Many years ago, my sister (-in-law), Judy, Retired2stamp, invited me to a Stampin' Up Party. I was drawn to the 6X6 recipe card swap our local group was doing and had wanted to scrapbook too. I wasn't really interested in card making because I had witnessed my brother (in-law) Ed fold up a handmade card and put it in his pocket. I almost fainted and I didn't even make the card. But after a few parties, I was hooked and now make more cards than I had ever thought I would. My most recent passions are ATCs, tags & altered art. As you look through my blog I hope you can see how I've grown in my crafting ability!

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

December 2015 Tag...Tim Holtz Style!

I love doing tags but this is the 1st time I've participated in Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2015.  I will definitely be doing all 12 next year!

The burlap is attached to the tag using double sided tape.  I chose the Poinsettia Stencil for my background with Fired Brick Stray Stain (didn't have my Candy Apple yet).  The stencil doesn't cover the entire tag but I centered it so the edges of the burlap were exposed & sprayed too. To get a distressed look I added Peeled Paint Distressed Ink with a blending tool around the edges & between the poinsettias.

Instead of a wreath, I decided to make a swag of holly leaves & long pine needles from the Holiday Greens Thinlits in Kraft-Core card stock.  They are sanded & adhered together using my favorite, Glossy Accents.

I applied Picket Fence Paint on the "festive" Typed Christmas Token so it was in the letters, let it dry for a minute then gently wiped most of the paint away from the surface with my finger. The token is attached to the sway using a Loop Pin.  The swag is attached to the tag using none other than Glossy Accents.

The bow is cut from Kraft-Core card stock using the Bow-Tied Decorative Strip Die & sanded to distress it.  I used the Tiny Attacher to assemble the bow & (again) Glossy Accents to adhere the center of the bow.  The bow is attached to the swag with glue dots so the loop pin shows.

The music, ticket & 24th are from a pack of Ephemera Festive & distressed with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink. I crumpled the ticket & stapled it to the music.  The Mirrored Star was distressed with Mushroom Alcohol Ink.  They are adhered to the tag with Glossy Accents.

The burlap covered the hole at the top of the tag so I used a punch to open it up.  The 12" piece of Crinkle Ribbon was dyed using Fired Brick Stain & crumpled up to dry.  After it dried, I looped the ribbon through the hole at the top.  The finishing touch was gold Stickles on the poinsettias & red Stickles for holly berries for a little bling.
,
I had so much fun making this tag....TFL!

SUPPLIES:  Burlap, Inkssentials Craft TagsScor-Tape Double Sided TapeStampers Anonymous Poinsettia Stencil,  Ranger Fired Brick Spray StainRanger Distressed Ink Peeled PaintRanger Ink Blending ToolAlterations Holiday Greens, Core'dinations Kraft Core Cardstock-Red, Light & Dark GreenRanger Glossy AccentsIdea-ology Sanding Grip, Ranger Distressed Picket Fence PaintIdea-ology Typed Tokens ChristmasIdea-ology Loop Pins,  Alterations Sizzix Bow-Tied Decorative Strip DieIdea-ology Tiny AttacherGlue Dots Mini RollIdea-ology Festive Ephemera PackRanger Distressed Frayed Burlap Ink PadsIdea-ology Mirrors StarsAdirondack Mushroom Alcohol InkMemory Keepers Crop-a-dile Hole Punch and Eyelet SetterIdea-ology Crinkle RibbonRanger Gold & Christmas Red Stickles.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Sweet Happy Birthday




This ATC was inspired by a project I did in a Clear Scraps class taught by Susan Frase at CKC Lancaster in July. The Clear Scraps Acrylic has a thin protective "skin" on both sides. Peel the "skin" off just prior to working on/or finishing your project.  The swirled background was done by putting 4 or 5 drops each of Zig Pink & Silver Alcohol Ink on a blending tool with a felt pad (but don't mix the colors).  I randomly pounced the blending tool on the back of the acrylic until the entire surface was covered with ink. The bright color shows through to the front of the card.  For the front of the ATC card, I peeled off the "skin" then stamped the music background with StazOn Jet Black. If you don't like how it was inked or stamped you can use non-acetone fingernail polish remover to take it off then re-ink or re-stamp. The embellishments are "Happy Birthday" peel off sticker, white lace, birthday girl from a free image site, birthday cake DSP (both punched out & distressed), swirly clip, silver flower, pink gem.  All the items are adhered to the acrylic using Zip Dry, other types of adhesives won't work on the acrylic. By the way Clear Scraps are made in the USA!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:  Clear Scraps ATC Acrylic Cards ; Zig Alcohol Ink ; EK Tools 1" Square Punch ; StazOn Jet Black ; Beacon Zip Dry Glue ; Ranger Ink Blending Tool ; Tim Holtz Adiondack Alcohol Ink Blending Felt

Monday, November 23, 2015

4 Ingredient Ice Cream Recipe Card














Recipe cards swaps are another one of my favorites!  This 6X6  card was for our SCS event, NEPA Stamp & Swap "How Sweet It Is" & is a very simple design.  I did a little coloring with my Copic markers on the strawberry & banana.  I have to tell you about a little boo boo on the pocket...I accidentally put adhesive on all four sides of the pocket but no fear I used my  EK Powder Tool  to fix it.  This neat little tool is filled with powder & has a little brush. When you have a little adhesive where you don't want it, as long as you won't see it, all you have to do is brush the powder over the adhesive & viola, no more sticky.  I can't live without this little gem!  I also stamped & fussy cut 2 ice cream cones for each recipe card so the backs look finished.

Thanks for looking!

Supplies: Card Stock - SU So Saffron & Whisper White; DSP - DCWV Sweet; Stamps - SU Perfect Party, Denami Design, Judith Stamp; Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Ink Spun Sugar & Tea Dyed, Copic Y32, Y35, R27, R29 ; Ribbon - SU So Saffron 1/4". Punches - SU Circle & Scallop; Tools - EK Powder Tool; Adhesive - Ranger 1/2" Wonder Tape

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Vintage Holiday Frame


At first, I had a hard time making altered art projects but now I really enjoying them.  This was an unfinished photo frame which, except for a few items from my stash, I filled with Tim Holtz items.  I painted it white then randomly sanded & rubbed Frayed Burlap ink over the white for a distressed look.  All the papers in the background are from Tim's 8X8 Yuletide paper stash.  The back comes off the frame so I cut the paper a little bigger & used liquid adhesive to place the paper on the back of the frame before gluing the back on using glossy accents. 



In the left frame I used a paper that reminded me of old wallpaper.  I thought the "believe" flash card was perfect for this Found Relative photo of a young boy sitting on Santa's lap. The Poinsettia at the top corner is from a pack of Festive Ephmera.





The paper in the top frame has holly berries with leaves.  I wrapped the pine twine twice to make a wreath then wrapped it with thin silver ribbon & distressed a token then hung it with jump rings.  The berries are metallic brads.

The bottom frame has a plain paper with dots & a "box of Christmas lights" Ephnera.  I found the acrylic Christmas lights in my stash so I strung them on floral wire & hung them with screw head brads after I removed the "tails".


This section was the most difficult but I had the fun doing it.  I removed the "tree trunk" then carefully cut one side of the tree off so the back would lay flat against the frame.  It's colored with Peeled Paint Spray Stain (I suggest using gloves & laying it on a lot of paper towels). After the stain dried, I wrapped the tree with silver tinsel twine & used dots of hot glue to hold it in place.  I also hot glued the tree to the frame.  The ornaments are my favorite! First dye the pearls with mushroom alcohol ink which will help tone down the bright colors for a vintage look.  After they dried, I put a few drops of Aqua alcohol ink in a small paper cup, dropped in 3 or 4 pearls & stirred.  Once I got the color I wanted & they were almost dry I put them on a paper towel.  Repeat with Purple Twilight, Cranberry & Sunshine Yellow.  After they dried, I carefully used hot glue to place them on the tree. 


The last section was pretty easy. I used Iced Spruce Paint on the top of the Letterpress & glued them on using glossy accents.  

At the bottom I used a little ephmera sign about not opening presents so why not put a present next to it.  It's from my stash but they would be so easy to make!

I used glossy accents to adhered the 25 ephmera to a fragment & attached a sliver brad so it looks like its hanging on the frame.

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:  KaiserCraft Six Frame Photo Display, Decoart Americana Acrylic Snow White PaintTim Holtz Idea-ology Yuletide 8x8 Paper, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Found Relatives OccasionsTim Holtz Idea-ology Christmastime Flash CardsTim Holtz Idea-ology Jump RingsTim Holtz Idea-ology Woodlands Trees and Wreath, Tim Holtz Ranger Spray Stain Peeled Paint, Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Festive Ephemera PackTim Holtz Idea-ology Holiday Letterpress,  Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint Peeled Paint, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Pine TwineTim Holtz Ranger Frayed Burlap Ink PadTim Holtz Idea-ology Typed Tokens ChristmasTim Holtz Idea-ology Mirrors Stars, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tinsel TwineDarice Craft Designer PearlsRanger Glossy Accents, Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Ink MushroomCranberrySunshine YellowPurple TwillightAquaTim Holtz Idea-ology Sanding Grip.  From my stash-silver ribbon, red metallic brads, Christmas lights, floral wire, Screw head brads

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Blazin' Birthday Wishes

Recently, a few of us from the Giggler's hosted the SCS (Splitcoaststampers) NEPA Stamp & Swap "How Sweet It is" event.  Nothin's sweeter on your birthday than a cake so I used one on my shoebox project.  


I found a fun & easy technique on SCS called Spotted Background by Beate.  I used 4 colors (you can use 3 or more) & started by stamping the lightest color, Mustard Seed Mini Ink Pad, directly on the glossy cardstock randomly 4 or 5 times.  I let the ink spot try a few seconds then used a paper towel to rub over the ink spot in circular motion to blend the color, leaving white spaces for the other colors.  I blended my colors a lot but if you rub them in a smaller circle & only overlap a little you'll see more of the individual colors & the ink spot.  Repeat for each of the other colors (light to dark):  Peacock Feathers, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberries.  



A few tips for stamping on glossy paper: After completing the background, hit it with a heat gun or let it dry a little. When you stamp the image, stamp straight down & lift the stamp straight up, be careful not to twist or rock the stamp or the image will be blurred.  The cake is colored with a brown sharpie marker & I added a little glitz to the candle flames & sparklers with a pen.  I finished up with 3 different colors of gems in the top right corner.


Thanks for looking & I hope you give this neat technique a try!

Supplies:  Cardstock - Tim Holtz Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink Cardstock, SU Tempting Turquoise; Ink - Tim Holtz Distress Inks Mini Pads 1Tsukineko Stazon Jet Black InkStamps - Heather Birthday Cake, SU Birthday Greetings; Misc - Brown Sharpie Marker, Gelly Roll Gold Star Pen, Paper towel

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Christmas Card Candy



I had never heard of Card Candy until a friend, Diane AKA Cookiestamper suggested it as a swap for our recent Stamp & Swap Event.  Another swapper, Nancy said each piece of "candy" was like designing a card.  I think she was right but we all agreed we loved making them!  For the swap, we were to make 4 - 8 pieces placed in a 4X6 bag with a topper.  I did 5 & didn't have enough room on the front for all of my "candy" so I put the postage stamp on the back.

The "candy" is adhered to a 3 7/8" X 5 7/8" piece of acetate with glue dots, then placed in a 4X6 cello bag.  The "candy" will be easy to remove so either dimensionals or larger glue dots can be added. Of course they're so cute, I think I'll just collect them...LOL!

All the edges of the card stock & DSP were inked for a vintage look.


The topper's base is cut 4 1/8 X 4 1/8, scored & folded in half. The 4X4 top layer is die cut with the words & the DSP is adhered to the back.  I wanted access to the "candy" without ruining the topper so I used sticky strip to adhere the front of the topper to the front of the cello bag's flap.  To adhere the back of the topper, I removed the strip from the adhesive on the back of the bag & folded the back of the topper over the flap & onto the adhesive.  If anyone decides to use the "candy" they can slip the acetate in & out of the cello bag.




This was the 1st piece of "candy" I did.  The tag is cut to 2X4 then punched at the top.  The sentiment is heat embossed to give it a little sparkle.  It's embellished with rusty bells, ribbon & twine. 




Since this is Card Candy, I decided to add candy canes. Before I cut them out I used Glossy Accents to give them dimension & a little shine.  The mat is 2X4 & the top layer is 1/8 smaller. I cut 1 piece of the holly in half to make two sprigs then sprayed them for a little glimmer.


This is my favorite because of the "ornaments".  The mat is 2X4 & the next layer is 1/8 smaller.  First the half pearls are dyed with mushroom alcohol ink which will help tone the bright colors down for a vintage look.  Once they are dry, I put a few drops of each color alcohol ink (Aqua, Purple Twilight, Cranberry & Sunshine Yellow) in small paper cups to dye them. After they dried, I placed them on the tree (some may need a touch of glue).  The star tree topper was inked for a vintage look..



It seemed appropriate to have 25 on one of the "candies" so I decided to use Tim's December calendar.  Not only is the calendar inked but the edges are distressed too. I spritzed the entire piece of "candy" for a little sparkle then added a little bling.

                                                   


I wanted this "candy" to look  like someone was collecting stamps.  I fussy cut the stamp out & mounted it to the die cut, I separately stamped the post mark & the "envelope" with the post mark & lined them up before adhering together.  I then tore the post marked Stamp off the "envelope". 


TFL & hope you enjoyed reading about my Card Candy as much I did making them! 

SUPPLIES:
Card Stock:  SU Hunter Green, Crumb Cake, Real Red; Very Vanilla
DSP:  Tim Holtz 8X8 Yuletide Paper Stash, Echo Park Holly Berry; Cardboard
Ink:  Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap  Fired Brick  Forest Moss,  Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Inks Mushroom, Cranberry, Aqua, Sunshine Yellow, Purple TwilightVersafine Black
Stamps:  Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Christmas NostalgiaTim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Scribbly ChristmasTim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Calendar 2 Set  SU Scentsational Seasons
Dies: -  Tim Holtz Alterations Holiday Greens, Tim Holtz Sizzix Movers & Shapers Mini Reindeer & 25,  Tim Holtz Sizzix Movers & Shapers Bottle Cap & StampSU Little Letters Die
Punches:  SU Tag Topper
Embossing Powder - Ranger Black Sparkle
Misc - Ranger Wonder Tape , Darice Rusty BellsRanger Perfect Pearls Biscotti  Ranger Glossy AccentsZva White Half PearlsTim Holtz Idea-ology Mirrors Stars , Tim Holtz Tonic Paper DistresserDimensionals Glue dots, Twine, Various EK Success Corner Rounder

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Birthday Wishes for Tina

I'm just lovin' these quilt dies!  This card is for a friend, Tina, who happens to be one of the newest member of the Gigglers & she loves quilt cards.  This die set has 7 pieces & cuts very clean plus they're made in the USA.  I used the biggest die, which has a small scalloped border to cut the DSP then adhered it to my card base using liquid glue.  I've always been a tape runner fan but am gradually converting to liquid because it gives you a little time to move it if you don't get it lined up on the first try. For the other layer I used 2 dies together.  I laid the larger die, which has a pierced border, down first then I placed the die with the 6 quilt squares inside.  After making sure they were lined up, I taped them down so the border would be even.  I love using this tape because its removable but doesn't leave residue on my projects.  I cut the inside die again in a different color so I had a contrasting border around the quilt squares.  I glued the outside stitched border to the DSP first.  Then I glued the grid in the coordinating color down then the quilt squares. The pieces are inlaid so they fit together like a puzzle!   You can also use the center shapes for other projects.  To finish the card, I stamped a sentiment on white card stock & punched it out with a tiny tag punch then tied it on with baker's twine.  If you've never tired one of these cards you should...they are so easy & fun!

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:  Die-namics - Blueprints #20 Die by My Favorite Things (made in the USA), Tombow Liquid Glue, SU Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi & Whisper White; Sizzix Little Sizzles Watercolors DSP; SU Endless Birthday Wishes Stamp Set, SU Jewelry Tag Punch;  SU Baker's Twine.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Of Corpse I Wish You A Happy Birthday

This is a birthday card for my friend, Mary Ann who has an October birthday & of course loves Halloween!  I was inspired by a card called Happy Halloween on Sunday View's blog which has much for detail. The black card base is layered with an orange DSP.  The top layer was dry embossed then die cut using a small oval. Running it through the Big Shot the 2nd time flatten the embossed area a little but it still looks good.  I lightly sponged the top of the embossed area & around the embossed area with white ink.  The image in the oval is stamped on white card stock, sponged using a grey ink to give it an eerie look then glued to the back of the embossed panel.  There are black eyelets in each corner of the panel & laced with black jute.  I used sticky strip to adhere the panel to the DSP.  The die cut maple leaf is stamped, die cut then distressed with ink & crumpled up.  The leaf was then tucked behind the jute & embellished with a jute bow.

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:  SU Basic Black & Whisper White, Happy Haunting DSP; SU Holiday Frame Embossing Folder; SU Ovals Collection Framelits; SU Best of Halloween Stamp; SU Black Twine; SU Vintage Leaves; SU White & Pumpkin Pie Ink; VersaFine Black Ink; Tim Holtz Distressed Hickory Smoke; American Craft Black Eyelets; Scor-Tape 1/4" Sticky Strip; Tombow Liquid Glue.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Boating Vacation

Boy it's been awhile since I've posted any of my projects.  This is a layout I did for Splitcoaststampers's July Progressive Challenge "Summer Get-Together".  We are given different tasks each week & this photo was taken after the final task.. Also each week we post our layouts on SCS & receive comments from fellow SCS members.

Week 1 was to select a 2 page layout (I was inspired by a layout from Memoriesoncloverlane which I found on Pinterest), find our photos & 5 words,  I used The lake, Swimming, Boating, Camping with friends, Campfires.
Week 2's task was to add our "summer" photos to the 2 page layout we chose and start scrappin! We were to make a basic layout, without embellishments and use only papers and photos...no wording yet!  Keeping with our "summer" theme, use some colors of summer - yellow, orange, or tan. I used yellow card stock from Mosaic Moments which has markings to help you arrange your photos & makes blocking very easy.


Week 3 was to share our story with lots of journaling & words. I used the 5 words from Task 1 for all the things we did over the summer.  Because this is a summer get-together we needed to add a sun or at least a circle. I placed a sun under the journaling. The last task was to add some type of summer-y embellishment. I used water drops, noodles, a beach ball & flip flops

Week 4 was to try to add at least one of the things that someone had suggested in the comments on our page.  Some of the suggestions were to add a little crab or seashells, photo corners or blue matting, word strips on a few photos.  I added tiny shells & "Lake Glass" that I found at the lake under the flip flops, word strips on blue card stock on two photos. We were also to add one bracket, optional to use brads or buttons and any other finishing touches.  I used a brad bracket at the top of the journaling box.

These monthly challenges are always fun.  It's takes a month to do one layout but to document how they start out and end is so much fun!  Hope you have play along some time.

TFL!
Lou Ann


Supplies used:

Mosaic Moments Sunflower Yellow 12x12 Grid Paper
Mosaic Moments - 12x12 Grid Paper

Paper Loft Island Sun Boat Accessory Sheet   
Paper Loft Island Sun Boat Accessory Sheet

Paper Loft Island Sun Vacation Accessory Sheet
Paper Loft Island Sun Vacation Accessory Sheet

Jolee - Nooldes, beach ball

The water drops, flip flops were things I had in my stash & unfortunately don't know the company.