Saturday, August 30, 2014

A Vintage Beauty!

HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND ALL!

We don't have any exciting parties to attend this weekend so I think I'll just spend the weekend trying to get caught up a bit in my crafting cave!
But before I do, I wanted to play along in one of my favorite challenges!  And, that is over a Cheery Lynn Designs.  This time around the challenge is to FRAME IT!  Here's what I came up with!


If you know me, you know I love vintage ANYTHING!
I purchased a pack of vintage images from the TJDesigns booth at the Akron Adventures in Stamping a few years back and this image just called out to me this morning!  Isn't she beautiful?  Yet she looks a little sad ... or maybe they weren't told to 'smile' back then because they all have a bit of a despaired look on their faces in most of their photos.

Vintage just isn't vintage without lace & pearls.
This gorgeous die from Cheery Lynn Designs is called 'Polynesian Sails Oval' (DL153) and was just perfect to frame today's vintage beauty.  Of course I had to add Kaiser pearls in the flower centers.  Finished off the look I was wanting to achieve perfectly!

And, how surprised was I to find this beautiful Darice locket that mimicked the beautiful necklace our lady is wearing.  This sheet of heart embellishments has been hanging on my embellishment wall for a very long time ... and it too called out to me today!  I love it when a card comes together so quickly and so beautifully!  
My other lacy elements are the lacy border created by the Cheery Lynn Designs 'Anastasia Border' (B136) die and the corner treatment is also Cheery Lynn Designs ... Lace Corner Deco E (B165).  My black Offray satin bow was created using the Craft-dee Bowz bow making tool ... so quick & easy!  LOVE IT!!  Perfect every time!!

Here are a few other challenges to share in today!
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #72 - Bingo (pearls, bow, charm)
Tag Along Challenge - Vintage Inspired
Craft-Dee Bowz August Challenge - Anything Goes w/bow
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge - Using your punches and dies
Crafty Creations Challenge - Something OLD from your stash (locket)
Simon Says Stamps - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping in today and I truly hope you have a FABULOUS weekend.
Hard to believe Christmas is right around the corner!

As always . . .

Friday, August 29, 2014

Vintage Front Step Card

Hello my friends ...
WOW!  Why am I so crazy busy lately!  Seems like I'm passing myself in the doorway to my crafting cave this week!  LOL!  Anyways ... I'm late posting but here is a card I made earlier in the month that I totally forgot to share with you all!

 I've been totally hooked on the different fold styled cards lately.  If you follow my blog you've seen a variety of side step, front step, tri shutter and anything else I can come up with type of cards and today is no exception!

This beautiful background paper is from the Crafty Secrets Digital Radiant set.  And, my sweet image comes from the Crafty Secrets 'Birds & Blossoms' Creative Scraps sheet.  LOVE that entire creative scrap sheet ... in fact, I love all their creative scraps!
Unfortunately, this Birds and Blossoms Card Stock Scraps have sold out!  BUT, the good news is they are now available as a Digital 4 Page Download!  YEAH!!


If you've never been over to visit our store, you are missing out on some FABULOUS papers, images, ephemera and much, much more!  You don't want to miss out on the HUGE sale going on ... here's what I'm talking about:
Summer Super Pack Blowout Sale.  Crafty Secrets is going all digital, but before we can really do that, we have to empty out our US warehouse.  Sandy has been busy putting together some amazing creativity kits for you to enjoy.  Right now, I only have photos of the Summer kit, but there is a Halloween kit, Christmas kit, Spring kit and others in the works, so be sure to check back here and cash in on this amazing opportunity.  Here's a peeky at what you get in the Summer Super Pack:

This pack is valued at nearly $80, and it is yours for $19.95 plus $4.95 Priority Shipping. 
WOW!!!

Another quick reminder of our Monthly Linky Parties ... the 1st Monday of each month!  That means you'll want to pop over to the Crafty Secrets/Heartwarming Vintage Blog and play along in the challenge!  There is NO THEME ... you simply need to use ANY Crafty Secrets products on your project and you will receive a $6 voucher to the store just for playing along!  AND you could be the Lucky $50 winner ... do check it out!!!

Sharing in the following challenges:
Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything Goes
Creative Corner Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Birthday w/ribbon (birthday sentiment on inside)
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes 
Tag Along Challenge - Vintage Inspired

Gotta go for now!
Hope you're having a fabulous day!
Wishing you all a wonderful, safe and fun filled holiday weekend!!
As always . . .

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Sisterhood of Crafters - Fancy Folds

Happy Day All!
It's time once again for a new, fun challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters!
Today, Terri is our hostess and she has asked us to create a card using one of those fabulous 

FANCY FOLDS

If you follow my blog, you have seen several fancy folds lately ... and here's another one (or two).  I have several Fall Craft Shows coming up and everyone loves the WOW factor of these unique folds.  So, this challenge theme was right up my alley!



Today's card is another Tri-Shutter creation ... this time in MY favorite color of Purple!
Purple has become very popular and so I thought it would make for a good birthday card. This fold has become one of my all time favorites and if you've never given them a try ... now's the time!  They really aren't as hard as they look!  You can find the directions for it on one of my earlier blog posts HERE.

I hope you'll give a Fancy Fold card a try and then come share them with us over at the Sisterhood!  We are always looking to you for inspiration and now's the time to really SHINE!  
If YOU need more inspiration ... pop over to the Sisterhood and check out the awesome creations shared by my Sistahs and Step Sistahs ... F-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!

You have until September 7th (midnight EST) to get your entry submitted
AND
we have a prize to offer this challenge ... yippee!
Thanks Annemaritta!

Here are a few challenges to share in:
Ooh La La Creations - Fancy Fold
Artistic Inspirations Challenge - Anything Goes and/or Labor Day/Career
Crafting from the Heart Challenge - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenges - Flowers
Through the Purple Haze Challenge - Anything Goes
Come and Get It Challenge - Anything Goes with a Sentiment
Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #99 - Use Butterflies

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today ... I always enjoy your visits and your comments!
YOU are the reason I continue to share my creations!!
Have a great day and as always . . .

Recipe:
Papers:  White cs, KaiserCraft dp
Stamps/Ink:  Verve 'Kind Words', Impression Obsession, Inkadinkado / Versafine Onyx
Accessories:  Cheery Lynn Designs 'Sweet William' flower strip die #B307,
Spellbinder 'Labels Fourteen', McGill flower making kit/mat, Gold Stickles

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

DRU - Home Sweet Home

It's Dies R Us Tuesday Inspiration time!
And today I'm playing with the new Darice Embossing Folders being carried now at the Dies R Us Store.  SO many to choose from and they emboss BEAUTIFULLY!


Items from the STORE are:
Darice 'Bird Cages' Embossing Folder  #1219-101
Memory Box 'Gold Finch' #98756
Spellbinder D'Lites 'Home Sweet Home' #S2-086
Poppy Stamps 'Simple Banner' #836

I was in need of some 'Welcome Home' type cards for my upcoming craft shows and I think this will work quite nicely!!  Maybe even the same style in various colors ... red for 'Cardinals' ... yellow for 'Gold Finch'.   These embossing folders emboss so beautifully I really hated to cover up any part of the beautiful image.

Speaking of beautiful ... have you been checking out all the fabulous inspiration using Dies R Us products that the team has been sharing over on our Dies R Us Inspiration Blog?  NO?  Well, just click on the link and check 'em out!  So many wonderful ideas!

Such a busy, busy time for me so I'll keep this short & sweet!
Thanks so much for stopping by today, and
I also hope you'll come join in our Dies R Us Challenges ...

A few challenges to share in:
Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge #50 - Anything Goes
 PDE Linky Party - Dies or Punches
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge - Anything Goes
Fitztown Challenge #50 - Banners and/or Pennants

See you soon ...

Monday, August 25, 2014

SFC3414 - Help me go 'round' the block!

Hello my friends!
Can you believe we are at the end of August already???
Today I have a card to share with you that was created as my DT creation for the new challenge up today at the Squigglefly Blog and it is all about  

ROUNDED CORNERS!

Since it is BACK TO SCHOOL time here in Ohio and I'm sure many other states, I turned this fun 'NotePad and Pencil' image by James Horvath into a 'book and pencil' ... World History book to be exact!  Sure hope James doesn't mind!  LOL!  
History was one of my favorite subjects in school and I still really enjoy watching documentaries and TV programs about the history of our world ... just fascinating!!!

 Ooops sorry, I'm getting a bit off track ...

Since our challenge today is 'no square corners' I've rounded ALL my corners and used rounded embellishments (Frantic Stamper 'Gear Collage' die).  I actually split the die cut in half to position on the top & bottom corners of my focus image.  Tearing and distressing was used to give my card an 'aged' look and of course 'back in the day', twine was used to secure documents and maps.

I hope you'll get around to joining in our challenge!
Just remember 'no square corners'!  I can't wait to draw inspiration from what you create!
The team really had fun with this one ... COME CHECK IT OUT!

Now let's see if there are other challenges I can share in today ...

Di's Digi Design Challenge - Back to School

Thanks for stopping by!
Hope you have a FABULOUS day!
As always . . .

Recipe:
Papers:  Kraft cs, White cs, Dark Brown cs, DCWV 'The Woven Paper' Stack, DCWV 12x12 world paper, 
Inks:  Tim Holtz 'Tea Dye' distress ink
Accessories:  Tim Holtz distresser, large sponge dauber, pop dots, Creative Memories corner rounder, Darice hemp, Frantic Stamper 'Gear Collage' die, Spectrum Noir alcohol markers,

Techniques:  Distressing, Paper Piecing, Sponging, Tearing, Curling

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Family Reunion Time!

Hello my friends!
No cards to share today (OMG falling so far behind!  LOL)
It's that time of the year when my family (Mother's side) celebrate being blessed with such a large family and have our annual THREE day Family Reunion.  Yep!  Three Days!
This is the 27th year we have shared the fun over an entire 3 day weekend.  With such a large family (45 FIRST cousins [of which I am one!] and many, many more 2nd, 3rd, 4th cousins) we needed to extend the time to accommodate everyone's schedules.

But on Sunday, EVERYONE comes together to share the love and food!
And food there is!  OMG!!
This year I decided to make the rolls my Uncle Hen used to bring to our reunion before his passing in December, 2012.  So to honor him ... here is what Mark & I worked on yesterday.


There are a couple unique features of these rolls!
1.   it's a recipe that Uncle Hen came up with that mimicked the rolls his mother (my grandmother) used to make when they were growing up.
2.  they are baked in empty (and of course washed, lol) tuna cans

So that is how we made them too and it works GREAT!  Let the fun begin ...

  Mark & I make a good team in the kitchen!  He's great at mixing up the recipes and making sure the measurements are correct (had to do a little 'tweaking' on Uncle Hen's original recipe).  And I don't mind getting my fingers gooey, making a mess and cleaning up when all is said and done!  LOL!

We worked on these from 10 am to 3 pm and it was certainly a lot of fun!
I think Uncle Hen (real name was Clyde) would be proud!
















We have modified the original recipe (which is for a single batch which makes 1 dozen rolls) ... some in large tins/some in small tins.  To a larger batch recipe which makes 3 dozen (small tuna cans).  This larger recipe worked perfectly since I'd been saving our tuna cans for awhile now and I had just enough. 


These rolls are SO GOOD!  A bit sweeter than a regular roll!  Very airy & good!  YUM!

Well, I'd better get going.  I have a bit of a drive and we're eating at 2 PM.
But before I go I do have a favor to ask of you ...

For those who believe in the power of prayer, please keep my grandson Jonathan's friend Kameron in your prayers.
The boys were starting a bonfire last evening to celebrate the beginning of their senior year this coming week and a bike race that Jon is participating in today when Kameron was burned quite badly.  He is undergoing treatment at the Akron's Burn Unit for 2nd & 3rd degree burns.
Please say a quick prayer for him!  Thank You!

As always . . .

Friday, August 22, 2014

A Crafty Secrets desk set ...

Happy Friday Everyone!
Here we are at the start of another wonderful weekend!
WOW this week has been SO BUSY I haven't even posted anything new since Tuesday (so NOT like me!)  And, my weekend's going to be extremely busy also since it is time once again for the 3-Day Annual Morgan Family Reunion!  YEP!  THREE days!! 

But, before that all begins, I wanted to share with you a little project I worked on earlier in the week.  I have had this wonderful My Time Made Easy Card Catch All template for several years now and FINALLY got around to playing with it!  And, with all the fabulous digital papers/images available through Crafty Secrets, I knew it was time to GET CREATIVE!

This was a lot of fun to create and you could add SO MANY other elements to this desk set organizer (unfortunately I ran out of time to do so). 
I have used the Crafty Secrets RADIANT digital paper for my organizer as well as my cards.
The dragonfly on the corner of the box came from the FREE Digital Summertime Printable.   There are SO MANY wonderful images available on this sheet!  I wanted him to be a bit larger so with the file being DIGITAL I was able to enlarge, crop, print and fussy cut him just the perfect size for today's project.  I did add a bit of crystal effects to give his wings the shine.


For my note cards, I printed another 8 1/2x11 sheet of Radiant paper and created with a variety of themes in mind.  Keeping in mind I wanted to get all three cards from one printed sheet.

For this first card, I have used the Coffee & Tea Set.
I'm fortunate enough to have both the digital set & acrylic stamp set (no longer available) to play with and chose to use them both.  That is how I was able to add the coffee beans to the side embossing as well as the flower centers.

For my second card, I have used the Down on the Farm Stamp Set.
This is still a Clear Art stamp set that I've stamped directly onto the Radiant digital paper and colored in with my Spectrum Noir pencils.  A fancy button that just happened to be laying on the table made for a beautiful flower center!



And for my final note card, I used the left over scraps of my sheet of Radiant digital paper and the Vintage Silhouettes Clear Art stamp set.  The Clear Art stamp set is not longer available in acrylic form but is now available as a Digital Vintage Silhouette set and still a very adorable set for your collection!


Well time is flying and I really must get busy around here!
I hope you've enjoyed my project and hope you'll pop over to check out all the amazing products available at the Crafty Secrets Store!  
Before I go ... another quick reminder!
Sandy has promised to put together a Fall themed Blowout Sale package along the same lines as our current wonderful Summer Blowout Sale Kit.  Have you seen it yet?  (My friend Terri just purchased it and she said it is AMAZING and the one stamp set alone is worth the price of the entire kit!!!!

http://craftyvintagegirl.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/u/summer-craftysecrfets-sale-pack_1.jpg  
This amazing sale pack contains nearly $80 worth of Crafty Secrets goodies for just $19,95 plus $4.95 Priority shipping.  We are trying to empty out our U.S. warehouse so that Sandy can stop making the commute from her home in Canada.  It's an amazing deal.  As soon as she has the Fall sale kit put together, I'll be sure to share it here.

If you'd like more Crafty Secrets inspiration, be sure to visit our wonderful Pinterest Page where you will find hundreds and hundreds of amazing samples, tutorials and ideas for using your Crafty Secret Goodies.  We also have a Crafty Secrets Facebook Page where we share product samples, news and other goodies.  Our goal is to keep you inspired!  Please let us know how we are doing.  If you have ideas for Digital Art Stamp sets or papers that you'd like us to develop, let us know!  Sandy has thousands and thousands of vintage images in her workroom.  What theme would you like to see next?

Okay that's it for me today and probably the entire weekend!
Hope you have a FABULOUS day and thanks again for taking time to stop by my blog!
As always . . .


Tuesday, August 19, 2014

DRU - Merry Christmas ...

Hello Friends and thanks for stopping by!
It's my turn once again to share an inspirational creation over on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog using dies & etc. from the Dies R Us Store.  I've recently received some of the fabulous new Christmas dies available so that's the direction I took for today's card.


The items from the Dies R Us Store are:

The background panel was done on white cardstock and sponged using Memento 'Bamboo Leaves' green ink over this beautiful Memory Box Christmas stencil.
The bells were actually cut 3 times.  Once in white so I could color the ribbons/holly with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, 2nd time with blue shiny paper for the bells and the 3rd time with silver shiny paper for the inlays on the bells.  SO MANY things you could do with this die!!


Have you started your holiday cards yet?
There's NO time like the Present!
Pop on over to the store and see all the fabulous holiday goodies just waiting for you to purchase and play with.  Your friends & relatives will be amazed with the cards they receive from you this year ... so many fun dies available ... WOW!!

Here are a few points of interest:
Stop by Dies R Us, we're always adding new companies and dies! 
Don't be left out of Special purchase discounts or new arrivals…sign up for our newsletter today!
Shipping costs are AMAZING and now they've opened up a LOYALTY REWARD PROGRAM ... you really need to pop over and check it ALL out for yourself!
And ONE MORE THING ... come join in our challenge fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog (prizes available!).  New challenges open on the 1st and 15th of each month with wonderful DT inspiration!

A few challenges I'd like to share in today:
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Amusing Challenge - Die Cuts
 My Perfect Life - Anything Goes Christmas
Craft-Dee Bowz August Challenge - Anything Goes w/handmade bow

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a FABULOUS DAY!!!
As always ...

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Quick Treat Pack Tutorial

Happy Weekend Everyone!
I was blessed to be able to link up once again with some old High School girl pals last evening for dinner and of course I couldn't go empty handed!  Just wished I had not waited until Thursday afternoon to come up with an idea!  LOL!

But before I share my idea with you, I'd like to share a photo of 'the gals'!  And what a wonderful group of ladies it is!  HOW FABULOUS that each time we get together a few more school mates join in ... last evening there were 12 of us and another half dozen that wanted to come but had prior commitments!  I just think this is so awesome after 40+ years of being out of school!  So many stories to tell ... what wonderful fun!  The evening just flew by!

Don't they look FABULOUS??
I am SO blessed to call all of these ladies my friends!
 Each one is an inspiration to me in one way or another! 
 Girl Friends are THE BEST!!!

Okay back to my project!  Here are the little treat packs I made for my gal pals!!

Anyways ... I had one of these little 'gift card/treat' packets sitting on one of the drawer units at my workstation and a light bulb went off in my head!  I thought, those could be made up rather quickly and since I have an entire bag of Hershey Nuggets on the shelf waiting to be used for the Nugget Boxes I make for my craft shows ... why not create these little treat packets as an after dinner treat!

I thought I'd quickly take a few photos along the way so if you ever have this happen you would have a QUICK & CUTE gift to hand out to your friends too!  

You will need:
1 - 12x12 sheet of decorative paper (single or double sided)
Ribbon
Scissors
Corner Rounder
Scoring Tool
Adhesive
Candy




You can make THREE packets from one sheet of 12x12 paper!

Step 1:  Cut your 12x12 paper at the 6 3/4" length, then cut into three 4" panels.
Step 2:  From the leftover, cut a 3" x 12" strip ... then cut that strip into 2" pieces (6)
Step 3:  Score your 3" x 2" panels every 1/2" and fold in accordion fashion

Step 4:  Adhere one end of the accordion folded gusset panel (making sure the decorative side faces OUTWARD if single sided pattern) and adhere to each side of your packet panel.

Step 5:  Add a strip of adhesive to the TOP of each gusset ... fold INWARD to create the packet
Step 6:  (option) Round the corner on the LID portion of the packet.

 Step 7:  Fill with the goodies of your choice

Step 8:  Use Velcro tab closures or simply tie closed with a pretty ribbon as I have.

A few challenges to share in:
Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafts 4 Eternity - Something Old (design paper is at least 5 years old)

I hope you've enjoyed this little project/tutorial!
The girls LOVED them and I was so happy to put a 'chocolate' smile on each of their faces!  LOL!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
As always . . .