Happy Birthday!

This is for a good friend of mine, Lisa. She is the one who introduced me to stamping. She has a birthday next week. This was created as an inspiration challenge inspired by Kryssi. Her blog is here: http://sugar-buffet.blogspot.com/. Kryssi's favorite color combo is teal, red and brown. This card is inspired by her colors and my friend Lisa as we both loved the Her Arts Asian doll set.
Recipe:

1. Punch out sixteen 1 1/4" circles from white cardstock. Stamp them using the for different stamps and brown ink.
2. Cut a 4 1/2" circle out of white cardstock.
3. Stamp tree image using brown ink.
4. Stamp sentiment using red ink around the edges curving the acrylic stamp to follow the line of the circle.
5. Stamp Asian girl in red and brown ink. Cut out brown girl and red dress. Attach red dress to girl.
6. Sponge edges of the larger circle with blue dye ink.
7. Stamp lanterns using red ink and cut out.
8. Layout little circles around larger circle. Tape larger circle and lay onto the little circles. I also backed the whole flower with a larger cut out circle.
9. Attach another circle with a fold at the top to make back of the card.
10. Accent with gems!

Products:

• Hero Arts Clear Design - Four Dolls
• Hero Arts Sparkle Clear - Arigato
• Hero Arts Clear Design - Birthday Messages
• Hero Arts Slanted Tree
• Paper Shapers Circle Punch
• Fiskars Circle Cutter, Circle Templates
• Ranger Distress Ink - Broken China
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia, Crimson Red
• StazOn - Blazing Red

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Inspiration III

This card was inspired by Kiara http://stampingcafe.blogspot.com/ as well. The card itself actually happened because everytime I make a card (See earlier this week) I end up with something I reject. Usually those scraps go into the scrap pile until I can use them in a card but this was already a half finished card.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Designer Posies
• Hero Arts - Clear Design - Scalloped Borders
• Hero Arts - Sparkle Clear - Mini Messages
• Inkadinkado - Butterfly
• Verafine - Vintage Sepia
• Memento - Rose Bud
• American Craft - Ribbon
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots
• Crystal Stickers - Pearls

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Inspiration - Part II

Here is another inspiration pieces for Hero Arts Blog Challenge this week. Kelly is my inspiration today. Her blog is here: http://cruzinkellster.blogspot.com/.





She makes the most wonderful, fun, and adorable cards. I CASED this card here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22848734@N03/3220517882/

I loved how she used the die cut shape for her card. She also mixes pattern paper so cleverly into her designs. This is my take on a Kelly card. :)

Products:

• Hero Arts - Birthday Definition
• Hero Arts - Clear Design Woodland Critters
• Hero Arts - Clear Design - Live it Up (Confetti on the Background)
• Hero Arts - Cupcakes
• Basic Grey - Periphery
• Making Memories - Stickers
• Versafine - Olympia Green, Smokey Grey, Vintage Sepia
• Ranger Distress Inks - Peeled Paint, Faded Jeans
• Prisma Color Pencils, General Kimberly Watercolor Pencils

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Inspirations...

On the Hero Arts Blog http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/category/motivation-mondays/ they are featuring artists who participate in their challenges.

Kiara is one of the artists being featured. Her blog is here: http://stampingcafe.blogspot.com/. Kiara's cards are always beautiful and elegant and have the cutest embellishments.

The challenge on the HA blog is to be inspired by one of the featured artists. Here is my attempt to emulate some of Kiara's style.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Clear Design - Woodland Critters
• Hero Arts - Fancifaul Flower Filament
• Hero Arts - Designblock - Wavy Leaf Pattern
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Labels
• Martha Stewart Border Punch - Cornice
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Light Pink Embossing Powder

Thanks for stopping by... I am going to see if I can emulate Kelly B talent next!

Suzz

Friendship and Scraps...

I put together a couple of cards for two challenges. Hero Arts Weekly Challenge for friendship: http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/02/16/motivation-monday-friendship-a-video/ and Godelieve posted a sunday scraps challenge on 2 Pea's: http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=2752494 .
Godelieve suggested a weekly challenge on Sundays to use up scraps. I have a ton of scraps from all my projects. I actually started from a couple of scraps (screen shadow background and butterfly) to make this card:
While making this card I tried something which I didn't like on the little card and ended up with another scrap! So I decided I must put that into a card as well otherwise I would not be using up my scraps.. So here is my second card.

Products:

• Hero Arts Sparkle Design - Mini Messages
• Hero Arts CardArt Thinking of You
• Hero Arts Designblock - Wavy Leaf Pattern
• Creative Beginnings - Light Pink Embossing Powder
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Basic Grey - eloquent stamp
• Hero Arts - Screen Shadow
• Amy Butler Lotus Floral Stamps
• Memento - Rose Bud
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots
• Marvy Uchida Circle Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Scalloped Circle
• Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels

I also wanted to share that a few of my cards are out this month in the April issue of Crafts n Things. I sent them in a long time ago and they let me know they were going to be published, but it has been a long time to wait to see them in print. Very exciting for me. I also have a few other pending future issues.

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

Friendship

Here is my second entry for the Hero Arts Blog Challenge this week for friendship. I found this scrap I had stamped. (The background in light green) which was stamped with the same stamp in light green and dark green on both sides. (Ha!) Which didn't make it onto another card. I love this Designblock from Hero Arts it is spread out enough that it makes a beautiful lacy background.

I have been very bad and went shopping today... See the fringe on the bottom and the fancy lavendar doily circle? New Fiskars corner punch. :(

It is very pretty and I bought it at 40% off (Jo Ann's).

The recipe is very simple so I will just share the products with you.

Products:

• Fiskars Corner Punch - Something Old, Something New
• Hero Arts Designblock - Wavy Leaf Pattern
• Hero Arts - Friends Background
• Hero Arts Sparkle Clear - Mini Messages
• Prima Flowers
• Kaisers Pearls
• Ranger Distress Ink - Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

KWerner Challenge # 42

Kristina's Color Challenge http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/?p=701 this week reminds me of butterscotch..


I looked at the colors and thought of my alcohol inks. Butterscotch, Rust and Lettuce. I have used these colors together before and liked the effect. So I pulled them out to create a beautiful background color. (Side note: There are new colors out in the acohol inks from Ranger and they are on my list to get!)



Since I have done a card with similar colors I wanted to do something different for the flowers. I use a light yellow embossing powder and was really pleased with the effect.

Products:

• Ranger Alcohol Inks - Butterscotch, Lettuce, Rust
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Light Yellow Embossing Powder
• Magenta - 09150M
• Verses - Kiss of the Sun
• Martha Stewart Ribbon
• K&Company & Kaisers Gemstones

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

-

Friends...

This weeks challenge at Hero Arts is to create a card based on friendship. I have met so many wonderful friends online with my cardmaking. My card I made from the challenge is based on scraps that my on-line friend Jacqueline sent me. I was so excited as she sent me a package the other day and not only did she send me scraps, but she also sent me an ATC. Her ATC is so beautiful and lovely...

and here is my friendship card made from some of her scraps she sent to me...

She sent me the beautiful arch window and the butterflies are stamped on some pretty mauve patterned paper.

I used a new technique to make the window background. I have still to create some more pieces using this technique as I love the effect. The technique leaves your creation looking like spun suger.

Recipe for the Stained Glass:

1. Spray Glimmer Mist on tissue paper. Completely cover the tissue paper with the colors desired.
2. Dry the tissue paper. I used my heat gun and heated it up.
3. Versamark the entire colored tissue paper and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
4. This will create a stained glass effect.

I have also done this with white embossing a stamped image first and then spraying with the glimmer mist and embossing.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Long Branch
• Hero Arts - Slanted Tree
• Hero Arts - Artistic Butterflies
• Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mist - Patina, Old Vine
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Ranger Seafoam White Embossing Powder
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

I included

Poppies...

I love how Oriental Poppies look... They are beautiful. Unfortunately every time I plant them they never make it through the summer. Our yard is too open and dry much less the soil conditions. This card reminded me of the beauty of poppies.

I tried creating a gate fold with an opening in the middle to showcase the inside of the card.
This is the card closed.

This is the card opened slightly. The Poppies are all stamped with StazOn Timber Brown. The brown on the white is very pretty and doesn't translate in the pictures.

The flowers are colored with watercoor pencils and blended with the waterbrush. The effect is much softer in real life.

Products:

• Penny Black Poppies
• Penny Black Clear - Thinking of You
• Watercolor Pencils

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

More Penny Black...

As you can see I have received a few Penny Black stamps recently and a few more are on thier way... This is one from a clear set "Thinking of You".. It reminded me of my Grandmother's kitchen. A little bunch of wildflowers stuffed into a glass jar.

The embossed background actually has a faint shade of blue and was sponged with the brown. The flowers were stamped in blue pigment ink and colored with my colored pencils. I sponged the edges of the circle with green dye ink.

Products:

• Penny Black Clear - Thinking of You, Sentiments
• Versafine - Majestic Blue
• Ranger Distress Inks - Peeled Paint, Broken China
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots
• K&Company Photo Corners
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Circle Scallops, Oval Scallops
• Marvy Uchida Circle Punch
• Versafine - Olympia Green
• Prismacolor Pencils

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Favorites Challenge

Last week's challenge at Hero Arts was favorites. I saw a few cards made with their dandelion stamp. I really love this stamp as well and decided to pull it out last night and play around with it.

The background was created using Ranger distress inks and water to create a light tan background. I then stamped the screen shadow using a very bright yellow. I then double stamped the dandelion with a brown and a dark blue added a touch of stickles. The bee is from the sentiment and a clear stamp set with the little swirly dots.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Dandelion
• Hero Arts - Screen Shadow
• Inkadinkado - Dawn Houser 8392-N
• Verasfine - Onyx Black, Majestic Blue
• StazOn - Timber Brown
• Memento - Rich Cocoa, Dandelion
• Ranger Stickles Yellow

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Happy Valentine's Day & Kwerner Challenge

Happy Valentine's Day!

Kristina color challenge was red, black, grey and white. What perfect colors for a Valentine's card! The challenge is posted here: http://kwernerdesign.com/blog/2009/02/color-inspiration-41.html and the color swatch:

I received a pack of Making Memories papers at CHA which contained these wonderful reds, and pink papers. I pulled that paper pack out and made this simple little valentine.

Products:

• Making Memories - Love Notes
• Hero Arts - Two Flourish Flowers
• Making Memories - Glitter Stickers
• Versafine Black Onyx
• Inkadinkadoo - 99259 - MM

Thanks for stopping by...

I hope you have a wonderful day with your loved ones!

Suzz

Playing with some new stamps...

I just received the Penny Black clear Sentiments set. I have been playing with them and this little star stamp reminded me of some retro patterns that you used to see. It took me 3 tries to accomplish this card and I still don't think it is as clean as I would like it to be.

I love the words put together in a line as sentiments in this set and suspect you will be seeing more cards using this set.

Products:

• Penny Black Clear - Sentiments
• Ranger Distress Inks - Peeled Paint, Broken China
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Versafine - Lagoon, Vintage Sepia, Olympia Green

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Butterflies...

I was having a discussion with a friend of mine about what type of stamps we might have a tendency to purchase... I think butterflies might be one of mine. :) and trees, elephants, wildflowers...

This is for the Hero Arts Favorites Challenge. I used the Artistic Butterfly set from Hero Arts to create this pattern.

Recipe:

1. Stamp with versamark the Friends background on the white cardstock.
2. Color the background with a deep pink chalk.
3. Stamp the butterflies in alternating pink and brown inks.
4. Versamark the entire surface and clear emboss. Repeat twice to give an even glossiness.
5. Repeat the same process on a 2" circle.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Friends Background
• Hero Arts - Artistic Butterfly
• Pebbles Inc. - Pearlescent Chalks
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Memento - Rose Bud
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Hero Arts - Pearls

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Flowers and Wood Grain

This week challenge on Hero Arts is to use your favorite stamps from Hero Arts. I actually have a few I like to use repeatedly. This card pulls a couple of them into one card.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Coneflower
• Hero Arts - Wood Grain
• Hero Arts - Real Field Wildflower
• Hero Arts - Wild Fairy Lily
• Hero Arts - Soft Sand Ink Pad
• StazOn - Olive Green
• Watercolor Markers
• Color Pencils
• Pebbles Inc. Pearlescent Chalks
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Acetate
• Clear Embossing Powder
• American Craft - Ribbon
• Hero Arts - French Script

I love their wildflowers and wood grain stamp and used both in this card. Sorry about the picture we are in a dense fog advisory this morning and I had to take my picture indoors. On my to do list is to set up a space to take better pictures. :)

Speaking of spaces my youngest took a snapshot of my craft space. I decided to share it with you. (Very cluttered) My craft space has moved multiple times and is transitional so my storage is all about plastic drawers.

The desk is a desk my husband made in high school wood working class. This tells you how talented he is in woodworking. He made me my ink pad storage which is in the picture to the left and it works wonderfully. Although this looks very messy I know where everything is and can pull it out very quickly as I need it.

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

An ATC Trade

Arlene at http://arlenesbits.blogspot.com/ had some beautiful ATC's posted on Flickr and I asked if she would like to trade. I recieved this wonderful ATC in the mail today.

I know most of the stamps are Hero Arts and she has put an immense amount of detail and work into this little masterpiece. Thanks Arlene!

Suzz

Here Comes the Bride...

This is a stamp from Penny Black that I think is beautiful. I love the simplicity of the dress and the bride. I sketched up a card the other night with this design and she fit beautifully into the sketch. The flowers around the edges are embossed with an iridescent clear embossing powder to give it some more sparkle.

The card is a gatefold card (5 1/2" x 5 1/2"). The stamped image is attached to the band that slides onto the card.

Products:

• Penny Black - All White
• Penny Black - Vignette
• Fiskars Border Punch - Embroidered Lace
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Textiles
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Scalloped Rectangle
• Versafine Onyx Black
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Iridescent Clear Embossing Powder
• Cardstock - White, Black, Lavender
• Rangers Purple Stickles

Thanks for dropping by...

Suzz

Radiant Rain Stamping

I was playing with my Lumin Arte Radiant Rain and created this card:

The effect is very soft. The design is something I did previouslybut updated with the soft flowers and butterflies.

Products:

• Hero Arts Black and White Flower
• Hero Arts Elegant Flower
• Hero Arts Clear Design - Anytime Messages
• Spellbinders - Butterflies 2
• Luminarte - Radiant Rain - Jasmine, Periwinkle
• Watercolor Markers
• StazOn Royal Purple
• Colorbox Mini - Lilac
• Crystal Stickers - Pearls

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Happy Birthday Challenge

Been struggling with creating things lately.... Here is an entry for the Hero Arts weekly challenge. It was based on an idea from Godelieve... http://www.flickr.com/photos/stampingmathilda/3170141676/

I stamped the frogs on patterned paper from Basic Grey and added some color using the colored pencils.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Clear Design - Birthday Expressions
• Hero Arts - Sparkle Clear - Froggy
• Hero Arts - Clear Design - Birthday Messages
• Basic Grey - Periphery
• Martha Stewart - Zig Zag Border Punch
• Memories Dye Ink -Honey
• Versafine -Olympia Green, Lagoon
  

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Thinking of You...

I have been playing around with this new Penny Black Clear Set. There are these beautiful images that I thought would look lovely in watercolor. I cheated and didn't use my watercolors The images are stamped on the front of acetate and a sticky adhesive is put across the back. I then took chalk and colored on the adhesive. This technique gives a beautiful muted effect.

Products:

• Penny Black Thinking of You
• Pebbles Inc, Pearlescent Chalk
• Martha Stewart Border Punch
• White Crochet Flowers (A gift from Jacqueline!)
• Turquoise Crochet Flower - (I can't remember the brand name but know I purchased it at Archiver's)

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz