Moxie Fab Neutrals Color Challenge

MOXIE FAB WORLD
NEUTRALS COLOR CHALLENGE

The challenge is to use this color combo EXACTLY: French Vanilla, Twig, Smoky
There are some serious prizes being offered for these color challenges ie: Cricut Prize Package Bundles valued at $1000, being published AND receiving the coveted "I'm a Moxie Fab Challenge Winner" button for your blog. (I've got just the spot for that sucker)

Complete Details
----> HERE <----

Close up of that delicious crochet lace, the Tim Holtz Chipboard Heart that I painted and distressed along with a peek of the inside

Challenge I Used:
Moxie Fab: Neutrals Color Combo
Simon Says Stamp & Show: Childhood Memories (my mom actually had one of these vintage doll carriages and on rare occassions my sister and I got to use it when playing house)
Tuesday Throwdown: Distressing
Paper Sundaes: Distressing

...................Supplies I used................
Stamps: Paper Trey Ink (Just Hatched, Anniversary bonus stamp set)
Ink: Tsukineko Momento (tuxedo black), Tim Holtz (antique linen)
Paper: Stampin Up (very Vanilla), The Paper Studios
Tools: Martha Stewart border punch, Spellbinders (Fair Isle)
Misc: Wrights Crochet lace, Vanilla acrylic paint by Delta, Tim Holtz (heart grungeboard basic elements), 7 Gypsies (vintage stroller decal)

Antique Italian ** Forget-Me-Not **

Sit Back, because I AM BACK and apparently LONG WINDED with
LOTS of PHOTOS to SHARE

When my family arrived back here in the United States one our first visits was to see our great friends "Mr. & Mrs. Crab" along with their brand new little "crab cake". (I'll post her blog so you might get a better understanding of this "crabby" family). I was blown away with the antiques in Williamsburg and especially with the Antique Mason Jars filled with BUTTONS!! I purchased one such jar but it happened to have been made into a lamp. How in the world was I going to bring myself to open that jar and savor any of the bounty that I beheld? Not long after arriving at our brand new home, I received a package from Mrs. Crab!!!

Here is a photo of the gifts I received......

Buttons, jars and a fantabulous photograph O MY, O Dear, what's a girl to do?? I love that jar SO much that I decided to dump out the buttons from my lamp and created a SEASHELL lamp with all WHITE TREASURES FROM the Ocean...

Here is what I created ............

Here is my wonderful "basket of Button Treasures"
So what became of the Jar of Buttons from Mrs. Crab you ask??? Well they are far to delicious to use so they are perched atop one of my studio shelves along with some other treasures...

Are you still READING?

Want to see close ups of what I created as a THANK YOU/MISS YOU Gift for Mrs. Crab?

Antique Lace & Button from Italy:

Antique Buttons, HOWEVER, take a look at that postmark!!! The envelope that I stitched on here was purchased at an Sicilian Antique Market. That is a 5 Lire stamp and the date stamped is April 10, 1919

(The ladies waving image was compliments of Vintage Image Crafts, I printed them out and distressed them. The Forget-Me-Not sentiment was stamped using Shirley's 2 Girls stamps)

Finished Set contains a 5 1/2"square card with a matching
bookmark


Stop by and VISIT Mrs. Crab
at
For The Love of a Crab

CHALLENGES I USED:
The Shabby Tea Room: Old Meets New (definitely some old stuff but the items on my bookmark are New)
Pile It On: Farewell to Summer (miss you, goodbye, farewell projects - Think I covered that, my ladies are even waving goodbye)
Cupcake Craft Challenges: Let's Get Digital (my image was printed from Vintage Image Crafts)
Digital Tuesday Challenge: Create a Gift Set
Simon Says Stamp & Show: Layering (I lost count on how many I used!!!)
Flourishes Timeless Tuesdays: Summer Memories (now that I don't live on an island waving goodbye to my endless beach days is going to be so difficult)
One Stitch at a Time: Girlie or Color Theme (I went for GIRLIE all the way)

Now this is "FUSSY & FANCY"

This week's Fussy & Fancy challenge is a bit of a Recipe. We're looking for the 3 S's, (get your head outta the gutter), we are looking for
"" STITCHING, SPARKLE & SCALLOPS ""

(click on blinkie for complete challenge details)

WHEW, where do I even begin on this project?????? Maybe some CLOSE UP's ???

HERE you can see all 3 S's and my idea of "STITCHING"...... In my world the thread qualifies as "Stitching". Keep in mind that I am still sitting in an empty house so I've improvised.


The Fan images were FREEBIES from "Vintage Image Crafts" (get ready for MORE FREEBIES from them as we gear up for their next Challenge). I printed them out and then did some serious distressing. That beautiful Scallop Stamp if one of the Vintage Image Background stamps that Nina Brackett designed and is sold HERE at Gina K Designs

Remember my lifetime supply of homemade cotton Ribbon? I've wrapped some around one of my Antique, Italian Spools. Here is a photo of the lot I purchased at the Antique market in Sicily. Aren't they to die for?
Believe it or not, I even saved some room on the inside to write my own message if I ever decide that I could part with this. Finally an image to show that if placed in a padded envelope, it could easily be mailed.
CHALLENGES I USED:
Fussy & Fancy: Scallops, Sparkle & Stitches
Sew Many Challenges: Anything Goes



...............Supplies I used...............
Stamps: Gina K (Vintage backgrounds)
Images: Vintage Image Crafts (fan images), random girl image from internet
Cardstock: Stampin Up (always artichoke, naturals cream), Bazzill (brown orange peel texture), Paper Trey Ink (kraft), Laura Ashley (patterned paper)
Misc: Buttons (Paper Trey Ink), Making Memories (stick pin w/rhinestone dangle), K&Co (rub ons, chipboard), Delta (cream acrylic paint), Stampin Up (dazzling diamond glitter), Angel Mist
Tools: Provo Craft (Cuttlebug & embossing folder (textile) ), Stampin Up (large label die by Sizzix),

Proud to be an AMERICAN

"RECIPE CHALLENGE"
3 - Designer/Patterned Papers
3 - Images
3 - Embellishments

AND

-----------> 1st PRIZE WINNER <----------
for the
Vintage Image Crafts
for my "Sicilian Antique's Box"

Shabby Chic, Vintage, Victorian, Distressed ----- I love it ALL ----- and that is why I chose another one of the Vintage Image Craft's images for today's project. Of course that little cutie in her "cracker jack" SAILOR outfit is near and dear to my heart even if it isn't the uniform that my husband wears anymore. "Cracker Jacks" just scream *** NAVY *** don't you think?


I LOVED this week's Fussy & Fancy "Recipe Challenge" (no one says the images have to be stamped RIGHT?) I hope you will join us and please feel free to combine our challenge with others!

Interested in "FREE" Vintage Images? Sign up for the VIC Newsletter or become their Friend on Face Book. (I received the sailor girl FREE over on their Face Book page)

SAVE 15 % off of "CRAFTY SECRETS" ends TONIGHT at midnight CODE = CS1622

MARTHA STEWART BLOG CANDY -----> HERE

CHALLENGES I USED:
Fussy & Fancy: Recipe 3dp, 3 images, 3 embellishments
The Shabby Tea Room: Stars & Stripes
ABC Challenge: Unused Stash (I've had the design paper for years)
Fab n Funky: Make Your Own (I made my own Star embellishments)

............Supplies I used............
Stamps: Unity (star)
Image: Vintage Image Crafts (sailor girl)
Patterned Paper:
Cardstock: Stampin Up (navy, very vanilla)
Ink: Stampin Up (baroque burgandy, close to cocoa)
Tools: Cricut (large star)
Misc: 3 vintage buttons, Paper Trey Ink (jute twine)

I actually used my Italian Antique "Goodies"!!!

Remember my post a few weeks ago where I shared photos of the
"Treasures"
that I found at the
Sicilian Antique market?

OK I'll be "honest", this project started out as a Teacher's Appreciation gift and then it transformed into my NEW FAVORITE Project. How could I ever give such yumminess away. I mean take a look at my Sicilian Treasures actually being utilized. AND this isn't even a "Dust Collector"!! I found the PERFECT use for it!! I am using it to hold my hand painted papers from Florence and Vinci (yes as in Leonardo di Vinci or his birthplace). NOW IF I COULD JUST STOP HOARDING THAT PAPER!!

My entire project was inspired by this Vintage Image which was a "FREEBIE"

I created the rose from some more of that old pillow case that just seems to multiply!! I dyed it by mixing coffee & pink food coloring.

How cool is that old watch face?

I painted the chipboard, distressed it, applied glue and glitter only to discover that I HATED the glitter that I had used, SOOOO while I was painting another frame, I re-applied paint directly over my glitter and PERFECTO!
This is the back side of the box. The key is another of my Sicilian Treasures and the ticket is from the base theater here in Sicily.
The little scroll on the upper left hand side is a one Lire bill from 1944. I've lived in Sicily long enough to actually remember and "miss" the Lire.
The box was just a plain wooden box (a RAK from Stephanie Muzzulin) that I covered using patterned paper. After covering all sides, I sanded the edges, sponged some brown ink. While lightly painting the inside, I blotted my brush around the edges to soften the brown.
CHALLENGES I USED:
Vintage Image Crafts: 1st Challenge ever & Free images
Crafts & Me Challenge #3: Sparkle (got lots of that on my frame)
The Crazy Challenge: Bling Bling (Well I am rather fond of my Italian bling bling watch face & the sparkle on my frame)
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge: As you like it (I like Vintage & Distressing)
The Shabby Tea Room: Get Your Bling On (Blinged out that frame)
Creative Card Crew: April Showers bring May FLOWERS (I made my own)

The Joy's of "New" Motherhood

Wow, I am so far past the NEW MOM stage of parenting that when I think of babies this is what I think of:

That wonderful Vintage Baby image was compliments of Vintage Image Crafts where the owners are very generous with their images. Sign up to receive their Newsletter or add them as a friend on Facebook so you don't miss out on FREE IMAGES. ---> HERE


Check out the sentiment that I placed on the inside where I also had the opportunity to play with another one of the new "Vintage Background" stamps by NinaB available at Gina K Designs:

CHALLENGES I USED:
Vintage Image Crafts: Use their images as the main focus on any project
The Shabby Tea Room: Comforts of Home Inspiration((tooth powder is pretty comforting but I was also inspired by the colors)
Cute Card Thursday: Make Your Own (I made my own ribbon out of scraps fabric, also created my own Tag from a digital image I found online)
KL Stampin N Scrappin Challenge: Inside/Out (finish the inside of the card also)
Your Next Stamp: Going Dotty (I used polka dot patterned paper)
Jacksonbelle Tuesday Challenge: Going Krafty (create a card using Kraft CS as your Base)

..........Supplies I used.............
Stamps: Gina K Designs (Vintage Images by NinaB)
Images: Vintage Image Crafts (crying baby), Shabby Chic Papirskatter(images: label, tooth powder & crown)
Paper: Paper Trey Ink (kraft), K&Co (bailey paper pack), Stampin Up (very vanilla)
Ink: Stampin Up (close to cocoa)
Misc: Homemade ribbon from scraps of cloth, Papertrey Ink (button)

Vintage/Antique Yumminess..... lots of photos

Probably not a big suprise that I love all things Vintage or Shabby Chic.
I have lived in Sicily a total of 8 years and just recently discovered my new favorite thing to do on Sunday mornings. Today's card has a wonderful little trinket that I found at the Catania Antique Market (here in Sicily) a few weeks ago.

Check out a few of the other Treasures that I found.

What kind of Stamper would I be if I had NOT picked up these Fantabulous Vintage Rubber Stamps?

But WAIT, check out this Sterling Silver Stamp Roller thing
(perhaps it was the pre-dawn of acrylic blocks?)
Well as good FORTUNE would have it, I also found Antique Lire dated 1944 (pre-Euro & yes I actually lived here when we used Lire)

I think the little black baby doll is my favorite!! Isn't she swell?

You can also see that I found some funky old keys, wonderful old tins and even a little gold ring!!

Would you like a few details about the card?? I think the feathery, wispy paper is called Rice Paper? Anyhow, it is pink and I used it behind my patterned paper and then stitched around the edges. The inside of the card is lined from top to bottom using the same "rice paper".

I also used the small sentiments & crown image from Crafty Secrets " Baby Boy " stamp set to complete the inside along with a Martha Stewart Bow punch. I inked the edges of just about everything and placed a little pink rhinstone in the center of the bow.
Back over on the outside, I painted the chipboard but left it smudgy TRUTH BE KNOWN, I think I was actually whipping off extra paint after painting something else and decided that I liked the results!!!!!! The little girls are also from Crafty Secrets. The most time consuming part of this entire card was that DANG satin bow up top (not the little one).....
CHALLENGES I USED:
Our Creative Corner: BOWS (I used two & then punched another on the inside)
Stamp Something: Layers (got lots of that especially layering the rice paper)
Cupcake Craft Challenges: Childhood Memories (this particular image reminds me of my little sister and I)
ABC Challenges: S is for SPARKLE (used the gold thread & the pink rhinestone)
Cute Card Thursday: Touchy Feely (who isn't going to want to touch that whispy paper)

Buon Pasqua (Happy Easter) beware lots of photos & Italian traditions

(close up so you can see how I added color, highlights and Painted a few areas of my VINTAGE IMAGE to add depth and dimension. I also added yellow flower soft to the center of two flowers. Another ribbon that I created using an old pillow case. This one was dyed using coffee. In the center, I stacked two buttons)

Easter is such a wonderful holiday here in Sicily. In fact, Easter in Italian is “Pasqua,” and it’s a time of religious parades and celebrations. These processions often have as their focus statues of Jesus or the Virgin Mary which are carried through the city streets by participants. One of the largest and most famous processions is in the city of Enna (right here in Sicily) on Good Friday, where more than 2,000 friars parade through the city.
Traditional Easter foods include eggs, artichockes, roasted lamb, a special sweet bread called “Colomba” (made in the shape of a dove) and CHOCOLATE EGGS, which almost always are hollow and have a special prize inside. The Chocolate eggs vary in price based on the SIZE & SUPRISE that hides in the center.

ALL of the eggs are Fantastically wrapped and some are quite elaborately decorated.

Another tradition is the LAMB CAKE!
Serving your creation: Everyone starts from the rear and slices toward the head unless someone (I'm not saying who) snaps off the ear or even worse cuts from the head! Bless me father for I have sinned, I ate the lamb cake head!

Now Easter in Italy is traditionally a holiday spent with family, BUT the Monday after Easter is another story - it’s still a nationwide holiday, and this one is all about hanging out with friends, often gathering for picnics. Easter Monday is called “La Pasquetta,” or “Little Easter,” in Italian. Many cities will hold outdoor events on Pasquetta, including concerts and games. The games often involve eggs, like the famous egg races of Tredozio. One one unusual Pasquetta game takes place in the town of Panicale in Umbria, where the goal is to roll giant wheels of cheese around the city walls in the quickest time and using the least strokes.
I don't think that I had any interactions with my Sicilian friends yesterday that did not wish me "BUON PASQUA"....

Either way, Sicilian or American, I love Easter!!!

CHALLENGES I USED for My CARD:
VERVE: Fun with Flowers (I think I had FUN recreating my flowers)
Cute Card Thursday: Egg-citing (create a card with an egg on it or in an oval shape)
Simon Says Stamp: It's so Distressing (I inked the edges using Tim Holtz Vintage photo ink, also distressed around my egg with the ink & my fingernail)
Little Red Wagon: Rollin' Into Spring (Nothing says Spring Like Easter & Flowers)
Cupcake Craft Challenge: Easter/Spring & Lots of Chocolate (I've got Easter covered and my entire blog entry is dedicated to Easter AND CHOCOLATE, maybe they will let me enter?)
Creative Card Crew: Vintage or Aged (I got Both covered)
Our Creative Corner: Buttons (I stacked two in the center of my bow)
Crafty Creations: Anything Goes
.........Supplies I used.........
Image: Vintage Image Crafts
Paper: Paper Trey Ink (lemon tart), Stampin Up (whisper white)
Patterned Paper: Scribble Scrabble (Hollie's collection), Bo Bunny (Nutmeg collection)
Tools: Martha Stewart (doily lace edge punch)
Ink: Stampin Up (close to cocoa)
Misc: Flower Soft, buttons from old clothes, ribbon hand made