Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Just Thanks and The Hands of Time1

Hello, Crafty Peeples,
This week at the Outlawz Greetings Challenge, our theme is Anything Goes!  I made a simple Thank You Card!

Just Thanks


~~~~~~~~~
The Hands of Time
I have also been working on Mixed Media and Journal Pages.   I made this journal cover for the book I use to make design notes for my DT projects.  It would have had more texture, but my DIY Texture Paste did not turn out right.  I still have a long way to go, but this is a start and it serves my purposes.




Thanks for stopping by!  Chana

Monday, December 30, 2013

Happy New Year! - Shopping Our Stash (Use the Last of Something)

Hello, Crafty Peeps!
2014
The Challenge this week at Shopping Our Stash is:  USE THE LAST OF SOMETHING.
  I thought it would be ironic to post a project that I made using the Last of Something to Make a Calendar for the coming New Year.   

 I played around with this cover a lot!  I was going to put 2014 on it, but decided I just liked seeing the wonderful images on this G45 paper.   I settled for just adding a little Glossy Accents and pearls.

I did not to use a base/stand, instead, I used a heavyweight chipboard that can stand alone.  
I forgot to wrap the ribbon around my binder rings.  I may do it later...maybe.

I wanted to keep the calendar pages consistent, so I chose to use the Journal Tags on each page with a few embellishments.
 I also managed to use the last of these Prima Flowers and some strips of Neenah Card Stock.
 Shabby Chic is not my strong point, so I was really just winging it.  
In the end, I really liked the calendar.


I found the tutorial for this calendar on YT  HERE
This is an Italian Language Channel, but Italian is not necessary to follow the Tutorial.
The Calendar size is 5"x7"

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Believe The Majic - 613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Hi, Crafty Peeps!
Happy Holidays!  
Over at 613 Avenue Create, we know most of you are very busy during this season, so we are having a straight Anything Goes Challenge this week.  We will be back with an Optional Twist next week.  Remember there is still time to enter our contest to win some fabulous prizes.  Click HERE to sign up for our amazing 500 Followers Give-A-Way.

 If you watched my "Crafty Birthday Haul" video, you know that my wonderful DH gave me tons and tons of dies.  Among them were two of the Spellbinder's Curved Edge Dies. I used "Curved Borders Two" to create this card

To keep the card closed, I attached a small magnet behind a small belly band that wraps around the card.  On the end of the band is another small magnet.  Sorry, I didn't think to take a picture of the back. It looks really nice.   I've seen a trend towards decorating the back of cards, but I'm not ready to take that step..too much for me.
 While playing around with this, I came up with some other interesting combinations that I plan to use on future projects.  I almost left off the butterfly cut apart for a cleaner CAS look, but I felt that I needed just a little more color.
Our challenge this week is sponsored by Rick St. Dennis.  
I usually use Rick's Images on the Outside, but this felt right and I really like it!

THE BACK STORY
Image: "Queen of Shemekah" by Rick St. Dennis
Card Stock:  Neenah "Red Pepper" #80 Linen
Designer Paper: Prima "Alla - Prima" Collection 6"x6"
Die: Spellbinders' "Curved Border Two"
Butterfly Cut A-Part:  Graphic 45 - "Olde Curiosity Shoppe"
Sentiment:  Unity Stamp Company "The Time Is Now" Stamp Set
Misc.: Prima Flower, Momenta Rich Cocoa Dye Ink, TH Vintage Photo DI, Copics

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

You Are The Music - Shopping Our Stash

Hello, Crafty Peeps!
Time for another opportunity to reduce your Stash!  It is really nice to see that my stack of paper bits and pieces is slowly decreasing.  Each week at SOS, I get a chance to pull something from that stack to create my project.  This week, we are challenging you to use ONE COLOR.

 I really wanted to clear away some of my Rust colored paper.  I tend to get into cycles where I create cards in the same color family for weeks and weeks.  Earth tones are a staple for me...I love them!  Unfortunately, when I looked at my "all rust" card, it was just hard on the eyes
 I was excited to find that in my Graphic 45 Stash, I had several pieces of"Secret Garden" papers that coordinated perfectly with my palette and allowed me to introduce the much needed cream neutral.
The lovely "Prima Flowers"and the Label Die, are from my Amazing Birthday Haul given to me by my ever supportive Hubby!  The Fiber ribbon was also included in my haul.  
The cute little bird and flower charm was a gift from an online craft store.  
They include these little charms with each order and it is always fun to see what I will get! 

The inside is pretty simple!  
I just love my LaBlanche Harp Stamp; another item from my Birthday Haul!
The embossed panel is from my stash, as are the creme pearls.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Hello, Crafty Peeps!
Monday means Outlawz Greetings Challenge.   We have a Color Challenge for you this week.

 'Blue Hues'
(this is just an example, please use any variation of blue that you chose)

Our Sponsor is

For my project, I have chose to use "Violin"

I think I got a little carried away with the Glossy Accents.  It wasn't flowing, so I nipped the top a little bit...how was I to know Niagara Falls would result.  Still, my violin has depth and that was my goal.
The lovely ribbons are from "Really Reasonable Ribbon." It was my first shipment as a member of the monthly club.  The membership was a B'day present from hubby! The Flowers are from the Prima Essentials #11 Floral Embellishments
I love using Authentique Papers.  They are made in the USA!  It is very frustrating to turn over my crafting supplies and find that they are all made in China.


Challenges Entered

Shopping Our Stash - Tic Tac Toe

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

This week at Shopping Our Stash, we have a great Tic Tac Toe grid to help you use up some of your stash.  My wonderful hubby surprised me with a ton of dies and other crafting goodies, so I had to redo my studio.  I wanted to use up my green papers, so I created this quick card!  Hope you like it.



I used the Diagonal:  Die Cuts, Bling, and Tags
The large tag is removal and then goes into the tag pocket on the short flap.  
The Fleur de lis tag is from another project and was just used to show tag pocket.


Hugz,
Chana

613 Avenue Create - 1st BLOGAVERSARY - BLOCK PARTY!!



Click Here for My Current Card Posting- Tic-Tac-Toe
This announcement will stay at the top through until January 2014
Hello, Crafty Peeples,

613 Avenue Create Challenge Blog is so close to 500 followers! 
 We would love to meet that milestone by JANUARY 12, 2014
CUZ
We're having a BLOCK PARTY to celebrate our 1 Year Blogaversary!
  Of course, we don't want to stop at 500, so KEEP adding your links.  

We have lined up some fabulous prizes for our BLOCK PARTY and more prizes are being added daily.  If you would like a chance to win here is a partial list of possible prizes:  WRMK - Envelope Punch Board;  Prima Mixed Media Dolls(We will be giving away two of these); A Ribbon Bundle from Really Reasonable Ribbons and the list goes on.   Eligibility is simple:

1.  Become a follower of our blog.
2.  Become a Facebook Fan.
3.  Add your blog to the linkup on the Block Party Page

Click HERE to go to our Facebook Page and Like Us!
Click HERE to link up to our BLOCK PARTY
Good Luck!  Thanks for helping us reach our goal.  The Drawing will be held on January 12th and the winners announced on January 13th.  Winners will have 5 days to claim their prizes, if they do not, a consolation drawing will be held.  

Monday, December 2, 2013

PUT A TAG ON IT!

Hello, Crafty Peeples!  
The Greetings Team, over at The Outlawz Challenges, wants to see how creative you can be with your tags.  You can simply make a tag, or you can create a card with a hidden tag, you could even make a little tag book, whatever inspires you.  Our sponsors for the month of December are:
Oak Pond Creations and Bugaboo Stamps



I Decided to Create a Card + Tags !
Recently,  I am in the mood to see how many different patterns I can combine without offending my eyes.  I have also found a new love: Candies.  These were a part of my B'day haul.
I usually use magnets to close my cards but I thought this one would look nice with a ribbon tie.
 I usually decorate my own mini bags, but these were B'day gifts, as well!  They were so timely.  
and can be a nice option if you are in a hurry!
I have some B'day Money to spend and I think I will buy bags and candies
 Using Graphic 45 French Country papers without the Eiffel Tower somewhere in the design
would have been "just wrong."  Sometimes you have to break down and do the "expected."
Oh, yeah, had to include the Fleur de Lis, Right?

THE BACK STORY
Card Stock: Bazzill
Designer Papers:  Graphic 45 French Country Collection
and, Prima Songbird Collection (Die and Eiffel Tower)
Dies: Sizzix/TH Alterations: Eiffel Tower & Fleur de Lis
Sizzix/TH Alterations:  Bigz Die Tags
Spellbinders': Decorative Labels Twenty-Seven
Misc: Bo Bunny Brad; Prima Miniature Key
Inks: Momenta Tuxedo Black; TH Distress Ink - Vintage Photo



Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Today Is A Good Day

Hello, Crafty Peeps

This project began life as an entry into the Kraft Challenge Journal Challenge, but then I realized their theme is "Thankful" and my card does fit the challenge.  So, I had to change direction.  I ended up using pearls again because I needed to use the loose pearls that I "lost" while working on other projects.  Sometimes it is fun just to make a card because I want to.  This is one of those times!
Hugs,
Chana

The Prima Flower was a nice find in my stash.  I don't know about anyone else, but I have a little happy dance that I do when I find the "perfect" embellishment or paper in my stash!

This wonderful cut a part came from Graphic 45's Typography Collection

The Back Story
Card Stock: Recollections Kraft CS and Recollections Black CS
Designer Paper and Cut A Part: Graphic 45 "Typography"
Embossing Folder: Craft Concepts "In Stitches"
Stamp: Bo Bunny Stamps - "Love Letters" Clear Stamp
Punch: Fiskars Squeeze Punch - Postage Stamp
Pearls: Want2Scrap Adhesive Back Mini Pearls
Misc.: Fiber Ribbon; Prima Flower

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

You Are So Cool!

Hello, Crafty Peeples!
Welcome to another challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  We are the challenge blog that suggests you can have Retail Therapy in your Studio/Craft Room every single day of every week.
Yes, we promote discovery.  Go ahead and admit that your DH is perfectly justified when he says:

"What, more stuff?  I bet you have stuff you have never used, probably don't even know what you have in that room.  Honestly, I wish you would go back to buying shoes!"

I bet you can guess how I came up with that quote!
So, here we are giving you another chance to Shop Your Stash.  Then, you can wear those really cool shoes you bought two weeks ago.  He won't be any the wiser! :D)

Since Thanksgiving is nearly here,  this will be a two week challenge and  pretty simple:  
CREATE A WINTER CARD.  
See, easy peasy. Simply use the scraps from the 10,000 Christmas Cards you've made!

Here's Mine.  Very CAS
I don't do much CAS, but I had fun with this one. 
 I was inspired by a fabulous design of my friend Carla Suto of Carla's Stamping Spot



The Ribbon I used for the bow is almost three years old!  The green paper is left over from a school project I did with my grandson.  All of the white Neenah CS are pieces that were left over from other projects.  For all my Shopping Our Stash projects, I try to use items that are at least six months old.

Happy Turkey Day!  Happy Chanukah!

THE BACK STORY
Image: Unity Stamp - Itty Bitty Stamps - Bernie
Sentiments: Unity, Itty Bitty Stamps: Simple Snowman Joy (Feel The Joy)
 Penguin Coolness (Holiday Wishes)
Card Stock: Neenah Solar White, Linen 80#
Embossing Folders: The Paper Studio - A2 Scalloped Dots 
Couture Creations - 5"x7" Dreamscapes Collection: Swiss Dots
Ribbon: Trim A Home Holiday Ribbon and Offray 1/8" Metallic Wired Ribbon
Misc:  Scor-Tape, 3D Foam Squares, Scotch 3/4" Dblsided Foam Tape
Stickles (Silver and Green) Liquid Pearls

Monday, November 25, 2013

Growing - You Make Me Smile

Hello, Crafty Peeps!
This week is Anything Goes Week at The Outlawz Greetings Challenge.  
One of our sponsors this month is I Brake For Stamps and I have used one of their images for this project.  IBS has over 3,000 digital images, including an exclusive line of Rick St. Dennis Images .

I chose this adorable image for it's versatility.  It will be easy to place a chair or step stool image beneath the image a build an entire scene.  The idea here was to address growth.  
I have been marveling, lately, at how quickly my grandchildren have grown.  My youngest GRAND will be one year old next month.  Seems only yesterday I received the call from my happy, groggy, and slightly disoriented son! 

I don't know why this photographs as green, it is actually the same shade as the dp on the front, but my flowers and leaves photographed weird, too!

The Back Story
Image:  I Brake For Stamps: Child Reaching
Cardstock: Neenah Classic Crest Baronial Ivory,  80# Smooth
Designer Papers: Graphic 45 - Lil Darlings,  My Mind's Eye - Meadow
Stash:  Prima Lace, Buttons, Prima Mini Clothes Pin, Ribbon, Heart Trinket

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Key Chain Mini Album




BEFORE
Hello, Crafty Peeples!
BEFORE
This week, over at Shopping Our Stash, we would like for you to use product packaging to create your project!  This is my third Key Chain Mini Album.  They make such wonderful gifts and at this time of the year it would be an amazing stocking stuffer.
BEFORE
AFTER
 The closer here was a collar on a basketball trophy!  Magnets keep it closed.
 My husband dismantled some old trophies the kids earned back in High School.  He was about to toss them and then decided to ask me if I wanted to add them to my hoard! (LOL)  I said no, then immediately changed my mind and grabbed them from his hand.  I wanted something unique to create visual interest on the front of this design.  It works!

The internal tags were created using various Graphic 45 papers.



This second project is strictly utilitarian.  I needed storage for my TH Distress Inks collection.  I am working on a Laura Denison (Follow the Paper Trail ) project that will hold some of my ink pads,  but until I complete it, I need something on my desk to hold the pads I'm using when working on a design.



DH laughed at my lack of neatness here.  I tried to center them all but I just couldn't and it doesn't matter, because they are coming off.  I only had a black on clear cartridge, so I could not remove the white backing.  I have ordered black on white background and the paper will be 1/4 inches instead of 1/2 inch and that will make everything easier to center.  Right now, It works. and looks nice on my drafting table!

THE BACK STORY
Key Chain Tag Mini
Orbitz Gum Box
Designer Paper:  G45 -  Steampunk Spells
Lost and Found Two -  Breeze
Pearl: Want2Scrap
Closer: Old Trophy Collar
Seam Binding: Wright's Iron on Hem Tape
Distress Pad Tower
Wrigley's Gum Box
Designer Paper:  Stash
DI - Vintage Photo