I’d like to take a moment, on behalf of the entire Card Caravan team, to thank you all for playing along with our last challenge which was to include some sparkle on your card/projects. With each and every challenge, you continue to inspire and amaze us with your creativity!

At this time, I’d like to announce Julie’s Favorite Peeps from the last challenge. In no particular order, they are:

• Sasha
• Maria B
• Micki

Feel free to grab our badge to display on your blog!

Now, on to our new challenge – get out those dies and punches! I want you to use them in a new, unique way! Get creative with them. For example, you could create a flower using your scallop border die.

How about some Design Team inspiration?

Julie created this beautiful card using Read all Over by Elise’s Pieces and On This Day by Quirky Twerp. She used a Cheery Lyn doily die and a MS deep edge punch:

Next, we have Melissa’s oh-so-sweet card using Elise’s Pieces Affirmation, a Mat Stack 4 Die from Papertrey Ink and sentiment stamps from Waltzingmouse Stamps:

Cathy created this super sweet treat bag using the brand new Smitten kit by Sarah Jones:

I created my card using Elise’s Young Love {Mini kit} and a Fiskars scallop edge punch to create a void in my patterned paper to stamp my sentiment:

It’s time for our first challenge of 2012 but first we’d like to say thank you to all of you who played along with us last year. We really enjoyed visiting to see all of your creations and look forward to much more of the same in 2012.

First, time to annoumce Cathy’s favourites from our last challenge – metal.
In no particular order, here they are:

• Mallika
• Maria
• Leanne

Congratulations and feel free to grab our badge for your blog.

Now, onto challenge no. 10 and it’s super easy! We love our bling here at The Hybrid Chick and we would love to see lots of lovely sparkle on your creations. To get you going, here is some inspiration from the team.

First is Melissa who has used Kimeric Kreations’ Resolution 2012 kit to create this New Year Card.  Don’t all those disappearing lines make you think of walking into the unknown quantity of a new year?

Next is Cathy with a very pretty card using the My heART kit by Etc. by Danyelle.

Sylvia created this fun banner card using Karen Lewis’ Wellington Designer Kit.

Finally, my own creation, an altered jar using Elise’s Pieces Read All Over mini kit.

You will need the following:

• Quick Favor Template Set by Kelleigh Ratzlaff
• Seed Packet Template Set by Kelleigh Ratzlaff
• Safe Haven Full Kit by Tami Miller
• Little Gardener Kit by Seven Dayz Designs 
• Cowboy Cool Designer Kit by Elise’s Pieces Designs (I used the fence from this kit)
• Scor-pal or Scoring Tool
• Hot Glue Gun
• Ribbon
• Hole Puncher
• Heart Punch (optional)

First print out templates and embellishments onto sturdy white cardstock. Then reinsert each template back into printer and print out your favorite patterned paper onto the back of the templates.

Cut out Quick Favor template and score where indicated. Assemble.     

Punch holes where indicated on template and insert ribbon, tying into a bow.

Cut off the left sides on 1 fence and the right sides on other that protrude out.

Adhere each fence to side of template. They can also be tucked into the side openings of template.

If desired, punch out a heart to be used as a door and then adhere button to it for doorknob.  Adhere to front of template.

Now decorate as desired. Adhere flowers to the back of fence using hot glue gun, so they appear to be “peeking” out from behind the fence.  Add window frame to the top of template. Here you can personalize your gift by writing on the window.  Add shovel and rake, leaves, sign and watering can. 

For a special gift card or money holder. print out and assemble Seed Packet template as mentioned above. Decorate as desired. Add inside the gift bag for that special little touch!  

There are so many possibilities for this little cottage bag! Just imagine it all dressed up in Christmas embellishments for a special “from our home to yours” Christmas gift! Or how about Halloween, Autumn, Easter, etc!  It can be filled with candy, cookies or a special little gift!

I hope you enjoyed this special little cottage! Have fun making one of your own!

Hugs…
Melissa

Today, I’m going to show you FIVE quick and fun ways to bring the napkins and utensils into the heart of the shower by showing you ways to dress them up. Once dressed up and laid out on the tables, the napkins and utensils will not only become one less thing for people to carry as they go through the food line, but they also become a part of your table decor.

There are several things I did for every one of my examples below:

• I printed on regular computer paper using my printer’s best print option
• I used scissors or a paper cutter
• I used an adhesive tape runner to secure everything

Let’s get started!

First, we have a simple band of patterned paper wrapped around the napkin with the utensils tucked into the band.

Print full sheets of paper. I used a paper from Wishing Well Creations’ And Many More..Paper pack. Use scissors or a paper cutter to cut strips. Wrap a strip of the patterned paper around the napkin and overlap in the back. Leave a little slack in the paper wrap so the plastic utensils slip beneath it.

Our second example is a little variation on the first. For this one, I printed full sheets of patterned papers from Quirky Twerp’s Vita Fortunata paper pack.

Folding a square napkin in half and crease it. Open the fold you just created so that the napkin is square again. Fold the left edge of the napkin in to the center fold mark. Repeat on the right side. Fold this in half on the center fold.

Wrap the bands of paper around napkin – be sure to keep the squared off look. Secure where band overlaps. The overlap is on the front. You can leave this as is or add a button for a special touch.

I used a Stampin’ Up! button die to create coordinating paper buttons for my sample. A little floss or thread in the center of each makes it more realistic.

Having an animal themed baby shower? Then this one is for you!!! For this one, I used Wild Child: Animal Prints paper pack by Elise’s Pieces Designs.

To create these fun napkins rings, print full sheets of each paper. You can use scissors or a paper cutter to cut the strips. Roll the utensils in the napkin, wrap with a strip of animal print paper and secure.

Purchase a skein of light tan/sand colored fun fur. Cut an 8 inch length. Wrap this around the animal print band and tie in the front.

I’m going to say right now that I think the next example is my favorite! I used Danielle Engebretson’s Memoir: The Papers. Doesn’t this make for a fun non-traditional color theme???

Again, print full sheets of the papers – I printed sheets of the floral paper and the solid blue and orange papers. Use scissors or a paper cutter to cut the strips. Roll the utensils in the napkin, wrap with a strip of the floral paper and secure.

Use a die (or punch!) to create decorative flowers. Add a gem or flat back pearl to the center of each of the flowers. Secure to the band of floral paper.

And last, but not least, is an example that takes a little more time but it’s still fairly easy to do! Start off with Kelleigh Ratzlaff’s Pillow Box Template Set and Cutting Files.

Design what will be the front – I used the following from The Digichick shop:

• a paper from Amanda Heimann’s Spring Fling kit
• the baby carriage from TK Whimsy’s Doodle Stamps Part 6
• TK Whimsy’s TKSmiley Font

I did not print the top flaps of the pillow box template.

Assemble the pillow box. Slip the napkin and utensils in the box.

And there you go – a few quick and easy ways to dress up your napkins, utensils and shower tables!

Supplies from The Digichick Shop:

First up, we are going to make an ornament using a simple cardboard tube from paper towels or wrapping paper rolls!  You will use this same paper treatment technique for two of the three ornaments today.

Print your desired choice of digital papers.  On the reverse side, measure the length of your paper roll and using a ruler, trace a pencil line down the paper. Cut out the paper strip. 

Adhere some strong, double sided glue to the paper roll and attach the digital paper covering the tube completely.

Adhere some pretty holiday wired ribbons to either side of the tube (I used hot glue) and then wrap some seam binding (here) or satin ribbons around the tubes to hide any glue peeking through.

I crumpled some gold tissue paper and inserted into each open end of the paper tube to give the sides of the ornament a finished look.

Next is where you’ll create the MAGIC!  Print off several digital image from the Vintage Christmas Kit and a paper doilie.  Decorate the top of your ornament to your hearts content … I added a digital paper flower, a digi gold bow, a digi doilie, sugared berries, gold elastic cording, bloomer, gold glitter, a tiny jingle bell, a button and a gold pipe cleaner for hanging!

SO pretty when hung on your Christmas tree!

The next ornament uses the same technique for covering the paper tube with digital paper of your choice.  I added some vintage cream paint to the edges and middle to give the paper a worn, antique look.

Gather some supplies from your treasure baskets again and have FUN decorating your paper tube ornament!  I used a gold paper doilie, a digi doilie, vintage lace trims, seam binding, gold berries, leaves, a chipboard ornament, the digi Believe stamp, a button, bloomer, gold elastic cording and a jingle bell!

After I printed and trimmed the digi Believe stamp image, I spritzed it with gold Glimmer Mist to give it an antique look.  I also spritzed the digi paper doilie with Tattered Rose Glimmer Mist.

Hang on your tree to create a magical look!

For our final easy peasy ornament, we’re going to use an icicle ornament template and the Rosettes Set 1 cutting file:

Print a digi paper of your choice and then cut two strips of your choice of Rosettes.  Glue the strips together at one end, score on tic marks, fold and adhere end to end with a strong glue.  Attach the Rosette to a card stock base circle with strong glue.

The back side of your rosette will look like this when complete.

Print a digital paper of your choice and then cut the icicle template out and adhere with glue to form icicle shape … NOTE: before I glued the icicle together, I strung two crystal droplets onto silver elastic cording and inserted inside the cone handing from the bottom and a silver elastic cording loop hanging from the top … then glue the cone together.

Attach the rosette to the top of the icicle.  Spritz a digi paper doilie with glimmer mist and attach to top of rosette, then add a digi paper flower, glitter and some satin and organza flowers.  You’ll want to punch holes in the centers of the rosette, doilie and paper flower to thread the silver cord through before gluing all together.

I cut the middle out of a silver paper doilie and then glued it onto the bottom of the rosette.  To finish it off I added some silver glittered leaves to the nose gay and some vintage lace trims to the outside of the icicle cone.

Violá!  You’ve created three beautiful, vintage inspired ornaments that are so easy, inexpensive and FUN to make … and give!

Thanks for peeking at my projects today.  Merry Christmas!!!

Let’s get started… it was so nice out that I decided to do a bit of crafting on the deck.

Supplies

• Paradise Punch Digital Kit by Elise’s Pieces Designs at The DigiChick
• drinking straw
• 1 inch circle punch
• favorite adhesive
• scissors
• felt leaf or other embellishments

1. Print out strips of papers that is at least one inch wide and any other cute elements to be used.

2. Cut out elements and punch out 20 circles using the circle punch or die cut machine.

3. Fold each circle in half, color sides together.

4. Apply adhesive to the outside of one side of the folded circle.

5.  Place a second folded circle on the adhesive, folded edge are next to each other.  Continue gluing all the circles together.  Note… this tutorial was called due to rain…

6. Okay… we are back and you see I now have an audience… Rupert and Katie, my kiddo’s best buds.  Once all the circles are glued together, slide the straw in the middle of the paper pom pom. Finally decorate with flowers or a little flamingo (just glued the flamingo on the flower and glued the flower on one of the paper folds in the pom pom).  I also added a felt leave on the base of the pom pom, which worked really well to give it a bit of traction if your glasses are a bit tall for the straw.

7. Then the only thing is to sit back and enjoy!  Here is my hunky hubby modeling for me… Is it me or does his body language giving off that he isn’t totally excited to be my model? LOL!

This was such a quick and fun project…and pretty easy if you would like to get the kiddos involved.  I hope you give it a try and link us back up so I can ooohhh and ahhh over your project !

{{Hugs}}

Rebecca aka MamaBee

SUPPLIES

• DIGITAL PAPERS/ELEMENTS – [Jenna's] Day at the Zoo Kit,  She Sells Seashells, Partysaurus Designer Kit
• TRANSPARENCY SHEETS – I USED COMPUTER GRAFIX BRAND TRANSPARENT PLASTIC SHEETS
• PRINTER/INK
• ADHESIVE, RED TAPE, TEA LITE, DECORATIVE PUNCH, CARD STOCK

In Photoshop, open up a new page and assemble your scene the way you choose. My finished piece ended up about 8 1/4 inches square. I am making a child’s night light in a zoo theme so I chose to use the [Jenna's] Day at the Zoo Kit for this one.

Make sure that you leave a margin along the top and bottom edge of your scene,  I left about 1.5 inches at the bottom and 1 inch at the top. Print this on your acetate sheet using the transparency setting on your  printer. Let this dry completely before handling or it will smear.

Once dry, add the red tape along the short side.

Remove the red covering from the tape and roll the sheet into a tube.  You will want to roll it so that  the printed side is on inside of the tube.  This will protect the image from being inadvertently rubbed off by tiny hands.

NOTE -You will make two of these, one for each end of the tube. Cut a strip of card stock 8 3/4 inches long and 1 3/4 inch wide.  Score at 1/4 inch parallel to the long edge.  Use a decorative punch or scissors along the other edge.

Cut into and up to the score line at about 3/8 inch intervals along the entire length of the piece.

Using a compass or punch make a circle 2 3/4 inches in  diameter and run a bead of glue along the wrong side.

Take the strip and run along the length of it with your fingers, gently giving it a rounded shape.  Adhere the strip to the circle.

Trim off a bit of the edge of the clipped bottom portion so that it will fit along the final part of the circle.

Cut or punch another circle about 1/8 inch smaller than the first.

Adhere the smaller circle inside to cover up the inner edges.

Place a strip of decorative paper along the bottom to conceal the raw edge of card stock.  Place a tea lite inside.

I didn’t attach the bottom cup to the acetate so that it could be removed to turn it on and off. I did however place a little piece of red tape on the inner part of the top portion to stabilize it.

It makes a fun, functional decoration for a child’s room.

Having a beach party or luau? These make great, inexpensive  table centerpieces.  I added some additional interest by cutting out some surfboards from the  She Sells Seashells kit and tucking them into the edge of the trim.

I think this one is my favorite made for my son’s birthday from the Partysaurus Designer Kit. The smaller, finished size of the piece is 5 1/4 inch by 4 inch so you can fit 4 on a 81/2X11 inch sheet.

I made a little X with a craft knife and threaded a light from the string through the top placing them on every other light.

I think it’s time to party!

Happy crafting!

Supplies I used:

• A Guy’s Life Designer Kit by Elise’s Pieces
• Wooden Blocks – these measured 2 inches by 2 inches (purchased online through Casey’s Wood Products)
• Mod Podge
• Paint Brush
• Paper Trimmer
• Gloss Sealer by Plaid Decorator Glazes

I first created the 2 inch by 2 inch squares in my photo editing software and then printed them off on card stock.  Then I was ready to go to work!

I cut each square out and then adhered them to the wooden blocks with Mod Podge.  I let them dry for about 15 minutes.

Then, I went outside with the Plaid Decorator Glazes’ Thick Gloss Sealer and sprayed them with a very thin coat.  I applied this so the Mod Podge wouldn’t smear the ink on the cardstock.  I let them dry for about 1 hour.

The next step was to add a coat of Mod Podge and let dry.

Ta-da!  The finished product – of which, Archer can have displayed in his bedroom:

The beauty of this project is that you can embellish and personalize it however you’d like!  I could see making a set of blocks with the ABC’s on it for a child’s birthday or even making a set with a holiday message on it to set on your mantle.  The possibilities are endless!

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I made these personalized blocks.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

First, the supplies I used were:

• Premium Matte Photo Paper
• Ready for Spring by Elise and Jude
• Kelleigh Ratzlaff’s Jewelry Box Template
• glue gun
• mod podge/brush
• buttons/ribbon
• craft wire

First I gathered all of my supplies. I opened up photoshop and used Kelleigh’s template for my base. I knew that I wanted to use the pretty little flowers in this particular kit so I just added a bunch of them on the parts surrounding the template.

I then proceeded to cut all of the little flowers out as well as my template. I used a technique that I got from Mari’s Hybrid Hair clips for the flowers! All you have to do is scrunch the flowers up a bit and mod podge them so they will look like they are actual flowers.  You can find the whole tutorial here.

After about 20 minutes or so, the flowers should be dry. While they were drying I assembled my box. (You can add some weight inside the box by using some glass stones or even pebbles if you want. Just about anything will work since you won’t be seeing it. Just make sure you use your glue gun to secure it to the bottom!)

Now take some craft wire. Wrap it around a pencil, or wooden dowel in a spiral shape. Make sure it’s long enough so that you can fold up the edges to hold the picture, and also make a base to stick inside the box.

Now get your glue gun and glue it to the inside of the top flap of your box!

Once it’s dry, go ahead and start adding your flowers!! I added buttons and some ribbon as well as a cute little tag to jazz it up a bit!

Now that you are finished you can place your photo in the holder!! Wasn’t that easy?!

I really hope you enjoyed this as much as I did making it! Thanks for looking and happy (hybrid) scrapping!

But how do you have s’mores at an indoor camp-out without a fire? Easy! Serve indoor s’mores! Simply mix Golden Graham cereal, mini marshmellows and chocolate chips in a bowl. and there you have it – indoor s’mores!

And what better way to serve indoor s’mores to your little camper than to package it in a mini backpack!

I created my backpack using Mel Wilson (The Hybrid Kid) and Mari Koegelenberg’s collab Back to School – Backpack Album template and Elise Hansen’s new release Happy Camper

Here are the other supplies I used to create my backpack:
-scissors
-Tombow adhesive runner
-Crop-o-dile
-6 eyelets
-scor-pal tool
-approx 24 inches of coordinating ribbon
-tiny piece of velcro (optional)
-Scotch brand Scrapbooker’s glue with 2 way applicator
-Stampendous! Crystal snow
-Stacey’s 3 inch box template from Splitcoaststampers
-a sheet of translucent Vellum

First, I used Mel’s backpack template and a paper (recolored) from Elise’s Happy Camper kit to create my backpack. I always recolor the score lines on my project by picking a color from my background paper and then making it a few shades lighter so that the score lines don’t stand out so much on my finished project – a HUGE thanks to Kelleigh Ratlaff for that tip!!!!

Next I printed my backpack using my printer’s best print option. I highly recommend borderless printing for this template since the template sits very close to the canvas edge. For borderless printing, read Kelleigh’s tutorial here.

After cutting around the backpack, I scored all my lines using my scor-pal. Next I decided where I wanted to punch the holes for the straps on the back and where I wanted the holes on top of my backpack. I used my crop-o-dile to punch the holes and set the eyelets for a finished look.

For the back straps: I cut two 9 inch lengths of ribbon. Thread one end through one of the top holes and tie a knot on the inside of your backpack. Thread the other end through the bottom hole on the same side of the backpack and adjust the length of your strap to your liking. tie a knot on the inside of your backpack. Repeat for the other side of your backpack.

For the grab handle on top of the backpack – repeat the above steps with a shorter piece of ribbon.

TIP: cut your ribbon pieces a little longer than you will need so that you have ribbon to work with when tying your knot!

Here’s what the backpack looks like from the back:

From here I needed to create a smaller container type box to put my s’mores in. I printed Stacey’s 3 inch box template onto plain white computer paper. After cutting it out, I positioned it on my vellum paper and traced around it. Next I cut out my vellum box template and scored all my fold lines.

I then assembled the box using my Tombow adhesive runner to hold the box together. I secured my box to the inside of my backpack by using my adhesive runner on the inside bottom and inside on the back panel of my backpack.

I used a small amount of my scrapbooker’s glue to glue a tiny piece of velcro on the underside of the flap to my backpack and where it meets the front of my backpack. I also applied some glue to the edges of my tree, to the flame of my fire and to the moon before sprinkling Stampendous! Crystal snow on it for some added sparkle!

Fill your little box with some yummy indoor s’more mix and it’s ready to go!

I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial and project (and also the yummy indoors s’mores mix recipe!). I’d love to see what you come up with using Mel and Mari’s backpack album template – and I know they would too!

If you have any questions about my tutorial, please feel free to email me at wildblueeyez at comcast dot net.