Mousekemom's Mouseworks

February Retro-Fresh Challenge: Getting dimensional!

2012-02-08T00:01:00.001-06:00

This month's retro-fresh challenge at TGF's Farm Fresh Challenge blog is to get dimensional! Remember that this challenge is where you have to use a TGF stamp that is at least six months or older.

I have these great Art Blanche pre-cut containers that I found on clearance. This one is a cute little purse box with cut out windows. I stamped it with crowns and sentiment (studio g) in Blazing Red and Jet Black Staz-On. After that, I spritzed the box with Silver Foil and Gold Glow smooch spritz. I put a clear window sheet behind the bubbles. The image is TGF's Dressy Joyce digi colored with copic markers and mounted with dimensionals. The crown is from the dollar bin at Michael's and is embossed with gold metallic embossing powder. I added pearls to the crown to add some extra dimension. The final touch is to the checked ribbon.

angled to show dimension

Now it's your turn to head to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog and play along! Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday #19 - Stitching

2012-02-06T00:01:00.002-06:00

This week is one of my favorite challenges because the possibilities are endless...stitching. So, I pulled out my trusty sewing maching because I love the look of machine stitches. I used a straight stitch around the edge of the card and zig zag stitches along the scallop border.

The base is vanilla with layers of kraft. The patterned music paper I found on another blog. She used a photo of the vintage sheet music to create drawer liner for a desk. Isn't it fab?!? The sentiment sheet is from K&Co Smash Entertainment themed pad. They are so quirky and add a quick embellishment to your project. I used SU's lacy scallop punch to add a border and added little pears between the scallops. The image is from the new Miss Anya Garland and is colored in copic markers, then mounted on dimensionals.
Be sure to check out the rest of the design team creations and play along at TGF's Farm Fresh Challenge blog. Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday #18 - Key to My Heart

2012-01-30T00:01:00.004-06:00

It's another Monday Funday at TGF's Farm Fresh Challenge blog and this week we are looking for the "Key to My Heart".
My card is based with SU's Wisteria Wonder with layers of Whisper White and bubblegum pink. The "u" is inked with Almost Amythyst craft ink, then set with deep impression clear embossing powder. The border is Martha Stewart daisy. The ribbon is from the dollar bin at Michaels. The key is Tim Holtz, tied with a bit of white pearl embroidery floss, and topped with a heart from the SU heart trio punch. The image is the new TGF Miss Anya Garland, colored in copic markers, then mounted with dimensionals. The polka dots on her dress are added with a white gel pen. The finishing touch is some stitching around the edge.
Be sure to join the play along and check out the rest of the Design Team at the FFC blog. Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spyday #17 with Rachel!

2012-01-27T00:01:00.003-06:00

This is the last Spyday of January and this week's spied Farm Friend is Rachel (aka raparys). Rachel participates in a lot of our challenges and her projects are always gorgeous! Here is Rachel's card:

Rachel's card

My card is base is SU Tempting Turquoise with layers of Real Red, Daffodil Delight, and Whisper White. The designer paper is Karen Foster pool tile. The base is dry embossed with the Cuttlebug polka dots 5x7 embossing folder. The image is Amelia from TGF's OA Surprise and colored in copic markers. I used a classic square nestabilities die to cut Amelia's image, inking in Jet Black Staz-On, then matting it on a piece of Whisper White cardstock, inking the edges to look like a polaroid photo. I added a bit of yellow polka dot ribbon with some adhesive and tiny staples from Tim Holtz. The sentiment is punched out of a 1 1/4" circle and mounted on 1 3/8" circle, and a punched scalloped circle.
Be sure to visit the Farm Fresh Challenge blog and play along with this week's challenge. Thanks for looking! April

TGF Chit Chat Night at SCS

2012-01-20T19:03:00.002-06:00

This month's Chat and Challenge night at Splitcoast is Books! Our fabulous farm friend, Rachel (aka raparys) is our host. There will be three challenges you can enter: 1) favorite book - use keyword TGFCCN2, 2) favorite book turned movie - use keyword TGFCCN3, and 3) favorite children's book - use keyword TGFCCN4. You will have the weekend to complete the challenges.

Here is one of my entries. I decided to make a favorite Twilight quotes page in my SMASH album. I found all these great little icons online a long time ago, pics on Deviant Art, and quote stamps from Artful Inkables. The quotes are stamped in Timber Staz-On. The swirls, truck, and feathers are stamped in Versamark watermark ink. I used the actual page from a worn copy for my favorite quote about Bella's truck. The images of Bella & Edward are TGF's Camille & Edward coloring in copic. I used scraps from my goodie pack I got from my heART Journalling (music scrap, tree scrap, map scrap) to make their background. I found the Forks zipcode at CafePress. The ticket is Tim Holtz. The title is Close to My Heart's giggle lowercase and Inkadinkado's curly alphabet. Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday #16 - Sentiment

2012-01-16T00:01:00.001-06:00

It's Monday, and you all know what that means! It's Monday Funday at the TGF Farm Fresh Challenge blog and this week it is "Must have a Sentiment" challenge.
The base of my card is SU's Whisper White with layers of Basic Black and Real Red. The border is EK Success card suit. The ribbon is from Michaels and topped with a black pearl. The image is TGF's Cheeky Kitty digi, but I drew bunny ears and cut off her tail. I used a mini pom pom for her fluffy tail and attached with a glue dot. She is mounted with dimensionals. I wanted a naughty playboy bunny to make it extra flirty. The sentiment is made by TGF's Go Round retired sentiment set, an alphabet set from Target's dollar spot, and Inkadinkado's Curly Alphabet.
Join us at the Farm Fresh Challenge blog to see the rest of the DT and to play along with this week's challenge! Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spyday #15 with Sabina

2012-01-13T00:01:00.000-06:00

Sabina A's card

Well, those of us in Iowa got our first snowfall...baby, it's cold outside. We were too spoiled with the fab weather and now, it just seems too cold. What do we do when it's too cold outside? Hit the craft table, of course! Today's spied Farm Friend is Sabina A on Splitcoast Stampers. I love Oliver and Amelia! This is OA Journey Oliver and I love his little vagabond look...doesn't he look ready to jump on a train car?
My card is Very Vanilla with layers of Recollections Paris designer paper and eggplant cardstock. The layers are inked with chalk ink cat's eye. The tickets are Tim Holtz. I used skittles with glue dots in place of the screw brads Sabina used. The image is also from TGF's OA Journey, but I used Amelia colored in copic markers. She is mounted with dimensionals. The sentiment is a retired TGF Go Round stamp in Elegant Eggplant ink, punched with a 1 3/8" circle and mounted on a piece of eggplant using the decorative punch.
So, go, stamp, create and link up to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog to enter this week's Spyday challenge! Thanks for looking! April

January Retro-Fresh Challenge

2012-01-11T00:01:00.000-06:00

Can you believe how fast January is already flying by? This month's challenge is to make a love-themed project. It seems like I can't get my head into using one of the older stamps, because this month's release is just so fabulous!
The card design is based on Jen's Deconstructed Sketch #33. The base is Recollections sky blue with layers of soft lavender, SU's Very Vanilla, and designer paper from K & Co. The border punches are SU's scalloped border and EK Success's pinking hearts. The baker's twine is SU's cherry cobbler. The swirls are a Sizzlits die and the hearts are punched from SU's multi hearts punch, then embossed with the Cuttlebug polka dots embossing folder. The image is TGF's Sweetheart's digi and is colored in copic markers with accents of white gel pen, mounted on dimensionals. A few crystals add a finishing touch.
Be sure to head to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog and join in on the fun! April

Monday Funday #15

2012-01-09T00:01:00.004-06:00

This is for TGF's Monday Funday. Today's challenge...use polka dots, pink and two ribbons! Yea, I know.
So my base is sky blue with layers of Very Vanilla and pink bubblegum. The Vanilla layers is punched using one of the Martha Stewart's punch-around-the-page sets. The bubblegum layer is dry embossed using the polka dot 5x7 Cuttlebug embossing folder. The image is from the new TGF Miss Anya Garland set, colored in copic. I used a white gel pen to add accents to the hearts and white satin ribbon to add the bow to her dress, before mounting her with dimensionals. The sentiment is from a K & Co. paper open stock at Michael's. I cut one piece from the many different choices and mounted it on layers of bubblegum and Vanilla. The little border is punched using EK Success dotted scallop punch. I added a pink grosgrain ribbon to the corner. I skipped a lot of the embellishing so it is easy to mail...simple but sweet!
Please join us at the Farm Fresh Challenge blog and play along with this week's challenge. Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spyday #14

2012-01-06T00:01:00.001-06:00

Wilfreda's card

It's the first Spyday of 2012 and this week's spied crafter is Wilfreda!
I used a base of chocolate brown with layers of SEI papers and red. The image is TGF's Kissy Kissy digi and colored in copics. I added a couple of pearls for her earring and on the dress bow. I cut the scallop from chocolate and layered it with a Whisper White circle, cut and embossed with nestabilities, then inked with Blazing Red Staz-On. I then inked the TGF Splotchy background stamp with Dove Grey Staz-On and stamped over the inked circle, before mounting the image. Inside, is kraft with a border of pinking hearts punched in red with a scrap of the striped layer.
Now, head to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog to play along and see what the rest of the fabulous DT has made! Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday #14 - Color Combo

2012-01-02T00:01:00.000-06:00

It's the first Monday Funday of 2012! Today's assignment is to use blue, white and one color of your choice. I have been color images ahead and found that I already had one that would work great for this one! TIP: coloring ahead gives you a quick means to throw together a card with little or no time. All I had to do was decide the card design and put it together.
The base is Whisper White with layers of SU's Pawsitively Prints designer papers. I stitched around the inside layer. The ribbon is blue polka dot grosgrain from Micheal's. The border is SU's scalloped punch. The image is from TGF's Miss Anya's Hats Off, colored in copic markers, then mounted with dimensionals. The sentiment is from Michael's dollar bin and stamped in Jet Black Staz-On.
Quick and simple, but oh so sweet! Now, head over to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog to see what the rest of the DT has done and play along. Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spyday #13 with Shaela

2011-12-30T00:01:00.002-06:00

Shaela's card

This is the last Friday Spyday of 2011. Can you believe we are half way through this DT term? It's amazing how time flies. This week's featured card is by Shaela. She uses such great colors and Flirty Anya is just too cute.
My base is Very Vanilla with layers of kraft and Mamarazzi by Bo Bunny. The border punch is Martha Stewart and the sentiment is punched using the decorative label punch from SU. The image is Oliver from TGF's OA Journey. Isn't he just darling? I love his little vintage vagabond look. He is colored in copic and mounted on dimensionals. The last piece is a coin from Tim Holtz.
Be sure to check out the rest of the design team and play along with this week's challenge at the TGF Farm Fresh Challenge blog. Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 23

2011-12-29T11:12:00.000-06:00

This is the last Heart Journal. I can't believe I made it through all 23 weeks! Honestly, I feel like it is a major accomplishment, so I am excited to share my last entry. This week's theme is "A Letter to Myself."
I used Bo Bunny Mamarazzi for the base. Isn't it fabulous? I cut a photo/mirror from thin chipboard and used a square nestabilities to cut and emboss the center. Instead of a photo, I put a piece of foil so to still reflect, but be distorted. I have a hard time with my looks and have never had a positive view of me or my body, so I decided to reflect that. On the left side is my title and along the film strip, I wrote some positive things for me to focus on about myself. The tag next to the "photo" is stamped with $1 set from Target's dollar spot, in Jet Black Staz-On. I added a silver eyelet in place of the one printed on the tag and tied some jute twine before mounting on dimensionals.
So, there you have it. Thanks for taking this journey with me and thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday #13 - Sing-A-Song

2011-12-26T00:01:00.004-06:00

It's another Monday Funday challenge at the TGF Farm Fresh Challenge blog and I get to host! I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas (or if you celebrate another holiday). Today's challenge is "Sing A Song" - create a project based on a favorite song or lyric. I left it broad so there is a lot of freedom.

The card base is Whisper White with layers of Old Olive and designer paper from DCWV. The image is Elf Anya and is colored with copics. I mounted it on a die cut with nestabilites classic circles and lacy circles. I tied some bells to twine and cut slits near her hands to look like she is holding the string of bells. I also used a glue gun to add bells to her hat and the bow.

peek at inside

Inside is some scraps from the card with the sentiment "Jingle Bells" stamped in Purely Pomegrante using Studio g alphabet stamps from Michael's dollar bin.
I hope you all join in and take a break from the holiday craze. Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spyday #12 - Beate

2011-12-23T00:01:00.002-06:00

Beate's card

This week's Spyday comes from a very talented lady at SCS - Beate! She has many tutorials and gorgeous projects that wow me every time.

I decided to draw from the colors and the scallops. I wanted to use more than one kind of border punch and had a lot of fun picking which ones. I also drew from the triangle piece by making a multi-pocket card. I started with a base of 5x12, scoring at 4 and 8. I then cut a diagonal piece off from the 4" score to the 12" end. I added an extra pocket behind the shortest piece. At the top, I punched a Martha Stewart punch on Whisper White; folding it as I stitched to give it a gathered look. I used the pinking hearts punch in black along the slant. I used a scrap piece of pink heart printed paper to make a background for the middle pocket. The black pocket has a white border using the lacy scallop border punch from SU. The littlest slant flap is embossed using the snowflake Cuttlebug folder.
I made the wrap with a pink band 1.5" wide x 10". The image is WS Joyce digi, colored with copics and a Santa hat cut from Cricut's Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge in bubble gum pink. The floor is made by coloring with several E group markers, then drawing lines and woodgrain with a multiliner. She is mounted on a lacy circle nestabilities, accented with bling. The sentiment is printed on cardstock, punched with a 1 1/4" circle, mounted on a 1 3/8" circle, and popped up on a dimensional. Inside hides three gift cards.
Now it's your turn! Head over to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog to check out the rest of the Design Team samples and play along. Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 22

2011-12-21T23:01:00.000-06:00

We're in the last two weeks of Heart Journalling over at The Greeting Farm. I can't believe next week is it and I will actually finish this....Merry Christmas to me! This week's assignment - Music of My Heart. We have been asked to create a spread featuring music in some way. As for me, well, I have NO musical talent - that honor goes to my husband and daughter. I can proudly say my daughter's ecclectic tastes come from me. I love country, oldies, broadway, etc...pretty much anything that is not Death Metal or rap. My MP3 features things like Andrew Lloyd Webber, Seether, Paramore, Brad Paisley, Van Morrison, and Disney - just to name a few.
The color inspiration came from a Creative Imaginations sticker page I picked up on clearance at Michael's. It has shades of cream, brown, maroon, silver, etc. I started my spread by inking the base in CTMH's Brown Bag, then inked the edges in Blazing Red Staz-On. Next, I went to my sheet music background stamp from Stampabilities and SU's Grunge Rock for the guitar. I printed words to several songs that speak to me right now... A Thousand Years (Christina Perri - Breaking Dawn), Don't Think I Can't Love You (Jake Owen), All That You Are (Goo Goo Dolls - Transformers), and Get It Right (Glee Original Song). They are inked and stamped with the same two colors. The checker stamp is also from SU's Grunge Rock. The finishing touch is a few stickers from the Creative Imaginations sheet. Thanks for looking! April

TGF's 3rd Annual Customer Blog Hop

2011-12-19T10:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the 3rd Annual Customer Blog Hop! This is for the holiday project entry.

My project is a butterfly box using SU's Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Recollections robin egg blue, cherry, and designer papers from DCWV's This Christmas stack. The image is from TGF's Tea-rrific photopolymer clear mount stamp set and is colored in copic markers. It was cut and embossed using Nestabilities classic circles and mounted on a lacy circle using dimensionals. The border punch is Martha Stewart's scary fence, but I cut off the bat wings, and added pearls. The finishing touch is a bow tied with a pink button.

box top

Inside view

Inside is a sentiment I typed on the computer and cut out using a Nestabilites die.
While the box is a tad time consuming and requires exact measurements, it gives a dramatic effect and is actually easy to assemble.

Not only do the participants have a chance to win one of TWO big prizes - one in each category of "holiday" and 'general" project categories. THREE grand prizes up for grabs! Be sure to comment on each participants blog as you hop along and you will be entered to win the third grand prize. Talk about awesome!

Now, back to the TGF blog to pick up your next stop!

I hope you enjoyed visiting my blog and you have fun! Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday #12

2011-12-19T00:01:00.006-06:00

Here we are again! Time to make those last minute Christmas cards! This week's assignment: use Kraft, twine and buttons.

The base is cherry with layers of kraft. I used a corner rounder to trim the layers. The image is TGF's Wild Sprout Edward and Camille...of course, they are for Twilight's Edward and Bella...and are colored with copic markers. I added a little heart ornament for Bella to hold. The border punch is Martha Stewart. I stamped the sentiment from SU's Loads of Love in Whisper White on the corner before adding the assembled layers. I wrapped some jute twine around the border piece, adding a couple of little tags with holiday words tied with baker's twine and clipped with a mini clothes pin. I also added a button near the sentiment, tied with a piece of baker's twine and set with a glue dot.

Inside, the sentiment and truck are from SU's Loads of Love. The truck is pieced and mounted on dimensionals.

inside of card

Head over to the TGF Farm Fresh Challenge blog and play along! Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spyday #11 with Eva91

2011-12-16T00:01:00.004-06:00

eva's card

It's another Friday Spyday down on the farm. Today we spied...Eva 91! Eva's card is based on another recent Spyday we had but her colors and papers, along with her darling grandmother image is just too sweet.

The inspiration for my card came while my children watched "The Polar Express."The base is robin's egg blue from Recollections and has layers of cherry and designer paper from DCWV's This Christmas. The other images are copies of the gold train ticket. The background is cut using the SU/Sizzix Top Note die. The designer paper layer is also embossed using the snowflakes Cuttlebug folder. Behind the Top Note layer, I have a pull out ticket with the phrase "Believe" punched in it. If you know the story, you know where it comes from. I added a silver bell (also part of the story) and a pull tag to the edge of the ticket. The image is TGF's Special Autumn Anya and is colored with copics, then mounted on dimensionals. Her hat is from Cricut's Pooh & Friends cartridge. The sentiment (also from the story) is stamped on a scrap of blue base in Blazing Red Staz-On, then punched and mounted with dimensionals. Does the bell still ring for you?

Now it's your turn. Head over to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog and see what the rest of the DT created, then submit your entry. Thanks for looking! April

December Retro-Fresh Challenge: Tag-It

2011-12-14T00:01:00.003-06:00

This month's TGF Farm Fresh Challenge blog Retro Fresh challenge is Tag-It! The assignment: create a tag or use a tag on a project featuring a TGF image. I'll be honest, I am not a fan of making tags, but I don't mind using them on something else.

Here is mine...another Christmas card featuring TGF's OA Just for You and Tea-rrific sets (tag and swirl inside). Now, the OA Just for You meets the "at least 6 months old" for the Retro part of the challenge, but I snuck in the other set...shame on me! The base is Old Olive with layers of Very Vanilla, cherry and DSP from DCWV and is a gate fold card with stitching around the outer edge of the layers. The border punch is lacy scallop border from Martha Stewart/EK Success. The ribbon is grosgrain from Michael's. Amelia is color in copic. The ground under her feet is done making lots of little dots in several shades of the E range of colors - Sand, Oriental, Chamios, etc. The tag is stamped in Wild Wasabi ink and the snowflake is from the SU Season of Friendship, stamped with Whisper White craft, then sprinkled with red embossing powder. It is punched with a 3/4" cirlce and mounted on a 1" circle using a dimensional. I used a bit of twine to kinda make it look like an ornament.

inside card

I absolutely love how many TGF images can be used for more than one kind of project. They are, by far, one of the most flexible images I have ever worked with. Be sure to check out what the rest of the DT has up their sleeves at the TGF Farm Fresh Challenge blog. Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday #11 - Oh Boy!

2011-12-12T00:01:00.001-06:00

Today's Monday Funday is Oh Boy! - create a boy themed card. Head over to the TGF Farm Fresh Challenge blog to see what the Design Team has created for you!
My card base is kraft with layers of spruce and designer paper from DCWV's This Christmas stack. I used a zig zag stitch around the large layer and a straight stitch on the inner layer. I wrapped the base with Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon, then made a bow and attached with a glue dot. The image is Later Skater Ian and is cut with a nestabilities die, then mounted with dimensionals. The santa hat is cut on the Cricut using Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge. The sentiment is printed using Stencil font and punched with a 1 1/2" circle and mounted on a 1 3/4" circle, then mounted with dimensionals.
The inside hides a little surprise...a gift card! I used a scrap of the spruce paper to decorate the inside with a forest punch by EK Success. Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 21

2011-12-11T22:02:00.000-06:00

This week's Heart Journal assignments is "I LOVE..." - create a spread about someone or something you love. Well, there are a lot of things I love in my life, so...

The base is sponged in Purely Pomegrante, Wisteria Wonder, Tempting Turquoise, Calypso Coral, and Green Galore. The circles are from Autumn Leaves, stamped in Jet Black Staz-On, and accented with white gel pen. I used multiliners in .02, .05, and .08 to doodle the lines, border, title and writing. Last, I spritzed it with Vanilla Shimmer and Spun Sugar Smooch and heat set. Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spyday #10 - Danielle Daws

2011-12-09T00:01:00.004-06:00

It's another Friday Spyday at TGF's Farm Fresh Challenge blog. This week we spied...Danielle Daws. It is inspired from a sketch by Jennifer Schulz at Deconstructing Jen. I am also entering it for this week's Anyone for Anya's Anything Goes challenge.

Danielle's card

My base is Cherry with layers of pine and designer papers from DCWV This Christmas stack. I stitched the two layers with a straight and zig zag stitches. The image is TGF's Wild Sprout Stella and is colored in copics and mounted with dimensionals. I accented it with glitter and cut the santa hat from Cricut's Paper Doll Dress Up. The letters are cut from Cricut's Doodlecharms. The sentiment is printed on cardstock and mounted on a pine scrap with a dimensional.

Don't forget about the TGF 3rd Annual Customer Blog Hop! There is still 3 days left to sign up by emailing Jessica at yeahshestamps@gmail.com. Come play along with us and enter for a chance at some special treats!
Thanks for looking! April

Give-away at Melissa's blog

2011-12-08T11:09:00.000-06:00

Melissa at Creating from the Heart is offering up a super awesome blog candy! I am not telling what it is, so you will have to look for yourself. Be sure to check it out and join in on the fun!

Monday Funday #10 - N.E.A.

2011-12-05T00:01:00.003-06:00

It's a killer challenge at TGF's Farm Fresh Challenge blog - NEA - No Embellishments Allowed! You wouldn't think this would be hard, but it's harder than you think. I am itching to grab something out of my embellishment drawer!
The base is from a prescored 4x5.5" card kit I found at Michael's. It is mounted with a layer of cherry cardstock that I used the EK Success/SU pinking hearts border on one end. The image is one of the three Miss Anya Hats Off set and is colored in copic. Because she looks like she is sitting, I free-hand sketched a line and colored in an area under her seat. Anya is holding a wreath I made by cutting a circle within a circle, then used scraps from the pinking hearts border punch. (Just collect the hearts as you punch the border and adhere them to the circle base with liquid adhesive, then let dry. TIP: used a scrap of post it note to make a little handle to hold the circle while you glue the hearts.) The sentiment is made from two SU retired sets - Rivited and So Many Scallops - stamped on Whisper White and cherry, then mounted with dimensionals. Now, it's your turn. Head over to the FFC blog to join the fun and check out what the other talented DT members are doing! Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 20

2011-12-04T23:22:00.000-06:00

This week's Heart Journal assignment is "Dreams": create a spread based on a dream, goal, or wish. I have had some weird dreams lately, so I decided to go more broad. I started searching ideas on the internet and then looked at images. When I saw a dreamcatcher, I started looking at them specifically. Some are so simple and others are really detailed. So, I decided to use one in my design.

The base is mod podged tissue paper that is crinkled and then painted with a coat of Regency Blue acrylic paint. Once set, I stamped the background with a script and sheet music (Stampabilities) in Pool Party ink. Next is a Inkadinkado polka dot stamp in Brilliance Moonlight archival ink. I inked the edges in Island Indigo ink, then stamped with words from Michael's dollar bin. The dream catcher is sketched on vellum, then colored on the back with Sharpie markers. I cut it out and ran it through a Xyron sticker maker. I purposely placed it so one of the words showed through the vellum. Last was a few words written by hand and a favorite quote from Twilight. Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spyday #9 with Jacqueline

2011-12-02T00:01:00.005-06:00

It's another Friday Spyday at TGF's Farm Fresh Challenge blog and this week's spied card is by Jacqueline.

Jacqueline's card

The base is cherry from Recollections with layers of Very Vanilla and DSP from DCWV's Christmas stack. The base is cut at 5.25x10.5. The cherry layer is cut at 5x5 with the squares cut at 2.25 and the DSP layer is 2 1/8 square. The image is TGF's Elf Anya colored with copic markers and mounted on classic circle and lacy circle cut with nestabilities with dimensionals. The lights are button embellishments I found at Michael's and tied with twine that was pulled across a Lucky Limeade ink pad to color it. The sentiment is printed on cardstock in Curlz font and mounted on a nestabilities diecut.
Now, it's your turn! Head over to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog and show us what you've got. Be sure to check out the rest of the DT's designs too (see right column). NOW....

FYI for 3rd Annual Customer Blog Hop!

What: An ALL-customer blog hop for anyone who wants to participate using TGF stamps

When: Monday, December 19th, 10am CST-10pm CST

Where: TGF's Blog and on YOUR blogs!

How to sign up? This is the important part, folks!

1.) Please send an email to Jessica at yeahshestamps@gmail.com with the subject line: TGF HOP (my email will be set up to 'filter' these emails into a special folder so that no names are missed- it's very important you use the words "TGF HOP".

2.) Create a new, never-before-seen project, card, etc. in ONE of TWO categories (or both if you're feeling festive!)

a.) HOLIDAY project b.) GENERAL TGF project

There will be TWO Grand prizes to two random hoppers that night- one for a HOLIDAY project and one for a general TGF project that really showcases your love of TGF!

Come one, come all, and if you don't have a blog, that's ok too- you can use your SCS Gallery to showcase your projects, too!

Please email your intent to sign up by MONDAY, DECEMBER 12th to Jessica.

Out of respect for other hoppers, please also email Jessica even if at the last minute, if something comes up and you cannot participate so that I can go in and change the links so that no one 'breaks' the hop. Everyone puts in a TON of work for these events and we are SUPER pumped!

Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday #9 with Margie

2011-11-28T00:01:00.004-06:00

It's another TGF Farm Fresh Monday Funday challenge! Today's host is our wonderful team captain, Margie! The challenge...rule of 3 - use three of any item - ribbon, brads, buttons, etc. For my card, I have three ribbons, three colors (Mickey Mouse ears, pants, and shoes), and three designer papers.
The base is Stampin' Up's Real Red with layers of Daffodil Delight and Basic Black. The designer papers are from Paper Studio, Reminisce, and Sandylion. The border punch is EK Success' dotted scallop. The TGF images are Stampin' Anya and, the new November release, Wild Sprout Matilda. They are colored in copic markers, and their shirts are paper pieced. I used a Mickey icon punch to make the hats, by cutting a bit off the bottom of the icon. Anya is cut with a classic circle nestabilities, embossed, then inked with Pool Party, then mounted on a basic black scalloped circle. I wrapped white grosgrain ribbon around the base and tied with a piece of baker's twine and a red button. I have skipped a sentiment for now.
Be sure to head over to the FFC blog and play along! Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 19

2011-11-27T00:56:00.000-06:00

Ahhh, we are in the final month of TGF's Heart Journal challenge. This week's challenge is "Chaos" - no neatness allowed! Yea, I am one to go tidy, so this was a challenge.
I started with Tim Holtz tissue tape and overlapped and skewed them. Next, I made a wash with Kelly Green acrylic paint and water. (I don't use green often, so I purposely picked it to work with.) I tried to darken the edges a bit and lighter in the middle. Once that dried, I used a polka dot stamp from SU and Wild Wasabi to stamp the bottom and sides, with a random one tossed in on top, then inked the outer edges. I used the Tim Holtz clock and gears masks, dousing them in Silver Foil Smooch Spritz. Once dried, I added the title with Tim Holtz tile stickers and -for some complete randomness- I added a blinged cherry decal. It makes absolutely no sense, but that's part of the idea, right?
What's really funny is this sort of started as either a distressed, aged piece, or a vintage Halloween thing, but it went a totally different direction as I started working. In the end, it turned out ecclectic and kinda cool, if I do say so myself. Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 18

2011-11-23T00:20:00.000-06:00

This week's Heart Journal assignment is "Parents" - make a spread centered around your parents, life as a parent or parents in general. One of my favorite quotes is from "Fern Gulley: The Last Rainforest" and it says "We didn't inherit the earth from our parents; we borrowed it from our children." I took that a step further and made my spread centered around the concept of Mother Earth.
I found this fantastic image in several places online, but did not find who to credit it to. I transfered the basic sketch by pencil, then filled in with sharpie. Next, I found another image with a fetus inside the planet Earth, shrunk it and incorporated it into the sketch. I filled it in with acrylic paints. Once the planet portion dried, I used a spouncer to add in white clouds. For the darkest blue, I used a stencil brush and pounced it to give it some texture. The next step was to make stars with some glitter paint. Once set, I spritzed the entire spread with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch and heat set it. I used a silver marker to write the quote. I am not a fan of free-hand drawing or painting, so this was well out of my comfort zone. It took a lot of time, but the effect is really nice. Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday Sketch #2

2011-11-21T00:01:00.001-06:00

sketch

It's another Monday Funday at the TGF Farm Fresh Challenge blog! Today's challenge is a sketch by our own, Margie Cortina.
The base of the card is Chocolate Chip with layers of Very Vanilla and Old Olive. I took the sketch and rotated it on its side. The Very Vanilla layer is dry embossed with the Cuttlebug polka dot folder. The scalloped border is Whisper White with brown polka dot grosgrain ribbon. The image is Navajo Anya and is colored in copic. I masked over top of her, then stamped a medallion over top, then embossed in clear embossing powder. Once cooled, I sponged olive chalk ink over top, then cut with a classic oval nestabilities, then mounted over the scalloped oval with dimensionals. The scalloped oval is from Cricut's Ashlyn Alphabet in Pumpkin Pie. The sentiment is stamped in olive chalk ink on Very Vanilla, then punched with the wide oval and mounted over the decorative label punch. I added a couple of pearls to the sentiment. The card is an easel style but displayed on its side. The inside is decorated with leaves stamped in Whisper White craft and embossed with clear powder. Once cooled, they are cut out and mounted on dimensionals. I used a scrap of Early Espresso baker's twine to tie on the brown leaf. The medallion, leaves and sentiment are from SU's Day of Gratitude set.
Now, head on over to the TGF Farm Fresh Challenge blog and play along! Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spyday #7 with Mercy

2011-11-18T00:01:00.004-06:00

It's my turn to host Friday Spyday over at TGF's Farm Fresh Challenge blog. I wanted to stick with our fun Twilight inspired theme, so I hit the Wild Sprouts section of the gallery and spied....Mercy! I love her colors and card style and her little WS Odette is to die for!

Mercy's card

My card is Chocolate Chip with layers of bubble gum pink and SEI Valentine themed paper. It is double sided so I used both sides in the design. The image is WS Dressy Joyce digi and is colored with copics and has little pearl earrings added. She is mounted on a class oval nestabilities. The blocks are stitched before assembly and some brown polka dot ribbon added. The felt heart is Heidi Swapp. I punched the paper hearts from scraps. The sentiment is from Artful Inkables Fictionally Inspired stamp set and is stamped in Timber Staz-On, then mounted with dimensionals.
Inside, I have a special surprise for my friend. The Bella bracelet is made with a heart crystal and the pewter wolf charm is inked in Timber Staz-On, then heat set. I simply used a perferator, then folded the flap in, punching a couple of holes using my crop-a-dile. To seal the flap, I used two mini silver brads.
So, head over to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog and play along with us! Thanks for looking! April

Pixie Dust Studio "Breaking Dawn" Hop

2011-11-17T09:00:00.004-06:00

Our friends at Pixie Dust Studio Challenge decided to celebrate the newest Twilight Saga movie by having a blog hop! Our task: create a project using PDS Twilight images and use red, black, white or silver and add some sparkle. You should be arriving from Cheryl's blog.

Fire & Ice, Wolf Jacob, tent & True Love digis

I have had this paint can sitting around, so I used some Jet Black Staz-On to ink it up. All images are colored in copic markers. The lid has the "And so the lion fell in love with the lamb" quote printed in Twilight font and combined with the lion and lamb (True Love) digi. The side of the can is the Eclipse camp site scene. Edward and Jacob (Fire and Ice) are fighting for Bella's (Eclipse Bella) attention in front of the tent, while Seth (Wolf Jacob image shrunk and flipped) sits at Edward's side and Victoria (not shown) is off to the side biding her time. I used some snow paint to add some dimension and ground the characters to the scene. The other images are Edward and Bella (Marry Me...Bella) and the meadow (Love Sparkles).
Edward's skin is sparkling with Spica pen, but I couldn't get it to show in the photos. I also have quotes that go with the scenes. I used bits of the challenge color ribbon and a "twilight" icon keychain to finish the piece.

Marry Me...Bella

Love Sparkles

To get your own fab Pixie Dust characters, hop on over to Pixie Dust Studio. All images used are available in the Twilight Mega Pixie Pack.

Next stop on the hop: Taylor

Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 17

2011-11-16T22:26:00.000-06:00

This week's Heart Journal assignment is "Soul Food" - create a spread around a favorite food or drink. My absolute favorite treat...See's Candies. YUMMY! Of course, I don't live anywhere near one, so I have to rely on the kindness of my mother to send them as a special treat from time to time...and are they coveted when a box arrives.

I watered down some Pool Blue, Pumpkin and Butter Apple Barrel acrylic paints and tried to make an effect of a sunset (I was out of purple). I used the snow writer paint and spread with my fingers to make some dimensional clouds. I found some pics of my favorite varieties of See's and printed them on cardstock, before running them through my Xyron sticker maker. Next is a fine liner to draw the strings, write names, and doodle the title. Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday #7 - Twilight challenge

2011-11-14T00:01:00.006-06:00

Yea, like we were going to let Breaking Dawn pass without a Twilight inspired challenge. Today's Farm Fresh Monday Funday challenge is to use red, black, white and/or silver. If you have any of the Wild Sprouts, pull them out and make them shine!
The base is Cherry Cobbler with layers of Very Vanilla and designer papers from Paper Studio and Recollections. The card design is based on Mojo Monday 210. The border is Martha Stewart's drippy goo punch. The checkered ribbon reminds me of Breaking Dawn chess pieces and was purchased at Michael's, then topped with a black pearl. The image is Wild Sprout Logan, colored in copics, then a clear Spica pen was rubbed over his face to give a little sparkle. I gave him a cloak to make him the Volturi guard member Demetri. To make the cloak, I used a piece of post-it not to cover the lower half of Logan to create a mask. Next, ink the stamp with Whisper White craft ink, remove mask, and stamp on Basic Black. I used a white gel pen to finish the robe and went over the lines of the hood to darken. Next, I used a craft knife to cut out the face, trimming the outline of the robe with scissors. Then, I used a glue pen to attach over the top of the colored image. There you have it, a Volturi robe-clad character. The sentiment is stamped with a Studio g dollar alphabet stamp on Very Vanilla and the quote is from New Moon. A few pearls on the bottom right corner, finish the card.
Now, it's your turn. What Twi-inspired piece can you create? Thanks for looking! April

Breaking Dawn Bookmark

2011-11-13T00:14:00.000-06:00

Happy Breaking Dawn!!!! In celebration of the new movie, I decided to make bookmarks for my daughter and her friends. These are stamped with stamps from Artful Inkables Into the Moonlight and Fictionally Inspired. I backed them with Chocolate Chip cardstock and Tattered Time photo mats from DCWV. The top of the bookmark is a decorative label punch folded in half, then set with a jumbo eyelet and threaded with ribbon. Super fast and cute! Be sure to come back and see more Twilight-inspired projects this week! Thanks for looking! April

Ahoy, Matey!

2011-11-12T23:49:00.001-06:00

This is for TGF's Movie night at SCS. The challenge is to create a card based on a favorite movie. Since I have been all about Twilight on our weekly challenges, I decided to give Pirates of the Caribbean a shot. Here is my salute to Elizabeth Swann in her pirate best. Papers are SU's Bravo Burgundy with Karen Foster DP. To make the notched corners, I flipped my EK Success circle punch over and the punch is divided into quarters. Line the corner up within one section, then punch as usual. The image is Matey Anya digi colored in copic markers then cut using the classic oval nestabilities. I tied knots in some jute twine and wrapped it around a strip of DP and used some mini staples to hold in place. The sentiment is printed in Batik font and cut using the deckled rectangles nestabilities, the mounted in a wax seal. Last is a couple of shots of Gold Glow Smooch spritz. Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spyday #6

2011-11-11T00:01:00.005-06:00

It's another Friday Spyday at the Farm Fresh Challenge blog! This week is a lovely card by theredhairedgirl.

theredhairedgirl's card

I am sticking to the Twilight theme. This card features Whisper White, Basic Black and DP from Hobby Lobby. The red satin ribbon is from Michael's. The images are TGF's Wild Sprouts Logan and Wild Sprout Jade and are colored in copic. Jade is from the Roll Call Kit. I stamped Logan's hoodie on black cardstock in Whisper White, masking the bottom portion, then using a gel pen to finish the "robe". It took a little work to set the robe over Jade and I had to cut her pigtails, sigh. If you haven't figured it out - they are Jane and Alec Volturi. Yea, Alec should have had brown hair, but I didn't think of it until I had already colored...oh well. The characters are mounted on Nestabilities scalloped circle and oval cuts. The background behind the characters is from New Moon and features Jane and Alec ("They send you out for one and you come back with two...and a half....Well done.")! The finishing touch is three mini silver brads on the opposite corners. Be sure to head over to the TGF Farm Fresh Challenge blog and play along. Thanks for looking! April

November Retro-Fresh Challenge

2011-11-09T00:01:00.009-06:00

It's time for another Farm Fresh Retro-Fresh challenge! This month, not only do we use a TGF stamp that is at least six months old, but use turquoise and berry pink colors. I am sticking with using Twilight-inspired Wild Sprouts Ebony and Hugh.
The base is Tempting Turquoise with layers of Rich Razzleberry, bubble gum pink, and DP from my local scrap store. The border punch is card suit from EK Success. The image is colored in copic markers, then cut out with nestabilities. I used some mini brads from SU and a bit of ribbon. The sentiment is printed in Twilight font, punched with 1 3/8", 1 1/2" and scalloped circle punches, then mounted with dimensionals. The card is called a "Joy Fold" card (tutorial on SCS).

card opened

Reminder from Jess:

Don't forget that the DECEMBER Guest Designer contest ends 11/10, so make sure to get your entries in to Jess before the big reveal of Phase 1 on our Facebook page on Friday, 11/11!

What's more? Please join us at 7pm CST on Friday, November 11th in our SCS Forum for our First-EVER TGF "Customer Challenge and Chit-Chat" night! Our first night will be a MOVIE THEME event so pop some popcorn, grab your favorite candy, and join us for LIVE chatter, trivia, and a challenge with our first Customer Hostess to be revealed shortly! :)

If you're not able to join us for the live chat no worries- we will be doing these at different times of day to include our overseas friends when we can. Challenge will be open ALL weekend, too, so there will be time for EVERYONE to play! We'll wrap up about 10pm CST or whenever we conk out- but for now, get ready to join us for a night at the movies!

See you soon!

Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 16

2011-11-08T00:47:00.001-06:00

Yay, I'm ahead of the curve this week! Missing the deadline last week has had me falling all over not to miss another one. This week is "Heart to Heart" - create a spread using hearts or have a "heart to heart" with your soul. Yea, not one of my preferences right now...it will only lead to ugly things.

So here it is...
I printed the words to the new Christina Perri song "A Thousand Years" in Tall Paul font . I cut a heart out of a sheet of paper to make a stencil, then inked with Soft Sky and Purely Pomegrante. On the right side, I used CTMH's Brown Bag to ink the tree from SU's Season of Friendship. The leaves are stamped in Whisper White craft, then embossed with Silver and Gold metallic embossing powder. After the embossing set, I went back and stamped hearts from SU's Things I Love set in Purely Pomegrante. Sweet and simple! Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday #6

2011-11-07T00:01:00.001-06:00

It's another Monday Funday at the TGF Farm Fresh Challenge blog! This week's challenge is NO designer paper and use 1 ribbon.
The base is Pool Party with layers of Whisper White and Wisteria Wonder. The border is SU's lacy scallop border punch. The image is from TGF's photopolymer clear "Tea-rrific" set and is stamped in Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, and Island Indigo. All the tea cups are mounted with dimensionals. The sentiment is printed on cardstock, then punched with the word window punch. I made a bow with a scrap of green satin ribbon, then used a silver mini brad through it to attach to the sentiment. I pierced around the corners of the Whisper White, before mounting on the Pool Party base. Hop on over to the TGF FFC blog and play along with us! Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spy-day with Danni!

2011-11-04T00:01:00.002-05:00

Danni's card

This week's TGF Farm Fresh Friday Spy-day challenge is with Danni! Be sure to hop on over to the TGF FFC blog to check out the samples and play along. Don't you just love the rich paper...reminds me of origami paper!

My base is cotton candy pink and is cut to a multi-panel card, like Danni's. The layers are basic black and star print from Paper Studio at Hobby Lobby. The image is TGF's Miss Anya Hats Off and is colored in copic markers. I added a bit of glitter to the hearts on her hat. Isn't she just sassy? I added some bling around her. The sentiment was printed on cardstock and mounted on a decorative label punch with dimensionals. The glitter stars are from scraps of the designer paper, run upside down through a Xyron sticker maker, and coated with glitter. Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 15

2011-11-03T23:28:00.000-05:00

Can you believe I couldn't remember it is Thursday? Yea, I messed up and forgot my Heart Journal. This week is "Stickin' To It". Hmmm, well, what to do? I decided to do another Twilight inspired page. I wanted a vintage feel with some wedding type momentos.
The base is painted in Toffee, then a layer of Eggshell Creme with some Elmer's white glue mixed in. I was hoping it would crack more, but still got a bit of a weathered look, so it's okay. I sanded the edges, then stamped some flourishes in Timber Staz-On, adding some pearls to the design. The characters, TGF's Wild Sprouts Edward and Camille, are also stamped in Timber on Very Vanilla, then colored in pencils. I used the ticket corner punch and mounted on Chocolate Chip. I used some Tim Holtz brand itmes - mini paper clip, sentiment tag, jounalling tags, tiny attacher, film strip ribbon, tissue tape, and date stickers, throughout the design. The journalling tags have Bella & Edward's initials stamped from Studio g dollar acryllic stamps from Michael's. Thanks for looking! April

Meet Matilda!

2011-11-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

Today is TGF's November release day! Meet Wild Sprout Matilda...one of four new rubber stamps from The Greeting Farm!
The card design is inspired by Deconstructed Sketch #23 (I know, it's late, but better late than never!). The base is Whisper White with layers of Brilliant Blue and Pawsitively Prints DSP. Matilda is colored with copics and the corners notched with a ticket corner punch. I used the scallop border punch from EK Success and Stampin' Up. I added a couple of pearls to the top left. The sentiment was printed on cardstock in Comic Sans font, punched with the word window punch, and mounted on a wide oval and decorative label punches. I used some white twine to make the little bow before mounting with dimensionals.
Be sure to check out the rest of the TGF Farm Fresh DT creations and head to the TGF Splendid Stamping blog to see the all the new November release! Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday #5 - Halloween challenge

2011-10-31T00:01:00.002-05:00

Happy Halloween! It's another Monday Funday at TGF's Farm Fresh Challenge blog and we are, of course, celebrating Halloween! Are you a creeper or too cute to spook?
The base of this card is Old Olive with layers of sparkling spider web by Reminisce and Basic Black. The grave yard is made by tearing brown cardstock to look like rough dirt. The tombstones are curved by sliding a piece of cardstock into a curved punch to round the top. The other stone is a cuttlebug die and emboss set. The moon is punched with a circle in Very Vanilla, then embossed with Swiss Dots. The clouds are torn vellum. The gate is punched with Martha Stewarts spooky fence. The sidewalk is drawn in with a gel pen. The image is TGF's Hallo Bride digi colored with copic markers. I also printed it in vellum, coloring some highlights on the back of the vellum, before tearing around the image to give it a ghostly glow. The sentiment is printed using Twilight font, punched with a wide oval, and mounted on the decorative label punch. I added a decorative staples on the corners.
Head on over to the FFC blog and play along! Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spyday with AbbyGrimaldi!

2011-10-28T00:01:00.002-05:00

Happy Friday Spy-day! Today's challenge features a card by Abby Grimaldi. I am a super fan of the Oliver & Amelia line, so I pulled out my "Just for You" set and chose Oliver. (She features the Amelia stamp.)

abby's card

The base is Kraft with layers of Pumpkin Pie and Very Vanilla. I hand stamped the background papers using Stampin' Up's Eat Chocolate set in Timber Brown Staz-On. The base layer is wrapped in Early Espresso baker's twine then adhered to the card. Oliver is colored in copic markers then cut out using the nestabilities die. To make it narrower, I moved the image to the side, than ran it thorugh twice, then popped up on dimensionals. The sentiment was stamped on a scrap piece of VV, then again on Whisper White. The white one I cut and mounted on dimensionals to make the candy bar pop. The layer behind the sentiment is cut using a lacy scalloped circle from nestabilities, the popped up on dimensionals. Hop on over to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog and play along! Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 14

2011-10-27T10:41:00.001-05:00

This week's Heart Journal is "Two-Toned." Yea, not terribly inspired for this one...until...I was coloring some of my Wild Sprouts! The Greeting Farm has the super cute, cheeky little guys and gals and some of them are Twilight inspired. Of course, with the newest installment ready to head to the theaters, I couldn't resist! These two are Summer and Paul and have been colored in copic markers. Don't they make a cute Jessica Stanley and Michael Newton? The base is watered down Sunny Yellow acryllic paint that has been spritzed with Gold Glow and Sea Breeze Blue Smooch Spritz. The lettering is Cricut's Base Camp for the "Forks High". The quotes for each character come directly for a copy of Twilight and I tried to give them signatures that seem like the character. Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday Embossing Challenge

2011-10-24T00:01:00.002-05:00

It's another Monday Fun-day at TGF Farm Fresh Challenge blog and I am this week's host! Today's assignment....emboss it!
The card is completely Whisper White cardstock. The layers are embossed with cuttlebug polka dots 5x7 folder and nestabilities dies. The corners are punched with a 3/4" and 1 3/8" squares that are cut in a diagonal. The corners and image are mounted with dimensionals. The image is TGF's Kissy Kissy digi, colored with copic markers and accents of clear Spica pen to give shimmer to the dress and flowers in her hair. Pearls accent the corners and a scrap of white organze ribbon with a heart charm sewn to it finishes the card. Inside, the sentiment says "And they lived happily ever after." Head on over to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog and play along! Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spy-day with PaperCrafty

2011-10-21T00:01:00.002-05:00

Hello again! It's another Friday Spy-day at TGF's Farm Fresh Challenge blog! And, for some extra fun, the Bugaboo crew is playing along with us today! See the FFC DT's Bugaboo creations here, then hop over to the Bugaboo blog and check them out! Today's challenge is to CASE this fantastic card by PaperCrafty!

card by PaperCrafty

The card base is kraft with layers of lilac and basic black. The lilac layer is embossed using the domino cuttlebug folder. (Can you believe I found it on clearance at Hobby Lobby for just $2.38?) I used a white gel pen to add the dots. The upper pieces has Early Espresso baker's twine tied on. Once the lilac layer was mounted on basic black, I used dimensionals to adhere to the kraft base. The blue quote sheet is from the Quotes Smash Pad, mounted on Basic Black. The image is TGF's Wild Sprout Audrey digi, colored in copic markers. She is one of my fav digis because she is such a cheeky tomboy! The two layers are mounted with dimensionals. The sentiment is stamped in Whisper White using Studio g alphabet stamps from Michael's dollar bin, then punched with 1 1/4" circle and mounted on a 1 3/8" basic black circle. The sentiment is mounted to the card with a dimensional.
Be sure to head on over to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog and show us what you can do with PaperCrafty's card! Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 13

2011-10-17T22:25:00.000-05:00

This week's Heart Journal assignment is "Lucky Number." Create a spread featuring a specific number. There are lots of numbers in my life, but the most important number right now is 13. It is the day of the month I married my husband and we have been married 13 years this year. My husband is my one and only love. I have three kids, each born 3 years apart. I have 2 best friends/sister of my heart. So, I chose to use all black and white with lots of doodles around a 6x6 cut out I got at my LSS. The number 13 is cut from Cricut's Don Juan font in Whisper White. The diamonds are stamped with the patterned stamp from SU's Grunge Rock in Jet Black. Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday Sketch Challenge

2011-10-17T00:01:00.002-05:00

It's another TGF Farm Fresh Monday Funday! This week's challenge is a sketch by our own team captain, Margie Cortina. Be sure to head to the FFC blog to check out the other team member's awesome work and play along!

Margie's sketch

The base is Whisper White with layers of Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black. The cherry paper is stamped with Stampabilities sheet music background stamp in Jet Black Staz-On and the guitar is from Stampin' Up's Grunge Rock, stamped in Whisper White craft ink. Then the cherry paper was spritzed with Gold Glow Smooch Spritz. The circle is cut in Basic Black with the nestabilities classic circle and stamped with the diamonds from Grunge Rock. The image is TGF's Later Skater Ian and colored with copic markers. The diamond satin ribbon is from Michael's and the sentiment is printed using Batik font. The finishing touches are staples and the wax seal. Be sure to click on the Farm Fresh Challenge icon in the right column of my blog to take you to the TGF blog! Thanks for looking! April

angled to show dimension

Third Grade

2011-10-16T15:11:00.000-05:00

I needed a quick scrap fix, as well as clean out some of my odds and ends, so I figured I would catch up some of my kids school pages. This is my middle child's 3rd Grade page. Papers are from my LSS and the ribbon is from Michael's. The sticker coordinates with the red background. Nothing too fancy or over the top. Thanks for looking! April

Bugaboo Animal challenge

2011-10-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

This month, the TGF Farm Fresh Challenge DT are doing an animal challenge with Bugaboo Stamps! Head on over to Bugaboo to play their animal challenge.

The base is Whisper White with layers of Wisteria Wonder and designer paper from Paper Studio at Hobby Lobby. The border is Martha Stewart. The image is Jess Angel Bear Big Star from Bugaboo and is colored in copic markers. I cut multiple layers and mounted with dimensionals. The base image is sponged with Wisteria Wonder ink. The ribbon is white grosgrain from Michael's. The sentiment is from Word Play by Stampin' Up! in Wisteria Wonder with a little bling on the "i". Hop on over to the FFC blog and play along! Thanks for looking! April

angled to show detail

Friday Spyday with Repary

2011-10-14T00:01:00.001-05:00

It's another Friday Spy-day at TGF's Farm Fresh Challenge blog. Today's challenge is with rapary. You can use her design or take inspiration from elements of her card.

rapary's card

My base is Very Vanilla with layers of Chocolate Chip and vintage paper from Graphic 45. The punch is Stampin' Up's lacy scallop border wrapped with chocolate polka dot grosgrain from Michael's. The image is TGF's Wild Spout Edward and Camille. I used a masking technique then colored with warm gray copics. Once colored, I used the classic square nestabilities to cut and emboss, then inked with Chestnut Roan cat's eye chalk. I heat set the ink before inking with Versamark and using the deep impression embossing powder. After the embossing cooled, I used the cracking technique before rubbing with ink along the cracks. The last touch, adding Bella's rusted truck (SU's Loads of Love in Really Rust) and two black brads to the top right corner of the image. Thanks for looking! April

October's Retro Fresh Challenge at TGF!

2011-10-12T00:01:00.004-05:00

Hop on over to TGF's Farm Fresh Challenge blog to play along with this month's Retro Fresh challenge. This is the chance to give some older TGF stamps some extra TLC and rise to this month's challenge...animals! No TGF animal stamps, no problem! Dig out your paper, embellishments, etc. and go crazy!
The card base is Chocolate Chip with layers of hand-stamped designer paper and bone paper from Paper Studio. The border punch is EK Success paw print, wrapped with jute twine. The image behind the stamped images is a Wolf Pack sticker from NECA. The wolves are from Artful Inkables Into the Moonlight and the image is TGF's Wild Sprout Michael digi. Images are colored in copic markers. Michael is mounted on dimensionals. Inside the easel card, the sentiment is printed in Almagro font (Jacob's handwriting) and punched with a wide oval and mounted on a punched decorative label. The final touch is a Tim Holtz mini paperclip with a scrap piece of twine tied on. Be sure to head to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog to get all the details of playing along. Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday - black & white + one more

2011-10-10T00:01:00.001-05:00

This is for our new Monday Funday challenge - black and white plus one more. The base is Very Vanilla cardstock with layers of scrap brushed blue designer paper and DCWV Performance photo stack. The image is Flirty Edward (digi or rubber) from The Greeting Farm and is colored in copic markers. Check out Jen Schulz tutorial on how to color Edward's hair! The sentiment is from Artful Inkables Fictionally Yours set, stamped in Jet Black Staz-On. The music notes are punced from a Recollections punch found in the $1 bin at Michael's. The ribbon is scrap and I sewed a straight stitch around the paper above the piano keys. Check out the rest of the Design Team creations and play along! Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 12

2011-10-09T00:12:00.000-05:00

This week's assignment is "Watercolor Wonder". I spritzed the base paper with water, then used Crayola watercolor paints to color the base. Next, I used a Tim Holtz mask with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz on opposite corners, and heat set. I used an ultrafine multiliner to write song lyrics around the edge. The die cut ballerina is from Cricut and cut in Basic Black. The sentiment is stamped with CTMH's giggle lower case in Wisteria Wonder and Cricut's Ashlyn's Alphabet with Paper Studio designer paper. Thanks for looking! April

Friday Spy-day with dictionary

2011-10-07T00:01:00.007-05:00

dictionary's card

Happy Friday! Today begins our new "Friday Spy-day" challenge at The Greeting Farm's Farm Fresh Challenge blog. This is a CASE of dictionary's card, using TGF's Hallo Shedevil digi, colored in copic markers with accents of red glitter.
Paper is retired SU paper Lovely Lilac, Booville, and Moxxie. The punched edge is Martha Stewart's drippy goo. The sentiment was typed on the computer, printed, and punched with a 1 1/2" circle punch, mounted on a cuttlebug tombstone diecut in Basic Gray. The finishing touch is SU's Early Espresso baker's twine. Be sure to check out the rest of the DT's fabulous CASE (links are on the column to the right) and play along by linking to the challenge blog, uploading to the TGF Gallery, or the Splitcoast Gallery using keyword TGFF01. Thanks for looking! April
I am also entering this in Anyone for Anya's Halloween Inspiration challenge.

Heart Journal - week 11

2011-10-05T22:26:00.000-05:00

This week's Heart Journal assignment is "Bloom & Grow." We are asked to create a spread using the concept of growth. I inked the base in Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, and Wisteria Wonder inks. Next, I used the snow writer to sponge fluffy dandelion weeds, using a fine tip sharpie to draw stems and add detail to help them stand out. The flowers are hand-cut hearts from scraps of DCWV Christmas paper. I used a black multi-liner to add petal details and Red Riding Hood baker's twine to make the little bows, attached with glue dots. The sentiment is stamped with CTMH's giggle lowercase in Blazing Red Staz-On and hand doodled with lilac sharpie. Thanks for looking! April

Monday Funday - scallops

2011-10-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

This is for TGF's Monday Funday use scallops challenge. Pop over to the Farm Fresh Challenge blog and play along!
The base is Wisteria Wonder with layers of Whisper White, Pool Party, and Island Indigo. I used a scallop border punch and the scallop circle punch. The heart stamp is stamped in Island Indigo ink. The cups are stamped in Wisteria Wonder, Island Indigo, and Lucky Limeade. The green cup is mounted with a dimensional. I added some bling to the cups and postage. The ribbon is from the dollar bin at Michael's and the sentiment is typed on cardstock and punched with the word window punch. The LOVE tag is stamped on Whisper White with Momento Tuxedo Black ink. Thanks for looking! April

TGF October "All Clear" Release & Surprise!

2011-10-01T00:01:00.008-05:00

This is a long post, so hang with me and I am sure you will be as excited as I am! I have been patiently waiting to announce...I am a TGF Farm Fresh Challege Design Team Member! Wooohooo! It has been hard to keep mum, but here are my first new release cards. Check the bottom of the post to find out the other surprise and a chance to meet the rest of the new TGF Design Team!
This is the new TGF acylic clear mount set called "Tea-rrific". Head on over to The Greeting Farm site to see all five of the new sets! I am so excited about this set! The first thing that popped into my head was Alice in Wonderland and Mad Tea Party, so that was my first stop!

This card is made with Stampin' Up's Very Vanilla with layers of retired Pawsitively Prints designer paper and scrap from DCWV's Tattered Time photo stack. I used my sewing machine to sew the edges, wrapping with Early Espresso baker's twine before mounting to the base. The sentiment is printed on cardstock then punched with the 1 1/4" circle punch and layered with 1 3/8" circle and scalloped circle punches. I used a scrap piece of twine to tie on the button. The images are TGF's Wonderland digis and Tea-rific and colored in copic markers. I used a craft knife to make a slit in the top cup to slide the Mad Hatter in. The tea cups have three layers - top cup is a single layer, middle is two layers, bottom is three. Inside, is some scrap and the white rabbit.

close up of layers

I am also constantly looking for teacher gifts, so I wanted to make a card that is fast to reproduce. (When you have three kids with a minimum of 5 teachers - more, if you count extra ciricular teachers - you need fast and reproduceable.)
The next card is two different designs of the same card I have seen all over the web. The first card opens like a traditional top fold card. The base is vanilla, with layers of sand, chocolate, whisper white and retired Pawsitively Prints from Stampin' Up. The form is easy enough - measure in 1/2" on the open end, then cut diagonal to the top corner. I cut the designer paper just a bit short to show some lip at the top and bottom of the "cup" front. The lid, is cut slightly wider than the card top, corners rounded and a 1/4" score along the bottom for the bump where the lid fits the cup. Right before I attached it to the card front, I used my SWAK that I got from Michael's dollar bin around Valentine's. The cup hugger is a piece of sand colored paper run through a crimper then trimmed to fit the cup. I used chocolate cardstock to punch the decorative label. I stamped my image and overstamped the sentiment, then punched with a wide oval and mounted with dimensionals. I added pearls for some bling. Last, I stamped and punched the heart stamp with a 1" square, sandwiching a scrap of string between two layers and added a Tim Holtz tiny staple.

For the gift card holder, I made the opening at the top of the card with the fold at the bottom. I sealed the sides, leaving the top open, and making a chocolate colored insert to attach to the "lid". A gift card can be tacked inside.

With my own exciting announcement today comes another HUGE bit of news for TGF! The Greeting Farm is beyond thrilled and honored to have been invited as the newest Member Company at SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS!
For those of you NEW to Splitcoaststampers (SCS), it is the single largest online community for stampers and a wonderful place to access tutorials, a vast online gallery, and tons of ways to get involved with their awesome forums dedicated to stamping and much more!
As one of only ten Member Companies on SCS, The Greeting Farm now has our VERY OWN FORUM to encourage ALL of our customers, new and old to get out there and chat with us, while we keep you up to date on the latest TGF happenings :) With over 700,000 unique hits a month, we are excited about the potential to meet NEW Farm friends, but we are mostly SO, SO very excited about being able to have a 'home' to chat with you, get to know you better, and post fun and important information ALL in one place! We really look forward to this being a means of getting closer to our stamping community, welcoming new stampers and getting to spend more time with our cherished current customers, as well!
Splitcoaststampers also offers a wonderful Member gallery where you can upload ALL your photos, even non- TGF cards, to their gallery and use different keywords depending on what you're uploading. Please use this keyword for all SCS gallery posts: thegreetingfarm (no spaces :)
If you have ANY questions whatsoever, please contact Jess and she will be happy to answer them! With this announcement also brings GREAT news for Galleria users! While we love our galleria and still plan to keep it open for your use, we will now offer the option to post challenge cards, contest entries, etc. to SCS as well. We will be using the INLINKZ system from now on for ALL challenges. Again, we will still keep the Gallery open, but you now will have the option to upload there, to SPLITCOAST, or your personal blogs. All entries will be counted as LONG as they are posted to our INLINKZ below each challenge post. Splitcoasts offers a WONDERFUL gallery option and we can't WAIT to see your cards there!
There is a TON more info about this on the Farm Fresh Challenge Blog today...so be sure to check out my announcement there too! Thank you for reading! April

CASEing Rachel

2011-09-30T08:15:00.003-05:00

Rachel's card

This is for today's TGF Farm Fresh Friday challenge - case a card by Rachel (aka AirForceMommy). Here is the Rachel's card I chose to CASE. After all, I can't resist a Twilight-inspired card! I just love her yummy coloring and fantastic highlights in the hair.

For my card, I chose to use the new TGF Oliver & Amelia Surprise set. Wanna know how to squish them together? I used a masking technique. I stamped Oliver first, then restamped on a piece of post-it note, then cut out and placed over the stamped image. Next, ink up Amelia, stamp as usual, then remove the mask. The post it does not leave behind any residue, like other temporary adhesives can. I stamped the sentiment, then colored with copic markers, using a white gel pen to highlight. The image is mounted on dimensionals. The card base is Whisper White with layers of retired SU Pawsitively Prints designer papers. In place of brads, I used copics to color pearls to coordinate with the papers. Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 10

2011-09-29T00:26:00.001-05:00

Yea, I know I am pushing my luck getting this week done, but inspiration was in short supply. I feel like I am a bit redundant in techniques right now, so I was not feeling particularly inclined to hustle. This week's theme is "Torn Between" and we are to create a spread using a tearing technique.

I sponged the base in Lucky Limeade, Soft Sky and Pool Party. Next, I stamped the quotes from Twilight on the right side. I then pulled out some pages from New Moon and Eclipse, crumpled and inked. I set those aside until I colored my images - TGF's Flirty Edward and Camille (Twilight's Edward and Bella) in copic markers, then cut out. I used the basic masking technique to overlap the images. Once they were in place on the sponged background, I ran adhesive around the edges of the spread, then set the crumpled pages over top. I held them up to a light to find where the images were, then used a needle to create the start of the tear, pulling until the image was exposed. I used Spica pen to give Edward some sparkle and Versamark to stamp Bella's truck and chess pieces over the text, but it doesn't show well in the photo. Click on the photo and then zoom in on the bottom left side (the truck) and the right side bottom corner and top right corners (chess, ribbon, flower, apple). Thanks for looking! April

copic storage idea

2011-09-27T00:01:00.001-05:00

So I have started to fill in my copic collection and am always looking for a better way to store it. I originally bought a copic brand wallet for 36 markers, but filled it in too quickly. I was hunting for ideas online and saw someone bought a tool bag and filled it in with their plastic holders. I didn't want a huge basket to store, and I always have caddies I am not using, so I pulled one out and stared at it a bit. Hmmm, what to do? While thinking, I kicked a SU box under my table....the box is pretty sturdy, so I started to tear it apart. I used the one of the box flaps to make the outer part of the organizer, then used another flap to make the dividers, cutting slits for the cardboard running perpendicular to slide in. The picture here is just a few of my markers, but it is fairly full now. This soft-sided caddy was from Hobby Lobby and holds roughly 75 markers, plus storage in the pockets around the edge. I have my copic swatch book in one end pocket, ID labels in another, as well as tools like a white gel pen, colorless blender, etc. Thanks for looking! April

Is it hot?

2011-09-25T11:41:00.000-05:00

This is for Anyone for Anya's sketch and TGF's FFF Halloween challenges.

The base is Pumpkin Pie with layers of Cast a Spell retired designer paper, Basic Black and Old Olive. The image is TGF's Devil Anya digi and is colored with copic markers with accents of glitter added with a glue pen. The ribbon is orange organza from Michael's. The sentiment was printed using Twilight font and mounted on a scallop circle. I also used Martha Stewart's drippy goo punch along the black strip. Thanks for looking! April

Not the right monster?

2011-09-24T18:26:00.000-05:00

So my mojo has been a bit lacking and now I am playing catch up... This is for Anyone for Anya's Masculine and Pixie Dust Studio's Round & Round challenges.

The base is Very Vanilla with layers of DCWV's Tattered Time photo stack and Chocolate Chip cardstock. I used a ticket corner punch then added a few Tim Holtz sprockets. The image is TGF's Wild Sprout Michael and is colored in copic. Still not loving the hair, but I am getting better. Each corner has a clear skittle and the sentiment is typed in Almagro font and punched with the decorative label punch. Thanks for looking! April

inside of card

White Out

2011-09-20T22:44:00.002-05:00

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday White Out and Deconstructed Sketch #19 challenges.
Okay, so an all white challenge...hmmmm. The base is Whisper White with layers embossed with the cuttlebug polka dots and swiss dots folders. I mounted the base layer then tore down the middle for some contrast. I wrapped the middle strip with white organza ribbon. Last, I stamped TGF's Odette (Twilight's Esme) in Versamark, then embossed with antique silver powder and mounted with dimensionals. I was trying to stay away from black ink...I almost went with Dove Grey, but thought the embossing would have some depth and not let it get lost in the field of white, but not be stark like black ink would. It was hard to avoid over embellishing to make up for the lack of color, but I sort of like the final product. Thanks for looking! April

showing silver

hi circle card

2011-09-20T08:11:00.000-05:00

This is for TGF's WOW sketch and Stamptacular Sunday's Just Sayin' challenges.

The base is Whisper White cardstock cut with the nestabilities scalloped circle die. I cut two then scored the top edge of one before lining up the scallops and adhering. Next are layers of scrap designer paper cut with the classic circles and another Whisper White layer cut with the lacy scallop. The image is TGF's Stampin' Anya colored with copics, cut and embossed with a classic oval nestability, and mounted with dimensionals. I used a metal rimmed tag and stamped "hi" and tied to one of the scallops. I finished it with a button tied with twine. Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 9

2011-09-19T23:24:00.000-05:00

This week's assignment is "Cut & Paste." We were asked to center our spread around a head we cut and pasted into the design. I couldn't just randomly pick a picture and use it, so I started looking around for ideas and kept coming across pics of Barbie...yuck! I can't stand her. Sure, I played with them, but she is the most unrealistic creature and the complete opposite of everything I am. I don't love pink and she is coated in it like Pepto, she's blonde, skinny, etc...yea, not me.

I scribbled pink watercolor pencil randomly around the page, then went back and filled in the gaps with pink Crayola watercolor, so that it created a two-toned effect. Next, I spritzed the background with Mixed Berries, Cosmic Pink and Cherry Ice Smooch Spritz, then heat set. I sponged the edges with Purely Pomegrante. I found a B&W pic of Barbie and colored her with copics. I did a really awful job on the makeup, sort of like a kid. I used a sharpie to write in my own writing. I added some bling behind Barbie and then colored the gems with a sharpie before attaching to the B. Thanks for looking! April

Sixth Grade

2011-09-18T00:50:00.002-05:00

I can't believe my oldest is in Sixth Grade! It seems like yesterday she was just learning to walk. Anyway, her fall pics are already back because they needed them for their school IDs.

The paper was found at my local scrap shop...what's cool is it is two-sided with then next grade on the back. This one is 5th/6th. I cut the photo to 8x8 with mats 8 1/2x8 1/2 and 9x9. I used a zig zag stitch around the outermost layer, then tied a blue polka dot ribbon sewn with a safety pin charm and attached with tacky tape. Last, I punched a decorative label punch and wrote the school and year before mounting with dimensionals. Super quick and easy. Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 8

2011-09-15T08:16:00.000-05:00

This week's journal entry is "The power of ONE." We are to create a spread using a word as the focal point of the design. So, I started looking for ideas and came across this delicious vinyl sticker from My Mind's Eye in my rub-ons stash. Hmmm, what can I do with this? I started looking for quotes...yes, I could have used another Twilight thing, but I wanted it to reflect one of my other loves - Disney!
I painted the base with Apple Pink acrylic paint, then sponged Baby Pink around the edges with a spouncer sponge. When dry, I used Whisper White craft ink on my new Inkadinkado polka dot background stamp to make random stamps...it is super pale and hard to see at this point. Next, I crushed a dryer fabric softener sheet to sponge Brilliance Platinum Planet ink around the page. I used versamark ink to ink up a couple of Mickey Mouse stamps, then embossed with the Deep Impression clear embossing powder and heat set. Them I placed the vinyl sticker over both pages, using a craft knife to separate the pages. Next, is a quick spritz of Mixed Berries Smooch Spritz and set with a heat gun. I then typed the rest of the quote on Whisper White cardstock using Waltograph font from dafont.com. I cut them into little squares, doodled around the edges, then attached to the page. I put Walt's name on dimensionals. Thanks for looking! April

Rain, Rain....

2011-09-11T08:50:00.000-05:00

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday's Hot or Cold challenge.

The base is retired SU Lovely Lilac with layers of Whisper White and Paper Studio open stock paper. I used the Martha Stewart lace, EK Success Pinking Hearts and dotted scallop borders. The sentiment is stamped with studio g dollar alphabet from Michael's on a sheet from the Quotes Smash Pad. The sentiment card is wrapped with black satin ribbon with a love charm sewn to the bottom. The charm is from the wedding favors section at Michael's. The image is Rain Rain digi from TGF and is colored in copic markers. I drew in the sidewalk and sponged the sky and grass around the digital image before mounting it with dimensionals. Thanks for looking! April

Mystery Monday CASE w/ Amy Young

2011-09-09T23:02:00.000-05:00

This is for TGF's Mystery Monday CASE and Deconstructed Sketch #18 challenges. I chose this design because of the bright colors in Amy's card - lots of pink, turquoise, lime, mauve, razzleberry, orange and white.
The base is Tempting Turquoise with layers of Whisper White, Pear Pizzaz, and scrap designer paper left over from a previous challenge. The border is Martha Stewart's daisy punch. The image is TGF's Amelia from the O&A Just for You set. Isn't she darling? She is colored in copic markers and cut with the nestabilities classic oval die. The pear layer is embossed with the cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. Each layer has wide straight stitches. Some white grosgrain finishes the card. Thanks for looking! April

Be Yourself.

2011-09-09T14:33:00.000-05:00

This is for Stamp Something's Anything Goes and TGF's WOW Metal Head challenges.

Base is Chocolate Chip with layers of My Mind's Eye Magnolia paper (both sides). I stitched the flower layer to the pink layer on a diagonal after distressing the edges of the paper. The printed paper is from the Quotes Smash Pad and stamped with a sentiment from SU's Smarty Pants in Azure Blue and Jet Black Staz-On. I added a bit of Martha Stewart lacy punch border along the sentiment. The image is Skater Anya from TGF's Later Skater set. She is colored in copic markers, and cut with multi-layers, mounted with dimensionals. The first layer is the base image, colored, cut then embossed with the long rectangle nestabilities die. Next layer is the jeans up to the face and hat, leaving off the sides of the hair, arms, and shoes. The last layer is the bangs and hat. I added a bit of bling to the sentiment before wrapping layers of Early Espresso baker's twine with safety pin charms tied along it. Where the twine crosses, I decided to try using a wax seal. It is $5 for four sticks and another $5 for the seal. This seal is done with gold wax and it took some time to get the wick to stay lit, and it doesn't drip like a candle, it is gummy and pools together, but the impression is lovely. I got it on my first try! It is a fun effect and I can't wait to use it again. Thanks for looking! April

angled to show dimension

Heart Journal - week 7

2011-09-07T14:53:00.000-05:00

This week's assignment is "Every Cloud has a Silver Lining." So, make a spread inspired by clouds. Yea, I could have used the title, but the first thing I thought of was a line from Paramore's Brick by Boring Brick... "keep your feet on the ground when your head's in the clouds."

The base is Pool Blue acrylic paint with random sponging of antique blue. Next, I used a very porous sponge to make the white clouds. After it dried, I used Jet Black and Azure Blue Staz-On to stamp the song lyric. Fonts are Inkadinkado's curly alphabet and Autumn Leaves scribble alphabet. "Paramore" is stamped using a studio g font from Michael's dollar bin. I stamped "head" on a scrap of white cardstock, then cut into a cloud shape, rimmed the edge with a silver pen, then mounted with dimensionals. Last, a quick spritz of Silver Foil Smooch Spritz finishes the spread. Thanks for looking! April

Cheers 4 U!

2011-09-07T11:20:00.002-05:00

This is for Anyone for Anya's Back to School and TGF's Farm Fresh Friday's By the Numbers challenges.

The base is Marina Mist with layers of Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, and designer paper from Around the Block. This is my first gate fold card. The image is Cheer Anya colored in copic markers and layered at her head and pom poms. I added a touch of stardust gel pen to add sparkle to her hair and poms. She is cut out with the classic circle nestabilities die and mounted on the lacy circle cut from Marina Mist then mounted with dimensionals on a band of Wild Wasabi and a cute pre-printed border I found in the clearance of a local scrap shop. Thanks for looking! April

inside & band

close up of layers

All-American Boy

2011-09-05T22:21:00.000-05:00

This is for Paper Sundae's sketch challenge.

The base is Whisper White with layers of Basic Black and designer paper from Hobby Lobby's Paper Studio open stock. Once all the layers were set, I used a zig zag and straight stitch around the edges. Next, I used the notched rectangle die to make a base for the image, embossed, outlined with a white gel pen, then mounted with dimensionals. The image is Wild Sprout Logan from TGF and is colored with copic markers, then mounted on dimensionals. I used glue dots to add the gem stars. The sentiment is printed on cardstock in Impact font and punched using the wide oval punch. I purposely made it fairly flat for easy mailing. Thanks for looking! April

Too Ghoul for School

2011-09-05T19:11:00.000-05:00

This is for Deconstructed Sketch #17, Stamptacular Sunday's The Sky's the Limit, Stamp Something's September digi, and Pixie Dust Studio's Back to School challenges.

The base is Basic Black with layers of Old Olive and retired SU Cast a Spell designer paper. The image is cheer pixie from PDS and is colored with copic markers, then dimmed by going over top with W1. Wound details were added with sharpies. The gate is a Martha Stewart border punch wrapped with floss and topped with a black gem. The image is mounted on dimensionals. The sentiment is printed on cardstock with Creating Keepsake's chiller font, punched with a wide oval punch and mounted on an Old Olive decorative label punch, mounted on dimensionals. Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 6

2011-09-01T00:47:00.001-05:00

This week's Heart Journal assignment is "Text Me!" We were told to create a spread using primarily text.
I was really stumped at first, seeing as I did something like this last week. I almost went back and did a Twilight page, but though...Hmmm. Well, the first thing to come to mind was the theme song from Kim Possible...Call Me, Beep Me. I ended up going online and finding binary numbers in a large section, then dropped it in a word processor, printed, then used mod podge to stick it to the base. I mixed some seafoam acrylic paint in with the mod podge over top and heat set. Next, I used Toffee acrylic paint to outline the edges. I used Jet Black Staz-On to ink TGF's Summer from their Roll Call Kit. The cell phone drawn on tracing paper with a sharpie marker, cut out, flipped over and colored in with watercolor paint, then mod podged into place. I stamped several sentiments from the Roll Call Kit and a couple of alphabets sets I have. The titleing is Tim Holtz cardstock stickers. Thanks for looking! April

right side

left side

Sassy

2011-08-30T15:02:00.000-05:00

This is for Anyone for Anya's sketch challenge. I originally started the idea for a TGF Farm Fresh Friday button challenge, but didn't get it done. Oh well.

The base is Pretty in Pink with layers of Wild Wasabi and retired Pawsitively Prints designer paper. The paper is double-sided, so I used a bit from each side. The image is TGF's Stella colored in copic markers. The sentiment is printed on cardstock and punched with the rounded tab punch, attached with the tiny attacher. The buttons are handmade paper buttons. Check out the tutorial at Stampin with Heather. They were really easy to make! Thanks for looking! April

tilted to show dimension of buttons

Sparkle & Shine

2011-08-28T18:56:00.001-05:00

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday Digital Getdown and Deconstructed Sketch #16.

The base is Basic Black with layers of Old Olive and Cast a Spell retired designer papers. The banner is made by taking a strip of paper and using a square punch at an angle to notch the ends. Next, I scored the strip twice on each end 1/2" apart to create the furl, then tacked the ends of the banner, leaving the middle to puff out. The paper flower is made using a tutorial at Stampin' with Heather. It is the same designer paper as the card base, but looks darker with the folds. The image is TGF's witch digi and is colored in copic markers. I added little pearl earrings and button on her boots. The sentiment is from Michael's dollar bin and stamped on Old Olive in Jet Black Staz-On. I used the Sukura Stardust gel pen to add some bling to "shine", notched like the big banner, attaching with dimensionals. I chose not to embellish it too much because of the large flower and banner add a lot already. Sorry the photo shows a bit of shine along her hat. Thanks for looking! April

tilted to show dimension

Have a Magical Day!

2011-08-27T07:48:00.000-05:00

This is for Pixie Dust Studio's Tag Your It! challenge.

The card is designed to fit a business size envelope and is approximately 4x9. The base is Pumpkin Pie with layers of Old Olive and retired Cast a Spell paper. The Old Olive layer is punched using Martha Stewart's Drippy Goo punch. Images are the PDS's Harry Potter pets colored in copic markers. They are sized to roughly 2.25" each. I wraped a scrap of plum ribbon around the edges of card and then made the tags with Cricut's Tags, Bags, Boxes and more at 1". Next, I wrote the names of each pet with and ultra fine journalling pen, threaded with a bit of floss, then attached to the card with a tiny safety pin. Last a silver brad on each corner, finishes the card. Inside, the sentiment is "Have a Magical Day!" in Lumos font from dafont.com, punched using the decorative label punch and mounted on dimensionals. Thanks for looking! April

close up of tags

Show Your Boy Colors

2011-08-25T23:11:00.000-05:00

This is for TGF's WOW Boy Colors challenge.
The base is Not Quite Navy with layers of Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, and Bo Bunny's Shabby Princess/Pep Rally paper. The border punch is from EK Success. The image and sentiment are TGF's Oliver from the Just for You set colored in copic markers on Southworth coverstock and mounted with dimensionals. The strips in the center measure 1 1/2" and 1/2" scraps, then wrapped with Early Espresso baker's twine. The clip on the sentiment is Tim Holtz's mini paper clip with a scrap piece of grosgrain ribbon that I ripped the edges of. Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 5

2011-08-23T22:39:00.001-05:00

This week's theme is "Pieces of Me." We needed to layer or paper piece somewhere along the LO. I wanted to focus on one specific part of me. You all see my creative side all over my blog, so I decided to go with something you may not know...my love of reading. Even now, I love to read children's books. Some that didn't make it on the LO include: Pigs Might Fly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Players in Pigtails, The Bone Collector, and many, many more.
The base of the LO is ripped up pages from the Twilight Saga books. No, I did not kill my prized copies...I bought second-hand ones that were already falling apart for $2 each. I ripped out different pages, picked some cool passages, inked with CTMH's Brown Bag ink, crumpled and distressed. I glued it down with Mod Podge, then set with a heat gun. Next, I trimmed around the edges of the LO and chalked with Chestnut Roan cat's eye chalk. I tracked down several pics of some of my favorite books then printed on cardstock, then ran them through the Xyron stickermaker to evenly distribute adhesive. The truck is from SU's Loads of Love and is stamped in Whisper White craft ink on Basic Black cardstock and Jet Black Staz-On on Really Rust, mounted on dimensionals. The title is made with rub-ons, using a white gel pen to add the subtitle. Thanks for looking and leave me a comment with a favorite childhood book or book recommendation! April

left side

right side

Tween-age Dream

2011-08-22T22:48:00.000-05:00

This is for Pixie Dust Studios Tween-Teen Dream challenge.

The base is Basic Black with layers of Whisper White and patterned paper by Provo Craft's Easter scrap pad. The border is Martha Stewart. The image is Sugar Plum Fairy from PDS and is colored in copic markers on Southworth coverstock, then mounted with dimensionals. Finishing the card is some ribbon tied with a black button and twine. Inside, I used scraps and the sentiment was typed in cardstock in Comic Sans font, punched with the decorative label punch, and mounted with dimensionals. Quick and simple. Thanks for looking! April

inside of card

Vintage Witch

2011-08-22T22:35:00.003-05:00

This is for TGF's Mystery Monday with Tracy P and Anyone for Anya's Vintage Vibe challenges.

The base is Pumpkin Pie with layers of Bo Bunny Shabby Princess Pep Rally and Back to Basic polka dot cardstock. I distressed the edges of the stripped paper and cut the center circle with the nestabilities classic circle. The blue layer is cut and embossed with the next smaller circle in the same group. The image is TGF's witch, colored in warm gray copic markers, then coated with versamark and clear embossing powder. After multiple layers, it is cooled in a freezer for a few minutes, then cracked. It is layered from the image up. Add in some Heidi Swapp felt stars, a left over spider piece (Inkadinkado's Halloween wine label set), Early Espresso twine and a coordinating button to finish the look. I still think it needs something more, but I opted to leave a sentiment off for later use. Thanks for looking! April

tilted to show crackles

Cupcake Anya

2011-08-21T22:32:00.000-05:00

This is for TGF's WOW Photo #3, Deconstructed Sketch, and Paper Sundae's Sundae Bar challenges. The WOW photo is a white bedroom with accents of turquoise, pinks, orange, yellow, lime, big flowers, etc. The Sundae Bar challenge requires you to include two of the following: green, buttons, banners, and twine.

Base is Tempting Turquoise with layers of Whisper White and Only Orange. The border is the EK Success Pinking Hearts. The Whisper White layer is embossed with the polka dot 5x7 folder from Cuttlebug, then inked with Tempting Turquoise ink. Image is TGF's Cupcake Anya digi and is colored with copic markers. The tag is Recollections journalling tags from Michael's. The ribbon is polka dot grosgrain from Michael's and the flowers are from Hobby Lobby's Spare Parts. The button is tied with some white twine and attached with mini zots glue dots. I chose to leave off a sentiment for a later time. Thanks for looking! April

2 cool 4 school

2011-08-16T00:31:00.002-05:00

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday 2 cool 4 school, Stamptacular Sundays Diva, Anyone for Anya's Back to School challenges.

The base is Whisper White with layers of Bo Bunny Back to Basic's cardstock and left over printed paper from the purse album I did last year. Isn't it cheeky? I used the notebook border punch then wrapped it with pink satin ribbon before adding the round layers. Those are cut from nestabilities dies, assembled, then mounted to the base with dimensionals. The image is TGF's Wild Sprout Audrey and is colored with copic markers. She is my favorite image because she is just such a cheeky tomboy. Audrey is also mounted in dimensionals. The sentiment is stamped with stamps from Michael's dollar bin in Jet Black Staz-On, and SU colors Pool Party and Green Galore using scribble alphabet. The oval and the decorative label punch are also mounted with dimensionals. Overall, it would still be pretty flat for mailing, even with the dimensionals. Thanks for looking! April

Tooth Fairy Boxes

2011-08-16T00:01:00.001-05:00

These are tooth fairy boxes I made for my kids. If you haven't already guessed, their Altoid tins that I altered. First, I sanded the finished top to remove as much of the paint as possible. It is embossed, so it made it a bit difficult. I wiped away any residue, then painted the lid with cream acrylic paint. I used a heat gun to spead things along and crack the finish a bit. The paper is cut 2 1/4" x 3 5/8" and is stamped using the stars from retired Way to Go in coordinating colors. The image is the SU retired Tooth Fairy stamp and is colored with copic markers with glittered wings. It is mounted on scalloped circle and placed on a decorative label with dimensionals. I used a big bite crop-a-dile to punch a hole off to the side, then made an organza bow to put behind a star brad that is fed through the hole. Inside is a little poem for the tooth fairy. Thanks for looking! April

close-up of box top

Matt's Many Hats

2011-08-15T13:31:00.000-05:00

Yea, still majorly behind on the scrapbooking. I know I should take a break from the challenges or find more hours of the day to hide in my scrap nook. This is my youngest and his recent obsession with hats...everyone's hats.

The base is SU's Chocolate Chip textured cardstock with Bo Bunny's Shabby Princess Pep Rally papers. I just love it and have used it several times. The border near the top is Martha Stewart. The embellishments are printed copies of Dr. Seuss's 500 Hats of Bartholmew Cubbins and TGF's Just for You Oliver colored in copic markers and mounted with dimensionals. I took a couple of the photos and matted and mounted them on dimensionals to add interest. The title is Cricut's Doodletype and coordinating Bo Bunny stickers. I wanted the LO to looked like a ecclectic collage so it seems a bit random and cluttered. Sorry for the glare, but it was the best one I got. Thanks for looking! April

Hi...

2011-08-15T08:26:00.002-05:00

This is for Anyone for Anya's photo, Paper Sundae's "Just Say Hi!", and Stamptacular Sunday's "Fancy Folds" challenges. The Anya photo is a tropical beach, sand, clear blue sky and water, palm trees, etc. This is for the sand and the mermaid to go with the ocean/tropical theme.

This is an easel card with a base of Very Vanilla. It has layers of Chocolate Chip and the DSP is from Me and My Big Ideas. I used the scallop border punch from SU to create the scallop square. Directions for how to go all the way around is on Splitcoast Stampers. The ribbon is my new Early Espresso 1/4" grosgrain I won as blog candy from Sarah Wills at Sarah's Ink Spot. Thanks, Sarah! The image is Mer Ian digi from TGF and is colored in copic warm grays. Once I cut him out with a nestabilities deckled rectangle, I inked the entire piece with versamark, then coated with clear embossing powder and used a heat gun to set. I had to do this several times to make it thick and I had to work fast to dump more powder on the hot melted stuff before it could cool. I actually burnt a layer, but it worked to my advantage as I forgot to distress the image before I started embossing. Once it was thick enough, I put it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes, pulled it out, then cracked it. What is great is, if you don't like how it cracks, reheat it with another layer of embossing powder and repeat until you are happy. (I didn't notice at the time, but some teeny specks of blue glitter have made it into my embossing powder...what I get for not checking my emboss buddy tray...but I ended up liking it.) Next, I rubbed Close to Cocoa craft ink into the cracks, then wiped it off with tissue, again, adding to the aged look. Finishing the card is some Tim Holtz tissue tape, a faux vintage button with the shank cut off, and a decorative label punch, folded in half with the sentiment written with a white chalk pen. Thanks for looking! April

flat for delivery

Magical Birthday

2011-08-14T15:10:00.000-05:00

This is for Pixie Dust Studio's Boys will be Boys challenge.

The base is Whisper White with layers of Basic Black and scraps of light blue and discontinued flocked griffin paper from Michaels. I used the spiral notebook border punch on a scrap of blue, then sewed all the layers. The middle piece is sewn, wrapped with Early Espresso baker's twine and mounted with dimensionals. The image is PDS Dumbledore and is colored with copic markers and mounted with dimensionals. The sentiment was printed on cardstock, cut and embossed with nestabilities deckled rectangle. Finally, I used mini glue dots to mount the star jewels I found on clearance at Michael's. Thanks for looking! April

close-up showing dimension

Mermaid Ian

2011-08-13T15:14:00.001-05:00

This is for Anyone for Anya's Summertime, TGF's WOW favorite color, Deconstructed Sketch #14, and Stamp Something's Dog Days of Summer challenges.

The base is Whisper White cardstock with layers of Recollections designer papers. The image is Mermaid Ian and is colored in copic markers, then cut and embossed with the nestabilities classic retangle die. The entire card is mounted to the base on dimensionals. I used jute twine to make the stitches to give it a more rustic feel, like worn rope you'd fine near the ocean. I chose to leave a sentiment off until a later time. Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 4

2011-08-12T21:09:00.000-05:00

This week's heart journal assignment is "The Girl in Me..." We are supposed to sketch some kind of girl and I will be the first to say, I stink at free hand. With that said, I did some looking around the internet and then started digging through book covers in our library and I found....Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. So I pulled the pic and blew it up a bit and then traced the rough sketch onto my page. Once that was done, I went over it in a multiliner, erasing the pencil marks. Next, I sponged the background and tried to leave a bit of a halo around the image. The sponged colors are Soft Sky, Green Galore, Pool Party, and Wisteria Wonder. The image is filled in with watercolor pencils, then I used a water-filled brush to blend. Once that was done, I took part of the chorus to Jessica Andrew's Who I Am to weave through her hair. The title is Inkadinkado's Curly Alphabet in Jet Black Staz-On. Thanks for looking! April

the "write" stuff

2011-08-12T08:08:00.000-05:00

So I wanted to give my daughter some stationery to take to camp. I doubt she will have much time, but any line of communication is good. This is a base of Very Vanilla cardstock layered with Chocolate Chip. The top layer is inked with the faded script stamp from Stampabilities in CTMH's Brown Bag. The ribbon is from a SU grab bag, so I can't swear on the name but it is the 1 1/4" striped grosgrain. I think it is too dark to be Real Red, but maybe Cherry Cobbler or Riding Hood Red? The image is TGF's Flutter Anya and is colored in copic with accents of Sakura Stardust gel pen. The sentiment is handwritten on the decorative label punch. Inside are cards stamped in Grunge Rock in the new In Colors: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade and Wisteria Wonder using the Grunge Rock stamp set. Thanks for looking! April

inside of folder

Space Camp!

2011-08-11T09:04:00.000-05:00

My daughter has applied for a scholarship for NASA's Space Camp program for three years and each time has been denied. Well, we got a surprise email earlier this week, inviting her to come to Space Academy for age 12-14 year olds. She is beyond thrilled and as a bonus, she is missing the first week of school! She wanted to give a card to the people who have written her recommendations over the years and here is what I came up with...

The base is retired SU Brilliant Blue and stamped with the stars from retired Way to Go in versamark. The Real Red layer is punched using the spiral notebook border punch. Next is a scalloped circle from nestabilities in Whisper White and a layer of Real Red that has been embossed with the dots cuttlebug folder and mounted with dimensionals. The final layer is a NASA patch we had left over from a Girl Scout activity. The sentiment is stamped from the retired set Rivited in Jet Black Staz On with a circle of Azure Blue, then punched with a 1 1/4" circle punch, and mounted with a dimensional. Inside is Whisper White with coordinating spiral punch and Thank You stamped in Azure. Thanks for looking! April

Heart Journal - week 3

2011-08-10T11:35:00.000-05:00

This for week 3 of Heart Journal and the theme is "gratitude". I decided to go with "count your blessings." I started out with wetting the base with water and then using a small brush to streak colors. Once dried, I stamped the title with Azure Blue Staz-On for the "count your" in Inkadinkadoo lower case font and the "blessings" is stamped with CTMH's giggle lower case in Whisper White craft ink then turquiose glitter embossing powder. Next, I wrote in things I am greatful for. Last, I spritzed it with Vanilla Shimmer and Electric Blue Smooch. Okay, gotta say, it's not my favorite page, but it was something different. Thanks for looking! April

Argh! Pirate Monkey

2011-08-07T00:03:00.000-05:00

This is for Deconstructed Sketch #13 and Pixie Dust Studio's Anything Goes challenges.
The base is Bravo Burgundy with layers of Basic Black, Basic Grey, and pirate papers from Karen Foster. The image is PDS Pirate Monkey and is colored with copic markers. The flourish is wound jute twine that I thought would look like rope or netting from the ship. The sticker is from Karen Foster and mounted on layered scrap circles, then a gemstone in the center of the compass. The last piece with a few clear skittles attached at the corners with glue dots. Thanks for looking! April

TGF WOW Sketch #9

2011-08-06T23:48:00.000-05:00

This is for this week's TGF Wednesday sketch challenge.

The base is Very Vanilla cardstock with layers of paper from Paper Studio at Hobby Lobby and Basic Black. I distressed the edges of the Basic Black layer with the Tim Holtz distresser. The image is TGF's Wild Sprout Joseph digi and is colored with copic markers. The washi tape is from Tim Holtz and then photo hinges finish the card. Super quick and easy. Thanks for looking! April

Live

2011-08-05T23:57:00.000-05:00

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Fridays Throwback #3 and Stamp Something's August digi challenges.

The base is SU Old Olive with layers of retired Pawsitively Prints DSP and accents of Pumpkin Pie. The card case is from Dawn's Stampin Studio's multi-panel card. She has an awesome tutorial. The image is TGF's Wild Sprout Jeremy digi and is colored in copic markers and mounted with dimensionals. The ribbon is grosgrain from Michael's and is secured with a retired SU star brad. The skittles have little 3/16" circles under them with liquid glass and mounted with glue dots. The sentiment ticket is from Tim Holtz and is distressed, then inked with black that was mostly dried on the sponge. Thanks for looking! April

showing panels