Saturday, July 31, 2010

WT281 Challenge - Tweet ... Tweet

This card was for the WT281 challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.  I finally got to use my woodgrain stamp!

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Woodgrain, Memory Box Nesting Birds
Paper:  Cream Linen, Mellow Moss, Close to Cocoa, Bordering Blue, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Antique Distessed Linen, Close to Cocoa, Bordering Blue, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Rose Red Brads, Kaiser Paper Flowers in Dusty Pink & Pink, Birdhouse Die, Two-Step Bird Punch
Techniques:  Sponging

Friday, July 30, 2010

SC291 Sketch Challenge - Elements of Style

This card was for the SC291 challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.  I really like this design sketch and will definitely be using it again!
















The flourishes were stamped with VersaMark on Whisper White and heat embossed with clear EP. I then sponged Sahara Sand all over the card stock.

The flower image was stamped with StazOn Black and colored in with Marina Mist & Mellow Moss ink refills using my blender pen. I sponged around the image to give it a more vintage feel.

At the last minute, I thought the Sahara Sand mat looked kind of plain so I sponged it with Sahara Sand to give it texture and then used my VersaMark to stamp a watermark of the flower image.

Thanks for looking.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Elements of Style
Paper:  Marina Mist, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Sahara Sand, Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Mellow Moss
Accessories:  Marina Mist Brads, Lots of Tags Die, Nesties Petite Ovals
Techniques:  Sponging

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Swan Song with Flowers

Doesn't this swan look so graceful?  I will share a quick tutorial with you today.

1. I cut a piece of glossy paper 5” x 5”.
2. I stamped the swan’s reflection first in Basic Gray using my mirror image stamp.
3. Next I stamped the swan in StazOn Black using my stamp-a-ma-jig for placement.
4. The cattails, reeds, and oak branches were all stamped in StazOn Old Olive.
5. I then sponged the water in Adirondack Cloudy Blue so I have a base coat to work with. I then added SU Ballet Blue and a little Adirondack Sail Boat Blue. I wanted to keep the scene fairly light so I only sponged a little Adirondack Denim around the edges.
6. At this point, I needed to add some color so I pulled out my Garden Silhouettes set and stamped the flowers in Adirondack Purple Twilight.
7. I colored the swan’s beak with a Prismacolor Goldenrod marker. The reflection was done with a Barely Banana marker.
8. Lastly, I sponged Sky Blue Shimmerz Paint on the water to add some highlights and shimmer. Looks great in real life, but you can’t see it in the photo.
9. I cut a Metallic Violet mat to 5 ¼” x 5 ¼” and assembled the card which is 5 ½” x 5 ½”.

May your day be a serene and relaxing one!

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Swan by Firecracker Designs, Garden Silhouettes, Stampscapes Cattails Lg., Reeds Lg., Oak Branch, Mirror Image Stamp
Paper:  White Texture, Metallic Violet, Glossy White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Basic Gray, StazOn Olive Green, Adirondack Cloudy Blue, Adirondack Sail Boat Blue, Ballet Blue, Adirondack Denim, Adirondack Purple Twilight, Prismacolor Goldenrod Marker
Accessories:  Sky Blue Shimmerz Paint
Techniques:  Sponging
Card Size:  5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Buck in the Woods

The perfect guy card!  I seem to have quite a few of these now.  I will finish the inside when I decide who the recipient will be.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Nature Silhouettes, Stampscapes Tree Trunk, Tree Trunk Trio, Boulders with Lichen Sm., Oak Branch
Paper:  Gable Green, Handsome Hunter, Glossy White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Adirondack Willow, Adirondack Lettuce, Adirondack Bottle, Handsome Hunter, Basic Brown, Old Olive, Going Gray
Accessories:
Techniques:  Sponging

Monday, July 26, 2010

Journey in the Moment

I had a lot of fun making this card and blending the colors together.   

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Hero Arts CardArt Journey, Stampers Anonymous, Finest Flourishes
Paper:  White Luster Card, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Brilliance Platinum Planet, Brilliance Pearlescent Purple, Pearlescent Sky Blue, Distressed Dusty Concord
Accessories:  1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon in Elegant Eggplant, Nesties Labels Eight & Long Rectangles, Edge Distresser, Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes Die
Techniques:  Sponging
Card Size:  4.5" x 6.25"

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Simple Friendship for LLP

This pretty card will be going to Little Life Preservers.  I'm sure it will find a wonderful home.


Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Simple Friendship, Elements of Style, Cottage Garden
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom, Whisper White
Ink: Brilliance Pearlescent Beige, Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate, Pretty in Pink
Accessories:  1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds
Techniques:  Sponging

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Garden Contest Winner!

Thank you to everyone for entering my Garden Contest.  I thought all the submissions were great, but we do need to pick a winner.

After several cups of coffee and some contemplating, my husband selected the winning entry.  It is "Bishop's Delight" entered by pmeuschke.  He felt the wrought iron trellis in the center of the garden has a Bishop-like feel to it.  Michael thought this name was pretty clever.

Congratulations pmeuschke, please email me your address and I will get these items in the mail to you.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Storage Cabinet

I have just been so busy getting organized!  I literally pulled everything out of my cabinets and rearranged.  Now everything is tidy and in its proper place.  I also found some items for future blog candy.

This is one of my cabinets, which stores pre-made cards, embossing items, adhesive, ribbon and some embellishments.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Spiral Galaxy

I've been wanting to make another lighthouse card and decided to use the boulders and galaxy stamps from Stampscapes.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Stampscapes Light, Rocks & Waves Sm., Boulders with Lichen, Spiral Galaxy, Gulls, Crane, Sentiment by Quietfire Design
Paper:  Metallic Silver, Bashful Blue, Glossy White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Basic Black, Going Gray, Adirondack Cloudy Blue, Adirondack Denim, Night of Navy, Adirondack Eggplant, Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue, Brilliance Starlite Silver, ColorBox Frost White
Accessories:  Nesties Labels Eight, Corner Rounder Punch
Techniques:  Sponging

Monday, July 19, 2010

Simple Friendship

I'm lovin' the new Crumb Cake color.  This layout is from the new catalog, but with a few additional items.



Below is the envelope.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Simple Friendship, Priceless
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake Marker
Accessories:  1 3/4" Circle Punch, Nesties Large Circles
Techniques:  Color Spritzer Tool

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Cottage Garden

Today's design features the new Cottage Garden set.  Silly me didn't order the matching Sunny Garden paper so I made my own using Groovy Guava & Tangerine Tango.


Here is a peek at the envelope.  Please note I always use an outer envelope for mailing so I don't need to worry about any postal requirements.

Wishing you a bright & sunny day!
Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Cottage Garden, Priceless (envelope)
Paper:  So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Groovy Guava, Whisper White
Ink:  Tangerine Tango, So Saffron
Accessories:  Nesties Petite Ovals Large & Petite Scalloped Ovals Small
Techniques:

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Just Believe

I couldn’t wait to use my new Just Believe set.  It also gave me the opportunity to pull out my Color Spritzer Tool for the first time.  I totally love the effect.  What was I waiting for!!!

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Just Believe
Paper:  Naturals Ivory, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, DCWV Once Upon A Time Matstack
Ink:  VersaMark Dazzle Frost w/Rose Red, Pretty in Pink
Accessories:  ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon in Rose Red, Nesties Labels Four, Eyelet Border Punch
Techniques:  Color Spritzer Tool

Friday, July 16, 2010

Blog Candy - Garden Contest

Hi everyone,

I thought we could have a little fun today as well as offer some blog candy to one lucky winner!  I recently created a new garden, but never got around to giving it a name.  Gee, maybe that is because I have been spending too much time on this blog ... lol.

Below is a picture of the garden which consists of "Jackmanii" clematis and "New Hampshire Purple" geraniums.  The clematis has dark purple-blue flowers and the geraniums are a magenta-purple.


All you need to do to enter this contest is leave a comment on this post suggesting a name for this new garden.  Entries should be three words or less and posted by Friday, July 23, 2010 by midnight.  Let's see how creative you can be?

I will review all entries and give my husband the privilege of selecting the best garden name on Saturday, July 24, 2010 and announce the winner.

So what is the blog candy?  I will be giving away a Martha Stewart 24 piece Glitter Multi-Pack.  This set is awesome and retails for $29.99.  I will also include a DCWV Mariposa Matstack.  Let your imagination take flight with these antique-inspired prints.  This paper is perfect for spring, summer, weddings and more.  Did you know Mariposa is the Spanish word for "butterfly"?

I appreciate everyone who comes here to visit and if you would like to spread the word about my blog candy, please feel free to do so!  Thank you.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Artistic Etchings

The Eiffel Tower … don’t you wish you were there right now? This card actually came out better than I expected. I used a pre-made cocoa card from Rubber Soul which is white on the inside. This is not something I normally do, but thought to myself I’ll take care of that white inside … lol.

I first cut my rectangle using Spellbinders Curved Rectangles then sponged Brilliance Pearlescent Beige on both the rectangle and all over the inside of the card. I really like the marble effect I was able to achieve. I then set everything aside to dry.

Next, I sponged the outside of the cocoa card with ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown and the Chocolate Chip mat with Chocolate Chip ink.

All images were stamped in Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate. I added the layer of pretty paper from Basic Grey and assembled my card.

As a final touch, caramel ribbon and one of the new antique brads finished it off.

Until my next post …

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Artistic Etchings, Carte Postale, Cavallini Paris Stamps
Paper:  Rubber Soul Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey Periphery Bordeaux
Ink:  Brilliance Pearlescent Beige, ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown, Chocolate Chip, Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate
Accessories:  ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon in Caramel, Antique Brad, Spellbinders Curved Rectangles
Techniques:  Sponging

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Of the Earth Mariposa Inspired

I like the simplicity of this card.  The Mariposa paper is so beautiful!  I combined the Of the Earth hostess set with the sentiment from Upsy Daisy.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Of the Earth, Upsy Daisy
Paper:  Cream Linen, Wild Wasabi, DCWV The Mariposa Matstack
Ink:  Wild Wasabi, Brilliant Blue
Accessories:  1/4" Cream Satin Ribbon, Nesties Petite Ovals Small & Petite Scalloped Ovals Large
Techniques:

Monday, July 12, 2010

Quiet Waters

This card was a special order.  I love these water scenes!

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Stampscapes Lakeside Cabin, Reeds Lg., Migrating Birds Lg., Loon with Reflection, Cloud Cumulus, Water Pattern, SU Kind & Caring Thoughts (Inside)
Paper:  Ballet Blue, Basic Black, Whisper White, Glossy White
Ink:  Ballet Blue, Adirondack Purple Twilight, Pretty in Pink, Pixie Pink, Bordering Blue
Accessories:  Angel Wings Shimmerz Paint, Nesties Labels Eight & Black Brads (Inside)
Techniques:  Sponging

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Rising Moon

This card is a little different from what I normally create, but I like the effect.  It's a nice masculine card.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Stampscapes Lakeside Cove Lg., Cloud with Rising Moon, Spooky Branch, Water Pattern
Paper:  Black Linen, Whisper White, Glossy White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Going Gray, Basic Gray, Distressed Black Soot, Basic Black, ColorBox Frost White
Accessories:
Techniques:  Sponging

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Winding Road

As the gentle sound of rain came down this morning, I decided it was a Stampscapes weekend.  I truly enjoy creating these cards.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Stampscapes Curvilinear Road, Country Chapel, Tree Cluster Sm., Tall Grass Sm., Cloud Cumulus
Paper:  Glorious Green, Certainly Celery, Glossy White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Adirondack Sail Boat Blue, Adirondack Denim, Adirondack Lettuce, SU Garden Green, Adirondack Pebble
Accessories:
Techniques:  Sponging

Friday, July 9, 2010

Embrace Life

I really like the way this card turned out. I stamped the blossom image from Embrace Life in StazOn Black and then lightly colored in each flower with a paintbrush and Melon Mambo ink. Then to give the card a softer look I placed a piece of translucent vellum over the blossoms and held it in place with four silver brads.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Dream Gardens, Embrace Life
Paper:  Black Linen, Whisper White, The Paper Company Translucent Alabaster Vellum, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black
Ink:  Blossoms - StazOn Black (colored in with a paintbrush and Melon Mambo ink); Basic Black, Pretty in Pink (inside)
Accessories:  Flirty Pretty in Pink Ribbon, Silver Brads, Clear Spica Pen, Nesties Classic Large & Small Circles, Nesties Labels Twelve
Techniques:

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Gardening for Butterflies

There seems to be no shortage of butterflies in my gardens this year.  Their colorful wings add a decorator's touch as they flutter from flower to flower.

Over this past weekend, I was able to capture a photo of this Monarch on my orange coneflowers.  I've often wondered if butterflies are attracted to a certain flower color; however, my coneflowers, coreopsis, and lavender seem to be irresistible to them.

Perhaps it's time to invest in a butterfly house!


Wednesday, July 7, 2010

New Hummingbird Image

Have you noticed the pretty hummingbird image on my sidebar?  This was created by the very talented Karen Valentine.  If you would like to see her fantastic designs, please click here to view her blog.

Transition

Please bear with me as I transition from scanning some of my cards to photographing them.  As you know, some cards just have too much bling for the scanner!  I am hoping to have my tripod, light tent, and Photoshop software up and running later this week.  Thanks for stopping to visit.

Embrace Life for LLP

This card will be donated to Little Life Preservers.


Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Bird on a Branch, Embrace Life, Sincere Salutations, Sprinkles
Paper:  Robins Egg Blue, Whisper White, Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Collection Designer Paper
Ink:  Whisper White paper sponged with Brilliance Moonlight White & Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue; Bird, Branch & Sentiment - StazOn Black; Baja Breeze sponged around the edges
Accessories:  Flourishes Beautiful Brads in Silver, 3/8” Organdy Ribbon in Silver, Nesties Labels Four, Shapeabilities Tag Shape 3, Cuttlebug Birds & Swirls Embossing Folder
Techniques: Sponging

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Believe in Yourself


Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Victorine Originals
Paper:  Cream, Pink Pirouette, Crafty Secrets Classic Heartwarming Vintage Paper, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Sentiment - Close to Cocoa; Sponging - ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown
Accessories:  Organdy Ribbon in Ivory & Gold, Kaiser Latte Pearls, Nesties Labels Eight, Scallop Trim Border Punch
Techniques:  Sponging
Card Size:  5" x 7"

Monday, July 5, 2010

Binder Project

In a desperate attempt to get organized I have started to catalog my stamp sets (something I should have done a long time ago).  I found the most difficult part was to determine how to classify my stamps.  Each page has the name of the stamp set with a picture and is divided alphabetically.  Now I can flip through quickly and see what stamp designs I have.

Anyway, it only took one binder and 217 sheet protectors!  Thank you Staples for the supplies ... lol.

It's nothing fancy, but here is a peek at what I have done.  I'm open to suggestions if anyone has some ideas.





















Sunday, July 4, 2010

Let Freedom Ring

Happy Birthday America!












Here is the inside of my July 4th card.



















I always try to stamp an image on my envelope.















Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Gettysburg Address, Flourishes HC-225A, Soaring Eagle, HCPC-1791 Patriotic Phrases, Wanted
Paper:  The Paper Company Electric Blue, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Watercolor, Translucent Vellum
Ink:  Distressed Antique Linen, ColorBox Chalk Dark Brown, ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown, Night of Navy, Riding Hood Red, StazOn Black, Distressed Reinkers
Accessories:  Gold Brad, Edge Distresser, Tearing Tool
Techniques:  Sponging

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Birds of a Feather ...

Birds are so common in everyday life that most people take them for granted, viewing them as nothing more than colorful diversions.  If you take the time, birds are fascinating to watch and observe.  They brighten up the dark days of winter and fill our springtime woodlands and gardens with their music.

Bird watching is a new hobby to my backyard activity list.  Since I have so many wonderful flowers I have noticed the avian activity has increased.  To keep feathered guests such as finches, cardinals, robins, wrens, and chickadees stopping by I maintain several bird feeders, a birdbath and a birdhouse.

Today I thought I would share with you a picture of my birdhouse which is made of cypress, painted in an old world finish, topped with a solid copper roof and a cast iron pineapple-shaped finial.

"No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings"

Friday, July 2, 2010

Together Forever Anniversary

This is the anniversary card I made for my brother.  Below is a peek at the inside.

 

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Together Forever, Happy Anniversary by Rubber Stampede, Inc.
Paper:  The Paper Company Metallic White, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink:  StazOn Black, VersaMark with clear EP
Accessories:  Creative Memories Cutting System 
Techniques:

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Happy Canada Day!

Hello everyone!

I would like to wish my Canadian friends a Happy Canada Day!  This is also a big holiday weekend coming up and I wish each of you a safe and happy 4th of July.  Enjoy time with your family & friends, barbecues, firework displays, and the long weekend.

I'll be here posting so be sure to stop back on Sunday to view my July 4th card.
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