People, let me tell you 'bout my best friend. . .

This project for Altered Eclectics is  very special to me.  I was lucky enough to live in a neighborhood growing up that was full of children.  But my very best friend lived right next door.  I made this little book to commemorate our long friendship, so grab a cuppa whatever and settle in - this is a bit photo heavy!

This is the album and it's case - it's only 5x5 and it is so cute!

What I Used to Make this Project:
Silhouette Cameo Cut File - Lori Whitlock 5x5 Mini Album (Item #'s 34172 & 34171)
Lori Whitlock's Tutorial (here on YouTube)
White Cardstock (try to use strong cardstock!)
Me and My Big Ideas - Specialty Card Stack, PXT-08, Black & White
Reprinted Pictures
Sayings, typed out in Word, using the Homework font
Tim Holtz Alterations Die, Labels, 660060
Brads - silver with gems (2)
Adhesive
Various Embellishments

we are in our late teen's, early 20's

I typically go through how I make my projects, but since the tutorial posted on YouTube is fabulous, why reinvent the wheel?  Instead, sit back and relax - as I said before, this post is going to be picture heavy, and I am going to show you what each page of the album looked like (don't worry, there is only 6 pages).  I did make some changes to how the album is put together; I used brads instead of string and as you see in this picture, I had originally cut out a white "spine", but I changed it to black.  I cut everything out and assembled the book and the box. I think cut out a bunch more of the cover sheets to use inside the book.

First, I want to and a disclaimer as I am not a scrapper. I have all the stuff to become one, but, I don't scrap.  Second, the photos I used are reprints of photos that at least 30 years old so they aren't the best. 

I chose black and white as my main colors because they are favorite colors of both Diane and I.  We have been friends for 48 years, literally from the day I was born.  I can't remember a time in my life when she wasn't there.  Here are the first layout pages.

Not such baby pics, but it was the best I could find. Pages 1 & 2

Dig those Halloween Costumes from Caldor or Bradlees - before Walmart! Pages 3 & 4

 We played together all the time. I don't think more than 2 days in a row passed without us seeing each other.  We had so much fun, I feel badly for the children

Diane is on the left; I remember that seal!

who weren't as lucky as we were - our imaginations were very active and we rarely played anything that we didn't make up.  We had elaborate story lines and plots with our games; using items we found or had at our disposal.  And we would play the same games each season, for example, fall was always Acorn Hospital. We each had a hospital at the base of her oak tree.  Our yards were fenced in, but there was a passage way between them so n one had to worry about us roaming away (I actually did roam away with a bunch of neighbor hood kids once, but that a different story. Diane wasn't there).  My mother would being home old business forms from her work and we were in our glory! We would use a piece of carbon paper until there was not a smidgen of carbon left on it - how we treasured that paper!

Ah, the yearly trip to Riverside! I think we are 10-12 in the bigger picture. Even our shoes (Dr. Scolls of course!) are the same, but different colors. Pages 5 & 6

The beginning of the Boys - there is a list hidden on the top of page 7, hidden between the page and the decorative page (hehehehe) - can't publish everything! Pages 7 & 8

We did have a few years where we weren't close friends, but we eventually repaired the friendship.  In fact, I think we have gotten even closer as time marches on.  I can count on her to listen, to give me advice and to just commiserate with me, whether it is a health issue, a relationship issue or the silly things the cats did.  Obviously, there was no way I could document a friendship as long as ours, but it was fun to document some of our childhood.  I had a blast digging out different embellishments, making secret compartments (the boys page) and typing up a document that sort of sums up how much fun we had. 

I was worried I wouldn't have enough room and I was right, so I wrote a document that tells more of the tales of the things we did, the mischief we got into and some more stuff that I can't print.  

The cover - I know, it's a bit backwards showing the cover at the end, but. . .

I had so much fun putting this together - I used paper and embellishments that I have had in my stash at least 10 years - the paper on the box is done in a fuzzy print (so fingerprints won't mess the box up - is what I was thinking!) and the black & white theme was super easy to work with. This has to me one of my favorite projects ever - if not my most favorite - since I had a blast putting it together and it showcases my friendship with Diane, something I treasure very much. I hope the album makes Diane happy - I can't send it to her yet - she made me promise to wait until the addition on her house is finished (at the rate it's going, I'll be holding on to this for a long time!).  Lastly, I want to thank her and her parents for making my childhood so happy, fun and exciting ~ xo

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed my little trip down memory lane  fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my Best Friends Album in the following challenges:
Allsorts -#300, Brads (used to bind the album) 
As You Like it Challenge - #48, Your Favorite Project that is not a Card & Why (see above for the why - last paragraph)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (2nd entry)
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - No Rules (2nd entry)
Not Just Cards Challenges - #13, Always Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart - #48, Always Anything Goes

Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 - February Tag

Ahhh - love is in the air and I can't breathe. Just kidding! This is my take on Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 February. As you know t!m encourages us to use what we have, and this tag is full of my "substitutes" for all the glorious t!m stuff I don't have (yet). Including a tag; I ran out! Here we go!

What I Used to Make my Tag:
Homemade #8 Tag
Tim Holtz Paper Stash - 8 x 8 Seasonal
Love Sticker - #31012, Pebbles Inc. (discontinued)
Ranger Snow Cap Ink
Distress Paint in Picket Fence
Distress Marker in Soot
Stampers Anonymous Stitches Stamp
Sharpie White Water Based Paint Pen, Extra Fine Point
Silver Paper
Red Paper (for the heart)
Scrap of Lace (dyed with Brushed Corduroy & Tea Dye Distress Markers)
Spellbinder Nestabilities Imperial Gold, Gold Labels 4
Embellishments - old silver hoop earring, wire, love charm, red glitter fiber, fabric tape, collage sheets, heart cut from Silhouette Cameo
Tim Holtz Tissue Tape 
Ranger Glue 'n Seal

OK, as you know, there is an awesome tutorial on t!m's blog, so I am just going to go over what I did with the tag. After I cut the tag to the correct dimensions, I covered it with the black & white Valentine's paper

smudged & painted

in the Seasonal Stash pad. I did notice that the sides of the tag didn't quite get covered, so I ran some tissue tape up and down each side. I chose the black & white "love" sticker,  the "14" (which was punched out of a collage sheet that's older than t!m), the woman (cut her out of a collage sheet from Somerset Studio magazine), the sticker up top, and the "february" (fabric tape from 7 gypsies) just to collage the piece a bit.  I covered it with the Glue 'n Seal and let it dry.  I wanted to keep the tag as monochrome as I could so the embellishments would stand out more. After another coat of Glue 'n Seal, I used my Distress Marker to smudge the edges of the collaged items.  The I smooshed some Picket Fence paint on my craft mat and used my finger to add some of the paint to various places on the tag.  I ended up using more Pickett Fence after this picture was taken, but I didn't take another picture. Sorry! 

The LOVE Charm

I don't have the frame stickers t!m used on his tag, so I cut one out of silver paper using the Spellbinders die.  I was pretty stoked that I had a "frame" that fit on the tag. I also improvised on the arrow and the heart charm. I went through my stash and found and old hoop earring; I bent it straight and I knew I had these love charms, so I got one of them out and improvised.  Not bad!  I had to cut the earring down a bit, but all in all, I think it looks pretty good.  On to the heart.  I confess, I do have a sewing machine, but I lost the directions to it and I have NO idea how to even thread it.  I used to know how to thread a machine, but apparently that knowledge was deemed unnecessary and pushed out to make room for fun facts about chocolate - you know, the important stuff.  No fear, I turned to my Silhouette Cameo and cut out some hearts - then I remembered I had the stitches stamp from Stampers

Anonymous - perfect! Inked the stamp up with some Snow Cap ink and stamped on the heart.  Well, due to the texture of the paper, the ink wasn't as bright as I'd like, so I touched it up with the Sharpie Pen (if you don't have one of these - make sure you get the WATER BASED one - you are so missing out!).  I put my heart on my frame and attached it to the tag.  I was going to skip the lace, but then I found a scrap, dyed it up, and glued it to the bottom of the tag (the tag was too thick to get a staple through).  I used an awl to punch a hole in the top of the tag, and I added some red glitter fiber to the top.  There you go! Oh, I did find my spritzer (it was missing last month) but I couldn't get it to work, so no spritzing this month.  Here is another look at my final tag:

Ta Da!

I know that was awfully long, I appreciate you hanging in there and reading the whole thing (if you didn't, go stand in the corner until I tell you to come out!).  If you liked what you read, or just want to be a nice person, please consider following me - I am trying to reach my goal of 100 new subscribers this year. Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Tag in the following challenges:
Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - February
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafting When We Can - #88, Stitching, Faux or Real
Make my Monday - Tags
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards Challenge Blog - #13, Anything Goes

A Hidden Heart

I have had this stamp for years and never really knew what to do with it, but it's so pretty I had to keep it.  Then, I realized while I was looking at it one day, there was a heart right in the center of the design! This is actually the second version of this card as I messed the first one up terribly!  I am missing my sister, who lives in Florida, so this card is going to her.

You can see the texture in that pretty paper

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
gg designs rubber stamp, Stained Glass Window/Door
Gold Embossing Powder
Embossing Fluid
Heat Gun
White Cardstock
Red Specialty Paper
Miss You - Die-Versions "Everyday" Complements, DVS-4x6-104
Distress Marker in Festive Berries
Krylon Leafing Pen in 18K Gold

This rubber stamp is at least 13 years old and I have seen so many of my favorite stamp companies close since the "invention" of digital stamping, I was happy to see that gg designs is still in business.  This image is called Stained Glass Door/Window and is cataloged under Christmas Images - I love it when I can find use for an image beyond it's intended purpose! If you want to see this particular stamp, click HERE, they also have a  bunch of tutorials and other info on their main catalog site, click HERE to go there. Now, back to the card - after stamping the image with embossing fluid on some white cardstock, I embossed it with gold embossing powder, then fussy cut the design out.  I was SO tempted to cut the little "notches" off on the sides, they were really hard to

Specialty Paper

cut.  I edged the cut out piece with the Krylon Leafing Pen to help cover up the white and anywhere that I may not have cut as close as I should have (fussy cutting is NOT a strong point of mine).  I then colored the center heart in with the Festive Berries marker.  It matched the specialty paper the best - I wish I

The Stamp

knew where this paper came from, it's so pretty, I'd love to get more!

Lastly, I trimmed the specialty paper, attached that, then I put the main image on the card.  The image is about 4 1/4" x 2 1/4", so I had limited space that didn't really allow for any stamping, so I turned to my "new" Di-Versions Everyday die - as I explained in a recent post, I got this die and "misplaced" it, and I looked everywhere!! So I ordered a new one and it came the other day. I am sure the "old" one is lurking somewhere, laughing that I spent the money to get the die again. I had to get it again, it's just so perfect for so many things!  I decided I'd use the sentiment "miss you", cut from white cardstock.  I love this image and I think I can actually see a few more shapes in the design - I hope to be able to use it some more (maybe a triptych?), along with my other neglected stamps.  This card is on it's way to sunny Florida, since I woke up to snow today, I'm wishing I could fit in the envelope, too!  Thanks for stopping by today, and please consider subscribing and help me reach my goal of 100 subscribers (if you do subscribe, please leave me your blog address in the comments so I can subscribe to your blog).  Have a great day ~ Christi

Another look

I would like to enter my Hidden Heart card in the following challenges:
One Crazy Stamper - February, Red, White and a Die Cut
Unruly Art Quest - February,

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes!
Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge - February, How Do I Love Thee? (I love my sister!!)
The Diva's That Cut...Paper - February, Words, Quotes, Sentiments - Just for You!

UGH! I was having Blogger comment problems. . .

that I didn't even know about! Thanks to a new friend (Darnell at  djcardcreations and the NBUS Challenge, the original one) who emailed me and told me she was unable to comment on my blog, we have been trying to figure out why. I suspect, as does she, that it has something to do with Google+.  I am trying to fix this issue, and in the process I have lost ALL my comments - so, basically, if you commented before today, they are all gone.  I apologize if I didn't respond to your comment before it disappeared.  Apparently, there is a way to get all the comments back, but frankly, I'm not gonna mess with it anymore, at least not now.  If Blogger was a thing, I'd throw it against the wall.  So, again, I apologize if you commented and I didn't get back to you - please feel free to comment again ('cause I need them to validate my stuff) ~ hehehe ~ from the Fabulous Feline Five Fun House (I am so proud I didn't use the other f-word) <3

This is NOT me, I could not post a picture of me here due to the obscene gestures I was making.

PS: If this is happening to you, this is where I figured out how to fix it - The Real Blogger Status (that will bring you right to the post - read the entire thing so you don't loose all your comments!)

My Newest Design Team ~ My secret revealed

If you have been reading my blog you know I LOVE playing with chipboard.  A while back I saw a DT announcement for a cute little company called JittoBear (you have to read how the company got it's name - it is beyond adorable and totally something I would do!) and I applied.  I am thrilled to announce I was chosen, one of four new Design Team members, out of more than 300 applicants! That makes me happy, feel honored, but it also scares the hell out of me.  But, fear is a great motivator!!

I just have to let you all know that JittoBear is not your run of the mill chipboard company - they will make almost anything you ask for out of either veneer or chipboard (I have some really cool stuff, made for me especially, for some projects later on) as do my teamies.  They are super easy to work with and I am really excited to start showing off my creations - stay tuned, the fun starts in March, 2015.

 

Shades of Grey

I made this card especially for some alternative challenges that I want to enter, specifically the The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers (I WANT that badge!).  I'm not a cute kinda girl - I really don't like the color pink or smarmy sayings.  It is much harder for me to not be sarcastic, and as my friends will tell you, if you open yourself up, your are gonna get some of my wonderful wit.  So, here we go!

What I used to Make my Project:
Silhouette Cameo
Sketch Pens (black)
Spellbinders Nestabilities, Opulent Ovals
Cream Card Base (actually it's a watercolor card), 5 x 7
Grey Cardstock
Black Cardstock
Stickers, Steampunk Dazzles

I started this card last night and finished it this afternoon - that's fast for me, as I am usually doing 1,000 different projects at once (and I am) but I really wanted to get this done in tome for the challenge.  I first used my Silhouette to sketch out the saying, but, honestly, you can use any word processing program

The Saying

to do the same. I had never used my Cameo to sketch before, and that took up more time than anything else, but I was determined to get a good sketch! Finally, I did then I cut out the saying using the second die in the Spellbinders set (I use the picture on the front and count from inside to outside), then cut the forth die in black cardstock, the sixth die out of grey cardstock.  Attached them all together and mounted them on the card. I thought the dies would be bigger, so now I had this space to fill.  I tried using the smallest Spellbinder die to make a cut out - nope.  I through of punches, maybe a heart in each corner? Then it dawned on me, I had just put away a bunch of stickers and they had a chain on them!! Oh yeah, I found my space filler. I put the chains on the sides and I am done!

I hope you enjoyed my card, and that your Valentine's Day was fabulous (I'm getting my car fixed - that's my Valentine's Day gift - LOL - oh and I got some dark Dove's chocolate, which are almost gone).  Thanks for stopping by! Christi 

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - #27, G is for Grey
Naughty or Nice Challenges - #12, Love or Anti-Love 
Allsorts Challenge - #298, For any Occasion other than Birthday
Left of Centre Challenges - Lost Love
Addicted to Stamps and More - #131, Anything Goes
A Step in the Dark. . .or Not - #15, Anything Goes

Krafty Valentine

I almost feel bad about posting this card - it is THAT easy.  The key is the Kraft paper from My Mind's Eye Life Stories paper bundle, which is unfortunately discontinued (but available online in many places - I looked!). This so reminds me of the "love" notes we'd send in school, all folded up, with directions on who to deliver it to, of course with a strict No Peeking Policy, "Check the box - Do you like me? [] Yes []No", or, the even bolder "Will you go out with me? []Yes or []No. We had to make things simple for the note's intended, and be to the point so there was no misunderstanding or confusion.  I always felt a note was better than actually asking, face to face, since a note could be used as evidence if they decided to deny that they said liked you.  Fickle boys!  

For being so simple, I think it's kinda cute

What I Used to Make this Card
Cream Card Base
MME Life Stories Paper Pack
4 Black Photo Corners
Small Heart (from another card)
Wendy Vecchi's Archival Ink in Geranium

This was a very easy card, since the paper from the MME stack did all the work for me.  I cut the square out of the 12 x 12 piece of paper and edged it with the Wendy Vecchi ink in Geranium.  I had saved all the little hearts that came from making this card and I used one of them to "tick" off the Valentine's Day square.  I wanted the card to look somewhat vintage, so I pulled out my photo corners (that I have had for more years than I can remember) and attached the Kraft panel to the card.  For how amazingly simple this card was, I think it makes a statement all on it's own. 

Thanks for taking time to read my little tutorial (if I can even call it that).  I appreciate each comment you leave me, and, please, leave your blog in the comment so I can pop over to your place.  I also hope you will consider becoming a follower of mine and help me reach my goal of 100 followers. Thank you so much for stopping by! Christi

You can see the Geranium ink in this picture better

I would like to enter my Krafty Valentine in the following challenges:
Dream Valley Challenges -  #99, Valentine's Day
Pixie's Crafty Workshop - #163 (my little heart is a snippet)
Make My Monday - Valentine's
Sister Act - #93, Anything Goes
Scrap & Craft - #2, Valentine's, Love, Romance
My Craft Creations - Anything Goes
Card Mania - #65, Add Some Red
4 Crafty Chicks - #233, Valentine's

Love and Hearts

I have been on a creating binge lately - I love it when that happens!!  I have a few more cards I recently created that are very easy and simple, dare I say CAS?!? The one I am showing you today literally took me maybe 10 minutes, at the most.  Of course, it helps when you have all the items that I used to create the card, but in this instance, I think there are tons of different ways to use other dies, punches and die cuts and get the same look, if you want.

The Final Card - the card hinge is on the left side

What I Used to Make my Card:
Love - cut from  Die-Versions "Everyday" Complements, DVS-4x6-104
White Card Base
Red Cardstock
White Cardstock
Spellbinders, Nestabilities, Labels #41 
Spellbinders, Imperial Gold, Gold Labels #34
Pop Dots

It gets really hard to explain how to make a card when you are dealing with multiple die cuts - but here goes.  First, this card opens from the side, the long way, not the typical way.  This matters because it effected the way I positioned the die cuts.  First, I took my red cardstock and cut the "heart circle" (from the Gold Labels 34 set), removed any of the little hearts that were still hanging on (I saved the hearts - I figure they'd work well in a shaker card or as accents. In fact, I used one on another card I recently made) and set it aside.  Then I cut 2 die cuts out of the Labels #41, a small one out of red cardstock, and then a larger one out of white.  I had already had the "love" die cut done so I took that and centered that onto the small red die cut.  I then attached that to the larger white die cut, added pop dots, and pop dotted that to the red cardstock heart circle.  I then took the whole group and glued that onto the card.  I didn't want the pop dots to really pop out so much, so I set the card under a heavy book for overnight to calm them down a bit.  

An easy, chic card for a loved one that is appropriate any time of year.  I hope you enjoyed my tiny tutorial and please consider joining my blog and help me reach my goal of 100 subscribers ~ fondly, Christi 
PS: I have some really exciting news to share, but I can't share it yet and it's killing me!! Stay tuned!

You can see the shadow from the pop dots - not too popped out!

I would like to enter my Love & Hearts Card in the following challenges:
Make My Monday- Valentines
The Pink Elephant - #285, Valentines
Use Your Stuff - Love Theme
Crafty Card Makers - #132, Love, Love, Love
Allsorts - #297, Love is All Around
Just Us Girls Challenge - Word Challenge - Love
Buckwells Crafty Challenge (M)- #4, February, Love/Red

Roses are Red

And while we all know violets are blue, sorry, but we have no violets today.  Only red roses, and they are so cute!  This card was born when I was going through my doilies, looking for the heart shaped ones, and I stumbled across these adorable little "pocket" doilies that I bought years ago.  I don't even know what they were intended for, but I needed them so now I have them.  The roses I acquired from a friend who was cleaning out her craft stash years ago as well - I still lived on the East Coast when I got the package. So while  almost everything I used is old, I think this card is fresh!

Ta Da!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Square White Card Base (5 1/4" x 5 1/4")
Red Cardstock
Background Paper - Flair Designs, True Love Collection, Love in Bloom, Red 
Doily Pocket
Ribbon Roses - 3 large, 2 small
Die-Versions "Everyday" Compliments Die, DVS-4x6-104
Corner Punch "notch" 
Pop Dots

Pretty cool little pocket!

I had already cut out the love with the Die-Versions Compliments die as I did a run of the die through both red and white paper.  Funny story; I used the die twice and it disappeared.  Literally.  I scoured my craft room (at least it's cleaner now), checked the garbage, looked under the cats and I cannot find the die anywhere.  Ha ha (not really). I looked for 2 days. But I love this die, I have wanted it forever, so I bought another one, which is on it's way. And I am sure I will find the other die someday, probably as soon as the other die arrives.  The lucky Irish gene obviously missed me.

The Ribbon Roses

So I took the doily pocket (which is actually a square doily folded to stay in this shape) and decided the roses needed to go in this triangle like shape instead of my original plan, which was to just line them up.  When I glued the flowers I needed something to glue the pocket to (the glue kind of seeped through the doily) so I grabbed a piece of red cardstock that was on my desk.  I glued them into the pocket, glued the pocket to the solid red card,  and set it aside to dry. 

The roses nestled in their pocket

I had found the designer paper when I was going through my Valentine's paper and I cropped it down to fit on the square card.   I then corner punched both the designer paper and the red paper.  Lastly, before I assembled the card, I glued the "love" die cut to the doily pocket, then assembled the card, pop dotting the panel with the doily on it.

I feel good that I used up so much of my stash (so I didn't feel terribly guilty about buying the die again) and I really like how this card came out.  I like the clean & layered look, with that pop of 3D.  I hope this inspires you to use some of those long forgotten goodies that are in your stash! Thanks for visiting ~ Christi

I would like to enter my "Roses are Red" card in the following challenges:
That Craft Place - Anything Goes
House of Cards - February Challenge ~ LOVE
Crafts for Eternity - #212, Love
Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge - #132, It's All About Love
The Card Concept Challenge -#28, Romantic Roses (clean & layered)
Card and Scrap - Use Flowers
Clear it Out Challenge Blog - Anything Goes