Stamps, Paper, and Ink

Funky Fun Fold for the Dare to Get Dirty Challenge

 This is the last of my samples made for the Dirty Dozen challenges at Splitcoaststampers, and I LOVED learning how to make this Origami Diamond Folded card. If you'd like to see a great tutorial on this technique, my fellow Dirty Girl Wendy has made a video for you HERE.

You begin with a sheet of desginer paper cut to 11" x 11".  A couple of folds and you end up with this unique and special card. Here's the front of mine. 

The bow and a brad not only embellish but I attached it so that it anchors the card when it is shut. You can just tuck the flap right up under the brad to hold it.

The shape on the front is a diamond but I centered a circle over it and stamped using images from the Fruit & Flowers set. It's great paired with the matching DSP, don't ya think?

You just have to try one of these to see how cute they are, the photos don't do it justice. Here's what you see when you open the left flap.

Here it is all the way opened.

I really like the way you can do a progression of sentiments. Hope you've enjoyed today's card, give it a try!

 

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up! except noted*

Stamps:  Fruit & Flowers, Borderlines, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Paper:  Berry Blossoms DSP, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Ink:  Early Espresso, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade

Accessories:  Ruffled Ribbon, In Color Brads. Decorative Label Punch, *Nestabilities

 

My BFF day

 Ready for another sample for the Dirty Dozen Alumni Challenge? In case you missed it, those of us who have been on the Dirty Dozen Design Team host a challenge for the Fan Club members at Splitcoaststampers. (find out more HERE...)

 I feel honored to make a sample today for the challenge hosted by the lovely and famous JanTInk. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I love challenges! They really stretch you to try new things. Sometimes what you come up with surprises yourself - as in today's card.

We were challenged to try a new technique of double embossing, which involves embossing the card stock and then adding ink ONLY on the raised embossed areas. You can use a background stamp, a wheel, or a brayer to lightly add color. The double texture is a cool look.You can see how I used it on the bottom panel of my card.

I embossed using the Vintage Wallpaper folder. Then I inked up the Canvas Background stamp and lay the embossed piece face down on it. Here's the key - lightly trace with your finger only the parts you want inked. My stylus helped me get in the tiny spaces.

I made the paper flower using the Island Floral Die. I was going to add a pearl, then I decided this was a rhinestone kind of card. What do ya think?  Happy stamping!

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Best Friends Forever, Tiny Tags, Canvas* Background(*retired)

Paper:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral

Ink:  Early Espresso

Accessories:  Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder, Crumb Cake seam binding, Victorian Crochet Trim, Vintage Trinkets, Tiny Tag Punch, Big Shot, Island Floral Die

 

 

isn't it wonderful?

Isn't summer wonderful?

Don't you love this time of year when gardens are in their beautiful prime and we get to enjoy the bounty? My favorite pick are ripe and juicy cherries, yummm!

It's also a special time of year at Splitcoaststampers when the Dirty Dozen Alumni gather to present our Dare to Get Dirty challenges to you! Here's my first sample for the challenges that go live this morning. Won't you think about joining in?  If you're a Fan Club Member, the fun and prizes start HERE. If your'e not a Fan Club member, now is a great time to find out what it's all about.

 I made this card using the Cherish Friendship stamp set and my favorite technique of watercoloring with blender pens and inks. Again, I pulled out my Domestic Goddess DSP, these colors shout summer to me.

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Cherish Friendship, Friendly Phrases

Paper:  Pool Party, Whisper White , Domestic Goddess DSP

Ink:  Jetblack StazOn, Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Sahara Sand

Accessories:   Basic Pearls, Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon, Blender pens, markers, Perfect Pennant Die

Honor

Here's a card from my past creations for the Dirty Dozen to honor the true heroes~men and women who serve in our military. Many of you may not know that my husband is retired military and our home is near Ft. Bragg. I really enjoyed crafting a card on this theme.

I used the Hero Jumbo Wheel on the very vanilla panel and then embossed one of the words on the wheel to highlight for the sentiment.

Happy Memorial Day!

 

Stamps: Hero (Jumbo Wheel), Solid Stripes

Paper: Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, Bravo Burgundy, Sahara Sand, Whisper White

Ink: Sahara Sand, Night of Navy Craft, Versamark

Accessories: Star punch, silver cord, Brushed silver brads, piercing tool, machine stitching

 

Lots of Wheel Potential

Sometimes I forget to pull out my Stampin' Around wheels and actually use them because I like the clean look, I don't really do too many backgrounds. But when I saw the Baby Tees Wheel, I knew the images would be perfect to stamp and cut out for darling baby cards.

Here is one that I made during my tenure on the Dirty Dozen Design Team at Splitcoaststampers as part of the Simply Inviting Gallery.

I've always LOVED baby clothes, and dressing up these cute tees was a ton of fun. I embossed them in white and added details with my markers. The colors of Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz and Tangerine Tango came right out of the catalog. I added Bitty Buttons and the matching punches to make the border on the sentiment.

I'm not sure if you can tell that the base of the card was embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots folder.

I'ts bright and sunny here today, so I thought you'd like a card with similar mood. I'm off to play!

It means so much that you've stopped to visit me today. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment too, and let me know what you think of today's catd.

I'm off to either play or clean up my craft room - not sure which side of me will win out!!!

   PS.  For those of you wanting news of Josie: our fur baby Josie (a beagle) is growing up, she's now 6 months old. We have found a terrific trainer, who also happens to choose/hire dogs to be in commercials. She wants Josie to do that!  So we've been having fun with training, especially today when Josie learned the "CATCH!" command with popcorn. I'd say she got that one down (plus a bunch of the buttery white stuff!) right away.

I'm also happy that she is more manageable on the leash now, and we can actually begin taking Josie on walks to burn off some of her energy.

Friends Fur-Ever

Oh, dear what can the matter be? Josie's asleep in her crate.  Our dear puppy is recuperating from her visit to the vet. Being spayed can not keep this little girl down, I tell you!  She's still trying to run full out and jump but we are doing our best to subdue her energy while she heals.

What better thing than a card for Josie using the Friends Fur-Ever set?  I love all the options for just plain fun stamping that this set allows. I can't wait to see how many ways I can play with these adorable doggy images! 

My idea was to have the balloon just escaping from the doggie's reach.The sentiment inside says, "sorry life's ruff right now. I love the sentiments, they make this set practical for lots of kinds of cards, not just for dog lovers, don't you think? 

This card was done for the "Up in the Sky" Gallery of the Splitcoaststampers design team, the Dirty Dozen. It was a sketch challenge which I supplied for the group. Tell you a secret?  The sketch came right out of the Stampin' Up! Idea Book! (check out the card with button balloons on page 77.) Our catalog is a GREAT resource, don't foget to take advantage of all those ideas and use them as a springboard for your projects!

I'll post my card supplies, but first for those of you who are dog lovers - here are a couple pics of our sweet Josie who is still and a bit sedated too!  Perfect opportunity to capture those last moments of her fighting sleep.

 

 

Supplies~  all supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Friends Fur-ever
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Gray, In Color Designer Series Paper Pack, Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack
and Ink:  Early Expresso

Accessories: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Playground Designer Buttons

Do you need a demonstrator? Order from me at my online store  HERE

Got questions? I am happy to answer them, just send me an e-mail, you'll find it HERE

 

Carols of Christmas - a favorite

Hi all, and happy Monday!

I have two things to share with you, the first is a card. The second is some follow up regarding my question of whether or not to continue with my blog. Please don't miss reading all the way through.

About today's card~

"O Come All ye Faithful" has always been my favorite Christmas Carol. In fact, I like to sing it throughout the whole year! So when I saw the Come to Bethelehem set, I knew it would be my choice for our family Christmas cards this year. Of course, I have yet to design them!

It was also the first set that came to mind for the "Up in the Sky" Gallery of the Fan Club and it's one of my entries as part of the Dirty Dozen Design Team for Splitcoaststamers. I'm happy to be able to share it with you today.

 
I chose the colors of Concord Crush and Daffodil Delight. The skyline is layers of brayered ink in Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy. The rays of the star were made by sponging. I stamped the star image on card stock and cut it out for the sky. This is one of those cards that I wonder if I could make again. You know how sometimes everything clicks together during the process of creating, but you're not sure you could be lucky enough for it to turn out twice! I do love the way the colors accent the silhouette and seem to make it stand out big as life. Let me know what you think!

Now on to the harder discussion. I wondered out-loud about continuing my blog a couple of weeks ago, and I received many heartfelt e-mails and comments. I read every one and thought about them. Now I feel I owe you all a bit of explanation.

I love making cards and sharing on my blog. Those who keep active blogs know about the time and commitment necessary just for blogging. Add to that the time it takes to design and photograph original work for three or four posts a week, and you can imagine easily spending 8 to 12 hrs or more weekly.

This is my choice to share. My question about continuing was NOT a plea for your comments. It did have LOTS to do with my feeling pressured for time in many areas of my life right now. The truth is, I love creating and writing about it, it's a kind of therapy for me.

But sometimes it just sounds like me talking to myself on the computer! I really desire to know and feel some connection with you, my readers.

I'm honored - and mostly very humbled - by the many subscribers I have and the thousands of hits I get a month. While I appreciate the numbers, it is your comments that are vitally important to me, in giving feedback, encouragement, food for thought, and just the personal touch we all need. Thanks to everyone who wrote in answer to my question or sent an e-mail. Your message was loud and clear! My blog is important to you and you valued it enough for you to spend a few minutes letting me know. Thank you.

I'll be keeping on! I would still love ideas from you about what you'd like to see, or discuss, especially if there's a way that YOU could feel more involved.I look forward to hearing from you, please leave a comment if you can!

 

 

Friday Flashback is Everything Nice

Does anyone else remember this sweet image from the And Everything Nice stamp set? There are quite a few sets that I will always keep and this is one of them. This set has sentimental value from my early days of stamping because I learned to watercolor with these images. Plus, it's a classic, don't you think?

For today's Friday Flashback, I just can't resist sharing this card made for the Dirty Dozen "Up in the Sky" Gallery. This little girl and her BIG umbrella always bring a smile to my face. 

I also pulled out some of my stash of lovely Parisian Breeze Specialty Paper. It's hard to notice, but I paper pieced her hat, pockets, and boots. Some tiny snips!  My favorite is the little yellow ducky waddling beside her. 

Tip: for adding interest, try rounding just ONE corner of your image panel. It's a tiny detail that can really make a difference. Another tip: repeating an element. The DP has dots in it, I repeated that element with the bit of piercing around the sentiment. 

Note about Friday Flashback: in the future I will post this feature every other week, around the first and third week of the month. I'll add a week if I just can't resist, but I don't want my new supplies feeling neglected!

Thanks for stopping by today and for your kind comments. See you Monday!

   

Supplies~ all supplies by Stampin' Up! unless noted*

 

Stamps:  And Everything Nice (SU - retired) sentiment *(MFT My Umbrella)

 

Paper:   Basic Black, reinkers for coloring

 and Ink: Aqua Painter, *MFT Die-namics, Scallop and corner rounder punch, 1/8" Daffodil Delight ribbon

Accessories: 

Aqua Painter, *MFT Die-namics, Scallop and corner rounder punch, 1/8" Daffodil Delight ribbon

 

Need supplies? Order from me at my online store  HERE

Got questions? I am happy to answer them, just send me an e-mail, you'll find it HERE

Wish You Were Here

Well folks, I'm going to be a little busy over the next couple of days until Monday.

Here's a short and sweet post with the message, "Wish You Were Here!" I'm missing having a chance to stamp since life has been so hectic at our house, but it's a great opportunity to share some past creations with you.

The card for today is from the May Dirty Dozen Gallery at Splitcoaststampers. The theme was,
"How does your garden grow?" and in response to that, I made this card which features...CROWS.

Didn't I tell you?? (chuckle) I wasn't kidding!

This card has NO stamping but the images from the Sweet Pea DSP gave me all I needed for this scene.

I will post my very 'favorite' card from this gallery for tomorrow, so do check back as the crow flies (ahem, sorry, I just couldn't resist!)

Hugs~

Stamps: none

Paper: Sweet Pea DSP, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: none

Accessories: Chat Room Rub Ons, UniSignoBall Gel Pen, mini library clips, Wide Striped ribbon

Truly Shabby

Is it OK to talk just a little more about style? I am so interested in this because it takes the versatility of using stamps, paper, and ink just a step further. I can be versatile in what I use and how I use it. Don't you just love the options?!?!?

Have you ever wondered about the difference between Shabby Chic and Vintage?  Papercrafts magazine describes it this way: " Shabby chic is a style characterized by layering. It is soft, utilizing ribbon, lace and ...inking and distressing. The final product looks comfortable, weathered and worn. Vintage goes a step further by adding old images, found items and antique trinkets to the mix. "

There may be a quiz at the end of this post, asking whether my title actually uses the correct term, lol! I do appreciate the clarity of their definitions, don't you?

Today's card is the stepped up version of the card I posted yesterday which you'll find if you hop over to THIS POST.

My favorite touch for the step up card is to add much more detail to the water-coloring which was done with markers applied to the stamp. Here are a few more tips regarding the changes I added:

• Shimmery White card stock is stronger and that allowed me to add more detail and shading with markers after I had stamped the image.
  

• Layering a celery panel which was stamped with another image from the set
  

• Cutting the flower image into tags using the Lots of Tags die and the Big Shot. I stamped the whole piece, then cut it into thirds and ran each one through the machine.
  
  
• adding a border of machine stitching
  
  
• using designer paper instead of card stock
  
  
• embellishing with a hatpin
  
  
• and a fancy bow
  

Fancy bows are one of my favorite things to step up a card!  Hope you'll leave a comment and join in this chatter, it might get lonely here talking to myself sometimes......especially if I'm on a ramble <g> Just jump on in!

Have a great day!

Stamps: Elements of Style

Paper: Certainly Celery, Shimmery White, So Saffron, Shades of Spring and Sweet Pea DSP

and Ink: Versamark, Soft Suede

Accessories: Stampin' Write markers, Aqua painter, Scallop Edge and Modern Label punches, pink taffeta ribbon, Pretties Kit, Lots of Tags die