{Catching Up.... Day 1}

Well I have been designing for the Down A Dirt Road Scrapbooking Creative Team for 7 months now.... I completed my 6 month term and was asked if I would like to continue on with the Team. I jumped to say yes as it was so nice to pour my creativity into such a great team and it is local-ish to me...lol!

I realize that I have neglected my blogging and will be trying to keep up once I get caught up. We have so many great challenges and kits that we work with each month that it is time I start to share those with you all!

So let's go back to the beginning and I will share with you some of the great projects that I worked on...

For April I received Bo Bunny Timepiece collection with many extras. I had some input into what paper collections I like this month and I had bought a mini album that was part of the Bo Bunny line so it was my first choice in the paper collections.

When I bought the mini album it was one that I wanted to use for a memory album for my grandfather. He passed away when I was 8 and I don't have a lot of keepsakes from our time together and his life in general so I decided that it was important to start to document the memories I have to keep those so my children may one day get a little insight into my life and his as well. This was a very personal project for me and in trying to copy the photos for this album I have not yet added them yet...but like the album it is a precious reminded that time is necessary and not to be rushed...

To see more of this album check out my May Arts DT Call post.

Throughoutt the month the team members and I would post challenges and I wanted to share a few of them and my projects for them.
Jackie posted a challenge to celebrate the Pony Express...

 To celebrate the Pony Express I would like to see you create a layout or card containing an envelope and a stamp. The stamp can be just a piece of cardstock cut with "stamp" scissors.

Tracy posted a Creative Title Challenge.

This months Creative Titles challenge is to get your title from a song lyrics or a song title.

 

 Next Alicia posted a great Mix and Match challenge.

My challenge this week is a simple one. I want you to mix and match patterned papers from a minimum of 2 different companies...

We have more challenges that you can check out on the forum and participate in the current ones. I had a lot of fun in the month of April and it was one that had the Easter Mini Challenge too! I hope to see you stop by and say Hi over at the Down A Dirt Road Scrapbooking Forum!

{Halloween Blog Hop}

Welcome back....

I know it has been a while but I have so much fun stuff to share with you all...but that will have to wait! Right now I want to welcome you to our little blog hop from over at Down A Dirt Road Scrapbooking Forum.

If you are hopping over from Alicia's Blog, then you are right on track. If you are just catching this from being a follower of mine, then here's the schedule.

• Vernette
• Alicia
• Tasha {You are Here!}
• Tracy

Well now down to my projects...
I recently applied for the May Arts Halloween Challenge and was one lucky participant out of 21. I created a cool little Halloween Ribbon Tree.

I added some Halloween themed cardstock, black tulle ribbon, black wire and FIMO Clay to create a black bat, candy corns and glowing bones....and of course four amazing May Art Ribbons of my choice...(They are amazing!!!)

Next I created a quick door hanger that said Boo! I wanted to keep it really classy and simple. It may not scream Halloween but I think that it adds a little to the decor this season that is not a wreath...lol!

On to my next project of a Trio of Pumpkins...
I took some pressure treated 4x4's and distressed them. I painted it with a base coat of a taupe paint and top coat of an orange paint. I then took sandpaper and sanded and distressed the edges as desired. I then got my husband to cut some stems from a branch I had picked. Added them to the tops of the pumpkins and embellished with burlap and ribbon knots. I love how these turned out and even made a pair for a gift.

Finally, I created a few altered wooden frames. The first two I took some patterned paper and mod podeged them onto the frames. I inked the edges and added some sticker embellishments. A Glittery black raven and an epoxy sticker.

This last frame I created was one that I painted to look like a candy corn. I added some ribbon and burlap, a wooded button and a bow to finish it off...Love the look of this one!

Well I hope that this was inspirational and got you in the Halloween mood. Now hop on over to Tracy's blog and see what she has in store for you!

Come back tomorrow for a new post to see what I have been up to in my hiatus...You won't be disappointed!

Spring Scrap Card #2 ~ Spring Stash Project #5

Back again with the second version of the Spring card using a 2" x 3" scrap of card...

Taking the same design I switched the color to match the reverse side of the Doodlebug Designs cardstock. I added buttons and stamped the inside of the card.

By changing the little details you can use the same design or concept and create very different cards...

Try to switch

•  color of cardstock used
• color of accessories
• greeting
• opening direction
• paper designs
• and so much more...

Products Used:
White Cardstock
Doodlebug Designs Cardstock
My Peeps Stamp Set
Yellow Ribbon (Michaels)
Buttons
Ink - Archival Black
      - Sunny Yellow
Various Prismacolor Markers
Martha Stewart Corner Punch

Hope you get to put some of these options to work next time you are looking to add a little variation to your cards.

Happy Spring Card ~ Spring Stash #3

I have seen flowers created with ric rac and had always wanted to try to make them but never had...until now!

I took some pink ric rac and a 1 1/4" circle punch and cardstock. I punched the circle and used hot glue to adhere the ric rac to the circle. I figure that the product Glubers by Cosmo Cricket {available in circle and strips} would be perfect to use to create many varieties of flowers ~ without burning your fingers!

I used a die cut card and some Doodlebug Designs cardstock for my card. The yellow polka dot cardstock is from my own stash and my Close To My Heart Stamp set is one of my favorites. I stamped my greeting, the duck and the umbrella. I added Liquid Glass and Prisma Glitter to the umbrella. I added a jeweled brad and some pretty ribbon.

I am hoping to create a cute mini album out of this card but as of now....it's a card.

Products Used:
CTMH Colonial White Die Cut Card
Doodlebug Designs Cardstock
CTMH "Dotty For You" Cardstock
CTMH Pink Ric Rac Ribbon
Springtime Stamp Set ~ D1415
Sweet Leaf Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
Liquid Glass
Ink
Designer Rhinestone Brad
Prisma Glitter

Hope you check back to see what else I have been up to...

{Egg Hunt Layout}

~ Spring Stash Project #2 ~

Since my first project wasn't very Spring related I decided to use the Jenni Bowlin Bingo tag I recieved in my bonus goodies from Alicia at Down A Dirt Road Scrapbooking and use it for part of my title. I needed to gather products to use that went well with the tag so I chose to use some Lucy paper from Close To My Heart.

I grabbed a sheet of Lucy cardstock and started to plan my layout. I somehow thought argyle and cut out an argyle pattern with my Cricut and Art Philosophy Cartridge.

 I decided I haven't stitched a layout in a while and so I started to stitch a zig zag pattern in pink and green embroidery thread. Now I had to decide on how to use my bunny stamps. I stamped them and colored them. I added Liquid Glass to add texture and a glossy look to each and topped them up onto a scallop circle.

Now I decided spring and Easter needs flowers and I'm so over winter and snow I started stamping flowers and then instead of coloring them I added pastel vellum that was also stamped and adhered over the flowers. I started to add jewels and placed them onto the layout.

Only thing missing was a photo...

Hurry up E.B. (Easter Bunny) we need some eggs to hunt!

Head on over to the forum at:

Products Used
Jenni Bowlin Bingo Card
Handmade With Love pink flower (See Facebook)
Close To My Heart Lucy Cardstock
Bunny Love Stamp Set (B1324)
Friendship Blessings Stamp Set (D1191)
Cricut
Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge
Close To My Heart 2" Scallop Circle Punch
Close To My Heart Watercolor Pencils/ Waterbrush
Close To My Heart Liquid Glass
Unknown Pastel Vellum
Close To My Heart Bitty Sparkles
Unknown Embroidery Thread
DCVW Adhesive backed Cardstock
Close To My Heart Chipboard Tag and E
Close To My Heart Brads
Martha Stewart Glitter

{Baby Luv Layout}

~ Spring Stash Project 1 ~

I started this layout with the idea of making it an Easter one and it definitely did not end up being one...

I saw the colorful lines and the baker's twine and looking through my own stash I found clear buttons. I laid them down onto the page and knew they were going to be added to the layout.

I love washi tape but have never or hardly ever have I used any of my rolls...
...Well, I found some that I started to stick onto my layout and voila...it was staying!

I saw a journalling tag that was almost perfectly 4" x 6" size and remembered my flip flaps and decided to try one...

I think I will be needing more of them because they are amazing. I added some ribbon with a single knot and some pretty pins to accent them.

Add some rub-ons to the empty space, baker's twine for the buttons...Pick a title...luv in place of Love...I was short a letter so I improvised...

Hope you all enjoy my first "Spring Stash" project for the Creative Team at:

Products Used
Doodlebug Designs Cardstock
Doodlebug Designs Baker's Twine
American Crafts Ribbon
Recollections Washi Tape
Close To My Heart Clear Buttons
Close To My Heart Baker's Twine
Close To My Heart Lucy Rub-ons
Close To My Heart Pretty Pins
Close To My Heart 4" x 6" Flip Flaps
Close To My Heart Sophia Journal Tag
Unknown Lettering

Spring Blog Hop

I have been so excited to work with Alicia over at Down A Dirt Road Scrapbooking and participate as a member of the design team that I will post the results of my playing with the mini spring kit that she sent us all... I will definitely post more on each project later but for now...here is what I have made so far...in hind sight I wish I would have taken a photo of the initial kit...lol!

We are doing this as a blog hop so I hope that you have wandered over from Jackie's Blog. If not and you want to see every one's great projects, start over at Alicia's blog

So on with the show...

 Since I plan on sharing all the great details in some following blog post...I will leave to to travel over to Tracy's Blog and check out the blog in the coming days for some more great projects and a couple tutorials too!