Monday, October 31, 2011

Card Patterns again - take 139!

I really must like sketches - I think a sketch leaves me the never mind about the sketch, it's already done, just fill the thing in with STUFF...  I was pretty literal with my interpretation - not much interpreting done.... see mine... The map is from the Hero Arts Digital Design Kit, The Art of Style.  I just love this disk.  I printed it out in shades of gray, then sponged distress inks Wild honey, Broken China, And Frayed Burlap.  I sponged Wild Honey and Frayed Burlap on the base card stock also.  The Book Mark digital is from the same disk.  The book mark is sponged with Milled Lavender, Broken China, and Frayed Burlap.  I used a couple Copic markers to highlight the hair and a couple points on the lady's dress.  The sentiment is a Hero Arts stamp from Everyday Sayings, CL342. Black Enamel Accents is added and the map sprayed with a mixture of Perfect Pearls "blue" in water.  Nice and shimmery in real life.  

Not much creativity, but I do have a card now ready for my annual card give-away at work to my fellow workers.  I don't know, but there's something I really like about this card.  

Sunday, October 30, 2011

It's all about the texture!

I used the October Hero Arts (HA) challenge sketch ideas for this card.  Too late to enter HA's challenge, but I had to try this sketch and decided something done with my new Spellbinders dies would spire me.  I chose cream colored card stock and the smallest die which I then stamped with this flower HA stamp from the Asian Fram set (CL275).  I clear embossed them and found left-over blue card stock to start planting my flowers. I mounted the blue panel onto the same cream card stock I used for the die-cuts.   Looks like a quilt to me.  Added the twine and 5 large pearls for interest.  The last pearl is hiding right under the bow, bottom right.   When I finished, I thought, wow, looks like there's a lot of texture there... ta-da... Lily Pad Cards, here's my entry for your wonderful texture challenge.  The sponsor is Simon Says Stamp - wonderful goodies at stake here.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Candy Time at Di's...

Di's?   Di's Digi Downloads is having a great - no - tremendous candy give-away.  And you'll love her digital designs.  Stop on over to visit her blog and from there to her Challenge Blog.  Be Happy, go visiting!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Card Patterns Sketch 138

Sometimes you just know what you want to do.  Be sure to visit Card Patterns so you can enter too.
The circle just reminded me of a setting or rising sun.  I guess mine is rising because it's a vivid yellow!  Where I live, we go don't have snow in the winter, mostly rain, so I thought a sun was appropriate for us in California to tie our trees onto the car in the bright sun to bring it home.  Diamond Stickles in the windows and on the car front light.

Stamps and supplies:

Hero Arts House with Plant G5430
Hero Arts Car with Tree F5528
ribbon
Cuttlebug
Lacey Circles die-cut
Embossing folder
Copic markers
Diamond Stickles

Sunday, October 23, 2011

I like sketches!

Isn't this a clean and simply fabulous sketch?   Here's my simple take on it.
I cut quite a few of these die-cuts on my Cuttlebug and had to use one to frame this lovely lady from the Hero Arts Digital Design Kit, The Art of Style.  I'm afraid I didn't see she was a bit crooked when I glued her down... oh well, a little bit - she's too pretty to throw away.  I got that great Christmas ribbon at Michaels for 40% off last week.  Later:)

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Card Patterns 137 - YAY

I really enjoy working with Card Patterns sketches.  I have to toot my horn on this one - just love how it all came together.... Here is my loose interpretation of this sketch.

I have to admit, I don't like the bottom paper.  But I know I won't get this photographed again until after the challenge closes at Card Patterns.  It's too bad I didn't check the photo yesterday.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

(Lawn)scaping Challenge - woo hoo


I couldn't resist the current challenge on the (Lawn)scaping Challeng Blog - no, it's not a resist challenge, but a paper piecing challenge.  I wanted to make a Christmas card and this card went together so quickly, one thing followed another so easily.  I love this paper - Heidi Grace and used the back for the deer (dotted green - yes it is as dark a ruddy green as it looks).  But I like it.  Pearls were perfect for her antlers.  She needed a little scarf...
I found some wonderful ribbon I recently purchased at Michaels and the Hero Arts flowers are perfect.  I hope you like it too.  Sometimes a card makes itself... and this one did.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

ATC - Apples with Shimmer

SECOND POST OF THE DAY!

Wish I could tell you what manufacturer made this stamp.  It is distributed by Greenbrier International Inc.and I might have bought it at The Dollar Tree or some other discount stores for maybe a $1.00.  I painted the apples with Distress inks Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick, Shabby Shutters and Forest Moss.  A Copic marker was used on the stem.  The letter "A" had to be stamped on the front of the ATC for a trade on SwapBot.

To paint with Distress Inks, first take the stamp pad and press it onto a non-stick Craft Mat.  If you don't have a Craft Mat, use glass or your acrylic stamping block.  Spray mist with water.  Take a paint brush and paint!

I love the Tim Holtz spray misters - perfect light spray.  I have never used a better mister in my life.  After I glued my cut out painted apples to the background, I applied Glossy Accents to the apple with the letter "A" on it, let it dry, then sprayed everything with a mixture of Perfect Pearls (green) over the background, waited and then lightly misted the apples.  The sheen is just gorgeous.   The apples look quite realistic.

That's why I couldn't wait to post a second post today - well, tonight!

CCC October 2011

I loosely used the Card Patterns Sketch 136 by making four panels, using four different embossing folders.  I used two different distress inks, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, and Shabby Shutters to give some color as well as a left over strip of paper from a border punch.  I put this panel on top of a pale lime green note card and attached a white piece of cardstock, on which I stamped Friend from Hero Arts Friends (CL351).  Hero Arts flowers, some gems and lots of Diamond Stickles finish the card.  

Saturday, October 15, 2011

My Crafty Heart has CANDY!

Just thought I'd poke you to head on over to "My Crafty Heart" for Teresa's first Blog Candy event.  ONE HUNDRED followers now and I'm sure still growing.  A very talented card maker, you will see!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Yes, it is now my Favorite stamp!

You may have guessed it - the House stamp is now my favorite stamp.   Head on over to Lily Pad Cards to check out the video on how to make a Halloween house.  I adapted the window cutting and layering of one stamped image over the same image with the windows inked.   Glossy Accents highlights the windows.  The white paper and blue note card are both embossed (Cuttlebug has been busy) with that wonderful swirl design. I cut the white cardstock and layered it the way I wanted it to look on the card, then put it through the Cuttlebug.  I do love the way it turned out.  House is stamped on light tan cardstock and lightly sponged with Distress Ink Vintage Photo.  The trees are colored with Copic markers and stickles trim the trees.  White Enamel Accents dot the tree.  Some clear gems finish the night sky.  I cut the door panels for windows set in the doors.  Hope you like this.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Got a NEW stamp!!! Halloween is at Wee Memories

I must say I held off buying this house long enough, but with 40% off at Michaels, I couldn't resist.  Doesn't it look spooky?  It's not supposed to be a spook house,  It's the Hero Arts House with PlantG5430, a charming Victorian-style house.  I added a pumpkin where the plant stood and some fence and scary bats.   I thought this was a rather batty Halloween card... wonder what's happening in those rooms..... oooohhh. The bats are an OLD Hero Arts wood block stamp called Bat Cluster, A224.   The windows and yellow moon are covered with Glossy Accents...  Spellbinder Label 8 set is so darn useful  A little twine, gems and Copic markers finish this card.  I am entering this card in Wee Memories challenge of Halloween projects.  YAH!


NOW, I want to show you the house in a different setting, the chilly North!   I used this same stamp for the Hero Arts Monthly Challenge going on NOW.  One of the three choices was using non-holiday stamps to create a holiday card.   The house is a given, but I also used the Envelope Pattern, S5507, on the trees I cut out as triangles and on the torn paper for the partly snowy ground.  The Cuttlebug comes in handy for a nice swirly night sky.  I made my snowman with the smallest Spellbinders circle die-cut I had and then an even smaller punch I bought at the Dollar Tree.   Now isn't that an inviting house?  So unlike the one above.  hehehe


I'm not finished with my house decorating yet!  You know how sometimes you get some paper in a stack you know you will NEVER use?   Now I ask you about the rounded square die-cut.... who would have thought?   Some left-over striped card-stock and there you have it... oh, the doors didn't stamp well, so I made them into long door panels.  After I took the photo, I added door handles.   The house was stamped on left-over text paper.   See what versatility this house has?  And I didn't get it until Friday night.   I inked it up and started cutting yesterday... still have some more that are not colored in.  Love those good ol' Copic markers.  
Hope you like them. 

Saturday, October 1, 2011

October Die Cut Divas Challenge


I have an easy peasy challenge for you over at the Die Cut Divas - going to put it up now!


Two options for you.

Option 1.Make a gift tag - any event, e.g. Christmas, Halloween, Birthday......


OR

Option 2.
Make a tag card - simple and easy.



Remember:
1. Limit of 4 entries for each challenge per month
2. Random Drawing will be held the last day of the month
3. If a moderator is not hosting a challenge for the month, the moderator can enter the challenge
To add you picture to this thread, copy direct link of your card on flickr and paste it here adding these square brackets on both ends. Like so… [your link here].
OR

o Link a picture of your card, make sure you have the photo of your card up.  Click on "Share" above your card.  Then click on the code below in the box labeled Grab the HTML/BBCode, Copy and paste the code below:  This is the way I do it - very easy.


Have fun!


Here are some examples:  Halloween card shaped like a tag.  You can also make a card that has a pocket for a tag.
Prize for October:  Some die-cut butterflies - about 20, solid colored blank cards with envelopes and 10 cards with patterns, 10 8 X 7 solid colored cardstock & a package of Xmas brads.   I will add more to the prize as the month goes on.