Friday, December 30, 2011

I FELT like making a little something....



...with a little FELT!




And so did THESE guys:

That's right, crafty friends...we're GETTIN' wild with our WILD CARD
CHALLENGE
this week! I hope you're ready to PLAY WITH US!
Our lovely, and EVER so sweet and talented, Lisa, is our hostess & wonderful
tour guide to this great challenge - using FELT on your creation!
WHAT a super challenge! {LUCKILY, I've been hoarding... ur, uh, I
mean COLLECTING felt for a VERY long time.....} So THIS challenge,
was EXACTLY what I needed to get that NEW YEAR'S purge in full swing
- YEAH, me! I USED felt!

THESE GALS DID IT, TOO!

Dana
Kathryn
Lisa
Lynn
Kristin

And our super TALENTED guest designer, Lenet!
{Thank you for gracing us with your lovely work this month, Lenet!}
We sure enjoyed her fabulous inspiration for the month of December!

I mean, WHAT'S not to LOVE about a lil' FELT...




And BUTTONS! And PAPER! And PINS, custom embellished
with CRYSTALS~ Good times: GOOD TIMES, I tell ya!



I was inspired to make this cute lil' owly, by THESE buttons!
{I swear - it feels like I made 100 projects out of this one pack of buttons!}
Super sweet inspiration and some DARLING paper to compliment!
Have I ever mentioned HOW much I love WILD CARD weeks!?!

Fun, FUN! Hope you'll feel UP to some FELT craft this week!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
D/P - Crate Paper; October Afternoon
Stamps - Wplus9 Design Studio
Ink - Stampin' Up!; Colorbox Chalk
Seam Bias - Vintage Craft Supply
Buttons - Buttons Galore & More
Jewelry Pin - Michael's
Crystals - Pizazz


Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Chirstmas Card storage - MAKEOVER!

For my Just Us Girls ALTERED candle project, click here!

It's ALTERED, blinged, festooned with goodness...




Christmas Card STORAGE, that is a keepsake of its own...

Learn how I MADE it, here, at the lovely site of Want2Scrap™,
you'll MAKE my day if you check it out! Hope YOUR day is

FABULOUS!

Yee Haw!

Monday, December 26, 2011

JUST some cool candle decor...





Whew! We did it - CHRISTMAS. {Check!} Santa MADE it! Yipeeee!





Sure hope YOURS was wonderful! I am SO not ready for it to be over!
I'm just getting warmed up for Christmas craft... {Maybe I should make
stuff for NEXT year, so I can feel AHEAD of the game!} But, I digress..



Part of the reason I am STILL in the mood, is, because, I'm FINALLY
getting caught up! {Yikes!} So, a little late, but no less excited..., I'm
now able to share with you my Just Us Girls creation for this week - WE
are making decorative "sleeves" for pillar candles! SUCH a great way
to add a little seasonal dazzle to your every day candles, without
"committing".... When the holidays are over - just remove the sleeve!
Super fun! Check out how the rest of the Just Us Girls team
tackled with lovely assignment! {Meowwww!}

Pam
Dana
Kathryn
Lisa
Andrea
Lynn
Kristin

And our super TALENTED guest designer, Lenet!

Of course - the rebel in me, WANTED to commit to more. Especially,
since this project reminded me of one of my ALL time favorite ways
to play with stamps and dress up a standard candle: the TISSUE paper
wrap, MELTED into the candle! {Old school, but I LOVE, love, love it!}


All you need is some tissue or super thin vellum, fave stamps, dye and
permanent ink - and a HEAT gun! {*BAM!*}


Cut your tissue or vellum, to size, so that it wraps around the circumference of
the candle, just overlapping by less than a quarter inch on the backside. Plan
your "scene" or composition. Since I knew I wanted to feature a wonderful Santa
in sleigh stamp, I punched a circle from yellow vellum and lightly glued it to the
candle, where I wanted to feature Santa. Next, I sponged dark and medium blue
to create the sky effect, with dye ink. Noting where the moon would show through,
I left that area clear. Next, I stamped the city scape along the bottom with Staz On.
Then Santa!


ALREADY, kind of magical...! {BUT wait, there's more!}



With pad, direct to paper, I "swiped" in water, with the lighter of the two blue
colors, used for the sky. Then, punched star shapes along the top of the sky.



Lightly tape the top and bottom of the seam of the vellum sleeve to the candle.



Cut an 18" sheet of wax paper, and place the pillar in the middle of the piece,
clutching the ends in one hand, so that the candle hangs, horizontally. Lightly
apply heat with a heat gun. You will notice the wax begin to glisten. Heat only
to activate that change, then move on. Rotate the candle within the wax paper
so that heat can be applied to the entire surface of the candle, giving special
attention to the the seam of the vellum. Wax from the paper, AND from the
candle, will coat the stamped vellum, securing the design to the candle.



The design will appear to be imbedded in the wax. As the candle burns, cut the
excess paper and NEVER leave candle unattended. I can say from personal use,
that I have never had a problem using a candle wrapped in light vellum or
tissue paper, but I always recommend doing this technique with quality made
candles, never discount brands. Good wax and wick materials make a big
difference. If you've never played with this technique, I sure hope you'll try!





Won't you, won't you, won't you PLAY with us?

We SURE would love to have you!

Thanks, for letting me share this FABULOUS technique!


Supplies -

Paper Vellum - Stampin' Up!
Stamps - Creative Imaginations {Santa and sleigh}; City scape - My Cute Stamps
Ink - Stampin' Up!; Staz On
Star Punch - Marvy
Silver Cord - S/U!
Christmas Light beads - Darice
Bling - Want2Scrap™

Monday, December 19, 2011

Button up some Christmas decor!


For my Just Us Girls post, click here!
For my Card Patterns post, click here!


It's the season, you know...!



Why NOT get yer' button ON, to beautify some Christmas decor?



I did! And it was FUN! Want to have some buttony fun, too?
FOLLOW ME - to my fun and informative post at Buttons Galore & More!
{Please....!}
I'm SUPER excited about my tutorial for this darling keepsake ornament...

I hope you'll check - it - ooooouuuut!

Fa la la!



Saturday, December 17, 2011

Let's not say goodbye....

For my latest Just Us Girls card, click here!

... It's SO LONG, for now... *sniff!*



Today, I return the crown, the coveted stripes of fabulosity.... to CARD PATTERNS.
This card marks my last official creation as a member of Card Pattern's wonderful
creative team... [Hankie, please.... *sob*] And, my friends - it has been an HONOR!





A friendship card couldn't have been a better way to sum up my feelings
about the lovely, creative and amazing souls, I have had the pleasure of
creating with, week after week. It NEVER ceases to amaze me, how much
smaller and lovelier the BLOG world makes the REAL world...

Good times!


And WHAT a stunning sketch to sign off with! {That Michele! Sheesh!}

Such TALENT! Thank you, MICHELE, TRACY and NINA
for including me in your incredible stream of inspiration and
weekly JOY. It has been a privilege, gals - thank you!




A RATHER fitting sentiment... reminds me of this lil' gem:

Blog friends ARE real friends!

So, for the last time, the whole team!

Carla Suto
Kristii Lockhart
Terese Broman
Tracy Schultz
Nina Bracket
&
Michelle Bertuzzi



And to the rest of my blogfriends - YOU ARE ALL such a vital and
important part of my creative journey! I so appreciate each and every
one of you, ESPECIALLY those of you who have endured less commenting
and attention from, yours truly during the past six months, or so. {Doh.}

A girl SURE could use more hours in the day, IYKWIM!

Thanks, for always being there - you mean SO much to me!

See you ALL real soon!


Supplies -

All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Show us your CHRISTMAS color!


That's right, friends - CHRISTMAS color - YeOWza! This is the week for COLOR
at Just Us Girls, challenge headquarters - and we ARE feeling, colorful!



Our darling and ultra talented, Lynn, has come up with a MOST delicious
color palette - certain to tickle your Christmas spirit! I'll bet you're just about
ready to create something brilliant to share - I SURE hope you'll join us!


{Such a yummy way to get colorful, don't you think?}




A perfect excuse to get ALL textury and festooned...

{What?}



Detailed. I meant DETAILED! But in a simple and FUN way!
Ya see what I did there? Stamped that groovy word art stamp
from Wplus9, Love You More... A lovely combo to punctuate
what Mom REALLY wants... {LOVE!} Well, if you must know,
Mom wants that, and... as much OCTOBER AFTERNOON
Holiday Style paper
as a gal can HOARD, ur, uh - I mean carry.

But, speaking of HOARDERS... I meeeeeeannnn, LOVERS
of the mighty art form of PAPER CRAFT.... My FRIENDS...,
and purveyors of the MOST divine inspiration... The JUGS
have some AMAZING inspiration to get you on your merry
and super crafty way - I hope you'll check 'em OUT!

Kathryn
Andrea
Lynn
Vicki
Maria
Pam

And our super TALENTED guest designer, Lenet!

So MUCH inspiration! Perfect for those last minute Christmas crafts!



So, here I am, dressed in my seasonal best, ready to provide
a stunning and flawless Christmas for my family... Can you
picture it? {Yeah, RIGHT - we just got our Christmas tree,
tonight! Ack, ack, ack, ack....} Okay, MAYBE not as classy
as this mod, Christmas design, but you can bet, well have
fun, in our own, RANCHO DURENBERGER style! Sure hope
you're enjoying ever sparkly moment, yourself! And above all else,
DON'T FORGET SOME CRAFTY TIME FOR YOURSELF!

Enjoy!

Supplies -

D/P - October Afternoon
C/S - Stampin' Up!
Stamps - Wplus9 Design Studio
Ink - Stampin' Up!; Colorbox Chalk
Embossing Folders - Cuttlebug
Acrylic Paint - EcoGreen Crafts
Die Cut flourish - Tim Holtz
Bakers Twine - Divine Twine
Felt Snowflake Ribbon - {?}

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Something to dazzle about....

Season Greetings, friends - MY GOODNESS, we are in the thick of it now!

I'm running frantic, as is my tradition... {yeah, me.... ugh!} NOT! Anywhoo,
I'm delighted to share my Card Patterns sketch for this week - just waving on
the excitement - there's STILL time to play!!!! And get yer' DAZZLE on!



Don't adjust your television... ur, uh, I mean MONITOR...
THIS card is DAZZLING due to the SUPER fun material from our
sponsor this week, Add a Little Dazzle... Check out Monica's blog
for more info, but she's got ALL kinds of things to dazzle about, and
for me, a reason to love METAL all over again - AND my Tim Holtz
embossing folders - HELLOOOOOOOO! {Merry Christmas, me!}


Here's our LOVELIER than lovely sketch!


And even more detail - just cuz... Well! I wanted to show off even MORE
sparkle, with some yummy use of Sparkle Fluff that I added to Santa's look:
he needed just some extra sparkle to keep up with the DAZZLE!!! {Any excuse
to bring out the trusty Sparkle Fluff makes me H-A-P-P-Y, and it's the perfect
accompaniment for October Afternoon's SMOKIN' hot Christmas collection...
{Holy MOLY - can you FEEL THE LOVE!!!!}



Yipeee! THIS is the kind of card and use of materials that makes me
SO grateful to be a part of this crafty, love-filled, ultra satisfying sport!
{I love IT sooooooo!} Good materials = GOOD FUN! Yipeeeeeeeee!

Hope you'll play with us! Check out the rest of our lovely DT!

Carla Suto
Kristii Lockhart
Terese Broman
Tracy Schultz
Nina Bracket
&
Michelle Bertuzzi

Also, we have SUCH a darling friend of mine and super talented
designer adding to the DAZZLE this week - Jinny Newlin! {Woop!}


Well, if you can't tell I'm receiving free "therapy" though my crafting
this season, you're probably not a crafter! {LOL!}

I hope you're delightfully inspired and that you'll join the fun
{AND free therapy!} at Card Patterns!

Yahoooooo!


Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
D/P - October Afternoon
Chipboard Accent - October Afternoon
Bling - Want2Scrap™
Metal Sheets - Add a Little Dazzle
Embossing Folders - Tim Holtz / Sizzix
Ink - Colorbox Chalk
Ribbon - Buttons Galore & More

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

It's a BANNER time for CHRISTMAS!


..... Every WHERE you goooooooo...



But, in PARTICULAR... it's a BANNER Christmas celebration
over at Want2Scrap™ where I have a fun post on the creation
of this very banner project! I'd be DELIGHTED if you'd check
it out! And while you're at it: have a BANNER day!

Yee Haw!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Just Us Girls - get bendy with it!


It's NOT your ordinary card - it's all scored, bent and FUN!


That's right - I'll bet you guessed it... Technique time!


Never, never, ever and I mean NEVER made one of these before!
Yeahooooooo! - for new techniques! OUR darling Kathryn picked
this one out and IIIIIIII am SO happy she did! She's our lovely
hostess this week and I'm telling you - she puts ON a party!



I found this Center Step Card to be a terrific platform for REALLY
showing off some AWESOME paper and materials! I hope you'll
consider playing along with us - we'd LOVE to see how you use this!




I sure had FUN with the details! But SPEAKING of details -
you won't want to miss any of these CARDS and all of the
special nuances of the talented Jugsters this round:

Dana
Kathryn
Lisa
Andrea
Lynn
Kristin

And our super TALENTED guest designer, Lenet!

Hope you'll glean all the glorious inspiration you need,
to get your creative "seat" on OVER to Just Us Girls!

{!}

We CAN'T wait to see what you make!



Thanks for riding on through!
Hope you have a super crafty day!


Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
D/P - October Afternoon
Stamp - Creative Imagination
Acrylic Paint - Eco Green Crafts
Seam Bias - Wright's
Ink - Color box Chalk
Charm - Tim Holtz
Pin - Maya Road
Thread - Guterman
Artist Medium - Eco Green Crafts
Glitter - Stampin' Up!
Transparency - Office Supply Store

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Best Wishes for a stunning composition!



I simply ADORE the Card Pattern's sketch for this week!

{Have you seen it?}




I have grown SO fond of the products from My Craft Spot!

Custom dyed baker's twine and seam bias - MEOW! Such FUN!



Check out this ALL purpose composition:


This Santa could put ANYONE in the mood - SERIOUSLY! I'm wearing THESE
papers OUT!!! {Sorry!} But these images just make me giddy! NOT TO MENTION,
the GRAND and glorious application of Want2Scrap™ bling - HELLO, festiveness!



Play along with us, won't you - there's STILL time! If you want to treat yourself,
check out the my darling designy babes from Card Patterns - Yeowza!

Carla Suto
Kristii Lockhart
Terese Broman
Tracy Schultz
Nina Bracket
&
Michelle Bertuzzi

Hope you'll partake in this FUN sketch and chance to win some GLORIOUS
baker's twine from My Craft Spot! Thanks for visiting!