LOTSA SCRAP

Winter Issue Is Here

2012-01-27T20:15:00.000-06:00

Over 100 pages of inspiration have arrived in this Winter 2012 issue of Enchanting Creations by the Flying Unicorn. I am so honored to have work published in this most amazing e-zine. I have been sitting here spellbound by the incredible work in this issue. I hope you can sit back with me, sip some coffee or tea, and enjoy this issue.

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Really Old!

2012-01-26T06:54:00.000-06:00

My turn again at Flying Unicorn for the Today post. Thought I'd also share it here.

Today I'm dusting off some items from my attic and making a layout with them. How old do you think this photo is? I'm thinking it's around 60 years old. It's a photo of me taken at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Yup, it's me only wearing a different bonnet! It's hard to see, because it's white on white, but I'm holding in my hand this very same postcard of Bushman the gorilla. Can you believe I actually hung onto this postcard all these years?

I'm a Product Creative Artist for the Flying Unicorn. Today's product feature is Dusty Attic. I used Francy Trim #4 to make a "zoo fence". On the larger piece I used Ranger Black Soot Distress Ink and then brushed on some Perfect Pearls Green Patina, followed by heat setting. On the smaller piece which I overlaid, I used Ranger Wild Honey Distress Stain. I used the same color on the Bird of Paradise.

The papers are Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue. The ticket is from Graphic 45 Curtain Call. I always edge my fancy cutting with black pen. For a softer effect on the beige items, I used Ranger Distress Ink in Antique Linen.

You will find Dusty Attic lazer cuts in the Flying Unicorn store, along with the Graphic 45 paper collections.

Other items are from my stash. I've had the giraffe since the time I started scrapbooking and bought a kit with it in it.

I hope you have time today to scrap a lot!

White

2012-01-23T10:11:00.000-06:00

This weekend at the Flying Unicorn Polar Bear Pajama Party (crop) one of the challenges was to make an all white tag. This also just happened to be the challenge over at Tag Tuesday.

This is my first time participating in Tag Tuesday.

This tag has special significance because I used some of things given to me by the Flying Unicorn members. The crocheted butterfly and 3 crocheted flowers are made by Cathi. The lace at the top and bottom came from Bitsy in her Secret Santa box to me.

The clock is a Ruby Rock-It Avalon sticker from the Flying Unicorn store. Heartwarming Vintage Crafty Secrets made the Once Upon a Time sticker as well as the little girl which I fussy cut and put inside the envelope. I love how her thumbs are hooked over the edge of the envelope--just too perfect. I made the tag from white corrugated cardboard. I tore some strips of French text, also from Cathi, and glued them on the tag, then painted on some gesso and added Picket Fence Crackle to tone down the text.

I plan to put this tag in my calendar book which is a work in progress.

You Are My Sunshine

2012-01-22T08:23:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was my turn for the Today post at the Flying Unicorn. We're featuring Ruby Rock-It products this week. I made with layout with the Ruby Rock-It Avalon line--papers, stickers, and rub-ons.

I've been wanting to scrap this photo of my daughters and loved how the yellow doily paper reminded me of the sun.

The word strips are computer generated and are the lyrics to the song You Are My Sunshine. I chose this song because I sang it to my girls when they were toddlers. A bonus was that the lyrics when skies are grey went with the greyish purple paper.

The Avalon collection and most of the flowers are from the Flying Unicorn store. The beautiful crocheted butterfly is from my friend Cathi who lives in Ireland.

Today is the last day for the The Polar Bear Pajama Party crop at the Flying Unicorn. So far I have 14 entries for my ATC challenge over there.

An ATC Tutorial

2012-01-20T20:56:00.003-06:00

I developed this ATC tutorial for the Polar Bear Pajama Party going on this weekend at the Flying Unicorn. Participants are asked to make an ATC and post it in my challenge thread for a chance to win some sandable Fancy Pants paper from the Flying Unicorn.

ATC stands for Artist Trading Card. The operative word is trading. These cards are traded among artists, but never sold. When you trade, you write your information on the back of the card. There even are stamps (rubber/acrylic) made with all the needed information to put on the back of your ATC.

A strict rule is that the trading card must measure 3-1/2 inches by 2-1/2 inches. It does not matter if your card design is horizontal or vertical.

Once you get into trading ATCs, you will learn there are more design rules such as when you make sets and series. But during this crop, we only are going to make one ATC so you don’t have to worry about all of that at this point.

There are 3 basic steps to creating an ATC: background, image and embellishment.

You may overload your ATC with embellishments but something to remember is that collectors keep them in sleeves to protect them (think tiny plastic bag like the kind you get embellishments in). These sleeves can be individual, which is how I send my out. Or they can be in binders, each page holding 9 cards. If you or someone you know collects baseball cards, then you have an idea of how this looks. My ATCs are in a long narrow box so that I can look through them, much like you would recipes in a recipe box. Therefore, when you are decorating your ATC, please remember overhanging embellishments and chunky embellishments may keep them from fitting in their sleeves.

If you are an old hand at making ATCs, then you have some cards on hand. If not, then you need to make one. You can use anything for your base—card stock, a piece of designed scrapbooking paper, cardboard, grunge board, burlap, cork, etc. Here is a photo with some examples.

You can buy precut cards that measure 2-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches at art and hobby stores. I found canvas and wood ones at Hobby Lobby. Some paper manufacturers have designed paper with rectangles the size needed for ATCs. The paper in the photo is Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden which is available in the Flying Unicorn Store. You would have 7 to 9 ATCs to cut out of this page. Tim Holtz also has 12x12 paper with some of the pattern designed to be cut for ATCs.

Decide what you want for your base and get it ready: 2-1/2 inches x 3-1/2 inches.
Create a background on your base: paint, stamping, premade as the Butterfly Garden designs, something run through an embossing folder, just a pretty scrap of paper, etc. Check out the prize for this challenge--sandable paper--perfect for an ATC background!
Choose an image to place on top of the background. This can be a clip art image, a larger printed image from scrapbook paper (such as Graphic 45), something 3-D such as a snowman ornament, a stamped image, etc.
Embellish to your heart’s content.

Here are a couple samples of ATCs I’ve made in the past. Even though this is a Polar Bear party, I couldn't resist posting a couple of "spring themed" ATCs.

This first one has patterned paper as a background, a fussy cut image and then misc. embellies.

This second one has for a background distressed ink and a couple of rubber stamped images. Another stamped flower cut out and layered on top. The image is fussy cut.

And here’s the one I made for our Polar Bear Pajama Party:

Base is a black card stock ATC. Image is from Gecko Galz, printed on my ink jet printer at home, cut a tad smaller than ATC size so that the black shows as a border. Embellishment is all Stickles and a little bit of cotton from a cotton ball for the wispy snow clouds.

The ATC part of the tutorial is over, but I thought I’d add a few comments about using wet products with ink jet images. I know you can get a “setting” product to keep the images from bleeding. However, I did want to mention that Stickles is a wet glue and therefore does react with the ink printed from an ink jet printer. Sometimes you can use this to your advantage. I love the effect of Clear Rock Candy Stickles and often use it on water images such as the ocean, or in this case, the ice. I used some Faded Jeans Stickles on the robe (all dressed for the pajama party) and then added Diamond Stickles on both the robe and the clouds. The Flying Unicorn store has a wide variety of Stickles—just look under the category Tim Holtz. I used a glue pen to highlight the snowflakes and then sprinkled glitter on top of the wet glue. I would have brushed on liquid glue and then given it a good dose of glitter, but I know from past experience that the ink runs as you’re painting on the glue. Just a few thoughts if you haven’t worked with these products and ink jet images before.

If you have time to make an ATC this weekend, I hope you bring it over to the Flying Unicorn so we can admire it. The challenge ends at 6pm est on Sunday. And you may just be the one to win the prize (winner chosen by random draw).

Just the Rain

2012-01-20T08:16:00.001-06:00

At the Flying Unicorn, we're playing Idol. I got my gold ticket at the audition for my layout "you better not pout". I made it past round one of Hollywood Week with the help of these Journey lyrics:

I used an image from the Franklyscarlett ephemera sheet by Gecko Galz and the Tim Holtz Alternations die Umbrella Man. The red doily heart is mounted on a white chipboard heart.

I'm linking this to the Aud Sentiment challenge#46 where we're to use the word love on our project. The theme also is "if LOVE were a movie, you'd be a box office hit". My piece is rather the opposite, but the movie stars of Gone With the Wind certainly were a hit.

I'm also linking this to the first challenge for 2012 at Art With No Boundaries: Express Yourself.
I posted the badge link a while back and have been anxiously waiting for the new challenge.
Express Myself: I love images, both stamps and digital clip art. My most favorite image is the Umbrella Man by Tim Holtz. I own it in every form that was made--stamps, die cut, ATC embossing folder. I love working with photo images and am happy to be on the Gecko Galz design team where I can create with their amazing images. This is an example of how I express myself. I love to take these images and create something either a little quirky or very vintage.

The Polar Bear Pajama Party starts at 6pm est this evening and runs until 6pm est Sunday night. Lots of crop challenges with prizes -- not to mention the chatting and games. I'll be back later today to tell you about my challenge. I hope you can join in the fun at the Flying Unicorn.

What, no Peeking?

2012-01-19T09:53:00.000-06:00

It's my turn again for the Today segment at the Flying Unicorn forums. This layout is on the homepage. We're featuring Ruby Rock It papers this week. I got to work with the Avalon collection.

I made this layout of my grandbaby trying to sneak a peek at one of her Christmas presents. Actually, as you can tell by her age, she needed some help in this endeavor--and grandpa was the partner in crime. I, of course, told her, no peeking. She looked up at me, as if to say, Seriously? no peeking? I chose not to use a flash so the photos are a bit grainy but I felt they captured a moment worthy of scrapping.

I used these double sided papers to create the scene, including cutting out a Christmas tree from that perfectly patterned paper. The rub-ons (butterflies) are high quality, easy to adhere.

Thanks for looking. Hope you have time to scrap-a-lot!

Fave Paper

2012-01-17T23:12:00.000-06:00

This week's Gingersnap Creations Random Redhead challenge is #GC135: Favorite Paper.

Being a paperholic, it's quite difficult for me to decide on a favorite paper. But we were to use something that we love so much that we never cut into it. That would be my Jenni Bowlin papers. I have a couple of favorites and bought more than one sheet of each design. I thought this particular sheet looked like stars and went perfectly with the Stampotique sentiment.

Since this month's Gingersnapper focus is to get organized with a focus on using up our scraps, I'm pleased to announce I also used up some scraps of trim by putting them on this card.

As I mentioned last week, Stampotique is this month's sponsor. This particular sentiment stamp is called "Perhaps" (#8865)

For inspiration from the other design Gingers and challenge details, please visit Gingersnap Creations. You could be the next Ginger Gem!

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

2012-01-16T22:22:00.000-06:00

January marks Gecko Galz' two year anniversary. We are celebrating with some amazing offers so be sure to head over to the Gecko Galz website. Sign up for the newsletter and you may be a winner!

As a new member of the Gecko Galz design team, I used images from two ephemera sets released this month, Kiss Me and Game Time.

I made the kissing couple into a ping file and placed it on top of the War BINGO card. After printing it out, I distressed it and edged with Ranger Black Soot ink and placed it on a blank black card. Embellishments include a BINGO cover from my private vintage ephemera collection and flowers from the Flying Unicorn. Here is a close up of the ribbon and flowers:

It seemed appropriate to use a yellow ribbon. Here is a link to one version of the significance of the yellow ribbon in wartime: Wikipedia.

I'm also linking this up to The Craft Room's clean and simple challenge.
I have both the challenge badge and the store badge on my sidebar.

If you love working with images, you may be interested in the following information from Gecko Galz:

Gecko Galz is looking for 12 guest designers who will be featured artists on our blog site, one each month, in 2012.
Do you like working with collage images and digital stamps?
Do you like to come up with fun exciting projects that will wow and inspire others?
Then this might be a fun way to share your creative talents.

To be considered for a spot just send us 4 recent samples of your work it can be anything and you do not have to use Gecko Galz products to be considered. Send samples to us at geckogalz@yahoo.com and in the header please put the words "Gecko Galz Guest Designer"

International entries welcome!

If we choose you to be a Guest Designer for one of our months, you will receive that month's product which will include all 5 of the collage sets, the jewelry collage sheets for that month, the paper set, and the digital stamp set for that month. Plus $25 in digital products of your choice from our site.

Now what we would like from you, if you are picked, is a short bio about yourself, a link to any blogs or online galleries you may have, and 5 samples that we will post with your write up. This is a great way for you to gain exposure for your work.

Deadline for submitting is ongoing through 2012 until all spots are filled and we will notified those picked via email.

We look forward to seeing your stunning work and invite you to see what Gecko Galz is all about at

www.geckogalz.com

Today

2012-01-13T18:57:00.000-06:00

The Flying Unicorn started a new feature this month, called Today. It's the first thing you see when you go to the site. Those of us on the creative team are taking turns posting our work on Today. All the posts stay up, you just need to scroll down to see them all. My turn was yesterday. Our product feature this week is Graphic 45.

I had fun making this little journal with the new G45 line, Tropical Travelogue. I loved the sketch cards and envisioned them in a nature lover's pocket travel guide.

I have been a fan of Graphic 45 paper collections since the day I started scrapbooking. Their color palettes and vintage designs fit my style.

The new Tropical Travelogue collection offers so many crafting possibilities. I decided to make an accordian folder. Can you picture anature lover visiting the tropics and recording the sites in this little sketchbook?

The covers are made with real wood thick cherry. After cutting the wood veneer to size, I dabbed on some Ranger Walnut Stain. I covered the back sides with G45 paper. Then I scored the strip of cards and folded them accordian style. I glued each end onto a wood cover followed by embellishing the covers.

Here is the front cover. In addition to the stickers from the Tropical Travelogue collection, I used a G45 metal flower and a vintage earring as the flower center as well as a Holtz hitch fastener. The alphas are by Authentique. The Graphic 45 papers, metal flowers, and Authentique alphas are available from the Flying Unicorn.

Here is the inside when you open the cover. You can see how I notched the strip and glued it to the covers. I used Ranger Walnut Distres Ink to edge the paper.

Then I turned it over and added additional images to the accordian folder. You also can see the back cover in this photo on which I used more G45 stickers from this collection.

De-Stashing Ribbon

2012-01-11T00:27:00.000-06:00

The Gingers are getting organized in the month of January by using up what they have in their craft rooms. Today's Spicy Supply Challenge is GC134: Ribbon. Please check today's Gingersnap Creations blog post for the challenge details and inspiring art from the other Gingers.

Our sponsor this month is Stampotique Originals. On my postcard tag, I used three Stampotique stamps:
splatter, Wishing You Sun Fish Days, and Beauties.

I've placed a shell image from Gecko Galz on the left side. I fussy cut the bird and added two tags and a postage stamp from the Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue collection. Postcard tag and postage cancellation stamps are from Red Lead Paperworks.

Mojo Monday January 9

2012-01-09T01:30:00.000-06:00

Today is Mojo Monday at the Flying Unicorn. Every Monday we post a sketch to get your mojo going for the week. If you participate, you are included in the random draw for a prize from the Flying Unicorn.

I worked with today's sketch and this is where my mojo took me:

It's Graphic 45 Week at the Flying Unicorn. You'll be seeing lots of creations using Graphic 45 paper collections. For this particular layout, I used the A Proper Gentleman collection. You might also spy some Coredinations paper sanded to show the clock embossing. The envelope tag is a fairly new product from Graphic 45 and available in the Flying Unicorn store along with Graphic 45 paper collections and their metal trims.

The photo is of my Uncle Al, my mother's brother. I don't get family heritage layouts done as often as I'd like.

Better Not Pout

2012-01-07T16:25:00.000-06:00

This first paragraph is from Alda, founder of the Flying Unicorn:

You may watch, you my have tuned out, but there is no doubt we know what happens on American Idol every week. We welcome Idol - Unicorn Style This is an on going weekly challenge. Every week there will be a new music theme to scrap. When Idol starts eliminations will occur by Random.org. The final two contestants, yes like Idol, we will bring them to vote … Everyone is welcome to play along even the Creative Team ! If you are ready .. then head over to the auditions !

You have until 8pm est January 10th to audition for the first round. Grand prize winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to the Flying Unicorn store.

Here is my entry. My song is Santa Claus is Coming to Town. This also is grandbaby Sophine's scrapbooking debut. Her other grandma is a photographer. This is the first photo taken during the two month photo shoot. It was such a surprise because she rarely pouts. I need to hurry and scrap another photo so you can see her smiling. But this photo was perfect for the song lyrics.

I used the ScrapCake Cozy Christmas paper collection from the Flying Unicorn store. This includesfussy cutting all the various tags and doilies around the photo aswell as the ornaments-- and the two scallop borders along thebottom. I used various Ranger distress inks. All the flowers are also fromthe Flying Unicorn Store. The white pearls and pink wispy pearlsare from my stash. The circle embellie is an old K& Co. Thepine leaves are the new Tim Holtz sissex die. The large Santa imageis from Vintage Moth. I searched high and low to find one that fitjust right in the crook of that label to be looking at Sophine.Alphas are my faves from Websters Pages. I love this Scrap Cakepaper line because the colors are so muted, perfect to focus on thephoto.

My Facebook Page

2012-01-06T09:11:00.000-06:00

I've started a Facebook "Page" called 2amscrapper. It is separate from my personal Helene Huber Facebook account which is private.

The 2amscrapper page is attached to my account but is public. The page is "liked" rather than needing a "friend" request.

I'm asking all my art friends currently on my private account to move over to my 2amscrapper page.

I've moved all my arts and crafts company and site links over there. It's so handy now to see all the new products, promotions and giveaways in one spot. I was fighting the use of Facebook but the craft companies are using it for advertising/promotion, and it's easier to have all that on a Facebook page rather than try to follow it from my blog dashboard.

So if you're interested in my public 2amscrapper page on Facebook, just "like" me. https://www.facebook.com/pages/2amscrapper/215728735177907

I hope you all are having a wonderful day and have time to scrap a lot.

Angel

2012-01-02T01:46:00.000-06:00

Here is the daylight photo taken of the same tag. Not as much shimmer but truer colors:

I started with a piece of white glitter card stock that I had run through the Cuttlebug with a snowflake embossing folder. It wasn't big enough to cut a label so I positioned the paper to cut the top part with my new Tim Holtz Sizzex baroque label die.. The lighting really picked up the irredescent glitter of the tag so it's hard to see the dimension of the snowflakes. I stayed with the white theme and added white leaves for wings, a white poinsettia, sugar gem center, and foam glittered snowflakes. I used part of one snowflake for the crown and added satin puffy stars. I placed ribbon along the bottom to anchor the design. A bow didn't seem to work so I ended up using a silver doily.

The angelic face is my mother's. I made this in her honor as she passed away several years ago in the month of January. I'm going to keep this tag in my new 2012 calendar book that I'm in the process of completing.

This tag is for the Tag You're It challenge hosted by our January guest designer, Lynn Stevens (Trash to Treasure Art), at the Flying Unicorn.

I'm also linking this up to:
The Craft Room: Anything Goes
The Shabby Tea Room: Challenge #95 Time Flies--use something with wings
vintage photo contest at sb.com

Sweet Swap Treat

2011-12-30T11:38:00.003-06:00

With the new year coming and getting organized and time to destash .... and Valentine's Day around the corner ... here is your chance to give and receive ....

These are the rules:

Ship anything that you will no longer use and that would fit into a cigar box (you do not need to have a cigar box--it will come back to you in a cigar box) along with $5.00 USA (or International $12.00) to

Flying Unicorn

201 SE 19th Street

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Ribbon - must be 18" in length minimum

Stamps - gently used

6x6 paper

embellishments - solid companies -- not from the dollar store please ....

precut dies

brads

buttons

rubons

3-D embellishments

flowers

Please include a content list of what you are including in your swap package along with

a valentine tag or card that you have made ... only one

On February 02, 2012 Alda, owner of the Flying Unicorn, will sort and put cigar box packages together for everyone that has participated and send them back out in time for Valentine sweet scrapping treats ...

A note on the tag: this is a tag I made at the beginning of this year and it remains one of my favorite things that I created in 2011. I'll be making a new, different tag or card for this swap.

No Place Like Home

2011-12-26T09:02:00.000-06:00

The holiday weekend is officially over. It was a wonderful time with the family. DH did his first reading of a special Christmas story he wrote. And we thoroughly enjoyed watching our granddaughter experience her first Christmas.

Not a new layout. Our garden gate.

Merry Christmas Day!

2011-12-25T10:43:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas Day! This also is my BIL's birthday. Happy Birthday M!!!!!!

I sent him this card. The front was published in the November issue of the Flying Unicorn's Enchanting Creations e-magazine.

The front features a rosette I made using my MS scoreboard.

I placed a Starbuck's gift card/envelope inside the card and created a little scene around it using more of the Graphic 45 Christmas papers and a gold doily.

The right side of the photo is a little crooked. I usually can get 3 sides squared up but not the fourth.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend. We opened gifts Christmas Eve and had our traditional pierogi dinner. DD2 and DS helped me make them from scratch. DH fried them up in butter. YUM. For today, I have a Polish Christmas carol playing for you.

O Holy NIght

2011-12-24T10:29:00.000-06:00

I will have a new Christmas post tomorrow. For today I'd like to share my favorite Christmas song and a card I made last year that fits for tonight. Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas.

Paper Bag Card

2011-12-22T02:26:00.002-06:00

I was inspired to make this card after seeing the beautiful paper bag cards made by Debbie. My vintage theme was inspired by Nancy Maxwell James after seeing her Twelve Days of Whimsy. I made this for my cousin Mary.

All of the papers are Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium from the Flying Unicorn on-line store as is the flower on the cover. I decided this would be a good Flying Unicorn Creative Team project for me to do this month.

The Cover:

Inspired by the Paper Whimsy products and Nancy's designs, I used heirloom buttons from my family's collection. At the last minute, I replaced the Paper Whimsy image with a photo of my cousin Mary, the recipient of this card. I think the inspiration to change it came from the Paper Whimsy word label, Merry.

The Inside:

I kept the bottom fold of the bag which is on the left side and used it to create an extra page. Again, I was influenced by Nancy who used a lot of doilies in her 12 days of creations. I should have placed a snowflake on it, but I chose a soft bloom because I was planning to add a wallet photo to the pocket and didn't want it scratched.

The G45 music paper included The Holly and the Ivy. I decided to give those names to the two Paper Whimsy girls. You see Ivy until you lift the flap to reveal Holly.

I created a pocket on the right side to hold the gift certificate. I also utilized the inside of the bag by slipping into it a CD of Christmas carols.

The Back Cover:

The paper bag I used was a little larger than the standard lunch bag size and a little heavier in weight, more like a bag you get when you buy ice cream. So the size was perfect for one of the G45 6x6" panels. Add a Paper Whimsy word strip, and it's just enough for the back. The entire bag is edged with Pumice Stone Ranger Distress Ink.

My choice of materials also was influenced by the Let Them Eat Fruitcake recipe challenge in the Flying Unicorn Forum. The items included a clear embellishment (clock face), doily (lucky there), flowers, butterfly, lace, ribbon, photo, etc. The challenge runs until the end of the month and there is a fabulous prize for one lucky person, chosen by random draw.

All Is Bright

2011-12-21T02:34:00.003-06:00

Continuing with the Holiday Lights theme this month at Gingersnap Creations, this week the Random Redhead challenge is GC131 Candelabras, Chandeliers, and Candles. Please be sure to visit the blog to see the other Ginger Art and get the challenge details. You have until January 15, 2012 to link up your creation. You just may be the next Home Page Artist or one of ten chosen Ginger Gems.

A few details:

This month our sponsor is Penny Wise Arts. I poured onto a sticky sheet their clear Ultra Fine Micro Beads. So what you're seeing is an entire white glittery background of micro beads which I brayered into the sticky sheet.

The candelabra is Dusty Attic chipboard. I used Ranger Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and clear embossing powder to heat emboss the candlestick. The candles are actual wax. I lit a birthday candle and as the wax melted, I dripped it onto the candle portion of the chipboard. The flames are Ranger Distress Ink in Mustard Seed covered with Scattered Straw Stickles.

The blue snowflake paper is from the Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium paper collection. The word label is from Paper Whimsy. I believe the background card stock is Bazzill.

G-45 paper and the Dusty Attic candelabra chipboard are from the Flying Unicorn on--line store.

A card and a bow equal a calendar page

2011-12-18T15:48:00.001-06:00

Here is a card I made using the Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Paper Collection and matching stamp set, both available in the Flying Unicorn store. This was published in the December issue of the Flying Unicorn's on-line magazine, Enchanting Creations. The issue currently is being featured up above this post.

I also used the Martha Stewart snowflake punch and some crocheted lace I acquired at a farm auction, belonging to a relative of dh.

I decided to use this as one of my pages in my 6x6 calendar book.

Currently in the Flying Unicorn Forum, under Santa's Workshop, there is a tutorial to make a bow. Anyone posting an entry there is in the random draw at the end of December for some prizes from Santa's reindeer. Why don't you join in the fun?

Gingerbread Money Holder

2011-12-16T08:39:00.003-06:00

This money holder features the Scrap Cake Cozy Christmas paper collection found at the Flying Unicorn on line store and was published in the December issue of the Flying Unicorn Enchanting Creations on-line magazine.

I recycled some cardboard to use for the base. I distressed some background paper by tearing and inking with Ranger tea dye Distress Ink. This paper line is from Poland where fussy cutting is a real art form. I fussy cut the gingerbread men, the doily trim along the bottom and the doily and heart on the apron. I put my white Glaze pen to work decorating the heart and gingerbread men. The chipboard utensils are from Maya Road. The apron pattern is from Mirkwood Designs. I positioned the apron on the cardboard in such a way that the neck ribbon serves double duty as the "hanger" for this little creation.

We have many challenges going on right now in the Flying Unicorn Forum. One is called Play It Again Sam. The cardboard would qualify for that challenge. Another is called Tis the Season to Be Tearing and that is where I'll post this for inspiration. I should plug my own challenge called Picture This, using images from our own picture gallery. So create something and post it in the Challenges area of the Flying Unicorn Forum. Each challenge offers an amazing prize, always won by random draw.

Party Withdrawals

2011-12-14T00:25:00.000-06:00

The cyber party at the Flying Unicorn was a huge success!

Each of us on the Creative Team used the same Santa image to create a card, tag or ATC. For one of the games, all of the projects were posted and the members had to match the project to the Creative Team designer. Here is the card that I submitted:

I like the combination of kraft paper and red. I love this Cosmo Cricket Oh Joy: Wrapping Paper collection; this particular sheet is More Jolly By Golly. The paper is from the Flying Unicorn store. The paper was a perfect match for the Santa image.

I used my Tim Holtz Sissex label die and cut the paper twice so that I could use both sides as layers. The ribbon is from Stampin' Up. I edged the papers with Ranger Distress Inks.

I also joined in the Secret Santa Swap as part of tonight's activities. We waited until tonight to open our gifts and then posted a photo of what we received. Bitsy had my name and sent me a boatload of my favorite things: vintage buttons, lace trims, handmade flowers, gems, and book pages of text and musical scores. Giselle even helped and sent French text and music sheets (something on my wish list). I also received a set of Versa Magic Dew Drop multi-surface chalk ink--a new product to try. And some stamps! I feel very special to have such thoughtful crafting friends.

Santa also was at the party and kept busy delivering door prizes. Everyone seemed to have a great time!

Tea and Kolaczki for Tonight's Cyber Party

2011-12-13T15:37:00.002-06:00

If you give a mouse a cookie......I'm getting ready for the cyber Christmas Party and the Flying Unicorn tonight at 8pm est. One of the things we're doing is sharing our party treats.

Yesterday for my "in person" stamp club party, I bought a tray of Kolachky (kolaczki) from a grocery store bakery. They were pretty tasty for store bought and certainly were in keeping with my Polish heritage even if I didn't make them myself. So I decided, before they all got eaten, to set up my festive treat for tonight.

If you've read the children's story about giving a mouse a cookie, then you know one thing leads to another..... I've never participated in Teacup Tuesday although I have several blogging buddies who do. I thought today would be the perfect time to join Terri. After all, it's even Tuesday!

Tea Cup Tuesday link

My mother gave me this set of 5 cups and saucers which had been given to her by her youngest sister. I'm assuming the 6th was the one used and eventually met its demise. The ones left have sentimental value to me, and I use them when I want to add a special, festive touch to my desserts.

So my treat is ready for tonight. Now to join in the reindeer games.....

PARTY TONIGHT!

2011-12-13T09:39:00.000-06:00

Santa's Workshop at the Flying Unicorn is all month long! Today it's my turn for the tutorial and I'm talking about bottle caps! Come on over and post a pic of your bottlecap for a chance to win a prize from Santa's bag! You have until the end of the month--so no excuses!

We're having a cyber Christmas party tonight at the Flying Unicorn!

Lots of games and prizes! BINGO words have to be turned in by noon today est!

Party Time!

2011-12-12T23:19:00.001-06:00

I just got back from the Prairie Stampers Club annual holiday pot luck and gift exchange.

There was sooooo much food! And how stinkin' cute is this?

One of the members brought this yummy white chocolate coated snack mix. I just had to take a photo of it. The red Santa hats are Bugles covered with white chocolate tinted red, the tops are mini marshmallows. You have to admit this bowl of party snack mix is pretty darn festive!

We bring a wrapped gift (stamp related) to put under the tree. After we eat and visit, we draw numbers. Going in numerical order, we each get to choose a gift, open it, and show it off. I got a gift certificate to Prairie Art Stamps. There were lots of those under the tree. If we aren't at club, we're hanging out at the store! I also got a package of French Quarters Dimensional Ephemera by Etcetera. I had never seen that product before and it will look great on one of my projects.

As my gift to give, I chose to bring the Rogue Redhead Milliner Misses stamp plate. The recipient was thrilled--as was I that it was a big hit.

There's another party going on tomorrow. This time it's a cyber party at the Flying Unicorn. One small part of the party is a Secret Santa gift exchange. We drew names and sent each other gifts to open tomorrow night. But even if you didn't get in on the Secret Santa, we're going to play lots of cyber games and Santa will be popping in throughout the night to give away lots of prizes. There's a link to the party on my sidebar. See you there at 8pm est. But if you want to play BINGO at the party, you need to click on the badge now and choose your words by noon tomorrow!

Getting in the Holiday Spirit

2011-12-11T01:02:00.002-06:00

Here are the things I made today at the Prairie Art Stamps holiday open house:

A few comments about these items (if you click on the photo, the picture is enlarged to better see some of these details):

1) the green ornament is a die cut covered with Elizabeth Craft Glitter. I learned that I can color glitter with markers. If you look closely, you'll see some silver trim--Starform Stickers from Holland. Products were flying off the shelves and the silver was already gone but I bought 3 packs of gold designs. Love this stuff. Finer than german scrap and the "sticker" part means no glue needed so I'm anxious to work with this on some projects.

2) the mini clipboard is made with a thin plywood ATC and metal clip. The papers are Graphic 45. I found some wood ATCs at Hobby Lobby so I don't have to send the dh out into the cold garage to cut some ATCs for me.

3) the gingerbread man is corrugated cardboard on top of cardstock. I got to try some new products including the white distress stain. I ended up getting the last Tim Holtz die for the pine cone and leaf. I loved the flower Tim showed as part of his tag tutorial so I can't wait to make more pine cones and flowers.

4) it was back to the sewing machine for me--the zigzag stitch on this adorable card. I don't sew and always go into a panic when sent to the machine, but I think it turned out pretty well. This card included fussy cutting and coloring with Copics.

Now I need to work with these. Maybe make that gingerbread man into a tag and add another pine cone. Add some Stickles and snow to the card. Bling up the ATC. Etc. Both the ATC clipboard and the Gingerbread man also are decorated on the back side.

I also had some tasty holiday treats and am hoping to get the recipes.

MY BLOG CANDY WINNER

2011-12-08T20:21:00.001-06:00

Thanks again to all the folks who stop by my blog to check out what I'm making and to leave me comments. Without further ado, the winner of my blog candy is:



trisha too said...: Super set of stamps, Helene! One of my real life (you know, the computer friends are "imaginary friends," according to my kids!) friends used to design for Red Lead, and was lucky enough to be able to go to their store in St. Louis. ANYWAY, I'm enjoying your pink Christmas blog background, and thank you for the chance--I DO like mail art! :); December 2, 2011 1:50 PM

Congrats, Trisha! Be sure to send me your snail mail addy so that I can get this out to you ASAP. As stated in the original post, if I don't hear from Trisha within the week, I will choose another winner!

And a big thank you to Red Lead Paperworks in St. Louis for providing the blog candy!

I'm a Design Team Gecko Gal

2011-12-08T16:36:00.004-06:00

It's officially announced--that I'm on the Gecko Galz Design Team! Rebecca Farnham, Barbara Bird, and I are joining the team this month.

And here's what I made for the announcement --- a totally digital postcard:

As usual, no instruction book--I just opened PSE7-- cropped and erased backgrounds and made into ping files for layering 3 items from the Gecko Galz December release: Postage ephemera set: woman typing, one cent postage stamp, and postcard.
I did the same with the car from the Gecko Galz Vintage Car ephemera set.
I added text and then printed and edged with tea dye Distress Ink (Ranger).

This is not my first digital attempt, although they have been few and far between. But it's the first time I erased backgrounds and made the layers really work together.

Here is a link to the Gecko Galz site. There is a column on the left side that has tabs for the products and a tab for the Design Team. I'm on the third page with a bio and my first design team projects for December.

Please do check out the site as there is a fantastic promotion going on this month, including prizes! And who doesn't like free images?

Starry Night

2011-12-06T23:22:00.001-06:00

December brings the glow of Holiday Lights to Gingersnap Creations. The design team's assignment for this week is to create a Starry Night for our Chestnut Theme Challenge GC129.

This month's sponsor is Penny Wise Arts. I used their mini micro beads to create my starry night.

I started with, of all things, a Halloween stamp from Martha Stewart. I created a starry night instead of a scary night! I used two Ranger Distress Inks for the background, Tumbled Glass and Weathered Wood, to create a stormy sky. The blizzard like conditions were created with Marvy Snow Marker, Penny Wise Arts mini micro beads, and ArtQuest Crystal Effects.

Be sure to visit Gingersnap Creations to see all of the other starry night art and get the challenge details.

We haven't had any sunshine for days so the shimmer of the beads was really hard to capture in the photo.

I'm linking this up to Maggi's Glam it Up Challenge at the Flying Unicorn Forum. The challenge is to use 3 sparkle effects (I used 4): Penny Wise Arts mini micro beads, ArtQuest Crystal Effects, Ranger Gold Stickles (to highlight the stars and moon), and a coating of Sakura clear Glaze pen on the windows (colored with Copic Y15).

I stuck with a simple card design in order to focus on the scene by layering card stock. Rather than a plain card base, I used this very elegant Glitz Vintage Blue Motif patterned paper from the Flying Unicorn on-line store.

THIS IS THE LAST DAY TO SIGN UP FOR MY BLOG CANDY! See the stamp set badge on top in my candy jar in the sidebar. Click on it to take you to the post where you leave a comment to be in the random draw which will take place on Thursday.

Ornament Swap

2011-12-05T16:46:00.000-06:00

It's so dreary outside, but it's bright and cheerful inside because I got my package of swapped ornaments from the Gingersnap Creations Yahoo Group.

I'm delighted to get ornaments from Jingle, Trisha Too, Nancy Johnson, and Paula Akers. Thanks ladies! I will treasure your art!

This was in a previous post--the ornament I sent to be swapped out--I made four of these 4x4" coasters:

Holly Baby

2011-12-04T16:36:00.000-06:00

Holly Baby 6x6 scrapbook page for my grandbaby's album:
Holly Baby is fussy cut from All The Trimmings ephemera set available from Gecko Galz.
I added Diamond Stickles to her coat and Marvy Snow Marker liquid snow to her fur trim; Prima flower; Sakura glitter gelly roll pen accents on holly berries.
Paper from Scrap Cake Cozy Christmas: second piece cut and glued as pocket. This paper line is available from the Flying Unicorn
Jenni Bowlin Bingo card; Martha Stewart snowflake punch.

This Holly Baby image is the one being used for the November Oh La La Group challenge which ends today at Bella Creations. I have been moderator of the group since it began last January. In a couple of hours we will have the random draw for the winner of a Gecko Galz ephemera set---and then I'll be turning the reigns over to Heather Hudson.

As I mentioned earlier in November, I chose to step down as a design team member of Bella Creations. And now December marks the beginning as a design team member for Gecko Galz.

This Holly Baby project is bittersweet--my last hurrah at Bella Creations but also a great start to my expanded role with Gecko Galz.

December with the Flying Unicorn

2011-12-01T00:07:00.000-06:00

December 1st means a plethora of activity from the Flying Unicorn.

New challenges for December in the Forum.

My challenge is Picture This. Use an image from our Once Upon a Picture Group. This is my challenge example:

And this is the wonderful prize from the Flying Unicorn which will be awarded by random draw to one of the entries for my challenge:

A new kit of the month available in the store:

Two December Guest Designers: Tammy and Joyce

The start of our Santa Workshop. Day 1 is a flower tutorial by site owner Alda Stevens. Post your creations from the daily tutorials for prizes to be awarded at the end of the month.

And don't forget to sign up for my blog candy by leaving a comment on yesterday's post!

CLOSED: I HAVE BLOG CANDY !!!!!!!

2011-11-30T13:15:00.004-06:00

It's that time of year...

to be thankful for all the wonderful friends I've made in the crafting world of cyberspace

to appreciate the over 250 amazing people who have chosen to follow my blog

to celebrate my three year blogiversary coming up in January

to wish all of you a happy holiday season and wonderful new year

I've been so fortunate to meet some wonderful crafters in local shops and become part of their crafting community. One such place is Red Lead Paperworks (link to on-line store) in St. Louis, MO.---a most incredible store (link to Red Lead blog including photos of store) full of yummy trinkets and unique stamps. I feel like a kid in a candy store every time I get to shop there. I'm also a Red Lead Swap Sister. You've seen the swapped out tags, ATCs, etc. on my blog. Long story short, due to some high winds during postal delivery of a swap and lost but later found packages, I ended up with two of these yummy packages from Red Lead. So with much appreciation from the Red Lead owners, Chris and Sharon, I'm offering you some blog candy they have given to me from their store:

You get the delightful packaging from Red Lead including ribbon and some of their paper images put inside with the stamp plate. (It's all in the presentation and Red Lead really know how to "wrap things up".)

This is the rubber stamp plate that you will receive:

This is the description from the on-line store:
Art Postage-there are 7 art postage elements on this rubber stamp.
The largest is 3/4" x 1-1/2", the smallest is 1/4" x 1".
There are so many options for this stamp-you will want to stamp every envelope-front and back-with these art postage images. The smallest circle post is 3/4", look close and you will see the teeney words-Art Sister-right under Red Lead! Love this for our Artist Trading Card Swaps!2-1/2" x 3-1/2" premium red rubber with static cling mounting cushion rubber stamp. 1.2.3. EZ to use! Remove the paper liner from the static cling cushion. Your rubber stamp is now ready to be temporarily mounted on an acrylic block for stamping...it really is that EZ!
A Red Lead exclusive rubber stamp.

If you're interested in this blog candy, the rules are simple. Leave a comment HERE ON THIS BLOG POST no later than midnight central USA time Wednesday, December 7, 2011. I will use random.org to select a winner from the comments in this post and make the announcement on Thursday December 8. Winner will have one week to email me the snail mail addy for shipment. If I don't hear from the winner within the week, then I will select a new winner. So if you like mail art and are in need of some great postal stamps, this blog candy is for you.

And thanks, from the bottom of my heart, for all of your support and comments over the past three years.

Santa’s Workshop at the Flying Unicorn!

2011-11-29T11:35:00.001-06:00

The Creative Team, aka Alda and her elves, at the Flying Unicorn has been hard at work behind the scenes, getting ready for the month of December. We’re bringing you a technique loaded, fun-filled, December!!

Everyday, through December 24^th, there will be a new technique tutorial posted for you to try. Some will be simple, others a little more complex, but there will be something for everyone!

Look for the Santa’s Workshop thread in the forum to find the daily tutorials.

Be sure to post a picture of your creations using any of the tutorials to be eligble for a prize drawing on December 31^st. There will be 9 different prizes awarded, one from each of Santa’s reindeer!

Some Cards

2011-11-28T14:53:00.000-06:00

The Huber Thanksgiving Family Reunion is over. I'm anxiously awaiting the return of my dds at Christmastime.

I recently went to a Stampin' Up Stamp Camp hosted by my local SU demonstrator, Gail Downs. We had 10 stations. Nice thing about stamp camp is everything is thought out and cut out. Bad thing is I have to work at a faster pace and don't like when I make mistakes. Case in point, I had to add some lace to the second card to hide a booboo--glued together cards because the embossed sentiment wasn't straight the first time around. Petty details, I know.

So here are two of the cards we made. It's cold, windy, and overcast today, making for a poor photograph. The red paper is really glittery. The silver embossing is shiny. You get to see the dull version because of poor lighting.

I have more cards to show you as the month goes on. Hope you are staying warm and finding time to scrap a lot!

Silent Auction

2011-11-25T00:31:00.002-06:00

Please join us November 26^th through November 28^th for Flying Unicorn’s First Annual Silent Auction of all things scrapbook, all from the private stashes of the Flying Unicorn Creative Team. All proceeds from the auction will go to benefit Women in Distress. Some of us are putting together kits, some of us are de-stashing.

There’s bound to be something you’ll want; place your bid, and it might be yours. Bids will be accepted until midnight November 28^th and auction winners will be notified the next day.

As the month draws to a close, we want to thank all of you who posted your lovely work in the gallery, sent in your donations and made purchases in the store. We met our goal of 1,000 uploads to the gallery on November 16^th, thereby earning a $1,000 donation from the Flying Unicorn store to Women in Distress. Remember that throughout November 5% of all sales will be donated to Women in Distress.

The Silent Auction is our last fundraiser for Women in Distress this year; we hope you’ll help us help our sisters who have suffered so much by placing a bid. You can peruse the items up for auction by visiting here: SILENT AUCTION

You will find there my Albums and Ancestors de-stash offering for the auction. If you don't mind a little auction dust, then please consider this:

Five 45rpm vinyl records, 5 BINGO cards, one still new Clear Scraps 5 tab album, and 5 ancestor photos (the poor dears need a new home). All items were auction finds except for the Clear Scraps album which was purchased at a lss. Lots of goodies to create some unique albums and altered art.

Harvest Hues

2011-11-23T00:13:00.000-06:00

At Gingersnap Creations we're continuing our On the Farm theme with this week's GC128 Color Challenge: Yellow, Red and Brown.
Please follow the red link to see the rest of the Ginger work and submission guidelines. This project is due December 25.

Isn't this an amazing scene? No stamping or coloring for me. This came ready made from Plush Possum Studio. All I had to do was print it out. I like to think the rooster is doing a happy dance (or should I say turkey trot?) because his little part of the barnyard is safe on Thanksgiving turkey day.

I spent my time punching out the red frame. I bought a Martha Stewart punch set, the straight line and the corner. This was my first attempt at going 'round the corner working two punches.

I finished with some ribbon that reminds me of straw. I wound it around a Pink Paislee Phantom brad from the Flying Unicorn on-line store.

Holiday Coaster Ornament

2011-11-20T02:19:00.000-06:00

I made four coaster ornaments for the Gingersnap Creations Yahoo Group GCAE#9 Holiday Ornament Art Exchange.

Here are the exchange details:

Media: holiday themed ornament - minimum size 2" x 2" - any shape
Theme: any seasonal holiday that you celebrate
Style: any but must include some stamping and be more than one layer,
Number of Pieces: 4 for 4

Here are the product details:
Retro Cafe Art: Hello Dollie Christmas I: fussy cut doll and added to cap:
Doodlebug Designs Crushed Velvet ladybug flock and
Range Diamond Stickles

Studio 490 (Stampers Anonymous) Make It Merry stamp set:
stamped coaster with the word background stamp using Versa Mark and
Stampendous Pearlustre Emerald embossing powder
edged coaster with Ranger Pine Needles Distress Ink

stamped poinsettia 4 times on different papers including a white snow netting and
Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium paper (bottom layers) from the Flying Unicorn store
added Ranger Clear Rock Candy Stickles to the paper layers
Maya Road Winter Jewel Flower

black wire, misc. ribbon, trim and alphas from stash
black tape label maker
Zva Creative crystal lines: Christmas Red and Green from the Flying Unicorn store

I'm also entering my ornament in the following challenges:

Retro Cafe Art contest: must use at least one item found in their on-line store and email your entry by December 4. Details HERE I used the Hello Dollie Christmas I image.

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Some Women

And I posting this for inspiration under the November Kick It Up challenge in the Flying Unicorn Forum.

Blog Candy Enabler Part II

2011-11-19T23:42:00.001-06:00

Sharon Briss is celebrating her 750th blog post at Ill Tempered Ink by giving away some of her fabulous Rogue Redhead stamps. Just leave a comment by following the link to HERE and post her badge on your blog. I have this badge posted on my sidebar.

Entries close on November 21.

Blog Candy Enabler Part I

2011-11-19T23:26:00.001-06:00

Pink Persimmon's latest release: The Antiquated Collection by Lisa M. Pace.

Comment by following the link to HERE for a chance to win free stamps. Entries close on Monday 11/21 at 5pm Pacific Time.

The December Enchanting Creations Magazine is Here!

2011-11-19T01:15:00.001-06:00

It's here! The much anticipated December issue of the free on-line magazine, Enchanting Creations by the Flying Unicorn. You won't want to miss a single page so grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax, and enjoy:

Click to launch the full edition in a new window
Online Publishing from YUDU

You'll find two things from me in this issue. I stamped a card using Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium patterned papers and the Collection 3 stamp set. The other is a money holder made with the featured product: the Scrap Cake's Cozy Christmas paper collection. Both collections and the stamp set are available from the Flying Unicorn on-line store.

As you flip through the pages, I'm hoping that, not only will you find creative inspiration, but also you will consider submitting some of your own work for our next issue. Here are the details:

Submissions- Winter Issue

Deadline:

JAN 05 2012

ecmagllc@gmail.com

VALENTINE’S DAY - LAYOUTS, CARDS, ALTERED

WINTER WONDERLAND - Layouts of Snow Fun

IRISH I WERE IRSIH - St Patrick Day Cards and layouts in shades of green

"BE NOT AFRAID OF GREATNESS" - Shakespearean inspired projects

CARDS - any and all

ALTERED - any and all

And, of course, when looking through this issue, don't forget to find the sketch challenge. The winning submission gets published in the Winter issue and the scrapper gets a wonderful prize--the 12x12 paper collection For Father from Pion Design.

Who doesn't like blog candy?

2011-11-17T20:23:00.000-06:00

The Craft Barn is celebrating 600 followers with a chance to win some awesome candy.

What are you waiting for? Head on over to the Craft Barn blog to sign up! CRAFT BARN

Down on the Family Farm

2011-11-16T00:48:00.000-06:00

We're visiting the farm this month at Gingersnap Creations. This week's Random Redhead Challenge is Livestock. You need to include at least one livestock animal in your creation. The rest of the farm fresh Gingers have some great inspiration for this challenge, so please visit us down on the farm: GC127
You have until December 18 to link up your submission. Rogue Redhead Designs is this month's prize sponsor. You just might be the next Ginger Gem!

For my design team project, I chose to work with a photo of milk cows from the Huber family farm (my dh's grandparents). The brass plate is from a milk can. It says

St. Louis Mo

Raw Milk

Permit No. #2306

George Huber

Hillsboro ILL

I like to go to auctions and antique shops. On this layout I have a couple of my treasures: the center milk cap and the Meadow Gold Dairy milk order card. My dh gave me an old Almanac, one of his flea market finds.

I love the patterned paper. I chose to wet distress it to remind me of peeling wallpaper in old farmhouses. The ledger paper underneath looks like something a farmer would have on hand.

Additional materials:

Jenny Bowlin BINGO card

a paper doily misted with Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst spray in Hag Wart's Orange (Bella Creations November sponsor)

Patterned Papers: Riddersholm Design The Day Before; Glitz Design Beautiful Dreamer, both from the Flying Unicorn on-line store

Ranger distress ink in Vintage Photo

Crafting a Calendar

2011-11-12T15:25:00.001-06:00

I've started work on my Melissa Frances mini calendar book from the Flying Unicorn store. The album will house my favorite papers, techniques and products along with inspirational words, notes for ideas, etc. and the calendar pages will be used for craft deadlines.

So here is side one of the October page.

The background paper is Colette from the Riddersholmdesign Chantilly Dawn collection available in the Flying Unicorn store. My inspiration word on this page is "curiosity" from the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Stash-Craft Resist pack available in the Flying Unicorn store. The Tim Holtz tissue tape represents my musical family--I can still hear my mom playing Autumn Leaves on the piano. Tim Holtz Salvage Sticker. My techniques on this page are distressing, water distressing, and stamping. The leaf stamp is from Lindy's Stamp Gang.

Lindy's Stamp Gang is a challenge sponsor at Bella Creations this month as is the Flying Unicorn.

Here is side two for October:

The pumpkins are the Tim Holtz texture fade run through my Cuttlebug, using Core-dinations paper, then sanded. I created a pocket for my working calendar book so that I can jot down notes and ideas. The pocket also holds a very old Monopoly card as a symbol of my love of the game and love of collecting ephemera. The bit of crocheted doily is from a relative's auction--to symbolize my love of vintage style, heritage items, and attending auctions. In addition to techniques, My inspiration words are "chance" and "experiment"--both of which are important in learning our craft.

Today seemed like a good day to start my mini calendar book as I've made some important changes in my craft life. I chose to step down from the Bella Creations design team. I helped Lacee get her site up and running last January and have enjoyed being there this past ten and a half months. This change includes stepping away from my Oh La La group which I moderated at Bella Creations. We have 101 members and a big response to each month's challenge. I will miss being a part of that. However, the challenge is sponsored by Gecko Galz, and, starting in December, I will be part of the Gecko Galz design team. So I will continue to work with those great images which have become so much a part of my craft life. In the coming weeks, there will be more details about my transition.

Plant Kindness, Gather Love

2011-11-06T01:16:00.002-05:00

It's harvest time at Bella Creations and I chose to go with with HeidiGrace sticker from my stash as my theme.

This is my design team tag that I made as an example for the Bella Unique November challenge. The Unique challenge always is a technique to try. This month we're making a coiled flower. The photo tutorial is in the Forum with the challenge details. The winner of this challenge, by random draw, will get a product prize from the Flying Unicorn.

Since I don't sew, I used wired ribbon, folding the wired sides in towards the middle of the ribbon, then wrapping the ribbon around the foil. The Heidi Grace sticker is from my stash. I punched two hearts to go with the heart on the sticker. The paper doily is fussy cut from the Scrap Cake "Cozy Xmas" paper collection. The main part of the tag is Riddersholm "Chantilly Dawn". Both paper lines are from the Flying Unicorn on-line store--the sponsor of this month's challenge.

We have two other challenges in the Forum as well. The Tres Chic is which a style challenge. This month it's your choice. Mine of course, is vintage as you can tell by this tag. The challenge is sponsored by Lindy's Stamp Gang. The Bella Muse challenge, which is an image to use in your project, is sponsored this month by Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker. So be sure to stop by Bella Creations and join in the fun!

You're In the Money

2011-11-02T00:17:00.001-05:00

My challenge at the Flying Unicorn forum this month is to make a money/gift card holder.

I used this delightful Mrs. Claus paper doll from Altered Artifacts as the base for my money holder. I'm hoping this is the perfect gift for a little girl. I know I loved papers dolls when I was seven years old. Mrs. Claus is a paper doll underneath this red coat. You can see her adorable red slippers peeking out a bit from the black boots. She has other outfits, too.

Frank, who's on the Flying Unicorn Creative Team with me, is always challenging us to use extreme folds. So I used his cone idea to roll the paper bill into that shape and added some lovely Secret Garden flowers from the Flying Unicorn on-line store.

I love how Mrs. Claus looks like she purchased some fresh flowers from a street vendor as she makes her way back to the North Pole and Santa's Workshop.

I hope you'll join me for this challenge. Here is the wonderful prize from the Flying Unicorn. These are some of my favorite things: G45 papers, flowers, lace--and who doesn't need Stickles? You are allowed 3 entries and the winner is chosen by random draw. (Visit my challenge for more details.)

I'll be seeing you at the Flying Unicorn Forum. To find me, look for my You're In the Money challenge!

And please remember Flying Unicorn Gives Back: a donation of $1 will go to Women in Distress for each and every project that you upload into the gallery this month, to a maximum of $1,000.

A Special November at the Flying Unicorn

2011-11-01T00:04:00.001-05:00

We're beginning a very special month at the Flying Unicorn.

As expected, since it's the first of November, it's time to reveal the Kit of the Month.

But we also have a month long campaign to give back offering several ways for you to participate.

A very special time at Flying Unicorn

Many of us know women who have had to live with the fear and reality of abuse. Flying Unicorn needs your help to empower these women to find the courage to take control of their lives and leave the nightmares they are living.

You can help and here’s how. For each purchase that you make during the month of November, Flying Unicorn will donate 5% of the sales proceeds to Women in Distress. In addition, you can help by uploading your projects to the Flying Unicorn gallery. A donation of $1 will go to Women in Distress for each and every project that you upload to a maximum of $1,000.

If you would like to make a cash contribution to Women in Distress, Flying Unicorn is collecting donations on behalf of Women in Distress from November 1 through November 30, 2011. Your PAYPAL donation can be made by simply sending money to cs@flyingunicornllc.com. Please add WID In the note section. You can also mail a check, made payable to WOMAN IN DISTRESS, to:

Flying Unicorn
201 SE 19th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Please help Flying Unicorn empower these women to change their lives. We can all help our sisters by offering our prayers and financial support.

The Flying Unicorn Kit of the Month for November:
Remember the Days
Available in the Flying Unicorn on-line store

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T16:53:00.000-05:00

I can't believe this is the last October post and final Halloween project!

I bought some Studio 490 modeling film and did my first experiment with it. I made a jar with the clear film. The great thing about this stuff is that if you don't like how it looks when you heat and mold it, you can reheat it and change its shape. This being my first go at it, I worked at making the jar convex yet have the edges flat for gluing.

The jar stamp is from Sarasota Stamps out of Florida. I picked it up at a craft fair when I was in Florida last February. It might be hard to tell in the photo, but the Jolee's 3-D candy corn gems are under the clear film, just as if they were "in a jar".

And there's a glittery spider hanging from the baker's twine.

The purple behind the jar and the flourish paper are Fancy Pants Oct. 31. The label is Echo Park Apothecary Emporium. All papers are from the Flying Unicorn on-line store.

Trick or Treat

2011-10-30T09:45:00.001-05:00

I made some treats for some special visitors who will come to the door on Halloween.

These first two are door hanger treat boxes. I purchased the template for the box from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. The one on the left is for a girl and uses the Oct 31 paper collection from Fancy Pants Designs. The one on the right is for a boy and uses the Apothecary Emporium paper collection from Echo Park. Both paper collections can be purchased at the Flying Unicorn on-line store.

Some children have food allergies. So we purchase movie tickets to the local theater uptown. Here's what I did for those:

I purchased the little paper bags at Archivers but don't remember the brand. I think they're from Maya Road.

The second two images are from Altered Artifacts.

Speaking of treats, here are the Red Lead Black Halloween Tags I got from my swap sisters.

I wish you could really see the wonderful embossing and the shrink charms. Thanks sisters!

A Blog Hop for Free Images

2011-10-28T12:00:00.001-05:00

Who doesn't love FREE! Gecko Galz has a fantastic blog hop going on Oct. 27 to Oct. 31. Visit all eleven designers. Each one is offering your a different Gecko Galz ephemera sheet to download for free. Plus there are amazing big prizes for collecting the words for the secret phrase. Click on this badge to get to the starting point. Once at the Gecko Galz website, click on the witch in the orange box of directions to start hopping.

As you know, Gecko Galz sponsors my Oh La La group at Bella Creations where each month we use a free image provided by Gecko Galz and the winner, chosen by random draw, gets a free ephemera set.

But right now, you can get a dozen ephemera pages for free just by doing the hop!

GO POE

2011-10-27T00:09:00.000-05:00

Today wraps up a month of GO POE challenges at Gingersnap Creations. This week it's GC124 Color Challenge: Black and Grey. Be sure to stop by and see all the wonderful creations done by the Ginger Gems, check out the entry rules, and then make something to link up by the generous deadline!

To help finish out the month of Poe, I'm re-visiting this layout that I did last year. I fell in love with the flocked paper. I experimented with adding a book spine.

November Enchanting Creations issue is here!

2011-10-22T16:34:00.001-05:00

WOWZERS! Over 60 pages of inspiration, techniques, and product reviews!!!!! Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite soda, sit back, and enjoy looking through this issue of Enchanting Creations by the Flying Unicorn. Just click your cursor on the magazine to get to the full screen issue.

Be sure to look for the December call for magazine submissions!
Check out the sketch challenge. Winner gets published and gets a product prize!

I worked with the Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium paper collection and made two cards. Do you remember Shawn's teepee card in a previous issue? I knew that shape would make the perfect Christmas tree! You'll find that tree in this issue, along with my card that features a rosette.

Raven

2011-10-18T23:13:00.000-05:00

We're continuing our Poe theme. The Gingersnap Creations Random Redhead Challenge today is GC123: Ravens.

I chose to work with this Red Lead Paperworks ATC rubber stamp. I did minimal embellishment because I think this stamp has so much wonderful detail.

After stamping onto tag paper, I blended Ranger Distress inks: Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, and Rusty Hinge. I edged with Black Soot. After layering onto a black card stock ATC, I added twine and some plastic transparent gems.

Be sure to visit the Gingersnap Creations blog to see the inspiring work of the other Gingers, check out the entry rules, and take a look at the wonderful prize being offered by this month's sponsor, Alpha Stamps. Then create something raven and link it up by November 13. You just may be the next Ginger Gem!

New Additions to the Flying Unicorn Team

2011-10-18T22:50:00.000-05:00

I am happy to share with all of you the three new members to our Flying Unicorn Creative Team Family . Each of them brings wonderful creative inspiration.

JENIFER EVANS

DANA TATAR

TABITHA TRIPLETT

A blog roll list of the entire Flying Unicorn family is up above in the tab section.

Haunted House Tag

2011-10-13T14:44:00.004-05:00

This is quite a combo of products from the various groups I associate with. It's just an example of how things get all mixed together in my craft room.

This tag was published in the October issue of the free on-line magazine, Enchanting Creations published by the Flying Unicorn. As a Creative Product Artist for the Flying Unicorn, I worked with the Echo Park Apothecary Emporium papers to make my tag. The reverse side of the beige is orange and can be seen peeking through the windows as light through the cobwebs. I created my own tag with the white paper from this line. The word strip also is Apothecary Emporium, all from the Flying Unicorn on-line store.
A gentle reminder that the 13% off sale is good through the end of the month. The code is on my sidebar.

I used my Martha Stewart punch for the fence and punched it on black glossy cardstock that was packaging.

The lamp post and house are both from Tim Holtz on grungepaper. I attempted the drunken scotsman technique on the lamp post (melt the embossing powder until it bubbles). I embossed the bottom part of the house with Tim's brick texture fade. Inks are Ranger Distress. This grungepaper house is one of the embellishments in the Bella Creations October Embellishment Kit.

The stamps on the tag and botltecap are both from Red Lead Paperworks in St. Louis.

Witchy Woman

2011-10-11T21:49:00.001-05:00

This witchy woman is one of the images from the Gecko Galz two page Witching Hour ephemera set. Gecko Galz is the sponsor of my Oh La La Group challenge at Bella Creations. This month I've challenged the group to use this image on an ATC. The free image is available in the Group.

My ATC is a playing card that is included in the Bella Creations October Halloween Embellishment kit. The kit is for sale at the Bella Creations blog. Our ATC challenge runs until November 4. Winner, always by random draw, will win the Witching Hour set as well as a set of choice from Gecko Galz.

Please also visit my friend Heather's blog. She's on both the Bella Creations and Gecko Galz design teams. She's offering something very special over at her blog.

Halloween

2011-10-10T11:21:00.002-05:00

If you have to go in costume, you may as well glam it up--Taylor Swift's sequin black dress, black boots, and curly blonde hair, along with a homemade glittery guitar. Fun but not too complicated or cumbersome in order to enjoy the party. So here is dd2 in costume last year for Halloween.

You know I always match my layout to a song. Well, this "haunted" sticker kept calling to me as I was making this layout, but I didn't think it would fit in my theme. Then when I was looking for a Taylor Swift song that hopefully would work for Halloween, I came across her song, Haunted. How bizarre is that?!?!

The layout title seems simple enough, but it's actually Flying Unicorn dt Denise's idea to make a project incorporating the title of a horror movie. It's this week's challenge during our Scrapoween event. The challenge motivated me to get this photo scrapped. I chose the horror movie title, Halloween. I know, not too creative but then any other title didn't really fit this pretty photo.

And of course you know I'm going to talk about product since I'm on the Flying Unicorn Product Creative Team.
From the Flying Unicorn on-line store: Fancy Pants Designs: Oct31 collection: paper, heart, star and haunted stickers, scallop strip, glitter cut; Pink Paislee Phantom House of 3 collection: black rhinestone brad, transparent frame; Petaloo black flower
From my stash: Tim Holtz tissue tape, black dresden thin fleur border, etc.

My October challenge in the Flying Unicorn forum is Seasonal Adaptation. I adapted some butterflies (Martha Stewart punch) by using black paper and a silver gel pen.

We have a new Flying Unicorn Forum badge!!! Look at the top right on my sidebar and you will see it. Click on it and it will take you to the Forum for the challenges. See you there!

Don't Be Tardy to the Party!

2011-10-09T07:06:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Flying Unicorn
One Year Anniversary Celebration!

Put on your party hat
and celebrate some anniversary fun
The gift is for you--coupon code ONE
Don't delay!
Free Shipping -- good only today!

FREE SHIPPING TODAY ONLY
OCTOBER 9TH 2011 WORLDWIDE
Use Coupon Code "ONE"
Enter the Flying Unicorn store HERE

About my card:
From the Flying Unicorn on-line store: Echo Park Apothecary Emporium papers, including label and word tag
which I fussy cut
From Alpha Stamps: Something Witchy cardstock (image), Black Dresden Spider Webs
Martha Stewart fence punch

This card was published in the October issue of Enchanting Creations, a flying unicorn free on-line publication.

Lovin' the Bloggin' Life

2011-10-07T12:22:00.002-05:00

I have met wonderful women through blogging. So much inspiration, sharing of our love of art, and genuine concern for each others' well being.

One of those places to find what I'm talking about, is the Shabby Chic Girls' Club. I'm one of the Shabby Chic Girls featured this time around in the Club Blog. Thanks so much Cindy.

And over at Vicki Romaine's The Cheerful Stamp Pad, I won the last challenge and can't wait for the postman to get here with my prize.

Shabby Halloween Tag

2011-10-07T11:25:00.003-05:00

I'm entering this in the Shabby Tea Room Challenge Week #82: A Shabby Autumn. We were given an inspiration photo with orange pumpkins to work from. I made this tag with this challenge in mind.
UPDATE: This tag won Honorable Mention Cup of Tea!

This is a black tag run through the Cuttlebug with Tim Holz' Sissex cobweb Alterations folder, then sanded to expose the white for the cobweb. The orange bottlecap insert is a circle stamp covered with DG3 Art Gel.

The two orange pumpkins and the black spider are from the Bella Creations October Embellishment Kit.

Stamp, pumpkin girl image, cloth ribbon and black tag all are from the Red Lead on-line store. This tag is being swapped in the Red Lead Black Tag Halloween swap.

It's Halloween at Bella Creations

2011-10-06T21:55:00.004-05:00

The new Bella Creations October Embellishment Kit has been revealed. Here's a look at some of the Design Team creations from the kit:

The tag in the bottom left corner is mine- I talked about it in my previous post. It features this months' Bella Unique challenge which is to make a crepe paper ruffle and incorporate it into your project. When you go to the challenge in the forum section, you will find a link to a video tutorial to learn how to create the ruffle. The Bella Unique challenge this month is sponsored by the Flying Unicorn. This month's prize from the Flying Unicorn on-line store is Graphic 45 Magic of Oz including Tags 1 and Tags 2.

I used one of those tags--Wicked-- on this project which features a digital image from our Tres Chic challenge sponsor, Sassy Studio Designs. The image is Sassy Devil but I changed her into a Wicked Bella Witch by having her sport the Bella exclusive die cut hat created by our dt Heather Hudson and found only in the October Embellishment kit. I used my Copics and other markers and then covered her dress with black Stickles. I covered the devil tail wrapped around the pumpkin with a leaf vine.

I used Apothecary Emporium paper (similar paper in this month's Bella add-on card kit) as well as some G-45 products.

The third main challenge is the Bella Muse. This month the prize is sponsored by SamIAm Eye Candy.

Be sure to visit Bella Creations ning site. You'll find Lacee's kit reveal video on the Main Page. The three challenges are in the Forum.

Here's another project I made with the kit. Your embellies come in a canvas bag. My treat bag is not the one you'll be getting with your kit, but it's very similar as you will see in the video. Therefore this is for inspiration only. I used distress inks to color the bag. To the cobweb, I added Heather's diecut pumpkin, another exclusive Bella Creations item in the kit. Other kit items are the alphabet circles, skeleton, ribbon, and skeleton key. In with the candy (sorry--chocolate lovers--candy not included in the kit) are other kit items--sparkly orange tulle and feathers.

This month's guest artist working with the kit is Wendy Aspinall. She also has provided an amazing tutorial on how to make a domino book. You'll find her great art and tutorial on our Bella Creations blog. Please visit and leave her some love! The Bella Creations blog also is where you'll find for sale this embellie kit.

I have a couple tags also made with items in this fantastic kit which I'll be posting later. Thanks for visiting.

Halloween Horror

2011-10-05T01:22:00.000-05:00

We have a dark month planned for you at Gingersnap Creations during October! For inspiration we are turning to Edgar Alan Poe, the 19th century American writer best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre.

Here is my Ginger art for this week's challenge: GC121 Chestnut Challenge: Horror Stories

Create your own horror story-- something spooky, eerie or just plain terrifying. Have fun with it! Post a link to your art at Gingersnap Creations by October 30. Alpha Stamps is this month's sponsor and is giving away a fantastic prize for this challenge. For all the details and inspiration from more of the Gingersnap Design Team, go HERE.

I used a black tag and a Poe ATC rubber stamp from Red Lead. I sanded the tag and added Ranger Tumbled Glass distress ink. This is one of my three tags for the Red Lead Black Tag Halloween swap.

For the fun part of decorating the tag, I reached into my Bella Creations October Embellishment kit which is also being revealed today. Lacee created a video to showcase the kit. You will find the video and details on how to buy the kit at our Bella Creations site HERE.

My Bella Creations design team assignment was to create something for the Bella Unique challenge. This challenge always gives us a technique to try. This time we created a crepe paper ruffle. I had white crepe paper on hand so I colored it with Spiced Marmalade distress ink and edged it with Black Diamond Stickles. I added a row of puffy satin bat trim to cover the thread.

From the Bella Creations October Embellishment kit, I used the horror card, yellow and black flowers, orange library card, and black ribbon.

DING DONG

2011-10-03T23:31:00.000-05:00

Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead! This is all that is left of her!

How this tag came to be:

The Purple People Eater Challenge in the Flying Unicorn Forum. This October challenge is hosted by Denise and offers a great prize to the winner. I had to join in the fun, although mine is just for inspiration since I'm on the Creative Team. The witch's stockings are fussy cut from the Graphic 45 Magic of Oz papers available in the Flying Unicorn on-line store.

The Black Tag Halloween Swap at Red Lead's Swap Sisters Yahoo Group. I took advantage of one of their tutorials and sanded the tag, then inked it up with purple and green Ranger Distress Inks. The witch hat is an exclusive Red Lead rubber stamp.

My tag is on its way to St. Louis to be swapped out.

Reminder, Scrapoween is going strong at the Flying Unicorn, with lots of daily games, challenges, and prizes!

SCRAP O WEEN HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED

2011-10-02T07:50:00.003-05:00

The Flying Unicorn is having a SCRAP*O*WEEN. My oh my! Prizes Galore! Daily games! Weekly challenges! Month long challenge! PRIZES Did I mention there are prizes? Join the Flying Unicorn Forum and have some fun!---all month long!

As you know by now I'm on the Product Creative Team at the Flying Unicorn. I'm hosting one of the Scrap*o*ween weekly challenges. My challenge is this week and runs ONLY UNTIL OCTOBER 8th So don't be tardy to the party!

MIND YOUR MUMMY
My example: originally I was going to make this beautiful vintage canvas with some gauze and lace all painted and glued in with a stunning image of a mother and daughter. But this is what I ended up with in my art journey:

Here is the challenge:
Any art form--layout, card, hangy thingy, etc.
Theme: mothers or mummies. You can make something for Halloween or NOT.
Twist: must include somewhere on project, visible to the naked eye, GAUZE.

(For my gauze twist, I chose to make a flower.)

Products I used from the Flying Unicorn on-line store:
Pink Paislee Phantom House of 3: papers---Mystic (green), Haunted (31 playing card cut out), brad (gauze flower center)
FrancyPants Designs: paper: Oct. 31-Cards (good little witch words and hat which I cut up); Glitter Cuts (the frame for my mom)
Graphic 45 Magic of Oz paper (Good Witch card)
If you like these products and want some, they're on sale this month:

store

Other Products:
Crafty Secrets mom and little girl images
Petaloo flowers
Thickers
K&Co Glitter Sticker Alphabet

I did mention prizes didn't I? Here's the one for my challenge. Then entire Websters Pages Christmas paper pack:

Please join me at the Flying Unicorn for Scrap*o*ween. Enter if you dare......

Scrap o ween

The October Fun Begins at Flying Unicorn

2011-10-01T00:26:00.000-05:00

A new month long challenge from me located in the Forum:

My challenge is season adaptation. Take something you use all the time and adapt it for your crafting in October/November/December. I adapted my Martha Stewart punch butterflies to look fallish; used some crystal sprays from my summer layout to be amber waves of grain; and used a romantic black tie affair flower to be spooky.

The following items are from the Flying Unicorn on-line store:
The label is fancy cut from FancyPants Oct 31 collection: cards
The back flower is Petaloo Flora Doodles, Crinkled Rose Layers Black
I punched the butterflies from the text page that comes as part of the flower packaging from Flying Unicorn.

A new kit:

the flying unicorn store

A month long sale:

the flying unicorn store

Did You Hear Something?

2011-09-27T18:35:00.000-05:00

a tag I made last year for the Red Lead swap. I'm in the process of making my set of 3 black tags for this year's swap.

Great Escape

2011-09-27T17:44:00.000-05:00

Autumn is a great time for a road trip.
This is a layout I created for the Flying Unicorn as Product Creative Artist. It was published in the September issue of of the Flying Unicorn's Enchanting Creations. I used Authentique Journey papers, some flowers, and a Crafty Secrets stamp set--all from the Flying Unicorn on-line store.

Getting Ready for Halloween

2011-09-26T00:45:00.000-05:00

I love Halloween art. So I've updated my blog, added some fun music, and --for today-- posted a tag I made last season to get us in the spirit of things. Let the celebration begin.....

Chic

2011-09-22T19:31:00.006-05:00

Revisiting something I previously made in order to participate in the Oh La La link party in order to meet the deadline. I created this a while back using images from Green Paper and the Graphics Fairy.

Cindy Adkins has started a Shabby Chic Girls' Club

and I posted my shabby chic or French inspired collage (at the top of this post) for the Oh La La link party.

BLOG CANDY ALERT:
My friend Georgie is having a tag give away on her site, Puddin n Pie. You can have up to four entries to win some lovely tags that she made. Be sure to stop by and tell her that I sent you over!

Lifting a Foil Tag

2011-09-22T00:33:00.002-05:00

At the Flying Unicorn, we have a Spotlight Member of the Week in the Gallery section. Then in the Challenge section of the Forum, we have a weekly challenge to "lift" the spotlight member. This is a fantastic way to get to know the art and style of the spotlight member. This past week Gisele was the in the spotlight. One of the items she has in her gallery is a foil tag. That was what I decided to lift.

Gisele had crumpled foil; I ran mine thru the Cuttlebug with an embossing folder. Then I applied some alcohol ink for the same effect she had. The treats sticker and the witches' hats sticker are Fancy Pants Oct. 31 Glitter Cuts from the Flying Unicorn Store. The green brad is Pink Paislee Phantom also from the Flying Unicorn Store. I used some black netting that I rescued and reused from a ham wrap.

I'm entering this in the Be Transparent Challenge #26 at Vicki's The Cheerful Stamp Pad because the Glitter Cuts are transparent.

Shared Moments

2011-09-21T00:15:00.001-05:00

We're continuing our Friendship Month at Gingersnap Creations. Today's Random Redhead Challenge GC119 is Shared Moments.

Please check out the wonderful Shared Moments inspiration provided by our close-knit Gingers on the Gingersnap Creations blog and then link up your creation by October 16. Perhaps you'll win the Viva Las Vegastamps prize or be chosen as one of the ten Ginger Gems.

This month we're also focusing on spotlight techniques. I chose to color only the jealous girl so that the focus was on her feelings. Most of the color on the card is to right of her as well. hmmmmmmm........ do you think the girls are still friends?

I used the following two stamps from this month's sponsor, Viva Las Vegastamps:
Jealous Girl
Lucy, You Got Some 'Splainin' to Do

I thought the stamp worked perfectly for the spotlight technique. And I love the sentiment I chose to pair with the stamp!

The papers I used to make the card are the Scrap Cake The Bright Side of Life collection from the Flying Unicorn on-line store.

More fussy cutting for me with the gorgeous papers.

Also after stamping, I cut out the image and used pop dots for dimension "sitting on the wall". Normally I outline my image with black marker but this time I left a beige edge all the way around to contrast with the papers behind it yet have a softer effect.

I used these additional products:
Ranger Distress Inks: Tattered Rose, Antique Linen, Tumbled Glass
ZIG Kurecolor marker 340 Haze Blue
Copic Markers: E00 Skin White, Y11 Pale Yellow, Y15 Cadmium Yellow, E35 Chamois

FALL IS IN THE AIR

2011-09-19T00:05:00.001-05:00

I made my first easel card! Rather than make the typical rectangular shape, I decided to make a round one using the new Graphic 45 Magic of Oz collection which I fussy cut. I had some black circle cards in my stash so I adapted two of them to create the easel, following the Splitcoast Stampers' tutorial.

The G45 Magic of Oz paper collection and the blue Zva Creative flower are from the Flying Unicorn on-line store.

This is the first autumn post for me. I'm working on a fall look for my blog so you'll probably see several blog backgrounds until I settle on one I like. But the weather definitely is in transition, and I'm gearing up for the Halloween season. I love making Halloween art. Do you?

If so, you'll want to mark your calendar for our month long SCRAPAWEEN event at the Flying Unicorn Forum. I suggest you join the general Forum now, if you haven't already, so that you can look around, get comfy, and even participate in our September challenges. Then starting October 1, the Scrapaween direct link will take you to the October fun!

From ghoulies and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night

the Celebration will last all month long

From October 01 October 31

Haunted Forum Fun

Daily Spook-tacular Give-aways

Fang-tastic Challenges

Hollywood Horror

FLYING UNICORN FORUMS

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST------

Gerri Herbst and I are both Official Gingers at Gingersnap Creations and we're both Product Creative Artists at the Flying Unicorn. So I want to wish Gerri a happy one year blogiversary and to tell you GERRI HAS BLOG CANDY! Here's the link to her blog, It's All Treasure

Enchanting Creations October Issue published by the Flying Unicorn

2011-09-18T10:01:00.002-05:00

The October issue of Enchanting Creations is here!

Read October 2011 - Enchanting Creations
Click to launch the full edition in a new window

The flip issue also is on my sidebar. Just click on it and you'll get the entire issue uploaded for browsing.

As Product Creative Artist for the Flying Unicorn, I created a card and a tag with the new Echo Park Apothecary Emporium collection. I also made a steampunk layout with Graphic 45 papers from the Magic of Oz and Steampunk Debutante collections.

My teammate at Bella Creations is this month's Spotlight Artist. Starr Timmons has some amazing work in this issue.

October 14 is the deadline for submissions for the November issue of Enchanting Creations.
The November call is for Family, Thanksgiving, Time is Running Out--Projects with Clocks, Gifts of Thanks--Handmade Projects. See page 2 of the magazine for details.

You'll also find in the current issue the sketch challenge. Winner receives a 12 x 12 paper pack collection of Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium. Be sure to check out those details on page 11 of the magazine.

Hope this issue inspires you to scrap a lot!

It's Me

2011-09-17T11:27:00.000-05:00

Even though I haven't posted any new art in a week, I've been trying to follow and comment on as many blogs as possible. And welcome to all my new followers!

My friend Lacee, owner of Bella Creations, asked each of us on her design team to create a tag for her mini album. Since this is a keepsake, I decided to use my toddler bonnet photo that is my avatar. I added the crown because I'm Queen Helene of my kingdom Scrap a Lot.

The paper and crown rosette are My Mind's Eye from the Lost & Found collection because Lacee told me that was the paper she was using for her album. 2 = Tinsel Foil Thickers from American Crafts; am = The Paper Studio Spare Parts alpha sliders. Lacee likes butterflies so I added a Studio 18 Charm Breloque to some of her crinkled seam binding that was in a Bella Creations kit. The black Dresden trim is from Alpha Stamps.

I hope Lacee will like my addition to her album.

Never Forget

2011-09-11T19:34:00.001-05:00

I'm sending this to a friend who is transitioning into a new phase of her life after the loss of her husband.

Stamps: Hampton Art, Stampin' Up; Archival Sepia Ink, Twinchie Square by Inchie Arts, llc

Gal Pals

2011-09-06T23:39:00.001-05:00

Gingersnap Creations is celebrating International Women's Friendship Month. Our first September challenge is GC117 Chestnut Theme: Gal Pals.

This month's sponsor is Viva Las Vegastamps. I chose two of their stamps to work with: Two Ladies in Hats and a sentiment, Will Trade Coffee.

The green patterned paper and pink label are from the Crafty Secrets Classic Paper Pad from the Flying Unicorn store. I used Copic markers, ribbon, and a corner punch from my stash.

Please check out the wonderful Gal Pals inspiration provided by my fellow Gingers on the Gingersnap Creations blog and then link up your creation by October 2. Perhaps you'll win the Viva Las Vegastamps prize or be chosen as one of the ten Ginger Gems.

Sew Vintage!

2011-09-05T19:20:00.010-05:00

Bella Creations has just released its Sew Vintage embellishment kit for September!
For my design team work, I chose to make a chunky ATC with my goodies:

What you're seeing is some Graphic 45 paper glued onto a chunk of wood. The corset, crinkled seam binding, clothes pins, silver charm, and tissue pattern for the flower are all in the kit.

I took the corset and ran it through a Cuttlebug embossing folder and then highlighted with Ranger tea dye distress ink.

This month's Bella Tres Chic challenge is to include some real or faux stitching so I used the Tim Holtz Sissex texture fade to put some stitches on the side.

I made an ATC for the back of my chunky using this month's image for the Bella Muse challenge. I glued it onto ink distressed canvas and added some ric rac, a snap, and then, from the Bella kit, the adorable silver sewing machine charm.
The Muse image is from the Graphics Fairy so I'm linking this up to the Graphics Fairy Brag Monday.

This is the other side with some fabric from a previous Bella kit, although this kit comes with lots of lovely fabric swatches, as you can see here in the photo of the Sew Vintage kit:

Fabric is one of the needed elements for this month's Bella Tres Chic challenge. I just love how I can use these clothespins to hold notes and things on my desk top chunky ATC decor. It actually stands up on those two dime store thimbles.

This month's Bella Unique challenge is to make a tissue flower. I, of course, used the tissue pattern that came in the Sew Vintage kit. While still folded up, I inked the edges with Ranger Walnut Stain distress ink. The vintage button is from my grandma' collection.

For the Unique technique challenge, we followed this tissue paper tutorial from Lisa Spangler for Hero Arts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjn084rYRLg

Being the Queen of the Last Minute Club, allows me to enter the following challenges as this project was made after these challenges were posted:
Vicki Romaine--The Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenge #25 Let's Reuse
chunk of wood, old sewing label, thimbles, tissue sewing pattern, clothespins, vintage button

To purchase the Sew Vintage embellishment kit, go to Bella Creations. You'll see it on the main page.

Lacee also has for sale this month a beautiful mini album kit, Rose Petals, and a wonderful 12x12 kit, So Chic, that is offered in several color palettes. You can see them all by starting here at our Bella Creations Blog. Did you know we have a group just for Bella members who are working with the kits? And don't forget the main three Bella challenges that I talked about: Tres Chic, Bella Muse, and Bella Unique! Prizes for each of the 3 challenges: this month from Copic Markers, the Crop Stop, and the Flying Unicorn.

We also have a guest designer with us each month who gets to work with the kit. Our Bella du Mois for September is Lean de Ruiter.

My Oh La La group this month is working with a beautiful set of 3 mannequin images from our sponsor, Gecko Galz. Everyone who uses the free images to enter our September challenge, will receive, via email, an ephemera set from Gecko Galz. There is so much going on at Bella Creations. Won't you join us?

The Flying Unicorn Reveals September Kit of the Month, Guest Design Team Member, and My Challenge

2011-09-01T00:11:00.002-05:00

September first brings with it many wonderful announcements from the Flying Unicorn. Grab a cuppa and visit for a while because I've got lots of important news to tell you.....

As a Product Creative Artist for the Flying Unicorn, I'm busy creating some new things for the Enchanting Creations magazine which will be out later in the month.

In the Flying Unicorn forum, I'm hosting the challenge: Pick A Pocket. You are allowed up to three entries and can make any type of art using any type of pocket. Here are a couple of my examples which are from my past artwork:

Won't you join me over at the Flying Unicorn Forum? I'll be posting a few more pockets that I've incorporated into my art and you'll find lots of inspiration from the Creative Team and Forum members.
And here is the prize for the challenge winner, chosen by random draw at the end of the month. Prize is provided by the Flying Unicorn.

AND FOR THE BIG NEWS: The Kit of the Month is revealed today: A Joy to Remember. It's available in the Flying Unicorn Store here.
There's lots of wonderful Kaiser products in this kit. The Kit of the Month Creative Team has made some outstanding creations for you to view.

At the Flying Unicorn, we are proud to announce that Maggi Harding is our Guest Creative Team Member for the month of September!! Maggi and I were on a design team together in another lifetime, so I'm thrilled to be working with her again. I love her vintage/shabby chic style. Here's a link to her blog: Scrap, Travel & Bark! Maggi will be providing wonderful inspiration all month with her outstanding work.

Shopping Enabler!

2011-08-27T00:01:00.001-05:00

Some Flying Unicorn info for all of you.....

This Saturday and Sunday ONLY, you can take 20% off all Authentique paper, diecuts, stickers -in the Flying Unicorn Store! Use coupon code AUGUST

These papers are double sided, beautiful and wonderful to work with. Here's what I made with them:

There are three different Authentique patterned papers on this layout as well as one of the stickers which I placed on the photo as the title. I did a little stamping on the right side of the layout to add some interest. This clear art stamp set from Crafty Secrets, as well as most of the flowers I used, are also available in the Flying Unicorn on-line store.

I used one of flying unicorn founder Alda Stevens' sketches to design my layout. She has a new sketch posted on her blog every Monday.

Looking at the peaceful ocean in this photo makes me wish for the safety of all in the path of hurricane Irene this weekend.

I made this tag also using 3 different Authentique patterned papers. I cut them with my Tim Holtz Sissex label die and then layered them. Each are edged with Ranger distress ink. I used some ribbon cord for added interest to make it appear that the labels were tied together. The quote actually is from the bottom label portion of each sheet of Authentique paper. It is curled to fit in the corner. The stickers and beautiful fabric flower also are from the Flying Unicorn store. The photo is of my mother as a toddler. The hat pins are from my grandma/aunt's collection.

I hope you'll take advantage of this great sale on these beautiful papers from the Flying Unicorn store. Remember to look for the Authentique collection and use the coupon code AUGUST to get 20% off this line of papers, embellishments and stickers.

Back to School?????

2011-08-26T21:17:00.000-05:00

In our town, the kids already have been back to school for 1-1/2 weeks. Some of the universities started classes this past week. I'm not quite ready to give up on summer, but I do have fond memories of getting some new school clothes and shopping for school supplies. So here's a little back to school tag that I made.

Primary color choices of red, blue and yellow are for the Gingersnap Creations GC116 color challenge posted this week, as part of our Joys of Childhood theme for the month of August.

I didn't post this design team work on the day of the challenge because the tag background is done with watercolor crayons and is my tutorial to be posted tomorrow, Saturday, August 27, on the Gingersnap Creations blog. So if you'd like more information on how I created the tag background, please visit Gingersnap Creations tomorrow to learn all about it!

The sentiment is a digi design from the Stamping Boutique, our August sponsor at Gingersnap Creations.
Dorothy is fussy cut from the Graphic 45 Wizard of Oz paper collection found in the Flying Unicorn on-line store.
The watercolor crayons are a basic pack of Sargent purchased locally at Hobby Lobby. Plastic tokens and yarn from my stash.

Dorothy is thinking happy thoughts about going back to school with her brand new box of crayons!

Woo Hoo! Featured Card!

2011-08-21T06:31:00.001-05:00

My card was featured at the Stampsmith Challenge Blog!

I made this card for my sister's birthday. The stamps are DP Artworks and the papers are The Scrap Cake (from the Flying Unicorn Store).

Because you can enter projects with any stamps to the Stampsmith challenge at the beginning of the month, I entered it there. My goal is to get some Stampsmith stamps so that I can also enter the mid-month challenges when you have to use the Stampsmith stamps. Long story short, I didn't win any stamps this time around (random.org please pick me!), but I'm thrilled to be one of the featured entries. And I get to wear this beautiful badge:

Please scroll down and look at my 3 last posts. You'll find opportunities to be a guest designer at Bella Creations, a challenge for product in its last day today at the Flying Unicorn, and our magazine, Enchanting Creations from the Flying Unicorn which includes the next publication call.

September Issue of Enchanting Creations Magazine is Here!

2011-08-20T09:41:00.001-05:00

Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy this jam packed issue.

Click to launch the full edition in a new window

As a member of the flying unicorn Product Creative Team, I made a tag and layout using the Authentique Journey paper collection, one of the many features in this month's magazine. The papers are available in the flying unicorn store. There is a discount coupon code for this product line in the magazine. Be sure to look for it.

I have several other items in the issue as well.

Check out the sketch contest.

Would you like to see your work in this beautiful magazine? Here's the October publication call:
Mini Albums
Halloween
Steampunk Creations
History Month - Men and Woman from the Early Years
Invitations - any kind
Deadline for submissions is September 9. Here's a link to the Flying Unicorn Forum where you'll see all the details. Magazine

The Flying Unicorn Challenge Weekend

2011-08-19T22:37:00.006-05:00

Straight from Denmark and Flying Unicorn is pleased to be the FIRST and ONLY USA Supplier of this ONE OF A KIND paper manufacturer. We are now offering three lines from Riddersholm.

The three lines we are carrying are: Bello Pastello, Turquoise Hill and Vintage Pink. They can be purchased in the store Flying Unicorn Store or enter to win …

Are You Up to the Challenge?
Here are the rules for the Flying Unicorn weekend challenge:

Alda has posted the Bello Pastello collection in the gallery. Every and any project, to a maximum of 3 per challenge that is posted after it will be entered to win that collection until tomorrow, August 20th when she posts the Turquoise Hill Collection. Any project posted after the Turquoise Hill collection will be entered to win that collection until Sunday when she posts Vintage Pink Collection. Any project that is posted after Vintage Pink will have a chance to win that collection until Sunday 11:59pm est. Winners will be chosen by Random.org and will be posted Monday morning. Lets get scrapping!

Here's where you need to go: the Flying Unicorn Forum

October Guest Designer Call at Bella Creations

2011-08-18T23:17:00.000-05:00

Want to play with some amazing goodies for free?Want to be featured on one of the fastest growing scrapbook communities? Bella Creations is holding a call for a guest designer for the month of October.

The guest designer will be required to create at least three projects in the month of October using the October embellishment kit, one being due October 5th, which will be featured with the release of the kit. The projects can be in any form that you wish...card, layout, altered piece, as long as it contains at least 75 % supplies from the kit. You're asked to promote Bella Creations on your blog (if available) and other sites where this type of promotion is allowed. You will also have the chance to do a tutorial, which would count as one of the three projects, either photo or youtube video for the Bella Creations blog.
If chosen, your work will be featured all month long on the Bella Creations site as well as on the Bella blog. You will also receive this badge made especially for you, to show off wherever you like.

Applicants must be a member of the Bella Creations ning site and a follower of the Bella Creations blog.
To apply please email Lacee Broyles the following to bella_creations_08@yahoo.com:
Your name
Address
Blog Address (if you have one)
you tube channels (if you have one)
and a few examples of your best work.
This call is open to International and US applicants.

The call will run from now until October 10th with the winner being chosen and announced on October 11th.

Artful Sisters

2011-08-10T17:51:00.000-05:00

Today is a Red Lead (ter) day as I received in the mail the 3 swapped out ATCs from the Red Lead Vintage Artistry ATC swap along with some blank ATCs and Red Lead vintage images. I immediately set to work creating this ATC with the goodies:

The ATC background paper and the vintage image are what I received today from Red Lead Paperworks Inc in St. Louis. The ribbon is from Gecko Galz. The beautiful Zva flower is from the Flying Unicorn on-line store. I glued the image under a Tim Holtz fragment and then trimmed it with gold scrap, also from Red Lead. The ATC is edged with Adirondack Metallic Gold Paint Dabber.

I'm sending this ATC to my friend Shawn, also known as Micupoftea. We work together on the Bella Creations design team. Why did I make this for her? Because I have some things to mail to her so I'm putting it in the same envelope with a chipboard teapot album and a teapot stamp that I've never used. And because I received in the mail from her today, this wonderful card which she made for me because I'm a grandma now!

Isn't this gorgeous? I love the lace on the pram. Here is a link to Micupoftea's blog: Poetry in a Pot of Tea. Please visit to see her great art and wonderful collection of teacups!

And last but not least, the 3 beautiful ATCs I received from my Red Lead swap sisters, Robyn, Becky, and Dottee. Each one has so many wonderful details to admire!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIS !!!!!

2011-08-08T12:25:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday to my sister with a virtual card--it's in the snail mail.... (click on the photo to see it larger)

Made mini-card with sentiment stamped on top and placed on top of the page; will write personal birthday wishes inside it.
Roses fussy cut and layered. Girls stamped several times, cut and layered.

Challenge: The Stampsmith TSC 19 Teal and Yellow using any stamps
Also posted for inspiration at the flying unicorn forum for Mandy's August lace challenge

DP Artworks: MO 25 E Rachelle and Meghan and QP 04 E Overrated
Copic Y15 Cadmium Yellow
The Scrap Cake The Bright Side of Life paper collection and Tim Holtz Ranger distress inks (China Blue and Tattered Rose) from the flying unicorn on-line store

By the Sea

2011-08-06T18:12:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Bella Beach House! Plus 3 August Bella Kits and a New DT Bella

2011-08-04T00:01:00.005-05:00

Today is the reveal of the first Bella Creations embellishment kit: Bella Beach House. I was assigned to the Tres Chic challenge but I also used the Bella Muse challenge image so I'm giving you information on both August challenges. You have until September 5 to upload your challenge entries in the Forum at Bella Creations.

Here is my design team layout I made using paper from my stash (Webster's Pages Seaside Retreat) which I sprayed with Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists in Sunflower Sparkle. I then layered with some Graphic 45 On the Boardwalk papers including the postcard from Lila and Lola who were writing from Wildwood (Coney Island). Then I had great fun sorting and choosing embellishments from the Bella Beach House kit. There was so much to choose from! You'll be seeing a lot more projects with the items in the kit.

#1 Tres Chic Challenge: each month a different style: August brings us a detail oriented style.
Elements from the Bella Beach House August ephemera kit: seam binding, stick pins, glitter, crepe paper, book page.
The water is the glitter; my shoreline is the seam binding. The tickets are a Bella kit exclusive.
Please see the Tres Chic challenge in the Forum for additional challenge requirements.

I also used from the kit the shells, flowers, and net.

I made a crepe paper flower and edged it with Ranger Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.

Sponsored by Digi Doodles

The August prize from Digi Doodles Shop can be found on the main page at Bella Creations

#2 Bella Muse Challenge: Sponsored by the Flying Unicorn.

The August Muse provided by Gecko Galz. Please use these bathing beauties in your Bella Muse art submission. (the 3 gals in the photo on my layout whom I named Lila, Lola and Me to go with the G45 post card) Additional challenge details are in the Forum at Bella Creations.

The prize from the Flying Unicorn can be found on the main page of Bella Creations.

HERE ARE THE AUGUST BELLA CREATIONS KITS.

August Bella Beach House Embellishment kit

to purchase, hit the paypal button at the Bella Blog

August Sweet Hummingbird Kit with 12/x12 papers
to purchase, email founder Lacee Broyles for an invoice: bella_creations_08@yahoo.com

August A Cup of Tea Mini Album kit inspired by our DT Bella Micupoftea
to purchase, email founder Lacee Broyles for an invoice: bella_creations_08@yahoo.com

A Bella Announcement:
Carrie Taylor is joining the Bella Creations Design Team. You will be seeing her great work in the next few weeks.

Summer Childhood Memories

2011-08-03T09:26:00.000-05:00

The August theme at Gingersnap Creations is The Joys of Childhood.
Our Founding Femme, Shar, states:
Summer is flying quickly past and we, at Gingersnap Creations, want to pay tribute to another part of our lives that flies past - the Joys of Childhood. August will be dedicated to children and incorporating childhood playthings into our art! What a way to beat the Summer heat!

My Ginger Art for this week's Chestnut Theme Challenge, Babes and Tots:

Our sponsor this month is The Stamping Boutique.

My childhood memories are of going to Silver Lake to swim after my dad got home from work. We'd all pile into the station wagon and head to our lake lot. We'd swim off the pier and float on our inner tubes as the sun slowly lowered itself at the far end of the lake. So the TSB digital image with the setting sun was the perfect choice for my card. Image is The Stamping Boutique beach baby with hat.

Once again, I double printed the image so that I could fussy cut the beach baby, her hat and blanket to pop dot that portion on top of the original for added dimension. Vintage Photo and Gold Stickles on the sand. Just a little bit of Rock Candy Stickles on the water to add shimmer to my Silver Lake. I used my usual combo of Copics, Prismas, and Kurecolor markers. blue pp: Fancy Papers Celebrate-#643 Play. The shells are from a more recent memory, my trip to Florida last February where I did the "Sanibel stoop and scoop" for shells.

Be sure to follow the GC113 link to see the other Ginger art created for this challenge. As always, you have a generous amount of time to create your childhood memory and link it to our Chestnut Theme Babes and Tots GC113. There will be one home page artist chosen at random, and 10 Ginger Gems chosen whose work exemplify the challenge.

Our August Muse is Samantha Read, Visiting Artists for August are Cassandra at Altered for Him, Silvia (Barnie) and Sharon Rogers.

My Mini Match Box Challenge and the flying unicorn August Kit of the Month

2011-08-02T00:10:00.005-05:00

I'm excited to present my first challenge as a brand new CT at the flying unicorn forum. It was announced Sunday that I'm on the Product Creative Team so you'll see that I talk a lot about product in the descriptions of my examples.

My August challenge is to create any project that includes a small matchbox ( 2 inches x 1-1/2 inches ). Must be new as of Aug 1st and is due by the end of the month in my challenge section of the forum at the flying unicorn. Complete challenge details can be found there. I hope to see you there!

Examples:

This first one uses the entire box. The flying unicorn flower pack came packaged on a page of text. As I read the paragraphs, I discovered they were about a girl's coming out dance and the dress she was getting, white with pearls. I immediately thought of a trinket box. I took apart the matchbox sleeve in order to spray the inside with Adirondack Butterscotch Color Wash. I then glued the text on top and glued the edge back together. The decorating included topping it off with a blue Zva Creative flower from the flying unicorn store.

This second example uses just the inside of the box, or the "drawer". When browsing the internet for ideas, I can across some match box "people" which inspired me think about the Wizard of Oz characters. I decided to try creating a tin man. I painted the box metallic silver. In the book, the tin man gets a red satin heart. In the movie, he gets a "tick tock" clock. So I combined the two in a bottlecap. I used Graphic 45 The Magic of Oz paper collection and fussy cut the tin man out. He currently is displayed as an embellishment on G45 Tenderhearted Tin Man paper. I spied these papers in the flying unicorn store. Wouldn't a steampunk Wizard of Oz or the wicked witch with her striped stockings look great?

My third example is an ATC shrine. You can find a template on the internet. This requires some additional design work in order to create a shadow box that is ATC size (3-1/2 inches by 2-1/2 inches). Mine uses a Gecko Galz image which is swinging freely inside the shadow box. You've seen this one before.

This is the wonderful prize to be given to the winner of my challenge. Winner will be chosen at random from the entries. The prize is sponsored by Alda Stevens, founder, at the flying unicorn:
:

The August Kit of the Month, Whispering Memories, is up for sale at the flying unicorn store. Act fast before it's completely sold out! Look for the kit name at the top of the left sidebar here at the store.

Here's a great video showing the products in the kit. Please pause my Mixpod music on my sidebar before starting the video.

Seaside Retreat

2011-08-01T02:30:00.000-05:00

Bella Creations is revealing its first ephemera kit on August 4th. I used some of the items on this bookmark. So this is more than a sneak peek! You'll just have to guess which items are found in the kit. The answer will be revealed on Thursday.

I moderate the Oh La La group at Bella Creations which is sponsored by Gecko Galz. We're using this free Gecko Galz image from the Bathing Beauties ephemera set:

Our theme this month is a seaside summer. I don't know about you, but when I go on vacation, I have to take along a book. I'm old-fashioned--I still want to hold a real book. No Kindle or Nook for me! Gets a little cumbersome at the airport, but I have to haul around my books. That means I need a bookmark! So let's make a bookmark to take along with our book to the beach!

Challenge lasts until the end of the month. Hope to see you in the Oh La La group!

I 'm on the Flying Unicorn Creative Team

2011-07-31T11:44:00.006-05:00

Woo Hoo! I'm so thrilled to announce that I'm now a Product Creative Artist for the flying unicorn.

the flying unicorn online store

Here is a link to the announcement on founder Alda Stevens' blog.

I will be hosting a monthly challenge on the flying unicorn forum. It will be there on the first of the month. I'll do my best to coordinate the challenge post there with a post here. This time around, you'll see it here on my personal blog on Tuesday, August 2nd.

Let's get this party started.....

The entire Creative Team is listed in the flying unicorn tab at the top of my blog. Once you click on the tab, you'll find links to their personal blogs. You will note that some are listed under the Kit of the Month and some are listed under Product. I'm very excited to be creating a wide variety of projects and already have several things in the works for you to see how different products inspired me.

Gingersnap Recipe

2011-07-29T12:30:00.001-05:00

No, not the cookies--it's a crafting recipe, of course!

Today on the Gingersnap Creations blog, Shar is featuring the month of June's Blue Moon recipe challenge: 3 papers, 3 buttons, 3 words. I " threw in " with the entrants when I made some ATCs for a swap (meaning I had not signed up to do this as part of my Ginger art examples). I purposely made one to fit the Ginger challenge. So here it is again because last time I posted it for the swap info. I hope you click on this Gingersnap link: GCSP08 to see all the wonderful recipe entries. Not a cookie, but still a treat!

This ATC uses the Crafty Secrets paper that I won from the flying uicorn store. I used two patterns from the Classic paper pad. I created a third patterned paper by stamping music with a Red Lead Paperworks stamp, Red Lead also made the "handle with care" stamp and the female image is from one of their collage sheets. Links to these places are on my sidebar.

You may have noticed my new blog look for August. I'm still posting fairies and ballerinas but they were competing with the ballerina blog background. Just too much visual bombardment. So I'm picturing this breezy room sitting on the ocean somewhere on the east coast--a lovely summer retreat for my August projects--coming soon. In the meantime, I'm envisioning this lovely woman, retreating to a friend's summer place to contemplate the scars of love.

Ballet Memory Tag

2011-07-27T16:48:00.001-05:00

There are 5 days left to create a tag with this beautiful ballerina image from the Gecko Galz Tiny Dancer ephemera set and enter it in the Oh La La group July challenge at Bella Creations. We have some amazing entries so far.

Even though I moderate the Oh La La group and am ineligible for the prize from our sponsor (a Gecko Galz ephemera set of choice to one lucky winner chosen at random), I wanted to play along. Here is my tag. As soon as I saw this beautiful image, I knew I had to choose it as this month's image for the challenge. I immediately thought of the ballet, Swan Lake. I hope you like my interpretation.

The muted colors and style are inspired by my personal muse, Lynne Moncrieff. Like Lynne, I'm telling a story: The lovely Odette was asked by her favorite gentleman caller to accompany him to the ballet, Swan Lake. How could she refuse? She anxiously awaited what she hoped would be the perfect evening. Finally, the time arrived, cloaked in chivalry. The morning after the ballet, she gathered souvenirs of their time together to place in her memory envelope: ticket to the ballet, a bit of Tchaikovsky's musical score from the program, photo of the prima ballerina assoluta from a handbill, the hatpin she wore, a dried rose from the bouquet he presented her with, and, most importantly, his calling card upon which he wrote, This card entitles the recipient to one sweet kiss. As she slipped the card inside the envelope, a discreet smile crossed her lips. Yes, it was a most memorable evening indeed.

ok, creative writing isn't my strong suit but I had to give it a try.....

I used the Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Classic Paper Pack which I won from the flying unicorn. One patterned piece I fussy cut and then glued back together to form a "souvenir" pocket tag. I took another piece, the sheet music, and wet distressed it, then inked it up before putting it inside the tag. The paper pack also includes some frames and letters. I cut out the four letters to spell swan, put them on cardboard inchies, distressed them with Colorbox Liquid Chalk ink, and glued them down across the bottom of the tag. I won from Crafty Secrets the Heartwarming Vintage Creative Scraps Altered Fairies 09 from which I cut and distressed the Admit One Fairy Dance ticket.

I searched the Graphics Fairy for some ephemera and settled on the swan image as well as a calling card. The pink rose also is from the flying unicorn store. The stick pin is from Melissa Bove. The rest of the items are from my stash.

Several of you who follow my blog have already entered your tags. (You know who you are, and thanks so much for playing!) I hope more of you will be inspired to do so as well. Come join us in the Oh La La group at Bella Creations. You have until midnight central USA time on the last day of the month (July 31) to post your tag in the Oh La La group. We'd love to see you there!

Fairy Tee Pee Card

2011-07-25T10:24:00.000-05:00

At Bella Creations, my design team-mate, Micupoftea (Shawn) had a July challenge in her Voila Ink! group to make a teepee card. I say "had" because today is the last day to enter (depending when you read this, you may still have time to enter your card). Of course, being an ink group, I had to used some ink, so I edged all the sides with Wild Honey Ranger Distress Ink. It's not very noticeable because the Prima fairy flora papers I chose to use are heavily patterned.

I used the decoupage fairies, some rub-ons, stickers, flowers, and purple gems from the Fairyopolis card making kit. This cardmaking kit is the big prize for the Bella Creations Tres Chic challenge this month. You still have time to enter that challenge--it runs until August 5th. So if you like the looks of the materials I used, be sure to enter the challenge. You can find it in the Forum section of the Bella Creations ning site. You just may be the random winner to get the Crafter's Companion Fairyopolis kit. Did you notice the little fairy on the paper under the card? That's from the stamp set that comes in the card kit. I multi-stamped the image and layered it just like the decoupage fairies that come in the kit. But I'm saving it for a layout or card.

I've never made a teepee card before, but Shawn gave us two links to learn how:
Here is the You Tube tutorial that Shawn found: teepee cardhttp://youtu.be/W-UdMmYUMVI
If you cannot see the video, check out Shawn's blog and directions~
*You will need three 6"x6" squares, folded diagonally. Crease. Open.
*you need two 5 and 3/4 " squares, CUT diagonally. This gives you 4 triangles, but you only will use 3 of them. Glue 6" creased squares to each other to form cone. Adhere 5.75" triangles to the sides, decorate as desired.
http://poetryinapotoftea.blogspot.com/2011/06/hats-off-to-you.html#...

This third side is the fold-over part which can open to make the card flat for mailing. It's on the side with the 3 purple gems from the kit.

Fairyopolis Flower Fairies
Prima Fairy Flora Collection: Sunlight Daisies and Fairy Flora
Ranger Wild Honey Distress Ink

Alpha Stamps Halloween Giveaway Challenge

2011-07-24T09:27:00.002-05:00

I received this fantastic newsletter alert this morning. Alpha Stamps is hosting a Halloween challenge. Details are on their blog. Winner gets this amazing Hocus Pocus kit jam packed with Halloween goodies.

And by blogging about it, you get a free Halloween Romance collage sheet to work with. YAY!

As if that wasn't enough, my friend Lynn Stevens has a set of 3 ATCs posted on the Alpha Stamps Facebook page to get us in the Halloween spirit.

I'm thinking about what I want to make for my challenge entry.... .......because I sure would like to win this kit!

Fashion Statement Tag

2011-07-23T16:49:00.001-05:00

Image from the library at the flying unicorn as well as Alda's technique to make the sentiment strip 3-D, as seen in the August 2011on-line issue of Enchanting Creations magazine.

Ranger Products:
Distress Inks: Black Soot and Worn Lipstick with Walnut Stain
Embossing Powder: Clear
red flower made by someone whose blog candy I won eons ago, finally used with an added rhinestone
misc. trims and gems from my stash
birds from a Hero Arts stamp stamped onto red paper, heat embossed, fussy cut and adhered with pop dots

Challenges I entered:
Twinkle, Twinkle: The Summer of Color: RED
Simon Says Stamp and Show: Some Embossing (tag using this Tim Holtz technique, birds and sentiment all heat embossed)
Everything Wendy Vecchi Yahoo Group MAC#19 a bird and at least one Studio 490 stamp (sentiment from Art Fit for a Queen set)

Steampunk Train

2011-07-19T23:03:00.003-05:00

Gingersnap Creations Random Redhead Challenge #111 Trains and Planes
My Ginger design team card:

This started out as an ATC. I used Core-dinations cardstock with the Tim Holtz Alternations Sizzex mini folder and sanded the gears. I fussy cut and added one of the male images from the set of steampunk tags from this month's sponsor, Dezinaworld. Next I created an "inchie" with matboard and the engine from Graphic 45 Playtimes Past collection. Then I had fun finding bits and bobs to attach for a steampunk look.

Could have been done with the project-- but I decided to make a card with the ATC as the focal point. So I matted the ATC on black cardstock to match the card base. I added the train schedule which is a card base from Crafter's Companion, matted on the same green Core'dinations paper. At this point, I decided to anchor everything with some G-45 patterned paper cut with those old fashion wavy scissors.

Be sure to visit Gingersnap Creations today to see the other Ginger art created for this challenge. I hope you're on board with this challenge. You have until August 14 to link up your creation to GC#111.

One randomly drawn winner from the qualifying participants for this challenge will become our new Home Page Artist for a week as well as winning a voucher for use in the Dezinaworld store worth $20.00 US.

http://dezinaworld.blogspot.com/

And 10 Ginger Gems will be selected for their fabulous creations that we feel really exemplify this challenge's objective.

I'm adding this to the Try It On Tuesday (Taggers) Anything Goes Steampunk Challenge that also is going on this week.