Antique Italian ** Forget-Me-Not **

Sit Back, because I AM BACK and apparently LONG WINDED with
LOTS of PHOTOS to SHARE

When my family arrived back here in the United States one our first visits was to see our great friends "Mr. & Mrs. Crab" along with their brand new little "crab cake". (I'll post her blog so you might get a better understanding of this "crabby" family). I was blown away with the antiques in Williamsburg and especially with the Antique Mason Jars filled with BUTTONS!! I purchased one such jar but it happened to have been made into a lamp. How in the world was I going to bring myself to open that jar and savor any of the bounty that I beheld? Not long after arriving at our brand new home, I received a package from Mrs. Crab!!!

Here is a photo of the gifts I received......

Buttons, jars and a fantabulous photograph O MY, O Dear, what's a girl to do?? I love that jar SO much that I decided to dump out the buttons from my lamp and created a SEASHELL lamp with all WHITE TREASURES FROM the Ocean...

Here is what I created ............

Here is my wonderful "basket of Button Treasures"
So what became of the Jar of Buttons from Mrs. Crab you ask??? Well they are far to delicious to use so they are perched atop one of my studio shelves along with some other treasures...

Are you still READING?

Want to see close ups of what I created as a THANK YOU/MISS YOU Gift for Mrs. Crab?

Antique Lace & Button from Italy:

Antique Buttons, HOWEVER, take a look at that postmark!!! The envelope that I stitched on here was purchased at an Sicilian Antique Market. That is a 5 Lire stamp and the date stamped is April 10, 1919

(The ladies waving image was compliments of Vintage Image Crafts, I printed them out and distressed them. The Forget-Me-Not sentiment was stamped using Shirley's 2 Girls stamps)

Finished Set contains a 5 1/2"square card with a matching
bookmark


Stop by and VISIT Mrs. Crab
at
For The Love of a Crab

CHALLENGES I USED:
The Shabby Tea Room: Old Meets New (definitely some old stuff but the items on my bookmark are New)
Pile It On: Farewell to Summer (miss you, goodbye, farewell projects - Think I covered that, my ladies are even waving goodbye)
Cupcake Craft Challenges: Let's Get Digital (my image was printed from Vintage Image Crafts)
Digital Tuesday Challenge: Create a Gift Set
Simon Says Stamp & Show: Layering (I lost count on how many I used!!!)
Flourishes Timeless Tuesdays: Summer Memories (now that I don't live on an island waving goodbye to my endless beach days is going to be so difficult)
One Stitch at a Time: Girlie or Color Theme (I went for GIRLIE all the way)

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)

Takin out the Stash Tuesday "Birthday Wishes"

Takin' Out the Stash Tuesday
is all about using things that you might otherwise
"HOARD"

I'm learning to love using my chipboard pieces now that I have discovered painting but that BUTTON..... OH THE BUTTON is some SERIOUS STASH that I did not want to PART WITH. I would LOVE to HOARD this paper but you'll be seeing it again very soon. (shhhhh, only because I have more than one piece)

The Birthday card that I created today uses a wonderful sketch that I have no doubt, I will be reaching for time and time again. My great blogging friend NINA BRACKET (Crafting in Croatia) is pretty much a "Big Deal" within the Stamp and Card Creating community. Not only is she on the Design Team for Gina K Designs but she is also one of the Stamp Illustrators. Yep that's right, she has her very own line of stamps along with digital papers. How would you like to be a Guest Designer for Nina?? Would you like to WIN FREE STAMPS? Yeah, you and me both.

(Click on Nina's Sketch for complete details about the Guest Design Position and Nina's Blogoversary Givaways. )

Here is a close up of some more of the HOME MADE Ribbon that I created. For this particular ribbon, I mixed coffee & Neon Red Food Coloring ;o) I actually ended up with 3 different variations in color, each one a little lighter by diluting my "concoction". This is the lightest.
Other CHALLENGES I Used:
Crafting in Croatia: Sketch
Splitcoast Stampers: Clean & Simple CAS61 (only stamping allowed was the use of sentiments)
Simon Says Stamp: It's So Distressing (create a project using Distress techniques)
Creative Card Crew: Vintage or Aged
Our Creative Corner: Break out the Buttons! (I love the splash of color my button adds)
Stamp Something: PINK
Wild Flower Patch Kids: Birthday
The Pink Elephant: Nature (anything found in nature, take a closer look at my patterned paper)
..............Supplies I used................
Stamps: Unity ("wishes" from January KOTM), Paper Trey Ink (birthday sentiment)
Cardstock: Paper Trey Ink (blush blossom), Stampin Up (very vanilla)
Ink: Stampin Up (close to cocoa), Paper Trey Ink (dark chocolate)
Tools: Martha Stewart (doily lace border punch),
Misc: Shirley's 2 Girls (button), Homemade ribbon, Delta (light pink acrylic paint), Martha Stewart (turquoise floss)

Takin' Out the Cupcake Stash

Takin' Out the Stash is a challenge that I give myself.
This particular project uses lots of stash and every piece of paper was
a SCRAP that I had lying around my table (yes even the card base was a left over from
my Fat Free "Box of Chocolates")

Shirley's 2 Girls is Celebrating the launch of their newest Digi Stamps by offering some "SWEET" Blog Candy, a Blog Hop and a fun "Twisted" Thursday Challenge....

There is still time to check out all of the all of the excitement and enter for you chance to WIN some great prizes.
Click on their blinkie for complete Details.

Although I am no longer on their Design Team, I still love their images and would really like to WIN one of the new images. This week's "TWIST" is to create a project with the theme "Indulgence".. Cupcakes are my Weakness! Here is a random bit of trivia about me. I would love to open up a Cupcake Boutique featuring all things Cupcakes, edible, non-edible, you name it, if it is a cupcake it is simply to die for because I think Cupcakes are just as fun to look at as they are to eat ;o)
About this card and trust me there is a lot going on: I used a Nestie to die cut my circle then while it was still in the die, I sponged pink onto the center then stamped my cupcake. I stamped the Frosting again, cut that one out and popped it up on foam squares. I stamped the wrapper onto patterned paper, gave it a little shadow then glued it in place. The white circle is mounted with foam squares onto the pink scalloped circle. I dipped the end of my Stylus into white acrylic paint and added the white dots to each scallop then added a smaller dot at the joint of each scallop. I also added dots in various sizes to my cupcake wrapper. These dry rather quickly and are raised just enough to give some texture. If you look closely behind the center image, you will see that I used one of the New Martha Stewart Valentine punches. I stamped both sides of my strip of CS to achieve this look. No way I was throwing out all of those adorable little chocolate hearts that are left over from the MS punch, so I added one on the side of my cupcake with a little smear of white paint for reflection. Check out the inside of my card, I then glued a little heart into each of these scallops. Pretty cool huh?
How about that Funky flower?? I found a new blog this week and was just blown away with inspiration. Check out----> THIS BLOG <---- (I just went to get the link and realized that Linda added a Tutorial on my new found Flower LOVe) I used a small heart punch, inked the edges, crumbled them up then glued and stacked my hearts. That is one of my Fancy Sshmancy Italian Buttons. You can view that story ----> "Just Shoot Me with Buttons" ----> HERE Challenges:
Shirley's 2 Girls: Indulgence s2gsc40
There She Goes: Sketch
Paper Sundaes: pink, chocolate, lace (I didn't have this so I created my own using my MS punch), flowers(again, I created my own)
SCS: Clean & Simple- CAS51 use patterned paper (mine didn't turn out clean or simple)
...........Supplies I used............
Stamps: Paper Trey Ink (cupcake collection), Inkadinkado (Valentine sentiment)
Paper: Stampin Up (chocolate chip, certainly celery, polka dot patterned paper), Paper Trey Ink (blush blossom, white), My Favorite Things (pink & whitle polka dot paper, heart patterned paper)
Ink: Stampin Up (close to cocoa, pretty in pink), Paper Trey Ink (dark chocolate, blush blossom)
Tools: Martha Stewart (valentine punch), Spellbinders (Nestabilities circles), Marvy Uchida (scallop circle punch purple, small heart punch), Stampin Up (stylus, sizzix leaf die, sizzix large scallop circle, label die)
Misc: button from Italy, twine from a clothing tag, foam dots from ABC Toys & Crafts

Takin out the Stash Tuesday

TAKIN' OUT the STASH TUESDAY
(a personal challenge that I give myself to use those items that I would rather hoard (save for a special occassion that never comes)

Wow it has been forever since I challenged MYSELF to "Takin' Out the Stash". I purchased this cute little Polar bear image and matching paper when I was the Guest Designer for Paper Maniac and I have been "HOARDING" them. This card was supposed to have just had a "Winter" theme but I really liked the little clothing label that I placed on the inside. It was just too perfect paired with that little bear wearing a scarf and that hat paper.
I am thinking that Elves are only a "Christmas thing." Oh well it is never to early to start on next years cards right?
After I colored my image, I embossed him with swiss dots to add a bit of texture. Alrighty it is almost midnight here and I am surviving on only 2 hours sleep from last night. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are inspired to take out the STASH.
CHALLENGES:
Crazy for Challenges: Sketch
There She Goes: Embellish x3 (ribbon, button, clothing label)
Crafty Creations - Texture (embossing & sewing)
Fussy & Fancy: Winter (just a reminder to enter this fun challenge)

REMINDER
15% off Martha Stewart products including PUNCHES
at

BOO-tiful Pumkin head gift Set & lots of STASH

Today is

Takin' Out the Stash Tuesday
and an
ENABLER ALERT

Totally messed up on the Main image for my project and used a Digi that isn't part of the S2G 25% off promotion, however, the kitty inchie that I used IS ON SALE!!! Click on the Blinkie above to see the Halloween images. If ya gotta have it NOW, then DIGI (click HERE) is what you are looking for. When I purchased the Pumpkin Flavored Shampoo & Conditioner for my daughter, I knew exactly how I would package them. I mean how perfect is that Kitty with the pumpkin on his head. I will probably write some silly statement about no matter how big for her britches she gets, she will ALWAYS be my LIL' PUMPIN HEAD ;o)

Check out all the STASH that I pulled out. Box was created with a heavy weight piece of cardstock or maybe even cardboard that had originally been used to ship something to me. I liked the color of it but I have been HOARDING it. I broke out a neglected embossing folder. Used a couple large eyelets to attach my handle and some WILD ribbon (no really the name is Wild and is available HERE).
Want to WIN a FREE set of Shirley's 2 Girls stamps???? Come play TWISTED THURSDAY sketch challenge. You have until midnight tomorrow (Wed) to enter a project for this week....
HERE are COMPLETE DETAILS
...........Supplies I used............
Digi Image: Shirley's 2 Girls (Hallo-scream)
Stamps: Shirley's 2 Girls (Spookies 1)
Inks: Stampin Up (rust, close to cocoa), Copic Markers, Momento (tuxedo black)
Tools: Marvy Uchida (scalloped circle punches-purple, pink, blue - Yellow plain circle), Provo Craft (Cuttlebug, Pumpkin Harvest embossing folder), Spellbinders (Nestabilitie tags
Misc: Shirley's 2 Girls (wild ribbon) Stampin Up (striped ribbon, large eyelets)

Yummy Candied Apples

I've Been a Bad Bad Blogger
So let's sweeten our day up a little by talkin
STASH
(I also only have 3 seconds before I need to run out the door for school)

So much STASH used on this one. First off the stamp set by Impression Obsession. Absolutely love their fun whimsical stamps so I hoard them and never seem to get around to actually using them. I do love how this turned out, however, they were NOT easy to color!! Can there be such a thing as too much detail? Well for me apparently, because trying to blend around some of those little areas of detail was Work and I swear I used all of the ink in my Copics! I broke out some buttons, twine, ribbon and even a little chipboard photo corner. They look YUMMY! Can you see where I used the Martha Stewart Fence punch??

Don't forget
you still have until midnight (pst) tonight
to complete your project for the
TWISTED THURSDAY
Sketch Challenge
Details are 2 posts down

Verve meets Paper Trey Ink

Created this a while back for a Viva La Verve Sketch challenge but I think that I may not have ever gotten to share it. If I did, forgive me because I cannot find it in my archive. Thought it was a good card for "Takin' Out the Stash Tuesday"..... I tend to hoard those great big eyelets, which I will probably do more so now that I am going to try and not make any purchases from that company that just decided to change it's demonstrator policies!! Anyhow, the hotair balloon is a Verve image and the sailboat is from Paper Trey Ink. This one might be worth clicking the photo and taking a closer look at that turbulent sea!! I honestly cannot remember what I used to create the swirly waves but probably the edge of some stamp (I'm thinking Verve and quit possibly one of the other balloon images). I used a glue pen then added a bit of glitter. OK, that's all for me, I am going back to enjoying my holiday. Can't wait to share the photos of my latest archeological Treasure Hunt!!!!!!!!

Now I'm really dumpster diving into the "STASH"

Yesterday's "Takin' Out The Stash" post ended up being more about some new challenges that I was excited to have found, rather than talking Stash..... What would I do without a challenge to jump start my creativity? Probably sit at the computer procrastinating! Let's try this again shall we? The stash that I impressed myself by using was the new Basic Grey Woolies from ABC Toys & Crafts. These fun little embellishments are exactly what I would ordinarily hoard. Admiring them through their clear cellophane packaging. I did it though, I set them free ;o) Not only did I use the Woolies but I also broke into the "Forbidden Expensive Italian Ribbons". I mean seriously check out that funny little pooch standing above the crazy pom pom fringe. If you pay close attention you might just see that I used this week's MOJO103 sketch. I see all the elements of the sketch. What do you think?

The next card shows off the Butterfly Woolie from Basic Grey's Lemonade line using the 2 sketches 4 you challenge ----> HERE. The scalloped square frame was plain chipboard that I painted using white acrylic paint then covered it in Dazzling Diamonds. I used Martha Stewart punches on both cards, however, on the butterfly card I punched both sides of a strip of cardstock then covered the center using the green gingham ribbon. I stamped polka dots on the black card base using Versa Mark ink then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. As I sit here looking at both of these cards, I realize that they pretty much qualify for all of the challenges that I listed yesterday so maybe I should go link them up. I would love to WIN something. Don't forget to leave a comment on my Blog Candy.
So there you have it, almost all of my stash can be purchased at 15 % off ----> HERE <----

USE THIS CODE FOR YOUR DISCOUNT
ABC15F
Join me right back here tomorrow for

It's Tuesday, Time to take out the "Stash"

Takin' out the Stash
Tuesday

Tuesday is the day that I challenge myself to use products that I would rather "hoard". I broke into some brand new Basic Grey products that I just received from ABC Toys & Crafts. As a starting point this morning, I searched for some fun challenges and discovered a few "new to me" blogs. Today's card started with a fun challenge called "Pile It On". The object of their weekly challenges is to see how many challenges you can "pile" into one card. Their theme for this week is "birthday". Hmm how appropriate, seem to be so many of those going around, which brings me to Mina's challenge found HERE -----> Heidi's Birthday sketch. The 3rd challenge that I "Piled" into this card was a color challenge found HERE ------> The Pink Elephant. Their challenge was to use "Red, Yellow, Black & White".. 4th Challenge was to use 3 or more Patterned Papers found HERE -----> Crafty Creations Challenges. 5th Challenge was to use Polka Dots found HERE -----> My Time to Craft Challenge #77.
Those fun little shoes are from the new Verve stamps "Just My Style" that I WON. The stamp is one shoe but I stamped it twice onto patterned paper, highlighted using Copics, cut them out and popped the first one up with foam squares. The swirls behind the shoes is also a stamp in this new setSo what did I use out of my stash? Buttons, the leaf ribbon and new Basic Grey paper (June Bug).

Just Shoot Me with BUTTONS!!!

Takin' Out The Stash
Tuesday

Yesterday's card had a Funtastic button that I purchased last week on a shopping expedition to show a friend the sewing district of Catania. Although we can find a minimum amount of fun embellishments here in Sicily, they certainly come with a HEFTY PRICE. First take a look at my entire crafty purchase:

My giddy excitement over finding such amazing ribbons, buttons, lifetime supplies of powder fine glitters in glorious colors came to a SCREACHING HALT as the store clerk declared my total to be (are you sitting down for this?) 80 euro!!!! That is $114 AMERICAN DOLLARS..... Of course now I don't even like them, I am disgusted that I didn't think to ask what price I was paying for each button. I mean it never dawned on me that ONE button could cost 3 euro. Aren't buttons supposed to be like $0.10 or somethng?? I feel so violated..

Moving on to actually using my STASH of BUTTONS (no I did not use any of the new ones). This is the stamp set that I chose last month for winning The Guest Star Stamper at Paper Trey Ink. (btw, this stamp set is what triggered my enthusiasm to find unique buttons in the first place). This was such a fun set of cards to create and I was able to whip them up in less than an hour. I saved a little time by using naked buttons rather than threading them. That is a pet peeve of mine but I wanted to keep the feel of the cards as clean as possible. The box took a bit longer because I have a habit of not doing the math when trying to create a box top that actually fits!! I used a Nestability Die to create the embossed impression on each card, as well as the lid. I believe these are Labels #1. If you look at the trees in the back ground, I used a leaf that comes in the stamp set as the tops of my trees. I also stamped an extra leaf on the flower card in lieu of adding another flower. The frilly border around my box top was created using a Martha Stewart edge punch that also embosses. Hurry over to ABC Toys & Crafts where you can purchase your Nestabilities, MS Punches, Copics and of course Stamps at

10% off until Aug 30
use the Blinkie on my side bar

Come back tomorrow so I can show you what else I purchased on my shopping trip along with a few snap shots .

"Scrappy" little treat box & a CRAZY Party Hat

Lauren Meader's My Time to Create Inspiration challenge was my inspiration for this color combination. Check out her challenge HERE
Today, As I was playing around with the smallest pieces of scrap DP in my "Studio" (aka: the closet), it dawned on me that I needed to "Talk Stash"........ So here it is.
I pulled out all the stops on these..... Started out creating the fun little treat box (have I told ya'll how much I love to create treat boxes?) Forgive me if someone else has beat me to this fantabulous idea, but I find it very intriguing to create my boxes using die cuts. For Today, I was experimenting with the large Stampin Up label. (I think I should do a tutorial on this process later)....
Once again, I have reached for the My Cute Stamps "Royal Celebration" from ABC Toys & Crafts.. This little castle just screams to be paper pieced and that is where I really used little pieces of "Trash"!!! Just look at the way that little fantasy house is constructed. The pillars and mid section are mounted up on foam squares, Windows and doors were given a little shadow with Copics. I then decided to add some glossy accents to the windows.... OOOOOOO AAAAAAA, Can you even imagine how small the piece of scrap was for that little flag??
The Tags were cut using the Cricut and the only cartridge that my cheap rear owns!, I stamped the tag, the handle & the sides of my box using some of the smaller stamps included in this set. The handle was a strip of CS that I stamped then used a border punch down both sides and glued in place.
Since we are talkin' "SCRAP", check out the Birthday card that I threw together for my hubbie.

As of today, he has been gone one week. He is in Afghanistan with his team of guys. I was putting together a "BIRTHDAY PARTY IN A BOX" and really wanted to add Party hats along with the "My Little Pony" party supplies but there just wasn't room!! Darn the luck... So this card was completely created using scraps that were lying about, yes even the base!!!
I've arranged with a couple guys on his detachment to intercept this package and set up his Party ahead of time and then Suprise him. His party is complete with microwavable cakes, candles that play music, Gatorade packets, coffee, tablecloth, napkins, chips, & what party would be complete without FAVORS?? The guys will look so cute playing with their bright colored parachute dudes and paddle balls........

Are ya still with me?? There is still TIME to COMPLETE your Sketch challenge projects for TWISTED THURSDAY.......... As of today, you have a 1 in 15 chance of winning a new stamp set... Not bad odds... Scroll down to the Twisted Thursday #20 post for complete details
See ya tomorrow
...............Supplies I used...............
Stamps: My Cute Stamps (royal celebration)
Paper: Stampin Up (pink piroette, whisper white, pixie pink, pacific point), Provo Craft (cricut designer paper), K&Co (berry sweet)
Ink: Stampin Up (baja breeze, pretty in pink), Momento (tuxedo black), Copic Markers
Tools: Cuttlebug, Cricut, Stampin Up (scallop edge border punch, top note die, foam squares)
Misc: Stampin Up (ribbon), Tim Holtz (glossy accents)

Takin out the Stash

Today I decided that I would create my very own Tuesday challenge and title it "TAKIN OUT THE STASH"!!! Catchy isn't it? Laura Frederickson used to have a stash challenge so I will run this by her so as to not step on any toes. I'll keep you posted and maybe you can play with me next week.

Ironically, I also stumbled onto the Crafty Secrets forum over on Splitcoast Stampers where my friend Carla was hosting their weekly challenge. She titled this week's challenge "Leftovers". The object is to us your "Table Scraps". You know the strips of DP, CS, the one eyelet or brad, pieces of ribbon or even parts of images that you have cut out when making projects. BINGO this was the Perfect place for me to play today. That "Secret" group of Crafty Ladies welcomed me right in and made me feel right at home with their generous comments.

I created this fun little Apron using a free template from Anna Wight. Every single item I used was a scrap that I had lying around on my table. The buttons and thread were the extras that Victoria's Secrets sends attached to pajamas. The ribbons came off of a garment tag. The little sentiment that I have tucked away in my apron pocket is by Crafty Secrets and had been cut from a booklet which was now floating around trying to get lost. I am super excited at how well I was able to create the appearance of a billowing or flowing 3 dimensional hem....... After I cut the Apron and pocket out, I inked and sponged the edges, then applied faux stitching with a red marker. Using the original pocket as a guide, I drew a larger, red pocket so that my tag would be able to fit into it. The edges were also inked but I sanded and distressed a little then applied glue and adhered it to my Apron. I placed the tip of my needle nose tongs into the pocket while it was drying to give it dimension. By doing this, the tag slides in and out quit easily......
I would love to know what you think of my little Apron. By clicking on Anna's name above you can download her template and remember to leave her some love.

REMINDER:
ABC Toys & Crafts has discounted EVERYTHING at 15% off (including Crafty Secret)