Goody Bags for a Bead Retreat

I created these little goody pouches for the Beading in the Ozarks bead retreat held in Eureka Springs, AR in August.  Each pillow box was cut using my Cameo machine.  They are filled with an assortment of jewelry beads and findings from our bead store, Dry Gulch Beads.   This retreat is a four day, fun filled learning experience for about 50 participants.  There are several classes showcasing renowned instructors and beautiful projects.  You can even do a little bead shopping there.  I hope the beaders enjoy their goodies.

Father's Day Tag

This is my latest tag creation - just in time for Father's Day.  I started with patterned green corrugated cardstock and added a map tag and some vintage ephemera.  The steampunk collage at the bottom is a border sticker.  I added a metal buckle to a strip of embossed metal foil and used stickers for the wording.  I haven't been working papercrafts lately, because I have been busy making lampwork headpins for jewelry.  Sometimes I use the flat ones on cards too.  You can find them in our Etsy store. 

Custom Gift Tags

 

I received an order for custom gift enclosures for a beautiful clothing and gift store called Daisy Rose in Ft. Worth, TX.  I cut nearly every component with my Cameo.  I even created the shape of the tag which reminds me of a mannequin form.  I added a double layer to the tag so the message can be written on the back.  I decorated the bottom with vintage lace along with pretty little flowers with crystal gem centers.  I crocheted a cream colored flower for the middle.  The top has colorful vintage seam binding ribbon.  It was a lot of fun putting these tags together and I hope the Daisy Rose customers love them.

Glitz and Glamour

The new challenge at Alphabet Challenges is Glitz and Glamour.  I have chosen to glitz up a wooden birdhouse.  The decorations begin with pretty paper and then lace on the eaves.  Flowers and sparkly gems decorate the entire birdhouse.  The back and sides are just as sparkly as the front.  Join us at Alphabet Challenges and show us your glitzy project.

Humorous Card

The new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is to create a project that is humorous.  I chose a funny diet saying to go with the slice of cake sticker that I found.  I printed the sentiment on cardstock and added a little distress ink.  The doily diecut is from Michael's.  Stop by Ruby's and show us your funny side today.

Christmas Tag

This month's challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenges is "Tags".  I have decorated a tag with lots of Christmas embellishments.  The snowman is cute little sticker and it is layered over shapes cut from Christmas paper.  The holly leaves are very dimensional and the red poinsettia adds just the right touch.  No tag is complete without a little bit of lace.  Our sponsors this month are Bugaboo Digi Stamps who is giving away 7 digi stamps and Marianne Design who is giving away a surprise. 

Anything Goes

The new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is Anything Goes.  Show us any project you like and it doesn't have to be a card.  My project is a pop-up thank you box.  The box was cut on my die cutting machine and the little flowers and pop-up embellishments all move.  This is a perfect thank you card and it even lays flat in an envelope.  Stop by Ruby's and show us your creation.

Clean and Simple

The new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is C.A.S, Clean and Simple.  I chose a card I created using a pressed flower from my butterfly bush.  I mounted the flower on handmade paper layered over corrugated cardstock.  This is probably the most simple card I have ever made.  Show us your designs at Ruby's.

E is for Edges

The new challenge at Alphabet Challenges is "E" is for Edges.  I have chosen this over the top lace embroidered bracelet.  My daughter Gianna makes jewelry for our family company, Dry Gulch and this is one of her pieces.  She has embellished this cuff bracelet with crochet flowers made by me as well as buttons and seed beads.  Stop by Alphabet Challenges and show us your project with fancy edges.

Dance

The new challenge at Alphabet Challenges is "D" for Dance.  I found this cute vintage postcard of dancing frogs.  for those who know me, this is perfect.  I can't seem to get enough of old postcard images.  I layered soft papers for the base and added pearl gem swirls.  Every card needs lace and I found a beautiful ribbon rose for the corner.  Stop by and show us what you make for "D" for Dance.

Bunnies

The new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is bunnies.  This is the perfect theme for this week since Easter is this weekend.  I am sending this card to my sister today.  I started with spring colored papers and then added a vintage postcard print of a bunny.  I distressed and inked the edges of the image - I love the way that technique ages new pictures.  The lace bottom reminds me of an Easter dress and the diecut border is just the right amount of frilly.  Join us at Ruby's and show us what you make.

Christmas with Kraft

This month's challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenges is to create something using Kraft paper.  I used a kraft cardstock with red glitter for my card base.  I layered it with a kraft paper that has a lace pattern and then added a beautiful red Christmas ornament sticker.  I embellished the corners of the card with ornate filigrees from Dry Gulch.  Stop by and show us your Kraft creations and you could win a prize.

Our sponsors:  Crafty Sentiments (prize 3 digi's ) 

Fantastic Ribbons (£10 inc + free P&P)

Cute and Cuddly

The new challenge at Alphabet Challenges is Cut and Cuddly.  Since Easter is right around the corner, I decided to create an Easter card.  I found a vintage postcard image of four bunnies and added diecuts and gem swirls.  The crocheted flowers remind me of spring.  The crystal gems and lace finish it off.  Stop by and show us your cute and cuddly creations.

Buttons and Bows

Our new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is to create a project using buttons and bows.  I chose a butterfly themed card in bright colors embellished with vintage buttons and little orange bows.  I added some pale yellow lace and some tiny diecuts.  This one reminds me of spring which I am soooo ready for.  Stop by Ruby's and show us what you create.

"B" is for Beautiful Babies Challenge

The new challenge at Alphabet Challenges is "B" for Beautiful Babies.  I chose a girlie pink card, because a friend of mine is expecting a girl this month.  I distressed the background paper and inked it up a little.  The baby carriage vintage print is from an ephemera pack that I have had forever.  The pink foil border is a vintage German Dresden piece.  These are always so hard to find, but sometimes The Speckled Egg has them.  They have fantastic vintage "stuff".  Stop by Alphabet Challenges to see what the design team has created.  We want to see your creations too.

Anything but a Card

The latest challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is to make "Anything but a Card".  I chose a tag that I designed in Silhouette Studio software and then cut with my Cameo machine.  I wanted it to be shaped a little like a dress form and the lace on the bottom reminds me of a dress.  The bird cutout is something I traced and I love the little flourish cutout in the middle.  I created this tag as a custom order for a customer in Texas.  She has a darling clothing and gift boutique.  Stop by Ruby's and show us your creation.

Grow Your Blog Winner!

I am very excited about the package that came in the mail yesterday.  Several of the participants in the Grow Your Blog Hop offered giveaways and I was the lucky winner of one of them!  Judy McCarthy of Judy's Fabrications from Australia sent me these beautiful handmade tags that are loaded with decorative elements.  She also sent me a fabulous heart ornament that she stitched and embellished with lots of beads.  Judy does beautiful work and she is very talented.  Stop by her blog to see her latest creative endeavors.  She also offers her beauties for sale on Etsy. 

Make it Green

This month's challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenges was chosen by me and the theme is "Make it Green".  Even though we are making Christmas cards, we are thinking green for March.  I started by layering papers and then adding a bit of green holly ribbon on the side.  The dimensional holly stickers are from K & Co. and the "25" rectangle is a cutout from Making Memories paper.  I needed a little sparkle, so I added the green gems along the bottom.  We have two sponsors this month.  The first is Deedees Digis and the prize is a $25 voucher.  The second is Di's Digi Downloads and the prize is a $10 voucher.

A is for Apples

The newest challenge at Alphabet Challenges is "A" for Apples.  I found a beautiful vintage image of colorful apples and used that as my starting point.  I distressed and inked the edges and then layered it over flourish diecuts.  The leaves are pearly pins clustered around a pretty metal flower that I tinted with alcohol inks.  The pom pom trim reminds me of apples dangling from a tree.  Be sure to show us what you can create with apples.

Anything Green

Our newest challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is to create something that is green.  It is my turn to host this fun challenge.  I started with a minty shade of green for my background papers and added diecut flourishes on the sides.  The center is a sticker from Bo Bunny and it has lots of glitter around the edges.  The tiny flowers go well with the pretty butterflies.  The metallic green trim is a perfect match to the metallic green circles in the background paper.  A little lace finishes it off quite nicely.  I hope you will join us at Ruby's.  We would love to see what you create.

Z for Zentangle

The new challenge this week at Alphabet Challenges is "Z" for Zentangle.  This fascinating form of freehand drawing uses lines, circles, doodles and more.  This is the perfect art for people who think they cannot draw (like me).  You follow a few simple rules to re-create a design from a pattern and before you know it, you have a really great drawing.  You can color the design or leave it in black and white.  Traditional zentangles are created on 4 inches square tiles in black and white.  You can learn more at Zentangle.com.  We hope you will give this art form a try.

I zentangled my background paper using watercolor paper and colored pencils.  I added a bold flower cut with my Cameo and a little lace.  The rhinestone flower center was just plain crystal so I tinted it with alcohol inks. You can color both acrylic and crystal gems with alcohol inks.   Here are a few examples of amazing designs created by other artists.

Soon be Spring Challenge

The new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is Soon Be Spring and I wish it would come a little sooner.  I do have my first blooms of the year, however, so that always makes me happy.  I chose a bird with a birdcage for my spring card.  I used my new Cameo to diecut the swirls, birdcage and the bird.  I layered the diecuts over torn and tattered papers that I stitched together with the sewing machine.  Spring means flowers, so I added pops of little flower clusters.  My card was missing something, so I added some lace on the bottom.  Much better! I hope you will stop by Ruby's and show us your spring creation.

Snowdrops in my garden.