Horse Chippie

You know how sometimes you're working on LO and it just ends up being a complete struggle? Well that's how this page was for me. I made this all out of scraps and was going for a scrappy quilted look. I was sent the horse chippie from 3tailscraft which I painted, inked, and embossed. I'm still not sure how I feel about it, except glad that I'm done.

I do like this cute little flower that I made. Here's the tutorial. http://whimsicalworldoflaurabird.blogspot.com/2011/03/paper-flower-tutorial.html The only thing I did different was to ink all the edges of my circles. TFL!

PIT September 22-28 Thursday Sketch

Hello! I just posted the new Thursday sketch at Pages in Time.Click here for details on how to enter.
http://pagesintimestoresite.ning.com/forum/topics/september-22-28-thursday-sketch

Here's my interpretation. I'm SO ready for fall and all the excitement of Halloween, so expect some more fall pages from me.

Quilter @ Heart

I did this page for a couple of challenges at Scrapbook.com. First the ABC challenge using the letters Q for quilting, R for ribbon, and S for sandpaper technique, which I used on the chipboard frame after painting it in 3 different colors.I used the quilt block arbor window to make the design. The 2nd challenge is for the September Monochrome challenge for week 1 using Magenta and fabric for the twist. I tore strips of magenta cotton fabric and wound it around the frame. I machine stitched with magenta over the whole page and hand-stitched the title. TFL!

Country time flower tutorial

I made this page for a couple of challenges on Scrapbook. com.  The first is for the chippie challenge which was a surprise this month. I received a chipboard cow which I painted, inked, and embossed.  I was so happy to have these pics that DH and I took right down the road from my mother in law's house. When I saw these photos I realized they would also work perfectly for the color challenge which was to use any shade of blue with neutrals. Don't you just love when you can combine challenges?

I did a lot of water distressing and machine stitching on here. I masked the barbed wire and made the blue flowers. Here's what you'll need to make these flowers.

 Supply list
1.White cardstock
2.Beige cardstock
3.Flower die ( I used Mother's Day bouquet for the Cricut)
4.Tim Holtz distress inks, weathered wood, stormy sky, and frayed burlap.
5.Blending tool
6.Small beads
7.Spray bottle with water
8.Glue

First cut your dies. I used flower #8 and cut 6 flowers from it out of white cardstock, 2 at 1 1/2", 2 at 2", and 2 at 2 1/2". For the beige cardstock I used flower # 27 and cut 2 at 1".

Using your blending tool apply weathered wood and stormy sky to the white flowers. Then using frayed burlap ink around all the edges.

Then spray your flower with water and shape your petals up.

While it's still damp pinch the ends of each petal in the center making a slight crease.

Then start layering and gluing your flowers starting with the largest one on the bottom, and alternating the petals with each layer.

To make the center I curled the beige petals inwards and added brown beads.

Here's a close-up of the flower on my page.

Here's close-up of my chippie cow.

Thanks for stopping by!

Going in circles challenge

Hello everyone! Here's my example for the circle challenge that I'm hosting over at Pages in Time, to use circles with a twist of circle embellies.
http://pagesintimestoresite.ning.com/forum/topics/september-going-in-circles-challenge I used buttons and the clock which I stamped. I'm also using it for the paint challenge hosted by Kelly. I used glimmer mist,paint, and bubblewrap to create the large circle.I thought circles would work really well with these photos of my hubby's from his baseball days. I machine stitched around the whole border, and hand sewed the circle on the photo using my twisted stitching technique, which you can find here.
http://dreasscrapsofinspiration.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.html

Here's a close-up of the buttons and paint.TFL!

The Color Room Palette #73

Hello! I couldn't wait to play with these gorgeous colors from the Color Room! I love the rich, warm hues, contrasting with the cool white. Here's palette #73.

Here's my take.

I made the flowers myself. I used Lisa Gregory's Swirly Hibiscus flower tutorial which you can find here.
http://what-a-beautiful-mess.blogspot.com/2011/03/swirly-hibiscus-flower-tutorial.html
I don't have the tattered die that she used, so I used a flower from my Cricut Mother's Day cartridge and took my scissors to the  petals, tattering them myself. I also used a different die for the centers and added a green pearl.  For the color I used scarlet and harvest orange Glimmer Mists. TFL!

Making waves

Hello! I made this 2 pager for a challenge over at Scrapbook.com to make waves on your LO. I made this entirely out of cardstock. I started with white for the background and did a lot of inking and water distressing.To make the waves, I used 3 different colored blue cardstocks which were inked first with distressing ink, and cut strips using some decorative scissors. Then I wet the waves and shaped them. After they were dry I added rock candy stickles to the tops.

Here's a close-up of the waves.

TFL! Have a great weekend!

Brown Paperbag Birdcage Tutorial

Hello everyone! I just finished a DT challenge for Pages in Time, where we had to use a birdcage. Even though I have quite a few birdcages on some of my Cricut cartridges, I kept picturing this woodsy, twiggy birdcage. So I decided to make one myself. Here's my page. I chose this photo of me, my dad, and brother from last Father's day.I did a lot of water distressing and machine stitching on here. I masked 2 of the birds and the barbed wire.Now for the tutorial!

Here's what you'll need.
Brown paper bag
Decoupage glue
Fast Grab Tacky Glue or Glue Gun
Distress ink (Walnut Stain)
Beige embroidery floss

First tear strips from your paper bag measuring about 4-5" long and 1/2-1" wide. You'll need 8 of them.Then ink both sides with Walnut Stain distress ink.

Now drench your strip into the decoupage glue and starting on one long end, start rolling your twig together. Do this for all your pieces.

As it starts to dry, it's still pliable which helps to shape your twigs.To make the outside frame, start with your longest pieces and curve them inward towards the top. Glue at the top.I used Fast Grab Tacky Glue, but I'm sure a glue gun would work great too.

Slightly curve your next two pieces and glue at the top.

 For the middle, I start with a straight long piece, and slightly curve in two more  pieces gluing on each side on the top.

Now glue the center into the frame of your birdcage.

Glue your bottom twig, cutting 2 small pieces for your opening.

Now you can trim the excess twigs with scissors. Take your embroidery floss and secure the bottom end pieces in a X. On top I just wrapped and glued the floss around the cage.

Now add your small twigs on the bottom in between 2 twigs to make your opening. Then wrap your embroidery floss making more X's.

Now you can leave it as it is, or decorate how you want. I added some green fiber, but little flowers would look great too. I also think painting your twigs white would give it a completely different look. So experiment and have fun! Here's a close-up on my LO.

Pages in Time Thursday Sketch of the Week 8.18-25

Hello! Here's the Thursday Sketch of the Week for Pages in Time.

Here's my take. I just LOVE these adorable photos of my brother with his son! I used a texture medium and some stencils to make the yellow stars.

Hot August Nights

Hi everyone! I just finished my entry for the 2 page sketch challenge over at Scrapbook.com. Here's the sketch.

Here's my take.

I'm also entering this into the August Monochrome challenge to use fire engine red, with silver and black accents. The lines of stripes are actually black and silver metallic paper. The writing that reads, Reno, Nevada is actually a red metallic paper. It's hard to see in this scan.I also used a silver Sharpie to outline the banner, the marquis behind the journaling, and the Reno, Nevada marquis.Thanks for stopping by!

The Color Room Palette #70

I decided to try this clean and fresh color palette at the Color Room. Here are the colors.

Here's what I did. I used an old photo of me in Hawaii and added all kinds of flowers. The white and pink paper flowers were a RAK from my sweet friend Stacey Schwiet that she made herself. They look just like the flower I had in my hair. This is also my example for the stamping challenge that I'm hosting at Pages in Time. I stamped the journaling piece, the floral border, and fern border around the photo. TFL!

Bunting Banner Tutorial and Contest

I did this page for a really cool challenge at Scrapbook.com inspired by the painted bunting bird. We had to use bright red, green, and blue, use paint, and make a bunting banner.I struggled with my bunting for a couple of hours before I finally figured it out. So I thought I'd share my technique with you.

Supplies you'll need.
Cardstock in 2 different colors
glue
stylus
ruler
Cricut
Button
white embroidery thread

First you'll need to cut your ovals. For this tutorial I'll be showing you how to do one scallop. For each oval you'll get 2 scallops. I cut my ovals with my Cricut machine at 2 3/4" for the blue oval and 1 3/4" for the green oval.

Then glue the green oval in the middle of the blue one.

Use your cutting tool to slice down the middle lengthwise. You now have 2 scallops to work with.

Next you'll want to use your stylus and ruler to make your creases. I start by scoring my scallop with a line down the center.

Then I score all of my lines making them slightly narrower towards the green center.They should look like this.

Then I fold the scallop in the center before making all my creases, folding it like a fan.

Then use some glue or a glue gun to glue the green center folds together creating a radiating effect.I then used white embroidery floss to stitch the X in the middle of my button. Glue your button towards the green center overlapping the button a little. I stitched the red and green line using my twisted stitching technique that I've shared here on my Blog hop post.Here's a close up.

So now that you know HOW to make a bunting banner, I'd love to see yours. If you try this technique just send me an email drea313s@yahoo.com and I'll post it here on my blog. Leave me a comment and become a follower, if you aren't already, and I'll pick a random winner to receive some of my hand made embellies. I know school will be starting again soon, so I'll give you until September 15th to play along.

Sketch of the Week 8.4.11

Hello everyone! It's time for the new sketch of the week designed by Traci Thiel for Pages in Time.Here it is.

Here's my take.

I glimmer misted over the tree stencils and used paint and mist over the cardboard.The flowers I made out of cotton fabric using this tutorial from my dear friend Wendy G.
http://wendysscrappincorner.blogspot.com/2011/06/tutorial-grunge-delight.html

Stamping Challenge

Wow! I can't believe we're already in August! This summer sure is going quickly. I remember my New Year's scrappy resolution was to start using my stamps more often. I've even been buying more stamps to get me inspired. So I decided to host a stamping challenge at Pages in Time, and would love to see you there!
http://pagesintimestoresite.ning.com/forum/topics/august-stamping-challenge

Mini Wildflowers

Hello! Here's the new Thursday sketch (week of July 28th)  from Pages in Time, designed by Traci Thiel. I really LOVE this sketch, and had a lot of fun using it!

Here's my take. I decided to flip the sketch to suit my photos better.

I made all the flowers myself. The larger flowers were inspired by Lisa Gregory's Peeled Paper Poppies.http://what-a-beautiful-mess.blogspot.com/2011/01/peeled-paper-poppies-tutorial.html I didn't have the punches that she used, so I hand cut all the petals out of cardstock, which was first glimmer misted. I also didn't peel my petals, but chose to make 10 instead of  5 gluing the petals together near the stems. For the centers I used my Cricut (Mother's Day bouquet) and some orange felt flower brads.
To make the mini wildflowers you'll need this Martha Stewart punch. I'm not sure what it's called though. You'll also need some yellow cardstock, glue, Wild Honey Distress Ink, blending tool, a stylus, foam pad or old mouse pad, and a small bead for the center. I used a brown one.

You'll need to punch 2 large flowers and 2 small ones out of yellow cardstock.

Then use your blending tool to ink the edges with your distress ink.

Then with your foam pad underneath, use your stylus on each petal starting from the center and working out. Just keep going back and forth until your petals naturally shape themselves.

Now you can glue your layers together. For the larger flowers I stacked them directly on top of eachother, and for the smaller ones I alternated the petals.

To finish it off just add your bead in the center. Here's a close-up.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!Thanks for visiting!