A Little Fruity Fun

I got the inspiration for making this card from doing my Tuesday list at Challenges for Days.  For those who aren’t familiar with Challenges for Days it's a blog that lists challenges you can enter and my day is Tuesday.  Volunteering at the blog has really inspired me and I work with a fabulous crew of people.  If you think you may be able to spare an hour or so (usually less) please see the blog for details on how you can help us expand and get inspired as well. 

My Fruity Fun Card

I typically do a list detailing the items I used to make a project, but this one is self-explanatory, so I am just going to talk about the card.  I had gotten the very first Sizzix that came out on the market. The old machine was SO heavy (I still have it after all these years!) and could do nothing but make die

Close Up of the Die Cuts

cuts but the idea that you could actually cut out your own shapes was SO exciting! One of the dies that came with the machine was a little one called simply “Fruits” (and they don’t make the old Sizzix machine or this die anymore; they must be at least 15 years old).  I used the “Fruit” die to cut out my apples, pears and grapes, but I used my Big Shot to do the cutting.  I also used various punches, some small circles to make cherries and plums, as well as a few different leaf punches.  Piecing together the fruit was so fun; I used nothing but scrap cardstock on this entire card since the fruit is tiny.

 

Pic of LCS103 cropped

I also used one of my very favorite Wendy Vecchi stamp sets called “Heirloom Art”, LSC103, for the sentiment.  Again, I just used a coordinating scrap of cardstock and stamped the sentiment on it using Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black, I left the inside blank so I could use the card for any number of occasions. I chose this sentiment because I felt the whimsical font Wendy used on it was perfect for this card – after all, how serious can it be with all these cute little cardstock fruits on it?  So there you have it.  A fruity fun little card to brighten someone’s day!  Thanks for stopping by and please don’t forget to subscribe to Challenges for Days for your daily dose of challenging inspiration ~ Christi

Another picture of the card.  I think this one has truer color than the top one.

**You can find the Heirloom Art stamp set online.  To see the set in its entirety, go to Stampers Anonymous, choose the first "drawer", scroll down using the side menu, go to Spring 2013 releases under Studio490/Wendy Vecchi, then to page 5.  I had to crop the image of the set significantly so it would fit.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Stuck On U Sketches - Die Cut Food/Drink
The Crafting Cafe - Feeling Fruity
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Mid Summer Challenge
The Crazy Challenge - Die Cuts and Punches
Shopping Our Stash - #161, Eat 5 a Day (fruits and/or veggies)
Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Fruits & Veg
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Die Cuts and/or Punches
Word Art Wednesday - #142, Use Uplifting Sentiment

Thanks for stopping by & I would love to hear from you :)

Craft-Room Challenges - Picture Inspiration, Challenge 81

Thanks to those who bravely entered the Tattoo Challenge – what fab entries! Be sure to check and see if you, or someone you know, won!

 

The Inspiration Pic - makes me think of mint juleps (not that I have ever had one)

It is just too stinkin’ hot to be creative!  I need a swimming pool, a vacation, a swamp cooler or air conditioning.  I didn’t even know what a swamp cooler was 3 years ago! Seriously, the heat out here in Colorado is different than on the East Coast, and the really “bad” heat goes away everyday when the sun goes down (thank goodness), so we do get a break from it.  Which is why I made this card at 5AM this morning.  I had many ideas of what I wanted to do with Debbie’s Picture Challenge at Craft-Room Challenges, but none of which I really had the energy to bring to fruition.  This card, however, was easy and you all know how I like easy!

The finished card

What I Used to Make This Card:

Paper flowers (No idea about the green ones, but the white ones are from Hero Arts)

2 square doilies, from the Stash

4 brads (homemade, 4 silver brads topped with Pretty Pearl embossing powder)

Tim Holtz Distress Marker in Mowed Lawn

SU! Set, Sincere Salutations

Marvy 2” Round Punch

Green cardstock

White base card, square, 5 ¼” x 5 ¼”

I had no square cards (that I could find) so I made one.  I gathered all the supplies I wanted to use. I “made” the brads and assembled the flowers. 

Messed about with some different color ink on the sentiment before I settled on using the Distress Marker to color the stamp and stamped it on scrap white cardstock, then punched out the circle.  The doilies are something I have had for years, and when I pulled them out, I didn’t realize I had puled out 2.  Pulled them apart, realized they were too sheer, and glued them back together.  Once the doilies dried, I glued them to the green cardstock. 

 

I had originally wanted the card to consist of white on white, but I thought that was just too stark and the green background ties the colors together nicely.  The sentiment circle was placed in the center and attached, once I decided which one I wanted to use. 

 I then attached the flowers to the doily/green card background, around the sentiment.  That was it!  I love the photo Debbie chose – and I actually felt a bit of a cool breeze when looking at it.  I hope you find a cool (or warm) breeze wherever you are! And don’t forget, you have 2 full weeks to get your green going and enter the challenge! Thanks for stopping by ~ Christi

PS: I don't normally do this, but read the story of little Danny Nickerson , who wants birthday cards for his birthday. I know his birthday is July 25, but I am sure he will be checking his PO every few days! Please pass this on to the other crafters you know - I would love for this little boy to have a great time.

 

Another view of the card

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - Challenge #12, B is for Buttons or Brads 
Charisma Cardz Challenge - #15, Anything Goes
Ladybug Crafts - Summer Flowers

Anything But a Card ~ Keys Shadow Box

ARGH! I hate it when my scheduled post doesn't post!! 

The challenge this month at Anything But A Card Challenge is one of my favorite themes, Anything Goes (#37).  I love Anything Goes challenges as they give me free reign to use some of the items I have hoarded over the years, like the shadow box I used in this project.  Well, honestly, most of what I used has been in my stash for years.  It was fairly simple to make and since I had everything on hand, it was free!

Sorry for the glare - glass!!

What I Used to Make This Project:

Shadow Box, mine was about 13” x 10” (the frame was darker, so I sanded it)

Background paper from KaiserCraft, Art of Life Collection, P1399, Always (2 pieces) 12" x 12"

8 Skeleton Keys

Washi Tape from Tim Holtz

Brown Velvet Leaves (I can’t recall where I got them, but if you search you can find plenty of options)

Small Bulb from Tim Holtz

Other Embellishments from stash & around the house

Crafters Pick The Ultimate Glue

I began with the background paper.  Since my shadow box is 13” long, I needed a bit of something to fill in where the 12” x 12” paper fell short. 

 

You can see the sides of the board - this was before I put the scalloped pieces on

The Keys

I happened to turn the paper over and found the scallop border design on the other side, so I just cut those out of the paper and used those to make up the difference.  Once I got the background settled, the placement of the keys was next. I wanted them to be the focus of the piece so in the middle they went.  I honestly am not on to measure and be precise, I always do it by eye when I make cards, but I actually measured the area around the keys so they could be placed as close to the middle as possible (as possible for me anyway).  Once I was happy with the keys, I glued them to the board and put it aside for overnight drying. 

I had already begun gathering some prospective embellishments before I began making the shadow box.  I am always thinking (obsessing?) about upcoming projects and I think a lot before I actually begin one. Of course I have those days where I just want to play, but if I have a theme, I often think for days prior to beginning the piece.  I tried doing the sketchbook thing, can’t do it, can’t draw what I want to and this frustrates me to NO end.  I will occasionally make notes if something strikes me that I fear I might forget.  And, since I started blogging as a part of teams, I do make a list of the items I use to make something so when it comes time to do this part I can be sure of what I used and if I can, I like to supply manufactures (I hate seeing something really cool and not having any idea what people used in making it).  Sorry for the detour into my creative process! I had gathered some stuff that had been hanging around; one item is particularly special for me is the pen nib.  When my Dad passed away, I found this pen nib in a drawer along with some other art materials and have squirreled it away – I think this was the perfect use for it!  Everything is real, except for the bulb and the keyhole – the keyhole was a brad and I just removed the “legs”.  The snippet of letter on the bottom right is from a real letter, the typewriter key (or is it an old adding machine key?) is real, the clock dial is real and the optic piece is from a real optometrist kit.  Flea markets & eBay are wonderful!

Playing with Placement

Playing with Placement

After I fiddled with the placement of the embellishments, and fiddled some more, I finally felt the piece was done and glued everything down.  After allowing it to dry overnight (and I am SO proud to say I didn’t get spare glue anywhere!) I placed the board in the back of the box.  Now, originally, there was a piece of cardboard as the backing, but I knew that would never work, so I asked if I could get a piece of wood cut to size.  My SO used an old cabinet that was left here when the previous owners moved out.  Love to recycle that kinda stuff! The wood fit the back so perfectly I didn’t even need to glue it to the box – I just folded the little holders and I was done!  The only thing missing is a hanging mechanism, which I will rectify on my next trip to the wonderful Dollar Tree.

The board, before I put it in the frame

I hope you enjoyed my creation, and my detour into my creative process! There is plenty of time to enter the Challenge at Anything But a Card and I do hope you will pop over to the blog and get some inspiration.  Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a marvelous week ~ Christi

PS: If you'd like to see a photo in more detail, please click it. This is true on all of my posts :)

Another view of the final product

I am entering my Keys Shadow Box in the following Challenges:
Crafting at the Weekend - Challenge 3, Anything Goes

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes
Just for Fun Challenge Blog - #1, Anything Goes
Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - July Challenge (Around the House)
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
The Sailing Pineapple - #11,  Anything But a Card

Craft Room Challenge Blog - Wedding or Anniversary Card

I had a completely different card all set up for today, but it seems my computer has lost the files! I love it when that happens – NOT.  Anyway, I whipped up this wedding card to make up for it. Better late than never! Please pop over to the Craft-Room Challenge, get inspired and enter your own card or project! I hope you enjoy it!

What I Used to Make this Card:
Birds Cut file of Wedding Cake & Stand (cut on my Silhouette CAMEO)

Square Card Base 5 ¼ x 5 ¼ in White

3 papers in different shades of white (classic white, light Kraft & antique (or vanilla) white)

Decorative piece of Chipboard (mine is Basic Grey)

Love by Definition – SU! Background Stamp

Love Stamp (unknown manufacturer)

Distress Ink in Antique Linen & Brushed Corduroy

The stamped background

I began by stamping the “Love by Definition” stamp on the center of the card using the Distress Ink in Antique Linen.  I didn’t want the background of the card to be white along with everything else, so I thought this gave it a little oomph.

Ribbon Flowers

Then I set about cutting out the cut file from Bird.  I searched her site for the actual cut file but had no luck in finding it. But, if your heart is set on using this cut file, I am sure she'd be able to find it for you!  I divided the cake and the stand; using the plain white cardstock I cut out the stand, then I used a light Kraft color for the cake base, and finally vanilla (antique white) for the top pieces of the cake.  I assembled the cake (although I suspect I may have done it wrong) and then cut some ribbon flowers off the ribbon. I adhered the ribbon flowers with glue and set the cake aside.

I stamped the word “love” on plain white cardstock with the Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  I chose a piece of chipboard that would both fit the word and on the card; inked all around the edge with the Brushed Corduroy Ink, trimmed the work and attached it to the chipboard.

Finally, I glued the cake to the card base and the chipboard as well.  It really only took me about a half an hour, and it came out looking like it took much longer, I think.  It’s amazing what you can do when you are pressed for time!  Thanks for stopping by! Christi

There is plenty of time for you to enter this challenge at the Craft-Room Challenge blog - you have 2 whole weeks!!

I am entering my Wedding Cake Card in the following Challenges:
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz Challenge - Anything Goes
Pile it On - #27, Add Some Flowers
Sister Act - #64, Anything Goes
Creative Moments - #46, Anything Goes, Twist = Celebration
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges - #185, Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Challenges - Anything Goes