Distress’ed Out!

But in a good way!  For the past couple of weeks I’ve been taking THE online class by Tim Holtz, Creative Chemistry 101, at onlinecardclasses.com.  If you haven’t taken an online class there before, you should, especially this one.  I’ve learned SO much and inspiration has come easy taking Professor Tim’s class.  Here’s some pics of what I’ve been up to.

Pictures of how I binded all the tags and will store them:

I was so lucky to have made some cupcakes during the class.  That’s when I came across the cocoa box and decided to use the empty one as a container for my tags.  Very easy to upcycle by using ModPodge and scrapbook paper, ribbon, etc. 

Day 2 of CC101:

Day 3 of CC101:

Day 4 of CC101:

On Day 4, I wasn’t able to complete the third tag as I didn’t have any cut-n-dry felt.  At this point, I don’t think I’m going to purchase any, so no tag that day—LOL!  I might change my mind in the future If I can find another reason to use cut-n-dry felt. 

Day 5 of CC101:

Day 6 of CC101:

Day 6 tags are a favorite of mine as I had been waiting for my full set of distress markers to arrive as I had pre-ordered them shortly after CHA.  They arrived on the last day of class, so I was able to participate in that portion after all.  When they arrived from Absolutely Everything, they were gift wrapped with free goodies, some Perfect Pearl powders, which was a surprise in and of itself as I had only had one color previously, and this was a technique Tim was using in the class!

Day 7 of CC101:

On Day 7, I wasn’t able to complete the third tag as I didn’t have any Distress Embossing Powder, but I plan to make one when I get some as class videos, handouts, etc., will be available to me forEVER!

Day 8 of CC101:

Day 9 of CC101:

Day 10 of CC101:

I’m feeling such a sense of satisfaction upon completion of this class.  It was tremendously detail-oriented, complete with techniques and tips I’ve already put in motion with my Ranger supplies and my creative process.  The class materials are available to me forever and I think I will be referring to them quite a bit.  I highly recommend taking this class—you still can—it just won’t be live.  BTW:  Tim is one cool dude.

Yours Truly

I’m so in love with these little boxes from svgcuts.com.  They sure come in handy for Valentine’s Day, too.  After helping my children put together their Valentines, I was definitely in the mood to make something for their teachers, too.  These boxes hold Dove milk chocolate hearts and so does my belly!   I also made a home decor project with the same Echo Park Yours Truly collection.  In fact, I only printed three sheets of 12-x-12 patterned papers from the Yours Truly paper and element kits and had enough to make two boxes with tags and the home decor project pictured below.  I’m pretty sure I can even get a card with embellishments with what’s left over.  It’s a great collection---SO cute!

Candy Boxes and Home Decor Frame Set Supplies

Yours Truly Paper Pack 1 and 2 and Elements 2 available at jessicasprague.com; one-piece boxes svg kit from svgcuts.com; Cuttlebug butterfly and hearts embossing set; twine, eyelets, and ribbons.

Last but not least, I went to a baby shower over the weekend with my youngest daughter, Gwendolen, and we had much fun.  It’s been quite a while since I went to one and it was her first time.  She was so delighted to take part in all the games and belong in a house full of women, talking, bonding, and eating cake.

Baby Girl Card Supplies

Lily Kate paper by Basic Grey; CTMH grey wool and Hollyhock cardstock; Tim Holtz Pumice Stone Distress Ink, Rock Candy Stickles, and Vintage Market die; Dress die by Sizzix; white embossing powder; Alpha stamps with punch by Stampin’ Up; string, embroidery thread and sewing machine.

Hope you all have a Happy Valentine’s Day.  I’m going to inhale quite a bit of chocolate!

More Clean and Simple Cards

Here are some images of cards I’ve completed recently, with the Clean and Simple Card Class techniques and lessons as inspiration, some hybrid and some traditional.  TFL!

Thanks

Colonial White cardstock, Hollyhock cardstock, and Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, CTMH; Vintage photo, Broken China, and Walnut Stain Distress Inks, Tim Holtz/Ranger; Large Flower Background, Hero Arts; Thanks sentiment, Unity KOM 01/12; White embossing powder and black embossing powder; Watercolor pencils, Stampin’ Up; sewing machine and embroidery thread.

Thinking of You (Hybrid)

Cotton Tail Papers, Samantha Walker, jessicasprague.com; Heart die, Sizzix; Embossed button punch, Martha Stewart; Butterfly layering punch; EK Success; Broken China, Mustard Seed, and Festive Berries Distress Ink, Tim Holtz/Ranger; Thinking of You sentiment, Hero Arts/Two Peas digital product; Sewing machine and embroidery thread.

Thank You Very Much (Hybrid)

Holly Lane Paper Pack, Ki Memories, jessicasprague.com; Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, CTMH; Ribbons and Rosettes Cricut Cartridge; Thank You Very Much sentiment, Hero Arts/Two Peas digital product; Festive Berries, Broken China, and Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Tim Holtz/Ranger.

Oh Happy Day!

Black and Bamboo cardstock, CTMH; Prismacolor Pencils; White ink; white embossing powder; Wildflower Garden, Hero Arts; Happy Days Clear Stamps, My Minds Eye; Border Punch, EK Success; Button, Autumn Leaves.

It’s All About Love

It’s All About Love stamp set, Unity; White embossing powder; water color paper; Faded Jeans, Broken China, Peeled Paint, and Wild Honey Distress Ink, and Tiny Attacher Tim Holtz/Ranger; Pearlized water; string; Everyday Pop-Up Cards Cricut Cartridge.

Clean and Simple Cards Round 1

Hello Sunshine Hybrid Card

jessicasprague.com supplies:  Hello Sunshine Patterned Paper and Candy Candy by Cosmo Cricket.

Other Supplies: Tim Holtz scallop On The Edge die by Sizzix; brad, eyelet, and twine; 1-inch round punch.

Just For You Hybrid Card

jessicasprague.com supplies:  Clementine Patterned Paper by Cosmo Cricket; Meet and Greet Wordart by In The Making Designs

Other Supplies:  Just A Note Cricut Cartridge (Cosmo Cricket); sewing machine/thread; Hero Arts/Basic Gray Out of Print Flower Dot Pattern Cling; Tim Holtz Evergreen Bough Distress Ink, and Imaginisce i-rock gems.

You’re Precious To Me

Supplies:  Versafine black onyx ink; Hero Arts/Basic Gray Out of Print Flower Dot Pattern Cling; Hero Arts You’re Precious To Me rubber stamp; DCWV cardstock; Tim Holtz tiny attacher; brad, circle punches, and twine.

It’s All About Love

Supplies:  Tim Holtz Festive Berries Distress Ink; various stamps by Technique Tuesday, K&Company, and Unity. Cricut CTMH Art Philosophy Cartridge (to make mask); red ribbon and EK Success border punch.

My Heart Sings: Happy New Year to you All!

My Wish:  Keep crafting, smiling, and loving the ones you love.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner . . .

You Make My Heart Sing ATC & Card Supplies

jessicasprague.com:  Pink Paislee’s Spellbound Paper Pack and Elements Pack—COMING SOON (Monday, January 9, 2012)

Other Supplies:  Tim Holtz ATC Sizzix die and Iced Spruce Distress Ink; twine; Stampendous Music Score Rubber Stamp; Inkadinkadoo Music Notes stamp wheel; Ranger Glossy Accents; CTMH cardstock

Santa Struck! & Not enough time or tags

(Santa Struck Supply List below)

Even though I got most of our shopping done on Black Friday, it still seems like Christmas snuck up on us again and with a vengeance. We did manage to get our Christmas tree up the first week of December, which hasn’t happened in a very, very long time but not all the decorations were hung or placed to my liking—oh well!  Next thing I knew, it was time to make batches upon batches of Heavenly Layered Bars (my husband refers to it as my Christmas Crack), volunteer for kids’ Christmas parties at school, and manage to get to school Christmas programs by 6 p.m.—all in one day—oh and work, feed the kids, and go to the bathroom (LOL!).  It happened but barely, even the bathroom (LOL) thing.  Me and the kids are off for the next couple of weeks and we plan to hug, craft, and be merry!  I’m sure it’s just as hectic if not more so for everyone else on the planet.  How did we get ourselves in such a jam for the holidays? I still haven’t wrapped any presents nor found a gift for my mother-in-law.  That, I hope, will happen today.  On Christmas morning, as always, I plan to make Monkey Bread, grits, and this year, start the crock pot using a recipe of scalloped potatoes and ham.  I really don’t want to make things difficult.  Relax and be merry.  Just have fun and be with our family. Simplicity is key.  I really don’t know how other families deal with and accomplish as much as they do for Christmas—cheers to you all for your hard work and I hope your families treat you with the respect and love you deserve.

The layout above was inspired by a visit to see Santa last weekend.  My children, just like your children I’m sure, tell you all year what they would like Santa to bring them for Christmas.  When my children were presented with Santa’s lap and his ear, I could not believe what I heard! They were star struck and stunned by the legend himself.  Couldn’t even utter the words they had been telling me for a full year.  My son is a full-blown video game fanatic.  What did he tell Santa he wanted? A car and a plane—I’d never heard that a day in his little life.  My daughter, on the other hand, took the crowd by storm (and might be a future candidate for Miss USA), “I just want my family to have a merry Christmas.”  It warmed my heart to hear them utter such cute nonsense and reminded me of one of my favorite holiday movies, “A Christmas Story”.  I still have not found time yet to see it this year—I’m adding THAT to the list. 

I used my circle punch to punch bottle caps from Carina Gardner’s element collection for the middle of the rosettes.  Also, when I die cut the rosettes from the digital kit papers, instead of folding a couple of them and using them as rosettes, I used them at the bottom of the photo/journaling block as scalloped borders. 

Jessicasprague.com Supplies for Santa Struck! Hybrid Layout

Vintage Christmas Element Collection--COMING SOON!
and Essentials Plus Mega Collection by Carina Gardner.

Other Supplies:  Tim Holtz Rosette and Mini Rosette Sizzix Dies, Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink, small circle punch, sewing machine/thread, printer, etc.

Did I tell you I happened to squeeze in some time to get some tags done?  I just couldn’t help myself.  This year I noticed a big trend online--tag making.  In noticing that, I went searching the internet and found it’s been a trend for quite some time now—thanks to Mr. Tim Holtz! I’ve had his Vintage Photo distress ink for years but really didn’t know what wonderful, cool coloring tools these distress inks were until I took an online card class, “Inspiration Showcase” by Jennifer McGuire a couple of months ago.  Since then, I’ve purchased quite a bit of Mr. Holtz’s inks, dies, tools, stamps, etc. Thanks, Jennifer.  If you haven’t taken this class, I suggest you do so.  My fingers haven’t been this inky in years!  It really revitalized my love for stamping.  Have you seen Unity Stamps?  Soooo cute! Have you seen the new Hero Arts 2012 stamps—amazing!  Oh my wallet hurts but my tags have never looked so good!

What?! It’s October already?! YIKES!

September flew by!  Here’s some projects I’ve been working on during the month.  Also, I’ve discovered the joy of ATCs and will be posting some soon. I can’t wait to share.  They’re so fun and addicting.

Happy Halloween Hybrid Card

Creativity by Crystal:  Crystal's Too Cute To Spook Papers and Crystal's Too Cute to Spook Elements available at jessicasprague.com.

Other Supplies:  CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, Tim Holtz Rosette die by Sizzix, buttons, brads, and embroidery thread.

My Beautiful Girls Hybrid Bracket Album

Jodie Lee:  Gorgeous Hybrid Bracket Album available at jessicasprague.com.

Other Supplies:  CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, Tim Holtz Rosette Die by Sizzix, Martha Stewart Embossed Button Punch and flower punch, and Zutter Bind-it-All and 1/2-inch O-wires.

Comic-Book-Sized Panel Home Decor Frame

Splendid Fiins: Splendid Tutorial 6 Super Comic Photos, Super Elements v1, and Super Comic Book Size Panel Layouts available at jessicasprague.com.

Other Supplies:  Frame stand made using Fancy Frames Cricut Cartridge, chipboard, and pop dots.

Halloween Rosette Ribbons

Just thought I’d make something fun to wear this Halloween Season!
Creativity by Crystal: Crystal's Too Cute To Spook Papers available at jessicasprague.com.

Other Supplies:  Tim Holtz Rosette Die by Sizzix, Stampin’ Up label punch, EK Success Circle Punch and Scalloped Punch, Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Ribbon Die by Sizzix, felt, ribbons, chipboard, and recycled pins and crochet coasters from the thrift store.

Happy Turkey Week!

And what a happy week it is—the kids are off, it’s wet and rainy here, and lots of goodies to play with from jessicasprague.com.  Inspiration really IS everywhere right now. 

Here are some projects I’ve been working on through the month of November.

In the past, I’ve created a few of these cozies for my daughter and friends using traditional fabric following this very fine tutorial from The House on Hill Road blog.  Great tutorial.  This time, I decided to print some Cosmo Cricket Early Bird Candy Candy and Early Bird Paper onto some Fabric Stick.  I then cut out the pattern, attached it to some felt by stitching, and then followed the above tutorial.  This one is for ME!

Early Bird Coffee Cozy Supplies List

Early Bird Candy Candy and Early Bird Paper Pack by Cosmo Cricket at jessicasprague.com.

Other supplies used:  Fabric Stick, red felt sheets, fusible fleece, sewing machine thread, button, and felt flower.  

For the above I got to use the Sentimental Cricut Cartridge with DesignStudio software to design the pattern for the card.  I’m still loving the software.  If you have a Cricut and don’t have the software, trust me, you should get it.

Merry Christmas Card Supplies

Merry Christmas Patterned Paper Pack Kit 1 and  Merry Christmas Element Pack Kit 1 by Echo Park and jessicasprague.com.

Other supplies used:  Cricut Sentimental cartridge; Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls embossing folder; Making Memories Ribbon; snowflake brad, unknown; Embroidery thread and sewing machine

Jackson, CA, doesn’t get much snow—maybe a couple of times each wintery season—but that’s about it.  Last December, the snow actually stuck for about four days.  Two of those days were snow days for the kids from school.  I took the above pictures of our little ones enjoying their winter wonderland—even our pom-chi pup, Dixie, got caught in the action.  You can barely see her next to Gwen making angels in the snow.  I hope it happens again this year.  We also took those few days and decorated the inside of our house for Christmas, made cookies and drank hot chocolate, and just enjoyed the magic of the snow and the spontaneity of it all--TOGETHER.

December Brrrr Layout

Everybody Loves Christmas Element Pack and Everybody Loves Christmas Paper Pack #1 by Echo Park at jessicasprague.com.

Other supplies used:  Cricut Give-A-Hoot & Winter Wonderland Cartridges; CTMH cardstock; buttons/embroidery floss

Do your little ones ever express this giddy emotion from time to time? Well, ALL of mine do.  In fact, it’s part of the genes because I do it, too.  I’m tickled, no giddy, that I captured it finally for at least one of my children.  For the above layout, I included the definition of the word “Giddy” under the chipboard Cricut cut of the word.  I love matching a picture to its definition.

Giddy Layout

jessicasprague.com supplies: 

Daisy Jane Flowers, Daisy Jane Paper Bits, and Daisy Jane Solids by Carina Gardner.

Mask Me Photo Masks and Warm Wuv and Soft Hugs Elements by liv.e designs.

November Collection Journaling Snippets by Creativity by Crystal.

Other supplies:  Cricut Cindy Loo Cartridge; misc. craft buttons and sequins; Making Memories brads; embroidery floss and sewing machine; CTMH bamboo cardstock

I hope that you have had a chance to sign up for Jessica's FREE class, Inspiration Everywhere. Class begins in one week, so spread the word.  Click below for more information.

Black Friday starts the store-wide 20% off sale at jessicasprague.com.  Starting November 26th until December 31st, everything on the site will be 20% off, including self-paced classes. Also, with a $20 purchase during the sale, you will receive a special collaboration kit created just for you by the jessicasprague.com design team at no additional charge.

I hope you all have a loving Thanksgiving with your family and friends.  Here’s to cooking way too much, eating way too much, and spending way too much on Black Friday!  Be SAFE out there.

Color Combo #141

Max and his new guitar.  This weeks color combo inspired me to do a valentine-themed layout.  While perusing photos, I stumbled upon this picture of Max, Brandi’s boyfriend, from last November.   Low and behold, his shirt and hat were a good match for the color combo AND he was professing his love on camera for his new guitar—sometimes it just happens that way. 

Mocha, french vanilla, navajo blue, and red heat are the color names for the combo which were inspired by a cute handbag.   The picture of the handbag is posted at Color Combos Galore as well as inspirational layouts posted by the designers.

On this layout, I used the Sweet Treats Cricut Cartridge for the scallop border and the Pagoda Cricut Cartridge for the Love rectangle that were embossed using Sizzix texture plates coupled with Core’dinations cardstock.  I also used my Singer Futura to blanket stitch the layout—that’s gotta be one of my favorite everyday built-in stitches so far—and to attach the buttons.  Teresa Collins patterned paper were used for the journal strips, ticket, and red heart strip.  An Autumn Leaves stamp with CTMH ink were used for the little birdies towards the bottom of the layout.   

If you want to participate in the color challenge, follow the link to Color Combos Galore http://colorcombosgalore.ning.com/ and post your layouts there. Make sure you label your layouts with the color combination number.