Handmade & Vintage Embellishments

Paper Trey Ink

has got me SOOOOO EXCITED and SWOONING to get my crafty little fingers on the products that they revealed today. Is it possible that they created the new Button Stamps and Button Dies just for ME???

Each day they are issuing very fun challenges and today's challenge is to create a project using BUTTONS in a Unique Way.....

CHECK IT OUT
-----------> HERE <------------

FLOURISHES TIMELESS TUESDAY CHALLENGE
has also issued a "Button it Up" Challenge

-------------> HERE <--------------

If you are looking for some fun CHALLENGES please scroll down to the bottom of my posts to find the ones that I use Let's talk about my project which was created for my wonderful friend Erin Smetak as a thank you for the lovely flowers that she sent to me after my Breast Biopsy.

The idea was to create a little package of Handmade & Vintage Embellishments that she would be able to use on her own projects

Close up of the Tags where I mix and matched sentiments from Paper Trey Ink & Crafty Secrets

The circular border stamps are from PTI (tags for spring &

Cute little house Embellie that I created by layering 2 different scalloped square punches and inked the edges. The roof was just a square that I cut in half. I used a small heart punch then lined that top square with a scrap of scarlet jewel cardstock.

I included some seam binding and vintage fabric that I dyed in tea
The way in which I packaged these goodies also lends some fun baubles that Erin will be able to incorporate into her projects. Just look at the delicious bells, button, twine and ribbon

Here is Graphic 45 card that I flipped over to the plain side where I used glue dots to attach vintage buttons. The brown flower is not vintage, however the blue one with fabric still has it's original thread attached!!

Erin had jokingly asked me to share some of the Antique goodies that I picked up at the Antique Markets in Sicily
Think she will like the Antique Key Hole?

I gathered all of these goodies together and placed them in a Glassine bag from PTI and created a cute little topper and tag. These stamps are Hero Arts ( )

CHALLENGES I USED:
Paper Trey Ink: Create a project using Buttons in a unique way
Kaboodle Doodles: Break out that Ribbon Stash
Flourishes Timeless Tuesdays: Button Up
Tuesday Throwdown: Buttons
Simon Says Stamp: Anything but a card
Paper Pals Arts: Those were the days (VINTAGE)

....................Supplies I used......................
Stamps: Paper Trey Ink (tags for spring, ), Hero Arts ( ledger), Crafty Secrets (chandelier fun, material girl), Unity
Inks: PTI (scarlet jewel, dark chocolate), Momento (black)
Cardstock: Paper Trey Ink (scarlet jewel, kraft), Stampin Up (natural)
Patterned Papers: Basic Grey, Graphic 45, Crate paper
Ribbons: Paper Trey Ink (scarlet jewel extra fine polka dot, ocean tide satin, jute twine)
Misc: Tim Holtz chipboard, Prima flower, PTI (glassine bag)
Tools: Marvy Uchida, Stampin Up (large label die, scalloped square punch, scalloped circle punch, ) Cuttlebug, Spellbinders (Lacey Circle, Circle dies), Martha Stewart (flower punch)

Sweetheart Lollipop Flowers

I was fooling around with some large chipboard letters today and decided to paint them white then smother them with glitter!!! Something about them looks really yummy!

---> HERE <--- is the
Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger Photo
that Inspired today's project

I created large accordion flowers which was inspired by the cupcake liners in the photo

I love this white heart that I placed in the center of the "O" to represent the
White Heart shaped fudge from the photo

I didn't have dowel rods until later this afternoon so I glued CHOPSTICKS together, painted them then added a green ribbon to cover up where I had glued. The Green Ribbon made perfect "Leaves" for my flowers!

CHALLENGES I USED:
Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger: Photo Inspiration
Our Creative Corner: 3D Valentine
Speedy the Cat's Friends' Challenge: Valentine;
Crafty Catz: Flowers;
Charisma Cardz: Valentine/Love;
Delightful Challenges: Have a heart / Love Challenge;
Meljen's Designs: Heart Challenge;

Moxie Fab Pretty Pastels Color Challenge

MOXIE FABULICIOUSNESS PROJECT #5

2nd Post of the day

I would love it if you scrolled down to see the first project that I created
for the Moxie Fab Metallic Color challenge

If you have visited me this past week then you know I have been having a lot of fun participating in the Moxie Fab World's Celebration of Card Makers Week. There are a total of different Color Combo Challenges and this Sweet little Valentine Goodie bag was created for the

PRETTY PASTELS Challenge

Blossom, Lupine, Baby Pink Light and Intense Pink

You have until Tomorrow, Monday, January 30 at midnight (EST) if you would like to join in

COMPLETE DETAILS
------> HERE <------

Close up of the Patterned Paper I created with several different hearts from the Paper Trey Ink " Heart Prints " Stamp Set. LOOK CLOSELY to see the Hot Pink larger scalloped border around the top of my bag. I actually stamped a smaller heart throughout my bag but I'm afraid they might be impossible to see on the monitor? The sweet little tag was created by using a combination of stamps also from PTI

CHALLENGES I USED:
Moxie Fab World: Pretty Pastels Color Challenge
The Shabby Tea Room: Get Creative (the idea is to create your own everything you can using basic supplies without having to rely on patterned paper etc)
Charisma Cardz: Valentines
Meljens: Hearts

..................Supplies I used..................
Stamps: Paper Trey Ink (heart prints, heart songs, mixed messages)
Ink: Paper Trey Ink (raspberry fizz, blush blossom), Stampin Up (lovely lilac)
Cardstock: Paper Trey Ink (sweet blush), Stampin Up (pretty in pink)
Tools: Paper Trey Ink (Favor It Box #2 die)
Misc: Stampin Up (pink ribbon)

**LOVE** is in the air - Literally!

(Inspiration photo from The Shabby Tea Room--The stacked/layered plates inspired my project below)

I am thinking that I should start off with an explanation as to why I have been slacking more than normal??

In December I had my very first Mammogram a week later I had my second Mammogram. To make a long, emotionally draining story short, I am recovering from an invasive Biopsy surgery where a large mass of Micro-Calcifications were completely removed. I believe the Surgeon, Radiologist and Mammography Nurses were just as surprised as I to learn that my Pathology report was COMPLETELY BENIGN!!!!!!!!

I am recovering and ready to whip my rear back into gear

I am so in "L O V E" with creating these Banners and think I might need one for ALL Occassions throughout the year.

Close up showing some details on each Triangle

I start out by painting my chipboard letters. Once the paint is dry, I coat them with glue and add liberal amounts of glitter

Close up of my stitching and how I finished the corners

I used the Martha Stewart " Doily Heart " punch(only $14.39 at ABC Toys & Crafts)

I punched straight lines of the hearts for all three sides and then simply added a single heart to the top two corners. (I think I might need to also add a single heart to the bottom point?)

This photo shows the dimension in how I layered:

Doily Hearts, White Glittery Cardstock, White heart doily, Chipboard letter

CHALLENGES I USED:
The Shabby Tea Room: White & Bright (idea is to use white with only one other color...The lemon photo is from their site to be used as inspiration)
Marks Finest Papers: Use Hearts on your project
Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Love is in the air (literally my LOVE is in the air)
Paper Playtime: Use the word "LOVE" on your project
Pile It On: Anything Goes

Trick or Treat (lots of photos even 1 from Antigua)

Hello Everyone, thank you so much for stopping in.
I am still on Holiday, enjoying some Rest, Relaxation and Plenty of Sunshine here on the
Beautiful Island of
ANTIGUA

For this card, I combined my favorite Little Witch Crafty Secrets stamp with a Bingo stamp from Unity and the Ledger stamp from Hero Arts.

Isn't that cute how I used the buttons as Bingo Markers?

Here is a close up of the chipboard I Painted, Glitterized and Distressed

The flower I created using scalloped circles cut from newsprint and distressed using black ink

Here is the inside of the card

CHALLENGES I USED:
The Crazy Challenge: Use Tons of Shapes (I've used circles, rectangles, squares and triangles on the edge border, and whatever my chipboard shape is)
Little Red Wagon: Halloween
A Spoonful of Sugar: Let's Get Punchy (I used scalloped circle punches to create the flowers & a border/edge punch along the side)
Simon Says Stamp and Show: Spoookahhh (Spooky = I think the inside of my card is quite spooky)
Crafty Creations: Halloween or Autumn

"SPOOKY EYES"

****** B ** O ** O ******

Buttons & Bows released these "SPOOKY EYES" on Friday

" SPOOKY EYES "

Aren't they Fabulous

The second I laid EYES on these, I knew I would use them to create something for my son who is 12. Now 12 year old boys don't really appreciate cards so much so I created a Funky & Whimsical work of art that just oozes with Creepiness. I've already given it to him and he was tickled to death to have his very own Halloween Decoration to display in his bedroom.

Not into Halloween, NO PROBLEM, check out our Etsy Store where we have a wide variety of Buttons that are sure to please just about everyone.

Don't forget that October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month so pick up a set of these

CHALLENGES I USED:
Shirley's 2 Girls: Scary project with a TWIST to use the word BOO somewhere on your project
Cute Card Thursdays #133: Make Your Own Embellishments (I made that spooky spider and I created the sparkley base of my eyes)
For Fun Challenges: Something that's been collecting dust (Chipboard letters, ribbon, spooky paper and the frame)
Little Red Wagon: Something Old, Something New (everything is old but my EYES are NEW)
The Creative Cottage Challenge Blog: challenge 25 - Halloween!
A Spoon Full of Sugar: challenge 124 - sparkle and shine
Glitterbabe's Challenge - anything goes, glitter
Cupcake Craft Challenge: Scary Creatures

Spooky lil Treat Box

This week the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team theme was " HALLOWEEN "
(there is a blinkie on my side bar titled ABC Design Blog where you can see what everyone else designed)

Is that "TREAT BOX" to die for or WHAT.... WANT TO MAKE ONE?? WANT A FREE TEMPLATE?? Visit Georgia MacDonald to grab yours (be sure and tell her I said THANK YOU because I've now made several)

I'm all about VERSATILITY when it comes to my stamp sets and I want to get as much bang for my buck as I possibly can. I chose to get inky with the "EEK A MONSTER" Stamp set from My Cute Stamps. Take a look at how I could dress that one eyed monster and

BOOM......... It's a Birthday Card for a GIRL

Here is a close up of the same monster dressed in blue / green...... See how easily he transforms into a BOY?? or better yet, UNISEX..........
CHALLENGES I USED:
Little Red Wagon: Stars
Sew Many Challenges: Embossing (I used heat embossing for the monsters and sentiment)
Paper Sundaes: Min of 3 embellishments (ribbons, eye, button, chipboard star, handmade rosette)
Pals Paper Arts: Halloween
Totally Gorjuss: Flowers (I created my own Rosette out of paper)
Our Creative Corner: Fun with Folds (I used a fold technique for the Rosette but there was lots of folding done to create my treat box as well)

STAY TUNED to my blog where I will show you how this same monster TRANSFORMS into a GET WELL MONSTER!!!!

There is still PLENTY of TIME to think about what you will create for Halloween this year
HOWEVER
TIME is RUNNING OUT

Takin out the Stash Tuesday & a "Sketch Challenge"

"Takin' Out the Stash & Sketch Challenges are my Favorite"

ABC Toys & Crafts
has a wonderful
"SKETCH CHALLENGE"

Seriously has that not already got your creative brain churning out different ideas? Feel free to combine our sketch with other challenges ( I sure did: Cupcake Crafts, Wild Flower Patch, Pixie Dust, The Pink Elephant)

Bare with me over the next couple of months while I am transitioning back to the USA because you will probably hear more than once that I am having to think WAY outside the Rubbermaid. The 3 embellishments on top and then 5 "somethings" along the bottom had me reaching DEEP into MY STASH (KEEP IN MIND, MY ENTIRE STASH IS CONTAINED IN ONE RUBBERMAID!!) Absolutely EVERYTHING becomes a possible embellishment and you learn just how creative you can be. MY FLOWERS for example: I actually had a few flowers but none that coordinated with my project, so I TRACED THEM and cut them out. I have four stacked in two different sizes. I then used my Stylus to curl them. EASY PEASY!!!

Would you like to WIN THIS?

CLICK ----->>> HERE <<<----- for complete DETAILS

CHALLENGES I USED:
ABC Toys & Crafts: Sketch
Pixie Dust: Round & Round (I have 5 round rhinestones, 1 round button & I rolled my petals around my button)
The Pink Elephant: Gotta Wear Shades (create using bright colors)
Cupcake Craft Challenges: Summer Delights (do something that represents summer, I chose cool summer colors)
Wild Flower Patch: Monochromatic

Supplies I used:
Stamps: Hero Arts (Exotic Elephant, Stencil Art, Truly Appreciated out of stock), Gina K (Vintage Backgrounds by Nina B)
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (Lemonade), K&Co (textured mat stack), Martha Stewart (stripes), Paper Trey Ink (bitty dots in aqua mist)
Cardstock: Stampin Up (whisper white, always artichoke, teal), Bazzill (textured green)
Ink: Paper Trey Ink (Aqua Mist), Momento (tuxedo black)
Tools: Spellbinders (Nestabilities Labels One, Large Deckled Recktangles), Martha Stewart (doily lace border punch, branch, )
Misc: Hero Arts (teal gem stones)

Flannel Flower instructions

Today's project was inspired by NINA's Inspiration Challenge
----> HERE <----

I'm so glad that creating your own Embellishments is so HOT right now! Makes me not feel so bad that I cannot just run over to my local Michaels and pick something off the shelf. NOT TO MENTION, my last two little jaunts to the states had me scratching my head as to why someone would pay for some of the items. SEE THAT BUTTON???? That IS my hot embellishment purchase from the states. Ok part of me was completely overwhelmed by having so many choices but HONESTLY, I purchased a pad of paper, 6 buttons, 2 packs of seam binding, 2 punches, 3 $1 stamps, and some $1 spools of ribbon. THAT IS ALL !!!!!!!!!! And to think, I've always thought I was missing out. Guess NOT I was thrilled with how fun and easy my homemade flower was to create. I simply started out with a scrap strip of OLD flannel, made a RUNNING STITCH along one edge, PULLED the stitch, TWISTING it as I went then STITCHED my Button on to hold it all together. OK and if you have severe ADHD like me, you don't even really make all the stitches. I kind of FANFOLD my fabric and PUSH my NEEDLE through all of the layers then HOLD onto the NEEDLE and that last end of the fabric, THEN PULL the STARTING end in the OPPOSITE direction. MAGIC!!!
CHALLENGES USED:
Crafting in Croatia: Inspiration
Creative Card Crew: April Showers bring May Flowers
The Crazy Challenge: Buttons, Bows & Brads (I used a button)
The Shabby Tea Room: Comforts of Home (FLANNEL, as I sit here in my flannel pj's)
A Spoon Full of Sugar: 3-D (I think that flower counts for sure)

...........Supplies I used.............
Stamps: Hero Arts (Truly Appreciated)
Ink: Tim Holtz (vintage photograph)
Cardstock: Stampin Up (bravo burgundy, pink pirouette,
Patterned Paper: DCWV,
Tools: Martha Stewart (doily lace edge punch), Spellbinders (Nestabilities circle)
Misc: button, scrap fabric, thread, DCWV (ribbon)