Birthday Candles

Hi everyone.  Here is my Design Team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More #43 - Addicted to Colors (or use the closest you have to these colors).

I wish I could take credit for coming up with the idea for making these candles - they are so cute.  I saw this on Pinterest and thought it was perfect for the color challenge.

This week's sponsor is

Prize:  2 sheets of digis (8 images)

(please follow the rules of the challenge to be eligible to win)

Whoopsi Daisy will be sponsoring the whole month of May 2013

Stamps:  Make a Big Wish (studio g)

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Lined DP in Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie (SU!)

Ink:  Basic Black (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  White hemp twine; piercing tool, mat and template; Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, sticky strips, adhesives, and dimensionals

I cut the lined DP on the diagonal; each piece is 2 1/4" x 3 1/2".  I put a straight line of glue on one short end and a sticky strip on the other (leaving the cover on the strip).  I placed the hemp twine in the glue and held for a couple of seconds until it was adhered.  Then I rolled up the paper, making sure the top and bottom remained lined up, and then removed the cover of the sticky strip at the end and secured.

I picked up this sentiment about a year ago from one of the $1.50 bins at Michael's ... it's just perfect for today's card ... I stamped the sentiment using my Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement.  I pierced a border around the edge of the card front and then used my Black Stampin' Write marker to add stitch lines.  I adhered the candles using sticky strips, and then popped the card front up onto the card base for added dimension.

For interest, I added a band of each striped DP on the inside, cutting the blue 3/4" wide, the pink 1/2" wide and the orange 1/4" wide.  I layered them together and adhered them to the inside.

Here's a close-up of the candles:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team at ATS&M!

Poppies for Dee Dee

Hi everyone.  Today I have a birthday card that I made for my sister.  Her birthday is on Friday and I need to get it in the mail today or it will be late ... nothing like waiting until the last minute :)

I used the sketch from this week's Less Is More challenge (LIM117 - sketch#9).  A lovely and simple CAS sketch that could be used in so many ways - love it!  My stem of poppies represents the rectangle shape ...

Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wishes (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah); watercolor
Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Old Olive re-inkers
Tools & Accessories:  Big Shot, Prim Poppy die (Memory Box), Pallette, water mister, aqua painter, glue, adhesives and dimensionals

I used the re-inker spread technique to color the poppies.  Check out my tutorial on this blog for more instructions ... basically, here's the steps:  1)  place a couple of drops of each color of re-inker into separate cups on my pallette - added a couple of drops of water to each and mixed; 2)  misted the watercolor-paper poppies with lots of water; 3)  used my Aqua painter to pick up the diluted re-inkers (one color at a time) and added to the wet watercolor paper.


Here's a close-up of the poppies:

Birthday Trellis

Hi everyone.  Not feeling the best today, so decided to take it easy and play a little in my studio.  Usually on these types of days, my mojo goes missing ... so I had an idea about making my arched window into a trellis and wanted to see if it would work.  Just experimenting, and not really thinking that I would make a card.  But once I finished the trellis, I LOVED it and within a few minutes, the trellis was decorated with lovely spring blooms.  I love when a card comes together so easily and unexpectedly! :)  This also covers off several challenges, so I'll list them at the end of the post.  But, one I did want to remind you of is the current challenge at Addicted to CAS - code word:  Flower.  Hope you'll join us for this fun challenge ... just make sure to include a flower or flowers ... and make sure the card is CAS.  As a reminder, CAS means clean and simple ::: one main focal point, not many embellishments or layers, and lots of open (or white) space.

Stamps:  Be Happy (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink (SU!)
Ink:  Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, 8 Petal and Branch die  ... and Olive Branch dies (C.C. Designs); Small Arched Madison Window die (Poppy Stamps); Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, and dimensionals

Here's how I made the trellis:

I die-cut three windows and cut out the middles from each, just leaving the arched frame.  I then cut strips of 1/8" wide white cardstock.  I added glue to the back of one of my die-cut windows and placed the strips on the diagonal in one direction.  I played with the placement of the strips, making sure they were evenly spaced and then pressed them into the glue.  Once the strips were adhered to the frame, I trimmed off the excess and then glued the second window die over top to conceal the edges of the strips - making sure to line up the window frames.  I turned the window over and again, added a light squiggle of glue all around the window frame.  Then I added the strips in the opposite diagonal direction, making sure to weave them in and out and alternating the weaving pattern.  Once these strips were adhered to the frame, I again trimmed off the excess and then glued the last window die-cut on top to conceal the edges of the strips (again, making sure to line up the window frames).  Sounds like a bit of work ... and it is a little fiddley, but didn't take too long.

I then die-cut the branches and wove them through the trellis, securing the stems to the back of the window.  I die-cut the flowers, shaped them with my stylus and mat and glued them on top of the branches.

The sentiment is stamped in Early Espresso, using my Stamp-a-ma-jig for positioning.  The whole window is popped up on the card front, which is then popped up on the card base.


Here's a close-up picture of trellis:

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays (CFC99 - Birthday Bash)
All That Scraps - Anything Goes
Color Throwdown (CTD239 - certainly celery, barely banana, pretty in pink, blush blossom)

Hello Sunshine

Hi everyone.  Today my card is for the latest challenge at Inkspirational - Challenge #17 - Sketch.  I LOVE this CAS sketch and plan on making a few cards using it.  This card was super quick and easy as I used up some leftover images I had on hand.  I colored several of these sunflowers when I made a card a few days ago and I always keep extras handy just in case they fit something I want to make ... so happy to actually take something out of my leftovers box ... I usually am just adding to it! :)  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Sunflower Vase (Bugagoo); Word Salad (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White, Gumball Green, watercolor (SU!)
Ink:  Black, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Little Leaves Die (Sizzix), Postage Stamp Nestie (Spellbinders), blender pen, glue and dimensionals

I colored the sunflower using the marker layering technique (ink and blender pen).  I fussy cut it out and popped it up with a dimension on top of the stem to give the flower some depth.

Fun and easy card!

Here's a close-up of the image:

Scoops of Fun

Hi everyone.  Today I have made a card for the color challenge at Color Throwdown (CTD239 - certainly celery, barely banana, pretty in pink, blush blossom).

Such lovely and soft colors  ... at first I thought of making a vase of flowers, but the colors just made me think of yummy ice cream.  It's been warm and sunny here for the past several days ... it seems like summer is here and so ice cream is on my mind!  Looks like the nice weather is coming to an end, though.  The weatherman is calling for rain, rain and more rain starting tomorrow and through the weekend.  At least I was able to be outside for a while these past few days in my garden ... once the rain hits, it's an excuse to be in my art studio even more :)  Win/win for me!! :)

Stamps:  Sentiment is from Scoops (Lisa's Doodley Doos)
Paper:  White, Crumb Cake, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery (SU!)
Ink:  Soft Suede, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Sweet Treats die set (C.C. Designs), sponges, Dazzling Details (SU!), blender pen, Blossom Twine (The Twinery), mat, stylus, and dimensionals

I die-cut the cones from Crumb Cake cardstock, and ran my blender pen (and a little Soft Suede ink) along the embossed "waffle" design.  Then I sponged more Soft Suede ink along all the edges and shaped the cones with my mat and stylus.  I die-cut the ice cream scoops in the three colors of cardstock and then sponged around the edges with the matching colored inks.  I added some bling on top of the scoops.

I printed off the sentiment onto my card front, adhered the cones and scoops using dimensionals and added a knot of twine to finish things off.  Fun and easy card!

Here's a close-up of the ice cream cones:

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Welcome to our newest member, Deepti!!  So glad to have you with us!!

Bon Voyage!

Hi everyone.  Today my card is for two challenges this week at SCS - CAS217 (CAS Sketch) and CC423 (Colors:  Not Quite Navy, River Rock, Baja Breeze).  I used a digital stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps to create this Bon Voyage card.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Are We There Yet? (Clear Dollar Stamps); sentiment is computer generated
Paper:  Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, River Rock (SU!)
Ink:  Black, Baja Breeze (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  sponges, cloud template (hand-made), glue, adhesives and dimensionals


I printed the image out three times on difference colored cardstock (white, navy, river rock).  I cut out the whole image from the white cardstock; cut out just the plane from the navy (gluing it on top of the white), and just the windows from the River Rock (glued on top of the plane).

I sponged a 2" wide strip of Whisper White cardstock with Baja Breeze ink, using my cloud template.

The sentiment is computer generated.

Here's a close-up of the image:

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Thank you to all that commented on my Card Candy Give-away #2.  I used the True Random Number Generator to pick the winner of the Card Candy:

True Random Number Generator Min:  Max:   Result: 27 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

shirley-bee

Congrats Shirley ... please email your mailing address to me (click on the "Email Me" in the right-hand column near the top), and I'll send you the Card Candy.

Spring is here in the garden

Hi everyone.  Here is my Design Team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More #42 - Make Your Mark.  Any style of card is welcome for this challenge as long as you use markers (any kind) on your creations.  Today I made a step card ... something I haven't done for a long time.  And I added lots of die-cuts to create a spring garden scene.  I again used an image from this month's sponsor, Heather Ellis.  I love all the Pure Innocence images and had a lot of fun creating cards with them over the past four weeks.

Here's the info on the challenge:

This challenge's sponsor is

Prize:  Two digis from Heather Ellis Collection

(please follow rules of challenge to be eligible for prize)

Stamps:  PI-017 (Heather Ellis), Spring is Here sentiment (Penny Black)

Paper:  White, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette (SU!)

Ink:  Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Marina Mist, Sahara Sand (SU!); Copics:  E000, E00, E01, Y21, E44, E49

Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Picket Fence die (Memory Box), Grass Border (large profile from Cheery Lynn); C.C. Designs dies:  Grass Border (small profile), Flower Border, Leafy Branches, sponges, red chalk, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals


I made a step card ... it's a bit hard to capture the essence of the card in photographs, so I am including a few below that will (hopefully) give you an idea of how it looks.  Instructions for the step card base are included under the Tutorial tab of this blog.

Once I had the base cut, I cut two more panels ... one to fit over the left side and one for the right side.  This gave me panels to work on, rather than trying to sponge and glue down elements on the base.  Once I had put everything in place, I adhered the panels to the base and it made the card sturdier as well ... a bonus!

I sponged the sky using a hand-cut, randomly sized scallop template that I made.  I used a very light touch and Bashful Blue ink to create a very soft, cloudy sky.  Next I attached a piece of picket fence to each panel, just at the bottom so that the top of the fence is loose ... that made it easy to glue trees behind both (leafy branch dies).  I glued a large grass border, followed by the flower border.  The flower border is two layers, green for the leaves, with pink card stock for each flower glued on top, with the edges sponged to add more interest and yellow centers colored with my Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write marker.

I cut another layer from the bottom card front (1" x 5 1/2"), sponged around the border with Certainly Celery Ink and stamped the sentiment in Wild Wasabi ink.  It was adhered to the card front, just covering the bottom edges of the grass and flower borders to hold them in place.

Pure Innocence is a digital stamp that I printed onto Whisper White card stock and colored with my markers (along with her watering can).  I fussy cut the two images and popped them on top of the card front.

Here's another photo of the step card ...

... and here's a close-up of Pure Innocence ...

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team at ATS&M!

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A warm welcome to two new members, Lisa S and Susan ... thanks for joining us!!

Sunflowers

Hi everyone.  Here's my Design Team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to CAS.  I love sunflowers ... and had so much fun making this card.  I used a sweet digital image from our sponsor, Bugaboo ... and used the marker layering technique.


This challenge is being run by the wonderfully, talented Caz (Cazro's Crafty Corner) ... and here's the awesome code word she chose ...

Stamps:  Sunflowers Vase (Bugaboo); Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White, watercolor; Hello Sunshine DP (Bo Bunny)
Ink:  Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Soft Suede (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  blender pen, 1/4" Daffodil Delight grosgrain ribbon, glue, and adhesives

The original digital image from Bugaboo is two sunflowers in the vase.  I wanted to have a larger bouquet, so printed the image twice, used the marker layer to color the sunflowers, fussy cut them and then layered them on top of each other so that there are four in the bouquet.  I'm really happy with how it turned out.  And, the great thing about digital images, is that I printed the sunflowers again a third time onto watercolor paper, but smaller in size and added them to the inside of the card.

The vase is paper pieced using one of my favorites papers from Bo Bunny, called Hello Sunshine.  A knotted ribbon and the card was done.  So fun ... and easy, peasy! :)


Here's a close-up of the vase of sunflowers:

Here's the inside of the card with smaller sunflowers:

I hope I have inspired you to join in our fun challenge at Addicted to CAS - Flower.  Come check out all the wonderful creations by the other Design Team members.

Rainbow Birthday

Hi everyone.  Quick post today.  Here is my card for three challenges today:  SCS - Ways To Use it (WT423 - Somewhere Over the Rainbow) ... use a rainbow or rainbow colors on your card;  CASology #40 - cue word:  Word - what a fun challenge!!; and CAS[E] This Sketch #24

I bought this candle stamp at Michael's a few years ago and haven't inked it yet ... it was in the clearance bin and I think I paid $1.50 - don't you just love those bins??!!  I have found lots of fun things in them, including glitter glue, stamps ... and some lovely journals that I gave out to my girlfriends.

Stamps:  Candles (Studio G); Vintage Labels and A Word for You for the sentiments (SU!)
Paper:  Whisper White, Neenah white
Ink:  Basic Black, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Pacific Point, Elegant Eggplant, Rich Razzleberry (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, gold glitter glue, corner rounder, and dimensionals

I stamped the candles and then colored them with my Stampin' Write markers ... all the colors of the rainbow. I added gold glitter glue to the flames to give them some sparkle ... and then a little bit of faux stitching to give the card a little more character.  I rounded the bottom corners of the card base and card front and popped up the card front for dimension.

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A warm welcome to two new followers ... Lisa and The Crafty Laydee.  Thanks for joining us!!

Sitting Here Thinking of You

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of another new type of challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More - Challenge #41 - Anything Goes. Yippee!!!  Who doesn't love an "Anything Goes" challenge - the sky's the limit!  I spent a bit of time making another "scene" card using an image from this months' sponsor.  Isn't this little girl adorable??!!  She makes me smile! :)

This challenge's sponsor is

Stamps:  Pure Innocence-029 (Heather Ellis); Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)

Paper:  White, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi Polka-dot DP, Sycamore Street DP (SU!)

Ink:  Basic Black, Bashful Blue (SU!); Copics:  E000, E00, E01, E44, E49, Y32, YR24, YR07, R17, BG72, BG57

Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot; Memory Box dies: Twiggy Tree, Leafy Branch, Puffy Clouds; Grass Border die (C.C. Designs), Rectangle Nesties (Spellbinders), sponge, red chalk, glue, adhesives, glue dots, and dimensionals

I colored Pure Innocence with Copics and paper-pieced her dress.  I sponged the background with a home-made, randomly sized, scalloped template.  I die-cut the twiggy tree in brown and then the leafy branch in green polka-dot and cut off the leaves and glued them to the tree ... this is what took the most time :)  I sponged around the clouds before attaching them on top of the frame. 

Here's a close-up of the main image:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team at ATS&M!

Daisy for a Friend

Hi everyone.  My card today is for two challenges ... SCS Queen for a Day (QFTD160 - bon2stamp) where my friend Bonnie is being honored ... and CAS-ual Fridays (CFC98 - All that glitters).

I made a card to honor Bonnie, CASE'ing this beauty ... keeping the layout and basic feel of the original, but didn't add the dry embossing to the background.  I used one of my latest card candy large daisies in place of Bonnie's beautiful stamped and layered flower.  Hope you like, Bonnie and congratulations on being picked as Queen for the Day!  Thanks for all the inspiration you have given me ... as well as your wonderful and supportive comments.  Enjoy your special week!!

For the glitter part ... I've added just a little glitter to the center of the flower and on the madera corner to make it special.

Stamps:  Garden Oasis (Fiskars)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs and Neenah); Daffodil delight, Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi (SU!)
Ink:  Basic Black, Wild Wasabi, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Giant Daisy Punch (Punch Bunch); Medium and Small Sun Punches (Punch Bunch), Madera Corner Die (Memory Box), sponges, stylus and mat, tweezers, scoring tool, blender pen, glue, and dimensionals

The 3-D daisy is made as per my tutorial, just changing up the center (sponged edges of the sun rays, cut them in half, shaped with my stylus and glued three layers of each size), and adding green glitter glue to the very center of the flower.

I scored a line above the sentiment (hard to see in photo), stamped the sentiment in black and used my blender pen and Wild Wasabi ink to color in the leaves.  I added more green glitter glue to the Madera corner before placing the daisy on top.


Here's a close-up of the flower:

Entering this card into these challenges:

SCS - QFTD160 - bon2stamp

CAS-ual Fridays (CFC98 - all that glitters)

Card Candy Give-away #2

Hi everyone.  Here is my latest card candy.  I am having so much fun making these!!!!  I used one of the purple daisies on a card recently (click here to take a look) ... just adding a little mauve glitter to the center.

Just for a reference, these packages are the size of a standard card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") ... the large daisies above are 2" in diameter.   I used Stampin' Up! cardstock (LOVE their colors!).

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Would you like some of the card candy above??


If you are interested in receiving the two packages above, leave me a comment on this post before end of day, April 19th, 2013.

I will use the "True Random Number Generator" to determine which comment will receive the candy.  I'll post the name and ask for that person to email me with their home address.  Easy, peasy!

Thanks for stopping by ...   :)

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Update:

The flowers are made with the Giant Daisy Punch and the centers are made with the Sun Punches (three different sizes) - all made by Punch Bunch.

If you are wanting to leave a comment to be in the draw, make sure to leave your name ... I will not be including "Unknown" in the draw.  Thanks! :)

Cherry Blossoms

Hi everyone.  The card today is for two challenges ... another entry for the photo inspiration at Inkspirational ... and also SCS Way's To Use It (WT422 - window card).

Here is a picture of the inspiration photo ... it reminds me of the cherry blossoms that are blooming right now in the lower mainland.  The streets are filled with beautiful, soft blossoms of pale pink, bright pink and white. I do love this time of year!! :)

Stamps:  Embrace Life, Up in the Air (SU!)
Paper:  White, watercolor
Ink:  Staz-On Black, Basic Black, Soft Suede, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Small Madison Window (Poppy Stamps), Brick Embossing folder (Tim Holtz for Sizzix), blender pen, aqua painter, sponge, Stamp-a-ma-jig, white gel pen, sticky strips, glue, and dimensionals

I stamped the image in Staz-on black ink onto watercolor paper and colored it with my blender pen and inks.  I used a sponge to add Bashful Blue ink to the background and then blended it into the watercolor paper with my Aqua Painter (it's very faint blue and hard to see in the photo).

I sponged the embossed white paper with Soft Suede ink.  And the window frame is two layers (glued together) of white cardstock and then I dragged my Soft Suede ink pad across the window die to give it an aged look.

The sentiment was stamped in black ink, using my Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement, before adhering the embossed panel onto the card front (popped up).  The window frame is also popped up for added dimension.


Here's a close-up of the image:

Entering this card into these challenges:

Inkspirational Challenge #15 - photo challenge

SCS Way's To Use It (WT - window card)