Robyn's Fetish - Sketch Challenge!!

Welcome, Welcome to another FANTABULOUS Challenge with Robyn's Fetish!!!

Today's challenge is a SKETCH challenge!! SO FUN! I love having a jumping off point when I begin a project. It's just SO helpful!!

Here's today's sketch!!

The other challenge was that we can use ANY RF image that we'd like but we MUST only use papers and cardstock from our scrap bins.

The image that I chose came from the BCA set that's on sale now. It's a FANTASTIC set of images and it supports a wonderful cause.

Believe it or not, I do keep 12x12 sheets of designer paper in my scrap bins. When I set to create something I pull lots of options out of my paper holders. When I'm done, I tend to keep whatever is left together as it's already coordinating so when I need another project I can go to my scrap bin, start there and see if I can use up pieces from another project before pulling all new stuff out. It's super helpful in using my scraps, but also explains why some 12x12 ends up in there!

Right, so I had my Basic Grey 12x12 paper. I then pulled out a sheet of Mah Jongg score paper from an antique pad from the 30's that I picked up at a vintage store in Gorham, Maine this summer.

Next came a rectangle of PTI chocolate paper...which I crumpled up, flattened out, covered in Versamark, Dazzling Diamond ink, poured copious amounts of thick embossing powder on and heat set. The flowery paper beneath that was buried at the bottom of my scrap drawer...yes I have a drawer, a box and a bin!! I trimmed it down and started putting these pieces together!! I was THRILLED that I had a sizable slice of my Hambly, screen printed acetate "paper" as it coordinated perfectly and gave great dimension to the sketch.

I grabbed a length of SU! Old Olive grosgrain ribbon off of my ribbon ring and stitched it to the left hand side of the design and then used another bit of SU! Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon to make my bestie friend (in real life!) Joanne's signature "buttony bow". If you'd like to learn she did an AWESOME tutorial here!! I've used it a number of times now (thanks Jo!!) and it always comes out great!!Now that I had my main pieces I started coloring this gorgeous and voluptuous dress. I had something 'vintage' in mind but didn't want to anything fussy as the rest of the design is already busy. So I simply stayed with pink...highlighting in areas where I thought the dress would flow nicely. I colored the lining of the dress with my gold paint pen - as well made, vintage dresses ALWAYS had fabulous linings. (it's really what saves a dress and makes it worth keeping for a long time!) I trimmed the v-neck in what I could imagine would be green, sparkly glass beads or crystals. (if the dress were real) After I colored it I realized it still needed....something. The heart is a rub on from an SU! set and then definitely needed a BIT more (with me...more is always better!!!) so from inspiration from our last challenge I hand stitched around the heart in the closest green I had to match the v-neck. I then added a tiny rhinestone as the last decorative touch and voila!!!
I then grabbed a piece of scrap that quietly coordinated to go under the dress image on the right side - it was a 12x12 piece that had dress patterns on it!! How tre-perfect!! To complete the dress image I used my SU! photo corner punch to add coordinating photo corners around the dress. And lastly, I added 3 jumbo green brads with white polka dots on the right hand side to complete the piece. I remember looking at the sketch and thinking...whoa...how am I going to tackle this one....and actually I had THE best time!!! SUCH a great time!!

Hope you play along!!!!

Thanks for visiting!!!

XOXO-

Creating for Creatings Sake!

I just felt like busting my own challenge out this week for myself!!! I was feeling festive and creative so here's what I came up with!!

I pulled out these very festive and simple colors in solid SU! and PTI cardstock.
I crumpled up was I knew was going to be my first layer after the card base. I scrunched it up really well and then coated it in Versamark Dazzle and heat set it. It's kind of like homemade designer paper. It takes on a whole new effect and adds a LOT of dimension.

And then I realized that I had few 'boyish' papers that I had just purchased that had almost those exact colors in it!! (I've been trying to amass a stash of really good boy papers and embellis...they can be hard to find!!) Anyway, I then decided that I wanted to use an 'earthy' image based on the color scheme. So I went right for my FAVORITE "shroomies" stamp. Super cute, super swirly, and super fun to work with. I inked them up in chocolate and olive inks - independently of each other obviously, washing them in between and then heat setting them. I did a bit of coloring and shading with my Copics. And then I wanted to give them just a little blinggidy so I used my vintage, glass glitter on the mushroom spots.
I edge distressed each layer and then settled them in. I then added the eclectic button trio to the top left hand side of the card. I then sat back and looked at it. I liked it...




but...





but....
(check email)





but.....
(go get more seltzer)






but............................
(forgot to grab some gum - back downstairs)






but.................................
(this is my thinking process)
Finally, lightening strikes and I figure out what the card was missing. I cut the word 'DIRTY' out of the same paper you see in the picture (in between the green and orange - I'm blanking on the brand) and then look for a matte for the word. While thinking about the matte that I wanted to use, I ran the skinny end of my Versamark pen over the letters in the word 'DIRTY' and heat embossed them just so they'd have a bit more presence. I then looked around and grabbed a piece of leftover fabric that matched again...perfectly!! So instead of a traditional matte, I used fabric and then pulled out the edges to create the messy, fraying effect.

Because I just CANNOT leave well enough alone...I popped my green thread into my sewing machine and framed the word in a zig zag stitch.

Lastly - inside I added the sentiment DIGGING using the matching papers. I rarely do anything coordinating on the inside of the card but this card was just calling for it! =)
I hope you enjoy my creation!!


XOXO-

Tempting Lorali Thursdays Featuring SPOOKY STAR!!!

TEMPTING LORALI THURSDAY FEATURING SPOOKY STAR!!!

So I was realizing that I had YET to do a QKD Halloween Card!! I pulled out one of my originals - Star - (love her!) And decided to bust out a festive card while I still had the time!!!

As I've stated recently, I've been TRYING hard to use my scraps before I cut into a new slice of DP. Although...there IS something similar to opening a gift or a package in the mail that I find similar to using new papers...ahhhh...new papers....

ahem...

but I digress...

So I pulled out a slice of kraft paper out of one of my scrap bins, as well as orange, black, gold cardstock and the green candy paper that you see in the background.
I pulled out Star, Fantasy Pumpkin, and the ever so awesome Fairie Tales Stamp Set for my sentiment.

I distressed the edges of my orange seahorse background paper, then the edges of the green candy paper. I adhered them and then stitched together using a zig zag stitch with black thread.

I then set to coloring Star. I inked her up in Brilliance Pearlescent Orange and heat set her. I colored her with my Copics and silver paint pen. I used my SU! 2-WAY glue and black doodlebug glitter to sparkle up her tail. Star is inked on white cardstock, stitched with a straight stich in black, then matted 3 times on orange, black and lastly gold. I took my white gel pen and doodled around the edges of the gold paper to make her pop a little more.
The pumpkins were stamped in regular ink (imagine that!) SU! Only Orange and colored in with pencil and my green sparkly Sakura gel pen. I stamped the image 3 times and matted it on a slice of SU! Only Orange paper.
The ribbons were an add on kind of last minute as was the vintage gold button. I wrapped them around originally going to tie them in one big bow but the vibe seemed to take me in the direction of 3 separate and I LOVE the way they came out. The gold button is one from my Great-Grandmother's sewing basket. It's been rolling around on my desk as I *thought* I may use it in another project but ended up not but it was PERFECT here!! Don't you love it when that happens?

I hope you enjoyed my creation for this Thursday as much as I did making it!!

Don't forget to START SHOPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!!

ENJOY!!

XOXO

Robyn's Fetish Wacky Wednesday Freebie!!!

Welcome to Robyn's Fetish Wacky Wednesday's!!!

Every Wednesday there will be new cards to look at on the DT's blogs and a FREEBIE IMAGE each week on Robyn's blog!!! This week's image is this this ridiculously sweet and adorable Dolly and Present stamp!! I LOVE her!! Such a GREAT image for a card for a little girl.
I had so much fun creating with this!! I ran and got lots of mis-matched but still matched (you know what I mean =) papers and just started trimming...a little bit at whim. I stitched through some of the designs on the first larger piece of Basic Grey designer paper.

I then colored Dolly and her gift. I ran a piece of Kraft paper through my printer in order to paper piece the eco-friendly looking wrapping paper. I wanted to keep the wrapping paper a little quiet because I really wanted to sparkle up the ribbon. I think the effect worked out nicely!

She's layered on 2 layers of distressed SU! cardstock and one piece of distressed Basic Grey. Again...all stitched together.
I, once again, have used the Buttony Bow technique with a large piece of brown grosgrain ribbon with white polka dots, jumbo blue button and blue gingham.
It was a cold but gorgeous day here in MA so I brought the card outside to photograph. No place is better than outside!! But I don't always have the luxury depending on the weather or when I need to photograph and post! Which is why I always post SO many different angles, lights and settings for all of my creations.

I hope you enjoyed my Wacky Wed Image!!! Don't forget to go grabs yours and participate!!!

Thanks for visiting!!

And don't forget to go shopping!!!

XOXO

Tek Tuesday - Photo / Inspiration Explosion Box!!

Hello Everyone!!

Here's my post from over at TCC for another Tek Tuesday Tutorial!

I've ALWAYS wanted to make one of these Photo / Inspiration Boxes but was always too chicken to try it!! Or maybe too lazy to figure it out? Maybe a combo of both? =) In any case I have overcome my fear and have done one to show you!!!

There are quite a bit of steps but it is SO SUPER easy!! And it would make an AMAZINGLY meaningful gift to someone.

Ok here we go!!!

Materials Needed:

• images from the STORE!!!

• 4 sheets of solid 12"x12" cardstock (one for the lid and 3 for the box which encompasses all panels)
  
• as many coordinating designer papers that you'd like to use
• coordinating embellishments and ribbon and/or photos
  
• bone folder
• paper trimmer
• adhesive
• trimmer with scoring blade or a scoring matte

Box and Interior of Photo / Inspiration Explosion Box

Cardstock Sheet 1 (L1)- 12"x12" - this will be the outside of your box as well as your first layer - score 4" on each side and trim out the 4 corner panelsCardstock Sheet 2 (L2) - Trim your cardstock down to 11 1/2" x 11 1/2". This will be your second layer in the box - score 4" on each side and trim out the 4 corner panels.
Cardstock Sheet 3 (L3) - Trim your cardstock down to 11"x11". This will be your third and final layer in the box - score 4" on each side and trim out the 4 corner panels.
Fold and score on each scored line.
At this point you will have 3 decorating panels. L3 will fit inside L2. L2 will fit inside L1 which is your final layer the outside of which is the outside of your box.

I chose to decorate my panels first before adhering them together in the center. I think that each can be decorated as it's own separate entity or all tying in together but either way you want to work with one layer at a time.
I also chose to decorate both sides of each panel. That way you have twice the surface area to play with and have fun!!
The panels measure as follows:

L1 - Panels all measure at 4". Depending on how you want to decorate the interior, you could start by going down incrementally by 1/4 " or more depending on the look you want. The same goes for all layers.

L2 - Panels all measure at 3 1/2" x 4".

L3 - Panels all measure at 3" x 4".

Once all panels have been decorated you will now start with L3. Put a strong adhesive on the bottom of the center panel, I used "red liner" tape and press it firmly into the center of L2. Repeat this process when putting L2 and L1 together.
If you pick the box up now you will be able to fold all 4 sides upwards and your box will be formed!! Now all we need is a lid!!

Top of Photo Inspiration / Explosion Box

You should have one last piece of solid 12x12 cardstock left.

• Trim this down to 6 1/8" x 6 1/8"
• Score 1" on each side
• Trim off triangle on corners where score lines meet
• Fold lid on score lines
• "Pinch" the corners inward
• Using adhesive adhere the corners together. Hold overnight with binder or bulldog clips.
• Decorate top and sides of lid

You can also decorate the outside of the box as well. If you were to do that I'd do it when the layers were separated on the opposite side of L1.

I've chosen to "alter" an elastic headband (I buy them in packages of 6 at CVS) and wear them when I run) to use as a mechanism to secure the box a little more when people pick it up to look at it. This isn't at all necessary because the top holds it all together nicely but the band gives it a bit more sturdiness if you think it's going to be handled a lot.

I took the band and slipped it around the exterior of the box. I pinched the extra fabric in my fingers not that it was so tight that it now bent the paper but just snug enough to hold it. I put a stick pin into the fabric and slid it off the box. I ran the section that I had pinned through my sewing machine and then snipped off the excess. Where the seam showed I added this cutie little button detail with my hot glue gun.

I chose to use CUTIE PATOOTIE Blossom to decorate the lid!! I fell in love with her the minute I laid eyes on her!!! I colored her with a combination of my Copics and colored pencil. I added a cute rhinestone detail to her adorable dress and totally glittered up her hair!! I'd totally wear my hair that way AND that color!! So stinkin' cute!!
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial!! If you have ANY questions don't hesitate to leave them in the comment section and I'll check back to answer them!!

XOXO-


**I had to research how to do this before writing/photographing this tutorial. I found my information HERE. I used this tutorial to come up with my own interpretation and explaination but I used her measurements. I just wanted to give credit where credit was due! =)