Paper Piecing is Not My Thing, but...

Paper piecing is generally not my thing, but I don't back down on a challenge-not when it gives me a chance to stretch out of my comfort zone and grow in creativity. So I DIDN'T color up an image from Ike's Art called "New Baby." What I did was printed it on patterned papers, and pieced it together.
After frantically searching for papers that would try to realistically feature the mother's hand and baby's feet, I stopped, took a breath and laughed at myself. "Come on Pat," I told myself. "You are reaching out of your little creative box, so why bother with realism?" my goodness, I didn't know I was so wise! LOL
So I picked a paper with word art themed around the entity we call mom; then I chose another paper to coordinate, and my image is pieced! I added a sweet sentiment and framed it with a paper doily. Hmm, too plain on that card stock background (my next battle will be with white space). So I popped on some cute baby-themed buttons, that lovely border of trim. Not enough! so I doodled a few tiny white hearts on any un-embellished space and my card was finished.
I am entering my card in Ike's World Challenges blog. The theme is paper piecing and I double dog dare you to play along!! LOL
And remember, crafters--have fun!!
Other Challenges I am Entering:
Hiding in My Craft Room - Free Style
Alphabet Challenge blog - B is for Beautiful Babies
Scribble & Scrap Challenges - Always Anything Goes
Sister Act card challenge - Anything Goes
That's Crafty challenge blog - Oodles of Doodles

A Passion for Purple

Do you have a passion for purple?  If you do, it's your lucky week!  The new Squigglefly Challenge this week is to use purple passionately, along with a Squigglefly digi.!!

I colored this cutie-pie of a digi image with my purple Copics.  The image is called Baby Upside Down by the very talented Fawn Palmer.

After coloring the image, I fussy-cut it and popped it onto a diecut lacy circle, cleverly inked with a coordinating purple.  the box, which will hold treats and serve as a favor for a baby shower,is from a leftover die cut.  It stands about 4 inches tall.

I inked all the edges with Tim Holtz Distress ink and adhered a border of lace on the top.  I wanted my image to pop, so the only embellishment I use on the front was a line of adhesive jewels.

The top of the favor box, however, is a different story!  I went all out with lots of purple flowers, since everyone will see the top while the favors are sitting on the table.

Here's a shot of my finished box.  I like this one, so I know that a table full of twenty or so of these favors, all sporting Fawn's digi image, will look fabulous!

You'll find all kinds of inspiration to get your creative juices flowing over at Squigglefly Challenge blog.  One random winner will get a free digi of her choice, so have fun with the color purple, and happy crafting!!

The Long and the Short of This Week's Squigglefly Challenge

Today I made a card from Squigglefly called "Baby Upside Down."  It's a new release this month from Fawn Palmer.

The challenge this week at Squigglefly Challenge Blog is to "make a card that uses something long and something short.  Could be a long piece of ribbon and short sentiment, a long card with a short image or short piece of designer paper."

As you can see, I decided to go with a l-o-n-g tall card.  It fits in a business letter envelope.  I again used up papers from my stash, plus a couple of stickers for embellishment.

Isn't that image adorable?  I know just the new mom to give this to this month!
The image comes with the sentiment you see here.  It reads: "a baby is sunshine, moonbeams and more, brightening your world as never before."

That is the perfect sentiment, don't you think?

So, how are you going to face this crafting challenge?  Wherever your muse takes you, make sure you use a Squigglefly image for your chance to win a free digi this week!!  And have fun!!

Random Acts of Kindness

Or, as they're known by many, RAKs.  A smile here, an opened door there.  Paying for the guy's coffee in the car behind you in drive-through, leaving a handmade card for someone going through a rough time.  All are random, all are appreciated more than anyone will ever know.

I have been peppering a few teachers and staff with RAKs this year.  A few are going through rough times, so I wanted to let them know they aren't alone in their prayers by saying it in cards.  A couple had babies, and I wanted to brighten their day with a handmade gift to cheer their sleep-deprived weeks.  Here is a gift I made for one of the new mommies.

While rummaging for deals at a rummage sale, I found a shadow box with a weird focus, but the frame was sturdy, so I cracked it open and threw the weirdness away.

I covered the back with patterned paper, adding a photo mat.  Then I had fun with a paper piecing, handmade flowers and some baby embellishments.

When I gave it to my teaching friend, she loved it, and immediately thought it would be the perfect place to keepsake her new daughter's hospital wristband.  I put a smile on her face, and on a Monday morning, in her class room!

Now it's your turn.  Do something nice, randomly.  And keep crafting!!