Verve winter mittens

Verve Stamps offered a free download of their winter mittens digi stamp set that also has a few sentiments. Here is a card I made with the images.

I used patterned paper from DCWV's Christmas glitter stack and card stock from SU. I added a dot of stickles in the middle of the snowflake on the mittens as well as few on the sentiment square.

Crochet scarf!

I can knit (basic stuff) but I have always wanted to learn how to crochet. I can chain and chain, but it was still hard for me to grasp some of the other techniques. I often go to the local library and search on various craft subjects and most recently, I came across a DVD on crocheting. Oh My Gosh!!! I'm a visual learner and this DVD by Leisure Arts, I Can't Believe I'm Crocheting, was the best instructional video I have ever found!!! If you want to learn how to crochet, I highly suggest this video!!! Thanks to encouragement from some coworkers who have been sharing some of their crochet projects, I was told about this scarf pattern for a beginner. You can find the pattern on the Lion Brand Yarn website. You have to register to access their free patterns but registration is free. The pattern is called North Pole Ruffle Scarf. I can't believe I made this as my first crochet project! It looks difficult but it really wasn't and I must say it didn't turn out too bad!

The snowfall before Christmas

I can't remember the last time it snowed here in Maryland before Christmas but late Friday and all day and evening yesterday, we got covered! What a site when I opened the front door. My front step was covered and the snow measured 8" just on this top step! And look at the truck and car! It's very pretty but I'll be happy when it all melts, lol! Enjoy the pictures!

Verve's blog party challenge 2

Continuing with the Verve Thankful Hearts blog party, challenge 2 is a sketch challenge.

The card stock I used were Stampin Up's tempting turquoise, old olive, chocolate chip and really rust.

I adhered strips of My Mind's Eye patterned paper onto really rust. I then wrapped Stampin Up's So Saffron ribbon around these strips and tied off with some DMC floss.

I used my paper trimmer and scoring tool to make the criss cross design on the card base to mimic the patterned paper design and to spice it up a bit. It's probably hard to see in the picture but it looks good IRL.

I used my Cuttlebug to die cut the "Thanks" image. This die is in the Cuttlebug's "Olivia" font pack.

Verve's blog party challenge 1

Verve Stamps celebrated their November stamp release on Friday with a Thankful Hearts blog party and challenges.

This is my card for challenge 1, a color challenge. I used images from Verve's Miracles Blossom stamp set. I stamped the flower using Stampin Up's old olive and tempting turquoise ink and I colored in the images with the ink and my blender pen. I used my sewing machine for the stitching and my Fiskars edge punch for the scallop card stock pieces on the center panel. After I completed the card, I realized I forgot to about the thankful theme so I added a shrink film charm. To make the charm, I stamped the "thank you" image using black StazOn ink then cut out the shape using my Marvy scallop square punch. I used my hole punch to cut the whole before shrinking. I then had to use a needle to thread some black thread into the ribbon knot.
Materials:
Stamps: Verve (flower and sentiment from Miracles blossom), Inkadinkado (Thank you)
patterned paper: My Mind's Eye
card stock: Stampin Up (whisper white, basic black, tempting turquoise, old olive)
Ink: Stampin Up (tempting turquoise, old olive); StazOn (jet black), Brilliance (graphite black)
Other: white shrink film, Marvy Uchida scallop square punch, Fiskars threading water edge punch, thread, sewing machine, blender pen
ribbon: Morex
ink

I did it! Machine sewing!

It's not my first time to add stitching on a card but this is my first time using a sewing machine to do it! A few projects I've made previously, I sewed by hand. But that takes time especially since I like to poke my holes first then stitch. I used my Kenmore sewing machine that I purchased several years ago after taking a sewing class. I made a bag in that class and boy was I motivated to make more bags but that didn't last, lol!

I'm proud of this card but the the picture turned out horrible so it doesn't do the card any justice. This was a belated birthday card that I had to mail so I didn't get to retake the pictures and I took quite a few! (I know what I did wrong so hopefully that won't happen again!) This card came together quite quickly. I colored the image with markers and cut it out to adhere to the scallop circle, sewed the paper to the card stock, and assembled all the elements.

Materials list:
patterned paper: My Mind's Eye
floral image: Stampin Up-Bloomin Beautiful
card stock: Stampin Up-pink piroutette, rose red; Gina K Designs-chocolate kiss; Papertrey Ink-vintage cream
ink: Marvy LePlume II markers (cherry, bubble gum pink, yellow, mocha, leaf green)
ribbon: Michaels
other: Kenmore sewing machine; Fiskars scallop edge punch, Marvy scallop circle punch

STVTC38 and STVSC37

Since I haven't stamped in a while and to get my mojo started, several days ago I participated in two StampTV challenges.

I made the Christmas card following sketch STVSC37. I often see many cards where patterned papers are mixed so I thought I would attempt it on this card. This is out of my comfort zone but I don't think it turned out too bad. For the focal image, I stamped the sleigh and colored it using an aqua brush and pretty in pink ink from Stampin Up. I then outlined the interior pattern with a red and a pink Marvy LePlume marker as well as adding stickles to give a shine; can't really see in photo but it looks pretty good IRL. I also sponged the edges with some pink and green ink because I thought the white was a bit stark. I used my Cuttlebug to die cut some chipboard using the snowflakes die. I used white ink to color the chipboard and after the snowflakes dried, I added stickles.

Materials: Gina K. Designs stamp set (The Magic of Christmas); My Mind's Eye (patterned paper); Stampin Up (card stock Riding Hood Red, Pretty in Pink and Pretty in Pink ink); Stickles (Xmas red, Stardust)

The second card I made was for the technique challenge, STVPF38. The challenge was to use a sentiment to make a background. The "love" sentiment is from the stamp set Little Tee's. The wedding sentiment is from the stamp set With this Ring. I cut the heart using a Marvy paper punch.

Gina K. release party challenges

Several days ago was the release party for Gina K. Designs stamps for the month of September. There were three challenges and I participated in two.

One was a color challenge; use red, gold and green and white (oops, I missed the white part. I got distracted by the challenge host's reference to the Culture Club song, Karma Chameleon, LOL! but that's ok I think it looks fine without any white). I stamped the poinsettia (image is from the stamp set A Year of Flowers) onto the red card stock, heat embossed it with gold embossing powder and cut it out. The sentiment is from The Magic of Christmas stamp set and I also heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. The strip of gold embossed paper is from The Paper Company.

The other challenge was to make a no layer card. I masked off an oval area and sponged in the background colors before stamping the flower and sentiment. These images are from the Elegant Flowers stamp set. This video gave me inspiration.

WCMD09J

Here is the card I made for Gina K. Designs color challenge on SCS for World Card Making Day.

Materials used: card stock - chocolate kiss and pure ivory (Gina K. Designs), pumpkin pie (Stampin Up); stamped images (Gina K. Designs Elegant flowers set); patterned paper (Gina K. Designs floral elegance); scalloped shapes (Nestabilities); ink - pumpkin pie (Stampin Up)

World Card Making Day - WCMD09D and WSC100

Yesterday was World Card Making Day. To celebrate, many member companies of SCS issued some challenges. Here is the card I made for challenge WCMD09D. The challenge was to make a "Thank You" card, use different shades of brown and use the 100th sketch, WSC100, by Beate.

Materials used: card stock - soft sand (Gina K. Designs); brown paper (My Mind's Eye); tree image (Inkadinkado); sentiment (Studio G); ink (Memento rich cocoa), button (Basic Grey); floss (DMC); ribbon (JoAnn)

Iris and paisley

This is a birthday card I made last week. I didn't have time to make a unique card so I copied one of my previous cards with some minor changes.

The image is from the Gina K. Designs Elegant Flowers stamp set. I colored it with Crayola watercolor paint and a water brush.

I'm so inspired by Denise at the Paper Landscaper and how she decorates the interior of cards that I decorated the interior of this card. The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Garden of Life stamp set.

Other materials used: Craft Lite cutter with wavy blade, My Mind's Eye patterned paper, Stampin Up pink passion card stock, Papertrey Ink white card stock, Making Memories brads, Michaels ribbon.

TEBBSH Challenge #9

This is my card for challenge #9 in celebration of Taylored Expressions birthday bash. The challenge information can be found here.

I stamped the cupcakes onto water color paper, colored them with markers and used a blender pen to soften the colors. I distressed the edges of all the card stock and papers and inked the edges with the distress ink. After a bit of tweeking and rearranging the layout, this is what I came up with for this challenge.

Materials:
Stamped images: Gina K. Designs (100% Sweet by Rupa Shevde)
Card stock: Stampin Up (pale plum, baja breeze)
Patterned Papers: My Mind's Eye
Ink: Versafine (vintage sepia); Ranger distress (walnut stain); Marvy LePlume II markers (bubblegum pink, peppermint, lt. brown, beige, salvia blue)
Tools: Tim Holtz distressor tool; Fiskars squares 1 template; EK Success double scallop edge punch
Accessories: English Ribbons (luxury double satin Thistle/Lavender)

TEBBKM

This is my card following the sketch in challenge #2 in celebration of Taylored Expressions (TE) birthday bash.
The image and sentiment are from TE's Home Sweet Home stamp set.
The background cs was embossed with the Cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder. I cut snowflakes using a Cuttlebug die. I added dazzling diamonds glitter on the snowflakes, the snowman's scarf and the perimeter of the sentiment.

TEBBLS

Taylored Expressions (TE) is celebrating the birthday of the cuppie stamps introduced one year ago. There are many designers hosting various challenges for this celebration.

This is my card for challenge #11 hosted by Laurie Schmidlin. I've tried distressing before but but not to the degree I did on this project. If you know Laurie's work, she creates some fantastic distressed projects and after reading her challenge post, I just had to participate.

My card base is not the standard size. It's cut to approximately 5 1/4 x 7 3/8. I needed this size to accommodate the printed card stock I cut because I wanted the message to be seen on the card front to tie in with the image and sentiment both from TE's Home Sweet Home stamp set. After I cut my card stock panels to size, I embossed the large green panel with the Cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder. Then I used a distressor tool to rough up the edges of all the panels before inking them with Ranger's distress ink, fired brick and walnut stain. I stamped the cuppie image using Memento rich cocoa ink onto vintage cream cs and colored it in using Prismacolor pencils and Marvy LePlume markers. I also sponged on the Ranger inks before adhering to the card front. The sentiment tag is hand cut, inked and edges curled to add an aged look. And, I added a few brads on the right side of the main image panel to fill up a little space.

Supplies:
Stamps: Taylored Expressions Home Sweet Home
Card stock: Papertrey Ink (vintage cream); Stampin Up (always artichoke, kiwi kiss, ruby red); Die Cuts with a View (patterned cs from the Christmas stack)
Ink: Ranger distress (fired brick, walnut stain); Memento (rich cocoa); Prismacolor pencils (beige, green ochre, henna, carmine red, yellow chartreuse); Marvy LePlume II markers (dusty pink, beige, yellow green, pale pink)
Other: Gina K. Designs (mini brads); Tim Holtz paper distressor tool; Cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder

Another published card!!!

In Friday's mail was another surprise for me! When I saw the name in the return address, Scott Publications...what, oh my gosh, could it be? Yes, a complimentary copy of Just Cards! Holidays! 2009 was sent to me. A Valentine's Day card I created and submitted last year was published! Woohoo! I'm so excited as this is my second card to get published of those I sent in last year!! If you have a copy, check out my card on page 14. It's called Be Mine.

Release challenge projects

Here is a scrapbook page and a card I made using the sketches for the Gina K. Designs' August release challenges at SCS.

Card supplies:
Stamps: Gina K. Designs (Guiding Light)
Paper: Gina K. Designs pure luxury card stock (chocolate kiss, ivory) and accent card stock from Floral Frenzy kit; Crafts Beautiful patterned paper
Ink: Memento (rich cocoa); Marvy LePlume II markers (silver grey, beige)

Scrapbook page supplies:
Stamps: Gina K. Designs (A Year in Flowers)
Paper: Gina K. Designs pure luxury card stock (ivory); Die Cuts with a View card stock (The Luxury Stack); Stampin Up (mellow moss)
Ink: Stampin Up (mellow moss); Marvy LePlume II marker (olive green)
Embellishments/Accessories: Gina K. Designs ribbon from floral frenzy embellishment pack; EK Success photo corner punch, Fiskars lace border punch

A Year in Cards - August class

Here are the cards I made for this month's A Year in Cards class taught by Kristina Werner. Here is the video for the class.

Thinking of You card - Supplies: Stampin Up card stock (Apricot Appeal); Papertrey Ink stamp set (Autumn Abundance); Art Warehouse by Danelle Johnson stamp set (border); transparency; Marvy LePlume II markers (scarlet and green); Black StazOn; Sakura white gelly roll pen; Coluzzle; Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper

Friendship card - Supplies: Papertrey Ink card stock (kraft); Colorbox ink (orange); Brilliance ink (graphite black); Zig millennium pen (black); Verve stamps (Miracles Blossom); Inque Boutique stamp set(Aging Gracefully); Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper

Hello card - Supplies: Stampin Up card stock (Yo Yo Yellow); Studio G clear stamp (Hello sentiment); All Night Media stamp (woodgrain); Brilliance ink (Moonlight White); Sakura white gelly roll pen; Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper; StampnStuff white embossing powder; Memento ink (Rich cocoa)

Jazzy Inspirations 18

I created this card for the Jazzy inspirations #18 color challenge. The colors to use are gray, black, white and a pop of green.

I used a technique, inking a Cuttlebug folder, for the main panel of the card. I inked up the Happy Birthday embossing folder with black ink to add color to the white card stock. I added my pop of green by coloring part of the embossed image with a green and black marker. I distressed the edges of the card stock to add a bit of grunge to tie in with the look of the main image panel. As I looked at this card, I thought this could be a great masculine card without the ribbon.

Supplies: Card stock - Stampin Up (going gray, basic black), Papertrey Ink (white); Ink - Brilliance graphite black, Marvy LePlume II markers (black, leaf green); Tim Holtz paper distressor tool, Ribbon - Offray, Cuttlebug Happy Birthday embossing folder

Single Cone

Here is a card I made using the StampTV sketch - STVSC21.

I used images from the 100% Sweet set from Gina K Designs. The green patterned background papers are part of the 100% Sweet digital papers available for download at StampTV in the freebies section. I inked up the cone image using a brown and pink Marvy LePlume II marker to stamp out the image. I colored it in using Prismacolor pencils.

Happy 4th of July!

In celebration of the 4th, I pulled out some 4th of July stamps to make a card using this week's sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You.

The fireworks image by Anita's stamps, is heat embossed with red and blue embossing powders. The circular sentiment, stars, and firecracker images are Inque Boutique stamps. The strip of ribbon in the top corner of the main panel is by Morex. I used the Fiskars threading water punch for the scalloped edge and I used a paper punch to cut out the stars.

Be safe and have a nice holiday!

Things You Do

Over at the Hero Arts blog, there is a challenge to use a photo on a card. I have never done this so I thought I would take the challenge.

Earlier this Spring, I took pictures of these beautiful tulips, and a few other flowers, that had bloomed in my yard. I couldn't believe how open they were and I really love this orange color with a hint of yellow.

For the card, I printed the photo and used a Marvy scalloped square paper punch to cut out just the flowers, focusing on their beauty. I used a Hero Arts sentiment stamp, ribbon I found at the $1 bin from Target, Stampin Up card stock and ink and the Fiskars threading water scalloped edge punch for the bottom edge on the card front.

WooHoo...I've been published!!!

As I was sorting through the mail yesterday, I noticed a large package with my name on it and I quickly opened it thinking who is trying to sell me something now, LOL. Well, I opened it to find a complimentary copy of Just Cards! magazine!!! My card seen here was published....Yaaaaaay!!! It's on page 61 in Volume 14, Summer 2009 issue!! I mailed this card to the magazine last year for consideration to be published and because I hadn't heard anything after several months, I thought it was a no go....well this was such a great surprise!!!

I've heard it sometimes takes time (and I can imagine with all the project submissions magazines receive) and if you're interested in getting published, check out this information posted earlier this year by Carolyn King who shares her experience with getting published.

Transformers Cakes

Here are two Transformers theme cakes I did this past Saturday for the brother of my sister's boyfriend.

These are both 12x15 frosted with buttercream icing. The picture of the character Optimus Prime, is an edible icing image. The other is the Transformer logo which I created by doing a technique called a frozen buttercream transfer.

Spiderman Cake

My most recent confection. A birthday cake for my li'l cousin who turned 6. This is a 12x15 yellow cake with buttercream icing. I used a picture I found on the net as a guide to hand draw Spiderman.

Mojo Monday 89

I finally bought myself a Verve stamp set and just in time to participate in the current Mojo Monday sketch challenge.

Here is my card using the Mojo Monday week 89 sketch.

Images are from the Miracles Blossom set.

Materials:
Card stock (Stampin Up - rose red, summer sun)
Butterflies (large - hand cut, small - mini punch)
Patterned paper: My Mind's Eye (Everyday Tango)
Martha Stewart zig zag edge punch
Prismacolor pencils (hot pink, yellowed orange, apple green)
Colorbox ink (peony, green)
Brilliance (graphite black)

Mixed Seasons winner

Last week's potluck Friday challenge at StampTV was to "mix the seasons". This was a very unique challenge. I pondered over it for a few days because I couldn't figure out how to incorporate images from different seasons into a card that I would like. Well waiting til the night before the due date, I made this card that I was pleased to post. I used the pine cones and sentiment from the Winter Foliage set to represent the Fall/Winter season. I stamped the foliage and pine cones using VersaFine vintage sepia ink. I colored the pine cones using a Prismacolor pencil and I sponged on some Spanish Olive chalk ink by Tsukineko onto the needle like leaves. I then cut out each pine cone and adhered them on top for dimension. I stamped the tulips from the A Year of Flowers set to represent Spring. I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement of the tulips, stems and leaves and after stamping them, I colored them in with Prismacolor pencils. I also hand cut out an extra red tulip and adhered for dimension.

I am so glad I took the challenge because I was selected as the winner of the challenge! Woohoo; I win a free stamp set from Gina K. Designs! Thanks Lee for a fun challenge!

Monochromatic card and a bookmark

I made these projects for challenges at StampTV.

The bookmark was quite simple, just cut your basic rectangular shape to the desired size. The images are from stamps by Gina K. Designs; flower is from A Year of Flowers and the butterfly is from Little Tee's. I stamped the flower and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I then applied two colors of Pebbles Inc.'s pearlescent shimmers chalk over the flowers for color. I stamped the butterfly and added dashes for the flight patterns. A little ribbon at the top to finish it off.

I made the card for a color challenge to use blues or bluish green. I selected the teal color as I had paper and ink that matched quite nicely. I again used images from A Year of Flowers set. I used Stampin Up's Taken with Teal ink and card stock both from the Rich Regals color set. The patterned paper is from the Marcella collection made by K and Company.

May Birthday Cards

Cards I made for two birthdays this month.

On the white card, I used the Stipple Rose stamp from Stampin Up.

On the pink and green card, I used images from the Elegant Flowers set.

Have a Nice Day

This is my card for Potluck Friday challenge 14 at StampTV. The challenge was to use pattern and texture. I used images from the Little Tees set.

I have a ColorBox petal point stamp pad and I used all the colors to stamp the smiley face background using my stamp-a-ma-jig for placement. I then inked up the tee shirt image by placing it on top of the stamp pad to get the tie-dye effect. I stamped a separate smiley face and adhered to the top of the tee. I wrapped the card front with some funky yarn for the texture. For the sentiment, I cut the tag using the Cuttlebug tiny tags die cut and adhered it with Making Memories brads.

Stamper's Dream Challenge

I made this card for the Stamper's Dream Dreamy Challenge 7.

To follow the color part of the challenge, this is the card stock (cs) I used:
Gina K. Designs - chocolate kiss
Papertrey Ink - vintage cream
Stampin Up - baja breeze, sahara sand and riding hood red

I used the Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder for the texture and some sparkly brads for the bling. I used decorative edged scissors for the wavy decorative edge on the baja breeze cs and I used a scalloped circle punch to cut out the scalloped circle. Stamped bear is an Inkadinkado stamp and the sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Bitty Baby Blessings set.

Stamp TV challenges

Here are some cards I made for challenges over at StampTV.

The black and silver card was for a Technique challenge - use foil (I used household aluminum foil) for embossing. I embossed the foil with the mosaic Cuttlebug embossing folder. The sentiment is from the Winter Foliage set.

The red tag card was for a color challenge - black, red and white. I used a flower from the Elegant Flowers set inked with Versamark to use as background as well as the main focal image. Sentiment is also from the same stamp set.

The pink card was for a sketch challenge. The flower image and sentiment are also from the Elegant Flowers set.

My Timeless Templates - Recipe Wrap-Up

Lauren Meader is such an amazing paper crafter. She designs various templates for a variety of uses. These templates are available for purchase at Papertrey Ink. There are a few freebie templates and I finally got the courage to try the Recipe Wrap-Up template. I used Papertrey Ink's Garden of Life set to decorate the cover. Instead of recipe cards, I made note cards and matching envelopes to insert into the pockets.

Chocolate Popsicle

This is a fun little card I created for last week's color challenge on StampTV. The colors to use were chocolate kiss or any brown cs and any other color. I cut the chocolate kiss cs to standard size 5-1/2 x 4-1/4 for the base and accented with kraft cs. I stamped the t-shirt and sentiment on the kraft cs, cut it out and adhered to the card base. I used a strip of the kraft cs and adhered it to a craft stick for extra support and glued them to the back of the card. The t-shirt and sentiment images are from the set called Little Tee's. I got the inspiration for this card here.