Distress Test

Hello Folks!

Did you know that April is known as Stress Awareness Month?  I didn't!  Maybe because crafting helps me keep the stress away.  Maybe we should make a crafter's slogan: "A craft a day keeps the stress away."  What do you think? :)

Well, speaking of crafts, I'm sharing a card today.  I tried a new technique that I learned from Jennifer McGuire.  She created a watercolor background with embossing and distress inks and it looks gorgeous.  Unfortunately, mine don't.  She used several colors of inks and I only have 2, so that might be part of the problem.  Hmm, I think I have an excuse to go crafty shopping. :D 

(Supplies: cardstock, watercolor paper, clear embossing powder, distress inks in Broken China & Dried Marigold by Tim Holtz, heat gun, glossy accents, sentiment stamp- Unity Stamp Co. background stamp- Hero Arts, ink applicator, pop dot)

 

It's not my best, but I figured I'd share my "experiments" with you.  If you'd like to try it, check out her video here.  She actually irons off the embossing at the end, but I decided to skip that step.

 

Well, dear friends, I hope that you are crafting or doing something that helps you de-stress and I'll see you soon.

 

Happy Crafting,

Angie

Enjoying Unity Again

Hello All!

As promised in my post yesterday, I'm back with another card.  This card is for the Unity Be Inspired Challenge.  You can create a card, layout, art journal, or a mixed media project based on the provided sketches and/or colors.



I used the card sketch and stamps from 3 different sets: main image from Feb. 2014 KOTM, butterflies from "You Give Me Tiny Butterflies" & the sentiment from "Better With Love."

I added pink glitter glue to the centers of the Cherry Blossoms & light green to the pollen particles (specks around the flowers).  At least, that's what I think they are. :)

Here is an image with a bit of sparkle.  I learned something a while back & I forgot during this project- pink glitter glue on a black surface looks green.  Hmm, maybe I should write Martha Stewart & ask for an explanation? ;)

(Supplies: cardstock, Washi tape, stamps- Unity Stamp Co., glitter glue- Martha Stewart, colored pencils, pop dots, black ink)

I get the feeling that Martha Stewart might be too busy for my glitter glue questions.  But I welcome any of your explanations. :)

Well, thanks again for sharing some of your time with me.

Happy Crafting,
Angie

ETA:  Adding this card to Unity's Friend's with Flair post.

Safe Travels

Howdy Y'all!

How are you doing?  Are you enjoying this Spring weather?  I am!  Even though we've already been using the air conditioner, this weather is pleasant.

Well, life keeps getting in the way of my crafting time, but I finally put my foot down yesterday & gave myself permission to craft.  :)  So I am sharing a card that I am entering into the One Layer Simplicity Challenge.  The theme is Road Trip!  The card can be destination-based or journey-based.  I LOVE to travel, so this challenge has me thinking of my next road trip. :D

Let's begin. :D

 

I sponged the background using Broken China distress ink.  Then I heat embossed the hot air balloon.

(Supplies: cardstock, Broken China distress ink- Tim Holtz, image & sentiment stamps- My Favorite Things, silver embossing powder- Zing, black ink, sponge dauber, sequins, heat gun)


Well, dear friends, I leave you with one of my favorite quotes:
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine

Thank you dearly for stopping by and see you tomorrow. :D

Happy Crafting,
Angie

Cutie-Patootie

Hello Friends!

How are you doing?  Weekend is almost here, so hang on a bit longer. :)

Well, today I am stopping by to share my current design team project for Scrapping 4 Fun Challenges.  The challenge is to use a stamp or digi image on your card, layout, canvas, mini album or "off the page" creation.

This challenge inspired me to create a mini baby album.  My last design team project was a baby memory file.  So I am finally making a teeny-tiny dent in my baby photos. 
I recently decided to display my projects for others to enjoy.  (I know!  The light bulb took a while to come on.)  ALL of my layouts get stored in the scrapbook and then put away, which means others rarely view them.  So I've decided to create projects that can be placed around my home (i.e. coffee table, bookshelf) for others to see.

Ok, let's get on with the good stuff.  :D

Detail picture of cover:

Album cover:

Some inside pages:
Here is my adorable little niece.

I added journaling throughout the album. 

My sweet nephew:

 My other adorable niece.

(Supplies: chipboard, cardstock, pattern paper- My Mind's Eye & Basic Grey, journaling cards- Echo Park & Me and My Big Ideas, sequins, colored pencils, glossy accents, twine- My Mind's Eye, stamps- Fiskars, Heidi Swapp, Recollections, Hero Arts & Papertrey Ink, circle punch- Martha Stewart, black ink, die-cut- Cameo, button- Recollections, machine stitching, ribbon)

So what are you creating for the challenge?  Go get scrappy and link up your projects here.  And while you're there, check out the awesome creations by my teammates and the guest bloggers. They rocked it. :D

Have a wonderful, fabulous day and thank you for spending some time with me. :D

Happy Crafting,
Angie

Easter Eggs

Hola Everyone!

How is your week going?  I hope you are enjoying it.  As for me, I'm STILL trying to catch up in life.  I'm so behind on some major home projects, cleaning projects, craft projects, and sleep.  If someone gave me a pillow right now, I would surely thank them and plop on the floor. Anyone? ;)  And since sleeplessness= forgetfulness, I plum forgot to post this on Monday.  So sorry.

Well, I am sharing another Easter card.  I used an egg that was cut with my Cameo, just like the ones I used on my banner in my previous post.  Here is a detail picture:

I adhered the die-cut egg with a foam dot.  For the second egg, I sponged it and then added gold spots.

(Supplies: cardstock, pattern paper- Webster's Pages, Silhouette Cameo, butterfly punch- Martha Stewart, ink- Pear Tart by Tsukineko, sponge dauber, gold-leaf pen, colored pencils, foam dot)

Well, my dear friends, time to for me to get back to work or find a pillow. :D  I appreciate you stopping in for a visit.

Happy Crafting,
Angie

Easter Greetings

Howdy Y'all!

How are you doing?  I can't believe I've been absent for so long!  Last month was super busy, and I'm still trying to catch up.  Last week we were out of town for a business trip and then hurried home for 2 birthday parties and practice.  And to top it off, I've been experiencing a creative block.  So please excuse my absence.

Well, I'm happy to report that I saw a bit of light at the end of my creative-block tunnel. So today I am sharing a super-simple Easter card.  The other day I created a simple Easter banner with my Cameo, and I wanted to find a way to use the negative sections of the die-cuts. Here is the Easter banner (forgive my large, dark shadow in the middle):

Here is the card using the negative section:
That's right!  I sure did use an actual cotton ball. :)

(Supplies: cardstock, pattern paper- Webster's Pages, ribbon, bunny die-cut, sequins, cotton ball)

I told you it was super-simple. :)  What Easter projects are you working on?
Well, time for me to bid you farewell.  Have a fabulous day and thank you oh so MUCH for stopping by. :D

Happy Crafting,
Angie

Scrapping 4 Fun Challenges- Memory Files

Howdy Everyone!

Can you believe that it's April ALREADY?!  I'm trying to figure out where March went!

Well, today I am sharing my design team project for Scrapping 4 Fun Challenges.  The challenge this time is "Anything Goes," so I took the opportunity to play with some new goodies.  I recently bought some Heidi Swapp Memory Files and these are great for packing in lots of pictures.  So I must warn you that this post is picture heavy.  Oh, and I apologize for the dull pictures.  It's been raining off and on, which makes for gray photos. :(  So let's begin. :D

This is the cover of the Memory File.  It's so beautiful on its own, so I only added a few embellishments.

Inside I added 2 smaller Memory Files by stitching them together.

Here is the blank cover of the inside files.

Then I used 6x12 pattern papers to create my own "Foto Stack."

This gives you extra space for pictures and embellishments. 

Here are the decorated small memory file cover and "Foto Stack."  I used a border punch on some of the layers of the stack.

Here are some of the inside pages:

I also stitched a transparency inside the memory file for some journaling space.

Wondering how many pictures I was able to pack into the Memory File?
All these plus 7 more. :D  I have been treasuring these pictures of loved ones for a long time.  Some of these "babies" are already in high school & college!!  A certain one is already a FATHER himself!!!  Time definitely flies by.

(Supplies: Memory Files- Heidi Swapp, pattern paper- Pink Paislee, Heidi Swapp, Fab Scraps, Prima, & scraps from my stash; stamps- Hero Arts, Stampendous!, Fiskars, Papertrey Ink, Stampede; twine- We R Memory Keepers; punches- Martha Stewart; stickers- Stella Rose & Karen Foster; rub-on letters; ink- black & brown; machine stitching; photo corners)

I'm so glad that I have all these baby/kid pictures in one place now.  So what will you create for this challenge?  Give it try and go check out the awesome projects my teammates did here.  Well, I appreciate you hanging out with me for a bit today.

Happy Crafting,

Angie