Lu(k), it's a poppy! (DIY embellies)

Have you seen the new challenge at Lily Pad Cards.  It's Virginia's (Lu) View.



I love these little natural beauties.  They pop up all over in fields around Germany.  Only last about a day, but how lovely.  Made my own little lovely.

A red polyester scrap of fabric (I think it was a pirate scarf for DS back in the kindergarten days).  Some freehand cut circles.  A heat tool to crinkle the edges.  Some black seed beads in the center.

Then a little stamping on recycled packing paper.  Made into a tag thanks to an eyelet and raffia.  Then an uber-gorgeous begonia (hope my girlfriend has better luck with them than I do - but it was so luscious I couldn't resist) and the bday present is complete.

On another note... do ya'll - BTW, I am just shocked that there are 24 of you out in blogland that like to see what I do.  I'm honored.  Flabbergasted actually -  know cardmaker, photographer, artist Colleen D.  over at Dietrich Designs?  She is one talented lady.  Can you believe those amazing butterflies?  Anyhoo, I had sent her a little something awhile ago and received the most gorgeous thank you card today.  I can share it with you cuz it's here in all its moxiefabness.  You should see those little butterflies IRL.  So shimmery.

Here's a big hug to all the wonderful talent-sharing, support-giving, beauty-loving cardmakers out there.  So nice to hang out with you all!

Supplies for you tag:

Paper: recycled packing paper, CS Coredinations
Stamps: BG and flourish CHF, circle and sentiment Stampendous
Ink: Distress Ink Ranger, black Versafine
Tools: corner rounder EKS, eyelet setter
Other: fabric, beads, raffia

sending warm wishes (shaped card)

Quick post to share this card.  Shaped card.  check. Sunshine. check.  Flowers.  check.  Favorite technique heat embossing and distress inking.  check.

That's why this slice of happiness sneaked in for the monthly Hero Arts challenge before the deadline.



And to the new challenge (couldn't even begin to get my head around the last one!) at CASual Fridays.


And there's an Emboss Resist challenge/blog hop at Blockhead Stamps.  Check out the tutorial Colleen D. did here.  And if you scroll down you will find the link to Blockhead and the challenge info.

Used my WMS doily to create a sun image.  IMO at least.

Folded yellow CS and die cut card base being careful to place the die above the fold so that the top would remain folded.  Duh.  Die cut white top piece and the window out of it then stamped the flowers and message.  Strange place for a button?  Three guesses and the first two don't count.
A smudge.

Attached the image to the card base and the white panel with foam adhesive.  That's it for now.  It will become either a birthday or get well card when it grows up :)

Have a bright and sunny weekend.

Supplies sending warm wishes:

Paper:Neenah,   CS American Crafts
Stamps: doily WMS, flowers and sentiment Hero Arts CL272
Ink: Distress Ink Ranger, black Versafine
Tools: die Spellbinders
Other: button Sew Sweet, twine

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

alles liebe

DD's girlfriend is having a bday.  DD and all the girls are really into horses so that part was clear.  What to do for the rest?  Inkystamp meets The Ribbon Girls.

May I introduce those of you in Germany who don't know her yet.  I'm honored to have Miss Inkystamp as one of my followers.  Love her art and stamps.  Check out that sentiment. 

And I'm in love with the colors and photo from The Ribbon Girls challenge.  And Karin's sketch at Waltzingmouse.



So I got out my Pic Nic Patterns from Waltzingmouse and played away.

Lots of stamping and a little bit of embellishing.  DD says it's good to go.  OK.

Thanks for looking in.

Supplies alles liebe:

Paper: Neenah CS American Crafts
Stamps: WMS, horse Artemio, sentiment Inkystamp
Ink: ColorBox, Versacolor
Tools: die Spellbinders, embossing powder
Other: ribbon, twine, button Sew Sweet

take care flutterbys

Did some spending lately.  Including some Memory Box dies.  And The Craft's Meow stamps.  And I'm having such fun.

Absolutely love the colors at The Play Date Cafe.  That polka dot tie - OMG.



And since I received my new stamps (yep, sucked up and paid postage from the US - it wasn't so bad actually), decided to have a go at the sketch challenge at The Craft's Meow. 



Took liberties (again) but hey there's a line across the top and a bow and some buttons pearls and a sentiment...

Stamped the hexagon BG and the stitching across the top.  Die cut the flutterbys from CS and embossed them.  Opted for the iridescent pearls.  When I pulled out my pink ribbon scrap box these fabric scrap strips jumped out at me.  IRL the touch of green does wonders for the card, so I bunched them up into a bow.  Attached the flutterbys and stamped their tails (would recommend the reverse order ;) and voila.

This is off to my folks' neighbor who's not feeling well.  And she loves her flowers.  Bet she'll enjoy.

Have a colorful day.  And thanks so much for fluttering by.

Supplies Take Care:

Paper: card base Buttinette, CS American Crafts
Stamps: The Craft's Meow, stitching Crafty Secrets
Ink: Adirondack Ranger
Tools: die Memory Box, embossing folders dots Sizzix, letters Sizzix, woodgrain Craft Concepts
Other:  pearls, fabric scraps, button Sew Sweet

looking out my window (alcohol inks)

This is what I see out my kitchen window.  Purple and yellow pansies in my neighbor's flower boxes.  This is pretty typical in Germany.  Between the pine tree branch arrangements of winter and the geraniums of summer, lots of folks turn to pansies.

No wonder that they caught my eye.  My card for Opposites Attract at CASual Fridays used these colors.

And suddenly I had an idea for the Window challenge at A Blog named Hero.



Pansies. They're what I see through my window.

Got out the alcohol inks and applicator tool and played on acetate.  Some yellow splotches.  Some purple splotches.  Teensy bit of mixative.  Some black StazOn stamen.  A white sqare card base.  A couple glue dots strategically placed.  A strip of CS stamped with a great HA sentiment.  A few more flowers on the inside.  (Those teensy stamps HA is kind enough to include on sentiment sets are great for this.)   Some twine and buttons and voila.

Happy Sunday!

Supplies Happy Birthday to a great friend:

Paper: CS stash, acetate recycled, card base Buttinette
Stamps: stamen PTI, sentiment Hero Arts
Ink: Alcohol inks (Ranger), StazOn, black Versafine
Tools: hole punch, applicator tool (Ranger)
Other: twine, buttons Sew Sweet