OWSE Ornament Challenge Entry

"Let Heaven & Nature Sing"

Yep, I actually finished another challenge entry for Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium's Christmas in July Event!  I had hoped to get a couple more done but time is running out...all entries are due tomorrow.   And since I like to share how I make my entries, it takes a little more time to complete each one.  Oh well, I think I did pretty good with all the entries I DID manage to create.

This challenge actually came from the lovely Linda Ledbetter over at STUDIO L3. 
Here's how I made my ornament with the challenge requirements in blue.

1.  First of all it had to be an ornament.  And you had to use one die cut.  I had modified this SVG  frame file from one PENNY DUNCAN had created last year.  So I put it to use again.  I cut the top frame (with the oval cutout), a complete frame (for the back) and an oval a little larger than the cutout from a recycled cereal box.  I used SCAL and Cricut's deep cut blade.
2.  I then cut two pieces of the aluminum duct tape (same stuff I used in creating the STEAMPUNK CHRISTMAS CARD) and placed the pieces side by side into the Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder then ran it through my Texture Boutique.
3.  I applied each piece of embossed foil tape to one half of the ornament top.  I trimmed the excess foil away and snipped the corners.  Using my bone folder, I pressed down the foil so that it laid flat on the chipboard.
4.  I took Sailboat Blue and Silver Mixative Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Inks and applied to the foil. 
5.  I centered and glued the angel Designer Paper to the oval piece of chipboard.  I then hot glued the oval to the back of the front piece.

6.  Now the fun part: embellishing!  First I made a tiny rosette by cutting a strip of aluminum duct tape in half length wise and sticking it to blue cardstock.  I then scored and folded like normal.  Using the distress inks I colored pearls blue and added to the rosette and the two silver flowers.  I took small pieces of greenery and first painted them with silver acrylic paint and then added Clear Rock Candy Stickles on top.  I created wire twists with blue beads on the end.  On a strip of white cardstock I stamped the sentiment in blue ink and then shaded with  Pumice Stone Distress Ink.

At the top of the ornament I added a silver snowflake spangle and another alcohol inked pearl.
7.  I finished the ornament front by hot gluing silver cording around the opening and adding white Perfect Pearls to the angel's wings.
8.  To finish, I embossed two more strips of duct tape and attached to the back piece of the cereal chipboard frame.  I applied the alcohol inks in the same manner as the front and hot glued the two pieces together.  I used a punch to make a hole at the top and added a thin silver cord for the hanger.

Sharing: Pine Cone and Branches

I've mentioned before that I feel so blessed to be able to live in the woods. 

There is nothing like the smell of the piney woods in the summertime....heavenly! 

So when Bonnie sent me her recent Creative Team submission, it reminded me of the woods...because the pinecone looks so real!

Would you believe she used part of a DAISY

SVG to make the pinecone dimensional?

You have to check out Bonnie's BLOG to see how she made this pinecone.

She has detailed photos and instructions showing just how she did it.

She's a dimensional GENIUS!

Interested in the files? 
Daisy in Pot can be purchased HERE.

Pine Trees & Pine Cone can be purchased HERE.

 

"Christmas in July" Layout Challenge Entry

I finished another challenge entry for Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium (OWSE)

"Christmas in July" event.  This challenge was pretty easy:  create a Christmas layout using three pieces of designer paper.  Here's what I came up with, a double page layout with my family on one side and hubby's on the other:

The details:

--I used four different papers in the layout.  The base pages were 12 x 12 Bo Bunny "Noel Traditions".  This is a really nice vintage looking paper. 
--The heading was cut out on my Cricut and SCAL using a SVG file I had collected (sorry, I don't know who's this is).  The shadow layer was a plain green cardstock.  The top letters were cut from a green linen patterned paper (from a huge collection that I don't know the name of).  I then used Distress Inks (Forest Moss, Pumice Stone and a touch of Vintage Photo) and a water pen to shade the letters (and around and under the letters onto the plain cardstock).  Once it was dry, I added Old Paper Distress Stickles over each letter.  This really gave it that old vintage glittered look.

--The star at the top left was layered with the same papers as the heading, Distress Inked and Old Paper Stickled.  I then added the sparkle brad and lifted the whole piece off of the paper with a pop dot.

--The brackets on each page were cut with the Cricut and SCAL out of Graphic 45's "The Holly & The Ivy" paper.  I printed each description on cream cardstock and attached to the bracket piece.

--The embellishments to the right of the tree consist of another sparkle brad, "25" from Tim Holtz's Salvage Seasonal Stickers and the top piece which I created.

All I did was take a punch out from the Graphic 45 paper stack and then glue it to a punched circle and a punched scalloped circle.  I added the Old Paper Stickles to the green paper and used Glossy Accents to make the punched art look dimensional.
--At the bottom left of the page, I used smaller cuts of the stars from the heading and stamped on the year in Forest Moss Distress Inks.  Then I accented the stamping with Glossy Accents.  The stars are also lifted up with pop dots.

SVGs: Leaves & Branch

Over on the PAPER DOLLS site there is a great challenge this week.

Grab my swirl cut rose and carnation files there and take a peek at the

AWESOME creations the designers made using these flowers.

Plus, if you enter the challenge you could win some great prizes...

including up to $10 in files from me! 

 I thought those flowers could use some leaves,

so grab this file too!

EDIT:  This file is no longer a Freebie. 

Please visit CUT & CREATE to purchase.

Short on time?  Here's a fast and simple way to add leaves to a project:

There you go...easy peasy dimensional leaf to go with the 3-D flowers!

Raspberry Pickin'

Well, I did NOT get to play in the studio today.  The raspberries were ripe and hubby and I drove to the patch and picked 11 quarts.  KITELEY FARMS is in beautiful Charlevoix Michigan.  I love going to this farm...they have acres of flowers, fruits and even farm animals.  Just a great place.  

I made four batches of jam out of those berries. 

They look beautiful cooling on my counter.

I guess I did get to create today...just in a different medium!

Be sure to check back tomorrow.  I'm sponsoring (and providing the cut file) for

this week's challenge over on Paper Dolls. 

Plus I'll have a free set here that coordinates with the challenge file!

I'm A "Featured Artist"!

I'm proud and pleased to let everyone know that I am today's

"Featured Artist Friday" profile on Paper Dolls/Mod Paperie. 

If you'd like to take a peek, you can see the feature HERE. 

Thanks to Tamara and Thienly for selecting me! 

Be sure and check back with them on Monday for a Challenge I'll be sponsoring.

To celebrate, this weekend only,

I'm offering

 all my files 

50% OFF

at both

DIECUT DESIGNER and TKO SCRAPS 

SVG: Rototiller

I received an email from a follower the other day requesting a rototiller file for her 93 year old father who insisted on getting himself a rototiller this year.  Here's some of what was written:  "He's always had an organic garden .... We got him a bright yellow Cub Cadet with rear tines and he's been having a ball growing veggies! ....I'd love to make a scrapbook layout using a bright yellow rototiller (svg)."

How could I say no to that request?! 

So I searched and played around and came up with this rototiller for PJ and anyone else interested.  The tines are a separate piece of the file so you could put them in front or back...whatever you prefer.  I also did a little shading on the tines with a gray watercolor pencil and added some extra detail lines with a black fine Sharpie

You can get the freebie SVG file HERE

You are welcome to email me file requests anytime. 

I'll do my best to create what you're looking for.

As always, please send me pictures or blog links to what YOU create with my files.

I'd love to feature your work on my blog!

Steampunk Christmas Card

I managed to finish another challenge entry

for OWSE's "Christmas in July" event. 

The Challenge was to create "A Steampunk Christmas in July". 

It took me a few days of thought then I sent hubby to the hardware store

for a key ingredient....aluminum duct tape!

The card was really simple and fun to create. 

Here's how I did it:

1.  Took a 8" x 6" piece of cream cardstock and then scored it in half (4" x 6"). 

This size card will fit into a business size envelope.

2.  Base is a 4" x 6" piece of Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante Collection "Mechanical Mind".

3.  Placed a piece of aluminum duct tape (label said "Multi-Purpose Foil Tape")

into the gear patterned Cuttlebug embossing folder and ran it through my Texture Boutique.

4.  Colored the foil with Meadow and Gold Mixatives Alcohol Inks.

5.  The foil tape is adhesive backed so I just peeled off the paper and stuck it to a piece of chipboard. 

Using heavy (Tim's Tonic) scissors, I hand cut the tree shape.

6.  I then took copper wire and wrapped around the tree, adding a few Tim Holtz washers as ornaments. 

I used glue dots to attach the tree to the paper.

7.  I took a Tim Holtz sprocket and glued it to a small piece of chipboard so that it would be at the same height as the tree.

I also used a glue dot to attach the sprocket to the paper.

8.  Using a scrap piece of the same Graphic 45 paper (the back side), I stamped "Greetings" and embossed with white embossing powder.  After that was dry, I swiped on Vintage Photo Distress Ink to "grunge" up the letters.

9.  I used a label frame to hold the "Greetings" piece of paper and attached it to the paper with a couple of Tim Holtz brads.

Using the foil tape was really fun.  I can see many more uses for that roll!

Having Fun With OWSE

I picked the right day to take off of work as

Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium club

(a really fun Yahoo group) kicked off their "Christmas in July" event today. 

Lots of fun things to do and cool challenges (with prizes!) so of course

I jumped right in...who cares about house cleaning?

First up was a picture of yourself in your pjs wearing a funny hat. 

Yup....posted a picture (which I will NOT be sharing here). 

Join the OWSE group and you can take a peek. lol

Next was "Quick Fire Challenge #1". 

Our leader Robyn rattled off a list of 19 items that we had

to include in our project and we only had about a 1/2 hour to do it! 

Here is what I created:

This is the list of what Robyn called (through Chat) 

to be in the project (and where it is on my tag):

1.  Border--stamped down the right side of the red dotted paper

2.  Flourish--stamped at the top of the red dotted paper

3.  Bling--to right of rooster

4.  Dry Embossing-- used my Tim Holtz texture fade, inked it and ran the tag through the Cuttlebug

(this piece was pre-done)

5.  Designer Paper--the red dotted paper

6.  Die cut--the rooster (had been pre cut-on the Cricut)

7.  Wet Embossing--over the border I added clear embossing

8.  Faux Stitching--to the right of the border

9.  Distress--use Vintage Photo Distress Ink all around tag, on lace and ribbons and Fired Brick Distress Ink on the designer paper

10.  Lace--added at bottom

11.  Handmade Flower--a paper swirl flower (which I had previously made) added above lace

12.  Glitter--the rooster's eye is red Stickles

13.  Ribbon--above lace

14.  Button--above lace

15.  Tag--punched and added near top

16.  Butterfly--stamped, cut out and glued near top

17.  Charm--little bee attached near tag with glue dot

18.  Small Frame--stamped, cut out and center punched to make frame to left of rooster

19.  Stamped Image--the wording on the tag

Now this was fun, fast and furious! 

Being a very uptight crafter, it definitely brought me out of

my comfort zone as I DID NOT have time to fuss and fidget over it. 

I grabbed my supplies and put it together...no dilly dallying! 

I think that this would be a great exercise for all of us who need

to just let go and create without worrying about how it will all come together.

Of course after this, my studio was a big mess. 

(I still hadn't put it back together after finishing up my "Haunting..." swap) 

So of course the next fun thing we did was post a

picture for a prize for the "Messiest Work Space". 

I posted two!

I DID NOT set this photo up!  I had every drawer hanging open! 

Can't believe I could even find anything in this pile. 

My sisters will see these photos and be stunned...

my space is never this messy. 

I think just the fact that I'm posting these means that I'm starting to loosen up!!  lol

The other Quick Fire Challenge I participated in was for a "Tent Topper Card".

Robyn posted a LINK for the technique and we had less than an hour to finish.

Here's my card:

I used my Graphic 45 Christmas pack to make this. 

It really is quick and easy and turns out so nice.

I will definitely be making more of these.

OWSE promises more fun later so if I get a chance to participate,

I'll be sure and share.

Sharing: Birthday Card

Bonnie, one of my premier Creative Team members,

always creates the most beautiful cards. 

She used a couple of my newest SVG files to create this beauty:

Along the bottom edge she used one of the new "Fancy Flourish" files. 

This particular border came from Set Two:

Can you see where Bonnie used parts of the set below,

"Flower Flourishes" as well?

Please check out Bonnie's blog post detailing how she created this card.

She also gives step-by-step directions on how to make

the crocheted rolled rose.

Bonnie's post can be found HERE.

If you are interested in the SVG file sets, you can get

Fancy Flourishes-Two at CUT & CREATE

Flower Flourishes can be found HERE

Swap: "A Haunting We Will Go"

I went out of my comfort zone and participated in my very first swap. 

The Yahoo group "All Things Tim" hosted 

 a Halloween themed swap using Tim Holtz products. 

It was to be a 4" x 6" postcard size on chipboard.  

This is what I came up with:

Here's how I made it:

1.  I cut two 4" x 6" pieces of recycled cereal boxes and glued them together.  I roughed up the shiney printed sides to make the glue adhere better.  Then each piece sat under something heavy until it dried...to keep the chipboard flat.
2.  I cut a 4" x 6" piece of scrapbook paper for the front.  I used "Pretty Please Polka Dot Orange" by My Minds Eye.  (I know the name of the paper because I bought it specifically for this swap)  Then I distressed around the edges with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.
3.  I stamped the left screen stamp (from Tim Holtz) twice, directly onto the paper with Archival Jet Black ink.  In the center of the screens, I swiped on a subtle hint of Wild Honey Distress Ink.  I also stamped 1/2 of the large clock face directly onto the paper.
4.  Using a small clock stamp (from Tim Holtz) and the same 1/2 of the large clock face, I stamped with black ink on white cardstock.  I then "painted" Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade and Vintage Photo Distress Inks over the image using a water pen.  After they dried, I punched out the small clock using a 1.5" round punch and hand cut out the inside portion of the 1/2 clock face.  I also stamped the hands on the larger clock using black ink.  I then glued the cut out clocks onto the base paper.  I used a brayer on everything I glued to be sure each piece was securely down.

5.  Glued black ribbon onto the paper about 1/2" up from the bottom.
6.  I chose a vintage image and printed her onto white cardstock.  To set the ink, I sprayed with fixative and then using the same Distress Inks that I used on the clocks, colored her dress.  I also added some color under her eyes to make them more "spooky"!

7.  The hat is a SVG cut file that I created and cut using Sure Cuts Alot and my Cricut.  I cut it out of black cardstock and added the hatband and shading with watercolor pencils.
8.  Using Photoshop, I found the scroll artwork and made it the correct size.  I then found the font "Nightmare 5" on http://www.dafont/ and added the wording on the banner.  I printed it out on white cardstock and sprayed with fixative.  Shaded the banner with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress Inks and the water pen.  I hand cut out the banner and glued it to the paper.
9.  I stamped the spider in black ink and added Glossy Accents to the body for dimension.  I also created eyes using yellow Stickles.  The web string was drawn on with a thin Sharpie.

10.  I took clear round gems and colored them to match my paper using Red Pepper and Sunshine Yellow Alcohol Inks.  Glued them to the ribbon.

The back was required to be finished and, never having done a swap before, I wondered how I should do it.  I decided to create a "label" with the swap information.  I used PhotoShop and a clip art border to add the swap info.  I printed it out on a cream cardstock and then hand cut the label out and added some Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink to the info box.  I numbered and signed the label using a thin Sharpie.  The black background paper is "Texture Black" from The Paper Studio.  I used more of the front base paper on the sides, which I tore using a deckle ruler.

So there you have it...my first Swap submission!  I made 18 of these.  I had the basic idea in my head and probably spent most of one day gathering, creating and placing the elements I wanted to use. 

I can't wait to see the pages I get back from the other swap participants.  I'll be sure to share them with you!

SVG: Desert Scene

Things are a little hot and humid up in northern Michigan today. 

The weather has delayed my swap going out by a day...

I want to make sure everything is totally dry

before I pack it up and ship it out.

Details to come!

Today I have a little southwest desert scene SVG for you. 

You can get the file HERE.

I'm baaaack!

Hubby and I took a few days and heading even a little more north to Mackinac Island.  We met up with a group of friends and had

three great days on this historic island. 

Here's a picture of us on the world famous porch of the Grand Hotel.

Now it's time to get back to creating! 

This week I'm finishing up my first ever swap (which I will share in a day or so). 

I will also have a new SVG freebie for you, more great art from the Creative Team

and probably a few other fun things too...

Sharing: Frog Sign

Ahhh....summer time.  I absolutely LOVE summer "Up North".  It almost makes up for the long winters.  I think everyone else must be enjoying their summer as well as the blogging world has slowed down a bit.  And that's okay...we should enjoy it while we can.  But if you're looking for some creative inspiration, I'm sharing a super cute little sign made by Creative Team Member Vicki...

I love Vicki's choice of patterned papers to piece the frog, which is one of the

SVG designs in my "Garden Friends-Set One".

Vicki has all the details on her BLOG.

While you're there, be sure to check out her "Background Paper Refresh" technique.

She gives you great ideas to use those "stale" papers you're holding on to.

.

Interested in the "Garden Friends-Set One" SVG files?

You can purchase the set HERE

Sharing: Another Tea Cup Card

Did everyone have a great (holiday--If you're in the US) weekend? 

We sure did.  Lots of fun and visiting all weekend long. 

Above is a picture of Millie in the lake taken on the 4th.  Louie was the bullie who loved to swim (very rare!) while Millie prefers to sun on the beach.  However it was warm enough that she wanted to cool her tummy, so she went in.

I have some new freebie SVG files in the works

but as I am in "vacation mode" they are not ready yet. 

So instead I'll share a card made by Georgette.

Georgette did a great job decorating and embellishing the Tea Cup Card. 

This SVG was offered during a blog hop and is my most popular file. 

If you missed it, you can purchase the file
HERE

SVGs: Patriotic Star #2 & Patriotic Pennant

Yesterday I played hooky.  We had a rare night out where we met old friends coming through town, met up with two other sets of friends in two different places and then went over to a third couples house for a pre-4th party. 

Needless to say, I got home WAY to late to post yesterday's freebie! 

So today you get two SVG files....Stars and Stripes!

Sorry...these files are no longer available for free.
You can now purchase both files in a set of six patriotic elements at
CUT & CREATE