Saturday, August 31, 2013

September SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  We will be featuring September's SOTM, which is called Poster Tidings, a bold and trendy set of 2 oversized stamps.  If you have come here from MICHELLE'S BLOG, you are on the right path!

This month we have 50+ Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this SOTM (and other great CTMH products) on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

This month I was inspired by the Mojo Monday Round or Square challenge. Apparently the Square half, since I made not one, but two versions of the square card sketch.

For the Family Gratitude card I cut a pumpkin from two layers of Sunset Cardstock using the new Artbooking cartridge. The bottom layer got a wash of color with some markers, and the top layer got a subtle second generation hexagon pattern from the Reel Life stamp set. I used the same stamp to add texture to my sentiment frame in Honey ink. I love the way the Slate polka dot washi pops against the Babycakes paper!
For the second version I used the new Frosted papers. I inked my SOTM image with a side to side swiping motion to add the extra texture to my stamped image. I cut out the snowflakes form the Frosted B & T, and I detailed everything with my favorite Stardust clear glitter gel pen. I used the new Lagoon hounds tooth washi layered over a bit of Silver Shimmer tape in the background. 

I'm linking this to the ABC No Flowers Challenge as well...and I can't tell you how hard it was for me to not tuck a little yellow pumpkin blossom in on that Huntington card!

Now "Hop" on over to KIM'S BLOG to see her fabulous work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants Blogs to soak in the great crafting and SOTM ideas! Remember, this SOTM will be gone at the end of September!  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set for just $5!

Here are some more projects I have made using this Stamp of the Month...
Joy, Love, and Laughter Card

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Ten Things Staples

This week the Practical Scrappers Ten Things Team is focusing on fun ways to use Staples. I used some shiny green colored staples to create the flashburst for a quick and simple camera embellie on this card. Oh, snap, indeed! I finished this little cutie in 8 minutes 57 seconds as part of the 10 Minute Craft Dash. I couldn't believe it!

When I sat down to make my project I honestly was not sure that I could make a project from start to finish in ten minutes. I am a slow and steady kind of crafter, but at least we were allowed to gather our materials before starting the timer. I decided to use the Aqua/Green/Orange color combo from this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge, and the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch. I grabbed my Sightseer Stamps, some Kraft CS, Lagoon washi tape, and scraps of Green Glitter paper. Then I set my timer, took a deep breath, and  let the stamping begin!
I trimmed my Kraft card base first...then I hopped up and RAN across the room to emboss it with swiss dots, because I could not just leave it flat kraft. I stamped and cut out my camera image, then realized that while I'd gotten the colored staples out of hibernation, I'd forgotten my stapler. Gasp! One more quick dash and I was ready to rock again. Down went the washi and the glitter paper banner. Staple! Staple! Staple, Staple, Staple, STAPLE! A bit of foam tape and the camera was good to go. Oh WHY did I not stamp the sentiment first? I could FEEL the timer getting ready to beep, I swear! Sentiment was  c a r e f u l l y  stamped in Lagoon ink, then the button was attached with Liquid Glass. I started moving the Sparkles with my piercing tool into place. I dabbed on some Stardust glitter glitz to detail the camera, then carefully glued the card front to my waiting card base. Probably should have reversed that order of operations, but whatever, because I was done and with time to spare! I'm fairly certain that with all that dashing back and forth, I've earned that Dark Chocolate Coconut Bliss bar that I've got stashed in the back of the freezer. Woo hoo!

I hope you'll hop over to Practical Scrappers and see what the rest of the team stapled down...and maybe you'll try the Craft Dash too!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Joy, Love, and Laughter

I'm so excited, because tonight is my monthly team meeting. I love the evenings when my team is here! We will stamp this card together tonight, using next month's Stamp of the Month (SOTM) called Poster Tidings.  I used the new sketch from Retro Sketches to get my creative juices flowing. I wanted a fresh color combo for my holiday card, since I'm linking this card up to the Moxie Fab Holiday Card Challenge, and traditional red and green didn't seem like it was cool enough for Moxie Fab. Then I saw this color combo over at ColourQ, which was not meant to be a holiday color combo, but I knew it would be fab for my modern snowflake card idea! I used Dutch Blue, Lagoon, Pear, Chocolate Distressing, and White Daisy for my ColourQ colors. 
I did some creative inking of my chevron In The Background image by swiping my Dutch Blue pad lengthwise along the chevron image, which adds a lot of texture to the stamped image. I did a similar motion when I was inking the Poster Tiding stamp. It's all one big stamp, so first I inked and swiped the Pear across the center of the image. Then I inked and swiped Dutch Blue at the top, slightly overlapping the Pear Ink. I did the same thing at the bottom third with Lagoon Ink. Finally, I huffed warm air all over the image and stamped it onto White Daisy CS. A quick scissor trim gave me a ton of adorable little banners, which I inked on the edges with Chocolate Distressing ink. I popped up my main sentiment pieces with Foam tape, and added a Green Glitter Paper Artbooking cut snowflake. I topped off my snowflake with a sparkly faceted gem and a row of Sparkles that I lightly colored with a blue alcohol marker.

My "Stampin' Ladies" (as my boys call them) should be arriving in another couple of hours, so I'm going to get to work on my SOTM Blog Hop post project for later this week, since we spent the morning goofing around at the Zoo. Hope you're enjoying the last of your summer, too!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Practical Scrappers/Paper Secrets Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Welcome to the Practical Scrappers/Paper Secrets Blog Hop!  I am so excited to participate today!  This blog hop features the Ten Things Team from Practical Scrappers and members from the Design Team at Paper Secrets. Our topic for this hop is a fun, trendy one that will definitely catch your attention: wood! There is an awesomely cute give away from Paper Secrets (and you can get all the details on that below), but first here's my Wood project for you!
I wanted to make a project for the Moxie Fab Holiday Home Decor Challenge. I found a lovely Basswood Canvas from Walnut Hollow for my Holiday Display Quote with a nice smooth finish. It takes paint really well without showing grain or requiring sanding, which is great for lazy crafters like me who just want to get on with the bling. I painted the wooden canvas with acrylic paints, starting with two coats of Folk Art Metallic Bright Red paint. Then I layered on my (retired) Color Ready Sticker Letters for the holiday quote. I covered the whole wood canvas, stickers and all, with two coats of Martha Stewart Pure Platinum paint. I used temporary adhesive to stick on an Artbooking Chevron overlay to stencil on the chevrons with DecoArt Craft Twinkles glitter paint in Silver. Once the paints dried I carefully removed the stickers to reveal the red metallic letters of the quote. I did touch up some spots with a fine tipped brush, but it worked great. Any scrapbook stickers you have would probably do, even a mix of fonts!
I topped my "tree" off with a painted corrugated star and filled in the base with assorted bling and buttons. I painted some wooden buttons from my stash with Red Metallic and Silver Twinkles paints. The wood canvas is about 2 inches deep, so I sponged the edges with more of the Sliver Twinkles paint and wrapped it in red dotted washi tape. I can't wait to add this to my Holiday Mantle display!

Thanks for stopping by to have a peek at my holiday wood canvas. I hope you'll hop over to check out all the other amazing projects, too. 

Here's the Blog Hop List!
Wendy Coffman (that's me!)

Here's what you can win from Paper Secrets!

If you want a chance to win this fabulous collection of wooden goodies from Paper Secrets you can do any or all of the following:
1) Be a follower at Practical Scrappers
2) Be a follower at the Paper Secrets Blog
3) Like the Practical Scrappers Facebook Page
4) Like the Paper Secrets Facebook Page
5) Leave us a comment here telling us which of those you did :)

You have until 11:59 PM CST on Sunday, August 25th to enter.  A winner will be announced early next week over at Practical Scrappers! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

I'm linking this project up to the Heart 2 Heart Challenges Sing a Little Song Challenge. I had to add the word very to balance out my tree shape...but I've been humming this carol for days now!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Monday Listicles

This week's Monday Listicles topic is something almost as near and dear to my heart as glitter and bling...food! Stasha is asking for a list of our Ten Favorite Meals. Since I do pretty much all the cooking from serious scratch round these parts, here's what's on the menu at my house.

10 Favorite Meals
1. "Tacos" which is what the boys call anything remotely Mexican in flavor, since we don't usually bother to buy tortillas anymore and eat those flavors most in bowl format. Except for 3 year old Max, who calls salami "tacos" when he's not calling it pizza.

2. Roast Chicken...sort of...I "roast" a whole chicken in my crock pot once a week, then make stock with the bones that night. 

3. Chicken Soup, made with that week's stock and whatever veggies I have on hand that week. All veg goes into the pot, and it all gets pureed at the end to a nice, smooth "chicken soup" that my picky-pants-hates-the-idea-of-veggies 7 year old slurps up happily. I win! 

4. Pot Roast. Mmmmm. Once my nephew was visiting from CA and he complained that all we ever eat is Pot Roast. He wanted me to make chicken like his mom makes...from KFC. Now that I've finished literally LOLing again, in her defense, his mom does not serve him KFC. Still funny!

5. Pasta with Tomato Sauce, which I can myself. I feel like I can say that now, since this is my second year canning and I have filled my pantry with jars of yumminess this summer. Happy!

6. Carnitas with Rice and Beans. This is my personal fav - so easy and delicious. Anther crock pot recipe, which I love because I can make dinner before my hubby leaves in the morning and there's not awesome cooking dinner issues with the boys at 4 p.m. 

7. Eggs - when we hit a wall and there's no dinner ready...it's time to make eggs (with sausage if I've done the shopping that week).

8. Chilaquiles! I first heard the term on my favorite show of all time, Gilmore Girls. Turns out it's not just fun to shout out "Chilaquiles!!", it's really delicious too. 

9. Taco Soup is what I serve every month to my Scrapbook club. I used to try out different recipes and wear myself out, but they love Taco Soup, so now it's our regular meal. 

10. Except when I make Potato Cheese Soup. With lots of bacon. 'Cause everything is better with bacon.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Ten Things Eyelets

Today the Practical Scrappers Ten Things team is playing with eyelets! I remember the first time I went to scrapbook expo and eyelets were the "BIG THING"...the pounding of the hammers about drove me insane, yet was so exciting that I still left with my first hammer and set of tools. I purchased tools again and again, always sure the next tool would be the one to solve all my eyelet setting woes. Then eventually I met my friend Mr. Cropadile and his cousin Big Bite...and I was renewed in my love for eyelets. It was so much fun to pull out my entirely too sizeable eyelet stash for this fun challenge!
I set my eyelets through some Flutter Paper shapes that I swiped with Black ink. Then I used Liquid Glass to adhere Glitter Gems into each eyelet. Taking a cue from the pretty Unscripted Sketches Flashback Summer sketch, I heat embossed the doily image onto Kraft Cardstock with White Daisy ink and white detail embossing powder. I finished off my card with some fine tip pen detailing around the outer edge of the card. 

Don't forget to pop over and check out all the other clever eyelet projects at Practical Scrappers.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

CTMH New Product Blog Hop

Welcome to our CTMH New Product Blog Hop!  This month we have 30+ Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using fabulous new CTMH products on their blogs. Hopping is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! If you have come here from MELINDA'S BLOG, you are on the right path! Here we go! 
I'm sharing this sparkly jewelry holder that I crafted on a Dollar Store wooden frame. It features the new ProPlayer Paper packet (for the 3-D paper flowers) plus lots of Base and Bling jewels and the new Ruby and Black Mini Medleys. I especially love the Base and Bling word accents, which I used in the flower cluster and to help create the hair clip hanger. That strip of sequins from the Black Mini Medley is meant to hold the new hairclips!

I covered the frame with Glitter Paper, and filled the center with rolls of black felt. That was easy to do with my hot glue gun! The rings just slide right between the rolls of felt. 

Now "Hop" on over to MICHELLE'S BLOG to see her crafty goodness! Be sure to visit all the Consultants Blogs to soak in the variety of great crafting and new product ideas! 

I'm linking this project up to the Paper Issues Project Life Party, even though I haven't done any project life, because that party is making me wish I did...time to get out my Crush book and get going!

Here are some more projects I have made using the new Base and Bling products...plus I posted a new Proplayer or other new product projects almost every day in July

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Practical Scrappers Ten Things Paint

This week the Practical Scrappers Ten Things team is playing with paint! I painted my embellies to coordinate my page elements on this rough and tumble layout based on a fabulous Creative Scrappers Sketch. The paper is the packet I Instagram-ed this weekend, an Echo Park Brothers mini themed collection I got for five bucks at the super fun Embellish Online Play All Day event. So Sunday morning I sat down and whipped up this page lickety split!

I used two kinds of paint to bring a verdigris finish to my new Midtown Cork Shapes, stickers, and Artisan studs. My paints were Decor Art Dazzling Metallics in Rich Chocolate, and  Folk Art Extreme Glitter in Turquoise. I painted my cork pieces will they were still on the liner in the bronze color, then sponged on the teal glitter, using a cheap sponge brush for both paints. I also sponged the teal glitter onto my title area on the layout base before stamping the title over top in White Daisy pigment ink and my Framework Alphabet stamps. I carefully filled in the superhero title word with a gold metallic marker
I think here you can see the texture that the glitter paint brought to the top of the bronze base coat. I also lightly swiped the glitter paint onto the sticker stars and the tops of the Artisan studs so all the elements were unified.

I'm linking this project up to the Heart 2 Heart Sentiment-ally Yours Challenge. If you love this sketch, the Creative Scrappers challenge is open until August 31st. Don't forget to pop over to Practical Scrappers and see what the rest of the team did with their paints!

Sunday, August 11, 2013

U Rock!

I'm back with a fun and quick U Rock! card! I used the guitar from the ProPlayer StickEase to make this card in a flash. I'm linking this up to the CAS(E) This Sketch #40, even though I scooted the sentiment down across the bottom and replaced that part of the sketch with a little music border from the Tech Speak stamp set. I did love how everything in the sketch was on the left side!

I popped those guitars up on a Snapshots chipboard tag that I stamped with a star background in Whisper Ink. I ran a strip of the red Chevron Ribbon down the left edge of the card before sticking on my ProPlayer papers.  The sentiment is built from the Kraft Keyboard Alphabet stickers. I just colored them with my Ruby Alcohol Marker. I dressed up the guitars with a bit of glitter glitz gel and some baby sequins from the Black Mini Medley. I figured a rock and roll card demands a bit of bling!

Friday, August 9, 2013

Friday Favorite Things!

Hi, Stampin' Friends! I am off playing at a crop all day today, so this is gonna be quick! Today I'm sharing one of my favorite projects, even if it is rather less embellished than my usual hoopla. I made this awesome prize wheel from an IKEA lazy susan that runs about $8 after seeing one made by the fabulous Christine Tavernier. I have the same exact lazy susan in my Stamp Pad with glass jars of buttons on top of it. To make the spinner I pried the rubber gasket off the back. Then I painted the lazy susan with silver spray paint, then covered it with our Chalkboard self adhesive paper. Once I had the chalkboard paper lined up I covered the seams with Red Shimmer tape and filled in the groove on the spinning part with multiple layers of Red Glitter Glitz. There is a row of black sequin tape around the outside of the spinner from the new Black mini Medley. It's HEAVY, so I got this cast iron cookbook stand at Target to hold it up for convention....'cause I always pack something cast iron in my suitcase to fly across the country to Florida. Don't you?
I used lots of the chipboard arrows from the ProPlayer Assortment to create my prize arrow. The prizes get written around the outer edges in plain old chalk. When you spin the arrow points to the winning choice. This is a great project for parties and craft fair prizes...but it's also great for the kiddos at home. When you write chores or tasks around the outer edges and they have to spin to see what to do, it seems to feel like winning to my boys. Woo hoo - I got vacuum! Since I pay them with pom poms from our management system...I win! Everytime! And that's one of my favorite things for sure!

I'm off to crop with some peeps, so I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

UR Swell

Today I'm sharing this sweet little friendship card! 
There are a lot of fun little details to this simple and quick card.
I'm linking it up to this week's Runway Inspired Challenge. The Whisper CS base of the card is stamped in White Daisy ink with a delicate floral pattern, like the dress in the inspiration photo. Then I pulled in red accents, like the Irresistible hexagon chipboard that I sponged with Ruby Ink to bring out the pattern.
That acrylic flower gem is from the Base & Bling Red Jewels, and the Silver disc is from the Base & Bling Word Accents. I love that bit of silver thread running through this baker's twine!

That's all for today. Hope UR swell, sweet stampin' friends!

Monday, August 5, 2013

Practical Scrappers Border Punches

Today the Ten Things Team is focusing on Border Punches! I used my corner rounder to create a stitched "border" by simply removing the guard. My card is based on the new Retro Sketches sketch.
To make the border you just line up the edge of the punch overlapping the edge of the previous punch. It took a few practice tries to get the hang of how far to overlap the punches, but it's a fairly easy technique to change up the look of your border!
I got my color inspiration from the Color Q challenge. I incorporated the new green Glitter Paper in an Artbooking diecut along with stamped stitching from Cross Stitch Wishes for my Olive color. It's layered onto a bit of my fav new paper, Babycakes. My stamp is one of the new M sized singles, Heartfelt Happy Birthday. I colored it with Pacifica, Crystal Blue, and Indian Corn Blue alcohol markers to create and Ombre effect. I layered everything onto an embossed polka dot background.

I'm linking up to the Friday Mashup Polka Dot Happy Challenge and the Heart 2 Heart Ombre Challenge. Don't forget to pop over and check out what the rest of the Practical Scrappers team did with their border punches!

Sunday, August 4, 2013

New Product Blog Hop Hope Floats

Today I'm sharing a sweet little 3x3 card. I used ProPlayer papers for the background. The Hot Air Balloon Basket is from the ProPlayer Assortment, from an arrow that I trimmed into the basket shape. The balloon itself is one of the new Base and Bling Word Accents - I so love them! I did the stitched accents with the new Stitch Guide

I'm linking this card up to the Heart 2 Heart Bon Voyage Challenge. This is my last entry for the New Product Blog Hop - make sure you go check out the other projects, because there is some seriously fabulous eye candy!
This blog hop is open for members of the CTMH Blog Boosters. Please do not enter a project if you are not a member of the group - just click on to enjoy the hopping goodness!



Saturday, August 3, 2013

You Complete Me New Product Blog Hop

Happy Saturday! I am cropping away with some of my favorite scrappy ladies, but I wanted to pop in and share another ProPlayer Card with you. Today I'm sharing a card you can make using up your scraps, as inspired by the ABC Challenges Use Your Scraps challenge. This card uses scraps in the tiny 1/4" squares that made up the heart image on the card front, and my leftover Tiny Type Epoxy Alphabet letters that make up my sentiment. I found my tweezers were an invaluable help in lining up the little 1/4" squares of paper. 
I layered Washi tape under the letter stickers, then added a bit of decorative stitching using the new Stitching Guide. The little hand stamp is from the new Tech Speak Stamp Set. I'm entering this card into the Cute Card Thursday Anything Goes Challenge too!

This blog hop is open for members of the CTMH Blog Boosters. Please do not enter a project if you are not a member of the group - just click on to enjoy the hopping goodness!


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