Follow Your Bliss…

Well, I was in the mood to do a little doodling, so I grabbed a piece of watercolor paper and drew this funky flower trio. I then traced them with my Sakura Pigma Micron black pen, and erased the pencil lines.

I watercolored them, clipped two corners with the small corner rounder, sponged the edges with cool caribbean ink, and matted with a black panel. I thought the colors coordinated well with this SU! striped paper, so I layered a piece of it on to a tempting turquoise card base, and machine stitched. Next, I adhered the pink SU! ribbon at the seam with some fabri-tac glue. I’m not real pleased that you can see the striped paper under it, but oh well! LOL!

I wanted a small little greeting to hang from the focal image, so I stamped the sentiment on shimmery white, and punched it with the 1/2″ circle punch. I lightly sponged the edges with cool caribbean ink, and then attached it with a silver cord, and jump ring. I attached the focal image on dimensionals, and popped a dimensional behind the sentiment, too.

It needed just a little something more, so I added the trio of white dots on the rounded corners, added yellow and turquoise Stickles to the flowers, and added the 3 black brads at the bottom for a little more “pop”.

Do you like my little weird flowers? LOL!

Stamps: all year cheer 3

Paper: petals & paisleys, tempting turquoise, black, watercolor, shimmery white

Ink: pretty in pink, apricot appeal, certainly celery, cool caribbean, tempting turquoise, sahara sand

Accessories: SU pink ribbon, silver cord, circle punch, sm. corner rounder, sponge daubers, aquapainter, stickles, silver jump ring, pigma micron pen, dimensionals, white gel pen, paper piercer, black brads, sewing machine, white thread.

Happy Sunday!

It’s a gorgeous day today, so I want to get this posted, and go enjoy the weather! I had a little fun last night doing some simple-style stamping with my Paper Trey sets. I made a little 3×3 note:

I had the idea to make a purse out of the watering can from the Green Thumb set, then make the beaded handle with the Faux Ribbons set.

First, I needed to create a reverse mask, so I stamped the watering can on a post-it note, and cut out the striped portion using an x-acto knife. Then, I grabbed a piece of shimmery white cardstock, adhered the reverse mask, and stamped the watering can in pink grapefruit VersaMagic ink. To create the handle, I used Nichole’s technique of bending the small dots around the large oval punch. I simply punched a large oval out of a post-it note, and adhered it to the top side of an acrylic block. Then, I flipped over the block, and adhered the stamp, using the oval shape as a guide. Next, I masked the “purse” with the watering can, and stamped the handle with VersaMark, then embossed it with detail silver embossing powder. I removed the mask to reveal my cute little purse!

• TIP: Once you have made your mask, or reverse mask, keep it, by adhering it inside your stamp case. That way, you will always have it when you need to mask again!

The rest is pretty simple. I colored the stripes with a silver gel pen to match the handle, trimmed the image and punched it with the tag punch, then layered it with another tag of brushed silver cardstock. I added the “sweet” Basic Grey rub-on, clipped the top corners of the cameo coral card base with the tag corner punch, pierced the top and bottom, tied the ribbon, and added the image on dimensionals.

So what do you think of my little purse? I have to say, it makes me smile Have a great day!

Stamps: green thumb, faux fibbons

Ink: versamark, pink grapefruit versamagic

Paper: shimmery white, brushed silver, cameo coral

Accessories: small and lg tag punch, lg oval punch, tag corner punch, post it notes, x-acto knife, paper piercing template, paper piercer, detail silver EP, polka dot ribbon (michaels), silver gel pen, basic grey rub-on, dimensionals.

I have been tagged a couple times by Angel, & Sharon so I guess I need to get busy telling you 7 things about me, huh? LOL! I am certain everyone I know has been tagged by now, so I am going to follow a couple other blogger’s lead, and say if you haven’t been tagged yet–consider this your tag!

1. I am very passionate about my dogs. I can’t imagine life without them. They teach me many things about love and life!
2. I live in a log house. It was my dream since high school to have a log house! The builders began the log construction the day after 9/11.
3. I can talk like The Chipmunks! LOL! Yes, just like Alvin, Simon, & Theodore.
4. I am addicted to SUSHI !!! So much so, that my favorite sushi restaurant calls me when they have my favorite fish in, LOL! Some of my faves are Toro (fatty tuna), salmon, yellowtail, & scallop.
5. Keeping on the food theme, I also LOVE Mexican food. The hotter, the better! Yummmmmyyyyyy
6. I am a reality show junkie. I watch Survivor, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Apprentice, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars….ummm there must be more than that but those are my faves
7. My stamping area is total chaos! LOL! It’s true. I have about a 7″ square of space on my desk that I create in! Most of this is because I need more storage. I am in the process of changing this, so I will be sure to share pics with you once it is completed

So there you have it…7 things about me! Hope you all enjoy your weekend!! We are going to have some amazing weather here!!

TGIF!!

Well we are at it again! Julia, Lindsey, and I decided on another challenge, this time using the new Samantha Crate Paper (drool) and Looks Like Spring stamp set from SU! Be sure to check out their cards, too, by clicking on their names!!

I decided on a quilted theme for mine, using several of the patterns. This card measures 5 1/4″ square.

I cut a polka dot panel 5″ square, then cut some random triangles using pinking scissors. I lightly adhered them to the polka dot panel, then machine stitched them using white thread. Now I needed to do something with the stamps. I thought it might be cute to make a stitched flower garden , so I stamped the large flower in Brilliance pearlescent poppy ink, and cut it out. Next, I stamped the trio of flowers twice, in craft almost amethyst ink. Heat set to dry, then punched them out. All images were stamped on naturals white cardstock. I lightly sponged the edges of the amethyst flowers with amethyst dye ink, just to give a little more dimension.

I decided on the placement of the flowers, then pierced the centers with the paper piercing tool, and inserted the pewter brads. Next, I took the paper piercing template, then pierced the stems, and connected the dots with a green galore marker.

Now it was time for the sentiment. I pulled out my favorite sentiments from Paper Trey, and decided on this one from the Faux Ribbons set. I stamped it on the polka dot panel, using palette noir ink. It really looked “lost”, so I decided to punch it out, using the small oval punch. I layered the cardfront on a card base of almost amethyst, then stamped the sentiment again on the amethyst base card that was showing through the punched oval. I created a frame for it by punching the small oval on the red paper, then lining it up in the large oval and punching again.

To finish it off, I added a bit of ribbon tied through the slot punch in the upper left corner, and added Stickles to the pewter brad heads.

I hope you enjoy our challenge this week!! Be sure to let us know what you think! Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!! Hugs

Stamps: looks like spring, faux ribbon (paper trey)

Ink: brilliance pearlescent poppy, craft almost amethyst, classic almost amethyst, pallette noir

Paper: crate paper samantha, almost amethyst, naturals white

Accessories: paper piercer, paper piercing template, spring flowers punch, sm & lg oval punch, slot punch, sewing machine, white thread, pinking scissors, may arts ribbon, papersnips, pewter brads.

Hello! I made this card for this week’s WT challenge on SCS. The challenge is to use Orchid Opulence. I really LOVE this color, so this was an “easy” challenge for me. The inspiration for this card came from this “Plum” patterned paper by Deja Views.

This layout comes from The Joy of Cardmaking Vol. 1. I stamped the orchid card base with paisley in orchid ink. Then, I cut a strip of rose red, stamped it with the floral background, and adhered that to the left side at the fold. Next, I ran a bead of fabri-tac glue at the seam, and adhered the chocolate ribbon vertically. I repeated this horizontally, then trimmed the excess of the ends.

I stamped the flower on watercolor paper using palette noir ink, then watercolored it with orchid and rose red reinkers. I allowed it to dry, then cut it out, and colored around the white raw edges with the orchid marker. I placed it at the intersection of the ribbons, but it looked a little “blah”, so I stamped the flourish 3 times with chocolate chip ink. Then, I attached the flower using a pop-up glue dot.

I chose Happy Birthday for the sentiment, and stamped it in the lower right corner using the stampamajig. Then as my “usual” final touch, I added Stickles to the flower and set aside to dry.

Have a great day!

Stamps: delight in life, paisley, floral, warmest regards

Ink: rose red, orchid opulence, choc chip, palette noir

Accessories: ribbon (SU), pop-up glue dot, aquapainter, stickles, papersnips, fabri-tac

Well good morning!! I hope all is well in your world today

I received my new pad of 6×6 Prints designer paper from SU! last night, and just had to use some! I love this little daisy print, and thought it coordinated perfectly with the PaperTrey Butterfly Kisses set!

I decided on a monochromatic theme of celery, black and white. I pulled out another sheet of that beautiful Bazzil Bling cardstock in celery, and used the small corner rounder punch across the bottom to make the scalloped edge. I stamped the sentiment on the narrow strip of patterned paper, and adhered slightly above the scalloped edge. Next, I stamped the butterfly on this shimmery/wavy pearl cardstock. I got the paper at my LSS, and I do not know who makes it (sorry!!) I pierced a flight trail, then added a silver eyelet and knotted a piece of black gingham through it. I was going to mat it with the black panel in the usual fashion. Then, I thought it might look cool to adhere the black panel to the cardfront, and the butterfly on dimensionals at an angle~ making it look as though the butterfly panel is “in flight”.

I sat and looked at it for a bit, because it needed “something”. I decided to add 2 diamond shaped vintage brads to the left side of the narrow strip. Then, for a final bit of shimmer, I added dots of liquid pearls to the butterfly.

I am going to be doing some Trudee Treats, but have been waiting to receive something. I hope it arrives soon, so I can share it with you!

Make today a great day!!

Stamps: butterfly kisses (paper trey)

Ink: memories black, versamagic tea leaves

Paper: celery bazzill bling, basic black, shimmery pearl wave, prints designer paper (SU)

Accessories: diamond vintage brads (SU), silver eyelet, black gingham, tool kit, dimensionals, liquid pearls, small corner rounder punch

Well hello there! I hope you all had a great weekend.

I was making some cards for calls this weekend, and while I was putting away some stuff, I found this watercolored image on my table. It was from a stampin’ meeting about a month ago, when I taught watercoloring. The flowers were stamped on watercolor paper using black Stazon. I watercolored the image using reinkers: apricot appeal, pumpkin pie, certainly celery, and bashful blue. I also used a tiny bit of sahara sand for the shadowing. I sponged the edges with some more bashful blue, then after it was all dry, I matted it with chocolate chip.

Since the image was already colored, I dug through my stash to find paper that would coordinate. I found this Four Seasons designer paper from SU, and thought it would work nicely. I was drawing a blank for a layout, so I looked through my Joy of Cardmaking book and found this sketch. Perfect! This card measures 3 3/4 x6 and fits in the 5-in-1 envelope.

I cut the wavy butterfly layer freehand, and layered it on the striped paper. Next, I pierced 3 holes and added the brads.

*TIP* to get perfectly spaced holes for your brads, use the paper piercing template.

I tied the grosgrain ribbon across the lower half of the paper, and adhered it to the pumpkin pie card base. Then, I stamped the Paper Trey sentiment using my new Palette Noir ink (FABULOUS!!) Finally, I added the focal image to the left side on dimensionals, and finished it off with some Stickles.

This card does not have a destination yet, so I will put it in my stash for someone special

Stamps: faux ribbon (paper trey), natural beauty (SU!)

Ink: palette noir, jet black stazon, celery, apricot, pumpkin, bashful, sahara sand

Paper: watercolor, choc chip, pumpkin, four seasons

Accessories: dimensionals, pumpkin brads (making memories), stickles, aquapainter, sponge dauber, grosgrain ribbon, papersnips, paper piercing template, paper piercer.

Hello, and Happy Weekend! I just returned from an overnight stay with some friends at their cabin. I brought my dogs, so we had 6 dogs running around and having a blast. It was great food, great company, and great weather. After a stressful couple of weeks, I feel rejuvenated

I came home to an email from a friend, announcing that another friend’s daughter (who will be 16 in May) had her thyroid and lymph nodes removed due to a malignancy. I wanted to make her a cheery card to encourage her as she goes through her treatments.

I pulled out my new Brunch Crate Paper (from Jacksonbelle), and this flower Cuttlebug embossing folder. I never thought I “needed” this folder, until I saw Diane (cookiestamper on SCS) use the paper piecing method with it . Brilliant! I ran this folder through the cuttlebug several times. Once for the entire image on the striped paper, once for the red flower, once for the polkadot center, and once for the green stem and leaves. Using a sanding block, I sanded the outer border, the flower and center. Then, I cut them out, including the stem and leaves. I glued down the green stem and leaves, and the polka dot center to the red flower. Next, I took the fine point of a chocolate chip marker, and made stitching marks all around the flower, stem, leaves, and outer border.

Using the PaperTrey Ink Faux Ribbons set, I stamped the sentiment on the green paper using Memories black ink, and punched it out using the small oval punch. Then, I adhered it to a red large oval. I tied this adorable light blue stitched grosgrain ribbon (from Jacksonbelle) across the bottom of the card, and adhered the panel to a barely banana card base.

I attached the oval sentiment and the flower to the card using dimensionals. I thought it need just a little extra “something”, so I added a ladybug rub-on and covered it in crystal effects. Stickles around the flower finish it off.

I hope it cheers this sweet young lady as she goes through this difficult time!

Have a great weekend! Hugs!

My friend Julia, who hosts the WT challenge on SCS, decided that this week we would use metal! I remembered these copper metal tags that I bought from SU! years ago as a “must have” item, then ended up using like *three* of them, LOL!! I thought they would be cool for the challenge!

I wanted to use some of my new Bazzill Bling cardstock for this card. I got it at my LSS, and boy do I ever love it. It has the signature Bazzill texture, plus a beautiful shimmer built right in! And we all know how I feel about things that shimmer….. This color is a pretty close match to garden green.

I reached for one of my very favorite sets, Balmy Breezes. I stamped the tree on watercolor paper using memories black ink. Then, I watercolored it using a combination of reinkers and markers (see colors below). I heat set it to dry, then punched 3 holes on the left side so that I could add these copper grommet things with eyelets. I held the grommets in place, inserted the green eyelets, then set them with the cropodile. I like to use hemp with this stamp set, so I looped some through the eyelets, pulled the ends through, and tied a knot. Then trimmed the ends for a cool little accent. I tore the right side off for some texture, and mounted it on dimensionals to a piece of chocolate chip cardstock that I had pierced down the left side. Then, I tore the chocolate chip as well.

Hmmmm, now how was I going to embellish this some more? I dug through my stash of ribbon and found this cool gauze/mesh May Arts ribbon that I got from StarLitStudio months ago. (another “must have” item )That seemed to work great with this image, so I trimmed a length of it, and machine stitched it to the card using a caramel colored thread. I mounted the focal image to the cardfront at an angle, added Stickles to the water, and decided on my sentiment.

I have used Circle of Friendship with this set before, so I stamped the sentiment on cool caribbean cardstock, punched it using the 1″ punch, then mounted it on a 1 1/4″ punched circle of garden green. I attached that to the cooper metal tag using redliner tape, and set a chocolate chip eyelet at the top. I used the same hemp treatment as the grommets, and attached to the card using a pop-up glue dot.

I kinda wanted this card to be all about the metal, so I hope I succeeded?

Thanks for coming to visit! I hope you have a great day today!! NEW Grey’s Anatomy is on tonight!! WOO HOO!! *happy dance*

Well AmyR (you cute little stinker, LOL!) has blog tagged me, and here’s the deal. I am supposed to list 5 of my favorite blogs. Well if you have looked at my blogroll, you’ve seen that I like WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY MORE than 5!!

So here we go, in no particular order:

Lindsey

Julia

Debbie

Sharon

Valerie

Leslie