Use Your Stash Blog Hop

It's another blog hop!!!  Yay!!!  This one is a very important one for me.  I don't know about you, but I am a hoarder of all things crafty!  This time, we were challenged to use something old with something new.  If you are coming from Judy Faye's blog, you are on the right track!

I have yet another NON card project to share with you!!!  Because today is the official first day of spring, and Easter is nearing, I thought it would be fun to do a little treat box with yummy jelly beans inside.  :o)  Who can say no to that?

I used the Cricut Artiste cartridge to cut this darling butterfly box out of the old Dotty For You paper.  Isn't it fun?!

The blue butterfly was cut with the same cartridge, but I used the new Claire paper for this one.  Then, I layered a paper butterfly on top with a bit of 3D foam tape.  The bling on the wings adds fun sparkle.

I also used some of our fun black net ribbon!!!  I just put a strip of red line tape on it and folded a few gathers into it.  I stuck it on the backs of each of the bottom butterfly's wings.  :o)  I think it will be a fun gift to give.

Very simple, and made very easy with the Artiste!!!

Now, hop your way on to Janet's blog to see more of what can be done with old and new!!!

Happy Crafting!!!

Technique Blog Hop: Black and White

Hello, friends!!!  Welcome to another fun blog hop.  I really hope you hop all the way through because the creations are just amazing!  What talented women!!!  Anywhooo....as I said, this is a blog hop, and we are trying a fun technique of using only black and white.  If you are coming from Debi's blog, then you are in the right place!

Usually, I make cards.  That seems to be my happy place.  So, I decided to step out of my box and use the opportunity to make a home decor item.  I made a fun wreath using the Close To My Heart 'For Always' paper pack and the black and grey glitter paper.

I discovered that photographing a wreath is much more difficult than a card, so I tried to take several pictures to give you a better idea of what it looks like, really.  As always, it is much prettier in real life.  :o)

This was my first time making Kumata flowers.  I made one big one and two smaller ones.  I also cut out the various rolled flowers with the Cricut Artiste cartridge varying in size from 4 inches to 2 3/4 inches.

I used the different glitter paper to create the foliage.  I used three different types of leaves in the three different shades of black and grey.  Grey is a shade of white, right?  :o)

I really wish I had a better picture of this darling rosette!  It's my favorite flower of the bunch!  I used the chevron pattern to create it, and cut it out at 1 3/4 inches.  It turned out so darling!!!

To make the banner, I used the chipboard banner shapes, and cut the paper to cover it using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.  I also cut out this cute dragonfly.  I thought it would add such a cute touch.  I put the glittery layer on with 3-D foam tape, so it gives it dimension.  Love it!!!  Baker's twine hangs the banner onto the wreath with black roses at each end of the twine.

Here it is hanging on my door.  The lighting still isn't right, but like I said...wreaths are hard for me to figure out how to photograph.  :o)  I hope you have at least an idea of what it looks like!  It's sparkly and pretty.  Everything should have some sort of glitter, right?  LOL

Now, it's time to hop on over to Joy's blog to see what lovely creation she has come up with!!!

Technique Blog Hop: Alcohol Markers

Hello, and welcome to our technique blog hop!!!  This month we are showing the various uses for the new Close To My Heart alcohol ink markers.  If you are coming from Debi's blog, you are on the right track.  So, without further ado, let me show you what I have done, and what YOU can do with these fun markers!!!

I love making cards, so I came up with another one to show you.  I did use the Wishes book for a pattern idea, but I did not use the cutting instructions.  Here it is!

So, I started with the new Claire paper pack from Close To My Heart.  It's one of those that I wasn't sure I would like until I started playing with it.  Now, I LOVE it!!!  I cut the stamped paper out at 3 1/2 inches from the really smooth paper I use for Copic markers (I really couldn't say what brand that is, sorry!)  I stamped in black Memento ink.  This seems to work best for me with no smearing when I color.

I colored the image with Cranberry, Autumn Terracotta, Honey, New England Ivy, and Outdoor Denim markers.  I like to begin with the lightest color first, then add the shading with the darker color, and blend them together with the lighter color.  I colored the branch with the gold metallic marker.  After coloring the image, I distressed the papers with Saddle ink and a sponge.  I also stamped the argyle pattern with Saddle ink on the base paper.  I cut the rosette with the Artiste Cricut cartridge at 1 inch and added an old golden button from my stash.

Do you see these awesome blue pearls?!  Those used to be white!!!  I colored them with the markers!  Isn't that cool?!  You can color any white pearls or clear sparkles with these markers and get them to match whatever you are working on!  You can go over them and get them darker, just let them dry between coats for a few seconds.

I cut the flower out at 2 1/2 inches and distressed it with Saddle ink before rolling it up.  The ribbon is the Close To My Heart Color Ready ribbon.  I squashed my Outdoor Denim and Saddle ink pads onto my craft mat, then sprayed them with alcohol.  I ran the ribbon through the inks and crinkled it up and let it dry,  I love the worn look it gets by doing that!  :o)

Here is the list of supplies I used:

• Claire paper pack
• Saddle ink pad
• Outdoor Denim ink pad
• Black Memento ink pad
• Cranberry alcohol ink markers
• Autumn Terracotta alcohol ink markers
• Honey alcohol ink markers
• New England Ivy alcohol ink markers
• Fabulous You stamp set
• Pearl Opaques
• Color Ready seam binding ribbon
• Artiste Cricut cartridge (of course!!!)  :o)
• Gold button

I hope you enjoyed the card.  Now, hop on over to Joy's blog to view more fabulous art work!!!  :o)  Don't forget to leave comments.  We all love to hear from you!

Happy Crafting!

Cherri

Technique Blog Hop

I am participating in a fabulous blog hop today with some very talented chicks!  We are demonstrating using the negative image as demonstrated in the CTMH Idea Book on page 90.  If you are coming from Tabbi's blog, you are on the right track!!!

This technique is really fun and can be used in different ways.  I made a card using this technique in a similar fashion to what they used in the Idea Book, minus the stamping.  I used the new Clementine paper!  I adore this paper!

I cut the butterfly out using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge on Saddle paper.  I set the butterfly aside, and rounded the corners of the square.  I layered it on top of the small floral paper.

I cut a rosette out with the Artiste cartridge from another patterned paper at 3/4" and used a wooden button for the center with a hemp bow.  The pearl swirls are from our new pear flourishes.  I just snipped off what I wanted and saved the rest for another project.  :o)

I really like the look of these banners.  I used the Artiste cartridge to cut them out at various sizes, then just layered them how I liked.  Don't you love the burlap ribbon?!  I know I'll be using it a lot!!!

I hope you liked the card!  Leave a comment and let me know what you think!  :o)

Your next stop on this hop is over to Rachel's blog, so get to hoppin'!

Happy Crafting!

Cherri

A Learned Bird

I have recently gotten into decorating different things that I find.  My favorites have turned out to be these darling little bird houses.  With the Scholastic paper, I really drifted towards owls, and the intelligence that we place on them.  So, this bird house is for one scholarly, learned owl!  I think he should learn to clean up after himself, though!  :o)

I used rolled up pieces of graph paper for the scrolls, and tied them with a bit of baker's twine.  He needed a house number, too, so I used one of our number plaques.  I really like the was the vintage book paper looks covering the house, don't you?  :o)

I painted the base with green, orange and brown acrylic paint.  The quote is from the Stickease, and I stuck it on a note from the Memo accessories pack.  The epoxy number six is also from this pack.  I cut out the rounded tab and the notebook pages from the Artiste cartridge.  I crumpled them up and distressed them with Saddle ink.  

Here is my favorite part!  Do you know what the shingles are done with?!  TAGS!!!!  I cut out these cute tags from the Artiste cartridge at 3/4"!  Of course I had to get a bit over the top and distressed each one.  LOL  There were nearly 60 on each side!  The effect is totally worth the effort!

And here is my messy, intelligent owl.  He is actually located on the Halloween themed button, but I couldn't resist using him.  I layered his body three times and his wings and feet twice to give him more dimension.  His beak is also layered three times.

Leave a comment, and let me know what you think!  He is gracing my mantle at the moment, but he may be up for sale in the coming months.

Happy Crafting!

Cherri