Hallow's Eve

 I love making Halloween cards and eeeked this one tonight... short on time, so it's kind of a quickie with no Copics. Crazy4Challenges is all about Halloween cards this week, so I'm linking it up there! Check out the challenge details here: Crazy4Challenges - C4C106. I reaalllly want to start playing in more challenges!! 

I embossed my orange die cut with the Spider Web CB Folder. I then inked it up using my mini brayer (2" brayer). I find the little brayer inks up embossed CB designs beautifully. I find the large brayer is too heavy and it gets ink where it should not.

Note - I also have a heavy hand, so maybe the large brayer will work just fine for you if you have a lighter touch!  

Here's a close up, nothing too fancy going on. I cut a circle frame out of black paper using Nesties. The "All Hallow's Eve" circle is edges with a Tangerine cat's eye. I layered it up with Authentique's 6x6 Paper Pad  "Glowing". You will be seeing more of this... cause it is FAB! I foofoo'ed it up a bit with a bow and a few layers to finish it up. 

• Stamps: All Hallow's Eve Clear Set CL284
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black to ink brayer
• Paper: Authentique's Glowing, Neenah Baronial Ivory, Black, Orange
• Other: CB Folder -Spider Web, Spellbinder's Labels 12, Bow Easy Tool, Ivory Seam Binding Ribbon, Spellbinder's Circle Nesties

Outlines -Pick a Flower

The Outlines Monday Challenge is here. This week the theme is "Pick a Flower". As always you can play along with the Design Team for a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate, check out all the rules on the Outlines Blog. 

See what the team created this week....  Lisa Silver - Robin Kirkpatrick - Sandy Hulsart - Kecia Waters - Sue Kment - Jeanne Strieff

 Outlines has  a zillion flower stamps that make such easy and fun cards! I decided to challenge myself and pull out my Graphic 45 Steampunk papers. I love the G45 Collections, but I sometimes struggle with putting them together and... they are so beautiful that I hate cutting them up!!!

 You can see here the paper I chose to stamp the flowers on. I stamped with Memento Black ink and then added a few colored stripes to them, and then cutting them out.

Here is a close up, side view of the flower. I used Spellbinder's Postage Stamp Nesties for one of the layers.... which gave me a perfect little spot to drop a crystal (Swarovski Light Peach - Size 9) in to! I curled the flower petals and the leaves, using Dimensional Silicone to pop them up. My final step was to add a large gold pearl in the center with the Gold Viva Pearl Pen!

• Stamps: E-657 Striped Petals Large, D-658 Striped Petals Medium, E-1046 Posy Leaf Two
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Graphic 45 8x8 Steampunk Debutante, Neenah Classic Baronial Ivory Card Stock
• Other: Spellbinder's Postage Stamps Nesties, Viva Decor Gold Pen, Picksey Pick Ups, Swarovski Light Peach Size 9 Crystals, Foam Tape, Perfect Layers Rulers,

Perfect Layer Rulers! Available Again!

For many many years I have been using a product called "Perfect Layer Rulers". This product was sold on QVC and HSN during Scrap Booking Specials and even was available from Stampin Up! for a year. I often shared this product with people. Then they were no longer available from those avenues and kind of disappeared for awhile. You could find them on eBay occasionally... but not too often. It was hard to share a product with a stamp friend, only to then tell them that I'm sorry they are not available.

Well, now they are back and available!

I'm thrilled to share them with you and share a discount code that you can use!!!!

You know I like the layers on cards!!! And using Perfect Layers is what makes the layers happen! The rulers are clear so you can see through them. Each side of the ruler has a little lip or an edge on it, each lip is a different measurement.... 1/16, 3/16, 5/16" 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 5/8", 3/4" and 1". When you want a to layer something it takes all the measuring and fussing about even edges edges right out of the process. 

 I started here with a black rectangle and adhered it to red paper. Another great thing is that you can use up your uneven paper scraps so easily with this tool! Line the ruler up to the side of the black paper, the lip catches at 1/16" width (or another width that you choose) and run your Xacto knife along the edge for a clean and even cut every time!

I added a 1/16" red edge, then a 3/16"ivory edge and finally a 1/8" red edge. The combinations for layers on cards are endless. If you see straight layered edges on my card... I used these rulers!

You can use this LINK to view a video and purchase your set of Perfect Layer Rulers!

Use the promo code jgropp5% when you checkout! 

You will save 5% on the rulers and get flat rate priority shipping. Before the discount a set of rulers is $26.99.... so it's tool that you can use over and over and does not break the bank! 

Please feel free to post any questions in the comment section or email directly with any questions! Please remember to use the special code above to get a discount and shipping special and I also get a wee bit of credit too!

Have a Sweet Holiday!

 I love this sweet little birdie! He was an easy image to color... brown bird and red accents, easy peasy! This was a new image released at Summer CHA from Artist Gail Green.   Her stamps already have some shading and I find them even easier and more forgiving of my mistakes when I color! You can find more images from Gail using this link. I found this little candy candy print in my stash and knew it would be a cute pairing with this birdie. I'm totally in to making shaped cards with my Spellbinder's Grands and I also broke out a new Nestie to frame the little birdie today too... Labels 22. My card base is red card stock that is folded and then die cut... I used the same label to cut the red swirls paper and covered the front of the card... hiding the fold line.

 You can see what Copics I used above... I airbrushed with B52 while my die was still in the Nestie and outlined the inside of the frame with a black Micron Pen. I didn't mask the image when I airbrushed... I try to be careful and then I removed any blue (or as much as I could) using my blender pen. 

The red swirly paper has glitter in it... and is sparkly and fun in person. I added two black pearl dots for the eyes and I also coated the candy cane with Glossy Accents. The main image panel is popped up with foam tape too. The Sweet Holiday sentiment I hand cut in to a little banner shape and gave it a little curl with my fingers... I used a dab of Dimensional Silicone underneath it to keep it raised and curved.

• Stamps: All stamps by Impression Obsession - B7654 Have a Sweet Holiday, E7614 Snowbird with Candy Cane
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Printed Papers from SEI's 6x6 Kris Kringle paper pad, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Red card stock (base card)
• Other: Ribbon by SU, Bow Easy Tool, Viva Decor Pearl Pen Black, Black Micron Pen, Spellbinder's Labels 22, Spellbinder's Grand Labels One

It's BLOG HOP time with Impression Obsession!

 If you haven't already noticed, IO introduced a new line of stamps in our new 2011 Fall-Winter catalog called Zenspirations, designed by Joanne Fink. Today, the Design Team is having a Zenspirations Blog Hop. You will need to leave a comment on this post and the following blogs.... 

Impression Obession Blog

Julie
Laura

Dina

Daniela

Jenny ---> you are here!!

If you visit all of us and leave a comment you will then be in a drawing for a $25 Gift Certificate. The drawing will be held at 10 p.m. tonight. If you want to see the entire Zenspirations Collection of stamps, please check them out using this link ---> Zenspiration. You will find them unique and different from anything else!

This is the Angels set "I Believe in Angels" that I used.

You can see here, I stamped the image twice. Here are the Copics I used to color the angel medallion.

I stamped the " I believe in Angels" sentiment along a yellow border. The card is several layers and borders mixed together. I added a border punch along the bottom edge. I used 1/16"and 1/8" Black Rainbow Tape to border the edges of the patterned paper strips. Between the layers of the angel medallion I added foam tape to give it some dimension. Ribbon and metal adhesive nail heads to embellish... Finished card size is an A2.

• Stamps: by Impression Obsession - CL334 I believe in Angels Stamp Set
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Authentique's 6x6 Paper Pad - Blissful, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Grey
• Other: Spellbinder's Circle Nesties, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Adhesive Black Nail Heads, White RIbbon by SU, Bow Easy Tool, Black Rainbow Tape 

Boo!

Today the Serendipity DT is showing off Halloween themed projects and we our challenge was to use yarn or floss somewhere on them. Check out more Halloween images from Serendipity ---> HERE!

See what spooky treats the other ladies came up with: 

Amy - Anya - Kathie - Miriam - Linda 

 This cutesy little spider made me smile while I created this card. The real live kind of spiders bring NO smiles.... YUK. But this guy is cute and fun for a Halloween card! I cut a folded card base from black card stock using Spellbinder's Grand Labels 23. Then using the same label die I cut a panel from the Halloween paper. I used a Micron Pen to trace the inside of the die before removing the paper and then colored the framed edge with a black marker. I adhered the panel to the folded card base... cut from the same die, they match up perfectly and it hides the fold marks in the card base.

 I stamped the spider and sentiment, then cut it out with Labels 23. I repeated the same framing process, coloring the edge black. I airbrushed around the edge using Y32.  I stamped the spider a second time and cut the head out with zig zag scissors. Just a few Copics to add some color to Mr. Spider. 

I made a multi looped bow with variegated embroidery floss and added a hanging string. The second stamped head got rounded from the backside to add some dimension. I added the popped up head with dimensional silicone. This card size ends up being an A2 in size.

• Stamps: #1226 QCL Spider Cling Set by Serendipity Stamps
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Black, Authentique 6x6 Pad "Glowing"
• Other: Embroidery Floss, Bow Easy Tool, Ultimate GLue, Foam Tape, Dimensional Silicone, Spellbinder's Labels 23, Spellbinder's Grand Labels 23, Copics/ABS, Decorative Scissors, Black Micron Pen

Outlines Moday Challenge - Lots of Layers.

The Outlines Monday Challenge is here. This week is all about using lots of layers on our projects. As always you can play along with the Design Team for a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate, check out all the rules on the Outlines Blog. 

See what the team created this week....  Lisa Silver - Robin Kirkpatrick - Sandy Hulsart - Kecia Waters - Sue Kment - Jeanne Strieff

 I definitely used lots of layers... counting from the bottom of the card base to the smallest butterfly I have eleven layers. I guess I was in a girly mood with my colors and creating, this card certainly could not go to a man. The butterfly is part of a trio and I used just the largest one to create with. You can see the whole stamp here.

 I chose Authentique's 6x6 Paper Bundle "Uncommon" to create with. I stamped the large butterfly three times, cutting out the individual layers as shown. I colored the bodies using a black Copic. I just got my hands on new Nesties, so I had to throw one of those in the mix too. I used Spellbinder's Tear Drop Circles and airbrushed R20 around the edges before removing it from the die.

I built the butterfly up using Dimensional Silicone in between each wing. Since the butterfly had lots of dimension, I used two layers of foam tape to pop up the tiny sentiment. I cut it out and embossed the sentiment with Spellbinder's Nested Frames Die (this die was created by Spellbinders for JustRite).A few crystals around the edge f the circle to embellish and of course A BOW! I also used the Viva Cream Peal Pen to add a few little pearl touches on the wings.

• Stamps: by Outlines H-1192 Fanciful, AA-858 Tiny Thinking of You
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, 
• Paper: Authentique's 6x6 Paper Bundle "Uncommon", Ivory, Black
• Other: Spellbinder's Tear Drop Circles, Spellbinder's Scalloped Circles, Spellbinder's Circles, Spellbinder's Nested Frames, Ivory Ribbon by SU, Bow Easy Tool, Foam Tape, Ultimate Glue, Swarovski Crystals Size 9 Clear, Dimensional Silicone, Viva Pearl Pens - Cream

It's your day....

The Timeless Tuesday Flourishes Challenge #135 this week was a shaped card... anything but the standard A2 sized card. I used Spellbinder's Grand Scalloped Squares to create my folded card. I had not inked up these daisy stamps in a long time.... they were crying for some inky love. I was a little short on time, I chose an image that I did have to spend an hour on with detailed coloring. I knew I was going to leave the daisies white. Of course they are Gerber Daisies and can be any color of the rainbow if you wanted to color them. The sentiment is from the Hollyhocks Stamp Set.

 I stamped the daisies and cut the image down to a square shape, leaving space in the right top for a small sentiment. Just a few Copics to add color. I used C1 and Y000 around the flowers, making the white flowers stand out. I also used the Blender Pen to soften the edges of the halo, which I left out of my picture.

Lotsa layers... I have been drooling over new paper pads from Authentique and this is where the yellow printed paper came from.... Authentique's 6x6 Paper Pad - Blissful. A white bow to give it a girly touch and silver pearl embellishments around the scallops. The main image panel is popped up with foam tape.

• Stamps: by Flourishes - Gerber Daisies Stamp Set, Hollyhocks Stamp Set
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Yellow, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Black, Authentique's 6x6 Paper Pad - Blissful
• Other: Bow Easy, Silver Adhesive Pearls, White Ribbon by SU, Spellbinder's Grand Scalloped Squares, Foam Tape, Copics, Ultimate Glue

IO - Fall

The Impression Obsession DT Challenge this week is all about fall. Check out the IO Blog to play along in our challenge... as always you can play along with us for a chance to win $25 to shop at IO. Check out the IO Blog to find links to all the folks showing off fall designs today. 

 My thinking.... Fall = Halloween = Black cats!

I changed up the stamp a bit, cutting out just a portion using Spellbinder's Labels 11. I used another image to add the Halloween Definition along the side of the image. 

This is the full image...

 Here are the Copics I used to color the image. I stamped on Neenah Natural White paper, which is actually ivory in color.

I used foam tape to pop the image panel. I paired up the image with printed papers from Authentique's 6x6 Collection: Glowing. Added a few layers and some embellishments to finish it up. It's always hard for me to put something at an angle... I'm such a straight line person.... I love it when I see other peoples cards.. but it always looks weird to me when I do it! 

• Stamps: CL285 A Bump in the Night Clear Set, H1838 Jack with House 
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Authentique 6x6 Collection Glowing, Neenah Classic Natural White, Black, Orange
• Other: Misc. Ribbon, Black Brads, Bow Easy Tool, Copics, Spellbinder's Labels 11, Foam Tape, Ultimate Glue

Outlines -Feeling like fall....

This week the Outlines Team is showing off fall images. As always you can join along with our challenge for a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate. Check out the Challenge Rules on the Outlines Blog. Check out what everybody created this week and what pictures they chose to work with.... 

Kecia Waters -  Lisa Silver - Robin Kirkpatrick - Sandy Hulsart - Sue Kment - Jeanne Streiff

I chose the Autumn Split Layering Collage to create with this week. The layering collages are great to cut up and use pieces, making unlimited possibilities to create different looking cards. But this time I used the stamp in it's entirety. A few layers and embellishments to complete the card.... I added Viva Pearl Pens to accent the image and also add small yellow pearls along the punched border.

Here you can see the Copics I chose to work with on the image. Sometimes using a large stamp I can get overwhelmed using too many colors... so when doing something like this I will choose my color selection, keeping it to a minimum of choices. Using a smaller selection of colors keeps me on track and I think lends to it looking a little more cohesive.

• Stamps - I-793 Split Layering Collage - Autumn by Outlines
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Misc. Dp, Brown, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White
• Other: Viva Pearl Pens - Sunny Yellow and Brown, Bow Easy Tool, Copic Markers, Adhesive Jewels, Felt Ribbon by SU, Martha Punch Border

Christmas Serendipity

The Serendipity Team Challenge today is to show off some Christmas cards. Check out the the great collection of Holiday Stamps that Serendipity has to offer! See what the other ladies created today:

Amy - Anya - Kathie - Linda - Miriam

 I inked up the Bells with Holly image and went to work coloring it with my Copics. It's got a lot of detail, but it does not take any time at all to color! I framed it using Spellbinder's Mega Classic Scalloped Ovals Large and the Mega Ovals Large. I added some teensy green gems along the red oval's edge.

 Here are the Copics I used to color the image. You can see I used the out of the box technique with my Nestie... leaving a few of the leaves peeking out of the oval shape.

I used a Cuttlebug Folder to add some embossing on the red strip and popped the ovals up with a bit of foam tape. I added some Glossy Accents over the red berries to help them stand out. 

• Stamps: by Serendipity Stamps - Bells with Holly
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Holly paper from Authentique's 6x6 pad "Wonder", Red, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White (ivory)
• Other: Spellbinder's Mega Ovals and Mega Scalloped Ovals, Adhesive Green Gems, Holly CB Folder, Glossy Accents

Hollyhocks

 I love to sit down and just get lost in coloring. I did just that with these Hollyhocks from Flourishes. I googled Hollyhocks first... to check what color I should make them and found that they can be just about any color of the rainbow!

 Here are the Copic Markers I used to color the flowers. Adding a simple mat with salmon colored card stock.

After I assembled the card I added Glossy Accents to all the flowers. With all the swirly black pearls on the card, I wanted to make sure that the flowers still stood out as the main image.  I used the Bow Easy to make a black bow from seam binding ribbon. The sentiment is popped up with foam tape. 

• Stamps: Hollyhocks by Flourishes
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Salmon Card Stock, DP by Basic Grey 6x6 Indian Summer Paper Pad, Black
• Other: 1/16" Black Rainbow Tape, Adhesive Black Crystals, Spellbinder's Circles and Scalloped Circles, Glossy Accents, Foam Tape, Bow Easy, Black Seam Binding Ribbon

Outlines - Picture this Challenge!

This week the theme for Outlines is "Picture This"... to use a picture in our project for the week. You can always play along with the Outlines Challenges every week... find out all the details on the Outlines Blog! Check out what everybody created this week and what pictures they chose to work with.... 

Kecia Waters -  Lisa Silver - Robin Kirkpatrick - Sandy Hulsart - Sue Kment - Jeanne Streiff

 I chose the picture first.... which in turn led to very PINK card stock that I used. I was shocked to even find this bright pink paper in my stash. When did I buy it and what was I thinking? Anyway... I was glad to have one sheet of the shocking pink as it was the only pink paper I had that was a close match!

 I used the Large Poppy Flower to create a simply stamped background on the card base. 

I cut apart a die cut from Spellbinder's Fancy Tags Two to add a decorative edge to the black mat frame. I used bakers twine to create a loopy bow embellishment.

• Stamps by Outlines: G-105 Large Striped Poppy, B-603 Nature's Delight 
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Black, Pink
• Other: Spellbinder's Fancy Tags Two, Baker's Twine by the Twinery, Bow Easy Tool, Polka Dot CB Folder, Adhesive Gems, Foam Tape

IO Challenge - Birthday Bash and a Blog Hop!

The Impression Obsession Team is all about birthday cards today! As always you can play along with us! A couple of things today..... the challenge is open to all of you who want to join in, and this challenge stays open until next Wednesday evening, September 7, at 10 p.m. with a drawing for a $25 Gift Certificate for use in our ONLINE STORE. 

You can find all the details and also link up your card on the Impression Obsession Blog! 

ALSO......

 The next Happy Birthday we are celebrating all month long, belongs to Operation Write Home as of September 12, 2007. You can read all about it HERE. To help them celebrate we are having a Blog Hop for TODAY ONLY and we will be having a second drawing for a $25 Gift Certificate for use in our ONLINE STORE. To be eligible for the drawing you must: Leave a comment on the IO blog about your favorite NEW IO stamp (you can view our new catalog HERE), and Leave a comment on EACH DT member's blog post for today's challenge

All of your comments must be finished by midnight, 12:00 a.m. EST, tonight.Random.org will pick the winner tomorrow morning and the winner will be announced in a post here between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. EST. Here are the other blogs you need to visit and leave a comment:

Dina  - Laura - Julie - Jeanne - Daniela - Impression Obsession Blog

I met a friend for lunch today (Sue!) and she showed me some adorable little flowers she had made using punches. She said she saw it online but I can't find the link.... or I would definitely give credit! But I came home inspired to work at least one of those little mini flowers in to my card! And you can see it added on top of the bow. It is three flower punches all the same size... crumpled up from the center and then nested together with a dab of Ultimate Glue. One more large flower punch using green card stock makes a base for the flower. The size of the flowers are perfect for a card! 

 I used Copics to add some quick color to the stamped image... R39, R37 and G28. Simple layers and some black jewels to embellish! Finished card size is an A2.

• Stamps: H2438 Watermelon Bugs, CL342 Greeting Card Sentiments Set
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Red, Black, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White
• Other: Black Crystals, Bow Easy Tool, Twine from the Twinery, Punches by the Punch Bunch and Carl, Spellbinder's Ovals and Scalloped Ovals, Copics, CB folder by SU