Gardening Tools

I've been busy since yesterday making cards from the images I colored on vacation, and the image I used on this card is one I've colored unsuccessfully several times over the past few months, but I think I finally colored one acceptable enough for a card!

Isn't this a pretty stamp? It's fabulous for summertime! I love the detail in the tools, and all the elements around it. I colored the image with Copics, adding white highlights with a Prismacolor pencil and a little sparkle on the butterfly with a clear Wink of Stella pen and a black Spica pen. I used a copper Krylon pen around the edge of the Labels 4 die cut and added color inside the die with Distress Ink. The sunflower on the gingham bow is an MFT Die-namics flower. I added black "seeds" in the center of the flower with a black Pearl Pen. This is a rather large card, as I used the 5x7 Elegant Labels 4 die set to cut the layers. I don't normally like cards this large, but it was nice to have plenty of room for embellishing with a big bow and flower. :)

The sentiment on the inside of the card is from JustRite stamps, as is the stamped flourish on the bottom of the panel. After cutting the bottom border with a curved border die, I left the die on the cs, then airbrushed just the bottom area of the panel using the chisel end of a Copic marker, then turned the marker around and added spatters along the edge of the panel using the brush tip.

I've got a couple more cards to post, but probably won't be able to get to them until later tonight. In the meantime, thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of the day!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Impression Obsession Challenge: Colors of Summer
Corrosive Challenge #202: Color Me Happy
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards Challenge #68: Summer Days
The Paper Shelter Challenge #165: Photo Inspiration

~Hugs,

Supplies Used:

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Red Poppy

Before I tell you about my card today, I have to say a BIG thank you to two people:

Back in August, Linda Kaiser had a Silhouette Portrait giveaway on her blog, The Paper Boutique with Linda Kaiser, and I was the lucky winner! I still can't believe it! THANK YOU, LINDA! I haven't put a Silhouette project on my blog yet, but I can tell you, I am having a blast with it! And, for those of you who haven't been to Linda's blog, I highly recommend it. She posts amazing video tutorials and product reviews, her Fab Friday posts are a great way to find out about other amazing blogs, and she has fantastic giveaways! Don't quote me on this, but I think she gives away at least one (maybe two) Silhouette Portraits every month! Who knows, maybe you can win one, too! ;)

And, just one month later, I won the Viva la Verve September Sketch Challenge. The generous prize was a $100 gift card to the Verve store! OMGosh, I've played in that challenge so many times! When I finally saw my name as the winner, I actually had to read it a few times, close out the page, then go back and check it again to make sure it really was me! And, guess what? Julee Tilman, the owner, got the code right to me, I placed my order, and it arrived in my mailbox just 5 days after I won! Now, that's service! THANK YOU, JULEE! I am so excited to be able to use some of my new goodies in my card today! :)


              

The October 2013 Week 2 Viva la Verve Sketch Challenge is also inspiration week. Isn't the inspiration photo pretty? I'm so glad I had chosen to get the Poppy Birthday Stamp Set and Build a Poppy Die Set, because they were perfect for this week's challenge!

I used the color palette from the photo, as well as the poppies, to make my card. The bg cs was embossed with a trellis pattern, then sanded and distressed along the edges. For the teal panel, I used a Corner Chomper on two of the corners, distressed the edges, did just a little sewing on it, then added two green eyelets to the left hand side of the square. The sentiment, from Verve's Wonderfully Made stamp set, was heat embossed in red, on an ivory oval, then I put the die cut back in the die to sponge Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the sentiment. It is popped up onto a Flourishes Victorian Ovals die cut. The pennant border was made with Verve's Pennant Trim die, and I sponged Rusty Hinge Distress Ink along the edges of the pennants as well as around the edges of the card base. The Simon Says Circle Borders die cut was used  for the dots on the lower brown panel.

On the inside, I sponged Vintage Photo onto the personalization panel, added a strip of dp leftover from the front of the card, and dolled it up with a flourish die cut for just a little more color and interest.

I appreciate you stopping by today!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Viva la Verve October 2013 Week 2 Sketch Challenge
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: We're Going Dotty!

~Hugs,

 

Supplies: 

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You Make Me Smile

Hello, and Happy Friday! I hope you had a fab week and are looking forward to an even better weekend! I'm going to be brief here, as I have two more cards to post in a little while. This card was pretty simple to put together, so I won't go much into what I did. The card recipe is at the end of the post.

I made this card for my DD, who recently had her first AR celebration. She earned a whopping 440 points! It took her about 3 months to do that last year! Needless to say we are really proud of her.

I love this sweet image, and it colored up nicely, but I have to confess that the "dirt" was not my original intention. I've been working on my shading, and it didn't go too well on this image, so rather than have it look like bruises, I turned my mess into dirt. It ended up being cute, but for a sec there, I thought I was going to have to start all over! :) I used a sketch from the September 2013 Week 2 Viva la Verve Sketch Challenge for the layout of the card.

The swirl background on the inside of the card was made with Faded Jeans Distress Ink and a swirl stencil.

That's it...short and sweet! I'll be back later with another card. 

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Viva la Verve Sketch Challenge VLVSep2013, Week 2

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

~Hugs,

 

Supplies:

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Kitchen Sponge Flower & Altered Journal

Hi Friends! I hope you had a great week! Can you believe it's already spring? It had started getting nice and warm here last week, so I packed up my DD's winter clothes, and suddenly it's cold again! Brrrrr! I'm ready for some heat! :) Pining for warmer weather got me in the mood to create something bright and cheery--spring-like.

I saw today that Tim Holtz was having a Tattered Floral Challenge, and since I actually have that die, I decided to see what I could come up with. I wanted to try something different, so I got out a new kitchen sponge and ran it through my Big Shot with the Tattered Floral die. It came out squished flat, but after I colored it with Distress Inks I spritzed it with water which intensified the ink colors and made the flower/sponge expand. The burlap flowers were originally ivory. They were colored with Dylusions Ink Sprays. The entire flower is held together with a large jeweled brad.

I used the Viva la Verve March 2013 Week 4 Challenge sketch for my layout. The main sentiment is a Verve stamp, and the Artist and Voyage stamps are from Stamper's Anonymous. They are all embossed with brown ep.

I added some flourishes, which I adorned with Stickles, and a couple of clay embellishments, which I first sprayed with glossy paint.

Since Washi tape is translucent, and the spine was originally black, I sprayed the spine with white primer before I started adhering things to the book. After decorating the covers (I covered the back of the book with one of the dp's that I used on the front cover), I used several different Washi tapes to cover the spine.

Here's a look at the back.

That's all there was to it. I love how it turned out--especially my sponge flower. You'll be seeing sponges in another project again soon, I'm sure! ;)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a fantastic weekend!

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Tim Holtz Tattered Floral Challenge
Viva la Verve March 2013 Week 4 Challenge (VLVMar2013)
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Easter/Spring
Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge: Water
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge #212: Bring On Spring (FTTC212)

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Words of Wisdom (Verve); Classics #1 (Stamper's Anonymous); Vintage Traveler, Under Lock & Key (Our Craft Lounge)
Paper: Que Sera Sera (K&Co); Summer Song (My Mind's Eye); Glitter cs (Studio 18)
Ink: Distress Ink; Versamark; Dylusions Ink Spray
Dies: Tattered Florals, Elegant Flourishes (Tim Holtz/Sizzix)
Accessories: Edge punch (Recollections); Zing embossing powder; Corner Chomper; kitchen sponge; brad; Washi tape; rhinestones; sewing thread; Pearl Pen; Stickles; Liquid Pearls; burlap; clay embellishments; spray paint (for clay embellies); composition book

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Friendship and a Blue Flower

I wanted to get just one more card in today for the SCS Love Fest Challenge so I got this one made in under two hours! Pretty much a miracle for me. This card is for the Die Crazy Challenge (LOVEFEST2013E), sponsored by Simon Says Stamps.

I used this past week's Mojo Monday sketch #281 for the layout. To save time, I chose just one paper pad to work with and stuck with only two colors plus white. I love light blue and red together, but I don't think I've ever made a card with that color palette. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. 

Here's a look at the inside.

I'm entering this card in the following challenge:

Splitcoaststampers Love Fest Challenge: LOVEFEST2013E (Die Crazy, sponsored by Simon Says Stamp)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!

~Hugs,

Stamps: Friendship (Quietfire); Wild Daisy Rd (Heidi Grace); Zinnias (Flourishes)
Paper: Avalon (Bazzill Basics) 
Ink: Distress Ink; Memento; Sharpie marker
Dies: Std Circles Lg, Reverse Wonky Rectangles (Spellbinders); Rolled Mum Die-namics (My Favorite Things)
Accessories: Ribbon; Felt; paper leaves; pearl; sewing thread
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Merry & Bright Joy!

Hi Friends! I've got a Christams card to share with you tonight.


I used the Mojo Monday 261 sketch as my jumping-off-point. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be in a mad rush very soon to make enough Christmas cards for this year, so I guess it's time to get busy.

The "Joy" and dove stamps are from Taylored Expressions. I first sponged Distress Ink inside the die, then stamped the dove in copper Colorbox ink. When I stamped the "Joy" sentiment, I stamped it three times, in red, green, and brown ink, offsetting the stamp just a little bit each time. Then, I stamped it one more time, with clear embossing ink and used clear embossing powder. It's subtle, but pretty, and looks a little like wax on top of the copper colored dove stamp.

The horizontal strip is a piece of scrap corrugated cardboard. I sprayed it with Dylusions Ink Spray, and, after drying, I added a little bit of Perfect Pearls Mist. Rather than cut the end of the strip into points, I chose to just tear it. 

You might notice that my velvet ribbon doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the card, like it does in the sketch. That was on purpose, because I didn't want to cover up the Merry & Bright text on the dp. 

I worked, for a long time, trying to get the red flower to look right in the photos, and this is as close as I could get. IRL, it is a very rich, but vivid cranberry color. This is more of that fab felt from My Favorite Things. I added some red Stickles to the edges of some of the petals, and gold Stickles to the center. It's hard to see the stick pin, but it's in the upper right corner. It's one I made myself. :)

I used Dylusions Ink Sprays to color the Splendid Circle die cut, which started out as white card stock. I added several festive colors of Stickles around the edge of the die cut, as well as gold Stickles around the perimeter of the stamped circle. 

I usually decorate the inside of my cards, but I haven't done that to this one yet. If I do, I'll edit this post and add a photo of it later. 

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Mojo Monday 261 (MOJO261)

Simon Says Stamp Celebrates World Card Making Day

Simon Says Stamp: Glimmer & Sparkle

52 Card Pickup: Week 40

Charisma Cardz Challenge #39: Badda Bing!

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #226 (PWC226): Flowers!

 

Stamps: Christmas Blessings (Taylored Expressions)
Paper: Lost & Found Christmas (My Mind's Eye); corrugated cardboard
Ink: Colorbox; Distress Ink; Memento; clear embossing ink
Dies: Splendid Circles, Std Circles Lg, Classic Scalloped Circles Lg (Spellbinders); Die-namics Royal Leaves, Die-namics Mini Royal Roses (My Favorite Things)
Accessories: Clear embossing powder; Dylusions Ink Spray; Stickles; Perfect Pearls Mist; felt (My Favorite Things); pin; beads; foam dots; sewing thread; Glossy Accents; velvet ribbon; Distrezz-it-All
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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You Make Me Smile!

Happy 4th of July, Friends! Lots of BBQ's and picnics happening today! Hope you are having a blast! For us, today is a prep day, as our DD's 8th birthday is tomorrow. Her birthday tends to be spread out over several days because it falls so close to a summer holiday, when most people are already busy or even out of town. This year, my DH and I will be taking her to her favorite restaurant tomorrow night (Olive Garden--that girl is nuts about fettucini!), then Saturday we'll be at my mother's house for a family fete, with a cookout and swimming, and at the end of July, my DD and I, along with one of her best buds and his mother will be spending the night inside the Georgia Aquarium! We're hoping to get to sleep next to the whale shark tank!

I made a Tinkerbell card a couple of months ago that I was going to give to my DD for her birthday, and I still may give it to her on Saturday, but I've been wanting to make a wall hanging for awhile, so I decided to make a wall hanging for my DD as her birthday card. I also have an adorable Elisabeth Bell stamp that I recently won in a Crafty Friends Challenge that has been calling out to me and it seemed perfect for what I had in mind.

There's quite a bit going on here. I used a piece of corrugated cardboard for the base, did some painting and sewing, distressed the edges, added lots of bling and die cuts. Almost all the papers are digital papers from Cupcake Cards & Crafts. The sentiment was heat embossed with pink embossing powder.

Mojo Monday's sketch this week (#248) was perfect for this project. As you can see, I did rotate it 90 degrees.

I colored Chloe with Copic markers. For the clouds, I just punched circles out of sticky paper to use as a mask, then used my airbrush with my Copics for the sky. I edged the underside of the clouds with a gray marker. I made the apples in the basket green, because Granny Smith apples are my DD's fav! I added a little bit of sparkle with Stickles on the lace on Chloe's shirt, as well as the green dots on her headband.

I made the flower with the Rose Creations Spellbinders dies and backed it with a Memory Box die cut called Delicate Dahlia. I love that die cut! You can also see the Bird Flourish die cut really well in this photo. 

My DD is really sweet, and loves anything I make, but I think she is really going to like this--especially since she can hang it in her room! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic 4th!!!

I'd like to enter this creation in the following challenges:

Mojo Monday 248 Sketch Challenge

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge FTTC176: Summer

Cupcake Craftroom July Challenge: Layers

Whimsy Stamps Inspiration Challenge 46: Anything Goes

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Chloe by Elisabeth Bell (Whimsy Stamps); Simply You by Ali Edwards (Technique Tuesday)
Paper: Cardboard; Mango Frost Matstock (DCWV); Sweet Gingham, Houndstooth, Flourish, Minty Freebie (Cupcake Cards & Crafts Digi Paper)
Ink: Copic markers; Distress Ink; Memento; white gel pen
Dies: Rose Creations, Labels Fourteen, Floral Doily Accent, Fancy Tags Three, Bird Flourishes (Spellbinders); Delicate Dahlia (Memory Box)
Accessories: Scallop Diamond Edger (EK Success); embossing powder (Zing); tulle ribbon; sheer ribbon; cotton lace; acrylic paint; paper crimper; rhinestones; mini round gem; button; brad; eyelets; Glossy Accents; Stickles; Liquid Pearls; sewing thread, foam dots
Size: 7" x 9"

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Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge #148: Glad We're Friends

Hello Friends! It's time for the Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge and Meljen's Designs is our sponsor this week. They have some really cute images and you can even get some of them pre-colored for those times when you need to make a card quickly.

Kathy has given us a sketch that is perfect for using your favorite stamp as a focal point.

I wasn't able to use a Meljen's image this week, so I chose a Flourishes pansy stamp, that I hadn't inked up before, to make a card for a friend whom I'm going to visit in Texas in a couple of days. I just love all the beautiful colors that pansies come in. After coloring the image with my Copics, I masked it and used my Copic air brush system to color the background in a light blue, then used the pointy brush end of a dark pink Copic marker in my air brush to spray "dots" of ink over the blue. I didn't know exactly what to expect, but I love how it turned out! 

For the white trim, I used a paper piercer to add holes around the perimeter of the crocheted circle die cut and also the border alongside the yellow gingham dp. To tie everything together, I accented the image with a black cs layer and used small pieces of black cs behind the diamond shaped openings along the border.

The inside is fairly plain, expect for the coordinating pansy bookplate stamp that I stamped in the corner, in Scattered Straw Distress Ink.

Be sure to check out the rest of the DT's inspiring work at the Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge blog, then create your own masterpiece and link it up for a chance to win!

Also, Melissa is holding a DT call, so if you're interested, check out the details here!

I'll be entering this card in the following challenges:
Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful BBB22: Beauty of the Garden
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge: Anything Goes
Gingerloft Challenge 41 GL41: Circles and More Circles
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #104: Pocket Full of Posies

Thanks for stopping by today, and enjoy the rest of the week!

~Hugs!

 

Stamps: Botanical Bookplates Vol. 2 (Flourishes)
Paper: The Basics (Paper Studio)
Ink: Copic markers; Memento; Distress Ink
Dies: Std. Circles Sm., Fancy Tags, Lattice Border (Spellbinders); Crocheted Circle Die (Our Daily Bread)
Accessories: Fleur de Lis edge punch (EK Success); Paper Lace II embossing folder (Cuttlebug); ribbon (Taylored Expressions; paper piercer; Copic air brush system; rhinestones; foam dots
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Lavender Daisy and a Tote

Hello again...I'm baaaack! I've got one more card to share with you today, as well as a sewing project. I'll start with the sewing project, as I only have one photo for that.


I made this quilted tote bag for a friend I met when I first started my blog, about nine months ago--Hi, Heather! (I posted a similar tote bag here, where you can also find a link for the free pattern, but I used French seams inside this one so the seam edges are enclosed.) Heather probably has no idea how much she helped me back then, answering all kinds of questions, critiquing my blog, and giving me encouragement when I thought I was never going to get blogging or cardmaking figured out. I've still got a lot to learn, but at least now I know it's not impossible. Thanks for getting me through the hardest part, Girl!!! Couldn't have done it without you! :D I'll get this in the mail to you on Monday.


Now on to the card.

I used the colors from The Play Date Cafe Challenge #129, of Dusk, Magenta, and Seedling--a luscious palette!

I stamped the daisy with Staz On ink, then used chalk and a wet paintbrush to color it. The edges of the image panel were torn with a deckle ruler, then I sponged Distress Ink on it. The lavender and green panels are all dry embossed. The bg layer was embossed with a Sizzix embossing plate. It's subtle, but you can see the squares if you look closely.

I made an envelope for this card using my Martha Stewart Scoreboard. Because the paper is patterned, I added pieces of solid cardstock for the mailing address and return address, and the scalloped border is decorative.

The inside is partially lined with paper that coordinates with the card. I really like making matching envelopes for my cards, but they are too time-consuming to do it often. 

Well, that will do it for me tonight.

I'll be entering this card in the following challenges:

Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC129: Dusk Magenta, Seedling

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Moving Along with the Times: Garden or Flowers

Pixie Dust Studio Challenge #124: Embossing

Little Darlings Challenges: Flower Challenge

Thanks for stopping by...again! :)

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Watercolor Daisy (Hampton Art)
Paper: Best of Brenda Walton (K&Co); watercolor paper
Ink: Distress Ink; Staz On
Accessories: Chalk; deckle ruler; Real Estate Sign Large punch, Scallop Diamond Edge punch (EK Success); Corner Chomper; Swiss Dot embossing folder, Script Texture embossing folder (Cuttlebug); Squares embossing plate (Sizzix); twine (The Twinery); foam dots; scoreboard (for envelope)
Size: A6 (4.5" x 6.25")

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