Carolina's Creative Pad

Product Focus: Nestabilities Decorative Elements

 Happy Wednesday! I'm excited to finally be able to share with you some projects I've been working on for this month's Splitcoast's Product Focus Review. The product we were sent came to us from Spellbinders, their new Nestabilities line called Decorative Elements. I had so much fun with them as you'll be able to see from the many samples I put together.

 

To read my entire review along with the rest of the team, please go HERE! On this post I'll show you the samples I put together as well as tell you a little more about each of the projects. I want to start off today's post with my favorite project, and I'll just admit it right here and now, it probably has a lot to do with the subject matter - my niece Victoria. Here's what I came up with.

I altered this recipe holder into a photo frame. I've come to accept the fact that she along with her brother Gaven are growing up faster than I'd like. I've been trying to carve out some time to dedicate myself to their scrapbooks, but haven't been able to...yet. So I came up with the idea of making these photo holders. This way I can switch out their photos for a current one quite easy.

The flower is actually several layers. Here's a close~up.

  

The bottom layer is actually a magnet which I cut out using the second to the largest Lacey Circles die and then with each layer I went down a size in die ending up with the smallest which I cut out of polka dot fleece while the others were cut from felt sheets. I finished it off with a button.

Like I said above, the great thing about this frames is that I can change the photo any time and I can even change the title, but I'm liking Sweet Girl...might change it to fit the seasons though...we'll see. Here's a close-up of that.

I used some liquid pearls and dashes around the letter to outline them so that they would pop against the pattern paper.

Paper: My Mind's Eye: Abbey Road WhirlyBird "Blossom" Floating Flowers Paper
Accessories: Spellbinders: Decorative Elements ~ Lacey Circles; Border Punch; Black Pen; Liquid Pearls; Halfback Pearls; Felt Leaf; Felt Flower; Corduroy Brad; Button; Felt, Fleece, Magnet Sheets

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The next project is card I also put together with the Lacey Circles dies and I'm featuring one of my newly arrived A la modes stamps, Time to Celebratefrom MFT. I have to blame Alex for this purchase. She just pushed me over the edge with her adorable A la modes samples...thanks a lot Alex- LOL! The sketch is from this week's Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge (SC295) and here's what I came up with.

I used some Liquid Applique on the cake to give the frosting a bit of a shine and embellished the Lacey Circle die with some rhinestones. The sentiment is also cut out with the same die, the smallest one in the set in fact.

To give it a bit more of a party feeling, I added some pom-pom trim and the fun polka dot paper, pat-a-cake, from October Afternoon. 

Stamps: My Favorite Things: A la modes - Time to Celebrate
Paper: Gina K. Designs - Pure Luxury Green Apple and White Card Stock; October Afternoon: Pat-a-Cake
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Colorbox Yellow Ochre
Accessories: Spellbinders: Decorative Elements - Lacey Circles and Classic Circles; Maya Roads Pom Poms; Ribbon; Blue Rhinestones; Liquid Applique; Dauber

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The next set of cards I switch over to using the other set of dies I received to review, Beaded Circles dies. The first card is with another newly arrived stamp image, this time from Stamping Bella, Scarlett the Teacup Girl.

I paper pieced the cup, the flower and leaves on the cup, her little hands, as well as the flowers in her head. The rest I colored with Copics. On the center of each of the circles I added a halfback pearl to give it a bit more of decorative look.

The patterned paper I'm using here is from Cosmo Cricket's Early Bird paper collection and thought it was a nice way to make the image pop a bit more. I finished it off with some ribbon and a halfback pearl in the middle.

Stamps: Stamping Bella: Scarlett the Teacup Girl
Paper: Bazzill Basics; Cosmo Cricket: Earl Bird
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Colorbox Yellow Ochre
Accessories: Spellbinders: Decorative Elements ~ Beaded Circles, Classic Circles Small; Halfback Pearls; Ribbon; Sheer Ribbon; Border Punch; Thread; Dauber; Chomper

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This last card is also with the Beaded Circles die and I'm using Stampin' Up!'s  Wicked Cool set. Here's what I came up with.

I'm just loving these halloween sets. They all have fun with images and the Beaded Circles are such a nice way to display these fun images. Quick and easy card, with the texture coming not only from the mesh I tied around the card front, but also from the texture you get when you emboss these dies.

On each of the circles I added a bit of black stickles to make the shine a bit.

Stamps: Stampin' Up!: Wicked Cool
Paper: Gina K. Designs: Pure Luxury White; Cosmo Cricket: Matilda
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
Accessories:Spellbinders: Decorative Elements ~ Beaded Circles; Mesh Trim; Stickles; Chomper

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Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inspiration Monday, Seasonal Saturday, & Hybrid Project

Happy Monday! When you travel, do you ever count on something to be available for you, only to get there and find out that it is not? Well, it happened to me this weekend. Friday morning, Hubby and I joined a group of friends and their children (there was a total of 16 of us) in Tahoe to take advantage of the perfect ski season we've been having here in California. I packed up my laptop with all my saved photos and files to be able to update my blog every night while we stayed there. We get there, AMAZING house by the way, and come to find out that there is no internet connection...thus my absence and lack of posting since Thursday.

My apologies for the unexpected break, but I do have some items to share with you today. I decided to combine next week's Sew Easy Sunday projects with yesterday's project, so I will be posting them together on March 21; however, I do have my Seasonal Saturday project to share with you. I do want to start off with my Inspiration Monday card, so here we go.

On the 15th of every month, the current Splitcoastampers stampers design team (Dirty Dozen) reveal a gallery that is created around a central theme. This gallery is available to all those who are Fan Club members. This month, I was honored to be asked to create a card for it. The theme is All Creatures Great and Small. Here's what I came up with, Some Bunny Loves You.

A group of Dirty Dozen Alumni were asked to make a card for this month's gallery for Susan Lilies who recently received some life changing news. I was going to make a card for her anyway, but it's also great to be able to showcase it over at Splitcoaststampers. Please visit her blog for all the details and keep her and her family in your prayers.  

The card I created for her pretty much says it all. Susan is an amazing artist with a wonderful sense of humor and thought she would get a kick out of this one. I'm using Gina K. Designs' Just so Hoppy! designed by Melanie Muenchinger. The base of the card as well as piece of My Mind's Eye pattern paper I cut out using Stampin' Up! Scallop Circle Bigz Die. I ran the card front through the Big Shot with the Textured Impressions' Perfect Polka Dots and attached half of the pattern paper to the card front. I tied a piece of satin ribbon into a bow, adhered it to the card front, and finished it off with a flower in the middle.

I stamped the bunny, basket of flowers, and sentiment on scrap piece of paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I punched out the sentiment with the Modern Label punch, added some dashes around the edge along with some ink; some halfback pearls on each end; and attached it to the card front with some dimensionals. To the bunny I added some Sparkly Fluff (cotton candy pink) to the ears and nose; Colored the basket with Copics and cut them both out. I attached the bunny and basket to the card front with dimensionals as well.

Stamps: Gina K. Designs: Just So Hoppy

 Paper: Pure Luxury Vanilla Card Stock; My Mind's Eye BeLoved

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Accessories: Big Shot; Bigz Scallop Circle die; Textured Impressions Perfect Polka Dots; Cotton Candy Pink Sparkly Fluff; Satin Ribbon; Sparkly Fluff; Halfback Pearls

 

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The Seasonal Saturday I planned to past this past Saturday is this one, Seasonal Saturday: Spellbinders Bunny.

 

 

 

I designed it using Spellbinders Borderabilities Jumbo Scalloped Border Petites, the larger die from the set as shown here.

 

 

The pattern paper is from My Mind's Eye Abbey Road designer paper and the fluff I used is called Sugar Sparkly Fluff. I thought the best way to show you how I put it together was by putting together a step-by-step video, so here you go and enjoy!

 

watch video below / Watch at YouTube / Watch at Vimeo

 

These little bunnies would be great to add to a bag, a box, a scrapbook page, or even a card...so many fun things you can add her to...hope you have fun putting them together!

 

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The last project I'd like to share with you is actually for a tutorial I put together over at the Hybrid Chick blog.  I wanted to design a vintage style bookmark with out all the bulk and was able to achieve that with digital images and finished it off with a sentiment from Gina K. Designs Hand-in-Hand stamp set designed by Melanie Muenchinger. Here's what my bookmark looks like:

 

 

 

As I mentioned above, you can find the step-by-step tutorial over at the Hybrid Chic blog. 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by and check back tomorrow for my Double Take Tuesday card!

Product Focus: Spellbinders' New Scallop Die Templates

Happy Wednesday! I've very excited to share with you projects I've been working on for this month's Product Focus Review. I was asked to review Spellbinders' new scallop die called Jumbo Scalloped Border Petites and you can find my full review along with the rest of the teams, HERE. Now onto the projects.

The first project I'm sharing with you is actually the last one I created and it was inspired by Joanne's Blogaversary Week Three Challenge which is to add lots of texture to your card with some folding. Here's my card, Spring Window.

I used the the larger of the two dies included in the package of Spellbinders Jumbo Scalloped Border Petites for the valance. The pattern paper I used for the sky is from My Mind's Eye Love Me Do collection. The adorable birdie image and branch, as well as the window frame and sentiment are from from Taylored Expressions. The bird and branch is from Branching Out; the sentiment is from Favorite Peeps; and finally the window frame is from Window Shopping.

I added the sentiment under the window with some halfback pearls under it to finish off the card.

Stamps: Taylored Expressions: Branching Out, Favorite Peeps, and Window Shopping

Paper: Ivory Card Stock; Cosmo Cricket My Mind's Eyes BeLoved Paper Pack

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Accessories: Spellbinders Jumbo Scalloped Border Petites, Cuttlebug, Copics, Gingham Ribbon; Halfback Pearls, Copics

 

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For this card I incorporated both dies and just had to use this adorable chick, here's my card, One Sweet Chick.

 

 

The image and sentiment are from Taylored Expressions Favorite Peeps set and all the materials used here, except for the die and rhinestones, used are from the Easter Key Ingredients. The chick was colored with Copics and the grass I just added free hand with Copics as well.

 

I added some rhinestones on the pattern paper and top right corner for some extra glitz...sorry it's so hard to see on the photo. The last touch was some ribbon on the sentiment and on the dies to tie them together.

 

Stamps: Taylored Expressions: Favorite Peeps

Paper:Taylored Expressions: Easter Key Ingredients

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Accessories: Taylored Expressions: Easter Key Ingredients; Copic Markers; Large and Scallop Oval Punches

 

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I wanted to show off how fun and easy these dies can make adding that something extra to your cards. For the following two cards, I used them as some main elements. The first of the two is all girlie, Butterfly Dreams Take Flight

 

 

I'm using the adorable PaperTrey Inc. set Butterfly Dreams designed by the talented Niki Estes. I stamped the butterflies on a scrap piece of card stock and cut them out. I then added some halfback pearls to the bodies and adhered the to the card front with glue, just on the bodies so the wings would sit up above the card stock.

 

I used the smaller die on a piece of My Mind's Eye Be Loved paper to cut out the border I attached to the bottom half of the card. I added some halfback pearls at the intersection of each scallop and some ribbon threaded through a pearl buckle right above that.

 

I stamped the sentiment using Memento Bamboo Leaves ink and finished it off with some halfback pearls on the top right corner. 

 

Stamps: PaperTrey Inc.: Butterfly Dreams

Paper: Pure Luxury Kraft Card Stock; My Mind's Eye: Passionate Paisley from the BeLoved Paper Pad

Ink: Memento Bamboo Leaves Ink

Accessories: Jumbo Scallop Borderabilities; Cuttlebug; Pearl Buckle; Halfback Pearls; Satin Ribbon

 

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On this card I used the die to give the card a splash of color, With Gratitude.

 

 

I started with a Pure Luxury Kraft card stock base and stamped the flowers and sentiment from Gina K. Designs' Spring Floralset with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I colored the flowers with Copic Markers and Watercolor Pencils and added some detail with White Gel Pen.

 

I used the larger Borderabilities die on some BasicGrey's Origins paper to cut out a strip. I threaded some Crushed Curry ribbon and a halfback pearl in the middle. To outline the strip a bit more I added some dashes with a White Gel Pen.

 

Stamps: Gina K Designs: Spring Floral

Paper: Pure Luxury Kraft card stock; Basic Grey's Origins Paper Pad

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Accessories: Jumbo Scallop Borderabilities, Watercolor Pencils; Copics; Corner Chomper; Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon; White Gel Pen; Halfback Pearl

 

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This last project is actually a sneak peek into my video tutorial for this coming Saturday so I won't go into too many details now, but here's a peek. Here's a photo of the project done.

 

 

Here's a photo of the project's front, back and the die I used...I thought it would be neat to show you what shape I started with and where I ended up.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading through such a long post. Hope something inspired you today and check back later for Thursday's It's a Wrap project!

 

SCS Product Design Team Announcement & Review

Happy Wednesday! Hope you're all doing well and I apologize for not getting back to some of your messages and/or emails. I arrived home last night to a 100 and one things that needed my attention, but hope to get back to you later on tonight. I do have some news and some shares for you today.

I'm so excited to share with you that I'm on Splitcoaststamper's Product Review Team for 2010. Along with the other ladies on the team, we will bring you our review on items that will soon be released or have just been released to the paper craft world.

In January we were asked to review new products from Flower Soft called Flower Soft Ultra Fine and a new stamp line called Moments in Time. You can find my full review along with the rest of the team HERE; below, you will find photos of the items I made with it.

I've seen this product being used on cards, which I've made two to share with you, but you know me, had to tackle the 3D items as well - so I'll begin with those. First up is a tag I created for candy jar. Here's a photo of the jar and tag.

Here's a close up of just the Bazzill chipboard tag.

I had fun with two fun colors from this release - Strawberry (red) and Raspberry Fizz (pink)...aren't these yummy?!

On the project I wanted to see how it would dress up plain cardboard and so I used it as the border around this heart shaped box.

I liked how it popped the scallop edge. To make the middle puzzle heart, I stamped the XOXO image from Gina K. Designs Square Pegsset designed by Melanie Muenchinger in red and gray and then stamped the sentiment from Hip to Be Squarein Black in the middle. I then cut a heart shape out of it with some AccuCut dies and then ran the heart through the machine again with the puzzle die. Inside the box I plan to put a bunch of different puzzles...I will share those with you next week!

Next up are two cards, the first with a new stamp line release by Flower Soft called Moments in Time. The one I worked with is called Purr-fect.

 

I used the Flower Soft Ultra Fine Strawberry on the chipboard heart  in the middle of the silk ribbon and then some Ultra Fine Black on the intersections of each of the diamonds at the bottom of the card front. The cat and image are both from the Purr-fect set and colored in with Copics.

The last card I'm sharing with you is all about a friendship Valentine's!

I used Flower Soft's new Ultra Fine in Strawberry to cover the chipboard heart on the left of the card and then Citrus Crush to make a fuzzy background for the envelope which I thought really set of the reds in the image.

The image and sentiment are from My Craft Lounge's Out For A Spin set. The base of the card I ran through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots Embossing Folder.

That's all for me today and appreciate you taking the time to stop by!