2013 Artisan Finalist Blog Hop - Day 10

Could it POSSIBLY be Day 10??? ALREADY???? This Blog Hop with my Fellow Finalist Friendies (how's THAT for alliteration???) has been SOOO much fun!!! I have been amazed, inspired and BLOWN AWAY!!

My last project to share is probably my MOSTEST favorite!! For any of you who have followed me at ALL for any amount of time you will know that I LOVELOVELOVE Halloween!! My MOST favorite holiday (which probably makes me a little weird ... but it really IS my fave!)!!! I have been wanting to make an "countdown" calendar for Halloween for YEARS and YEARS ... and I FINALLY DID IT!!! (And then promptly gave it away ... go figure ...)  I made my own fabric using MDS and some iron-on transfer paper (added some spider-webby goodness and some creepy-crawly spiders!)  The only sad part is that I sewed one of the edges on BACKWARDS and had to caaarrrreeefuuullllyyy unpick it so that you wouldn't be able to see the holes poked by the sewing machine needle!!

The tree is an image from "Spooky Bingo Bits". I blew it up HUGE and printed it out (in reverse). Then, I pinned it down to some felt and hand-cut this baby out!!

Here's a close up of all the little "day" circles. I used a LOT of different images in My Digital Studio ... combined with a number paper punch download to make each day different and special. They were then printed out on Whisper White cardstock and glued to felt circles. I attached each "day" to my spooky tree with a safety pin from the Vintage Trinkets.

This was originally going to be a "pocket" to hold all of the little numbered circles ... but it was NO WAY gonna be big enough ... so I just made it into a little "Happy Halloween" signage instead!!

And here's another close-up from a different angle.

The whole thing is hanging off of a wooden dowel that I screwed some drawer pulls that I got from the hardware store into (on each end). This just made me sooo happy when I was done ... and I really DO think I'm gonna make another one (now that I have all the files done in MDS!!). Time consuming ... but worth it!!

Stamps: NONE
Paper:  Whisper White (for "day" circles)
Ink:  NONE
Accessories:  1 1/4" Circle Punch, Vintage Trinkets, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Felt (Black, White and Gray), Orange Fabric, Iron-On Transfer Paper, Burlap, Dowel, Drawer Pulls (2), Sewing Machine
MDS:  Spooky Bingo Bits, Jack of All Trades, Calendar Basics, Eat, Drink & Be Scary, Spooky Things, Lauren's Letters Alphabet (Numbers), Holiday Blitz, Number One DSP, Corner Rounder Punch, Circle Punch

A little teaser here ... keep your EYES PEELED for this lovely logo on August 26 ... we are NOT DONE playing "blog hop" together ... stay tuned!!

Click on the "Next" button to see another Work of Brilliance from Amy O'Neill ... and the "Back" button to check out the Masterpiece down by Melissa Stout!!

         

2013 Artisan Finalist Blog Hop - Day 9

We are getting close to the end of Artisan Finalist Blog Hop. WOWZA!!! Each day has held SO many treasures for us to peruse ... I have been loving EVERYTHING!

I am sharing the first of my two 3D items with you. To be honest, I have had this triple-frame thing FOREVER (I bought it years ago ... thinking I was going to make something fabulous ... which I never got around to.) This helped inspire me to make this fun family frame of my niece and nephew's adorable little family.  Due to space constraints, it wasn't actually hanging on the board during Convention (it was propped on a shelf).  Now y'all can see the little braided rope from which it was hanging at the top, and the fun little flag/button banner on the bottom!

Here are Marc and Eliza on their wedding day ...

And the girls!! Whom I love to DEATH!! (And I'm happy to announce that they are expecting daughter #4 during the winter!! Which means this frame is ALREADY obsolete!)

The whole stinkin' darling family!! I had SO much fun making the little banner on the bottom, too (AFTER I realized I had used some buttons that were ALREADY RETIRED ... and had to come up with a suitable alternative!!)

Stamps:  Hearts a Flutter
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Crumb Cake
Accessories:  Hearts a Flutter Framelits Dies, Antique Brads, Naturals Trim Ribbon, Comfort Cafe Fabric (for braid at top for hanging)
MDS:  Fan Fair (corner stitching), Downtown Grunge (frame2, frame3, frame4 and frame5; paper ), Soft Blooms (Very Vanilla), Basic Pearls, Bakers Twine (Whisper Whiter recolored Very Vanilla), Smitten Alphabet Punch, Night of Navy Button, Lots of Tags, Night of Navy Taffeta Ribbon
Font: Bayern Handschrif


Click on the "Next" arrow to check out another WONDERFUL creation from Amy O'Neill ... or "Back" to see another EXQUISITE creation from Melissa Stout.

         

2013 Artisan Finalist Blog Hop - Day 8

Welcome to Day 8 everybody!!! I canNOT believe how quickly these past 8 days have FLOWN by!!! And I am STILL in AWE of all of the wonderful things my Finalist Friendies have been sharing (I know, I know ... I've said that BEFORE ... but it's TRUE!)!! So, let's get to it!!!

Another family-treasured photo! We took this photo of my daughter WAAAYYYY back in the day!! My husband had JUST taught her how to fish the day before this photo was taken ... and she got up VERY early the next morning, grabbed a fishin' pole and dangled it over the side of the boat ... NO BAIT!!! Then she started yellin', "Daddy!!! Come quick!! I caught a FISH!!" How's THAT for expert fishermanship???? She was SOOOOO pleased with herself!! And this picture is framed in our house (has been since the day we had it developed. HAPPYHAPPYHAPPY!!

See?? Isn't she stinkin' ADORABLE??? (and that bluegill looks MASSIVE, doesn't it?? I think it was more of the photo angle than anything ... but it's FAB!!)!

I used the yardstick image that I snatched out of MDS ... printed it out, then tore and crumpled it all up ... then added the fishes on the line with a little help from some linen thread and mini safety pins from the Vintage Trinkets!

I used the Canvas Creations to make the little "fringe" under these letters (which I ALSO created in MDS). I just pulled the threads on the side of the canvas to make it fray ... VOILA!!

This is one of those pages I wish I could get back ... which means I should probably make another one just like it, right???

Stamps: By the Tide
Paper:  Naturals Composition DSP, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, This and That Epic Day DSP, Crumb Cake
Ink: Island Indigo
Accessories:  Canvas Creations, Naturals Trim Ribbon, Vintage Trinkets, Linen Thread
MDS:  A to Z Wordpress Letters, Fan Fair (ruler)
Font:  2Peas Ditzy

Choosing the "Next" button will take you to a FABULOUS project by Amy O"Neill ... and choosing the "Back" button will take you to something EQUALLY as wonderful from Melissa Stout!!
         

2013 Artisan Finalist Blog Hop - Day 7

Welcome to Day 7 of the Artisan Finalist Blog Hop!! I have been sooo inspired and amazed at EVERYTHING that has been posted every.stinkin'.day!! (I've mentioned that, right???) So much to see and so much to learn ... so let's get started again!!

I'm sharing the last of the cards I made. I had made some of these little ribbon "rosettes" quite a while back ... and I decided I NEEDED to add them on at least ONE of my Artisan entries!! Sadly, this ribbon is now retired (it was so handy because of the holes that went down both edges ... just thread your needle/thread through the holes and pull into a tight circle). Easy and fun!!

The little border strip on the left side was also made with the Rosette Die ... I just cut it to the right length and laid it out flat!

Click on the "Next" button to take a peek at Awesome-Amy O'Neill and what she had created ... and the "Back" button to see the Magnificent-Melissa Stout to see what she has been up to.
Stamps:  Sweet Essentials
Paper:  Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Whisper White, International Bazaar DSP
Ink:  Early Espresso
Accessories:  Bigz Rosette Die, Argyle Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, Circles Framelits Dies, Word Window Punch, Bird Builder Punch (branch), Chocolate Chip Scallop Polka Dot Ribbon, Early Espresso Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Large Pearl Basics, Paper Piercing Essentials Mat/Piercing Tool

Click on the "Next" arrow to hop on over to Awesome-Amy O'Neill ... or on the "Back" button for the Marvelous-Melissa Stout!!

         

2013 Artisan Finalist Blog Hop - Day 6

Happy Day #6, everyone!! Here we are again to share some of the projects we made for the Artisan Design Team Contest. I am having fun kinda revisiting the things I made (and forgetting what-all I used to make them with!)!! It's amazing how even just a DAY or two can go by since ya make something and you FORGET what you USED! I choose to think it's "Creative Genius" causing me to scatter my thoughts other than my age ... which is STILL 27 ... but I digress ...

Here's another scrapbook layout I did. As I mentioned when I shared my last one, I used photos for my entries that were really special to me. I took this photo of my kids oh-so-long ago! I was almost tearing up looking through the lens as I took it ... knowing that I couldn't keep them this little ... and sweet. Oh how the time has flown by!! WHOOSH!! It seems like I just barely took this photo (and you will notice, by the date, that it has been QUITE some time!)!!

Here's a close up shot of the photo and sentiment ... sigh ... don't they look so cute???? (says their mama!) I miss those days ... and I had a LOT of fun making the little hanging tag with MDS. I LOVE me some hybrid projects, I tell ya!!

Stamps: NONE!
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Polka Dot Parade, Summer Smooches, Brights Designer Series Patterned Pack, Subtles Designer Series Patterned Pack, International Bazaar (Sorry if I missed some ... I THINK I got 'em all!)
Ink:  Various Colors in MDS
Accessories:  Ticket Builder Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, 1" Square Punch, Word Window Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Small Butterfly Punch, Brights Buttons, Whisper White Baker's Twine
MDS: Timeless Type Junior Punches, Walk in the Park II ("happy"), Get It Done (punch 3)

Click on the "Next" arrow to hop on over to Awesome-Amy O'Neill ... or on the "Back" button for the Marvelous-Melissa Stout!!

Come back tomorrow!!!

         

2013 Artisan Finalist Blog Hop - Day 5

Today we are "officially" half way through sharing our Artisan entries!! It's been so much fun seeing all the wonderful creations done by my blog hop buddies ... and I have REALLY appreciated your comments and emails. Ya pretty much have been makin' my week a happy place!! (Which is a GOOD thing because starting on Monday and ending - thankfully - this afternoon I had 150 skin-test patches TAPED to my BACK!! I know, I know ... TMI ... we're just trying to figure out WHAT ingredient in SUNSCREEN I am allergic to!! ICK!!)

Card #4 ... this is one big ol' butterfly!! This card looked WAY better in my head!!! And it actually looks kinda fun and sparkly in PERSON ... just wasn't QUITE what I had envisioned ... but I enjoyed trying to do something a LITTLE big different with this image ... so there ya have it! I have been affectionately referring to this stamp as "Mothra" ... and it has officially made me feel OLD because too many of my friends have NO IDEA what that means!! (If you don't either, just "Google" it ... sigh ...)

Stamps:  Swallowtail, Friendly Phrases, Secret Garden
Paper:  Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Ink:  Basic Black, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Pacific Point, White Signo Pen
Accessories: Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Boho Blossoms Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Pearl Basics, Dazzling Details

Wanna see more?? (ya KNOW ya DO!!) Click on the "Next" button to see something by the ever-amazing Amy O'Neill! OR you can click on the "back" arrow to see some MORE fabulousness from Melissa Stout!!

         

2013 Artisan Finalist Blog Hop - Day 4

Here we are again!! Day 4!!! LOVE-LOVE-LOVE all of the wonderful things I have been seeing during the past few days of our Artisan Finalist blog hop!! Aren't these ladies FAN-DANG-TASTIC?? I think so!!!

Today I am sharing another card ... I struggle with the simple kinds of cards. Because I always feel like that if more is GOOD, even MORE is BETTER, right?? I do like me some layers, I tell ya!! BUT ... I do also like the monochrome-type of card as well. Layer-on-layer color has always been a look I have liked, so that's where I got the inspiration for this card. And polka dots ... I SWEAR that the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions embossing folder is my MOST-USED embossing folder EVER ... the end.

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Neutrals DSP
Ink:  Early Espresso
Accessories:  Little Leaves Sizzlets Die, Tasteful Trim Bigz Die, Word Window Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Neutrals Buttons, Linen Thread

Click on the "Next" arrow to check out the fabulous talent of Amy O'Neill ... or on the "Back" arrow to see the stampy goodness of Melissa Stout!! And we'll be back again for the next SIX days ... so be sure to keep on a-comin' back!!

         

2013 Artisan Finalist Blog Hop - Day 3

Hooray for Day 3!!! I don't know about all y'all, but I am THOROUGHLY enjoying the creations made by my Finalist Friendies (I like callin' 'em that!). I have been getting a LOT of inspiration. And it is SO much fun to be able to see the things that were on display at Convention all up close and personal-like!! My creativity tank is most DEFINITELY gettin' a refill!!

Today I am sharing one of the three scrapbook layouts I did. I had MORE FUN make the scrapbook layouts this year than I EVER have!! I was so happy with all three of them ... I think it is because I used some of my most all-time FAVE pictures of my kids (said the proud mama!). This picture of my son is so special to me ... I took his senior photos for him a few years back and I KNEW the moment I was lookin' through the lens on this one that it was a keeper!! (He has ALWAYS had an affinity for hats ... from the time he was a baby, actually!).

I used my eCutter (I have a Cricut) to cut out these EXTRA LARGE photo corners. I SOOOO love that we have the svg files available to us through MDS. It opens a whole FLOOD gate full of happy things to cut out! These photo corners were so much fun to "decorate"!!

And a GIANT BRACKET can ALWAYS make ya happy, right??? Also done with the help of MDS and my Cricut (before anyone asks ... I have not done a firmware update on my Cricut ever since there was an "issue" with a third-party software - which I own - and which a lawsuit was filed over ... so that's how I made it work!)

My son has ALSO always had a happy-place thing goin' with watches, so I felt I HAD to include one ... I used one of the pop tops under the clock-face image to made it look a little more legit ... and yeah, I LOVE to fussy cut stuff ... really ... not kidding!!

I used multiple copies of the photo in two sizes; I edited the photos to have different levels of focus (although it's kinda hard to tell from THIS photo). I love the look of layered photos!!

As much as I hate to "re-do" something I have already done, I like this layout well enough that I just may hafta do that!!!

Stamps:  Clockworks
Paper:  Basic Gray, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, First Edition DSP, Comfort Cafe DSP
Ink:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Accessories:  1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Hearts Framelets, Photo Corner Punch (MDS), Bracket (MDS - Thoughtful Overlays), Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die (for the letter "U"), Soda Pop Tops, Naturals Designer Buttons, Linen thread, My Digital Studio, Sewing Machine, eCutter (Cricut)

Click on the "back" button to see some amazingness from Melissa Stout ... or on the "Next" button to be dazzled by Amy O'Neill!