STAMPlorations stencil blog hop day 3

Hope you've enjoyed the STAMPlorations DT's work with stencils this week. I've got the last in my trio of 20x20cm canvasses I made as thank you presents for my cousin's kids. Today's is for the 12-year old gal whose new room looks like this.

I took my inspiration from the colors (blues, green and brown) and circles.

First I watercolored a piece of watercolor paper with Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Shabby Shutters, Tea Dye and Gathered Twigs. Splattered some turquoise Glimmer Mist onto it too. Let it dry then punched circles in various sizes.

For the canvas I started with the Bold Florals stencil from ARTplorations and some turquoise and blue paint. Notice how I carefully placed the stencil to only place a few blooms on my background. BTW, I use a sponge brush for this. You can see it in the upper left corner of the photo.

Then I played with the punched circles, deciding where to glue them down. Used Matte Medium to adhere them.

I covered the Tim Holtz grungeboard A with some old K and Co. PP (used a glue stick, brayered over it and then trimmed around the grungeboard with a craft knife). The Prima paper flowers with gem centers were strategically placed. To cover two creases which happened when I not-so-cleverly ran the A through my Big Shot! I also inked the edges of the alpha with brown to cover the grungeboard edge and define the letter better.

So it ended up looking more "tropical" than "circle-y", but I hope she likes it.

Hope you enjoyed the hop. I appreciate your stopping by. Have a great rest of the week.

new trend? (Moxie Fab, ATCAS)

Sharing one of the species "reject" with ya here cuz I want to hook it up to the Stickers Challenge at Moxie Fab World.  2014 is going to bring a lot of milestone birthdays in my neck of the woods- the kind with a "5" in front - and I had this idea for a card for a girlfriend who starts things off.

Had a ping (as Bev would say) to use a hashtag.  Wanted to use the Pink Paislee Luxe glitter stickers. The sentiment was cake.  Got it down on a strip of vellum but then had to decide which PP to put it on.  I kid you not, I must have laid that strip down on 50 sheets of PP, taking a photo each time cuz my brain was getting too foggy to objectively decide on one.  The following morning I decided on this PP.  Thought the doodle-y, whimsical-ness was a quirky match for the sparkly, "50" mature nature of the card.  My friend is so not "50"... whatever that means...

So, this didn't make the cut in the last PC submission.  But I am seeing the hashtag all over the place lately.  For one brief moment I'm gonna think of myself as a trendsetter ;)

I'm also hooking up at Addicted to CAS #24 where the theme is Transparent.  As in vellum in my case.

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies #hello50:

Paper: cardbase Bringmann, PP K&Co., vellum

Stamps:

Ink:  

Tools: 

Other stickers Pink Paislee, enamel dots MME

teenage motivation #1 (10min craft dash)

I did it again - the 10-minute Craft Dash.  And I made it before my timer went off.  Barely.  12 seconds left!  And I had to go back and glue some blooms on better with stronger-than-Glossy-Accents glue cuz I guess it doesn't work between fabric and paper, but I'm not counting that.

Needed gifts for kids I tutor who made their confirmation. Wanted to include a motivational quote and  personalize store-bought journals for each of them.  When I saw the Craft Dash colors I decided to challenge myself on this girly one. I had the sentiment ready to go and  I pulled the papers and my flower punches as well as the tiny alpha stickers ahead of time.  Keeping with the notecard theme I included some washi but probably shouldn't have.  In glueing down the flowers I aimed to put pink across from pink and blue across from blue but I probably could have done a better job.  Oh well.  Time pressure stinks, but it gets things done much quicker I must admit. Could probably have spent 10 minutes just re-arranging blooms!

Give the Craft Dash a go if you haven't before.  It's definitely challenging but you feel good when you're done.  And there's always a great prize.

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies journal - Strength:

Paper: notecard, PP K& Co.

Stamps: sentiment PC generated

Ink: 

Tools: punches

Other: washi, letter stickers KI Memories, journal Aldi, glue

pretty pastel hi (Moxie, CREATE, CAS Sunday, SSS)

FINALLY getting a chance to play along with a relatively new challenge, CAS on Sunday, where a couple of my bloggie friends are part of the DT.  This week's theme is Flutterby.  How could I resist?

The current Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World is so perfect for Easter and so spring inspiring. Only hope it might work to warm the temps up here...

Here's my CAS  pastel flutterby, fluttering by to say "Hi".

I'm also hooking up at the March challenge at Create:  and Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes. Happy Easter friends.

Supplies Hi:

Paper: CS American Crafts, PP K& Co, MME, vellum Ursus

Stamps: PTI

Ink : Jenny Bowlin

Tools: butterfly die Clearly Besotted, wonky border die MFT, heart punch, corner rounder EKS

Other: beads, Glossy Accents

oh oh oh it's magic - Pattern Play Day 2

Wanna make some magic?  All you need is PP, Distress Inks and embossing powder.  Another Jennifer M. lesson over at Pattern Play.  Take those  problem PPs and make somethin' pretty out of 'em.  Artsy fartsy.

So much going on here, eh?  And yet they're basically one layer cards!  They started out as the left hand side of this:

12x12 sheet of K&Co Que Sera PP.  I love this paper but again, found it difficult to use on cards.  But ink, heat emboss, ink, remove emboss - and you've got gorgeousness.  Add a digi sentiment and be still my heart.  Two anniversary cards for my stash.

Happy weekend.  I'm gonna be celebrating the fact that I'm not 50 yet (OK, it's gettin' pretty darn close).

Supplies:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, PP K&Co

Stamps: BG Hero Arts, digi sentiment Mama Elephant

Ink : Distress Ink Worn Lipstick and Spiced Marmelade

Tools: heat tool, iron

Other:  clear embossing powder, packing paper, bling

folds and flaps (SCS)

I dnd't really intend to do all the challenges in the Splitcoast Love Fest 2013, but here I am trying to get the last three done!

Love Fest 2013D sponsored by Scor-pal is looking for flaps or folds.  OK.  How 'bout both?

Start with your Aunt's birthday approaching quickly.  Pick a card from your stash and grab the set of rainbow cards you just made (but haven't posted all of yet).  Cuz of course, to get one rainbow you had to die cut 7 different colors.  And of course you can't throw all the rest away.  So you made rainbow cards.  I digress.

See how many cards you can get into a padded mailer for the lowest postage.  And that will fit through the mailbox slot so that you don't have to go to the post office which is a sure way to ruin your day.

Take set of cards and a piece of PP to your scoring board.

Use the envelope making guide that comes with the board (see that triangle thing?) for the very first time.  Duh.

Use score tape to glue the envie sides together and leave the flap unglued so Auntie can use it to store your purty cards.

Dress it up with  a scrap of ribbon and little tag (still totally mailable, mind you) and be proud of yourself.  You've got some flaps, some folds and somethin' sweet for Auntie.  Bye.  I'm off to the mailbox.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies for envelope:

Paper: PP and tag K& Co.

Stamps:  PTI

Ink :Memento

Tools: scoring board and bone folder

Other: score tape, ribbon

smile! (Moxie Fab, HIMCR)

You may remember this photo from yesterday's post.

My mind, working in its strange ways, decided to use this photo as the inspiration for a bday card for a 60-year-old.  Male.  Trust me, he can handle it.  

There's a Camera Craze Challenge over at Moxie Fab so I upped the ante by limiting myself to the one camera related stamp set I own.  Which I can highly recommend if you don't want to overdo on this trend.

Probably more for scrapbooking than bday cards, eh?  I remembered an old Retro Sketch that I really like and revisited it.  This is what happened.

A scrap of magenta on a white cardbase.  A "polaroid frame" (you can make this pretty easy without a die).  A cool chalkboard speech bubble from the Pebbles prize pack I won from Paper Crafts that I heat embossed with one of the sentiments from the stamp set.  And for the main image I stamped the camera in red, masked it, stamped "memories" as a BG using generational stamping and then heat embossed the camera image slightly offset.  Brought in some more funkiness with some KI Memories letter stickers and washi.  I'm likin' it.

Hooking up at Hiding in My Craft Room where she is challenging us to use embossing.  Don't have to ask me twice :)

Thanks for stopping by.  I read that an average person in the UK is caught on surveillance camera 300 times a day!  Whoa.  So smile!  Ya never know...

Supplies for smile ur 60!:

Paper: CS American Crafts, magenta scrap, PP K&Co

Stamps: Maya Arts

Ink :Jenny Bowlin, Versamark

Tools: square die Sizzix

Other: embossing powder Zing, chipboard Pebbles, letter stickers KI Memories, washi Bella Blvd.

frame by frame (Moxie Fab) and a winner

Lucky I got this one photographed before dark - in between six batches of Christmas cookie dough...
I recycled for this one - that should come as no surprise.  Upcycled actually.

When I saw the Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab it reminded me of a card I'd made for DD's bday which had found its way into my "old cards" box.  Feminine, pink, flourish of black.  Decided to turn the front panel into an anniversary card.  Inside now reads "nothing beats true love."

In the trigger the turquoise circle frame with the butterfly caught my eye.  So I added a turquoise heat embossed frame on vellum popped up on dimensionals with a stamped and pencil-colored butterfly behind it.  Voila.  Maybe in my next life I'll crochet some cool little frames.

Dear followers, thanks so much for your comments/advice on this post.  DD chose the number 3 which means Maria M. wins the wooden ornaments!  I'll be contacting you Maria (love the name BTW!).

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies for love:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, vellum

Stamps:   BG CHF, Fancy Pants, frame Viva, butterfly K and Co.

Ink : Cats Eye, Versafine, Versamark, Distress Ink

Tools: 

Other: embossing powder Zing, colored pencils

two takes on songbirds (SCS)

I've made two more cards for HYCCT over at Splitcoast Stampers.  The first is for #1213 "Hope is the Thing".  As in "with feathers."

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul

And sings the tune without the words

And never stops at all.

Flashback to my days as an English major...Thank you Emily Dickinson.  

Feathers + perches = bird on a branch from Sizzix.  Die cut it from two different PPs and adhered over a splash of sky created with misted Distress Ink on an acrylic block.  Just added one of PTI's wonderful sentiments.  I think this card really reflects hope.

The second challenge, #1221 is called "Clearly Hopeful."  Clear = acetate.

I've done this before.  This time it's a sunrise sky.  Love this birdie from Tim Holtz.  Paired with alcohol inky goodness, a bit of texture and distresssing, and a die cut frame.  Just a notecard this time.

Thanks for looking.  Have you checked out HYCCT yet?

Supplies :
Paper: CS American Crafts, PP K&Co., recycled packaging
Stamps: Tim Holtz
Ink: alcohol inks, Memento
Tools: die Spellbinders
Other: button twine

hello MIM and farewell CPS (PTI, CPS, SCS)

Another twofer.  For my first card I used the technique from PTI's Make it Monday - using positive and negative die cuts.  As amazed as I always am by die cuts themselves, it seems to be the cards made with  negatives that really catch my attention.  Hmmm.

Anyway.  Where did I get my color combo?  No idea.  Just felt right.  Let's just call it vivid violet meets lethal lime green ;)

Made a rough layout first -very helpful.  I started by picking the PP (this is also going to the HYCCT #1214 which calls for "text".  There's text on this PP).  Picked colors for CS.  Die cut roses and leaves.  Die cut tags.  Die cut leaves extending over the tag from the tag.  Since I don't have a stamp for the leaf die, I inlaid the leaf  (embossed with numbers - is that text too?) into the negative area.  Attached the other leaves onto the tag, then popped up the roses.  Stamped sentiment on smaller tag and adhered along with seam binding bow.  Stamped cardbase with text stamp.  Attached tag.  Added some bling for balance.

Second card kind of evolved from the first.  Had an interesting creative process with this.  HYCCT #1224 calls for the "kissing technique."  Happen to have a still-unused Hero Arts cling stamp which I figured would work well for this technique.  Used a still-unused BG clear stamp to kiss with.  Whether it was the combo of the two materials or because I used dye ink... the result was kinda crazy.  So I decided to use just a strip of the purple madness.  But how?  Went to the PC with my purple strip and looked at old CPS sketches.  Ta da.  Hello #111.  TIP:  Even though Tami M. is stopping CPS, there is an archive of all the old sketches!

Now, you might know that I rarely follow a sketch 100%.  So this is what happened.

Creative process you ask?  More like "a series of fortunate? unfortunate? events."  Yellow?  It's across from purple on the color wheel.  Polka dot stamp?  It was already out.  I actually kissed it with the text stamp (from my first card since it was still laying around) once it was inked up but you really can't tell.  Washi?  Happened to be laying on my ironing board.  Sentiment on a "tab" of crazy PP?  Was the first 6x6 pad I grabbed with colors that I thought could work with this - was thinking light turquoise.  Picked this.  Result?  It's either funky or ugly.  Haven't decided.

Happy day, friends.

Supplies card #1:

Paper: cardbase Papermania, CS DCWV, PP K&Co.

Stamps:  Papertrey, BG CHF

Ink: Adirondack, Versafine

Tools: tag die MFT, leaves die Spellbinders, rose die PTI, embossing folder Sizzix

Other: seam binding, bling

Supplies card #2:

Paper: cardbase Papermania, CS Neenah, PP American Crafts

Stamps:  flowers BG and sentiment Hero Arts, dots Kars

Ink: Adirondack, Versafine

Tools: die Spellbinders

Other: washi tape

courage and cupcakes (SCS)

Two more for the HYCCT challenges over at Splitcoast Stampers.  One of these cards is from my stash (in other words "the old me")  Can you pick it?

Did the background in the photo give it away?  Or the card itself?  hee hee  Back at this time I owned one pad of PP.  Times have achanged...

The first is for the Courage challenge (HYCCT1205).  Kathy says "...inspire strength and courage to a patient. ... Something with a dose of humor is great, too." I think the sentiment from Inkadinkado (kid's quotes) is both inspiring and humorous.

The second is for Show off your Cupcakes (HYCCT1202).  Self-explanatory.  Are you playing along yet?

Supplies different color:

Paper: cardbase Papermania

Stamps: sentiment Inkadinkado

Ink :Dylusions spray inks, Versafine

Tools:

Other:

Supplies cupcake:

Paper: CS DCWV, PP K&Co

Stamps: Stampendous, polka dot BG CHF

Ink :Versafine

Tools: circle punch EKS

Other: colored pencils, glitter glue

chicken soup for the soul (SCS, CPT, WMS, Retro)

Two cards comin' at ya.  First one was fun. And oh so difficult.

Listen to this chicken soup challenge (HYCCT1223): "use a chicken (hens and roosters are acceptable too ) on your card, and elements that spell the word S-O-U-P."   BTW, Sabrina, the hostess chose this because she remembers cooking up chicken soup for a friend every time she had chemo.  What, pray tell, starts with a "U"?  Think about it!

Here's my card.  Can you find my S, O, U and P elements?  Bet not.

Methinks this will work:
S:  Stickles, scallops
O:  oval, orange
U:  UNEVEN STITCHING
P:  pink, plaid

I was inspired by the colors and crepe paper treats from The Creative Paper Trade's third challenge too.

Followed the sketch from Waltzingmouse Challenge #120 and used Waltzingmouse stamps.  I'm so glad I treated myself to  that Frenchy set with Mr. Rooster.

Second card is for HYCCT1217 to decorate the edge of your card.  I also used the Retro Sketches #34.

I love original card from Laurie W.  I actually have that PTI stamp (it's not seen ink yet). May have to give it a whirl.  Used some Tim Holtz stamps on K&C PP for this notecard.

Whew!  Thanks for coming by.  Happy Weekend ya'll.

Supplies card #1:

Paper: cardbase Papermania, CS Neenah, digi paper The Creative Paper Trade

Stamps:  WMS

Ink: Adirondack

Tools: die Spellbinders, sewing machine

Other: crepe paper, Stickles, buttons Sew Sweet

Supplies card #2:

Paper: PP K&Co

Stamps:  Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous

Ink: Distress Inks

Tools: punch EKS

Other: button Sew Sweet, embroidery floss

it's a shaker card (JayGee, SSS)

When I first saw the story board at JayGee's Nook, I was taken with the polka dots.  Especially when I saw how fun the randomly stamped dots are on this card from Ange.

I remembered a party PP I have with random dots.  And I decided to make a shaker card with some birthday confetti.  Used recycled acetate and a stamped card base that I had intended to use for my lady Wanda, but didn't.  Added an outer ring of the dot PP to the front and some polka dot washi to hold the sentiment tag and voila.

Could be for a child, but I'm thinkin' a fun lovin' adult might likey too!  Cuz the quatrefoil and sentiment are stamped, and I even put a piece of washi on it  I'm entering this in Simon Says Stamp's Stamp It challenge.  Big celebration going on over there.  If you love stamping, check it out.  Happy weekend.

Supplies happy birthday to you:

Paper: card base Papermania, PP K&Co, recycled acetate

Stamps: BG Clean and Simple Stamps, sentiment PTI

Ink: Versafine

Tools:  die MFT

Other:  washi tape, tag, dimensional adhesive

april showers bring purple flowers (DIY embellies)

First off, a couple shots of the purple in my garden.  Bear with me, I'm only a wannabe photographer.  BTW, that yellowness behind the iris?  A healthy crop of dandelions.  One disadvantage to living across from an open field.  And one reason we laid sod instead of seeding our backyard last weekend!

Negrita

Queen of the Night

So, purple on the mind, I must admit this was too good to be true.  My last card was for DD's friend for her confirmation.  She informed me she needed another one for another girl in her class and this girl is "purple".  And gray.

 Just took my old design and the new challenge 129 at The Play Date Cafe.



What I love about this inspiration photo are the flowers at the bottom - straight from the farmer's market - and the boldness of the colors combined with the stark white in the top two photos.

So, I made flowers out of various purples combined with a lotta white.

Die cut the flower layers PP, recycled security envelopes and old dictionary.  Used a stylus to make a "bowl" in center of each layer. Used a scoring tool to curl some petal edges under. Inked edges. Assembled flower and added brad to center. Stamped large flourish on card base and added a die cut border strip to ground the embellies. Attached large flower with foam tape.

Punched a coordinating center for small flower and added girlfriend's initial to it. Added some shimmery watercolors to the butterfly colored with colored pencils and attached. Spritzed with some Perfect Pearls. Stamped the "glückwunsch" (congratulations) sentiment inside.

Catch the shimmer?

Because it's Anything Goes over at Simon Says Stamp, I'm going there.  This week there's even a chance to win some Paper Smooches stamps!

Thanks for your visit.  Hope your day's - purple!

Supplies glückwunsch:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, PP Me and my Big Ideas, recycled envelope, old dictionary

Stamps: flourish Rubbernecker, butterfly K and Co., sentiment Inkystamp
Ink: Distress Ink Ranger, gray Versacolor
Tools: flower die Sizzix, border die Spellbinders
Other: paper flowers Prima, brad, letter sticker

glückwunsch (DIY embellies)

Another episode of DIY embellishments - this time from the Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die.  Had confirmation cards to make for DD's girlfriends.  I chose the flower theme.  DD chose the color for this one - beige.

OK, that's cool.  Been hoping to play with CR84FN and here's my chance.



BTW - I know I saw a macaroon stamp out in blogland but I can't find it again.  I think it was actually French.  Anyone have a tip?  Anyway, no macaroons for confirmation.  Just purty blooms. 

Die cut the flower layers.  Used a stylus to make a "bowl" in center of each layer.  Used a scoring tool to curl some petal edges under.  Inked edges.  Assembled flower and added brad to center.  Stamped large flourish on card base and added a die cut border strip to ground the embellies.  Attached large flower with foam tape.

Punched a coordinating center for small flower and added girlfriend's initial to it.  Added some shimmery watercolors to the butterfly left over from an old project, inked edges and attached.  Spritzed with some Perfect Pearls.   Stamped the "glückwunsch" (congratulations) sentiment and frame from this set on the inside.

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies glückwunsch:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, PP K&Co, Ursus, old dictionary
Stamps: flourish Rubbernecker, butterfly Martha Stewart, sentiment Inkystamp
Ink: Distress Ink Ranger
Tools: flower die Sizzix, border die Spellbinders
Other: paper flowers Prima,  brad, letter sticker