An Inky Background - Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pads

Hi All,

The watercolor technique on this card is fun to play around with because you can't predict what you'll end up with, but the result is always unique and surprising!

I tapped some Tim Holtz distress ink pads randomly and directly onto an acrylic block, sprayed with lots of water so it started to blend, then pressed it onto my white cardstock panel. It was easy to get a variety of colors using Tim's new mini ink pads.  Their tiny 1"x1" size makes it easy to fit lots of color onto a block for this technique.  

After the background was completely dry, I layered it onto black cardstock, then stamped my images (Candles from Inkadinkadoo Birthday Sentiments) and sentiment (Hero Arts Essential Messages) using Versafine Onyx Black ink.  Added a tiny bit of yellow glitter to the flames of the candles and then mounted the finished panel onto white cardstock base.

Good as done!!

TFL, I'm so glad you stopped by!

Vintage and Washi

Hi Friends,

I was able to get some new dies this past week that I've been budgeting for for quite awhile!  I was all ready with design and papers, just waiting to get my hands on these dies!

This lead card is inspired by a card I found on Pinterest (click here) by Mona.  The die used here is border die #LR0202 from Marianne Designs.

I die cut two separate boarders and attached them to a 6-3/4 x 5-1/4" card base that I scored at 1-1/4 and 5-1/2.  That gave me a standard sized gate-fold card once I attached my two border pieces.

From there, I added a background piece (Graphic 45 "A Ladies Diary" collection) on the inside and adhered Prima flowers, a Kaiser Paper Bloom flower, butterflies by Cheery Lynn Designs "DL112 Exotic Butterfly Small" and some pearly swirls by Queen and Co.









Next is card using Heartfelt Creations "Tattered Blossoms" set.

This Spellbinders set comes with 5 dies, which I left adhered to the card that they came on.  I ran the card with all 5 dies still attached to it and my DP through the my Big Shot twice, to get all the flowers cut at once.  That made for quick and easy cutting!

I sponged the cut flowers with TH Walnut Ink.  After that, it was just a matter of "stirring" them from the back side so the leaves curled up.  I turned them over, stacked them and glued the centers together. I stacked the 3 larger-sized flowers to create my big flower and the two smaller-sized flowers to create the smaller flower.  The center of the big flower is a silk flower from a bouquet I bought at HL. 

The leafy stuff is another die from Cherry Lynn Designs, #B118 "Pair of Ferns".

The stamped image in the background is Hero Arts "Timely Bird".  The pearls are Queen and Co.  The bow is made of a fiber ribbon that came in a craft package from Ten Second Studios.

Finally, this much simpler card using Washi tapes.  (I had to check out what the fuss was all about!)

I got my rolls from Queen and Co.  Just some basics, a dotted, a a striped and a plaid.  The strip with little flowers came from Creek Bank Creations.

So this card is what seems to be the "obligatory" first card everyone makes with their first new Washi tapes until they figure out what other designs to make with it.  I added a chipboard heart from Emma's Shoppe collection and embellished it with a button and some bling.

If you want to see an "expert" using Washi Tape, check out Michele Woerner's blog -- I was inspired by her creative cards using the tapes and just by coincidence this month her Washi tape card made the cover of CardMaker Mag! (Congrats to you my friend!!)  Now THATS talent!!

Many thanks for stopping by!

 

Amazing Inspiration

Hi Friends,

I'm hosting the Inspiration Challenge this weekend on SCS and I chose the webstore "Hard To Find" as the inspiration site.  I have to tell you, to me, this really is one of the most inspiring sites I've come across.  It's nothing specific that I can define about it, but just the "stuff" they carry in their store had me listing several more cards that I want to make that are inspired by their merchandise.

For the sake of time (I'm late, I gotta get the post up over on SCS! LOL!) I made a CAS card using this "Lunchskins Sandwich Bag" as my inspiration piece.





Here's the supplies I used and assembled to complete this truly quick card!

Sizzix Pear & Leaf die, Zing White EP, Old Olive CS, Paper Smooches "Chit Chat" sentiment

Hope you'll check out the webstore and join me on SCS this week!!  I'd love to see you there!

TFL, I'm so glad you stopped by!

 

CAS Moments

Hi All,

This very CAS card is for this week's Inspiration Challenge!  I'm very happily hosting again this weekend -- I hope you'll head over there and join me!  (Thanks Stephanie, enjoy your weekend!!)

The website I chose is called "Johnny Tapete".  Odd name for this German based webstore!  And even odder that they specialize in Vintage, out of production wall paper!  The website also carries home decor and accessories from the same time period, so it's a fun visit back to the 50's, 60's and 70's era!

I chose this "50er Torenplatte Staffel" (remember, German company!) as my inspiration.  I pinned a gorgeous CAS card today and wanted to Case the layout so that's how this design evolved.




The sentiment and butterfly stamp are from the "Butterfly" Cloud9 Designs set; the die is Cherry Lynn Designs "Exotic Butterflies Small" and the jewel accents are Jolee's Jewels.  I used SU! Pale Plum ink for the stamping and the main panel is popped up on dimensionals.

TFL, I'm so glad you stopped by!

 

Inspiration Challenge No. 300!

Wow!  What a fun milestone this weekend; SCS is on Number 300 of the Inspiration Challenge.  It's been one of my favorite things getting to host on occasion!  I love being able to "give back" as a contributor to the website that is my major source of inspiration and creativity!

The website Stephanie chose this week is called "Pomegranite".  Lots of fun pieces and inspiration.  I went with this napkin ring because of that wonderful weave design behind the dragonfly, just love that texture!

My butterfly charm is by "Heart and Soul" from Michale's and those wire, bling stems are from HL that I got at 50% off last week in the Bridal section.  I bought one bunch, and liked it so much went back and got 4 more!  What??  It's not like I'm hoarding, really...ahem.



 So come join us over on SCS for the 300 Inspiration Challenge!!  Upload your card and I'll go by and see you!

TFL, I'm so glad you stopped by!

Cards for Friday

Hi All!

Have some cards that I've made for several challenges this week.  I'm really bad at posting as soon as I'm done with the card, so I'm posting these all at once, gotta get them up before I miss the challenges they're intended for!

Challenge card for CCEE Stampers: #1130 Winter or Summer season

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog:  Make Someone Smile

 Chi Chi Memories:  Summer Time Fun

Little Miss Muffet Challenges:  #14 Summer

Shelly's Images:  Summer

Stampavie and More - #148 Summer

This card is for BIL. I know, not the most masculine card but it's summer, time for cookouts, and it made me smile and that's what I was going for.  The stamped image is by Cats Pajamas (colored w/Copics).  Flags are Imaginisque, chipboard are AC Thickers, and DP is Emma's Shoppe by Crate Paper -- had this DP since June and just cracked it open this week!  Super cute stuff!!  Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral CS and twill ribbon are all SU!

Next a card for an upcoming teen birthday.  A little "cutesy" for a teen probably, but I think she'll like it:

Challenge Card for Art Impression Stamps:  #26 Inspiration from Nature

Paper Play – In the garden

The flower images that I paper pieced are Recollection from Michaels (the set had no name??), the sentiment is Stamps of Life and the little button accents (flower centers, leaves and worm) are "Dress it Up" buttons from HL.  Same DP and CS as the card above!







Lastly, this card is going for a a few more challenges I found -- and then I got distracted and almost didn't post it -- so I finished it up this morning and here 'tis!

 

Stampin' B's:   Use ribbon

Your Next Stamp Challenge:  3 embellishments, 2 patterned papers, 1 image

The Paper Variety:  Tic Tac Toe ("card", faux stitching, pink)

The stamped, paper-pieced image is Penny Black "Whispers, the sentiment is Verve, and the DP is Basic Grey Hopscotch.   The ribbon was heated slightly to curl and it's accented with a string of faux pearls.  I said "faux" in case you might think they're real {kidding :p }.

TFL, I'm so glad you stopped by!

She Shells See Sells

Hello Everyone!

It's the weekend at last and I'm hosting the Inspiration Challenge over on SCS!  Yay!!  This week the webstore for the challenge is "The Outer Banks Trading Group".  I don't know how I stumbled upon this website but I stayed to look around because it brought back memories of one of our best vacation spots ever many years ago!!  This is a photo of DH and me on said vacation on the Outer Banks of NC, clearly having a wonderful time, enjoying this fabulous 3-level ocean front home we rented along with family and friends!!  Some day we'll go back... until then, it's a great memory and a fun challenge opportunity!




And about that Challenge...I chose this simple photo of a framed sea shell because...yes... it reminded me of the fun TH Flowers I've been obsessed with making this past week!

 



I made one plain white accordion flower, sponged over the top lightly with Color Box Creamy Brown and Dark Brown ink and added a neutral colored prima and a brad.  I ran a square panel through my Big Shot with a bubbly looking Cuttlebug EF, layered onto brown and white CS, and finally adhered my flower to the center of it!

Come on by and join me in this weekend's challenge!! I'd love to see what inspired you from the Outer Banks Trading Group website!!

TFL, I'm so glad you stopped by!

A CAS Card for Today's Challenge

Hi Everyone,

Today's challenge over on the Woodware USA blog is "CAS".  I love CAS cards!  A single image and some DP and you're done!!  There are some wonderful samples on the blog made by our DT -- you just gotta stop by!!

My image is from WWUSA's "Take it Easy" set.  Cute images that can be used for lots of different occassions, not just as Get Well, etc.!

Hope you'll join us in the Challenge this week.  Pop over to WWUSA blog for all the deets.  Your entry will be eligible for our monthly drawing for a free Woodware USA set and you the opportunity to be chosen as a guest designer for a future challenge!! 


TFL, I'm so glad you stopped by!

Woodware Challenge -- Winter Themed Card

Happy Monday and thanks for stopping by today!

Another Woodware USA's weekly challenge is upon us and the theme this week is "Winter"! I thought of the WWUSA "Polar Bears" set for this challenge as soon as I heard the theme.  I kept my card pretty CAS since it's such a busy time of the year!!  The chipboard pieces are from Crate Paper's Snow Day collection. 

Hope you get a chance to join in our challenge this week! Head over to the WWUSA blog and link up your Winter Themed card or project to be entered into the drawing for a prize at the end of the month!  If you use Woodware Stamps, you get an extra entry!  Play every week this month and you'll increase your chance of winning!!

To see the wonderful selection of Woodware USA  stamps, visit the store here and have a look around!  Be sure to stop in and visit all my DT sisters' blogs too for more WWUSA inspiration!!

Have a great week everyone! 

 

Woodware Challenge -- A Birthday Card!

WWUSA stamps used: "Birthday Fun"and "Mixed Greetings"

Happy Monday and thanks for stopping by today! 

Today's card is for Woodware USA's weekly challenge.  This week the theme is "Birthday"!  This is the first time using this super cute "Birthday Fun" set, I've been looking forward to getting my hands on it!  The sentiment is from "Mixed Greeings". 

Get on over to the WWUSA blog and link up your fabulous Birthday card or project that you created to be entered into the drawing for a prize at the end of the month!  If you use Woodware Stamps, you get an extra entry!  Play every week this month and you'll increase your chance of winning!!

To see the wonderful selection of Woodware USA  stamps, visit the store here and have a look around!  Be sure to stop in and visit all my DT sisters' blogs too for more WWUSA inspiration!!

Have a great week everyone! 

Woodware Challenge -- Anything Goes!

Supplies:  WWUSA "Penguin Fun"; Copics, Kiwi Kiss Textured and White CS

Hi All,

Thanks for stopping by today!  Today's card is for Woodware USA's weekly challenge.  This week it's "Anything Goes"!  So get over to the blog and link up your creation to be entered into the drawing for a prize at the end of the month!  If you use Woodware Stamps, you get an extra entry!  Play every week this month and you'll increase your chance of winning!!

To see Woodware USA  stamps, visit the store here and have a look around!  Be sure to stop in and visit all my DT sisters blogs for more WWUSA inspiration!!

Have a great week everyone! 

Mary Engelbreit Card

Hi Friends,

This week's Featured Stamper over on SCS is Lynette (aka Lynniepoo) and this is a stamper worth checking out!  She has a wonderful CAS style and I found so many cards in her gallery that I saved for casing later!! 



For todays submission, I chose her "Stickers and Sending Prayers" card.  Since I am obsessed with 3-dimensional stickers and chipboard stickers, (I probably put Michaels or any of our LSS to shame with my collection!!) this was a perfect choice for me today.  I am always scouting for cards to make using 3-D stickers!   Lynnette's card used the Mary Engelbreit stickers -- which I bought from Mike's in the dollar bin -- and a very simple design!  I love what she did with it. 





I used Nestibilites scalloped rectangle and square to create a frame for the sticker, layered it onto a white card base that had a strip of miscellaneous DP across the length and then embossed lines above and below the strip.  I stamped the sentiment over to the right just like Lynette's.  The stamp is by "Morning Star" stamps. 

I plan to make a whole stack of these as a set now that I have a great, easy, layout to use!

TFL, I'm so glad you stopped by!