Crabby?

Don't be! I've got a fun box set posted at May Arts today- using PSA stamps! Head over & check it out- don't forget to leave a comment there...!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

August 2012 PTI blog hop

I can't believe it's the 25th of the month! WHOA! Thank goodness Erin reminded me- and she'll be so proud of how challenge happy I am! This month's PTI challenge was all about fall texture- here's my take:

I stamped an argyle background with vintage cream & spring moss ink- smudging more on the left side to give a worn feel. I used the fun trendy tree die & some linen-type fabric for the top- I love how you can see the leaves embossed, but they come out in the die. And perfect for this week's MIM challenge!

The trunk is on dark chocolate cardstock, embossed with the woodgrain plate, which works for this week's Ribbon Carousel Challenge!

A little more texture with woven burlap & burlap string- both from May Arts. Tea dye ink around the edges finish it off.
And since it took MUCH repetition (and a little smudging) with that argyle stamp (PCD), I'll add this to the Moxie Fab Repitition challenge! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Hopping!! ;)

May Arts Swap!

I've got a post up today at May Arts featuring some super fun Basically Bare products!

Head over & check it out! Be sure you leave a comment- you KNOW how the Ribbon Lady loves to share the goodies!! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Skipping Stones, Artfully

I'm getting back in the swing of things & found a bit of time to create in between chores! I've used the great Artful Delight sketch by Karen & paired it with inspiration from Skipping Stones Designs.

The main colors that popped out at me were the red & white of the awning & the turqoise of the background- and the 'happy birthday' theme, of course! :)

I used a new to me set- pumpkin seeds sentiments, (Thanks Skipping Stones!) inked with Versamagic Aquatic Splash & Versacolor cardinal. The gorgeous ribbon is May Arts faux linen.
Now that I've got the inspiration pic here that blue isn't quite right, but that's the way the ball bounces sometimes. *sigh*. That's the color I remembered it being when I sat down to create! ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by! I'd love to hear what you think! :)

PDCC 143

I've got a wine tag to share today, using PDCC's colors!

Aqua mist cardstock, Nantucket pp- the roof is Cosmo Cricket, and some Baker's twine finishes it off!

 Isn't this a fab inspiration?

Still trying to catch up from being gone for nearly 3 weeks! oy.
There's still time to head over to May Arts & leave a comment for a chance to win some ribbon!!!
Thanks for stopping by!

Prima Ribbonista!

I made it!!!! WOOHOO!!! I'm so excited to be remaining a part of the May Arts team! And you know the Ribbon Lady loves to celebrate with ribbon- so head over & leave a comment for your chance! You can also leave a comment on the Facebook page, and the intro pages for the team! SO MANY ways to increase your odds! ;)
And to add to that fun- I've got a post up at May Arts for you to check out!

I've been off grid for nearly 3 weeks- so it's going to take a bit for me to catch up! Looking forward to visiting blogs & being inspired....
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

Artful Delight....

I've got a card to play along with the Artful Delight challenge- it's a fabulous sketch by Karen!!
The paper & sticker are all Basic Grey- with some yummy May Arts silk & crochet!

Have you visited the May Arts blog this week? The Ribbon Lady has all the application posts up! I'd love it if you would go take a look!!! I'm crossing my fingers to stay on the fabulous team! :)

Skipping Stones #136

Hi there! I feel like I was in a crafty frenzy tonight- trying to get some much needed cards done with limited time!!!
I adored the Skipping Stones inspiration- here's my take:

 Second time I've used the grunge set in a decidedly un-grungy way! A bit of May Arts satin pleats in grey- trust me when I say it doesn't look quite this dark in person (^(&% night photos!)

 A few pearls to add to the wedding feel!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I'd love to hear what you think!

RC buttons & bows

I've got a cute gift bag to share today- and play with the Ribbon Carousel's buttons & bows challenge!
Some of my faves here- May Arts 1.5" grosgrain stripe, frayed flower, and burlap string tying on a button & a sweet tiny tag.

Doesn't it add so much? :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Kissing Ball with Ribbon

I've got a post up at May Arts- go here to check out how simple it was to make this kissing ball!

Be sure to let me know what you think! :)

PDCC with ~amy~

Why yes, trees two days in a  row! hee.
I wanted to play with the Play Date colors- so excited that ~amy~ is a private blend designer there- she is on FIRE! ;)

So I've used some paper won from Amy, that has gold foil on it, as well as gold embossing powder on the sentiment. My tag is 'nude', and the sheer ribbon & string are silver. The kraft base is embossed with woodgrain, and the felt for the trunk was embossed when I bought it.

And since Erin has me challenge happy, I'll add this to the Simon Says tag or ATC challenge!

Trendy Trees...

I've got a card to share using PTI's Make it Monday stamp on patterned paper challenge!

Put some of that yummy Nantucket paper to work, and added some Baker's twine to ground the image & highlight the sentiment (and because it is just too fun!)

And since this is a birthday card featuring stamping, I'll add it to the Moxie Fab World challenge! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Skipping Stones & RCC

I've got a card to share today! :) I've used the beautiful new Skipping Stones Breathtaking Butterflies (Thanks, Karen!!!) Stamps to create my focal point. I stamped the background in navy, and embossed the top with white diamond embossing powder. The patterned paper is ooooolllld JBS, and I even embossed a nestie scallop frame. I tied a bit of navy burlap string, also using it for antennae. If you are wondering why the 6 'diamonds' under the sentiment- this card is for my husband's Aunt & Uncle's 60th wedding anniversary- and diamonds are the theme for 60 years!

So I will link to Skipping Stones challenge, the Ribbon Carousel's challenge & Kim Kesti's challenge! (Erin will be so proud! lol)
And here's a couple of pics from our 4th- it's rare to get a family shot!

 And my cutie parents celebrated with us! :)

 And because this guy came for a visit in my golden full-moon maple this morning, I'll share his fun pic too!

Summer FINALLY arrived in the PNW- the joke is that it shows up on the 5th of July, but this year it was the 4th!!! So we're about to head out for some slip & slide fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Happy Birthday, Erin!

Today is Erin's birthday, and it wouldn't be complete without an ode to her! Karen & I decided that we needed to add a challenge, as true homage!

So we're playing along with the Lawnscaping Challenge- to add dimension! I've inked up 'say cheese' and 'lunar lights'.

I've paper pieced with Cosmo Cricket paper onto a MME 'sky'.  And since one challenge didn't seem like enough to really honor Erin, I'll play in Kim Kesti's challenge to use something new (lunar lights)& something old- I don't really want to admit how long I've had those patterned papers! And Moxie Fab World is having a Stamped Birthday Challenge, so I'll link up there too!

Happy Birthday, Erin!!! I hope it's a great day & the start of a great year!

May Arts Design Team Application- Round 2!

Happy 4th of July!!!

I've got a tutorial for you- my submission for Round 2 of the May Arts Design Team call! (yes, I was giddy to have made it this far!)
Today I'm showing you how to make those cute corkscrew barrettes that you can pay a fortune for at department stores! Here's my purchased example:

Did you know that if you bake your ribbon on dowels it will hold the corkscrew shape? So fun! Here's my rainbow of ribbon ready to go into the oven! ;)

I used 3/16" dowels (cut to 16") and 1/4" & 3/8" ribbon. Here's a pic of one of May Arts new super cute 1/4" white/mini dot wrapped & secured with a clothespin.

I baked the ribbon on a foil lined sheet at 275 degrees for 25 minutes. The 1/4" was done in that time, but the 3/8" took longer, so I kept checking it at 5 minute intervals until it held it's shape when I unwrapped it from the dowel. (A quick tip- if you lightly sand your dowels before you start the ribbon will slide off without a hitch!)
And here's a fun pile of corkscrew ribbon!

Now to make the barrettes! I used my imaginesce i-magicut ribbon cutter to cut the ribbon in 3" segments. You could certainly make them smaller or larger- I was using the Gymboree clip as my guide. I cut 8 segments, varying the colors.

I stacked the ribbon in alternating colors & used a threaded needle to pierce them in the center- do you like my fancy tool to push the needle into? ;)

I pulled the thread through all the layers- I'm using white thread so that you can see it more clearly, but you could certainly use thread that matches!

I then wrapped the thread several times around the center & tied it off.

I used a ribbon lined clip (you can see my tutuorial on how to do those here) & hot glued the bow to the center.

To give it a finished look I cut a matching piece of ribbon to a little over 1.5".

I hot glued it to the inside, wrapped it around the ringlets & hot glued it to the inside again.

And then I made some cutie tags for display!

I LOVE this one! (Ribbon: 1/4" solid/check, , 1/4" solid/iridescent.)

Isn't this perfect for the 4th of July? :) (Same ribbon as above, plus 3/8" grosgrain)

And I thought this little green one turned out super cute! That mini-dot ribbon is so well suited for these clips! (3/8" grosgrain also used)

I found that the 1/4" ribbon really does hold the corkscrew well- the 3/8" adds some whimsy, as the curl is softer. I love that I can make clips in so many colors!

And what else might you use that cute curly ribbon for? I thought it looked darling on a little birthday gift!

And if you made it this far- yay!

I have loved being a Prima Ribbonista for May Arts! The Ribbon Lady is awesome, and I'm constantly inspired by the other members of the design team! So I'll cross my fingers to get to stay...!

And since I've got red, white & blue featured, I'll play in the Ribbon Carousel's Challenge (kind of perfect, as they carry tons of May Arts ribbon!), as well as Simon Says Stamp's ATC or Tag challenge! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by! I'd love to hear what you think!