Creative Scrapbook Diva Challenge/Altering Cardstock

Hello everyone, I'm so happy that the Creative Scrapbook Divas decided to stay up and running. I truly enjoy checking out everyone's unique creativity and personal blogs for inspiration.

As the October guest for the month, the challenge I chose includes ways to alter cardstock for your projects.

For the first example, I used a Heidi Swapp mask. The masks are flexible and a bit sticky on one side. Using glitter spray or ink, color all around the mask then gently lift the mask. In it's place you will have the white background still showing.

Below is my final project. I chose to blend some inks over the shape vs leaving it white and decorated with rub-ons, 3d flowers ect. Tim Holtz has a great video on other ways to use masks.

Don't forget you can make your own glimmer mist. One way is to use perfect pearls and a bit of water in a mini mister. Tim uses re-inkers to the mix on This Project using this exact mask.

My second example of how to alter cardstock is using metallic cardstock and alcohol inks.

Alcohol inks can be used on a variety of surfaces that pigment and dye inks won't stick to. So it's really fun to experiment on metals, brads, glass, plastics, glossy paper and transparencies.

Below I took black metallic glittered cardstock and used cranberry alcohol ink to change the color for this pillowbox.

This tag background is glossy (shiny) paper altered with the alcohol inks, blending tool and Adirondack alochol blending solution.

This is the same technique used on a transparency. The layer is pulled to the side. See the full project Here.

For the challenge, choose a way to completely change the look of your cardstock, glossy cardstock or transparency for any project or scrapbook page. If using glossy paper or transparency is new to you, now is a great time to dive in!! Have fun and I can't wait to see the projects you come up with.

There will be a RAK at the end of October after a drawing of all the participants.

Click on the Blinkie to to go the Scrapbook Divas and link your project with Mr. Linky!!!! Hey, I made a rhyme!!

3D Challenge, Homemade Faux Clay Seals

3D Challenge

There is a challenge this month over at CreativeScrapbookDivas to share your favorite 3D project for a holiday. Michelle's challenge was so cute with all her little pillowboxes that I had to give it a try. This is one of mine with my homemade faux clay seal and the word "friendship".

This gift is linked to:

I have 4 of these little rose clay seals and this pillow box together for sale on My Etsy

I used my bigkick to emboss the box then scored the lines. ONLY glue the bottom flap then the top flap down. This leaves room inside for folding the sides and filling with candy, buttons, ribbons or any gift.

Michelle's blog has several links to help with templates, SVG files for your electronic diecut machines, twine ect. Check her out! I don't use the SVG file, I printed a template and handcut.

Now for my favorite 3D Holiday projects to share for the challenge:

These are made with mini paper mache boxes. They are filled with microbeads to make them shakers, wrapped in paper and layered with torn pieces of old cards. I wrapped them in trim from old doilies and added an eyelet screw to hang a treasure. The final touch is my wonderful Aleene's glitter snow. They adorn my winter berry wreath.

I covered this tiny box with an old book page then music paper. The angel is hanging from a loop which is screwed into the bottom. I get my old vintage buttons from a great lady at the local flea market. She has hundreds of fun old buttons. This extra gift is hanging on a Christmas gift bag with a matching tag.

Memory Bottle

This is one of my summer projects. The other is helping my 7 and 9yr old girls finish their minibook of their new baby cousin...who is 2 yrs old now.

I found this beautiful bottle at a church yard sale. I transformed it into a memory bottle for my lovely Nana Isabelle Mae. The handmade charm was given to her more than 55yrs ago.

Parties I linked this project to:

http://niftythriftythings.blogspot.com/

http://www.scrappy-gifts.com/

Check out the sparkles in this new Creative Scrapbooking Diva's blinkie. They have a new site within blogger now with so many ideas, challenges and tutorials. They are alot of fun to hang out with!! It's been a while for me but I hope to start playing again very soon.

http://creativescrapbookingdivas.blogspot.com/

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Will it ever stop raining here in Maine??? My May flowers need sunshine :)

Big sister is trying to make little sister smile for the camera. She is crying because she is...WET.

This page was created by using a template for slicing then folding the design. Underneath the folds there is a different paper showing through. I used the template during a scrapbook store class.

Lace Flowers/BlogHop

It's time to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day this Saturday May 7th with our fabulous:

Divas Mansion Tour Blog HOP!!!

There are so many ways to make homemade flowers, I'm going a little crazy. I have quite a collection just waiting for the right lay-out.

The 3 pinwheel flowers are made from pink lace then centered with layered punched out flowers and a brad. The large flower is a 12inch piece of lace that I dyed with perfect pearls before making the flower. Check out http://what-a-beautiful-mess.blogspot.com/ for great flower making tutorials!!

We Have a Story To Tell

These are the first two pages to our family album going back to 2003. (Separate from the kids albums).

This is my niece, Stephanie.

About Me

One of the challenges last week was to create a page about myself. Hmmm! Not the kids?? So I took a lay-out about my first weekend away to a scrap and turned it into a page that I otherwise would not have taken the time to do. I also used my "life mission statement" I created a couple years ago. I hadn't done anything special with this statement until this challenge came up (it's in the envelope). The lay-out also includes my favorite quote from John Eldredge and a verse from a song about friends.

Thanks for the inspiration Creative Scrapbook Diva's!

Postcard Friendship Friday

Time to check out all the beautiful vintage postcards and travel back in time. Today I am sharing a postcard I framed. It's from the same time frame as most of the others I have which is early 1900's. Most are 1908-1916. I found them in my husband's grandparent's very old farmhouse in a box ready to be thrown out!!

This is one of the delicate vintage lace doilies from my husband's grandparents house.

Below are this week's flea market finds.

This is a jar filled with small buckles. These will be great for scrapbooking or artcards.

This key is quite a treasure. It is the "Key of Heaven".

It quotes:

"What does it Profit a Man to Gain the Whole World If He Lose His Own Soul"

Here are some great buttons. I will probably use them for centers of my homemade clay seals.

This is the back of the key. Such beautiful detail. "Saint Christopher, Be My Guide"

Here are more of my Vintage postcard projects if you are looking for ways to display your cherished treasures!

My last post has a link to the Creative Scrapbook Diva's Bloghop. It was pretty successful for me. It helped me finish 4 pages. Here is one of them. This challenge was using a sketch of a lay-out to help with the placement of pictures, journaling and embellishments.

Envelope Embellishment for Scrappin' or Giftgiving

Here is to Scrapbook Diva's One Year Anniversary!!

Handmade Envelope Embellishment

I have made several different styles of envelopes in the past but this time I wanted to make one a bit more expandable. It pulls open just enough to see inside and fit more pictures or memorabilia.

The ribbon is attached to the back.

I had fun embellishing with my stash of real buttons and lace..love the look. The measurements are 7.5x4.5 and are perfect for those extra 4x6 pictures I always like to include on my scrapbook pages but need to save some space on the page.

Please see my envelopes under "labels" on my sidebar for other ideas. I'm going to stick to this design for a while so stay tuned!

Check out this Etsy Treasury of Snowflakes created by Stephanie. I was honored to be a part of this charming winter treasury!!

Blogger Awards

I just received two awards from my friend at Ann's Scraps of Time. The Stylish Blogger Award is for getting to know blogger friends a bit more. So I will share 8 things about myself and pass this wonderful award on to 8 more friends!

Please visit these artist's blogs and maybe even their Etsy's!

Sara Snug as a Bug

Sheila A Path to Spirit

Tammy Paper Pastimes

Martha Martha's Favorites

Jen Jen Lowe Designs

Sharon Pretty Paper Things

Yoli Welcome to My Happy Place

Tammy So Happy Scrappin

8 things you don't know about me:

1) Last year my baby started kindergarten and I became one of the school activity coordinators. I do alot of volunteering!

2)I haven't worked for more than 5yrs but I am considering starting up part-time. I am an exercise specialist and worked with physical therapists for several years.

3)You probably have noticed from the last 2 posts, one of my girls is type 1 diabetic, she is 9yrs old. The last two posts included crafts for a Diabetes Crop and children's projects.

4)My husband and I rode Harleys for 7 years. I rode my own Sportster for 2yrs.

5)My husband of almost 17yrs was my one and only blind date but many many years before we got together....long story!

6)I have been organizing my many pictures from my childhood, hubby's childhood, our siblings kids and pics we had in those horrible magnetic albums from our first 10yrs together.

7)I miss my chocolate lab

8)I need new living room furniture!

I have a second award that I am so happy to receive and certainly very happy to give out.

The rules for this award states that it is given to bring light to new blogs and it's a great way to share blogs that might not otherwise be seen or ones you want to share with others.

As a recipient you must share the love and pay it forward by:

1-Creating a post where you blog about the Liebster award and reveal your 3-5 blog picks
2-Let them know you chose them by leaving a comment on their blog
3-Copy and paste the blog award on your blog
4-Have faith that your followers will rally and show their crafty love back out to those you awarded
5-Have fun

So I am giving The Liebster Award to: Please visit them and their Etsy's as well!

Scott Meat on the Mirror

Angela Tealfully Cuttin' Up "Life is Beautiful"

Nikki Scrappin' Girl