Soft Flourish

I have been working on cards using the stencils/templates from the Crafters Workshop... This is one of them.

I used a glimmer mist across the stencil on the cardstock.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Anytime Messages
• The Crafters Workshop
• Hero Arts - Old French Writing
• Glimmer Mist - Sweet Pea
• Martha Stewart Cornic Border Punch
• Hero Arts - Heart Winged Butterfly
• Adirondack Brights - Pool
• Prima Flowers
• Crystal Stickers - Teal

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

Kwerner Color Challenge 31

I decided to play along on Kristana Werner's Color Challenge # 31: http://kwernerdesign.com/blog/2008/11/color-inspiration-31.html .

These colors are lovely together. They remind me of fall. Kristina's inspiration was a wreath with berries and vines.

Products:

• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Adirondacks Brights - Sunset Orange
• StazOn - Royal Purple
• Versafine - Sepia
• Hero Arts Sparkle Design - Anytime Messages
• Hero Arts - Dandelion
• Stampabilities - Wild Flowers, Floral Stem
• Crystal Stickers Pearls - Colored with Sharpie
• Ribbon Unknown
• Paper Studio - Lace Trim
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Scalloped Oval
  

Thanks for Looking..

Two similar but different cards....

Have you ever had a card you wouldn't give up on? Well.... my first card I am sharing I made 4 variations of it. :( I spent way too much time on that first card. I ended up using some of the same elements and made my second card.

I am curious if anyone else out there does the same thing... Usually I will keep the elements if it isn't coming together and put them in a scrap pile of pieces I like that I want to go back to someday...

Tell me if you like card # 1:

or card # 2... :)

The recipes are very simple and I won't go into the details. The corner circle was cut using a fiskars circle templates. They come in a set with multiple circles and I used the circle cutter.

Products: (for both cards)

• Hero Arts - C4594 Pod Branches
• Hero Arts - F4827 Scroll Tree
• Hero Arts Clear Design - Happiness Messages
• Hero Arts - Bird in a Cage
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• StazOn - Timber Brown
• Hero Arts - Pearls
• Crystal Stickers - Pearls
• Lace - JoAnn's
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Pink Embossing Powder
• Spellbinders Nestabilities Scalloped Circle
• Marvy Uchida Circle Punch
• Fiskars Circle Templates, Fiskars Circle Cutter
• Fiskars Threading Water Punch
  

I also made something elegant to share tomorrow... Unfortunately I am off to do my second calendar page.. Arghh... This will probably take me a couple of days... Thanks for dropping by..

Faux Metal - Copper Owl, and Jade Tree

There was a faux metal class and challenge over at 2 Peas hosted/taught by Kristina Werner. http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=2677588



I made several faux metal pieces in several embossing powders. I only used 2 of them and made cards from them..
The first card was a thank you to my son's confirmation sponser. I used the Judikins Rustique Jade Patina. The embossing powder is a beautiful mix of green and blue. I can't wait to use this on another project. The only limitation on this was matching the blue/green colors with cardstock and ribbon.

The second card is going to be a birthday card for my brother in law. The recipe for the card overall is very simple I will share the recipe for the oval copper owl.

Recipe:

1. Cut a piece of cardstock in the shape of an oval. (In the first example I punched the circle out afterwards. This worked okay with the punch. Some of my other samples I tried to use my cutter and the Embossing Powder was too thick and it cut with a ragged edge. )
2. Stamp versamark completely over the stamp you are going to emboss in the hot embossing powder. This will prevent it from sticking. I didn't think you could use the clear stamps but it worked successfully.
3. Stamp versamark completely over the cardstock and heat emboss using the embossing powder of choice. You need to repeat this 3 to 4 times for a thicker embossing powder and more times for a thinner embossing powder. The Judikins embossing powder took 4 times and I got a beautiful image. I used the Queen's Gold Embossing powder for another sample and 4 times wasn't deep enough all across the image.
4. On the final pass of the heat embossing you need your image ready. You need to get the entire surface hot enough that the embossing powder is moving. Take your stamp and press down into the Embossing Powder firmly. Leave in the embossing powder for a minute until it cools. You can than remove it and see your image.
5. Another lesson learned... If you don't like the image you can reheat it until it melts and start again. If you crack your image you can also heat and restart or heat a little to see if you can get it to smooth out.
6. I had several large images I stamped and the embossed image will curl up on you. I reheated slowly and then flattened it and put it under a wooden block to get it flat.
7. On the owl card I did emboss with the same embossing powder the sentiment and background.
8. On both I accented the embossed images with gems and pearls.

Products:

Thank You Card

• Thank You letters are stickers that I sponged with brown ink.
• Hero Arts - Scroll Tree
• Memento Rich Cocoa
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Textured Textile, Birds & Swirls
• Hero Arts - DesignBlock Poinsettia and Birds
• Spellbinders Nestabilities Circle Scallop
• Judikins Rustique Jade Patina Embossing Powder
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Crystal Stickers - Teal Pearls
• Ribbon - Unknown (Michaels Christmas Ribbon)

Copper Owl

• Judikins Copper Embossing Powder
• Inkadinkado - Winter Birds
• Versmark Watermark Ink Pad
• Hero Arts - DesignBlock Poinsettia and Birds
• Hero Arts - Clear Designs - Birthday Messages
• Gems, Ribbon - Unknown
• Ranger Ruler - For the piercing..
  

As always thanks for stopping by...

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!

Summery Birthday Celebration

This card was made using my new DesignBlock from Hero Arts - Poinsettas and Birds. I bought it because I knew it would look pretty as both a Christmas design and any other time of the year! I have used it on 3 cards already. Yeah! If you didn't know those were supposed to be Poinsetta's would you think this was a Christmas Stamp?



Recipe:

1. Stamp the DesignBlock on white cardstock using Versamark Watermark Ink.
2. Using Pearlescent chalk and Oil Pastels apply colors to flowers, leaves, birds. (Use a q-tip, eyeshadow applicator, or the little fluff balls to rub the colors onto the versamark)
3. After you are done chalking the picture. Ink the whole picture with Versamark and heat emboss with clear powder. I did this 4 times to give it a beautiful soft glossy coat.

Products:

• Versmark Watermark Ink
• Ranger Clear Embossing Powder
• Pebbles Inc. Pearlescent Chalk
• Artists Oil Pastel Essentials
• Hero Arts DesignBlock Poinsettas & Birds
• Ribbon FX - Michaels
• Crystal Stickers - Pearls
• Hero Arts Clear Design - Birthday Messages
  
  

Christmas Cards in August....

Those backgrounds I made using the Peeled Paint Distress ink has led me down a path of Christmas and Fall cards... :) That and I picked up some Christmas stamps yesterday.

I am working on something else which is not Christmas, Fall or Cold weather related. I don't know if it will make it to a finished project or I may jump onto something else.

Products:

• Fiskars - Threading Water Punch
• Vellum, White, Yellow/Green Cardstock
• Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mist, Lemon Zest
• Ranger Distress Ink - Peeled Paint
• Signo - UniBall White Gel Pen (Love this!)
• Hero Arts - DesignBlock - S5068 Poinsetta and Birds
• Penny Black - 3028F Joy, Hope...
• Ribbon (Hobby Lobby)
• Hero Arts - Gems
• Crystal Stickers - Pearls
• Versafine Pigment Ink - Crimson Red
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Ranger Clear Embossing Powder