Reveal day at The Scrapping Stamper and Scrap~Friendzy Animal Challenge

Here's a chance to win a RAK!!  

The winners have been announced.  Thanks for mentioning my name when you commented.  I was the DT with the most comments, and one of my new followers, Traci, gets the other RAK - Congratulations Traci!  Thanks Shannon!!

It is such a blessing to design layouts using Shannon's fabulous sketches.  She is holding a contest to see which of her DT can send the most visiters to view her sketch and the beautiful LO's created with it.  Head on over to her blog, The Stamping Scrapper, leave a comment, and mention that Tracey sent you.  You'll be glad you did when you see the gorgeous work there.  One lucky person leaving a comment will win a RAK too!  Thanks!  

April Sketch:

My Layout:

Here's a close-up of the muslin flower I created:

To make this flower I cut 6 petal shapes with pinking shears, hand basted the bottom of the petals, overlapping each petal slightly.  I then gathered and glued the flower onto a paper circle.  I cut a circle from muslin just larger than the center I planned to use and glued it in place as well.  I spritzed some Walnut Stain on a craft mat and then spritzed some water on that and rubbed the flower in the ink until I achieved the color I was looking for.  Set aside overnight to dry, then adhere a flower center of your choice.

Here is a tip I learned from Gabrielle Pollacco.  I keep a collection of die cut papers with nice shapes.  When a sketch calls for a large die cut, I can choose any paper that goes with my layout design, then pick out a die cut and simply trace the shape onto the paper of my choice and cut it out.  If I am going to be distressing the edges like I did in this project, I can make quick work of the cutting.

I combined this sketch with my DT challenge at Scrap-Friendzy.  My challenge is to create a layout using animals.  Animals anywhere on the layout - in the photos, on the paper, as an embellishment, or a word play in the title.  If you're up for a challenge and want to find a fun and supportive community of paper crafters, come on over and join the fun at Scrap-Friendzy!

I also joined a new challenge site, Scrapbookaholic by Abby, for their 3rd challenge ~ to use an animal and the color orange found in my photo mat.

Materials used in this project:

Basic Grey Papers

Chalk ink ~ Tsukineko Versa Magic ~ Midnight Black

Brads ~ from my stash

Snaps ~ from my stash

Design brads ~ Kaiser Grunge Brads

Ribbon ~ from my stash

EK success border punch ~ Dotted Wave

Muslin and thread ~ from my stash

Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution ~ Tsukineko 

Flower center ~ Petaloo Tiffany's Treasures ~ Topaz Gold

Ink jet transparency ~ from my stash

Gazelle ~ title cut from Viner Hand font from the internet

Distress tool ~ Tim Holtz

Scissors ~ EK Success Honey Bee

I've also entered this LO in the following:

Shannon's Sentiments DT Challenge #21 ~ Include an animal

I have worked my way through the Love Link Up Party, so you should see me as a follower.  Please let me know if I've somehow missed you.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

~ Blessings ~

Spring Beauties ~ Scrap-Friendzy Music Challenge, WWU #2, Whimsical Wednesdays Challenge #1

My challenge for the girlz at Scrap-Friendzy is to incorporate music into a layout.

Here is my example for the challenge:

I hope you'll come join the fun at Scrap-Friendzy with the warm and inviting community of paper crafters you'll find here.  While most of the projects are layouts, cards and any kind of paper crafts are welcome.

I've also included in my design, ScrapFIT Weekend Warm-Up #2: It's time for WWU #2!  I know that everyone is super busy, and if you're like me, you need to make a list of everything you need to accomplish each day. That is what this WWU is all about... LISTS!  Create a layout or project that includes a LIST of some sort.  Also, use the color BLUE somewhere.  This challenge is posted on their FaceBook page.

My list includes the things that show me spring is here and blue is reflected in the bling on the flower border, bullets for the list, musical flower centers, and French knots on the ribbon flowers.

Whimsical Wednesdays is a brand new challenge site that just started up this week.  Here is their first challenge: Create a Spring or Easter LO and incorporate a bug or critter onto the page.  The challenge will be up for two weeks, so you have plenty of time to join the fun!

I included this butterfly:

I also had fun with the Let's Scrap DT Challenge #91:  This week I challenge you to use fabric and stitching on a layout or card.  (Due to life happens and the sun doesn't shine to get a decent photo, I missed the deadline on this one, but really enjoyed incorporating the elements for this challenge.) 


My fabric is the flower lace, and my stitching is the hand stitched French knots in the center of each of the lace flowers.  It was fun to pull out a skill I learned decades ago and haven't used in a loooong tie.  The French knots ended up being a perfect accent on this LO!

I used this gorgeous Let's Scrap sketch from 10-24-10 ~ left side:

Now here are some more close-up shots:

I lightly inked this flower lace with Distress Ink.  Way back in my high school years, I learned to embroider.  While I have hand stitched on some of my layouts, this is the first time I have used an embroidery technique with these blue French knots:

I stamped the music image over a coordinating grid patterned paper, then punched, inked, and shaped these little flowers.  I alcohol inked some glass pebbles for the centers:

Materials used to create this layout:

K&Company paper ~ Flora and Fauna Celeste

Stampendous Wood Stamp ~ Music Score

Martha Stewart Punch ~ Rose Leaf

EK Success Punch ~ Retro Flower

Ranger Distress Inks ~ Dusty Concord, Black Soot, and Peeled Paint

Ranger Alcohol Ink ~ Stonewashed, Purple Twilight

Ranger Stickles ~ Lavender

Pebbles from floral department

Darice Hot Fix Rhinestones ~ clear (alcohol inked)

Whispers Embossing Powder ~ silver

Metal Music Notes ~ from my stash

DMC Embroidery Floss

Flower Lace ~ from my stash

BossKut Gazelle ~ cut letters for title and list

Tim Holtz distress tool

Ink Jet Transparency paper ~ from my stash

Blog Candy Winner

You can just imagine how excited I was to see that I had won this generous and wonderful candy from Kim while hopping my way through the Whimsical Wednesday blog hop last weekend.  Be sure to stop by her site and see the fabulous work she creates!

Other challenges:

Craft Us Crazy - Challenge #5 ~ Spring/Easter theme

Crafty Sentiments - Glitter it up challenge ~ Glitter glue used on butterfly image

Dutch Dare Card Challenges - DDCC #107 ~ Spring Has Sprung

Little Miss Muffet Challenge #6 ~ Stitching

Shelly's Images - 4-7-11 Scrappy's Birthday Bash Challenge ~ Use flowers, bling, and stitching

ABC Challenge ~ R is for Ribbon

Belli Challenge - Think seamstress ~ Using old and forgotten embellishments - Embroidery thread used for making French knots has been in my possession since the early 80's.

Freshly Brewed April Challenge ~ Flowers

Your Next Stamp Challenge #39 ~ Stitching

Clear it Out Tuesday ~ Going Floral

Going Grey with Scrap-Creations Recipe Challenge ~ Pick 3: **Ribbon, **Flowers, Pearls, **Glitter, Buttons, Charm.  My three are **'d.

Digi Design House DDH3 Challenge ~ Stitches ~ French knots are hand stitched

Heart 2 Heart ~ Spring has Sprung

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~ Blessings ~

Scrap-Friendzy BUNNY{blog}HOP

Welcome to your third stop in our Scrap-Friendzy BUNNY{blog}HOP.  If you're following the links, you have just come from Amy's blog.  To start at the beginning hop on over to the Scrap-Friendzy Blog. 

There are three ways to win a prize this week(end) and another at the end of the month.

1)  Make all 9 hops from our Scrap-Friendzy blog through each of the eight Design Team blogs.  When you comment at each stop and finish up at the Scrap-Friendzy forum with a post that you have completed the hop by midnight CST on Sunday, April 6, your name will be put into a drawing for a fabulous Scrap-Friendzy prize.

  

2)  Take the BIG BUNNY HOP CHALLENGE, by creating a project using each of the ingredients from all 8 design team members and post it in our gallery and forum by Friday, April 8  ** UPDATE ** ~ We've extended the deadline for the challenge to Sunday April 10, midnight CST, to be eligible for a second drawing held by Scrap-Friendzy.  You may create a layout, card, or other paper crafted project.  (By completing this challenge, you'll also receive 50 April Friendz Pointz, and the member with the most pointz at the end of the month will receive a cool prize sponsored by Scrap-Friendzy.)

3)  In addition to the BUNNY{blog}HOP grand prize given by Scrap-Friendzy, I'm offering a fun RAK too!  To be entered into my drawing, all you have to do is become a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this post.  Good luck!

Here are the links to each of the hops along your way:

Hop #1- Scrap-Friendzy Blog
Hop #2- AMY
Hop #3- TRACEY S. (You are here)
Hop #4- ALICIA
Hop #5- HEATHER
Hop #6- TRACY R.
Hop #7- CHRIS
Hop #8- SANDY
Hop #9- CHERYL

My "ingredient" for the BIG BUNNY HOP CHALLENGE is BLING.

You may use rhinestones, Stickles, glitter, metalic paint or ink ~ anything that sparkles or shines.

For inspiration, I have created my first altered project, this spring inspired shabby chic box:

Here's a close-up of the flower and butterfly:

I started out with a paper mache box, painted it off white then distressed it by sanding.  Here is something similar to what I started with:

I removed the lid insert and replaced it with a sheet of metal that I embossed for texture, then alcohol inked with several shades of purple and silver for the bling factor.  

The flower was inspired by some created by Paulien van den Bosch.  I used her tutorial to create this one, but my petals were more cupped, so I ended up with this beautiful cabbage rose.  No place to put the bling, but not to worry, there is plenty of bling elsewhere on this box!

The butterfly is a digital image printed on a transparency.  While the ink was still wet, I sprinkled on silver embossing powder, then heated it from further away than normal so I could melt the powder without warping the transparency.  I filled in the small spaces near the edges with dots of lavender Stickles, and coated the back with purple alcohol ink to give the stained glass look.

I curled green wire that had been attached to leaves and the white wire that had been attached to the sprigs of pearls.  I wanted some more bling on the pearl sprigs so painted a bit of crystal Stickles on each pearl.

The cording twist with pearls was a perfect accent to put around the insert.  

I edged the lid with a ribbon of clear crystal drops and placed a lavender crystal above each of the shorter drops. 

I hope this has inspired you to use bling on your layout or project!

Here is my layout for the BIG BUNNY HOP CHALLENGE: 

Spring photo ~ Egg hunt

Bling ~ the background paper shimmers/rhinestones on the ribbon and scallops
Ribbon ~ on photo mat
Packaging ~ butterfly wings/photo corners from Prima packaging
3+ patterned papers ~ background paper/double photo mat/lettering ~ 4 used
Flowers ~ muslin flower
Color medium ~ flower misted with Smooch spray
Scallops ~ flower scallops on photo mat

Don't forget to become a follower and comment here during the BUNNY{blog}HOP, to have your name put into a random drawing for my RAK ~ bling of course!  The winner of my RAK will be announced here on Monday, April 7.  

Large Zva flourish ~ pearl

Large Zva flourish ~ iridescent

Black pearls

Lavender pearls

Green Crystals

Pink, purple, fuchsia, and clear crystals/hearts

Sunflower Queen pearls

The next fun stop on your hop is ALICIA.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the inspiration you'll find on the rest of your hop!

~ Blessings ~