Another Challenge Project

I have a list of websites that do challenges each week, sometimes I play along, sometimes I just look at the great creations of others because who doesn't like looking at pretty things!  Yesterday while browsing the various challenges I saw two that looked nice but held no appeal for me.  That was until this morning when I got up early to watch the live feed of Angie Kenedy Juna over at Chic N Scratch, long story short I didn't get to see the live feed because due to day light savings it was 2 hours earlier than I expected, and no way I would get up at 5am anyway lol.  But ... I decided to watch the video of the stream and on it she made a cute box, up sizing a box she had previously featured in a tutorial - not sure of the name of it but it has a feature I really like (more on that later).  So I decided to give it a go, but went back to her original video of a smaller version.  From there I just went in a direction that encompassed both of the challenges, so ... here is my take on the Crazy 4 Challenges Vintage/Shabby Chic, and the Our Creative Corner 3D project with a Valentine Theme.  I have also entered it as my second entry into the Hand Stamped Sentiments add Hearts Challenge.

I started out with Blushing Bride cardstock, and then because I didn't have any DSP that was really "vintage" I stamped the branch of flowers from Elements of Style onto some Very Vanilla cardstock in Basic Gray, water colouring with Blushing Bride and Certainly Celery (a colour that I haven't used in quite some time).  I decided it needed another layer to make it stand out, and remembering why Kasey, my upline had said about Champagne Shimmer Mist on gray I decided a layer of that would frame my "dsp" nicely. 

I also wanted to add one of the pieces from my recently acquired Hodge Podge Hardware, so chose a sentiment that would fit inside one of these and added it to the top of my box.  The only thing left to do was add some hearts of course!  I had made the "clasp" for the box out of a 1/2" circle, but replaced it with a heart to keep with the theme, and it just looked so cute.  Then added some Blushing Bride and Basic Gray Hearts to the top of the box - Spritzed with Shimmer Most and punched out with my Heart Punch of course - and the project was finished.

Now the feature I love about this box ... if you don't adhere all the corners down it will lie flat!  How good is that if you want to send it in the post to someone special.  This is such a cute little box, I can see it filled with hand stamped mini cards, or a piece of jewelry, those nice coffee bags, or even some chocolates. Such a nice way to package a little gift for someone at Valentine's or any time.

Thanks for visiting my blog. 

Second Card of the Day

Today I wanted to do a couple of challenges, and I have been trying to make one card fit more than one challenge! When I saw the Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge, the Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge to do a Valentine's card with no red or pink, and the Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge to add Hearts, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. 

I was so happy with the way this card worked out.  It was my first time using my Crop-A-Dial that I got for Christmas, wow let me just say this tool makes applying these eyelets an absolute breeze.  I also love the way it punches holes through very thick things like a hot knife through butter.

I used Rich Razzleberry where you might more traditionally use red.  I also have just recently picked up the Heart Sweet Treat Cups and just had to include one in this project.  I used VersaMark and Gold Embossing Powder on one side of some Basic Black and Rich Razzleberry cardstock then used my small heart punch to punch them out.  I also put a layer of Champing Shimmer Mist on the back of each of the hearts (note to self - next time do this before punching out lol).  I put some Champagne Shimmer Mist on the layer of Rich Razzleberry on the main card as well, you can probably see better if you zoom in on the picture. I finished off with some Basic Black ribbon and used the Pinking Hearts Border Punch along the bottom edge.

My Mojo Is Back

For a while there I had lost my mojo, what with Christmas rush, working full time and life in general I had lost my mojo.  But thankfully it's back, and back with a passion.  I have done a couple of projects in the last couple of days, one I can't share just yet because it's a birthday gift for my fellow demo and blog buddy Steph.  But a couple I can share.

First one is a double challenge entry  Inskpiration Sketch Challenge, and Friday Mash Up Colour Challenge. 

This one I kept very simple, leaving it the same as the sketch rather than branching out.  I also want to try and use more DSP on my cards, I have a tendency to hoard the "pretty paper" and not use it because if I use it I won't have it for another project - how crazy is that!  So you are likely to see more DSP on my cards from here on in ... and if I slip and stop using please remind me!

This one I wanted to use one of the new Sale-A-Bration stamp sets, Punch Bunch.  I love this set of stamps as they all go with a Stampin' Up! punch so no need to cut out.  For this one I have used the stamp that goes with the scallop circle, I have used Stampin' Write Markers to colour the stamp, stamped it on Very Vanilla Cardstock and then punched out with the 1 3/8" Circle Punch.  A neat trick is then to adhere this circle to your cardstock and then punch out using the Scallop Circle - it's far easier to get it centred that way!

Pop back later for my second creation ... a valentine's card with no red or pink!