Monday, February 28, 2011

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge #192


I worked this up for this weeks' Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge and, let me tell you, it did NOT want to get born!  I don't think that I've ever ripped a card apart so much -- ever.  The sentiment has been pulled off so many times that it's tissue thin!


The central layer is the So Saffron/honeycomb design from Botanical Gazette.  I inked up the flat side of my Finial Press folder, placed the dsp in the folder and ran it through my Big Shot.  I'm very happy with the results!


Stamps:  Garden Girls, Rosy Wishes

Paper:  Bravo Burgundy, Early Espresso, Always Artichoke, Vanilla, Botanical Gazette dsp

Inks:  Black, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Creamy Caramel, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Lovely Lilac, Ballet Blue, Concord Crush

Accessories:  Big Shot, Finial Press Textured Impressions folder, Ticket-Corner punch, Photo-Corner punch, White gel pen, Metallic brads, Always Artichoke seam binding, Dimensionals, Aquapainter

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Hello, Sweetie!!



Okay, I really love this retro stamp set -- especially those little sugar cubes!  I don't know if I can really explain what all is going on here, but I'll try...

The sugar cubes are watercolored with Tempting Turquoise, Taken With Teal and Pacific Point.  Little rosy cheeks are done with Pretty in Pink and Melon Mambo.  To really give these guys the sugarcube effect, I carefully painted Crystal Effects on the side and top of each cube, leaving the front/face undone.  I used clear Microbeads on the Crystal Effects, the cut out an extra side arm for each cube and glued them in place with more Crystal Effects.  They look really sugary IRL!

The diamond shaped brads in each corner are the silver ones from the old Vintage Brads.  I covered them with glue, then dusted with ultra-fine glitter.  The flourishes were stamped from Tall Tales Numbers and covered with the same dark pink ultra-fine glitter.

I just love the retro feel!                                      

Stamps:  Coffee & Tea, Tall Tales Numbers

Paper:  Taken With Teal, Melon Mambo, White, Holiday Lounge dsp

Ink:  Black, Tempting Turquoise, Taken With Teal, Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink

Accessories:  Vintage Brads, Ultra-fine glitter, Dimensionals, Aquapainter, clear Microbeads, Crystal Effects



Wednesday, February 23, 2011

CSSC160 - Beyond the Fold



I worked this up for this week's Crafty Secrets challenge over at Splitcoast, themed "beyond the fold."  By beyond the fold, they mean that you can stamp, embellish or otherwise decorate your card beyond the card front.

I chose to create a punched border around the outside of the standard sized card front.  Because I don't have any Not Quite Navy ribbon, I substituted a piece of Not Quite Navy card stock under the Always Artichoke seam binding.

Stamps:  Garden Girl

Paper:  Not Quite Navy, Always Artichoke, Vanilla, Springtime Vintage ds

Ink:  Black, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, More Mustard, Really Rust, Cajun Craze

Accessories:  Ticket-Corner punch, String Lace punches (MS),  Always Artichoke seam binding, Vanilla 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Metallic Brads, Dimensionals, Aquapainter

Monday, February 21, 2011

Wishing you bouquets of joy!


I love this little retro girl and her huge bouquet!  I think that the next time that I work with this image, I'm going to have to cut out that big, yellow pansy and pop it up.  I've never done much with the new Basic Gray cs, but I think that I like it in this instance.  It seems to ground the bright, colorful bouquet.

Stamps:  Bouquet of Joy

Paper:  Basic Gray, Concord Crush, Vanilla, Lap of Luxury dsp

Ink:  Prepare yourself -- I used nearly every color!  Black, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Melon Mambo, Riding Hood Red, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Sahara Sand, Certainly Celery, Pear Pizzazz, Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum, Concord Crush, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze

Accessories:  White gel pen, Pretty in Pink 5/8" satin ribbon, Black 3/8" taffeta ribbon, Pretty in Pink 1/8" taffeta ribbon, metallic brads, Aquapainter, Dimensionals




and now for something completely different....


Okay, so shoot me -- I liked this weeks' Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge. I also love this great retro percolator gal, too!  I mean, seriously, how cute is she?


Stamps:  Coffee & Tea

Paper:  Poppy Parade, Black, White, Designer Series' In-Color Paper Patterns Pack

Ink:  Black, Tangerine Tango, Poppy Parade, Cajun Craze, Baja Blue, Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red

Accessories:  Black 5/8" satin ribbon, Poppy Parade stitched twill, Black 1/8" taffeta ribbon, White 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Metallic brads, Dimensionals, Aquapainter, sponges, Neutrals button collection



Sunday, February 20, 2011

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge #191


I worked this card up for this weeks' Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge.  Yet again, they hit another sketch out of the park!



I used one of my very precious last pieces of SU's aged copper Hodgepodge Hardware.  I'm still in deep mourning that they retired all the aged metal.  Let's please all take a moment of silence.....

Stamps:  Garden Girls, Mini Memories

Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Always Artichoke, Vanilla, Springtime Vintage dsp

Ink:  Black, Blushing Bride, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel, Crumb Cake, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, More Mustard, Daffodil Delight

Accessories:  Ticket-Corner punch, Hodgepodge Hardware, Metallic brads, Pearls Jewels, Always Artichoke seam binding, Rich Razzelberry 3/8" tafetta ribbon, Pretty in Pink 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Aquapainter, Dimensionals, Sponges

Monday, February 14, 2011

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge #190





Woo-hoo!  This card was featured on this week's 
Stampers Showcase over at Stamping 411!!  
Thanks to all the operators who enjoyed my entry!

Okay, if you haven't ever gone over to Stamping 411 for their Saturday Sketch Challenges, you really need to -- they're so much fun!



This card is pretty simple and uncomplicated -- less embellished, perhaps? -- for me. I kept thinking that I needed to add something more, but I think that the play of the patterns off each other gives it an elegant look. I had never used the Elizabeth stamp before, but I think that I'm now in love with it!


(By the way, Lee Conrey's Magic Bow Maker is the greatest invention EVER!  Just saying.....)

Stamps: Elizabeth, You're a Gem

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Always Artichoke, Vanilla, Springtime Vintage dsp

Ink: Black, Pear Pizzazz, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Ticket-Corner punch, Always Artichoke seam binding, Pearl Jewels, Dimensionals, Aquapainter, Sponges





Friday, February 11, 2011

Woodland Walk


I've never been a fan of Garden Green or Wild Wasabi -- until now!  I think that I'm still in the first (and only!) pack of Garden Green that I bought about ten years ago.  I just got the Woodland Walk dsp to use for a Creative Crew challenge and have totally fallen in love with the Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi and Garden Green color combination.

There is a fair amount of detail in this card, if you look closely.  The truck image is stamped on some faux-notebook paper and tied with linen thread.  The raggedy borders are done by punching Chocolate Chip with the Scallop border punch.  The border was further distressed by punching each scallop with a 1/16" handheld circle punch, pierced along the edges, sponged with Early Espresso and rolled/torn between the fingers.  There are also antique copper brads in all four corners, "anchoring" the rough border.

Stamps:  Countryside

Paper:  Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, Woodland Walk dsp, Newsprint dsp

Ink:  Black, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, Close to Cocoa, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze

Accessories:  Scallop border punch, Spiral punch, 1/16" circle punch, awl, mat pack, linen thread, metallic brads, Early Espresso satin ribbon, Wild Wasabi stitched ribbon, Dimensionals, Aquapainter

Monday, February 7, 2011

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge #189


I worked this up for this weeks' Saturday Sketch Challenge over at Stamping 411.  I really love the sketch this week!


I used the string lace punch to create a "frame" for the little Valentine's Greeting Card Kid, by punching one frame out of Cherry Cobbler, then backing it with a frame punched from Early Espresso.  I used SU ultrafine glitter in her heart and stamped the sentiment from Tiny Tags in Early Espresso.  The paper rose was made from Melanie Schulenberg's fabulous
paper roses video tutorial!

Stamps:  Greeting Card Kids, Tiny Tags

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Sending Love dsp

Ink:  Black, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, Pretty in Pink, Blushing Bride, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Big Shot, Birds & Blooms larger flower, Little Leaves Sizzlit, string lace punch, sponges, Aquapainter, Dimensionals, Glimmer Brads, Ticket Corner punch, Tiny Tags punch, Early Espresso satin ribbon, Real Red 1/8" taffeta ribbon


Friday, February 4, 2011

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge #188



Woo-hoo!  This card was featured on this week's Stampers Showcase over at Stamping 411!!  Thanks to all the operators who enjoyed my entry!

Hooray for Saturday and for this weeks' Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge!!  Take a peek at the great sketch on offer for this week and pull out your cardstock -- it's fabulous and it's fun.



I added the bit of distressed scallop trim at the top of the center layer and the Cherry Cobbler card base for balance, but those were the only changes I made.  I had never tried to distress a scallop border before and I really like the results!

I created my own faux notebook paper for the botanical "sketch".  If you look closely, there is a touch of Rose Red seam binding under the bottom edge of the Cherry Cobbler seam binding. It adds a little dimension, I think.

Lots of little details here -- trinket key, the tiny tag with the "friends" sentiment, the library binder clip, a bit of linen thread and the aged copper brads.

Stamps:  Nature Walk, Tiny Tags

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Vanilla, Botanical Gazette dsp

Ink:  Black, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight

Accessories:  Scallop border punch, Spiral punch, Tiny Tags punch, Trinket key, Metallic brads, linen thread, Rose Red seam binding, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, 1/8" Early Espresso taffeta ribbon, 1/16" circle punch, mini-glue dots, Dimensionals, Aquapainter, sponges

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Another card using Stamping 411's sketch 188


Well, forgive me if I love this sketch!  There's lots of detail to be found here -- I could've added more, but I didn't want it to get too cluttered.  

                                    

The central layer was stamped with the floral spray from Together Forever then watercolored with Pretty in Pink, Concord Crush, Night of Navy, Old Olive and Always Artichoke.  I wanted a floral to go with the stripe pattern from the Lap of Luxury ds, but I couldn't find it -- so I made my own.

The sentiment 'amour' is surrounded by the garland from Together Forever, which I inked with markers in order to make the distinction between the leaves and the flowers.  I pieced the scallop circle around it and put the medium pearl Jewels in each scallop.

The pansy trim beneath the ribbon was cut from Concord Crush with a cute pansy border punch.  I cut bits of Old Olive to go behind each pansy cut-out and put a medium pearl in each center.

Stamps:  Together Forever, Artistic Etchings

Paper:  Concord Crush, Old Olive, Lap of Luxury ds, White

Ink:  Black, Concord Crush, Pretty in Pink, Night of Navy, Old Olive, Always Artichoke

Accessories:  Scallop Circle punch, pearl Jewels, Pansy border punch (Martha Stewart), Old Olive Twill ribbon, Old Olive 5/8" satin ribbon, Dimensionals, mini glue-dots, Aquapainter

Come to the Splitcoast Creative Crew February dinner party!



One of our Creative Crew challenges for February was to work around the theme of a dinner party. As I am a totally pink & green girl, naturally I gravitated to Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose!

I layered double-sided loop punch out of Always Artichoke, over the green striped pattern out of the Springtime Vintage dsp, then matted with more Always Artichoke.

I made the fabulous paper roses using Melanie Schulenberg's video tutorial on her blog, Pockets of Inspiration. 





To see all of the Creative Crew's fabulous samples, check out the Creative Crew's gallery for February!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The February Creative Crew color focus challenge!


Here is my submission for the Creative Crew Color Focus challenge this month -- Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso and Daffodil Delight. There isn't any card that can't be fabulous with Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso in it, as well as some Close to Cocoa and Early Espresso sponged around the edges!

The Cherry Cobbler layer was color embossed with Close to Cocoa.  To achieve this distressed, vintage effect, I rubbed my Close to Cocoa classic pad across the 'flat' side of the Finial Press Textured Impressions folder.  Insert your piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock through your Big Shot. If you make your sandwich on Tab 1 of your multi-purpose platform, you'll get more ink transferred to your cardstock.  I con't use any tabs to get just the merest amount of transfer, which I think gives it a more vintage look.


To make the faux notebook paper, I stamped and watercolored my radish.  Then cut the cardstock to the required dimension and sponged the edges front and back.  I punched the top edge with the Spiral punch, then drew lines with a ruler.  It's a very simple technique that packs a lot of punch!


The 'Homegrown' label was stamped in Chocolate Chip craft ink, then clear embossed and watercolored.  The highlights in the main image were made with a white gel pen.


Stamps:  Homegrown


Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Vanilla


Ink:  Craft ink:  Chocolate Chip.  Classic inks: Black, Rose Red, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, Certainly Celery, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, More Mustard


Accessories:  Big Shot, Finial Press Textured Impressions folder, Spiral punch, Ticket-Corner punch, small Oval punch, Scallop border punch, 1/16" circle punch, 1" Early Espresso striped grosgrain ribbon, Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon, Tearing Edge, metallic brads, sponges, Dimensionals, Aquapainter, white gel pen