Tunnel Style Christmas Card

Recently I participated in a Christmas card swap with Kraftie Kre8ations. This swap required me to create 6 tunnel cards for Christmas to swap with partners. The A2 cards had to include white, silver and blue and 2 butterflies. As a result of the swap, I received 5 unique tunnel cards, one card from each swap participant. 

The instructions for the tunnel cards (and many other types of cards) can be found at Beccy's Place. I was astounded by all of the types of cards I had never heard of AND the fact that there are detailed instructions.

Oh what a bit of cardstock, stamps, detailed embossing powder, Krylon pen, Washi tape, Stickles, dry embossing, Copics and embellishments can do!!

The card I created includes stamps from Hero Arts and Stampin' Up! I love how it came out. I will definitely make more tunnel cards and many others from Beccy's blog in the near future. Hope you will give it a try too!

La-Vie

Altered Art - The Letter "B"

This Fall I participated in an altered letter swap with Kraftie Kre8ations. My swap partner's name starts with the letter "B" so that's what I created. It was quite a fun little exercise!

I started out by purchasing a flat wooden letter (14" I think) from Hobby Lobby and painted it with Gesso. Once it dried I painted it again with several coats of Martha Stewart glitter paint in purple, my swap partner's favorite color.

Once it dried, I added the embellishments - clear bling, heart-shaped purple bling, dimensional flowers, ribbon, flower trim and a butterfly. I believe less is more!

I hope you enjoyed this project as much as my swap partner did!


La-Vie

Crazy for Craft Fantastic

What to give the teachers, bus driver, etc for Christmas?? It's always a big guessing game. I have made homemade greeting cards, given wine, etc. But I wanted to do something different this year. Then I remembered I had a hoard of Craft Fantastic jewelry supplies!!

Score! My daughter (who's in 3rd grade) was able to make her own teacher's gifts and I made my son's day care teacher gifts. Here's what we came up with using some of the images Craft Fantastic had at their booth and others were from Tim Holtz vintage Christmas cardstock and DCWV cardstock.

There's a variety of styles of pendants, chains, bracelets, etc. If you see this company at a craft fair, check 'em out! It's definitely worth an online order if you cannot go see them in person. They have kits and carry the right glue and jewelers dots adhesive to make your custom jewelry in a snap!

Zora made her music teacher a large oval pendant with the sheet music to Joy to the World in it. That tickled her teacher to no end. She even pulled out a magnifying glass to make sure all the words were in there! LOL

I decided to stick to botanical images and such for the daycare workers so they could wear their creations all year long. We figured that the teachers would only be able to were theirs during the Christmas holiday. I love the long rectangle pendants!

Once I ran out of chains, I started making adjustable rings. I made extra for the daycare because it's my son's last Christmas in daycare and I wanted to thank all they people who had a hand in his care over the past 4 years. They were blown away by my gratitude and generosity. Giving from the heart is the BEST!

Well, I hope you too will go crazy for craft fantastic! In the meantime, tell me... what have you given to teachers for Christmas?

La-Vie

Glow in the Dark Custom Ornament

My daughter's teacher sent home a note asking a parent to volunteer to plan and lead the Christmas party craft and although I had already signed up for Valentine's Day, I volunteered because my daughter really wanted me to and I've spoiled the children with past projects. None of the other parents are into crafting like I am so the projects I create for them are in high demand. It's very nice to be recognized and wanted!

So this is the project I created after polling my crafty friends on Facebook and trolling Pinterest. It's a glow in the dark ornament using Stampin' Up! treat cups, ribbon, twine, embellishments, Martha Stewart glow in the dark glitter, jingle bells, 2.5" cardstock circles cut with my Cricut.

The children enjoyed making these ornaments. The embellishments varied from Gingerbread men, houses, Reindeer, Ornaments, etc. But as always, they wore me out. I always think I am designing something simple, but never remember that all families are not into crafting like we are. My daughter can complete projects better than some adults. Needles to say, there were some catastrophes, spills, touch and go moments and McGiver fixes. With 23 kids to appease and one of me, it was a challenge and a joy. Although I am the hardest worker of the day, I'm going to TRY to simplify for Vday!! LOL

Well, I'd love to hear from you. Have you gotten crafty this holiday season? What did you make? Did you volunteer? And of course, how do you like this (simple) project?

Merry Christmas!!!

La-Vie

Get Inky! Challenge 20: Winter Snow

Today the last challenge of the year starts at the Get Inky! challenge blog. It is also my final challenge inspiration post as a design team member. It has been a great ride! Well, this time we're looking for your winter snow projects. I've decorated a darling mini gift bag for those special little Thank you gifts at Christmas time.

The 2013 Holiday set (available on Etsy) has the most darling little snowman with all the trimmings! My snowman is ready for a snowball fight as soft billowy snow falls all around him.  This clean and simple look was achieved with Copics and Flowersoft. 

Supplies:

• Get Inky! 2013 Holiday Stamp set
• Mini white gift bag
• Copics - 100, YR07, R29, G17
• Uniball Signo White pen
• Flowersoft, Flowersoft glue
• Recollections white glittered embellishment
• Memento black tuxedo ink

A quick tip for ya... there were some ink spots on the white bag. Quickly resolved with my opaque white pen!

Thanks for stopping by!

La-Vie

Inspiration for Get Inky! Challenge 19: Christmas

We've got an exciting Christmas challenge going on at the Get Inky! Challenge blog and I'm blogging to inspire you to join in on all the fun!!

I've always wanted to try out the corrugated cards. This one has a gusset for those pop-up cards and honeypop cards etc. I started by coloring some Color Me paper with 2 radiant rain daubers in a random pattern. I love how it made a third color wherever the two colors overlapped.

Using 3 Get Inky! Stamps from the 2013 Holiday set (available on Etsy), I created a banner from kraft cardstock to top the card. The stamped images were colored with Copics (and on the edges of the banner to mimic inking), adorned with Epoxy circles and popped up on foam tape. The Ho Ho Ho embellishment and the red grommet ribbon complete the look. I actually stapled the ribbon on, but wiggled the ends out of the top layer of ribbon so it wouldn't be seen. Tricks of the trade!!

Here's some more views...

Supplies:

• Get Inky! Stamps - 2013 Holiday stamp set 
• Recollections - Kraft Corrugated Cards (5.5" x 5.5"), Ho Ho Ho embellishment, Kraft Cardstock, foam circles
• Color Me paper with silver embossing
• Luminarte Radiant Rain daubers - Mallard and Poppy
• Fiskars - red epoxy embellishments
• Copics - R29, R59, G00, G85, G17
• Red grommet ribbon - stash
• Memento tuxedo black ink

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed this project and will consider joining in on the challenge! Merry Christmas!!

La-Vie

Get Inky! Stamps Challenge 18: Onward and Upward... Skyward bound!

A new inventive challenge has just begun at the Get Inky! Challenge blog entitled Onward and Upward...Skyward bound! To inspire you, I created an A2 sized card using the Get Inky! Stamps Whimsical Moon and Stars set available on Etsy.

I've always wanted to make a card using a hot air balloon so I cut one from the Cricut cart Everyday Popup Cards at 4.34 inches. I only used some of the layers and decided to color in the basket with a Copic. Perched on top of foam circles it looks so majestic. I love how it turned out! 

Get Inky! Stamps proved to be the best accompaniment. In Memento ink just slightly darker than the DCWV parchment card, I stamped clouds and stars to create a sky for my hot air balloon. The sentiment is divine stamped in Bahama blue Memento Ink.

Supplies:

• Cricut cart Everyday Popup Cards - , and layers cut at 4.34"
• Memento ink - summer sky, Bahama blue
• DCWV glitter cardstock, Parchment card base
• Bazzill pink and beige cardstock
• Recollections foam circles
• Copic E37

La-Vie

Kraftie Kre8ations DT Reveal - Swatch book of Thankfulness

As a part of the Kraftie Kre8ations (KK8) DT, I'm learning about new crafts and techniques. Today we are showing our gratitude in a swatch book. "What's that?" you may ask... well it's like a small scrapbook. I've been mulling over whether I wanted to start a project life type scrapbook and making a swatch book kind of reminded me of that style of scrapbooking. So this is me, dipping my toe in the water and it feels fine!!

My swatch book entitled Live, Love, Laugh is about my adventures in October 2013. It's made from 3 x 4 inch pieces of cardstock from my scrap bin and a couple of journaling cards from a Project Life core kit called Amber edition. The scraps were from DCWV, Bo Bunny, Basic Grey, American Crafts, etc. The ten pages of the swatch book were made with my We R Memory Keepers 3 x 4 punch (with rounded corners) and the holes were added with my Crop-a-dile Big Bite.

Here's a closer look...

Last month, I was on a weight loss journey so I thought I would show my gratitude for my progress and my growing bond with my workout partner.

I used a dimensional sticker sheet (Jolee's maybe??) to adorn the pages and to being continuity to the swatch book. The butterfly is from a dollar store sticker sheet and the one kraft chevron is a leftover from a border punch from Stampin' Up!

Here's to meeting up with old friends and for having some old fashioned fun!! My daughter is winning a race and my son is ready for a sack race at the church fish fry. We are thankful!

I am thankful that my husband and my best friend accompanied me to a huge costume party (where we had a BALL) and that my new-found fitness allowed me to look fabulous in my flapper outfit! My daughter saw us having so much fun she went and threw her outfit on for some pics.

So there you have it! The last page has some journaling and here's a look at the book closed and spread open. I enjoyed making this swatch book so much. It's a great way to reflect on the month. Now I see why Project Lifers are into it so much. I can easily remember the little things we did and show my young children to remind them as well. I just might start one for real come Jan 1, 2014. Follow me here and on Bloglovin' (buttons at the sidebar) to see the big reveal!!

I hope you enjoyed this presentation and will check out my fellow DT member's reveals at Kraftie Kre8ations.

La-Vie

Black Diamond Deals - All That Stickles Nov Blog Hop

Welcome to the Black Diamond Deals Blog Hop brought to you by the All that Stickles design team!

The biggest shopping day of the year is just around the corner, and the ATS design team has put together some fun, sparkly shopping projects to help inspire those shopping lists! (And maybe the shine from all the glitter will help wake you up in the middle of the night to hit the stores!)

If you've come from the fabulous blog of Karen S., you're in the right place! However, if you've just come across the hop, please visit All that Stickles for the full lineup.

Stickles fans, I have an up-cycled project for your viewing pleasure today! I am a stay-at-home mom and I go through Tide pods like no tomorrow. Every time I toss one of these in the recycle bin I think to myself, I can DO something with that container!! It's got a great lid, I can reach my hand in... hmmm. Not until now, have I figured out a way to reuse this container!! With Black Friday coming up, I am making my shopping list and saving my pennies! LIGHTBULB MOMENT!! I created a bank! 

I love the Car Decals Cricut cart and decided to represent our Black Diamond Deals theme using Black Diamond Stickles on this super cute shopping mom. I imagine she is at Black Friday raking in the deals!! 

Here's a closeup of her! She is mounted on the back of the Tide container. I did not remove the original label, rather I covered it with Washi tape and coordinating cardstock. Black Diamond Stickles has many other colors (blue, green, gold) sprinkled in there for an amazing sparkle and shine. Paprika Stickles as an accent just makes it pop!

On the back, my true intention is revealed!! YES!! I'd rather be shopping! The phrase also is from the Cricut cart Car Decals but the shoes are from Forever young. The Black Diamond and Paprika Stickles were applied here as well. And on top, a beautiful bloom from Jolee's Boutique.

QUICK TIP - running the die cuts through the Xyron and adding Stickles while it's still on the backing allows for more precise placement. When it's dry you can easily peel up the sticker and chip off or bend back any overhang of the Stickles.

Here's a closeup but it still doesn't do justice to the sparkle and shine! But I have a real cute up-cycled bank for my Black Friday foray!! 

Supplies:

• Stickles - Black Diamond, Paprika and Burgundy
• Recollections - whitewashed, orange, black cardstock, Washi tape
• Jolee's Boutique - fabric flower
• Cricut carts - Car Decals p.37 cut at 5", phrase p. 70 cut at 2", and Forever Young shadow on p. 54 cut at real dial size 2.5"

Blog Candy Alert!!!

We have blog candy for those who are a follower of All that Stickles and leave a comment on every stop of the hop! Winners will be announced Wednesday November 20th at All that Stickles.

Fresh Brewed Designs

$15 Gift Certificate

Bugaboo Stamps

7 Digital Stamps of Winner's Choice

The Stamping Chef

3 Digital Stamps of Winner's Choice

(If you email TSC letting them know you're hopping with us, you'll receive a free image!)

info@thestampingchef.oo.gd

SKdigis

2 Digital Stamps of Winner's Choice

GUESS WHAT??? I've got even more blog candy for ya!!  

One lucky follower (anywhere in the world) who comments on this post AND follows me via social media (see below) will win a mystery crafty prize pack!

Please leave one comment total telling me you followed me on:

• this blog with bloglovin AND in blogger (see buttons on the sidebar of this blog) 
• Pinterest
• Twitter 
• my Facebook fan page
• Instagram - user name laviebordeperry
• YouTube
• Share this post with friends. Let them know to leave a message telling me who sent them.
• In your one (and only) comment, please let me know where you followed me and the user name you used at each one (so I can verify all your entries)

Here's the complete blog hop lineup:

All that Stickles

Tonya

Chas

Ann

Cathie

Sonia

Angeline

Karen N.

Karen S. 

Laura

La-Vie - Featured Fan

Thanks for hopping! :) Remember, follow me to win! And, don't forget to check out our Let's Talk Turkey Linky Party!

La-Vie

All that Stickles Linky Party - Let's Talk Turkey

It's my second Featured Fan Friday at the All that Stickles blog!! It's been a fun month so far guest designing and hearing from my fans far and wide, new and old. Thanks so much for your support! My heart is warmed!

For this link party - Let's Talk Turkey - we are to create projects including a turkey and (but of course...) Stickles!!! I decided to create a clean and simple Thanksgiving 8x8 scrapbook page of my children. 

Starting with DCWV Timeless stack, I chose a vintage looking typewritten card stock for the base and built it from there with Cricut cuts and Stickles.

The turkey was cut from kraft cardstock by Recollections using the Cricut cart Create a Critter 2 at 5 inches. Happy Thanksgiving was cut from the same material and cart at 3 inches. I chose Cranberry, Cinnamon and Paprika Stickles to adorn these cuts because they are the BEST fall colors!!

Drawing in the title letters with Stickles gave the cuts that extra punch! The precision tip helped me make a precise application every time. 

I'm so enamored with my new chevron border punch from Stampin' Up! I decided to punch the border, affix and fill in with Stickles. A goal of mine is to make my own embellishments. From the looks of it, I am well on my way!!

This Turkey 'gave me life!' Although it is a simple layered cut, outlining and coloring Recollections cardstock with Stickles really makes it so much more rich in texture and style. All my critters end up with google eyes... there's no better way, LOL.

I decided to use a little kraft under the picture to tie everything together. When you're working small, every element counts! I hope you can see how sparkly and nice the Stickles are at this angle. The camera just doesn't do it justice! I love Stickles!!!

Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the challenge! For more info and to see many more projects by moi, visit my personal blog.

La-Vie

Inspiration for Get Inky! Stamps Challenge 17: Thanks

Have you heard about the challenge at the Get Inky! Challenge blog? It's all about giving thanks. To inspire you to join in on the challenge, I created a Thank you card using two Get Inky! Stamp sets - Sew Sweet Cupcakes and Love Bugs (found on Etsy).

I enjoyed making the Thank you watermark with VersaMark ink and Get Inky! Stamps - instant background!! Finding unique ways to use leftover cuts is a must. Here I used a balloon as the place to stamp my sentiment. And who can resist a glittery butterfly?

Supplies:

• Get Inky! Stamps - Sew Sweet Cupcakes and Love Bugs
• Bazzill blue card base 100 lb cardstock
• Personalized by You - A2 pink card layer
• Recollections - glitter butterfly 
• Ink: VersaMark and Blue jay chalk ink
• Martha Stewart punch around the page - ribbon loop 
• American Crafts twine
• Cricut cut - balloon from my stash
• Scotch ATG and Zots large and bling glue dots

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see your entry in the challenge!

La-Vie

Denami Blog Hop - A Touch of Twine

When: The blog hop starts on November 10 at 6 AM, PST. However, you have until November 11, 2013, 11:59 pm PST, to leave comments on all the blogs (to be eligible for a prize).
Why: To be inspired by fun DeNami Design creations and also the chance to win mini shopping sprees on the DeNami Design website!

Prizes: We are giving away THREE $20 gift certificates to our website! We'll be giving away one gift certificate to a random participant (DT members not eligible) and then we'll also be giving away TWO gift certificates to TWO people who comment along the hop!

GUESS WHAT??? I've got even more blog candy for ya!!  

One lucky follower (anywhere in the world) who comments on this post AND follows me via social media (see below) will win 10 rolls of American Crafts twine! 

Please leave one comment total telling me you followed me on:

• this blog with bloglovin AND in blogger (see buttons on the sidebar of this blog) 
• Pinterest
• Twitter 
• my Facebook fan page
• Instagram - user name laviebordeperry
• YouTube
• Share this post with friends. Let them know to leave a message telling me who sent them.
• In your one (and only) comment, please let me know where you followed me and the user name you used at each one (so I can verify all your entries)

Ok! On with the hop!!! You should have arrived from Debbie Bonczek's blog. If not, please visit the Denami blog for the complete lineup.

Here's a sneak peek at my project showcasing one of the stamps in Denami's Ornamental Centerpieces set. It's stamped in Memento ink and colored with a combo of mint green liquid pearls and mercury glass Stickles. A touch of Sew Easy twine compliments the look. The glimmer and shine is amazing!! 

Here's the complete card front with a stamped image from Inkadinkado in gold metallic ink. The die cut card base is from Purple Daisy Designs. 

A closer look at the detailed stamp and special coloring. The inside sentiment is from Stampendous. 

Thanks for hopping by!!! I hope you like my project and will follow me to win!! Your next stop is Lisa Elton's blog.

La-Vie