I'll Bring the Wine - Burlap Wine Gift Bag

'Tis the Season.....From Thanksgiving until New Year's there will be lots of occasions for visiting friends, neighbors and family.  And, since we never like to show up empty handed, it can get really expensive just to attend these gatherings.  I try to save where I can, so today I'm putting together an inexpensive little wine bottle gift bag.

I started with a burlap bag that is just the right size for a bottle of wine.  I actually got this bag for free - it came with something packed in it.  Check some online sources for gift bags, and you can probably find some pretty cheep.  I saw some on Ebay that were about 14.00 per doz.  

I love the rustic charm of a burlap bag, but wanted to dress it up a bit.  I used a page from Clear Scraps Mini Deco Album to create a tag for my bag.  After removing the protective plastic, I daubed one side with alcohol inks in yellow, orange and purple.  I wanted a nice blend of fall colors.

Once I was happy with the tag, I repeated this on two leaves from Clear Scraps Clear Accent Embellishments.  Then I outlined the tag and leaves with a metallic copper Sharpie.  I also added some veins in the leaves with the Sharpie.

For the tag I stamped a sentiment on a piece of card stock and then traced the tag around it.  I cut out the card stock and glued it to the back of the tag with Beacon Zip-Dry glue.  The sentiment shows through the alcohol inks, creating a pretty front for the tag, and I can add a personal, handwritten message to the back of the tag.

I used light copper wire to wire the tag and leaves to a bow and also to wire the bow onto the burlap bag.  To create a spiral texture in the wire, I wrapped it around a chopstick.

There!  Now I just need a bottle of wine, and I'll have a cute hostess gift.  One down.....20 to go...(gifts, not bottles of wine)

Thanks for checking the project out.  Please visit the Clear Scraps blog for more great acrylic projects!!

And please come back to visit again!  For the next 6 weeks its all projects to help get ready for the holidays!!

KC

Thank You, Red Rubber Designs!

This is a bittersweet moment as I write my final post for Red Rubber Designs.  It has been a wonderful experience designing for this company.  I have the utmost respect for Pam, Sarah and the rest of the RRD Design Team!  I have been inspired to step outside of my comfort zone and try new many new things.  You are all so talented and I have enjoyed working with you all so much!  I will continue to follow along with your posts and challenges.  I have learned so much from all of you and I know you have only scratched the surface with all you have to share.

For may RRD Design Team Friends, a simple "Thank You"!

For this card I used Vintage inspired stamps from Red Rubber Designs - Victorian Embellishments and Vintage Greetings, and paper from Amelia Patterned Cardstock Collection.  The stamping was done with embossing ink and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  The gold stripe is a strip of double stick tape that was put in place, then coated with embossing powder and heat set.

KC

Tag! You're it! Red Rubber Designs Just Because Challenge

Have you played along with Red Rubber Designs "Just Because" Challenge?  It's easy!  Each month, on the third Thursday, RRD will announce the rules for the monthly challenge.

Your mission:  To create a card, tag, scrapbook layout or any project using any stamp in the Red Rubber Designs store following the specific rules of each challenge. Participants will upload their project to the Red Rubber Designs Flickr Group. They will include a challenge specific tag (to be posted with each challenge) so that we can easily find their entry. Deadline is two weeks from the challenge date.
Only those stamps currently in the Red Rubber Designs store can be used for the challenge project. Entries not using current stamps cannot be accepted.

A $10 Gift Certificate to the Red Rubber Designs store will be awarded to one randomly chosen participant!

This month's challenge:  Create a tag in a non-traditional shape.  Anything but a rectangle!

Upload a picture of your tag to the RRD Flicker Group and tag it JB0912

To get you started, here is a picture of my tag.

For this tag I used paper from the Catelynne Patterned Cardstock Collection and One of this month's featured stamp - Vintage Greetings.

For complete rules visit the Red Rubber Design Blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!!!

I'm finishing out Red Rubber Designs' Christmas in August with my favorite winter theme - Snow!  Growing up in Chicago, it seemed like we had constant snow from November through March.  It's actually one of the things I miss most.  If it's going to be cold, it might as well be white!






For this mixed media board, I started with blue paper from the Sands of Time Cardstock Collection - tinted with blue and purple alcohol inks.  I used Red Rubber Design's "Snowflake" stamps and "Peace on Earth" stamps to create a background -  stamping a random pattern of snowflakes and "Peace on Earth" in Palette Inks - Charcoal and 
Beaux Arts  Blue.  Then I heat embossed some large snowflakes with silver embossing powder.  The letters for "Let it Snow" are from the Distressed Typewriter Bet Set and stamped in Beaux Arts Blue on pale grey card stock.  I finished with a few snowflake do-dads that I had in my stash drawer.  (and yes, do-dad is the technical term)

Snowflake Pendant

Christmas in August continues at Red Rubber Designs.  For this project I've used one of this month's featured stamp sets - Snowflake Set.

To make the pendant, I rolled out purple polymer clay and pressed my pendant setting face down into the clay to mark the outer border.  Then I stamped the snowflakes, without ink, into the clay.  To fill some of the empty areas, I used a dull pencil and added extra dots.  Then I used a clay blade to cut the pendant just inside the guide marks I had made with the pendant setting.  After baking the clay, I rubbed the surface with a rub-on silver, leaving the recessed snowflakes in purple.  I finished by gluing the clay into the setting and adding a jump ring and cord.

Christmas continues all month at Red Rubber Designs, but Pam's Birthday Sale only goes on for four more days!  Hurry and take advantage of some great deals!  50 items are marked at 50% off!  Free shipping for orders over $50.00 (continental US) and $5.00 shipping on orders under $50.00.  Plus all stamps have been marked down!

Happy Birthday to Pam!

It's Pam's Birthday!  So she's celebrating with a sale at Red Rubber Designs!!

Starting on Wednesday (Aug 22), Red Rubber Designs is having a sale which includes the following:


* 50% OFF of 50 Items for 5.0 days

* FREE Shipping on orders $50 and over (USA only)

* $5.00 Shipping on orders under $50 (USA only)

* ALL stamps are reduced in price

Visit Red Rubber Designs to take advantage of these great deal!!

Visit Red Rubber Designs on Facebook to wish Pam a very Happy Birthday!

August "Just Because Challenge" - Red Rubber Designs

I can't believe it has been a  month already since Red Rubber Designs had their first "Just Because Challenge".  But here it is....time for another one!

Play along with the challenge and upload your project to Red Rubber Designs Flickr Group for a chance to win.  Two randomly chosen entries will win 10.00 gift certificates.  Aside from the prizes, this is a great way to show the world your wonderful work and the projects you've created using Red Rubber Design Stamps.

For the August Challenge:
This will be a "recipe" challenge.
The recipe for your inspiration piece will be to:

Use 1 stamped image as your focal point.
Use 1 sentiment
Use something sparkly
Use ribbon

Be sure to tag your project once you've uploaded to flicker!!  JB0812 is the tag for this month.

Here is my project:  

For the focal stamp (the dove) I used one of this month's Featured Stamps - "Brushed Christmas."  The Christmas Trees also came from this stamp set.  These stamps were stamped in embossing ink and embossed with pearl embossing powder.  The sentiment also comes from one of the Featured Stamps - "Peace on Earth".  For my "something sparkly", I made a glittered background using sticky paper and dark blue and white Art Glitter.  

I hope you'll play along with the challenge!  For full details, please visit the Red Rubber Designs Blog!

Retro Christmas Card

Christmas in August continues at Red Rubber Designs.  Have you checked out all the great Christmas stamps that are featured this month?!  For this card I used a mix of Christmas stamp sets:  "Peace on Earth" for the sentiment, "Gift for You" and "Mister Penguin".  I love the retro look of the packages, so I went with a retro color combination of crimson red and olive green.  The penguin was stamped on white card stock, colored and cut out to give it dimension and the feeling of running through the aisles of Macy's on a last minute Christmas shopping spree!  (See how flushed his cheeks are?!)  The packages were stamped in Moulin Rouge and Jardin Moss from Palette Ink.

Join in the holiday spirit all month at Red Rubber Designs!  Next week is the "Just Because" challenge.  Post your project on Flicker for a chance to win!!

Red Rubber Designs - August Blog Hop

It's Christmas in August at Red Rubber Designs!!  

I've created a little Christmas Decor using a page from the Maya Road Sheer Round Coasters.  It was tinted with a little green alcohol ink and then I used permanent ink in red and green to stamp the wreath, pine branches, and spattering of stars from the "Holiday Wreath" stamp set.  I cut a smaller circle of beige card stock and trimmed it with a decorative edge trimmer.  This was glued in place behind the coaster to help the wreath in the front stand out.  This also enhances the tinted color on the acrylic.  I stamped the sentiment on a piece of the same beige card stock - edged with a red Copic marker and spritzed with gold shimmer spray.  I finished with some ribbon, rhinestones and little Christmas Tree brads.

Hop Details:

It looks like one of Santa's elves has been causing a little mischief in the workshops and craft areas of our Design Team members. Look closely at each project on the hop and you will see that said elf has left a little image of his jolly employer on one of the Design Team member's creation.
Find the picture of Santa then let us know where you found it (whose blog).
Email your name and the name of the blog where you found the picture of Santa to contest@RedRubberDesigns.com .
Every correct answer will be entered into a random draw for the Spotlight Stamp Holiday Wreath.
Contest ends Sunday, August 5 at midnight (CDT). Good luck.

Red Rubber Designs http://blog.red-rubber-designs.com/ (There will be a post with contest details)
Sarah
Paula-Kay
Louise
KC (You are here)
Kate
Diana

Connie Crystal Pumpkin

I got to spend last week at the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Summer Show in Chicago.  There were lots of fun new products to check out and play with.  But one of the most dazzling booths was the Connie Crystal Booth.  Of course, I am distracted by everything that glitters and shines, so all that glittering crystal in one booth was right up my alley!  I was also very honored to have a few of my pieces on display there!

My Suncatcher on the left, and Christmas Ornament on the Right, with Kristi's  mixed media piece in the center

My Key with Bling, along with Connie's beautiful pieces

This Fall Pumpkin was also in the booth, but somehow I neglected to get a picture of it there.  I was probably distracted by all that shiny crystal :)

Here are the instructions for making the Copper and Crystal Pumpkin.

You will need:
Copper Wire in 16 and 20 gauge, thin copper sheet (like foil, but copper), brown card stock, Leaf Stamp (the one I used is from the Fabulous Fall stamp set from Red Rubber Designs), Black Stazon Ink, and a mix of 6 or 7 fall colored beads from Connie Crystal.

Cut 3 pieces of 16 gauge wire about 2' long.  Use round pliers to create a loop at one end.  Wrap the wire around a round rod.  I used the sharpening stick from my old knife set.  You could also use a mandrel if you have one, or wood dowel, or even a larger pencil or pen. 

Remove the wire from the rod and stretch it out so that it is still wavy.  

Thread the end of the wire through the beginning loop and close it with your round pliers to form a large loop of copper.

Repeat with the other pieces of copper

Lay the copper loops so that they overlap and form a pumpkin.  Bend and stretch the loops as needed until all three loops are approximately the same size and shape.

Using the 20 gauge wire and needle nose pliers, wrap small sections around the intersections of the wire loops to join all three loops together.

Take a smaller - around 10" - piece of 16 gauge and wrap it around the rod.  Then stretch it and bend it to form the "stem".  Wrap the ends around the wire at the top of the pumpkin to secure in place.

Stamp 4 leaves on the copper sheet

Cut the leaves out and trace onto brown card stock.  Take a piece of 20 gauge wire - about 8" long and bend the top about 1/2" down into a loop or "U".  This will help keep it in place.  Glue the wire between the copper sheet and brown card stock.  The card stock will help give the leaves some stability.

Thread 10" lengths of 20 gauge wire through the Crystal Beads and twist the wire to hold the bead in place.

Wire the leaves and beads in a random patterns around the top of the pumpkin.

Have you checked out the NEW Connie Crystal Website and Blog???  You'll find all of the Connie Crystal Products and lots of great projects and ideas!

Red Rubber Designs - Autumn Wonder Card

Red Rubber Designs continues to celebrate fall with the New Release Stamps for July.  I have combined a couple of these stamps for this Autumn card.  I used the "Every Leaf" stamp on thin copper sheet for the shiny leaves a the top.  I used the "Autumn Swirls" stamp for a background on the yellow section of card stock from the Amelia Pattern Cardstock.  I also used the Autumn Swirl stamp for the "Autumn Wonder" section.


I am loving working on these fall projects!  Check back again for more projects from the featured Fall themed stamps!

Every Leaf Wine Glass Candle Cover - Red Rubber Designs First Thursday Blog Hop

Welcome to RRD's First Thursday Blog Hop!

Today, each of the design team members are presenting a project made with the July Spotlight Stamp Set - "Every Leaf".  I am so glad to be working on a fall project!  It is my favorite time of the year, and since we are in a record spell of consecutive triple digit temps, I am REALLY looking forward to cool, crisp Autumn days!!

I have made a wine glass "shade" for a votive candle, using vellum paper and the Every Leaf stamp set.  I began by printing the pattern below on white paper.  Then I laid a piece of vellum over it so that I could use it as a guide for stamping.  I stamped the leaves in embossing ink and covered with gold embossing powder and then heat set it.  I love embossing on vellum.  Since the embossing ink doesn't absorb into the vellum like it does on paper or card stock, you get nice coverage and a thicker, raised design.  You do lose some of your detail in your stamps, but since I was going for a gilded leaf effect, that was OK.  I then used multiple shades of brown and a little orange Copic Marker to color in the leaves on the back of the vellum.  

Once this was dry, I placed the vellum back on the shade pattern and penciled in the rest of the pattern so that I could cut it out - cutting around the leaf edges that extended beyond the pattern piece.  I used some shape scissors to create a scalloped edge at the bottom and then went around the top and bottom edges with brown Copic marker.  Then I simply connected the two edges by running a line of double stick tape (made for vellum) down one side and over lapping the second edge onto the tape.  Two things to note:  1.  You may have to adjust the size of the pattern depending on the size of your wine glass and 2.  Since heat can sometime have unpredictable effects on pigments and adhesives, I recommend using a battery operated votive candle instead of an actual flame.

Shade pattern - print full size on 8 1/2 x 11

Here's the rules for this hop:

Each blog on the hop (except the Red Rubber Designs Blog) has one word that will complete a phrase somewhere in their blog hop post. Once you find all six words (that's a hint!) put them together to form a phrase. You may have to rearrange them a little bit!

Note: The word you need from each blog will be obvious if you read carefully.... it looks just a little different from the rest of the letters!

Once you figure it out, email the phrase to contest@RedRubberDesigns.com and be sure to putyour name and email address in the email with the phrase. Every correct answer will be entered into a drawing for the featured stamp set - "Every Leaf" - and one winner will be chosen at random. Good luck!

Contest ends Sunday, July 8th at Midnight (US-CDT).

Red Rubber Designs http://blog.red-rubber-designs.com/ (There will be a post with contest details)
Sarah
Paula-Kay
Louise
KC (you are here)
Kate
Diana 

Red Rubber Designs June Spotlight Stamp - Butterfly Scrapbook Page

It is the First Thursday of the month, so that means we have New Releases at Red Rubber Designs! June is about scrapbooking at RRD. All month, the design team will be posting scrapbook ideas like - layouts, mini albums, art journals, and embellishment ideas etc...all using the newly released June stamp sets.

We have a contest too - a Scavenger Hunt! How FUN! Each design team blog will have a different question about Red Rubber Designs and the answers can all be found in the Red Rubber Designs Store http://www.red-rubber-designs.com/

Once you find all 7 answers to the questions, email your answers to contest@RedRubberDesigns.comwith your name and email address. If you answered correctly, your name will be entered into a drawing for the June Spotlight Stamp Set - "Happily Grateful". One winner will be chosen at random. Good luck and Happy Hopping!

Contest ends Sunday, June 10th at Midnight (US-CT).

So here we go with my scrapbook layout.  For years I have proclaimed that I am NOT a scrapbooker (not that there's anything wrong with it)....it just wasn't one of my chosen crafts.  But when in Rome.....It is national scrapbook month and this week the team is all doing scrapbook layouts using the Spotlight Stamp - Happily Grateful.  

For this project I used:  Cardstock in Spring Green and Olive Green, Patterned paper from Reese Paper Stack, 2 pages and tags from the Pemberley Bay Matchbook Kit, Eyelets from the Mulberry Meadow set, Ribbon from Reece/Woodrowe & Angelee/Natalie sets, Palette Inks:  Jardin Moss, Sunflower, Beaux Arts Blue, Chartreuse, and embossing ink, Gold embossing powder and Stamps:  Happily Grateful, Background Soup and For Everything.

Of the 6 mini album kits, which one is the brightest color?

I began by creating a background on the lighter card stock - I swirled the Sunflower Ink pad to create a marbled background and then stamped the leaves from "Happily Grateful" stamp set in a random pattern of Sunflower and Chartreuse.  Then came my favorite part....adding a few butterflies and patterns from "For Everything" stamp - stamped with embossing ink, then covered in gold embossing powder and heat set.  

The flip out sections are pages from the Perberley Bay Matchbook Kit.  I hated to break up the kit, but I loved these colors and I really wanted to have pages within the page.  These are pre-scored for a fold line.  These were each attached to a piece of patterned paper with eyelets and then the ribbons were threaded thru and the section was attached to the base card stock with double face tape.

I added some tags inside the flip-out pages for titles or journaling.  To bring it all together, I stamped a few more butterflies and a few more leaves.

So there it is.....my FIRST EVER scrapbook page.

Be sure to visit the other Design Team Member's blogs to see more scrapbook layouts with this stamp set.

Red Rubber Designs  (There will be a post with contest details)
Sarah
Paula-Kay
Louise
KC (you are here)
Kate
Diana
Debra

And visit RedRubberDesigns.com to see more June release stamps - like this one:

Here I am

Life of the Party Cigar Box Purse

Years ago I saw some cigar box purses and thought they looked like fun to make; so I found some cigar boxes on Ebay and they have been sitting in my craft stash ever since. Then I saw this Life of the Party stamp from Red Rubber Designs and I knew it was time to make one of those purses.

I started by painting the box black and then sanding the edges for a distressed look.  I then used the Beauty of a Woman stamp on grey card stock to create the background.  The lace strip was done by using the flourish section from the Life of the Party stamp and stamping two rows across the grey.  The grey card was then decoupaged onto the box.  I took a 1" strip of red patterned paper from the Rustic Chic Paper Stack, edged it with silver pen, and decoupaged it over the "lace".  The party girl was stamped onto a die-cut piece of beige card stock and then colored with Copic markers.  Red glitter was added to her dress, hat and glass.  This section was then covered with a die-cut piece of acrylic and then embellished with more red glitter.
The purse was finished with rhinestone flourish sections and a beaded handle, made with vintage black beads and a couple of red clay beads that had also been coated in red glitter.

The Life of the Party Purse, would be prefect for any Celebration....but today we are celebrating Red Rubber Designs GRAND OPENING!!!

To Celebrate...We are hosting a Blog Hop....
Visit each Design Team member's blog, leave a comment and then head back to Red Rubber Designs' Blog to say that you've commented on each of the blogs.  You will then be entered in the drawing for a fabulous PRIZE PACKAGE!!

Red Rubber Designs:  http://blog.red-rubber-designs.com/


Sarah:
Paula-Kay:
Louise: 
KC (you are here)
Kate:
Diana:
Debra:

Blog Hop Prize Details:
A Red Rubber Design prize package will be awarded to one lucky person.
To qualify:  Leave a comment at all the DT blog stops on the hop.  To complete the hop - come back to the RRD blog on Sunday, April 15th for a special prize post and leave a comment that you completed the hop.
Comment Deadline:  Sunday, April 15th at Midnight (Central Time)
Winner Announcement:  All qualifying names will be entered into a random drawing.  The winner will be announced on the RRD blog on Monday, April 16th.  Good Luck and Happy Hopping!!