Season's Giving Blog Hop

I am super excited to be part of the Season’s Giving Blog hop for 2017!  Congrats on making it to almost the end of the hop!   I’ve enjoyed hopping in previous years and decided this year I have a few things that should find a new home!  In fact, a medium size Priority Mail box packed full of fun stuff.  This is a way for all of us in the hop to thank our loyal readers!  As I am towards the end of the list I am leaving my give-away open until January 8^th at 12 noon Pacific Standard Time.  I will contact the winner by January 9^th for shipping information.

Blogging has been a way to share my creative spirit with those who stop by to view my projects and I so appreciate the interest and feedback.  In 2016 the following blog posts received the most views here at Finding Snippets of Time to Craft.

With top viewership is my contribution to the Christmas in July Blog hope for Imagine and Stencil Girl.  I had a blast creating this Christmas gift bag that was put to use last week.

In second is another blog hop for Imagine and Echo Park.  I had planned this layout far in advance, as we are fortunate to attend the EAA Airventure event on a regular basis.

Third place is my contribution to Imagine and CAS-ual Friday blog hop with this clean and simple card.  I am also pleased that it was the card featured just inside the front cover of the Imagine 2017 product catalog.

I am fortunate to be part of the Artist in Residence design team both for 2016 and now 2017.  I also enjoyed participating in two challenge blogs over the last year and would like to share a few of my favorite cards created for Retro Rubber and Ruby’s Rainbow (now closed).  Participating in challenges is a great way to stretch your creative skill set!  These are my three favorite cards I created in 2016.

Celebrate Women’s Day, Happy Mother’s Day 

  

Special Background for Furry Friend Sympathy

Sketch time at Retro Rubber

Now on to the giveaway!  This is a photo of what is ready to be packed in the box, and most likely other items will be added!  I apologize to my international readers but the giveaway is open to my United States readers only.

Please comment below for a chance to win all this fun stuff that needs a new home!  Since it is the New Year, please share your resolution for crafting in 2017!  My resolution is to send in a few projects for publication, something I’ve not taken the time to do in many years!  I would also like to spend a bit more time scrapbooking memories for my kiddos, always a good goal!  What is it that you would like to do crafting wise?

So here is the Season’s Giving Blog Hop List with every single stop is hosting a giveaway! 

Lawn Fawn

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Reverse Confetti

Taylored Expressions

Paper Smooches

Neat & Tangled

Technique Tuesday

Clear & Simple Stamps

Richard Garay

My Sweet Petunia

JustNick

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store

Sunny Studio Stamps

Inchie Arts llc

Scrapbook Update

Buttons Galore

Latisha Yoast

Julia Stainton

ChariMoss

Cristina Nunez

Wanda Guess

Vera Yates

Amy Tsuruta

Mary-Ann Maldonado

Lori Craig

Lydia Fiedler

Jenn Shurkus

Lisa Henke

Dina Kowal

Libby Hickson

Emily Leiphart

Cindy Lawrence

Kelly Klapstein

Erica Houtghton

Elise Constable

Julee Tillman

Lee Murphy

Lisa Arana

Giovana Smith

Karen Baker

Lindsay Amrhein

Dana Joy

Marcie Sharp

Megan Hoeppner

Alicia Thelin

Asia King

Debbie Seyer

Yvonne Van De Grijp

Tenia Nelson

Michelle Woerner

Christina Griffiths

Lori McAree

Barbara Anders

Jill Hawkins

Veronica Zalis

Leigh Penner

Margie Higuchi

Amy Coose

Melody Rupple

Karen Letchworth

Heidi Ramsey Blankenship

Jennie Harper

Jodi Collins

Jessica Frost-Ballas

Gracie Chavez

Stephanie Klauck

Savannah O’Gwynn

Terre Fry

YOU ARE HERE--> Neva Cole <--YOU ARE HERE!

Maria Levine

Misti Oblander

Ceal Pritchett

I would sincerely appreciate if you would follow me here on my blog or by email.  This can be done on the upper left column at the top of the page!  I can also be found in the following places:

Pinterest: Mostly my personal favorites

Twitter: to spread the word for Imagine!

Instagram: a new platform for me, giving it a try!

Remember to comment about your crafting resolutions for 2017 and enter by January 8^th at 12 noon.  If your email is not apparent on your linked profile, please include it so I can contact you for shipping information!  I will also post the giveaway’s winner’s name on January 9^th!  Thanks so much for your support, our loyal blog readers!

Sail Away

Sail Away is our new challenge over at Ruby’s Rainbow Challenges.  It is time to get out your sailboat themed stamps and share your wonderful project.  I am a bit behind on a few graduation cards and thought this image and sentiment was perfect for the theme and for a special card to celebrate the destination of a college degree.

I started with Black Magic cardstock and the Sizzix Compass embossing folder.  It is the perfect background for the concept of the card.  The embossed areas are sanded slightly and the edges of the cardstock are distressed to bring out the white core. 

The Technique Tuesday All Aboard sailboat image is stamped in StazOn Jet Black on white cardstock and die cut with Heartfelt Creations Cut Mat Create 1A.  It is water colored with a Nishi water brush and a combination of Memento Dual Markers in Summer Sky, Bahama Blue, Desert Sand, Rich Cocoa, Toffee Crunch, and Morocco.  The edges are inked with Memento Danube blue. 

The sentiment is stamped in Danube Blue on white cardstock and die cut with Heartfelt Creations Cut Mat Create 1B and the edges are inked.  The sailboat image is adhered with dimensional foam adhesive over the sentiment and Compass background that are adhered to the card front.

I am really pleased with the final card, it is masculine and perfect for someone launching into the next phase of their adult life.  Please stop by Ruby’s Rainbow Challenges and create your own Sail Away themed project to enter in the challenge.    

Fun in the Sun with a recipe

It is time for a new challenge over at Ruby’s Rainbow Challenges, Fun in the Sun with a recipe.  Use one image, two patterned papers, and three embellishments for this challenge.  What is more fun than a sun wearing sunglasses sending Good Vibes?

The images are stamped in Delicata Black Shimmer and heat embossed with Imagine Iridescent embossing powder.  The sun is by American Art Stamp and the sentiment is from Unity Stamp.   Memento Dual Marker is colored on a plastic work surface and picked up with a Nishi water brush.  I used Lady Bug, Tangelo, Cantaloupe, and Dandelion.  The lips are colored directly with Lady Bug.  The image is die cut with Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Rectangles.  Three gold heart brads are added to the bottom corner.  My Minds Eye Magnolia paper collection provided the two patterned papers that back the image.

Please stop by Ruby’s Rainbow Challenges to see the creations of the talented design team, and enter your own version of Fun in the Sun.  We would love to see your work!

Special Background for Furry Friend Sympathy

 It is time for a new challenge over at Ruby’s RainbowChallenges, and it is a fun one!  Create your own background, and the Design Team have come up with some lovely examples of different ways you can copy and share.  I choose to try a new to me technique using Imagine Crafts (Tsukineko) All Purpose Inks and white foam shaving cream.

The card I created is for someone who recently lost her fur-child, and needs a special sympathy card.  I was glad to have many choices for embellishments as I am a dog lover too, and have created scrap book pages for my dogs.

Step One:

Spread a thin layer of white foam shaving cream on your work surface and smooth flat.  I used a little too much and know that next time I can use less.  It is simply a carrier for the All Purpose Inks.

Step Two:

I dropped several drops of API in Black Pearl, Vegas Gold, and Chocolate over the surface of the shaving cream then drag a tooth pick through the ink until I achieved a pleasant pattern.  I didn’t want to over work the ink and make it muddy. 

Step Three:

After carefully laying the Bristol weight cardstock over the surface I lifted it and scrapped the excess off with a squeegee.  It was set aside to dry.  After drying Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Rectangles die cut the chosen area for the card front.

Step Four:

A section of Bristol weight cardstock is inked with an Ink Blusher and Delicata Golden Glitz.  Paula Best’s Dog Set image is stamped in Delicata Dark Brown Shimmer and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Unity’s sentiment was stamped on the previously inked Golden Glitz cardstock with Delicata Dark Brown Shimmer and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  The edges of the were inked with Delicata Dark Brown and an Ink Blusher.

Step Five:

Die Cuts With a View brown cardstock and gold metallic cardstock were trimmed to fit the front of the card.  The edges of the brown cardstock were distressed.  Another piece of brown cardstock is used to back the dog image and the edges were distressed.  Two designs of Offray ribbon are trimmed to fit the front of the card. 

Step Six:

The embellishments are adhered to the front card panel, included the paw brads by Around the Block.  The remaining card layers are adhered to the card base. 

Please stop by Ruby’s Rainbow Challenges and share your background that you have created.  We would love to see your projects! 

This card design was inspired by the following sketch:

Retro Sketches #221

I would like to enter the following challenges

Crafting When We Can #122 Any Occasion

Polkadoodles Week 26 Add Ribbon or Twine

Stamping Sensations Anything Goes with a stamp and ribbons

Crafting from the Heart  Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #319 Always Anything Goes

Time to be Square

Time to be square over at Ruby's Rainbow Challenge, we want to see your squared shaped project for the next two weeks.  I took this opportunity to use my newest stamps and dies that I acquired at CKC in Portland earlier this month.  They are designed by Local Rubber King Rubber Stamps and are to be used by coloring directly on the stamp with water based markers.  It gives a lovely water color impression.  I am a bit late with this post as I just returned from a trip to Germany and am just now getting back into the right time zone!

1.     I used the Meadow Friends stamp and die set for this thank you card.  For the background I used Memento Dual Markers in Lulu Lavender, Sweet Plum, Grape Jelly, New Sprout, and Cottage Ivy.  I spritzed the image with Ink Potion No. 9 and double stamped on golden card stock.  I over stamped with LKRS's Script background in Memento Pear Tart

2.     The image was colored again, stamped and die cut with the coordinating die. 

3.     Spellbinders Labels One and Labels Twenty-Two are die cut and stamped with Inkadinkado Just Saying sentiment in Memento Grape Jelly then edged with an Ink Blusher as well as memento Grape Jelly.  The second die cut is inked with an Ink Blusher in Memento Pear Tart. 

4.     The card base is inked in Memento Pear Tart to frame the image. 

5.     The layers are adhered together with the top layer using dimensional foam adhesive.

I enjoyed working with these images and plan to add a few masculine sets to my collection soon!

Do stop by Ruby's Rainbow Challenge and enter your own square project.

Blazing Poppy Composition Book

For the next fortnight our challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenge is Anything But A Card.  I created a new composition book for blog note taking.  As I create projects I write down thoughts so I can remember what products, stamps, dies, and tools were used.  My first one has been in use since October 2014, and it is full so it was time to create a new one.

Heartfelt Creations Blazing Poppy collection was perfect for this ABAC project.  As I frequently carry my comp book with me it couldn't be too lumpy bumpy so the back is more simple than the front.

1.    Select two papers from the collection and trim to 7" x 10".  This will be slightly larger than the covers.  Line the paper up with the binding edge and adhere with Mod Podge.  Place a sheet of freezer paper inside the cover to protect the pages.  (Note: Each side will be done in alternate steps.). Set aside to dry.

2.    On peach cardstock stamp Blazing Poppy stamp in Memento Tuxedo Black.  With a Sponge Dauber add Memento Luxe Morocco to color the center of the flowers.  Die cut the flowers.  Spritz the back of the flowers with water and shape the flowers.  Set aside to dry.

3.    Trim the excess paper from the covers with an Exacto knife and ink edges with Memento Luxe Morocco.  Add a coat of Mod Podge.

4.    Select images from patterned paper collection for the back cover and trim.  Die cut both sizes of Heartfelt Creations Decorative Blossom Corners.  Adhere with a layer of Mod Podge.

5.    Die cut two Heartfelt Creations Eyelet Ovals in coordinating papers.  Adhere with a layers of Mod Podge.

6.    Die cut Spellbinders Foliage from green patterned paper.  Assemble and arrange flowers on front cover and adhere with glue dots and dimensional adhesive to support petal shape.  Add Mod Podge to foliage and adhere to front cover.  Cover with two more layers of Mod Podge allowing dry time between each.

7.    Adhere Sandy Lion Silver washi tape along binding edge to cover paper edge on both back and front covers.  Washi should be 12" long so ends will secure inside the covers.

8.    Place Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive to centers of flowers and add Suze Weinberg's Diamondz in Onyx.  Allow to dry overnight and shake off excess.

Supplies:

Heartfelt Creations:  Blazing Poppy stamp, die, and paper collection, Decorative Blossom Corner, Eyelet Oval.

Imagine Crafts: Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Luxe Morocco, Sponge Dauber

Spellbinders Foliage

Sandy Lion Silver Washi Tape

Plaid Mod Podge

Art Institute Dries Clear

Suze Weinberg's Diamondz Onyx

Misc.: peach cardstock, die cut machine, freezer paper

Please stop by Ruby's Rainbow Challenge and see all the wonderful projects done by the Design Team!

I would like the enter the following challenges:

Simon Says Monday Challenge Summer Garden

The Crazy Challenge #224 Bingo (die cut, design paper, flowers)

Glitter ‘n’ Sparkle Challenge #191 Recycle ABAC

Addicted To Stamps Challenge #128 Flowers

Red, Green, Cream/White

The new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is a color challenge of Red, Green, and white/cream.  It is the time of year where thank you notes are needed at my house so I choose to go that direction instead of the obvious Christmas theme.  Do stop by the blog and be inspired by the wonderful Design Team creations.

1.     The A7 sized cream base card is inked around the outside edges with an Ink Blusher and Brilliance Rocket Red.

2.     Cream cardstock is trimmed to 4 3/4" x 6 1/4".  The large swirl image from the Fancy Pants Bella Brush collection is stamped in Brilliance Rocket Red.  The smaller swirl image from the Fancy Pants Pollen Dust is stamped in Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy in three corners to complete the design.

3.     Spellbinders Fancy Labels Four is die cut from cream cardstock.  The edges are inked with Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy and an Ink Blusher.  The Inkadinkado Thanks set sentiment is stamped in the same.

4.     Sew Easy Floss in red in threaded through the small holes in the die cut sentiment which is first adhere with dimensional foam adhesive before adhering the floss around the back of the front panel.

5.     The panel is adhered to the prepped card base.

Thank you for stopping by and spend a little creative time to make your own Red, Green, and White/Cream project to share with us over at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges.

I am pleased to enter this card in the following:

Simply Create Too #109 Thank You

Transparent Element = Shaker Card

 Come join our challenge at Ruby’s Rainbow Challenges and create a card or project that incorporates a transparent element.  It was my turn to select the challenge theme and am delighted with the wonderful interpretations the Design Team created, do stop by and check them out!

A shaker card is one way to incorporate a transparent element into the design of a card.  I have these wonderful circular Shake It Pouches made by Impression Obsession that was perfect for this challenge.  We have a dear friend who just received her MBA, so it was time to craft a Gradation Celebration card.  In my search for confetti, I found that it is not readily available, so large glitter was the perfect solution and the starting point for the color theme of the card.

1.     I determined that I wanted the area for the shaker element to be 4” x 4” and worked from that dimension to create the step card.  Turquoise card stock is trimmed to 7” x 10.5”.  At 1 ½” from each edge the card stock is cut from 1 ¼” to 6 ½”.  The base is scored at 1 ¼”, 2 ½” and 6” along the sides, and at 5 ¼” in the center section.  The card is folded into the step card base.

2.     Trim pink card stock to 1 ¼” x 3 ¾” and 1” x 6 ¾”, pressure emboss with Cuttlebug James’ set circle pattern, and sand to bring out texture.

3.     Die cut Spellbinders Lacey Circle with the Standard Circle centered in the middle. 

4.     Stamp Hero Arts Congrats Stamp and Cut sentiments around the edge of the Lacey Circle.  The polymer stamps are easy to position and curve to shape with the use of an acrylic block.  Versa Color in Turquoise is a perfect match for the card stock.  Sand edges of the Lacey Circle. 

5.     Die cut Quickutz diploma and graduation cap from Kraft, black and purple card stock.  Die Cut Spellibinders Phrases One Congratulations from purple card stock. 

6.     Place confetti stars, hearts, and Rainbow large glitter in Shake It pouch and adhere.  To card front.  Adhere remaining elements, with the lacey circle concleating the edges of the Shake It pouch.  Dot the “i” with Memento Dual Marker in Grape Jelly, this is easier than trying to get the itty bitty tittle (yes it is a real word, I googled it!) to adhere to the pressure embossed card stock. 

Supplies:  Imagine Crafts-Versa Color Turquoise and Memento Dual Marker Grape Jelly, Spellbinders-Lacy Circle, Standard Circle Small, Phrase Set One, Quickutz-Graduation Cap, diploma, Hero Arts Congrats Stamp & Cut, Cuttlebug-James’ set Circle Pattern, turquoise, pink, purple, black, and Kraft card stock.

Please do come and play along with Ruby's Rainbow Challenges and share your project that includes a transparent element!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

House of Cards:  Vellum or Acetate

Alphabet Challenge Blog E for Embossing Folders
613 Avenue #173 My Sentiments Exactly
The Crazy Challenge #222 Three or more layers