more butterflies and blooms (CASE, SSS, sprinkle of imagination)

Did you see my card yesterday?  Butterflies. (And a giveaway!)  Well with rabbles on the mind and this cool card of Wida's up at CASE Study...

... and a nudge from Tracey M. to use this PTI Cutting Garden bloom, this is what I came up with. 

Some stamping, heat embossing, dry embossing, washi taping, die cutting, splattering...

TIP: Best to do splattering before you've got your card done. Unfortunately, it dawned on me that splatters were one element of Wida's card that I wanted to CASE after I had everything else done. I had to fake them. Do I like my splatters? Nope. Do I like the two-toned embossing on the Ranunculus? Yep ;)

So with blooms on the mind as well as these challenges...

A Sprinkle of Imagination - May

and

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Botanical

I went on another adventure.  With gelatos.  Everyone makes them look so easy but they are definitely not my BFF. Watched this video and thought "looks easy enough." Ha! This is my salvaged card.

Heat embossed the CHF distressed diamonds BG. Knowing I wanted to stamp the CHF daisy, I applied gelatos in lime, turquoise, purple, orange and fuchsia roughly where the bloom would later be.  Spritzed with water.  Painted with a wet brush.  And the darn blue (around the lime center - nod to Darnell K.) just kept disappearing.  Crazy. 

Kept playing with it until I finally decided it was time to give up and just iron off the embossing.  I do like how the distressed nature of the stamp let some of the color through so that the emboss-remove diamonds were not totally white.

But then the next crazy.  Stamped the daisy with purple Adirondack ink. Didn't work. Is there such a thing as "gelato-resist"??? Dabbed it up as much as I could and restamped with orange StazOn. Couldn't see it well enough so I stamped it again with black StazOn.  Then added some more blue gelato where I wanted it to be. Nothing like force, eh? Geesh.

A heat embossed sentiment on vellum and a couple punched dragonflies decided to hop on board.

The purple layer behind the panel?  That was my stamping off of the daisy stamp after stamping it on the panel and before cleaning it ;)

Happy weekend.  I'll announce the winner of the STAMPlorations stamp set tomorrow, BTW.

Supplies for happy birthday A

Paper:  CS Bringmann, vellum, PP Pink Petticoat

Stamps:  PTI, sentiment STAMPlorations

Ink : Adirondack, Versamark

Tools: butterfly die Hero ARts, alpha die PTI

Other: Heidi Swapp spray ink, gold polka dot washi, white and gold embossing powder

Supplies for happy birthday

Paper:  watercolor paper, vellum, old book

Stamps: CHF, sentiment STAMPlorations

Ink : Versamark, StazOn

Tools: 

Other: gelatos

mother - my #1 fan

Take a 12x12 Heidi Swapp sunshine stencil that's been sitting out on my workspace for weeks. Add a celebratory challenge over at Anni's blog where she wants us to use stencils. Throw in a drop-dead gorgeous card of Anni's that I ran across while perusing her blog and my desire to finally use one of my STAMPlorations MOM Subway Art stamps as it was originally intended... as subway art.

This is the wild and crazy-ness that results...

Stencilled the sun rays onto PP with acrylic paint. Heat embossed the subway art and some vines onto a die cut label. Added some die cut leaves and two roses too.

Ahhh, the roses. Made them awhile back but I stamped them with ink and white acrylic paint onto CS that I had distress inked.  And splattered. If I did anything else to them, I don't remember!

Should your eyes be having seizures, I apologize.

Whether you are a mother or daughter or both... have a beautiful Mother's Day.  I'd rather be there to give her a hug, but my Mom's getting a GC to Red Lobster this year and she's gonna love me for that!  Shrimp, run for your lives...

Supplies for mother:

Paper:  CS Bringmann, stripe PP Echo Park, damask PP Pink Petticoat

Stamps: STAMPlorations, vine Autumn Leaves, roses Viva Decor

Ink : Versamark, Distress Inks

Tools: stencil Heidi Swapp, label die Spellbinders, leaves die Kesi Art

Other: acrylic paint, white embossing powder

black friday (WPlus9)

No not the shopping kind.  But the it's-a-sad-day-for-paper-crafters kind of black.  Have you seen this post?

Image Credit

Well a card for the WPlus9 Mood Board #22 was on my to do list and it immediately turned into a card for Cath.  Although I'm still in the denial mode, I'm beginning to get to the thankful-for-what-you-had state.

For me personally, Cath was one of the greatest teachers I've ever had.  Not that she set out to, but she taught by presenting the material and then challenging me to use it.  She led by finding and sharing the best of what's out there in this big, beautiful world. She demanded but honored a job well done. She delivered only high quality (did you ever see a typo in a post?!?) and was always one step ahead of the class.

Ha. Class.  Didn't you feel, when you stopped over there in the morning, like you were socializing with classmates when you read comments from fellow paper crafters?

Man, I'm gonna miss that lady.  But I wouldn't be where I am today in this wonderful adventure without her. And for that I'm extremely grateful.

Cath, you bring (brought... sniff, sniff) me joy.

Just saw that PC has a link up for cards to share with Cath.  With a touch of ambivalence, I will hook up.

Supplies you bring me joy:

Paper: CS Neenah, vellum Ursus, PP Pink Petticoat

Stamps: sentiment WPlus9

Ink:  StazOn

Tools: clouds and bird die WPlus9, tag die MFT, embossing folder Craft Concepts

Other: recycled fabric, fabric washi, raffia, acrylic paint

tilt (PTI, Passion for Papretrey, CFC, SSS)

Blog hopping with PTI today...

I love this trend of putting things on an angle.  Here's my take.

Some digital PP, die cut alphas and metallic crepe paper topped with some strtegically-placed (ha!) sequins and I'm good to go.  Happy hopping!

Also playing at:
A Passion for Papertrey - Let's Celebrate
CASual Fridays - #99 Birthday Bash
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Supplies hb2u:

Paper: cardbase Craft UK, digi PP Pink Petticoat, metallic crepe paper 

Stamps: 

Ink : 

Tools:  alpha die PTI, border die Amuse

Other: sequins

spot the sentiment (RIC, CFC)

Real quick here.  I'm supposed to be housecleaning!
DD gets confirmed this weekend.  Oma is coming to stay.  You do the math...

Saw the photo at Runway Inspired Challenge #34 and thought of the B/W digi PP that was laying on my workspace.  Notice the spots of light on the runway behind the chica?  And her cherry red lips?

This is what happened.

I'm not recommending doing this.  Those polka dots make ya crazy.  Can hardly spot the magenta sentiment in their midst!  Geesh.  Anyhoo... back to the housework.  Yuck.

Also hooking up at CASual Fridays #98 where you need to have something glittery.  While you were squinting, did you catch the metallic crepe paper?!?!?

Thanks for enduring.

Supplies danke:

Paper: cardbase Craft UK, CS American Crafts, PP digi Pink Petticoat.

Stamps: none!

Ink :

Tools:alpha die PTI, scallop die Amuse

Other: silver crepe paper, glue stick

just five little words (SCS, Lessology, ABNH)

Five little words that pack a really big punch, that is.  This card is for HYCCT#1203 - to make a card with five separate words on it.

Used recycled acetate and alcohol inks to create the die cut panel.  Stamped the sentiment with StazOn.  Added a couple die cut (the die cut hearts and the what-would-have-been-garbage-from-the-die-cut) border strips for interest.

Hooking up to:
Lessology - #20 Barely There
A Blog Named Hero #15 - Use punched or die cut elements

Thanks for looking.  And since Tim Holtz wasn't running, here's hoping the best man won...

Supplies for happy true love:

Paper: CS American Crafts,  PP Pink Petticoat, recycled acetate

Stamps: Kelly Panacci

Ink : alcohol inks, StazOn

Tools: border die PTI, Spellbinders

Other: 

(g)rays of hope (Paper Smooches, SCS)

An oldie but a goodie, this little Mocha Chica stamp set which Kim Hughes designed for Cornish Heritage Farms.  Perfect for what I hoped to create for this Paper Smooches Sparks Picture Perfect challenge:

Don't ya just love that gray/yellow combo.  And the graphic nature of it.  I love just about every picture they come up with over there.  And the DT is switching out, so I needed to play along this last time.  (They didn't want me for their DT.  Blow to the ego, but I survived ;)  Maybe Mr. Random likes me better!

 Perched fussy cut Chica with a tuft of feathers on her head on a die cut twiggy tree grounded with some gingham PP.  Stamped the cheery sentiment and added some stitching.  CAS.

This is also for Beate J.'s HYCCT#1201C "Rays of Hope" challenge to use grays with a splash of color.

Have a great weekend.  Is it weekend again already? Time sure flies when you're having fun, eh?

Supplies hello:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, CS American Crafts, PP Pink Petticoat

Stamps: CHF

Ink :Versafine

Tools:die Memory Box, decorative edge scissors, sewing machine, corner rounder EKS

Other: embroidery floss

a rose is two roses (CASual Friday)

I'm almost done with this rose business.  Promise.  Especially I just saw that Virginia L. has a rainbow challenge going on!

But this card was totally inspired by the polka dot challenge over at CASual Fridays.



Don't ask me twice to play with polka dots.

Stamping, masking, more stamping.  New Jenny Bowlin inks BTW.  Love the Cough Syrup - color and properties.  Attached a strip of PDPP (polka dot patterned paper!) and attached my label containing the sentiment with washi tape.  A la "Big Boy" for those of you with midwestern roots...

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies alles liebe:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, PP Pink Petticoat
Stamps: The Crafts Meow, sentiment Inkystamp

Ink:Jenny Bowlin, gray Versafine

Tools: die Spellbinders, corner rounder EKS

Other: washi tape Rayher

 

 

a rose is a rose and more (PDCC)

This rose (I'm not counting anymore) is going over to the Play Date Cafe challenge #134:


And to the Young Crafter's Unite Flower challenge #10:



The PDC colors are so fun and delicate.  As are the inspiration photos.  So sketchy.  Cool.

I actually made two cards with the colors.  First off is the rose card, this time for my aunt's 70th bday.  She may be 70 but she doesn't seem it at all.   Went lighter on the coloring of the rose - yellow and pink this time.  Added that die cut strip of the perfect DCWV red, some gray spatters and some matting with PP too.  And a sweet sentiment on a tag attached with a teensy tiny brad.

Then, using up scraps,  I tried my hand at the "little collage and lotsa white space" that's happening out in cardmaking blogland.  Need more practice but I'm OK with this first attempt.

What I love about it?  All the white space.  What I don't love?  It'll take a million years to use up my stash using this method!

Supplies happy birthday:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, CS Neenah and DCWV, PP Pink Petticoat, tag
Stamps: The Craft's Meow, spatter Tim Holtz, sentiment Stampendous

Ink: Adirondack and Distress,  Versacolor, Versafine

Tools: die memory Box, sewing machine

Other:brad Basic Grey, embroidery floss

 

Supplies You're so sweet:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, CS DCWV, PP Pink Petticoat
Stamps: Viva, spatter Tim Holtz, sentiment WMS

Ink:Jenny Bowlin, gray Versafine

Tools: die Memory Box, punch Martha Stewart

Other:

 

 

a rose is a Charles Austin rose (distress inking)

Yep, another rose.  And inked again - with Distress and Adirondack inks.  This time paired with some gingham for another stop on the Moxie Fab Card Creations tour.  Gingham challenge.

Meet Charles Austin.  This lovely grows in front of our dining room window, intertwined with a purple clematis, and he was kind enough to model for me ;-)

This is what resulted.

The Craft's Meow rose.  Again.  Heat embossed rose and sponged on ink.  Again.  Cut it out and attached it and a vellum leaf to a label die cut from gingham PP.  I'm really diggin' the vellum leaves.  And my gingham digi PP from Pink Petticoat is getting lots of use too.  Stitched image onto kraft front card panel and attached to card base.  Stamped ric rac and gingham-y heart with Versamark.  Added letter stickers and grounded them with a tiny stitched-on ribbon scrap.

Warning.  Neighbor has received her set of cards made with this wonderful rose stamp.  But you, lovely blogeroos, haven't seen the end of them yet!

 

Supplies hi:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette,  kraft Papermania, vellum The Paper Company, PP Pink Petticoat
Stamps: The Craft's Meow, Martha Stewart

Ink: Versamark, Adirondack and Distress inks

Tools: sewing machine

Other: embossing powder, ribbon, letter stickers KI Memories

 



a rose is a rose (distress inking)

I'm on a roll.  And it's all about a rose.  And a set of cards for my neighbor for her birthday.

I used sketch #13 from Retro Sketches for my first card.  Love this sketch and some great DT work with it too.  You should have a look.



And although I decided to make all the cards different, I opted to go with one image from my new The Craft's Meow, Beautiful Spring.  Let me tell you, I LOVE IT.  Here's #1.

Heat embossed the rose on Neenah CS.  Inked it up with Adirondack and Distress Inks - a la the rose "Gloria Dei".  Cut it out.  Stamped the leaf onto green scrap , cut out and toned it down by applying a bit of Distress Peeled Paint.  Cut a piece of white CS and rounded the top using partial die cutting with a circle die.  Punched a hole for the tag.  Dry embossed with woodgrain folder.  Added ribbon scrap.  Adhered a strip of digital PP to card base.  Stamped sentiment and adhered tag with dimensional adhesive.  Did I mention I love it?!?!

It's Anything Goes over at Simon Says Stamp.  I'm comin'.

Happy blooming roses to you.

Supplies glückwunsch:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, CS American Crafts and Basic Grey, Neenah, PP Pink Petticoat

Stamps: The Craft's Meow, sentiment Inkystamp

Ink: Ádirondack and Distress, Versamark

Tools: embossing folder Craft Concepts

Other: embossing powder, ribbon

lacy gingham spatter (DIY embellies)

The oh-so-fun challenges at Moxie Fab, Card Creations, Gingham, Spatter Technique and Doilies and Lace have been making cardmaking more enjoyable again.

(And I must admit, also the rules and consequences we established for DS and DD, which definitely take some of the stress out of parenting.  Should you be experiencing similar stress, may I recommend The Total Transformation.  As well as this site.)

Anyho, back to the fun stuff.  See this butterfly? 

She used to be the lacy layer on the bridesmaid dress I wore for BFF's wedding. Twenty five years ago...

The dress got shortened and did a stint in DD's dress-up box.  Now I believe it's up in the attic.  What I cut off I put into my fabric collection.  And when Cath said to use lace I decided to pull it out.

Started by die cutting the butterfly from the lace and then from a piece of turquoise paper to Mod Podge it onto.  Added some glitter while still wet too.  A snip of lace, a button and some button twine and she was ready to flutter off.

Also made a flower from some polka dot fabric and a snippet of white lacy fabric.  Added a scrap of the turquoise lace to the center.  Added some dimension by heating the flower to crinkle a couple layers.  Love to do that.

Dry embossed the leaves onto the front panel.  (Check this video to see how to make your own "embossing folders".)  Added some spatter with shimmery watercolors.  Absolutely not happy with those spatters.  I'd love to know Aga's secret - she is, for me, the queen of spatter.

Stamped my sentiment onto a die cut gingham ric rac and attached with stitching.  Attached the flower and butterfly.  Don't really know what motivated me to add the funky gray artistic strokes around the outside edge, but I did...

This became a birthday card for DD's riding teacher so I gussied up the gift bag to match.

Thanks for looking.  Happy long weekend - it's actually a holiday in Germany too.  Whitsunday.

Supplies Sending Warmest Wishes!:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, CS American Crafts, PP Pink Petticoat
Stamps: sentiment The Craft's Meow, flourish Rubbernecker, "a" Hero Arts
Ink:gray and blue Versacolor
Tools: paintbrush, butterfly die Memory Box, leaf die Sizzix,  circle punch EKS, butterfly punch Martha Stewart, sewing machine, Mod Podge
Other: shimmery watercolors, fabrics

happy bird-day to U

As they say in German, this was a "schwere Geburt".  Had a completely different idea in mind.  Wanted to use my pretty new digi papers from Pink Petticoat.  Not really like this.  But...

This was the photo inspiration.  There is always so much yumminess in Jay Gee's photo collages.

Maybe that was my dilemma.  Too much on the buffet to choose from.  Was going to stack the birdies (again) like the cake.  Was too boring.  Added a couple brighter colors like the mobiles.  Naa.  Briefly considered the chevrons then realized that I didn't buy any!

Picking up on the rolls of polka dot paper I stamped and embossed a distressed circle BG but couldn't make that work either. Note to self:  make it work for another card.

So, I figured out that I really liked the purpley hydrangea paper and the pink bird I had die cut from hydrangea paper too.  Decided I wanted to do the partial circle negative and let the paper peek through.  Deciding to stick with a good thing, I printed out some yellow and cut another birdie.  (Tip:  Don't let DH catch whiff of digi papers.  He can "handle" the packages arriving at the house, but he ain't so happy about empty printer cartridges.)

 The plain white CS wasn't doing it.  Grabbed my embossing folders and lo and behold this one looks like what, hydrangeas, if you look at it right!

Knew I wanted this "birdy" sentiment, but where?  And what to do about balance?  My solution.

Don't have the showers here, but lots of April flowers.  Therefore this is parking in the huge lot of entries for the current Simon Says Stamp Challenge.

Thanks for coming by today.  Quite wordy, wasn't I?  Happy Sunday.

Supplies happy bird-day:

Paper: card Buttinette, CS American Crafts, PP Pink Petticoat

Stamps: sentiment Basic Grey

Ink: pigment Colorbox

Tools: dies Memory Box, circle punches EKS, embossing folder Cart-Us

Other: bling Hero Arts

a very bunny day (tags)

How old were you when your parents stopped hiding an Easter basket for you?  I'm not gonna admit how old I was.  DS and DD still expect the same from me.  Happy to appease :)

The new colors from the Play Date Cafe are gorgeous.  The damask patterns in the old window and the pearlescent buttons caught my eye.


So this is what I came up with for DS' Easter basket.

Die cut chipboard and PP.  Stamped sentiment on printed PP.  Stitched PP to chipboard.  Printed image and added a bit of color with colored pencils, then punched.  Die cut PP to make flower.  Layered flowers, using bone folder to curl some petals.  Added button and twine and attached to tag.  Attached image with foam dots.  Made tag hanger using recycled raffia.

Changed out the color scheme and made this one for DD.  Kinda made me feel like Michelle Wooderson.  Kinda.

Ain't got too many of those "light and dainty" genes in me.  But the images and papers from a site I just discovered   (Pink Petticoat)  certainly made me want to try.  It's all digital, which is new to me.  I've got the wrong printer and paper but I gave it a go nonetheless.  And I'm excited about the result.  Maybe these products will help me channel my Michelle (and Melissa and Betsy).  Ha!

Thanks for viewing.  Have a joyful Easter.

Supplies a very bunny day:

Paper: chipboard stash, PP  Pink Petticoat
Stamps: digi Pink Petticoat, sentiment TPC Studio

Ink: pigment Cat's Eye, Tea Dye Distress Ink

Tools: oval die Spellbinders, flower die Sizzix, circle punch EKS

Other: colored pencils, button Sew Sweet, embroidery floss, sewing machine, raffia, foam dots