husband and I that I plan to take to the office for my desk...something positive to focus on on a tough day, you know?!

The papers come from the Be Mine Stack. Stamps used are from SU - baroque motifs & wing it, and Inkadinkado. Flowers are from Prima. Brads are $ Store actually. Lace is from Treasured Memories (Edmonton); ribbon is kraft taffeta from SU, and the heart charm is from A Charming Place.

Oh, and the frame is just a $1.50 wood frame from Michaels:) I used Chestnut fluid chalk ink from my Q to do the edges...