Make It Monday Challenge #8~Redo

After yesterdays "disaster" of a card I did a "redo" for the Papertrey Ink Make It Monday challenge...this one turned out  so much better, I actually like it....I think the difference was the ink I used ....I stayed away from that darker green ink...so that's it...still working on sewing my give aways...they will get there....eventually!!

Make It Monday #8 ~ Blending Techniques

I saw the Blending Techniques by Betsy Veldman at Papertrey Ink and thought I would give it a try.....I think I need more pratice...lol.....I messed up my techniques not once..but oh yeah...twice...sigh.....but here it is for what it's worth........will do a retry later...it was the green ink that got me....way too much, and the more I tried to fix it, the worse it got....and my card front  is not quite as "long" as it was....as I cut off my first mistake..."nuff" said........however, the ribbon and stamps used are all from Papertrey.....

Wax Paper Resist

This week on "Stamp TV" Gina K had a tutorial for a wax paper resist (that's what I call it)...and boy did I have fun with this!!  I actually couldn't quit...I have 3 to show today and 3 more for later.

You cut a piece of wax paper to fit an embossing folder, run it thru your machine, stamp an image on cardstock, heat up your iron to high....no steam.....lay a piece of cardstock on a hard surface (I used a cookie sheet), lay your wax embossed sheet over the stamped cardstock, place another piece of cardstock on top, and iron for a few seconds, it doesn't take long,......then the fun begins, just use your ink pads and rub over the cardstock...I used 3 different ones for mine...I went a light color, then my main color, and finished each one with TH distress ink "Old Paper", then when you are satisfied, rub a paper towel across to take up all the excess ink...that's it...so simple!  The link is above for her video.

How do you like that silly kitty in the spaghetti ladel???  I saw that stamp a few years ago in a card magazine and ordered him from Viva Las Vegas stamps.....so cute!!  The inside of the card simply says "smile"...how can you not smile with that silly kitty!  The other 2 stamps used are Unity.
That's it for today...am finishing up some primtive sewing projects to get in the mail this week..............

Papertrey March Blog Hop Challenge

I am early....does the early bird get the worm...I hope so.....as Papertrey Ink is having a blog hop starting at 10 est.....I just have a bizillion things to do today, so did my card early this AM........
The challenge:   use embroidery floss in a fun and inventive way ~ I stitched my flower with a tone of purple embroidery floss...I show the outline I used below....kind of a spiral.....

then I stamped over it with Memento Grape Jelly ink using the Bitty Backgrounds Blocks....the gingham stamp...oh how I love this stamp...and thing is I almost didn't purchase the set, thinking "I have background stamps I can use"....oh ~ I am soooooo very glad I did...I love this set and use it all the time...I used it for my backgound on my SU Pretty In Pink cs...made a somewhat patchwork effect by overstamping...did the same on the little button die cut...love how it turned out...I used Button Boutique for my sentiment, Simply Chartreuse Twill Ribbon for the flower stem and leaf......and my darling little dress form die...all from Papertrey......thats it...come back and visit again......

Mother's Day Tag ~ Joan's Gardens Tag Challenge #10 & Shabby Tea Room Challenge

I made this tag for the challenge at Joan's Gardens......she has a tag challenge every week making any kind of tag you would like...this week I chose to make a "Mother's Day" tag...

I am also entering this into the Shabby Tea Room  "bingo card" challenge...which is to use any 3 in a row embellishments...this one has die cut (flower)....embossing....and ribbon.

.I embossed my hand cut tag and added a flower I made from my Cricut.....can you see the shimmer on the flower??  I coated it with several layers of two different sprays from Tattered Angels...the leaves I hand cut and inked the edges a bit...stamped my sentiment...added a bit of felt flower trim to the bottom...then added the gorgeous sheer ribbon "curls" to the top...hope you enjoy it.......scroll on down to see my other post for today!!

Bingo Challenge At The Shabby Tea Room

This week The Shabby Tea Room is having a "BINGO" challenge......you can use any 3 embellishments in a row from the bingo card...OR....you can use ALL of them.......I chose to use them ALL!!

Brads......glitter brads in the center of my flowers

Buttons....I used a flower button in the bow center

Punch or Die Cut....a scallop punch behind my frame AND I punched my flowers and die cut my leaves

Lace....I folded a wide lace in half gathered it and made a big rosette flower

Flowers....as mentioned above I made mine with a punch using vellum

Embossing....I used an embossing folder

Gems...they run along the ribbon at the side of my card

Glitter........on my brads and along my frame

Ribbon....my bow and along the side

The picture in the frame actually is a sticker...I added the "ticket" that says "remember".......and that finished it up...a nice "vintage" piece!!

My Projects From Joan's Gardens Workshop

Rainy morning here at the nest....cold...dreary...brrrrr....so to cheer me up I am sharing my projects I made while attending Joan's Gardens workshop on Sunday......I had a wonderful time and her shop is full of wonderful goodies...and best of all, its close enough to me, I can go back...but...she also has mail order.....so either way, I'm good to go!!

We made a couple of projects first one being this "explosion box" designed by  Selma...go HERE for her tutorial....when I got home I added a bit of purple glitter to my butterflies......I also added a litle tag to the teacup inside...just to  "make it my own"........isn't this just the prettiest box????   Look at the box lid, see the "distressed" paper...we did that using the Zutter distress tool...now this little thing is on my mega lists of wants/must haves...am putting it on my Xmas list for hubby if I can wait that long...and I think I just found another place for him to shop...right from his desk.....

The second project was a card using the La Blanche stamp......it was suspose to have the resist ink technique, but  was already into applying the distress inks before I realized it (uh, Diane, it pays to READ directions BEFORE starting)...but that being said, I still love how it turned out......Copics were used to color it ........and lucky for me, I got one of the La Blanche stamps I had my eye on...it will be on my blog at a later time...so make sure to visit Joan's and Selma's blog for more details.......well off to figure out which challenges I should do this week........

Blog Give Away Winners

Just a quick post today to announce my blog candy give away winners...if you email me at dianegreghov@att.net your addresses I will get your goodies ready to ship.......you have 48 hours to respond...thank you!!!
.first of all is my "paper crafting" winner....drum rolllllllllllllll......Sue at "A Consuming Passion"   you have won the Heide Swapp glimmer mist kit

and second is a little surprise...I have 3 winners for my prim decor item...look for the picture later this week...sorry but I have not had time to get it finished.......its close, so will post it this week and ship it this week.......it might be on tomorrow with any luck of no interuptions...sometimes life gets in the way and can't be helped...but my winners are:  drum rollllllllllll again please....
AMY from Cottage Prims
and
DEB from Paxton Valley Folk Art
and
WENDY from Ravenwood Whimzies

Happy Spring

Happy Spring is what this little tyke and his two bunny friends are saying.....and its to be a beautiufl day today here...plus I get to go to Joan's Gardens for my workshop.....such a fun day!!

I used this darling little print that someone sent me in the mail...and not sure who it was or when.....I have had it for awhile......I love the pale yellow and the green together...such a cute little card for the first day of Spring...it makes me "happy"!!!!!  

Today is the last day to sign up for my blog candy...just click on the tab above for the "deets".......I will be having more give aways soon......I will draw a name on Monday the 21st or on Tuesday morning the 22nd.....I have a little surprise to add...........thank you to all my followers and to those that leave comments...I really appreciate it !!!!!!!

Paper Blog Candy ~ Bunting Swap Info

Morning......decided to do a second post today (see my other one below)......first I wanted to show you my "paper" blog giveaway (last day to sign up is tomorrow).......I also have a prim  home decor giveaway...but that one is a surprise...it will be shown on Monday.....for my paper crafting friends, I have this Heide Swapp color kit from Tattered Angels......it has spray mist in Electric Blue~Black~Viva Pink and Silver Sugar...yummy vintage colors...I don't even have these.....so be sure to sign up.

Also I am in a "Bunting Swap"...being hosted by Ruby Moon Art...the link is on the right side bar.......you make 5 triangles...she sends the patterns so they are all somewhat the same size...you can make 5 of the same or 5 different, thats up to you...they can be paper and/or fabric...send them to her, she puts them all together and you get 5 different ones back...how fun is that...you have until March 25th to join...what are you waiting for???  I have a sneak peak of my fabric I am using....the colors are so pretty and I know just what I am doing with mine...I purchased these at Penny's, they are American Living Napkins and are sooooo gorgeous...reg price was $19.99 for 4 and they had them marked down to $6.99...its wierd I know, but I am always looking at towels as banners...you know the neat thinner cotton ones........I have quite a collection to sew ...one set is polka dots for Spring/Summer banners...I call then banners, some call them buntings.....all the same to me...so thats it for today......

Still In the Green Mode

Using bits and pieces I came up with this card...the seam binding is the last piece of some I dyed myself in this yummy teal blue color..somewhere I have a 100 yard roll of seam binding I bought on ebay to dye...but have yet to find where I put it........thats what happens when I clean my creative room...I can't find anything...lol!

Smile ~ So Sweet of You Thank You Card Challenge

I decided to continue with the "green" theme the rest of the week...well mostly green......I made both of these cards using my new Spring Cricut cartridge.......I actually grabbed the polka dot ribbon first, as I have so much of it and decided to make something using it.....but then got side tracked and only used it once... I was inspired to make cards using "houses" from my new "Cards" magazine.....first card has "So Sweet of You" on the front and the inside is "Thank You"......for some reason I rarely make thank you cards  and I need to...I am entering this one in the challenge at Joan's Gardens......use pink and green,make a thank you card, use stripes and use scallops...the second card is simply "smile" on the front and the inside reads "you always know how to make my heart smile".......I love how these two turned out...wish I had more time to make some more...just fun using bits and pieces  of what I had!

Happy St Patrick's Day ~ Kiss Me I'm Irish

Don't forget to wear green today......and stay away from the green beer...yuck!  We always have a St Pattys Day dinner at my Mom's...my sister and her hubby and my brother and his wife...and my Mom is 86 and she won't give it up...corned beef and cabbage (of course)...roasted veggies...parsnips...carrots...red potatoes...a green salad...a little bit of Baily's.....and I make the cake and my sister makes the rolls...and my sister-inlaw brings a chocolate pie...are ya hungry yet???

I made this first card using my new Cricut Spring cartridge...I think it turned out kind of nice.....the second card is my "humorous card for my Mom......she will get a bang out of it......it had a little saying on the stamp that said "good morning"...but I left it off and made it "special" for today....see ya tomorrow...all my next posts thru Sunday  (including this one) are preposts as I will be busy finishing up my give aways......busy busy...and on Sunday I am attending a workshop at Joan's Gardens in Indiana....looking forward to it!

Stampin Up Greenhouse Garden

This is a totally SU card......real red...crumb cake...whisper white and so safron for the ink......both embossing folders I used are also SU...and even the diamond glitter!!...The stamp set is Greenhouse Garden.....its a two step stamp set...I am sure I will have fun using all kinds of different combos with this set...a quick post tonight..I am tired...I had to empty out an entire large closet full of all my xmas stuff as my hubby wanted to get in it and cut a door to our bathroom plumbing ( we are remodeling the bathroom)...it took me all day...and now he just tells me he doesn't need to get in there...so glad Idol is on tonight...I need to "chill"!!

Butterflies ~ Timeless Tuesday 109

 

This is my 3rd and last post for today (I hope).......Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge #109  (make sure to visit to see alll the other wonderful creations) is a project with butterflies........I have this butterfly paper that is just screaming to be used...really..I heard it!!!  This card was made basically from DS paper that I had a bit left of......some butterflies that were either die cut or punched...some lovely Heide Grace ribbon that I got at Big Lots.....a little tag I cut with my Cricut (yesterday I cut an entire "page" of various little tags to use here and there)........what I love about this card is the glitter on it........so that's it.....check out my other "posts" for today!!

Rosette Tag for Joan's Garden Tag Challenge #9

Here is my tag I made for the challenge at Joan's Garden Tag Challenge #9........making tags is one of my favorite things to do....you should have seen my big giraffe one I made for a baby shower...whoops...getting off track here...lol....I made a card yesterday witha tiny banner, so cut a few more out while I was at it...I used my Big Shot Sizzix to cut out a SU Top Note die for the base, then cut out a 2nd one for the cover.....my little banner is stamped with my SU Tiny Tags set, and then I used a die to cut those teeny tiny butterflies...punched out teeny tiny flowers.....my flower is from the TH Rosette die......I have not been able to cut one yet, that doesn't fall apart...so I saw on another blog where after cutting, they added the TH tisssue tape and then folded it...it did help with it not splitting apart when folding.....those little banners are "picky" to work with...but I love them!  I love the shabby/vintage colors of this tag.......

Also thank you to all who voted for me in last weeks challenge...this is my 2nd post today...so be sure to read my other two....

That Down Home Country Feelin'~Oink~

Here I am again doing more challenges...I "NEED" these to keep me motivated and to get me "thinking"....this card is for the challenge Mojo Monday #182 using the sketch shown below.

I have lots of stamps that have never been inked...some expensive....some not so, like this little barn $1 stamp from M's...this paper just called "country farm" to me.....I stamped "oink" on the little tag.....does "oink" mean "hello" in pig??  Well, to carry it a bit further......I stamped the inside with.....well look above and you will see...kind of fitting don't you think??  The barn was left "distressed"...like my barn here...

I have 3 challenge posts today.....take a peek at the rest......I like to post them each separate...makes it less confusing.

Only six more days until I announce my blog candy.......I have 2 different ones going... paper and prim home decor...better sign up!!  Details on my GIVEAWAY tab above.

Shabby Tea Room Challenge~Party Time

The Shabby Tea Room Challenge blog is having a Party Time challenge for their one year birthday of their blog........so fun to particpate in these challenges.......using their inspiration photo,  made this "darling" card that I have to tell you it is so much better IRL.....I just can't get good pics anymore......new camera time??  Anywho, because I have a sleep problem, I was up at about 2:30...or was it 1:30...not sure with the time change...but it was quiet...no TV....no dog wanting out...cats were all sleeping...very peaceful.....so I jumped on the computer and saw the post for this weeks challenge....got off and started working...I just finished...whew this one took me awhile...well I did the little gift bag 3 times before I was satisfied (there are 2 of them in my waste basket)......the background embossing folder is a Cricut one...love those little cupcakes and perfect with just "one" candle in them.....

.I first made the little banner...it actually pops out more then the pic shows...I cut it, then stamped my polka dots on it...sewed on those tiny little buttons and real glass beads....picky little work.....gathered up some lace for my flower and added some vintage white leaves I was hoarding behind it....and look at that little teapot tag....I LOVE IT.......cut it with the Cricut cartridge "A Child's Play".....sewed the same little glass beads on it as on my banner and stamped it with "Tiny Tags" from SU...I love this set...if you like "tiny", you would, too..

.for my little gift goodie bag, I stamped all over it...gathered another flower, added some pearls to this tag...both these little teapot tags "open"...

 now I have to apologize for making you do word verification.....I have tried not using it, but was slammed with spam, and 2 nasty virus's that caused me to loose everything I had in my document folder and all my photo's.....twice...so I am leaving it on as I was instructed for an extra safety feature...sorry, I hope you understand.....I just cannot have that happen again...my poor old heart can't take it...LOL.......

Good Sunday Morning~Don't Forget The Time Change

It's a cold gloomy Sunday here, just a few "bubbles" of snow...but they are predicting 60's on Thursday...I might have to be in my garden cleaning out leaves......wouldn't that be nice!

My card today is for a birthday.....made with bits of this and that from my "scrap drawer"...the bow was added where it was as, yep, you guessed it, I needed a "coverup"...I managed to get brown ink there when I stamped the sentiment...I was adding a bow...just not there......the next pic is a strange picture of my home decor give away...just a very tiny sneak peak...bet you can't guess...and it's not even close to being done...yikes...I haven't had many responses to my give aways...but to those of you that have faithfully commented...I thank "YOU" and it will worth your while...(at least I think so)....only 7 more days and I will be giving it away...along with my "paper" item...and I have only had one response to that...kind of almost makes ya want to give up blogging....but I won't...but will keep on going and will have more give aways after this one...next one will be Easter!

Best Wishes~Mojo Monday Sketch

I did this card for the sketch at Mojo Monday...wow...what a sketch...and you should go and visit and see all the stunning entries...I am impressed!!   The scroll I did is actually a tail of a bird die...creative...hmmm....I had to make my flower 3 times, as I ripped it that many times...sigh.....maybe not a good creative day for me, and I just realized while making this card that I missed my grandson's basketball game...his last one, it made me cry......think I will take a deep breath and go and do something else.........before I go...don't forget my give away.......and see that beautiful blue sky...I took that from my front door...still cold here in Michiana...but with skies like that, there is hope for Spring yet!!