Whoo Hoo Wednesday - Victorian Style

Over at the Inspired By Stamping blog, Joanna Munster hosts a feature called Whoo Hoo Wednesday,  where each of the design team members showcases a project or tutorial.  It's my turn today, and I'd like to show you a larger-than-A2 Victorian card.

I began with a dressmakers form made from chipboard (thanks to my friend Carol for sending me a slew of them!), and painted it with white Crackle Paint.

When the paint was dry and crackled, I sponged on Walnut Stain Distress Ink with a soft, swirling motion, to get it in the cracks.

Time for a skirt.  Turn the dressmakers form upside down on a piece of patterned paper that is also upside down, and trace with a pencil.

After adhering the trimmed patterned paper skirt, it's time to glue on some pretty lace.  This is a remnant from my stash.

I added a bit of ivory braided trim to the waist (yes, it's quite high-waisted!) and then glued on a piece of a cheap pearl necklace.  I set an acrylic stamping block over the pearls to apply pressure until the glue set.

As a last minute idea, I sponged some white ink to the edges of the dressmakers form.  I also added some BEAUTIFUL little pink roses from the Inspired By Stamping store (link at end of post).

The patterned papers are retired Anna Griffin pieces, and gave such a Victorian flavor to this card.

See the crackle on the stand?

I stamped a portion of a sentiment from the Daisies set on this oval die cut, and gently shaded it with sage chalk ink.

This is a peek inside the card.

Thank you SO much for joining me here today!  Please be sure to visit the Inspired By Stamping blog every Wednesday --- you never know what you might see.  :o)  And don't forget they are having a big sale during the entire month of September!

On a personal note, I am entering this in the Moxie Fab Card Design Handbook Asymmetry Challenge.  Yes, again.  ;)



Dimensions: 4 7/8" x 6.25"
Stamps: Daisies, Big Treasures - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla - SU; green flourish, cream floral - Anna Griffin
Ink: Antique Linen, Walnut Stain - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black, Sage chalk ink - Tsukineko; Whisper White craft - SU
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; ivory braid - Waverly; taupe lace
Other: pearl necklace; Big Shot; Oval, Fancy Tags Two dies - Spellbinders; dressform chipboard - Tim Holtz; Picket Fence Crackle Paint - Ranger; pearls; Mixed Color Small Flowers - Inspired By Stamping

Thinking of You Anniversary

Hello friends!  I've got a simple anniversary card today, as a break from the fancier, more time-intensive creations I featured the last few days.

I try to keep my supply of cards flowing to the boutique where they are sold, so people always see something new and different when they shop.  My Weddings/Anniversaries category is dwindling.  Time to restock!  Although I love to do shabby chic/vintage designs most often, there are buyers who aren't into that.  They want something crisp and simple, like this.

I'm playing along in Verve's Diva Dare Fanspiration 2012 challenge.  To play, we need to choose a creation by a non-Diva from the Verve Gallery.  I chose THIS card by Luanne Ford.  She used a lively purple and bright green combo, and some yummy buttons too.  :o)  I kept the color combo and use of a button, but went with a CAS design.

The flower is made with a scalloped circle punch, with some 'petals' cut into it.  The leaves come from a 5-Petal Flower punch.  

I am also entering this in the Go Fish challenge, CAS Anniversary.

Thanks for visiting me today!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Kind Words - Verve
Paper: white - PTI; Kiwi Kiss, Lovely Lilac - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions
Other: Kiwi Kiss corduroy button, Scallop Circle punch, 5-Petal flower punch - SU; corner rounder punch - EK Success

Inspired By Stamping - Joyeux Noel

I've got one last project from our new September releases over at Inspired By Stamping.  I used the new Elegant Christmas Sentiments and paired it with another IBS set, Paris.

Here's a close-up of the sentiment and a new paper rose available at the store....

....and a new ribbon, too!  Elegant black, with a subtle pattern on it.  It is soft and holds its shape beautifully.

The snowflakes, stamped on the doily and the book page, are from Elegant Christmas Sentiments.

The edge of the envelope wears some decoration, as well:

Inspired by Stamping has a store-wide sale going on in September.  You can check it out HERE.

Each design team member has one last project to share with you:

Deb Hickman

Irit Shalom

Joanna Munster

Kendra Sand

Kim Score

Tammy Hobbs

I always love to read your comments, so let me know what you think about today's project.  Thank you so much for visiting!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Elegant Christmas Sentiments, Paris - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: white - PTI; Basic Black, flocked red damask - SU; book page
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen - Ranger
Fibers: Black Ribbon (new!) - Inspired By Stamping
Other: Red Flower (new!) - Inspired By Stamping; doily - Wilton; White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger; Arches punch - EK Success

Pinterest-Inspired Christmas

Just popping in with a quick post, so I can play in Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge, "A Pinterest Christmas," and Stampendous' embossing challenge.

I silver-embossed a sentiment from Stampin' Up!'s Snow Swirled, and made a rhinestone wreath.  This close-up shows the sentiment better than the larger photo below does.

It's a super-simple card, and was inspired by this Pinterest photo --

photo credit

The silver candlesticks and berry-red shade really spoke to me.  Should have added some touch of green, but thought of that after I did the photos.  ;)

Thanks for coming by!

PS - don't forget you have a chance to win some blog candy I'm offering over at Do Less With More, if you play in my challenge!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Snow Swirled - SU
Paper: Bazzill
Ink: Versamark - Tsukineko
Fibers: satin ribbon - Michael's
Other: scalloped edge punch - SU; rhinestones; silver embossing powder - SU

Inspired By Stamping September Sneak Peeks!

This is my second post today.  Please scroll down one post 

to see my Creative Inspirations Paints post featuring shamrocks!

It's September Sneak Peek time at Inspired By Stamping, and just wait until you see the amazing stamps coming out on Friday!  Neat Halloween sets, something for Christmas, and something for everyday occasions, too, along with new flowers and ribbons.

Want 2 chances to win AWESOME blog candy?  Just leave a comment at Joanna's blog on Wednesday and Thursday.  The prize for two lucky winners:  a stamp set of your choice, 1 crochet trim/ribbon and 1 set of flowers.  My friends, that is a FANTASTIC prize!

Everyone is a winner with the BIG SALE going on the entire month of September at the IBS store.  You need to check it out!  Very good savings.

One more announcement:  you can take advantage of free shipping with a $25 minimum purchase this Friday only.  Use the code FREESHIPPING at checkout.

Up first, a card featuring two new sets:  Halloween Faces and Halloween Tags.

Halloween Faces offers mix-and-match pumpkin bodies and expressions.  I paper pieced the pumpkins on light gray patterned papers, reminiscent of gray pumpkins like these:

Image Credit

I found this interesting black fiber trim in one of my kids' craft kits, and I'm pretending that these pumpkins are sitting on a frosty night ground.  The orange ribbon is vintage, from my beloved grandmother.

The circle label and bat image are from Halloween Tags.  I stamped two of the bats both on and off the propped-up 'moon'.

Next up, some pastel shabby-chic goodness:

The sentiment is from Fancy Sentiments, and there are so many gorgeous ones to choose from in this set!

The paper flowers and crochet trim are from the IBS store, too.  (links at the end of this post)

This next project was easy to do and so fun to create!  I was inspired by a photo on Pinterest (serious, never-ending inspiration on that site!) and put my own spin on it.

Each bag was stamped with white craft ink and a doily from Delicate Doilies II.

The labels were created with the new Halloween Labels and some Fancy Tags dies.

I added iridescent glitter to each one, too.

Each bag is topped with a doily, clothespin and a bit of a vintage German book page.

Time to check out the creative craftiness of my fellow teamies:

On Wednesday:

Irit Shalom

Joanna Munster

Kim Score

On Thursday:

Deb Hickman

Joanna Munster

Kendra Sand

Tammy Hobbs

Thanks a bunch for hanging in there with me!  I know this post was extra-long.  :-)




Pumpkins Card
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Halloween Faces, Halloween Tags - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Basic Black, Summer Sun, orange/black pattern, light gray patterns - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: orange satin ribbon - vintage; black fuzzy fiber

Love You Card
Dimensions:  4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Fancy Sentiments - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Very Vanilla, Pink Pirhouette, Bashful Blue, patterns - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Frayed Burlap - Ranger
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; Victorian Crochet Trim - Inspired By Stamping
Other: Blue Medium Flower, Off White Flower - Inspired By Stamping; oval punch - SU; Bisque Liquid Pearls - Ranger; Scallop Dot punch - Martha Stewart; postage die cut - SU

Gift Bags
Stamps:  Delicate Doilies II, Halloween Labels - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Whisper White - SU; vintage German book page (thank you, Maria!)
Ink: Whisper White - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: black twine - Creative Impressions
Other: Fancy Tags Two and Three, circle dies - Spellbinders; iridescent glitter; mini paper bags; doilies - Wilton; clothespins

Simple Shamrocks

This is my second post today.  Please scroll up one post 

for the Inspired By Stamping Sneak Peeks!

Hello!  It's my turn to feature a project over at Creative Inspirations Paints this week, and I am particularly fond of the result, being of Irish descent and born on St. Patrick's Day:

My shamrocks began life as a couple of paper flower petals from Prima, which I had bought in my early stamping days.

I thoroughly dislike the ones with words on them, so they got a coat of Emerald shimmer paint.

A pearl center and hand-drawn stem for each shamrock....

....tied with a little twine bow, and a fabulous Verve sentiment:

This is a birthday card for my sister.  She adores anything Irish and the color green.  :o)

On a personal note, I am entering this in the Moxie Fab World Card Design Handbook Asymmetry Challenge.  I hope Cath (from MFW) doesn't tire of seeing my creations in her Handbook challenges.  I am truly relishing them!

Thanks so much for joining me today!  Don't forget -- Creative Inspirations has a weekly challenge, with chances to win some of these AMAZING paints.



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Blessings - Verve
Paper: white - PTI
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions
Other: Emerald shimmer paint - Creative Inspirations; pearls; paper piercer; black marker - SU

Guest Designing at Do More With Less

Hello!  I have the pleasure of being a Guest Designer this week at Do More With Less, a blog by crafter Yvonne Yam.  Yvonne asked me to showcase a project in my particular style, and break down 'how I do what I do'.

Head over to Yvonne's blog to see my card in its entirety, and lots of close up pics too.  Play along with my challenge at Yvonne's and you could win a prize package I've put together!  My thanks to Yvonne for letting me host a challenge with her and allowing me to be her guest.  :o)

Hope to see you there!



Details for my Card (at Yvonne's blog)
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Spray Flower - LaBlanche; ruler - Paper Girl - Girls' Paperie
Paper: white - PTI; Very Vanilla - SU; green pattern - Pretty Patterns - Carol Wilson Fine Arts, Inc.; cream pattern - Elegance - K & Co.; lavender pattern - Chateau Lavender - DCWV; beige pattern - Lost & Found Union Square - My Mind's Eye
Ink: Antique Linen, Walnut Stain - Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white seam binding - Zipper Stop; lace - Offray; white twine - SU
Other: pearl; butterfly sticker - K & Co.; Deckled Frame, circle die - Spellbinders; Copic markers; button; Dotted Scallop punch - EK Success

Christmas Star

This is my second post for today.  Please scroll down one post

or click HERE for 'Heart of Flowers.'

I managed to squeeze in a little more crafty time today, and made a Christmas card so that I can play in the Merry Monday Challenge:

Here is the sketch:

These tiny pennant stamps are from a Just Rite set called O Christmas Tree, which I bought from Overstock.com several months ago.  I stamped, colored and trimmed each one out, then glued them to the back of some nested circle dies.  The snowflake is from the same set.

The black punched wide border needed a little somethin' extra, so I added a piece of retired specialty paper from Stampin' Up!.  It's matte black and high gloss black stripes.  And please don't look too closely at the coloring of those tiny pennants:  my vision has changed, and I cannot see close-up so well anymore, even with my contacts.  ;-)  Time for those magnifying glasses!

Thanks for coming by today, and thanks to those of you who left such lovely comments on my Heart of Flowers card (next post down).  It makes my heart happy to read what you have to say!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: O Christmas Tree - Just Rite; Holiday Sayings - Hero Arts; Punched Tin - Market Street Stamps
Paper: Sahara Sand, Basic Black, black patterned - SU; white - PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Sahara Sand - SU
Fibers: white cotton twill (from packaging); red sheer ribbon
Other: pearls; circle dies - Spellbinders; Copic markers; Lattice Edge punch - Martha Stewart

Heart of Flowers

Hello everyone!  I'm popping in with a quick post so I can play in some challenges.  It's my MIL's birthday soon, and it's a 'big' birthday at that.  I made an extra special card for her, using her favorite color.

 Challenges entered:

• City Crafter - Monochromatic
• Moxie Fab World's Card Design Handbook Focal Point challenge (Cath, I hope you're not getting tired of me entering these Handbook challenges! LOL)
• CAS-ual Fridays - CAS Embossing

• A Blog Named Hero - Embossing

Lots and lots of punching happened here, paired with an embossed background.

A happy accident occurred - I had gotten a tiny smudge of black ink down in the bottom right corner of the card.  I added some white punched flowers to cover it, and then scattered some elsewhere too.

I'm really fond of Liquid Pearls these days, and I have my friend Andrea to thank for that.  ;)

Thanks for dropping in!

Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Small Phrases - Verve
Paper: white - PTI; So Saffron - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white seam binding - Zipper Stop
Other: Liquid Pearls - Ranger; Modern Label, Flower Trio Punches - SU; pearls; Diamonds and Dots embossing folder - Lifestyle Crafts