Friday, May 24, 2013

For FFF, We're Making it Move!



Hey there, Farm Friends! This is Farmer Thanh bringing you another Farm Fresh Friday challenge. 

Let's start our FFF by announcing a winner from last week's challenge!

Congratulations to #12 Heidi Brawley!

Please email Jessica (yeahshesnaps @ icloud dot com) to claim your prize. :)

For this week's FFF challenge, we'd like to see your cards or projects MOVE!

Whether you're making a shaker card, a pop-up card, adding a wobble spring...it doesn't matter! We just want to see how you can make it move!

Our DT has been moving and grooving with some fun interactive cards of all shapes and sizes...check out each DT member's blog for the full details on each card!










What?! No movement you say... wait for it:




Ready to join in the fun? Here's how to play:

  • You must use a TGF stamp (rubber, digi, or clear) as your main image.
  • Entries must be uploaded via InLinkz (below) no later than Thursday, May 30th at NOON CST. You can add a direct link to your entry from your personal blog, SCS gallery, Flickr or TGF galleria. (If the InLinkz tool is missing, feel free to link your submission URL in the comment section.)
  • The fabulous prize: A random participant will be selected to win their choice of an in-stock SINGLE RUBBER STAMP or a 4x6 set!
Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Thanh


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Love

 Maria Therese here today with some TGF inspiration.
This card is quite Clean and simple to be one of mine.
But with this paper I thought it would be fun to not cover it up too much .
So I put the TGF Gate Die in front of the Boy with the dog.
The girl in front of the Gate die is one of 3 fabulous from  
She is colored up with Copic.
Hope this gives you some ideas how to mix up your new TGF dies 
with both newer and older TGF stamps.

Big hugs 

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

GVT~Photo Inspiration Challenge!

It's Tuesday and you know what that means....another Garden Variety Tuesday Challenge! Before we get to this week's challenge, we need to announce our winner from last week's Blue/Green Color Challenge:


CONGRATULATIONS!! :) Please email Jessica at (yeahshesnaps[at]icloud[dot]com) to claim your digi prize!
This week we have an amazing Photo Inspiration Challenge for you! Now, I'm not a lover of orange, but this color combo just called my name. Isn't it gorgeous?!
Our amazing Design Team knocked it out of the park with their fabulous creations!! Check out these awesome cards for inspiration!

using Hope & Grace (retired) & Delicate Words Die


Jo
using Anya from Rock The Farm (retired),
TGF Fence Die, Tulip Border Die, Delicate Words Die

TGF Fence Die, & Delicate Words Die


Suzanne
using Latte Anya

Here's how to play:
* Use a TGF stamp (rubber, digi, or clear) as your main image.
* Submit your entry via InLinkz (below) no later than Monday, May 27, 2013 at Noon CST. You can add a direct link to your entry from your personal blog, SCS gallery, Flickr or TGF galleria. (If the InLinkz tool is missing, please add your URL in the comment section.)
* The fabulous prize: A random participant will be selected to win a digital image of choice from the TGF store.
*** But WAIT! Each week, our friends have the opportunity to DOUBLE that prize to either two digis, or you can trade those two digis for a single rubber stamp of choice, as long as we have 20 or more players each week, so encourage all your friends and family to play along! ***
Good luck! We can't wait to see your creations using the photo above!
Hugs,
Rosie :)

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Card Featuring "Anya Strolls" and a "Cheeky Geeky" altered gift card tin

Hello TGF Friends,  it's Marcy here! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  It's definitely feeling like Summer where I am in California and unfortunately due to so many weekend events going on, I missed my beach trip!  Oh well, I know there are many more to come. I just really love Summer!
So Today is my 2nd TGF Guest Designer post for May and here is my project...


I'm happy to share my card creation featuring "Anya Strolls".  I am loving these big Anya stamps and this one is simply adorable! I had so much fun creating with her.  Check out the cute little dog!  I went pretty "girlie" with this card and used one of my favorite combos of pink, black and white.  I also enjoyed using the TGF Gate die.  Using the dies from the May Release are my first time working with the TGF dies and I am so impressed with them.  Not only are they so detailed with great designs, they are super easy to cut with as well.  I'm definitely going to be buying more of these dies as they come available! And the sentiments that come with these big stamp sets are awesome. I love this one!  For more detailed info regarding my card, please visit my blog here!

I also wanted to share an altered gift tin I made for my son Noah's, favorite teacher.  I couldn't resist adding the super cute "Cheeky Geeky" which kinda looks like her!  I'll be adding a gift card to "The Lake Shore Learning" as part of her gift!  This started out as an old Christmas gift card tin I've had laying around forever and I thought this was the perfect time to alter it and use it as a Teacher's gift.  I'm so excited with the way it came out!
Here are some pics...


 Side View
Inside


Bottom

For more details regarding this project, please see my Sunday blog post!  I hope you like my TGF projects.  Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful week ahead! :) Hugs, Marcy






Friday, May 17, 2013

FFF Paper Piecing!


Yay!!  Happy Friday everyone!!  I am super excited for
Summer break to start so that there will be more time for..
stamping!!  My kids and I are counting down the days, 
only a few left!

Let's start our FFF by announcing a winner from
last weeks challenge!

#11 Noelia!!

 Please email Jessica (yeahshesnaps @ icloud dot com) to claim your prize. :) 

This week's challenge is a bit of a time saver,
I want to see you 
Paper Piecing!!
If you haven't tried it yet, this is the perfect opportunity!
Stamp your image on a patterned paper of your
desire, then cut out and glue!  It's that easy!

Now on to some serious inspiration from
the design team!

Suzanne with the pup from Anya Strolls,
and the chair from Sitting Wonderful!
She has paper pieced the fabulous
material for the chair!

She has paper pieced several items on
Anya, and even the little pup!

Paper pieced dress and bow!

Jo with Rain, Snow, Shine (retired) and
the Delicate Words (retired) & Mini Fleurs Dies.
This Anya is all kinds of paper pieced!  
(I am digging her hair!)

I am in love with this paper pieced dress!


I paper pieced her hat and dress.

Here's how to play:

*You must use a TGF stamp (rubber, digi, or clear) as your main image. 

*Entries must be uploaded via InLinkz (below) no later than Thursday, May 23rd at NOON CST.
You can add a direct link to your entry from your personal blog, SCS gallery, Flickr or TGF galleria.
(If the InLinkz tool is missing, feel free to link your submission URL in the comment section.) 

*The fabulous prize: A random participant will be selected to win their choice of an in-stock SINGLE RUBBER STAMP or a 4x6 set!

Have a wonderful day!

Rachel







Thursday, May 16, 2013

Let's Make More Flowers!

Hello!  Annie here today.  Did you see Suzanne's awesome tutorial yesterday showing how to make flowers using coffee filters?  Such a great idea! I've already gathered my supplies to try it out.
 
Today, I'm going to show you how to make another 3-D flower using the TGF "Mini Fleurs Die".
 
 
To get started, die cut 8 flower shapes with the "Mini Fleurs Die".
 
I like to make mine out of old book-page paper because it looks cool and it's thin enough to cut multiple shapes at one time.  I cut 8 small squares of paper, placed the die on top, and ran it through my die-cutting machine.
 
 
Next, ink around the petals.  You can do this with any ink, in any color.
 
 
Once the edges are inked, lightly spray the flowers with water.  The thin book paper only needs a tiny bit of water.  You want just enough to soften the paper fibers.  The thin paper also curls when it gets wet; it's fun to watch... they look like little caterpillars wriggling around.  :)
 
 
When the flowers are wet, carefully scrunch each one into a little ball.  Not too tight, though. Since the paper is wet, it can rip easily.  If you use thicker paper, it won't be as fragile.
 
 
Carefully open each scrunched flower and flatten slightly.
Layer all 8 flowers into one pile and punch a small hole right in the center.
 
 
Fasten a small brad through the center hole to hold the flowers together.
 
 
You will then take each single layer and scrunch it together in the center of the flower.  The first layer you scrunch will end up being the center of the flower, so do that one slightly tighter than the rest.
 
Then continue turning and scrunching each remaining layer up into the center until you have a tightly scrunched flower.
 
 
Then carefully start to spread each layer out to make the final shape.  I just use my fingernails to slightly separate the scrunched layers and turn it around until it looks just right.
 
 
You can then add more ink around the edges if you want more vibrant color, or leave it as is. Since the paper was slightly wet, it will hold its scrunched shape when it dries.  I like to use my heat-tool to quickly dry the flower.
 
Now you've got a perfect little 3-D flower to add to your projects!
 
 
For this card, I used the same book-page paper and I inked it with green Distress Ink to match the color scheme.  I think it looks awesome!
 
I hope you'll give it a try -- I'd love to see some 3-D and coffee filter flowers on your next TGF projects.  We'll see you here again tomorrow for a new Farm Fresh Friday challenge!
 
Luvs,
Annie Rose
 
 


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Make your own rose garden with coffee filters!

Hi, Friends of the Farm! Suzanne here, and I'm sharing a tutorial today on how to make roses out of something you may have in your pantry...coffee filters! With this technique, you'll be making a garden of roses in no time!


My supply list:
  • white coffee filters (I use 5-6 filters per flower)
  • adhesive dots
  • scissors/rolled flower die
  • manual die-cutting machine
  • alcohol-based marker and blending solution

While you can find rolled flower dies fairly easily, you can also make these if you don't have one of the dies. I'll show you both ways to make the flowers, and I'll start with the non-die method!

Cut a circle out of a bundle of 5-6 coffee filters, folded in half. Your circle doesn't have to be perfectly round. Mine usually come out in a more oval shape when I hand-cut them.



Start at one point on the circle and cut a spiral into the layered circles. Leave a larger part uncut in the center. (This will help you keep the flower together after you've rolled it.) It will look like the spiral on the right.

Now, you're ready to roll! Try your best to keep all the layers together, and start with the pointed end, then roll toward the center. The layers tend to separate more once you get near the end.


I recommend letting the center unroll a bit before you add adhesive dots. Letting it loosen a bit helps to give your flower more volume. You'll be able to fix the layers more after it's secured. Stick several dots to the bottom center. (This depends on the size of your flower. With a larger flower, you'll want more dots on the bottom to help all the layers stick.)

Wrap the rest of the layers under the flower and stick them to the adhesive dots. It's OK if you have excess strands. I just cut off the part that sticks out.



You can also use a rolled flower die in your die cut machine if you have them. I use my dies cutting sides down on top of the filters after folding them in half. You can see what they look like after they're run through the machine.

I often color the coffee filters before die cutting them with the chisel end of an alcohol marker. I spray colorless blender solution on the filters and rub it in so that the solution soaks the ink and the paper.


Rolling and finishing the die cut version works the same way as if you'd hand cut the spirals yourself. The advantage to using a die is that it's easier to keep all of the layers together, but you're able to create more sizes without the die. I roll the colored flowers with the color on the inside.

You can also color the flower after it's assembled with an alcohol-based marker. Then spray blending solution on the flower and rub it in. When it's assembled, it's very sturdy, so you shouldn't have to worry about it coming apart.


I haven't tried using spray mists to add color, but I'd like to hear if you do! I think this technique would also work well with tissue paper, which has the advantage of being available in lots of different colors.

Here are some cards that I've made that include these flowers:




I hope you've enjoyed my tutorial today! If you make some roses of your own, I'd love to see them! Just share your link in the comment section!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Hugs,