Final Week- Guest DT Position Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - "Frames"

Well, all good things must come to an end. This is my final week as Guest DT on Stamptacular Sunday Challenge Blog and the theme is "Frames". I submitted two cards for them to chose one which they felt met the challenge, and both were posted. Thank you!

The first card uses the Cuttlebug Damask folder & die combo set #37-1920, and Crafty Secrets "Material Girl" stamp set. Patterned paper is Basic Grey Origins. I got out my sewing machine and zigzag stitched around the edge of the brown distressed layer, and also straight stitched on the frame which is embossed with the damask pattern (hard to see in the pic). The mannequin and thread holder is embossed with black EP and sponged with TH Tea Dye distress ink. I wound actual yellow thread around the holder. I used circle and scallop Nesties for the tag and punched two tiny holes to attach a safety pin and ribbon. At the bottom, the measuring tape is a strip cut from Cosmo Cricket "Measuring Up" paper which is a whole sheet of different coloured tapes.
I'm also entering my card in Paper Sundaes challenge "how charming" (metal charm). I used an actual safety pin so I hope this qualifies!

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On the second card I used Basic Grey Kioshi papers and Bazzill Bling light purple. The design on the Kioshi background paper kind of looks like butterflies to me. Using my Cricut Expression and the Lacey Labels cartridge, I cut three layers with the butterfly key (row #1, #3 on the keypad) - background oval in the purple flower paper, main oval in white, and the butterfly scroll frame in the same paper as the background.   I placed a Tim Holtz mini flourish mask on the edges of the white layer and sponged with Versamagic Spring Peony leaving a spot in the centre to sponge in Versamagic Aloe Vera green. Stamped the french script in lavender across the centre, then stamped the butterfly in Tim Holtz Dusty Concorde. I did a little more sponging on the butterfly with Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters green. The two little butterflies are also cut with my Cricut -they are designed to match the butterfly scroll border . I didn't stamp a verse on the front because I'm not sure if I'm going to send this as a birthday card or something else. The bottom layer in the purple flower paper is punched with Martha Stewart "Quilted" edge punch.

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Challenges:
ABC Blog Feb.23 - Ovals
The Color Dare CD98 - Artichoke and Purple
Cooking with Cricut - Swirls



It's been fun the past few weeks and I want to thank the ladies at Stamptacular Sunday Challenge Blog for offering me this guest DT position.

Sharon
Feb. 27,2011

Third Week Guest Post - Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #99

This is the third week of my guest designer post on Stamptacular Sunday Challenge. The theme is S.O.S.  "Some One Special". 

I was in Halifax last week visiting my daughter and picked up some new "Crafty Secrets" stamps at Carsand Mosher store called "Seasonal Friends".  I like that the images have a vintage look, and how the verses are wrapped with a banner, although there is a lot of colouring to them and some of the blank space is very tiny for the Copic markers!!!  I had to put on my reading glasses to make sure I didn't go outside the lines with the tip of the Copic.

The paper used on this card is from a 12x12" pad "Life's Journey" by K&Company. I also used a doily edge stamp which is just peeking out from under the scalloped edge sponged with TimHoltz Tea Dye DI on the left side. Some crocheted cotton lace and a flower, along with a Quickutz flourish diecut adds a bit of dimension. I wanted the image to be the main focus on my card.

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Check out the lovely projects the Design Team made for this challenge on Stamptacular Sunday blog
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Sharon
Feb.20, 2011

Second Week - Stamptacular Sunday guest designer post

The theme for this week's challenge from Stamptacular Sunday Challenge is anything to do with food. I figured the other DT members would do something with cupcake stamps or birthday cakes, so I chose to use something a little different. It's by Emerson of American Stamps. I have several of these humourous lady stamps and their phrases are good for a little chuckle.

The image is coloured with Copic markers and cut out with Nesties Label One, sponged with TH Spun Sugar around the edge. For dimension, I added rhinestones for the earrings and necklace, Pink Stickles for the bracelet, and Crystal Glaze on the eyeglasses, coffee cups and plates. The background paper was run through the Cuttlebug "Bloom Dots" folder.  I got out my sewing machine and did zigzag stitching around the edge of the top and bottom sections, and also through the middle of the punched border (Martha Stewart wide punch). The curved embossed borders echo the design of the Nesties Label One ( EKSuccess punch).

Here's how to make the "chocolate" embellie holding the easel. Make sure your stamp is coated heavily all over with Versamark ink.This works best with open design stamps. Melt a brown hot glue stick into a puddle on a silicone mat and immediately stamp into it while the glue is still warm. You have to be very quick doing this-if the glue starts to set even a little bit, the image won't be crisp. The stamp will release easily due to the rubber being coated with the Versamark.   I have also used this technique with gold flecked hot glue to make "chops" for asian cards.

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So head on over to Stamptacular Sunday Challenge blog and see the other great creations by the DT members. Submit your own card for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate from My Favourite Things!

Enjoy eating chocolate on Valentine's Day! LOL!

Sharon
Feb.13,2011

Winter!

Our part of Nova Scotia has been having a storm a week it seems since the middle of January. Today it's snowing yet again. It's getting so that you don't know where to put the stuff!  It's also somewhat dangerous driving around town because the snowbanks are so high. You have to very slowly ease your car out into traffic as you can't see over or around the banks.

I don't post too many pics on here other than cards, but I just came in from walking my dog Penny and thought I should take a couple for the "record", so to speak.
The third pic is looking out my upstairs craft room window towards the end of our street.

Some of the Aussie ladies have been mentioning about the heat. Would you like to trade places? (wink!)

Sharon
Feb.8, 2011

Sisters Tag - Rusted Enamel Technique CCC#31

Over at Studio L3, the Compendium of Curiosities , the challenge this week is "Rusted Enamel" on Page 42 of Tim Holtz' book.

I used the colours of Tumbled Glass, and Dusty Concorde Distress Inks, and inked over the entire tag with Chipped Sapphire once embossed. Hard to get a pic of the gloss, but you can see a bit of it at the right top of the tag. The image is "Time Passages" by B Line Designs stamped with Black Stazon.   I also used some Tim Holtz transparency tape cutting out the section that mentions memories, a border cut from damask patterned paper, letters cut from a magazine, a metal heart tag from the dollar store, fibres, pearl string, and an organza flower that I made using TH Tattered Florals die.

Once I got this posted to my blog and went back and looked at the pic, you might think I can't spell!!! The "I" looks like a "T", but if you double click the pic you can see I do know my letters. LOL!!!  The next time, perhaps I will use a small letter "i" to make it more distinguishable.  I was recently saying to my stamping friend Marilyn how it's funny that a photograph will pick up any little thing you don't actually notice when in the process of creating......

I am sending this to my younger sister for her to use as a bookmark, just to let her know that I'm thinking of her. She has had some health problems recently and is an avid reader, so I'm hoping this will cheer her up.

Sharon
Feb. 8, 2011

Challenges

Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosites #31 - Rusted Enamel

Oldie but a Goodie - Add a Heart (one of my fav older stamps)

Crafty Cardmakers #39 Hearts - (metal heart)

Simon Says - Embossing

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge "Hearts Gone Wild"

My first post as Guest Designer for the month of February for Stamptacular Sunday Challenge "Hearts Gone Wild" theme is a little folder tied on the side which opens to see four different heart themed tags in pockets. Cut a piece of 12"x12" cardstock at 8" wide by 12" long.  With the 8" width side facing top of  your Scor Pal, score at the 2-1/2" mark and fold inwards (this makes the pocket). On the long 12" side, score at 3", 6", and 9" and do valley folds to make the booklet. I hope this all makes sense!  

On the beige background paper, I overstamped with a harlequin stamp in Tim Holtz Distress Ink Fired Brick, and the flourish in TH Aged Mahogany. The collage heart is by "I Brake for Stamps" coloured with Copics , and distressed with Spun Sugar, Fired Brick, Barn Door and Aged Mahogany working from the middle to outside edge overlapping each colour a bit.

In each pocket is a tag a little different from the other with punches and borders, a cupid sizzix die, Stickles and stamps. I did two with the same technique as the cover, and two stamped with a script stamp.

Pop on over to Stamptacular Sunday Challenge Blog to check it out. The prizes for the Hearts Gone Wild Challenge are

SIMON SAYS STAMP

PRIZE: $20.00 Gift Certificate

Winner pays shipping!

AND

ROBYN’S FETISH

PRIZE: Winner’s Choice of FIVE Digital Products!

Sharon
Feb. 5, 2011

Challenges:

Simon Says - Love is in the Air 
Creative Inspirations  Inspired by Hearts

Studio L3 - CCC#30 Altered Metal with Paint

Here is a tag I made tonight for the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #30 "Altered Metal with Paint" on Page 48 of Tim Holtz' book. I plan on making it into a birthday card for my hubby for June 1st.

On Tuesday when I opened a new can of coffee and removed the inner seal, I said to myself this thin round piece of tin metal should be good for something, instead of throwing it out.  Well today when I was reading Linda's challenge this week at Studio L3, I knew I could use it.  I ran the piece through the TH "Patchwork" embossing folder positioning it to have the king section embossed.  I'm amazed at how it came out.....really cool.

I scanned a picture of my hubby from his highschool yearbook and resized it to fit on Tim's umbrella man stamp, to which I also added an embossed crown and sceptre. The background royalty script paper is from my scrap folder - sorry I can't tell you who makes it.  The ticket stamp is from Stamper's Anonymous "Odds and Ends" Tim's collection.  The clip is TH Ideaology, some acrylic typewriter letters, and gold cord & brown fibres competes the tag.

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I'm also entering this in Gingersnap Creations Challenge #89 "Kings and Queens".

Sharon
Feb.4, 2011

Challenges:

Studio L3 - CCC#30 Altered Metal with Paint

Gingersnap Creations Challenge #89 Kings and Queens

Let's Ink It Up Challenge Blog - New Design Team

Finally, the big reveal is announced - the new Design Team for Let's Ink It Up Challenge Blog. I'm so happy to say that I was invited to be part of the team, and I also want to say "congrats" to all the other ladies who were appointed. I have been checking their blogs and their creativity is amazing!!!!

Suzanne, the owner of the blog, and Claire her Senior DT have been very busy the past few weeks appointing the two new teams, gathering sponsors for some nice prizes, and making up the challenges of which there will now be two per month. The teams will alternate between challenges starting on March 6th.

So pop on over to Let's Ink It Up Challenge Blog to check it out, and we hope to see you enter a challenge or two, or three or......

Sharon
Feb. 2, 2011