A Monstrously Fun Project!

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The fun goes on at Ustamp With Dawn and Friends!!

My second project debuted today, and a had a monstrously good time making this set of Cards With Cool Moves.  Here's the set:

 This project is called Make-A-Monster Bash.  Each card does something fun for the kiddos, but the center card deserves a closer peek!  It's a sliding google eyeball...

...that rotates 'round and 'round while the little monsters play catch with it!  It has bling for stars, and little 3D planet and moon!  AND it's an easel card with a super cool birthday theme.  I made this with my little boys in mind and they went over HUGE :D.

The project also includes a Peek-A-Boo Frames card, where behind each window is an unexpected party guest!

The last card is a cutaway card with a pennant banner. The aliens have crazy google eyes, and you open the card to reveal the rest of their cute little mutant bodies!

Finally, a BONUS gift box, with a funky eyeball border.

If you'd like to get in on the fun, go to Ustamp With Dawn and Friends Cards With Cool Moves to join today, it's $24.99 for over 40 full tutorials, chats, prizes, galleries, and more.

Have an out of this world night!

Side Note Memories {Mini Album}

Pin It Now! So, this week's Friday Mashup Challenge #51 is "When Life Throws You Scraps..."  We're encouraged to make a project using a quilted technique, or using something from your stash that's been forgotten about/sitting around.  So I went digging, and found this packet of die cuts that coordinate with the Beau Chateau suite, called Side Notes.  Love the look of them, but only used them once.

I took some artistic license, and mashed em up with Everyday Enchantment DSP.  I cut and pieced and layered (much as i would when making a quilt, right?!!), and turned them into this minibook.



Here's the front.  The 'Memories' die cut wraps from the front to the back cover.



It makes a cute little spot to fill in the occasion for the minibook.



Here's the long lost stash!  Did you buy these?  did you use them?!  They're nice, thick, sturdy & pretty.



The base of the minibook is made up of only one 8.5" x 11" sheet of patterned paper!!!


I got the minibook base tutorial from Sandy's Space.  She lays out the base very nicely.


Here's how it looked with just the one-sheet base, a small scrap of paper to cover the spine, and a piece of ribbon glued into the spine.  It's nice all by itself.

Here are all the insides...











The 'friend' word art and quote were part of a large die cut that I cut up to place in a mini fashion.



Same with the 24/7.  I left the 24 hanging off the side, and colored the exposed  backside with a Stampin' Write Marker in Marina Mist.



I made a little tiny banner with leftover flower punches and butterflies!  More layering with paper, ribbons, and an abandoned Designer Frame window.



The little banner was easy-to-do, just pierced holes into die cuts on a Mat Pack, and strung them together with a needle and Linen Thread.  I'm going to try this on a large scale too!



Here's the finished product. To keep it uniform, I used only green and blue mats, alternating them on every other page, and tried to put a splash of Calypso Coral or Poppy Parade on each page to carry through the theme.  But all in all, this came together with just a few scraps of paper, and the Butterflies Embosslits.

Best of all, this is my second project made with my Travel Stash!  Just a few supplies in a 12x12 box.  You can read about my little traveling supply box here.



Here's the challenge...Friday Mashup has great themes that engage papercrafters, with a great variety!  Go give it a try!



Have a blessed & creative day! Erika.

Petite Purses! {Sneak Peeks}

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Yesterday, Wendy & I got together for a little crafty time & Jojo's Cupcakes {amazing peanut butter chocolate buttercream}. FUN and YUM.  What more is there, really?

We got to play with a fantastic upcoming product in the June 1 Stampin' Up Idea Book & Cat, Petite Purse Bigz die.

Here's what we accomplished during our awesome sugar rush...





Too cute, right?  New paper pack coming June 1, Summer Smooches, matching fabric brads, Calypso Coral CS and ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.



Sale-A-Bration DSP Everyday Enchantment. I'll be SO sad when this goes away.  Calypso Coral, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Butterflies Embosslits, Vanilla Seam Binding ribbon.

Keep going, they only get cuter...



Ahem....real fabric, tiny purse! New Summer Smooches Designer Fabric.  I ironed it onto SU's Fabric Adhesive Sheets, this gives it stiffness and workability.  It took only a few extra minutes to iron up a piece of the fabric to make this, it was worth it!  Leftover Christmas Occasions mini button, Brights button, Basic Pearl, Real Red grosgrain ribbon.



Backpack!

Wendy and I discovered a little cutie much like this on Mary Fish's blog.  So we CASEd with Celebrations DSP (retired), Basic Black scalloped polka dot grosgrain ribbon, (2) 3/4" x 1-3/4" black recgtangles, 1/2 of a 1-3/8" circle punch, scallop punch, brads from my Build-A-Brad stash and a black rhinestone from SU Clearance Rack.  I just flattened and squared off the purse flap to make a backpack shape.



Here's the backside.  It's just a loop secured with Sticky Strip and adhered to the back at an angle.



Here are the lot of them, all together.  This die is phenomenal! It is so easy to crank them out and assemble them!  They measure about 2" x 3" and also die cuts the purse strap, but we used ribbon for ours.







Have a blessed & creative day! Erika.

Heaven Knows You're Special!

Pin It Now! It's spring already, and lots of flowers are blooming.  Ever since my baby boy could walk, he has brought me flowers that he picks.  Mostly dandelions, and I've had them tucked everywhere!  He's 8 now, and still brings little blossoms every chance he gets.  I am so blessed :)

I made this little layout highlighting my little gentleman using a watercolor technique I picked up from Splitcoast Stampers, misting with markers.  The ink is applied to a stamp with Stampin' Write Markers, then water is spritzed directly onto the stamp (instead of breathing on it, as is often done to remoisten).  The result is a rich, deep color that bleeds out a little around the edges.  I like the coverage it gave to the image.

I also made an ink "cocktail" of Wild Wasabi reinker, Smooch Spritz, and rubbing alcohol, and sprayed the borders of the layout liberally.  It warmed up the layout and I think it draws the eye to the photo.

This stamp set is a hostess offer, Precious Butterflies.  

I converted the photo to black and white, and recolored just the dandelions.

I was inspired to try a new technique by Hand Stamped Sentiments.  The challenge over there this week is Water Coloring!  I have done plenty of watercoloring, but I really wanted to learn something new.  I'll definitely try this again!  Want to play along? Click here....





I love my sweet baby!

Have a blessed & creative day! Erika.

Local Papercrafters Easter Card Share

Pin It Now! Hey crafty friends!  Last night was my local cardmaking friends' monthly card swap, and the theme was Easter.  Here's the batch for a little inspiration...



Steph is a brand new SU demo!  I love her bright,pretty hearts stitched.



Lattice die cut into a cross on a sidestep card, by Jamie.



Mine!



Besty's Every Bunny card.  So cute!



Judyanne is an EXCELLENT coloring artist.  This is Popcorn the Bear, and I've just discovered that they have the cutest website and a whole world and story to go along.



Judyanne made us a little extra treat with the Two Tags die. Sweet!






Rose did a lot of punching, and used Liquid Pearls in the centers.  Martha Stewart punches.


Mary Anne has been hoarding the Doodlebug Designs paper.  I have some too :) It's nice and glittery.



Rose used a lot of pretty patterns,and the Cricut to make the brown bunny scene.



These last two, are Pam and her Aunt, but now I can't remember which.  Love the ladybug trim :)




Below is a cool masculine card from a previous month, I love this set from SU.  Betsy, my upline, made this...


Have a blessed & creative day! Erika.

Heaven Blessed Butterfly Card

Pin It Now! Today is my local card swap. Can you guess when I started my cards?  8:00 this morning.  Yes.

A year or two ago, this would've been a problem...frustration, rushing, late to the meet.  But I'm so glad to say that practice has worked in my favor!  I turned out a dozen of these in 2 hours flat!  Unbelievable for me.  And I managed to get dishes done, a one-on-one meet with an SU customer, and actual real-job work too.  Well, I'm getting ready to start the real job work, anyway.



This is simply a few layers, hardly any inking.
Card base is Crumb Cake, with Framed Tulips embossing folder.
Second layer is Attic Boutique DSP 3-1/8" x 4-3/8".
Then a 1-1/2" strip of off-white muslin that I had in my dollar store box, attached from behind with Snail.
Three die cuts from Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, (2) DSP and (1) Watercolor paper
Tie a 6" piece of Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon around center butterfly.
Add banner-cut Easter sentiment from Heaven Blessed.




Easy, pretty, and done!  The muslin softens the whole card, with the frayed edges. It's very cheap, $1.99/yard, so I always keep it in my craft room.


Here's the inside...from Heaven Blessed.


And here's my finished stack.  Can't wait to see what the other ladies have made!

Have a blessed & creative day! Erika.

'Cheer'ful Summer Smooches {Early Peeks}

Pin It Now! Wow! I'm having a bright & shiny day. Spring is coming early here on the Eastern Shore, it's blue skies and 80 degrees, and it's just as pleasant here in my craft room.

Put your sunglasses on, you might need 'em ;)


This is brand new paper from SU, "Summer Smooches", with the coordinating fabric covered brads.  These brads are huge and make a big impact!  They remind me of my Gram's polyester double-knit pants from the '70s, and they rock my world :D!!!

I made two pinwheels, a 2" and a 2.5", and layered them with a 1" circle punch cut into the center, and brad to anchor it all down.

The little pennant is a 1" strip of Real Red, run thru the crimper, and snipped upward into triangles...it's all one piece.  I nestled 1/2" circle punches into the insets with alternating colors. 



You can see the stamping inside peeking here!  This is Bright Blossoms, and it's wonderful too.  Great for layering and building a cool retro look.


BRIGHT!

Here's the inside.



I used Hand Stamped Sentiments' challenge #109 HSSTC109 for the color inspiration.  I think they're all represented here!

..and Mojo Monday's layout sketch.  This one looks so simple, but was hard to pull off in my opinion.  Just as a challenge should be!


Have a blessed & creative day! Erika. www.erikaclark.stampinup.net