Some Shabby Mini Journals with Crafty Ribbons

Hello everyone, I have something cool to show you.  I am so excited about these mini journals.  I watched a video on Youtube by Lyriclover810, and she gives a quick tutorial on these, they are so much fun!  I am so glad I had some of these little composition books in my stash, I made five of them in very quick time!

I am using these as my inspiration projects for Crafty Ribbons this week.  Why?  Because I used Crafty Ribbons to embellish these awesome little journals, that's why!  And they turned out so gorgeous!

To finish these shabby mini journanls, I used Lace and ribbons from Crafty Ribbons:

Clermont Cotton Lace in various colors,
Morlaix Cotton Lace in various colors,
Volcan Viscose Lave in various colors, and
Vintage Butterflies Ribbon Script,
Vintage Butterflies Ribbon Bikes Creme,
Vintage Butterflies Ribbon Keys Latte ,
Vintage Butterflies Ribbon French Creme

To find more of this beautiful lace and ribbon (and let me tell you, it is supreme) you can visit the ribbon emporium at Crafty Ribbons, and don't forget to come and join the bi-weekly challenge over at the challenge blog!

Here is the link to the video for this tutorial.  So CUTE!

Crafty Ribbons Inspiration and some bleach painting?

Hahaha, yes, I am back with another set of three cards using another of Jennifer McGuire's wonderful techniques, which didn't work out so well for me this time, lol.  I followed the instructions for the first card, but then had to change the technique a bit to accommodate what I had at hand.  All three cards are completed using gorgeous ribbon from Crafty Ribbons as well!

This technique is called bleach painting, and although I was happy with the results from the first card, I couldn't get my tools to cooperate further, so I had to change tactics for each of the two sequential cards.  This first blue card uses Faded Jeans and Black Soot Distress Inks, a stamp set from Altenew, some 13mm satin ribbon in white from my stash, clear embossing powder and bleach, along with the following beautiful ribbons from Crafty Ribbons:  French Viscose Lace in White, and some Handmade Ribbon in White.

This next purple themed card gave me some trouble, lol.  I couldn't get the bleach to apply properly, so I used an alcohol blending marker.  The blending marker didn't achieve the brightness I was looking for, so I add some Wink of Stella (LOVE Stella!).  This card uses Dusty Concord and Faded jeans Distress Inks, two stamp set from Hero Arts, some sequins from my stash, and the following ribbon from Crafty Ribbons:  Handcrafted Ribbon in White and some 35mm Satin Ribbon in Liberty (which I also made the flower with).

This last orange and red card gave me the most trouble this time around lol.  The blender pen didn't lighten the images at all!  So, I left it alone lol.  This card features Abandoned Coral and Spiced Marmalaide Distress Inks, stamps from hero Arts, sequins from my stash, clear embossing powder and the following ribbons from Crafty Ribbons:  35mm Satin Ribbon in Cardinal, French Viscose Lace in White, and French Handmade Ribbon in Antique White.

These cards are so much fun to make, and the ribbon at Crafty Ribbons website is really enjoyable to work with and add to my projects.  The ribbon finishes them off just beautifully :)  Until next time my friends :)

Crafty Ribbons Inspiration and some faux metal techniques....say what??

How is everyone enjoying their summer so far?  I am definitely enjoying mine :)  In fact, I am enjoying it so much that I did up all of August's projects ahead of time and blogged them....because I am spending a couple weeks on the beautiful Manitoulin Island with my mom and dad, sister and kids, and hopefully both of my girls as well.  I can't wait :)

But enough chitter chatter, let's get down to business here....hmmmm, where was I?  Oh YES!  I have some Crafty Ribbons Inspiration for you today, and I have also CASEd some Jennifer McGuire techniques lol.  I love JM and watch every single one of her videos.  So, all inspiration projects from me this month are based on techniques I watched in a couple of Jennifer's newest videos.

For this week, I made a set of three cards, using a faux metal technique and some absolutely GORGEOUS Crafty Ribbons to embellish them.

I like to do these cards in sets of three, not sure why...but I just do lol.  So here is a set of three cards, using the faux metal technique from Jenifer McGuire.  This first blue one, uses Peacock Feathers and Cracked Pistachio Distress Inks, some pearl powder, an embossing folder, flowers from Recollections (plus one I made myself, and the following gorgeousness from Crafty Ribbons:  French Viscose Lace in Antique White, 35mm Satin Ribbon, 9mm Handmade Grosgrain Ribbon in white, and some Sentiment Ribbon .

This pink card uses Spun Sugar and Fired Brick Distress Inks, pearl powder, an embossing folder, Butterfly die cuts, some flowers from my stash and the following beautiful ribbons from Crafty Ribbons:  Sentiment Ribbon, Handmade Ribbon in White, and some Morlaix Cotton Lace in Blush.

And this last one uses Vintage Photo and Antique Linen Distress Inks, an embossing folder, gold pearl powder, and the following pretty ribbon from Crafty Ribbons:  Handmade Ribbon in Cream, Vintage Butterflies Ribbon, Vintage Butterflies Sentiment Ribbon in English Latte, and some French Viscose Lace in Scarlet.

I you are looking for gorgeous ribbons to use on your cards or other projects, look no further.  Come and check out the Crafty Ribbons website and you'll find what you're looking for, and probably more!

Some Crafty Ribbon Inspiration For You

It's inspiration time for me over at Crafty Ribbons and I have a trio of cards for you today.  I have had a bit of a rough time the last few months and when I am down, I find it helpful to make someone else's day.  So I decided to make 3 "pick-you-up" cards, using a distress ink and stencil technique that I really enjoy.  I recently got two new Distress colors as well, so of course I had to try those out!

For the 'Smile' card, I used all of my blue distress ink colors and the Tim Holtz stencil.  Paired it with a Close to my Heart stamp and a CC Designs sentiment stamp.  For the lace, I used some white Morlaix Cotton Lace from Crafty Ribbons.

On the "hugs" card, I used abandoned coral and antique linen distress inks with the same stencil as above. The stamp is from penny Black.  The ribbon is white seam binding, also from Crafty Ribbons.

And lastly, I used only abandoned coral on this good thoughts card, along with another Tim Holtz stencil. I also stamped this card, but this time used a Hero Arts stamp.  The orange ribbon is 6mm Tango Grosgrain ribbon from Crafty Ribbons.

I had so much fun making these cards, I couldn't stop at just one :)

Don't forget to come and visit the Ribbon Emporium for all your ribbon needs and wants.  They also have ribbon embroidery kits!  Come back and visit again soon, because I will be trying one of these kits over the summer!

Just Because with Crafty Ribbons

Number 5 in my self-challenge is an inspiration post for Crafty Ribbons :)  The sketch for this one is from pagemaps.com and you can find all of their June 2011 card maps here.

I created a Just because card for Crafty Ribbons using some French Viscose Lace, Cotton Lace, Birds Grosgrain Ribbon and the Just Because sentiment ribbon.

I also used the little flower from the Inkadinkadoo Mindscapes Stamp Set to create the background.  I used the Mahogany distress inks and some brown Recollections ink to stamp the flowers.  I also stamped some on scraps and then cut them out and popped them up with dimensional adhesives:)  Lastly, I added some Recollections (from Michaels) adhesive disco ball bling to the centers of the popped up flowers :)

This was a fun card to make, and so easy when you follow a sketch :)

If you are looking for any ribbon, you really should visit the Ribbon Emporium.  They have some really fantastic ribbons to look through.  They also have lace and buttons!

I Love You With All My Heart with Crafty Ribbons

Hello everyone!  Spring has finally sprung!  And along with it comes moving day for me....well, actually moving week, and this is the week.  What a job!  It will feel so good to get it over with.

For the Crafty Ribbons challenge this week, the theme is anything goes, so I have chosen to create an "I Love You" card, using the 35mm red satin ribbon and the french viscose lace in white.

I have used my Kuretake Gansai watercolors to create the background with the red and pearl colors.  Then I stamped the lace doily with white pigment ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  The flower is made using Kanzashi techniques, and I added the white pearl stamen from Marion Smith Designs.  The sentiment is from Crafter's Companion Heartfelt Wishes stamp set and the small white doily is die cut using the Spellbinders Teardrop Doily die set.

I love creating these flowers with ribbon.  Such a fun and easy technique that creates beautiful flowers.  The satin ribbon from Crafty Ribbons is heaven to work with and lends itself very well to these Kanzashi techniques.  I definitely have to order more :)

Don't forget to join in the challenge, you can find it here.  You can also find loads of inspiration from the entire design team on the inspiration blog here :)  Until next time....a-packing-I-will-go :P