Tag Tuesday Challenge #18

Tag Tuesday Challenge hosted by Louise is Birds... I had this masterboard I had created previously and hadn't used. So I cut a portion off to create the background for my tag. I just added a little more detail and popped a few of the birds to finish off the tag.

I was trying to achieve some different colors with this background and stayed with the oranges, reds and browns.

There is a big variety of stamps on the background a mix of Penny Black stamps along with Ranger Distress Inks.

The branch is Hero Arts and the birds are from B Line Designs.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

ATC Time

I love making ATC's because of their size... Hero Arts Weekly Challenge this week is ATC's. This is a great way to use up scraps. They also are easier to design on a smaller space.


I was playing with some scraps last night of my Basic Grey paper and created this ATC. Too fun!

Products:

• Hero Arts - Flower Words
• Hero Arts - Outline Flowers
• Basic Grey - Urban Prairie
• Hero Arts - Artistic Butterflies
• Versafine - Onyx Black, Majestic Blue

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

RAKS...

I love getting mail... Something we fight over in our house is who gets to check the mailbox and see what fun things are there. I was so happy because this past week I received two

envelopes of goodness from my card-making friends.

Kiara sent me this beautiful card.

What I couldn't capture in the picture is the shimmer she put on each circle and the flowers. So happy to have a card created by Kiara. She makes the most lovely and elegant cards you can imagine. She also was kind enough to send me a gift as well. Thank you Kiara!

As if that wasn't enough I recieved a second envelope, yesterday from Jacqueline. Jacqueline makes such dreamy, beautiful cards, tags, and ATC's. She sent me this little gem and it even has a little hoop so I can hang it up. Which I am definitely going to do as I can than have the inspiration here in my crafting space.

I love the inspiration of the grid cards that Jacqueline creates and this is such a beautiful example of one. She has taught me how to use my scraps in creating additional cards. Thank you Jacqueline!

I thought I would share my birthday cards and how happy I am to have such wonderful friends.

Have a wonderful day!

Suzz

Happy Birthday Dad!

My dad's birthday is coming up soon. I am always forgetful as his is so far apart from any other birthday except mine. So I get lulled into not worrying about birthday cards or presents and then I realize when my birthday pops up that his is just around the corner.

I decided to use up some scraps for scraps sunday....

I had punched out the leaves on one of my Caardvarks sketch challenge cards last week and this little scrap was laying there and I loved the effect and decided to create a card around the punched out leaves.

The circle was already cut and had a tiny bit of green distressing on one edge. Don't know why or how but decided to go with it and finish distressing it and then added the wood grain.

Very simple card and my dad will enjoy whatver I send him. Even though the buttons are not too manly.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Woodgrain Pattern
• Hero Arts - Delicate Leaves
• Ranger Distress Ink - Peeled Paint, Corduroy

Have a blustery day! I feel like we are like Pooh and his friends because the wind is really blowing and it dropped 15 degrees from yesterday. Fall is definitely in the air.

Suzz

Caardvarks Challenge Sketch - Saturday

Wow... what a week of sketches. This has been good for me as a challenge... Using sketches every day is different for me as I usually go where the paper, stamp, inks take me...

Here is the final sketch for the Caardvarks Sketch Challenge: http://caardvarks.blogspot.com/

and here is my card:
Unusual for me because the main image is not stamped. It is this absolutely gorgeous vellum paper with a printed pattern from Kodomo Inc. called Peony Collage. Here is what it looks like unfortunately you can't see the sheer translucence in the picture. I usually don't buy too much pattern paper but this was a special sheet and I have been hoarding it and decided to pull it out and cut out the main peony.

I then tried to recreate it on the background by stamping my Flourishes Poppy stamps randomly across the background with an overlay of the Hero Arts Kanji Poem stamp. I slightly colored the edges and stems to emulate the vellum patterned paper colors.

I have colored my pearls before using sharpies and alcohol inks. I decided to try the Copics on the pearls to make the yellow seeds on my poppies. I was really pleased. The color with the Sharpies or the Alcohol inks was never consistent or the right shade. The Copics went on smoothly and provided a lovely color.

Products:

• Kodomo Inc. - Peony Collage
• Hero Arts - Kanji Poem
• Flourishes - Poppy Patch
• Ranger Distress Inks - Shabby Shutter
• StaZon - Dove Grey
• Watercolor Pencils
• Ribbon, Pearls - Unknown

Thanks for stopping by... Have a blessed Sunday

Suzz

Caardvarks - Friday Sketch

Whew... Getting to the end of the sketchfest over at Caardvarks...

Here is the sketch:

And my take on it...

The black on the card is really a dark chocolate brown. It always photographs as black.

Thanks for stopping by... Off to buy groceries and then I have a few stamping projects I need to finish up for class and of course the last sketchfest sketch too!

Thanks for sopping by...

Suzz

Caardvarks Thursday Sketch

The Thursday sketch for the Caardvarks Sketch Challenge is:

Here is my interpretation # 2:
This inside says "Is 50?" I used my Silhouette for the branches. There is PP on the owls as a background from Basic Grey.

My first interpretation was mostly beautiful patterned paper from Basic Grey.
I stamped the poppies on the PP paper and cut them out and curled them up. The centers of the flowers are pretty glass beads which you can't see the translucense in the picture.

Products:

• Basic Grey - Wisteria
• Marvy Uchida - Butterfly Punch
• Penny Black - Poppies
• Hero Arts - Design Block
• Inkadinkado - Owl Stamp
• Hero Arts - Wallpaper Flowers
• Ranger Distress - Antique Linen
• Memento - Dandelion, Rich Cocoa
• Adirondacks - Sunset Orange
• Versafine - Imperial Purple
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Versamark

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Photo Card Challenge

Hero Arts Weekly Challenge is photo cards. This is not a strength of mine so perfect for a challenge. :)

These butterflies were made for the button flower I made earlier this week so they were all sitting on my desk. Spent some time looking through my flower pictures taken a couple of weeks ago and found this one of the birdbath out back.

Products:

• Hero Arts Heart Winged Butterfly
• Hero Arts Artistic Butterflies
• Hero Arts - Everyday Sayings
• Copic Markers
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folders
• Spellbinders -Shapeabilities

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

Caardvarks Sketch Challenge - Wednesday

Wednesday's sketch for the Caardvarks Challenge:

Here is my card based on the sketch...

This is a mix of old and new stamps for me... I have had the real flowers in the background from Hero Arts for a long time and these are some of my favorites from them. There real flower series is so pretty and versatile. The background is one of there new Design Blocks called Antique Flower Background. The background is clear embossed and distress inked (Antique Linen) over the embossing. The front flowers is a Penny Black Stamp with birds stamped as accents.

The scalloped pieces were traced from journaling cards I had purchased previously. I used them as a template.

Products:

• Versamark Watermark Inkpad
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Ranger Distress Ink - Antique Linen
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Penny Black - inclinations
• Hero Arts - CL342 Everyday Sayings, Antique Flower Background, Real Salvia
• Ribbon, Pearls Unkown
• Spellbinders - Shapeabilities - Labels Trios
  

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Tag Tuesday Challenge #17

This week's tag challenge is to create a tag with children. http://kardkrazy.blogspot.com/2009/09/tuesday-tag-challenge-17-children.html

Here is the tag I created for the challenge:

I actually had been coloring this image for awhile as part of my Copic practice. I would start on a section and play with the colors and then leave it aside and work on something else. I finished the boy's shirt and hair today to include it in this challenge. I love the image of the little boy and girl holding hands and walking outside. I like to think of it as a brother and sister and one of them protecting the other as they walk.

The main image is layered on a tag with a Stampers Anonymous field grass and cattails background. There are some real twigs mixed in with the twine and buttons.

Products:

• Stampers Anonymous U1-1344
• Hero Arts - Wood Finish
• PaperBag Studios - Always Young
• Impression Obsession - Lofty Dreams
• Memento - Rich Cocoa, Black Tuxedo
• Copics Markers
• Twigs, Twine, Buttons, Raffia

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Caardvarks Sketch Challenge - Tuesday

Daily challenges with different sketches going on now with Caardvarks. Whew!

Here is yesterdays sketch for the Caardvarks challenge: http://caardvarks.blogspot.com/

I had an idea to have a row of butterflies creeping up the page... I ended up with half butterlies. Although you know I now have about 5 or 6 extra butterflies laying on my desk going to go up on my wall of shame. My son named it that when he saw all my little odds and ends of stamped extras.

I have been wanting to create a circle of buttons ever since I have seen it on a few other gorgeous layouts.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Dots and Flowers
• Hero Arts - Artistic Butterflies
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Copics
• Buttons, Ribbons - Unknown

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Caardvarks Sketch Challenge...

Caardvarks is having sketch challenges all week. Link is here: http://caardvarks.blogspot.com/

This is Monday's sketch:

And my version of the sketch:

and here is Sunday's sketch :

and my take on it...

There is a sketch a day and fun prizes...

The gingerbread card products:

• Imaginisce - Snag 'em Stamps - Gingerbread Man
• Basic Grey - Urban Prairie
• Jenni Bowlen - Stickers
• Hero Arts - Clear Stamps
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• StaZon - Mustard

The vintage pine card products:

• Hero Arts - Big Pine Bough
• Hero Arts - Holiday Messages
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
• Poms
• Vintage Lace
• Velvet Ribbon
• Buttons - Unknown
• Ranger Distress Inks - Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Foiled Again Batman!

Another Foil card... This one I am going to modify before I use it for class... The sentiment in the middle did not turn out the way I would like.

I am going to replace that with flowers embossed in a light purple to match.

Loved the effect of the foil, black and butterfly. So I shared anyway. :)

The embossing is one of the new Cuttlebug embossing folder. Very elegant and pretty.

The Butterfly is stamped on foil and colored using alcohol inks...

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

Rock On in Foil

Making a few cards for a class I will be holding in October called Foiled.... The concept is to use aluminum foil on the cards.

This was a fun one to make and my tween daughters eye's lit up when I was done so I think I hit the age group I was targeting...

The frame is aluminum foil die cut and embossed. The stamps are all Inkadinkado.

Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday..

Suzz

Soot Stamping

I had tried Soot stamping one time before and wasn't able to do it successfully but over at two peas there was a discussion thread for Stamptoberfest.. (Lots of challenges and lots of fun in October) Here is the link: http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&forum_id=22&thread_id=2877853

Anyways... I digress... Someone mentioned they are going to do a soot stamping challenge. I took a look at the samples and they are gorgeous. So I decided to give it another try. There is a video here: http://stamptv.ning.com/video/soot-stamping by Gina K. She has some great video tutorials on different techniques.

I watched her video and created these hearts... Of course I started with a big sheet of glossy cardstock and used a votive candle. I created a big section of black sooty paper.




After I had this beautiful black background. (I burned a hole through once). I used my heart flourish stamp to stamp randomly over the entire surface.

You need some type of sealant to seal up the surface. Unfortunately I have none. So I tried two things. First I sponged my versamark ink pad (an old one) directly on part of the stamped area. This left too many lines from the ink pad as it pulled up the soot. I then brayered on versamark over the other side of the stamped area. This gave this very uneven background which I liked. I then embossed with clear embossing powder.

I repeated the versamark directly on the embossed background and heat embossed again with clear embossing powder.

Then die cut your hearts and use them on your card.

Godelieve had this beautiful Christmas card she made using this method: http://stampingmathilda.blogspot.com/2009/01/saturdays-workout-soot-stamping.html
which was what inspired me to try this technique.

Couple of key points:

1. Work in a well ventilated area... Make sure you don't breathe in all the chemicals.
2. Keep the glossy cardstock moving over the flame and keep going over areas to get a really dark surface.
3. Sealant. A good idea. Would have kept my stamping more visible.
4. Clean off your stamps in between stamping if you are repeating.
5. If you touch the surface after you have gotten your soot you will definitely have ashes on your fingertips so be careful where you touch! :)
6. Glossy cardstock. Need the finish so it will melt off and leave the soot.
7. The edges tend to burn easier than the centers so plan on burning a larger area than you want to use. (I always do this when trying techniques because I can use the scraps for other things and I can pick the area I like best to work with)

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

More grids and tags!

Continuing on with the grids and tags... I created this card using scraps from Jacqueline. I wanted to do more of a patchwork quilt look and used the pieces with the sizes that I had and trimmed as needed.

I then created another tag which used the distress inks on my craft mat with water to get the deep colors and added layers of stamping and finished with the flowers and buttons.

Then I moved onto another grid tag...

Creating the inchies was so much fun. I used a ton of different stamps that don't get used enough!

The bee's wings are layered which doesn't show up on the picture but adds a great dimension to the little inchie.

There are little flowers punched out and attached to the asian leaves.

The number 13 is from a new stamp I just purchased in a shape of a playing card. Stamped and cut out!

The butterfly is from a collage stamp from Hero Arts and love the little butterfly. It was stamped on a distress inked background and highlighted with white gel pen.

The tag was created by stamping the Cornish Heritage Farms Lined Paper Stamp on ivory cardstock and cutting it out in a shape of the tag.

I ended up stapling the ribbons to the top because I punched a hole and ended ripping it trying to tie the ribbon in.

Too many products to name them all but a great mix of Stampers Anonymous, Hero Arts, B Line Designs, Inkadinkado, and Cornish Heritage Farms stamps. The inks are mostly Ranger Distress Inks along with my favorite Versafine Vintage Sepia. The patterned paper is Basic Grey.

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Sorry it has been so long...

I have been busy with work and been trying to create a video. We ran into technical difficulties making the video but I still have plans to create a few videos. Stay tuned for those.

I have also been busy stamping... Just didn't get a chance to post them

I created two different projects for the Hero Arts blog Challenge: http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/09/14/in-celebration-of-learning/ The challenge this week is about learning. Looking at cards from when we first started and what we have learned along the way.

The second challenge is from Louise's blog. http://kardkrazy.blogspot.com/2009/09/tag-challenge-16-grid-tag.html She hosts a Tuesday challenge and this week's challenge is grid tags.

For me the tag was a new area that I had never explored and was learned along the way along with the uses of scraps, embellishments and even grid cards... So this encompasses alot of things I have learned along the way in my stamping journey.


This was made from some beautiful scraps sent to me from Jacqueline. Thanks Jacqueline!

The second card is a thing I am still learning... How to use white effectively or negative space in my cards. I do tend to like my colors.. :)




So this was a little challenge for myself to keep my card in the whites/ivories...

Card Products:

• QuicKutz Embossing Folder - Diamonds and Dots
• Versamark
• Clear Embossing Flowers
• Clay Flowers
• Sheer Ivory Ribbon
• Hero Arts - Old Letter Writing
• Hero Arts - Real Salvia
• Hero Arts - Everyday Sayings

Tag Products:

• Ranger Distress Inks - Peeled Paint
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Hero Arts - Monarch Butterfly
• Hero Arts - Purple Wash
• Penny Black - berry branch
• Hero Arts - Artistic Windows
• B Line Design - Bird Silhouettes
• Verses Rubber Stamps - Grow Old
• Inkadinkado - 96127 - CC
• Hero Arts - Old Letter Writing
• Hero Arts - Raindrop Background
• Hero Arts - Flower Word
  
  Thanks for stopping by...
  
  Suzz

Toast Anyone?

The moxie fab world blog is tons of fun and there are challenges...http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2009/09/you-asked-for-it-another-moxie-fab.html like this fun one which was to incorporate a household item into a crafty project.

Well... I love my stamps but don't have anything with a household item so this popped into mind... (Excuse the terrible pun)

I was inspired by the retro toaster on the blog and thought it would be fun to have a pop up card with toast as the message.

I created two slots with two pop up tags of toast. I actually stamped What's Up? On the two pieces of toast.

Well that was my fun this morning and my card was instantly claimed by my youngest who keeps pulling the toast out and in...

Products:

• Hero Arts - Antique Flower Background
• Hero Arts - Elegant Brocade
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Adirondack Brights - Pool
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Memories - Honey

Hope this gave you a smile today...

Suzz

Fall cards....

Hero Arts Blog Challenge this week is the fall color palettes... http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/09/07/colors-for-fall/ Lovely colors: browns, oranges, reds and even a purple black combo too! How can you go wrong...

The first card I inked up the raindrop background with the greens, orange, red combo and stamped it. I then inked up the trees with brown, orange and tips with red.

Finished it off with some twine and buttons which I decided was a fence when I was done. :)

The second card was inspired by a photo I took on monday... In looking at it I realized it encompassed the last color combo of the week: black, orange, purple and green. So I created two cards, the first which emulates the picture with stamps:

and the second actually uses one of the pictures I took in the card. I normally don't like to use photos on my cards but I thought this would be a pretty one to incorporate.

Two cards created in two different ways. That butterfly was so gorgeous I sat and took pictures of him for a half hour. :)

Products:

• Hero Arts (all stamps)
• Ranger Distress Inks: Shabby Shutters, Spiced Marmalade
• Versafine - Imperial Purple, Onyx Black, Crimson Red, Vintage Sepia
• Watercolor pencils (Trees)
• White Gel Pen
• Purple Pearls
• Orange Ribbon - Unknown (Recycled from a gift from a good friend)

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Happy Birthday To someone Special

Took me all day yesterday to to get one card done.... Sometimes the creativity is not there and we had lots going on...

I love this new embossing folder from Cuttlebug. I had inked up the folder with brown pigment ink and embossed some ivory cardstock last week. This embossing with the inked background is so pretty. Sat on my desk all week waiting for me to figure something out.

I decided to use it with a few other colors from the Hero Arts challenge this week. They provided some colors for the challenge this week. I tried to incorporate all the colors green, orange, deep red, ivory, and brown. (Hence the little pop of green on the button)

Products:

• Hero Arts - Antique Flower Background
• Hero Arts - Old French Writing
• Hero Arts - All Occasion
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
• Penny Black -Poppies
• Watercolor Pencils
• Pearls - Michael's
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Lace - Unknown

Thanks for stopping by....

Suzz

Masterboards...

I just wanted to share a few masterboards I put together. (That's the easy part) The hard part is then cutting them up and using them in cards. I love creating the paper but have a hard time designing them into a card. Probably why I generally don't use too much PP in my designs.

Almost all the stamps used are Hero Arts and one Stampers Anonymous. I also created a few cards from one of the background.

Hope your labor day is beautiful!

Suzz

Inspired Grid Card

Jacqueline who's blog is here: http://myscrapbasket.blogspot.com/2009/08/grid-card-brown.html posted two beautiful grid cards this morning which got me pulling together some scraps and creating this... She is always using up scraps and posting them together so beautifully.

I have been creating some more masterboards and decided to use up some scraps of distress inked paper and create a grid card. I love the center stamp from Hero Arts and tried to coordinate all my other stamps to keep with the Asian feel.

All products are Hero Arts Stamps and the inks are Ranger Distress Inks along with Versafine Vintage Sepia.

The gems are new and are at Michael's they have a beautiful metallic sheen to them.

The little butterfly charm is from Lost and Found collection from Blue Moon.

Looking forward to lots of stamping this weekend. Hope your weekend is inky too!

Suzz

How Do you Do?

This little bird was colored last week and I just finished his nest this week. He had a long tail which I cut off and made into his hairdo... He reminds me of Elvis a little and prompted me to put the little pun on the front.



I also gave him short little stubby legs when he should have long legs. I felt very mean making him short as I am definitely height challenged as they say. But he sits in his little nest nicely.





I hope you enjoyed my little friend. I am going to send him off to someone special who might need some cheering up.

Products:

• Hero Arts - CL388 Be Yourself
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Scalloped Circles
• Fiskars Circle Template
• Copic Markers
• Adirondack Brights - Citrus
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
• Ranger Stickles - Eucalyptus
  
  Thanks for stopping by....

Suzz

Raspberry Suite Challenge #16

I decided to use Dawn's color challenge: http://dawnmcvey.typepad.com/these_are_a_few_of_my_fav/2009/08/raspberry-suite-color-challenge-16.html as part of my Hero Arts challenge: http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/08/31/the-men-of-hero-arts-its-our-man-week/ which is masculine cards.

The colors are very complimentary for a masculine card.

I used the embossing powder to pick up the orange gold color which was the hardest to incorporate into the card.

Products:

• Zing - Butter
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Kraft cardstock
• Ivory Cardstock
• Cornish Heritage Farms - Newspaper Print
• Hero Arts - Three Ferns
• Hero Arts - Birthday Messages
• Twine
• Washers

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz