Monday, February 28, 2011

Enabling you all !

Can you believe this!  You can leave a comment HERE for a chance to win, but I had to pre-order it HERE because I am not patient enough to see if luck is on my side LOL!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #58



Good Morning,

Welcome to another Once Upon a Wednesday Pixie Cottage Challenge. We have a wonderful sketch created by one of our very own Pixie's for you to try out, and the theme this week is CUTE. 

The theme immediately had me reaching for this cute Baby Maisy  Pixie Cottage stamp from Michelle's Scrapbooking and More,  and I just had to pair it up with Sassafras design paper. To fill in the right  side of my card I used yellow foam stickers.

What will you be using?   Will you choose to use the sketch, the theme or both?  I can't wait to find out!

Happy Krafting!  I hope everyone has a bright and cheerful Wednesday.
Hugs,
Tanya

Challenges this qualifies for are:
My Sheri Crafts: All About Girls
Simply Create: Bold and Bright
Stamps R Us: For the girls
Top Tip Tuesday: Bling It On

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Tuesday Takes Challenge #14

Good Morning,

Can you believe we are already at the end of February?  This fine day we find ourselves being challenged at Tuesday Takes @ Sketches In Thyme with this fab Mojo Monday sketch.  I hope you all decide to play along as it is always nice to see fresh and inspiring takes you all share with us each week. Don't forget you are playing for this fab prize this month.



I rotated the sketch, and decided to try out something new.  I got out some of my lonely Gel-A-Tin stamp sets, and started creating.  I have wet embossed, inked, punched out and glued for this card, and had fun.  Of course it is really different than most of my cards, but different can be fun.  I like the "earthy" feel to it, and the fact that due to the style, things did not have to fit perfectly on the card. For example, I used alcohol inks to stain some of the kraft paper, then adhered the acrylic butterflies to it.  I normally dislike using acrylic shapes because the glue shows through.  But this time, the glue showing through works with the rest of the card.

Once again, curious where I got the kraft paper?  Check out my sidebar, I have a link to The Kraft Outlet, and they keep adding new stock! Speaking of which, The Kraft Journal's challenge this week is bling, so I am surely entering this one into that challenge. Not to mention Top Tip Tuesdays Bling it On challenge.

Have fun krafting!
Hugs,
Tanya

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Folded Envelope Tutorial for The Pixie Cottage

Folded Envelope Gift Card Holder Tutorial

Did you know that every Saturday, The Pixie Cottage  posts a tutorial for all of you to enjoy.  I for one LOVE learning new things.  Today is my turn to create the Saturday tutorial.  I have been working on something that I hope you will all enjoy trying out.  I am going to show you how to take an envelope and turn it into your very own Gift Card Holder.

The required materials are;
  1. One  Medium Envelope- 5 3/4" x 4 3/8"
  2. Scor Pal (you can eyeball this as well and fold by hand)
  3. Bone folder (optional as well, you can use your fingernail)
  4. One Gift Card of your choice
  5. Double Sided Sticky tape, paper and embellishments

Take your envelope and score it  at 1 1/2". 


Turn the envelope over, fold the scored edge, and run your bone folder over the fold to make it permanent.


Fold the other side of the envelope so that the edge meets up approximately in the center with the other edge.


Your envelope should now look like this. And you can now proceed to put your gift card in the center of it.


Fold the envelope together and bring the top flap down. I chose to round the edges with a punch, any artistic freedom is totally up to you now.


I decided to seal mine using a punched out and embossed scalloped circle. The stamp is  The Pixie Cottage Love sentiment stamp. (This is where I used my double sided sticky tape.  It sealed my gift card holder, and made it secure.)


Last but not least, embellishing the front.  Again, this is where artistic freedom comes in to play.  This fantastic  background paper is none other than Donna Salazar's Crafty Chronicle paper, and it was purchased from Michelle's Scrapbooking and More. It is a re-usable newsletter, full of nifty information.  Once it has been read, you can use it to craft with because it is "Acid-Free"!

Now ladies, this tutorial can be altered to suit any envelope.  All you have to do is make sure that when you are folding your envelope, the edges meet in the center.  Oh the possibilities! So be sure to play, have fun, and get creative! If you try this out, please leave me a link to your blog, I would love to see what you do with it.

Happy Krafting!
Hugs,
Tanya


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #57


 Good Morning,

Once Upon a Wednesday over at The Pixie Cottage is now on it's 57 challenge.  This weeks theme is embossing, and the sketch  is a Pixie original.  You can choose to use the sketch, the theme, or you can challenge yourself and use both! 

I chose this wonderful Robin's  Nest stamp by ArTish.  It is one of the Pixie Cottage stamps available at Michelle's Scrapbooking and More.

For my creation, I started with the paper, working the layers into the sketch provided. Deciding on ribbon tape in the center meant using distress ink to match it with the colors of the paper.  I then chose my stamp.  I took my prisma pencils and colored the image in, only to go over it with an embossing pen.  I quickly added the embossing powder, heated it up, and voila!  You can see in the picture that the leaves and the nest are shiny, thus the addition on the theme was incorporated.

I tried to let intuition work it's magic, and I am always surprised with the outcome.  I managed to create something different this week, and while doing so, I actually used several things in my stash that have been sitting there, gathering dust. 

Happy Krafting ladies,  I am looking forward to seeing your take on this challenge.

Hugs
Tanya

P.S.  If you are curious as to where I got my tags, and my craft paper, why not head over to The Kraft Outlet, they have a variety of Kraft items for you to drool over.  LOL.



Challenges this qualifies for are:
The Kraft Journal:  Hip to be Square
Simon Says Stamp and Show:  stamp and show a tag
CCEE Stampers: Embossing

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Tuesday Takes @ Sketches In Thyme



Good Morning,

Today we get to enjoy another Tuesday Takes Card Challenge #13 @ Sketches In Thyme.  This week we have brought back a wonderful Mojo Monday Sketch for you to use, and as usual I am very excited to see all your different takes on the sketch.

My card is pretty simple this week. I chose the bingo card, and worked the card around that, keeping with the Black and Creme color scheme. I used both my Copic markers and my prisma color pencils on Suitcase Ruby. This card reminds me of the wonderful feeling I get when I am on my journey home after a vacation. I love getting away, but there is always a nice feeling knowing I am on my way back to the comforts of my own personal space. Can you relate?

By choosing to play, you will be entered into the monthly draw, and February's prize is this Glimmer Mist package.


Happy Krafting ladies, good luck with this challenge. 
Tanya

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Moxie Fab World: Tuesday Trigger

Good Evening,

I did it!  Finally, I actually found the time to participate in a Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger Challenge.   This means a lot to me, because it was one of my goals this year.  I think creating something based on a picture is brilliant, and considering my cards usually start off based on a sketch, this is a new concept for me.  And I have to say I love new things.

I needed another Valentines card for my daughter, and this pink, creme, and beige image triggered my memory. It reminded me of one of my packs of design paper with similar colors. I  had to scrounged through my pile of design paper, but I finally found this Stampin Up paper.  Now my card is not as sweet as that image, but I sure do think my little Jayme will love it.  Another card to put in her memory box.

Happy Krafting,
Hugs
Tanya

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Tuesday Takes #12


Good Morning,

It is Team B's week to create, inspire, and get you to play along with the Tuesday Takes @ Sketches in Thyme Challenge. I decided to give this Mojo Monday sketch for this week a go as well.

This is my very first Magnolia card. I hope you like her.  My daughter asked who this was for, and I said "I don't know."  So she promptly suggested it could be given to her.  I think that means she likes it.  I started inking my Magnolia girl during a craft session with Sheena.  I think I talked more than I crafted, so this card took a bit longer to finish than I had expected. But boy did I have fun.  There is something so very nice about crafting with your girlfriends.

Hope you guys play along too, just by having fun, using the sketch and uploading into the challenge, you have a chance at winning this month's fantastic Glimmer Mist prize.

Happy Krafting!
Hugs,
Tanya

Challenges this qualifies for are:
Just Magnolia: Anything Goes

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #56



Good Morning,

Welcome to another Once Upon a Wednesday Pixie Cottage Challenge #56. We have another superfantabulous sketch for you to try out, and the theme is Ribbon. Remember you have the choice, you can use the sketch and/or the theme, it is totally up to you.

I needed a birthday card for a 6 year old boy, so I chose Polkadotasaurus, a digital Pixie Cottage stamp available at Michelle's Scrapbooking and More.  Every time I look at him, he cracks me up! I incorporated the theme this week by adding the white ribbon on the left.  Without it, I felt there was too much white on the right side, not to mention I would have had nowhere to attach the cake charm.

Happy Krafting ladies, I can't wait to see what you all come up with.  The sketch itself is pretty cool.
Hugs,
Tanya


Challenges this qualifies for are:
Stamp Something: Digi Something
Sew Many Challenges: Anything Goes
Craft you Passion: Anything Goes

Monday, February 7, 2011

The Kraft Journal Challenge #5-LOVE


Good Monday Morning,


The Kraft Journal has a new challenge for you this week, and I was asked to be their guest. I am so happy to have had the chance to create something, along with their amazing design team, for this challenge. The theme-LOVE!  How appropriate for February.  Thank you again Kraft Journal for asking me to be your guest.

I recently purchased the Deluxe Sample Pack from The Kraft Outlet, and it came in useful when matching up the kraft color in my design paper for this card.  I enjoyed using the text weight  lt. kraft paper to make the scallop edged trim, and then matched it up and mounted the card and the different layers with the lt. kraft cardstock. This kit is wonderful, it has allowed me to see the differences in thickness and in color of each variety of kraft paper. Now there is never a dull moment at The Kraft Outlet, they are constantly bringing in delicious new products. You can keep track of all the happenings by signing up for their bi-monthly newsletter too. 

Coloring this image on Kraft was just so much fun.  The way the light colors show up just amazes me, and I have found a new love for my Prismacolor Pencils.  This card is full of LOVE, right down to my choice of materials used.  What is not to love about the stamp, the kraft paper, the wonderful embellishments.  Sigh, so many pretty things to use, so little time.......is it wrong of me to want to keep this one all to myself? LOL!


I hope your week has started off well, have a great day, and Happy Krafting!
Hugs
Tanya

Challenges this qualifies for are:
Crazy 4 Challenges: Valentinces Card
Totally Stampalicious: Three Hearts Challenge
Bunny Zoe's Challenge: Love is in the Air
The Crafty Pad: Love is in the Air

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

The Pixie Cottage Challenge#55


 Good Morning,

Welcome to another Once Upon a Wednesday, Pixie Cottage Challenge #55!
We have a wonderful sketch created by one of our own Pixies, for you to tackle and enjoy.  The theme this week is buttons.  How many will you use?  Will you go big, or stay small as I have?  I can not wait to see your creations.  Keep in mind, using The Pixie Cottage stamps makes us smile, but it is not a requirement, you can still join in the fun as long as you keep with the sketch and/or the theme.

I challenged myself this week.  I took some intidmidating paper, and tried to make a pretty card with it.  The colors on this paper are not ones that I would normally use.  But krafting outside our comfort zone is fun, and allows for growth.

My design paper, is none other than Indie Girl from Sasafras.  The oranges, blues and greens are very interesting, so I tried to match them up with my Copics.  Coloring in Springtime Hannah with Butterflies was enjoyable, and I think I was able to keep with the design paper hues.  Hannah is another Pixie Cottage Stamp, and she can be found at Michelle's Scrapbooking and More.  A perfect spring stamp too!  In order to incorporate some of the blue tones, I took my Gel-a-tins stamps and stamped in some floral background blues.  I chose to accessorize my card with tiny blue matt buttons.  The left side was a bit too plain, so to balance the card out, I added a piece of hemp twine and tied a bow.

Enjoy your Wednesday ladies, and happy Krafting.

Hugs,
Tanya


Challenges this qualifies for are:
Totally Stampalicious: No Reason At All (plain ol' greeting card)
Stamptacular Sunday: Whateva
The Paper Players: Anything Goes
Crafty Catz: Flowers

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Tuesday Takes Challenge @ Sketches In Thyme





Good Morning,

Welcome to another Tuesday Takes Challenge @ Sketches In Thyme. This week we are using a fabulous sketch from Mojo Monday.   When I first started crafting, I went to their site and used numerous sketches to get my Mojo going, it worked like a charm this time too.

I got this lovely Elisabeth Bell stamp from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design .   Elisabeth Bell always draws the cutest little girls and boys, and when I saw this one, I just had to have her because she looks like my eldest daughter, who just happens to love horses too.  I hope you all decide to peruse Susana's store,  she has many different stamps, some of which are exclusive to her store, such as the one above.

As for technique, I simply gathered my design paper, put it together, decided to use kraft paper for my image, and finished it off with some matching embellishments.  When using kraft paper for my stamped images, I always use my Prisma Colored Pencils along with my gamsol blending mineral spirits.  If you are looking for kraft paper for your collection, be sure to try The Kraft Outlet,  they have sample packs too, and quite the assortment.

I certainly hope you decide to play along, February's Prize is a Glimmer Mist Pack!


Happy Krafting, good luck, and most of all, HAVE FUN!
Hugs,
Tanya