Fancy Prints Giveaway!!

One of the blogs I follow is 33 Shades of Green. Today, they are hosting another giveaway from Fancy Prints Etsy shop!!

I entered with high hopes (and with no chance due to my bad luck!) of winning one of these:


It would make a PERFECT housewarming gift!

I also love this one that would make a fantastic bridal shower, wedding or anniversary gift!



I love that the colors on any of her prints can be changed to match any decor/wedding colors that you choose!

Well, cross your fingers for me! and if you've entered the contest too.......?

if you win, I'll be HIGHLY jealous!!! and I just might cry!!!! LOL

Hang on to your hats - we're playing along with the Caardvarks!

O.M.Goodness - you may want to put on a pair of sunglasses!! I think this is going to be a whole lotta pink!!!!

The Hybrid Chick Caravan is finally back on the road and we've stopped at the Caardvark's blog to play along with this week's challenge.

The challenge is to create a gift card/money holder (what a great challenge for this time of the year huh?).

I created my gift card holder after seeing (and buying!) a very simple and plain version of this gift card holder. (Yes, I'm the type that sees things that I want to re-create, buy them and the take them apart so I can make my own.)

Here's my gift card holder:

my gift card holder open (sporting a yummy gift card for Starbucks! Yum!!):



and a close up of the trendy paper roses I am trying so hard (but failing) to master:


I created my gift card holder using JenN {squared}'s Fun-a-delic {papers} - JenN {squared} is the collab effort between Designs by Jen Yurko and Jenn from Joyful Heart Designs. I also used The Cutting Files Paper Roses template and a sentiment from Elise's Pieces Designs Seasons of Love: wordart.

additional supplies: Epson presentation paper, Sizzix Big Shot, scallop circle die, Fiskars 1/8" hole punch, scallop trim border punch from Stampin' Up!, leaves created using the wing from the Stampin' Up! Bird punch,tombow adhesive tape runner, Zots glue dots, white brad and flat back pearl from Joann Fabrics

All in all, I'm very pleased with how my gift card holder turned out and I can't wait for an occasion to give it away!

Now it's your turn to play along! and if you do, link me up so I can see what you've created!!

thanks for stopping by!

A card challenge card!!

Happy Saturday to you!

Just a quick drive-by posting today with a card for Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central.

The challenge was to create a black and yellow card. My favorite STEELER colors! Go Black and Gold!!!!

Here is my card made using Trixie Scraps Designs' Defining Me digital kit:



Additional supplies: Big Shot, Scallop circle and circle dies, Black cardstock and wordart rub-on from Stampin' Up!,
black brads from Joann Fabrics, black ink to ink the edges, white gel and black glitter pen, Tombow adhesive runner, pop dots

I adore how this card turned out!!!!

That's it for me today - have a good one!!!

Hybrid Frankenstein box

Wow...it's been a while since I posted.

I thought I'd share with you a Frankenstein box that I created.

Now, there are a ton of different Frankenstein boxes all over the internet but I thought I'd give making one a shot and share with you how I made mine.

First I started off with Kelleigh Ratzlaff's Top Heavy box template:


I printed the lines onto white computer paper. After cutting out the paper template, I used it as a template to trace around on my black cardstock. Cut and score all the lines of the black cardstock piece.

Assemble using double sided tape on the side tab to form the box. Assemble the bottom of the box - glue the bottom flaps so that you don't lose the goodies that you stash inside!

Paperclip a green digital paper to one side of Kelleigh's template. I chose Elise's Pieces Designs' Spooky kit for the green paper and the stitches in the kit.


I used the transform option in PSE to manipulate the digital paper so that the already-inked sides of Elise's paper lined up with the sides of Kelleigh's template. Next, I added a few digital stitches to my Frankenstein face.

Print the green paper with the stitches. I also printed extra green paper so that I could create Frankenstein's eyes.

Adhere Frankenstein's face to one side of your assembled box.

Create his eyes by cutting out 2 white circles, 2 smaller black cardstock circles and one larger green circle cut in half to form his eyelids. (I used my nestibilities dies and my Big Shot). Adhere to Frank's face - I used my Tombow adhesive tape runner.

For his nose, I cut an oval shape from black cardstock. Add to Frank's face.

I drew Frank's mouth on in pencil and then used a black sharpie to go over my lines.

To create Frank's hair, I eyeballed and cut a strip of black cardstock. Cut some notches in the strip. (This is when I would have loved to have Martha Stewart's drippy punch or grass punch!!!)

Attach Frankenstein's hair to the box.

Hot glue an eyelet on each side of the box (I would have LOVED to have 2 miniature wood flower pots to paint and hot glue for the bolts!! I did that in the past for a Frankenstein glass block light I made - it was perfect!!!)

Optional: I cut a narrow strip of black cardstock and attached it with brads to the top of the box.

Optional: I sewed a button on the back of the box and hot glued gold cording to the underside of the flap to keep the box closed when held by the handle.


Wouldn't he be cute greeting your kids at breakfast Halloween morning???

That's it for me - hope you enjoyed my little Frankenstein box!

Card Patterns Sketch 78

This week the Hybrid Chick Caravan is stopping to participate in the Card Patterns Sketch 78 challenge.

I have to say this sketch really had me puzzled as to what to do with it but in the end I am happy with how my card turned out.

Here's this week's sketch:



and my card based on the sketch:


I'm not a flower-girl but I like how the flower looks on here with the ribbon.

Card Credits:

• Digital stamp from Quirky Twerp

• Digital papers from The Digichick's Every Life Has a Story mega collab kit

• Stampin' Up!: brown card stock, ribbon, button and rub-on

• Bazzill: flowers

• Tombow adhesive tape runner

So, how about following the Caravan and playing along with us? We'd love to see what you do with the sketch!!

Another card??? I can't stop myself!

Yepp, I'm back again today with another card! Not sure where this creativity is coming from but... I LIKE IT!!!

I have really began to look forward to the Taylored Expressions sketch challenges - the creativity just flows. I like to take their sketch and create a template based on their sketch. The whole process of creating the template gets me thinking about how I am going to use it.

I'm the type of person who needs to "think" about what I am going to create before I actually start. If I try to create without thinking it through, it usually turns out to be a disaster.

But anyway, here is the sketch from Taylored Expressions:


and here is my card based on the sketch:


I used Erica Zane's EZ Wishes digital kit - and those of you who have never tried printing and using digital papers and elements with your traditional stamp supplies really need to give it a try!



That's it for me for today - have some things to do so that I can go to our local Relay for Life. Last year, I bought my daughter a beautiful green bracelet with a silver bead with "Hope" on it. Hoping to score either a pink or blue one for myself - maybe with "Love" on it.

I am, after all, really a romantic at heart and totally believe in the theory of everyone having a soul mate. Sappy, I know. I can't help it. I'll let you know how it goes!

Clean & Simple 102

Happy Friday evening! Back again with a card that went together so fast - a card for the Clean & Simple blog sketch challenge.

Here's the sketch:


and here's what I came up with using Wimpychompers Creations' Dog-gone Cute digital kit from ScrapMatters.




The saying is one that I found online - it reads: Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about little puppies.

The card is completely digital, including the "inking" of the edges of the card.

That's it for me this evening - unless I decide to make a kitty version! *wink wink*

Mojo Monday 150

Hey there - thanks for stopping by!

Today's post is going to be a short one - it's 1:40am here and I need to get to bed so that I get up at 6:30am.

The Hybrid Chick Caravan made it's third stop at the Mojo Monday blog to participate in their sketch challenge.

Here's the sketch we're playing with this week:


When I first saw this sketch, I knew I wanted to use Elise's Pieces Designs newest digital kit Garden Fresh. I just loved the mix of browns and greens in the kit.



My card came out much different than I had envisioned in my head. I know I should have inked the edges but wasn't sure what color to use to do it.



Additional supplies:
MFT Die-namics big scallop border
green cardstock, flower rub-ons, and white rub-on dots from Stampin' Up!
Natural colored cardstock used for matting by Red River Paper
corner rounder punch
tombow adhesive runner
craft essential ribbon

I'm still learning this whole stamping thing but am starting to see an improvement in the overall design and in the end result. They are no where near "prize" worthy but through practice each card should continue to show improvement. My cards lack that WOW! factor....

I need to keep taking a close look at other cards and ask questions. and....learn to take some constructive criticism so that I can learn and improve even more.

Taylored Expressions Sketch challenge #122

Thank goodness it's almost Friday! What a day I've had - actually it was yesterday since it's 12:10am here.

Had a vision appointment Monday evening, woke up Tuesday AM with my right eye bothering me, blew it off to not having worn a contact in that eye for quite a while but woke up this morning to stabbing hot pains in my eye. And my eye kept watering and watering.

Now, I'm not one to run to the doctors but by the end of my work day I knew I needed it checked. So I stopped to see my eye doctor. And lo and behold, it ended up I had a teeny piece of plastic or glass IN my eye. Not floating around in there, but actually in my cornea. The doctor said when he removed it that it left an indentation in my cornea. it'll heal but still hurts like a dickens!

Enough boring tales from me - today I played along with Taylored Expressions sketch challenge #122. Here's this week's sketch:


and here's what I came up with off the sketch:
Supplies:
Strike! digital scrapbook kit by The Design Girl
A little Offset alphabet by Christy Lyle
font: 2Peas Gimme Coffee
Black card stock and round corner punch from Stampin' Up!
Tombow adhesive tape runner

I made that little pink shape behind the ball using a preset shape in my Photoshop program.

I really like how this turned out! That's it for me today - see you soon with another posting. Maybe I'll get ambitious and create something other than a card!!! LOL

2 Sketches 4 You sketch challenge

Happy Wednesday to you!

This week, the Hybrid Chick Caravan has traveled to the 2 Sketches 4 You blog to participate in their sketch challenge. Let's get right to it!

Here is the sketch we're playing along with:



And here's my card based on the sketch - I went a very simple route with my card:

I'm still very much a beginner at all of this stamping stuff. I tried Sylvia's inking technique on the edge of my brown patterned paper and then used a sanding block to distress the edges. She's always very kind to answer questions from this newbie - thanks Sylvia!!!

The flower was created using a new to me technique I found on the Ribbon Flowers blog - I used a wood burning tool to help create this flower.

It's not apparent on the photo but the bottom half of the card is embossed with soft and subtle dots.

Supplies used:

• Sketch: 2 Sketches 4 You blog

• Digital Scrapbooking kit: Friends are Forever by Creations by Rachel - avail. at The Digichick on 7/29

• Stampin' Up!: Kraft cardstock, brown satin ribbon, button, twine, leaf stamp, corner rounder punch, Swiss dots embossing folder, Big Shot

• Hampton Art: "thinking of you" foot longs stamps

• Misc.: tombow adhesive tape runner, Zots adhesive dots, Tim Holtz Distressing ink - Vintage,
  

So, join the Caravan - use the sketch to create your own card. Upload it to the 2 Sketches 4 You blog and don't forget to link us to your card on the Hybrid Chick Caravan facebook group so we can leave you some luv!

Taylored Expressions sketch challenge

Happy Saturday everyone! It's a beautiful July summer day here in PA! Good thing because I have a family reunion to go today!

So, Thursday I hinted that there was something new coming to The Hybrid Chick - today (hopefully!) all will be revealed. So keep checking over there for the announcement....

I played along with Taylored Expressions sketch challenge #121. Here is their sketch:


The Sketch Crew over there came up with some really beautiful and unique cards based on the sketch. I went a more whimsical route.

Supplies: Happyland digital kit by Madame Wing, Staples double sided matte presentation paper, pop dots, Stampendous! glitter on the wings, Stampin' Up! Embosslits Beautiful wings die, hello stamp from SU! Hello again set, SU! Pixie Pink and Silver metallic inks

My supply of stamps are very limited as I am just starting out. I joined a monthly Stampin' Up! card club which met from last September until June of this year. It was a lot of fun and a great way to be introduced into stamping. I mostly stocked up on tools - punches, inks, sizzlits, etc. Now I wish I had purchased more stamps!!

This card is actually only the very second time I used one of my stamps and ink here at home. I was hesitant to break out the stamps and get them dirty. LOL

I can already see why stamping is addictive - you want more and more choices to use to create! And I'm with Sharyn - I need some Copic markers now!

Everything but the Kitchen Sink sketch challenge #19

Well, as far as creating cards, I've had a dry spell with the ole mojo.

But as soon as I saw the card sketch challenge posted on Everything but the Kitchen Sink, the creativity sparked a little!

Here's their sketch:


and here is what I created based on their sketch:

Not bad for my first time paper piecing!!! I used papers from ScrapMuss Designs' Music of my Memories kit from over at ScrapMatters to paper piece the to go cup.



Additional hybrid supplies used: Staples Double sided Matte Presentation paper, Scallop oval Nestibilities,
Sizzix Big Shot, Latte Love stamps from Fiskars, twine, dot rub-ons, black ink and brown ribbon from Stampin' Up!, Tim Holtz' distress ink - vintage photo, pop dots.

and that's it from me for today - but stay tuned (all 1 of my readers LOL) for a new adventure for me and few of my fellow Hybrid Chicks from The Digichick! It'll all be unveiled on Saturday, July 17th on the Hybrid Chick blog!

Curious??? check out The Hybrid Chick on Saturday!!!

It's a ScrapMatters iNSD Blog Train

Just a very quick posting from me this morning!

If you are here for the Blog Train - Welcome!!You should be arriving from Amber's stop on the train http://ambersscrapspot.blogspot.com/ .

If you have arrived here and haven't been following the train, make sure you go to the ScrapMatters blog to start the train so that you aren't missing any of the goodies that will be available on this train!

Here is the preview of my blog train stop freebie:

*Sorry - but the blog train is over and the link has been removed*

This freebie coordinates with the printable that I created using the ScrapMatters Design Team collab "Moments that Matter"


The printable set that the Hybrid Team and Designers put together as a Free with Purchase:


I call my printable a "Will you be my....?" box - I thought it would be a super cute way for the Bride-to-Be to ask her friends or family to be her bridesmaid/maid of honor/matron of honor. My blog freebie could be printed out and added to the top of the box to "pop" it off to make it more 3D.

The box from the outside:


and here's what the inside would look like assembled:


This was really easy to put together and it could be changed to whatever color you'd like just by changing the buttons.

Supplies needed to put this box together: Adhesive of choice, ribbon of choice, buttons of choice, glue dots.

First, print (on your printer's best print settings - I highly recommend Red River paper for printing your projects or Epson Matte Presentation Paper for the best color), cut all pieces and assemble the box.

Punch holes in the journal tabs that spell out "Will you", "be my", "bridesmaid" or other wedding party postion and then the "Say Yes!" tab.

Next, cut a length of ribbon atleast 12 inches long. Slide the journal tabs onto the ribbon and space to your liking. Leave a couple of inches at the top so that you can adhere it to the inside of the box lid with a glue dot.

Then I strung thin twine through the buttons from the front to the back and tied the buttons to the ribbon just above each tab.

Trim the bottom of your ribbon.

And there you have it - a fun way to ask a friend or a family member to take part in your special day!

Hope you enjoy it! Your next stop on the blog train is the Fabulous Jenna http://www.sweetazshooga.com

If you get lost along the way, you can go back and start at the ScrapMatters blog

Happy Saturday to you!

Hey there - welcome back! I have a few new cards and a project to share with you today.

First up is this card I created using Wimpychompers Creations' You Make Me Bananas kit and a border from Britt-ish Designs' Doodlie-Do Page Borders (which I use ALL the time on my projects!!!!)



Next up is another card I created using a new technique that I found in the resource section at Splitcoast Stampers - creating a brick wall. I used ViVa Artistry's Altered: Stoked kit.



This card made it to the Gallery Standouts site - which is indeed an honor!!!

My box of cards that I am making (and collecting at card swaps at my monthly Stampin' Up! card club) is filling up FAST this year!!!

One last project that I have to share with you today is this one - which at first I didn't like how it turned out. But the more I see the photo, the more I like it!



Don't you just love how girly it looks with the maribou?

Tip: use a low temp hot glue gun to attach the maribou to your projects.

Credits for this project are Simply J Studio Fry Box Template and Sya Blueprints and Juno Designs collab A Different Kind of Love

Well, that's it for me on the sunny warm Saturday in PA - it's almost time for the Hockey game! Go Pens!!!

3/29 It's a Blog Hop featuring Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs!

Oh my....has it really been 4 1/2 months since my last blog post? Yepp...it sure has. What better way to get back into blogging than to join in on a blog hop!!!

Kelleigh Ratzlaff's Creative Team at The Digichick is having a hop (appropriate for this time of the year huh? LOL). There are 22 extremely creative artists joining in on the fun!

One lucky hopper (that's you!) will win a $10 gift certificate to Kelleigh's store just for commenting on her blog post with your vote for your favorite Creative Team project from the hop. One lucky Creative Team member will win $10 in PayPal cash for earning the most votes!! The Blog Hop contest winners will be announced on Thursday, April 8th on Kelleigh's blog.

So, what did I make? Well, one of my favorite things to do is to take a template and "do it" differently than it was intended. Earlier this month on The Hybrid Chick, I turned Kelleigh’s Heart Purse template into a Bridal shower/wedding favor. Make sure you check it out! Almost makes me wish I was getting married again.....almost!!!!

So for Kelleigh's blog hop, I decided to use her Take-Out box template.



I also used Lil Dude by Jennifer Fox, Nikki Epperson, and Melissa Bennett to create my project. I just love the papers in this collab!!!



and here is what I created:





and yes, that really is Kelleigh's Take-Out Box template!!! Wanna know how I made this using that template?

First I opened Kelleigh's large sized Take-Out Box template. I worked with the "lines only" layer - hide or delete all other layers. Next I erased the lines that would create the top flaps of the box. Then I rotated the lines layer on the canvas and enlarged it until it was as wide as my canvas. I copy and pasted the lines only layer onto my patterned paper. I changed to color of my score lines to white by adding a new layer over top of the lines, flood filling the new layer with white and then hitting "control + G" to clip the white to my score lines.

Next, I printed a full 8.5 x 11 sheet (borderless) of the green paper from the kit on Epson Matte Double Sided Presentation Paper. Then I turned the presentation paper over and printed a full sheet (borderless) of the patterned paper along with the lines of Kelleigh's template that I changed as above.

After cutting around the edges of my template, I scored all of my dashed lines and creased my scores. The triangular shaped pieces of the template were scored and folded inward instead of outward. On a regular take-out box, the pieces fold outward and then are folded against the outside of the box. This is what it will look like scored and ready to assemble:



Next, I made a faint pencil mark along the fold of each of the triangular shaped pieces and then used my crop-o-dile to punch the holes.



See above photo to see where I positioned the holes on the template.

Next I took one end of some embroidery thread and threaded it through the holes the whole way around twice ending in the same space I began.



After pulling the strings to form my basket, I tied a knot and snipped the loose ends of the thread close to the knot.



To create the handle, I cut a narrow strip of coordinating paper the length I wanted my handle to be. On both ends of my handle, I folded approx. 1/2 inch to the underside. I then punched holes at each end of the handle for the brads.



Positioning the handle on the tightened embroidery floss in the center of the basket, I added the brads to secure the handle in place. Repeat on opposite side.



To finish my project, I decorated the sides of my box/basket and the handle.





And that's my project for the blog hop! Make sure you check out all the stops on the Blog Hop (just keep in mind that those participating are all over the world and in different time zones so be patient and check back later in the day if a post on the list isn't up!)

Here are your Blog Hop Stops:
Kelleigh
Tracy
Sally
Laura
Juli
Julie
Christy
Dana
LuAnn <---You are here!
Jacinda
ViVa
Dalis
Holly
Sharyn
Karen Lewis
Linda
Alice
Mel
Sunghee
Carolina
Debbie
Kim

Don't forget to go back to Kelleigh's blog and leave a comment at the end of her Blog Hop post with your favorite Creative Team project for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to Kelleigh's store.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoy the hop!!