Lovely Pinks and Browns

The inspiration for this card is this new paper from Memory Box. I love the pinks and browns. They are so pretty together.

The birds in the nest are new from Memory Box as well. They are stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia and cut out. I colored them using my Prismacolor pencils and added a little accent from my gel pen.

Products:

• Memory Box - (6 x 6 Gossamer)
• Memory Box - D1315 Nesting Birds
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Vintage Lace & Button
• Twine
• Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen
• Spellbinders - Nestabilities Label 8
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Prismacolor Color Pencils

Hope it is warmer by you. We are in the teen's and it is really chilly outside.

Suzz

Caardvarks - Take a Bow Challenge

Caardvarks challenge is Take a Bow and is hosted by May Arts. The challenge is to use ribbon on your card in an unusual way. I have been wanting to make a Christmas tree from ribbon for a long time.

I decided to use some velvet ribbon I have to create my tree. I tried a few techniques on the velvet but didn't like how they turned out. You can see a few dots on the tree as I embossed the ribbon using my swiss dots folder. If I had any hairspray i would have spritzed it up and embossed it and let it dry. Alas... no hairspray for me in the house. :)

I precut the ribbon lengths and trimmed them off after embossing with the CB folder.

The trunk velvet ribbon was already a crushed ribbon with fun texture.

I stamped the Hero Arts Flourish in the background and embossed with clear embossing powder. The Sentiment is from Memory Box.

The little stamped bird is from Hero Arts and colored using Copics and a white gel pen.

The buttons were so fun to pick out and polka dot using my trusty white gel pen.

Just for the record... I have never been able to buy a real Christmas tree that stood straight! Many years we had a hidden string behind it pulling the tree upright. :) Guess that is why my DH insisted on a fake Christmas tree once we were married!

Have a lovely day!

Suzz

A great friend

I recieved a lovely package from Jacqueline and she included this adorable card...

Love how that little girl looks so pensive...

I also pulled out a glimmer mist background from my large collection and decided to stamp it up...

1. The background was created by spraying white cardstock with yellow glimmer mist.
2. Lay mask over yellow background.
3. Spray teal glimmer mist over the mask. Lift off the mask and dab up any excess glimmer mist.
4. Key for spraying glimmer mist is to shake until the sediment disappears and hold 6 inches away and spray in strokes. I have found that some spray bottles get clogged and you get spots so if this happens take the top off and run it in warm water to remove any clogging. Play with it on scraps to get comfortable with the even coating.
5. Stamp the Lined Paper using brown pigment ink on the background.
6. Stamp the berries using brown pigment ink over the background.
7. Stamp butterfly and birds using versamark and emboss using orange embossing powder.
8. Outline birds and butterfly using white gel pen.
9. Stamp sentiment using versamark and emboss using brown embossing powder.
10. Accent berries with copper stickles.

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Alcohol Inks Class

This is a card from my Alcohol Inks class. The colors are from the new alcohol inks from Ranger. I love the new colors, this card used juniper, willow, and stonewashed inks.

Products:

• Ranger Alcohol Inks - Juniper, Willow, Stonewashed, Blending Solution
• Hero Arts - Dandelion
• American Crafts - Zing - Brown Embossing Powder
• Signo - Uni Ball White Gel Pen
• Memento - Bamboo Leaves
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots
• Paper Bag Studio - Beauty
• Versamark Watermark Ink

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

Happy Memorial's Day!

Here is the second circle card. I created the shaving cream background using glimmer mists. I tried, dye re-inkers, radiant rain, and glimmer mists. I think the glimmer mists was my favorite because of the color selection and the sheen from the glimmer. (Not that you can see it in the picture but it is there. :)

Recipe:

1. Cut out a 5" circle.
2. Spray shaving cream on acetate.
3. Smear out the shaving cream to leave a 1/4" layer of shaving cream.
4. Spray yellow, orange and red glimmer mists in various areas of the shaving cream.
5. Using a plastic knife drag the knife across the shaving cream in lines one direction and repeat in the other.
6. Lay paper on shaving cream and gently press.
7. Lift it up. You will have a layer of shaving cream on your cardstock. Lay it down with the shaving cream face up.
8. Use something plastic with a firm edge. I used my ruler and I shaved off the excess shaving cream. (This was very messy) I ended up keeping my wipes handy to keep cleaning off the shaving cream.
9. Clean off all the shaving cream and you will have a nice surprise under the shaving cream as there is a beautiful pattern transferred there when you laid it on the shaving cream.
10. You can create several sheets from one pile of shaving cream on the acetate. To get the marble effect again you have to add more glimmer mist and use the knife otherwise you will get a nice blend of colors.
11. After circle dries, stamp the Stampers Anonymous flowers around the edge using brown pigment ink.
12. Stamp the bird using the brown pigment ink.
13. Stamp the sentiment using versamark and emboss with white embossing powder. It didnt' come out as white as I would have liked so I touched up with the white gel pen.
14. Add accents to the flowers and the bird using the white gel pen.
15. Ink the entire surface with versamark and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. (repeat 3 times)
16. Attach twine to hang. This is actually a card with the twine there to hang it afterwards.

Products:

• Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mists - Tuscany Sun, Daffodil, Red Velvet
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Signo - Uni-ball White Gel Pen
• Stampers Anonymous

Today is the day to remember the honor of the men and women who have fought or served for their countries and given up their lives to protect the lives of others.

I am thinking of the people in my life who have served or are serving today in our armed forces.

Suzz

Shaving Cream & Re-Inkers

I was watching good old Martha Stewart doing a marble technique with water and thought.. Hmm... I have never tried the shaving cream technique. So I sent my daughter up to borrow my husband's shaving cream. Much to my disappointment it was a gel. :)


I had to sneak out later and get me the cheapest brand of shaving cream. I sprayed out the shaving cream on acetate and dripped drops of the re-inkers (Blue, Green, Yellow) and used a pointy object to swirl and mix. This is one of the backgrounds I created. It was very dark and hard to stamp over so I embossed with the white flourishes and then added a layer of the ferns stamped in versamark and embossed with brown embossing powder.

I added the sentiment embossed in white embossing powder, gel pen accents and gems.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Design Block - Flourishes
• Hero Arts - Three Ferns
• Martha Stewart - Cornice Border Punch
• Zing Embossing Powder - Brown
• Uni-Ball Signo White Gel Pen (Love this pen.. bought another brand and it really doesn't compare)
• Ranger - Seafoam White Embossing Powder
• Ranger - Distress Re-inkers Broken China, Shabby Shutters, Mustard

Thanks for stopping by...

**** Updated... There is a great video of shaving cream and how to do it here: http://stamptv.ning.com/video/shaving-cream . Some one was kind enough to comment and point me there.

Suzz

Sunshine and Flourishes

I started this yesterday with just playing with the warm yellow and gold background I made awhile ago from inks and water.

I stamped flourishes in a honey color on the background and a grid paper stamp using the same yellow.

I then added my flowers and butterflies using my favorite brown pigment ink.

Accented the effect with some white gel pen and my favorite overall versamark and clear embossing to bring out the colors.

I am going to skip the product list but all the stamps are Hero Arts. If you need a particular one, drop me a line and I will be happy to look it up for you.

Suzz

Chalk & Versamark

I love using versamark and clear embossing powder to pump up the volume on my colors whether it be colored pencils, chalk, glimmer mist or distress inks. I saw a technique that I had never tried using versamark and chalk. This technique was used by a stamper on 2 Peas embee. Here is the link to her picture: http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1396451 .

She describes it as covering the background in chalks and then stamping an image on top with Versamark and heat embossing with clear embossing powder. I combined this technique with using masking as Jennifer McGuire has a video on masking and is hosting a challenge. http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=2682492

Here is my card:

I purposely left it very simple to highlight the trees and the colors. I also had to photograph it on a different background to show it was a white card base.

Recipe:

1. Apply chalks in various colors to the background. I used eyeshadow applicators to rub on spots of color and my finger to blend them together. I used yellow, blue, and green in various shades.
2. Stamp the tree on a post it note to make my mask. Cut it out.
3. Stamp with versamark the tree multiple times using the mask to overlap the trees and give the effect of the forest. (I did have some blue left on the stamp from the mask I created. I think it came through on a few of the trees faintly which I think helped with the overall effect.)
4. Heat emboss the trees with clear embossing powder.
5. Using a white gel pen I added dots of white to give a snowfall in the background. It doesn't show up very well in this picture but added a nice touch IRL.
6. Stamp the sentiment on a scrap piece of the chalked background. Mount with the twine and tag holder.
7. Layer with teal cardstock and mount on white card.

Products:

• Pebbles Pearlescent Chalks
• Versafine Olympia Green
• Signo White Uni-Ball Gel Pen
• Tag Holder Unkown
• Twine - EK Success Adornments
• Penny Black - 3738B wondrous
• Paper Inspirations - G10198 Art Brush Pine Tree
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• JoAnn's Clear Embossing Powder

Thanks for wandering over...

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

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!

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