Pretty Pretty Princess

H2H Challenge

I am so excited about this week's challenge at H2H.  It's all about pink, bling, glitter and all that girlie stuff. Stop by the Heart 2 Heart challenge blog to see all the cutesy artwork.  My project is inspired by a card I had seen on a blog many weeks ago and I feel awful that I can't remember what the name of it was.  If this looks familiar at all you might let me know. 

I tried a couple of new things for this card.  I made my own "homemade" glimmer mist which I used on the clouds and balloon, and I dyed my ribbon to make a color match.  So how did I do it?  Easy, Internet and YouTube! I did a search for making glimmer mist and found hundreds of variations.  I chose one that used what supplies I had, which was water and acrylic paint, Create-A-Shade pearl paint in my case.  I mixed the water and the paint in a spray bottle and presto, gorgeous glimmer mist.  For the ribbon, I used my waterbrush, CTMH Lilac Mist marker and CTMH spritz cleaner.  I just colored the ribbon with the marker, used the water brush to get it slightly damp, then spritzed it with the cleaner a few times.  I used my hands to bunch it up over and over to work the color in evenly.  WARNING:  You will dye your hands too. 

Supplies: All CTMH unless noted

Paper:  White Daisy Cardstock and Patterned Paper from Daydream

Stamps:  Over The Rainbow (D1426)

Inks:  Black, Lilac Mist, Blush and CTMH markers in Black and Lilac Mist.  "Homemade" glitter mist was made using water and CTMH Create A Shade Pearl Paint (Z1039)

Embellishments:  Black Hemp (Z282), Pink button from stash, Lilac Mist ribbon was dyed using the Lilac Mist marker, waterbrush (1771) and My Acrylix Spritz Cleaner (1778).

Other:  3D Foam Tape (Z1151) and Cuttlebug with embossing folders.

~Shari

Out of shape

H2H Challenge

The theme this week at H2H is to create a NON-rectangular or square card.

 

My card is in the shape of a bird and I feel I might need to explain a bit of what went into the creation of this card.  I found a picture of a bird that I liked and then sketched it onto a piece of cardstock, then cut it out.  I used this as my template.  I traced my template onto chipboard, but I didn't have a piece large enough for the entire bird, so I used two pieces of chipboard.  I then traced the bird again onto cardstock and glued the chipboard onto it like puzzle pieces.  I then pasted a piece of plain copy paper onto the top of the chipboard, so I created a kind of sandwich to keep the pieces together.  On the copy paper I used a ruler and made a grid pattern to use as guidelines.  I cut 1" squares of paper from two of the patterned papers from Mistletoe and attached them in a patchwork pattern onto my grid pattern.  Some of the pieces hung over the edge of the bird, so I trimmed them close, then once I had the entire bird covered, I used the sanding block to even all the edges.  Next, I once again traced the bird onto cardstock and another piece of patterned paper and glued them together to be the inside of the card (I needed it to be a little heavier).  I used a hinge on the tail so it would open (backwards unfortunately).  I used the poinsettia flowers from the Mistletoe embellishment pack and cut each of the petals into individual pieces then pieced them together to create the wing.  I used an artificial holly sprig to dress up the wing a bit.  I used cranberry ribbon around his neck.  The little brooch looking embellies in the Mistletoe embellishment pack gave me an idea to go through all the costume jewellery I have accumulated over the years and add them to my papercrafting items, so I used an earring that I removed the post backing from for the birds eye.

Supplies used are listed above.  Cardstock color is Colonial White.

~Shari

Am I the only one that works around here?

WOYWW #75


A few experiments are on my workdesk today.  I have been trying to create an antique cracked paint effect on clear cards, with some success, though not quite what I want yet.  I am also working on a "patchwork" bird using 1" squares of paper on chipboard, but of course I didn't have a spare piece of chipboard large enough to accommodate the bird, so I traced it onto two separate pieces hoping that I can adhere it to cardstock, then cover it with my paper and ideally, it will look as one solid piece.  Of course things always work out perfectly when one is only thinking about it, but when work actually begins, nothing goes as planned.

I am anxious to get to work with the new Basic Grey paper called Curio.  I pre-ordered it and it arrived last week, but I have been busy with other projects so here it sits, still in it's packaging, waiting patiently for me to create something.  It is gorgeous paper by the way.

Behind me is my class table, which is covered with random projects that need to be finished.  I worked last night on layouts for my class this evening, and I have finished assembling all the paper bag albums for the Streams to Rivers project next Tuesday.  I still need to finish cutting the papers for the "kits" I am making for the kids, but I am more than half way finished, so just a little more cutting and that project will be ready to go.

I noticed that the kitties were on my bed, so since I had the camera out, I decided to sneak up on them and snap a few photos.  Honestly, do they sleep all day?

 Now Julius is up and about but Smokey is still being lazy.

Julius apparently wanted a close up.

Flash is being lazy too it seems.

And wouldn't you know it, here is Dallas fast asleep.  Am I the only one that works around here?

Now they have decided to wake up and Flash doesn't look very happy about it.

Enjoy your Wednesday everyone!

~Shari

May I introduce...

After blog hopping aimlessly over the past couple of years trying to find blogs that were aimed at my specific interests, I discovered an invaluable resource, The Blog Guidebook.  The Guidebook has something for everyone, everywhere and offers blog listings by category so it is simple to find what you are looking for, whether it's arts and crafts or parenting and pets.  The Guidebook features notable blogs and bloggers and also provides free blog listings as well as blog tips, tutorials and a Live Help Desk.  It is well worth your time to take a few moments and visit The Blog Guidebook and be sure to join the mailing list to receive newsworthy blog info.

~Shari

A Color Challenge

Heart 2 Heart Challenge

I always struggle with color challenges, I am not really sure of the reason.  I think CTMH spoils me becuase all the products are already color coordinated.  I went through Wishes and found a pattern I liked and this is my end creation.

Supplies: (all CTMH unless noted)


Paper:  Brown Bag Cardstock, Barn Red Textured Cardstock, Sunset Pattern Paper (Olivia) and Indian Corn Blue Patter Paper (Sweet Home)


Inks:  Brown Bag and Chocolate


Stamps:  Leaves are from "A Friend Is..." (C1243) and the branch is from "Hello There" (B1337)


Embellishments:  Opaques-Mocha, Chocolate Designer Ribbon and Prima Flowers


Tools:  Sanding block


Other:  Cuttlebug embossing folder and the Cuttlebug

Too Cute

As an owner of a Basset Hound I couldn't resist posting these photos I found of Buford the Basset Hound from The Daily Puppy.  Isn't he just too cute for words?

And this is a photo of MY Basset Hound, Flash.  I love him to pieces.

Ghosties High Tea

WOYWW #74


Before I get to my desk this week, I would like to share some "quirky" traditions that my family celebrates this time of year.  First off you must understand that my family on my mother's side, the Fitzgerald's, are Irish through and through, so I grew up observing  family customs that have been passed down through the generations.  My husband's family, the Maclaskey's, are Scottish, so we have combined our unique family traditions to celebrate with our child so that he too may pass them along to his children. 
It is customary for me to make a special meal to celebrate All Hallows Eve and this includes colcannon.  Though it is something I make quite regularly throughout the year, I do make sure it is included with our Halloween meal since it has always been that way in my family.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with colcannon, it is basically equal amounts of boiled cabbage and boiled potatoes mashed together with some cream and served with a "puddle" of butter in the center.  At times I will alter the basic recipe somewhat and make what my grandmother called "mash-of-nines" which adds carrots, turnips and a leek to the potato/cabbage mix. 
After our dinner, around 8:00,  we enjoyed "Ghoulies and Ghosties High Tea".  (High tea generally refers to tea that is taken after dinner as opposed to in the afternoon.)

Edit:  Mandi pointed out below that she thought High Tea was served with savories and cakes and afternoon tea is served with cakes and she is absolutely right.  High Tea is traditionally served with savories such as sausages, fish, etc. and in my case, colcannon,  and sandwiches and a simple dessert.  The term "High Tea" was used for tea served at dinner time and sometimes IS dinner because it was served at the high dining table rather than a low coffee table or parlor table but High Tea can be taken at any time of the day and as early as noon.  Afternoon tea is the more formal of the two and the most elegant.  It is usually served with a light meal with the best linens and silver.  So you aren't wrong at all Mandi!  :)

This year we had a sweet chocolate mint tea to coincide with the sweet treats given on Halloween.   I also made an apple pastry to symbolize the completed harvest and as a substitute for the custom of dookin for apples because we really didn't want to plunge our face into a cold tub of water this year.  (Sorry granddad.)
Halloween in our family is much more than trick or treating, it is about remembering our loved ones who have gone before us and paying tribute to our ancestors who have passed down our "quirky" customs.
And at last, I will leave you all with a look at my workdesk.  Honestly it really isn't much to speak of this week.  I am working on the Fall layout I will be teaching this evening in class.  Technically I had them finished last week, but I managed to put the left page into an ink pad and it was ruined.   I used my heat gun to heat the adhesive and salvage as many elements as I could.  Fortunately I had only to remake my base page and then re-attach the additional pieces.
I highly encourage you to visit Julia's Stamping Ground, the mastermind behind WOYWW, to have a candid peek into the workspaces of many creative souls.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!