Hip Hop Easter Card

I'm back.... soon I'll post my haul from the Stamp, Scrap Art Tour and my make n takes. Right now, I've created a very quick post to showcase my entry to the color challenge at Cuttlebug Mania, the music challenge at Cards Galore, the Easter Eggstravaganza at Craftin Desert Divas and The Stamping Shack Blog. Cuttlebug mania called for pink, brown, ribbon and embossing, Cards Galore provided the theme: music, Craftin Desert Divas and Stamping Shack Blog both have an Easter theme. Won't you join me?

Supplies:

• card base - American Crafts 5x7 pre-cut card
• brown layer - Bazzill dry embossed with the honeycomb sizzix folder from Stampin' Up!
• pink layer - Core'dinations vintage collection
• pink sheer ribbon - stash (recycled from a gift I received)
• brown twine - stash
• pink and brown glitter tag - stash - cut from Cricut cartridge Designer's Calendar
• stamps - bunny and sentiment: Basic Grey Little piggy, music notes: Just For Fun
• ink - Clear and Simple Stamps - Perfect black dress, Prima: Rusty bucket chalk ink
• Pink dahlia charm - Stampin' Up!

 

La-Vie 

 

Blue, Border Bling - a Happy Mother's Day card

This card is one of the 50 cards I designed and handmade for Operation Write Home. They provided greeting cards to the troops to send home to their loved ones. I also am entering this card into the challenge over at Sentimental Sundays which calls for 3 embellishments that start with the letter B. My three are: blue - I have 4 different shades of blue on my card; border - a punched border; and bling!

Supplies:

• white card base - The Paper Studio
• patterned paper - from my stash
• border - punched with Martha Stewart - beaded arcs
• multi-colored ribbon - from my stash
• bling - recollections
• top note - Bazzill basics white cardstock, Cricut cart: storybook (pg. 66 tall/border and shift) cut at 3.5"
• stamp: Stampin' Up! - All holidays set
• ink: Stampin' up! black pigment ink

Wish me luck!

La-Vie

Merry and Bright card

 

Today's challenge is to use snowflakes on a card or layout at The Paper Girls. Will you join me? There's still a change to pay homage to old man winter! I, for one, are ready for him to leave and for a nice warm spring to come on in! I hear good things come to those who wait....

 

I aimed to create a blizzard effect with the glimmer sprays, clouds and snowflakes. I sprayed and wiped the color around to create the effect. I'm new to these sprays so I'm not sure if I did it exactly right, but I'm pleased with the results. It's much more sparkly in person. The camera just doesn't do justice to the shimmer. The snowflakes also have a 3D kind of effect.

Supplies:

• white pre-cut card base - Joann's
• cloudy day embossing folder - Stampin' Up!
• anna griffin cuttlebug
• ranger black archival ink
• stamp from imaginisce (snag 'ems)
• Ditto glimmer spray -blue
• Sheer shimmer spritz: sparkle - Tsukineko
• Snowflake brads - recollections
• ribbon - Stampin' Up!
• crop a dile big bite

Ok, I'm off to a stamp expo with my friends! I'll share my haul and my make 'n takes when I get back, but I am really trying to buy with intention so it might not be much.

Stay tuned... when I get back I am going to have my first giveaway of some crafty goodness for national craft month!!!


La-Vie

It's a Boy Scrapbook page

 

I had to work "HARD" for these challenges y'all!!! It almost blew my mind. You've gotta jump in and participate. My entry is for  Color Me Scrappy Challenge #33 and subsequently About a Boy Hoarders Challenge. While Color Me Scrappy provided the color palate and sketch, About a Boy asked us to scrapbook a male in our lives and to use stash items that have been in hand for a year or more. I chose my nephew Adrieeal (cuz he's so cute!!!) and included the last known picture of my sister pregnant (big as a house!!) I wanted to show the progression from pregnant to one month old and how he seems to have grown so much in a short amount of time. All these items have been in my stash for over a year.

 

 

 

 Supplies:

• 3 Birds All Dressed Up layered layouts (HSN.com)- yellow base paper and the die cut element
• red linen cardstock from Joann's
• Vellum title - DCWV Baby Boy vellum title stack
• Making Memories - yellow staples
• Studio Decor Shadow box embellishment kit - metal photo corners
• Copics - black multiliner, 100, G02, G09, Y02, Y06
• adhesive- Tombo vellum adhesive, scotch ATG, Xyron, painters tape

Here's the sketch and colors provided by Color Me Scrappy:



 

 

Craft tips: If the elements of your project are perfect but not the right colors, never fear! Grab your  Copics (or any alcohol markers) and make it whatever color you like! I carefully colored many of the elements in the die cut as well as the vellum sentiment to match the challenge color scheme. Don't be afraid to mix colors either. The words were light blue and I needed green so I added light yellow and voila! lime green. I also used a darker green to change the color from blue to green.

 

Use vellum adhesive and no one will be able to tell where it's stuck down. Can you see any adhesive under my vellum title? I added it to 5 visible places. Staple elements on the page that would be a hassle to adhere any other way. There are colored ones available from many manufacturers.

 

Tape pointy elements down on the back of the page. I used painters tape to hold down the pointy ends of the metal picture corners. They were made for a shadow box, not scrapbooking so those ends could do some major damage to another page or to someone's fingers.

 

 

My crafty soundtrack for this week is... alicia keys... "This girl is on FIIIIIRRRRREEEEEE!...."


La-Vie

Just Keep Swimming Card

 

Today I am entering a co-challenge held by 3 Girl Jam Challenge #13 in conjunction with The Alley Way stamps. Each challenge has different rules but asks participants to glean inspiration from the picture below. 3 Girl Jam asked us to use a stamp and ribbon in the project and The Alley Way Stamps asked to use their stamps (if you don't have any digital free ones were provided). I included the images I used below as well. I was inspired by the stacking of the shapes in the picture and some of the colors. The Alley Way stamps I chose were irresistible and jumped out at me right away!

Crafty Tips: print digital stamps on white cardstock instead of paper to make sure it can handle the coloring. You can always use part of an image as I did today to bring across the theme. Also, if you don't have a trio for the color you want to use, use the colorless blender to lighten the color in areas to mimic shading. I used this tip with the top fish. BG09 is very dark. The blender allowed me to show contrast. With darker shades, such as the red (I did shading but it did not photograph well :[ errr! ) you may want to outline the shape with the black or the Copic multiliner to help corral the color. the red was hard to keep in place. Finally, coloring the background of your fussy cut digital stamps gives it a more cohesive look. I wanted the stamps to blend in but not fully to give it that underwater feel.

 

 

 

Supplies:

• DCWV 5.5 x 5.5 pre-cut card: blue, DCWV glitter cardstock: blue
• The Alley Way Stamps - digital Just keep swimming fish school and just keep swimming sentiment
• Recollections - white cardstock 8 1/2 x 11" - printed TAW digital stamps
• Wrights seam binding 1/2" wide tan
• Recollections - blue bling
• Jolee's all that bling- dimensional stickers
• Copics - sentiment B0000, B00, B02, BG05; Fish: 0, BG09, B10/ C1, C3, C5/ R24, R29, R81
• Adhesive: Xyron and scotch ATG
   

 

Wish me luck x2!

 

La-Vie

 

 

 

Zora's Password Journal LO

 

I am enjoying participating in challenges! It's taking me out of my style, comfort zone and allowing me to get things done I would've pushed to the back burner! Won't you join me? Although the deadline is fast approaching there is still time to jump in!

 

This layout of my daughter Zora is my entry into the sketch challenge at Scrap Africa and the color challenge at Color Me Scrappy challenge blogs. Zora is my muse - the reason I started scrapbooking -  but I do not often scrap about her because her younger brother is who I'm scrapping these days. And, my first attempts at scrapbooking were horrible but so sentimental that I cannot move forward or go back. Have you ever felt like that? Well, today I am breaking the cycle and scrapping about my dear daughter. Now that's she old enough to ask for specific gifts, she asked for the Password Journal. Her aunt and uncle surprised her with it for Christmas last year. Here's her precious face after discovering the surprise.

 

 

 Supplies

• Bazzill white, brown, green cardstock
• Sandylion, Kelly Panacci Pink Mini Dots patterned paper
• Top note: Cricut Cartridge - Storybook  cut at 2.75"
• picture printed at 5x7 size and cut with Creative Memories circle cutter with the 5" circle and the red blade
• Photo mat - cut with Creative Memories circle cutter with the 5" circle and the green blade
• Flowers - Jolee's dimensional stickers
• leaves, hand drawn and hand cut
• pen - zig millennium black
• eBosser to emboss the 12x12 white cardstock with the delicate dots folder

Crafty tips - if you don't have time to wait for the picture to dry, use your heat gun to speed the drying process. To emboss a 12x12 sheet in the eBosser fold the cardstock at the 8 1/2" mark. Feed through one way and then turn it around and run it through the other way. It will not pass completely through the machine due to the thickness. half your page will be embossed and half will be debossed. It's a neat look that most people will not even notice.

Color Me Scrappy color palate

Scrap Africa Sketch for Challenge #32

Wish me luck!!!!!!!

La-Vie

So thankful for you card

 

It's always nice to have a collection of thank you cards stashed away for your own use. Here's my latest creation hot off the press to enter two challenges today. The first challenge at Sketchy Friday offered the sketch and the second challenge called for the use of chevrons - Fabulous Friday Challenge at Frosted Designs. The combination came together quickly once I started digging through my patterned scraps. I've never worked with these colors together (I love pink and lighter colors) but I am glad to have dabbled in richer colors. It also has been fun to make a project and post it right after. Big fun!

 

Supplies

• Stamp: Inkadinkado Filigree Fall
• Bling: orange gem and dimensional swoosh - Jolee's Bling
• Flowers: yellow and white, Sprites 2 - Prima
• pre-cut card: 5x7 green - American crafts
• Chevron layer: Fly a kite "spring" zag paper - Lime Twist by Jen Allyson - My Mind's Eye
• Circle layer: Oh Baby! Girl -  OBG-443 Natalie - Basic Grey
• Purple layer: Recollections
• Green layer: Bazzill
• Chevron die - The Stamps of Life cut from DCWV yellow dotted cardstock
• rough edge scissors - Paper shapers - Provo Craft
• Ink - Tim Holtz Distress Ink - dusty concord, walnut stain, spiced marmalade
• Seam binding orange
   

Provided sketch for the challenge

 

 

There's still time for you to join in on the fun! Check out both of these fun challenges!

 

 

La-Vie

Stash buster... Happy Mother's Day card

Here's my entry for the anything goes challenge over at Craftin Desert Divas! Will you play along?

This card is being donated to Operation Write Home so the troops can celebrate the mothers in their lives. Specific guidelines challenged me to create a flatter, yet richer card. It's a stash buster because I used my scraps and items I have had in my stash (insert HOARD here) forever. It was time to give these items some new potential, new purpose. I love the results.

Supplies:

• white card base - The Paper Studio
• patterned paper - from my stash (possible Marrakesh from Basic Grey)
• yellow border - DCWV, punched with Martha Stewart - cathedral lace
• red ribbon, bling - from my stash
• top note - Bazzill basics white cardstock, Cricut cart: storybook (pg. 66 tall/border and shift) cut at 3.5"
• stamp: Stampin' Up! - All holidays set
• ink: Stampin' up! black pigment ink

Stay tuned for more cards from this set. There are 50 in all.

La-Vie

Birthday Wishes

 

This quick birthday card was made to enter the DCC227 - Black, White & Red Designer's Choice Challenge at Repeat Impressions. I have been seeing a lot of project lately made with Washi tape and fabric tape. I thought I'd give it a whirl. This card came together so quickly, I think I will include these tapes in my normal rotation! The stamps, usually used to make flip cards, begged to be colored! I've included the colors I used below. The colorless blender helped to vary the colors even in the small candles. A quick bit of inspiration for ya!

 

Supplies:

• Stamps - Repeat Impressions
• Fabric tape - striped and paisley (stash)
• Washi tape - red polka dot and black polka dot - Recollections
• Card base  - Joann's basics white pre-cut card
• Copics - 0, R24, R29, R59
• Ink stampin' up black pigment ink

Wish me luck!


La-Vie

 

Cards made with Anna Griffin Cuttlebug Embossing Folders

Here's a 5 min (or less) card I made for two major, yet unexpected events. I've found that when I need something special in a flash, I am much more creative than when I think about it for days and stress over it.

This first card was made for my daughter's 2nd grade teacher who recently told us she has breast cancer and will be out of school for several weeks to have surgery to remove it. She is such a great teacher and it was a big shock. I wanted to show her how much she was cherished and how much we would miss and be praying for a positive outcome.

 

 

 

Supplies:

American Crafts 5x7 cards and envelopes (pink)

Metallic 8x8 cardstock (raspberry and blue) - DCWV

Anna Griffin Cuttlebug and Anna Griffin Aviary embossing folder

Stamps: Just for Fun - cherish, Repeat Impressions - "sending healing...", Stamps of Life Branches4flowers, (My Pink Stamper, Everyday Sentiments -not shown)

Flower: Jolee's boutique

Ribbon: celebrate it, 5/8" 100% polyester

 

 

Here's another version...

 

 

This card was for the family of a close friend of my husband who died recently at age 45 due to stomach cancer. There were only a few months between the date it was discovered and her passing. So sad. She was a nurse and a wonderful person all around. I hope this card properly conveys our sympathy.

 

La-Vie

Easter Cards - Religious for the troops

 

Here's the last of the cards for the troops. All the card bases are cut using Cricut Cartridge Sophie and large floral paper that looks stunning die cut (but would've stayed in my stash forever because I wouldn't have used it.) I used the text inserts from The Paper Cut for the inside of each card.

 

First I stamped the Blessings stamp (Michaels crafts 25 cents) but it needed something more. I had a Stampin' Up! stamp that says Easter Wishes on my table. Using the masking technique I was able to stamp just the word Easter. Using a clear block helped with placement. The top inside stamp is from Micheals as well. The verse is from Stamp La Jolla.

Here's the Easter Wishes stamp used fully and the same inside stamps.

 

I decided to switch it up this time and place the verse on the outside and a stamp I use at Christmas time for the inside.... It's true...Jesus is the reason for the season since he died on the cross for our sins. Amen.


La-Vie

Stamp Cataloging and Organization with Scrap Rack

I’m so happy that I have completed my two identical stamp catalogs (one for home and one for taking on the road to make sure I buy with intention – no duplicates, items that are too similar or things I don’t really need). It has taken me MONTHS to catalog hundreds and hundreds of stamps into the 3 section system taught by Tiffany Spaulding at the Scrap Rack. My first post detailing the specifics on how I started this journey can be found here. The reasons it took me so long are the amount of stamps I have and the amount of times I had to renumber because I had already used those numbers. Word to the wise, number all your stamps first then you don't have to wonder like I do. And when you stop, leave yourself a note so you can easily pick up where you left off.

In time, I found my groove and chugged along little by little until it was complete. Now I can find what I have, use it more efficiently and it feels SO good! When I get new stamps I know before I get home which categories to place it in and have a clear process for adding it to my catalogs.

I thought I'd share some pics of where I keep my massive stamp collection. It's a work in progress.

I have one drawer of stampin up wheels and Inkadinkado stamping gear and other stamp accessories.

This box with magnetic closure has my stampin' up stamps. I put 2 sets in one case and use the empties for other companies' stamps.

This case has 2 layers of wood block stamps in an Art Bin case. Here's the top view.

Here's the bottom view. A piece of chipboard separates the 2 layers.

I have a second Art Bin that is double deep. Chaos lives within. No rhyme or reason here.

My clear stamps are in the clip it up divided by the 4-section system taught by Tiffany Spaulding at the Scrap Rack.

 

 

Here is the 2 volume unmounted stamps I own. It's divided by the 4-section system taught by Tiffany Spaulding at the Scrap Rack as well.

I made a video of the pages of my stamp catalog but it will not upload. I may have to make 2 shorter videos. Then I'll post it and a look at what's in my Scrap Rack by section.

 

 

 

 

 

If you'd like to see where I started and the things I learned along the way, check out:

paper - http://cestla-viedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/09/organization-free-classes-with-scraprack.html

embellishments - http://cestla-viedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/09/project-organization-continues.html

stamps - http://cestla-viedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/clingwood-mounted-stamp-organization.html

 

Punches - http://cestla-viedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/organizing-your-punches-with-scraprack.html

 

My Scrap Rack - http://cestla-viedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-scrap-rack.html

 

My craft room - http://cestla-viedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-craft-room-organization-progress.html

Embossing Folders  Revised - http://cestla-viedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/02/embossing-folder-storage-sequel.html

Embossing Folders -http://cestla-viedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/04/cricut-circle-magazine-march-spring.html

Ribbon storage - http://cestla-viedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/06/crafting-storage-my-ricracroller-is.html

 
La-Vie

My Blog Crush - Clear and Simple Stamps Spread the Love Challenge

Wow, this week has been a crafting world wind! I'm back with a truly different challenge entry. I hope you can check it out and take part. Click here for more info! Ok, here's the skinny... one of my fav stamp companies Clear and Simple Stamps is hosting the Spread the Love campaign in conjunction with Amber at Damask Love (where you can link your project). I was challenged to highlight a blog I love, explain why and create a project with one of the challenge color schemes (I chose the one below) all in ode to my blog crush.

One winner will be chosen as Clear and Simple Stamps' blog crush and will be invited to be a guest designer for the Collection 7 release (meaning lots of great product for free and lots of exposure!! I am so SO excited about that!) All participants get a virtual swag bag too. It's all good and all fun! I chose the bold springtime blooms color scheme and several Clear and Simple Stamps products for my project. And here it is! I tried some new techniques with stamping and coloring and using twine - things I don't usually do in ode to my crush!

Who's my blog crush??????? Drum roll please......

My blog crush is Thoughts of a Cardmaking Scrapbooker!!!!! Michele Kovack does it all - she crafts, published her work in craft magazines, serves on craft design teams, is a loving mom and wife, works and blogs about it all - daily! I love her ability to be open, honest, humble, inspiring and I admire her work ethic and her amazing crafts. She always adds a little something extra (lots of glitter, LOL) and knows her unique craft style. She is doing everything I hope to do some day. So, this project is dedicated to you Michele Kovack!!! I hope you like it.

Here's a closer look at my project. I think crafting is a therapy Michele and I share!

If you can take classes with Clear and Simple Stamps for Copic instruction. They are wonderful. I learned a lot (but didn't practice). Now that I am getting the courage to color and put my work out there here's my crafty tip of the day. When working with Copics (I am new at it) make several impressions on the same paper you are using to try out colors and to make notes. Not all inks work with Copics and some will work only after you heat set it. I learned the hard way. I stamped in black, 2 shades of brown and then gray before choosing.  If your collection is not that large or is not set up in trios for blending, you'll need the practice before moving to the final.

I discovered using the hybrid ink from Clear and Simple Stamps works best. I liked the look of stamping and coloring in shades of brown. After I colored the skin and hair completely, I went over everything with E00 and it made it look better. I felt the areas I wanted differentiated and those I wanted blended all came together. By mistake or not, it' a good tip that I discovered. Try it (on your scratch paper first).

Supplies:

• Pink bib card - The Paper Cut
• Purple cardstock and metallic orange cardstock - DCWV
• White cardstock - Bazzill Basics
• Orange, purple, pink twine: American crafts
• Flower embellishment - Jolee's Boutique
• Embossing Folder: Sewing- Sizzix run through the Cuttlebug
• Punch: Paper Shapers for Stampin' Up!
• Ink - Espresso Your Style - Clear and Simple Stamps
• Stamps: Crafting is my therapy from the Craft Room set, Carlie from Rag Doll Carlie:Hello set - Clear and Simple Stamps
• Copics - Skin: E33, E00, Clothes: G02, RV09, Hair E37, E29, E00

 

La-Vie