Willow & Paisley

Embellish Color Trends - Bicycles

 

 

 

Well, looky-loo, it's time for my bi-weekly post!  {{why I am only posting every 2 weeks these days is beyond me}}.  

 

The girls and I, over at Embellish have a fun challenge for you today!  We need you to use those funky colours above and be sure to add in the "bicycle" element to your creation.  Fun, right?!!  I'm the first to admit I have 2 bikes but neither has seen my butt for at least a good 7 years now.  Yet, when Mike asked if I was selling them at our garage sale I said no way, which makes NO sense.  Anywhoooo. 

 

 

I cannot colour worth a damn but I love this Belle on a Bike!  Just look at her sunflowers and the french baguette in her little basket.  I want to be her!  I did my best with Copics on the image but I did paper piece her skirt.  My colours for the challenge are a bit muted but they do work well together, don't you think? 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I can't wait to pop over to the Embellish Magazine Blog to see what you all come up with!  Seriously, the entries are incredible!  Always. 

 

I'm heading out to buy some bedding out plants today {{which I will not be able to plant yet and will have to live on my kitchen floor, for the next week or 2,  since it's still so freakin' cold here!!  But I want to get my plants before they are too picked over which will be the case by the May long weekend.  Have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend, everyone!  

 

 

Embellish Color Trends - Washi Tape

 

 

Welcooomeeeeee to the latest and greatest Embellish Color Trends Challenge.   This week we challenge you to use the above vibrant colors in your creation with the added addition of WASHI TAPE.

 

 

 

Of course, Washi Tape is all the rage these days but it comes as no surprise that I don't have any.  You know, now that I think about it I really haven't bought ANY craft supplies lately but that's a good thing as I'm in the middle of trying to purge much of it.  

 

 

 

So just like the Chevron challenge (which I had no Chevron either) I had to create my own Washi Tape.  So easy.  So fun. I just stuck patterned paper to 1/2" Scor Tape and then cut it with scissors.  I tore the ends to look like it had that torn masking tape look.  Then I used it to "tape" on my image panel.  Done. 

 

I used Birds & Bees stamp set from Technique Tuesday.  A-dorable!   {{I think this will be my neices birthday card for when she turns 6 in July.  She will love that little bee.}}  Passion for Polka was used with Versamark ink for a subtle accent in the background. 

 

 

See you over at Embellish!  I can't wait to see what you all create!

 

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I know I am only posting once every 2 weeks lately and I wish it was more.  If I tried to make excuses and tell you what I've been up to you'd be bored, because it is boring, so I'll save you from that.  Instead, tell me what YOU have been up too lately! 

 

 

Embellish Color Trends - Chevron

 

 

 

Hello. my friends!!  It's a wonderful snowy spring day here in Calgary.  Yeah, it's crazy that we got dumped on yesterday but we are used to it snowing here until at least mid-May so it's no surprise.  Really, it's quite pretty and the moisture will help turn everything green around here.  I cannot wait until I can plant pots of flowers around the May long weekend.  It should be warm enough by then ;)

 

I know I've been a total flake when it comes to posting lately but I am always excited when we have a brand new Embellish Magazine Color Challenge for you.  

 

 

 

 

This challenge is to incorporate CHEVRON into your creation.  I know you know how trendy it is right now.  It's everywhere, which is why it's mind boggling to me that I don't have a single thing Chevron.  No stamps, no paper, no fabric.  I had to get creative and turn this amazing Echo Park striped paper into my own Chevron patterned paper.  It's really easy.  Just cut a corner of the page off at 45 degrees.  Then cut strips (I think mine are about 3/4" wide).  Turn the paper to cut the other corner the same way so you have the stripes going in different directions.  Then just match them up and glue them to a backing.  

 

I am sure it comes as no surprise to you that I made a chevron heart.  Is there anything I won't put on a heart?  Um, no. 

 

 

 

 

I stamped the frame and sentiment from Sweet Somethings by Technique Tuesday.  I trimmed it out with scissors and then cut another border behind it.  

 

So there you go!  Just use these crazy adorable colors (Aqua, Grey, Purple and Pink), and Chevron, on your awesome creation and add it to the linky tool over on Embellish Magazine blog.  I cannot wait to see what you all come up with.  Have a wonderful snowy spring day!

 

 

 

 

Embellish Color Trends - Jeweled

 

 

 

I seriously cannot believe 2 weeks have gone by since our last Embellish challenge.  Good thing the girls reminded me the other day but even then I had to go check the dates for myself to believe it.  Time flies when you're having fun, right?!!

 

 

Speaking of fun.....this is officially my new most favorite colour combo!  Hawaiian Shores, Blueberry Sky, White and Soft Stone.  LOVEEEE!!!  And I just happened to be in need of a card for my wonderful friend Kristina who's celebrating a birthday on Monday.  I made this just for her.  Of course, I had to add a heart because I {heart} her so much.  Why yes, it does appear that l will put a heart on any type of occasion card.  I can't help myself!!!

 

 

I used Technique Tuesdays Happy Birthday set to stamp the little cupcake and the sentiment below the die cut letters.  I managed to find my Liquid Applique in my {horribly messy and disorganized} craft room so I used it for the icing.  For my "jeweled" portion of the card I used these tiny little turquoise dots which are like mini sequins as sprinkles.  If I remember correctly I think my fabulous friend, Bernie, sent these a couple of years ago. Smile.   I stuck the candle in the wet Liquid Applique so it's not going anywhere!

 

 

Please join us over at the Embellish Challenge Blog.  We'd really love to see what you create using the amazing inspirational image and colours.  Don't forget the jewels.  This can be anything from sequins, beads, rhinestones or pearls.  If you think it's a jewel then it counts!  See you all there!

 

I also hope to be around this weekend with a new Thrifty Finds post.  I always have something to share and I even bought a piece of furniture yesterday which will be my next paint project.  I must be crazy for taking on a project like that!

 

 

Embellish Color Trends Challenge - Rosettes

 

 

 

Helloooo and Happy Friday everyone!  The last 2 weeks have flown by and here we are with another new Embellish Color Trends Challenge.  Can you believe how gorgeous that photo above is?  I can't stop staring at it.  Tina is so talented.  First, for creating that beautiful display in her home and second, for her amazing photography.

 

 

Our challenge for you is to use the colors above and "Rosettes".  This is where I admit I was a bit stumped....what the heck is a Rosette?  I Googled and I Pinterest-ed to try to find out and I'm going to conclude that a rosette can be whatever form of flower embellishment that you want it to be.  My choice was to make fabric rolled flowers.  They were so fun and easy to make.  Next time I will pull out the glue gun to make it even easier. 

 

 

The fabric I used is from a vintage twin bed sheet that I bought from the thrift store.  I buy quite a few vintage sheets because the prints are gorgeous and the material itself is such great quality.  This sheet and 1 other are the only 2 that I've had the nerve to cut up so far as there was a tear along the elastic edge.  I used them to sew some doll bedding for my nieces.  I'll have to share that soon.  Turned out so cute!

 

 

 

 

The heat embossed sentiment and the tiny, little, paper pieced butterfly are from Technique Tuesday's SPRING stamp set.  Have I mentioned my love for anything Ali Edwards from TT?!!

 

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.  Head on over to Embellish to see what my amazing DT friends have created this week.  

 

 

 

Embellish Magazine - Color Trends - Spring

 

 

 

It's a happy day people!  I'm so excited to tell you that we are starting up the Embellish Magazine Challenges again.  We had a really wonderful break but we decided it's time to get back to playing with colour!   I hope you will join us and share your amazing creations by linking up over at the Embellish blog.  

 

  I missed these girls alot so I could not be happier we are back together.  Be sure to check out what they did with the amazing spring colours. 

Ashley   ~   Mariana   ~   Tina   ~   Sarah   ~   Cristina

 

 

 

 

The timing could not be more perfect as I received my Technique Tuesday order in the mail this week and I have some awesome brand new stamps to play with!  If you haven't checked out their new CHA release stamps please do.  

 

I used the little bird and the tree trunk/leaves from Birds & Bees and the sentiment is actually a tag from the April Showers by Ali Edwards set.  I stamped it and then cut it down to create the sentiment block.  I stamped the tree trunk twice.  Once in brown and then in green.  I cut each leaf out and adhered them over the brown leaves.  But then wouldn't you know after I was done that I saw there was a perfect little leaf stamp in the April Showers set that would have worked great too.   

 

 

 

 

The current challenge, if you wish to accept it (that is so Mission Impossible....ha), is to create a SPRING card using the colours shown in the gorgeous photo at the top of the post.  It can be anything from Easter to eggs or just create a card that says spring to you, like I did with the adorable bird and sentiment.  We'll see you over there!

 

Have the best day ever!  Thanks for visiting!

 

 

 

 

 

Embellish Color Trends Challenge - Mixed Patterns

 

 

 

Happy Friday everyone!  Welcome to the current Embellish Magazine Challenge which is also the last challenge of 2012.  We know everyone is busy getting ready and enjoying the Christmas season but we hope you take some time for yourself to relax and get a bit crafty with us. 

 

 

 

 

Today we are asking you to use "mixed patterns" along with the colors shown above.  I have to admit I kinda screwed up and missed the "mixed" part.  I only used one pattern.  Whoops. 

 

 

 

 

I incorporated my colors by making a little embellishment with twill ribbon.  I stapled them together before securing it down which made it much easier to work with.  I used Hound Houndstooth for my embossed background pattern and my sentiment is from Loving Words by Ali Edwards.  

 

 

 

Have a great week everyone!!  Merry Christmas!

 

 

Embellish Color Trends Challenge - Banners

 

 

 

Hey Everyone.....how are you?  I imagine everyone is getting into the swing of Christmas decorating and shopping now that it's December.  My tree is done and the house is decorated but I'm still in a bit of denial that it actually is December.  Even though I feel like I have lots to do I am definitley wanting to just relax and enjoy the Christmas season.  

 

 

 

However, my card this week certainly doesn't have anything to do with Christmas does it?  The colors for the challenge ~~Green, Purple, Orange and Brown~~ and the banner requirement worked perfectly to create this birthday card for another niece who is turning 14.  I would never have thought to put these colours together but I find them very fresh and very fun.  Perfect for a teenager.  

 

 

 

 

I cut the little banners with scissors and then stitched across the tops to make them appear they are hanging.  The stamp I used is called Kids Are Cool By Ali Edwards.  Now I just need to put some cash in it (come on...she's a teenager....what else would I give her??  haha) and get it in the mail.  

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Embellish Color Trends Challenge - Leaves

 

 

 

 

Hey Everyone.  I'm back with the newest Embellish Color Challenge for you.

 

Almost every week I think to myself that there is NO WAY I would have EVER put these colors together on my own.  No way.  But I always know I'm going to love them together so it's really something I do look forward to.  And so is the little twist we add for you.  The element we need you to add this week to your creation, along with the colors above, is LEAVES.  You can do anything your heart desires.  What pops into your mind when you think "leaves"?

 

{{And don't ya love the inspiration photo?  That's our girl Tina (aka Travelling Mama).}}

 

 

 

 

The first thing that popped into my head for a "Leaves" element was a Poinsettia because the colored "flowers" of the plant are actually leaves themselves.  {{Honest!  I even looked it up and Wikipedia says so.}}

 

I could not believe I did not have any burgundy felt.  I have every other color under the sun but not burgundy?!!  Also, I've been trying to find the Spellbinders Poinsettia die to buy locally but I have had no luck so far.  I ended up just drawing and hand cutting the leaves and I think it turned out ok even though it was ALOT bigger than I had planned on.  {{Also, the more I played with it the more it started looking like a water lily to me.  Maybe because it was 2:00 am and I was delirious.}}  

 

 

 

 

I used my all time favorite Christmas stamp set......Good Cheer by Ali Edwards for my sentiment.   I scattered a bunch of tiny Martha Stewart rhinestones on the bottom half of the card.  Then I changed my mind about adding those on but it was too late.  I couldn't get them off.  Those little guys stuck!

 

Thank you so much for checking out my "leaves" card.  Now it's your turn.....I can't wait to see what you create for this challenge.  Bring it!

 

{{p.s....has anyone ever noticed that when I do the Embellish posts I spell "color" like they do in the US but when I do my regular posts I spell it "colour" like we do in Canada?  Ok, am I getting delirious again?  Randomness.}}  

 

 

 

 

 

Embellish Color Trends Challenge - Diecuts

 

 

 

Ahhhh.....diecuts!  One of my most favorite craft items to buy ever.  I admit I have a Cricut machine but dies are still my go-to choice.  

 

Speaking of favorite somethings ever.....this weeks Embellish Magazine challenge is amazing.  Just look at that inspiration photo.  Do you love it too?  I hope you'll join the challenge.  All you have to do is create a card using any die cut of your choice and the colours listed above.....Green, Lavender, Kraft and Cream.  SO pretty!  Then come on over to the Embellish blog and link 'er up! 

 

 

 

 

As luck would have it I JUST got my hands on my latest Stampin' Up order and I had 2 brand new Sizzix Bigz dies that were perfect for this challenge.  I am in LOVE with both the Bigz L Fun Flowers and the Bigz Lattice.

 

 

 

For the life of me I could not figure out how to add a sentiment to this card because I didn't want to cover up all that great lattice background.  {{It look me at least 3 hours to finish this card because of that.}}  Finally, I came across some old Scenic Route rub-ons (whatever happened to that company?  They had the best rub-ons!!) which I wasn't sure would work over top of the lattice but it worked like a charm.  It's bold but it blends right in.  And I love that I didn't have to add another layer of paper. 

 

 

 

 

Here's a close up of the dimension of the flower.  There are 3 layers (plus the centre) and I gave them each a bit of curl and sponging on the petals.  I cannot wait make some of these flowers out of felt.  Ohhhh and denim too!  Can't wait to play.