Crafty Secrets Design Team Challenge!

Good Morning Ladies.

I'm very excited this morning to be participating in the Crafty Secrets DT Challenge as a Guest DT Member!  The challenge was to create something using birds.  Well the hardest part was trying to decide WHAT to use, because Crafty Secrets has lots of products with birds included.  I narrowed it down to 3 stamp sets!  teehee.   I know this post is way tooooo long and I probably should have just used one project, but I couldn't help it.  I figured you are only a Crafty Secrets Guest DT member once!!  Right!  


Make sure you check out the other DT Member links at the bottom of the post and the Crafty Secrets Blog.  I heard there was some yummy blog candy being given away at 1 of the DT blogs and by Sandy on the Crafty Secrets Blog!! 

I used the Christmas Joy stamp set on this card.  I also used paper from one of Crafty Secrets Paper Pads.

Check out the photo of the stamp set below to see how I layered the images.   I used Eclipse masking to build this scene.  You stamp the image that will be in the for-front first - bow, stamp it again on the tape, cut it out, and then cover the bow on your card before stamping the next layer.  Continue building in this manner.  I also used the holly to create a border.  Isn't this set awesome with so many possibilities.  I used it to create a layout in an early post.  If you want to see that, you can go HERE.

You can view more of my Cardboard Art HERE.

You can view more of my Collage / Mixed Media projects HERE.

I used Bird Notes on this friendship hanging decor project.  I used a swirly for the wings from the Mini Memories stamp set.  I used a swirly from the Flourishes stamp set on the corner of the bird house.  I started out with corrugated cardboard to create the bird house.  Tear off part of the surface paper to reveal the waves below, layer on acrylic paint, and glimmer mist to get the distress look.  I sprayed some white lace with glimmer mist as well and adhered to the base.  The bird dies are Spellbinders.  I have created a layout using this set in an earlier post that you can see HERE.

I used the Thanksgiving stamp set on this 2 1/2 x 3 1/2" Artist Trading Card.  I love using my stamps to create all kinds of projects, including ATC's.  I just thought this turkey and the sentiment were too cute.  The background is crackle paint distressed with some brown ink.   You could easily put this one a card as well.  To see a layout using this set go HERE.

Thanks soooo much for taking time to check out all my Crafty Secrets Projects.

To see more awesome projects in this Crafty Secrets Blog Hop and to qualify for some Blog Candy, make sure you check out the rest of the DT's Blogs.  These girls are awesome and it was so much fun to have the opportunity to play along with them!

Vicki Chrisman

Pam Hooten

Heidi Blankenship

Marisa Grosson

Michele Kovak

Linda Duke

Michelle Van Etten

Florence Teixeira

Crafty Secrets Blog

Crafty Secrets Online Store

Tune in tomorrow for my next FCD project!!

Have a great day!

Altered Acrylic Photo Frame

Good Morning and welcome to FireCracker Designs by Pamela's Monthly Blog Hop!

This months theme is "Greetings and Salutations".  All 9 of us will be sharing projects created with this theme in mind. And the best part for you is Pamela will be giving away some awesome blog candy.  But to qualify for the drawing you have to post comments.  She will randomly pick one of our blogs and then randomly pick from all the comments posted on that blog.   So you will want to read ALL the blog hop details below and leave comments on each of the blogs to qualify for the drawing.  Make sure you leave your email address in your comment!

Altered Acrylic Frame

I found this old photo of my Great Grandmother and could not resist creating this altered frame using this set. I couldn't think of a better way for her to "greet me" than by displaying her photo for our family to see.

I really love altering acrylic frames.

#1 - They are inexpensive.  I got this one at Walmart for $1.  So you can spend your $$$ on the perfect embellishements (I highly recommend rubber stamps, hehe).

#2 - I get to decide where and how big the photo window, opening will be.  I like having all the design control!

#3 - They make great gifts because you can add all the goodies/decor to the outside of the frame and the recipient can add the photo easily later by sliding the photo in the back as shown above.

Have I convinced you to create one yet??  Are you seeing a great, unique idea for gift giving this year??

Blog Hop Details ...

The official start time of the FCD Blog Hop is Friday at 8:00am (EST). If you have arrived early, please be patient, as all the links may not be live until 8:00am (EST).

This is a "circular blog hop" where the only beginning is wherever you start. You will know you are at the end of your blog hop when you have arrived back on the blog you started with. (There are only 9 of us, so you should be able to remember where you started)

THE WINNER ... will be chosen by our mystery blog hostess. Who is she ? We want know until after the blog hop. So make sure you leave a comment (with your emial address included in that comment) on EVERY blog to qualify!!

Pamela will contact the winner via email (don't forget to leave your email address with your comment) and post the winner on her blog on Monday 8pm(EST).

You can read on below for more of my project details OR continue on to the next blog !

Next Blogger to check out is Michelle !

Michelle will give you the next link to keep you going round in the circle til you get back to the beginning. Hope your not dizzy, hehe.

Project Details ...

Altered Wooden Mail boxes

Wow I haven't posted on this blog in forever!! That's becuase I've been so busy posting on my TAC blog. If you want to check out some of those projects : paperliciousdesigns.blogspot.com.

So I wanted to take a minute to upload an old project that I don't think I have ever uploaded anywhere. I came up with this idea to start a family tradition where for the month of Feb, on and off, we leave each other little goodies or words of encouragement. We KNOW our family loves us and supports us all year round, but sometimes it's nice to get those little love notes. It's nice to see that someone takes a minute out of their day to remember us. So for the month of Feb. I set out these little love mail boxes so that we can do that. Some of the "characters" my family will be seeing, Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse, and Kung Fu Panda. I will leave some more serious love notes and of course some candy as well.

You can view all of my Altered Projects HERE