Dollar Find Friday- Alex

What is Dollar Find Friday? Every Friday the featured Trendsetter will share a project with you that was created using an item that costs $1 or less. Everyone loves a good bargain...now we will show you some ideas on how to actually use those great finds!

Happy Friday lovebugs! It's Alex here, hoping you are looking forward to a fun & relaxing weekend!!

I know I can't be the only one that just loooves scouring the dollar spots for fabulous finds, especially when it's something that can be dressed up quickly and more importantly can actually be used for longer than 5 minutes!  Well, today I am sharing a super-cute project I put together using some Frame Ornaments I found at the Target Dollar Spot, so let's get started!!

This is what I started with:

eeek! not too impressive right? bear with me... I'm a woman of vision!

Next, I sanded off a bit of the sheen from the front and sides of the frame to make it easier for my patterned paper to stick.  I filed down  a bit more on some areas to give my frame a little "shabby" look:

I then glued my patterned paper onto the front of the frame and cut around it very roughly, leaving some excess:

Next I use an x-acto knife to trim the inside of the frame, and again, I don't worry about it being perfect:

I should mention whenever I alter any object, I use this method because sometimes these little "treasures" are not so expertly made and if you try and measure exactly you may have an edge that is slightly "skewed" in size. It's safer to glue first and trim later! 

For trimming, I use a very rough file and just sand against the edges, which tears the paper neatly and smoothly - no scissors needed!

Next the fun begins! I decided to ink up the edges of my frame a bit:

I then added this adorable image from my Snowy Days stamp set which was perfect for my frame!  I decided this would be the perfect gift for my little "doggie-nephew" Soju!  (well, I'm sure my sister-in-law will love it!)

Finally embellish as desired, and enjoy!!

Isn't it cuuute?  I think this is a wonderful dollar find, don't you??

Thanks for letting me share this mini-tutorial, and I hope you'll consider trying it out yourself!

Hugs!

Alex

Trendsetting Spotlight on Joy (aka daiseyfreak)!

It's time for the Trendsetting Spotlight! Each Thursday we feature a card made by someone who has participated in the previous week's TSG Challenge. Would you like to be in the Trendsetting Spotlight?? Join in the fun by participating in our weekly challenges posted every Monday! 

Joy aka daiseyfreak is having a great week! She was the winner of last week's Bring on the Bling Challenge AND she is in the Trendsetting Spotlight this week!

 I just love Joy's artwork and whimsical style.She's been an avid stamper for the past 5 years and LOVES her puppy, Polo! Joy loves using pearls, buttons and bling on her cards as well as her Nestabilities and sewing machine. Here are some lovely cards I spied on Joy's blog, aptly titled, Crazy for Daisies.

 This gorgeous card, using the Snowy Days stamp set, was made for the TSG Bring on the Bling challenge.

 Here Joy used The Journey stamp set to make this serene and calming card (which I found so refreshing during this crazy holiday time).

And to celebrate the upcoming spring, how about this gorgeous scalloped circle card which highlights the Happy Day stamp set! (<3 this one!!)

Thanks Joy for all the beautiful artwork using our stamps! Congrats on being in the spotlight this week!

Wednesday Trends / TSG Tips & Tricks : Alex

What is Wednesday Trends / TSG Tips & Tricks? Every Wednesday the featured Trendsetter will either share a stamping trend that they love or will show you new ways to use their favorite TSG stamp sets! I hope you are inspired by this tutorial, and that you will try it out for yourself! :)

Hello Sugarbunnies!! It's Alex here with you sharing a fun little technique I have recently been playing with - I call it Copic "Watercoloring"   I'm sure I'm not the first person to do something like this, but the first time I tried it I totally fell in love with the look, and I thinks it's something everyone can easily do so I'm excited to share my little "technique"tutorial with you today!

For my card today I used my Season's Greetings stamp set.  I think this technique looks especially nice on fine, detailed images that don't necessarily need to be perfectly colored - besides, sometimes you just want to make something pretty and quick right?? 

First, choose a couple of markers for your image, and for this, less is more!  Stick to  2 or 3 colors at most, since you want them to blend - remember you want a "watery" look - lightly color directly on your stamp with your markers, and no need to be neat on this one!!

Once you have loosely colored your image, grab an watercolor brush or aquapainter filled with household rubbing alcohol, and quickly brush over your stamp enough so that you can clearly see the alcohol sort of puddling and the color looking wet.

Then stamp your image onto your paper - I used watercolor paper for this sample, but I have done this on my "usual" white smooth CS, and it works the same, so don't be afraid to try it on whatever you have on hand!  Once you stamp your "alcohol image"  do not be alarmed - it's not exactly the prettiest!! :)  It may also be a little overly wet, so you can just give it a quick little blast with your heat gun to dry!

Next, ink up your stamp with your favorite black ink (or any other dark color of your choice) and stamp your image directly over your "Alcohol stamped" image, lining it up as best as you can, and don't worry it doesn't need to be perfect, it will look pretty no matter what! Look at the difference in the image when you stamp over it:

 

Isn't it pretty?  and voila! you're done!  you can then finish your image and your card as desired!!  I added some sponging to my image panel and then added a metallic gold mat.  Love the rustic look this creates:

and there you have it!  Isn't this a great look, and not a lot of time spent coloring either!! Just the perfect, elegant look for a simple Holiday card!

I hope you like this simple technique, and that you give it a try!!

Hugs!!

Alex

Trendsetter Tuesday - Alex!

BACK IN STOCK

* Snowy Days * Bee Happy * Home Sweet Home *

Happy Tuesday everyone! Today I am introducing you to Alex Maldonado, Jr. Trendsetter here at There She Goes!

As I strolled through Alex's blog, Fairy Blossoms, I was struck by the great variety of projects . Here are a few of the pretty cards I found:
First up is a card using the sassy and cheeky set, Tastes Like Chicken. I just love it!

And here's a pretty card using ROTF Taglines:

Have a great day everyone and if you have time to play, Alex is hosting this week's TSG Challenge....Use Your Stash!

TSG85- Use Your Stash

This week’s challenge is brought to us by our Trendsetter of the Week, Alex! For this challenge you will need to pull out some of your supplies that you’ve had sitting around for six months or more! What better way to get rid some old patterned papers or embellishments? You might even rediscover an old love! Pull out the oldies, but goodies, because we can’t wait to see what you come up with!

To be eligible for the giveaway, you are to create a card that utilizes supplies that have been unused for six months or more, and then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (Dec. 20th). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!

By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the look out to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)

You do not need to have a blog to be able to participate in the TSG Challenges! You can simply add the URL link from your project after it has been uploaded to your online craft gallery. If you upload your card to an online craft gallery, please use the keyword TSG85 so we can check out your beautiful work!

Need some inspiration to help you get started? Check out these great cards made by the following Trendsetters!
~ Christine Okken
~ Jessica
~Iwona
~Piali
~Alex 
~ Kim

Winner of last weeks TSG84- Bring on the bling challenge: Joy aka daiseyfreak
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:32
Timestamp: 2010-12-13 06:12:59 UTC

Week In Review (Dec. 6-12) & Card Give Away!

What is Week In Review (WIR)?- WIR is where we showcase cards made by the Trendsetters and myself throughout the week. Not only to you get to see gorgeous projects made using TSG stamps, but you also have a chance to WIN one of these cards! Leave a comment on this post and next WIR I will choose a winner using a random number generator. That person will then get to pick out their favorite card and the Trendsetter that created it will send it to them :)

Winner from last weeks WIR for Nov. 29- Dec 05: Erin
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:12
Timestamp: 2010-12-12 05:03:15 UTC

Congrats Erin! Email me with your info and that card will be sent right out to you :)

Jodi

Iwona

Iwona

Iwona

Jessica

Jessie

 Corinna

Stampbook Saturday - Kim

Hi everyone and welcome to this week's edition of Stampbook Saturday. If you all will forgive me, I have given my attempt at a scrapbook page. Don't be scared...I don't think that it turned out too badly coming from a novice scrapbooker. If fact this is only the second scrapbook page that I have ever made...ever ;)

What is a Stampbook Page? A stampbook page is a scrapbook page created using stamps and inspired by a card. Each week we create a new stampbook page to give you ideas on how to use your stamps in a new way and hopefully inspire you to catch up on those family photos you've been meaning to scrapbook.

Here is my wonderful inspiration - a card made by our very own Iwona:

Now, I'm not even sure why I tried to measure up to this awesome card but I really loved the looks and I'm a sucker for earth tones ;) Okay. So here is how my version turned out:

Basically I kept a similar layout and colours but the papers are different and I found out along the way that I need to stock up on my orange designer paper stash ;) This one is a basic grey DP and just had to do in a pinch and I adjusted where the owls from the You're a Hoot set to make room for the photos of my kiddo's :) The owls were water coloured with Derwent Inktense Pencils but I deliberately tried to keep a softer touch to the owls, much like Iwona did in her card.

I ended up adding some ribbon and lined thread for texture because as and 8" x 8" page, it simply would not fit through my cuttlebug so I had to improvise :) I lined up the buttons because I'm a symmetrical kind of gal and it balanced out the owls nicely.

Thanks for coming by today and don't forget that tomorrow is the Week In Review card giveaway and you won't want to miss it :)