Colour Challenge ATCs for OCC

I made the challenge this week a very different one! You have make an ATC using white or cream + black or chocolate + kraft + one other colour of your choice. I find it very freeing to create on such a small palette. You can try new techniques especially without worrying about ruining lots of paper!

I got a bit carried away and ended up making 4! All with different colours. This one may end up being the cover on a mini book. I hope to fit it in the envelope shown behind.

This one is actually a mini card with a pull out tag. I was cutting out flowers, trying out a new flower making tutorial , when I saw how pretty the remaining paper was and duplicated it on a smaller scale for this ATC.

I used the Wrinkle Free Distress Technique for this one plus lots of stamped layers that overlap.

This one uses embossed resist and sponging. I sponged the edges with spun sugar then clear embossed the script. Then I continued to sponge more spun sugar and some worn lipstick. Then I stamped the flourish over top with worn lipstick. The flower is just layers of scalloped cut vintage music paper, 4 large, 3 medium and 4 small. I wet them, scrunch them and dry them with the heat gun. Then I smoothed them out slightly and attached them with a kraft coloured brad.

If you are interested in trading ATCs, I found a great place, Swap-Bot. It is one of the easiest, safest trading sites around. I say safest because there is a really good rating system that helps weed out people who don’t send what they promise to send.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
#1 Everyday Moments
Paper: kraft CS-SU!, large journaling spot (base)-MME, small journaling spot-Close to My Heart, DP-MME
Ink: Vintage Photo
Accessories: ribbon-Masterstroke, button-PTI, silk ribbon (threaded through button)-May Arts, red ribbon-stash, lace-vintage, flowers-stash, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Tiny Attacher staples, Corner Chomper

#2 One of a Kind
Stamps: Close to My Heart
Paper: all CS-SU!
Ink: Memento black, Vintage Photo
Accessories: flower dies-Heartfelt Creations, ribbon-stash

#3  Vintage Car
Stamps: Enjoy the Journey-Tim Holtz, script-unknown
Ink: Stormy Sky, Old Paper, Frayed Burlap, Faded Jeans
Paper: all CS-SU!
Accessories: vintage button, twill tape-stash, spinner, brad-Tim Holtz

#4 Music Flower
Stamps: Shabby French-Tim Holtz, script-unknown
Ink: spun sugar, worn lipstick, embossing Distress inks
Paper: CS-SU!
Accessories: kraft brad-CTMH, circle Nesties

Embroidery Floss Flowers for PTI Blog Hop

Time for the Papertrey Ink blog hop; this month we were asked to use embroidery floss. I don’t have much time to post this so I’ll add lots more details when I get home.

I adhered a foam circle on a piece of cardstock with the backing still on and placed a circle Nestability over it as a guide. Then I looped my floss using the circle as a guide to how long the petals should be; I used three different sizes for these flowers. When the petals were done, I placed a red line tape circle over it to secure the floss and adhere the button.

Sorry the photo sucks. I’ll replace it when I get home from dinner!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: PTI everyday button bits
Accessories: foam dots and red line circles-Jody Morrow

Baby Favour Tin–Blast from the Past Blog Hop

Time for another Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop! This month the theme is SPRING!

When I think of Spring I think of babies, I guess mostly baby animals but since I I have no TE animal stamps, I went with human babies! Wouldn’t this tin be cute for a baby shower favour? You could put the baby’s or the mom’s name along the bottom.

I used the pennant stamp from Hangin’ Out along with the tiny flower and the sentiment. Shame this photo is too washed out, I have the hardest time getting soft colours to look right. The little flowers were coloured with Copics G21, Y35 and I blended R11 and RV10 for the pink. It keeps the pink from being too peachy or purpley. The blue dots in the corner are brads and I used my Big Bite to go right through the metal of the tin lid to attach them.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the blog hop! See below the recipe for the rest of the bloggers all showing you fabulous projects this month! If you enjoyed this post, I hope you will subscribe to my blog, you can become a Google Follower, sign up for RSS feeds or receive emails in your inbox, all on the sidebar. You can also click on the Blast from the Past TE blog hop tag at the bottom of this post to see my other blog hop projects. Thanks for visiting.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Hangin’ Out-TE, Alphabet-Hero Arts
Ink: all SU! except Memento brown
Paper: CS and DP-SU!
Accessories: tin-stash, punch-EK Success, Scor-Tape, Big Bite, Brads-Making Memories, Twine-PTI, ribbon-stash, Copics, foam dots- Jody Morrow

Pear ATC-A Doodle Pantry Sketch Challenge

Did you know that Doodle Pantry has a challenge twice a month? On the 5th and 20th of each month (delayed this time due to illness) Laurie gives her designers and loyal followers a challenge at the DP blog. This one was a sketch Doodle Pantry Sketch Challenge 10.

You really have to find time to play as you could win 1 of 4 PRIZES! Visit the challenge post for all the details.

I usually combine the release image and the challenge but I goofed and forgot. So I also made an ATC that used the sketch, kind of a blend between the two.

I tried something new when colouring this pear. I’ve seen some of the gals who’ve finished had the privilege of attending the advanced Copic course doing some cool things with  their shadows. Maybe my version wasn’t quite right as I can’t decide if I like it or not. That grey blob on the pear is (you already know right?… please!) is a shadow from the leaf. Of course…

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Doodle Pantry Pears and Raspberries
Stamps: Carte Postal-All Night Media
Ink: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw Distress, Staz on brown, chocolate-SU!
Paper: vintage sheet music, all CS-SU!
Accessories: Oval Nesties, flower snaps-Scrapbook Interiors, seam binding ribbon-Masterstroke
Technique: Wrinkle Free Distress

Beaded Morning Glory for Doodle Pantry

Time for another Doodle Pantry Release! Most of my favourite images Laurie draws are baby animals and realistic flowers. This release we have a new flower to enjoy. Morning Glory!

I worked with the Mojo Monday sketch from last week. For the diagonal portion of the sketch, I went with a string of beads and a diagonal sentiment. The beading is so simple. I used plastic coated steel wire also known as tiger tail. I strung my beads then added a crimp on each end. Normally when you create a piece of jewellery, you would add a crimp to your wire, thread on a clasp of some sort, then thread the wire back through the crimp and close it. I did exactly that,  minus the clasp. I used foam dots to secure the loops to the back of the purple layer.

You could certainly create a card like this with a full bracelet fastened on the inside of the card; just make your card 1/2 the width of the bracelet and use a top fold. You can’t see it but I cut tiny notches with a 1/16” punch at the edges of the purple panel. In my case it made the panel just a hair narrower so the beads would fit but if you made a bracelet, it would keep it from slipping without using adhesive.

I hope you will visit Doodle Pantry to see all the new releases. Never used digis? They are sooo easy! Laurie has an awesome link that teaches you How-To use Digis. All you need is a printer and MS Word or Publisher (other word pro software may work too.) No fancy photo programs required.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Morning Glory-Doodle Pantry
Stamp: sentiment-PTI
Ink: perfect plum, celery, pale plum-SU!
Paper: Basic Grey DP-Kioshi, all CS-SU!
Accessories: Copics (sorry, I was rushing so I don’t have the exact numbers), foam dots-Jody Morrow, beads and beading supplies-stash (any beading store should have what I’ve used here), pearls-Dollarama, 1/16” punch

Don’t Throw that Away! OCC Challenge!

It was my turn to choose the theme for the OCC challenge this week. I’m always saving packaging, cans, boxes and lots of other goodies that would normally be tossed or recycled. I’m even running out of places to store everything! So this week the challenge is to use something you would normally throw away. Not just something you saved that was designed to be reused but something destined for the garbage or blue box otherwise.

This was repurposed from a cardboard tube which used to hold stickers at my LSS. I created a new bottom and I’ll use it for the Copic markers I never want to put away until I’m finished my project; they always seem to cover half my desk!

Another exciting thing about this week’s challenge! We have a SPONSOR! Doodle Pantry agreed to sponsor the team so the winner of this week’s challenge gets a $10 Gift Certificate to the store! Isn’t that awesome! If you’ve never used digi stamps before, there are clear instruction on the website. Did you know you only need MS Word or Publisher (and possibly other word pro programs) to use digis? No fancy program is needed and it is soooo easy! So I hope you will come out and play with us this week!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Paint top and bottom edges as well as inside of tube.
2. Cut a scalloped circle out of stiff box board or Craft-a-board large enough to show underneath the tube. Paint.
3. Cut a cardstock circle at least ½” larger than the bottom of the tube. You won’t see it unless you look directly down into the can so colour doesn’t matter much but I recommend you use the heaviest cardstock you have.
4. Place cardstock circle under the tube with the excess evenly spaced. Trace with a pencil INSIDE the tube.
5. Score along the line you drew with a bone folder or embossing tool.
6. Clip the circle up to the line about every 3/8”.
7. Apply Extreme Tac adhesive refill to most of each tab but do not cover completely or the next step will be tricky.
8.  Fold tabs up, use tweezers if needed.
9. Insert the cardstock circle into the bottom of the tube, tucking in a few tabs at a time. You want the bottom flush with the bottom of the tube.
10. Apply Extreme Tac adhesive squares to the bottom of the cardstock and tube placing them so the squares touch both the cardstock bottom and the bottom edge of the can.
11. Apply scalloped circle bottom.
12. Apply your choice of papers and embellishments to the outside of the of the can using Extreme Tac adhesive refill and decorate.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Doodle Pantry
Ink: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress ink
Paper: October Afternoon, cardstock-SU!, Craft-a-Board
Accessories:  Extreme Tac squares and Glue Glider Pro adhesive refill, felt, rickrack die, buttons, twine-PTI, repurposed sticker tube, acrylic paint, Copics, white gel pen, Labels 1 Nestabilities-Spellbinders

Vintage Shoe for Doodle Pantry

I absolutely love this image; isn’t it gorgeous?

I just love the ribbon and pearl embellishment on the front. I used halfback pearls for all of the full-sized pearls, I couldn’t use them around the middle because they overlap so I just coloured them.

I used the Midnight Madness Sketch for this card. I like that they now have a simpler version as well but of course, now that I’ve finally played again, I used the more complex version!

Click on Sketch for link to Midnight Madness Blog

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Images: Doodle Pantry Fancy Shoe
Ink: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress
Paper: DP-Romantique Graphic 45, natural white CS (base)-SU!, ivory CS (corners)-SU!, white CS (printed images)-Taylored Expressions 
Accessories: individual pearls-Dollarama, Copics YR00,02,20, YG63,67, G21, E29,33,35,37,47,49, W00,1,3, Clear Spica, 00, Cuttlebug corner die, pearl swirls-Recollections, Label 1 Nesties

Spring Tulips for the OCC Fabric Challenge and Mojo Monday

I planted some bulbs last year, I don’t remember exactly what I planted by I’m pretty sure there are some tulips in the mix! I can’t wait for spring! The weather here in Southern Ontario hasn’t been too bad but it just can’t seem to decide whether to rain or snow!

The OCC challenge this week is to use fabric. Any kind of fabric, except ribbon doesn’t count. I hope you will play with us this week! You can make a flower, weave it, bow tie it, knot it, layer it, use it as a background or anything else you can think up.

I used a sheer bridal organza to make this flower. I had some 1” red line tape circles from Jody Morrow and started in the center with a 2” wide strip of fabric about 22” long. I kept the center twisted very tightly but loosened it up as I went. The red line tape kept it in place. I used all but an 1” or so of the fabric. When I got to the end, I tucked the fabric tails behind the adhesive. Then I added the leaves, which were folded from ribbon, and tucked them underneath too. There was very little adhesive left so I added another red line tape circle directly underneath the first sandwiching the tails and ends of the leaves. One of the other gals used tulle behind her flower, I wish I’d thought of that!

Click on the photo to go to Mojo Monday.

In case you subscribe by email and you got this before, this card is slightly different. I made this card for the Joan’s Gardens JustRite challenge but I still wanted to use this for my OCC project this week and for Mojo Monday but I couldn’t add the flourish if I wanted to comply with the JR only rules. So I posted this back a few days without the flourish. Then I added the flourish for today.

In case you are wondering, no, JR does not manufacture a circular frame with this pattern. I cut a circle of cardboard that fit exactly inside the oval frame stamp that came with this set from JustRite (more like under the stamp just inside the rubber ridge that normally holds the stamp to the grooved block). It forced the oval into a circle shape which I much prefer most of the time.  I used glue dots to hold the stamp in place on an ordinary acrylic block. I have too many cool dies that are circles and of course most doilies are also round. I’ve tried layering the ovals on the circles but this set is too large for them to look right IMHO.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: JustRite Stampers, Elegant Flourishes-Autumn Leaves
Ink: Memento black, celery, banana-SU!, sweet blush, white-PTI, embossing, Antique Linen Distress ink
Paper: Botanique Collection-American Crafts, naturals white CS-SU!
Accessories: doily-Wilton, mini scallop punch-EK Success, 1” red line circle dots, foam dots-Jody Morrow, circle Nestabilities, pearl-Dollarama, fabric-Fabricland, Copics BV25, V91,95, RV19, R00,11,20,22,32,81,83,85, YR00,02,20,31,, Y21,35, YG63,67, G21, ombre ribbon (leaves)-Michaels, white pearls EP-stash

Doodle Pantry! I’m Baaaack! Iris Card

(LOOKING FOR MY OCC CARD? SCROLL DOWN!)

Yeah! I was invited to join the Doodle Pantry team again for this term! I am so privileged and excited to be using Laurie’s gorgeous designs again! She draws beautiful landscapes and flowers, cartoon critters and adorably realistic baby animals that are so cute you just want them to come to life so you can hug them! Some images even come with several of their own coordinating background papers and some are colourized for super quick paper crafting!

There are new releases today in the store so be sure to visit! One of them was this gorgeous iris.

Beautiful right? I figured everyone else would colour it traditionally using white and purple with a yellow throat so I went with a very pale pink one. Yes, I checked, they do exist!

I find I have trouble matching DP to Laurie’s flowers because they are so delicate and lovely I don’t want to overshadow their beauty with busy DP so I often go with a fair bit of a neutral. The DP I did use was in small amounts, some solid and patterned paper from the Kioshi pack. But since I used so much neutral, I added some subtle texture with an embossing folder and a shaped base.

You can see samples from all of the new releases here at the Doodle Pantry store. If you are interested in showing off your creations or just chatting about Doodle Pantry, feel free to visit us at our CDAC (Crafter’s Digital Art Center) group. DP at CDAC. Questions about how to use, colour, resize, combine or print digi stamps? It’s all there!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Iris-Doodle Pantry
Ink: sage-SU!
Paper: white CS (base)-SU!, white CS (image)-Taylored Expressions, DP-Basic Grey Kioshi
Accessories: buttons, twine-PTI, ribbon-American Crafts, label 1 Nesties, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Copics-R000,11,20,22,32, Y21, G21, YG62,67, BV000,05

Baking Girl for OCC and Unscripted Sketches

This is easily one of the most time and effort intensive, technique loaded card I’ve made in a very long time. Hope you think it was worth it!

The OCC challenge this week is a supply challenge: 1, 2, 3, 4!

USE 1 patterned paper, 2 layers, 3 stamps and 4 embellishments. I used the focal image and my sentiment as my 2 layers (I thought at the time that mats didn’t count and the card base doesn’t count). My 3 stamps are the sentiment, the girl and the damask stamp for the wallpaper background. I used the flower as one embellishment, the center as another (I’m not counting them separately because I was trying to mimic the look of a vintage button which had the pearl look already on it.) and the ribbon and white button each as one. It took some brain power but it was really fun so I hope you will play with us at the OCC blog!

I rarely describe my thought process while making a card and this one required a LOT of thought so it is perfect. I started with the image. After choosing it, I immediately went on a hunt for some patterned paper to go with it because I with so many colours needed, I wanted all my markers to coordinate with the paper and some to match the paper. I choose the cupcake paper from Basic Grey’s Nook and Pantry pack. I stamped the image twice, coloured and cut out my images.

I meant to take a picture and forgot but when doing paper tole, you don’t always have to use the entire bottom layer if it doesn’t make sense. Behind this gal is the table only except where she overlaps the table, I left her torso in. But below the table and for her head, I cut away all the excess. I only left her torso in because her arms overlap things on the table and from the side it would look weird if there was nothing behind her, like a partial jar of sugar!  But the rest of the image looks more realistic because there is nothing behind her. I colour only the edges of the image underneath to save time and ink.

Normally, I would just airbrush in an indistinct background and shadow but I ran out of ink so I decided to go all techniquey! I drew in a horizon line and flooring lines and masked off the wallpaper area. I sponged in the planks in one at a time hoping I would get variegation in colour by mixing two inks; since the ink blend would never be the same, I figured I’d get differently shaded planks. Unfortunately, I should have used traditional inks, not Distress inks because they blended so well I neither have distinct colours nor darker edges and lighter centers for each plank.

Then I used the faux batik technique (SCS) for the wallpaper and sponged in my wall colour. I’ll let you look that up rather than describing it as this post is already way too long but use tinted embossing ink if you have it, just saying ‘cuz this gal is covering up some weirdly patterned wall paper! This time Distress ink was perfect as it gave me a smooth finish. I was so proud that the background techniques worked so well together; I agonized over which to do first in case I messed one up!

Now I started thinking about my card layout and chose this sketch from the ones I save on my iPhone. But when I layered the focal image over the cupcake paper, it overwhelmed the delicacy of the image even when matted. Back to the drawing board. Remember, I have to keep in mind the 1, 2, 3, 4 challenge at the same time! Couldn’t decide what to do and briefly started working on a recipe file for my kitchen, covering the front with another paper from the same pack. But the front was too small for one sheet of DP and I thought now the cupcake paper would work because it would cover the excess areas on the edges and be far enough away to not overwhelm. But I just couldn’t mess up the OCC challenge with 2 sheets of DP!

So I settled on this THIRD piece of DP and started back on a card. I made my favourite type of home made flower which turned out how I wanted it to and I was happy again. Here I describe how I made it: Scalloped Scrunch Flower. This time I used the 4 smallest shapes. I found a button to match the center and coloured the pearls with my Copic. I already had Baked Love in mind for a sentiment, I just chose one that worked with my image and space I had left. I always leave the journaling until the last minute when I scrap too and have to find space! Whew! Finally, all requirements were fulfilled! Total? About 5 hours! Yep, crazy right? A couple hours of that was figuring what to do!

Click on sketch for link to Unscripted Sketches.

I hope you will play with us at the OCC this week. We love having lots of players and don’t forget! We now award prizes to the top 4 cards choosing a Top Talent and a Talented Trio! And you just HAVE to visit the blog to see all the talented designers in our awesome team!!! Click on their blog names to visit their sites and leave ‘em some love!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: image-Sarah Kay Whiff of Joy, sentiment-CHF, damask-Gel-a-Tins
Ink: Victorian Velvet (flower), Scattered Straw, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo, Embossing Distress Inks, chocolate chip-SU!
Paper: Basic Grey DP, chocolate CS-SU!, white CS-Taylored Expressions, natural white CS (flower, sent layer)-PTI, blush CS (flower)-PTI
Accessories: Buttons-stash, yellow ribbon-Masterstroke, Perfect Pearls (made into spray for flower), foam dots-Jody Morrow, scalloped circle and labels 8 Nesties, twine-PTI, clear EP-SU!, brad (centre of flower under button)-stash, Copics Rv95, V91,95, R00,11,20,27,59, YR23, Y21, G21,24, BG10,15,72,75, B45,91,93,95,97, E00,08,11,21,31,33,35,37,40,47,49,71,77,93, W1,3, C3,5, 00, corner chomper