A New Design by Ashley Cannon Newell

Join Me at AshleyNewell.com

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

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Where are you all? If you're still receiving this blog posting in your Google Reader or E-Mail inbox, please take a moment to update your subscription to my new blog site. E-Mail subscribers, don't forget to validate your subscription too! :) I have more new postings on the new blog and a lot of more things to come. See you soon!

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I've Moved...

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 04:46:00 +0000

Hey there! I've finally finished my blog redesign and have moved...away from Blogger and onto my own dedicated web site. This will be my last post on the "blogspot" address. I've kept my new website address simple and just removed "blogspot" so you all can still find me!

I'd love to have each of my readers to join me on my continue journey on my new blog site. This will be the only time I change my blog site address. I now have full control over the capabilities and hope you will enjoy the changes as well.

Click Here

or Copy + Paste link to your browser

www.ashleynewell.com

Embellish Color Challenge :: Scrapbook Layouts

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 17:10:00 +0000

Hey there! Happy Saturday to you! Yesterday, Embellish started a new color challenge and this one focuses on scrapbook layouts. I know, I rarely do them and usually I struggle, like on this one. I sometimes get stuck and it was a challenge for me. So, I ask you to join me in this challenge. The more you work at it, the better you get! We have a great sponsor for this challenge. Canvas Corp has offered a very generous prize pack with patterned paper, canvas, clothespins, and so much more. Check out what the other team members created. They didn't seem to have as much of a challenge as I did, but I wouldn't expect that because that's why they're on the team, right?! Click here.

I used patterned paper from the Chocolate and Vanilla collection (Big Stripes) + (Dot Reverse) as side borders. In between the paper, I included a jute twine border using this chocolate texture. The flower die cuts are old embellishments I picked up from my LSS and I think they're by Creative Imaginations or Creative Cafe, but not 100% sure, just a hunch from my memory about 2 years ago.

Here, I added some mini clothespins to hold the "ashley" banner I created using the canvas diamond die cuts. I cut the diamond die cuts in half to create the pennant banner. I also spritzed some Maya Mist on the top part of the layout to get that paint color. I used a brown and a red mist and sprayed very far away from my page to get that sprinkle effect.

About the photo: This picture was taken by McArthur in Thailand. We rode the infamous train over River Kwai through the countryside. It was VERY HOT on that hour train ride. We ended here, at this market near Kanchanaburi. We returned the day after the train ride to shop a bit in this market. Even in early March, it is very hot in Thailand. I love the heat, but also enjoy a good refreshing beverage, which leads me to my purpose of this picture. I'm leaning against a huge "a" and in my world, it's for Ashley, but as I recall, it spelled WAR and I'm not quite sure why except for that the building the train system from Burma through Thailand caused a war because people were forced to build it.

Anyway, I'm drinking a Pepsi. This picture shows one of my last times enjoying a soda. I have not had a soda since July. I did not set out to make this a rule of law for me, but it sort of just happened. I was trying to limit my intake and next thing I remember, I realized a month passed since by last soda, so I decided to try for another week, another month, etc. Now, it's been four months since by last soda. Now, that may not sound all that news breaking, but for this soda drinker, it is!

In grad school while getting my MBA, I had night and online classes, so I would stay up really late to work on my projects and study, then wake up around noonish and get ready for my day. To keep me going, I'd drink 2-3 Pepsi's at once, like they were water. This was also the time I discovered my love for Thai food. I lived in a quaint studio apartment right across the street from what I believe is the BEST Thai restaurant ever - Thai Landing in Baltimore, MD. It's authentic and they always treated me like family. I think I ate there about 4 times a week and sometimes twice a day! haha

Anyway, I cut back since then, but kept drinking sodas. No, I'm not a Pepsi only drinker, I like Coke and Ginger Ale too! I can drink almost any soda, well I used to be able to at least!

I really should have titled the page, "The Last Soda" because that's how I feel when I see this picture. At the time the photo was taken, I had no idea it would be one of my last sodas and I enjoyed it!

So, whatever your photo is and whatever motive you have behind it, make sure you scrap it to capture that moment, feeling, and time period of what's going on! I challenge you, even if you are not a scrapper like me to join us for an Embellish challenge!

Blog Update - I will be changing my blog in the next week or so. I will be migrating to a new web address, which means if you follow me in your reader or via email, you will need to re-subscribe to a new feed. I apologize for any inconvenience, but each of you will benefit from the blog transfer because of the added features, such as my being able to reply to comments and so much more! Just wanted to warn you, it's happening VERY SOON! My Blogger site will always be available for as far as I know, I just will not have current posts from it; however, new visitors will be re-directed to the new blog! So stay tuned, I'm almost done with the design!

Thanks so much for visiting! Today, I'm off to try to decorate the house for the holidays and I get to see my friend's baby for the first time! Take care and have a great weekend!

Watch Me Wednesday :: Quick + Easy Holiday Gift Tag

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 06:40:00 +0000

Hey there! It's time for another video. This week's project features a quick and easy holiday gift tag you can attach to presents or gift bags. You can make these ahead of time and have them ready. Simply wrap them around a gift for instant presentation or place your gift in a bag and attach the tag. So, that's enough chit chatting, off to the videooooooooo!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Supplies

Stamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - very vintage labels no. 5, music backgrounds; DeNami Design - seasons greeting
Ink :: Close to My Heart - cranberry; Ranger - antique linen, vintage photo
Patterned Paper :: Kaisercraft - tis the season collection
Embellishments :: Vintage Scrap (etsy) - tea stained tag; MWooderson (etsy) - glittered jingle bells; Memriemare (etsy) - red seam binding; Creative Cuts & More - label die cut

Thanks for coming by today! Have a great one!

House Warming

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 06:14:00 +0000

Hey there, Bleeps! How was your Thanksgiving? I hope it was full of food! :) I shopped a bit this weekend, mainly on Friday. We slept in and were still able to snag deals later that evening. Our refrigerator went out on Thanksgiving - yeah imagine that! Well, it happened to us. The fridge is only 4 years old and the motherboard died. We got it fixed on Friday and after that relief I went shopping with my mom and sis! The house is not decorated yet for the holidays. I barely started with a couple things here and there. I hope this weekend I'll have it all done. I'll be sure to share a few photos of my favorite holiday decor items.

Speaking of the house, the Embellish magazine graphic designer had a house warming and this is what I designed for her! She's the best as she designs the best stuff out there. I cried the first time I saw the magazine templates - flat out cried - tears of happiness because she knew exactly what I wanted. So, I knew I had to design her something special to celebrate her new home.

If you're wondering about the next issue - I'm still working on it! I know I'm behind schedule, but it's just me doing what an entire company usually works on! It's going to be huge - featuring elements that only an e-zine can handle! So, stay tuned!

I embellished ribbon with a tag and added some crochet lace trim.

I added the stamped house on the artisan element and stitched around the edges. I used heavy duty thread this time and loved the bold look of the stitching.

Since I got her a cookbook and gift card from Williams-Sonoma, I designed a personalized bookmark.

Instructions

Trim patterned paper to about 4" x 5.75".
Ink artisan element and adhere to patterned paper.
Stamp house, cut out, ink, then adhere to artisan element with foam adhesive.
Add stitching.
Add twill tape strip, ribbon treatment, and crochet trim
Die cut tag. Stamp text background and sentiment. Ink the edges, then adhere to ribbon knot with twine and secure with button.
Ink the edges of patterned paper and add rhinestone to stamped house.
Adhere to 4.25" x 6" kraft card front.

Supplies

Stamps :: Renaissance by Design - house warming set (store now closed); Papertrey Ink - text style
Ink :: Stampin' Up! - chocolate chip; Close to My Heart - bamboo; Ranger - antique linen, vintage photo
Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - kraft, white
Patterned Paper :: My Mind's Eye - lost & found collection - family brocade
Embellishments :: Melissa Phillips - twill tape; Papertrey Ink - dark chocolate button; May Arts twine; Pink Paislee - artisan element; Kaisercraft - rhinestone; Hero Arts - crochet lace trim
Tools :: Spellbinders - tags five (retired), GC-001 grand calibur; Janome - sewing machine

Thanks so much for your visit today. Have a good one and take care!

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 20:40:00 +0000

Giving thanks today for so many things including my health, family, love, and friends. With friends, I include all my bleeps! Thanks for checking my blog and following me pretty much daily. I truly appreciate your support and encouragement to continue my crafty creative journey. I'm also thankful for missed opportunities because that means that it opens doors for new and many times better opportunities! That glass of sweet tea today...is half full!

Happy Thanksgiving, Bleeps! We ate super early for us this year! Thanksgiving lunch! Guess we'll eat again (about 2 more times)! Peach cobbler minis and Red Velvet Cheesecake (courtesy of the Cheesecake Factory) is about to get devoured!

By the way, my sister folded the napkins into a water lily. Click here for the tutorial!

If you're looking for details on the favor/place card, please visit Tiff's blog here.

Watch Me Wednesday :: Happy Holidays Gift Card Holder

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 06:00:00 +0000

Hey Everyone! Happy Wednesday! It's time to watch me...for fun watch the first video! McArthur thought it was so funny and said this video fit me well. So, check it out before it expires January 15, 2011.

Alright, now that you all are officially in the holiday spirit with my dances, check out how I made this gift card holder!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Supplies

Stamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - seasons of love
Ink :: Close to My Heart - cranberry; Ranger - vintage photo
Patterned Paper :: My Mind's Eye - lost & found collection {portobello road "party" looking glass paper}
Embellishments :: DeNami Design - small purse template; MemrieMare - seam binding; Prima - flower; Melissa Frances - resin frame; Papertrey Ink - linen felt

Thanks so much for visiting today! Have a great Thanksgiving and stop by tomorrow to take a peek at my table setting! :)

Blog Giveaway Winner :: Popular Paper Crafting Themes

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 07:11:00 +0000

Congratulations, Diane! You won the kit featured in last week's video! YaaaaaaaY! Diane, please e-mail me your mailing address and I'll ship your package of goodies to you around December 1.

Thanks for participating everyone. As usual, I have compiled the results and the most popular theme to craft for is Christmas. I wonder if that has anything to do with everyone being in the Christmas spirit because its fast approaching? Well, it makes total sense to me because Christmas is the holiday where people give and cards are one item that most people send out to family and friends.

And I made a mistake in the graphic, the list of crafty themes is NOT in order of popularity in the key of the graph. Why I thought that when I wrote that note, I'm not sure. Anyway, the next popular theme is Birthdays! Birthdays occur all year round, so that means designers are always crafting for someone's birthday, right?!

Well, that's all for today, Bleeps! Check back in with me tomorrow for a Holiday episode of my Watch Me Wednesday video series!

Thanks for wishing McArthur and I well on our anniversary! We really appreciate that. He loved that video I compiled too (and the card)! So glad you stopped by today. Take care!

It's Our Anniversary...

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 06:38:00 +0000

Hey Everyone! First, I'd like to thank you for all the wonderful comments I've received over the past few days. I have really enjoyed reading them and appreciate all of your kind words. For my new blog readers, Welcome!

Today, I have a special post for my husband of 5 years, McArthur. Friday was our wedding anniversary, but today is our 13th anniversary together. So, I thought it would be sweet to celebrate here on the blog for the "other" anniversary. So, check out the card and if you're interested, feel free to check out the tribute and videos as well.

Since the 5th wedding anniversary gift centers around wood, I thought it would be cool to design a wood grain card as a focal point. I stamped the pattern on the back of Jillibean Soup patterned paper (white macaroni) since it has a great kraft color - and used black ink. I die cut the car, stamped and paper pieced it together. The polka dot patterned paper is by My Mind's Eye (haunted collection, harlequin paper). I added some distress ink. I stamped polka dots on cream cardstock, then stamped the sentiment. Added a little zig zag stitching, then adhered it to the A2 card base and I was done. I popped the car right off the center to finish it off. Simple and masculine.

The choice in colors - decided based off our wedding colors of cranberry and gold. Instead of designing the exact colors in a formal style of card, I made them a little more flat using a burgundy and kraft and coupled it with black (like his tux) and cream (like my dress - it was not white even though it looks like it in photos)!

I decided to use this car stamp set as my focal point along with the wood grain pattern to celebrate me and McArthur's journey together. We have spent the past 13 years together - through undergraduate, graduate, and law school. We've experienced some great times and even a little down times, but we have held each other up along the way making sure both of us has a smile and laughs. I've enjoyed the ride so much with him over these past few years and I can't wait to continue that journey for many more years.

Seriously, I think I have the best husband in the world. He loves CHA! I mean enough said, right?! But really, he loves me unconditionally and with that there's not much more I can ask for in life. So, here is a short video I compiled using our wedding photos and video highlight from our wedding to take us back down memory lane to 2005!

Enjoy...the ride!

Click here to view video on YouTube.

To my love, McArthur...Happy Anniversary! :)

By the way, he has taught me to do just about everything you see on this post (minus the card design)!

To view more videos related to our love story (if you haven't previously) click here, here, and here!

Supplies

Stamps :: Papertrey Ink - background basics: woodgrain, polka dot basics II, enjoy the ride, round &round
Ink :: Stampin' Up! - basic black; Close to My Heart - bamboo
Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - vintage cream, scarlet jewel
Patterned Paper :: My Mind's Eye - haunted harlequin paper; Jillibean Soup - white macaroni (back solid side only)
Tools :: Janome Sew Mini - sewing machine; Papertrey Ink - car die; Provo Craft - cuttlebug

Guest Blogging :: Sneak-a-Peek

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Hey you all! I'm back to share a sneak-a-peek at another project I created over on this blog. I'm guest blogging over there today, so check out what I made and who's blog I'm guesting for too!

That's it for now! I'll be back on Monday with a special post to celebrate our anniversary! :) Enjoy your weekend!

Embellish Color Challenge :: Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 06:14:00 +0000

Hey Everyone! Happy Friday to you all! Today is a great day for me...it's McArthur and I's 5th wedding anniversary and 13th anniversary together! I will do a special post on that probably Monday, so stay tuned for a mushy one! Embellish Color Challenges do not stop for our anniversary, so My Time Made Easy is graciously sponsoring this holiday themed challenge. Check it out here. The design team created lots of great holiday projects. Here are the projects I designed...

I made this house template. It's a box with a handle and perfect to give gifts during the holiday season or add to your home decor.

I added digital patterned paper to the template 'roof' and embellished it with Martha Stewart glitter. Maya Road trim decorates the roof's edge and twill tape finishes the handle off.

I used MTME's stamps to customize the box template and create a holiday house. I added a red rhinestone for the doorknob.

Here, you can see the windows. I stamped them on both sides of the house.

I made this simple card by printing digital patterned paper (so cute) and trimming it to about 4" x 5.25" and inking it up. I adhered the paper to an A2 card front. I took a scrap of dark red cardstock and stamped that background pattern with dark red ink. Then, adhere it to the digital patterned paper.

Using a Creative Cuts and More label die cut, I stamped the sleigh image on it and inked it up. I added baker's twine and added a die cut tag stamped with a sentiment. Then, I popped it off the card front center and added rhinestones.

I'm not adding detailed instructions to this post because I sort of explained everything above!

Supplies *links to MTME products can be found here*

Stamps :: My Time Made Easy - Dashing Through the Snow, Sugar and Spice
Ink :: Clearsnap - ColorBox chestnut, chianti; Ranger - antique linen; Tsukineko - VersaFine vintage sepia; Papertrey Ink - scarlet jewel
Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - rustic white, spring moss, scarlet jewel
Digital Patterned Paper :: My Time Made Easy - Candy Shoppe
Embellishments :: My Time Made Easy - Carry It (box template); Craft Supply - baker's twine, twill tape; Papertrey Ink - buttons; Maya Road - trim; Martha Stewart - glitter; Kaisercraft - rhinestones; Creative Cuts and More - label die cut
Tools :: Spellbinders - S3-148 tags trio, GC-001 grand calibur

Thanks so much for visiting. If you're a new blog reader, I call all of my friends "Bleeps" and I appreciate your support!! Thanks for all of your comments this week.

**I'll be back later this morning with a sneak peek of another post I'm working on, stay tuned!

Holiday Hoppin' Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the first day of the Spellbinders™ Paper Arts Holiday Hoppin’ Blog Hop! Spellbinders, along with their Cross Promotional Partners are showcasing their newest products just in time for your Holiday crafting and gift giving. Lots of creative ideas are in store, as well as prizes galore! Each participating company has generously donated towards the prize package listed on the Spellbinders Blog. A total of two identical prize packages, one for each day, November 18 and 19 will be given away! To enter, just leave a comment on a participating blog! Comments in the first 48 hours of the post are eligible. One commenter each day will be randomly selected as the winner. Winners will be announced on November 22, on the Spellbinders Blog!

Be sure to see all of tomorrow’s Holiday Hoppin’ blogs for inspiring projects and another chance to win!

Visit all of today’s Holiday Hoppin’ blogs:

Latisha Yoast

Judy Hayes

Kazan Clark

Ashley Cannon Newell

Holly Simoni

Debbie Olson

Heidi Blankenship

Sherry Cheever

Linda Duke

Laurie Schmidlin

Cheryl Marie Walker

Jill Jacobsen

Jennifer Priest

Christina Klauer

Jodi Sanford

Leslie Miller

Mimi Leinbach

Robyn O'Crowley

Sharon Harnist

Liz Hicks

Sarah Hamer

Christie Bryant

Wendy Sue Anderson

Anary Baumgarth

Jenifer Dove

Gina Krupsky

Today, I am sharing a custom gift box using LF-126 Grand Classic Squares die templates. I used the squares to create a base for the box and also a lift-up lid. I also showed how the die templates can be used as a mat on the same project by die cutting a smaller grand classic square die template from patterned paper and stitching it on the box lid.

Here is a view of the box being opened. Check out those gold goodies!

Here is a view of the box from the side. Adding the square die templates creates the traditional chocolate box look.

View an interactive version here on YouTube or below.

Simply leave a comment on my blog to be eligible to win the Spellbinders Holiday Hoppin’ Prize Package! One winner will be chosen from all the comments on all the blogs participating today. Comments made in the first 48 hours of this post will be eligible to win. Winner’s names will be published on the Spellbinders Blog on November 22, and they will have 48 hours to reply to Spellbinders to claim the prizes.

Instructions

Trim brown cardstock to 8.5" x 8.5", then score at 1-5/8" on all four sides. (Tip: When creating a box base, you may score on all sides at any height to determine the depth of your box, so less inches = shallow box and more inches = deeper box)
Cut one of the short scored lines (1-5/8") on all four sides, then assemble box base. (Tip: Cutting one of the scored lines allows you to fold the box in and assemble)
Die cut two squares from brown cardstock. Adhere one square die cut to the bottom of the box base.
Die cut another smaller square from patterned paper, then stitch to other brown die cut square.
Add twill tape and crochet ribbon.
Die cut leaf, add stitching, then adhere to square. Add berry spray and button to ribbon knot.
Die cut oval from patterned paper. Stamp border and sentiment, then pop off square die cut.
Add buttons to embellish.
Trim 5" x 1.5" brown cardstock strip, then score down the center. Adhere one side of the strip to the inside of the box, then adhere the other side to the square die cut (inside). This creates the joint for the box lid.

Supplies

Tools :: Spellbinders - LF-126 grand squares (die #3, #5), S4-112 classic ovals SM (die #5), S4-228 nested maple leaves (die #2), GC-001 grand calibur; Janome Sew Mini - sewing machine
Stamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - say it with style; Stamping Scrapping - beaded ovals
Embellishments :: Graphic 45 - crochet ribbon; May Arts - twine; Craft Supply - twill tape, thread; Heather Bailey - felt; Papertrey Ink - buttons; Michaels - berry spray
Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - dark chocolate
Patterned Paper :: Kaisercraft - Dandy from Peach Keen collection
Ink :: Tsukineko - VersaFine vintage sepia; Ranger - tea dye
Adhesive :: 3L - foam adhesive

Thanks for hopping by! Take care and don't forget to check out the hop tomorrow...there will be more designers hopping!

Watch Me Wednesday :: May Peace Be Yours + Blog Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:59:00 +0000

Hey Everyone! I hope your week is going well so far! It should be because it is already Wednesday and here that means time for a new video! So, I created this holiday card to share with you. It's full of read and cream and a pop of turquoise for some fun!

Check out that felt and cardstock embellishment I created with Spellbinders' die templates. You can create an endless amount of elements using dies, including basic shapes, tags, borders, shaped cards, embellishments, and even mini albums. The world is yours with die templates and that's why I enjoy using them so much.

I created a custom focal point using dies to make a decorative envelope-type element.

As I mentioned yesterday, I just reached the 300,000 hit mark on my blog and I'm continuing to celebrate my gratitude for my blog readers and browsers, so I have arranged another giveaway for the week. The blog giveaway prize contents are shared in the video. Please make sure you review the rules below. You must comment on this blog post to enter to win (not YouTube, Facebook or Twitter).

*Please note: I will ship prize to contest winners around the first week of December, if not sooner. This allows me to make one trip to the Post Office, instead of multiple trips.

I hope you enjoy the video. Click here to watch it on YouTube.

Supplies

Stamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - seasons of love, vintage circles (small)
Ink :: Close to My Heart - bamboo, cranberry; Stampin' Up! - chocolate chip; Ranger - antique linen, vintage photo; Papertrey Ink - vintage cream
Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - vintage cream, kraft
Patterned Paper :: Papertrey Ink - bitty dots
Embellishments :: Kaisercraft - rhinestones; Papertrey Ink - vintage cream twill tape, hawaiian shores felt, linen felt
Tools :: Spellbinders - S4-293 lacey circles, S4-286 2010 snowflake pendant, S4-141 petite scalloped ovals SM, S4-139 petite ovals LG, S4-114 standard circles LG, GC-001 grand calibur; We R Memory Keepers - corner chomper

Thanks so much! Take care.

Blog Giveaway Winner :: Comfort Levels

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:09:00 +0000

Hey Bleeps! I hope you enjoyed your weekend! Today, I have some great news to share...Noora won the paper crafting kit up for grabs from last week! YAAAAY for Noora! Please e-mail me your mailing address and I'll ship it to you!

Thanks so much for participating in the Blog Giveaway. I'm really grateful for my blog readers (you) and your continued support.

So, last week's question centered around designers level of comfort. Some people discussed how their comfort level changed in their life than in their design style. I can imagine that, but I'm pretty much a risk-taker. Although I like certain styles in clothes and designs, I like to test the waters, just to see how it turns out. I'm always searching for the next big thing whether it's a new hairstyle, outfit, color combination, or technique. It makes everything fun, especially when there really is a breakthrough!

Also, many of you only liked to try new things when you have time. I think that's pretty much the way it goes. If you're like me and create a card and project on your way out the door to a party, there is no way I am trying the new stamping technique I learned. I would design the best way I know how - whatever that is!

Another thing I'd like to share is - just because you try something and it doesn't work the first time doesn't mean you can't do it. It has taken me about two and half years of card making to get to a point where I like my designs. But, I feel like there's always room to grow and with time, styles change and I'll look back on my cards today a year from now and gasp with disgust. Yep, I do that too! So, it's important to keep moving on and try something new, even if it's from time-to-time. Have fun with it!

Here's what my Bleeps think! :)

You all like to try new things. I'm not surprised because you enjoy surfing blogs, which means you're probably looking for inspiration or techniques to pick up. We all love our comfort zone, but trying new things, such as a color combination, technique, or new products is easy to incorporate in your creativity process. Give it a go if you don't already!

Thanks again for participating! I just passed 300,000 hits yesterday and I'm so grateful for every one. I just may have to REALLY celebrate this week! You all really have shown me some love so it's only proper I share a little back!

See you tomorrow (in a video)! :) Take care!

Autumn Wishes + Blog Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Hey there! I hope you've had a great week! To end it off, I'd like to share this autumn card. I used patterned paper, which I am super proud of since I usually ignore my stash! I wanted to create a fall card since it's finally starting to feel like autumn in the DC area. We have had a few weeks where it was unseasonably warm, but I'm not complaining because I really enjoy warm weather! But, I also like to switch up my wardrobe and I was getting sick of those tanks or dressing for a cool morning and a hot afternoon! I think it's finally time to switch my drawers - from my summer to my winter fashion collection (haha collection)!

I stamped the sentiment in a deep red ink about 3 times, then overlayed the same sentiment with a brown ink. Yep, then stitched right over that "S!" :)

I die cut two pinking circles with a circle die cut in the center, then I cut it to create an opening and accordion folded it and attached the second one and somehow flipped it to create a double "wreath."

I used a Pink Paislee artisan element and inked it with chalk and dye inks to highlight the embossed detail.

Instructions

Trim patterned paper to .25" x 4".
Die cut pinking circles and create accordion wreath. Adhere to patterned paper center.
Trim spray and adhere to center of accordion wreath.
Trim twill tape and adhere to card front.
Ink artisan element and adhere to card front.
Stamp sentiment.
Adhere patterned paper to card front and add stitching

Supplies

Stamps :: Verve Stamps - harvest blessings
Ink :: Clearsnap - ColorBox chestnut roan, berrylicious
Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - rustic cream
Patterned Paper :: Pink Paislee - 365 degrees collection {daydream)
Embellishments :: Pink Paislee - artisan elements ornaments; Papertrey Ink - scarlet jewel twill tape, summer sunrise twill tape; Craft Supply - berry spray, music sheet paper
Tools :: Spellbinders - S4-114 standard circles LG, S4-172 small pinking circles; GC-001 grand calibur; Janome Sew Mini - sewing machine
__________________________________________________________________

Prize Contents

Bo Bunny
Cardstock Stickers (Love is all + Adore)
12 z 12 Stickers (Persuasion Combo Stickers)
12 x 12 Patterned Paper (2 sheets - Persuasion Stripe, Dot, Forever Die Cut, Cut Outs) (1 sheet - Persuasion, Moments, Love Notes, Blooms) (9.5 x 12 scrap Persuasion My Sweet)

Basic Grey
Ambrosia 6 x 6 Paper Pad

Maya Road
Buttons (Rain + Sunshine

Making Memories
Noteworthy 8 x 8 plain mini album with 12- 8 x 8 heavy cardstock pages

Links
Basic Grey | Bo Bunny | Maya Road | Making Memories

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking time to enter! Have a fabulous weekend!

Watch Me Wednesday :: Holiday Gift Card Sachet

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 07:32:00 +0000

Hey There! I hope you're having a great week! I'm so happy today is Hump Day because it's the end of my work week! YAAAY! But, I'm even more excited to start sharing holiday projects for the WMW video series. Instead of creating a card, I was inspired by a felt pocket I've been holding on to for about two years! I couldn't quite use it, so I thought to create my own version.

I stitched together two 5" x 5" felt squares around the border using my sewing machine. I embellished the front with a few of my favorite current elements.

Using Spellbinders' ornament die template, I created a unique decorative edge.

Here is the simple gift card holder insert. Customize the card with a handwritten sentiment.

Here's how I made it!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Supplies

Stamps :: Gina K. Stamps - winter mittens, heirloom ornaments
Ink :: Clearsnap - ColorBox chianti; Stampin' Up! - white
Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - kraft
Embellishments :: Papertrey Ink - white felt, pure poppy twill tape, new leaf button; Heather Bailey - green felt; Craft Supply - bakers twine; Webster's Pages - gold netting trim; May Arts - twine; MWooderson etsy shop - red sparkly sprigs
Tools :: Spellbinders - S4-110 classic ovals large, S4-283 2010 heirloom ornaments, GC-001 grand calibur; Janome - sewing machine; Stampin' Up! - slot punch

Thanks for taking a peek today! Have a good one!

Blog Giveaway Winner :: Paper Crafting Styles

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Hey Everyone! I hope you had a great weekend! I spent most of it creating to my little heart's desire! Here is one card I made.

I really like using a technique I like to call stamping overlay! I stamp the sentiment over another stamped pattern, similar to stamping on patterned paper! I even used patterned paper here - that aqua mist polka dot goodness on the tea cups! To represent doilies under the tea cups, I trimmed some Hero Arts lace into two flowers and adhered them first, then popped the cups off with foam adhesive! I also layered the trim, felt, and twine to come up with a decorative element.

At the top of the card, I created another pattern using stamps. I alternated the sentiment and even included tea cups in one of the 'ticket' border stamped images. I really like that pattern and can envision it as a complete piece of patterned paper!

Here's some more information:

Instructions

Stamp polka dot background on white cardstock.
Stamp cups on patterned paper, cut out, then stamp smoke on cups and polka dot stamped cardstock.
Adhere crochet trim and pop tea cups off with foam adhesive.
Stamp sentiment.
Add red trim. Die cut eyelet border from white felt and adhere, then wrap twine into a bow. Add rhinestones.
On aqua mist cardstock, stamp ticket border pattern, trim then adhere to cardstock. Trim around tickets.
Add stitching after adhereing to card base.

Supplies

Stamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - afternoon tea, off beat backgrounds
Ink :: Papertrey Ink - summer sunrise; Stampin' Up! - basic black
Patterned Paper :: Papertrey Ink - bitty dots
Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - white, aqua mist
Embellishments :: May Arts - twine; Webster's Pages - coral eyelet trim; Papertrey Ink - white felt; Kaisercraft - rhinestones
Tools :: Papertrey Ink - eyelet border die; Janome - sewing machine

Now, about that giveaway!

Thanks so much for participating in the Blog Giveaway last week! I appreciate all of your kind words.

Laura asked the question about my crafting style and whether I have always leaned towards classy/elegant.

--In response, I'm not quite sure what my style is. I appreciate them all. However, I usually create a hybrid style of clean and elegant. I enjoy challenging myself to try other styles too like vintage or cutesy too. This is a good question because when I think of my style overall, I wouldn't say I am an elegant dresser or that my house is elegant, but perhaps others would describe it that way. I really fit the category of "unsure of ones style!" I like color, whether it's a lot of just a pop of it. I also appreciate embellishments and buttons that are incorporated into a clean design. I don't like too many layers, BUT sometimes, I like layering certain things, like buttons on ribbon knots or layered die cuts. I think my style has probably leaned toward the elegant side to answer your question directly, but I like some other styles too that I don't want to say that's my only style!

I know that was a little long winded. Sorry about that! Onto the winner! Tammy, please e-mail me your address so I can ship this new set off to you this week! Congratulations and I hope you get great use out of it!

I really enjoyed reading about your styles and what works best for you and what doesn't! So, I decided to share the results. I'm not surprised that clean and graphic style is favored because it is a design style that usually can be created the fastest. There are not a lot of layers and embellishments usually added, and you can create more in a short amount of time. That's not to say the clean and graphic style is 'easy,' it just doesn't have a lot of elements.

I was happy to see that many designers use multiple styles, like me! I read that a lot of you design based on your mood, which is how I create as well. I'm an emotional artist, so being able to force creativity in one direction when your heart is set to design in another can be very difficult. For the multi-style creators, design to your heart's content!

The other styles were really close in popularity, like vintage, layering, and shabby. Oh yeah, so the "other" category included styles like eclectic, grunge, and retro-chic! Perhaps the clean style is a current trend and will change one day. Who is to say, right?! I just thought this would be an interesting perspective to share about YOU...my readers! Thanks for your participation!

I'm still feeling grateful this month. Could there be another giveaway? Hmmmm

Take care, ya'll!

Caardvarks :: Creative Cuts & More

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:09:00 +0000

Hey ya'll! I'm back to share my final project as a member of the Caardvarks Crew. I've been on the team for a year now and enjoyed every bit of it! The team is amazing and the challenges are so much fun! The current challenge is sponsored by Creative Cuts & More. I used an A7 Apron Pocket card to make this simple holiday gift of sharing a recipe. It's the simple things, right?!

On the pocket, I covered it with felt by measuring and adhere with Helmar glue. Then, I added some vintage trim and twill tape. On a label die cut, I stamped polka dotted background, inked the edges and layered it with Spellbinders scalloped circle and standard circle. To get the sentiment to say "Holiday Cookies," I combined two sentiments. On the "Holiday" sentiment, I only inked the "holiday" portion and left the rest uninked from that set! Tricky, but I had the sentiment I wanted in mind, just had to make it work!

Now, don't laugh at my crooked trimming! I don't know how that happened! Anyway, I copied a recipe into Photoshop CS 5, then printed it on the 3.5 x 4.5 cream cardstock and matted it on red cardstock. On the back, is the same template featuring the remaining directions for the cookie recipe! By the way, I'm keeping this pocket card for myself because this is one of the cookie recipes that was recommended to me by MANY blog readers here. Thanks to those readers who suggested it!

Instructions

Adhere patterned paper (right side up) over apron top, then trim around the border. Punch holes with crop-a-dile by flipping apron over, you can still see original holes.
Assemble pocket, then trim felt and adhere to pocket front.
Adhere vintage trim and twill tape with button.
Stamp polka dot pattern on label die cut, then ink the edges.
Die cut circle and scalloped circle from cardstock.
On circle die cut, stamp border, then apron, then sentiment. Adhere to scalloped die cut, then pop off of label die cut.
Adhere label die cut to pocket front with foam adhesive.
Add twill tape to apron top for neck loop!
For inside, trim red cardstock to about 3.75 x 4.75, then trim cream cardstock to 3.5 x 4.5 and print recipe, then mat on red cardstock on front and back.

Supplies

Stamps :: Papertrey Ink - just for you, 2008 holiday tag collection; Hero Arts - polka dot background
Ink :: Close to My Heart - cranberry, bamboo; Stampin' Up! - chocolate chip; Ranger - antique linen, vintage photo
Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - vintage cream, pure poppy
Patterned Paper :: Kaisercraft - tis the season collection
Embellishments :: Craft Supply - twill tape; Hero Arts - woven lace trim; Papertrey Ink - pure poppy button, linen felt
Tools :: Spellbinders - S4-114 standard circles lg, S4-124 classic scalloped circles lg, GC-001 grand calibur; We R Memory Keepers - crop-a-dile

If you're looking for more projects, please check out my earlier post here.

If it's before 1:00 pm EST and you haven't entered, don't forget about my blog giveaway too!

Have a great weekend! Thanks for your visit!

Embellish Color Challenge :: Bags

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 04:14:00 +0000

Happy Friday, Bleeps! It's time for another Embellish color challenge! This time, it's all about bags! It's almost that time of year where we start giving from our heart and designing a coordinating gift bag is a perfect addition to any gift and wraps it well too! Head over to the blog to check out the designers' bags. They are very inspiring!

I chose to make this chipboard snowflake die cut the focal point of the bag. It's covered in silver glass glitter and embellished with a light pink button!

At the top, I die cut the scalloped edge, then added a label die cut and finished it off with a ribbon. Yep, could've added a tag, but didn't. When I give gift bags, I usually do not add tags, so I kept it as I would give. I usually stuff a card on the inside of the bag! :)

Instructions

Die cut scalloped border on bag top. Keep the bag folded, place die side up with the scalloped edge facing the top of the bag. *Yep I used the red bag as a dark pink shade*
Die cut label then emboss it. Trim it to fit bag front.
Add ribbon around label die cut, then adhere to bag front.
Add lace trim under ribbon treatment.
Adhere glue to chipboard, then cover with glass glitter and let dry. Adhere button with twine to snowflake center, then adhere it to bag front.

Supplies

Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - true black
Embellishments :: It's in the Bag! - red paper lunch bag; Creative Cuts & More - chipboard snowflake; Papertrey Ink- sweet blush button; May Arts - twine; Melissa Frances - silver glass glitter; Michaels - white grosgrain ribbon
Tools :: Spellbinders - LF-190 grand labels four, GC-001 grand calibur; Provo Craft - swiss dots embossing folder, cuttlebug

Don't forget, I have a blog giveaway here.
Also, I'll be back with another post for my last Caardvarks challenge. You have to check it out!

Thanks for visiting! I'll catch you later!

Blog Giveaway :: Four of a Kind

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Contest is now closed. Thanks so much for entering!

Hey Everyone! I have not done a giveaway in a while, so I thought November would be a great time to express my gratitude for my readers. So, for the first week of November, I'm giving away this stamp set. While at CHA this summer, I made some purchases and received an extra limited edition stamp set. Of course I thought about all of my readers who were not able to make it to receive this item. So, I've been saving it for you! Here's your chance to win it!

I really appreciate you all for reading my blog! I absolutely enjoy blogging and sharing the projects I create. So, thanks so much for looking, watching, and reading what I post! I really like reading all of my comments, so keep them coming. I'd love to hear from more of you all! Don't be shy! Although I'm not always able to reply to each comment (mainly because e-mails are not provided), I do appreciate every one. What I plan to do is address comments from the previous post on my next post to answer any questions. How does that sound?

As a small token of gratitude, here's one stamp set! So, do you think there will be more giveaways next week? You shall see!

Thanks for your support and encouragement. I'll be back tomorrow with TWO separate posts with a FEW projects to share! Take care!

*Only comments on this post will count as an entry.

Watch Me Wednesday :: Mommy to Bee Card

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 06:30:00 +0000

Hey Bleeps! Happy Wednesday to you. I created another "new mommy" card. It's a different kind of card for me since I created a 'scene.' I hope you enjoy the video. Not too chatty today. I guess I said it all in the video, so just watch that and stop reading!

Click here to see video on YouTube.

Supplies

Stamps :: Papertrey Ink - honey bees, favor it baby
Ink :: Stampin' Up! - basic black
Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - rustic white, aqua mist; Worldwin - white; Stampin' Up! - crushed curry
Patterned Paper :: BasicGrey - basics kraft paper pad
Embellishments :: Prima - cynthia lace trim; Papertrey Ink - summer sunrise swiss dots ribbon, button; May Arts - twine
Tools :: Spellbinders - S4-301 labels sixteen, S4-081 tags five, GC-001 grand calibur

You all have a WOW Wednesday! Take care and thanks for stopping by to 'see' me today!

Happy Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 04:41:00 +0000

Hey Ya'll! I hope you've been eating lots of candy over the weekend! I had a few pieces, but honestly, I've been snacking on mine since I bought some last week! haha

Anyway, I'm sharing another birthday card with you. Remember, I have a few birthdays to catch up on. I'm still needing to do the shipping part! It's really sad considering I have a postal stamp printer in my studio too! I'll get to it...one day!

Check out all that texture on that embossed cardstock. I really liked the way that pattern is one of the main features, allowing my simple layout to pop. It's a super easy and quick card; here's how I made it!

Instructions

On purple cardstock, emboss it, then round corners. Add ribbon treatment and button, then adhere to A2 black card base.
Stamp frame and sentiment on rustic white cardstock, then adhere to card front

Supplies

Stamps :: JustRite - baroque nested frames & occasions
Ink :: Tsukineko - memento tuxedo black; Papertrey Ink - plum pudding
Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - true black, rustic white, plum pudding
Embellishments :: Papertrey Ink - true black satin ribbon, giga guidelines impression plate; Heirloom Keepsakes - vintage flower
Tools :: Spellbinders - GC-001 grand calibur; We R Memory Keepers - corner chomper

Have a great week! Take care!

Happy Birthday Lily

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 04:00:00 +0000

Alright, so this card is not for someone I know named Lily, but isn't that lily of the valley stamp so pretty! I'm not a big fan of coloring (meaning myself using that technique, I love seeing everyone else do it), so I just stamped it on a stamped pattern. I haven't used a light purple shade in a while, so I pulled that out and paired it with a complimentary darker purple hue. I know I wanted to use cream and black, then I got stuck. So, when I get stuck selecting color combinations, I usually pull the focal point of what I've completed so far up against various cardstock colors. I saw aqua mist (I think my favorite cardstock color) and knew it was best fit for me! It's an usual color palette, but I like that it's unique!

I used grosgrain ribbon a word trim to emphasize how I feel about this friend. She's unique and special and those definitions on the word trim really were a great fit. I also used crocheted trim. To finish it off, I distress the edges of the focal cardstock with my scissors because I couldn't find my paper distresser! Who needs that anyway, when you have a pair of scissors, right?!

I used a variety of stamp vendors to come up with this design. Unity Stamp Company has great background patterns. Their rubber stamps are etched very well and on one block, which makes it easy to ink up and drop right on your cardstock! JustRite Stampers have the best sentiments. I really like the fonts they choose and their new clear blocks make it super easy to stamp. I did not even use a positioner to stamp this sentiment (sorry, just a proud moment for myself)! Then, there is Papertrey Ink. Their stamps are high quality and include trend setting images.

I really like combining a lot of vendors together to create. How about you? Do you stick to one manufacturer or combine a few together? When I combine them, I feel a sense of accomplish, like I have gotten use out of my product collection and that makes me feel so happy that I've achieved the ultimate crafting challenge.

Anyway, here's some instructions and supplies! You all have a great Friday Eve! I still have a scratchy throat, but at least my eyes are not on fire anymore! :) Hey...I'm always trying to look on the bright side! Take care!

Instructions

Stamp ledger and flower images on cream cardstock, then stamp sentiment.
Cut around ledger, distress the edges, then add ribbon treatment.
Adhere cardstock to an A2 card front, then adhere trims.

Supplies

Stamps :: JustRite - baroque nested frames and occasions; Papertrey Ink - year of flowers: lily of the valley; Unity Stamp Company - notes ledger
Ink :: Tsukinkeo - memento tuxedo black; Papertrey Ink - lavender moon, plum pudding
Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - aqua mist, rustic cream
Embellishments :: Graphic 45 - trims; Papertrey Ink - lavender moon grosgrain ribbon

Watch Me Wednesday :: Candy Corn Card

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Hey there! It's time for another Watch Me Wednesday video. Since Halloween will be wrapped up by next week's video date, I thought it would only be fitting to celebrate with a candy corn shaped card. I made another candy corn card here, which was featured on Paper Crafts' Moxie Fab World blog post here. I was thrilled that it was showcased there with so many other fabulous Halloween projects. Mine was so simple than my usual cards lately that I thought, I must re-do that card to 'dress it up.' So, I'm sharing how I created this shaped card and how you can embellish it more (or not like I did previously).

I stamped background patterns on the cardstock to give it some depth. I also added ribbon and tag treatment. The tag border was created using the Spellbinders Standard Circles LG die template as a stencil. I kept the cardstock in the die template after cutting and traced the circle. You can see this in the video though!

To create more texture, I added some crochet trim and embossed the top portion of the 'candy corn' with Provo Crafts' swiss dots embossing folder.

I created a template for the entire card. For all of my shaped cards, I have two shapes, one for the card front and the other for the card back. I score the top portion of the cardstock used for the card back, then adhere it to the back of the top of the card front's cardstock. That sounds really confusing, so check out the video if it really was!

Click here to see the video on YouTube.

Supplies

Stamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - off beat backgrounds; Papertrey Ink- mixed messages
Ink :: Papertrey Ink - summer sunrise; Tsukineko - memento tuxedo black; Ranger - spiced marmalade
Cardstock :: Paper Source - white; Papertrey Ink - summer sunrise, orange zest
Embellishments :: Papertrey Ink - snow white twill tape, true black buttons; Maya Road - crochet zig zag trim; May Arts - twine; Making Memories - eyelet
Tools :: Spellbinders - S4-114 standard circles lg, GC-001 grand calibur, S4-278 nested candy corn; We R Memory Keepers - crop-a-dile

Do you all have fall allergies? What's up with that? Well McArthur and I do. Last week, he had them and this week it's my turn! I have a big-head feeling, very itchy and burning eyes, and that dry cough. So, I'm going to take it easy because it's wearing me out! Anyway, thanks very much for watching! Have a great Hump Day!

Intrigued by you

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Cannon Newell) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 04:51:00 +0000

Hey Everyone! I hope you had a great Monday. I decided to make a quick scrap layout. So, that meant a 8.5" x 11" design. When scrapping, I'm usually inspired by the photo and select that first. I usually edit it to my liking, this time a black and white, then I come up with a sketch. After that, I am inspired by product to incorporate into the sketched design. This is my usual process probably for cards too (just realizing that as I type it out)! It's a pretty clean and simple layout. I like to keep the photos the focal point of my layouts because in my opinion that is the true reason for scrapping them. I really do not like to journal...yet. I like quick and simple titles, so this is how I did it...

Instructions

Adhere doily to cardstock.
Add stitching.
Die cut circle frame, then adhere to cardstock.
Print photo, then adhere to cardstock.
Add vintage trims.
Add flowers.
Adhere letters stickers for title and embellish with rhinestones.

Supplies

Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - aqua mist; Paper Source - white
Embellishments :: Maya Road - vintage crochet zig zag white trim; Webster's Pages - aqua trim; Prima - flowers; Basic Grey - piper micro-chip stickers (dark chocolate chip); October Afternoon - mini market stickers (ledger); Craft Supply - doily (from a restaurant*), thread
Tools :: Janome - sewing machine; Spellbinders - LF-114 grand circles, G-001 grand calibur

**The model in the photo is a subject McArthur photographed during a family session recently!

Thanks so much for your visit. Take care!