In Dreams...

Happy Sunday! I've been playing around in my new craft room, finally. I tried out some new paint dabbers from Adriondack. I love the result! Dabbing each color on 1/3 of a brayer at once I got a nice smooth flow between colors. I painted on white cardstock then stamped my images after the paint dried. Next, I distressed and inked the edges and added a corner ticket punch. It is adhered to brown cardstock corner punch the same, which is then adhered to lime green cardstock. I wrapped the double framed image with brown baker's twine. For some depth and texture, I stamped the sentiment onto a smaller piece of painted cardstock, used a die cut label, distressed and inked, then adhered it to a tag made from brown cardstock. I added a bit of orange paint to an already orange button to brighten the color. Finally, I added some yellow gems to the butterflies, brad on the tag and button on the twine for a little pizzazz.

SPIES:
Stamps: Images (Inkadinkadoo); Sentiment (Tim Holtz).
Paper: White, brown, lime green cardstock.
Ink: Timber Brown (Staz On); Sunset Orange, Sunshine Yellow and Lettuce paint dabbers (Adriondack).
Extras: Label 14 Die cut (Spellbinders); tag; bakers twine; brown brad; orange button; yellow gems.

Grey Wolf

My first card made in my new craft studio!  I'm just so excited!  I cannot believe how much easier it is to find things, move around, do things, EVERYTHING.  Such a joy!

This card is for my oldest son's 20th birthday.  He is out in Oklahoma, so we will miss being able to celebrate with him.  So, I wanted to make something grown up masculine but also with something that is him.  He has always been an animal/nature lover so the wolf is perfect for him.

Lately I have been very obsessed with everything Taylored Expressions.  So, I decided to use their sketch challenge for this week for the card.  It is clean and simple and works great for masculine cards.Then, over at The Paper Players, the challenge was to make a masculine card with clean and simple lines.  Finally, my colors were inspired by the color challenge at City Crafter.

As you can see the card is very clean and sleek. I embossed the black background to give more depth to the card.   Also for more depth, I crimped the kraft scalloped border and added more kraft behind the sentiment, which I punched the sides of with the scallop punch and also crimped.  I couldn't decide whether to put any embellishments along the cloth ribbon.  I finally chose one brad to put in the center underneath the sentiment and added a metal round paper clip for a little extra man touch.
 

SPIES:

Stamps:  Sentiment  (Inkadkinadoo); Wolf digital stamp (M&M Designz).
Paper:  Buttercream, black and kraft cardstock.  DP - Little Black Dress (Basic Grey).
Ink:  Copics for image.  Tuxedo Black ink (Memento).
Extras:  Labels die (Spellbinders); diamond emboss folder(Provo Craft) scallop border punch; paper crimper; cotton ribbon; brown brad; brown paperclip ring.

City Crafter Challenge #97 -- It's All Natural

Thanks for stopping by!

Life Is An Adventure

Eat Sleep Stamp Sketch #159

The title of this post definitely says it all!  Life is truly an adventure and the last few weeks in the Salkeld abode has been moreso.  I am in the process of moving into my new craft studio so crafting has taken on a new meaning for me over the past couple weeks.  My studio is a wonderful Valentine gift from my husband to help me get back in the groove and even maybe make a little spending money at it.  I will share pics in a later post.

Of course, in the middle of it all, I was trying to get Valentines made and a few other special cards for some special events coming up.  This cute 'adventure' card I sent to my son who will be participating in UNC's Dance Marathon this weekend to raise money for NC Children's Hospital.  I think the dog stamp is so adorable!  It is from Artistic Outpost.  They have some gorgeous stamps!

I wanted to make a masculine, yet youthful card.  My son, Ben, is a freshman at UNC Chapel Hilll.  The sketch at Eat, Sleep, Stamp this week is very streamlined and simple and perfect for a masculine card. So, I took some Tim Holtz grunge paper, sprayed it with blue and orange glimmer mist and then stamped the image in Staz On Azure.  It gave it a more grungy look.

I thought the notebook DP paper was pretty appropriate too.  So I used a notebook border punch on one side.  Then, I chose some wood looking DP, used a wood grain texture plate on it to make the wood look more defined.  And I used some of the same wood paper as a border for the sentiment.  I finished off the card with an orange leather and metal brad and a metal arrow on the compass in the image.

SPIES:

Stamps:  Image and sentiment -Artistic Outpost;
Paper:  Grunge paper; white cardstock:  DP from stash.
Ink:  Staz On Azure.
Extras:  Wood grain texture plate - Taylored Expressions; notebook border punch; glimmer mist; orange leather and metal brad; metal arrow.

'Owl' Love

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #151

It's been a very hectic week here.  My Hubs is painting my new craft studio for me.  The downstairs is all torn up due to the redecorating. I've been busy trying to get Valentine care packages together for my sons away at college and staying out of the Hubs' way at the same time.  So, with all of that going on, what do we do tonight?  Scrap it all (no pun intended, really) and have an early Valentine date at the circus, Ringling Brothers!  I hadn't been to the circus since I was a little girl.  It was wonderful!  I think we may have been the only adult couple there without kids!  LOL  We definitely won't the oldest ones, but most of the older adults I noticed had grandchildren on their laps.  I have a few years yet before getting to that stage.

Before we went, I put together this Valentine for the Taylored Expressions Sketch and now am posting it before the deadline. I had a lot of fun with this card.  I bought a bunch of stamps from Taylored Expressions weeks ago and just hadn't pulled many of them out yet.  So today was the day.  I love those sweet little owls!

I decided to make my own little tree die using the stamped image from the stamp.  I textured some kraft paper with the wood texture plate from Taylored Expressions.  Then, to make it more defined and stand out, I went over the grooves with some Copic markers, outlining the edges also.

Then, after coloring the Owls with Copics, I cut them out so it would pop out on the wood.  Next I added a piece of kraft twine for the branch the owls are sitting on.  I decided to carry the twine out by lacing it through the squares and added a twine bow to the sentiment to bring it all together.


SPIES:
Stamps:  Owls, tree and sentiment all Taylored Expressions.
Paper:  Kraft, pink cardstock; DP from Taylored Expressions card kit.
Ink:  Staz On Timber Brown; Colorbox rouge.  Copics.
Extras:  Spellbinders scalloped square dies; Textured panel- Taylored Expressions; twine; heart punch; pink grommet; heart button stickles.

Framed Hearts

Trying to stay out of the Hub's way today as he paints my new craft studio for me.  I am sooooo excited!  I will finally have my own studio room to craft,  paint and stamp and not have to worry about cleaning up right away.  Not to mention my own little space in which to disappear!  LOL   Another plus too is that we will actually be able to play pool on our pool table instead of me using it for an extra work station! But I digress, here is my card....A quick and simple card for PPA Color Challenge today.

 

SPIES:

Stamps:  Sentiment - Hampton Arts; Victorian Frame - Recollections.
Paper:  Rose, Red, Deep Red, white cardstock; DP - My Mind's Eye 'Stella Rose'.
Ink:  Colorbox
Extras:  Ribbon, heart gems, Spellbinder die cut; scallop punch.

Layers of Love

The Paper Players #80

My first time playing at The Paper Players today and I'm just under the deadline.  Ive been playing around with different papers and textures.  I wound up with lots of tiny tissue paper hearts.  What to do?  So, I took a piece of craft plastic and Mod Podged a bunch of them on the plastic.  Then, I took others and using a tissue paper method to making flowers, I made the puffy heart. Had to play with it a bit to get it to look how I wanted.  I am very happy with the outcome.

Unfortunately too I am having camera issues, a loose lens that won't stay fastened since my camera fell off the desk earlier this week, so my photos aren't doing my work much justice.  So, please bare with me until I can get my camera fixed. 

SPIES:

Stamps:  Sentiment:  Hampton Art.
Paper:  Tissue paper in red, orange and pink. DP from stash.  White cardstock.
Ink:  Colorbox.
Extras:  Lime green ribbon, lime green sticky gems, Spellbinders label die cut.

Rainbow of Inspiration

Another CASE Study Challenge entry.  I had so many ideas for this card it was hard to finally decide what to do, but now that it is finished, I love it!  And, so simple to boot!

CASE Study Challenge #75

SPIES:
Stamps:  Sentiments - Hampton Art.
Paper:  White cardstock.
Ink:  Hampton Art.
Extras:  Rhinestones, flower and heart buttons.

Birthday Chic

A special birthday card for a special Mom -- my mom!  She will be 78 years young on Tuesday, Jan. 31st.  We are 400 miles apart so I don't get to see her often, but we talk several times a week.  She is probably my closest friend.  I have been wanting to try out the Eiffel Tower die and her card seemed the perfect time to put it to use. The Eiffel Tower to me is a symbol of timelessness and classic beauty and my mom is also that to me.

I used the sketch from City Crafters this week and it just pulled everything together beautifully.

 City Crafter Sketch Challenge #93

SPIES:

Stamps: Sentiment - Hero Arts.
Paper:  White cardstock; Silver shimmer cardstock; DP from stash;
Ink:  Cotton Candy.
Extras:  Eiffel Tower die cut and swirl die cut (My Favorite Things); beaded oval die cut (Spellbinders); scallop circle die (Spellbinders); emboss folder(Cuttlebug); corner punch; lace ribbon; craft pearl string; pink tulle; clear gems; pink flowers.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

An Apple A Day

Happy Sunday!  Today, I've been busy with this calendar I've made for several challenges.  The colors were inspired by ColourQ this week.

With acrylic frame

SPIES:
Stamps:  Apples - Stampin Up!
Paper:  Kraft cardstock;  DP from stash.
Ink:  Staz On Mustard; Rose Red.
Extras:  Olive, Yellow, and red raffia, eyelet square nestabilities; acrylic calendar frame (Taylored Expressions); calendar (Taylored Expressions).

CHALLENGES:

Taylored Expressions

Just For Me!

Card Size Reference.

During my recovery period, I have been re-organizing my craft area and supplies.   My creative stash has been growing steadily even though I haven't created much.  NOTE:  Laptops and online craft stores are a dangerous combination when one is recuperating from surgery, much to the Hubs chagrin!  Anyway,  I'm always making things for other people, so today, I made myself some "blingy" reference for my craft bulletin board.  The red butterfly is an old magnet that belonged to my grandmother.  She loved butterflies.  I thought it added extra punch to the flowers and also, everytime I look at my reference, I have a reminder of my grandmother.

SPIES:

Stamps:  No Stamps.  I printed my card size references from my computer.
Paper:  Paper Heart DP by Crate Paper; cardstock - Taylored Expressions. 
Ink:  Printer Ink.
Extras:  Lacey Circle & Grand Scalloped Square Nestabilities; Flower bling-Basic Grey; Paper pinwheels - Basic Grey; green gems for butterfly trail; red & yellow gems; white ribbon; yellow gem brad; metal hanger; red butterfly magnet.

CHALLENGES:

Just Add Ink #101 Sketch Challenge

Monster Hugs

Look at those adorable monsters!  I had such a fun time making this card.  This is my first time submitting a card for the CASE Study challenge.  They had such a fun inspirational card this week.  And, I tried out another new challenge, Crafty Creations for the Valentine theme.

SPIES:

Stamps:  Love Monsters - Taylored Expressions.
Paper:  White cardstock; DP -Doodlebug Colorwheel Collection.
Ink:  Colorstock Black.
Extras:  Baker's twine, corner punch, large dot emboss folder.

CHALLENGES:

 

CASE Study Challenge #74

Crafty Creations Challenge # 153 - Valentines

Thanks Snow Much!

FINALLY, I'm back to the blogworld!  I've had another long absence due to health as before.  However, as of today, that should all change. Even though I have not been able to craft,I have been following many blogs and challenges, as well as stocking up on new supplies.  I'm still in recovery mode, but now feeling well enough that I {drum roll} made a card!  That may not sound so exciting to the rest of you, but after the last year of all kinds of distractions more than just health related, it is a major endeavor for me.


So without further ado, here is my first card for 2012:

My inspiration came from this week's challenge at Cupcake Inspirations and some of my new patterned paper.  The snowflake flower I made with a snowflake stamp and flower punch.  I then embossed the edges a little with silver emboss powder to  help it stand out some more.  Another one of my newest purchases was a doily die from My Favorite Things, which I used to cut out the backing for my snowflake flower out of aluminum foil.  Finally, it's hard to see in the photo, but the chicken wire DP I rolled through a crimper to give it more texture and the tan DP was embossed with a snowflake folder.  I really love the final outcome of this card.

SPIES:
Stamps:  Snowflake - Inkadinkadoo; Sentiments- Fiskars and Taylored Expressions.
Paper:  White cardstock; DP - Basic Grey's Little Black Dress; aluminum foil.
Ink:  Staz-On Jet Black and Colorbox silver.
Extras:  Snowflake emboss folder; paper crimper; doily die - My Favorite Things; flower punch; pink polka dot ribbon, pink satin ribbon; metal frame; snowflake stickers - Jolee's Boutique.

CHALLENGES:

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #143

Unfortunately, my creative flow is moving quite slow and I missed the deadline for the Card Patterns challenge this week.  Yet, I still liked to give credit where credit is due for it too inspired me to incorporate all those beautiful patterned papers.

Well, hopefully, tomorrow there will be more cards to post and the next day and the next day, etc.  The Lord willing, my health issues are behind me and everyday I gain more energy and focus and plan to get back into the crafting and blogging world more regularly.

And, before I go I must thank Karen Giron for the gorgeous watermark she created for me.  Thanks, Karen!

Happy New Year!

Witch's Potions

 

Hello all!  I haven't exactly been able to keep up with my posts or crafts as I had hoped.  So much going on even with a newly empty nest.  The hubs and I have been working on the house and yard so my creative endeavors have been elsewhere the past couple of months.   However, it has gotten me more in the mood to create, re-create, re-decorate and re-furbish on all levels.  To see what I have been up to, you can check out my newest blog Restoring My Soul where I plan to document and share all my redecorating/recycling/refurbishing ideas and projects.

Now on to my paper crafting!  I went a little more out with my Halloween decorating this year, decorating inside with a creepie/Dr. Frankenstein kind of mode.  I found these little bottles at Michaels and with the use of alcohol inks, DP and stamps, turned them into "potion bottles".  I placed a couple drops of alcohol ink inside each bottle and then rolled the ink around and upside down to cover most of the bottle.  I had to play with the inks a bit to get the look I wanted.  Then, using my emboss dryer, I dried the ink a little more since some of the ink tended to pool in the bottom.  I Modgepodged the labels onto the outside of the bottles.  I really like the way they turned out.

SPIES:

Stamps:  'Phantom 24" by Pinkpaislee

Paper: Oct 31 DP by Fancypantsdesign.com

Ink: Staz On Jet Black; Cranberry, Caramel, and Stream alcohol inks, Tim Holtz.
Extras:  Decorative bottles with cork; Spellbinders Shapeabilities and Nestabilities for labels; Modge Podge.

CHALLENGES:

All Sorts - Halloween
Cropstop - Halloween
Just Us Girls -  Halloween template/3D
Stampin' For The Weekend - Spooky

N.E.D.

N.E.D.

Rosy Wishes

Happy Tuesday!  So glad it is cooling down a bit here in the Carolinas. I love the summer, but I am definitely ready for fall weather.  And with the winding down of summer our nest will soon be empty as we move our youngest onto campus at UNC/Chapel Hill this weekend.  Chapters are ending and new ones are beginning for all of us.  This time next week, the house will be emptier and quieter but I am actually looking forward to it and some time for me and the hubby.   My bucket list and domestic list are both miles long!   Yet my first endeavor will be to get back into some routine of crafting!  I did have a bit crafty time in the past couple days.  So I wanted to post this card before I must take leave again to help my son shop and pack and move in.

SPIES:
Stamps:  Rose - Heartfelt Creations.
Paper:  DP-Recollection; Black and white cardstock
Ink:  Versamark and black embossing powder
Extras:  Black/silver brads; crystal stickies; clear plastic butterfly; metal sentiment - Tim Holtz; white lace netting. scalloped circle die; black felt swirl stickers.


CHALLENGES:
Just For Fun:  Black & White
Bugaboo Catch The Bug Challenge:   Distressed Shabby Chic
Truly Scrumptious - #63 Lace It Up
Ellephantastic - Layers

Friend

A bright and cheery card for a bright and cheery challenge over at Colour Queen today!

SPIES:
Stamps:  Friend
Paper:  DP from My Mind's Eye; black, white, tangerine, melon and light blue cardstock.
Ink:  Hampton Arts.
Extras:  buttons, twine, scallop border punch, Royalty emboss folder, label die.