POK SBS Swaps

Today I'm sharing my projects for the shoebox swap. For my ATC, I wanted to go vintage, so off I went to look at what 'parkerquilter' on SCS has created lately. She helped inspire this vintage springtime collage ATC.

I don't really understand the whole craze with putting crowns on various people and animals. Can someone explain that to me?

Stamps: Nature Walk, Clearly For You, French Foliage, Music Note wheel, Passport Cube by Impressions Obsession, Chickenwire BG by Stamp Camp; Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Vintage Springtime DSP; Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Bashful Blue, Soft Sky, So Saffron, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz, Black Stazon; Accessories: Nature stampbrush set on My Digital Studio, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aquapainter, Sponges, Rhinestone Jewels, Sewing machine, Thread.

And for my shoebox project, I gave the Bendy Fold card by 'Emma F' a try. Lydia (Understandblue) had such a cute example on her blog, so I went along in that Easter vein.

DH gave this one the thumb's up (and he is pretty hard to please!).

Stamps: Wagon Full of Fun, Something to Celebrate; Paper: Certainly Celery, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Delicate Dots DSP (SAB); Ink: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie marker, So Saffron marker, Brocade Blue marker; Accessories: Sponge, Bashful Blue grosgrain ribbon, Build-a-Cupcake punch, MS Grass punch, Corner Rounder punch, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Big Shot.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pyramid Box

Today I have a pyramid box created from a Paper Crafters Sampler template. I love these little paper cones, and it was really easy to recreate with the template.

The template actually comes with a lid so it can be closed, but I used it as an open cone. These cones can be used for Christmas, weddings, or Easter, to hold little gifts or goodies. I decided to create a vintage-style paper cone.

The images in the Clearly For You set are perfect for ATCs or Build-A-Brads. This set is from the Occasions mini, so don't miss out on it. It is only available until April 3o.

The template can be found on the Paper Crafters Sampler Library. Please use code PCSHB.

Stamps: Clearly For You, Music Notes wheel; Paper: Pink Pirouette; Very Vanilla; Ink: Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Eyelet Border punch, 1/2" Circle punch, 1" Circle punch, 1-3/4" Circle punch, Build-A-Brad, Pretty in Pink satin ribbon, Chantilly lace, Silver glass glitter.

Thanks for stopping by!

Poughkeepsie Shoebox Swap

Sixteen ladies came over this weekend for shoebox stamping fun! It was a wonderful day of socializing, stamping, and eating. Lots of local ladies, and a few out-of-towners. I wish my house was bigger so more could come! Wouldn't that be fun??

Before the chaos -

Goodie bags -

And a full house -

The food was wonderful! DH is such a trooper, willing to move all the living room furniture out, and share his whole house for the day. He was well fed though!

Group shots of the swaps - cardfronts, ATCs, and 3-Ds -

So this is a call out to the locals - (1) if you know of a relatively-free, large, bright space for the next shoebox swap, please let me know, and (2) I want lots more locals to come out! I know you stampers are out there! :) These are not-for-profit events, all the money raised goes into the event. We love having fun on the cheap!

Thank you for coming, and important, THANK YOU to everyone who donated door prizes. We had enough for two for everyone!

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday Mashup Guest Designer: Butterflies!

Yay! I was chosen as the winner of the zoo-inspired Friday Mashup challenge from a couple weeks ago with my sliding pop-up card of African deer and Asian rabbits - LOL! Such an honor to be guest designer, and I really enjoy it!

Holly has created a new challenge blog, still the Friday Mashup but in a new location. This is unique because there are two themes every week, and you can choose which to do or "mash" them together. This week's challenge is butterflies with dimension.

I've been wanting to make a butterfly lantern for about a year now, so why not combine two projects for a double whammy?

In these shady photos, you can pick up that I used the Very Vintage wheel for the base of the lantern. Please disregard the brown in the background. Hey, it was snowing here last week!

This rare sunny, but windy, day in NY makes for photographic troubles.

I went back and added an indoor shot.

My daughter can't wait to get her hands on this one. But she wants the butterflies IN the cage. The template for the lantern is available on the Paper Crafters Library site, use code PCSHB.

Stamps: Very Vintage wheel; Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Bella Bleu DSP, Haiku DSP; Ink: Crumb Cake; Accessories: Scallop Trim punch, Very Vanilla satin ribbon, Beautiful Butterflies die, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Big Shot, Screen netting.

Thanks for stopping by!

Adorning Apron

Morning Everyone,

I got this cute little apron template from Paper Crafters Sampler library. Last year's issues, which include templates, are available for instant download at a discounted rate. There are examples of each template there too. If there is a place to make a comment, please use code PCSHB or my name so Melanie knows I sent ya!

I do well with inspirational photos, so I found this apron from Country Living.

Well, heck, I've got some patterned paper that looks just like that!

The apron wraps around to create a folding card, so I threaded some taffeta ribbon through the card to hold it closed. Looks like a cute little apron bum, huh?

I love the ruffles and the sewing. Super sweet! Can I say that? LOL!

Paper: Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP; Accessories: Eyelet Border punch, Real Red taffeta ribbon, Eyelets, Crimper, Crop-o-dile, Sewing machine, Thread, Sticky Strip.

Thanks for stopping by!

Garden Trellis, PCS Sneak Peek, and Some Good News!

Hi All,

April's issue of Paper Crafters Sampler, Avian Art, is coming soon. This month is featuring some beautiful bird samples and projects.

The ladies really got creative this month! I had a lot of fun stretching my abilities as well. Here's a peek at my project.

Rosettes, branch, nest, and eggs... come check out how I did it! To sign up for this month's issue, please go to the Paper Crafters Sampler website. Use code PCSHB.

For today's card, I found another technique lover's challenge on SplitCoastStampers, making a trellis. It is fairly straight forward and uses up scrap, which is always good! There are some beautiful samples out there!

This is my shot at the technique.

Stamps: Sincere Salutations; Paper: Springtime Vintage DSP, Pear Pizzazz, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Whisper White; Ink: Regal Rose, Rose Red; Accessories: Pearl jewels, Trio Flower punch, Large Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, Little Leaves die, Top Note die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

So you want to hear the news? I applied for and got picked to be part of Creative Crew for four months! This is a group of demos who complete demo challenges each month and share their creations with all of the Splitcoaststampers community. I am so excited, but DH not so much. I work best under pressure, so let the good times roll!! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

SUOC16 Raining Cats and Dogs...

Today's challenge over at Stampin' Up Only Challenges is to create a card or project with an animal or pet on it. Well, at first I was thinking hippo. I always wanted a pet hippo as a kid. But then I started down the path of playing with the stamp set in My Digital Studio, Cute Cats.

I printed a cat image on copy paper, attached it to Botanical Gazette DSP with temporary adhesive, and cut it out. I then sponged the edges and repeated with the ears and nose.

This was also my first try for a fabric yo-yo. I found out that I need to cut a larger circle, so I'll continue to practice. ETA: You can go back a few posts to see the yo-yos I put on my fabric cupcake. See, I did get better!

Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso, Botanical Gazette DSP; Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Early Espresso marker; Accessories: Sponges, White gel pen, Pear Pizzazz seam binding, Victoria lace, My Digital Studio, On Board Chipboard, Springtime Vintage fabric, Crop-o-dile, Little Leaves die, Square Scallop die, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread.
Thanks for stopping by!