Use it, don’t lose it

In this Moxie Fab World challenge we are encouraged to take pieces (non-paper) that we might otherwise throw in the garbage. Off my craft table I grabbed a few pieces of satin ribbon that were trimmed off the ends after wrapping a package. I also have a few small lengths of bakers twine and floss. When I fist grabbed the ribbon ends I thought I would turn them into little banners and stitch them down with the floss. However, after trimming the ends into points I thought it looked like butterfly wings. From there I trimmed both ends of the ribbon and used the twine and floss to tie the middle for the butterfly body and antennae.

Recipe
cardstock, ink: Stampin’ Up
stamp set: Close to my Heart
other: ribbon and twine scraps

Handmade embellishments

Another Moxie Fab World challenge this week is to use a handmade embellishment as a focal point. I decided to go big and bold with this one. I needed an anniversary card for some friends and was stumped as to what I wanted to do for the focal. A heart makes a lot of since so I cut a large heart from my Cricut and gave it some real oomph. I painted it with Distress Crackle paint, added another layer of paint to create a sentiment backdrop and covered the whole thing with embossing powder for thick depth and shine. Plus when I stamped my sentiment into the warm embossing powder, it gives a bit of a debossed impression.

Recipe
cardstock: Stampin’ Up, other
paints: Ranger
inks: Ranger, Tsukineko (Staz On)
embossing ink: Versa Mark
embossing powder, punch: Stampin’ Up
fibers: We R Memory Keepers

Using scraps

The next Moxie Fab World challenge is to use your paper scraps to create a project. I had a pile of paper scraps leftover from cutting out my computer printed cards from the last challenge. Since I printed a card that is 5.5 x 8.5 on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper there were plenty of leftover pieces.

I decided to use the scraps as a mask and create a pattern to ink over them. Once done I decided to use the positive mask pieces on a project as well as the negative masked and inked piece. I got two simple yet pretty cards out of one pile of scrap pieces.

Recipe
cardstock: Staples (white), Stampin’ Up
inks: Ranger
stamps: Stampin’ Up
punch: Fiskars

Fascinating Feathers

I have a string of Moxie Fab World challenges for you for the next few posts. I was able to just pull out paper and make project after project and play with all my supplies. I did not have any occasions in mind. I was working just from the challenges. So today I have for you the Fascination with Feathers challenge.

I’m not a feathery kind of person so I found this one tricky. I don’t know how I thought of it, but the idea of a top hat with a feather in it popped into my head and this card was born. It would be a fun card for a prom or a wedding!

Recipe
cardstock, stamp: Stampin’ Up
die cut: Cricut (paper doll dress up)
glitter flock: Hampton Art
embossing ink: Versa Mark
other: feather, embossing powder

Fringe inspriation

When I saw this photo posted for the Moxie Fab World challenge I was immediately drawn to the pink blanket’s fringe. Looking about the picture I picked up several other pieces of inspiration… the pattern on the carpet, the color & texture of the armchairs & blanket and the bold frame of the mirror over the mantel. I used all these elements when I came up with this card.

Recipe
cardstock, sentiment stamp, chalk, twill, punches: Stampin’ Up
background stamp: Hero Arts
embossing ink: Versa Mark
dye inks: Ranger
floss: DMC

• I stamped the background with embossing ink and rubbed chalk over it for pop to the image. It also gives it a velvety appearance in real life.
• I inked the twill for richer texture.
• To get the fringe spacing just right, I used a ruler and marked the back of the twill at 1/2 cm intervals using a permanent pen. Just use a wide, loopy “whip stitch” with the floss, then cut all the loops to create the fringe. Add a dot of liquid adhesive to the back of each stitch to help hold the floss in place.
• For the frame, I punched a 1 1/4 in circle into the dark cardstock then punched a scallop circle out around the empty circle. I punched a slightly larger circle out of the vanilla cardstock for my sentiment and layered the scallop frame over the top with foam adhesive.

Thank you bouquet

My friend has been spending a lot of her time (happily, I’m glad to report) driving my son around to different events. I have been very thankful for the extra set of wheels to get him where he needs to go. I made a quick and simple bouquet out of one of our early spring flowering shrubs and wrapped it up with some ribbon and a tag. Easy, easy.

Recipe
stamps, cardstock, punch: Stampin’ Up
ink: Tsukineko
markers: Copic
die cut machine: Cricut
other: ribbon, jump rings

I keep a supply of various size tags that I cut out on my Circut. This allows me to grab a tag, stamp and go when I need a really quick accent for something.

Convention & Contest

My daughter and I went to CKC this past weekend and we had a really good time. We haven’t really done too many mother-daughter specific activities, so this was special. Ignore my goofy smile. This photo was taken on my cell phone which has an abysmal lag so we never know when it will really take the photo. Any hints on improving the Android system phone would be much appreciated (and I did try downloading some different photo software with no luck)

While at the show I got a few things done. Not as much as I would have on my own, but it was more fun to have company there this year. I don’t have any scrappy friends so every year I go alone. So again, this year really was special! Check out the layouts I go finished for my kids’ October layouts.

For this first one I chose a bunch of girlie products and went with The Paper Variety’s current challenge prompt of Tic-Tac-Toe

I used the bottom row with stitching and a die cuts (flowers) on a layout.

And here are my next two pages. Just simple pages that captures the photos and stories.

September layouts

And here is September… my favorite layouts since they bring me many happy memories of a warmth while I am in the midst of our typical cold dreary winter.

This brings us up to date with what I have finished of my layouts from 2012. I will post the rest of the year as I get them done. I will likely finish up at the Creating Keepsakes Convention event I am soon going to. I am especially excited this time as my daughter just turned 10 and she wants to go with me. We will see how much scrapping I actually get done now that I have someone to hang out with at the convention!

August Layouts

And now for August layouts! For these I used collage prints in a couple of ways. I am a fan of 8.5 x 11 photo collages but that doesn’t mean all my layouts need to be the same. You’ll notice that I used the collage prints in a number of different ways.

This first one I did not fill up the entire 8.5×11 space with photos. I varied the sizes of each photo to allow uneven borders around the edges. I then cut them apart, lined them right up against each other and outlined each photo with a pen to add definition to the collage.

For this next one I just left the collage print alone with its simple white border and I used the entire space to fill with photos for an even border all the way around.

And finally, I used the uneven outside border style from the first photo but an even border between photos. Instead of leaving the white photo border I cut the prints apart and layered them on a piece of patter paper for a more interesting photo mat.