Lilacs and a Friend

We were awakened by rolling thunder last night, but no storms today.  In fact, it was a lovely day with sun & clouds.  Perfect for meeting up with my dear friend, Rosemary.  

We both love lilacs & enjoyed talking while we admired the lilacs and other flowers in a Woodland, Washington garden.

Wish we could all meet in person, but I know that's not possible.  Thankfully, we have our blogs & I do so appreciate your friendship.  I'll be back with cards soon.  Thanks for stopping by.

Pink Glitter for Christmas and Valentine's Day

I got the darling little Memory Box Paper Angel after last holiday season, so really wanted to use it this year. 

I used white glitter paper & pink glitter tape.  The halo is covered with gold Stickles.  The beautiful Spellbinder Lacy Squares die cut from linen cardstock made just the right mat.  I added a few layers of cardstock to give a little dimension, but not as much as foam tape.  The sentiment from AJVD is stamped on SSS Fog cardstock in Brilliance Starlite Black.  I'm entering Memory Box, AAA Cards, HLS Anything Goes with Dies, The House that Stamps Built, SSS Christmas Card Day, SSS Monday & Word Art Wednesday.

I took a break from Christmas cards after putting a new packing tape roll on the dispenser.  I thought the old cardboard roll could be used for something.  When I realized that a votive candle would fit inside, I decided to turn it into a holder. 

I covered the inside & outside with Heidi Swapp pink glitter tape.  Then I die cut Poppystamps Heart String from white felt & attached it.  The bottom is made from several layers of cardstock die cut with Spellbinders Scalloped Circle.  Now I have my first Valentine project done & a little gift ready to give.  I'm entering Poppystamps, SSS Wednesday & The Snippets Playground (used a scrap of white felt.)  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.

Still Crafting--Surprise, Surprise!

Pretty much every day is WCMD for me, but I love having extra challenges to celebrate "the" day.  Mr Random MFT didn't find me, but you never know about the others out there, including Winnie & Walter--one of my favorite companies.  They're so generous with lots of prizes, have the challenges open a week & even let people use any products they want.  First is my Craftie showing me at my table Saturday morning with my stack of W&W products. 

I'm holding my warm up project from the night before.  It's my entry for W&W Rerun No. 24. 

I fell in love with Lydia's card, so made my version using a SSS Village die, greenery from W&W In Bloom: Frenchy's Festive Florals & sentiment from Big, Bold Seasons.  The inks are Field Greens, Ripe Avocado, Ocean Tides & Love Letter.  I added a white dot to the berries & covered them with Crystal Laquer.  The roof top has a bit of Frosted Lace Stickles & the gold behind the windows is brushed with Wink of Stella.  Fun to make a smaller card this time.  I'm also entering Christmas Card Challenges & SSS Flickr 81.  

Edited to add: Also entering SSS WCMD.

I started with the 4th W&W WCMD challenge--Anything But A Card.  My project is a holiday magnet made with a foiled Sizzix die cut that's been sitting in my back room for ages waiting for me to get inspired. 

The cute little die cut & stamped snowflakes are from W&W Big, Bold Seasons & I double clear embossed them.  The background is debossed with a Darice folder & I used In Bloom: Frenchy's Festive Florals for the stamped & die cut word. 

This will be added to my magnet collection on the fridge for the holidays.  At least I'll have one decoration up the day after Thanksgiving--haha!  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.

Final PTI Challenge Cards

Hello from rainy Oregon!  I'm not complaining--no big snowstorm like the east coast & a great day for crafting!  I worked yesterday, so today I finished up projects for 3 of the PTI Anniversary challenges.
First is my entry for Day 2--use multiples of a single shape.  My first thought was Happy Hexagons, so that's what I went with.

Fun to also use some of the printed paper I got in the big sale. To be honest, it took me forever to decide on how to arrange the hexagons. I've got quite a few left over, so hopefully they'll end up on a card, too. The sentiment from Boutique Borders: Birthday is stamped in Autumn Rose & the mat is Scarlet Jewel.  I'm also entering HLS Anything Goes With Dies.

The challenge on Day 3 is to use your favorite floral set. Meadow Greens has only 1 flower & maybe it's not my all-time favorite floral set, but I haven't used it much & I do love it.  

My first idea was a flop, but I was able to turn the watercolor panel over & start again.  Ended up with a card I like--yah! The Distress Inks are scattered straw, wild honey, peeled paint & shabby shutters.  I used a water brush to blend & then splattered some wild honey & peeled paint. Scattered straw Stickles was added to the flower center & I distressed the edges. The card front & sentiment strip are Classic Kraft & the sentiment from Through the Trees is stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia. I'm also entering Stamping Sensations.

Last is the project I've been thinking about for days & finally made today. It's for the packaging challenge inspired by Rebecca's eye candy.  I was the designated gift wrapper for our family.  My folks put the recipient's name on the outside of the box & I did the wrapping--even for my own gifts! Beautiful papers & ribbons have always appealed to me.  

These days I seldom give wrapped presents, so my project is a gift card holder.  I used the Monthly Moments: Journal Card Pocket #1 die.  I used the eraser end of a pencil to make the gold dots & the sentiment from Lovely Layers was stamped in Brilliance Starlite Black.  Fun to actually use some of my Washi tape & a little clothespin.  I'm also entering Word Art Wednesday.  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.

Penny Black Treat Container

We have a fun challenge for you this month at PBSC--Anything but a Card.  I saved this can long ago so I could decorate it to hold my homemade biscotti.  Think I'll use it for us during the holidays to add a festive touch to the coffee table.  I stamped a piece of light weight red paper with Penny Black's 2010 christmas star in red ink.  It dried so light you can only see it up close.  I also spritzed with gold shimmer mist. Thought the black ruffled ribbon worked well to hide the seams.  The beautiful lace design around the top is an image from the 2012 set lace delight.  I gold embossed & fussy cut 2 of them & attached them with score tape.  

The top is my favorite part as you just can't beat christmas star gold embossed & colored with gold Wink of Stella!  I mounted 2 fussy cut images offsetting them & using foam tape.  The center is covered with some of my very old tiny black beads using JudiKins Diamond Glaze.  It gives some dimension & holds them securely. Once it dried not a single bead moved!  There's lots of inspiration from my teammates & I can't wait to see what you come up with.  CCCB's theme is stars & just for fun I'm entering my "Christmas Star" project--although I'm sure it isn't what they mean by star.  I'm also entering Word Art Wednesday.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

PTI SAF 2015 Friday Night Fashion Show

My mom was actually a sportswear model at Ayres Dept Store in Indianapolis when she was 17 years old.  I did not follow in her footsteps (Big HaHa!) but I did have a ball altering my white tank top & posing for hubby to take a picture. This top (which somehow became a size smaller than when I bought it--couldn't be I changed!) was in a drawer, forgotten. Couldn't justify spending money on a white t-shirt, so hopefully this qualifies.  
Over 10 years ago I bought 7 bottles of gorgeous Lumiere paints after taking a class where we altered ivory colored tote bags.  Some of the people created masterpieces that could have been sold.  I do enjoy using mine to carry stamping magazines & always planned to try another one.  Love the old butterfly stamp--need to dig it out & use it!  I've occasionally used the paints on paper, but this week was the first time on fabric since the class.
I began by making a stencil (recycled glossy coated advertising) with the large PTI Turning a New Leaf die. Cardboard from a cereal box was put inside the tank, the stencil was taped down & I sponged on the paint. Had to do a tiny bit of masking for the second image after playing around on paper to figure out what I wanted. Surprisingly, the paint didn't even go through to the inside.

The felt flowers are done with 2 dies from PTI Gilded Garden.  Another first--I sewed seed beads in the flower centers.  It was easy once I finally got my needle threaded & realized you don't string them together, but stitch each one.  Very simple design, but gave me such a feeling of accomplishment when I finished it!  Truly the little things can bring joy when you least expect it.   I know there are lots of amazing shirts to see in the Friday Night Fashion Show & I appreciate you taking time to check out mine. Even if you're not participating, don't miss the video the PTI Team did for tonight--it's so, so fun!

Looking forward to tomorrow's activities, but would be more fun to do it with friends.  Then again, I can stay in my PJs if I want! Edited to add: I'm entering my shirt in the Anything Goes challenge at SSS Wednesday.

Merry Christmas

For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord. Luke 2:11

I've had most of my Magenta stamps for many years.  Couldn't resist this beautiful cling stamp that I found just before my LSS closed last year. I gold embossed it on ivory cardstock & colored with markers.  I'd planned to add some glitter, but decided just to use a few pearls & little gold & pink dots.  The dark red mat is dry embossed for additional texture. I couldn't find a gold frame so just took the picture out of this old one. Fun to have one handmade decoration this year & I'm entering the Magenta challenge.

Wishing you & yours a very Merry Christmas!

The Secret Is Out!

I am thrilled beyond words to be a member of the first Penny Black Stamp Squad!  I've loved Penny Black stamps since I began stamping years ago & now I get to share that love with you "officially" with lots of Penny Black creations in the months ahead.  Here's a sneak peek of my first stamping project using fabric, Gelatos, Gesso, dry embossing and, of course, Penny Black stamps!  Hope you'll check it out on today's Penny Black Blog. Thanks for sharing in my excitement today--everything's better shared with friends!