SNS Birthday Bash Challenge with a Fabulous Prize!!!!!

Well hello there fellow crafters!!!!  I hope you have been enjoying the month long Birthday Bash over at Sketch N Scrap!  I stopped by the blogs the other day and let me tell you...  There are some AMAZING projects from some VERY talented designers!!!  If you haven't had a chance to check out the challenges yet (and all the yummy prizes!!), there's still time!!!!  All the challenges are listed on the right hand side of the SNS Blog!

Any who...  I'm here today to share my very own challenge with you!  Since we are celebrating a birthday, I decided to make my challenge all about balloons or pinwheels!!!  Yep...  It's really that easy!! Just add balloons or pinwheels to ANY TYPE OF PROJECT and link it up below! 

One LUCKY participant will win a $20.00 Gift Certificate to the Frosted Designs Store!!!!  WOO HOO!!!!!!!  

I will also provide a small RAK to one person (selected at random) from the comments on this post!!!! (scroll to bottom of post for details!!!!!)

 

Now...  Here's a couple of Projects I created to get you inspired:

Simple Birthday Card with Crate Paper

First, is a simple card I made using hand-cut balloons and a simple sentiment!  Here's a look:

I used an old Crate paper line I had lying around.  It's one of my go-to paper pads for birthdays!!!! 

I started by layering up some papers and adding white Bazzil cardstock for a non-busy background.  I cut the chevron pattern from a paper in the pad and attached them to the front of the card! 

I fussy cut one of the elements from the collection and stamped a simple sentiment in green ink!  I also wrapped some grey twine around the card!

And of course... Balloons!!!!  I hand cut some balloons out of the pattern papers and used pop-dots to adhere them to the card base!  I added more of the grey twine to serve as the strings!  

I finished the card with a small rhinestone and tiny wood stars!

Exploding Box Birthday Card with Crate Paper

Next up is an exploding box card!!!  I've been seeing these all over the place and finally gave it a shot!  It was actually quite simple and I may post a tutorial on my blog soon!  

Here's a look:

Isn't it just adorable?!?  And it would make the perfect little box for any birthday boy or girl!!!

I started with Neenah Kraft cardstock as my base and made all my score lines.  Then, I cut out my pattern papers in the desired sizes and inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  I attached all the pattern papers and folded up my box!  I added in my inserts and attached tiny strips of acetate (three pieces layered atop each other then cut down to size) to the inside of them.  

I hand cut my balloons and used my Cricut Explore to cut the letters from coordinating paper, then attached all the pieces to the acetate strips with a small amount of super glue!

I fussy cut one of the elements from the paper pad with the Happy Birthday Sentiment already on it and adhered it using pop-dots!

I had to make sure my box worked the way it was supposed to so I folded it up by simple pushing down on the center.  This is how it will look when taken from the envelope!

You could also attach the sides down if you prefer to store it on a shelf, or leave it as is!

I'm certainly glad I gave this a shot and I will certainly be making more of these in my very near future!!!

Now I bet you want to know how to get your hands on that fabulous prize?!?!?  IT'S EASY!!!!  

1.  You must be a follower of my blog AND the Sketch N Scrap blog to be entered to win!

 

2.   Complete a project (ANY TYPE OF PROJECT!!!!!) with balloons or pinwheels!!!!  You can add embellishments, hand cut some out, use pattern paper with balloons or pinwheels on it, or use ribbon with balloons or pinwheels printed right on it...  GET CREATIVE!!  

 

3.  Link up your project below by 11:59 p.m. on JUNE 15TH!!!!!!  Your project must be newly created as of May 24th and cannot be combined with any other challenges for Sketch N Scrap!  In order to be eligible for the prize, you MUST link back to my blog or the SNS blog!!!  No exceptions!!!

I will have a random draw of all the participants via Random.org and post the winner of the Frosted Designs Gift Certificate on my blog on June 16th!  I will also choose someone at random from the comments on this post to receive a small RAK!!!  You MUST be a follower of my blog and the SNS blog to be entered!!!!

 

4.  HAVE FUN!!!!  After all, that's what this is all about :-)

 

Well gang...  Thanks so much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)

 

"Homespun" Gratitude Projects for Teacher Appreciation Week!!!

Hello out there to all my crafty friends!!!  We celebrated Teacher Appreciation week earlier this month and I made quite a few things to show my gratitude!!!  My daughter's teacher is absolutely amazing and it has truly been a pleasure working with her this year!  I can only hope that each year will be the same :-)

Altered Mason Jar 

Aside from sending in some standard school supplies that were needed in the classroom, I made some items sure to put a smile on the teacher's face!  She's a fan of Starburst candies and gum.  I had a mason jar lying around that was begging for some attention so I decided to put it to good use!

Here's a look at the finished jar with the Starburst candies inside:

I used the Simple Stories "Homespun" collection from the Frosted Designs Store for most of the projects.  I just love the patterns and colors!  I cut some strips, inked the edges, and wrapped them around the jar.

I created the sentiment in Powerpoint, printed it in red ink, then attached it to the top of one of the doilies in the die-cut pack.  I used pop-dots to add it to the front of the jar for dimension!

I finished the jar with a couple more pieces of paper and some red twine!

See how sweet life can be?!?!  Hahaha!!!!

 "Exploding" Box!!!

The next project was a very simple "exploding box" that I found while browsing the web for ideas!  I didn't have any directions but it looked pretty self-explanatory!

I started by cutting down a piece of cardstock to 9x9.  I scored it at 3 and 6 inches (3 inches for the center and sides!), then turned it 90 degrees and did the same!  Then, I cut off the four "outside" squares to leave just the center of the box and four side.  I taped some gum packs to the sides, then folded it up!

For the lid, I cut a piece of cardstock to 4x4 inches, then scored at one-half inch and 3.5 inches (this gives you a three inch center and half inch for all the sides!).  Then, just as I did for the box, I turned the paper 90 degrees and did the same.  There you have it!!  Easy as that!!! 

Now once the lid is removed, the sides fall out to show the wonderful goodies on the inside!!  Sweet!!!!

 Chalkboard Canvas Board

Now, the last project...  Yes, I really did save the best project for last!!  I created a wall hanging for the teacher to add to her wall décor in the class! 

Here's a look:

I LOVE it!!!  This took some time to do only because I had to wait for the paint and other mediums to dry over and over again.  Patience is not my strong suit when crafting so this was a challenge for me!!!!  Hahahaha!!!! 

I started by priming my canvas board with gesso, then adding several coats of Chalkboard paint (having to wait for them to dry in between!).

After drying was complete, I used the white uni-ball pen in store to create hand-drawn borders around the canvas.   

I mixed up some Luminarte Paint in "Wild Rose" and molding paste to create a colored texture for the canvas.  I used the "Live, Love, Laugh" stencil in the "Simply Sweet" kit from Frosted Designs and added my mixture over top!  Once that was dry, I outlined it with the white uni-ball pen for added detail.

I created other colors of molding paste using Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals to create the flower stem and butterfly.  Using my hot glue gun, I attached a Kaisercraft bloom (pink) to the top of the flower stem for a 3D effect!!  Love it!!!

While everything was drying, I used my Cricut Explore to create a stencil of the teacher's name.  Then I carefully traced inside the stencil lines with the same white pen to finish the piece!!!

 

There you have it!!!  A multitude of gifts to show a small token of my appreciation for such an amazing teacher!!!  God bless her and all the wonderful teachers in this world!!! 

Well gang...  Thanks so much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)