Collage Valentine Cards

Hi Bloggers!

Don't put the red paper away yet!  We have Valentines to make!

Some of you may have seen these Valentines before-- I made them a couple years ago, but wanted to show those of you who liked the "Collage" style cards we made for Christmas.  Use the same technique on your Valentines for a vintage look!  They are so much fun to put together and no two are ever alike!  Especially if you use vintage lace and buttons from your own stash...

In this Valentine I used an image from Tim Holtz's paper line, and used the same technique I did on the Collage Christmas Cards.  Using vintage lace,  some Valentine paper,  a "love" ticket and a flower from Maya Road,  I assembled the card, and I think the result was quite pretty!

Same technique here, this time I used some trinkets from Prima, pearls and a satin ribbon tied with the Bow-Easy!  The frame is from K & Co. and the key is from Tim Holtz.  Stickles sparkled it up a bit!

In the next few days I'll be showing you some other ideas for Valentine projects, 

so please stop back by and we'll have some fun!  

If you have access to the new Valentine's Day Paper line called "Lovely" from Authentique, 

please pick up at least one 12" x 12" patterned paper called "Greetings".  

It will be perfect for making the Collage style Valentines.  The coordinating papers are gorgeous also, and will be great for layering these cards.  Here it is: http://authentiquepaper.com/products/Lovely

and it is available NOW.

Happy Creating!

See you soon,  

ReNae 

Christmas Wishes

My Dear Bloggers,

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas Season.  I have been away from my blog for a few weeks, and miss it terribly!  Hopefully I'll be back in the swing of things soon, and will get back to doing what I love most, sharing creative projects with YOU!

Have a holiday filled with happy memories, and if you are one of those whose Christmas celebration was impacted by inclement weather, my heart goes out to you.

I have a lot of great projects planned for 2013, and hope that you can be a part of the fun!
In the coming year I will be planning to incorporate more mixed-media projects, along with jewelry, sewing and hand-made gifts to make.

If you have a particular project you would like to try, or like me to try for you, or do a demonstration on a particular subject,  leave me a comment below!  I take your comments very seriously and will address each and every suggestion.  After all, I do this blog for YOU!  We can learn together!

Today I saw an article on how to make Pandora beads from FIMO clay.  It would be a lot of fun to make this bracelet from these cute little hand made beads, wouldn't it?

I want to explore the world of crafting, and branch out in many directions.  There are elements of each craft that work well with another one.  For example you can use sewing techniques in paper crafting, stamping techniques in mixed-media, and so on...

So check back soon, and please please please, be safe, take good care, and have a
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Loving wishes to you and yours,
ReNae Allen

The Winners, and a little Christmas Slipper

Hey Bloggers,
Thank you for helping me celebrate my 10,000th visitor to my blog!  For the last five days,  I have been asking viewers to sign up and join my site, and in return they would be eligible to win a prize worth up to $20.  We had five winners in five days, and the winners are as follows:

 Shari Lindsay

 Connie Riley

 Judith Strausbaugh

 Ann-Marie McIntire

 Patty O'Malley 

Thanks to all who participated, and please keep blogging!  

I love having you come visit me!

Today for fun I wanted to share a little project I did last year, but did not post to the blog.  I ran across the photos and decided to show you today!  I hope you like them.
My friend Cindy Williamson and I decided we wanted to make some Christmas Slippers.  They were originally shown in a 2011 article in a Stampington publication. We liked them so much we wanted to recreate what we saw in the article.  However, the pattern was not easy to master, so we came up with one on our own.  We selected patterned papers we thought would be pretty, gathered some ribbon and other embellies, and put the shoes together.  We had a lot of fun, but decided we probably won't be going into the shoe business any time soon...

Here are our creations:

If you would like to make these slippers and want the pattern I used, leave me a comment and I'll get one to you!  Be sure to leave your email address as I can send it in a PDF file.
Congratulations to our winners and until next time,
Happy Creating!
ReNae

A Scary Halloween Craft Party!

 Hello Bloggers!

Halloween isn't just for kids, and here is proof!  

Halloween Friends gather at Ink Paper Rubber
Our local stamp store, Ink Paper Rubber was the location of a party October 31st held for some scary "Older Kids".  Chili and spooky snacks were on the menu, including Punch with floating eyeballs, edible mandibles, and other delicious and creepy fare.  

Mary Kay Dorrell samples some of the delectable and spooky treats!

A frightfully good time was had by all!  The award for Best Costume went to Mary Kay Dorrell who dressed as shown below.  Can you guess what she was?

Too cute for words!

Other costumes included a Peacock, Baboon, and a Witch.

Jen, the lovely Peacock

Judy, The Caped Baboon

A straight from Hogwarts, Connie Riley and her Dancing HAT!

The highlight of the party was "Creepy Craft Wars".  

The contestants were put into teams of two, and were charged with creating a Christmas ornament made strictly out of recycled materials.

A ski slope with snowmen made of cotton balls, skiing on toothpicks was chosen as the winner, and other entries were a bird house made from a toilet tissue roll, a Christmas tag made from cardboard, a crafty table, and a hand-beaded decorative ornament, all with the emphasis on having FUN!

THE WINNER!
(designed by Ann-Marie and Judith)

THE RUNNER-UP
(Best use of recycled materials)

Embossed tag made of Cardboard 

Hand-Beaded Christmas Ornament

The best part was getting together and having some old fashioned fun!

Thank you to Jen and Manna for putting on this fun-filled spooky evening!

Jen oversees Manna as she serves up floating eyeballs.
(shaking her tail feathers while she serves!)
We all had a great time!
Who says Halloween has to be just for the kiddies???

Happy Creating!
ReNae

An Autumn Road Trip to Florilegium!

Hi Bloggers!

A couple weeks ago my friends Gia, Ann-Marie and I hopped in the car and headed up north...(north of the river that is), to Parkville, MO to find  a wonderful store called Florilegium.

It was a wonderful autumn day and I am glad I can share it with you!

Hey Gia!  Wait for us!
(Gia drives us out of her maze of a neighborhood)

Come with us as we leave Overland Park, Kansas and drive north of the Missouri River, up to Parkville, Missouri and Florilegium. 

Beautiful Fall Colors

Gia's beautiful Overland Park neighborhood

If you like sewing arts, weaving, knitting, beading, crocheting, mixed-media, embroidery, or just looking at pretty things, this place is a must-see!  I can't express in words the way a crafter feels when going into a place like Florilegium.  It's magical!  Everywhere  you look you see something different and something you are certain you can work into one of your projects!  I'll let you see what I mean...

Parkville, Missouri, an old river town, is 35 miles north of Overland Park
near the Kansas City International Airport

There it is!! Florilegium!

Is that a dust mop?  No it's a dog who is sleeping on the counter!
The Shop Girl welcomes us with a smile!

Gorgeous antiques and interesting doo-dads are everywhere!

Button button, who's got the button?

A wall of gorgeous ribbon!

Hand embroidered ribbons behind a glass case are just stunning!

Close up of the button case

A hand-sewn crazy quilt close up!

Look at these gorgeous vintage buttons!  I want them all!

I wish this room full of delicious yarns and fibers was in my home!

Hand-dyed silks and yarns

These colors are so incredibly vibrant!

My two silly gal pals Ann-Marie and Gia, smiling from ear to ear.
How can you be anything but giddy when you go to Florilegium?
Next time you need a lift, take a road trip with your pals to an inspirational destination!
It'll make you smile!
Happy Creating!
ReNae

Christmas Tags using La Blanche Stamps

Hi Bloggers~
Last year, I was asked to make a couple samples of a La Blance Santa With Holly stamp for our local store, INK PAPER RUBBER in Downtown Overland Park.  Here's what I came up with!

This tag was stamped with Versamark Ink, 

and then heat embossed with Vintage Mahogany from Stampendous.

Next I used Distress Ink in Fired Brick and and my blending tool, to ink up the tag.  After inking, I took the Picket Fence Distress Stain and blotted it onto Santa's beard and the top of his hat.  Running water over the tag helped blend it better.  I cut the greenery out of the new Christmas die from Tim Holtz, using several colors of  core'dinations paper.  I wanted it to look like Blue Spruce.  I cut out holly leaves and evergreen leaves in Blue and Brown card stock and sprayed them with Sugar Plum Fairy Glimmer Mist.  Once the mist dried,  I glued the leaves and holly on the tag coordinating where the leaves and holly were on the stamped image.  Star Dust Stickles was added to look like snow, and I applied Prima and Memory Box jeweled stickers for a little sparkle!  

The vintage lace is from Ink Paper Rubber.

I tied some old vintage seam binding on the top and that was it!

First I stamped the image of Santa with Versalfine Ink.  

Then I sprayed on  Walnut Ink from Tsukineko.

When it dried, it looked like cork board!  The next step was to cut the lace and ribbon, measuring the width of the tag, then the length.  The ribbon and lace with pearls are from JoAnn's Creativity Center.

I then tried different arrangement with the lace, until I was satisfied with the way it looked.

I glued on the bling, which was found in the ribbon section at JoAnn's.

Stickles were lightly added, first green, then red and gold around Santa's face.

Once the Stickles dried, I selected ribbon for the loop.  I added a Prima Flower and that was it!

Which one do you like the best?

BE SURE TO COMMENT!

Happy Crafting!

ReNae

The 10,000th Hit Contest!

We have accomplished a milestone and it's all thanks to YOU!   October 31st marked the day that Crabtree-Creations received it's 10,000th visitor!   I am very happy that there is so much interest in my blog, and I want to thank each and every one of you!

Let's meet under the CRAB-TREE!

I love blogging and truly enjoy bringing you stories about paper crafting, art techniques, new products and other crafty topics.  I have learned so much from you all and want to celebrate by having a CONTEST!    

Here's how it works:
1. Leave a comment below, telling me which crafting item you would love to win. A stamp? embossing folder? die? paper pad? 
You name it!  *(Your prize will be customized to what you put on your comment)  So let's say "Jane Doe" loves October Afternoon paper.  She writes this in her comment below, then when her name is chosen, that's what she wins!
2. Go to the bottom of the blog and sign up to "Join This Site"  
It takes only a few minutes.  If you already subscribe to my blog, all you have to do is leave a comment, telling me what product you like or would like to win...that's it!
3. Keep reading the blog, as one winner will be announced each day for the next 5 days!
NOTE: Only persons who are signed up as "followers" will qualify for the prizes.

I will have 5 winners, prizes valued up to $20.  So don't miss out!  Tell "Santa" (me) what you want, or what you like, then simply post it in the comment section.  That's it!  And make sure you have signed up to Join this Site, or you will not qualify for the prizes. This is a wonderful opportunity for both of us!  

I get new followers and you win goodies!  

What crafting item do YOU  need?
Follow my blog and maybe you'll win it!

Okay, it's time to start thinking about what you want to win!

Remember you MUST "join this site" at the bottom of my blog.
Current members need only leave a comment...

HAPPY CREATING!

ReNae

* OUR FIRST WINNER*

Shari Lindsay

A Penny Black stamp of her choice!

Shari your prize is waiting for you @ Ink Paper Rubber

(located in beautiful downtown Overland Park, Kansas)

CONGRATULATIONS!

**OUR SECOND WINNER**
Connie Riley
An embossing folder of her choice!
Connie your prize is waiting for you @ Ink Paper Rubber!
Not your typical paper supply store!  
CONGRATULATIONS!

***OUR THIRD WINNER***
Judith Strausbaugh
The Gothic Cathedral die by Memory Box
You may pick up your prize at Ink Paper Rubber!
CONGRATULATIONS!

****OUR FOURTH WINNER****
Ann-Marie McIntire
A quatrafoil die by Taylored Expressions
You may pick up your prize at Ink Paper Rubber!
CONGRATULATIONS!

*****OUR FIFTH AND FINAL WINNER*****
Patty O'Malley 
A Fairy Stamp
I will mail your prize to you!
CONGRATULATIONS!

The highest form of flattery...

Inspiration.  Mo-Jo. Your Muse.  

It's hard to say what motivates us as creatives.  But for me, perhaps what motivates me the most is the work of fellow artists.  I am excited to share with all of you a couple of photos that were sent to me from my dear friend Mary Larner from Severn Beach, Bristol, UK.  

I first met Mary on the Milliande Art Community for Women ning site, where she and I were Art Journal swap partners.  I count myself among the lucky ones each and every day, for being fortunate enough to have been given Mary as a partner!
She inspires me daily with her beautiful projects, so you can imagine how proud I was today when I saw her posts on Facebook where she had created a project citing ME as HER inspiration!  
You see, I write this blog in hopes that maybe, just maybe something I post or something I create  will inspire one of you to try something new, perhaps even something out of your comfort zone.  Which brings me back to Mary.  
She created these amazing projects using inspiration from my blog!  I am so honored, and so touched.  Thank you Mary, for sharing these with me and my fellow bloggers.  

First, my Collage Christmas Card

Layers, scallops, buttons, Santa...etc.

 Mary's vision

She said that the Christmas Plaque was not her typical style, but I think it's just beautiful!

Card from previous post, (Moon illuminates behind focal image)

Mary's Halloween Banner

Moon behind focal images...

And at Night-time...

See how cool this is illuminated!

Inspiration comes in all forms, from our friends and family,  each other's work, or that full Halloween moon you see in the sky tonight.   When you see something that pleases you, or that is special to you, incorporate it into your work!  You will love the outcome!  

To view more by Mary Larner go to her blog,  Tin Can Cart   HERE! 

And her Flickr page HERE.  She is one amazing artist!

UPDATE!

Today in the mail I received a package from Mary!  Here is what she sent:

Thank you Mary for your generous gifts!

I can't wait to incorporate these lovely book pages (some over 100 years old)

and other ephemera into my projects!

You're so sweet and thoughtful!  Thanks!

Beautiful ribbons, old lace, old book pages and vintage photos
were included in Mary's care package to me!

If you have art projects you have created and would like to share with me please send me a message and I'll post them!  I want to see what inspires you to create!

Don't forget to leave a comment below, it's always so nice to hear from you!

So until next post,
Happy Creating!

ReNae