Bloggers Challenge 44 - Color Challenge

It's week 44 of the Bloggers Challenge - and this week brings a Color Challenge. Colors to use this week are Certainly Celery, Brocade Blue, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, and White or Vanilla if needed. Color Blocking (10/02 TJNL) came to mind - it's the perfect technique for adding colors to your cards.

I stamped my image from Bloomin' Beautiful in black stazon on watercolor paper and water colored my flowers with Brocade Blue, the centers have a bit of So Saffron, and a dot of Crystal Effects to make them pop. The leaves are colored with Certainly Celery. For the vase, I stamped my image on my Afternoon Tea Designer Series Paper, cut out and adhered to my stamped image. I used my sponge dauber to add Chocolate Chip ink around my image. I inked my Sanded Background stamp with Chocolate Chip, stamped off a few times, then lined up my color blocked pieces and stamped my image. The sentiment from Bloomin' Beautiful is also stamped in Chocolate Chip.

For my color blocking - I cut my pieces as follows:
Brocade Blue 5-1/8" x 1-3/8"

So Saffron 3" x 2-3/8"

Certainly Celery 2" x 2-3/8"

Chocolate Chip 5-1/4" x 4"

Base card is Very Vanilla

Be sure to check back tomorrow - as I'll be sharing some sneak peeks of the upcoming new releases from Artistic Outpost.

Have a great Friday!

Bloomin' Beautiful - Artsy Dimension

The background piece on this card uses the Artsy Dimension Technique that I wrote for the TJNL...While I had out my dimensional pearls, I decided to use them as my paints for my flower image from Bloomin' Beautiful. To use your dimensional pearls as paints, simply place a drop in a paint well, or on a scrap of paper, dip in your aquapainter, squeeze a tiny bit of water and mix. Use your aquapainter to paint with the pearls. While my pearly paint was still wet, I poured on some clear embossing powder to add some dimension to my flowers. For the vase - I used the Paper Piecing technique and a piece of my Afternoon Tea Designer Series Paper.

Details:

Stamps - Bloomin' Beautiful

Ink - Black Stazon

Card Stock - So Saffron, Black, Ballet Blue, Watercolor

Other - Cuttlebug Folder, Dimensional Pearls - Lettuce, Butterscotch, Denim, Afternoon Tea DSP, Aquapainter, Clear EP, Heat Gun

Gift Card Holder

While checking out some new releases, I came across a cute gift card holder by Debbie, which inspired me to create the one you see here. I did change my dimensions a bit - as I didn't want the top flap as long - so mine only measures 2". I used my slit punch to create the scallop edge you see, and then wrapped my 5/8" Chocolate Grosgrain around the inside to cover where the edges meet, and tied a bow. To dress it up a bit, I add my stick pin from the Pretties Kit.

Details:
Stamps - Bloomin' Beautiful
Ink - Chocolate Chip
Card Stock - Chocolate Chip, Afternoon Tea DSP, White, Soft Sky, Groovy Guava
Other - Slit Punch, Sponge Dauber, Pretties Kit, 5/8" Chocolate Grosgrain, Dimensionals, Word Window Punch

Wild Wasabi Promo = Gift Card Holder Tutorial

Since I still had my Wild Wasabi promo pack on my desk, I thought I'd see what else I could create with the already pre-scored card stock....Here's what I came up with, a perfect gift card holder for Mother's Day....I paper pieced the vase using my Afternoon Tea Designer Series Paper. To add color to the flowers I used the Pencil Over Marker Technique (TJNL) using Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery Markers, and various colored pencils.

To create my gift card holder - I took my already cut and scored Wild Wasabi paper, cut it so it measured 4 1/4" x 11 1/2". I then added score marks at 6 1/4" and 6 7/8". This is what my piece looked like after I added my score marks

I used my corner rounder (remove the guard) to make the scallop edge on the flap. To create the holder for my gift card, I used my slit punch. To mark my spot for the gift card, I placed a business card (it's the size as a gift card) onto my card stock. Using my bone folder, I lightly made lines at the edge of my business card like this:

Remember, you'll need to match your punch as shown below so your gift card will fit properly -

<-----Can you see my line I drew with the bone folder? It needs to match with the centering lines I drew with the sharpie marker

Repeat punch on the other side

After punching, your gift card will fit nicely.

To finish my gift card holder, I made a notch on the one side with my rectangle punch, so my Chocolate Twill would stay in place when the recipient opens the card. By making the extra score marks (as indicated earlier), this folds nicely into a regular invitation size envelope for mailing. When removed it stands freely.

Bloomin' Beautiful Wild Wasabi Card

Here's a card I created using the special-offer Wild Wasabi Card Stock pack. (See details below)

I made a few minor adjustments to the precut/prescored card stock, by cutting it to 4 1/4" x 10". I added the scallop edge by punching with my 3/4" circle punch and soft sky card stock. I attached this where I removed the extra 1 1/2" of wasabi card stock, then covered the edges with my chocolate twill. To create the image, I black embossed it on watercolor paper, then colored with pumpkin, bashful blue and artichoke markers, spritzed lightly to remove some color, blot dry. Now go back and add some highlights with your aquapainter and the following inks - soft sky, groovy guava and wild wasabi. Restamp and emboss your image on Afternoon Tea DSP, cut out the vase, layer it on the first image, cut out completely, layer on a piece of watercolor paper, finish card as shown.

Here's a close up of my vase - as I put it on dimensionals to give it some lift

Wild Wasabi Special:

Purchase a special-offer Wild Wasabi card stock pack for only $3.95 .The pack includes 16 sheets of 4-1/2" x 11-1/2" Wild Wasabi textured card stock that has been scored at 1-1/8" and 5-5/8". There is no limit to the number of Wild Wasabi card stock packs a customer may purchase.

Download the project idea and instructions flyer

Email me today to order your Wild Wasabi card stock pack!

Bloomin' Beautiful

I ran across Lauren's Saturday Sketch and thought it would be perfect to use with the Bloomin' Beautiful set and Afternoon Tea DSP, that is still sitting on my desk....I stamped the image in Black Stazon on white card stock, then punched it out with the Marvy Giga Punch. I used the Afternoon Tea DSP to paper pieced the vase, then colored the flowers with Groovy Guava and Soft Sky ink.

Details:

Stamps - Bloomin' Beautiful

Card Stock - Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, White, Afternoon Tea DSP

Ink - Black Stazon, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky

Other - 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Marvy Giga Punch

Altered Distress Chalk Board

I should be working on my Bloggers Challenge card - but I just had to get this idea out of my head. Don't you hate when that happens....I know I'd have to get out of bed and complete this if I didn't do it now...I found these cool Distressed Chalk Boards at Target today - and they were just begging to come home to be altered - I picked up quite a few, so I'll be altering quite a bit!

Here's a close up - I stamped the apple image from the For Father in black stazon, then used the Pencil over Marker Technique from a past issue of the TJNL to add my coloring.

Bloggers Challenge

It's week 41 of the Bloggers Challenge, and this week the challenge was to use the layout on page 65 of the Spring Summer Collection as your inspiration. I had quite a few ideas of what I wanted to make, of course I put this card off until the morning it was supposed to be posted. I played with a few different stamps - but am really happy with the outcome of my finished card. I used my Coluzzle to make the circle on my Afternoon Tea DSP, and added my 1/2" circles to create a scallop look. For my main image, I paper pieced the vase using the Afternoon Tea DSP, the flowers are embossed and water colored on watercolor paper, cut out and attached.

Details:

Stamps - Bloomin' Beautiful, Warm Words

Ink - Versamark, Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Groovy Guava

Card Stock - Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Afternoon Tea DSP, Watercolor

Other - 1/4" Circle Punch, Coluzzle, 1/2" Circle Punch, Crystal Effects, 5/8" Chocolate Grosgrain

Tech - Paper Piecing

Upcoming Class - Spring Flowers

Here's a peek at one of the items you'll create in my Spring Flowers Class. I created a flip lid style box to hold some note cards (templates included with class fee)- perfect for Mother's Day gift giving. You'll also be creating a few other projects using the Afternoon Tea Designer Series Paper that's included in the class fee.

Can't attend class - no problem, pre-order your kit today! Items will be pre-stamped and colored, should you not have the stamps/ink used in class.

Email me today for more information.

Afternoon Tea 4"x4" Flip Book

It's been awhile since I took out my Bind It All... I just got some great clear covers from ISC, and the Afternoon Tea DSP was just begging to be made into a Flip Book...The sentiment and flower are from the set Live your Dream

Here's a look at the inside - perfect to add photos and journaling...

The clear covers were added to both the front and back of my Flip Book, this will help protect the book against wear.

Bloggers Challenge

It's Bloggers Challenge Week 40 - and this weeks challenge is Springtime Flowers. It doesn't feel like springtime here - as we had a dusting of sleet and snow tonight! My challenge card for this week uses quite a few techniques - I'm really happy with the outcome.

I love the look of the Watercolor Crayon technique - but unfortunately Groovy Guava does not come in a watercolor crayon - so I mophed that technique...I stamped my flower image from Bloomin' Beautiful in black stazon on watercolor paper, then using my aquapainter and painted my image with Groovy Guava and Wild Wasabi. Once my image was dry - I went over the colored areas with my versamark and clear embossed. Now my image has some pop! To add a little more dimension to my card I used the "Out of the Box" Technique (10/04 TJNL) - here's a close up ----->

I tired a few different ribbons on my card - and taffeta was the way to go...Yep, I know what you're thinking Stampin' Up! doesn't carry Groovy Guava taffeta ribbon...I dyed my white taffeta to match my card. I simply cut my ribbon to the desired length, then using the direct to paper (ribbon in this case) method, I applied the ink to my ribbon. I then took my water filled aquapainter and went over the ink to soften the color, then heat set. Easy peasy!

Details:

Stamps - Bloomin' Beautiful

Ink - Black Stazon, Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip

Card Stock - Groovy Guava, Watercolor, Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

Other - White Taffeta Ribbon, Aquapainter, Clear EP, Versamarker, Afternoon Tea DSP

Here's a few other flower cards

Chocolate Sky Flowers

Flowers for a Friend

If you'd like to play along with this weeks Bloggers Challenge - just leave me a link to your card in the comments - I'd love to see your creations!

Have a great weekend!

~lisa

Here's a card I recently did at my Occasions Class this past month - it features the set For Father - I used the Pencil over Marker Technique (TJNL), it really adds some depth and dimension to the artwork.

Class Reminder

Just a quick reminder....

Occasions Stamp Class
Wednesday March 12, 7 PM

Join me at this creative class and create several cards with some of the new stamps/products from the Occasions Mini Catalog
Register today!

Bloggers Challenge Week 37

It's week 37 of the Bloggers Challenge and this weeks challenge was to create a shaped card - anything but a rectangle. I turned to the December `06 TJNL's online bonus - Triangle Shaker Cards to create my shape.

To ad some color to my Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, I mixed some Pretty in Pink reinker with Crystal Effects and filled in the well of the hardware.

Here's a close up

Details:

Stamps - By Ones & By Twos

Ink - Black, Pretty in Pink

Card Stock - Pretty in Pink, White

Other - Pink Gingham, Styled Silver HPH, Word Window Punch, Silver Elastic Cord, Micro Beads, Acetate, Sponge Dauber, Crystal Effects, Pretty in Pink reinker

If you'd like to play along with this weeks Bloggers Challenge, leave a link on this post to your "anything but a rectangle" card. If you upload to SCS, use keyword BCW37, so it's easy to find.

Have a great weekend! Be sure to check back next week, I'll be celebrating my birthday all week, thanks to some generous sponsors!

TechnoStamper Sketch Challenge #7

It's Monday, time for another sketch challenge from MJ at TechnoStamper. I'm running a bit late getting this posted - having a hard time getting a clear picture on such a gloomy day.



<-----Here's the sketch










Here's my card, I thought the By Ones & By Twos stamp set would be perfect for this sketch.


If you'd like to play along with this weeks sketch, leave a link to your post here, or upload your card on SCS and use keyword TSSC7.

Have a great day!

Designer Onesie

Here's a quick and easy card using the new By Ones & By Twos stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. By stamping my image on DSP, and putting it over my stamped image with a dimensional, it gives the onesie a whole new look.

Details:

Stamps - By Ones & By Twos, Polka Dots & Paisley

Ink - Black, Gable Green

Card Stock - Old Olive, Gable Green, White, Rose Romance, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Cute Pie Designer Series Paper

Other - Dimensionals

Occasions Mini Collection 2008

The Occasions Mini Collection Catalog is now online! If you don't have your own hard copy yet - email me today to find out how to get yours.

Did you know you can browse though the catalog online, this feature makes Virtual Workshops a breeze? These catalogs are very easy to use, plus you can circle items you like, bookmark pages and make notes. Email me today for more information in hosting your own Virtual Workshop to earn FREE product!

(Click the photo of the catalog to view the inside)

Bloggers Challenge Week 34 with some sneak peeks...

This weeks Bloggers Challenge was to use this layout (the happy birthday card) from the Stampin' Up! Spring/Summer Catalog. This is a fairly simple layout, and by changing the scallop stamped image, you have lots of options for creating your cards.

I've created 2 cards this week - as I really liked this layout - as you can see in my samples I changed the scallop images to suit my needs, but kept the other elements in place. I'm also using some new SU product that you'll see in the Occassions Mini Catalog that will be available for order on March 1.

Details:
Stamps -By One & By Twos (Occassions Mini Catalog)
Card Stock - Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana
Other - Crop-a-Dile- small corner rounder, Marvy Giga Scallop, Bashful Blue Grosgrain, Dimensionals, Crystal Effects
Ink - Certainly Celery, Black

Details:
Stamps - Lots of Thoughts (Sale-A-Bration Catalog), Sweet Celebrations
Card Stock - Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Soft Sky, Pumpkin Pie
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky
Other - Die-Cut Blooms, A Perfect Day Rub Ons (Occassions Mini Catalog), Dimensionals, Small Corner Rounder, Tool Kit, Poly Twill Ribbon (Occassions Mini Catalog)

If you'd like to play along with this weeks challenge - leave a comment on this blog post with a link to your card, I'd love to see it! If you upload to SCS use keyword BCW34.

Have a great weekend!

Lisa