Winter Inspiration at Craft-Room Challenges

The lovely Debbie adores using pictures as inspiration, so she chose this one for challenge # 91 at the Craft-Room Challenge.  I am very sad to say that this will be the last challenge at the Craft-Room Challenge.  I had a lovely time as one of the design team members and I am going to miss each and every one of my teamies - hopefully I will get to work with them in the future ~ ok, on with the challenge!

The woman in the black dress inspired me to make this holiday card. I enjoy making holiday cards out of non-traditional colors so that was the route I went.

What I Used to make My Card
Martha Stewart Punches 
Corner Punch from Stampin' Up!
Sincere Salutations Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
A2 White card base
Black Cardstock
White Cardstock

I have seen so many lovely cards made with die cuts and Silhouette cuts, you

The punches I used

know those beautiful cards with layers and ribbon and flowers? Well, I am not much for flowers on my cards, I don't have the fancy dies to cut from yet and I need a new blade for my Silhouette so I decided to see what I could do with the punches I have. Honestly, I HAD to have the Martha Stewart punches and this is the first time I am using them.  I still can't get the hang of the coveted "punch around the page".
 

The layers (except the large black)

 I started out with a piece of black cardstock cut a 1/4" smaller than the card base and picked out some punches to decorate it.  I used the Martha Stewart "Swirly Corner" (I don't have names for the Martha Stewart punches, so I named them myself) in the corners and then used the "Scallop Dots" for the center of the panel.  I cut the white panel smaller than the black panel and used the same punches.  For the smallest black panel I used just the "Scallop Dots" since it was too small for the "Swirly Corner" punch.  The last white panel, after I stamped my sentiment, had the corners rounded using the Stampin' Up! corner rounder. I then layered the panels with pop dots (I'd used fairly low pop dots - I may want to mail the card) and that was it. 
 

Thought I'd show you the dimension of the card

I had a fabulous time coming up with different designs with the punches & I hope you like what I came up with! There are 2 full weeks for you to join us at the Craft-Room Challenge and we'd love to see how you interpret the inspiration photo and show some love for our last challenge. Blessings! Christi

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #288, Christmas
Craft Hoarders Anonymous - #21, Celebrate the Season (Martha Stewart punches are over a year old and this is the first time I have used them)
Crafty Card Makers and More - #129, Christmas
Fantasy Stampers Challenge - #25, CAS Christmas

Christmas Decorations at Craft-Room Challenges!

For challenge #90 at the Craft-Room Challenge, Hazel has chosen to inspire us to make Christmas Decorations - no cards. I have been intending to make ornaments for the three cats that I had to let go last year (they all lived to a ripe old age; Baby was 19, Spike was 19 and Boo was 17) and I know I did what was needed to for their sake.  What made it so much harder was I lost Spike on December 5th and then Boo on December 6th.  I truly intended on making all 3 ornaments, but, I only got to make one ornament because I got just too emotional to make all three.  I chose to make one for Boo first (and you can read a bit about him here).  Letting go of my furbabies is the worst part of being a pet parent, but the unconditional love, joy and laughter I get from my pets is priceless to me. And, I do have a houseful of five cats, so I am certainly never lonely for cat company. 

Big fat, happy Boo :)

What I Used to Make my Project:
Chipboard Ornament, 2  (I can't for the life of me recall where I got these, but they are about 4" at their widest spot)
Folk Art Acrylic Paint in Metallic Champagne, #675
Ribbon (the metallic gold ribbon was about 1 1/2" wide)
3D Enamel Gel in Satin Gold  (Mine came from Globecraft & Piccolo)
Embellishments
Krylon 18kt Gold Leafing Pen
Bulldog Clips (to hold it together while drying)
Your choice of picture

When I bought these round ornaments, I bought 6 of them so I could make 3 ornaments.  My goal was to cut out a portion of the center on 3 of them, and then use the other three as the backs of the ornament.  That was a great plan, except I have a terrible time cutting in circles - just another one of those things.  I enlisted help and got 3 of the ornaments cut & left three intact.  It helped that they didn't need to be smoothly cut.

 Once they were cut, I picked a pair and brainstormed how I was going to cover the chipboard - I wanted to use paper initially, but after conferring with my teamies, I chose to use ribbon.  So I cut a length of ribbon about as long as my arm (I never measure those kinds of things) and began wrapping it around the ornament with the hole in the center (I'm going to call that ornament the front piece and the back the back piece).  I liked the way the wrapped ribbon came out, and I did try some other ribbons on the other front pieces I had, but the gold looked the best to me. 

The Ribbon I used

I did have to re-wrap the end, up by the hanging piece a few times, but all in all I am satisfied with the results.   Before I glued the ribbon to the front, I colored the area where you put the hook with the Krylon Leafing Pen in case any of it showed.  Then I decided to use the 3D gel on the very top just to give some pop to it.  Once the 3D gel dried (I left it overnight) I glued the ribbon and moved on.

While the ribbon was drying I decided to paint the back portion in a nice, soft gold - Metallic champagne is the perfect name for this color - so the ornament would look finished, plus I think I am going to write a bit about Boo eventually on the back.  I edged the back piece with the Krylon Leafing Pen so all of the chipboard was now covered with something.  I set the back aside to dry.

It dried nicer than this - all the brush marks settled in.

Deciding what picture to use was another issue.  I have no children and I take LOTS of pictures of my cats.  But I found one where Boo is on "his table" (it really wasn't his table, but he adopted it and it became his table), where he'd hang out with me in Connecticut while I was in my art room.  He is fat and healthy in the picture and I felt it was a beautiful representation of him.  I printed out the picture on 4" x 6" photo paper, cut it to size, and sandwiched the 2 pieces of the ornament around the picture.  A bit of glue has seeped onto the top of his picture, and I am sure it would have been fine IF I left it alone, but no - I had to try to wipe it off. 

The red circle shows were the glue is peeking out

I found out what happens when you use a baby wipe on a photo printed picture - it takes the color off.  Yup.  I tried to color in where the color was rubbed off, but the photo paper kept resisting every marker I tried to use.  Mortified that the ornament wasn't going to be perfect, I ripped it apart and printed another picture.  Glued that picture over the ruined picture and sandwiched the ornament again.  I found that the back piece warped a bit so I needed to use some bulldog clips, spaced around the circle, to hold the ornament all together while it dried.

Lastly, I took an old embellishment from my stash (I think it is a part of an earring) and placed that at the top of the ornament.  All the emotion and trouble was worth it because I adore this creation of mine.  I think Boo looks like the handsome kitty he was and this was a fantastic way to remember him.  Maybe I'll be able to make the other 2 ornaments after all.  We'll see. 

Another view - this one is a bit more sparkly

Thank you SO much for reading all of this - I know I over shared, but sometimes that's what I have to do.  I hope you will share your creations with us at Craft-Room Challenge (PLEASE read our pesky rules!) – you have two whole weeks to enter, so get going!  Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my ornament in the following challenges: 
Crafty Ribbons (w) - Challenge #107,  Animals at Christmas plus Ribbon
CCEE Stampers (w) - Photos & Photography 
The Mirror Crack'd (m) - #3, Christmas Decorations
Unruly PaperArts (m) - RAQ - Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Naughty or Nice Challenges (November) - #9, Festive Furballs
Fairy Tale Challenge - #105, Animal Christmas

3D Challenge at Craft-Room Challenges

Wow how time flies!  Seems like just yesterday I hosted my very first challenge at Craft-Room Challenges and it’s already my turn again!  The theme I chose for challenge #89 is 3D.  My cousin flew out here to visit with my mom, my brother & me, and it just so happens that she was here for her birthday so I chose to make a Pop Up Box Card.  I try to only make cards that can actually be mailed and when this card is folded up it fits in an A2 envelope – I think that is so cool!! By the time you read this she will already be home & I have given her the card.  My cousin loved the card and we had so much fun talking about our crazy family!

Before we get started I want to clarify the challenge.  Your card, project, whatever MUST be 3D – pop dotting a flower on the front of your card does not make it 3D.  Please respect the challenge and make your creation easily identifiable as three dimensional.  Also, we are having quite a few entrants disregarding our challenge limit.  You are only allowed to enter 5 other challenges besides the Craft-Room Challenge, this is one of our new rules.   If we did not comment on your project that is because you have been disqualified.

This was the first time I attempted to make one of these cards and it was so much fun I know I will be using them more often!  The cut file I used was purchased at the Silhouette store and it was designed by Lori Whitlock; however, I do know most of the stores that sell cutfiles have the same type of card.  

The picture makes the card look lopsided (it's not) - I can't take another because the card is now in Florida.

What I Used to Make this Card:

Silhouette Cut File (the name of the file I used is "A2 Box Card: Birthday", designed by Lori Whitlock)
Silhouette Cameo
White Cardstock for Base (should be on the heavier side)
KaiserCraft Paper in Violet Crush
Plain Cardstock pieces that match the Violet Crush paper
Pop Dot (I used one that is about ¼” high)
Stampin’ Up! Simple Salutations stamp set

Since I can't explain how to make the card any better than the designer, here is a link to the tutorial that Lori Whitlock made, How to Assemble a Box Card (clicking on this link will take you to YouTube)

First I cut the base out of white cardstock and then cut out the decorative

All the peices of the card

panels.  I had to cut the base and panels twice because I glued the panels that were supposed to go on the outside to the inside (honestly, if everything I did went according to my plan, without a single mess up,  I’d be SO shocked) so you may want to mark the panels. 

Then I worked on the divider tab pieces. I assembled them prior to

View from the top

inserting them into the card.  I built my birthday cake and gift on right onto the divider tab itself.  I wanted to add a bit more oomph so I added another star to the star embellishment and pop dotted that to the backside of the first divider.

Lastly, I personalized the card by cutting another panel, stamping “happy birthday” on it, along with a little note and attached that to the front panel of the card.  You can see
that in the last picture of the card.  I really had fun and now that I know they aren't difficult to make my brain is swirling with fun ideas and ways to use this card.

And the final card with the Happy Birthday panel

I hope you enjoyed my mini-tutorial!  Please get creative and join us at Craft-Room Challenges, there are 2 whole weeks for you to enter and we'd love to see your 3D creations - Fondly, Christi


I am entering my 3D Birthday Card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion - #239, Starts with a "B" - my Birthday  
That Craft Place Challenge - Anything Goes
Sister Act - #82, Anything Goes

Craft-Room Challenge presents Vintage Christmas

The inspiration for this card was the new challenge at Craft-Room Challenges.  The theme was chosen by Zoe and for challenge #88, its Vintage Christmas.  I love old ornaments and such but I couldn’t think of anything to suit vintage Christmas – until I saw the beautiful paper I used on the card.  As I have said before, my craft room is typically messy – and especially around this time of year when I am creating like a crazy woman.  I had piles of papers here and there and happened to turn over this piece and I knew I had found the perfect paper to use on my card!  I think this card captures the spirit of a Vintage Christmas.

The picture doesn't do it justice

What I Used to Make My Card:

Kraft cardstock base

KaiserCraft “Art of Life” Collection, P1401, Every Day

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Die-Delights, Petite Labels One, S3-205

Scrap of Cream (Vanilla) Cardstock

Tree Cutfile

Silhouette Cameo

Tim Holtz Seasonal Chit Chat

Distress Ink in Pumice Stone

I don’t have a long tutorial for you because it is a really simple card.  I had already had one of the trees cut from an earlier project, so I just sized the two remaining trees to complement that one and cut them using the Silhouette.

See the sparkle?

I made sure the words I chose from the Chit Chat fit inside the die I wanted to use for the label,  then I die cut the label out of the cream cardstock, adhered the stickers and edged the label with Pumice Stone Distress Ink (I just used the pad).  I arranged the trees and the sentiment, glued everything down and there you have it! I really enjoy the simplicity of the card and I think the middle tree (the extra one I had) being cut from glitter cardstock adds the perfect bit of glitz.  I hope you agree and enjoyed this mini-tutorial.  As always, thank you for stopping by, your visits and comments mean the world to me!  Now, get your holiday spirit on and make a vintage project to share at the Craft-Room Challenge!

PS: It looks like I added something to the Kraft card I used for a base - I didn't use anything on it, the photo just made it look sorta grainy.

And another look at the final card.  Love that sparkly tree!

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Completely Christmas - #35, Anything Goes, Twist: Use a Setiment
Allsorts Challenge - #282, Christmas 
ABC Christmas Challenge - U is for Uncolored (I didn't color anything)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Get Crafty & Use Kraft (my card base)

Making Your Own Background for Craft-Room Challenges

The most recent theme over at Craft-Room Challenge  has been chosen by the talented Mervi and she decided to challenge us with making our own background.   Knowing that Halloween is right around the corner I knew I wanted to make a card pertaining to the holiday, so I dug into my stash of alcohol ink backgrounds and this is the result.

 

You can't really see the little stars, but they are there!

What I Used to Make my Card:

Alcohol Ink Background (pre-made using blues, purple and Silver Leaf Pen)

White Card Base, square, 5 ¼ x 5 ¼

Round Punch, 2 inches

Witch Cut File

Silhouette Cameo

Black Cardstock

Happy Halloween from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous “Simple Sayings”, CMS155

Silver Paper Scrap

Silver Sequin Stars (tiny)

Silver Ink from Colorbox Pinwheel “Alchemy”

Silver Siam Embossing Powder from Globecraft & Piccolo

Glue (I use Crafters Pick The Ultimate)

If you don’t have your alcohol ink background made, do that first.  I made this using the old Polished Stone method, you can search for it, I searched “polished stone technique” and came up with quite a few options, and even videos, to show you how to achieve the effect.

Once your background is done, trim it down to fit on the front of your  base card.  I trimmed a ¼” on each side so I could leave a bit of the white cardstock showing.  But I found it easier to build the card on the background before I glued it to the card base.

 

She reminds me of Bewitched!

I searched my cut files and found this cute witch. I like her because she isn’t your typical scary looking witch with a wart on her nose and a scowl on her face.  I cut her out using my Silhouette Cameo machine and black cardstock.  I punched the moon out of silver cardstock using a circle punch.

I used a scrap of white cardstock for the sentiment.  I stamped the Happy Halloween in silver ink and then embossed it with silver embossing powder.  At that point I felt the card was done.  I put it aside so I could write this post.

 

Something is missing. . .

When I looked at the card the next day I wasn’t as happy with it as I was at first.  It needed a little something more. Since my desk was an absolute mess, covered with everything and anything Halloween related I spied the little silver stars and I thought that since the witch is riding her broom at night, so little stars were in order.  After I put the stars on the card, in no particular order, I was happy with the card again. I wish they showed up in the photograph better but Mew was happy to pose for all of you!

 

My own little black cat, Mew, and the card.  You can actually see the stars!

So there you have my second Halloween card this season.  I am very far behind, and honestly, I doubt I’ll be sending any out, but I just LOVE the holiday so much, I know I will make more cards, most likely when I should be making winter holiday cards to send out.  I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial and there is still 2 weeks to get in on the Craft-Room Challenge “Make Your Own Background Theme” (challenge #87) – hope to see you there! Christi

I would like to enter my Witch Card in the following challenges:
Artistic Inspirations -(w) #113,  Make Your Own Background
Craftin' Desert Divas - (2w) #42, Halloween
Bloggers Challenge - (2w) Halloween
Addicted to Stamps - (m) #116, Anything Goes
One Crazy Stamper - October Challenge, Christmas/Halloween (I chose Halloween)
Die Cut Divas - October Challenge, Change of Seasons, Spring/Autumn (I chose to go with Autumn)