Word Verification

Dear followers and friends! I know that many of you don't like having to use word verification to leave a comment on blogs, and I agree with you as a blog visitor, however as a blog author, I must totally disagree. I have tried not requiring word verification on this blog for a couple of months, and the numbers of spam comments has escalated to irritating proportions. In fact, I get far more spam comments than I do kind, sweet, much appreciated comments left by a real person and not by some dumb person's computer program. So, I am sad to say that I have returned to requiring word verification for comments on this blog. Please do not let that stop you from leaving a comment. I cherish and covet each and every one that is left by a real person! Thanks for understanding, Becky

The Kraft Journal Challenge - Clean and Simple

Hello there!  When I saw that this week's challenge at The Kraft Journal was 'Clean and Simple' my heart sunk.  I mean, I am the queen of 'more is more', and find it hard to make a card with empty spaces and without lots of 'stuff' layered on the front.  But I knuckled down and came up with a concept, and I have to say I am quite pleased with the end result.  Here is my project ...

The stamps that I used are Tim Holtz' new Mini Blueprint stamps, and I love them!  There are 12 in the set, covering halloween, Christmas and fall.  My husband uses blueprints in his job all the time, so I thought I could do things for him with them.  I used Buff Ivory Cover Weight card stock from Kraft Outlet to stamp the images on, and then colored them with colored pencils and accented them with Stickles 'platinum'.  The cardstock has a woven linen texture, and I love how easily the colored pencils picked up the texture and made highlighting easy.  Here are the details ...

Supplies:

• Brown Kraft Cover Weight Card Stock - Kraft Outlet
• Buff Ivory Cover Weight Card Stock - Kraft Outlet
• 7 Gypsies 'Adelaide' Seam Binding - Kraft Outlet
• Mini Blueprint Stamps - Tim Holtz
• Brown Ink - Stampabillities
• Stickles 'Platinum' - Ranger Ink
• Happy Fall Y'all stamp - Studio G
• Resin Bubble Cap - Epiphany Crafts 'Round 25'

Tools:

• Martha Stewart / EK Success Paper Trimmer
• Epiphany Crafts 'Round 25' Punch
• Scissors, Ruler, Craft Knife

I hope you have enjoyed this quick 'Clean and Simple' card today!  Be sure to go visit The Kraft Journal for more inspiration and to take part in this week's challenge.  Blessings,

The Kraft Journal ... Watch Us Wednesday Tutorial

Welcome!  Today it's my turn to do the 'Watch Us Wednesday' tutorial over on The Kraft Journal blog, and I was so excited to do it this week because the theme for this week's challenge is 'Lavishly Layered' and layering lavishly is one of my favorite ways to craft!   But I didn't really do a tutorial as such, but rather talked to you about a secret of mine to help when I get 'stuck' on a project and don't know what to add next.  But you'll have to check out the blog post on The Kraft Journal blog to find out what it is!  I know ... I'm not cheating fair, right!

Anyway, I just wanted to share another couple of my favorite layered projects that I have made in recent months, and then at the bottom I want to share something with you.

This is a mini album that I made using Crate Paper's 'Farmhouse' collection.  One great way to add layers is to make the base of your cover (or pages) have texture.  I used corrugated cardboard from a box around the house and cut it to size, then I misted one side of the cardboard, let it sit for a minute and then easily pulled one layer of paper off, leaving the corrugated ridges open.  Then once it was dry I used some white craft paint and lightly 'dry brush' painted the corrugated side.  That added a lot of texture.  Then I layered chipboard and die cut elements from the collection, and although it's not got 'tons' of layers, because of the distressed cardboard and chipboard, it looks like it is heavily layered.  Of course all the ribbons and lace tied to the binding helps with that feel, too.

Pocket cards are a great way to add a layered feel to a card.  They are easy to make and fun for the recipient!  I made this pocket card for Mama's birthday in July and she just loved it!  Inside the 'pocket' are three tags, each heavily layered and decorated and each with a different wish for her.  Of course hand made flowers, made from fabric, ribbon, felt, paper, or whatever you want, are a great way of adding layers!

Now, in my tutorial over at The Kraft Journal, I mentioned I made a 'cheat sheet' for layering by visiting my favorite blogs and listing elements from their projects.  Are you always looking for some great blogs for inspiration?  Well, please visit my blog called 'Beautifully Inspiring People' and check out some of the blogs there ... there is an inspiration overload to be found out there, and my list is a great place to start!

Thanks so much for visiting today!  Don't forget to go to The Kraft Journal and make a card for this week's challenge.  You really should have plenty of inspiration now!  Blessings,

The Kraft Journal #87 - Autumn Colors

Summer is finally winding down, and there are only another week or two until fall is here for real.  It has been a very hot, LONG summer here in northern Georgia, just as it has for most of the US, so I am really ready for some cooler temps!

At The Kraft Journal this week the theme is 'Autumn Colors', and I made a pretty birthday card using the browns, golds, oranges and deep reds of fall.  Here is my card ...

 

I cut five leaves from different materials ... one from burlap, one from a pumpkin colored felt, one from corrugated cardboard, and two from canvas.  Here are the details ...

Supplies:

• Brown Kraft Cover Weight Card Stock - Kraft Outlet
• Canvas Mini Rectangles - Kraft Outlet
• C-Flute Corrugated Kraft Paper - Kraft Outlet
• Patterned Paper - The Paper Studio
• Burlap - Scrap from my stash
• Ribbon - Hobby Lobby
• Button - Buttons Galore and More
• Brown Ink - Stampabilities
• Sentiment - SRM Stickers

Tools:

• Martha Stewart / EK Success Paper Trimmer
• Martha Stewart / EK Success Scoring Board
• Scissors, Ruler, Craft Knife

This was a really easy to make card, just perfect for some special someone who has an autumn birthday.  Thanks for visiting today ... Blessings!

Anything But A Card ..... A New Challenge In Town!

Hello there!  I am back again with a fun project that I made for a new challenge called 'Anything But A Card"!  If you've visited here lately you have most likely seen their button in my right hand column.  I put it there for a friend, Susan, who is on their Design Team.  But since the challenge went live a week ago she has been after me to make a project so, Susan, here you are!!!

I made a pretty wall hanging to welcome family and friends to your home.  The base is a very thick chipboard.  A friend used to bring this to me from her 'former' job, and these pieces were about 3 1/2" x 12", and 4" x 12".  I inked the edges of the chipboard with brown Stampabilities ink, and then added the patterned paper. The 'welcome HOME' on the bottom panel was already printed on the Bo Bunny 'Welcome Home' patterned paper.  I added accents of platinum Stickles throughout. 
The 'Welcome to our home' letters were cut on my Cricut Expression using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge.  

The embossed door was cut from an inked and embossed piece of cardstock given to me by my friend Ken Oliver.   Ken now works for Spellbinders, and was back in Atlanta this weekend to do demos and teach classes at the Quick Quotes 'Private Reserve' event.  He made time to come by Altered Angel on Saturday to visit and play with us.  He showed us how, with the new Mbossibilities folders, you can both emboss AND ink your projects at the same time.  And trust me, it is really cool!  I added a little more brown ink, and rubbed more platinum stickles over the door with my finger to make it show up a bit more.  I also used a brown pearl from Prima, inked it with brown ink and heat embossed it with Queen's Gold embossing powder from Ranger Ink.

The ribbon and vintage skeleton keys are from my stash ... I've just had them so long I don't remember where I got them.  

So, what do you think of my 'not a card' project?  I love it, and hope you do too!  Please go check out the Anything But A Card blog for yourself ... it is a really fun challenge!  Have a great day, and blessings,

October Afternoon "Woodland Park" Mini Album for Altered Angel

Hi folks!  I am back with another project for my favorite LSS, Altered Angel!  Lately the owner of Altered Angel, Mary, has taken to just leaving me a little bag of goodies when she gets in new products she wants me to showcase for display in the store.  I love it that she is doing this!  A few weeks ago I went into the store and one of the girls who works there said "Mary left you a little package", and when I peeked inside, it was the adorable October Afternoon 'Woodland Park' collection!  It took me a while to get started on it, but here is what I came up with ... bear in mind, this is a photo heavy post!

Front Cover

The front cover inspiration came from the large pennant banner sticker that says 'this is happiness'.  I knew I wanted it to be on front.  I also added a '2012' banner, a double stacked rosette, and a bunch of OA fibers.

Inside Front Cover ... the blackboard is some Bazzill 'Card Shoppe' card stock and a Uniball white ink pen

Page Three ... A pocket that holds two photo mats

Page Three with pockets removed

Page Four

Page Five with a distressed pocket holding one photo mat

Page Five with pocket removed

Page Six with flip photo mat (will hold up to three photos)

Page Seven with a pocket holding two photo mats

Page Eight with space for a larger photo

Page Nine with room for two smaller photos

Page Ten, closed

Page Ten, opened.  Space for one larger and two smaller phots, plus a journaling tag under the center mat.

Pages Ten and Eleven side by side, closed.  I love how it says '3, 2, 1 ... Laugh!'

Page Eleven, closed

Page Eleven, opened, room for three smaller photos

Page Twelve, with two photo mats in the pocket

Page Twelve, with mats removed

Page Thirteen

Page Fourteen

I'm sorry, but somehow I didn't get a picture of Page Fifteen.  I will add a photo here as soon as I get down to the store and get a new picture made!

Page Sixteen

Page Seventeen (inside back cover)  ... best summer ever, back to school!

Outside back cover.

Here are the details ...

October Afternoon Woodland Park Products:

·         8" X 8" Paper Pad

·         Wrap Pack

·         Tidbits

·         Little Flyers

·         Mini Market Alpha Stickers

·         Word Stickers

·         12 x 12 shape stickers

·         Printed Chip Shapes

Other October Afternoon Products:

·         Sidewalks Wrap Pack

·         Saparilla Wrap Pack

Other Products:

·         Stickles "Crystal" and "Frosted Lace"

·         Epiphany Tools and Bubble Caps "Round 25", "Heart 25", "Flower Button 20", "Pennant" and "Star"

·         Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Frayed Burlap"

·         Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool

·         Bazzill Basics 'Card Shoppe' Card Stock

·         The Cinch Binding Machine

·         1 1/4" White Binding Wires 

·         Creative Impressions Gems

·         Prima 'eLine' gems

·         Want 2 Scrap Gems

·         White Uniball Gel Ink Pen

 

Okay, I think that's everything!  Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think of this latest mini album!  Blessings,

A Special Card for Special Friends!

Hello and Welcome!  Today I want to share a special project that I made for some special friends.  We have known Sue and Tom for about 3 to 4 years, and have formed a special friendship with these sweet, sweet people!  Sue and I grew up less than 10 miles from each other, although we only met a few years ago. 

Anyway, tomorrow (9/5) they will celebrate their 48th wedding anniversary, and they invited hubby and I to join them and several other friends and family members for a meal at a local Japanese restaurant to celebrate the occasion.  I wanted to do something special instead of just a plain card, so I made a pocket card, with spaces where Sue can add pictures of she and Tom.  Here is the front of the card ...

Here are the details ...

Supplies:

• Base of pocket - manila file folder (Target)
• Patterned Papers - Pebbles, Inc. 'Fresh Goods'
• Felt - Hobby Lobby
• Seam Binding - my stash
• Brown Ink - Stampabilities
• Sentiment Stickers - SRM Stickers
• Stickles 'Diamond' - Ranger Ink

Tools:

• Cricut Expression with Plantin Schoolbook, Elegant Edges and Tags, Bags, Boxes and More cartridges
• Martha Stewart / EK Success paper trimmer
• Scissors, Ruler, Craft Knife, Scoring Tool, 1/4" hole punch

As you can see, I left room for several small pictures on the tags, and I wrote my note on the back of the large tag and left room for journaling on the back of the small tags.  If I had the pictures, I would have added them myself, but I didn't, so she can add them herself. 

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today!  If you are not already a follower of my blog, I'd love it if you would become one, and I have links on the top, underneath the picture, where you can follow my Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter pages.  Thanks so much for visiting!  Blessings,

The Kraft Journal Challenge #86 'Shape It Up'

Hello Folks!  It is time for a new challenge at The Kraft Journal!  This week's theme is 'Shape It Up', and as usual, participants are invited to make a project based on their take of the theme.  Since school is fully in session, I thought it might be time to make a special teacher's 'Thank You' gift.  The gift is incredibly easy and inexpensive, and the packaging is really fun!  Here is a look at my take on the challenge ...

This is the gift bag with the apple shaped card that I made using my Cricut.  It is really easy to make and adds a large pop of color!

This is the gift bag with the gift itself ... a cute as can be kraft journal and matching bookmark.  The book is easy to embellish and fits inside the coffee bag perfectly.  How about a look at the details?

Supplies:

From Kraft Outlet ...

• Natural Kraft Journal - Small 
• Small Kraft Coffee Bag
• Lunch Bag Kraft Card Stock

Other Supplies:

• Patterned Paper - Bella Blvd 'Finally Fall' Autumn Splendor
• Twine - Maya Road 'Latte Brown' Corded Twine
• Colored Card Stock for Apple - The Paper Studio
• Gem - Creative Imaginations
• Owl Epoxy Bubble Cap - Epiphany Round 25 Bubble Cap
• Resin Owl - unknown ... it was a gift from a friend, out of packaging
• Stickles - Platinum
• Brown Ink - Stampabilities
• Thank You Stamp - Inkadinkadoo
• Owl Stamp - Hampton Arts

Tools:

• Martha Stewart / EK Success Paper Trimmer
• Martha Stewart / EK Success Scoring Board
• Cricut Expression and 'Preserves' Cartridge
• Scissors, Ruler, Craft Knife

 


Tips for making the apple shaped card:

• Using the Cricut cartridge, cut the 'base' of the apple on a scrap piece of card stock.  
• Fold an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of kraft card stock in half, making it 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" doubled.
• Place the apple that you just cut right on the fold, and slide it over about to the left about 1/8" to 1/4" extending over the fold.
• Trace around the apple shape.
• Using good scissors, cut BOTH SIDES of the card at once, following the apple shape that you just traced.
• Cut the parts of the apple as shown in your Cricut handbook and adhere the layers to the card base.

I hope you have enjoyed this project ... It was lots of fun to make!  Check out the other designers projects at The Kraft Journal's blog.  Blessings,