Butterfly Sunday...

This is another one of the stamps I colored while playing with the Copics. I love my butterflies... So I decided to color a few using the copics.

I purposely tried to keep the color palette simple because I wanted the butterfly to shine! I thought about stickling or gemming it up but restrained myself! :)

Products:

• Hero Arts - Heart Winged Butterfly
• Hero Arts - Heart Flourish
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Versamark
• Copics
• Versafine - Deep Lagoon

I am teaching this afternoon a template class and a family party after that... So no more crafting today. Although I shouldn't have snuck in this card...

Have a blessed Sunday!

Suzz

Caardvarks - My StampBOX Challenge

Caardvarks challenge this week is to use black, white and hot pink... Now how can you go wrong with that? Here is the link to the challenge: http://caardvarks.blogspot.com/2009/08/mystampbox-challenge.html

Strong colors and I love them.. I made the tissue flowers again because I think they are so beautiful and I used 2 new Hero arts stamps.

Products:

• Hero Arts Designblock - Antique Flower Background
• Hero Arts - Cling Stamps - Special Moments
• StaZon - Fuschia Pink
• White & Clear embossing Powder
• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• Versafine Black Onyx
• EK Success Punch (Leaf)

Thanks for stopping by... I hope you enjoy your Sunday!

Suzz

Chinese lantern

I was inspired to try to make a chinese lantern card. They are always so pretty in color and celebration that I thought why not make a card in the shape of a chinese lantern.



Recipe:

1. Cut 2 circles from white cardstock. These were 4 3/4".
2. Trim about 1/4" off each side to give the flat surface.
3. Cut rectangles from white cardstock for the top and bottom. Mine measured 3" x 1 1/2" on the top and 2 1/2" x 1 1/2" on the bottom.
4. I masked my pieces but if I were to do it again I would cut another circle and cut them in strips. Because you can see my masking is not 100% straight!
5. Cut 3 masking strips 1" wide and 5 " long.
6. Stamp using versamark alternating patterns. Heat emboss using clear embossing powder.
7. Sponge alternative colors. I used dye ink for the red and tried to use gold brilliance for the gold. It wasn't as gold as I would have liked.
8. Stamp dots along the top and bottom pieces and emboss with gold embossing powder.
9. Sponge on red ink on top and bottom pieces.
10. Cut gold wire to shape into half circle. Tie ribbon and slide on pearls.
11. I used my new silhouette to cut the branches from white cardstock. Stamp wood grain and sponge brown dye ink.
12. Attach flowers and accent with pearls.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Designblock - Dots and Flowers
• Hero Arts - Antique Brocade
• Hero Arts - Sparkle Clear - Arigato, Happy w/int
• Ranger Distress Ink - Fire Brick Red
• Brilliance - Galaxy Gold
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Ranger Embossing powder - Queen's Gold
• Floradoodle - Flowers (I know they are called something else now, but can't remember the name. :)

Thanks for stopping by...

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

Clean up of the desk...

I started three cards and tried to finish them up... Here is another card from that batch.. You can tell because they are all using the same color scheme.

I had a picture of white dandelions on a olive green background. I decided to do the reverse and used green embossing powder to put the Angathapus onto a white background.

Recipe:

1. Stamp flowers on white background using Versamark Ink.
2. Emboss with green embossing powder.
3. Dry emboss marsh embossing folder over the top of stamped images.
4. Sponge with brown dye ink to highlight embossing.
5. Drip water on stamped images and sponged background.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Antique Brocade
• Stampendous - Angathapus Cluster
• Hero Arts - Anytime Sayings
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
• Ranger Distress Inks - Corduroy Brown, Antique Linen
• Ranger Embossing Powder - Lettuce
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Twine, Button Unknown
  

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Sneak Peek at Hero Arts

This weeks challenge was sneak peeks of the new releases from Hero Arts. Lisa Spangler did several new cards using a rose http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/08/05/watch-it-wednesday-sneak-peek-3/ which were beautiful! I was lucky that the new rose was available at the local Archiver's and I was able to pick it up and try some of the techniques she used.

The technique I had seen Jennifer and Lisa use before is coloring on kraft cardstock after stamping. I have been wanting to try this for awhile. I stamped the outline using versamark on green cardstock and embossed with white embossing powder.

Then I colored in using watercolor pencils on the green cardstock. I really like the effect it reminds me of the cloisenne pieces I saw in China when we visited.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Special Moments
• Hero Arts - Antique Brocade
• Watercolor Pencils
• White Embossing Powder
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Ranger Distress Ink - Antique Linen

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Another card from OSW

This was another card from my one sheet wonder. The center was cut from 2 labels die cuts from Spellbinders. I popped the center and re-stamped the sentiment in the center.

After I put it together I decided it was too bare around the edges and versamark stamped the flowery branch and clear embossed it to add a little shadowy effect.

We spent yesterday at an amusement park and are now at the Great Wolf Lodge with water galore. Today we are going onto Niagara Falls which I have never seen and am looking forward to!
Products:

• Cornish Heritage Farms - Silhouette Blooms
• Cornish Heritage Farms - Grid Paper
• Tattered Angels - Daffodil, Tuscany Sun, Red Velvet
• Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Twine
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia, Habenero, Crimson Red
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Buttons

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Thinking Pink Ink & More

I was on a scraps binge again... I dug through my scraps and came up with a pile of pink scraps and this weeks challenge over at the Hero Arts Blog is monochromatic cards. http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/07/20/monochromatic-monday/

This was my first card using some of my scraps and creating some new scraps...

and here was my second card using up some other pink scraps I had laying out..

The card opens up under the heart and the ivory circle is for the sentiment and signing.

Products:

• Fiskars Corner Punch
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Textile
• Hero Arts - Old Writing
• Hero Arts - Antique Brocade
• Hero Arts - Heart Winged Butterfly
• Hero Arts - Anytime Messages
• Hero Arts - Elegant Flower
• Memento Rose Bud
• Light Pink Embossing Powder
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• StaZon Fuschia
• QuicKutz - Labels
• Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder
• Blue Moon Beads - Lost & Found Charms (Cameo & Heart Charm)

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

Cornish Heritage Farms & Thinking Inking Challenges

This week at two peas in a bucket Jennifer McGuire's class is on alcohol inks http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/cg_display.asp?cmd=display&seed_id=30045. I love alcohol inks and I also am playing in the Cornish Heritage Farms Summer Design Challenge http://forums.cornishheritagefarms.com/viewtopic.php?t=2740&sid=4bc95e215c931fd1489727d74ff52d0a and this weeks challenge is resist. I combined the two to come up with this:

Recipe:

1. Stamp images on glossy cardstock using versamark watermark ink.
2. Emboss images with clear embossing powder.
3. Apply layer of orange alcohol ink across bottom 1/3 or cardstock by dripping 3 drips of orange alcohol ink on felt on applicator and addint 3 drops of blending solution. Smear on cardstock using a stroke along the bottom.
4. Replace felt and repeat for light green in the middle and pink on top. Careful not to blend the colors too much.
5. Use clean felt with blending solution to remove excess color on embossed areas. This will mute the tones of the alcohol inks to the soft pastel shades.
6. Versamark entire surface and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
7. Attach flowers, gems, twine.
8. Punch dragonflies with vellum and orange cardstock.

Products:

• Cornish Heritage Farms - KH-5011FUM SAilhouette Blooms I
• Cornish Heritage Farms - SL-3148WUM Dotted Diamonds
• Ranger Alcohol Inks - Raspberry, Citrus, Sunshine Orange
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Lace Trim - Vintage
• Floradoodles - Paper Flowers
• Prima Flower
• Twine
• Crystal Stickers - Gems

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Wedding Card

This was a wedding card that I needed to create yesterday and get sent off today. The card is for a fellow stamper who is very sweet. I am pretty sure she isn't visiting my blog so I am safe to share the card here.

The color is actually Enchanted Gold Embossing powder and it is gorgeous and I am sorry to say that you can't see the shimmer here and really appreciate the lovely color.



The flourishes and flowers are embossed with the gold embossing powder as well as the sentiment.

The flowers are from that lace flower stamp from Hero Arts which I really do love. I cut out the flowers and layered them.

The card is scored above and below the ribbon which doesn't show up on this picture either. :(

Products:

• Hero Arts - Lace Flower Cluster
• Hero Arts - Everyday Sayings
• Hero Arts - Heart Flourish
• Ranger - Enchanted Gold Embossing Powder
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• EK Success - Border Punch
• Ribbon, Pearls Unknown

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Sometimes the destination is not what you had planned..

Do you ever start down a path with a card and then when you finish up you are not sure you like where you ended?

That is how I feel about this card. I had this piece of light wood from Kodomo which I sprayed with glimmer mist and embossed with the rangers adirondack embossing powder. It was too dark so I added the white highlights and kept going. :) I tried to place it on the card with the same colors and overall ended up with a very dark card.

So I am not sure if I like this card as much as I did the scrap I started with but I wanted to move onto other scraps.

I thought I would share are a few outdoor shots of our yard. This is the peak time for all my flowers and I love to walk around and enjoy them.

These are the flowers which were the snow mushrooms in the winter time. I don't cut them down in the fall as I like the texture of the dried flowers.

This is the front corner of our house and the window is where I work in my craft space.

I was just enjoying the contrast of the deep maroon and the light pink flowers.



This is the same bed with all the lavendar but the top layer. We have two layers on one side of our house.

And last but not least is one of the reasons I have been spending less time creating cards.. This is Ms. Emma she is 5 months old and part beagle and collie. She has tons of energy. Way more than me so we are always trying to come to an agreement on how to use up that energy. (Making the kids do running laps with her. :)

Have a great weekend. 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

Tissue Paper Flower

Over on the HA blog, Tami Hartley made the most beautiful tissue paper flower. I have been keeping it in mind to make and finally got around to creating one.

The challenge this week over at Hero Arts Blog http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/06/08/our-biggest-giveaway-ever-new-challenge-and-quickutz/ is to use die cuts. (they also are having great give-aways this week) But if you don't have a die cut they provided a set of templates. One of which is this shape which I thought was lovely so I printed it out and cut it out!

The flower is just plain white tissue which I stamped, clear embossed and tinted using this fabulous glimmer mist called tattered leather!

Products:

• Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Tattered Leather, Daffodil
• Hero Arts - Raindrops, Thank You Flourishes
• Inkadinkado - Wedding
• Tissue Paper
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Lace, Pearls - Unknown

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Background Stamps

I drew up this sketch and then tried to execute it... I am not very good at translating sketches to cards. I wanted to use three bows across a circle. Unfortunately... I didn't have enough ribbon in the color and size I wanted to get bows. So I ended up with knots...


and the card was modified from the sketch because the visual effect was not as pretty as the sketch. :)

Products:

• Hero Arts - Wavy Leaf Pattern
• Hero Arts - Raindrop
• Hero Arts - Sandra's Letter Background
• EK Success Border Punch
• Fiskars - Circle Template
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Light Purple Embossing Powder
• StazOn - Vibrant Violet
• Kaiser's - Gems
• American Craft - Ribbon
• Prima Flowers

I have been so busy lately that my cardmaking has reflected it. My son has just graduated from 8th grade. My mom is sick and we have been working on getting her medication correct. We have a new puppy and then there is always work. So this has been a little bit why you have seen so little of my cards lately.

Have a great day!

Suzz

Manly Cards & Tone on Tone

Yesterday I taught class, but before I left for class I played with two cards. One for the Manly challenge at Hero Arts and the other because Shari Carroll on the HA blog had created this white canvas previously which was so beautiful I have been wanting to play with a white or ivory card.

This is my manly card. I have made masculine cards before that were east and this one became too pretty. (So I added sticks) that should make it more manly. Ha!

Products:

• Hero Arts - Designblock - Floating Leaves
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
• Hero Arts Birthday Messages
• Hero Arts - Three Designer Leaves
• Versamark watermark ink
• Ranger Clear Embossing Powder
• Ranger Distress Ink - Shabby Shutters
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Twigs

The second card was an attempt to use all one tone. I started with Ivory and added a few white touches and a slightly darker tan cardstock.



Products:

• Hero Arts Designblock - Birds & Swirls
• EK Success - Border Punch
• Prima Flowers
• Crystal Stickers - Pearls
• Ribbon Unknown
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Ranger Clear Embossing Powder

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

Raspberry Suite Challenge # 6

I had both Dawn's http://dawnmcvey.typepad.com/these_are_a_few_of_my_fav/2009/05/raspberry-suite-color-challenge-week-6.html and Kristina's color challenges sitting out yesterday and decided to play with Dawn's first because it only had 4 colors to work with.

That coral pink is a tough one. I don't know about you but I only have ribbon that was that color. No paper, ink or anything that popped out at me.

I used a damask stamp from Judikins and went from there. I am still suffering a lack of inspiration and it took me a long time to create this one card. :) My DH birthday is coming up and I am going to have to come up with something quick for him. :O

Products:

• Judikins - Damask
• Adirondacks - Pool
• Martha Stewart - Ribbon
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Versamark
• Zing - Brown Embossing Powder
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Textured Textile

Have a great Monday!

Suzz

Hey There!

I won this frame stamp from HA for a Honorable Mention and haven't played with it yet. I decide to frame out the little dolls hanging out together.

The background color is actually brown but it photographed so dark it looks black. The paper is the coredinations whitewash. I used both sides on the card. The frame is stamped and embossed on the teal side of the paper and the polka dots is embossed on the white side and sanded to share the teal underneath.

The brown cardstock is embossed with a light blue embossing powder to coordinate with the teal on the whitewash.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Four Dolls
• Hero Arts - Swirly Frame
• Hero Arts - Sparkle Clear
• Hero Arts - Decorative Bamboo
• White Embossing Powder
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Copic Markers
• Coordenations - Whitewash Paper
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots

Thanks for stopping by... Raining, Gloomy and wet! Hope the weather is good by you!

Suzz

Dots and Ferns

I was inspired by Kiara's lovely card: http://stampingcafe.blogspot.com/2009/05/one-layer-monday-week-4.html because when I looked for something to do with dots for the challenge this week at HA blog I pulled out the three ferns stamp and decided to emboss it on a PP with dots.

I embossed using light yellow embossing powder on the lovely lilac patterned paper. I used a template with the circles and sponged them on using embossing powder. I accented the entire fern with pink gems and tied off the stems with a little sheer pink ribbon.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Three Ferns
• Hero Arts - Gems
• Stampendous Stamp n Stuff - Sunny Yellow Pastel
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• The Creative Workshop - Stencil
• Hero Arts Sparkle Clear - Messages
• Tapestry by CR Gibson - Geo Breeze
• StazOn - Fuschia

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

Sunday Sunday

I have 2 cards to share. One is for fun and using up some background paper I made using the old smear the ink on the acetate and spritz it with water and the other is for the HA blog challenge May Flowers this week.

Recipe for card #1:

1. Start with a piece of acetate and smear the oranges, yellow and green ink randomly on the acetate and add water until the colors run together.
2. Lay white cardstock on the ink. Flip over with the acetate and smear the color around until you are pleased with the effect. Set aside to dry.
3. Cut circle (4") from dye ink background.
4. Stamp Fern using brown dye ink on circle. Slightly offset and stamp again using green dye ink.
5. Accent brown with white gel pen.
6. Versamark entire surface and heat emboss using clear embossing powder.
7. Repeat. (I wanted a more even finish so I did this 2 times)
8. Woodgrain background: Cut 5" x 5" white cardstock square. Stamp woodgrain 4 times using pigment ink. Spray entire surface with tuscany sun glimmer mist. (Beautiful orangey brown color)
9. The rest is assembly. I wrapped the twine 3 times and threaded each end through the two buttons on either side. Tied a separate piece of twine through the big button and made a bow and used glue dots to hold each piece down.

My second card was made from some beautiful scraps sent to me from Jacqueline. She sent me some music paper and pink vellum. (I never used any colored vellum before and I love the effect!)

Nothing to difficult here but the ribbon is actually this really pretty plum velvet and it looks brown. :(

I also took clear buttons and used the scraps of the music paper to make the background for the buttons. (The designers at HA were doing this and I thought what a fun way to use up some of my little scraps)

Products:

• Hero Arts - Three Ferns
• Hero Arts - Design Block Woodgrain
• Hero Arts - Design Block Outline Flowers
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Birds & Swirls
• EK Success - Border Punch
• Glimmer Mist - Tuscany Sun
• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• Butterfly Punch - Marvy Uchida

Have a great sunday!

Suzz

Stamping on Fabric

Jennifer McGuire is hosting Stamp Camp Week # 4 at two peas: http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&forum_id=52&thread_id=2797276 her class is how to stamp on fabric. I decided to play along and created this:

I started with a sheer curtain panel of curtains I am not using anymore. :) I had visions of Carol Burnett playing Scarlett OHara on her show wearing that curtain rod dress.

I stamped the damask background using my StazOn ink and heat dried it right away. The curtain is made from a nylon so I was very careful to keep my heat gun farther away to prevent melting. I did have some melting when I embossed. I stamped the entire piece with versamark and heat embossed using some iridescent clear embossing powder to give it the glimmer.

The butterfly was created usign the same material only I embossed the outline with a pearlescent blue embossing powder. Then I sprayed purple and blue glimmer mist over the image and let it dry. I than covered the entire image with versamark and embossed using clear iridescent embossing powder.

I used the leftovers from my border punch to accent the corners of my damask background.

Products:

• Impression Obsession - Lofty Dreams
• Hero Arts - Heart Winged Butterfly
• Stampabilities - Tapestry Background
• StaZon - Hydrangea Blue
• Stampendous Pearlustre Sapphire
• Jo-Ann CraftEssentials Iridescent Sparkle
• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• EK Success Border Punch
• Pearls - Crystal Stickers

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz