Friday, March 29, 2013

On This Day...

Hello friends!  I've got a birthday card to share today, using a sentiment from a Christmas set on the front.  It's a flexible phrase, don't you think?  The words "On this day..." could be used for really any occasion.


The damask background stamp is Hero Arts Classic Fabric Design, stamped in Purely Pomegranate on tan cardstock.  I love this stamp, and it is especially dear because it is one of my first publication incentives.  Did you know that certain companies will give you free products if you have a project published with their goods on it?  When I had THIS card published in a Paper Crafts Magazine issue, I used a Hero Arts stamp.  If you decide to submit something for publication, before you choose your stamps/ribbons/etc., first check and see if you might get an incentive from the company(ies) you're thinking of using.  It's kind of exciting to get paid twice!

Since I stamped the sentiment with Versafine opaque ink on a slightly shiny die cut, I needed to hit it with the heat tool to set the ink.


The large flower is from Prima, and was a gift from my friend Carol quite some time ago.  Carol, I am sorry it took me so long to use this!  I recall when I first got it, I thought "Oh, my, it's beautiful but so HUGE.  It would never fit on an A2 card."  Well, it took me some time to learn and develop, and now I realize it is perfectly fine on one!

The autumn-hued leaves are from an old flower pick (love to RECYCLE!), and the ivory flower is a from a bargain pack found at JoAnn's.


I'm playing in some new-to-me challenges today, courtesy of Feline Playful challenge site:



That's it from me today.  Thanks so much for your visit!




Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Large Fabric Design, Holiday Sayings - Hero Arts
Paper: Crumb Cake - SU; light tan - DCWV
Ink: Purely Pomegranate - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Other: flower - Prima; ticket die cut - Flea Market - Colorbok; small ivory flower - JoAnn's; butterfly die cut sticker - K & Co.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Washi Tape On My Mind

If you've noticed, using washi tape is huge right now.  I'm always late to the party when it comes to trends.  Can't help it.  I'm a classic, traditional kind of gal.  Never hip-and-happenin'.  That's okay with me, though.

So, along comes a new stamp set by Inspired By Stamping:  Washi Tape.  I'm sneak-peeking it!!  It's brand new, and will be released on April 10th.  :-)  It's a super fun set with almost limitless possibilities.  ...AND now I get to play in Moxie Fab World's Washi Tape Challenge.  Yay!


The sentiment is brand new too - it also makes its debut on April 10th.  The set name is Trendy Circle Sentiments, with 12 fun, fanciful phrases.  I like how this sentiment nestled comfortably in the curves created by the washi tape stamps.

I'm entering in these challenges too:


Thanks so much for taking a peek at my card.  Hope you have a great day!



Stamps:  Washi Tape, Trendy Circle Sentiments - Inspired By Stamping not available until April 10, 2013

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Merci

Hello there!  I had a bit of time to squeeze in for crafting today, in between cleaning the house like a white tornado.  (I also had to take a quick nap, but we won't focus on that right now ;)

Felt like playing with my Technique Tuesday goodies for a change, and this is the thank you card that resulted:


The punched hearts are colored with a chalk ink.  They have a soft look and feel to them.


This set is Mon Ami Paris by Technique Tuesday.  The background is Houndstooth set by Market Street Stamps.  Oh!  The rose and pink patterned papers are by Maja Design, courtesy of my friend, Andrea.   I LOVE them, and wish they were more widely available in the U.S.  


I found a new-to-me site that helps you manage your challenges:  Feline Playful.  SO helpful.  They list challenges by day, and what the challenges for that particular week will be.  This is a boon to busy stampers!  From that site, I found out about these challenges......

Challenges entered:


What do you have planned for your Sunday?  I do believe I will be crafty in some way or another, which for me is a perfect day!



Stamps: Mon Ami Paris - Technique Tuesday; Houndstooth - Market Street Stamps
Paper: white - PTI; Vintage Summer - Maja Designs
Ink: Antique Linen - Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Aegean Blue - Tsukineko
Fibers: pink satin ribbon - JoAnn's
Other: Heart-to-Heart punch - SU; Dotted Scallop border punch - EK Success; Labels Eighteen die - Spellbinders; Liquid Pearls
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Inspired By Stamping #51 - Jar of Butterflies

Spring is officially here, but it is flurrying outside my window this morning.  Funny!  I think the groundhog who decided that spring would be early was plain old wrong this year.  ;)

I'm playing in the Inspired By Stamping challenge this week, where our inspiration colors are White, Orange and Green.  Feast your eyes.....


Here's my take on that:  full of spring, wouldn't you say?



Feeling inspired to play along?  Just link your card up HERE and you could win a $15 gift card to the Inspired By Stamping store!

I'm linking this up to The Twinery's banner challenge.  So fun!


Have a wonderful day.  :-)



Stamps: Mason Jars, Delicate Doilies II, Springtime Beauty II - IBS

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Inspired By Stamping March Challenge & Blog Hop

Each month at Inspired By Stamping, we offer a fun challenge (different from our weekly challenges) that lasts two weeks.  For March we're featuring the current craze called Chalkboard Technique.


Details:  Create a card/project using the Chalkboard Technique.

The Challenge:  We want our customers to share and create projects/cards using our Inspired By Stamping stamp sets and goodies.  Plus, two of our randomly chosen winners will receive a $25 gift card to the Inspired By Stamping store! If you use an IBS set, you could be one of our featured artists on the IBS Facebook page and pinned to our "Inspiring Designs from Customers" Board on Pinterest!  Don't have any IBS sets yet?  That's ok!  We invite you to join along in this challenge, too!

I see many chalkboard cards that use black card stock to mimic old 'blackboards', which is what we called them as children.  I chose instead to do mine on blue, for 'something different', as my grandmother used to say.  I remember when she made lasagna with hard boiled eggs inside, for "something different".  That was not a welcome change. :P


I started with an oval die cut, then stamped and heat-embossed a rose from Flowers Bloom.  I swirled a white-inked sponge over the rose, extending a bit beyond its borders.  That's all there is to it.  Very easy, and it gives a neat 'glow.'  Beneath the oval, I attached a little border of olive green banners.  Can you see it?  It's from Mason Jars, and just happened to be lying on my desk from another project.

The tiny bouquet of blue flowers is from Flowers Bloom, also.  I trimmed it, mounted it on a tab label, and decorated with twine and a vintage-looking brad.


This bold sentiment is from Daisies.  I thought it could either be appropriate for a general card, or a birthday card.


There's a Blog Hop so that you can get inspired to join this challenge with us.

Colleen - you are here!

Link up your Chalkboard creation HERE between March 20 at 7:00 pm until April 3 at 7:00 pm in UTC +10. 

(if you are in the Eastern Standard Time zone, that's 5:00 AM March 20th to 5:00 AM April 3rd).

Thanks for dropping by today!



Stamps:  Flowers Bloom, Daisies, Mason Jars - IBS
Fibers: White Crochet Tape - IBS

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Garden Shamrock

Top o' the mornin' to ya!  Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you, and Happy Birthday to me.  :-)  I have a St. Patrick's Day card to share, which was inspired by THIS card by Ann Fitzgerald, which I found on Pinterest.  I love her card, but decided to take a different spin on mine.


The shamrock (planted in Early Espresso 'dirt') is made with hearts from Stampin' Up!'s Heart-to-Heart punch, and the stem is from their Extra Large Bird Punch.  I creased each heart down the middle and applied a thin line of craft glue to adhere it to the card.  The Houndstooth pattern behind it is a stamp, from Market Street Stamps.


Love this sweet, simple St. Patty's day sentiment, from SU.  The little bit of ruler peeking out is a scrap I had left over from Heaven-knows-what, a long time ago.  It's a Girls' Paperie stamp.


I've been so very busy here in my little corner of the world.  I'm putting the finishing touches on my new craft sanctuary in my attic (I'll be sharing pictures when my final piece of furniture arrives), and taking online courses to help make me more appealing to employers.  My job hunt continues and it sure is tedious.  The kids keep me very busy with their various 'things', too.

Since today is my birthday, I plan to be spending time in my new craft space (somebody, pinch me!  I am so excited!), and will probably go see my niece do her Irish dancing at a nearby pub.  She's only 8, but she's got a wicked set of dancing legs!  It's been AGES since hubby and I went out drinking on St. Patty's Day, but since we'll be at a pub already, well....might as well have a drink.  ;-)

Cheers!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes - SU; ruler from Paper Girl - Girls' Paperie; Houndstooth - Market Street Stamps
Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Old Olive, green pattern - SU
Ink: Frayed Burlap - Ranger; Old Olive, Early Espresso - SU
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions
Other: Word Window, Heart-to-Heart, Extra Large Bird, corner punches - SU; large corner rounder, Dotted Scallop punches - EK Success; doily - Wilton; pearls; button

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Inkspirational Challenge #11 - Spring Is In The Air

I'm popping in to share a card I made for this week's Inkspirational Challenge.  Our gals at Inspired By Stamping are joining forces with the crafters at Inkspirational for the month of March and IBS is the sponsor.  You could win great prizes each week.  :-)

The inspiration challenge photo this week features colors I adapted to my card:  greens and purples.



I created a post card using Vintage Post Cards, then added a subtle spring scene with a tree, clouds and a sentiment from Springtime Beauty II, and the birds from Sweet Aviary.


The rose seam binding and crochet lace are from IBS, too.  (links at the end of the post)


If you'd like a chance to win a prize from IBS, link up your creation HERE at Inkspirational.  Have fun!

Thanks for coming by, and have a blessed day. :-)



Stamps: Vintage Postcards, Sweet Aviary, Springtime Beauty II - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Very Vanilla - SU; Chateau Lavender stack - DCWV
Ink: Early Espresso, Certainly Celery, Soft Sky - SU; Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Old Paper - Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Aegean Blue - Tsukineko
Fibers: lace, seam binding - Inspired By Stamping
Other: distressing tool; pearls; metal spiral clip - SU; Copic markers
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"

Monday, March 11, 2013

St. Patrick's Day

I really ambushed you all with projects last week, I hope you don't mind!  This week is much lighter, I promise.  ;)

Just wanted to show a card that is a magazine submission call reject, and it happens to fit into a couple of challenges:


I guess there's not a huge rush on St. Patrick's Day cards, but since I am Irish and that happens to be my birthday, I am partial to the holiday.

Entering here:



This past weekend was so fun for me, 'cause I am creating a stamping sanctuary in my unfinished attic.  DH and I went to Ikea and bought some storage pieces, took most of my day Saturday to assemble them, then began carting all my crafting supplies up to the third floor.  Sunday was spent putting things in their place (I love organizing as much as I love crafting).  I realize I need a few more storage pieces, so another trip to Ikea is planned.  I cannot WAIT to show you what it looks like when it's complete.  You'll have to excuse my attic's insulation.  I told you it was unfinished!  LOL

If you want to see some other photos, I've got a new post up at my other (neglected) blog, bleu hydrangea.  

Thanks for coming by today!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Studio G stamps
Paper: white - PTI
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso - SU
Fibers: assorted
Other: Dotted embossing folder, corner rounder punch - SU; pearls

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Inspired By Stamping Release - Mason Jars Add-Ons III

Hello friends.  :-)  I've got one final project to share with you for our March release at Inspired By Stamping.  This light, bright card uses a new set called Mason Jar Add-Ons III.

The set of 10 stamps includes two fabric 'covers' for the original Mason Jar set, four sentiments, and four fun fillers (say that last part three times fast!).  You can choose from decorated eggs, grass, butterflies and flowers.  I used the flowers and a fabric lid cover to create my basket bouquet, using a masking technique:


Some of the flowers I've fussy-cut and popped up.  Each one got a dot of liquid pearls in the center, and a few blossoms hung over the edge of my 'basket'.


The sentiment area was a happy accident:  at first, I stamped it directly under the basket, but made a mistake.  I needed to cover it up, and now had the chance to include a ribbon and bow as well.  Isn't that the happiest sentiment?  It's perfect for everyone, whether they celebrate Easter or not.



Stuff to know before you go:
  • BLOG CANDY!  Every day from March 6th through March 10th, IBS is giving away a $25 gift card to its store.  You must leave a comment on Joanna's blog to be eligible for the prize.  One comment per person and each winner is randomly selected.  Good luck!
  • All new release items will be available for purchase on March 10th at 7 pm Brisbane time (4 AM Eastern Standard Time)
  • All 6 stamp sets will be offered as a bundle for a 10% discount
  • Free shipping will be available on all orders over $25 for 24 hours only:   from March 10th at 7 pm Brisbane time (4 AM Eastern Standard Time) to March 11th at 7 pm Brisbane time (4 AM Eastern Standard Time)
Our team wants to share more sneak peeks of inspiration with you!

Cindy - http://cindycoutts.com/?p=11958
Colleen - You are here!



Hope you enjoyed my projects for the new release!  Thank you so much for coming by.  :-)

Friday, March 8, 2013

Inspired By Stamping Release - Easter Labels

Hello!  I'm excited to share my Easter card with you today using the new Easter Labels set from Inspired By Stamping.  It's part of the March release, and I just love this elegant set!

I used lots of muted Spring colors on this.


I stamped the tag in light lavender, pear and pale yellow inks.  After stringing them on some twine and mounting to the card, I dabbed glossy lacquer over each egg.


After stamping the sweetest little bunny in pale yellow, I glittered him and added a white pom pom tail.  He reminds me of one of my fave Easter candies, Peeps!  The sentiment is from Just Because, which was a recent IBS release.


Stuff to know before you go:
  • BLOG CANDY!  Every day from March 6th through March 10th, IBS is giving away a $25 gift card to its store.  You must leave a comment on Joanna's blog to be eligible for the prize.  One comment per person and each winner is randomly selected.  Good luck!
  • All new release items will be available for purchase on March 10th at 7 pm Brisbane time (4 AM Eastern Standard Time)
  • All 6 stamp sets will be offered as a bundle for a 10% discount
  • Free shipping will be available on all orders over $25 for 24 hours only:   from March 10th at 7 pm Brisbane time (4 AM Eastern Standard Time) to March 11th at 7 pm Brisbane time (4 AM Eastern Standard Time)
Our team wants to share more sneak peeks of inspiration with you!

Colleen - You are here!

So glad you came to visit today!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Inspired By Stamping Release - Fancy Circles and Pirates

I'm SO excited to show you more projects for the Inspired By Stamping March Release!  Today I'm showcasing the new Pirates and Fancy Circles sets.

Up first, my very first attempt at the wildly-popular Chalkboard Technique, using Pirates.  This set of 10 stamps has more images and sentiments that I didn't use on my creation, such as a pirate's map, spy glass, hook, and a very cool label that matches our IBS dies.


I stamped the sentiment and ghost ship (at least, that's what it looks like on a 'chalkboard'!) with white craft  ink and heat embossed them with white embossing powder.  The skull and crossed sword flag was simply stamped in white craft ink, with two red eyes courtesy of liquid pearls.  Using a bit of white ink on a sponge, I softly wiped color around each image, too.


I thought burlap and natural twine lent a rustic, natural flair to the card, topped with a tag that says "Arrrr!"


I even made little cupcakes for the occasion!  Red Velvet cupcakes, that is.  I stamped the skull flags with black ink on kraft cardstock, trimmed, and glued (with non-toxic glue of course) to wooden toothpicks.  So fun!




And now changing gears to the other end of the spectrum, I've got a subdued elegant thank you card using the new Fancy Circles:


I stamped the delicate patterned frame in a light gray (there are 4 framed circles altogether in the set) and added one of the 5 oh-so-versatile sentiments in black ink.  Had to add some signature pearls, you know.  ;)


The Light Blue Medium Flower sits atop my bow for a finishing touch.


Stuff to know before you go:
  • BLOG CANDY!  Every day from March 6th through March 10th, IBS is giving away a $25 gift card to its store.  You must leave a comment on Joanna's blog to be eligible for the prize.  One comment per person and each winner is randomly selected.  Good luck!
  • All new release items will be available for purchase on March 10th at 7 pm Brisbane time (4 AM Eastern Standard Time)
  • All 6 stamp sets will be offered as a bundle for a 10% discount
  • Free shipping will be available on all orders over $25 for 24 hours only:   from March 10th at 7 pm Brisbane time (4 AM Eastern Standard Time) to March 11th at 7 pm Brisbane time (4 AM Eastern Standard Time)
Our team wants to share more sneak peeks of inspiration with you!

Thank you for your visit today.  :-)

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