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.

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 :)

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.

Happy Easter!

Hello friends!  Today I'm sharing a pair of cards I made for family this Easter.  This has become a big of a tradition for me - featuring the lovely "Sprinkles" (the feline focus of many of The Cat's Pajamas stamps) in bunny ears!  I'm sure there's a stamp that already does this, but there's nothing quite like putting my own on there :)

Making the card itself was pretty easy, thanks to Spellbinders!  I used layered oval and scalloped ovals die cuts.  The white square I cut myself and used the "notched corner" Stampin' Up punch.  I inked the edge of the square, and used the upside-down oval die to stencil the color into the oval.  The ink was Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass.

The stamped verse is A|Muse studio and stamped in their Sky pigment ink.  The ribbon is Stampin' Up from their 'clearance rack.'  I layered this on A|Muse Studio's yellow gingham paper (LOVE their paper - the inside is already white and ready to write on!).

And of course - I hand-cut white ears from some scraps, and used a colored pencil to finish off the ears/nose/eyes of the kitty.   All in all it was pretty quick!

I'm actually gone this weekend on a stampin' and scrappin' retreat!  I'm really excited!  I'm planning a post about how to pack- and prep-for a multi-day retreat.  Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday!

This card is not a favorite of mine, but a project worth sharing nonetheless.  This started as an attempt to copy another design, but turned into something different.  I do like how the gift box looks in real life - I filled it in using colored pencils on textured paper for a really neat effect.

That's about all I have to say about this one. :)  Sometimes you start with the best of intentions... 

I think skipping the embossing would have made this a little more ok.

 

Stamped gift box Stampin' Up; verse and stars background are Denami Design; I think the embossing folder is Sizzix; the circle die cut is the scalloped circle die from Prickly Pear Rubber Stamps; eyelet border punch is Fiskars.

Wonderful

This was another easy card!  I'm really starting to fall for the more clean and simple (CAS) style, though I will admit that part of me feels like I'm leaving these projects so unfinished!

I started by stamping the new Venetian Background pattern in green (Lichen, I think its called?), both from A|Muse Studio.  I had some mint green and chocolate brown scraps, so I mounted some white cardstock.  I stamped Wonderful in French Roast (both from AMS) and cut out the brown flag pennants (also AMS) using my Big Shot.  I couldn't stop without adding the pearls, and voila!  Done!

I can see this card easily translating for other future cards - swap out colors and stamps and you can do just about any occasion!

You are Fabulous

I have to admit I was pretty excited to create this card.  I didn't know how it would end, but I knew I wanted to play with my octagon bunch - what a trend right now!!

This card was beyond easy - the punch was from Making Memories, and I used scraps.  It probably took me longer to play with the placement of those dang shapes than it did to put the darn card together!

I decided to use my new Chevrons stamp from A|Muse Studio - LOVE this new set, part of the 2012 catalog! The words "you are fabulous" are from the AMS Hand Scripted set, which green AMS ink and blue Distress Ink.  The white punch is Stampin' Up, the green shape is Spellbinders (probably my favorite of all of them) cut with my Big Shot.  I added blue sparklies and DONE.  BAM.

Colour Q 127 and Mojo Monday 231

Well, I was too late to be able to submit this for Colour Q 127, but I played along with the color palette anyway! 

This card was fun to create because it forced me out of my comfort zone - these are definitely not colors that I naturally would gravitate toward, but whatever!

I had some fun paper from an old 6x6 paper stack that used these colors and I was able to finally use it, as well as (you guessed it) other old scraps and papers from my scrap collection.  I also used my sewing machine to add some interest.

 

Supplies: Shapes cut with my Big Shot; Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Ovals Large and Classic Ovals Large sets; Spellbinder Labels 4; butterfly punches from Martha Stewart; stamp from Stampin' Up; Ink from A|Muse Studio; misc brads.

See below for the details on the two challenges: 

 

 

ColourQ #125

Hello blog world!  Every now and then I try to challenge myself to participate in on of the contests out there.  I think it helps push me to try new things, but can also be super handy when you're in a creative slump.

I found the idea for this card on Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/christinezani/) and it has really stuck with me.  My Grandparents also have a pretty significant anniversary coming up - they've been together for 60 years!!  I knew this was the card I wanted to make for them, but didn't know where to start with colors.  Enter: the ColourQ challenge.

Visit the site to learn more about what they do.  My card and a closeup of the texture are below.  As always, please forgive the pictures as I take them with my phone - but hopefully you get the idea :)

Here's one picture I added 2.24.12 that hopefully shows it with less harsh overhead lighting.  In real life the shadows don't stand out quite so much - its very quilty...

It looks like a quilt!!!  How fun!  The original inspiration can be found here: http://flourishes.org/2012/02/paper-quilting/#comments  According to the site, this is the "Ohio Star" pattern - but I am not a quilter, so don't take my word for it.

At this point I'd also like to say that the pattern/texture is not nearly as harsh in real life as it is appearing in this picture.

The site above includes instructions, but in reality this was pretty easy.  I cut four 1" squares from both the orange and green paper, then cut them in half diagonally to make eight triangles.  Instead of cutting the blue into triangles, i just cut a large square and used it as the base.  Note: This made it easier to glue down the orange/green, but if those triangles weren't perfect the blue was showing through!

I glue-taped down the triangles according to the picture, then ran the whole thing through my Big Shot with an embossing folder.  I mounted it on another grey square, stamped the verse in coordinating colors, and stuck the whole thing together.

The Green and Blue patterned paper, and the inks for the verse, are A|Muse Studio.  The ribbon and stamps are Stampin' Up.  The folder is Sizzix, though I can't find the pattern name.  The red/white/grey cardstock were just from my scrap box.

Photophobia

OK, so it may not be an official medical term (at least the way I define it) but Photophobia is a very real part of my life!  At least, that's what my stack of old personal photos is telling me...

When I started to put together what I trend I had of pictures featuring me either completely ruining or somehow ducking out of the frame, I couldn't help but take a little jab at my own tendencies.  I left room in a few places for journaling, or to insert a pull-out journaling form.

I have to admit... capturing this innate fear of mine in my scrapbook did cause me to stop and wonder: why am I the way I am?  Will I always be like this?  Should I make a concerted effort to change?  Or do I keep on keepin' on, trusting that the way I act is exactly the way I should...  Our motto for the weekend of my last retreat centered on the idea that every past memory or experience is "all part of the story."  So I guess even Photophobia gets a layout...

This page features some fun stuff - the rosette was created using vellum and Tim Holtz' Rosette Sizzix die, lace, and paper scraps; journaling block at bottom right is also a Tim Holtz die cut; orange ribbon is A|Muse Studio satin basics ribbon; title lettering is cut with Cricut; butterfly punches are Martha Stewart.

Scrap Retreat Results

I returned yesterday from my latest Scrapbooking/Crafting retreat and let me tell you - I feel re-invigorated with stamping/scrapping creativity!  I know from experience that if I don't want to lose this feeling, I need to make time for myself to work on pages/cards soon - its so hard to get this feeling back once I've lost it...

The next few blog posts will all showcase different projects from my weekend.  Some I can say I genuinely LOVED - while others... they need work.  I'm going to try posting those as "work in progress" pages - meaning they're "lightly" glued down, but I'm not 100% satisfied with them and looking for ideas for how to rescue them.


So to start, I wanted to share one of the first projects I created.  The retreat was Friday/Saturday/Sunday - and after arriving and unpacking, Friday ended up being a rather short/uneventful day.  I was pretty worried about how Saturday was going to fare... but before hitting the sack I managed to turn out a few cards.

This first one features: misc papers from my scrap box, kraft base paper, Large Scallop Circle punch and stamp from Stampin' Up, colored pencils, Tim Holtz Sizzix die cuts, inked edges with A|Muse Studio inks, some pearl stickers, border punch from EK Success, old hem tape from the thrift store, and... my birthday present to myself - SEWING!  What fun!

What do you think?

October Projects - Halloween Card and Calendar

Today I have two projects to share, both of which are from the last few weeks.First is my Halloween card for this year - I know, kind of dangerous to post it before the holiday, but there are only a few people I send Halloween cards to (family) and I don't think I need to worry about them being on here in the next few weeks.

I used a kraft/black/white/green/fuschia color scheme that works better than the photo shows.  I picked up some holiday sets at the last convention I attended - including the really fun bat flourish and crazy-tailed black cat you see featured below (Inkadinkado "Halloween Trails" (the bat) and "Cats and Bats" (the cat)).  The striped washi tape, baker's twine, dotted line stamps, and stamped verse are all A|Muse Studio. The punches are Stampin' Up. Kraft paper from Michaels (Reminisce). There are also little dots of Lime Stickles in the cats eyes.  (Can you tell I have no brand loyalty?)

The next one is a project that has been sitting in my to-do pile for many years!  I started this at some point in college on a visit back to Grandma's - it was also one of my first interactions with a die-cutting machine, if that helps date this.  But it is intended to be a calendar with the page/display on top and the calendar details on bottom.  When I started I had the grand notion that I'd somehow complete the calendar before the new year began, so I optimistically penned in the days for the first few months - that was a mistake.  This weekend I sat down and cranked out April and May.  Will it be another few years before I try June?  I hope not...

There are quite a few products in these shots, so I'll name what I can.  All Washi tape is A|Muse Studio.  January snowflakes are Sizzix Sizzlets "Snowflake Set."  February punches and stamps are all Stampin' Up.  March scallop border and flowers are Stampin' Up.  Shamrock is Judikins. April clouds are Unity Stamps "Sunny Happy Skies."  April/May circle doily is Prickly Pear scalloped circle die (seriously love this one...).  April/May font is Autumn Leaves "Scribbles Alphabet" (but the M for May wasn't as large as I wanted so I hand-drew it in -- what do you think??).  Pearls in May are Reminisce (from Michaels).

Card making Adventures

I was able to sit down recently and crank out a few cards - here is the first of three for they day.  I can definitely say that my mind started in a different place with this one - I think my goal was to use the Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die, but after that the possibilities were endless.

The green patterned paper is actually from A|Muse Studios - love them!  I am *technically* a demonstrator right now, but right now its only because I wanted to take advantage of some of the great startup deals they had going on.  I can say so far I'm really pleased with their product and their prices, and I'm sure I'll have more on them in the future.  For now, if you were interested you could contact me, but the link above takes you to the website of my fabulous "upline".

On to the card - the green paper is actually one of A|MS's flavors of cardstock, but it was used (on the back) as paper for my "welcome letter" in my startup package - never one to let something go to waste, I've had it stuck in my stash for a while.  I think the pattern makes a great leaf, just don't look too closely at the back :)

I also had the idea somewhere that I wanted to emboss a script on the leaves before cutting them out.  Its hard to see, but check out the second photo.  In real life it adds some great texture.  The edges are also inked because, you know, I can't work on anything without doing that...

I broke out my Spellbinders for the little frame, masked the white space in the center before using Tim Holtz' Falling Leaves stamps, and stuck it all together with some ribbon and a little banner (my first attempt at this fad - a little late, but whatever!) and voila!  The verse is also from an A|MS set.  Ooo - and one more thing!  This card is on some of the chocolate brown paper from A|Muse and it's white core - which means even though the base of the card is brown, the inside is all white!  No need for an insert to keep my writing on.

Hope you enjoyed!  Looking forward to using this die in some new and exciting ways in the near future :)