SBS Spring Basket Buddy Swap Blog Hop

What a fun way to get welcome spring...with a Spring Basket Swap and Blog Hop.  Before we get started...you should have come here from Carrie's blog...the complete hop list is at the bottom of this entry if you have lost your way.  

I always love these swaps..what is more fun than putting together a fun basket of goodies...well, GETTING ONE!  Emily was my "basket buddy" and she did a FABULOUS job!  I was so excited to get my package from Australia.  Elizabeth (Emily Shroom) filled my basket with a Spring Equinox theme in mind...3 of  each item..and a beautiful tag featuring the Simply Betty Image all participants were given.  

So, let's check it out....

Here is the basket right out of the box

Left:  Look at all those fun, little packages!
Right:  chocolates from Haigh's, a specialty chocolatier in Australia.  The little animal on the tin is a bilby.  And, yes, the chocolates are delicious.

Left:  Look at all this fun stuff!  Now let's break it down...
Right:  Rhinestone flourishes, crocheted flowers and butterflies, heart charms and fancy pins

Left:  glazed buttons, Graphic 45 chipboard tags and metal butterflies, Dusty Attic blooms
Right:  Webster Pages Bloomers, cloisonne beads, enamel strawberries, resin flowers and hearts, action wooblers, wooden shapes, and mini thermometers

Tag made with image from SBS...I just love the bright, spring colors!

I think Elizabeth did a wonderful job...and I can't wait to use all the fun embellishments she sent me.  Now, make sure to go see what everyone else received from their basket buddy.  Next on the hop is:  Erin.

Complete Blog Hop List:

• SBS - http://simplybettystamps.blogspot.com/    
• Featuring:  Jennifer Raffenaud, Barb Ettinger, Nicki Ringlemann
• Corinne Jones - http://wishuponascrap.blogspot.com/
• Trish Sakulich - http://www.scrappintillthecowscomehome.blogspot.ca/
• Robin Bogle - http://www.rcz28.blogspot.com
• Maria Williams - http://pinxinx.blogspot.com
• Trudie Howard - http://trudiescakesandcards.blogspot.co.uk/
• Wendy Billings - http://www.jazzydoodledesigns.com
• Roz Wolfe - http://www.wolfepak5.blogspot.com
• Sheri Loatwall - http://www.mammasscrappin.blogspot.com/
• Stacey Stratis - http://anastasiasarts.blogspot.com/
• Lucy Gregg - http://loopylass2010.blogspot.co.uk/
• Louise Mann - http://louisescraftycards.blogspot.co.uk/
• Jo Walker - http://joscardsandstuff.blogspot.co.uk/
• Lisa Nelson - http://www.distinctiveLMNts.blogspot.com
• Michelle Klaebe - http://www.inkandsew.blogspot.com.au/
• Dawn Brown - http://stampersgonewild.blogspot.com
• Elizabeth Melih (Emily Shroom here) - http://emilyshroom.blogspot.com.au/
• Jackie Rakoski - http://stampingsister.blogspot.com
• Kathy Smyth - http://kathyjsmyth.blogspot.co.uk
• Carrie Robinson - http://carriescreativecards.blogspot.co.uk/
• Marie Franklin - http://marie97-lotlot.blogspot.com/      YOU ARE HERE
• Erin Fairclough - http://elfiessparkleanddust.blogspot.co.uk/
• Melissa Varga - http://cheesestampersinparadise.blogspot.com/
• Katya Bess - http://www.kattyxotica.blogspot.com/
• Tanja Charles - http://craft-teeinthecity.blogspot.com
• Jennifer Anderson - http://Creativearmywife.blogspot.com
• Summer Hills-Painter - http://1craftypainter.blogspot.com/
• Darcy Schroeder - http://craftingwithdarcy.blogspot.com
• Veronica Chasteen Rosenshein - http://www.artbyveronica.blogspot.com
• Julie Hasel - http://tigerlily2g1b.blogspot.co.uk/
• Tanya Johnson - http://little-scrapper.blogspot.com 
• Dianna Cinko Sowerbrower - http://diannas-craftyplace.blogspot.com

Snow Day Layout

Wanted to share a quick layout I did using elements I received in a swap and the Challenge Sketch on Paper Crafting Divas.  

Pictured above are the (left) elements I received in a swap and (right) the layout sketch from PCD.

And, here is what I came up with:  

I did not have 4 pictures, so I used one of the larger elements in place of a fourth picture.  

Here's the details:

Paper:  royal blue card stock from a stack; I inked the edges with silver to help blend.

Title:  CM stickers from my stash; I added white puff paint to them to look like snow

Extras:  all other elements were from my swap. 

Best part, I still have enough elements left to do another layout!

Thanks for looking!  Happy Crafting!

                                                Marie 

Betty Feathers

Just wanted to share a card I made for my DH...just because.  I used an image from Burlesque Bettys by Simply Betty Stamps.  The entire line is equally cute and flirty, but I really love this one.  I did keep it simple...no flowers or ribbons...because it was for my husband.

Here's the details:

Image -  Betty Feathers by Simply Betty Stamps; I colored her with pencils and added Stickles in cotton candy to her headband and feathers.  I also added Crystal Effects to her eyes.

Papers - from my scrap basket, remnants of  BoBunny and black card stock

Embellishments: the swirls are clear stickers I purchased from Wal-mart, heart crystals from Prima

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your day.
                                            Marie

Denim & Daisies Wreath

So, last night I decided it was time to take down the Easter wreath...don't you agree?  I decided to go summery....denim & daisies.

I used strips if denim (blue jeans from Goodwill) to wrap a straw wreath.  I then added the flowers with floral picks.  Where the flower stems overlapped, I tied a bandanna with twine loops added in for fun.  I then added the house numbers with hot glue.  Now we are ready for summer!

Thanks for looking!

                        Marie

ATC: Recipe Challenge

Last month's ATC challenge on Paper Crafting Divas was a recipe challenge.  The recipe:  felt, twine and metal.  Here is my creation...

Felt - the background and the flowers   The flowers were a find at Michael's in their dollar area.  You get 20 flowers with the rhinestone center for $1!  Score....I bought several colors.

Twine - the bow

Metal - butterfly charm

Extras:  I used fibers to stitch the stems for the flowers and I inked the edges of the felt background to finish it.

Thanks for looking!  

                    Marie

Elaine: SBS April Fan Page Challenge

Hi!  wanted to share my creation for the SBS Facebook Fan Page Challenge.  If you were a member of the Simply B Stamps Fan Page on FB and decided to join in, you were given the image to use for the challenge.  The other requirements were swirls and ribbon.  Here is my entry:

Thanks for stopping by!  

                            Marie

Changes...

Yes, I have been away from my blog for a couple of weeks...I just needed a "regroup" time.  And, during that time I decided that I was not happy with my schedule so, I have changed it up.  I will not be doing the Pick 3 every Monday...now, the last day of the month I will do my Picks of the Month..  No set number, just however many I want to share.  I just realized that I was not crafting as much as I wanted...and that was kinda the point of the blog...to keep me motivated, so...change is good :)

Now to share a card I made for my girlfriend.  She is facing some challenges in her life right now and this image was just perfect...

Here's the details:

Image - "FIN-tastic" by Saturated Canary; I colored the image with my pencils then added Stickles in baby blue to the water, Distressed Stickles in burlap to her hair, and Crystal Effects to her eyes and the shark's fin.

Papers - all from my scrap box

Embellishments:  sheer ribbon, twine, bits of sea glass, shells, starfish and a small sand dollar   I also added some swirls with Stickles in Cinnamon.

Thanks for stopping by...and I LOVE comments.  Enjoy your day!

Marie