"We Three Trees Wish You a Merry Christmas" for Festive Friday Number Sixteen

Welcome to the sixteenth installment of Terri Sproul's 2012 Festive Friday Bloghop. August is almost through and now it's the home stretch until Christmas. Are you making your Christmas cards yet??? You should have arrived here from Maria's Page. To get back to the beginning of the bloghop CLICK HERE.

I gathered up a vintage holiday image and some coordinating traditional holiday colored paper scraps to create this card. It really has some bling with fancy gold paper matte and shimmery snowflake embellishments. The pleat folded green stripe is leftover from my Festive Friday #15 card...no scrap goes to waste!!! I will have to practice twisting these into pinecone shapes - but I can see myself using this die...A LOT!

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Thanks for visiting!!!

The next stop on the Festive Friday Bloghop

is Angela at Midnight Crafting - CLICK HERE.

Have a fantastic Friday...and a wonderful day! Hopefully you have a three day weekend of crafting planned for the Labor Day Holiday...Yippee!!!

: ) Sb

What's Going on in My Neck of the Winds...

The sun has finally returned!!! It has been a hectic week with the effects of Tropical Storm Issac hanging over South Florida last weekend through Tuesday....what a windy RAINMAKER! My heart goes out to those in the gulf coast region and New Orleans as they now deal with this mess of a hurricane. I celebrated my last birthday in New Orleans with my husband and best friend - it was a wonderful and eclectic place to visit - full of creative and flavorful inspiration. Having been there, it is heartbreaking to see the floodwaters rise again.

That being said, I do have a few projects to share...

For Saturday's Unscripted Sketches debut of Sketch #173, I made this card with Santa peeking through the window. I really love how the lacy trim mimicks a snow-capped window.

On Sunday, I had one project planned which evolved into four projects that day. I learned that my creative muse goes topsy-turvy when the weather flares up. My latest art journal page created using goodies from Altered Pages was the one project that saw the light of day when the storm had passed. I really love this "Mirror...Mirror" journal page and it's spooky limerick.

On Tuesday, I shared another "AMAZING" project HOW-TO at the Amazing Mold Putty Blog. It's time the kids go back-to-school and Halloween is just around the corner, so I created this SpOoky Cute "EEK" hanging wall decor. I saw one of these at the store among the holiday decorations and it was pretty cute, but NOT worth the hefty price tag {$12.99}. This was the perfect opportunity to make it myself with Amazing Mold Putty and Amazing Casting Resin and things I already have around the house. Please CLICK HERE to see the how-to. ALSO - a Design Team call opened up for this week for AMP...I hope you will be applying!!!

Finally, an ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

Great News! The ABAC Challenge Blog will kick-off this weekend on September 2nd. I am part of the design team for this brand spanking new challenge blog...

The ABAC Challenge Blog is a biweekly challenge for crafters of all kinds to create something other than a card! You can do ATC's, tags, sewing, scrapbook layouts, felting, painting, sculpture, altered items, textiles, the list is endless! The only thing NOT allowed is a card! Everyone is invited to link-up and play along - I hope to see you there!!!

Thanks for dropping by. I hope you have a fabulous day - tommorrow is Festive Friday and one day closer to the three-day holiday weekend!!! Sb : )

Save the Date...or Seven Perhaps!

The Viva Las VegaStamps! Design Team is putting on a party the last week of September and EVERYONE is invited!!! 

It's a serious party, too!!! We've got a full week of HALLOWEEN inspiration, blogs, prizes, contests and, OF COURSE...I'll be a stop on the SPOOKY HOP! 

For one week, each day, you'll hop through the blogs and feast yours eyes on some stamped candy. You're also invited to share your own VLVS! Halloween projects. Grab your favorite stamps and get inky. Don't have Halloween stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps! yet? Better get 'em quick! Because we're having PRIZES, too! Seven days = Seven prizes. Each day will feature a different way to be entered to win a prize, and easy enough a couple of them will be comments, but rest assured some will be project based!

Mark your calendars to check in each day Sept. 23rd through Sept. 29th to get your daily dose of BOO! See you then : ) Sb

Viva Las Vegastamps!

P.S. JUST ANNOUNCED!!! Viva Las Vegastamps! has a Design Team Call!!! This is your chance to try out...deadline is September 15! C'mon...I know you want to AND I know you can - it's open to everyone. CLICK HERE for INFO.

Do You Make EVERYTHING But Cards??? Fun New Challenge Blog begins Sept. 2nd!!!

Great News! Beginning on September 2nd - I will be part of the design team for a brand spanking new challenge blog...

WHAT IS ABAC???

The ABAC Challenge Blog is designed to provide a biweekly challenge for crafters of all kind to create something other than a card! You can do ATC's, tags, sewing, scrapbook layouts, felting, painting, sculpture, altered items, textiles, the list is endless! The only thing NOT allowed is a card! There are no prizes, but we will feature Three Inspirational Projects from among the challenge entries after the challenge ends. No vendor restrictions. You may combine with any other challenges. No limits to the number of entries for each challenge.

Everyone at the ABAC Challenge Blog are gearing up for our kick-off on September 2nd! We are busy creating and need your help! 

Please help us spread the word about this fantastic new challenge blog!If you help spread the word, we are offering some blog candy, and it's easy to enter! CLICK HERE for the details.

I hope to see you there and join in the creative fun! Sb

"He Knows When You are Crafting..." another Christmas Card using Unscripted Sketches #173

Happy Saturday!!! It's Sketch-It Saturday with Unscripted Sketches and this means a new sketch... Sketch #173.

Today's Unscripted Sketches Sketch #173 is perfect for my Christmas Cards all year challenge. Are you still keeping track??? I'm also playing along with the "Sketch It" challenge from Shopping Our Stash Challenge #65. So for this card I have Santa peeking through the window.

This card is super simple only using paper, a small piece of embroidered trim, and lots of Miracle Tape and will fit in a standard #10 envelope. All of the papers are My Mind's Eye and this Santa is my absolute favorite. I made a card base out of MME holiday plaid patterned paper which has a nice creme pattern on the other side. I edged all of the pieces with "Lipstick Red" Cat's Eye chalk ink and adhered together with Miracle Tape. The icing on the cake is use of embroidered edging for a "snow capped" window. The words on the paper really accent the "man in red" peeking out at us!

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun...and post your creation on their page for all the world to see!

Have a crafty day! Since there's a tropical storm arriving tomorrow I will be altering something fun and fabulous. There's still time to play along with the Altering Wooden Spoons bloghop...CLICK HERE to view.

: ) Sb 

"Celebrate" in Pretty Pink and Mint Chocolate Chip with Unscripted Sketches #172

It's been such a busy week and I can't believe it's Friday already. I wanted to share this week's Sketch-It Saturday with Unscripted Sketches! This particular card was a bit of a challenge because this week there was also a piggyback challenge to use these colors with Sketch #172.

I think my card tackles the sketch and the color challenge, too.

This lovely "Celebrate" card uses pretty pink and mint chocolate chip colors using  Unscripted Sketches #172. I'm also playing along with the "Sketch It" challenge from Shopping Our Stash Challenge #65.

The base two-tone green diamond paper and the pink patterned diamond paper is Anna Griffin. These papers complemented perfectly with the K and Company "Peppermint Twist" chipboard ornament and peppermint swirls. I brought in the chocolate color with a scrap of hand painted brown paper bag for the matte and also a stripe on the pink American Crafts ribbon. Finished off with a small creme bow to top off my ornament and all mounted on a creme cardstock card base.

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun...and post your creation on their page for all the world to see!

Thanks for dropping by! Join me tomorrow for a new Sketch-it Saturday sketch and Sunday I will be altering something fun and fabulous. There's still time to play along with the Altering Wooden Spoons bloghop...CLICK HERE to view.

: ) Sb 

It's Back-to-School! Altered Mini Notebook...Day One of a Stamping Challenge...

To check out the FANTASTIC Altered Spoons from my

5th Blogiversary Celebration - CLICK HERE!!!

Happy Monday! School starts today here in South Florida so I thought I would make something using school supplies...one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Who can't resist a new set of pens, notebooks and HIGHLIGHTERS??? I certainly can't - and I actually have two new set's of highlighters {because this particular set didn't have purple}. But with this fun technique I used...they certainly won't be going to waste.

With my new supplies, I feel like a schoolgirl again and I'm off to learning and trying some new things. I am challenging myself to use my stamps to create something everyday for the next 11 days...maybe more. I need to do some creative exercising in order to get geared up for a seven day bloghop next month in which I need to create a new project each day {hint...hint...it's HALLOWEEN theme}.

Here's today's stamped creation... for Day #1.

I gathered my new plate of Viva Las Vegastamps! #1268, highlighter pens, a mini composition journal, and some other goodies...and I'm off to create! Please CLICK HERE to see how to at Viva Las Vegastamps! Blog where I take this mini composition book from drab...to FAB!!!

Hope you have a fanstastic day! Sb

Happy FIVE Year Blogiversary sbartist!!! Welcome to an Altered Spoon Celebration...

WOW! I can't believe it's been 5 years since...

"This is my very first post! Wide awake again at 4:23 am and have been since half past midnight, I am playing with my iPhone catching up on my group digest messages. It dawned on me that I signed up for this a while back so I'm giving it a shot. Everyone seems to have one - so why not me? I should be sleeping right now - I have been making fairies for days for a swap and now they have been set free to the swap hostess. Maybe when I am wide awake tomorrow lurking in the dark with my headlight - I might get divine inspiration for this..." 

WELCOME!!! Thanks for joining me celebrating along with some of my super creative friends with my five year blogiversary... altering wooden spoons. Please click the squares below to jump to all the stops on the hop. Special thanks to these awesome ladies for partipating - please be sure to leave everyone some blog love {comments}...we love hearing from all of you!

Here is what I'm creating with one of my wooden spoons...check back throughout the weekend to see this completed and linked up players creations at the bottom of post. Please play along - I have a fabulous blog candy prize to be won!

Presenting the artistes de spoon...

I would like to invite you to play along, too!

Have you heard??? There's an Altered Spoon Bloghop Tomorrow!

You are invited to join myself along with several super creative friends in celbrating my five year blogiversary - altering wooden spoons. Please click the squares below to jump to all the stops on the hop. Drop by tomorrow at 4:23AM EST to join in the fun!

Presenting the artistes de spoon...

I would like to invite you to play along, too!

You are invited to play along, too. You will be able to add your creations via the inlinkz froggie. Grab a wooden spoon and your paints, fibers and ephemera and create... anything goes! Voting will begin on August 25th at midnight and end at 11:59pm August 31st. The spoon with the most votes wins some blog candy!!! GOOD LUCK!

It's Been a Creative Week...Here's a Recap!

Saturday is the Big Day!!!

Saturday is my very first bloghop in celebration of my five year blogiversary. Please join myself and these awesome artists: DeeDee Catron of "Um Wow Studio", Roni Johnson from "Ink Stains", Martha DeGroat Richardson of "The Mermaid's Closet", Barbara Rankin of "Black Hole Art Studio", Leslie-Rayhe Strickland from "leslierahye.", and Becky Voth of "Teeny Scraps of Us" as we play with wooden spoons.

I would like to invite you to play along, too. 

Please upcycle a wooden spoon of your own and alter it as you like. You can add your creations to my page via inlinkz on the day of the bloghop and one lucky player will win some blog candy! So get our your paints, fibers and ephemera - I can't wait to see what you create...anything goes! If you need a spoon they have fabulous four packs of wooden spoons at the Dollar Tree for $1. 

Now for the recap of the weeks creations...I've done a little bit of this and that.

Last Wednesday - remember my my Frozen Charlotte Fairy? Are you curious as to how I made her??? She was the feature of my Fairy Shadow Box for Leslie Rahye's Fairland Bloghop. Please CLICK HERE to see the how-to at the Amazing Mold Putty Blog.

Last Thursday I have my weekly Unscripted Sketches project for Sketch-It Saturday debut of Sketch #171. I really worked out of my comfort zone with this card - and I love it!

Sunday, I got to work in my art journal and I created another page using this fun unicyle woman from a digital collage sheet I bought at AlteredPages.com. I created this marquis background by cutting up a painted vintage book page in diamond shapes and adhering them over another patterned paper background. I really love this quote, too! I have been waiting to use this for some time and this is the perfect home for it! CLICK HERE to see project.

Also on Sunday I had a featured post over at Viva Las Vegastamps! and I shared this stamped mosaic Daisy beauty. To view project CLICK HERE.

Finally...Yesterday, I've been doing some GREENCRAFTING! I love artfully upcylcing everyday items that would be destined for the bin. I've made a CHIC artistic bangle out of a recycled cardboard tape spool and a "Good Fortune" from a fortune cookie.

This is my bangle painted with a base layer of garnet shimmery mica goodness - it's pretty like this...but I added more! Please CLICK HERE to hop on over and see the complete how-to over at the Sakura Hobby Craft Blog.

Thanks for dropping by today - I hope you have a wonderful day. I'm off to work on my spoons...See you on Saturday! Sb  : )

Stylish Altered Bangle using an UPCYCLED Tape Spool and Sakura Hobby Crafts

Happy Wednesday! I've been GREENCRAFTING again!!! What do you do with a leftover cardboard tape spool and a "Good Fortune" from a fortune cookie??? 

I've made a CHIC artistic bangle out of a recycled cardboard tape spool that I have painted with Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers and collaged with stamped paper misted with my Mixers Mist. The feature of my bangle is a fortune that I saved from a fortune cookie. CLICK HERE to hop on over and see the complete how-to over at the Sakura Hobby Craft Blog!

**SAVE THE DATE**

Don't forget to drop by Saturday for the big event! Please join myself and these awesome artists: DeeDee Catron of "Um Wow Studio", Roni Johnson from "Ink Stains", Martha DeGroat Richardson of "The Mermaid's Closet", Barbara Rankin of "Black Hole Art Studio", Leslie-Rayhe Strickland from "leslierahye.", and Becky Voth of "Teeny Scraps of Us" as we play with wooden spoons.

I would like to invite you to play along, too. 

Please upcycle a wooden spoon of your own and alter it as you like. You can add your creations to my page via inlinkz on the day of the bloghop and one lucky player will win some blog candy! So get our your paints, fibers and ephemera - I can't wait to see what you create...anything goes! If you need a spoon they have fabulous four packs of wooden spoons at the Dollar Tree for $1. 

See you there! Sb  : )

SPOON ART - THIS SATURDAY...Aug. 18, 2012! All Altered Wooden Spoons Invited to Play!

To celebrate five years since I started my adventure in webland - this Saturday, August 18th I have invited some super creative individuals to alter wooden spoons for my very first bloghop...and I'm so excited!

Please join myself and these awesome artists: DeeDee Catron of "Um Wow Studio", Roni Johnson from "Ink Stains", Martha DeGroat Richardson of "The Mermaid's Closet", Barbara Rankin of "Black Hole Art Studio", Leslie-Rayhe Strickland from "leslierahye.", and Becky Voth of "Teeny Scraps of Us" as we play with wooden spoons.

I would like to invite you to play along, too. 

Please upcycle a wooden spoon of your own and alter it as you like. You can add your creations to my page via inlinkz on the day of the bloghop and one lucky player will win some blog candy! So get our your paints, fibers and ephemera - I can't wait to see what you create...anything goes!

If you need a spoon they have fabulous four packs of wooden spoons at the Dollar Tree for $1. See you there! Sb  : )

A Wonderland of Winter Whites and another Christmas Card, too!

Welcome to Sketch-It Saturday with Unscripted Sketches! August brings the hottest "dogs days of summer" here in South Florida...and I am still making Christmas Cards.

Today's Christmas Card in Winter Whites uses Unscripted Sketches #171 and an extra "Monochromatic" challenge from Shopping Our Stash Challenge #63. The base paper and die cuts are various My Minds Eye holiday papers. The doily at the base is misted using my DIY mica powder mists in gold and blues to complement the icy blue color of the snowflakes. The elements are layered on a piece of vintage lace and this beautiful card is finished off with a few gemstones for sparkle. This is one of my favorite cards...it's just so pretty and not my usual style.

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun...and post your creation on their page for all the world to see!

I invite you to join me on August 18th for my very first bloghop featuring Altered Wooden Spoons {CLICK HERE for details}.

Thanks for dropping by! Have a great weekend...I hope you are creating something fabulous!!!

: ) Sb 

Flowers or Pinecones??? Festive Friday Number Fifteen!!!

Welcome to the fifteenth installment of Terri Sproul's 2012 Festive Friday Bloghop. I hope you have been enjoying all the ideas and creations on these hops. You should have arrived here from Maria's Page. To get back to the beginning of the bloghop CLICK HERE.

This card was real quick and easy! Using this weeks sketch #170 for Sketch-it Saturday with Unscripted Sketches, I gathered up some traditional holiday colored paper scraps and got out my T!m Holtz Sizzix Pinecone Die which I have had since February and never tried it. My flowery handmade pinecones are the feature of this lovely card - layered on top of a green stripe that is pleat folded. I will have to practice twisting these into pinecone shapes - but I can see myself using this die...A LOT!

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun...and post your creation on their page for all the world to see!

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Thanks for visiting!!!

The next stop on the Festive Friday Bloghop

is Angela at Midnight Crafting - CLICK HERE.

Have a fantastic Friday...and a wonderful day! Check back tomorrow for a special bloghop I am participating in with the Sakura Hobby Crafts Design Team..."All Things Altered". See you then!

: ) Sb

Fairy Frozen Charlotte and Gnome Shadow Box for LeslieRahye's Fairyland Bloghop

Welcome to my stop on this very magical bloghop hosted by the Fabulous LeslieRahye!

I am all about green-crafting! For this project I have taken a cigar box lid and some other bits and baubles to transform it into a shadow box straight from Fairyland!

The Gnome is a vintage collage image from AlteredPages.com

and is nestled amongst money shred for grass.

The lovely detail of my Fairy Frozen Charlotte

is worn and weathered made of Creative Paperclay™.

To see how I made this frozen charlotte Fairy - please CLICK HERE to see how-to at the Amazing Mold Putty Blog.

Please scroll down to click on the squares below to continue to all the fantastic artists on the hop! Thanks for stopping by. I invite you to join me on August 18th for my very first bloghop featuring Altered Wooden Spoons {CLICK HERE for details}...see you there! Sb : )

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