Fun And Funky Sunrise

I don't generally do "funky" since I don't know how to do it very well, but Lindsay's Stamp Stuff is releasing a new set today called Funky Forest and I thought I would do something in honor of the new set.
The digital tree stamp I used here is my favorite of the trees. You can purchase the tree as an individual stamp, but now it has a whole set of friends to go with it. Be sure to check it out. There's a whole page full of images and sentiments for only $5.
After WCMD, I got kinda tired of making cards. On top of all my WCMD cards, I had to make a couple of male birthday cards, and, well, I just got a little burnt out. So, I decided to make a birthday cookie box for one of my co-workers. I cut the sun out with my Cricut (Accent Essentials) and freehand cut some hills which I embossed with the Cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder just for added "funkiness". I printed out the same tree image three times in three different sizes and colored with my copics before cutting them out and popping them up on the hills with foam adhesive. Simple, fun and a little funky!

If you didn't come here from Lindsay's blog, be sure to go over there and see what she's done with the new set....AND.....as always, she has a freebie for you! Also, be sure to check out what the whole design team has been doing. I'm always inspired by what they come up with. I wish they all lived next door so we could get together and work on projects! They are amazingly creative. Lindsay must be rubbing off on us!

Project Recipe
Paper: SU Tempting Turquoise, SU Apricot Appeal, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, Coredinations Flower Power CS
Stamps: LSS Funky Forest
Accessories: Cricut, Accent Essentials, Cuttlebug, Swirls embossing folder, copic markers, ScorPal

Button Balloons

Just a quick little post to show you one of the projects I got done this weekend. I've been really busy updating my blog, working on some projects for my papercrafting group, and organizing the craft room. I have a co-worker who has a birthday today, but I will be giving this to her tomorrow at school. I finally inked up this Papertrey Ink set called Everyday Buttons. If you haven't seen this stamp set yet, it's cleverly designed to coordinate with buttons of all colors and sizes. I threaded a little embroidery floss through the buttons before adhering them to the stamped balloon strings. The sentiment is also from this stamp set. Inside is a couple of delicious cookies for the birthday girl. For more information about and examples of the mini pizza box, see my earlier posts.
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Basic Black CS, PTI White CS, PTI Bitty Dots
Stamps: PTI Everyday Buttons
Accessories: cuttlebug, Spellbinders Labels One Die, buttons (source unknown), PTI Lemon Tart Satin Ribbon

The Birds

 

Lindsay has done it again! She's pulled together another awesome, albeit creepy, set for Halloween. This particular image from the set has left my copic markers crying from neglect because I just printed it out with no coloring at all. I printed on top of some SU Night and Day paper that looks worn and distressed. Then, I "flicked" some blood, I mean red ink across the page after spraying the whole thing with Pearl Glimmer Mist. You can't really see the glimmer in this picture but it's there and looks stunning up close. I went all the way with the distressing on this one. For the background I used the cuttlebug distressed branches folder with brown ink inside the folder. I added a scrap of Basic Grey Wassail red paper which comes distressed. And for good measure, I distressed the edges of the main image. My goodness this looks like something you might find in the cell of a serial killer---BWAHAHAHAHA!

Take a look at this brand new set you can find now at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff:

   

Lindsay's also got a freebie that goes along with this set on her blog today. Be sure to check it out here.

And because this was just too much fun, I've got another project that came together in just minutes using this same set.

 

 I created the paper I printed the ATC Crow on by using a brayer to spread Tangerine Tango ink on PTI Shimmery White Cardstock (a glossy paper works best for this technique). Then, I misted the paper with a little water and sprinkled salt on it. I let it dry all day while I was at work and then, came home and brushed all the salt off. It left the paper with speckles on it. (BTW you can read more about this technique in the October issue of  Scrap and Stamp Art Magazine) Then, I just printed the image on my paper--easy. I used Coredinations Spell Caster CS in my cuttlebug leafy branch folder and sanded the paper after embossing so that the orange showed through.

I think I'm going to make some Halloween goody bags filled with treats for my papercrafting club that meets in a couple of weeks. These cards will be a cute/creepy touch on the outside of the bags.

Not in the Halloween spirit? That's okay. Lindsay has lots of other fabulous images including a set of cupcake wrappers that are cheery and sweet. Take a look:

Glad you could stop by. Happy Haunting!
Project Recipe
(Top Pic)
Paper:SU Basic Gray CS, SU Basic Black, SU Night and Day DSP, Basic Grey Wassail PP
Stamps: LSS Creepy Crows, PTI Spooky Sweets (sentiment)

Accessories: Basic Grey brads, toothbrush and SU Ridinghood Red ink refill, SU Modern Label Punch, white craft ink and embossing powder, cuttlebug, cuttlebug distressed branches embossing folder
(frightful ATC Crow pic)
Paper: SU Dusty Durango Textured CS, Coredinations Spell Caster CS, PTI White Shimmer CS
Stamps: LSS Creepy Crows
Accessories: scrapNfonts Fright Night font, SU large oval punch, SU scalloped oval punch, cuttlebug, cuttlebug leafy branch embossing folder, PTI black twill ribbon, brayer, tangerine tango ink pad, salt

Rainy Day Projects

It's been raining here on and off all day which considering that we've been in a drought for the past year is absolutely FANTASTIC! I'm watching it lightning across the lake right now and it is a beautiful sight. What a great day it's been for working on projects.
The Pixie Cottage, a new stamp company with some ultra cute stamps coming out soon, is sponsoring a design team call. I spent the day working on projects to enter in the call, but then I went and checked out the competition and "Wow!" am I ever blown away! You need to check out the store when it opens just to see the work from their new design team because there is some great talent in the running for it.
Pink Daisy May

This project is for the Cute Daisy May challenge this week to use pink and ??? We could pick whatever color we wanted to go along with pink. So I decided to go with pink and pinker and then I threw in a little green, too, just to keep it interesting! This is just the sweetest image EVER! And do you love the flower? I took an inexpensive flower from a "silk" flower stem and inked it up with coordinating inks. The smaller flower in the middle also got a coat of Versamark ink and iridescent embossing powder. See it sparkle. I love taking plain (inexpensive) flowers and making them coordinate with my projects.
Christmas Treats

On this next project I was playing around with some ideas for Christmas (yes, I realize it's only September, but gotta start sometime!) Stampin' Up has these little treat cups and a coordinating stamp set. You punch a hole in the cardstock and slip the treat cups in from behind. Then, you just fill them up with some small goodies and cover the hole in the back. I wanted something a little non-traditional in terms of color, so I pulled out some of the new Bermuda Bay which I think makes quite a statement paired with black and white.

Too Cute to Spook

I also managed to get another Halloween card done. I'm not sure what I  will do with this one but it was a lot of fun to make. The little witch is from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. I thought this little trick-or-treater would work perfectly for the Digital Tuesday challenge which was to include a digital image of a teen or child.
There's a lot going on with this one. The sketch is this week's sketch over at Tuesday Morning Sketches. I dusted off my cricut and with the help of Design Studio and SCAL I cut out the swirly oval  and the drippy goo border. The drippy goo is an SVG that I got from the talented Tamara Bennett. I cut it out in black and some DCWV glitter paper. The "Boo" sentiment is a dingbat I got from scrapNfonts for a $1 (the $1 sale continues through Tuesday). I used my copics to color in the little witch and then used my deckle Spellbinders die to cut out and emboss the image. I sponged around the edges before I took the die off. Since I didn't have any Halloween patterned paper, the patterned paper in the background was created using some PTI Black and White Basics patterned paper colored in with an orange copic marker.
Well, that's today's fun! Tomorrow I need to work on some projects for my students and I've got to start planning out the project my papercrafting class is going to do in a couple of weeks. Maybe it'll rain some more--I seem to be very productive when it does!
Project Recipe
(Pink Daisy May)
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush CS, PTI Berry Sorbet CS, Shimmery Green paper (source unknown), PP from Chatterbox Page Kit, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS
Stamps: Cute Daisy May Sheet 59, PTI Spring Tags (sentiment)
Accessories: copic markers, cuttlebug, cuttlebug Victorian embossing folder, Spellbinders Label 4 dies, SU slot punch, SU eyelet border punch, PTI Berry Sorbet Ribbon, PTI linen thread, button (unknown source), flowers (Walmart), Versamark ink, Ranger Holographic embossing powder, heat gun

(Christmas Treats)

Paper: SU Whisper White CS, SU Black CS, SU Bermuda Bay textured CS, SU Night and Day DSP
Stamps: SU Sweet Centers, SU Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment)
Accessories: SU Sweet Treat Cups, Kaiser Kraft pearls (colored black with copics), PTI True Black Twill ribbon, SU Large Oval Punch, SU Scalloped Oval Punch, EK Success 1 3/4 circle punch, Tic Tacs candy

(Too Cute to Spook)

Paper: SU More Mustard CS, CTMH Black CS, PTI White CS, DCWV Spring Glitter Mat Stack, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, PTI Black and White Basics PP (colored with copic marker E07), SU Tangerine Tango DSP (retired)
Stamps: LSS Cute Witch
Accessories: DB Fright Night and LD Classy Charm font (ScrapNFonts), copic markers, cuttlebug, SU Movers and Shapers Modern Label die, Spellbinders Large Deckles dies, Cricut Expression, Storybook and George and Basic Shapes cartridges, SCAL and Design Studio software, SU Modern Label punch

Punchy Pumpkins

I'd love to say I'm feeling "fall-ish" but it's waaay too hot here for that. However, everyone else seems to be getting ready for the fall holidays, so I guess I'll fake it till I make it!
I was just playing around some more in my craft room and decided to squeak in at the last minute Mel's sketch challenge number 9 over at Tuesday Morning Sketches.
I did very little stamping on this one. Everything was punched out or cut out. I did use a CTMH Playful Flourishes set for some "vines". I used SU's large oval punch to make the cute little pumpkin. The leaves I cut out with SCAL and my Cricut. And that's one of my newest Spellbinders dies--Peony nestabilities. I colored some adhesive pearls with my copics and set them on top of some retired SU Autumn Vines papers I punched out with the SU modern label punch.
Great sketch, Mel. I'll try to get the next one done in a timelier manner!
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Really Rust CS, SU Old Olive CS, SU More Mustard CS, SU Autumn Vine DSP (retired), SU More Mustard DSP (retired), PTI Green Tea Leaves PP
Stamps: CTMH Playful Flourishes
Accessories: SU Large Oval Punch, SU Modern Label Punch, SU Movers and Shapers Modern Label Die, Cuttlebug, Cricut, SCAL, Spellbinders Peony Nestabilities Dies, Paper Studio Pearls, Copic marker

Back to School

Yep, it's that time of year again. Back to school in Texas. This is my 19th year to do this "back to school thing" as a teacher (not counting those years I was on the other side of the chalk board). I teach junior high, so that means instead of having just 20 to 25 kids in a class all day, I have over a hundred students during the day. I really like papercrafting gifts to give people, but it's hard to make something for a hundred plus people and not spend my entire pay check. So, I don't have anything but a smile for students on the first day. However, to lift the spirits of my fellow staff members, I decorated these little pencil boxes that I found on sale last spring at Walmart for a quarter. I was able to get 40 of these in the four different colors you see above. A little paper, a little cutting with my Cricut, a few embellishments and some embossing with the cuttlebug and a day later, I had 40 of these ready to go.
I filled each one with a pencil, a binder clip and some assorted candies. I used Papertrey Ink's Handwritten Notes stamp set to create a little note for the inside that reads "Have a great day!" and I signed each one. Hopefully, everyone (teachers, staff, and students) will have a great day today and another great year!
Project Recipe (some of the stuff, anyway):
Papers: SU Ridinghood Red CS (retired, CTMH Perfect Day PP, SU Orchid Opulence CS, SU Cottage Wall DSP, SU Not Quite Navy CS, SU Baja Breeze DSP (retired), SU Pumpkin Pie CS, SU Tangerine Tango DSP (retired), PTI White CS
Stamps: SU Sincere Salutations (good luck sentiment), Rubber Stampede Paw Print, PTI Handwritten notes (not shown)
Accessories: Cricut, Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, SU 5-Petal Flower Punch, SU Eylet border punch, Making Memories Blossoms and Buttons flowers, K&Company flowers with brads

Rockin Out

It's official...I'm back at work and boy, can I ever feel it! I'm exhausted and the kids haven't even arrived yet. How will I ever survive next week? It's been a crazy busy week on top of it being a work week. I have had so little time for crafting, but as always, I was inspired by the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches and the Digital Tuesday Challenge which was to make a masculine card. I love being challenged to make masculine cards because I have so many men in my family. I love all the "fru fru" that goes with making cards for the girls and women in my life, but I have to really work to keep things simple when I'm going masculine.
To give this card a masculine feel, I kept the elements simple and pulled more "guy" colors. This patterned paper is some retired SU DSP that gives a funky edge to the card. That fantastic image is from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff and it could so easily be punked out or pinked out for a different look or a more feminine look. Definitely, need this image if you've got teenagers to make cards for because these guitars are "hot" right now! You can get this image for a dollar at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff and you can take advantage of her everyday special and spend $5 in the store and get a free image of your choice. Also, sweet Lindsay is giving away one of her brand new digital images. But you've got to hunt it down with a blog hop to the whole design team. Start here.
I'm off to bed now because mornings suddenly come sooo early these days (only 10 more years until retirement!)!
Project recipe
Paper: SU Autumn Vine DSP (retired), SU Baja Breeze CS (retired), SU More Mustard CS, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS
Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Bass Guitar, CC Designs SugarPlum Sentiments (sentiment)
Accessories: cuttlebug, SU Movers and Shapers modern label die, SU Modern Label punch, copic markers, Sakura glitter pen, twine