Let's play "Try a New Technique"!!!

Nope.....I did NOT drop off the face of the planet....LOL!!!  I have actually been quite busy and have not had time to post to my blog lately....but I can promise I will be posting a number of cards in the next day to two!!!

This weeks Splitcoast Stampers "Try a New Technique" Challenge was called "Color the Texture" and we were to dry emboss a piece of light colored cardstock with an embossing folder and then color the embossed portion using markers, Copics, watercolors, Gelatos, pencils or any other medium we chose. If you would like to check it out, you can find the post here.  Well, this card really is not my style, but I've been trying to step out of my "creative comfort zone", so I went for it.  Just recently I watched a video by the Frugal Crafter where she showed us how to make our own metallic paints using dollar store eye shadow and I went to the Dollar Tree and found five different colors of cheap eye shadow and made some...they are just like Twinkling H2O's, which I do not own any of.  If you would like to check out Lindsay's video, you can find it here!  Last week I had bought a couple of new Darice Embossing folders at Joann's on sale, so I decided to use one of them to take on this challenge.  The one I decided to use is called "Dandelions" and I embossed it on a piece of water color paper.  Three of my "diy" metallic paint colors are a lovely deep pink, a bronze type color and a gold.  I used those three colors to color the dandelions and I used my "Bundled Sage" and "Crushed Olive" Distress Markers to color the grass and stems.  I also faintly watercolored the background using my "Tumbled Glass" and "Broken China" Distress Markers.  I threw in just a little "Clear" Wink of Stella and then I made a mask to cover the dandelions and used a little white "Heidi Swapp Color Shine".  In the mail today I received the July kit for Simon Says Stamp which I bought because I love the "Sending Happy Thoughts" stamp set and I decided to use the "Sending" and "Happy Thoughts" stamps on my card embossed in silver.  The finishing touch is clear sequins.........which I swear I have become addicted to....LOL  Here is a photo of my finished product........hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by and come back tomorrow as I will be posting a few more projects!

Finished Card Size:  A2 (4.25"x5.5")

Papers:  Strathmore 140 lb. cold press Watercolor Paper,  Bazzill 

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamps "Sending Happy Thoughts" 

Ink:  Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark"

Tools:  Silhouette "Cameo",  Ranger "Heat It"

Accessories:  Stamp-n-Stuff "Detail Silver" embossing powder, Pretty Pink Posh "Sparkling Clear" Sequins, Tim Holtz "Distress Markers". Darice "Dandelions" embossing folder, "Clear" Wink of Stella, Heidi Swapp "White Color Shine"

Easter Card for my Grandsons!!!

Yesterday, Splitcoast Stampers had their weekly Sketch Challenge (SCS376) and since I was going to make an Easter card for my grandsons, I decided to do it for the challenge......here is my take on it:

The adorable little "hatching chick" is an image I found through Google Images and turned him into a digi stamp!  I also went into my Silhouette Studio Designer Edition software and did a print and cut of the image, cut it with my Cameo and then hand colored with my Copic & Neopiko markers!  The "flower medallion" is a free cutting file by Monica Bjork called "Laced Frame 27" and you can find it here .....while you are there check out all of her files....they are wonderful!!!  The banner that I cut with my Silhouette "Cameo" is a Silhouette America file and I think it is one of the free ones that comes with the Silhouette Studio software...it is just called "banner 2" and I altered it by adding the "Happy Easter" using the "Stencil STD" font.


I hope my little grandsons like this card!  Thanks for stopping by and I always love reading your comments on my designs.  Hurry back!


Finished Card Size:  A2 (5.5"x4.25")

Supplies


Papers:  Bazzill, GA Pacific, DCWV "Nana's Nursery Baby Boy" Stack
Ink & Embossing Powder:  Tsukineko "WaterMark", Recollections "Signature Sparkle" Embossing Powder
Tools:  Silhouette "Cameo", Ranger "Heat It"
Accessories:  Martha Stewart "Hydrangea" & "Classic Butterfly" Punches, want2scrap "Bling", Stickles "Golden Rod" & "Crystal", "Copic Sketch" & "Neopiko" Markers

I guess you can say that I "fabricated" this one!!!

This is my card for this week's Splitcoast Stampers "Sketch Challenge" (SC272) and if you want to play too you can find all the pertinent info here! The reason I said "fabricated" is that I used some beautiful fabric that I found at a new quilting store in my area on Tuesday....naturally I could not resist buying a piece of it!!! I adhered it to a piece of cereal box that I cut using my Pazzles Inspiration Creative Cutter and then ran through my Xyron machine. The absolutely gorgeous 100% silk ribbon that I used came from Sharon Johnson at "No Time to Stamp" and if you would like to purchase some from her, you can find it here. I hate to admit it, but I bought my first order from her about a year ago and I've been hording it and I just ordered some more from her a couple of weeks ago and I'm going to start using it more often. It's so great to work with and it looks stunning!!!! For the "medallion" I used a corner punch by Martha Stewart and Becca's (Amazing Paper Grace) technique.

Now, to the butterfly and you can get a better, larger view of it by clicking on my photo above. A dear friend of mine sent me this birthday card for my birthday in 2008 with some beautiful butterflies on it that were from a stamp set she has. I used them as a model for one I designed to cut and emboss using my Pazzles Inspiration and the Pen Tool that Sue Reynolds, aka/HotPaws designed that will hold many different sizes of pens. I cut two layers and used fun foam to "elevate" the wing tips. Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!!!
Finished Card Size: A2/5.5"x4.25"

Supplies

Papers: "Kiwi Iridescent" Effects Papercraft by Canson (butterfly), Darice Paper Crafter, "The Chocolate Box" by Core'dinations, Bazzill
Stamps: "Spring Blossoms Clear Stamp Set" by Inkadinkado (flower and sentiment)
Inks: ColorBox
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", QuicKutz "Revoltion", Range "Heat It"
Accessories: Ranger "Super Fine Detail Gold" Embossing Powder, "Bow Easy", 100% Silk Ribbon, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Martha Stewart "Loops" Corner Punch, "Say it with Bling" and "Say it with Pearls" by want2scrap, Copic Spica "Pink", Beifa Gel Pens

Splitcoast's "Featured Stamper" Challenge

Barbara Anders (aka "Bar") was the "Featured Stamper" at the Splitcoast "Featured Stamper Challenge" (FS157 - Raise the Bar!) yesterday and I chose this card from her gallery! You can also check out her blog and leave her a comment for some blog candy here. I thought her card was so lovely and could not believe that it only received 2 comments! For the challenge we are supposed to change a least two things..... I changed many more but stuck with card layout that she used. If anyone would be interested in taking on this challenge, you can find it here!

The flowers that I used are some that I bought from Michaels and the leaves I used with them are some that I cut and paper sculpted years ago for a quilling project. I paper sculpted the flowers too and then added a couple of colors to the centers for some contrast.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!
Finished Card Size: A7/5"x7"
Supplies

Papers: My Mind's Eye "Wild Asparagus" (patterned papers), Bazzill
Stamps: Hampton Art "Studio G" (sentiment), Flora & Fauna by KaiserCraft, CC Ruben Stamps, Judith
Ink: "Pearlescent Ivy" and "Victorian Violet" Brilliance Pigment (sentiment), Memento "New Sprout"
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter"
Accesories: Recollections "Pearl Stickers", Offray Ribbon, "Brides" Flowers from Michaels, Martha Stewart "Eyelet Lace" Border Punch, "Olive Green" (#15) and "Eggplant" (#107) Marvy LePlume II Markers

And I'm back, yet again!...............

Well, as you can tell by my lack of activity here at my blog, I've been in a bit of a creative slump and I have to thank a very nice lady by the name of Velta for encouraging me to get back to work! The other day, I had stopped by her blog as I do frequently and I was so impressed by a card she had just posted (you can see it here at her blog) that I left her the following comment:

"Oh Velta, this is so beautiful!!!! I've kind of been going through a creative slump lately and this is just the inspiration I need to snap out of it...thank you!!!"

Well, she visited here at my blog and left the following comment:

"Oh MY Pam ~ I have been through your blog and your talent is amazing. All of your creations are so elegant...just what I like! Thank you for stopping by and commenting on my blog! It is hard for me to understand (other than the holidays) with your talent how you could be in a slump...Get on out here girl and get to work...I want to see more of your art!!!"

After reading her comment, I happened across a link to the Flourishes Newsletter and the first item I saw was "What's Your Cup of Tea? Challenge!" Well, to be honest I found that interesting and decided to take the challenge and make a Valentine card for my husband. My morning beverage is "Starbucks Breakfast Blend" and I went from there. Now, mind you this is not the best card I've ever designed, but my DH does not like "fluffy, girly" stuff, so I tried to keep it simple. Here is a photo showing the Starbucks bag along side of the card I designed:

and here is a close-up of the digitally stamped image I used:

This adorable little snail was a freebie from doodlepalace.com. I actually altered the image by cutting of the tail, changing the envelope sentiment, replacing the antennae with wire ones and adding the eyelashes. I colored the image using markers by Neopiko.

I also want to point out that the paper piercing that I did on this card (the sun rays) was done using my new "Piercing Tool" for the Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter". The needle that I used in it was not quite large enough, so I used a manual piercing tool to make the piercings larger....I need to go to Hobby Lobby and purchase a larger sewing machine needle!

Thank you so much Velta for giving me the "boost" that I needed!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!!
Finished Card Size: 5.5"x5.5"
Supplies

Paper: Core'dinations, Daisyd's "Playtime Dots - Pink & Yellow #14061" (hearts border)
Stamps: "Snail Mail" digital freebie from Doodle Palace and Studio G
Ink: Memento "Rich Coccoa"
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", QuicKutz "Revolution"
Accessories: Spellbinders "Nestabilities", Neopiko Markers, Ranger "Diamond" Stickles, Martha Stewart "Lace Heart" Edge Punch, Recollections "Pearl Stickers"

Booooo!!!!!

I'm not positive, but this may well be the first time I've made a Halloween card! Today for the "Limited Supply Challenge" (LSC241) we were supposed to do a "FALL-themed" card with stamps, paper and ink.....NO embellishments! It was alright to use diecuts, but the focal point should be something STAMPED. If you would like to join in the fun, you can find all the pertinent information here! For mine I used this adorable "mummy" stamp by Recollections, cut him out and used black fun foam pieces to adhere him with dimension. I also used a stamp for the "sentiment and I colored the pumpkin on it with some Neopiko markers. All of the background was done using die cut files from Pazzles and they were cut with my Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and my Craft Robo. For the creepy spider, I used some clear embossing powder and heat set it to give her a shiny, black widow look! Don't you just love that haunted looking house with the orange moon? I'm sure my little grandsons will love this!
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"
Supplies

Paper: Black, orange and blue grey CS (don't know brands...have had for years!)
Stamps: Recollections "Mummy" and "October Calender" by Studio G
Inks: Tsukinedo "Graphite Black" Brilliance and Memento "Tuxedo Black"
Embossing Powders: Old Town Crafts "Black Jewels" (sentiment) and Stamp-n-Stuff "Detail Clear Transparent"
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", Graphtec "Craft robo", Ranger "Heat It" and Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories: Spellbinders "Standard Circles & Scalloped Cirles SM", Neopiko Markers

Playing with my new SU "Petals-a-Plenty"!!!

Last week I placed my very first order of Stampin'Up products and they arrived later yesterday afternoon, so of course I had to play with one of them today! I've seen many cards done using the "Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions" embossing folder and I decided to order it. I also used the Splitcoast Stampers Wednesday Sketch Challenge (SC249) as my inspiration. If you want to play along you can find it here. As you can see by my photos, these images were very difficult to capture. They look much better IRL (in real life), particularly the beautiful snowflake.


Here is a close-up of the snowflake:


I cut two blue panels and ran them through my Big Shot using the Stampin'Up "Petals-a-Plenty" embossing folder. On the first blue layer I used the debossed side and brushed over the top of it with my Brilliance "Platinum Planet" and then used a silver glitter pen on the circles in the middle of each flower. I did the very same thing on the top blue panel and the top white panel, but I used the embossed side! The gorgeous snowflake is actually from the letter "E" of the font called "Faux Snowflake BRK" and was cut out using my Craft Robo digital cutter. I used white card stock that was stamped with the "Platiunum Planet" then covered with "Star Dust" embossing powder and heat set with my heat gun...did this twice and then added a flat-backed pearl! The "faux stitching" on the horizontal blue panel was actually done using the silver glitter pen in the Pen Tool on my Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter".

I have to say that I LOVE my new Stampin'Up embossing folders (I also ordered the "Elegant Bouquet" and the "Finial Press")...you will seeing lots of cards made by me using them!!!

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!!!
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"
Supplies

Papers: Bazzill and GA Pacific White CS
Stamps: Studio G "December Calendar Stamp"
Inks: Tsukineko "Platinum Planet" Brilliance Pigment & VersaMark "Watermark"
Embossing Powder: Old Town Crafts "Ultra Fine Silver" and Stamp-n-Stuff "Star Dust Transparent"
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", Graphtec "Craft Robo", Ranger "Heat It", Sizzix "Big Shot" and Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories: Martha Stewart "Floral Lace Edge" Border Punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities "Standard Circles & Scalloped Circles SM", Mark Richards "Pearl Perle", Michael's "Silver Half Pearl Stickers", Beifa "Silver Glitter" Gel Pen, Ribbon (remnant that I had on hand, but looks much like the "Bridal Elegance" from Michaels)

Happy Turkey Day!!!

I have been taking it easy for about the past 10 days, after completing my last project for the Pazzles 2009 Design Team, but today I decided that I wanted to participate in the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge (SC248). If you would like to participate, you can find it here! I decided to make mine a Thanksgiving Card!



The multi-colored "punched leaves" were punched from a paper that I designed using "alcohol inks" and the copper looking ones were punched from a paper that I designed using a metallic paint. The black decorative elements on the left side were cut using my Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and a cutting file from the Pazzles "Swirls & Twirls" CD. The center black "lacqured" panel was designed by me. I stamped the black CS using VersaMark and a couple of leaf stamps and then used my Perfect Pearls. I then VersaMarked the entire panel, covered with clear embossing power and heat set three times. Thanks for looking!!!
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"


Supplies

Papers: Embassy Black Cardstock by Ampad and "King's Gold" and "White Gold" Metallic Cardstock by Wausau
Stamps: "Leafs" from Spring Blossoms Clear Stamp Set by Inkadinkado, "Butterfly" from Lotus Greeting Stamps by Amy Butler by K&Company and "happy turkey day" by Studio G
Ink: VersaMark "Watermark" by Tsukineko
Embossing Powder: "Detail Clear Transparent" by Stamp-n-Stuff
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", Ranger "Heat It" and Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories: The Robins Nest "Dew Drops", Leaf Punches, Provo Craft "Leafy Branch" Embossing Folder & "Vintage Die", Tim Holtz Adirondack "Alcohol Inks" by Ranger, Ranger "Perfect Pearls" and "Lumiere" Metallic Acrylic Paint by Jacquard

Jerri made me do it!!!

Seriously, Jerri Jimenez's (A Touch of Grace) card, here inspired me to design this card which I'm also using for yesterday's Splitcoast Stampers Limited Supplies Challenge (LS235) where we had to include at least one butterfly as well as a money card/envelope! For those of you that have not registered at Splitcoast Stampers, you really should.....the challenges are so much fun and they really get your "mojo" going!!!


I used an Anna Griffin stamp for the bottom centerpiece of my card and also used my Pazzles Inspiration Studio software to create a mat for the image which I cut using my Pazzles Inspiration. I also designed the card base, small envelope, and the butterflies using my Pazzles Inspiration Studo software and then cut them with my Pazzles Inspiration! For the centers of my butterflies I used black crushed velvet flock. In the center of the bow I affixed an "Ivory Pearl Seal" from Micheals, but before I did I painted the pearl part of it a pink color using Making Memories acrylic paint. Another little note is that I used gold wire to make the antennae for the butterflies. Here is a photo of the inside, showing the little money envelope that I made.


I embossed the "liner" of the envelope. This was a lot of fun, plus I now have a special birthday card ready to give to someone very special!!!
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5/5"

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific White CS, Westrim Crafts Black CS, Ampad Pink CS & Paper (for envelope liner) and Vellum (Pink & White)
Stamps: Anna Griffin "Flourishes" (large centerpiece) and Lotus Greeting Stamps by Amy Butler for K & Company (sentiment and stamped image)
Inks: Tsukineko VersaMark "Watermark" and Memento "Tuxedo Black"
Embossing Powder: Ranger "Queen's Gold"
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", Provo Craft Cuttlebug "Bow Easy" and Ranger "Heat It"
Accessories: EK Success "Morocco Lace" Border Punch, "Crystal", "Diamond" and "Golden Rod" Stickles, Making Memories "Rose Petals" acrylic paint, "Black" Doodlebug Crushed Velvet Flock", Michaels "Ivory Pearl Seals", "Petal Pink" Liquid Pearls, Recollections "Pink" Pearl Stickers, "White" Pearl Stickers by the Paper Studio, Krylon "18kt Gold Leaving Pen", Provo Craft Cuttlebug "Textile" embossing folder, Stampendous "Wild Roe Gold" Class A Peel Stickers and Offray "Wired Taffeta" Ribbon

WOW...this is my 3rd masculine card in a week!!!

But...the important thing about this card is that it is for my husband's birthday, today!!!


I had been working on creating a card (in my head) for my husband for days and then yesterday when I saw the Sketch Challenge (SC243) at Splitcoast Stampers the ideas started coming! A few weeks ago I had bought three sheets of 12"x12" "specialty" papers at Hobby Lobby and I thought two of them would look great on a masculine card. They are both by the Paper Studio.....the first one is the brown "flocked" paper and it has paw prints on it. My husband is crazy about our little Yorkie ("Miss Dani") so I knew I just had to use that one. The second one is the the gorgeous "gold striped glitter" paper. I also had bought some linen samples from Paper and More and used a couple of them on the front panel. They are 84# card stock and I'm just going to have to break down and order several different packages of them. I'm afraid I was not able to pick up all the beauty of these papers in my photo, but trust me IRL (in real life) they look fantastic!!! All of the silver items on the front panel are Peel-Off stickers that were a gift from my UK Scrappers friend Cal...you can see her blog here. The "velvet looking ribbon tabs" were actually made using some suede paper that I bought years ago from a stamp store in GA that is now closed. I also used my Pazzles Inspiration and a gold pen in the Pen Tool to do the "faux stitching" on the two middle panels. It may not show in my photo, but this card is just a mass of wonderful textures and I think it really has a nice masculine look!!!
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5/5

Supplies

Papers: "Flocked" and "Stripe Glitter - Gold" by the Paper Studio, "Metallic Cream Linen" and "Metallic Gold Linen" Card Stock from Paper and More, "Striped CS" from DCWV All Dressed Up Stack, and "Black CS" by Westrim Crafts
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter"
Accessories: "Metal Corner" by Spare Parts, Silver & Gold Beads from Michaels and "Gold" RoseArt Pen

I LOVE this little frog image!!!

I'm really pleased with this card that I've made for my brother for his birthday. The frog is a digital image that I created in Photoshop CS3 from a font called "KiddyDing". I used the "w" for the frog and the "q" for the mushroom, printed it out twice and colored the image using my Copic & Neopiko markers. I also have to add that the frog was a "boy" and I turned him into a "girl" by adding the eyelashes and the red lips!!! The "sentiment" was done using my "Basic Black" Stampin Up marker in the Pazzles Inspiration Pen Tool and a Pazzles font called "Engineer"...in other words, my PI did the writing for me.....love that feature!!! The "52" was cut out of "Sequins Silver" vinyl using my Pazzles Inspiration digital cutter too. The cupcake is clipart from Graphics Factory.com. I used a Card Sketch (SC79) from Splitcoast Stampers.
Finished Card Size: A2/5.5"x4.25"

Supplies

Papers: Embassy Black Cardstock (card base), Westrim Crafts (other black CS), Darice Paper Crafter CS (green CS) and GA Pacific White Carstock
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities "SM Classic Rectangles & SM Classic Scalloped Rectangles", Copic Sketch Markers, Neopiko Markers, The Robins Nest "Dew Drops", Marvy Uchida "White Liquid Applique" (I colored it green using Making Memories "Celery" paint), Stampin Up Black Marker, "Sequins Silver" vinyl and Provo Craft Cuttlebug "Stylized Flowers" & "Tiny Bubbles" embossing folders.

WOW, this has been the most enjoyable crafting weekend........................

that I've had in months. I've only completed two cards, but I've got another project in the works too! I do think that maybe my "mojo" is coming home!!!! A little earlier today, I was checking out the Splitcoast Stampers "Gallery" and I came across a "hinged" card made by Wendy (aka/Wendybell @ SCS) and she has a fantastic video on how to make it...if you are interested in checking out her video, you can find it here! Well, here is my version of it and I had a blast working on it!!!


Here is a view of it opened up....I've not yet added the wording on the inside, as I will do that when I decide who I going to send it to!




The beautiful crocheted flower was made by my friend Teri's (tlfrank at SCS) mom. Teri was kind enough to send me some and I really treasure them....this is the first time I've used one of them. You know....I think I might be a "hoarder"!!! Here is a close-up of it.


Some time back I bought a "Bow Easy" from Sharon at "No Time to Stamp" blogspot. At here site she has a tutorial on how to use it and if you would like to purchase one and see her tutorial, you can see it here. I made my gingham bow using my "Bow Easy" and here is a close-up of it.


This was fun and thanks for stopping by!!!
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific (white CS base), Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock (gray textured CS), Wausau Paper "Smooth Finish" (lavender CS) and Me & My Big Ideas Specialty Cardstock "Parisian Flourish" designer paper (PADX-18)
Stamps: Studio G (sentiment)
Inks: Tsukineko Brilliance "Pearlescent Purple" & "Victorian Violet"
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories: Provo Craft "Swiss Dots" embossing folder, Recollections "Pearl Stickers", EK Success "Victorian Lace" Paper Shaperss Corner Adorner, Martha Stewart "Branch" punch, Fiskars "Lace" Border Punch, Spare Parts "Brad", "Bow Easy" and Michael's Basic Basic "Gingham Ribbon"

Triple Squares

Hey there! I'm finally getting a chance to do today's sketch challenge (SC238) at Splitcoast....it looked like a really good one. I decided to make mine a birthday card as I have several friends and relatives that have birthdays coming up! This also gave me a chance to use some of my new "toys", like one of the Cuttlebug "Vintage" dies and the EK Success "edger punch". I also used one of my stamps that I've never used before....the tiny butterfly! I also want to point out the white flower which was cut using my Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and a cutting file designed by my friend Teri (aka/tlfrank at the Splitcoast Stampers site). Thanks for the file Teri!!! Most of the panels, plus the "corner" treatment (which was designed by me) for this card was cut with my "Inspiration". The sentiment was done in Photoshop, using the "TXT LongHand" font and printed on the Bazzill using my Canon PIXMA MP530. It's the first time I've used this font as I did not even know I had it and I have no idea where I got it from, but I like it!!! This was fun and I hope you like it!

Supplies

Papers: DCWV "the All Dressed Up stack" (Green Glittered DP), Bazzill (white panel), Westrim Crafts black cardstock, Worldwin Papers "Sparkling Papers" (jewel toned mica coated paper center white flower) and Royal Brites
Stamps: "Lotus Greeting Stamps" by Amy Butler for K & Company
Ink: VersaMark "Watermark" by Tsukineko
Embossing Powders: Stamp-n-Stuff "Star Dust Transparent" and Adirondack "Moss"
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", Cuttlebug, Ranger "Heat It"
Accessories: Provo Craft Cuttlebug "Vintage" die, EK Success border punch, "Crystal" Stickles, Swarvoski "Crystal Beads" and glittered white brads (I think they are by Spare Parts)

I'm finally getting some of my "Mojo" back!

A very special friend of mine had a birthday yesterday and thanks to Lynn's Splitcoast Stampers "Try a New Technique" challenge for this past Monday, I was able to come up with a design for her birthday card. If you would like to check out the challenge, which is called "Stand Up Card" (TLC228), you can find the information here. This card design was introduced by Penny Wessenauer.....thanks for a lovely design Penny!



As most of you know, I have a Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and serve on their design team as well. The other day I was playing around with label designs.....like the Nestabilities and came up with the label that's on my card design. I used my PI to cut what I call "Next Besties" (saw this somewhere online while surfing the net) out of acrylic and then I cut larger pieces out of card stock, used double-stick tape to adhere them to the acrylic and ran them through my Cuttlebug and got the same effect that you get when using the Nestabilities, which I own quite a number of. It worked like a charm! I used my Funtime software to design the borders which I cut using my Craft Robo...it's also a digital cutter.

I want to add some notes here regarding the Canson metallic papers that I used. The "Galvanized" is silver but in my photos it kind of looks blue...sorry but this sucker was difficult to photograph. Also, the "Iced Gold", as Canson calls it, is actually like a metallic white. They are really lovely papers, but difficult to capture in a photo!

I used Photoshop to do the card's inside and the font I used is "LD Hallmark".



Here, I've included some close-ups of my card:



Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"



Supplies

Papers: Bazzill Bling and Effects Papercraft "Galvanized", "Gold Leaf" and "Iced Gold" by Canson
Stamps: Lotus Greeting Stamps by Amy Butler for K & Company
Inks: VersaMark Watermark by Tsukineko
Embossing Powders: "Super Fine Detail Gold" by Ranger
Tools: Gold "Peel-Offs Stickers" by the Paper Studio, Silver & Glitter "Peel-Offs" by Mark Richards, Swarovski Crystal Bead, Martha Stewart "Pearls", Michael's Gold & Silver Beads, Anna Griffin "Gold Rectangle Label Holder" and "Gold Brads" and Offray Ribbon

My friend Teri said this looks good enough to eat!

I made this little “Thinking of You” card for the Splitcoast Stampers Limited Supplies Challenge (LSC212) yesterday. I know that I wanted to use my new ($1.00 from Michaels) Hampton Arts “Tulips” stamp and since we were supposed to use soft colors, I decided to use watercolor paper and do a washed background using pastel colors. I had also used watercolor paper for the image, except instead of using watercolors for the image I used a technique with my Sharpies and alcohol. I colored on a ceramic tile using my Sharpies and then dipped my brush in alcohol and picked up pigment off of the ceramic tile! The sentiment was done using Photoshop CS3 and some digital brushes that I have. I used the Edwardian Script ITC font. The large lavender flower was designed by a lady (Doris the Crafter) at the UK Scrappers site and was cut using my Pazzles “Inspiration Creative Cutter”. I "paper sculpted" all of the flowers. I hope you like!

Here is a close-up of my coloring:

Finished Card Size: A2/4.25”x5.5”

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific White CS, Darice Paper Crafter CS and Bienfang Watercolor Paper
Stamps: Hampton Art designed for Studio G
Ink: Brilliance “Graphite Black”, “Pearlescent Purple” & “Pearlescent Yellow”
Tools: Pazzles “Inspiration Creative Cutter, Quickutz “Revolution”, Fiskars “Sunburst Border Punch”, Fiskars “Flowers” Corner Punch, and EK Success Flower Punch

Accessories: Spellbinders “Standard Circles & Standard Scalloped Circles SM” Nestabilities, Offray “Sheer Petit Dot Orchid” & “Lavender” Ribbons, “Crystal” Stickles, “Petal Pink” Liquid Pearls, Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Permanent Markers and Daler Rowney Watercolors

Going to the chapel and I'm going to get married!!!!!!!

Well, not me! Had you going there for a minute, didn’t I? Seriously, my husband’s great niece is getting married on March 12th and I just found out about it about the time I was beginning to design a card for the Splitcoast Stampers “Ways to Use It” Challenge “Embellishment Pile-up”. So my card for that challenge became a Wedding Card! I loved creating this card, but it seemed to take me forever to get it all together, but now that I have, I really like it. What do you think?

I designed the “Leafy Branches” and a lady by the name of Sabrina, at the UK Stampers site, designed the lovely “white dove” and they were cut with my Pazzles “Inspiration Creative Cutter”. The flowers were designed by Teri at my Yahoo Pazzles Inspiration Group and they too were cut with my Inspiration and then I sculpted them with my embossing stylus. I also used stamps and white embossing powder to emboss the main layer (underneath the embellishments), but unless you look at the close-up, you won't be able to see it. Here is a detailed close-up of some of the embellishments. As usual, please forgive my photography skills...some of these materials that we use to make our cards are to hard to capture!!!

Finished Card Size: A2/4.25”x5.5”

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific White CS, Wausau Paper Creative Collection Textures Cardstock
“Sparkling Papers” Jewel Toned Mica Coated Papers by WorldWin and Villa Blanche
Textured Wall Paper Samples (for the flower centers)
Stamps: Anna Griffin “Flourishes” and “Flora & Fauna by KaiserCraft
Ink: Tsukineko “VersaMark Watermark”
Embossing Powders: Stamp-n-Stuff “Detail White Opaque”
Tools: Pazzles “Inspiration Creative Cutter, Cuttlebug, Ranger “Heat It”
Accessories: Cuttlebug “Leafy Branch” embossing folder, “Young Love ES” font, Martha Stewart “Branch” punch, Spellbinders “Photo Corners” Shapeabilities Collection and Large Scalloped Petite Ovals, Martha Stewart “White Pearl Stickers”, Offray “White Satin Ribbon” and the Cuttlebug “Textile” embossing folder by Provo Craft.

Hello everyone!!!

I decided yesterday to take on the Splitcoast Stampers Inspiration Challenge from Saturday. If you would like to do so too, please go to this link. I have had a hard time getting my creativity back on track since the holidays and my two bouts with viruses and I find these Challenges really help! I chose this card at the Elum website for my inspiration:

I did not have any designer paper that looked like the background, so I used Adobe Photoshop CS3 to make my own paper for the background and then used my printer to print it. It looks almost exactly like it, doesn’t it? I used my Funtime Deluxe 2009 software to make the banner and then cut it with my Pazzles “Inspiration Creative Cutter”. “Birthday Girl” was done using my Pen Tool that came with my “Inspiration Creative Cutter” and a Sharpie Marker.

This challenge was so much fun……I really have to get back to doing them on a regular basis!!!

Finished Card Size: A2/4.25”x5.5”

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific White CS (card base), “Black Westrim Crafts. Royal Brites “White” CS
and Pink CS that was in my “stash”…don’t know who makes it!
Stamps: Anna Griffin “Flourishes” and Studio G (“Best Wishes”)
Ink: Brilliance Pigment “Graphite Black”
Tools: Pazzles “Inspiration Creative Cutter”
Accessories: “Petal Pink” Liquid Pearls, Mark Richards Crystal Stickers “Pearls”, “Black Chancery” Font and icons (pink bling) by me & my BIG ideas

Christmas Card for my Darling!

I took some time out from working on my Pazzles Design projects to make a Christmas Card for my DH and I got my inspiration from a couple of the Splitcoast Stampers challenges for this week. The first one is for the Technique Lover’s Challenge (TLC193), “Decorative Circle Medallion” and the second is for the Ways to Use It Challenge (WT191), “Cutting Corners”. I made my own background paper for the red layer by stamping and then using clear embossing powder. I cut the circle using my Pazzles Inspiration, punched it with my corner punch and then embossed it using my Cuttlebug. The green outer circle was designed and cut using my Pazzles as was the text boxes. I did the text using Photoshop CS3 using the BrockScript font and then printed it using my Epson printer and the Matte Heavyweight setting. The black and gold beads in the corners were designed and made by me!
Finished Card Size: A7/5"x7"

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific White CS (painted gold), “Empress Emerald” Creative
Collection Metallic CS by Wausau Paper & Target Red Shimmer Finish CS

Stamps: Anna Griffin Flourishes Sets 2 3

Ink: Tsukineko “VersaMark Watermark”

Tools: Pazzles Inspiration, Ranger “Heat It”, Cuttlebug

Accessories: EK Card Creator “Venetian” Corner Punch, Glitter Ornaments
Peel-Off Stickers by The Paper Studio, EK Decorative “Love x 3” Corner
Adorner, Offray “Oatmeal” Satin Ribbon, "Black Jewels" embossing powder by Old Town Crafts and "Detail Clear Transparent" embossing powder by Stamp-n-Stuff

Happy Halloween everyone!!!!!

I’ve been away for quite a while and to tell the truth I’ve been going into withdrawal from not creating any greeting cards, as that is my passion!!! I’ve been busy working on a project for Pazzles, as well as creating some files, but I can’t talk about them just yet. I’ve also been experimenting with some techniques as well!

Well, today I broke down and created a Christmas card using the Splitcoast Sketch Challenge (SC200) for my inspiration. I used some “faux metal” that I made and I really wanted to use some handmade paper that I had recently purchased at Hobby Lobby. I also used some gold spray paint to spray my base card gold! I will have to tell you this….this has been one of the most difficult cards to photograph!!!! I think I’ve taken like 50 plus shots and I’m still not happy with the one I’m posting here, as it really does not do justice to the beautiful colors and textures of this card….but here it is.

I’ve also taken a close-up of some of the “faux metal”.

Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"

I just came across this while reading a newsletter and decided to share it with everyone!

Blessings in Stone

Two friends were walking through the desert. As the day wore on and they became hotter and wearier, they had an argument and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, he wrote in the sand, Today my best friend slapped me in the face.

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they knelt beside a pond, eager for a long, cool drink. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.

After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone, Today my best friend saved my life.

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone. Why?”

The other friend replied, “When someone hurts us we should write it in the sand where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”

Let’s learn to write our hurts in the sand and carve our blessings in stone!

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific White CS (card base & square frames that are spray painted gold) & The Paper Studio “Handmade Paper Pack”
Stamps: Hero Arts & Plaid All Night Media “Winter Holiday” (sentiment)
Tools: Pazzles Inspiration, Range “Heat It”, Cuttlebug
Ink: Ranger “Queen’s Gold” & Old Town Crafts “Ultra Fine Silver”Accessories: Offray “Gold Metallic” Ribbon, Michaels Gold & Silver “Rhinestone Stickers”, Premium Brilliant Finish "25 Kt. Gold Spray Enamel"

This is my 1st Christmas Card for the 2008 season...

and I have to thank the ladies at the Splitcoast Stampers site for my design inspirations, which were created for Tuesday’s (October 14th) Color Challenge CC188 and Wednesday’s (October 15th) Sketch Challenge SC198!!! I love them both. I know that pink, black and white seem like strange colors for a Christmas Card, but I personally think they are great! The beautiful pink poinsettia blooms that I cut using my Pazzles Inspiration were designed by a very talented lady in the UK named Sharon Long, but better known as “The Scrapbook Lady”. Here is a link to her site where you can find about 19 free GSD files for download, although I’m afraid that I don’t see this file any longer: http://www.thescrapbooklady.co.uk/catalog/gsddownload.php. I used Photoshop, “Santa’s Sleigh Full” font and my Canon Pixma MP530 inkjet printer to do “Happy Holidays”. I paper sculpted the poinsettias and filled the center with Stickles and some black fun foam that I punched with my tiny hole punch. By the way, I once again pulled out my sewing machine and some thread…..check out the “sewn” leaves on the bottom black panel on my card! I think I may be getting addicted!LOL
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25”x5.5”

Supplies

Papers: Westrim Crafts (Black CS), The Paper Company (White CS), Bazzill (Pink CS)
Tools: Pazzles Inspiration, Brother i6000 Sewing Machine, Cuttlebug
Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilitis Small Standard Circles, Mark Richards “Pearls Perles” Crystal Stickers, Offray Black Satin Ribbon, “Black Diamond” Stickles, Fiskars Hole Punch