Stamps, Paper, and Ink

You Pick

OK, another challenge (SCS sketch challenge), and a new card made just this morning!

Now YOU get to pick - yesterday's card was the whimsical one and today's is classic Christmas. Which do you like better?

HeHe, some of you may be wondering which one I like better! LOL I don't want to tell you which one is my favorite until I hear from you, but you can make a guess about that if you want to!I'll be back tomorrow to tell you,so check back.

Here's what I can tell you about~

• The red panels are textured card stock embossed with the Petals A Plenty folder. I could use this folder on everything, I like it so well!
• The Christmas Cocoa Specialty Paper is flocked, so this card is elegantly touchable.
• For the image,I used a window sheet and the Ornament punch to make a stencil, sponging inside with sahara sand ink. Then I stamped over it.
• Notice the wonderful shading effect you can get with the stencil technique.

I guess you can notice that my Pretties Kit is still something I love to use too. (Those of you who have visited me for a long while know how fond I am of the pretties, and look how long they have lasted! ) I like my Pretties Kit so well that it's got it's own category on my sidebar.

Thanks for commenting to tell me what you think - I think you're the best!

Supplies~  all supplies by Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Holiday Best, Christmas Cardinal (retired)
Paper: Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Paper, whisper white, always artichoke, sahara sand, real red textured
and Ink: always artichoke, sahara sand

Accessories: satin ribbon, Pretties Kit, marker, Petals A Plenty embossing folder, slot and ornament punches, window sheet, sponges.

If you'd like more information about how to make this beautiful card, or any other on my blog, feel free to contact me.

Dazzling Christmas

I can't get enough of making cards ahead for Christmas, can you? By the time December comes, I usually have 15 or more cards ready to mail. Every one of them a different design! Then I mass produce the rest. Special people get the one-of-a-kind cards. They are usually the ones who let me know how much they appreciate the beauty of a unique hand-made greeting. Like today's card. It is very  unique, especially in the colors department, and I {{heart}} this combo!

I tried the Black Magic technique for the first time using the Lovely As A Tree set.

• I stamped the tree using white craft ink on the basic black card stock and let it dry. Then I colored the tree using my Metallic Colored pencils (retired) in shades of green, and brown. Regular watercolor pencils work every bit as well.
• Highlights were added with the Uni-ball signo gel pen, accenting the curves of the branches.
• Using the Two-Way glue pen, I drew in faint lines under the pen marks, and sprinkled on Olive Fine Supernova Stampin' Glitter. This almost looks gold IRL, but has a rich sparkle.
• The beauty of this technique is the dimension that it adds to the focal image which is beautifully set off by the black card stock, kinda like jewels shimmering on lush black velvet.

I hope you'll give this technique a try! Need supplies? Contact me and I'd be happy to help you.

Supplies~  all supplies by Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree (115026)
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, whisper white, basic black
 and Ink: white craft

Accessories:Pretties Kit, Fine Supernova Stampin' Glitter, Organza Ribbon, Silver Elastic cord, Scallop Edge and corner rounder punches, Metallic Colored pencils, uni-ball Signo Gel pen, Finial Press Embossing Folders, Big Shot

Asian Artistry

I have never bought an Asian inspired set - well, maybe Eastern blooms counts - but I could not resist Stampin' Up's Asian Artistry set. Here's a sneak peek for you! The images include a bird perched on bamboo, delicate rose blossoms, a dragonfly, tall grasses and the sentiment, "wherever you go, go with all your heart."

Of course, I couldn't wait to use this set and the Featured Stamper Challenge gave me the perfect opportunity! This card by Kisa Peters inspired me. I love the clean simplicity of her design and her layout, which I turned for my card.

I used my new In Color markers to color the bird in Melon Mamba.  This color really zings with black, white and Sahara Sand used as the backdrop.  Thinking of the embellishment to use posed a problem because I wanted SHINY black with silver. I stamped the leaves from the flower stamp on black card stock and embossed it in silver. I punched it out and used it to top the shiny black Jumbo Grommet - voila! How do you like it? Here's a closeup for you. 

Supplies~
Stamps: Asian Artistry
Paper: whisper white,melon mamba, sahara sand, basic black
Ink: basic black, versamark
Accessories: silver embossing powder, 3/4" circle punch, filigree brads, rhinestone brads from the Pretties' Kit

Le Jardin Botanique

I made a card today and I wanted to let you see it before I head out. Today is my son's football practice, so you know where I'll be! I borrowed the set from Ruth Ann -( thanks! :D) and I think Le Jardin Botanique is beautiful! I love the sentiments it comes with but wanted to play a bit with the images. I also used the Oval All set from the Occasions mini and the Scalloped Oval punch. These new purchases are going to be used often, I think!

I had the color challenge in mind but didn't read too carefully - it's supposed to be real red instead of rose red. :)  with Old Olive and black. Oh well!  

Thanks for stopping by and cheering for my team....me!

Faux Cloisonne

If you've never tried the Faux Cloisonne technique you should give it a try! You basically choose a colorful swatch from a glossy magazine or catalog and emboss your image on top of it. Cut it out and add it to the same image embossed on card stock.

As you can see on this card by Emily, it's an elegant effect! Her card is especially elegant and beautiful as always - didn't she do a fabulous sample for me?  :D  The flowers and large leaf are filled in with the glossy cloisonne. The feathery trailing leaves are from the Little Leaves Sizzlet die, cut out with the Big Shot.Of course, the pearls are from my never-ending Pretties Kit. :D

Some of you have asked where to find this ribbon. It is Stampin' Up!'s Whisper White Organza Ribbon shown HERE. The beautiful stripe shows up much better on a real project and the price includes 15 yds. of ribbon! You may order from me anytime with an e-mail telling me what you'd like.

I'm off to work on some projects of my own. I'll be back tomorrow!

Endless Spring

 

Spring is here and it's Friday too, time for a challenge! Think Spring is the theme for this week's challenge at the Stamp Something blog. Our sponsor this week is Roses on Paper, head on over to the blog and check out the fun! 

In my mind spring and butterflies always go together, although I love butterflies in any season! I used the Echoes of Kindness hostess set, and colored the images with Stampin' Up! markers. The circle card was a breeze with my Circle Scissor Plus cutter. I will share more about this new product in the next week. The two white layers are matted with celery card stock and they open (the hinge is at the top) so a note can be written inside.    

For the butterfly I used the Bigz Beautiful Butterflies die and cut it out with Sticky Pages* so that I could lavish the wings with glitter. Gotta have my bling!

Wishing you a day full of sunshine, soft breezes, and many kind words. Oh, and a little bling.

Supplies~
Stamps: Echoes of Kindness
Paper: whisper white, certainly celery
Ink: Black Staz-On

Accessories: white Organza Ribbon, Stampin' Up! Beautiful Butterflies die, Big Shot, Circle Scissors Plus and glass mat, Pretties' Kit, Fine Cosmo Stampin. Glitter, Sticky Pages (* Sticky strip material in full size sheets)

Bella Papier

Ready to see another SU! designer paper up close and beautiful - it's Bella Birds!  I don't know what *language* my title is, but translate it - beautiful paper :D My photo doesn't show the gorgeous colors as well as I would like, but you get the idea.  Soft and so elegant! I thought it was just perfect for an Easter card. 

The layout came from a fabulous sketch from Jen. I began with whisper white card stock, and used the lacy design from Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I to emboss - click on the photo and you'll get a better look. Pink Pirouette is the perfect accent color for the Bordering Blue card stock. This is my first sample with the Beautiful Butterflies die cut, and it's fabulous! I love anything with butterflies on it, and Stampin' Up! keeps coming up with beautiful butterfly images (*hint - keep a watch out for the arrival of the occasions mini April 1.)  When it comes to butterflies I am deciding I need them all :D

Guess what I used again? 
Were you thinking of my favorite Pretties kit? That's it, and the Big Shot too  :D 

Supplies:
Stamps: All Holidays
Paper: whisper white, pink pirouette, Bella Birds DP
Ink: Basic Gray

Accessories: white organza ribbon layered over pink pirouette striped ribbon, Backgrounds I Texturz plates, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, Little Leaves Sizzlet, Boho Blossoms punch, Pretties, Kit, Big Shot

* Since (blush) I do speak Spanish, German and a tiny bit of French, I actually Do know the language. Bella is Spanish and Italian, and Papier is French. Made a cute title to me, sorry I just couldn't resist LOL.

To order from me online anytime click HERE and go to Shop Now

Golden Elegance ~ Bloomin' Beautiful

I hope you don't mind that I am posting tonight since I just couldn't wait until tomorrow to show you this one! Tomorrow will be a busy day as I prepare for my monthly club. This project is a sample for my fun group of the faux cloisonne technique. I have always wanted to try this technique and had this image sitting ready to put on a card. When I saw Julee's darling Mojo Monday sketch it seemed a perfect fit!

The technique uses a page from a magazine or glossy garden catalog. Does anybody remember the cloisonne jewelry from way back when?  LOL It was always outlined in gold and this technique mimics it - in fact it's even more beautiful than the original was. (there, now I've given myself away :D )  Often the gold embossing is done on black, but I chose to use shimmery white as my neutral this time. I just love the way these papers show off the variegated colors in the flower.

Supplies~
Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful (not retired), 24-7
Paper: shimmery white, kiwi kiss, Raspberry Tart DP, cameo coral
Ink: versa mark
Accessories: gold embossing powder, white organdy ribbon, 1-1/4 and 1-3/8" hole punches, Pretties kit

 

Cameo Bouquet

This is my absolute favorite of the cards I've designed in 2009! I sent it off to SU! but I'm so thankful for photos so that I can share it with you. The scallop is the part of the card that opens, from left to right for the inside greeting. I ran folded cardstock through the Big Shot, leaving a couple scallops just inside the cutting line so that it would not cut through to be a hinge. The designer paper covers those scallops.
The Petal Pzazz stamp set makes a regal bouquet, don't you love it? I just love the way these flowers layer for either a funky look, or an elegant one.

I included this card in the Twice is Nice category - two cards done with the same layout. I didn't plan it this way, but the layout is the same as THIS card, except turned a bit.  Thanks for having a look today!

Here's the rest~
Stamps: Short & Sweet, Petal Pzazz
Paper: whisper white, cameo coral, Raspberry Tart Designer Series
Ink: kiwi kiss, cameo coral, pretty in pink. rose red, chocolate chip

Accessories: pretty in pink taffeta ribbon, Big shot, Scallop Circle Bigz die, Pretties' Kit, Crafetes' Tool kit

Beautiful Borders

I am sorry to say that I needed to make a sympathy card over the weekend.  I bought the Beautiful Borders set for just this purpose - I love the sentiments, and the softness of the flower borders. I combined soothing soft blues and celery with vanilla and a touch of saffron for brightness. The idea to use a scalloped piece over ribbon of the same color came right out of the catty - but for the life of me I couldn't find the sample. If you know the page # send me a quick note!
This card went out in the mail today. My new years resolution is to get more cards on their way to someone before they gather a layer of dust. :)
Speaking of things to give away - I'm all wrapped up in some blog candy plans for you! Check back soon.

Stamps: Beautiful Borders, Frames with a Flourish, Dreams du Jour
Paper: certainly celery, baja breeze Design Prints, very vanilla
Ink: Baja Breeze, Old Olive, So Saffron

Accessories: pastels, Pretties' Kit, scallop edge punch, corner rounder punch, wide grosgrain, Crafters' Tool kit