Summer Chillin'

Can you believe that the lazy days of summer are coming to an end? I have certainly enjoyed this summer....and the late days of this season are some of my favorites as the days get a bit shorter, the heat isn't quite as intense and you can begin to see the golden colors fall knocking at the door...life is wonderful and so full of beauty.

One lazy summer activity I have enjoyed this summer is creating cards. For me creative time is truly a treat and so rejuvenating....it's one of many things that make me happy. So....today I'll share with you a creation or two that I have enjoyed putting together and also share with you one of my most favorite techniques---it's a messy one, but you'll be hooked as soon as you try it.
For both of these cards, I used acrylic paint to create a distressed look. I love using this stuff----and here is how I do it in a nutshell. I stock up on inexpensive foam brushes from our hardware store, and my most favorite color of acrylic paint called Queen Anne's Lace from Delta---it's so perfect for just about anything. Next, I shake the bottle, take the top off, and dab a corner of my foam brush either down inside the lid or the bottle itself---you don't need much paint at all---then I swipe the coated corner of the brush around the edges of my card, paper, die cuts---whatever I want to age. Let it dry a bit, and then run some Ranger Distress Ink over the painted edges---Old Paper is one of my favorite inks. These two elements combined together can transform your creation by bringing in the most lovely color---worn and loved. I also painted the wooden button of the winter card with the same color of paint. After it dried, I rubbed the sides and top across my Ranger Walnut Stain ink pad, and it created such a fun, weathered look---hope you'll give this a try when you're in the mood to shabby something up!
Enjoy the remaining days of summer.

Melissa

The Finale!

The final day of our "something old, something new" theme and it's a crafter's potpourri! We have a gorgeous card that will have you reaching for those eyelets again, an heirloom beaded bracelet and a tutorial that will make you all want to break out that 9 inch, old stack of outdated and discontinued scrapbook paper!

This is a bracelet that I made for the challenge. When we decided on that we would have this theme, I immediately thought of the old watch I had of my grandmother's. I have had it in my drawer since she passed away almost 2 years ago. I also found an inspiration piece in a magazine for Diabetes awareness that made me want to start doing beaded jewelry. The combo of all these things was a serendipity of sorts.


Beaded bracelet
Designer: Stacey Stamitoles

Old: My Grandmother's watch (some beads, too)
New: some of the beads
Borrowed: The inspiration came from the magazine ad (pictured left)
Blue: Glass beads

Linda created this card after deciding that one "old" item she had a LOT of was eyelets! She challenged herself to create something using more than just a few of them. So she created the little flowers with eyelets and handcut the tree and added several other eyelets.

Create Dreams eyelet card
Designer: Linda Beeson

Materials: Solid Cardstock, Patterned papers - KI Memories, Eyelets - Making Memories, Pen - Sakura, Sticker words - Sticko

Make your own envelopes
Tutorial by Miki Benedict
"I tend to hoard paper…no matter how old it is! So I pulled out some older papers and made envelopes with them. It wasn’t very hard and once I got the first one done, the rest were quick & easy. Now I have some fun envelopes to send off my handmade cards in. Plus it feels good to use up some of those older papers I’ve been hoarding! "



To make an envelope for a standard A2 or 4.25” x 5.5” card, you need paper that is cut to 6.75” x 10.75”. Score along the sides about 1/2 “ and then approximately 3” from each end. I used my ScorPal for this part, but you could use a ruler & scoring tool also. Then just trim off the edges along the top and bottom, following your score line.


To give your card a more professional look, use a corner rounder on the edges. Then I used my tape runner up the two sides and adhered.

Here are a few tips for making your own envelopes:
1. Need a different size? Carefully take apart an old envelope and trace on the backside of your paper.
2. You can also Google “free envelope template” (there are tons of them out there) and then print the template on the backside of your pattern paper. Or you can simply trace it on the backside and cut it out, saving the template for next time.
3. If your pattern paper isn’t double sided or has writing on the back, just add a piece of the pattern paper as an envelope liner to cover it. I found this easier to do before I adhered the sides. Just make sure you score through both pieces for a crisp top fold.
4. If you have a busy pattern, then print out your address on a label so it can be seen easily.

I hope you enjoyed the theme and maybe even challenged yourself to grab some old supplies, mix them with new and see what can result! Have a great weekend!

Something old, something new... Part Deux

Good afternoon, fellow crafters! We have another group of fabulous projects from the designers! Today, we continue with the Something old, something new theme! Below are great projects from Fiona Carter, Sherry Wright and Julia Sandvoss. Enjoy!




It's your day
Designer: Fiona Carter
Old: the old daisy maker which used to be Fiona's Nana's (She would sit with her as a little girl happily making daisies while she knitted or crocheted).
New: new felting gadget (She is so in love with this little green wonder) to felt the centre of the flowers and thus creating the fuzzy look of the flower loops.

Love you

Designer: Sherry Wright
Old: Lil' Davis bookplates
New: Crackle paint by Ranger

Supplies: Jenni Bowlin papers, alphabet stickers & bingo card, Making Memories book plates & small letter stickers, Fancy Pants flower and stick pin, vintage button, Ranger crackle paint (Linen)tag (office supply store) Clearsnap fluid chalk ink, Creative Crystal stones, Toile fabric, Zip dry adhesive by Beacon

Costume
Designer: Julia Sandvoss
Old: Ki Memories papers
New[er]: Ki Memories papers

Supplies: Ki Memories Collection III Hazard Bangles paper, Ki Memories Holiday Collection 2004 - Spooky Night Sky paper, Ki Memories Holiday Collection 2004 - Spooky Ice Tiles, Ki Memories Holiday I- 2006 - Haunted Essentials Stickers, Ki Memories Holiday I - 2006- Haunted Chip alpha, Ki Memories Holiday I - 2006- Haunted Skinny Stripe, Doodlebug Star button, Colorbox Chalk Inks, Bo Bunny Sander

That's it for today. Check back on Thursday for more projects! Craft on, crafters!

Something old, something new...you know the rest

Most of us think of weddings when we hear the little ditty "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue". However, this series of projects won't have much, if anything, to do with that kind of special day. This post kicks off a series of themed projects that the Pursuit of Craftyness designers have created. We did not discuss the theme [too much] in an effort to encourage our creativity and unique ideas. It's so cool to see how each of us interpreted this challenge.
How would interpret the challenge? We would love for you to participate, so please, jump in! If you decide you're up to the challenge, share a link to your work. Just post a comment & link in any of this week's posts so we can enjoy your creativity, too. Come on...don't be shy!


Miss You Card
Designer: Melanie Douthit

Old: Lil Davis Trinkets and Treasures (metal stickers and alphas)
New: Melissa Frances Patterned Papers
Borrowed: Page Maps July Card Sketch
Blue: Ribbon and buttons
Other Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics, Chipboard: Imaginesce, Alpha stickers: Making Memories, Buttons: Basic Grey, Chalk Ink: Clearsnap, Paint: Jacquard

Linda loves to poke around old thrift stores and found an old dictionary with vintage-y pages. She tore pages from the book to create the background & hand cut flowers. She also added some green glass tiny beads she has had for years. The buttons are from a package my mother in law gave me as is the old photo of someone we don't even know - thus a "borrowed" relative.

It's all about the Journey
Designer: Linda Beeson
Old - Vintage dictionary pages, Vintage Buttons, Green Glass beads and old sticker letters
New - Martha Stewart Border punch and Brushstroke Mod Podge
Borrowed - the Vintage photo
Blue - painted canvas with blue paint to start

This layout showcases our very own POC designer, Anabelle, when she was a young thang! :-)

Little Bro'
Designer: Anabelle O'Malley
Old: the photos
New: papers
Borrowed: ribbon (came on a gift package)
Blue: paper
Supplies: Papers-Jenni Bowlin, Making Memories, KI Memories; Felt, Flowers and Brads-Queen and Co.; Stickers-Making Memories, American Crafts; Flowers-Scarlet Lime; Chipboard Tag-KI Memories

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit all week for more incredible projects from other POC designers! Oh, and we also have a great tutorial to share, too! See you then!

Cuttlebug Quick and Easy Cards

Okay - so I've had my Cuttlebug for almost a full year and I have to admit, I haven't fully experimented with it like I should. Admit it - how many of you have the Cuttlebug but don't use it as often as you intended to? I hope after you read this post, you're inspired to get it out and play.

I recently bought some new folders for my Cuttlebug wanted to try them out. I decided to challenge myself to make some cards with limited supplies. Cuttlebug has some new combo sets out. They are a combination of embossing template along with a die cutting plate. I used the "With Gratitude" set for these cards. Believe me, they are quick and easy! And my supply list is very limited: cardstock only!







For added visual interest, I used colored cardstock with a white core, and a piece of sanding paper on the embossed images.

Supplies for all cards:
Cuttlebug Combo Set: With Gratitude
Cuttlebug Die Cut System
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics (2 sheets of white), 1 sheet of teal (Die Cuts with a View)
Sandpaper
Corner Rounder
Adhesive

To change things up a bit, I used a totally different embossing folder (Argyle) on one additional card and same die as used above.



I hope I've inspired you to dust off your Cuttlebug and make some cards. I had fun and am already imagining different color combinations to use on future sets.

Have a great Friday!!

When you hear the word "MASK", what comes to mind?

A costume?
Halloween?
Mardi Gras?
How about if we want to use this word in a crafting sense?

In a way it is the same idea as the others, we want to place a shape OVER an area that we want to "hide" or protect, so-to-speak, from our paint or ink. Webster's Dictionary gives one example: "a pattern of opaque material used to shield selected areas of a surface "

Linda here and I get to share my masking projects with you today.

It can be as simple as a Post It note placed over the area you want to shield but what I used on my projects is a decorative mask by Heidi Swapp. She has a number of really neat designs that are created for the purpose of being masks for a craftying project. I'm going to use this Damask shape because it is the perfect size for a card. These masks are made to "cling" to your project and then they can just be peeled off when you are done without the adhesive harming your paper and they are made of a vinyl kind of material that is non porous so the liquids you use don't go through to your paper.

There are several products that work great with these masks. I have gathered the products that I used. Spray Tsukineko's Walnut Ink, Clearsnap's Fluid Chalk stamp pads and a stamp.

I decided that I wanted the Damask design to "appear" to be going off of the edge of my card so I cut my paper to the size of card that I wanted and determined where the fold would be but I didn't fold it yet. That way I could place the mask on a flat piece of cardstock and it was in the position where, when my card is folded it will be on the edge. I also decided that a fun and interesting look would be to have my finished design go around to the back of the card, so I incorporated the whole design.

The mask is placed across the middle of the card and on the first card I used my Fluid Chalk stamp pads to "rub" a couple different shades of inks around the edges of the mask. I also stamped my "dictionary print" stamp over the mask while it was still in place and across the rest of the front of the card. So in this case, the mask served to keep the area under the mask to be free of the inks and stamping that I did. I took a fine line pen and did a quick and uneven outline inside the masked area after I removed the mask to help give my design more definition.
For this first card, I used a patterned paper by We R Memory Keepers. This particular paper is a 12" x 12" piece with four designs on the piece. You can see that the pattern changes on the back of the card. Just something that adds even more interest to the back of the card. For my second card, I used a solid piece of textured cardstock. This piece happens to have one edge that has a scallop cut to it. The only product I used to add color over the mask is the spray Walnut ink in the Java color which is basically black. All you have to do with this spray is give a couple quick spurts until you have the amount of color you want. DO PROTECT YOUR WORK AREA though! This stuff will go everywhere! Again, after I removed the mask, you can see that some of the spray ink seeped under the mask, so I took a fine line pen to help give a little more definition to my design and I also decided that an "imperfect" image was just fine because that is what I think "art" is about.
And added note for the chipboard word "love", I stamped over the word, rubbed the edges a little bit with a stamp pad and coated it with Aleene's Paper Glaze. OK, are you ready for the ADDED bonus???? When I sprayed the Walnut Ink on the mask for my last card, there was alot of ink that "sat" on top of the mask. I sure didn't think I should waste that, so I grabbed a piece of watercolor paper from a little spiral bound book that I have. I blotted all of that ink that was on top of my mask with this paper and I now I had an additional design and of course, had to create a card from it! ALWAYS card - Materials: Patterned paper – We R Memory Keepers
Heidi Swapp Damask mask
Epoxy word – Creative Impressions
Eucalyptus Walnut Ink spray
Fluid Chalk stamp pads – Clearsnap
Rhinestones in a circle – Heidi Swapp
Dictionary stamp – Stampers Anonymous
Scor-Pal for the embossed lines

BLUE/BLACK DAMASK card - Materials: Solid cardstock – Core’dinations
Heidi Swapp mask
Chipboard letters – Rusty Pickle
Java Spray Walnut Ink
Writing stamp – Crafty Secrets
Flower – Making Memories
Rhinestone – Darice
Pen – American Crafts
Clear Paper Glaze – Aleene’s®/Tulip

SECRET-CONFIDENTIAL card - Materials: Solid cardstock
Heidi Swapp mask
Chipboard letter – Thickers/American Crafts
Java Spray Walnut Ink
Various stamps – Art Declassified
Glitter Fabric Dimensional paint – Tulip
Sticker labels – Scenic Route
Rub-on words – Making Memories
Machine sewing

So glad you visited The Pursuit Of CraftYness today, Thanks, Linda

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to Me Happy Birthday to Me Happy Birthday to Me! Insert...big large sigh! Why you ask? Well yes...today is my birthday but it's honestly not one I am thrilled about. You see next year is that HUGE birthday number. You know the one that looms in the distance but somehow it's no longer out there. It's right there! So this year's birthday has me a bit down.

So what's a girl to do when they're down? Well as Linda Beeson suggested I do..toast myself with a favorite drink and that can be none other than...a margarita!

To me..the perfect gift to give myself or a friend! Yummy, fruity Margarita's!!!



While browsing in one of my favorite stores, Home Trends, I came across this adorable Margarita set. The bright colors of the mix and the rimming sugars caught my eye. But the packaging was not cute at all! So my idea...dress up the mix and make a cute card to give as a gift. Because who would not like to receive this?

Supplies: Drink Mix, Creative Imaginations paper, Cricut Doodlecharms cartridge, Doodlebug Cardstock, Vellum, Bo Bunny ribbons and Colorbox Chalk Ink in Lime Pastel and Tangerine.

For the drink mix I cut a piece of white cardstock to cover the drink label. I added the fun print paper to the white cardstock after inking the edges. I adhered that to the bottles. I used the watermelon diecut image and cut out the limes on my Cricut. After tying the bow around the bottle I adhered the little lime wedge.

For the card I cut an A2 size paper from white cardstock. Added the print paper. I hand drew a glass onto the vellum. Then I cut a smaller size from the orange cardstock to adhere under the vellum to look like the drink portion. I printed out the greeting in Microsoft Word and cute out a tag. The little lime on the tag is cut out from the print paper.

Last but not least...one more diecut lime wedge for inside the card to finish it off! Showing a store bought gift can be easily personalized into a very fun and thoughtful gift! In fact so fun...this birthday girl just might keep it for herself! Care to join me for a drink?!

Happy Birthday to all the July 26 Leo's! May the sun shine brightly on you!

------------

Julia