Creative Swappers: Ladybug, Dragonfly, or Butterfly Swap

One of the swaps I joined in the Creative Swappers Facebook Group was to create a Ladybug, Dragonfly, or Butterfly. I chose a ladybug and a dragonfly. The images came from the Silhouette Store and I used Core'dinations cardstock for all the cuts. They are cut somewhere between. I think ink adds a nice finishing touch to any project so I inked all the edges with coordinating colors of Distress Inks. I added Glossy Accents to the antennae and dots on the lady bug and Crackle Accents to the wings of the dragonfly. 

Creative Craft Cottage Challenge: Fabric or Felt

It's time for another challenge over at Creative Craft Cottage. The challenge this time is to use fabric or felt on your project. I picked up a package of black and white fabric flowers (Crate Paper "On Trend") from a local discount store about a week ago and I knew they would be perfect for this challenge. I also knew that I wanted to use my new Studio 490 Black Embossing Paste. I have had it for about a month and had not even opened it yet! As I was looking through my meager collection of spray inks (I only have 5!) I decided pink would go great with the black paste. I grabbed a #8 tag and sprayed it with Dylusions Ink Spray in Bubble Gum Pink then used a Tim Holtz Layering Stencil (Rays) with the black embossing paste to add some texture to the tag.

Next I started working on the flower arrangement at the bottom. I layered black mesh bling, a small piece of lace that I colored with the Dylusions Bubble Gum Pink spray ink, and some black flat back pearl trim (all from my stash). Behind the flower I used Petaloo Feathers in cream. The smaller stick pins are Petaloo and the large one (with the black and white heart) I received in a swap.

I sprayed the butterfly with the Dylusions and let it sit over night then wiped off the excess. It is hard to tell in the picture, but some of the pink did stay on the metal. I wasn't sure if it would or not, so it was a happy surprise. I used Tim Holtz Distress Paint in Picket Fence to highlight a few areas of the butterfly. It helps to tone down the metal and also to tie it in to the white flower at the bottom. I added a butterfly trail with a piece of Want2Scrap bling.

So, grab some fabric or felt, make a card, tag or any other project and link it up over at this week's Fabric or Felt Challenge at Creative Craft Cottage.

LWD Tool Review Tuesday: Zutter Bow-it-All

Happy New Year! I can't believe another year has come and gone. Boy, the older I get, the faster they seem to go! For the New Year, the LWD Design Team has added an extra post each week. Tuesday is now "Tool Review Tuesday" and each week, one of us will review a tool or storage/organization solution. I'm up first and I chose the Zutter Bow-it-All.  With the Bow-it-All, you get a perfect bow, every single time. I don't know about you, but I STRUGGLE when it comes to making bows. Some people are born with the bow making gene...I was not. LOL Before I show you my *horrible* bow; let’s take a look at what comes in the box. The board allows you to make itty-bitty 1/2" bows all the way up to large 9" bows. There is a full color instruction book and a pair of pink handled scissors. There is even a zippered storage case to keep it all together.

All the pegs are stored “on-board” on both sides of the board. This will help to keep everything together.

You can use ANY ribbon--wide, narrow, wired, no wire, satin, grosgrain, anything! Here's a sample of what I used.

So, here’s my bow. It’s ok, but the loops aren’t even. The ribbon has a dull side and a shiny side and you can see both sides in my loops and in the tail.

This is my first attempt with the Bow-it-All. I made a 3” single loop bow. I think I did pretty well!

{Well, I'm not sure what happened to the picture! It was a good bow, though!}

Next is a 4” triple loop bow. This one went much faster and I think that I have that “locking-C” knot down now. Check out these videos on the Zutter website to learn about the "locking-C" and see demos on how to make other bows.

I made a giant 7” triple loop bow with a back ribbon. A bow with a back ribbon is perfect for a package.

One more big bow and then on to some tiny ones…This is triple loop double bow with a 3” back bow and 2” front bow. I used wired ribbon on this one and fluffed it up. Sarah says it looks like a flower.

These are 1” bowtie bows. Totally cute! Instead of tails, they have a back ribbon. These will look great on a card!

Aren’t these ¾” bows just adorable! I made single loop, double loop, and triple loop bows. These will be perfect on a card or a scrapbook page. I'm fairly certain Sarah is going to confiscate these for her SMASHbook. She was quite taken with them!

You can create a perfect bow every time with the Zutter Bow-it-All. Now we have no more excuses. LOL I'm definitely going to keep this tool within reach while I'm crafting. I'm going to put bows on everything!

You can find these and many more products for your crafting projects at 25% off MSRP at Lone Wolf Designs, LLC. All you have to do is join the Lone Wolf Designs Discount Craft Supplies Facebook group. If you haven’t joined us yet, you’re paying TOO MUCH for your craft supplies!

Creative Craft Cottage: Digital Image

I can't believe another month has gone by and it's time for another challenge at Creative Craft Cottage. The challenge this time is to use a digital image. Confession time: I *totally* forgot about this until the day it was due. :( November and December are so busy at home and work....Click on the link to be taken to the the blog post where there is plenty of information about each card.

http://deannascraftsandcreations.blogspot.com/2011/07/owh-4th-of-july-party-challenge-3.html

http://deannascraftsandcreations.blogspot.com/2011/07/tidbits-trinkits-challenge-post-2.html

http://deannascraftsandcreations.blogspot.com/2011/10/owh-sketch-90.html

http://deannascraftsandcreations.blogspot.com/2011/10/owh-sketch-89.html

http://deannascraftsandcreations.blogspot.com/2011/10/owh-sketch-84.html

Now, click on over to Creative Craft Cottage and post your new project to participate in this challenge. (Do as I say, not as I do! LOL)

Creative Craft Cottage Challenge: Texture

I can't believe that it has already been a month and it's time for another challenge over at Creative Craft Cottage. I got to pick the theme this month and I chose Texture. There are so many ways to add texture to your cards or projects. One of my new favorite ways to add texture is with embossing paste. I recently acquired some Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Translucent Embossing Paste. It was so much fun to use. It adds great texture and allows the background to show through.

I started with a #8 Tag and the "3 Fresh Flowers" stencil by Wendy Vecchi and used Distress Inks (Shaded Lilac, Mustard Seed, Forest Moss) and a blending tool to stencil one of the flowers on the tag. I placed the stencil back on the tag and spread the embossing paste on top.

I did not smooth the surface so the ridges and bumps add some extra texture.

I haven't decided on a background yet. ; )

My next tag is a #10 tag that I cut down to 7". First I sprayed the tag with some water and then added 3 colors of Dylusions Ink Spray (London Blue, Vibrant Turquoise, Bubblegum Pink). For the texture I used the translucent embossing paste and the Tim Holtz Dot Fade Layering Stencil.

The dots are different sizes and they kind of reminded me of snow. This tag is going to be a page in my December Daily.

These are a couple of other tags that I have made with white embossing paste. You can click on the link to be taken directly to the blog post to learn about them.

http://deannascraftsandcreations.blogspot.com/2013/03/lwd-design-team-showcase-studio-490.html

http://deannascraftsandcreations.blogspot.com/2013/06/your-style-stick-pins-and-atcs.html

Thanks for stopping by today. There are new challenges every 2 weeks at Creative Craft Cottage. If you submit something, I'd love for you to leave me a note so I can check out your project.

Things with Wings Card

Today I'm bringing you another card swap for the Luv2Swap Facebook Group. The theme for this card swap is "Things with Wings."

Sketch: Viva La Verve from January 2011

The focal image is an ATC that I received in a swap last year. I'm trying hard to use things from my stash instead of making new embellishments or buying them.

Supplies:

Paper-7gypsies Conservatory 6x6

Distress Ink: Vintage Photo

Washi Tape Card

One of the November Card Swaps I joined this month in the Luv2Swap Facebook Group was to make a card with washi tape accents.

I also combined it with a challenge (in the same FB group) to use this sketch:

 I thought the flags on the side were perfect for the washi tape.

Supplies:
Paper: G45 Christmas Past
Distress Ink: Vintage Photo
Washi: SU! Seasons of Style