Snips & snails

Hi there! I've got a cute baby boy card for you today. I don't often have an occasion to make a baby card--especially a boy one--so I was glad to see the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 127. It's perfect for a baby card, which I need for a shower next weekend.

Remember the nursery rhyme about what little boys and little girls are made of? Well, I could--sort of. So, I looked it up to be sure. It used to be "snips and snails and puppy dog tails" for the boys, but according to Wikipedia, the modern version is "frogs and snails...." If I'd wanted to use a frog stamp, I may have gone with the modern version, but luckily, I had a snail stamp because I prefer the alliteration in the original version best. I printed the rhyme on a transparency, then rubbed it onto the cardstock. I love being able to do that!

It's hard to see in the photo, but the blue panel is embossed with the Critters embossing plate from Fiskars--lots of insects and amphibians.

I just love that little smiling snail. Although, he does make me feel a little twinge of guilt for the way I treated his distant relatives when I was young (:-\

Thanks for stopping in for a visit. Have a joy-filled week, and come back soon!

 

Stamps: Don't Bug Me (Recollections)
Paper: Colorbok Pattern Pack; So-So-Sweet Pack (Paper Studio); Coredinations; The Paper Co.
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Tumbled Glass; Copics: 0, Y21, YG03, G21, B00, BG34
Accessories: Critters embossing plate (Fiskars); twine (Twinery); Scallop Dot Edge Punch (Martha Stewart); buttons; rhinestones; adhesive dots; dimensionals; transparency film (for computer-generated sentiment)
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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It's a pink and yellow day

Hi there, blog friends! Maybe you noticed that I was all about green and orange in my last two posts. I didn't plan it that way, it just happened. Sometimes it's a challenge for me just to stay away from green. So, when I saw that the CR84FN34 Color Challenge 34 was pink and yellow I immediately knew I wanted to play along. 

When I was choosing paper, I wound up with both soft and vibrant color possibilities. I couldn't decide which one to go with, so in the end, I just made two cards for the color challenge. For my soft version, I combined CR84FN34 with the Viva la Verve July 2011 Week 4 sketch challenge, and for the vibrant version I combined CR84FN34 with the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 126.

 

Here's the soft version--

Within Your Heart:

And, here's the vibrant version--
Pink Hello:

I still can't decide which I like better. What do you think???

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a happy weekend :D

 

Soft Version--Within Your Heart (CR84FN34 & VLVJUL2011-Week 4)

Stamps: Blue Skies & Sweet Treats (Verve); Faux Finish (Stampendous); Mark My Heart--interior of card (Recollections) 

Paper: Best of Brenda Walton (K&Co); Bazzill Basics; Recollections 

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink; Colorbox; Stampendous; Inkssentials Clear Embossing Ink
Accessories: Dies: Tim Holtz Ornate (Sizzix); Heart Base, Heart Ornamental, & Oval Tag (Sizzix Sizzlets); embossing powder (Zing); paper raffia (Michael's); Flora & Fauna Metal Studs (K&Co); Perfect Pearls; Perfect Pearls Mist; paper mini roses (Recollections); pearls, rhinestones; beads; dimensionals
Size: 4.5" Square

Vibrant Version--Pink Hello (CR84FN34 & SSSC126)
Stamps: Daily Junque (House of Three); Everything Happy (Stampendous)
Paper: Colorbok; Bazzill Basics; Recollections
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Inks; Staz-on
Accessories: Satin ribbon (Michael's); mini round gems (Recollections); Daisy Edger Punch & Double Loops Edger Punch (Martha Stewart); Crop-a-Dile corner chomper; Liquid Pearls; twine (Twinery); sewing; dimensionals
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Dragonfly thank you

What is it with me and green this week? Today's card is for the Viva la Verve July 2011 Week 3 sketch challenge. This was a fun sketch to work on because the different papers gave me a chance to use several different embossing folders, and I love using a sewing machine on cards.

Rather than use two different papers for the large circular layer, I decided to do some double embossing instead. The large green scalloped circle (Spellbinders Blossom die)  is double embossed with Polka Dots on the "petals" and the Leafy Branch design in the center. You can't tell in the photo, but I used dimensionals in just the center of the circle, and glued the edges down, giving it a puffy 3-D look. The sparkly dots appear blue, but are actually crystal colored Stickles.

The dragonfly was one of my first stamped creations several months ago. I think I stamped 4 or 5 of them at the same time, colored each one differently, and now only have one left. I should make more--it's nice to have something ready to add to a card so easily. I embossed this dragonfly with a green embossing powder, then colored it with colored pencils. Back then, I didn't even know glue pens existed, so I applied plain white glue to the dragonfly with a toothpick and sprinkled glitter over it. I had also just gotten my first bottle of Stickles. Can you tell?  The wings are covered in little yellow sparkly dots :D  

The beads on the pins are from my knitting days. I had made beaded stitch markers and since I'm not planning to knit much anytime soon, I requisitioned the beads for my cards.

Thanks for visiting today. If you enjoy seeing my creations, you can subscribe at the top of my blog and have it delivered right to you.

 

Stamps: Sweet Treats (Verve); Gem Stone Insects (Inkadinkadoo)

Paper: Best of K&Co; DCWV Shimmer Stack; Darice; Recollections

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink

Accessories: Spellbinders dies: Labels Four, Large Labels, Blossom; embossing powder (Adirondack); embossing folders: Polka Dots, Leafy Branch (Cuttlebug), Tropical Paisley, Diamonds in Diamonds (Sizzix); Stickles; rhinestones; glitter; sewing; colored pencils; glue pen; Perfect Pearls Mist; beads; pins; dimensionals

Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Dancing in the rain

We had a great vacation, but I'm ready to get back to making cards. That said, though, I had no idea that a 10-day break would be hard to recover from. When I was making this card, I literally had to stop and ask myself things like: What kind of adhesive should I use to attach these different elements?; Does a Spellbinder's die face up or down and what is the sandwich for it?; and Just how big is an A2 card, anyway?! It was almost like starting over. When it came time to use my camera, the photos all came out green or orange, and I had to refer to my notes to get all that straightened out. Thank goodness I actually made notes!

My card today is for the Mojo Monday Challenge #200. Congrats to the Mojo Monday design team for 200 sketches! That's some serious creative collaboration.

This card turned out nothing at all like I envisioned when I started it, but I like the final version so much better. The filigree layer behind the sentiment began as this weird chalky hospital green colored cardstock, but after sponging on Crushed Olive Distress Ink, outlining the edges with a dark brown Copic marker (E29), and adding a few dots of liquid pearls (Platinum), it looks like an aged copper nameplate. I used Perfect Pearls Mist in Heirloom Gold on the brown cardstock, so it looks like old, rusted metal, too. Here's a closeup:

When I was finished with the front of the card, I felt like the inside needed something, so I did this:

I didn't notice until I was editing the photo that I went much heavier with the stamps on the right side than on the left, but I can live with that.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a spectacular day!

Stamps: Blue Skies (Verve)

Paper: Best of K&Co; Recollections; The Paper Co.

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Accessories: Spellbinders dies: Fancy Tags, Floral Doily Motifs, Labels Two, Std. Circles Lg., Parisians Accents; Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die (Sizzix); Binding Edge Edger Punch & 2" Square punch (EK Success); seam binding; Pearl Brad (American Crafts); mini round gems (Recollections); paper leaves (Recollections); Perfect Pearls Mist; Liquid Pearls; Glossy Accents; Copics; Dimensionals

Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Celebrate summer

Hi there, blog friends! We'll be spending a few days visiting The Mouse in Orlando next week, so here's one more post before we go. It takes care of two challenges: the July Sketch for You to Try, over at iheart2stamp; and the Crazy 4 Challenges summer theme challenge. I live in the deep south and summers here can be HOT! I'm a very cold-natured person (80-85 degrees is probably my ideal temperature range), so summer is my favorite time of the year, and normally, I would think of a summer-themed card as one with lots of vibrant colors, maybe a pool or beach scene, kids playing--something along those lines. Well, this weekend I took my daughter to a pool party. It was 102 degrees and I don't swim, so I was outside in that heat for over two hours. It was almost unbearable, even in the shade, even for me. Let me tell you, I wasn't feeling those fun, bright colors...I was feeling hot--white hot! So, when I decided to make the summer-themed card, I thought about the way a blazing, hot sun can make everything look a little washed out. The color is still there and just as beautiful, but muted through the glare. So, here's my idea of summer today.

The card says "Celebrate Summer." It's hard to see it in a photo, so here's a close up. Not sure that's much better, but it shows off the iridescence on the butterfly, too, so I'm going with it anyway ;)

I really enjoyed making this card. I love layers, and this sketch has plenty. The Prima paper was an easy choice. Lots of bright colors, but with the watercolor effect, they weren't too bright. My original intention was to use plain white paper for most of the card, maybe with just a hint of texture. But, it needed a little bit of oomph if it was going to sit right next to that happy Prima paper, so I pulled out my embossing folders. I think it's the first time I've used either of these particular folders and they look so good together. I'm sure I'll be going back to them again soon. Also, I had started out wanting everything but the dp and embellishments to be solid white, but the embossing was so pretty I wanted to show it off so, I sponged Spun Sugar Distress Ink over it.

Buttons were an obvious option for the three circles on the sketch. The flowers caught my eye, and the colors were a match, so I glued them on. It took me a little while to decide what to do on the sentiment panel. I didn't want a big empty space next to the sentiment and I couldn't get ribbon and bows to cooperate, so I punched a butterfly and it fit pretty good. I wanted just a little bit of shine on the card, so an iridescent butterfly and a few pearls seemed to fit the bill, just fine. I have some pots of Perfect Pearls, but the only thing I've ever used them for is to mix with water and reinkers to make my own mists, so I wasn't exactly sure what to do with them. My first attempt to cover the butterfly was to ink Perfect Medium over the butterfly, then brush the Perfect Pearl powder over that. I don't know if I did something wrong, but the powder never would stick. So, I went to the trusty web for guidance. I ended up mixing the powder with a little water and painted it on. It turned out so pretty. The butterfly looks like it was punched from a sheet of pink copper.

Hope that wasn't too much on the process, but I like knowing how other people "figure out" their cards and thought you might, too.

Thanks for stopping by!  I won't be posting for a few days, so have a great week!!!

 

Stamps: Everything Happy (Stampendous)
Paper: Fairy Flora (Prima); Darice; Recollections
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Accessories: Diamonds in Diamonds & Tropical Paisley embossing folders (Sizzix); embossing powder (Zing); Monarch Butterfly Lg punch (Martha Stewart); Crop-a-dile Corner Chomper; Perfect Pearls; buttons, pearls, mini roses (Recollections); dimensionals
Size: A-2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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