Baby Thank You Gift Set

Friends of my husband’s just had a baby and since he helped us move (huge job!) I just had to make them a baby gift. I’ve been too busy getting ready for our own baby (37 weeks as of Sunday! almost there…) to make anything too extravagant but I managed to whip up a set of 10 CAS thank you cards.

Here they are, as a set, all boxed up with envelopes. I would have made the box more interesting but everything I could think of would have gotten crushed when I put it in a padded envie to mail it. And I’m not sure they are the sentimental types to save and/or reuse a pretty box.

Isn’t this stamp gorgeous and detailed? I just love it! I tried interesting my mom in stamping a while back and she bought quite a few stamps but never kept it up so I inherited this beauty! Such a great focal stamp, fabulous all on it’s own.

Here’s the card all by itself. I went with very CAS because I’m told they are not into things that are too ‘frou-frou’! These should work well. I don’t think I’ve ever made cards with so few ‘ingredients’! I’ve made quite a few thank you cards for my own use already but if I run out, I may make a few more of these!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: oops, I forget, email me if you want to know but its older so probably retired, thank you-PTI (I think)
Paper: marina mist, vanilla CS-SU!
Ink: night of navy-SU!

Paris ‘Challenge Me’ ATC

As any of my regular readers knows, I trade quite a few craft items on Swap-Bot. This one was for a swap I designed called ‘Challenge Me’ ATC which was quite new and different. In order to make the ATC, the sender had to list  their favourite 10 crafting supplies or tools in the comments section.

The recipient would choose 5 of those that the sender HAD to use to make the ATC. The recipient would also look over the sender’s profile and choose a theme from things that the sender listed as likes. Then the sender created the ATC with the 5 items chosen (basic supplies like scissors, cardstock etc were givens for everyone) plus one additional item from the list of 10 and 2 other items of choice.

I made this a couple weeks ago so I’m not sure I'm 100% but I think the 5 were DP, ephemera, punches, dies and ribbon. The scalloped border is a punch, the doily a die. The ephemera is the music paper, background is DP. I used a stamp as an additional item from my list of 10. And I added pearls. The theme my partner chose was Paris but could I find my Eiffel Tower stamp? UGH! Took me ages! And I know I have 2 but I never did find the 2nd one.

I dyed the silk ribbon with Copic ink and distressed it with Vintage Photo ink. I used a Bow Easy to make a nice tidy bow. TIP: Did you know that if you wrap the ribbon in a figure 8 around the ‘legs’ rather than wrapping around the outside of the ‘legs’ of the Bow Easy and  you put a twist in the ribbon in the center, the bow loops will fluff much more easily? Especially with lots of loops. I forgot to do so here and you can see that my loops will stay out to the sides and not fan all the way into a nice circular shape. I don’t have enough loops to make a full circular shape anyway but if I did, they would always try to stick out to the sides unless you figure 8 wrap the ribbon.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: unknown
Ink: Vintage Photo, Antique Linen Distress, Memento black
Paper: Graphic 45 Romantique, white typing paper (doily), vanilla, black CS-SU!, vintage music paper
Accessories: doily die-PTI, punch-EK Success, May Arts Ribbon, Bow Easy, Copic, Kaisercraft Pearls

Last Week’s Mojo Cards

So I finally get around to making some cards using a sketch and even within the actual week it was published. I often use sketches long after they are published if they fit the stamps or stickers or image I want to use. But did I remember to blog them and enter them? Of course not! Pregnancy brain is my only excuse!

This card was for friends of ours, a lovely couple who had an early anniversary party for us. We are celebrating 14 years on the 25th! Considering we only knew each other and dated for less than 6 months, I think we’ve probably beat some pretty amazingly high odds together. My husband is actually the only guy I’ve ever even kissed. Isn’t that sweet?!!

I got to use the new Hero Arts stamps that come with matching dies, how cool is that! The dies are unique in that they have the cutting blade right at the inner edge so it is very easy to see through the center and line up accurately. You can see how close I got in the photo above! The flower is a bit off but pretty good for a first time.

This card is a sympathy card I started ages ago. A friend’s MIL died of cancer at a relatively young age 2 months ago, what a shame. I decided to go with a shabby chic design as I haven’t done much of it lately. I made the  rose with a rolled flower die, cut the doily and tag, stamped the tag and that’s where I left it for way too long. I mean, it isn’t fun to make a sympathy card anyways and I started to get the favours and invites ready for a spa party I was having and this got set aside.

Incidentally, the tag die was too short for the sentiment so I carefully placed the die in my Cuttlebug plates so that only 2/3 of it cut. Then I moved the die across the paper so when I cut the other end, the die cut was longer than if I cut it all at once. I’ve done it before and it always works quite well! I may have to do a video on that at some point. Just be careful when you cut the second time that you don’t allow the plates to cut the first end or you will  mess it up. Let me know if you are interested in a video!

In case you are wondering, the card is made of two unconnected cardstock circles; doily is glued to the back of the card front. Then the card back is scored about 3/4” from the top and adhered to the card front, above the score line only, with the doily sandwiched in between. I had to use some pretty strong adhesive but it worked really very well.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
HOSPITALITY CARD
Stamps: PTI-Homemade, flower-Hero Arts
Ink: vintage photo Distress, celery, rose red, regal rose-SU!
Paper: DP Restoration-Crate, yellow DP-stash, kraft, black CS-SU!
Accessories: embossing folder-Cuttlebug, gold edging pen-Pilot, punch-MS, foam dots-Jody Morrow, pearls-Kaisercraft and Dollarama, Matching Hero Arts dies

SHABBY CHIC SYMPATHY
Stamps: JustRite
Ink: antique linen, vintage photo Distress, Artichoke-SU!
Paper: Basic Grey Perhaps, pink pirouette, celery, white CS-SU!
Accessories: Spellbinders dies, doily-Wilton, silk ribbon-May Arts, pearls-Dollarama, scalloped edge punch-SU!, foam dots-Jody Morrow

Baby Onesie Favour for Taylored Expression Blast from the Past Blog Hop

The theme this month is Trick or Sweet. Since I don’t celebrate Halloween I decided to go with Sweet. I’ve got baby on the brain of course, being almost 7 months pregnant, so a baby shower favour seemed like a no brainer. And I won a TE baby set a couple months ago making it even easier!

If you don’t visit my blog on a regular basis you may want to subscribe or visit again as I will be doing a tutorial on how to make this favour. It’s pretty easy but I’ll list the sizes of circles to use and the measurements of the sleeves etc. You can get two from each sheet of 8.5x11” cardstock.

I would have used blue and white jelly beans but I didn’t have any so this is filled with a roll of unwrapped Sweet Tarts minus the pink and orange ones. You could use any candy you want of course. Blue and white M&Ms could be cool too. Or blue FIZZY BATH SALTS would be a calorie-conscious option. They are easy and pretty cheap to make, just click on the highlighted text above.

If you are very observant, you may have noticed a little blue paperclip sticking out from the side of the sleeve. I wanted to be able to undo the favour and allow it to lay flat to make a template later so I used paperclips to hold it together temporarily while I photographed it.

I used stars from two different sets, Hanging Out and Bringing Home baby, cut them away from the other stamps they were attached to and used them to background stamp the onesie. The sheep and turtle were cut apart from their stamps too.

I hope if you enjoyed this project you will visit again!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: TE Bringing Home Baby, Hanging Out
Ink: Bashful blue, navy-SU!, Memento black
Paper: bashful, brocade blue CS-SU!
Accessories: blue brads, circle, label 1 Nesties, 1 1/4” circle punch-SU!, Copics W3,5, Y21,35,YG63, G21,24, foam dots-Jody Morrow

 

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Another Baby Card-Girlie Version

I posted a boy baby thank you card last month for the TE Blog Hop here and I decided to just make a girl version when I needed a congrats card last week.

Everything is pretty close to the same in terms of how it was made except this card isn’t square and I trimmed down the mats so there was a bit more space between each square. The sentiment looks a bit blurry because I stamped it in pretty in pink then decided it was too soft so I tried over stamping with regal rose. Let’s just say it didn’t line up perfectly. OOPS!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Taylored Expressions, sentiment-PTI
Ink: Memento black, rose-SU!
Paper: rose, pink CS-SU!, white CS-X-Press It, DP-DCWV 
Accessories: seam binding ribbon-Hug Snug, button-PTI, Divine Twine, Copic Markers-V00,02, R81,83,85,59 YR30,Y21,Y35, YG63,67, G21,24, , E31,33,35, W1,3,5,7, 100, Square Nesties

Hope You Can Cling to Challenge

Splitcoast Stampers has a series of challenges during the month of October in honour of Breast Cancer month. Many people are sending their cards to a cancer center in Texas but as in my last post, I have someone to give mine to who’s a bit closer to home.

I used pink because the colour for bone cancer is white. Not so easy to craft in all white! The embossing on the upper part is white pearls. I love how soft it looks and it really does look pearlescent in the right light. The rest is pretty easy to figure out. Next time, I will make sure the lowest row of punching is symmetrical. I don’t think the other layers matter so much because the pink doesn’t show through them. I hope you will take time to play in the challenges, there is a link to them on right sidebar of the SCS home page, and send some cards in if you can.

I am not sending this one in but will make some more when I have more time. I barely got this one done because I threw out my left SI joint(sacroiliac, where your lower back joins your pelvis) trying to find something on the floor in my very messy basement craft room/storage area and it hurt so badly! I’m starting to feel better now so I can spend longer crafting this week.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: SU!
Ink: Distress embossing
Paper: white, pink CS-SU!
Accessories: white pearls EP, gingham ribbon-Michaels, pink rhinestones-Zva, various MS punches, PTI card edger die

Super Simple Card Gift Set for World Card Making Day

This should be an awesome, stamping-filled, paper-loving card making day. Sadly, I have recently learned that a sweet friend of mine has been diagnosed with Stage 4 bone cancer. She isn’t a super close friend but I am still really upset. OK, part of that is because I am pregnant, maybe I am just more likely to cry, I imagine I’d still feel as upset no matter what. I am planning a gift basket for her (Becca, if you already did your own, no prob, I will either do my own or if not, I will include this in it) and figured she’ll need a bunch of thank you cards in the coming months. So instead of rockin’ a few online challenges, I decided to make this set.

It is a set of 8 cards all the same, just different colours of card bases. They are all stamped with a background stamp in the same colour as the base. The branch is done with PTI Out on a Limb which was stamped twice, once in full and once below just partially.  Ditto with the matching flower image. This was very quick to do! I added the leaves individually, coloured with a Copic and hand drew in the flower centers. It took a lot less time than you might think!

I wanted glitter along the top edge of the main panel but glitter is so messy so I used Scor-Tape and glittered EP. The butterflies are only adhered in the middles so the wings can be lifted if she is giving them in person. The mail will just squish them back down of course!

Here are all the colours I used. They look good together right? I deliberately chose them so they would look good as a set and still all go with the flower and butterfly colours. I wish I’d had something more formal than the twine at the bottom but I don’t have much ribbon in white that I liked that was also in sufficient quantity for 8 cards. Sheer white with a gold edge would have been nice. Oh, well.

I got a new macro lens. I am thrilled with it! I went to a larger camera store than the one near my house and they had several lenses that were lower priced than the ones stocked locally! Yeah! I entered expecting to pay $649 and left with a lens for $449! WooHoo!! I love that you can actually see the sparkle of the glitter!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Out on a Limb and OOAL sents-PTI, background-SU!
Ink: rose red, regal rose, banana, celery, artichoke, amethyst, eggplant, cocoa, brocade blue, pink pirouette-SU!
Paper: natural white CS-PTI, rose red, regal rose, banana, celery, amethyst, eggplant, cocoa, brocade blue CS-SU!
Accessories: pearls-Dollarama, twine-PTI, iridescent ice EP-SU!, butterfly punch-MS, Scor-Tape 1/8”, white taffeta ribbon-SU!, card box-Clear Boxes of Canada

Recycled Gift Card Holder

So, what do you think I recycled to make this project? Yep, a flattened toilet paper tube! Cool right? This was for another swap on Swap-Bot. I joined a group called Somerset swappers that uses Somerset brand magazines as inspiration for all swaps. In case you aren’t familiar, these magazines feature different hand made items from recycled projects to doll art to shabby chic deliciousness to vintage items to aprons to whimsical artsy altered projects.

The design is pretty basic. The outside is wrapped with patterned paper held on with adhesive and the bottom is stapled closed. I also held the lace on with staples and covered them with the scrunched seam binding. I tried something new with this ribbon. Sharon (I can’t remember if it was Harnist or Johnson, oops, sorry) had on her blog that she ties the ribbon, then spritzes and scrunches it. I tried that because I wanted flat ribbon around the tube to better hide the top of the lace and the staples but a scrunched bow. Worked out very well! I used gold Perfect Pearls Mist that I made and spritzed the whole project.

TIP: I don’t use hat pins much anymore for beading because it is too expensive. Instead I use corsage pins or head pins made for jewelry. The head pins are best in some ways because almost any bead fits on the smaller ones, even those with small holes but they bend too easily and you have to work them into the bow rather than stab them right through the middle of the knot because they are blunt tipped. The corsage pins have thicker metal so fine-holed beads don’t work but they are sharp tipped.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: Button Boutique-PTI
Ink: Vintage Photo Distress
Paper: My Mind’s Eye, vanilla CS-SU!
Accessories: lace-stash, mini pearls-Melissa Frances, pearl beads and crystals-stash and Swarovski, seam binding-Hug Snug, ribbon-Offray, corsage pin, Spellbinders tag die

Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop–Baby Thank You

Welcome to another Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop. This month’s theme was Birthday or Birth Day as both Taylor and her baby were born this month. Welcome little one! She is adorable! I am pregnant too and decided I’m certainly going to need lots of thank you cards. This one took a while so I am going to give it to someone special (rather than an assembly line card).

I used a TE sketch from Sept 9 for this, I think it was #146. I’ve seen a few cards made from this sketch and loved them so today it was my turn. The background is stamped with Versamark using a SU! roller stamp I unmounted to save space. Works just like a background stamp after that. I have to say, I am in love with that little diaper bag. I will be using it a lot more!

If you liked my card, I hope you will consider subscribing to my blog my RSS or email. Both are on my sidebar. Thanks!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Taylored Expressions, sentiment-PTI, background-SU!
Ink: Versamark, Memento black, celery-SU!
Paper: DP, celery, navy CS-SU!, white CS-X-Press It
Accessories: ribbon-Offray, button-PTI, Divine Twine, Tag die-Quickutz, Copic Markers-YR30,Y21,Y35, G21,24, B39,41,45,91,93, E02,31,33,35, W1,3,5,7, C5, 100

Inspiration Showcase Embossed Resist Card

Rebecca, if you are reading right now, stop! Otherwise it will spoil a surprise!

I’m taking Jennifer Mcguire’s Inspiration Showcase class right now. There’s only a few days left but you might still be able to join in a week or so as she sometimes opens classes up with a slight discount after the class is over. You won’t get a chance to win prizes nor ask questions on the forum (I don’t think) but the class is awesome! I already knew many of the techniques but she puts such interesting spins on them and uses them in ways and in combinations with other techniques I would never have thought of. I can only image how exciting this class would be for a new stamper or someone who doesn’t use techniques much! And it was a great reminder of techniques I haven’t used in ages! She has an amazing way of teaching so quickly and concisely and her videos are always clear and easy to watch. No jumpy visuals or blurred images and she always makes sure you see everything, never too fast. I am absolutely in LOVE!

I made this card using the Distress Ink Embossed Resist technique. You emboss your image on white paper using clear EP and heat emboss. Then use a blending tool to add colour to the background. I needed a thank you card for my BFF who tutored my son for a super amazingly good price this summer. He was doing quite poorly in math and still didn’t know his times tables in grade 4. So she worked with him twice a week all summer, so worth every penny. She homeschooled her boys and I have to say, it’s a shame she isn’t a school teacher. She is also an excellent musician and used to teach piano. So I often use musical themes when making cards for her.

The treble clef was stamped in Distress ink and clear embossed to make it shiny like the background. The bottom edge was cut with a PTI edger die.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: SU!
Ink: Versamark, Distress ink concord, lavender
Paper: white, pale plum CS-SU!, Basic Grey Wisteria paper
Accessories: pearls-Dollarama, clear EP, Copic marker (to colour the pearls darker), PTI Edger 1 die, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Tim Holtz foam ink applicator

Back to School Cards

I can’t believe my little one is already in school. He’s only 4, still says his ‘L’s like ‘Y’s, as in yunch instead of lunch, and still seems like a baby in some ways. One of my favourite things he said was when he talked about the 'yady in the yine’ at a store. So cute!

He was totally fine on the first day of school, so confident, never looked back! I did OK, I made it through the drop off, stayed to help the teacher with a kid who was practically hysterical after her mother left (the teacher was directing parents to their kid’s teachers so was busy) and made it to the car before I started to cry. Even then it wasn’t too bad. I think it is because he really isn’t my youngest child anymore. When the baby I’m pregnant with goes to school, that will be really hard.

Anyway, I made the kids each a card for the first day of school. I also made the older one a bookmark. Apparently I did OK, this one was a hit. Hard to make something cool for a 10 year old boy!

I cut apart the sentiment that said Hope your Birthday Rocks and removed the ‘birth’. Then I wrote in ‘first’ with and embossing ink pen. The embossing is a cool colour called Medieval Metals. It is a mix of gold, bronze, copper and silver. Very masculine. The star is made from a coaster cut with a Sizzix die which is also covered in the same EP. The main image is black embossed. I sure gave my heat gun a workout on this card.

This card is for the little one. He doesn’t really care much about what I make him and he will probably trash it first chance he gets so I didn’t spend too much time on it. The image was coloured with Copics and raised up on foam dots. Except the little lines joining the balloon and basket. They were stamped on the background. I threaded the buttons with Divine Twine. The right one looks like plain white twine but it is really yellow twist.

I know, why on earth did I photograph a black bookmark on a black background? Even brunettes have blonde moments is my only excuse! I had placed the bookmark on the back of the matching card and just photographed it there. This time I used silver EP since the bookmark will usually not be near the card. I used the rock n roll technique for the coloured area on the guitar. The neck of the guitar was coloured with Copics and I darkened the middle with a Copic multiliner. It is a very simple design, just a folded over piece of CS, like a long, skinny card. Inside, on each side, are magnets to help the bookmark stay in the book.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
ROCK Card and Bookmark
Stamps: Taylored Expressions
Ink: Versamark, not quite navy, banana, orange, red-SU!, embossing pen
Paper: black, white CS-SU!, DP-Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend
Accessories: foam dots- Jody Morrow, Sizzix die, coaster board, ticket corner punch-SU!, Copic R29, C5, Black, silver EP-SU!, Medieval Metals-Sweet Stamps, magnet tape-Michaels

BALLOON Card
Stamps: Taylored Expressions
Ink: Memento black
Paper: red CS-CDS, blue CS-SU!, white CS-X-Press It
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, EK Success punch, buttons-stash, Divine Twine, Copics (sorry, I forget the numbers especially since I rarely use these bright colours)

Doodle Pantry-Autumn Topiary

My term at Doodle Pantry has come to an end. I am sad to see it go but also relieved as I am going to be very busy with the baby soon! Only 3.5 months to go! I do love colouring Laurie’s images though so I’m sure you will see some more of her designs in the coming months.

Finally! A card I thought photographed well! I am always apologizing for my poor photos. I struggled to find papers to go with the fall colours I used for this image. I finally settled on Max and Whiskers by Basic Grey. The colours were perfect. The sketch is by Mojo Monday but I missed entering by just a few hours. Bummer!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Doodle Pantry
Stamps: Sentiment-Verve, Flourish-(sorry can’t remember)
Ink: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress, artichoke-SU!
Paper: Basic Grey, artichoke, espresso,kraft CS-SU!, white CS-Taylored Expressions, vintage dictionary page
Accessories: scalloped die – not sure, either PTI or MFT, flowers-CTMH, pearls-Dollarama, circle die-Nesties, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Copics R24,27,29 YR04,07,16, Y21,35,38, YG63,67 G21,24,94,99 BG93,96 BV00,02 E35,37,47

Doodle Pantry–Quirky Crab Card

To see my Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop please SCROLL DOWN. Thanks!

I love this adorable little crab! So cute! And I just love making beach themed cards.

If you read my blog regularly, you might remember I had some trouble with my Mudd Puddles sand and shells drying out. I am happy to report that the water I added worked quite well and they were all back to normal consistency when I took them out yesterday.

I used this Monday’s Mojo sketch for this card. Click on the image to link to the blog.

I tried out a new technique on this card. A few of the Copic designers have been showing a technique taught at the Intermediate class (which I am dying to take, the closest is Ottawa, a 5 hour drive and it’s after school starts, BUMMER) which involves cooling off the deepest areas of shadows with a BV marker. While it is hard to see due to the size of the photo (click to see it larger), it really worked and quite well. I was amazed! I had tried it before but didn’t like it because I assumed if I was shading over a marker ending in a certain number, I should shade with a BV ending in the same number, not so! Way too dark and obviously purplish. Debbie Olson was using a BV000 or 00 over much deeper colours and that’s what I tried. YEAH!

The background was airbrushed though you can’t see the shadows I added underneath the crab because of the sand. I do love the look of the airbrushing beneath the sand! I hand cut the scalloped edge around the fishies. I embellished the embossed corner with shells. OK, so I have a confession to make, I cut apart the embossing folder I used as it has 2 corners making up a square shape. I didn’t think about it but the shape of the cut area also embossed! Maybe I didn’t need the shim? Ooops! So I had some errant embossing to cover up so that’s why I added the shells.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Doodle Pantry
Paper: DP-Splash-Echo park, kraft, espresso CS-SU!
Ink: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress inks
Accessories: circle Nesties, Cuttlebug embossing folder, ribbon-stash, Mudd Puddles shells and sand, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Copics R24,27, YR02,04,07, Y02,06,11, BG23,34,49, B12, BV00, E43,53, 00

Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop

I'm sorry my project isn't up yet but I had a very rough night so I'm sleeping in. As my pregnancy progresses, it gets harder and harder to get a good night's sleep! I'll have my post up later though, just a bit late. My apologies.

Welcome to my project for Taylored Expressions Blog Hop! I am happy to announce that I have found out the gender of my baby. I still can’t believe it because this pregnancy is so different in so many ways than the other two. But this baby is boy #3! Whew, I am going to be one busy momma! AND I won some stamp sets from TE via the Moxie Fab blog and I just had to use them. But how to incorporate a baby project with this month’s theme, Collectors Anonymous?

Didn't take me long to settle on an altered Keepsake Box because I do tend to collect lots of ephemera for my scrapbook pages and I am always losing stuff unless it ends up in a special place! Like baby clothes tags, photos other people take and give me, ribbons from gifts, tags, cards etc. So this little box was perfect! I love that it has no separate lid but rather the top closes with a magnet.

I stamped the tiny sheep from Bringing Home Baby on the kraft background using Champagne Versamark ink. I cut them apart and arranged them in a triangle shape for easy background stamping. Aren't they cute? The shimmer is hard to see but I love those little sheep anyway. I paper pieced the bear and accented him with a Copic marker for some shading. I hand cut the heart mat.

The box is nice to cover, the box collapses which makes the edges easier to cover as the raw edges can be tucked in and hidden when the box is assembled. You might have to see one to know what I’m talking about. The sides are covered in the same paper the heart was cut from. And since the box is white, no need to cover every edge or paint it first. Of course  you could if you didn’t want white but the surface is nice and smooth so I would recommend a very light, quick sanding if you want to paint it.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Bringing Home Baby, Beary Special-TE
Ink: Antique Linen Distress, Chocolate-SU!, Champagne Versamark
Paper: blue DPs-Anna Griffin, brown DP-SU!, kraft CS-SU!, natural CS-PTI,
Accessories: Perfect Package Card Box-TE, heart die-PTI, vintage buttons-stash, ribbon-stash, Copics E71,77, Labels 8 Nesties

Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop

I'm sorry my project isn't up yet but I had a very rough night so I'm sleeping in. As my pregnancy progresses, it gets harder and harder to get a good night's sleep! I'll have my post up later though, just a bit late. My apologies.

Rebecca

Doodle Pantry August Release!–Vintage Car

I can’t believe it’s already August! Where did July go?? Man! This is my last month as a Doodle Pantry Designer. I’ll be sad when it’s over but I really enjoyed the HUGE release Laurie had for us this month! Lots of images in both realistic and cartoony styles.

I used Vintage Car; it also comes in a coloured version for quick card making. It also has a version without the suitcases. It looks a bit flat here but I swear, it looks so much more 3 dimensional IRL. The background is embossed with a strip embossing folder that I repeatedly embossed across the card front. I used a sketch from Unscripted Sketches for the nifty layout, which I rotated 90 degrees.

Click on sketch to visit Unscripted Sketches.

Laurie has so many other great images for you this month. Be sure to check them all out at Doodle Pantry! She also bundles some images at a FABULOUS price so be sure to visit her Specials page! Not only are some images from this release on sale but some School Themed products are on sale too. Keep an eye out for a new freebie with purchase also.

PS: I’m having an ultrasound today. Hopefully I’ll find out what gender the baby is! Anyone want to guess??? Leave me a comment!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Vintage Car-Doodle Pantry
Ink: Vintage Photo, Antique Linen Distress ink
Paper: Basic Grey DP (Oxford I think), kraft, wasabi, red CS-SU!, white CS-Taylored Expressions
Accessories: brads-CTMH, bracket-Thickers, epoxy circle sticker-Anna Griffin, circle punch-SU!, Copics R27,29,59, E33,35,37,49, C1,3,5,7,100, W1,3,5, Cuttlebug Embossing folder

Doodle Pantry Baby Cow Card - CPS 126

This baby cow is on beyond adorable! I live in a small town in the middle of farm country and I love seeing the baby animals with their mamas in the fields. I’m always pointing them out to the kids to the point where my 4 y.o. points out any old critter and says, “Oh, look at the baby {insert animal here}!” Too funny!

So cute right? The original didn’t have any lines for the cow’s spots so I added lines with a Copic Multiliner. The lines were much too thick for the drawing but you can’t tell anymore because I used black for the spots. If I was going to colour the spots brown, I’d have had to search for a thinner permanent marker.

The background was airbrushed with Copic markers. sorry it isn’t as vibrant as IRL, I took the photo when the sun was setting. I used YG63 for the ground, E33 for the hay and B32 for the sky. I had to be very careful where the sky and hay come close together as those colours aren’t too compatible but I was very happy with the result.

Click on the sketch for a link to the challenge.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Images: Doodle Pantry
Stamps: weathered wood BG-SU!
Ink: Old Paper, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress ink, chocolate-SU!
Paper: Brown DP-, Orange DP-Cosmo Cricket Wanted, Espresso, Kraft CS-SU!
Accessories: raffia, wood button, hemp twine-stash, Label 1 Nesties, Copics RV42, E33,35, B32, YG67, C1,3,5,7, 100, 00, Crop-a-dile (notches for raffia)

Doodle Pantry-Wild Rose Shabby Bookmark

I am a huge fan of Laurie's lovely realistic flowers! Isn't this wild rose gorgeous? I coloured it right after the last release but it sat on my desk because my house has been a zoo! More about that later...

I used a music background on this bookmark then added some Venetian lace I bought on Etsy and a paper tape I've had for eons. I couldn't believe that it sat on my shelf for years but still wasn't faded. YEAH! I had already chosen the sage mat for my image so I was thrilled how well the greens matched. The lace was very white so I shabbied it up with Distress ink. I also sponged all the edges with Distress ink.

The image itself was coloured with Copics of course! The background was airbrushed in before I started knowing that I would be going over those areas with a slightly peachy pink anyway, the colours are compatible and the yellow pale enough that it didn't show. You can remove light colours with your colourless blender if you wish before starting. Another option for airbrushed backgrounds is to use a mask. After printing the image on cardstock, simply print again on copy paper. You can get a removable glue stick by 3M or Scotch that you simply apply, then allow to dry for one minute and voila! (not walla) instant sticky note paper! Make sure you cut out every little area though as missed areas are very hard to fudge! Ask me how I know...!

As for the chaos in my house, we had a flood 2.5 weeks ago. My toilet was stuck with ... well, you don't really need or want to know that… and my little son flushed it anyway. It seemed like it was OK, the water rose but not over the edge. I watched it for a few seconds then left the bathroom. I went upstairs for about 5 minutes then came downstairs again to a noise that almost stopped my heart. The toilet was running! We had fixed it not long ago so I figured it was fine. Uh, uh, not fine. I opened the door to dirty water everywhere! I sent my 10 yo. down to get towels to clean it all up and he says, "Mommy, it's raining in the basement!" Oh, $%^&!

2 weeks, one disaster clean up company, one insurance company, 2 insurance adjusters,  2 duct cleaning guys, one furnace repairman, 2 HEPA filters, 5 drying fans, 3 torn up floors one way too touchy-feely carpet salesman and one completely gutted bathroom later, we are still waiting for final insurance evaluation. I have doors, a toilet (wrapped in plastic) and a pedestal sink in my front hall. Normally not having a main floor bathroom wouldn't be too big a deal as I have a huge bladder but I'm pregnant! I’m really tired of going upstairs all the time. Anyway, I'll live! So if the blog has been too quiet lately, I apologize. Been a bit busy and going to bed earlier than normal too because of being pregnant and because the kids are up early, raring to go because it is summer. I hope your summer is going much, much better!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Doodle Pantry
Stamps: music BG-SU!
Ink: Distress Antique Linen, Vintage Photo
Paper: Bookmark-Hero Arts, sage CS-SU!, white CS-Taylored Expressions
Accessories: grommet-WRMK, seam binding ribbon-Masterstroke, Tape-stash, lace-Etsy, oval Nesties, Copics R10, 20,22,24, Y30, E08, G21, 24, YG63, 67

Papertrey July Blog Hop Challenge–Polaroid Technique Butterflies

Thanks for visiting! I’ve had a hard time playing along with the PTI blog hop the last few months. I wish they would publish the theme a week or so in advance as a reminder! Anyway, this month, I managed to find time to play!

This month, the theme was an inspiration photo. I’ve used the colour combo somewhat substituting yellow sponged with apricot for the orange, kraft for the natural tone of the shades and I also used the butterfly motif from one of the pillows.

I tried out Nichole’s Polaroid technique from one of the Make it Monday posts from last month, modifying it a bit. I masked off the center of my card and sponged white ink all around. Then I overstamped with the leaf image from Life. I cut a CS panel to fit inside the masked area and stamped around the edges of it with a scroll image from Vintage Labels. Then I die cut and sponged butterflies and circles as accents. Last I added a label I cut using oval Nesties and attached using a technique from one of the Stamp-a-Faire challenges, notching my card for the twine.

One thing to notice is that I used negative space several times on this card. The negative space from the masking, also the negative hearts inside the dies and the negative space created when I die cut and removed the rickrack. I just thought it gave an interesting look without adding another layer or another colour.

Here’s a die-cutting TIP for you. I was having trouble getting my die cuts out of my dies. Then I put one of my dies up in the corner of the cutting mat. It fell right out! I guess the less used the mat the easier it falls out of the die. Maybe the paper isn’t pushed in so far? Not really sure but I am going to make note of this and keep doing it!

I hope you like my card! If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to leave a comment or subscribe to my blog. Both RSS and email options are on my sidebar.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Life, Vintage Labels, Mega Mixed Messages-PTI
Ink: white-PTI, celery, apricot, olive, baja-SU!
Paper: soft sky, kraft-SU!, DP-PTI
Accessories: dies, twine-PTI, oval Nesties, thread, foam dots-Jody Morrow, rhinestones-Kaisercraft, notches cut with Crop-a-dile

Quirky Alligator Pop-Up Matchbox

I can’t believe my time as a Doodle Pantry Designer is almost over! 1 more month, August to go (and a bit of July still of course)! I’ve had so much fun and had the privilege to use so many wonderful images. One category of images I don’t use as often are the cutesy images Laurie draws so well. As I tend towards vintage and shabby, these are harder to use. However, I just had to print out and use Quirky Alligator from the July release.

This is a pop-up matchbox. I designed a swap on Swap-Bot for this type of matchbox and had fun making it. Most matchboxes have a sleeve that slides off of the drawer rather than this type of lid. I used JustRite stamps for the outside but the cute part is inside…

When you open the lid, there is the cutest little alligator ever! I love the patches on his eye, leg and arm (front leg??) I coloured him with Copic markers and I wasn’t thrilled with how the lighter yellow green turned out as I was surprised to see it was quite dull compared to the similarly numbered greens. The 00 series of all the colours should be quite bright with no grey or brownish undertones (with the obvious exceptions of the greys and browns). So I figured G00-09 and YG00-09 should be similar in tone. But to me, the YG’s were a bit dull but maybe it’s just my eyes… Shows more IRL than in the photo. I left those areas pretty much unshaded as the coordinating darker shade seemed even more brown/greyish and didn’t want to blend very smoothly. I guess I should check colour combos ahead of time even if I am pretty sure they will/should work.

The lid is two layers of embossed CS using a Cuttlebug embossing folder. It looked unfinished with the reverse/debossed side of the embossing showing on the inside and it made the lid stronger as we all know that embossing reduces the strength of CS by at least half and this box went through the mail in an unpadded envelope. (I have a cool way of protecting it from squashing though, ask if you are interested…)

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: JustRite
Images: Doodle Pantry
Ink: Memento black
Paper: yellow CS-SU!, white CS-Taylored Expressions
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, ticket corner punch-SU!. Copic markers, foam dots-Jody Morrow

(Contests mostly by Basic Grey. Typically matchboxes are filled with small goodies that complement the box…)

Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop-Beach Clothes Line

So glad you hopped on by to my project! The theme for the blog hop this month was Sending You Sunshine and boy, are we getting summer weather here in Southern Ontario! With the humidity, it is supposed to be 47 C later this week. YIKES!

(Click on photo for a larger view)

I used Hangin’ Out Beach and Hangin’ Out for my card today. I prefer to use the boxer shorts from the latter for guys swim trunks because they have no pattern making it easier to layer over patterned paper. Everything was stamped on patterned paper except the tree top and coconuts. I used plain cardstock for them. Then I used Copics for shading to make them look more 3-D.

The sand and shells are by Mudd Puddles and if you Google them, I’m sure you can find them online. They make the best sand and shells that come in little pots in glue so they are ready to use. One small note: I bought mine a year ago and they were starting to dry out! So I added some water and shook them (gently with the shells) to reactivate the glue. Definitely check yours out if you have some and add water if needed.

If you enjoyed my project, I hope you will subscribe. Both RSS and email options are on my sidebar! Thanks! I hope you have fun visiting the other blogs on the hop!

Enjoy, Rebecca

Stamps: TE, tab punch stamp-SU!
Ink: chocolate chip, Baja-SU!, Antique Linen Distress ink
Paper: It’s late, I can’t remember the manufacturers! Lime Rickey, Splash, kraft, olive CS-SU!
Accessories: Copic markers, Taylor’s Twinkles, Pink Divine Twine, foam dots- Jody Morrow, BBQ skewer, sand, shells-Mudd Puddles, tab punch-SU!

Doodle Pantry July Release–Harvest Bounty

I don’t use autumn colours a lot but I LOVED colouring the scene I used for this month’s release.

I used the Mojo Sketch from last week but darn it, I forgot to link it up in time! I know the main image panel looks crooked but I swear, it’s an optical illusion because I even measured it! I used so many Copic Markers I didn’t write down all the numbers but If you want to know, I can probably remember so just ask! I’m afraid my colouring looks washed out but IRL it sure doesn’t!

Be sure to visit Doodle Pantry to see all the new releases! Laurie always has a special bundle deal so check out her specials page for this month’s bundle at a big savings! You will also find links to all the other designer’s release projects so be sure to leave them some love!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Doodle Pantry
Stamp: CHF chicken wire
Ink: Versamark, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress inks
Paper: kraft-SU!, DP-stash
Accessories: twine-PTI, buttons-vintage and Basic Grey, Nestabilities, Cropadile Corner Rounder, seam binding ribbon-Masterstroke, Copics, airbrush system, clear EP-SU!, foam dots-Jody Morrow

Happy News!!

I am yet again apologizing for not posting for way too long, longer than ever before I think. I do have a good reason though! Guess what…

I’M PREGNANT! WAHOO! I am excited and thrilled! I wanted this for a long time but hubby wasn’t convinced. Well, nature decided to have it’s own way! I’m 3 months along, due December 25. That might be a bad time for most families but as we don’t celebrate anything during the traditional holiday season, worked out fabulously as hubby has two weeks off! YEAH!

I’ve had an ultrasound and everything looks great. I am feeling less pregnancy symptoms than with either of my other two, both boys, so here’s hoping that it’s a girl! But I am looking forward to breastfeeding again and lots of cuddle time the most so makes no difference either way.

Hubby is still a bit ambivalent but my older son, Jameson, 10, is thrilled, he’d been asking for the last couple years. The  little one, Spencer, 4, thinks it’s great but has very little understanding of what is going on. He wants the baby out now and was disappointed when the ultrasound wasn’t a regular colour photo! Probably pretty typical of that age! My family and friends are really happy too. My sister is a doula and will be again for us for this baby. I plan to have  the kids, my BFF and mom there too. Full house! Jameson was present for his brother’s birth and it was great. Spencer isn’t bothered or grossed out by much so even though he is younger, I think he will do just fine.

6 more months seems like such a long time…

Doodle Pantry Blog Parade–Little Castle

Welcome to the second stop in the Doodle Pantry Blog Parade, June 3-5! I am happy to show you one of Laurie’s release illustrations for this month, Little Castle.

I hope you enjoy the parade. You must leave a comment here (and at each blog along the parade) to be entered to win one of 5 prizes! If you did not arrive from Doodle Pantry, please be sure to visit there to start. All of the details you need are there. The next stop is Patti at Cherish Each Precious Day.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Images: Doodle Pantry
Ink: apricot-SU!
Paper: American Crafts DP, sweet blush CS-PTI, white CS-Taylored Expressions, tissue paper
Accessories: butterfly die-PTI, sewing thread, pearls-Dollarama, circle, labels 4 Nestabilities, Copic markers G21, 63,67, W1,3,5,7, C1, E29,49, B41

Congrats on Your Pregnancy Easel Card for the OCC.

Time for another OCC project! Our challenge was to make a baby-themed card using Kraft, a button and trim. Would you believe I already had one I made a couple weeks ago? I just hadn’t blogged it yet!

I made this for a woman in our congregation who is expecting her second baby. I’m not sure if she likes purple but I sure hope so! I think the shading on the carriage sucks, I actually added quite a bit of Y35 to the Y21 I used to colour it but for some weird reason, you really can’t see it much. The whole right side of the carriage is supposed to look shaded, like the dress. Oh well.

I made it into an easel card because I hope that she will display it until the baby is born and it will be way more sturdy this way. I normally go with a more shabby style but the gal I’m giving it to isn’t that way at all. More modern, so I think this card would suit her better than one dripping with lace and distressing.

I hope you will join us at the OCC blog this week. We’d love to have you play along . Be sure to check out all of the awesome samples the team has for you!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: Stamping Bella, ticket-PTI
Ink: Memento black, fresh snow white-PTI, eggplant, lavender-SU!
Paper: Kraft, purple,artichoke CS-SU!, white CS-Taylored Expressions, DP-Kioshi Basic Grey
Accessories: silk flower-Michaels, brad (um, I mean button of course)-Basic Grey, ribbon-stash, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Copics: V12,15,17, G21,25, Y21,35, E00,21,33,35,37, Bs and YRs(um, sorry, can’t remember), W00,1,3, ticket die, scalloped edge die-PTI, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Ice Cream Sundae for Doodle Pantry

Isn’t this ice cream sundae cute? It is from a set called Decadent Desserts. Laurie started with a image with pickles instead of bananas and called the set Crazy Cravings! I suggested that she also create a set changing the pickles to bananas which would appeal to more people. Don’t you love it? If you notice, I shaded the glass dish to look like the ice cream shows through a bit.

Laurie is having a sale this weekend! Visit Doodle Pantry for all the details.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Doodle Pantry
Stamp: JustRite
Ink: pretty in pink-SU!
Paper: DCWV Sweet stack, sweet blush CS, white CS-Xpress It, Pink CS-stash, doily-Ellen Hutson
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, Copics-R81,83, YR30,31, G21,24, B10, C1,3,7 Clear Spica, Sakura Jelly Roll Pen, circle and labels 8 Nesties

Triple Threat-Doodle Pantry, OCC and Mojo Card–Noah’s Ark

I am so happy tonight. I didn’t mind making one card but I really didn’t feel like making 3. So I was so happy when I managed to get them all into one card!

The image is an adorable one released this month by Doodle Pantry. You can get it as an outline or coloured as well as with or without a rainbow (though technically the rainbow appeared after they landed, it is very cute and adds colour to your image!)

The OCC challenge this week was Frame It! Create a Frame on your project. But it must be raised up off the base of the project. So, at first, I wished I had printed my image a bit smaller so I could place a Labels 1 frame OVER the image. So I pondered what to do and decided to place my frame UNDER my image! YEAH!

I also changed the proportions of Mojo Monday this week to fit the image and frame. I still think it’s pretty recognizable!

Be sure to pop by the OCC blog to check out all the fab projects our DT has for you. Don’t forget to visit their blogs and leave ‘em some love!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Doodle Pantry
Ink: Distress Broken China
Paper: tracing paper (instead of vellum)-art store, Seaside DP-October Afternoon, white CS-Xpress It, baja CS-SU!
Accessories: Labels 1, Circle Nesties, Copics E11,31,33,35,37, Y21,28,35,38, YG 64,67 G14, BG10,72, B32,41,45 R22,24, W1,3,5,7, C3 V000,12, EK Success mini scalloped punch, foam dots-JodyMorrow, brads-stash