Bird & Flowers

Hi Friends! My posts are often long, but tonight, I'm going to give S&S (Short & Sweet) a try. ;)  Let me know what you think. Do you prefer photos and description/details about my cards, or just photos?

Inside

Thanks for stopping by, and have a fantastic week!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Joy's Summer Inspiration
Stampalot Challenge: June, Bingo (Lilac/Purple, Polkadots, Bling)

 

Stamps: Birds & Flowers (Recollections); Essential Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper: Que Sera Sera (K&Co); Shimmer Stack (DCWV)
Ink: Staz-On, Distress Ink; Sharpie markers
Dies: Lattice Pendants, Lattice Border, Classic Ovals (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Embossing Powder (Zing); rhinestones; ribbon; foam dots; Stickles; Glossy Accents
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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One Touch of Nature

Hi Friends! I'm back again, with another card using this week's Tuesday Morning Sketch.

I used the TMS #150 for the card design. This was my original DT card until I realized that I didn't follow the "twist" of kraft, black, and one other color!  No worries! I just made another card for the TMS post. :)

I used the viola stamp from the Flourishes Botanical Bookplates Vol. I set for my main image. Now, I love flowers, but I don't know a thing about them. If Flourishes didn't always put the names of the flowers on their blog, I wouldn't have a clue about what they are. So, after reading that these are violas, I went to the internet to see what they are supposed to look like, and lo and behold, there is a variety called Chocolate Violas! Being the chocolate lover that I am, that's what I decided these are. I colored the image with Copics and added background shading with Distress Ink. The gold centers, as well as the gold dots on the scallops, are from a Pearl Pen.

I picked up these gold foil filigree corners at the stamp convention I went to a few months back. 

I used Versamark ink and the same viola stamp on the inside, as a watermark. It's almost impossible to see in the photo, but it's really pretty in person. The sentiment is perfect for the purpose of this card. It's a thank you to a couple who allowed me to share in their amazing personal collection of nature's beauty.

On my recent trip to Texas, my friend, Carolyn, honored me with a visit to a friend's home. The home was spectacular, but the real treat was not the actual house--it was what was inside! The couple who lives there are both--yes, both the husband and wife--big game hunters. I made this card as a thank you for the owners of the home, who were away at the time, for allowing me to get a glimpse of the most awesome collection of big game trophies I've ever seen--or even imagined! It was a big highlight of my trip!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Crafty Friends Challenge #5 (CFC5): Flowers

The Paper Shelter Challenge #68: Anything Goes

Lollipop Crafts Challenge #83: Flowers in Bloom

Cutie Pie Challenge #20: Real of Faux Stitching

Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenge #45: In the Garden

Craft Your Passion Challenge #114: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of your week!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Botanical Bookplates Vol. 1 (Flourishes)
Paper: A Beautiful Life (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Distress Ink; Versamark; Memento; Copic markers; gold opaque paint marker
Dies: Classic Ovals Sm, Classic Scalloped Ovals Sm, Classic Scalloped Rectangles Lg (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Abstract Flower Punch (EK Success); gold foil corner stickers (Starform); sewing thread; Pearl Pen
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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TMS #150: Eiffel Tower Birthday

Hi Friends! It's time for the Tuesday Morning Sketches Judged Challenge, with a twist! Our sponsor for this challenge is Designed 2 Delight Digital Stamps. They have some really cute stamps. I didn't have one to use this time, but the rest of the team did, so be sure to visit the TMS blog to see how they used them.

Melissa gave us a fab sketch, and the "twist" is: Kraft, Black +1 (other color). I went with shades of lavender for my +1.

I turned the sketch vertically, added a gussied-up bow, and made the center panel a rectangle instead of an oval. Also, the corner triangles are embossed with silver glitter embossing powder. Can you see the sparkly Stickles dots around the Eiffel Tower? I was envisioning an evening sky, filled with stars.

Here's a close up of the bow. The metal flower came from a Michael's Christmas ornament kit, and I just added a jeweled brad to it.

I wanted more of the digital dp to show on the inside (check out the link below--it's a free dp!), so I made the sentiment layer fairly small, tilted it, and added another silver embossed image in the lower right corner. Here's a better few of that image:

The embossing powder was a little too chunky for the detailed image, which is actually a pocketwatch, so I stamped over the glitter with a black ink. In person, you can see the detail a little better, but not much, however, it's very sparkly, and looks very pretty in person.

I hope you'll join us this week. The judged challenge is always fun! So, head over to the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog, get yourself super inspired by the DT, and create something marvy! I can't wait to see your interpretation of the sketch and "twist!"

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

Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge: Stitching

Paper Play Challenges '12 Week 23: Back to Kraft Basics

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop, June Challenge #11 (PLRS11): Lots of Layers

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #49 (RRR49): Flowers and Ribbon Theme

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge #27 (TTCRD27): Any Form of Distressing

Gingerloft Challenge GL42: Vintage

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Vintage Traveler (Our Craft Lounge); Daisy Bouquet (Taylored Expressions)
Paper: Vintage Wallpaper--FREE Digi Paper (Lost & Taken)
Ink: Distress Ink; Memento
Dies: Fleur de Lis Rectangles (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Silver glitter embossing powder (Zing); seam binding (Hug Snug); metal flower; jeweled brad; Stickles; Enamel Accents; sewing thread; Distrezz-It-All
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Kaleidoscope Father's Day

Hi Friends! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! I have a quick Father's Day card to share with you today. Flourishes is having a Gimme Ten (minute)! challenge, and even though I usually take hours to make a card, I thought I'd give it a try. And, I used this week's Play Date Cafe Color Challenge for my color palette:

I mentioned, in my last post, that I wanted to take a photo of my home library and try to come up with my own personal designer paper. I had already made almost a dozen versions of the photo, using different effects to make the photo more abstract. But, my library is mostly dark cherry wood, and most of the books in the photo I wanted to use are leather-bound in rich reds, browns, and blacks--no where near copasetic for the color challenge--so I used my photo program to make a few more changes.

I used the tiled and kaleidoscope version of the photo, and simply adjusted the colors until they fit the color challenge. Easy peasy! Now, thinking about the design of this card took a long time, but finally putting it together was a snap. I printed the kaleidoscope design to the size I needed, cut it out, punched the corners, inked the edges a little, then heat embossed the sentiment. Then, I glued everything together. Metal accents are glued to each corner.

Finally, I added Stickles to the design. Even close up, you can't tell that this design was originally a photo of a library. I love the kaleidoscope effect feature in my photo program!

On the inside, I thought about adding some kind of sentiment, but decided to just stamp a light motif as a background. I'll add a personal sentiment before I give it to my husband.

And, that's it--quick and easy! Well, quick, after I figured out what I wanted to do. ;)

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

Flourishes Gimme Ten Challenge (FLLCJun12)

The Play Date Cafe PDCC135: Aquamarine, Poolside, Clay

One Stop Craft Challenge #186: Father's Day

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #189: Father's Day

Sugar Creek Hollow Challenge #15: Make Your Own Designer Paper

Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope the rest of your weekend is fabulous!

~Hugs!

 

Stamps: A Guiding Light (Flourishes); Motif (Inkadinkadoo)
Paper: My Library in Kaleidoscope Digi Paper (Personal)
Ink: Distress Ink; Clear embossing ink
Accessories: Morocco Lace Edger (EK Success); white embossing powder; metal accents (K&Co); Stickles; Distress Stickles; sewing thread
Size: A2 (5.5" x 4.25")

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TMS #149: There Is No Try

Hi Friends! I hope you had a good weekend. My DD and I were able to visit one of my oldest (in time, not age ;) ), and dearest friends, who lives in Midland, Texas, this past weekend, so it was a very special time for me. I haven't seen Carolyn in about ten years. So much changes in even a short time! She had never met my DD, and we got to meet her entire sweet family, including all five of her grandchildren! I think my DD has made a lifelong friend of one of them. They were inseparable, and I have never heard my DD laugh so much as these past four days! She talked and giggled so much, she came home hoarse! :) I should probably be hoarse, too, because Carolyn and I stayed up late every night catching up on the years, talking and giggling, ourselves. :D  Carolyn, get ready...we'll be back soon!

But, on to business. It's time for the newest Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge, and Melissa has given us a great sketch to work with this week. Also, Bugaboo Digi Stamps is our fab sponsor and they sent me an adorably funny digi stamp, called Stella Calendar Months-September, that is perfect for all the graduations going on right now.

Here's what I did with it:

Don't you just love that book dp? Reminds me of my own little personal library. Hmmm... maybe I should photograph my library shelves, do some creative editing in my photo program and make my own personal dp? I think I will! I'll post the result when I'm done.

In the meantime, for this card, I colored Stella with Copics, giving her a polka dot shirt and plaid skirt. I drew the tray under the chalkboard and added the stick figure "chalk" drawing on the chalkboard with a white gel pen. Stella is, of course, wearing patent leather pumps, so I used Glossy Accents on them, as well as her glasses. I couldn't resist adding blue eye shadow and bright red lipstick. This image SO reminds me of my second grade teacher!

I made the Class of 2012 sentiment in Word. It was easy to do. I made a text box with the words in it, filled the box with my color and change the text to white. I made sure the box was large enough to be able to use my desired die to cut it out. I added Stickles to the text, which looks great in person, but it didn't photograph so well.

The button was originally lime green, but I used a Copic to color and add a textured look to it.

This card is for a friend's son, for his high school graduation, and I wanted a light-hearted message inside. The Stella image comes with a fantastic sentiment, but it didn't really work in this situation, so I searched the internet until I came up with the perfect one--a quote from the ever-wise Yoda. It took me a couple of reads to understand it, but once I did, I knew this was the one. I sponged Distress Ink inside the die, and while the die was still in place, added the black faux stitching. Then, I printed the sentiment onto a transparency to make my own rub-on. This was a super fun card to make!

So, are you all revved up to join us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches? Well, get your bad self over there, check out the rest of the DT cards and visit their blogs for some spectacular inspiration, then get busy! You've got until Sunday at 8 PM to link up.

Also, Melissa is having her first ever DT call, so you'll want to check the deets out on that, too. The DT call deadline is June 9, so you still have a few days, if you are interested in applying for the team!!!

I'll be entering this card in the following challenge:
Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope this week holds something wonderful for you!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Stella Calendar Months-September (Bugaboo Digi Stamps)
Paper: Tea for Two (Cosmo Cricket); Oxford (Basic Grey)
Ink: Distress Ink; Copic markers; white gel pen; black Micron pen
Dies: Curved Rectangles, Labels 13 (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Postage Stamp edge punch (EK Success); waxed linen thread; button; eyelets; Glossy Accents; Stickles; foam dots
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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