Crafty Secrets April Linky Party

Hello Dear Friends!

I trust you had a FABULOUS Easter Weekend!  I sure did!!!

**WARNING**  Post is PHOTO HEAVY!  

Welcome to a new Linky Party at Crafty Secrets.   We are excited to be partnering with REALLY REASONABLE RIBBON in this fun cross-promotional event that we are calling  
"Anything Goes with Ribbon."

 Really Reasonable Ribbon sponsored the Design team this month, giving us the beautiful April Ribbon Club Collection of Ribbons to add to our projects. Here’s some info about our gracious sponsor.
"Really Reasonable Ribbon is the ribbon source that has been meeting the needs of the crafting community for over 15 years. We offer a large variety of ribbon in sampler packs and mid-length pieces along with full spools at discount prices. We offer a wide variety of grosgrain ribbon, satin ribbon, baker's twine, seam binding, sheer organza ribbon, wired ribbon, gingham ribbon, satin double ruffle ribbon, crochet lace, mulberry flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, and much more. Our products are perfect for card embellishments, scrapbooks, hair bows, gift wrapping, sewing and DIY wedding projects to name a few. Our orders ship same or next day and we offer excellent customer service along with very competitive pricing.

Crafty Secrets shared some awesome goodies with the design team at RRR, and they will be featuring those projects on the Really Reasonable Ribbon BLOG from April 3rd through April 11th, so you will want to pop over for even more inspiration from the RRR Design team.

For my project I've created a Spring Time Wreath using Crafty Secrets digital design papers
and this oh so pretty ribbon assortment.

I wanted to make my own paper flowers/butterflies so printed out Crafty Secrets digital design paper and modified the color to match the ribbon using a free online photo editing software called Picasa.  I used the Digital -Embossed yellow/green papers (which I modified to the coral color) and also the Digital Embossed Green Floral Damask paper (which I modified to the aqua color).

I started out with a plain white styrofoam wreath form from Michaels.

Using two of the ribbons from the pack I simply wrapped them around my form and adhering in the back with a straight pin.  I wanted a contrasting color so chose this beautiful lavender silk ribbon that I had purchased earlier in the year from Really Reasonable Ribbons.

Next came the flower making to adorn my wreath.  I used various flower dies for my project but the one I want to share with you today is using the Creative Expressions Sue Wilson 'Finishing Touches - Delicate Daisy Complete Petals' die set. 

 I will be sharing with you how I made the larger 'Daisy' flowers using the Crafty Secrets digital papers and a scrap piece of high gloss Kodak photo paper that I had laying on my work table. 

Yep, printable photo paper that I used to print out a photo of my brother when he was 1 year old to use on a birthday card for his 50th birthday which is the end of this month for my Mom to give him.   The high gloss on this paper was a nice contrast to the embossed appearance of the design paper and it actually formed quite well with my stylus.

As you see in these photos, I've also created double loop bows with one of the coral bolts of ribbon and added in and around my various flowers.

LAYERED DAISY FLOWERS

Cut 3 different sized petal panels using solid paper for top & bottom layers and design paper in the middle.

On the BACK side of your flower panels, use a stylus and add pressure coming into the middle from the end of the petal.

They will curl up towards the middle like this.

Now flip it over to your FRONT side

And press down in the middle of your flower with your stylus using a foam mat.

Adding a touch of glue between each panel and alternating each layer, create your layered daisy.

These are the 'daisy' flowers I made for my project.  They were added to the wreath with white pearl corsage pins.

For the inside of my wreath I decided to add this beautiful image found on our Garden Printable Sheet.  I printed it out large enough to cover the center of my wreath opening and adhered all four corners with more of the same beautiful coral ribbon that I used in and around the flowers.

I noticed I had printed an extra copy of the 'Digital Flower Arts Printable' and decided to use one of the panels to die cut what I needed to create the ROSE for the corner of my image.

To make the rose I used the Creative Expressions Sue Wilson 'Finishing Touches Classic Rose' die set.  As you can see in the photo below, I also use the same Crafty Secrets digital design paper to die cut my  butterflies and vines.

To play along, simply create any project that features Crafty Secrets products and add ribbon or trim to your project. You do not have to use Really Reasonable Ribbon to play along, any ribbon or trim will do.
And, please be sure to pop over to my team mates blogs, you'll find some amazing inspiration!

Links to our fabulous TEAM:

Kathy Clement, DT Leader 

Darlene Pavlick (you are here)  

Diane Hover
Gloria Stengel 

Elizabeth Lincoln

Ginny Nemchak

Melody Clement

Michele Kovack

Shantaie Fowler 

Sheila Rumney  

A few challenges to share my project with are:

Dazzling Diva Challenge #69 - Color Challenge or Anything Goes

Crafting By Design April Challenge - Anything Goes

Creative Moments Challenge - Anything BUT a card
Frilly and Funky Challenge - Put a Ribbon on it.
Scrapy Land Challenge #15 - Anything Goes (dies sold at ScrapyLand)
Creative Card Crew Challenge - Homemade Flowers
Craft-Dee Bowz April Challenge - Anything Goes w/handmade bow
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge - Flowers

To thank you for playing along, we have selected a pretty digital paper and a fun seasonal image that you can download from this post. You may use this on your project if you wish, or save it for another day. You may link any project you like, however if you wish to be eligible for this month's prize package, you must feature Crafty Secrets products in your project. 

This month’s lucky winner will receive a $25 gift certificate for any DIGITAL products in our online store! You can choose from our Digital Art Stamps, digital paper packs, digital printable sheets or digital Creative Scraps and fill your shopping cart to the brim with wonderful digital vintage goodies from Crafty Secrets! 

Link your “Anything Goes with Ribbon” project to our Linky Party Post no later than midnight PT on Sunday, April 19th. We'll be hopping by to take a peek at your beautiful creations and leave a nice comment on your blog. On Wednesday, April 22nd, the winner of this month's prize package will be announced on the Crafty Secrets Blog.

As always . . .

Recipe:

Papers:  Crafty Secrets Digital Design Papers, lavender cs

Dies:  Creative Expressions Sue Wilson dies (identified above), Heartfelt Creations 'Botanical Rose', Sue Wilson 'Finishing Touches 'Blossoming Branch', Sue Wilson 'Finishing Touches Petite Vinery', Memory Box 'Devine Butterfly', Cheery Lynn Designs 'Small Lace Faerie Queen w/Angel Wing Butterfly', Impression Obsession 'Fancy Butterfly', Cheery Lynn Designs 'Large Lace Faerie Queen w/Angel Wing Butterfly',

Accessories:  Really Reasonable Ribbons,  Pearl corsage pins, Flower Making Kit and mat, styrofoam wreath form