Fat-Tastic Tuesday Challenges Start Today! Challenge #1 - Birthday

Hello Crafters!

I've been waiting for this day for a long time. We are so excited over at Fat-Tastic Tuesday to finally be starting our challenges. Our challenges will run for two weeks and not only will we give you a theme to follow but we will have a sketch for you as well. We will also have an inspiration post on week two just to keep you interested (kind of sneaky, huh?). You are allowed to enter 2 times per week and must use the sketch to eligible to win. The top winner of our challenges will get to come back as the Guest Designer for our Inspiration Post in the next challenge. Our challenge is for 4"x4" Fat Pages, 4"x4" Cards, or 4"x4" Mini Books. We have some great sponsors lined up for you too. So, won't you join us? It's sure to be a fun time!

Our sponsors for this challenge are

3 digis of winners choice

5 digis of winners choice

3 digis of winners choice

As I said, our theme this week is birthday. Here's the sketch we have for you to use:

And here's my project for the first week:

Isn't this bear just the cutest image? I printed her out twice and colored her with my Spectrum markers then cut out her face, arms and foot pads from the second image and popped them up here. It really adds dimension to her. I also (although you can't tell here) put crystal lacquer on the little heart she's holding to add some dimension there as well. I started this project with craft card stock and layered with Recollections coordinating designer paper. The little pennants were punched from a SU punch but, I did cut them down a bit to fit this card. The bakers twine is from Memory Keepers and the bling is from my stash. I did turn the sketch 1/4 turn to the right in order to accomodate the image (totally allowed in the challenge).

Well, that's my first project for the first challenge for our brand spanking new Fat-Tastic Tuesday Challenge blog. Please check out the other designers projects as they are wonderful and be sure to play along! We would love to have you!

Happy Crafting!

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #39 - Lots of Layers

Hello Crafters!

This weeks challenge over at Artistic Inspirations is all about layers. We want you to pile them on. Our sponsor

 

is offering 4 digis of winners choice from their shop.

My project this week includes an image called "The Greatest Gift".

  

 I used Stampin' Up card stock, designer paper & die cuts as well a some ribbon and flowers from my stash. The image is layered and popped up on some foam tape. Of course I inked the edges all around and added a little bling to dress it up a bit. 

So, I hope you will play along this week. The DT have created some beautiful projects so go check them out and enter our challenge. We would love to have you play along.

Happy Crafting!

Eclectic Ellapu Challenge #27 - Anything Goes

Hello Crafters!

We have an awesome challenge going this week at Eclectic Ellapu. You can make absolutely anything you want this time around. This is right up my alley and I hope its up your alley too. So here's my project.

I just love making craft type projects and really need to make more time for them. I made this little tower for a friend who has limited space in her craft "area". I started by making 16 drawer boxes with the help of my Silhouette machine. Handy little machine to have it is! The box bases are made from craft card stock while the drawers are made from Always Artichoke card stock. I found some beautiful papers that were given to me by the friend that this happens to have been made for. Not a coincidence. ;-)

The boxes are 2" square with the drawers being ever so slightly smaller. After I assembled the boxes using white glue (recommended for sturdiness). I started stacking them layer by layer using more white glue. I alternated the boxes so that on any given side I had 4 drawers to open. Once I had all that done and dried overnight I applied the paper squares to all sides. I ended up using 2 of each pattern paper per side.

For the drawer handles I used office supply brads that were a bit longer than the usual scrapbooking/card making brads to make them extra sturdy. I layered the handles with a washer on the bottom then a hex nut, and then the brad on top. Here's a close up.

After completing this step, with wet glue I attached a piece of card stock to a 4" lazy susan base that I picked up at Ace Hardware and trimmed to fit (both layers). Once I let that dry (another overnighter) I glued my tower to the base and weighted it down while it dried. Once the whole thing is dry I attached the card I made here.

This really was an easy project, just a little time consuming. I had so much fun though that I want to make drawers for a cubby cabinet I picked up at the scrapbook store. Ok, I actaully have 4 of these cabinets and they each have 9 cubby holes. Not sure how soon I will be working on this project but it will take me a while once I get started. I just hope I can manage the time to do it as I am giving my craft space a major cleaning right now. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. Just trying to be positive!

So,what are you going to make for our challenge at Eclectic Ellapu? I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Happy Crafting!

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #38 - For the Ladies

Hello Crafters!

Our newest challenge at Artistic Inspirations is "For The Ladies".

Our sponsor is

They are offering a voucher to spend in their shop.

I have chosen "Artsy Flower" for my image this week. Here's my card:

With the exception of the Floppy Lattes image, most of my supplies are from Stampin' Up. I did use my Spectrum markers and the paper flowers are from Prima. I used the note die from SU to cut out my image or at leas part of it. I just loved the way all the elements came together on this card. I do think though that the next time I use this image I will most likely paper pierce the dots around the flower.

I hope you have enjoyed my project today. Please stop over to Artistic Inspirations and see the rest of the teams wonderful projects then join in the fun. Remember there's a voucher to be won!

Happy Crafting!

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #37 - 2nd post

Hello Crafters!

As I said in my previous post our sponsor this week for Artistic Inspirations is:

 

 They are offering 5 digis from their shop for the winner and their shop is full of great designs. I have chosen Waking Up Birdie for my second image this week.

This project is a quick and easy little gift bag great for May Day, Mother's Day or anytime. For all of the detailed instructions, see yesterday's post.

On this bag I chose to use a strip of SU designer paper down the middle of my blue card stock. I also used the big note die from SU for a layer behind the image. I had to cut it down a bit to fit the width of the bag but it added a little dimension to the layout design. The image colored with Spectrum markers and popped up on black card stock with foam tape. I added a little decorative ribbon as well. The handles are from SU ribbon I had in my stash. And again, I added a little bling on the flowers and a clip to hold the bag closed. Another gift bag done. Wonder who will get this one?

So, be sure to join in the challenge over at Artistic Inspirations this week. It's almost an anything goes challenge - minus the cards of course. The DT have some great inspiration projects for you as well.

Happy Crafting!

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #37 - Anything But A Card

Hello Crafters!

We have a fun theme this week at Artistic Inspirations. We want you to make ANYTHING BUT A CARD to show off your wonderful talents. I chose something a little on the easy side as Abbie & I are still working on getting everything ready for the new challenge blog we will be hosting.

Our sponsor this week is:

 

 They are offering 5 digis from their shop for the winner and their shop is full of great designs for any occasion. I have chosen Heloise the Garden Girl for my first image this week.

This project is a quick and easy little gift bag great for May Day, Mother's Day or anytime. I will have a second post today showing another one.

To make this gift bag you will need to start with a small paper bag that is about 3-1/4" wide and 4 - 6" tall. I used a white bag for this project, although you can't see it from this view. By trimming your bag down to 4" tall the fold won't interfere with the holes punched for your handles. Using score tape, tape bottom, front and back with several strips of tape. Don't peel the paper from the tape yet, set the bag aside.

Cut a piece of card stock (SU in my case) 3-3/8" wide (or 1/8" wider than your bag width) by 12" long. This card stock will be wrapped around your bag but first we need to score it to get the sharp folds. So, measure the depth of the bag bottom and divide that number in two. My bag was 3-1/2" deep at the bottom so my number was 1-3/4". Subtract that number from 12 (my number was 10-1/4").  Next score into the middle of your card stock from each side at that mark. So, I scored 10-1/4" inches in from both ends of my card stock to get the bottom of my bag to fit perfectly in the center of the card stock.

Now you will want to decorate your card stock (or what will be the new front of your gift bag). I just layered some designer paper flags under my matted image (image was colored with Spectrum Noir markers) which was popped up. I added a couple of Prima flowers and some bling pearls as well as a decorative piece of ribbon (SU). Before adding the handles, glue your bag onto the card stock starting with the bottom first. Don't press down very hard as you may have to reposition it a couple of times, I know I did. The handles are just pieces of ribbon threaded through the punched holes on each side of the bag (front and back) and tied in a knot on the inside (which is why you don't want the extra layers of the bag in the way). I should have made the handles a little longer. I would suggest about 10" of ribbon for each handle. Add a little clip to help hold the bag closed and you're done.

Please check out Artistic Inspirations DT inspiration project this week. They are lovely as usual. And while your crafting this week, why not make a project for this challenge too. We would love to have you join us.

Happy Crafting!

 

Eclectic Ellapu Challenge #25 - Put A Tag On It

Hello Crafters!

The new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu this week is "put a tag on it", so I did. I just love blue and green together in any shade. I chose pastels for this project.

I used SU card stock as usual for the base (bashful blue this time). I used an assortment of papers and a tag from K&Co that had those beautiful blues & greens. Truth be known, that was my inspiration for the card. I sponged all my edges first. Then I stamped the background (dragonfly from Stampendous) on the upper half with the stamp off technique onto cream card stock and layered the bottom half with the damask printed designer paper. I cut a 1" strip of moss green card stock and ran it through a crimper and glued down over the seam of the previous layers. I then added the bias ribbon over the crimped piece and tied a knot. I stamped the sentiment next just above the crimped strip keeping to the left to make room for the tag. Before adding the tag I stamped the dragonfly and small image stamp on it and added some shimmer to the wings and the dragonfly wings on the background. Bling dots for the eyes and body finished off the tag. There was a small piece of bias ribbon left so I added that to the punched hole in the tag. The tag was then popped up with foam tape and the sugared flower (Prima - I think) added to the bottom left of the the tag with foam tape as well.

Well, I hope liked my card today. Be sure you stop over at Eclectic Ellapu and see the rest of the teams creations. You will be glad you did as they are AMAZING! We would love it if you played along too.

Happy Crafting!

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #36 - Anything Goes

Hello Crafters!

We have everyone's favorite theme this week at Artistic Inspirations. That's right - Anything Goes. Our sponsor

 

 is offering 7 digi's of winners choice. Wow! Wish I could win! she has some great images over there. I am especially fond of Stella. She's so funny.

So here's my card. Pretty self explanatory but I will fill you in on a couple of things.

First of all I used all SU card stock. So Saffron is the base with Eggplant in the next layer. It's sort of hard to tell but, I cut the front of the card down to about 2" or so and created a flap with the eggplant card stock. I just happen to have a couple of scallop circles already punched (the colors were perfect) so I layered those on top of the eggplant card stock and underneath my layered image.  I used my Spectrum markers to color the image which I had a little fun with. With all the vines, it just seemed appropriate to give her green hair to go along with her beautiful daisy skirt. I stamped and punched the butterflies with my new SU sets and punches then popped up with foam tape. I just had to use the twine as it seemed a perfect match for the vines this cute little Daisy girl was sporting. The image size would be just right for an ATC which I did think about but when I got to my craft room table this project is what emerged. Well, lastly I added pearls to centers of the butterfly and stamped the sentiment (another new SU stamp set) in Colorbox white and added the purple bling from my stash. Well, that's it, my card for today. Hope like it.

Dont' forget to stop over at Artistic Inspirations and check out the rest of the DT's inspirational projects. Pretty awesome stuff!

Happy Crafting!

SYS Saturday

Hello Crafters!

It's the first weekend of the month and that means it's Stir Your Stash time. Today I am going to post a card that my friend Judy made at a Stampin' Up workshop I had recently. It was such a clever idea. Take a look:

Isn't this just the cutest CAS card you have ever seen. Here's how she made it.

Cut your card base to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 and fold in half. Punch a butterfly in the corner with the large butterfly punch and using the piercing template pierce holes around the image. Next sponge the edges of the white layer to make it stand out and stamp the sentiment. Use dimentionals on the back side to pop up. Before attaching though, take a small scrap of designer paper and glue it down on to the base of your card just under the butterfly punch out. Now punch the small butterfly out a scrap of white card stock and pop it up on a dimentional in the center of the large butterly on top of the designer paper. All that's left to do now is add a little bling and you're done. So how easy is that. I think we got that card done in about 5-6 minutes. Wow! I didn't even feel the need to add ribbon, it stood on it's own. Isn't it lovely?

Now here's one I did some time ago with the negative of a chipboard letter I had used on another card. I apologize for the blurry picture. As I said it was take some time ago before I learned how to take decent  pictures of my projects. You get the idea though. And yes, that is real stitching around the edges.

Well, that's it for today. So, why don't you give this fun technique a try. It's a great way to use some of your scrap designer paper you know you're hanging on to 'cuz you just can't bare to through any of it away! Give it a try. I know you'll love it.

Have a great weekend!

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #35 - Easter

Hello Crafters!

I told you I was on a roll this week. I have a lot going on this week so I got this ready to post quite early.

So a new challenge has begun at Artistic Inspirations and our theme is Easter this time. Don't forget to pop over and visit our sponsor who is:

Digi Darla

 I chose a beautiful Easter Lily for my project. This image is so versatile. With the right color of markers it would be good anytime. And again I made a 4"x4" card to promote the Fat-Tastic Tuesday DT Call. There are still a few more days left on that and we would love to hear from you.

Anyway, here's my project:

As usual I use Stampin' Up card stock. I used Certainly Celery for the card base (scallop punched the bottom edge) and layered black card stock behind the base. I used my Millineum marker for the faux stitching inside and out. I used my scallop border punch (SU) on a small piece of black card stock then stamped a fleur (Flourishes from Autumn Leaves) at the top of it and layered that on the right side of the celery base. I added some dots and lines with my white gel pen to make it pop a bit. I stamped the sentiment (SU) at the bottom right of the image. This was layered on the black with foam tape. The green butterfly (K &Co.) adds a little zing and sparkle to the whole theme. Lastly, I tied a black and white polka dotted ribbon around the card to finish it off. Oh, I almost forgot that I had to add a little bling dot at the upper left. I just had to. ;-)

So, that's my card for this challenge. I hope you like it. I love the classic green and black together, don't you? Ok, so it's your turn. Get your project made and link up over at Artistic Inspirations and don't forget to check out the DT inpirations. They are great as always.

Happy crafting!