Eclectic Ellapu Cahllenge #23 - Austism Awareness

Hello Crafters!

It's time again for a new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu. And guess what? It's my turn to be the hostess! Whoo Hoo! I chose the theme of Autism Awareness this time because April is Autism Awareness month. This is a disability that is close to my heart because of my oldest son. 

For the challenge just make projects that have puzzle pieces incorporated on them in some way using primary colours. We've all seen the ribbons to support this disability (if you haven't, take a look at my project). I made this heart hanger from some old jeans, some scraps of material, and a couple of buttons. I hand stitched the whole project and stuffed with fiber fill. I am by no means a seamstress as you can tell (sorry Mom & Meg). However, I love how rustic it looks. I would have like to add some more buttons and "stuff" but since I will most likely give it to my son, I decided not to. If I find an old puzzle piece I would paint that and glue it on.

Here are some close ups of the patches I made by hand.

 

 

And the ribbon.

 Because autism has touched my life in such a personal way, I would like to share the following brief explanation of what autism is from the The National Autistic Society website:

"Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger's Syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language."

 

Thank you for playing along in our challenge at Eclectic Ellapu and helping me to support Autism Awareness. I can't wait to see the projects you all come up with.

Happy crafting!

Happy Easter!

Hello Crafters!

I know I am a day early for the Easter celebration but I have a post going live tomorrow for Eclectic Ellapu. So as not to cut that post short, I decided to post today.

So my friend Pam from Minnesota stamped a few of this bunny stamp for me that I think is from Joanna Sheen. Please correct me if I am wrong. This really is a beautiful stamp. I colored it in with my Spectrum markers and decided to not go totally pastel for this project. Take a look:

I used the Certainly Celery & So Saffron card stock from Stampin' Up again and used Marina Mist (SU) on the doily which I cut in half. The cross is from the Lattice Die-cut from SU (cut down) as well as the sentiment in the upper right corner. I popped up the tulip bunny image once and used some really small foam dots in two layers behind the cross. After I am all done I sprayed the whole card front with Champagne Mist from SU to add just a little subtle shine. After all of that is dry I decided to add the blue bling dot to the center of the cross.

This was a really fun card to make and I hope you enjoyed it. See you tomorrow!

Easter Bunny Card

Hello Crafters!

With yesterday's weather here you would really have thought Spring was on it's way. Today, however, is a different story. It's a bit gloomy, a little drizzly, with a little breeze. I truly hope that tomorrow is better.

So, since I can't get the weather to cooperate, I have been making Spring/Easter cards to get me in a little better mood. Here's the one I worked on Wednesday.

I made this a 4"x4" card because I'm still promoting the DT Call for Fat-Tastic Tuesday until April 9th. I just love this size card, don't you? This particular project is a tri-fold card as you can see by the pictures below.

So, the stamp is one of my newest from Stampin' Up as well as the card stock, designer paper and the sentiment stamp on the inside. Isn't it just adorable? I added the little doily behind the bunnies with foam tape and the buttons on the corners to give this card some added dimension. If I had not been in such a hurry I might have added some ribbon to it too.

See my next post today for another card I made yesterday. Whoo! Hoo! I am on a roll!

Happy crafting!

DCWV Giveaway

Hello Crafters!

I just have to tell you about a cool giveaway by Northridge Publishing at their "Create" blog.  They have several paper packs from DCWV like Magnolia Way, Adhesive Cork, Handy-Dandy, Whimsical World, Fiber, Adhesive Fabric, Birthday Wishes, and Cardstock Neutrals stacks that they are offering for this week's prize. They will be choosing 3 winners and each winner will get one of each!  Here's a sneak peak of the product packs:

Are these just fabulously beautiful or what? Who wouldn't love to win these awesome paper packs. Go check it out and get registered to win! Idid!

Thinking of You 4"x4" Digi Card

Hello Crafters!

As you know, I have been promoting "Fat Pages" for a little while now. Abbie and I have the DT Call still going on for Fat-Tastic Tuesday for which the deadline is April 9th.  So, I wanted to try and do a totally digital card just to see if I could do it and be happy with the result. So here it is:

I started by putting a varigated background of pinks and yellows down as my base with a black outline representing another layer behind the pink. After that I added a cropped pic that I took of a flower on another card I made earlier this year.. Although that took a little time it was fun. I layered the flower on solid pink, then black. Between the two black layers I added a layer of green rice paper texture. The green rice paper texture was also used behind the image (from Robyn's Fetish that I used on another card I made earlier) I took a picture of an embossed piece of pink card stock to add some dimension to the layers and put a white circle with the sentiment layered on black on top of the embossed piece. The green rice paper texture and black is layered behind that. I just love how much fun this was. Honestly, I wasn't sure if I could do it and make it not look like just a sketch. I think I achieved my goal here and may even take to the photo shop for printing a few to have on hand.

Thanks for stopping by today! Happy crafting!

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #34 - Fantasy

Hello Crafters!

Just another quick blurp about Fat-Tastic Tuesday DT Call. Be sure to check it out at the link on my left side bar and up above. Applications are only taken until April 9th so time is running out.

Ok, on with the challenge.

 Bugaboo is our wonderful sponsor this week so after you have checked out my post and the inspiration from the design team at Artistic Inspirations go check out our sponsors site. Lovely images!

Here's my card.

So, who doesn't know that I love butterflies? Especially blue ones? I just loved this image (Bugaboo) and had to use it this week.

I started with Eggplant card stock and used Versa-Mark to ink the background with a leaf stamp (SU). The doily is inked with So Saffron (SU) and adhered to the card with wet glue. Black bling dots frame the inner circle of the doily. The butterfly image was punched out then I blended three colors starting with green at the bottom, yellow, blue and just a smidgen of purple at the top using y finger daubers and classic ink. To add a little depth I placed the punched and inked image on another circle of black card stock then popped up with foam tape.

A strip of So saffron card stock was placed on the left side. One inch scallop circles punched from Certainly Celery card stock topped with a black butterfly (for shadow) and blue butterflies were placed on top....and more bling.

 The green organdy ribbon is tied around the base of the card under the bottom scallop and tied in a soft knot on the right. I stamped the sentiment (SU) with black ink on to Certainly Celery card stock and punched out with 1-1/8" circle punch and layered on a black circle.

 When I'm all done, I think it needs just a touch more sparkle so I added Champagne Mist spray (SU) a couple of times. Should have done that to the image first. Hmm. Had to re-ink the blended colors a bit to brighten them up. Cool thing - the glitter still shows on top of the ink when I'm done without re-applying the spray. Pretty neat! Ok, so I had to add a little blue bling on the image flowers. Now I think I'm happy.

Hope you liked my project today. Please visit Artistic Inspirations and check out the DT inspirations then get to crafting and join in the fun! I look forward to seeing your creations.

Happy crafting!

Eclectic Ellapu Challenge #22 - Whimsical

Hello Crafters!

We have started a new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu and Berni is our hostess this week. Berni's birthday is April 1st so she has asked us to create something funny and/or whimsical for this weeks challenge. The inspiration from the Pink Team is great. So be sure to check out and join in the fun.

So, here's my card this week.

I have always loved this set from Stampin' Up. I used a a leafy embossing folder on the bashful blue card stock for depth, die cut the leaves (SU) from certainly celery card stock and inked them up a bit. The card is also inked up around the edges. I added the two tone ribbon (Michael's) to anchor the leaves. The image is colored with pencils, cut out with a nestabillities die and inked with yellow then just a bit of orange for more depth. The sentiment was stamped and cut in to separate pieces which were also inked with yellow and orange. The image and sentiment were both popped up with foam tape. The card was then layered onto so saffron card stock and inked up along the edges.

Thanks for for stopping by today and I hope you will join in the challenge this week  with the Eclectics. I for one can't wait to see the cards everyone creates.

Happy Crafting!

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #33 - Use Metal

Hello Crafters!

Time for the new challenge at Artistic Inspirations. This week we were asked to use metal on our projects. Our sponsor is:

Stitchy Bear

I chose a motorcycle image as I have had a layout I've wanted to use for a long time using metal. Here's my card.

I used foil for the metal background that I ran through an embossing folder then adhered to white card stock.  Then I pierced around the edges. I also inked the edges of the white card stock. I used 2 circle punches to make the washer above (a real one would make this too heavy to mail) and attached with a slip knot to the black cording and wrapped around my card card stock. I layered all of that on to black card stock. The image was colored with Spectrum markers and the edges were inked in black. The image is popped up on pierced foil and black card stock then all of that is popped up again on top of the embossed foil piece. I added 3 small pieces of metal I found in my hubby's hardware chest. On the inside, even though I didn't take a picture of it I added 3 more very small washers on white card stock to add a little interest there.

I hope you have enjoyed my card today and will stop by Artistic Inspirations and take a look at the rest of the DT's projects, they are all inspiring. Don't forget to upload your project in to the challenge!

Happy Crafting!

Eclectic Ellapu Challenge #21 - Baby

Hello Crafters!

It's Sunday again and all be it late, I have the new challenge for you from Eclectic Ellapu. It was Elisa's turn to pick our challenge and she has chosen a "Baby" or "Pregnacy" theme this week. So get all your baby stamps and embellishments out and join the fun.

For my project this week I have a cute 6x6 album to put all those great baby pictures.

The basic style of this album is not a new one, but I have added some pages that flip and some places to slip in a tag for some extra journaling. Below are pics showing how I put this album together.

 

   

 

 

 

Happy Crafting!

DT Call at FAT-TASTIC TUESDAY

DESIGN TEAM CALL!

There's a new blog on the block called Fat-Tastic Tuesday. I have teamed up with  Abbie and we are having a Design Team Call! Here's a little info about the call from the new blog.

Calling all paper crafters!
Are you an experienced paper crafter? Do you like to make cards and/or mini books? Do you like digital images? Do you have an active blog? Do you like to socialize with like minded crafters? Then our Design Team is the team for you. We are looking for a talented team of paper crafters to help promote fat pages and make them the most popular thing on the planet since sliced bread!  Prior design team experience is not required. 
For more detailed info click on the link above. We hope to see you there!

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #32 - Anything Goes

Hello Crafters!

Challenge # 32 goes live today at Artistic Inspirations. We have another all time favorite theme of "Anything Goes". Our sponsor this week is:

Eureka

I chose to use the image called "Hibiscus with Bee" for my card and do like how it turned out. I also decided to do another 4x4 card. They really are fun to make.

I have colored the image with Spectrum Markers then cut out. I did trim some of the leaves off to fit the card without looking like I chopped them off the edge. My card base is Going Gray card stock from SU.  I added a 1-1/4" strip of black card stock on the left to anchor everything. The lattice die-cut (SU) is used behind my image to represent a trellis. Yellow ribbon is woven through the cut out areas of the flower image and wrapped around the card then tied in a bow on the front. The image is popped up at some of the top areas only. See below:

If I were to do this card again, I would probably cut the image twice and layer the flower and the bee a second time with foam tape. All in all, it still looks decent. "Delightful" is from a Fiskars clear stamp set I picked up at Joan Fabrics. Lots of sentiments in that set. I popped the sentiment up and the red back layer of the sentiment to add a little more dimension to my card.

You can see all the dimension on the card at this angle.

Do head over to Artistic Inspirations this week and join in our "Anything Goes" challenge. We would love to see you play along. If you haven't already done so, be sure to click on the links on my blog here to get the new address.

Happy crafting!

Eclectic Ellapu Challenge #20 - Birthday

Hello Crafters!

Today begins a new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu. Nana Connie is our hostess this week and she has picked one of everyone's favorite themes. Yep, it's birthday time. Now Nana Connie chose this theme because her birthday is on the 17th - St. Patrick's Day. So be sure to stop by and leave some birthday wishes for her.

Ok, on with my card. I recently went to a stamp class and made a card with a really neat layout. Miss Susie is an awesome instructor and comes up with all kinds of new ideas. My card today is exactly like hers with my own supplies. Her card his here, my card is below.

I used an owl digital image I won from Dillybeans. Isn't it just the cutest? I colored with my Spectrum markers (of course) and added googly eyes from my stash. Couldn't help myself on that one. I layered it on Pink Passion (pierced the corners), white, then Green Galore card stock form SU. The card base is 4-1/4 x 5-1/2. The top portion that has been trimmed is 3" wide (so I trimmed 1-1/4" off). I layered with scallop designer paper from Kaiser Kraft (2-3/4" x 5-1/4") and added some dashes with my Basic Black marker (SU) to bring the background forward a bit. I used a 5" piece of organdy polka-dot ribbon and tied in a loose knot for the bow. I stamped the "happy birthday" from a Paper Studio's clear stamp set and popped that up on to black card stock. Here's the fun part. I added a sentiment to the inside that fit the image.

Nana Connie, this is in no way directed toward you sweetie! I knew I wanted to use that sentiment when I got that image.

You can see now how I attached the layered image piece on the front. Place the white card stock with the sentiment on the inside so it hides under the front image. Again I added the faux stitching and some punched flowers to add a little interest.

I hope you have enjoyed my card today and will want to give it try. Also be sure to stop by and see the inspiration from the Eclelctics' Pink Team and join in the birthday challenge.

Happy crafting!