Chasing Cars SMASH

One of my favorite songs is Chasing Cars from Snow Patrol.  Here is my SMASH page using retired SU stamps Loads of Love and Road Trip in Dove Gray, Blazing Red, Timber Brown and Jet Black Staz-On inks.  Title is Inkadinkado's lower case.  The lyrics are printed with the SMASH label maker.  Thanks for looking!  April

#1 Teacher frame

This is one of the Christmas gifts I have been working on for the kids teachers.  I am also entering it into the TGF FFF Holiday Memories challenge.  I always looked forward to the class holiday party and my teachers always had something fun planned.  I love making gifts for my kids teachers even now.
I found these frames at Ikea for $1.99 each and they come in black, white or red.  The papers are Bo Bunny's Shabby Princess and Pep Rally.  The chalkboard is made with the Tim Holtz die and the "blackboard" was cut to fit inside then distressed with Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress ink before using a chalk ink writer for the board.  The image is TGF's Cheeky Geeky and is colored with copic markers using the no-line technique and paper piecing.  She also has faux pearl earrings.  Thanks for looking!  April

Frosty Friends workshop

I went to a Stampin' Up workshop and this month the single Frosty Friends stamp was featured.  I learned how to stamp on a candle, which was really neat and easy to do. 
The first item is the candle and the great gift box we made to go with it.  It even has a cellophane window.  I don't know what set the holly leaves are from but it was just randomly stamped all over the top.  I left my bottom plain, then tied it off with the cherry cobbler waffle ribbon that coordinates with the ribbon I have on my candle.  What a great teacher or hostess gift!
The second item is a gift bag topper.  It is just a piece of cardstock folded in half then decorated.  The bags are plain bags that come in large quantities for as little as .25 each.  How great is that? 
The last is this adorable card.  I just love the blues.  We used the polka dot embossing folder, dies, and seam binding to make this.  We also got to play with heat and stick powder and compare dazzling diamonds glitter with Iridescent Ice embossing powder.  What a difference!
Thanks for looking!  April

lip balm holders

So I am finally getting to working on teacher's gifts.  My kids have lots of helpers in their classes, so I decided to make these lip balm holders for some really cute holiday-themed lip balms I found at Big Lots (just $2 for three!).  I found the pattern on Splitcoast.
The inside is Very Vanilla and the outside is Always Artichoke or Bravo Burgundy, with layers of christmas paper from DCWV.  The ribbon is satin ribbon from Michaels, and the stamp is a retired SU set called So Many Scallops.  It is stamped in Dove Grey Staz-On and the snowflakes are stamped in Versamark and embossed with white powder.  It is punched out with the scalloped circle and mounted with dimensionals on a decorative label.  Thanks for looking!  April

2012 Election SMASH

Since it's a big event this year, I decided to make a SMASH of this year's presidential election.  I found the images of the candidate's logos, as well as the great circle badge, were printed from online images.  I also used the sticker I got from the polling location and SMASH label maker pieces for my journalling.  Thanks for looking.  April

Love Story

This is for TGF's FFF Cinema (for Romeo & Juliet) and Anyone for Anya's No Patterned Paper challenges.

The base is Very Vanilla that has been printed with the lyrics from Taylor Swift's Love Story.  I printed it twice and cut the second one down and mounted it with Bravo Burgundy that has been accented with metallic gold embossing powder.  The castle from TGF's Charming is stamped with Tim Holtz's Tea Dye distressing ink, as well as Stampin Up's Extreme Elements in Versamark and clear embossing powder.  The knight and lady are also from TGF's Charming, colored in copic markers and paper pieced, before mounting it with dimensionals.  Thanks for looking!  April

I Wonder SMASH

Honestly, who doesn't have some kind of weird, totally random thoughts from time to time?  These are some of my off-beat ponderings...

The borders, letter, swirls, and tags are leftovers from a scrapbook embellishment set I have in my stash.  The penguin is an extra punch art I had from a card I made recently.  The title is stamped using CTMH giggle lowercase on a Tim Holtz movers and shapers die.  Other embellishments are leftover pieces from 7 Gypsies, EK Success stickers, a paint chip, wagon tag from Uprintables, stamps from Artful Inkables, an extra mickey icon punch, and a movie stub.  Thanks for looking.  April

Lightning Round SMASH

Happy Thanksgiving!
So I found these fun prompts called Lightning Round from Grace is Overrated's Journal pages.  I just cut out the ones I want to use and set the others aside for later.  You can bind all the pages together to make a journal book in black & white or full color.  I thought it is a fun way to get a snapshot of me at a given time, so I printed a bunch and when I have a minute, I answer one.  These are a collection of several I did and finally got into my SMASHbook.  Thanks for looking!  April

Chip & Dale SMASH

If you know me, you know I love all things Disney, but my favorite characters are none other than Chip and Dale.  Here is my SMASH for my favorite boys! 
Images were found online, stickers, and the Mickey & Friends Cricut cartridge.  The cricut dies are cut at 4.5 inches each.  I used my SMASH label maker for the tags, SMASH tape, and the SU full heart punch for the names.  Thanks for looking!  April

Travel SMASH cover

This is the cover for my International Travel SMASH folio for our first Disney Cruise.  I used my Mickey font Cricut cartridge to cut the letters.  Disney is cut in Brilliant Blue and CRUISE is cut in Basic Black, Whisper White and cranberry.  I wanted it to sort of look like Mickey's colors, and give it a bit of nautical flair, so I cut the black in shadow, then cut the red and white letters twice, matching them up and cutting a channel out of the middle.  When I assembled the letters, I used one color for the upper portion and the other for the lower.  Next, I used small white eyelets to create portholes, but I decided I didn't like the effect, so I ran some jute twine through it like rope or rigging to tie off the boat.  The letters are mounted with dimensionals. 
I used some of my Disney themed washi tape (from Queen & Co) to cover the SMASH* icon at the bottom and used Mickey head icons punched from my EK Success punch to add a little more Disney personality.  Last, was a bit of blue gingham ribbon for Minnie's bow and a few accents with a white gel pen.  I will show you more as we continue to plan our trip. 
Thanks for looking!  April

Crafty things SMASH

This is a SMASH of my favorite crafty tools and supplies.  Images were found online and printed on cardstock, as well as recycling some of the packaging and left over pieces from other projects.  I used the SMASH label maker and Tim Holtz stickers for the title.  Thanks for looking!  April

TV Tune-in

It's another Chat & Challenge Night at the TGF forum on Splitcoast Stampers.  I am the lucky host this month and I chose a television themed night.  I hope you can join in on the fun challenges and you have until Monday at noon Central time to enter.

For the first challenge, I have Retro Re-run: Make a card or project inspired by a classic TV show or black and white.  For my sample, I made a card inspired by Happy Days.  As a kid, I used to love watching it and it always makes me laugh.  The card base is Very Vanilla with layers of Really Rust, Taken with Teal, Early Espresso, and Simply Caroline from My Mind's Eye.  I love the classic feel of the papers, and both prints came from the same 6x6 sheet of paper.  I used a Martha Stewart scalloped border and the Tim Holtz weathered clock die.  I used my SMASH label maker for the sentiment, cutting a notch with my scissors.  The image is TGF's 50's Sweethearts digi, colored in copic, then mounted with dimensionals.  The design is based on Deconstructed Sketch #73.  I am also enteriend this into Simon Says dies & punches challenge.  What fun!
The second challenge is "I Love Lucy": make a project based on your favorite TV show past or present.  I have liked many shows over the years, but one of my favorites is still Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  It's quirky and has great one-liners...so much better than the movie!  The card base is Tempting Turquoise with layers of Recollections light grey, Basic Black, cocoa, and Very Vanilla that has been stamped with Recollections Damash Bats in Jet Black Staz-On, and text & blood in Timber Staz-On and Blazing Red Staz-On, then inked with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink.  The fence is Martha Stewarts spooky gate border punch.  I hand tore the dirt and the headstone is a Cuttlebug die and emboss set.  The image is from TGF's Miss Anya Rain Snow Shine, colored in copic and mounted with dimensionals.  She is also holding a "stake" made from and inked toothpick that has been cut to size.  The sentiment was made by stamping a sentiment from the Artful Inkables "Into the Moonlight" set and punching with a 1 3/8" circle and mounted behind a die from Cuttlebug.  I am also entering this into the TGF Farm Fresh Fridays Buttons & Bows challenge.

Okay, one more....just for fun!  I was watching a Child Stars All Grown Up and about laughed when I saw Punky Brewster.  Oh my, I had forgotten that I used to watch that!  So, here is my Punky card...I used a base that I had left over from another project, then took a piece of white cardstock and used a ton of Smooch Spritz colors all over it.  Next, I used a polaroid stamp from Lawn Fawn and stamped the smiley and sun, coloring it in a kid-like scribble.  The gem cherry was a clearance I found a Michaels.  The sentiment is stamped from TGF's OA Summer Fun.  The image is TGF's Wild Sprout Audrey.  Doesn't she make a perfect Punky?  A card as bright and colorful as Punky herself! 
Come on over to the TGF Forum at Splitcoast and chat, then play along!  Thanks for looking!  April

Well Travel-led SMASH

This is my SMASH for some of my travels.  I found a black US pic online and printed on cardstock and cut out.  I mounted that on some leftover bits and pieces from travel papers.  The boarding pass is from Rebecca at Uprintables.  I used pages from the Travels SMASHpad to make a set of flip tabs down the side of the page and attached with the black polkdot SMASHtape.  The list under the title is a free printable page I trimmed and made a list of the cities I have lived in.  I left a few spots blank to add more as I go more places.  Thanks for looking!  April

Winter Wonderland

This is for Pixie Dust Studios Anything Goes challenge. 

The base is Whisper White with layers of Whisper White and shimmery snowflake paper from The Paper Company Studio.  The border is from Martha Stewart.  The ribbon is some sheer organza from Michael's and the bow is held in place by a SU retired star brad.  The image is PDS Sugar Plum Fairy and is colored in copics, and layered at the head, bodice and front ballet slipper with dimensionals.  The sentiment is from a holiday acrylic set from JoAnn Fabrics in Jet Black Staz-On.  Thanks for looking!  April

How's it Rollin?

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday Recycle and Anyone for Anya's no embellishments challenges.
The card is recycled from a prefinished set I found on clearance at Michael's, as well as the strip of paint chips from Walmart that were left over from a previous project.  The notebook paper is a printable and is punched with EK Success spiral notebook and stamped with a sentiment from TGF's Later Skater in Azure Blue Staz-On.  The image is TGF's Skater Ian and is colored with copic markers.  Thanks for looking!  April 

Bedroom SMASH

My hubby and I are finally getting our own, MATCHING, bedroom furniture.  Yea, I am pretty excited.  We found a set with tons of different options at Ikea, so I printed pics  from the computer to put in the book and used teeny, tiny legal pad pages to write the prices.  There is also a little SMASH tab tag.  I used some left over alphabet stickers for the title.  The journalling is from the Travels SMASHpad, with a couple of embellishments from the SMASH label maker.  Thanks for looking!  April

Washi tape SMASH

This is a SMASH of one of my favorite embellishments...washi tape!  I have tapes from Elmers, Tim Holtz, SMASH tapes, and Queen & Co.  I was so excited when I stopped at the Archiver's near Detroit yesterday and found filmstrip printed washi tape from Queen & Co.  I also love the Disney themed tape they have.
I found a couple of pics of washi tape on line and found a super cute sketch of smiling rolls of tape, so I printed those on cardstock and cut them out before pulling out my bucket of washi tapes and going to town.  I also used some of the packaging from a couple of rolls.  I used some alphabet stickers and a punched heart on the page too.  Thanks for looking!  April

Class Halloween Treats

These are the treats I made for my youngest child's kindergarten class Halloween party.  I used SU Old Olive and layered it with a basic black square trimmed with the Martha Stewart web border punch.  I then stamped it with a spider from Michael's dollar bin in Versamark and used purple Adirondak embossing powder and heat set.  Next was a white gel pen to make the thread the spider hangs from and Whisper White craft ink to stamp the sentiment from an acrylic October set from Michael's dollar bin.  On the back side, I used a curved die tool to make the notches to hold a coupon for a free item at McDonalds.  (Every year McD's sells these coupon booklets to raise money for their Ronald McDonald House charity.)  I figured they would be full of yummy treats from their party and trick-or-treating, so this would be a fun little thing for later on.  Thanks for looking!  April

close up

front & back

Fall Retro-Fresh

This is for TGF's September RetroFresh challenge. 

The base is Whisper White with layers of Recollections cranberry, SU Marina Mist and American Crafts papers.  The edge is punched with a Martha Stewart border punch and there is yellow baker's twine with an SU retired "genuine" brad.  The leaf and acorn are extras I had stamped from the SU Day of Gratitude set.  I crumpled the leaft and mounted it with a dimensional.  The images are from TGF's Special Autumn and colored with copic.  I stamped them within the polariod image from Lawn Fawn's Say Cheese set.  The photo background is inked with SU Soft Sky and the clouds were made from a scalloped circle punch that was inked around.  The sentiment is also from the Lawn Fawn set.  Thanks for looking!  April

Need a Lift?

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday Pink Challenge.
The base is Whisper White with layers of Whisper White, pink bubbles patterned paper and a scrap of winter white I had left from another project.  The image is TGF's Anya Lifts and is colored in copic.  Her shirt and balloons are paper pieced.  There is white gel pen details for her freckles and on the balloons.  I wanted to keep it pretty flat for mailing, so there are no other embellishments besides the border punch from Martha Stewart and the full heart punch from SU.  The sentiment is from the same Anya set.  Thanks for looking!  April

Beware

This is for Anyone for Anya's Boy, Deconstructed Sketch #71, Simon Says Anything Goes, and Pixie Dust Studio's color challenges.
The base is Old Olive with layers of basic black, pumpkin pie, and retired SU halloween DP.  Card is based on Deconstructing Jen's latest sketch.  The image is TGF's My Guy Ian and it is the first time I have tried the borderless coloring.  I am not overly thrilled but may try it again and see how it turns out.  I used a black multiliner for the face and to sharpen some of the hair and shirt collar.  I also used a white gel pen for the shirt pattern.  The border is Martha Stewart web punch.  The ribbon is satin from Michael's and the charm is a left over from last Halloween.  I know the colors are halloween-ish, but I think it makes a great teen boy card.  Thanks for looking!  April


close up of image

Vintage birthday

This is for Anyone for Anya's Movie and Simon Says Anything Goes challenges.  I decided to make a card inspired by the musical Newsies made in the 1990's with a very young Christian Bale.
The base is kraft with layers of Early Espresso, vintage Graphic 45, Bazzill vintage newsprint, and Prima's Printery papers.  I also used Early Espresso baker's twine, paper flower, Tim Holtz film strip, and vintage buttons with the shank cut off.  The border is Martha Stewart.  The image is TGF's OA Journey, colored in copic, then embossed with a thick clear emboss powder then cracked.  Thanks for looking!  April

TGF Little Sprouts Challenge, part 2

Here is my daughter's entry for the TGF's Little Sprouts challenge. 



close-up of Sheldon, Penny & Leonard

Maggie is 12 years old and loves nerdy science stuff.  One of her favorite shows is The Big Bang Theory and she made a SMASH page using pics online, some doodles, and made her own Sheldon, Penny and Leonard using TGF's Later Skater Ian, Miss Anya Lounge, and Special Autumn Ian.  They are colored in colored pencil and Leonard's glasses are drawn in with a multiliner. 
Be sure to get your kids and join in on the fun at TGF!  Thanks for looking!  April

TGF's Little Sprouts challenge

So the fabulous ladies at The Greeting Farm have cooked up a little fun for our creative kiddos out in blogland.  TGF is inviting Little Sprouts to show their TGF creations in two catagories - those 9 and under and those 10 and up.  My kids love to make things and have gotten into SMASHbooks as much as I have.  Both of my older two children were all over this as soon as I showed them the challenge. 

First, I have Alex's creation.  Alex is 9 years old and decided to SMASH his hobbies featuring TGF's Karate Ian, Cute Troop Ian, and Soccer Ian.  He colored them with colored pencils and used some stickers I had laying around, as well as doodling, to complete his page.
Stay tuned for my daughter's posting.  Thanks for looking and be sure to add your little sprout's creations to the fun!  April

hb2u

This is for Simon Says emboss it and TGF's Farm Fresh Friday recipe challenge.  The recipe includes the following: 1) must have a boy, 2) birthday themed, 3) use turquoise, orange, and silver. 
The base is grey from Recollections with layers of Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, and Pumpkin Pie DP from SU's retired Pawsitively Prints.  I used the ticket corner punch on the mat layers.  The white border is punched with SU's scallop border and layered with a strip of Tempting Turquoise that has been stamped with images from the retired SU Extreme Elements set in Tempting Turquoise and Versamark, then embossed with metallic silver powder.  The "hb" is chipboard from Basic Grey and has a scrap of polka dot grosgrain from Michael's tied to it.  The "2u" is from a leftover set I had in my stash.  The image is TGF's OA Surprise and is colored in copic markers.  Thanks for looking!  April

Flutter Hello

This is for TGF FFF Brights and Mojo Monday #258 challenges.

 

The base is Whisper White with layers of scrap green from Scrap Around the Block and Recollections.  The border is a Martha Stewart punch and the purple is some $1 ribbon from Michaels.  I cut the scallop and circle from nestabilities, then stamped the TGF Splotchy Background in retired SU Green Galore and Blush Hello in Tim Holtz Distress ink in Broken China.  I mounted the circle on dimensionals before placing on the scalloped circle.  The image is TGF's Flutter Anya, colored in copic with details of Sukura Stardust clear gel pen.  The finishing touches are a few clear skittles bubbles.  Thanks for looking!  April

close up of stardust glitter in hair

gift card set

I know it's not the brightest colors, but the patterns are cheery, so why not?  The directions for the mini magazine holder was found here.  The holder is made from Old Olive with layers of Blushing Bride and retired SU Pawsitively Prints. 
The card base is Very Vanilla with layers of Blushing Bride, Old Olive and Pawsitvely Prints.  The images are from TGF's Sitting Casual and Sitting Cute.  I stamped them on the matching Pawsitvely Prints DP and paper pieced.  The sentiments stamped on Very Vanilla and are from SU's Whimsical Words.  All stamping is done with Timber Brown Staz-On.  I also made an insert for the pen and matching seals from the pillow stamp and scraps of the DP, then running it through the Xyron sticker maker.  Because they are part of a gift set, I wanted to keep them pretty flat to make mailing easier.  Simple, but sweet.  Thanks for looking!  April

Boo 2 You!

This is for Mojo Monday #257 and Pixie Dust Studio's Boo challenges.

The base is Old Olive with layers of retired SU halloween paper, Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black.  The border is Martha Stewart's web and the image is mounted on a scalloped circle from nestabilities.  The image is PDS Pixie Boo and is colored with copics.  The ghosts were colored a second time, but out, frosted with clear glitter for a more translucent look and mounted with dimensionals.  Pixie has a orange satin bow.  The ribbon is a satin checkered ribbon from Michael's.  I hand wrote the sentiment and trimmed the notch, before curling the end.  Thanks for looking!  April

Good Witch or Bad Witch?

This is for Pixie Dust Studio Halloween challenge. 
The base is kraft with layers of basic black and 7 Gypsies Venice papers.  I distressed and ripped the top layer for interest.  The strip is a scrap of matching paper and mounted on a piece of black that is punched with the Martha Stewart web border, then wrapped with some jute twine.  The base layers are sprayed with Silver Foil smooch spritz.  The clock is made with the Tim Holtz weathered clock die and is spritzed with Emerald smooch that has a golden sheen.  The image is PDS Good Witch or Bad Witch with it's matching sentiment, colored with copic, and cut with nestibilities classic circle.  I inked it in Tim Holtz distress inks in burlap, tea dye, and vintage photo.  It is mounted on a scalloped circle, before being mounted with dimensionals.  I also cut a second pair of the shoes and coated them in red glitter.  (Gotta pay homage to Wicked and The Wizard of Oz, of course!)

close up of shoes

So, I finished it, and then found these great vintage die cuts from K & Co...oh yea, the bike!  Yea, I added it then had to go back and take another picture.  I am not sure which I prefer, but it looks good both ways.  Thanks for looking!  April

White Out!

This is for TGF's FFF White Out and Simon Says Put a Stamp on It, and Deconstructed Sketch #67 challenges. 

The entire card is made with Stampin' Up's Whisper White cardstock.  I used several layers mixed with Cuttlebug's domino and Swiss Dots embossing folders for texture.  The tag is hand cut and stamped with TGF's Sitting Casual embossed with black powder.  I added a white eyelet at the top of the tag.  The sentiment is from Michael's dollar bin and embossed with black powder, then mounted with dimensionals.  Super simple, but dramatic.  Thanks for looking!  April

Pixie goes to School

Like all parents, I am doing the happy dance cuz my kids are all officially in school...even the baby of our family!  This card is for Pixie Dust Studios Back to School challenge.

The card base is snow white with layers of black, sunny yellow, and brick red.  I used my new brick embossing folder that I tapped with Whisper White craft ink to fill in the grooves.  The border punch is from EK Success.  I decided to go "green" by using scraps of school paper and a die in my odds and ends bucket.  The journal tag is from a school self adhesive die set I got on clearance at Michael's and the sticker is a left over from the Preschool stickers I have.  The image is PDS Pearl of Wisdom, colored in copic with touches of white gel pen.  I wanted to give her a funky, Magic Schoolbus kind of teacher.  Thanks for looking!  April

Baseball SMASH

I just love baseball!  I don't seek out the games, but if I stumble on my favorite team playing, I'll watch.  I also love baseball movies...from Eight Men Out to A League of Their Own to The Sandlot, I love them all.  This is for Anyone for Anya's "Anything but a card" challenge.

I started the SMASH page by cutting dies from Cricut's Sports Mania cartridge.  I cut "Baseball", the ball, and grass under the player's feet.  The nifty thing is, I cut one I decided was too big, but ended up using it as a stencil to ink onto the page.  It was a neat way to add texture without adding bulk, as my poor book is already busting at the seams.  I added a subtitle in gel pen on the title and printed posters of some of my fav baseball movies.  I also added a quote from Walt Whitman and tucked my favorite monologue from Bull Durham into the pocket.  The quote is printed on a self stick school tag set and used the SMASH labeller.  I cut the title off the top of a sheet from the Quotes SMASH pad for the title on the pocket.  The MVP list is my favorite movies/characters/teams of baseball and is from the Entertainment SMASH pad.  The Braves & Dodgers emblems I found online....the Braves are my favorite team and the Dodgers were the first baseball game I ever went to see and it's where I grew up.  Last, the character is Catcher Anya from The Greeting Farm and is colored in copic, with a few details of Sakura Stardust clear gel pen.  Thanks for looking!  April

SMASH featured on K&Co blog!

Some of my SMASH pages are featured on today's SMASHblog posting!  What fun.  Hope over and take a look at some of the great pages others have made.  Some of the stamps used feature TGF and Pixie Dust Studio and are some of my favorite designs.  Hurray!  I will be submitting more soon.  Thanks for looking!  April
P.S.  Looks like the SMASHblog not longer exists.  Oh well.

Hooo loves you? SMASH

Here is a SMASH of my three kids.  As soon as I saw Rebecca's owls, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them!  I printed them in two different sizes and mounted them on a branch I found on the Cricut Pagoda cartridge, cutting with Early Espresso and Pumpkin Pie.  I altered it a bit by cutting one of the branches a bit and off-setting the leaves for interest.  I can't swear where I printed the tickets from but I think they are also Rebecca's.  I will probably go back and do some doodling later on.  Each child's name, birthdate, and vitals are handwritten then punched with the decorative label punch from SU and mounted under their photos.  The journalling is written on a piece from the Family SMASH pad.  The titling is stamped with Timber Staz-On using CTMH's giggle lower case and Inkadinkado's lower case.  The heart is Real Red punched with SU's retired full heart.  Thanks for looking!  April