NBUS Challenge #7

Time for the NBUS (never before used stuff) Challenge #7.  Darnell is right, we all have things we have bought, had to have, but never used.

This card has two of those such items.  I bought a package of cork paper.  It came in several colors.  I thought it would be a great texture to add to a card.  Never used it for 2 years.  When making this card, I cut a wine bottle cork shape from the cork.  I used two layers to give it some height.  Now most corks have some writing or logos on them, so I did stamp some text on it.  It stamped beautifully!

The second first time object was the brads, acting as a wine stopper.  I collect frogs and when I saw them, I had to have them.  If I saw a frog wine stopper, I would buy it!

The sentiment I found online and printed it from my computer.  I have a friend who owns a wine tasting bar so I thought this would be a perfect card for her.

Thanks for visiting.

My Favorite Things Summer Camp - Background Bonanza

Last day and Background Bonanza was a big finale.  Just loved the sample card that was done.  I made the background by repeatedly stamping the coffee cup from the MFT Perk Up stamp set and also added the steam.  The MISTI made this job much easier.  Using kraft paper, it did require double stamping for that strong color.  The sentiment is from the same set and embossed it with gold embossing powder and I added a little spoon brad to finish it off.  If you get clever enough, this does replace patterned paper, but patterned paper is much easier!

The last badge completes my set.  I am wearing them proudly!


Thank you for visiting, see you next year!

My Favorite Things Summer Camp - Magnificent Masking

Camp has had many great lessons and ideas, but I looked forward to the lesson on Magnificent Masking.  This technique is used often and I learned some great tips. I used the MFT The Whole Herd stamp set for this card. The cow was easy to cut out of masking paper, not too many small areas. I colored them with copic markers.  It is fun to pull the mask away and you have a very 3D look. I made the background using an old stencil, which is also a form of masking.  The photo card was made by cutting a rectangle, then cutting a square out at the top.

Another badge goes in my pocket, one more day to go . . .

Thank you for visiting.

My Favorite Things Summer Camp - Inlaid Made Easy

Having lots of fun at the My Favorite Things Summer Camp. For Day Eight, Inlaid Made Easy was the lesson, using dies of course!  This is a technique I love.  I love to have several dies all crossing each other for the challenge of putting it all together.  However, this sympathy card ended up just being one inlaid piece.  I cut a square using the Die-Namics Stitched Square die and blended Distress Inks using Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade and Candied Apple.  I then cut out a die using the Tim Holtz Wildflower die set in black paper and also cut it from my blended square.  I die cut another square from black paper and embossed it with a large dot pattern.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts Remember Sympathy set.  Three enamel dots finished it off. Sadly, it is a card I must mail and I hope they enjoy it.

Badge number three.  Thanks for visiting.

My Favorite Things Summer Camp- Coloring on Kraft

For Day Seven of My Favorite Things Summer Camp, the challenge was to do Coloring on Kraft paper.  I have not had much luck with the kraft paper look.  I find I usually use it for a layering paper and emboss it.  Ink never seems to dry on it. I cut a circle using the Die-Namics Inside and Out Stitched Circle dies to cut the circle from the kraft paper and then a larger size to cut the opening in the pink paper.  I used MFT The Whole Herd stamp set, which I love, and stamped the pig and the sentiment.  I have no coloring pencils.  I spent all my money on copics, watercolor paints, Zig clean color markers and Marvy markers.  Never thought I would need the pencils.  I did use the Zig Clean Color markers to color the pig and create the grass. To blend it, a tiny damp brush. The kraft paper did hold up with that moisture.

So, pin another badge to my camp shirt!

Thanks for visiting.

My Favorite Things Summer Camp - Fantastic Foiling

This is the second week of My Favorite Things Summer Camp and today was about Fantastic Foiling.  I have lots of Deco Foil and did purchase a laminator a few months ago and have had lots of fun with this technique.  I used the Deco Foil Peel and Stick Toner Sheets which are so easy to work with.  I die cut the leaves from MFT  Autumn Wreath die set in four different colors.  I embossed the tree onto kraft paper using a Darice embossing folder.  The "happy" die cut is from Simon Says Stamp.  I mounted this onto some card stock, which looks like watercolor paper.

Just like in Stephanie's photo, it is hard to capture the amazing shine of the foil.  This close up gives you a better idea.  This was a fun badge to earn!


Thank you for visiting.

ELLEN HUTSON JULY MIX IT UP CHALLENGE

 AWESOME!  That is how I would describe this new die from Neat & Tangled.  I made this card for Ellen Hutson's July Mix It Up Challenge.  I was to combine Essentials by Ellen and Neat & Tangled supplies.  The awesome die is from Neat & Tangled.  It is a two set die with the word and a solid shadow to mount it on or in.  So many possibilities.  I cut the solid shadow piece from the rainbow colors and the word awesome, was cut from sparkle paper I made by using some washi tape.  The background was made with the Essentials by Ellen Bold Blooms stamp set.  I masked it and kept stamping until the background was full.  I was originally going to color one of the flowers, but I just loved the bold look of black and white. I mounted it on cardstock with the edges done in that same sparkle washi tape.

Sometimes, it is just not easy.  I played with several colors of the die, looking for just the right idea.  I now have a great inventory of this cut out!

Thank you for visiting.

My Favorite Things Summer Camp - Spectacular Shakers - Day Five

This is the last day of the five days of Summer Camp at My Favorite Things blog.   The Spectacular Shakers challenge had a new Idea that I have never tried.  The shaker goes all the way through the card.  I followed Stephanie's steps and it was easy to do.  I used the MFT Layered Umbrella die cut for the shaker area.  I partially embossed the top sheet with an ocean wave embossing folder, giving the look of rain, but not under the umbrella.  The sentinment is from Art Impressions.  The MFT Tall Grassy Edge die finished off the bottom.  I added the ladybug brad for that spot of color.  The camera is showing a gray paper, but it was blue.

This is the inside of the card where you can write a message.  I pieced the umbrella handle so it continued to look like an umbrella.

I have now completed all 5 challenges and attached my projects to this blog.  It has been fun and I have learned lots of new ways to do things.  I was also reminded, I do not like glitter!

Thank you for visiting.

My Favorite Things Summer Camp - Delightful Die Cutting - Day Four

Die Cutting, now I love that!  Day Four of the My Favorite Things Summer Camp was the Delightful Die Cutting Challenge.  Stephanie die a beautiful partial die cutting technique, but this die set has no stamps.  This is the MFT Die-namics Sunflower die set.  It does not come with leaves, so I made some stems and leaves from another die set.  Sunflowers amaze me, so big and colorful and this die set represents that.

Thank you for visiting.

My Favorite Things Summer Camp - Wonderful Watercolor - Day Three

Having a great time at camp.  Day three of MFT Wonderful Watercolor challenge was just fun.  I am loving learning how to work with watercolors and every project is different, never the same.  I stamped the pig from MFT The Whole Herd stamp set with Distress Ink Spun Sugar for a no line technique, then took my water color brush with some more ink and filled it in.  The grass was Twisted Citron and Mowed Lawn Distress inks.  I cut the paper using the MFT Pierced square dies.  What you do not realize, is this card is just 3 inches square.  I call them love notes and I will hide it somewhere for my husband to find.  Fun for both of us!

Thank you for visiting.

My Favorite Things Summer Camp - Sensational Sliders - Day Two

My Favorite Things Summer Camp is all about new ideas for me. The glitter for Day One was a challenge and Day Two was about Slider Cards. For the Sensational Sliders Challenge, I do not have that handy die set that makes all the perfect openings for the slider action.  I realized that the Blueprints 8 did have a narrow die that would work.  I used the MFT Grassy Hill border dies to create the two levels of grass.  Then the Rolling Hills border die gave me the nice fence to finish it off.  I stamped the horse from The Whole Herd stamp set three times, masking as necessary.  Then I did a mirror image of the horse for the one on the left.  I added a party hat and the stack of hay.  After I cut out the slider track, I realized I could just glue that to the card to cover the backing.  It moves very easily with the rest of the card mounted up on foam.

Here the horses are in the low position.  This was fun to make and certainly adds an element of action to the card.

Thank you for visiting.

My Favorite Things Summer Camp - Glitzy Glitter - Day One

I have to admit that I do not like glitter.  But for the first day of the My Favorite Things Summer Camp, the challenge was to make a glittered image.   Stephanie did say "you do not have to make a card" but to give it a try. Her tips and technique did make it look like fun so I gave it a try.  I used the MFT Sunflower die with the intention of completing a card.  But after rubbing it and burnishing it, I still felt the glitter would come off onto your finger.  I just did not want to continue to handle this beautiful sparkly image and continue to spread the glitter all over my craft room and somehow it always gets on the dog.   Her card was amazing with all the different colors of glitter.  I do love the effect, but these days, you can find glitter paper that does not shed.

I get a check for this first day of Summer Camp and promise to do better!

Thank you for visiting.

PAPER SMOOCHES MONTHLY CHALLENGE - JUNE 2016 2nd Entry

                                            
These are Love notes, let me explain.  I have been a big fan of these little notes.  I call them Love Notes.  I hide them so my husband can find them.  Jennifer McGuire calls them lunch box notes. I used to buy small gift note cards, but now that I am a card maker, I make my own.   I now make them for friends and find them so much fun to do. So as I was working on this last batch, I decided to add some layers and enter them in the Paper Smooches monthly challenge.

They are 3x3 inches.  For this card, I thought it would be fun to suggest love in the form of spooning.  I used the PS Flatware die set and cut the spoon in pink and blue.  I used the PS Fancy Frame Icons to create some layers of color and dimension.  For these small cards, stamping my sentiment is hard since the sentiment can sometimes occupy the entire card.  I used my Dymo Labelwriter to type out "let's spoon".  I added a googly eye and a smile.  I also make an envelope and use a one sided paper with a pattern to accentuate the colors.

For the second card, I used the PS Borders 1 die set and selected the scalloped border die and turned it upside down to make the waves. I layered three different colors of blue for the ocean look.  I used the PS My Guy stamp set and stamped the fishing pole in black ink at the top of the card and stamped the fish with silver embossing powder and the sentiment with white embossing powder.  I used some black wire to connect the pole to the fish.  The heart was a must, it is a love note!

These are fun to make and you can use lots of scraps.  However, the size can be a challenge some times, but the message is always a big one, LOVE!

Thank you for visiting.

PAPER SMOOCHES MONTHLY CHALLENGE - JUNE 2016

                                           

The challenge for Paper Smooches for June was layers, lots of layers.  I thought about this for several days and realized it could be just about anything, layered.

There are many layered features to this card.  I die cut the flowers from the Paper Smooches Dainty Flowers die set in heavy white card stock and then colored them with copic markers.  I think I have a better range of color with the markers than my stash of heavy card stock!  I layered them in a row, ready to attach to my card.  I die cut Happy Birthday from the Paper Smooches Birthday Words die set in black paper.  After I had removed the letters, I realized I liked the negative space better!  So I just had to attach the tiny spots to fill in the letters.  I must say, I cheated on the tiny tiny dot in the middle of the letter "B".  I just made a dot with my pen! I created the shaker card by making a frame and using two layers of foam tape.  I bought the set of Doodlebug Sequins Rainbow pack and had never used them!  They were perfect since I could select some of the six colors I had used.  I glued my Dainty Flowers ON TOP of the acetate window.  This allows for the sequins to dance beneath the flowers.

This card is bright and fun!  I know the perfect person who will receive this card.

Thanks for visiting.  

IMPRESSION OBSESSION FURRY FRIENDS CHALLENGE

                                             

Furry Friends Challenge

I made this card for the Impression Obsession Challenge, Furry Friends.  I used some Mowed Lawn Distress Ink for the background on Tim Holtz watercolor paper.  The die is Impression Obsession #DIE161-1, Large Bird on Branch. In my world, a bird is sort of a furry-feathery creature.  I cut two of them and added an extra branch on the bottom to fill in some of that white space.  I love the way they hang over the black mounting paper.  The stamp is Impression Obsession, C14071-CLG, Able To Fly.  I looked in their store and they no longer carry this stamp.  I love the message and use this quite frequently.  The font is like an old typewriter style, so unique.

Impression Obsession makes great products.  It is hard to browse the Impression Obsession store without finding something you have to have.

Thannk you for visiting.

MEMORY BOX CHALLENGE #13 - WATERCOLOR

The Challenge from Memory Box for the month of June is Watercolor.  It certainly is the popular medium now.  I had so many ideas for this card, but I decided to keep just the watercolor as the centerpiece.

I die cut the Memory Box die called Dizzy Butterflies.  Memory Box is known for their beautiful intricate dies and this one is no exception.  I cut it out of watercolor paper and painted it with Distress Ink using Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade and Twisted Citron.  I think they are my favorite colors.  I used the Memory Box Parker Lower Case alphabet to stamp "fly" and did it in a light blue embossing powder.  Seemed too bright, so I lightly sanded it which gave it some texture.  I added blue rhinestones in the middle of the flowers and it was finished!

Thank you for visiting.

ALTENEW ACADEMY - SCENE BUILDING - LESSON FOUR

In the Altenew Academy Scene Building classes, today's lesson was about making a frame for your image.  A window, what could be a better frame than that?  A friend just got two new puppies and the breeder gave him this photo.

I embossed the brick wall using the Darice Brick wall folder.  Since it is only 4 1/4 wide, I emboss it, then slide the folder to the other side, matching the pattern.  This now fills this 5 1/2 square card. The window is made using the Memory Box Grand Madison window die.  The grass is the Clearly Besotted Fresh grass die, with some grass in the middle, made with a Martha Stewart punch.

Making cards is just fun.  What is even more fun is making these custom cards to fit special situations.

Thank you for visiting.

ALTENEW ACADEMY - SCENE BUILDING - LESSON THREE

I am taking the Scene Building Classes at the Altenew Academy this week.  They are being taught by Nichol Magourik and so far, I have learned many new techniques.

For Lesson 3, she taught the principal that backgrounds can compliment the scene and help set the message.  A friend of mine had a horse that passed away.  As we know, pets become a member of the family.  I did not want to use the standard message sentiments, but thought the artwork could convey my message.

The background was made using silver embossing powder with a small star stamp on a dark blue cardstock.  I then cut two borders using my Poppystamps Puffy Cloud border die, staggering them.  I stamped the horse using my Deep Red Wild Horse stamp and used platinum embossing powder.  I cut some stars from silver foil paper using the Simon Says Stamp Holiday Shapes die, selecting various sizes.  I mounted this on a piece of silver foil.  I purchased several foil gift bags at the dollar store and cut them up into pieces to use for mounting.  An inexpensive way to add that beautiful foil look.  I then adhered that final panel to the card front.  Inside, just a message from me to her about her loss.  I think the card ended up being very tasteful and I hope she likes it!

The Scene Building Classes have been lots of fun.  Nichol has shared many tips and tricks while making her cards.  The class was priced right and I will definitely take another course from them in the future.  Sadly, none of my products were from Altenew, but when this class is over, my wish list will be much longer!

Thank you for visiting.

RIGHT AT HOME BLOG HOP

This is National Craft Month and is being celebrated with a blog hop by Right At Home blog and there are many wonderful sponsors with great prizes.  With that link to their blog, take a moment to check out the store.  They carry many fabulous brands, plus one of their own.

Lawn Fawn is one of my favorite brands.  The stamp sets are so creative and the sentiments that come with them are so clever and make it easy to apply to all kinds of occasions.  We will all be scrambling to find something green to wear on Thursday and that gave me the idea for this card.

My new fun technique is masking.  It makes stamping have great dimension and give sort of a 3D effect.  This new stamp set will work for just about any occasion, just color the clothes or add a new logo to the shirt. 

Thanks for visiting and have a Happy St Patrick's Day! 

NBUS CHALLENGE #6

Darnell is just a riot!  I love to read her blog.  NBUS is something we all suffer from, so I dug around and here is what I came up with.

I have to admit where I got this idea.  I have a pair of pajamas and they have bikes all over them with this sentiment.  I ride my bike almost everyday and I love it. Along with an old never used stamp set, I thought this would be my theme for the NBUS Challenge #6.

The NBUS on this card is the word "RIDE" using the stamp set Sketchbook Letters by Hero Arts.  I won the stamp set in a contest a year or two ago along with many other things that I also have not used. The letters are big and have these sketchy lines on them that most of the time look out of place.  So I just thought of another NBUS - the stamp word "beautiful" is from the stamp set Everyday Words by Impression Obsession. Never used it because it is BRAND NEW!  25 different words in a bold script and I am sure this will become a go to stamp set since it can makes dozens of expressions.  "Life is a" comes from a Simon Says Stamp set called Life is a Journey.  I think the three different fonts all work well together. I heat embossed the text with white embossing powder. The bicycle die is from Memory Box, Brand New Bicycle and hard to see, but it is hot pink glitter paper.  Plain black paper and it is done.

Thank you Darnell for the chance to enter your contest.  I have to say, crafting makes life a beautiful ride!

Thank you for visiting.

ONLINE CARD CLASSES - WATERCOLOR DAY 3

I have taken several of the Online Card Classes and have learned so much from them all. But I must say, this is the best class I have taken so far.  I think the easiest part is you probably have the supplies you need to practice techniques.  I have learned about the quality of paper and the big role it might play in the technique you are applying and of course it is all about the water!  I wanted to learn the basics and this has been fabulous. Sadly, this has been a very busy week for me and I am unable to spend time, adding to the gallery.

This is a Stampendous stamp called Sweet Sunflower.  I thought it would allow the watercolors to flow around.  I used Simon Says Khaki ink and stamped it off once to get a lighter outline.  This was fun and looking back, I was probably too cautious and stuck to just several colors.  My ink splatters spread a bit, but I love it!  A greeting, a few gems and done.

Thank you for visiting and a big thanks to Dawn, my new idol . . .