A New Scrapalicious Challenge

Who wants to play along with a new challenge over at Scrapalicious USA?  Well, for 1 week we have one going on.  The theme is Anything Goes...so anyone can play along.

I made this a couple weeks ago using product from the store, but had not shared it on my blog, so thought I would.  This is the most awesome product for sale at Scrapalicious USA.  I LOVE it!!

Handmade Ephemera packet $3.75

And this is what I created with it:

 

I also used some Butterfly stickers and ribbon

from the store.

Heartstrings Design Team-Red, White and Blue! (And a Challenge!!)

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the first ever, Heartstrings Design Team Wednesday! I am so happy you decided to visit today because I have a lot of fun stuff to share with you. Our theme for today was to create something Red, White and Blue. The designers were given a variety of stamps to work with and allowed to choose whichever one inspired them. Let me preface everything by saying that the stamps were provided by, “My Heart Stamps for You”, our wonderful sponsor. Julie over at MHSFY was nice enough to donate the prize for our challenge today and along with that she has a special offer for everyone! If you visit her site during the next 2 weeks of the challenge and place an order with her, and mention you found her through Shelley (me)or Heartstring Designs (or the Design Team) she will include a free stamp in your order! Isn’t that fantastic?

But that is not all…somewhere on one of the Design Team blogs is another special giveaway. I encourage you to visit them all, find the second giveaway and follow the instructions to win!!

And last but in no way the least….we offer a challenge to all of you. After you have visited all the blogs, please come back here and enter our Red, White and Blue challenge. Please submit your very own Red, White and Blue creations to the linky below and you are automatically entered! Here is the prize!!

So without further ado…here we go!

This is my submission. I had a stamp of a little quilter and I turned the quilt into a flag , colored it with Copic markers (of course) and turned my little quilter into Betsy Ross! The background paper was embossed with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, the ribbon trimmed edging was cut with a Fiskars edge cutter and my tag was merely curled a bit around a pencil to give it the “waving” banner effect. A few star embellishments, a little stickles and distressing and I feel like I am ready to light the fireworks and have a BBQ!

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Beth loves to create projects with lots of color. She is fortunate to have a crafting group she meets with every weekend so she can use her creativity as form of therapy. (How lucky! I wish I lived closer!) She has this beautiful card to share with shooting stars! Please check out her blog for all the details. Stinkin’ Sweet Scrappin’.

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Over at Mariam’s blog, you will find her adorable card and a matching bracelet she created. Mariam is well known for her beautiful jewelry creations. She will give you all the details over at her blog: Mariam Satchell


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Madison is our youngest albeit very creative designer. I really appreciate her unique and fun approach to everything she makes. She has some very cute and thoughtful gift ideas to share, so please visit her blog to find out all the details: Funky Cards.

Gaby is a High School Librarian/teacher with a penchant to create. Whether it be crocheting, drawing or paper-crafting, she loves it all and does it all. She is very interested in the Copic markers (which is my current passion) so I am excited to share with her all I can. She has created this beautiful card with the very unique folds. She will tell you all about it over at her blog: Scrapbookaholic.

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Pam (PJ) is another very talented lady that creates the most beautiful cards and layouts. She colors her items so well and that is because she has been Copic certified and teaches various classes. Please check out her blog and see this and many other wonderful creations. Scrapbookflair.

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Anne is a very creative and an inspiring entrepreneur. She owns her own online craft business and still finds the time to create and maintain her vast network of crafty friends. Please check out her blog as well. Paper Patch Crafts.

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Please leave a comment and tell us what you think.  And we would love to have you join us in the challenge and show us your creations too!  We will pick one winner through a randomly generated number.  Good luck!

Hey Foxy...

I was quite surprised that I had to agree with all the rave reviews on the Create-a-Critter cricut cartridge.  Everywhere I looked people were using it and gushing about it to the point that after I bought it I didn't use it.  That's right.  I have had it for over a month and other than removing it from the plastic overlay, I had not even cracked it open. (I am a little bit stubborn and didn't want to seem too redundant)  Well...this cart is awesome.  Yes, the images are cute as a button, but the creative features are so easy to use.  I cut this little fox out quicker than anything...didn't even have to use much brain power (let me tell you, that is a bonus)!

Emma over at My Creative Time is having her first challenge.  She used an older cartridge for her example, but I didn't see in the rules as that was a prerequisite to enter, so am taking my chances with this little character.

Bow-chica-wow-wow

 I decided to make it for my hubby (hoping he isn't reading today) for Father's Day.  I am really dating myself with the verse, but being a child of the '70's we used to call a good looking guy (or gal) a fox.  Well, the main thing is...he will 'get it'.  And why oh why don't I ever notice things before I take pictures and edit them (such as slightly crooked ribbons)...ah well.  It's not a perfect world.

Father's Day Challenge at MPS

I wanted to get my submission in for the Father's Day Challenge at My Pink Stamper.  This idea came to me last night and it probably needs some explaining...because it is one of those back-story kind of cards that would be a private joke between my dad and I but probably seem a little lame to anyone else.

When I was a little girl, my dad collected those old 78 rpm records from flea markets and auctions.  We always had these stacks of them around the house and I would sometimes listen to them on my little disco record player. (yeah...I know..)  There were a couple of them that were children themed and he would let me use them all I wanted.  One in particular was made by Danny Kaye and his daughter Dena Kaye in 1955.  (Yes, before my time) If you are interested, I found a recording of it here.  Anyhoo.....One of my happy memories with my dad is singing.  We always sang in the car on road trips, while gardening...where ever!  And my dad being the teaser he was, whenever I would sing the opening line in the afore mentioned song, "Daddy Dear, Daddy Dear...is the world really round?"  He would state flatly, "No.  It's flat!"  My dad is now 76 years old, and when I see him...he will still say the very same thing!  So, I decided it was finally time to give him a special Father's Day card this year:

The inside of the card, of course, reads:  "NO, it's flat!"  I think he will get a kick out of the memory.  Happy Father's Day my Daddy Dear. :)

I used Design Studio and Makin' the Grade Cricut font cartridge and Give a Hoot for the image cut.  I also decided to keep the card very, very simple...because this card was more about the message than the design.

Busy Beauties Challenge

Good morning!  I found this image for free over at DeviantArt, and decided I wanted to try my hand at coloring it because it reminded me of Alice Cullen from the Twilight books.  While I was at it, I decided to enter it into the Busy Beauties Creation Station Challenge I discovered while following a blog hop with the Burtonesque Dolls. 

I used my favorite patterned paper, K & Company "Life's Journey" and made a matching flower improvising on a previous flower tutorial I posted here.  I cut the brackets that were required as part of the sketch using the Stamped Cricut cartridge.  Let me know what you think!  It was really fun to make and actually went together fairly fast.

Green, Brown and Yellow Challenge

This morning I decided to take on a challenge at The Pink Stamper.  The theme was using the colors brown, green and yellow.  I confess, this isn't a favorite combination of mine, but after I started making it, I liked how bright and cheerful it was.  I never thought brown could be cheerful!  It was fun to use the Cricut again too! :)

I made a card that has some funky folds, because I wanted to be a bit different.  If you would like the specifics they are as follows:

4¼" x 8½" card base (scored @ 5½")

3" x 7" center card (scored @ 3½")

2¾" x4" and 4"x 5¼" patterned or contrasting paper

I made some embellishments using the Forever Young Cricut cartridge.  I attached one of the flowers to the base flap with a dimensional so that the top flap could tuck underneath of it and allow the card to lay flat and tidy.

I used Bazzil cardstock and K & Company Specialty Paper "Citronella" paper stack.  The patterned paper has double-sided printing, which I love.

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I am still taking Design Team applications!  I would love to hear from you. :)

There is also plenty of time to enter in my give-away.

Copic Creations Challenge

I decided to get very brave and enter a Copics Challenge going on here.  I admit to being a novice with these pens and since I don't know the ins and outs this was definitely thinking outside the box.  As a matter of fact, the theme for this challenge was "coloring on other surfaces"...yes, as in NOT paper.  Of course you can imagine my conversation with myself:

Self: Why would you set yourself up to fail like this?
Self to Self:  Because...it's a challenge!  And, the prize is a set of Copics markers, silly!  It's worth a shot!

So, this is my feeble attempt:

My chosen surface was wood.  I lightly washed a wooden frame with acrylic craft paint and then sanded it down a little bit.  I then stamped on the surface using Memento Black Tuxedo ink with a stamp from My Heart Stamps For You...and yes, of course, it was also one of my designs.  I used my heat gun on the ink to get it to set  (or anyway, I hoped that would work) and it seemed to......until.....I got the bright idea to spritz the entire frame with Tsukienko Sheer Shimmer Spritz and everything started to run!  Argh!  Always test first...apparently there was alcohol in the spritz.  Well, duh...of course there would be.  Live and learn.  As you can see...the lines went a bit blurry and proceeded to break my heart.

But, all in all I am happy enough with it.  The photo is of my parents on their wedding day. 

I thought I would point out the new Page-Link bar I have started across the top of my blog.  It's in the process of being figured out, but I have added a page for some of the amazing blog candy and giveaways I run across on the net.  Please take a peek!  You won't regret it! 

Here are a couple reminders:
Please enter to win my giveaway!  Click this link, become a follower and leave a comment.  If you would be so kind as to refer me on your blog that would be great, but if you don't have a blog...that's okay too.  I will pick a winner on June 1st. (please, please, PLEASE leave a way for me to contact you!  There are a few entries already there with no email address...and if one is not provided, I will have to choose someone else)

Also, I am looking for a few people that might be interested in joining my design team.  I will admit it feels very vain to say my design team, and there is truly nothing all that special about me.  I don't presume to have any more special talent or know-how than any of all you wonderful crafters.  I just happened to have a very kind connection that is willing to sponsor us and help us all grow together as we strengthen and explore our talents.  So, please, follow this link and check it out!  Thank you!!

Have a fantastic day!
~Shelley

Wisdom From a Flower

Here is a quick card I made that utilizes stripes!  I decided to enter it into the Burtonesque Dolls Challenge,even though there isn't that much that is creepy about it.  And, I mean creepy in a very good way.  They have some very talented and fun artists over there.  But, the need to plant my garden keeps "haunting" me in the back of my mind, so I decided instead to make a card.  By now you should have figured out...anything I don't want to do can easily be replaced by making a card!

The inside sports this cute little verse:

It's kind of "ahhhhh"....cute, isn't it?  I was able to create this card this afternoon by convincing my son that all I really wanted for Mother's Day was to be left alone to mess around in my craft room.  Well, that and my kitchen floor mopped.  I am still waiting to see if the floor gets mopped; let's just say I'm not holding my breath!

The paper I used was a paper stack from K & Company, "Wild Raspberry", the stamps are a couple more I designed for My Heart Stamps for You.  And I colored the image with copic markers.  A couple Prima Sprites were added as an embellishment.  Of course, they too had to be striped!

Oh yes, here is my reminder about the give-away!  Please follow this link for a chance to win a set of my cards and some of my handmade flowers!  I will draw randomly on June 1st!

MPS NSD Challenge #10 - "May Day" and My Very First Give-Away!!

This is my final submission in the Pink Stamper National Scrapbook Day Challenge. I created this sweet little card gift box by following a tutorial here. I saw something similar at a make and take display recently and have been searching for a solution ever since.  Here is what I came up with:

I also made a set of 6 matching cards to go inside. When you close it, you simply tie it shut with the attached satin ribbon. The flowers were made with the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge.  I think it is a nifty sort of gift giving idea. With that thought in mind, I have decided to do just that!

I am going to give this card set away!

It will include the box with embellishment, 6 matching cards as shown here, with envelopes. I am also going to add to this an assortment of my handmade flowers. It's nothing too big, but there was love and care taken into making these items and I am happy to share. The only requirements I have for a chance to win are the following:

1. Become a follower of this blog by clicking on the google friend follower in the left column of this page.
2. Leave a comment on this post specifying you would like to be considered in the giveaway, and tell me what your favorite flowers are.
3. Share a link to my giveaway on your blog, message board or social networking site, so others can be made aware of it too. Feel free to use any of the images in this post on your link.

I will pick a winner using a random generator on June 1st. 

Also, it is very important that you leave a way for me to contact you, should you be chosen.  An email address or blog address would be ideal!  ~thanks!

Thank you for visiting my blog. The effort you took to come here today has really brightened my day. I love being creative and I especially love sharing what I love with others who appreciate it too.
~Shelley

MPS NDS Challenge #9 & #12

I am going to post 2 submissions within this post.  The first one is #9 - "Take Shape".  I used the Sweethearts cartridge and the Design Studio to make the car into a card.

Next, is MPS NDS Challenge #12 - "Critter-licious".  I used the Sweethearts cartridge for this as well.  This cute little monkey really makes me smile.

I have one entry left, which I will put in a separate post....with something special.  :)

MPS NSD Challenge # 11- "Colors of the Rainbow"

My postings are continuing to be a little out of order.  Ah well.  I made this colorful scrapbook page last night before I went to bed.  It utilizes all 6 colors of the basic rainbow.  I will add the photos later.

The diecuts were obtained from the Cricut Cartridge Sweet Hearts.  I think it is an adorable cut with many, many layers.  But they went together fairly easily.  The lettering was created with the Marker button and Pooh Font.

MPS Challenge (Pink, Green and Black)

I decided to try my hand at the latest challenge over at My Pink Stamper.  My mind was a bit blank as I thought about what I wanted to create and then I made the mistake of looking at a few other submissions.  I only consider that a mistake in that it can sometimes lead to copy-cats and lookalike projects.  That is fine of course, we all learn by following others' examples, but I wanted to come up with something that was mine and of course once I peeked at a few others I felt I wouldn't be very original.  As usual...I did too much over-thinking!  Anyway, this is what I finally created.  It's kind of cute, albeit rather simple.  I made a few extra to include in the card sets I mentioned in an earlier post.

The green in the photo looks a bit more like sage than it really is.  In reality it is more of a springtime/mint green.  Ah well...as usual my photography skills will be the ruin of me.

I made the flower using the Accent Essentials Cricut Cartridge.  I borrowed this cart a few days ago and have been trying to get as much mileage out of it before I return it. I applied some stickles to the middle layer on the flower, a black brad in the center and the paper and ribbon were some very old scraps I had from the stone-age when I first started scrapbooking and cardmaking.  In another words...I have no idea where they were bought.

Give me your opinion?  It was fun to have a contribution. :)

As a sidenote:  After submitting, I went and looked at many of the other submissions after all.  Wow...some very talented crafters out there.  You are all so awesome! :)

~Shelley