Circles, circles, circles

Do you see a theme here?  The design paper has circles, the crocheting is circular and the embossing is tiny circles.  Again, I've used the Eyelet Circle as my base for this crochet and I'm really excited about some of the new Spellbinder dies to use for this purpose. The crochet pattern is:  sc in first hole *(chain 3, sc 5 times) chain 1, sc in next hole (repeat from * around).  The second row was sc in first chain 3 space, *chain 3, sc in next chain three space (repeat from * around).  I used a #7 crochet hook and two colors of Aunt Lydia's crochet thread.  You still have lots of time to join the Magnolia Stamp Lover's "Primary Colors" challenge, so pull out those red, blue and yellow markers or pencils and get to work.

Paper: DCWV Cotton Bloom Stack, Stash; Magnolia Standing Tall Tilda; Martha Stewart Five Leaf Frond Brach; Stickles:  Silver, Crystal, Yellow, Turquoise; Spellbinder Eyelet Circles, Standard Circles Large; Aunt Lydia's Victory Red and Golden Yellow Crochet Thread; Fiskars Bubbles Embossing Plate; Copics: [Skin E000, E11, R20][Hair E30, E21, E33][Pants Y17, Y38, Y15, Y13][Shoes E59, E57, E55][Scarf B16, B06, B37][Shirt R29, R24][Background B16]

Hosting the SSCC "Anything Goes" Challenge

I love an "anything goes" challenge.  I've had this card swirling around in my head since I first received the Scarecrow Tilda.  I imagined her in the middle of a large field of sunflowers, standing tall with her face to the sun.  She doesn't look mean enough to chase off the birds, does she?  These images were colored on Neenah Super Smooth paper, a first coloring for me.  I did find it easier to blend on than the Beckett Radiance I've been using.  The card size is 5 3/4" square and the main image is backed by copper glitter paper.  The wings of the bees have Glossy Accents on them and I've applied Stickles on Tilda's sleeves the the center of the sunflowers.  Since I am hosting the Stamping Scrapping Central Challenge "Anything Goes", you have plenty of time to enter.  Just mention one product that Cindy of StampingScrapping.com carries

and enter your card in the link at the top of the post.

Paper:  DCWV The Natural Cardstack, DCWV The Rustic Stack, Neenah Super Smooth; MIC Sunflower Background; Magnolia Scarecrow Tilda, Flourishs Sunflowers; Stickles: Black Diamond, Crystal; Dies: Spellbinder Large Labels; Distress Ink Scattered Straw; Glossy Accents; Magnolia Chandelier Garland Yellow; Copics: [Skin E000, E00, E11, R20][Wood Fence E43, E33, E31, E57][Sunflowers Y18, Y38, Y35, E57, YG93, YG95, G99][Gloves E37, E39, E47][Hat Y26, Y23, Y21][Hair E19, E09, E07][Straw Y32][Clothes YR20, YR61, YR00, YR01, YR00

All the best people were born in September....

At one time, the Peoria Journal Star had a sports writer that once a month would enumerate all the reasons he was happy with the current month.  And one of the reasons would be "best month for napping".  The funny thing was that appeared in every list every month.  I'm assuming he was a 'nap' person.  Well, I think every month is a great month to be born so I've started a new line of free digis.  These will be birthday sentiments and come with a calendar.  I've used both of these digis in the card shown below.  I won't be announcing these on the free digi web site but they will show up regularly on my blog.  So, if you like free digis, you just might want to become a follower.

This card was created for my husband's cousin, Nancy.  I'm sure she doesn't read my blog so I'm safe in showing this card.  I adore Nancy and she's a big fan of mine.  I hope she enjoys this card as much as I enjoyed creating it for her. 

Paper:  DWCV The Linen Closet; Stamps:  Prairie Fairy Birthday Gilly, JustRite Times New Roman 15 point; Bluebirdflats Calendar, Bluebirdflats Sentiment; Distress Ink Tea Dye; Sizzix Heart Charm; Spellbinder Classic Scallops Small; Copics: [Skin E0000, E000, E01, R20][Hair Y21, Y23, Y26][Dress BG34, BG32, BG000][Shoes E43, E42][Cake Y000, Y11, N1, R81, R85, YR65, YR61], Spica: Sand, Orange, Turquoise, Clear, Lemon; Glossy Accents

 Download September Calendar

Download September Birthday Sentiment

Double Challenge

I've been having a lot of fun with crochet these days.  I found this wonderful Copper Mist crochet thread that matches this background paper wonderfully.  I've crocheted on a Spellbinder's Eyelet Circle.  I'm hoping the flowers are zinnias which always bloom here in July and August which are Central Illinois Dog Days (Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central "Dog Days of Summer" challenge).  Temperatures are often in the 90s here with high humidity.  Pots must be watered twice a day or kept in the shade.  Air is often hard to walk through, it feels thick and moist.  And since my background paper has flowers and I have two flowers on my card so it qualifies for the Magnolia Stamp Lovers Flowers Challenge.  So, you have a choice - flowers or 'dog days'.  Note:  in order to qualify for the SSCC challenge prize, you must mention a product that can be purchased at StampingScrapping.com.

 

Paper: DCWV Cardstock Neutrals, Citrus Stack; Stamps: Magnolia Tilda with Gifts; Dies: Spellbinder Eyelet Circle; Crochet: Bluebirdflats #1; Crochet Thread: Royal Copper Mist; Coats and Clark Metallic Copper Thread; Punch: Marvy Uchida; Buttons: Stash; Stickles: Orange, Purple, Eucalyptus; Copics: [Skin E00, E11, R20][Clothes YR82, YR02, YR01, YR00][Shoes E18, E17, E15][Packages YR18, YR16, YR15, V09, V06, V05, YG06, YG05, YG07][Hair Y21, YR31, YR23]

Last of the digital circle sentiments

This will be the last of this series unless someone needs a number that I haven't posted.  I would be glad to do it, just e-mail me.  I will be starting a new series of digital sentiments - these will be words with definitions.  If you have a special word you'd like me to turn into a sentiment, please e-mail me, I'm always looking for inspiration.  I hope you've enjoyed these - I've seen a few of you use them which tickles me "plumb to death" as my granny would say.  If you have suggestions for other sentiments, I'd be glad to hear those as well.

 Download Thirty

 Download Forty

Download Fifty

 Download Sixty

 Download Seventy

 Download Eighty

Download Ninety

Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central - Summer

What's summer without a ragtop?  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term 'ragtop' it's American slang for a convertible or a car with no roof on it.  Nick Nolte in '48 Hours' with Eddie Murphy was a big ragtop man, always had a convertible.  Heading down the highway with the wind blowing in your hair is the only way to travel.  It took a long time, but Tilda finally saved up enough to buy one and now it's parked outside under the tree waiting for her to get off work.

There are a lot of firsts for me in this card.  I rarely tear paper.  I don't know why, I just never have.  So, when I was trying to figure out how to do the background, I ran across this blue paper with clouds.  And the Mind's Eye paper was the perfect green.  My tree was cut out on the Cricut, the leaves were covered with Puffy Paint, dried, and then heated with my heat gun.  The little cranberry buttons were from my button drawer.  I plan to work on coloring the car, I don't think it's my best work but overall, I'm pleased with the way this card turned out.  You still have time to enter this challenge:  StampingScrappingChallenge Central.  Just remember to include a product from StampingScrapping.com in your post.

Paper:  Debbie Mumm, My Mind's Eye; Stamps: Magnolia Tilda's Car, Studio G Alphabet; Cricut Bloom Cartridge; Buttons: Stash; Marvy Uchida Puffy Velvet Olive Green; Copics:  BG72. BG75. BG78, C3, C5, N1, N2, N3

My first sketch challenge....

I've heard lots of people say that they love sketch challenges because the creative process is so much easier.  I've never done a sketch challenge before so I didn't know.  I have to admit that some of the thinking has been done for you.  When I started on this sketch I wasn't sure I was going to like it but once I picked my paper, it sort of created itself.  I stamped the Tim Holtz stamp on white card stock, cut it out with the Spellbinder Labels 10 die, inked the edges with Distress Ink Scattered Straw and popped Tilda with Pony Tail on top.  One thing I did that I've never done before was to cut the border die twice, once from each designer paper, making sure I had a left end and a right end from different papers.  I measured, cut them and glued them together into one strip.  For the 3 elements at the bottom I used some new I-Rock hearts.  The sentiment is from PaperTrey.  I'm pleased with this first attempt at a sketch.  If you've never done a sketch before, hurry over to the Magnolia Stamp Lover's blog and check this one out.

Paper:  DCWV Card stock Stack - Neutrals, DCWV Citrus Stack; Stamps: Tim Holtz Urban Tapestry, Magnolia Tilda with Pony Tail, PaperTrey Everyday Classics; Dies: Spellbinder Classic Rectangles; Spellbinder Tag; Spellbinder Labels 10, Spellbinder Parisian Accents Border Die; Other: Distress Ink - Scattered Straw, Imaginisce Hearts; Copics: [skin E00, E11, R20][Hair YR23, YR31, Y21][Jeans/Socks B12, B14, B16][Blouse YR02, YR01, YR000][Shoes RV11, RV13, RV14]