Sunday, June 29, 2014

Christmas Card Challenges #31 Anything Goes

It's time for another Christmas Card Challenge today. This week our theme is Anything Goes so go for it. You can make any kind of winter or Christmas card. I had this star shaker and decided to use it as the focal point of my card. I used some Cosmo Cricket paper and and a sentiment from Papertrey Ink. I can't wait to see what you create this week. Thanks for stopping by!


Saturday, June 28, 2014

Lindy's Stamp Gang June Challenge

When I saw Limor Webber's new Under The Boardwalk color collection for Lindy's Stamp Gang, I loved the colors so much I just HAD to buy them all. I've never used these sprays before, but they are really easy to use and the colors are so beautiful. For this canvas I colored everything (except the buttons) on it using the Flat Fabio Sprays in the 5 colors of Under the Boardwalk. On some things I sprayed directly on the item and on others I sprayed on the craft mat and applied the color with a brush. You can check out the names of the colors and the other products they come in on the challenge page here.



Here's my canvas.


Materials
1. Doily, Arrow, blue button, journal card - Studio Calico
2. Yellow Buttons - Pebbles
3. Flowers, mini clothespin - Stampin' Up
4. Butterfly, ticket, star, shield, heart, circle - Heidi Swapp Color Magic
5. Bottom border & canvas piece- my stash

Friday, June 27, 2014

Unity Friends With Flair Friday

I'm uploading this little canvas to Unity Stamp Company's Friends With Flair Friday. I used the Heart/Flag stamp that I got in a grab bag from Unity and my favorite background stamp - Stars of Worn. To get color on the heart stamp I used two small dabbers. I just dabbed on the distress inks to the stamp and then stamped it and cut it out. I used Barn Door and Faded Jeans Distress Inks. I also used the dabbers to create the striped background. I stamped the Stars of Worn background with white ink for the background.

I used a blue Stamper's Big Brush Ben around the edge of the stamp and around the edges of the little canvas. I smudged the edges with my fingers. The word courage is from Tim Holtz Chit Chat and I used the blue pen around the edges of the courage sticker also. The size of the canvas is about 3x4. The easel is fun to use in your house and you can switch out little seasonal canvases all year long. Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Inspiration Emporium Monthly Challenge - Christmas in June

I was inspired to make this card for the Inspiration Emporium Monthly Challenge - Christmas in June. I used the all Tim Holtz supplies. First, I stamped the Ornament Blueprint stamp twice and cut out the ornament and placed it on top of the first stamp with foam dots to add a little dimension. I colored the ornament with Distress Markers and used Holidays Past papers (my favorite of Tim's Christmas papers). Then I added a holiday word band and attached it with paper string. I love making Christmas cards and really love using a blueprint stamp so this one was super fun to make. Thanks for stopping by!


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Moxie Fab World Creative Spaces Link Party

The Moxie Fab World is having a Link Party. Teri is asking everyone to show their creative craft storage solutions. Check it out here.  I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Volume #3 of Creative Spaces. I have looked at the other two volumes countless times, especially when I was designing my new craft space.

I decided to show how I store my spray inks and paints. I ordered a 3 Tier Tray from One Kings Lane. I didn't know what I was going to do with it, but I knew I would find a place for it in my new house and after it sat assembled in my area for "things that need to go somewhere" I had the bright idea that I could store my spray inks and paints in it. It was just the right size. I put it on a lazy susan I bought at Walmart so it will spin. I also purchased the smaller cosmetics caddy from Joss & Main with the same thought in mind - it'll go somewhere. So I tried out my Dylusions Spray Inks and I was so happy that I could get 4 of them in each section and it holds all of them!!  I love these two storage solutions because they allow me store upwards and they fit nicely on the counter in the bathroom of my craft room and they spin for easy access.

My original plan was to paint them hot pink, because the accents in my craft room are hot pink and turquoise, but when I put all those colorful inks in them I thought the bright pink might be too much. But, I'm still debating that. I'm also showing my version of the tin can storage like the ones shown in the Moxie Fab World post. I used a large canned pumpkin can. (I go through these cans because pumpkin is loaded with fiber and my dogs love it. It keeps them very regular and it's an awesome treat - FYI) I painted the can with a spray paint/primer in one. I put several coats on it. I love how big it is and how many of my brushes and tools it will hold. It also lives on my bathroom counter top. 





Sunday, June 22, 2014

Christmas Card Challenges #30

It's time for another challenge over at Christmas Card Challenges. This week we have an inspiration photo to inspire your card. I was inspired by the red and gold glitter. I die cut this large ornament using red and gold glitter papers. Then I colored some Jenni Bowlin lets Carmine Red (Copic) and adhered them to gold glitter rectangles. Before I adhered everything, I sprayed the white card base with Heidi Swap Gold Shimmer Mist. Then I outlined the card with the Carmine Red Copic Marker. I can't wait to see what you will be inspired to make this week! Thanks for stopping by!

Here is the inspiration photo.


Here's my card. 


Saturday, June 21, 2014

Independence Day Inspiration Blog Hop


Welcome to the Independence Day Blog Hop. We're a group of crafty blog friends making projects we like, using products we like, just for fun and inspiration!! Be sure to check out all the blogs on this hop for tons of crafty Independence Day Inspiration.

Today I'm sharing a mixed media tag that I made. I started with a manilla tag and stamped one of my favorite background stamps by the Unity Stamp Company called Stars of Worn. I stamped the background in Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Faded Jeans and Barn Door. I also blended the edges of the card with the same distress inks. 

I cut the words out of the Tim Holts Kraft Core Seasonal Impressions Paper. The paper has lots of words on it and if you sand it the color comes off and you can see the words better. I cut out all the words and shapes and sanded them down to provide contrast to the images. I laid them out in sort of a subway art pattern to cover the tag. The star and the July 4th were also cut from the paper and glued together. I die cut the flag from a Tim Holtz die and covered it with Distress Stains in Barn Door, Faded Jeans, and Metallic Gold. 

I dyed the Tim Holtz trim with Distress Stains in Barn Door and Faded Jeans, leaving a little white space in between the colors. I doubled up the trim before putting it on the tag. Finally, I thought it needed a little something else and my crafty friend Jenn Shurkus suggested glitter. So, I brushed the whole tag with Sparkle Modge Podge and it's just what it needed to add some interest. 

Then, at the last minute I remembered a technique I saw Tim Holtz do once in the old 12 Tags of Christmas to make little tag ornament. You can see him explain the technique here. I used a black and white image and I thought it stuck out like a sore thumb. But, since it was already adhered to the facet I had to think about how to add some color to it. I colored it with a Distress Marker in Barn Door, but it didn't work. Then I used Barn Door Distress Stain and it went through the paper and color it red. So, now I have a red Uncle Sam who fits better in the tag. I attached him to the ribbon with a Tim Holtz small paper clip. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all the links below by finishing this hop for more Independence Day Projects and inspiration.



You should have come here from Lynn K’s blog. Now go check out to Rachel K's blog.



Thursday, June 19, 2014

Moxie Fab World: Photo Pocket Page Challenge: Journaling Cards

I made this card for a challenge in the Moxie Fab World. It's the Photo Pocket Page Challenge: Journaling Cards. The challenge is to make a card or other item using a journaling card. Since I rarely ever scrapbook, I have some Studio Calico journal cards that came in my Studio Calico Card Kit that I haven't used and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to use them. The papers look like watercolors, but they are from the Pink Paislee paper pad called Color Wash (love the papers in this collection!!) I cut a piece of the decorative paper and put it behind the journal card - it has kind of an ombre effect. The star paper clip is from Hobby Lobby and the stars are from Studio Calico. I added a few sequins by Pretty Pink Posh to finish it off. Thanks for stopping by!!


Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Let's Celebrate Freedom

This is my second entry for the Lawnscaping Challenge. Today I got in this awesome stars stencil from My Favorite Things designed by Mona Pendleton. It was just too perfect for this challenge not to use it. So I sprayed the card stock with Dylusions - London Blue and Cherry Pie to make the background. I used the "Let's Celebrate"

sentiment from the Lawn Fawn Happy 4th stamp set and I stamped it in a banner from the Lawn Fawn Bannerific stamp set. 

The letters are Heidi Swap Color Magic that I sprayed with the London Blue Dylusions. I wanted the letters to stand out a little more so I went over the letters with a white Stampers Big Brush Pen. I also didn't want to cover up too much of the background so I put the banner and letters on a vellum die cut. I just used two dies to make the frame around the vellum pane. Then, I added two Doodlebug Design stars on the ends of the die cut frame. The inks and colored cardstock are Stampin Up - Pacific Point and Real Read. The black ink is Memento.  Thanks for stopping by!


Here's my card. 

Monday, June 16, 2014

Lawnscaping Stars and Stripes Challenge

I'm entering this card into the Lawnscaping Stars & Stripes Challenge. I used the Lawn Fawn Happy 4th stamp set.  The papers are from Patriotic Parade from Doodlebug Designs. I masked the sentiment and added a couple little Hero Arts blue pearls. I think it's a simple, but colorful and fun card. Thanks for stopping by!

 Here's my card.


Curtain Call Challenge - Sweet Pea

I made this card for the current Curtain Call Challenge - Sweet Pea. I really love pinks and purples so I knew I had to play this week. I started out trying to do the embossed, chalk technique from Make-it-Monday at Papertrey Ink, but I stamped too many flowers and you can't see the texture or really tell there is a chalk background so I change it up a little. I used PTI inks in Lavender Moon, Plum Pudding and Winter Wisteria. The stamps I used were PTI Fillable Frames and Funky Florals. The ribbon is from Stampin' Up. Thanks for stopping by!


Here's my card. 



Sunday, June 15, 2014

Christmas Card Challenges #29

It's time for another Christmas Card Challenge.  The theme this week is to use at least 3 patterned papers. I used some DCWV Holiday papers for this card. The sentiment is a sticker from EAD Designs and the glittery gold dots are also from DCWV.  I love to work with patterned papers so I had a lot of fun making this card. I also used some Spellbinders Nestabilities Dies. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will join us at Christmas Card Challenges this week.


Thursday, June 12, 2014

Unity Thursday Blog Hop - Guest Designer

I'm so excited to be hopping with the Unity Design Team on their Thursday Blog Hop today. My card won the Unity Be Inspired Challenge last month and each monthly winner gets to participate in the Unity Thursday Hop! The Hop starts at the Unity Blog. Be sure to comment on all the participants blogs to be eligible to win the awesome Hop prize.

The graphic below is for the current Unity Be Inspired Challenge, here is the link http://www.theunitystampco-challenge.blogspot.com/ I hope you will consider playing along with the current Unity Be Inspired Challenge. It's so much fun and the prizes are amazing - 4 Kits and 10 Itty Bittys!! Under the graphic are the cards I made for this month's Unity Be Inspired Challenge.


I made two cards using that bright and fun color story. 

The first one uses this fun Subway Art graphic from the Unity Mach 2014 SMAK Kit. I've been wanting to use it forever now and this was the perfect opportunity for me. First, I colored in all the images with Copic Markers. Then I added 2 wood arrows from Studio Calico (the pink one and the blue one), various rhinestones, enamel dots, and Stickles everywhere!! It was so much fun to make and I really like how it turned out. The blue corrugated cardboard paper is from DCWV. 



For my second card from this color story I used the Unity May 2014 Kit of the Month. I had to have this kit when I saw this girl holding the balloons. It's such a cool stamp. The girl with the balloons stamp and the sentiment are both from the Unity May 2014 Kit of the Month. I adhered the girl and the heart with foam dots. I sprayed the white card stock with Lindy's Stamp Gang Spray in Tilt a Wheel Teal. The pink card stock is from the DCWV Spring/Summer Stack. The banner and heart are from the Heidi Swapp Color Magic Collection - Paper Goods - Ephemera. I sprayed them with Heidi Swapp Color Shine Spritz in Primrose.



I also made a  2 cards with the current card sketch. 

For this one I used this hanging dress from the Unity May 2011 Kit of The Month - honestly these Unity KOM stamps never get old to me. I want to say it's one of my favorite KOMs, but they are all on my favorites list. Unity KOMs just ROCK!!! The sentiment is from the awesome Unity March 2014 Kit of the Month.



For my last card I used this fun ice cream cone from the Unity July 2011 Kit of the Month and the Coolness sentiment is from the Unity March 2014 SMAK Kit. It's so far my only SMAK kit, but I absolutely love all the graphic images in that kit. The ink is Memento Black and all the papers are from DCWV Spring & Summer Stack. I adhere the cupcake with foam dots and added a little matching pearl to the heart on the top of the ice cream cone. I think it make a super fun summer card. 




Sunday, June 8, 2014

Denami Designs Bright Blossoms Blog Hop


Welcome to my blog. Today, I'm participating in the Denami Bright Blossoms Blog Hop. I'm so excited to participate again this month.

I love Denami Stamps and I thought these little flowers were just so pretty. I decided to make a set of floral cards. All the stamps are from the Spring Flower Set the sentiment is also from Denami. For this card I used coordinating polka dot and solid papers from Papertrey Ink. I stamped the images with Memento Black ink and colored the images with Copic markers. Thanks for stopping by!









Be sure to check out the rest of the participants on the hop and leave comments because 2 lucky commenters will receive a $20 gift certificate to the Denami Store. You have until 11:59 PM EST on Monday, June 9 to leave your comments and be eligible to win.

If you're following the hop you should've come here from the blog of the super talented Lisa at 
http://bellalistona.blogspot.com/ and your next stop will be the blog of the very gifted Greta at http://ggnursecreations.blogspot.com/ If you just found out about the hop and want to start at the beginning go to the Denami Blog

Thanks for stopping by!!

Christmas Card Challenges #28

This week at Christmas Card Challenges we have a color challenge. For my card I die cut the tree from Tim Holtz grunge board. I painted it white with Claudine Hellmuth acrylic paint in Blank Canvas. Then I added different blue buttons in the color palette and used a Christy Tomlinson trick and put the butterfly on the top instead of a star. The blue card stock and ink is Night of Navy from Stampin' Up. The sentiment is from Hero Arts. This was a really fun color scheme to work with. I hope you will take some time to get an early start on your Holiday Cards and  join us this week.

Here is the color story.


Here's my card.


Saturday, June 7, 2014

Seize the Sketch #21

I'm playing along for the first time with Seize the Sketch Challenge. I keep seeing cards made with this sketch and it looked like so much fun I thought I would try out my stamps with this sketch. The papers are all Vintage Collector, the stamps are Faux Veneer by Altenew, the wooden arrow is from Freckled Fawn. I stamped the cloud thought bubbles in Rose Madder Ranger Archival Ink and the Hello in Coffee Ranger Archival Ink. I rubbed the arrow on the Coffee ink pad to color it. The brown clip at the top is from Stampin' Up. Thanks for stopping by!!

Here's the sketch.
 Here's my card.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

TAWS Be Inspired Challenge #53

I made this card for the current The Alley Way Stamps Be Inspired Challenge. The inspiration photo is below. I used stamps from the TAWS sets True Colors and Tiny Treasures. The papers are from Stampin' Up and the inks are from PTI. Thanks for stopping by!





Sunday, June 1, 2014

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #1 - Spray Inks & Mists

Click here for my Christmas Card Challenges post.

It's finally time for our first challenge over at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog. I'm hosting the challenge this month and our challenge is to use Spray Inks or Mists on your Mixed Media Project. I made an art journal page using Dylusions Spray inks. To see how I created this page check out my tutorial over on the MMMC Blog.



Our sponsor this month is Inspiration Emporium and our Guest Designer is the fabulous Shelly Hickox.  Be sure to go check it out and I hope you will play along with us this month. You have until June 30 to enter.




Christmas Card Challenges #27

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Card Challenges. The theme this week is to use stencils on your card. I love to use stencils. I made the background of this card using Dylusions spray inks. Then I used the Dylusion Snowflakes stencil with Mr. Huey's Opaque White Spray Ink. I like that the white is opaque so you can really see the stencil images well when you spray on top of the other inks. Then I added some white canvas letters. To make them stand out I outlined them with a black Stampers Big Brush Pen. The ink bled in to the letters which I kind of liked, but some of them got too dark for me so I colored the insides with a white Stampers Big Brush Pen. I brushed the edges with Jenni Bowlin Chalk Ink Edger in Black Coal. This is a kind of a nontraditional mixed media Winter Card, but I like how it turned out.