Wed.. Aug. 31, 2011 Encaustic wax background

I played with my iron and crayons again, and created this eery landscape.  IRL, it looks sooo cool, but loses some of the defnition in the photograph.

  I stamped a couple of trees from Mark's Finest Papers  "A Walk in the Woods" set.

Here is a link to show you how it is done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG3h7jsYR6A

 

I debated adding a sentiment, but couldn't decide what it should be, so I just left it off.

Thank you for stopping by!

Tues. Aug.24, 2011 Ruff Day?

I just love this new stamp set by Melanie Muenchinger called "Basket Buddies". There are so many cute images and sentiments for a lot of different occasions.
I colored the images with Copics and popped the pups up on a bg of swiss dotted white cs. I constructed the bed by stamping one of the layers on patterned paper and coloring the other two with Copic markers.  Glad you stopped by!

Mon. Aug. 29, 2011 One idea-Two Cards

I loved the rainbow idea for Suzanne's challenge on  STV Friday.  It was a sketch challenge with a twist. She provided a sketch, but the twist was to use rainbow colors.

My 1st card is a 4.25" square that follows the sketch, although I rearranged it a bit.

I liked the idea I came up with for this card, so my second card to share today is similar, but is a different layout.

I made this next card  5 x 7 "- much larger than what I normally make, but I wanted more butterflies on this one! These butterflies were made with dies from Cheery Lynn Designs.

I hope you'll be playing along with Suzanne's challenge.  Click here for details. Thanks for visiting!

Sun. Aug. 28, 2011 SCS Challenge CAS132

The challenge I decided to play in was called, Hot, hot, hot. I decided to go with a beach scene.

Using a chair from Adirondack Summer stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers, colored with Copics, some quick sponging for the sky and torn kraft edges with white ink, and I was ready to upload my card. Oops, forgot to mention that I added the cloud and a sentiment from "Sand, Surf, Relax" to balance out my design.

Sat. Aug. 27, 2011 Speedy Challenge #70

Carol from Speedy challenged us to use lace on our card this week.  I decided to make a tri-fold card this time around. I opted for paper lace using a MS punch.  I embossed with a CB folder over a patterned bg. The daisies are from Mark's Finest Papers "Greet the Day with Gerber" stamp set, which I colored with Copics. The sentiment is from MFP's " Lilacs in the Summer" set.  I fussy cut the flowers and popped them up on a Nestie die cut.

Here is a view of the card opened.

Thank you for visiting!

Fri., Aug. 26, 2011 Back to School

Giovana's challenge at STV this week, is to make a school themed card.  The challenge number is STVMONGS2.

I couldn't think of any stamps that are school related, so I really had to think about how I was going to play along.  As I skimmed through my GKD stamps, I ran across "The Journey" set by Asela. I created a simple scene, with masking and sponging.  I stamped the image and colored the kids with Copics. The sentiment was computer generated.

 Thank you for visiting!

Thurs. Aug. 25, 2011 Embossed Focal Image

Today's card is for the Free for All challenge at SCS, # F4A78.  We were to use an embossed bg as the focal point. I used a EF from Quickutz.  The sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers "Just Dandy" stamp set. I just love this font!

The paper rosette was made with the TH mini rosette die, and I added the pearl in the center.

Glad you stopped by!

Wed. Aug. 24, 2011 Vintage Birthday

I have been meaning to try and make a fabric flower with my TH die, and since I liked how it came out- the idea for this card came about. Years ago I pick up a bunch of home decor fabric samples, and I liked this brocade type fabric for my flower.

I used some pretty bg paper, ribbon and lace from Webster's pages.  I used part of a Cheery Lynn doily, which I sponged with Old Paper distress ink.  The little metal dragonfly is from Pink Paisley. I think the distressing around the edges adds to the vintage feel. The sentiment and the label are from Nina's "Fanciful Tags" stamp set, and the pearls are from my stash.

Thank you for checking in today!

Tues. Aug. 23, 2011 SCS WT335

I made this card for Splitcoast Challenge WT 335- the Ways to Use it challenge.

The challenge is all about HEAT! Looking for images that generate heat or techniques that use heat.

I used Sherry Cheever's tutorial to inspire me to use my iron and iron off the clear EP, exposing the white base cs.  I then used alcohol inks to create my bg's colors. The image is from Mark's Finest Papers "Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement" stamp set.

So happy when you stop by and leave a comment!  If you have any questions, be sure to leave your email addy, so I can answer you. Thanks!!

Mon. Aug. 22, 2011 CASE-ing Cat

I hope you had a chance to play along with the STV challenge on Friday.  Cat has a fabulous gallery and we were to pick one of her cards to CASE.

I absolutely love this card and decided to CASE this one.

I used a different color card base, a different image and ribbon.  For my dp, instead of finger-applied oil pastels that Cat used, I tried my hand at encaustic wax.  I used my iron and crayons. I decided to not use a sentiment on my card. I colored a piece of seam binding with alcohol inks to match my bg.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you'll play along HERE.

Sun. Aug. 21, 2011 SC345 Nature's Gifts

Today I wanted to share a card I posted a little while ago on SCS, for Challenge SC345.  I made it, while we were enduring a really hot and humid week, so I think I was trying to bring on some Fall weather-if only in my head LOL.

 The fence is a PTI die, I think, and the die cut leaves are from a Cheery Lynn die.  I sponged the leaves with distress inks, and aged the fence, as well.  The sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers "Butterflies and Wisteria" stamp set.

Sat. Aug. 20, 2011 Speedy Challenge # 69

Happy Saturday!  Linda's challenge this week for Speedy is to emboss our card, either dry embossing or heat.

For my card, I actually used both.  I embossed the bg with the CB Swiss Dots, after I stamped with my acrylic block, and then heat embossed the sentiment.  Both the image and the sentiment are from Mark's Finest Papers "Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement" stamp set. There are so many ways to use this set.

Fri. Aug. 19, 2011 StampTV FB challenge

The mid-month challenge on the StampTV Facebook fan page, is to "Dress it Up", and use a piece of jewelry or jewelry-type element to our card.
I started with a piece of glossy cs and heat embossed with clear EP.  I used alcohol inks and blending solution to create the color palette I was looking for.  I then placed a piece of cs on top and ironed off the clear EP, leaving a pretty white image. I stamped the sentiment from Theresa's "Whimsical Wishes" set with black Stazon ink.
My little metal heart was the wrong color, so I used alcohol inks, to have it match my colors. HERE is a link to the tutorial I followed.
Thank you for visiting!

Thurs. Aug 18, 2011 Mix it up Monday Challenge

Challenge STVMONDC3 at StampTV this week, is to make a card with a striped background.

I started with a piece of white cs for my panel and drew lines with two different color fine point markers.  The then used my Scor bug, to create faux stitching. I added some sponging around the edges and around my focal image too. The rosette was made with the TH Rosette die.  The image, which is paper pieced and the sentiment are from Gina K's "Smile" stamp set.

I am glad you popped in today!

Wed. Aug. 17, 2011 "Hold your Place" challenge

The Friday Free for All challenge STVFRILM4 on StampTV is to make a bookmark. 

I started with a piece of 120# Pure Luxury cs, and used Sherry Cheevers tutorial for ironed EP resist. 

I then stamped. colored and cut out a flower from Melanie's "A Year of Flowers" stamp set and the dragonfly from Theresa's "Follow your Dreams" set.  The sentiment is from Theresa's "Fanciful Fall" set.

I mod podged the flower and dragonfly to the cs, spritzed on some Tsukineko Walnut Ink and then coated both sides of the bookmark with two additionals coats of MP. An eyelet and some fibers and I was finished!  Thanks for stopping by!

Tues. Aug. 16, 2011 TLC336 on SCS

The card I have to share today is one I made for the Try a New Technique challenge on SCS.  
I used a piece of watercolor paper.   I squiggled some Pitt Big Brush ink and water on the block and the added a touch of Twinkling H20, then stamped.  I then dried it with a heat tool.
The image and sentiment were both heat embossed. They are from the "Wisteria and Butterflies" stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers.
The bg was CB'd with the Swiss Dots folder, and I brushed a little pearl paint dabber around the edges.  Some pretty ribbon and a bow, and I was finished with it! Thanks for visiting!

Mon. Aug. 15, 2011 Branching Out

I really like this stamp set from Melanie (Gina K Designs), since it can be used for so many different types of cards. I decided to make this one a Birthday card, but could also make a soothing sympathy card too. I used Gina K Pumpkin Spice and Chocolate cs.  For the background, I inked the stamp with multiple colors of ink, kind of thumped with the ink pads, and then randomly stamped.  I like the different shades on the leaves. I used a scallop nestie and a lacey circle behind the focal image.  The butterfly is a Cheery Lynn Design- love this one! I stamped it with Versamark and heat embossed with Platinum EP.

I thought a touch of twine would balance the design.

Glad you stopped by today!

Sun. Aug. 14, 2011 STVMONTAMI2

Tami gave us a wonderful inspiration photo to work with, for this challenge.

I opted for the country cottage feel, as well as the colors-to create my card.

I scored the card base to look like beadboard, and used a lacey nestie to resemble the mirror.  My image (from "Lovely Shelf" from Gina K) was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black, and then colored with Copics.  I did a little sponging on the nestie die with Vivid ink. I love the way this bow turned out.   I made the stick pin, starting with a plain pearl one.  I colored the pearl with a Copic and then added some paper beads I made a while back.
Thank you so much for stopping by!

Sat. Aug. 13, 2011 Cheery Lynn Dies

One of my dear friends told me about the DT call for Cheery Lynn Designs, and suggested that I should try out too. Thanks for the 'push' , my friend!  I am hoping we both get chosen, wouldn't that be awesome? I love their dies!!!

Here is the card I submitted:

and a close up of their gorgeous butterfly:

Recipe: 

Card base:  Gina K 120# Pure Luxury cs

BG layer:     Gina K Ivory cs, embossed with TH Texture Fade "Bricked"

Frame:         Cheery Lynn FRM115 Lattice 2

                     C.L.  B127 Tropical Flourish, sponged with Memento Bamboo Leaves

                     C.L.  DL102 French Pastry Doily

Butterfly:     C.L. DL113 and DL113A Angel Wings (with transparent glitter

Sentiment :  Theresa Momber's "Warm with Love" stamp set from Gina K.

                       heat embossed with platinum EP.

I white-washed the rose, since it was the wrong shade of green to match my card.    Added pearls above the sentiment. 

Thank you for letting me share this with you- wish me luck!       

Sat. Aug. 13, 2011 Speedy's Challenge #68

This week on Speedy Challenge site, Carol challenged us to make a card with distressing.  I have a Distrezz-it-all, so I LOVE to add distressing!

This lovely image is from Mark's Finest Papers "Wisteria and Butterflies" stamp set. I stamped with Memnto Black Tuxedo ink and added lovely shades of lavender with my Copics.  The scalloped die behind the image is actually fun foam, which was a better color than any cs I had available.  It popped up the wisteria image nicely, and I thought it looked great with the distressed papers and card stock.

Glad you visited!.