Bella Carta

Green Christmas

This is one of my favorite projects! Take an empty soda can and turn it into an ornament.

This one features a little part of a broken earring. I found it one night at a gas station broken and discarded, being me - I decided to grab it and hold onto it. It was the perfect embellishment.

For this project you'll need:
An empty soda can, rinsed out
Tim Holtz Tonic serrated scissors (or heavy duty, kitchen type scissors)
Sizzix die -this is the swallow
Big shot or sizzix machine
Gardening gloves to protect your hands

If you've never cut up a soda can before, here's a good tutorial:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/popstars/

#upcycled #recycled #green #ornament #christmas #sodacan 

Journey

Having a little more fun with "negative" space, simply die cut your sheet and let the image below it shine through. I used a sparrow die from Sizzix (thanks Sarah!), and the image below is SU's First Edition dsp that I adhered some tissue paper over (ala faux silk technique) just to shabby it up a bit.  I made a loopy bow from some silk ribbon, added a few buttons and some stick pins.  

negative space

No, this isn't a "negative" post about someone or something, this card is all about using the image left over when a die cut shape is used.  The negative space is the empty space once the die cut image is removed.  This is a great way to add depth to your projects or just something different.   And a really great way to recycle your scraps.

The front panel is embossed and sanded (its white core cardstock from core'dinations) and then I used a  die and a punch for the butterfliers, which were removed and are being saved for a future project.  The decorative piece below it from K & Co. and its on Kraft cardstock.  Some buttons, and a large silk ribbon rosette decorate it, with a stick pin and  a little kraft tag.    

 

 

Butterfly Wishes {EIC141}

 

This is the last of the Etsy challenges!  Its been soo fun, I loved to play along!  A huge thanks to Ashley and De, and everyone else who has been a part of EIC, for providing so much inspiration!  My card features a watercolored background in bright colors, a stamped sentiment from Unity perfect for a wedding, and some embossed butterflies handmade from aluminum foil!

This challenge featured the Etsy store:  Homes and Weddings,  featuring unique designs in wire for tables, vases, placecard holders, wine bottles & glasses - perfect for a reception or even your next dinner party.  My inspiration came from this:

 

Thanks again Ashley, for providing such fun for all of us!  

Let it snow!

More coasters .... these are in red snowflakes, aren't they festive?

 
 

Cie la vie!

I started out this weekend making a red, white and blue card .... and got sidetracked by this pretty provencal print in yellow, red and blue.   I had previously bought this fabric (and here's a shocker, :-)  hadn't yet used it!)

Have I told you lately how much I love my Big Shot?  This thing cuts EVERYTHING ! I'm not sure if I would feel the same way about a digital, electronic cutter.   I used it with a Sizzix die (this is one of the Flower Layer dies) and an embossing folder to do the dots on the background. 

   

Stamps:  Unity Kit of the Month
Ink:  Enchanted Evening (PTI)
Cardstock:  Kraft, Enchanted Evening (PTI)
Accessories:  ribbon (SU), fabric and a button
 

Comfy Cozy Coffee Cozy ....

Say that three times fast!

Comfy Cozy Coffee Cozy
Comfy Cozy Coffee Cozy
Comfy Cozy Coffee Cozy

Its the May Papertrey Ink blog hop and the theme this month is FELT, and not just any felt, but the luscious 100%wool felt that PTI sells in their "perfect match" color line. 

When I saw these coffee cozies the other day on Dawn's blog, <---- click to go see the tutorial,  I knew I wanted to make one for myself.  Although I just had one color of the wool felt (black) and I don't "sew" (machine sew).  I have a Singer ... but we don't get along, lol!  I figured I could adapt Dawn's basic instructions. 

The wool felt from Papertrey Ink does cut like butter in your die cut machine (not like the acrylic fiber felt found in your craft store).  This is a product that really lives up to its advertising!   I decided since I only had one color (and I also didn't have any scallop dies) that I would cut one edge with a fancy die I did have.

I added a hand stitched running thread at the top with purple embroidery floss from DMC.   And I blanket stitched the edge on the side (use an embroidery sized needle).  Blanket stitch is a great, easy stitch for felt .... and it didn't take me any longer to hand stitch it then it would have taken to thread the needle in my machine.  And if you don't know how to blanket stitch, there are some great tutorials online <----- I used this one. 

 And I decorated with PTI buttons in Hawaiian Shores Plum Pudding, and Spring Moss. 

And a matching card:

Stamps:  Dot Spot, Handwritten Notes (PTI)
Ink:  Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist, Plum Pudding, Lavender Moon, Spring Moss, True Black (PTI)
Ribbon:  Plum Pudding Twill

I know you're here for the blog hop ... but if you have a minute, please check out the pictures of the kittens I am providing foster care for our local animal shelter.  They're really cuties! 

I think this week has gone to the birds!

Birds, they seem to be a  recurrent theme this week!

This card features a die cut from Sizzix, with a sentiment from Unity Stamp Co.  The paper in the die cut is from Little Yellow Bicycle (I forgot I had it too!).  The die cut has lots of dimension, so I inked all the edges.

I found a little bit of lace in my stash :-) along with some fun antique ribbon trims that I haven't used just yet!  I think I bought them over a year ago and stashed it so well that I forgot I had it!

new Tim Holtz Alterations dies

 

Hi everyone!   I've had a bit of a quiet week but one of the products I've been looking forward to most since the big winter CHA show is the new Tim Holtz sizziz dies and embossing products! Today I wanted to hear from you!

Who out there has gotten one or has it on their wish list ?  I've heard from two of my readers that these dies will work with the Cuttlebug, remember to use them face down (cutting side edge/with the foam downwards).  I had tried to sizzix dies with both the cuttlebug and the big shot a while back ago.  I originally had problems using the sizzix steel ruled dies (original and bigz) in the cuttlebug cutting side up (and ended up cracking a plate) but figured out that if I change them face down they work just fine.   (I do also recommend keeping an extra set of "b" plated on hand - or upgrading to the Big Shot - I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE mine!)http://bellacarta.typepad.com/rebecca/2008/08/it-works-it-wor.html

Tim Holtz's website notes that these *will* work with Cuttlebug, as well as Sizzix BigKick, Big Shot, and Quickcutz Epic.

So ... I have my TH dies on order .... I can't wait to play with them!   I really had a hard time choosing, I wanted them ALL!   Some of my favs were the tattered florals, hanging sign, the gears .....

Please let me know if you love these, hate 'em, where they're available (I don't think all stores have received them yet) and who you think has the best price! 

 

Beautiful Wings!

Have you seen this???? its the new "embosslit" from Stampin' Up!  It cuts and embosses butterflies all in one step!  You'll end up with a bevy of butterflies in several sizes! 

The cardstock colors are Melon Mambo, Only Orange and So Saffron.  I used the branch from Hidden Garden Rubons (or you could use the branch stamp from Eastern Blooms stamp set). I stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip to match the branch.