Meet Iris!

Iris is a digital stamp by Wild Flower Kids, who hosted Smeared & Smudged Sketch Challenge this month.

I colored Iris with Copic markers and used Sakura Glitter pen as accents on her facial tats, her necklace, and her wings. The patterned papers are by The Memory Box. The glittery accents on the punched border are by Stampendous, as is the sentiment.

The card is a 4"x4". I forgot how much I like that size! Note to self: Remember 4 square!

Thanks for visiting today!

New Bombshell Stamp Release!

I'm so excited because Bombshell Stamps has four new sets being released. They're available for pre-order at a special price now.

I'm especially excited about the banner set because I've been pestering Shannon to create a set featuring the vintage banners with everyday card sentiments. Unlike others (coughfamilycough), she actually responded to my nagging! *huge grin*

The Banner Set:


The Butterfly set: (Can't ever have too many butterfly stamps!)


Sacred Heart Art set:


All My Heart set:


Do you have a favorite? I know that I want them all!!!

Oh. You still have today to play along with August's challenges and a chance to win a fabulous prize. Visit Bombshell's Forum to check 'em out!

The September challenges will be up in time for Labor Day weekend!

Feisty Flapper!

Feisty Flapper feels fierce in fuschia! :D

The flapper is from Smeared Ink's Chicks Dig Guns unmounted rubber stamp sheet. Copic markers were used to color her.Sakura's glitter pens were used to add sparkle. Glaze pen was added to her shoes and her hair to add dimension and shine.

The patterned papers are old Autumn Leaves from my stash. (I do love using old papers because it makes me feel less guilty about buying new! *smile*. Sequin ribbons were added as embellishment.

Thanks for visiting!

Don't bug me!

As I might have mentioned, I recently re-organized my unmounted and clear stamps into binders, sorted by manufacturer. During the reorganization, I rediscovered a bunch of stamps that I hadn't used in ages.

Here's a general purpose card that was quick, easy, and fun (like me ;D). It was very different for me lately since it involved no coloring at all! It used the Boho Buzz set (two-part lady bug) and the Skin Deep set (corners and flourish). The patterned papers are by Memory Box.

Thanks for visiting today!

Bombshell Stamps Hump Day Hop!

This is an exciting Hump Day Hop since we're hopping along with the ladies from Gauche Alchemy! Fun! Kas, our Hump Day Hop Captain, set the theme of "Some like it Hot! Hot! Hot!"

I decided to try for a tri-fecta mixing the Hump Day Hop, Boho Rose's (Miss August) monthly theme -- Burlesque, and my sketch.

Here it is!


Here's a close-up showing the dimension and shine from the Glossy Accents and Crackle Accents.


I used the Party PinUp stamp from the Man's Ruin set together with the martini stamp from the Lady Luck set.

You can read the rest of my long-winded incoherent ramblings or scroll on down to the hop list. I won't be offended! :D

I found a great quote by Mae West that worked with the "Hot! Hot! Hot!" theme and the Party Pin-Up. “You ought to get out of those wet clothes...and into a dry martini.” I was thrilled that I was able to match the font to the "Drink Up!" sentiment from the set. (FYI: the font is Edwardian Script).

I also borrowed two ideas. I borrowed the die cut idea from MissAlaineous and the layered images idea from Sparkly Engineer.

I stamped the Party PinUp twice. I colored both versions and added Glossy Accents to the martini glass of the Party PinUp. I then cut out the head, arms, trunk, and legs (sounds twisted, no?) from the second version and adhered them on top of their corresponding parts on the main image. I also cut out the skull from the cocktail glass and coated it with a layer of Crackle Accents (which blurred the skull a bit), then layered that over the corresponding part of the main image. Being me, I didn't wait til either piece had dried completely, so there are some fingerprints on the dimensional accents. Bummer.

I used my Fancy Tags Spellbinders die to cut four tags. I stamped three martini glasses and a sentiment into the tags, colored the martinis, then sponged Pumice Stone Distress Ink over the raised dots and into the image. I cut a strips of patterned paper (stripes, quel shock!) inked the edges and strung the tags along the strips. I added Glossy Accents to the three martini glasses.

I bet my descriptions of my process are as clear as mud. Oh well. It's too late for coffee! :D

The patterned paper is old stuff from my stash. The background paper is by EK Success and has a raised embossed pattern. I have no clue who made the striped paper.

I'm not thrilled with the way the card came out. I need to learn to grow some patience and let Glossy/Crackle Accents dry. Oh yeah. The card is freaking huge at 8.5" x 5.5".

Now that you've seen my monsterpiece, hop along to the others on the list below. Be sure to leave comments at each stop in the hop to win a chance to win a fabulous prize!!!

The Hoppers:
Kas
Gauche Alchemy
Kelli
AnitaMarie
Maggi
Katie
Cheryl
Angel
Erika
Kathi
Pam
Meredith
Merdrey Chew
Yvonne
Steph
Carmen
Alaine
Alison

The Cat's Pajamas Blog Hop!

I entered my two cards from yesterday into today's Cat's Pajamas blog hop!

Click the image below to read more about the hop at Alma's blog, plus check out her project for the hop! It's fabulous.

BTW, just in case you don't know, Alma is the creative genius behind The Cat's Pajamas Stamps!

TCP Tuesday #123: "Bottoms Up" Challenge #2

Here's the second card with a sentiment I'd love as a stamp. :D



Yep. It's another card with another penguin. But this time there are margaritas -- just the way I like 'em...on the rocks...with a salted rim! mmmmmm!

I used the Hola Tequila set for this card! Gotta love the penguin, sentiment, cocktails, salt shaker/lime, and the cactus! The penguin and the margaritas were colored with Copics. I used Sakura glitter pens on the rims of the glass and the accents. Sakura glaze pen was used on the tumblers and on the penguin's beak and feet. Glitter was added to the glass (and my desk, carpet, and cat, who looks very sparkly and festive).

The patterned papers are from my Fancy Pants stash and are older. I do love stripes, probably a bit too much. The sentiment was created with Doodlebug rub-ons.

Thanks for visiting a second time!

P.S. Let's all hoist a glass to my dh and me (mainly him for putting up with me)! We're celebrating our 30th anniversary today. (I got married when I was 5 years old).

TCP Tues #123 "Bottoms Up" challenge

Here's my first card for this challenge!



I used my new Ship Happens set by The Cat's Pajamas. Since penguins "float my boat, when I first saw this set, I fell in love with the penguins adrift in the tea cup. Then I saw that sentiment and guffawed loudly, scaring my kitties.

I colored the scene with Copic markers and used some older Fancy Pants patterned paper with it. I do love my striped paper. I used the Copics to color the ribbon to match the tea cup.

Thanks for visiting today!

SCS Technique Tuesday Challenge!

Teri, Technique Tuesday's SCS Coordinator and a super-talented paper artist, issued the challenge to use stamps to create a background paper.

Here's my take on the challenge.


This challenge was fun for me because it made me step out of my comfort zone. You see I am in love with pre-made patterned paper and can't seem to craft without it. I have a humongo stash of it and can't seem to stop buying it.

I've done this sort of challenge before and had fun with it, but I can't seem to remember to use my stamps to create my own paper.

Anyways, I found a scrap of lined patterned paper and repeatedly stamped the decorative square from the Crowned Jewels set using China Blue Distress Ink. I then found a scrap of textured cardstock that matched the background of the lined paper and used the same Distress Ink to stamp the heart from the Skin Deep set (retired) and the sentiment from the Tiny Wise Words set by Wordsworth Rubber Stamps/Rubber Soul.

This card was fun, easy, and quick to create. Plus, it's really unlike my usual stuff and I used scraps from my scrap bin, so I feel thrifty too! *snort*

I hope you (all three of you) like it too!

Thanks for visiting today!

A new card

Here's Amarylis from Wild Flower Kids.



Wild Flower Kids is the sketch challenge sponsor over at Smeared & Smudged. Go check out the community, do the sketch, and win some goodies!

She's a digital stamp that was colored with Copic markers. Her wings and her facial tattoos are glittery courtesy of glitter pens.

The paper is fairly old Fancy Pants paper from their About a Boy collection. I do have a bunch of their older papers. Gotta start working through it so I can buy newer stuff. :D

Thanks for visiting.

Recycling!

Here are three hanging thingies I've been working on lately. They can be used on a card, as "decor", a keychain, or a necklace.

Inside photo:


Outside photo:


The "thingies" started life as scrapbooking embellishments by K&Company. They were metal with epoxy images in them with dangling charms. The images were nothing I'd ever use, but I kept the embellishments because I knew I wanted to do something with them eventually. I just didn't know what.

I decided to see if I could pry up the epoxy images. I inserted a scissor blade under the images and they popped right out leaving a recessed framed area. Yahoo!!!

Then I looked through my stamp collection for something that would work in such a small area (13/16" x 2.25"). I had a "Eureeka!" moment with the Nature Spirit Domino set by The Enchanted Gallery . I did have to trim the sides of the images, but enough was left to work for me. Note to self: take a second look at stamps and remember that parts can work as well as the whole!

I stamped the three images and the wood image onto white cardstock, colored them with Copic markers, then adhered them on the metal embellishments using Liquid Laminate by Beacon. I then coated them with another layer of Liquid Laminate and let it dry overnight. I swapped out the charms that had been on the original embellishments with ones that worked better with the images.

The photo washes out the color and shading a bit, so when it's sunnier and cooler, I'll take them outside and try again.

Thanks for visiting today!

I'm bird brained!

Actually, I just really like the Home Tweet Home set by Technique Tuesday. I have a feeling I'll be using it often!

Here's my second card using this set.



I stamped the scene directly onto sky-patterned paper by Basic Grey using Memento ink. Copics were used to color the birdhouse and the three birds. I had a "Eureeka" moment and realized that I had scraps of patterned paper that would work really well with the colors I had chosen. The papers are from the Bohemia collection by MME.

I haven't decided what I'll use the card for, so I'll add a sentiment when I decide.

Thanks for visiting today!

How Tweet!

Last Friday I tweeted myself to a mental health day at a paper crafting convention in Valley Forge, PA. I was supposed to meet Laura, an OBP team-mate, and Teri, a fellow Pink Lady from Scraptalk. Both OBP and Scraptalk are now defunct. Ah well.

Anyways, I followed the directions downloaded from the convention center's website. They were wrong and I got lost in the Pinelands, then took the local route back north to Philadelphia. I also got the thrill of going through center city Phillie. Woo-hoo! Not.

A trip that should have taken 1.5 hours took 3.5 hours and I missed Laura, but at least I got to shop the convention and crash Teri's class to see her for a bit.

I didn't spend all of my cash, which was a very good thing, but I got some über-cute Technique Tuesdays stamps, including a three sets from their Little Treasures Sets. They're $2.99 per set and are a steal of a deal!

Here's my first card using the Home Tweet Home set.



I used Memento ink to stamp everything including the tree branches and leaves. Copic markers were used to color the birdhouse, the bird, and the sky. Nestabilities were used to diecut the Memory Box patterned papers. It didn't come out quite the way I envisioned and I'm not totally thrilled with it, but it's done and done is good!

Thanks for visiting today!

Sand & Surf!

It's been blazingly hot here this summer. I wish I could get away to the beach and enjoy some cool ocean breezes, a dip in the ocean, and wiggle my toes in the sand! Alas, I really do need to avoid the sun. Ah well.

This card was created for the SCS VSN "Summer Past-times" challenge. I used the pin-up from the Bombshell Angel set and the sea shells from Bombshell's Hawaiian Girl set. I wish I looked that good in a bathing suit!

The beach scene was colored with Copic markers. I used a white gel pen to add some sea foam and white caps to the ocean. The shells were also colored with Copic markers, but then the shells were coated with a layer of Sakura Glaze pen to add some dimension and shine. The patterned paper is from the late, lamented Flair Design. Thankfully, I have a large stash.

BTW, if you like Bombshell Stamps, there's a call for the next six Pin-ups (guest designers) that ends on August 14th. You should try for it. You never know!

Thanks for visiting and stay cool!

What's my style?

Of course, I'm talking about cardmaking style. I think it varies depending on my mood. I can't figure out what this card is though. I think it might be "Fun & Cute" or it could be "Clean & Graphic". Or maybe it's "Cute, Clean, Graphic Fun!

Paper Crafts Magazine's recent special issue is Card Style and I should definitely pick it up to help me figure out my style. Moxie Fab World has a challenge to make cards in the various styles. It ends on Monday.

The stamp is by Memory Box. I think it's adorable and the card was fun and easy to do. I colored the table and the lamp with Copics, masked them, and then sponged a "wall" and the "floor". The patterned paper is two sided and is made by Bo-Bunny. "What's Mew?" was made with Doodlebug rub-ons.

Thanks for visiting today!