Thursday, March 29, 2012

New Queen... QFTD106

This is my first year anniversary of hosting the Queen for the Day Challenge.  I can't believe it's been a year already!  I have so many more people that I want to honour as Queen.  The challenge has been going for 2 years now at Splitcoast.  I hope you can come join us! 

Here are my two cards for this week's Queen - sillyfilly






I used my new edgelits embossing for this one!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

I Dig You x2

Here are two cards I made with my new set "I Dig You".  What a great boy set!
I got the layout from this first card from a new blog that I found "Freshly Made Sketches".

I embossed with stripes and I used my new edgelits to make the hill from designer paper.

This layout is from Splitcoast today.
I used the crimper in the background on just part of the paper.

A fun set, I'm going to have fun playing with it more.  Now I will have easy ideas for boy cards!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Color Challenge - Medallion

My card for today's color challenge - Elegant Eggplant (dark purple), Concord Crush (dark purple/blue) and Melon Mambo (bright pink).  I also used Early Espresso (really dark brown) and white.

First I stamped my medallion with versamark and embossed with white embossing powder on WATERCOLOR paper!  Then I used my purple and pink markers to color on the watercolor paper.  I spritzed with water and brayered.  I really think the effect turned out well, especially using such strong colors.

I added butterflies and rhinestones to complete the card.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Embossing - Faux Patina

The technique presented on Splitcoast today was called "Faux Patina".  It was actually pretty easy.

First you ink or brayer onto your embossing folder.  I used very vanilla paper and crumb cake ink.  After the pattern is embossed you then choose a few colors of ink to sponge directly onto the embossed piece.  I used two shades of blue and green.  Then you use versamark and gold embossing powder to highlight the areas you want - I used the versamarker to just put a little bit of gold.

I first cut out the top note shape before doing the rest of the technique.  I love this shape - its so versatile!  I used the "back side" of the dotted ribbon and a vintage brad.

The sentiment is layered on the large oval punch and decorative label.


I used the piece of Top Note that I trimmed for the INSIDE of the card!
This technique will be so versatile!  You can use any embossing folder and any colors, making it darker or lighter and adding more gold!  I hope to remember to try this again.  It was really fun and quite easy!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Watercolor embossing - Roses for Mother



I made this card for 2 challenges.

Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge to watercolor.  I used my roses embossing folder on watercolor paper, then watercolored using aqua painter and watercolor wonder crayons.

The layout is from Stamping 411.

The sentiment is punched out with a circle punch, then layered on the decorative label punch.
I added some rhinestones and ribbon on the corners.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

New Queen... QFTD105

I made these two cards for our Queen this week - Queen Korin (sweetnsassystamps). Please come join us and play along at the Queen for the Day Challenge.
I used patterned paper and crimped them.  The images are from "Starring You" and I added 4 brads.  The colors are Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, green and orange.

I used the layout this week from Splitcoast.  I inked the whole chickadee image in black, stamped it off onto patterned paper, then inked just the chickadee again in black and stamped, then cut out with my framelit die.
I hope this looks not too much like a Christmas card, and can be used as a birthday card!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Welcome Baby - Wild About You

This card is for two challenges.
The colors on Splitcoast - River Rock, Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze. I used some patterned paper (from Sale-a-bration) that has some green in it, but it works well.

The layout comes from Pals Paper Arts.


I used the stamp sets "Wild About You" and "Short & Sweet".

Thursday, March 15, 2012

New Queen... QFTD104

Here are my two cards for this week's Queen (mepylant).
Come join us at the Queen for the Day Challenge on Splitcoast.

For this one I used the cupcake punch, twine and a button. I embossed with dots and added the dotted scallop ribbon border punch.


I had a request from a friend for a birthday card for an older gentleman (someone who is not into any sports). I decided to try using this Chickadee. I colored a bit of it with white gel pen.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

2 for Hand Stamped Sentiments

I made these two cards this morning for the Hand Stamped Sentiments blog.

They are having a design team tryout! I decided to try to make a fun shape using buttons! I added the sentiment "celebrate" with stamples. I thought this could be a fun card for many different occasions - wedding, birthday, or for any special day.

I embossed with stripes and dots.





This card is for their challenge "rainbows". I used 4 strips of DSP (I also used green DSP for the leaves), the embossed frame, bird punch and boho blossoms. Another generic card for many purposes! I added a pearl for the bird's eye and rhinestones on the flowers.

Framed Motorcycle

Just playing around with some retired stamp sets.



The colors are from Stampin' Royalty - Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum. I used some textured paper and some patterned paper.

The layout is from Splitcoast today - sketch challenge 376.



I used the stamp sets - Motorcycle and Lots of Thoughts.
A very cool effect with the new embossed frames (I got mine free for Sale-a-bration!)
I inked with soft suede marker on the embossing folder, then ran my sahara sand paper through it. I trimmed the frame so that the "swirly edges" are cut off. I think this gives a very cool wood frame look, great for a masculine card!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Medallion - 3 panels



Very easy card and could be used for many occasions (with a different sentiment). I'm using mine for baby boy!

I stamped the medallion, then cut into three 1" strips. Added ripping and punched out the sentiment (from So Many Sayings) with the word window punch. And I added 3 rhinestones.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

New Queen... QFTD103

Here are my cards for this week's Queen...
Come play along with the Queen for the Day Challenge on Splitcoast...



I used the colors - river rock, lucky limeade, and garden green! I stamped in WHITE. I layered framelits and popped up the embossed oval.




The deer image is punched out with an oval and layered onto the embossed frame (debossed side). I trimmed the swirly edges of and it makes a really cool embossed rectangle!!

I stamped the saying and masked the area to stamp over with woodgrain. I added the lines on either side of the sentiment.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Bundle of BOY



In need of a baby card!

I used the technique lover's challenge on Splitcoast to make a card using one color of ink and not coloring in the image. I used Not Quite Navy ink for the bear and sentiment and the doodling.

I also did the Stampin' Royalty challenge - dressing down (not use embellishments). It was hard. In my learning as a card-maker I have grown to love and appreciate embellishments as they add that extra special something to a card. I found this a challenge to NOT use ANY! So I tried to compensate by using lots of punches, framelits, embossing, patterned paper and doodling!



The bear image is from "Bundle of Joy" and the sentiment is from "Four Square". Both are retired Stampin' Up! sets that I thought I'd play with today.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Goody-Goody Gumdrops baby



I made this card using 2 challenges.

Stamping 411 - colors - melon mambo, wild wasabi, black and pink pirouette. I thought these would make a nice baby girl card since I am all out of baby cards!

The layout is from Sketch Frenzy Friday.



I paper pieced the duck. I scored my pink panel and along the edge of the card.
For the "bow" I made of loop of the ribbon and tied it together with linen thread.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Triple Punch Borders



The colors are from Pals Paper Arts - use always artichoke, lucky limeade and color of your choice - I chose soft suede and vanilla.

I wanted to try a different way of using the blossom bouquet triple layer punch. I used the largest piece and a middle piece. The whole background piece is embossed.



Not sure if this would qualify as masculine or if it looks too flowery.