Thursday, March 31, 2011

Weekly Freebies a wee bit early!

Hi Everyone!

Because I am going to be off on a great adventure tommorow (I am going to Wharington/Round Top Texas for the antiques weekend) I wanted to get the Freebie Friday Images loaded today. I thought since Spring is in the air today that I would share one of my favorite things...butterflies! I feel spring has really arrived when I see the first butterfly. So here are a few images for you to brighten any of your beautiful crafts!
Happy Crafting
Leanne






Monday, March 28, 2011

Who's teaching at CKC in Houston? ME! Woo Hoo!

Hi everyone!

well I got the news today that I will be teaching at CKC in Houston! Not one but two diffrent classes which at first I was shocked now I am buckling down and starting the kit making proccess. I thought I would share what I will be teaching.
The first class is my Oolala mini coaster book which will feature wonderful ephemera by Gecko Galz and stunning papers by Echo Park. I will be doing this class on both Friday july 8th and Saturday July 9th from 4:30pm to 5:30pm.



The second class is my cowgirl diva tag book where you will work with Gecko Galz Cowgirl Ephemeras and wonderful embellishments! I will be doing this class Friday July 8th from 6pm to 7:30pm.





Pre-registration for CKC Houston will launch on Wednesday, April 6th, 2011
To register for these classes or to see the other classes available please visit their site at
http://www.scrapandpapercorner.com/events/ckc/houston/index.html
Have a great day and happy crafting!
Leanne

Friday, March 25, 2011

FREEBY FRIDAY!!!

Hi everyone!

Time to celebrate Friday with another set of Freeby images! I thought  it would be fun to share some of my beautiful vintage beauties Hope everyone enjoys them!




Wednesday, March 23, 2011

WIN! WIN! WIN! Greatest Show On Earth Challenge from Fripperies & Butterflies

I would like to invite everyone to the GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH................... CHALLENGE! Gecko Galz has donated the images below to inspire you and you can use one or all to create a your entry along with anything else your heart desires...Graphics 45, May Arts Ribbons, the limits are only met by your imagination.
And what does the winner recieve? Why you will get their choice of one of Gecko Galz amazing clear stamp sets, and 2 collage collections of your choice to see their products visit them at http://www.geckogalz.com/ . All entries need to be to me by May 1st  and I will announce the winner on the 3rd! send your entries to me at
fripperiesandbutterflies@yahoo.com .
All entries will be posted on my blog on May 1st for everyone to checkout.
here are the fun images




also for another fun challenge visit Gecko Galz website they have a bi monthly contest where you can win great products!
Have fun creating!
Leanne

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

My Core’dinations Creative Frenzy

Hello everyone!

One of my favorite product lines to work with is Core'dinations papers and thought it would be fun to create some fun projects using their paper products as the base of the designs. Their papers are a wonderful way to make your paper crafted products to stand out because there are so many ways to play with them.

The first design I did was an Alice in wonderland inspired card where I used a sheet of "Hypnotic" paper from Core'dinations "Black Magic" line it is a black paper with a wonderful red core. These papers are amazing to use with embossing folders and a distresser. on this card I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder then using my distressing pad I lightly sanded off some of the black to expose the red inner core. Then I used gold UTEE and distressed with Versa Mark ink and embossed. I added some May Arts Ribbon and a silk flower and topped with images by Gecko Galz. You have to admit it is the Core'dinations paper totally make this card!
On the second set of Cards I worked with Core'dinations "Whitewash" collection, these papers have a lovley distressed white look to them but once you remove that top layer you will discover a brilliant color underneath. Again I used Cuttlebug embossing forlers and a distresser pad to create my own designer paper to add class and style to these cards. I also love tearing to expose the inner core color (as seen in the bottom card) just a quick note when tearing to expose the inner core tear from the top.


Now on my last card I fell in love with the Core'dinations "Chocolate Box" collection "Irish Creme" and again dry embossed and distressed off the top brown layer to reveal the stunning green layer underneath and what I found amazing is that I found a lovley ribbon from May arts that matches it so amazingly well! If you like decadent almost edible colors you will love this line!


I also wanted to show how using core'dinations with your scrapbook pages can help you turn out award winning pages with ease. I used two sheets of Core essentials papers "Lake" and "Meadow" and using embossing folders, tulle ribbon, ephemeras and a star punch I created this amazing sping time page. something as simmple as tearing and exposing the colored core can add just the right touch to your page.


And as my final Core'dinations project I designed a sweet little spring journal which makes the perfect gift for easter or mothers day. To make this journal start with a 8.5" x 11" note book and three spring colored pieces of Core'dinations papers, I selected the "Flower Power" collection and used the green, blue and lavender colors. I cut it down to 8" x 11" and tore the right side of each piece to expose the core. Take red line tape and adhere a piece of antique lace along the lip of your book. Then one by one layer on your core'dinations papers leaving 1/4" of torn area free of adhesive until book cover is completly covered (you may have to tear a bit more from the blue and green papers to create staggered effect, do this on both sides of your book. Then take blueish purple ribbon (I used May Arts Ribbon) and streach across book using red line tape. Tie two bows out of same ribbon and place verticaly on the ends of the ribbon strips with glue dots. Then take 4" wide eyelet ribbon and red line tape and adhere around spine of book where one side will be on the front and the rest on the back. Then take 11" of ribbon and run along left edge using red line tape and using white prima flowers and glue dots place 7 down ribbon and finish with an adhesive pearl in center.
The create your journal plaque and place on the upper section of book, I used ephemeras from Gecko Galz "Viva La France" Collection and Creative Imaginations metal letter stickers. And there you have a wonderful gift that will wow anyone and everyone!
So I invite all of you to try your hand with using Core'dinations papers and tear, emboss, and create your way to beautiful paper crafted projects!
Visit them at
http://www.coredinations.com/
Next time I will be working with Core'dinations Foundations "Pearls" and showing how to make elegant holiday cards.
Until next time have a crafty day
Leanne

Friday, March 18, 2011

{tutorial} May Arts Ribbon Inspired Spring Fripperies Wall Plaque


There is nothing like a bit of Spring colored fripperies to get the creative juices flowing and your imagination working so I set forth to create the ultimate Spring time gift and after looking through all the amazing ribbons at May Arts I came up with my idea of doing a ribbon inspired wall plaque in Pinks and Greens. I started with my ribbons choosing to use pink and green checked ribbon (ABB46), a green and yellow sheer ombre (AE27), a vivid lime green crochet ribbon (NP46) and a sweet little pink and yellow check sheer ribbon (370-14-12).


To get started take your three piece Creative Imaginations wall plaque and using glimmer mist in "Pink Bubble Gum" mist the entire plaque and let it dry completely. Then Take your sheets of 12"x12" scrapbook paper, I chose to use Basic Grey's "Hayloft" for the green paper and Echo Park papers "Be Mine" paper and "Creative Imaginations "Marah Johnson" paper for the pink, and you will cut them into 6"x6" pieces. Take three pieces of you green paper and adhere them to your plaque pieces using liquid adhesive, I like to use Scotch "Quick Dry" for it flattens out not letting the paper pucker and tends to dry in 15 minutes. Once it is on using your paper shears cut away any excess paper from around the plaque at this time you will round the corners. The reason I did not use a corner rounder is that sometimes the corners do not match up because the rounder is to small or to large or do not punch cleanly so I prefer to do it by hand but you are welcome to use a rounder. With Exacto knife you will cut and open up slots in the plaque where they will connect together later on. Then you will take green ink I used Rangers "Peeled Paint" Distress ink and you will ink all the edges, make sure you come into the plaque about a half inch because once you start laying your ribbon along the edge you will loose that shabby chic look that the ink distressing gives it.



On the first plaque take your pink script paper by Creative Imaginations and tear in half horizontally making sure you tear from the top so your white core shows. Then with ink blending tool or sponge add green ink to the core. You will then take the second plaque and one piece of the Echo Park pink paper you will tear in half vertically then tear away from each piece another 1 1/2" remembering to tear from the top to show white core. Then like before ink the torn core with green. Attach two pieces to each side of the plaque with the torn section facing inwards. And on the last plaque take piece of Marah Johnson paper and out patterned flourish and place again like the other two inking the torn edges with green then place on center of plaque.

Next using 1/2" red line tape you will run this around the outer edge of each plaque. Now the key to this is starting right above one of the slits at the top or bottom and slowly pulling it around the plaque until each end meets, do not over lap ends, you want to have a bit more hanging off the front side than the back. Once you have it all on you will fold it down onto the plaque where it is laying flat then take the red plastic from the tape and using your pink and green checked ribbon go around the plaque just as you did with the tape, this time overlap the two ends, then pres it down around the edge of your plaque. This hides any raw unfinished edges and makes a stunning ribbon border.

Next take your stamps (we used Gecko Galz Digital Fairies Stamps) and stamp them onto a piece of white cardstock or Bristol then color them with Copic Markers to match the ribbons and papers, here is a hit I love the way Copic Markers work of Smooth finished Bristol they blend better, then cut them out. You don’t have to be exact if you have a little bit of white around the edge hide it by inking with the green ink. After you have them all cut out you are ready to start assembling your plaques.



On your first plaque take two pieces of the Green Crochet ribbon and wrap them on each side to where they meet in the back and secure with red line tape on back of plaque. Then take another square of the Echo Park script paper and using either a die cut or template cut a "Library Pocket" from the paper and once you have it together adhere to center of the plaque. To add a nice element to your pocket you might want to ink with the green ink before adhering it to plaque. Next take your stamped image and place two glue dots on her back then adhere two pieces of pink and yellow checked sheer ribbon. Take mini pop dots and adhere her over pocket letting the two ribbons dangle free. You will then take your ribbons and using mini glue dots you will begin manipulating the ribbons to appear that they are blowing in the wind. The way you will do this is lift and twist then secure to plaque with a glue dot then do it again until it looks the way you wish it to. You will then adhere flowers around the plaque, I used Prima Flowers "Got Flowers" then place adhesive glass gem in the center of each flower, and I used Mark Richards "Fusia" gems. Last take 11 small gems and run them along the bottom of your envelope.



On your second plaque take a piece of the green crochet ribbon and wrap it horizontally along the bottom of your plaque making sure not to cover the connector slot. You will attach on the back of the plaque with red line tape as before. Then take hot pink post-it pad and attach to center but half way into the crochet ribbon, you want to leave enough room for your pen ties. Next take two pieces of 8" pink and green checked ribbon and using a piece of red line tape cut to 3/4" place one on the right upper side of the plaque and one on the left make sure it is below your connecting slot. Take your ribbon and place on red line pieces to where the ribbon is vertical with plaque, then tie pen into ribbons and finish off in bow on each side.
Next take another fairy and attach two mini glue dots to her back and attach the small organza check pieces on each side. Then with mini pop dots adhere her to left side of post-it pad. Then like you did on the first plaque begin manipulating the ribbons to make them look as if they are blowing all around her. Take more prima flowers and dot around plaque and finish them with a large glass gem.




And last take paper butterfly, we used a butterfly from the Gecko Galz "Beautiful Butterflies" collage sheet, cut it out and ink the back using your green and pink inks. Then you will take a mini glue dot and run it up the body length only place on one of your flowers then lightly fold the wings up to create a 3-d element.




Now on your last plaque you will take the stamp with the fairies skipping rope and start with the one on the right side and using a glue dot adhere the small organza checked ribbon to his back and let a small piece dangle past his back, then take a second glue dot and roll into tape shape and wrap around ribbon to where it is cinched in and place under his hand so it looks as if the fairy is holding it then adhere the fairy to plaque using liquid adhesive (these will not be three dimensional). Next create a dangle between the two large fairies and attach the other end to the other large fairy leaving a tail past her back. Attach that end with a mini glue dot then adhere her down with liquid glue then place small fairy on ribbon between the other two fairies using again liquid glue.



Next take your last piece of Green paper and using template, punch or die cut you will cut two decorative frames and ink the edges in green. Take mini pop dots your will place them on three sides of each frame, you want to keep the tops open so you can slip in your sentiment and photo, then adhere to the top portion of plaque. For the sentiment I used the fall out piece of the frame and stamped a sentiment then slid it down inside the vertical frame.



Take your last fairy and with glue dots adhere her to the sentiment frame, then sprinkle with flowers and add glass gems to their centers. I added two decorative stick pins to the flower on the photo frame, they are by K & Co but you can add any decorative elements you would like or that you feel enhance your plaques and make then personal touches.




Now we are ready to connect all the plaques together! Just like a train you are going to connect all three using your Ombre sheer ribbon, now for me I give myself a generous amount of ribbon to work with so I will be able to do a beautiful bow so I start with 3 pieces at 12" of ribbon then 2 pieces at 6". Then laying my plaque flat on my work space start with the top plaque and tie a loop through the first slot cut off any excess then take my second 6" piece and tie a bow at the top of the loop, this will hide the knot you did to form the loop. Next go to your bottom slot and take one of your 12" pieces of ribbon and pull one end through the bottom slot of plaque one and the other end through the top slot of plaque two. Then pull plaques about 1" apart from each other and tie ribbon into knot first then on top of that tie a fancy bow.



 Cut off any excess dangles. Take your second piece of 12" ribbon and pull one side through bottom slot on second plaque and then the other side through the top slot of the third plaque and just like before make a 1" gap between the two plaques and knot ribbon then tie bow. With your last piece of 12" ribbon tie in a bow through the bottom slot of the third plaque and you might want to leave the dangles long on this one for a cascading effect. I then took a glass dangle by seven gypsies and hooked that through the ribbon.



And the last thing you do to finish this project is your little bird at the top of your plaque, I took a pink bird I found at my local craft store and using one of the pink prima flowers and a small piece of the yellow and pink organza check ribbon created a little bonnet for my birdie. I took 5" of ribbon and folded it in half then pulled it through the hole in the center of the flower to form a little tie then using a glue dot placed the bonnet on the bird head and pulled around my ribbons and secured at her throat with another glue dot. Then finished off the look with another pink gem. I then carved a small section from her under part using my exacto knife to the size of the plaque edge and placed a strip of redline tape in the carved out section and placed her on the top of my plaque. To reinforce her I used a touch of glossy accents around the connection of her to the plaque and let it dry over night.
Also to enhance your plaque you can use a little Smooch inks, by Clearsnap, and this will add a bit more shimmer to your stamps, flowers, and frames!

And there it is a stunning Fripperies inspired spring project that is perfect for your studio, office or bedroom. I love using ribbon to enhance projects and find sculpting and creating three dimensional designs is a wonderful added element. Have fun creating and remember to tie up the perfect project use May Arts Ribbon!

Happy Crafting!
Leanne







TOOLS YOU WILL NEED FOR PROJECT:
May Arts Ribbons; ABB46, AE27, NP46, 370-14-12, Three sheets of 12” x 12” papers Echo Park “Be Mine”/Marah Johnson by Creative Imaginations/ Hayloft by Basic Grey cut to 6” x 6”, Liquid Adhesive, ½” red line tape, mini Glue Dots, Mini Pop Dots, Fairies stamps by Gecko Galz, 1 sheet of white card stock, frame punches/ die cuts/ or templates, Library Pocket template or die cut, Prima Dark pink flowers, Pink Bubble Gum Glimmer Mist, Pink/Green/Gold Smooch Inks, Fake feather bird, Glossy Accents or Diamond Glaze, Peeled Paint Distress Ink by Ranger, Pink ink by Color Box, scissors, Gecko Galz “Beautiful Butterflies” Collage sheet, 7 Gypsies glass dangle, Creative Imaginations square wall plaque.

FREEBIE FRIDAY!

Thats right it is FREEBIE FRIDAY! Time to give some free items to my followers and friends this time I thought it might be fun do something a wee bit diffrent and give everyone a few spring digi stamps to play with, these are perfect to download color and use as embellishments on cards, pages and altered works. I love working with copic markers. I print them out on Bristol and that works amazingly! Here are some samples I did with such images;

So I hope everyone has fun working with these images!
Have a crafty weekend everyone!
Leanne







Thursday, March 17, 2011

Drum Roll Please! And the winner is..........

HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY!!!!!

Hello everyone I hope everyone is having a magical day full of Shamrocks and pots of gold. As everyone knows last month I held my first Blog Challenge and today we unviel the winner, so without further adue the winner of the St. Patties challenge is....drum roll please......JULIE FOREST!!!!! Congrats to her she won not only her choice of a digital collage sheet from Gecko Galz but also her choice of an ATC digital ATC paper pack! Below is her winning entry, I want to thank everyone who entered the challenge everyones work is AMAZING!

So now I am planning my next challenge and thought while everyone else is busy doing spring challenges I thought it would be fun to do a whimsical challenge based on the circus.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day and happy crafting!
Leanne

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Steam Punk Princess Mini Book

Hi everyone!

A Happy Sunday to everyone, I wanted to pop in and show off my latest mini album "Steam Punk Princess". I used papers by Graphics 45, Tim Holtz Sprockets and cogs, antique lace, UTEE, cuddle bug embossing folder, and Gecko Galz collage images!
I wanted it to look very mechanical and love how Graphics 45 papers all coordinate!
Let me know what you think. I will be teaching this book in Houston on April 26th.