Some Blog Candy

With Valentine's Day around the corner, I thought I would spread some love. Here is some blog candy for someone to win. How do you win? Well you have 3 chances.
1. Follow my blog on the right here (one entry)
2. Post a comment here (one entry)
3. Post on your blog and tell me about it as a comment below (one entry)

I'll pick a winner by February 1st!

A couple of cards I made this weekend. The first one is for Cropchocolate's February challenge of creating a valentine inspired project. So far I came up with this card which uses plenty of items I bought from CC.

Here are the instructions, since I had to write it out for Crop Choclate anyways.
1:Using the Friend textured plates and cardstock, I embossed the surface using my Cuttlebug.(Sandwich for cuttlebug is: A plate, textured plate, cardstock, rubber mat, B plate and for my cuttlebug 2 cardboard shims worked).
2:I then inked the surface with Tim Holtz's Velvet distress ink, to make the embossing pop. I then cut down the embossed cardstock to fit a card front.
3:Using my Slice Tags card, I cut out a large heart with flower in the centre of the Fancy Pants Crush paper called Head Over Heals
4: Using the Slice Tag Maker, I put the cut out heart in the metal rim.
5:Using my Cuttlebug again, Tim Holtz's  Fancy Flourish die and DCWV glitter paper, I cut out the flourishes. Keeping the smaller one for this project. I also snipped one end of the small flourish, so that I could separate it on the card.
6:Used pop dots on the heart tag and used the Green glue to glue down the flourish.
7: Using a black pen I outlined the centre flower and put a large bling in the centre. I then glued everything to a card back.

 


Had some leftover's from the above card, so decided to make another for CropChocolate challenge.
1.Fancy Pants Delightful paper for background.
2. Using Making Memories Packing tape I made a ruffled "ribbon"
3. From the Tim Holtz Fanciful Flourish die cut out of glitter paper, I cut the larger one down for this card and glued down with Green glue
4. Using the tag from the Slice Tag card, cut out of Core'dinations cardstock tag.
5. Punched out a heart from scrap of Fancy Pants Delightful paper and adhered to tag.
6. Attached tag and put ruffled ribbon at top. Added Fancy Pants pins, Sandylion sticker to tag. Used pen to add "stitching".
Up next is a card I made for a friend who just had a little girl. I'm hoping she doesn't read my blog but if she does, then she gets a sneak peak at what I'm sending her way!

PP: Basic Grey, Stamp: Melissa Frances, Glitter Glue: Ranger Ink, Ribbon and ric rack:?

More cards and such to come later this week.

Giveaway from Core'dinations Cardstock - Yummm!

Click here so you can Enter To Win

Click on the link above for your chance to win this prize pack!!!

Some Scrappy Stuff to Share

Just finished as much as I could in the challenge realm on Scrapbook Star's forums for the online crop they were having. This definitely got me back in the scrapbooking mood.
Here is my layout using a food embellishment. I decided to scrap my Chinese New Year photos from last year.

I used a pair of take out chopsticks as my embellishment on my title "Gung Hay Fat Choy - Year of the Tiger".  The pattered paper I used was from DCWV Asian pack, boarder punch from Martha Stewart, chipboard from Maya Road (which was all coloured with homemade glimmer mist using Tim Holtz re-inkers and Perfect Pearls), journaling circle from Jenni Bowlin. I then used my label maker to add titles to the photos.

Up next was the non-traditional scrapbook page. I normally scrap 12x12 but have done a couple of 8.5x11 in the past. Here is this one that I came up with.

Used some really old Autumn Leaves paper by Rhonna Farrer, Autumn Leaves stamp, Queen & Co. filmstrip felt, American Crafts thickers, Making Memories letter stickers.

This is the layout using my favourite photo from 2010. Took this one with my iPhone but I just loved the look on his face.

Patterned paper is by Pebbles, felt ribbon is Queen & Co., rubons were used because there was a discussion on Scrapbook Star about them and I thought I would bust them out (Art Warehouse and Fancy Pants), stamps are We R Memory Keepers and Inque Boutique, chipboard heart by Maya Road, mists used from Tattered Angels and homemade one using Tim's Fire Brick re-inker and gold perfect pearls.

Finally the card challenge using old supplies.  I dug through my scrap stash and found some ancient Basic Grey paper and I believe Fancy Pants. I then inked a Technique Tuesday oval tile and stamped the Stamping Bella monster stamp on paper. Finally I highlighted some details with Ranger Stickles.
So there you go what kept me busy this week!

So I thought I would let everyone know that Scrapbook Star is having an online crop going on this weekend.  It is always lots of fun with prizes for each challenge. The best part this year is that the challenges go for a week. So everyone still has time to go check out the forums and participate.

Also happening is the sale over at Scrapbook Crop Shop. She's having an inventory sale, so go and check out the bargains to be had (hint: click more than the Sale category).

A class I am teaching over at Pointers Scrapbooking Store in Markham in February. Here's a peak of the mini-album.

I don't remember whose blog I saw mention of this book below, but she used it display her Christmas cards and I thought what a great idea. I found this beautiful spiral bound book at the dollar store of all places. The artwork was just gorgeous to me.

So what I'm going to do with mine is to display all the handmade cards, tags and ATC's I get. It's my book of inspiration that I can display on my table, simply by opening the book. Well as it stands now, it doesn't close anymore because of the yumminess inside.

This crafty week

I've caught something pretty crappy, both DH and I are suffering from either food poisoning or some sort of stomach flu, either way, not feeling good at all.

However, I did over this past weekend though, do some creative things. Over at Cropchocolate.com, some of the ladies are doing a Valentine inspired ATC swap - so I joined. Here are my 6

Next here is a LO I made for a Pointers Scrapbooking store, it's a class I'll be teaching on using canvas products.
Using canvas as my background, ribbon and for title.
Stamps: handmade foam stamp from Tim Holtz flourish die, Hampton Arts, Maya Road and Creative Keepsakes
Ink: Ranger Archival ink, Tattered Angels Glimmer mist.
House: maya road
flowers:?

While I was visiting the store the other day, I came upon this pattered paper from Jillibean Soup. You don't know how happy this geeky-crafty- girl got. I had no idea that there was "science" paper out there as I was thinking about scrapping about my work!

Dear Prima
You make beautiful things and I love almost everything you make. So I ask what happened here???

I'm sure to someone out there, this is pretty but for me it hurts my creative juices. I received this baby in a grab bag of scrappy stuff, so I really shouldn't complain but I was shocked when I pulled it out. Anyone of you readers have a suggestion on how to use this? Maybe I will RAK it to someone, would you like it? Leave me a comment and may come to your home soon!

I need some creative mojo, so my best bet is always pulling out kits. Here is a banner kit from Maya Road that I will decorate my soon-to-be-organized-one-day craft room. Love playing with Maya mists!

Next up is a canvas I did for the LSS I help out at. She wanted something to showcase what to do with products. I pulled from some previous tags I did and made some new ones also. I was inspired by Tim Holtz' and Jennifer McQuire's canvas' they did last year. I might add some mists on the edge afterwards cause it's looking a bit plain to me at the moment.

My new toys

For Christmas Hubby got me a set of these lens for Christmas for my beloved iPhone. I love gadgets and this was right up my alley. This store has some awesome toys for the photo affectionado, and if I had the moolah, I would definitely be buying up some of these toys. Anyhow, in the package came a plastic toy dinosaur, how cute and perfect for trying out my lens! 
Here is Mr. Dino (no, I'm not as creative as my son with naming things) using the lens on my iPhone 3G

Here is with the fisheye lens

And here it is with the wideangle lens

And finally with the macro lens

My only criticism  so far is that for the fisheye and the wide angle, I get the bottom ring of the lens showing up. I'm going to play with centering the lens better and maybe that will be eliminated. Overall it has been fun to play with these. I use my iPhone as my second camera when I don't have my better one with me and love the thing a lot!

Happy Holidays!

Well today I am coming down from all the Christmas eating and present opening. Very excited cause DH got me the Macro/Wide Angle attachment for my iPhone from PhotoJojo. Still waiting for it to arrive but I can't wait to play with it! Got lots of other miscellaneous scrappy stuff which I am pretty happy and excited to play with.

Went to Michaels today and stocked up on their shelving because it was 50% plus another 25% - awesome deal. Now to re-arrange my space so it can fit!

Thought I would share with you an canvas I finished not too long ago. I was inspired by both Marion Smith's design sense and something I saw on Tim Holtz's site awhile back.  I used 2 small canvas' I had in my craft room. I painted and stamped a script on the back canvas with white paint. On the smaller front canvas I used Making Memories tape and then covered it with pink Making Memories glaze.  I then embellished the canvas with Tim's bird cage die painted, flowers from Prima Marketing, pins from Maya Road and Tim Holtz, and tag by Tim too. The butterfly stamp is a Martha Stewart Crafts one, that I think is still available. Took me awhile to get it together, but I am very happy with the end result.

Next I made a ring from Vintaj's vintage brass filagree, bent around my finger. Then I used a strong liquid adhesive to attach the Making Memories Brun Baubles I got from Crop Chocolate. Really quick and a lot of fun. I think next time I will colour the brass using Tim Holtz's alcohol ink - will post results later.

Final Tim tag!

Since I don't own many of his dies and especially the Movers and Shapers, I had to be a bit creative with this tag. I used my slice to cut the word out of the middle of the stocking on cardstock. I then mounted the cardstock onto Grunge paper and cut out my stocking. I inked the red part according to Tim's Day 12 instructions using Distress ink and crackle medium.

Day 11 Tag

Here is Day 11's tag for the 12 days of tags by Tim Holtz. I used the dictionary page for Christmas as the base. Then I used my foam stamp and white paint to create the resist on the side.  I cut the tree with my Slice FaLaLa card and covered the edges with glue and flock (I love the word flock).  Finished off with a metal plate, my Studio G Christmas stamps for the word "celebrate" and hammered the brads with Tim's texture hammer (I'm in love with that tool!). Only one more day to go! Wow that went fast!

Day 10 - Tim's tags

Okay - not good, I'm forgoing all other Christmas duties so I can complete the 12 Days of Tim tags?!? But it is so worth it. Here is my version of today's tag.

Day 9 of Tim's Tags

Here is my take on it. I don't own the Christmas carol stamp (actually don't own many Tim's stamps cause they are so hard to come by in my neck of the woods!), so I used Tim's tissue tape. I found out that it doesn't readily absorb wet ink but it did eventually dry.  I also cut out my own rosette, again cause I don't own the die.   Added some random buttons I found in my stash and we are good to go!

Latest Tim tags

So I am finally catching up. Here goes......

Day 6:

So for this tag, I used a cuttlebug embossing folder. My idea didn't quite pan out as I thought. The colours are a bit muddy for my liking but it was fun!

Day 7:

Loved playing with stickyback canvas. Since I'm using smaller tags, my poinsettia is a bit squished. But this was fun to do regardless

Day 8:

I had so much fun with extreme masking. I cut my own with Tim's blank masks with my Slice. Since the Slice doesn't cut all the way through the mask material, it actually works well for this medium. I also cut out the little snowman from the FaLaLa Slice card and embellished his nose and scarf with felt. Had a lot of fun with extreme masking. I think it is one of my fav  techniques.

Christmas Goodness

Go check out Erika Taylor's Blog for some all around awesome blog candy!  Very exciting!

Here is my Day 5 Tag for Tim's 12 Days of Tags 

So for today's tag I tried to follow Tim's recipe.  However I don't own many of his stamps, so I improvised with an Inkadinkado stamp for the Santa.  For the tag I cut down a tag I already had on hand, painted it with acrylic and then topped it with Tim's Crackle paint.  For the numbers I used chipboard instead and covered them with Ranger Enamel accents and then with black paint.  And finally for the flowers I used regular embossing powder but chipped away some of it before I hit it with the heat gun. Afterwards I used an antique gold paint to tone it down.

And here is my December Daily album, lots of journaling to do to catch up with!

 For the title I used Making Memories stickers that I covered with embossing/glitter powder. I did the same for the poinsettias as well, and am quite happy with the results. Now I just have to put all my journalling and photos so far and I'll feel much better!

Yikes!

I haven't updated this baby in almost a month. Where has time gone? I really haven't had any mojo in November but did get some crafting into my life which I should post. Anyways, with December here, I'm keeping myself busy. I'm going to try and do Ali Edwards' December Daily and Tim Holtz' 12 Tags of December.  Here are my first 4 Days worth.
Day 1:

So I don't own Tim's Haunted House die or the fence one for that matter. So I started to panic - what am I going to do??? But after seeing others and their creativity, I decided to scrounge around in my stash and use what I had. It actually made this more fun because it stretched my creative juices. I found the stamp from Art House Studio that we got at Scrapfest and used it with grungeboard I had around. I did have a fence boarder punch and since I was using smaller tags than Tim, it all worked out. Whew!
Day 2:

So for Day 2, I used a piece of pattered paper I had with music since I don't own a stamp with such. I followed Tim's instructions with making my own custom ink pad with Cut n' Dry foam. (So that's why I bought a package last year - LOL) Lots of fun. Instead of embossing, I ended up using Ranger's Crackle Accents on top.
Day 3:

I have tons of this tissue tape and love it. It was fun again digging and trying to find things that would work for this tag. Love this flower technique he showed, and will have to do it again!
Day 4:

I really struggled with this one. Pretty cool technique by Tim but I didn't have his facets on hand. Dug through and found some of his plain acrylic tags and decided to go with that.  Used some MME paper for the background and I'm okay with this tag too.

Some things to share

Gotta keep posting, so I'm going to post some things I made pretty recently (ummmm....the last 4 weeks or so)

Here are the pre-class assignment tags from Nic Howards' Class at Big Picture Classes

I had fun doing these. Lots of techniques on one little tag!

Next up are the Make and Takes from Scrapfest that I promised to post.

This was the Make and Take from The Art House Studio from K-W . Love this store and love this project, however, I think I might change up some of the colours of the findings, so it matches better. Will post when done.

Next is a 7 Gypsies Album from Learning Factory in Brantford. She always has premium make and takes. We just did the cover but walked away with the enitre album. Love it and will definitely add some more trinkets to the front!

 
Next are a card and a tag, both of which are pretty darn cute. Don't remember who I made them with, just loved playing with glitter.

Like I said earlier, going to Scrapfest is so worth it, just for the make and takes alone!

Here are some photos of my latest work!

Page one of LO done at Scrapfest

Here's Page 2, sorry, my PSE is out of commision at the moment cause I switched computers with DH.











The other LO I worked on which is my take on Technique Tuesday's  LO: 

    






Here is a 7 Gypsies tray that I altered. Just needs to be put on the wall now!
  Might add a bow on top and a trinket too, later.