MINI EASEL CARD FOR CR84FN29 CHALLENGE

 

This week's color challenge at CR84FN is to use the color combo of light plum, plum and kraft as the main colors in your project. I really like this color combo, so I just had to play along (and thanks to my blog friend, Lynn, for posting her beautiful entry and letting us know about the challenge). I made a 3 inch by 3inch easel card using kraft cs as a base and the light plum and plum cs for my flowers, scallop and butterfly (this keeps the easel card opened as seen in pic). Products used: PTI Flower Fusion #2 & 3 and Tiny Tags stamps and  True Black ink, MS butterfly punch, scallop trim punch, two old EK Success flower punches, rhinestones, Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots embossing folder, SU dimensionals, Zig pen and Scor-tape.

PRETTY WATERFALLS

We took a ride to one of the local reservoirs near our home today to see the spillway....which created some amazing waterfalls from a combination of all the rain we've had and large amounts of snowmelt from the mountains.  ( The last time this happened was in 2005)

TUMBLER PATTERN PLACEMATS

I purchased a tumbler template and decided to try my hand at creating some quilted placemats with it. I also made some matching coasters (sorry, they are not in this pic). I think this is going to become a favorite template...it is soooo easy to use. Was undecided at first whether to square these off but decided to play around; and, with some careful cutting of the backing fabric and batting they came together quite easily.

MASCULINE BIRTHDAY CARD USING ELEGANT EDGES

When I received the Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge I thought how feminine the cuts looked, however, I decided to see if I could create a masculine card with it.  Of all the carts I own (and there are sooooo many!) I have to say this is my all time favorite (especially because of the border feature).  For all the instructions, more pictures and a free .cut file for this card, just click here to go to my project at Custom Crops.

'SEW' SWEET OF YOU

Thanks again to my blogging friend, Lynn, for letting everyone know that The Craft's Meow is sponsoring a technique challenge at Lily Pad Cards to use embossing (heat embossing, dry embossing or both) on a card. I couldn't wait to use my new Sew Cute stamps from my little shoebox once again. So, I pulled out my heat gun and some Detail Brass embossing powder I have had forever along with my TH clear embossing ink and stamped the thread spool and one of the flower button stamps onto my kraft cs card base. To create the large flower, I used the Nestabilities Blossom die to cut one flower from a lighter shade of kraft cs (I dry embossed that with my Cuttlebug and the Swiss Dots embossing folder); and a smaller flower with dp from Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl mini deck. I created my own muslim flower that I sprayed with Glimmer Mist and added a small fabric flower with brad on top (got this one at a quilt show on a business card and just had to repurpose it). Some light green rhinestones were added to the flower for some extra bling. I used my scallop edge trimmer on two more pieces of Material Girl dp to add under the flower.  I didn't stamp a sentiment since I haven't decided who is going to be getting this card or for what occasion. What a fun challenge..reminded me to get out my heat gun and my embossing powders that have been sitting in a drawer way too long!

WARM WISHES

My friend, Lynn, is on the DT at the Craft's Meow, and mentioned that they are sponsoring Card Patterns Sketch Challenge 115 so I decided to join in the fun. When I looked at the sketch, my first thought was 'summer' and so here is the card I created. Products used: kraft, white and color cs (no patterned paper for this one); Cricut Expression and the new Elegant Edges cartridge (one of my favorites!!); Cuttlebug with Swiss Dots, Candy Cane Stripe and D'Vine Swirls embossing folders; PTI Tiny Tags sentiment, double ended banner dies, banner builder dies, orange zest ink and twine; Buttons Galore; SU dimensionals and pom pom ribbon from stash.

MADE WITH LOVE

Did you ever purchase stamps etc and just never get around to using them?  I decided it was time to use my newest PTI stamps Flower Fusion #3 (and die) and one I just got from my little shoebox (called Sew Cute).  Rather than stamping the flowers onto cardstock, I chose to use TH Distress inks in  Fired Brick and Forest Moss on muslin. I die cut some flowers, stamped them and then stamped a small piece of muslin to add to the sewing machine. After I stamped the sentiment onto kraft cs, I trimmed around the edges with my deckle scissors (remember those?!) and used Memento Rich Cocoa ink to give it a distressed look. I am so happy with the result.  The sewing machine, sentiment and 'stitches' are from the Sew Cute set and now that I am quilting I can see using these alot! The card base is kraft cs and the dp is from Cosmo Cricket (Material Girl). If you look close, the PTI flowers look like those on the dp.  I added some Glossy Accents to the center of the flowers, the dials and thread on the sewing machine to give a little sparkle. Other supplies used: scallop edge punch and SU dimensionals.  I'm entering this into this week's challenge at Cute Card Thursday  Challenge #164 which is to feature some distressing on your project.

OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE PICTURES

As promised, here are some of the pictures I took on our trip out to Moab, Utah and Monument Valley.  The scenery is breathtaking (and somewhat scary to get to at times, but well worth it!!!). The first three pictures I took at a place called Antelope Canyon.  It's on Native American land and you pay to be driven out through extremely deep sand in a wash to the opening and then get to walk through the slot canyon. I did not adjust any of the colors or lighting in my pictures. A beautiful place that we plan on returning to. (You can click on all of the pics to make them larger)

Antelope Canyon



Antelope Canyon




Entrance Into Slot Canyon



Monument Valley (The Mittens)

 This brings to mind all the old Westerns we used to watch as kids (many of which were filmed here).


Monument Valley




6th Largest Natural Bridge In North America

It was a 5 mile roundtrip hike up a 350 foot incline, including criss-crossing a stream a number of times and up and down rocks and sand to see this site. 

Riding On Slick Rock

We drove for miles and miles on this trail, up and down slick rock, loose rocks and sand to get to the overlook below. Great place for having lunch and enjoying the view.


Another Amazing View

Our Jeeps parked several feet from the edge of the canyon. Hard to see in the picture, but believe me it just drops down quite far.

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my pics (I took hundreds, but don't worry, I won't post all of them LOL!)

ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY CARD

We just returned from a wonderful, fun-filled vacation with two good friends and I can't wait to share some photos I took. But for now I want to share the anniversary card I made for this fun couple. I used the following supplies: kraft cs; Cosmo Cricket dp; PTI mat stack die and stamp; sentiment stamp from Scrappy Moms Stamps; MS glitter; Taylored Expressions It's A Banner Day Die (I cut it in half so it could peek out from the sides of the larger die cut; MS Doily Lace Trim Deep Edge Punch, rhinestones from stash

THIS IS SOME WILD LOOKING LIZARD!

While on one of our off-road Jeep adventures with good friends yesterday in Moab, UT we stopped to look at this old engine block.  Suddenly, this colorful guy jumped up and stayed right where you see him...even when we got close and took pics.  Can't wait to find out what kind this is since we have never seen one like it before.  To see him close-up just click on the picture. UPDATE: Found out that this is a Yellow-headed Collared Lizard, Crotaphytus collaris auriceps, found in the Four Corners Region of Utah and Colorado.