Birdie says.... Blog Candy Winner

Sorry for the delay in posting the winner. I was going to have my husband draw the name but he is gone to play softball and probably out with his buddies afterward.... so I put the names in a bag and picked myself.... my bad cat supervised me and can validate everything was legit. Just as well as it would have prompted another discussion of "what candy" with my husband.

The winner is....

Sue C.

who left the comment...
Adorable! This card would be perfect for my cousin - she has FIVE cats! Even without your "twenty usual details", this card is wonderful! Just enough of this and that...

Sue C - please email me with your address and I will have Wendy at Repeat Impressions send your new stamps!

A big thank you to all of you who leave comments as I love reading them and it really helps motivate me to post regularly!

Yummy Yummy

I'm in Atlanta, it's hot and humid.... I'm working on this card.... and thinking about what we are doing for dinner... I believe I know what I'll be drinking....

So this card started with the background paper as the inspiration and then grew from there. The margarita was stamped on white and I colored with Copics, the stem was paper pieced from the pattern paper. I stamped it on Neenah Classic Solar White with the new Memento Ink that everyone is raving about. They claim it does not bleed at all with the Copics ..... It's true! It did not bleed and I really tried to make it, usually I avoid my stamped lines-- and I just colored right over them with my blender and markers. I'm impressed. The floral embossing is one of the new CB folders. I colored in the depressed part of the flowers with Spica pens. I used a Chestnut Cat's Eye to chalk it up a bit. I used my nesties to create the scallop edge along the bottom of " [got margaritas?]". Then I used my Japanese Screw Punch to create the holes there along the border and around the brown circle under the margarita. Prima, a little bling and of course a little crystal lacquer over the margarita glass. Finished card is an A2.

• Stamps: Margarita by DRS, [got margaritas] by A Muse
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
• Copics: G000, G82, Y02, YG21, FYG2, YR31
• Paper: Pattern Paper by My Mind's Eye, Misc Brown and Yellow, Neenah Classic Solar White
• Other: Cuttlebug Folder, Spica Yellow and Green Pens, Primas, Bling, Nesties, Crystal Lacquer
  

Feeling Floral

No I'm not colorblind. I know these colors may seem a bit "off" for flowers... but it's my card! In my house leaves do look like this on my plants... never mind that they are usually dying.

Check out the New Cuttlebug Background! See the little speckles on the black vase... that is Black Spica Glitter Pen and it's better looking IRL. (I know I always say that!) Anyway I used my Copics to color, and just one lone oval nestie... with a red Copic border drawn on it. So very simple. OK... why a black vase... ummm, because black covers up mistakes! Then I decided I liked it black, because it was different! I never seem to have general cards on hand when I need something quick to send... this stamp will be good for doing similar cards that I can have ready to go and use any sentiment inside the card that I need.

• Stamps: Tulips in Vase #1317 by Repeat Impressions
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
• Copics: 0, Y28, E27, G000, BG93, R39, R37, R89, Y23, R000, N0
• Paper: Neenah Classic Solar White, Misc Red and Yellow card stock, Black
• Other: Black Spica Glitter Pen, Nesties, Ticket Punch, Cuttlebug Folder, Perfect Layers

Queen Greenie

OK, maybe there aren't too many friends you could give this card to. But I have one and she's getting it tomorrow.... She collects "Queen" items... but no frogs that I'm aware of.... so I felt the need to add this to her collection.... ever the loving friend, I am. Some may know who is getting this card... are you laughing? I bet you are! Anyway I had fun making it with her in mind the whole time.

This little frog queen is from The Cat's Pajamas... I just got my order and no it was not all CATS... I even got some dogs, but yes of course...mostly cats! So TCP cards coming down the pike soon.

On this little card there are just a few little details I'll share. The Pink Dot paper.... well I added the black circles around the dots with a micro pen. Why... Well I tried to mimic them on my nestie frame and they looked better on the little frame with the outline... so then I had to mimic my hand drawn dots (Copic Pink Marker) by outlining them on the paper. See the little hearts embossed... that is a NEW Cuttlebug folder... landed on the doorstep today.... Love 'em. And the last pink layer is not matted with black again but only edged with a black marker to help set it off from the green. If you don't have Copic markers, let me just say that the Copic Black is the best black marker I have ever owned.... It is black. Not blue-black... but BLACK. I tried to get a close up of Queen Greenie to show off her spiffy spica glitterings.... At first I thought the Spica Pens were not something I really needed. Glad I got them now... the glitter seems to stay put and it's a more "subtle glitz" - I think there is a huge difference using them versus a clear glitter pen to add some sparkle. Finished card is an A2. So I guess that about wraps it up for Queen Greenie.
Oh yeah--- Have you noticed my pictures have not been consistent... well I think my camera, computer and myself are finally on the same page and hopefully they shoud be crisper in the coming posts. I would like to blame it on the camera and/or computer...

• Stamps: The Cat's Pajamas
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Copics, Spica Glitter Pens Pink and Green
• Paper: Misc. Pink Dots, Misc. Green, Pixie Pink, Neenah Classic Solar White
• Other: Old Olive Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, CB Hearts Floder, Nesties, Hald Pearls, Pink Rhinestone, Perfect Layers
  

Birdie says... BLOG CANDY

So Birdie says... BLOG CANDY!

This stamp just cracks me up... I know I say that a lot and it's obvious that I do need to venture out from my stamp room a little more. So you want these stamps... they are up for grabs, generously provided by Wendy at Repeat Impressions. So just leave a comment below and they could be in your little stampin' hands! Want more than one chance at them... OK you can leave a second comment on another day's visit and increase your odds. Leave a comment by midnight Sunday, that's this Sunday, the 27th. I'll have the husband draw a name, while again trying to explain to him what blog candy is.... winner to be posted Monday.

On to the card details which I think I kept pretty simple... I colored birdie and the "inside the card kitty" and feathers with Copics, cut them out with Nesties, of course. I'm trying to be patient for the new Nesties... it's hard though. The DP is My Mind's Eye and I mirrored the design in the paper with the trimming on the bottom. I edged the DP with a cat's eye. I also thought the criss-cross on the ribbon tied in to the design. So with those few elements and then of course wanting the sentiment and image to be the focal point I could lay off my usual twenty extra details that tend to bog me down sometimes. So really it is simple, no dremel tools used, and the sentiment .... ahhhh... just so sweet! So leave a comment on any topic you choose and good luck.

• Stamps: by Repeat Impressions- Feathers #916 F, Double Mount Birdie and Kitty #8301U
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Chestnut Pigment Cat's Eye
• Copics: G000, G82,Y02,Y23, YR24, E47, YG95 N0, O
• Paper: DP/My Mind's Eye, Chocolate Chip, Neenah Classic Solar White
• Other: Ribbon by American Crafts, Nesties

A little Birdie told me...

A little birdie has told me that there will be some blog candy coming very soon... So stay tuned and wait for the birdie to reveal more.

Foo Foo Purple

I know it's a little much, right? It's for a tween girl, so hopefully she will like it... the purple just took over. Purple is one of my least favorite colors to use, to be honest. The little dress stamp from Bloomin' with Happiness had never even had ink on it before today... I always feel good when I use something I have had and neglected. The little dress was colored with Copics and then I used a fine tip purple pen to outline the flowers and the outside of the dress. The frame around the dress and the oval... if you actually read my posts then you know what I did. The Grid.. I pulled out another neglected item, a brass stencil with this grid design. Remember the olden days of hand embossing with a light box? Well, I just ran it through my Big Kick and had it all embossed and pretty in no time flat. Then I secured the stencil to the paper and used it as a mask to stipple some color in the diamonds and outline them with my dotted line and Copic marker. IRL you can see the embossing, the white lines are de-bossed. I used a stipple brush & a little Pale Plum ink on all the white areas of the card, it seemed a harsh white with all the shades of purple going on. In between the purple dotted lines are small dots of glitter pen, looks good in IRL, really. So I know your wondering how this Foo Foo Purple Creation came to be... I needed a card for a tween girl. Sharon's challenge this past Friday was to use Purple and Flowers (SSNOTIME44). The Technique Challenge this week was to use a Grid somehow (TLC177). And it happens to qualify for one more challenge, not intentionally... the Ways to Use It: Mini Madness to use something mini on your card (WT174)... I think my little punched flowers will qualify. Well again... the challenges really do make me step out of my box and use things I wouldn't or just haven't gotten to. Click on the SCS challenge links above to see what others have created.
FYI the Recipe for embossing a Brass Stencil in your Big Kick-- from the bottom up is: Clear Big Kick Plate, Two Tan Spellbinders Polymer Mats, Brass Stencil, Paper, Top Big Kick Clear Plate.

• Stamps: Bloomin' with Happiness/SU, Sentiment/A Muse
• Ink: Pale Plum/SU, Versafine Onyx Black, Copic Markers V99,RV99,V95, Fine Tip Pen Purple Heliotrope/Martha Stewart
• Paper: White, DP (outermost layer) by K and Co.
• Other: Brass Stencil Grid, Mini Flower Punch, Nesties, Clear Glitter Pen, Ticket Punch, Perfect Layers, Corner Rounder, Opal Liquid Pearls

a DOG on my blog!

I said I wouldn't post another cat card next...

but who would of thought... a doggie! This little guy was a buck at JoAnn's... Hard to resist the dollar stamps... You can't buy anything for a dollar hardly and I think he's pretty cute! I know I've gone "cute crazy" lately... I attribute it to my Copics... because I want to color everything and the cute images are perfect for that. I'm glad I took the plunge and went "Copic" - The continuing problem I have with them is there are so many darn colors, and I'm constantly wanting more! Enough of me whining... let's talk about the DOG on my blog! The card base, frame and pooch's hat are Basic Grey's Pistachio. I paper pieced the hat and did add some detailing and shading with markers. The frame was made with a Spellbinder's Die It has several nested frames to cut and emboss). I left the paper in my die to use as a mask and colored the diamonds brown (the diamonds are the open part that embossed) and then removed and added some more rough color around the edges. Check out my little brad... I just found these at a recent show... maybe I'm behind the times but I had not seen these before... Love that little loop! Not to enable anyone... but here's a link to the little loopy brads at EyeletOutlet.com . Have these been around an I just missed them or are they new? Me thinks they are pretty clever. The card base I stamped several times with SU's Weathered Background in Chocolate Chip and the NEW '08 In Color Kiwi Kiss. Ahhhh the new colors are here... but how to say goodbye to River Rock and Blue Bayou? I think that about sums it up for this little doggie. And I'll confess.... I bought a whole dog set of stamps by Inkadinkadoo, they were on sale and way too cute to pass up. Plus my dog friends are really tired of the endless VERY CUTE cat cards that say things like "Cat's Rule and Dog's Drool" ... don't know why they don't like them? Go Figure.

• Stamps: Chihuahua by Inkadinkadoo, Sentiment by Stamping Sensations, SU's Weathered Background Stamp
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Copics
• Paper: Basic Grey's Pistachio, Black, White, Rust
• Other: Loopy Brad, White Twine, Perfect Layers, Cuttlebug Folder, Spellbinder's Frame

Spruced up Sprinkles

Yes... another cat card...
Well, the name of my blog suggests you might see more than a few cat creations. OK... I'll post something other than cats after this. This is for The Cat's Pajama's Challenge this week... so I wanted to use TCP stamps. This week the challenge was an Inspiration Piece of fabric to get you started.... hosted by Jen Del Muro on her blog i{heart}2stamp. I already said I wanted to use TCP stamps... well really -- I only have a handful of Sprinkle Holiday stamps....Easter Sprinkle, St. Pats Sprinkle, Christmas Sprinkle(s), Thanksgiving... but I have more coming in a big TCP order I just did (grinning)... can't wait, so I won't have to use just Sprinkle over and over.... maybe I'll even throw in a pooch here and there. Or maybe not. Anyway, I took my inspiration from the shape, obviously. These Octagons are from Spellbinders, just like Nesties...but no scallop set, they list them under the Geometric collection. So it was easy peasy to work from the shape alone. I used my perfect layers to create the mats, as I wanted some different widths. I did modify Sprinkle a bit... On the upstairs Sprinkle - I "think" the stamp image has a bell hanging from his tail or maybe a mistletoe ball... but I couldn't get it look like anything else but a blob, so I wiped the ink away from that portion before stamping and then hand drew a little bow. On downstairs Sprinkle I stamped him in red and cut out the candy cane from that image to paper piece in. No one wants a black candy cane, yukko. The sentiment I stamped in black then took a little fine tip red pen and just gave it some highlights. I used SU's Old Olive marker to draw my inner Nestie frames... as usual, can't seem not to do that! On the red Octagon around the sentiment I pin pricked all over it for some texture.

On the inside lining of the card is a mini Santa Sprinkle... this was a little Freebie thrown in on my last order... how cute this?! I went over portions with a glitter pen then the whole image with clear glaze pen.

Here's Sprinkle all Spruced up! Blogger was fussy with the long card and it's hard to see the details, actually Blogger drove me a little crazy with this post. You can click on the pictures to open a new window to get a better look. I put clear glaze over Sprinkle's whiskers to give a little "extra". Spica Red pen on his collar. And I outlined the green Octagon with Spica Green, it's green on green, so very subtle but just enough sparkle for a Sprinkle Christmas Card. I'm patting myself on the back for one more Holiday card done. So very unlike me!!!!

• Stamps: All stamps are from The Cat's Pajama's
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Copics, SU Olive Green Marker, Fine Tip Red Pen
• Paper: Real Red, Neenah Classic Solar White, SU Olive DP, Black, "Believe" Dp by DCWV
• Other: Red Satin Ribbon, Nesties, Pin Pricker, Ticket COrner Punch, Half Back Pearls, Perfect Layers, Glitter Pen, Glaze Pen, Spica Red, Spica Green

Simple Triple

Why Simple Triple.... Well it's actually a Simple card, compared to the cherry creation in my last post, and Triple...because it fits in to three challenges on SCS from last week... Yeah... I'm right on time!

Color Challenge: Barely Banana, Groovy Guava and Chocolate Chip

Ways To Use It: Use Scoring on your Project

Sharon's Challenge #43: Give Thanks

So a few details about the card... The hearts were stamped in Chocolate Chip Craft on White then roughly colored, using markers and blender pen. The sentiment was outlined with Barely Banana to help it stand out. Then I used a clear glaze pen to go over the hearts and the sentiment--- had my fill of crystal lacquer for a few days at least. Plus I'm too impatient for the CL to dry! The clear Glaze pen adds minimal shine, but kind of deepens the colors. The Scalloped Edge along the bottom is made by a nestie (inserting the paper through the die... cutting only one side, this was a long rectangle die). The Guava Double Stitched Ribbon -- it's stitched in White--- I just used my Banana marker to go over the white stitching. No white showing on this card at all, which is unusual for me. Anyhow.... Really that's about it, all in all a pretty quick card. On the subject of challenges, I will say I used to be not to fond of challenges or club kits (to put it midly)... as I still have the two year mentality of if you tell me this is what I have to use, then I want to use anything but that!!! I just always seemed to get stuck. Well I guess I'm growing up, as I am now finding them an enjoyable starting place for a card, and I find myself using materials, colors, layouts... that I would have never done with out a little shove. Also I love that most are uploaded to galleries on SCS... always neat to see someone else's creativity given the same challenge.

• Stamps: Dawn Houser's Frendship Set by Inkadinkadoo
• Ink: Groovy Guava, Barely Banana, Chocolate Chip
• Paper: Chocolate Chip, Banana, Guava, White was used to stamp the hearts on to
• Other: Chocolate Poly Twill Ribbon, 1/4" Banana Grosgrain, Guava Double Stitched, Clear Glaze Pen, Rectangle Nestie for Scallop Edge, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder, Perfect Layers

One Custom Cupcake!

OK, so I gave in on the birds and the owls craze... and I think I might be the last one to jump aboard the Cupcake Train... but I did! This is the sweet (heehehe) story of my custom cupcake and the cherry...

We'll start at the top...

• I stamped the cupcake on DP, ivory & red twice.
• I cut out the two toppings and then made a slit in the swirls and slid them together, making one large topping... everyone loves the icing right? (Actually, I really don't)
• Next I used Copic Dark Red to add some shading around the swirls.
• Then I think to myself...sugar beads might be cool to cover the topping. I actually used Sugar Dust (very fine sugar beads). Well, this was not so cool. It made it look dull.
• So what can I do... I'll cover it in a layer or two of clear Utee, yep... that worked, it shined right up and I was pleased with my cupcake recovery.
• When I went to put my sugar beads away... I spotted mini red seed beads, and said hmmm. I could have heated it up with another layer of Utee to add some little bead sprinkles, but was afraid it might crack or worse burn from too much! So I added a generous layer of Crystal Lacquer and sprinkled my little seed beads right over it.
• Needs something else... yes, a cherry on top. OK... I got serious with this cherry! I wanted an embellishment not a stamped cherry... so I took a large red crystal, drilled (with my handy dandy Dremel) an indentation into the top side, and slid my wire right in to create a stem.
• The crystal still looked faceted, so MORE crystal lacquer was needed to give my cherry a rounded look... it turned out way better than I expected! (pat on the back)
• I put my cupcake on two scallop nesties. The ivory one I ran through the CB Swiss Dots Folder. The Next one is red and I used a marker to color the outside edges black. Japanese Screw Punch makes easy and precise work of punching out the little holes on the edge.

The rest of the card...

• I used a paisley scallop nestie to create the wavy scallop edge by inserting the paper through the inside of the paisley die, and only cutting with one side of the die.
• I used my Japanese Screw Punch again (one of my most favorite tools) to create the holes and dropped a little bling in.
• The cupcake wrapper was stamped on DP and edges sponged with red. Since I made the topping bigger, I figured I needed to add to the bottom too. So I added a little red edge and trimmed it with my mini pinking scissors.
• Twill Ribbon Bow to finish it off.

Whew. I have never baked cupcakes but I think it may have been faster! Talk about a long post... Did I bore you completely? Did you read to the end?

• Stamps: Inkadinkadoo Clear Cupcake Set
• Ink: Versafine Onyx with Clear Detail Ep on Sentiment, No Embossing on the Cupcake
• Paper: SU DP Cerise & Dashing, Black, Vanilla, Vellum
• Other: Twill Ribbon, Crystal Lacquer, Mini Red Seed beads, 18 Gauge wire, Red Crystals, Nesties, Perfect Layers, Japanese Screw Punch, CB Swiss Dots

The TWO Kings

OK... this is try number two for the TCP Sketch Challenge for this week, and this time I followed the directions! My oval is in the right place going the right way. I had fun with this card! I stamped Sprinkle in Chocolate and then rolled the edges in black. I added a little brown Copic marker to his body... just needed a little extra. I made his "Puffy Prince Pad" with Grey Copics, removing some color to try and give it a puffy look. The crown.... is a little punch and then I ran it through a cuttlebug folder for some texture, and of course it needed some bling! The ovals I roughed up the edges using my scissors. The scallop oval I wound gold sulky thread in between the scallops... hard to see in the pic, but it adds just a hint of gold. Click on the pictures for a more detailed view. The three little embellishments are nail heads. I thought they fit well with King Sprinkle. The paper is from the DCWV Pet's Stack. The paper is embossed and glittery IRL. The fine line you see on the brown strip is a gold gel pen. It's a pretty BUSY and BRIGHT card, but I kinda like how it turned out.

My "Regal" Photo Assistant... I know you are wondering why I named it TWO kings... when obviously there is only one kitty king on this card... Well, I was taking a pic of my card to post and here comes the king of my house..... right in to my light tent! Even though I knew the BLACK hair was flying off on my white background... I just couldn't resist. This is my spoiled rotten bad cat, I love him dearly and say this with love... instead of a crown I should have given him some devil horns!

• Stamps: Sprinkle/The Cat's Pajamas, Meow!/Stamping Sensations
• Ink: Chocolate Chip, Black, Copics
• Paper: DP is DCWV Pets Stack, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, Raspberry, Lime Green
• Other: Nail heads, Crown Punch, Small Butterfly CB folder, Bling!, Ticket Corner Punch, Perfect Layers, Nesties, Gold Gel Pen, Spica Glitter Pens (on the collar), Gold Sulky Thread... whew, I think that's it!

Pocket Kitty

Christmas in July, Yep! My step-mother has faithfully been making Christmas cards every month... a few here and there. I am usually making my Holiday Cards on December 18th - stamping like a maniac! So I'm starting now... with the best intentions to stockpile a few Holiday Wishes to use later. This card was inspired by the TCP Challenge this week, which was a sketch challenge, you can see it here on Leigh O'Brien's Blog. Did you go look? Yeah, that's right I goofed... my oval should have been placed horizontally to comply with the sketch rules. Oh Well! Never one to follow directions in any other areas either! On to the card...
Fluffles has googly eyes because I smudged black on one eye, normally I consider Fluffles a little more upscale and wouldn't put googly eyes on him. But it was that or a black eye! Fluffles has googly eyes because I smudged black on one eye, normally I consider Fluffles a little more upscale and wouldn't put googly eyes on him. But it was that or a black eye! The Button... Yes I threaded the ivory ribbon through the button holes, and yes it took me a while and a few un-ladylike words. I glued the grey ribbon up under the others.Found out that dew drops are not all the same size, I arranged them small to large on the bottom so you could see the sizes!
I colored Fluffles with Copics. I used Crystal Lacquer on the light bulbs and also re-traced the light cord with a thin black pen to help emphasize that against the grey and black of the cat image. I went over the sentiment with a red Spica pen for a little shine and also outlined portions of the image with a clear glaze pen. Popped my "Fluffles Pocket" up with a little foam tape. I added a little mini scallop edge (done with scissors) and metallic red thread the pocket edge. I just can't stop with the little details sometimes--- Few and Far between is the ten minute card for me!

Recipe:
Stamps: Fluffles
Paper: Going Grey, Dashing SU DP, Real Red, Ivory
Other: Nesties, Dew Drops, Copics, Fine tip Black Pen, Mini Scallop Scissors, Metallic Red Cord, Button, Ivory Taffeta Ribbon, Misc. Grey Ribbon, Foam Tape, Perfect Layers

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

On an exciting personal note-- We had a local Scrapbook show today in our area. So we headed over for a little afternoon shopping.... and I was thrilled to see Stacey Caron the head honcho at Spellbinders sittin' right there doing Wizard demos. I had an original Wizard... one of the ones that her husband manufactured in the early days of Spellbinders. I met her at a past CHA several years back and struck up a conversation and have run in to her through the years. She is fun and so enthusiastic about her products. Well... on the exciting part... me and my pals got a first hand look at all the new dies coming out. That's right... we were feeling pretty special. I wanted them all! Patience.... Good things are coming.... ahhhh... the waiting... so hard.

Almost Human

Who would you send a card like this to? Oh... I have several people in mind.... like my boss, who can take it as well as give it! His birthday is just around the corner too. This little guy just begged to be paper pieced with some funky paper! I paper pieced his body, added the googly eyes and then outlined him with a fine tip green pen to give him a little glow. Circles and Scallops were all nesties... I used the inner frame of the nesties to draw the thin black circle and the thin white scallop edge. I popped up the whole center image. The background paper -- I started with the funky green DP and stamped SU's On Safari background stamp in Versafine Black tore the edge and sponged it with black, repeated the same for the other white side, the center is just the DP with no stamping. Then came the layers, which of course go on and on. The first layer of white has a thin black line... I used the edge of my perfect layers to draw that line. Then I sponged the edges and used my ticket punch in the corners.... and can you see the most perfectly matching little brads. How or why I had this color... I don't know! And that green ribbon... again... why I bought this neon lime ribbon... I don't know. But I like the way it all came together and the sentiment just makes me giggle....and I don't think my boss frequents my blog so the surprise won't be ruined!

Recipe:
Stamps: Inkadinkadoo - lizard and sentiment / SU's On Safari Background
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Fine Tip Pens in Lime Green and Black
Paper: Black, White, Green Squiggle DP by PSX
Other: Grey Tafetta Ribbon, Lime Green Sheer Ribbon, Brads, Nesties, Perfect Layers, White Signo Pen

Come see...

My blog has a brand new look, thanks to the very talented Heather Taylor.

I have known Heather for several years through various wonderful stamp groups. Her art and creativity continue to inspire me in new ways all the time. Since Sunday, Heather and I have been going back and forth with versions of my banner and new little watermark. I told her at the beginning "oh... I'm not picky" well turns out I am very picky... "don't like that", "put this there", "the cat looks weird like that"...you get the ugly picture. Heather was a dream to work with and her creative vision was right on target with the ideas I had in my head for my new banner. So zillions of thanks to Ms. Taylor for creating a new banner that I love and for putting up with me and my changes through the process. If you have a minute please head to Heather's blog "oohlalaartsy"where you will find oodles of creative inspiration and information.

Thanks Heather! I love it!

Claudia's Dress in Charcoal with Aunt Fran's Pearls

On the Girly theme still from Sharon's Friday Challenge, just more grown up girly! This card was a fun card to make. I had not combined stamps to make a background in some time. I just used post it to mask one stamp over the next. I went back with a small stipple brush and added some grey in between images. For the main image I stamped SU's Floral Background stamp then used that to paper piece the dress. Under the dress and bodice I tucked some Basic Grey Taffeta Ribbon. I used basic Grey and Black inks only, sponging around my nestie oval, I also drew the inner circle using the Nestie frame in black to help define the edge. The little mini strung pearls are my favorite addition to the card. I've been hoarding these, even though I have two strings of them, it's hard to use them and think of sending them away. The lace I secured behind the oval after I touched it up here and there with some grey ink, it was too white, and needed to be toned down. The Cuttlebug background was made by brayering White Pigment ink on to one side of the folder, then embossing... I believe the technical term is "Cuttlebug Smush". I love black, white and grey combos when doing cards, they always seem to come together easier for me, less choice for me to mull over again and again!

Recipe:

Stamps: Dress/Inkadinkadoo, Floral Background/SU, Passport/Rubber Stampede, Carte Postal Letter/Rubber Soul, Lg Post Card/ Stampabilities, Bridge Postage/Hero Arts, Paris/Invoke Arts

Paper: White, Going Grey, Black

Ink: Versafine Black, Going Grey, Whisper White Craft

Other: Grey Taffeta Ribbon, Lace, Cuttlebug Folder/Textile, Perfect Layers, Ticket Punch, Black Micro Pen, Mini Pearl String, Half Pearls

Baby Butt

This stamp just cracks me up!

Sharon's Friday Challenge: The challenge this week is to make a card this is most definitely soft and girly — whatever that means to you!!!

I think this is about as girly as I can get. I stamped and paper pieced my baby... stamping on white and coloring the skin with Copics, then overlayed her on to pink. The green scallop circle I created by taping two nesties on to green paper.. a scallop outer edge and a smaller circle inside. I used a little piece of tape to keep them centered, it will peel right off, just go slow. Then I ran it through cutting both at once, then a second time to emboss both at once. I used my old trusty scallop scissors to edge the card base. Prima Flowers, Pearls, Dew Drops, Pink, Scallops--- how much more Girly could I get?

Recipe:
Stamps: Girl Baby Clear Stamp Set by Inkadinkadoo
Paper: Pattern Paper by Die Cuts with a View from the Kid's Stack, Misc. Card Stock White/ Lime /Pink
Ink: India Ink, SU's White Signo Gel Pen
Other: Nesties, Prima Flowers, Half Pearls, Dew Drop, Scallop Scissors, Misc. Ribbon, Corner Punch, Perfect Layers

DINO-MITE

DINO-MITE! How cute is this little $1 stamp from Michael's! This card just came together with all those colors to choose from it was easy pickin'. I stamped little Dino and colored him with my Copics, then gave him some glitter pen spikes on his back. To create the dot spots I used my White Signo Gel Pen and made little dots, let them dry, then I flaked them away with my fingernail. I didn't want the Bright white... what stayed was a more subtle flat white, to help emphasize the dots I used a marker to circle them, making them slightly more pronounced. I used a clear glaze pen over Dino's body, he needed a little shine! The star paper -- I used my Colorbox Cat's eyes in coordinating colors to the paper and just stamped a few stars, then I used a micro tip pen and roughly outlined them. The Edge is a Martha Stewart punch - my first of her punches... and I must give it a thumbs up as it punched very clean and easy through the card stock. Next my favorite... the BUTTON... I know you all are wondering how I got that fat ribbon through the little button holes, well I'll tell you. I used my Dremel tool to make the holes bigger. I thought I was so clever! I put the button on a little wood block taped it down (to avoid the drilling of a finger) and drilled right through easily and quickly. I bought that Dremel a few years ago for the sole purpose of drilling through dominoes! Thrilled that I could dust it off and find another use for it! Anyhow, I have really blabbered on about this card...

RECIPE:

Stamps: Star/Endless Creations, Dino/Vap Scrap Stamps

Ink: India Black, Copics, Fine Tip Micro Pens for Outlining, Colorbox Cat's Eyes for stamping the Stars.

Paper: Patterned paper is from the "Kid's Stack 4x6 Block"/Die Cuts with a View, Misc Cardstock: White, Blue, Green

Other: Brocade Blue 3/4" Grosgrain Ribbon/SU, Martha Stewart's Edge Punch, Button & Dremel Tool, Perfect Layers, Nesties

One for the Birds

I resisted the bird craze for awhile before giving in.... but I've followed the flock and now have several birdies. I liked this fancy feathered guy from Hero Arts "Ornate Bird". I saw the Ways to use it Challenge this week on SCS was BIRDS (WT172) and I thought I'd ink this guy up. Pretty simple little card.. I did use my nesties to emboss the frame on the bird. I stamped my bird then with a tiny piece of tape secured my nestie and ran it through, only embossing. I love that it does three embossed "stacked" edges.The bird I stamped in Chocolate Chip and then used a fine tip brown pen to outline and add some depth by making little cross lines, and a hint of glitter pen here and there.I roughed the edges up here and there to add a little texture, it seemed a bit plain with just a stamped image--but I couldn't find any additions that I liked.

RECIPE:
Paper: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, White, Pattern Paper by Basic Grey
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Brown Micro Pen, Glitter Pen
Other: Nesties, CB Bird Folder, Crystals, Perfect Layers

new toys....

After being left frustrated when I scan a card and the color does not scan "true"... I splurged and invested in a Light Tent. It landed today and has consumed my evening. It was fairly easy to assemble the lights and set up. I do believe this is the first item I have ever put together and not had parts "left over", had to pat myself on the back for that! I need to play a bit with the lamps and adjust the lighting to get it right, so hopefully I'll only improve taking some better pictures of my cards. I wanted to go ahead and post a quickie since some friends were awaiting the new pics.... So here is a card that was in reach. The only stamp is from SU's Season of Joy stamped in Real Red. Since we are about to get some new SU Holiday sets to play with with the upcoming Fall/Winter catalog I plan to get some favorite Holiday stamps out and make some Holiday cards. I know as soon as I get some new rubber the old stamps will work their way to the back of the shelf.