Black and White + One

Time for the Outline's Design Team Weekly Challenge. This week it was Black and White plus one other color. Also, remember you can play along with us in our weekly challenges, with a chance to win a gift certificate each week! Check out all the details on the Outline's Blog. 

Check out what the team came up with:  Bev Gerard, Jeanne Streiff, Lisa Silver, Robin Kirkpatrick, Sandy Hulsart and Vicki Garrett.

I might have kinda cheated... as I kinda used a "color family" instead of just one other color. I couldn't help it. Report me to the challenge police if need be! 

I heat embossed all the images, stamping them with Versafine Onyx Black and then using Clear EP to emboss with. You can see the Copics I used to add a few touches of color. After I added color to the large posy, I ran it thru a CB folder adding some embossed detail. 

Here is an up close sideways view... after I assembled it and blinged it up!  I used foam tape in between some of the layers and I also used Viva Clear Glass Gel pen to add a glassy finish on the edges of the sentiment circle. I used Swarovski Clear Crystals Sized 5 and size 16 to sparkle it up. It's amazing the difference Swarovski brings to a card. I thought the bow went with the same "color family".... and you know it's hard for me to resist adding ribbon if I can! Finished card is 5 1/4" square.

• Stamps - All stamps by Outlines Rubber Stamps - H-1033 Square Posy X-Lg.,F-1049 Posy Greeting Centers , D-888 Flora Jewel 
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Clear EP
• Paper: Black, WHite, Bo Bunny Peach Double Dot DP
• Other: Spellbinder's Scalloped Circles, Cuttlebug FOlders. Foam Tape, Viva Clear Glass Effect Gel, Ribbon by SU, Bow Easy Tool

Trio of Trees

No Copics. Just a little stamping and paper piecing! Easy Peasy little card! I used paper from October Afternoon's "Report Card" 8x8 Collection. All of the stamps are in a Prickley Pear Clear Set called Build a Bird #2. I embossed the Green card stock with a Sizzix Embossing Folder.

Actually I did use a Copic Marker to create the red frame border around the Nestie. I used Spellbinder's Reverse Wonky Rectangles to frame the trio of trees. I used a banner die from Spellbinder's Nested Lacey Pennants set to cut out the sentiment. I hand cut a small black border around both of the die cut shapes to add an extra layers. Both the trees and the sentiment are bent with dimensional silicone used underneath them to keep the bend and add dimension. As a finishing touch I used a Gold Viva Pearl Pen to add a little some extra touches to the trees.

• Stamps: All stamps by Prickley Pear - Build a Bird #2
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Kiwi Green card stock, Ivoey, DP by October Afternoon
• Other: Twine by Pink Paisley, Spellbinder's Reverse Wonky Rectangles, Spellbinder's Nested Lacey Pennants, Black Rainbow Tape 1/16", Sizzix Embossing Folder, Dimensional Silicone, Basic Grey Brad, Bow Easy Tool

Doodle Gifts

Today brings a new challenge for the Serendipity DT. We were challenged to used one of the "Doodle" stamps and create a simple card that also incorporated felt.

Check out what everyone came up with:  Amy,  Anya, Kathie and Lynda.

I kept it super simple and thought it could be a fun and easy Holiday card or work for a Birthday card. The little gifts were trimmed out and raised up on the card using Dimensional Silicone. I used Viva Decor Pearl Pens to embellish the presents, adding little pearls. I incorporated a layer of red felt in the background. I know it looks like like it's lacking something.... but when I added a sentiment it just ddn't look right... so I went with the blank space..... very hard to resist filling it... but nothing quite worked. With the fuzzy felt and the raised presents it has a more whimsical feel in person that doesn't quite translate in the pic. 

Quick coloring with Copics -- Here are the markers I used.

• Stamps: Gift Bauble CLing Set #956MCL by Serendipity Stamps
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Bo Bunny Dot Paper, Neenah Classic Crest White, Paper Backed Red Felt
• Other: Copics, Bow Easy Tool, Misc RIbbon, Viva Pearl Pens - White, Kiwi, Red

Outlines Challenge - Make it Manly!

Something NEW is in the works this week! 

Starting today you can play along with the Design Team in the Weekly Monday Challenges! You can link your card find all the rules on the Outlines Blog, AND you have a chance to win $25 each week to shop in the Outlines Store! So please get out your Outlines Stamps and play along with us... Look forward to seeing what folks come up with!! 

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The Challenge this week is to make a masculine card. Check out the Manly Ideas that the team came up with:  Bev Gerard, Jeanne Streiff, Lisa Silver, Robin Kirkpatrick, Sandy Hulsart and Vicki Garrett.

Man cards.... always a struggle for me!! I still could not resist adding a button and little bow. I used a only a portion of the Howdy Southwest Collage Stamp, cutting out the coyote element to feature on my card. I used 1/2" Scor-Pal tape to add a band of jute string around the entire center panel, as you wrap the jute string the adhesive grabs on and holds it right in place. I also used a Southwest Corner Punch to create the little notches on the stamped panel and added a jute string frame. 

You can see here the Copics I used to color the Coyote. I used the Blender quite a bit trying to give it a bleached or more faded look. I added a tiny Happy Birthday Sentiment to complete the card. The final card size is an A2.

• Stamps: H-1061 Split Layering Collage - Howdy, AA-839 Tiny Happy Birthday
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Misc. Patterned Paper, Kraft, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: CB Folder, Jute String, Copics, Button, Bow Easy Tool, Southwest Corner Punch, Jute String by May Arts

Polka Dot Sunflower

A Sunflowery Birthday card to share with you today. The flower is an older set "Sunflowers" from Flourishes.

You can see here the Copic Markers that I used. I have to say YG61, YG63 and YG67 are probably my most used greens when it comes to coloring leaves/greenery. I did add a touch of Y11 over the leaf at the end to add just a subtle yellow highlight.

You can see the embossing on the sunflower panel in this pic. I have to see I hesitated before running it through, after spending time coloring it... I was afraid I may not like after I added the embossing and it might land in the trash. But I thought it looked neat and was pleased with the different look the embossing folder added. Finished card size is an A2.

• Stamps: Sunflowers and Tag Lines by FLourishes
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memeanto Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Honey Mustard Double Dot by Bo Bunny,Neenah Classic Crest Solar WHite, Brown
• Other: Polka Dot Sizzix Embossing Folder, Spellbinder's Curved Rectangle Nesties, Spellbinder's Petite Ovals and Petite Scalloped Ovals, Copics, Misc. Brown Ribbon, Bow Easy Tool, Small Adhesive Pearls

Double Birthday Butterfly

Prickley Pear recently came out with a second Butterfly Set, which of course matches up with the Butterfly die. The Birthday sentiment is included in the same set. I actually put down the Copics for a tiny minute and used a Navy Ink with Clear EP to create this card. I paired it up with printed paper from October Afternoon's Report Card 8x8 Collection. I added the Kiwi, Ivory and Blue card stock to match. Lots of Nesties and Cuttlebug embossing dresses it up too!

The bottom layer butterfly is full size, but the Kiwi Butterfly I cut in the middle removing the body portion, so the edges would be a tad shy of the ivory layer allowing you to see both colors. I then positioned the green wings back towards the center and used a Black Pearl Pen to add a little body back in. In between the wings I used Dimensional Silicone to add height and hold the wings propped up. The antennae are made up using ivory Scrappers Floss. The Lacey Edged Nestie in the background is  Spellbinder's Lacey Ovals. I cut it in half using the two pieces in the corners. Finished card is an A2 size.

• Stamps by Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps: Butterfly Set, Butterfly die.
• Ink: Navy Craft Ink and Clear EP 
• Paper: October Afternoon's Report Card 8x8 Collection, Kiwi, Navy, Ivory
• Other: Dimensional Silicone, Ivory Scrappers Floss, CB Folders, Spellbinder's Lacey Ovals, Spellbinders Circles and Petite Scalloped Circles, Bow Easy Tool, Misc. Ivory Ribbon

Outlines - Floral Hat

Monday means it's time for a challenge from the Outline's DT. The theme was FLORAL this week. Whatever, however.... just needs to have something floral about the image or design. Check out what all the girls came up with:  Bev Gerard, Jeanne Streiff, Lisa Silver, Robin Kirkpatrick, Sandy Hulsart and Vicki Garrett.

So, this definitely qualifies as floral! This Spring Bonnet was one of the new images released in the Serendipity Collection. I used Spellbinder's Grand Labels Four to cut the card base as well as for the die cut for the image. I am addicted to making shaped cards with the Grand Dies, just makes it so easy and so much more interesting than a traditionally shaped square or rectangle card base. 

Of course I used Copics to color it up! I tried to keep the color choices somewhat in the same color grouping as the papers I used in the background. You can see I airbrushed a little YR21 around the edges before I removed it from the Nestie and traced the inner edge of the die with a black Micron pen. I added Swarovski Red Crystals Size 5 to the berry branches. I also used a Cream Pearl Pen to add a few pearl embellishments. The finished card measures 6 3/4" x 4 1/4" and would fit in an A7 Standard Envelope. 

• Stamps: G-1163 Spring Bonnet, AA-854 Tiny It's Your Day... Enjoy
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Cosmo Cricket's 6x6 Material Girl Collection, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Dark Red, Kraft
• Other: Yellow Ribbon, Bow Easy Tool, Cream Pearl Pen, Copics/ABS, Spellbinder's Grand Labels Four , Swarovski Red Size 5 Crystals, Picksey Pick Ups, Glossy Accents, Micron Black Pen

Little Bluebird

This card uses stamps from Prickley Pear. You can find the Bird stamp set HERE. It has multiple bird designs that you can stamp and then you can cut the bird and it's wing out using their coordinating dies, which you can see HERE. I heat embossed the bird stamp and then die cut it. I used dimensional silicone to add the bird wing and the bird to the card. I added a little greeting in the bottom corner. 

I used Spellbinders Dies to create the circle layers, adding embossing to some of them with Cuttlebug Folders. A simple card that really is all about the layers! A generous helping of silver adhesive pearls to decorate! I used a Corner Chomper to round the top of the card's corners.

• Stamps: All stamps by Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps - SPR003D Build a Bird Die, CLR003-A Build a Bird #2 Stamp Set
• Ink: Versamark and White Detail EP
• Paper: Jillibean Soup Spotted Owl, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Bo Bunny Green Dotted Paper, Light Blue card stock
• Other: Silver Pearls, Dimensional Silicone, Multiple Spellbinder's Circle Nesties

An Italian Wedding....

Today brings a new challenge from Serendipity Stamps. We were given a sketch to work with and a theme of Weddings. Check out what the other ladies came up with for the challenge....  Amy,  Anya, Kathie and Lynda.

Here is the sketch:

OK, I never can follow a sketch perfectly! So I made a few minor modifications. I chose my paper first.... I have a stash of beautiful Italian papers that you buy in the big oversized sheets and I decided to pull those out. Since the papers come in the large sheets, I use a skirt hanger to literally hang them and keep them in a closet. That way they don't get wrinkled or rolled. Unfortunately it also means they stay out of sight and I kinda forget about them. I wish the paper showed up better in the picture, all of the little swirls on it are golden and it just looks so rich. I used the largest die from Spellbinder's Curved Rectangles to create a card base. I used a smaller die from the same set to cut out the cake image.

I don't usually color with Copics if I am using embossed images, as the markers tend to be fussy with some embossing powders. But I just added quick touches of color to the cake, using my Blender pen to highlight and also fade out the peach color on the cake. After cutting the cake out with the die, I adhered it to the gold paper and hand cut around to add the second gold mat. When I was finished with the card, I added Glossy Accents over the roses and also the leaves on the cake to add a little shine. The sentiment I glued flat on the left side at the card's spine, but underneath in the middle I used Dimensional Silicone to keep it popped up with a little wave to it. 

• Stamps: All stamps by Serendipity Stamps - #425E Wedding Cake, #437D Congratulations
• Ink: Versamark and Detail Gold EP
• Paper: Italian Floral Paper, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White, Gold card stock
• Other: Copics, Spellbinder's Curved Rectangles, Misc. RIbbon, Bow Easy Tool, Lg. Gold Pearls, Dimensional Silicone, Glossy Accents

Outlines - Button it up.....

Monday means a new Outlines challenge... this week,  it was - Button it Up! Check out what the team came up with: Bev Gerard, Jeanne Streiff, Lisa Silver, Robin Kirkpatrick, Sandy Hulsart and Vicki Garrett.

I picked two of the Dotted Flowers to use as the focal point on the card. Any of Outlines flower stamps make such an fun and easy card, with the multiple sizes, layering is a breeze! I used Cosmo Cricket's Wanted 6x6 paper pad, adding in some kraft and black card stock. I stamped and heat embossed the flowers, using Versafine Black ink and Clear EP on some of the pattern paper from the pad. I cut out the flowers, curling the petals and giving them some "lift"..... topped with a big button and jute string bow in the center.

You can see the slight embossing around the edges of the card base--- I used the smallest square in the Spellbinder's Grand Square Dies  to just emboss the frame. In each corner I added a button with a little jute string bow.  Finished card is 5 1/2" square.

• Stamps - All stamps by Outlines: E-91 Dotted Flower Large,  D-92 Dotted Flower Medium
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Heat Embossed with Clear EP
• Paper: Cosmo Cricket's Wanted 6x6 paper pad, Black, Kraft
• Other: Polka Dot CB Folder, Spellbinder's Grand Square Dies, Jute String, Bow Easy Tool

IO Challenge - Pick a favorite....

The Impression Obsession Challenge for this week was to pick a favorite image and make a card with it. As always you can participate in the challenge too, check out the Impression Obsession Blog for all the details on how to play and win a gift certificate too! Also you can find links to all the other Design Teams posts... can't wait to see what favorites they picked!

When I saw this challenge -- I could not imagine picking a favorite image. Sure, I like some images more than others maybe, but a favorite? Too many favorites. Then I decided I would look through my stash and find my most dirty inky stamp, thinking that would mean it was really a favorite being so well used, lol. BUT then I came across this one, which was pretty well stained and I actually remembered buying it specifically, long, long before I was a part of the Design Team. I had not inked it up in quite some time... and that was how I made my choice. IO has a huge Nautical Section of Stamps and I especially fell in love with the shells and the ocean sentiments/quotes. 

Here are the Copics I used to color the shell. I used E000 just to highlight around the edges on the base shell. The colored shell will be popped up over it.

If you know me.... very rarely.... if EVER, do I leave white space. I always have to fight to not cover every inch! I am really trying to be better with that!! And I didn't plan on it being this WHITE, but when I tried to add a little extra - ribbon, pearls... it just didn't quite look right on the card. SO I left it very white, with the embossing from a Spellbinder's Die really the only extra that I did. After the second shell was cut out, I gently curled it around my fingers so it would not be flat. I then adhered it over the first stamping using dimensional silicone.

Here is a link to an much older post in 2009 that I used another image of a shell, but the same sentiment..... and not an inch of white space was left on that card, lol!!!

• Stamps: All stamps by Impression Obsession- D4368 Listen, D4363 Spiral Shell
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar WHite, Peach Vellum, Black
• Other: Spellbinder's Custom Dies for JustRite, Copics, Dimensional Silicone

'Round the Corner.....

It's Monday, which means it's time for another Outlines Challenge. This week it was about keeping all the corners rounded. Check out what every one cooked up this week:  Bev Gerard, Jeanne Streiff, Lisa Silver, Robin Kirkpatrick, Sandy Hulsart and Vicki Garrett.

I die cut just a portion of the larger Easter Birdies image, cutting it out with a Round Nestie. I used more Nesties to add layers. Foam tape is behind a few of the layers adding dimension.

Of course.... Copics!

 To create the sky... I colored the background with B01, and then used a towel and the Blender Solution to blot the sky, giving it a bit of a textured look. After doing that, I continued on and colored the rest of the image.

After putting all the layers together, I added a few Light Rose Swarovski Crystals on just one side of the scallops, bringing in a little more pink. Finished card size is 5" square. 

• Stamps: Easter Birdies by Outlines
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Blue DP by Jillibean Soup-Spotted Owl Soup, Green DP by Bo Bunny, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Kraft
• Other: Spellbinder's Grand Scalloped Circles, Spellbinder's Classic Circles, Misc. Pink RIbbon, Light Rose Swarovski Crystals, Bow Easy Tool