The Kraft Journal 'Memorial Day' Challenge

Back again!  This time for another challenge for yet another new (to me) challenge blog!  This one is for The Kraft Journal, the blog for The Kraft Outlet, a company that specializes in specialty papers, including kraft cardstock and other kraft items.  Here is my project based on their challenge . . .

And here are all of the details . . .

The Blueprint:  Create a card with the theme of 'Memorial Day' using kraft cardstock.

The Supply List:

• Kraft cardstock is from The Paper Studio
• Star patterned paper is an old line called Papa from Fancy Pants Designs, the paper is 'Brave'
• Music paper is from The Paper Studio.  I wet it, crumpled it, dried it in the microwave, burned the edges and then inked the creases to give it a look of age
• Paper Doily is by Wilton and from Hobby Lobby
• Red rosette paper is from K & Company's 'cut n paste' stack
• Brown ink pad from Stampabilities
• Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist 'iridescent gold'
• Image was found on Flickr and printed using Picasa software and my ink jet printer
• Lace and ribbon are from my stash.  Months ago I coffee stained them to use in another project and never finished it, so these were perfect for this project!
• Vintage button is from my stash

The Tools:

• Cricut Expression and A Child's Year cartridge to cut card base
• Scissors, craft knife and ruler
• Carl PRT-100 rotary cutter with the 'squiggles' blade
• sewing machine to gather lace

Tips and Techniques:

• For the doily, I inked it with brown ink, sprayed it with glimmer mist and then rolled up some of the edges on a pencil to give it a distressed look.
• For the lace flower, I stitched a basting stitch along one edge and then pulled it to gather it, curved it into a circle and glued it into the round shape.

The image reads "Nor shall their story be forgot while Fame her record keeps.  I think it's beautiful, because I hope their stories are not forgotten!  I also made a very simple coordinating tag to go along with the card . . . 

To make it, I inked the edges of a #5 manila tag (2 3/8" x 4 3/4") with brown ink, cut the boy with flags and flowers from the image and glued it to the tag, and added the sticker sentiment from SRM Stickers to the bottom.  A bit of red white and blue ribbon finishes it off.  

I hope you've enjoyed this card!  I really appreciate you stopping by today, and would love to hear from you.  Thanks for visiting, Becky

Our Creative Corner Challenge 'Beautiful Baby'

Hello!  I hope all of my friends in the USA are having a wonderful Memorial Day!  For those of you outside the US, Memorial Day is an annual holiday when we honor and remember those who have served in our armed forces in the past and present, living and deceased.  It is a day when I find myself most humbled and grateful for the sacrifices of the multitude of men and women, and their families and loved ones, who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.  If you are among that number, Thank You!

Now, on to the reason for this post!  I am always looking for new challenges, and one I recently came upon is Our Creative Corner.  This week's challenge is to make a 'Beautiful Baby' card, and here is my take on their challenge . . .

And here are all the details . . .

The Blueprint:  Create a card using the theme of 'Beautiful Baby'.  Card must include kraft card stock, 'trim' (includes lace, ribbon, crochet, etc.), and at least one button.

The Supply List:

• Base card stock is from Die Cuts With a View (DCWV)
• Patterned paper is from Prima Marketing ~ Sweet Fairy Collection 'Wind Chimes'
• Flowers and gems from Prima Marketing
• Sentiment is from SRM Stickers #51002 Baby
• Kraft card stock is from The Paper Studio
• Vintage button, ribbon, twill tape and lace are from my stash
• Image found on Flickr, edited with Picasa software and printed on ink jet printer

The Tools:

• Cricut Expression and Walk In My Garden cartridge
• Cuttlebug and Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Labels 4' dies
• Scissors, craft knife and ruler

Tips:

• Use a ruler or other straight edge to 'scrape' the sentiment sticker to get a clean application and get out any air bubbles.
• Use the blade of a craft knife to lift gems and pearls off the film it is on, and then easily place it where you want it.

I also made a coordinating gift tag to go with this card . . . 

I made this using a #5 (2 3/8" x 4 3/4") manila tag and all the same supplies as above.  I cut the bird and bear out of a second image and placed them on the tag for more dimension.

Thanks so much for visiting today!  Blessings, Becky

Sugar Creek Hollow Challenge - Shaped Cards

I am always on the lookout for new card making challenges, and I just found a very nice one today.  It's called Sugar Creek Hollow, and they specialize in Vintage, Shabby and Primitive styles of cards.   This week their challenge is to make a shaped card (other than rectangle or square) in one of those styles.  Here is my card based on their challenge . . .

And here are the details . . .

Supply List:

• Cardstock is from Die Cuts With a View
• Patterned paper is from the K&Company 'cut n paste' stack (I LOVE this stack!)
• Image found online and printed after saving to my file and editing in Picasa
• Sentiment is from SRM Stickers - #51005 Thank You
• Stickles 'crystal' and 'platinum'
• Ribbon and lace from my stash 

The Tools:

• Cricut Expression and A Child's Year cartridge
• Scissors and craft knife
• Computer and ink jet printer

The Tips:

• Images can be found in many places, and one of my favorites is on Flickr.  You can save many of the files (some people don't allow saving their images) to your photos and then print them in various sizes.  This one was printed using Picasa software, set at 'wallet' and 'shrink to fit'.

Note:  When I saw this challenge, I remembered a sketch on Card Patterns a few weeks ago.  I didn't have a chance to get a card made for their challenge, but used their sketch for this card, so 'Thanks, Card Patterns'!!!

I hope you enjoyed this card, and I hope you will be back soon!  Thanks for visiting!  Becky

CPS #220 and Daring Cardmakers 'Fashion' Challenges

Hello there!  I hope you are having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!  We are just being lazy and enjoying being at home.  And of course my favorite room in our house is my studio, and that's where you'll find me today!

I am submitting this card for two challenges, both the Daring Cardmakers 'Fashion' challenge, and Card Positioning Systems (CPS) Sketch #220.  Also, Daring Cardmakers is giving away a great prize from their new sponsor, Imagine That, so please check out their site as well!  Here is my card for both challenges . . .

And here are the details . . .

The Blueprints:

• Daring Cardmakers 'Passion for Fashion' Challenge
• Card Positioning Systems Sketch #220

The Supply List:

• Cardstock is from The Paper Studio
• Patterned paper is from Lily Bee Design Domestic Bliss 'pearls & heels' and 'french knot'
• Stickles 'stardust'
• Sentiment from SRM Stickers - Express Yourself #42038 Everyday Life
• Ribbon and Button are from my stash

The Tools:

• Cricut Expression and A Child's Year cartridge (card base)
• Cuttlebug and Spellbinders Nestabilities Scalloped Circles Small
• Carl PRT-100 rotary cutter
• EK Success corner rounding punch - small
• Scissors, craft knife

The Tips:

• To make the flower, cut a couple of scalloped circles using the two smallest dies from the Spellbinders scalloped circles set.  Dip into warm water for just a second and crumple up into a ball.  Carefully un-crumple and place open on paper towels.  Microwave for 30 to 40 seconds, until dry.  Glue together at centers and add button.
• When cutting images, or 'fussy cutting' remember to move the paper and not the scissors!  If you have delicate angles, cut beyond the angle and go back at a different angle.  This keeps your angles clean and crisp.
• Because some parts of the image were so small, I used bits of scrap cardboard, glued to the back, instead of foam dots.  It worked quite well!

I will admit that this isn't my usual style of card, but I think it came out pretty well.  These are the first Lily Bee papers I've used, and they really are great!  Thanks for visiting today, and I hope to see you back soon!  Blessings, Becky

Card Patterns #117 and Alphabet Challenge D is for Dogs

First let me say that if you are looking for my card for this week's Unscripted Sketches sketch, please click HERE!

I've been loving today, spending most of my time in my studio working on cards for challenges that I don't always have the time to do!  This card is for two challenges . . . Card Patterns Sketch #117 and Alphabet Challenge ~ D is for Dogs.  Here is my project for these two challenges . . .

And here are the details . . . 

The Blueprint:

• Alphabet Challenge 'D is for Dogs'
• Card Patterns Sketch #117 (below)

The Supply List:

• Cardstock ~ The Paper Studio
• Patterned Paper ~ The Girls' Paperie 'Vintage Patchwork'
• Image is from vintage greeting card found online
• Sentiment - SRM Stickers # 51006 Thinking of You
• Ribbon from my stash

The Tools:

• Cricut Expression and Walk in My Garden cartridge
• Cuttlebug and Classic Circles Small and Scalloped Circles Small dies by Spellbinders Nestabilities
• Fiskars Apron Lace border Punch
• Computer and ink jet printer
• Scissors, pinking shears, craft knife
• EK Success corner rounding punch - small

The Tips:

• Cut ends of grosgrain ribbon with pinking shears to prevent raveling
• Raise the scalloped circle up off the card using foam dots for dimension
• Cut card2 at 5" and card1@ 4 3/4", then round corners for emphasis

I think this little sad or scared puppy is so cute!  There are so many places online where you can find images of vintage greeting cards or book pages.  I save the image to my photos as a jpeg file and then using Picasa 3 you can adjust the color, print various sizes, and even add text if you want before printing.  Check on Flickr by searching for 'vintage greeting cards' or if you are looking for a specific artist, search for their name.  You'll be amazed at how many images you will find!

Thanks for visiting . . . can't believe this is my third post for the day!  Come back soon, and blessings, Becky

It's Your Day To Shine! CPS #219

Hello there!  Just a quick post to share a card with you that I made for this week's CPS (Card Positioning Systems) Sketch #119.  I'd been looking at that sketch all week long and . . . . . nothing!  Then this morning I looked at it and had an idea, so I searched my images and found just the perfect one.  Here is my take on this week's sketch . . .

I'm not going to do the whole tutorial for this one, but here are the basic details . . .

The Blueprint:

The Supply List:

• Base card stock from The Paper Studio
• Patterned paper is Lily Bee Designs ~ Hello Sunshine 'twirl'
• Mabel Lucie Atwell image is from a collage sheet I bought from Phenomenon1859 Etsy Shop
• Sentiment is from SRM Stickers #51006 Thinking of You
• Stickles 'diamond'
• Lace, ric-rack, ribbon and buttons are from my stash

The Tools:

• Cricut Expression and Walk In My Garden cartridge
• Scissors and craft knife
• Computer and ink jet printer
• Carl PRT-100 rotary cutter

Tips:

• Printed image using Picasa software, set at 'shrink to fit' wallet size
• Trimmed image and bumped up on foam dots for dimension

I hope you like my little card, I love the bright colors of the Lily Bee papers, too.  Thanks for visiting, and I hope you will come back soon!  Blessings folks!  Becky

Unscripted Sketches # 108 - Congrats!

For some reason, this week's sketch over at Unscripted Sketches really stumped me!  I made a card (that I will share with you at a later date), but it was only vaguely like the sketch, but at the time, it would have to do.  Until, that is, I saw this week's challenge over at Little Red Wagon to have numbers on your card, and somehow it all just made sense!  Here is my card for this week's challenges . . .

As you can see, I once again used a vintage image I found online, and my very fave of the moment, Echo Park 'For the Record' papers.  Here are all of the details . . .

The Blueprints:

• Unscripted Sketches Sketch # 108 (above)
• Little Red Wagon, make a card showcasing a number or numbers

The Supply List:

• Cardstock from The Paper Studio
• Patterned Paper is from Echo Park, For the Record line:  'Fancy Floral', 'Stamp of Approval', 'Advertisement', and 'Newsprint'
• Sticker sentiment from SRM Press - #51013 Congratulations
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• Beacon 3 in 1 Advanced Craft Glue
• Image from clipart found online, edited in Picasa and printed on ink jet printer 

The Tools:

• Cricut Expression and Walk In My Garden and A Child's Year cartridges
• Carl PRT-100 rotary cutter
• Scissors, craft knife and ruler
• Computer and ink jet printer

The Construction:

• Using Cricut Expression and A Child's Year cartridge, 'font' feature, cut numbers 2011 from black cardstock.  Remove from cutting mat, place on scrap piece of paper and coat well with Glossy Accents.  Set aside to dry.  Once it is dry, apply one more coat of glossy accents, set aside to dry.
• Using Cricut Expression and Walk In My Garden cartridge, cut base of card using card2 set at 5".  Next cut the floral paper using card1 set at 5", glue to card base.
• Trim image to size, adhere to piece of red 'Stamp of Approval' paper, and cut triangle to fit corner of card (approx. 4 1/2" x 3" x 3").  Glue to corner of card.
• Cut rectangles from black polka dotted and newsprint papers (approx. 2" x 3") and glue to card.
• Place image on foam dots and apply to center of card.
• Apply sticker sentiment to top right of card.
• When totally dry, glue numbers to top right hand corner of card.

I think the For the Record papers work perfectly with this vintage image!  The only thing I did differently from the sketch was putting the two horizontal rectangles to the back so I could bring the image to the forefront.

Thanks so much for visiting!  Please leave a comment and let you know what you think about my card, and please answer the survey on my right hand sidebar!  Blessings folks!  Becky

Papercraft Star Challenge # 47

Do you ever see a sketch or challenge and immediately know what you want to do with it?  That's what happened to me with this week's sketch over at Papercraft Star.   It's been a few weeks since I've been able to take part in their challenge, but this week when I saw the sketch, it spoke to me!  And do you know what it said?  Well, it said "Hey!  What about that new patriotic paper you just bought last weekend!"  Isn't that just amazing???

LOL!  Well, the sketch didn't really speak to me, but when I saw it I did know that it was made for the patriotic paper.  And after all, it IS Memorial Day weekend, and the Fourth of July isn't far behind, so I knew it was meant to be!.  Here is my project based on this week's sketch . . .

And here are all of the details . . .

The Blueprint:

The Supply List:

• Card 'blank' is from Hobby Lobby
• Patterned papers are from We R. Memory Keepers ~ Yankee Doodles 'Star Doodle' and 'Flag Doodle'
• Red and blue card stock are from The Paper Studio
• White crepe paper streamer is from Hobby Lobby
• Sticker Sentiment is from SRM Press # 51003 Happy Birthday
• Stickles 'stardust' and 'xmas red'
• Buttons and twine are from my stash
• Beacon 3 in 1 Advanced Craft Glue

The Tools:

• Cricut Expression and Tags, Bags, Boxes and More cartridge and Preserves cartridge
• Carl PRT-100 rotary cutter
• Scissors, pinking shears, craft knife
• Sewing Machine

The Construction:

• Using rotary cutter, trim flag paper to fit card base, adhere to card
• Using rotary cutter, cut 2 1/2" strip of star paper
• Place card on top of star paper, positioning it to fit as shown on sketch.  Mark with pencil and trip to fit.  Adhere to card.
• Using Cricut Expression and Preserves cartridge, cut red 'star' shape using 'lid' feature, Mango2 set at 3 1/2".
• Also using Cricut and Tags, Bags, Boxes and More cartridge, cut blue tag using 'hole option' and scltop set at 2 3/4".
• Adhere star to card using foam dots to bump it off the page.
• Adhere sticker to tag, and embellish with Stickles.  Set aside to let dry.
• Using regular crepe paper streamers, take about a 10 to 12 inch piece, fold until about 3 inches long and trim one edge with pinking shears.
• Apply Stickles to pinked edge of crepe paper and allow to dry.
• Once Stickles on crepe paper is dry, sew a long basting stitch along the other edge of the streamer, about 1/4 inch from the edge.  Pull one string to gather and glue ends together in a circle.
• Glue white flower to red star and add buttons threaded with red and white bakers twine.
• Glue tag to card and add a button to cover the hole.

Side shot to show dimension of flower

And that was it!  I love the white crepe paper flower as it looks kind of like a poppy, and white paper poppies are often worn as a symbol of peace.  I'm not happy with the tag.  When will I ever learn that there is such a thing as too much Stickles!!!  

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!  Come back tomorrow for Sketch #108 for Unscripted Sketches!  Blessings folks, Becky

Daring Cardmakers ~ Chasing Cars Challenge

Good Monday Morning, Friends!!!  Here I am back again with another project for a Daring Cardmakers challenge!  This week's challenge really was a challenge for me, because the theme is to base a card on the lyrics from a song that I have never, ever heard!  Of course they provided a link to the lyrics, but not knowing the song made it a little bit harder!

But that said, I am IN LOVE with this card!  It could be because it's made with some new goodies I bought at Altered Angel last weekend, but I truly do love it!   Here is my take on this week's challenge . . .

And here are all of the details . . .

The Blueprint:  Make a card based on the lyrics of the song 'Chasing Cars' by Snow Patrol.  Click on the link to see the lyrics.

The Supply List:

• Card base by The Paper Studio
• Patterned papers are all from Prima's Madeline Collection 'Skyward' and 'Parfait'
• White cardstock by Georgia Pacific for sentiment
• Frame by Tattered Angels
• Flowers are Prima Sugar Plum Roses 'Caribbean'
• Stickles 'Platinum
• Green cardstock is from The Paper Studio
• Brown ink from Stampabilities
• Beacon 3 in 1 All Purpose Craft Glue

The Tools:

• Rotary Cutter (Carl PRT-100)
• Scissors
• Craft Knife
• Scoring Tool

The lyrics I chose from the song

The Construction:

• Trim base paper to fit card (5" X 7"); adhere with glue
• Ink edges with brown ink
• Cut top patterned paper to 3 3/4" x 5 3/4"
• Glue top patterned paper to script paper (reverse side of top patterned paper) and trim to just larger than top paper
• Ink edges with brown ink
• Glue patterned paper to green cardstock and trim to size
• Glue matted patterned paper to base of card
• Ink frame with brown ink, then remove paper from back to reveal self adhesive side, and adhere to top of card
• Line outer edge of frame with Stickles 'platinum'
• Print words onto white cardstock
• Cut words from sentiment and ink edges with brown ink, then glue to card
• Trim two butterflies from design on base paper, score where wings meet body and fold up
• Ink edges with brown ink, then glue butterflies to frame, line outer edges with Stickles 'platinum'
• Glue flowers to frame

Close up of frame, flowers and butterflies to show dimension

And there you have my card!  I really think it's lovely and can think of several occasions when it would be perfect to send to someone!  Thanks for visiting today, and please come back soon!  Blessings, Becky

Another Challenge???

Hello there! It's a beautiful Sunday morning here in northern Georgia, and my hubby is still in bed asleep, the dogs have been put out, fed and are now back in their bed asleep, so I have a bit of peace and quiet time.

I have a question for you! Do you participate in any card making, tag making, scrapbooking challenges? I love them, and participate in as many as crafting time allows, but I'm finding more and more that the bigger, more popular challenges encourage stamping, and even frown on other types of images.

I am not a stamper!

There are several reasons why I am not a stamper, but the main one being the cost of buying stamps, inks, markers, etc. The other is that using the same image over and over and over AND over again just doesn't appeal to me! I mean, how many times can or will you use the same image??? It just doesn't make sense FOR me! I have absolutely nothing against stampers, and in fact I am a bit in awe of many of the stamping artists out there! It's just not for me personally.

But since it's getting harder and harder to find good challenges where only stamped images are welcome, I've been thinking of starting a bi-weekly challenge where stamped (including digi-stamps) images are not allowed! Here are my thoughts . . .

• We would do either cards or tags, or a mixture of both!
• You could use stamps for sentiments, but not for the images.
• The challenge would be simply for the fun of doing it because I can't afford to offer any prizes. From time to time I may give away a few of my favorite printed images to the winner(s).
• Sponsors would be welcomed but not sought after!
• Challenges would be bi-weekly, with one week to submit your projects, and a 'quiet' week in between.
• There would be no official design team to start, but each week I would choose my favorite two submissions, and those people would be invited to participate as guest designer for the second challenge after that (allowing plenty of time for making projects) as well as help choosing the winners from that week. Each winner would get a button to put on their blogs saying they won a challenge on 'Becky's Challenge Blog' (not the real name, just an example).
• Challenges would vary! It may be a theme, a sketch, a 'recipe' of items on the project, or whatever I can come up with!

So tell me, what do you think! Please answer the poll below by clicking on the 'BooRoo' link, AND leave me a comment, letting me know what you think about the idea. I welcome comments and suggestions from everyone! Thanks so much for visiting! Becky

BooRoo

Unscripted Sketches # 107 Sketch + Piggyback

Hello Friends!  It's Saturday once again, and of course that means it's 'Sketch It Saturday' at Unscripted Sketches.  It's so much fun being on the US Design Team and getting advance knowledge of the sketches!  We have a great bunch of ladies and some incredible artists!

Once a month we have a 'piggyback' challenge along with the usual sketch, and this month's piggyback is to have metal on your card.  I have four metal brads and three decorative quilters pins, but I also embossed the chipboard with a gold metallic finish.  I chose to use my favorite square card base instead of a rectangle, so I had to work it out, but I love the final product.   And don't forget, the sketch is simply a starting point!  As long as we can see the sketch in some way in your project, it's okay!  Here is my project based on the sketch . . .

Happy

The Blueprint:

The Supply List:

• Cardstock is from The Paper Studio
• Patterned papers are from My Minds Eye 'Stella and Rose' line - Mabel "Little Lady" Posies Paper and Mabel "Play" Silly Stripe Paper
• Chipboard is from an old kit that I don't even remember the name of - it's at least 4-5 years old!
• Clear ink pad from Stampabilities
• Ranger "Queen's Gold" Embossing Powder
• Flowers and Gems are from Prima
• Brads from my stash (various)
• Sentiment is from SRM Stickers
• Quilters Pins are from Singer
• Stickles 'Crystal' and 'Platinum'
• Beacon's 3 in 1 Advanced Craft Glue
• Glue Arts 'Perma Tac' Adhesive

The Tools:

• Cricut Expression and Walk In My Garden Cartridge
• Rotary Cutter (Carl PRT-100)
• Scissors, Craft Knife
• Heat Gun
• Glue Glider Pro

The Construction:

• Using Cricut Expression and Walk In My Garden Cartridge cut the card base using 'card2' set at 5", then cut the base patterned paper using 'card1' set at 5".  For the smaller squares, using 'card1' cut 6 squares:  1 @ 1 3/4", 3 at 1 1/2" and 2 at 1 1/4".  For the double paper flower, cut using 'crpsis' flower set at 3/4" and 1".
• Adhere patterned paper square to base of card using Glue Glider Pro and Perma Tac adhesive
• Using a clear ink (such as VersaMark or Stampabilities) heavily ink the chipboard.  Coat chipboard with embossing powder.  Heat using heat tool to melt the embossing powder.Set aside to cool.
• Cut two flowers from patterned cardstock, glue to quilters pins, then coat with Stickles 'Crystal' and set aside to dry.
• Using flowers cut on Cricut, glue larger to a quilters pin, then put a foam dot on back of smaller flower and adhere to larger flower for dimension.  Add gem, and outline edges of flower with Stickles Platinum (bottom flower) and Crystal (top flower); set aside to dry.
• Glue chipboard letters to the smaller squares of paper.  Place the letters and adhere with glue for some, and foam dots for the A and second P.
• Apply sticker sentiment to last square and apply with foam dots
• Add brads to 4 flowers, and glue to card base.  Glue remaining flowers to card base and add gems.
• Stick decorated quilters pins into foam dots under raised squares to hold them securely.

Note:  To see more about the quilters pins, see THIS POST

And there you have my project for this week's Unscripted Sketches sketch.  Please visit Unscripted Sketches blog AND the blogs of our amazing designers!  I'm sure they would love to find comments from you this week!  Thanks for coming and Blessings, friends!  Becky

Tags and Cards . . . An Assortment of Paper Love

Happy Wednesday!  Here in beautiful northern Georgia the skies are blue and the sun is shining.  We've had several cloudy, iffy days in a row, and yesterday the sun was in and out, but today it's out and shining and it's just an amazing day!

If you read the post below, you know that yesterday was Tuesday and the day for the 'Tag Tuesday Challenge', and I made this cute strawberry themed tag . . .

And that began a day (or at least what part of it I could give to crafting) of making tags!  I used #5 2 3/4" x 4 3/8" manila tags for all, and the sentiments for all are from SRM Stickers.  I made four more tags before the day was out, most were made from scraps of paper, and 3 were made using vintage images I found online.  and here they are . . .

Do Good Deeds

Echo Park patterned paper, image from a collage sheet I bought on Etsy, Prima pearls, SRM Stickers sentiment, lace and ribbon from my stash.  Stickles 'diamond' and 'Golden Rod'.  I only recently discovered Mabel Lucie Attwell, and I truly love her vintage images.  For more info, just Google 'mabel lucie atwell'.

Number two is another Mabel Lucie Atwell image . . .

Hugs

Patterned paper is The Paper Studio, sentiment sticker from SRM Stickers, Stickles 'golden rod', lace from my stash.  This image is not from the collage I bought, but one I found on Flickr.

Number three . . .

Hello Sunshine

Patterned paper is a scrap from Fancy Pants Simplicity 'Decorate'.  Image came from an image of a vintage pattern I found online, printed and cut out; sentiment is from SRM Stickers, star stick pin is a quilters pin with a star head that I inked and dipped into gold embossing powder and heat embossed . . . very carefully!  Then I added Stickles 'gold' to the star and 'diamond' to the trim on the dress.  Ribbon, lace and ball fringe are from my stash.

And tag number four is . . .

You're Special

Patterned paper and butterflies all came from one sheet from the K&Company 'Cut N Paste' stack.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love this paper stack!!!  Butterflies were cut out , scored around the body to help the wings fold up, the bottom one was inked with brown ink, and all were touched up with Stickles 'platinum'.  Sentiment is SRM Stickers, gems are Prima, and ribbons are from my stash.

And I also have a couple of cards for you, too!  The first one I made for the Daring Cardmakers challenge this week, but didn't like it as well as the other one, so I didn't submit it.  Here it is . . .

You Make Me Smile

Patterned Paper is My Minds Eye, Stella and Rose; sentiment is SRM Stickers, gems are from Prima, image is digital, found online, blue cardstock is an old scrap, and I couldn't tell you who made it!  Also used Stickles 'stardust' on the flowers and 'platinum' on the butterfly.  I printed two copies of the image and cut out one butterfly and glued it to the base for more dimension.

And my last card, and last project for today, was made for an online challenge I've never participated in, and just never got it submitted.  The challenge was for the card to have a rectangle and a triangle.  Here is my card . . .

Happy Birthday

Patterned paper is all from Fancy Pants 'Wishful Thinking' line, sentiment is from SRM Stickers, gems are from Prima, clothes pins and twine are from my stash.  Triangles were cut using Cricut Expression and Mothers Day 2011 cartridge.  Edges were inked with brown ink.

And that is all the projects I have for you right now . . .  I think there are plenty, too!

If you are a cardmaker, have you ever thought of making tags to be used as note cards or greeting cards?  They are great for an encouraging note to a friend or in a child's lunch bag.  They are great at the holidays if you give gifts to your postman, hairdresser, etc. to slip into an envelope with money or a gift card.  There are lots of occasions that don't merit a big fancy card, and tags can fit that need very well!

If you aren't yet a cardmaker, but want to be, I think tags are a great place to start!  Buy a few basic tools (scissors, ruler, craft knife and maybe a punch or two) and some basic supplies like a nice patterned paper stack, ribbon, buttons, Stickles, etc. and you can make lots of tags with just those basic supplies.  And you can find all kinds of images just by searching on the internet, or on Etsy.

Thanks for visiting today, and I hope to see you back very soon!  Blessings, Becky