Valentine Tag

What a gorgeous winter day here in Nova Scotia...the sun is shining after three weeks of wind and rain storms, and there is now just enough snow to make it crispy underfoot. A friend and I went to Fargo Cat Designs shop this morning to pick up my new Tim Holtz "Odds & Ends" ticket stamps, and I also bought a TH Distress Ink "Spun Sugar" and a couple of Copic markers. Late christmas gift to me! LOL. Hubby took out Penny for her walk, so I headed to my craft room with a cup of tea.

Last night I was putting away my christmas paper and stamps, and getting out the valentine ones which is the next card making "holiday".  I decided to use this challenge to make a valentine tag with TH Spun Sugar, Barn Door, and Brick Red inks. The directions for Scribble, Stain Distress are on page 34 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities book. I tried to "scribble" a heart background, but once misted, it's hard to see the design- except for one small heart near the flourish on the upper right of the tag. The ticket is embossed in Detail Black EP and sponged with Spun Sugar. The lace border stamp is by KaiserCraft "Tea at Elsies". Love definition and heart are from TH "Love Struck" collection. Scraps of ribbon, lace and fibres, along with a heart locket & heart wire clip completes the tag.

Happy New Year everyone!  It's lobster for us tonight at a friend's cottage on the shore. Yum!

Sharon
December 31/10

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #25 - Scribble, Stain Distress

If the shoe Fits Blogspot Challenge #60 - Colour Red

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #15 - Something new and Ribbon (Tim Holtz "Odds & Ends" Ticket Stamps)

Sew Many Cards Challenge #38- New Things (Tim Holtz "Odds & Ends" Ticket Stamps)

Stampin B's Challenge #91 - Celebration (Valentine's Day tag)

Cardinal - Gingersnaps #84 Colour Challenge Snow, Pine & Mahogany

Tonight I was reading the Gingersnap Creations blog and their challenge is a colour one - Snow, Pine Needles and Mahogany. I had one more holiday card to make....I know it will be late, but better late than never, eh?  My christmas cards for mailing are rather plain - not too many embellies. Does anyone else get anxious when they go to the Post Office and the lady tries to put their card through the dreaded slot thingy???

So I incorporated the challenge into my card.  The cardinal stamp is by Northwoods, coloured with Copic markers and Stickles "Star Dust" to highlite the snow. I also used a pine needle stamp from Hero Arts, and the SU Snowflake embossing folder for the background.  I don't yet have TH Pine Needle Distress Ink, so I choose a green that hopefully is similar to distress the edge.  I did use TH Aged Mahogany on the edge of the red layer.

Sharon
Dec.28/10

Gingersnap Creations #GC84 - Snow, Pine Needles and Mahogany

Snow Swirl

I used my new Cuttlebug Swirl folder for the background of this card, and new cling stamp by Stampendous
"Christmas Retreat" #CRS1007, coloured with Copic markers. The oval was cut with a Spellbinder Oval Nestie. Stickles "Star Dust" glitter enhances the snow in the image.  The snowflakes are a Cuttlebug die.

Sharon
Dec.28/10

Challenges:

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #91 - Snow Much Fun

Pollycraft Monday Challenge #74 - White Christmas or Snow Scene

My Time to Craft #121 - Brand Spanking New (new stamp)

Top Tip Tuesday #15 -Embellishing & Aperture Card

Another Cricut Ornament (Christmas Noel cartridge)

I'm getting a lot of use from the Cricut Christmas Noel cartridge. Here's another ornament card I made with a new Cuttlebug Folder "Swirl". It is embossed on Bazzill Bling paper, with SU teal accent and main cardstock SU Brushed Silver. The verse is embossed with Ranger "Blue Glass" and is a stamp set by Heartfelt Creations.
Silver button and SU silver cord bow.

Sharon

Dec.02/10

Challenges:

Bah Humbug Challenge #46 - Feeling the blues

City Crafter Christmas #33 - Blue Christmas

Cute Card Thursday - The Blues

Shirleys 2 Girls#84 - Buttons and Bows

Studio L3 Tim Holtz Compendium Challenge #23 Double Distressing

I had a good stamping day today! Completed the cricut reindeer card this morning. Then after walking my dog this afternoon, I sat down with a cup of tea to read how to do Double Distressing in The Compendium of Curiosities, page 40. After thinking a bit, this is what I came up with. The second pic shows the detail on the stamp.

 

-Cardstock Stampin Up red; patterned plaid paper Basic Grey "Jovial"; scrap of brown and metallic music script. Red tag from Kaiser Craft "Tis the Season" pad.

-Tim Holtz Texture Fade "Bingo" double distressed with Fired Brick, Barn Red, and Crushed Olive inks.

-Santa Stamp is one of four of a set by Recollections "Christmas Collage". Red Glitter & Star Dust Stickles; gold & red liner pen on detail; Crystal Lacquer on hourglass; Santa hat metal brad and gold tiny brad.

-"Dear Santa" verse stamp by Studio G

I find that TH techniques tend to produce masculine looking cards, so I'm going to send this one to my 23 year old nephew.

Sharon
Dec. 01/10

Challenges:

Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #23 Double Distressing

Paper Variety Tic Tac Toe Line 3 down - cricut or die machine, card, holidays.

Penny's Paper Crafter Challenge #43 Inspirational photo colours

Cricut Reindeer card - Christmas Noel Cartridge

I had yet another night of waking up at 2:30am last night!  After tossing and turning I decided to get up, made myself a piece of cinnamon toast and decided to play with my Cricut.

With Design Studio, I cut the reindeer (keypad row 1, image #3 across) from brown patterned paper at 4"tall  x 2-1/2" wide, and the background using the shadow feature. I used Tim Holtz Distress ink "Tea Dye" to shade all around the edge of the reindeer's body. Embellishments are a bit of gingham ribbon tied on his neck, a brown pearl for his eye, and red jewel for his nose. The holly in the corner is a die by Sizzix.

The "Christmas" verse at the bottom is from the same cartridge (keypad Row 2, image #10 across).  Inside is stamped "have yourself a merry little christmas" by Penny Black.

The oval layer is Spellbinders Labels Ten stamped with Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz music script stamp in Tea Dye ink and shaded with Crushed Olive.

Background script reindeer paper is from Basic Grey "Jovial" 6x6 paper pad.  Other cardstock is Stampin'Up, and Bazzill scraps.

Sharon
Dec. 01/10

Challenges:


Die Cuts R Us #66 - Anything Goes

Pile it on - Fur or Feathers

Crazy for Challenges #C4C65 - Script Paper

Speedy the Cat #31 - Bow

The Paper Variety, Wed. Dec. 1st -Tic, Tac, Toe

Top, Tip Tuesday #12 - Anything Goes

Fargo Cat Designs-Card Class Nov. 25/10

Well, I'm finally getting around to posting the pic of the card class that I attended last Saturday sponsored by Deborah Lecreux of Fargocat Shops. She is showing the cards

Marilyn M. was teaching the class, a small group, but we had fun doing the four christmas cards using a variety of techniques - for example, distressing using Tim Holtz Distress inks and his blending foam tool, and learning how to use Martha Stewart border and corner punches to create a lacy edge all around a rectangle layer.

Marilyn, Wendy and I had lunch afterwards at our favourite spot, Cafe Italia, a perfect ending to a great class.

Sharon
Nov.1/10

Did you see? Tim Holtz Christmas Tags Day 1

Well Tim has posted his first tag for this christmas season on his blog and it's a beauty! It's neat how he transforms his die of the spooky haunted house  into a respectable wood shingled house covered with snow. He certainly has the knack of creating lots of different looks from his products.

I don't know if I would go to all the trouble of re-creating this particular tag - there seems to be a lot more steps than usual, but it's eye candy for sure!

Click on the title of this post to go directly to Tim's blog to view the tag.

Sharon
Dec. 1/10

Christmas Card - No Stamping

Last year after the holidays, I bought some "Heartwarming Vintage Creative Scraps" cardstock images by Crafty Secrets  and decided to use a few this year for christmas cards. I love this one of the winter birds! Click on the blue link to go to their website where you can view all their beautiful cardstock images, stickers, fabric scraps, Clear Art stamps, etc.

In the pic, the red half circles look different shades of red, but they are the same cardstock. It's just the way the sun was shining in the window on the card.

This morning on my blog dashboard, I was reading a post by Linda of Studio L3 where she entered a card into a "no stamp challenge" on Drunken Stampers challenge blog. What a funny name for a blog  - it made me chuckle out loud!  Well, I think I will enter my card too. 

Sharon
Nov.22/10

Drunken Stampers Challenge #43 - No Stamping

Lollipop Crafts Challenge Nov. 22nd- Christmas

Really Reasonable Ribbon Ramblings -Challenge #12 Christmas plus ribbon & lace

Obsessed with Scrapbooking Contest

Joy, at Obsessed with Scrapbooking announced today 7 new Cricut Lite carts. She is having a contest with a giveaway of the new Winter Frolic cartridge, Glue Rider gun, and SEI paper pad. Click on the title of this post to go direct to her blog.

Sharon
Nov.19/10

Studio L3 - Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #21

My friend Marilyn regularly participates in Studio L3 challenges and she does the most amazing work using the instructions in Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiosities. I've had my book for a while now and decided I should try out some of the techniques.

The challenge this week is "Perfectly Distressing"!  You'll find the instructions on page 38 of the book. I used it on the truck image which is my favourite TH stamp for masculine cards. Although it's hard to see the pearl shine in the pic, a bit of it shows on the back end of the truck.

For the card, I used:
-Bazill cardstock, Basic Grey graph paper, Karen Foster Collage paper
-Tim Holtz Alterations Embossing Folder "Patchwork"
-TH Distress Inks - Tea Dye, Brushed Corduroy, & Forest Moss
-Perfect Pearls Gold
-Truck stamp & verse from the TH "Journey" Visual Artistry collection
-Oval and Scallop Spellbinders Nesties
-Metal corner & lock are embellies from my stash.



Double Click to enlarge pic

Sharon
Nov.10/10

Challenges:

Studio L3 - Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #21 - Perfect Distressing

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #43 - Make it Vintage

Simon Says Challenge Nov. 10 - Favourite Tim Holtz Stamp

Woo Hoo! Card Published in Penny Black Gallery

I had an email this morning from Pat at pbstamps.com that they are publishing another of my Penny Black cards in their gallery. It is a christmas one using the stamp "Xmas from Head to Toe, #3744K". Click here to see it at the bottom of the gallery page on the left, or if you want to look at other cards in the gallery.  As well, I'm attaching the pic to this post.

The card is quite basic as far as the layout, however, Pat said that she loved how I decorated the girl with bling on her earrings, bracelet,  hanging star, and dog collar; Also the "fur" (white flocking) on her dress, hat, boots, purse and dog hat.

Sharon
Nov.2/10

Snowflake Angel

 I think my muse is back......finally!  It must be the pressure of knowing that the weeks will fly by until Christmas, and those holiday cards must be made. I decided to try out my new SU Sizzix snowflake embossing folder.

Seeing the pic of my card now on the blog, it looks warped. Really it is normal. I just have to remind myself not to get so close up with the zoom from time to time. I would have taken another one, but by the time I was done yesterday afternoon, it had gotten dark out.

-Papers Stampin'Up Shimmery White, and Silver Mirror
-Stampin'Up Sizzix "Northern Flurry" Embossing Folder
-Angel Stamp from set -Inkadinkadoo "Christmas Silhouette" clear stamps, embossed in silver detail EP
-Cuttlebug Snowflake die
-Spellbinders Ribbon Tag; Peace verse stamp from Inkadinkadoo "Holiday Wishes" embossed in silver detail  EP
-Rhinestones & Ribbon

I also used my ScorPal board to emboss a line 1/8" in from the edge all around the main layer.

Sharon
Nov 02/10

Challenges 


Kitchen Sink #29 - Monochromatic

Stamper With Fun #83 - All that can Fly

Tip Top Tuesday #8 - Christmas

Gingersnap Creations Challenge -  Holiday  Happenings, Things with Wings

Another Ornament Card - Cricut "Christmas Noel" Cartridge

This is another ornament I made last night from the Cricut "Christmas Noel" cartridge using Metallic Red for the detailed main ornament, SU Gold for second background layer, and SU Cream for third shadow layer, Gold Stickles, fancy gold brad, SU Gold cord, and Gold Rhinestone.

Also used on the card is the Cuttlebug Damask Folder on the SU Gold layer, EK Success border punch.
Red Damask Paper is from Kaisercraft  6"x6" pad "Tis the Season"

SU circle punch, and Scalloped circle punch.
Verse is by Just Rite Stamps.

Sharon
Oct. 30/10

Challenges:

All Sorts Weekly Challenge #76 - Gold and Cream with Red

Bee Crafty Christmas Challenge #41  Christmas

Speedy Cat Challenge - Holiday

Moxie FabWorld - Diggin on Damask

Papertake Weekly - Anything Sparkly and Bright

ABC Challenge - Glitter

Ornament -Cricut "Christmas Noel" Cartridge

I played with the Cricut "Christmas Noel" cartridge the other day and made a few ornaments (keypad item -row 3 down, and #3 across). I cut them on Design Studio at 4" long and 2-1/4" wide using the main image, layer and shadow functions in different metallic and Bazzill papers. Then I spread Stickles all around the edge.  I also used the multi-cut function set at #2 to cut the images as they are so detailed (the first one I couldn't lift from the mat).

Here is a card I finished tonight using one of the ornaments.

-The white background layer is embossed with the Cuttlebug Damask Folder
-The printed border layer was cut with the SU Sizzix Topnote die

-Silver edging is Flower Soft Peel-off Stickers #457 Silver
-SU Ribbon

Sharon
Oct.29/10

Challenge: 

Moxie Fab World Oct. 28 - Diggin on Damask

Papertake Weekly - Oct. 26 Anything Sparkly and Bright

ABC Challenge - G is for Glitter

Paper Garden - Christmas/Holidays

Butterfly Thank you

My husband asked me to make a Thank you card for a lady who helped him with the Open House of the local curling club (he is President this year). So, I also incorporated a few challenges in this card.

-On the swirl paper I used blue chalk ink and sponged over the pattern. Also Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress ink on the edges.  On the brown paper, I used a script stamp, Martha Stewart clear butterfly, and also TH Tea Dye Distress ink on the edges.
-Cream organza ribbon overlaid with brown stitched ribbon binds the two patterned papers. 

- The oval was cut with Nesties and sponged around the edge with TH Tea Dye, popped up with foam tape. The thank you verse and oval is by Inkadinkadoo "Expressions & Frames" clear set. I then added Copper Stickles, and brown & cream pearls to highlite.
-Copper Stickles and pearls also highlite the butterflies

-EK Success embossed border punch on the bottom echoes the stamped pattern on the oval.

Sharon
Oct.17/10

Challenges:

Allsorts Challenge #74 - Bingo  Line Right Down - Pearls/Mist, Stickles/Ribbon

Little Red Wagon #50 - Use Something New, Something Old.    Something new for me is the clear stamp set by Inkadinkadoo - "Expressions & Frames".  Something old is the ribbon and copper stickles.

Cute Card Thursday #134 - What's Bugging You? - insect stamps.

Another HM "Carrot Mouse" card

Double click to enlarge pic

A few weeks ago, I coloured six of these House Mouse images to have on hand. I put together this one on Monday but didn't upload right away as I wanted it to be a surprise to the person who received it. That's the bad thing about blogs - it's like a sneak peek for friends to see what you've been up to. LOL!

I haven't been feeling well lately and my cardmaking certainly shows it. You wouldn't believe how many have ended up in the "round filing bin" the last two weeks.....layers not straight, ink smudged, things just not working out!!! Probably you've noticed the layers aren't straight on this one either, but I didn't want to re-do for a third time. C'est la vie!

-Paper is from the Basic Grey "Eerie" 6x6 pad.
-layers and tag are Spellbinders
-The trick or treat stamp is by Studio G mini pack
-Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder
-Tim Holtz distressing ink- Marmalade & Black Soot
-EK Success curved embossing punch

Sharon
Oct.7/10

Challenge
Paper Playtime # 19 -"Buttons & Ribbons"
Pollycraft Monday Challenge #64 - "Anything Goes"

Woo Hoo! I've been Published in SNR!

Woo Hoo! I just found out by email this morning that my House Mouse Pumpkin card will be published in the October 31st edition of Scrapbook News and Review, an on-line scrapbooking magazine. However, SNR also has sections for stamping and cardmaking, sketches, altered art, galleries, and community Forum.

I get regular email newsletters from SNR Card Universe Blog and lately they have been doing the daily Fall Tags. A week and a half ago, when I was checking out the first tag, I noticed a call for submissions for October. I have never done this before, so on a whim I decided to send them my pumpkin card. I figured I would never hear anything back because they would get so many entries......Boy, was I surprised when I got the email this morning!!!!

Now, I'm off to go and try to find all the places where my card might be seen and remove it as required by being published..........

Sharon
Oct. 6/2010

Cricut Pumpkin and House Mouse "Mouse Carrot"

It's been a while since I've made a card so tonight I decided to play with a new House Mouse stamp "Mouse Carrot". The pumpkin card shape and layers were cut using my Cricut from Bazzill Bling and Basic Grey patterned papers. The image is coloured with Copic markers, and I used Tim Holtz Marmalade Distress Ink around the edge. It is cut with a circle Nestie, and layered on a scalloped circle Nestie popped up with foam dots. A bit of orange floss, rafia ribbon, and halloween ribbon tag completes the card.

Sharon
Sept.19/10

Challenges:

Paper Sundaes Challenge #36 - Fall Card

Delightful Challenges Pumpkins Everywhere

Paper Play Challenges Week #37 - All Shapes and Sizes

Spoonful of Sugar Challenge #121 -Fall Into Autumn Colours

Creative Card Crew Week Sept.14 - Autumn/Fall

Flower Soft card class at Fargo Cat Designs

This afternoon I went to a Flower Soft card class taught by Deborah at her shop Fargo Cat Designs. My friend Marilyn and her SIL Sandra also attended.

We each made a very cute 3D pop-up christmas card. There are two designs in the kit featuring a girl and dog looking through the store window, and a boy holding a small child. The "snow" on the window is Flower Soft Polar White. The edging around the border of the card is Ultra Fine Silver Peel Offs. I thought this was much easier than the old way of using Krylon edging pens!



Here's is a close-up of the 3-D effect and the snow:



It was a fun afternoon! Now I can't wait to tackle other Flower Soft projects.

Sharon
Sept.10/10

Back to stamping and Penny Black challenge #117

We are now home from the cottage after a wonderful summer, particularly last week with temps in the 30C to 33C range (high 90's for those of you who use fahrenheit). It was unseasonal weather for early September in Nova Scotia, but nice to have those final beach days for swimming. The ocean is very warm. Hurricane Earl blew through on Saturday resulting in five trees that crashed,luckily none near the cottage, although two did block the road in the lane. DH spent the day yesterday manning the chain saw in order to clear the road. The power was out from 2:00pm until 11:30 pm. Crazy me...I sort of like storms! Both DH and I curled up with books (we are reading the Steig Larsson series Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, Girl who Played with Fire and I'm on the last one-Girl who Stirred the Hornets Nest) while watching the huge waves on the beach, the rain slashing down and wind stirring the trees. After dark, we lit the kerosene lamps and candles. Supper was courtesy the barbeque!

Today I spent the morning unpacking, putting away groceries, and washing bedding, towels, etc. Already our dog Penny is bored being back at home in town and having to be tied up - no more swims and romps on the beach, Sigh! LOL.

OK, you're saying, enough with the rambling....on with the challenges!

The main Challenge is for Penny Black Saturday Challenge Week #117 using colours Brown, Cream and Purple, following the sketch by Mojo Monday #155which I turned sideways. The image is from the acrylic PB Allegro series of flowers, product #30-033. I coloured the hydrangea with SU markers, then "huffed" on the image before stamping creating a watercoloured effect. The verse is not PB. I also used Oval Nesties, Cuttlebug "Damask Frame" embossing folder on the right edge,a decorative corner punch, cream lace, ribbon, and pearls to complete the card. Patterned Papers are scraps, and layer is Bazzill burgundy, although it looks brown in the pic


Double click to enlarge pic


Sharon
Sept.8/10

Penny Black SaturdayWeek #117 - Colours Brown, Cream & Purple

Mojo Monday #155 - Sketch (turned sideways)

Shabby Tea Room Week #26 "Tag You're It"

Pile It On #35 Layers

Joy Fold Card - Revisiting old SU set "Garden Collage"

I was going through my older stamps the other day and came across this SU set from 2005 called Garden Collage. I always liked the images and decided to use the bird one on a card for a friend who recently had surgery. Inside, the verse from the same set reads "Gently thinking of you".

While I had planned to do a "joy fold", I wondered where to go from there. The challenge this week on Crafty Creations is a recipe for 3 patterned papers, 2 ribbons, and 1 charm. So I incorporated the recipe into the joy fold card. I used tone-on-tone turquoise printed paper as an alternate colour because there is a bit of the same shade in the floral paper on the right side. Although the pattern is faint to see in my pic, it is sorted of an allover stitched type. I also used three embossing folders -Cuttlebug "Swiss Dots", Crafts Too "Daisies" and "Flower Swirls" (I think that is the name - the folder case is missing! Ooops!)

As it turned out, there is another blog challenge for the "recipe 3,2,1", so I'm entering my card in that as well.

-The image is coloured with Derwent water colour pencils
-The three patterned papers were scraps I had on hand
-The two ribbons are by SU - one is wrapped around a layer; the other I gathered into a ribbon flower centered with a prima and pearl
-The charm is a silver heart (or one item)


(double click to enlarge pic)



Sharon
Aug.27/10

Challenges

Crafty Creations #82 - Recipe - 3 papers, 2 ribbons or trim, 1 charm

Paper Take Weekly -Recipe Time, three of one thing, two of another, and one item.

Penny Black Betsy Bluebell

Peter went to the cottage today, but it is rather coolish and fall feeling in the air. I decided to stay home and stamp, and really enjoyed getting back into the blog challenges.

I recently purchased the new Penny Black clear set "Betsy Bluebell", product #30-053. It has four cute images and six verses, so I followed the sketch for the PB Saturday challenge this week.

-The image is coloured with Copics, and cut out with the Petite Classic Oval Nesties, second largest in the set, popped up with foam tape.
-I created a flower oval layer using my Cricut Expression and Design Studio - "Lacy Labels" cartridge. It is the "Beautiful" base icon, third row down, #5 across on the keypad, set at 4" wide by 5" long.
-Paper is double-sided Imaginesce, so I used the dotted side for the two contrasting bars at the bottom.
-Lacy Border is a Martha Stewart punch. Primas with pearl centres and two buttons completes the sketch. Stickles glitter on the butterfly wings.



Sharon
Aug. 22/2010

Other Challenges

Let's Ink it up Challenge - Colour Yellow

Fun with Shapes and More Challenge #64

So Happy! Card published in Gallery

I received an email tonight that one of my cards has been published on-line in the Penny Black gallery at PBStamps.com. My card is third row down, on the right.

I created this card back in April for two challenges - one being a sketch, and the other to use Gable Green, Green Galore, and Dusty Durango which was really hard because I would tend to think of these colours as sort of Christmasy, not spring or summer.

Woo, hoo ....I'm so happy!

Sharon
August. 18/10

"Haunting" - October 31st Cartridge

I know it's early for Hallowe'en, but I just recently purchased the October 31st cart, and wanted to play with it. There are lots of cool halloween images on this cart - check here:

October 31st cartridge

First of all I cut a small circle with my Nestie dies and placed it on white cardstock (4" x 5-1/4") in the upper left corner as a template for the moon. Holding down the circle with your left hand and being careful not to move it around, sponge the whole area of the white cardstock with Brilliance black ink,including over the circle; however leave a bit uninked at the bottom for the grass. Removing the circle leaves an uninked area to then sponge in Brilliance Yellow and Orange creating the moon. Using a Q-tip, I dabbed it in Brilliance Moonlight White ink and created whispy clouds scudding past the moon. I also sponged Brilliance Green on the bottom to create grass.

I cut a headstone, cat and wrought iron fence from the October 31st cart. I sponged silver ink on the fence to give it a metallic look, and black around the edges of the headstone to add dimension. The headstone is propped up with pop-dots.

The tab at the top is a SU punch on which I stamped "a haunting we will go" (Studio G stamp). I also punched two tiny holes and threaded black gingham ribbon to make a faux bow. The bat is from a cuttlebug die.

I added faux stitching around the edge and used a Tim Holtz distressor thingy to sand the edges giving a worn look.

Yellow layer is Bazzill, and the black layer is "Origins" graph design by Basic Grey.



Sharon
Aug. 18/10

Entries:
Halloween card: http://darknessinspiration.blogspot.com/

Stampin' B's Challenge #71 - Make a Scene card

Scrappin Mommy is giving away a Cricut cartridge

Scrappin Mommy is having a Summer Giveaway on July 19th on her blog of two Cricut cartridges. Click on the title of this post to go directly to her blog and see what you have to do to win!

Sharon
July 12/10

Friends

When visiting my friend Marilyn last spring, I borrowed her stamp to stamp off a few of these images, and accompanying verse.

It is coloured with chalks, and distressed with Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Tea Dye.
Background paper is K & Co, and border a scrap of SU designer paper cut with a Martha Stewart border punch.

I gathered the crocheted ribbon with needle & thread to shape it around the chipboard "smile" oval.

Inside verse reads:

A friend like you
makes a friend
like me
really happy to have
a friend like you!


Sharon
July 7/10

Popsicle Lazy Days - Just Because Cartridge

Last night I made a couple of these cards in different coloured popsicles.

Just Because Cartridge
-page 61, Popsicle, layer 1 feature, sized on Design Studio 2"wide by 3-1/2" long
-page 62, Lazy days word oval,stencil feature, Real Dial Size ON
-Stencil layer 1. The stencil layer cuts out the same size as the word oval, so I made it 1/4" larger on Design Studio.

I used a white gel pen to add a highlite on the popsicle and put a dab of Crystal Lacquer over the highlite. I also used my Copic pens to give depth to the right side of the popsicle and shadow on the stick.

The popsicle and oval is cut from Bazzill Bling paper, and the patterned paper is by Imaginesce "Summer Cool - Chocolate Double Dip. The dotted paper is the backside of the PP which I cut with an EK Success punch.

Inside the card, I used a little popsicle stamp by Snag'm Stamps, and verse by Hero Arts:
"sunshine, laughter,
SUNSHINE,
and hours to enjoy"

Sharon
June 7/10

Sympathy Card - Wild Card cartridge

My friend's father passed away June 30th, so I made a card for her last night.

I used the Scallop card on Page 32 with Design Studio, cut 5" wide and 8-1/4" long, and the shift Frame feature (mauve layer). Then I cut a 5-1/4" x 4-3/8 purple layer and mounted the card on it. I forget the name of this type of fold as it doesn't open like a regular card.

The image is a clear stamp from Inkadinkadoo which I coloured directly on the acrylic with Stampin'Up! markers, then stamped on the cardstock giving a watercolour effect.

Inside the card is a verse by Fiskars:

Memories are the most beautiful
pictures our minds can paint,
and nothing can
ever erase them.

The butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch cut from Basic Grey and vellum, with pearl accents.

Sharon
July 2, 2010

Wedding Card - Stretch Your Imagination Cartridge

When my daughter was home visiting the past weekend, she asked me to make her a wedding card for a friend whose wedding is in two weeks.

This card is cut from the Cricut Stretch Your Imagination cartridge, "Glasses" on page 73- with my Design Studio software. I really like using DS - I can now see how the design will look on the virtual mat before cutting and can size the layers without wasting paper. The thin silver frame is cut using the card frame feature on the same page.
The flowers are a cuttlebug die, and pearls for accents.
The verse is embossed with fine silver EP.
Cardstock is SU White Shimmer, and SU Silver
Patterned paper by EK Success called "I do"

Inside the card, I stamped in silver this verse which is an UM I got off Ebay -
"Love begins in a moment,
Grows through time,and
Lasts forever"

My husband was in the City today on business, so he delivered it to Julie at work. She was very pleased with it and showed it around to all the other dental assistants. I'm so glad she liked it!

Sharon
June 30/10

Two new cards

I know I haven't posted in quite a long time - since before we left for Florida. I've been playing with my cricut and not stamping much. However, I did make a birthday card for a forum board friend the other night.

The image is a clear stamp from a set by Penny Black called "Piece of my Heart". It is coloured with Copics and I added some Stickles to decorate the cupcakes. I cut out the image and popped it up with foam dots on top of the white layer.

The other card is one I made using the flower medallion from Storeybook cartridge.

Sharon
June 19,2010

Cricut Challenge My Pink Stamper -Father's Day Card

On My Pink Stamper blog, the challenge is to make a Father's Day Card. All the cards will be entered into a random drawing for a Cricut Expression.
I used the following cartridges:
Don Juan - Page 34, trees with shadow feature
Graphically Speaking - Page 49, the phrase Enjoy Life which I cut at 1", real dial size on.
Campout - Canoe, cut at 3/4", real dial size on
- Paddle, cut at 1/4", real dial size on.

The card size is 4-1/2"" x 6". I used Stampin'Up!Creamy Caramel for the main body, and scraps of Bazzill for the images. I don't know who makes the wood grained paper -I think I bought it at the Dollar Store? Other supplies used are antique brass eyelets and raffia ribbon; Tim Holtz Distress Ink Brushed Cordoroy all around the edges.

Inside is stamped, Happy Father's Day.

These Cricut cards take a different sort of "mind set" to make than stamped cards. LOL



Sharon
May 28/10

Woo Hoo! I made Top Five again!

Woo Hoo! I made top five once again on the SP Colour Combos blog for my green mousie birthday card for Challenge #44.

Sharon
April 29/10

Penny Black Mouse Birthday Card

On Wednesday night I started this card following the sketch on Friday Sketchers Challenge #99. I finished putting the card together this afternoon. Don't know if I've ever taken four days to do a card before! LOL



I'm also entering it into the colour challenge on SPCC Challenge #44 - Gable Green, Green Galore and Dusty Durango. It was hard to put these colours together! After looking through my stamps, I chose this House Mouse one from the Penny Black "Micey Day" set. It is coloured with Copic markers, and I applied Crystal Glaze to the spoon for dimension.

The green layer is run through the Crafts Too Embossing Folder "Daisies", the flourish is a die by Quickutz, label punch by SU, Nesties Plain and Scalloped Rectangles, and flowers. Machine plain and zigzag stitching around the layers.

Inside the card, the verse reads, "Have a micey nice day!"

Sharon
April 25/10

Cricut Card - Just Because

This is a card I made last night with my Cricut - no stamping whatsoever! I'm still playing with how all the designs work in the cartridges. Thank God I have tons of card scraps so I can "play", or else I would be ruining lots of paper.

I haven't yet figured out how the designs come out. Sometimes, I set the dial for the size I want and they come out smaller. The "Real Size" thing has also got me stumped. Ah well, from reading the Cricut message board, I guess all us "newbies" go through the learning curve with this machine. My Pink Stamper blog has good tutorials and I've been picking up a few hints watching her videos.



The yellow verse, Just Because, and attached daisy flower are from the Don Juan cartridge- see page 74 of the booklet. I set the dial at 2-3/4", real dial size off. The blue shadow is set the same size, using the Shift, Shadow key. The edges of the verse are sponged with lime green chalk as they looked sort of bare on their own. For the flower, I cut a daisy(Shift key) in a different shade of yellow c/s, removed the stem and layered it on top of the original one to add more fullness. The smaller center is also a flower on this cartridge - see page 65. I also used the SU Bigz Top Note die for the yellow layer.The leafy branch is a punch from Martha Stewart. Green Gingham ribbon tiny bow.

Sharon
April 17/10

Challenge:
Cricutters Anonymous Blog Challenge #33 - spring card

Woo hoo! I won a prize on Stamptacular Sunday Challenge Blog Hop

I noticed this morning that I won a prize from Carolyn on the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge Blog Hop. It was a random drawing and I won two new Bella stamps - Crafty Bug and Butterfly kisses.

Doing the happy dance.......!

Sharon
March 29, 2010

Stampactular Sunday Challenge "Build A Card" Blog Hop

Come and join the fun! Click on title of this post to go hop and see the rules. My card is in the making....

Finally after interruptions for supper, laundry, and watching the gold medal game of the Women World's Curling Championship between Germany and Scotland, here is my card:



Blog Hop "Recipe" Requirements:

-Brown is the main layer
-Rectangle requirement is the layers
-Favourite colour is blue
-Matting is blue
-Stamped images are the flowers (Layers of Colour Stamps),
coloured with Copic markers, cut out and popped with foam dots
-Two additional colours are yellow and pink
-Brown sheer dotted ribbon
-Flowers are the stamped images and the patterned paper
-Charm is the hummingbird
-Sparkles are the half pearls and acrylic embellies in centre of flowers
-Sentiment is the verse "friends are flowers that brighten our day"
(friend requirement)

Hope I have covered everything!

Sharon
March 28/10

Easter Card -Clearly Vintage Image

Cora at Clearly Vintage has recently posted on her blog some gorgeous vintage Easter postcards for downloading. Go check them out!
Here's a card I made using the sweet chick from March 21st. I sized the image and printed it out on SU cardstock, so that I could cut it with the Nesties Curved Rectangle die. The background patterned paper is embossed with the Cuttlebug Bloom Dots folder. I thought it "echoed" the hydrangea petals.
While there isn't any actual stamping on the front of the card, I used a Stampin'Up! verse inside - "Wishing you all the wonderful gifts of spring".



Sharon
March 25/ 2010

Challenges:
Cuttlebug Challenge #76- Easter be inspired

Charisma Cardz Challenge #12 - Spring has Sprung

Colour Create Challenge #41 - Your choice of Pastels

Paper Play Challenge Week 12 - Easter

House Mouse Lip Smackin' Relaxin' Birthday Card

I made this card for a friend's birthday following the requirements for SP Colour Combo challenge #40. The colours of Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, and Pretty in Pink were hard to combine at first, but after I went through my stash of paper, I was able to pull it together. Inside the card, the verse reads, "A day spent pampering is a day well spent". The image is coloured with Copic Markers.



-Stampabilities stamps "Lip Smacking Relaxing", and "Day Spent Pampering".
-Imaginisce chocolate dot, and DCWV striped papers, Bazzill cardstock
-EK Success embossed zigzag border punch
-SU Tab punch, verse enjoy, prima flower
-Pink striped thin ribbon
-Pink pearls
-white Liquid Pearl on marshmallows and mouse's lip for dimension
-TH Distress ink Tea Dye on edges of layers, and sponged around mousie
-Nesties Label die

*Other challenges see below - click on highlited title to go directly to blog
Sharon
March25,2010


SP Colour Combo Challenge #40
Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Pretty in Pink

Die Cuts R Us - Challenge #31 - Recipe:stamped image, two die cuts, 3 jewels, ribbon

Pile It On Challenge #11- Furry Friends

Penny's Challenges March 17th -Another Birthday Card


Cupcake Craft Challenges #83 - Food and Drink

My card made Top 5 - SP Colour Challenge #38

Wowsers! I was so excited to learn that my Penny Black birthday card made Top 5 in the Winner's Circle for the SP Colour Combo #38
http://spcolorcombos.blogspot.com/2010/03/winners-circle-39.html

I got a badge to put on the sidebar of my blog in recognition!

Doing the happy dance...... LOL!

Sharon
March 24/2010

Birthday card

This is a fairly simple birthday card inspired by Tuesday Triggers pic (the colour), though I probably should have used a butterfly instead of a bird stamp.
-Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue ink
-Inkadinkado stamps
-SU patterned paper; SU Shimmer white; SU Blue Bayou papers
-Anna Griffin decorative corner punch
-Oval Nestie
-Sheer ribbon folded in layers.



Sharon
March 23/10

Twinkles Glow with STamps -Blog Anniversary Candy

Chris is giving away two great goodie packages to celebrate her blog anniversary. Click on this title to go directly to her blog and see what is required.

Blog Candy #1



Blog Candy #2


Sharon
March 23/2010

Birthday Critters - Penny Black

The sketch for this card is from Mojo Monday #130. It was a challenging sketch! When I was looking through my stamps for the angled layer, this Penny Black one, coloured with Copic markers,fit perfectly.
Sorry about the wonky angle of the picture, but I wanted to show the glitter on the cupcake, so I had to tilt the card to get the bling.
-PB Stamp is from the "Critter Party" clear set.
-Top layer is embossed with Cuttlebug Bloom Dots folder.
-The flowered PP is by Imaginisce, and yellow dotted scrap is from SU 6"x6" pad
-SU Ribbon, and Doodlebug brads
-Circle Nesties, and EK Success Punch "Scalloped Scallops"



Sharon
March 18/10

Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge #92 - Spring Colours.

Mojo Monday #130 Sketch

SP Color Combos #39 - Cameo Coral, Rich Razzleberry, Summer Sun, or colors similiar. My main layer is the purple which is hard to see in the pic.

Charisma Cardz Challenge - Something for the Kidz (birthday) The Penny Black critters are too cute!


Play Date Cafe PDCC #21 - Dark & Light Pink and Yellow

365 Cards #18 Plentiful Patterns - Use at least three different patterns

Ohh La La #49 Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenge #59 - Spots & Dots Cuttlebug Bloom Dots folder (the pink layer), and SU Yellow Dotted layer.

Hollywood Crop at Cropstop

Yesterday at Cropstop.com there were all sorts of fun challenges re: Hollywood theme and the Oscars.

I entered the Best Song category with this card. Something new I tried was paper piercing all around the border of the Nesties 10 die and hand-stitching with gold metallic thread. Hard to see the shine in the thread, but it's there IRL!



My song is Spring Fever by Elvis from his 1965 movie "Girl Happy"!

I couldn't think of any current spring songs to fit my card, except for "Beautiful Day" by U2. I like anything by U2, but when it comes right down to it, the lyrics are kind of dark for a song about a beautiful day. Go figure. Here are some of the lyrics to Elvis' song:

A little bird, he told me so
He said come on, get on the go
Open your eyes the sky is full of butterflies
The blossoms on the trees stir up the honey bees
Spring makes my fever right
Spring fever comes to everyone
Spring fever, it's time for fun
Get up, get out spring is everywhere

Spring fever, Spring is here at last
Spring fever, my heart's beating fast
Get up, get out spring is everywhere

Sharon
March 14/2010

Mouse in Egg - Easter Card

I received my new Nesties Labels 10 set on Friday and have been playing with them this weekend. I thought they kind of looked like an egg on a stand, and after I got this card done, I thought it sort of looked like a fish too. Am I warped for thinking this? tee hee hee.

The challenge on the Penny Black site is for spring cards, and this little mouse sitting in the egg is too cute. I designed the background paper to look like a decorated egg. Both the green rickrack and looped edging are cut from a 12" long Sizzix Sizzlets die called "Frills". The striped paper of the loop edging is by Imaginisce. It already had some glitter on it, but I added a bit more with Stickles, and also on the image coloured with Copics. Yellow PP is by SU and it was run through the Bug "Dots" folder.

After the card was finished, I discovered it doesn't stand properly. The weight of the ribbons makes it heavy on the left side causing the card to tilt and fall over.Oh well, sometimes good ideas don't work out. I'm not sure if it would stand tall-ways either.Perhaps a scoreline by the scallops and folded to make little "feet" would help it stay upright. Maybe I'll try that another time.



Sharon
March 14/2010

*see challenges below

Penny Black - #92 -Spring Colours

There She Goes - TSG #45 -Yellow Flowers -The patterned paper by SU has very faint flowers on it, and there is a yellow layered Prima.

Ooh La La - #49 Anything Goes

Paper Cutz - #32 Anything Goes

Secret Crafter - #74 Anything Goes

Suzy's Sassy Blog - #10 Easter

Rosie D's - #66 Think Spring

Stamping with Fun - #49 Spring

Cute and Girly Blog - Spring in the Air

Creative Card Crew - Celebrations ( Easter )

Tanda Teazer - #137 Spring

Tiffany Doodles - New website for digi stamps

Tiffany Doodles is a new store for digi stamps. There are some beautiful flower ones and freebie's too. She is having a contest to win $10 in digis. Click the title to go directly to her website, and the contest info is in the "cloud" on the right sidebar. If you join her Papercraft Planet group, please use my name as a referral in the comments section. I get two extra chances to win! Once you join PCP, and a friend uses your name as a referral, the same applies. Contest runs until March 15th

Sharon
March 10/2010

Tim Holtz inspired birthday card for my brother

My brother's birthday is coming up April 4th. Usually I'm last minute trying to create something! This card took a lot longer than I planned because of all the techniques, bit I feel it was worth it!

I used a Tim Holtz mask and Tim Holtz stamps to create the main focal layer. I started with a compass mask using TH Distress inks Denim and Linen on SU Vanilla C/S, over which I stamped the verses, car and small coupon in Brilliance Coffee Bean.Clock is stamped with Brilliance Ivy. Then I tapped the car stamp into the Coffee Bean,Ivy Green and Sunflower Brilliance inks, and cut out the image mounting it with pop dots over the stamped car. I sanded certain areas of the car to highlite, such as the fenders, roofline, etc.with my BasicGrey precision file set. I sponged TH Corduroy around the edges of the layer to give depth. The arrow brad was black, but I dipped it into Versamark, and embossed with Copper EP.
For the background layer, I cut two different papers and randomly sponged TH Distress Linen over the whole surface,stamped an assortment of travel stamps, sanded areas of the paper to remove the ink, and sponged TH Distress Corduroy around the edges.
Also used is a paper clip,ribbon, EK Success index border punch, Rectangle Nesties and verse from Inkadinkadoo which is also sponged around the edges.



Sharon
March 9th

*See Challenges Below

All Sorts Week #42 - Just for Men
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/allsorts-challenge-week-42.html

PaperTake Tuesday Weekly Sketch #36- turned sideways.
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2010/03/sketch-36.html

2RedBananas -Banana Split Sunday - Behind the Scenes I created the background paper with sponging, randomly stamped travel stamps, sanding/distressing
http://2redbananas.blogspot.com/2010/01/banana-split-sunday-behind-scenes.html

Tanda Stamps Teazer #136 - Transportation Vintage Car
http://tandastamps.blogspot.com/2010/03/tanda-teaser-136-transport-of-delight.html

Colour Chef #41 - Colours Yellow, Green, Brown & Cream
http://kjsstamppad.blogspot.com/2010/03/color-chef-challenge-42.html

Pollycraft #35 - Distressing - Randomly sanded areas of the background paper and areas of the car to highlite; sponged ink on background paper, and on the edges of layers
http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-35-distressing.html

Spoonfull of Sugar #94 Recycle - I recycled a paperclip and black arrow brad which I coated with Versamark and embossed with Copper EP
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-94-recycle.html

Baby Card

My husband's niece Amanda & her husband Shayne are expecting their first child, a girl, on March 18th. I don't have many baby stamps, so I downloaded this clip art from http://karenswhimsy.com/. Apparently the sketch of the baby comes from an old book. I thought it was so sweet! I coloured the image with Copics, and made faux pearl buttons on the baby's jacket with Liquid Pearl.



This card qualifies for challenges as noted below.

Sharon
March 6, 2010

Our Creative Corner - March 6th Sketch- I turned the sketch sideways
http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-creative-corner-sketch-challenge.html

Crazy for Challenges #C4C27 - Paper Piercing
http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/2010/03/crazy-4-challenges-c4c27.html

Crafty Creations Challenge #57 - All one colour
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-57.html

KLSNS Challenge #2 - Buttons Real buttons and faux pearl buttons on baby's jacket (Liquid Pearl)
http://klstampinnscrappin.blogspot.com/2010/03/kl-sns-challenge-20.html

Stamp Something Challenge Fri, March 10th - something girly or pink
What's more girly than a baby girl with shades of pink PP and C/S??? LOL!
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/2010/03/something-girly-challenge.html

Stampacular Sunday Challene #49 - Baby Card
http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-49-you-and-me-and-baby-makes.html

Gingersnap Creations Birthday Blog Candy

Gingersnap Creations is having Birthday Blog Candy. Lots of goodies to win!
Click on the title of this link to go directly and find out the rules to enter.
Love this site. Lots of artsy and vintage ideas!

Sharon
March 3/2010

Spring Bird

Today, I received a new embossing folder in the mail. It's made by Crafts Too called "Leafy Tree". I embossed it on SU white C/S, coloured the embossed parts with Copic markers, and cut out around the edges of the leaves. Added primas, the verse,a bird cut from Cricut Storeybook cartridge,SU grosgrain ribbon and pearls. Inside, the verse reads, "Happy Bird-day to you!"

I'm not quite sure I like the way the card turned out, but at least it's "spring looking", and hopefully it will brighten the day for my DH's sister in Dartmouth.

Sharon
March 3/2010
*Challenges - See below



Challenge
Moxie Fab World Tuesday Triggers Challenge "Sweet on Spring"
http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2010/03/tuesday-trigger-sweet-on-spring.html

Crazy for 4 Challenges - Three Textures
http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/2010/02/crazy-4-challenges-c4c26.html

Sympathy Card- No Time to Stamp Challenge #128

Sadly, I had to make a sympathy card today for a friend whose close Aunt passed away last week from cancer. I was reading the challenges and saw that No Time to Stamp had one for sympathy cards (which are always difficult to create). I like using this memories verse from Cloud 9 Stamps on my sympathy cards as I feel it really expresses how you might remember someone's life.

The "scallop oval edging and flowers" is an unmounted stamp from Pez-a-Doodle Stamps that I embossed with gold EP on K&Co paper. Here's the link: http://www.pezadoodle.com/buscfr.html

I used a Spellbinders Oval Nestie to cut out the center to make a window card. The edge of the oval is embossed, but hard to see in the pic. The butterfly is cut with a Spellbinders die from embossed vellum. Sheer ribbon, primas, and pearls for dimension. I also embossed a smaller butterfly and group of flowers on the inside of card.

Sharon
Feb.28/10
*See other challenges below




Challenges:

Clearly I Stamp Challenge #8 (CIC8)Hip to be Square - Any size of square card. Mine is 5-1/4" square
http://clearlyistamp.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/clearly-inspired-challenge-8-cic8-its-hip-to-be-square.html

Character Cafe Feature Friday #14 - Monochromatic
http://charactercafe.blogspot.com/2010/02/feature-friday-14.html

Saturday Spotlight Challenge #20 - CAS, or clean paper and edges
http://saturdayspotlight.blogspot.com/2010/02/sshp20-clean-it-up-challenge.html