Art Impressions - Spinner Card

This card was so much fun to make!  This fairy is just flying in the clouds.  I used one of the new Spinner Stamp and Die Sets from Art Impressions.  It came with easy to follow instructions.  I stamped the fairy, both sides and colored it with copic markers.  I then die cut them with the matching dies and when you match the front to the back, it is perfect alignment.   I made my background by using a stencil I had made from a cloud border die and using Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.  I cut a 3 1/2 inch circle from the center and saved that to glue down on the inside of the card.

For the inside, I used some star paper to continue the theme.  I highlighted the front clouds with some Diamond Stickles to give it some glam!  The wand, has Wink of Stellar for shine, but the photo does not reflect that.

The problem with making such a cute card, is giving it away!  But, I can always make more.

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Simon Says Stamp - World Card Making Day

This is a Thanksgiving Card I recently made and after I stopped laughing, I decided to enter this in the Simon Says Stamp Blog for a chance to win a prize.

The two chickens are a stamp set from Art Impressions called Feathered Friends.  I stamped them on water color paper and used Distress Inks to color them.  I love this stamp, not a lot of coloring needed.  I used the My Favorite Things Chicken Wire die and cut it from silver foil paper and then distressed it a bit and cut it away to expose the hens.  I stamped the sentiment in gold embossing powder using Riley's ABC's from Lawn Fawn.  One Simon Says Stamp feather die and it was done. The paper?  Who knows.  It is hard to keep track of where they come from.

As a child, mother would always suggest we should name our turkey.  I think for many years, the name chosen was Tom.  I think this will be a great way to send a holiday greeting that is guaranteed to get a laugh.

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Paper Smooches Anything Goes Challenge

For the September 20 - 26 Anything Goes Challenge with Paper Smooches,I thought it would be fun to share this card.  I love the Paper Smooches products, always top quality with very creative designs.

I decided to make a small gift for a friend of mine who is getting married.  That act usually requires many thank you and note cards.  For this card, I used some Distress Ink, this one was Mustard Seed, as a watercolor background.  I then die cut the letters from the Paper Smooches Sassy Letters alphabet and the ampersand was from Ampersands 2.  I die cut a leaf from the Foliage 1 dies in heavy vellum paper and tucked it under the ampersand and let it kind of float on the card.  I then rubbed the edges of the watercolor paper with some Versamark ink and applied some gold embossing powder.  I then mounted this to a white A2 note card.  

I made three of these cards.  The blue was Distress Ink Salty Ocean with silver accents and the other was Black Soot with a heavy vinyl shiny paper for the letters.  I love the way they turned out and was only possible with such a cute alphabet to work with.

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Challenge #168 - Art Impressions Cut Your Cards

Art Impressions Challenge #168 was all about some of their new products that have windows and cut outs.  They also have some new Windows to the World stamps.

I loved this stamp Day Spent that has a little dog running around with a red ball in his mouth.  I colored it with some water colors in an artsy manner.  I had a shaker window the same size so I made a shaker card.  I put a red brad and two little dog bone brads mixed in with the sequins in the shaker.  So cute.  Sorry this close up is a bit blurry.  A double meaning on the sentiment, you could send this to a friend about a friend!

Art Impressions has so many fun products and the quality of their stamps is amazing. Always a perfect impression every time.

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NBUS Challenge #5

After reading the Paper Smooches blog today, I discovered a new blog called NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff).  So many of the projects added were fun to read about.  I decided to enter the newest challenge with this card.

The butterfly die is from Memory Box and it is called Willoughby Butterfly Wings.  I bought this months ago and had not used it.  I have been playing around with foiling techniques and I thought this die would work perfectly.  I am using Thermo Web iron on adhesive transfer sheets and running them through my laminator.  The directions were on the back of the package of adhesive sheets and I must say it worked really well.  I used a rainbow foil sheet to give a gradient color across the butterfly.  The sentiment stamp is from an old Sizzix Phrases stamp collection, which I use all the time.  Ribbon and paper were on hand, no idea where they came from!  The pearls just finished it off.

I think we are all guilty of seeing things we just have to have, but do end up sitting on them, waiting for the right moment.  There is an old saying, "My husband lets me buy all the craft supplies I can hide".  I think this fits this situation.

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MIX IT UP CHALLENGE - Ellen Hutson and Paper Smooches

For the Mix It Up Challenge with Ellen Hutson, the goal was to make something using the Essentials by Ellen Line and Paper Smooches products.

For my card, I used the Paper Smooches Trees 2 die and the smaller flower die from the Mondo Magnolia set by Ellen Hutson.  I cut two of the flowers and colored them with watercolors and when placed on top of one another, it looked like a gorgeous tree.  I also used some watercolor on the tree trunk.   The sentiment is from the stamp set by Ellen Hutson, Mondo Magnolia.  I then used one of the Paper Smooches stitched dies to make the line across the card for some added interest.

Ellen Hutson and Paper Smooches are wonderful companies to deal with.  I have ordered from both of them and delivery is always very quick.  Their products are top notch!

I was having a beautiful day, making this card!

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My Favorite Things Summer School - Quiet Space

Today was the last lesson for the Summer School done at the My Favorite Things blog and it was all about Quiet Space.  To me, it means lots of white, but the design team proved it can be all just one color.  I love this die from MFT, Lily, and have made many cards with it.  Today, I took the Sun Ray die and embossed it on white card stock for the background.  I mounted this on foam and attached to the card.  This card pretty much captures all the lessons, rolled into one.  I have thirds, focal point, lines and quiet space.  At the last minute, I added the yellow sun.  My original plan was for it to be white, but it just did not do it for me!

In the first photo, it is hard to see my little dew drops.  Just a few tiny dots of glossy accents makes this flower seem alive.  

Since this was labeled Session One, I will look forward to another session of these lessons and assignments.  This was fun!

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My Favorite Things Summer School - Balance and Line

Day Four of the My Favorite Things blog Summer School was all about lines and how to balance a card with them and use them to draw attention to the focal point.  It is hard to see, but I stenciled rain drops in the background using clear embossing paste.  They come down on the top and sides of the umbrella, but not under the umbrella.  The umbrella is cut with a MFT die and I embossed the panels for some texture.  I think the horizontal stripes around the border also give some linear motion.  Great lesson, I will use this again and again!

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My Favorite Things Summer Scool - Movement and Flow

Another class from My Favorite Things blog Summer School.  This lesson was on Movement and Flow.  I made this card using the Flying Butterflies die from MFT.  I put various colors of papers behind the cut outs and the ribbon just matches perfectly.  I think this card properly demonstrates the movement around the card and then you end on the sentiment.

When I use this die, I am left with lots of tiny butterflies.  I save them and put them in a shaker card. Since they are cut from white card stock, I color them however I want.  So fun!

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My Favorite Things Summer School - Focal Point

For day two in the My Favorite Things blog Summer School, focal point was the lesson.  This is easy to do when you start with a big die cut.  I did a horizontal stripe for the background paper using a Kaleidacolor Creole Spice ink pad.  This makes it easy to get an ombre ink effect.  I used the same ink to dress up the paper and put that beautiful Scroll Bird die, cut from bronze foil.

As an adult, I am enjoying Summer School.

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My Favorite Things Summer School - Rule of Thirds

I think this is a fantastic idea from the My Favorite Things blog to have a summer school with a lesson each day.  When you submit your homework, you might even win a prize.

For day one, it was The Rule of Thirds which is a great tool that may help you decide the placement and design of your card.  My example is very straight forward and basic, but I feel the card is balanced.  I used the dies from Geek is Chic to emboss the paper as a focal background.  The saying is also from the matching stamp set Geek is Chic.  The googly eyes were a last minute idea, but they always make me laugh.  You cannot see, but in the corner of the glasses are two small red hearts. What is a love card without a heart?

I also took the suggestion and made a grid for the A2 size card from vellum paper.  This will be a great guide when working on the design.

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HAPPY 4TH ANNIVERSARY PAPER SMOOCHES

Is it a birthday or anniversary for Paper Smooches?  They are celebrating four years at Paper Smooches and please visit Kim's blog to see what is going on.  A great giveaway and some of her new plans for 2015.

Paper Smooches has wonderful stamps and dies made of top quality.  I always get a nice bold image using her stamps.  If you order from her, it arrives in just a day or so and her shipping charges are very reasonable.  Her designs are so fresh and entertaining.

This card was made for my martini friend.  I made my own glass but the words Happy Birthday are from the Paper Smooches Birthday Words die set.

Congrats to you Kim, I wish you many more successful years!

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IMPRESSION OBSESSION CHALLENGE - Sparkle & Shine

I made this card for the Impression Obsession Challenge Sparkle & Shine.  I used the Large Bird on Branch die, 161-N.  I cut it out of the glitzy paper which is great, since it has the shine of glitter without the mess and then used the card base behind the cut out.   I added the silver ribbon for just a little more shine.  In real life, this card is a sparkly wonder!

I love dies.  I think IO makes the best product.  Great style and they cut perfectly.  However, I am lacking some IO stamps, but I will work on that . . .

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