Warm Winter Wishes Gift Bag for WMS PJ Party

This is for the Wrap It Up Warm challenge to make a gift bag or box with a cozy feel. I hope the ‘hugs’ sentiment is sufficiently cozy.

I used a Wink of Stella pen on the swirl on the patterned paper. The handles came from another gift bag, I have no idea how long it’s been since I saved them but it reinforces that my hoarder ways are sometimes quite useful! (Well, I am a saver but it’s not so bad as hoarder status… yet!)

The base of the box/bag is a cracker box. I modified it since it was too big as is. I just cut it down so that it was less than 6” each dimension because I had originally meant to use 6x6” paper on it. But as it turned out, I used 12x12” paper and ended up using less (ok, only a smidge less) than a full sheet to cover the entire thing! Yeah! I even cut the fancy tag shape from the remaining paper! I added ink to it to darken it and make the silver EP stand out. I used the silver EP on the snowflake too.

I hope you have fun visiting other stops linked to the PJ party!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Say It Loud-WMS
Ink: Versamark, night of navy-SU!
Paper: Echo Park
Accessories: marshmallow and clear sequins-Pretty Pink Posh, tag fie-Spellbinders, foam dots-The Sticky Stuff Store, bells-Michaels, twine-?, stickers-Echo Park, Lindeman snowflake die-Memory Box, snowflake brad-?, silver EP-SU!

Waltzing Mouse Stamps PJ Party–Classy Lady Card

Apparently Waltzing Mouse Stamps wasn’t happy to simply have a plain old blog hop, no sirree! Claire decided to have a PJ party! Wahoo! Sounds like fun to me!

The new PJ party has several challenges. Most of them only have prize opportunities if you use new stamps which I don’t own. However, the last one asked you to use any WM stamps to create a background. This I CAN do. I decided to use a sentiment stamp stamped repeated for my background with one stamped in a darker colour as the actual sentiment! Inspired right? OK, not that inspired but still pretty nice. (Its a bit hard to see above to check out the close up below. It shows up way better IRL.)

I also made this for a challenge on the Joan’s Garden’s Blog for this week which asked us to use a floral patterned paper, a doily and a 3-D flower with greenery as well as the challenge constant which is to use a product sold at Joan’s Gardens. Uh oh. Until I just looked this up, I thought it was any patterned paper! I used music paper except for the tiny paper piecing at the top of the mannequin and you can’t tell it’s floral because its sooo tiny and so light. I hope you trust me Joan! :) I used Distress ink which she sells but that was so easy it almost felt like cheating and although she sells MME paper I couldn’t remember if she sold that particular pack or not. So while I was pretty sure I was already covered, I decided to use Rose Creations dies to make my flower.

I used vintage music paper and cut the flowers. Then I used pink ink to sponge the petal tips. No need to get fancy, just slap some ink on there, oh, I also used an ink blending tool she sells. Then crunch the petals up into little balls which gives them some texture, uncrunch them and stack onto a brad. Form the innermost flower layer’s petals into a bud shape and glue into place holding it while it dries. Repeat with the next flower layer making a slightly less tight bud shape. Now start pulling the petals up tight towards the bud holding it in your hands as you go working around the flower. When you get to the end, surprisingly, it will hold its shape! Now, with a fine tipped bottle of glue, shoot some glue deep in between the petals to help the flower hold its shape. I hold it for a couple of minutes while it starts to dry or you can tuck it into a small circular container like a toilet paper roll or a small jar.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: WMS
Ink: chocolate, berry sorbet-PTI, Antique Linen Distress
Paper: DP-MME, chocolate, vanilla CS-PTI, vintage music paper-stash
Accessories: Foam dots-Jody Morrow, doily-local restaurant rescued from under dessert :) rose creations dies-spellbinders, leaf die-SU!, W00, 01 Copic markers, embossing stylus (veining on leaves), washi tape-Freckled Fawn, Glossy Accents, brad-SU!

Waltzing Mouse Stamps Blog Party–Summer Shells Box

This month’s challenge was Summertime Fun. Since I won a free set from some challenge back in October and I finally chose it (I had been waiting to order some stamps at the same time and get a deal on shipping, never happened… ), I had fun using My Island.

I absolutely ADORE the beach and hot weather so this set and this challenge is so perfect for me! I wanted to do something more than just a card but I hate trying to decide what to do. As I looked around my craft room, this little box was just sitting there asking to be decorated!

I pulled out some favourite old MME papers which colours remind me of the beach and started covering the box and stamping.

I have a LOT of cool beach related items so choosing which to use was the hardest part! The shell trim has been waiting patiently for just the perfect project. It is too thick for a card and kind of big with the shells spaced too widely. But it looks amazing here dontcha think?

I used my new compressor and Copic markers to add colour to the coral and shell I had hanging around in my stash. They were both so boring before. That reminds me, have to turn it off and bleed the tank before I go to bed…

I used some very sheer gold ribbon to make a big bow using my bow easy. Then I distressed it using my heat tool. TIP: To get the bow to fluff up really well, instead of just wrapping the ribbon around and around the tool, pass it through the slit each time. You may need to scrunch your ribbon to make it all fit but that’s ok. If this means patterned, one-sided ribbon no longer shows the correct side up, just flip it in the middle! Works soooo much better than just wrapping it. The loops always separate correctly my way.

I am also entering this in Ribbon Carousel 82 Fun in the Sun.

I hope you enjoyed this post and if so, I’d love to hear from you. I treasure each and every comment. Ok, except for those weird spam ones… :) If you’d like to come back, maybe email updates would help? I have a subscription widget on my sidebar. I think my RSS feeder is ending soon and I don’t know how to replace it so if you do, I’d love to know how. Anyway, thanks for reading.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: My Island-WMS, flourishes-PTI
Ink: moss, baja-SU! chocolate, kraft-PTI, frayed burlap Distress
Paper: DP-MME
Accessories: flourish die-PTI, foam dots-Jody Morrow, ribbon, loopy wired twine trim-May Arts

Hugs, You’ve Been Wonderful!

Waltzing Mouse Stamps is having a blog hop for teachers! We still have at least 5 weeks worth of school here but I like having cards made ahead of time! I’m also entering this in Deconstructing Sketches 101. I know this isn’t so teacher-y but I figure teachers are regular people too and probably get tired of teacher themed stuff. So I only added a subtle nod to a teacher theme with the printing practice lines paper.

While making this I came up with a couple of tips. First, if you want to colour veneer shapes with mists, did you know you can just use the tip or side of the mister straw instead of getting out some sort of applicator or brush? I hate wasting product and even though it’s small, there is always some waste with an applicator. It worked perfectly and was quicker than I thought; I only dipped it in twice. Secondly, never sponge ink into your project with dirty scratch paper behind. You probably already know this but as I usually work with my paper in my hands, this didn’t dawn on me until the navy ink on my scratch paper started making my coral mist look very dirty. Bummer! Embellishment opportunity! Hello sequins!

Last, I needed a colour of red I didn’t have. First I tried second generation stamping, not right. Then a technique I love which is to stamp a strong colour that’s too strong and stamp off, then add another colour of ink to the remaining ink and use the blended ink. While this technique rocks, the result was a bit too pale. I settled for a pure red then regretted it, too bright. I continued making my card but really wasn’t happy. Then I got the fabby idea to overstamp with Antique Linen Distress ink, a deep ivory colour, to darken and remove the brightness. I took a deep breath and prayed that I would be able to line it up, stamped and yeah! Not only did I line it up correctly but the colour was just right, nicely muted but not too dark! So consider these three tricks when you don’t have the right colour ink!

Like my embellishment? I wrapped the butterfly with wire threaded with some cheap crystals. I don’t often use good ones for cards. Here’s how to get the wrap tight without using pliers to twist the wire tight (which will mar the antennae). Fold the wire in half, thread with beads and place over the butterfly. Bring the front wire to the back and the back wire to the front keeping the wires straight. We aren’t going to twist the wires, just keep bring one wire to the front then the other, then one to the back then the other. The trick is to always start with the same wire and consistently work towards the same side otherwise you will twist and untwist the wire never getting anywhere.

Enjoy the hop. Please visit again and feel free to sign up by email subscription if you’d like. I also have RSS feed but I think it’s the kind that’s ending soon so I have to look into getting a new one.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: WMS
Ink: real red-SU!, Antique Linen
Paper: kraft, white CS-PTI, DP-carta bella
Accessories: Studio Calico chevron stencil, boss lady, opaque white mists, butterfly veneer, beads, wire-stash, tag die (rotated and die cut twice to remove the tag top), twine-PTI, sequins-fabricland, foam dots-Jody Morrow,

Flip Card for Waltzing Mouse Stamps Challenge

Waltzing Mouse Stamps has a challenge right now to make a moving or interactive card. I decided to make a shaped flip card.

I used a partial die cutting technique to cut the flip portion of the card. And I modified the card to make the center portion narrower which allowed more to show through the opening when the card is closed. The part the thank you is stamped on. I did a trial using the paper sizes and score lines used the tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers and there wasn’t enough showing to stamp on or to look right. Which also meant making the overall card smaller to maintain an overall size of 4.25x5.5”.

Other than that, I just decorated the card as usual. I was a bit tricky to mat the front of the card with patterned paper. I wish I had added it before doing the die cutting but I managed.

When the card is closed you can’t see this flourish but I added it because you can see it from the back where I will put my message to the recipient.

Enjoy, Rebecca

WMS Oscar Dress Inspiration Challenge

Yep, I’m guilty of watching the Oscars even though I didn’t watch a single movie. I mean really, how many movies do you think I go to while breastfeeding a newborn last year?? LOL!

So that means my Oscar experience is all about the dresses! That made Claire’s challenge perfect! I was inspired by several dresses and the Oscars in general in making this card.

It looks kind of purple here but I thought Gloria Reuben’s dress was navy so I used it was inspiration for the navy and other blues in the card and the floral motif made me think of using a fabric flower.

This dress worn by Anne Hathaway (click on her name for a pic with better colour)  inspired the pink in the horse and especially the pink flower.

Catherine Zeta-Jones' dress inspired all the gold on the card. The star, the gold on the carousel horse and the matting underneath, the stripe of mica flakes, the gold-embossed sentiment and the gold beads in the center of the flower.

I also added a star, which of course look so much prettier IRL, to add to the theme of the Oscars. (its so reflective it looks misshapen but I swear, it isn’t!) Which is also why I used music paper when I cut the doily; the theme was Music of the Movies this year.

I really wanted to colour the horse in brighter colours but the only bright pinks I have are the low RVs. As in RV00, 02, 04, 06 and I DETEST the latter two. The are pretty much fluorescent! Ewww! So I settled for softer colours but overall, I’m proud of the colouring. I added some music themed washi to the inside to acknowledge the music theme the Oscars had this year. I also used crystals inside the flower to mimic the bling of the Oscars, the glitz, glamour and diamonds! They are hard to see but look so nice!

Claire, I hope you will accept my entry, I know my main image isn’t WMS but I only have three sets and two are sentiments! The other is Rescue Remedies!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: horse-Flourishes, sentiment-WMS
Ink: Memento black, versamark
Paper: navy CS-Stash, white CS-XPress It, music DP-MME, gold CS-SU!
Accessories: star shaped red line tape, red line tape, foam dots-Jody Morrow, gold glitter-MS, gold druk beads-Fire Mountain Beads, other beads-stash, fabric-Fabricland, labels 1 Nesties, Sakura white gel pen, Copic Opaque white, leaf, washi tape, gold mica flakes-stash, PTI doily die, gold EP-SU!, Glossy Accents-Ranger

Vintage Chalkboard Challenge Card

OK, so I have to admit, I’m not sure I like this card. I am so not a fan of black but I was dying to try the chalkboard technique.

But when I got done, I didn’t know what to pair it with! Uh oh! The black really threw me for a loop. So I went with some very bold G45 papers I bought only because I was making cards for a client and the elegant black patterned papers in the pack were perfect. Not my style really, well, at all and I hesitated to even publish it which is very unusual because I blog pretty much everything I make! I just had to blog it anyway because I it was for three challenges and even more so because I am thrilled with how the chalkboard technique turned out. I used a chalk pastel pencil for the lines. Not too many chalkboards have coloured ‘chalk’ but I have seen a few including a cool Nabob commercial.

This is for the Waltzing Mouse Blog Party to use Doilies. I just tucked bits under each edge. Also for Deconstructed Sketch 89 and Friday Mashup 97 to use Markers and add Texture. I used a marker to colour the white EP to match the DP and buttons. I fyou have any ideas what would go better with the black, leave me a comment!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: WM
Ink: Versamark, white-PTI
Paper: kraft-PTI, DP-Graphic 45, black-SU!, doily-Wilton
Accessories: black ribbon-May Arts, buttons-SU!, scalloped border die-PTI, white EP-stash, Copics

Thanks, You’ve Been Wonderful

This is a triple challenge post. For this month’s WMS blog party and this week’s WMS sketch challenge. And Friday Mashup #85 to make a Project Saying Thank You.

I’m afraid my photography is suffering today from the bright light in my craft room, not bright enough for no lights but bright enough to add a strange colour cast to the lights I do have. Grrr… In addition, I have a cold so I am a bit shaky so the focus is off. bummer. So sorry.

I have a die cutting trick for you. I always hoard my favourite sheets of DP. So I was loathe to cut into another sheet of this paper for the label. But in my mind, nothing else really suited. So I worked out exactly where I would place the final focal tag. Then I traced it. Since the larger mat would cover over the area below, I was free to ‘steal’ it for my label! Cool idea right? I had one small problem in that the card base showed through the holes in my die cut. This is only a problem with this ribbon treatment and not normally an issue. I solved it easily with a snippet of paper in a similar colour from the same pack! The spots are so tiny you definitely cannot tell.

It was awesome to find a paper that already had words in the corners a la the sketch! But not so overwhelming that I couldn’t add my own sentiment as the focal image. My sister and I finally agreed on the style of her wedding favours and this is the ribbon treatment and tag style we are using so I had them in mind when I made the card.

(Click the sketches to visit the blog posts.)

The favour is biscotti so they will be individually wrapped in bags intended for pretzels then wrapped in patterned paper. Then the tag will be added in a similar fashion but instead of tying the ribbon the way mine is above, the holes will be punched on the other sides and the ribbon will wrap around the biscotti and paper. The paper will probably have scalloped edges if I can figure out a way to do it that won’t take forever or require multiple punches due to dulling them because of so much use. 200+ favours is a lot! I’ll be sure to show you when I make them.

Thanks for visiting, if you like what you see, be sure you don’t miss anything by subscribing. Subscription thingies for RSS and email are on my sidebar!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: sentiment-WMS, music-Skipping Stones Designs
Ink: Berry Sorbet, Chocolate-PTI, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress
Paper: MME Be Amazing, kraft CS-SU!, melon berry CS-PTI
Accessories: pearls-Dollarama, foam dots-Jody Morrow, ribbon-SU!, label dies-PTI, flower-stash,

Belated WMS Sketch

Bummer, I missed posting and linking up to the WMS sketch by a few hours. I am always missing opportunities this way. UGH! I made this for my new next door neighbour. I don't know her to well yet but she seems nice!

I actually won the papers I used from PC magazine. It is so fun to use stuff I've won! I paper pieced the door with a wood grain textured CS in the back. The heart die is by Memory box and is so pretty. I die cut it from the same paper as the tab but it was too pale so I sponged it with Berry Sorbet ink.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: WMS Say It Loud, PTI Home Made
Ink: Hawaiian Shore, Berry Sorbet-PTI, Pink Pirouette-SU!, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress
Paper: American Crafts-Neapolitan, kraft CS-SU!, textured white CS-stash
Accessories: Prima flower, memory box heart die, PTI tab die, button, twine, May Arts lace, scalloped edge punch-EK Success

Shabby Gift Bottle for WMS Sketch Challenge

I’d recently finished a bottle of supplements and noticed that , for once, I had a nice bottle with a nice metal lid without any weird colours or writing on it! Yeah, can you say embellishing opportunity! And then when I saw this week’s WMS sketch, I knew it would be perfect!

The sketch lent itself, I thought, to having a tag as the focal panel. I made the tiny little flower with a Cheery Lynn Cuties die, sorry, I don’t remember which one.

I decided not to do any distressing because I don’t know the recipient very well. This is for my future brother-in-law’s mother! I know there are a few people out there who think distressing looks dirty and I wouldn’t want her to think I make junk! I think I’ll fill it with some chocolates to accompany the thank you card I’m making for having an engagement party for my sister. My family doesn’t know his family so it was the first opportunity for us to meet them all and his is a BIG family as he is one of 7 kids and they are all older with their own families!

I am very pleased with the result. I love altering and decorating pretty found items and I feel so green doing so!

Click on the sketch to link to the challenge.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: WMS
Ink: chocolate, banana-SU!
Paper: MME Follow your heart, vellum, kraft CS-PTI, white CS-Taylored Expressions
Accessories: cuties die-Cherry Lynn, leaf die-SU!, border die-PTI. mini scalloped edge punch-EK Success, twine-MME, foam dots-Jody Morrow, ribbon-Walmart, pearls-Dollarama, eyelet-WRMK, Copic marker

Celebrate–You’re a Star

I hope my son does well on his report card and if so, this is for him to celebrate the end of the year. This card is also for Unscripted Sketches 163, Joan’s Gardens challenge this week to make a card for a kid and this month’s Waltzing Mouse Blog Party which is open for linking right now!

I kinda got on the confetti craze for this card. I used lots of different papers from 3 packs and Say It Loud from Waltzing Mouse stamps. I wish I’d had one smaller star die so I could layer some even smaller stars pointing off the top right corner, I’ll have to go on a hunt to see which company makes just the right sizes. The photo below is the inspiration for this month’s blog party.

I’m noticing that I really strayed from the sketch quite a bit. I think you can still see the inspiration though, my large panel is bigger, the square was translated into a star and the right panel shrunk into my banner panel. I was still inspired by it though and that’s the point right? I hope…?

I hope if you enjoyed my card that you will visit again. I am in the process of making a video for a really cool graduation hat gift box/gift card box and I’ll post the link and measurements as soon as it is done. I have subscription thingies on my sidebar. Have fun with the rest of the party!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: WMS
Ink: pumpkin pie, green galore, teal (the last two blended to get the small sentiment colour)-SU!, broken china distress
Paper: Fancy Pants, Echo Park-Splash, MME-Lime Twist, confetti white, kraft CS-SU!, orange zest CS-PTI
Accessories: star dies-Sizzix, PTI, star punch-Fiskars, foam dots- Jody Morrow, notebook page punch-SU!

Triple Challenge Pastel Get Well Card

I’m really happy with this pastel shabby chic get well card AND I managed to incorporate 3 challenges!

I love this sketch. I much prefer asymmetrical designs; with symmetrical ones I always feel boxed in for some weird reason.

I’m terrible for buying these gorgeous big flowers then hoarding them so I’m proud I used one. Silly huh? LOL! I used some tiny white flowers, silk ribbon and tiny die cut leaves to complete the cluster.

The stamping on the panel ended up being slightly lighter than I’d prefer but my other inks were too bright. I also didn’t account for how much the base colour of the paper would dull the colour or I might have tried a brighter ink. oh well, I like the soft look but it is a tiny bit hard to read if your eyesight is less than perfect. It is still visible though. I stamped too close to the edge of the paper so I had to cut it out by hand and then layer it on a die cut panel.

The fabric panel with the pearls is a leftover from a ring pillow my mom made for a friend. She stippled a larger panel then cut out what she needed. I got the leftovers! I sewed on individual pearls to accent the lovely silk fabric then distressed it with Antique Linen Distress ink.

I used the WMS sketch this week. They are celebrating 100 sketches and looking for Guest Designers. I’d love to be a Guest Designer so if you are reading this… pretty please! Did you know my needle case was mentioned as one of the top three projects from last month’s Blog Party. Yeah! (Click on sketch to visit the blog.) Did you notice I finally actually followed a sketch without changing it? I rotated it sure but I included all the elements and didn’t move any or rearrange any layers! WOW!

I’m also entering this in the Shabby Tea Room challenge this week to use pink, aqua or teal and brown. As long as kraft counts as brown (and I’m sure it does), no problem! Click on graphic to visit blog.

Click on the graphic to go to the blog. In case you can’t see it, I sponged the white flowers with apricot ink. It looks a bit too yellow but I promise, it is peach!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: WMS
Ink: Soft Rose-Hero Arts, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress inks, AL Distress Stain
Paper: kraft CS-SU!, Miss Caroline Fiddlesticks DP-My Mind’s Eye
Accessories: Labels 4 Nesties dies, vintage lace, silk ribbon-May Arts, mini flowers, pearl beads-stash, Rose creations leaf die, flower-Prima, Mettler sewing thread, silk fabric scraps, foam dots- Jody Morrow