All Dressed up, creatively sewing, and Two Peas Card Challenge

I've been following the new card challenges over at Two Peas and this challenge sounding interesting so I thought I'd give it a try.  I've only completed one card so far...and I have to say, I've gone WAY overboard with the actual challenge (which is to use pop dots on your card).

First, I decided to get my "new" (new to me, but actually secondhand) sewing machine out to play:)  I'd been admiring my friend Melody's cards from afar (well actually, I've been able to see the originals, but Melody always makes me give them back, lol)...anyway, I've been wanting to try sewing on my cards for a while and FINALLY did it today!

Here's a sneek peek:

Now, I did realize that I need to buy more thread...and probably need to use something that is thicker than normal sewing thread...so back to Melody I'll go for more advice:)

I've realized that I've also given you a sneak peek into how I altered two of Tim's dies...the rosette die and the hanging sign die:)  More on that further down...

Here is the entire dress:

I used some old Cosmo Cricket paper I had (and STILL LOVE) to form my "dress".  I used the rosette die to make the skirt and then cut the die apart and laid it in layers on the card.  I also used the hanging sign die (the hanger part) to make my stand for my dress form.  Oh yes, and I got my dress form here.  It was the perfect size for a card.  I printed the dress form picturs from the post and drew around it with a black sharpie.  Since the sharpie went through my paper, I turned it over and used the back of the picture for my template...genious, huh?

I just LOVE how this entire card turned out!

I can tell this is NOT the last time I'll put sewing on a card!  Of course, also based on Melody's advice, I did finish the inside of this card (and sewed in there too), but forgot to take a picture of it...

And ya know, I still just LOVE this sentiment...and how the angle on this picture makes it mean even more (to me anyway)...

Oh and BTW, if you've been here before, you know I've totally changed my blog around...again...and don't ya just dig how this card matches my new color scheme?  Gotta love it "when a plan comes together"...

Happy Scrappin'

Another Counterfeit Kit Challenge Project:)

O.k....I have to say, I just LOVE Gloria's sketches.  Again today, I just had to use one of her awesome sketches to complete yet another card using my March kit inspired by the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog.

Check Gloria's sketch out here.  Make sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post for the sketch...trust me, it's worth "scrollin'" for!

I'll also post her sketch here, but DEFINITELY visit her blog, too!

Here's my take on it:

I did twist the sketch just a bit, but was very happy to use the items from my kit to complete this card.  The only other thing I added was a piece of coredinations paper that I embossed using one of my cuttlebug folders.  I love the way it matches the paper on the top of the card...but in reverse!

enJOY your day!

Simon Says Stamp Challenge-Sparkle!

I've been "lurking" on the Simon Says Stamp challenge site for a while now, and have finally had the opportunity to play along.  Since this is the first challenge I'm participating in, it's a bit intimidating, for sure...all those entries and the challenge...Sparkle...what does that mean?  The DT samples are AMAZING and I've seen some pearls and some rhinestones on the cards...I also noticed that they are all square cards.  I have noticed that many cards are square these days, so I must just be behind the times (which is normal for me, lol)...I didn't have my first microwave until well into the 1990's, lol.

Hmmmmm...I must not have been a good lurker if I still have questions...well, I'm gonna give it a go with my first card in the Sparkle category:)

Still going with my own challenge of the day, to use just scraps...I found parts to an old TNT kit from a challenge group at Ever After Scrapbooks.  It's probably a year or two old, but I still like these papers.  I decided to stay with a masculine theme, but also challenge myself to make a "romantic" card.

The sparkle on this card is black rhinstones and perfect pearls spray.  Perfect Pearls spray is normally hard to see in photos, but I think the close-up below does a good job of showing it off.

I thought this #'s stamp was perfect for what I was trying to achieve...since it's a "love" card, I thought the inside would say something like "let me COUNT the ways"...

enJOY:)

Lori, FSE:)

"Waterpainting" with Mr. T!m's Distress Inks

As promised, I'm back with a technique I use often.  I call it "water painting" with Mr. T!m's distress inks.  Since Autumn has arrived, I decided to "waterpaint" using some of my favorite Autumn inks.

Now for this technique, it is important to position your inks on your craft mat so that they portray the background your are trying to achieve.  Since I wanted to start by "painting" my sky and ground, I started with the Forest Moss and Tumbled Glass inks...I swished the inks across my craft mat in a kind of "S" fashion.

I know it's hard to tell in this picture, but I swished Tumbled Glass and right beneath, swished Forest Moss across my mat.  Then I spritzed with water using a mini mister water the inks down a bit.

Then I layed a plain white piece of cardstock over the ink.  I have found it's best to use a "non" textured cardstock for this type of project.

Then I dry the ink so when I layer more ink over it, it won't get "muddy".

I then took a "tree" stamp from my stash and just inked part of it since I only wanted the "trees on the edge of the project.  I used archival Sepia ink for these trees so that the trees would not be effected once I layered more distress ink "painting" on top of what I'd already done.

I repeated my "swishing" technique using Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, and Rusty Hinge distress inks.  I added more water using a mini mister and just patted my paper on the ink. I then used one of T!m's decorative corner stamps and decorated the corners of the project using the Sepia archival ink again.  The cool thing about the archival ink is that once it's dry, it will NOT react to getting wet like the distress inks do.

I added another one of T!m's stamps to another piece of white cardstock (this time with black archival ink)and "painted" with more distress inks as seen below.  With this technique, I just randomly took the ink pads right to the paper, lightly tapping them until I got the effect I was looking for.  I used Tumbled Glass, Mustard Seed, and Spiced Marmalade.

Then viola...I added some subtle fibers and one of T!m's coins and I'm finished...

You can find T!m's distress inks here at CropStop.com.  You can also find many of T!m's ideal-ology products here, also at CropStop.com.  They also carry many of T!m's Stampers Anonymous stamps here.

I hope you enjoyed this short tutorial:) 

Feel free to share a link to your project using this technique via a comment to this post:)

Yours creatively,

Lori M., FSE:)

Studio L3 Distress Embossing Powder Challenge:)

This week's challenge over at Studio L3 is to use the instructions in T!m's Compendium of Curiosities idea book.  The main objective is to use T!m's distress embossing powders.

For the full instructions, turn to page 43 of T!m's book.

Shown below is a simple card I made.  I hope to make something more substantial with the powders today, but wanted to at least complete the challenge:)

I also want to show you a close up since it's hard to see the texture of these awesome distress embossing powders in a photo.

Now, I do LOVE my old "regular" embossing powders, but can I say WOW?!?!?!  These distress embossing powders are an entirely different "animal".  They don't get shiny, they get grungy...kind of like sand paper...the cool thing is that they STAY PUT (well except for the release crystals) that are SUPPOSED to rub off, lol:)

LOOOOOOOOVVVVE IT!!!!

Happy Crafting,

Lori, FSE:)

(Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

Just the "scraps" ma'am at Frugal Scrappin' in July!

That's right, fellow scrappers:)  Whoo hoo...I'm REALLY excited about July's Frugal Scrappin' class at Ever After.  Join us as we go "back in time" and reminisce about those "scraps" we've been hoarding...it's time to bring them out, use them up, and send them out...as awesomely frugally made MAILABLE cards!

July's Frugal Scrappin' class is sure to be a tremendous HIT!  We will "PLAY" with our old favorite scraps as we assemble some great FLAT cards, great for mailing...no extra postage necessary!  We will use layering techniques that will give our cards DIMENSION without the BULK.

I challenge you to bring your favorite scraps and I will show you some tips 'n tricks on how to layer, use positive AND negative "space", make your own "templates", and more!  Of course, in true FRUGAL SCRAPPIN" STYLE, we will use my FAVORITE T!m product...distress inks:)

Below is a sample of some of the cards I've made with some of my favorite scraps...you may recognize these lines from days gone past...a little Basic Grey AND Cosmo Cricket!

As an added BONUS, there will be a little "contest" in class...I'll be bringing out a few of my favorite catch phrases from days gone by...with a word or two missing...all you need to do is fill in the "scrap" for your chance to win a $5 EA gift card!

As always, this class is fillin' fast!  Sign up right away!  Class details below:

Class Date:  July 29, 2010

Time:  6:30p.m. -8:30 p.m.

Price:  $15

Supply list:

• You favorite patterned paper scraps

• Scissors
• Paper Trimmer
• Distress Inks (neutrals and colors)
• Brown/Black Archival or Staz On Inks
• Your favorite adhesive (tape runner, etc)
• YOUR CREATIVITY
 
Can't wait to see you there!

Frugal Scrappin' at Ever After:)

It's that time again, fellow scrappers, to share my class samples for the monthly Frugal Scrappin' class at Ever After Scrapbooks.  As I'm sure you know, this class will include some of my FAVORITE T!M HOLTZ products!

FRUGAL SCRAPPIN' CLASS

Class Date:  Thursday, March 25th

Class Time:  6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

This month is just flyin' by AND the class is already full:) There is a wait list for anyone interested in signing up. (Hey...maybe we can even add a second class date...HOW KEWL would that BE?)

I feel very blessed to have such a great group of crafters that attend my class each month.  I am also inspired by their creativity.  They just make my heart smile:)

Now on to the samples:

You may notice that there are only 3 cards shown, so I'm REALLY excited to tell you about a SPECIAL TREAT this month...Now, each card has a very DIFFERENT technique used and I KNOW each person will have a FAVORITE, sooooo....I will have supplies available for each student to go back and try their FAVORITE technique from the class a SECOND time:)  Whoo hoo!!!!

With that in mind, you will end up with FOUR awesomely creative cards to take home.  You can design it any way you want to.  I will have extra stamps available if you want to make something slightly different the second time around.

If you haven't done so yet, come on down (or up, or over) to Ever After and sign up for this awesome class.  It's sure to knock your creativity into HIGH GEAR.

ADDED BONUS!!!!  We have placed an order ESPECIALLY for you that will include the products used in this class.  This way, once you try these techniques, you can purchase your own supplies to use in class AND you can take them home and try them again! 

Whoo hoo!!!!

Happy Scrappin'

Lori McCausland, your friendly Frugal Scrapper Extaordinaire:)

Frugal Scrappin' for LOVE:)

LOVE is in the air and there is VINTAGE everywhere:)

Now, I know, I know...it's not even 2010 yet, and I'm already pushin' Valentine's Day:)  Well, bloggers this Christmas Holiday season has filled my heart with so much joy that I just want to roll it right into the next holiday where we think of those we love...what better way to get started then to make some warm, vintage, Valentine's cards....FRUGAL SCRAPPER STYLE, of course:)

These cards are the samples for my Frugal Scrappin' class that will be held on Thursday, January 28, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Ever After Scrapbooks in Vista, Ca.  These classes have been EXTREMELY popular since I started running them in June, 2009.  Initially, I bounced them around from month to month...sometimes at the beginning of the month, and sometimes at the end....even the day of the week changed each month.

I'm very happy to say that the FRUGAL SCRAPPER (that would be me, lol) has finally settled on a specific day each month.  Starting in 2010, my monthly Frugal Scrappin' classes will be held on the 4th Thursday of every month.  Settling on the 4th Thursday does have some major advantages...you can now PLAN your schedule AROUND the frugal scrappin' classes:)  Since we have many students who attend EVERY MONTH, it will be so much easier to plan your schedule this way.  Also, by having the class at the end of the month, there is PLENTY of time for Ever After to advertise (of course, as long as I get the samples in on time, lol).

O.k.....now what HASN'T CHANGED, you ask????  The Frugal price of $15!  Whoo hoo!!!!  In addition, these classes will continue to be FILLED with awesome TECHNIQUES geared toward teaching you ways to USE your STASH...and of course, all those AWESOME scrapbooking TOOLS out there in the marketplace.

Since these pic's are samples for my upcoming class, I do not post specific instructions...HOWEVER...if you do not live in the southern California area and cannot attend the Frugal Scrappin' class, feel free to e-mail me with any questions you have about how to make these cards and I'll be happy to answer them:)

Happy NEW YEAR!!!

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

Creating again...Frugal Scrapper Style:)

Whew....finally, I've had some time to create today:) I feel like it's been "forever" since I've had some time to just relax and create...whoo hoo!

Now, since my time is precious, I've had to create "with a little help from my friends"...my friends being my Paper Craft magazine and the twopeasinabucket webiste...

If you subscribe to Paper Craft magazine (or have the current copy), you may recognize my "a perfect ending to a perfect day" card...I did use my own techniques on this card, but the appearance is similar to one in the magazine. For this card, I used alcohol inks with glossy card stock. I used a few stamps (with my favorite staz on ink, of course), added some ribbon and buttons, and voila, a perfectly awesome fall card.

I also make one card with some leaves from my local dollar store...I used some stamps, stickles and some embossing powder to create a great "Thinking of You" card.

I made the card at top right and bottom left using one of the 2 Peas techniques from their fall stamping tutorials...of course, I was happy to use my distress inks and even a page from an old AAA travel book, whoo hoo for frugal scrappin'!

The tag at middle top was made using various techniques including the use of products such as distress inks, glimmer mist, staz on ink, a few stamps, some ribbon, flowers and buttons. There is alot of layering in this tag and is one of my favorite items for my upcoming Frugal Scrappin' class at Ever After Scrapbooks. This tag will make use of alot of my frugal scrappin' techniques and will allow for alot of creativity from my students.

Wow, it's good to be creating again...

Enjoy:)

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

MDC Challenge

I made this card for two challenges:) One was for a challenge on http://mdcchallenges.blogspot.com/2009/01/thursdays-challenge.html where the challenge was to:

"For each card you may: Not use Nestabilities or Cuttlebug. Can use one patterned paper, cardstock, one embellishment, and two stamps, one of which must be a sentiment."

I hope I didn't disqualify myself, though...I realized I used ribbon AND buttons...I should have used a strip of cardstock instead of the ribbon, I guess.

The other challenge was on http://ymbd.blogspot.com/2009/01/january-card-class.html. This was to follow a tutorial and make a card.

Thanks to both Mothers and Daughters Creations AND Your Memories By Design for these great challenges:)