Diamond Anniversary card!

My parents' 60th anniversary was yesterday. Tomorrow we're celebrating with a brunch.

Here's their card which is loaded with bling-ish elements to reflect (<---bad pun) the theme of a diamond anniversary.


I stamped one of the two diamonds from Bombshell's Lady Luck set in a circle, colored them with Copic markers, and then added Irridescent Medium to the diamonds. The 60 numerals are Grungeboard and were painted with a Pearl Paint Dabber, then coated with multiple layers of Prisma Glitter. The numbers were adhered to holographic diecuts that were layered upon metallic silver and white metallic cardstock. The outside of the white ring was coated with a layer of Diamond Stickles.

The next layer is comprised of white metallic cardstock that was embossed with a pattern of diamonds, then matted on a layer of that same holographic specialty paper. A strip of the holographic paper was cut to hold the label with the sentiment from Stampendous. The card itself is shimmery since that was also cut from white metallic cardstock.

The holographic paper was from my recently organized scraps file. It is very difficult to adhere, so I was thrilled that my newly arrived Helmar QuickFix Tape Runner was up for the job!

I photographed the card at a bizarre angle so that you could see the glitter and shimmer. You can't see the true effect, but you at least get an idea.

Thanks for visiting today!

March Sketch/Paint Challenge! Yep. A two-fer!

Anita Marie, Ms. March, challenged us to use paints this month in the creation of our projects. I also used my March sketch.

Here it is:


Roses from the Alter Skull set were randomly stamped on watercolor cardstock with Rocket Red Brilliance ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. Then yellow Glimmer Mist was sprayed over the cardstock and heat set. When it was dry, khaki Glimmer Mist was lightly sprayed over the yellow and heat set. This was set aside to become the background layer.

I repeated this process with Yellow Brilliance ink and Khaki Glimmer mist to create another layer, which would go behind the focal oval.

Rose from Rose's Portrait set was stamped onto watercolor cardstock and colored with watercolor pencils. Glitter pen and Glaze pen was added to her earrings. Blush was applied with palette chalk. When I was done, I used a Nestabilities oval die to cut her out and then left the die in to add some color around the image.

I found some old Flair paper lace and used that with some kraft cardstock and used a darker kraft for another layer. The card was finished off with some gemstones.

The card itself is sitting under weights right now since it bowed a bit from being wet and heat set.

Thanks for visiting today!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This card shows my warped-adolescent-boy sense of humor.




I created a similar card last year (click HERE) for St. Patrick's Day, but after I made the banner, I thought to myself, "Self, Lady Luck likes to celebrate St. Paddy's Day in her own free way. You should have made the sentiment read "Erin Goes Braless". So I did this year.

Lady Luck is a Bombshell Stamp set that is way fun with that cool Lady Luck image, an eight-ball, a clover, a martini, and a bunch of other great lucky tokens. Check it out.

The focal image was colored with Copic markers. Glaze pen was used to touch up her earrings, hair horseshoe, and the wrench. (I don't understand the wrench, but that's life.) I masked off the sentiment from the banner, colored it with Copic markers, fussy cut it, added Doodlebug rub-ons, and popped it up on dimensionals. The rest of the sentiment is from a Cat's Pajamas set and an Impression Obsession set. Gemstones were used for an ellipsis (...). I colored them with Copics so everything is all matchy-matchy to please my inner Virgo control freak. The patterned paper is from the Basic Grey Origins 6x6 pad.

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Reject card! :D

This card didn't make the cut for the Paper Crafts Card Sketch idea book call. I liked the sketch and enjoyed creating a shaped card. Honestly, I'm not surprised that it didn't get picked up. I didn't like how the card came together. However, my least favorite cards are always the ones that get picked up, so I figured since I used the sketch, I might as well submit it. A little bit ventured, nothing gained. :D

Here's my take on Sketch #66:


At last year's Scrapbook Expo, I bought a set of Heartfelt Creation stamps that coordinated with a Nestabilities flower die set. I had used the dies alone and also used the stamps for some cards that I actually mailed (Yes. It's shocking!). But hadn't gotten it together to use the stamps with the dies.

I think I would have liked this better if I had used a different brown ink. The Chestnut Roan just doesn't work with the papers. Ah well.

I'll definitely use the dies and the stamps together again and will also make other shaped card, so it wasn't a total loss.

The sentiment is from my well-used Sentiments set by Purple Onion Designs. The patterned cardstock is from Bo-Bunny. I need to replenish my supply of the Polka Dotties!

Thanks for visiting today!

March Bombshell Sketch Challenge: Mardi Gras/Congratulations card!

First an update on the PPP! I purged four (4) boxes of patterned papers and all scraps smaller than 4" x 2". I also organized all of my patterned paper and cardstock, plus all of my scraps. I'm thrilled and think this should help me work faster, neater, and more efficiently. Time will tell. Meanwhile, I'm paying the usable paper forward and recycled the scraps. Go me!!!

As you know, I create a monthly sketch design for Bombshell Stamps' blog and forum.

Here's March's sketch:


Here's my take on it.


I made a Mardi Gras/Congratulations card. I stamped the pin-up from the Bombshell Angel set, colored her face, torso, arms, and legs with Copic markers. I paper pieced her skirt from an old Basic Grey Fusion tag, then cut her out, and re-assembled her. Her shoes were touched up with a purple Sakura Glaze pen. I added a Sakura Glitter pen bracelet and the chain to her necklace. The pendant is a gemstone. I computer generated the "Let the good times roll!!!" sentiment three times and used circles Nesties to cut them out. The sentiment circles and edgy gold Nestie circles were stacked, then I popped her over them. All patterned paper is from my old Basic Grey Fusion scraps!!! The "congratulations" sentiment is a gold sticker by Stampendous. There are purple gemstones in the upper left, on her hair flower, and on her necklace. Sadly, you can't see the bling. Darn it!

Thanks for visiting today!

Wish me luck! Patterned Paper Purging!

I've decided it's time to get rid of older patterned papers from my ginormous stash.

The PPP criteria are:
• Papers that I haven't used in eons.
• Companies that are no longer in business. This makes me sad since I miss Flair Designs, Scenic Route, Daisy D, Daisy Bucket, Chatterbox, and a bunch of other companies. However, I am keeping some papers that I still love. These are mostly ones with smaller patterns that are best for cardmaking or that I know will work well with lots of my stamps.
• Old, OLD, OLD papers from current companies that I haven't used at all since my "style", such as it is, has changed. This one is tough because one inner voice says "If you start scrapping again, you'll be sorry you gave this away." Another inner voice says "Get rid of it. If you start scrapping again, you can buy new." Yes. Apparently I hear voices.
• Papers with huge freaking patterns. They were pretty, but hard for me to use because I hated covering them up, which is kind of counterproductive for scrapping and cardmaking.

I really want to see all of my old Club Scrap papers too, but that will be another week's project.

So, wish me luck and wish me strength to face my inner voices.

Meanwhile, my daughter's friend gets first crack at my cast offs. What she doesn't want will be donated...

It's March! TCP Tuesday Challenge!

Ah! March! The days are getting longer, I saw some buds on a tree, and St. Patrick's Day is the next card-making holiday.

TCP Tuesday's challenge for this first Tuesday in March is to create a Good Luck card.

Here's mine!


I used The Cat's Pajamas Beary Good Year set. I colored the cutie bear, his shamrock, and the grass with Copic markers. I re-used a card design that I've used before since I like it. :D The patterned paper is by Basic Grey and a bunch of rhinestones were used to add a touch o'bling because "a project just don't sing, if it ain't got the bling".

Thanks for visiting today!