Challenge #131 Sew What!?!

Jana here  - It's my turn to torment challenge you all. This time I am throwing down the needle. I want to see what you can sew into your project. I want to see what you can do with needle and thread. Make a quilt, make a purse, stitch up an embroidery project, mend a pair of jeans, or attach elements onto a card or scrapbook page using needle and thread. Just SEW something.

I took the challenge literally, and used my sewing machine to make some bookmarks. I had some scraps of fabric and batting from a previous sewing project, so I made these:

I also decided that it was time to use some of the little hexies I have been making. My daughters and I were talking and thought that they would make really cute placemats.

I tried to get two done for today, but you know how it goes. (What this really means is that I had to sew the blue one twice because of the seam ripping I had to do when I sewed the pieces together wrong the first time. Otherwise I might have had two to show.) The pink one is in progress. I'll try to get it done and posted before the next challenge...


Let's see what all the other wonderful poobahs have come up with for this challenge.
 
Electra here
I know that Jana is going to show you something wonderful that she's created with fabric.
Not wanting to be left out, I pulled an old wall quilt off the couch (where I have it now) and took a picture of it.  I used to be a quilter.  Even though I have a new grandson and made it quilt for him, I'm still a "used-to-be-a" quilter.  Haha!

Deena here - I totally bite at sewing...can't do a straight line for the life of me...but I am super envious and intrigued by Jana's hexi projects that she has on the go all the time...they are so cute and trendy, so I tried to do the same in my card...maybe now that she sees the stitching on this card, she will totally get why I have huge envy of her projects!!!  some of my stitches didn't even reach the hexi and I couldn't line them up if I wanted too!!!

Gini here
I dusted off my very old sewing machine and made these cards with a little bit of machine sewing on them. Thank you Jana for getting me back into the joys of machine sewing, I had forgotten how much fun it is.
It is much easier to sew on card than material.
I used a size 70 needle (lingerie needle) and loosened the tension a bit from what I would sew mid weight cotton with. I set the stitch size to 3.1. (I would sew mid weight cotton using a 2.5 stitch size.)

They were inspired by a Sarah Engels-Greer inches card project on page 44 of Craft Stamper March 2012. If you're interested in making cards similar to these, I have put more details on my blog.

Rosemary here and I didn't actually stitch my card, but I mimicked stitches.  This paper is Basic Grey Lemonade that I've had forever but I wanted to get more texture, so I cut the strips apart with pinking shears in some spots and then added some faux stitching and lace and ribbon, border punch, and whew....a pretty feminine button that I think looks like a charm. In person it really has the look of material and a bit of texture.  The inside had me using a rubber stamp for You're Sew Special. 

You have until the end of Saturday 2 June to join in with your fabulous creation celebrating Sew What. Add your blog post address to Mr Linky below.
If you would like to join in with a previous challenge we've set (life happens and lateness is absolutely fine, we don't mind a bit) just add your blog post address to Mr Linky below. Please make sure your blog post refers to the previous challenge you are entering so we don't get confused. 
We look forward to visiting you!

Challenge #130 - Beyond the Garden Gate

Rosemary here and this time the Opus Gluei is asking you to go

Beyond the Garden Gate

Time to pull out all those garden-themed ideas and create!

Seed packets, lattices, flowers, plants, greenery, gardeners, sunshine, raindrops,
gnomes, fairies (all gardens need 'em), 
the list goes on and on and on!

I made a three-dimensional box inspired by Lori
she made these gorgeous 4x4 niches.

It got me thinking and pasting and inking
gluing and Stickle-ing....
and this is what I created.

I used a 4x4 box, not a canvas, and utilized the niche on the other side.
Used paper to cover the surfaces, suggest a lattice, make flowers, and more...

oh look, a beautiful golden bird nest with eggs!
(maybe the Bluebird of happiness?)

and here is the back of the box

For more info on how I made this, please see my blog

and here's just one more item
a quick little gift tag just right for Mother's Day flowers

Let's see what all the other wonderful poobahs have come up with for this challenge.
 
Jana here. Still have the needle and thread in hand. I had a different project in mind for this challenge. BUT when I started working it, I found out that some quilt blocks that I had made and mailed off to be joined in perfect harmony with other blocks hadn't arrived at their intended destination. It's been over a month, so those little babies are not going to show up. SO, I had to remake them. I LOVE when I can make something and multi-purpose it. They are tulips after all. And they are in gardens. So I got to sewing. Well, I got one block done anyway. It measures 12.5 inches by 12.5 inches.

The other block is going to be a butterfly. It'll get done tomorrow.

Electra here

 If case you didn't know this, the five little girls are the OG Poobahs, hanging out at the entrance to Rosemary's garden.  Just hangning, staying out of trouble.
For now...mwaaahaaahaaa!

Deena here
phew made it in at the last minute...happy national scrapbook day/weekend...I whipped up this card at a crop on Saturday...using my fancy new Tim Holtz markers...must say though, not as fancy as I thought and so sad that there is no real red colour in the pack, but the card turned out okay anyway...

Gini here
What a fabulous challenge from Rosemary, I could make hundreds of things with this theme as I'm sure you could too.  I made an Easel Card of a posh house and garden scene which is a Docraft stamp by the artist Michael Powell, and er I went a bit mad with the lace, which unlike shiny stuff,  it would appear you can have too much of -hrumph.
I used part of a silk scarf (a bargain charity shop find) to make the curtains.
I am staggered by the two hours it took me to colour the picture with Derwent inktense pencils. I wasn't messing about honestly, but colouring solidly.
No wonder I don't do much colouring....

So, with all of this inspiration and the theme in mind

let's see what you create when you go

BEYOND THE GARDEN GATE!

You have until the end of Saturday 19 May to join in with your fabulous creation celebrating gardens. Add your blog post address to Mr Linky below.
If you would like to join in with a previous challenge we've set (life happens and lateness is absolutely fine, we don't mind a bit) just add your blog post address to Mr Linky below. Please make sure your blog post refers to the previous challenge you are entering so we don't get confused. 
We look forward to visiting you!

Challenge #129 - Use Flourishes in Your Project.

Gini here:
With spring well and truly here in deepest darkest Shropshire, England I thought we could think about flourishing things for this challenge.
You can interpret this theme in two ways;

either use a flourish(es) in your project 
or create a project based on what makes you flourish as a person.

I chose to use physical flourishes on the cover and behind the flowers inside a box card for my MIL.

Click on the pictures to make them bigger full details of the project ingredients on my blog if you want to know what I used.

 

Let's see what all the other wonderful poobahs have come up with for this challenge.


Jana here. I want to make sure you are sitting down for this one. Are you comfy? OK, now put down the coffee/soda/water. All set down? Okay, you have been warned, and I am NOT responsible for ruined keyboards.

I made a CARD. Yup. I pulled out the paper and glue, and made a card. (Actually made two, but you'll have to go to my blog to see the other one.)
There. That should hold me for another while...

Deena here - I love to use flourishes in my projects and all the flourish items and paper pieces are left over bits from other projects...that is a huge bonus in my books!  The more scraps I use up the better...they are taking over my space and a goal of mine is to use up the bits and pieces this year...so another project done with the leftovers is awesome!

Rosemary here and my project is a paper pieced card. I decided to use a flourish as an element in my motif, it's the branch that my owl is perched upon..  There are flourishes in the patterned paper background as well.

You have until the end of Saturday 5 May to join in with your fabulous creation celebrating flourishes or something that makes you flourish. Add your blog post address to Mr Linky below.
If you would like to join in with a previous challenge we've set (life happens and lateness is absolutely fine, we don't mind a bit) just add your blog post address to Mr Linky below. Please make sure your blog post refers to the previous challenge you are entering so we don't get confused. 
We look forward to visiting you!

Challenge #128 - What Else Do You Know?

 Kristen here   Hi, in my school induced absence, I do not have any inspiration as far as a creation goes, but I did come up with a challenge. My idea for the challenge was something that you used to know. How about picking up one of your old favorites that you haven't touched for a while and having another go at it. I know we all have something in our stash that we forgot about. I know I haven't used my embossing folders in a while... so I would use those. I also, haven't done a sketch in a long time. Maybe you heard of a technique a while back and you just never got around to trying it, well now is your chance. The sky is the limit.... you are only enclosed by your imagination. Have a great Easter everyone!

Let's see what all the other wonderful poobahs have come up with for this challenge.
 
Gini here
I haven't paper pieced a stamped image with designer's papers for ages so that's what I've done with this Mollie Bloom beach hut stamp in this easel card.
The chicken is hand drawn on designer papers and the sky is tumbled glass distress ink with a turquoise mica powder mixed with water sprayed on the top.

Now can you guess what the chicken is supposed to be sitting on?
No?
Well it's not my finest hour as far as creativity goes as it is supposed to be a raft.
Now it may look like a box but that is where you would be wrong see, as it is in fact a raft -  allegedly. *cough*
If you are wondering why I have put a chicken on a raft in the sea, well why not, I like chickens and they lay lots of eggs and it's Easter... so I think they deserve a holiday by the seaside. (Shall I get my coat now?)
So as I'm sure you can do better than a box masquerading as a raft for this challenge please join in as we'd love to see it!

Jana here - Ta-Da. It's me. I'm here. Finally up for a breath. I had every intention of going back to paper and glue. But true to form, for me anyhow, I only accomplished half of my goal. No paper was used, but I DID use glue.

If you have been following my creative pursuits over the last several months, you will have noticed that I have all but abandoned paper and glue in favor of fabric and thread. One of my fancies of late is making paper pieced hexagons. I have this little tin in which I keep my supplies. It's a wonderful, portable kit. It has been lacking a pin cushion. So I made a mini pin-cushion. I used a bottle cap, a couple of scraps of my favorite fabrics, a little bit of pillow stuffing, a magnet and a hot glue gun. This little guy fits perfectly into my hexie tin. And stays put when I need it to. That's what the magnet is for. I suppose I will have to use it to find those pesky pins that try to get away too.



Electra here

 I chose a digital kit that I purchased quite some time ago and never got around to using.  To be honest, I felt intimidated by it.  (Probably because I wasn't willing to read the instructions.)  Well, now I've done it, thanks to this challenge! Thanks Kristen!
The kit is by Brandy Murry, the photo is my own.

Deena here - I chose to do a technique that I can say I haven't done since I heard of Copic Markers...watercolour crayons...yikes...remember way back when?  Just got this project done under the wire (kind of like the lady on this stamp needs ;)..it's been a hectic week in our house and my mom brought this stamp back from Arizona for me...felt it was the perfect way to set out this challenge...

You have until the end of Saturday 21 April to join in with your fabulous creation celebrating a technique you haven't used in a while. Add your blog post address to Mr Linky below.
If you would like to join in with a previous challenge we've set (life happens and lateness is absolutely fine, we don't mind a bit) just add your blog post address to Mr Linky below. Please make sure your blog post refers to the previous challenge you are entering so we don't get confused. 
We look forward to visiting you!

Challenge #127 - In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb.

Deena here - We have had the most unusual weather this winter in my neck of the woods...in a good way for the most part...it is generally an unbearable cold where your eyelids and nostrils freeze cold and there is tons of snow to shovel...but not this year...we have had a relatively mild winter (now I can understand how other people in the world can enjoy it somewhat), but March came in wickedly with snow and a mini-blizzard and the such...hopefully it goes out like a lamb and spring will be here officially (so far we have broken all the records ever for the warmest spring by a longshot)!  When I thought of this challenge, I had all hopes and dreams of spring in mind....but wasn't really thinking about the topic of the challenge...I have not one lion or lamb stamp in my whole collection...not one...I could not believe it, so I frantically googled some images of colouring sheets and voila!  My creation is born!

the phrase on the card is "No lion, I hope ewe have a roaring great birthday!"
Let's see what all the other wonderful poobahs have come up with for this challenge.
 



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Rosemary here and I'm back to playing with paper (hooray).  It's a dreary rainy day but I channeled my girliest of girly personality traits and it was think pink time with an animal twist.  A sweet little mouse enjoying a birthday cupcake! (to see another very pink card - with butterflies and a vintage feel - head on over to my personal blog)

Gini here
I love making Birds on Wheels pictures and a bird is an animal too.
I have blogged this design before as cards I like to make, and honestly I could use my whole stash of designer papers making them, hundreds and hundreds AND hundreds of them but then I would be like the lady with 40 indoor cats; what on earth would I do with them all...and wouldn't my house stink a bit and wouldn't that seem a tad compulsive disorderish too?

However - this is the very poshest Bird on Wheels I've made to date, it's another 5" x 7" canvas as I seem to be going through a phase of making these canvases lately.
It is a flocked paper bird and it's so posh and shiny it's probably illegal, I mean regal.

Electra here
In about a month, I will have a new grandson.
(I am SO excited)  The parents asked me to do a collage for little Logan's room along the lines of a jungle theme.  So I did this.

 You can find the deets on my blog.

You have until the end of Saturday 7 April to join in with your fabulous creation celebrating animals. Add your blog post address to Mr Linky below.
If you would like to join in with a previous challenge we've set (life happens and lateness is absolutely fine, we don't mind a bit) just add your blog post address to Mr Linky below. Please make sure your blog post refers to the previous challenge you are entering so we don't get confused. 
We look forward to visiting you!

Challenge #126 - Branching Out

Electra here

I love trees.

Love, love, love 'em.

Having said that, I also love Nature.  And anything to do with it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a tree-hugger.

Do people even use that word anymore?

I just like trees. 

And nature.

What about you?

Is there something about nature that inspires you? 

We'd love to see what you can come up with!

Please link up by March 24th and most importantly

HAVE FUN!

  
Let's see what all the other wonderful poobahs have come up with for this challenge.
 
Gini here:-
 Please welcome Madam Fairy who enjoys nature so much that she is often referred to as Nature Girl amongst other things that I discuss on my blog here with another Madam Fairy card.  This is a 5"x 7" canvas. Click on it to make it bigger.

Rosemary here and I do enjoy nature - I love that where I live allows me to enjoy distinct seasons.  Right now the air is still fairly crisp and cool but there is a little hint of something warmer coming, a fragrance of flowers starting to bloom, trees to bud, and all moving toward springtime.  I have one hydrangea bush in my front yard but I love the blossoms,  My project reminds me of the blossoms. 
(sorry about the lousy photography - hey lookie there I am attempting to take a photo in bad evening light)

This wreath was made by covering a raffia wreath form with white cotton yarn and then gluing on multiple handmade felt flowers.  For more details, please see my blog. (it's really super easy to make, honest)

Deena here - I was a little behind on this card, not for lack of effort, but for completing the wrong challenge...anyway, the card two weeks from now is a cutie!  I just received this garden gnome set last night at my final stamp club meeting and I couldn't sleep all night trying to think of how I could work this into the branching out challenge...then I re-read what the challenge required and I figure I put in quite a few elements on this simplistic and whimsical card - green, wood grain background, spring like nature gnomes, some clouds and some grass...everything but the trees...

You have until the end of Saturday 24 March to join in with your fabulous creation celebrating trees and nature. Add your blog post address to Mr Linky below.
If you would like to join in with a previous challenge we've set (life happens and lateness is absolutely fine, we don't mind a bit) just add your blog post address to Mr Linky below. Please make sure your blog post refers to the previous challenge you are entering so we don't get confused. 
We look forward to visiting you!

Challenge #125. That's the ticket.

 Jana here - This fortnight I am challenging you to use your tickets. Use a ticket in your project, or make a project that was inspired by the phrase

"That's The Ticket".

My initial idea was to make a ticket reward system to encourage my 12 year old to clean her room, pick up her toys and read a little extra each day. She is way too into playing on the computer and watching TV. Anyhow, that will still happen, but it didn't for this challenge. I was trying to get my fabric organized, when I found myself frustrated with all of my fabric scraps. I honestly didn't know what to do with them.  AND then I had a "That's The Ticket" moment. I started to think hard and heavy about hexagons. And English paper piecing. Something I NEVER thought I would do. (Never say never, it'll turn around and bit you in the butt one day.) And now I have started using my scraps to make these:

I can whip out about 30 a night while watching TV. I am still not quite sure what I will do with them. Quilt. Pillowcase. Embroidery pouch. Composition notebook cover. Who knows. BUT right now I am thrilled to have found a use for my fabric scraps. Head over to Studio 312 for more pictures and some links to great projects made with hexies.
Stay tuned here because I WILL make that ticket reward system for my daughter. She really needs SOME form of motivation. And I'll add it to this post.
Let's see what all the other wonderful poobahs have come up with for this challenge.

Gini here -   I am Ticket Stash Poor but I do have an old Craft Stamper Magazine freebie Ticket to the Enchanted Kingdom stamp from years ago so that was my starting point.
This is a presentation golden ticket to Fairyland Park.
This plaque will have to go on the wall as I can't think of another way of displaying it as it is a decoration and a completely nonfunctional thingamajig.
But I am rather fond of thingamajigs :-)
What I used and how I made it instructions are on my blog

Electra here -  I did a LO about my father when he was (much) younger than I am now.  He worked for Warner Brother's pictures.  That's why Bugs Bunny is on the window behind him.  I always loved this photo of him.

(He's the handsome guy on the left.)

Kristen here - you are totally worth the risk and don't you forget it! I got some scratch off tickets tonight, only one was a winner. It did not win me enough to run off to the sunset filled beaches with my dh either. $5.00 what a rip off. It did make a nice base for a card about being worth the gamble. Have a wonderful week... and remember.. you are a WINNER!


Deena here - I used every ticket item I could find and then still went out and bought the ticket paper just cuz I thought it was cute...what can I say?  Usually I just go into the stash, but this paper was calling my name on Saturday afternoon and it was chopped up by diner time...the best way!

Rosemary here and I actually have ticket stamps so I was excited about this and had ambitions for ATCs and then when I sat down to work on them, the ATC Inspiration Fairy flitted off to someone else (sigh, perhaps you?).  So, I then was inspired to create for the Postcard 2012 challenge, I'm woefully behind on the countries and voila!  I had just the ticket for this challenge (oooh, bad pun eh?).  Okay, so one of the countries is Brazil and so I made the tickets I used souvenirs from a fancy dress ball.  For more details on this and to read more about the Postcard challenge, you are just going to have to visit my personal blog.  (you even can read the writing on the other side, as well as the next country for this challenge and it uses ticket tissue tape.  woo hoo)

You have until the end of Saturday 10 March to join in with your fabulous creation celebrating tickets. Add your blog post address to Mr Linky below.
If you would like to join in with a previous challenge we've set (life happens and lateness is absolutely fine, we don't mind a bit) just add your blog post address to Mr Linky below. Please make sure your blog post refers to the previous challenge you are entering so we don't get confused. 
We look forward to visiting you!