Shhh.... Stamptoberfest Challenge...

Stamptoberfest is an event hosted on Two Peas by some of the stampers. Here is the link to the master thread on the event: http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=2629323

All the different stampers over there host different challenges and provide RAKs.
I had so much fun at their last event that I decided to host a challenge myself for Stamptoberfest.

The challenges start Friday and stay open all week. My challenge is Unique Embellishments. You need to create a card, layout, ATC, Moo, arch with a unique embellishment. I was working on my sample this weekend and I am going to share it right now.

Shh... This will be posted on Two Peas on Friday but you get to see it today. :)

My unique embellishment is this beautiful brooch. I don't even remember when or where I purchased it.

I think I bought it because it was on clearance and I thought wouldn't it be wonderful to put this on a card to someone...

Well someone special is going to get this for their birthday.. (My sister Jodie has a birthday coming up) She is an artist and always dressing in vintage clothing. I hope she likes the card and the brooch.

The other thing about this card is that it opens differently. I think it is fun and different but my ever so logical husband asked... But you have to untie the ribbon and where are the words... Here is what the inside looks like:

Recipe:

1. Cut a 11" x 5" green cardstock rectangle. Score at 2" and 9" on the length of the card.
2. Using the threading water punch border punch the sides of the card.
3. Cut a 5" x 4 1/2" ivory cardstock. Emboss using the Cuttlebug Embossing folder. Ink the embossing with light green dye ink.
4. Cut a brown cardstock 5 " x 4 1/2" and mount on the center of the inside of the card.
5. Attach the embossed ivory rectangle on top of the brown cardstock.
6. Cut slits in the front flaps on the card. Measure 1" in from the outside of the card and 2" down from the top of the card. Cut a 1" slit for ribbon. Pull the ribbon around the outside of the card in through the slits into the card.
7. Cut 2 2"x5" brown cardstock and stamp the birds and swirls with Versamark Ink. Heat emboss with green embossing powder. Accent with light green gems.
8. Attach the brown pieces to the folds on the front of the card over the ribbon.
9. Stamp the sentiment on ivory cardstock using green ink. Cut to a rectangle. Cut a slightly larger rectangle from brown cardstock. Attach the sentiment to the brown cardstock. Center the sentiment behind the ribbon and attach to the embossed background.
10. Tie the ribbon in a bow and attach the brooch.

Products:

• Hero Arts DesignBlock - Poinsettas and Birds
• Hero Arts Clear Designs - Birthday Messages
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Birds and Swirls
• K&Co Gemstones, Hero Arts Gemstones
• Ribbon - Michael's
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Ranger - Embossing Powder - Lettuce
• Ranger - Distress Ink - Peeled Paint
• Memento Dye Ink - New Sprout

We will all have to sign on the side of the card as to not ruin the look. But I think she will appreciate the layout of the card and how it is different. I also thought of making the embossed piece on the inside a card that opened up. But I like the secret message under the bow and brooch.

Please come on over to 2 Peas and play along on any of the challenges! If nothing else come and check out the gallery with all the great stamping projects people will post for the challenges.

Thanks for visiting.

Happy Anniversary Dave & Janet

My Brother-in-Law & wife's anniversary is coming up and I wanted to create something using my new Inkadinkado Wedding clear stamp set.

I apologize up front... I find I tend to go in cycles with colors, techniques, etc... So this is going to look similar to some of the other cards I have been making. I purposely pulled the light blue to stay away from a green with my brown and ivory... Although I am sure you will recognize some of the other pieces I have been playing with lately. :)

I wanted to a brown and cream instead of black and white. There isn't anything too special in the recipe... But I will share the products lists because I know how it is when you see something and you would like to know who it is from...

Products:

• Inkadinkado Clear Stamps - 97892 Wedding / Marriage
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Gems - (I am going to guess these are crystal stickers)
• Ribbon - Michaels
• Martha Stewart Doily Lace Border Punch
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots
• Stampabilities - OR1021 Tapestry Pattern

Thanks for Looking!

Happy Birthday...

I keep trying to make a masculine card... The problem is when I get done there is bling, ribbons, sparkle... This card was intended for my dad and when it was done I think it is too pretty. :(

I made a second attempt and I still think it isn't right... Maybe I will make one and stop after the basics.

At least the colors are good. :)




Products:

• Hero Arts - Scroll Tree
• Stampendous - Tapestry
• Hero Arts - Good Things Message
• Nestabilities - Rectangle Scalloped
• Crystal stickers Gems
• Ranger Distress Ink - Peeled Paint
• StazOn Solvent Ink - Timer Brown
• Ribbon Michaels
• Ranger Distress Inks - Tattered Roses (Spritzed on the background of the larger tapestry stamped image)
• Small Circle Punch
• The Paper Studio - Corner Punch

Thanks for looking!

One More Stamping on Wood...

This was the trial run for the wooden box. The piece of wood comes in the box from Kodomo and is intended for craft use. I took and split it in 1" increments except for the last piece which was a little more than 1". I then used my piercing tool and put holes in the pieces to allow me to connect them with the intent of making a wall hanging. The wire on top should have beads but I those are stored and I didn't pull them out.

Recipe:

1. Spray the entire wood piece with yellow glimmer mist. Spread and dry with paper towel.
2. Spray bottom one third with green glimmer mist. Wipe excess off with paper towel.
3. Spray top one third with teal gimmer mist. Wipe excess off with paper towel.
4. Wait for the wood to dry. You can use the heat gun to help expedite the process. :)
5. Ink stamp with purple StazOn Ink. Stamp image on glimmer mist background.
6. Using white gel pen add highlights and touch-ups on the flowers and stems.
7. Ink sentiment with purple StazOn Ink. Stamp in upper right hand corner.
8. Using a rotary cutter cut the stamped background into 1" strips.
9. Using a piecing tool / sharp tip gently poke holes in the top and bottom of each strip excluding the bottom holes on the bottom piece. (Although it would have been very pretty to string beads on the bottom)
10. Using colored wire attach each piece to each other. This works much better with a jewelry pliers. (I used my fingers which didn't work so well)
11. Attach hanging wire across the top. I wrapped the wire around a pencil to give it shape.

Products:

• Hero Arts DesignBlock Silhouette
• Hero Arts Clear Design Anytime Messages
• StaZon Solvent Ink - Royal Purple
• Uniball Signo - White Gel Pen
• Ribbon - Unknown
• Green & Black Craft Wire
• Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mist - Lemon Zest, Patina, Olive Green

Holiday Gifts....

I usually only stamp on paper to make cards... But this weeks challenge from Hero Arts is holiday gifts. Here is the link to the challenge... http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2008/09/22/motivation-monday-framed-gifts/

I purchased this wood box: http://www.kodomoinc.com/kimono/index.cfm from Kodomo. I love their stamps and products.

I decided to decorate the box and create matching cards to give as a gift. Here is the box. I will post one of the cards after it is finished. :)

Recipe:

1. Spray yellow glimmer mist on the entire box and wipe off excess.
2. Spray green glimmer mist on the bottom and light blue glimmer mist across the top all around the outside of the box.
3. Let this dry and set something on the wood to help prevent warping. This wood was very thin and warped with the wetness.
4. Color the flowers with watercolor markers and stamp on the box. I had to stack stamps under the box top for support when stamping.
5. Stamp the sentiment using StazOn ink.
6. Versamark the top of the box and heat emboss clear embossing powder on the box.
7. Attach the butterfly and ribbon.

Products:

• Blue Moon - Lost Charms
• Hero Arts Stamps
• Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mist - Lemon Zest, Patina, Olive Vine
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• StazOn Royal Purple Solvent Ink
• Ribbon Unknown
• Crystal Stickers - Gems
• Hero Arts - Gemstones
• Zig Watercolor Markers
  

Thanks for wandering on over... :)

Whew! Been a busy few days....

My plans were to spend Sunday making a few things... Well.... suffice to say I was busy doing Mom type of activities all day. I also owed my middle daughter a journal. After Breanna's I had to create one for each of my daughters and my son is still waiting on his. I also have lost my mojo... :( I still think it isn't back yet.. But I made 3 different things to try to work through it. This is the last one I made. The other two are very different and I will post them on Flickr. (If you are interested.)

I'll let you decide....

Recipe:

1. Ink stamp with Versamark Watermark Ink. Color on the stamp with watercolor markers ontop of the versamark ink. Color with the lightest color markers first and work to the darkest color. The versamark may impact the amount of color that is being applied so rotate the tip of the marker to apply using multiple sides. After you have colored all the flowers & birds stamp on white cardstock.
2. Heat emboss stamped image with clear detail embossing powder.
3. Using a sponge dauber ink the dauber with light green dye ink and rub on in a circular motion all across the card. Re-ink as needed.
4. Versamark the entire green background and image and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
5. Cut and mount stamped image and background on purple cardstock.
6. Attach Lace Fringe to the background/stamped image.
7. Stamp background on vellum using versamark watermark ink.
8. Heat emboss with light purple embossing powder.
9. Create lace edge using border punch.
10. Mount everything to the card and tie ribbon around the top.

Products:

• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Hero Arts - F5031 Flower and Leaf Branch
• Hero Arts - K4892 Cardart Decorative Birds
• Stampendous - Stamp N Stuff Detail Clear Embossing Powder
• JoAnn's Crafts - Pastel Lilac Embossing Powder
• JoAnn's Fringe Ribbon
• Martha Stewart Border Punch
• Michael's Ribbon
• Zig Watercolor Markers
• Adirondack Brights Citrus
  

One more card for the shabby chic challenge

One more shabby chic card... I really liked this challenge... I must have more shabby chic in my house than I know as I was very inspired by this and thinking of the colors and materials you find in shabby chic.

There is not a lot of complexity to this card but I will share all the products...

Products:

• Making Memories - Hat Pin
• Prima Flowers
• Crystal Stickers - Pearls
• Hero Arts Clear Design - Three Tree Christmas
• Hero Arts Gems
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folders - Border - Just My Type
• Ranger Distress Ink Peeled Paint
• Brilliance - Pearlescent Poppy
• Anna Griffen Paper

TFL!

Just stopping by to say Hi....

No Challenge for this card. Just wanted to create a holiday card using my Basic Grey Paper. The Cuttlebug embossing folder looks just like the paper and I thougth it would be fun to design something using both of them.

Products:

• Hero Arts Clear Design Warmest Winter Wishes
• Basic Grey Paper
• October Afternoon - Sugar Cookies
• Versacolor Opera Pink
• Versafine Black Onyx
• Hero Arts - Holly Bird
• EK Success Adornments - Red
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Spots & Dots
  

TFL!

Shabby Chic...

The Hero Arts Challenge this week
http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2008/09/15/ribbons-and-lace-and-pearls-oh-my/
is to create a holiday card that is shabby chic.

I created this card first:
and thought it was more country than shabby chic...
I was then inspired to create this:

There wasn't much to this recipe but I will include the products.

Products:

• Hero Arts DesignBlock Poinsettas & Birds
• Hero Arts - Merry Christmas
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Birds & Swirls
• StazOn Solvent Ink - Timber Brown
• Marvy Uchida - Tag Punch
• Martha Stewart Doily Lace Border Punch
• Kaisers - Pearls (I really like their pearls and gems... They tend to go on easier and not lose their glue)
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Ranger Distress Embossing Powder - Vintage Paper

Three Little Angels

I recently acquired this beautiful stamp from Stampendous. I love the little angels they remind me of illustrations from children's books.

I couldn't wait to color the little girls carrying the tree.

There is not much recipe to this card other than coloring the girls with watercolor pencils and using a waterbrush to smooth the colors together. I did apply the versamark everywhere and clear embossed the picture to make the colors pop.

Products:

• Stampendous - M227 Cherub Tree Trio
• Stampendous Clear Embossing Powder
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Penny Black 373B Wondrous
• General Kimberly Water Color Pencils
• Versamagic Chalk Ink - Sea Breeze
• Versafine Pigment Ink - Smokey Grey
• Stickles - Blue
• Hobby Lobby - Snowflake Charm
• Michael's Celebrate Holiday Ribbon
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots, Snowflakes
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Rectangle Scallops
  
  Thanks for stopping by!

Simple Christmas Card

This card was a by-product of my new Ranger distress inks. This distress ink is Tattered Roses. I also used salt on this background. I learned about this technique from Godelieve. http://stampingmathilda.blogspot.com/ She has some great tutorials on using ecoline. (which I have yet to invest in)

Recipe:

1. Mix 3 to 4 drops of tattered roses distress ink in with 1/4 inch of water in a little mister container. Shake it up. Spritz this on white cardstock. I sprayed multiple times to get a stronger pink.
2. While the ink is wet on the paper sprinkle salt across the paper. Let this dry. If you want to speed up the process you can use the heat gun to dry it out. After the paper is dry you will want to wipe off the salt. It will stick to the paper a little but be persistent and it will wipe off. Cut the paper to the size desired. (Mine was 6 3/4" x 4 3/4")
3. The color came out so pretty like a dusty pink rose. I decided to white emboss to keep the look very old-fashioned. Ink the stamp with versamark and make a string of berries across the paper. Do this in two rows on the cut background.
4. Heat emboss with white opaque embossing powder.
5. Punch the scallops across the bottom. I used the corner rounder punch with the guide removed.
6. Versamark the entire surface. Heat emboss with a clear embossing powder.
7. Add gemstones on the berries.
8. Line the bottom scallops with pearls. I left these all attached together when I pulled them from the plastic, this made it easier to drape them across the scallops.
9. Tie the ribbon across the front.
10. Heat emboss the sentiment on the bottom using light pink embossing powder.

Products:

• Stampendous White Embossing Powder
• Joann Fabrics Clear Embossing Powder
• Penny Black 3244H Winter Berries
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Rangers Distress Ink - Tattered Roses
• Crystal Stickers - Pearls, Pink Gems
• Ribbon - Michael's

Away for awhile...

I have been in meetings every day which takes me 1 1/2 hours each way and then get home and run to student curriculum nights, baseball, gymnastics... you name it... So I am very deprived of my stamping. I am going to stock up this weekend with my projects (hopefully) so next week won't be as bad.. (Although, I am going to be in meetings every day again all week)... (Boo Hoo)


Hero Arts weekly challenge this week is all about yourself. http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2008/09/08/a-day-in-the-life/ Either to scrap a page about yourself or make a journal... I decided to make a few journals.


I made one for a girl who is going to be in the hospital for an extended stay. I am going to send this with some colored pencils. Her name is Breanna.






Recipe:

1. Spritz randomly across a piece of white cardstock Lemon Zest Glimmer Mist. Spritz in the white areas Patina Glimmer Mist. Using a white paper towel smear together the colors.
2. Ink the flourish stamp with versafine deep lagoon and stamp randomly across the dried yellow/teal background.
3. Ink the flower stamp with deep lagoon pigment ink and stamp randomly across the background.
4. Using a white gel pen trace around the edges of the flourishes. Add dots around the edge of the flourishes on the other sides. Accent all areas of the flourish with gel pen. (Either dots or lines) Outline or dot white gel pen around the flowers.
5. Tie the ribbon around the patterned paper into a knot.
6. Cut scalloped circle from Marvy Uchida Blue Scalloped cirlce punch using teal cardstock.
7. Cut a scrap from the patterned paper using the smallest nestibilities scalloped circle punch.
8. Cut a teal circle from the 1 1/4" circle punch and cut a 1" circle from the leftover paper from the patterned paper. Cut a teal circle from a 3/4" circle bunch.
9. Cover the chipboard B with Light Green Stickles.
10. Mount all circles and scallops together and accent with dots of teal / light green stickles.
11. Attach horseshoe charm to the knot.
12. Pull a sheet of the paper including the circles/perforated edges from inside of the notebook. This is the template for the measurments for the cover of the book as well as where you need to cut the slits in the cover to be able to put it in between the rings of the notebook.
13. Cut your background paper to the full size. Cut the patterned background 1/4" smaller all around. Mount the patterened paper to the teal cardstock. Lay the sheet of paper from inside the notebook on the two papers together and cut slits into the patterned paper mounted on the teal paper where the holes were in the paper.
14. Glue down the paper to the front cover from the bottom to the rings. Push the pieces that are slit between the rings.
    

Products:

• Ranger Stickles
• Hero Arts Clear Designs - CL233 Flower Blossom Borders
• Hero Arts E4813 - Flourish Flower
• Chipboard Letters - Unknown
• Ribbon - Michaels, Hobby Lobby
• Charm - Blue Moon - Lost & Found
• Signo Uni-Ball White Gel Pen
• Hero Arts Gemstones
• Kaiser Gemstones
• Spellbinders Nestabilities Scallop Circle
• Marvy Uchida Scallop Punch
• EK Success Circle Punches
• Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mists - Patina, Lemon Zest

Butterscotch and Lettuce...

Probably not something you would want to eat... :) But I think the alcohol inks together make a beautiful combination.


I mixed the colors together and decided to create 2 cards from the one background. The other card is off for submission.


I made my family vote on which card was submitted and which ended up on the blog.


It was a close call as the other card has buttons and my older daughter doesn't like them very much on cards.. But this card ended up here.

Recipe:

1. Pull a piece of glossy cardstock. Put 3 drops of lettuce alcohol ink on the felt on the applicator. Add 3 drips of blending solution. Smear the entire glossy cardstock using circular motions with green ink. Drip Blending solution directly on the inked cardstock in various places. Drip lettuce in various spots on the surface. Drip Butterscotch in various places on the cardstock. Bring back the blending solution and drip between colors to start the blend and the blurriness. At the end I put blending solution on a new piece of felt on my applicator and dab all over where I think the edges of my drips are too strong in color or don't blend well. It softens the background.
2. Stamp the flowers using StazOn Ink (Timber Brown, Olive Green). Stagger the flowers to give different layers of wildflowers.
3. Using the Signo Uni-Ball White Gel Pen outline the flowers and add details to make the flowers pop even more.
4. The only other unusual thing on here was I used my brown StazOn ink to change the color of the ribbon. I had a orange sheer organza ribbon that was too orange for the colors I was trying to blend. I laid it down on scrap paper and smeared the ink pad on the length of ribbon needed to create a bow. This gave it a slightly iridescent look as it changes from orange to brown depending on the angle.

Products:

• Fred B Mullet - 205 - Clover Group
• Penny Black - 3360k Curlicue Penny Black
• Penny Black - 2666k Blush
• Penny Black 3367H Lace Flower Trio
• Hero Arts - Clear Design Anytime Messages
• StazOn Solvent Ink - Timber Brown, Olive Green
• RiboonFX - Hobby Lobby Orange Organza
• Fiskars - Threading Water Punch
• Brads - Unknown
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Square Scallop
• Marvy Uchida Oval Punch
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Birds & Swirls
• Kaisers Pearls
  

Toodles... Have a favorite Second Cousin who would always say that. :)

Let it Snow... (Not)

This card was made as an entry into the Hero Arts weekly blog challenge. The theme this week was about giving. Challenge Link: http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2008/09/01/tis-the-season-to-give/ .

Recipe:

1. Smear Distress Ink - Broken China all over a transparency.
2. Mist until the water bubbles across the entire transparency.
3. Spritz purple Glimmer Mist in multiple places on the transparency.
4. Place white cardstock on the transparency. Pull off and lay face up to dry.
5. Line up clear snowflakes in a row alternating heights. Ink with StazOn Royal Purple.
6. Stamp rows of snowflakes across the background paper.
7. Clean snowflakes thoroughly. (hint... I didn't do this properly and will have to clean my Brilliance Ink Pad)
8. Ink snowflakes with Brilliance Moonlight White and stamp them slightly off-center from the purple row. Continue this for each row.
9. Versmark entire stamped background. Heat emboss with Kaleidoscope Embossing Powder.
10. Punch Circle from the original background piece. Make sure the circle is big enough to fit the penguin.
11. Curve the clear design sentiment to follow the outline of the circle. Lay the acrylic block over the circle and lay the clear stamp on the acrylic block to align to edge of the circle.
12. Stamp Sentiment two times around the circle edge using the StazOn purple ink. Stamp baby snowflakes in between the sentiments.
13. Versmark the circle and heat emboss with Kaleidoscope ebmossing powder.
14. Stamp penguin with StazOn black ink. Color hat scarf with purple watercolor pencils. Smooth color with aquabrush.
15. Apply glitter to the stomach using a glue pen and white glitter.
16. Apply fun flock to the hat ball using glue pen and fun flock.
17. Wrap ribbon around penguin neck and glue dot ends onto stamped scarf.
18. Cut ribbon in half and length of brim of the hat and glue it onto the hat.
19. Apply stickles on the hat snowflakes.
20. Apply black gems for eyes. Use Signo White uni-ball pen to add white to the eyes.
21. Assemble the card.
    

Products:

• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• Signo Uni-Ball White Gel Pen
• StazOn - Black, Royal Purple
• Brilliance Ink Pad - Moonlight White
• Hero Arts - Sparkle Design - Birdhouse
• Hero Arts - Clear Design Warmest Winter Wishes
• Hero Arts - D5081 - Cap and Scarf Penquin
• Stampendous Stamp N Stuff Kaleidoscope Transparent Embossing Powder
• Hero Arts Black Gems, Light Blue
• Marvy Uchida Scalloped and Circle Punches
• Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mist - Purple
• Ranger Distress Inks - Broken China
• Ribbon - Unknown
• General Kimberly Watercolor Pencils
• Ranger Stickles - White

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Anniversary to my DH....

This is my anniversary card to my husband. I have made 2 other cards that didn't end up looking like what I wanted to give him. I think it is hard to make a card that is masculine. (No bling, flowers, etc.)

I also wanted to share a technique that I think looks like marble.

I took a few pictures after the card was done to show how I created the faux marble background.

Recipe:

Start with a piece of acetate/transparency. I laid a piece of white cardstock underneath so you could see the color I applied clearly. So although this looks like white cardstock it is really a clear transparency.

1. Take a blue watercolor marker. Draw lines on the transparency all over the paper. Add branches from the main lines.

Next take your mister and spray all the colored lines multiple times. The color should bubble up and spread with feathers.

After you see the water bubbles on top of the acetate you are going to place your white cardstock on top of the acetate and you can flip it over with the acetate still on top of the cardstock. This allows you to move the color if you want. For this technique I didn't want the color moved as much as I wanted to soften it to make it look like the grain in Marble. Pull the acetate off of the cardstock and set to the side. The first sheet looks like this:

I was looking for something much softer. I added more water on the cardstock with the feathered blue images. I misted it multiple times until the surface was very moist an the inks were bleeding even further. I laid another piece of white cardstock on this paper. (2nd background created) I then lifted it up and spritzed the original cardstock again and laid a fresh piece of white cardstock on there (3rd background created). I ended up with 4 background papers each with a varying level of color. This background is similar to my card and was one of my last backgrounds:

I hope this helps. I really enjoyed creating this background. I used this as the background for my card and my sentiment. I did distress the edges of my background using my fingernail and a emery board. The paper becomes more textured from the water that was applied to it. I also used versamark watermark inkpad and a slate blue embossing powder to create the flourishes.

Products:

• Hero Arts - DesignBlock S5034 Flourish
• Embossing Powder - Stampendous Pearlustre Sapphire Opaque
• Ribbon - Michael's
• Inkadinkado - 96124 Love
• Zig Watercolor System Markers - Pacific Ink
• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue
• Nestabilities - Classic Scallop Rectangle

If you are afraid of the bling... This post is not for you...

The Hero Arts Challenge http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2008/09/01/tis-the-season-to-give/this week is for holidays. I love their DesignBlock Tree stamp and have wondered if I could somehow decorate the tree like you would do if it was out in your yard. I didn't think a gel pen would give a bright enough yellow for my Christmas lights... So.... drumroll please.... Ta Daa!

I actually used a whole pack of yellow gemstones and a half of another in decorating this tree. It was just like Christmas when you can't find a string of lights that work.. That was me digging through my gems... Then I couldn't find ornaments that I wanted so I settled on the gold ornaments. :) Okay really the birds trimmed this tree..

Well I hope you enjoyed my tree because I don't decorate our trees outside as neatly. I throw the lights up on half the tree that I can't reach and my DH goes out and tries to fix it.

I also created a second card using the same background technique and I have included it here:

Recipe: (For the backgrounds on my christmas card and my flowers card)

1. Smear green ink on a piece of Saran Wrap. I purposely tried to leave the wrinkles in the Saran Wrap. Spritz this with water until it bubbles up.
2. Spritz Lemon Zest Glimmer Mist on the Saran Wrap.
3. Wrinkle the Saran Wrap to give it an uneven coverage.
4. Place paper on the saran wrap and soak up the color.
5. Pick up the Saran Wrap and bunch it up and take a fresh piece of white cardstock and dab on the colors over the whole paper. I kept moving the saran wrap in different bunches to give it a different texture.
6. Now you have 2 backgrounds to use for different projects. I used the sponged effect for this background.
7. Ink the tree stamp with Versamark and stamp it on your green background. Heat emboss with copper embossing powder.
8. Using your Versamark Inkpad stamp the ink on the entire picture and cover with clear embossing powder. Heat emboss the entire picture.
9. Decorate your tree with your lights and ornaments.
10. I stamped the birds using Versafine Onyx Black and colored them using my watercolor pencils. I washed over them with the waterbrushes. I also versamarked them and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder.
11. Pop dot the birds on and attach an ornament to birds ornament.
12. Take your tag and color the rims with a Krylon Gold Paint Pen. (I heated it up afterwards to dry it.)
13. Watercolor the background with the same green ink pad used in the background.
14. Stamp sentiment and heat emboss with copper embossing powder.

Products:

• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• Versafine Onyx Black Pigment Ink
• Gems - Hero Arts, Crystal Stickers
• Hero Arts DesignBlock Tree
• Amuse 5-21608B MB Holiday Bird
• Ribbon, Tag, Sentiment Unknown
• Saran Wrap
• Memento - New Sprout Dye Ink
• Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mist
• Ranger Clear Embossing Powder
• Watercolor Pencils, General Kimberly

Silvery Peace...

I had so much fun last time when I embossed my aluminum foil... I decided to make another project using the foil with the Cuttlebug Embossing Folders. When I made my last card using this technique, I had another idea using the snowflake embossing folder. Here is that card. I still have one more idea percolating in my brain using this technique... So you might see one more project looking very similar to this. :)

Recipe:

1. Tape down aluminum foil to cardstock. I used a gold cardstock. I like how if the edges get frayed you still get a metallic look coming through. (Or if you want to distress it you would get a contrasting metallic look) Hint: My edges keep coming up. I should have taped all the way to the edge.
2. Emboss using the cuttlebug embossing folder with the foil face up.
3. Put 3 drips of the Alcohol Ink (stream) on the felt on the applicator. Add 3 drips of alcohol blending solution. Dab this on the embossed foil all over.
4. Replace the felt piece on your applicator. Drip 3 drops of the lettuce color and 3 drops of alcohol blending solution on the felt. Dab this all over the embossed foil.
5. I edged the card with my Silver Krylon Paint Pen.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Clear Designs Warmest Winter Wishes
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Snowflakes
• Aluminum Foil
• Ranger Alcohol Inks - Stream, Lettuce
• Ranger Alcohol Blending Solution
• EK Success - Tonal Adornments
• Tag Holder - Unknown