Fancy Gift Box

This week the challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow is called FOR A GIFT. We want you to make something vintage or shabby chic that is useful for a gift but not just a card. It can be a gift bag or box, a gift card or money enclosure or even a gift tag.

This week Jytte Grund Jensen is joining us as a Guest Designer. Please make her feel welcome and visit her blog to check out her lovely work.

Renee has also created another wonderful tutorial for you so take a look at that and it may just inspire you to make something similar.

This week is our last challenge for 2012. The designers deserve a break but we will be back with a new challenge on January 5th.

I have created this little purse box that will hold my daughter's birthday gift. Her birthday is January 15th so I always buy something for her at the same time as I get the Christmas gifts. I also made a mini version to put ponytail elastics in for my Granddaughter for Christmas.  Edited to add link to pattern.

I am going to enter this project in the following challenges:

Creative Moments Bloggers Network - Anything But A Card
My Craft Spot - Wrap It Up
Really Reasonable Ribbon  - Anything Goes & Ribbon

Paper:  29th Street Market
Tools & Embellishments:  Beads (My Stash), Crinkle Seam Binding (Live & Love Crafts), Satin Ribbon (Fabricland), Flower Punches (EK Paper Shapers), Gems (Michaels), Frond Punch (Martha Stewart), Milled Lavendar Distress Ink (Ranger)

Show Me Thursday at Sassy Cheryl's

I don't usually have a lot of time to take photos of what is on my office desk for Show Me Thursday over at Sassy Cheryl's.  Besides it is usually covered in the documents I am posting for my Son-in-Law's books but today I have a photo for you.  It isn't a great photo but I wanted to get everything into one shot.

My 6 year-old Granddaughter is getting into crafting in a big way and I decided to make her some card kits and add lots of supplies for Christmas.  She has never been one to play by herself but she will now sit for 2 hours at a time creating and begging for more time.  She was here last weekend and was making tags for her presents and I was thrilled with how creative she is with great ideas for decorating her tags.

There are three cases chock full of all sorts of things and she is going to be thrilled with papers, ribbon, flowers, brads, beads, clear stamps, buttons, glue dots and runners just to name a few.  Most of the supplies are from my stash but I did purchase a few things on sale and at the dollar store along with the large plastic case and the 3-drawer bin.  My husband supplied the divided plastic box.

You will also notice my new toy in the background.  Thanks to the Queen of enabling, Shirley Swoope, I now have a Cameo but I have been sooooo busy I have only made one cut with it.  I do have plans to play with it during the holidays in between social engagements (and the dratted books).

Holly Vine

The challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow is called STENCILS & MASKS.  We want you to make vintage or shabby chic cards using stencils or masks to create backgrounds or other elements.

I bet are wondering where my stencil or mask is.  Well check out the holly vine that I created from this cheap plastic stencil that has been in my crafting supplies for a zillion years.  I used distress ink to stencil it and then hand cut it.  I had originally intended for it to be a border but I really did not like it as a border and am very happy with this outcome.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Christmas at Sweet Stampin Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
Creative Moments - Anything Goes/Buttons & Bows
Freshly Brewed  - Christmas
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Embossing
Bearly Mine  - Santa is on his way
Deep Ocean - So This Is Christmas
Top Tip Tuesday - Christmas
Lexi's Creations - Christmas
Paper Playtime - Christmas Colors
Paper Pretties - Use Ribbon
Unstampabelles - Christmas (No Stamps)
C.R.A.F.T.  - Christmas
Delightful Challenges - All About Christmas
It's All About The Vintage - Christmas
Alphabet Challenge - V for Vintage
Crafty Mess - Vintage Christmas

Image:  A. Koupie
Paper:  Dovecraft
Card Stock:  Cream (Staples), Red (Lasting Impressions)
Tools & Embellishments:  Fired Brick and Crushed Olive Distress Inks (Ranger), Gems (Michaels), Snowflake Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Ribbon (Fabricland)

Leaping Stag

The new challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow is called Distressing so we want you to make vintage or shabby chic cards or other paper-crafted projects featuring lots of torn edges and inking.

I have done another Christmas card to add to the stash, which is not growing fast enough.  This one has a sort of collage feel to me with all the different bits and pieces even although it isn't a real favourite but it is flat enough to mail with regular postage and for me that alone makes it a winner.

The holly leaves were hand cut from buckram (or crinoline as it is called in certain areas) and then dyed with Forest Moss Distress Ink.  The scalloped circle has been embossed and then sprayed with Pearl Glimmer Mist before the edges were inked with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink.  The paper edges were scuffed up and torn and then they were also inked as was the sentiment.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Pixie Dust Studio - Winter Holiday Creations
Whimsy Inspirations - Use Tradional Christmas Colors
Party Time Tuesday's - Anything Goes
ABC Challenges - Anything Goes
Use Your Stuff - Patterned Paper

Image:  Hand cut from a stencil
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Paper:  My Stash
Tools & Embellishments:  Pearl Stickers (Dollarama), Buckram (Fabricland), Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Snowflake Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Wave Scissors (Fiskars), Forest Moss, Peeled Paint & Aged Mahogany Distress Ink (Ranger), Pearl Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels)

Vintage Santa

The Christmas countdown is officially on now that Santa is showing up in all the malls and the radio stations are playing nothing but Christmas music.  It sure doesn't take long to switch from one holiday to another.

To help you in your Christmas preparations, the challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow this week is called VINTAGE CHRISTMAS.  We want you to make vintage or shabby chic cards or other paper-crafted projects featuring a vintage Christmas image.  Our designer have lots of fabulous inspiration for you so check out the details of their work on their blogs and then come back and show us your vintage Christmas creations.

Our new Design Teammate Amelia and I live continents apart but both of us have included rosettes on our cards this week - WUWT :)  I used a couple of great vintage Christmas images that I found online along with some vintage inspired papers.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Bloggers Network - Christmas Anything Goes
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Paper Pleating
My Grafico - Anything Goes
The Paper Girls - Christmas or Winter
Victorine Originals - Anything Christmas
Crimbo Crackers  - Anything Christmas Goes

Images:  Santa (The Cottage Dreamer), Bells (Far Far Hill)
Card Stock:  Staples
Papers:  Snowflake and Dotted Stripe (Dovecraft), Red (My Stash), Red & Green (Far Far Hill)
Tools & Embellishments:  Buttons (Dress it Up), Swiss Dot Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Circle Punch (EK Paper Shapers), Twine (My Stash), Aged Mahogany & Bundled Sage Distress Ink (Ranger)

Krafty Snowman

It's another Saturday at Sugar Creek Hollow and that means a new challenge.  This week we want to see vintage or shabby chic cards or other paper-crafted projects featuring KRAFT.

I am on a mission to get all my Christmas cards done by the end of November so this week I have made a shabby sort of primitive card to add to the stash.  Now I have 16 cards, which means only 14 or so to go.  The chances of meeting my timeline are slim to none because I have a horrible cold and do not feel like crafting - or doing anything else for that matter. I know - oh woe is me :)

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafts and Me - Non Traditional Christmas Colours
Just Keep On Creating - Christmas Is Just Around The Corner
Little Red Wagon - Texturize It
Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
Craft Room Challenge - Punches & Die Cuts
Crafty Bloggers Network - Christmas Anything Goes
Forever Friends - Ribbon/Twine
The Pink Elephant Challenge - Punches & Dies
Christmas Card Challenges - Snowmen

Image:  Sassy Cheryl's
Card Stock:  Recollections
Paper:  Papermania
Colouring Medium:  Pencil  Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Gotrick)
Tools & Embellishments:  Jute Twine (My Stash), Snowflake Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Snowflake Die (Spellbinders), Eyelets (Making Memories), Aged Mahogany Distress Ink (Ranger)

One For The Boys

ONE FOR THE BOYS is the name of the challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow and it couldn't have come at a better time.  Tuesday is my brother's birthday and I gave this card to him last night when he and my Sister-in-Law joined my husband and me and another couple for dinner at a local restaurant.

Interestingly, the wife of the other couple has been a friend of ours since we were babies (her Mom and ours were best friends).  Even if we don't see each other much during the year we always make a point to get together just before Christmas and except for a few years when we were away or she lived up north, we have met annually.  Since we have been keeping this tradition for most of the past 67 years, it is one that is treasured.  I woke up on Thursday with a cold and by last night could barely speak but I bet the rest of the group loved that although it did make catching up a bit difficult. :)

Now back to the challenge - as always we want you to make a vintage or shabby chic card following the challenge theme and we have a digi of our choice and a winner's badge for one random winner and a winner's badge along with a chance at being a monthly Guest Designer for the Top Pick as chosen by our Design Team.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

SJ Crafts - Birthday plus Optional Circles/Ovals
Lady Anne's Challenges - Anything Goes (must include rubber or digital stamp)
Inky Impressions - Birthday
Anything Goes Challenge - Anything Goes
Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes
Papelitos Challenges - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Cards for Men - Anything Goes (must be masculine)
Lexi's Creations - Special Birthday
Eclectic Ellapu - It's a Vintage Thing

Image:  Auto Rubber Stamp (Indigo Blu), Map (The Graphics Fairy)
Sentiment:  Blank Ticket (The Beary Scrap) with Computer Generated Text
Card Stock:  Bazzill
Papers:  Basic Grey
Tools & Embellishments:  Button (My Stash), Brads (Making Memories), Frayed Burlap Distress Ink (Ranger), Metal Strip (Making Memories)

Cream - Plus Two

This week the new challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow is called CREAM PLUS TWO.  That means we want you to make vintage or shabby chic cards in cream and two other colours.

We will be choosing one random winner who will receive a digi of our choice along with at winner's badge to display. The Design Team will choose their Top Pick and that creator will receive a winner's badge but will also be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

I told you I was spending last week in Mississippi.  I chat with a number of lovely ladies on a Papercraft Planet group and 6 of us got together at the home of one of the ladies in Mississippi for a week of crafting, chatting and laughing.  We had never met in person but when we did, it was like seeing old friends.  The ladies are all wonderful and we had the best time together.

One of the ladies had to stay there because she came from an area right in the path of the big storm and she finally got to go home yesterday.  While she was naturally worried about her family, she was with our fabulous hostess and got extra crafting time in.  I landed in Toronto while the outer bands of the storm were hitting on Monday night and got down safely and relatively on time despite some turbulence but the ride home was a white-knuckle one.  We had a couple of storm-related deaths here when signs flew off buildings and lots of trees fell damaging houses and cars.  There were also some power outages but we were really unscathed compared to those states in the US so my thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is so affected by the storm.

My card this week is cream with red and green - typical for Christmas!  I printed some music on cream card stock, cut a poinsettia with a Marianne Creatables Die Set and then sponged it with distress inks.  The focal image and ticket were freebies that I found online and I made the calendar.  The little baubles are a Spellbinders die and all that was left was to add some satin ribbon and a few pearls.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Ribbons - Christmas
Forever Friends - Anything Goes
Happy Campers - Shabby Chic
Paper Crafting Journey - Ribbon or Twine
Live & Love Crafts - Christmas
Fab 'n' Funky - Die Cuts/Punches
Die Cuttin' Divas - Anything Goes (must use die cut)
Ooh La La Creations - Christmas

Image:  Ephemera's Vintage Garden
Sentiment:  Miss Cutie Pie
Card Stock:  Cream (Staples)
Papers:  Back to Basics Christmas (Dovecraft)
Tools & Embellishments:  Aged Mahogany & Peeled Paint Distress Inks (Ranger), Ribbon (Fabricland), Poinsettia Die (Marianne Creatables), Pearls (Recollections), Venetian Motifs (Spellbinders)

Texting - Vintage Style

The challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow is called TEXTING - VINTAGE STYLE. We want you to make a vintage or shabby chic card with text on the front. It can be a sentiment and/or paper with text.

We will be choosing one random winner who will receive a digi of our choice along with at winner's badge to display. The Design Team will choose their Top Pick and that creator will receive a winner's badge but will also be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

Now, I do not own a Blackberry, I-Phone or Android so I do not text and I am quite happy about that because nothing annoys me more than people constantly walking around with their heads down and their fingers moving. What happened to actually talking to people? I almost hit a girl with my car the other day because she was texting while she was walking and she didn't look and stepped off the curb in front of me while I was turning into a parking lot. I had the right of way but the look I got clearly indicated that she thought it was my fault she almost got hit - NOT. I love that schools are banning these devices during school hours, that restaurants are starting to ask that they be locked up during the time people are in the restaurant and that we have a law banning them while driving although not everyone is following the rules yet. I guess they will get the message when they are killed or they kill someone - so sad!

Now off my soapbox and on to my card. I used a vine mask to create the background and then covered most of it up - what's up with that? I used one of my newly purchased rubber stamps to create the focal image and then I coloured the large butterfly with distress ink, deliberately making it looked a little washed out. I used lots of distress inks on the background, focal image, butterflies and sentiment so I had really inky fingers at the end but it was fun.

I am away this week visiting with a bunch of ladies that chat over at Sassy Cheryl's Papercraft Planet group and will fill you in on all the fun we are having when I return next week.

Image: Time Flies (Inkadinkado)  
Sentiment: Raindrop Echo  
Card Stock: Recollections  
Paper: Background (Handmade), Music (MME), Vellum (Curry's Art Store)  
Tools & Embellishments: Card Candy (Craftwork Card), Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Old Paper & Crushed Olive Distress Inks (Ranger), Gold Liquid Pearls (Viva), Labels 4 Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Sew Fashionable

It is another Sensational Saturday and that means a new challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow called SEW FASHIONABLE.  We want you to make vintage or shabby chic cards with some sewing on them and something that speaks to fashion.

This week we are pleased to welcome a new sponsor, Live and Love Crafts, who will be providing one random winner with their choice of six colours of the gorgeous hand-dyed crinkle seam binding that they sell in their online store. All of the girls on the DT have used the seam binding on their cards this week and were thrilled with the quality and the size of the skein.

The random winner will also receive a winner's badge from Sugar Creek Hollow.  The Design Team will choose their Top Pick and that creator will also receive a winner's badge and be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

I went outside my comfort zone this week and rather than hand sewing as I usually do, I actually used my sewing machine to stitch around the fabric square that I brought back from England.  The flower was something new I tried and is my favourite thing on this card (come to think of it, making any kind of flowers is my favourite and I love trying new types).  It is made of vellum that I embossed and then sponged with distress ink.  My crinkle seam binding was crinkled so tightly that I  couldn't make a bow I was happy with so I just took my iron and gave it a light pressing.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Little Red Wagon - Bows
The Paper Shelter - Charms
Stampavie and More - Stitches
Anything Goes Challenge - Make Your Own Embellishments
Emerald Faeries - Anything Goes
Bearly Mine - Anything Goes
Fashionista Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Your Favorite (the flower)
Crazy Challenge - Handmade Flowers
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes

Image:  Fabric Square from Amerton Garden, England
Card Stock:  Staples
Paper:  MME
Tools & Embellishments:  Victoria Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Vellum (Curry's Art Store), Worn Lipstick & Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger), Ironworks Motifs (Spellbinders), Metallic Card (Recollections), Pearl Stickers (Dollarama), Doily (Wilton), Metal Heart Charm (My Stash)

Vintage Sparkle

The weeks seem to be flying by lately and it is Saturday already so that means a new challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow.  This week we want your vintage or shabby chic card or other paper-crafted project to SHOW SOME SPARKLE so dig out the glitter or gems and lets see what you can create.

We will be choosing one random winner who will receive a digi of our choice along with at winner's badge to display. The Design Team will choose their Top Pick and that creator will receive a winner's badge but will also be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafts and Me  - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Fab 'n' Funky - Vintage
Simon Says Stamp - Dies and/or Punches
Whimsy Inspiration - Sparkly
Pile It On - Vintage or Shabby Chic

Images:  The Graphics Fairy
Card Stock:  Staples
Paper:  My Design
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Gotrick)
Tools & Embellishments:  Lace (My Stash), Gems (Michaels), Flourishes (Recollections), Organza Ribbon (Arton Bead Supply), Fleur de Lis Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Fabric for Flower (Fabricland), Beads (My Stash), Spun Sugar Distress Ink (Ranger)

Thankful for Autumn

If you are like me and had brutally hot temperatures this summer, you are probably thankful that autumn has arrived with some cooler days.  The only negative thing is that winter won't be far behind and that means just plain cold where I live.  The weather man has informed us that we are going to get a taste of cold temps this weekend dropping from highs in the low 70s that we had Thursday to the 50 expected tomorrow.  NOOOOO!

This weekend our challenge to you at Sugar Creek Hollow is called GIVE THANKS FOR AUTUMN.  We want you to make a vintage or shabby chic card or other paper-crafted project in fall colours such as rust, orange, deep gold and reds.  This is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada so your card could combine both themes or you could give thanks for the wonderful bounty that has made it through the brutally hot summer to hit your local market.

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges:

Do You Stack Up - Warm Colors
DRS Designs - Fall Leaves
Dutch Dare Card Challenges - Fall Is In The Air
Milk Coffee Challenge - Welcome Fall
Crafty Creations - Colors of Fall
Penny's Paper Crafty - Die Cuts and/or Punches
My Grafico - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Leaves

Image:  Leigh Hennessey
Card Stock: Recollections
Papers:  Handmade Leaf Paper (My Stash),  Rusty Orange (Basic Grey)
Tools & Embellishments:  Topiary Edge Punch (Martha Stewart), Orange Flowers (Prima), Rust Flower (Michaels), Grunge Paper (Tim Holtz), Wire (Artistic Wire), Tiny Buttons (Dress It Up), Burlap, Twine, Berries, Rust Button (My Stash), Brad (Dollarama), Crushed Olive, Wild Honey & Rusty Hinge Distress Inks (Ranger), Mother's Day Bouquet Cartridge (Cricut)

Christmas Wings

It is Saturday already so that means a new challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow.  This week we want to see THINGS WITH WINGS - BIRDS and BUTTERFLIES - and BATS too.  Don't forget, we are a vintage and shabby chic challenge blog so make sure your cards or other paper-crafted projects are done in one of those styles.

This week I decided to try some of the things that Sue showed me when I visited her for a day on my recent trip to England.  Now I must put a disclaimer in here to say that unlike the fabulous things that Sue can do, my card only has some of the easier techniques- you have to walk before you run, right?

I started with the background and sponged a piece of card stock with Old Paper and Crushed Olive Distress Ink.  Then I took a big snowflake stamp, inked it with white ink and randomly stamped over the green.  I tried to emboss it with some clear embossing powder but I wasn't fast enough.  Once it all dried, I realized it didn't jump out so I took my 40% off coupon over to Michaels and bought Forest Moss Distress Ink.  I sponged that over everything and not only was the green colour more to my liking but the snowflakes popped - now I was happy.

I used my newly purchased crinoline and Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die (purchased at The Funkie Junkie Boutique) and made the big flower, which I dyed with Aged Mahogany Distress ink.  It wasn't as deep a colour as I wanted so I sponged more distress ink over each layer after they dried - now I was happy.  The bird is a digital stamp coloured with Prismacolors.  I knew the tag needed texture so I embossed it with a Forest Branches folder.  Yesterday I discovered something called diffusers which would have allowed the section with the bird to stay flat so needless to say that item has been added to my shopping list.

The snowflakes are little wood cuts that I bought in England and I sealed them with Mod Podge and then when they were dry I rubbed some gold Stickles on with my finger so there would be just a little bit of sparkle.

So I got inky and all in all I am happy with the result of this card but the best of all is that I have another Christmas card ready to go.  I am anxious to try some of the other things I learned so stay tuned.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

C.R.A.F.T. Challenges - Make your own embellishments (Flower)
Crafting for all Seasons - Things with Wings
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Whimsy Inspiration - Anything Goes
Emerald Faeries - Use a Tag
Creative Craft Challenges 2 - Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday - Say it with Flowers (must have digital element - mine is the cardinal)
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Christmas Tags
Partytime Tuesdays - Anything Goes
The Stamping Boutique - Embossing
Card Mania Challenges - Handmade Flowers
Frosted Designs  - Embossing
Frilly and Funkie  - Linking in the Sunday Share

Image:  Christmas Cardinal (Tracy Vinson - no longer available)
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  Staples
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Gotrick)
Tools & Embellishments:  Aged Mahogany, Crushed Olive, Old Paper, Vintage Photo, Wild Honey Distress Inks (Ranger), Pearl Brad (Gartner), Gold Stickles (Ranger), Fibers (xx), Forest Branches Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Circle Punches (EK Paper Shapers), Moonlight White Archival Brilliance Ink (Tsukineko), Snowflake Wood Cuts (Manufacturer Unknown)

Vintage Animals

Our challenge to you this week at Sugar Creek Hollow is to make a card or other paper-crafted project featuring VINTAGE ANIMALS.

We will be choosing one random winner who will receive a digi of our choice along with at winner's badge to display.  The Design Team will choose their Top Pick and that creator will receive a winner's badge but will also be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

I am back from my two-week vacation in England and Rome.  We had a busy but lovely time and for the most part the weather co-operated.  I met up with Anne Ray, who was the DT Leader at Phindy's Place and we spent a day together in London visiting the Tower of London and chatting.  It was so nice to see her again.

I also spent a day with Sue Carrington, who was on the DT for Isabella's Sketchbook with me and she taught me a whole bunch of things about stamping, which is something I have never done before.  I can't wait to try what I learned.  It was so nice to meet her in person and we had a super day.

Unlike people here in Canada as well as those in the US, the people in the UK were able to see the Paralympics from London and I got to watch some of the action from the last week along with the Closing Ceremonies.  The athletes were inspirational and it was so much fun to watch.

I loved Rome and found the history almost overwhelming since there is so much to take in.  People drive and park like maniacs there and I was disappointed to see the amount of graffiti they have.  The food (and wine) are terrific and there is a little restaurant on almost every corner.

For my card this week, I have used a lovely image from The Graphics Fairy and paired it with some paper I also found online, some die cuts, a ribbon rose, a sentiment tag I created myself and a few pearls.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Whimsy Inspirations - Anything Goes
Creative Craft Challenges 2 - Anything Goes
Sassy Cheryl's - Die Cuts
Crafty Boots - Children's Stories
Make My Monday - Vintage Childhood
Crafty Ribbons - Vintage
Digi Doodle Shop - Anything Goes

Image:  The Graphics Fairy
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  Cream (Staples), Blue (Recollections)
Papers:  Cuttlebeez
Tools & Embellishments:  Brad (Making Memories), Pearl Stickers (Recollections), Pearl Strand (Michaels), Old Paper Distress Ink (Ranger), Checked Ribbon (Michaels), Leaves (My Stash), Button & Floss (My Stash), Petite Scalloped Circle Nestabilities & Lacy Motifs Shapeabilities (Spellbinders), Scalloped Circle Die (Nellie Snellen)

Pretty in Pink

The challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow this week is called PRETTY IN PINK and we want you to make a vintage or shabby chic card in shades of pink.

We will be choosing one random winner who will receive a digi of our choice along with a winner's badge to display. The Design Team will choose their Top Pick and that creator will receive a winner's badge but will also be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

I found this vintage floral postcard online and paired it with lots of hot pink - a little old with a little new.

I am still away on vacation and will be going back to England from Rome tomorrow and then we head home on Wednesday. I am not looking forward to going back to same old, same old so hope that a winning lottery ticket is in my future so I can travel even more - love it.

Image: Ephemera's Vintage Garden  
Card Stock: Recollections  
Paper: Pink and Parchment (My Stash)  
Tools & Embellishments: Ribbon & Tulle (Fabricland), Button (My Stash), Pearls (Recollections), Lace Doily Motifs Shapabilities (Spellbinders)

Fabric Snowman

This week at Sugar Creek Hollow, we want you to make a vintage or shabby chic card and use FABRIC ( other than Ribbon or Lace).

As you can see I did use a tiny strip of ribbon on my card because I forgot that part of the challenge - daaah - but my snowman image is fabric.  I did remember that I bought a piece of printed cotton a couple of years ago with a bunch of Christmas images on it and I cut this one out, glued it onto card stock and then trimmed it before I framed it with the jute.  Here is a photo of the fabric and if you look closely at the bottom left corner you can see where I cut out the image and then laid it back down to take the photo.

The wonderful corrugated snowflakes were a gift from Linda (The Funkie Junkie) and I highlighted the raised parts with a bit of cream paint as I did with the kraft embossed strip.

I am on vacation in England as you read this so this is a scheduled post.  It is going to be a wonderful week because we are off to Rome next week for 6 days.  I hope all of you have a wonderful week too.

Image:  Fabric Snowman (Fabricland)
Sentiment:  The Beary Scrap
Card Stock:  Green (Wassau), Kraft (Rrecollections), Cream (Staples)
Papers:  Striped (Sandylion Sticker Designs), Polka Dot (Bo Bunny)
Tools & Embellishments:  Snowflake Punch Around the Page Set (Martha Stewart), Ribbon (Fabricland), Aged Mahogany Distress Ink (Ranger), Jute (My Stash), Buttercup Craft Paint (Americana by Deco Art)

Vintage School Days

The challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow is called VINTAGE SCHOOL DAYS, which is so timely because school has either just started or will be starting next week pretty well everywhere.  My five-year old Granddaughter is heading to Grade 1 on Tuesday and boy is she excited, especially after spending all day Thursday shopping with her Mommy for new clothes and school supplies.

We want you to make a vintage or shabby chic card  with a school theme and we will choose one random winner who will receive a digi of our choice and a winner's badge.  The  Design Team will also choose their Top Pick and that creator will also receive a winner's badge and will be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

I think this card inspired by the 50s image is fun and best of all I managed to make it flat so I can actually mail it without robbing a bank to pay for the postage.  I do want to warn you that the next few cards you will see from me are going to be pretty simple in their design because I am heading off on a vacation and had to rush to get all my cards done before I leave.  With the dreaded bookkeeping job that has taken so much of my time and a wicked migraine this week, I really did not have time to think about my designs.  But some good has come out of this - the headache is finally gone thanks to a lower barometric pressure, I got the cards done, the bookkeeping job will just be part-time when I return and I am off to England and Rome - woo hoo!

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Creative Belli - Back to School
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Back to School
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Crazy Amigo Challenge - Back to School
Sassy Cheryl's - Back to School
4 Crafty Chicks - Back to School
Digi Doodle Shop Challenges - Vintage
Do You Stack Up - Back to School

Image:  Jacquie Oakley
Sentiment:  K& Company
Card Stock:  Cream (Staples)
Paper:  Summertime Designs
Tools & Embellishments:  Paper Clip (My office), Clock (Cut from Provo Craft Paper), Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger), Letters (Computer Generated), Paper, Notebook, Ruler, Pencil Clip Art (Online)

Mother Love

The challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow is called FAIRIES AND ANGELS and we want you to make a vintage or shabby chic card featuring one or the other.

We have a lovely returning sponsor, A Day for Daisies, and all of us on the Design Team have used fabulous images from the sponsor in our inspiration for you.  There are loads of wonderful fairies and angels so make sure you rush over to A Day for Daisies and pick some up and then enter the challenge.  Our sponsor is providing one random winner with a $12 gift certificate to the store and Sugar Creek Hollow will provide a winner's badge to display.  In addition, the Design Team will select their Top Pick and the creator will also receive a winner's badge and will be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

All children are little angels, aren't they?  Well at least when they are newborns.  Certainly all Mothers are fairies, angels, warriors, saints and just about every other adjective you can think of so when I saw this image, I knew I wanted to create with it.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Fairies
Charisma Cardz - Lace
Digi Doodle Shop Challenges - Pearls
Emerald Faeries - Punches and Dies
Simon Says Stamp and Show - No Rules
Whoopsi Daisy - Include a sentiment
House of Gilli - Add a sentiment

Image:  Bundle of Love Fairy (A Day for Daisies)
Sentiment:  Betheny's Word Art
Card Stock:  Cream (Staples), Peach & Green (Recollections)
Papers:  Shabby Princess Vintage Florals
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Gotrick)
Tools & Embellishments:  Fleur de Lis Square and Labels 10 Nestabilities (Spellinders), Fleur de Lis Edge Punch (EK Sucess), Wild Honey & Rusty Hinge Distress Inks (Ranger), Pearl Flourish (Recollections), Lace (My Stash), Flower (Excelsior Wholesale), Bead Drop (My Stash), Stardust Stickles (Ranger)

Family Reunion at Sugar Creek Hollow

This week at Sugar Creek Hollow the Design Team have a week off so I don't have a card for you but there is still a challenge.  It is called WE ARE FAMILY and some of our past designers have come back for a family reunion and to inspire you (and me) with their fabulous creations.  I encourage you to check their cards out, leave them a comment on their blogs and then come back and enter one of your own creations.  You just have to make a vintage or shabby chic card or other paper-crafted project that reminds you of family.

I will be back next week with a card for Sugar Creek Hollow.

Vintage Travel

The challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow is called VINTAGE TRAVEL.  Your vintage or shabby chic card can be all about about vintage means of transportation or even traveling somewhere on vacation, vintage style.

This monochromatic card was fun to make even though it took me almost a week to make it.  Well not really, but I did start it last Sunday and then it sat in pieces on my desk until last night.  I have come out of retirement to look after my Son-in-Law's books and while it will eventually be a part-time job, right now it is more than full-time and it sure is interfering with my crafting time.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

It's All About the Vintage - Doilies
Pixie Dust Studio - Vintage
My Heart Pieces - Use Designer Paper
Creative Belli - Vacation/Travel
Shopping Our Stash - Monochromatic
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Swirls & Lace
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
There's Magic in the Air - Doilies

Image:  E-Vint
Card Stock:  Recollections
Papers:  Basic Grey
Tools & Embellishments:  Doily (Wilton), Lace (My Stash), Flourish (Recollections), Chalk (Mungyo), Black Ink (Martha Stewart), Gems (Michaels)

Something Old, Something New

This week the challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow is called SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW.  We would like you to make any kind of vintage or shabby chic card that incorporates something old and something new from your craft supplies.

We are going to choose a random winner who will receive a winner's badge and a digi of our choice and the Design Team will select their Top Pick.  The creator of that card will also receive a winner's badge and will be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

I found some new paper and new images for my card and the rusty drops called cabochons on the top right corner have been in my stash for ages.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Polka Dots & Stripes
Inky Impressions - Embossing
Bearly Mine - Anything Goes

Images:  Two Clowns Poster (E-Vint), Single Clown Poster (Vintage Printables)
Card Stock:  Cream (Wassau), Rust (Bazzill), Green (Recollections)
Papers:  (Summertime Designs)
Tools & Embellishments:  Swiss Dot Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Cabochons (Mark Richards). Wild Honey Distress Ink (Ranger)

Thank You Phindy

Today is a sad and happy post all in one.  Sadly I have to tell you all that this is the last post I will be doing for Phindy's Friday challenge blog.  The challenge blog is closing as Phindy is dealing with family matters that need her time.

All of us on the Design Team have created Thank You cards for Phindy and this is the one I am going to send her.  This week there will not be a challenge but if you would like to make a Thank You card for Phindy, there will be a link for you to enter it.  This is Just For Fun and there are no prizes.  We would love it if you could also post a comment for her, even if you don't get a card made.

Now the happy part - I am happy to say that I have enjoyed my time on Phindy's Design Team because she is absolutely the most wonderful, generous and supportive person along with being an incredibly talented artist.  Over the past two years, I am happy to have gotten to know and been inspired by other lovely crafters who have also served on her Design Team.  I am also happy that I have had the pleasure of getting to know Anne Ray, who is our DT Leader and we have met in person and will be doing so again in September when I go to England on vacation.  I am also happy to have gotten to know a few ladies through Phindy's Papercraft Planet group, which was my very first group, and while I haven't had a lot of time lately to chat, I have cherished to forum that Phindy has provided.

So, as you can see there are many more happy thoughts in this post than sad ones because there are lots of wonderful memories associated with Phindy's Place.

Christmas in July

The challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow is called CHRISTMAS IN JULY and we want to see your best vintage, shabby chic or primitive Christmas cards.  After all the heat many of us have been suffering through, making a Christmas card might make us think cooler.

We have a returning sponsor this week.  Sassy Cheryl's has the most wonderful images suitable for a primitive style and will be providing one random winner with a $5 gift certificate to her store.  The random winner will also receive a winner's badge from Sugar Creek Hollow to display.

The Design Team will choose their Top Pick and that creator will receive a winner's badge and will be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Pixie Dust Studio - Christmas
Shelly's Images - Christmas in July
Creative Belli - Christmas in July
Flourishes - Christmas in July
Party Time Tuesday's - Christmas in July
Get Hippity with Ippity - Christmas in July
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days - Christmas in July

Image:  Fat Thankful Snowman (Sassy Cheryl's)
Sentiment:  The Beary Scrap
Card Stock:  Recollections
Papers:  Cuddlebeez
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Gotrick)
Tools & Embellishments:  Frayed Burlap Distress Ink (Ranger), Labels Four Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Buttons (Dress It Up), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Ribbon (My Stash)

All About Sports

Since the summer Olympics starts on Friday, we decided to make the challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow this week ALL ABOUT SPORTS.  We want you to make vintage, shabby chic or primitive cards featuring vintage sports.

If you were to ask me why I chose rowing, I would have to say that it is because I found these neat images and for no other reasons.  I am not a sports person and hate exercising although I like to walk.  My daughter was a competitive synchronized swimmer all through high school and competed at the national level finishing in the top 10 percent but finding vintage synchronized swimming images was impossible, other than a few of the actress Esther Williams.

I saw a challenge at Frilly and Funkie that calls for you to alter metal so I decided I would give it a try.  The LIVE tag looked like this to begin with:

It was typical steel so I sanded it a bit, painted it white then sponged it with Weathered Wood and Milled Lavender Distress Inks.  Then I sprayed it with adhesive but it didn't dry well so I chalked it and that got rid of the tacky feeling it had.  It wasn't the most creative alteration but I like it.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Frilly and Funkie  - Make My Metal Altered
Craft Room Challenge - Sports
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes

Images:  The Finish by J.C. Leyendecker and How to Row (The Happy Rower)
Card Stock:  Burnt Orange (Bazzill), Metallic (DCWV)
Paper:  Provo Craft
Tools & Embellishments:  Live Tag (gift), Vintage Photo, Weathered Wood & Milled Lavender Distress Inks (Ranger), White Craft Paint (Folk Art), Small Round Brad (Making Memories), Large Brad (Dollarama), Burlap (My Stash)

Summer Heat

Like me, if you are living in an area where the weather is super hot, then you know that this is what will happen to an ice cream cone if try to eat it outside.  It sure won't take long to start melting and little people can't lick it fast enough to prevent it from running down their arms.  I bet you remember that happening to you - I sure do.

The challenge this week at Phindy's Friday challenge blog is to create a card with buttons.  You don't have to use a Phindy image to enter but when you do, you get two entries.  Since there are lovely prizes up for grabs and Phindy has such lovely images there are many good reasons to use one.

I am going to enter this card with its hot, hot colours in the following challenges.

Crafting For All Seasons - Ice Cream/Popsicle
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Papercraft Star - Ice Cream
The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes
Tuesday Alchemy - Buttons
Digi Doodle Shop Challenges  - Anything Goes

Image:  Sticky Elbow (Phindy's Place)
Card Stock:  Red (Wassau), Gold (Recollections)
Paper:  Bows/Green (My Stash)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Gotrick)
Tools & Embellishments:  Chalk (Mungyo), Pinking Shears (My Sewing Cupboard), Buttons (Fabricland)

Sympathy Cards

Our challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow is to make vintage, shabby chic or primitive SYMPATHY cards.  Sympathy cards may not be the most fun to make but certainly can be the easiest as long as you think clean and elegant. I am sure this card meets those criteria.

We have a sponsor this week - Robyn's Fetish - and all of us on the Design Team have used wonderful images from her shop in our creations.

We will choose one random winner who will receive 5 images from Robyn's Fetish along with a winner's badge from Sugar Creek Hollow to display.  The Design Team will also choose their Top Pick and the creator will receive a winner's badge and will be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Fat Pages & Cards With Attitude - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
The Poodles Parlour - Use a Digi Stamp
Delightful Challenges - Bling & Bows
It's All About The Vintage - Anything Vintage/Retro Goes
That Craft Place  - Anything Goes

Image:  Bible (Robyn's Fetish)
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  (Recollections)
Paper:  Basic Grey
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Gotrick)
Tools & Embellishments:  Oval Nestabilities and Ironworks Accents (Spellbinders), Floral Die (Nellie Snellen), Frayed Burlap Distress Ink (Ranger), Ribbon (Fabricland), Gems (Michaels), Suede Lacing (Wal Mart)

Summer Days

The challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow is called SUMMER DAYS and we want you to make a vintage, shabby chic or primitive card that describes what summer means to you.

I think summer is all about beautiful flowers but I can't grow them so I admire the flowers in my neighbourhood.  This week the heat has been so oppressive in so many places that even the gorgeous flowers are struggling.  Fortunately we didn't lose power like so many in areas of the United States did but I recall a number of years ago when we lost power for 3 days in the August heat.  Thank goodness we have a basement because I lived down there with my flashlight and a couple of books.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Our Craft Lounge - Die Cuts
Totally Papercrafts - Here Comes Summer
Papercraft Star - Embossing
It's All About The Vintage - Anything Vintage Goes
Paper Crafting Journey - Summer
Shelly's Images - Use Text/Sentiment
Cooking It Up With Katie - Sunny, Lace, Flower
Fresh Brewed Designs - Summertime

Image:  Lisa's Creative Designs
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  Blue (Bazzill), Yellow (Recollections)
Paper:  Raspberry Road
Tools & Embellishments:  Lace (Sussman's Bridal Supply), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Flower (Dollarama), Pearl Sprays (My Stash), Pearl Stickers (Recollections), Corner Punch (Fiskars), Victoria Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Pearl Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Chalk (Mungyo), Ironwork Accents Die (Spellbinders)

Think Initials

I bet that title has you wondering - it is a fun new challenge at Phindy's Place Friday challenge blog.  This challenge is all about using something on your card that relates to your initials.  So since my initials are CW, I have used cork and wood on my card.  Let's see what you can come up with and if your initials are XZ then you have my sympathies.

Now for some important news about the challenges at Phindy's Place - starting with this challenge we are going to challenges every two weeks, which means you have lots of time to get a card finished and entered.  Phindy will still be providing one random winner with a $5 gift certificate to her store and the Card of the Week (I guess we will have to rename that Top Pick) creator will also receive a $5 gift certificate and will be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Whimsy Inspirations - Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday - Kids
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Sassy Cheryl's - Anything Goes

Image:  Ready To Go (Phindy's Place)
Card Stock:  White (staples), Black & Blue (Recollections)
Papers:  Cork (My Stash), Yellow Plaid (Sandylion Sticker Designs)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Gotrick)
Tools & Embellishments:  Crayon Button (Dress It Up), Brad (Making Memories), Buttons (My Stash), Wood Letters (Dollarama)

Vintage Children

This week our challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow is to create a vintage, shabby chic or primitive card featuring VINTAGE CHILDREN.

We have a fabulous new sponsor this week, Create with TLC.  Paulette, the owner offers vintage images and wonderful word art in her store and on her blog.

This week one random winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to the Create with TLC store along with a winner's badge to display.  The Design Team will also choose their top pick and the creator will receive a winner's badge and will be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes
Bearly Mine - Anything Goes
Try It On Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Totally Paper Crafts - Use a Digital Image

Image:  Enjoying Nature (Create with TLC)
Card Stock:  Green (Bazzill)
Papers:  All (Basic Grey)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Gotrick)
Tools & Embellishments:  Brads (Making Memories), Antique Paper Distress Ink (Ranger), Flowers (Prima) Button (My Stash), Baker's Twine (My Stash)

Could I Have This Dance

I am from Canada and so is the wonderful singer, Anne Murray (she now lives about 40 minutes away).  In the beginning, she sang mostly country styled songs but also had some pop hits.  She won four Grammy awards over the years and one was for the song Could I Have This Dance.  That is the title of my card and the inspiration for my card for the challenge this week at Phindy's Friday challenge blog.  This week we want you to make cards INSPIRED BY A SONG OR MOVIE.

You don't have to use a Phindy image to enter but you get two entries if you do and there are always two prizes offered. Phindy has lots of wonderful images in her store so if you don't have any, I encourage you to pop over and pick some up and then show what you can create and tell us which song or move inspired that creation.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Bearly Mine  - Anything Goes
Jackson's Digital Expressions - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday's - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Gingham
Digi Makeover  - Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz  - Anything Goes

Image:  Tango for Two (Phindy's Place)
Card Stock:  Red (Bazzill), Blue (Recollections)
Papers:  Gingham (My Stash), Music (Online - don't have source), Brown Snakeskin (Provo Craft)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Gotrick)
Tools & Embellishments:  Frayed Burlap Distress Ink (Ranger), Card Candy (Craftwork Cards), Labels 16 Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Circles for Christmas

It has been brutally hot where I live for the past week so I thought a Christmas card was in order for the CIRCLES challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow this week. 

My mojo did not come back from our vacation but it better come back in the next few days because I am not liking my creations this week.  Mind you it could well be that I rushed to get things completed after my guests left.  OK, so that is my excuse and I am sticking to it.

You can create any card with circles for our challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow this week as long as you make it vintage, shabby chic or primitive.  You can enter up to three cards and one random winner will receive a digi of our choice and a winner's badge.  The Design Team will select one entry as their Top Pick and that creator will receive a winner's badge and will be in the running for a monthly Guest Designer spot.

While you are checking out the wonderful inspiration from our designers, make sure you also take a look at the great tutorial called Shiny Metal to Rusty Metal provided by Renee Matarese, our Feature Artist.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas Goes
Paper Play - Use a Die
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Dies
Holly Jolly Christmas - Dies Cuts & Punches

Image:  The Graphics Fairy
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  Bazzill
Paper:  Memory Box
Tools & Embellishments:  Pearl Stickers (Recollections), Circle Punches (EK Paper Shapers), Victorian Scissors (Fiskars), Ribbon (Fabricland), Petite Scalloped Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Cutwork Scalloped Circle Die (Nellie Snellen)

Messy Baby

I'm back from my vacation, my guests have flown back to England, the house is clean and my normal routine has returned even if my mojo hasn't. We did lots of sightseeing in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Kingston and I saw things I had never seen before so it was fun for me too.

We have been having horrible heat and our guests struggled with that but otherwise they said they had a good time. Now we are planning to visit them in September and during that time the four of us are going to Rome for a few days.

Our challenge to you this week at Phindy's Place challenge blog is to make a card with GINGHAMS OR PLAIDS.  You don't have to use a Phindy image but if you do, you get to enter twice.

I used soft ginghams on my card but I had a terrible time getting a good photo.  If I brightened everything up, there was no definition on the charm so you have to settle for a little dull photo.  It is quite pretty in real life. The wonderful image from Phindy is paired with some equally wonderful word art from Paulette at Create with TLC - another of their great collaborations.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Creations - Baby
Ooh La La Creations - Baby, Baby
Delightful Challenges  - Anything Goes
Shelly's Images - Anything Goes
Southern Girls - Oh Baby, Baby

Image:  Messy Meal (Phindy's Place)
Sentiment:  Create with TLC
Card Stock:  White (Staples), Green (Recollections)
Papers:  Green (Provo Craft), Gingham (American Traditional Designs)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Gotrick)
Tools & Embellishments:  Pearl Stickers (Recollections), Ribbon (Kate's Paperie), Rose (Wild Orchid Crafts), Charm (My Stash), Circle Punches (EK Paper Shapers)