Think Outside the Box (of paper....)

Do you ever think to yourself, "ew....that doesn't match!" when you're working on a project. I hope I can change your thinking on that subject.

Take a look at these three pieces of cardstock:

http://www.shop.robinsnest-scrap.net/main.sc
Creme Animal Print 
http://www.shop.robinsnest-scrap.net/main.sc
Lodge Cutouts
http://www.shop.robinsnest-scrap.net/main.sc
Wedding Cutouts
You might not think to use them together on a single project since they don't really all go together. But I looked at it a little differently. Just by adding a little color with some colored pencils (I used Spectrum Noir), all three pieces of cardstock magically meshed! And I created this beautiful card!


http://www.chatteringrobins.blogspot.com/

Here is the inside:

http://www.chatteringrobins.blogspot.com/

If you'd like to see the full post on how this was done, head on over to Chattering Robin's and see the full post. Maybe you will have some new ideas on using papers that you never would have thought could go together!

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!



Supplies used:

Note: At the time of writing, Animal Creme Non-Glittered Cardstock was not listed on the store site. It should be available by post date.


Also used:  White cardstock, Adhesive, Twine, Spectrum Noir Colored Pencils

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I'm back!

After a nearly six month hiatus, I am back to crafting! I have been selected to serve on the Design Team for the first half of 2015 for The Robin's Nest, and so you will be seeing more regular posts from me.

Each month, we will follow a theme. For January, the theme is from Helen Keller's quote,  "The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt from the heart."

If that doesn't scream "love", I don't know what does. With that in mind, I chose to do a Valentine Shaker Card.

http://www.rodonner.blogspot.com

And here is a peak at the inside of the card.

http://www.rodonner.blogspot.com

http://www.rodonner.blogspot.com

With the addition of a matching envelope, I ended up with a lovely Valentine Card.

http://www.rodonner.blogspot.com

If you would like to see all the details of how to put together this card, bop on over to The Robin's Nest blog and see the full post on this project.

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!








Supplies Used:


Also used: White cardstock, Black vinyl, Adhesive, Adhesive Foam Tape, Silhouette Cameo, Heart SVG, Acetate

THE ROBIN'S NEST DESIGN TEAM HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

And I am happy to say I have been selected for a third term. 




With a new term comes a new look for my blog too! I am looking forward to sharing all the wonderful products from The Robin's Nest through my designs and those of the other fabulous Design Team Members. Visit The Robin's Nest Blog and see for yourself what's happening!

http://www.chatteringrobins.blogspot.com/


Hope you come play along!

See you very soon!

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!

THE ROBIN'S NEST PROJECT

A 3D Box Card for a Special Surprise!

Hi, all. So glad to be back crafting after such a long time. Followers know that I broke my femur back in the middle of May and have been out of commission. Remember this?

http://rodonner.blogspot.com
OUCH!!!!
Well, I had a craft area where I stood to craft, which left me uncrafting (is that a word?) for way too long. I'm still on a crutch, but have been able to revamp my craft room with a beautiful new desk that I got on clearance at Office Depot (60% off!) and now I can sit and craft to my heart's content. So get ready....

http://www.shop.robinsnest-scrap.net/main.sc


The card I'm featuring today is made with The Robin's Nest cardstock. I love their products and was very happy to be able to play with them again. I am applying for the Design Team again, so here is my project.

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

To start with, I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut a 3D Box Card designed by Samantha Walker. Here is what they pieces look like set up on my screen.

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

I used the TRN Red Classic Swirl for the box part of the card, and TRN Valentine Stripe for the accents.

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

Since the score lines are already cut with the design, all I had to do was fold and add some scoretape.

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

I adhered the accent pieces to the top and inside of the card and assembled the box.

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

It went together so quickly and the papers just pop with each other!

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

Once folded closed, the band goes around to keep it from popping open.

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

I found some cut little stickers in my stash from The Paper Studio called Christmas Holly. I placed them on both the outside and inside of the card.

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

I added a couple more stickers and some green Dew Drops (which are stuck down with Patina Stickles to add a little glitter to them).  This 3D Box Card is perfect to tuck in a gift card or other small item. I think I'll be making several of these for the holiday season.

http://rodonner.blogspot.com


Supplies used for this project:
   Red Classic Glitter Swirl Cardstock by The Robin's Nest
   Valentine Stripe Cardstock by The Robin's Nest
   Green Dew Drops by The Robin's Nest
   3D Box Card by Samantha Walker
   Christmas Holly by Paper Studio
   Patina Stickles
   Scoretape

Wish me luck on the Design Team!

Also, as a bonus, I have included photos of a few other cards I whipped up recently.  Hope you like them!

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

http://rodonner.blogspot.com

Hope you are all inspired and like what I have to share with you today.

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!


WHERE HAVE I BEEN?????

I Took A Trip!


And not the good kind. Not the kind where you take pictures and relax and enjoy yourself.

On May 12th, the wife of my boss/friend passed away unexpectedly. It was a crazy time. I spent the week trying to help him and his sister get everything in order and plan the funeral, all while taking care of business at the office while at his house.

On May 16th, doing my "helping" stuff, I took a trip...down the stairs...well, actually one stair...and totally broke my femur.  Talk about pain!!  I think if I would have screamed a tiny bit louder and higher, I would have shattered the windows like a full-blown opera singer.  It was AWFUL!

Femur Fracture....also see the spiral fracture on the bottom half!
I sat on the stairs for half an hour trying to get myself under control. The teeniest movement sent me into more screaming. Not sure where those screams were coming from, but I think the devil may have had a hand in it.  All the while, my poor already-distraught boss who had to deal with ambulances at his house and the loss of his wife only a few days before was pacing back and forth asking if he could help me or what I wanted to do.

I'm not one who goes to the doctor for much of anything (since I work for one and am not a fan of doctors in general). So when I saw the curve in my upper thigh and felt the nausea and shock building, I said "call the ambulance". They got there quickly and spent a great amount of time trying to get the pain enough under control that they could splint my leg and bring me down (of course I was on the top of the stairs, not the bottom). After much screaming and crying (mine, not theirs), they got me to the ambulance and drove me very gently to the hospital where I had a rod inserted and screwed in and the top part of my total knee replacement replaced.

And now....
I wasn't even able to go to the funeral, which really angered me.

As a matter of fact, I've been angry since. Here I was, trying to be helpful and supportive, and this is what I get. At the beginning of Summer. With new golf grips, my pool just opened and our seasonal campsite awaiting. NOT FAIR!

I had to resign from all my design teams since my craft room is designed to be utilized while standing. I couldn't even get in there, let alone make something. That totally depressed me. And made me angrier.

I spent about a month in a wheelchair and have been on crutches a few weeks. I have about another three weeks or so on crutches before I get re-evaluated by my orthopod.

It's been a very rough couple of months. I finally was able to get some things organized a little bit in my craft room and hope to be able to get back in there and start crafting again soon.

My anger is finally starting to abate, but my frustration level is still pretty high. I'm used to doing things for myself and the need to depend on others for simple things I'm used to doing is difficult for me.

But I'm improving. Day by day. I went back to work after a week and am still on short hours, although they are gradually increasing toward a full day. I'm up to about 6-7 hours a day. Pretty pooped by the time I get home, but at least I'm getting on.

So, hopefully, and with the grace of God, I will be back cluttering up your inbox soon with some great new creations. I'll be scoping the net for some great new Design Teams for which I can apply (if you know of any, let me know!). And life will be back to normal, whatever normal is.

Thanks for letting me share a piece of my life with you.

Til next time, trying to keep it crafty!

Saturday Sketch Challenge #748

Happy April, Crafting Friends! I hope your month has started out good and continues in a positive way.  I'm back today with another proj...