Thank You Card & "Fantastic Finds" Challenge

A few weeks ago I made this card for a dear, thoughtful friend. I am currently obsessing over the very centered, layering trend everywhere I look. Grabbing lots of my die-cuts and embsossed cardstock, I created this! Just a crazy concoction of colors, textures and patterns, don't you think? I played around with the placement, did some stitching to finish it off and voila...I love the outcome!

As those of you who know my style, I always love incorporating "fantastic finds" into my creations. To me, those types of items are the one-of-a-kind vintage items that make it truly unique. On this card, those finds are the yellow flocked wallpaper, the red tickets & the lotto card from the early 1920's I die-cut into the crest shape in the center. The Kraft Journal is currently hosting a Kraft "Fantastic Finds" Challenge, and what a perfect time to share!

Since there are many layers, I used lots of different products ...Cardstock: Crate Paper Farmhouse Sunday Dinner & Emma's Shoppe Accent Cuts, kraft; Die-cuts: Crate Paper Portrait & Emma's Shoppe, Collage Press Knave of Hearts, Maya Road Kraft Doilies; Brad: Basic Grey Indie Bloom; Stickers: Making Memories Shimmer Alphas; Tim Holtz Vagabond: Regal Crest Die & Bingo Texture Fade; Cricut: Storybook Cartridge; String: The Twinery; Vintage Other: flocked wallpaper, red tickets & lotto card...

Thanks for spending a little of your time with me this evening!
Talk to you soon!

Amy

"Tape It Up" @ Paper Issues & 100th Post Giveaway Winners...

Paper Issues has issued the newest theme, "Tape It Up" any how, any way. It can be washi, dymo, packing, fabric, masking, scotch...it can even be duct tape...if you can dream it, we want to see it!

For my "Tape It Up" project, I would like to share a card I made for our great niece's 1st Birthday. The fabric tape is from Making Memories I have had in my stash for a long time. I used it for the binding at the top of my card as well as to create the "happy birthday to you" flags. In addition, I used a Quickuts letterpress plate for the embossing on the frosting. The clear pokkadot acrylic is from Creative Imaginations. The alphas are from Studio Calico's Countryside Stickers and some sweet American Crafts Thickers. Other supplies used were some kraft & aqua cardstock & hot pink sewing pins.

Now onto to the good stuff....since I was late in announcing the winner of the mushrooms, and you all are such supportive friends...I have decided to giveaway TWO of them! :)

The 2 lucky ladies, courtesy of my sons drawing them out of a hat are....Lindsi & Stephanie!

Even though I don't have mushrooms to send to all of you, I do have some exciting news to share. Cassie, our fearless leader at Paper Issues has assigned the design team members discount codes that you all can use all the time for your scrapbooking needs! Isn't that fabulous! Be sure to check out the Paper Issues Shop at Etsy and receive a 20% DISCOUNT every time you use the discount code: CURLYQ

As always, I thank you all for continuing to encourage me in my artistic endeavors!
Amy

Steampunk Paper Doll Valentine Swap

I occasionally like to participate in swaps as an excuse to create outside of my comfort zone and style. So when my favorite scrapbooking destination, The Paper Crown in Oklahoma City decided to host a Valentine Paper Doll Swap, I was totally in. The main guidelines were to create a festive paper doll in honor of Valentine's Day. I knew that I wanted to incorporate red and wings, but that's it. So, into my huge cabinet of vintage goodies I went. I am always on the hunt for these unusual findings, never knowing when the right project will come along. Lots of times, I get these items in large quantities like the metal stand, the ceramic head & wings...perhaps I need to start selling some of my vintage and unusual oddities in my etsy shop. Do you think these are items people would be interested in purchasing? Perhaps to offer as a kit? I would love any ideas and/or suggestions you might have. Whatever I do, I want it to be unique. :)

Onto the paper doll...

I would definitely say this is my first attempt at doing anything with a "steampunk" feel. Don't get my wrong, I love the unusual style of steampunk imagery. I just never find the perfect place for it in my projects. After searching for valentine's images on etsy, I stumbled upon a gorgeous digital set from Ceremony. Out of the Netherlands, Julia van der Werf creates the most succulent steam punk digital images...you will definitely want to check them all out for yourself. :)

I started with a metal stand and glued the ceramic head on top. I played around with the images and decided on the red dress. The red is so intense it almost looks like crimson velvet cascading down! I have lots of fabulous Dresden wings in silver, copper & bronze...by using several of them, it allowed the different metallics to tie in together nicely. The embossed copper at the bottom of the dress I created using a damask letterpress plate in my Vagabond...I love the texture it adds to the overall piece. At the very bottom I added a ruffle made out of an old sewing pattern. My finishing touches were all the wings and the functional heart lock...with the keys nestled around the base. I truly hope whomever receives this doll in the swap squeals with delight upon receiving, as I will do the same when I receive an original from one of them. :)

Since LESSology has a fun theme "Flights of Fancy" going on right now, I am going to enter this into their challenge. I think with all the wings, she is a perfect fit!

Thanks dearly for stopping by! Also, don't forget: you have until tomorrow to be entered into my giveaway! I wish each and every one of you lots of luck!
Amy

100th Post & Giveway!!!

This is officially my 100th post, and as promised it comes with a giveaway! To welcome the coming of Spring, I would love to give one of you lucky people a Curly Q original! I created many of these mosaic mushrooms awhile back and only have 4 left. If you are the winner, you will get to pick whichever one you like best! It would make a great gift, or you can keep it for yourself as a whimsical decor piece. I will have it nicely packaged and nestled in a kraft box filled with krinkles!

There are several ways to win...
1. Become a follower & leave me a comment as to which one you like best if you were to win. (1 entry)
2. Share this on your blog or facebook. Be sure to come back and let me know that you did. (if you do this, thanks in advance!) (this is worth an additional 2 entries)

I will announce the winner next Friday, February 17 so you have plenty of time to enter!
Have a great weekend!
Amy

Carnival Birthday Card

A few week's ago my boys and I attended a dear friend's birthday party for her adorable Evangeline. Turning 5 going on 20, she is one smart little cookie and such a beautiful child inside and out. :)

For her birthday, her mother planned an elaborate party in the "Vintage Circus Room" of Pinkitzel in Oklahoma City. It has to be the fanciest cupcake destination on earth! They have rooms decked out in such beautifully decadent decor, it almost takes your breath away. (If you ever come to OKC, it should definitely be on your destination list.) Check out the photo gallery of this place, if you get a chance.... and be prepared to drool!

For Evangeline's card, I wanted it to serve as an embellishment for a big "E" I painted to garnish the top of her kraft wrapped packages. My mom had recently purchased me the Cricut Lite Carousel Cartridge, so I figured it was time to bust out the Cricut and put it to some much needed use. The images on this cartridge are so fun, I found myself cutting out all kinds of circus imagery. I finally decided to use the ferris wheel in the background and the elephant in the foreground to accentuate the "E." Coupling the images with My Mind's Eye's Kraft Funday/Happy Days/Everyday Collections and some twine, I think everything tied together perfectly.

Supplies I used are...MME Kraft Funday Happy Day Layered Stickers, Die-Cut Borders & Icing Paper, MME Kraft Funday Everyday Fun Wood Banners (I love these!), Luxe Cocktail Dress Mojito Paper, Colorbok Wine Cardstock, Maraschino Twine from the Twinery, kraft paper, red/yellow tickets and certainly not least the Carousel Cartridge. As for the "E", I recently scored appx 350 letters and numbers at a sale...they are vintage marquee letters ranging in size from 8-10" tall. Pretty cool, huh?

I hope this card/gift presentation has inspired you to create this weekend! Check back soon as I will be having a giveaway in celebration of my 100th post!