Fresh Green Wreath

This is my third post for today.  Click HERE for the Custom Button post, 

and HERE for Beautiful Iris, a new release from IBS.  

I'm trying out a new-to-me challenge this week:  Inkspirational, co-owned by my friend Ellen.  Our design team at Inspired By Stamping is pairing with the DT from Inkspirational this month.  IBS is sponsoring the prize.  :-)  This week's challenge is all about Shades of Green.

For Christmas, I received a maple leaf punch and hadn't played with it yet.  This was the perfect chance to create a fresh green wreath (well, freshly made of paper!).

I added some Liquid Pearls to dot the leaves.  I'm quite sure you won't see this in nature ;-).....
The sentiment is from Flowers Bloom by IBS.

St. Patrick's Day is coming up, and it's a great chance to make a "Shades of Green" card if you're feeling inspired.  Come play with us.  You could win the prize from Inspired By Stamping!



Stamps:  Flowers Bloom - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: white - PTI; assorted green prints
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white satin ribbon
Other: White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger; Romantic Rectangles die - Spellbinders; Maple Leaf punch - Martha Stewart
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"

Inspired By Stamping Release - Beautiful Iris

This is my second post today.  Click HERE for the Custom Button post.  

Hello my friends!  I'm excited to share my first project of our March 2013 release at Inspired By Stamping. Inspired By Stamping, owned by Joanna Munster, features quality photopolymer stamps with coordinating dies, Silhouette cut files and beautiful embellishments.   This month we are releasing 6 new stamp sets! Every month we release new stamps and other fabulous products for all of your crafty needs. All of our sets come with a free cut file whether you purchase the set or not, the files are free for you to use. Some of our stamp sets will also have coordinating die-cuts so you get the best of both worlds!

During the countdown to the release, please join us for contests, prizes and more at Joanna's blog.

One of the new sets in this release is Beautiful Iris.  Sigh.  I absolutely love it!  Irises are one of my favorite flowers.  When my grandmother was still alive and I became a new homeowner, my grandmother had me dig up some of her irises to transplant in my own garden.  Every spring, I have a lovely reminder of her to gaze upon.

I used the iris stamp to create my own patterned paper directly on the card base using a kraft-colored ink.
Then I stamped it on scrap paper, colored and trimmed out very carefully.  I dusted some clear glitter over the flowers.  Love how they seem to have "dew" on them...or is it frost?  LOL

I mounted them on a glittered chipboard frame, too.

This is one of the 5 sentiments in the set.  Love how it fit perfectly on my round tag.

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!

Joanna's - http://wp.me/p2QJN7-2CC

Cindy Coutts - http://cindycoutts.com/?p=11909

Kendra Sand - http://luv2scrapnmakecards.blogspot.com/2013/03/ibs-princess-and-easter-labels.html

Colleen - you are here!

Irit - http://iritshalom.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/inspired-by-stamping-february-release.html

Deb - http://aworldofimagination-deb.blogspot.com/2013/03/inspired-by-stamping-march_6.html

Pam - http://www.pammejo-scrapbookflair.com/2013/03/my-friend-and-thanks-card-inspired-by.html

Calypso - http://calypsocandycraft.blogspot.com/2013/03/ibs-march-release-pirates.html

Gloria - http://gloriascraps.blogspot.com/2013/03/inspired-by-stamping-march-release-day-1.html

So glad you came by today!

Whoo Hoo Wednesday - Custom Buttons

I love adding buttons to my cards, but due to space constraints my button stash isn’t very big.  In my dream craft room, I’d have jars of buttons in every color!  Since that’s not my reality, I devised a way to customize them for any project using things I already have.

You’ll need:

·         Buttons – any size

·         Circle punches to match the button sizes

·         Patterned stamps

·         Inks

·         White craft glue

·         Paper piercer

·         Glossy adhesive

·         Thread/twine

These are the buttons I covered.  It’s best to choose your flattest ones:

Next, stamp patterns on scraps of white cardstock.  I used green and kraft inks with Vintage Backgrounds and Background Basics I  from Inspired By Stamping.

Use circle punches to coordinate with your button sizes.  I used ½” and ¾” punches.

(this punched circle goes on a larger button, not shown in the picture)

Smear white craft glue to the back of the punched circle and adhere to button; let dry.

After the glue has dried, pierce through button holes with paper piercer.

At this point, you can leave the buttons as they are, or add a glossy lacquer adhesive over the button fronts.  Be sure to use the paper piercer when they are dry and poke through the button holes once again.  A word of caution:  glossy adhesive can slightly alter your ink color.  Add twine or embroidery floss if you like.

I set these custom buttons on beautiful doilies from Delicate Doilies and Delicate Doilies II – some of my FAVE IBS stamps!  The birthday wish is from Fancy Sentiments.  

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial, and thanks for stopping by today.  :-)

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Delicate Doilies II, Fancy Sentiments, Vintage Backgrounds, Basic Backgrounds I - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: white cardstock
Ink: kraft, black inks
Fibers: twine, embroidery thread
Other: pearls; glossy lacquer adhesive; paper piercing tool; scalloped edge punch

Inspired By Stamping Sneak Peek - Day Four

Here's a peek at our final stamp set coming out in the March release at Inspired By Stamping!

Meet Mason Jar Add On III:

This set coordinates very nicely with Mason Jars, Mason Jar Add-On I, and Mason Jar Add-On II.  And as you can see by the decorated Easter eggs above, this new set will help you create some Spring holiday goodness!

Thanks for peeking at the sets these last few days.  Now, get ready for all-out inspiration!  See you tomorrow with an Iris card that makes me oh-so-happy.  :-)

Inspired By Stamping Sneak Peeks - Day Three

We can't forget the boys and men in our lives, so today's Sneak Peek from the new March release at Inspired By Stamping is all about Pirates!  I had fun with this set, and can't wait to show you my projects soon.  :-)

See you tomorrow with one more sneak peek!

A Card Makeover

Hello there!  There's a card I made back in 2010 which, at the time, I thought was so very beautiful.  I never gave it away, however, because it started to look too plain to me.  It needed something else.

Recently, I gave that card a makeover.  (for the "before" shot, please scroll down)

You can find the original post HERE, called "Inspired By A Pottery Barn Pillow."

Before the makeover

Sheesh, I shudder at my photography skills back then!

The two flowers, built with Blossom Party die cuts, look better with a few extra things added:  an Amira Flourish die cut, split in two and tucked behind the flowers; a sentiment tag; a button with twine.  I also trimmed the card front and mounted it to a pale pink card base.

NOW I have a card that is worthy to send off!

Before I sign off, can I just share something that makes me SO happy?  A few days ago I happened to notice this on Moxie Fab World editor Cath Edvalson's Pinterest page:

That's my 'Thank You Roses' card highlighted in yellow!  Swoon, swoon, swoon.  I feel like a million bucks to make it to Cath's "Cards I Just Love" board.  Thank you, Cath!  And thanks to YOU for letting me share.  :-)



Stamps: Friendly Phrases - Verve
Paper: Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Blush Blossom - SU
Ink: Frayed Burlap - Ranger
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; flower ribbon
Other: Vintage Wallpaper embossing, Blossom Party die, Lots of Tags Sizzlits die - SU; Amira Flourish die - Memory Box; pearls; vintage button
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"

Inspired By Stamping - Sneak Peeks Day Two

Hello there!  Welcome to Day Two of Sneak Peeks of our March release at Inspired By Stamping.  We're showing off little sneaks of our new stamps for a few days, to whet your appetite.

Featured today:   Fancy Circles & Princess

I'll see you tomorrow with another sneak peek!

Inspired By Stamping - Sneak Peeks Day One

Hello my friends!  Over the last month or two, our team at Inspired By Stamping has been putting together a marvelous March Release for you.  I think you're going to love the stamps, and you'll certainly be inspired by the Design Team's creations.

Your New Stamp peeks for Day One:

Be sure to visit owner Joanna Munster's blog for lots of inspiration, chances for blog candy, guest designer calls, how-to videos and more.  It's a wealth of crafting goodness!

Inspired By Stamping #48 - Best Wishes

It's time for a new color challenge at Inspired By Stamping!  This week our colors are White, Light Pink and Sage Green.

I looked through my stash of papers for the right pattern, and found just the right thing.   After adhering it, I embossed the whole card front with a brocade, one of my fave folders.

I LOVE the flowers from the Inspired By Stamping store, and wanted to draw attention to this pretty pink rose.  To make the fabric rosette behind it, I grabbed some green lace and a scalloped circle die, and cut out 6 circles from the fabric.  Two layered circles became the base, and with the remaining four, I folded each in half, then in half again.  The four "pie wedges" were laid upon the base and a brad secured them all together.  Then I glued on the IBS pink rose, and ta-da!  

A tiny tag adorns the big blossom.  I used "best" and "wishes" from the set Birthday Greetings, inked the edges, and tied on a twine bow.  See the pretty white crochet lace?  That is Fabric Tape from IBS!  I love it.    

Come play with us!  You don't need IBS goodies to play, there's a prize every week, and we'd love to have you.  Just link your card up HERE.  

Thanks for coming by.  :-)



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Birthday Greetings - IBS
Paper: Pretty In Pink, Whisper White - SU; Quite Contrary Summer Papers - My Mind's Eye
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Frayed Burlap - Ranger
Fibers: White Lace Fabric Tape - IBS
Other: Kassie's Brocade embossing folder - Cuttlebug; pearls; green fabric - Webster's Pages; Pink Flower - IBS; Amira Flourish die - Memory Box; Scalloped Tag punch - Martha Stewart; Scalloped Circle die - Spellbinders

Believe In Your Dreams

It's been ages since I played over at Runway Inspired Challenge.  I found the inspiration photo rather interesting (check below my project), as in, "I would never wear those clothes" but also as in "I can definitely make a card based on them!"

See the clusters of bright flowers on both pieces, but especially on the girl in black?  The flowers made me think of a pretty die cut by K & Co. in my stash.  I also was inspired by the radiator.  Yes, I know.  Kind of weird.  But it has thin lines rather like this chevron paper from My Mind's Eye.

The beautiful sentiment is by Verve.

As a side note, my 14 YO is so very interested in haute couture fashion.  She wants to be a model AND a clothing designer and envisions herself living in Paris someday.  She's quite the fashion expert, and can usually name a designer just by looking at a piece of clothing.  Her bedroom walls are filled NOT with pictures of the latest teen idols like so many other girls, but with pages from Glamour and Vogue magazines.

I made this card for her, to remind her that we believe in her dreams and she should, too.

By the way, that stomach virus made its way around our entire family but we are in the clear now, thank Heavens!




Stamps: Fairy Tales - Verve
Paper: white - PTI; Miss Caroline Dolled Up - My Mind's Eye; Naturals White - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Other: pearls; bouquet die cut - Que Sera Sera - K & Co.; Labels Eight die - Spellbinders
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"

Mojo Monday Birthday

Hello my friends.  Shortest post ever for me, I think, as I want to get this uploaded into Mojo Monday's challenge before it ends.

The birthday card:

This is the Mojo Monday sketch:

I'll fill in my details later.  I think that stomach virus has got a hold of me.  :/



Stamps: Birthday Phrases - Verve
Paper: Union Square - Lost & Found - My Mind's Eye
Ink:
Fibers:
Other:
Dimensions:

Thank You Roses

Good morning, all!  While my kids are sleeping and getting some well-needed rest, I thought I'd pop in with a quick post.  Both girls and my DH have been through a nasty stomach virus.  The girls have been home from school for three days, poor kiddos, and hubby missed work too.  I don't know how I managed to escape it.  Last night it occurred to me that it might be our toothpaste.  Really!  I have my own (Sensodyne), but the rest of the family shares one big tube.  As of last night, they each have their own now.  Hope that helps keep sickness at bay.

This card happens to be a quick one.  A real bonus for this slow stamper here!

I'm a huge fan of Market Street Stamps' background stamps.  This one is Houndstooth, stamped in Antique Linen and edged in Frayed Burlap.

Quick touches:  a 'thank you' sticker, pre-cut doily from Martha Stewart, pearls and twine.  

Entering this one at A Blog Named Hero:  shabby chic or vintage style.

I wish you all good health!  Thanks for dropping by today.



Stamps: Houndstooth - Market Street Stamps
Paper: white - PTI
Ink: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap - Ranger
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions
Other: thank you / roses sticker - Studio 112; pearls; doily die cut - Martha Stewart; corner rounder punch - EK Success
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"