Stamp, Stitch, & Splatter

Hello Paper Crafters! I'm here today presenting Drill #15 with the S.W.A.T Team! For this drill, we challenge you to use three fun techniques - Stamp it, Stitch it (machine, hand, or faux), & Spray or Splatter it! 

We can't give a great challenge without a prize! One lucky participant will receive a $10 gift card for 3 Scrappy Boys! 

I love all three of the techniques in this challenge and was THRILLED to use them all on one project! I started by adding brown ink splatters to my cream cardstock base. You can achieve this look over an even mist by removing the cap/nozzle and gently tapping the straw above the areas you'd like to ink. 

After Distressing the edges of two paper squares and adding a few patterned circles, I machine stitched a square to hold all of the pieces together. I love the added texture! 

I finished off the card with stamping! Looks like I did the three techniques in the challenge backwards! I paper pieced the bun and stove and adding it to the center. I grounded the image by cutting a small banner from brown patterned paper. I also stamped the sentiment onto a strip of cream cardstock, cut it up, and arranged it on the card front. Lastly, I embellished the card with a few star wood veneers. 

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to head over to the S.W.A.T blog to see my fellow design team member's gorgeous creations. Link up your own project by September 28th to be entered for a chance to win! 

SUPPLIES :: A Muse Studio Cardstock & Doily, Lawn Fawn Plus One Stamp Set, Pebbles Walnut Grove 6x6 Paper Pad, Studio Calico Star Wood Veneers & Mister Huey's Dark Calico, StazOn Jet Black Ink

TOOLS :: Close To My Heart Paper Distresser, MyStik Permanent Adhesive, ZIG 2-Way Chisel Tip Glue, Cutter Bee Scissors, Fiskars Scrapbooking Rotary Paper Trimmer, A Muse Studio Acrylic Block, Brother Sewing Machine, Martha Stewart Score Board

Use It Tuesday :: Trends

Happy Tuesday, Paper Crafters! Today, Use It Tuesday is celebrating the hottest trends right now. Let's all admit it, when an item becomes popular, we need lots and lots of them! We want you to look at your stash and use up all of those hoarded items that you picked up because everyone else did!

Make sure to link up your project to the Use It Tuesday blog by noon EST on Friday, September 6th and let us know what hoarded supplies you used! As always, one lucky participant will be randomly chosen to be a featured guest designer in an upcoming challenge. 

Now, let's take a look at the project I came up with for this week's challenge:

Hot trend: Triangles. Must have product: Thickers. Exciting technique: Paper strips on the top or bottom of your layout. 

These are the trends that I decided to incorporate into my layout. I had been hoarding this Dear Lizzy triangle paper for quite a while. I used scraps to add layers and strips to the page. The most hoarded item from this layout is the round dimensional embellishments from Pebbles. I've had them for a few years and just loved looking at them! Ridiculous, right?! The layout really came together after adding a title and a bit of journaling. 

Now it's your turn! Dig into your stash, and USE IT! 

SUPPLIES :: American Crafts (White Puffy Vinyl Thickers, Dear Lizzy Bowtie Boulevard), Pebbles Hip Hip Hooray Stitched Dimensional Stickers, Glitz Design Color Me Happy 8x8 Paper Pad

TOOLS :: Fiskars Scrapbooking Rotary Paper Trimmer, MyStik Permanent Adhesive, Close To My Heart Paper Distresser, Bic Mark-It Ultra Fine Black 

Retro Sketches :: Caffeine Fix

Hello! Yesterday I planned to have a full day to myself. I anticipated not leaving my house, sleeping in, and spending the day in my pajamas at my craft table. Sounds great, right?! After a call at 7 AM from a friend in need, I knew the day would be nothing as I planned. And sure enough, I had two other friends after that with frustrating events that needed some tending to. Rather than a day as a hermit, I ran around town. And you know what? I wouldn't change it. At the very end of the day, I was able to sit down long enough to create this card, and it sums up each of those "appointments" pretty well.

I used the sketch above from Retro Sketches as inspiration. I can't get enough of this sentiment. There really is nothing caffeine (and maybe a really good friend with a day off) can't fix! 

The cup was stamped on white cardstock and layered on top of patterned papers and embellishments - Honestly, a random selection of items on my desk. 

Thanks for stopping by. May this bit of caffeine in the form of a card brighten your day!

SUPPLIES :: A Muse Studio Sugar Cardstock, Pebbles Walnut Grove 6x6 Paper Pad, Mister Huey's Dark Calico Mist, Market Street Stamps Daily Grind Set, Memento Rich Cocoa Ink, A Muse Studio Latte Pearls, Crate Paper Maggie Holmes Ephemera Pack

TOOLS :: Close To My Heart Paper Distresser, A Muse Studio Acrylic Block, Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares, MyStik Permanent Adhesive, Fiskars Scrapbooking Rotary Paper Trimmer

It's Time To Use It!

I'm here today with Use It Tuesday, bringing you another inspiring challenge. This week we want you to focus on Diecuts, Punches, and Cutouts! 

Remember, all Use It Tuesday challenges call for you to use your hoarded supplies. You have until Noon EST on Friday, March 22nd to link up your project to the Use It Tuesday site. Make sure you mention your hoarded supplies and that you're playing along with us! One lucky participant will be randomly chosen to be a featured guest designer in an upcoming challenge! I can't wait to see what you create! 

Surprisingly, I don't collect too many dies and punches. I have a few edge punches and a corner rounder that I use quite often. However, I have tons of cut outs and printables! While looking through my stash I came across a 12x12 sheet of cutouts by Pebbles. I had bought the sheet with every intension of making TONS of cards with it. But, let's face it, I've picked up the sheet numerous times since purchasing it, and put it right back down. This challenge was the push I needed to get to it! 

I started with the hello friend banner cutout, adhering it to white cardstock and cutting a border. I then pulled together coordinating products and started stacking. The smile banner is from the 12x12 sheet as well. I mimicked the banners with a kraft piece. When using a lot of color, I try to incorporate one or two neutrals to give resting places for the eye. 

The cording I used here is a bit of a hoarded item as well. I ordered it from A Muse Studio upon its release. I had no plans for it and have only used it once.... And yet I have the world's largest roll of it! I love being on this design team, if only for the fact that it's forcing me to use stuff I already have! Won't you join us in digging into your stash of supplies and creating something for this week's challenge?