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.