Willow & Paisley

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!

 

 

 

 

Peace - A Giveaway - Winner Chosen

 

Congrats to Janice Aeschliman.  You are lucky #13 and ou won the Sign of the Times stamp set.  I will email you to get your address from you so I can pop it in the mail. 

 

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:13Powered by RANDOM.ORG

 {{I did enter 25 in the Max section based on the number of entries but when I copy and paste it keeps reverting to 100.  I couldn't get the image to save properly}} 

 

 

Hey everyone....in case you have not heard already Technique Tuesday is having their annual Progressive Sale.  Each week they discount the retiring stamps further and it's up to you if you grab them now or gamble and wait for the next weeks bigger discount.....hoping the stamps you want are still there.

 

Check out this link to see all the stamps that are being retired.  Then scroll to the bottom of that page to read about how to get the discount code (which includes signing up for Newsletter, visiting their Facebook or Blog).  We are entering the final week of the sale tomorrow and it runs January 9th - 15th.  With the discount code you will get an awesome 60% discount on the retiring stamps.  Score!  If you have any questions let me know.   

 

 

 

I just happen to have an extra stamp set called Sign of the Times and while it is being retired I'm hoping one of you would like to give it a new home?  Leave me a comment if you would and I'll make a random draw on Thursday January 12.  I will mail it anywhere.  Be sure to leave your email address so I can get in touch with you to tell you that you are the winnah!!! 

 

 

 

Have the best day ever! 

 

 

 

 

 

Embellish Color Trends Challenge - Paint or Mist

 

 

 

Heellllooooo! 

 

Our newest Embellish Color Trends challenge is here.  I swear I did not notice until right this minute that my "turquoise" is soooo wrong for this challenge.  I truly just had turquoise in my head but I should have checked the inspiration photo one more time before actually making my card.  Whoops. 

 

 

{you should be able to click on photos for larger view} 

 

The "trend" that you need to incorporate when you tackle this color challenge is to add PAINT to your creation.  You can paint the edges of your card, paint embellishments, stamp with paint or use a spray mist.  Anything goes.  I painted the chipboard cage a light grey and then distressed it with cream paint over top.  I just used acrylic paints from Michaels. 

 

 

 

 

So besides my color being {alot} off I was happy with final result and especially happy that I finally got around to using the bird and cage die.  They are awesome dies don'tcha think? 

 

I stamped the musical notes from Glee (Technique Tuesday stamps) using acrylic paint as well and it gives it a vintage-y look and a great texture. 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a GREAT weekend everyone.

 

 

 

Loonie Stampers Challenge

 

 

 

ETA:  OK...let's try this again.  I "think" I got it to work so I can get the photos of my card posted.  I ended up taking new photos, editing them and posting those.  Some how the other photos were "tiff"s rather than jpeg.  Wish I could say I knew how that happened but I don't even know what a "tiff" is.  Ha.  Anywho.....I'm a day late and a dollar short but here's the card!
 

This week Regan chose this fantastic photo as our inspiration for this weeks challenge.  I actually have to say I think the inspiration photos are alot more fun for me than just colours.  Plus, it's always just nice to see gorgeous photos.  That's why I like hanging out on Pinterest too. 

 

 

 

 

My photos probably are coming across huge on your screen.  For some reason I can't upload these pics from iPhoto (it's like they are invisible when I go to upload them) so I had to do a copy and paste by emailing them to myself.  I hope this is just a one time glitch.  I'll find out at my next apple class.  

 

 

 

But because I am having technical difficulties I will leave it short and sweet and come back to fix it and add links soon.  Thanks for stopping by everyone.

 

Technique Stamps used:  Loving Words by Ali Edwards ~~and~~ Bijou Borders 

 

 

 

 

Now that I've got my tech dilemma sorted out I'm heading over to see what the girls got going on.......

Dee   Regan   Wendy   Maria   Rhonda

 

 

 

 

 

 

Embellish Color Challenge - STRIPES

 

 

 

Hi Everyone......Welcome to the newest Embellish Magazine Challenge.   As you can see in the challenge image above the colours are black, blue, kraft and red.  The theme to incorporate is STRIPES.  {{I love how the bounce of the girl in the photo is captured.  It's just so carefree and natural.}}  

 

 

 

 

 The inspriation to make the stripes the way I did came from a photo I snapped with my iPhone this summer.  There was a van that was parked on the street near the parking lot at my work place and I thought the pin striping would be a cool idea for a card.  Here's the pic of that van.....

 

 

 

I just cut some strips of cardstock at an angle and matched them up to create the portion that extends up.  

 

 

 

 

The hemp cord is glued onto the blue strip and does not wrap around as I wanted to keep the white block flat on the card base.  

 

 

 

So?  Who's up for playing along?  Please do.  I can't wait to see all the amazing entries!  I'm always in awe by the talent we see.  Trust me it makes voting very hard.  See ya over at the Embellish blog.  Have a great weekend everyone.  

 

 

Hello My Friend(s)!

 

 

 

 

OMWord I feel like I'm not even a card maker anymore.  Seriously it's been forever since I crafted and posted a card "just because" so I figured I better get to it so you know I am alive.  I AM ALIVE!  This summer is flying by isn't it?  I've been doing my best to just enjoy it and go with the flow.  It seems like I've taken a bit of a break from the craft room without intentionally doing so.  I'll get back there don't you worry!

 

Work is crazy busy but it is what it is.  Though, I do have to say.....enough with the floods and fires already! (yes, I work in Insurance....don't judge).  We just got back from a week at the farm and it was great.  So relaxing, so peaceful and my MIL is the best.  We were so sad to have to come home to real life and work.  The cherry on the top was that in town there is now a thrift store and a really cute antique/second hand store called "Jam Antiques".  Loved that store.  Why didn't I think of moving there and opening that store?!!!  ha.  I'll share my thrifty finds on the weekend and I'll also be back soon to show you a couple if items I just received in the mail for future DIY projects.  I'm super excited!

 

Enjoy the card.  It says just what I wanted to say to you all....Hello My Friend(s)! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technique Tuesday Stamps:  Message in a Banner, Long Stemmed Sentiments, Simply You by Ali Edwards.

 

 

 

Embellish ~ Color Trends Challenge with JustRite

 

 

 

 

Time for a fun new Embellish Challenge!

 

This week we are so excited to be using some amazing cling stamps from our new sponsor JustRite.  Thank you JustRite!

 

 

 

 

The stamp set you see here is called Friendship Blooms ~~so purdy!  It happens to coordinates with Spellbinders™ S4-312 Blossom Three and  S4-310 Labels Eighteen which is great.  I love any and all dies so I'm sold!

 

I heat embossed the label and the little flowers which are actually from the borderline stamp in the set.  I then hand trimmed them out individually.

 

 

 

We hope you will join us and create something with these very springy colors.  The challenge details to be included in your submission are:

 

Theme: Square Cards  ~~~  EASY PEASY!

Colors: Dark Pink, Yellow, Light Blue, Light Pink  

 

 

 

 

Loonie Stampers Challenge 140

 

 

 

Can you believe this is our 140th challenge?  Wow, time flies.  {{I wish that # was my weight...ha}}

 

Dee asked us to use patterned paper as our card base for this challenge.  I used Cosmo Cricket paper and placed a felt flower on the leafy vine print.  Some alpha stickers, green felt leaves and a scalloped border finished it off.  I'm not sure you could get much easier than this.

 

 

 

 

 

The other day I was chatting by email with my friend Marlou and we were talking about these flower dies and she mentioned that rolling them in felt is finicky.  I hadn't tried felt yet but yes she was right.  My big fat fingers didn't work well so I wanted to show you what I came up with. 

 

I totally recommend using a quilling tool when using patterned paper but felt won't fit into it.  I happen to have these little metal clips which I bought to make my nieces some ribbon hair clips {{um, yeah, that hasn't happened yet}}.  Anywho....they worked great.   

 

Just clip it onto the outside edge.

 

 

Then start rolling it away from you.

 

 

Once you get to the end you can loosen the rose up a bit with your fingers.  I used a few stitches through the bottom to hold it together as well as a big glue dot.  Once the flower was how I liked it then I removed the metal clip.  It works great to tighten the centre of the rose too if you find it's gotten too loose.

 

 

So there ya have it.  Hope that little tip helps some of you out.  Oh btw....I was over at Wendy's the other night and just found out that MFT has 2 smaller sizes of these rose dies.  OMG I love!  She let me borrow it till I can get my own.  Thanks GF - I can't wait to make even tinier rolled flowers!

 

 

 

 

Embellish Color Trends - May Arts Crocheted Trim

 

 

 

It's time for Take 2 of the Embellish Color Trend challenge with May Arts.  WOW, you sure rocked last weeks challenge and I know you will love these colors just as much. 

 

As you can see above the colors are ~~light blue~~turquoise~~dark yellow, and ~~bright yellow.  Um, hello.......gorgeousness!!!  The required "theme" to incorporate is to use crocheted trim.

 

 

 

 

 

I made a little bouquet of rolled roses and attached 2 vertical borders of this pretty cream crocheted trim next to it.  I embossed a diamond background, embossed the polka dots and trimmed out the sentiment.  I know....there is definitely alot going on here but all the cream neutral color helped to keep it need and tidy.  At least that's my story and yep I'm addicted to making "cream" cards!  Love.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There you have it.  How inspiring are these colors for your creativity!  I hope we see you all over at Embellish Magazine to play along.  I can't wait to see your amazing creations!

Loonie Stampers #135

 

 

I have to tell you I totally laughed when I saw this challenge posted for us by Dee.  Can you tell she's got a teeny baby and probably isn't getting near a full nights sleep? 

 

Well posting any card is no problem cuz I certainly happen to have a whole lotta submission rejects.  I'm pretty sure this one was for a sketch for one of PC's monthly issues but I can't remember which one.  Now I get to share it with you...just because.  

 

 

 

 

 

The word "greatest" is from the Loving Words by Ali Edwards stamp set.    "Friend" is from Long Stemmed Sentiments and while you can't see it super clear I stamped the border image from Bijou Borders in white ink on the denim.

 

 

 

 

 

I can't wait to see what the girls came up with as their free pass card to share today.

Dee    Regan    Wendy    Maria    Jewels

 

 This is one of those 4.5 x 6 cards I love to make.  I've heard from my fabbie friend Jen that size A6 envies will fit the bill.  I did not know that.  I'll be on the look out for those for sure.  And then maybe.....just maybe I'll send some cards out.