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.