Green and Neutral Challenge

Good Morning My Stamping Friends, I hope you are enjoying a bright sunny Friday like I am. The sun is shining and while it is pretty cold outside, I'm sitting in a stream of sunshine pretending its Spring.

Anyway, I heard from my friend Robin this morning about a Bloggers Challenge. The challenge this week was to create a project using greens and neutrals. I don't normally participate in these kinds of challenges but since I'm a blogger now, and yesterday I serendipitiously made a card that fit the challenge, I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring. I made this card for my brother's first wedding anniversary that is coming up in a few days. They got married in a gorgeous setting and the color they choose for the dresses, decorations, cake, etc.was a glorious shade of green (yes we are Irish). I can tell you about the card because I'm pretty sure he doesn't read my blog yet so I think I'm safe.

Here is my card and part of the envelope (you can't have a handmade card in a plain envelope!). Kevin, if you're reading this, stop now - until the card arrives in the mail!).

I used glorious green as my base and for the front layer I used some Bride DSP. I ran it through my Big Shot using the Movers and Shapers die with the heart shaper from the Punch Window Set. I ran it through the Big Shot twice, moving the magnetic heart shaper a little bit on the second run through. I sponged and attached the two Bride heart cut-outs back into place (which really stuck them onto the inside of the card). I also used the Modern Label Punch and the coordinating Modern Label die to cut out and frame the sentiment. Teeny Tiny Wishes is my go-to stamp set for all my sentiments lately and that is where I got 'Happy Anniversary'. I just love that the stamp set covers so many holidays. I used some white taffeta ribbon behind the sentiment which I popped up with domentionals.

For the envelope I used a retired so swirly wheel and I used the Lovely Letters Alphabet for the first initial of thier last name. Of course I coordinated the colors to the card, and used my glorious green Stampin' Write Marker to finish addressing the card.

If you'd like to get any of the supplies to make this card at home, just contact me or log into my Stampin' Up! website to place the order yourself 24/7.

Hope you like my card and feel free to leave a comment. It would make my day.

Enjoy your weekend.

Rose-Ellen

P.S. Check out Robin's challenge card here.

My Rag Bag Purse

Hi there My Stamping Friends!!! I'm soooo excited about my Rag Bag Purse (also known as the purse made using the Big Shot and the Scallop Square Die). I just couldn't wait to share it with you. I finished it about 5 minutes ago and I'm downloading the photos right now. Wahooo!!
I'm going to start out by saying I do NOT sew very often. In a pinch I might be able to repair the hem on a dark colored pair of pants, if you wore them at night....and tucked them into a pair of boots (tee hee hee). Seriously I can fix a Halloween costume and sorta sew a straight line but that is about the extent of it. That is probably why I'm so proud of myself for making this purse. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Big Shot and when I heard about these scallop square bags I was intrigued. I was so excited recently to get invited to my friend Robin Merriman's house for her downline meeting, where Nancy was showing us how to make these purses. Thanks again Robin and Nancy!!
So, The bag is pretty easy (if I can do it, you can do it) so I'll give you some basic instructions but the photos should tell the story. Basically I used my Big Shot and Scallop Square die to cut out 19 squares for the outside and 19 squares for the inside of the purse. I used batting in between the squares to give it some structure.

I stitched an x on each square and lined up my squares in a pattern and stitched them all together.

My hint for the newbie trying this for the first time would be to avoid a fabric that has a directional pattern (such as animal faces that need to be straight and facing in the right direction~ a perfect example of 'Do as I say, not as I do'). After I stitched the scallops together in the shape of the bag I stitched a straight line (LOL) across the top and inserted straps into the top of the bag as I was sewing.

Doing this made the bag reversible so it has a 'scallop' side and a 'straight' side.

What's that you say? You can't live without one of these bags? You can't live without the Big Shot (#113439) and the Scallop Square die (#115950)? Just contact me and I can help you place an order so you can get exactly what you need. Don't forget that we are currently running the Sale-A-Bration promotion where you get a FREE stamp set (from a list of 70+ sets) for every $50 you spend. If you order a Big Shot, the Scallop Square Die, one more die and a few other smaller items such as snail refills, you could get three SAB sets and you would qualify for a FREE hostess set and $15 in FREE merchandise. WOW!!!

So, What do you think of my first purse? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Have a great day!!
Rose-Ellen