DTBST #153- Christmas But NOT a Card!

This week's Dare To Be Sassy Thursday challenge is to create a Christmas project but it can't be a card!  I wasn't quite sure what to make but then I remembered the adorable note pad holders we learned how to make at my friend Amanda's house during our Black Friday Crafting Day.  To make this note pad holder, I used Stampin' Up's clear stamp (DVD) container lined with designer paper.  The pad is attached to one side with a matching RSVP pen and on the other side is a pocket for receipts.  (The plan was to put the word "receipts" on the pocket but I kinda sorta misspelled it...thankfully I checked my spelling before I attached it!  I didn't have time to re-stamp it, but I'll do that at a later date.)  So, here is my Christmas-but-not-a-card project- the "Naughty List"- for this week:

 

I used SSD's Ellie the Elf image. Isn't she gorgeous?  This is one of the images that is being retired on Friday, November 30th, so if you love her like I do, you'd better hurry and grab her before she's gone!!

 

Inside:

I apologize for the poor photo of the outside of the note holder- I kept getting a lot of glare with the flash, so I had to turn it off.

Make sure to check the SSD Blog to see what the rest of the DTBST team has created!  You will be SO impressed!!

This is my last week on the DTBST team.  Starting next week, I will be on the Fabulous Friday Freebie team!

Stamps:  Ellie the Elf (Sassy Studio Designs), alphabet letters
Paper:  Neenah 80# white, patterned paper (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Stazon Black
Accessories:  Clear Stamp Case (Stampin' Up), note pad, RSVP pen, redline tape, scrap of ribbon to hold pen

DTBST #152- Felt or Fabric

It's Thursday and that means another DTBST challenge!  Challenge #152 is to use felt or fabric on your project.  One day while I was at Michael's, I found some fabulous felt roses, so I decided I would use one on my card.  The image I used is Reindeer Sassy, one of SSD's brand new Christmas releases. (She's available HERE).  Isn't she wonderful??

Close-up:

I apologize for the poor photos and the shadow on the first card.  I am still learning how to use my new camera!!

Make sure to stop by the SSD Blog to see what the rest of the DTBST team has for your inspiration!

Stamps:  Reindeer Sassy (Sassy Studio Designs), Happy Holidays (Stampin' Up)
Papers:  Crumb Cake, Old Olive (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, patterned paper (Recollections)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Copic Markes, felt flower (Recollections), gold stick-on beads (Recollections), small oval punch, Key Tag punch (both Stampin' Up), pop dots, glitter-edged leaves (Recollections)

First-Ever Journal Page

I decided today I would attempt to do a Christmas art journal page all by myself...and what a disaster it is!  The whole time I was working on it I could "hear" Dyan Revealey in my head saying to do it quickly- don't think...but I keep "thinking"- it's crooked, it's not stamped properly, etc., etc., etc...All in all, I guess it isn't HORRIBLE, but I'm not totally happy with it...what do you think?  I really was fun to do, though!  Can't wait to do another one!

Stamps:  Dylusions Ruby Rainbow, Inbetweenies, Christmas Words, and Basic Backgrounds stamp sets
Ink:  Archival Jet Black, Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper:  Neenah 80# white
Accessories:  Dyan Revealey's Creative Journal, Copic Markers, stickles, stick-on snowflakes/rhinestones, white gesso, brickwall stencil, Glossy Accents, white pen

Get "Whale" Soon!

A friend's 11-year old grandson recently had major surgery.  My stamp group sent him a get well "card shower" so that his mailbox would be full of well wishes when he got home from the hospital.

Here is the card that I made- an 11-year old is hard to make for- not a child but not yet an adult...hope he liked it:

Stamps:  Whale and sentiment (Hambo Stamps)
Papers:  Night of Navy, Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, patterned paper (Mystic Blue package from Close to My Heart)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Copic Markers, clear dew drops, Alene's Jewel It glue, pop dots, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities

Sassy Studio Designs NEW RELEASE!

This weekend, Sassy Studio Designs is releasing several brand new Christmas images....and they are fabulous!!!  Make sure to visit the SSD Blog to see the other releases- Santa Sassy, The Greatest Gift, and Reindeer Sassy.  We are also having a challenge- Shabby Chic.  There will be prizes- we will have prizes given for 2 random selected comments on the SSD Blog and all 5 images given to the selected project of the challenge.  So make sure to play along by uploading your Shabby Chic creation to the SSD Blog using Inlinkz!

What is Shabby Chic?  Well, I looked the definition up and this is what I found: Shabby Chic is something that's rather worn out/tattered and appears shabby, but has a touch of understated class.  I have never done shabby chic before and was a little intimidated by this challenge!  So, here is my Shabby Chic card, whether it really IS shabby chic or not!  :)

The image that I am featuring today is called "All Wrapped Up" and she is one hot little package!  :)

 

Close-up:

I found some designer paper at Michael's this is made of kraft with gold embossing.  I layered that onto kraft paper with a layer of gold metallic paper.  I added bit of cream-colored lace and doily plus a little bit of gold metallic ribbon.  The December 25 piece is cut from the pack of patterned paper  and popped up on pop dots.  I "sat" the image on top of it.  A gold earring to match the gold embossing and ribbon, and a few cream-colored paper flowers finish off my shabby chic creation.

So, how'd I do??  I know I need practice!  I also need practice with my new camera.  I'm having trouble getting the flash just right.  I apologize for the poor pictures!  I think my next class should be in photography!

Now, if you haven't been there, yet, head on over to the SSD Blog for more inspiration from the design team!!! 

What?? No Patterned Paper??????

DTBST # 151 challenge this week is to create a card using no patterned paper.  WHAT???  It's been so long since I've NOT used patterned paper on my card!!  Well, here is my card with no patterned paper:

Close-up of the beautiful Frostina image:

It was pretty hard looking at all of my patterned paper and not being able to use it!  Instead, I embossed the background paper using my Cuttlebug and the Tim Holtz cracked glass embossing folder (I thought it looked like ice).  All in all, I'm happy with the clean and simple design.  I hope you like it too!!

Now, put away your patterned paper and come play with us at Sassy Studio Designs!  Check out what the rest of the DTBST team has to share!

Stamp:  Frostina (Sassy Studio Designs), sentiment (Stampin' Up)
Papers:  Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, TimHoltz Cracked Glass embossing folder, stick-on rhinestone flourish (Recollections), stick-on rhinestones (Stampin' Up), 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" circle punches (Stampin' Up), pop dots

Art Jouraling with Dyan Revealey at The Queen's Ink!

What a FABULOUS day at The Queen's Ink!!!  Today, Gloria and I took an art journaling class with the uber-talented Dyan Revealey!  I was a little nervous going into the class since I had never done anything like this before, but by the time I left, I was no longer an art journal virgin!  Dyan made it easy...she helped me shed any doubts that I had whether I could do this or not.  Here are a couple of pictures from today:

THE Dyan Revealey cleaning her leopard-print cat's eye glasses prior to the beginning of class.  I absolutely LOVED her dress- the fabric was covered with pin-ups!!  How adorable!!!

 

Getting ready to start!



My pretty brand-spanking new Creative Journal:

 

My not-so-brand-spanking-new journal all inky!  Uh, now I see why Dyan says to wait till your journal is full before decorating the outside.  Here's the front of mine:



...and the back:

Dyan autographed a blank page in my journal.  She said that I HAD to journal on the page- that the Sharpie that she used would still show through.  I think it's gonna be hard to do that!

 

So not to be intimidated by the blank sheets in our journals, Dyan made us rip out pages and taught us how to put them back into the journal.  She also had us spray onto many pages...the beginnings of journals to be.  On this one, you can see some of the stenciling that we did:

Here, you can just see the shadowing of the stencils:

 

The next pages were made using Distress Stain Daubers.  There are 4 different pages with torn edges.



I love the colors on this page.  Can you see the slight shadowing of the numbers?

On this page, Dyan had us write a paragraph that she recited, then had us write whatever came to mind to completely fill the page.  We then used a black star stencil to cover up the writing and color in the stars.  Of course, mine isn't completed.

This is the only page that we actually completed.  She had us cut out pictures from a magazine then attach a different head to it and then decorate the image using a white pen.  The leaves were stamped over the black ink and then we removed the black color from the leaves using a waterpen before coloring them in with inks.  Definitely a little out of my comfort zone, but it was fun!!

 

Now I have all of these pages started and have to work on getting them finished.   I have several brand new sets of Dyan's stamps and I think it'll be a lot of fun using them!!!

 

I am SO glad that Gloria convinced me to take this class!!  Thanks, Gloria!!!  I had a blast!!

G45 November Contest Entry

Graphic 45 papers have become my absolute FAVORITE!!  Their November 2012 contest is to create a thank you card using G45 products.  I have had a pack of A Ladies Diary paper that I've been hoarding.  I really HATE to cut into my new papers, but I just got a new image from Sassy Studio Designs that I had to use with these papers!  The image is called My Fair Lady.

 

Here's a close-up:

 

 

 

I got my sentiment a little crooked, but oh, well...nothing I can do about it now!  I know I probably won't win the contest but I sure had fun making this card!!  Check out Sassy Studio Designs' images HERE.

I also entered this card into

Party Time Tuesday's challenge #93- Thank You card
The Paper Girl's challenge #19- Thank You card
Eclectic Ellapu's challenge #4- It's a Vintage Thing

 

Stamps:  My Fair Lady (Sassy Studio Designs), thank you sentiment (Stampin' Up)

Papers:  Early Espresso, Soft Suede (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, A Ladies' Diary (Graphic 45)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  Copic Markers, paper roses (unknown), pop dots, glue dot, gold stick-on beads (Recollections)

Stamp-a-Stack Fun!

Yesterday, my friend, Paula, hosted a Stampin' Up Christmas Stamp-a-Stack.  8 very chatty ladies invaded her house to create some fabulous cards created by our own Amanda.

Here are the cards that Amanda had for us to make...I love them all!!!  (Sorry the pictures aren't great.  I'm still learning how to use my new camera!)

 

We made 2 of each card, so now I have a headstart on my Christmas cards for his year!!!! 

Fifty Shades of Sassy: Celebrating 800!

Sassy Studio Designs is celebrating reaching 800 members on our Paper Craft Planet page!!!  To celebrate, Lindsey has created a 50 Shades of Gray-inspired freebie for you and the design team is having a blog hop to show off this fabulous image!!

You should have arrived here from Karal's blog. If you did, great, you're on the right track!  If you didn't, please go to the SSD blog HERE to start the hop at the beginning!!

The "challenge" is to create a project using black,white and gray ONLY.  Here is my card:

 

Here is a close-up of this gorgeous image:

 

...and the inside:

I'm not quite sure what I will do with this card, but it sure was fun making!!    :)

Don't forget to go to the SSD page on PCP to grab this freebie before it goes on sale in the store!!! But hurry!  She's only available as a freebie until Saturday, November 10th, at 11:59pm! Make sure to play along by posting your creation to our BLOG using the InLinkz tag!!  To play along you must make a project in shades of black, white, and gray only and you must use a SSD image to play.  If you use the Shady Sassy freebie you will get Lingerie Lindsey emailed to you for free as a bonus!!

Did I mention that there would be PRIZES???  Here's how you can win!

Hop Commenters: (random) Two images of choice for two randomly selected commenters.
Challenge Grand Prize: (chosen by team) All images from next release in November AND a guest designer spot for FFF on PCP for December.
Challenge Random Prize: Two images from the upcoming November release.

Your next stop is Lori's blog.  Just in case you get lost along the way, here is the entire blog hop list:

SSD: http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.com/
Debbie: http://www.craftingwhenican.blogspot.com/
Kim: http://itsallaboutcrafting.blogspot.com/
Alaine: http://www.missalaineousmosaics.blogspot.com/
Susan: http://stampingtink.blogspot.com/
Karal: http://karalscreativespace.blogspot.com/
Mary: http://www.mystampinhide-away.blogspot.com/
Lori: http://lorib117.blogspot.com/
Ruza: http://ruzascraftcorner.blogspot.com/
Erin: http://elfiessparkleanddust.blogspot.co.uk/
Rebecca: http://sydneyssentiments.blogspot.com/
Star: http://youcouldbewishingonastar.blogspot.com/
Carrie: http://carrieshandmadecards.blogspot.co.uk/
Regan: http://charmedstamping.blogspot.com/ 

Stamps:  Shady Sassy (Sassy Studio Designs), inside sentiment is computer generated
Papers:  Basic Black, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, patterned paper unknown
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black for sponging
Accessories:  Copic Markes, 1" grosgrain ribbon (Michael's), 1/4" white organdy (Offray), 1/8" grosgrain ribbon (Michael's), silver key charm (Recollections), stick-on rhinestones (Stampin' Up), gray paper flowers (Recollections), glue dots

DTBST #149- Season of Thanks

This week's DTBST challenge is "Season of Thanks"- to create a Thanksgiving or thank you card.  I decided to go with Thanksgiving and used the Scarecrow Honey image.  Here's my card:

Please make sure to stop by the SSD Blog to check out the rest of the DTBST team's creations. We hope that you'll play along, too!!!

Stamps:  Scarecrow Honey (Sassy Studio Designs), Happy Thanksgiving sentiment (Stampin' Up)
Papers:  Crushed Curry textured, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, patterned paper unknown
Ink:  Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up), Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Copic Markers, large oval punch (Stampin' Up), gold stick-on beads (Recollections), pop dots, glue dots, paper flower, glittered-edge leaves  (Recollections), checked ribbon (Offray)