Just Rite Challenge 51: An Act of Kindness

Hello friends!

Silly me.  I finished this card last week and forgot to post it for the challenge!  It's down to the wire, so here goes!

I fell in love with this paper and just HAD to make this card.  I've seen this ribbon treatment around, and thought it would be perfect for this paper and this particular card.  All of the stamps are from JustRite....naturally!  The die templates are Spellbinders....naturally!  And that pretty little bling circle around the sentiment is Close To My Heart.....naturally!

JustRite's challenge 51 is to make a card for to thank someone who was kind to you, or a project as a random act of kindness to someone.  I think I know just who will receive this card from me!

Can you believe there is only one day of March remaining?

Good grief!

Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comments,

Pretty Little Peacock - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Hello, friends!!!

Happy Friday!  Woohooo!  Do you have Super-Bowl-watching plans this weekend?  I just spoke with my buddy Butch in St. Louis.  It will be his last supper, so to speak, as he is starting the South Beach diet on Monday.  We're going to try to encourage each other to lose a little weight.  I only wish I just had 25 pounds to lose like he he does!  Well, one step at a time, right?

Here's a card I made in December (last year - tee hee!) for the Humble Artists' Group swap that I am in.

I just can't stop using my Spellbinders(TM) Grand Labels Four die templates for cards!  See how nicely they nest together?  I used the largest for the card base, then the next one for the blue paper.  Then I cut the center out of the blue paper, flipped it over to the light brown side and used that inside the card!  Don't you love that little peacock?  I should have taken a photo of her before I mailed off my cards, but I didn't.  I inked her up in green, then added some blue with sponge daubers, plus a few sparkles on her crest and feathers.

I'm itchin' to craft, so I think I'll retreat to my humble studio.

Till later,

A Fussy Valentine -Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

 
Hello friends!

Confession time.  It seems that any time I try to do shabby chic, it turns out more shabby than chic!  More of a hot mess!  But it doesn't stop me from trying - tee hee!

So I thought I'd try again.  I pulled out a bunch of Spellbinders(TM) die templates, some stamps and embellishments, and went to work.

I started with a circle card base from CTMH. Then I background stamped the entire base with a music stamp from House of Three.  I used plain white copier paper to make the rose, then splattered it with two colors of misty paint.  I really love that Rose Creations set!  And I really love the little tassels from Banner Basics Two!
 
I'm determined to learn to 'do' shabby chic!  I have a hard time knowing where to stop - ha!  But I think it's good to depart from your style occasionally, don't you?  

Be sure to stop by the Spellbinders Blog  this Thursday.  I made a mini-album using the newest Creative Book Pages that will be featured, complete with instructions!

Fussy Valentine Supplies:

Dies:  S5-043 Fleur de Lis Motifs, S4-316 Heart Circles, S5-045 Banner Basics Two, S5-050 Rose Creations
Inks:  Tsukineko Versafine (Vintage Sepia), CTMH Blush, Hollyhock
Stamps:  CTMH Find Your Style, House of Three Parisian Anthology
Paper:  CTMH Colonial White, Hollyhock, Cocoa Cardstock; copier paper
Other:  Smooch Spritz (Pink Sprinkles, Shimmerz (Concrete), Glue Dots, Hero Arts Woven Lace Ribbon, CTMH Ricrac, Pearls and Tag

Till then,

A Couple of Layouts - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Hey, all!

Congrats to the winners of the Spellbinders(TM) "To Die For!!" Blog Frenzy!  Oh, you are going to looooove your new toys! 

Thanks again for all of your sweet comments. I wish everyone could have won!  Someone asked about the cupcakes in my post- yes, they were delish!  ha!  They were actually store-bought from Walmart, but heavenly nonetheless! 

I thought I would share a couple of my Spellbinders' layouts that are ready for public viewing - tee hee!  I created these months ago, but needed to wait until they were in the Spellbinders' blog gallery.  Click on the link to see the design team's monthly artwork.  Projects with even more new die templates will show up after CHA next week!

The first layout uses some awesome double-sided cardstock paper from My Mind's Eye.  You can click on the photos to enlarge them.  It's a photo of my son and my dad way back when Alan was around two - probably 1990.  Alan was reading a book and Gramps was reading the newspaper.  Sweet!  So I journaled on a little 'book' that I made with Spellbinders' die templates.  Why not?


This is the first layout I made with the Grand Nestabilities!  What do you think of my 80's perm?  tee hee.  Good GRIEF!!!  And look at Alan's white hair!  I was shocked - I'd always dreamed of having a little dark-haired, blue-eyed baby! But his dad has nearly white hair so I guess I did not have the dominate gene!

This time I made a little vellum pocket behind which I tucked a little journaling tag. 

Oh!!  Here's one more thing to drool over!  Head on over to Michelle's blog to get a sneak peek of just a taste of the bling she's designed to fit exactly on your Nestabilities!  She'll be debuting it next week at CHA.  It looks delectable for sure, and I hear the prices are going to be veeeery reasonable!!!

Talk to you soon,

Free Spellbinders? You heard it here!

I want to let you in on a GRAND announcement!

Mark you calendar for January 10-18: when I will be participating in Spellbinders(TM) Paper Arts "To Die For!!" Winter Release Blog Frenzy!  WooHOOO!!!  You will seriously DIE when you see this new release - it is absolutely the best ever! 

You will not believe the awesome die templates in this release!  It's my favorite so far - and you can win them all!  Join me and 15 other designers starting January 10 for a sneak peek and your chance to enter the contest to win!  I cannot wait to show you the projects I have been working on!


If I sound just a tad excited, it's because I truly am!  Oh, I can't wait for you to see!  My post is the 13th, but the hop starts here Monday morning.  Make sure you enter every day for your chance to win!

Good luck, friends!

Good Grief; where have I been? Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Good grief indeed!

You would not believe the internet issues I have had.  I've been trying to recruit physicians from home but my DSL service is a joke.  Then my e-mail started sending out random spam, so I changed all my passwords.  Including my Blogger one.....which I couldn't remember....tee hee!  My whole life has been a comedy of errors.

Anyway,  here are a few of my Spellbinders(TM) Christmas projects that have been posted on the Spellbinders' blog, so I can show them to you now!

First is a log cabin that I made using several different Spellbinders die templates.  The details are here on the blog.   There are additional photos and I believe a supply list as well.  It was a lot of fun to make!  The scalloped die template would make a great gingerbread house roof, wouldn't it?

I found these awesome papier maiche stars at Oriental Trading Company last year, so I decided to cover it and decorate it this year (finally - ha!)  I used the Nested Hearts die templates as well as Labels Fifteen peeking out from the back.  The paper is retired from Close To My Heart, but any vintage paper would do nicely.  Or take it in another direction by using bright and cheery colors.  By the way, you can find my rose tutorial here.

My third project features a viola made from Labels Fourteen.  And real wood paper - how cool is that!  I colored it with Copic Markers and used Doodle Parts to finish the viola handle and vents.  The 2010 Snowflake die template is covered with glitter.  What a mess I made!

Now, I usually give you all of the SKU numbers, but I am anxious to get this posted.  And I am a bit lazy tonight too.  Ha.  Suffice it to say that you can find all of them here.


I was in Gainesville last weekend to celebrate my son graduating (go GATORS)!  He earned two Bachelor's degrees - one in Physics and one in Astronomy.  He is so awesome!

Well, I'll be  back soon with a couple of more Christmas projects - can you  believe it is seriously almost here? 

Till then,

Bookend Cozy Instructions- Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Welcome back, y'all!  If you didn't get a chance yesterday, please scroll down to my last post and leave a comment for a chance to win a Grand Calibur and other wonderful prizes!

Yesterday I promised that I would post instructions for the Bookend Cozy that I created for the Spellbinders' Holiday Hoppin' Blog Hop.  Well, here they are!

I decided that since my sweet mom gave me her old bookends to use, I would cover one for her sewing room.   I will probably go back and 'tweak' it a little....it should have buttons and seam binding on it, right?  ha.  But I wanted to get this finished in time to post for you.

First I cut out all of the elements for my project.  I had purchased an old sewing pattern, so that seemed perfect to use as my background paper!  It was creased and brown, but I like it that way (vintage, right?  ha!).

Of course it needed stability, so I began with a piece of soft gray cardstock with the largest of the LF-190 Grand Labels Four die templates.  As you can see, I also cut a portion of the larger template with plain cream cardstock to use as the back of the cozy (sleeve). Use the next size (second to largest) die template



to cut the pattern instruction paper.  Then use the smallest die template to cut the actual pattern.  Now, the pattern paper is extremely thin, so I ran a piece of the grey cardstock through my Xyron 5" sticker maker and slapped the pattern onto it before I cut it.  See how nicely it cut?

I used another die template from S4-298 Antiquities - the crown! - and another piece of F-013 Premium Craft Foil -purple! - just for fun.  I may or may not leave it on the project once I fuss with some buttons.

 

Now begin your assembly.  Score your large template so that it will 'sit' on your bookend, yet still cover it.  I scored mine three inches from the bottom, but yours may vary depending upon your bookend.

Attach the top portion of your patterned paper piece with adhesive (I used a tape runner).  Now, apply adhesive to the bottom piece, but make sure it is standing at a 90 degree angle (straight up) before you smooth it down.  If you adhere it totally flat, it will wrinkle and buckle when you fold it.

Place this on top of your back cover piece and draw a line along the bottom.  Cut along the line; now your back cover piece will exactly fit onto the back of the front piece (clear as mud?  ha).

This part is crucial - put your adhesive ONLY AROUND THE EDGES - top and sides only - so that your cozy will slip over the top of the booked!  You can see in the photo how I have placed the tape just around the edges.  Now, I suggest that you use a strong red-line tape.

Decide where you want to place your smallest pattern piece and score it accordingly.  Adhere it like you did the paper (top first, fold, then adhere the bottom).

Embellish!  I added a pretty bow as well as the crown topped with a white pearl.  I may go back and remove the crown and add a few buttons.  We shall see!








Here's how the back looks after I've slipped the cozy over the bookend.

My original idea was to put a photo in the center - think of all of the possibilities!  Kitchen Bookend Cozies for Grandma with photos of her baking cookies with her grandbabies.  Who couldn't use bookends for their cookbooks?  'Nuff said.

I hope this was instructional for you.  Most of all, thank you so much for all of the sweet, precious comments on yesterday's post.  It's so rewarding to feel that you have inspired someone to create!   I hope you become a follower of my blog (see the column to the right) and let me share more ideas with you!

Now, send me photos of your cozies so I can share them!  Oh, I can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Spellbinders' Holiday Hoppin' Blog Hop!!!!

Welcome to the second day of the Spellbinders™ Paper Arts Holiday Hoppin’ Blog Hop! Spellbinders, along with cross promotional partners, are showcasing their newest products just in time for your Holiday crafting and gift giving. Lots of creative ideas are in store, as well as prizes galore!

Each participating company has generously donated towards the prize package listed on the Spellbinders Blog. A total of two identical prize packages, one for each day, November 18 and 19 will be given away!

To enter, just leave a comment on a participating blog! Comments in the first 48 hours of the post are eligible. One commenter each day will be randomly selected as the winner. Winners will be announced on November 22, on the Spellbinders Blog!

Be sure to see all of yesterday’s Holiday Hoppin’ blogs for inspiring projects and another chance to win!
Visit (and comment on) all of today’s Holiday Hoppin’ blogs:


Mona Pendleton

Gina Hanson

Deborah Young - you are here!

Becca Feeken

Julie Overby

Kimberly Crawford

AJ Otto

Margie Higuchi

Beth Pingry


Jennifer Holmes

Kerry Urbatch

Shona Erlenborn 

Tammy Inman


Jessica Turner

Brenda Hurd

Julie Koerber

Rae Barthel


Rachel O’Crowley

Kellie Fortin

Kristen Cohen

Joy Dickson


Candy Rosenberg

Laura Craigie

Stephanie Hester


Leesa Crutcher


Nina Brackett


Today I am using Spellbinders LF-190 Grand Labels Four die template set to create a couple of quick, easily-reproducible projects for you!  This set of six GRAND die templates ranges from 5-1/4" to 9-3/8" long!

I used the fifth die template (from the inside - second to largest) to make a card that fits exactly in an A2 envelope.  It's my new take on a gable card that has the opening down the center front of the card.  It was quick and easy to cut with my new Grand Calibur!  Since the plates are so large, you can easily cut all of your die templates at one time! Bundle up a set up these and you have a unique gift that will be appreciated.

The keyhole die template was cut from the new Spellbinders premium craft foil - this color is Gunmetal.  Since the Spellbinders' die templates have decorative openings, I stenciled the metal with black ink to highlight the intricacies of the beautiful Antiquities die template.  I threaded the ribbon through the holes on either side of the keyhole to tie the card shut.

Open it to see the full Grand Labels Four die template!  If your die template is 8" long, score your card 2" (one-fourth of the length) from each end and you instantly have your card base!

What do you buy that guy that has everything?  I kept the embellishments to a minimum on my next project so it can be used in the workplace or a men's office.  It's a bookend cozy!  That's right - I took an old metal bookend and made a little removable cover with my Grand Labels Four die templates!  This time I used the largest, second largest, plus the smallest die templates in the set, so you can see the size progression.  I love having the choice of six sizes - there's always a size to fit my project! At just around $8.00 per die template, you can't beat the value!

This closeup shows why I love Spellbinders over other die templates (besides the value, the great designs, the embossing....ha!).  See the vintage shadow that is inked just inside the embossed border?  Spellbinders' open-faced templates allow you to stencil the 'face' of your project with inks, chalks....your favorite medium.  I used another die template in the Antiquities set - the Fleur di Lis (yum!) cut from the Copper craft foil this time.

Here's a more feminine version of the Bookend Cozy.   It's so simple - come back tomorrow for complete instructions.

Supplies:

Blessings Card:
Spellbinders Products:  LF-190 Grand Labels Four; F-012 Premium Craft Foils (Gunmetal); S4-298 Antiquities; S4-290 Labels 14; Grand Calibur
Papers and Stamps: Donna Salazar's Grandma's Garden (D3-9585 English Roses) Designer Paper; Gina K (Lovely Labels) Stamps
Inks and Supplies: Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink, CTMH Black Ink and Adhesive Pearls, Creative Impressions Crepe Ribbon, White Lace, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Black 3D Foam Squares

Fleur-di-lis Bookend Cozy:
Spellbinders Products:  LF-190 Grand Labels Four; F-012 Premium Craft Foils (Bronze); S4-298 Antiquities; Grand Calibur
Papers: Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante; WorldWin Cardstock (Malt, Black)
Inks and Supplies: CTMH Desert Sand Ink, Liquid Glass; Sheet Music; Adhesive

Ladies' Bookend Cozy:

Spellbinders Products:  LF-190 Grand Labels Four; F-012 Premium Craft Foils (Copper); S4-299 Fallen Angel; Grand Calibur
Papers: Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante; WorldWin Cardstock (Maroon-back of cozy)
Inks and Supplies: CTMH Lagoon Ink, Liquid Glass; Adhesive

Now it's time for you to leave a comment on my blog to be eligible to win the Spellbinders Holiday Hoppin’ Prize Package! One winner will be chosen from all the comments on all the blogs participating today. Comments made in the first 48 hours of this post will be eligible to win. Winner’s names will be published on the Spellbinders Blog on November 22 (Monday), and they will have 48 hours to reply to Spellbinders to claim the prizes.

Thanks for hopping with us.  Good luck!

JustRite Challenge 043 - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

 

I was inspired by Pink Paislee's latest line by House of Three, "Parisian Anthology"......yummy blues, greys, whites....all those muted colors I just love!  

The current Just Rite 043 challenge is to create either a sympathy or friendship card.  I decided to use a sentiment from JustRite's "Seeds of Kindness" stamp set along with some of my favorite Nestabilities(R). 

What, no bows or flowers?  ha!  I thought the ruffled  ribbon could stand on its own.  Isn't it lovely?  It's part of the Parisian Anthology collection.  And I sewed!!

Stamps:  Seeds of Kindness (JustRite)
Paper, Note, Ruffled Ribbon:  Parisian Anthology (Pink Paislee)
Dies: S4-114 Standard Circles LG, S4-249 Big Scalloped Circles LG, S4-293 Lacey Circles (Spellbinders)
Cardstock:  Silver Linen Core, White (WorldWin)
Other:  Lagoon Ink, Lagoon Ribbon, Pearls (CTMH)

Well, I've decided to try to recruit physicians from home.  Who knows if I'll be as successful as I was working at a "real" job, but I have to try!  Let me know if your company needs a new physician, or if you know of a physician who wants to relocate.  Now how's that for a start?  tee hee

I just received some stamps from a new (to me) company, "Layers of Colors".  They are compatibility with some of my favorite Nestabilities, so I'll try to get back to the studio this week and have something new for you!  I appreciate your sweet comments; they are precious to me!

Till then,

BOO! Spooky Halloween - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Oh good grief!  How could I miss posting my Halloween card.  Ha! 

Well, I was busy finishing up my design team projects for October (yowza!), and it just slipped my mind.  Don't you love this stamp?  It was one of CTMH's stamps of the month this fall.  It's so insanely awesome that I'm hopeful it will come back as a regular.

The skull, the background stamping and the sentiment are all from the same stamp set.  The paper is from CTMH's "Hooligans" and the webbed ribbon is from Creative Imaginations.

Now, how about that spooky skull at the bottom?   Mwaaah ha ha!  It's just one of several Spellbinders(TM) die templates used on this card!  Oh, how I am loving my Spellbinders die templates!  The skull was cut and embossed on white cardstock, then stenciled with black ink.  Spellbinders' die templates have openings just 'dying' for your sponge.....just one of the many wonderful things about these die templates, and one that makes them unique! 

Still looking for work....

See you soon!

A Gift For You! Flourishes NEW Release Blog Hop

Greetings, friends! You're going to love today's brand new stamp release from Flourishes. It's the perfect set to use to add a touch of class and elegance to your Christmas gift packaging!

Today, Flourishes is sneak peaking a brand new set called A Gift for You, and the Spellbinders(TM) design team is joining in the fun!

This set was designed not only to coordinate with some of Flourishes best-selling Christmas stamp sets, but with several Spellbinders die templates!

A Gift For You - drawn by the ever-so-talented Marcella Hawley - offers eight different tag styles and eight different mini sentiments to fit inside! I used just a few of the stamps in the set for my tags. To make sure your tags come out with a regal style and design, this set coordinates with Spellbinders Labels Fourteen, Labels Fifteen, Labels Sixteen, as well as some of the new circular and square shaped designs like Lacey, Eyelet and Beaded Circles and Lacey or Eyelet Squares! The customizable options are endless.


I decided to use muted colors that can either coordinate with 'manly' packages, or complement foil papers such as gold, red or green. Here I used Spellbinders new Labels Fourteen and Labels Seventeen with a couple of the stamps from the set (you can click on the photo to enlarge it). See how just a little bit of bling brings the tag up to the next level? I added a little Liquid Pearls, Stickles and of course, Copic Markers. Imagine using these same stamps with silver ink on black, blue or red cardstock. How elegant that would be!

These stamps also coordinate with other Spellbinders die templates that you have on your list. Here they are cut and embossed with Labels Ten and Labels Seven. Think of the possibilities.....use the die templates to stencil the edges, or the entire interior with a coordinating color!

Supplies:
Stamps: Flourishes (A Gift For You)
Die Templates: Spellbinders (Labels Seven, Ten, Fourteen and Seventeen)
Paper: WorldWin Cardstock (Malt), Graphic 45 (A Proper Gentleman)
Ink: Memento (Rich Cocoa, Cottage Ivy), CTMH (Vineyard Berry)
Markers: Copic Sketch YG98, 99; E29, 39; W3, 5; Y28
Other: Liquid Pearls (Silver Pearl), Stickles (Candy Cane), Wright's Twill Ribbon, Baker's Twine

Would you like to win this set? Of course you would! Simply leave us a comment here on this post! Flourishes will draw a winner and announce this coming Saturday in their Winner's Circle on their blog!

Now check out what the rest of the Spellbinders and Flourishes designers whipped up with this stamp set. You'll love the variety!

· Christine Okken

· Cindy Lawrence

· Danielle Kennedy

· Dawn Burnworth

· Julie Koerber

· Laura Fredrickson

· Leslie Miller

· Stacy Morgan

· Ashley Cannon Newell

· AJ Otto

· Beth Pingry

· Deborah Young - that's me!

· Gina Hanson

· Holly Simoni

· Margie Higuchi

· Judy Hayes

· Julie Overby

· Kazan Clark

· Latisha Yoast

· Mona Pendleton

Take care,

JustRite Friday Challenge 036 - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Greetings, crafty friends!  Here I am doing another JustRite challenge.  It's a color challenge that I just couldn't resist.  I can't say my mojo is at its highest....this cold has knocked me for a loop and I don't have much energy to create.  It hurts my brain!  tee hee

Well, the challenge is twofold.  1)  Use the colors Dark Red, Ivory and Black (see what I mean?  yum!!!), and 2) use an embellishment that you make yourself.

So I pulled out a new (to me) set that I just received from JustRite - "Girl Time".  I just love that "Let's Do Lunch" sentiment!  I stamped it, colored it and die cut it with my new favorite Spellbinders, backed it with a new Nestabilities release, and made my card with another new Nestabilities (see supply list below). 

For my embellishment, I cut nine pieces of black organdy, stabbed them with a tiny brad and poked it through my card.  Adhered a darling little blingy rhinestone.  Added a few tiny pearls to the flower and the sentiment and it was done!  Simply and gorgeous, dahlings!

So I'll try to get back in the studio =.  What have you been creating lately?  Please share!

Supplies:
JustRite "Girl Time"
Spellbinders S4-293 Lacey Cir cles
Spellbinders S4-114 Standard Circles LG
Spellbinders S5-025 Labels 17
Versafine Onyx  Black Ink
Copic R59 Cardinal Sketch Marker
CTMH Pearls, Rhinestone Bling, Ribbon, Colonial White and Black Cardstock

Best,