As much as I wanna be, I'm just not...

.... a vintage girl. I love the look of vintage and shabby chic cards, but I cannot get that style to work for me. However, getting out of your groove is what a challenge is all about. So, ScrapTiffany is asking us to do vintage this week. I came up with this: (brace yourself)

I think of Webster's Pages as being vintage looking, so I started there by using their papers and cameo (they call them Silhouettes). The "vintage" key is from Fiskars. I also think doilies fit in the vintage category, and was thrilled to use this beauty that I found in Amish country, PA. Don't worry, it was only 50 cents.

Betsy Veldman taught me how to make the precious little rosebuds from felt. I need more practice, but I'm getting there.

I used this sketch from Get Sketchy.

Should I let you in on a little secret? See, the first thing I did was make the card base. After laying different pieces in different places and moving them around a kajillion times, you get excited to finally glue them down for good, right? Note to self: Always check your card base.

Does vintage come easily to you? Then whip up a vintage card and post it on the ScrapTiffany blog. Is vintage a pain in the neck for you? Then buck up and give it a go anyway. Make sure to post the results (good or bad) to ScrapTiffany.

**My card won't be revealed at ScrapTiffany until Friday, but I needed to post it in time for the Get Sketchy challenge.**

Oh, my wildly talented friend, M-C, is giving away a cricut cartridge. Head over today. It ends really soon. And In My Mind's Eye has some goodies up for grabs, too.

My BFF

Recognize her? Yup, that's Jennifer McGuire, my BFF! She was so sweet to come visit me and teach me tons of her coloring techniques and card making secrets. Granted, there were 39 other people there, too, and I had to pay to see her, and she doesn't really know we're BFFs, but still...

I was so star struck and giddy just to be in the same room as her. She liked my shirt!!! And said one of my projects was turning out "beautiful!"

I had the time of my life and learned so many new things that I cannot wait to try at home on my own. She is a fabulous teacher who does so many "extras" to really make the class even more fabulous. I'm telling you girls, if you have a chance to take a class from Jennifer McGuire, you NEED to do it. It's such a confidence and mojo booster to learn new things from someone who has mastered this hobby of ours.

Oh, and to top off this perfect morning, I met The Daily Marker, too. The rest of the world calls her Kathy. I had no idea she was local and giving classes nearby. I'll be learning from her soon, too. So exciting!! Shoot.... I should've gotten a picture with Kathy.

Hoping to practice my new skills tomorrow.

Orange You Glad I'm Back?

It's been two weeks!! If you've missed me (or my lists of giveaways), I'm sorry. I just unintentionally took a break and so did my mojo. We did a little traveling and a lot of dancing! My 3-year-old daughter took two week-long dance classes... her first ever. I think I had as much fun watching as she did dancing.

But I'm back and excited to craft again. The challenge at ScrapTiffany this week was to work with orange. I don't know why so many people are scared of this edible color.

I also used the current Get Sketchy sketch.

Isn't it unique? Totally a fun sketch to play with. And I finally got to use the Maya Road birdies that came in my box when they did their warehouse sale last year. I love it when I use old supplies!!!

Maren over at Paper Crafts issued a challenge to try paper pleating. You know me, I love a challenge, so I gave it a try. I went with a loosely pleated look.

Alright girls, get out your orange and slice up something juicy. (Oh boy, that was bad!) Just don't forget to link it up in the comments section at ScrapTiffany. She loves to show off everyone's work.

ScrapTiffany Reveal

Click on over to ScrapTiffany to see what the second half of the DT did with naked chipboard.
Here's the giveaways I entered this morning:

Scrapbook and Cards Today

Moxie Fab World

Bitten by the Bug 2

Scrapbookaholic

Jillibean Soup

Ponytail Possibilities

I've got a quick, cute and easy tutorial over at ScrapTiffany today showing you how to make cute ponytails like this:

I'd love you forever if you went to check it out :)

Buck Naked

The chipboard is. That's the challenge at ScrapTiffany this week: use your chipboard, but keep it naked. Talk about a challenge. Frankly, that naked chipboard is not easy on the eyes, but the design team really worked some magic with it. Check at the first half of the reveal here.

Now my card will not be revealed at ScrapTiffany until Friday, but I have to post it on my blog today because I want to enter into BoBunny's Card Challenge. Isn't this sketch so clean and perfect?

Here's my creation using all BoBunny Sophie papers:

Do you see the naked chipboard?

There it is!! These little flower chips are from Maya Road and I just wrapped brown baker's twine around them for some interest. Then I tucked them under the paper strip. And I couldn't forget a touch of Stickles on "Friends."

I really like the unexpected color combo in Sophie. It's mostly brown and pink and aqua with a pop of orange. Genius!

Feeling lucky? Here's the giveaways I entered recently. Get to it!!

Sonnet Designs

Laurel Seabrook

Creating Keepsakes

Prima

PaperCrafer's Corner

Create

Sketch It

ScrapTiffany's challenge this week was to work from this sketch created by fellow DT member Rebecca.

I really wanted to use this sketch for a card, and by golly it kicked my batoonkus. I don't think any other card has taken me this long to create, but I'm so glad I challenged myself..... and even made it through fairly satisfied.

The card base is smaller than an A2 card, so the crazy amount of hang-off still fits an A2 envelope. My color choices and the use of birds came from the Embellish magazine challenge.

You'll have to trust me that the pink in my card is just as bright as this swatch. In photographing my card, I used my newly assembled light box for the first time. I am not happy with the results at all. They are turning out much too yellow. (Do you have a homemade light box you are happy with? What bulbs are you using?) I'm pretty sure it's the bulbs' fault.

Here are some awesome giveaways I came across this week:

Create (several)

Creative Critters Cricut Club

Sugardoodle

All Scrapbook Steals

Practicing Creativity

Laura Vegas

Coordinates Collections x2

Seabrook Designs

Sarah Mullanix

Ranger