Buttons, Brads and Bling!

Well, HELLO there bloggy people!  Again... I know, it's been awhile, a long while!  And again, I am sorry.  How nice it would be to finally get back to a good blogging schedule.  I always have grand intentions!

For today though I just wanted to make a quick post to share a card that I decided to create for a challenge on the Northridge Publishing CREATE blog.  It's also been a long time since I've participated in any challenges so it was fun to just create on a whim doing something I totally enjoy! 

The blog challenge for this month is to design a card using buttons/brads/bling! 

And here's what I came up with... 

For this card I used Core'dinations cardstock... the embossed Floral is a piece from the David Tutera card making line, as is the "Thank You" sticker sentiment.  The canvas resist flowers and butterflies are Prima and I misted them all with Glimmer Mist.  The "You" and "Made My Day" stamps are older stamps from one of my favorite sets from For the Luv of Art.com.  All the other embellishments are from curtseyboutique.etsy.com. (glitter butterfly, pearlized heart stick-pin, baker's twine, painted wood button and blue library card).  Ohh, the glitter dots are from Sei.  I used them as floral centers to give the look of blinged out brads!  

I hope you enjoy my design as much as I am digging the color combination!  Now that I keep seeing the card on my desk, I am totally drawn to this silver/orange/blue pallet!  

Sorry to be short, but I am off to enjoy the evening with my hubby.  We are going on a movie date to see The Lone Surviver!  Enjoy the rest of this cold, cold weekend and whatever it is you are doing...stay warm! 

So Happy Together!

I love my weekends... but I don't like how they go so fast!  I swear... wasn't it just Friday?  Well, I guess the countdown to the coming weekend officially starts NOW! lol!  It was a nice two days of relaxation though and I did get some things accomplished.  I even got to create for a bit which really makes me happy!  I took the bull by the horns and I did it... I completed my submissions for the Bella Blvd. 2013-2014 Design Team.  I still have to hit the send button, but I actually went through with it and I'm really liking everything that I created for the call.  Now I just need to hope that the judging panel will like them (my cards) AND me too!  Yes, I am applying for a Card Designer position.  Not too sure about my luck there seeing as they are looking for only 2-4 people to fill those Card Maker spots.  Makes me nervous!  Anyway... I was thrilled to be in my scrappy happy creating environment again and I realized that I need to start carving out more of my creative time.  It's far better than all the other mundane day to day stuff that should be pushed to the back burner more often.  Ohh, and did I mention... my vacation starts in 11 days! 
Wa-Hoooo!!! Oh, I can hardly contain the excitement!   

 

So tonight before I go, I wanted to share a card that I recently had up on the Curtsey Boutique blog.

This one is a card that can be used as a simple little Anniversay or Wedding card.  All the sweet cork heart and butterfly shaped stickers can be found in the Curtsey Boutique Etsy shop, as well as the painted mini clothespin and the torn fabric strips.  The embossed panel behind the sentiment tag is kraft masking tape (Curtsey Boutique) that I layered onto a piece of cardstock.  I embossed the panel with an Anna Griffin Cuttlebug folder, inked the surface with some chalk ink and then cut out around the embossed edging.
 

 

 

 

 The enamel dots, tag and patterned paper are all by My Mind's Eye and the embossed Tillie Dots cardstock is Core'dinations.  Don't you LOVE that navy and aqua color combo?  I believe it's becoming a quick favorite of mine!  Good night everyone!  Have yourselves a wonderful week... enjoy!

Designing For Curtsey Boutique!

I have to say, I have thoroughly enjoyed designing for Curtsey Boutique these past months, AND if you like crafting with fun vintage inspired goodies and MORE, now could also be your chance because there is an open DT call happening right now!  Here is the blog post at Curtsey Boutique with all the deets...  CHECK IT OUT!!  

In other news... the new May Arts Ribbon DT was announced recently and unfortunately I did not make the cut.  It's all good though, because I gave it my best shot and that's really all I could do.  I will find something else down the road to occupy my crafty niche, I'm sure of it... I'll just need to keep plugging away!  :)  With that said... have you all heard that Bella Blvd. has a new DT call open now too for the 2013-2014 term?  Hmmm, must say that I was quite pleased to see that.  I really wanted to apply last year and the time got away from me.  So, I am seriously thinking of giving it a shot this time around.  A girl can only hope... I think there products are the absolute cutest around :) 

Before I say Good-Night, I will leave you all with a card share.  This card I created for our good friends' wedding a few weeks ago and I used  some gorgeous Curtsey Boutique embellies. 

 

 

I wanted this wedding card to have a vintage and homespun look all in one, to emulate the style of my friend's wedding décor and theme.  I chose to emboss the background with a vintage floral design  and then paired it perfectly with vintage touches of a pink floral fabric strip and a swatch of burlap from Curtsey Boutique.  The burlap was actually a section cut from one of the burlap bags.  I also cut strips of the burlap from the bag to use on a separate project! And the little bitty hearts... those are cork and I swiped them with some pink chalk ink. 

 

Other supplies used include-

Anna Griffin floral Cuttlebug emboss folder and machine

Cricut Sweethearts cartridge and machine

Core'dinations cardstock

Clearsnap  chalk ink (pink)

Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist (Heirloom gold)

FloraCraft Diamond Dust glass glitter

 

 

Curtsey Boutique Lovlies!

Hey there... hope you all are having a great week so far!  I know I am more than happy that tomorrow is Thursday and that means two more days until the weekend!  The hubs will be off work so I am hoping we can finally have a little bit of summer time fun together.  Seems as though we haven't had enough of that lately and summer is going by just way too fast. 

Today I am in the mood to share some of my latest favorite projects that I've created for Curtsey Boutique!  I absolutely love designing with bits and pieces from the Curtsey Boutique because there are always an array of perfect embellies to add to any project I'm working on.  Seriously, totally cute stuff.  Check out the shop if you love anything fancy, frilly, vintage or shabby chic! Please note however that the shop is currently on vacation and will re-open August 10th. 

First up I have a Burlap Drawstring Bag that I decorated.  The full tutorial can be seen HERE! 

 

 

I created the kraft paper flower by die cutting some kraft lunch bags from the shop with some Spellbinder's floral dies. I then dyed the canvas brad and wooden button and burlap butterflies (also from the shop) with some Ranger Dylusions spray ink. 

 

Next up is a sweet gift bag that I had created to enclose a bracelet that I had made for my mom to give to her for Mother's Day this past May.  This bag is just perfect though for gifting a surprise to someone for practically any occasion... birthdays, best friendships or simply "just because"!

 

 

 

I've used a lined pink treat bag, a plain white doily, a dyed yellow doily, a pink glittered bird, yellow rolled felt flowers and a torn fabric strip all from the Curtsey Boutique shop.

In addition, I used Diamond Dust glass glitter, a rub-on sentiment (Kaiser Crafts) and colored feathers all from my craft stash. 

 

And finally... here's a pretty Birthday card I put together!  This one uses another yellow rolled felt flower from the shop as well as some white seam binding that I dyed yellow with some Glimmer Mist spray. 

 

 

 

The cardstock used on here is all Core'dinations (Gemstones and Core Couture collections), and the Cardstock sticker embellie with Sentiment is a Core'dinations/Darice brand from the David Tutera card collection series.  Don't you also LURV the polaroid-like chipboard frame from Recollections that I picked up at Michaels?  I think they are cool... as well as the fabby looking Heidi Swapp resist paper on here too.   By the way... the butterflies... yep, Cricut cuts of course, lol!  These are designs from the Picturesque cartridge! I seem to cut these butterflies a lot :)  

 

So there you have it!  I have many more new things to share with you from Curtsey Boutique, but I will get to sharing them later after the shop and blog are back to their regular schedule next month.  Before I sign off for the night though, I just wanted to remind all my crafty friends that I am still patiently waiting to hear if I will be joining the May Arts Ribbon Design Team for 2013-2014!  The big announcement should come  on Monday, July 29th, so I do have the entire weekend to wait it out yet! Please keep your fingers crossed for me and if you like, you still have time to check out all of the finalists 2nd round audition projects HERE!  I really would love and appreciate all of your comments and support over there on the post too if you have any extra time!  Thanks friends... and take it easy!

 

Some Oldies, But Goodies!

Hello, and Happy Sunday to one and all!  Not all too excited that tomorrow is already Monday, but it is what it is, and I may as well enjoy the rest of this day off!

 

So today, I thought I would break out some oldies (well not too old, just not too recent either) that have previously been published to share with you all.  I know that not everyone subscribes to the magazines and may not have the opportunity to flip through them on a monthly basis either, so I wanted to show some of the things I've created which you all may not have seen before. 

 

These are all from last years Summer issues of Cricut magazine.  The following "Best Wishes" tag and envelope card from the May 2012 issue really turned out beautifully I thought. 

 

This is the envelope, which  I wanted to be just as fancy as the inside tag.  I cut both the envelope and the tag using the Cricut Damask cartridge.  You will see in the next photo that I cut out a tag with an intricate damask design.  But, I then used a portion of the leftover intricate pieces as a mask for the outside of the envelope.  This was sprayed with a teal Glimmer Mist.  I really like using negatives from Cricut cuts as masks for my projects... definitely a favorite technique!  

 

 

The patterned papers that I used for this are from Glitz Design and all that gorgeous ribbon and trim is May Arts! The black crinkled silk ribbon adds just the right amount of elegance!   

 

Here's a look as well at the reverse side of the tag...

 

This last card features some My Mind's Eye papers and I must say, I loved the way this card turned out so much that I'm not sure I can even give this friendship card to anyone.  I think I may just frame it and keep it for myself!

 

 

This card was published in the July 2012 issue and the cuts for this card came from the Give A Hoot Cricut cartridge.  I'll tell ya, the combination of the yummy plaid paper with the Core'dinations Vintage cardstock just makes me squeal, lol! 

 

Here's another close-up of the detail...

 

 

Remember you can always click on the photos to view them larger!  This card really packs the layers and texture that I love :)

 

Okay... I guess that it all I have to show you today.  I also want to tell you to head on over to the May Arts blog this week.  Tomorrow, Monday, July 15th will be the kick off to them sharing all the Design Team finalists' projects.  I'm so excited... and eager to see if I'll be one of the new May Arts Prima Ribbonistas!  The announcement and revealing of the new DT will be made on July 29th!!  I am so nervous, so please keep your fingers crossed for me... THANKS! 

May Arts Ribbon Design Team Call, 2013!

Yes, you did read my title correctly!  May Arts Ribbon IS having a call for new Prima Ribbonistas and it's exciting! 

I first started using and loving May Arts ribbon whenever I became a designer with Core'dinations.  We would have various product swaps and blog hops with them and so I've become well aware of just how fabulous and versatile their ribbon is. Truth be told, I find it difficult using any other brand of ribbon aside from May Arts when I am crafting these days.  Their product is definitely top-notch quality.

Being that I am applying for a position  for this wonderful DT at May Arts, I will be sharing various projects here that I've created along the way, as well as a requested tutorial, all showcasing May Arts ribbon.   I do hope you will be inspired by what you see here and that you'll fall in love with the May Arts brand just as much as I have! 

First up, I wanted to share with you a technique for making a pretty textural ribbon flower that can be used on a variety of projects. I created my ribbon flower by covering panels of cardstock with rows of adhesive backed ribbon and then die cutting and layering a variety of different sized floral shapes from the ribbon panels. 

Here's a list of supplies needed:

• Choice of coordinating ribbon  (I used May Arts Silky Crush ribbon in brown and teal)
• Choice of cardstock (I used Core'dinations Jillian Spots)
• Choice of metal dies (I used Spellbinder's Nestabilities dies, Classic Scalloped Circles)
• Die cutting/Embossing machine (I used my Cuttlebug)
• Xyron 15 Adhesive and Applicator
• Core'dinations Sand It Gadget
• Decorative Brad

Okay, to get started you will want to cut various scraps of light colored cardstock into panels and then cut several strips of the ribbon. You will want to add adhesive to the backs of the ribbons strips.  I have found that the easiest method of doing this is to run ribbon strips through a Xyron Adhesive Applicator. 
 

 

Once you apply the adhesive to the ribbon, you can begin to cover the surface of the cardstock scrap panels, alternating strips of color as I have done, or  you can cover a panel using strips of one color... your choice, as you are the designer!  

Once all the panels are covered entirely with the ribbon strips you can now die cut your desired shapes from the panels using various sizes of dies.  To create my layered flower, I have die cut my shapes using scalloped circles dies from Spellbinder's Nestabilities dies. 

 

 

To give more visual contrast and texture, I have also die cut some embossed cardstock shapes to be layered into my flower as well.  I used a Sand It Gadget, which is a sanding block by Core'dinations, to sand over the embossed dots of the cardstock. 

 

For the next step, you will want to take each die cut shape and crinkle it up in your hands... don't be afraid to crinkle them up tightly... the more crinkle the better!   Now take each piece and flatten them back out, and  you've just created even more lovely texture and dimension to the pieces.
 

 

 To form the flower, simply layer each shape center to center forming a stack from largest to smallest.  You will want to punch a hole in the centers of each and then attach the stack together using a decorative brad.  Before attaching my brad here I also rolled up a small piece of extra ribbon and coiled it around the center punched hole.  Once you attach the brad fluff up the layers to give dimension.

 

 

Now you can have fun embellishing your projects with beautiful ribbon flowers that you've made on your own! 

 

Here's a card that I made and had published not too long ago in the Cricut Cards Idea Book for 2013.  The one features some of my all time favorite May Arts ribbon... 5/8" purple Cotton Stripes, 1.5" yellow Twill Chevron Stripes, 5/8" gray Solid Plaid and gray Suede String!
 

Next up is a scrapbook page that I created using some more 1.5" Twill Chevron Stripes in red as well as some  3/8" red Grosgrain Diagonal Stripes ribbon.  This layout was published in the Cricut Holidays Idea Book for 2012.
 

Up next is a box set that I created... a plain kraft box that's been embellished with paint, patterned paper (Authentique), embossed cardstock (Core'dinations) and ribbon (May Arts).  I also made candle sleeves for each of the 4 individual votives stored in the box.  Each candle sleeve is tied up with some natural Twisted Burlap string from May Arts.  This box is topped off with a piece of lovely 1.5" ivory Sheer Woven Rosettes ribbon.

 

 

  

 

 

I also LOVE how this green Grosgrain Diagonal Stripes ribbon looks as looped hangers for my handmade paper shamrock ornaments...

 

 

 

And last, a tag to share using some gorgeous purple 1.5" Two Tone ribbon paired with some ivory Twill Chevron Stripes ribbon. 

 

 

 

I do hope you've enjoyed this sampling of projects that I've created, all using the beautiful ribbon selections available at May Arts Ribbon!  I also have more projects that can be viewed if you click on the "May Arts Ribbon" tab under my Labels section here on the side-bar of my blog.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I'll be seeing you soon.  :) 

I'm Here!

I really am here!  I know I've been quiet, and I am sorry.  I have really missed blogging, but once again, I will use the same old standby of "Life has simply gotten in the way".  Funny, but I hate when that happens... when I can't seem to find a simple block of time to do what I'd rather be doing in life.  Instead, lately it seems it's been all about the mundane... 8 hours of work (stressful at times), piles of laundry, grocery shopping, and other miscellaneous household chores... you catch my drift! I've been slacking hard in ALL areas that I really want to be doing and improving upon.  I really am craving more creative time for ME! I can't even tell you the last time a sat down and scrapbooked a layout.  So sad... I think about it a lot though.  I'd also like to be trying to improve upon myself... to become a more healthy and fit me.  That's proven to be more difficult than anything these days.  But, I am not giving up on either of these areas.  Summer is here and I am going to make these some very important goals and priorities in the weeks ahead.  I can't give up :) 

About the scrapping, and well crafting as a whole, well... one of my absolute favorite things was to be a designer for Core'dinations Cardstock.  Sadly, my time with them has come to an end as I did not make the new team selections a few weeks back.  I was pretty disappointed and I guess I could say that it kind of also had a little bit to do with why I just dropped off the blog radar for a spell.  But I have realized that all good things must come to an end at some point, and no matter what, I loved every minute of my time with such a fabulous and respectable company.  Sooo no regrets, and back to business as usual! Besides, I still have quite a fabulous stash of Core at my disposal and it's always going to be a favorite ;) 

While I'm here, I also thought I'd share a few more projects that I've designed recently for the Curtsey Boutique!  If you haven't yet checked out CarrieAnne DeLoach's  Etsy shop, the Curtsey Boutique, you must.  It is totally full of the sweetest items to craft with.  First up is this card that I designed using some felt doilies and a printed fabric bow (currently not available) all from the shop. 

 

 

 

Other Products Used

Cricut Expression and Kate's ABCs cartridge.

Cardstock: Core'dinations, Teresa Collins Core Amour collection.

Sand It Gadget: Core'dinations.

Patterned paper: My Mind's Eye.

Bling embellishments: Queen & Co.

Rub-on alphas: American Crafts.

Green stickers: Prima.

Ink: SEI.

Marker: Sharpie.

 

And next up... another card.  This one is perfect for all those Graduations being celebrated this month! 

 

For this card design I used one of my favorite embellishments from Curtsey Boutique... the gorgeous gray tulle fabric and felt shabby chic butterfly!  The blue butterfly stickpin (currently not available), the white seam binding and the graph print starburst sticker are also all from the shop. 

I also used an embossed dot coin envelope which I adhered on the inside card flap.  This is the perfect size for inserted a gift card or folded check/money to give to the Graduate!

 

Other supplies-

Cardstock and Sand It Gadget: Core'dinations.

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye.

Foam tape adhesive: Imaginisce.

Ink: Sei.

Cricut Expression and Fontopia cartridge: Provo Craft.

 

I do have some other design team projects for Curtsey Boutique but I guess I will show them later... that way I can come back a blog again soon!  Anyway, I am excited to be back and I do hope I can make it be a more regular thing.  I do miss hearing from everyone so I promise to be better about visiting you all as well :)  Hope you have an enjoyable weekend... or what's left of it!  Enjoy :)

My Core'dinations Creative Frenzy... 2013!

It's that time already!  Where has it all gone?  All along I've been blissfully creating with my beloved Core cardstock and truthfully... I don't EVER want it to end.  But, there is a new Design Team call happening and I need to... I MUST, re-apply.  Like I said, I never want it to end!  Core'dinations cardstock is the first supply I think about or touch when it's time for me to get my craft on, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Seriously, it's that good!

Sooo, here we go... a look at what all I've created lately using many of my favorite Core'dinations collections.

 

This first project came about as wanting to create something special for two of my dear friends who've recently lost their mothers this past year.  I wanted to send them each something, "more than a card"... something that they both could keep around nearby as a token of remembrance.  This is how the embellished Angel Wings ornament came to be. 

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my Angel Mother!",  is a quote from Abraham Lincoln, that I instantly knew needed to be written on these wings.  For this project I used pink cardstock from the Core Essentials Pastels collection as well as Snowflake White Core Essentials.  I must say that Core'dinations is the perfect weight of cardstock to bedazzle with glitter.  The texture of the cardstock creates a perfect surface for holding super chunky glitter like the vintage Diamond Dust glass glitter I've used here. 

 

These wings were die cut using the Cricut Picturesque cartridge.  I distressed the edges of the pink layers a bit before applying the glitter, and the edges of the white layers were inked with a soft gray ink to give them some definition.

 

I only hope these wings of remembrance will serve their purpose and will be well loved in their new homes!

 

Next up is a card that I had so much fun creating... and yess, it is loaded with yummy, gorgeous Core.  I've used Vintage Core, Gemstones, some Core Impressions Basic Grey Ornate collection, David Tutera Celebrate A7 Embossed Floral layers, as well as a smidge of Whitewash and White Smooth texture cardstock... all on one card! 

 

 

I've always loved the look of peacocks!  Their feathers are so majestic.  Sometimes it's all about choosing the perfect Core for a project that you want to be "just right", ya know?!  The Gemstones Core collection with all it's glitz and sheen seems to me to be the ultimate look for creating a design featuring a peacock.  The Gemstones surface even takes well to inks and sprays which is also really cool.  Here I sprayed some gold Perfect Pearls spray from Ranger onto the feathers, giving them an even more intensified color and visual interest.  I used the Cricut Give A Hoot cartridge to cut the body of the peacock from some Whitewash and Basic Grey Ornate Core Impressions for the top layer.  I sanded the embossed texture and then inked the edges of the teal cardstock with a green ink to highlight and add variation.  The feathers were cut using the Sentimentals Cricut cartridge.  For the background layers I used 2 of the floral embossed A7 layers from the David Tutera Celebrate line from Core'dinations.  The magenta piece I used full size, but used the reverse debossed side and layered a dark teal piece on top which was cut down smaller and sanded.  It's always so amazing to me that a project like this card, with the exception of a few embellishments can be created from cardstock only and look SOOO decorative.  I love that about Core'dinations cardstock... no patterned paper neccessary!

 

Here's one more photo of the delicious details... I even dressed it up with some gorgeous May Arts Ribbon! 

 

 

 

 

For my last share, I did some experimenting with Core on a scrapbook page.   See, I've had this nifty little tool to use with my Cricut for some time now, and I finally decided to give it a try. Not sure why I waited so long. It's an Engraving Tip by Chomas Creations and it goes directly into a Cricut machine in place of the Cricut blade holder.  The tip of the engraver is made of a very hard carbide which can engrave, or etch into surfaces such as metal sheets, acrylic, plastic sheets, clear transparencies AND even Core'dinations Cardstock!  The result, is a fabulous, clean etched design onto your cardstock surface.  This tool will NOT cut through your surface, rather "engrave" a fantastic design.  I'll tell you... it works like a dream and I love this tool!  So here is my background that I etched onto a sheet of brown French Roast Core Essentials cardstock with a repeated quadrafoil design.  This design can be found on the Cricut Paper Lace cartridge. 

 

You can see it left a perfect pattern on the surface of the cardstock.  This can now be manipulated, sanded and inked as I have done here on my layout.  I distressed the edges of the piece by sanding a bit more before mounting onto a larger sheet of green cardstock from the Tim Holtz and Ranger Distress collection.  I then replaced the engraving tip with the original Cricut blade and repeated the same pattern on a sheet of green from the Tim Holtz Kraft Core Shattered collection.  I took several of the die cut green quadrafoils and adhered them to the brown cardstock sheet with foam dimensional adhesive directly over the corresponding etched shapes in an alternating pattern. 

 

 

To finish this page I cut out the title using the Cricut Teresa Collin's Sophisticated cartridge, from some brown Shattered cardstock and Smooth textured Kraft.  To add the perfect complimenting details to this cardstock creation, I used a burlap Prima flower, some jute twine, green crinkled May Arts ribbon and a Recollections butterfly button and resist tag.  I really like the results of the engraving technique and I know I will be using this fabulous tool for much, much more.  I think this is easily a tool that any crafter who breathes cardstock would love to have.

 

 

Well I do hope you've enjoyed my little journey of cardstock projects that I've so lovingly shared here with you all!  There is just so much that can be done and accomplished in creating with Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock!  I've loved my time designing with this fabulous brand and I'm sure I've only scratched the surface of what all can be done!