Saturday, July 30, 2011

Quick & Simple... Gift Wrap

Hello, I'm here today to share a few GCD Studios projects! Can you believe that it is nearly August? Time is just flying by in the Robinson house with a vacation, weddings, neighborhood parties and birthdays. Since it seems like I've been gifting a lot lately, I'm going to share a wrapping technique that utilizes your scrapbooking stash. Its quick and a great way to make gift giving a little more manageable for the pocketbook.
1) Start with a coordinating piece of 12x12 patterned paper and an inspiration card from one of Melody Ross' collections.
2) Cut paper to fit size of gift.
3) Score paper at width of object. Make sure that this section is centered
4) Fold at score marks.
5) Fold down four corners.
6) Fold up around gift like a pouch and staple at top.
7) Embellish...

And here is another wrap that I made for a couple of photo CDs that I made for a friend...

That's it... easy & effective! Take care.

Supplies: Patterned Paper (Fun House & Soul Food collection), Inspiration Cards (Soul Food collection), Embellishment butterfly & clips (Soul Food collection), twine (Divine Twine), ribbon (Michaels Stores)

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Go-to Gal Designer Challenge... Cosmo Cricket

Hello everyone! How is your Wednesday going? Thanks for stopping by today for our Go-to Gal Designer Challenge. 
On the last Wednesday of the month the Go-to Gals take turns picking a manufacturer and then we challenge each other to create something using products from that manufacturer. Its a fun little hop to see how we put some of our favorite goodies to use. There are really no rules... some times we all play, some times we don't.
Today BetsyJulieKimTeri, Jennifer & I are playing along and we are sharing projects made with products from Cosmo Cricket. So here's what I've got to share you today...

I layered this darling image of children playing at the beach from Cosmo's Salt Air Elements with papers from the Salt Air Collection 6x6" paper pad.  Then I stamped a hi sentiment and embellished it with some Bling Bling from Cosmo's Social Club collection. Lastly I embellished the card with strips from the Salt Air paper pad that I folded into wave-like paper ribbons.

I hope you enjoy the hop! Have a nice day:)


If you are stopping by to find what blogs you can find Zva's blog hop winners, please scroll down to the next post or you can click HERE.



July Zva Blog Hop Winners announced


We'd like to congratulate the FIVE June Zva Blog Hop winners! Their names will be found on the following blogs:

One winner from each of the 5 blogs will receive a Zva prize package worth $30.00. Congrats winners!
And here's another Zva Creative card for you today, this one uses the new Flourish III in Rosy Crystal (CRS-04CB110).

Monday, July 25, 2011

Zva Creative July DT Blog Hop!

Zva Creative and our talented Design Team welcomes you to join us this month for a blog hop that we feel is always extra special!

We know that it's a busy time of year with kids home from school and vacations, so we thought it would be more fun to add even more chances to win our blog hop prize!  Details below.

It's CHA time which means brand new products.  So please keep an eye out for them at your local stores.  As you know, Zva offers so many beautiful color groupings for pearls, flowers and crystals.  We want to make sure that they shine bright for you, so each designer was asked to share a creation using a specific color or color combination on their blog hop project.  

The Blog Hop begins at 
Kim Hughes' blog. She will have the complete list of all blogs that are participating in case there is a glitch along the way. If you would like to play along, just follow along the blog path.  I am linking to one of the Zva designers and that designer is linking to the next and so on. Be prepared to be inspired along the way. Hidden on FIVE of the blogs is a Zva Creative prize package ...YAY! Winners will be randomly chosen after the hop is over, so it's important to leave a comment on as many blogs as you can along the way.

The Blog Hop starts today, July 25th and runs through midnight US Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, July 26th and the 5 winners will be announced on Wednesday, July 27th on each of the five winning blogs. The full list will be found on Kim Hughes‘s blog as well (linked above). We will do our best to notify each winner, but it's best if you can pop in to all of the blogs once again on Wednesday...plus, you never know what kind of inspirational creation that you may find there. All you need to do is leave a comment on this Zva Blog Hop post...you do not need to leave a comment on each and every designer's blog post to qualify. The more times you leave a comment along the blog hop path though, the more chances you will have to be one of the lucky winners.

To increase your chances of winning:
*Comment to let us know that you posted on your Facebook page about our hop (link to any of the blog hop posts)
*Comment to let us know that you "tweeted" about our hop (link to any of the blog hop posts)
*Comment to let us know that you asked your local store to carry Zva creative products.  If they already do, that's fantastic, maybe you can suggest other products that they don't carry

Sooo, you have FOUR chances on each blog to win one of our FIVE prizes!  That's technically OVER 50 chances :)

And here is a card created with Zva's new Lovely flourishes (CR-04CB-118) paired with some olive Mini Roses (FLBK-03CB-117)  and 1.5" purple Graceful Roses (FL-04CA-136)... 


The blog hop begins here: Kim Hughes 

Your next stop is here: 
Benedicte Raphalen

Thank you SO MUCH for joining us! 

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Get the Knowledge! Blog Frenzy

Spellbinders Paper Arts
Get the Knowledge! Blog Frenzy
July 6 - 14, 2011
Welcome to the ninth day of the Spellbinders Paper Arts
Get the Knowledge!  Blog Frenzy!
Spellbinders™ Paper Arts’ is absolutely thrilled to bring you one of the most exciting die releases to date!  These new collections are some of the most innovated and beautiful die templates in the world!  The Get the Knowledge! Blog Frenzy allows you a sneak peek of the products we’re introducing at the Craft and Hobby Association trade show later this month.  
  • Win today’s new Spellbinders die templates!
  • Be eligible to win the Grand Prize by entering each day (see schedule below)!
  • One entry per person, per blog please, on the designated days! 
  • Each blog will accept entries for 48 hours! 
  • You have from 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time July 14, 2011 to 12:01 a.m. July 16, 2011 enter my contest.  See the Official Rules. 
  • Today you can enter my contest and Holly Simoni's contest.
Thank you, Spellbinders Paper Arts, for sponsoring this contest!

Before I share my projects and new product releases take a look at these two brand new videos that show you the nearly endless creative possibilities that you will have when you mix and match the Edgers and Decorative Inserts from Spellbinders Paper Art's new Edgeabilities die templates.


(If the embedded video is not showing up for you, HERE is a link on YouTube.)

(If the embedded video is not showing up for you, HERE is a link on YouTube.)

Pretty neat, huh?  And what amazing cards Judy Hayes made using the Edgeabilities die templates for that Edgeabilities How to Techniques video! You can see and download the instructions for those cards at the Spellbinder's blog. Don't forget that you can also follow along with winner announcements there too!

Today I’m thrilled to share two projects using S4-334 2011 Heirloom Ornaments and a die template set that is a part of the NEW Samantha Walker Design Series: S5-071 Twisted Metal Tags and Accents. Here is my first project, Peace Card.

Instructions:
1) Make card to measure 5 1/2 x 5 1/2” from kraft cardstock. Cut black cardstock mat that measures 5 1/16 x 5 1/16”. Cut red cardstock square that measures 4 7/8 x 4 7/8”.

2) Using Spellbinder’s new Edgeabilities die templates cut border strips that are 4 7/8 (or longer) x 2” in width. For this project I used Edgers from E8-001 Classic Scallop, E8-003 Classic Triple Scallop, and E8-006 Classic Petal. Repeat so you have two of each design or six total border strips.

3) Select a mix of Decorative Inserts from the Edgeabilities die templates to create six different border strips. 
For this card I choose the Decorative Inserts from E8-003 Classic Triple Scallop, E8-004 Classic Ric Rac, E8-005 Classic Postage Stamp,  and E8-006 Classic Petal.

4) Cut and emboss all border strips with selected Decorative Inserts.

5) Starting from the bottom of your red cardstock square, layer decorative border strips.
Adhere all strips to card, trimming off any excess part of strip that hangs over the edge of the square.

6) Adhere red square to black mat and then to face of card.

7) Cut and emboss Woodland Fantasy patterned paper with S4-334 2011 Heirloom Ornaments #5. Also cut F-014 Delicate Pastels Premium Craft Foil in Gold and Winter Branches patterned paper with the die templates from S5-071 Twisted Metal Tags pictured below.
8) Make certain cutting edge of die template is up facing up toward the cutting plate and desired side of selected paper or foil is facing down toward the base plate (as pictured below) when using the Grand Calibur™ machine.

9) Ink all die cuts (including foil die cuts). Use dark brown ink for the dark red patterned paper and chestnut roan for all other pieces.

10) Adhere foil bracket to face of ornament with a wet tacky adhesive. Adhere other pieces together with foam adhesive.

11) Print sentiment on cardstock and place behind small metal tag. Adhere all elements to face of card with foam adhesive.



Here are the new products I introduced:
S4-334 2011 Heirloom Ornaments
MSRP: $24.99
DIE SIZES:
1. 5/8 x 5/8"
2. 1 1/2 x 1 3/8"
3. 2 1/2 x 2 3/8"
4. 3 5/8 x 3 1/2"
5. 4 3/4 x 4 3/4"
S5-071 Twisted Metal Tags and Accents
MSRP: $29.99
DIE SIZES:
Accents:
1. 2 x 5/8"
2. 2 x 1 1/4"
3. 3 7/8 x 1/2"
4. 3 7/8 x 1 3/4"
Tags:
1. 1 3/4 x 1 5/8"
2. 1 3/8 x 2 1/2"
3. 4 x 3 7/8"

Are you ready for another idea for using S4-334 2011 Heirloom Ornaments and S5-071 Twisted Metal Tags and Accents? How about this little ornament… 
...wouldn’t it make a nice Christmas gift for a paper crafting buddy?



See the official Spellbinders Paper Arts Get the Knowledge! Blog Frenzy rules.

TO ENTER:
My contest is open for entries from 12:01 a.m. July 14 2011, to 12:01 a.m. July 16, 2011 Eastern Standard Time.

1)  Send your email entry to: Reveal17@spellbinders.us  (either click the link or type the address into your email program)
2)  The subject must be 2011 Heirloom Ornaments and Twisted Metal Tags and Accents
3)  Send!

Here are all of the Designers and their contest dates:

July 6

July 7

July 8

July 9

July 10

July 11

July 12

July 13

July 14

Daily contest winners will receive an email within 24 hours of the contest’s closing. The winners will have 72 hours to reply to that email to claim prize.  If a winner fails to respond within 72 hours, a new winner will be drawn. 

To be eligible for the Grand Prize, enter each contest within its designated time period. Use the same email address to send the entry email.  The Grand Prize has a retail value of over $1400, and includes the complete Spellbinders line of die templates released at the 2011 Summer CHA show, and a Grand Calibur™ Die Cutting and Embossing Machine!

I love your comments! Unfortunately your comment does not count towards a contest entry, so be sure to enter (above, see To Enter section) and then leave a comment here on my blog!

 If you have any questions, please e-mail ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us

Thank you for visiting and good luck!!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

Supply List for Card 
Spellbinder’s Die Templates (S4-334 2011 Heirloom Ornaments, S5-071 Twisted Metal Tags & Accents, E8-001 Classic Scallop, E8-003 Classic Triple Scallop, E8-004 Classic Ric Rac, E8-005 Classic Postage Stamp, E8-006 Classic Petal); Tool: Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ machineFoil (F-014 Delicate Pastels Premium Craft Foils by Spellbinders)cardstock (kraft, brick and blackberry swirl by Bazzill Basics Paper); patterned paper (Woodland Fantasy: Once Upon a Springtime collection by Graphic 45 and Winter Branches: Holly Jolly collection by My Mind’s Eye); chalk ink (chestnut roan and dark brown by Clearsnap); adhesives (Zip Dry Paper Glue by Beacon and 3D Foam Squares by SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L); other: (black satin ribbon by American Crafts)

Supply List for Ornament  
Spellbinder’s Die Templates (S4-334 2011 Heirloom Ornaments, S5-071 Twisted Metal Tags & Accents; Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ machine; foil (Precious Metals Premium Craft Foils by Spellbinders); 
cardstock (patterned paper (Jolly Old St. Nick and Winter Branches: Holly Jolly collection and Hattie “Boy” Woven Stripe Paper by My Mind’s Eye), adhesives (Zip Dry Paper Glue by Beacon).

Monday, July 11, 2011

Just Us Uninterrupted

Hello, did you have a nice weekend? It was very hot here... just starting to feel like summer in southern Ohio-- we've been very lucky around here. Today Brian & I braved the heat and took the girls to Kings Island (our local amusement park)... the hot day really worked to our benefit because it wasn't very crowded & the lines were short. I just love the days that are "family days" as the girls call it... or just us uninterrupted... no cells, no checking email... just us. I imagine that life with out cell phones (even though it is somewhat unimaginable now) was sweet.... can you imagine uninterrupted family time all the time? lol... I know that thought might just drive some over the edge. But the thought is noble.

Ok, so lets talk cards... I've been very busy creating many cards for many things that are upcoming... all of which I can not share here yet (yeah, I know you probably hear a lot of that lately with CHA coming up). So here is one of may favorites, as soon as I made it back in January, I wanted to share (but couldn't) so I'm happy to do so now. Its simple and elegant & could be made into a card for really any occasion.
You can find this card in Paper Craft's July/August Issue. It is a sweet issue... and did you know that with every issue you can download free patterns from the issue and sentiments? I'm loving the sentiments this month, you can find them HERE.

Well, I hope you have a good start to the week. Don't forget that Spellbinder's Get the Knowledge! Blog Frenzy is still going on... there will be a new die templates shared every day so don't miss it:)

Friday, July 08, 2011

July Color Inspiration...

Hi all, I'm dropping today with a couple of cards to share that were birthed by both this color combination (which served as inspiration for my July projects for GCD Studios)…
And this story... On the way home from our vacation at the beach with my parents, my dad decided that we should take a scenic route (in hopes to possibly miss some traffic that may or may not be on our designated route) through the Great Smoky Mountains. It was gorgeous… here’s a photo I snapped with my cell phone.
 
And even though it took us 14 hours to get home instead of 11 (fun times with 2 small children in the car!), it was a beautiful ride and inspired me to create this card for my color challenge…
And here's another because its too hard to stop at just one;)
Supplies: Patterned paper & embellishments (Great Outdoors, Fun House & Elementary collections by GCD Studios), kraft cardstock (ANW Crestwood), lace border (Little Yellow Bicycle), pearls (Queen & Co.), ribbon (Micheals Stores Inc.)

GCD Studios is having a kit of the month give away, if you are up for a crafty challenge, check it out!
I hope you all have a nice weekend! Thanks for stopping by today:)

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Spellbinders Get the Knowledge! Blog Frenzy starts today

Hi all! Happy Wednesday! Just dropping in to let you know that Spellbinders Get the Knowledge! Blog Frenzy is starting today. If you are new to their blog frenzy it is great fun... you'll see fabulous projects, have the opportunity to win some nice prizes & most importantly you'll be the first to see Spellbinder's new releases for 2011 Summer Craft and Hobby Association trade show... you will not be disappointed!

I'll be sharing my blog frenzy projects on the 14th, but you'll want to start today because if you join in every day you could win the grand prize which is ALL the new die template designs being launched at this month’s CHA trade show, plus the super popular Grand Calibur™ die cutting machine, valued at over $1,400!  See the official rules for all for all of the details.

Friday, July 01, 2011

Someone is getting happy mail!


Hi everyone! Happy Friday! Just dropping in with the name of the winner of my Bella Blvd. goodies:) She is...

21. Linda said...

I have always loved the "to the moon and back" saying and of course Winnie the Pooh has some great ones as well. Thanks for sharing your talents with us!