Practical Scrapper's Scrap Your Stash Blog Hop: April Edition

It's time for a hop!  Better yet, a Scrap Your Stash Hop with the gals from Practical Scrappers!  To start at the very beginning.....you need to go back to the Practical Scrappers Blog.  If you are already hopping, you should have come from Cheryl's Blog, and you will head to Christine's Blog, when you are done here!

I am loving these hops....why....because I am a pretty paper and embellishment hoarder....I often fall in absolute LOVE with a collection....then sit and look at it....afraid to use it!  You too??  Or am I alone in this?!!  My project today uses some Farmhouse Paper Co. goodies:

I love those paper clip numbers....and another hoard item?  The cork pieces from Studio Calico and the cork alpha from AC Thickers.  All these goodies are seeing some project love! 

Here's a closer peek:

This is a close up of page two...you can tell I'm really into tags, banners and twine this is Trendy Twine Stormy) right now!

Thanks for hopping along today!  Remember....it's ok to cut into that pretty paper and USE those embellishments!  The result may be some of your favorite pages or projects!  I've got a little treat for one of the peeps who leave me a comment....I'll send some fun goodies your way....and remember whoever wins.....NO HOARDING ALLOWED!!! 

And now your next stop is Christine's Blog.....she will be rockin' the stash and her project I know!!

And now just in case you stumbled upon this post or your lost.....here is the hop line up:

Practical Scrappers http:practicalscrappers.blogspot.com
Jennifer Haggerty http://livethemoment-jen.blogspot.com
Audrey Yeager http://audreysreflection.blogspot.com/
Lee-Anne Thornton http://lee-annelovethejourney.blogspot.com 

Suzanna Lee http://lifestrivialities.typepad.com/
Monica Bradford http://scrapinspired.com
Brenda Ragsdale:  http://granddivasscrappyplace.blogspot.com/
Ashley N Newell http://hearthugsdesigns.blogspot.com
Nicole Laha http://www.shezigzags.blogspot.com
Susie Bentz  http://mytime2play.blogspot.com/
Wendy Coffman: www.stampingrules.com
Erin Morehouse: http://girlpaperscissors.blogspot.com

Bobbi Smith: http://vintagemusedesigns.blogspot.com/
Melissa Elsner http://theprofoundbrunette.com
Wendi Robinson: http://scrappydayinparadise.blogspot.com/
Kelly Jean: http://kelsterjean.blogspot.com/

Lisa Peeples: http://www.snappinandscrappin.blogspot.com/
Alison Day: http://alisondaydesigns.com/
Majken Pullin:  http://chocoscrapaholic.blogspot.com/
Krissy Clark: http://krissyclarkmckee.blogspot.com
Cheryl Wegener Freet http://patchesandscraps.blogspot.com
Laura Cox:  http://scrapaddict4life.blogspot.com/
Christine Meyer: http://scrappingwithchristine.blogspot.com
Kerri Yarus: http://kerrikr8tions.blogspot.com

Have a great weekend!!!  Remember to create something wonderful! 

It's Faux Rusted Metal....No April Fools!

It's April Fools Faux Technique month over at Chicagoland Scrapbooker Magazine!!  And I chose to do a faux rusted metal technique I'd been wanting to try!  I've seen several tutorials on how to make a rusted metal look and I really love this simple version....I will say I don't recall WHERE I saw it....so I apologize in advance to the creative person who came up with it.  Maybe Tim Holtz for all I know!....lol.

Using 2 of Tim's lovely products....Vintage Photo Distress Stain, and Vintage Photo Embossing Powder, you can create what looks like a faux rusted metal.

I started with this wooden box you can find at most craft stores:

You start by painting your project with the stain....it does stay wet for a minute or so, but still best to work quickly, so I did a section at a time and the finished "rusty metal" looked like this:
 

Applying to one side of handle, one side of box, then same on the other side....it worked very well for me when I did this.

This project felt steampunk to me....so I went with that and created this:
 

I am absolutely in love with it....it will be holding some of my specialty pens/markers in my craft room.

Supplies I used to finish it:
Shattered Cardstock from Core'dinations is the blue/green base.  I sanded and distressed the edges, and inked with Vintage Photo Ink.
Graphic 45 paper (the Thesauri piece)...inked and distressed also.
Tim Holtz corners (bronze) gears (bronze) flower (bronze) and ticket....distressed....also used water to create drips.
Recollections bronze metal dots
Unique Laser Designs wooden feather....this was covered with bronze distress stain, then inked with Vintage Photo ink--and I brushed the edges with Gold Adirondack Paint Dauber.

Here's a little close up too to show off the details in that gorgeous feather:

 
Being my first project using the Unique Laser Designs wood product....I thought I'd link this up to their monthly project contest.  Would you like to play along too?  You can find it HERE.

Thanks for stopping by....do you have a technique you've been waiting to try?  Give it a go....you may love the result!!

By the Sea, By the Sea....

By the Beautiful Sea....you and me....ahhhh.....longing for the beach....only a couple of months and we'll be there!  But for now....I'm enjoying my mini vacay using the By the Sea collection from Graphic 45:

This wall hanging will be a reminder of good things to come and sweet beach memories.

I created it using Graphic 45 By the Sea papers, alpha sticker sheet, G45 adhesive
metal studs, G45 tags, Tim Holtz book plates, and jute by Darice.  the border on the
center piece is from a Martha Steward punch.  Everything is inked using Vintage
Photo Distress Ink, and the anchor has been hit with a layer of glossy accents.

Bottom Close Up:

Top Close Up:

Thanks for stoppin' by today.....remember to take the time to craft some wonderful everyday!

Dance in the Rain!

When life sends you storms and showers....what do you do?  Well, pull out your cute boots and go splash in some puddles, of course!

Bright, cheerful Springtime is here!  The Spring in the Air Kit of the Month from The Rubber Cafe' has so much Springtime goodness from Doodlebug, Queen & Co.....and cute, cute, CUTE new stamps!

Sharing a card made with the kit here today:

I had never used one of the garlands before....gotta say I'm liking it!  Thanks Doodlebug!

Here's a close up of the image panel and the garland with Queen & Co Bubbles in the center:

For a list of details and products used...find them on The Rubber Cafe' blog HERE.

Thanks for stoppin' by today!  Have a creative day!

Don't Worry.....Be Hoppy!

Yes, it's FINALLY SPRING!!!  The Robins are bobbing around, it's raining instead of snowing....I'll take that any day and twice on Sunday!

And it's time for a little Springtime crafting too.....at least this lil' funny bunny seems to think so:

She's made from a little cardboard alterable available at Hannah's Home Accents in Antioch, IL.  It's meant to be a Christmas Countdown calendar, but I took one look at it and saw this cute lil' bunny peeking back at me!  I drew out some patterns for feet and ears, and she just appeared!  Isn't she sweet?  And the little drawers in the middle open to hold some Easter/Springtime treats....hmmm....maybe some yummo jellybeans--now that's SWEET!

Thanks for stoppin' by today!  Welcome Spring!!

Supplies Used:
Paper: Doodlebug Designs Springtime collection; American Crafts Cardstock
Embellishments: Doodlebug Designs: Springtime Collection mini icons-Blossoms, Want2Scrap pearls, Darice twine, Darice pompoms, Darice google eyes, Trendy Twine Totally White, ribbon and button from stash.

Challenge Time: Tags and Bags!

There is a great challenge over at Scrap It Girl this month!  It's all about Tags and Bags!

These 2 sweet little tags are made from Teresa Collin's Daily Stories collection....and using her new embossing folder from the Craftwell eBosser.

Want to play too?  Link up your tags or bags over at Scrap It Girl.  You can find the post HERE.

Thanks for stoppin' today!