Paper Players #118 - Framed!

Good morning!  Today over at The Paper Players we're featuring frames!  I created a wintery card with a framed snowflake.  

At first glance, the snowflake may appear to be floating.  But I've sandwiched a piece of window sheet in between the actual card and the card front, to which I adhered the snowflake image.  When I die cut the hole in the card front and card, I place the card front on top of the card so that the holes lined up correctly, then put the window sheet between them, glueing everything down.  I used a pinking shear die cut circle, which I die cut a center circle out of to create the frame. 

I wanted a wintery effect from the flourish.  So, I stamped them with Whisper White Craft Ink and then used Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.  This was a bit difficult to photograph, to show you the iridescentnous. (new word for your vocabulary!)

I stamped the center snowflake with Versamark and used silver EP.  Because I glued this directly to the window sheet, I didn't want the glue (Tombow Mono Multi) to show, so I stamped and embossed one for the inside too.

One more glittery pic for ya!

Now - go on and create a project yourself with a frame in it, and be sure to link up to The Paper Players blog!  And be sure to check out the other designers amazing cards for more inspiration!

The Paper Players Design Team

Jen Arkfeld
Dawn Easton 
Helen Heil 
Anne Marie Hile 
Jaydee 
Nance Leedy

LeAnne Pugliese

Ann Schach

Amy White

Cheers!

You know what happens when the sun is not sunny and it is too wet to play?  I get to craft away the day!!!  My hubsters was able to take the afternoon off and was a big help with the kiddos, so I got to spend a little extra time in my craft room!  Was a great day as far as I'm concerned.  Might be gloomy and cold and wet outside...but it was bright and warm in my room....

I needed a card for our friend John's birthday yesterday.  Wanted something a bit masculine looking, so chose some patterned papers with those warmer tones.

This one was super quick and very simple.

It's gloomy again today, but don't know how much crafty time I'll get in!  Heading over to The Artisan tonight for a girls night!  I've got some more fun things to show you later tho!

Ornament Frenzy....

So....I had to sit this week out from the fun over at The Paper Players.....because I was hosting my 3rd Annual Stamp Out Parkinson's Crop and Vendor fair.  And while, I always have a great time at the event, I'm certainly glad it's over.  It's a lot of work to put together (as I also prepared 2 meals for the scrapbookers too.)  Plus advertising and rounding up 20 some vendors....but.  It's so worth it!  Parkinson's hits very close to home for me....my mom has it, and was diagnosed in 2007.  She's doing quite well with her treatment, and I pray that someday soon, a cure is found!

So, now that I've gotten myself caught up on laundry (well, it's washed and dried...I might have a little bit of folding to do yet), have cleaned up some disasters around the house, and unpacked all almost all of my bags of papercrafting goodness, I've crafted up some ornaments for an upcoming class over at The Artisan.  Of course, there's the one you see at the top of the post.  And then there are these 3 to follow:

In the class, you'll actually have some options:

You can craft the first one for $10 - and you can create it in more traditional colors if you wish.
You can craft the last 3 (and pick one to duplicate - for a total of 4) for $10, and can again pick more traditional colors if you wish.
OR you can create all of them (5 total) for $20.

This class will take place at The Artisan on October 24th at 6:30pm.  If you choose to make all 5, it should take about 2 hours.  Otherwise, each group will take about an hour.

Email me, or The Artisan to register.

Merry....but not so bright....

....well, only because we have a lot of cloud cover today.  It won't warm up much today here in Iowa...predicted high of 57.  I love fall, but not when it's this cool.  Right around 70 would be more up my alley.  Although, my fave turtleneck sweaters are getting a good workout already!

So, the other day, I showed you a card with a pinkish, greenish color combo and told ya that I had another one that has a completely different look to it with those same colors.....except here I did use Real Red instead of the Rose Red.  This is Always Artichoke, Lucky Limeade, Regal Rose and Real Red.

Doesn't it look like a cozy quilt you could cover up with?  The stamps are from Papertrey Ink and I've been having WAY too much fun with them!  Waiting for Stampin' Up! to get on the hexagon bandwagon!  I'm in love with hexies!

Did you know that you can know purchase some SU stamps as single stamps???  How awesome!  How often have you loved a stamp, but only ONE stamp in the set???  Now you can get just the single stamp in a clear mount version!  Click on the picture below to see the offerings!

Paper Players #116 - Cup of Joy Theme

Howdy folks!  Raise your hand if you are needing something to warm you up this morning???  We've had a first hard freeze in Iowa this weekend - and it is COLD!  But, since we're still only in the beginning of October, it's our rule to tough it out and NOT turn on the furnace just yet.  So, as I write this post, I'm sitting in our living room with a turtleneck sweater on, a fleece sweatshirt over the top of that and a double fleece blanket on.  For good measure, I'm sitting with my back on a heating pad.  Not that my back is really sore or anything, just cuz it feels SOOOO good!!!  :)  No worries about my kiddos tho - they all have on fleece jammies and extra blankets, plus we put an electric heater upstairs.  It's one of those oil filled radiator type heaters - that won't start a fire - and I highly recommend one!  It will heat the majority of our upstairs - and it is cheap to run - about the same energy as a light bulb uses.  My next heater purchase tho - is one of those infrared heaters.  We need something in our basement....anyone have a recommendation?

Alright - I've digressed....you're here to talk to a gal about a card, right???

Well....I started out asking if you needed something to warm you up - how about a cup of coffee - or maybe some cocoa, like I've got in the cup here.  If your ta-ta's need warming, you need to go check out Helen's card!  It'll crack you up!

My card is pretty straightforward -  I wanted to use a bit of a different color combo tho.  I went with Always Artichoke, Lucky Limeade, Rose Red and Regal Rose.  It's alright here - but I'll put up a card later this week that I did with the same combo that I really love!  I did heat emboss my candy cane in clear to give it some shine.

So, what is your favorite warm beverage?  I usually start my mornings off with java.  I used to buy flavored coffee all the time, but then began experimenting with adding spices to my plain grounds.  Like Pampered Chef Cinnamon Plus - yum.  I've recently tried pumpkin pie spice - which is good too.  Or just adding vanilla extract to the grounds.  (any extract works - but I don't have anything else 'cept mint and that doesn't sound too appealing.)  When I need warmed up in the afternoon I would prefer a cup of chai.  It I don't have that on hand about any International Foods mix will satisfy me.

Alright - I've blah, blah, blahhed enough now haven't I!!!  Go check out what the rest of the talented gals came up with!  Then be sure to join us this week!  

The Paper Players Design Team

Jen Arkfeld
Dawn Easton 
Helen Heil 
Jaydee 
Nance Leedy

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Ann Schach

Amy White

Paper Players #115 - Tic Tac Toe!

We've got a great tic tac toe challenge at The Paper Players this week.  I honestly had a hard time picking which one I was going to do - I even contemplated the tougher than tough diagonal choice of Christmas, Wedding, Birthday.  But I stuck with the middle vertical row this week.  I was actually needing to make so gift bags for The Artisan for Applefest, so went with a gift bag.  I'd already done up some kinda matchy cards, so this just followed suit.

I was quite surprised at how fast this went together.  The most time consuming part was the chevron stamping at the bottom.  I used the arrow border from Border Banter.

Pewter embossing powder - swoon!  I just love the look it gives here.  So classic and elegant.  

Why don't you go check out what the other fabulous designers came up with and then be sure to play along!  I'll be watching for something that uses the tricky diagonal challenge!!!  

The Paper Players Design Team

Jen Arkfeld
Dawn Easton 
Helen Heil 
Jaydee 
Nance Leedy

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Ann Schach

Amy White

Paper Players #114 - Gettin' Sketchy!

No, I don't really want it to snow....yet.  Give me 2 months and I'll tell you otherwise.  However, yesterday when I was sitting at Will's soccer game, I was pretty sure it was cold enough to snow.  It left me chilled for most of the day and I was thrilled when I could throw on my "snuggly pants" and a long sleeved t and a sweatshirt!!!  I do love this time of year when I can hunker down in my comfy clothes.  Ahh...
The real reason for my "Let it Snow" card - it's Paper Player time!  This week Ann has drawn up a delightful sketch:

From the moment I saw the sketch I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it - turn it on it's side!

I've been coloring several of these images while waiting for soccer practice, so had them colored up but not sure what to do with them yet.  So when I saw Ann's sketch...I knew this image would fit perfectly in there.  Now, that being said....it doesn't mean that this card came together very fast for me.  I would have thought that since I came in with a plan, and since my image was already colored, it would have been a 10 minute card. Nope. No-sir-ee.  This card took me for.ev.er!  I knew what dsp (from Festival of Prints) I wanted. But wasn't sure what to do for the strips.  I searched thru my stashes and this ribbon from last Christmas season spoke to me.  Then, I wanted to set the sled image off - and decided that I wanted some little scallops behind it - so I started punching with my dotted ribbon scallop punch and realize that it's pretty well worn out.  I won't punch anymore in the center of the punch.  But one edge punches wonderfully.  So.  Because I am the way I am...I just kept using that one end of the punch until I got it.  Yeah....a little frustrating.  But I did it.  (have I ever described myself as determined?) Don't worry - I threw the punch away and ordered myself a new one.  It's been so overworked between classes, clubs and workshops, I knew it was plain worn out.  I tried many times to sharpen and lubricate it with aluminum and wax paper....

So, after spending way too much time punching enough to go around the image panel, I came to the conclusion that it would not be a good idea to try this technique around the DSP as I initially planned. I went with a simple and plain mat.

The rest went together pretty good.  Although, I wish I'd picked a bigger snowflake. ( I used the retired Northern Flurry Strip Die.)  I used a two way glue pen and Dazzling Diamonds to glitter that little guy up.  It just doesn't show up as much as I'd planned.  However, I'm quite please with the results in the end.

Now - go see what the rest of the talented design team came up with - but don't forget to play along with The Paper Players this week!

The Paper Players Design Team

Jen Arkfeld
Lesley Croghan
Dawn Easton
Helen Heil
Jaydee
Nance Leedy

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Ann Schach

Amy White

Getting gifty...

Let me warn ya all right now...I'm working on things to put in a local store for a large celebration weekend...so - you may see somethings (possibly a lot of things) that are non-SU!  I've got some things that are in my stash and need to put them to work and get my money back out of them.  And ya know - sometimes it's just refreshing to work with things that you don't HAVE to!  Somedays I just need to give myself permission to break out those other goodies.  Somedays I need to tell myself that it's okay to post those projects here on the blog.  After all - you're really here for inspiration - right???

For this project, I simply stamped a lunch sack with evergreens and pinecones.  Added a paper doily - I did use a little tea stain distressing ink on it so it's not so white.  Added the die cut tag and "merry"....  the whole thing was pretty quick and simple.  I made 10 - I'll bundle them in groups of 5 to sell.

It doesn't happen too often!

.....I don't know how often I'll get the opportunity to make a 90th birthday card for someone.  This one happened to be for my husband's grandfather.  He turned 90 on Saturday!

I wanted to create a card that was no only masculine but bright and cheerful also.  I think I've pulled that off well here.  While the pattern in the blue DSP is floral, it reminds me of a men's tie, and is quite striking against the woodgrain texture.
What do you think?  Success?  Let me know in the comments section.

Have a Rosey Christmas!

Oh - don't you just love when you can create a Christmas card with a slightly non-traditional color?  While creating this card, I often recalled when my Grandma sported a silver Christmas tree in her living room.  And some very cool mercury glass ornaments in bright colors.  Who knew that it would make a come back and be a bit trendy?  

The ornie was done with silver embossing powder and then I went back over it with a Rose Red marker.  Love the look that was achieved.

Alrighty - I'd really like to stay and chat, but I've got to tend to this splitting headache that has been plaguing me all day!  UGH!  Even after a good dose of motrin....and I don't typically get headaches - so that makes it worse. So  - ta. ta. for now!

Paper Players Challenge #113

Good morning peeps!  Are you feeling fall in the air?  We have been and I love it!  I love when I can shut that air conditioner off, and throw open the windows, and when I'm sleeping that cool air makes me snuggle in my bed a little tighter!  The fall air is just so crisp and refreshing - a much needed break from our HOT and humid summer.

With fall among us, I wanted to do a fun fall card for our Banner-rific week at The Paper Players.  At first I was going to do an actual banner that spelled out fall.  Then, after a little more brainstorming, I was going to do a leaf banner.  Except all of my leafy dies were too big.  So, I noticed this little acorn in the Autumn Accents Die - and thought to myself - I'll go out on a limb.....and the idea was with me and it stuck.
 

I knew I was going to have to break out some non-SU supplies to pull this one off.  But you know what - they are kinda going to waste in my stash of stuff.....  And....this little stash of non-SU stuff just went so perfectly, I couldn't resist.  Initially I was going to use some green alpha stickers - but noticed the blue grid lines running thru the letters and thought I'd work with that a bit more.  So glad I made that choice.  The green would have been blah - and I like how the turquoisey blue really adds some zing.

Thought I needed to repeat that blue a little more so added some more with the buttons.  Had I not already tied the knots in the twine and glued those down, I would have added the buttons up in the corners of the twine....oh well....it's all good in the end.

Oh course, while I'm making this card.... I was thinking of all kinds of "nut" sentiments that could be used.  Wish I could make stamps up in a jiffy....I'd rather use stamps for sentiments than the computer, just because I can place them on my card where I want.  Anyway - more fun sentiments - "OH NUTS! I forgot your birthday!", "Nut'ings better than a day spent with you" - well and there are a couple I probably shouldn't mention here.....but it does make me chuckle....(insert dirty thoughts !)

Anyway....on that note - you better just go on and see what the rest of the clever design team has come up with!

The Paper Players Design Team

Jen Arkfeld (you are here!)
Lesley Croghan
Dawn Easton
Helen Heil
Jaydee
Nance Leedy

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Ann Schach

Amy White

Oh...

I'm setting here tonight listening to the rain outside and the thunder....It's music to my ears!  We are in dire need of rain around here.  Altho...my dear farmer hubby says it could have waited one more month.  He's in the middle of harvest and I think he'd rather just get it done.  They are a month ahead of schedule....so I say - Let it Rain!!

I've been a little sparse on my posts lately, and I apologize for that.  I think quite a while ago I told you all that I hadn't been feeling well, was quite fatigued - and that's just not like me.  Well, I finally had enough one day when I got really dizzy making lunch for the kids and immediately made an appt to see my doc.  I think we have things all figured out now and I'm thrilled to say that I'm feeling much better!  I'm one of those that doesn't like to feel sick and I certainly don't like feeling tired, so it was really worrying me.  I almost thought I was pregnant - but knew that was virtually impossible...So....anywhooooo.....I now feel like making things and sharing too!  Yay for you!  :)

Onward and upward....this is today's card:

I stamped one of the images from Many Medallions on the card base itself and then on a scrap of Crumb Cake, which I then die cut, lined up and adhered.  I stamped and punched the Triple Treat(?) flower, added that and then added the smallest image from Many Medallions....lots and lots of layering going on here....  All in all I really like the results - am thinking I could have used a strip of glitter or something along the Crumb Cake strip at the bottom of the card.  What do you think???

Paper Player Color Challenge!

Good day everyone!  This week we've got a great color challenge over at The Paper Players!  And you know, I don't usually LOVE color challenges, but this one worked up so easily for me!  You really should play along!!!

I put the ornaments to work this time and wanted to give them a vintagey feel.  Remember those old ornaments where the centers were inset and a lot of times there were brightly colored???  I was hoping to achieve that effect a bit by popping up the large portion of the ornament and die cutting out the center.  It worked a bit!

I also used the new silver pen to add dots of shimmer!  It was very easy to do - and very mess free!  Bonus for me.  And, what you may not notice in these photos - the card doesn't open in your usual manner.  Check it out!

Be sure to check out what the other fabulous designers came up with this week and don't forget to play along yourself!

The Paper Players Design Team

Jen Arkfeld
Lesley Croghan
Dawn Easton
Helen Heil
Jaydee
Nance Leedy

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Ann Schach

Amy White

Tricks for Treats Class

Witches and Goblins and Spooks - OH MY!!!  Let's send them on their way with the trickiest of treats!  In this class, you'll construct three different styles of treat boxes - and you'll create 2 each!.  These will be great for school parties, neighbor kids, grandkids, etc.  Plus, you'll have plenty of time to go home and create more for every one you can think of.  All supplies are included. Bring your scissors and your favorite adhesive and sticky strip.
Fee: $20 - Stamp Club members deduct $5 from fee.
Wednesday, Sept. 12th - Denison Municipal Utilitiels - 5:30pm - must register by Monday, Sept. 10th
Wednesday, Sept. 19th - Artisan Studio, Woodbine - 6:30 pm - must register by Monday, Sept. 17th
Thursday, Sept. 27th - Artisan Studio, Woodbine - 6:30pm - must register by Monday, Sept. 24th

Paper Players Theme Challenge #111

Good day everyone!  Hope you are all having a great Labor Day weekend.  To me, this is the official end of summer and beginning of fall.  Fall and Spring - they are my favorite seasons.  But just wait, once Winter enters the scene, I'll probably make the same statement about Winter!  It's a good thing that I live in Iowa where we have 4 seasons!

So, today the Paper Players are paying tribute to Fall - creating items with leaves and trees.  I hadn't inked up this new leaf set yet, so thought I'd give it a little play time.  I've been creating journals for an upcoming craft fair, and thought I'd make one for this challenge too.  

I added the burlap flower for a little more rustic flair and stamped the leaves onto some First Edition DSP.  I really like the look of the oak leaf the best of these.  I just think the woodgrain texture helps add to the fall flair.

And those stamps above are non-SU - but they worked perfectly, so I just went with it.

I have to tell you briefly about a wedding that we worked at last night.  (We had to work in the bar on behalf of the church)  A bunch of my friends had gone on Friday night to take peek at the decorations, they said I was going to love it.  So, I walked in yesterday afternoon to work, and wow!!!  Our hall is the old Catholic School Gymnasium.  It's quite large, but dated of course, because it's like a gazillion years old.  The bleachers are folded up and tucked up under the balcony - so they are a large blob of brown.  Well, last night they were covered up with old chenille bedspreads, and then they had a banner of old aprons strung across them - so vintagey cute!  The tables were decorated with mismatched linens, china and a lot of the glasses were canning jars!  SWOON!  The bridal party table had mismatched wooden chairs, a really cute, but old chandelier hung over their table from the basketball hoop.  One corner had a bunch of vintage chairs with a coat rack filled with the most adorable old hats and a trunk full of them too - and grandma style eyeglasses!  They were over there taking tons of pictures. Then when the wedding party walked in, they twirled thru the tables to the tune of "At Last" by Etta James.  Oh, it gave me chills!  It was such a fun retro wedding.....was great fun to have to work at it!

Now it's time to go and see what the rest of the amazing design team came up with!

The Paper Players Design Team

Jen Arkfeld
Lesley Croghan
Dawn Easton
Helen Heil
Jaydee
Nance Leedy

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Ann Schach

Amy White

More Tie-Dye...

Howdy folks!  Just wanted to show you one of the other tie-dye techniques that my Stamp Club members learned this past month.  This one was so cool - I just smiled bigger and bigger each time I did it!  I felt like a kid at a science fair or something.

For this one, we took some shaving cream and spread it out over a cookie sheet.  Than dropped re-inker drops  (Pool Party, Bermuda Bay [retired] and Lucky Limeade) randomly across the shaving cream.  Next, I took the end of a paint brush and swirled it around, pressed my Whisper White cardstock on the shaving cream and just kept pressing the paper into the shaving cream until it was well covered.  Then, I lifted the paper out of the shaving cream and wiped the excess off.  Voila!  Designer paper!  The really fun part is what happens when you keep re-using your shaving cream.  You get a softer version like you see above.  Pretty nifty - eh???

Alrighty - sorry, but I gotta run.  Have to work at a church function this afternoon!!!  Ta-ta!

Whhoooo do you love???

Good day all!  I've been telling my Stamp Club members about this idea for a while. And it's not actually my idea - I saw a similar card somewhere online, but can't find it's rightful owner to give her/him credit.  But the original used completely non-SU items.  I've stuck with only SU items - except for the die to cut the eyes.  (I tried the 2 1/2" circle punch but it was too big and the 1 3/4" circle punch was too small....break out the nestie dies)

The eyes were created using one of the tie-dye techniques we did at Stamp Club.  You can see one of the cards we made here.  We got to discussing the Cannery Dies at Stamp Club and how we need to think outside of the box with the dies to get more bang for your buck.  This is just one example!  NICE - huh!

Yes-sir-ee-bob - that there is the corn stamp and die to create the owl feathers.  I'm pretty darn pleased with the results.

How have you thought outside of the box with your dies?  I'd love to see what you've created.  Go ahead and post a link to your design in my comments section for all to see!

Forgetful Freida! Announcements....

....that's who I am! I have some blog candy to give away!!!  A pack of Christmas cards from this blog post....  The winner is:

JENNIFER -
Jennifer said - 
Love the Christmas card! Thanks for your great ideas and sharing them with us. I enjoy reading your blog and love the blooming with kindness card you did.

Jennifer - please email me your address and I'll get those cards in the mail to you!!!

Next up:
Stampin' Up! has extended the 31% off sale on some downloadable content and print products until September 14th!  This give you a few extra weeks to finish up those projects and get them ordered!  Just think - you could have your Christmas cards all done and ready to go before Halloween even gets here!  You could print up some adorable photobooks to give as gifts to friends and relatives.  What about a collection of your favorite recipes?  I know that my friends and I are always swapping recipes - they will be thrilled to get a mini album (swatchbook) with our favorites!

Have you seen today's new My Digital Studio Downloads?  Check them out:

When I first looked at these downloads from today, I thought - hmmm.  Black and White DSP - a bit boring.  But then I remembered this:



Is that not the coolest ever??? Now - you must have the new MDS2 in order for this to work - but let me tell you it is by far worth the upgrade!  What - you aren't using My Digital Studio yet?  You can test drive it for 30 days FREE!  Go have yourself some digi-fun!  Don't walk - run on over to my website and get yourself the upgrade !