Shopping Our Stash #145

Happy April! Time for a new challenge at Shopping Our Stash!  This time we want you to break out your technique stash and make something "faux"….yeah, I was stumped too, but I found this great tutorial that saved my day!!

First off I used this adorable new image from Sylvia at Wee Stamps.  I printed her on kraft card stock and colored her with Prismacolor pencils.

I used papers from my stash from MME (probably my favorite company for paper).  My only embellishments are the pearls in the corners.

 Here's the inside with a generous writing panel.

And here is my faux technique.  I made faux patina on the "banner" behind the image.  Too bad my image was so big it covered up most of it because it really did turn out pretty good.  I followed the tutorial in the link above.  Her instructions were very good. (thankfully, cuz I am not a technique junkie and I was a bit stumped!)

So now its your turn to wow us with your faux abilities!

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #144

Hello, friends!  Time for another fun challenge at Shopping Our Stash!  This week we want you to use your oldest tree stamp.  Easy right?  I have to admit when I found out what our challenge was I couldn't immediately think of a tree stamp in my collection but I thought to myself there must surely be one in there somewhere….or not!  I finally stumbled upon one in a tiny set from the dollar section at Joanns that I had purchased for my daughter a few years back and she put in my stamp collection.  If you are familiar with my cards you know I use mostly images of sweet little children….not trees.  Thank goodness for that small set of stamps!

The tree stamp is very small so I decided to make a gift tag.  I used a Spellbinders die to cut the tag shape from solid CS and a scrap of DP.  Then I cut the same shape from cream and stamped my tree on there.  I added some buttons from my stash and there ya go!  Not one of my usual creations but I had limited supplies!  And now I have two gift tags for Christmas!

There you have it.  My post is short and sweet because, after all, what more can I really say about these simple tags?  I hope you have better luck in your stash and won't you share with us what you make this week?

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #143

Hello friends!  Happy Tuesday!  Time for another challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  This week our theme is "Buttons and Bows".  Sounds girlie huh?  I've been cuddling a tiny baby girl at our church and I think girlie stuff is too fun these days!

 I used a great collage sheet called Stitched with Love by iralamija.  It's a great shop, check out her beautiful images!  The DP is from MME.  The lace, buttons and teal seam binding are all from my stash.  I sewed the edges as I almost always do, only this time I used my birthday present.

Isn't it beautiful?  I've wanted one for a long time and when this was posted at my local quilt shop I had to check it out!  Someday I hope to have a studio for all my art that's not attached to my house.  This will have a special place for sure!

One of my boys tinkered with it for several hours and got it to sew as well as wind a bobbin.  This thing is a tank!  I'm pretty sure it would sew easily through your finger….thankfully I don't have first hand proof of that.  I did have a hard time getting it going forward each time.  I also broke the thread many times and my stitching is crooked.  Also, on the panel in the picture above my DP is crooked.  Not terribly so, but it is and it bothers me a bit ;)

I skipped sewing the tags to the matting so they wouldn't be crooked.

 Here's the inside.  I used more of the images from the collection.  I simply couldn't make a decision of which to use so I decided to use them all!  The sentiment on the front and the inside are from Becca Feeken.

 See?  I used all the images!!

And here is my finished card in front of my prized machine!

Now it's your turn.  Find your buttons and bows and join us this week!

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #141

Hello again and welcome!  Time for another great challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  Are you ready to play along?  This week our theme is 3-2-1.  We want to see you use 3 of something, 2 of something else and 1 of another.

 I used another image from Sylvia Zet.  Its called "Fluffy hanging in there".  And she sure is isn't she?  I colored her with my Prismacolor pencils.

 All my paper is MME and it is all glittered.  My 3-2-1: 3 Design Papers, 2 different colored pearls, 1 charm.  The ribbon and lace have been in my stash for hundreds of years….true story!  The sentiment is from PTI.

 I used the same sketch inside for the writing panel.

So, put on your counting skills this week and play along, ok?

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #140

Hello friends and welcome again.  I'm so glad you are here!  It's time for another challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  Our theme this week is "Heavy Metal".  We want to see some metal on your card this week.  So, get creative!

I chose this adorable image from Sylvia Zet.  He is from the set called Naughty Puppies.  I colored him with my Prismacolor pencils.

 I chose to use the sketch from Sketch & Stash again.  The papers are from MME.  The bow is made with vintage seam binding I picked up at a flea market.  The bottle cap is my metal item that was in my stash for who-knows how long!  Serious!  I was looking for something metal to put on my card and saw a package of them in the drawer.  I thought to myself, that will be great if I have something to put on the outside and low and behold, it already has something!  I haven't looked at them in a really long time!!  I lucked out because the color of the sticker even matches my paper!  The 2 brads are also old stash and metal!!  Score!

 I used the sketch on the inside writing panel too.

I will be entering my card in the following challenge:

Sketch & Stash - Sketch

So now it's your turn to dig into your stash and join us.  Link up and tell us what you used from your stash this week!

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #139

Good morning, dear friends!  Are you ready for another fun challenge at Shopping Our Stash?  I had so much fun (and actually spent several hours on) this challenge!  This week our theme is "Embellish Me" and we want to see you make your own embellishments!  There are so many great things you can do.  I decided to revisit one of my first loves, sewing.

 First off, I used this adorable image from Sylvia Zet at Wee Stamps called Sympathy Bugs.  I colored them with my prismacolor pencils.  They look like they need a hug don't they?

 I chose papers from the MME collection, Laundry Line.  The papers are all glittered and just beautiful!  I picked a sketch from Papertake Weekly (#67).  I love having a sketch to work from and they have so many that seem to fit for me.  My embellishments are the leaves and berries down the side.  I used vintage seam binding for the berries and leaves.  I made my "stem" from twisted cording.  I sewed everything to the card and added a button at the top.  It's deceiving but those little things took me over an hour!  I did have fun but I don't think I'll be giving this card away any time soon!

 I added a sentiment from an old SU set: May you find comfort in God's word and in the knowledge that others care and sympathize with you.  I used the same sketch for the writing panel as I used on the front.

Here you can see the my embellishment.

I can't wait to see what embellishment you make for your card this week!

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #138

Hello friends!  It's Tuesday and that means it's time for another fun challenge at Shopping our Stash.  This week we have a fun one!  Our theme is "Oh Shiny!"  To my daughter that says "glitter"!!!! lol So that's the way I went.

 I love DP from MME!  This sheet had the word LOVE all glittered and set off with the scroll work which is also glittered.  I added some tulle, pearls and one brown rose.  I added stitching to the background papers like I almost always do.

If you look at the portion of the scroll in the top right of the picture you'll see a little "blip" of red glitter.  This motif was actually near the edge of a 12x12 sheet and the right side of the scroll work was cut off.  After I fussy cut the whole thing I laid it on a scrap portion of the script paper and drew in the missing red glitter.  It's not perfect but until you really look you don't notice it :)  I never make my cards with elements extending beyond the edges but this one just had to be.  And I like it!

Now it's your turn.  Dig into your shiny stash and play along this week!

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #137

Welcome friends!  I'm glad you are here today.  It's Tuesday so that means it's time for another challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  This week our theme is Love Me Tender.  We want to see your projects that show off love or Valentine's Day.

Our emphasis at SOS is to use your stash and that is exactly what I did with this card.

 First off, I had 3 full sheets and lots of strips left from a 6x6 MME pad.  I used several of the strips and a portion of one sheet for the front.  The lace you see is vintage.  I used a border punch that I bought years ago.  The flowers and seam binding are all from Wild Orchid but I have had for over a year, maybe two.  The rhinestone swirl is about a year old.  The sewing is a bit hard to see because the thread blends so well with my papers but it was an old Styrofoam spool (does anyone else still have any of those??) and I literally used the last few inches on my card.

 On the inside left (and on the back, below) I used the last half sheet of this great paper.  The right side has another sheet from the MME pad.  I also used two scraps and Spellbinders Labels 14 to make my writing panel.

Here's another look at the front.

I hope you are inspired to play along with us this week!

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #136

Happy hello to you friends!  It's Tuesday and that means it's time for another great challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  Our theme this week is "Cabin Fever" - something "outdoors-y".  Right about now I do not want to be outdoors.  It has been single digits most days for the last couple of weeks.  We heat with a coal stove and many days I plant myself on the couch closest to it and conduct school from there.  In fact that is exactly where I am sitting right now.  I decided to paint my toenails and I am not moving from this spot til I can put socks back on!

I whipped up a quick and, again this week, CAS card for me.  My fingers are starting to whisper they would like to color and embellish again, I may be back to my "normal" cards soon.

 (Sorry for the shadow on my card.  Its too chilly to set everything up in the kitchen and take another picture.)  Anyway, this card is another departure from my usual cards.  First, no coloring, second NO embellishments what-so-ever, third, it's not square.  I really did make this one!  I needed a card for my "babies'" twelfth birthday this week.  He is so excited about being able to hunt with dad and big brother, Ben.  I will be getting him….well, I'm not sure what I am getting him, but a gift card will fit in here nicely.  I used three embossing folders on this card as well as all scraps.  No new card stock was cut in the making of this card!  The trees are simply triangles and the snow was ripped from white card stock.  I did not take any other pictures because it's really simple and, well, any more pictures would probably get boring.

So there you have it.  If you are suffering from Cabin Fever as well why don't you dip in to your stash and join us this week?

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #135

Hello again friends!  It's time for a new challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  Our theme this week is "Winter Blues".  The key word here is "blue".  We want to see your creation with blue as the main color.  That doesn't mean you can't use another color, but when we see your card we want to say "that's a blue card!!"  Got it?

Here's what I did:

Now I know there isn't a huge amount of blue, but blue and white are the only colors I used on this CAS (at least for me it is) card.  The sentiment is from a Becca Feeken set from JustRite Stamps.  The gingham ribbon is from my stash and is well aged I believe.

A short post for me today.  Won't you dip into your stash and join us for this fun challenge this week?

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #133

Hello again friends!  Its time for another fun challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  Celebrating the new year we want to see you use something NEW on your card.  New is always fun right??

I used 2 new die sets, one from Tim Holtz (the letters) and one from Spellbinders (Vintage Lace Doily).

I chose to make a Valentine medallion ornament.  I used a piece of DP and red card stock from my stash.  This went together really quick.  I'm not sure why my last 2 posts have been Valentines.  Sometimes you just have to go with the flow!

Dig into your new stash and play along with us this week won't you?

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #132

Happy New Year's Eve!  We are on the brink of a new year.  How exciting is that?  I have been busy cleaning out every nook and crannie in my home and that includes my studio.  And that fits right in with our challenge this week at Shopping Our Stash.  This week we want you to use the last of something.  The last paper from a collection, the end of a ribbon spool, the last sticker on a sheet.  You get the picture.  Time to clean out the old and welcome in the new!!

 I chose to make a Valentine card.  Why?  I'm not sure.  But when inspiration strikes you go with it right?  I used a sweet digital image and some paper I picked up at Hobby Lobby.  The pearls, lace, seam binding, doily and flourish were all from my stash.  The black pearls, DP and lace were the last of their kind in my stash.  The lace was exactly the size you see in the photo  It was meant to be!

 The heart DP was also the last of its kind.  I did pretty good using up some odd bits from my stash.  I'd love to say I used the last of the doilies but it was a pack of 28 and I think I have 25 left...

I think this card turned out pretty sweet.

Now it's your turn to use something up and share it with us this week.

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #131 - Use One Color

Hello friends!  Is it cold where you are?  It's cold and snowy here!  My son was making a snow fort with the piles of snow!  

I have stayed inside and played in my studio.  This week we have a new challenge at Shopping Our Stash; and since we know how busy most of you are this challenge will run for 2 weeks!  We want to see cards featuring just one color (plus neutrals or skin tones where appropriate).

My card came together pretty easily.

 I used navy and white card stock.  I embossed the big layer with snowflakes.  I punched the snowflake from the small blue layer then layered a blue and white snowflake on top of the outline.  I added a small blue rhinestone to the center.

 The inside is simple with another small white snowflake.

Here you can see the embossing and the dimension in the die cut snowflakes.

Easy this week!  Now it's your turn!  Dig into your stash and join us for our One-Color Challenge won't you?

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #129

Happy almost Thanksgiving dear friends!  The weather is plenty chilly here and I am getting ready to decorate for Christmas!  But, for today it is time for another challenge at Shopping Our Stash!  This challenge will last two weeks and we want to see your Winter or Holiday cards.  Perfect, right?  I've had fun coloring lately and I chose another sweet image from Sylvia at Wee Stamps.

 I chose this sweet image called Winter Fairy to color with my Prismacolor pencils..

I used a Spellbinders die to cut out the image and the mat.  The papers are from MME called O Christmas Tree.  I've had that stack for a couple years now.  The pearls, white berries, pinecone, flower trim and pearl cotton are from my stash.   

 Here's another paper from that stack.  You can see some of the glitter on it.  I used the same sketch for the writing panel.

Now it's your turn.  Pull out your stash and join us won't you?

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #128

Hello friends!  I am so glad you are here today!  I always love when you stop by and leave a comment! Today I have a card for another fun challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  It's truly a fun one this time!  This time we want to see you use packaging from a product on your creation!  Fun, right??

Let me show you what I came up with!

OK How cute is she??  I simply love the images by Sylvia Zet at Wee Stamps.  This sweetie is called Holly and she was so much fun to color with my Prismacolor pencils.

 I used some papers from MME that weren't Christmas-y but they are sparkly and I think they work really well!  I added a small sentiment, pearls and jingle bells from my stash strung on some pearl cotton which is also from my stash.  I was a stitcher long before I was a paper-crafter.  I created the snowflake with a Spellbinders die and the packaging from a box of tea.  My Katie and I go through a lot of tea!  I cut the snowflake, coated it with Glossy Accents and sprinkled on extra fine glitter.

On the inside I added another snowflake I made.  I also stamped this great holly stamp from Inkadinkadoo.  I think it works rather well!

So, there you have it!  Now it's your turn!  Dig into your stash, find some packaging to use and join us this week!

I think that's about it!  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle