creepy cast of characters

Happy Halloween!  It's my favorite day of the year - so full of magic!

I went Clean & Simple on the card... just coloring, punching, embossing, edging & a ribbon wrap around the popped-up panel.  It's a longer card - made to fit a business envelope.

A bit of die cutting & stamping on the inside.

And here's the spooky family at C's Halloween Carnival:

Mom with a vampire bat & the skeleton crew - James & Dean.

Dad & the vampire as she reveals her reverse fangs - that 1st grader smile :)

Enjoy your day! (Hope everyone on the east coast's safe & sound.)

Christy

xo

SAF haul

It's time to throw in the towel :)  I'll return to earn some final badges, but for now it's time to move on with the week.  What fun!  I learned so much and shared such good times with good friends.

See you all next year!!

xoxo,

Christy

SAF 5: MiniBook

Lots of cranking for this next project - a Summer 2012 Mini-Book.  It's my 1st full day of summer break so I have weeks to take photos, print them on white border wallet size, and embellish the pages.

I used a paper pack that I love so I'd always be able to see it again :)  The center of each page is a stamper's select cardstock base, and each side is lined with paper - patterned on the front and solid on the back.  This made each page nice & study, and all I'll have to do is insert the photos and embellish (if I want, or not!).

The colors on the back are in a rainbowish pattern (because, I'm like that).

Can't wait to fill those pages with family love!


xoxo,
Christy

SUPPLIES:

paper - PTI stamper's select white, stamper's select white; Basic Grey Urban Prairie (entire back)

dies - PTI Card Base-ics 2
accents - 1" binder clips in black & white

SAF 4: Tie-dye

I finally got to try two things I've been wanting to do - rainbow tie-dye with my Copic airbrush and a circle card.

This is a little tribute to an old Deee-lite song, 'Mind Melt', from the album Dewdrops in the Garden.  A 90's classic.  I thought it might be fun to try cards inspired by music, so we'll see what else I come up with.

Funk-a-delic.

xoxo,

Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime

ink - PTI true black

paper - PTI raspberry fizz, stamper's select white

tools - Copics

SAF 3: Beads

Since the day was suddenly gone, we decided to jump straight to the friendship beads.  Making a bracelet was F-U-N!  Neither of us had done any bead work, so we all enjoyed a new craft.

We used matte Modge Podge, metal & glass beads, and shiny cat eye hearts.  This was my FAV part of the day - not that I really need a new way to spend $... :)

It wasn't a massive haul, but we left with full bellies, cards, notepads, and bracelets.

SAF 2: Ribbons

I love all things rainbow so I picked the satin dots ribbon strips technique:

 So shiny - but hard to see in the early light.  Lovely!

Well... it took all day what with the twins, yet finally we managed to pull off:

I'm so impressed with Jyothi!  Her notepad on the left is a true original - all her own design - and only her second creation after the morning make & take.  It is awesome!

I must say, I'm diggin' this new technique!!

xoxo,

Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Cupcake Collection

ink - PTI smokey shadow

paper - PTI soft stone, Pretty Pastels

dies - PTI Cupcake Collection, Tiny Tags
accents - PTI cream twine, vintage buttons in harvest gold & lemon tart, swiss dots ribbon in sweet blush, harvest gold, lemon tart, spring moss, aqua mist, spring rain & lavendar moon; EK Success border punch, Marvy scalloped circle punch (pink), pearl accent
other - white notepad

SAF 1: Make & Take + Crafting Crew

Despite a few early challenges I managed to complete the warm-up.

Then, the full crafting crew arrived:

First, some were wearing glasses.  Then, not.  Weird.

The girls were quite crafty.  The boys were pure trouble.

SAF Meet & Greet

It's 5am... it's my 1st day of summer vacation from teaching middle school science!  Why not make some crafty crafts!!  I'll be in & out all day with my DD and my dear college friend who will be making cards for the first time.  I also have 15 month old twin boys who I'm sure will need my attention, so we'll see what actually gets done.  But, the supplies are organized, the snacks are ready, and I'm up before the sun here!

This is where the magic happens *smirk*:

Even the now-1st-grader's Art Table got cleaned:

Here's my SAF 'kit' ready to go.  I made colored coded hanging files with pre-cut papers and little colored flags to make it easier to find all my supplies.  I'll be crafting, hosting, and doing mommy duties, so I need to be ready!

And one notebook from a batch I made for the Paper Dolls who I heard would be joining in the SAF fun, with my pencil case & icy cold water bottle.  (Although, it's 5am... really, I'm drinking cuppa #1).

Let the fun begin!!

xoxo,

Christy

baby train

Choo choo!  Baby train.  

A little friend turned one so I cranked out this card.  I've known about the party for weeks but couldn't get in gear to make something until, oh, last night.

The train track border is pink shimmer cardstock and twill ribbon colored with a Copic.  My sweet blush ink is the old spongy pad formula and it doesn't photograph well - I had to jack the photo up pretty good.  Love the flower/smoke idea from the PTI tip sheet (saved it into Evernote before the website switched).  And I just had to have a flower tag tied with a silk ribbon even though it made the card heavy in that corner.  So I balanced it out with some silver-lined clouds.  Only they take your eye away from the flowers, so.. :(  Still, I can live with it.

Here's another idea for when I get a good pink ink with better coverage... kiss the pink inked alpha-block stamp with a tiny floral pattern stamp to get floral detail on the letter blocks.  Ooooo. That would be cool.

Hope you're enjoying summer!  We went to a party at the bay in San Diego and I expected hot weather but it was quite cool.  I think we're in for the heat soon but so far it's been mellow here.

xoxo, 

Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Train Tracks, Alpha-Blocks, Honey Bees; Basic Grey gamma series stamps (flowers)

ink - PTI sweet blush, true black

paper - PTI pink shimmer, stamper's select white, Bitty Star Basics

dies - PTI Train Tracks, Alpha-Blocks

accents - PTI white twill ribbon; border punch, pearl accents, heart confetti, Copic

may blog hop + mim 67: key to my heart

It's been awhile since I played along at PTI, but I love the inspiration photo for the May blog hop (black & white patterns with chartreuse) & the Make-it-Monday (combining patterns from several different packs).  I needed to make something EXTRA special for my hubs who surprised me Mother's Day with black diamond earrings (one birthstone each for the twins who turned one in April). 

I couldn't resist folkart lovebirds.  Or trip-hop funky & washi tape.  Yes, I added in a little more color.  It was fun - the design & execution flowed quickly this time!

Tricky bits:

 1. The colored green dots on the left panel really tone things down;

2. I masked a horizontal sentiment to go vertical;

3. The heat embossed key has brown baker's twine colored black;

4. I added white dots to the bird pattern to tie things together (hard to see).

My one regret... I'm out of foam tape or I would have 'popped' the panels :(

I can't wait to see your creation for the hop!

xoxo,

Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Lock & Key, Friendship Jar Spring Fillers (heart)

ink - PTI true black, hibiscus; Versamark

paper - PTI true black, stamper's select white, Black & White Basics, Bitty Star Basics; Basic Grey Urban Prairie corn stack, meadow,

dies - PTI Lock & Key

accents - PTI chocolate button twine;  washi tape, Copic #YG93 (Grayish Yellow)

paper dolls #48 - wild things

I'm hosting Paper Dolls Challenge #48: Find-a-File and my hunt for forgotten files led me to the adorable Finger Puppets template for Tiny Treats: Birthday.  I needed something special for my six year old who's put up with a year of my attention diverted to nursing twins.  So, for my darling daughter:

These wool felt wild things were fun to hand-stitch while the boys romped about.

For the card, 1" rainbow strips align so the same animal doesn't have to touch.  I know.  The monkey's foot had to get masked off to fit.  Sorry, buddy. :)
 
The die-cuts are paired like on the puppets: lion (HG & MB), hippo (H & HS) & monkey (SC & PP/RV).  I debated about the little strip of white on the bottom - cut it or leave it?  In the end it stayed because it looks like hippo's teeth (but I hit it with Bitty Dots II in melon berry).

 
That tiny loopsy stamp on TT: Birthday makes the perfect stitches!

And, the puppets:

I'd have used pink baker's twine if I had it, but instead it's DIY with PTI button twine & a hot pink Sharpie.  The whiskers are actually much stiffer which I like better.

Beady eyes, chunky teeth!
FYI, hibicus felt is REALLY bright pink (much brighter than the cardstock).  

 

 Royal velvet was too dark for the card, but perfect for making the pink stitches Pop!


Do you have an download, template or digi paper you've been meaning to try?  If so, take the challenge at the Paper Dolls blog - you have until June 9th!


Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo,
Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Tiny Treats: Birthday, Borders & Corners: Circle, Polka Dots Basics II

ink - PTI smokey shadow, melon berry; Versamagic eggplant

paper - PTI hibiscus, melon berry, harvest gold, simply chartreuse, hawaiian shores, plum pudding, stamper's select white 

dies - PTI Mat Stack 5, By the Numbers, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" circle, Large Ric-rac

accents - PTI vintage buttons in hawaiian shores, hibiscus, royal velvet; PTI button twine;  PTI felt in hibiscus, melon berry, harvest gold, simply chartreuse, hawaiian shores, royal velvet, white; pink DMC floss; black beads

blog hop - may blossom

Welcome!  This birthday blog hop is dedicated to my fellow Paper Doll & hometown girl, Joyce. 

Happy Birthday, May Blossom!

The papers are Graphic 45, Once Upon a Springtime (again!).  A little paper piecing, a little coloring & a little glitter...

Thanks for visiting!  If you're along for the hop, stop by Sharron's blog next:

 

Kim
Renee

Cathy

  Michelle 

 Kara
  Gayatri
Tracey
Marybeth
Kristin
  Jessica
  christy (that's me)
  Sharron
Jeanne
Susan 

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Fancy Flourishes

ink - PTI new leaf; Distress Ink antique Linen

paper - PTI rustic cream; Graphic 45 'Once Upon a Springtime': enchanted forest, tiny treasures, primrose cottage

accents - Copic R01 (pinkish vanilla),Crystal ultrafine glitter

paper dolls #47 - cheery cherries

Today I'm playing along with a fresh & fruity challenge over at the Paper Dolls blog (link here).  Looks like we're waiting for summer ripe cherries!  I used Karen Hughes' 3rd sketch in Papercraft's Go-To Sketches #1, p. 64 - a circle element with sentiment strip & scalloped far edge.  

 
I used Basic Grey Lemonade papers to make a quilt with zigzag stitch stamping from PTI Button Boutique. There's a sentiment from Quilter's Sampler inside (can't quite remember which...). :)

This homespun feel called for a special banner so I gave it some love.  It's hard to see, but I kissed the edges of the polkadot leaves with new leaf ink to give a little definition.

Hope your day is sweet & special!


xoxo,
Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Everyday Button Bits, Button Boutique, Borders & Corners: Circle, Quilter's Sampler (inside card)

ink - PTI scarlet jewel, ocean tides, chartreuse, new leaf; Distress Ink in antique linen

paper - PTI rustic cream; Basic Grey Lemonade: saltwater taffy, strawberry patch, flower garden, picnic table, cherry cobbler, splash, sunkissed

accents - PTI scarlet jewel vintage buttons, new leaf baker's twine

dies - PTI eyelet lace border die

tools - Marvy giga punch

paper dolls #46 - faerie collection

A new Paper Dolls challenge - the perfect opportunity to awaken from my blogger coma!

For the 'Spring Bling' challenge I really wanted faeries in a jar.  Some cyber hunting finally landed Once Upon a Springtime from graphic 45 in my craft room.  *love, love, love*

The pearl embellishments were a gift (thanks Renee!) - and just what I needed.  I trimmed them to fit the space and added an extra flourish for balance.

Yay! This shot caught the glass look of the jar.  I used shorter dimensionals on the faeries and hid taller ones behind the jar lid.  I slit the faeries' wings and folded them out slightly.

Recipe Box Label is a go-to favorite of mine... SO many sentiments fit the box!  I colored the pearls with a Copic (and snuck in another peek of those precious papers).

Hope you're enjoying your bloomin' spring!

xoxo,
Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar Fall Fillers, Recipe Box Label, Button Boutique

ink - PTI dark chocolate, melon berry; Distress Ink in antique linen

paper - PTI rustic cream, clear cardstock; graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime Frames, Tiny Treasures, Spellbound

accents - PTI melon berry bitty dots ribbon; Recollections adhesive faux pearls

dies - PTI Jar, Lid, Jar Label

tools - Copic E55 (light caramel)