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'

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:)

Studio L3 Challenge:)

I went to the Carson Stamp Show yesterday with my dear friend, Karen and we met some great ladies that are members of a yahoo group called "All Things Tim".  Actually, I believe one of the ladies created the group.  They were very sweet and told me to e-mail them for an invitation to join the group....Thank you, Ladies...I've sent my e-mail and am anxiouxly awaiting your reply:)

Anyway, while I was cruisin' around, I also found this site called Studio L3 where there is an ongoing challenge to use T!m's new "A Compendium of Curiosities" book to complete challenges.  Today's challenge is to use T!m's shabby chic technique...one of OH SO MANY awesome techniques found in his book.

I decided to play along and have completed my project for this challenge:

For detailed instructions on how to do the technique, check out page 49 of the book.  I chose to use the following:

Plain grungeboard for the "bird cage".  I used an espresso paint dabber, then T!m's notepaper stamp with embossing ink.  I used terra cotta embossing powder and once dry went back over with a pool paint dabber.  Then I ran it through my big shot, using T!m's scallop alterations die.  You know me....being the frugal scrapper and all, I just HAD to use the negative cut from the die for the bottom of my "cage".

I covered my grunge page with a snow cap paint dabber, used some of my favorite T!m stamps (frame and floral) with some embossing ink and clear embossing powder.  Over top, I used my citrus paint dabber (and a little pool here and there).

I used sepia archival ink on the bird and branch.  I added one of T!m's mettal keyholes and scraps from my "bird cage" roof to close in the sides.  Once this was done, I spritzed my "new" favorite mist (a mix of water and "pearl" perfect pearls) which gave my cage a nice shiny appearance (hard to see in the picture).

Again, in my typical fashion, I used the key sample from my newly opened hardware findings die, first covering it with my pool paint dabber, then pressing it randomly into embossing ink.  I then added some terra cotta embossing powder to make the key look rusted.

I added a couple of buttons from my stash and a stamped phrase...it's all perspective...is the bird really in the cage or are we?

I had fun playing along...now to go post to the challenge:)

EnJOY:)

Lori McCausland, FSE

I'm just a girl in a mixed media world...