Monthly Archives: November 2010

simply saturday… simply silver & gold

Posted on November 20, 2010 | 2 comments

Saturday is always a great day to keep things simple don’t you think? It doesn’t get much more simple than this. With that stunning silver Hambly screen-printed paper, I couldn’t bear to cover it up.

My solution? Punch circles from gold cardstock and layer them over the circle elements in the design.

Quick Tip: When cutting your patterned paper, think of how it will best work on the finished design.  The way I’ve cut the silver patterned visually divides the design into thirds.

Supplies: white & gold cardstock by Bazzill, Silver Paper by Hambly, circle punch, Tiny Attacher, dimensional foam tape, gold glitter letters by Making Memories, Pearl Trinket Pins by Maya Road

Have a simply wonderful Saturday…

2 Comments

Posted in Card Designs

Holiday Blocks

Posted on November 19, 2010 | 1 comment

November is simply flying by! The countdown till Christmas is making me a little nervous. As the crafting world is working on many different seasons at once, I seem to be caught up designing for Spring and Summer for the most part right now. It was good to stop, switch gears and remember exactly what season it is in real life and have fun with it.

One of the projects I’ve been wanting to make this year was some paper covered wooden blocks. I’m so glad I finally got to it as it was so much fun. In fact…I ended up making two more quick projects I was having so much fun. You’ll find the Noel Blocks project and two others in the CLASSroom today. I hope you’ll join me here.

Have a wonderful weekend!

1 Comment

Posted in Card Designs, Ellen Hutson LLC projects, Holiday

basic brown… basically beautiful

Posted on November 18, 2010 | 4 comments

Brown. Pretty basic, right? A color we really take for granted.

Let’s take a second look at it. It’s soft, cozy, warm and comfortable. A true classic, brown really never goes out of style. Brown is also a dark neutral just like black but switching it out from black can give you a totally different look. When watercoloring, I love stamping in a dark brown ink, especially for a softer image or a more vintage look. Brown stitching goes with almost everything. Brown is far from boring.

Today I’m hosting another Ways to Use it Challenge and this time the challenge is brown. Use it predominantly in your project to play along and show us how you use this beautiful and most often overlooked color. Check out the challenge here.

the Art of Kindness

My son recently hung up a bird feeder outside our window and now from my desk I can watch the most beautiful little brown birds flying in and out all day long. They may not be colorful but they are oh so pretty.  A subtle beauty.

I recently ordered some (ok…most, I couldn’t resist) of the new Basic Grey Curio line. Beautiful soft browns and the darling chipboard bird just flew into my hands and had to be used first. It reminds me of my precious daily visitors that always make me smile.

I’ve stamped on a layer of vellum for a subtle look. The Hero Arts sentiment is stamped in Coffee Archival ink by Ranger and then masked and over stamped with a musical background in Sepia Archival ink.

Quick Tip: Heat set the Archival Inks when stamping on vellum for a permanent image.

Some of my favorite browns…

  • Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink & Frayed Burlap Distress Ink by Ranger – for sponging edges
  • Coffee and Sepia Archival Inks by Ranger – for stamping, heat set for permanence
  • all things kraft
  • twine
  • cardboard and chipboard
  • Coffee Shop Glimmer Mist – for spritzing and flicking ink over a project
  • E35 Chamois, E33 Sand, E37 Sepia, E39 Leather, E31 Brick Beige – favorite browns in Copic Markers

Supply List: kraft cardstock by Bazzill, Curio 6×6 paper pad & Curio Chip Sticker Shapes by Basic Grey, So Artsy stamp set and Cling Music Background by Hero Arts, twine, Brushed Corduroy Distress ink by Ranger, Coffee and Sepia Archival Inks by Ranger, Leaf Trinket pins by Maya Road, vellum, sewing machine

Happy creating!

4 Comments

Posted in Card Designs, Hero Arts

so precious

Posted on November 15, 2010 | 7 comments

One of the things I like best about scrapbooking is going back and reliving those treasured moments. A few months ago I came across this picture from about 13 years ago. Aren’t they darling? I spent a lot of the winter working on stitching that smocked dress and the bibbed shorts. I’ve saved both.

This layout uses the Very Vintage November, Up the Street Scrapbooking kit. I’ve created a stitched color block look using the Mix and Mend stickers and papers.

The denim flower is die cut from a pair of worn out old ripped jeans using the Tattered Florals Die. Waste not, want not…isn’t that how it goes? I’ve flipped the good and reverse side on each layer to get a two-toned effect.

Have a beautiful day!

7 Comments

Posted in Scrapbooking, Up the Street

beautiful butterflies

Posted on November 14, 2010 | 3 comments

I’m back, had a fabulous time and today I have a vintage style card to share.

Sorry I’ve had a few less projects to share than usual. I’m still catching up on design work after being ill and am currently buried in a big project. It’s one I’m really excited about so I’m quite happily buried.

Vintage Butterfly Thanks

Remember my tissue paper flowers here? I loved it so much that I die cut a pile of them to have on hand. This one I’ve spritzed with lots of Glimmer Mist for some color.

Quick Tip: Stamping a sentiment onto a busy patterned paper can make it difficult to read. Tearing off a corner of the pattern gives you a worn look and allows you to easily stamp and see your sentiment on the cardstock below.

Supplies: Tissue paper, Tattered Florals Die, white craft ink, kraft cardstock by Bazzill, sanding block, Butterfly by Jenni Bowlin, Vintage Green Pearl Trinket Pins by Maya Road, Tiny Attacher, Conservatory 8×8 paper pad by 7 Gypsies, Everyday Sayings stamp set by Hero Arts, Avignon Printed Paper Tape by 7 Gypsies

Thanks for stopping by!

3 Comments

Posted in Card Designs

like to shop?

Posted on November 13, 2010 | 3 comments

like to shop?

here’s a few things to check out…

Love those Lily Bee goodies and what a great deal!

* * * * *

If you’re into Tim Holtz & Ranger goodies… Ellen Hutson has a great 12 tags sale going on right now in anticipation of Tim’s yearly 12 Tags of Christmas. I’m anxiously awaiting some of the new goodies she has in store as well. I splurged on the new Basic Grey Curio, Marjolaine and October Afternoon. New items in the store can be found here.

Guess where I am today?

Niagara Falls and having fun.

I’m so excited to finally get some time away with my hubby even if it is just for 24 hours.

I am trying to work up the courage to go on this. As I’m desperately afraid of heights…we’ll see!

Enjoy your weekend!

3 Comments

Posted in Card Designs

a visit up the street

Posted on November 12, 2010 | 10 comments

I went on a little trip this week. A very short one but oh so fun. Up the Street Scrapbooking is only 30 minutes away and I’ve been dying to visit. That nasty virus and infection kept me housebound for the past month but this week I’m out and about and loving it.

Since I so often, live vicariously through the blogged travels of others, I thought you might like to see this new little shop as it is so fun and unique.

Being in a small town, Tara has a fun shop with loads of scrapbooking products, but also many other things as well. They add to the atmosphere and make wandering through the shop an adventure. Check out the blackboard…

Love those fun antiques. The library card catalogue file had me drooling.

I spy some lovely Lily Bee…

Seriously…I need that typewriter!!! I love how it’s nestled in with candy, candles and look…rub-ons.

Felt cookies anyone?

Meet Tara. Sweet, creative and talented. What a great mix.

Look down. Isn’t that the most fabulous door/counter ever?

I’m not quite sure how it happened but in looking at all the texture and goodies, I missed taking photos of all the scrapbooking goodies. I was beyond thrilled that everything I love to create with is there. Think Distress Ink, Crate Paper, Lily Bee, Basic Grey, Maya Road, Pink Paislee, Thickers, Glimmer Mist, etc., etc, etc.,

I came home with a nice bag of goodies. Retail therapy. sigh.

And just so you know… I am not being compensated in any way for this post. I just wanted to share my fun.

Have a great weekend!

10 Comments

Posted in Card Designs