Happy Holidays, Crafters!

Boy, have we got a show for you!!  Our group has been busy as elves, crafting cards, gifts, home decor, and packaging for the holidays.  But first let's announce the winner of the Fear Not the Flowers challenge.  It's our very own, very taqlented Virginia!  Here is her offering of handmade flowers.

Now, onto bigger and better things, at least more Christmasy things! Here are a couple cards from some of our Yahoo Group members.

Shell B has two cards ready to send out this year.

Next up is Pat Martin (hey, that's me!) with a card, a gift and some tags.

Pat used "Official Mistletoe Tester" digi from Squigglefly for the card,

Some Christmas wall art for the new in-laws, and

Wooden gift tags using Crafter's Companion stamp from the Humphrey collection.
Joyce made a 3D project--it's a Gingerbread House, lit from the inside by a flameless tea candle!!

Barb S. created these cute snowmen lit with battery operated tea lights in her Stampin' Up class.

 Virginia M. developed this beautiful card for our SBP Challenge!  Doesn't it look like perhaps a retro 50's card??

SO Happy St. Nick's Day--don't forget to put out your shoes for a treat (if you've been good).  Check back next week for some more holiday inspiration!!

Waste Not, Want Not!

Recently our Yahoo Group offered a special two-part swap called the Garbage Bag Swap.  Participants were given a partner to send the crafting leftovers on their craft table.  That was the first part.  The second part was for each crafter to create something with the leftovers they had received!
This is what I came up with the leftovers I received from Winnie:

I received some lovely pieces of patterned papers that I adhered onto a brown cardstock card base.  Next I cut the "wings" off a diecut bug that was in the envie.  They becamse my card's flourishes.  I used my own sentiment coaster, piece of border and bit of lace.  Finishing off the card was a snippet of ribbon and my card is complete!!

Next up is a layout by Winnie, who received Debbie Fecteau's leftovers.  She made a gorgeous Fall page just in time for Thanksgiving.  Winnie loves to distress her papers with ink, just like I do.

Here's another card, this one by Virginia, who received her materials from Laura Daniels.  Looks like she used die sut scalloped circles for the tops of her ornaments!  It alos looks like she's starting to make her Christmas cards, which is something I need to do soonest!

Mary received leftovers from Linda Weber to make this card.  I love her musical theme!  The glitter papers make the card sparkle with birthday wishes, and I have a feeling her card is going to a special person on her birthday.

Last, but not least, is a beautiful project from Linda Weber.  She received MY leftover trash and made a real treasure with it all.  Here's her curio cabinet:

It was really hard to choose a fave from all these projects, but the group voted.  So, after a group poll on who really went all out on their garbage bag swap projects, the winner was announced this week...

Congratulations

WINNIE

You really rocked this swap/challenge!!



A FEAR OF FLOWERS?

I have an emotional fear of flowers.  Could be my allergies to all things that some say smell pretty but I think smell stinky.  I took an oil painting class and the only canvas that didn't pass my artist's eye was, of course, the flowers!

Holley B,'s Halloween Card with flowers

 

So imagine my dismay when I see crafters everywhere making their own flowers!  I love to use them on my cards and projects, but they are SO expensive!  I've watched numerous YouTube videos and read many tutorials on how to make your own flowers, but none of them clicked with my flower-phobia---until today!

Liana's Creations

Liana's Creations

Liana's Creations

So I went to WalMart and bought a bottle of spray starch, took out my double-sided patterned papers and my flower punch and set to work.  First I cut a set of six punched flowers. I sprayed both sides of each with the starch, then tried to carefully punch a brad through the middle.  I immediately lost the bottom flower because I wasn't careful enough and it ripped--down to five punches.

Okay, these circles are soaking wet with liquid starch but gathered together in the middle with a brad.  I start to peel up the first punched flower and squish it together toward the center, really tight.  Next I take each layer and squeeze and squish them up against the first layer.  Now I have in my hands a mooshed, squooshed ball of paper!  Flower, no, but I'm not done.

I gently pull the edges of the upturned layers away from the center, and lo and behold, it blooms into a full, gorgeous flower.  While it's wet, I sprinkle some Diamond Dust Glitter from Stampin Up to give it some sparkle, and...
wait for it...
I have a great handmade flower!

Shannon's Creations

The next ten minutes I would rather skip over.  Talk about obsessive behavior.   I punched my way through the whole darn 12x12 piece of paper, soaked my craft mat with spray starch, carefully punched brads through the layers of paper, and squeezed, then separated them all, and I now have a gorgeous garden of handmade flowers, and not a sneeze or runny nose in sight!

So to all who think they are chained to the craft stores for their flower fetish, rejoice!  It is SO easy to make these little embellishment that pack a powerful punch on cards and layout pages.  So what are you waiting for?  Let the starching and squooshing begin!

 Of course, I have to give credit where credit is due.  My crafty friend Shannon started me on my merry marigold way, making a myriad of flowers for the holidays. 

Check out some of her creations, and stop by her blog for more inspiration at: http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/my_scrappy_creations

 

How about you?  Show me some of your flowers!  Take the link below and register your name and a photo and I'll pick a random winner in 2 weeks!

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ScrapbookPlace Fall Blog Hop-iversary

 

 

Welcome to the ScrapbookPlace's Fall Blog Hop-iversary! Fall is here in full force – crisp, cool air, leaves on the ground, Halloween has come and gone. What a beautiful time of year!

A Hop-iversary you say… You’ve never heard of a hop-iversary. Well let me tell you what it’s all about. Not only are we celebrating fall BUT we are also celebrating the seven, yes SEVEN, years that ScrapbookPlace has been on the net. In seven years, we’ve made lots of friends and shared lots of memories. More importantly, we shared our passion –paper crafting! You want to join us, click here. All of the blogs in the hop today are members of our group!

We have a wonderful sponsor for our hop, FloppyLatte Digital Designs. The images used in the creations you see in the hop today are from FLDD. Check out the site, they have great digi images and great deals! Ever used digis before? They are super easy to use, you can print them a million times, make them any size you need and they don't take up any storage room!!  Run on over to Floppy’s blog and leave her some love too when the hop is over!

Leave some love at each blog and the main blog and you will be put in a drawing for a $10 gift certificate to Floppy Latte Digital Designs!

I've used "Celebrate Thanks" from FLDD. Other materials used: Copics - YR18 YR16 YR15 YG99 YG97 YG97, Morroccan Sage Floral and Vintage Paisley paper by Daisy D, Doily border punch by Martha Stewart, Labels 25 Nestibilities by Spellbinders, Antique Linen Tim Holtz Distress Ink pad by Ranger, unknown embossing folder by Cuttlebug, Creme cardstock by Paper Studio, Ribbon Elements by American Crafts, Orange Peel and Patina Stickles by Ranger, Pearls by CTMH and gold home made shimmer spray.

Start here and head on over to Linda's blog. She has something beautiful to share!

If you get lost along the way, here is the order:

ScrapbookPlace blog

Linda

Judy

Pammie

SueS

JoyceG

Teresa

Carolyn

Karissa

Melissa

ScrapbookPlace blog

Hope you enjoy the hop and get inspired to get creative with digis!!!

- Mel and Linda

 

YOUR CUP RUNNETH OVER

Thanksgiving is this month - most of us will be celebrating with big feasts with friends and relatives, even if it means volunteering at the nearest mission, church or shelter.

Let's have a fun little challenge with the above cup image created by Pammie.  You may download the image to your computer, or print and cut, and create a card front or project using this cup or any cup in your files.  Fill your cup with whatever - let's have fun.

Upload here to our blog and we'll choose a winner randomly on November 30th!

How full does your cup become - before it runneth over?  ..

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TRICK OR TREAT - Here are the winners!

DID YOU guess correctly?

The witches photo was given us by Pat Martin.  She is one of the children in the photo!

The realistic witch pointing her finger at you is Melissa Rhodes, from Louisiana.

The winners of each fun challenge are:

WITCHES TWO:  Deborah M. is our winner!

MEL'S STATE: Cindy H. is our winner!

Ladies - please feel free to grab a free pif any time from us on any board. Thanks for playing!

What's my first name?

A Self Drawn Sketch of myself!!

I have worn a lot of costumes in the past.  I love to do this.  My costumes have always been hilarious too; such as a two headed monster, one is BUFFY the Elephant and one is a black widow spider and one is a funny clown all are handmade costumes and I used to win many contests with them. 

The elephant one especially I won tons with it I even won a microwave from Lowes one year LOL.

One year in my hometown the city had a gathering downtown and I won the turkey calling contest on stage and I was so shy I had to turn my back to do my call coz I could not do it facing eveyone and my daughter won in her age group too LOL.

I also won a husband calling contest one year there and I was not even married LOL.

I was Santa Claus one year for my hospital department. I told them all I was not coming and I came in last and they all sat on my lap and I gave them all handmade candy I made and they were all trying their darndest to figure out who I was and I gave it up after one of the older gals blew in my ear. LOL I was always the life of the party and I was always the one at work they looked for when a practical joke happened even if I did not do it LOL Yep those were the good ole days for me and I just loved them.

Let's face it - this lady is a party lover!  Who is she?

DO WE COLOR?

YES WE COLOR!!!  We are of the generations who still love to bring color together.  We still love the fragrance of a newly opened box of crayons!  We still love the color from swishing your brush across the first new pot of water paints!  We now are the ones who love grunge, pholkart; goth (well some of us!), and YES we love digis......lots of digis....LOL!

But let's return to childhood with an exception.  We now are old enuf to use the household iron without someone overseeing you!  Get your crayons out (even the cheapest box available); get a regular iron (do you still know what that is?); get some foil and last but not least, some white cardstock!  Take a look at this card:

The background is made with melted crayons!!!!!!!!!!!  By Virginia M. our resident artist!

VIRGINIA'S INSTRUCTIONS:

All you do is put aluminum foil over the plate of your iron. Put an old thin towel or old cloth down before you put your paper down.

Turn on hot setting (no steam). Do no more than 2-3 colors as you don't want mud. Just mark your crayons down your faceplate. I needed a certain color scheme for an Easter bunny with carrots card (oranges and bright greens).

Then you take the iron really quick and sweep over white or cream cardstock. Don't iron, but just a light sweep or placement of your iron to paper.

(Clarifying:) As soon as the crayons start to melt down the iron, you do iron it. However, just press the iron down on white or cream cardstock and do a slight turn (or swipe) of the iron. Don't do a full iron on as you would when you regularly iron. Press and a slight swipe. Don't overdo it as it will then turn to mud. You want to see the hit and miss of the colors.

As soon as the crayons start to melt down the iron, you then iron it. However, just press the iron down on white or cream cardstock and do a slight turn (or swipe) of the iron. Don't do a full iron on as you would when you regularly iron. Press and a slight swipe. Don't overdo it as it will then turn to mud. You want to see the hit and miss of the colors. Try it and you'll see what I mean.

You get a great background with the desired colors you want. I use the cheapest crayons you can get. They work great.

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HANDMADE CRYSTALS!

Run, don't walk, get your Epsom Salts, water, and sponge brush!  You will not believe that you can create crystals on your own cards!!!  You won't even have to go to the LSS and spend money on fancy background paper!  The background of this card front is literally shining with faux snow crystals!  And they don't rub off!

READ ON!

This past month Virginia M. sent me this note:  

"Just saw this posted on another website. Thought it was really neat and simple. It is by Dawn Griffith, though someone else sent her a card with it and she can't remember who. Let me know what you think about this technique. I know I am always looking for new ways to make backgrounds. This would make great backgrounds for Christmas cards and other holidays too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpxqmtJCy5c&feature=em-uploademail-new

Virginia"

Well I went to the video, got out my Epsom Salts and water, found my sponge brush and forgot to do one thing!  Wouldn't you know it!  I used cold water instead of hot water.  But I had done a lot of card backs before I realized it so I just left them dry overnite.  And there was NO difference because I had used cold water.  The trick was in getting the solution well mixed, and I had literally shaken it in a covered jar!

Photos of crystals formed on dried cs.

Here is the written tut:

ICE CRYSTAL BACKGROUND

By:  Dawn Griffith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpxqmtJCy5c&feature=em-uploademail-new

Revised instructions and sample card photo by Virginia Montagna.

Make a unique background for your cards using hot water and

Epson Salts.  You can also use your die cuts or other cutting

system to cut shapes out of  your ice crystal finished backgrounds.

As the Epson salts & water coating dries, the crystals in the Epson

Salts explodes into ice crystals all over your cardstock.

Black cardstock and shiny surfaces do not work well.  Some

cardstocks work better than others.  It’s trial and error.

Supplies needed:

Aluminum Foil

Medium foam brush

Equal parts of very hot sink water and Epson salts,

i.e. 1 cup hot water & 1 cup Epson salts.

Cardstock

STEP 1:

Place aluminum foil on your working surface.

Put several pieces of cardstock down on aluminum foil.

STEP 2:

Mix hot water and Epson Salts together well until

liquid is very clear and all Epson salts are dissolved.

STEP 3:

Dip foam brush in liquid and apply to cardstock in

one swipe from top to bottom in rows until all your

cardstock is coated.  Over brushing will cause the

crystals not to burst.  You can coat over missed areas.

STEP 4;

Let dry on the aluminum foil.  As your piece dries,

The ice crystals will burst all over your cardstock

leave a shiny surface with ice crystals.

On the card below, I ran the photo mat thru my cuttlebug and the crystals cracked into beautiful white snow flakes.

Look at Dawn Griffith’s U-Tube tutorial. 

See link above.

TRY IT - Let us see your results.  Enter the Mr. Linky contest below and strut your stuff!

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SO WHAT'S COOKIN' IN THE HALLOWEEN KITCHENS?

Judy P. has favored us with the following:

A BENDY CARD

AND A POP UP BAT CARD!

I also found in the kitchens the following pumpkins being made up by Virginia.  However, no pie for these cloth fellas!

Come join us at YOUR SCRAPBOOK PLACE!! 

What is cooking in your kitchen - just email it to Linda!

Trick or Treat!

UPDATE:  10/31/12 - Winning guess is Deborah - PAT MARTIN is our secret Trick or Treater!

Check out our Trick-or-treaters today! 



One of us is a very busy member of SBPlace - who am I?

Some are scary, some are cute,

all of them want lots of loot.

Hershey's Kisses, Twizzlers, too,

Fill our bags or we'll say BOO!

Leave a comment and a guess - for a Halloween treat for yourself.  All comments will be entered into a random no. generator to be fair on October 31, so that the witches don't come and get unruly!

SBP TUTORIAL - TREAT HOLDER

ScrapbookPlace Tutorial

TREAT HOLDER with Cellophane Bag

By Beate Johns, splitcoaststampers.com

Revised instructions and photos by Virginia Montagna

Make a treat holder with a cellophane bag to hold

treats, i.e. candy, stamping goodies, gifts for any

occasion.  Sample photo below shows All

Occasion, Christmas and Halloween treat bags.

 Supplies:

One 11” x 3-1/4” piece of cardstock.

One piece pattern paper for lower front

bag 3-1/8” x 3”

One piece pattern paper for front flap

3” x 3/4”.

Embellishments as desired.

Scoring tool.

Glue stick.

Stapler.

One small hole punch.

One small cellophane bag.

One piece ribbon to tie treat holder

together.

 STEP-BY-STEP

Step 1

Cut one piece of  cardstock 11”

x 3-1/4.”

Turn long ways and score at 1”,

5” & 7.”

Step 2

Fold at score lines. 

Glue one piece pattern paper 3-1/8” x 3”

to lower front of  bag.

Glue one piece pattern paper 3” x 3/4”.

to front flap.  Add embellishments to

bag front as desired.

 

Step 3

Staple filled cellophane bag to inside

treat bag, just below flap.

Step 4

Fold bag and punch 2 holes in flap.

Thread ribbon thru holes & tie into knot.

Your treat bag is done.

 

Try it - post a link below to your creation - join in the Halloween fun!

Virginia is offering a scrapbooking prize to encourage participation in making a treat holder. The winner will be chosen randomly so everyone gets a chance to win. Enter as often as you wish.  Entry deadline is Oct. 14 midnite CDT.

MORE CRAFTINESS FROM VIRGINIA - this entry is in the challenge at SBP Challenge Blog.

Meanwhile enter your project below!  ;)

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