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)

Funky Tag SHAPED Card

Wanted to pop in and share a fun Gift Tag SHAPED Card that I created using

the latest handmade buttons

SNOWFLAKE BUTTONS

They are available for Purchase at the
Buttons & Bows
ETSY STORE

Here is a closeup of the button along with some of the details
the little mittens by Unity are popped up on foam squares
the pink cardstock was stamped using a snowflake border stamp
"Let It Snow" by My Cute Stamps
I also inked the edges with white ink

Challenges I used:
Cute Card Thursday: Anything Goes
Crafty Creations: Buttons
Paper Sundaes: Winter Wonderland
Tuesday Throwdown: Inchies
Creative Inspirations: A PINK Christmas

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

"You Rock"

I tell ya'll what, having the UNITY Kit of the Month has been a life saver during this move. I totally forget about my membership from month to month (obviously way to much on plate), but each month it is like Christmas when I check the mail and find the Unity package. Not exactly sure which KOTM these stamps were from but they were the perfect set to create a "Thank You" card for the head of our Special Education department at school.

Not exactly your typical "Teacher" card ehe? Well Ms. Cashman is not your typical teacher..........
SHE ROCKS She was such a blessing to our school, to our staff and to my son. Adam (my son), thought she was the epitomy of COOL. He loved spending time with her, loved her cool tattoos, and he loved talking to her about heavy metal music. The rock theme was PERFECT for her and the "INSPIRATION" sentiments were sincerely from my heart because her teaching style was such an inspiration to ME.
If you look closely, you might be able to see that I used a clear accents to create the window of the Juke Box to make it more "life like".
CHALLENGES I USED:
The Crazy Challenge: It's Hip to be Square (I used a square in the center & this card is totally HIP)
I'll be back later today to finish loading these

...............Supplies I used................
Stamps: Unity
Cardstock & Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up
Ink: Copic Markers, Momento (black tuxedo), Stampin Up
Tools: Stampin Up (large & small star punches), Spellbinders (Nestabilities labels 7)
Misc: Stampin Up (green mini clip)

My cup overfloweth!!

15% off HERO ARTS Stamps
use code: 15HERO510
offer ends: 7/10 (Saturday)

So happy to be getting the time/opportunity to break out my "TOYS". I have picked and created up so many unusual embellishments during this move. Take a closer look at my embellishment.
The pink fabric is part of a lifetime supply that I discovered when throwing out an old pillowcase. This one was dyed using tea & food coloring. The green ribbon was a scrap that I found on the ground after I had packed up all of my supplies and the black & white thread came in one of those tiny ziplocks w/ a few buttons which are attached to new clothes.

CHALLENGES I USED:
Pile It On: My Favorite Things (finding stuff and being able to use them on my projects is my all time favorite)
The Shabby Tea Room: Let's Make an Impression (use embossing)
The Pink Elephant: 3 Layers, 2 Die Cuts & Ribbon
ABC Challenge: Y is for "You & Me" meaning use 2 of something (I used 2 stamps)

...........Supplies I used................
Stamps: Unity
Ink: Copic Markers, Tim Holtz, Momento (black)
Cardstock: Paper Trey Ink (blush, white)
Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny, Bazzill embossed
Tools: Spellbinders (nestabilities scalloped square), Martha Stewart (border punch ), Stampin Up (label die)
Misc: Shirley's 2 Girls (button), random fibers

Monochromatic

FUSSY & FANCY
Challenge # 13
" MONOCHROMATIC & WINGS "
(click blinkie for complete details)

Created this card using robin egg blues & cream. The stamps are from Unity and I layered the fairy over the script then added the pearls. The angel wings were originally gold but I spray painted them.

CHALLENGES I USED:
Fussy & Fancy: Monochromatic & Wings
Stamp Something: Summer Something (flowers & butterflies)
Flourishes: Embossing (dry embossed using a cuttlebug folder)
Shirley's 2 Girls: Something Old (the angel/butterfly wings & the Tulle) **They are having a BLOG HOP with PRIZES
The Crazy Challenge: Distress It (I inked around my main image and around the doily punched edge)
.............Supplies I used................
Stamps: Unity
Ink: Stampin Up
Cardstock: Stampin Up
Ribbon: Stampin Up, Button: Paper Trey Ink, Floss: Martha Stewart
Tools: Cuttlebug (textile embossing folder), Martha Stewart (doily edge punch)

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)

I've been a bad Blogger

I've had the hardest time getting back into the swing of things. We returned from the states and heck, I can't even remember what day it was but all I've wanted to do was SLEEP. I think I have successfully gotten my days and nights mixed up. Hopefully that gets worked out soon since it is almost 1pm and I am still trying to get coffee poured into my weary body! I did manage to get into my craft studio (aka: the closet) and even colored a new image but then I SAT STARRING at the thing not sure what to do with it. Finally I walked out and haven't been back.................

Until I get my act together, here is a card that I created for Dave's Auntie. You hear it all the time about how no one likes to create Sympathy cards right, well DUH. Think about it though, What is the purpose of a card? To let someone know that you are thinking of them right? I can't think of a more important time to let someone know that you are thinking of them than when they are grieving. So even though I don't enjoy the reason why I must create Sympathy cards, I do enjoy knowing that for a brief moment that person, whom is hurting, will know that they are being thought of brings a smile to my face. That gives me great satisfaction!
CHALLENGES I've USED:
Pile It On: Pastel Colors
Die Cuts R Us: #29 Bouquets of Paper: Create paper flowers on your project
Cupcake Craft Challenges: Going Green (not sure if mine will qualify but I see lots of green)
Crafty Creations: Make your own flowers
Pixie Dust Studio: Buttons & flowers
Treehouse Stamps: Clean & Simple (this is my idea of clean and simple)
Paper Cutz: #32 Anything Goes
Challenge Up Your Life: Flowers & Anything goes
Our Creative Corner: Color Combo (yellow, pink, green brown)
...............Supplies I've used................
Stamps: Unity (tree), Paper Trey Ink (with sympathy sentiment)
Paper: Paper Trey Ink (aqua mist, dark chocolate), Stampin Up (sage shadow),
Patterned Paper: Nikki Sivils (victoria's street)
Ink: Stampin Up (close to cocoa)
Tools: Stampin Up (flower punches, ticket punch)
Misc: Paper Trey Ink (large button, green satin ribbom scrap, satin dot ribbon, twill ribbon), Stampin Up (small buttons)

Homemade Embellishments for a Friend

While I impatiently await the release of Paper Trey Ink's newest stamp sets and a few other goodies, I decided to participate in a very fun challenge that they were having today. This challenge was to create a set of embellishments and attach them to a piece of clear acetate..

My project was created for my dear friend Karolyn Loncon as a Thank You for sending me my All Time FAVORITE COOKBOOK EVER. Besides reading "The Pioneer Woman Cooks" from cover to cover, I have made just about every recipe. If you have not picked up this Cookbook, I recommend you RUN to your nearest book store and grab a copy. Trust me your family will THANK YOU!
Here is the inside prior to the embellishments being added. Although you cannot see it, the clear acetate is covering the green vines.
This is a close up of the flowers I created. Unity stamps were used for the 3 coordinating flowers. The second layer is adhered with foam squares. Probably can't tell but they have 4 layers. The other two flowers were created by punching 5 scalloped circles. On one side I cut to the center and used that slit to adjust the sizes of my circles which also gives them some dimension. The embellishments are adhered to the acetate using glue dots and can be easily removed so that Karolyn can use them.

Here is a side view so you can see all of the layers, the dimension and the acetate.
Other Challenges I used:
CPS: Sketch
Creative Belli Blog: Ribbon (I've had this ribbon for 3 years)
Hand Full of Stamps: Open (create anything to share)
Crafty Creations: Friends (I created this for a friend, hope that counts)
2 RedBananas: Behind the Scenes (create your own background, I did this on the inside with the vines)
...........Supplies I used...........
Stamps: Unity
Ink: Stampin Up (always artichoke, taken with teal)
Paper: Stampin Up (always artichoke, garden green)
Patterned Paper: S.E.I.
Tools: Stampin Up (scalloped circle punch, flower trio punch), Spellbinders (Nestabilities-label 4), Cuttlebug (textile embossing folder)
Misc: Paper Trey Ink (buttons), Martha Stewart (colored twine or floss), DCWV (polka dot ribbon)

Follow Your Heart

Have you ever tried to make a Masculine Valentine?

I've recently had some commission requests to create "Manly Valentines", however, I think I might be Man Valentine CHALLENGED ;o(
So just as I sat starring at my table and supplies, here I sit starring at the scrren wondering what to say about this card....... In my opinion it is ALESAGGIO (Italian for boring). Where is the Glitter? Where is the RIBBON?

One of the other requests that I received was quite specific: "Manly Valentine for a guy that served in the Army and loves Music"......... Needless to say, that card is still a blank piece of cardstock....
Speaking of MEN, I am outta here. Gonna spend the day out in the sun getting to know my MAN again. (guess you'll have to read the previous post if you are confused)
Blog Land is FULL of LOVE this week, check out some of these challenges
CHALLENGES:
Crazy 4 Challenges: Be My Valentine
ABC Challenges: N for New (I used a new Unity stamp)
Crafty Creations: Wings (my heart has wings)
Stamp Something: Love Something

You have until 12am EST TONIGHT to enter the
ABC Toys & Crafts "I Love You..."Sweetheart" Challenge

.........Supplies I used............
Stamps: Unity
Paper: Stampin Up (white naturals), My Minds Eye (red hot paper), piece of caramel colored scrap & not sure about the dark paisley
Ink: Momento (black), Stampin Up (close to cocoa), Paper Trey Ink (dark chocolate)
Misc: Paper Trey Ink (wood buttons, twine)

I'll OWLways love you

Not a CLUE as to what has gotten into me. Have I EVER gone an entire week without posting one since project? UMMMM NO I think I can explain... Emily, our daughter that lives in Honolulu was able to come home so I completely immersed myself in really enjoying her being HOME even if it was a measely 10 days. That isn't to say that I didn't sneak a few moments of crafting in here and there. Sadly she left this morning and I am finding myself very blue. I do have my husband's "homecoming" to look forward to. I believe we are in the last few weeks (maybe 3). If you didn't already know, he has been in Afghanistan since Aug 3...

I created this very fun card specifically for him using a combination of Unity Stamps (October kotm) and a very fun tree stump stamp by Hero Arts which comes in the stamp set. If you look closely you can see that I wrote J&D 4 EVA on the side of the stump. Cute huh? In general, I am not a huge Owl fan, however, this funky lil guy just makes me smile. I love the Kooky eyes that I gave him.........

So glad you stopped by. Tomorrow I will unveil Fussy and Fancy's Challenge #2. (we had over 230 participants in our first challenge---- I knew we were all Fussy and Fancy girls ;o)

CHALLENGES:
ABC challenges - L is for Layering (I did lots on here)
Crafty Creations - Texture
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Girly (sure it is for my hubby but you have to agree it is totally
girly)
Simon Says Challenge - Shabby Chic
Susie's Sassy Design Challenge - create a card for a boy and add an animal (well this is for my hubby and has an owl)

..............Supplies I used...................
Stamps: Hero Arts (who loves you), Unity (October kotm)
Ink: momento (tuxedo black), copic markers, Paper Trey Ink (dark chocolate, red)
Paper: JilliBean Soup patterened papers from Paper Maniac, Paper Trey Ink (red, dark chocolate, vintage cream, craft)
Tools: Spellbinders (Nestabilities-labels one, scallop rectangles, ribbon tags), Martha Stewart (doily heart valentine edge punch), Stampin Up (Sizzix label die, small heart punch)
Misc: Stampin Up (twill ribbon, heart & love rub ons)

Introducing FUSSY and FANCY FRIDAY challenges

With over 540 FOLLOWERS, I know that so many of us have anxiously been awaiting the very first challenge over at:
I was thrilled to be one of the lucky ladies chosen for their very first Design Team. This week's "theme is NEW". How you interpret "NEW" is up to you.
I chose New Year but also my newest stamp set from Unity. The Design Team decided to have a little fun along with the NEW theme and also chose to use the colors Hot Pink & Black in honor o our blog. Aren't the Fussy and Fancy Blinkies beautiful? That was the very first thing that caught my eye while cruising around blogland one day. I clicked on it and saw that not only were they giving away some super yummo blog candy but that they also had a Design Team Call. After a full year with Shirley's 2 Girls, it was time for all of us to travel new avenues. Although I am no longer part of the S2G Design Team, this is certainly NOT GOODBYE!! I have every intention of playing along in their "Twisted Thursday" challenges in the hopes of winning one of their new Digital images.
In honor of S2G, I have created a second card for the Fussy & Fancy challenge. This card uses the THEME "NEW" (there is that new Clock Stamp by Unity again) along with one of S2G's images. Ya'll know how much VERSATILITY means to me in justifying the products I purchase, so please meet my "New Year's Baby".............
Other Challenges I used:
Our Creative Corner: sketch
Crafty Creations: Glitter & Bling
The Pink Elephant: sketch
Creative Card Crew: anything goes
Stamp Something: use new products
Cupcake Craft Challenge: celebration
Simon Says Stamp: party
Stamp with Fun #39: happy new year
..........Products I used...........
Stamps: Shirley's 2 Girls (I'm Here), Unity (december kit of the month), Paper Trey Ink (Simple Alphabet), Sentiment was generated using my computer
Ink: Copic Markers, Momento (tuxedo black)
Paper: Stampin Up (basic black, whisper white, elegant eggplant, ballet blue, shimmer silver), Paper Trey Ink (black raspberry fizz polka dots, raspberry fizz), patterned paper was a gift from my sister
Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders (Nestabilities-scalloped squares, labels one, tags), Stampin Up (star punch, small circle punch, large label, embossing plate)
Misc: scraps of ribbon, hot pink rhinestone hearts, chipboard, sticker

Feelin' fRazzLeD???

Happy Sunday and thanks for droppin' by. Check out the adorable rag doll by Unity Stamps, is she not the yummiest? I started this card out using the Crafty Secrets weekly challenge which was to use red & green along with a CS product. As happens so often for me, the project just sort of had a mind of it's own and contains no Crafty Secrets. The sketch was supposed to be for the Card Positioning weekly challenge but once AGAIN, I could not follow the rules. WHATEVAH, ever known me to follow the rules???

(yes I purposely stamped this to look "fRazzLeD")