Happy New Year

This will be my last posting for 2013. I just wanted to wish my friends a Happy New Year filled with happiness and good health!

My card was made using a Spellbinders die and stamps from Artistic Outpost's Auld Lang Syne stamp sheet. I will be entering my card in this month's Artistic Outpost monthly referral challenge.

12 Tags of 2013 -- December

Hello friends. It's been three months since I posted in my blog and it feels great to be back. For 2 1/2 months I was hospitalized for a seriously infected wound. I'm happy to report that I'm doing well and everything is almost back to normal. However, my muse has been pouting.

I missed doing all my usual challenges. I missed all of the fall stamping -- no Halloween, no Thanksgiving, no fall colors. Christmas has come and gone and I didn't even get to create Christmas cards either.

Since the month of December is almost over, I had to at least finish my December Tim Holtz tag.  I love the poinsettia. Of course, its dimension caused a bit of a blur on the scan. I do love the finished tag.

Wicked Me

SB Designs has some really fun images. On this card I used Skeleton Key Samantha. To make my card I started by dry embossing a piece of Core'dinations kraft core cardstock with a brick design and then sanded it for highlight. I printed the image three times. I colored the images with Pan Pastels. The results was a little more streak than I expected, but it does give the card a distressed look . I cut out Samantha with the door twice -- once to layer directly on my card and the second to layer popped up on the first. From the third printed image, I cut out Samantha and popped  her on the other images for an additional layer. the sentiment come from Tim Holtz' Chit Chat words. I layered the background/image panel to a kraft base card. I finished the card by spraying it with Diamond Dazzle Glimmer Mist to give the card a tiny bit of mysterious glimmer.
I made my card for these challenges: Simply Steampunk with the challenge of layers and V's Sweet Ideas Blog challenge with the theme of Halloween.

12 Tags of 2013 -- September

I was able to finally finish my September Tag for the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013 Challenge. I am really upset with the US Post Office. I waited to work on my tag until my stencils order (and more) arrived. Well, they had my package on Thursday, but didn't leave it in the door like they usually do. I filled out their card as the card directed to have them re-deliver. Well, I'm still waiting. Grrrrrrr.
This was a fun tag. I love all the different ways Tim used the stencils. I used stencils from Dylusions and other Ranger stencils. I'm really happy with the colors too.
I'm also entering this tag into Hels' Ink on my Fingers Sunday challenge which is lock and key.

Whatever You Are

For my card I chose to use the faux silk technique from Technique Junkies for my background. Artistic Outpost has so many great sentiment stamps. I thought that this sentiment from AO Typography and a little bling  complemented the elegant background.
I am submitting my card to the following challenges: Artistic Outpost September referral challenge which is anything goes; Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which is say it with stamps. and Inspiration Journal which is falling for faux.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I'm last minute as usual, but I made it. Stampsmith has the monthly challenge theme inspired by a song. I love the Wizard of Oz, so that's the Stampsmith stamp set I used. The song, Over the Rainbow, is a favorite of mine. It was fun working in my art journal again.

Thank You

Bling it on is this weeks Bloggers Challenge. Creative Belli is looking to see ribbon and pearls. The layout of my card is based on the sketch challenge at Mojo Monday. My base card is kraft cardstock with a layering panel of deep brown. The sentiment on the center panel is from Our Daily Bread Designs. The stamped pumpkin is from Club Scrap. The pearls are from Zva.
Both Kraft Journal and  Fashionable Stamping are looking for Autumn or fall  colors. ODBD has an anything goes theme.

Isn't Life Beautiful?

For a change of pace, I decided to do something other than a card. Several challenges have a flower theme and an altered frame seemed like the perfect canvas for flowers. I had this wood frame from Michael's sitting in my stash. I used my walnut stain to stain the wood. My die cut flowers are from Cheery Lynn Designs--gardenia strip (makes a great rose) and large rose strip. They are layered on Cheery Lynn Designs ivy corner flourish. The sentiment oval is also Cheery Lynn. The framed image is done using the parchment craft technique. The stamp is from SweetStamps. The sentiment (Club Scrap) makes me smile.
I am entering my project into these challenges: SweetStamps challenge is roses; Cheery Lynn Designs has the challenge of die cut flowers; City Crafter is looking for flower power; Three Muses wants to see altered art; and Word Art Wednesday has an anything goes challenge.

Steampunk Maiden

SanDee & Amelie's Steampunk challenge this month is dolls 'n robots. To make it even more interesting, they have divided the challenge into 2D and 3D. I'm going with the 2D challenge, as you can see; although, there is some dimension on my tag. To create this tag, I started by covering a large tag with Graphic 45 paper. I used several stencils with distress paint, distress ink, and Dylusions spray. My Steampunk lady is part fussy cut from a Graphic 45 image (Steampunk Debutante) with a skirt made from a die cut bird cage (Tim Holtz Caged Bird) over another piece of Graphic 45 paper. The skirt is decorated with Tim Holtz washers and jump rings. I added a Tim Holtz light bulb and a die cut bird for added embellishment. I used a Tim Holtz word band (dream as if you'll live forever) as my sentiment.
I am also entering my tag into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge which is anything goes.

Time is the Best Doctor

I guess I should have scanned my card with a background behind it. The ivory card base kind of blends into the white background. Oops!
Oh well, my card is a CAS get well card.  The background is a scribble of gelatos overstamped with some apothecary bottles (Club Scrap). My sentiment is also from Club Scrap.

I am entering my card into the Addicted to CAS challenge which is get well and into the Tuesday Throwdown challenge which is CAS.

In My Thoughts

The Oriental Sketch challenge at Mark's finest Papers is a fairly new challenge. I thought I'd join this week. This is my card created from bits and pieces of Oriental paper I have in my stash and an image and sentiment from Mark's Finest Papers. I tried to enhance my background paper with my new metallic pan pastels. Unfortunately, the shine and glimmer was lost in the scan.

Yee Haw!

This week the challenge at SweetStamps is western. I had to give this challenge a little thought since I don't have any western SweetStamps stamps. So I went to a collection of stamps I haven't used in ages, my Kitchen Sink Stamps, for the cowboy hat and sentiment. Once I stamped the hat, I masked it and then stamped the beautiful SweetStamps flower bouquet. I think the flowers with the hat make a great Western card. The flowers were colored using my distress markers. To complete the card, I sponged butterscotch ink on the background. Yee Haw!

Believe in Who You Are

This card layout was based on this week's sketch challenge at Mojo Monday. I did take a little liberty with the sketch. I was excited at the Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp this week. The challenge is to celebrate STAMPtember and use a product from the Simon Says Stamp store. Recently I won the challenge on the Tim Holtz blog and my prize was a gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp. I used the prize to get the Tim Holtz Classic Stamp Set # 5 which includes this beautiful face. I've been wanting to use her and this was a perfect opportunity. My sentiment is a Wendy Vecchi stamp.

That's What Friends Are For

Today I had a free day, so with a little help from my muse, I spent a productive day in my studio. My first card is a CAS card in fall colors. (My base card came out a somewhat strange color when I scanned it. I couldn't fix the color without losing the color of the leaves. It is kraft cardstock, not the violet color it looks here.) The large leaf is a Stampland stamp which I stamped on design paper and then fussy cut out. The sentiment is from Our Daily Bread Designs. The small leaf is die cut from the same dp. The card design is done with the simple frames technique from Technique Junkies.

This card meets the challenges of several sites. The Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge is stamp on anything but plain paper. Kraft Journal has a song or book challenge. Try That Technique at Technique Junkies is the simple frame technique. The Our Daily Bread Designs challenge is fall colors. The Word Art Wednesday challenge is anything goes. Mark's Finest Papers Simple Salutations challenge is autumn. The Speedy Fox and Friends challenge is a recipe challenge [1 die cut (small leaf), 2 images (large leaf and sentiment), 3 colors (yellow, orange, and green)]. CAS-ual Fridays wants fall colors and at least 1 leaf.

Autumn Angels or Fall Hanging

 

 

I'm a little late in posting my Bloggers Challenge project. I had it done in plenty of time, but I'm still in the learning curve with handling pictures on my new computer. It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

This weeks Bloggers Challenge is Welcome Fall. I thought that it would be fun to change off from a card and make a hanging. Keeping with fall colors, I used my lacey angel die (Cheery Lynn) in gold against a rust pinwheel doily (Cheery Lynn). I cut three of each, layered the angel on the doily, and folded then in half. I adhered the halves of the doilies to each other to create a tri-section ball. I attached die cut leaves (Cheery Lynn Build a Flower 3) in various fall colors to each angel and hung leaves from the bottom of the ball.

I'm also playing in the Ink on my Fingers Sunday Challenge which is make a hanging and in Cheery Lynn Designs and Tuesday Throwdown who both had the theme things with wings.

Dare

Today I am sharing an ATC. I love this size (2 1/2 " by 3 1/2 ") format. I used to create so many ATC's, but I've kind of gotten away from making them. So, today's project was a lot of fun. I decided to give it a masculine flair. My background uses the wrinkle free distress stains technique. I highlighted the background with a stencil using distress ink. The dapper gentleman is a stamp from SweetStamps. The sentiments are from Tim Holtz as is the moustache.
I am entering my ATC into two challenges. SweetStamps has an ATC challenge. Frilly and Funkie has an anything goes challenge.

Autumn Leaves

It's been a long time since I've been able to blog. My computer hard drive crashed. Yes, the dreaded crash. Fortunately, I did have a lot of my stuff backed up, but of course, not everything was saved. I got a new computer, but it has Windows 8. Now, there's a whole new learning curve! I really wish that Microsoft would stop trying to tell me what I want and need, instead of me telling the computer. 
But now, back to my challenge card. This week the Blogger's Challenge is backgrounds (one of my favorite challenges). My layout is based on the Mojo Monday challenge sketch. To make my background, I started with a brown panel. I used one of my recently received stencils with yellow pan pastels. The leaves were die cut using paper from one of Tim's paper stash pads with a Tim Holtz/Sizzix die  and then inked with distress ink. I thought that the sentiment (Club Scrap) was so cool and very appropriate.
I am also entering my card into these challenges: Tuesday Throwdown has an anything goes challenge. Word Art Wednesday is always anything goes with an appropriate sentiment. Creative Belli is a color challenge looking for red, yellow, and orange. The Frilly and Funkie challenge  is also anything goes. The Artistic Stamper challenge has an autumn theme. Great Impressions is asking for fall colors.

All That We Behold

Today I combined one of my favorite Artistic Outpost images  from the Outpost stamp set with a sentiment from a totally different Artistic Outpost stamp set, Flower Market. There is something very peaceful in the combination of this image with this sentiment to me. I love the way the framing of the image and sentiment with the combination of Cheery Lynn dies pulls your eye toward the image.
I am entering this card in these challenges. The Artistic Outpost Referral Challenge has the theme anything goes (using an AO stamp). Cheery Lynn Designs wants us to frame it. (Cheery Lynn dies used are Japanese Garden Lace oval, Dutch Doily Rectangle frame, and Felicity Tiny doily). The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge and Word Art Wednesday challenge are both  anything goes challenges.

All Packed and Ready to Go

Have packed suitcase, will travel. The top image shows the suitcase closed, with lots of travel stickers on it. When you open the suitcase, the clothes are all packed and ready to go. There's a bit of a story to my card. I started with kraft cardstock and cut out the suitcase using the Tim Holtz die. I made a second cut to cut out the trim. The travel stickers are pieces of scraps which I stamped using Stampsmith stamps. Of course the suitcase had to have lining inside. Once the suitcase was assembled, I started packing. For the clothing, I used the Stampsmith vintage paper doll set. I stamped the clothing pieces and parts of the two dolls on designer paper. I cut out the clothing pieces from the stamped images and highlighted parts with distress marker.

My card is being entered into several challenges. At Stampsmith the challenge is world traveller. Mark's Finest Paper Simple Salutations challenge is girl things. Frilly & Funkie has the challenge theme, my steamer trunk. Inspiration Journal's challenge is summer vacation. (While I actually spent my summer babysitting for grandchildren, a trip to Paris, or anywhere, would have been a wonderful adventure.)

Notion Box in Steampunk

What do you get when you combine two metallic atc sized cards with two small match boxes and then add the flavor of steampunk. You get a great little metallic steampunk notions box with drawers.
To make this box, I started with two Ranger metallic atc blanks and two small  matchboxes. I then dry embossed the atc blanks using the riveted sheet embossing folder (Sizzix). A little black soot alcohol ink was added around the edges for distress and contrast. The corset is die cut using a Cheery Lynn die. Pearls were added as fasteners for the corset. The handsome guy is Mercius from the SB Collection. The stamp image is from Graphic 45. The matchboxes were painted with antique bronze distress paint -- both the outsides and inserts, inside and out. I attached a brad to the front of each insert to serve as drawer pulls. The two painted match boxes are glued together along one side. I added tissue tape along the outer sides of the boxes to give a nice finish. The two atc cards are glued to the top and bottom of the match boxes. The completed box with its two drawers makes a great little notions box and is easy and fun to make.
I am entering my box into several challenges. Ink on my Fingers Sunday challenge had the theme, Titanium, and we were to use metal. Three Muses wants a steampunk theme. MFP Friends of Speedy is challenging us to use metal as is Simply Steampunk. SanDee and Amelie's Steampunk August challenge is matchbox steampunk.

Grin & Bear It

Hopefully my card today will bring a smile to your face. I decided to have a little fun in my studio, so I brought out my Getting Grizzly set of stamps from Rogue Redhead Designs. My card meets the challenges at Marks Finest Papers Inspiration Thursday which is looks like a lodge. The background and images say rustic, just as you might expect in a lodge in the woods. I am also entering my card in V's Sweet Challenge which is something twine and in MFP Simple Salutations challenge which is wild animals. Well, even cute bears are wild animals.

Love Blooms

For my challenges card today, I decided to make a long, skinny card -- one that fits in a #10 envelope. I started with a kraft base card. The white background panel was first stamped with the vines (SweetStamps).  Then I dry embossed the panel with a wicker basket design (Cuttlebug). Since the card was longer than my folder, I had to hold my breath and force myself to cut a slit in the folder. Tim Holtz does this all the time, so I guess it's okay. lol The doilies were cut from my large and tiny felicity dies (Cheery Lynn). The butterflies and ovals are also cut from Cheery Lynn dies. My focal image (SweetStamps) was stamped using the marker watercolor technique. The sentiment is from Club Scrap.

I am entering this card into several challenges. The colors on my card were influenced by the color challenge at Kraft Journal. Cheery Lynn challenged us to use doilies. Both SweetStamps and Word Art Wednesday have an anything goes challenge. Stampin' for the Weekend is challenging wants to see butterflies.

Back to School Time

This week Blogger's Challenge is back to school, as is the Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Gecko Galz. I used the challenge sketch from Mojo Monday as the basis of my card layout. My main image is from Gecko Galz. The sentiment and alphabet stamps are from Club Scrap. Tuesday Throwdown challenged us to use our scraps. Except for the card base and the focal image, all of the paper used on this card was cut from partially used papers and other scrap paper.

Carnival Clown

For this card I got to use a stamp I borrowed from my sister, a long time ago. I just love this clown, an old stamp from Stampers Anonymous. I guess I should give him back sometime, but in the meantime I'm taking good care of him. I stamped the clown in archival crimson and  highlighted the image with wild honey distress ink. The background panel was double dry embossed -- first with dots (wild honey) and then with the post card folder (faded jeans), both Tim Holtz folders. The pennant was cut using the Tim Holtz on the edge pennant die, inked with wild honey, and then highlighted with Rangers Rock Candy dry glitter.
I am entering this card into several challenges. Simon Says Stamp Monday has the theme of carnival. I thought that the clown and the glittery pennant went well with that challenge. Take a Word wants to see warm colours. Artistic Stamper has a challenge of post card, travel, holidays. And, Creative Belli is challenging us to use glitter.

12 Tags of 2013 -- August

For those of you who know me well, don't panic. It's not the end of the month already. No, I actually finished my August tag from Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2013 very early. First of all, I love the stamps Tim used and I have to admit, I was still on a high from being a winner for the July tag. Although I do have the car stamps Tim featured, I went with the train tag -- my grandson loves trains. So, this one's for you Joshua!
I am also entering my tag into the Artistic Stamper challenge which is postcards, travel, holidays. In addition, this tag fits the theme at Tag Tuesday which is travel.

Lighthearted

I love to challenge myself by combining challenges. This card represents how I spent my afternoon trying to complete these three challenges.. At Cornish Heritage Farms, the challenge was a sketch challenge. The monthly challenge at Great Impressions is to make a square card. The SweetStamps monthly challenge is to use the dryer sheet technique.

I started with designer paper from My Mind's Eye to make the border. I added a sweet little stamp from SweetStamps to enhance the border. The clown fish image is a Cornish Heritage Farms stamp. The second fish is from Great Impressions. The bubbles bling has been in my stash for a long time. The slightly hazy look to the image is from the dryer sheet technique.

Simple Things

This week the challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs is fluttering or flying. The challenge at Fashionable Stamping is script, books, pages, print.
To make my card I started with  a page from an old German dictionary. I used the peeled paint (with vaseline) technique for the background. I had a few questions on how to do this technique, so I'll give a quick explanation. I adhered the dictionary page to a piece of plain cardstock using gel medium. I added a layer of gel medium over the top to seal the paper. After the gel medium dried, I added swipes of vaseline with my finger. Immediately I painted over the whole sheet with acrylic paint to which I had added a spray of water. After the paint dried I used a paper towel to wipe off the paint from the vaseline areas and to wipe off the remaining vaseline. The result is a grungy, distressed background.
The image and sentiment stamps are from Our Daily Bread Designs. The image label matched and was die cut using a Spellbinders die. The humming bird with flourish was cut using a Cheery Lynn die.

From Matchboxes to Art

What do you get when you take two small matchbooks, some pretty paper and diecuts, and add a little bling? You get a lovely little gift box with drawers. This week the challenge at Bloggers Challenge is to alter something.

To make this box, I started with two small match boxes and glued them together along one side. To make the top and bottom, I cut chipboard pieces the size of atc cards. (2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches) I applied gesso to both sides of both pieces for strength and to the striking area on the outer sides of the glued boxes. Using paint and design paper I covered the top and bottom cardstock and the sides of the boxes as well as the front, back, and inside of the drawers. Brads were added as drawer pulls. For the top of the box, I decorated it as I would an atc. The heart is die cut using the plain heart from Spellbinders and the ornate heart from Cheery Lynn. The silhouette heads are cut using a Tim Holtz die. I cut them several times from black cardstock and glued the cuts together for dimension. I inked the edges, added some bling and some paper roses to finish off the box.

I am also entering my box into the Take a Word Challenge which is pink.

You Are My Sunshine

This week there are several challenges relating to the sun and summertime. Summer brings to mind bright sunshine. I just added a fantasy balloon flight and the sea to conjure up a picture of summer fun. My sunny background was made using a texture fade from Tim Holtz on a yellow cardstock panel. The balloon, ocean waves, and sentiment oval/frame were die cut using Cheery Lynn dies. The sentiment was stamped using a Club Scrap stamp.
I am entering this card into these challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- hot time in the summer, Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -- Ode to Sunshine, City Crafter --summer time, and Creative Belli -- summer.

Christmas Tag

The SweetStamps challenge this week is to create a Christmas tag. I started with my tag and dry embossed it for texture. I die cut my Christmas tree using my new Cheery Lynn die. I really wanted a silhouette image in front of the tree, so I took my Sweet Stamps Children Skipping stamp and stamped it on black cardstock using white ink. I then fussy cut the image. As I had hoped, the reverse of the cut image (no white lines) made a perfect silhouette image. I used grungeboard numbers which I colored barn door red using distress stain for the 25. A little barn door red around the edges of the tag and a red ribbon completed the look.
I am also entering my tag into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge --anything goes.

Forever Friend

This is a card which uses several older and seldom used stamps. I love when that happens. My dog is from Rare Images. The paw prints are from a Hero Arts set. The sentiment is a Chapel Road stamp. I used Club Scrap paper for the card base and black, Kraft Outlet kraft paper for the background panel, Core'dinations for the layering panel and Stampland paper for the image and sentiment. The collar buckle is from Tim Holtz.
I am entering this card in several challenges: Mojo Monday -- round or square challenge, Kraft Journal -- cute critters, Word Art Wednesday --anything goes, and Mark's Finest Papers Inspiration Thursday -- Boxers.

If the Old Only Could

This month the Stampsmith Challenge is shabby chic or vintage grunge. What fun!

My background was done using the peeled paint (with vaseline) technique first. Then I overstamped by partially stamping  stamps from Club Scrap. The focal image is a Stampsmith stamp. She is framed by a Spellbinder's diecut. The sentiment is from Dyan Reaveley (Ranger-Dylusions)

Dare to Dream

This week the Ink on My Fingers Sunday challenge is time and the Simply Steampunk challenge is to use an embossing folder.My image is Jacob from Simply B designs. He was colored with watercolor pencils. I double embossed the metallic sheet background with a gears folder and a rivets folder from Tim Holtz. I added a light touch of alcohol inks for a bit of color. The clock die and sentiment are also from Tim Holtz.

Summer Yum

Here's a fun summer card. Bandana and popsicles--how much more summer can you get?
The bandana stamp is from Stampendous. The bandana technique is an old one from Technique Junkies. The popsicles were die cut using the Tim Holtz arches die. The sentiment stamp is from Serendipity. Pan Pastels were used for the background color with Viva Decor ice white used for the bandana dots and lines. The popsicles are really sparkly due to a covering of distress glitter.
This card is being entered into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge -- summer food/drink and into V's Sweet Challenge -- summer fun.

Butterfly

The Ink on my Fingers Sunday Challenge and Serendipity Stamps both challenged us to use fabric on our cards. I had a few ideas, but then I remembered a technique I had learned years ago. I used the Heartlooms velvet embossing technique with the small butterfly and milkweed stamp from Serendipity. (Of course, I had several pieces of the Heartloom velvet in various colors in my stash that I had to have back then because of the technique.)
For those of you new to this technique, it's very easy. You need a piece of Velvet, a craft iron (or if using a steam iron, no steam and stay away from the holes in the iron), and a rubber stamp. Spritz the velvet with a tiny bit of water, lay the velvet soft side down on the stamp and press the iron on the back of the velvet. It only takes a few seconds and the image will be embossed in the velvet. I cut my velvet using one of the Tim Holtz ovals. I was amazed at how easy the velvet cut.
The background of my card is cut from a piece of My Mind's Eye designer paper. The sentiment is a stamp from Club Scrap. this was a fun trip down memory lane.

Birthday Wishes

Although I'm a little late, I couldn't miss another Bloggers Challenge. Today the theme is  they say it's your birthday.
To make my card I cut the fairy using a Cheery Lynn die out of silver metallic paper. The sentiment letters (Tim Holtz) were also cut from the silver paper. I love silver against a navy background. Because of the metallic silver and the intricate die, I kept the card simple. I added a bit of bling to finish the look.
 I'm also entering this card into these challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- silver and/or gold, and Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes.

Birthday Cupcake

My card was inspired by several interesting challenges this week. The layout is based on a rotated sketch from Mojo Monday. The Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge is celebrating its 3rd year, so the challenge is to create something birthday related. Two separate challenges. want to see something inspired by cake. Our Daily Bread Designs' challenge is inspired by cake and MFP Inspirations' challenge is luscious cakes. The inspiration images are below. MFP Simple Salutations wants to see cards for men.( Yes, my card has lots of pink, but I think the tone of the pink and the card treatment are quite appropriate for a man). The Kraft Journal challenge is tie it up.

My card features the pink, white, and animal print of these two cakes. The base card is kraft cardstock. The horizontal panel and cupcake wrapper are cut from animal print. The rest of the cupcake is colored with distress markers. Distress markers also highlight the sentiment. I added a little Viva Decor glitter line to the frosting for a little dimension. The stamp is from the Tim Holtz collection. The background is a piece of pink core'dinations paper which was double embossed (Cuttlebug folders) and sanded. Since this was a man's card, I added the string bow (dyed with spun sugar distress stain) instead of a flower.