Anything Goes

That is right - it is time to finally reveal my first project for the Top Tip Tuesday of which I am part of the design team. It has been a very exciting week as I have started thinking about the projects and tutorials that I want to share with all of those that follow the Top Tip Tuesday blog.This week the new team members have their first chance to share their work in an ANYTHING GOES challenge and you can join in too. I will tell you what you can win - but first, I won't keep you waiting any longer - here is the project that I have created. Now, I am sure you are asking what this is, right? Well, do you remember during the holidays seeing little sacks with lights in them that light the pathways and walkways at some homes? My friend Lisa does this and it is beautiful. I always thought it would be cool to have luminaries - but have never gotten around to buying any. Then I came across a tutorial on how to do them and they are SO easy to do.The holidays are behind us, but winter is still very much in the air. We had an ice storm that hit our area night before last and closed up EVERYTHING yesterday. I didn't even as much as venture out to take pictures - perhaps I will do that before it all melts away. Anyway, back to my project. The windows are made from vellum and I decided to try embossing them with this beautiful snowflake folder. I LOVE the way the embossing turned out. I got out my Pergamano kit next and used the dorsa crayons to color the back of the snowflakes a bit to give them some color. You can use colored pencils as well - I know, because I tried, but since I have the dorsa crayons, I used those and then rubbed it out to make a nice subtle coloring. I thought it turned out pretty cool, but then when I put a light (I just used a flameless tealight that I bought at Wal-Mart) in it and took it into a dark place - WOW the embossed snowflake REALLY popped and it looks beautiful. I am picturing several of these going up my long staircase to the upstairs. (see pictures in an earlier post here). Of course I would put them on the outside - and they fit PERFECTLY. I will need to make 15 of them if I want one on each step and will need a ladder to reach the top five!! I do have tall kids, so they could probably reach up to the 12th step. Anyway, these could be made for all those holidays you celebrate.So there you have it. Now, if you want to have a chance at some fabulous prizes - head on over to Top Tip Tuesday. Our Sponsors this week are: Sew Many Cards and Making Handmade Cards (for the tip challenge)

Remember, all you have to do to win a prize is:
Create something using the theme of the challenge OR leave a tip (using the comment section)OR do both!! So get on over there and post your creations - remember this week, it is anything goes - so a card, a tag, an altered project, whatever you fancy, just get creating and then go post it.

Now, before I leave here - I want you to know that something very special is going to be happening here very soon - and I wouldn't want you to miss out, nor any of your friends - so start sending your friends over here to become my followers - you won't want to miss this one!!
Have a wonderful day - and come back a bit later, I just might have some CARDS to show you!!
~Paula~

Working on more projects

Today with ice on the ground outside from the ice storm that hit our area yesterday - it was a good day to be inside near a warm fire creating. I got a new Elizabeth Bell digital image last week and had colored it, but hadn't decided what I wanted to do with it. I came across this tutorial for a kleenex box cover and decided that this was a perfect way to use this image. I used NIght of Navy for the base and Baja Breeze for the box lid. I then took four white panels and embossed them with a snowflake cuttlebug folder. I took my ink and sponge lightly over that to bring out the emossed surface a little better.I used an old designer paper for the top of the box as well as the sides of the lid. I kept the oval cut out from the box top and decided to use it as an added element behind my image. I sponged all surfaces of my box top, the designer paper and my embossed panels as well as my image panel. I popped the image off the box with pop dots and then added the snowflake cut-outs - also popped off the image. I added the rhinestones for a little bit of bling.
I thought this was a perfect image for this box because after the kids have played out in the snow for endless hours, they come in and their noses are cold and red and they reach for a tissue. If they were bundled well enough, then they won't have to keep running back to the box because they caught a cold. This past week, I wasn't playing in the snow (that is not something we normally get here in Alabama) however, I was fighting a cold and this image just brightens up each time I have to reach for a tissue.It's better now, and the box is displayed on my mantel - not an ugly old box of tissue, but a beautifully embellished box. I am enjoying making different projects, not just cards.This project is a winter project that I am entering in the Elizabeth Bell Monthly challenge.Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my project for the day - come back tomorrow when I reveal my design team project for Top Tip Tuesday.

~Paula~

Making projects

Today I did craft - however, I did not make any cards - HOWEVER, I am still up to date as I have made six cards so far this year - and it is only the 6th! What do ya know!! lol
Anyway, I worked on some projects that I can only show you a sliver of right now - you will have to wait for the complete reveal to come soon.
This first sliver is for an upcoming Virtual Stamp Night over on SplitCoast Stampers. I am one of the hostesses and therefore get to see what the other hostesses are doing ahead of time. It gives all the hostesses a chance to make the projects/cards before hand, so at the time of the VSN we can sit and comment on all the cards that everyone is doing. I haven't been a VSN hostess in a few years, so this will be kind of fun. I still need to work on what my challenge is going to be.
Now this next sliver you will get a chance to see MUCH sooner.
It is for my DT project for next week on Top Tip Tuesday. You will just have to wait until next Tuesday and come back when I reveal the full project. :)

Thanks for stopping by today - I just didn't want you to think that I wasn't crafting. STILL need to get a job though!!

~Paula~

All Day Project - Complete!!

Earlier, I posted that I would be working on another project - and I sure did have fun with this one. There are several challenges involved in this little project, so this will be a fairly long post, with many pictures.
I started out doing a card for the Mojo Monday Sketch challenge 172. Most of the time the challenges are for fun, but the first sketch each month there is a prize for the top picks. I decided to use one of my favorite packages of DSP and a new Elizabeth Bell digital image that has been waiting for me to color her up. I love using my prisma color pencils and coordinating the coloring with the cardstock that I use. I chose to use Rich Razzleberry, and Old Olive. I had some dotted grosgrain ribbon in rich razzleberry that I tied in a bow and added to my finished card. Once I had my card completed, I started working on other parts of this fun project. The next challenge from Top Tip Tuesday blog Challenge #16 was to either alter a tin or use metal somewhere on your project. Well, I have collected many tins over the last several years with the idea that I would eventually alter one. However, this is one of those crafting projects that is a little out of my comfort zone - so the tins sit and every once in awhile I see a project using a tin and think - wow - that is cool, maybe I will try that. The other hindrance is that some of my tins have a raised surface on the top - so how do I work around that? That is still a project waiting to happen. So, I looked through my tins that had flat surfaces and pulled out this one from "Let's Do Tea'. I have a friend that sells this tea and it is REALLY good - this particular flavor (snowflake) is really good too. Anyway, I decided to show you what the tin looked like before I started my project of altering it.I started out covering the tin with my DSP. That was actually the easiest part. I just had to decide which paper I wanted to use. I didn't want something overpowering due to the rest of the stuff that I had planned to put on the tin. Once I got the paper on it, I had to decide how I wanted to do the top. I knew I wanted to use some ribbon, but I had to change it a few different times before I got it the way I wanted - so in the mean time, I added this piece of DSP edged with rich razzleberry. With the ribbon where I wanted it - I set about to color my image - the same as I did on my card. I then cut my little rapunzel out with my nestibilities and matted it with old olive and sponged the edges with rich razzleberry. The backside of the dotted ribbon is plain, so I used that for my bow and then added the rhinestone for the finishing touch. Now, with a card completed and a tin completed - I had to figure out what I would put in the tin - afterall, we alter tins to put something in it to give as a gift, right? So, I couldn't think of what I wanted to do with the tin, so I decided to make a few gift cards - afterall, we all need a few giftcards, right? So, I measured the inside of the tin, so the cards would fit inside. Now this little tin will hold A LOT of little gift cards and I thought about using one of my new gift tags set from Stampin' Up - however, the set is for Christmas gift tags - and that just wasn't working with this. Now there are many other things that I could put inside this tin - like chocolate kisses, or hard candies, or even a votive candle that is embossed with this image WHEN I figure out how to print on tissue paper since this is an Elizabeth Bell digital image. For the final challenge, I am entering the entire project in the Elizabeth Bell Challenge for December (due by the 22nd of January) which is to make anything Winter. Now, I know this is not very wintery, I may have to alter another tin and do something similar in a winter theme. So, there you have it - my project that took the rest of the day - but was SO fun to do and now I am ready to do more - but that will be for another day. :)

Thanks for listening to me ramble on and on, if you have made it all the way to the end - thank you. If you care to leave a comment, that would be MUCH appreciated.

~Paula~

Singing the BLUES!!

I AM feeling blue today! I woke up with a sore throat yeaterday and it just got worse as the day progressed - so I didn't feel like doing any crafting at all! Today, I am feeling a bit better, but still under the weather - which is cloudy and rainy, so I suppose it fits. Well, the challenge on the Magnolia Stamp Lovers Blog just fits with the way I am feeling. It is a BLUES Challenge. So, I chose this LOVELY Violin Tilda, which one of my stamper friends kindly stamped out for me, to make this card. I used the Sunday Sketch #50 from Operation Write Homes Stars and Stamps Blog. It is a very simple sketch and I chose not to 'fancy it up'. I did use a couple different embossing folders and a bit of BLUE pearls and ribbon. I used my prisma color pencils to color with. I am really enjoying using the colors to blend, rather than using the gamsol (or similar product) I have to say I don't like her wings - I used a combination of gold and silver, but they look like she has been rolling in heavenly mud!! lol
Thanks for stopping by to see my simple card - I am going to take up another challenge and work on that this afternoon - so I may have another post later on, so come on back later and have a cup of your favorite beverage and keep me company while I craft.

~Paula~

ANNOUNCEMENT ~ ANNOUNCEMENT

Can you tell I am excited to share some NEWS with all of you? Well, if you can't see the logo on the right side yet - you will have to scroll down - or just keep reading!! MANY of you know how much I have wanted to be part of a Design Team. I started applying many months ago and so far nothing. UNTIL YESTERDAY!!! I got an email from Leanne over at Top Tip Tuesday asking if I just might be interested in a spot on her team since there was an opening. Well, hmmmm - do I need to think about this one????
So, let me tell you a little about Top Tip Tuesday!! EVERY week they have two sponsors - and every week two people win a prize. There is a theme each week - I will get to this weeks a little later - and you can also leave a tip each week. You will have to visit the blog to get the details on how you go about winning a prize. You can enter as many times as you like, however your project has to be new (no back dating).
This week, my teammie Moriah is featuring the project/challenge and you are going to love this one - ALTERING A TIN (or using metal somewhere on your project. Now I KNOW there are many of you out there that LOVE to alter things - so why not pull out your tins and get busy creating a masterpiece. The prizes are Fantastic - but you will have to go check out Top Tip Tuesday to see what they are.
I will be back later with some kind of project - so drop back by for a visit later this afternoon/evening.

~Paula~

Double Challenge

Do you ever find yourself opening several windows on your computer that have challenges that you want to do? I do this all the time and sometimes I get to the challenges and sometimes I don't. Well, this week, I am determined to complete the challenges on the windows I have opened. This second card (for today) is for the sketch on the Stamping 411 Challenge blog.

The sketch was posted on January 1 and it is Saturday Sketch number 184 - a new sketch for a new year! I changed it up just a little as I wanted to use this new punch from Stampin' Up. It was first featured in the Holiday Mini - which sadly ends today. There were such great products in that mini. I also wanted to submit this card for the challenge on the SU-Only Challenges I have been looking at that blog for awhile and just haven't taken the time to sit down and just make something with only Stampin' Up! products. Well, when I got the new paper pack last week and this new stamp set which you can order from the occasions mini stating tomorrow - I just had to put it all together in this fun card. The challenge on the SU Only blog was to use bling - to celebrate the start of a new year. I added the rhinestones to the scallop edge, underneath the bow and also on my sentiment panel. I had considered adding some stickles to the branches of the image, however - that would not have been totally Stampin' Up then and I don't have any of the diamond glaze yet.
So, there you have it, my first SPRING card of the New Year. Perhaps this card will warm your heart all the way down to your toes. I know with this cold in the air, I get chilled to the bone all the way to my toes and if my feet are cold - the rest of me is as well - so hopefully you have been warmed by this Spring card.
Here are the particulars on the card:
Vanilla base, Pear Pizzazz mats the Springtime Vintage DSP. Baja breeze edged cut with the scallop punch. Vanilla grosgrain 1/4" ribbon. Easter Blossoms stamp set stamped in baja breeze, sentiment stamped in pear pizzazz. Rhinestones.

Update - my kids are finally home - so I can go to bed and sleep peacefully tonight knowing they are tucked into their warm beds upstairs. They are tired, but glad to be home - it has been a VERY long day and I don't think any of them want to see an airport for a very long time!!

~Paula~

I am Crafting while I WAIT!!!

The kids are on their way home from Washington - I can hardly wait! But I will have to as their flight has been delayed and they won't get home until after 9:30 pm now!! They had delays GOING to Washington, and now coming home. They have been up since 2:00 this morning and they are tired and just want to get home - plus, they have school tomorrow - SO, while I wait - I craft!!
Some of my favorite images are my Sugar Nellie's and over at the Sugar Bowl not only are they celebrating their 50th challenge, but they are having their SECOND birthday and the prize is delectable!! A set of Nestibilities and SIX super sweet brand new Sugar Nellie Stamps for TWO lucky people!! This is the sketch that I followed to enter this challenge. You can turn it sideways - or leave it as it is - I chose to use it sideways due to the image that I am using. The added challenge was to use embossing. I chose a red and white color scheme because over on the All Things Sugar Nellie forum at Paper Craft Planet the challenge for Week 32 was to use red and white. Now this challenge was posted some time ago, so I am quite late in getting it done - however, the next challenge will be posted sometime tomorrow, so I am getting it in just under the radar - I seem to be flying that way a lot lately!! I have used a new DSP from Stampin' Up called Love Impressions. It is available for order starting tomorrow and it is a wonderful package of beautiful papers just in time for Valentine's Day. For the embossing part of the challenge, I used one of my Cuttlebug folders that has hearts all over - I found this one fitting for the challenge. I also used large pearls for the embellishments and a tiny little pearl for the ring on her finger. My flowers are from WOC. (Just LOVE those flowers!!) Of course, I colored with prisma color pencils.
I hope you like my little princess and I am glad that you stopped by today.
Thanks for all your comments they mean a lot to me. Keep coming back each day for new inspiration and something else - you just never know when I might throw in some candy!! :)
~Paula~

Day 2 and a GDT Call

How are you all doing on your decision to make cards everyday of the year? Is it working so far? Well, it is okay if you haven't made that decision - I have and so far, so good. Today, I have made a card - just in the nick of time for the Guest Design Team call over on the Digi Bell Design Team Blog. Now, are you familiar with Elizabeth Bell and her beautiful designs? I LOVE them. For the Call, we were given a couple of sketches to use for our creation. I used this image that I got last year from Funky Kits when her designs were available through that shop. This one is called Demure and was one of the first ones that I purchased. I have used her in so many different cards and have loved everyone of them that I have colored. Here I used some new DSP that I got last week. I used a couple different border punches and flowers from Wild Orchid Craft. I just love these flowers and they go SO well with Elizabeths' beautiful designs. I added a bit of diamond stickles to the flowers to make them sparkle.
Thanks for stopping by to see my card for this GDT spot.

Have a glorious rest of your day and remember to come back tomorrow to see what I cook up!!

~Paula~

Happy New Year!!

I am determined to make at least ONE card a day throughout this year - we will see how that goes. It took me awhile to get going on this card today - simply because I am still trying to organize from the move. I added more shelving in my under stair closet - thanks to my sweet husband that helped me with that - so now, the items I had in my big box are out where I can use them if I so choose - like my bind-it-all and my cricut!
Anyway, so I got started very late on my card - but combined a few challenges with this one. I used one of the new Magnolia images that I got in my Fall kit JUST before I left California. I have not had any time to stamp them, so took the time tonight to see what these cuties look like. I also got some new papers from Stampin' Up - these papers are lucious and will be available starting on Monday. This paper pack is called 'Springtime Vintage' and it is full of lovely two-sided papers. So, with my image stamped and my papers chosen, I set about to color my image with my prisma color pencils to coordinate with the colors in the DSP.
I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday - a sketch challenge - two choices, I obviously chose the square.
Magnolia-licious Highlites - a recipe: 4 flowers, 3 patterned papers, 2 magnolia images (I am wondering if my Edwin and Tilda count as one or two??) and 1 ribbon
Totally Tilda - Ribbon and Roses
Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central - Anything Goes
7 Kids College Fund Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
I am very pleased with the way this turned out and wonder if this is a sign of the way my crafting will take off this year?? I sure hope so.
Well it is now way past my bedtime and nearing tomorrow - so I better get to bed.
I appreciate you coming by to take a look, I will be back tomorrow with some more fun - there are other challenges I will be making cards for, so stop by the spa and see what relaxation you might find.

Paula