Friday, February 26, 2016

LEAP Blog Hop with Scraps by Gracie

Welcome to 




Have we got a hop challenge for you today. Take the letters LEAP and create any paper crafting project; a card, a scrapbook layout, a journal page, etc. Here is the trick....whatever you make must use L-E-A-P in it somewhere.For example:A lavender (L) card with embossing (E) and angled (A) with prills (P).Get it. So who is up to the LEAP challenge. Throw a frog into your project and you've leaped right off the lily pad. 

Now on with the projects...



I made a set of cards using some LEAP!
L~lily pad
E~embossed images
A~amphibians
P~patterned paper/polka dots/plaid


Here's a close up and description of each:


Ingredients exclusive to this card:
W R Storytime Gretel
Spellbinders die
American Craft ribbon
Sizzix Marakesh die


ingredients exclusive to this card:
Graphic 45 Emerald City Magic of Oz
Spellbinders die
green vellum
metal flower
misc ribbon
gunmetal card stock


this card:
Sizzix mover and shaper die
American Craft sheer ribbon
Queen & Co pesto pearls
misc polka dot paper
white card stock


this card:
W R Storytime Gretel
SU designer label punch
American Craft ribbons

Ingredients used on all cards:
Stampin Up Definitely Decorative Leapfrogs and Unfrogettable (on 3/4)
DRS designs sentiment "toad"ly wonderful day
Recollections pesto with Versamark ink
Recollections Tourmaline with Brilliance Graphite Black ink
SU Sizzix top note die (on 3/4) Marakesh on one
white shimmer card stock (embossed images)

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:










Up next is Holli!!



Today's hop is kindly sponsored by


who is generously giving away a class of the winner's choice. Be sure to comment on each blog on the hop by Friday, March 4th to be entered. Winner will be posted on Theresa's blog on Saturday March 5th.



Here's today's line-up in case you get lost along the way.




Thanks so much for stopping by!

Alicia

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Basic Grey Sweet Threads cards

Good morning readers!  I have some simple little cards.  I made these with leftovers from a Basic Grey 6x6 stack.  Kiwi Lane templates are great for using up scraps!






Ingredients:
Basic Grey Sweet Threads
Stampin Up modern label punch
Creative Memories tag punch
misc flowers, brads and sentiment stamps
Kiwi Lane templates scallops, etc.

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:




Thanks for stopping by!

Alicia

Monday, February 22, 2016

The Wedding Cake: Quick Quotes Chiffon collection

Good morning!  Quick Quotes readers, Alicia here today with some fresh new Quick Quotes papers:
The Chiffon collection.  I thought they were a great match for some of my wedding photos.


I used many simple layers to create this stunning layout.  The base is a full 12x12 sheet of Chiffon 104 paper and coordinating partial sheet of Chiffon 103 paper.  I used a border punch to cut two strips of Chiffon 101 paper's solid side that I tucked behind the partial sheet.  The special part of this layout is the ribbon I used at the seems of the paper and borders.  It is from a spool that I actually used in my wedding.  We used it to tie our rings.


Next I die cut some mats to layer behind the photos.  I used some Quick Quotes die cut pieces that were in my DT package.  Behind those I layered just a torn strip of Chiffon 105 paper, I just love the "writing".  On top of the die cuts I layer some chipboard and wooden embellishments.


The title is Cricut cut from the same wonder Chiffon 105 paper, I thought it looked best on the solid paper.  Finally, I added more chipboard pieces and more die cuts, for a finishing touch vines intertwined with some flourish pearls.





Quick Quotes products used:


other products used:
Prima wood buttons
Crate Paper layered chipboard
Cricut Quarter Note font
Spellbinders label die
Marvy border punch
Creative Memories corner punch

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

http://useyourstuff.blogspot.com/2016/02/challenge-212-more-than-one-photo.html until 2/27

Featured button



Thanks so much for stopping by!

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Mr & Mrs.Black and White wedding card with Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch

If you are looking for the Black Tie Affair Blog Hop Click here 


In the spirit of today's blog hop, I have designed my Sketch N Scrap card for this month for a wedding.  I also stayed with a clean black and white theme but grunged it up a bit with Quick Quotes Coal Miner chalking ink.


Here's the sketch from Sketch N Scrap:



Close up:


Ingredients:

David Tutera embossed papers
Stampin Up sentiment Label Love
SU Pretty Pearl embossing powder
Brilliance Graphite Black ink
hematite card stock
Pearls from Quick Quotes December Club Q kit
Quick Quotes chalking ink Coal miner
QQ 49 Shades of Grey paper 102
lace from Hobby Lobby
misc layered embellishment



I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

http://www.ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/february-card-challenge.html until 2/20x

http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com/2016/02/challenge-181-anything-goes.html until 2/22x

http://sparklensprinklecreativechallenges.blogspot.com/2016/02/february-2016-challenge.html until 2/25x

Black Tie Affair Blog Hop with Connie


Welcome to the Black Tie Affair Blog Hop
We are so delighted you are joining us for this very formal occasion where we will be showcasing projects with class, from weddings to homecoming dances.

 Connie Can Crop is the first stop in this hop. This is a one day blog hop and we appreciate your leaving a comment for all of these amazing crafters.

We have an amazing sponsor this month!!



One lucky winner will win a $20 gift card to shop their awesome files in their shop! 
Be sure to check out their shop online HERE
Visit them on facebook HERE


What do you need to do to win? Easy... become  a follower of each of the fabulous blogs in this hop and leave each of them a comment letting them know what you like best about their projects.


You will have until 10 pm Sunday to finish the hop and leave your comments.

Winner will be announced on Wednesday 2/24/16 here at Connie Can Crop.

Be sure to follow everyone and leave a comment along the way!



some details:


Ingredients:
Heidi Swapp Love Notes paper
Hallmark doilies
Cricut cut glasses: Creative Memories Divine Wedding, acetate, black card stock, vellum and beads
Momenta acetate overlay
K & Co Black Swirl adhesive gems
Creative Memories sticker title
Prima flowers and trinket
American Craft sheer ribbon
Petaloo pins
Tim Holtz film strip
Sizzix movers and shapers die
Rose trim from The Paper Studio


I would like to enter this in the following challenges:




The background is on full sheet and all other papers are scraps.
I used up the flowers and pins from a couple of collections!  yeah throw away the packaging!!
I also used an old CM sticker sentiment...that sticker sheet is just about gone now.

(my doilies are circles)

 Up next is Kim with Katy's help! She always knocks it out of the park!


Here's our line up in case you get lost.



Want another chance to win!! Enter the monthly challenge at Connie Can Crop!!

You could win $50 to spend at Dreaming Tree!!



Connie Can Crop Challenge #43
due 11:59 P.M. Monday, February 29th
Pacific Time

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Alicia

Thursday, February 18, 2016

High Style 20th Century Couture Fashion Exhibit 1900-1980


Good morning readers! Something different for you today!  A very picture heavy post about a recent art exhibit I attended at the Cincinnati Art Museum.  I love that place!  And now that it is FREE how can you miss it?  For locals the Contemporary Arts Center, downtown Cincinnati, also now has free admission.  



This exhibit was originally curated for the Metropolitan Museum of Art via the Brooklyn  Museum Costume Collection.



The exhibit begins with some Victorian~esque fashions.  I was really loving the cut and fabric of this first one.


Then some more traditional Victorian.  The beadwork is exquisite.

The 20's brought a wider variety of garment styles including infamous "flapper" styles.





The peacock feathers in this material are gorgeous.  My photos don't do it justice.













I actually learned about shoes!  These are very expensive and molded to the owner's feet.


So expensive that special trunks were made to hold the shoes on forms to keep their shape.  This was a very elite item.


These shoes are from later and a different designer. There is only one of each because these were prototypes. 


Check out these heels!  Super cool and still sturdy!


Now to my favorite designer of the exhibit.  

Elsa Schiaparelli
Italian
1890-1973

Her range of work is incredible!





This piece was based on the night sky.




I love this butterfly print and parasol!!





She was the first couture designer to boldly bring the zipper out of hiding!



Tiny pianos for buttons!





Now we move on to some more familiar names:
Dior, Chanel, Givenchy and Halston.







The FIRST little black dress!










more modern shoes


















This hat was made famous by Mame Eisenhower.  I believe she wore a version during the inauguration parade but in a different color.



Modern travel wear for the jet set.


This outfit is a bit dramatic but this designer designed theatrical costumes as well.


Geometrics accentuating new areas.




The third part of the exhibit focused on the most modern couture and one particular designer, Charles James.



















Halston




This is Charles James' famous clover leaf ball gown.





Charles James


His sketch of the Clover leaf ball gown.  It has a "structural system" to hold the dress in such form.  He "engineered" most of his work.





The James part of the exhibit was very extensive and had muslin prototypes and cut aways of his most famous designs.


This particular dress is famous for looking like a completely different dress from every angle.



There was a virtual slide show on the constuction of this dress.


The dresses with their muslin prototypes.







You can definitely see the similarities in his work for framing the female figure.



If you looked through all of these good for you!  Now perhaps you are ready to see some crafts based on formal attire?  I thought this was appropriate to post just prior to the next blog hop:

February 20

See you back in a couple of days!

Alicia