Bundle of Joy Baby Pocket Card

Going through my stash this week, I came across an Archivers' bag. (Wow... memories of my favorite scrapbooking store came to mind, and how I miss that place!) Inside that lovely frosted plastic bag with the all too familiar green, yellow and blue logo, I found three 12x12 sheets, a 6x6 pad, a unopened package of 3-D chipboard stickers and a small packet of scraps. I remembered buying this Echo Park Bundle of Joy collection to make a layout for our, then new grandbaby, Adelaide. But why on earth did I buy so much? I guess so that I could make some cards with the remainder almost two years later... because that's what I'm doing with it.

Good timing in that I had just received a shipment of soft pink assorted flowers from I Am Roses. Perfect when added to a white rose and two skeleton leaves.

I pulled out three different dies for these three layers: Alterations Distress Doily, Sizzix Vintage Doily and Spellbinders Labels Seventeen.

S-10's in soft pink from I Am Roses...

and a banner and a tiny double heart from that package of Bundle of Joy layered chipboard.

 I added a wide eyelet and a scrap of dyed seam binding to my tag. I trimmed it up with some white felt ric rac... very babyish, I think, with a kind of plush blanket effect.

I'm entering my Bundle of Joy pocket card in the Word Art Wednesday challenge.

I hope my little Sweetheart banner qualifies as a sentiment!

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by!

Linda

Une Promenade Layout Revisited

I'm sorry I haven't been around for a bit. It's been busier than usual, plus I have had some physical problems that need attention. I have a few tests to go through, then Lord willing, we can get things sorted out.

So you didn't think I'd forgotten about my blog, I thought a revisit to one of my favorite projects might be in order. I created this layout for a guest design spot last year at eclectic Paperie. The papers are by 7 Dots Studio, and the collection is called Nature Walk... by one of my very favorite designers, DeeDee Catron. I love her work... she's amazing!!! DeeDee has a new collection out that I'm crazy about, but I'm holding off to buy until I get this old stash whittled down a little more. Take a peek at this...

Lost and Found
(take a closer look here)

Today I hope to make a card or two and maybe I can get back into the swing of things.

Thank you for stopping by!
Linda

The New Groove Tool and a Pocket Card

When I was approached to test out a new tool called Groove, the Penmaker asked me what I thought about it after reading the specs. I said I would probably never buy one, but I might as well give it a try. When it arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see a box full of Art-C mixed media products along with the tool. I was impressed with the quality of the embellishments.

In starting out, I needed to place two AA batteries in the tool, not included. I did some playing around with it first before deciding what I would create.

For my first project, I chose to make a pocket card... surprise, right? I used the ink tip and both of the sanding tips. With arthritis in both hands, the course sanding tip proved to be one I'll probably use from now on instead of my distress tool, which I'm finding really difficult to handle. I distressed all my edges using Walnut Stain DI and the sponge ink tip. It worked okay, but I certainly need a little more practice with it. I had ink heavier in some areas than normal, but that just adds to the distress look. All in all, I liked working with these tips and am sure I'll get a better feel for the tool with more use.

I made my flower using Alterations Tattered Florals die and crinoline. I had planned on giving it some color with my inks, but decided I liked the white instead. I added a My Mind's Eye brad for the center. The cloth leaves are by Petaloo.

Beneath my flower are two Spellbinders Floral Doily Motifs die-cuts, popped up with 3-D foam, and a ring of Darice natural hemp cord. It was applied with my Liquitex matte medium so it will stay put.

My sentiment was cut with Alterations Handwritten Love Thinlits. I did some machine stitching on the base layers. This was a scrap of my hoarded Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden.

For my tag inserts, I used one of Art-C embellishments. The smaller tag I cut from another scrap of the BG paper using one of the smaller embellishment tags from Art-C as a template. I added a wide antique gold eyelet, a piece of dyed seam binding and two of the Art-C keys and an Idea-ology jump ring.

After my first use, what do I think? For me being able to distress paper edges pain-free is a plus. The inking part... I guess, I need more practice in controlling the tool. I'll try out the brush tip next and let you know how that goes for me. In the mean time, you may want to also read what Julie Balzer thought of the tool, and check out the product video here. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Linda

Back in Time... Pink Paislee's Butterfly Garden

 

Do you remember the excitement this collection stirred? It seemed like everyone was making cards and layouts with it. I know from the first moment I laid eyes on it, I fell in love. I have been hoarding some partial sheets and bits of these gorgeous papers not wanting to let go, but... the time has come. After making this card, I have just a few scraps left... sob. That's the life of a paper artist... you have to let go!

The flowers are Petaloo Botanica in pistachio. The fern was cut with Alterations Holiday Greens Thinlits and the doily is their Distress Doily die.

The pearl and flower flourish is an oldie by Prima.

My main image die cut stack was cut with Die-namics Layered Label die. I sponged on Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.

The seam binding ribbon was a gift.

I'm not real happy with letting go of these papers, and I haven't seen anything new released that I like as well, but I can't keep everything in a box. And hopefully this card will bring a smile to someone's face and be a blessing.

Thank you for stopping by!

Linda

Williams' Soap Masculine Pocket Card

I like the challenge of making a masculine card. When I received a packet of free manly-type goodies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique, I put them aside until an idea formed. Well, one did and this is what came out of it.

The papers are from various older Graphic 45 collections. The mustache, Williams' Soap ad, comb charm, and wood button are all from FJB.

I used Alterations Postage Stamp Frame to cut this black layer. The Distress Ink is Walnut Stain.

The wood button is has a clock face with a tiny mustache and pipe. I tied it with some natural May Arts burlap string. It's sitting on an antique gold filigree I got on clearance at Michaels.

The scrap of ribbon was tied around the burlap string. I'm sorry but I can't remember who I purchased it from. I buy a lot of this stuff and have several bundles. I colored the mustache die cut with Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain DI.

 The comb charm is attached with an Idea-ology Ring Fastener. 

The tag is tied through the wide eyelet with black seam binding. An Idea-ology Muse Token is pinned on with a tiny safety pin purchased from Hobby Lobby. I thought this card would made a great holder for one of the Penmaker's turned safety razors. Now if I can get him to make one, I'll be all set.

Thank you for stopping by!

Linda

Inspiration Wednesday Week Nine

Good night, here I am again, weeks behind in my Inspiration Wednesday classes. Yesterday I laid other things aside and worked on week nine's lesson. I can't give you any of the specifics other than to say that I didn't follow Donna's choice of paints, but went with what I thought would make me happy... Distress and Liquitex paints very much watered down.

If you check out Donna's work here, you'll see that mine only slightly resembles hers... but that's the point. This journal page is me using her inspiration.

The new Twisted Citron Distress paint.

Thank you for stopping by!

Linda