Movin' On to Scrapbooks - Day 6 - Parade of UnAward Winning Artisan Projects

I love doing scrapbook pages. That is actually where I started my papercrafting journey over 10 years ago ... and I don't DARE show you what kinds of things I was creating back then. Remember all those crazy decorative-edge scissors? And the templates we used to cut out our pictures in heart, circle and star shapes?? Oh my goodness!! We've come a loooong way since then, baby!!

I am fortunate enough to have access to a whole SLEW of photos from my grandparents. I was actually very instrumental in helping my aunts and uncles put together a family history book for their side of the family. It took over three years to assemble, but it is a treasure like none other. AND, I have tons and TONS of pictures on CD and on my computer ... which is what led me to create this layout featuring my Grandpa's farm. What Grandpa probably wouldn't have given for a mower like this, right??

Jan also created some AWESOME layouts as part of her Artisan submission. Check it out:

Jan's Terrific Layout

I have had more than one person ask in the comments (which have been lovely, btw ... thanks!) if there was somewhere they could see who/what actually WON the Artisan Award contest. Although I have seen posts acknowledging some of WHO won, we won't be able to see WHAT they created until we see the Artisan Award Winner display boards at Convention here in Salt Lake City at the end of July. I will take some photos so that I can share them with ya!!

Stamps: Autumn Days
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, To the Nines Specialty Paper
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip Craft
Accessories: On Board Lots of Letters, Circle Scissor, Swirls Scribbles Sizzlits Die, Spiral Border Punch, Paper Distressing Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge

More to share with ya tomorrow ... thanks for stoppin' by!

Are Ya Ready? Parade of UnAward Winning Artisan Projects - Day 5

Well, here's the LAST of the cards I submitted ... I have to say that I really LOVE this one!! You can't really tell from the photo, but this whole darn neighborhood is paper pieced ... yup!!! My daughter counted all the little pieces in this backdrop and got up to sixty-somethin' ... not quite sure what number it was and I'm too lazy to count 'em myself!!

I started out stamping this on some watercolor paper and had decided to use my reinkers and blender pens to color it up (I'm pretty dang good at it!!). I had started to color, and because of the tightness in the spaces on the houses the shading wasn't coming out nearly like I had wanted ... AND the sky just turned out all gray and gloomy ... so instead of evoking something akin to "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" it just ended up lookin' like "The 'Hood!" Not cheery and fun at ALL!! So I just decided to go for it and started stamping and cutting, stamping and cutting ... and this is what I came up with! It just makes me smile (too bad I didn't get to keep it 'cause I don't think I'm EVER gonna cut out all those little windows and window shades again .... maybe ....)

Now, go and take a little peeky at Jan's last card:

One More From JanTink

We have some really coolio scrapbook layouts and our 3D items still to share with ya, so keep coming back over the next five days if ya wanna see 'em!!

TTFN!! (I SOOO wish I could find a "Tigger" animation/smiley thing!!)

Stamps: All in the Family, Neighborhood Wheel, Celebrate Everything
Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Summer Sun, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Barely Banana, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green, Certainly Celery, Going Gray
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Summer Sun, Creamy Caramel, Brocade Blue, Blush Blossom
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, 1 3/8” Circle Punch, 1 ¼” Circle Punch, Double Rectangle Punch, Bold Brights Brads, Paper Piercing Tool/Mat Pack, Black Gingham Ribbon, White Gel Pen, Pop-Up Glue Dots

Here We Are @ Day 4 - UnAward Winning Artisan Projects

Moving right along, eh? Hope y'all are having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend filled with family, food and some free time!

I actually spent today just relaxing after church. I also made a card for my dad - today marks the day where one year ago he left us. Seems hard to believe it has been that long. Fortunately for me he is buried a few short minutes from my house, so I can go and visit any time I feel the need. I took up some flowers and a card. The cemetery looked SOOO beautiful with so many flowers and flags everywhere. Truly lovely with the sun shining and birds singing. It was lovely and peaceful. All in all a really nice day ...

I need to start by saying that I got special permission from the infamous JanTink to make this card as part of my Artisan Award entry. I know she didn't actually "invent" this Marvelous Marquee style of card, but she DID do a FABOO tutorial on how to make one here:

Jan's Marvelous Marquee Video Tutorial

I had a lot of fun making this unconventionally-colored baby card. The hole came out a little higher than I would have liked, but I still like it, nonetheless.

Here is a peek-a-boo at the inside. I love giving interactive cards to people, especially when I get to watch their reactions when they open them up!! They think I am some sort of wizard or genie or something!! Hehehehe! Wouldn't that be TERRIFIC when it came time to clean the house (I'm also thinking "Mary Poppins" here, too! I need me a magic snap, a magic eye-blink or some sorta magic nose twitch ... a wand could be cool, too eh?)

And speaking of Jan and marvelous cards, check it out:

Another Superb JanTink Card

I hope I am not boring y'all to death or making you crazy with the daily updates right now. We are almost halfway there! Thanks, once again, for all the positive feedback. You make my day!!

Stamps: Nursery Necessities, Nursery Letters Wheel
Paper: Old Olive, Pale Plum, Whisper White, Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pale Plum
Accessories: Circle Scissor, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8” Circle Punch, 1 3/8” Square Punch, Large Oval Punch, Star Punch, Silver Brads, Old Olive ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon

Parade of UnAward Winning Projects - Day 3

When I sat down to try and plan out what kinds of cards I wanted to make as part of my Artisan Award entries, I decided that I needed to step out of my own comfort zone - especially when it came to color combos. And so I stepped waaaayyyy out on this one. Gable Green? I'm not sure anyone ever really used this color (which is probably the reason why it was one of the ones that is "retiring").

The "most funnest" part about this? Trying to find a gift card that matched it!! I went over to my local store (lucky for me it is across the street from my house) and looked at their entire rack of gifts cards. I was mui-happy to find this one that I think was a pretty stinkin' good match. The tricky part was trying to convince the checker that I wanted it but that I didn't want to activate it. She looked at me pretty much like I had THREE heads. She had to call the manager over. "Can we let her have this card without activating it?" He just kinda shook his head and said, "Sure, why not? If she just wants to take a worthless card, let her!" Diff'ernt strokes for diff'ernt folks, eh?

And Jan has yet another BRILLIANT card for ya. I swear I wish some of her genius-ness would rub off on me. She is sooo stinkin' good at makin' up cool techniques, or adapting ones that we have ALL seen a zillion times and making her own. I am a pretty good mimic, but she is just a stampin' MacGyver (I tell her this all the time - I even assigned the MacGyver theme song to her number as a ring tone on my phone). See her wonderful creation here:

Jan's Blog

And a big ol' THANKYOUTHANKYOU to all of you and your encouraging and supportive comments. You have NO idea how much they mean to me!!

Stamps: On a Pedestal
Paper: Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green, Pretty in Pink, Summer Sun
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Paper Piercing Tool/Mat Pack

Parade of UnAward Winning Projects - Day 2

Well, here we are AGAIN ... and here is another one of the cards I made as part of my Artisan Award entry ... I really DID have a good time creating the stuff I made this year. And really, I don't fell THAT badly (okay, well maybe a WEE bit). The challenge to push myself was ALMOST worth it ...

Once, again, the fab JanTink is ALSO sharing more fun stuff that SHE made (and I have been fortunate enough to see it, so I already KNOW you are gonna be ASTOUNDED and AMAZED by her - like, what ELSE Is NEW??) It's been REALLY GREAT to have someone who has gone through this whole process with me ... she's the BESTEST! Here's a link to another one of her UnAward Winning Projects as well:

Jan's Fab Card

Stamps: For All You Do
Paper: Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango
Accessories: Large Tag Punch, Small Tag Punch, Photo Corners Punch, Vintage Brads, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Pop-Up Glue Dots

Parade of UnAward Winning Projects - Day 1

Okay, well ... the title for the post (and for subsequent ones where I post the things that I created as part of my entry for this year's Stampin' Up Artisan Award contest) is a true expression of how I feel ... like an Un-Artisan - or at least that's how it is in the eyes of the judges at Stampin Up! ... I like to think that perhaps I was #11 or #12 on SU's list of winners (and since they only pick TEN winners, that makes me NEARLY an Artisan, right???) Hehehehe ... I am just gonna live in that happy bubble, okay? (Even if I WAS #217!)

Here is card #1 ... I decided to show this one first 'cause I actually felt guilty about submitting it ... WHY?? you ask ... 'cause it only took me, like, 15 minutes to create it. I somehow thought that taking so short of a time-frame to create something for a contest of this caliber was a big, FAT NO-NO!! But I loved how it came out so much that I KNEW I was gonna submit it!! So, there ya have it!! (I actually had this baby all planned out in my head, and it just sorta fell out the tips of my fingers!!)

Since my BFF, JanTink, ALSO is NEARLY ARTISAN like me (actually, that is UNTRUE - she is a jeenyus! But, unbelievably, she wasn't picked, either!), we decided to play a little round of ping pong with this sharing project ... so why not BOUNCE on over to her blog (click back where I typed her name) and see what SHE created for this contest as well??? (You KNOW you WANNA!)

Come on back tomorrow and see project #2, 'kay?

Stamps: Wedding Sweet
Paper: Whisper White, Going Gray
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Folder, Modern Label Punch, Large Oval Punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Pretties Kit, Whisper White Satin/Organza Ribbon, Pop-Up Glue Dots

Sad Goods & Good News ...

I decided I needed a card to represent my NEED for chocolate (okay, so I guess I am OVER it!) ... I found out yesterday that I got passed over (again!) for Stampin' Up's Artisan Award. Sigh ... ... at least it forced me to ink up this stamp set (which I have had since some time last year and never inked up!) AND I decided to cut into some of the new cardstock samples I got from Stampin' Up (since I sooo plan to do a "pre-order" on June 1 and get me a bunch MORE of it!!)

So that is my sad news ... actually, I am taking it much better than I thought I would. After all, this is just paper and ink, right? (YIKES!! Did I really just TYPE that???) But the GOOD news is that, starting Friday, I am gonna do a 10-day blitz of all the stuff I submitted for the Artisan thing that DIDN'T win ... I am pretty happy with what I did, so that's all anyone can ask for, right?

Tune in on Friday so you can see how I spent a couple of weeks in March!!

Hugs to All!!

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes
Paper: Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso, Whisper White, So Saffron
Ink: Basic Black, Soft Suede
Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder, ticket corner punch, large oval punch, 1/4" Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon

Buttons & Bows ...

It was my turn to hostess the Free for All Challenge on SCS again last Thursday. I spent the better part of the day working on the bag I shared with you in my last post. Then, I got all wrapped up in the season finale for Grey's Anatomy (seriously, it was so intense it gave me a freakin' HEADACHE!)!. My darling daughter informed me, right before the show came on, that she was supposed to bring some sort of food/treat thing to school the next morning that reflected her heritage (WHAT??!!?? Seriously??!!?? Another 11th-Hour Project!)!

Sooo .... as soon as Grey's was over we zipped over to the store to get some ingredients to make a cake (Bienenstich - "Bee Sting Cake" - since we gotta LOTTA German in our family!). Anywho ... after making the cake and sending her to bed, I decided to settle down and read some emails and such. This was just about 11:00 p.m. ... THEN I remembered that it was MY TURN to hostess the challenge!! YIKES!! I knew what I wanted to do, yet I hadn't even STARTED to make a sample!! YEEE-IKES!! The challenge, by the way, was to use buttons and/or bows (ribbon) in a creative or different way ...

Lucky for me, this card whipped up in about 15 minutes, so I was able to photograph it, write some yadda-yadda, and get it up by 12:00 (or slightly thereafter) ... gotta love those school projects, right???

Have a super-duper day!!

PS - Traci S. if you are reading this, please send me a p/m over on SCS ... your email seems to be BROKEN, girlfriend!! :)

Stamps: For All You Do, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, More Mustard, Pacific Point
Ink: Pacific Point, Old Olive
Accessories: Fluerettes, Playground Buttons, Photo Corners Punch, Scallop Trim Punch, Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Paper Piercing Tool

OkayOkay ... ONE More!!

I just couldn't HELP myself!! When I got the urge to make one of these adorable little quilt rag purses I ran over to WalMart and bought me up some fabric ... all this stuff was sooo stinkin' cute that I bought FIVE different fabrics that all looked SOOO cute together. I cut out all the squares from all the fabrics and just sat STARING at them and wondering which ones to use. Ultimately, I ended up splitting them up to make TWO bags ...

So what you see here is the second cutie-patootie little purse. I just decided that if I didn't make it up NOW, that it would find its way into my "unfinished projects drawer" ... you KNOW you all have one (whether it be a drawer, a box, a Rubbermaid-type container or a closet ... admit it!!)

I LOVE the enclosure for this one!! Ya know ... I was pretty skeptical when these little crocheted flowers came out in SU's catalog last year ... didn't really like 'em ... but now I am LOVING them!!!

So ... there ya have it ...

Materials used: Bigz Scallop Square and Flower Folds Dies, Fleurettes, Summer Sun Corduroy Button

Have a super-fab weekend!!

Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Freak Bag ...

... and SMILE, SMILE, SMILE!! Welcome to the next stop on the Control Freaks Blog Tour. (You should have just come from the SPECTACULAR blog of my Fellow Freak, Patty Bennett.) This month we are featuring COOL THINGS from the Stampin' Up Summer Mini Catty.


I can't tell you what a crazy whirlwind project this turned out to be!!! I saw one of these ADORABLE scallop square die rag quilt bags as I was surfing around the 'net the other night (Insomniac Moment!). Which, of course, led me from one blog to another ... one youtube link to another ... here is a link to the tutorial I used:

Rag Quilt Purse

Isn't is just CAAAA-YOOOOT???? I can hardly stand myself!! Here is where the saga begins, however ... I spent the better part of the day on Tuesday working on this splendiforous bag ... I was SOOO pleased with myself and with how it came out. Then reality hit me .... AAAAAACK!!! I realized I hadn't used a SINGLE SOLITARY item from the SU Summer Mini, which, of course, is what we Freaks wanted to feature for ya this time around!! PANICPANICPANIC!!

After much contemplation, soul searching and trying to tap my Inner Genius I finally found a way to incorporate the ADORABLY DARLING Bitty Buttons and their coordinating punches onto my little butterflies on the bag ... SEE???!!!?? Stinkin' CAAA-YOOOT!! (And you can ALWAYS put your Summer Mini Catty IN this bag, right???)

Materials Used: Bigz Scallop Square, Beautiful Butterflies, Baskets and Blooms, and Two Tags Dies, Bitty Buttons, Bitty Shapes Punches, Pretties Kit (pearl)

AND, some of my fellow Freaks thought it would be fun if I made a matching gift card for this (like, am I supposed to give this AWAY??? I think NOT!!!) Sooooo here it is!!! I ripped off a little strip of the leftover fabric to tie the little bow around this ... Stinkin' CAAAA_YOOOOT!!! I have to say that I {{{heart}}} all of the lovely floral stamp sets in this mini (I have used Elements of Style and one of the sentiments from Watercolor Trio). Not to mention that this also gave me yet ANOTHER chance to show you some Black Magic.

Stamps: Elements of Style, Watercolor Trio (sentiment)
Paper: So Saffron, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Whisper White, Basic Black
Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Watercolor Pencils, White Gel Pen, Large Oval Punch, Bigz Scallop Square Die, Pretties Pearl

AAAANNNDD, what would one of my Freaky posts be without a little MDS inspiration, eh??? (I guess I don't ALWAYS do it, but I do it more often than not!) Since SU keeps making more and more downloads available for us to use, I keep acting like the sheep that I am and BUYING THEM UP ... SIGHT UNSEEN!! I am LOVING the Vintage Overlays especially right now ... simply GAWJUS!!! And I am feeling oh-so-artsy with this picture-in-picture style of scrapbooking ... something I would NEVER have attempted doing a conventional scrapbook page. Too-too FUN!!

Next stop?? The FANTABULOUS home of Gretchen Barron. Go check her out!! She ROCKS!!! (I know I say that about my Freaky friends all the time, but it is TRUE!!)