Autumn Squirrel (Mojo Monday Sketch #207)

I've had this squirrel stamp by Uptown Design for quite a number of years, and it is still one of my favourites for autumn cards, and colouring. I followed the sketch at Mojo Monday, although I turned the sketch vertical, and made it somewhat square rather than long and narrow (in order to fit in my envies!).

double clic to enlarge image


Challenges

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Autumn

Friday Mash Up #24 - Autumn

Sharon
Sept. 20/2011

Wedding Card

Here is a wedding card I made this week, sort of clean and simple? I used two different white cardstocks (Bazzill Bling and SU White Shimmer) , printed romance paper that I had in my stash sponged with gold ink, and one inch wide organza ribbon overlaid with white satin leaf ribbon. I created the flower with the Tim Holtz Tattered Flower die -there are 10 layers of organza and the petals were slightly heated with a heat gun which makes the ribbon curl on the edges. The pearl brad is from "Eyelet Outlet". In order to match the white & gold theme, I used a gold Krylon marker to paint and cover the silver edge colour of the brad. The tag is Spellbinders "Fancy Tags" and the verse is embossed with fine gold EP.

I entering my card into two challenges as follows:

Polkadoodle Challenge #37 Whiteout

Craftyribbons Challenge#2 Anything Goes

double clic to enlarge pic
Sharon
Sept.17/2011

Hello Stamping Friends

It's been quite a while since I posted anything, except for the beach theme tag in the previous post.  We have moved back to town from the cottage and I'm looking forward to getting in the swing of Fall. Of course that mean stamping! LOL.
I'm thinking of Hallowe'en and autumn theme cards, and it's not too early to be planning for Christmas as well. I've been having fun the past hour reading all the posts that I've missed and seeing all the wonderful things you've created!

First up though....I have to make a wedding card for my husband's niece whose big day is September 24th. It's still in the planning stages. Once made, I'll be sure to post and hopefully it will meet a few challenges as well.

Sharon
Sept.9/2011

Summer Beach Tag

I made this tag earlier in the summer and didn't get around to posting. There are still a few good beach days left in Nova Scotia and the ocean is quite warm....our summer didn't really arrive until mid August.
So maybe you won't think it too strange to be showing this tag in September! LOL

The vintage style stamps I found in an office supply/art store in Bradenton, Florida while visiting Anna Maria Island in May. All the images (except the beach sign) are from the set called "Retro Oceanside" by TJ Designs Rubber Stamps. There are 15 cling red rubber stamps in a large cd type case. Here's the link to the website:
http://www.tweetyjill.com/productcart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=4

I did a freehand watercolour scene of sky and ocean on the background of the tag, sponged the edge, then stamped the various images in Tim Holtz distressed ink. The girl was stamped on a separate piece of cardstock,torn, sponged, and mounted on the tag. She is very glamourous with black stickles on her bathing suit!  I have a grainy embossing powder that I like to use for sand which was sprinkled randomly along the bottom. Bits of actual beach glass, shells, a button and fibres completes the tag.  On the back is stamped "Listen to the ocean, it beckons you" from the same set.

Sharon
Double click to enlarge pic

September 9,  2011



Sad Farewell -Let's Ink It Up Challenge Blog

Suzanne has announced today that she is closing down LIIU due to her ill health. I enjoyed working with her along with the other Design Team Members, and seeing all the talent there is out in blogland.

Suzanne, I'm sending huge cyber hugs and positive thoughts for your full recovery.
Take care,
Sharon
May 29, 2011

Let's Ink It Up "Team B" -Challenge #15

The next challenge for Let's Ink It Up is by our design "Team B".  To be in with a chance of winning a fabulous prize, the theme for this challenge is:
 
" Focal sentiment and a 3D flower" 

Remember that we are a rubber/clear stamping challenge so no digi stamps please
this time. We want to see the sentiment as the focal point of your project.


 
Here's a little info from the lovely Anne at Kreativ Hobby
Kreativ Hobby
We are a Norwegian rubberstamp producer – with more than 1000 different designs. In our webshop you will find all our rubbestamps under the category “STEMPLER”. All prices are in Norwegian Kroner. We ship worldwide and all information regarding international shipping is on our website: http://www.kreativhobby.no/
The winner can choose 4 rubberstamps from Kreativ Hobby Design. Value app. NOK 200 or  $35

So hop on over to Let's Ink It Up blog and take a peek at the beautiful cards created by design Team B. Comments are always welcome!

Sharon
May 15, 2011

Let's Ink It Up Challenge #14 Embellishments

We are back from our two week vacation at Anna Maria Island, Florida. The temperatures were from 85 to 93F most days, but not humid, as there is always a nice breeze blowing off the Gulf of Mexico. Hubby and I had our long beach walk most mornings followed by a swim. Then some beach time in the afternoon with two or three swims as the sun was so hot. Our friends from Sweden and Ohio were there again this year, and we had lots of laughs with them!

Let's Ink It Up Challenge #14 is Embellishments. Remember... NO DIGIS are allowed. We want to see stamping! The sponsor is Annabelle Stamps who is donating a $20 Gift Voucher. Here is the store-
http://www.annabellestamps.blogspot.com/ 


Well as promised in my last post, here is my card for the challenge, although it is somewhat late...the challenge is almost over!
Double Click to enlarge image
 I did a masculine, time themed card. Had very inky fingers after this project. LOL! For the background, I did sponging with Tim Holtz distress inks (Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Forest Moss and Shabby Shutters, and randomly stamped various clock stamps & and a flourish.Also distressed and inked the edge all around.

I did Tim Holtz' Rusted Grunge technique on the round chipboard frame,embossed a clock in black on the center circle,cut out the clock hands with my Cricut. The banner triangles, mounted on a thin brown ribbon held with brads, are stamped with a woodgrain stamp, sponged with Tea Dye and Forest Moss, and the
alphabets are stamped with Pine Needles.  The little embellie at the top right corner is a clock stamp covered with Crystal Glaze, cut out and mounted under a Tim Holtz metal sprocket. The advertisement is from a sheet of specialty paper which I sponged Distress inks to age it further. For the tag, I embossed the verse in black detail EP, and sponged Forest Moss around the edge. May Arts ribbon.

Sharon
May 10/2011

Let's Ink It Up Challenge #14 Embellishments

Unfortunately, I am unable to post my challenge entry pic and description as presently I have very limited internet access.....stay tuned.

Sharon
May 1, 2011

Let's Ink It Up Challenge #13 - Stitching & DT Call

At Let's Ink It Up, Challenge #13 is now running and there is a fantastic prize up for grabs from our generous sponsor Cindy at


Here's a little message from our sponsor

"StampingScrapping is owned by Kevin and Cindy Echtinaw.  We ship every in stock order within 24 hours and LOVE our customers. We pride ourselves on our customer service, speedy shipping and great prices on the newest products.
We are offering one of our CUSTOM Spellbinders matching stamp sets to the winner!  Value of $19.99.  You will have your choice of one of three sets. "

Now on to our new challenge, this time we want you to 'Show us your Stitching'.  It could be any type of stiching on your project, real or faux as long as you use a rubber or clear stamp and remember -NO DIGI STAMPS allowed

As always, there is plenty of inspiration from our talented "Team B" Design Team which you can view by clicking HERE

Also, there is a DT call so if you'd like to join the Let's Ink It Up Design Team, just add DT after your name in the linky list for the challenge.

Sharon
April 17, 2010

Fun Crafting Tutorials and Linking Party at Passionately Artistic

Over at Passionately Artistic, they are having a linking party where you get to showcase your projects.No giveaway linking please. Click on the link to go directly to the blog to see the rules.

There's no limit to how many items you can link. Link parties are all about linking. So visit a few of the other links to discover new friends and link, link, link.  This is FREE advertising for your projects! 

I decided to sponsor my Easter Wall Hanging that I recently created for the Easter challenge at Let's Ink It Up. This was the first time I had made something from wood, paper, stamping and Cricut, and was very pleased with how it came out (tooting my horn... wink!)
double click to enlarge image

close-up of bunny
close-up of basket
close-up of crackle

For those of you that have already seen my project at Let's Ink It Up, this part might be boring to read. I put the wrong link in at Passionately Artistic and can't seem to delete it. So I'm copying and pasting on how I created my wall hanging. Here goes:

For my project, I have seen lots of  art canvases on blogs. I figured it couldn't be too difficult...just like card making, only on a bigger scale!  However, I decided to use a piece of 8"x 10" MDF board (manufactured fibreboard wood) to create my Easter wall hanging.

The background -I painted the entire surface of the wood with Tim Holtz White Distress Crackle Paint. After the paint dried and the crackle formed, I sponged randomly these colours of  Tim Holtz Distress Ink- Tea Dye, Antique Linen, Fired Brick, and Tumbled Glass over the entire surface. The routered edge of the board is painted with Egyptian gold acrylic paint. I also stamped an easter script stamp in Tea Dye (Serendipity Stamps #702HCL Judy's Easter Basket - set of three stamps) on "thirds" of the board .  I covered the middle section with a strip of easter egg paper, cutting and pasting some of the eggs to give the paper added dimension.

I stamped the easter basket, from the same set as mentioned above, coloured with Copics, applied Crystal Glaze and stickles on the eggs, fussy cut it out, sponged Tea Dye on the edges and mounted it on the board with pop-dots. The "grass" at the bottom of the basket is a lacey branch punch by Martha Stewart.

The bunny was cut on my Cricut from the Easter cartridge in a brown patterned paper. I sponged white craft ink and Tea Dye & Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks on the body to give it dimension, stamped a scroll stamp on the bunny's back, added the pink gingham ribbon, and created the tail using gathered crocheted lace & a pearl.

Near the basket, I cut a flourish from a Quickutz die and added the butterfly (Martha Stewart punch), highlited with stickles and pearls.The border on the bottom is also a Martha Stewart punch.

For the banner title, I punched scalloped circles from K&Co paper, sponged with Tea Dye, Tumbled Glass and a touch of Fired Brick distress inks. The letters were cut on my Cricut with the Plantin cartridge and sponged with Tea Dye DI.

All in all, this project took a few days to complete, but I'm very happy with how it turned out! I have it hanging in my front porch.



Sharon
April 6/11