A New Card, Die Set Storage Idea, & Google's New "I'm Not A Robot"

IO QUILT VASE, CAC DOTTED ARGYLE, & GREETINGS DIE SET

I need to schedule time to do what I love best since Spring is here.  For this card I chose another Tara Caldwell image.  She has only been with IO a short time.  I have fallen in love with her designs.  Here is how I used her Quilt Vase design:

DETAILS:

1. Stamped the image with Timber Brown ink 1 time, and then the flowers 3 times on white cardstock and painted with Twinkling H2Os.  Cut around the main image and embossed from the back with a stylus.
2. Used largest Spellbinders Labels 40 die twice with white cardstock to get the front and back side of the card, mounted on red cardstock.  (Mounted using ATG tape in the middle of the die cut and then used needle nose bottle with Glossy Accents (GA) to tack down the lace area in places.
3. Stamped Argyle background with Blazing Red.  Used the center of the die as a template to get the portion I wanted for a tablecloth look, traced with a pencil, and cut out.
4. Mounted tablecloth with 1/4" ATG tape, mounted the vase with ATG along the bottom of the vase and 3D pop-dots from middle to top.
5. Cut out flowers and leaves from second image, embossed from the back and used GA lines on matched flower/leaf, let dry just a little and mounted flower or leaf with a tad of glue dot at one end.  Highlighted areas with Vivas, Wink of Stellas, and Stickles.  Mounted gold sequins and heart stick pin with gold bow.
6. Die cut the "Hello" using the red and gold mirror cardstock.
7. Trimmed the other 2 flower images and mounted as shown with tape and GA.
8. Below is the back of the card with one of the flower images at the bottom.
9. The third image was mounted on the envelope as shown above.  (The cardstock has been peeled to make the image thinner in case I mail it.  If mailed I will also place a clear piece of packing tape over the corner area with at least .25" overlap to the back side.  That way it slides right through the mail postage reader.)

DIE SET STORAGE SUGGESTION

I store my die sets in plastic ziploc bags.  I hate all the dies collecting on the bottom as it's to sort them to find the one I want.  It's hard enough reading them 'backwards'.  ;-) Another bad habit I have is saving anything that looks like I can use it for my cards, etc.  I save the magnetic strips that have come on the telephone directories, etc.  Below is what I did:

1. Taped two of the magnetic squares together using duct tape.
2. It was too big for the back of the IO cover, so I added ATG to the back of the magnetic strip(s) and mounted from the top and center on the IO cover back.
3. Trimmed the bottom of the magnetic strip to match up with the IO cover bottom.Mounted the dies.  Love it!!!

 GOOGLE UPDATED
"PROVE YOU'RE NOT A ROBOT"

Many of you probably already know about this, because that's how I found out.  Some of us chose to use the 'Prove You're Not A Robot" feature and many of us hated it as commenters because of the time taken to figure out what the image said, like the one below which is easy compared to most.

OUT WITH THE OLD

One of the first things I noticed when blog hopping again was the NEW "I'm not a robot", shown below. Most of the time I didn't have to read a caption anymore (unless the Show Word Verification is checked in your Settings-Posts and Comments area).  Even then it was just three or four letters that were easy to read.  ***Below is the best part.

IN WITH THE NEW

With the NEW as Blog Moderator:

1. "I'm not a robot" is automatic.
2. They have also given us a choice of continuing to use the Word Verification or not.  It too has been improved with simple to read short letters.  I have mine turned off because I tested having it on or off and I still didn't get those pesky ads anymore, even on old posts. (If any of you have questions, just email me).

Well that's it for this post and I can guarantee you the next one will be shorter!!!  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.  Thanks for all of your welcome backs too!!!  Big hugs.

 Shirley

 SUPPLIES:

Christmas Wreath Two-Sided Card

Just a reminder to vote in my poles at the left if you haven't already.  You can keep up with the results too if you like by pressing on the view button.

I have another Christmas card so I don't get caught like last year, with not enough cards for all.  I still really liking making the card with just a front and a back (another green idea) when I can.  The photos make the red look more true red.  Mine is actually a deep pink red.  A very easy card as you will see:

IMAGE AND CARD FRONT:

1. Stamped wreath on white cardstock 3 times (once for base, once for dimensions, and once for the back of card and envy.
2. Painted all of first image, parts of second image for dimension, and trimmed parts for back and envy with twinks.
3. Trimmed and embossed Holly leaves, bells, and bow from back and mounted with 3D pop-dot REMNANTS. (Go green and don't waste the left-over of pop dots.  They work even better than the dots/squares sometimes, if not just the same.)
4. Put white cardstock through Cuttlebug with Sizzix Dots folder, painted the flourish with Twink H20 Solar Gold.
5. Used Bazzill Pirouette taped to Merry Christmas portion of Merry Tree die.

ASSEMBLY AND EMBELLISHMENT:

1. The Bazzill base is 6.25"x4.5".  The white embossed cardstock (5.5"x4.25) was mounted in the middle.  A plain white piece was mounted on the back.
2. The wreath was mounted and then Viva Crystal Clear was added to the bells and Mistletoe.  When dry Stickles Diamonds was added lightly to the Mistletoe berries.  The same treatment was done on the backside of the card with the holly, bells, Mistletoe, and the bow. Spica AtYou pens were used to high light the leaves and bow edges where needed.
3. Two strips of the Bazzill was added to the envy and then the Holly, Mistletoe, etc. like on the back of the envy.
4. The hearts were added with a dot of GA and then hearts added to them with a Quikstik.

That's it for today and thanks so much for stopping by to look and share.

Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Flowers on Crackle Stenciled Background

You can barely see the stitches on the flowers and leaves, but they are there!!  I would never have tried the stenciled BG with modeling paste if I hadn't taken the Online Stencil Class.  Below is how I created the whole card:

IMAGES, STENCIL, AND DIE CUTS:

1. Stamped Stitched Flowers 3 times with Golden Glitz ink on white cardstock; painted two completely and one just the flowers with Twinkling H2O's; embossed the leaves and flowers from the back.
2. Used the Crackled stencil with gold modeling creme applied with a palette knife to white Laid cardstock.  It dries relatively quick.  I left it for 3 or 4 hours.
3. Die cut two 'hugs' on white cardstock; used leftover negatives from die cuts for exclamation mark; painted one 'hugs'  and exclamation mark with twinks.
4. Die cut Romantic Rectangles Two large, smallest, and next to smallest from white cardstock.
5. Cut two BGs (one for front and one for inside middle) from Crackle BG.
6. Die cut for inside top and bottom edges and envy using largest die with Crackle BG.

ASSEMBLY:

1. Mounted Crackle BG to largest die cut; mounted first flowers with glue dots and leaves with 3D pop-dots; mounted second layer of flowers with glue dots in centers and 3D pop dots on petals; added Viva Decor Ice Pearl Pen to flower centers.
2. CARD FOLD:  Used a pencil to mark edges of largest die cut near die center; measure twice the length; cut and folded and applied to the back of the Card front.  It still stands just fine by itself.
3. Added die cut edges to inside top and bottom; applied Crackle BG to next to smallest die cut; mounted to inside top center; added bow to bottom.
4. Watercolored edges of center embossed area on smallest die cut; double decked with painted 'hugs' on top and mounted to smallest die cut; mounted that to front lower right; applied sequins with GA here and there.
5. Divided pieces of die cut edges and mounted to lower left of envy.

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by to look and share!!

  Shirley
 SUPPLIES:

Online Watercolor Class - Victorian Bird

Don't forget to take part in my polls to the left.  This time they won't disappear!!   BTW, I am so sorry I am late in getting to some of you.  It's those comments on separate pages and I can't remember the card!!  ;-)  Just teasing.  I have over a hundred of your wonderful art blogs I am following and I can't not read them.  Whaaaah!!

Truth be told I did an card a long long time ago with this same image and coloring.  I had more than one image and what I was thinking I don't have a clue!!  Since I have started the Online Watercolor Class, I am trying to use anything I have that needs to be used!  The first and second days of the class are dedicated to backgrounds.  Below is how I did my images to use with the background I created.

IMAGES:

1. The image, Victorian Bird, by Impression-Obsession, was stamped with a Stazon Jet Black ink.
2. The image was painted with Twinkling H2O's and Black Diamond glitter glue was used for the legs, beak, and a little of the heart 'wing'.  Glossy Accents was added to the eye. Mark Richards Crystal Stickers 2mm Black Onyx Rhinestones were added to the wings as shown. If you click on the image they are easier to see.
3. A Royal 3/8" Soft Grip SG 730 was used for the grass.  Below is a picture of the brush.
4. The "hello." is from Impression Obsessions Social Greetings 2 clear stamp set was stamped with Luxe Tuxedo Black and embossed with clear embossing powder.

The background was created using Glossy white cardstock, Twinkling H2O's, and Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Honeycomb.  Remember how I did the back of the cardfront like I would normally do the inside.  I did it on this one too.  I did the same technique only on the corners and on white cardstock.  I also did the corner of the envy the same way.  See below.

I kind of like it.  I am off to do another card.  This time it is a CAS with some watercolor techniques too.  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Sweet Treats For You

IMPRESSION OBSESSION -  SWEET TREATS

IMAGES :

1. Stamped  image with Golden Glitz three times, painted with twinks, trimmed around base image, embossed from backside with stylus.
2. Trimmed around needed flowers, etc. on 2nd image as needed to mount on first image.
3. Trimmed around cupcake for inside and fondant cake for envy.

CARDFRONT AND ENVY:

1. Card fold - Used Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles for four die cuts for card as described in Hinged Filigree Card Type 2 Tutorial.  
2. Cardfront Background - Used the die as a stencil for the cardfront background with some leftover DP; used Tim Holtz Bubble stencil with a dauber and Brilliance ink over the lower right corner of the DP; mounted Sweet Treat image; mounted flowers, cupcake, butterfly cookie, whipped cream with chocolate bits, fondant cake, and bow on cake in window as shown; added sequins on stenciled circles.
3. Envy - Mounted one leftover corner of DP from stenciled BG to envy; used Pentel eraser refill for dots with Golden Glitz; added fondant cake (separated cardstock to make it thinner); added sequins; mounted (separated) Sweet Treats sign.

INSIDE CARD:

1. The top and bottom trims were done using the bottom of the largest die.  The inside die cut behind the cupcake was done using a Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles die; sequins were applied and the cupcake was added to the die cut.

EMBELLISHMENTS:

1. The white cake and cookie frosting is Golden Iridescent Pearl Finish; the Pussy Willows, whipped cream, and candy dots on fondant and cake are Viva Decor Ice White Pearl Pen.
2. The flower centers are Stickles Orange and Yellow Glitter Glue and Viva Decor Bronze Glitter Glue (which is also the edge of the butterfly, on cookie, wings.
3. The chocolate bits on the whipped cream are Viva Decor Bronze Pearl Pen.
4. The bow is May Arts ribbon.

That's enough for everyone, I am sure!!  ;-)   I am off to try and learn how to do things simpler.  ;-)  Thanks for stopping by to look and share!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

My First Almost Christmas Card!

PARTRIDGE IN PEAR TREE

I have had this image forever and to prove it, it is from Rubber Stampede and I could not find it for sale anywhere but on EBay.

IMAGE:

1. Stamped on white cardstock with Brilliance Galaxy Gold and heat gun used to dry the ink.   The pears were stamped again and the leaves too.  They were all fussy cut.  They were painted with twinks, and all but leaves turned over and embossed from the back with stylus.  Added Glossy Accents to bird's eye.  After it was mounted I brushed on Wink of Stella Brown. It looks great next to the Galaxy Gold.

BACKGROUND:

1. (To the best of my recollection) - This BG was done eons ago, just like the image!!  Stamped a fern here and there on natural cardstock with VersaMark, covered with Clear EP, and embossed.
2. Spayed Radiant Rain Fern here and there, sprayed with Radian Rain Solar Gold, sprayed with a little water to mix a little and then laid aside to dry.  
3. Heated with heat gun to dissolve the Clear EP.  BE careful not to burn if you try this.  Laid aside for years. ;-)
4. Added the green trellis leave border stamp with Memento Bamboo Leaves and painted leaves with twinks.

CARD FRONT AND FOLD PREP:

1. Two die cuts from white cardstock and 2 die cuts from white text paper.  The text cuts are to line the backs of the cardstock die cuts so it looks more finished.  The nerd in me.... ;-).  They were put together like it describes in my tutorial HERE   Cut two smaller die cuts from white cardstock for inside top decor.
2. Used the largest die as stencil on the prepared BG and mounted to cardstock side; added ribbon across the front and taped in the middle on back.

ASSEMBLED:

1. Mounted bird in middle of front.  Mounted pears on back for inside top.
2. Used largest die inside to trace pieces of BG for inside top and bottom as shown.
3. Added a corner of BG to envy (Peeled top layer of cardstock so it is thin); peeled of top layer of 2 leaves and added to the corner of envy.
4. Embellishments added are:  Viva Ice White Pearl was added to dots on BG pieces and to make a heart on envy; baby half hearts were added to front and inside card as shown.

If nothing else it's a loving start toward Christmas!!!  Thanks for stopping by to look and share!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

A Belle Flower Hello!

BIG BOLD BACKGROUND BELLE FLOWERS

Okay, so the minute I see a background stamp with distinct image, I often think how I can also use them for the inside and envelope.  I am sure because when I was growing up the insides of cards always matched the outside and sometimes even the envelope too.  So when I saw Chocolate Baroque's Belle Flowers that's exactly what I pictured.

IMAGE:

1. Stamped Big Bold Background Belle Flowers with Golden Glitz on white cardstock twice.  Once for cardfront and once for inside and envy.  Painted with Twinkling H2O's.  Used AtYou Lipstick around the pink flower.  Embellished with Viva pens and Stickles glitter glues shown in supplies below.
2. Trimmed BG to 5 1/8" square and Mounted on piece 5.25" piece of Phoenix cardstock.

DIE CUTS:

1. Die Cut the 'hello' sentiment using white cardstock.
2. Die cut sentiment tag from Polka Dots long narrow die using the red Phoenix cardstock.
3. Mounted 'hello' on red die cut.  Ran gold cord through holes on red die cut and attached to back.  Tied bow.  I didn't want to cover any of that wonderful Belle Flower background!!
4. Added Maya Road white pearl pen and Viva Bronze glitter pen dots too.

INSIDE AND ENVY:

1. Fussy cut pieces of the second background for inside and envy as shown.
2. Used X-acto knife to separate cardstock so I could peel the images for the envelope and inside.
3. Attached trim form the largest Polka Dot die to top and bottom as shown.  Attached images to inside and envy with Glossy Accents from my needle-nosed bottle.
4. Hints about bottle.  (I keep the bottle on its side so the needle part hardly ever gets clogged.  When it does I use long fine bead needle to unclog it.)  *Hint - When I flattened flowers sometimes the GA gets on the cardstock.  It comes right off any paper or cardstock with the non-abrasive Pentel eraser shown in my supplies.

That's it for today.  I am off to get my box for the winner of the blog candy ready to mail and to address the card and color page images ready to mail to Lauryn!  I want to thank all of you for your contributions of cards and/or donations.  Big hugs!  Thanks for stopping by to look and share!!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Blazzing Poppies Mixed Media Attempt

Blazing Poppies

I fell in love with this image the minute I saw it. Believe it or not, the hexagons are part of what attracted me, because so many if you are using them in your designs.

Main Image:

1. Stamped the image 3 times with Golden Glitz on white CS.  If I had to do it again I think two would have been with a dark brown ink.  Painted with all 3 with twinks for the areas I wanted.  Trimmed around the first one as shown, shabbied and sponged the edges.  The first one is the base.  Cut out the other images, mounted with 3D pop dots.  embossed from the back and mounted on image.
2. After mounting on the Card Front the flower centers were embellished with Viva Decor Pen Bronze, Yellow Quartz, and Peridot glitter liners.

Card Front:

1. Stamped French Script on natural CS with Memento Desert Sand.  Cut a 5.75"X4.0", ruffed and sponged the edges with Desert Sand, mounted on white CS, used Perfect layers for 1/8" around edge, paper pierced the edge, and mounted the image on it.
2. Used Hexagon stencil for the edges with pencil, painted with gold acrylic ink and used Lime glitter pen for dots.  
3. Used MFT Distressed Circles and Brilliance Pearlescent Beige ink as shown.  Used Flourishes So Distressed small splats with Creative Medium Shimmer on top of the Distressed Circles Areas. (Believe me when I say the splats look like mixed shimmer medium and to me the whole card looks a little distressed!!!  LOL

Inside and Envy:

1. Used the same products for the inside except I didn't use pop dots, the left side is smaller image than the front, the right side is natural text paper instead of CS.  I noticed when I did the paper piercing on the front (after mounting to the card fold) it showed on the inside too.  I kind of like it!
2. The corner on the envy uses natural text paper and the image is hand drawn.

Hope to have another card soon and love seeing all of your art work!!  Many of you have really inspired me to step out of my comfort zone!!......a little anyway.  :-)  If you have any questions, please email me.  It's in the sidebar upper left.  Thanks for stopping by to look and share!!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Something Old, Something New, Nothing Borrowed Or Blue!

What can I say except I have been looking at a lot of stamps!!!  Everything on my card is old except the stamp image, Huge Cake & Candles (without the candles),  and I do mean huge. What really caught my eye was the way it looked like stacked Boston Creme Pie with fondant for the tops and around the bottom!!  I am not doing sentiments on my cards unless I really need to anymore.  That way I can use them for any occasion.

Images:

1. Stamped Huge Cake twice and the top twice on CS with Golden Glitz, painted with twinks, embellished with Viva Decor Pens and Stickles glitter.  Added a bow with ribbon from Michaels $1 bin!  Added Glossy Accents to the daisies with Needle nosed bottle.
2. Trimmed around one whole image.  Trimmed around the top and second cake on the second, and the plate on the bottom. Painted with twinks, embellished with Viva Decor Pins and Stickles glitter.  Added Glossy Accents to the daisies with Needle nosed bottle.
3. Trimmed around daisies on the two cake top images.  Added Stickles glitter and then Glossy Accents to the daisies with Needle nosed bottle.

Background, Card Front, and Envy:

1. Stamped CAC Dots on white CS with Golden Glitz.  This was all leftovers from a previous card BG.
2. Used Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight largest die for top and bottom layer of card.  Cut 2 using white cardstock and 2 using white 80lb. text paper for the back of both CS die cuts.  Attached using GA.  Used my Score-It board to score just at the bottom of the trim, like I did it for this card HERE.  Joined both side together at top above score with GA.
3. Used largest die for stencil on CAC Dots background for front and inside top. Cut a second die cut to mount the cake on front over CAC Dots.  Used left-over and die to get stenciled bottom piece.  Mounted second cake on top and created bottom dots trim with daisies on the bottom.  Took the two larger left-over daisies from the bottom-top layer for the middle daisy on each for envy and bottom trims.
4. Used the left-over die cut edge from the inside bottom for the corner of my envy.  (I actually peeled the top layer of the cardstock off to create a thinner envy corner, and then I added the daisies and some small flourishes with twinks Solar Gold.

Thanks for stopping by to look and share!!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Mackintosh Beauty

MACKINTOSH BEAUTY

I fell in love with the Mackintosh stamps sold by Chocolate Baroque the minute I saw them at Paper Creations by Shirley and Miranda's 'Mir'acle Art In Inspiration. I found you can order them in the US HERE. She didn't have all I wanted, so I shopped at Chocolate Baroque in the UK. The shipping was quick and here I am with my first card!  I chose to start with Mackintosh Beauty.

IMAGES:

1. Stamped lady on white cardstock and 2 of the roses on stems with Golden Glitz twice (once on white cardstock and once on a white leftover envelope for the new envelope!  ;-)  Embossed main image on back with stylus Painted with twinks and highlighted areas with Spica Atyou Pink pen, Brown Fine Sharpie pen and Golden Rod glitter glue.  The roses on stems were painted with twinks and cut out and highlighted too.

CARD FRONT BACKGROUND:

1. Stamped CAC Dotted Argyle with Memento Bamboo Leaves on white cardstock.
2. Used largest Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles for white cardstock die cut and stencil for Dotted Argyle as shown.  I used the Palette knife on the right, shown below, to release the die by placing it under the inside rim and gently moving it toward the outside of the die.  It works like a charm. Mounted to a piece of Green cardstock.

STENCILED AREAS:

1. I trimmed the Fancy Frames template as shown with the black lines along the corner areas.  It made it easier for me to tape to the corners of my cardstock.  I chose to stencil the pink area on shown on the stencil.
2. Taped it to one corner of the stenciled Dotted Argyle.
3. Used my Palette Knife to put a bit of Viva Pearl Modeling Cream in an empty H2O jar. Matched Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid ink with my Twinkling H2O color Cherry Sorbet. Put 3 drops in the cream and stirred until mixed.
4. Used removable tape for stencil on each corner.  Used the pointed palette knife on left below to detail stencil where shown above.

LEFT - MODELING CREAM/RIGHT - LOOSEN DIE CUT

INSIDE CARD

INSIDE CARD AND ENVY:

1. LEFT SIDE:  Die cut on the left is same as front but Dotted Swiss cardstock, followed by next die cut of Dotted Argyle, followed by next die cut in white cardstock.  Used the left The roses on stems on cardstock was mounted as shown.  Stenciled flourish again on corner of die cut. Used Golden Rod glitter to embellish.
2. RIGHT SIDE:  Stenciled 4 corners on right-hand side.  Added left overs from largest die cut for edges and trimmed as shown.  Embellished with glitter glue.
3. ENVELOPE:  Added a piece of left-over Dotted Argyle to corner of envy, added roses on stems, and embellished with glitter glue.

That's all for today.  Back soon and thanks for stopping by to look and share!!

 Shirley

 SUPPLIES:

Cut-Out Sparkle

A quick card with a bit of whimsy using the Cutout Christmas Tree Die.  I tried a new way of taking the photo to see if I could pick up more sparkle and I think it worked.  I laid the cardfront down flat and took the photo from above, just as I do supplies, etc.  The pearls don't show as white as they truly are though.

CARDFRONT BASE:

1. Cut cardfront dark green background of 5.25"X5.25", and white dotted swiss at 5"X5" and mounted.
2. Stamped CAC Mesh Circles with VersaMark on white cardstock, applied stamp and bond powder, heated to a gloss, applied glitter, and heat embossed to seal; trimmed to 5"X5".
3. Added ribbon to green CS
4. Die cut Mesh Circles BG with Spellbinders Scalloped Labels One die and mounted frame to cardfront with 3D pop dots..  Saved die cut for inside.

CHRISTMAS TREE CUT-OUT:

1. Cut clear acetate 3"X4".
2. Die cut Christmas Tree Cutout and mounted on acetate, trimmed around with scissors.
3. Added yellow and clear sparkle glitter glue to light and ornament areas.  Next time I would like to try Glossy Accents and glitter for better dimension.
4. Added Viva Ice White Pearl to the trim area.
5. Added the flourish to the base and mounted in open area with 3D pop darts.
6. Added ribbon as shown.

INSIDE LEFT:

1. Mounted dark green cardstock on die cut left from the cardfront area.
2. Stamped Peace Hope Joy and Love with Olive Grove on white cardstock die cut and
3. Mounted inside left at a slant.  Attached a piece of the dark green cardstock.
4. Added Glossy Accents, white pearl heart, and glitter to bottom of sentiment.

Hope you enjoyed my project.  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Phoebe Butterfly

Hi everybody! It feels wonderful to be back and with a card to show you.  The little lady above was designed for Impression Obsession by Claudia Tenorio-Pearl.  She is called Phoebe and can be purchased in Red Rubber or as a Clear Set with sentiments.  I have the Clear Set.  She is intended to be a Ladybug, but I have chosen to use her as a Butterfly 'Fairy'.  Believe it or not, there are pink butterflies.  I fell in love with her after seeing Julie Koerber's Ladybug HERE.

IMAGE:
I stamped her with Brilliance Galaxy Gold and embossed with a heat gun to dry the ink.  She was painted with Twinkling H20's.  Her eyes and nose were accented with a Script fineline Brown pen.

I chose the largest Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Three die and

• Used it as a template to determine my 'out of the box' area (leg) and traced with a pencil
• Cut around her leg as shown, went up past the edge a little on each side of her leg
• Laid the leg over the edge of the die (so it wouldn't be cut) and put it through the Cuttlebug
• Turned it over with die in place, used a stylus to emphasize the embossed areas from the back
• With die was still in place sponged the edges with Brilliance Coffee Bean (after stamping off to make sure it was not too dark) as shown.  
• Removed the die and inked the outside edges with a Memento Cocoa Brown marker 
• Outlined the areas where I wanted to emboss with a fine stylus on the front on a Pergamano mat (when you turn it over it looks like a map)
• Turned her over again and embossed the areas I wanted raised from behind with a bigger stylus
• Stamped another wing with Brilliance Galaxy Gold, dried with heat gun, and cut out. edged with the Galaxy Gold, turned over and embossed with a larger stylus, mounted it with 3D pop dots as shown.

Embellishments added:

• Viva Decor Bronze Pearl for her 'butterfly bumps' and antennae
• Glossy Accents and Deco Art Glamour Dust for her 'fairy spots' on her wings, and
• Viva Decor Yellow Quartz for the Daisy centers

I used parts of sentiments from both Phoebe and Kate Clear Stamp Sets to get the wording I wanted.  Here is how I did it:

• From Phoebe, "Sending ladybug hugs", inked bold words
• From Kate, "Birthday kisses and butterfly wishes", inked bold word
• Gave me "Sending butterfly hugs".  It was inked with a Memento Cocoa Brown marker
• Put it through the Cuttlebug with the next to smallest of the same die set
• Sponged the edges the same as the large die cut and then the outside edges too
• Added some Glossy Accents with Glamour Dust and Viva Decor Bronze around that in the corner attached with as glue dot.

 BACKGROUND:

• Mounted Sketchy Flowers on Mega Mount
• Inked with Brilliance Coffee Bean and stamped on white cardstock.
• Mounted image near one corner of  stamped background with 5/8 of an inch border on top and left side
• Used Magic Matter 1/2" disk around entire die cut with image and trimmed
• Used Magic Matter 1/8" disk around stamped background mounted on Bronze metallic text weight paper and trimmed
• Mounted image with die cut on top
• mounted May Arts ribbon as shown
• Folded 8.5X11" white cardstock in half
• Mounted image along fold and trimmed around for card
• Added bow done with Bow-Easy
• Used leftovers from Bronze metallic and Background cardstock for inside top part of card

Because the card measures 5.5"X4.5" I will need to make an envelope.  I plan on doing a tutorial for the IO blog on Tuesday Tips and Techniques, April 13.  It will show how to make a quick envelope for any size card easily and with a decorative easy liner too.  I am going to be doing the Tips And Techniques portion of the IO blog on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

Hope you liked my card and I can't wait to get around to looking at yours.  It has been a while!!!  See you on your blog....:-)  Thanks for stopping by to look and say hi!!

 Shirley

Supplies:

Snow Family Fun And No Patterned Paper

The IO blog is having a "No Patterned Paper" challenge this week, and although I didn't play, I couldn't resist finishing this card that would have been okay to enter.  I love Alesa Baker stamps and had started this card a while back.

For some reason I did the card front and base backgrounds first this time.  I wanted a 5" square easel card.  I used a 5"X10 piece of Domtar Cougar Super Smooth White cardstock for the card.  You can find the measurements and instructions HERE.  If you would prefer a video, you can go HERE.  (You could increase the top half by .25" so it would cover more to the right when open, and set further to the right when flat.  It would extend .25" over the bottom part.  It would still fit in a 5.5" square envelope.)  I may try that next time myself.

The bottom cardstock is 5"x5" Bazzill Basics Blissful from their Blissful Trio collection.  The next layer (for the card front) is Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock stamped with my Mega Mount and Impression-Obsession Cover-A-Card Pine inked with SU Old Olive.  I used snow behind the family that I had left over from another project.  I had stamped Cover-A-Card Dots on Neenah CC Solar White Laid CS with VersaMark, added Deco Art Crystal Glamour Dust, and heated it to set.  The layers were torn to give a snow drift effect. Then it was layered onto the Pine as shown.

I stamped Impression Obsession Snow Family Fun using Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock.  They were painted with Twinkling H2O's, cut them out, turned them over on my Pergamano embossing mat, embossed their caps, scarfs, and buttons with a stylus, and then layered them on top using 3D pop dots as shown.  I added Glossy Accents to their buttons, coal, and carrot noses. :-)  Viva Decor Ice White Pearl Pen was added to the dots on the little snow-girl.

To finish off the bottom, I used the pine boughs from Impression Obsession's Clear set Winter View, by Alesa Baker on Neenah CC Solar White.  The image can also be purchased in red rubber as Pine Garland Border.  I used a Spellbinders Fancy Tags One die for the sentiment.  The sentiment is from Impression Obsession's Clear set Swirl Tree.  The pearls are Oriental Trading Post 7mm pearls.  The star pin is from aking Memories Mistletoe Deco Pins.  (I altered it in the photo because it looked gray when it really is a pearly white.  :-)

So that's all for now.  If you want to play, you have until this Wednesday night at 10:00 p.m.  The theme is No Patterned Paper and you could wind a $25 Gift Certificate for the online store.  You can get the detials by going HERE.

Hope you are having a great week!!  Thanks for stopping by to look and say hi!!

 Shirley

Supply List:

It's A Chair Affair!

I know, I have used Impression-Obsession's Fall Serenity image before, but I saw a card HERE, that made me want to use it again!  So this time I stamped the image twice with Stazon-Timber Brown, so I could use one as a base, and painted with Twinkling H2O's Warm Pecan, Buttercup, Dreamsicle, and Ginger Peach.  I always paint with a Niji waterbrush.  (I never spray my pots of color, and I paint directly from the pot.)  I cut both images out.   I turned the painted image over and embossed on a Perganamo embossing mat and embossed with a stylus.  I spot stamped the pumpkin on the chair and the little pumpkin on the floor with a dauber of the Timber Brown.  I painted, cut them out, and embossed them too.

Here was the fun part!  I used my Mega Mount to stamp the upper 'wallpaper' behind the chair with Impression Obsession Cover-A-Card Round Floral, inked with Memento Bamboo Leaves, on SU Saffron cardstock (I think) .   Then I stamped IO Cover-A-Card Wood Grain, inked with Memento Rich Cocoa, on Bazzill Monochromatic Walnut cardstock.

I put a piece of Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb. cardstock and Spellbinders largest Lattice Rectangle die though the Cuttlebug.   I then used the same die as a stencil to get the wallpaper and floor.  I left a space in between as the 'baseboard molding'.  These were mounted to the die cut.

A piece of Bazzill Dotted Swiss Clover Leaf cardstock was mounted on white cardstock as the base.  The die, with wallpaper and floor, were mounted on to that.  I used my retired SU Small Horizontal Slot Punch to be able to place the May Arts ribbon. 

3D pop dots were used to mount the chair with pumpkins.  Next the larger pumpkin on the chair and the smaller one on on the floor, that were separately cut out, were mounted with 3D pop dots.  The ribbon was mounted.  I made the triple bow with my Bow-Easy.  I twisted each bow loop in the opposite direction to get the swirly effect.

The stick pin was created using a Maya Road Trinkit Crystal pin with Czech leaf and faux pearl beads added after adding a dab of Glossy Accents onto the shaft.  The pearls on the chair back and skirt ruffle were added using Viva Decor White Pearls.

I hunted forever to find a post for the really simple easel card fold I used to do this step and found it HERE, using white cardstock.  I layered the bottom portion with the Bazzill Dotted Swiss Clover Leaf cardstock, created wallpaper, and more white cardstock.

The sentiment is computer generated.  I didn't have a stamp I liked and didn't want to shop or wait.  I ran it through the Cuttlebug using a Spellbinders Fancy Tags One die.  Then I used my Magic Matter around the die cut.  Of course, I had to turn it over on the Pergamano embossing mat and use a stylus around these edges too.  The Self-Adhesive Pearl Jewels are some I've had a long time from Oriental Trading Post.

That's it for today and I hope you are having a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping by to look and say hi!!!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

CR84FN40 Color Challenge And Christmas Is Coming

I have modified my post because a friend brought this color challenge to my attention.  When I looked into it, I was inspired when I saw the dedication.  This Color Challenge CR84FN40  is dedicated to Steve Jobs.  The challenge owner and administrator is Mona Pendleton and her husband, Scott, is a HUGE fan and chose a quote made by Steve himself to inspire all of us. R.I.P. Steve and Thank You for the difference you have made in all of our lives!

If any of you heard the speech that Steve Jobs gave as the commencement speaker in 2005 to Stanford University, you know just how special he was and what he did with life's challenges.  I wish I could have heard it 40 years ago.  He would have been 16 years old then.  :-)  You will find it HERE.

I have never ever done a challenge before, so this is a new experience.  I hope I do it right!!! LOLOL

And it's about time I got started with my cards.   I stamped The Artful Stamper fawn with Copper pigment ink (Challenge Color BROWN) on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth 80lb. cardstock, applied Copper embossing powder, and heated to set.  I couldn't find the image on their site and have asked them to send me the link.  The image was painted with Twinkling H2O's.  Stickles Diamonds and Glossy Accents were used to highlight the snowflakes and berries.  The spots on the fawn were done with Viva Decor Ice White Pearl.

I used Spellbinders Curved Rectangles for the shape around the fawn.  I put copper toned cardstock through the Cuttlebug and then, using the same die as a stencil for the fawn, mounted it on the die cut.

The background was created by applying SU Creamy Caramel Classic ink (Challenge Color KRAFT)  to Impression Obsession's Cover-A-Card Paisley Crystal mounted on my Mega Mount, then stamping on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth 80lb. cardstock.  Another piece of the copper toned cardstock was put though the Cuttlebug using the largest die.  The Paisley Crystal BG was mounted on top and the red ribbon (from Michaels) (Challenge Color RED) was added.

That was mounted over a piece of folded 6.25"X12" Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth 80lb. cardstock and used as stencil to create the card.  The image was mounted on top with 3D pop dots.  The bow was tied with the Bow-Easy and mounted.  The snowflake die cuts are from Cuttlebug's Snowflake #2 and the cardstock is Arrio Wiggins Curious Ice Gold.  I used Mark Richards 5mm pearl stickers for the centers of the snowflakes.  The tag is Spellbinders Ribbons Tag Trio, also cut from Curious Ice Gold.  The sentiment was done with Brilliance Rocket Red and Impression Obsession Sentiments I.

The stick pin was done with a Maya Road Trinket Heart pin and adding a Czech bicone crystal bead and a copper bead brought back to me from France by a friend, who is also a stampaholic (thank you LaVerne).  They are truly beautiful and shine to no end.  I added a little Glossy Accent above each bead on the pin before pushing them up next to the heart.  It dries really fast and then they don't slide around on the stick pin.

 

The inside and the envelope images were done by stamping onto Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Text, trimming around them and then mounting on to the cardstock on more text paper, which is what I used to make my envelope.  Yes, I made the envelope and it is really easy to do, but that's another story for another day.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

New To You Maybe!

Yesterday was World Cardmaking Day and IO partnered with Operation Write Home for their blog hop.  I featured cards I made for the day.  I made them in a hurry, I might add.  I am going to share them with you here.  I also want you to know IO is offering a $25 Gift Certificate in a drawing.  To be eligible you need to go the the post and comment.  You must comment by 10 pm EST tonight.  You will also find links to Operation Write Home, if you are interested in sending your unused cards to troops in war zones, so they can stay in touch with their loved ones in a special way.  If you are interested, HERE is the link for commenting and the information.  Now for the cards I made:

 

It is Alesa Baker's Fall Serenity, and it really does remind me of Fall.  It is painted with Twinkling H20's watercolors, as are all of the cards.  It was cut out, turned over on an embossing mat, embossed with a stylus, then mounted on the Spellbinders Lattice Rectangle.  I used Viva White Pearl to accent the chair back.  The ribbon, etc. are remnants.  My inside left panel is "For The Sweetest Pumpkin In The Patch".

My second card reminds me of an old fashioned Thanksgiving.  I used Cover-A-Card Maple Leaves stamped with Memento Cocoa Brown on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Laid cardstock for the background.   Brown ink was also used for the Gary Robertson's Fall Porch image.  Dark Brown cardstock was used for the Spellbinders Scalloped Edge frame and the cardstock around the Maple Leaves.  The pumpkin, dog and cat, boots, and flowers were cut out, turned over, embossed on an embossing mat with a stylus for depth and then mounted. The inside left panel reads So Very Thankful.

My last card is for Christmas.  I used Hannah Davies's Angel in brown ink.  I cut her out, turned her over on the embossing mat, and used a stylus to give her depth.  She was mounted on Spellbinders Picot Edge Circles, which was mounted on the Score background as shown.  The ribbon is May Arts. The background is Alesa Baker's Score and is in a light blue ink.  Inside the card on the left-hand panel is the sentiment "Enjoy The Magic Of The Holiday Season".

So there you have it.  Thanks for stopping by to look and say hi!  I hope to once again attempt to get caught up on my blog hopping too!

 Shirley

A Beach Maybe?

I had this idea and it went totally somewhere else.  I used the Impression Obsession stamp, Lanterns, that I kept seeing in a beach scene (without the lanterns for some reason).  I pictured the tree and tables and chairs on the sand with the ocean out there!  The stamp I used for the ocean and sand was their Cover-A-Card^TM Wood Grain.  Part of it was great for the sand and part of it was great for the ocean (that ended up looking like the sky).  Oh Well!  The Hi is from the Impression Obsession Clear Stamp Set Anytime Sentiments.

I stamped the Lanterns stamp with Brilliance Galaxy Gold on Neenah Classic White Solar Crest cardstock.  I painted it using Twinkling H2O's Mallard Green and Warm Pecan.  I cut the pieces out and edged with the Galaxy Gold, and then prepared the tree by turning it over on a Pergamano/embossing pad and used a stylus to give the leaves and the trunk depth. 

I used Twinkling H2O's Bashful Blue for the ocean (sky) and Golden Sand for the beach on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Laid cardstock.  I stamped the ocean (sky) with Brilliance Moonlight White and the beach with Brilliance Galaxy Gold.  I heat set them both and then I added some Stickles Diamonds to the sand here and there and Frosted Lace to the ocean (sky).

A piece of Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Laid cardstock was put through the Cuttlebug with Spellbinders largest Lattice Rectangle.  I used the die as a template for tracing the ocean and the sand.  I tore the top of the sand to get a rough finish along the top.  They were mounted to the frame followed by the tree and table with chairs.  I added Viva Decor White Pearls as highlights.  The Hi was stamped with StazOn Timber Brown and then highlighted with a Viva Decor Bronze glitter pen.   The pitcher and glasses were highlighted with Viva Decor Crystal Clear.   On the bottom right hand side I added 3 dots of the Viva Bronze glitter pen and added 3 3mm pearls to their centers.

The twine was leftover from a previous project and I think it bought it from Michaels.  The scene was mounted on a left over piece of Japanese paper from a prior project and then mounted on a piece of Bazzill.

Supplies:
Stamps:  Impression Obsession Cover-a-Card™ Wood Grain, Lanterns, Anytime Sentiments.

Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Laid, Gold and Aqua cardstock
Inks: StazOn Timber Brown; Brilliance Galaxy Gold and Moonlight White; Twinkling H2O's Mallard Green, Warm Pecan, Bashful Blue, Golden Sand
Accessories:  Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles, Viva Decor White Pearls, Crystal Clear, and Bronze glitter pens; 3mm pearls; Stickles Diamonds glitter glue and Frosted Lace, Michael's twine.

Thanks for stopping by to look and share!

 Shirley

It's My Flower Time

For months I have wanted to do some flower cards and just never made time.  Well as you can see, I have.  I am starting with a flower I made using Spellbinder's Blossom die set.

The smallest 3 dies from Spellbinder's Blossom set were run through my Cuttlebug twice using Curious Gold Leaf White Gold 8.5X11 text.  It is more of a bone color with a gold sheen to it.  Text is easier to mold and is still thicker than normal text weight paper.  I trimmed the petals in the valleys a little so they would curl easier.  I laid them out and then inked up Impression Obsession's Cover-A-Card Dots on my Mega Mount with Brilliance Coral and rocked it over them and then dried them with a heat gun.  I curled the petals with a crochet handle and mounted them on top one another as shown.   A humongous White pearl sticker was put in the middle and Stickles Cinnamon glitter glue was used for the dots you see around it.  At this point I have one petal layer left for the sentiment.

I ran a pink piece of cardstock through the Cuttlebug using their Textile Texture embossing folder.  I ran my Opalite Golden Mist pad over the embossed area to add a gold sheen to it.   I cut it in half and then taped it to a white piece of Domtar cardstock.

I ran remnant pieces of Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb. text weight paper through my Fiskars Eyelet Lace Border Punch to do 5 layers at 1.5"X4.0".

A remnant piece of dark brown ribbon was threaded through a piece of May Arts lace and taped to the card.  The bow was done with the Bow-Easy.  This was mounted on Curious Chocolate.

The sentiment is from Impression Obsession Clear Stamp Set Mini Messages and was stamped on Neenah Solar White Classic Crest remnant cardstock using Memento Rich Cocoa.  I placed a clear oval sticker on top of it and then taped to center of the last petal die cut and mounted as shown.  Last I used a Viva Decor Cream Pearl Pen to accent certain embossed areas in the paper lace.

I had fun and think I might try a ribbon rose next!  Thanks for stopping by to look and say hi!

 Shirley

Supplies:
Papers: Domtar White, Super Smooth, 90 lb. Folded card base ; Neenah Classic Crest, Solar White, Super Smooth cardstock and text weight; Curious Gold Leaf White Gold and Chocolate text weight; Pink cardstock

Stamps: Impression Obsession Cover-A-Card CC003- Dots and Mini Messages

Inks: Brilliance Coral; Memento Rich Cocoa; Opalite Golden Mist

Accessories: Fiskars Eyelet Lace Border Punch; Viva Pearl Pen Cream; Cuttlebug Textile Texture; Spellbinders Blossom; Mark Richards 10mm Pearl sticker; May Arts Lace; Bow-Easy; Clear Dome sticker, Michael remnant ribbon

A Tweet Bird And A New List

I'll want to let you know about my new list tab.  With my new blog layout comes TABS.  Love them.  They are taking some of the stuff out of my sidebars and placing it on top where you can see them if you like.  As you can see, I've added 3 more tabs.  I think you can have a total of 7.

The one tab I would like to bring to your attention is the "Any Stamp Challenges".  I have been blog hopping more recently and noticed all of the Rubber Stamp Challenges in Blogland.  :-)  I had someone ask if I knew where there was a list of challenges for 'using any stamp'.  I said no, but I would collect them while hopping.  If you are interested, check the tab.  I was blown away with the ones I have already found.  If you know of any I don't have, let me know and I will put them on the list.  On to my card!!!

I was over at Stephanie Lanzalotto's blog, My Ink Well, and saw her cute Chickadee card!  I didn't have the stamp set she used, but I did have a button I had been wanting to use on a card for some time.

Construction of Bird:

I applied the button to a remnant of white cardstock and drew the legs, tail feathers, and beak with a pencil. I punched out a wing with one of my tear drop punches and then used it to make a larger one with a pencil. Cut it out and used it as a template on some SU DP scraps for the wing and the background for the flowers. Mounted it with a glue dot.  I trimmed around the bird, nose, and legs. Lined them with Viva Black Pearl Pen and applied a generous dot for the bird's eye.  I used the Viva Hematite Glitter Liner to accent some little dots on DP on the Wing.  Set aside to dry.

Stamped on Neenah White Cardstock with Cover-A-Card Swirls and VersaMark pigment ink.  Embossed with Clear EP.  Used Cuttlebug and Spellbinders Lacey Circles Dies for 2 die cuts.  Used larger die as a stencil and brayered with SU Classic Bashful Blue.  Used as stencil again on vellum to put over the Bashful Blue part to later stamp sentiment.  Used smaller die as stencil for background on SU remnant DP and used Viva Hematite Glitter Liner to accent small circles.

Placed larger die over Vellum as stencil, cut out and mounted over center, placed bird near top, stamped sentiment with StazOn near bottom, created Tweet on computer sticker paper, trimmed around, and placed above sentiment, and used Viva Hematite Glitter Liner over all words.

Mounted bird and words in upper left-hand corner with 3D pop dots.  Mounted May Arts ribbon and bow made with Bow-Easy as shown.

Mounted SU DP remnant in center of smaller die cut.  Mounted Prima flowers as shown.  Used Twinkling H2O's True Blue with Niji waterbrush on edges of larger rose.  I wet the edge of petals first with colorless water and Niji.  Then brushed the color lightly onto edges.  It bleeds and blends on the dampened area for a softer natural look.

It needed something else, so I pulled out a Making Memories Blue Heart Stick Pin and threaded it with a Czech jet black onyx bead and a Blue Moon cultured pearl bead from my stash.

Done except for a little of the DP and Cover-A-Card in thin strips inside the card on the top and on the envelope in the lower left-hand corner.

Thanks for stopping by to say hi and look and share!!

 Shirley

Supplies:

Papers: Domtar White, Super Smooth, 90 lb. Folded card base ; SU Bashful Blue/DP remnants; Neenah Classic Crest, Solar White, Super Smooth; Tan or Bone cardstock;Vellum


Stamps: Impression Obsession Cover-A-Card CC002 - Swirls and Damask; Just Rite Friendship Nested Sentiments; Tweet Computer Generated - Flemish Script BT


Inks: StazOn Jet Black; Brilliance Moonlight White;SU Classic Bashful Blue; Twinkling H2O's True Blue


Accessories: Viva Pearl Pen Black and Glitter Liner Hematite; Niji waterbrush 9mm Small; Cuttlebug; Spellbinders Lacey Circles; Prima Innocence (I think!); May Arts Ribbon; Bow-Easy; Czech black faceted bead, Making Memories stick pin, Blue Moon cultured pearl