April Challenge Spring Fling by Ren-Yi

At Scrap Our Stash's April Challenge we have a theme challenge: Spring Fling. I decided to focus on nature...and to give my Maya Road Chipboard a good dusting off.
The chipboards were misted using two Mister Huey colors. While they were drying off, I was working on another project.  This little bird is outlined with a Stabilo light blue pen and I decided to give him a set of glossy accents for extra sheen. Makes the card pop a little. A quick little sentiment border and off this card went into the mail! The best part, it's one of those quickie cards! In the meantime, check out the Scrap Our Stash's April Challenge. You have until the end of the month to get your inspirations in. What things have you been doing to enjoy this Spring?

Now it's your turn to take the April SPRING FLING Challenge. The April Challenge is anything to do with SPRING FLING. The possibilities are endless. Anything goes! So think SPRING FLING and take the challenge. To participate in the April SPRING FLING Challenge - just email a picture of your project along with a description to Scrappinpsycho@live.com

All submissions will be posted to The Scrap Our Stash blog and on April 30th a winner will be chosen, and given the opportunity to be a Guest Design Team Member for the month of June. This challenge ends at midnight central time on April 30th.

March Green Challenge by Ren-Yi

Good morning, folks! This is going to be a wonderful Saturday, because today is my friend's baby shower. I have been busy as a bee prepping a bunch of things for her and her husband, and am loving this complete Baby Zoo Animals theme that this party has going!

At Scrap Our Stash's March Challenge we are creating things around the theme Green. Let's switch gears for a second and talk baby shower...My friend loves all things cute, but is not a pink fan. So even though she and her husband are expecting a lil baby girl, I decided to go with classic colors, such as green and yellow. Here is a sneak peek of the baby shower cards:
I alternated yellow with green and green with yellow on the invitations, varied up the little zoo animals stamped onto them, and kept the text the same. Here is a little collage pic of my supplies (and supply list) Stamps: (Join Us) Waltzingmouse Stamps; (Sarah Phelps Collection - Noah's Ark) Impression Obession Paper: (Perfect Basics Card Stock - Lemon Zest, Spring Moss; Stamper's Select Vellum) Papertrey Ink Ink: (Memento - Tuxedo Black, London Fog) Tsukineko Embellishments: (Bubbles Edger Punch) EKSucces; (5/8" Saddle Stitch Ribbon - Ripe Avocado) Papertrey Ink

I always prototype a card first, before I go into mass production mode. And since I want to go with a graphic look, I decided to stamp off most the animals in grey and put one of the zoo animals in front center. 

The trim were cut out first, then the edge punched, lastly stamped on with the invitation from the Join Us Waltzingmouse Stamp set with again London Fog and Tuxedo Black to mimic the graphic effect of the animals. The ribbon is just a fun little touch to put a little bit of accent into the whole design. Here an up close look...

The inside has a little cute invitation poem that I came up with on one of my drives down to Maryland. It is printed with a laser printer on Vellum for a little bit of fanciness and glued carefully into the inside...

Details on the invitation poem and party favors will have to be posted up later on my blog... In the meantime, check out the Scrap Our Stash's March Challenge. You have until the end of the month to get your inspirations in. What green things is tickling your creative mojo?

Now it's your turn to take the March GREEN Challenge. The March Challenge is anything to do with GREEN. It could be a project using the color Green, or about being "green" - or you could use the word Green in your title. The possibilities are endless. Anything goes! So think GREEN and take the challenge. To participate in the March GREEN Challenge - just email a picture of your project along with a description to Scrappinpsycho@live.com All submissions will be posted to The Scrap Our Stash blog and on March 31st a winner will be chosen, and given the opportunity to be a Guest Design Team Member for the month of May. This challenge ends at midnight central time on March 31st.

February Leap Challenge by Ren-Yi

Design Team Member Ren-Yi submitted this card kit for the February Leap Challenge.  She said:

This month at Scrap our Stash we are taking a Leap in February. For the details hop over to this post. For this month, I did a project that I have never done before: creating a card kit. The concept is easy enough, but this card kit was for a 6-yr old.  I was actually a little overwhelmed because I have never been tasked to make a card kit, more over one for a little, cute 6-year old. Stamps: (Mega Mixed Messages) Papertrey Ink Paper: (Perfect Basics Card Stock - Vintage Cream, Kraft, Pure Poppy) Martha Stewart Ink: (Perfect Match Pigment Ink - Vintage Cream) Papertrey Ink; (Memento - Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko Embellishments:  (Impression Plate - Polka Dot Basics II) Papertrey Ink; (Scalloped Sentiments) Fiskars; (Heart Punch) Marvy Uchida I was going with elements that are easy to assemble with any every-day supplies that any household might have. In this case, glue stick. ;) Each of the cards are made out of three elements: the card base, the heart punched out, and a sentiment banner. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy...right? Here is how it looks in it's packaging. I grouped the elements into separate bags: pre-scored card base, sentiment banner and hearts. I hope my little 6 year old friend had fun making these... Check out the Scrap Our Stash's February Challenge. You have until the end of the month to get your inspirations in. What things have you taken a leap in?

Now it's your turn to take the February LEAP Challenge. The February Challenge is anything to do with LEAP - it could be a Leap you've taken in buying or using a new tool, a new product, a new technique, or your project could have somehing to do with your taking a leap. Anything goes! Take a leap and take the challenge. To participate in the February LEAP Challenge - just email a picture of your project along with a description to Scrappinpsycho@live.com

All submissions will be posted to The Scrap Our Stash blog and on February 29th a winner will be chosen, and given the opportunity to be a Guest Design Team Member for the month of April. This challenge ends at midnight central time February 29th.

January New Challenge by Ren-Yi

Design Team Member Ren-Yi submitted this project for the January NEW Challenge.  She said:

This month at Scrap our Stash we're doing something New for January. For the details hop over to this post. This year I did something completely new, I threw myself a huge birthday party. With all this Project 30 talk on my blog, I want to share something new I did - party favors.
Since Project 30 was very food centric, I was trying to find the perfect party favor, when I stumbled upon this Bambu Pot Scraper at Crate & Barrel. I bought one and tested it at home and have been in love with it. I use it on all my pots & pans, or pyrex dishes, and it works like magic. It doesn't scratch anything up, so it's the perfect kitchen must-have tool.
At $1 a piece, it's quite the thrifty party favor too. I added a fun little wrap around it. Cut each pattern paper down to, border punched with Upper Crest and stamped on "thank so much."

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy... Check out the Scrap Our Stash's January Challenge. You have until the end of the month to get your inspirations in. What new things have you been up to?

 Now it's your turn to take the January NEW Challenge. The January Challenge is anything doing with NEW - it could be a new tool, a new product, a new technique, or the project could have somehing to do with NEW - like New Years Eve - Our New Home, etc!. Anything goes! Have fun sharing something NEW with us. To participate in the January NEW Challenge - just email a picture of your project along with a description to Scrappinpsycho@live.com

All submissions will be posted to The Scrap Our Stash blog and on January 31st a winner will be chosen, and given the opportunity to be a Guest Design Team Member for the month of March. This challenge ends at midnight central time January 31st.

December Anything GoesChallenge by Ren-Yi

Design Team Member Ren-Yi submitted this project for the December Anything Goes challenge.  She said:

Christmas is truly a wonderful time of the year. It's also one of the craziest when it comes to getting everything done (at both work and home) I have to come clean and admit that my international mailing is not complete. So, dear international friends, if you're reading this, you might be getting it near around (after) Christmas. It will allow you to enjoy Christmas a little longer ;) This is also the time of year when I am most grateful for any Anything Goes challenges, like we have going at Scrap Our Stash's December Challenge. It allows us DTers to "kill a few more birds with that the many Christmas stones" we have going. It's also neat, because lots of the girls are sharing cute gift ideas which are already making me think of next year :)

Most of you know that I make a home-made thing every year, be it baking or something paper crafty. This year is no different, except that I didn't inspire this project, but rather Florian. Who would have thought he'd take a crafting interest in my December madness? Evidently, he use to make these very cute "gingerbread" houses during his childhood. The catch is, they are made out of butter cookies, rather than gingerbread. Look, our own Mini Candy Cane Lane! 
I really like them, because they were (1) easy to make (2) fast to make (3) fun to make (although some houses had some questionable structural integrity) (4) and they don't make you sick to the stomach trying to eat it all. Nice bite-size houses that any parent could approve.
Icing

• Lemon Juice (fresh or bottled in the plastic lemon)
• Powdered Sugar (lots!)

Foundation & Structure

• LU Le Petite Beurre
• Bahlsen Leibniz Butter Biscuits

House Embellishments

• Haribo Gummy Bears
• Lambertz Dominosteine
• Kraft Marshmallow Trees & Stars
• M&Ms Dark Chocolate
• M&Ms Mint Chocolate
• Hershey Mint Chocolate
• Holiday Red Raspberry Berries
• Holiday Dark Chocolate Nonpareils
• Sugar Sprinkles (Red & Green)

There is really no science to this, except to have fun! It's really a great project to do with friends or kids. Some hints:

• For the icing just start with some powdered sugar & some lemon juice and mix to the right consistency. The icing does harden over time, so with a little drop of lemon juice, the icing can be quickly thinned out.
• Watch out, that it's not too runny, or else the little candy pieces won't stick.
• The LU Le Petite Beurre were better foundations & walls because they do not crumble as easily as the Bahlsen did when trying to create half sheets for the walls. (But the Bahlsen taste better ;) Maybe I am biased since I had those cookies growing up.) But next time I make them, I will go with the LU Le Petite Beurre.
• With two people, we managed to make about 30 in 2 hours. This is a fast project!

Check out the Scrap Our Stash's December Challenge. You have until the end of the month to get your inspirations in. What are you making for the holidays? Are you done?

November Recipe Challenge by Ren-Yi

Lots of things have been going on at the office, including one of the co-workers becoming a new parent. So in honor of the new daddy role, I madde a couple of baby cards. For inspiration I used the Scrap Our Stash's November Challenge where we are using a Recipe. Kathy has challenged us with: 

• 5 embellishments
• 4 words or letters
• 3 pictures
• 2 pattern paper
• 1 solid papers

This card is to welcome a little baby into the world and give the parents three cheers!


I managed to cramp the whole recipe onto this little card ;) Yep - go ahead and check :D


This giraffe is so cute, isn't it? I thought the Glossy Accents would be able to give the little guy a little special something to "shine" without sparkling light a Christmas tree. The blue & green color scheme is a great palette to make the yellow really stand out. This card has a recycled element from a bag that I saved (the yellow rope). And the blue rhinestone is a great accent, and so are the clear, sparkly Stickles...


Check out the Scrap Our Stash's November Challenge. You have until the end of the month to finish up. Perhaps some time over Thanksgiving, while everyone is out shopping during that madness? ;)

Now it's your turn to take the November Recipe Challenge. You have two choices Follow this recipe: 5 embelishments (flowers, buttons, etc) 4 words or letters in your title 3 pictures 2 pattern papers 1 solid paper or You can do a layout containing a recipe - maybe one of your family's favorite Thanksgiving dish or a family recipe. To participate in the November Recipe Challenge - just complete a project using one of the challenges mentioned above and email a picture of your project along with a description to Scrappinpsycho@live.com All submissions will be posted to The Scrap Our Stash blog and on November 30th a winner will be chosen, and given the opportunity to be a Guest Design Team Member for the month of January. This challenge ends at midnight central time on November 30th

October Quotes Challenge by Ren-Yi

This month at our Scrap Our Stash's October Challenge we are creating something with our favorite Quote. This quote is from one of my beloved and first Waltzingmouse Stamp sets called "Afternoon Tea Sentiments."
Here's a closer look at the sentiment. The quote is framed with a scored frame and a cute little brad as an accent. In addition the vintage cream card stock has been distressed with my favorite ink Antique Linen.
This is my first time using acrylic paints. I picked some up when I was last in New York City at an Utrecht. I did not like how stark the white is, so I dabbed some Antique Linen onto the dried paint to bring down the white. But I do like this look quite a lot and will be repeating this technique...
Check out the Scrap Our Stash's October Challenge. You have until the end of the month to finish up something with your favorite quote, so don't forget to enter!

September Grid Challenge by Ren-Yi

This month at our Scrap Our Stash's September Challenge we are creating with the theme Grid. When I think grid, I think of playing the game Dots & Boxes, graph paper, and Tic-Tac-Toe. And since I am always short of cards that I need, I was going to create an anniversary card (for the parents): I decided a fun play on X's and O'x to say "XO, XO, XO" would be cute. Does it come across?
Some people think that it's too much of a stretch. That someone is also a boy ;) In case it does not, here is the sentiment to spell out it's suppose to be a love-y, dove-y card.
So I hope you have a chance to enter our grid challenge...Check out the Scrap Our Stash's September Challenge. You have until the end of the month to finish up something with grids, so don't forget to enter!

August Re-do Challenge by Ren-Yi

This month at our Scrap Our Stash's August Challenge we are looking back on creations and are re-doing a card, a layout, a project.

I remembered making my brother a graduation card and added a surfboard element to it. (In fact, here's a little secret - this card won me a GDT spot with Scrap Our Stash.) It's also the inspiration start point for my re-do card.



Here is my new take on this card's layout, theme and technique. It's also a card for my little brother, who happens to have a Birthday today...Happy Birthday, Dude! :)



Instead of a matted sentiment, there is a window for the main focal point. Both cards use twine as an embellishment, the surf boards as embellishments. Both cards have a type of embossing, but my latter card has significantly more clean execution and finesse. It's safe to say that my photography has improved over time as well, don't you think? ;)

So here is your look back and re-do chance...Check out the Scrap Our Stash's August Challenge. You have until the end of the month to finish, so don't forget to enter!

July Red White & Blue Challenge by Ren-Yi

Our Scrap Our Stash's July Challenge was to use Red, White & Blue. I have been traveling so much for work or burning the midnight oil, that this project completely slipped my mind.

Here is a quick thank you gift for the hostess that I whipped up for a coffee & cake invitation, using the colors set forth by our challenge.



This is a cute & fast tag to wrap a glass jar of chocolate covered coffee beans. The white card stock is sponged with a little bit of pearlescent blue to take the edge of the stark white color contrast. A bit of fun blue and red baker's twine to tie it all up...



Check out our next challenge Scrap Our Stash's August challenge. You have a month, so don't forget about entering!


Now it's your turn to take the August Re-do Challenge. See all the details HERE! Be sure to scroll down the page - Scrap Our Stash posts something new everyday.

June Something Challenge by Ren-Yi

Design Team Member Ren-Yi submitted this card for the June Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue Challenge.  She said:

June is the month of weddings, and the rule seem to apply to my social calendar - two weddings within three weeks. One was even in Europe. I'll share pictures when I get all of their permission :) I promise...

So when Scrap Our Stash's June Challenge was to use Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue, I was really happy to hear the wedding theme.

For my card, I used new, blue cardstock from PTI, an old (but favorite) Waltzingmouse stamp set, and the idea to use that stamp set on a wedding card was borrowed from a friend. Ok, I realize I'm stretching that last bit, but you'll let me get away with it, right? ;)





I wanted to mimic background paper with a metallic sheen, and thought to stamp the chrysanthemums in grey outline, but brush the solid flowers with some pearls.



Lastly, I decided to emboss the greeting and one of the chrysanthemums in embossed silver, to give it that extra wedding feel. It fits perfectly to this wedding's colors - heh, I would know, since I picked out the bridal bouquet & cake (among other things ;) A few more blue little gems and I call this done - simple & elegant.




So, come join in on our Scrap Our Stash's June challenge. You have almost two weeks to throw something together that fits the theme. It does not have to be wedding-related. If you need more inspiration, check out the rest of the Design Team's work!

Be sure to scroll down the page - Scrap Our Stash posts something new everyday.

May Flower Challenge by Ren-Yi

The irony with flowers is, I love them a lot. But they don't appear in any of my projects, unless I stamp them, or create them from scratch by abusing my balloon die...so, what's really going on?




Thankfully, Kathy tasked us to use flowers from our stash. I have plenty and am not sure I made a noticeable dent...but it looks like a cute bouquet.



Well, I would love to hear inspiration on how you use your flowers. I could use a few inspiration pointers. And who knows, maybe I'll send a random commenter on this blog post a random assortment of flowers ;)

So, come join in on our Scrap Our Stash's May challenge. You have a few more days to enter - and there is a long weekend ahead :)


Be sure to scroll down the page - Scrap Our Stash posts something new everyday.

April Bring in the Sun Challenge

You know what I love about spring? The sun peeking out and the temperature getting warmer. Warm enough to wear a skirt or a dress! So when this month's Scrap Our Stash's April challenge was to incorporate sunshine into our craft, I was super excited.

So here is my creation using some old pattern paper in my stash, and some fun new stamps that I have acquired...




The sun's rays are made using the Bitty Banner stamp set, and the fun radiating circle is the flourish flower from The Craft's Meow. Isn't it great to stretch those stamps?



And a fun close-up of Little Frieda. A wonderful stamp created by The Craft's Meow. She is so sweet, don't you think? I love how she shyly looks over her shoulder...I think the sentiment "Just for You" is the perfect compliment.



So here is hoping that you are enjoying the fun, warm weather & sun like Little Frieda. If you would look like to play along, Scrap Our Stash's April challenge is running until April 30. So hurry and bring on your Sunshine project! 


Now it's your turn to take the April Bring in the Sun Challenge. See all the details HERE!

March Dust it Off Challenge by Ren-Yi

Scrap Our Stash's March challenge is very near and dear to my heart: Spring Cleaning, which means dig long and deep into your stash to find things that need some dusting off and loving. Dig up dusty stamps and love them with some fresh ink. Pull out that pattern paper that's been attracting dust mites - I know we wait for that "perfect" project, but do we really know if we're making that perfect project upfront? Dust off those punches that have been sitting in a bin and give them some punching action.

I'm sure we have certain crafting vices, so this is a good time to 'fess up. Mine is pattern paper. I see some and fall heads over heel over it and often can't help myself from buying it. The key is to really do paper swaps with gals, so if you're interested, drop me an email and we can do a paper swap! :)

Anyways - off to the deets of the card. I needed a good guy card and knew that I was hogging my Archaic paper from Basic Grey for far too long. So I created a "quilt" of pattern paper and laid each panel together. Super easy.



I decided a nice clean window cut, such as Label One or a Circle would create a fun focal point. Super fun and it makes a teeny weeny dent into my paper hoarding mountain. What are your vices and how do you try to over come them?

Now it's your turn to take the March Challenge. See all the details HERE.

Be sure to scroll down the page - Scrap Our Stash posts something new everyday.

February Challenge by Ren-Yi

Scrap Our Stash's February challenge is to do a Love project. Go read all about it! With February and Valentine's Day just around the corner, this is the perfect project to put some color and warmth into our icy, cold winter days. I'm ready for the ice to just go away - every where I look at our flat New Jersey landscape, I see a bunch of snow mountains. Time for them to go away.

So here is my contribution by celebrating "Love" :)




The heart is crocheted from my stash of scrap yarn. Here an up-close look:



I used the same frame concept, inspired by the lovely Princess Belinda but instead of it being stamped, I drew mine out with pencil, pierced the frame, and back-stitched the entire thing with black thread.

Be sure to scroll down the page - Scrap Our Stash posts something new everyday. http://scrapourstash.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-challenge.html

January Challenge by Ren-Yi

Many moons ago, two friends of mine bought their first home together. Yours truly was on a business trip, so I missed the official house warming event. So we finally got together early summer of last year. These two wonderful people got married recently. So when Kathy issued out the January Challenge, I knew honoring this couple was the way to go. Their lives have taken many "NEW" things in the last year or so: a New home, became Newly engaged, and now are Newlyweds :)

So here a card to look back on their first "new" chapter ...



This is one of those cards I did not get around to sharing with you. If my camera  did not lie, then this card was created exactly 265 days ago...I know hardly a NEW item ;)

I promise to be getting back to my crafting. After all, I just placed a crafty supply order and new toys need to be played with...! 

December Challenge - by Ren-Yi

Design Team Member Ren-Yi submitted this card for the December Birthday Challenge.  She said, "the current Scrap Our Stash December Challenge is near and dear to my heart. It is through this wonderful group that I got my first "recognition" for anything crafty and dear Kathy gave me a chance to be a Guest Designer. And now I have been on this team with a bunch of talented, fun and caring ladies - it's been an amazing journey thus far.


So when this month's challenge is in honor of Scrap Our Stash turning the big ONE, I thought what better then to post a birthday project that I had not shared with you.


This birthday project was actually a CASE study on Claire's really creative work. I fell in love with her boat, so when a friend had a birthday coming up, I knew that the perfect gift was going to be a gift card for a day's worth of sailing. He has picked up sailing as a hobby this year and went to sailing school to get his license. What I love most about this friend is that when he says he wants to learn sailing, he'll actually follow through and go get that sailing license. The only sad thing is we were not sure where he goes sailing, so we could not gift him a gift card. Instead we had to give him his sailing trip in the form of cold, hard cash. I hope, he didn't mind.




Here another up-close look at the captain's face. It really looks like my friend ;)





You still have time to throw something birthday-like into the December Birthday Challenge. Perhaps you'll be picked as the next Guest Designer?  See all the details on how to submit your Birthday project in December Challenge below.

And don't miss our fun Pagerize This Challenge that is going on right now also.  You can see all the details in Pagerize This Challenge #5 below.

Show 'N Tell Sunday - by Ren-Yi

It's been about eight months since I started with this paper-crafting obsession. And I find myself always learning something new: a technique, a cool new tool, a new stamping or crafting supply company, a new embellishment.


For fun, here is my first card attempt.



It was a pull out gift card and I remember thinking "I made hand cut grass - this is tedious - isn't there a tool for that?" My second thought "Uh oh - I'm turning into a paper crafts tool junkie. Scissors to fringe the grass is NOT necessary"


To keep myself accountable and give myself a deadline, I try to play along with a few of my challenges. This one was a contribution to the Sweet Stop Sketch #80. Here is the sketch as a reference.

My take? Segment an image and see how it goes ;)  I sponged my white card stock to convert it into a tad vintage, added a cute scalloped border and a sentiment on the side - in case the tree was not "festive" enough. Twine & buttons are my favorite embellishments thus far.





I never think anything about it when I enter a challenge, since it is about the fun while creating process. So when I received a comment from Korin, owner of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, that she had featured my card on the Sweet Sketch Stop Challenge blog, I was just stunned - didn't know what to say. Lil' tiny old me?



Anyways - if you haven't had a chance to check out the Sugar Babies, they make some beautiful creations. Hop over and leave some blog love!


But most importantly - to all you new crafters - it's a growing process! So keep at it. Practice makes perfect after all.