TSC42: Tic Tac Toe Challenge

We have a fun "Tic Tac Toe' challenge for you this month over at The Stampsmith Challenge blog.  I opted to use a picture frame to incorporate the metal into my project, but you're welcome to do a card or whatever strikes your fancy.

Here's the Tic Tac Toe board...simple choose a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row and work with those three elements.  I chose Metal-Manly-Distressed for my project. A metal frame stand, manly image and design and a distressed crackle finish on frame.  In case you can't read the quote, it reads:

A question that 

sometimes drives 

me hazy: am I or 

are the others crazy?

~ Albert Einstein

Remember each project that contains at least one stamped image by The Stampsmith will qualify for the random draw for a gift certificate to The Stampsmith Store valued at $21.00.  I'm excited to see what everyone comes up with for this challenge since they'll all be so different. 

Happy creating!  :)
 

Funny Desk Art

I've created a funny bit of framed art...which I think my hubby has claimed for his desk at work.   The patterned papers are from a 6 1/2" paper pad by Kaiser Craft, called 'Vintage Timeless.'  They're lovely papers and I thought the vintage writing, pocket watches and postmarks would go well together on this piece.
 
I've been wanting to play with this photostamp of AE by The Stampsmith for some time now; I'm actually snickering to myself at how it turned out. How funny is Einstein in this pic?

I pondered for a while on what I thought he might be saying and I settled on this quote that I found by him. I chose a nice font (Gessele) and printed it off.

 

 In case you can't read the quote, it reads as follows:

"If A is a success in life 

then A equals x plus y plus z. 

Work is x, y is play; and 

z is keeping your mouth shut." 

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)
 

TSC24: Ribbons and Lace - Blog Hop Celebration

It's time for a little voyage to Paris...well, in my dreams anyway! lol :) I created this card for the current challenge over at The Stampsmith Challenge. This month, the theme is "Ribbons and Lace". For my project, I used the Eiffel Detail stamp, along with the postmark, map and Bon Voyage sentiment stamps from the Paris sheet, all by The Stampsmith. I hope you decide to play along, you have the entire month of November to create something and link it over to us, for a chance to win some goodies from Estelle at The Stampsmith.

Last month, we celebrated the grand opening of the new Stampsmith Online Store - we're still jittering with excitement - it's so amazing!! This month we are celebrating The Stampsmith Challenge's one year anniversary and we couldn't be more excited to give you some extra chances to win... read on!!

This month's lovely theme of Ribbons and Lace was suggested by Lynne . Create a project that includes some ribbon and lace and link up your project! All projects will be entered in a random draw for your choice of a full sheet of Stampsmith rubber valued at $21!

In addition, at the end of this month, we will be entering ALL of the comments from this blog and each of the designers' blogs into a hat for an additional full sheet of Stampsmith rubber - also valued at $21!!! The more love you leave, the more chances you'll have to win!!

This is my full, framed project. My youngest daughter is absolutely crazy over anything and everything to do with Paris, especially the Eiffel Tower, so this project is for her.
Here's a close up of the ribbon and lace in keeping with the theme.

If you arrived here from Lynne Moncrieff's blog, Adorn then you are in the right place! From here, Debbie Reid's blog, Scraps from a Broad invites you to visit! Below is a complete list of the blogs in this hop in case you've missed any! Be sure to leave a comment at each stop for more chances to win! Have fun hopping and best of luck in the draw!!

The Stampsmith Challenge

Melanie Bennett

Karen McAlpine

Lynne Moncrieff

Julie Mutch

Debbie Reid

Valerie Wilson

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Altered Butterfly Frame

I had a lot of fun altering this frame tonight. I was thrilled to find the frame today at Zellers on a clearance table for 70% off the lowest yellow ticketed price! That meant I got it for $1.93! What a screamin' deal! lol :)

Altering this frame ended up being a lot harder than I had anticipated, but I like how it turned out and it'll make for a different frame to have around the house to hold a pic of my two daughters. :) I took this picture on their first day of school last Fall.
This is what the frame looked like pre-altered. A nice frame, but it was beat up a bit, hence it being on clearance. But, in my mind, that just made for an opportunity for it to be altered! Yes, I will alter pretty much anything! lol :) The frame measures 8.5" x 10.5" and the photo insert is 4" x 6".

Well, I have to get up early to go get my hubby at the dockyard so I better call it a day. I'll be back soon with more to show you. Until then...

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Wild Saffron (K&Company)
Tools: Kraft Knife, Mod Podge - Mat Finish (Plaid), Pencil, Ruler, Foam Brush, Scissors, Alfred Sung Frame (Zellers)

Welcome, Baby Nicholas!

This is the gift that I made for my neighbour that just had a new little baby boy. Nicholas is such an adorable little guy. It really makes me want to have a little boy of my own...I don't know, I've really been on the fence lately. We'd love to have a son to add to our family, but we'll see.

Anyway, I decided to make another one of these altered picture frames like one that I made for another friend of mine a little while back. The new Mom actually has a photography studio in her home, and is big into taking pictures. I thought it'd be a nice personal touch and would be fitting for her to add a photo to it that she took. I don't think the picture frame looks too girly, I think the jungle animals are fitting for either a boy or a girl. Anyway, I hope she likes it. :)

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Mindy's Zoo by Mindy Terasawa (Autumn Leaves)
Cardstock: White Flat (CRS), Barely Banana (SU)
Patterned Paper: Classic K McKenna (K & Company)
Ink: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Whisper White Craft Ink (SU)
Watercolor Wonder Crayons: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Barely Banana, Bordering Blue, Brocade Blue (SU)
Tools: Cuttlebug, Classic and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Aqua Painter (SU), sandpaper, wood unfinished picture frame (Michaels), Sponge (SU), Scissors

Welcome Baby, Aerianna!

I took today and had a crafty day...yes, it took me nearly all day to make this picture frame! By the time I altered the frame, stamped out all the animals, water coloured them and cut them out...yes it took most of my time to cut them out. Lots of intricate cuts. The picture frame has a 4" x 6" opening for a picture, but I opted to alter most of the inside of the frame, as well and just leave a little scalloped circle window to add a picture behind. I contemplated adding, 'Wild About You,' to the top of the frame and 'Aerianna' to the bottom of the frame. But, I opted to leave it as is. Any opinions? :)

This altered frame is for my friend, Lisa to put in her new baby girl, Aerianna's nursery. She went with a Jungle theme, so this is in keeping with her theme. I really like the way it turned out and the softness of it. I hope she likes it. It's killing me to not have seen her yet, but we've all got sore throats and coughs here and I don't want to pass anything on to her. Hopefully soon we'll be all good to go see her and I can get in some baby cuddlin' time. :)

This is just to show you the dimension of the frame. I white-washed the sides with white craft ink to add a softness to the frame.
Oh, I have to share something funny. When I was almost done cutting, my 5 year old daughter came over and commended me on what she called 'good scissor work.' Too funny! lol :) She was pretty impressed that I could cut so close to the images and asked me how long it took me to learn how to do it. I replied, "Well, after 5 straight years of National Scissor School, I achieved my Master Level Certification." Just kidding, I didn't really tell her that. I just told her to practice lots and she could do it, too. Funny how they look up at you, though for the littlest of things. I love their innocence so much! :)

We're heading to Jim's folks place tomorrow morning. He wanted to wear his uniform up there for Remembrance Day this year, so we'll be there for a few days and we'll be returning Tuesday night. The kids are so excited to see their grand parents, if even just for a short visit. We're a five hour drive away, so we don't get there are often as we'd like to. Anyway, I'm sure it'll be a good trip and I'll kick back in to crafty mode when I get back.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)


Supplies:
Stamps: Mindy's Zoo by Mindy Terasawa (Autumn Leaves)
Cardstock: White Flat (CRS), Barely Banana (SU)
Patterned Paper: Classic K McKenna (K & Company)
Ink: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Whisper White Craft Ink (SU)
Watercolor Wonder Crayons: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Barely Banana, Bordering Blue, Brocade Blue (SU)
Tools: Cuttlebug, Classic and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Aqua Painter (SU), sandpaper, wood unfinished picture frame (Michaels), Sponge (SU)

Bridal Shower Frame and Altered Jar Candle

***I know I already posted this card, but I just wanted to share it again, to show you that it matches the next two projects that I've made.



These are two of the projects that I've made for Brenda's bridal shower this weekend. I'm still working on something else, too...I'll post it tomorrow after I get it done. I really love this 'Tiara' patterned paper, I hope Brenda likes it as much as I do. I think it has such an elegant look and I hope that she likes the frame enough to grace it with some of her wedding photos down the road. Sorry for the poor picture of the frame. I had some real issues trying to photograph it, after about a two dozen attempts, this is the best one...isn't that sad! I cut out the patterned paper mat myself, and I also cut out the white mat for the frame using matboard.

The co-ordinating jar candle that I altered has the most delicious smelling candle inside. The scent is Chocolate Hazelnut, it's such a yummy smell that I bought one for myself as well, I keep it in my craft room and I keep taking the lid off to smelling it. Ohhhhhh, yummy goodness! Ok, enough about the candle! lol :)

A few of the girls are coming over tonight to stamp with me. It'll be nice having them in for the evening. Well, gotta go get the house tidied up for them!

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)




Supplies:
Stamps: Cake and Best Wishes (Studio G)
Patterned Paper: The Goods - Tiara (American Crafts)
MatBoard: White (DeSerres)
Embellishments: Silver Satin Ribbon (Michaels)
Tools: Craft Knife, Cutting Mat, Ruler, Terrifically Tacky Tape (Provo Craft), Black Picture Frame (Zellers), Jar Candle - Debbie Travis Designs- 5" high and 3 1/4" in diameter (Canadian Tire) ...Yes, you can find wonderful things at the hardware store! lol :)

Altered Photo Frame and Coaster Tiles

Note to self...don't leave gifts to make until the last minute, anymore! lol :) Nothing turned out right yesterday...I started off making 4 tiles, finished them, went outdoors to seal them with the spray sealer (as it's strong smelling) and the ink ran on all my tiles! Ahhhh! So, with 5 tiles left, I started over again. The last of the four tiles, I was hurrying and forgot to add the mask over the flower before I stamped the script background over top...yup, ruined another tile! No problem, I had one left, so I used the last one. I was just about to left off the script stamp and this was when my cat decided to jump up onto my craft table and I smeared the top corner of the script! Just not in the plan to get them done uneventful, I guess! lol :)

Next project, I move onto the photo frame that I wanted to alter. I made a beautiful frame that I was so happy with and the last part was to put the glass and backing back on the frame when I realized that it CAN'T be reversed! I had made it with the wider side to the right, instead of the to left...yup, apparently it can only go one way. So, I had to start over. Only problem now is that the patterned paper that I used was the very last piece that I had here in my house. I was so disappointed as I really liked the one that I had already done...sorry, forgot to take a pic of that one to show you. Anyway, I like this one below that I did but the other one really was much nicer. Oh well. That's was I get for rushing and leaving things to the last minute. It's just been so busy here with trying to get everything ready for Alexandria's birthday, starting a new job, then Natalia's birthday, that I didn't get a chance to get to it earlier.

Anyway, I hope they like them. I'm sure that I'm much more critical of my own work, it's just that I like to be really pleased with my work before I give it as a gift. I guess I should remember that it's the thought that counts and I just wanted them to have a little something to remember us by to add with the monetary gift.

Well, I have to get a few things done here before I go to get my daughters at school for lunch. Moe stuff to this afternoon and tonight I have to go into work. Jim left for sea this morning for a month, so my friend is watching the kids while I'm at work. I might get a chance to play in my stamp room tonight when I get home, we'll see...

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Tumbled Tiles (Home Depot), Self-Adhesive Cork Pads for under coasters (Dollar Store)
Stamps: Italian Poetry Background (Hero Arts), Flower from True Friend set (SU), Flourishes from Nightingale (See D's), Live, Love, Laugh (Studio G)
Ink: Jet Black (StazOn), Coffee Bean (Delta -Rubber Stampede)
Patterned Paper: Autumn Leaves (Rhonna Farrer)
Tools: Double-Sided Adhesive Tape, Craft Knife, Matte Finish Acrylic Spray Sealer (Americana)