"BUTTERFLY BOOK"

WARNING:picture heavy blog post ahead!!!

I am very excited to share this post with you all! 

First there is a brand new challenge over at Anything But a Card, 

its to be inspired by "The Masters"

For quite a while I have had a Dali print hanging in my living room,

I love his quirkiness, and the way that he bends and moves items around.

I did not do that!  

I know that's maybe a let down for you all,

I was however inspired by this painting by him

At first I wanted to try to do one of those books where all the pages are folded to make it look like some sort of word or animal.

That didn't quite pan out, but I'd like to try that again sometime.  

What I decided on was a small canvas that included a butterfly.

I also (for the first time ever) got some Lindy's Stamp Gang Sprays.

Wow they are fun!  If you don't have any, check them out! 

So I guess I'll just leave you with all these yummy yummy pictures. 

I used the color palate from Lindys Stamp Gang May challenges, 

here is the picture they have to use as an inspiration

I'm hoping my colors are close to the inspiration.

 I will of course be joining in their challenge, you can find that challenge here.

I used Merry go round green, pop rock purple, raspberry lemonade, tilt a wheel teal, tibetan poppy magical powder (it really is magical and WOW do I love it!!)

and lastly tibetan poppy teal spray as well.  

Again, if you've never used this product it is hands down one of the best I've ever used, and I am so so so so so in love with the results!!! 

also entering into Simon Daya stamp monday Challenge: Anything Goes

Steampunk for anything but a card

Happy Sunday!

I gotta say I'm very excited for football season to finally be starting up again!

I can't wait for the weather to turn a little cooler so I can have all the windows open while we watch the games!

Oh that's right I'm not writing a sports blog!!

I have some yummmmmmmy steampunk goodness to share with you all today!

I rescently did an overhaul of my studio, a lot of purging, and a lot of organizing,

and I came across this picture frame that I got at the second hand store. 

I thought this would be a the perfect project for the Steampunk Challenge at Anything But A Card.

It was great to know exactly where all my metal goodies were,

 and plus I found some that were "lost."

Here is the finished project

And some close ups...

This little deck of cards is one of my most favorite purchases from a recent estate sale.

I added a little clip and the light bulb. 

I had also gotten a wonderful measuring tape at an estate sale,

so i clipped a little piece of it and added some cogs and a game spinner piece. 

Finally for the Inspire light bulb, 

This piece was completely see through, so i added a bit of scrap paper to the back,

and boom, a wonderful piece. 

I hope you all are inspired by what you're seeing, and don't forget that there is currently 

a Design Team call going on at Anything But a Card.   

I will say this is a wonderful group to work with, and there are always inspiring pieces!

If you like to make things other than cards please throw your hat in!

We would love to have you in the group!  

Anything but a card: Tie it up!

Happy Sunday morning!

It's been a fast work week for me so far, and I had some time to craft when hubby was at work,

and before I had to go to work myself!!

There is a new challenege over at Anything But a Card 

it's to use Twine, or jute, or some sort of string like product!

I have been getting back into my smash book

(Especially since my friends Mary and Holly have changed Smash club to my Wednesdays off!)

Sooo I've had these pics hanging out in my craft room since April of last year...

About time to smash them!!

See where I used the twine in the middle of the doily??

I just love it!!

Here's a close up!

I added the star button from my stash!

Here's a close up of the pic of my dad... this by the way is right outside the Entrance to the Grand Canyon!

Dad wanted to stop and get his pick with Smokey!

I'm not about to tell him no!

What a fun trip!!  After a day at the Canyon we spent a morning in Williams, AZ,

and then a long afternoon in Flagstaff!

It was a lot of fun! 

See the cute little stamp on the bottom corner?? That's from Unity Stamps!

I just love all the fun stamps I've gotten from that fabulous site!

I hope you've been inspired to link up your creations!!! 

Anything but a card challenge 7

Good morning!

Today is a new challenge day at Anything But a Card
Where you are challenged to make anything but a card, and this week you can be inspired by this fab picture

At first I was tempted to try to do a painted umbrella,
but alas I live in Arizona, and umbrellas seem to be pretty hard to come by here!
(who knew!)
Sooooo I had this awesome Saturated Canary image and since

my inspiration from the picture was the umbrella, I ran with it!

Yep, I haven't had an altered composition book in a while!

Ok, so here's the back story, when my parents were out 2 weeks ago we decided we were going to do a family weight loss challenge.  So we got a number of family members on board, and we've been doing our best to keep eachother accountable, and as I'm sort of spearheading the operation, I am offering some prizes. 

This is the prize going out to my sister in law in Florida. 

Hopefully she will stay inspired to keep up the good work!

Plus since I seem to always be winning things, and it's so much fun for me to get these fabulous prizes in the mail I thought I should return the favor! 

Here is a close up of the little sentiment on the front cover....

I love this!  I got a pack of clear stamps at Joann's black friday/saturday sale

they are all very inspirational, and I really cannot wait to use some more of them!

Finally, here is a close up of my colored image

yes, I used my copics,

and yes, I was also inspired by some other challenge blogs that I play along with

Please head over to the Anything but a Card blog and join in our biweekly challenge

or at least check out all the creations from this super talented Design Team!

Entering this into:

Saturated Canary Challenge: Challenge 31: a sketch

Just Us Girls: Photo Inspiration (see below)

Diva's by Design: use 2 or more patterned papers

Pinspirational Challenges: photo challenge (I was inspired by the wood of the swing, and also that in the picture there is a pen/ paper/ envelope, and my creation is a comp book)

Tuesday Alchemy: Anything But a Card
Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge: Anything Goes

Anything but a card

Hello fellow bloggers!

Today I am excited to share with you my latest Design Team creation

for anything but a card where the challenge is

faux stitching or a stitch in time

I used both... or I tried to at least!

Ironically, about 6 years ago when my hubby bought me a sewing machine

I got into sewing, I had tried my hand at a crazy quilt that never really turned out!

So I wanted to give it a try again.... however not with my sewing machine!

but with the top of this container!

Last weekend when my parents were in town we were able to hit up a few

estate sales, and as I have been getting low on my button supply, I was super

excited to get a slew of them for super cheap!

However I then of course needed somewhere to house them.

So I cleaned out a mayonaise jar and embossed some aluminum tape (I promise I'll give the tape a rest soon!!!)

But the embossing folder is one of the only things I own that has a clock on it!

So I inked the aluminum tape with blues and purples, and then ran it thorough

the embossing folder, and then ran my black staz-on over the raised parts,
Finally I added some numbers around the edge of the top

of the jar... Sort of feels a little more clocky (maybe not a word?? he he)

Don't forget that this is the last week to get your creations in to

anything but a card!  Next week I'll be back with another fab creation (I hope!!!)

Have a blessed Sunday!

Anything but a card/ 31 Days of Halloween day 28

Happy Sunday everyone!

I worked on this fun little box this week

I have been wanting to try out making a box like this for the entire month,

and honestly I just kept putting it off because I wanted to be able to feature it for

Anything but a Card's #5 challenge "use black!"

I can honestly say that I don't know what I pictured in my mind but the window was always

a part of the plan! mu ah ah ah

So this is the "Spooky" halloween candy box that I created....

Can you tell me what item was repurposed for this?? No no, I'll wait!

Both hubby and my mom guessed wrong... take your time.. and don't you scroll down to see...

he he he I'm just kidding!

I appologize in advance for this horrible picture... but it's all I have!

So, that's right, my Halloween candy box used to house my dryer sheets...

I did let it air out pretty good before I started using it!

Here's a quick shot of the box opened and holding my most favorite candy in the whole world....

Yep, reeses peanut butter cups...  MMMMMM

You can see that I added the velcro so the box would actually stay closed!

I just used my handy dandy hot glue gun to attach it to the paper

I am also entering this into:

Frilly and Funkie: Anything but a card (with a twist... mine is the box itself! check out the blog to find the twist!)

Clear it out Challenges: A Gift

Anything But a Card Challenge 4

Good morning everyone!

While most of you are just winding down your weekends, mine is just about to start!

I work the night shift, and this will be my long weekend off!!! Yeah

I don't have to be back to work till Thursday at 6 pm!

I'm just popping in this am to remind you all that this is the beginning

of week 2 of the Fall or Halloween, or fall colors challenge at Anything But a Card

There is definitely some great inspiration hanging out over there!

So what would be appropriate for this post???  Well pretty much

anything you can think of.... well as long as it isn't in card form!

Tags, ATC's, altered items, scrapbook pages, smash pages (be still my heart!)

Think you don't have it in you??  I know you do!  Want some inspiration from me?? ok here goes.... Some of my projects over the last few days!

Sooooo... get out there and create! 

And bring us back your offerings!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 14 and Anything but a Card Challenge 4

Ok, ok, ok, so I made this project over a month ago!

It's been really hard to no share it, but I wanted this to be my Halloween/ Fall post for Anything But a Card

I know if you check out my blog at all that you know this Challenge blog is super fun!

And it's anything but a card, so let your imagination run wild!

I know I did!

Sooooo hubby and I picked up this bad boy at an estate sale some time in August,

I was trying to plan ahed for my 31 days of Halloween 
and I loved all the rust and old goodness I found!
But what to do, what to do?

How about a halloween doorhanger? There are lots and lots of possiblities with this non traditional art product!
Ha ha ha is that an understatement??
Ok, here's what I created......

First I painted the wood parts with a green acrylic that was washed down with water.  I hoped that some of the original graphics would come through, and they did a little... then....

Yep, I used some of my hoarded Graphic 45 papers, some vintage lace, some vintage ric rac,

a found piece of metal (the skull) and a gear covered in glitter..

on the top I added a strip of paper, also from Graphic 45,

And then I added a glittery orange pipe cleaner for the handle

(sorry for the glare off the glass that is in fact my back yard ha ha ha!)

Soooooo this fun piece was super fun to create, and it was really pretty easy as well!

Sooo, next time you see one of these big bad boys at a garage or estate sale, pick it up, maybe you'll be inspired to create a christmas decoration???  Or just a Halloween decor...

Sooo get out there are create! It's good for the soul, and calming to the spirit as well!

Challenge 2 at Anything but a Card

Yeah it's time for another challenge over at Anything but a Card!

http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.com 

This two weeks it's all about TEXTURE!

I thought about doing a card with fabric and wires and stuff... but then I remembered

NO CARDS ha ha ha!!!!  

So I altered yet another item (I'm on an altering kick apparently!)

This time I did a clip board......

Wanna see the before clipboard??? Ok, here it is

Pretty grungy huh?? I picked this beaut up at the Goodwill on half price Saturday for 50 cents

I know it's hard to believe such a beautiful and pristine piece could go for literally pennies!

Ha ha ha 

I wanted something fun that I could hang in my craft room to put all my ideas on

 

So I covered the clipboard with some circus paper that I had (yes, yes I know it's upside down... didn't notice till the modge podge had already started to dry!)

Then I cut out the circus figures from some Graphic 45 paper I had laying around 

(ha ha ha not laying around!  That stuff is like gold in my craft room!) 

I did some distressing of the edges, and used some punchinella to make those pretty dots all 

over the background!

Then I hated the silver of the clippy part, so I painted it brown..  that wasn't quite right, so the I added 

some bronze ink by just dabbing it on.

I like the effect, but needed more texture (more texture, more texture!)

So I added the cute buttons

Plus you can see the bronze color of the clippy on this close up too!

Finally I added the strip of lace ribbon on the bottom, and the gold vinyl letters on the 

side to spell "idea's"

 And hubby drilled a hole in the wall and up it went!  

I still haven't used it, but that's probably cause it's just so fun to look at! 

Don't forget to make up your own fun project using texture, and slap it up on the 

challenge blog! And if you don't at least hop on over there and check out all the 

inspiration that the Design Team has come up with!

Entering into the texture challenge at Seriously Creative Challenges!

Anything Goes at Anything but a Card

The day is finally here!!! 

The day that the Brand Spankin New Challenge Blog goes live!!!!

Skip on over and check it out.(here).. I'll wait...

Are you back???  Ok, so here is the fab project that I did for this week's challenge

Anything goes....

I struggle with anything goes.. I need rules and perameters!  I need something

to work inside of...

However, my list of 35 before 36 (I gave myself a few years for this one!)

Says to alter something I found at a thrift store

So here it is!

My mom calls it a bill holder, but I'd like to think it might hold some pieces of happy mail as well???
I altered it using Tim Holtz papers (you could buy them here)

For the numbers I used Spellbinders Nestablities labels 

I inked each center up with my distress inks, and then I added the metal numbers

Here's a little close up of the numbers.

I do wish I had taken a before picture, but alas I did not...

I hoping you all love this project, and you are inspired enough to join our new

challenge, there are a lot of super talented ladies on the Design Team, and

I think you may be inspired to make over one of those items that's been collecting

dust!!  Or even go out and buy something to repurpose!

By the way, Hubby loved this so much he promptly put a nail in the wall in the kitchen and hung it up!

I KNOW, I couldn't believe it either!!! 

Have a fabulous Labor Day weekend, and be safe!

Entering this into the also new challenge at: http://pinandtack.blogspot.com/2012/09/spark-your-creativity-now-challenge-1.html: anything goes