Chevron - not gasoline!

One of the hottest new trends is the zig-zag design of the chevron... the sargent stripes on a military uniform, or ric-rac trim... that great up and down look.  The HoneyBees were inspired by a great challenge and article in PaperCrafts magazine, and we have explored it a bit ourselves this week.  I do hope you will pop over both places and have a look.  This is my effort.

I took a piece of striped paper from the Imaginisce Happy Day paper pack (stash from 2008!) and cut a strip 12 inches long, then cut three inch pieces.  I laid the shorter pieces at the angle I wanted on my paper trimmer, creating the points.  Be SURE to flip one upside down, so you get matching points, or all of your points will be headed the same direction... (want to know how I know?... hahahaha)  Then match up your points and add a bit of tape on the back to hold.   Very easy.  I thought a bit of zig-zag stitching was the right touch, too. 

The sticker covered chipboard sentiment was part of the paper pack, as was the confetti background paper.  I added the Glam Rocks with my I-Rock, and this project was in the books! 

Won't you give Chevrons a try this week, and share your project with us at BettyBee's Buzz???  We'd LOVE to come and see what you have created!

Have a great week!

Something old, NEW, borrowed, and blue!

Happy Wednesday!  It's HoneyBee Showcase day, and we are all ABuzz about our challenge with our guest HoneyBee, Amy Sheffer, of Pickled Paper Designs!  She gave us the challenge of coming up with something brought to mind by the recent Royal Wedding... we are to use something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.  It doesn't have to be a wedding creation.. just have those elements.  Have any of you ever heard the additonal line of "and a penny (or a dime) in your shoe"?  I did, and had a dime from the year that I was born in my shoe, so I would never be broke :)  I still have that dime.... Awwwww.  Don't you just love traditions?

Well, here is my card for the challenge, and a fun NEW tutorial for you!

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I started out with OLD paper, the blue background 12x12 cardstock is from the first big paper stack I bought when I started card making umpteen years ago!   

My something NEW is the card design!!  I was inspired by a store bought card that my Mom received some time back, and I figured an adaptation for us!  Oh, how I wish you could see this in motion!  The insides truly wave at you!!!

My something BORROWED is knowledge.  I used the search feature at MyCutSearch.com to find the "Fish" and "Water" cuts on all of my Cricut Cartridges!  Wow!  What a great site.  So easy to use, and all of the books are there, so you can see at a glance what all of the extras are on every cartridge!   

And, of course, my something BLUE is pretty obvious!  I do hope you will pop over to BettyBee's Buzz to check out the tutorial that Amy shared with us, as well as her bio and interview.  Then check out Wednesday's post where the HoneyBee's Showcase their take on the challenge, and give you plenty of inspiration to get you going.  There will be a prize package for our winner, too!  How about letting it be YOU!

Well, I had so much fun creating the new design for the fishy card above that I decided to show you another one, and give the directions so you can make one for yourself! 

First, for an A2 size card (5.5 x 4.25), begin with a piece of cardstock 12 x 5.5 inches. 

You will make 9 score marks on it, so that it will have four mountain/valley folds.  The folds are 3/8 of an inch high.  Note:  A Martha Stewart scoring board is very helpful, as it has 1/8 inch scoring lines, but you can do it by measuring and using a paper trimmer and stylus, or any other scoring tool.  Beginning at the left end, score at 4 1/2, 4 7/8, 5 1/4, 5 5/8, 6, 6 3/8, 6 3/4, 7 1/8, 7 1/2.  Score your lines very sharply so the card will close flat.  Add score tape or redline tape to the front of each mountain fold, as shown.

I cut five 6 inch borders for my cards.  One for the front and four for the inside.  After adhering them to the mountains, I trimmed the ends.  I used waves for the fish card, and grass and cattails for this one.  The cattails made perfect flower holders.

Embellish as desired.  In the first card I had written the message, and the bottom one was computer generated.  Stamping would work very well, too.  The flowers were all punched... quick and easy!  The movement of the flowers is so delightful!!  When you open the card they just dance :)  It surely brings a smile to your face! 

I do hope you will give it a try.  If you have ANY questions, Please leave me a comment, or send me an email.  I will be more than happy to help. 

Happy creating~

Altered Photographs

Good morning!  I knew you would love to share this delicious delight first thing this morning...

Could there be anything any sweeter?  

This week at BettyBee's Buzz is all about Altered Photos, and this is my project.  I am still at the hospital with Bob the Babe, and didn't have much in the way of supplies, but am very happy with this little beauty.  It was VERY simple to do.  One B&W print + three Copics = a whole new look!

I discovered that Copics still blend wonderfully on photo paper, and are sheer enough to let the natural shadows show through.  It is still best to add different intensities of color to get the best results.  

I hope you will join us for the HoneyBee Showcase

 to see what the other members of the Design Team have created to inspire you! 

Christmas with the Jingle Belles

What a delight it has been to be designing with the fabulous girls from the Jingle Belles blog!  Lauren and Stef have a great idea, in keeping up with making Christmas cards all year long!  It made me sad to put away so much of my Christmas stuff after the season, and realized that I hadn't touched 80% of it.  Now I have the opportunity, {and motivation} to keep creating all year. 

I created two different kinds of cards for this week's challenge, which is to use die cuts on our cards.  The first was definitely a stretch for me.

 This is my first card for this week's challenge.  I must admit that it was a bit out of my comfort zone... this the "challenge" part... but I like it!  I was actually inspired by a commercially produced card that I saw a while back.  The papers are all from Echo Park's "Merry Christmas" collection.  The J and Y are cut from the Cricut StoryBook cartridge, manipulated with my Gypsy to make them fit the opening.  The festive ornament is from the coordinated sticker dies that come with the Echo Park paper pack, as is the sentiment.  The gems are from Studio 18. 

 Now, this one is more my usual style :)  The Magnolia image is a stamp, and she is colored with Copics  and accented with Stickles.  The tree is cut from Cricut's Joys of the Season cartridge, first in shadow, and then in layer, and decorated with Studio 18 gems.  The beautiful Holly paper is Paper Studio, "Season's Greetings" from Hobby Lobby.  The etherial blue glittered swirl background is My Mind's Eye "Countdown to Christmas".  The snowflake is a die cut from Cuttlebug, finished off with a glittered brad in the center, and the vellum and rub-on sentiment are from my stash.
                                                               
We have challenges and prizes at both blogs, and we sure would love to hear from you!  Please come by and leave us comments, and then pull out your goodies, pop in your favorite Christmas CD, and have a really good time getting a couple of cards ready for a much less stressful December in your world!  Plus, you could be a winner, winner, chicken dinner!  HA!
There is a quick turn-around on this one... you need to post your project at BettyBee's Buzz before 6:00 PM eastern time on Thursday, April 21st, and we will choose a winner that night.  The winner will be announced  on Friday, April 22nd during Buzz, Brag and Bee Happy!  Happy creating and good luck! 

It's a Frame Up!!

Last week, my sweet friend, HoneyBee Rosemary, gave each of us a white frame, provided a nice selection of assorted embellishments, and our challenge was to create whatever we wanted with it!

DCWV Linen Closet paper, Prima and Martha Stewart flowers, and Sizzix punched leaves were a great start.  I had the perfect dotted sheer ribbon, and a package of frisky little bumble bees, which add a lot of life and dimension, in and out of the frame.  The daisies are punched with an EK Success punch, and are colored with Copics. 

Here are my HoneyBee Sisters!  Being together was the most wonderful time, and this framed photo will be a delightful reminder of so much fun.  It will have a very special place of honor in Studio Bee. 

Please pop over to BettyBee's Buzz, and see how the other girls did their frames, and HoneyBee Beth has created the most charming buttoned frame with her adorable grandkids!! 

Back soon!  Happy creating ~

Bee Projects

Here are some SWEET projects that I've been working on for a very special retreat with my dear friends, and design team, the HoneyBees!  We spent several days together just crafting, sharing ideas, tutoring, laughing, eating, and getting to know one another SO WELL.  It was the PERFECT SWARM!

 I stamped these bee hives and bees (CTMH) and added them to tubes of yellow and black M&Ms!

 One of our projects was to etch a commemorative mug.  I designed the logo on Make The Cut, and we cut out the vinyl, etched the designs and our names, and then enjoyed Root Beer Floats!

Court designed shirts, and screen printed them with her Yudu.  We added lots of gems with our I-Rocks.

Here are the HoneyBees!  Kristi, Rosemary, Court, June, Wanda and myself. 

I hope you get a chance to visit us over at BettyBee's Buzz, and see what we come up with to inspire you!  Monday we will be sharing another project that we did at our retreat. 

Happy creating ~

HoneyBee Showcase Wednesday

Silks, satins, grosgrains, and so much more... ribbon is one of our favorite and most versatile embellishments.  This week over at BettyBee's Buzz we are exploring some creative ways to use ribbon.  On Monday June shared a quick tutorial on how to layer ribbons, and have them shine through the opening of a card... today the HoneyBees will be sharing several other creative ideas.

My card for this project is featuring a wrapped triple daisy that was woven on the Knifty Knitter by Provo Craft.  This is a quick and easy project!

The Knifty Knitter is a simple round loom, with removable pegs, and if you stop before doing the "Knit" part, you have the pretty flower.  If you keep with the knit, you could have a baby hat, or even a scarf!

After finishing the flower, I added the perfect red button, tied with red and white baker's twine.  Sorry I don't know the name of the designer paper.  The card is made on Core'dinations Jemstone paper.

Another delightful touch... a gift with the card!   I just got an order of 1x8 cello bags today, perfect for holding M&M's, and makes the ideal stem for the flower!  The leaves are cut at 4" from the Home Decor Cricut cartridge, then embossed with the "Plaid" Sizzix folder.  The sentiment is from My Pink Stamper's Friends and Family stamp set.



I also enjoyed doing the braided ribbon frame on the front of the mini album that was posted on Monday.  The HoneyBees have posted some really great ideas over at BettyBee's Buzz.  I hope you will pop over and check them out.  Leave them some hunny, and you could be the winner of some great Blog Candy, too! 

Happy creating~