February Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to my blog!  I'm one of the stops along the way in Denami's February 'Adorable Animals' blog hop!  

You should have arrived here from the lovely Lisa Elton.  For a full list of participants visit the Denami Blog.

I don't get a ton of time to stamp anymore, but when the chance came up to pull out these little kitty stamps again I couldn't resist!  Here are my cards:

I knew I wanted to group the kitties and use some grey.  I was also wanting to use my houndstooth background stamp (can't get enough of that pattern these days!).  After that it was just a matter of putting it all together.

Like a good stamper, I knew I needed to practice my layout a few times.  The first results didn't sit well for the card I wanted to make, so I decided to dig into my scrap stash.  The gold almost jumped out of the pile at me, so I fidgeted a bit and ended up with a second card out of the exercise!

 

I really like using animal stamps on textured paper.  I think it adds something nice when I color them in.  I used my colored pencils in the same way I would use Copic markers (including little shadows underneath them).

What do you think, should I add one more kitty to this?

Hope you liked these, or that they gave you some ideas of your own! 

Be sure to leave a comment, as it gives you a chance to win free money to spend in the Denami store!

Who: Anyone who has a DeNami animal stamp!  

When: The blog hop starts on February 10th at 6 AM, PST. However, you have until February 11th, 11:59 pm PST, to leave comments on all the blogs (to be eligible for a prize)

Why: To be inspired by fun DeNami Design creations and also the chance to win mini shopping sprees on the DeNami Design website!

Prizes: We are giving away THREE $20 gift certificates to our website! We'll be giving away one gift certificate to a random participant (DT members not eligible) and then we'll also be giving away TWO gift certificates to TWO people who comment along the hop!    

Your next stop in the hop is: Larissa Heskett!

Free SVG Files

Had to share - love this website!  Not only do they have a great selection of files for purchase, but there are also a number of free files for download.  This site is specifically targeted to the Sure Cuts a Lot program, but there might be information about other systems as well.  Enjoy!

http://svgcuts.com/

Happy Birthday... or Bust!

Another card done up with my new Spectrum Noir markers (less bleeding on the balloon this time!)  I messed with the party hat a little too much, and that caused some bleeding, but I can accept that.  I need to find a way to have MORE light color on the balloon highlight...  And finally got to use some of those great corduroy buttons I picked up on clearance from Stampin'Up!  Last, but certainly not least, I used the upside down Spellbinder die as a stencil to ink around the edge of my cat for additional depth.

Papers are from scraps and a DCWV paper stack, corduroy buttons from Stampin Up,yellow ink from A|Muse Studio, curly label die cut from Spellbinders (cut with my Big Shot).   

Get Well Soon

This is one of the first completed cards I worked on with my new Spectrum Noir markers.  

 

Overall the markers performed well, and I liked the effect I added with the grey in the leaves.  I'm getting a little better at flowers already!  I want to find some images that are a little larger to try out my hand at foliage techniques, but that will come another day.

The doily die cut is from the Prickly Pear, crushed ribbon and verse stamp from A|Muse Studio, curly label die cut from Spellbinders, and textured green cardstock from Denami Designs.

Spectrum Noir Markers

Stamping and paper crafting are hobbies that I really enjoy... when I'm in the right place, and I'm producing work I like :)  This has been an interesting year for me so far, and I've had difficulty getting back into working on projects or techniques.  Let's hope that some of that inner imbalance that was keeping me from my hobby has worked its way out.  Its almost Christmas Card season, after all!

(Let's be honest though, that hasn't stopped me from buying new product =) )

Anyway, today I finally had the chance (and was in the mood) to play with my newest acquisition - the whole set of 6-pack Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  

These are the "average crafter's" version of Copic markers - similar product (thought not professional grade), similar effects/colors, a fraction of the price.  I have never colored with Copics or alcohol markers but for the odd make and take - so I spent the morning pouring over YouTube videos and instructional sites.

Here was my practice page - definitely some wins, definitely some ... opportunities to improve :) (Click to enlarge, I think)

I tried to capture the colors that I worked with along the way, especially with the grey outlines, but not all of it came through in the scan.  The Blue-Green combo of flowers is probably my favorite, but I'm a sucker for that color combo.

In the leaves of the pink and purple flower sets I definitely was not happy with the coloring.  I couldn't get the streaks to blend.  By the time I got to the blue one I was doing something I was much happier with.

The "Birthday or Bust" cat's balloon definitely bled everywhere, but I know a little more about what it takes to color in a balloon now :)  I also got to experiment with the blender pen a bit.

Overall the Spectrum Noirs were pretty cool. I'd like to get some further lessons in blending, and how better to use white space - but that's for another day!

Happy Father's Day Card

Here's a card I made for my dad.  One of the last straight-up paper crafts I made at my retreat weekend.  Clouds and balloon are from Unity Stamps.  Verse and orange Gingham paper are from A|Muse Studio (love them!).  Notches in the white card were cut using a Stampin' Up Punch.

You Make my Heart Happy Card

I made this card for my Mother for Mothers Day, and the post office had to go and lose it :(  Booooo!

Sunrays and word stamps, as well as Orange Gingham paper, are from A|Muse Studio.  Clouds are Unity Stamps.  Heart punch is Stampin' Up.  Sun paper is from the DCWV Yellow Flowers set.  Orange ribbon is... leftover from some flowers that were delivered?  :)

Easy peasy!

 

Everything Card

Here's a card I made and used for Mother's day:

The yellow paper is from the DCWV Yellow Flowers set that I love.  Punches and stamp are from Stampin' Up.  The flower is cut with paper and Felt using Tim Holtz' Tattered Flowers Bigz die (love the fabric + paper layering!).  Its tied together with some silky embroidery floss and a button.  Stitching on the edges just to bring it together a bit...

 I couldn't help adding the little pearl :)

Rumble in the Jungle Scrapbook Page

This is a page I should probably feel bad about, but I don't.  This is my sister and her son, trying to have dinner at a local rainforest/jungle themed restaurant.  Its usually a fun time for kids because there are stuffed animals, trees/leaves hanging from the ceiling, jungle sounds, and fun activities all over the place.  Unfortunately, this little guy was in just the right state of tired to be TERRIFIED of these animatronic gorillas that would move their arms every now and then in the rafters.

He was freaking. out.

I wasn't there, but when I saw these pictures I just about DIED.  Another important note about this little man is that he is a notoriously BAD eater - never finishes his plate, and is very skilled at negotiating his way out of meals.  Knowing this, take another look at that last picture!  From what I understand, he was stuffing his cheeks like a chipmunk, as fast as he could, so that they could leave!

Cracks. Me. Up.

The paper is from a kit I picked up at Costco a while back - the washi tape is from A|Muse Studio (the green strips are where my journaling will eventually go). 

Through Their Eyes Scrapbook Page

This was a quick page to put together.  I have mentioned before that I love Picasa, and this page is another example of why.  I used the Duo-Tone effect to turn this image into a few Andy Warhol-esque prints, then used black/white paper to ground the thole thing.

The paper is also from Creative Memories, so raelly this page was SUPER EASY to put together, and its one of my favorites.  Title stickers are Thickers.

 

Nerd! Scrapbook Page

I'm quite sure that at some point in my life I'm going to regret having captured these photos...  But this is me. Dressed as a Nerd.  For a costume contest, I swear!  I'll admit that it was super easy to put together - all I needed was a few quick clothing items from my local goodwill store...  I already had all the props (sad and happy at the same time).

 

A few notes.  The Doily was cut out using the Creative Memories Reminisce Cricut cartridge - love it!  The title was the Happy Hauntings Cricut cartridge.

But the glasses?  Yeah, those were made by hand. :)  I was inspired by the May/June issue of Papercrafts magazine, and this specific card, I think.

Purrrrrrr---- I mean, ARRRRRRRR!!!!

Ahoy, matey's!  I'm so excited to be participating in my first-ever blog hop!!!

The theme for this month is "Cards for Guys."  If you're hopping along, you should have come here from Jane Smith's blog.  Next up will be Britta Swinderski.  Let me tell you - these are some talented ladies!  If you'd like to start from the beginning, visit: http://denami.blogspot.com/

Without any delay, here's my card!  I used a little hybrid stamping/printing to dress up my kitties for a purrrr-fect card, great for any little pirate!

Denami has some really awesome stamps (amiright??) but I have to admit that when I thought "Cards for Guys" I just wasn't sure what I had in my stash that might apply!  But something in my brain got me thinking about these adorable little kitties...  But how to "guy" them up?  One word: Pirates.

You might be wondering where the kitties found those Pirate costumes... these are just clipart icons, printed really tiny and fussy-cut out by hand.  And the eye patch? A circle cut with a hole punch and snipped, with a marker-drawn band.

I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention how much I LOVE Denami's new unmounted stamps!!  Not only are cling stamps great to work with, they also help with storage!  And in my tiny apartment, that means a lot!

Also, make sure you leave comments!  Here are the hop details:

• When: The blog hop starts on June 10th at 6 AM, PST.  However, you have until June 11th, 11:59 pm PST, to leave comments on all the blogs (to be eligible for a prize).
• Prizes: Denami is giving away THREE $20 gift certificates to our website!  They'll be giving away one gift certificate to a random participant (DT members are not eligible) and they'll also be giving away TWO gift certificates to TWO people who comment along the hop!

Supplies I used: Cuddly Cats Petit Fors and Happy Birthday Script (Cling) stamps from Denami; score tape; black/white twine from A|Muse Studio; paper scraps; glue pen. I'd like to be able to show you a picture of my supplies, but I had a visitor:

 

And he wouldn't leave me alone:

Really wouldn't leave me alone. 

Hope you enjoyed the card!  You should have come here from Jane Smith's blog.  Don't forget to leave comments for a chance to win prizes!  Next up is one super-talented lady, and fellow Minnesotan - Britta Swinderski!!

Remembering Pita Scrapbook Page

This page still needs a title, but it hasn't come to me yet.  This was a page I created to help remember our family cat, who passed away this spring.

This is Pita (or Cameron... or The Black and White Cat... or Golden Eyes --- it really depends who you ask).  I used all paper from the Yellow Flowers DCWV set, and supplemented with some deep red/maroon.  The label is cut using Spellbinders Labels 4.  The Flowers are Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers Bigz dies (layered with some random paper flowers in silver/grey and dark metallic brads).  The lable is held in place by one of the little metal Tim Holtz picks.

No Place Like Home Scrapbook Page

I really like this page, and have to tell you up front that it looks way better in person.  (Anyone have any great tutorials for taking photos of pages for blogs?)

This page was meant to capture a little about how excited my sister/nephew were to visit our hometown over Christmas.  They have moved pretty far away, so their visit was a really fun/large occasion for us.

I can't name all the papers, but the grey/striped is definitely from the Yellow Flowers DCWV paper pack I was celebrating a while back.  Love it!  The title is cut from the Creative Memories Reminisce Cricut cartridge (did you know that thing has a font too???? I didn't!)  Lots of stitchign involved... I used some scrap bias tape I picked up at a second-hand store to mak eth eruffles.  The diamond-shaped things are actually dark gray rhinestones in metal settings/clasps.  The ribbon strip is a plush velvet.  Overall these three things combine to make this page feel really rich in real life :)

The photo is again over-saturated (intentionally) using Picasa - I love the effect.  The lavender paper just helps tie the photo to the page.  The punches on the right are EK Success border punches.

Cousins Scrapbook Page

The third page from my retreat:

This was fun to assemble because of the colors I chose to use - blue/green is probably my all-time-favorite color combo, and the orange grid paper just helped make it even more fun!

You'll notice three flags again - this time with stitching too :)  Definitely a good time.  The title is cut using Alphalicious (Cricut).  The journaling spot (I know, I'll get to it eventually) is from the Creative Memories Reminisce Cricut Cartridge.  The bottom green border is EK Success Circles Large Edger punch.  The stamp in the back is from Rubbernecker Stamps, and was randomly inked with Distress Inks.  You'll also notice the zig zag stitch (I had fun with that puppy!)

The other important thing about this page is the intentionally over-saturated photos.  If I haven't said it before, I. Love. Picasa.  Picasa is Google's free photo editing/storage/organization tool.  Similar to its search engine, it comes with an "I'm Feeling Lucky" button that does some amazing things to photos.  I'd have to spend a few hours going through all the different creative features, but for these photos I used a combination of the following effects: Saturation; Lomo-ish; and Cross Process.

Getting into the Holiday Spirit Scrapbook Pages

Here's another two-page layout from my retreat.  This again uses some old "blank" pages I made a while back.  All I had to do was add photos!

I either love or hate this page, depending on the day of the week.  I wanted to use up patterned paper from my stash, and went a little crazy!  This page uses a lot of Cricut pieces from the Accent Essentials cartridge. I cut the medallions using the Cricut in a few colors that matched my patterned paper, then assembled the large finished product, embellishing with brades, rhinestones, glitter, and inked edges.

 

When adding photos on my trip, I decided to use some red paper to "anchor" the photos to the page a little more.  It helped beat back the "busy"-ness of this page.

Oh - and I totally ran out of "h" letter stickers, so the "h" in "holiday" is definitely a "b" with the bottom cut open...  

I love that cat :)

Happy Birthday (for guys!)

Wanted to share this post quickly - a card I entered for a Denami Designs Sketch Challenge #12.

The picture is a bit deceiving, but the colors are slate grey, white, and lime green - it comes together really well!

Stamps: Denami Design
Paper: Scraps and A|Muse Studio (love their cardstock - its already white on the inside!)
Ribbon: A|Muse Studio and Stampin' Up

Check out all the fabulous winners here!

Titus Scrapbook Page

Another page from my retreat, and another page that I created a while back.  This one was a demo page created at the Archivers Scrapfest (at the Mall of America) by Bazzill paper advertising their Swiss Dots paper (can you tell???)  I added a lot of white paper, rounded some edges, more flowers, and the doiley die cut, and now I don't mind it so much at all!

 

A few important notes: The title is the Jubilee Cricut cartridge using the "Runt" effect.  The doiley is a wafer-thin die from the Prickley Pear rubber stamps.  They sell a number of matching dies/clear stamp sets that I just adore.  Check them out!  The border punches are both EK Success.

Reason for the Season Scrapbook Pages

This is the official beginning of pages I created at my retreat.  I had a great time this year, but it was definitely a lot of work.  I'm not sure if I'm meant for these retreats, but I can definitely promise you that I'm almost never more productive than I am when at this cabin!

First up are a few sets of pages I created using old "blank" pages that I had created a while back, but never added photos to.

There is a large part of me that really enjoys creating empty projects/creating without specific photos in mind.  I know that I'm a lot faster and (honestly, I believe this)  more creative when I'm not trying to build a page around specific photos - I usually end up liking the empty pages a lot more than the ones I create with photos.

But.

It can really be a bear sometimes trying to match up photos to the right page afterward...  Just sayin'.  I'm going to keep thinking about this little dilemma...

Anyway, on to the good stuff!  Behold, a two page layout:

 

This page was a ton of fun to make - the trees are fun, it used up some old patterned paper I had lying around, and featured my favorite little man.

This page was a good exercise in thinking about complementary colors.  With those photos, it was SUPER TEMPTING to try to find a page with a ton of red in it (to pull out Elmo) - instead I focused on his teal nightcap and tried to bring in more blues to my already-very-green layout.

I'm going to re-do the journaling with some white (not beige) lined paper - but that little rectangle is stitched so I'll try to save that.

Finally, you'll see that I've really fallen in love with the idea of the three little banners up in the top-left corner!

I can't name the source of just about anything on that page, but the letters are cut out using my Cricut and the  Jubilee cartridge with the "Runt" effect.

Bingo Card Printables to Share

Hi friends!  Recently I wanted to create a few files that I could print at home for scrappy purposes.  I know I'm way too cheap to pay full price for some of this stuff... 

So I turned to the Googleator and found the following post from 2008 at The Frugal Crafter: http://thefrugalcrafter.wordpress.com/2008/09/21/free-bingo-cards-for-you/

I took the files available there and did some editing with MS Paint and Picasa to modify colors.  

1. I thought blue, red, and green were really effective vintage-y colors, and they all show up a little different on different types of paper.
2. The first version has no header - you can add your own words (BINGO; SPRING; HAPPY; SMILE; the abbreviation for a Month; etc.)  The second one has no numbers in it.  This is pretty much exactly from the source site above.  Next I made a version with a Red Star.  Finally, a version with title and numbers, but in 4 colors.
3. You can print these on any color cardstock, but use Cream/Beige for a true vintage look; use White if you want to do completely custom inking; use Kraft for a rustic/grunge-y look.  Try them out and see what you get.
4. Inkjet printer ink will bleed when wet.  If you plan to do some inking, try to find a photocopier or laserjet printer.
5. When printing, tell your printer software to print these like 3x5 photos without cropping.  You should be able to fit 4 per page.

Finally, how to get the files.  The images below are tiny.  Visit my Picasa album and save full size copies of each that you want to print.  https://plus.google.com/photos/101725556583022111914/albums/5731367070260999633