Friday, May 30, 2014

Smokin' Hot

Happy Friday!
 
 
It's a beautiful day here in the Midwest, and while the baby was napping I came up with this little fun creation.  :-)
 
 
 
 
My inspiration was the Peachy Keen Stamps Photo Inspiration.
 
PKC-14-08
 
The red flowers reminded me of tomato plants...then that led to me thinking of a summer garden, and finally peppers.  Everyone seems to grow peppers.  And since I had the new stamp of the month set, the sentiments would be perfect for chili peppers.  :-)
 
The design was inspired by Mojo Monday Sketch 128.
 
 
 
 

 
 
Supplies:
PKSc-29 (sentiment)
PKSC-18 (faces for peppers)
Spica Glitter Pens (eyes)
Dry Chalk
Fluid Chalk
PaperTrey Ink cardstock
Stash Papers
 
 
 
 


Teddy Bears........

Cardz TV 3-D, click HERE
 
Happy Friday!
 
It's time for a new challenge over at The Scrapbooking Queen
 
The theme this month is Teddy Bears.
 
The DT used the image below for their creations. 
 
 
 
My creation................... 
a card for a very special little girl. 
 

I colored the image was printed on Stampers Select white cardstock from Paper Trey Ink.  After coloring the flower, I added some Stickles for a big of fun.  

 
I used CardzTv Stamp set 'Snail Mail' for the sentiments.  The outside sentiment was heat embossed. 
 
 
Supplies:
Copics - Bear: E11, E13, E17, E19, E30, E34, E50, E53, R20
              Flower:   Y11, Y13, Y18, YR23, R81, R83, R85, R89
              Outline: BG10, 0
Cardstock - PaperTrey Ink, Bazzill Card Shoppe
Ranger's Archival Ink

Pearls - Miriam's Crafting Supplies


 Be sure to enter your Teddy Bear creations over at the Scrapbooking Queen's challenge blog.  If you use the image above on your creation, you will receive an extra entry.
 
Happy Crafting!!
 
 



Cardz TV 3-D Challenge

Happy Friday!!!
 
If you haven't seen the announcement over at Cardz TV, I have been given the honor to join the
3-D DT. 
 
Wahoo!!!!!
 
 
And my first creation........................

 
I created a gift card holder.  My creation appears simple, but let me tell you, some planning and just a bit of creativity went into this beauty.  *wink*
 
The basic envelope/tag for the holder is a Jamie Lane Designs file.
 
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaJ2Wuc_Rkp8zpig3JangGhv__6Rv44_7pkqUMMOJA7tkHiHRazOIklhDS7jdL0G3UjCZRhYFbtYQ5NrjI20w5Hcfu6hl_xz6aRCTsYKJ5vpIBUJZ4yr0iI9kMSY2TJ_qoX9NwPzV_iSV/s1600/pinterestx1_72.png
I LOVE the look of this...but I needed a graduation theme...so I substituted the birthday cake for a grad cap.  That cap and tassel I used is from a Scraptastical Kreations file.  I used my Silhouette software to combine all the pieces and size them accordingly. 
 
I created an offset of the graduation cap so that I had a base for it to be assembled and displayed on.   And for the holder base, I created an offset so that I had a mat for all the pieces to sit upon. 
 
The diploma and banner were both popped up on foam squares.
 
 
For the sentiment, on the banner,  I used Cardz TV 'This & That' stamp set
 
http://www.cardztvstamps.blogspot.com/
 
I curved the stamp slightly on my acrylic block so that the words fit the banner a bit better. The sentiment was stamped with Ranger Archival Ink. 
 
 
 
Supplies:
Paper Studio cardstock (black)
DCWV cardstock
Ranger Archival Ink
Foam Squares
Tombow Mono-Multi
 
 
Be sure to link up your creation at Cardz TV
 
 
Happy Crafting!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Red Carpet Studio Challenge

Welcome to another challenge at Red Carpet Studio!
 
 

This bi-weekly challenge is inspired by the movie "Saving Private Ryan"




This movie revolves around a group of soldiers trying to locate a US paratrooper during the invasion of Normandy who is the last surviving brother of four men fighting in WWII.

THE CHALLENGE:  Create a project to commemorate Memorial Day.  Do you have a picnic with your family?  Do you honor those men and women who served in the Armed Forces?  We can't wait to see what you create!  

Challenge Guidelines:

  • Project must be posted during the duration of the challenge, no back linking.
  • Project must fit the theme of the challenge.
  • Link up by MAY 31 at 11:00 PM US CST.
  • Number of challenge entries is limited to three per participant.
This challenge's sponsor is Bugaboo Digi Stamps


A randomly selected participant will win a digi stamp from our sponsor!  
 
 
 Here's my project........................
 
 
My inspiration was my husband.  He is a Navy Veteran and a wonderful man...My Hero! 
He has been through so much in his life and making sure he brings home the bacon, and extra money for craft supplies, he's a keeper! 
 
I used a Bugaboo Digi stamp as my focal point.   He was designed as Army...but since my hubby is Navy Veteran, I turned the little soldier into a sailor...even with a hard helmet.  :-).
 
I used Copics to color him in, and a clear spica pen to spruce up the star. 
 
The sentiments (inside & out) are the CardzTV Stamp set, "You're The Man."
 
 

 Make sure to link up your creation by SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2014 by 11:00 CST.







Wednesday, May 7, 2014

My Message for Today

I started this blog as a way to contribute to a design team.  I was new to the crafting world and design teams in general.  So, my posts have centered on my creations and promoting the team(s) that have chosen me to represent them.  But today, is a not a DT or promotion day.  It's a day for my thoughts, my feelings, just me.....
 
I came across a post from a FB friend that mentioned  #redballoonsforryan.  As I began to read about this beautiful boy who was taken all too soon, I began to ache.....for so many reasons.    I have had many things happen lately, in my immediate family and extended, that I am still trying to process.  One such ache comes from trying to understand how someone can be allowed to create another life (who has had her first two children taken from her due to abuse, and extremely high risk of neglect due to instability - emotionally and financially) and not be taken out and had some sense beaten into her?  That may sound harsh, but look at it from my perspective.  A child is a gift....a precious, helpless, defenseless creature who has been give to you to love, protect, care for, nurture, teach, raise....   And this ONE person has the opportunity to just take that for granted...to continue to create lives, without any regard to those precious, helpless, defenseless little people that she has brought into the world with no chance of being protected or cared for or nurtured or, or, or.... instead to be given a life that is full of emptiness, hurt, pain, physical abuse....   Then you have this precious life - Ryan - that has been given to a woman/couple who wholeheartedly loved, protected, nurtured, etc.... that is taken away forever.  I cannot begin to understand the rationale in that.   It just makes me angry, sad, down right hopeless. 
 
For those of you who don't know me personally, my husband and I have taken in and adopted 3 beautiful little people whose parents were not able to take care of them the way they needed to be cared for.  (Two of them are the first lives created by the person mentioned above.)  I have watched as these children grow, the loss they suffer........the personal struggle of belonging that they deal with on a daily basis.   For example, (on numerous occasions) when my 5 year old has been corrected, he has asked me if I am going to give him away!  Could you imagine the constant feeling of not being loved or good enough or worthy?  That at any moment, if you are not perfect in every way, the person who you love most in the world, who kisses your boo-boos and wipes your nose, is just going to give you away.  It just tears me apart every time I look in one of my kids' eyes and see that pain.  It's something I cannot change.  NO amount of love or time will take that away....EVER!  
 
So when I came across Ryan's story and the pain that his parents must be going through...I had to speak...I had to put some of my feelings into words......there is much more that I am feeling and much more I could say...but that is for another day...
 
Today has been a day of curiosity, understanding for me.   I have to learn to accept things, even things that I don't understand.  To gain the ability to process these things, and move forward.  Not to dwell, not to question and allow only those questions to direct me.  To remember that I am a good person, a good person deep into my soul...no matter what others may choose to believe.  That I am allowed to feel angry at people I care about...and to know that doesn't make me a bad person in the eyes of the Lord.  It just means I'm human.
 
I will be praying for this family, who will not wake up to the smiling face of their baby boy.  And I will be hugging my children (natural and adopted) a bit tighter.
 
 





Saturday, May 3, 2014

RCS/Stick It Down Challenge

Welcome to another challenge at Red Carpet Studio!

This bi-weekly challenge is inspired by the movie "Something Borrowed"


This movie is about a friendship that is tested when a perpetually single woman falls in love with her best friend's fiancé.

THE CHALLENGE:  Create a project or layout using a "borrowed" sketch from our partner for this challenge "Stick It Down Challenge Blog."




Stick it Down is a newly launched sketch blog that creates single page & double page scrapbook layouts along with cards. 

Our sponsor for this challenge is:



One of our randomly selected participants will win an adorable digi stamp from our sponsor!


I used a double sketch from Stick It Down.  


I really need to get working on our scrapbook from our last vacation to Walt Disney World.   So I took this challenge to create the first layout.   And I LOVE it!!


I copied the sketch into my Silhouette Software which enabled me to just track and cut all the individual pieces. 

Too bad I don't have any pictures of Star Wars characters for today.  :-)

Thanks for stopping by.  Be sure to link up your creation at Red Carpet Studio.  


Thursday, May 1, 2014

Silhouette and Digital Papers

It's Tonya, from Scrapping Fun with Tonya, & I have a great way to use your Samantha Walker Silhouette files and Samantha Walkers Digital papers.

I just LOVE how I can personalize my projects with the Silhouette and Samantha's products.  

 
   One of my favorite Samantha Walker files is the Banner on a Curve (Design ID #38658).
 
 
 
When the file is first opened, it is sized for a 12x12 mat, and all one piece.  To be able to manipulate the file, you must first ungroup.  (Click on the image, then click/select ungroup)

 
 
 I moved the banner base away from the pieces.  Then next step was to 'release the path.'  To do this, click on the banner pieces, and open the modify window.  While the image is 'highlighted,' click release.  Doing this will separate the banner pieces so that you can alter each one individually. 
 
 

 
I wanted to use digital papers from the Samantha Walker Nautical Mega Pack.  With the Silhouette software, you can import your own papers/images.
Click file...library....import to library.
 
 
 
To fill in the banner pieces, just click on the shape of choice so that it is 'highlighted.'   All papers that are imported are available in the patterns window.  (As you can see, I organize my papers/patterns by artist/collection.)  . 

Scroll through until the pattern you want is found, click, & VOILA!  



 You can adjust the pattern to your liking by using the advanced settings.



I used this banner on a card (see below)...so I regrouped the pieces and resized accordingly. 


 
To finish, just do a print & cut. 
 
 
 
 
Here is the card I created with the banner......... 


(Close up of the banner)
 
I also used more elements from the  Samantha Walker Nautical Mega Pack for the main image (sailboat), the Together 'sentiment,' and the patterned mat.   
 
For more information on that, please follow my blog and be sure to read my next post.  
 
 
 
 
 
Supplies:
Samantha Walker Silhouette File (#38658 & #14232)
Silhouette Cameo
Printer
Recollections Cardstock
ATG Gun