Fiskateer Crop: October - December

Here are the last projects I made for the Fiskateers "Through the Year" crop.

The October challenge:

October makes me think of leaves. So, make a creation that includes at least 5 leaves (same or different). 

I mentioned that I will be making a creative gift for my sister's family after their new baby arrives in a few weeks.  For this challenge, I made a card that will go along with that gift.  I started by having Steve make a brown thumbprint (representing my brother-in-law).  I stamped my own thumbprint twice (representing my sister and my 12 year old nephew, who are almost exactly the same size).  Then Trevor stamped his thumb (representing his new baby cousin).

 

The November challenge:

So thankful!  Create 3 different thank you card designs. The 3 cards should be completely different from each other. 

For my first card, I used repositionable adhesive to adhere a tag to a piece of ivory cardstock, then misted with oranges and purples.  I removed the tag, then added a sticker sentiment.  I mounted the misted paper on purple cardstock, then added that to the card base.

Recognize this paper?  It's the paper I used for my Happy Holidays sign.  I stamped the background over and over with a single "thanks" stamp.  The design?  Self-scraplifted.

 

My last thank-you card is deceptively simple.  All I did was cut patterned paper to size, add the sentiment and mount it on black.  The paper already had the dots, ink, and other elements that you see.   

 

The December challenge:

The holidays are always full of delicious food. Follow this recipe to make a delicious scrapbook page layout.

3 buttons
3 different shapes
3 photos
1 yard of ribbon
1 border strip (cut, punched, ripped, etc., you decide!)
1 sticker
1 stamped image
Add in a sprinkle of creativity
Mix with a love for all crafts!

I have to admit, I freaked out a little bit when I read this.  My layouts are simple.  Really, really simple. I *might* have 3 pictures, 1 border strip, and 1 stamped image on a layout. Never more than that. I almost never use buttons (I don't like lumps), rarely put stickers on layouts (I use them on cards), and a YARD of ribbon? A YARD? A scrapbook page is 12 inches by 12 inches... where do you put a YARD of ribbon on a layout??

But, because I can't resist a challenge (especially a Fiskars challenge), I made a layout. I picked three pictures and added border strips and a title. I stamped a journaling box. Frankly, at that point, I was pretty happy with the layout and ordinarily would have called it done. But I struggled forward, adding buttons, random shapes, the required sticker, and the YARD of ribbon. And I actually really like the finished layout.

The 13th challenge:

Challenge #13—Because it’s 2013!

What’s old is new again! While you’ve been organizing (and re-messing) and sifting through all of crafty items this weekend, did you find something that you forgot you had? It’s time to use it! Create a project that includes that forgotten tool, stamp, die-cut shape, whatever! Make sure to tell us what it is you “found”!

I had an easy time with the 13th challenge. While I was struggling through the July flag challenge, I found a single sticker left on its sticker sheet. I thought I'd used all the stickers that coordinated with this fun line. I whipped up this quick birthday card, using that "found" sticker.

 

This was such a fun crop!  I can't believe how many projects I completed in such a short time. Thanks, Fiskars!

Fiskateer Crop: July - September

Here's the third batch of projects from the Fiskateer "Through the Year" crop.

The July challenge:

Create a project using a FLAG.  It can be a card, layout, tag, altered art, home décor—whatever suits your fancy. It can also be ANY type of FLAG – a state flag, country flag, garden flag, sports flag, holiday flag, birthday etc.

This challenge was really hard for me.  My mind immediately went to banners, but I decided against that.  (Are banners really flags?  I'm not sure.)  I got out a toothpick and set about making a flag.  Cut cardstock into a rectangle, attach a sticker or two, and glue it to the toothpick.  How hard could it be?  As it turns out, pretty hard (for me).  I couldn't get the proportions right.  And when I finally did get the proportions right, it didn't fit the sticker I wanted to use.  It was very frustrating.  With time running out, I submitted this card, even though I was not at all happy with it.

 

The August challenge:

After a summer of lots of parties and celebrations, we are often in need of sending out some cards of appreciation -- to say thank you, you're welcome, thinking of you etc.  Create a handmade card with a handmade, matching/coordinating envelope. It can be of any theme/size-- but they both MUST be made by hand and not premade.

I stumbled on this card sketch by Jessica Witty awhile ago and have been wanting to use it.  This was the perfect chance.  I'm down to almost nothing but scraps from Paper Loft's "Spring Fling" collection (probably about 5 years old), so it was a good choice for punching out circles.  When I made the matching envelope, I was careful to do my cuts and folds so that the decorative scroll border would follow the edge of the envelope.

 

The September challenge:

Back to school time: TAG you’re it!  Create one handmade tag.  It must include something orange and something green on it!

I think this is my favorite of all the things I made during this crop.  I love orange/green color combinations, I love polka dots, and I love simplicity.

 

Tomorrow: the October through December challenges, plus a 13th challenge.

Fiskateer Crop: April - June

On Friday, I shared my creations for the first three "Through the Year" Fiskateer challenges. Today I'm sharing the next three.

The April challenge:

APRIL SHOWERS! Think Baby, Bridal, Rain showers etc. Shower us with your use of at least 4 Fiskars tools on this project.

On the way to my sister's baby shower, my mom commented that she didn't have any girl baby shower cards.  Since I make all the cards my mom gives, this was a not-so-subtle request for more.  So I made a card for her to give at the next shower.  

I started with a shimmery pink patterned paper with dots on the front and "baby girl" printed on the back.  I used the trimmer (tool 1) to cut the background paper and to slice a thin strip of "baby girl" to use across the front.  I used a border punch (tool 2) to create the scalloped cardstock edge.  I layered the "baby girl" strip over the top and snipped it to size using microtip scissors (tool 3).  Finally, I used a heart punch (tool 4) and popped the heart up.     

 

The May challenge:

MAY FLOWERS! Since we know that April showers bring May flowers, use a Fiskars tool to make a flower and then use it on your project.

I've been wanting to try to make flowers from ribbon for awhile.  I decided to make an elegant silver and white flower to attach to a wine bag for the next time we gift a bottle of wine.  I used my Fiskars scissors, white satin ribbon, a Gluber, and a Prima embellishment.

The June challenge:

JUNE BRIDES!  Let's honor the June bride's white wedding dress by creating an all-white project. 

I started with a white card base and attached a piece of white cardstock that I'd run through a friend's embossing machine.  Since I already had the ribbon container out from the February and May challenges, I added a white grosgrain ribbon.  I dug through my alphabets looking for white and stumbled upon these 2008 beauties.  They were just the right size, but every letter features a winter symbol on it, so my choices of sentiment were limited to holiday themes.  It's not very "June" but I love how my card turned out and look forward to sending it next winter.

 

July, August and September tomorrow!

Fiskateer Crop: January - March

Twice a year, the Fiskateers who aren't able to attend the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) tradeshow have a big online crop.  I love playing along with all the challenges.  This time, our theme was "Through the Year."  

The January challenge: 

January always seems to be a time for bridal shows, and wedding planning for all those newly engaged brides. Let’s start the challenges off with an easy one….create a wedding card for the bride and groom.

I started with some black dotted paper and silver frames that I won awhile ago.  I traced the frame on the back of the patterned paper, then cut it out to make a window.  I put the rub-on sentiment directly on the white cardstock base, then layered the patterned paper and frame over that.

This looks WAY better in person than it does in this photograph.  The frame isn't flat - it's popped up a little to provide dimension.  The whole project shimmers and shines.  The dots are little prisms that create a rainbow of colors as the card catches the light.

 

The February challenge:

February is the month for hearts and romance. Your challenge is to make a Valentine's card that does not have any hearts or the word love on it.

No hearts and no love... tricky!  I could have gone the easy route and made a kid valentine ("Owl always be your friend" or something similar), but wanted to try and make a Valentine for my husband without using hearts or love.  I pulled out pink cardstock and a red ribbon, as those colors scream Valentine.  Then I used a flower punch to create a tone-on-tone background for the card.  Finally, I went through my collection of stamps, rub-ons and stickers looking for an appropriate sentiment and found a "Forever Yours" rub-on.

I love you, Steve!  Pretend to be surprised when you see this again on February 14!  

 

The March challenge:

Have you check out the Design Team projects lately? Well now is the time to MARCH on over there and see what wonderful inspiration you find. You will find projects on sewing, cards, layouts, kids crafts, home décor and so much more. Create something that inspired you from the design projects.

I love seeing the amazing projects that the Fiskars Design Team creates.  My absolute favorite Fiskars designer is Lisa Storms.  Have you seen her work?  Amazing.  As I browsed through her stuff, I fell in love with her Easter Egg Hunt party.  She made the most adorable bunny-themed items, including a carrot garland that was so incredibly cute.  Trevor and I made this garland together, following Lisa's instructions.  We hung it over Trouble's enclosure.

 

Next week, I'll share my April through December projects, which includes one of the most challenging challenges I've ever done.

Cupcake Wars (Part 3)

Remember the lime and goat cheese cupcakes I made in December?  The ones I made after challenging my sister to make them immediately after our original family Cupcake Wars competition in September?  She'd declined at the time.  But when I posted my lime and goat cheese cupcakes on Facebook, Kari had the following response:

"Oh. Yuck. Seriously doubt I could've eaten a cupcake with chunks of goat cheese (which I really hate). I'll do my best to turn in my cupcake at Christmas. But, please be assured--I WILL be taking the easy way out with some cream cheese..."

Yea!  I love when friends and family play along with my silly competitions and experiments. True to her word, Kari brought these to our family Christmas celebration:  

 

First, a few things about Kari.  She doesn't really like lime (or any citrus).  She doesn't like a lot of types of cheese.  She doesn't do a lot of baking.  And, she was almost 8 months pregnant at Christmas.  (Only a few more weeks until I meet my first niece!)  Put all that together and I am super impressed that she made these lime and cheese cupcakes!  

But how did they taste?  Totally amazing!  She made the BEST lime curd I've ever had.  She added lime to a cream cheese frosting and it was delicious.  I LOVED these cupcakes.  Thanks for playing along, Kari!  

 

So why did I wait until mid-January to share cupcakes from Christmas?  As you recall, my mom had promised to make pineapple and grape jelly cupcakes.  I wanted to be able to share those in the same post.  She made a pineapple cake filled with grape jelly and topped with a grape jelly frosting.    

The pineapple cake was moist and tasty, but did not taste very strongly of pineapple.  The grape jelly filling was just odd.  The frosting was a bit too sweet, although the grape jelly taste did come through.  So, not nearly as successful as Kari's lime and cheese cupcakes, though I really appreciate the effort.

Mom brought along some unfrosted and unfilled pineapple cupcakes so that I could experiment with fillings and frostings.  After a few attempts, I didn't come up with anything that really worked.  Starting with commercial grape jelly really limits the options, since the texture, sweetness and amount of grape flavor are already established.  Maybe someday I'll try baking grape jelly into the cake just to see what happens.....