Sunday, February 28, 2010

Sketch Girl #13 is up!


Sketch Girl 13 is now up! It is a simple but fun sketch that is being sponsored by Wild Flower Kids.


The winner of Sketch 13 will receive 5 digi images from Wild Flower Kids. WFK was kind enough to give the DT digital images from their Royal Court release to use on our cards. I used Pretty Princess on my card and colored her with pastel pencils.


Check out the other Sketch Girls:


Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Another Treat Holder

So I’m back with another treat holder because well who couldn’t use a cute simple gift. Plus I’m a little addicted to my GCD papers lately especially the black and white. This is a design I made as I went, but hopefully I can walk you through it, if you’d like to give it a go, since its pretty simple.

To make the small pocket inside I cut a 6 by 3 inch rectangle. I folded at a ¼ inch in from each long side. Then I folded down the middle and again ¼ inch below that.

Snip the two folds in the center as seen in the picture and add adhesive. The two side flaps sit on top of each other and one side will be longer than the other like a library pocket. Punch a hole on each side of the pocket at the top.

The outside is simple a 3.5 by 8 inch rectangle folded at 3.5 and then again at 4.5. You will need to punch holes in the middle sides of the top of the container. Thread the ribbon through the pocket then up through the outside piece and tie a bow.

Decorate the front and inside pocket as desired. I choose some GCD Studios paper, a chipboard circle and a tag for the front.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Tea is Wise Tag Album


So I've recently given up coffee for awhile basically because its kind of a vice/crutch for me even though I never have more than one cup a day. I don't want my DD coffee to be the highlight of my day because I want to focus on the other joyful nonmaterial things in life. So I've found myself sipping on tea when I want a warm drink and on Celestial Seasonings tea there are little quotes at the end of the strings. Well since I like to collection things to repurpose I collected some of these quotes. Then GCD Studios issued a challenge that asked us to reflect in a LO one what we've learned in 2009. But I didn't make a LO, instead I went with a mini album and used the quotes to reflect on last year. It was great to get a lot of journaling out even if there are no pictures.


I used GCD Studios letter stickers and a few of their fantastic journaling tags. Honestly I wish I knew somewhere that carried them where I could just buy a plethora of the tags because I don't want to use up the ones from my collection packs. So this is an album to relax my hoarding ways which is something I learned in 2009. Use what you have, not just scrapping supplies either, because not only is it good for your budget and the earth its good for your guilt. Ever feel bad picking up those few more sheets even though you know you have more paper than you could ever use?, then you know what I mean.


Clinton Kelly, from TLC's What Not to Wear, came to my college, Rutgers, last night! It was very exciting and he is charming and hilarious. He gave a little speech about dressing for work then took a lot of audience questions. My friend Yoli and I (in the pic above) had those hats on the whole time because well I love hats and especially that one which was hand knit for me by bf's mom. Well when someone asked about hats and if they are ever a good accessory, Clinton pointed out our hats as an example of cute hats done right. A fashion compliment from Clinton Kelly, makes me feel pretty good especially because this hat has become my winter staple.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Stitching on a LO


Here's a LO featuring the GCD Studios Bright Skies collection. I added stitching details around the clouds and the larger photo mat. I love that the large die-cut came right in the collection pack along with the journaling tag. I think all the stitching details make it great for the Moxie Fab floss challenge.


GCD Studios Basket Tutorial


Easter is fast approaching and my mom is always looking for ideas for gifts to make. Yesterday I came up with an idea for a quick basket that can be used for Easter or really any other gift giving. Also its a great way to show off the other pretty side of your double sided papers.


I love the simple shimmery pattern on the other side of this GCD Studios Margarita paper.


These are super simple to make. Cut a 9x9 piece of double sided patterned paper. Another reason I love the GCD Studios paper is because it is thick and so I know my basket will be able to hold some candy without crumpling. Fold the paper at the 3 inch mark on all sides as seen below. Fold the paper so that the sides come into the inside pattern. You will also need to fold the corner squares diagonally toward the center.


Here's a picture of where to put the adhesive on the outside side of the paper. Push the diagonal edges toward the center and the basket will fold into a cube shape. The basket is further held together by the brads when you attach the handle.

I cut out a flower from the same GCD paper but used the inside for the embellie. I added a prima and a tag from the Margarita collection pack.

GCD Studios and Floss Necklace with Tutorial

There has been so much inspiration at the GCD Studios blog lately that I decided I really needed to play with some GCD goodies. I wanted to combine their chipboard with their paper but in a bit of a different way which made me think of the Moxie Fab floss challenge because it hit me. A necklace! I’m sure at least some of you have seen these paper beads before and they are very simple to make but I want to walk you through the project just in case you’d like to play with paper beads.

First I picked out my charms. A hand painted bead from an impulse buy at the craft store. Then I turned to my GCD Shades of Black chipboard. Now as other fans of GCD may know the chipboard is self adhesive which I love because it meant a way to add some quick texture to the back by covering the back with some beautiful flocked paper from the Bright Skies collection. I also tied my yellow in with a little flower on the J. I poked a hole with a paper piercer in each piece and then strung them.

To make the paper beads you simply cut paper strips to your desired thickness (I used ½, 1, and 1 ½ inch widths for my beads) and at least six inches long. Put a small bit adhesive on the end of the side you would like to be shown. Then put some additional adhesive on the other side. Roll around a pen or other utensil.

Now these paper beads made from some gorgeous black and white GCD paper are fab but I wanted to add a bit of interest to them and pull my yellow back in so I decided to give the beads a stitched look with floss. To do this you only need to make a few stitches on the tail end of the bead before you finish rolling.

I wanted these to be dangly charms, not coming right off the necklace so I needed a way to attach the string to the main necklace string. Well typing it on is simple enough but not quite so pretty. So I made an extra large bead again using floss stitching then I cut a slit to the middle where the paper met. Next I put the tied together chipboard charms over the necklace string then slid the charm string to the center of the large bead.




Now what I’m sure you’re all thinking is: Can I wear this? Well I’ve got to admit it’s a little delicate because it’s made of paper after all. But you can seal paper beads with modge podge to make them more durable and as for my necklace my sister is a big fashionista and I know she would love to display it on a necklace form just as a conversation piece. So that’s it my floss project hope it inspires you to take another look at some supplies you have laying around.


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Cupcake Craft and Pile It On


Last night when I was feeling too tired to concentrate on studying I decided to play with my new Sassafras Lass Vintage Yummy collection pack. This time I didn't use a sketch but I did sneak in two challenges. Cupcake Craft asked for us to keep it simple. I have two PP, two stickers, and a rub-on sentiment. I'm not sure I could make myself so simpler than that even though I know some ladies create stunning cards with plain white backgrounds. I also have the Pile It On challenge to use flowers incorporated. Part of keeping it simple meant that I didn't add Primas but the gorgeous Vintage Yummy stickers feature flowers.


Card Patterns, Pink Elephant, and Frosted Designs


I got new Sassafras Lass this weekend! When I saw the Vintage Yummy collection pack at Michael's and had a 50% off coupon on my hand I just couldn't resist. This card combines three challenges. I started with the Card Patterns sketch. The sketch had hearts but I've had enough of hearts for awhile so I incorporated the Frosted Designs challenge to use a star. I used gems instead of the other small heart because I couldn't decide on any other shape that kept a nice balance. Pink Elephant called for ribbon this week and while I love the paper strips on the end of the Sass paper I felt three would be too much so I balanced it with ribbon. For those of you who are getting snow like we are in NJ stay warm and safe on the roads! Snow may be pretty but we've gotten more than our fair share this past week.




Monday, February 15, 2010

Sketch Girl #12 is up!


Sketch Girl #12 is up! We have a lovely sketch and a fab new sponsor!


The sassy girl on my card this week is a digital design generously given to DT members from our sponsor Sassy Studio Designs. They make so many fun images are generously offering 4 digi stamps to our winner! So head on over to Sketch Girl and check out all the DT inspiration then link up your take on our sketch by Feb 27th.


Also today I have the winner of my blog candy so congrats Elizabeth! Here's the links to check out the rest of the talented Sketch Girls including our fabulous guest DT Amy Tsuruta!


Saturday, February 13, 2010

Challenges with Love Birds


I was hanging out with my mom this morning and made yet another valentine. This love birds card was made for the Basic Grey Challenges sketch using Euphoria. My Love Birds sticker is new for the ABC Challenge. Creative Belli wanted ribbon so I added a bow for a flower center. I have hearts for the Daring Cardmakers challenge. I know there were many valentines challenges this week but I think that's enough challenges for one little card. Hope you're enjoying the long weekend!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Sassafras Lass Love Challenge


Sassafras Lass issued a challenged this week to make a love project and since I love SL I had to join in. The idea is to use some old SL to make room for new SL. I used a bunch of papers from Hog Heaven.


I also used the CPS sketch this week for the layout of my card. I haven't played there in a long time but I really liked the sketch this week and couldn't get it out of my head. This is also my mushy gushy valentine for the Pink Elephant challenge. It may not seem that mushy gushy but my valentine isn't the mushy gushy type so I think by his scale it would be. That also makes it perfect for the Pile It On To the One You Love challenge.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

A Card for a Special Girl


I recently heard about Delia, a little girl who's been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and could use some valentines. She especially loves owls so a card with owls would be especially appreciated. Well I love owls too and love giving away cards so I set to work on an owl valentine just for Delia today. Dustin Pike is generously giving away some digital freebies to those who are willing to make a card for this little girl. The digi images are of course owls so don't worry if you have no owls on hand. Also that post has mailing details for valentines for Delia. I combined my mission today with some challenges. I used two of the 365 Cards challenge (scallop, ribbon, and ink distressing and the white out sketch challenge). Cupcake Crafts called for Red and White all over though I added a touch of black. Simon Says Stamps asks for love this week.