Saturday, November 27, 2010

Thank You with Flower Soft


Why not get a head start on your thank-you cards that you are going to need after the holidays, and join in the challenge at Flower Soft? Our theme is Give Thanks/Thanksgiving and the winner gets their choice of 5 jars of Flower Soft! Winner will be announced on Wednesday.

I used Ultrafine Flower Soft on the flowers of my designer paper. The ultra fine is great for adding just a little dimension without being too much.

I hope you will get a chance to play along!

Challenges:
2 Sketches 4 You: sketch
Mark's Finest Papers: Bow
Sweet Stampin: Buttons and Bows
Stamp Something: Thankful
Spoon Full of Sugar: Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly: Cut it Out
Pollycraft: Feelin Blue

28 Days til Christmas!


I really should be putting up my Christmas decorations, but before I do that, I thought that I would share a Christmas card that I made using Teresa Collin's Christmas papers. I loved building up all of these layers and distressing them as I went.

Are you getting ready for Christmas? Do you have your tree up yet?

Challenges:
One Stitch at a Time: Choose an event (Christmas)
Pile it On: Winter Means....
Sketchy Colors: Red and White
Simon Says Stamp and Show: Distress Inks
Alota: Christmas
Papertake Weekly: Cut it Out
Spoon Full of Sugar: Anything goes
Delightful Challenges: Flower Power
Crafty Creations: Christmas is Coming
Crafty Catz: Christmas
Craft Your Days Away: texture
Mark's Finest Papers: Bow
Crazy 4 Challenges: script paper

Friday, November 26, 2010

Heartfelt Creations Release Day and Black Friday Special!




It's finally here! The moment I know you have been waiting for - the new Window Scene Collection at Heartfelt Creations! These are the cards that I made for the release. I love the exclusive die in this set, and know you will too. It has so many possibilities. You will want to go to the Heartfelt Creations blog to see all of the products in this release as well as see the gorgeous inspiration and how-to's from the DT. After you've drooled a bit, be sure to head to the store, because Emma Lou has a fantastic Black Friday special for you ...

Black Friday Promotions:
As a special thank you to our customers we will be offering an amazing Black Friday Savings of $20 on this must-have collection and a FREE PreCut Stamp Set of your choice (valued at $14.99) with every order over $50.To qualify for the free stamp set, you will need to list the free stamp set of your choice in the "comments box" when checking out. If you do not list the free stamp set, you will be disqualified for this offer, offer expires Nov. 26 at 12 Midnight EST.

Challenges:
Creatalicious: sketch (for the 3rd card)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Belle's Carols


Did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving? Are you still stuffed? I managed to make a card after our big family feast and just wanted to share it with you today. I used Belle's Carols (or at least part of the stamp) - I just wanted sweet Belle to fit in my circle, so I left her stuffed animals off of this one.

Are you getting excited about our Advent Calendar Celebration - you should be! We have so many fun things planned for you - and great giveaways! You won't want to miss it! Remember, it starts December 1st on the Belles n Whistles Inspiration blog.

Challenges:
Card Patterns: sketch
Mark's Finest Papers: Circle
Crazy 4 Challenges: Circle
Stamp and Create: Tis the Season
Simon Says: Let it Snow

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Stamped Satin Flowers Tutorial



I have been having so much fun making this hand crafted flowers, I just had to share with you how I do it! For these flowers I used Heartfelt Creations Innoscents Flowers 1 and 2, and Spellbinders Blossom 2 Nestbilities. I just bought some cheap white satin at Walmart for $1/yard.


You will want to stamp a couple of each flower size onto the satin using Staz-on inks.


After you have all of your flowers stamped out, cut them with your nestabilities. I have found if you are trying to cut fabric, it works much better if you put a layer of cardstock underneath it. It gives the die a little more to grab onto.




You may still have to trim just a little, if it doesn't cut all the way through.



You can choose any color to make your flower just by spraying them with Glimmer Mist. I used Fully Purple and Dewberry.




To speed the drying, I use my heat gun. I love laying out my flowers on my magnetic precision mat and holding them in place with magnets to dry. This keeps me from burning my fingers.



Next, you are going to melt the edges of all the flowers over a candle flame. You don't have to get it too near, or you will have some little fires to tend to!


Sometimes I will curl the petal as I melt it to help shape it.



For some of the top layers, I cut away the bottom flower layer - or sometimes cut into the petal to make it deeper. You can play around with it for different effects.


Here are all of the flowers shaped by the flame. I also cut some plain bronze organza and melted the edges of that for a different layer.



You are going to sew the layers together, but cut a little square of felt to put between the layers to space them.


Add beads or a button to the center of the flower.



After my flower was assembled, I painted a thin layer of Platinum Stickles over the top.


Here is another variation of my flower, using real fresh water pearls for the center.

I hope you will try these out - I'd love to see what you come up with!

The Beary Scrap's Anything Goes Continues!


Have you noticed how big banners are? They are everywhere! Banner stamps and papers - really cute seasonal banners? I love them! And this week the Beary Scrappy Gals are being inspired by banners. If you would like to play with along with our challenge, it's still Anything Goes (you don't have to do anything with banners).

I made a layout today featuring my sweet nephew Will. He has taught me so much about unconditional love...He makes my heart happy. I used this wonderful sparkly banner paper from MME Lost and Found - Union Square. You may also notice that fabulous Dusty Attic chipboard - Did you know that Beary Scrap will soon be selling Dusty Attic -yay!!!!

I made the flower for my layout using satin, organza and Heartfelt Creations stamps. You can see the tutorial for making these flowers here.

Thanks for looking and you still have time to play along with Anything Goes!

Challenges:
ABC DT challenge: Sew Special
Simon Says: Sparkle

Monday, November 22, 2010

Belles n Whistles New Challenge!




It's been two weeks, so it is time for a new challenge at Belles n Whistles. This week the talented Anki is challenging us to use her sketch along with bold winter colors (to me this meant no pastels). I had some really fun Christmas papers from Graphic 45, and I loved the way Rockin Around Belle looked in front of the Christmas tree - Just like this is her favorite present from Santa!


We would love for you to play along with us for your chance to win a new BnW stamp. Also, be sure to mark your calendars - starting Dec. 1st we will be celebrating our 2nd Annual Advent Blog Event - You will not want to miss it!

Challenges:
Stamp and Create: Tis the Season

Two or More at Karen's Doodles


It's Monday, so that must mean that it's time for another challenge at Karen's Doodles. This week, we want you to use at least two of Karen's images on one project. I have to tell you my printer is out of ink, so I was limited to using images that I already had printed out! So luckily First Taste of Snow and the Holly Border from Fireplace Accessories went well together.

I'm sad to say this will be my last challenge with Karen's Doodles....I've really loved designing with her images, but just feel like it's time for me to move on.

Challenges:
Delightful Challenges: Baby it's cold outside
Paper Play: Let it Snow
Stampin for the Weekend: Winter
Totally Gorjuss: Non-traditional colors

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Mark your calendars!


The Belles 'n Whistles 2nd Annual Advent Calendar Celebration is starting December 1st!!! Mark your calendars for an eventful December over on the Belles 'n Whistles Inspirational Blog.
There will be daily giveaways, challenges, surprises, inspiration and of course lots of fun! Please come and celebrate the Advent season with us. An Introduction to the Advent Calendar Celebration is being posted on the blog on November 28th! We are looking forward celebrating with you!