Paper Sweeties January 2016 Inspiration Challenge

Happy New Year! Let's ring in the New Year with an Inspiration Challenge from Paper Sweeties! 

I used Sending Sweet Thoughts Sweet Cuts dies for the cupcake on this card, and heat embossed the cupcake border (from the matching stamp set) along the sides. For sparkle, I added a few Paper Sweeties Frosting Sequins, as well as a bow made with Robin Egg Baker's Twine. The lower edge was punched with a border punch. 

Aren't the colors in this month's challenge pic gorgeous!

Here's another look at the card with the front and back pressed together so you can see the gold cardstock shining through the border punched edge. The cupcake has the same gold as a base, too.

There's that gold foil strip that shows through the front of the card. The sentiment is from the Sending Sweet Thoughts stamp set. After stamping it and coloring the heart in with a dark brown Copic, I used a red gel pen to outline the heart. You can't see it well in the photo, but I backed the sentiment panel with gold foil so it would shine through the die cut zigzag borders.

Be sure to visit the rest of the DT for more inspiration! 

Angel Johns 
Annette Witherspoon

Cheryl Lea - You are here!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties

 Emily Frasier
Jeri Thomas

Jill Norwood

Julie Tucker-Wolek

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett

Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Michele Henderson 
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir
 Nancy Salkeld

January Guest Designer: Lisa Bzibziak

Thanks for stopping by! I hope 2016 is a spectacular year for you!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Your Next Stamp Sketch Challenge #29
613 Avenue Create Challenge #156: Anything Goes

~Hugs,

Supplies Used:

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Gold Floral Casebound Book with Flat Spine

Merry Christmas! I hope you have been enjoying the holiday season! It is difficult for us to get everyone together at once, so we always celebrate Christmas several times before the New Year rings in, but the main event is Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This year will be a little different, though, as it's the first year that my daughter is in on the big Santa secret. It should be interesting.

In the meantime, there are those who have Christmas birthdays, who still need to be celebrated, and that's what this casebound book is for.

This book was a first for me. It has a hard flat spine, and it seemed much more difficult than a rounded spine because I had issues with getting the text block attached to the case in such a way that actually allowed the book to open! I ended up having to cut the first text block out of the case and make another, thicker text block. There is a lot of trial and error when you are a self-taught bookbinder. ;)

Size: 4.5" x  5.5"

# of Sections: 19, with 4 folios each 

# of Pages: 304

Stitches: Kettle, Coptic, French Link over Tapes

Cover Material: Canvas Spine, Chinese Pattern Paper, Cotton Lace

Ribbon Marker: Satin

Thread: Linen (textblock); Silk (headbands)

I made handsewn headbands on the text block using silk thread in red and white, and added an ivory satin bookmark. 

Because of all the setbacks on this book, it will be a couple of days late for my friend's birthday, but I think she'll forgive me. She's sweet like that! Thanks for stopping by, and have a Merry, Merry Christmas!

~Hugs,

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A Fabulous Crazy Bird

Here's the last card of the Crazy Bird set. 

Again, I colored the bird with Copics, and I added Stickles to his wings, and around the rest of the card, since sparkly glitter makes everything so fabulous. He has Glossy Accent eyes. After stamping the sentiment, I used a blue gel pen to scribble around the words. The card design is a Sugar Pea Design sketch, turned sideways.

And, here is a look at the entire set. I'll probably be coloring up some more Crazy Birds soon. This was fun!

Thanks for visiting! 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sugar Sketch Challenge #34
Simon Says Wednesday: Make it Sparkle

~Hugs,

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People Will Stare: Another Crazy Bird Card

I recently got the Technique Junkies sentiment stamp that I used on this card, and couldn't wait to pair it up with this particular Crazy Bird!

I colored this bird with Copics, adding some detail and dimension to the face. You can't see it in the pic, but the red scallops on the wings and tail were colored with a red Spica pen so they have a nice sparkle. I used a white Sharpie paint pen to make the white dots on the bird's body, and gave him some Glossy Accent eyes. After stamping the sentiment, I colored in some of the words with a Copic marker, then sprinkled a few shiny sequins around the card.

Just one more card to post! 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday: Make it Sparkle
613 Avenue Create Challenge #155: Anything Goes
Penny Black and More December Challenge: Anything Goes with a Stamp

~Hugs,

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You're Weird: A Crazy Bird Card

Here's the second of four Crazy Bird cards I made this week. I used the current Your Next Stamp sketch for the card design.

The bird is colored with Copics, and I used a little gesso in the upper left corner before heat embossing the sentiment.  The texture behind the bird is pink Frantage Embossing Enamel, and I also used some silver embossing powder over that and in the opposite corner, over the sentiment. Silver Paper Sweeties sequins filled with blue Pearl Pen gel add sparkle. As with the earlier Fluffy Bird, I used Glossy Accents on the eyes, but on this one, I first used a dot of black Pearl Pen, let that dry, then added a smaller dot of white paint pen, let that dry, then filled the rest of the eye with Glossy Accents.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Your Next Stamp Sketch Challenge #29
Simon Says Wednesday: Make it Sparkle
613 Avenue Create Challenge #155: Anything Goes
Penny Black and More December Challenge: Anything Goes with a Stamp

~Hugs,

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