Easter Pearls and Crystals

This card uses one of the Cover a Card backgrounds from Impression Obsession, and it's original size is 5 3/4" Square.... but I trimmed it down using the tiles in the design to cut around the edge. I cut it down to fit on an A2 size card. I embossed the background and the sentiment using Versamark and White Detail EP.

I used an Petite Ovals Nesties and a Ribbon Tag Die to frame my Sentiment. Then I dressed everything up a little with some crystals and pearls. With this scalloped oval, there is an odd number of scallops, so it would not work to do one pearl, one crystal around the entire oval and have then be evenly numbered. So instead I just randomly placed them, deliberately making them uneven in numbers. Again, very simple elements used in combination to build this card.

• Stamps: All stamps are by Impression Obsession: #B5542 Happy Easter, #CC032 Cover a Card Medallion
• Ink: Versamark and White Detail EP
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Peach Card Stock
• Other: Petite Ovals Nesties, Ribbon Tag Die, Pearls, Crystals, Misc. Ribbon

Our Creative Corner - Music Challenge

Over at the OCC, we have a MUSIC themed challenge today! Hope you will play along with us! You can find all the details on the Our Creative Corner Blog.

Be sure and take a look to see what the other ladies have cooked up for this fun challenge, see the links to all the OCC ladies on my sidebar.

I know, this is a serious departure from my norm. What can I say... I had a cocktail with dinner.... and this the result! I stamped the Music background on Ivory paper, then added some airbrushing using Mustard and a Blue Green Copic... trying to pick up her dress color. The image is from the new Graphic 45 Collection "Le' Romantique". The image makes for a quick and easy card using the cut out picture as a focal point. Some very frilly and girlie embellishments, using 1 1/2" Ivory silk ribbon and my Bow Easy to tie the fluffy bow. Finished card size is an A2. Not sure if I like how this turned out or not. I struggle with anything vintage, as much as I love the look of vintage projects, I can't quite get it "right". I roughed up the edges of each panel with my scissors, and now I think I should have added some inking around the edges too.

• Stamps: Cover a Card Music Background from Impression Obsession
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Neenah Ivory, Gold, All other Paper from Graphic 45 Le'Romantique
• Other: 1.5" Silk Ribbon, Bow Easy, Heart Charm

Stamp Simply #124- Bleeding Hearts

Stamp Simply #124 - January 29th - Bleeding Hearts "ssnotime124"

Today, Sharon issued the challenge Bleeding Hearts.... In Sharon's words this is the challenge.... Bleeding Hearts - With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and fun little projects needing to be made, this theme was selected with Valentines in mind; however, your project need NOT be a Valentine — whatever you need works. Our Bleeding Hearts challenges calls for us to use the color RED and a HEART in our project. That’s it!!! Oh, and I’m always open to a VERY liberal interpretation - LOL!!! Just have fun!

Upload your project to Spiltcoast and use the keyword "ssnotime124". Check out all the Challenge Details and see Sharon's creation on her blog No Time to Stamp. ALSO -- Sharon has employed the services of Mr. Linky on her blog to help us keep up with all of the players! So please play along and link your project with Mr. Linky on No Time to Stamp, Sharon's blog!

Please check out the great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these totally creative designers: Tammy, Janine, Julie, AJ, Deb, Barbara, Barb Schram and Jennifer.

Despite the crazy and very busy patterned paper, this is a simple and quickie card. I pulled out my Basic Grey 6x6 pad of the Bittersweet Collection for inspiration.... Stamping my little flowers three times and adding a little touch of color with some Crystal Lacquer for a little shine. I dressed them up using a tiny little white silk bow, this is 1/8" wide-- I love to use a tiny little bow just as I have done on this card... it is so small and cute and the perfect way to dress up a small image. And of course I used the Bow Easy to create my teensy little bows.

Here's an up close and personal view. I first airbrushed pink around the edges, and BOY it was really PINK. SO... I had to tone it down a bit and I did that by airbrushing a little E04 Copic over the way too bright pink. One of the joys of Copics... you can keep adding and changing! Finished card size is 5 1/4" Square.

• Stamps: All Stamps by The Cat's Pajamas, Clear Set - Loving Mew
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: All DP from Basic Grey's Bittersweet Collection, Neenah Ivory
• Other: Copics/ABS, 1/8" SIlk Ribbon, Crystal Lacquer, Spellbinder's Labels One, Bow Easy

Home.....

This pineapple image paired up perfectly with the Basic Grey Origins Paper Collection. I used Copics to color the pineapple and then cut it out, popping it up with foam tape on the kraft panel. I kept it simple, I thought the image and the sentiment did not need too much fussing up. A little jute string bow and some stitch marks, and it's done! Finished card size is 4 1/2' x 6 1/2". A simple card and a simple post for today!

Here's a close up and remember you can always click on the pics to enlarge them.

• Stamps: All stamps by Impression Obsession, #D5548 May Your Home, #F1733 Pineapple
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP by Basic Grey - Origins Collection, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Kraft
• Other: Jute String, White Gel Pen, Green Fine Tip Pen, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder

Spread the Love........

Hey Folks! This is a call for cards to spread the love this Valentine's Day! The talented, kind hearted and very funny blogger Pat Adam needs your Valentine's cards. The cards are for the Children's Hospital, for the little ones to exchange with each other. This is a perfect chance to make some darling little cards and that will bring a smile to a small persons face! What's better than that? So break out some cute paper and stamps and help out! Pat needs the cards by February 8th, so can distribute them as needed.... she has not collected near enough this year, which is why I'm helping and out and spreading the word about spreading the love. The cards can be postcard style, simple and fun, no envelopes are necessary...

Please use this link to get to visit Pat's blog and get the details of how to send them to her, she has a post first thing on the top of her blog. ----> LINK!

Here are some simple and quick Valentine's Day card ideas to get you in the mood...

Just a note......

This image is made for coloring - I loved it at first look... then I saw the little black kitty peeking out from the porch and I loved it even more. 'Cause you know I have a special fondness for a little black kitty cat. This is a new image "Watering cans on Stairs" from Impression Obsession from the January CHA release. Gary Robertson is the designer and he had a huge release this go around -- with lots of amazing images, many of which have a little black kitty tucked in to the scene somewhere. I colored this Porch Scene with Copics and then paired it up with DP Gray and Green from Basic Grey's SugarRush Collection. Some stitch marks to decorate and then the sentiment is added with some yummy red silk ribbon. I stamped the sentiment in red, and then I used a black Micron Pen to outline the stamped portion and add some detailing around the edges. FInished Card size is 5" Square.

• Stamps: All stamps by Impression Obsession: Anytime Sentiments #CL43, Watering Cans on Stairs #G1767
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Crimson Red
• Paper: DP from Basic Grey's Sugar Rush Collection, Red, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Red Silk Ribbon, Bow Easy Tool, Black Micron Pen, White Gel Pen, Eyelets, Spellbinder's Labels Nine

Sunset Trees

This is a brand new background from Impression Obsession, It is called "Branches". My first thought when I saw it was, how neat this would be on a Halloween card, with a moon in the background and spooky colors for a hazy sky with some Copic Airbrushing. BUT we are a little out of season for me to post Halloween, so I remembered this card I did a while back -----> CLICK HERE, and I kind of copied the coloring from it. I stamped the trees in Versafine Vintage Sepia, but then I wanted to really bring some attention to some trees and make them stand out in the front. All I did was use a black Micron pen to outline a few of them, and I then used a darker Brown Copic marker to give them a little deeper brown color.

The airbrushing is just layering colors, light to dark, using yellows and oranges. You know I am a fan of quotes and I love this one in particular.... It reminds me of something my Dad would say about time spent on the lake with a fishing pole in his hand. I used a Peach Souffle pen to add my stitch marks around the edges. Finished card is 5 3/4" Square. You will be seeing this background again when Halloween rolls around, for sure!!!!

• Stamps: All stamps by Impression Obsession - Branches Background #CC031, Soothing Nature Quote #D4514
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Versafine Vintage Sepia
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Brown, Black
• Other: Copics/ABS, Souffle Pen, Spellbinder's Labels Eight, Black Micron Pen

Our Creative Corner - Sketch Challenge

Over at the OCC, we have a sketch challenge today! Hope you will play along with us! You can find all the details on the Our Creative Corner Blog.

Be sure and take a look to see what the other ladies have cooked up for this fun challenge, see the links to all the OCC ladies on my sidebar.

I combined some of the new Graphic 45 Dp from "A Proper Gentleman Collection" and Papertrey's fun "Baby Button Bits" set with the sketch to create this little baby card. I liked doing a baby card that was not pastel. I added simple elements... the little felt button - I backed with a circle of the DP and then added the eyelets to it. I had the jute rope and the coordinating jute string which was a good match to my paper, I wrapped it around the back of the cuttlebug panel and that panel is popped up. Finished card size is an A2.

• Stamps: Papertrey's Baby Button Bits
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Graphic 45 - A Proper Gentleman Collection 8x8 Paper, Neenah Ivory, Dark Green
• Other: Ticket Corner Punch, Spellbinder's Oval Nesties, Felt Button by Hero Arts, Eyelets, Jute String, Jute Rope, Cuttlebug Asian Folder, Black Micron Pen, Crystals, Copic Markers, Misc. Button

Stamp Simply #123 - Very Vintage

Stamp Simply #123 - January 22nd - VERY VINTAGE "ssnotime123"

Today, Sharon issued the challenge to make a card with a Vintage theme. Upload your project to Spiltcoast and use the keyword "ssnotime123". Check out all the Challenge Details and see Sharon's creation on her blog No Time to Stamp. ALSO -- Sharon has employed the services of Mr. Linky on her blog to help us keep up with all of the players! So please play along and link your project with Mr. Linky on No Time to Stamp, Sharon's blog!

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Please check out the great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these totally creative designers:Tammy, Janine, Julie, AJ, Deb, Jennifer, Barbara, and Barb Schram.

I don't know if my card really fits the bill for Very Vintage, but I tried.... I started with Graphic 45 DP with the Cherries and Polka Dots.... and then the card took form. Looks more country than vintage, I think.

I airbrushed a little pink on to the Graphic 45 Cherries DP and also around the edge of my image panel. I think everything is pretty self explanatory on this one, so I'll spare you my blabbering today. The only thing I want to point out is.... I popped the scallop circle up using foam tape and instead of putting the pearls on each scallop, I put them in between and a little under that panel.... so they just peek out.... just enough to catch your eye.

• Stamps: All stamps by Flourishes - Peaches and Cherries Set
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Cherry DP by Graphic 45, Red, Golden Matte, Neenah Ivory Environment
• Other: Spellbinder's Classic Circles, Fine Tip Brown Pen, Copics/ABS, Green Twill Ribbon from Basic Grey, Large Red Pearls

Bragging on a Friend...

I wanted to take minute and brag on my pal, Sandy Hulsart! She is now teaching classes on line at My Creative Classroom. She is starting out with the two classes shown below, Beginner's Scenic Stamping and a Brayering Class. Sandy is a master at creating scenes, and my jaw often drops right down to the floor when I see some of her creations. Sandy maintains TWO blogs! You can find the class information HERE on her blog Creative Moments with Sandy. Her second blog is devoted to Scenic Stamping and I promise is worth hopping over to view ----> Scenes by Sandy. Way to go, Sandy!

Get in Shape!

No worries -- this is not a post about exercise! NO way! Exercise, bahhwhaaaa!!! This is about today's Challenge from Impression Obsession -- to use a SHAPE for your card base. Play along with us and you can WIN a $25 gift certificate to IO, just in time to get your hands on some of the newly released rubber! You can find all the rules and how to enter on the Impression Obsession Blog.

Check out the Design Team's Shapely Creations for this challenge!!

Daniela Dobson - Deborah March - Dina Kowal - Jeanne Streiff - Julie Koerber - Kathy Menzies - Kelli Richardson - Laura Fulcher - Rosemary Marino - Shirley Ross

I started with a pink folded circle card, on the pink card base, I stamped one of the new Background stamps "Lg. Paisley", but you can't really see it in the pic. I used pink ink on pink paper, so it is subtle. I added some fun Paper strips covering the seams with 1/16" Rainbow Tape. Then the white circle with the little pink hearts is a stamp too -- another of the new background stamps "Hearts", just in time and perfect for some fun Valentine's cards. I then added my sentiment - stamping and then layering the DP on to my stamped image before I cut it out with the Nestie Label 8. I added a pink layer behind the label and then a few little dots around the edges. And look, I had the perfect ribbon to match up with my card!

• Stamps: Lg. Paisley Background, Hearts Background, Live Every Moment Sentiment #C5533
• Ink: Pink Passion
• Paper: DP from Little Yellow Bicycle, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Pink
• Other: Ribbon from May Arts, Bow Easy Tool, White 1/16" Rainbow Tape, Spellbinder's Labels 8, White Gel Pen, Mega Mount Stamper Block, Heart Die Cuts from ProvoCraft

Belli Challenge #83 - Hearts

The challenge over the Belli Blog today is to incorporate Hearts somehow, somewhere on your project. Please head over the the Belli Challenge Blog for all the details. If you play along remember to use keyword CBC83 when you upload to PCP or SCS, or use Mr. Linky at the Belli Blog.

I loved all the Holiday Chandeliers that Impression Obsession has come out with, and this was no exception. I used my Copics to add color and added some light pink airbrushing around my edges. Oh yeah, and some stitch marks. I can't resist. My main image is cut out using the Spellbinder's Label Six Nesties. I added an embossed heart background using the Heart CB Folder -- it is only sold in a bundle with other dies. I threaded some pink taffeta ribbon through the holes on my Fancy Tag, and then popped my sentiment over the tag. A little double looped bow on the top and that's it! It's tall and long made to fit in a business sized envie.

• Stamps: All stamps by Impression Obsession - You light up my day #B5535, Love Chandelier #F2376
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP by Luxe from the Twinklets Collection, Pink, Black, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Pink Taffeta Ribbon by SU, Copics/ABS, Heart CB Folder, Spellbinder's Label Six Nesties, Spellbinder's Fancy Tags, Fine Tip Martha Stewart Pink Pen, Bow Easy

Love and Kindness

This card is is using one of the new Background Cover a Card stamps from Impression Obsession. The new release is up and now available -- and WOW, you need to check them out! Here is a link to view the new background stamps ----> CLICK HERE.

My sentiment was a little long to fit in to the Spellbinder's Fancy Tag. So I modified it a bit, just cutting the fancy ends of the label off and adding them to my sentiment, tucking them in between one of the layers and then using a line of pearls to cover up the seam. Trying to continue to branch out and use purple..... I used DP "Greenhouse" from the Basic Grey Wisteria Collection and paired it with White and Purple. The ink is Versafine's Imperial Purple, and it looks really dark in the pic, but it is a nice color combo in person. I kept the layout simple and added a white embossed background with a Cuttlebug Folder. A little touch of ribbon stretched across the front. Finished card size is 5 1/4" Square.

I wanted to show you what I used and how I created the skinny white frame around the edges. I used a product called Rainbow Tape. It comes in all widths and colors, including metallics. This is a quickie add on and you can see in the picture, how I just taped it around the edges, folding the edges around to the back. The tape I used here is White and it is 1/16" in width.

• Stamps: All stamps are from Impression Obsession: Love and Kindness #C8356, Cover a Card -Flourishes #CC027
• Ink: Versafine Imperial Purple
• Paper: "Greenhouse" from Basic Grey's Wisteria Collection, White, Dark Purple
• Other: Spellbinder's Fancy Labels, White 1/16" Rainbow Tape, Cuttlebug Folder, Pearls, Misc. Green Sheer Ribbon