Hats Off To You!

 

It’s time for another fun challenge . . . once again Cindy and I are teaming up to host another fun project challenge. This one is all about hats. Cindy and I were talking on the phone last week about all of the fantastic hats lately. . . I think that it is a combination of the royal wedding and next week’s Kentucky Derby that really got us rolling on this one.

At any rate, your challenge is to make a card (scrapbook page or other altered projects are also allowed, we are not exclusive!) inspired by hats. Here are a few images to get you started.

I found this fabulous website. . . Lady Diane Hats . . . if you can’t be inspired by this page, I don’t know what will do it. . . lol. . . just look at all of those hats!

Here is my personal favorite hat from the wedding. Go Victoria!!!

I made a hat card by using half of a circle punch. The brim of the hat was made by tracing a sideways figure-eight shape on a scrap of white paper. Then I just sort of trimmed it to fit. I added a bunch of toulle and some flowers and ribbon. . .

Cindy has some more fantastic examples at her blog. To show even more examples of inspiration, here are some other hat cards from the archives. Any hat goes! Cindy is generously dontating another great prize package for this challenge.  All you have to do is hop over to her blog and add your entry to her page by May 13th. Don’t miss out on this easy chance to win!

  

. . . old graduation hat cards made by me and Stephanie. . .I miss you Steph!!!

PP&P Project Challenge!

 

Oh, do I have a surprise this weekend! I have teamed up with my Mentor Cindy over at Papers Pads & Pictures to join in on a really fun new adventure.  Every other Friday, we will be hosting a project challenge. The object of this will be to share some fun paper crafting ideas and new techniques! Cindy has generously supplied a lot of fun things to get us off to a roaring start. . . among these you will find a free blinkie to put on your blog or website to show that you are participating . . . and a prize pack worth over $20 of fun scrapbooking products!

How can you participate? Cindy’s blog is located here.  Our very first challenge which begins today, April 15th, is a sketch challenge. All you have to do is make a card or layout project following this sketch.

Here are a few fun examples that Cindy and I made to get you started.

   

There are no restrictions on what products, colors, themes or techniques you use to make your card. When you are done making your cards following the sketch, just go here to post them using the inlinkz system used at many other challenges. You can find more details at Cindy’s place but the basics are pretty simple. . . Go make a sketch card, post it and you are entered to win! :)  We want to encourage everyone of all skill levels to join us for this fun! Thanks for stopping by,  and good luck! I know that the winner will love the prize pack that Cindy has chosen!

Sketch #64

 

Here is today’s sketch from Stars & Stamps . . . I do love to make my sketch cards every weekend! Continuing on with the Manly Man theme I have created a card using the stamp set called “Finish Line” by CTMH.

Here is the sketch:

I turned it sideways for this card so that it would better fit the stamp that I used.

Supplies used include: More Kraft cardstock cut to an A-2 size for a base.

I used a layer of silver metallic paper cut to 5.25 x 4” and layered with a piece of black measuring the 3.5 x 4.75 size as shown in the sketch. I ran these through my cuttlebug using the template that looks like tire tread, or the aluminum stuff that you see in a lot of automotive places. Kirsten says it looks like the toolbox on her truck. :)

I layered again with a blaze orange paper (very manly) and a piece of white that I stamped the Indie car on. I stamped the checkered flags on orange and colored them in with a white gel pen.

Here are some fun techniques used in this stamped image. . . I gave the car some motion by stamping it first in the bottom right corner. Then, without re-inking I moved the stamp up and to the left a little bit and stamped again. Then I moved the stamp up and to the left again and stamped a third time. This is called second and third generation stamping and it is really fun to do to make it look like your car. . . or whatever. . . is moving somewhere. Plus, I think it makes it look the dust clouds look pretty cool. :)

Also, I distressed the edges of my white mat by using direct – to – paper distressing. This means that I used my black stamp to apply ink directly to the edges of the paper – instead of using a cat – eye or a sponge dauber that leaves a more softly distressed look. DTP distressing is more chunky  and hard looking. I think it goes good with the manly – man look of this card. Fun!

Back later with more of today’s sketch cards, this sketch is easy and fun!

Manly Man Cards

 

Sometimes it is hard to create cards with a more masculine feel. That is my goal today, as I am working on some Father’s Day cards for the troops. Father’s Day cards need to be mailed in by May 21st so that gives us lots of time to work on it!

Over at Stars & Stamps, this weeks’ challenge was Father’s Day cards and I am just loving all of the submissions that are in so far. I’m definitely going to have to be on the lookout for some more manly themed stamps.

That being said, I also got my copy of Paper Crafts magazine in the mail this week and there is a TON of really fun things in there too. . . something that really caught my eye was a card by Kim Kesti that was made to look like a tool belt. Too cute! You’ll find it on page 17 if you have the latest issue. (May / June 2011)

For a base, I used some Kraft cardstock from JoAnn’s cut to make an A-2 sized card.

The blue wood pattern in the background is from the DCWV Green Stack.

I cut a piece of orange cardstock that measures 3.5 x 2.5” I cut a strip of orange cardstock that measures 2 x 6” . . . this strip was scored and folded a bunch of times to make the pockets. After gluing this to the 3.5 x 2.5 piece, I rounded the bottom corners and attached it with eyelets. I won’t lie – it took a couple of tries to get those pockets just right and I had to just kind of trim the left and right edges with scissors to get the piece to fit right before I glued it down and added the eyelets. Last, I cut some 1/2 inch strips and made the belt by attaching eyelets on one end. I used a brown colored pencil to add some scuff marks and fake stitching to the edges. I added the “dad” letter stickers from my stash. I also used my Cricut cartridge called Indie Art to cut out the wrenches (1.5” and 2” size) and the gear from some shiny silver paper. I totally stole a tiny piece of sand paper and some nails from my husband’s junk in the garage. I don’t think he will notice. :)

I also lined the inside of the card with some orange and white paper to make a nice writing surface. Here is a closeup of the pockets. Aside from being a little tedious to make those pockets fit just right, this card was fun to make and I think it sure fits the “manly” category, don’t you?

Thanks for stopping by!

April Expressions

 

Have you seen the new and improved Express the Moment website? It’s full of ten different kinds of awesome! I’m so very excited! I also have something else exciting to share that I am sooooooo proud of. Kim included some sketches from the Operation Write Home site in the ETM Expressions Card kit this month. Operation Write Home has been one of my biggest passions and it feels pretty darned cool that Express the Moment is sharing my love for them by spreading the word about making cards for the troops. What an awesome collaboration of two of my very favorite things! Life doesn’t get much better.

Alrighty then. . . the April kit is just packed full of springy cuteness. The papers and embellies are by Making Memories this month. The line is called “Dilly Dally” and there are all kinds of flowers, butterflies, bugs and pretty colors to work with. Combine these great supplies with a few sketches from Operation Write Home and you have everything that you need to crank out a TON of cute springtime cards.

Here are just a few:

I love pink ric-rac  and these cute pastel colors.

Also included in this month’s kit – a ton of paper butterfly punches in a variety of different colors, and more ribbon than you could use in a lifetime. Haha.

There are quite a few letter stickers and rub-ons and a 12x12 sheet of perforated sentiments that can be used as an easy layer.

I also wanted to share these ones made by my scrapping buddy Kirsten. . . she’s doing such a great job! Wow! Way to pitch in, lady! 

Now go on and check out the new Express the Moment site and look at all of the neat things there. (I especially enjoy the “design team” page – wow, those ladies are hot don’t you think? Hehehe!) I can’t wait for the crop in May. . . ohboy! It’s only $15. . have you signed up?