Core'dinations Hard Core Crop 2013 -

I recently had occasion to speak with my daughter's art teacher.  During the course of the conversation she said to me "oh, so you're artistic as well" and my reply was that I don't consider myself artistic at all.  I've been reflecting on that now for a few weeks.  The Hard Core crop has given me the opportunity to find the little girl who loved art class and paint and glue and <gasp> glitter!!!!  The adult me avoids the use of glitter almost always.  A Stickles hoarder I am not. 

This is another either or card - either Tami Mayberry or Clare Buswell.  I ultimately decided to enter THIS card on Clare Buswell's challenge - so this one is for Tami Mayberry's challenge.  Found here.

I again started with the Whitewash Collection - this time choosing Barn Siding.  The embossing folder is from Darice.  I sanded down the image to reveal the core.  The sentiment is part of the same Hero Arts set I've been using throughout these challenges.  I thought it was perfect for the image!  I tried stamping in Fired Brick distress ink, but the image wasn't clear, so I grabbed some red embossing powder to define the sentiment.

For the max two embellishments I used Stickles and embossing powder.

The Stickles are not well defined in the photo, but they fill the tops of Santa's shoes.  The "snow" on the chimney is double embossed.  First I spread white embossing powder and added heat, while it was still wet I added translucent embossing powder for shimmer and heated it a second time.

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((¸¸.·´ ..·´ -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                `v´ Darlene

Core'dinations Hard Core Crop 2013 -

Now, for what may or may not be my last entry for this year's event.  This is for Kerri Smith's Creating With Tags challenge.  Found here.  Her only requirement was to make a holiday tag.  Now, I confess, when I made this tag I made it with the intent to enter it in Kate Nolan's tag challenge, and I made the turkey tag that I entered in that challenge, for this challenge.

I flipped them because Kate's challenge says  "Feel free to make just the two tags, but don't feel as though that is all you can do.  You can also incorporate them into a layout or a card or an altered project. Let your imagination soar with this challenge!"  After reading that I took the turkey tag and made it into a placeholder for the dinner table.

This is a quick and easy tag.

The cardstock is either Black Iris or Navy Core'dinations - I'm not sure which.  I had a piece leftover that was the perfect size to make a tag.  It had the little strip at the bottom which let me know it was Core'dinations, but the label with the name was not there.  I compared it to full sheets I have in my stash, and it could be either.

In any event - I embossed using a holiday Cuttlebug folder that was a special purchase item I got years ago, sanded to reveal the core.  I stamped the Hero Arts sentiment using Brilliance Moonlight Ink, and embossed with white.  Easy peasy!

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((¸¸.·´ ..·´ -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                `v´ Darlene

Core'dinations Hard Core Crop 2013 -

So many of the challenges have the potential to overlap, but one of the rules is that you cannot submit one project for two challenges.  So, this card could be for Tami Mayberry's CAS Holiday Card challenge OR Clare Buswell's Quick and Easy Christmas Card challenge.  I can't decide!!!

This is an A2 card.  I used Core'dinations Whitewash collection.  This is a Cuttlebug embossing folder that was part of a special purchase that I got several years ago.  After embossing, I sanded the images to reveal the black core.  I used Holly stickles on the bows, and StarDust stickles inside the ornaments to offset the black.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

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((¸¸.·´ ..·´ -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                `v´ Darlene

PS.  I ultimately entered this in Clare Buswell's challenge found here.

Core'dinations Hard Core Crop 2013 -

Continuing on with the challenges.  I decided to try Ellen Sosnoski's Handmade Elements challenge.  Found here.  As the title suggests, her challenge required all participants to create their own handmade element on a project, and of course, use Core'dinations cardstock.  I decided to create a card.

I used Spellbinders ovals to create the frame, and embossed with Swiss Dots.  I shaded the background with Weathered Wood and Tumbled Glass distress ink.  The deer is a stamp from a collection I got last year.  I have misplaced the card, so I can't offer the name of the stamp.  I stamped in Versamark and embossed with silver embossing powder, then fussy cut it and adhered.

The trees are my handmade element for the challenge.  I cut three different sized circles using Spellbinders Standard Circles Small, and Scalloped circles from Core'dinations Distress Collection in Peeled Paint.  I then embossed each circle using a Tim Holtz embossing folder.  I sanded to reveal the core.  I cut each circle in half, then made a cone from each half circle.  Starting with the largest cone, I stacked two smaller cones on top, then flattened them, adhered them closed with mini glue dots.  I then attached them to the card front.

The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

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((¸¸.·´ ..·´ -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                `v´ Darlene

Ellen Sosnoski’s  Handmade Element Card Challenge

Core'dinations Hard Core Crop 2013 -

Core'dinations is hosting its annual Hard Core Crop.  From November 1-3, various designers have posted challenges.  I am not participating in all of them.  First up though is Kate Nolan-Denham's Stamped Tags Challenge.  Found here.  As with all challenges, you must use Core'dinations cardstock on your project.  This particular challenge was to make two tags, and stamp on the tag.

The tag on the left is made with Napa Valley Core'dinations as its foundation.  The stamped image is from Stampers Anonymous.  The butterfly is Spellbinders Les Papillions cut from Core'dinations Tiger's Eye from the Gemstone Collection.

The tag on the right uses Core'dinations Foundations Walnut as the tag base.  The turkey is cut from Create a Critter Cricut cartridge.  The feathers are cut from Core'dinations Distress Collection in Antique Linen, and embossed with Swiss Dots, the hat from Napa Valley.  The edges are distressed with Rusty Hinge.  The turkey body is inked with Walnut Stain distress ink. I stamped the turkey face using Peachy Keen Critter Faces stamp set.  I mounted the tag on a scrap piece of kraft cardstock, stamped a name, and plan to finish the set for placemarkers for Thanksgiving dinner.

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((¸¸.·´ ..·´ -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                `v´ Darlene

Kate Nolan-Denham  Stamped tags Challenge

Kate Nolan-Denham  Stamped tags Challenge

Kate Nolan-Denham  Stamped tags Challenge

The Strange Sea Monster of Strawberry Lake . . .

Contains a line that states as follows: "That's one of the troubles with a lie.  You've got to keep adding to it to make it believable to people."  (Credit: "The Mad Scientists' Club by Bertrand R. Brinley).  And so too, is a blog - you have to keep adding to it.  Something, I sadly have not done.

My partner in this endeavor unfortunately has significant back issues, and has been unable to do anything crafty for more than a year, so I should rename the blog The Scrappin' Lawyer, but have not.

From no posts, to an overload of posts I shall go.

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((¸¸.·´ ..·´ -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                `v´ Darlene

Calendar Girls March Blog Hop

Welcome to the Calendar Girls March Blog Hop!!

Papercrafts Presents 365 Cards magazine is our inspiration for these monthly hops which  became the Calendar Girls. The magazine has Creative Ideas for every day of the year: occasions, holidays, and celebrations including 42 unique celebratory days!!! These unique days are our inspiration. The March days being featured on this hop are:

1. March 2: Read Across America Day -
2. March 4: National Grammar and Punctuation Day
3. March 12: 100 Years of Girl Scouting
4. March 14: PI Day
5. March 17: St. Patricks' Day
6. March 17: National Quilting Day
7. March 20: Spring Begins
8. March 23: Mustache March 

You won't want to miss a single occasion!!!  

The hop starts HERE with Read Across America Day!!!

Read Across America Day just happens to coincide with Dr. Suess' birthday.  Who doesn't love a good Dr. Suess book???  My little girl loves them!  As such, my original plan for this hop was a scrapbook layout featuring my now 4 year old sitting cross legged on the floor "reading" a Dr. Suess book to her stuffed animals.  Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted all the photos on my cell phone, including the aforementioned photo.  Instead I made this plaque which I will give to my daughter's pre-K teacher at the end of the school year.

 I started with an unfinished wood piece purchased at my local AC Moore.  I stained it with Antique Linen Distress Stain.  I used my Cuttin' Up cricut cartridge for the letters at 2 1/2 inches, and A Child's Year for the focal image at 4 inches.  I used Oh My Crafts vinyl for it all.  I wanted to put books on each corner, but have thus far been unhappy with the results of all book images that I have tried so far, so I've left it plain.

"Today you are you, that is truer than true.  There is no one alive who is YOUer than you!."  Dr. Suess


The full line-up for March is:

Darlene: http://twoscrappinlawyers.blogspot.com/   << YOU ARE HERE
Laura: http://lauraleesdream.blogspot.com/
Lynne: http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/
Lisa: http://mycraftyspaces.blogspot.com/
Zenita: http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com/
Michelle: http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/
Kimberly - http://scrappingrookie.blogspot.com/

Stop by and check out these holidays as I am sure you are going to want to remember these holidays and include them in your card making projects!!!!!  Laura is next 

We will have blog candy to the lucky recipient that remarks on each site along the way!

Thanks for stopping by and mark your calendar again next month to see what Holidays to Celebrate on April 14th for the next Calendar Girls Blog Hop!

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          ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
      ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   -:¦:-
     -:¦:-   ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                        `v´  Darlene