Birthday Rose

Today's card is so sparkly and full of glitter, that you might have to wear shades (especially if you're outside!).  This birthday card features three Die-Versions dies: Rose Whispers die (currently out of stock), "Happy" Sweet Wordlet, and "Birthday" Sweet Wordlet.  I love using Sweet Wordlets on my card fronts as they are the perfect size - not too big and not too small.  You can check out all of them here.

To create this card, I started out by die cutting the rose and my sentiment words from white cardstock and then colored all three pieces with Copic markers.  I also highlighted the leaves on the rose with Viva Inka Gold (Green Yellow).

A Lifestyles Craft die (Nesting Frames 7) was used to die cut some Sticker Paper.  First, I adhered the rose and the sentiment down, and then added some Rose Gold glitter by Sparkle N Sprinkle to the inside portion of the die cut for my petals.   The rest of the sticker paper was covered with Crystal glitter by PK Glitz.

I dry embossed the card front with a Tonic Studios embossing folder (Layered Leaves) and then rubbed more Viva Inka Gold on the raised surface and around the edges.

To finish the card, I added a strip of 1/2" Tear-ific Tape (double sided tape) to the top, covered it with more Rose Gold glitter and then tied a strip of ribbon on top.  The inside was left blank for a personal message.

Celebrations {Scrapy Land Challenge #18}

We always need a stash of birthday cards on hand, so the theme of the new Scrapy Land Challenge #18 is perfect.  It's Birthdays/Celebrations, plus use any brand of die that Scrapy Land sells.

The dies I used to create this birthday card are
- Die Versions Sweet Wordlets: Happy
- Die Versions Sweet Wordlets: Birthday
- Sizzix: Susan's Garden - Yarrow
- Sizzix: Susan's Garden - Pine Cones
- Spellbinders: Opulent Ovals

For my birthday card, I started out by applying Pan Pastels (Pearlescent Blue) to white cardstock, creating a mat.  Next, I created an oval in the center of another piece of white cardstock using Spellbinders Opulent Ovals dies.  I tore the edges of this layer before adhering it onto the blue layer.  My message was die cut using Die-Versions Sweet Wordlets: Happy and Birthday and placing them in the center of the oval.

The flowers and leaves were created using some Sizzix dies (Susan's Garden - Yarrow and Susan's Garden - Pine Cones).  A Viva Decor Pearl Pen gives the flower centers a bit of color and Pearlescent Green Pan Pastels gives the leaves a bit of shimmer.

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the team has created for you on the Scrapy Land Challenge Blog and upload your creation by May 31.  The winner will receive a $15 gift certificate to go shopping at Scrapy Land.

Patterned Pumpkin

The Pattered Pumpkin Whispers die from Die-Versions is one of the new mini-releases this month.  I've created a simple card by die cutting the image three times out of different patterned papers and paper piecing them together.  Viva Decor Pearl Pen (orange) was added to the flower centers, giving the image more dimension.

The card base is dry embossed with Spellbinders Garden Lattice embossing folder (love this large folder).  A bit of ribbon completes this quick and easy card.

Butterfly Swirls

Sparkle N Sprinkle has recently released several new stamp sets.  This one is from the new Swirls set.  Viva Decor's Paper Soft Colors (Sunny Yellow and Magenta) were blended together to create the background.  Next I stamped the image in Jet Black Staz On and slightly offset Cotton White on top of the black.   

The sentiment, which is part of the set is stamped on a die cut from Simon Says Stamps dies and Opaline embossing powder was added on top for a shimmery look.  The final bit of sparkle comes from adhering 1/2" Tear-ific tape around the edges and covering it with Raspberry Soda glitter.

Speedy Recovery

One of the things I loved about being a cake decorating instructor was making realistic flowers out of fondant and gum paste.  (I've been making my paper roses with some of my old Wilton tools used to create roses out of fondant for quite some time now.)  So when I saw the new Susan's Garden dies from Sizzix, I knew I had to try them out.  Well, I'm hooked.

The first flower I made was the Poppy and I paired it with a sentiment from Sparkle N Sprinkle's Just For You stamp set.  I used Pan Pastels to ink up the flower as well as the red mat (all the mats are Timeless Rectangles by Spellbinders).  The sentiment was stamped in VersaMark onto vellum and heat set with Japanese Lacquer embossing powder.   I added a bit of Viva Decor's Pearl Pen (Salmon) to the Poppy center and on either side of the sentiment.  I also die cut four extra leaves and adhered them behind the triple loop bow.  The ribbon is a very pale cream color and needed just a little something extra behind it.

Snow Fun

After a nice holiday break, Pattie's Creations is all ready for the new challenges for 2013.  The first one of the year is all about having fun in the snow.

 Pattieboop Winter Snowflakes, which can be found at Pattie's Etsy Store, is a perfect image depicting fun in the snow.  She's colored with Copics and I added Diamond Dust to her "fur" accessories and a Snow Writer was used to create the snow.  The sentiment is a rubber stamp that I heat embossed with Amethyst Spray embossing  powder by Sparkle N Sprinkle.

Be sure to visit the challenge blog to see what the rest of the team has created for you. You have two weeks to upload your idea of fun in the snow.   You'll also want to mark your calendars as Pattie's Etsy store will be having a 40% off sale January 18 - January 27.  Use the code ALLIE2 at checkout for the 40% off discount.  This gives you time to get a great image for this challenge as well as stock up for future challenges.

Lovebirds

Another of the January 2013 new release from Die-Versions is this wonderful image of Lovebirds.  Instead of a Valentine's card, I decided it would be a perfect image for someone getting married.  It would also be a great choice for an anniversary card.

After cutting the image, I went over the entire area with metallic Distress Stains.  If you've seen past posts, you know how I love to incorporate the negative pieces of the die when I can.  I used four of the hearts, inked them up with Distress Stains (Spun Sugar) and laid them flat against the card base.  I then pop dotted the dove image above the hearts for a dimensional look.  Add some pearls with a Viva Decor Pearl Pen, some lace (colored with the Distress Stains), and a dash of ribbon and you have a quick and easy card for the newlyweds.

Be My Valentine

Love is in the air.  Valentine's will be here before you know it, so you better get started on those cards for you cutie pie.  Die-Versions January 2013 release debuted yesterday and it's all about love.  I have several projects to show you throughout the month, not to mention CHA new releases too.

The Vase of Roses die is so versatile and can be used for lots of things besides Valentines.  (I'll have an example a bit later showing a totally different look using this die.)  This CAS card is super easy.  It basically made itself.  After cutting the image out of cryogen paper (for a bit of shimmer), I added my tag which is a heart punch that I stamped a heart image and my sentiment on.  I attached it to my vase with some sheer ribbon.  The background is embossed with the Spellbinders Diamonds and Stars Impressabilities plate.  I added pearls with my Viva Decor Pearl Pen to the four corners and it's ready to be given to my sweetie.  I also pop dotted a few of the rose blooms for added dimension.

Can't get much simpler than this.  Be sure to check out all the latest Die-Versions releases as well as our Facebook page and the Die-Versions blog.

Feel Better Soon

This was a really fun card to make as I have lots of glitter everywhere and I created my own flourish with a pearl pen.  The sentiment and image are from the Asian Leaf Robe stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.

SNS's Cerulean embossing powder was used to emboss the vase onto watercolor paper.  I then used Distress markers and a water brush to color the image.  Evening Glow glitter was used to add sparkle to the border dies from MFT as well as to the sentiment.  The seam binding ribbon was dyed to coordinate with Distress Stains.  For the flourish, I lightly penciled the design I had in my mind and then used a Viva Decor Pearl Pen to add the pearls on top of the pencil marks.  For the most part, the pencil marks were covered, but I just erased the ones that weren't after everything was dry.  The background paper is from Graphic 45.

You can find additional details about this card in the Sparkle N Sprinkle art gallery, here.  Here's a trick if you want to see all the works by any of the SNS designers: just type their name in the search box under Art Gallery.

Bubbles

The Digi Makeover Challenge team has a fun challenge for this week - it's to recycle something and put it on your card.  Be sure to let us know what it is.

Bubbles the Duck, a Paper Makeup Stamps digital image, was my inspiration for this challenge.  He's blowing homemade bubble solution and is embracing the magic (sentiment by Create with TLC).  I have a couple of items that were recycled on this card.  Can you figure out what they are?  The first one is a bottle cap that I converted to the sunshine and the other items are the clouds and the grass.  They were die cut (MFT dies) from a Starbuck's cardboard coffee sleeve.  I used a bit of gesso to paint the clouds and Paper Soft Color for the grass.

Now it's your turn to help the environment by recycling something on your project.  Remember, you need to use a digi image for our challenges.  You have one week to upload your creation to the Digi Makeover Challenge blog.  Be sure to see what the rest of the Digi Artists recycled while you're there.

Nap Time

TGIF!  and since it's Friday, that means it's time for a new challenge from Pattie's Creations.  Today's challenge is a Recipe.  Use 3 or more of the following: buttons, ribbon, flowers, glitter, charm, sentiment, gems or pearls.

I decided to use Nap Time from Pattie's Esty store for this challenge because the image is so darn cute!  Well, I was able to incorporate four of the ingredients into my card - glitter, ribbon, pearls, sentiment.  The image was printed three times and colored with Copic markers.  As you can see by the photo on the right, I have a base, then I cut out the kitten and the lip of the pot to pop dot, and finally I have pop dotted just the kitten.  Lots of fun dimension going on.

For the background behind the image, I stamped Hero Arts/Basic Grey rubber stamps (Picadilly collection) with glue and then sprinkled glitter all over.  Various Spellbinder dies were used to cut out the circle, the scalloped circle, and the scalloped oval.   I applied a Pearl Pen (Ice White) around each scallop for my pearls.  Originally, my base for the glittered background was white, but I didn't like it.  So I spritzed Walnut Ink (Terra Cotta) on it, which brought out the silver glitter better and coordinated with the terra cotta pot.  I also sprited the card base with this Walnut Ink as well.  My sentiment is a rubber stamp from Stampabilities that I've had for a while.  It says "a little Hello", but the hello is not as clear in the photo because I also highlighted that word with a glitter pen and it's reflecting.

Here is a close up of the image, and you can see the dimension a bit better as well. From head on, you really don't see three sets of paws (it was the upward angle of my shot).

Now it's your turn to stir up a scrumptious   project using at least three of the ingredients listed above.  You'll have two weeks to upload it to Pattie's Creations challenge blog.  Be sure to visit the rest of the team and see which ingredients they used for their projects.

Copics used: E07, E08, E09, E19, E77    R20, T3, T5, T6, N5, N6

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

Count Vladimir

Head right over to Dude Time Doodles and grab Count Vladimir (he's a freebie), create a project, and upload it for your chance to be a DTD guest dt.  You'll have one week to upload your project.

For my card, I chose to do the "out of the box" technique so it would look like he's really handing his sweetheart the bouquet of flowers (which are covered with a combination of Lemon and Sunshine Yellow Flower Soft and pop dotted).  Spellbinders die was used to die cut the Count out and Copic markers were used to color the image.  I also added touches of glitter here and there.

Be sure to check out what the other Dude and Dudettes did with the Count.  And don't forget, you only have one week to strut your stuff.

I'm also entering this card in the Crafty Cardmakers challenge (no added florals) and Blockheads' challenge (Out of the Box technique blog hop).

Christmas Birdies

(Please scroll down for the Dude Time Doodles New Release Blog Hop post)

Are you ready for the new AiFactory Challenge?  The theme for is Something Red and you have two weeks to upload your red creation to the AiF challenge blog.  For this challenge, each design team member used this Christmas Birdies image from AiFactory.

I colored this cutie with Copic markers and added a bit of Spica glitter pen to the holly leaves along with a few gems for my berries.  The image was completed using a Pearl Pen (gold) for the chain and Spellbinders (deckled mega rectangles, lg #4) to cut the image out.  I also finished the inside, so all that's left is add a quick message and sign it.  Yea - one more Christmas card completed.

This should be an easy challenge as red is a traditional Christmas color (but you don't have to make a Christmas card if you don't want to).  Also mark you calendars - the AiFactory challenges will be on Wednesdays going forward.  Therefore, you need to get your project uploaded by 12/13/11.  I can't wait to see what you make with my favorite color.

Cracked Glass - Lily

Today I wanted to share with you not only a beautiful and versatile image called Lily Sympathy from Stamping Dragons Designs, but also a tutorial on a technique I read about a couple years ago called the cracked glass technique.  (I'm sure if you Google it, you can come up with all kinds of You Tube videos as well.)  First off, let me say that I think this image is good for all occasions, not just as a sympathy card.  That's why I didn't put a sympathy sentiment with it.

The items you will need to complete this technique are a colored image of your choice, Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE), VersaMark, heat tool, and a freezer.

Here is my lily after coloring it with Copic markers.  The background was made by first applying a pink shade and then lightly going over that with a lavender shade.  I wanted parts of the pink to peak through.

After you've colored your image and you are happy with it, the next step is to apply the VersaMark to your image.  Make sure it is fully covered.  Next, begin applying the ultra thick embossing powder all over.  (You will eventually apply three layers of the UTEE.)  Once it's covered, you are ready to heat it.  The easiest way I found to do this was to place the UTEE covered image in a shoe box top.  That way, you can easily heat it up without having to touch any part of it.  Using your heat tool, thoroughly heat the embossing powder until it's completely melted.  While it's still HOT, pour a second coat of UTEE over it.  (I had left the image in my box top when I poured the second coat over it.  Once its completely covered again with UTEE, you can take the time to put the excess UTEE back in the container.)  Reheat again until it's completely melted. While it's still HOT, pour the UTEE over it for a third coat and heat completely.

 It should look like smooth glass at this point, as seen here in the photo on the left.  If you like this look, you can stop right here and  begin assembling your card.

To continue to the next step, just place this in your freezer for about five minutes.  Don't worry if it curls; you want it to and it should look something like the photo on the right.

Take it in your hands and start to straighten the image back out by bending it slightly backwards.  It will start to crack where you are bending it.  If it doesn't start cracking (you'll definitely hear it popping), just put it back in the freezer for a couple more minutes.  It should resemble this:

If you don't like the way it turned out, don't worry.  You can fix it by reheating it and melting the UTEE all over again.  Put it back in the freezer and try again.  One final step you could do, but I chose not to, is to slightly distress it by using a sponge dauber and a vintage brown ink to highlight the cracks more.  Rub the excess ink off with a cloth.  Again, I chose not to do this because I was happy with the results without the distressing.  Here is a close up of the assembled card.

For my assembly, first I mounted my image on black cardstock.  I created my background using a Cheery Lynn Designs lattice frame die and Core'dinations papers, which I sanded to bring out the peach.  The purple strip along the side was created by blending in two different shades of Paper Soft Colors to bring out the lavender in my image.  The scalloped border along the right side was created using the Grand 12" scallop Border by Spellbinders.  The peach base is the other side of the Core'dinations paper.

I also want to let you know you still have time to enter the current challenge (the theme is "food for thoughts") going on at Stamping with the Dragon.  You have until next Thursday to upload your project.  Don't forget to check out what the rest of the design team has created for you this week (you can find their blog addresses on my side bar).

I hope you like this technique and will try it soon.  I would love to hear back from you, letting me know what you think of it.

Copics used: YG11, YG13, YG13    YR0000, YR000, YR00, FY1    R27, R29, Y08, RV000, RV00, BV000, BV00

Cake Makes Everything Better!

Happy Friday everyone (OK, Thursday evening since the dt posts challenges to go live England time).  So that means it's time for a new challenge at Stamping with the Dragon.  The theme of our challenge is FOOD and our sponsor is none other than Bugaboo Stamps.

For my card today, I tried out Paper Soft Colors by Viva Decor to create my background as well as inking in the sentiment.  I must say, they blend really well - it just took a little longer than Distress Inks to get the look I was going for.  Just worked with it a tad bit longer is all, but I do like them.  They are oil based, so the instructions say to let dry for about 30 minutes and you do need a designated sponge with each color.  I tried a few different types of sponges and think I like a sponge dauber the best (although I haven't tried the sponge recommended by Viva Decor since I wanted to see if I could use what I already have on hand before buying something else).  I feel that I have better control over it than when I used a cosmetic sponge or the Ranger Ink Blending Tool and foam pads.

A couple quick details about the card: the image is colored with Copic markers; the sentiment is cut with Scrap-Mart's Label 1 die (#4) and is from Create with TLC; the left edge was cut with Memory Box's Sanibel Border.  On a side note, the purples in the image match the background really well, but turned out bluish in the photos.

You'll have until 11/24/11 to upload your FOOD creation to the Stamping with the Dragon Challenge Blog.  Can't wait to see what types of food you come up with.  While visiting the challenge blog, be sure to check out all the other great creations we made for you - they are a real treat.

Copics used: E00, E01, E11    Y11, Y00, R01, R81, R27    FV2    Y35, Y38    C0, C1, C2    BV13