New Product in Etsy Store

Hi All!
Just popping in to let you know I've loaded up my Esty store with some new product. I hope to be adding much more in the coming weeks. Please take a look!

If there's an occasion you'd like to have something made for especially, please let me know. I'd love to support you!

Holly

OCC: Frame It Up!

Hi papercrafting pals!

I hope your Saturday weather is starting out better than ours today. In the Puget Sound area of Washington, its raining but warm the perfect combination for a bad hair day. Guess that's my cue to stay inside and do some papercrafting!

This week Susan is our host and is throwing down a fun challenge - Frames!

At first I didn't think this would be too hard but as I started sorting through my ideas, I realized it would be more of a challenge than it seemed. There were so many options to consider and so many different ways to create a frame. In the end, I settled on a sweet little box with two layered chipboard frames as the focal point for the top. 

I've made this box a few times and one of these days I'll actually take photos of the steps along the way but the process I used to make this box is roughly based on this video from Tresa Black. A few of Tresa's videos on YouTube were ultimately how I began this life in papercrafting.

I stamped the box base with a Martha Stewart flower clear stamp set called "Camilla" using Versa Magic Dew Drop ink in Pretty Petunia.

For the top, I used Adirondack Metallics paint in Pearl with the same stamp set. They've made it really easy to stamp with paint by adding a dauber at the top of the paint bottle. You just dab the stamp evenly with paint, stamp and then clean right away with water. The result is this beautifully subtle silvery impression. You can see it here on the top. I stamped the "Live Your Bliss" first with a dye ink, let it dry and then stamped the flowers over the top.

A little paper flower and some tulle shoved in between the two frame layers and there you go!

So take a stab at it this week and create a project with the frame as the focal point. I think you'll enjoy the process as much as the result. Take a look at what the other OCC designers have come up with:

Linda Coughlin The Funkie Junkie

Vicki Burdick It's a Stamp Thing

Sue Butler Scrumplescrunch

Anita Houston The Artful Maven Haven

Anne Marie Hile Stampin' Anne

Wendy Janson It's All About Stamping

Marcy Kaminski En Papillote Arts

Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) Love, Life and Crafts

Meihsia Liu Simply Paper Crafts

Tui Nathan Stampin Time

Lori Rider The Diva Stamper

Kristin Tierney Lilly Beth Boutique

Sharon Wheet Designs by Sharon 

I cant' wait to see what you come up with!

Holly

OCC: Not Too Shabby

Hi Friends! It's another great Saturday in the Pacific Northwest. 

This week at Our Creative Corner, Sue Butler is inviting us to do something "a little shabby chic". In Sue's words, "The Challenge requires you to pull elements together, the more old/worn and distressed the elements/images the better,  muted colors, layers and roses, burlap and pearls. You do not have to use all of these elements. The effect you are aiming for is a soft warm palette."

For my card, I chose to stick with a pink color palette. I love how a single color can tie a whole card together. 

 One of the focal points of this card is the worn pleat behind the bow. To achieve this, I trimmed a 12" x 2" piece, pleated it with my fingers, and then sprayed it with a bit of water. After I let it dry, I ran a stitch down the center to keep it all together. The result is a somewhat worn soft ruffle. 

The other element I really like about this is the tulle ribbon I used behind the seam tape bow. It adds another soft element to the card - one of the shabby elements I really like to use.

Why don't you join us this week in our Shabby Chic challenge? If you've never considered yourself a shabby or vintage designer, this is your chance to try something new with your papercrafting.  

For some inspiration, check out what our other designers have worked up this week:

Linda Coughlin The Funkie Junkie

Vicki Burdick It's a Stamp Thing

Sue Butler Scrumplescrunch

Anita Houston The Artful Maven Haven

Anne Marie Hile Stampin' Anne

Wendy Janson It's All About Stamping

Marcy Kaminski En Papillote Arts

Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) Love, Life and Crafts

Meihsia Liu Simply Paper Crafts

Tui Nathan Stampin Time

Lori Rider The Diva Stamper

Kristin Tierney Lilly Beth Boutique

Sharon Wheet Designs by Sharon 

I hope you stretch yourself a bit and join us for this challenge. You might be surprised what you come up with.

Holly

OCC: Photo Challenge

Hi Friends!

Happy Saturday to you. Its been a busy week but I couldn't be more happy about the impending summer. Me and my son are in full birthday party planning mode for his 5th birthday party and its pretty fun. We're going to break out a bubble theme which I think (and hope) will be just as fun for the adults as it is for the kids.

This week, we're celebrating color with a fun inspirational photo from Meihsia Liu. With this challenge, we're working orange with touches of blue, white and brown.

I must be on a roll with using up scraps. This time I ended up digging into my larger size scraps and I'm just in love with the random collage-y feel of it. I think I'd like to create a few card sets in some different colors with this sketch.

So join us this week by using the photo as inspiration. And while you're getting some ideas together, see what the other designers on the Our Creative Corner team have put together.

Linda Coughlin The Funkie Junkie
Vicki Burdick It's a Stamp Thing
Sue Butler Scrumplescrunch
Anita Houston The Artful Maven Haven
Anne Marie Hile Stampin' Anne
Wendy Janson It's All About Stamping
Marcy Kaminski En Papillote Arts
Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) Love, Life and Crafts
Meihsia Liu Simply Paper Crafts
Tui Nathan Stampin Time
Lori Rider The Diva Stamper
Kristin Tierney Lilly Beth Boutique
Sharon Wheet Designs by Sharon

 

Hope you have a great week! I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Holly

OCC: Color Challenge

Can you believe it's May already? I'm enjoying the sun (in between the raindrops here in Washington).

I can't think of a better way to welcome the sun than with this color challenge Anne Marie has prepared for us this week- Yellow, Kraft and White. A simple, beautiful, contemporary combination. 

I fell back on a sketch I enjoy. Not only is it a good layout, it's a perfect way to use up those little bits of left over designer paper that you just can't stand to part with.

I didn't have any printed Kraft paper so I pulled out my white ink and grabbed a few stamps to create my own. (I got to use a new set from Close to My Heart which I just love.)

Feeling inspired? Take a spin at this week's color challenge at Our Creative Corner. Take a look at what our other designers have created this week.

Linda Coughlin The Funkie Junkie
Vicki Burdick It's a Stamp Thing
Sue Butler Scrumplescrunch
Anita Houston The Artful Maven Haven
Anne Marie Hile Stampin' Anne
Wendy Janson It's All About Stamping
Marcy Kaminski En Papillote Arts
Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) Love, Life and Crafts
Meihsia Liu Simply Paper Crafts
Tui Nathan Stampin Time
Lori Rider The Diva Stamper
Kristin Tierney Lilly Beth Boutique
Sharon Wheet Designs by Sharon 

I hope to see you're projects!

Holly

OCC: Butterflies

Happy Saturday!


I trust you had a good week and are ready to enjoy a fun or relaxing or happily busy weekend. I know I am!


This week on Our Creative Corner, we're all about butterflies. Our host Irena "Rudlis" Kowalczyk, of Love Life and Crafts is challenging us all to use this butterfly image in a card, tag or other paper project.

Have you ever visited a butterfly garden? I've been in a few but my favorite one was at the Seattle Science Center. When you stand inside, its amazing to see them up close, see their detail, vivid color and subtle strength. Butterflies are just so colorful and ethereal - light, airy and delicate. They make me feel free and worry-free.

And this is my contribution to the challenge this week with that color inspiration in mind:

I am just in love with this embossing technique (can ya tell?) and in combination with PTI's butterfly dies, I just love this tag. This works best with Tim Holtz Distress Ink and this time, I used Fired Brick, Scattered Straw and Wild Honey. The papers I used came from one of my favorites - My Mind's Eye. And this small paper pad is one of my absolute favorites the Lost and Found 2 Rosy. As you can see, I added a little bit of tulle ribbon for a fun wispy type addition. 


To learn more about the embossing technique I used here, there's no one better than Jennifer McGuire. She's a great teacher so watch this YouTube video to get all the steps.


So fly away with us and make a butterfly-inspired paper craft. To get your creative juices flowing, see what the other OCC designers have put together:

Linda Coughlin The Funkie Junkie
Vicki Burdick It's a Stamp Thing
Sue Butler Scrumplescrunch
Anita Houston The Artful Maven Haven
Anne Marie Hile Stampin' Anne
Wendy Janson It's All About Stamping
Marcy Kaminski En Papillote Arts
Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) Love, Life and Crafts
Meihsia Liu Simply Paper Crafts
Tui Nathan Stampin Time
Lori Rider The Diva Stamper
Kristin Tierney Lilly Beth Boutique
Sharon Wheet Designs by Sharon 

I can't wait to see your contributions!
Holly

OCC: Masculine Card

Hi paper friends!


The sun is out in the Pacific Northwest and everyone around here is rejoicing. And that it is sunny on a weekend to boot is making it even sweeter.


This week on Our Creative Corner we're creating paper projects in honor of the men in our lives and their hobbies. I chose to make a card for Father's Day for my grandfather (here's to hoping he doesn't see this blog post). I know its a little early for Father's Day but being there's never any harm in being early, huh? He's a big traveler so I chose to use that interest in his life as the basis for my card.

First I took a piece of striped paper from a Lost and Found paper pad. I stamped a series of Martha Stewart travel stamp set. I love stamping on patterned paper but sometimes it can be hard to "take the plunge". The most challenging part, I think is knowing which ink color to chose for the desired effect. Typically what I do is take a small scrap and try a few different colors.

I used a few Papertrey Ink dies to cut the plaid and sentiment pieces and then layered them on top of one another. A colored eyelet and some twine and it's attached. 

Then I stamped the little Eiffel Tower, heat embossed it and then cut it out with some scissors. 

I added a little stamp on the inside just to bring some of the front to the inside.

So join us this week at Our Creative Corner. Think about the men in your life and create a card that incorporates their interests. Take a look at what the other OCC designers put together for a special man in their life.

Linda Coughlin The Funkie Junkie
Vicki Burdick It's a Stamp Thing
Sue Butler Scrumplescrunch
Anita Houston The Artful Maven Haven
Anne Marie Hile Stampin' Anne
Wendy Janson It's All About Stamping
Marcy Kaminski En Papillote Arts
Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) Love, Life and Crafts
Meihsia Liu Simply Paper Crafts
Tui Nathan Stampin Time
Lori Rider The Diva Stamper
Kristin Tierney Lilly Beth Boutique
Sharon Wheet Designs by Sharon 

Have a great week!

Holly