2011 February » fresh & fun

Kraftin' Kimmie Sneak Peek

Challenge, Copics, Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, Nestabilities 17 Responses »

Feb 102011

Today is Sneak Peek day #2 for the new Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps. For a list of all sneak peek participants, check the Kraftin’ Kimmie blog. Today you get a peek at the new Steven Leary images.

For my sample I used Springtime Maisie. The image was stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock and colored with Copic Markers (Maisie: C1, C2, C3, C5, Ears and Nose: E93, E95, Flowers: BG10, BG11, BG13, R30, R32, R43, Y13, Y15, Y17, Grass and leaves: YG01, YG03, YG17, Basked: E13, E15, E18, shading: T0, T1).

The image was cut and embossed with Classic Square Nestabilities. Small and medium sized cloud masks cut with the Cloud Die-namics die and layered over the sky. The mouse and flower were masked and the sky was airbrushed with Copic Marker B32. Next the image was layered on a piece of Neenah Canyon Brown cardstock, cut and embossed with Scallop Square Nestabilities and the edges were paper pierced.

For my card I used the current CPS sketch. I just turned it a bit so I wouldn’t have to cover up the flowers with the sentiment.

The card base is a 4 3/4″ x 9 1/2″ piece of textured Going Grey cardstock folded in half. A 4 1/4″ piece of Echo Park Life is Good paper was stitched to a 3/16″ bigger piece of Canyon Brown cardstock before the layers were attached to the card base. The image was adhered to the base with dimensionals.

The sentiment is from Kraftin’ Kimmie’s Thankful Sentiment set. The edges of a medium size cloud die-cut were airbrushed with Copic Marker B32 before the sentiment was stamped in it’s center with Tuxedo Black Memento ink. Yellow Kaisercraft Rhinestones in the center of the blue flowers, as well as the sentiment panel and the lower right corner of the card base finish off the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!
Hugs and smiles

Whimsy Stamps new Rubber release Blog Hop

Copics, Grand Nestabilities, Nestabilities, Whimsy Stamps 95 Responses »

Feb 092011

Hello and welcome to the Whimsy Stamps February new rubber release BLOG HOP! SIXTEEN gorgeous new Whimsy Stamps and two new dies are being released today! They are available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites.

If you would like to participate in the hop and you didn’t arrive here from Tracy’s blog, please CLICK HERE to return to the beginning of the hop at Chris’s blog.

The hop starts today (Wednesday February 9th at noon EST) and ends on Wednesday, February 16th at 12 noon (EST).

For this hop we have 6 different prize draws – with two grand prizes at the beginning and end of the very end of the hop, but there are also 4 mini candy stops throughout the hop! I’m not going to tell you where they are, so you’ll just have to keep on hopping to find them! *wink*

For my sample I used Meljen’s Spring Sitter Bunny. I stamped it in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on Express It! Blending card, cut it with Circle Nestabilities dies and the Out of the Box Technique and colored it with Copic Markers (Shirt: R20, R21, R22, Stockings: R20, R21, R22, R24, R27, R29, shirt: Y11, Y15, Y19, fur: E30, E31, E33, Butterflies: R21, R22, Y19 Y15, Grass: G40, G82, G85).

The image was airbrushed with Copic Marker B52, layered on a piece of black cardstock that had been cut and embossed with a Large Scallop Circle Nestabilities die. The edges were paper pierced and Silver Kaisercraft Rhinestones were added to the image.

For the card base as well as the smaller layers I used Label 1 Grand Nestabilities dies. The card base was cut out of Sour Apple cardstock. Fancy Pants Love Birds patterned paper was cut with the next smaller die and stitched to a slightly bigger hand cut black cardstock layer. Melissa Frances lace from the White ribbon pack was adhered around the layers before the image was adhered with dimensionals.

The sentiment is from the Friendship Ticket Sentiment set. It was stamped on a thin strip of white cardstock in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink . The left corner was punched with a square punch to create the edge, three small silver Rhinestones were added underneath.

May Arts Organdy Ribbon was tied into a bow with the Bow Easy. The bow was topped with a Basic Grey button and the sentiment strip was adhered underneath the button. Three more Basic Grey buttons were threaded with white embroidery floss and adhered to the upper right hand side of the image.

A Recollections Rhinestone swirl on the top left of the corner finish off the card front. Next on the blog hop is Crissy Armstrong! Have fun blog hopping and good luck on winning one of the prizes.

Have a wonderful day! Hugs and smiles

Sweet, Sweet Peas

Challenge, Copics, Flourishes, LLC, Nestabilities 24 Responses »

Feb 082011

Last Friday’s Free for All challenge was to create an almost Monochromatic card. You were to use white or vanilla, one neutral and one other color. It took me a while to pick my colors and image, but I finally settled on coral/grey and the Sweet Pea image from Flourishes.

I stamped the image in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock and cut it out with the largest of the Petite Oval Nestabilities die and the Out of the Box Technique. The image was colored with Copic Markers (Sweet Peas: R20, R21, R22, W2, Leaves: N1, N3, N5, Shading: N0, N2).

The image looked so cool on the back of the paper, I had to take a picture of it.

A piece of Basic Gray cardstock was cut and embossed with the largest Scallop Oval Nestabilities die and sponged with Pumice Stone Distress Ink. The image was adhered to the gray layer and the edges were paper pierced.

A 4″ x 5″ piece of Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime (I LOVE that paper!)was stitched to a 3/16″ bigger piece of Neenah Canyon Brown cardstock. The layers were adhered to the card base, a 4 1/2″ x 11″ piece of Neenah Solar white cardstock.

I cut two paper doilies in half and adhered them under the gray scallop oval before adhering the image to the card base. A bow was tied with May Arts Organdy ribbon. Some silver curling ribbon was tied around and it was topped off with a Recollection Pearl brad. To finish the card off I added some more Snow Kaisercraft Pearls.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day.
Hugs and smiles

Bring Back Beautiful: The Beauty of Love

3-D items, Flourishes - Bring Back Beautiful Challenge, Flourishes, LLC, Video Tutorial 29 Responses »

Feb 072011

It’s the first Monday of the month, which means it is time for the next Bring Back Beautiful Challenge.

Love is a beautiful thing, so let’s honor it in our card making! Use the color red, have a feel of romance, or adorn your creation with hearts – the choice is yours! Link up your Bringing Back Beautiful Challenge card here to enter. If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword BBB07. You have until February 28th to enter! As we unveil our challenge for next month, we’ll share our True Beauties – those card makers who wowed us with this challenge! Winners will be featured on the Flourishes Blog and will receive a True Beauty blog button to display proudly on their blog!

For my sample I chose the new Heart & Flowers stamp set. I used the Rose Heart and stamped it in Rich Cocoa Memento Ink on Natural White cardstock. It was cut and embossed with Classic Circle Nestabilities and colored with Copic Markers (R01, R02, R05). The edges were sponged with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress Ink. It was layered on a piece of Kraft cardstock that had been cut and embossed with a large scallop circle Nestabilities die and sponged with Vintage Photo distress ink.

I stamped the sentiment from Hearts & Flowers in Rich Cocoa Memento Ink on a 7/8′ square of Classic White cardstock. The heart was inked with Vintage Photo Ink and stamped in third generation over the sentiment. The edges of the square were sponged with the same ink and entered in the 1″ square Memory Frame. I noticed I didn’t have 1″ Memory Glass, so I added a few more 7/8″ paper squares and added a 7/8″ square of Acetate to the front and back of the frame.

My project is a Genie bag. The base is a 4″ wide lunch bag. I cut it down to a 4″ square and created covers for the bag. The paper is from 7 Gypsies Victoria pack. The sides started out with a 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″, then cut the sides in angles 5/8″ in. A piece of Classic White cardstock was cut with Faux Crochet Dienamics die and adhered on the upper edge of the sides. May Arts Velvet ribbon was adhered over a horizontal strip of the same paper pack. The heart was adhered over the ribbon with dimensionals. A bow was tied out Ivory Silk ribbon from May Arts. It was topped with an Antique Brad from Stampin’ Up!

The sentiment frame as well as a key and charm from Tim Holtz Idea-ology line were attached to the bow with jump rings.

Two strips of the velvet lace ribbon were used as handles. They were adhered to the inside of the side pieces. Next small circles were cut out of Kraft paper, sponged with Vintage Photo ink and topped with smaller Antique Brads.

Here is a video for the visual learner:

Be sure to check out the rest of the team by clicking on over to see…..

Cindy Coutts

Heather Jensen

Kathy Jones

Laura Fredrickson

Yvonne Hagane

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!
Hugs and smiles

Thinking of you ... with music in my heart

Crafty Secrets, Nestabilities 21 Responses »

Feb 062011

On Thurday I made a card without line stamps and Copic Markers. I haven’t done that in a long time. I just love to color and have a hard time not to use it on my cards.

I made this card for Thursday’s Way to Use it Challenge as well as with the sketch from last weeks Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge. I started with cutting Tissue paper with the Blossom Spellbinders die and stamping them with Crafty Secrets Artsy Banner stamp in Vintage Photo distress ink. An Antique Brad was put through all layers and the edges were sponged with Vintage Photo ink.

A heart was cut and embossed out of Classic White Neenah cardstock with Spellbinders Classic Heart die. The edges were sponged with Vintage Photo distress ink and the sentiment from Crafty Secrets Sweet Kids was stamped in the center with Rich Cocoa Memento Ink. The heart was layered on a piece of Neenah Canyon Brown cardstock that had been cut and embossed with Scallop Heart die. The edges of the sponged heart were paper pierced.

A 3 1/2″ square of Graphic 45 Once Upon A Springtime was stitched to a 3/16″ bigger piece of Canyon Brown cardstock, after it’s upper corners were rounded. Melissa Frances lace from the Beige Ribbon collection was adhered to the bottom of that layer and the heart and flower were attached to it with dimensionals.

A 3 3/4″ x 5″ piece of Once Upon A Springtime paper was stitched to a 3/16″ bigger piece of Canyon Brown paper before the layers were adhered to the card base, a 4 1/2″ x 11 1/2″ piece of textured Kraft cardstock folded in half.

Latte Kaisercraft Pearls finish off the card. Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day.
Hugs and smiles

Whimsy Stamps Preview - Bunny's Baby Bottle

Copics, Grand Nestabilities, Nestabilities, Whimsy Stamps 26 Responses »

Feb 052011

I am excited that I get to show you a sneak peek from Whimsy’s new Rubber stamp release that will come out next Wednesday. For my sample I used Meljen’s Bunny’s Baby Bottle. Meljen’s stamps are so much fun to color.

I started out by stamping the bunny in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on XPress It! Blending Card. the image was cut and embossed with the largest Circle Nestabilities die,colored it in with Copic Markers (Bunny: N0, N1, N3, N5 Nose/Cheeks/feet: E02, E04, Bottle: BG0000, BG01, Grass: YG25, YG17, YG67) and airbrushed the sky with Copic Marker BG11.

A piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock was cut and embossed with the Largest Beaded Circle Nestabilities, then airbrushed with Copic Marker YG67. The image circle was adhered to the beaded circle and the edges of the image layer were paper pierced.

For my card base I cut a piece of Neenah Solar White with the second largest of the Label 4 Grand Nestabilities die and scored it in half. Two pieces of October Afternoon Ducks in a Row paper were both cut with the next smaller Label 4 Grand Nestabilities die. One piece was cut in half, the second piece down to 2″. A piece of Avocado Linen Ribbon was adhered over the horizontal strip, then the layers were stitched to the card front.

Before the image layers were attached to the card front with a double layer of dimensionals, I stitched two buttons (one Basic Grey, one My Mind’s Eye) to the left hand side of the image.

For the sentiment a ticket outline from the stamp set Friendship Ticket Sentiments was stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock. I stamped the New baby sentiment from Oval Snippets in the center of the ticket, cut it out and colored it with Copic Markers (YG21, YG23, YG17). A small hole was punched on the top of the ticket and a jump ring was attached.

May Arts Organdy ribbon was tied into a bow with my Bow-Easy. The sentiment ticket was attached to the bow along with a Basic Grey button with embroidery floss.

Wait until you see all of the new release. There will be 16 new stamps and two new dies.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful day!
Hugs and smiles

Meljen's Fairy

Copics, Die-namics, Meljen's Designs, Nestabilities, Whimsy Stamps 17 Responses »

Feb 042011

Splitcoast’s sketch challenge this week was a great sketch based on one of Jenna Barber’s cards. I had downloaded a few of Melissa’s (Meljen’s Designs) images and was itching to try out this darling fairy. After coloring the image, I ordered me two more of these sweet fairies in the Whimsy Stamp store. I bet you will see those here soon.

I printed her out on Neenah Solar White cardstock, cut the image with Label 17 Nestabilities die and colored her with Copic Markers (skin: E0000, E00, E01, E02, Hair: YR15, YR18, E18, Shirt: YG11, YG13, YG17, YG67, G28, G29, Butterfly: Y13, Y15, Y17, YR12, YR16, YR18, BG10, BG11, BG13). The image was layered on Basic Grey cardstock (Stampin’ Up!) and cut freehand for an extra layer. The edges of the label were paper pierced.

The card base is a 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock. The right hand corners were rounded with W R Memory Keepers Cropadile Corner Chomper. A 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of Core’dinations cardstock was stitched to the card base after the right hand corners were rounded as well.

A 3 1/2″ long strip of White cardstock was cut with the Faux Crochet Die-namics die and stitched to a 1 1/4″ x 3 3/4″ piece of Cosmo Cricket Everafter Patterned Paper. The layers were adhered to a 3 1/2″ x 4 3/4″ piece of Everafter Paper. That was stitched to a 1/4″ bigger piece of Basic Gray cardstock.

The sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps Oval Snippets. It was stamped in Rusty Hinges Distress ink and punched out with Stampin’ Up!’s oval punch. The oval was layered on a piece of Basic Gray cardstock, punched with the scallop oval punch.

Recollections Rhinestone swirls were adhered underneath the sentiment as well as on the top left and bottom right of the top layers. The image was adhered to the card base with dimensionals. Three Recollections flowers were twisted together and adhered to the lower left hand side. Organdy ribbon was tied with the Bow-Easy and topped with another Recollection flower before it was adhered to the bottom of the sentiment.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day! Hugs and smiles

Rockin' Clematis

Challenge, Copics, Die-namics, Flourishes, LLC, Nestabilities 26 Responses »

Feb 032011

Tuesday was an amazing color challenge on Splitcoaststampers: River Rock, Basic Gray and Whisper White. Everyone created some wonderful cards for that challenge. For my sample I used Flourishes Butterflies & Blossoms set.

I stamped the image in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock and cut it out with a Petite Oval Nestabilities die with the Out of the Box Technique. The image was colored with Copic Markers (Bloom: N1, N3, N5, Leaves: YG91, YG93,N5, Bloom Center: YG91, YG93, N1, N3 Shading underneath to make it pop: W00, W1, W2).

The image was masked and stamped over with the big sentiment from Butterflies & Blossoms in Old Paper Distress Ink and the edges of the oval were sponged with the same ink. The image was layered on a piece of Basic Grey paper that had been cut and embossed with Petite Scallop Oval Nestabilities and colored with Copic Marker N5.

The layout for this card is from this week’s Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge. A 5″ strip of white cardstock was cut with the Faux Crochet Die-namics border and adhered to a 2″ x 5″ piece of Webster’s Pages Petite Paper. The edge of the patterned paper was paper pierced. The strip as was adhered to a 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ piece of Webster’s Pages paper, that had been stitched to a 3/16″ bigger piece of White cardstock

A 4 3/16″ long strip of textured Basic Grey cardstock was also cut with the Faux Crochet Border die and adhered to a 1 1/4″ x 4 3/16″ strip of the same cardstock. White Organdy Ribbon was tied around the strip before it was adhered horizontally over the bigger layers. Those layers were adhered to the card base, created out of a 4 3/4″ x 12″ strip of Textured Basic Grey cardstock.

The image layers were adhered to the card front with dimensionals. More White Organdy Ribbon was tied into a bow and topped with a Making Memories brad.

The sentiment is also from Butterflies & Blossoms. It was stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on a piece of Neenah Solar white cardstock cut and embossed with the retired 5 Tag die from Spellbinders. The center was sponged with Old Paper and a butterfly also from the same set was stamped over it. The tag was attached to the bow with a Jump Ring before the bow was adhered to the image with Scor-Tape.

Snow Kaisercraft Pearls on the top right finish off the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day! Hugs and smiles

Tutorial on SCS - Faux Pressed Flowers

Challenge, Copics, Crafty Secrets, Die-namics, Nestabilities, Video Tutorial 17 Responses »

Feb 022011

Today’s tutorial on Splitcoast is written by Anne Harada. It is called Faux Pressed Flowers.

For my sample I started out by stamping a stem stamp from Crafty Secrets new Art Blooms stamp set in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock. I was cut with the Out of the Box Technique and Classic Oval Nestabilities die. Next I masked the stem and stamped over the image with the note border from Artsy Banner in Antique Linen Distress Ink.

The image was colored with Copic Markers (G40, G82, G85, RV32, RV35) and the oval was sponged first with Antique Linen, then with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. Prima Flowers were adhered over the stem, then the entire oval was embossed with ProvoCraft’s Textile Texture Embossing Folder. Next I sponged some more Vintage Photo Ink over the embossed part of the oval. Citrus Crush Flower Soft was added in the center of my Prima Flowers.

The oval was adhered over another piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock, that had been was cut and embossed with Beaded Oval Nestabilities die and sponged with Vintage Photo ink.

I created the card following the Midnight Madness Sketch challenge from last week. For the card base a 4″ x 5″ piece of Circa 1934 Cosmo Cricket patterned paper was stitched to a 3/16″ piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock. Two 2″ x 2 7/8″ piece of Circa 1934 paper were stitched to 3/16″ bigger piece of white cardstock. Two 2 7/8″ long strips of white cardstock were cut with the Faux Crochet Border Dienamics, adhered to the rectangle pieces before those were taped to the bigger layers.

The layers were adhered to the card base, a 4 1/4″ x 11″ piece of Pink Pirouette cardstock folded in half. Recollections Rhinestone swirl was adhered to the upper right corner. Another piece of Solar White was cut and embossed with Spellbinders Fancy Tag dies. One of the sentiments from Art Blooms was stamped on it with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.

A pink silk bow was tied with the Bow Easy and topped with a Recollection Rhinestone brad. It was adhered to the upper right side of the sentiment panel to finish off the card front.

Here is a video for the visual learner: