2010 Recap

Happy New Year's Eve!  I have seen several of my friends posting their top 10 for this year. I decided to go scroll through my picture archives and pick out some of my favorites. I didn't even make it through all of my folders. :O

I grabbed things that I loved for different reasons. For me my crafting is all about learning new things, trying and exploring. Sometimes I love a project because I have tried something new and different and feel like I achieved it and other times it is because I am in my comfort zone. :)  I like to do different types of projects but found as I reviewed my cards lots of nature, distressing and butterflies. So as much as I think I am trying something new I always drift back: 

The first tag was something I did using my new chalkboard paints and pearl misters so it started with a base of new techniques and then I used this beautiful Madonna and child image from Hero Arts.  The shape was inspired by tags that Jacqueline.  Jacqueline inspires me in many ways to try new ideas, colors, techniques.

A bowl of apples made for my MIL. She loved the little bites of wisdom that my DH quoted on each apple.

Louise's Tag Tuesday Challenge inspired me with many of her different challenges. Love the idea of trying something new on a smaller surface like a tag and carrying that idea into a card. The water color pencils on kraft is such a beautiful effect and I loved how this tag turned out.

My next project was requested by Crafts and Things to be a box using a re-cycled box and glimmer mists. 

I made this card for Deborah's Card Chain Challenge. She just posted her January card chain challenge and it is tremendous fun as you get to send and receive cards from around the world.  This card was made for one of my favorite designers Alice. She always has gorgeous coloring and her designs are perfect.

I don't even remember what I was doing  with this project other than it was fun to pull out the Glimmer Mists, masks and stamps. This was a perfect mix of stamping, misting and bright colors offset by the black.

I love the idea of doing something in shades of grey, white and black. I was very inspired by Donna's coloring in shades of gray and this is how I interpreted in one of my cards.  Donna's art is always gorgeous!

I was so happy this year to join the Lisa on the Artistic Outpost Design Team. Lisa's work is always inspiring and she is always using a variety of techniques in her beautiful work.  The next two were projects using the Oz Collage and Neverland which definitely brings back memories for me!

Love the stair step card type and the images from Oz fit the yellow brick road.  The second project was re-cycling an old card box with an opening already cut out. Loved that the frame and Tinkerbell sat inside of it perfectly!

The next has a Hero Arts Image and you all know I am a huge Hero Arts fanatic.  This year allowed me to become a Hero Hostess over on the Hero Arts Flickr Group where you will meet the nicest people in the world! I am so happy and  honored to be a Hero Hostess with all the other fabulous ladies.  We are getting geared up for another Hero Arts blog hop the week of January 10th - 14th! yeah!

A few of my Hero Arts projects:

I also am very lucky to be part of the Memory Box Design Team. I am on the team with Laura and Deborah and other talented artists. I get to use the beautiful papers, stamps, cards, envelopes, gems and cardstock!  I had a few cards created for the Outside the Box blog that I loved from the various releases in 2010.  I also have the 2011 papers and stamps from the What's in the Box release and can't wait to ink them up.

 

I created a recipe tag book to store recipes in. I enjoyed using the pattern papers to create a vintage look and feel to the pages mixed with Hero Arts stamps.

This was created for the Card Patterns challenge.  I always struggle with my designs and am not as good at taking sketches and applying them to my designs. I loved how the muted tones worked with the beautiful poppy image.

This was the card used for the GD spot on Card Patterns. Love those flowers from Stampendous!

Another favorite of mine is to play along in Cath's Moxie Fab World Challenges and Tuesday Triggers. This was inspired from one of the Tuesday Triggers.

I don't remember what was the inspiration for this card but loved the monochromatic feel and this card inspired a whole series that you will see in a future issue of Crafts N Things. :)

Finally this was just plain fun. I took the small Hero Arts stamps and stamped them and re-sized them via a copier and created a set of tools along with a toolbox for my DH for father's day.

Sorry for the long post! I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve and Day!

Suzz

Spring Flowers

 

Wishful thinking about spring flowers. :)  I stamped the lovely Flourishes Sweet Violet set and colored the flowers and leaves using the watercolor markers. The sentiment is from Verses - QQ0830-D - Spring.

The challenge for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge is to use pearls. The City Crafters Challenge is to Stamp It. The design is courtesy of Card Patterns Sketch # 96.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Suzz

Silvery White Thank You

A little thank you card to be sent out in the next couple of days. I created this for Caardvarks final challenge to create a monochromatic card and for the Hero Arts Monthly challenge which includes creating a Thank you card.

My deer friend Lisa gave me the lovely deer die from Sizzix.  They inspired this card. It was supposed to be a white on white card but of course I had to add some shadows with a little distress ink.

The background was created by stamping the Stampers Anonymous pine trees using Versafine Smokey Grey. Adding the snowflakes from Memory Box Snow Day stamp using versamark and clear embossing. Sponge Memento London Fog over everything.

Stamp the deer using Hero Arts Cling Thanks Definition. Stamp the Thank You sentiment from Hero Arts clear set Thanks.

I had to accent everything with a little of the silver Krylon pen.  Stinky but oh so worth it! 

Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas. I was very lucky to receive new releases from Memory Box, Hero Arts and Artistic Outpost.  Talk about a wonderful Christmas. I am busy working on lots of projects which won't be revealed until middle to late January. :)

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz
 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!  I hope you are spending the day with family.

 The background is piano music and distressed with vintage photo dye ink. The sentiment is from Our Daily Bread.  Both the image and sentiment were embossed with clear embossing powder. The image was cracked and dyed with brown pigment ink to create the cracked glass. 

Inspired by the City Crafter Challenge blog challenge to create a vintage Christmas card.

A very Merry and blessed  Christmas to you and yours!

Suzz

Happy Christmas Eve!

Happy Christmas Eve!

We are off to my MIL's to have a Christmas feast with my in-laws. We always look forward to Christmas Eve with the extended family and Christmas Day at home.

I created a tag for Louise's Tuesday Tag challenge. The challenge this week is to create a  Christmas tag with silver or gold.

I created the tag as an ornament/tag with the lacy square shape die cut and a cracked glass image. The background was sponged with blue dye ink. The bird was die cut from the Sizzix birdcage die. Stamped with the holiday trio definitions and sponged with Vintage Photo Dye Ink.

The holly was stamped using a pigment ink and colored with watercolor pencils. Finish everything with clear embossing and fold to crack. Apply brown pigment ink over the surface.

Stamp the sentiment (Memory Box - Merry Christmas) onto white cardstock and sponge edges with vintage photo dye ink.

Accent edges of pieces using Krylon Silver pen.

Have a lovely Christmas Eve!

Suzz

Sparkly Snowflake and Tinkerbell

I had  few more fun Christmas tags/ornaments to create to go on packages.  I was looking through my images for something fun to use on an ornament and my eyes landed on Tinkerbell from the Artistic Outpost Neverland  plate and thought wouldn't she look pretty on an ornament.

Very simple little design. Diecut the oval shape using the spellbinders nestabilities die. Stamp image using Ranger Archival black ink. Color with water color pencils and water brush. Accent with fine crystal glitter. Accent oval with Silver chunky glitter.

Attach to sparkly snowflake add a few feathers and ribbon and done. 

You know it didn't happen like that... :)  There were two snowflakes started and set aside for future (meaning next year) use. :)

This is also for the Moxie Fab World challenge Glitter is Glam. I think Tinkerbell is very glam! 

I have a few more Christmas projects saved for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Those I will schedule to post. I hope everyone is spending the holiday with loved ones.

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Some exciting news...

I am happy to share that I have joined the Verses Design team. I love their stamps and have quite a few of  them in my possession. This card was created for (my other exciting news) a new column I will be writing for Crafts N Things.  The February issue is available and this is one of the cards I share in the Rubber Stamper Studio column. 

 

The technique article in this issue shares a few cards and other projects along with some tips and techniques using shaving cream.  It also showcases one of my favorite quotes from a Verses stamp.

Products: Verses - QQ0806-C, Judikins 3327 G

Hope you are all getting ready for your holidays. I have been busy playing in my craft room and spending time with the kids. I hope to have a few more things to share before Christmas.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Tanya's Robots

I created another card for the Hero Arts Monthly Challenge   Hero Arts challenge is to create a project for thank you, color challenge and / or make it shiny. I created this for my littlest one Tanya. She loves robots and when she saw the new robot set from HA she wanted me to purchase it and create her a card.

Very simple little card using the Hero Arts Robot Trio set some watercolor markers and a little distressing. The paper is from the new My  Minds Eye True Blue collection. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Suzz

Stars, Snow, and Trees

I love the quiet of a snowy night when the air is crisp the moon is shining bright and you can see the stars.  Of course it is too cold to stay out too long and look at the stars, but especially in the holidays it is nice to step outside and enjoy the peace of of the stars.

Here are two projects for the Hero Arts Monthly Challenge and for Louise's Tag Tuesday Challenge. Louise challenged us to use the colors Yellow, Green and brown in a tag for the holidays. The Stamp Man challenge is anything goes for a tag.   Hero Arts challenge is to create a project for thank you, color challenge and / or make it shiny.

My tag started from the colors and this beautiful Hero Arts stamp called Starry Night.

The starry night was stamped on white cardstock using Versafine Vintage Sepia and heat embossed with Zing Chestnut embossing powder.  Sponge forest moss Ranger Distress ink over the tree and stem. Add a little brown color pencil to the stem. color the stars using yellow watercolor pencils. Sponge around the edges of the tag using Vintage Photo and Antique linen. Stamp the little birds and emboss using the same ink and embossing powder as the background. The shiny is in the embossing powder and the gems added to the sparkly stars.

The top of the tag was stamped using Hero Arts DesignBlock Starry Sky using a variety of Ranger Distress inks (yellow, light orange, and brown).

I always get asked about this sentiment. I love it and it is from Penny Black called All the Stars.

My card started from a beautiful new stamp from the Hero Arts 2011 catalog:

 

 I had this idea to create birch trees in the forest and had to add the pop of the cranberry for the cardinals. The sentiment is another favorite of mine which is from Northwoods Rubber Stamps.  

To create the background: Ink up trees with versamark watermark ink pad entirely. Smudge edges of tree with Memento London Fog. Stamp onto white cardstock. Heat emboss using clear embossing powder. Sponge on grey, light blue and dark blue dye inks over background. Stamp snow flakes and emboss using white and kaleidoscope embossing powder.

The birds are from a Martha Stewart clear set and stamped using Memento Rhubarb Stalk dye ink. 

Hope you are all ready for the holidays. We are having a cookie party today for my youngest and a few of her friends and then off to some friends for dinner and gift exchange. 

Suzz

CR84FN8 - Cupcakes Creation Color Challenge

I am so happy to be a guest designer this week for Mona's CR84FN8 Cupcake's Creations Color Challenge!   Here are the beautiful colors and the lovely inspiration photo:

 Love this color combination and here is how it inspired me:

The images are from the new Valentine's delights release from Memory Box. Isn't the Adore Peony Collage (G1433) beautiful? I couldn't wait to ink it up and add some pink to the flowers. The image is stamped with Ranger Archival ink and colored using watercolor markers. The Love and Hearts (B1423) sentiment is also from the new Memory Box release.The Elemental Damask (C1390)  is stamped using Memento London Fog and edged with Memento Black Tuxedo.

For all the details of the color challenge CR84FN8 go to Mona's fabulous blog here.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Suzz

Christmas Home Decorations - AO style

I have had this wonderful metal star that was on sale after the fall because it had decorations that were fall related. I removed them and went to work to transform it into a Christmas decoration.

It was really tough getting a picture of this. Way too big for my light box. :)  I ended up hanging it on the door this morning and tried to get a picture of the entire star.

 Here is a close up of the center.

I spent most of my time embossing the snowflakes all over the metal.  Couple of notes:  1. They aren't going to be perfect and that is okay. Nobody is going to get up close to your holiday decorations and look for imperfections. At least I hope not! :) 2. Your fingers will carry enough oil to leave imprints that will pick up the embossing powder so make sure to keep your cornstarch or embossing buddy near by.  3. The metal will get hot from the heat gun so don't pick it up right after embossing. :)

After I got the snowflakes on I spent a good 15 minutes looking for my thin wire to wire on the holiday berries and leaves.  Then I spent a good 20 minutes wiring on all the pieces including my bow.  It was like sewing weaving in and out of the holes on the star. ACK! (No Sewing for me).

Then stamping coloring and cutting the pieces all was the easy part for the front of the bow.  I used watercolor markers to color the images and archival ink to stamp the images. The dies are all from Spellbinders. 

The images are all from the Artistic Outpost Sleigh Ride stamp plate.I am creating this for the Moxie Fab World Challenge Glitter is Glam. There is glitter everywhere from those branches! :)

Hope you are gearing up for some time off over the holidays. Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

Elephant Party

How fun is that for a paper name?  When I received my new papers from Memory Box there was this fun paper in the 6x6 pad of Pixie called Elephant Party.  I do have a fondness for elephant images and I was so happy I had the coordinating clear set to make a card with the elephant party paper! 

I started with a circle card and changed it into a square card. I thought I would share both versions of the card.

I colored my elephants with watercolor markers to match the paper and accented everything in greys and silvers.

Products: Memory Box - Elephant Party,  All Ears - CL130, Alpha Background - E996, Memento London Fog, Versafine Black Onyx.

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Birds and Hearts

 

I just received my Valentine's stamps and papers from Memory Box. Immediately I was drawn to this heart with bird. Loved the effect of the bird in the heart. I decided to combine a few challenges together using the bird in a heart.  

The paper is called Secret Garden SC-10117. The stamped images are Memory Box (Heart Bird Keepsake F1439, Love and Hearts - B1423). The inks are Ranger Distress Inks (Victorian Velvet, Spun Sugar), Memento Rich Cocoa, and Versafine Vintage Sepia. 

I combined Mona's beautiful colors for CR84FN7 and the lovely sketch from CardPatterns Sketch #94. 

Here is the inspiration photo from Mona and the sketch from CardPatterns: 

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

SCRS Challenge #23 - Faux or Real Stitching

Time for the Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps weekly challenge.  This week's challenge is a is to use faux or real stitching.  This was a big challenge for me as I don't sew.    For all the challenge details visit the SCRS blog. 

Here is my card and my tiny attempt at sewing on a card:  

Slightly open to show the fold:

Laying flat:

I paired up Caroling Josh  with Christmas Tree Ruby, I thought they would look cute caroling together.  

I created a Z fold card and used the fun American Crafts papers in the background.  I had first counted on my ribbon being the stitching.  After I finished the card I decided to take a piece of felt and hand stitch little ear muffs for Josh. :)  The scarf was cut from the same felt to add a nice fuzzy touch. They are both colored using watercolor pencils and a waterbrush.

The design team has some sweet projects to share:

Kim Yu

Laurel Seabrook

Lisa Hjulberg

Simonne Clay

Sparkle Smith

Stephanie Kraft

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Tim's Tags - Day 10, 11, and 12

I am finished! Whew! I created my last couple of tags today. Here is the link to Tim's Blog.
I created them for The Artistic Stamper December Challenge, ArtyJen and the Moxie Fab World challenge Glitter is Glam.

Here they are:

Day 12

I loved the background paper he used on his tag today, so I pulled out mine from the Melissa Frances Home for the Holidays. The image is Graphics 45. Lots of glittery goodness. :) The edges were done using the tape gun around the edges and sprinkling on the chunky glitter. The image was distressed with Adirondack snow cap acrylic paint and Vintage Photo. The background was distressed using Vintage Photo. I also was struggling finding charms for the tag when I realized I could make mine using the faux metal technique. :)  The holly is stamped using the Memory Box Holly Sprig stamp and Vintage Photo dye ink.

Day 11:

The trees are Stampers Anonymous and are embossed using the really cool Rangers Tinsel Embossing powder.  This embossing powder mixes the metal and glitter beautifully. Usually the glittery embossing powders don't look glittery when embossed and this has a gorgeous silvery shiny finish.  The background is a few layers of inks and stamps. Stamp the map onto the tag using versafine Vintage Sepia.  Next step was to stamp the snowflake stamp from Hero Arts using versamark and clear emboss. Sponge blues and browns over top to show off the snowflakes.

The edges were smudged using versamark and embossed with the same Tinsel embossing powder. The deer is an old stamp I have from Stampabilities stamped in versamark and embossed using the same Tinsel embossing powder. . The sentiment is from Penny Black. Love PB holiday sentiments.  The frame for the sentiments is from Spellbinders Fancy Labels dies.

Day 10:

Once again no die. :) Had to hand draw and cut out the snow man.  There was a lot of surgery happening on my snow man. He had a little liposuction and a nose job!!   Loved the effect of the embossed acetate.
Glad to have finished up the tags. Although I have one background on a tag finished that needs to be completed.  That is going to wait for now as I am going to move onto some other fun challenges.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps December Release

Today is the final day of sneak peeks and the December release day for Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps! Sparkle is releasing 2 new images -- they are available in the store now.. Today the design team is showcasing Valentine's Oliver. 

He looks so dapper with his snazzy hat. I originally had colored him with some really bright colors. My youngest called him a disco boy, so I decided to re-color him with some browns and greens. I paired him with paper from Memory Box in the fabulous Tinsel and Enchanted collections. The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

He was colored using the following Copics (RV02, RV04, RV06, YG03, YG05, YG07, E00, E02, E21, E31, E35, E33, E37) and accented with a little white gel pen.

Border punch is EK Success.

Be sure to visit all rest of the SCRS designers for more sweet projects using Oliver. Sparkle will be giving away a Valentine's Oliver to one lucky person! For a chance to win, you need to comment on all of the designer's blogs (list below). Then head on over to the SCRS blog and comment on the Oliver post. You have until midnight EST Saturday Dec 11th, 2010 to comment. The lucky winner will be announced the following day!

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Store

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Blog

Suzanne Czosek, December Guest Designer (Me)

Kim Yu

Laurel Seabrook

Lisa Hjulberg

Simonne Clay

Sparkle Smith

Stephanie Kraft

Have a wonderful weekend!

Suzz

Sparkle Creations December Sneak Peek - Cupid Emily

Today is the first sneak peek for Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps December Release. Sparkle is releasing two new images at midnight EST this Saturday, December 11th. Today is the sneak peek for Cupid Emily.

Isn't she sweet?  My youngest DD was coloring her image alongside of me and had the inspiration to create a two tone dress and that inspired my white and pink dress. :) She looked like she should be flying along looking for some recipients of her hearts. I paired her with the lovely Happenstance paper from Memory Box.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts. The copics used include: (RV02, RV04, RV06, E00, E02, E21, YR14, YR12, E35)

Be sure to visit all rest of the SCRS designers for more peeks of Cupid Emily. Sparkle will be giving away a Cupid Emily to one lucky person! For a chance to win, you need to comment on all of the designer's blogs (list below). Then head on over to the SCRS blog and comment on the Emily post. You have until midnight EST Friday Dec 10th, 2010 to comment. The lucky winner will be announced the following day!

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Store

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Blog

Suzanne Czosek, December Guest Designer (Me)

Kim Yu

Laurel Seabrook

Lisa Hjulberg

Simonne Clay

Sparkle Smith

Stephanie Kraft

Come back tomorrow to see the other sweet image for the December Release!

Suzz

Recycling cardboard and Tag #9

I have two things to share today. :) One is a project I created for  Outside the Box. The star ornament also works for the Papercraft Star Challenge of Green.    For the next couple of weeks the design team at Memory Box is recycling and re-using and creating fun projects.  I decided to recycle part of a cardboard box to make a Christmas decoration.

I have to admit it took me awhile to figure out what I wanted to re-cycle. I was pleased with the end result. :)

To see the instructions/step by step info I posted it up on the Outside the Box.  

Onto Tim's tag #9.  I loved the elegant feel to his tag and instantly thought of my vintage newspaper stamps with the female soldiers.  Love these stamps and I haven't used one of them and was very happy to get to use them plus I think they look wonderful in these colors. 

 I started with the vintage newspaper background and as I started to embellish my tag it reminded me more of old Hollywood.

The background was created with a vintage photo mixed with the Heirloom Gold Pearls mister. Stamped with Versafine Vintage Sepia two times. Accented with grungepaper stars painted in gold acrylic paint and sponged with black ink and edges with Krylon gold pen. Splashed a mix of pearls and gems.

The only thing I noticed after I posted the picture was that I forgot to distress the edges of my rosette. :(  I can't believe I missed an opportunity to sponge on inks. LOL!

The tag is being posted at The Artistic Stamper December Challenge and at  ArtyJen.  Lot's of inspiration at both sites.

I will be back late tonight to share a reveal of one of Sparkles Rubber Creations latest release!

Suzz

Tim's Tags Day 7 & 8

Well... I had my tag done yesterday but held it to show with day 8.  Here is the link to Tim's inspirational tags.
There is a challenge at The Artistic Stamper December Challenge and a group of inspirational tags at  ArtyJen.

Here is Day 7:

This was very fun to try. I hadn't used my sticky back canvas as I have been hoarding it.  This was a good project to try it out on. I sprayed it with my Glimmer Mist Chalkboard paints and the shimmer was fantastic I didn't need the pearls misters because the chalkboard paint had a lovely shimmer. Didn't stop me from over glittering my leaves. My favorite part of this tag was the little Vintaj metal tag which I put a design adhesive on from Memory Box/Clearsnap and rubbing the foil and it made the silvery tree.   I just realized that I did no stamping on this tag. :O

Day 8:

Day 8 took a little detour as I was severely lacking of some of the key ingredients. :)  I decided I wanted to go the Santa and reindeer route with the houses so I improvised. In my defense I did do a mask and a reverse mask. :) My favorite touch was my town clock. See it?  LOL!  

Products: (Memory Box - Merry Christmas, Hero Arts Music background Cling, Hero Arts (Houses), Stampers Anonymous - Pine Trees)

Have a happy Wednesday!

Suzz