BELLA CREATIONS - APRIL MUSE CHALLENGE

The line up of sponsors at Bella Creations is fantastic.   The image for the April Muse Challenge at Bella Creations is courtesy of GeckoGalz and just gorgeous fun! You want to play with this image too, right?   Here is my Design Team submission;

The prize for this challenge is sponsored by Scraps of Darkness - take a look! 

Check out the details of this challenge at Bella Creations.  Check out Scraps of Darkness for a different kind of kit club!  Don't miss their four new tutorials!

JAPANESE CHIYOGAMI PAPER COVERED EGGS!

I have absolutely fallen in love with  Japanese Chiyogami papers!  Three of us gathered last weekend to learn from our crafty friend Kay Zywicki,  how to cover eggs with these delicious papers.  Thank you Kay for a wonderful introduction to the Chiyogami papers, letting  me take my pick from your stash, sharing your pattern and being oh so patient with us!  E-mail me if you would like the pattern (it really is the magic that makes this work so well!) and a bit of direction!   I bought these egg ornaments in this divided box which I couldn`t resist covering with a piece of faux bois patterned paper and a bit of washi tape.

VINTAGE EASTER IMAGE - GIRL DUCKLING CARD

This is an easy one to print off and create a folding card!  Can't make it any simpler for you!

VINTAGE EASTER IMAGE - EASTER THOUGHTS 1924

"Dear Ula, I hope you'll have lots of eggs to eat on Easter"

I'm not sure that you will get a good copy of the verse but what a sweet image to use on a project!  I have a few of these to share. 

I have missed visiting all of you the last while!  My "day work" has interferred with my papercrafting, imagine.  I can confirm that it is possible to suffer withdrawal from papercrafting!  Thank you so much for continuing to visit me when you weren't hearing anything back from me.  I don't typically respond to all of your comments but I do try to regularly visit your blogs, comment and follow you also.  If you are a follower here and I haven't been to your blog, it could be I couldn't find your site - so do send me an e-mail.  Have a cheery weekend and remember spring is REALLY almost here!

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY! - A PENNANT/CARD

Wishing you a bright and happy St Patrick's Day!

VINTAGE BIRTHDAY CARD - SHIP 1909

Time for a bit of a change.  This 1909 sweetie was to Alfred of Yeagertown, Pennslyvania from Bert of Burnham!

VINTAGE EASTER PHOTO - LITTLE BOY AND CHICK

I adore this photo but maybe that is because "in person" the details are better, I can ignore the spots and folds on this photo because something about this strikes my imagination .  I can see the Easter baskets lined up under the laundry line.  Is that Mom and Auntie in their Sunday best and hats watching the little one with his Easter Chicks?   Maybe this would be a great photo for "Selective Colourization"?

 

COLLAGED EGGS - EASTER BASKET TAGS!

I had so much fun with these.  A couple of quiet hours pawing through my scrap box, looking for ribbon bits and glitter - always glitter!  The backing for these are some egg shaped coasters I scooped out of a hotel room but you could easily draw an egg shape and use any sturdy cardboard or stock you have around.  These are about 5.5 inches high.  Trace onto pp, stack these and cut a ``crack`` with pinking shears - then mix and match!

 These are for McLean, Lucy, Liam, Phoebe, Olivia and Madison who are all 5 and under so nothing too delicate or fussy!

VINTAGE EASTER IMAGE - CALLING CARD HOLDER

This Victorian greeting card is meant to hold your own calling card inside.  Made of surprisingly sturdy chipboard.  An easy to replicate if you are inclined  :)

SPRING IS IN THE AIR AND THERE IS A NEW CONTEST AT GECKO GALZ

There is a new contest all about Spring Time over at Gecko Galz!

Create any paper crafted "Spring Time" item using any of the Gecko Galz Products  and then send a picture of your project to geckogalz@yahoo.com

You don't need to have a blog or even figure out any technical linking thing-a-ma bobs - just send a picture!  Easy!!

The winner will receive a $25 Gift certificate towards the 

Gecko Galz products of your choice!  And the winners design

will be featured on their home page the month of April/May!

The contest ends April 22nd! 

Go check them out!  They offer a lot of cute free images - different ones every month, a design gallery, tutorials and images in so many themes!  Got a question?  These "Gecko Galz" are about the friendliest group you will ever meet.

I have purchased a number of the image files - at $2 each I have a variety of good quality images to play with.

I've entered my Pink Pixie Crepe Paper Tree - those pixies are a Gecko Galz Stamp.  Hope you join me!

VINTAGE EASTER IMAGES - VICTORIAN SCRAP SET

Maybe you will love these as much as I do.  In like new condition these are part of a treasure trove of Victorian scrap I lucked into this summer.

BELLA CREATIONS "UNIQUE CHALLENGE" - MARCH

This month a third main challenge is being introduced at Bella Creations! This "Unique Challenge" is all about technique!  You are provided with easy to follow tutorials and of course there is also an incredible prize!  The technique you are to use for March is Selective Colourization (scrapbooking) or Spotlighting (stamping). 

I have a picture of the prize from The Flying Unicorn on my sidebar but this is more than worthy of a repeat and close-up look!  Do go and check out The Flying Unicorn on-line store - there are some great deals and lots of hard to find treasures!  And don't miss out on inspiration, check out founder/owner Alda Steven's personal blog!

 

Now all you have to do is head over to Bella Creations and show off your own Unique Self!

VINTAGE EASTER IMAGE - HEAVILY EMBOSSED RABBIT

I adore these heavily embossed images which appear to be spray painted.  Who knows how they did that at the turn of the 19th century?

VINTAGE EASTER IMAGES - CHICKS IN A SAUCE PAN, KITTENS PAINTING A HATCHING EGG

A couple of my favorites!  The top one is dated and from 1906.

VINTAGE EASTER IMAGE - FILAGREE CROSS WITH FLOWERS 1920s

 The colors in this are quite subtle and lovely.  I pulled this one out and immediately thought of Shawn, Victoria and Debbie, I hope this is an image you might incorporate into your Easter plans.

VINTAGE EASTER IMAGE - BUNNY WITH SONG BOOK 1924

"It's the songs you sing and the smiles you wear that makes Easter sunshine everywhere."

VINTAGE ST PATRICK'S DAY IMAGE - 1924

There are so many St. Patrick's day images available on the Internet that I have been quite surprised to not find many  for my own collection.  This one is to "Miss Ula" from "Edna".   Even if you don't "lovvvvve" vintage this is an image that updates well.  Enjoy!

A VINTAGE EASTER IMAGE

Don't forget to click on the image and then save the larger image for the best resolution!

WE GOT IT GOING ON AT BELLA CREATIONS!

The second of the three main challenges at Bella Creations is the TRES CHIC Challenge, sponsored in March by the SCRAPS OF DARKNESS Kit Club.   The challenge is to create a project in vintage style using;  a vintage inspired image, the colours navy, khaki and white, a metal embellishment, a butterfly and a ticket.  Here is my Design Team submission:

and the prize!

Wow!  Scraps of Darkness specializes in providing inspiration and encouragement for papercrafters interested in dark layouts but also Steampunk, Grunge and Technique based projects.  Please check out their site for something different.  Take a walk on the wild side!  This uber talented design team provides tutorials and projects that will have you thinking out of the "scrap box"!

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHALLENGE?

Three different main challenges have just been announced for March over at Bella Creations and each with an incredible prize package!  (see my sidebar).  Barely two months since Bella Creations was started by founder Lacee Broyles, the site is quickly becoming "the best papercrafting community site" on the internet already attracting several hundred talented members and some generous sponsors.  (Click on the title of this post or any of the highlighted links to go directly there!)

The Bella Muse Challenge is about taking an image posted by Lacee and creating a project around the image.  It can be any project, you are not limited to a layout or card.  This month's image is one sassy gal and here is my submission as a Design Team member;

This oversized "tag" at approximately 7x10 inches was inspired by a Lisa Pace project from her book "delight in the details".  I can't keep my nose out of that book right now!  Do you remember the song from your childhood "Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy?"   Come on over to Bella Creations and join in the fun!

This challenge is being sponsored by GeckoGalz and here is the incredible prize package offered this month;

GeckoGalz is a unique papercrafting supply store started by artist and designer Leanne Seed.  She offers all of the products that she loves when creating unique papercrafting items;  Ephemera sets in both digi files and prints, acrylic and digi stamps, fibers and embellishments to name a few.  You will  find new free images on offer each month along with a designer and member gallery of inspiration and tutorials!   Leanne's digi files are reasonably priced and with no postage these are a "double deal" - go and check out GeckoGalz!  Do tell Leanne that ``Sandi says hello!``