Published on Whimsy Magazine Issue #7

I am not sure where my days go as I feel like I haven't really been doing anything! Well some days ago I showed a peek of my very first published card; and today I am back to post it here:0) I am so happy to have met one of my goals for this year.

So here is my card that was published in the Issue #7 Whimsy Magazine; I truly love this mag since they always have such fun tutorials and also such FAB inspiration!

 This card is fairly simple but the paper (Lily bee design) ais so pretty that I didn't want to cover it up so much.  Here is a closeup of Wee Florist. Aint she so super cute; reminds me of my Mother; this will be her Mothers day card this year.

I have colored her with Copics used: Hair E59, E57, E33 Skin-YR01, E00, E000, R20 Leafs: YG67,YG25,YG01 Bucket-BV25, BV23, BV20  and then I got lost:0)

Thanks for stopping by; BIG hugs!

Easel Teapot

It is Tuesday once more and that means a new challenge over at Top Tip Tuesday. This time we would like to see: Something for Mothers day or a Craft Buddy

This time our challenge is being hosted by Deneen.

 Deneen is sharing a FAB Teapot Card Tutorial. If you like my card I would def advise you to head on over the TTT blog and take a look.

 Here is my teapot card using Deneen's teapot template.

 TIP: By making the card into an easel card then you can add a doily for the teapot to rest on:0)

Then pulling out the tab where I can hide a message:0)

I think it came out allright; I had a few mishaps here and there but when it was all done I think everything worked out!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges: 

Craft Your Passion - Easel Card

Hooked on Crafts -More than One Fold 

The Outlawz - Anything Goes 

There She Goes - Hidden Surprise

Truly Madly Crafty Challenges - Color Inspiration

Now please join us for a chance to win prizes from these FAB sponsors:

Simon says Stamp

Crimson Cloud

Karen's doodles

Sending everyone big hugs and get well wishes for those who are feeling under the weather.

Smashing my Kids art

Hello All; Hope everyone is doing well; as times are a bit crazy in weather. Some days it feels like Summer is beginning to show and then all of a sudden we get a super cold and windy couple of days. Today it seems like it will be a nice day.

The reason for my post today is to show something different for me. Now I did a SMASH hop a few days ago and just had to order my first smash book and accessories. I am anxiously awaiting the UPS guy to show up so he can hand me my goodies. Well I just couldn't resist now could I with so much inspiration. You can check out the hop which starts at Krista's Blog HERE. But I warn you it is good and you will want to start smashing too! So I couldn't wait for my book to arrive and I really wanted to start smashing; so I have started a composition book where I will be adding artwork from my kids and little gifts that they give me. Here are the first couple of pages:

This first drawing is from my 5 yr old Franco; he drew all the characters from the movie Kung Fu Panda. Can you tell who is who?

The next is my very first Valentines day card from Franco. This was from last year. So he was 4. I got him some cards and told him to draw pretty things for those he loves. When writing the names of the recipients in for him he told me this one was for me.....AWWW so sweet my boy! (Please note that his drawing skills have improved dramatically in one year!)

 This last one is from my 4 year old Gavino who is a bit obsessed with Mario from Mario Bros. If you look closely you can see a smiling face in red with a hat initialed with the leter W. So we practiced writing the M for Mario, then L for Luigi and last G for Gavino. The blob of blue was drawn by him some time ago; not sure what it is.

I would like to link up to the party at Krista's blog for the Smash hop.

Also I wanted to share an idea that occured to me. I have this basket full of goodies that would be great for my smashing projects. They are all flat embellishments, letters, die-cuts, and such and will be kept close when smashing. I have them in page protectors and labeled  on the side. I used to have them organized in a binder but now this basket is much more practical as I can pull pages out and put them back easily.

Thanks for stopping by; HUGS!

Blooming with Kenny K:0)

Wow this year seems to be speeding on by; we are already in MARCH! OMG time does fly when you are having fun.

Well today I am here to share my card for the Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challeng.

Challenge is: Bloom and Grow (Flowers any shape or form) and here is my card:

 I have flowers on my DP, made a flower from my lace ribbon and even my image has a flower:0) Plus can you see the love grow between there high school sweethearts? Here is a closer view of Book Girl and Book Boy from the new Kid Nation Release available at Kenny K Downloads. I have flipped this super sweet girly so she could be walking next to her boy.

So I hope you get a chance to come and play along with us this week. Like they say: "You gotta be in it to win it!" So to encourage you a little further here are our amazing prizes and sponsors for this challenge:

5 Digi's from Kenny K's Downloads

and a $15.00 voucher fromMichelle's Scrapbooking & More

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges: 

I Brake for Challenges - Love  (Highschool Sweethearts)

Paper Crafting Journey - Anything made with paper goes

  Paper Play -  Something old, something new New Image- Old Pearls and brad

Little Darlings Challenges -  #18 Pearls

Card and some News!

It is my goal to make creations with the stamps that I win; and here is one that I won from Whimsy from the January Hop. I enjoy doing the Whimsy hops because they are short and oh they have so many chances on winning super adorable stamps.

Here is my card using Wee Bunny:

Aint he just so super sweet? I do love him; I think he is one of my favorite cute Whimsy stamps right now. He is just so versatile; don't you think?

 Here is a sideview of this easel card and you can see the hidden area where I will write a message.
The folled flowers were done by me and you can check out my tutorial on how I make them HERE.

I taught a class in my local scrapbooking store on how to do this card and I think that everyones cards came out just GORGEOUS!

Now onto my BIG NEWS! Well one of my goals for this year is to get published and so I sent a card into Whimsy for issue 7 magazine and IT WAS PUBLISHED! Oh I am so excited; you just wouldn't believe. I really like Whimsy as a company; they have great releases, an Amazing store (super speedy delivery and low cost shipping), FABULOUS inspiration and hops, and a great magazine filled with inspiration and tutorials. Plus to top it all off; they have published my first card!

Here is a sneak peek at my card; you can see the entire card by visiting the Whimsy Magazine; I am on page 101!

Sewing and Foe Stitching Tutorial

I am hosting this weeks challenge over at Top Tip Tuesday and this weeks  Challenge is:

Stitches, Real Or Faux
Sewing on your Creation

What better way to get your creative juices flowing than by sharing some tips on how to do sewing on paper projects and also how to achieve FOE STITCHING.

 WARNING! This is a picture heavy post...the good news is that it is a tutorial and if you are a visual learner then it is just perfect:0)

I will start by telling you that I am a beginner at sewing and have mainly used my sewing machine on paper crafts so as you can see my sewing is not perfect. I need more practice and if you have tips for me they are welcomed!

I started by reading my machine's manual cover to cover. So get to know your machine by reading first then by trying it out on scraps. This is my machine; which was a birthday gift from my Mother.

 Once you have figured out how to thread your machine (which for me took some time) then you are ready to try! I like to start my sewing in a place where I think will be covered by something on my project. In this case it is at the top where I will add ribbon for my tag. Lift the pressure foot pedal and insert your project. I use the markings on the foot pedal to try and keep my sewing aligned around the way.

 When I get close to a corner I use the hand wheel (handle on the side) to do the sewing. That way I don't feel pressured to going too fast. When I get to the point where I would turn I stop; ever so slightly lift the pressure foot pedal and shift my project. Then continue going all the way around until you have reached your starting point.

You can adjust your stitching by using the controls; each machine is different so see where yours would be. I can make my stitches be farther apart by adding to the top button.

 Here is a comparison on the first stitch it is at 2.5, the second is at 3.0 the third is at 4.0 and the last is a Foe stitch.

Here is how I do a FOE STITCH:
I have used my Scor-Pal, Cutter Bee Bugs Piercing tool, and a white gel pen.

 I align my paper to the 6 1/2 inch line and use the line to the left of it. This gives me just the right distance from the edge.

 I then take my piercing tool and run it in that 3/8ths mark. This is super fast and keeps my pierced lines nice and straight!

 Then KEEPING the paper in this position I use a pen and connect the pierced dots.

I do this to all sides and VIOALA! It is so fast and easy! Here is a comparison on the two tags. The one on the left has been done on my sewing machine and the one on the right is done with the Foe Stitching technique used above.

 Closer view of the front.

 Closer view of the back.

I really hope that you have learned something; here is my finished tag:

 Image is from Saturated Canary (one of my FAVE shop right now!) The FAB Krista has supplied the DT with images of our choice and I just love the flowy hair that this "Let it Rain" cutie has. Thanks a million Krista!

TIP: If you would like to acheive high gloss in black hair try using a blue next to the highlights. I have used T9, T7 and B24 in my Copic markers.

I would like to enter this tag into the following challenges:
 Partytime Tuesdays - 3E (2E anything goes wk) - PTT #57 Anything Goes

 Sassy Cheryl's -3E- SIO #104 Are You Seeing Spots? Use Spots & Dot's

Creative Mondays - 2W - (2nd week) Anything Goes

 iCopic Challenge - 2E, must use Copics - Anything but a Card

 Lollipop Crafts - Tags 

Love to Create - 3E - Add Stitching to your Project (Real or Faux)

 MyGrafico - 2W, SIO - (2nd week) Flowers

 Nettie G's Digital Gems - 2W, SIO - (2nd week) Anything Goes

 Squigglefly - SIO - Spring is in the Air 

The Crazy Challenge - 2E - Anything Goes 

PanPastel UK Challenge - 1E, SIO - Use a Ribbon

All righty ladies; so hope you will join us this bi-weekly challenge over at Top Tip Tuesday; you will be in the chance to win prizes from these sponsors:

1st Prize is 2 Digi images from Her lovely Etsy Shop.

 

The Crafty Pad

Prize 2 is 2 Digi Images from Debbies lovely Online shop.

WOW so if you have made it this far; you deserve a HUGE HUG!

Catch you all later:0)

Crafters Comanion Mini Cards and a double TUTORIAL

Hello Y'all! Hope everyone is having a FANTASTIC February; for me it has been busy and fun.

I am so excited that I was chosen as guest designer for Crafter's Companion USA Challenge Blog for the month of February.

I would like to start by showing you a comparison in rolled flowers. I have started with the following paper sizes. I like making small rolled flowers and find that the 1 inch squared are quite nice and delicate. So start out with a squared piece of paper.

 Then snip off the corners with your  scissors; making a rounded shape. You can skip this step if you are starting with a circle from a punch or die.

 Next you will need to cut the papers in a spiral. You can pencil in your lines (as if to draw a cinnamon roll) or just freehand it. You can make really narrow strips or thicker. As long as you keep the width consistent then you can do it either way. The thickness of your spiral will be the height of your flower.

 Then using a roller tool, tweezers or your fingers, start rolling the flower from the outside in.

 Once you have rolled the flower you will come to have something like the picture below. I like to make a bit of a flat back by pushing my fingers into the paper and squeezing it. At this point I like to roll the flower very tight and hold it there for a few seconds. Then you remove you tool, or just simply let go and the flower will begin to unravel a bit and bloom:0) Once the flower has bloomed then you will add some glue to the bottom and press the inside of the flower down.

 Last add beads, glitter, diamonds, pearls to the center to accessorize. I like using Glossy Accents to add the pearl. Now my flowers are about the same height since I cut the spiral at the same width. But you can see that the biggest difference is in the size of the flower. The 2inch square has lots more layers than the 1 inch square.

Now I would like to share my Mini Cards: These cards are about 4x3.25"  I have used left overs from my Sour Cream Pouches to make these cards to accompany them. Take a look HERE to see that project:0)
I have used the bouquet from the Flowers For You Humphrey Stamp Set.

 If you look closely you can see that my tiny rolled flowers have scallops. I will show you how I have done this without any fancy die.

I have used my scallop oval punch, book page, scissors, and my tweezers.

I have started by punching the page and making cutting the oval as to use the outside of the oval and then made a little tab towards the inside which will be what the flower will be glued down with. I did not continue to cut til the center because then I would not have the scalloped edge. The bottom is a drawn example of where I would cut. You could also use a scalloped circle and do the same technique.

 Then with my tweezers I have started rolling my flower starting with the pointed piece. I like to roll my flower tight, holding and pinching it for a few seconds so that it keeps a tighter shape.

 Then released them and let them bloom.

 Last secured with glue and added pearl centers.

One last look at my mini cards (in case that you want to see the end results in my card and do not want to scroll back up)...hehehe

WOW! That is a whole lot! So hope you have made it to this point...hehehe  I know that there are many tutorials on how to make rolled flowers; but hope you have learned something new with this one.

Before I go I want to thank the PEEPS at CCCB for having me as Guest Designer :0)

Please do visit the CCCB for a chance to win a stamp set:0)

BIG Hugs!

Janette