Shhh.... Stamptoberfest Challenge...

Stamptoberfest is an event hosted on Two Peas by some of the stampers. Here is the link to the master thread on the event: http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=2629323

All the different stampers over there host different challenges and provide RAKs.
I had so much fun at their last event that I decided to host a challenge myself for Stamptoberfest.

The challenges start Friday and stay open all week. My challenge is Unique Embellishments. You need to create a card, layout, ATC, Moo, arch with a unique embellishment. I was working on my sample this weekend and I am going to share it right now.

Shh... This will be posted on Two Peas on Friday but you get to see it today. :)

My unique embellishment is this beautiful brooch. I don't even remember when or where I purchased it.

I think I bought it because it was on clearance and I thought wouldn't it be wonderful to put this on a card to someone...

Well someone special is going to get this for their birthday.. (My sister Jodie has a birthday coming up) She is an artist and always dressing in vintage clothing. I hope she likes the card and the brooch.

The other thing about this card is that it opens differently. I think it is fun and different but my ever so logical husband asked... But you have to untie the ribbon and where are the words... Here is what the inside looks like:

Recipe:

1. Cut a 11" x 5" green cardstock rectangle. Score at 2" and 9" on the length of the card.
2. Using the threading water punch border punch the sides of the card.
3. Cut a 5" x 4 1/2" ivory cardstock. Emboss using the Cuttlebug Embossing folder. Ink the embossing with light green dye ink.
4. Cut a brown cardstock 5 " x 4 1/2" and mount on the center of the inside of the card.
5. Attach the embossed ivory rectangle on top of the brown cardstock.
6. Cut slits in the front flaps on the card. Measure 1" in from the outside of the card and 2" down from the top of the card. Cut a 1" slit for ribbon. Pull the ribbon around the outside of the card in through the slits into the card.
7. Cut 2 2"x5" brown cardstock and stamp the birds and swirls with Versamark Ink. Heat emboss with green embossing powder. Accent with light green gems.
8. Attach the brown pieces to the folds on the front of the card over the ribbon.
9. Stamp the sentiment on ivory cardstock using green ink. Cut to a rectangle. Cut a slightly larger rectangle from brown cardstock. Attach the sentiment to the brown cardstock. Center the sentiment behind the ribbon and attach to the embossed background.
10. Tie the ribbon in a bow and attach the brooch.

Products:

• Hero Arts DesignBlock - Poinsettas and Birds
• Hero Arts Clear Designs - Birthday Messages
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Birds and Swirls
• K&Co Gemstones, Hero Arts Gemstones
• Ribbon - Michael's
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Ranger - Embossing Powder - Lettuce
• Ranger - Distress Ink - Peeled Paint
• Memento Dye Ink - New Sprout

We will all have to sign on the side of the card as to not ruin the look. But I think she will appreciate the layout of the card and how it is different. I also thought of making the embossed piece on the inside a card that opened up. But I like the secret message under the bow and brooch.

Please come on over to 2 Peas and play along on any of the challenges! If nothing else come and check out the gallery with all the great stamping projects people will post for the challenges.

Thanks for visiting.

Happy Anniversary Dave & Janet

My Brother-in-Law & wife's anniversary is coming up and I wanted to create something using my new Inkadinkado Wedding clear stamp set.

I apologize up front... I find I tend to go in cycles with colors, techniques, etc... So this is going to look similar to some of the other cards I have been making. I purposely pulled the light blue to stay away from a green with my brown and ivory... Although I am sure you will recognize some of the other pieces I have been playing with lately. :)

I wanted to a brown and cream instead of black and white. There isn't anything too special in the recipe... But I will share the products lists because I know how it is when you see something and you would like to know who it is from...

Products:

• Inkadinkado Clear Stamps - 97892 Wedding / Marriage
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Gems - (I am going to guess these are crystal stickers)
• Ribbon - Michaels
• Martha Stewart Doily Lace Border Punch
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots
• Stampabilities - OR1021 Tapestry Pattern

Thanks for Looking!

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!

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

Holiday Gifts....

I usually only stamp on paper to make cards... But this weeks challenge from Hero Arts is holiday gifts. Here is the link to the challenge... http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2008/09/22/motivation-monday-framed-gifts/

I purchased this wood box: http://www.kodomoinc.com/kimono/index.cfm from Kodomo. I love their stamps and products.

I decided to decorate the box and create matching cards to give as a gift. Here is the box. I will post one of the cards after it is finished. :)

Recipe:

1. Spray yellow glimmer mist on the entire box and wipe off excess.
2. Spray green glimmer mist on the bottom and light blue glimmer mist across the top all around the outside of the box.
3. Let this dry and set something on the wood to help prevent warping. This wood was very thin and warped with the wetness.
4. Color the flowers with watercolor markers and stamp on the box. I had to stack stamps under the box top for support when stamping.
5. Stamp the sentiment using StazOn ink.
6. Versamark the top of the box and heat emboss clear embossing powder on the box.
7. Attach the butterfly and ribbon.

Products:

• Blue Moon - Lost Charms
• Hero Arts Stamps
• Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mist - Lemon Zest, Patina, Olive Vine
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• StazOn Royal Purple Solvent Ink
• Ribbon Unknown
• Crystal Stickers - Gems
• Hero Arts - Gemstones
• Zig Watercolor Markers
  

Thanks for wandering on over... :)

Whew! Been a busy few days....

My plans were to spend Sunday making a few things... Well.... suffice to say I was busy doing Mom type of activities all day. I also owed my middle daughter a journal. After Breanna's I had to create one for each of my daughters and my son is still waiting on his. I also have lost my mojo... :( I still think it isn't back yet.. But I made 3 different things to try to work through it. This is the last one I made. The other two are very different and I will post them on Flickr. (If you are interested.)

I'll let you decide....

Recipe:

1. Ink stamp with Versamark Watermark Ink. Color on the stamp with watercolor markers ontop of the versamark ink. Color with the lightest color markers first and work to the darkest color. The versamark may impact the amount of color that is being applied so rotate the tip of the marker to apply using multiple sides. After you have colored all the flowers & birds stamp on white cardstock.
2. Heat emboss stamped image with clear detail embossing powder.
3. Using a sponge dauber ink the dauber with light green dye ink and rub on in a circular motion all across the card. Re-ink as needed.
4. Versamark the entire green background and image and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
5. Cut and mount stamped image and background on purple cardstock.
6. Attach Lace Fringe to the background/stamped image.
7. Stamp background on vellum using versamark watermark ink.
8. Heat emboss with light purple embossing powder.
9. Create lace edge using border punch.
10. Mount everything to the card and tie ribbon around the top.

Products:

• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Hero Arts - F5031 Flower and Leaf Branch
• Hero Arts - K4892 Cardart Decorative Birds
• Stampendous - Stamp N Stuff Detail Clear Embossing Powder
• JoAnn's Crafts - Pastel Lilac Embossing Powder
• JoAnn's Fringe Ribbon
• Martha Stewart Border Punch
• Michael's Ribbon
• Zig Watercolor Markers
• Adirondack Brights Citrus
  

One more card for the shabby chic challenge

One more shabby chic card... I really liked this challenge... I must have more shabby chic in my house than I know as I was very inspired by this and thinking of the colors and materials you find in shabby chic.

There is not a lot of complexity to this card but I will share all the products...

Products:

• Making Memories - Hat Pin
• Prima Flowers
• Crystal Stickers - Pearls
• Hero Arts Clear Design - Three Tree Christmas
• Hero Arts Gems
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folders - Border - Just My Type
• Ranger Distress Ink Peeled Paint
• Brilliance - Pearlescent Poppy
• Anna Griffen Paper

TFL!