Arlequino!

Another gorgeous image from Crafty Secrets' Costume Cuties set!  Putting the elements together on this one was a bit of a challenge, but I finally got it to work.

Things to know:  The tree, bats and dancing figures are all from Costume Cuties -- I just put them together.  The tree is stamped in Black craft ink and clear embossed.  The pennant and the curly/scalloped banners are from Crafty Secrets Artsy Banners.  The bat is done with the SU! small bat punch, then covered with black ultra-fine glitter.

Unless otherwise noted, all products are SU!

Stamps:  Costume Cuties, Arsty Banners (both Crafty Secrets)

Paper:  Black, Peach Parfait, Vanilla, Glowing dsp (Authentique)

Ink:  Black, Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Peach Parfait, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze, So Saffron, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Daffodil Delight

Accessories:  Rhinestone jewels, Bat punch, sponges, Aquapainter, black ultrafine glitter (Martha Stewart), clear ep, Elegant Eggplant 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, 5/8" Black satin ribbon

Costume Cuties from Crafty Secrets!

Okay, who doesn't love these little monsters from Crafty Secrets' Costume Cuties set?  I love the vintage look of these images!

Stamps:  Costume Cuties, Halloween Fun (Crafty Secrets)

Paper:  Vanilla, Peach Parfait, Black, Pick Your Poison DSP (SU!),  Pick Your Poison Quick Accents

Ink:  Black, Peach Parfait, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Lucky Limeade, Always Artichoke, Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Going Gray, Basic Gray

Accessories: 1/8" circle punch, Ticket-Corner punch, Modern Label punch, 5/8" Black satin ribbon, white gel pen, Dimensionals, Aquapainter

Creative Elements

Ever since I saw this dahlia in Creative Elements, it screamed that it needed to be popped up in layers-- the photo doesn't really do the finished product justice!

Helpful hints:  I inked up the frame from Four Frames with Lucky Limeade, then rolled the edges in Always Artichoke to give it a ombre feel.  I ran my Early Espresso marker around all the cut edges of the flower layers, giving them better definition and losing that tacky VCL (Visible Cut Lines).  White gel pen adds highlights and more definition to the petals.  The Cajun Craze card base was embossed with my Square Lattice Textured Impressions folder.

Stamps:  Creative Elements, Four Frames

Paper:  Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, White, Spice Cake DSP

Ink:  Black, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze, Lucky Limeade, Always Artichoke, Daffodil Delight, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice Textured Impressions folder, brads, Dusty Durango polka-dot 1/2" grosgrain ribbon, Always Artichoke 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Decorative Label punch, Ticket-Corner punch, Dimensionals, Aquapainter, white gel pen, sponges

Piece of Poison

This is my first Halloween card of the year!  I'm really liking the new Pick Your Poison dsp from the Holiday mini, as well as the Quick Accents. Because the patterns are so soft, I came up with something shabby without even really trying!

Stamps:  Piece of Poison

Paper:  Vanilla, Peach Parfait, Black, Basic Grey, Pick Your Poison dsp, Pick Your Poison Quick Accents

Ink:  Black, Peach Parfait, Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa

Accessories:  Ticket-Corner punch, Black Lace trim, 1/8" Pumpkin Pie taffeta ribbon, 5/8" Black satin ribbon, brads, Aquapainter, Dimensionals, sponges, white gel pen

What comes to mind when you think of the following images?  A bundle of yellow pencils with sharp lead tips.  The smell of a brand new box of crayons and crisp sheets of loose leaf?    If you guessed back to school then you get an A+.

The September Sampler, "Backpacks and Bookmarks" offers ideas for getting students, teachers and parents in the mood for heading back to school.   Sweet and simple projects are suitable for teachers, students and their classmates.   You'll find:

• Kindergarten Memories book
• Mini spiral coloring book
• Pencil storage packets
• File cabinet/locker magnets
• Desktop notepad with pen
• Sweet spiral locker mirror
• ...and of course, beautiful back to school and Thank You cards for teachers

The "Backpacks and Bookmarks" Sampler is due for release September 10th.
Use the code PCS-LH when you place your order!

Christmas Lodge

My first try with Christmas Lodge!  I really like this set -- it's very retro and cozy feeing.  I'm glad that the flash from my camera really picked out all the glitter "snow."  The Christmas banner at the bottom was taken from Pines & Poinsettias, watercolored, cut out and popped up on Dimensionals.  And did you see the two mini-jingle bells underneath?

I combined both of the new Christmas dsp's, Holly Berry Bouquet and Frostwood Lodge, then peeled me some wallpaper!  

Stamps:  Christmas Lodge, Pines & Poinsettias

Paper:  Early Espresso, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, White, Christmas Lodge, Pines & Poinsettias

Ink:  Black, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, Bravo Burgundy, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Crumb Cake, Close to Cocoa, More Mustard

Accessories:  White gel pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Ticket-Corner punch, Mini-Jingle Bells, Cherry Cobbler satin waffle ribbon, Garden Green 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals, Vintage brads, Aquapainter

Leaves of a Tree

More fun with the Spice Cake dsp!  I hand colored the Leaves of a Tree stamp with markers so that I could add some dimension using lighter/darker shades together.  I love the shape of this tree!  The ribbon is the new Cherry Cobbler satin waffle ribbon, which adds so much texture -- I love that ribbon.  I considered adding a bow, but thought that the image and the dsp were already busy enough.

Stamps:  Leaves of a Tree

Paper:  Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, More Mustard, Vanilla, Spice Cake dsp

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze

Accessories:  Ticket-Corner punch, Cherry Cobbler satin waffle ribbon, Earth Elements brads, sponges, Dimensionals

Always Thankful!

This is my first sample using goodies from the new SU! Holiday Mini.  I just have to say that it's a glorious collection of products!  I'm especially loving the the new Spice Cake dsp -- the colors are warm, with just a hint of Pool Party, and patterns are detailed and retro.

Stamps:  Always Thankful

Paper:  Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Vanilla, Spice Cake dsp

Ink:  Black, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Always Artichoke, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip

Accessories:  Ticket-Corner punch, vintage brads, Early Espresso satin waffle ribbon, sponges, Aquapainter, white gel pen