How R U

A quickie little card for today. I played with the Penguins from the Cowbow and Indians set, and that's where the "How" word came from too. I added the "R" and "U" from the Nightie Alphabet. I colored up my cute little Indian Penguins using Copics. I added some soft airbrushing around the edges and some doodles to the edges of my image and sentiment panels.

The Background DP is from Basic Grey's Eerie collection, but I thought it went together just fine for these little Indians. This is a pretty simple layout, using my Spellbinder's Labels to dress it up. Finished card is an A2.

• Stamps: All stamps by TCP: Cowbows and Indians, Nightie Alphabet
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP by Basic Grey-Eerie Collection, Grey, Neenah Peppercron, Black
• Other: Copics/ABS, Ribbon by Basic Grey, Eyelets, Spellbinder's Labels Eight, Spellbinder's Labels Two, Micron Pen

A merry little Christmas card

A simple little Christmas card.... Starting with an embossed background using the Cuttlebug Snowflakes folder. I added a simple button border -- yes using the dreaded needle and thread, each little button is sewn to the paper. A bit of ribbon to border the buttons.

The center stamped image is two stampings - the sentiment in red. Then I stamped the hat in Memento Tuxedo Black. I used a Copic to color in the Hat and also the green background of the circle, popped it up, and dressed up the scallops with some Bling. Finished card size is an A2.

• Stamps: All stamps by JustRite: Merry Little Christmas Borders & Centers Round 1-5/8”
• Ink: Red, Memento Tuxedo Black, Riding Hood Red
• Paper: DP by Basic Grey - Eskimo Kisses Collection, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Green, Misc Red DP
• Other: Crystals, Spellbinder's Standard and Petite Scallops, Misc. Ribbon, Copics, Buttons, White Gel Pen, Red Spica Pen

I dare you to Doodle!

This card is full of doodles... from the polka dot frame around the image to the pattern on the chair.... Check out my EASY tips on doodling over at the Flourishes Newsletter. I have a featured tutorial today with step by step instructions that breaks everything down and shows how simple doodles can change your images and cards.

Check it out using this link ------> I dare you to Doodle!

OCC Challenge - Autumn Harvest

This week the OCC has an Inspiration Challenge to get your creativity jump started. Use this picture to pick a theme or idea to create your card or project.

For a close up view on the OCC's great projects for this week please visit the OCC Ladies on their blogs -Silke Ledlow, Jennifer Meyer, Loretta Lock , Joycelyn Turner, Cindy Burgess, Dana Grothaus, Linda Coughlin, Lori Rider, Melissa Young, and Wendy Janson

---------------------------
I went with the theme of the Inspiration Picture, choosing this wheat harvest image from Northwoods to color with Copics. The background words are from Flourishes and the verse is about Thanks and being Grateful, so I thought it fit the theme. I just added some blocks of the Leaves DP in two corners to help balance out the colors.

I used the inside of my Nestie to draw an inner circle frame before removing the oval from the die. I added some light sponging around the ovals and words panels, using Versafine Sepia Brown. I added just a few simple embellishments, buttons with gold cord, a few little gold metal dots and of course a silk bow tied with the Bow Easy. Finished Card size is an A2.

• Stamps: Image by Northwoods: Wheat Sheaf #WHG1028, Words from Flourishes Set: #SS03 Thank You
• Ink: Versafine Sepia Brown, Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper" Leaves DP by Frances Meyer, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Mustard
• Other: Misc. Buttons, Spellbinder's Classic Ovals, Silk Ribbon, Bow Easy Tool, Gold Cording, Copics

Stamp Simply #112 - Brown Baggin' It!

Stamp Simply #112 - November 6th- ssnotime112 - Today's challenge is all about being Thrifty. Incorporate the simple and natural look of brown postal wrap and/or the inside of brown paper grocery sacks in to your card or project. How ever you want to create it. Upload your project to Spiltcoast and use the keyword "ssnotime112". Check out all the Challenge Details and see Sharon's creation on her blog No Time to Stamp.

---------------------------

Please check out the great samples from the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these totally creative designers: Janine, AJ, Deb and Barbara, also Barb Schram (Barb is kindly filling in for a bit as Jennifer Buck takes some time off.) We welcome Bethany Paull as our special guest stamper for November! Julie and Tammy are taking the night off, but they will be back next week!

----------------------------

I kept the stamping simple. I used a brown grocery bag to paper piece Prancer's head and body. I also paper pieced his scarf. After using a plain bag to dress him, I felt he deserved to get some extra sparkle. And I added the crystals.... one after another and another. I colored the star and the feet using a Copic Marker.

I also incorporated three strips of brown bag in my card base layers, then I had to add some white stitch marks.... it looked so "brown bag like" with out anything!!! A few little gold sticky dots along the side and a little triple loop silk bow, created with the Bow Easy to finish it up. Final Card size is an A2.

------------------------------

• Stamps: Prancer #F-819 by Outlines Rubber Stamps
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Green DP by K & Co., Brown Grocery Bag, Red DP from Basic Grey's Eskimo Kisses Collection, Gold, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Silk Ribbon, Bow Easy Tool, Gold Nailheads, Crystals, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder, Copic Markers, Brown Micron Pen, White Gel Pen, Spellbinder's Labels Eight
  

Create-a-Wreath!

The DT for Impression Obsession has two challenges a month and we create something with the chosen theme and then share it on our blogs. Today's theme is Wreaths.
---------------------
Please check out these links to every one's blog to see what the Impression Obsession DT ladies created for today... Daniela Dobson - Deborah March - Laura Fulcher - Dina Kowal - Shirley Ross - Julie Koerber - Jeanne Streiff and Kathy Menzies.
---------------------
You are all invited to enter your creations for the Challenge and any future challenges we have too. A gift certificate is up for grabs! Please check out the details of how to play along and win on the Impression-Obsession Blog .

-----------------------

So here is my Wreath card. Using No Copics!!! What!!!! That's right - -just simple stamping on this one! I created the wreath by stamping the Cover-a-Card Background Stamp "Greenery", inking up the stamp with two different greens to add a little shading. Next, to cut out the shape of the wreath I used two Scalloped Nesties, holding them in place with a small piece of tape so they did not shift.

After creating the base of my wreath I sponged a little of the darker green ink around the outside and inner edges to take away the bright white. After that,it was all about the decorations.... winding a gold string around the wreath, adding some gold half pearls and the red glittery embellishments are called "Bella Dots" from Stamping Bella.

The sentiment is flat against the card base. The wreath is popped about 1/4" high, using a product called 3-D Perga Glue. (A silicone type product, but for paper crafting, it allows you to "suspend" floating things like butterflies or flowers, or in this case raise them up. The red corners of the card are two inch squares that I cut in half, using a triangle shape to piece in each corner. Of course I could not resist some white stitch doodles around the edges. Final card size is 5 1/2" Square.

• Stamps: All stamps by Impression Obsession, Cover-a-Card "Greenery" #CC018, Clear Set Christmas Sentiments #CL44
• Ink: For the Wreath: Kiwi Kiss and Old Olive, Sentiment: Versamark and Gold Detail EP
• Paper: DP from Basic Grey's Indian Summer Collection, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Gold
• Other: Bella Dots "Poppy", Gold Cording, Gold Pearls, White Gel Pen, Spellbinder's Petite Scallops and Standard Circle Nesties, Misc Ribbon, Bow Easy Tool

Christmas Mojo

I headed over to the Mojo Monday Blog today and played with today's sketch #111 to make this card.

I embossed the image with Gold Detail EP and Versamark, then I used Copics to color in the letters the open flowers/leaves. I used Copic W5 to airbrush around the edges of the image. On the red panel in the background I used the Holly Leaves Cuttlebug Folder to add a little texture, even though it mostly covered up. To create the sparkly frame: I used skinny Red Line Tape and lined it along the edges of my Square panel. Then I dumped some red micro beads all over the sticky portions and pushed them in to the tape so they would really adhere well. I still had some tiny empty spots in between the mirco beads that showed the white paper, so what could I use to fill in teensy little bare spots? I pulled out the Ultra Fine Gold Glitter! I did the same thing that I did with the micro beads, dumped it on the edges, and mushed it in to the sticky tape so it got in to all the cracks and tiny bare spots. It filled them all in perfectly. I think I went a little dark with my airbrushing, so to brighten the edges up again, I added some white 1/16" Rainbow Tape to create the inside border around the beaded frame, adding a little gold accent in each corner.

---------------------------

---------------------------

I brought out the bling next, using different sizes of red Crystals to accent the middle of each flower. I had some Poinsettia Flowers from Prima, I airbrushed two flowers using Copic Garnet, and layered the two red flowers over one white flower. The Prima Poinsettias also had glitter incorporated with the flower material. So this is very sparkly in person!! Combined with the gold DP in the background and the Gold Embossing -- this is a "loud" card. Final card size is an A2.

• Stamps: Merry Christmas Cluster #LM808648 by Inkadinkado
• Ink: Versamark and Gold Detail EP
• Paper: Gold Holly Leaves by K & Co., Red Card Stock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Copics, Red Micro Beads, Ultra Fine Art Glitter #65 Old Gold, Red Line Tape, Poinsettia Flowers by Prima, Gold Accents, White 1/16" Rainbow Tape, Cuttlebug Holly Leaves Embossing Folder

I'm in the Limelight over at Flourishes!!

I'm in the Limelight this month.... I was asked to be the Limelight Designer for November and contribute to the Flourishes Newsletter every Sunday this month. Wooohooo -- I said YES! Thrilled to be working with their awesome stamps and I was totally thrilled to be invited to participate with all the talented folks at Flourishes.

---------------------------------

For my first feature post - I created some Holiday Magnets....
I used the beautiful Holiday Ornament Set, All that Glitters. I know I seem get more and more Holiday photo cards each year. I stick my faves up on the Fridge, so I thought these magnets might be fun to use with those photo cards. Pack 'em up with your Christmas decorations and then you will have them again for next season.

-------------------------

I created a full tutorial for the Flourishes Newsletter,

showing how I created these fun magnets,

with step-by-step pictures and instructions.

Please go check it out ------> Holiday Magnets Tutorial

OCC Challenge - Vintage....

This week our hostess, Lori Rider, is challenging us to create something with a Vintage Flair. Use something vintage, or vintage-inspired, on your card or project. Raid your drawers for old buttons and trims, an old tag or photo, or anything else you find.

-------------------------------
For a close up view on the OCC's great projects for this week please visit the OCC Ladies on their blogs -Silke Ledlow, Jennifer Meyer, Loretta Lock , Joycelyn Turner, Cindy Burgess, Dana Grothaus, Linda Coughlin, Lori Rider, Melissa Young, and Wendy Janson
-------------------------------

-------------------------------

This is one of my favorite stamps, the edges of the wood are black and ink stained. The rubber will never be red again.... it is one of my "go to" stamps.... meaning, it always works for me! My friend Miriam introduced me to this image and all the possibilities it has -- you can color the dress, paper piece, embellish.... so many choices.

I kept it kind of simple, paper piecing the dress and embellishing with a silk ribbon bow (white silk ribbon, colored red with a Copic Marker) and a gold metal piece. All of the DP is from Graphic 45 and I didn't want to clutter it up too much, allowing the background piece of paper to be seen.

-------------------------------

-------------------------------

I used Spellbinder's Labels Nine, as my base to stamp the dress, then gluing my cut out polka dot dress over the original stamping. I sponged Black ink and Brown ink around the edges. Then I also airbrushed a little yellow around the edges as well to help kinda make it feel a little more aged or "vintagey". I highlighted some of the creases with a red Copic on the dress too, as well as adding a tiny hint of sparkle using a red Spica pen on the polka dots. I trimmed one additional layer from a Hounds tooth Patterned paper to finish the stamped center piece. Final size is 6" Square.

• Stamps: My Mother's Dress (Item #: LM808353) by Inkadinkado
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Versafine Sepia Brown
• Paper: Red, Black, Neenah Peppercorn, All DP by Graphic 45
• Other: Gold Hardware Bits, Cuttlebug Folder, Copic ABS, Spellbinder's Labels Nine, Red Fine Tip Pen

Stamp Simply #111 - Accordion Fold

Stamp Simply #111 - October 30- ssnotime111 - Today's challenge is all about Accordion Folding. How ever you want to create it - But you have to incorporate some kind of accordion type fold in to your project. Upload your project to Spiltcoast and use the keyword "ssnotime111". Check out all the Challenge Details and see Sharon's creation on her blog No Time to Stamp.
---------------------------
Please check out the great samples from the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these totally creative designers: Janine, Julie, AJ, Tammy, Deb and Barbara, also Barb Schram (Barb is kindly filling in for a bit as Jennifer Buck takes some time off.) and we have the talented Amy Rohl as our special guest stamper for October!

---------------------------

So this is my accordion fold card for the challenge. I made a simple paper band to secure it and hold it flat for mailing (in the top picture). The band can be easily slid off to display the open card (bottom picture). This card features way more cutting than I like to do! But it was a fun card and a great challenge to get me to make something different for a change!

-----------------------

The measurements to create the folding card base are as follows:

Start with a piece of card stock 10.5"x 5".

Score at these intervals, to create the folds: 1.25", 2.5", 4.25", 6" and 8.25".

-----------------------

My folded card base is white card stock, I then trimmed the DP to fit in each panel. All stamps are from The Cat's Pajamas. I stamped the images and added some color, then I trimmed everything out using my craft knife. I created the moon with a circle punch, using Copics to add color. The BOO is made with the new Alphabet from TCP called "Babydoll". I stamped each letter in black, I added some highlights with a Copic Marker and some little dots with a white gel pen. I then punched each letter out, sponged some black around the edges and also added some black stitch marks. I embellished with a ribbon running through each letter tag at the bottom.

• Stamps: All stamps by The Cat's Pajamas: Mummy Sprinkle # D-6330, Babydoll Alphabet, Fright Night Clear Set #S-8550
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Versafine Sepia Brown
• Paper: DP by Best Creation Inc #GP319, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Black Card Stock
• Other: Label Punch, Circle Punch, Misc. Ribbon, Copics, Black Micron Pen, White Gel Pen