Friday, May 28, 2010

Thank You!



This card is for today's SCS Free For All(F4A14)! Inspired by a Collection! Aside from collecting craft stuff, I collect ornaments. I love glass ornaments the best. I love intricate designs,whimsical, and floral. My dh usually brings me an ornament home from his worldly travels.  I like that the pieces I collect tell a story, too.   Why I got it or who gave it to me and why.  This card makes me think of a clear glass bulb with a beautiful flower hand painted or etched on the outside. Love that!


Try as I might I wanted this card to work for this week's SCS sketch challenge, but my flower was so big and the horizontal band covered most of it up...gasp! I opted not to go there. LOL! Boo Hoo! However, I ended up with a funky layout, though. Oh, well!

How do you make white flowers white?  You paint the shadows only!  LOL!  Duh!  I just love this lily of the valley image from PTI.  I also purchased my first impressions plate this time.  LOVE it!  This texture is the perfect texture cardstock look!  I am really "impressed" with these impression plates! 



Stamps
PTI Lily of the Valley
Paper
White, kiwi kiss, true black
Ink
memento tuxedo black
Accessories
Copics, PTI cotton/linen impressions plate, mini bowdabra, pearls(colored black), button, 1/2" hole punch, foam tape, glue dots


Monday, May 24, 2010

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC68)! CC272, and more!




It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC68) ! It is the end of the month so we have us a challenge host! This month's challenge host is Velta Wesson. Velta is challenging us to "make our own flowers"! I know you have seen all of these wonderful dimensional homemade flowers being used everywhere. Now is your chance to make your very own and sport them on your cards, too! They look quite amazing, but they really are not that hard to do! You can use any thing from paper to lace to create your flowers. Check out the Flourishes blog for some links to flower tutorials. Whichever form of flower you choose to create, we would love to have you play along with us! Remember to link your card with the Link system at the Flourishes blog for you chance to win a $10 store gift certificate. Also, check out the blog for more ways to win!

For my card I am using Flourishes Strawberries stamp set.  I am using Flourishes Copic Color Collection.  I am also using some of the satin gingham ribbon!  I just love the weight of this gingham ribbon.  Fabulous stuff!   For the "make my own flower" challenge, I made a small flower using the middle and smallest scallop sizzix circle die cuts. I layered, put a brad in between, and scrunch a bit. I used some of the other patterns of the October Afternoon Thrift Store dp. I added a button with a touch of a gold pearl to finish it. I then added it to my gingham bow for a little accent!



This card is for today's SCS Color Combo Challenge(CC272)  Real Bermuda Krafts!   Sharon's notimetostamp Challenge (ssnotime140)!  We have to skew things a bit!  My main image is so not straight! 

Check out the other blog team designers to see what we all created with chipboard! 






Saturday, May 22, 2010

Sometimes Simple is Best! IC233, QFTD10, F4ALL13!




This card is for today's SCS Inspiration Challenge(IC233)!  I chose photo #123 as my inspiration with the green and decorative lattice work on the cake. I really thought my basicgray junebug dp worked perfect for the design. I added the flower because I combined my card with this week's SCS Queen for the Day Challenge (QFTD10). The crowned Queen is Deb aka debzi333. I chose this beautiful card from her gallery to case.

Deb has three flowers on her card. I am using the flower from Ippity's spring release set called Now & Always. I just love the assortment of flowers and designs that come in this set. I colored with copics and cut out this flower. I have three flowers like Deb, but I chose to layer mine on top of each other. The sentiment is from Ippity's spring release set called The Simple Things. I tried to keep my card clean and simple. Lots of white space for me! I did add the little bit of piercing in the corners like Deb has on hers as well as a touch of a button in center of my flower! I love how it turned out.

Since I added the little string bow with the button, I figure it complies with yesterday's SCS Free 4All Challenge(F4A13). Buttons and Bows eventhough I did not do anything particularly wow with my button and bow! LOL!

Thanks so much for stopping by!


Stamps
Ippity Now & Always, The Simple Things
Paper
white, black, basicgray junebug
Ink
momento tuxedo black
Accessories
foam tape, glue dots, may arts string, button, copics, piercing template



Thursday, May 20, 2010

Stamping In Time: On Assignment Challenge(SNTODBD10)! cQc33, Cards for Men!




 


It is time for ODBD Stamping In Time Challenge On Assignment(SNTODBD10)! Silke Ledlow is our challenge host this month! Silke is challenging us with a sketch! It is a high and low card or tall and thin. Your choice! However, it is not an A2 or a square card sketch! Good luck and have fun with it! Check out the ODBD blog link to find out how to play along for a chance to win!



For my card, I chose to go with a 5 X 7 size design.  I am using ODBD Keep My Lamp Burning stamp set.  I am using the colors from the Color Q Challenge(cQc#33)!  For the record, I had a hard time with these colors.  I wanted to make a manly card to comply with the Cards for Men Challenge #10 with an "outdoor" theme.  I really think these colors lend themselves to manly looks and outdoors.  I am not sure which color gave me the hardest time, though.  Maybe it was just that there were four.  LOL!  It is a challenge, though!  Actually, it could be that it is just a manly card that makes it tough.  Always need to stretch my horizons with those.

To keep the sketch from getting too busy for me with the four colors, I opted to keep the panels in the same color with just a hint of soft suede showing.  I also decided to use the same cb ef on them as well. I stamped my image using soft suede and sponged the sun and backgrounds.  I cut out an additional lighthouse to adhere over the top for added dimension.  I thought it needed something else so I added Ranger Crackle Accents and let it dry.  This stuff is amazing and cracks on its on.  Once it is dry and cracked I added a little bit of soft suede over it to seep into the cracked pores a bit to highlight those.  It is really cool to see how it looks from start to finish.  Once my card was complete I added some gold pearls.  I backed a few with my 1/4" square punch to look a bit more manly and to ground them.  I added my scripture tag.  I was thrilled that the scripture fit this punch.  I added a bit of linen thread and sponged the edges.  I like how it turned out.   Now, as for the man part of the card, I really wanted to put a flower or big bow on it! Go figure!

Check out the other ODBD designer's to see what they did with the sketch!  Grace
Sabrina
Angie
Fran
Debi
Kathy
Randi
Lorelie
Connie
Silke

As always, thanks so much for stopping by! 





Monday, May 17, 2010

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC67), CC271, TLC273!





It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC67)! This week I am your challenge host! I am challenging everyone to use "chipboard." You can use some already decorated chipboard or find some "bare" chipboard and dress it up! You can make tags, embellishments, or stamp your focal image directly to the stuff! Whether you are painting it up, cutting it out, or using some already pre-cut and decorated chipboard, we would love to see what you create using chipboard! This card is also for today's SCS Color Combo Challenge(CC271) and SCS Technique Challenge (TLC273) "I've Been Framed!" 


For my card I am using Flourishes Strawberries stamp set for the sentiment, Signs of Spring set for the cut out and paper tole flower, and the newly released Cherry Blossom set for the solid image flowers stamped with the sentiment. I stamped the images using Flourishes Classic White cardstock. I colored the daffodil using Flourishes Copic Color Collection in Buttercup, Sunflower, Tiger Lily, and Evergreen. For the chipboard challenge I am using a spellbinders frame that I cut out with cardboard and layered with Flourishes Classic White cardstock cut out with the same frame. I stencil this top portion and used foam tap to pop up the frame so the sentiment is nested inside.  I make frames quite a bit, but never thought to use chipboard to make the frames sturdier!  Love that it does not collapse on the long sides!  Great stuff this chipboard...aka cardboard!  LOL!  I finished my card with some added texture, ribbon, and gold pearls. 


Check out the other blog team designers to see what we all created with chipboard! 







Stamps
Flourishes Strawberries, Cherry Blossoms, Sign of Spring
Paper
Rich Razzleberry, so saffron, dusty durango, Flourishes Classic White, So saffron dp(retired)
Ink
ODBD bordeaux, really rust, so saffron, memento tuxedo black
Accessories
Spellbinders frame and nestabilities, foam tape, glue dots, dimensionals, sponges, cb ef, gold pearls, button, flower punch, mini bowdabra


Saturday, May 15, 2010

PTI Girly, You ROCK...Disco Tote Card! (IC232)!



This card is for today's SCS Inspiration Challenge(IC232)! Awesome site, Stef! Here is the Disco Bag Graphic Love I used for my inspiration!  I tried to recreate the look because that is so fun to do with stamps!  Once you check out the bag you will see why my card is so...well...funky! No dp was used in the making of my circle tote postcard!

I started with some white cardstock and some true black cardstock!  I dusted off my CM circle cutting systems largest circles and cut out the white with the red cutter and the black with the green cutter.  I stamped the white circle with PTI Background Basics: Woodgrain, In Bloom, Polka Dot Basics II using various colors to recreate the look in the disco bag.  I die cut the flower and leaves for the Delightful Dahlia set and stamp the images.  I colored with copics.  I then die cut the butterfly and stamped with one of the butterfly images from the Butterfly Dreams set.  I used the Mat Stack #1 die cut to cut out the opening in the top of the card/tote to look like a handle.  Since the black background is larger it creates a bit of a shadow ridge along the base and sides of the card/tote.  I faux stitched the edge and added to sparkly black brads to look like bag in photo.  I did opt to show way more flower and dimension than the bag, plus I opted for the butterfly to add my sentiment from the Signature Greetings set!  I know it is different, but it was so FUN to do!   




Stamps
PTI
Paper
white, true black
Ink
ranger antique linen, sweet blush, memento tuxedo black, weathered wood
Accessories
PTI die cuts, SU lots of tag sentiment, black satin ribbon, two sparkly black brads, clear gems




Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC66) with sneak peek, CC270, C4C36, Shabby Tea Room#9!




It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC66)! This week Maki Jones is our challenge host! Maki is challenging us to "picture it!" Now, a photo card is one way of looking at the challenge; however, you can venture off into other avenues as well. Think magazine pictures, real image designer papers, or take a picture of some of your favorite things and print it out! The photo does not have to be the focal point of the card, either. Think layered flowers, borders, tags, etc! There are also many photo techniques that can be used from altered photos, vellum pictures, and faux cloisonne'. Whichever photo option you take, we would love to see what you create with the "picture it" challenge! 

For my card I am giving you a sneak peek at a Flourishes set to be released this Thursday in the Flourishes Forum at SCS at 9 central time!  This set is called "Cherry Blossom!"  It is so fabulous!  You are not going to believe all the fabulous goodies in store!  You will not want to miss it!  I am still on my shabby/vintage kick.  I am using some retired SU chipped distressed wood picture paper for my take on the "picture it" challenge!  Of course, it is not like it was distressed enough.  I had to go tear and roll it in a few places, faux stitch, and sponged the edges a bit to make it look more distressed!  I stamped one of the cherry blossom images using Memento tuxedo black onto Flourishes Ivory cardstock.  I then colored using Flourishes Copic Color Collections.  I was going for a soft pink hue in the blossoms so I used the Hollyhock collection.  I sponged the edges of my spellbinder's frame.  I did not want to cover up my distressed wood background dp too much, so I cut out some grungeboard with a Tim Holtz die cut.  I used the soft suede ink pad directly to the grungeboard.  This dtp makes the soft suede appear even richer in hue on the suede feeling grungeboard.  I then used En Francaise background with vintage cream ink to stamp a script font to the shape.  I used foam tape to pop up this section on the card.  I added a little sponged distressed sentiment tag using one of the sentiments in the new set.  For my flower, I am using one of many new by the yard lace trims sold in the Flourishses store!  This one, natural linen ruffle,  I rolled to create a vintage lace flower look and glued to a circle punch!  I just love this very vintage loopy lace look!  You really must check these beauties out!  I finished my vintage trim flower with a button and a pearl!  I completed the card with some chocolate pearls!  I could have added more, but I decided this is shabby/vintage simplicity!  Love it! 

Take a look to see what the other blog team designers created with the "picture it" challenge!

This card is also for SCS Color Combo Challenge(CC270)!  Suede Mambos!  We are using soft suede and melon mambo with neutral of choice!  This week's dessert option:  wood grains!  Since I am using wood dp, I think my card complies with the Crazy 4 Challenges C4C36!  Children's Nursery Rhymes!  I was thinking of this one...for my wood dp!

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck
If a woodchuck could chuck wood?
A woodchuck would chuck all the wood he could
If a woodchuck could chuck wood!

I am also using chipboard/grungeboard so it complies with The Shabby Tea Room Challenge #9


TOOL TIP!   If you feel that there is NO such thing as too much ribbon, but the task of organizing and keeping it neat is daunting, you must check out this fabulous product! This is a ribbon spooler!  It makes winding ribbon a breeze!  A breeze I tell you!  It is absolutely amazing!  This is a MUST HAVE!   I am looking for stuff to wind because it goes so fast!  Easy peasy!  Thought you might like to know!  ;0)


Sunday, May 9, 2010

Live Laugh Love! Happy Mother's Day!



This card is for today's SCS Feature Stamper Challenge(FS170)! Congratulations, Lori! Fabulous gallery! Here is the card I chose to case!  I flipped it! I added a few more layers, and I changed the theme and colors! Tried to keep the key elements of your card!

This card is also for yesterday's SCS Inspiration Challenge(IC231)! My inspiration pictures lends itself for the colors only. I really love the colors of aqua, moss, melon, and gray together! Here is the link to that inspiration!

I am so excited! I finally got my hands on the limited edition PTI Round and Round set! I had to buy it as I missed it by two sets! Still worth it, though! LOL! Amazing how stamps can make one crazy!

Card Commentary: I wanted to use Lori's layout and the colors from the IC picture.  I started out trying to decide how to divide the hues.  I had to play around with this a bit.  I used the frame stamp from the For the Graduate set.  I stamped it in melon berry directly to my cut out die cut.  I then layered one of the images from the Round and Round set.  I offset these colors a bit with the aqua mist cardstock.  I added the bitty dot spring moss dp and an aqua mist bitty dot dp butterfly.  I had to add some of my gold pearls to the image and card!  It is almost like this particular leafy image in the set was made for my gold pearls!  Hee!  Love that!


Supplies

Stamps PTI Round and Round, PTI For the Graduate(frame stamp)
Paper PTI smokey shadow, aqua mist, spring moss, bitty dot spring moss and aqua mist, Flourishes Ivory, Ink spring moss, melon berry
Accessories SU lots of tags, border punch, PTI die cut frame, spellbinder's circles, buttons, gold pearls, glue dots, foam squares, PTI melon berry ribbon, MS butterfly











Thursday, May 6, 2010

Stamping In Time: On Assignment Challenge(SNTODBD9)!




 It is time for ODBD Stamping In Time on Assignment Challenge SNTODBD9! The Assignment is to use any ODBD stamps! The Challenge is “A Little Something Something!” Make a card or project using something “old” something “new,” and something “received!” Other stuff can be used, of course, but tell us about these three!

For my card, I am  using ODBD The Lord is Risen stamp set.  I am using Mercy Tuesday Sketch Challene MTSC72!  I am using some gem flourished accenting for the swirl element on the sketch.   I am also using a decorative pin for today's SCS Ways to Use it Challenge(WT269)!   I added one Martha Stewart butterfly punch to it.  For my "new" item, I created the layered distressed flower using Flower Soft.  This is a new product for me.  I was playing around with it and wanted to try to use it differently than what I have seen.  I was not going for a perfect looking covered flower....one that was more crushed and distressed.  I love the way my distressed and very textural flower turned out.  I may need to get more colors of this stuff.  Can you imagine a deep red to create a poinsettia look for Christmas?  Lots of possibilities!  This card is also for this week's The Shabby Tea Room:  "Get Your Bling On" Challenge #8!  Definitely got some bling going on! 

For the something old, I am using some pink pirouette cs and some left over bella rose dp.  I am so happy that even though these are "old" the colors will soon be revived!  For my something "received,"  I am using one of two lace trims that sparklegirl(Silke) sent me.  This one is a crisp, very intricate white! I thought it worked perfectly with the delicate printed papers and the pink pirouette color to allow the flower element to pop a bit.  Thanks, Silke!

 Also, check out Angie, Debi, Connie, Chris, and Sabrina's blogs to see what they all created with the "little something something" challenge! 
As always, thanks so much for stopping by!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC65), CC269, and C4C35!




It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC65)! This week Silke Ledlow is our challenge host! Silke is challenging us to a card with gift set! It is the time of year where Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Weddings, Graduations, along with Birthdays and many other reasons to celebrate and give warrant not only a card but a little something extra to go with it! You can go simple or over the top! Whichever you decide, we would love to see what you create!



For my card I am using Flourishes Spring Bouquet stamp set!  I am using Flourishes Classic White cardstock and finished the card with some black and white check ribbon.   For the treat container I am using a Martha Stewart flourish flavor from a kit.  You can click on images to see a bigger picture!  I stamped the images from the Spring Bouquet using Memento Tuxedo Black to the top  of the box before I assembled.  This is tricky since the pieces are already attached. 
I had to do it with the stamp facing up and press the top onto the stamp to get a good impression.  I colored and sponged this container.  I used Flourishes Copic Color Collections.   I decided to make it a little more special by doing a paper tole with the larger flower in the Spring Bouquet set.   Aside from this and added a MS border punch to the outside this was all the embellishing I did. 



This card is also for today's SCS Color Combo CC269!  It is all about Lovely Gable Cameos with clear cardstock dessert option!

It am also using Cindy's sketch at Crazy 4 Challenges (C4C35)!  Fabulous sketch!


Take a look to see what other gift set ensembles were created by the blog team designers!
As always, thanks so much for stopping by! 




Sunday, May 2, 2010

Manly Birthday! Not a flower in sight!


This card is for today's SCS Feature Stamper Challenge (FS169)! Congrats, Eliotstamps(Michelle)! Beautiful gallery! Here is the card I chose to CASE!

I kept the basic theme with the leaves. I rocked and rolled mine, too. I used three colors. Not sure how many Michelle used. I changed the layout just a bit. I incorporated a sentiment on the ribbon portion. I used some chocolate felt ribbon and just adhered the sentiment panel over. I finished with a layered button and some frayed string from twill. While this card was easy to do, it truly tested my will power to want to slap a flower on it! Goodness, that part was hard! Hee!  This card is also for the Midnight Madness SC51!  I love this simple sketch design!  Just had to play! 

All of the papers were stamped using stamps from PTI...dp by ME!  I am finally getting around to inking up my new stash of goodies.  It has been a busy busy week and my new stuff just sat there for days without me playing with them! Boo Hoo!  I am so loving these new masculine sets.  I realized I hardly had any masculine theme images in my stash.  I think this Masculine Motifs set is just fabulous.  Also, I was very hesitant to get the woodgrain bg, but now I am so glad I did.  I used it on the sentiment...stamped off a bit.  Love that finishing touch to the whole card!  Of course, the distressed stripe set just speaks for itself.  Lots of potential with it!  The right panel uses three of the striped images sort of overlayed stamped.  The left panel is the happy birthday sentiment stamped repeatedly to give me  a script bg look. 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 




Stamps
PTI Background Basics: Woodgrain, Masculine Motifs, and Distressed Stripes
Paper
PTI dark chocolate, ivory
Ink
Hawaiian shores, dark chocolate, new leaf, ranger vintage photo
Accessories
chocolate stitched felt, frayed twill, PTI buttons, glue, sponges, glue dots, foam tape




Saturday, May 1, 2010

PTI: Springtime Doodles, Free For All, a Queen, some JAZZ, and a CAS!



This card is for today's SCS Inspiration Challenge (IC230)! I will need to come back to this site as there are many fabulous items to look at! The kikka coasters at the top of the page worked perfectly for my colors and design I wanted to use today! Thanks, Anne! I combined today's challenge with a few others. This is also for QFTD06, Cathleen(Ctorina)! Congrats! Your gallery is totally gorgeous! Had a really hard time deciding on which one as they are all so fabulous! I finally chose this card to CASE. This card also fits for yesterday's F4A10 to use flowers!


I chose to keep my card clean and simple. I used some orange for CAS64 celebration Jen's Birthday with orange! I scaled down the number of flowers. I colored and cut out my daisies. I used a textured background instead of coloring in the focal image panel. I opted for a ribbon with button accenting since Cathleen's daisies have a green frame design. I did do a more simpler out of the box look. I added a gold pearl to my button 'cause I love the gold touch on the buttons.

I would like to add that I love this Springtime Doodles stamp set from PTI.   It is designed by Beth Silaika aka SCS Feature Stamper host!  I know it is nothing like I normally gravitate toward.  I looked at all the pieces  that come in this fabulous set and just KNEW I had to have it!   I get a big kick out of people commenting to tell me that my style is nothing like PTI stuff.    I use and buy them anyway.  So far I have not been banned from the store.  Hee!!   I think I like PTI images because they are different from what I would normally choose.  I like the challenge to create outside of my comfort zone to create and use images that stretch my creative abilities in a different way.  While more whimsical and CAS styling are not always my thing, it is just fun to play...and why I started stamping to begin with!  For the fun of it!  Just wanted to share! 






PTI
Springtime Doodles
Paper
PTI terracotta tile, Flourishes classic white
Ink
Memento tuxedo black, PTI ripe avocado
Accessories
SU texturz plate, copics, PTI satin ripe avocado ribbon, button, gold pearl, foam squares, glue dots


© The Things I Do With Paper. Made with love by The Dutch Lady Designs.