Sketch Saturday Challenge #137 - Valentine for daughter

After I came home from the "Y" this morning, I made a card based on the Saturday Sketch Challenge #137.  I'm not happy with the picture....I took several and the colour did not come out true on any of them. Actually, the Bazzill cardstock is more red - sort of like Stampin Up's Rose Red colour. In my pic, it looks salmon which doesn't look good with the light pink heart piece.

My new doggy stamp is by Penny Black (#3786F "Crush"), and is a Dalmation with lots of spots.  I coloured it much differently to look like my daughter's new puppy - Bella, a dark liver coloured Springer Spaniel.  She has a white section across her back all the way from one hip to the other, near her rump that looks like a stripe! LoL.  When she looks out of her crate, all you see are her blinking eyes in her dark face. I put Crystal Glaze on the eyes and nose to make them pop a bit. On the stamp, the doggy is holding a heart which I covered with a pink felt one for added dimension.  I  hope I have captured the likeness in this image, and I'm sure my daughter and son-in-law will know it represents Bella.

Sharon
Jan.10/2011

Challenges:

Saturday Sketch Challenge #137

Anne's Creative Nook #119 - Hearts

Let's Ink it Up #8 - Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers #37 - Use Red and a Die Cut

Cupcake Craft Challenges #124 - Something New - Penny Black doggy stamp

Valentine - Rusted Grunge Key

Today it's snowing, so it's a good day for crafting!  The snow is a bit wet and quite heavy causing it to stick to all the tree branches. There are two huge pine trees right outside the window by my craft table. They're so pretty to look at right now with the chickadees flitting amongst the branches.  

I'm up for another challenge and it's "Rusted Grunge" at Studio L3 (page 45 of Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiosities book). It's the first time I've tried this technique and I'm pleased with how it came out! I don't have the Tim Holtz key & lock alterations die, so I cut a vintage key from the Cricut October 31st cartridge out of grungepaper. I used Tea Dye Distress embossing powder and Brushed Corduroy Distress ink to cover the key.

This shaped card was cut from the Cricut "Christmas Cards"  winter seasonal cartridge on Design Studio at 10-1/2" x 4-3/4" and folded in half. On the pink script background paper, I sponged Tea Dye and Aged Mahogany Distress inks randomly, and also on the edges. The doily edge was stamped with Pumice Stone Distress Ink (border stamp from set "Tea at Elsies" by Kaisercraft). For the heart, I went to my paper scraps folder and found some coordinating prints to cut with Spellbinders Nestabilities heart & scalloped heart dies, also sponged on edges.The verse on the heart is from my new Tim Holtz "Love Struck" stamp collection inked in Aged Mahogany. I just got some new Tim Holtz Adage Tickets and picked out the Love one for my card - these are so cool! There are 96 to a booklet with many different words. The flourish stamp on top and bottom of card is by Inkadinkadoo.  Embellies are pearls, and heart & arrow rhinestones from the dollar store.

Sharon
Jan. 08/2011

Challenges

Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #26 - Rusted Grunge

Simon Says Jan.3 - Show newest stamp  My newest stamp set is Tim Holtz "Love Struck" collection - the verse on the heart

Crazy for Challenges #69 - Colour Photo Inspiration

Stampin' B's Challenge #92 - Something old, something new  (something old is Nesties Heart dies; something new is grunge technique, and Tim Holtz Adage Tickets)

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