DYSU Challenge #35 Friendly Critters

Hi everyone! So glad you're back to join us for a new challenge at Do You Stack Up?! Before we get to this week’s challenge, we want to take a moment to say goodbye to Peggy. She has shared her creativity and encouragement with us since the beginning and she will be greatly missed. We wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors, Peggy! Now, on to our challenge! This week we want to see your Friendly Critters!





 


 

This week's Sponsors:

Copic Marker Scrapbooking 6 Copic Ciao Markers (North/South America), Martha Stewart punch (rest of the world)

Di´s Digi Designs Winner’s Choice of 5 Digis

Bonie Bleaux Designs $10 Gift certificate

My card this week features an adorable fox image from Copic Marker Scrapbooking. The papers I used are Wild Saffron from K & Company. I cut the butterflies from one of the pages and added rhinestones down the body.

Stamps: Copic Marker Scrapbooking Foxy, Raindrop Echo Designs Sentiment
Paper: Wild Saffron from K & Company
ProMarkers: Umber, Cocoa, Cinnamon, Terracotta, Spice, Sandstone, Moss, Marsh Green, Olive Green, Blue Pearl, Sunflower
Accessories: Really Reasonable Ribbon Brown Double Faced Satin Ribbon 5/8 inch, Flatback Rhinestones










I've checked the challenge lists at Feline Playful and I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew - 2W - Anything Goes

Digital Tuesday - include a digital element - #126 Going Buggy (include a bug)

Going Grey With Scrap-Creations - 2E - Decorate the inside of your card

Partytime Tuesdays - 3E (2E anything goes wk) - PTT #31 Anything Goes

Passion For Promarkers Challenge - must use promarkers - Anything Goes

Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - 2E, SIO - Anything Goes

Forever Friends - 2W, SIO, must include animal - (2nd week) 3D

Make it Monday - always Anything Goes

Stamps R Us - 2E - (2nd week) Anything Goes

KB Cute Monday – Butterfly

Singed Edge Flower 4 Tutorial

Today we're making the yellow flower in bottom center of the above photo. 

Supplies:

Man-Made Fabric (here I've used polyester but any fabric such as satin, rayon, nylon, etc. will do)

For this flower, I've also used tulle and burlap

Hole Punch (if using a brad)

Scissors

Circle Templates or Dies (Find templates here)

Candle

Lighter or Matches

Brads or Buttons

Small Hole Punch

Tweezers

Bowl of Water for accidents

STEP 1: First you will cut 1 fabric circle of each size and each fabric except the smallest and  largest circle. Cut only the polyester and burlap out of the smallest circle size. Cut 1 layer of tulle out of the largest circle size. So for this flower, you will have 9 circles. You basically need 4 sizes, each one slightly bigger than the next. Here I’ve used 1 ½ inches, 2 inches,  2 ½ inches & 3 inches. (the tulle is very hard to see in the photo below)

STEP 2: Carefully hold the man-made fabric circles (NOT THE BURLAP - nothing good can come from mixing burlap and fire!!!!) next to the candle one at a time. You can use your fingers or the tweezers. The heat will melt the fabric on the edges. You are not trying to catch the fabric on fire, just melt the edges.  This is where your bowl of water comes in just in case the fabric catches on fire. Also singe the tulle this same way. Be careful when singeing your tulle, it shrinks up quickly. The tulle layers are cut a size bigger to account for this excess shrinkage. 

STEP 3: Next we will slightly distress the burlap. Simply wad it up in a ball, then open it up. Remove any stray strands that are hanging out of the edges.

STEP 4: Now just stack your circles from largest (on the bottom) to smallest. For this flower each layer had Burlap on the bottom, polyester in the middle and tulle on the top.

STEP 5: The final step is to fasten everything together. Here I've sewn a button on. You could also use a hole punch in the middle and stick a brad through all the layers. Then there's always glue. :)

Additional Tips:

• This flower can be made with only 1 fabric per layer for a much simpler, lollipop look. (see the purple and pink flowers in the top photo)
• You can adjust the sizes to fit your needs. The melting gets difficult when using sizes smaller than 1 inch.
• I often make small matching flowers using less layers or smaller sizes of circles.
• The softer, more flexible fabric requires more layers. Stiffer fabric requires fewer.
• Try alternating fabric colors for the layers to match your color scheme.
• These look great with only a layer of tulle added in between. Be careful when singeing your tulle, it shrinks up quickly. You may want to make your tulle layers a little bigger to account for this.
• Use your ink or markers to color white fabric to match your design. Be sure to give the ink time to dry before you singe it though. Some inks (especially alcohol) are highly flammable when still wet.
• Try adding Stickles or glimmer mist for additional accents.
• Try attaching your flowers to hair clips, headbands, barrettes and brooch pins (for clothing or handbags).

Sentimental Sundays Back to School Challenge

Welcome to a new challenge at Sentimental Sundays! Our post was a little late going up this week, so I held mine until the main blog post went up.

We have two challenge sponsors this week. First, is Heart Song Designs. The winner will receive their choice of 3 digital images from the Heart Song Designs store.

Our second sponsor is Ann Vento of Raindrop Echo Designs. This prize will be four INDIVIDUAL sentiment sets from the Raindrop Echo Designs Whimsy Stamps Digital Collection. If you like the weekly freebies offered here, please visit the store to see even more! We also offer custom digital designs at an affordable price with tutorials on how to use them.

Our challenge theme this week is "Back to School". I made a magnetic bookmark for my project. My sentiment is one of Raindrop Echo Designs' Whimsy Adventure Mini Postage rubber stamps & I used the Whimsy Stamps: Mini Postage Die.

My image is A Tasty Read from Elisabeth Bell's Digital Collection colored up with ProMarkers.

Stamps: Raindrop Echo Designs' Whimsy Adventure Mini Postage rubber stamps & A Tasty Read from Elisabeth Bell
Paper: Fancy Pants It's the Little Things
ProMarkers: Standstone,Carmel, Soft Green, Mint Green, Pastel Green, Soft Peach, Peach, Mango, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Umber, Blush, Ivory, Poppy
Accessories: Basic Grey Magnet, Twine













I've checked the challenge lists at Feline Playful and I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Allsorts - 1E - #118 Back to School

Just Some Lines 2W, SIO - 1stW Anything but a card

Floweret - M, SIO – school

Inspire Me Fridays - always anything goes

Poodles Parlour - 2W, 1E, SIO - anything goes

Show and Tell - 1E - Anything goes

Stamp Something - back to school somethings

Totally Papercrafts - back to school

Aud Sentiments Challenge - 2W -Anything Goes

Craft Us Crazy - 2W, 3E - Anything goes in August

Digi Doodle Shop's Best - SIO -recipe: Anything Goes

Paper Crafting Journey - 2W - Anything Goes - 2nd week

Paper Play - 2E – Back to school 

Rainbow Lady's - 2E - Faux Postage

Stamp Insanity - SIO - Back to school

Creative Craft Challenges - 2W, 3E - 2nd Week - Anything But A Card

Going Grey With Scrap-Creations - 2E - Back To School

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - 1E, SIO - Favourite Stamp (Runs all month, 3E for Aug)

Partytime Tuesdays - 3E (2E anything goes wk) - PTT #30 Back To School

Use It Tuesdays - 2W, must use hoarded supplys & say what you used -#14 Back To School (hoarded supply: paper)

Shelly's Images Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Garden Party

It's time for a new challenge at Shelly's Images. This week, we want you to make your own flower embellishments.

We are featuring Presents, which you can get at the Shelly's Images store for a discounted price today only.

Be sure to stop by the main blog to see what the other girls have created.

My card does not have a flower on it as we don't quite have our challenges lined up with our images yet. But we will soon. :)

Stamps: Shelly's Images Presents
Paper: Jillibean Soup Spotted Owl
ProMarkers: Meadow Green, Bright Green, Leaf Green
Accessories: Ribbon, Cork


















I've checked the challenge lists at Feline Playful and I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash - C10 - Red or Ribbons Or Roses

Kaboodle Doodles – Ribbons

Make it Monday - always Anything Goes

Paper Playtime - 2W - (2nd week) Anything Goes

Stamps R Us - 2E - (1st week) Anything Goes

Crazy 4 Challenges - #C4C101 Bingo* (Square card, Die Cuts, 2 or more Patterned Papers)

Sketch Saturday - 3E - SKETCH* #169

 

DYSU Challenge #34 Just for Boys or Men

Welcome back to a new week at DYSU! I hope you're ready for a new challenge... we're ready to see your fabulous creations! This week, the focus is on the boys and men in our lives, so let's see those masculine cards!

This week's Sponsors:

Digi Darla One Month's Membership in our Digital Stamp Club

Stitchy Bear $10 Gift Voucher for Stitchy Stamps, Panda Bear Designs and Dezina World

Stamping Boutique Winner’s Choice of 5 Digis

This week, my  card uses an image from Digi Darla called Cute Gramps. I've been trying out a simpler style lately, but I'm not sure if I'll stick with it. I love the way this turned out, but I keep wanting to add more, more more, lol! Can't leave well enough alone. :)

Please be sure to stop over at the main blog to see what the other girls have created. There are some wonderful projects over there.

Stamps: Digi Darla Cute Gramps
Paper: Basic Grey Marjolaine
ProMarkers: Ivory, Blush, Moss, Marsh Green, Olive Green, Cocoa, Burnt Sienna, Cinnamon, Umber, Ice Grey 1, 2, 3, 4
Accessories: Metal Brads, Border Punch















I've checked the challenge lists at Feline Playful and I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Cards For Men - 2W, must be masculine - (2nd week) Anything Goes

Make it Monday - always Anything Goes

Paper Playtime - 2W - (2nd week) Anything Goes

Paper Pretties - SIO - Colours: Blue, Brown and Choice

Stamps R Us - 2E - (1st week) Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations Paint - 1E - CAS (Clean and Simple)

Lollipop Crafts - Make it masculine

Sparkles Forum - 2W - (2nd week) For The Boys

BasicGrey - 2W, SIR -  1stW - #51 Anything goes

Art Journaling

Well, I've debated posting this for over a week now. With the encouragement of blogging buddy, Dana, I'm jumping in. Notice I did not say diving because my attempt is more like a belly flop!

Art journaling - the words intrigue and terrify me. I so badly want to be an artist, but it is not something that was ever encouraged for me. I don't think I really have an eye for it and definitely have no training.  But this art journal... wow... a way to release those thoughts/emotions that I have no words for. Wow. It never occurred to me before I heard those words and it has stirred something deep within. Many times my thoughts are very abstract and I have trouble putting words to them. Writing helps... talking does not. I also have Fibromyalgia... I will spare you the details, but one of the symptoms that is very strong for me is "brain fog" or "fibro fog." I don't think on my feet well. Can't make quick decisions easily. I tend to just shut down under stress or pressure. And the biggest issue... word finding. You know how a word can be on the tip of your tongue but you just can't think of it? That times a thousand. Every sentence, especially when talking to a stranger. Even just mundane words. Most of the time, all I can get is the first letter. Then, I'm playing charades... "you know, that word that starts with 'A'"..."you mean 'and'?"... "YEAH, THAT'S IT!" Yes, it really is that ridiculous. This is why art journaling intrigues me so.

I tend to learn by example. I copy others until I understand and can put my own spin on it. I love Christy Tomlinson's She Art and I really hope I can take her class at some point. She also has an art journaling class I want to take. While my page is a far, far cry from Christy's work, her stuff was in my head, along with a million other people's. (Check out my Pinterest Art and Art Journaling Board.)

Here are some links that have helped me get started.
Dana's Inspirations
Daisy Yellow
Bloggabella
Roben Marie
Patter Cross


I've been researching and drooling and wishing for over a month now. I've gessoed over my work twice. It has taken me a week to post. With great fear and trepidation... here it is. Please be gentle. :)

I'm thinking of doing this 30 Days of Lists. I thought it might be helpful to get my art journal some substance without too much thought. I don't need anything hindering me at this point. :)

I want to say a big thanks to Dana for being such an encourager. You have no idea how much! :)

Some of the supplies used include:
Gesso
Acrylic paints (the cheapo kind)
Stamps from Stretch N' Bubbles, The Craft's Meow, Hero Arts
Random dictionary pages (who uses the actual book anymore?)
Sharpie Marker
Bic Mark It markers
I couldn't leave out my singed flower.

Bonus points if you know the book I'm referring to, lol. :)



I'm entering this into Jan's Link Party over at She's Gone Digital. Thanks so much for letting me know about it Jan!

Sentimental Sundays Birthday Challenge

Good morning all! It's time for a new challenge at Sentimental Sundays. This week our theme is Birthdays (plus a sentiment). Be sure to stop by the main blog to see what the rest of the DT has created and to pick up your free sentiments!

My card today is very pink. :) I've used Fly Free and Butterfly Kisses Stamp Sets from The Craft's Meow. I stamped, then cut out the the larger butterflies. I added flatback rhinestones down the body and folded the wings up. Fun way to make your own embellishment.

Stamps: The Craft's Meow Fly Free and Butterfly Kisses Stamp Sets
Paper: Echo Park Springtime and Dots & Stripes Candy Shop, Kraft
Ink: Studio G Pigment Ink
Accessories: Flatback Rhinestones, Lace Trim












I've checked the challenge lists at Feline Playful and I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Designed 2 Delight - 3E -  Anything Goes

Card Makin' Mamas - 2W, 2E, cards only – pink

Crafty Catz - 1E - pink and brown

Inspire Me Fridays - always anything goes

Patties Creations - 2W, 2E, SIO, must include a stamped image - animals or insects

Craft Us Crazy - 2W, 3E - Anything goes in August (Again) - 1st week

Stampavie and More -2W,  JFF - #149 girlie (2nd wk)

Truly Scrumptious - 2W - #63 Lace (2nd wk)

A Spoonful Of Sugar - 1E - Until 29th August -#162 Happy Birthday

Anything Goes Challenge - 2W- 1E -2nd Week - Happy Birthday/Celebration

The Stamping Boutique #13 Stripes & Dots

Try It On Tuesday - Anything Goes

Paper Take Weekly - Bingo* (Gems, Free, Lace)

Emerald Faerie Garden - 2W, 3E, SIO, posted on the 1st & 15th - Challenge #2: Birthdays

Glitter Fairies - M, posted on 1st - Pretty in Pink

Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet - must include Kraft cardstock - Anything Goes

Paper Playtime - Anything Goes

Shabby Tea Room - Polka Dots (Photo Inspirations*)

Simon Says Stamp and Show... – Bling

Victorine Originals - 2W, SIO - (2nd week) Birthday

Corrosive Challenges - 2E – Girlie

Catered Crop – (color: Pink; Stamps: Butterflies, sentiment)

Scrappy Frogs - 3W -  (2nd week) Bling

Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Try Something New (stamping on patterned paper)

Crafting Life's Little Pieces - M, 1E, posts on the 1st - Sketch*