Dot & Whimsy : June 2011

A Week?

It's really been a week since I've posted? Wow! Just proof that summer is flying by!

I'm in the midst of getting my Design/ Creative Team projects completed before heading out to Alabama on Friday...look out beach, here comes a really white girl :) Our friends poke fun and literally call me 'white girl', but I don't care. Being fair-skinned has it's advantages and disadvantages...just seems like there are a lot more disadvantages LOL. A couple of years ago I went to a Beauti-Control party and the consultant did the 'black light' test. I was amazed to see the number of ladies with large areas of green splotches (i.e. sun damage) all over their faces. When she did mine? A couple of small spots where zits were....so ha! Hopefully when I'm 80 I'll look 50...in the meantime, I can deal with the jokes and grief.

In the past two days I've received my July Design Team kits from Back Porch Memories and Your Scrapbook Stash. Oh. My. Goody-ness.

I spent the entire day yesterday creating away. Here is just a little-bitty sneak peek of what I did with the BPM July SOLO Kit

The Design Team's projects go live on July 10th, so I will share more after that time :) Sign-up for this kit today...it is total Y-U-M.

I completed another card for I Heart {Ippity} too!

Again, I am working with New Season, New Wonder for the entire month of July. These are pre-cut, unmounted rubber re-positionable stamps. You can order these directly from Heather, our Unity Stamp Chick (click link above).

How fun is this?!? To embellish the stamped image, I added letter stickers and gave them a little detail by adding some stitching at the top. I also used a satin stitch of brown floss for the stem and finally added a cut-out leaf. I simply L-O-V-E the way it turned out ♥

I have a couple of more projects to share, but I'm waiting to see if Paper Crafts is interested in them first.

Never submitted anything ever to a magazine, but I thought I'd try it. Nothing like crafting Valentine's in June.

Not a bad idea actually...which reminds me that it's about time to start on those Christmas crafts!

See you all in a day or two

Many things to share!

{#1 ANNIVERSARY}

Today, my sweet hubby and I celebrate our 20th Anniversary! I know you're saying "but, Shellye, you look way too young to have been married that long" hehehe (I was only 10 when I got married *wink*) The time has definitely flown by...whew! We're not novices at this marriage thing, that is for sure. Good times and rough times, and we're a stronger couple now because of all of the times.

♥ So, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Honey! You are my rock and I Love You ♥

{#2 I'm a Stash Girl!}

I've had the badge up on my side-bar for a couple of days, but I haven't officially announced my new Design Team stint. I'm so very, VERY happy to be a part of the July-December 2011 Your Scrapbook Stash Design Team...I'm a STASH GIRL :) Lots and lots of fun and cool things that we'll be sharing in the upcoming months. The thing that I love most about YSS, is the encouragement of all things paper...and I'm all about all things paper! If you follow me at Etsy, you know how much I adore altering things and creating things from beautiful scrapbook papers♥ I personally invite you to follow the Your Scrapbook Stash BLOG, where all of the fun will be shared. Also, sign up to be a Gallery Member! I will keep everyone posted here with the latest happenings, challenges, etc. In fact, for the rest of June you can use code JUNE15 and receive 15% off your entire order when you shop. Tons of great things marked as SALE items, so happy shopping ;) "Like" them on Facebook too...I see special offers just for FB franzzzz!

{ #3 Ally Scraps June Sketch}

I shared a couple of cards last week that I made using a single sketch from Ally Scraps...I'm so happy and honored to be the winner of their June Sketch Contest! I'll be putting the cute little "Beach Bum" paper pads from Fancy Pants to good use.
Thanks, Ally Scraps!

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I'll be working on a few Design Team projects over the next couple of days AND I'll try to sneak in an altered album to go up at Dot & Whimsy...I've had the design in my head for well over a week, but just haven't had the time to do anything with it.
Also, my friends over at Absolutely Alter It are hosting a crop in a couple of weeks! The girls are sure to have lots of creative challenges up their sleeves ;)

I've worked the last two nights, so lots to get done tonight before I turn in...see you all tomorrow!

Pennant tutorial USA Banner

Rockin' the USA...in calico and butterflies

I've had this set of papers from Close to My Heart for about three years now...looked too pretty to cut. But with Independence Day right around the corner, I wanted to make a sweet banner using the calico and butterfly papers (officially named Blue Ribbon). Micheal's carries all different shapes of chipboard (more like paste-board, but a little heavier than a bakery box) like stars, hearts, purses, houses, etc, so I bought a couple of different shapes, one of them being the stars.

I made the little pennants too, so they'd match the papers. I have the easiest way to construct these babies...wanna see? (not that this is rocket science, but anyway...)

I used a chipboard star. You can use any size and don't forget about those stencils that you could trace as well.

Step 2: Fold the desired paper in half (great for scraps). Align the star up with the crease and then trace.

Finally, coat one side with glue and insert a toothpick snug to the crease. That's it...so easy that caves of men could do it!

Although you can't see the detail very well, I wanted to show how I added it to my dining room hutch. I looped two large rings through the ends of the ribbon so that it would easily hang on the edge of the doors. I may go back and add some bits of ribbon to the rings, but for now it's not bothering me LOL

I had a thought as I'm busy designing away with my new I Heart Ippity July Stamps...I can't share my projects until they go live at I hearty Ippity, so just forget that I mentioned that in the last blog entry *blush*

HOPEFULLY, tomorrow I will have some more news to share. I know, you're thinking "enough all ready, really" but I just can't help it hehehe. Once again, I'm super-de-duper EXCITED! I have to say that I have picked some phenomenal scrappy and stampy places to try-out for. I am looking forward to the next six-months :)

Okay, I'm calling it a night.

♥ Happy Father's Day tomorrow ♥

Love to my Daddy and my hubby...two wonderful & exceptional FATHERS

To my grandfathers and father-in-law in Heaven...you will be remembered with GREAT fondness tomorrow ♥

I Heart Ippity stamping Unity Stamp Company

I've been a busy little bee...with Ippity!

I received my first set of stamps from I Heart {Ippity} this morning...wow...wow. Unity Stamp Company brings beauty to red rubber like no other (no rhyme intended). Such fine detail, it's like an expensive piece of artwork! Click on the link above to view the latest and greatest of Unity Stamps.

♥ Here are the stamps that I'll be working with for July ♥

This stamp came by itself, so my initial intent was to simply stamp the image onto a piece of paper so that I could share it with you. Well, I grabbed a shipping tag and of course the first impression was not great, so I flipped it over and stamped the other side...not so great either, but better (you know how that is). The next tag turned out just right! With the coloring of the tag (like old parchment) and the quote in a soft brown, I just couldn't leave it at that...so, off to work I went.

After stamping the image:

1- Distress the edges of the tag with various inks (I used Tim Holtz' Broken China, Fired Brick, Walnut Stain and Mustard Seed). Be sure to begin blending from outside the tag inward

2- Machine stitch around the perimeter of the tag

3- Remember that first stamping that I did? I used my water-color pens and colored the flowers royal blue. Then I cut them out and attached them to the tag by simply stitching with a brown thread through the center.

4- Add a little glue to the flowers with a glue pen and then glitter...adds just a hint of shimmer, but not too much.

5- Remember that first stamping that I did? (ha! I let nothing go to waste!) With a black ink, I stamped the image again and then cut the words "possible" and "believe" from it. I inked around the edges in the Walnut Stain and lightly distressed the front with Broken China. I attached them over the original words using foam dots.

6- Add a pretty ribbon and jute to the end

It looks so pretty on my wonderfully patina'd flower frog :)

And here is the fabulous SET that I received

New Season, New Wonder

IPK-148

I'm actually working on a card as a I blog...let the glitter dry, type, let the glue dry, type LOL I will get pictures of my other I Heart {Ippity} projects uploaded tomorrow.

Now, as crazy as this may sound, I'm off to start another blog post...gotta share the other neat-O thing I did today :P

See ya in a minute!

Two Cards...One Sketch

Hellerrr!

(a greeting spoken by Tyler Perry's Madea...I couldn't resist)

I've been trying to get at this card sketch for the last couple of days. I had in mind that one of my cards (as you have to make two using the sketch) would be for my dad's day! I loveeee my daddy :) He is my biggest fan...always comes into the house and wants to see what I've made lately...sweet ♥

Here is the sketch from Ally Scraps Blog

My first take on the sketch is as-is:

Products used:

Patterned papers, die-cut accent by Collage Press/Pink Paislee

I printed the journaling onto Kraft paper using Monterey Font and added round letter stickers by October Afternoon (onto foam dots)

Chipboard frame by Maya Road. I painted it with an apple green acrylic paint and popped it onto foam dots as well.

Kraft border by Close to My Heart.

Other items: satin ribbon, vintage crochet thread and various buttons

For the second card, you had to use a mirror image of the sketch or flip it some way...I went vertically.

Two totally different looks, right? I definitely went from one extreme to the other in card-making today...yayay! I'm happy ☺

This card had quite a bit of different techniques: embossed paper, spritz spray, inking/distressing, water-coloring and fussy machine stitching (because I couldn't keep a straight line, but it fits the theme!). I really, really like this one!

Patterned papers, flourish stamps by Close to My Heart

Off to the parent's house for dinner and a late evening S-W-I-M

Happy Thursday!

Back Porch Memories crepe paper fringe Guest Designer My Minds Eye

What a BUSY, BUSY Wednesday!

Creeeaaakk...did you hear that? It was the sound of my bones trying to remember how to stand after sitting all day. Man, I've been busy since 8:00 A.M. I finished a large order of "On The Fringe" crepe paper trim and made several BRAND NEW color schemes for Dot & Whimsy. I know crafters and I know that crafters like to start on their Fall/Winter projects early :) So, I made up these themes:

♥Boo Parade: orange, jet black and white

♥Frank In Tux: grape, spring green and white

♥Green-Eyed Monster: spring green, jet black and white

♥Autumn Leaves: orange, sunny yellow and brown

♥Turkey Day: orange, brown and cream

And of course, since we haven't even started the Summer season yet, I also added:

♥Lemon Chiffon: sunny yellow, pale yellow and white

♥Pinata Party: blueberry, orange and spring green

♥Grand Old Flag: strawberry, royal blue and white

♥Bumble Bee: sunny yellow, jet black and white

♥Lady Bug: strawberry, jet black and white

Looks so cool on baskets, treat boxes and other projects!

{GUEST DESIGNER}

I mentioned yesterday that I had some more news to share. I am very excited that my "Inside & Out" layout of Sydnee and my great-nephew, Knox, awarded me with a Guest Designer spot at Back Porch Memories...such a nice group of ladies! I'll be 'guesting' next month and am greatly anticipating my first BPM kit :) Come on over to the forum and join in on the chat if you get a chance.

{CHALLENGES COMPLETED}

I completed this layout and card for a couple of challenges over at My Mind's Eye blog. My Mind's Eye is in my TOP 3 favorite manus! They never, ever cease to amaze me. How they keep chunking out fabulous stuff year after year is completely beyond my comprehension...but I'm soooo glad that they do ♥ I fondly remember when they came out with Frame-Ups years and years ago...I've been hooked ever since.

"She's So Wonderful"

I've used My Mind's Eye "Lime Twist, Fine & Dandy and Quiet Contrary" patterned papers, die-cut and chipboard embellishments. Foam letters by American Crafts, letters stickers by October Afternoon, baker's twine by Martha Stewart Crafts and brads by Basic Grey.

"Happy Birthday to you"

Almost every single element is from MME "Quite Contrary" Line; buttons, tag and crochet thread are from my stash.

Well, it's almost time to call it a night!

Have a wonderful rest-of-the-week

I Heart Ippity Unity Stamp Company

I Heart Ippity!

Yay! It's official...I can now announce that I've been selected as one of five I Heart {Ippity} Creative Team members...I'm so excited! Our leader, Heather, is one of 64 specially selected The Unity Stamp Company endorsed Ippity Chicks worldwide...you can only get the fabulous Unity stamps via an endorsed Ippity Chick :)

Each week we will be sharing our projects using Unity stamps, as well as hosting blog hops and challenges along the way. You can find us at

I Heart {Ippity}

Can't wait until I get to work with these awesome stamps and awesome team ♥

I have another bit of exciting news to share, but again, I'll have to save it until a little later.

No more work for me this week! I'm trying to finish up a project that I started on Sunday, in hopes of getting it completed in time for a challenge deadline. Then I have a couple of orders to get out for Dot & Whimsy, need to get the oil changed in my car and I've gotta make a trip to Sam's sometime and get that pantry stocked back up...should be a busy week, but I like it that way!

And finally, I'd like to give a SHOUT OUT to tha team...way to go Dallas Mavericks! Terrific effort and teamwork...I love it!

See ya'll tomorrow (Lord willing and the creek don't rise)

Alice in Wonderland close to my heart Crate Paper Dance Recital Maya Road October Afternoon Studio Calico

Well it's all over...

...this year's dance season, that is! We have a small dance studio here in town and the most talented and gifted instructor. Every year she just gets better and better with her recital productions. The theme for 2010 was "Alice in Wonderland" and it was a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I can honestly say that I have never, ever watched any form of AIW in its entirety...not a Disney Movie or even the one with Johnny Depp...bits and pieces, but I've never sat the entire way through :/ Christina, who played Alice, was perfect...the girl is just a natural dancer (and the instructor's sister). She's been invited to go to NYC and spend the day working with the Rockettes! Sydnee also received her 5th Year of Dance trophy and plans to keep on going. She aspires to be a dancer just.like.Christina :)

Sydnee (front-center) just one of several cute mice!

The Queen of Hearts was amazing too! Sydnee (second from right in yellow). See Alice? Beautiful!

After the recital, we gathered at Dairy Queen to have ice-cream and celebrate my mom's birthday! I had made a small 8x8 album with pictures from January thru May of this year. The album was included in a case with three other albums of which I'll add more pages to throughout the year and years to come :) It's so wonderful having a mom who loves getting your handmade stuff LOL

Oh and before I forget! My newest creation for Dot and Whimsy

All Boy

Mini Grunge Scrapbook

This is pretty cool...I used almost everything from this month's Studio Calico kits...even down to the box that it came in :) The pages are stripped cardboard that I've distressed with ink.
Papers: October Afternoon's ROCKET AGE and Crate Paper's TOY BOX, as well as the various embellishments. Maya Road: star stick pins and star chipboard. CTMH: Jute. American Crafts: Thicker Letters.

I have some exciting news to share too, but I'll have to wait until Friday! But I can tell you that it's about...S-T-A-M-P-S...and a great stamp company at that. It will be my very first stint as a Creative Team Member, so YAY! I have tons of projects all ready in mind and I know the other ladies will be creating some super designs as well. Stay tuned...

Work tonight so I'll see you all in a couple of days ♥

Cards Troops We R Grateful We R Memory Keepers

Operation: We R Grateful

I saw this on We R Memory Keeper's website and thought 'what a tremendously COOL idea'...anything that supports our troops and their families I'm all for and I figured that you probably would be too :)

Who: Anyone and everyone can get involved! However, the Cruise giveaway does have a few requirements; please see the Rules and Regulations section below for details.
What: Send us blank homemade cards for the troops with your ENTRY FORM (Please see the guidelines below or click here) The categories of cards are: Birthday, Love (Anniversary or Miss You), Thank You, Thinking of you, Get well, and Major Holidays.

- You can also send "Any Hero" cards which are cards with notes inside of them from you to the troops. These are a great way to get your children involved - the troops love to hear from them, and love to receive your encouraging words of motivation, cheer and comfort. "Any Hero" cards are also perfect for LARGE community events, where you are trying to collect large quantities of cards - if you are interested in this idea please call our Marketing Manager, Bonnie Randall, at 801-539-5000 to discuss.

When: June 6th - July 6th, please send us the blank cards by the DEADLINE: 5 PM, July 6th
Where: Please drop off your blank cards to a Drop Zone (A participating scrapbook store collecting cards) or mail directly to us (with your ENTRY FORM):

We R Memory Keepers

Attn: Operation We R Grateful

631 North 400 West

Salt Lake City, UT 84103

There are also drop-off places available; just click on the link above and it will take you to the page showing the list. Also, be sure to read the "guidelines" link. They have quite a few do's and dont's, such as NO Glitter, what sentiments to use and not, what's consider too bulky, etc.

This is such a great 'operation' and if you love making cards like I do, then I know you'll be doubly-blessed :)

Happy Creating~
Shellye

October Afternoon Studio Calico Toy Box tutorial

Inside & Out

Ahhhh, sitting here in the A/C with my little fan blowing a cool breeze and sipping on a raspberry lemonade from Dairy Queen...love the little things like this ♥

Right now I'm working on a grunge mini scrapbook, using stripped cardboard as the base pages...thanks Von for the inspiration! I'll be decorating the pages with the June Studio Calico Kit featuring Rocket Age papers and embellishments from October Afternoon. It's a great day to be toiling away indoors.

I finished the July Sketch from Back Porch Memories last night...it turned out so cute :)

I like to follow the "Rule of 3" when crafting or even decorating my home. When I started the page, I had a sweet kraft border sticker from CTMH and journal tag from Maya Road; but I needed one more thing to complete the 'kraft' theme and I really wanted to add a couple of flourishes. After hunting through all of my supplies I didn't come up with anything, so I figured that I'd make my own...why not?

Here is the finished layout and sketch by Page Maps. Below are the how-to's on the flourishes.

Inside & Out

Making your own flourishes

Gather your supplies: kraft (or other) paper, paper-punching tool or large needle, mat and template

Punch, stitch with embroidery floss and then carefully hand-cut around the design, being careful not to cut into the stitching. Apply no-fray solution to the ends of the floss if needed.

Voila! It's easy...just don't get too carried away with making your cutting perfect...it's fun to have a fussy look to it.

I'm outta here for today! Gotta get the roast in the roaster and get Syd ready for recital rehearsal...busy afternoon.

Ya'll stay COOL out there :)

Give-A-Way Paper Crafts World Seamstress

Love a Seamstress?

The World of the Seamstress prize package

Paper Crafts is hosting "The World of the Seamstress" Give-A-Way....WOW! Look at all of this amazing stuff that 10 lucky winners will receive. I'm lovin' all of the fun and clever 'seamstress' designs that are out there these days. Want to enter for a chance to win? Just click on the link above before 11:59 P.M. (MDT) on June 13th...good luck!

American Crafts Elle's Studio Maya Road My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Pebbles Inc Ruffled Crepe Trim Sketch Thursday Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair The Red Robin

Redo Saturday

Busy day yesterday! The roofers were here at sun-up and had our old roof off and new one on by 4:00...wow, I wish that I could move like that LOL They did have to replace some of the decking around the chimney and boards on the facing, so all-in-all they were lightening fast. We're hoping with the shingle upgrade and roof vent that we'll stay cooler and save some moolah in the meantime :)

I decided to re-do the Elle's 6-2 Thursday Challenge. You know when something doesn't grab you, and the original layout that I created just didn't grab me! Here is the re-do and the one that I submitted for the challenge

The Red Robin received an invitation yesterday to be a sponsor for the Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair in Kansas City on July 10th. I'll be sending some Ruffled Crepe Trim for them to decorate with! I'm so excited to get some exposure in a non-Etsy environment :)

If you're in the area, please check them out!

Also on July 9th & 10th, mark your calendars for the Lemonade & Layouts Crop at Absolutely Alter It Message Board (formerly Life Preserver's Club). I've known most of these ladies for years, and I mean years. We were chatting the other night about how long we've been together since I started the Life Preserver's Scrapbook Club in 2002! Some of the very first Forum members have 2005 stamped on the date they joined...wow...time has definitely flown by. It's amazing to watch others' children grow up before your eyes...I mean, you don't necessarily notice how much your own kids grow, so it's really neat to step back into people's lives after a year or so and see the transformation! I feel so lucky to have meet several of these ladies in person and I hope to do it again someday ♥

Okay, I'm off to Little Rock for a Fetal Monitoring class, which starts tomorrow through Tuesday. I hate to leave my happy home and my craft room hahahaha, but duty calls, I guess.

See you all soon!

Shellye

Creative Scrappers Give-A-Way October Afternoon Studio Calico

Fun & Fabulous Friday

What a wonderful day! I love it when I get right up in the morning and set to task...it just makes the day go much smoother. I don't know why, but I can be quite pessimistic about going to the grocery store; I'll put it off until I can't put it off any longer. Today, I went early. When I go early, I beat the Friday crowd! Plus I got the bank deposit made and graduation cards mailed...what a sense of accomplishment. And I topped the day off by completing the latest sketch challenge from Creative Scrappers...whew!

My take is somewhat different, but I really like the way it turned out.

Supplies:

Patterned papers by October Afternoon and Studio Calico

Kraft paper by Studio Calico

Fabric Thicker Letters by American Crafts

Corrugated Alpha Letters by Making Memories

Wooden Buttons by Close To My Heart

Butterfly by K& Co

Font LB Kerri

Other: vintage crochet thread and punched butterflies

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I revamped my Photobucket today too. I made separate folders for Layouts, Dot & Whimsy Creations and later I will add ones for Cards, Altered Projects and The Red Robin. Since most design team calls ask for an online Gallery, I figured what better time to get mine updated!

I will be hosting a **GIVE-A-WAY** by drawing names from those who leave a comment on my blog...more info coming soon!

If you are a customer from Dot & Whimsy or The Red Robin, be sure to check back and leave a comment on the Give-A-Way thread...you won't be disappointed :)

Have a FABULOUS Friday evening and WONDERFUL weekend!

Dot & Whimsy