Showing posts with label burlap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label burlap. Show all posts

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Burlap, Nature, Stamp & Twine


One Idea = Two Cards

Using the same elements, I created two cards. The only difference is the card base color, the stamp & the greenery on the left side, which is  a different part of a photo that I took while in the Caribbean. If only I could afford to return there, I would be there so fast - It was an amazing trip!



Leaves were punched from vellum, which adds a lot more interest than using plain or patterned cardstock. Have you punched anything from vellum lately? I'd love to see how you used it!



This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Friday, June 15, 2012

A Squirrel's Tale


I came across this wonderful blog yesterday, World Of My Imagination. It offered a fantastic challenge that I couldn't resist: Wednesday Writing Weekly Writing Prompt. Using a photo & 5 words, you must come up with a story that is 500 words or less.

I'm a writer, although, I haven't done it in a long time. I figured I might as well do it now! Here is my story, inspired by my creation below. Whether it's good or not, writing a weekly story is a great challenge for me & will definitely offer something different than the regular craft challenges I enter.
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Like a jet, a squirrel shoots down a tree & stops. She feels eyes watching her. She glances about without moving a muscle. She doesn't blink until she finds those eyes & who they belong to. She lets out a chuckle when she realizes that it's just Grandmother. Grandmother is what the squirrels call the castle's cat. She's an old soul, who is too busy lazing about, sleeping away her day on the lawn to bother with them. Her kittens, now grown, are another story entirely. They still have their youth & curiosity. A dangerous thing.

The squirrel grabs an acorn that has fallen from a tree. She keeps focused on everything around her. Many a squirrel has fallen pray to the kittens for not paying attention. Her nose twitches as gentle breeze brings the scent of fish. It must be feeding time for the kittens, so she relaxes her guard. They never give up a free meal, especially during the summer when it is hot outside. She has an hour to spend enjoying the ground. Once the kittens eat, they sleep.

The squirrel scurries around, grabbing more acorns. It was such a beautiful day in the shade. The grass was soft & cool. The birds were singing. It was so lovely when the kittens weren't around. She picked up another acorn before she realized that the birds were quiet. Quiet was never good. One of the birds shrieked & she realized her error.

A kitten was crouching not far from her. Darn! She had made a mistake & it could be lethal. She kept still for a moment before her flight instinct to over. Dropping all of her food, she ran as fast as she could toward the tree. She was safer in a tree than on the ground. She felt the swipe of a kitten's paw, but it missed her as she charge up that tree. Her life depended on it.
When she was as high as could be, she looked down. The kitten had lost interest almost immediately & was already on it's way back to the castle. A sigh of relief.
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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

{PIN}spirational Challenge #11: Inspiration Photo - Sea Shells


At {PIN}spirational Challenges, we are inspired by a photo of gorgeous sea shells. And sea shells always remind me of the beach - Duh, right? It's SO time for the beach! It's June, the sun is shining (hopefully!) & the ocean is just calling my name. Here I come sand, surf & sea . . .


The shells are actually necklaces from Kauai. My partner & I both received one from a little shop just for visiting it. I decided to use them in my crafts as I don't wear shell jewelry.


Sunday, June 10, 2012

River

The background for this card is another photo that I took while in the Caribbean. It was my first time actually leaving the USA & it was amazing. I can't wait to go again. Of course, it will be a while before that happens, but I still dream about those tropical days :)



This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Explore Nature

Instead of using patterned paper, I used a photo from my trip to the Caribbean. If I remember correctly, this is a beautiful stream in Dominica that we passed on our way to a striking waterfall & swimming hole.


I love this card & I'm going to pull more photos from my trips to use as backgrounds. They add so much to it with variations in color, natural beauty & just interest.


This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

{PIN}spirational Challenge #10: Inspiration Photo - Girls At The Seashore

What better way to spend a sunny day than at the seashore? Yeah, you'll get sand in places you don't want to mention, but it's totally worth it. One of my favorite things is to feel sand between my toes, smell the fresh ocean air, listening to the crashing waves & view the beauty that is the sea.

At {PIN}spirational Challenges, we are inspired by a photo of two girls playing at the seashore. This made me think of getting to the beach. Before you actually see the ocean, you often see a sign pointing you in the right direction. That is what my whimsical creation is all about.


The sign's post was made using a real twig from my backyard.


This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!



Tuesday Alchemy Challenge #17: Sand, Surf & Sea

It's World Ocean Day on June 8th! At Tuesday Alchemy this week, we decided to celebrate all week long by challenging ourselves and you to create ANY craft that is inspired by the sand, surf & sea. Want to join this celebration or just learn more about World Ocean Day? Fantastic! Click here.


My favorite color combination (at least for the moment) is red with light blue, so I used just that on this creation. The white card is covered in rows of small crabs. The center is swirl-embossed cardstock with layers of burlap on top. I painted, glittered & sealed a chipboard flourish before embellishing it with red satin ribbon. The final detail: an oval mirror with "Love" printed on it.


This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Monday, May 28, 2012

Dad & A Messed Up Dad

I just finished mowing my front & back yards. It's an absolutely gorgeous day for doing yard work. I'm tired now & I have shop business to attend to, so I will not be pulling weeds like I should. Posting this card is my break before I make & eat lunch, then finish a few orders.




This next card is actually the first one that I made. I do not like it at all. The red tag was too much & didn't compliment the rest of the color scheme. I tried to tone it down with paint, but that didn't work out for me. Also, the leaves just didn't look right to me. The card above is my second attempt. I kept the same papers, burlap & layout.

Messed Up Dad :)

This card (the first one in this post) was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!