Alter It! -- A Blog Challenge

Last Friday, we were to post our Challenges. The theme for to week was to "alter it!" That's one of my favorite challenge themes! However, life has been busy, busy, busy.....we're getting ready for my son's wedding, which is now just 5 weeks away. OK, you're probably thinking, what does the Mother of Groom have to do?!! Well, I've made various stamped items for the wedding.....began with the invitations, shower invitations, shower thank yous, and shower favors. I'll have lots to share soon.....I'm going to wait until AFTER the wedding. So, when I seem to have disappeared, I really didn't....I was just stamping away in my studio on things that needed to be made for the wedding! Oh, and I still have the programs, menus, and place cards to do....but can't start on them for another couple of weeks.

Compound all that along with my Mom being in the hospital and rehab for almost 3 weeks, and...well, as I said it's been very hectic! She was rushed to the hospital for heart related problems....she decided to begin 3 new medications all at the same time.....NOT a good idea! YIKES! BUT, she is now doing well and happy to be in her own home!

So, this past weekend was the first bridal shower in Virginia, which explains why this post is soooo late....I was away! I've had these items done for awhile. The tote was fun and was made at a meeting I attended about 3 weeks ago. It's a take off on an idea published in Stampin' Success, which is a demo only publication that is filled with great ideas, business tips and so much more! The first photo is the bag itself and then there is a close up. You can see that I used the Sweet Pea Stitched Felt pieces....aren't they just adorable?!! They are available right now in the current mini, but only for a bit more time since the Occasions Mini expires on April 30. Not sure if they will be included in the new catalog, so be sure to get yours now! And check out the colors of the felt pieces: Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla....all these colors are remaining in the new color line. The stems on the bag are stamped with Old Olive Craft in using Cheep Talk. No sewing involved....all items were adhered using a fabric glue. To decorate the bag, it took only about 45 minutes....and that includes lots of time to yak with my stamping gal pals! So fun! Here's a close up so you can see the detail.

Stamps: Cheep Talk

Inks: Old Olive Craft

Ribbons: Narrow Pretty in Pink Grosgrain, 1" Double Stitched Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, 5/8" Wide Regal Rose Grosgrain

Misc: Sweet Pea Stitched Felt, Fabric Glue (non-SU)

Please note: ALL materials used to create this tote are from SU!, except for the fabric glue.

Well, since you patiently waited for this post, I've included another idea....again, something that is not my original idea, but made by me. This little chalk board is another fast and easy to make item, and something we all made when attending my up-up-up line's large gathering at the end of February.....and if you are a blog hopper, you may have already seen this little board, because lots of us attended and made them.

The heart shape is actually a chipboard piece from the On Board Heart Book....also from the Occasions Mini. It's covered with Chalk Board Vinyl, which is part of our Definitely Decorative line....it's just in roll form, so we could make...or do...whatever we wanted with it! For this item, I traced around the heart onto the removable backing and cut out, adhered, trimmed, and then lightly sanded all the edges. The chalk holder was created using the Cropadile (to punch the holes for the ribbons), the Beautiful Butterfly Die in the Big Shot and stamped with Fine Flourish, which is a beautiful small background stamp, also found in the Occasions Mini. Fun, isn't it?!!

Stamps: Fine Flourish

Inks: Basic Black

CS: Bermuda Bay

Misc: On Board Heart Book, Cropadile, Chalk Board Vinyl, Beautiful Butterflies Die, Big Shot, Narrow Basic Black Grosgrain, Bermuda Bay 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain

Please note: ALL materials used to create this sample are from Stampin'Up! and are currently available.

Thanks for stopping by today.....and for making your visit a part of your day! Hope you'll take a few minutes and check out the other Bloggers' creations!