'My Sweet Love' Tag

Happy Friday!  I have that "fresh-highlights-in-the-hair" afterglow....what a great feeling.  I let my roots go too long this time.  LOL

I made this tag last night so I could play in A Blog Named Hero challenge - New Year, New You (use new stuff or new technique) and In The Pink's Pink and Pearlie challenge, and Simon Says Stamp's New Something challenge (new home, baby or new craft supplies).

The tag was already die cut, in one of those fabulous $1.00 Scrap Bags from my Stampin' Up! demo (Gail, you're a peach!).  There were actually about 20 of them in there, but I just used one for this project.

My new item is a stamp set by Paper Sweeties called Pennant Party.  I won it over at Word Art Wednesday and it's just the sweetest, most versatile set!  "My Sweet Love" reminds me of the George Harrison song, "My Sweet Lord."  When I was young and this song was new and on the radio all the time, I thought George sang, 'my sweet love'.  

The little tiny design beneath each word, plus the flourished borders, come from Technique Tuesday's Bijou Borders.  It's new to me, and even though I bought it last summer, had never inked it up until now.

The 'pearls' along the scalloped punch bottom are actually Liquid Pearls, applied with a heavy hand.

I've been generously blessed with some paper-crafting awards recently, listed on my sidebar.  One award that I did not get to post yet is from Anushka of Sunshine Creations.  My "Christmas Cottage" took top honors and so I get to be a guest designer with Anushka soon.  You know, she's only 11 years old and runs her own crafting challenge blog.  I am SO impressed.  Her mom is an accomplished paper-crafter, too, so it does run in the family.  :-)

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Stamps: Bijou Borders - Technique Tuesday; Pennant Party - Paper Sweeties

Paper: Blushing Bride, Whisper White - SU

Ink: Cherry Cobbler - SU; Tattered Rose, Antique Linen - Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko

Fibers: white twine - SU; white seam binding - Zipper Stop

Other: Fleur de lis die - Spellbinders; tag die - SU; Deco Fan border punch - Martha Stewart; pearls; White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger; doily - Wilton

Ivory Christmas Tag

Hi everyone!  My girls and I went Christmas shopping early this morning and tackled some more gifts.  It was fun for a while, but they really aren't shoppers.  The complaints begin relatively quickly (are we done yet?  how many more stores to go?  I'm tired.  I feel claustrophobic....yada, yada, yada) and then it's NOT. FUN. ANYMORE.  Time to go home!  LOL  I can get more accomplished without them, but these gifts were for the special people in their lives like friends, teachers, etc. and wanted them to pick out the presents themselves.

I found time to make a pretty ornament/tag today, so I can play in the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger.  Here's the inspiration picture:

Isn't it gorgeous?  It reminds me of an arrangement I have on my coffee table right now:

I collected some mercury glass ornaments from places like TJ Maxx, Home Goods and Tuesday Morning (all cheap!) and placed them on my grandparents' 25th wedding anniversary silver platter.  (my platter is not as polished and shiny as the one in the Tuesday Trigger photo - ha!)

Anyway, here is the tag/ornament I created today --

I used an already-embossed frame that I found in one of those $1.00 Scrap Bags from my Stampin' Up! demo (thank you, Gail!), which enables me to play in the Winter Holiday challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  I trimmed it out carefully and applied crystal glitter.  A sentiment from Verve goes in the middle, surrounded by a pearl-bejeweled wreath die cut from Memory Box. The final touch is a crystal-look faceted button from SU, topped with another pearl.

Elements in the Tuesday Trigger picture that inspired me:  crystal florets, champagne/ivory colored ornaments, engraving on the platter and the general elegant feel of it.

I'm also entering at Just Us Girls for their technique challenge of embossing, heat or dry....your choice.

Thank you SO much to the Shopping Our Stash ladies for awarding me a Top 3 Badge for my 'Christmas Apron' card!  :-)

And thank YOU for coming to visit today.  I appreciate your time!



Dimensions: 5" x 3.75"
Stamps: Glad Tidings - Verve
Paper: Very Vanilla - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white seam binding - The Zipper Stop
Other: pearls; Holiday Frame embossing folder, Vintage Faceted Designer button - SU; Wreath die - Memory Box; Crystal Glitter - Martha Stewart; hole punch - Fiskars

Inspired By Stamping August Release Sneak Peeks!

Hello everyone!  It's Sneak Peek time at Inspired By Stamping, with the new August releases coming out this Friday.  If you're interested in some BLOG CANDY, there are two chances to win -- and here's the prize:

Be sure to comment on Joanna's Sneak Peek posts today and tomorrow, letting her know what you'd like to see in the future in her store.  One prize goes to someone from Wednesday’s comments and one from Thursday’s comments.

There is free shipping Friday through Sunday with a minimum $20 purchase, and no coupon code is needed!  Just drop your items into the shopping cart and the shipping will be deducted at check out.

And don't forget about the special pricing on this new release bundle of stamps - 15% off the total!  Also, select items in the store are 30% off until August 31st.  

I've got four projects to show you with lots of close-ups, so let's get right to 'em.

This was lots of fun to put together.  The Mason Jars set  is awesome!  I stamped the jar once on vellum (using StazOn ink, which can be used on slick surfaces) and once on white scrap paper.  I trimmed each, and then laid some punched hearts in between.  I used craft glue to seal up the edges.  The lid was stamped and trimmed separately (this set has many options for decorating your jar) and added with foam dimensional stickers.

The sentiment is from the Mason Jar Add On set and the little yellow polka dot pennants are also from Mason Jars.

Joanna's got some brand new crochet lace trims, washi tapes and ribbons in her store now!!  Here's a better look at the trio, all together:

Next up, a garden-inspired card:

I used strips of Anna Griffin papers (and one from Stampin' Up!) in the background, then layered on a "pot" of herbs with plant labels and 'greenery'.

The plant stakes are made with a Word Window punch and cocoa cardstock.  I slapped on some Crackle Paint (but it never crackled! hey!) to make them look aged.  The labels and herbs names are from the Spice Jar Labels set.

The pot is actually an ornament punch with the bottom trimmed off.  I sponged on some brown and white chalk inks for age, then tied a bit of twine around the top.

The Mason Jar Add On set has so many mix-and-match options.  I stamped "from" and "my kitchen" on a Lacy Square die cut, then sponged on some chalk ink.

Above is a closeup of another type of crochet lace trim for sale at the shop - love it!

How about some pink and black drama?

This card features a sentiment and frame from the Mason Jar Add On II set, as well as gorgeous little paper flowers from the shop.

The card base was made with a punch-around-the-page set of punches, and a smaller card set upon it.

My last project is a quick and easy way to present a simple lollipop, all dressed up.

I had one of these pink tags on hand, so I stamped a bow from Mason Jars and a little flourish in between the bows (it's from All Year Wishes I) to create a subtle background.

Two little holes on either side of the lollipop stem allowed me to thread through some pretty pink seam binding ribbon, also available at Inspired By Stamping.

This sentiment is from Mason Jar Add On. I dotted Liquid Pearls in pink and red around the label.  Don't look too closely...my dots are so uneven!

Ready for more inspiration?  Check out these DT creations today:

Deb Hickman

Irit Shalom

Joanna Munster

Kim Score

Tomorrow's DT line-up:

Tammy

Debbie

Kendra

Joanna

Thanks for dropping in today.  I appreciate your time!  :-)



Jar of Hearts card:
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Mason Jars, Mason Jars Add On - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, patterned papers - SU; white - PTI; vellum
Ink: Summer Sun - SU; Versafine Onyx Black, StazOn Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: Crochet Lace, Satin Ribbon - Inspired By Stamping
Other: Red Gingham Washi Tape - Inspired By Stamping; blue rhinestones - Want2Scrap; Heart-to-Heart punch - SU; key tag

Herb Pot card:
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps:  Spice Jar Labels - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Anna Griffin, Webster's Pages and SU patterned papers; Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Cajun Craze - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamagic Niagara Mist and Sage Chalk Ink - Tsukineko; Chestnut Roan - Clearsnap; Whisper White - SU
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; Crochet Lace Trim - Inspired By Stamping; vine trim - Really Reasonable Ribbon
Other: Word Window, Ornament punches - SU; Picket Fence Crackle Paint - Ranger; Big Shot; Lacy Squares, Oval, Labels Eighteen dies - Spellbinders; pearls - Queen & Co.

Happy Birthday card:
Dimensions:  5" square
Stamps: Mason Jar Add Ons II - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Basic Black, Passion Pink, Whisper White - SU
Ink: Whisper White - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: polka dot ribbon - stash
Other: Deco Fan punches - Martha Stewart; Big Shot; Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder - SU; paper flowers - Inspired By Stamping; pearls - Queen & Co.

Lollipop Tag:
Dimensions: 3 1/8" x 5"
Stamps: All Year Wishes I, Mason Jar Add On, Mason Jars- Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla - SU
Ink: Pretty In Pink - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: pink ribbon - Inspired By Stamping; white seam binding - Zipper Stop
Other: Ruby Red, Petal Pink Liquid Pearls - Ranger; Designer Label punch, tag die - SU; lollipop

Play Date Cafe 110 - Gift Tag

Welcome to a new week at The Play Date Cafe!  These bright colors just said "Christmas" to me.  With  stamps I received from our sponsor, DRS Designs (thank you!)

I created a gift tag:

I stamped the image of "I Scene A Stocking" and colored it with Copics.  I tried to stick closely to the colors in the challenge, but needed to add some neutrals or my floor and mantel would look weird, not to mention the dog.

The ornaments on the tree were dabbed with Ruby Red Liquid Pearls (thanks, Andrea!), and the candle flames and star on the tree have gold Smooch Ink on them.

The cuff of the stocking has a texture you can feel thanks to DecoArt Snow-Tex.  I applied it with a popsicle stick, and while it was still wet, I sprinkled glitter on top.  Love it!

On the back of the tag, I used a DRS Filigree Star and sentiment.

I know it's a super busy time of year with Christmas approaching, but we hope you will play with us this week.  There's a great prize being offered by DRS Designs; go check it out at The Play Date Cafe.

Thanks so much for your visit!

Colleen

Stamps:  I Scene A Stocking, Merry Christmas, Filigree Star - DRS Designs
Paper:  Real Red - SU; white - PTI
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Tempting Turquoise - SU
Other:  Big Shot; oval dies - Spellbinders; ribbon; Copic markers; Snow-Tex - DecoArt; glitter; Ruby Red Liquid Pearls - Ranger

Mark's Finest Papers - Collage Tag

The new challenge this week at Mark's Finest Papers / Speedy's Challenge blog is the Collage technique, hosted by yours truly.  To see a tutorial on the technique, click HERE. 

It's actually quite easy to do, and it helps to have stamps in a similar theme that work together well.  I used Just Dandy, two tiny images from Grandma's Boudoir and Garden Fairies. 

I began with a rectangular piece of ivory cardstock, cut angles at the top, and used a scalloped border punch along the bottom and top angles.

Using the following Distress Inks, I began randomly stamping images from lightest to darkest:

• Antique Linen
• Old Paper
• Scattered Straw
• Frayed Burlap
• Walnut Stain

The teensy paper flowers are from Stampin Up!, with little pearls added.

After everything was stamped to my liking, I sponged the edges of the tag with most of those same inks, except Tea Dye and Walnut Stain. 

Even the envelope got some decoration, using a butterfly from Just Dandy.

We want to see your collage creations this week!  You have until Friday, April 22 at 3 pm EST to link them up HERE.  And please note:

The Prize Package has changed!  Every week, we will have a random winner of 1 of Mark's Finest Papers stamp sets from the next month's RELEASE.

For more collage inspiration, check out the fab ideas from these talented ladies:

Vicki Dutcher -- Joanne Grezlak -- Geri Utterback --

Harriet Skelly -- Susan Raihala -- Karen Knegten

Thank goodness for the scheduling feature of Blogger.  I am writing this ahead of time, because of my very full week of therapy for my daughter. 

Have a peaceful weekend, whatever your plans.

Colleen

Stamps:  Grandma's Boudoir, Just Dandy, Garden Fairies - MFP
Paper:  ivory by Stampin' Up!
Ink:  Distress Inks - Antique Linen, Old Paper, Scattered Straw, Frayed Burlap, Tea Dye, Walnut Stain
Punch:  scalloped border by SU, 1/16" hole punch by Fiskars
Other:  sponge, raffia, paper flowers from SU, pearls by Recollections

A Different Kind of Christmas Cheer

I took this kind of Christmas "cheer" (a Sam Adams beer coaster from a restaurant):

And turned it into this kind of Christmas cheer, a gift tag:

My kids thought I was nuts to swipe two coasters from Chili's when we recently went out to dinner.  I knew they were projects just waiting to happen!  (and, hey, don't they throw them out when you leave, anyway?)

It just so happens that the largest die from Spellbinders Labels Eight fit perfectly over this coaster with just a tad bit of room to spare.  What luck!  I used Soft Sky cardstock from Stampin' Up! on both sides of the coaster, then a designer paper from SU that I don't know the name of.  (It's older and retired, like ALL of my SU dp's)

I layered on a Spellbinders Labels Ten in Soft Sky, then an oval nestie in an SU designer paper (Bella Bleu, maybe?), and finally, a "nestie" medallion of my own design.  I learned some tricks from my friend, Andrea Ewen, about using a corner punch to create your own medallion.  I chose the Martha Stewart Gothic Arches Corner Punch to do this.  To see Andrea's tutorial, click here.  Any mistakes can be covered by things such as tree branches, or snowflakes (wink, wink).

I'm playing in several challenges:

• Flourishes FLLCNOV10 - Warm Winter Wishes - use cool tones and blues
• Flourishes FLLCNOEL - Tag, You're It - using Flourishes stamps
• Flourishes BBB4 - use a ribbon or bow (mine is the hanger for my tag)
• Mark's Finest Papers 28 - use piercing (I do have some genuine piercing tool marks above the Doily Lace border punch, but I thought also the Doily Lace punch had a nice pierced look to it)
• 
  Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings - winter theme of blue, silver and white using ribbon as well
  
  
  

I used my favorite glitter liberally, over punched snowflakes, the ornament from All That Glitters by Flourishes, and corners of the darker blue nestie.  More bling shows up in the form of icy blue brads and a recycled piece of tinsel-looking pipe cleaner (came on a gift bag). 

I don't think I've ever made a tag before.  This was fun!  One tool I lack, and discovered I now need, is a Crop-A-Dile.  It's true:  I don't own one of those, or even grommets.  Can you imagine??  For the hole at the top of the tag, I used my paper piercer.  It's not as polished as a grommet would've been, but it'll do.

Thanks for joining me today.  I hope you were able to play in the Inspiration Challenge 257 at Splitcoast over the weekend.  If you haven't, there's no deadline for it, so give it a try!

Happy Stamping,

Stamps:  All That Glitters by Flourishes
Paper:  Soft Sky, Very Vanilla, retired SU dp's
Ink:  Basic Black
Punches:  Martha Stewart snowflake, Doily Lace border and Gothic Arches corner punch
Other:  Big Shot, rhinestone stickers, dimensionals, tinsel wire from a gift bag, Making Memories icy blue rhinestone brads, iridescent glitter, blue satin ribbon from my grandmother, Spellbinders Label Eight, Label Ten, large oval