tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60645174596787034462024-03-14T01:40:27.164-05:00Cheers and Happy Stamping!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-88334043529923804152009-06-06T13:23:00.004-05:002009-06-06T14:00:03.333-05:00Vintage Fluffles<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>I'm almost positive I made this card based on one from <a href="http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/">Sharon Johnson's blog</a> . . . but I can't find it anywhere! I remember it was a sketch challenge, and that the three embellishments arranged vertically along the bottom right edge was part of the sketch, along with the overall layout, but I am not sure of the who or where or when; I just know I loved the sketch and found it very fun to work with!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/Siq0dY9VW2I/AAAAAAAAAMU/UGwULq4-gfQ/s1600-h/hello+fluffles.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 233px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/Siq0dY9VW2I/AAAAAAAAAMU/UGwULq4-gfQ/s400/hello+fluffles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344282324837423970" border="0" /></a>Using a double-sided patterned cardstock, and coordinating solid cardstocks from Stampin Up's 2006 In Colours made this card really easy and relaxing to create. I received the stamped Fluffles image in an image RAK -- so sweet! I cut the image out using my oval Coluzzle template, and after colouring it with my Prismacolor pencil crayons, and gently sponging Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink around the egdes to soften the starkness of the white cardstock the focal image is stamped on, I layered that onto a scalloped oval punched out of white cardstock. If you look closely, you can see that I coloured around the insides of the scallops with a light blue Prisma, to keep in the theme of the overall look of the card.<br /><br />I always place the card elements together first without gluing them down, and when I did that with this card, I realised sponging the edges of ALL the layers would tie everything together really well -- I think this is the first time I've tried that, and just love the results. I also did a little rough rubbing of the inkpad around the edges of the patterned paper layer, and made the Buckaroo Blue card base recede a little by stamping a small flower from a Studio G clear stamp set in Frost White pigment ink randomly all over it.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Paper:</span> Stampin Up solid cardstock (Buckaroo Blue, Vintage Violet), white cardstock (Domtar), double-sided patterned cardstock.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Stamps:</span> Stampendous Fluffles and snail, "hello" by Inkadinkado<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ink:</span> Brushed Corduroy Ranger Distress Ink, black, Frost White by Colorbox<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Other:</span> Giga scallop punch by Marvy, Threading Water border punch by Fiskars, Prismacolor pencil crayons, ribbon by Offray, sponge by Royal & Langnickel, foam dimensionals.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-11145612117702334862009-06-04T18:06:00.002-05:002009-06-04T18:39:50.645-05:00Warped wordsI saw this phrase on a tshirt online, and instantly had this card idea. Finally got around to doing it last week, and here it is. :) It was a lot of fun, and a great "excuse" to use things I tend to hoard, like the large eyelets by ProvoCraft, and the silver metallic Bazzill cardstock. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SihTpAmeMII/AAAAAAAAAMM/V2MLo1PCw7Q/s1600-h/steel+tarp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 183px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SihTpAmeMII/AAAAAAAAAMM/V2MLo1PCw7Q/s400/steel+tarp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343612921876197506" border="0" /></a><br />After stamping the sentiment in black using a Studio G photopolymer alpha, I crumpled the silver cardstock by lightly misting the back of it with water and wadding it gently into a loose ball. After uncrumpling the paper, I added some strategic folds wherever I felt like to add more depth and visual interest to the light crumpled look. It didn't take long for the cardstock to dry; I might have hit it with my heat gun, but also might not have. Once it was dry, though, I rubbed Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink lightly over top the silver cs, mostly to highlight the fold lines. After that, I rubbed Tattered Rose Distress Ink a little more firmly over top to add some subtler "lowlights" (to borrow a term from hair colouring-ese). Sounds kinda nutso, but the pale pink tones work really well in this application; I've done it in the past with other projects and love the effect.<br /><br />The silver cs is matted onto brown cs spritzed with Memories Mist in Espresso, then mounted onto some light grey Bazzill Smoothies cardstock that I stamped with some funky geometric shapes by Inkadinkado. I ran a black Brilliance dewdrop along the edges of the card layer to increase its visual weight; it really enhanced the look of the card, and helped balance the visual weight of the textured silver cs.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-16052429372291072142009-05-31T13:56:00.004-05:002009-05-31T14:17:11.632-05:00Happy We're FriendsI've been making most of my cards lately using the "Out & About" 12x12 glittered paper collection by My Mind's Eye, partially because I love the paper, but mostly because it's been easily accessible on my craft table. :) Plus, I have the coordinating Prismacolor pencil crayons set aside and handy, so it's been easy to stamp and go to town. :) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SiLTJFbzKsI/AAAAAAAAAL8/15W-wPOr8sA/s1600-h/Happy+Unity+Friends.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 224px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SiLTJFbzKsI/AAAAAAAAAL8/15W-wPOr8sA/s400/Happy+Unity+Friends.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342064261045889730" border="0" /></a>I started out simply stamping the tree (from the May 2009 Unity KOM) going just a titch off the edge of a 4.25 x 5.5 piece of white cardstock. The white was a little stark in contrast with the patterned paper I wanted to use, so I sponged some Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink over it to tone it down a bit. After I coloured the tree in, I trimmed the white focal layer down as small as I could while still fitting the tree on, and completed the scene with the bird (Unity November 2008 KOM) and "happy" (Unity May 2009 KOM).<br /><br />The tree scene needed to be beefed up a bit for the card design to work for me, so I framed it with the pompom edging stamp by Inkadinkado in Bamboo Leaves by Memento. Layered that on a fine white cardstock matting, and adhered it to the glittery pink cardstock using foam mounts for dimension. I happened to come across my glue pen, and thought to myself I might as well use it and some glitter, so made the pink flower petals *pop* with some white glitter I got from the dollar store. I totally love the effect IRL, but it's been hard to get a photo that does it justice. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SiLTJRIEbJI/AAAAAAAAAME/6r9Kz2d2dlg/s1600-h/Happy+Unity+Friends+glitter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 170px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SiLTJRIEbJI/AAAAAAAAAME/6r9Kz2d2dlg/s400/Happy+Unity+Friends+glitter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342064264184360082" border="0" /></a>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-17444026676973168682009-01-12T20:14:00.005-06:002009-01-12T20:47:41.716-06:00First card, photo, and post of the New Year!Guess what I got for Christmas? A light tent with fancy tungsten lamps and a telescoping camera tripod! This is the first anything crafty that I've made this year, so it's also got the honour of being my first photo subject. :) I've got a lot to learn about how best to use my equipment, but I'm quite happy with how the details show up below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SWv8PPGx-gI/AAAAAAAAALs/_AG7kw1CasA/s1600-h/sympathy+card+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SWv8PPGx-gI/AAAAAAAAALs/_AG7kw1CasA/s400/sympathy+card+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290599525959989762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stamps:</span> Weathered backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms, small fern and flowers by K&Co., Simply Stated floral and swirly designs by Fancy Pants, sentiment by Inkadinkado.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Inks:</span> Chestnut Roan and Alabaster fluid chalk inks by Clearsnap, Colonial Blue Versamagic chalk ink by Tsukineko, Versamark.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Papers:</span> ProvoCraft designer cardstock, vellum 5x7 card base by Halcraft<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tools:</span> Prismacolor pencil crayons, Prismacolor colourless blender, ticket corner punch by EK Success, sunburst border punch by Fiskars<br /><br />I started off the whole card by deciding to use these vellum cards I picked up from the clearance section in Michaels a few years ago. Well, actually, I decided I wanted to use one of the vellum <span style="font-style: italic;">envelopes</span> the card bases came with first, then when I realised the envies came with matching cards I used one of those. :) I stamped the front of the card base repeatedly using a small swirly fern image in the Alabaster ink, and chose to mat my focal image in a darker blue cardstock so you can see the fern stamps clearly against it when the card is open. And because this card was all about having fun (in contrast to the mad dash of Christmas card season) I used my favourite Simply Stated stamp set (love those beautiful flowers!).<br /><br />I don't have too much else more to say, except I'm a bit tired and "written out", so to speak. I got back in touch with a whole bunch of old friends thanks to the wonders of Facebook, and we have had a lot to catch up on. :) However, I miss stamping and writing the little bit I do about this fun hobby with no pressure or stress, so I am happy to be here taking a bit of a breather!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-50924646001285939482008-12-08T19:26:00.005-06:002008-12-09T07:01:32.305-06:00Christmas Fruitcake<span style="font-family:verdana;">I'd wanted this paper collection by Basic Grey called "Fruitcake" for *forever*, a few years at least, and finally picked it up when I saw it on clearance at Hobby Lobby earlier this fall. I'd been wanting this paper for forever, and also wanted to use it to participate in Sharon Johnson's <a href="http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2007/11/23/stamp-simply-challenge-10-dp-rules/">Stamp Simply Challenge #10</a>! (Keyword </span><strong>ssnotime10) </strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">I fell in love with the cards she made for that challenge, and looked forward to creating my take on them. :)</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">So here they are!!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/ST3JpsQG-AI/AAAAAAAAALc/mutgAnxYLU4/s1600-h/Fruitcake+cards+three.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 187px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/ST3JpsQG-AI/AAAAAAAAALc/mutgAnxYLU4/s400/Fruitcake+cards+three.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277596056438634498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">For this challenge, we had to let the patterned paper do the work for us, and were limited to using only sentiment rubber stamps. I chose to computer-generate my sentiment, so I didn't pull out my stamps at all for these cards! The only "stampy" thing I did was use my Frayed Burlap Distress Ink pad by Ranger to distress the sentiment cardstock and get it to blend in better with the patterned paper.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/ST3JpDpxoAI/AAAAAAAAALU/DqJoEefQjDk/s1600-h/Fruitcake+cards+rounded.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 188px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/ST3JpDpxoAI/AAAAAAAAALU/DqJoEefQjDk/s400/Fruitcake+cards+rounded.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277596045540433922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">These cards were totally awesome to make, because:<br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">they went together very quickly</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">I happened to have some perfectly-coordinating cardstock and ribbon that I received in a surprise box from The Angel Company that I had been hoarding up til this point -- double points for both the perfectly coordinating AND the use of hoarded items!</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">I loved using the pewter tree brads by some of the sentiments!<br /></span></li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/ST3JohZilsI/AAAAAAAAALM/NOJDtnjz6Hw/s1600-h/Fruitcake+cards+one+side+rounded.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 192px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/ST3JohZilsI/AAAAAAAAALM/NOJDtnjz6Hw/s400/Fruitcake+cards+one+side+rounded.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277596036345534146" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Part of what let this set of cards come together so quickly is my habit of making up the fussier things six at a time. I spent some time choosing the style and colour of the sentiments and then printed out six at once and brought them to my crafting table. <span style="font-family:verdana;">Once that was out of the way, I was free to carry on with the serious business of cardmaking with everything I needed right in front of me!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ink:</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span>Frayed Burlap Ranger Distress Ink<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Papers</span>:</span> patterned paper from the Basic Grey "Fruitcake"collection, confetti blue-green cardstock from TAC<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>taffeta ribbon from Making Memories, pewter tree brads from Paper Salon Spare Parts<br /></span>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-46633346842692895072008-12-06T22:15:00.008-06:002008-12-09T07:01:59.125-06:00Emerald Christmas<span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I had some lovely emerald green holiday scrapbook paper I picked up from the dollar bins in Jo-Ann Fabrics last year -- I was so tickled to find it complimented my ruby-coloured houses! I didn't think ruby on emerald on emerald would work out quite so well, so instead I went with a tricolour colour scheme of emerald, ruby, and that dark chocolate brown again. (It was still out on my craft table from the ruby cards I posted about yesterday.) I also used white and pale grey, as you can see.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/STtOY8WFbWI/AAAAAAAAAKU/5KZ-v27MWRg/s1600-h/Emerald+Christmas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/STtOY8WFbWI/AAAAAAAAAKU/5KZ-v27MWRg/s400/Emerald+Christmas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276897578817252706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The card on the left was inspired by a wonderful Christmas card I saw on Tobi Crawford's blog </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://tobicrawford.blogspot.com/2008/11/elzybells-challenges.html">here</a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">. The other card design came about because I wasn't totally happy with just centring the scalloped oval on the green layer, and decided to see how breaking up the large space with a sheer ribbon would look. I quite liked it, so it stayed. :)</span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stamps</span>: </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">house, snowflakes, and sentiment from Martha Stewart gingerbread men stamp set</span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Inks</span>: </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Rhubarb Stalk, London Fog, and Rich Cocoa Memento dye inks</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Papers:</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> green patterned paper by Colorbok (Jo-Ann dollar bins), grey, brown, and white cardstocks</span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Papers:</span> </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">patterned paper by Colorbok, white, grey, and brown cardstocks</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other</span>:</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> green double-faced satin ribbon with silver trim by American Crafts, sheer ribbon with sparkly trim by Offray, ticket corner rounder punch by EK Success, decorative-edged scissors by ProvoCraft (don't get PC d-e scissors; Fiskars are WAY better!), white snowflake brads by Paper Salon</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sheldon and I decided to decorate just the living room because the office is pretty full as it is. So now when we go to the kitchen to get our coffee or meals, or go do laundry, we get treated to our festive and pretty living room! </span>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-83297784142417375542008-12-06T14:27:00.012-06:002008-12-09T07:02:19.945-06:00Ruby Christmas<span style="font-family:georgia;">I saw these wonderful little houses on the Martha Stewart Christmas line and fell in love with them -- I think they have such personality and are so unique! Luckily for me, three houses in this style were available in the MS Gingerbread men stamp set! I think I'll get good use from them year-round, not just at Christmastime.</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/STtY3QJ-x_I/AAAAAAAAAKs/BrLhVgSExXs/s1600-h/Ruby+Christmas+twins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 163px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/STtY3QJ-x_I/AAAAAAAAAKs/BrLhVgSExXs/s400/Ruby+Christmas+twins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276909094647547890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I sat down to make these cards, I knew I wanted to use:</span><br /><ol style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><li>my Giga scalloped oval punch</li><li>one of the houses from the MS gingerbread men stamp set</li><li>some of the ribbon in the American Crafts Christmas set I picked up at Hobby Lobby on clearance a few years ago</li><li>my new Memento dewdrop inkpads</li></ol><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/STtZz4LWeOI/AAAAAAAAAK8/R9pnjE-h4po/s1600-h/Ruby+Christmas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 188px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/STtZz4LWeOI/AAAAAAAAAK8/R9pnjE-h4po/s400/Ruby+Christmas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276910136182864098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Other than that, I had no clear plan, so it took me FOREVER to make the first card. I started out by stamping the house on white cardstock and punching it out, but quickly found it was much easier for me to punch first and then stamp my image centred in the oval. So, I created several focal images (about a half dozen) so I could move on to the card design; this also let me use some of the less-perfect stamped ovals to test the results of inking, sponging, etc before I committed to using a technique or product on the card itself.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">After much trial, error, and gnashing of teeth, I finally made a card I was REALLY happy with using </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=395484">SCS Card Sketch #201 </a><span style="font-family:georgia;">as my starting point. I worked on that first card for an entire evening before leaving it unfinished and going to bed. Then the next morning, I assembled it in fifteen minutes, then made a second identical card in ten minutes flat! The second card is on the left in the topmost photo -- you can see I went a little haywire with sponging on the walnut stain ink on the mat for the focal image. :) The design choices I made to get this card to "work" were:</span><br /><ul style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><li>go with a monochromatic colour scheme</li><li>sponge my neutral colour (in this case, a chocolatey brown) over the patterned paper and on the white cardstock to reduce contrast and thus let the focal image take centre stage</li><li>sponge the edges of the card base with my neutral colour to unify the cardstock base and the patterned paper attached to it, and frame the focal point of the card</li><li>go with clean lines to balance the scalloped shape and richly patterned paper</li><li>use the complementary colour to accent around my focal layer and give it more visual weight</li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Stamps: </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">house and snowflakes from Martha Stewart gingerbread men stamp set</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Inks: </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Rhubarb Stalk, Bamboo Leaves, and Rich Cocoa dye inks by Memento, Walnut Stain Distress Ink by Ranger</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Papers: </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">"Devotion" patterned paper from Basic Grey Blush collection, Cherry Bazzill Smoothies cardstock, white cardstock by Domtar, brown cardstock from Hobby Lobby open stock, so probably by Paper Salon</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Other:</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> paper edge distresser by Heidi Swapp, black antiqued mini brads, silver-edged double-faced satin ribbon by American Crafts, Giga scalloped oval punch by Marvy</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/STtaIHaMxBI/AAAAAAAAALE/r20sAdVHrbY/s1600-h/Ruby+and+emerald+Christmas+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 212px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/STtaIHaMxBI/AAAAAAAAALE/r20sAdVHrbY/s400/Ruby+and+emerald+Christmas+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276910483869058066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Because I had made several of the houses on scalloped ovals the previous night, it was very </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">easy for me to continue playing around with making another card using the supplies I already had out. :) For this next card, I used the same Cherry card base, chocolate brown cardstock, and focal image, but this time incorporated some American Crafts Christmas rub-ons I'd picked up last year.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I found I liked this little house image best when it is set against patterns more than when it is against a plainer background. I wound up stamping the grey layer with a "Season's Greetings" script stamp from an MSE holiday sentiments set in Versamark. The card base is stamped with paisley images in Moonlight White ink.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/STtY3P_bmoI/AAAAAAAAAKk/f40L-lHw7qw/s1600-h/Ruby+and+emerald+Christmas+closeup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 176px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/STtY3P_bmoI/AAAAAAAAAKk/f40L-lHw7qw/s400/Ruby+and+emerald+Christmas+closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276909094603299458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here's a closeup of the stamped grey cardstock. Don't tell anybody, but I glued the grey cardstock onto the brown upside-down... the "Season's greetings" script is facing the wrong way! But, it still fills the design role I needed it to, and it took me a while to notice this so I'm not too worried. :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Stamps: </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">house from Martha Stewart gingerbread men stamp set, sentiment from My Sentiments exactly</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Inks: </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Rhubarb Stalk Memento dye ink, Versamark, Moonlight White Brilliance</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Papers: </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Cherry Bazzill Smoothies cardstock, white cardstock by Domtar, brown cardstock from Hobby Lobby open stock, grey "True Value" cardstocks from Michaels</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Other<span style="font-style: italic;">:</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> ticket corner rounder punch by EK Success, white Gelly Roll Souffle pen, green sentiment and flourishes American Crafts rub-ons, paper piercer, Quickie glue pen, Martha Stewart yellow gold glitter</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Sheldon and I will be putting up the Christmas decorations today -- woohoo! We spend SO much more time in our office/hobby room than in our living room, maybe we will decorate the office this year and leave the living room plain -- who knows!</span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/STrh9ScbiPI/AAAAAAAAAKE/fbOg2I9mftg/s1600-h/Ruby+and+emerald+Christmas+closeup.jpg"><br /></a>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-88368917139001979502008-11-25T21:53:00.003-06:002008-11-25T22:22:46.108-06:00Those crazy-addictive Studio G clear stamp sets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSzIOOpeo3I/AAAAAAAAAJk/lPlXdHXwCtc/s1600-h/Cheery+small+stamp+combo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 175px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSzIOOpeo3I/AAAAAAAAAJk/lPlXdHXwCtc/s400/Cheery+small+stamp+combo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272809410519802738" border="0" /></a>I always have a hard time resisting those cheapie little dollar sets of clear stamps at Michaels. After all the time I've spent waiting for the store in town to get them in, and selecting which ones to buy once they finally DO come in, I've hardly used any of my Studio G sets! When I made this card, my crafting goals were to:<br /><ul><li>use those Studio G stamps!</li><li>create fun monochromatic images by using the same hues of ink and pencil crayon<br /></li></ul>I started off by stamping my Flourished card base by Martha Stewart in Swan using the large and small flower images from the daisy Studio G set to make a background. I added a little taxonomic and visual variety with a butterfly and dragonfly from Hero Arts' "Thoughtful Messages" clear stamp set. I coloured the images and added some grey shadowing using my Prismacolor pencil crayons (just straight colouring, no fancy odorless mineral spirits technique on this card).<br /><br />Because the stamped images are all on the small side, I thought an ATC for the focal point would be the easiest way to go. I stamped a background of flowers on white cardstock (2.25" x 3.25") using a small flower from the Hero Arts set to create a background for the sentiment. I doodled a border on this layer to help draw the eye from the busy-ish card base to the focal point, then matted the white cardstock layer onto a scrap of Bazzill Bling shimmery pink cardstock that I'd stamped with the small flower in pink ink. After I added the fun ribbon, I adhered the ATC to the card base using foam dimensionals. <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Stamps: </span>Studio G daisy set, Hero Arts "Thoughtful Messages" set<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Inks: </span>Ranger Distress inks in Broken China, Worn Lipstick, Shabby Shutters, and Spiced Marmalade<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Paper:</span> card base from Martha Stewart, white cardstock, Bazzill Bling pink<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Other:</span> Prismacolor pencil crayons, ribbon, green pen, foam dimensionalsMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-30889761186125504722008-11-23T22:49:00.002-06:002008-11-23T23:00:18.702-06:00Glitzy Anniversary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSoynFa7g0I/AAAAAAAAAJc/gavFbaBYvN4/s1600-h/Blue+anniversary.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSoynFa7g0I/AAAAAAAAAJc/gavFbaBYvN4/s400/Blue+anniversary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272081960842003266" border="0" /></a>Just a quick post after a busy, busy day! The highlight was Sheldon and I attending a performance by the legendary violinist, Itzhak Perlman. On Friday Sheldon surprised me with tickets ("Do you have any plans for Sunday afternoon? Would you like to see Itzhak Perlman?" after I had spent months and months jumping up and down about Perlman coming to College Station). I didn't think we'd get to go with money being tight after we had to have some bodywork done on our car. The concert was absolutely stunning!<br /><br />Anyways, here is a quick card I made using:<br /><ul><li>mega and giga scalloped circle punches by Marvy Uchida</li><li>Threading Water border punch by Fiskars</li><li>feathered Fiskars texture plate run with white cardstock through my Big Kick<br /></li><li>some blue bling from a cell phone decorating kit I found in the clearance aisle at Michaels a few years ago</li><li>cake image from dollar bin stamps at Michaels</li><li>sentiment from a Hampton Arts clear stamp set</li><li>Graphite Black Brilliance ink, blue chalk ink by Clearsnap</li><li>Bazzill Bling textured blue cardstock, black and white cardstocks</li><li>Pebbles i-kan-dee chalks to create little blue 'cloud' around cake</li><li>blue pencil crayon to colour the flower on the cake<br /></li></ul>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-33320588888247242282008-11-22T16:02:00.014-06:002008-11-22T17:58:34.978-06:00Scenic advent calendarI've been working on an advent/countdown calendar for the past few weeks, and I'm happy to have pretty much finished it up this morning. I haven't seen anything quite like it in all my online searching, but my design was inspired by some Kinder and Lego advent calendars I'd seen where you build a three-dimensional scene with each day closer to Christmas. I made my own version of this concept using<br /><ul><li>foam core board (two 13"x12" pieces to make the panels)</li><li>12x12 cardstock and patterned paper</li><li>self-adhesive holographic paper</li><li>clear velcro dots</li><li>Frost White pigment ink by Colorbox, Platinum Planet Brilliance ink</li><li>various stamps and printouts from online colouring book websites</li><li>an easel-style stand, which I've seen at Hobby Lobby and Michaels in the frames dept<br /></li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiCzXBs16I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/xcNkm7Ryx-k/s1600-h/Advent+calendar+blank.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 425px; height: 260px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiCzXBs16I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/xcNkm7Ryx-k/s400/Advent+calendar+blank.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271607182703253410" border="0" /></a>This is the calendar without any countdown pieces on it. The pieces are going to be kept in a little snowman tin I got from Michaels that is meant to hold gift cards, etc.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiCzSuNZAI/AAAAAAAAAHY/mrFWkgBIbAg/s1600-h/Advent+calendar+full.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 432px; height: 277px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiCzSuNZAI/AAAAAAAAAHY/mrFWkgBIbAg/s400/Advent+calendar+full.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271607181547758594" border="0" /></a>This is the calendar with all the countdown pieces attached. The idea is at the beginning of December, you are 25 days away from Christmas, so for December 1, you would put the little image marked with #25 onto the space on the scene that is marked with #25, and then add a piece a day until on Christmas Eve day, the scene is complete. Below are some closeups of the two sides of the calendar.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiWG9mXi2I/AAAAAAAAAJI/4NU6cT5F7VE/s1600-h/Advent+calendar+left.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 425px; height: 483px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiWG9mXi2I/AAAAAAAAAJI/4NU6cT5F7VE/s400/Advent+calendar+left.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271628410196036450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiWHPLQwII/AAAAAAAAAJQ/oXkh_HNpysI/s1600-h/Advent+calendar+right.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 428px; height: 440px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiWHPLQwII/AAAAAAAAAJQ/oXkh_HNpysI/s400/Advent+calendar+right.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271628414914183298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After I stamped, coloured, and cut out each countdown piece, I glued the number to the image and then laminated them for durability using some Scotch self-laminating pouches I picked up from Sam's Club. You don't need a heat laminating machine for these; you just place whatever you want laminated in between the two halves of the pouch, peel off the protective paper to expose the sticky backing, and then press the two halves of the pouch together around your item.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiDfOogg7I/AAAAAAAAAIA/0ert5GvVb7c/s1600-h/Advent+calendar+piece+back.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 138px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiDfOogg7I/AAAAAAAAAIA/0ert5GvVb7c/s400/Advent+calendar+piece+back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271607936364348338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiDe0oy84I/AAAAAAAAAH4/dwCiz-IpqJY/s1600-h/Advent+calendar+piece.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 139px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiDe0oy84I/AAAAAAAAAH4/dwCiz-IpqJY/s400/Advent+calendar+piece.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271607929386234754" border="0" /></a>This angel tree-topper is for the day 12 days from Christmas. I found this great image on an online colouring book site, and coloured it in using Prismacolor pencil crayons.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiCz_oZx0I/AAAAAAAAAHw/I1UoNKVo78o/s1600-h/Advent+calendar+back.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 243px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiCz_oZx0I/AAAAAAAAAHw/I1UoNKVo78o/s400/Advent+calendar+back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271607193603000130" border="0" /></a>I'm using some more foam core board and velcro dots to hold the two calendar panels together. This is a pic of the back side of the calendar; both halves are attached to a third large piece of foam core board that holds them together.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiEZiD4b9I/AAAAAAAAAIg/0BB1g64jgoQ/s1600-h/Advent+calendar+mountain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 196px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiEZiD4b9I/AAAAAAAAAIg/0BB1g64jgoQ/s400/Advent+calendar+mountain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271608938011848658" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiE8lq6naI/AAAAAAAAAIw/xORylkzEoD4/s1600-h/Stekyowden.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 167px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiE8lq6naI/AAAAAAAAAIw/xORylkzEoD4/s400/Stekyowden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271609540276297122" border="0" /></a>The mountain in the scene I created is based on the mountain that was in my backyard when I was growing up. :) Its name is Stekyawden/Roche de Boule, which you can see a proper picture of at http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10265467. I claim no credit for the above photo -- I just found it on the panoramio website!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiDfAKQHII/AAAAAAAAAIQ/YhoYD3nv0JQ/s1600-h/Advent+calendar+velcro+closeup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 169px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiDfAKQHII/AAAAAAAAAIQ/YhoYD3nv0JQ/s400/Advent+calendar+velcro+closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271607932479347842" border="0" /></a>This is a detail pic of the clear adhesive Velcro dots I used to hold the pieces on the calendar. The hard half of the dots is actually quite clear -- here the dot is adhered over top of a number I wrote with ultra-fine Sharpie. The fuzzy half of the dot is not clear though; it is opaque white. I got my pack of dots for ~$10.75 US at Hobby Lobby; the pack said it contained approximately 76 dots, but they counted both the front and the back halves separately so in reality there are only about 38 pairs of dots. Both halves are self-adhesive, and I think they are awesome. They aren't very bulky (they're thinner than the regular strips of Velcro), the hold is strong but not so strong it's hard to separate the two halves, and the adhesive backing is very sticky.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiDfKWcENI/AAAAAAAAAII/oXaxpYpY4L8/s1600-h/Advent+calendar+snow+closeup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 182px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiDfKWcENI/AAAAAAAAAII/oXaxpYpY4L8/s400/Advent+calendar+snow+closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271607935214817490" border="0" /></a>Here's a closeup of the snowy bits, which I made using white cardstock stamped repeatedly in Platinum Planet Brilliance ink using a retired Stampin' Up background stamp featuring hearts and swirls.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiEZnW91RI/AAAAAAAAAIo/Ub7JfsvLnyo/s1600-h/Advent+calendar+Unity+Angel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 173px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SSiEZnW91RI/AAAAAAAAAIo/Ub7JfsvLnyo/s400/Advent+calendar+Unity+Angel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271608939434071314" border="0" /></a>Here's a bit of a closeup of the sky, which I made using some ProvoCraft designer cardstock stamped with some Scraptrends snowflakes in Frost White pigment ink. This pic gives a good impression of how thin the Velcro dots are -- the calendar pieces are almost flush with the calendar!<br /><br />Now that this baby is done, I can move on to other (quicker) projects and post a little more regularly to my blog! :)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-34978028087799979582008-11-11T15:54:00.008-06:002008-11-11T17:32:27.789-06:00Trio of cards from Blossoms and ButterfliesI managed to knock out another little project! I'm on a roll -- first the canvas clock, now this one!! I picked up a fun and pretty paper stack by DCWV called "Blossoms and Butterflies". It's nice, thick paper, and includes embossed, glittered, and foiled designs. For this project, my criteria were:<br /><ol><li>use papers from B&B stack</li><li>use stamp set I got for a good price from Hobby Lobby and haven't inked up at all</li><li>use some coordinating bling and brads I picked up the same time I got the paper stack</li><li>base cards on SCS sketch challenges</li></ol><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SRoDFTcatLI/AAAAAAAAAHI/gX8cBDrX5Q0/s1600-h/butterfly+cards+SC201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 252px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SRoDFTcatLI/AAAAAAAAAHI/gX8cBDrX5Q0/s320/butterfly+cards+SC201.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267526103816910002" border="0" /></a>This first card is based on <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=395484">SCS sketch challenge 201</a>. The sentiment layer is popped up on foam dimensionals. I made the jaggedy matting layer by stamping on and trimming the white sentiment cardstock layer down to size, then laying it on the matting cardstock and tracing around it lightly in pencil. Using my Dragonback Fiskars decorative-edged scissors, I cut the matting by carefully lining the bottom of the cutting edges with the pencil line. I've seen this kind of matting edge done elsewhere and really like the effect, so I was happy to be able to give it a shot myself!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stamps:</span> sentiment from clear set at Hobby Lobby -- if someone could let me know which company they're by, I'd appreciate it! I threw away the packaging.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paper:</span> colourful butterflies on brown, green with blue stripe and flowers, and yellow blossoms and butterflies on white patterned papers from DCWV Butterflies & Blossoms paper stack. Brown cardstock base, white cardstock.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ink:</span> Chestnut Roan fluid chalk ink by Clearsnap.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> yellow brad with white flower on it by Spare Parts, small sunshine punch to make cardstock flower, Lemon Ice Stickles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SRoDE0s6mlI/AAAAAAAAAHA/k_ToHNFRdy0/s1600-h/butterfly+cards+SC199.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 246px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SRoDE0s6mlI/AAAAAAAAAHA/k_ToHNFRdy0/s320/butterfly+cards+SC199.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267526095564610130" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>This card is based on <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=391999">SCS Sketch challenge 199</a>. I knew I just <span style="font-style: italic;">had</span> to showcase this lovely glittered cardstock on one of the cards, and this sketch was perfect for it! The large panel is popped up on foam dimensionals here. To make that panel stand out even more, I also ran a blue inkpad around the edges of the matting layer to define that edge. I really liked the card with just the main panel and the sentiment panel, but in order to conform to the challenge sketch, I needed to include a vertical panel on the left. I got around this by using lightweight vellum stamped with yellow ink for that third panel. How sneaky!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stamps:</span> circle cluster and concentric dots from Circles & Dots set by Inkadinkado, mystery stamp set from Hobby Lobby.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paper:</span> glittery flowers, blue flower, and yellow blossoms and butterflies on white patterned papers from DCWV Butterflies & Blossoms paper stack. White cardstock, vellum.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ink:</span> Lime Pastel, Blue Lagoon, and Yellow Citrus fluid chalk ink from Colorbox Queue<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SRoDEFCxW1I/AAAAAAAAAG4/Ki0QPbDTIXs/s1600-h/butterfly+cards+SC117.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 188px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SRoDEFCxW1I/AAAAAAAAAG4/Ki0QPbDTIXs/s320/butterfly+cards+SC117.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267526082771376978" border="0" /></a>This last card is based on <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=236105&highlight=117">SCS sketch challenge 117</a>, and took approximately fifty billion hours to finish. The pink swirly foiled patterned paper is so fun and eyecatching, but also a little overwhelming and out of my comfort zone. I had to pull out some of my shabby chic/distressed techniques to tone down the fuschia a little bit. I did several things to the edges of the hot pink layer:<br /><ul><li>sponged with Broken China Distress Ink</li><li>sponged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink</li><li>doodled a border</li><li>stamped over the doodled border with a dotty flourish in Starry Night Palette Ink</li></ul>Possibly the hardest part of this card was finding a suitable colour for the card base. I finally wound up using an ecru-coloured cardstock for the base and stamped it with a background stamp in Vintage Photo, then stippled Vintage Photo around the edges, and then finally ran the edges along my Chestnut Roan inkpad. This was just one of those cards that you spend FOREVER on and don't really get much satisfaction from finishing because you were so focused on averting disaster, you can't really like the results. Know what I mean?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stamps:</span> sentiment from Inkadinkado clear set, dotty flourish along border from Circles & Dots set by Inkadinkado, butterflies on focal layer by PSX, daisies on focal layer by Studio G, dotty flower background stamp by Judikins.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paper:</span> blue flower, and hot pink swirly foiled patterned papers from DCWV Butterflies & Blossoms paper stack. White and ecru cardstocks.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ink:</span> Vintage Photo and Broken China Distress Inks by Ranger. Chestnut Roan fluid chalk ink by Colorbox. Starry Night Palette hybrid ink.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> blue bling around edges of focal layer by Spare Parts, bling along swirl in bottom right corner from Michaels.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-56939159474168872342008-11-02T16:57:00.011-06:002008-11-02T17:54:02.211-06:00Colourvision ClockI finally got some good photos of that project that I've mentioned a few times now! Hurray! It's an altered canvas clock that I was inspired to make after seeing a scrapbook canvas clock tutorial/thread on SCS. And in honour of the return to standard time from daylight savings, I thought I would upload this project. :D<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQ43aa8kbjI/AAAAAAAAAFo/vEXBfI_-R4U/s1600-h/AltEred+MNclock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQ43aa8kbjI/AAAAAAAAAFo/vEXBfI_-R4U/s400/AltEred+MNclock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264205941492182578" border="0" /></a>The clockworks and hands came from a cheapie clock at Walmart (<$5); I saved the frame and face part of the clock for possibly another project. I bought the 11"x14" stretched canvas in a duo-pack from Hobby Lobby. I've got no immediate plans for the other canvas yet, aside from trying to store it in a way that won't damage it. I used swirly grungeboard stars for 12-3-6-9 hour markings, and plain grungeboard circles for the rest of the hours. To colour the canvas, I painted two coats of Watermelon gel paint by Keepsake Colours (Plaid). Then, after I let the gel paint cure for about two months because I had no idea where to go from there, I got inspired by the<a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=390988"> Inpsiration Challenge #150 on SCS</a> and finished my canvas off by masking my base coat with some grungeboard flourishes and spraying Memories Mists by Stewart Superior. I used the dark Amaretto and Wheatgrass colours towards the edges of the canvas, and gradated to the centre with Strawberry Daiquiri, Orange Juice, and Mango Lemonade. Finally, I sealed with one layer of Royal Coat Decoupage medium by Plaid.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQ45tIjKifI/AAAAAAAAAGg/Rl7pNFhbW74/s1600-h/AltEred+clock+swirl+grungeboard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQ45tIjKifI/AAAAAAAAAGg/Rl7pNFhbW74/s200/AltEred+clock+swirl+grungeboard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264208461994559986" border="0" /></a>To make the hour markers, I knew I wanted to use my fancy-dancy Distress Crackle Paint in Spiced Marmalade, so I took the extra step of applying a coat of colour (Daiquiri scrapbook paint by Making Memories) under the crackle paint so it would show through and look awesome. It turns out I couldn't see the undercoat through the crackle anyways, but that's ok. To make the Spiced Marmalade blend more with the colours on the canvas, I stippled Coffee Bean Brilliance ink around the edges of each hour marker, and also rubbed some brown ink over each piece <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQ457Ephj1I/AAAAAAAAAGo/0A0O0I-fj70/s1600-h/AltEred+clock+crackle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQ457Ephj1I/AAAAAAAAAGo/0A0O0I-fj70/s200/AltEred+clock+crackle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264208701465661266" border="0" /></a>with a tissue so the cracks would have a brownish hue. To make the markers stand out from the canvas and take centre stage, I coated them with a layer of liquid glass product, and mounted them onto the canvas using foam dimensionals.<br /><br />And yes, my clock really is as hypersaturated IRL as it is in the first photo; I love it! :) It's really tough to get a pic of that kind of colour (mebbe my camera was too busy moaning, "It burns, it burns!" to take a good pic?)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQ46UIbxBsI/AAAAAAAAAGw/Y8m9dcboWA4/s1600-h/AltEred+clock+dimension.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 185px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQ46UIbxBsI/AAAAAAAAAGw/Y8m9dcboWA4/s400/AltEred+clock+dimension.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264209131978426050" border="0" /></a>Some comments and tips:<ul><li>Paint and Memories Mists can take a reeallly looonnnnggg time to dry on canvas. Usually MM dries within minutes on paper, but took a few hours on the duck canvas.</li><li>Don't use a heat gun on canvas the way you would on paper. It creates an alarming smell.</li><li>You'll want to glue your clockworks to the back of the canvas. Otherwise, it'll hang askew and interfere with the ability of the hands to move as they are supposed to.</li><li>If your clock is making a tic toc sound but the hands aren't moving, the hands are likely hung up on each other. To fix this, just push the hands into the motor lightly with one finger on the hand on each side of the centre of the clock, if that makes any sense. </li><li>I applied my Royal Coat satin finish using a plastic promotional card, like a credit card but not worth anything. The Royal Coat is less prone to showing brushmarks than Mod Podge is, and applying with a card allows for more consistent and smoother coverage.</li><li>You don't really have to let your paint cure for a few months on the canvas. I was just being silly saying that.<br /></li></ul>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-2141248439415104162008-10-29T21:34:00.010-05:002008-10-29T22:32:32.407-05:00Pretty Priscilla from OBPI managed to finish up that project I mentioned in my previous post! I can't wait to post it, but in the evening under compact flourescent bulbs is NOT the time to photograph something like that! Someday I'd love to replace my jury-rigged "photo tent" (a pop-up hamper or a file folder and my daylight lamp) with an actual photo tent with tungsten lamps, but that isn't in the cards (haha!) for the time being. So, seeing as I can't get a good pic of my latest completed project, I <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQklBcsQGXI/AAAAAAAAAFY/0S05kPEeEVA/s1600-h/hugs+and+kisses+priscilla.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 159px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQklBcsQGXI/AAAAAAAAAFY/0S05kPEeEVA/s200/hugs+and+kisses+priscilla.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262778346371029362" border="0" /></a>wanted to post some cards I made a few weeks back featuring <a href="http://shop.justjohanna.com/searchquick-submit.sc?keywords=priscilla">Priscilla the cat</a> from <a href="http://shop.justjohanna.com/main.sc">Odd Bird Planet</a> (aka Just Johanna Stamps).<br /><br />This great cat has such a fun personality, I just knew she could pull off any style or colour scheme she wanted. :) I wanted to challenge myself and use just one inkpad in my favourite pink, Worn Lipstick. The 3.5 small circles and the matted circle Priscilla is on are all popped up on foam dimensionals, and are aligned along a cheeky pink line I made the old-fashioned way with a pink pen and a ruler.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stamps:</span> Priscilla the cat from Odd Bird Planet, sentiment by Inkadinkado Brenda Walton sentiment set, dotty background by Judikins<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ink:</span> Worn Lipstick Distress Ink by Ranger<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paper:</span> white cardstock, scraps of pink and green papers from Basic Grey (sorry don't remember which packages!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tools:</span> 5/8" circle punch, Coluzzle circle and companion circle templates for focal layer<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> Prismacolor pencil crayons in chartreuse and apple green, pink Sakura gelly roll gel pen, sponge, foam dimensionals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQkkw5DhvNI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/56IZrkS9cIQ/s1600-h/purple+priscilla.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQkkw5DhvNI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/56IZrkS9cIQ/s200/purple+priscilla.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262778061927070930" border="0" /></a>The design of this second card came about primarily from my desire to try making a scalloped-type edge using a series of punched circles. It's a fun enough effect, but a little too labour-intensive for me. I also wanted to try and make something interesting and fun from this generic purple cardstock I got from either Michaels or Walmart in a value pack that I've had for at least eight hundred years. I also managed to use, for the first time ever, this lovely lacy edge stamp!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stamps:</span> Priscilla the cat from Odd Bird Planet, circle medallion from Fontwerks medallion set, lacy border from Fontwerks border set.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ink:</span> Worn Lipstick Distress Ink by Ranger, Pixie Dust, Purple Hydrangea, and Spring Pansy Versamagic chalk inks<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paper:</span> white cardstock by Domtar, purple generic value pack cardstock from my hoard, vellum for the punched circles<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQkm_TFqlcI/AAAAAAAAAFg/xXAg5pnOe0s/s1600-h/sparkle+on+butterfly+card.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 159px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQkm_TFqlcI/AAAAAAAAAFg/xXAg5pnOe0s/s200/sparkle+on+butterfly+card.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262780508456785346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> satin ribbon by Anna Griffin, 5/8" circle punch, large corner rounder, Prismacolour pencil crayons<br /><br />And finally, because I wasn't happy with the photos I posted before of my sparkly butterfly card, I tried again to take a pic that showed some of the sparkliness of it. The results still aren't stellar, but anyhoo..... if you click on the photo a bigger picture will load showing some sparkle.<br /><br />So now I have two projects on my plate to finish up; the first and most time-pressing is the sour cream containers for the Hallowe'en candy we'll be giving out this year, and the second is a card kit I'm putting together for my mum. To tell the truth, my heart's not into making the sour cream containers this year, but they made such an impression on the kids last year. We will see what happens -- if I don't get them done tomorrow, then we will be handing out nekkid candy this year!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-23145726830766366722008-10-25T21:56:00.006-05:002008-10-25T22:38:14.616-05:00The evolution of a card, aka my random method of creating<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQPdF0nN1tI/AAAAAAAAAE4/KuSpMHGYE5g/s1600-h/Pink+stickle+butterfly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 199px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQPdF0nN1tI/AAAAAAAAAE4/KuSpMHGYE5g/s200/Pink+stickle+butterfly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261291881791084242" border="0" /></a>This evening (while Sheldon was marking quizzes and we were listening to Car Talk and WWDTM podcasts :D) I was able to make a card for <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=392756">today's SCS Inspiration Challenge</a>. I always love seeing the inspiration pieces for this challenge, and try to participate regularly as time and mojo permits.<br /><br />I wanted to make my card on a white card base because I love the look of the white solid furniture against the yellow walls in the <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=118396&d=1224901974">third inspiration picture</a>. I was flipping through my little box of card bases and found these embossed, square card bases I'd gotten in a grab box from The Angel Company a couple of years ago. Originally I wanted to make a yellow and white card, but upon closer inspection of my yellow-coloured inks and papers, I decided to change my plans and go with the bright pinks in <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=118395&d=1224901964">the second photo</a>. The butterfly is of course from the Unity kit <a href="http://www.unitystampco.com/stamps/1180-kom9_friendship_love_miracles_september_kit_of_the_month">Friendship, Love, Miracles</a>, and the use of that image was the only thing I was certain about in this whole design. After colouring in the embossed square frame with my Gelly Roll glaze pen, I decided to trace the pen around the butterfly as well to give it more visual weight. My little card was still a little plain, so I stamped a pattern around the edges the easiest way I could, using wee little flower centre stamps from Technique Tuesday's small Loves Me, Loves Me not stamp set.<br /><br />After stamping all those little dots, I was ready to call it a card, and Sheldon thought it was pretty cute at that point. BUT, I was not completely happy with it, so I sat back down and grabbed a bottle of Stickles. The most obvious choice would have been my go-to colour, Frosted Lace. I decided to fling caution to the wind and, remembering that pretty yellow bedding set, opted instead for Lemon Ice Stickles. I had <span style="font-weight: bold;">NO </span>plan on what I would do with the Stickles; I just started off filling the centres of the largest dots, took a look and decided it needed a little more so filled in the centres of the small hollow dots, took a look and felt I was almost there, and finished up by putting a drop of Stickles in the small solid dots too. After all that dotting, I was in full-on Stickles mode! I was like, "Ok, what else can I Stickle here? Well, there's the empty squares in the frame, and there's the butterfly's wings. Nah, those aren't dotty enough. How about doing the dots in the butterfly's wings? Perfect!" So there it was -- done and done! In retrospect I like my crazy and impulsive little card!<br /><br />I did spend most of today crafting, but I am waiting for my other project to dry and hopefully will have it up for tomorrow! I am so chuffed about it -- I started working on it a few months ago, hit a stone wall, then had an AHA! moment today looking at an inspiration challenge from a couple of weeks ago and now I'm almost done!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQPk82a8zEI/AAAAAAAAAFA/-9MDzuMHzt8/s1600-h/Fozzie+Loves+Unity+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQPk82a8zEI/AAAAAAAAAFA/-9MDzuMHzt8/s200/Fozzie+Loves+Unity+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261300523750706242" border="0" /></a>And now for something completely different..... I think it's pretty apparent that I LOVE Unity Stamps. I am so happy to have found them and their awesome products, because they are one of the big things that revitalised my enthusiasm for papercrafting and stamping. Well, not only do I love Unity, but so does my cat Fozzie!! He is soooo appreciative of how they understand his little kitty soul and send him the most perfect gifts! In the pic he is lying on some of the paper my first kit of the month was padded with. He has literally loved that paper to pieces! For a few days, he had also gotten a hold of the padded envelope that my second kit of the month came in, and was using it as a pillow while lying on his paper "bed"! No word of a lie!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-53496359627737720362008-10-24T18:48:00.007-05:002008-10-24T21:51:12.384-05:00Sending JoyFirst off, I've gotta say I have the coolest friends ever! I posted my excitement about being featured on the Unity blog on Facebook, and my friend Matt C (not a stamper or cardmaker by trade) made sure he got to see this card of mine and said it was awesome! Kudos to Matt and all supportive and encouraging friends of stamp addic- er, stampers!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQJfUn6csHI/AAAAAAAAAEw/pR0XAOrgvDs/s1600-h/Sending+Joy+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 164px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SQJfUn6csHI/AAAAAAAAAEw/pR0XAOrgvDs/s200/Sending+Joy+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260872122638315634" border="0" /></a>Onto stamping! I was so excited to get to sit down and make a card using my awesome Fabriano Aquarello watercolour paper! I was never very comfortable making one-layer cards without using a card base that was either substantial or fabulous, or in the case of Aquarello, both! Sharon Johnson posted a <a href="http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/10/23/stamp-simply-58-make-it-flat/">flat card challenge on her blog </a>yesterday, and I wanted to try it out the other night! When I started this card, all I knew was that I wanted to use at least one stamp from the October KOM from Unity, and whatever happened after that was gravy. :) The pink swirly stamp is stamped along both the front and back, and I also punched the border along the front and back edges.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stamps:</span> swirly from Unity's Thinking About the Good Times kit, angel from <a href="http://www.unitystampco.com/stamps/1180-kom9_friendship_love_miracles_september_kit_of_the_month">Unity's Friendship, Love, Miracles kit</a>, green dots and yellow sparkle from <a href="http://www.techniquetuesday.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ISLMS&Category_Code=">Technique Tuesday small Loves Me, Loves Me Not</a> set, both sets of letters from Studio G (by Hampton Arts) mini alpha sets.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ink:</span> yellow pigment ink by Inkadinkado, green chalk ink by Clearsnap, Coffee Bean by Brilliance, Tattered Rose Distress Ink by Ranger, Starry Night by Palette.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paper: </span>Fabriano Aquarello watercolour paper.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> Prismacolor pencil crayons, Threading Water border punch by Fiskars.<br /><br /><br />Other news from today.... I had two (!!) doctors' appointments today and only spent four hours at work. It was a quiet day at work anyways, so it was not a problem I don't think. Both doctors' offices are down by the Michaels, so of course I had to go in between appts during my lunch hour to see if they'd gotten in the new Martha Stewart stuff, and they had!!!! The sheep punch and one of the new stamp sets were already sold out! I had a tough time deciding between the cupcake, owl, and elephant punches, but had to get that cute owl. :) I wasn't quite sure how the "double punch" worked, but I found out as soon as I got to the parking lot! It cuts the outline out, and embosses the owl's eyes and tummy. I don't know how I'm going to use this thing, but I'll sure as heck have fun finding out!<br /><br />With supper, Sheldon and I (and Fozzie too! He liked the fighting and desert scenes) watched the second movie in the 1972 "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub">Lone Wolf and Cub</a>" series. I remember watching samurai and ninja movies with my folks when I was young (back when glaciers covered North America :D) and it is very enjoyable to watch the genre again. The good ones are like Clint Eastwood westerns, except Japanese.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-74243607695427146452008-10-21T22:40:00.002-05:002008-10-21T23:12:02.936-05:00Trust your instincts!No pics to share tonight, just a quick post before I crawl off to bed. I did get some crafting accomplished -- finished off the remaining five of those <a href="http://cheersandhappystamping.blogspot.com/2008/10/victory.html">Santa Collage cards</a> so now I can clear off my table and move on to something else without any qualms. Some guilt-abating positives about those cards are:<br /><ol><li>used some wedding program cardbases I HAD to have from Michaels over two years ago, and hadn't touched since. </li><li>used a new stamp I'd had on my wishlist for a few years now, and within a week of acquiring said stamp :)</li><li>realised how fabulous Aged Mahogany ink is and will use it more in the future</li></ol>Anyways, none of that has much to do with instincts. I just wanted to share a reminder I experienced today to trust my instincts . I just this morning learned how to read and enter the results for a test at work. A couple of the cases had to be re-read later in the afternoon, and I took the initiative to read and record the results myself. I knew I did this exactly as I was trained, but a little voice in my head kept telling me to get the manager to double-check the result on one of the cases. The manager knew how I'd been trained and was confident in my performance, but I was so concerned that I brought the test itself to her asking her to please take a look. It turned out a detail I was unaware of made the test was invalid. I know this error would have been caught and corrected further down the quality control line, but I was very relieved to have had a hand in catching it myself. So never be afraid to:<br /><ul><li>listen to and acknowledge what your instincts are telling you<br /></li><li>voice your concerns, even if it would make less waves to submit without a word</li></ul>So tired! I hope you have a great day tomorrow!!!!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-36340343020980072942008-10-19T20:47:00.009-05:002008-10-19T21:19:13.538-05:00Victory!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPvkjF9EXVI/AAAAAAAAAEY/_zsgcv71sN0/s1600-h/Sunday%27s+projects+bouquet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPvkjF9EXVI/AAAAAAAAAEY/_zsgcv71sN0/s200/Sunday%27s+projects+bouquet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259048281430056274" border="0" /></a>Yay, I'm so happy! I managed to not only find all the materials for but actually complete the altered pen project, and used one of the stamps I purchased yesterday! Huzzah! I **<span style="font-weight: bold;">love</span>** looking at the purple Himalayan poppies I picked out at Hobby Lobby yesterday, so I'm very happy with how the altered pen project turned out. The materials I used were:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>green floral tape (also comes in white at Walmart)</li><li>spray of artificial flowers without too many poky or fragile bits</li><li>pack of stick pens</li><li>wire cutters (got mine for a buck from Dollar Tree a while back, so glad I did now!)</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPvkj7pMQdI/AAAAAAAAAEg/8mS0hJVpmTs/s1600-h/Sunday%27s+projects+bloom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPvkj7pMQdI/AAAAAAAAAEg/8mS0hJVpmTs/s200/Sunday%27s+projects+bloom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259048295842202066" border="0" /></a>A tip on working with floral tape and pens is don't pull the tape tightly around the shaft of the pen til you're getting ready to finish off! The first pen I did is very sticky to write with because I pulled the tape tightly all the way up the pen, which exposed all of the adhesive that's in the tape.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPvkkIam0iI/AAAAAAAAAEo/ADjF6N63BrE/s1600-h/Sunday%27s+projects+Santasan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPvkkIam0iI/AAAAAAAAAEo/ADjF6N63BrE/s200/Sunday%27s+projects+Santasan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259048299270689314" border="0" /></a>I also worked up a card using the Rubber Stampede Santa Collage stamp I picked up at Michaels yesterday. I've been ogling this image for a few years now and decided to indulge myself and pick it up this year. This card <span style="font-weight: bold;">looks</span> simple, but I personally am not looking forward to finishing assembling five more of these babies before moving onto my next project. All that layering is a pain!!!! Santa looks a little bit (ok a lotta bit) like a hippie with his rose-coloured glasses. That was an unintentional design addition, cos I forgot that putting liquid glass over dye ink results in tinted liquid glass. Having learned my lesson, I tested other products before applying them to Santa; for the record, Stickles will also cause Distress Ink to run. I gave poor Santa a bloody moustache and eyebrows on my tester! Instead of adding any sparkle to give the focal image more visual weight, I opted to mount Santa on dimensionals. With all the adventures I had making this card, I had mixed feelings about the results until I showed it to Sheldon and he wholeheartedly gave it the Husband Seal of Approval!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stamps:</span> Santa Collage by Rubber Stampede, sentiment by My Sentiments Exactly<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ink:</span> Walnut Stain, Aged Mahogany, Brushed Corduroy, and Vintage Photo Ranger Distress inks<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paper:</span> starry paper from Memory Stor, green and brown cardstock by Fiskars from "Country" collection, patterned card base from the wedding section in Michaels.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> liquid glass by Plaid, Prismacolor pencil crayons<br /><br />Sheldon and I also spent today together watching fun shows; our faves are primarily Japanese, British, and Canadian in their origins. Today we treated ourselves to:<br /><ol><li>the Lucky Star OVA</li><li>Chi's Sweet Home</li><li>Ga-Rei Zero</li><li>Skip Beat</li><li>Merlin</li><li>The Rick Mercer Report<br /></li></ol>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-20668024997339046602008-10-18T21:47:00.005-05:002008-10-18T22:31:52.101-05:00Shopping and reflection<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPqhAmvhYjI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/srtbqxsJ5ek/s1600-h/shopping+trip+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPqhAmvhYjI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/srtbqxsJ5ek/s200/shopping+trip+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258692546680414770" border="0" /></a>I didn't do any actual crafting today (yet, at any rate). So far my solitary leisure activities have consisted of browsing blogs, playing Fish Wrangler on Facebook (I leveled up my Steam-powered Hydropole to Level 6 now! woot!), and SHOPPING!!! Behold the evidence of my consumption!!<br /><br />I hit Michaels to return a dry inkpad Queue, and while I was there found some things I've had on my mind for a while. The awesome Santa stamp by Rubber Stampede was the last one on the shelf; I'd thought about getting it on my last trip to Ms but had more wants than coupons. The Making Memories paper piercer and stylus (green handled thing) is another item I'd pondered deeply on a trip to Ms a few months ago at a time when finances were particularly tight, and today they were loose enough that I nabbed it before the moment passed. :) The flat-backed gold-rimmed pearl brads weren't in stock the last time I shopped, and I'd resisted the call of the double-sided satin ribbons for over a month now til I saw it in this colour combo that seems to me like a very good match for Broken China and Shabby Shutters Ranger Distress Inks! So I had to OF COURSE purchase all of these things today! With the return and my coupon, the total amount was $6.49. How could I NOT buy them!!!!!!!<br /><br />Then I went to Hobby Lobby and spent over two and a half hours there. Before you call the Looney Bin (it's in the yellow pages under "L") on me, I was admiring the Christmas stuff, then spent a bit of time in the scrapping and stamping sections getting out of the way of the staff, who for some reason needed to dust and sweep around me an awful lot. I also chatted with two ladies about stamping (wound up giving them a bit of advice about an altered letters project they were working on) and one of the ladies was so sweet and said I should make a career out of scrapbooking pages for other people! She said she would be happy to bring all her stuff to me and have me scrap it for her! Don't know why she got that strong of an impression of my puported prowess, but she sure was sweet! I also ran into some acquaintances I hadn't seen in AGES and we caught each other up a bit. Who knew HL was such a social hotspot? :) <br /><br />Anyways, I'm guilty as charged for purchasing a 12 pack of 10x14 inch Fabriano Aquarello 140# watercolour paper (featured regularly on <a href="http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/">Becca Feeken's</a> beautiful creations), a large journaling block stamp by Stampabilities, the Grungeboard shapes pack, some dimensionals, and a spray of purple poppies. No immediate, specific plans for most of these, except the Santa stamp for this year's holiday cards, the Grungeboard for an idea I had for a Christmas countdown calendar, and the poppies for some altered pens. I already have the pens and the floral tape, purchased a couple of months ago at the back-to-school sale time. So, I have a lot of products and ideas to work with and hopefully they will flow from my fingers the way burgers flow from McDonalds!<br /><br />As I was walking out of the Hobby Lobby, I was thinking about how I'd updated my friend in the store about my new job and all, but hadn't mentioned the two eye surgeries I'd had this year, and how much my sight had been restored. I had a second cataract surgery, and a subsequent vitrectomy to flush all of the debris out of my eye that nobody could tell was there until the cataract was gone. And all of this without complications, which in my situation is an absolute miracle. Tonight, I drove home in the pitch black evening and reflected on the great gift of my vision being restored. I can drive at night now, read street name signs again, and even walking around outside is easier and less stressful. In fact, life in general is easier. I am SO grateful for all of the wonders and gifts I've received, not the least of which is my continued health and vision.<br /><br />So that's all from today. :D Hopefully tomorrow I will take a chance to sit down and craft some. I've been working on sour cream containers for the Hallowe'en treats this year; they were a real hit last year and are a good excuse to use some of my "value pack" papers and fun monster stamps. Friday night I pulled out my papers and cut them down to 5.5x8.5, and stamped aliens and some kind of monster on some of them. :) No real vision for this stamping project, but I will have fun tinkering around with it!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-22001784195561202802008-10-15T20:25:00.005-05:002008-10-15T20:50:23.357-05:00Manliest pink trees you ever saw!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPaYdgEGBjI/AAAAAAAAAEA/EfgXpMc2RFs/s1600-h/happiness+masculine+unity.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPaYdgEGBjI/AAAAAAAAAEA/EfgXpMc2RFs/s320/happiness+masculine+unity.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257557247592367666" border="0" /></a>This is my card for the <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=390297">Unity Challenge Wednesday</a>, where we were to make masculine cards. I received this totally awesome 'happiness' stamp as a free gift with my first order from Unity. When I realised it was the same length as these mini giggle grove trees from the September Kit of the Month, I wanted to have the trees growing out of the word happiness! It was super-easy to line these up withOUT using any kind of stamp positioner; I did a test stamping of the trees just out of prudence to make sure the trunks ended where I thought they did from the back side of my acrylic handle. <br /><br />I coloured the trees in using three shades of Prismas (Blush Pink first, followed by Pink around the edges, followed by blending using the Blush Pink pencil crayon again, followed by some highlighting around the edges with Dark Umber to make them blend in more with the papers). Then I topped the leafy parts off with a convex layer of Liquid Glass by Plaid -- love the effect now that I'm comfortable using this product!!! To tone down the stark white focal layer, I stippled the edges with Shabby Shutters and Vintage Photo inks. To help balance the patterns in the background layers, I also doodled a dashed border using the Burnt Sienna Prisma. To finish it off, I mounted the focal piece on dimensionals, and it looks really cool in real life.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stamps: </span>Unity gift 'happiness', trees from Unity's September KOM<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paper:</span> True Thyme cardstock (SU, retired); white cardstock by Domtar; Saturate, Instill, and Condense patterned papers from Basic Grey's Infuse collection.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ink:</span> Coffee Bean Brilliance ink, Dark Moss fluid chalk ink by Clearsnap, Shabby Shutters and Vintage Photo Distress inks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> liquid glass by Plaid, Coluzzle circle template, stipple brush, Prisma pencil crayons.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPacEhtufhI/AAAAAAAAAEI/mECVeMVvFkI/s1600-h/Cards+July+2008+plus+foz+shodin+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPacEhtufhI/AAAAAAAAAEI/mECVeMVvFkI/s400/Cards+July+2008+plus+foz+shodin+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257561216585203218" border="0" /></a>And now for something completely different -- a pic of my cat Fozzie!!! He LLLOOOOOVVVVES doing the faceplant into his Daddy's arm!!!!!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-90956123169645431542008-10-13T19:50:00.007-05:002008-10-13T20:32:31.853-05:00Altered $ Spot MailboxesI picked up these three mailboxes from Target back in January, and it only took me until September (!!) to get around to altering them and sending them to my nephew and two nieces! It wasn't for lack of trying; I'd pulled them out on a few occasions and got total scrappers block. I think I'd made these mailboxes into some big, momentous project that had to contain some incredibly meaningful scrapbook, and that my first try at altering them had to have the absolute best results ever. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't do this</span> -- it's no fun and doesn't work! <br /><br />You know what finally got me to altering these puppies? I got some super-good news (finally got a job offer for an awesomecool job at the beginning of Sept!) and in my euphoria, I sprinted to Target and enjoyed the heck out of shopping for gifts for the kiddos. I went wild, but not too wild (had still been out of work for two months, after all) and picked up some Hello Kitty goodies in the dollar spot for the girls, and a Lego Bionicles for Christopher. <br /><br />My design approach (heehee that makes it sound so fancy and professional!) was to keep it fun (=easy) for me and geared for the kids' interests.<br /><ol><li>Pull out the special scrapbook papers I had previously purchased specifically with the kids in mind. (Do we all do this, or is it just me? No idea what I'm going to use the paper on at the time, just wanna get it cos it reminds me of the kids and I think they'd like it!)<br /></li><li>Match up a pattern of paper with a mailbox for each kidlet.</li><li>Pull out coordinating items like Dora and Hello Kitty stickers.</li><li>Pull out fun 3D or bulky embellishments I had to own but don't use often enough, and decorate as desired to go with the mailbox.<br /></li></ol><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPt1E0t4VI/AAAAAAAAADg/_GmE7oVoSwA/s1600-h/Dora+mailbox+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPt1E0t4VI/AAAAAAAAADg/_GmE7oVoSwA/s200/Dora+mailbox+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256806686155202898" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPt1VTxnmI/AAAAAAAAADo/mmREj7cho5w/s1600-h/Dora+mailbox+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPt1VTxnmI/AAAAAAAAADo/mmREj7cho5w/s200/Dora+mailbox+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256806690580438626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPt1cQWd4I/AAAAAAAAADw/1ab8em_xhyg/s1600-h/Dora+mailbox+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPt1cQWd4I/AAAAAAAAADw/1ab8em_xhyg/s200/Dora+mailbox+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256806692445124482" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the bold, cheery, and outgoing mailbox tailor-made for Jory -- suits her personality to a T I think. :) The scalloped circle is lilac-coloured and has a fun butterfly background (from VLVS) stamped on it in Moonlight White. Chipboard butterfly is from Technique Tuesday. I applied the purple glitter by first coating the butterfly in liquid glass (like Crystal Effects), burying it in glitter, and then after letting the liquid glass dry and brushing off the loose glitter, I sealed it up with another coat of liquid glass. The monogram (and the two other monograms) were from a blue and silver self-adhesive monogram letter set I got at Walmart last Christmas. I'd previously used the only J on a birthday card for Jory, so I cut the letter U from the set to look like a J, covered it in two coats of Versamagic Aloe Vera chalk ink, then put on two layers of sparkly embossing powder. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbQeFscI/AAAAAAAAADI/OKldIguBGKA/s1600-h/Camouflage+mailbox+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbQeFscI/AAAAAAAAADI/OKldIguBGKA/s200/Camouflage+mailbox+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256806242604921282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbYOrxGI/AAAAAAAAADQ/hkKbcy8qa84/s1600-h/Camouflage+mailbox+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbYOrxGI/AAAAAAAAADQ/hkKbcy8qa84/s200/Camouflage+mailbox+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256806244687791202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbqyqFxI/AAAAAAAAADY/_5fRJcCqRrw/s1600-h/Camouflage+mailbox+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbqyqFxI/AAAAAAAAADY/_5fRJcCqRrw/s200/Camouflage+mailbox+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256806249670514450" border="0" /></a><br />I kept Christopher's mailbox very streamlined because I didn't think he'd appreciate the aesthetics of a camouflage mailbox with giant sequins or flowers glued on. :D I applied Coffee Bean Brilliance ink to the edges of the front and back panels of patterned paper for interest, and applied Graphite Black Brilliance ink to a holographic silver C for his monogram. Because the outside was so "streamlined" I added a more personal touch on the inside by sticking a pic of Christopher's Nichda'a and Uncle Sheldon on the door. (That's us in the Land of Milk and Honey, aka San Antonio on the Riverwalk. **LOVE** that city!!! My parents took the photo for us.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbA4BKKI/AAAAAAAAAC4/omSQpR_gb5U/s1600-h/Hello+Kitty+Mailbox+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbA4BKKI/AAAAAAAAAC4/omSQpR_gb5U/s200/Hello+Kitty+Mailbox+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256806238418708642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbcFim2I/AAAAAAAAADA/QWl7hG07tnM/s1600-h/Hello+Kitty+Mailbox+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbcFim2I/AAAAAAAAADA/QWl7hG07tnM/s200/Hello+Kitty+Mailbox+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256806245723183970" border="0" /></a><br />Last but certainly NOT least is this sweet and cute mailbox for the sweet, cute, and smart Grace! All of the mailboxes were fun and easy to make, but this one especially came together quickly because I LOVE HELLO KITTY TOO!! Too bad I didn't buy a fourth mailbox for myself, so I could make one like this for me too!!! <br /><br />Anyways, that was the result of my adventure with altering mailboxes. It was fun!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbcFim2I/AAAAAAAAADA/QWl7hG07tnM/s1600-h/Hello+Kitty+Mailbox+2.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbYOrxGI/AAAAAAAAADQ/hkKbcy8qa84/s1600-h/Camouflage+mailbox+2.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPPtbqyqFxI/AAAAAAAAADY/_5fRJcCqRrw/s1600-h/Camouflage+mailbox+3.jpg"></a>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-14129839103922133282008-10-11T22:26:00.019-05:002008-10-11T23:40:21.989-05:00World Cardmaking Day -- Unity Style :)I'm finally getting around to posting the cards I made for World Cardmaking Day a week ago!!!!! Sheesh, blogmaking can be tough to schedule in! I've spent my crafting time this past work week finishing up the bits and pieces I left lying on my craft table, and trying to tidy the area up a bit too. With all the embossing powder and glitter wiped up, and my double scrubber stamp cleaner washed up, I am a happy stamper again!!! <br /><br />ANYWAYS, you can find all the specifics about SCS's world cardmaking day challenges <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=387560">here</a>. I did all of them except for the colour challenge, which was too complicated for me with a bunch of colour names I didn't have and didn't feel up to trying to match. In the <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=197">Unity forum on Splitcoast</a>, they gave us the extra challenge of using our Unity stamps for the challenges. Everyone who did all seven challenges using Unity stamps was entered into a drawing to win a prize, but by the time I hit challenge number seven I decided I wanted ALL the cards I made to be FUN and not stressful, so I let go of the seventh challenge and the chance to win a prize. I had a whack of fun making the cards tho!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPFvIT7boUI/AAAAAAAAACo/gDGdDVuNsms/s1600-h/Unity+WCMD+sketch.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPFvIT7boUI/AAAAAAAAACo/gDGdDVuNsms/s320/Unity+WCMD+sketch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256104428697264450" border="0" /></a><br />I made this for the sketch challenge. I was breaking in my new Making Memories rotary precision paper trimmer, so I found trimming the narrow strips to be a little stressful, which then made me anxious about perfectly lining up the three strips. I used my 12x6 Fiskars quilting ruler to make lining up the strips easy to do; I just taped the card base to the ruler using low tack tape, then used the grid lines to align the paper I was adhering. And can I boast a little and say this is my first attempt in memory at "paper piecing"!!!! As soon as I saw this nice open-image purse with nice smooth edges, I thought it was made for paper piecing!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Stamps:</span> Shopaholic kit from Unity (purse, sentiment, and insanity warning)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ink:</span> Milled Lavender Ranger Distress Ink, Graphite Black Brilliance<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Paper: </span>Close to Cocoa, black and white cardstocks, one sheet of double-sided patterned paper by Memory Stor<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Other: </span>Black pigma pen, Black Diamond Stickles<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPFvHHju1UI/AAAAAAAAACI/HWZYnB1vvKU/s1600-h/Unity+WCMD+featured.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPFvHHju1UI/AAAAAAAAACI/HWZYnB1vvKU/s320/Unity+WCMD+featured.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256104408196764994" border="0" /></a><br />I made this for the featured stamper challenge; <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1043334?cat=500&ppuser=77415">this</a> is the card of Sherry's that I used for my inspiration. I used the same stamp and layout, but rounded the corners of the trees layer and its matting, used brass snaps instead of pewter brads, and omitted the "LOVE" gong up the right side of the inspiration card. I've never participated in a featured stamper challenge before -- it's a lot of fun, especially when you and the stamper have similar tastes in stamps!!! :D The trees were stamped on grey cardstock identical to the grey matting layer; I wanted to make the trees white by colouring them with my Prismas. To give this card a little depth, I sponged Vintage Photo ink around the edges of the red cardstock.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Stamps:</span> So and So Loves... by Unity<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ink:</span> Coffee Bean Brilliance ink, Vintage Photo Distress Ink<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Paper: </span>Close to Cocoa, red and grey generic cardstocks, brown cardstock from Provo Craft.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Other: </span>white, red, and grey Prismacolor pencil crayons, brass snaps by Making Memories<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPFvHhFKWZI/AAAAAAAAACQ/fY3WgdOyY0U/s1600-h/Unity+WCMD+inspiration.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPFvHhFKWZI/AAAAAAAAACQ/fY3WgdOyY0U/s320/Unity+WCMD+inspiration.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256104415047866770" border="0" /></a><br />I took the layout and colour scheme for this card directly from the Coldwater Creek catalogue cover linked in the inspiration challenge. I even chose a focal image that consisted of three like things, and coloured them using the same colours as the three leaves from the catalogue cover. :) I lllooooovvvveee inspiration challenges, and enjoyed breaking out colours I dont usually use!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Stamps:</span> Unity September Kit of the Month (trees, sentiment), maple leaf from All Night Media<br /><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Ink:</span> Sunflower Palette Ink, olive Versamagic chalk ink, Coffee Bean Brilliance ink<br /><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Paper: </span>Morning Marigold cardstock by SU (retired), white and black generic cardstocks<br /><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Other: </span>Prismacolor pencil crayons<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPFvb8YzirI/AAAAAAAAACw/P0ycfdTlXqE/s1600-h/Unity+WCMD+tree.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPFvb8YzirI/AAAAAAAAACw/P0ycfdTlXqE/s320/Unity+WCMD+tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256104765975399090" border="0" /></a><br />The challenge for this card was to use a stamp of a tree, or an item related to trees. I decided (as I often do :D) to keep my layout simple and go gangbusters creating textures and depth by using a variety of stamps. I ran a bead of liquid glass over the three after I coloured it, and also painted a thin coating of the glass over the green strip to make it stand out and give it more visual weight IRL. It doesn't really show up here that well, tho. I was so pleased that I had an inkpad that perfectly matches one of the blues in my Pebbles i-kan-dee chalks! I stamped the corners in the ink (natch) and used the matching chalk to soften the stark white of the cardstock and draw the eye to the tree. I didn't use anything like a stampamajig to stamp the corners on my card -- all I did was align the edges of the corner stamp with the grids on my acrylic handle, then with the inked stamp lying on its back on the table, I carefully-ish placed the cardstock down using the gridlines to help me line it up.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Stamps:</span> Unity September Kit of the Month (tree, butterfly, swirly pretty thingy, bubbly corner)<br /> <br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Ink:</span> Graphite Black Brilliance ink, Blueberries & Chocolate fluid chalk ink Queue by Clearsnap, Versamark<br /><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Paper: </span>Not Quite Navy and the bright green from that colour family cardstocks by SU, white cardstock by Domtar<br /> <br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Other: </span>Prismacolor pencil crayons, liquid glass by Plaid, clear embossing powder by PSX, shimmer chalk by Pebbles<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPFvIGf_CyI/AAAAAAAAACg/wcGU5acSsNY/s1600-h/Unity+WCMD+nested+flower.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPFvIGf_CyI/AAAAAAAAACg/wcGU5acSsNY/s320/Unity+WCMD+nested+flower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256104425092483874" border="0" /></a><br />I'd never made a nested circle flower before, either! The instructions said to use five circles, so I cut my smallest one first and used it as a guide to cut my next layer, but all the cutting was done just by eyeballing it to get a bit of a fun, asymmetric look. By the time I cut my third circle, I figured I had better watch out or I wouldn't be able to fit the flower on a card, or even worse might injure the recipient by sending them a five-pound paper flower card, so I started cutting the layers a little tighter. Before gluing the circles together, I distressed the edges with my fingers and fingernails, and inked along the edges with olive chalk ink to give them a little more definition. The grey layer needed a little more oomph to keep up with that massive bloom, so in addition to using the Threading Water punch, I also doodled dots along the edges.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Stamps:</span> Unity September Kit of the Month (butterfly, swirly pretty thingy), sentiment by Hero Arts<br /> <br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Ink:</span> Blueberries & Chocolate fluid chalk ink Queue by Clearsnap, Versamark, Olive chalk ink by Versamagic<br /> <br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Paper: </span>Not Quite Navy cardstock by SU, grey generic cardstock, Fruitcake by Basic Grey<br /> <br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Other: </span>clear embossing powder by PSX, dark green pigma pen, fancy brad from the crafting section in Zellers, if you can believe it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPFvHxbw6LI/AAAAAAAAACY/1n1OLo_XYR4/s1600-h/Unity+WCMD+limited.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SPFvHxbw6LI/AAAAAAAAACY/1n1OLo_XYR4/s320/Unity+WCMD+limited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256104419437635762" border="0" /></a><br />On this one, where the challenge was to avoid the use of patterned paper and chalks/pastels, I decided to use a variety of papers to add interest. :) On the card base, I tried out creating a scalloped border using a corner punch for the first time ever, and probably for the last time too, at least the last time doing it all around the edge of a card made from a whole sheet of CS! Even with the mix of paper textures and the scalloped edge, this card was a little plain for my tastes until I added the blingy brads and applied lace stickles to the three flower clusters that are part of the quotation stamp.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Stamps:</span> quotation from Unity, large butterfly from PSX<br /> <br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Ink:</span> Tattered Rose and Faded Jeans Distress Inks<br /> <br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Paper: </span>Not Quite Navy cardstock by SU, grey generic cardstock, vellum, pink mulberry paper<br /><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Other:</span> blue pen, blue crystal brads by Making Memories, diamond lace stickles, large corner rounder punch by EK Success<br /><br />So there's my giant post of my Unity WCMD challenge cards. I am so appreciative of my husband, who not only was happy to see me participate in the challenges and make a bunch of cards, but also things all of them are beautiful! Isn't it funny how when we look at are cards, we mostly see what they are NOT, while if you ask anyone else, they just see the awesome things you did!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-88400621439984846552008-10-04T12:24:00.003-05:002008-10-04T12:28:39.626-05:00Happy World Cardmaking Day!!!!!Oh wow what a great morning. :) Got to sleep in, and browse and comment on blogs while I waited for my headache medicine to kick in!!! Sounds like a great start to WCMD to me! And I get to try out my new MM trimmer and a couple of new sets from Inkadinkado today! I didn't plan on getting the Inkadinkado sets last night when I was at Michaels picking up my trimmer, but I was in no mood to talk myself out of them (they filled a vacant niche in my stamp collection!!) and I knew I loved them and would use them, so I just rolled with it. I got the rock star set, and the new fairy set -- fun, modern, and unique takes imho on images for men, boys, and li'l girls! <br /><br />I will be celebrating WCMD by following the special challenges at Splitcoast Stampers -- you can find the master list of today's SCS challenges <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=387560">here</a>.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-53630152466896752512008-09-28T21:41:00.019-05:002008-09-28T22:32:32.955-05:00Asian inspiredLast week I spent a little time playing around with a couple of sketches and this awesome paper set from 7Gypsies called Sushi Journey.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SOBAnmgVhGI/AAAAAAAAABY/AE-A37S0YGc/s1600-h/Horizontal+asian+inspired.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SOBAnmgVhGI/AAAAAAAAABY/AE-A37S0YGc/s400/Horizontal+asian+inspired.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251268214609249378" border="0" /></a><br />This card was meant to follow <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=381091">SCS sketch challenge 193</a>, except I forgot to add the three horizontal stripes behind the focal image until I had stuck the image down (with Mono Multi). I've had this beautiful Asian stamp for a while now and hadn't inked it up yet, and thought it was especially suited for this layout and patterned paper. I stamped the image in black and embossed with clear powder before colouring with Pebbles i-kan-dee chalks. I wanted a little more variation in colour than I could attain with just the chalks, so I augmented and added a little detail with my Prismacolor pencil crayons. <br /><br />I (almost) always do a dry run with my card elements before actually gluing anything down. When I did so with this card, I decided I wanted to enhance the Asian theme a little more by covering the edges of the black matting layer in clear embossing powder to give it the look of a glossy black laquered finish. After putting on two layers of clear EP using my Versamark pen and heat gun, I decided to continue the theme by coating the focal image layer with two layers of embossing powder too. This time I used my Versamark pad, partly because the pen didn't work as well as the pad, and partly because the image layer was quite a bit larger than the edges of the black cardstock matting layer. Even after the second coat of EP, the finish was not quite as amazingly and perfectly smooth as I'd hoped; I didn't continue adding layers tho because the focal image was kinda weighty. Plus, I was not enthused about having to go through the process any more (stupid EP gets all over my table even though I use a sandwich container to hold it in). After I glued everything down, I realised that 1) I'd forgotten about the horizontal lines from the sketch, and; 2) the thin black matting under the strip on the right should have been coated with EP too. I rectified this by using my Versamark pen to put a line on the black cardstock only -- didn't work that well and I don't recommend it. I wound up scraping off EP from the red paper beneath it after melting it. I suppose an even smarter solution would be to brush off the EP before melting it, but at that point I hated loose EP getting all over my table and decided to deal with it in melted form.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SOBAyoGkw6I/AAAAAAAAABg/wJoroiv6ZfY/s1600-h/Vertical+asian+inspired.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SOBAyoGkw6I/AAAAAAAAABg/wJoroiv6ZfY/s400/Vertical+asian+inspired.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251268404016628642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My second card was made using exactly the same stamp and papers, except this time I used the sketch from Cyndi Bundy's fantastic "Family" card (which you can see on her blog <a href="http://scrappychick.typepad.com/scrappy_chick/2008/08/some-challenge-cards-and-news.html">The Scrappy Chick</a>). I made the oval focal image pretty much as above except this time I didn't emboss the image, and used my Coluzzle oval and companion oval templates. Instead of using plain white cardstock, I stamped the image on white cardstock that I had previously spritzed with home-made glimmer mists. On this sheet of cardstock, I spritzed it with two different mists:<br /><ul><li>10 drops of orange re-inker with ~a quarter teaspoon of white Perfect Pearls, topped up to one fluid ounce total volume withtap water</li><li>10 drops of Vintage Photo Ranger Distress re-inker with ~a quarter teaspoon of copper Perfect Pearls, topped up to one fluid ounce with tap water</li></ul>I use Mini Misters to spritz my mists, and two pieces of advice with this: don't use Pearl-ex instead of Perfect Pearls, cos it won't work and will just fall off the paper after the water dries. Don't use alcohol instead of or in combo with tap water to try and reduce the amount of paper curl you get, because spritzing out alcohol makes a highly flammable cloud of dangerbad. <br /><br />The patterned papers were a little bright and white in contrast to the focal image, so I stippled them with Brushed Corduroy Ranger Distress Ink. That made all the difference! To finish it all off, I used a brown cardstock diecut from a Cuttlebug die. I considered colouring it black or embossing it to make it glossy, but in the end I left it as it was and I like the result. <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Stamps:</span> sorry, I don't know the manufacturer -- it was in a grab bag<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Inks:</span> Graphite Black Brilliance Ink (yep you can emboss with it if you're quick) on both cards, Brushed Corduroy Ranger Distress Ink on second card.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Paper: </span>Sushi Journey pack by 7 Gypsies, black cardstock<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Other: </span>clear embossing powder, Prismacolor pencil crayons. Pebbles chalks on first card. Cuttlebug die-cut brown cardstock and home-made glimmer mists on second card.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-16245460771209970192008-09-27T22:05:00.004-05:002008-09-28T12:26:46.968-05:00Two challenge cards in one day!I'm just loving the inspiration pieces that SmilynStef found for <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385661">this week's Inspiration Challenge</a> -- Domino Paint Palettes. I made a second card for this challenge using my <a href="http://www.unitystampco.com/kit_club">Unity Sept KOM</a>. This time, I chose <a href="http://www.dominomag.com/galleries/paint/paint_rainbow_list?slide=34">Room 34</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SN70s8CaZ-I/AAAAAAAAABQ/bz0B_fs8Ja8/s1600-h/Inspiration+147+Room+34.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SN70s8CaZ-I/AAAAAAAAABQ/bz0B_fs8Ja8/s400/Inspiration+147+Room+34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250903268428244962" border="0" /></a><br />This is not exactly a "wild riot of prints" that I used with the "controlled colour palette" of pale blue with oatmeal-ish brown, but I just loved the idea of making a linear border with the giggle grove image. The ribbon came about because I was concerned the card would be a little too plain for my confidence level to give to anybody, and the sentiment is from a Hero Arts clear set that I use on just about every card I make, it seems like.<br /><br />ETA: I'm sending this card to my brother for his birthday. :) He and his wife are in forestry, plus I like this card so much it is "family-worthy". :D Inside, I stamped a larger trio of trees image from this same stamp set and coloured them in in browns using my Prisma pencil crayons -- they look like a yummy chocolate forest!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Stamps: </span>giggle grove of trees from Unity Stamps, sentiment from Hero Arts.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Paper:</span> pale blue cardstock from Fiskars "Country" cardstock pack.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Other:</span> brown organza ribbon by Offray.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064517459678703446.post-35297153858229124432008-09-27T17:30:00.003-05:002008-09-27T22:21:44.736-05:00Received my Unity KOM today!!!!!!After a slight delay, I received this month's <a href="http://www.unitystampco.com/stamps">Unity Stamp Co</a>. <a href="http://www.unitystampco.com/kit_club">Kit of the Month</a>!!! It got here only two days after being shipped out, woohoo!! Today is the day my favourite challenge at SCS, the <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385661">Inspiration Challenge</a>, releases new challenges, so I made my challenge card using my new stamps of course. :D I used<a href="http://www.dominomag.com/galleries/paint/paint_rainbow_list?slide=13"> Room 13 </a>as my inspiration, and took a cue from the little description for that room and used white to balance the green colour scheme and strong visual impact of the swirly pinwheel background. I love these images, and wanted to let them take centre stage.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SN60i7aHMTI/AAAAAAAAABI/9mZWg-XLvBE/s1600-h/Unity+Inspiration+Challenge.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dW1N5kbYI/SN60i7aHMTI/AAAAAAAAABI/9mZWg-XLvBE/s400/Unity+Inspiration+Challenge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250832727716344114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Stamps:</span> swirly pinwheel, polka-dotted scallop border, and giggle grove of trees from Unity's September stamp kit of the month. "hello" from a Hero Arts clear stamp set.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Paper:</span> white cardstock by Domtar, white card base by Halcraft.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ink: </span>Ranger Distress Ink in Shabby Shutters, Versamagic chalk ink in Aloe Vera<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Other: </span>Prismacolor pencil crayons to colour in the leafy bits of the trees.<br /><br />My other major achievements of today are:<br /><ul><li>I ***finally*** got to the post office to mail off my Dad's birthday card (his bday is at the beginning of AUGUST!) and a parcel of altered mailboxes to my sister's family. They've been sitting in my craft room for a couple of weeks now and with my husband's help, I finally got it together enough to make it to the PO today.</li><li>Finished up two other cards that basically just needed to be assembled.<br /></li></ul>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152311157734785684noreply@blogger.com2