Friday, October 7, 2016

A Year of Card Techniques - October

It's month ten of our year long adventure into different card-making techniques, folds and paper crafting techniques. This month's card projects involve a technique called Josephs Coat or Black Magic Technique. It involves clear embossing and lots of inks especially black! Here are some videos to show you how to do these techniques. 
Black Magic Technique
Joseph's Coat 
(these are two different ways to do this technique)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufB0401pSgY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjSDg8lyo1A


This hop started with our hostess Theresa's blog and that's the place to start today, so if you haven't started at the beginning do so. There are lots of great cards being shared today!

We really love feedback, so please leave a comment on each of the blogs in today's hop. Each comment on the 12 hops throughout the year will be entered into a drawing for a $25 Blitsy.com or Stampin' Up gift certificate (Winner's Choice).

Here are the two cards I made using the Joseph's Coat technique. I have more inked paper ready to make more of these cool cards.



I hope you enjoyed today's hop and posted below is the line up just in case you forgot somebody and want to go back. These ladies have done a terrific job and it's worth visiting all the blogs to see their projects.

Theresa
Claudia

Debbie
Lisa

Kim
Jearise

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Chalk N Stock October Challenge

Hi All!

Yesterday started the October Chalk N Stock challenge. If you use regular chalk or chalk ink in your crafting, be sure to check out or newest challenge and link up. We would love to see your creativeness.

Today I have two cards I have made as part of the design team for the Chalk N Stock challenge...

Bugaboo Stamps, our sponsor, was used for my digital stamps on both cards.

The cute "ewe" was printed out at around 4 inches high. The face, legs, and fluff was colored using regular pastel chalks. I used metallic markers for the guitar and his hooves. I used chalk ink on the edges of the cut out.

This cute little piggy and his sign were all colored with chalk pastels and ink chalk, again, was used for edging the cut out.

These cards are simple and cute and chalk does such a nice job of coloring. It's not as bright as markers or even colored pencils.

I'll have something Halloween tomorrow so come on back and see what's spooky.

Don't forget to head over the Chalk N Stock and join this month's challenge.

Friday, September 16, 2016

C.A.S.E a Card Blog Hop



Remember the old kids game, Telephone? You know the one where a secret is told to the first person in line and then they tell what they think they heard to the next person and they tell the next person and so on and so on.  At the end of the line, the person says what they heard and the first person tells what they originally said and laughter erupts because the two things are nothing alike.  Well today's hop plays that game, but with card making instead of secrets.

This hop is un-like any you've probably ever been too. 

We took one card created by Alicia  and sent it to the next blogger who then C.A.S.E.d the card (copy and steal everything) and sent her card on to the next blogger who C.A.S.E.d it and sent her card to the next blogger.  You get the idea. 

When you are done hopping you'll see how different or maybe how similar the last card is to the first.

You should have arrived here from Kim's Blog If you would like to start at the beginning visit Alicia's blog.


We'd like to say a HUGE THANKS to our sponsor today.


Theresa is giving away a $20 Stampin' Up Gift Certificate to one lucky winner AND
take 10% off any order placed through her (not available on website) by September 30th. 
Email her at scrapsbygracie AT gmail.com with your order. 

All you have to do to win this fabulous prize is comment on each of the blogs.
That's it! It really is easy.  
Of course, we would love it if you became a follower too. 

Comment buttons can be found at the bottom of the post (on most of the blogs).
Now on with the hop!


First the card I was given to C.A.S.E.



Now my card:
Instead of going with a rectangular card with a round center, I decided to go with a round card. I don't have paper flowers on my card but I do have flowers. The tulips at the bottom of the windmill. Insted of using rhinestones, I went with a single half pearl. 

Here are the steps I used to make the card. My card was a cutting file from the Cricut Access Site. and I used chalk to color the middle layer show through area.


Thanks so much for hopping with us! Here's the entire line up in case you get lost:
Connie - http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com/
Kim - http://katydidcards.com/
Jearise - http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/
Lisa - http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com/
Sue - http://suek86401.blogspot.com/
Theresa - http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com/
Amanda - http://salnclts76.blogspot.com/
Card A Day Challenge Blog - http://cardadaychallenge.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

September Chalk N Stock Challenge

Hi friends,

Have you ever used a digital stamp? There are a lot out there and price ranges from free to $$. Digital Stamps aren't for everyone. When I first started scrapbooking and card making, I had to have a rubber or acrylic stamp or nothing at all. I felt they looked more "homey" when making my projects. After collecting boxes and boxes of stamps and putting them here, there and everywhere and then pulling the boxes out just to find a few and the boxes weren't light either, I decided to try digital stamping. It took me awhile to get the hang of it and feel comfortable with it but now most of my stuff is done that way.

If you want to do some fancy heat embossing, you're probably going to want to keep a few rubber/acrylic stamps on hand but for the most part to make a simple card, digital stamps are the way to go! I have eliminated at least 2/3 of my rubber/acrylic stamp collection and have more room now for other crafting supplies

One of my favorite places to get digital stamps is Bugaboo Stamps. They have every imaginable kind of digital stamp you can think of and a freebie every Friday. The freebie is a great way to start digital stamping to see if you like it.

There are many other digital stamping sites out there to find different designs and some freebies too. Just do a search for digital stamps.

I should add that the difference between a kids coloring page and a digital stamp is the quality of the digital stamp. Digital stamps are saved at a higher resolution usually so it won't lose it's crisp lines when you resize it.

There's a plus of a digital stamp I forgot to mention; you can resize them. You're stuck with rubber/acrylic stamps and only get the size you buy.

Now that I've given you some reasoning behind buying and using digital stamps, I want to share two cards I made for the Chalk N Stock September Challenge. I used Bugaboo Stamps on each card and chalk ink for the edging of the card. I also like to color in images using chalk because it gives your digital stamped design a soft glow but that's for next month's challenge.

Card #1


I printed out the digital stamp and then hand cut around it and then hand cut a little bit bigger circle to go on the back of the stamp. I have circle punches in many different size but I wanted something more simple looking and decided I liked the hand cut look for this card. I used alcohol markers for coloring the flower but I used chalk ink for the edge of the digital stamp circle and again in a different color on the outer circle. I also used regular chalk to color the background of the flower. It's a simple but sweet card.

Card #2


Another adorable Bugaboo digital stamp just to say hello. Again the image is colored with alcohol ink but the edges are done in chalk ink.

Don't forget to join our September challenge at Chalk N Stock and check out Bugaboo stamps.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Sail Away with Me Blog Hop



Sail away with us to view nautical creations of all kinds by our lovely line up of crafters.  Today's hop should be smooth sailing! Should you veer off course the first stop on your hop is Alicia and she can get you back in the right direction. 


We'd like to say a HUGE THANKS to our sponsor today.

Scarps by Gracie at 


Theresa is giving away a $20 Stampin' Up Gift Certificate to one lucky winner AND you can take 10% off any order placed through her (not available on website) by August 30th. 
Email her at scrapsbygracie AT gmail.com with your order. 

All you have to do to win this fabulous prize is comment on each of the blogs.
That's it! It really is easy. 
Of course, we would love it if you became a follower too. 

Comment buttons can be found at the bottom of the post (on most of the blogs).
Now on with the hop!

I have a friend who has gotten me back into scrapbooking and today I have some layouts I have put together. My daughter had her 5th grade graduation in the spring and she went to Serene Hills Elementary, a school with a sailor theme so naturally all my pages had to have the nautical theme in them.


Area on the bottom and to the left is for journaling. This was their whole class posing for pictures and doing the now famous, "DAB" pose.

Yes, I know I'm not suppose to put a picture in the very middle of a layout but I just couldn't help myself. The anchor frame is suppose to be for monograms but I thought it would be cute as a frame and the center of the layout so I went with it.

Journaling area on the bottom again. This page showcases mom, dad, and little brother with the graduate.



I centered the picture and everything I read or watch on You Tube about scrapbooking says to not put a picture directly in the middle of the page but I'm not good at reading or listening.

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut all the embellishments and all the embellishments came from the Silhouette store.


Your next destination is with Amanda .  We hope you're enjoying your journey!

If the currents have drifted, you can find the full lineup here:


Saturday, July 23, 2016

Christmas in July - Day 2



Get ready for some great ideas that you can start creating now for Christmas.
Along the way today, you'll find card and gift ideas, a scrapbook layout page or two 
and even a couple great decorating ideas. 


We hope this hop gets you in the holiday spirit a little early this year. 

Theresa is giving away a $20 Stampin' Up Gift Certificate to one lucky winner AND
take 10% off any order placed through her (not available on website) by July 30th. 
Email her at scrapsbygracie AT gmail.com with your order. 

All you have to do to win this fabulous prize is comment on each of the blogs.
That's it! It really is easy.  Of course, we would love it if you became a follower too. 

Comment buttons can be found at the bottom of the post (on most of the blogs).
Now on with the hop!


I have a pile of cheap felt in my supply coset. I bought the bulk holiday pack which has red, white and green in it a few years ago to do something with the kids when they were little. Now they're bigger and could care less about it so it's just been hiding in the back of the closet.

I took it out and played around with ideas I found on Pinterest and other places but in the end came up with my own project. I had to make a few attempts before I figured out the best way to do these. 

So here are my felt holiday gift tags with directions underneath in case you have extra cheap felt just lying around.



                                                       Back side of tag >>>>>>

Supply List:

* felt
*black marker
*Xacto Knife
*scissors that are sharp enough to cut felt
*hot glue gun (Low temp worked great!)
*solid color cardstock

1. draw your design on felt using black marker. If you're not good at drawing, you can find lots of drawings to print off to use. I free handed my two designs because I didn't want to take the time to print and cut more.

2. Cut out felt, but make sure to cut on the inside of the black line otherwise you'll have black lines showing on your end tag unless you flip the design when you're done cutting it out.

3. Cut solid color card stock just a little bigger than your project and hot glue it to felt.

4. Use Xacto knife to trim around felt shape so solid card stock is shape of tag.

5. Use stamps or maker to write on back of tag - To:  From:

6. Hot glue any extra pieces on felt such as white trim of hat. The white trim I just did a simple trace around only that part of the hat and cut out.

7. Use a hole puncher to punch a hole in your tag and add string.


Thank you so much for joining our Christmas in July blog hop and I look forward to seeing you here again for our August hop.

Jearise :)


Here is today's hop line-up in case you get lost along the way.

Theresa ~ http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com
Kim ~ www.katydidcards.com
Alicia ~ http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com
Lisa ~ http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com/
Miranda ~ www.nanasscrapspot.com
Holli ~ Sunflowerholli.blogspot.com
Sharon ~ http://piece-ofheart.blogspot.com
Sarah ~ www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com
Amanda ~ http://salnclts76.blogspot.com
Jearise ~ http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com

Friday, July 22, 2016

Christmas in July - Day 1

Welcome to Christmas in July!



Get ready for some great ideas that you can start creating now for Christmas.
Along the way today, you'll find card and gift ideas, a scrapbook layout page or two 
and even a couple great decorating ideas. 


We hope this hop gets you in the holiday spirit a little early this year. 

Theresa is giving away a $20 Stampin' Up Gift Certificate to one lucky winner AND
take 10% off any order placed through her (not available on website) by July 30th. 
Email her at scrapsbygracie AT gmail.com with your order. 

All you have to do to win this fabulous prize is comment on each of the blogs.
That's it! It really is easy.  Of course, we would love it if you became a follower too. 

Comment buttons can be found at the bottom of the post (on most of the blogs).
Now on with the hop!

Today, I decided to show off some quick layouts I put together. I have enough paper to do a thousand layouts but I'm not the layout type of personality. I have a friend who has been motivating me and we've been getting together on the weekends to scrapbook. I like simple easy layouts and found these to be just that.

The first two takes a solid piece of cardstock and then you cut up decorated paper in ribbon tail cuts and glue it on in a pattern that suits you. I found a similar design in a Google search and thought it was something I could do and I did!




Now for the second layout, I wanted something whimsical and cute. Using polka dots is the key to this look even though this is another simple layout. I have a Cricut and Cameo but decided to use up some of the stickers I have collected over the years.


Thanks for stopping by today and I can't wait to see you again tomorrow!

Here is today's hop line-up in case you get lost along the way.

Theresa ~ http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com
Kim ~ www.katydidcards.com
Alicia ~ http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com
Lisa ~ http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com/
Miranda ~ www.nanasscrapspot.com
Holli ~ Sunflowerholli.blogspot.com
Sharon ~ http://piece-ofheart.blogspot.com
Sarah ~ www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com
Amanda ~ http://salnclts76.blogspot.com
Jearise ~ http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com
Be sure to hop tomorrow too for even more great holiday projects and ideas. 
You can start tomorrow at Theresa's blog.