My First Altered Tag

I love trying new projects so an Altered Tag Swap and Challenge was right up my alley.  I have made several tags but none that I thought qualified as "altered".  The swap I entered had the following guidelines: The Tag size is #8 (6 1/4 x 3 1/8) , it had to have chipboard added to the back of the  to make it sturdy, It had to have at least 3 dimensional embellishments (flowers, rhinestones, fabric, resins, metal, ribbon, trim etc.), and it had to include a stamped sentiment.  Seemed simple enough.  Here is what I came up with..

 

I really loved the way it turned out.  Since I didn't have a pre-cut tag that size, I made my own from cardstock and backed it with chipboard.  I was swapping tags with a sweet lady that lives in Iowa, so I used an old Atlas page of Iowa on the background.  The "moments" sentiment and the butterfly and postmark were embossed with black embossing powder.  The sentiment "follow your passion, let that be your destination" was stamped in brilliant blue Stampin' Up! Ink onto white cardstock and then words cut out and glued on the tag.  The ink matched the blue on the atlas paper perfectly.  I used Stampin' Up! Beautiful Wings Sizzix Embosslits.  I just LOVE how they cut and emboss and that it has 4 different sized butterflies. The flowers were punched out of both blue Stampin' Up! Cardstock as well as atlas paper and layered with a Pearl embellishment in the center.  The leaves behind the flowers were punched with the Stampin' Up! Bird Builder Punch.  I daubed a little black ink on the edges of the butterfly and part of the embossed portions so they looked a little more "antiquey".  I added a strip of washi tape to the bottom, glued on some sequins here and there and added a black fiber ribbon and that was it.  I was pleased with how it turned out.  I hope you like it and that you will try one as well. 

 

Thanks for looking!  Stay crafty and cherish your blessings! 

 

I'm also entering this tag into the Pinque Peacock Challenge, click here to link up your altered tag:  http://pinquepeacockchallenges.blogspot.com/2014/05/challenge-5-altered-tag.html

See Ya Later Alligator

Oh my, have you noticed all of the cute alligator punch art cards on some of the card sharing websites and Pinterest lately?  I have seen so many great ones.  Some have the entire card shaped as an alligator and some just have the alligator on the card. 

Once I received the "See Ya Later" Sale-a-bration Stampin' Up! stamp set I just KNEW I had to try this alligator punch art!   Since I didn't have the SU Petite Pennants Builder punch I improvised and cut out a free-hand triangle with 2 sides longer than the 3rd for the head.  For the teeth, my intention was to use my pinking hearts border punch strip but when I punched the hearts I noticed under the punch was a perfect little zig zag strip that made fabulous teeth!  I cut out a banner and then I actually did something I have never ever done ....  I stamped the see ya later, Alligator sentiment without stamping the alligator image (I covered it with Washi Tape when inking, and then I colored in the alligator with a green Stampin' Up Marker so that when I stamped it, I ended up with a green alligator.  I liked the way that turned out.  But, my very favorite part of this project was the cardstock. I used the coredinations "Gumball green" cardstock that I had purchased on clearance and I ran it through my big shot in my distressed dots embossing folder.  Once the cardstock was embossed I sanded the dots and I absolutely LOVE how they turned out!  I hope you will too! 

Acorn Greetings Starburst Design Card

Oh how I LOVE Fall!  I received Unity Stamp Company's Acorn Greetings stamp of the week set a few weeks ago and have wanted to make some Thanksgiving cards with it from the moment I saw it!  Today I had a little extra time on my hands and decided to try it with a new technique called Starburst.  Here is my card...

 

 

So here are the steps in case you are interested:

1)  Cut 4 rectangles 4" x 1 1/2" with 4 different coordinating patterns of double-sided paper.

2)  Cut your rectangles diagonally to make 8 triangles

3)  Flip over 4 of your triangles to show the 8 different designs and then arrange them in the order that you want them placed

 

4)  Cut your neutral color cardstock to 4 3/4" x 3 3/4". ( This is what you'll be attaching your triangles to). While holding the cut cardstock vertically, score  at 1 3/4" (This will be the bottom of the top layer that you will decorate, stamp, etc).  Then flip cardstock to horizontal position and score to divide the top of it in half, so you'll be scoring at 1 7/8" from the top of the card down to the score mark that divides top from bottom.

 

5) Decorate, stamp, or whatever you choose the bottom of the neutral cardstock.  Here is mine..

 

6)  Add adhesive all over the top of your cardstock from the bottom score line all the way to the top.

 

7)  Using the middle score line at the top as a starting point, add your triangles.  You should be able to get 4 on each side.  Do not overlap!  Just put each triangle right up next to each other. 

 

8)  Flip over and trim off the excess DP

 

9)  Cut a narrow piece of cardstock across the base of the starburst (this will cover up the small empty spot left on each side) 

 

10)  Cut a piece of ribbon to approx. 8 1/4" and wrap around a small bottle (I use my spray stamp cleaner bottle) and tie ribbon in a knot and then slide off of the bottle.  Once off the bottle, cut the back and use a glue dot behind the knot to glue to the middle of the thin strip.  Apply a little adhesive to glue the rest of the ribbon down and wrap to back like this..

 

 

 

 

11)  Cut a piece of cardstock to 4" x 5 1/4"  (use the same color that you used when you can the thin strip)  Once cut, use a die or punch to trim the bottom edge.  You'll mount your card top on this.

 

 

 

12)  Finish by attaching this all to the front of your card base ( 4 1/4" x 11" scored in half) and here's what you'll have....

 

 

I know this seems like a lot of steps but once you've done one, it's really pretty easy as long as you have the measurements down!

Here's what I used on my card:  Stamp: Unity Stamp Co. SOTW Acorn Greetings, DP: Imaginisce, Apple Cider, Cardstock from my inventory, Ink: Stampin Up! Creamy Caramel and Momento Tuxedo Black, Ribbon from my inventory

I'm going to enter my card in Love's Rubberstamps Challenge Anything Goes

I hope you've enjoyed my card!


Hugs & Blessings, Tina

Unity Stamp Co. Tag A Day Challenge

This week Unity Stamp Co. is having a Tag A Day Challenge so I decided to have a little fun and play along. This Challenge is on Unity's Show and Tell Facebook Page found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/434773279941105/

 Here's my tag for today:

 

I decided to create my own woodgrain tag by embossing a tag that I had inked in Colorbox Fluid Chalk in Chestnut.  I chose daubing the brown ink in because I felt like the light and dark effect of the process would add more visual interest than using a solid brown cardstock.  I inked the tag first and then embossed and I absolutely LOVE the way it turned out.  It looked so good I didn't want to cover it up.... so I didn't.  I put my bird to one side and the sentiment to the other and I was thrilled that so much of the woodgrain still showed! 

 

The stamp set I used was a Stamp of the Week Stamp set called "Bird with a French Fry" by Unity, you can find that stamp here: http://unitystampco.com/shop/bird-with-a-french-fry/. 

The woodgrain embossing folder was by Darice, Tags, cardstock, and DP from Inventory, Coloring of bird and flowers was done with Copics, and Inks Used were Memento Tuxedo Black and Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Chestnut.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Hugs & blessings!  Tina

The Hardest Card I've EVER made!

Today I am posting a card that was the most difficult I have EVER made!  It is a birthday card for my sweet friend Nicole Nastali.  Here's a link to her blog:Nicole's Craft Nook .  One look at her blog and you'll understand my dilemma.  She is an absolutely AMAZING crafter!  How do you make a card for someone that is soooo talented??  I decided that I would just make one from her heart.  So here it is, imperfect as it may be.. it IS from the heart..

 

Since I met Nicole on one of the Unity Stamp Company Facebook Pages I HAD to use Unity Stamps!  I went with two different Itty Bitty Sets "A Friend Loveth" and "Sentiment Tags".  Another MUST was that I had to use either Teal or Turquoise since both Nicole and I LOVE those colors!  The only thing I couldn't figure how to work into the card is Washi Tape since we also both share a passion for it!  Actually I think I may be semi-obsessed with Washi Tape but I tend to use a lot more of it on scrapbook layouts than cards.  Hmmmm...perhaps I need to rethink that!    Oh and I used the cute little bread tags (Sentiment tags) because I remembered Nicole saying how much she loved them!  Here's a closer took at the tags: 

 

 

For this card I used the Triple Stamping Technique.  If you've never done this, you can find a tutorial on Youtube that may help.  It's a fairly simple technique once you get the measurements and details down.  I didn't follow the technique completely as I wanted to use the sentiment in the middle of the card since it was so big.  After I measured, cut, and centered my two larger pieces of white cardstock, I stamped some butterflies on those two and then added the small center piece and only stamped one small butterfly at the top that would layer.  I then removed the smallest white cardstock piece and stamped the sentiment on it.  Here are the measurements for this technique if you are interested in trying it out:   2 x 3 1/4" White, 2 1/4 x 3 1/2" Colored, 3 x 4 1/4" White, 3 1/4 x 4 1/2" Colored, 4 x 5 1/4" White and then the Card base of 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" that is scored in the middle for folding.

 

I'm going to enter this card in The Scrapbook Stamp Society's "Use Twine" Challenge this week, here is the link for the challenge:Scrapbook Stamp Society "Use Twine" Challenge

 

For this card I used: SU Cardstock, Unity Stamp Co Itty Bitty "A Friend Loveth" and "Sentiment Tags"  Ink SU Bermuda Bay and Memento Tuexedo Black, Twine from Inventory, Brad from MME Happy Day Collection.

 

Hope you have a wonderful crafty weekend because that's my plan!  Hugs & Blessings, Tina

 

Happy Birthday to Jaylei!

Well I haven't posted in a while.  Life just keeps happening and getting in the way of my crafting time!  We have 4 granddaughter's birthdays in the Fall.  I've already shared Nevaeh's Bunny card a few weeks ago and tonight I made a birthday card for her sister, Jaylei.  Jaylei will be 6 in September!  It's so hard to believe our sweet little granddaughters are getting so old! 

I had chosen a By Lori Designs digital stamp called "Pedal Pusher Lollipop Girl" for Jaylei's Card and since BLD currently has an Aqua and Red Challenge, why not let that guide my colors!  BLD's Challenge link is here: http://loriboyd2.blogspot.com/  I also entered this card in Scrapbook Stamp Society "Use Twine" Challenge, link is here: http://scrapbookstampsocietychallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Here's Jaylei's Card..

 

I went back and forth on what to use for the lollipop and I finally decided to just go with twine.  I LOVE twine and really use it sooo much!    Here's a close view of the lollipop..

 

 

Oh and here's a picture of Jaylei, our almost 6 year old granddaughter on her first day of school this year.  She was really excited about her new backpack!..

 

 Here's an older one of her with her sister, Nevaeh..

 

 

 

Here's what I used for today's card:  Digital Stamp By Lori Designs "Pedal Pusher Lollipop Girl",  Cardstock from Inventory, DP, For the Record by Bella Road "Tablecloth", Little Girl by Echo Park "Sally Stitches" Miss Caroline by MME "Dolled Up Living Blooms", Twine from Inventory, Ink Memento "Tuxedo Black", Sentiment Stamp "One of a Kind" by Stampin Up! 

 

Well that's all I've got today.. Hugs & Blessings,  Tina

Let Beauty Surround You

Happy Sunday!  Today was a beautiful day!  Praising God in the morning and crafting in the afternoon!  How much better can it get??

Today's card is a birthday card for our oldest granddaughter, Nevaeh that is turning 8 this week.  It's an unusual birthday card because Nevaeh has received her "dream present" for her birthday.  She finally received a bunny. She's been asking her Mom and Dad for one for a couple of years now.  She got it early (just a few days ago) and is absolutely thrilled!  That is all she can talk about and the only thing she wants from us are bunny supplies!  Did you know that they sell bunny harnesses?  I bought her one today so she can walk Almond, Yes Almond is her bunny's name! 

Ok, well since you now have the background info on this card, I'll show it to you :)

 

 

Ok, so I really didn't think that a "Happy Birthday" sentiment would look right on the front of this card so I went with the "let beauty surround you" sentiment that came with the set.  So instead of using a regular background DP, I made the background by stenciling a number collage on white cardstock using Tim Holtz Distress Ink.  Oh and the super cool thing is that I just bought the number collage template on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $2.99.  I love a bargain!!!  Ok, so then I stamped the Happy Birthday Sentiment on the Inside.  This is definitely not my typical birthday card but I think considering the circumstances, she and Almond will love it! 

Here's a picture of Nevaeh..

 

 

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of Almond yet!  :(

 

I've entered my Let Beauty Surround You card on 613 Avenue Create Anything Goes/Use a Sentiment

 

I used:  Unity Stamp Co. "Let Beauty Surround You" Itty Bitty Stamp Set, SU Cardstock, Copics, TCW 6x6" Stencil Template, Tim Holtz Broken China Distress Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Have a wonderful week and remember to Let Beauty Surround You!

Love & Blessings,  Tina