My Artistic Adventures and Craft Hoarders Unite

Hello Friends!

On Monday November 3, the
 My Artistic Adventures Challenge Design Team is blog hopping with
 Gloria's Craft Hoarders Design Team!

Challenge #19 For all that You do, Thank You!

Create a "thank you" gift for this challenge. It can be a Thanksgiving hostess gift or a simple thank you card. It can be a "thanks for helping me out of a jam" present, or a "thanks for being you" scrapbook layout. As long as your project says, "THANKS," enter the challenge! We want to see you de-hoard some of your stash and say thanks to someone!
(Your project does not have to be Thanksgiving-themed)

One Talented Participant that Links up their "Thanks" project to the

Craft Hoarders #19 Thanks Challenge 

will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the

$25 Gift Certificate to the My Artistic Adventures Etsy Shop!!

     

        

Here is my inspiration piece - 
I made a thank you tag which will be attached
to a hostess gift. I started with 

  Heather's Vintage Mini Mittens Sheet

I used a vintage book page as a base, then layered card stock, a doily, distressed mittens and embellishments.

Next, I used Heather's

Shabby Vintage chic Victorian Christmas Blue Birds Music Tags Digital Collage sheet

 to decorate a re-purposed tea tin. This tin 
will be great for holding a candle or homemade
 baked goods.

Top view - I used mini pine cones and bias tape ribbon

We will be starting the Hop at 
Craft Hoarders Challenge Blog

You can see her Design Teams Inspiration Pieces there and on

their individual blogs.  Here is a list below.

Amber Milone

Christy Butters

Debbie Seyer

Donna Idlet

Glenda Brooks
GLORIA
Jan
Karen
Kathy

Pam
Wendy

My Artistic Adventures Design Team

Helene

Shawn

Carol

Lisette

Sandi

Candy

Heather

How would you like a SECOND chance to win a 

$25 Gift Certificate to the My Artistic Adventures Etsy Shop?

Hop on over to the 
My Artistic Adventures Challenge Blog
to get all the details!!

Thank you for Hopping with Us!!

Grow Your Blog

I just found out about this upcoming event - sounds like a fun way to connect with other bloggers and grow your blog while doing it.

 Go HERE for more information!

 

Treasured Times Rubber Stamps Blog Hop

Welcome to the Treasured Times Blog Hop! 
The Blog Hop begins today and ends on August 7, and our new Challenge begins August 3rd. You have the opportunity to win prizes in both!

 Rules- can't live without 'em, but I promise there are only a couple.

• Visit all eight participating blogs/FB page.
•  Leave a comment at each. 

Easy, right?! You will finish at the Treasured Times blog and leave a comment for Jody letting her know that you completed the Hop & left comments at each blog to be in the running for this prize:

 

 I'm number #6 on your hopping journey, so if you are arriving from Gelsomina's blog you are in the right place. 

 I made three projects using the Sugar Skull stamp by Tracy Moreau to share with you. The first one is a card I created using a technique called Soot Stamping. To do this technique you need a household candle, glossy card stock, a clean stamp, and a spray sealant. There is a video tutorial HERE

Pass the card stock quickly over the candle flame, glossy side down, to cover the surface with soot. Carefully press the stamp onto the blackened area. Next, lightly spray the image with sealant to protect it from smearing.

I had so much fun soot stamping and liked the striking results. I decided to make this card all black and white, so to give it extra visual interest, I added texture by embossing white card stock, adding a small doily and using sheer loopy-edged ribbon. 

I will be mailing this card to one of you who leaves a comment on this post!

For my next project I decided to use the stamp in more traditional Cinco De Mayo colors.

 This is a double easel card made with Spellbinders Nestabilities Label Nine die cuts. You can watch a tutorial on how to make a triple card HERE

I followed Kim's directions but just made two easel sections. The card folds flat for mailing.

Do you like the bright, happy colors? After I embossed the skull image with red embossing powder, I colored it in with markers. I also used pearls, glitter, chipboard and a Basic Grey flag to decorate it. The doily was white before I spritzed it with Heidi Swapp Primrose mist. Here is a side view -

My last project using the sugar skull stamp is the 'sweetest' of all! Haha! I repurposed a match box for Halloween. The first thing I did was paint the interior with white acrylic paint and let it dry. Next, I covered all surfaces with decorative paper. I used a bead and brad inserted in one end for a drawer pull. 

I stamped the sugar skull in black and distressed the edges with Ranger Orange Marmalade ink. I used purple and black bakery string as an accent and adhered a bright orange flower and glittery spider near the top.

The gold tile is a piece I made from air dried clay, which I painted and stamped. Here is a closer look at the drawer pull

What do you think is inside? 

Four 'fun size' Snickers bars fit perfectly!

Somebody is going to be happy, happy, happy when they open this Halloween greeting!

I stopped at three projects, but can't you just picture this stamp being used for a pirate themed card or creation?

Now head over to
 Adriana's Facebook page

She's next on the Blog Hop.

  Carol Salisbury – http://scrappydayz.blogspot.com/
Elisabetta Monnini – http://www.lizziebusyhandmade.blogspot.com/
Franca Marzi – http://piccolepassioni.blogspot.it/
Nadja Robbins – http://nadjarobbins.blogspot.com/
Gelsomina Mori – http://romanticherie.wordpress.com/
  Adriana Ortolano – https://www.facebook.com/adriana.ortolano.9?fref=ts

Mamarazzi

I'm teasing you with a sneak peek of one of the projects I made for the upcoming Treasured Times Blog Hop on July 31. The other design team members have been working on fun projects to share with you too! We also have a Challenge starting on August 3rd, so check out the link above to get the challenge details and see photos of the challenge and blog hop prizes.

  I took a break from my Scrap Room and did a photo shoot with College Girl. She needed some updated pictures of herself, and being a scrapbooker at heart - and a doting mom - I was only too happy to oblige!

I can't wait to print out some copies and make a layout!

She is photogenic so I basically gave her a few directions, then started clicking away! I like 'just caught' looks, which are not so stiff as facing straight into the camera. Since it was mid-day it was pretty bright out, but we wanted shots of her wearing sunglasses. Keep the time of day in mind when taking portraits outside - to alleviate squinting, shoot earlier or later in the day, when it is overcast, or in some light shade. I liked the look of the empty road and open hills in the background, which works great for teens and young adults. 

 

I took about 40 photos. Gotta say I am a digital camera convert although I originally drug my feet! Love the ability to shoot, save or delete. Which photo should I scrap first?

 College Girl has been working on faux armor for her cosplay/Halloween costume, so she started a blog to document her progress. It's amazing what you can do with fun foam, styrofoam and paint! She also made a necklace and shares other crafty stuff. Check out her progress:
Managing Her Mischief 

sharing this post with:

Photog SHow and Tell
Amaze Me Monday 

Busy Week

Let's see - in the past 6 days we have nursed a cat while she recovered from dental surgery and complications, celebrated a birthday, shopped for a new garbage disposal and had a surprise backyard visitor. Oh, and College Girl kicked herself for not getting tickets to Comic Con after she learned that Tom Hiddleston made a surprise appearance, in costume and in character - LOKI!

Nothing fancy shmancy for Handyman. He likes a home-made angelfood cake  with plain  buttercream icing like his mom used to make - no food color, no chocolate, no haute cuisine flavors. And he likes extra icing, so I usually put that down inside the cake center. It's not a pretty cake, but it tastes great! I use an old recipe from a vintage cook book that belonged to my mother in law.

From Searchlight Recipe Book, 1931

1 cup egg whites, 1 and 1/4 cup sugar, 1 cup cake flour, 1 tsp cream of tartar, 1 tablespoon of water, 1/8 tsp salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Sift flour and sugar.(measure after sifting) whip egg whites lightly. Add salt, water and vanilla when half beaten. Sift in cream of tartar, continue whipping until whites hold their shape. Divide sugar into fourths, fold in each fourth with ten careful strokes of a spatula. Divide flour into fourths and repeat. Pour into un-oiled tube pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes. Cool upside down in pan.

I bet many of you have squirrels visit your yards, but we never have! We've had road runners, opossums, skunks, a bobcat, and packs of coyotes close by, but nary a squirrel. I just happened to see this spotted fellow when I glanced outside at the bird feeders.

 I made this card for my sister's birthday this week. Love the pink and green ribbon. It's Lily Pulitzer-esque, don't you think? The cupcake is mounted to a decorative acetate square which I adhered with foam tape for dimension. 

Later this week we are having a blog hop at Treasured Times Rubber Stamps. There is a great prize for the August Challenge winner, and our design team is going to have creative ideas for you on each of their blogs. I can't wait to show you what I've been working on! Come play with us~

sharing this post with:

You're Going To Love It
Cottage Style Party 

Blog Hop Winner Announced~

Bella Creations held it's first Blog Hop June 3rd-5th, and the Design Team had great fun using the premier KIT debuting in June. Called 'Heavenly', the kit is now available at Bella Creations. Each Design Team member was challenged to use an envelope and create a decorated tag card to go inside for the Tres Chic Challenge, which incorporates specific embellies along with a 'soft and dainty' theme. The colors of the Challenge are cream, pink, soft green & yellow. We were to use a cherub, feathers, button, doily and Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden paper to make the card, and we will have our cards posted for our members to select their favorite...a little healthy competititon between the design team bellas! What fun!
                                            Here is the envelope tag card I made~

I also used Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and Shabby Shutters, which pairs well with the Pink Paislee cardstock. The sweet white pocket on the front is included in the KIT, and I chose to make a 'peek a boo' feature with it; when you untie the ribbon you see a birdcage and golden branch, along with the words 'Butterfly Garden'. I fussy cut a doily from the Pink Paislee paper, then added a Prima fabric heart, pearl pins and French sentiment to finish off the card. And now, drumroll, please.............

As part of the Heavenly Blog Hop, I am sending my envelope card to one person who left a comment on my Blog between June 3rd and June 5th. I used the Random.org number generator and the number selected was 19. Number 19 is Nancy~

Nancy wrote, ......"GORGEOUS creations with this gorgeous kit!!!! already a follower my friend!

      hopping along! this is FUN! :) " 
Nancy, thank you for participating in Bella Creations first blog hop. I will mail out your envelope card as soon as I get your address. Nancy has a wonderful blog at http://www.justaboutthedetails.com/  where you can see her beautiful work. I also want to THANK everyone who stopped by my blog, became a follower, left a comment and hopped over to see the new Heavenly Kit. In the upcoming weeks, I will post more Design Team Challenge submissions, a tutorial or two, and feature Bella Creations upcoming kits! 

       

Bella Creations First Blog Hop~June 3-5

Ready for Bella Creations first BLOG HOP? Well, we are ready! The Design Team and our fearless leader Lacee have been brainstorming on how to make this blog hop fun.We have some great prizes and we are going to reveal our~~~FIRST Bella Creations Kit! Lacee has done a fabulous job since she opened Bella Creations, and starting JUNE 5th, you will be able to purchase your very own Bella Creations Kit designed by Lacee. Here is a sneak peek! Ohhh, ahhhh!

Here is what you need to do;
Blog hop starts at LACEES BLOG: Lacee will reveal her “SECRET WORD” so make sure you write it down and continue to the next blog to get the following word.
You will hop from blog to blog to collect all the words that you need to make a sentence.

You will end at the Bella Creations blog to collect your last word. This is where the kit will be revealed and available for purchase. Once you have collected the full sentence, then go to the Bella Creations web site at  BELLA CREATIONS and become a member, if you aren’t already.

Once you are a member, look under the Forum tab. There will be a discussion there with the kit reveal called  'HEAVENLY'. In this discussion is Lacee’s email address so you can email her with your full sentence from all the words that you collected throughout the blog hop.
Lacee will pick a random winner to receive a mini album kit that she has designed. 

MY special word is "OUR"~~~

One MORE surprise! Each Design Team Bella has created an envelope card with our fabulous first KIT. Here is the card I created. Become a follower and leave a comment ON THIS POST to enter for your chance to win it!

                       Now take a ride to Sandi's Blog on the wings of a butterfly                                                    

                                          Here is the order of the blog hop.

                               You will start at LACEE's BLOG   HERE,   then go to.......

                                                   CARLA'S BLOG   HERE

                                                   HELENE'S BLOG   HERE

                                                    STARR'S BLOG   HERE

                    SHAWN'S BLOG   HERE!  My Blog is your 5th stop. Go next to......

                                                   SANDI'S BLOG    HERE

                                                  CATHY'S BLOG    HERE

                                                   HEATHER'S BLOG    HERE

                                     and FINALLY to the BELLA CREATIONS BLOG:

Lastly, you need to go to the site: BELLA CREATIONS . Remember to become a member, look in the forum for the JUNE kit reveal called 'Heavenly'. This is where you will find the email address to email Lacee the sentence that you collected throughout the hop for a chance to win one of her fabulous mini kits!

                                               Have fun and enjoy your butterfly ride.  

Winners will be announced late in the day June 6th, 2011. So check back to see if you have been lucky enough to win!

100 Members at Bella Creations blog~

How exciting! We reached 100 members at Bella Creations new Blog, so now we are awarding the fabulous Blog Candy  below~

And the lucky recipient chosen at random is Donna L.!!!!!!! Congrats, Donna. We are looking forward to giving away more prizes and inspiring you with our beautiful kits (available starting in June).   

Save The Date!

BLOG HOP! ~ Bella Creations first BLOG HOP will be on June 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th.

You are not going to want to miss our blog hop because its going to be loads of fun! Each Design Team Bella will be giving away a prize for visiting her blog. And at the end of the HOP there is a grand prize that is going to knock your socks off! We are all excited to do this hop, and hope to see you there!

Happy May Day at Bella Creations!~

This month is PACKED full of fun and goodies at Bella Creations! We have three monthly Challenges and wonderful sponsors and prizes, so come play along! For the Tres Chic  Style Challenge the sponsor is

and they are offering an RAK which is a kit to make this sweet mini album~

For our Bella Muse Challenge make a project using this image from Gecko Galz~

and you could win an RAK from the Scrappy Gourmet! And last but NOT least, Flying Unicorn is offering a fantastic RAK for one lucky participant in the Bella Unique Challenge, which will have you making a sueded embellishment for your project~

And next month we are having a Blog Hop with prizes, surprises, and our first monthly kit designed by Lacee~ Don't miss all the excitement!!