Layers at Sassy Cheryl's

I told my friends at Sassy Cheryl's that they should be careful not to fall on the floor because I have actually managed to get a card made for the current challenge at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog , which is all about LOTS OF LAYERS.

I started a different card and coloured an image for the first time in probably 4 months but then I tried to get artsy and ruined the image so I had to scrap that effort and start again.  I was checking to see if I had anything else printed and found an image that was already coloured - bonus.  I had done it when I visited my friend Ann English last May and she let me use her Copics - not my usual medium but with her expert guidance I got something worth keeping.

From the bottom up, here is my card:

I started with some Recollections card stock for the blank (this card is a 6" square).  Next I added some green patterned paper from my stash for the background.  Next came a couple of Provo Craft papers (also from my scraps) and then a band of white card stock that was punched with a Martha Stewart edge punch.

I added three rows of ribbon from Michaels and some Recollections pearl stickers.  The flower is made up of a white Prima flower and a couple of coloured flowers from Dollarama.  I added a button from my stash and some baker's twine from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Next I fussy cut around the image before adhering it.  Voila, lots of layers.  I decided not to add a sentiment because I am not sure how this card will be used. 

This is not my usual style of crafting since I normally do vintage or shabby chic so I struggled with this.  Even though I absolutely love these Sassy images, my pea brain can't seem to combine my style with her wonderful images.  I will keep trying though now that I have more time since I am officially retired again.

I don't know what this image is called and I can't find it in the Sassy Cheryl Stamp Store but that could be because I didn't look hard enough.  If it isn't there, not to worry because Cheryl has lots of other fabulous digis, including a set of twins that just arrived and are adorable.

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

Sassy Cheryl's -Lots of Layers with a Sassy Cheryl Image
That Craft Place - Buttons
Left of Center Challenges - Ribbon and/or Flowers

Best Friends

It is time for a new two-week challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow and this time we want you to MAKE YOUR OWN BACKGROUND.

Thanks to Cathi O'Neill of our Design Team, for this challenge we are pleased to welcome a new sponsor coming to us from Australia.

The folks at Molossi have a wide variety of products and you can see what they have to offer when you check out the challenge post at Sugar Creek Hollow.

They are providing a wonderful prize pack for one random winner.  Look at all the goodies you could win.

Here are the details of my card from the bottom up:

I started my card with some Bazzill card stock for the blank and then I created my background.  First I tore all sorts of papers from an old book, some scraps from my stash and some Tim Holtz Tissue Wrap.  I used some Ranger Glue and Seal to glue the torn papers to a piece of cream card stock and then gave them another coat on top..

Then I stenciled over the whole piece using a Moroccan Lattice stencil from Heidi Swapp and some Olive Archival Ink from Ranger.  I then covered the whole piece with Wendy Vecchi Orange Blossom  and Red Geranium Archival Ink.  The final step for the background was to use a Tiny Circles stencil from TCW and Wendy Vecchi Gold Embossing Paste.

Next I took some corrugated card stock from Michaels, inked the edges with Ranger's Vintage Photo Distress Ink and distressed it a bit with my scissors.  On top of that I added a panel of net that I picked up in England and then wrapped some satin ribbon from Fabricland around all of these layers and made a bow on the side.

The next layer is a piece of cream card stock that I embossed with a script folder from Cuttlebug and then inked with some more Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The Friends Forever text is computer generated and the image is part of a Darkroom Door collage stamp provided by our sponsor appropriately called Friends that I stamped using Coffee Archival Ink from Ranger and then inked with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

The lock and key are chipboard pieces provided by our sponsor that I rubbed with Onyxite and Rose Quartz Treasure Gold wax paste to get a rusty look.  Finally I added the lace flower, also provided by our sponsor but I took the liberty of swapping out the pearl and crystal centre that it came with for something that fit a little better with my colour palette so I hope they won't be upset.  Even though I didn't ask for permission, I am asking for forgiveness :)

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

Challenges and candies - Embossing
Craftyhands - Shabby Chic
Fussy and Fancy - Shabby Chic
Red Rubber Designs - Very Vintage
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Vintage
Stampotique Designers Challenge - Vintage

Time for Change

The new two-week challenge at Frilly and Funkie begins today and is called TIME AFTER TIME.  Nancy is our hostess and wants us to make vintage or shabby chic projects that focus on time and clocks.

I hope you will share your projects with us to be in with a chance of winning a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie or a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique!

Remember, to enter you must create a new project, link it using the linking tool and make sure you add a link in your post back to this challenge. You can combine our challenge with up to 10 challenges (including this one) to be in with a chance of winning.

I have been seeing a lot of art journals lately and decided it was something I might like to try but I thought before I tackled a journal page, I better find something I could use as a journal and then make it pretty. 

I started with this sketch pad, removed the cover and altered it to the piece you see above.  I started by giving it a couple of coats of Gesso.  Then I sponge painted it with some acrylic craft paint but the colour was really bright and not a good match for the papers that I wanted to use with it so I then inked over the paint with some Victorian Velvet, Milled Lavender and Bundled Sage Distress Ink.

Next I added some torn papers from the Maja Autumn Basics paper pad using some Glue and Seal to adhere them and to coat them before I gave them a light coat of Gesso.  I also added some bits of drywall tape.

The next step was to use some embossing paste to add some clocks and also some little dots.  I used my Cameo to cut a large flourish from Grunge Paper and then cut it cut it in pieces and added it to the base after I sponged it with Milled Lavender Distress Ink.

Now it was time (no pun intended) to create the word art for the quote and frame it.  I chose the quote because it referenced time but also because I thought it would make a great jumping off point for my journal since I have never kept a journal.

The frame was cut from light chipboard using my Cameo and the flourishes were cut from Grunge Paper, which cuts much easier than chipboard - it really cuts like butter.  I added the flourishes to the frame and then gave it a coat of Gesso.  Then I added some Victorian Velvet Distress Ink and finally some Blood Orange Fresco Finish paint that I wiped off with a baby wipe.

The quote was added on top of a doily and a clock that I found on the internet.  Another clock was added to the left of the framed quote.  The third clock (at least a half clock) was cut from Grunge Paper and then I added Gesso to it and then Bundled Sage Distress Ink.

Next I added some strips of lace.  I added some narrow satin ribbon and pearls to the lace on the top right.  Next I cut a filigree ornament in half, covered them with Picket Fence Distress Stain (it takes a couple of coats with heat drying in between) and then clear embossed them before adding them to my cover.

The final step was to add the flowers.  Two flowers were made from the Maja paper with a couple of punches and then I added some pearls as centres.  The big flower is a flower from Recollections that I inked with some Victorian Velvet Distress Ink and added a big floral button for the centre.  The little flower on the right is some crinoline cut with the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die that I dyed with Milled Lavender Distress Ink and added a pearl for a centre.  The big two-layered flower is a strip of fabric from my sewing cupboard, folded in half lengthwise and then gathered.  It has been topped with some organza ribbon that was gathered and then I added a big pink button from my stash.

Now I need to tackle a journal page and while I don't when that will happen, I know exactly what I want to say in it so stay tuned.

I would like to enter this altered journal in the following challenges:

Inky Chicks - Use Some Lace
Top Tip Tuesday - Metal or Faux Metal
Through The Purple Hazel - Bingo (Flower(s), Sentiment/Greeting/Doily)
Love to Create - Bingo (Pink, Lace, Flowers)
Anything But A Card - Use Two or More Stencils (Clocks & Dots)
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Altered Art Only 

The following products used in the creation of this project came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Friday Focus at Frilly and Funkie

This week it is my turn over at Frilly and Funkie to showcase a product that you can find at The Funkie Junkie Boutique and I am featuring buttons.  Here is a sneak peek at one of the projects I made so pop over to Frilly and Funkie to get all the details.

After you check out the post, you should head over to The Funkie Junkie Boutique and pick up some of the fabulous buttons because you can get them for 15% off until March 27th.

Baby Love

It is time for a new two-week challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow and this time we have a PHOTO INSPIRATION for you.  We want you to make a vintage or shabby chic card or other paper-crafted project using the photo below to guide you.  You can use the theme in the photo or the colours - I have chosen to incorporate both

I started with some white card stock from Staples for my blank and then added some pretty paper from Far Far Hill for the background.  Next I added some strips of complimentary paper from the Far Far Hill set. 

The two lace strips on the side came from my Mother-in-Law's sewing room.  I topped it with some satin ribbon from Kate's Paperie and a couple of teeny buttons from Dress It Up.

The image came from By Vintage Design and has been mounted on a piece of Recollections card stock and then framed with some pearl trim from my stash.  The little butterfly was done with a Martha Stewart punch and the body are pearl stickers from Recollections.  All the papers have been inked on the edges with Pumice Stone Distress Ink by Ranger.

The flowers are all from Wild Orchid Crafts and the sentiment was computer generated.  The little gold charm came from a store in Manhattan but I can't remember the name and the next time I was there I couldn't find it.

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

Creative Card Crew - Charms
Papertake Weekly - Bingo (Flowers, Free, Buttons)
Deep Ocean - Lace and Pearls
Craft Your Passion - Young at Heart

Vintage Collage

Today is the start of a new two-week challenge at Frilly and Funkie.  Rebecca is our hostess this time and she wants us to use DIE CUTS in our projects.  Rebecca is suggesting we dig out our neglected dies and create something outside (or inside) the box with them.

Now I don't own very many dies so when I started to create this piece I knew I would have to make up for the lack of dies with lots of other good stuff and I am happy with how I managed that and how frilly this is.  The die I did use is the Square Fleur-de-Lis from Spellbinders.  I debated using my Cameo to make die cuts but in the end thought that wasn't what Rebecca wanted.

My Mother-in-Law turned 92 on March 4th so I decided to make a very large (8 inch square) collage card for her and incorporate a few things from her sewing room (or maybe her late Sister's sewing room since I have stuff from both) - the snippet of black lace under the image, the two-toned button and the lace medallion.

It had so much texture that I had to make a box for it and my husband hand delivered it since he flew out to Alberta to spend a weekend with her.  I don't know that she recognized the bits because she is having a lot of dementia these days but my husband explained it to her and I think it pleased her.

In a couple of weeks, I am doing the Saturday Step X Step over at Frilly and Funkie and I will show you then how this came together.  I know this is mean but I hope you will come back then to get all the details.

In the meantime, I can tell you that the following items used in this project came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique - a super place to buy your supplies at a great price and with the best customer service.

Sew Fashionable

For the next two weeks the challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow is called SEW FASHIONABLE and we want to see vintage or shabby chic cards or other projects that depict sewing.

For this challenge we have another Guest Designer joining us.  Zoe Sanderson is a crafter from the UK so please make her feel welcome, check out her blog and leave her some love.

From the bottom up, here is how I created this card:

I started with some cream card stock from Staples for the blank and then added a background of striped paper from My Mind's Eye. that I distressed with my scissors.  I found the McCall's pattern photo online and the vintage sewing machine image came from The Graphic Fairy.

The little piece of metal at the top is from Michaels, the metal hanger is from 7 Gypsies and the button is from my stash.  The piece of lace also came from my stash and I think it was from my husband's late Aunt's sewing basket originally.  The tape measure is piece of clip art that I altered slightly.  The flowers are from Prima and the brad is from Making Memories.  Everything has been inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Ranger.  The little metal scissors charm were in my stash but I have no idea where they came from.

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

Inky Impressions - So Charming
Shopping Our Stash - Heavy Metal

I Surrender

The new challenge at Frilly & Funkie starts today and will run for the next two weeks.  Sue is our hostess and she wants to see vintage or shabby chic cards or other projects with lots of STENCILS AND TEXTURES. So, for this challenge let's see you use your stencils on your projects but also lets see some texture too ! This can be embossing, texture paste or even fabric.

I created this card after I couldn't get a good layout on another attempt no matter how hard I tried.  And then there was all the sickies in my family that I have been looking after as well as trying to deal with my poor Mother-in-Law who will be 92 next week, lives in an assisted living facility 2000 miles away and has dementia and now has the worst case of shingles.  Finally there is the SNOW, which never seems to end along with the brutal cold so I just decided to SURRENDER and make a winter card with some stenciling, some stamping and some texture with the embossed panel and the laces and ribbon.

I started with some white card stock from Staples for my card blank and then created a background by sponging Broken China, Weathered Wood and Faded Jeans distress ink all over another piece of white card stock.  Then I did a little flicking with some water and once it was dry I used a Dylusions stencil to add the dots on either side with the Faded Jeans distress ink..

Next I stamped the snowflakes from the Artistic Output stamp set called sleigh ride with Jet Black Archival Ink.  I wanted them to be white but they either came out very pale when I used a white stamp pad or not very crisp when I used paint so I opted for black and they stamped beautifully and the contrast is interesting.

Next I made an embossed panel using some Maja paper and a snowflake stencil from Cuttlebug.  After I did the embossing I sanded down some of the embossed area, distressed the edge and inked it with some Faded Jeans distress ink.

I made the stamped panel next with some white card stock, the image from the Artistic Outpost stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink, a distressed edge and some more inking.  The silver bow is some lacy crochet ribbon.  I added some venise lace and pleated some satin ribbon that was in my stash.

The snowflake was sponged with Snowcap Adirondack alcohol ink mixative blended with silver Adirondack Silver alcohol ink mixative and once dry I sponged on some Sail Boat Adirondack ink.  Finally a few little silver snowflakes cut from card stock and some white pearls were added to finish this card off.

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

Everybody-art Challenge - Ribbon or Lace
2 Sisters Challenge - Embossing
Inkspirational Challenges - Designer's Choice (Embossing, Ribbon or Lace, Metal or Charms)

The items shown below came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique where the prices are always less than the manufacturer's suggested retail price:

Dreaming of the Beach

The new two-week challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow is called DREAMING OF THE BEACH.  We want to see vintage or shabby chic cards or other paper-crafted projects that depict the beach or seaside.

Since we have had one of the most brutal winters where I live, I love this theme because it lets me think warm, even if only for a few moments.

We have a talented Guest Designer joining us for this challenge and I hope you will feel Marie Svensson (a.k.a. Primia) feel welcome and pop over to her blog and check out all her vintage beauties.

From the bottom up, here is how I made this card:

I started with some Staples card stock for my blank and added some patterned paper from Far Far Hill for my background. The paper edges were distressed with my scissors and inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink from Ranger.

Next I took some white corrugated cardboard that I bought from The Funkie Junkie Boutique, tore the edges a bit and inked them with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  On top of that I added a piece of burlap from my stash and a fish charm from Arton Bead Supply that has been inked with Sail Boat and Meadow Adirondack alcohol ink from Ranger.

I found the wonderful image somewhere online and distressed the edges and sponged them with Vintage Photo Distressed Ink before it was popped up with some foam dots.  The sentiment on it made me smile.

To finish I added a bow of crinkly dyed seam binding that was a gift ages ago and a tiny shell from Michaels.

Beautiful Blooms

The challenge for the next two weeks at Frilly and Funkie is called BLOOMIN MARVELOUS and it is all about adding handmade flowers to your vintage or shabby chic project.

I decided to alter something for a change and found a cigar box in my craft cupboard.  It was paper covered and UGLY.

I was going to do a paint/stencil/stamp treatment on it but changed my mind when the paint wouldn't stick to it without looking streaky so I went with plan B and decided to tear paper and decoupage it on, inside and out.  The yellow and blue toned papers come from Far Far Hill and Paper Peonies.  The text paper is from my scrap bin and I also used some Tim Holtz Melange Tissue Wrap. 

Once everything was glued on and given a coat of Glue and Seal, I took some Broken China Distress Ink to it, which just highlighted some of the torn edges.  I thought it could use some little feet so I took acrylic paint to some wooden pieces I picked up at Michaels.

Then I added a row of venise lace around the edge with a narrow strip of satin ribbon from my stash.  I added pearls to the lace, half of which were coloured with a Copic marker.

Next I started on the flowers.  All of them were made using the Tim Holtz Tattered Floral die but using different mediums.  The teeny flower was made with crinoline dyed with some Wild Honey Distress ink, the blue paper flower was made using some Far Far Hill paper, inked with Broken China Distress Ink and with some beads from my stash for a centre.  The big yellow flower was made from some yellow handmade paper from Dollarama that I stamped with a text stamp using Coffee Archival Ink.  A coconut button turned upside down acts as a centre.  Finally I made a flower from some Wendy Vecchi Clearly for Art Modeling Film that was coloured with Terra Cotta and Sail Boat alcohol ink and has a dew drop for a centre.

The metal leaves were coloured with Meadow and Sail Boat alcohol ink and I tucked a paper doily underneath.  The flourish started life as a piece of white card stock that I spritzed with some Vibrant Turquoise Dylusions spray ink before I cut it with the Venetian Motifs die from Spellbinders.  The tiny butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch and I added a row of teeny pearls to make the body.  Finally I made a couple of bead charms with a brad from Dollarama on top so there would be something to open the box with.

My seven year-old Granddaughter is madly in love with this little box and wants it so badly but I can't imagine what she wants to put in it.  Besides it would look very out of place in her modern IKEA bedroom.  I will have to think about this.

These supplies came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique where prices are always discounted from the manufacturer's suggested retail price:

Show Me Thursday at Sassy Cheryl's

I don't often get a chance to do a post for Show Me Thursday at Sassy Cheryl's but I just had to this week.  I have been trying to get my Sassy friends (or anyone for that matter) to take some of my snow but to no avail - go figure :)

I know this isn't craft related but today I thought I would give you a little glimpse of what we have been dealing with and why I have been trying to give it away.  This shot was taken from our front door but if I had put my boots and coat on and taken a photo from the end of the driveway, you would have seen just how high some of the piles are.  To add to the copious amounts of snow we have been experiencing some brutally cold weather - as low as -35C at one point this winter so I opted for just opening the door.

 Because of my bad back, I can't help shovel so my poor husband has had to do this all by himself and we don't have a snow blower.  The pile at the end of the driveway on the right side as you look from the doorway (just beyond the shorter tree) is over 8 feet high and he is only 5' 7" tall so you can imagine how difficult it is for him to throw it now.  Apparently we are supposed to get another 3 or 4" tomorrow and he has no idea where he is going to put it.

Notice the stick figure person drawn in the snow.  My seven year-old Granddaughter did that the other day and she is just 3 feet tall, which gives you some perspective of the height of that particular pile.  On a more serious note, these piles are everywhere and it is dangerous trying to back out of the driveway or turn a corner at an intersection where there are no traffic signals because you can't see oncoming cars.

Another 6 weeks of winter - say it isn't so :(

Love and Adore

It is time for a new two-week challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow and we are calling it LOVE AND ADORE.  This time we want to see vintage or shabby chic cards or other paper-crafted projects that depict love and this could be for Valentine's Day if you wish or it could be something for an anniversary or wedding.

From the bottom up, here are the details of my card:

I started with a piece of cream card stock from Staples to make my card blank.  Then I added a piece of patterned paper from Far Far Hill for my background. 

Next came some crochet lace from my sewing cabinet and cream coloured satin ribbon from Fabricland.  I used a Martha Stewart Edge Punch to cut a border on one edge of a rose pink piece of card stock from my scraps and on the off cut from the beige card stock.  Both were sponged with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink from Ranger.

Next I added a vintage image from Vintage Feedsacks, which was also inked with Distress Ink.  Paper flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts were added on the side some of which had some Stardust Stickles from Ranger added to make them sparkle.  The little heart stick pins came from Maya Road.

I used a Martha Stewart punch to make the large heart from some scrap red card stock and then spritzed some pearl Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels on it before I added a pearl sticker from Recollections.  The little hearts were treated the same way but we leftovers from an attempt to create a heart background on my Cameo.  I thought I had it welded together but when it cut, it all fell apart so I have a bag of big hearts and teeny hearts.  I will definitely have to revisit that design.

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

Divas By Design - Vintage with Lace
Sweet Stamps - Lace and Hearts

Friday Focus at Frilly and Funkie

It is my turn to do the Friday Focus over at Frilly and Funkie and here is a little sneak peak of the project that I made.

Pop over to see what I made and check out the details.

Valentine's Day - With a Twist

It is time for a new two-week challenge at Frilly and Funkie and I am the hostess this time and chose Valentine's Day - With a Twist.  I want to see vintage or shabby chic projects in the traditional colours of red, pink and white but the twist is that there can be no hearts on your project. I sure hope you will play along with us.

Here are the details of my project from the bottom up:

I started with some white card stock from Staples for my card blank and then added a couple of layers of beautiful Maja patterned paper that were distressed with my scissors.  Since this paper is so precious, I decided to conserve as much as I could and cut a big square out of the middle of the bottom layer to use for another project. Nobody was going to see that piece anyway.

Next I made a fan from some crepe paper and then mounted the sweet vintage cherub that I picked up online somewhere (sorry, I missed tagging it).  Next I used a monogram stamp from Recollections and black Archival Ink to stamp the word LOVE.  They were inked with some Fired Brick Distress Ink and some teeny red gems from Michaels were added.

Next I altered a round filigree piece by painting it white and then dabbing some Fired Brick Distress Ink on it.  A white paper rose from Wild Orchid Crafts was dyed with a Copic marker and added to the filigree circle.  I added a few seed beads from my stash to the rose to look like water droplets.

The corner piece was cut from the Venetian Motifs die from Spellbinders and I sprayed it with some Perfect Pearls mist before I added more gems.

A gorgeous piece of Venise lace was added to the bottom and topped with some pleated pink satin ribbon to which I added a row of pearls and more seed beads.

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

Loves Rubber Stamps - Use Lace
Our Daily Bread Designs - Pink, Red & White
The Pink Elephant Challenge  - Love
Victorine Stamps - Valentines/Love
Allsorts Challenge - Vintage
Fussy and Fancy - Vintage
The Artistic Stamper - Love is in the Air

The following items used in the creation of this card came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique where everything is already discounted and you will get the best customer service from the Owner, Linda Coughlin:

Fibres & Texture

The new two-week challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow starts today and we are calling it FIBRES & TEXTURE.  We want to you to make vintage or shabby chic projects that include fabric, unique fibres and texture - not just ribbon and lace.

I have chosen to do a wedding card and while I don't know anyone getting married right now, I am sure it will come in handy at some point.

I started by using some white card stock from Staples to make the card blank.  Then I cut another piece of card stock and made the background.  First I swiped some Picket Fence and Tattered Rose Distress Stain by Ranger on my craft sheet and dragged the card stock through it.  Next I sprayed it lightly with water and dried it with my heat gun.  I didn't think it was quite dark enough so I went over some sections of it with Tattered Rose Distress Ink by Ranger.

Once it was dry, I decoupaged some Tim Holtz Tissue Wrap on it and let it dry before I distressed the edges with my scissors.  I love how the stain/ink background shows through the Tissue Wrap.

I printed the bride and groom silhouette image from The Graphics Fairy on a scrap of white card stock and then distressed the edges with my scissors and sponged them with some Tattered Rose Distress Ink.  The image was mounted on a piece of black Recollections card stock that I cut with the rectangular Fleur de Lis die from Spellbinders.

To make the rolled flower, I started with two pieces of fabric - some white drapery sheer that had been in my Mother's sewing closet and some blush polyester stretch fabric that came from who knows where.  Once the flower was rolled I added some lace from my stash and some bling from Recollections as a centre.

When I put the card together I finished it off with some black feathers from Michaels and black pearl flourishes from Recollections.

This post has been scheduled because I am flying home from Alberta today after checking up on my Mother-in-Law who was moved into assisted living last week due to her ever increasing dementia.  I suspect when I get home I will be wanting a stiff drink - LOL.

Saturday Step X Step at Frilly & Funkie

 
It is my turn to present the Saturday Step X Step at Frilly and Funkie and as promised I am explaining how I made my New Year's Resolution project so pop over and check it out.

The Warmth of Winter

The new two-week challenge at Frilly and Funkie is called The Warmth of Winter and we want to see vintage or shabby chic projects that will warm the heart of someone close to you.

When I started to make this card I thought I was supposed to make a winter project (note to self:  Read slowly rather than glance and assume - lol).  At the time however, it was -25C here with a wind chill of -32C and I could not equate winter with warm no matter how hard I tried.  Then I decided to get away from the traditional winter colours of blue and white and give winter activities a warmer feel and in the end I think this will warm someone's heart - it does mine.  The only thing missing is a steaming mug of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows.

I used some Recollections card stock to make my card blank and then started on my background.  I cut a square of white card stock and sponged it all over with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  Then I used some white Archival ink to randomly stamp a variety of snowflakes on it.  Some of the stamps came from an Artistic Outpost set and some from a stamp set that I bought in the UK and have misplaced the packaging so I don't know the manufacturer.

A strip of Maja paper was added across the background and then I put some lovely brown crochet lace on top.  I found the fabulous vintage image at xx and after I inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink I mounted it on some brown natural paper and then both were mounted on another co-ordinating piece of Maja paper. Note:  I didn't realize that I hadn't given credit for the image and just left a placeholder so my apologies but when I get back I promise to edit this post again to show where I got it - sure hope dementia isn't catchy :)

The sled and skates were cut with my Cameo and then inked with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The lacing for the skates is just ordinary thread but the sled pull is some May Arts burlap string.

I cut a flourish from some copper metallic paper and added it to the bottom of the image and then added some wooden snowflakes that were rubbed with Rose Quartz Treasure Gold paste.  Finally I made some copper centres to the stamped snowflakes with a Viva Pearl Pen.

I am in Medicine Hat, Alberta this week checking up on my 91 year-old Mother-in-Law, who was moved from independent living to assisted living in her seniors' home last week.  She has had dementia for some time but now it is like a snowball rolling down hill and picking up speed so we are happy she will be getting a bit more help and will be safer with more staff around her.

The following products used in the creation of this card came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique - a great place to shop with discounted prices and top-notch customer service.

Something New

The next two-week challenge starts today at Sugar Creek Hollow and in honour of the start of another year, we are calling it Something New.  We want to see vintage oir shabby chic projects that utilize something new to you.  This could be a new craft supply or a new technique you have learned or you could even celebrate the New Year..

I have created this card featuring my new Birthday Blueprint stamp from Tim Holtz.  My daughter's birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks (and I am not sharing how old she is going to be because then you can figure out that I am old - lol) so I have made this for her. I took this photo on Thursday and since it was snowing (and -28C) it was difficult to get a great photo but it does look good in real life so I think she will like it.

The card blank is some Recollections card stock and the background paper is from my scrap box.  I added a panel of handmade paper that I picked up at Dollarama and then a strip of striped patterned paper from Raspberry Road that I edged with the deco edge punch by Martha Stewart.

I used Archival Ink from Ranger to stamp the image twice and then fussy cut around the cupcake.  The cupcake was coloured with Prismacolors and blended with Gotrick OMS.  I highlighted the flame and the icing with a gold Sakura pen and a little gold Stickles by Ranger.

The sentiment is from the Tim Holtz Simple Sayings set and the flower is mixture of flowers from Prima and Wild Orchid Crafts.  The doily and cupcake panel have been chalked with Mungyo chalk pastels and some gems from Michaels were added to finish the card off.

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

A Creative Romance - Something New
Stempelsonnen  - Anything Goes (with stamp as focal point)
Charismacardz  - Birthdays
Simon Says Stamp - Something New
Crafty Sentiments - Birthdays
Cuttin and Stampin - Anything Goes with Something New

My New Year's Resolution

The new two-week challenge at Frilly and Funkie is all about Your New Year's Resolution.  We want you to create a project that depicts your New Year's Resolution.

In my case, I resolve to travel more in 2014 and specifically I resolve to go to France.  Since my husband has to pay for this, is this really his New Year's Resolution? - LOL.

I hope you will tell us all about your New Year's Resolution and you could be the random winner who will receive a gift certificate to go shopping at The Funkie Junkie or you could be the Top Pick chosen by the Design Team and become a Guest Designer.

I am going to do the Saturday Step X Step feature on January18th so check back then to find out how I created this piece.

I can tell you that the following products used in the creation of this project can be found at The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Software Meets Christmas Tree

Today is the start of the last challenge for 2013 at Sugar Creek Hollow and it is called Recycling & Re-purposing.  We would love to see your entries but they must be either vintage or shabby chic (or a combination of both).  Your entry must include one or more items that have been recycled or used for a different purpose and you must tell us about it in your post so that we know your entry meets the theme and is eligible for any of the prizes.

A year ago or so my husband brought home a whole pile of software CD-ROMs and DVDs from work that were being sent to the garbage and asked if I wanted them for crafting and of course I said yes and added them to my stash not having any idea at the time how I could use them.  Since then I have discovered that they make the best bases for Christmas ornaments and this is the third one I have used for that purpose.

I got my husband to drill two holes opposite each other but in the end, I only used one this time.  Then I printed some digital paper from Summertime Designs and cut it into 2 1/2" squares.  Each square was folded into thirds to create a point and glued onto the CD in two layers.

Next I cut some loops with my Cameo and some gold card stock from Recollections and added them to each of the points on the top layer.  A gem from Dollarama was added to the top of each loop.

I printed the vintage Santa from The Graphics Fairy, cut it out and trimmed the edge with some gold Stickles by Ranger.  I added some lace from my stash to the back and then mounted Santa on a scalloped circle that was cut using a Nellie Snellen die and some red glitter card stock from Dollarama.  Some gold cord from my sewing cupboard was added as a hanger and then a plain card stock circle was added to the back to hide the CD.

I am going to enter this in the following challenges:

Happy Campers  - Christmas
Crafting For All Seasons - Anything Christmas But A Card
Ruby's Rainbow - It's Christmas
Inky Chicks - Christmas
Parade Your Crafts - Christmas Projects