Anthony & Burt love chocolate!

Anthony and Burt love chocolate -- and so do I!  Don't you just love this cute image from the brand new Crafter's Companion Anthony and Burt collection, "Never Too Much Chocolate"?  And in case inquiring minds want to know, Anthony is the fly and Burt is the frog, an unlikely friendship indeed.

I decided to keep my card today flat and easily mailable, because I like to have some cards on hand that I can mail by dropping it into the mailbox, without having to stand in line at the post office to get it hand canceled. Are you the same way?

I started by stamping the image and greeting in black ink, onto white card stock.

Then I colored it with the Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers.  Here's the Spectrum Noir marker colors that I used.  Love the richness of the colors!

Next, I layered the main image onto a scalloped frame in mossy green, and the greeting onto scalloped red.  Then, the hunt was on for background paper.  Look what I found in my stash -- it is called "Espresso" and the rings are meant to be coffee.  But I decided they looked like chocolate swirls, and the artist's vision always wins ;-).  I'll let you in on a secret - this was free artist's paper from the middle of a paper studio magazine.

I then layered it all onto a mossy green base and the card was finished.  Oh, I did add some glitter glue to the wings. Sometimes, with a busy image and rich colors, you really don't need to load up with embellishments.

Lilacs & Fairies Card and Envelope

Hope you are all having a good Sunday! Today I have a card and coordinating envelope for you, using new stamps from the Paint Fusion line by Sheena Douglass, and accented with a pretty fairy from the Fairyopolis die-cut decoupage sheets.

My first step was to stamp the lilac and leaves in black, and then color them with the Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers. I used DG2 and DG4 for the leaves, and PL1, PL2, PL4 for the lilacs. These markers blend beautifully, and won't break the bank.

I also stamped the greeting in black. It is from the Flower Fairies Friends Heliotrope set. I hand cut the greeting in a banner shape and notched the ends.
Next I cut the lilac and leaves out. I put a crisp white layer (with opposite corners rounded) behind the main image, dry embossed with a floral design to carry the theme.

I then 'auditioned' the leaves, lilac, and fairy till I was happy with the placement, and then I glued them down onto the white. I added some extra dimension to the fairy with pop dots and layers on the wing, dress, and face from the die-cut sheets.

I made a card base of mauve, and then a layer of mossy green. I added a brad to the greeting and made a little wave and mounted it on the mossy green layer. The brad is partly functional to keep the left side of the waved greeting sturdily in place. This was then adhered to the mauve base and the card was done!

Next, I made a coordinating envelope with beautiful green paper from the Fairyopolis 12x12 Paper Pad. See the subtle butterfly design? It is so easy to make envelopes with the Envelobox Creator. I started with a 7 3/4 square piece of the paper, and scored it on opposite sides at markings E and H on the Envelobox scoring tool. So easy and fast! Watch the 40 second video at the above link. My envelope is a flat, standard A2 size, but the tool makes it so easy to make envelopes with depth for thicker projects.

Hope you enjoy it!

Fucshias & Fairies Altered Clipboard

Today I have an altered clipboard for you, approximately 6 x 9 inches, using new stamps from the Paint Fusion line by Sheena Douglass, and accented with a cute little fairy from the Fairyopolis die-cut decoupage sheets. (Yes, I'm a sucker for a guy in tights.)

My first step was to paint the clipboard white, using fast drying acrylic paint. While it was drying, I stamped the fuschia and leaves in black, and colored them with the Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers. I really appreciate how very affordable these markers are.

Next I cut (and cut, and cut, LOL). Do your cutting while watching Downton Abbey and it will seem less tiresome. I positioned everything without glue first, to get a sense where I would lay the thin tan ribbon for the branch. Then, out came the Modge Podge. I adhered the ribbon, leaves, and fuschia, and in the bottom right, I adhered the large flower and leaves. I sat the fairy in the middle of the bottom flower, giving him an extra leaf as a cushion. I figured he might be stuck there for a while.

Everything then got a cover coat of Modge Podge, and was allowed to dry overnight.

Now for the fun part -- ribbons and bling! Once again -- dive into your ribbon stash; find all those short bits and pieces of pink and purple ribbon and tie them to the top. (Yes, in case you are wondering, I have an amazing endless ribbon stash.) Next, I used crystal glaze as a glue, and embellished with seed beads, rhinestone hearts, and flat-backed pearls. For the metal top, I used strong sticky sheet adhesive and poured on more seed beads and pearls.

Since this isn't a flat clipboard, it would be hard to write on. But you can put heavy duty magnets on the back and put it on your fridge as a note holder.

Altered Travel Notebook

Today I have a small altered notebook using the new Stamp-It line from Crafter's Companion.

Have you ever traveled, and found you are always looking for a piece of paper to jot down flight numbers, hotel phone numbers, hours that the tourist spots are open, restaurant reservations and such?  Or do you ever take 300 photos and then not remember where you were?  Well, that happens to me, and my solution is a little notebook that fits into my purse or jacket pocket.

 When I saw the collage-style Stamp-It images, I knew exactly what I'd design.  You will need a small spiral bound notebook - you can find them for under a dollar just about anyplace.  First, cover the front with black card stock.  Stamp the Eiffel Sketch image in black ink on ivory card stock.  Optional:  Dry emboss a brocade or similar design at the bottom of the tower.  Using a sponge, distress the edges with black ink.  (I used Tim Holtz' Black Soot ink by Ranger.)  Next, stamp the Journey Script image on ivory card stock, again with black ink.  Tear the edges and sponge.  Adhere the pieces, overlapping the Journey Script diagonally.  I then gave the cover a coat of Modge Podge for sheen and protection.

I couldn't resist adding a black rhinestone in the "O" of Journey, and I added a black scroll sticker in the upper left, to 'reprise' the scroll on the Journey words. 

 Now for the fun part -- dive into your ribbon stash; find all those short bits and pieces of black and ivory ribbon, twill and lace that you've saved, knowing that someday you'd find a use for them.  Well, this is the perfect project to use them on! Tie them to the top wires.  (Come on, if you are like me, I know you don't throw those ribbon bits away!)  Other than the ribbons, I left the front relatively un-embellished.  I wanted to pile on buttons and charms for a vintage look, but it wasn't practical because this was intended to be a functional piece.  Christiane and Mary, when we go back to France, this is coming with me...just sayin'...

Hope this inspires you to make your own altered notebook. 

Tissue Background Thank You

This weekend, my lovely neighbors, Sandra and Tom, took me out for a retirement celebration dinner.  Sandra also gave me a small gift, which used lovely pink, and cream and black patterned, tissue as wrapping.  Well, you know me, I can never throw away pretty tissue paper!  I decided to use the tissue, and reprise the cream, black and pink color scheme, to make a thank you card.

First, I used Modge Podge to apply the crumpled tissue to card stock.  I also applied a coat of Modge Podge on top of the tissue, for sheen and durability.  After it dried, I trimmed it and matted it onto black.  This was then adhered to a pink card base.  I stamped a thank you greeting and punched and layered it.

I embellished with ivory lace, sheer black ribbon, and a sheer pink bow.  I think it turned out great.  Wonder if she'll recognize the background?  ;-)

Stamps:  Whimsical Words by Stampin' Up!
Inks:  SU! Basic Black
Paper:  SU! Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  SU! Oval punch, Oval Scallop, 1/8 inch circle punch, SU! ribbons, lace unknown (from my stash)

Embroidered Flowers

Today I thought I'd share with you a simple little note card. It's small, roughly 3.5 x 5 inches. It uses a pretty image of flowers in a jar from the Sheena Douglas stamp line, A Little Bit Sketchy - Busy Doing Nothing.

This image was so sweet and unassuming, and it had a homespun feel with the glass jar and wildflowers. So after using my colored pencils, I carried that feeling along with some simple cross stitch embroidery. I matted it on a contrasting yellow card stock, punched a scallop border, added some tiny pearls, and it was done.

To do cross stitch or other embroidery stitches on cards, it really helps to pierce the holes first, using a template, awl and soft mat to keep the spacing even. Then, just sew like your mother taught you.

 
Here's a close up of the image and the stitching.

It's the perfect little card to use as a blank note, a quick thank you, or just to say hi. And the embroidery embellishment is flat -- so no extra postage. And that's a good thing, says this frugal crafter. ;-)

Be sure to visit the Crafter's Companion site to see more of Sheena Douglass' pretty designs.

Want to win $100?

Crafter's Companion is trying to increase their blog followers.  They'll be awarding a $100 gift certificate to the Crafter's Companion online store to a lucky new follower of their blog. This is easy and you only have to do two things.

1)  Go to the Crafter's Companion Offical Blog page.   Scroll down until you see  the "Followers" block on the right hand side. Click on the icon underneath "Join this site". This will bring up a page where you can join.
2)  After signing up send an e-mail to bindy@crafterscompanion.com. Tell Bindy :
I signed up to follow the Crafter's Companion blog and then tell her you found out on my blog (Marge Dady's Cacklin' Crafter).   You see, as a design team member I can win a prize too, for referring followers.

Thanks to you for signing up!  Your chances of winning are not bad -- and you get to see new ideas every day too.  What is there to lose?  Nothing! You have until February 29th to sign up. This give-away is for new followers and US residents only.