Monday, January 20, 2014

Hitting the JustRite Challenge 112 - Color Inspiration one more time....

I have to admit....this color combination has me both intrigued and befuddled.  Honestly, this has been such a difficult combo for me to work with....I think because the colors almost seem to clash to my eye. When I finally got something together I liked the rather "vintagely" look that the colors had but it took me a long time and a lot of futzing around before I came up with a card I liked!  I went a little layer heavy on this particular card....everytime I tried to bring it in with fewer layers I ended up with a card that seemed to be missing something....obviously I worked on this too long and was getting punchy!  I do love the challenges over at JustRite as they almost always involve their stamps and Spellbinder dies and so I get to use two of my most favorite product lines in a new and interesting way.  So, here is the JustRite color combination challenge 112.


And I did deviate from the exact match on these colors....I just couldn't find any that were an exact match in my stash so some of my colors are a bit darker....and for whatever reason, once I brushed ivory onto my red rose it became purple-ish looking....oh well!

Here is my card-


And thank you for stopping by today....I always appreciate visits and comments!

Be well,
Sheila

Frilly and Funky Challenge....the Warmth of Winter.

Okay....this Frilly and Funky challenge says to create a card or project that warms someone's heart and for me that heart is my daughter Clarice.  A few weeks ago I made some "tiles" for her sister to hang on her apartment wall and over winter break Clarice asked me to make her some.  Now as most of the world knows the midwest was gripped in a polar vortex....like 50 degrees BELOW zero!  It was so cold that it only made sense to stay in the house and craft craft CRAFT!  So, after Clarice picked out some papers that she like I made her these tiles.  And, yesterday I gave them to her when I went and visited her at college.  And, they certainly warmed her heart to have some homemade craftiness from her dear old mom ;-D

I use inexpensive paper mache' tiles from Hobby Lobby that I "pre-treat"  with ModPodge.  I then start to assemble the layers again using MP.  I also used a mirror like sheet of product from Tim Holtz to stamp and creat the faux mirror in the middle of the third tile.  I also too some pink foil, embossed and then inked and added sparkling H2O to it to give it a more metal like appearance.  The cabinet knobs are also from Hobby Lobby...I usually wait until they have some sort of sale and then pick up several that I like.  So, with out further ado here is my entry into the Frilly and Funky The Warmth of Winter Challenge!







I really love how these turned out and am so happy that Clarice loves them too!  I hope to make more for some of the friends of Clarice and Bessie...it is a nice project to turn to when I have a bit more time on my hands.  Thanks for stopping by!

Be well,
Sheila

Thursday, January 16, 2014

JustRite Friday Challenge 112

I am so tickled to be able to participate in a JustRite Stamp Challenge 112 Color Inspiration.   Life leading up to the holidays, and by holidays I mean all the way back to Thanksgiving, I have not been able to take part in one of my most favorite challenges.  I love JustRite stamps and dies and have been slowly building up my supply.  This particular Friday challenge is a color inspiration challenge and I gotta tell you it was pretty difficult for me!  I actually like all three of the colors included in the challenge but found it very difficult to use them all together in a cohesive and attractive way.  But in the end I am pretty satisfied with the finished card....so I guess this challenge stretched me!  The challenge was to use these colors....



And then also to use Spellbinder dies as well, of course, JustRite stamps and/or dies.    In my card I used several Spellbinder dies as well as a few JustRite dies that coordinated with the JustRite Stamp set that I chose.  I LOVE it when dies coordinate with stamps....such a nice clean look without any extra fussy cutting!

I actually hope to try and get another entry into this challenge before it expires.....now that I have the colors worked out in my mind!  And, as always, thanks for stopping by!

Be well,
Sheila

Monday, January 13, 2014

Just a little somethin'-somethin'....

My friend's daughter is going on a mission trip this coming summer and she sent out a letter asking for some financial help.  I sent back my check inside this little card.  Again I used my new most favorite die....Taylored expressions colorblock plate!  Super Duper easy!


I just love the classic color combination here.....in fact, I love black and white and just about any pop of color!  I did highlight each black and white panel with some silver stardust pen.....it's hard to see here but really quite pretty in real life.  I hope no one gets sick of these cards because I think that they will be my new turn to pattern for some time!

Take care and be well!
Sheila

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Oooofff....

It has been soooo long since I have blogged.  Well, over a month now.  I have been able to do a bit of crafting but have not have the chance to photograph or sit down long enough to record it.  I hope and expect that now life will slow a bit and allow me to get some fun crafting time in.  It has been very cold here....we have been at the heart of the polar vortex and have had wind chills inexcess of -40-50 degrees.  It has been so cold that my son boiled a pot of water and then we went out on the deck and threw it into the air....it disappeared immeadiatly....literally it freezes to mist in an instant.  It actually was so cold that we did stupid winter experiments....Fun in the Midwest!

Anyways, I made two card sets for a friend of mine for Christmas.  She loves to have sets of all purpose cards about and I wanted to try out a new die that I had ordered from Taylored Expressions.  I ordered this die some time ago and finally had the chance to  work with it.....it is the Colorblock Die Plate and I just am so happy with it.  The sets came together really quickly and I can see using this die many, many times.  I first made her a set that was pink and then remembered that her favorite color was yellow....so, no problem!  I quickly whipped up a yellow set too ;-)

First is the pink set which I just LOVE!  This particular color combination is lovely to me....I hope that I have enough paper left to make another set for myself ;-D

The first photo shows what the gift looks like all packaged.  I made a simple belly band and then used JustRite stamps for the decorative image as well as the sentiment.  I matted the sentiment upon a piece of paper that coordinates with the inside of the card.  The band goes around an acrylic card box.


Then, I cut out 5 cutting block plates out of black paper as well as  5 plates out of coordinating patterned paper.  Then I used the different black sections to make up "chalkboard backgrounds" for the various sentiments. 


I had never tried the blackboard effect before this but really am pleased with how it turned out!  I will definitely be using this technique again.  I am late to this trend's bandwagon but I will do my durndest to keep it going!


I switched around the cards....some were vertical tents, some were horizontal tents and the rest were "book" openings.



Finally, this is what the inside looked like.  Just very simple and clean!




Here is the yellow set....I won't do a walk thru as I followed the same directions as I gave above.  I will point out though that I added to both cards sets a bit of coordinating colored pencil to both card sets' chalk sentiment area.  I love that little pop of color.  I can remember being so pysched when I was younger to be able to use the colored chalk!





Anyways, my friend loved the sets!  And, I will for sure be making more of these to have around the house....so easy and so quick!  I hope you all are staying warm wherever you may be ;-D

Be well,
Sheila