Thursday, February 27, 2014

Vintage music card and Unity FWF

Today is the Friends with Flair challenge over at the Unity Stamp blog.   I've been in a vintage mood since picking up an old bulletin/magazine in an antique shop for $1.50.  Yes, I'll be re-purposing some of the pages like this music page below.  I also added elements of Teresa Collins Vintage Finds kit for the banner tag and circle punched music.  I'm a musician,  by the way, so I incorporated some manuscript paper and edged just about all the elements in Tim Holtz distressed ink.  For the stamped images I used Unity's background stamp called Worn Music and the sentiment and scalloped edging from the Sing a new song Kit which is pictured below.  I love this set!  Add some lace and a pop of blue and we are done. 
           My Pinterest-click here

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Sweet pink bunny card

For my mom's birthday last month,  I got her a 3 month stamp of the week membership to the Unity Stamp Co.   Yes, I have dragged her into my crafty world.  She loves it though,  just as much as I do!


This cute bunny is one of the past weekly stamps called "Some bunny loves you".  I combined a sentiment which came in a grab bag collection, also from Unity.  I sponged a pale pink ink for the bunny and yellow for the egg.  The egg was colored using Bic Mark-it fine point pens and I added Stickles yellow glitter glue to the egg and diamond around the frame which was cut with a die using my Cuttlebug.  Sweet and simple. 

Supplies: American Crafts inks, DCWV blossoms and butterflies cardstock,  craft ribbon, Recollections enamel dots,  flowers from Target

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Scripture card with bird

I made this card a few months ago and this has been the MOST re-pinned card on my Pinterest page.   The background of the card was Cuttlebug embossed and I stamped the bird image in dark green ink.   Added a little twine and copper colored leaves for embellishment.   I used
Martha Stewart Crafts - Edge Punch - Floral Lace

from: Scrapbook.com to edge the top also.  

The scripture is actually a clear sticker that came from a grab bag I got at a crop.   I think it turned out lovely,  don't you?








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Friday, February 21, 2014

Unity FWF - Encouragement card

Today is Friday. Whoop!  That means it's time for the Friends with Flair challenge.   I haven't participated in awhile but I have a new stamp I've been wanting to use.   It came from a special collection grab bag that Unity has now made into an individual set.
I stamped my clouds on patterned paper, cut them out and edged them with Stickles glitter glue.  I inked up my paper by sponging different color inks (Studio G and American Crafts), then hand drew a few raindrops.   The flowers were masked from a Unity Stamp set called Mothers Day Daisies.   I used a mini butterfly punch on patterned paper from DCWV and the background paper is from Colorbok.  Notice the  Cuttlebug embossing at the top of the page?  I love how it turned out.  Your comments are most welcome.   Thanks and have a super weekend.


Here's a link to the stamp I used if you would like to get one of your own.  It's on sale right now so don't wait!   Unity Stamp Co

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Thank you card w/doily and frames

Thanks for popping in today.  I've got a sweet thank you card that is going with a set of cards I'm working on for a customer.   I used my Cuttlebug and die to cut the frames and the designer paper is from the Colorbok "Bejeweled" kit.  Such pretty papers.  The sentiment is from the Unity Stamp Co "Everything More" kit and was stamped with dark green Inkadinkadoo ink.  Love the versatility of that set.   If you zoom in,  you'll see some green leaves on the edges of the doily where I ran a leaf stamp runner around it.
I also added some sparkly Smooch Glitz in gold on the sentiment but you can't  really see the shiny glimmer at this angle.And lets not forget the lace....I use a lot of lace on my projects.  Can't ever have too much lace! !    Lastly, I added a sweet folksy flower from Jolees.  Thanks again for looking and I'd love your comments.   ♥

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Sympathy card with lace butterfly

Don't you love accidents?   Not the spider-in-the-car-and-I-wrecked kind of accident but when something unexpected and perhaps joyful happens.  That's how this butterfly came about; totally by accident.  

Let me start with the card.  I'm a big fan of Unity Stamps and several are featured here.   First,  I took a piece of beige textured cardstock and used sandpaper to roughen up the surface a bit.   Next, I used my Tim Holtz distressing tool and ran it all around the edge for a vintage/old feel.   I used brown ink with a background stamp called "Worn Music" and stamped a frame and sentiment  from the "Everything More" and "Bunches of Love" collections.  To finish the paper, I filled in the gaps with sponged brown ink.  The sanding really helped give the ink a vintage look don't you think?


Now for the butterfly;  I had a piece of lace and I trimmed both ends like a banner tag >  <  See what I mean?   I took a piece of twine and wrapped it several times tightly around the middle and tied off a knot.  I cut the twine and had a butterfly!  I had planned to tie a bow in the center but I like my "accident".  Try one for yourself!

Monday, February 17, 2014

HAPPY EASTER CARD

I'm entering this cute Easter card into the Unity Stamp Co Be Inspired challenge.  Here's the colors you can use or the sketches:


The stamped images are from the special grab bag collection #2 that Unity offered as a one time purchase recently.   I added a little yellow polka dot washi tape on the tag and some pretty sequins here and there.  I used various markers, Stickles glitter glue and Smooch Glitz for sparkle.  Puts me in the mood for a good old fashioned egg hunt!

Friday, February 14, 2014

Crafty Valentine bags

These Valentine bags were made out of supplies I already had on hand.  Silver Christmas clearance bags that were .10 and can be found at most stores,  pink tissue paper with the top cut into a heart shape (do this after you place in bag for desired height),  and then there's the tags;

Just take some cute scrapbook paper or even color something with crayons or markers.   Fold your paper in half and cut out hearts.  Yes, just like we all did when we were kids.  Add a little bling if you have it glue and glitter for fun.  The kraft paper?  Well, that's a brown lunch bag cut into a little banner tag.  Punch a hole in your tag and tie with string or adhere with a glue dot.  Write your message and you are done.  So easy to do.  HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Chicken noodle soup with spaetzle? Not quite..

Have you ever had a recipe fail?  Who hasn't,  right?  Well we had a snow day and I was in the mood to make a big 'ol pot of soup.  Chicken noodle to be exact.   But then. ..I thought I'd get a little creative.   We'd been to a German restaurant recently and I thought,  "why not add some spaetzle to the soup?"  Have I ever made spaetzle?   No.  Did I know what I was doing?   No!  But the fun is in the trying.  


Now, I could do the smart thing and search online for a recipe or, heaven forbid, pull out my german cookbook.  You know, the one I bought for $2 at a library sale but have only looked at once?  Seriously, I need to find that bad boy and get busy on some good german recipes. ..
However,  I did have a vague knowledge of how to make spaetzle based on previous research from way back when.  So I threw some ingredients together and mixed it all up, then pressed it through my colander to make those tiny little dumplings over the boiling soup.


My first mistake?   Not following a recipe.   My second mistake?   Not following a recipe! !  Actually it wasn't bad.  Not as dense as it should be but not bad.  Next time?  I'll find that german cookbook.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Sympathy card flowers and vine

I made this card especially for a family members inlaw who just passed away.   I used Unity stamps from the Bunches of Love sentiment kit which I absolutely adore, and colored the images with a variety of markers and also Stickles glitter glue.  You can see a close-up of the sentiment where I painted a little Smooch Glitz.

The background was blotted with yellow ink and so are the edges of the folded doily.  I hand cut leaves and the other embellishments and added some ribbon and fiber.  I was worried that it was all a bit much but a couple fellow crafters reassured me that this card felt like a "warm hug".  I really hope so.


Supplies:  American Crafts Sunflower ink, The Paper Studio fringe fibers, AC gold adhesive ribbon, K & Company gemstones,  craft ribbon,  3" circle punch, Smooch Glitz Frost accent ink, Bic Mark-it markers fine point, Permapaque Metallic markers, Stickles yellow and Tropical tangerine glitter glue

Friday, February 7, 2014

German food in Alabama? Yes!

So I had a meeting in Montgomery today.  After the meeting was over, I discovered two gems nearby.  First up, a really cool antique shop called Lulu's Attic to Antiques.  Wow what a store! Lots of interesting items and things I'd never seen before.   The back opens up to what looks like a plane hangar where antique cars are on display too.


While there, we found a business card for Plantation House, a southern cooking restaurant over in Millbrook where the german cook serves up a german buffet on Friday nights.   Say no more.  They had me at schnitzel.  Plus, the purveyors of Lulu's raved about the food.   Good enough for me.


We drove the 20 minutes and got there for the 5:00 start for dinner.   Chef Renate Lindsey had a mixed buffet menu of Pork Schnitzel,  bratwurst,  sweet and sour cabbage and some of the best Spaetzle I've ever had.  And yes I'm a foodie and have a refined german palate!   There were also some southern veggies and even handmade baked pretzels.   There was also a dessert case with small plated treats.  The strawberry remoulade was scrumptious and the banana pudding?   Oh my heavenly!  Not exactly german but it was fabulous.  
I took a few pictures of the quaint german decor.   You'll have to make it to Millbrook sometime.  Bring the kids early and visit the nearby park which had a super playground.   Gee, I feel like a tour guide or something.    

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Love you card..pink & springy!

I'm in the mood for something colorful since we've been socked in with snow and ice.   DCWV has asked for projects on their Facebook page so I just might submit this.   I used paper from their Blossoms and Butterflies stack and hand cut a butterfly from that paper pack also.  The stamped flower image is from the Unity Stamp Co Mothers day set and I masked the wording from a Unity stamp called Love you to the moon.


I colored the flowers with Bic Fine point Mark-it pens in lime, neon yellow and coral,  then added Stickles yellow and orange glitter glue to the flower petals.  The hearts were colored in with a Sharpie Fine point pink glitter pen.   The wording was stamped with American Crafts Taffy ink.


The finishing touch was a doily,  paper jute ribbon and some sparkly tiny gemstones.  Feels springy to me!

Bird new song card

Today I tried my hand at watercolor.   I'll admit, it's way out of my comfort zone as you can see.  I guess it's not THAT bad but still...not one of my better skills.  


I used multiple inks including a royal blue and dark green Inkadinkadoo for the sky and ground, American Craft Sunflower and Apricot on the sky also.  The images are a kit from the Unity Stamp Co called Sing a New Song and I also used a background stamp called Tattered chicken wire from Unity and I used Tim Holtz brushed corduroy distress ink on most of the stamps. 

 
I did add a little bling with some sparkly branches,  Smooch glitz in Lime Twist and a touch i off firefly Stickles glitter glue.   Finished it all off with Teresa Collins Vintage Finds twine and sparkly brads.  Oh, and I hand dotted all around the kraft card with a white Sakura gelly roll pen.  Love those things!  Hope you like my first true attempt at watercolor. ...♥