Butterflies Galore

Have you ever thought of your die cut as if it were a stamp?  That's exactly what I did with the Butterfly Flourish, one of the new February releases from Die-Versions.  I  die cut the image twice so I could pop up a few of the butterflies and colored everything with Copic markers.  I was able to add dimension without pop dots by fussy cutting out the butterflies, folding the wings and adhering directly on top of the other butterflies.   The background was created by stamping three different Unity rubber stamps with Creative Inspiration paints for a shimmery effect.

You'll want to check out the Die-Versions Blog as well as the Die-Versions Facebook page for more great ideas and inspiration.

I'm entering this in the following challenges: Allsorts (things with wings); Pink Gem Challenges (dies and punches).

Dream

Wee Henrietta Bookworm is a digital image from Hambo Stamps that I had a bit of free time to play with today.  It's been a while since I was able to participate in the Hambo Hoedown (Hambo's weekly challenge), but this week was the week.  The challenge this week is paper piercing.  Not only did I paper pierce the four corners and the flower centers in the "wallpaper", I also paper pierced the sentiment "Dream".

Henrietta is colored with Copics and fussy cut out.  Creative Inspiration paints (gold, pink highlights) were added to the chair and her shoe strings.  The M-Bossibilities embossing folder (Mystic) reminded me of wallpaper, so I created a reading nook for her to read in her big, comfy chair.  The rug is a Lifestyles Crafts die and the wood floor is actually a piece of thin wood veneer that came in a cigar box.

Copics used: YG06, YG07, YG17, G48    B21, B23, B26, B60    BV00, BV02, BV04    E00, E01, E11, E13    E41, E43    R37, R39, RV99, FV1, FY1, FYR1, B32, B34, BG34, BG13, BV01, BV04, BV07    E08, E19, E29

A tisket, a tasket, a little yellow basket

I needed an Easter Basket to place a few Easter goodies in, so I decided to make one.  I found this great tutorial on how to weave your own here.  (One extra bit of info: you'll need 2 sheets of 12" x 12" of cardstock to complete the basket as I did.)  Each of the four sides are decorated using a variety of dies (from Cheery Lynn Designs, MFT, Memory Box, Spellbinders, Sizzix), rubber stamps (Unity, Cowtown, VLVS), Copic markers, Distress Ink, Viva Decor Pearl Pen, and Creative Inspiration paints.  

The first panel scene was created by combining Cheery Lynn Designs (Victorian Picket Fence, Mini Flourish One),  Memory Box (Butterfly Delights, Twiggy Tree, Leafy Canopy), MFT (Fresh Cut Grass), Sizzix (Branch, Cherry Blossom) dies.  All the flowers are painted with Creative Inspiration paints (Winter Frost) so they are very shimmery and the centers were added with a Pearl Pen.

The opposite side is decorated with rubber stamp (bunny - Cowtown Stamps; bees - Unity Stamps) images, which are colored with Copic markers and the bees wings were painted with Creative Inspirations paints (Pink Highlights, Sunshine).  In addition Pink Highlights was used on the bunny's ear, nose, and eye lid.

The other two sides of this woven basket are decorated with butterflies cut out with Cheery Lynn Designs (Exotic Butterflies Small) and highlighted with Creative Inspiration paints as well.  The little butterflies are from Memory Box (Butterfly Delights).

 The sentiment is from VLVS and was cut out with Spellbinders (Standard Tags). 












I'm entering my basket in the following challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs (basket); Great Impressions (flowers); Creative Inspiration paints (Easter); Oozak (anything goes).




Copics used: Y06, Y08, RV000, RV00, RV91, Y0000, Y00

Capt. Walen

Can't believe another month has just flown by.  But that means it's time for the Dude Time Doodles New Release Blog Hop!  There are some great new images this month and I'm sure you'll find one or two (or all) that you've just got to have.  All the images will be available at the store by 10am EST.

I've chosen Captain Walen and he was a dream to color.  I created a bookmark for my father-in-law as he loves to read.  (Too bad I didn't have a copy of Moby Dick laying around :-).)  He's colored with Copic markers, fussy cut, and his boots have been given a good coating of Glossy Accents to keep them waterproof.  The background was created using the Marbling Stains technique from the Tim Holtz Creative Chemistry online class (I think you can still register for it, if interested) and some rubber stamps from Blockheads Paper Arts and Stampers' Anonymous.  Creative Inspiration paints (pink highlights) was painted on the fish for an iridescent look (although it's hard to tell in the photo).

You should have arrived here at Anne-Made from the Dude Time Doodles challenge blog, but don't stress if you didn't.  The Dude Time Doodles blog hop is a circular hop - no beginning or end.  Just keep going until you have visited all of the Dude and Dudettes.  Be sure to leave a comment with each one of us as one of the design team members is the Mystery Host/Hostess and the winner will be chosen from that person's comments.  Now it's time to head on over to Michelle.  Here's a quick list of all the stops.

ANNE  (that's me)

MICHELLE

RUTH

CG

DAWN

SHARON

KEVIN

JUDY

TAMMY

DUDE TIME DOODLES

Copics used: B24, B26, B37, B39, Y13, Y15    BG10, BG11, BG13, BG15, BG23   C1, C4, C6    E33, E34, E39, E27    N4, N6, N8, N9    W3, W5, W7    EOO, E01, E13, E15    E97, E99, E09

Thank You

I created this CAS (clean and simple) Thank You card using the Cherry Blossom stencil by Dreamweaver Stencils, which after allowing the embossing paste to dry, I colored with Copic markers.  The sentiment is a rubber stamp from Inkadinkado and I stamped it using Creative Inspiration paints (sage).  I brushed the paint directly onto the rubber stamp to "ink" it up and stamped.  It worked great and is nice and shimmery.


I am entering this card in the following challenges: iCopic (flowers); Dreamweavers (CAS); Creative Inspiration paints (thanks).


Copics used: YR00, YR01, YR02    Y13, Y15, Y27    YR16, YR68, YR18    YG23, YG25, YG17    RV21

Hello Cupcake

The new challenge for Pattie's Creations is embossing.  It's you to you whether you choose to dry emboss or to heat emboss, but you must use a digi or rubber stamp.  (The rest of the rules are posted on the blog for more clarification).

I've chosen the cupcake image from Pattie's Esty store and printed it out on Cryogen text weight paper (it's a lighter weight than cardstock) and colored with Copic markers.  I love using the Cryogen papers because they are iridescent and have a wonderful shimmer to them.

For the background, I chose dry embossing.  First I cut out more Cryogen paper with Spellbinder's Label Ten (#5) and then used the Cathedral Lace Frame die from Cheery Lynn Designs to dry emboss the paper.  I've found that I can use the Cheery Lynn dies, along with their embossing pad, and emboss the design as well as cut it out.  It's sort of like two for the price of one.   I must tell you their embossing plates are fantastic too.  Since I wanted the detail to stand out more, I reached for my Paper Soft Colors (Lilac) and used a dauber to apply the color.  It gives it a nice subtle look to the dry embossing.  Next, I pop dotted the fussy cut image onto the background.  For the sentiment, I stamped the birthday message (The Rubber Cafe) directly onto the ribbon.  I also added some Creative Inspirations paints (light purple) to the mat and card base for added sparkle.

You have two weeks (until 2/9/12) to show us your embossing skills and upload them to the Pattie's Creations Design Challenge blog.  Be sure to check out all the other team members creations too.

I'm also entering this card in the Cheery Lynn Designs (dry embossing) challenge.

You & Me

(front of card with pop up doors closed)

I don't know about you, but I love trying new techniques to see whether or not I like them.  This is the first time I have ever tried stenciling and embossing paste and I had so much fun with it.  I didn't want to stop.  Putting on the embossing paste is just like icing a cake.  Who knew that 12 1/2 years of being a cake decorating instructor would come in handy when trying to make a card?  It's so easy.

For the front of the card, I stenciled the heart with the basic embossing paste and then fussy cut around the edges.  Next I decided I wanted to add color, so I got out my alcohol inks and went to town.  I liked it, but thought it needed more - so out came some Creative Inspirations paint (Pink Highlights) to give it a bit of sparkle.  Even after all this, the image kept "telling" me to cut out the negative spaces (I had been ignoring this through all the other experimenting).  Finally, that's what I did and loved the results.

(Front of card with pop up doors opened)

(inside of card)

While playing around, I also stenciled and embossed the You and Me multiple times onto red vellum and was going to make a background sheet.  I also added a touch of Metallic FX to the wording by dipping my stipple brush into the powder and using a circular motion to apply.

While deciding how to put together the card, I came across my Lifestyle Crafts pop up door die and knew I wanted to incorporate this too.  After maneuvering the pieces all around, I decided to cut the center out of the inside of the pop up door, place the vellum behind this so it would hint at the image on the inside, which is a rubber stamp from Inkadinkado and is cut out with Spellbinder's eyelet square.  I also painted the ribbon with the Creative Inspirations paint to coordinate with the heart and add some bling to the inside of the card.  I think I might give this to my husband for Valentine's Day, although it would be a good anniversary card too.

If you haven't tried stenciling and embossing paste, you definitely should.  The only negative I saw was that you have to be patient and let it dry. :-).  I think normal drying time is about an hour, but life happened and my experimenting sat on my desk for several weeks.  (At least I knew it was completely dry.)  This is definitely something I want to do more of, so expect to see it again soon.  Next time, I want to try metal leafing or glitter or inks....

I'm entering this card in the following challenges: Dreamweavers (Valentines), Crafty Creations (Valentines), and The Artistic Stamper (vintage).

Cheery Lights Mailbox

It's time for another fun challenge from Stamping with the Dragon.  Our sponsor is Meljen's Designs and the theme is Bling it Christmas.  We want you to show us your Christmas Bling.  The winner will receive four images from Meljen's store.

I chose the Cheery Lights Mailbox  to create a fun winter/Christmas card.  Since the theme is Bling it Christmas, I chose a slightly different way to show lots of bling:  I used Creative Inspirations paints and Twinkling H2O's.  Both have so much bling and sparkle in person and are so fun to use.  I also used a Snow Writer (thanks Tammy) for the snow and added bits of glitter to it while it was still wet.

Here's a close-up so you can see what I'm talking about.  If you follow my blog, you know that I describe Creative Inspirations paints as "bling in a bottle" and it's so true!  And Twinkling H2O's live up to their name - they really do twinkle.

The background was created by using a Cheery Lynn Designs die.  I've found that I can emboss with these dies by using my embossing plate and mat with my Grand Calibur machine.  How fun is that? Two for the price of one.  I don't know if this works with other die manufacturers, but luckily, these have not cut my embossing mat when I run them through.  (What a great discovery.)

I also wanted to remind everyone that Stamping with the Dragon is having a Design Team call.  You can read all about it HERE, plus you get a free Stamping Dragon Designs image to work with.  You have until 12/23/11 to submit your application.  Good luck to all (and don't be afraid to submit your work).

Now it's your turn to show us your Bling for Christmas.  You have two weeks to upload your creation to the Stamping with the Dragon blog.  Can't wait to see all your shiny  Christmas bling.

Boo-Hoo-licious Blog Hop

(outside)

(inside of easel card)

Welcome to the Boo-Hoo-Licious Blog Hop.  Hopefully, you came from Sandi, if not you can start here at Liz's blog.  She's our host of this fantastic blog hop.


For today's easel card, I used a digital image from Bonibleaux Designs and printed him out several times so I could add lots of dimension (as you can see in the photo on the left).  Eyegor is colored with Copic markers with touches of a Spica glitter pen for accents (melon).


The mat is cut with the Baroque die from Sizzix and all the papers are from Memory Box.  The sentiment is from Create with TLC and thought it would be perfect since Eyegor is perched on top of a pumpkin.

When you open the inside of the easel card, you find out why he's perched on top of the pumpkin!  This really cool spider web is a rubber stamp (manufacturer unknown) that was stamped with Creative Inspirations paint (Winter Frost).  It looks just like a translucent spider web in real life.  I really love the way this turned out - if I do say so myself :-). 

Now it's time for you to hop on over to see what Tahi has created for you.  In case you get lost, here is a list of all the blog hop participants. 

Liz 

Ashley 

Teresa 

Misty 

Deb 

Jamie 

Sandi 

Anne  (me)

Tahi  

Lina

Leslie  

Also, a special thanks to all the sponsors: 

Please check back with Liz's blog to see what the sponsors are donating and the Grand Prize.  In order to win, you must become a follower of everyone on the blog hop and leave a comment at each of their blogs.  Liz will use random.org to choose the winners. 

Good luck to everyone and Happy Halloween!

Copics used: YR04, YR07, YR09, Y17, Y18, Y38, G17, G29, W1    YG41, G02    E11, E13, E15    C5, C7, C9, B29    N0, N2, N4

Ahoy Matey Matt

Dude Time Doodles Inspiration Challenge is here and we're still thinking pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.   Here's a look at the inspiration board:

I decided Ahoy Matey Matt was the perfect spokesperson for this challenge and he's all dolled up in his pinkest finery to show his support.  Creative Inspirations paints were used to highlight his gold earring, silver and gold sword, and his silver mug.  Copic markers were used to color in the rest of the image.  Spellbinders Labels Two was used to cut out the image.  You can really see the shimmer from the CI paints on this photo:


You can also see the brads here well too.  As pink isn't one of my favorite colors, I don't have a lot of pink embellishments laying around.  So I decided to make my own.  I colored an ivory brad with a pink Copic marker and then embossed it with glittery embossing powder.  I think they turned out pretty good.  Don't you?

Now it's your turn to show us your pinks and browns or whatever else inspires you from the inspiration board.  Don't forget to visit the other design team members to see what inspired them; maybe it will inspire you too.  You have one week to upload your projects to the Dude Time Doodles challenge blog.

Eyegor

Eyegor is tickled pink that he was chosen as the spokes person from his area to remind everyone about Breast Cancer Awareness month.  He wants you to keep an eye out and look for any changes in your breasts.  There are other signs of breast cancer besides finding lumps.  You can read about some of the signs here.

Eyegor is a freebie at Dude Time Doodles this week.  Go grab him, color him up and enter the DTD Guest DT challenge.  It's a great way to showcase your projects and be a part of a fantastic team (at least for a month :-)  ). You have until next Tuesday, 10/18 to upload your Eyegors.  Please have some pink somewhere as we continue to honor Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Copic markers were used to color him and Creative Inspirations paint (Pink Highlights) was painted on his wings for an iridescent look.  You can catch a bit of glimmer in the close up.  I also pop dotted him above my handmade background for more dimension.  The background was created by first running it through a Sizzix embossing folder (Cracked), colored with Distress Stains (Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet, and Worn Lipstick), and as a final step, spritzed with a mixture of Perfect Pearl and water.  The sentiment was cut with a Spellbinder's die (Fancy Tags Three).  Viva Decor Pearl pen was added for dimension to the tag.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges: Mark's Finest Papers (no designer paper), Link Up For Pink, Simon Says Stamp and Show (things with wings), Cards for Men (make us laugh) and Lexi's Creations (pink).

Jiggy Goes to the Pool

It's still hot here - very hot!  What better way to cool down than splashing in a pool?  That's exactly what Jiggy thought too.  Jiggy Goes to the Pool is from Stamping Dragon Designs and he's colored with Copic markers and a little bit of Creative Inspirations Paints (Mellow Yellow) mixed with Stickles (Waterfall).  This mixture was painted on his wings and horns, giving them a greenish, blue tint with texture.

Since Jiggy loves the water, I made a pop up card using my Sizzix die (Card, Scallop Circle 3d Pop Up) just for him to splash around the water in.  I distressed the edges using a distressing tool.

You still have time to enter the Stamping with the Dragon challenge going on, so don't wait too much longer.

Copics used: G03, G05, G09    Y04, Y06, Y08    R24, R27, R46, FYR1    B32, B34, B37    E53

What's Cooking?

Something new and exciting is cooking over at AiFactory - we want to introduce you to our new site and all the great fun that you can find there.  So, welcome to our Blog Hop.  The hop runs from Friday September 2nd until Sunday September 4th.  The winners will be announced on the new site on September 6th.  

Our new site has challenges, tutorials, a glaaery, freebies, and more.  We are so excited to have you participate and join us!  Each DT member will showcase a different AIF image; one that is a favorite to work with.  Complete the blog hop and leave a comment on each of the DT blogs, plus the new site, for a chance to win one of 5 great prizes!  We have digital images, gift certificates to our store, and yummy scrapbooking products to give away!

Here is your blog hop order:

Petra

Ika

Shelley

Tammy

Anne (me)

Aifgraphics site

Make sure that you leave a comment on each DT blog as one of the 5 prizes will be a random winner from one of the blogs.  Even the DT members don't know which one it will be! Once you have completed the hop, leave us a comment on the new site letting us know what you think of the new site and anything you might like to see in the future, images, tutorials etc.

You should have arrived here from Tammy; if not, just check the hop order above to get you on the right track.  Now for a bit about my card.  I chose the Cooking Fun set for your viewing pleasure and I used the Smooshing technique and Creative Inspirations paints to get this effect.  If you don't know what the Smooshing technique is - it's quite simple.  I used three different paints (Sunshine, Sage, and Light Purple) and poured a little of each onto my non-stick craft mat.  Next, spritz the paint puddles with water and smoosh your paper around, getting it thoroughly saturated with color.  If you're happy with it, let it air dry or use a heat gun.  I had more paint on it than I wanted so I took a paper towel and dabbed off the excess (plus the paper towel left a really cool impression in the paint).  Unfortunately, the camera doesn't capture how shimmery and sparkly these paints are in person.  I added Liquid Pearls to the bottom scallops and colored the heart and the edges of the hot pot holders with a Copic marker (YG18).  Added a few gems, brads and ribbon and my card is all ready.

Your last stop on the blog hop is our new site; so head on over to AiFGraphics and don't forget to leave comments everywhere you stop.  You may be one of the lucky winners, but you can't win if you don't leave comments.

Good Luck to all!

Be sure to scroll down for my SDD challenge post for today.

Other ingredients:

papers (Graphic 45, Bazzill, Creative Memories, My Mind's Eye); brads; Rubber Cafe gems; ribbon