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!

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Easy-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

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?  ..

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Easy-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.