Little Red Wagon and Daring Cardmakers Challenges

Just a quick post to share another project with you.  Hubby and I are taking our new 'toys' a couple of hours away for a nice paddle!  We recently purchased two inflatable kayaks, and this will be our second time to give them a try.  Wish us luck!

This project is for two challenges:

• Little Red Wagon's (LRW) challenge to add glitter to your project, and
• Daring Card Makers (DCM) challenge to make an apologetic card - saying you are sorry! 

Here is my card based on these two challenges . . .

And here are all of the details . . .

Product Info:

• 
  
  Base card stock is from Die Cuts With a View 'Citrus' card stock stack
• 
  
  Base patterned paper is My Minds Eye - Ooh La La 'Between the Lines'
• 
  
  Papers used in flower are My Minds Eye Ooh La La 'Between the Lines' and 'Shabby Chic'
• 
  
  Plaid paper is My Minds Eye Ooh La La 'Get in Line' paper
• 
  
  Green 'pearls' are from Prima e. Line
• 
  
  Stickles 'platinum'
• 
  
  Buttons and cotton twine are from my stash

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

• Card base was cut on Cricut Expression using Walk in My Garden cartridge card 2 set at 5"
• Patterned paper was cut on Cricut Expression using Walk in My Garden cartridge card1 set at 4 3/4"
• Sentiment was printed on white card stock, then cut on Cricut Expression using Songbird cartridge, Frame3 set at 1 3/4"
• Patterned paper frame was cut on Cricut Expression using Songbird cartridge, Frame3 set at 2 1/2"
• Paper flower was made according to Julie's instructions on Cosmo Cricket's video (see video below), cut using Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Circles Scalloped Small in two different sizes.

Here is the video tutorial on how to make the paper flower . . .





Wasn't that great?  There are many great tutorials out there just for the using!  I hope you have enjoyed my card today!  Come back soon to see what's going on at Camellia Cottage!  Blessings, Becky

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Unscripted Sketches Challenge # 74

I can't tell you how much fun it has been these last few weeks of being on the Design Team over at Unscripted Sketches.  Part of the fun is getting to know the other DT members and their particular styles, and it amazes me how so many people can take one sketch and turn out so many different takes on that ONE sketch!  Another fun part of being on the DT is visiting the blogs of all the folks who enter their cards in hopes of making the top 3!  But I am here today to share the very MOST FUN part of being on the DT at Unscripted Sketches, and that is making cards! 

Here is the sketch for this week . . .

And here is my take on the sketch (note how I turned the sketch clockwise 1/4 turn for my card?) . . .

And here are all of the details . . .

Products:

• Card stock is Die Cuts With a View, except gold card stock on sentiment, and it's been in my stash so long I don't know where it came from - yikes!
• Patterned papers are all from Cosmo Cricket, Togetherness line.  The birds are 'Birds of a Feather', The ledger paper is from 'Making Plans', and the pinwheels are from (oddly enough) 'Pinwheels'!
• The gems are from Prima e. Line
• Stickles 'diamond' was added to the pinwheels for a little shine
• The sentiment was stamped using a Brenda Walton sentiment set from Inkadinkadoo, using brown ink

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

• The card base was cut using the Cricut Expression, Walk in My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• The 'birds of a feather' paper was cut using the Cricut Expression, Walk in My Garden cartridge, card1 set at 5"
• The frame for the sentiment was cut using the Cricut Expression, Songbird cartridge, frame1-s set at 2 1/2", and teal shadow was cut on the same, using the shadow feature.

Have you made your card for the sketch this week?  If not, I suggest you get busy 'cause I can't wait to come visit YOUR blog and leave a comment on your card!  Have a great weekend!  Becky



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Scrapbook Trends Challenge and CPS #185 Sketch Challenge

Here in the northern part of Georgia (yes, I know - and most everywhere else, too) we have had a very hot and dry summer.  And everyone I talk to seems to confirm the one overwhelming theme that is going around these days . . . "I am SO ready for fall"!  The fall season actually started a couple of days ago, but you would never know it by the 90+ temps that won't go away!  Anyway, I am among that group - I am so ready for cooler temps and maybe a little more rain.   And it seems that I started on halloween, Thanksgiving and fall cards earlier than ever this year - probably because I'm so ready for those crisp fall days and colorful leaves, pumpkins and such! With that being said, let me share with you my latest card!

The theme over at CREATE, the Scrapbook Trends card blog was to make a card showcasing leaves.  And then I found this week's sketch over at CPS (Card Positioning Systems) and knew I could work those two together for one card.  Here is the CPS sketch . . .

And here is my take on both challenges . . .

And here are all of the details . . .

Product Info:

• Base card stock is Bazzill, matting for image are just bits from my scrap drawer
• Patterned paper is from Jillibean Soup, Pasta Fagioli line - the striped is 'romano cheese', and the flowered is 'clove fresh garlic'
• The image is from clip art software
• The felt leaves were part of a Blog Candy package I won about 2 years ago.  They were loose in the package, so I have no idea who made them.  They had adhesive on the back already.
• Stickles 'platinum' on some of the leaves

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

• Base of card was cut on Cricut Expression using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• Striped paper was cut on Cricut Expression using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card1 set at 5"
• Flowered paper's scalloped edges were cut using Carl PRT-100 rotary cutter with scallop blade.

And that is it!  A very simple card, and I love how well the last few felt leaves that I had matched that Jillibean Soup paper!  Tomorrow is Sketch It Saturday over at Unscripted Sketches, so please come back and see what our sketch is for this week, and the project I came up with for that sketch.  Blessings folks!  Becky



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EBTKS and Cute Card Thursday Card Challenges

Why is it that the simplest sketches are sometimes the hardest ones from which to make a card?  That was the case with this sketch from Everything But The Kitchen Sink's Challenge #23 . . .

It's a very simple sketch, but it sort of threw me for a loop.  Then I found the Cute Card Thursday challenge # 130 to make a card with a bird or a butterfly, and I knew what belonged where that straight line is!  Oh, and I turned the card 1/4 turn clockwise as well.  Here is my take on the sketch and the challenge from CCT . . . 

And here are all the details . . . 

Product Info:

• 
  
  Base card stock is Die Cuts With a View
• 
  
  Patterned papers are both from Pink Paislee's 365 degrees collection - the stripes are 'be free', and the pretty orange patterned paper is 'daydream'
• 
  
  Ribbon is from Hobby Lobby - their brand
• 
  
  Bling on butterfly body is from Prima e. Line with Stickles 'platinum' underneath
• 
  
  Butterfly's antennae are quilters pins and seed beads from my stash, look for more info in Tips, Tools and Techniques

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

• 
  
  Cuts made using Cricut Expression
• 
  
  Card base cut using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• 
  
  Striped paper cut using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card1 set at 5"
• 
  
  Butterflies cut using Serenade cartridge, Butterfly3 set at 1 3/4" and 2"
• 
  
  Butterfly antennae are made from quilters pins that I inked with red ink, dipped in Ranger 'Queen's Gold' embossing powder and then heat set with a heat gun, then inked again with red ink, dipped in Ranger 'Enchanted Gold' embossing powder and heat set with a heat gun.  Then I added three coordinating seed beads to each pin, gluing with FabriTac glue.  The two butterflies are separated with a scrap from a sheet of foam dots, and the pins are pushed down into the foam.

This is a very simple but elegant card that could be used for many occasions.  Birthday, sympathy, encouragement, thank you, or just about any occasion you could imagine.  When I am doing shows, it seems people like this kind of card just to keep on hand, and I like making them, too!  The pretty fall colors are very appropriate for this time of year also. 

Come back soon to see what is going on at Camellia Cottage!  Blessings, Becky

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Easy Craft Projects Challenge #21 - Home

I loved this challenge because we just got home from 9 days away from "home" yesterday and, while I had a great time, it was so good to get back home again!  The challenge is hosted by Easy Craft Projects, and the theme is to make a project with the theme of 'home'.  Here is my take on that challenge . . .

And here are the details . . .

Products:

• Card stock is Die Cuts With a View
• Patterned paper is Echo Park, Life is Good 'The Neighborhood'
• Gems on sentiment are Prima e. Line
• Gems on flowers on gate are K & Company

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

• Card base was cut on Cricut Expression using the Walk in My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• Frame shapes for sentiment were cut on Cricut Expression using the Songbird cartridge, frame1-s set at 2 1/4" and the green background was cut using shadow feature, frame1-s set at 2 1/4".  {Note:  I printed the sentiment on my home printer, and cut the frame on the Cricut using the 'center point' feature.  You simply click on the 'center point' button then using the arrow keys around the 'cut' button, move the blade housing to the center of the space you want cut, and then press cut.  It may take a few times to get your spacing just right, but once you do - it's very easy!}
• The garden gate was cut on Cricut Expression using Freshly Picked cartridge, gate set at 2 1/4".  The green vine and flowers were cut using the layers and layers2/Shadow features.  The grass at the gate posts were cut using flwer6-s set at 1 1/4".
• The gate was cut from brown card stock, then inked with brown ink and heat embossed using Ranger 'copper' embossing powder.
• For gluing the tiny pieces of the gate and plants, I used the Zig Memory System '2 Way Glue' chisel tip glue pen

I sure hope you have enjoyed visiting my 'home' today!  Come back soon to see what is going on at Camellia Cottage!  Blessings, Becky



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Unscripted Sketches Challenge # 73

Hello everyone!  Thanks for visiting this very special day!  It's my first week as a member of the Unscripted Sketches Design Team!!!  I am unbelievably excited and grateful to be given this opportunity, and hope I do the other DT members proud.  As usual there is a sketch challenge, but this week there is also a 'piggyback' challenge to use only one color!  Black and white are neutrals, so the card needs to be black and white plus one color, and I chose pink.  Here is the sketch for this week . . .

And here is my card based on the sketch . . .

Product Info:

• Pink patterned paper is Bo Bunny, Alissa line 'Alissa Kissable'
• Black and white polka-dotted paper is Websters Pages, Life's Portrait 'Reflections'
• Small pearls and gems are from Prima e. Line
• Large gem, fabric and lace for flower,and stick pin are from my stash

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

• White tag was cut from a scrap of white card stock on my Cricut Expression, Tags, Bags, Boxes & More cartridge using scltop-h set at 2 1/4".  The sentiment was stamped using an Inkadinkadoo Brenda Walton stamp with black ink, and heat embossed using Ranger black embossing powder.
• The flower was made using a circle of felt as the base, and an approximately 1 1/2" strip of torn fabric.  Using FabriTac glue, you start at the center and twist and turn the fabric, gluing along the way.  When you are finished you tuck the end underneath the felt and glue it.  Then I gathered a bit of lace with needle and thread and glued it to the bottom of the felt.
• For the stickpin, I used a green quilters pin and inked it with black ink and heat set it with a heat gun.  Then I inked it again with black ink and dipped it into black embossing powder and embossed it with my heat gun.  Once it had cooled, I added a clear heart bead and a jet black bead, which I glued to the pin shaft.  I used this to pin the sentiment tag to the flower.

I really hope you find inspiration from my take on this week's sketch.  It was a lot of fun to make, made even more so because of it being my first card as a member of the Unscripted Sketches Design Team. 

Blessings!  Becky


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First Week and Already Playing Hookie!

If you are here from the Unscripted Sketches blog - WELCOME!!!  And you are right, I didn't do a card for this week!  That's because I am writing this from our campsite at a campground in the beautiful mountains of northern Georgia!  And when we go camping, I do almost EVERYTHING to get us ready to go, and if you ask my hubby, he will tell you that when we go on a trip all he does is pack his clothes and back the truck up to the camper.  And that's about it!  So no card for this week's challenge, but I do have a card already submitted for next week's sketch challenge, so you'll see my card then, and I hope you like it!

Until then, feel free to scroll through my past cards and challenges, and I'd love to hear from you, or in other words, comments are dearly loved!  Blessings friends!  Becky

A Dream Come True!

Did you see it???  That new logo over there to the left?   The one that has a header of  "I Design For . . . "?  Yeah, that one!  It's official!  For a couple of years now I have had the goal of becoming a design team member for a card making challenge blog or some other card making 'enterprise'.  Any number of applications later, and I have finally been chosen to be a member of the design team for . . .

Unscripted Sketches

Unscripted Sketches is a sketch challenge blog that issues a new sketch each Saturday that many people will turn into a greeting card based on their own individual take on the sketch.  My responsibilities will be to make a card based on each sketch and any 'bonus' challenges, and visit the blogs of card makers who enter their cards in the challenge and leave them encouraging comments about their cards.  

This is not a paid job, but it is my dream job!  I'll now be doing what I love doing, all while being a member of a team of lovely ladies who share my passion for creating our own little pieces of art, and encouraging other folks in their own artistic efforts.   Doesn't that sound like a dream to you?

In upcoming weeks I'll be getting to know the other team members, and learning all the ropes of the Unscripted Sketches organization.  I hope to have my first card for the challenge on September 18th, so be sure and check back often!  Life is so funny, and God is so good!  I felt so good when I was preparing my application for this team, and every other time I have been so nervous and felt I wouldn't make that team.

I feel so blessed to be given this opportunity, and look forward to carrying out my duties with joy and a new level of creativity.  Thanks for visiting today!  Be back soon, Becky

Card Patterns Sketch # 80

As I said in the last post, on Friday I went to my LSS and shopped a bit for some new patterned papers.  One of the pieces I picked up was from a fairly new company that I had heard about from Tim Holtz' blog, and then began following Margie's blog.  The company is The Girls' Paperie by Margie, and this was the first time I had found any of her paper out at a store, so you KNOW I had to have me some!  I immediately was drawn to the great colors and patterns of the Vintage Travel line, and 'on holiday' in particular.  The front is a very cool ledger type sheet that is mostly aqua and a light red, but it's distressed and aged a bit and is just gorgeous!  But the back side has that 'retro' feel that I dearly love, so that is what I used for this project.

And this project is for the Card Patterns Sketch # 80!  Here is the sketch . . .

And here is my take on the sketch . . .

Product Info:

• Card base is Die Cuts With a View card stock
• Patterned paper is The Girls Paperie, Vintage Travel 'on holiday'
• Image and sentiments are from Crafty Secrets, Creative Scraps by Heartwarming Vintage 'Girlfriends'
• Stickles 'diamond'
• Vintage buttons and ribbon are from my stash

 Tips, Tools and Techniques:

• Card base was cut on Cricut Expression using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• Red vintage buttons are threaded with green bakers twine
• Stickles used on dots on the patterned paper for a bit of bling

I love this card!  Really, I do!  It's that vintagey 50's-ish bright colors and funny image that just makes me so happy!  And I hope you love it, too!  Hope to be back soon!  Blessings, Becky

Unscripted Sketches # 71

Happy Labor Day to everyone in the US!!!  It's a very beautiful, almost chilly morning here in northern Georgia, and after the incredibly hot summer we have had, it is a welcome change.

This past Friday, in anticipation of having some cardmaking time this weekend, I visited my local scrapbooking store (aka LSS) looking for some new patterned papers.  While browsing the store's shelves I happened upon this gorgeous piece of paper from Crate Paper's 'Restoration Collection' called "slipcover", and instantly fell in love!  Now - this isn't my usual style of paper, but I loved the flowers, the texture, the colors and the overall 'organic' feel of the design, and although it's not my usual style, I brought home one piece of it anyway.

Then the very next day I checked on my list of challenge blogs and found this sketch from Unscripted Sketches and went straight to work, using the new paper, of course!

And here is my take on their sketch . . .

Product Info:

• Cardstock is from Die Cuts With a View
• Patterned Paper is Crate Paper, Restoration Collection "slipcover", mat for sentiment is the reverse side
• Crinkled seam binding is from Bluebird Lane Etsy store
• Button from my stash
• Stickles 'Diamond'

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

• Card base cut on Cricut Expression using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• Patterned paper cut on Cricut Expression using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card1 set at 5"
• Sentiment printed on ivory cardstock on ink jet printer.
• Sentiment and matting cut on Cuttlebug using Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Squares Small
• Brown ink was used to ink edges of card and around edges of sentiment
• Stickles was used on flower parts to add a bit of bling

I loved this paper, although it wasn't my usual style, and this card isn't my usual style either, but I have to say I love it!  The seam binding from Bluebird Lane matched the colors perfectly, and the Stickles gives it just a bit of glimmer so it isn't totally a flat look. 

Thank you so much for joining me today, and be sure to come back soon, because I have a card coming up for the CPS challenge that is totally my kind of card!.  Blessings, Becky

Cards of 'note' . . .

Hi There!  I just have a couple of cards to share with you today - no challenges or sketches, just playing around cards!  The first one is another halloween card . . .

Product Info:

• Base patterned paper is an old scrap from what I think is a very old Sassafrass Lass, but the label is long gone!
• Floral paper and card stock is from a very old 3Birds kit
• Image is from a clip art software
• Stickles 'Diamond'
• Lace and ric-rack from my stash

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

• Floral frame cut on Cricut Expression using Songbird cartridge Frame 2 set at 4" and orange mat is Frame 2 set at 4" using shadow feature
• I added a tiny bit of stickles to the little boy's suspenders and hat band and the jack o lanterns faces

And next up is 'Sing', and I love this simple little card . . .

Product Info:

• Card stock is Die Cuts With a View
• Patterned paper is My Minds Eye, Alphabet Soup Girl "Sweet Song"
• Cocoa crinkled seam binding is from Bluebird Lane Etsy shop
• Pearl is from Prima e Line
• Stickles 'diamond'
• Button and twine from my stash

Tips, Tools, Techniques:

• Card base was cut using Cricut Expression, Walk in My Garden cartridge, Card2 set at 5"
• Frame was cut using Cricut Expression, Songbird cartridge, Frame1-s set at 4 1/2", mat was cut set at 4 1/2" using shadow feature
• 'Sing with bird' was cut using Cricut Expression, Songbird cartridge, sing using bird feature set at 2 1/4"

I love that MME paper, and I loved using the contrasting colors of orange and turquoise!  I tried and tried to come up with some ribbon in one of the other colors in the music notes, but none of them worked, so when I paid attention and realized the staff lines were cocoa, the seam binding was just perfect.

I hope all of you in the US are having a nice, relaxing Labor Day Weekend!  Blessings, Becky

Double Duty - One Card, Two Challenges!

Hi Folks!  I just wanted to share one card with you today that worked out for two challenges! 

The Daring Card Makers 'dare' for this week is to make a card using the theme of Sapphire because that is the birthstone for September. 

Tuesday Taggers challenge this week was to use a house on your project, and if you'll look closely, there's an English cottage type house on the lampshade in the image.  And the sponsor for this week's TT challenge is The Craft Barn, a wonderful craft store in the UK.

Here is my card based on the challenges . . .

Product Info:

• Base card stock is Die Cuts With a View
• Patterned paper is Pink Paislee, 365 Degrees collection 'Daydream'
• Blue pearls are Prima e Line
• Gold pearl and ribbon are from my stash
• Flowers are Prima
• Stickles 'diamond'
• Image is from clip art software

Tips, Tools, Techniques:

• Base of card cut using Cricut Expression, Walk in My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• Frame behind image cut using Cricut Expression, Songbird, Frame3 set at 4"

I love this card!  The colors, the vintage image - everything!  I hope you've enjoyed stopping by and visiting, come back soon, please!  Blessings, Becky

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 128 - Material Girl!

So, when I read the challenge for this week over on Cute Card Thursday I knew exactly what I wanted to do!  I had been practicing these sweet rosebuds made from torn fabric, and I thought they would be so precious on a card!  Here is my take on the challenge . . .

Product Info:

• Card stock is Bazzill
• Patterned paper is My Minds Eye, Ooh La La "Happy Days" paper
• Image from clip art software
• Fabric and felt from my stash
• Stickles 'Diamond'

Tips, Tools, Techniques:

• Card base cut using Cricut Expression, Walk in My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• Orange fame cut using Songbird cartridge, Frame3 set at 4", orange mat cut at 4" using shadow feature
• White sentiment tag was printed on ink jet printer, then cut on Cricut using Songbird cartridge, Fame2-s using 'Center Point' feature
• Fabric roses are hand made and felt leaf was cut freehand

And that's all there was to it!  I just love it when a card comes together just the way you want it to do!  Come back again soon and see what I'm up to in my studio here at Camellia Cottage.  Blessings, Becky

Unscripted Sketches #70

As I told you the other day, playing with paper and stuff, making pretty cards from bits and pieces of things, makes me happy!  It just does!  Even when I'm making a card for a less than happy occasion!  I was taking inventory of the cards I have made and realized I had precious few cards for occasions that aren't happy.  You know, sympathy, praying for you, etc.  So I used this week's Unscripted Sketches sketch for this week and made it into a card that could cover a variety of 'less than happy' occasions.  Here is the sketch . . .

And here is my take on the sketch.  As you can see, I moved the image from bottom to top and dropped the sentiment down a bit, just to make everything fit. . .

 

Product Info:

• All card stock is Die Cuts With a View
• Patterned paper is Prima Marketing Flights of Fancy Collection "blooming happiness", reverse side
• Gems are Prima e Line
• Image is from clip art software
• Stickles 'diamond'

Tips, Tools, Techniques:

• Base of card cut on Cricut using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• Patterned paper cut on Cricut using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card1 set at 5"
• Frame cut on Cricut using Songbird cartridge, Frame2-s set at 2 1/4" and matted using same cut set at 2 1/4" using shadow feature
• Sentiment printed on ink jet printer using white cardstock, centered on Cricut using 'Center Point' feature

This lovely hydrangea image is one of my favorite, and I've used it on everything from cards to altered notebooks.  It fits so many different occasions!  I hope you have enjoyed your visit, and please come back soon to see what is going on at Camellia Cottage.  Blessings to you!  Becky