Paper Girls - Using holiday products on non-holiday projects

We've got a fun challenge at The Paper Girls Challenge Blog today for you…. Use your holiday supplies on non-holiday projects! It's really not too difficult to do once you force yourself to look at those holiday paper collections in a new way.

I own a bunch of MME's "Winter Wonderland" paper, stickers, embellies, you name it, so that's what I used for this challenge. The 'B' side of one of the papers has this beautiful polka dot print that just happens to perfectly match my daughter's dress and shoes in these photos. You'll see that I even cut out parts of Christmas phrases like "Happy" and "Joy" to add to the layout:

Now go give the challenge a try! You have until January 4th to link up your entry!

Use It Tuesday - Winter

The new Use It Tuesday challenge is Winter/Holiday. The very first Christmas collection I bought was Bo Bunny's 'Winter Wonderland'. I love the non-traditional colors of purple, turquoise and lime green! I used up all of the paper a long time ago, but I still have some bits and pieces left. So I put these 2 year old rub-ons to work on plain white cardstock to create a nice winter/Christmas card:

I love the simplicity of it! I should do this with all of my leftover rub-ons, what a great way to make one-layer cards!

Use It Tuesday - Anything Goes

Anything Goes on Use It Tuesday today. Just remember to tell us what older items you are using up in your stash! Most of the product on my layout today was acquired in the last 6 months. But I did find some great uses for a couple of old items. That yellow "Today" flair button is 1 year old. Better yet? Those pink and white Authentique word stickers have been in my stash for 2 years! This is the first time I've used any of them on a project, and I'm so glad I did!

A couple of close ups:

Get those projects linked up! Anything Goes - Easy peasy, right?

Pinspired challenge

Check out this fun pin at Pinspired challenges.

It immediately reminded me of a set of American Crafts stickers in my stash, so I made this card:

Quick post today, I just got back from a business trip. Thanks for stopping by!

Paper Girls - Thankful Projects

The new challenge at The Paper Girls Challenge Blog today is to make a Thankful Project!

This year I will not be spending Thanksgiving with my family, so I decided to make them some cards so they can get a little love in the mail!  I was lucky to win an Artful Delight card kit last month, and I really love all of the elements that came in this kit. These cards came together quite effortlessly!

What kind of Thankful Project will you make?

Use It Tuesday - Stick It!

The challenge up at Use It Tuesday is to use something sticky on your project. I have a ton of 12x12 sticker sheets, so I tried to use as many stickers as I could with one sheet. The 6-month old stickers are from Carta Bella "True Friends". They coordinated really well with some Jillibean Soup papers (2 years old).

I think I managed to combine all of the Scrappy Friends' challenges into one layout:

I used this sketch by Brenda Ragsdale to enter into her November blog challenge.

I also completed Kristy B's challenge to use Polka Dots and Chevrons.

And Rochelle Spears' challenge to scrap about Family.

And finally, I'm entering the Scrap Our Stash - Stash #9 challenge to use only 6x6 patterned paper (no 12x12), plus use 6+ of one type of embellishment.

You've got until November 22nd to link up to Use It Tuesday, so get going, let's see how you use the sticky stuff in your stash.

Paper Girls - Cut it out

It's my turn for a challenge at The Paper Girls Challenge Blog today - Cut It Out!  Use a Cricut, Silhouette, die cuts or even fussy cutting on your project.

I decided on this challenge because recently I got a Cricut machine and several cartridges. I could definitely use some inspiration on how to use more cuts on my projects. I look forward to everyone's projects!

Here's my project today, I embossed a couple of white tags and then added flowers and sentiments cute with my Cricut Walk in the Garden cartridge:

**REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION**


Thanks for taking a look!

UWYH #20

The challenge at Sweet Stamp Shop this week is to use your stash of stamps, look at them in a new way and find something unexpected to do with them! (Use What You Have Challenge #20).

I started with the 'Baby Love' set and decided to turn that pocket stamp upside-down!

Now that pocket is a HOUSE, and I used it on a postcard you can send to notify friends and family of your new address:

I used a ruler and pencil to help me stamp in a straight line, then erased the pencil and added washi and enamel dots. Simple, but effective!

Thanks for stopping by, and come join in the weekly challenge!

Carta Bella and a Pretty Profile

I had a few things in mind when creating this layout. I wanted to use masking, misting, and stamping. When I decided to scrap this photo, I wanted to incorporate a rainbow feel, without just painting a rainbow on the page. I'm really happy with how it turned out!

The 'Basic Training' at S.W.A.T. Challenge Blog this month was to use a mask, so I'm linking up over there.

I cut a mask with my Cricut - a square with a grid of circles on it. I misted with 'Sunset' Mister Huey's, moved the mask over 2 more times, misting with 'Clover' and 'Bonny Blue'. These colors coordinated really well with my Carta Bella 'Alphabet Junction' paper and stickers. I also did some stamping in black ink, and then used Heidi Swapp Color Magic letters as part of my title, sprayed with 'Sunset'. A few sequins finish off the page.

Thanks so much for taking a look at my layout today!

Use It Tuesday - Creatures

We've got a new challenge up at Use It Tuesday - Creatures!

I went searching through my stash and found some animal chipboard stickers that haven't been used. I rarely use animal images or stickers in my projects. (well, except for butterflies and ladybugs!) I decided on a chipboard bunny, found some paper to coordinate, and here's my card:

This bunny is about 2 1/2 years old, glad to finally see it on a completed project! Those cork stars are a newer acquisition from my friend Denise. If you love them, let me know, I can get you in contact with her to buy some :)

Alright, your turn to Use It, let's see what you can make with your creature stash!

Paper Girls - Bugs!

Charity's got a fun challenge up at The Paper Girls Challenge Blog today - Use Bugs on a project! So perfect for Halloween if you'd like to use some creepy crawly spiders...

Or... just go with ladybugs, like I did:

All that stamping and fussy cutting was a lot of work, but totally worth it, I just love these ladybugs by Sweet Stamp Shop! Patterned paper is Cosmo Cricket 'Tea for Two'.

Thanks for coming by! You've got almost 2 weeks to link up your projects!

Gelatos, embossing and glitter, oh my!

Another card inspired by a Stamptoberfest challenge at Two Peas in a Bucket!

Using up my Stash again, so this is another Use What You Have Challenge #19 entry.

 My stash this time are these gorgeous gelatos!

I really had no idea how to use gelatos, so I recruited my crafty 3-year old for some help. She did not hesitate to put some color on paper and made this:

How fabulous is that?

Well, the SOF13 challenge I worked on this time was a technique one called "Backgrounds with Wow". First you color the cardstock, then emboss it, then add glitter glue! I then trimmed down my background and made this card:

Can you believe I don't have an embossing machine? I just used a drinking glass to roll and push on the folder, makes a great impression.

Thanks for stopping by!

Single layer card - You're the Bomb!

This week is Stamptoberfest (SOF) on the Two Peas in a Bucket Stamping Forum. Do you like to stamp? If so, come on by, join in the chats or the challenges. I'm hosting a challenge called Keep It Local! There's a prize up for grabs!

I've got a couple of cards to share from the SOF13 celebration. I'll do 2 posts, so look out for the next one in a minute!

Since I used up some of my STASH, I'm entering these in Use What You Have Challenge #19.

Here is my stash. I've got this brand new bottle of Stickles and *shock* uninked Sweet Stamp Shop stamps! This stamp set is so awesome, what was I waiting for?!?

And here's my one layer card. It was originally 4.25" x 5.5" but I ended up cutting it down to 4.25" x 4.25". I really need to do more of these so they are easier to send in the mail. (Especially since the Post Office is so sneaky about their rate changes these days...)

Here's a close-up so you can see the Stickles on the fuse:

Oh man, I'm keeping this stamp set on my desk to make a few more projects before I put it away!

Giveaway Winner!

I've got a winner from my Paper Girls Blog Hop post! Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to hop and comment on my blog!

The winner is:
Nance E Salkeld!!

Nance E Salkeld September 30, 2013 at 1:27 PM

Adorable blocks! At first I thought they were wooden and then before I read on, I thought maybe they were upcycled kleenex boxes (I have saved a few for crafting). This would be great for those small square kleenex boxes.

Nance, please contact me with your mailing address so I can send you your prize!

duffyma_1999 (at) yahoo (dot) com

-Michele

Chevrons and Sequins

I've got a card today that was inspired by the Sweet Stamp Shop UWYH Challenge #18 and CAS-ual Friday CFC116 challenge to use Chevrons and Sequins. Two excellent trends to combine with Sweet Stamps, don't you think?

 

First, here is my stash of sequins:

And here is my card:

 

I used the "Distressed Chevron" background stamp from Sweet Stamp Shop. And then just punched out three circles and put them on a dark blue card base. Super easy, and then the sequins make the card pop.

Thanks for taking a look!

Use It Tuesday - Odds and Ends

We've got a new challenge up at Use It Tuesday - Odds, Ends, Scraps and Pieces!

This type of challenge is always fun. You get to start with the little bits and work your way up, instead of the other way around. I've got this little bowl of odds & ends that I keep on the shelf behind my craft desk. When my project needs a little something different, I pull it out. Well this time I started with the bowl, emptied it onto my desk and found some cute button brads that I've never used before. They were part of a card kit that I purchased about 1 1/2 years ago.

 

I grabbed a 6x6 paper pad with some bright colors and found this MME butterfly paper that I thought worked nicely with the buttons brads in the centers. I just sort of built the card around that. Here it is:

Go find your Odds & Ends, Scraps & Pieces and let them inspire you for your next project! Then link up at Use It Tuesday!

Paper Girls - Sew It On

Time for a new challenge at The Paper Girls Challenge Blog!  Jessica's turn, and her challenge is to Sew It On! (Machine, hand, or faux stitching will all work!)

I don't usually sew on my projects. I don't own a sewing machine, they kind of intimidate me! Well, last weekend I was at the ScrapbookSteals.com 2013 Retreat and one of my scrappy friends loaned me her Amy Tangerine Stitching templates and her embroidery floss so I could create this card:

Those stitching templates were a lot of work, but a lot of fun, glad I could try them out!

OK, it's your turn! Pull out the needle and thread and get sewing!  You have until October 19th to link up your project!

Happy Monday!

The Alley Way Stamps Lemon Squeezy

Happy World Cardmaking Day, everyone!

Turns out my daughter was a little sick today, so we've stayed home and I had a chance to make a couple of cards!

The inspiration for this card is The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) BE-Inspired Challenge #38, and CAS(E) This Sketch #48.

I used the TAWS stamp set "Lemon Squeezy" along with some Lily Bee 6x6 papers to create this simple card:

Hope you find some time to get crafty this weekend!

Don't forget you have until October 6th (that's tomorrow!) to complete the Paper Girls Blog Hop end enter my own Blog Giveaway. Check it out HERE.

Paper Girls Blog Hop and a Giveaway!

We have a fun treat for you this week - a Blog Hop with The Paper Girls!

Our theme for this hop is FALL DECOR!

Make sure you leave a comment on my post for your chance to win the Paper Girls' gift certificate prize, but I'm also offering up some blog candy of my own! (details below!)

You should have come here from Jessica's blog, and if not, check the blog hop order on the Paper Girls Challenge Blog to get back on track!

On to my project...

I don't usually make much in the way of home decor. So I actually did a search for "Fall Decor" on Pinterest to get me thinking about some possible projects. I saw some wooden blocks decorated with leaves, and that reminded me of some Adorn-It paper boxes I had in my stash. These boxes measure 3"x3"x3" and were so easy to dress up with some paper and embellies. Take a look:

The other sides have some embellies and family photos on them, so the boxes can be flipped and rearranged to get some different looks:

I love how they turned out, so then I had to find a good spot for them in my home, and this prompted me to buy some other fall pieces, so this is what it all looks like right now:

I love fall, don't you?
 
Thanks for stopping by, don't forget to comment, and then your next stop is Cathryn's blog!

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***Blog Hop Prize Entry Details***

PGCB is offering up a gift card to ScrapbookPal.com!

What do you have to do to win? 

Complete all 3 of these required steps:

1. Comment on each of the Design Team blog posts

2. "Like" the Paper Girls Challenge on Facebook

3. Follow the Paper Girls Challenge Blog

You have until Sunday, October 6, 2013 at 11:59 pm MST to comment and enter. We will announce the winner on Wednesday October 9, 2013 at 9:00 am MST. International readers are welcome to play along, but currently we are only shipping prize packs to the US and Canada due to shipping costs

***EXTRA GIVEAWAY ALERT***
I am also offering up the following prize pack to anyone commenting on this blog post by Sunday, October 6th. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, October 9th, same day as the Paper Girls, so check back then to claim your prize! Be sure to follow my blog so you'll easily see when I make the winner announcement!

Jenni Bowlin 4" Chipboard Mini Book and 4"x4" mini papers

Jenni Bowlin Seal acrylic stamp

2 packs of Tiny Type mini alphabet stickers

Pack of coordinating embellies - buttons, brads, bottle cap, mini clothespins