Challenge Entry: Kissin' Frogs

Thanks for all the kind words on yesterday's "Impossible Tag"...you really brightened my day after struggling so with that darn tag!  Like I said, it was just one of those days where you have to put the Distress Inks down and walk away... 

Sunday was a good creative day.  That's when I made this little placard I'm calling "Kissin' Frogs" and submitting for Gingersnap Creations GC108 Color Challenge:  Color of Money.  What's funny is that I thought that I would skip this challenge as I wasn't sure I was in the "green" mood (the color of U.S. money).  And then I was inspired by the cute amphibian in The Creative Pointe's 'Garden Friends--Set One' SVG file collection.  Before I knew it I had green all over the place!

The Details:

• I wanted to create a patchwork frog, so I pulled out all my green scrap papers and, using Cindy's sample photo as a guide (she always provides a great "go by" photo), selected the appropriate shades of light and dark.
• One of the reasons I've fallen in love with SVG files is because you can cut all your layers at once.  Another reason I love them is because you can use up your scraps.  I use Sure-Cuts-A-Lot (SCAL) with my Cricut to cut SVG files.  SCAL allows me to see right on the computer screen how big my scraps need to be and where the machine will cut on the mat.  How awesome is that?!  Garden Friends--Set One includes a butterfly, dragonfly, and our cute frog friend.  You can purchase it at Diecut Designer.
• The frog is defined with brown pen, shaded with chalk pastels, and to give his eyes some life, I used Glossy Accents.
• I ran a scrap of pattern paper through my ink jet printer to create the title.

Supplies:
Paper: My Mind’s Eye; K & Co; scrap background papers
SVG: Garden Friends by The Creative Pointe
Stamps: My Mind’s Eye Union Square ‘Perfect’
Inks: DI ‘Old Paper’; SU! Craft ‘More Mustard’, ‘Summer Sun’, ‘Cameo Coral’; Le Pen ‘Brown’
Embellishments: SU! Stampin’ Pastels; Stickles ‘Gold’, ‘Fruit Punch’; Glossy Accents; TH Adage Ticket; TH Memo Pin
Tools: SCAL; Cricut Expression; foam ink blending tool; scallop scissors; 3M Super77 spray adhesive; TH paper distresser
Misc: cardboard

Challenge Entry: The Impossible Tag

*** Happy Independence Day! ***

Ever have one of those days when everything you touch turns to yuck?  That's me today, so after this post, I'm going to go read in the sun and have a cocktail.  Maybe put myself down for a nap.  Why fight it?...it is a holiday.

The challenge that brought me to my knees today is Studio L3's Grungy Monday 14. 

The Details:

• Linda selected a very cool Tim Holtz technique for this week, but I should have known better.  I don't own two of the key ingredients...just similar items from other companies.  And of the re-inkers I did have, I only have two colors:  bright red or black that turns purple.  Should have called the game right there, but nooo.  I made three tags.  Two are in the trash.  All things considered, this surviving tag is as good as it's going to get! 
• The birds and script are stamped in white paint.  I do love how it naturally resists the ink.
• You really can't see the shimmer from the head on shot, but the angled shot below shows it off nicely.

Supplies:
Paper: manila tag
Stamps: TH ‘Life’s Possibilities’; SU! ‘Botanicals’; Inkadinkado
Inks: SU! re-inker ‘Real Red’; DI ‘Old Paper’, ‘Tattered Rose’,’Vintage Photo’; Martha Stewart craft markers; Folk Art acrylic paint ‘Wicker White’
Embellishments: Pearl-Ex powder ‘Red-Blue’; Distress Stickles ‘Walnut Stain’; TH tissue tape ‘Nostalgic’; fibers
Tools: foam ink blending tool, foam applicator; heat tool, mini mister, water

Challenge Entry: A Great Hat Tag

Woo-hoo, skating in under the wire on this one!  The weekend has been so beautiful, I just can't seem to get myself downstairs to the craft room while it's still light out...

I fell in love with this lady with the fabulous hat weeks ago at Digital Two for Tuesday and stashed it away for future use.  Well, Gingersnap Creations GC105:  Chestnut Theme Challenge - At the Mall was perfect for this fashionista!

Since time is short, no details tonight, but I think that great hat speaks pretty well for itself.  ;-)  And as usual, all my supplies are listed below.

Supplies:
Paper: manila tag; PTI cardstock ‘Melon Berry’; scrap background paper
Image: lady in had from Digital Two for Tuesday
Inks: Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’, ‘Tattered Rose’; Martha Stewart craft markers
Embellishments: pearl stamen; lace ribbon; Darice paper flowers; PTI leaf ribbon; TH tissue tape ‘Nostalgic’; Martha Stewart fine glitter ‘Crystal’; Perfect Pearl Mist; ribbon
Tools: foam ink blending tool; glue dots; Glossy Accents; TH paper distresser; tweezers; 3M Super 77 spray adhesive

Challenge Entry: Wish Shoe Well

June's theme at Gingersnap Creations was "At the Mall" and I am WAY behind on my challenge submissions for this fun subject.  Luckily, I still have some time to submit.  This "Wish Shoe Well" birthday card is for GC106:  Spicy Supply - Packaging Materials. 

The Details:

• I bought a new pair of sneakers a few months ago and the box was lined by surprisingly pretty polka dot webbing.  I of course stashed it away and when I saw the supply challenge was packaging materials, I knew exactly what I wanted to use.  I use packaging in my art all the time, so this wasn't really stepping out for me, but it's always fun to challenge yourself to use a new material and webbing was definitely new to me.  And since I was using a shoe image, I thought shoe box liner was perfect!
• I used Matte Mod Podge to adhere the webbing in a textured manner, then used my heat gun to carefully melt just a few areas to enhance the wrinkles.
• The "flower" is also made from the webbing.  I folded the webbing so I had 8 layers, then cut a rough circle.  I stacked the layers offset from each other, then basted the center with clear thread.  I then sewed the button on using crochet thread.  To ruffle the petals, I again used my heat gun to carefully melt the petals toward the center.  Sometimes the layers would fuse together, but I just pulled them apart and the fluffiness seemed even better when this happened.

Supplies:
Paper: PTI cardstock ‘Aqua Mist’; SU! cardstock ‘Confetti White’; DCWV cardstock
Stamps: SU! ‘Steppin’ Style’, ‘Beyond the Basics’
Inks: StazOn ‘Jet Black’; SU! Craft ‘White’; Martha Stewart craft markers
Embellishments: button; sparkle crochet thread
Tools: foam tape; Matte Mod Podge; mini mister; tweezers; needle; thread; scissors; heat gun; glue dots
Misc: Ryka shoe box liner

Free Digi Friday: Martini

Another Friday, another free digi!
Let's keep with the beverage theme and celebrate 5 o'clock happy hour with my personal favorite adult beverage...a Martini (more specifically a cosmopolitan for me)!

**EDITED**

Friday Free Digis are free for one week. This digital stamp is now available for purchase. To order, go to the side bar, enter the stamp name shown below and click 'buy now' to pay via Pay Pal.

Cost: $2.00

Stamp Name: Martini

I will email you the file once payment is received.

I'll use this Martini digital stamp in a project in the coming week, so check back.  Have a great long weekend (US)!