Graphic45 Cut

Hello and welcome back.  Well, I finally used some of my Graphic45 papers.  LOL   For those who know me this was a major accomplishment.  I am admitting that I tend to hoard these papers. 

I just love them but they are to be used and when I saw the Wizard of Oz I knew just what to make.  My former co-worker and friend, Linda, and her son used to watch this movie every year when he was growing up so it holds a special place in her heart.   I made this for her birthday.   Happy Birthday, Linda.

The box came from Michael's and I painted it with black acrylic paint.  The feet are from Time Holtz.  Then I just started decorating.  I hope you enjoy.

Challenge 17 at Craft Us Crazy

Hello all and welcome back.  This time at Craft Us Crazy the theme is "Goodbye to Summer" and/or "School Themed".    I choose to use this cute image by Bugaboo Stamps to represent school.   Since my grandson, Lucas, is now in preschool you know it had to look like him.  

Our sponsors for the next two weeks are Meljen's Designs from Sept. 15th thru Sept. 21st and Kelley's Kids from Sept. 22nd thru Sept 28th.  Both of our sponsors have such wonderful designs.  Please check them out.  

I hope you have a wonderful week and please come see me again.

Challenge 16 at Craft Us Crazy

Hello and welcome back.  Challenge 16 is up and running at Craft Us Crazy and the theme is Autumn Colors and/or Favorite Embellishments.  I love the browns, oranges and golds of autumn so I designed this picture holder using a small clipboard that I bought at Michaels.   One of my favorite embellishments is taking chipboard frames in horrible colors and repurposing them.  The frame was a truly hideous blue bubbles and I used UTEE to transform it into black.  So easy to do.

Our sponsor from Sept. 1 - Sept 7 is Digital Delights by Loubyloo.   Their stamps are just so beautiful.  You must check them out.  Warning:  It is hard to choose which ones you want !!!  

Our sponsor from Sept 8 - Sept 14 is Sweet and Sassy.  They have just joined as a Member Company of Splitcoaststampers.  You all know how wonderful that is.  They stamps are just so cute that you will want to check them out.

Please support our sponsors as their designs are really special.

Challenge 15 - Anything Goes

Hello all and welcome to a new challenge at Craft Us Crazy.  Our sponsors this time are from August 18 - August 24 Robyn Fetish and from August 25 to August 31 The Pixie Cottage.   Please check them out as I know you will find something you will fancy.

I choose to use the rubber stamp called Dew Drop Dahlia from the Pixie Cottage.  I just love this stamp and I wanted to do a tag.   I also want to tell you that this stamp is deeply etched which made a beautiful impression.  I got the Tim Holtz's Distress Stains in and I just had to try this technique.   

I stamped using VersaMark onto a regular purchased tag.  Then I embossed with Stampedous White Opaque embossing powder.   I then colored the entire tag with Tim Holtz's Distress Stain - Broken China.  I colored the dahlia with copics (V15, V17, YG67, Y15).   Hint:  If you get the color on the embossing area just use your colorless blender to remove the unwanted color.   Then I used Distress Inks (Dusty Concord, Tea Dye) to add more color and added stickles for a little bling on the dew drops.  Ribbon was from JoAnn's.

Challenge 14 - Anything Goes

Hello and welcome ---

This time at Craft Us Crazy we are doing the popular theme of "Anything Goes."   As a matter of fact this is our theme for the entire month of August.  I decided to try my hand at a silhouette.  I have never done one before and when I saw this image at Kelly's Kids, I just had to try it.  It envokes so many emotions (ie., best buddies, memories, friends, together) that I decided not to give it a theme but let the viewer decide what it means to them.  Kelly's Kids sponsorship runs from August 3 to August 10.  Please check out her great digis.

The picture frame is $1 from Michael's painted black using acrylic paint.  Image was printed on white cardstock then the background was colored using Tim Holtz Distressed Inks (Vintage Photo and a hint of Spiced Marmalade). Trim was from JoAnn's and background paper was from Graphic45.

Anything Goes

Hello and Welcome

Another challenge at Craft Us Crazy and this one is Anything Goes.   If you are old like some of us you can remember that song.  LOL 

Our sponsors this time are Digital Delights from July 21 till July 27.    The winner get three digital images.  When I saw this set of Baking Bears I knew just what I wanted to do.  I have been trying for a long time to put together a cook book.   Inspiration stuck (finally) and I decided to make a tag.  I am now going to put all my favorite recipes on tags and then make a book.  I am so excited.   

Our sponsor from July 28 - August 3 is Sweet an Sassy Stamps.  They have some of the cutest stamps out there.   

Please check out both of our sponsors for some truly awe-inspiring work.  Thank you for looking.

Challenge 12 at Craft Us Crazy

Another couple of weeks, another challenge due.  This week at Craft Us Crazy we are excited to do Christmas In July - Distressed and/or Vintage.  Our sponsor from July 7 - 13 is Peggy Loves Vintage and from July 14 - July 20 is Crop Chocolate.  Both places offer different and wonderful items so please, check them out.   I choose a vintage digi called "Candles with Holly".   This is such a pretty image that I decided to make a Christmas box.   You always need some little box for that special gift to a loved one.   The ribbon and box was purchased from Hobby Lobby, pointsetta's were from I Am Roses which were dipped in coffee to make them appear old and the papers were from my stash.  I hope you enjoy.

Challenge 11 at Craft Us Crazy.

Hello again. Well it is time for another challenge at Craft Us Crazy. This time it can be either a Summer Theme and/or Red, White and Blue. For some insane reason I am getting tired of making cards. I am just burnt out and I am hoping this phase passes. So I have turned my attention to altering anything I can get my hands on. LOL I found this little bird house (I really found 4 birdhouses) at Hobby Lobby for $1 and this started the juices flowing. These little birdhouses are fun to decorate and help use up that mound of scrap paper everyone has laying around.



Please check out our sponsor for this challenge. They are Limited Runs and Squigglefly. They have such darling designs and I know you won't be disappointed.



Thank you for looking and comments are always appreciated.

Challenge 10 at Craft Us Crazy

Hello and welcome back.  Challenge 10 at Craft Us Crazy is "Happy Father's Day or Masculine Colors" theme.  This time it's all about the guys !!!  I personally find doing male designs harder to do than female designs.  I guess it's because I can't add any bling.  LOL   The car is from a cd of Ephemera and the saying was made using Word.  I hope you enjoy and please check out our sponsors.  Lauretta See is our sponsor from June 9 - 16 and Pink Gem Designs is our Sponsor from June 16 - 23.   Also check out our Monthly sponsor which is Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps.

Challenge 9 Love and/or Rememberance

Love and/or Rememberance is probably my favorite challenge so far at Craft Us Crazy.   It condures up so many possibilities because who doesn't have some special memories of some event or person(s) in our lives.  I dug out my wedding album from 1977 (yes, 1977) and made something special for my husband and for me also.   I can look at it all the time instead of it sitting in a drawer.   I hope it will inspire you to make something very special for yourself or a loved one(s).    This is a painter's tray from 7 Gypsies.

Our sponsor's for the next two weeks are Stamp Fairy and Digis by Phooka.  Each has such wonderful designs.  You must check them out.  Stamp Fairy is giving away $9.00 Gift Certificate and Digis by Phooka is giving a $10.00 Gift Vocher.   What fabulous prizes and good luck to all who participate. 

 

Thank you for coming to my blog and I hope to see you back soon.  If you have a chance, I would love to hear from you.  Have a great day.

Challenge #8 at Craft Us Crazy

Can you believe that we are on our 8th challenge at Craft Us Crazy.  Time sure does fly by.  The challenge this week is "Something New Or Fave Embellishments" and our sponsor is the Digital Delights and the Pixie Cottage.  They have such cute designs, but my pick was Let the Monkey Business Begin.
This time I tried something new, I made a money holder for my nephews' High School Graduation and this digital image just captured the moment.   Now if anyone in the family is viewing this - don't tell him !!!!!

I hope you like this as much as I enjoyed making it.  I love comments, so please leave me some love. 

Challenge 7 at Craft Us Crazy

Hello everyone and welcome back.  Well the challenge this time is Mother's Day and/or Flowers at Craft Us Crazy.   We are having two - yes two sponsors this time.  The first half of the challenge is being sponsored by Meljen's Designs and wait until you see her work.  Everything she has is so darn cute.  From animals to people you will find something of hers to spark your fancy.  The prize is 4 digi stamps of your choice. 

Here is my take on her "Victorian Bird Cage."   The minute I saw this I knew my mother would have liked this digital stamp.  She loved red birds.  Even though she is no longer with us, this card is for the special memories my mom gave to me.

And beginning May 5th our sponsor of the challenge is Your Next Stamp.  Wait until you see their work.  It is just wonderful especially their signature lines.  Please check them out.

Last but not least please check out our monthly sponsor for May.  It is The Cutting Cafe.  Her designs are just awe inspiring.  As always, I love to hear from you so if you have the time leave me some love.  Thank you for looking at my site.

Challenge # 6 at Craft Us Crazy

Hello All -  Our challenge theme this time is "Thinking of You."   What a better way to show someone you care than sending them a "Thinking of You" card.  

This challenge is sponsored by Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More. 

Please check out what Robyn wrote:

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is proud to sponsor this challenge.

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is owned by Robyn Weinrib. Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers, designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion.


Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is happy to offer the winner of this challenge 5 digital stamps or 4 digital stamps and 1 paper set of their choice.

Here is Penelope Puppy:

Material Used:
Copic markers, CindyLoo swirls, nestibilites circles and leaves, flowers colored with copics, paper from my stash. 

Challenge #5 Easter/Spring Theme

Hello and welcome back.  The bi-weekly challenge at Craft Us Crazy this time is Easter/Spring Theme.   Our sponsor this time is Peggy Loves Vintage and wait until you see what she has in her store.  Warning:  Vintage lovers be prepard to be amazed.   

Here is some information from our sponsor:

My husband and I have shared 36 years together and we have 2 sons and a daughter and 2 glorious grandkids ages 3 and 6.  I started collecting vintage cards quite by accident. I was helping with my aunts estate sale and ran across her collection. The cards were so wonderful that I fell in love with them and have been collecting them ever since.
I love to get a new vintage scrapbook and read all about the lives and times of the individual. Some of their stories are truly inspiring.


Be sure and visit my blog where you'll find some great inspiration, tips, tricks and some free vintage images for you to use.

Prize package – 5 different cut outs from store - $17.50 value


This digi image is already colored so how wonderful is that?   When I saw this image I knew just what I wanted to make and it was an Easter box for my grandson, Mason.   Since he can't join in the Easter Egg Hunt this year (he can't even crawl yet !!!), I decided to bring the eggs to him.

I loved this image so much that I put it on the front and inside of the box.  lol  Box came from Michaels.  Papers from Archiever's.  Punch from Martha Stewart.  Letters were cut from Plantin Schoolbook at 1" then stickled.  Liquid pearls in multiple colors for inside of blue flowers.   Butterflies were from my stash that I have had for years.  See - you should never throw anything away !!!!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.  Be sure and check out our monthly sponsor.

APRIL Monthly sponsor – STAMP FAIRY

Link – http://www.stampfairy.com


Prize package - $12.00 Gift Certificate


Stamp Fairy officially launched in 2010. Gerda, artist and owner, creates cute and whimsical digital images for the young and old, inspired by her life, love and 4 cute cats. You will find adorable teddies bears, young boys and girls, fuzzy little bunnies and whimsical critters.


Stamp Fairy has up to 40 new releases per month along with a free image every Friday, a weekly challenge on Mondays and Guest Designers each month on their challenge blog.


Please visit the store and browse StampFairy’s wonderful images to inspire YOUR creativity.




Please leave me some love as I love to read your comments.  Thank you so much for visiting my blog.

Welcome to Challenge #4 at Craft Us Crazy

Challenge Number 4 at Craft Us Crazy is Cupcake/Celebration Theme.  Who doesn't like to celebrate !!!!!!  So come on over and have some fun.

I can't tell you how absolutely adorable the designs are from our sponsor this time,  Limited Runs.   I have never seen so many fanciful cupcakes and I know you will find one for just the right occasion.   Please check out her designs, you won't be disappointed. 

I had so much fun making this card for the man in my life as he loves his cars.  Yes, that would be by grandson, Lucas, who is going to turn 4.  But really this racecar could be used for any age. 

Material Used:
Digi Stamp:  Limited Runs - Racecar Cupcakes 11- 20.
Copics:   R22, R24, R27, R29,YG11, YG67,C3, C6, E35, E53, E99
Paper:     From my stash
Punch:    EK Success - Candles
Gears:     Free download using SCAL.

Don't forget to check out our monthly sponsor over to the right.  I can't wait to see your designs.    If you have the time. please leave me some comments.  I love reading what you have to say.   Thank you and until next time ----

Birthday Card

Hello and Welcome - today I decided to make a birthday card with the sketch from I Did It Creations.  I immediately thought about my grandson's 4th birthday, which is coming up in April.  The digi is from Bugaboo Stamps and the rest is from my stash.  I keep promising myself that I will use up all of my papers before I buy more, but so far I have broken my promise.  lol  I hope you enjoy this and all comments are welcomed.

Challenge No. 3 at "Craft Us Crazy" - Nature Theme

Good Morning and Welcome ---

It's time for Challenge No. 3 at http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/.  This time it is a Nature Theme.  The challenge runs from March 3rd to March 16th.   Our sponsor is Coco Dingo.   The winning prize is 4 designs of your choice.  I love birds so I just had to have this image.  Please check out the images at her website.  She has such wonderful designs and here is a message from her:

CocoDingo

Hi my name is Corinne and my nickname is frenchie on the forums  ( I am orginally from France ).  Lauretta's one of my best friends, and we created the Craft Your Passion challenge blog, together.  My drawing artist name is CocoDingo. My blog of digital stamps is CocoDingo.  You can view/purchase my images at:

http://cocodingo.blogspot.com/.  I am also with the design team of karmascrap.  I’m a stampin’up demonstrator since last year. You can visit my personal blog

at:  http://passionscorinne.blogspot.com/. Here,   You will find all of my passions on this blog: scrapbooking, cards, drawings and jewelery.

Material Used:
Martha Stewart Punch

Prima Roses Flowers
Cuttlebug:  Swiss Dots with Color Chalk (Rouge)

Recollections Mulberry Leave from Michael's

Liquid Pearls:  Flamingo

Copic Markers :  R81, R83, R85,G40, G82, YG63, E40, E41, E42, E43,E44, E49, E25, E53

Please join us at http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/.  I am waiting to see your designs.   Don't forget that our monthly sponsor is Stitchy Bear Stamps and you can find their logo to the right.   The are giving a $10.00 gift certificate to the winner. 

I appreciate comments, so if you are in the mood please drop me a line or two.

Challenge No. 2 at "Craft Us Crazy"

Hello Everyone.  I hope you join us for Challenge 2 at Craft Us Crazy.   The theme is "Winter".  This challenge is sponsored by Meljen's Designs and I used Cozy Winter Owl for this card.  I know we are probably all tired of winter but this owl is just too cute.  I tried something with copics that I have not done before and that is colored the background.  I used the Warm Gray tones on the white cardstock and it really softened the look.  I hope you will join in on the fun and can't wait to see your creations.

Material Used:
Copics: W00,W1,W3,R20,R,R24,R27,R29,E25,E43,E49,E44,Y38,YG63
Stickles: Crystal
Nestabilities:  Large Deckled Rectangles
Color Box Pigment:  Brown
Paper:  The Paper Company - Berry.  Stash - white and brown cardstock.
Liquid Pearls:  White Opal

Don't forget to check out the Monthly sponsors at Craft Us Crazy.  You will find them on the right side bar.

New Mini Album

Well I have fallen in love with Graphic45 papers.  I know their are alot of you out there that share in my joy working with them.  I just wish I would have known about them before they sold out of "Domestic Goddess".  lol  

This is the cover on my new mini-album.  I have no idea what I am going to do with this album, but I sure do like working on them.  These papers are from the "Botanical" and "Steampunk Debutante" papers.   That picture frame was repurposed using paint and copic markers.  This is the first time I tried this and I really like the results.  The bling was a clear rhinestone that I colored with copics.  You can really get the color you want that way. 

Thank you for looking. 

Inaugural Opening at "Craft Us Crazy"

Welcome to the opening of a new Blog.   I am so excited to part of the Jerri's design team and want all of you to enter your designs at  CRAFT US CRAZY.  Craft Us Crazy have awesome prizes and a great group of women who will inspire you, delight you, and drive you crazy with their talents.

This week's challenge theme is "Anything Goes" and our sponsor is Digital Delights.   You are going to love her designs.  When I first saw this digi I thought about "baby" and this is what I came up with.  Come join in on the fun and use up your stash because anything goes on this challenge.  I can't wait to see your creations.  So if you are new to challenges or an experienced pro, come join us.   I can't wait to see your work. 

Materials Used:
Digital Stamp from Digital Delights:  Dilly Duck and Ladybug
Copic Markers:  Y00, Y06, Y11, Y15, Y21, YG05, YG06, YG07, YR04, and YR18, E40
Microsoft Word:  Title "Hello Little One" made with WordArt
Martha Stewart:  Lady Bug punch
Ribbon:  Sugar and Spice and yellow scalloped from my stash.
Cardstock:  From my stash and tissue paper.
Candle:  Michaels

Don't forget to check out the monthly sponsors located on the sidebar.

New Item For Me To Play With

Hello.  I hope everyone is doing well and crafting away.   Since we got 11 inches of snow I have been housebound and slowly going crazy.  But crafting is keeping me sane.  lol

I just got this in the mail today and needed to make a card right away.  This is "Carly", the new Cuttlebug Embossing PLUS folder.  Now some of you may already be familiar with this, but this is new to me.  All I did was use the "A" plate, "B" plate, embossing plus folder with cardstock sandwiched inside and the second "B" plate.    You do not need the tan embossing mat with this one.  Then I printed out Baptism, placed it in the oval cut out, and inked the edges.  The central oval is embossed too and you can use it or save it for another project.    Now that I found out how wonderful these are I guess I am going to have to buy the other ones too.  LOL   Shopping is endless in the crafting world !!!!!!  I think I am going to have to play with this design.  Can you just imagine this colored with copics, acrylic paint or chalked? 

Enjoy and please leave me some love.  Thanks.





 



Closer Look



Helpful Hint

Do any of you have tons (I know I am exaggerating) of supplies that don't match or you don't know what to do with them or they are just plain ugly?  Well I do.  So I got some UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel) and with the help of the ladies on youtube I repurposed a chipboard frame.   Of course, this is going to lead me to repurpose alot of my items.  lol  You might know about this technique already, but for those of us just learning I will walk you through the steps I used. 

1.   Stamp Versamark all over the chipboard and lay on a piece of paper (which you will use to pour UTEE back into the original container).
2.   Pour a generous amount of UTEE (any color your want) on top of the chipboard.
3.   Pour off excess and put back in UTEE container.
4.   Heat using heat gun just like you would for regular embossing powders and watch the magic happen. 

Note:  I have seen some of the ladies use little seed pearls, beads, etc. and added them to give more texture to the chipboard.   Possibilities are endless.



Before UTEE



After UTEE

I hope it helped someone.  Hugs.

Mary



Something New You Will Not Want To Miss Out On

Good Morning - I am so happy to announce that I have been picked to be one of the ladies to be on the Design Team at http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/.   This is a brand new website with wonderful people and excited challenges.  Our DT are from all over the world which will add a whole new dimension to crafting ideas.  So join in the fun and start today.  Don't be shy because we are all crafters who share in the same passion.   I can't wait to see your work and be inspired by your designs.  The challenges are going to be bi-weekly so their is no excuse not to join.  LOL  So I am wishing you a big WELCOME at http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/