Monochromatic Christmas for the Outlawz

The challenge posted on Monday for Outlawz is a really fun one...monochromatic.  I think monochrome cards, rooms, outfits, etc are so classic and elegant looking.  I was really excited when I saw the Design Team had chosen that.  Never ones to disappoint, they offered up some great inspiration pieces.  You can go check the Design Team's work out here.

Here is my entry for the

Monday Monochrome Challenge at Outlawz.

Obviously, I went with tones of brown and for some reason felt like a Christmas card was the way to go.....not sure why.  But I'm glad I followed my instinct because I personally love this card.  If you've followed my blog at all, you know that I don't normally use a lot of bling.  It kind of scares me.  Or at least it used to scare me.  I'm feeling more confident.

This new found confidence does present a problem: I want to use more embellishments but I don't have a huge amount.  I'm really trying to resist the urge to head to Michaels, JoAnn, or Hobby Lobby.....or all 3.

(In my area they're nearly a stone's throw from one another.  It feels like the Bermuda Triangle of crafting.  I could go in one day and never come back out.  Scary and intriguing at the same time!)

In order to prevent any need for rescue, I decided to turn to my inner "scrounger" and started digging through boxes.  Here's a break down of what I found:

• Button had been the extra from some long forgotten shirt.  
• An old floral spray that had been on top of a gift box from my Mom years ago.  I pulled it apart and used the glittery balls in the bottom left corner and the beads that are on the stick pins.  The pins were from my days as a florist.  (Loved being a florist but do not miss making corsages.)
• The cluster of "pearls" were from an old pair of earrings.  I have no idea where they came from but they were still on the original hang tag.  This is just one earring so there will be another card eventually with the mate.
• Crown charm, pearls, paper poinsettia, and rhinestones all came from the Michaels Dollar bin.  (If they would let me, I would go swimming in there to find the yummies I'm just sure are buried and forgotten.)
• Glittery leaves around the fussy cut poinsettia are from a package of Making Memories goodies I got from Peachy Cheap.

I did that break down to demonstrate that not all crafting needs have to be found at the predictable places.  Thinking outside of the box is challenging and the feeling of getting something for nothing is a rush for me.  Do you have suggestions on where to find the best bargains on embellishments or any other supplies?  Share your hints in the comments....I'd sure love ya' for it!

And now, after yet another mile long post, here is my card.

In addition to the Outlawz challenge, you can find this card at the following challenges:

Crafting by Designs -- Mixed media
Loves Rubberstamps -- Round or square cards
Papertake Weekly Challenge -- Flower power
Love to Scrap -- Bingo: flowers, sentiment and ribbon
The Stamping Chef -- Christmas in August
Creative Belli Blog -- Glitter
Hobby Cutz Challenges -- Create your own background
 Challenges 4 Everybody -- Anything goes
Christmas Cards all Year 'Round -- August challenge
Little Blue Button Stamps -- Bling

If you have any questions about any of the other products used in this card, please feel free to email me.  I always appreciate the time you spend looking through my rambling and would love to see your comments!

A day late for a couple of things.

So far this morning I've:

#1. Found out the color challenge I had made this card for is now closed.  The color combo isn't one I would typically have chosen for myself so it was a good one to make me go outside of my comfort zone a bit.  I just wish I had paid closer attention to the closing date.  While I would like to say that it was a lesson learned, it probably wasn't and I'll do the same thing again.  But if the resulting card(s) is/are as satisfying as this one I'll be perfectly okay with repeating this particular history.  So, overall, no biggie.

#2. Realized I forgot to call my Father on his birthday yesterday.  In my own defense, the confusion stems from the fact that he celebrated his "24th" birthday yesterday and I had the number 24 stuck in my brain this year.  I honestly thought I had until August 24th to call and wish him a happy day.  So, instead, I'll be calling him later and wishing him a belated happy day.

(It was his 45th annual "24th" birthday for the record.)

So, can I just go back to bed and wake up yesterday morning and try this all over again?  No?  Alright then here's the card I made using some really bright colors.  They are beautiful together just not my usual choice.  I also used a lot more embellishments than I have in the past.  I'm really drawn to the cards that I see that are blinged out to the hilt....just inexperienced in the making of them. 

The hummingbird cut is one from the Cricut Art Nouveau cartridge that I love.  It has an elegant look to it and the layering is easy as can be.
Double love.
This cart is one that I don't see mentioned in many places and that's really a shame.  There are so many fantastic cuts here!  Do keep in mind that many of the cuts are super intricate and require a large size to be able to work with them.  Even with that limitation, I think it's one of my stand out carts and worth every penny I spent on it.
(Which was naturally a sale price or Ebay deal....
never full retail for this ol' girl.) 

Since I'm not one to ever leave well enough alone, I decided to make my first twisted easel card using colors I'm not comfortable with and a style I'm inexperienced in.  Sure!  Why not?  I'm so happy I did!  Talk about easy peasy for huge impact.  Again, YouTube provided a couple of videos that walked me through the process and now I have a new fancy fold in my card making arsenal.  My hubby loves cards that have any sort of action, pop up, etc so this one is right up his alley.  I guess it's the little boy in him that these appeal to so much....I don't question it.  I've decided to find it charming.



You can find this card at the following challenges:

Bitten by the Bug 2 -- Summer heat is for the birds
Love to Scrap -- Bingo using flowers, ribbon & sentiment
Mojo Monday -- Sketch
Avenue 613 -- Anything goes with a twist: stitching
Hiding in my Craft Room -- Stitching
Craft your Passion -- Summer flowers
Crafty Sentiments -- Colorful
Loves Rubberstamps -- Round or square cards
Papertake Weekly Challenge -- Flower power
The Paper Girls -- Photo inspiration




Recipe for this card:
Paper: Bazzill, Papertrey Ink, and SEI
Lace, seam binding, and ribbons:  Martha Stewart and my stash
Metal brackets: Making Memories
Rhinestones: Michael's dollar bin
Cricut Cartridges: Elegant Edges, Flower Shoppe, and Art Nouveau
Sentiment stamps: Papertrey Ink


My day has gotten better since I started typing this post.  My hubby had already planned on taking today off (much needed and well deserved) and he took me out for some brunch.  I hope you enjoy your day and appreciate that you took the time to visit.

Hello, Lovely

First things first.  I'm not sure if this is a question or a rant.

The Disney Classics cartridge from Cricut.

Ugh.

I've tried several of the images and wind up getting really frustrated with them, my Expression, myself, and everything around me....Kind of the butterfly effect of crafting irritation.  Some of the pieces are so small insanely microscopic!  I realize that I just need to do larger cuts to increase the size of the smallest components.  But how flippin' big do you need to cut them so you can even see them?  The images are super cute; it just drives me nuts that I'm not able to use them.  Does anyone have any suggestions, a list of minimum sizes recommended, hints, clues?  I'll be happy to accept any help offered!

Whew.

I feel so much better.

Now, with all of that being said, I'd like to talk about a card I made using you know what.  Yep, I took a chance on the Disney Classics cart again today.  I decided to keep it as simple as possible so I used the adorable Flower from "Bambi."

Only Walt could have made a skunk so stinkin' cute.

(Couldn't resist.)

I removed the contours from the white layer in Craft Room because I have a problem making my layers match perfectly and those little lines only make that more obvious.  That issue is all me.  It has nothing to do with which cart I'm using.  I'm just messy.

The roses on the card were made using Flower Shoppe and their edges were inked with Distress Ink.  That great sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.  The pearls and ribbons were from my stash.

You can find this card at the following challenges:

Really Reasonable Ribbons -- Pink & brown ribbons
Outlawz -- Wednesday sketch

Exploring Cricut -- Disney dreaming
Jellypark Challenges -- Cuddly wuddly
Inspire Me Fridays -- Anything goes #116
Digi Sketch Challenge -- Make your own flowers
Hiding in My Craft Room -- Thread/stitching
Craftin' Boutique Challenges -- Anything goes

Sorry for the vent.  But, my husband will be happy I have this outlet to get that off of my chest before he gets home.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend and, as always, would love to hear your comments.

Machine stitching

To say the very least, I am not a seamstress.  In fact I didn't even know how to thread a bobbin or sewing machine until I was well into my 30's.  (Thanks again, Renee.  That one quick lesson got me started.)  Pillows and curtains have been the extent of my sewing to this point.  And only if they require just straight lines....or semi-straight lines will suffice.

But seeing all of the incredible cards with machine stitching on them inspired me to drag out and dust off my little sewing machine.  I definitely need to practice more but I love doing it!  It adds such impact and doesn't effect the thickness or the weight of the card.  That's always a bonus for tightwad thrifty me.  I like just using a single stamp.

This is a card that I made for my fantastic Mom to give to a friend of hers.  I love the end product and think Mom did too. 

The paper I used was mostly Papertrey Ink as well as the stamps.  I used Tim Holtz distress ink in Broken China, Forrest Moss and Vintage Photo.  Tim's distressing tool was also put to work here.  The edge punch is one of Martha Stewart's.
And that beautiful seam binding was from Glitter and Kitsch
over at Etsy.


These are the challenges I'll be participating in with this card:

365 Cards -- Tone on tone, times 2
Just B Creative Crazy -- Just because linky party
Kaboodle Doodles -- Anything with ink or paint

Thanks for stopping by to take a look.
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