Sunday, July 27, 2014

In the Spotlight Mini Challenge - It's a Small World with Margaret Fleming

Hello! Margaret here with a new mini challenge. Literally! Our In the Spotlight Mini Challenge for this month is "It's a Small World". Now that you have that wonderful Disney song embedded in your brain, I'll share some details...

I normally create scrapbook pages which gives me plenty of room to create. However, I have also dabbled in miniature art. My first introduction was making inchies and then ATCs. Just recently I learned about rinchies and have made a few of those since they fit perfectly in bottle caps.

If these are foreign to you, this guide
of miniature sizes might help:
  • Inchies – artwork measuring 1" square
  • Twinchies – the big brother of the inchie, measures 2" square
  • ATCs – measure 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
  • Rinchies – 1" circular art
  • Rolos – altered Rolodex cards measuring 3" x 5"
  • Scraplings – 1 1/4" x 4 1/4"
  • Moos – 1 1/8" x 2 3/4"

These are usually created on watercolor paper or other sturdy paper, especially if you are doing a lot of embellishing. There are probably other sizes that I don't know about so if you have a favorite miniature feel free to create that and leave the details on your blog post!
Here are some of my mini creations...


Some very simple inchies using cardstock.


An inchie made of sculpey clay.


ATCs created on watercolor paper.


Rinchies created on designer paper then added to a bottle cap.
I love turning these into magnets!


I added Crystal Effects (glossy accents)
to seal the paper in the bottle cap.

I hope you will join me in creating some wonderfully small works of art! I would love to see what you come up with! Next Sunday we will be back with a brand new challenge. Happy Creating!!!


Sunday, July 20, 2014

Techniques and Repurposing can be Key for Week 3 of "ANYTHING GOES" No. 37 at Anything But a Card Challenges

Good Morning Everyone! Welcome to week three of Anything But a Card Challenges No. 37... Anything Goes - Open Theme. We hope you enjoyed meeting and getting to know our special Guest Designer Maria Soto last week {click here to view her purrfectly precious cat creations}.


The current Challenge... Anything But a Card Challenge #37 - "ANYTHING GOES"!! With the summer season in full swing full of vacations, days at the beach and summer camp – we thought we'd go with an OPEN THEME!!! Feel free to break out some supplies you haven't used in a while, try something new or create whatever your muse desires... as long as it's anything but a card! 

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Please share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. Please mention and LINK BACK to this challenge. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. :)

**A REMINDER** This Challenge will go through midnight July 26th giving you one week to play along and ENJOY the creative process! Look forward to another Artist Spotlight + Mini Challenge next Sunday to keep you inspired.

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Let's see what more of our DT has created!!

Please click on the designers' name to visit their blog. We hope you’ll take a minute to go see their work up close... and as long as you’re there – please leave them a little love!



I was experimenting and failed at a project when I created a new and unique marbling technique using melted crayons to cover resin pieces. The process is backwards from your normal marbling but love the outcome with all the details and textures. I've included a video so you can see exactly how it's done. Please hop over to my blog here to see more details.


A small inspirational poster showing an illuminated letter, pointillism and stencilling. The illuminated lettering and pointillism were techniques I often used in the past and have decided to resurrect again, because they are such fun things to do. Check out my blog to see how they were done.



I did a bit of repurposing on two cardboard jewelry boxes. Now instead of taking up space on the shelf, they will be used as pretty gift card containers. Please visit my blog for more details!


The challenge this month at Anything But A Card Challenge is one of my favorite themes, Anything Goes (#37). I love Anything Goes challenges as they give me free reign to use some of the items I have hoarded over the years, like the shadow box I used in this project. Well, honestly, most of what I used has been in my stash for years. It was fairly simple to make and since I had everything on hand, it was free! Please visit my blog for more details.




I joined a summer themed tag swap at Viva Las VegaStamps! and I wanted to have a painterly background to showcase my stamped images. Faber Castell Gelatos are my current favorite go with me everywhere tool and this was a perfect occasion to do a little Cre8time experimentation with monoprinting on my AMAZING No-Gelatin Rubber Plate. Please visit my blog to see my process.

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We hope our designers have you INSPIRED to take some time to be creative!! We can't wait to see your creations and we hope that you will join in and share them with us! Stop back next Sunday a brand new Artist Spotlight + Mini Challenge. Have a wonderfully creative Sunday!

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Picture PURRRfect for Week 2 of Anything But a Card Challenges No. 37 with Guest Designer Maria Soto


Good Morning Everyone! It's week two of our current challenge and we are excited to introduce a new Guest Designer to join us for here at ABAC. Maria Soto is our Guest Designer this month and joining us for our current ANYTHING GOES {Open} Challenge.


The current Challenge... Anything But a Card Challenge #37 - "ANYTHING GOES"!! With the summer season in full swing full of vacations, days at the beach and summer camp – we thought we'd go with an OPEN THEME!!! Feel free to break out some supplies you haven't used in a while, try something new or create whatever your muse desires... as long as it's anything but a card! 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Please share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. Please mention and LINK BACK to this challenge. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. :)

**A REMINDER** This Challenge will go through midnight July 26th giving you 2 weeks to play along and ENJOY the creative process! We will share more of our Design Team's creations next Sunday to keep you inspired.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Maria created this fun Kitty desk decor for our "Anything Goes" Challenge. The image above is a custom cat coaster she also created using Amazing Crafting Products {click image above to see details}.

We hope you enjoy getting to know our Guest Designer...

Please click on the images to visit her blog
and give her a warm welcome!

Hi there, this is Maria and today I want to share a very cute project I created. I am the mom to three Purrfect cats – they seriously changed my life... they made it better. I decided to make some fun craft projects about cats. This one I share with you today is for my office and I will be making a lot more to sell and raise money for an organization that works hard to care and find homes to homeless cats and kittens.

I had this really cute cat figure made out of wood in very nice bright colors, and I thought it would make a great mold. I also I had this tiny picture frame that measures 3.15" x 1.85" that I received from a Secret Santa gift exchange last year and thought it would be fun to mold and use in my crafting projects. It was fun to combine the two creating something unique.

The final result...  this precious, tiny desk decoration! I do have quite a few, one more will not hurt. Please click here to visit my blog "What is Creativity..." and see all the details.


A Picture Purrfect Little Treasure!


Hi my name is Maria Soto, a single mother of three wonderful young adults that make me happy to be a mom. I’ve been working as a project administrator in the construction business for over 20 years.

About 15 years ago I started making my own jewelry. I love to use all different types of materials and products to make all different types of jewelry; such as stamping with inks and paints, resin, fabric, polymer clay, paper clay, etc. I have also enjoyed learning how to make all types of crafts. I would say my style has changed over the years; I love the mixed media concept. Almost everything I create is a one-of-a-kind; I don’t like to make the same thing over and over again, is just not my style. I love to create in a way that allows me to be free to express my creative mood as I feel it.

My blog represents what I love to create, here is my link stop over and check out my work http://chuy-creativity.blogspot.com/ or my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ChuySoto

I’m currently a CHA Designer Member. I’ve been the project designer for LIMIRI, LLC for over two years, and currently a member of the Amazing Crafting Products Creative Team. Last year I was a part of Craft Critique’s product review team and also the Featured Crafter at Think Crafts.

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We hope our Guest Designer Maria Soto has INSPIRED you to take some time to be creative!! We can't wait to see your creations and we hope that you will join in and share them with us! Stop back next Sunday to see more of our Design Team creations!

Thanks so much for joining us!


Sunday, July 6, 2014

ANYTHING Goes in #Cre8time for Week One of Anything But a Card Challenges No. 37

Good Morning Everyone! It's a brand new month and time for a brand new ABAC Challenge. Did you enjoy our  second 5th Sunday Challenge last week where we dared you to "USE FIVE"??! To keep the calendar of challenges balanced... keep a lookout for a couple more fifth Sunday's in 2014. KUDOS and much applause to those who played along in our FIVE challenge. If you missed the challenge,  please CLICK HERE and show the players some blog love. Stay tuned for a new "Mini-Challenge" at the bottom of the month at the end of Challenge No. 37.

Now we get down to business... it's time for a new challenge today here at Anything But a Card Challenges... let's get ready to play and have some fun! Thanks to all who played along with our Challenge #36 Summer Lovin'. If you missed out on seeing all the summery creations... please CLICK HERE to check them out.


The new Challenge... Anything But a Card Challenge #37 - "ANYTHING GOES"!! With the summer season in full swing full of vacations, days at the beach and summer camp – we thought we'd go with an OPEN THEME!!! Feel free to break out some supplies you haven't used in a while, try something new or create whatever your muse desires... as long as it's anything but a card! 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Please share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. Please mention and LINK BACK to this challenge. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. :)

**A REMINDER** This Challenge will go through midnight July 26th giving you 3 weeks to play along and ENJOY the creative process! We will share more of our Design Team's creations each Sunday to keep you inspired.

Let's see what part of our DT has created!!

Please click on the designers' name to visit their blog. We hope you’ll take a minute to go see their work up close... and as long as you’re there – please leave them a little love!


Following on from my last month's little beach huts I've gone large and created a romantic vintage style triptych. Check out my BLOG for more details.

I have been working a lot in my planner/art journal, please hop over to my BLOG to check out how this is part of my planner!


I made ATC's using stuff that was at my arms reach.
Please visit my BLOG for more details!


Slowly our home is coming together after a major top to bottom renovation. This is a reverse canvas board I have created for the dressing room. I love my brooches and having them on display might encourage me to wear them. See how I made this over at my BLOG.

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We hope our designers have you INSPIRED to take some time to be creative!! We can't wait to see your creations and we hope that you will join in and share them with us! Stop back next Sunday to see more of our Design Team creations!

Featured Artists for Anything But a Card Challenges No. 35 "Colour Challenge"

Good Morning!!! Thanks to all who accepted our "Colour" challenge #35 and worked out of the box to share some amazing creations. If you missed out on seeing all the fantastic submissions... please CLICK HERE.


Presenting the Featured Artists
Congratulations! 
Feel free to snag our badge for your blog!

We hope you join us later today with a brand new Challenge No. 37! Have a fabulous Sunday :)