The three R's

The three r's... we normally think of reading, writing and arithmatic... my three r's lately have been re-use, re-cycle and re-purpose. I've been seeing lots of fun clothing creations with thrift store finds on Pinterest lately and thought I would try my hand at it. I thought it might be a way for me to create some "new" clothes for the spring and add a little fun, feminine touch to me rather plain t-shirts.

My biggest challenge in doing this is sewing with t-shirt/jersey material; I don't find it as easy as sewing with other cotton materials. With all the fun possibilities for my wardrobe... I'm looking forward to figuring it out.

Design challenge for this week...

The challenge this week... create an Easter card using a digital stamp. Our sponsor this week is

We would LOVE to have you join us in the challenge. Stop by the blog (http://especiallymade.blogspot.com) for more specifics on this weeks challenge and, as always, inspiration from the design team.

Our sponsor this week had such cute digital images to use in creating my card. It was difficult for me to decide which direction to go with my ideas and which image to use... but this was what I decided on:

 Maybe it's just Spring fever, but I really find myself gravitating towards flowers in my layouts lately. I used my cricut to cut flowers with the Flower Shoppe cartridge, added some distressed ink, a brad and... tada!

If you're feeling Spring fever coming on and excited about Easter, then stop by Made Especially for You... we look forward to you joining us.

Made Especially for You Design Challenge 3/26

This week... create a card with distressed ink. The winner of this week's challenge will recieve two sheets of digital images from:

 http://linnie-whoopsiedaisy.blogspot.com




Stop by the blog (http://especiallymade.blogspot.com) for more information or inspiration on your challenge project.

There were SO MANY cute images at WhoopsiDaisy Digis, but I just couldn't resist using the image of this sweet little girl with the bouquet of flowers.

I used the Tim Holtz Distress Ink in milled lavender. I used it on the image itself to add a little depth to the edges, but I also used it on the white flowers. I needed some additional, lighter purple flowers, but only had white... what did I do? I distressed them with a little milled lavender distress ink. It was just the right amount of purple.

I don't usually use lots of purple in my creations... but it just seemed to work for this layout.

Don't forget to stop my the blog (http://especiallymade.blogspot.com) for more information on this challenge.

A hopeless romantic

 Maybe I've watched too many movies, but I really am a romantic at heart. I often find my mind wandering to the countryside in Italy, or my runs through the little villages near Ponte di Nanto during the fall... the air heavy with the smell of the grapes just ready to be picked. Or imagine my romantic heart the morning we were to visit the castle in Neuschwanstein... the snow had just fallen that morning and the path and trees were blanketed in white. And then... to make it even more perfect... a horse-drawn carriage passes by.

To create this page, I used papers from Graphic 45 and Crate Paper. The smaller flowers cut from one of my sheets of Crate Paper paper. The larger flowers were cut from a sheet of paper from Die Cuts With A View. When I thought of romantic... I thought of pink and lots of flowers. I tried to recreate this using some dimension with layering and pop-dots.

Button, button... who's got the button?

As you can see by my collection... I love buttons... The many colors, shapes and designs. I love adding buttons as embellishments to my creations. This week's challenge at Made Especially for You (especiallymade.blogspot.com) is making a card with three buttons. This week's prize is from Kimberly at My Craft Spot (craftspotbykimberly.blogspot.com)













Here's my take on the challenge...

Spring blog hop- WELCOME!

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:  when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.  ~Charles Dickens

"...winter in the shade"... What a great description for March in Washington state. The calendar tells me that it is almost the first day of Spring, yet there is still plenty of cool, damp, gray weather out here... Sounds depressing, huh?! But when the sun shines, this is DEFINITELY one of the most beautiful places in the USA! And who ever tires of seeing the colors of the setting sun reflected on Mt Rainier?!

WELCOME TO THE SPRING FLING BLOG HOP!

We've got lots of blog candy to give away from our gret sponsors... But more on that later...

This digital image from Digi Darla made me think of all our family trips to Pacific Beach; our favorite place to spend the weekend. It's rarely ever warm and sunny, but we have the best time just hanging out and combing the beach for shells, unusual rocks, or any other interesting finds that wash ashore.
I thought it would be fun to make it 3D and add interest/dimension. The stamp on the tag is one of my new stamps from Unity Stamps. And, of course, I had to add some bakers twine from The Twinery.


Thanks for visiting my blog.
Now for the treats from our generous sponsors:

1 bundle of ribbon from 3GJ (http://3girljam.blogspot.com)

$20 gift certificate to Digi Darla's stamp store (http://digidarlas.blogspot.com)

5 handmade decorative corsage pins from Jessica's Craft Shaque (http://jessicascraftshaque.blogspot.com)

$25 gift certificate to Paper Piecings by Nikki (www.paperpiecingsbynikki.com)

1 set of "everyday sentiments" stamps from Whimsical Designs (www.whimsical-designs.com)

and one lucky visitor to my blog will win the digital image I used on my card (chosen randomly)
To be eligible, all you have to do is:
1. Be a follower of my blog
2. Leave a comment on my blog

Your next stop will be Beckie's blog (justbcreativecrazy)... visit all the blogs in the hop to view some amazing Spring creations.

http://especiallymade.blogspot.com/
http://crazycricutmomma.blogspot.com (you are here)
http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/
http://creationsbykw.blogspot.com/
http://craftinandstampin.blogspot.com/
http://craftin-dawn.blogspot.com/
http://gabyspapery.blogspot.com/
http://cardsbymeechelle.blogspot.com/
http://scrappin-mama2.blogspot.com/
http://zippity-do-dah-tabitha.blogspot.com/
http://carsonscricutcreations.blogspot.com/
http://thruthelookingglass-glassgraffitix2.blogspot.com/
http://scrappin-abby.blogspot.com/
http://scrappinchris.blogspot.com/
http://scrappinfabpam.blogspot.com/

HAPPY HOPPING!!

Design Team Challenge- 3/12

Made Especially for You... this week our challenge was a sketch challenge. It's a great sketch created by one of the MEFY design team members. Stop by the blog (especiallymade.blogspot.com) to see the sketch and submit your entry. The sponsor for the challenge this week is Jessica's Craft Shaque- a set of decorative corsage pins to a randomly chosen winner. 

I was SO EXCITED about this week's design sketch because I knew JUST the papers and embellishments I wanted to use... my new card kit from Jillibean Soup. The first thing my kids said when they saw this month's paper... "that paper just makes me feel happy!" I agree! It makes me happy too; makes me think of Spring, Easter and the warmer, sunnier days ahead. 

Sunny days!

Really?! 60 degrees today?! And I thought I had spring fever before... I've got it bad today. This day (as well as the beautiful day yesterday) really got me thinking about all the ways in which I am blessed; although my life is VERY difficult most days, I really am blessed and I wanted to put a little project together that reminded me of that fact as well as a reminder of Who I need to give my thanks and praises for all I have received.

This album was made from a chipboard album that's been collecting dust on my shelf. I picked this album up months ago... and actually forgot about it until recently. I was a little anxious about what my project would look like in the end... I've never done anything with chipboard before. (Sometimes the projects I have in my head don't always translate properly to the end project)

These are really fun flowers to make... I can give it a vintage look or a fun, upbeat flower perfect for any project or page for a little girl (or maybe a big girl). I used a punch on the strip of paper prior to folding it; it gives it a lighter look more indicative of lace.

Made Especially for You challenge this week

Oh that WONDERFUL bakers twine! It really has become one of my favorite embellishments for all my papercrafting. It is just so incredibly versatile! If you want to look at the rainbow of colors available... check out The Twinery (www.thetwinery.com).

This week is one of my favorite challenges yet... using bakers twine in the design of a card. I played around with different ideas for incorporating the twine and finally settled on the project pictured here. The shamrock looks more complicated than it really is.... it just takes a little time to get the twine adhered to the desired shape.
Stop my the Made Especially for You blog (especiallymade.blogspot.com) to enter your project.

COMING SOON.....

Spring Fling DT Team-Up Hop Promotion

THE EVENT:

The super talented design teams of Made Especially 4You and DigiDarla are teaming up to bring you a hop to be remembered!

March 16th we will showcase the Spring Fling DT Team-up. There will be prizes from several different sponsors and blog candy galore!

THE PRIZE:

We need you to help us spread the word. We don’t expect that your hard work should go without reward. So, here’s what is up for grabs…

2 Lucky promoters will win a $10 gift certificate to Sweet n’ Sassy Stamps. They have an awesome selection of digital stamps, rubber stamps, designer papers and twine.

THE GUIDELINES:

There will be 1 winner from each challenge blog represented. Made Especially 4You will have 1 winner and DigiDarla will have 1 winner. You may enter at both blogs if you like.

Promotion will run from March 1 to March 14. A winner will be announced on hop day, March 16th on each of the challenge blogs listed above.

What counts as a promotion entry? IMPORTANT :  ALL COMMENTS MUST BE MADE ON THE PROMOTION POST ON THE CHALLENGE BLOGS ME4Y/DIGI DARLA. ENTRIES MUST BE IN SEPARATE COMMENTS TO COUNT. SIDEBAR, BLOG POSTS, AND FB SHARING WILL BE RANDOMLY CHECKED ;0)

1.) Post promotion in your sidebar with link back to either Made Especially 4 You or Digi Darla Challenge Blog, and comment on the appropriate blog that you have placed it in your sidebar. +1 entry 2.) Do a blog posting promoting the hop, and comment on either Made Especially 4 You or Digi Darla’s specified post that you have blogged about this promotion. +1 entry3. ) Share on FB, and comment on either Made Especially 4 You or Digi Darla’s specified post that you have shared about this promotion FB. +1 entry

 Now go start promoting……….Please and Thank You ;0) If you have any questions, please drop an email to Beckie Woodall at beckie_woodall at yahoo dot com.

              

Erin Go Bragh... Card Challenge for Made Especially for You

The new challenge on the Made Especially for You blog is create a card using stitching (real or faux). I made my card using digital images from The Cutting Cafe (http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com). I just love St. Patricks Day so I really enjoyed making this card.
The prize for this week's winner is a choice of 3 sets of images from The Cutting Cafe.

Graphic 45 design team 2012 audition

I was SO EXCITED to see that Graphic 45 is looking for their new design team members. I really love the quality, patterns and colors of their paper lines... and the paper is ALWAYS perfect for my projects. In this blog, I've posted some of the favorite projects I've made over the past couple of months. Best wishes to everyone who is applying.

Time passes WAY TOO quickly.

During the big January snow storm 2012, we were on our second day without power and trying to find any and all clothes/blankets to keep us warm. Sam found my husband's Russian-looking winter hat. As soon as he put it on, I was immediately taken back to a cold winter day, in a gondola in Venice. Sam was only about two years old at that point and was wearing a similar hat.  In fact, the picture of him wearing this hat has always been one of my favorite pictures of him.

I loved the color combination I was able to put together and loved being able to use some of my favorite Graphic 45 paper. I thought the vintage look went so well with the subject matter of the layout.

Trying something different

I've been playing around with some different craft ideas; I find myself inspired by the photos and projects I see on Pinterest. How fun is this project?! A baby clothes bouquet! I'm not sure if I had more fun making this bouquet or shopping for the baby clothes to use in the bouquet...

who knew that a pair of baby socks or bib could make such an adorable flower?