Bombshell Stamps May Celebrations Hump Day Hop!

Alison, our lovely and talented Hump Day Hop Captain, set this month's theme, which is May Celebrations. Here's her blurb about the hop theme.

May Celebrations! May has lots of fun, interesting, and sometimes bizarre holidays. So the challenge is to pick one of these holidays, and make a project out of it. Here's a link that will give you lots of ideas.

You should have arrived here from my good pal, the gob-smackingly creative Glittery Katie's blog. If not, the full hop list is below. Because I'm nice like that.

I chose to celebrate birds, especially since Spring migration is still in full swing.

Here's my cardm which was actually finished on time. Woot!!!!!

I've used the swallows from the Love & Luck set. I love that this set includes both right and left facing birds. It's getting close to Father's Day, so I'm in the mood to make masculine cards, so out came the Classic Coupe from the King of the Road set from the Hot Rod collection. I also used the banner from that set because I wanted the birds to have something to do, namely hold the banner.

The car, swallows, and banner were colored with Copic markers. The swallows' beaks and eyes were accented with Glaze pens. I used a silver Prismacolor pencil on the car's grill and all that metal stuff, then blended it out with my dwindling supply of Eco-house Citrus Thinner. Pearl Paint near me closed, so I need to find a new supplier.

The patterned paper is from the Global 6x6 pad by 7 Gypsies. I don't know if you can tell, but I cut slits in the paper and slid the "road" into them. I think it looks cool and is one of those dumb little details that make me happy.

Thanks for visiting today!

Here's the list:
Bombshell Blog
Alison
Susie
Cassie
Jodi
Mary G
Sparkly Mary
Kim
Emily
Torrey
Rachael
Jennie
Kapree
Kelli
Glittery Katie
Kathi I'm the end of the road. :D

I shall enter this in the following challenge(s).
• Simon Says Stamp & Show: One for the Boys

Always Remember

This one is similar to last year's card, but different in design. This one uses the same stamp, Constance Considers (FA-205-H, Summer 2005, p.12) by Third Coast Rubber Stamps. Constance was colored with Copic markers.

I came across the banner paper (Rusty Pickle) in my scrap stash the other day and knew I had to make this card. So I did. I cut out the banner, popped it atop a blue sheet from the Bo-Bunny's Liberty 6x6 pad, matted the image, added Glossy Accents to the stars, added the sticker sentiment and called the card done.

Thanks for visiting today!

City in the Clouds Snow Globe

Once I saw City Skyline, by Victoria Case for SCACD, I fell in love with it. I also knew I had to create this card. It just took me a while to get around to it and to figure out exactly how I was going to attain the picture in mind. I am pleased to say that this card came out close to the way I had envisioned it in "my mind's eye". I LOVE when that happens as it doesn't happen all that frequently!

Here's the card:

First I figured out what part of the sky I'd use and used Post-It notes on the stamp to mask out extraneous areas. I inked the stamp, lifted the Post-it notes, and used my Curvy Cutter Circle Cutting Template Set to cut a circle. I colored the city with Copic markers in Neutral Greys. Clear Spica glitter pen was used on the windows and was blended using B000.

I had previously die-cut some Memory Box clouds from Post-it note paper, so I just traced around the clouds repeatedly using slightly darker Neutral Greys under the city. BV0000 was added to some areas and then that area was blended out using a very juicy Colorless Blender.

For the "sky" above and to the sides of the buildings, I repeated the same process of outlining the clouds randomly, this time using my custom "less than B21", V0000, BV0000, RV0000, and B0000. When it was looking rather colorful, I blended the whole thing out using the Colorless Blender.

I smooshed the circle onto a VersaMark Pearl pad and heat set three layers of clear embossing powder til the globe looked glassy.

The base was die cut from wood-grained patterned paper and then two more times from brown cardstock. These were layered and colored with Copic E70s to be a little darker and woodier looking. Yes. "Woodier" is now a word. Dig it.

Dotted vellum was die cut with the Lacy Ovals Nestabilities and adhered to a strip of brown cardstock was adhered to patterned paper from Basic Grey's Boxer 6x6 pad, using three layers of old QuicKutz Ejection Foam. I kept that stuff and have finally found a use for all the excess! Woo-hoo! I'm so thrifty. Ha!!! Then I adhered the snowglobe on top of the brown/lace using more Ejection Foam. A framed Memory Box sentiment finished the card!

Here's a close-up of my city in the clouds snowglobe.

Thanks for visiting today.

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Outlaws CAS Sundays "LOVE": I love NYC's skyline and this stamp reminds me of it. I also love snowglobes, both the real ones and Poppy Stamps/Memory Box's one.

Sending a smile!

Greetings!

"Every adventure requires a first step. Trite, but true, even here."

So many fabuous Cheshire Cat quotes here. It was difficult to choose just one.



Here's Kraftin' Kimmie's sketch!

Here's my take on it!

The Cheshire Cat from Kraftin' Kimmie's Moonlight Whispers Collection was colored with Copic markers. His eyes and teeth were accented with Glaze pen. The tree, branches, and leaves were all freehanded rather ineptly. I took my color inspiration from Tim Burton's Cheshire Cat (but with green eyes) from his movie version of Alice in Wonderland.

The patterned papers and flower stickers are from Basic Grey's Origins collection, though I altered the color of two of the flowers. I love this collection and AC Moore clearanced it, so at 50% off, I had to buy two.

The very talented and sweet Danni has informal challenges on her blog. This week's challenge was to use old Basic Grey papers. Since I have a rather ginormous collection, this was easy peasy. :D

The sentiment is by Hero Arts and is on a very old envelope die cut by QuicKutz.

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Kraftin' Kimmie's Blog Challenges #129
• Danni's Challenge to use Basic Grey
• Outlawz Copic/Promarker Fridays "Anything Goes" challenge

Howdy again!

I guess I must be in a Western kind of mood and a boot mood too, since I made another Bombshell card using "Howdy" as the salutation and another card using boots!

This card was prompted by Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge and Outlawz Copic/Promarker Friday "Western" challenge.

Here's the sketch.

Here's my take on the sketch.

Western Gal Portrait and the Cowfrom the Western Gal set was colored with Copic markers and cut out. The Cowgirl Boot was stamped, masked, and stamped again X 2 to become two pairs of boots. The boots were also colored with Copic markers and a bit of clear Glaze pen was added too.

All the patterned paper is from an older, but still loved, Cosmo Cricket 6x6 pad and some of its even older big-sister 12x12 papers!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall be entering this card in the following challenges:
• Outlawz Copic/Promarker Friday "Western" challenge
• Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge

Dance with me!

Greetings! Today I bring you yet another glimpse of Third Coast's newest release. Remember that these new release stamps are on sale for 20% off through June 10th!

This card features Victorian Boots (FA-516-I) from page 10.

I stamped the single boot using VersaFine ink, heat set it, masked it, and repeated the process. Then I colored the boots using Copic markers, and added Glaze Pen accents for the buttons. The image was die-cut with a square Nestabilities die, Victorian Violet Distress ink was sponged over the die, then I grounded the boots with some Black Soot Distress ink. The patterned paper is from a My Mind's Eye: Sophie/Graceful 6x6 pad. The black paper is actually black vellum, but that's not showing. :(

I wanted to mimic the details of the stamp, so I used lots of scallops, then also used sheer organza ribbon that I've had in my stash forever. I made the ribbon flower, colored a pearl button with my 100 Black Copic marker, and also colored pearls with Copics too.

Ribbon Bow: Up close & personal:

Oh yeah. The sentiment is from the Tiny Wise Words clear set by Wordsworth/Rubber Soul.

Thanks for visiting today!

Howdy!

Howdy! I've been busy with my new stamps from Third Coast and have been neglecting my other stamps and have also been neglecting challenges, so here's a card that uses some of my Bombshell stamps and meets a mess of challenges!


I used Craft Your Passion Challenge #111 Sketch...

to make this card that meets the "Western" theme over at Outlaws' Copic/Promarker Fridays.

I've used the Cowgirl Rubber stamp from the Retro Cowgirls set. She was colored with Copic markers, put into a die, masked with Winson & Newton Liquid Mask, and airbrushed. Then I ran the shebang through the Big Kick and the freakin' thing adhered to the cutting plate. Grrr. So there's a bit of paper pilling that I hope isn't too heinous.

I wanted to meet Ms. May's challenge over at the Bombshell Forum, but I failed because I didn't use a pin, though I did use red and a rose. I decided to make my roses yellow because of that "Yellow Rose of Texas" song. Anyway, the small rose from Rose's Portrait set was stamped onto old wood-patterned Cosmo Cricket patterned paper using Wild Honey Distress ink and colored with pastel pencils by Derwent. I hadn't done that in a while and it was a fun way to get a subtle look. I also stamped the same rose three times, colored 'em with Copic markers, "fussy cut" them, and then shaped them a bit.

"Howdy" came from the Western Gal set and was die cut and airbrushed.

The floral print and striped patterned papers came from My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline--Howdy Doody 6x6 pad. I really love MME these days!

Thanks for visiting today!

This card shall be entered in the following challenges:
• Craft Your Passion Challenge #111 -- Sketch challenge
• Outlawz Copic/Promarker Friday "Western" challenge
• Ms. May's Tic-Tac-Toe challenge for Bombshell stamps

Steampunk'd!

Meet Polly (WT-004-M), found on page 41, of Third Coast Rubber Stamps' Spring 2012 release.

Polly was colored with Copic markers, accented with Spica Glitter Pen,"fussy cut", and set aside.

I used Victorian Violet Distress ink to randomly stamp the Solid Single Gear Small (CO-276-EE, from page 15, onto ledger paper from My Mind's Eye's So Sophie: Graceful 6x6 paper. Then the sentiment, Steampunk Grunge (WS-185-D), which can be found on page 18 was stamped over the gears and the top part of the word was "fussy cut". The ledger paper was then layered onto violet patterned paper from the same pad.

Distress Ink was sponged through The Crafters Workshop Time Travel stencil and onto the layered paper. Polly was positioned atop "Steampunk" and I called it done.

Thanks for visiting today!

Merci for a new stamp release!

Woo-hoo! Third Coast Rubber Stamps has revealed the new release stamps, which includes lots of Steampunk as well as some other great stuff! Best of all, the new release stamps are 20% off through June 10th! Click here to be whisked away to check it out for yourself!

Here's my card featuring Flying Fran (VB-395-R) which you can find on page 41 of the Spring '12 Supplement.

I decided that Flying Fran was a French aerialist and gave her a tightrope wire. She was colored with my Copic markers. The patterned paper is from the Curtain Call 8x8 pad by Graphic 45. I've been using the heck out of that pad!

"Merci" (WS-113-BB) is also from Third Coast Rubber Stamps and can be found on page 26 of the Early Spring '08 Supplement.

BTW, the card is enormous at 5.5" x 8.5". I also discovered that the !@#$% Recollections 8.5" x 11" paper is only 10 15/16". Drove me nuts til I actually measured the freaking paper and realized why things looked uneven. Reminds me when the monochromatic Bazzill cardstock in the packs was 1/16" short.

It also photographed oddly and distorted the layering. It's really actually straight irl, except for that 1/16" discrepancy along the top. *sigh*

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenge(s):
• Simon Says Stamp & Show Anything Goes

The REAL Mother's Day Card

So, after I made the other Mother's Day card, I realized that last year's Mother's Day card used that image. So, I just HAD to make another.

In the middle of it all, I received my new limited edition Spring Distress inks, which made me have to re-organize. Being a me of little attention span (gnat-sized), I ended up doing a major cleaning of my table and storage.

Since I didn't have to mail my card since I'm seeing Mom tomorrow, I was able to put off finishing the card (the image had been stamped and colored) until today.

So, without further blather, here it is!

The image is the super-sweet Fairy Mom and Babe (VB-032-M) by Third Coast Rubber Stamps. I colored it with my Copic markers and added a bit of Spica glitter pen to their antennae. Glaze pen was used on the acorn.

The patterned paper is from the Porcelain 6x6 pad by Basic Grey. The flowers were die cut with a Sizzix flowers die from white cardstock and then colored with Copic markers. I cut the ends off of it to make the die cut look more like the flowers in the image. The flower petals were curled up and/or down and sequins were colored with Copic markers. I used tiny rhinestones (also Copic colored) for the centers and for the top corner of the punched mat.

I finished up the card using a border punch and a sentiment by Purple Onion Designs.

Thanks for visiting today. If you're a mother, Happy Mother's Day to you! I'm off to have ribs made for me by my lovely husband!

I shall be entering this card in the following challenges:
• Outlaws Copic/Promarker Fridays: Garden challenge (since the fairies are in a garden)

• Oozak Challenge Blog: Spring Colors

Bombshell Stamps May Sketch Challenge

As you know, I create monthly sketches over at Bombshell Stamps. Please feel free to grab your Bombshell stamps and have a go at the sketch. If you do create a project, please share it with us over at Bombshell's Forum and at Bombshell's Blog. Sharing it at both places will give you two chances to win your choice of a free set of Bombshell Stamps! I think that's worth playing for!!! (Yes. I watch Survivor.)

Here's the sketch!

Here's my take on it!

Full Sail Ship from the Homeward Bound set is probably my favorite Bombshell stamp or at least it's in the top five. Homeward Bound was one of my first sets that I got many, many moons ago with holiday cash. I think it's a perfect stamp for so many different occasions ranging from Bon Voyage to Birthday to Get Well Soon! Yep. I love, Love, LOVE it.

Anyway, the lovely ship, sea, and sky were colored with Copic markers.

I kept going back and forth on patterned papers and finally said to myself (and yes, I talk to myself), "Self, why not use that Tim Holtz Core'Dinations Nostalgic Kraft-Core cardstock and some embossing folders?" So I did. The blue/kraft was embossed with the Rays Texture Fades (bottom) and the Retro Circles Texture Fades(mat). The red/kraft was embossed with a Cuttlebug Dot embossing folder. Then the red and blue pieces were sanded to reveal their lovely kraft innards.

The patterned paper is from the Kraft Basics 6x6 pad by Basic Grey. I have no idea why the heck they retired the Basics collections. I thought they rocked and were ever-so-useful. Silly rabbits should have asked me first. *snort*

Best of all, I used printed twill that I've had since dinosaurs roamed the planet. Or something like that.

So, thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Craft Your Passions #109 Distressed and Torn Edges
• Simon Says Stamp & Show "Favorite Stamp"
• Outlawz Monday Greetings "Anything Goes" challenge

Mother's Day Card #1

I'm getting ready for Mother's Day by making a few cards. Once I have a few, I'll decide which one to actually send to my mom. There's no need for you to worry about her seeing it here because she doesn't visit my blog.

IMHO, this image is perfect for Mother's Day. It just exudes sweetness, don't you think? It's from The Enchanted Gallery's Nature Spirit and Domino Art set I colored it with Copic markers and then chose the patterned papers and ribbon to match. That's the polar opposite of the way I usually do things, but I wanted to play around with hair color and the V family of Copics.

Both patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye 6x6 pads, which I love and adore. The striped paper is from So Sophie "Graceful" pad and the other one is from Six by Six "A Beautiful Life" pad.

Yes, I do consider myself to be "bow impaired". However, I used beautiful hand-dyed seam binding sent to me by the lovely and talented Nicole, who hand dyed it herself!!! The ribbon is kind of crinkly and variegated and makes a gorgeous fluffy imperfect bow! Thank you Nicole!!!

The sentiment is from an incredibly useful set by Purple Onion Designs.

I used a Spellbinders' Lattice Rectangles die as well as their nameplates die. Since I messed up cutting the image and had to trim it way down, I added a layer of of cardstock to mat the image and scored vertical lines for some visual interest. Pearls (colored with Copic V25) were used to finish it off.

I should mention that this is one of my go-to card designs. I never get bored using it.

Thanks for visiting today.

I shall be entering this card in the following challenges:
• Craft Your Passions #109 Distressed and Torn Edges
• Outlawz Friday Promarker/Copic "Mother's Day" challenge

Happy Bird Day!

Greetings. Here's a birthday card that fulfills a bunch of different challenges, though some of them end in a few hours. Procrastination is my middle name. :D

I used this week's sketch, #SC #383, from Splitcoast Stampers.

Bird Fairy, by Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, was colored with Copic markers in what I consider to be spring colors.

The sentiment is by the late lamented Odd Bird Planet and works for the cutie blue jay being held by the fairy.

The patterned papers are all from Basic Grey's Kioshi 6x6 pad. That's one of my most favorite collections of theirs. Ever.

I forgot to touch up the bird's beak with Glaze pen and to touch up some of the detail lines that I missed when stamping. Bad me. I'll do it now, so I don't forget. Besides, I have to decide who will get this card...

Thanks for visiting today.

I shall be entering this card in the following challenges:
• Splitcoast Stampers Sketch #383
• Kraftin' Kimmie's Blog -- Oops. Missed it. Thought I had 'til midnight! Bummer.
• Simon Says Stamp & Show: Kaleidoscope of colors
• Simon Says Stamp: Birthday Challenge
• Oozak Challenge #2: Spring Colors

Happy Lei/May Day!

Not only is it May Day, it's Lei Day in Hawaii.

So, I combined a mess of challenges and came up with this card using a sketch from Oulawz Sketch Wednesday.

Here's the sketch:

Here's my take on it:

The guitar player Hula dancer is from Bombshell's Hawaiian Girl set and Aloha Bird Banner and Hibiscus flower from the Hula Girl set. Both were colored with Copic markers (*list below). I used the outside the box (circle?) diecutting technique and "fussy cut" both the stamped hibiscus flowers (upper left) and the Aloha Bird Banner.

There is no patterned paper in this card, which I know is shocking. Instead, I created my own background using Worn Lipstick, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed, and Spiced Marmalade Distress inks, which were sponged over an old Club Scrap stencil onto Kraft cardstock. The mat square was created the same way with the same Distress ink colors, but used the star portion of the Punchinella stencil from The Crafters Workshop.

Instead of ribbon, I punched a border using a Martha Stewart/EK success border punch. I also moved the flowers and used a sentiment stamp in place of a bow! (True confession! I'm awful at tying bows!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall be entering this card in the following challenges:
• Oulawz Sketch Wednesday.
• Raise the Bar Challenge #102 -- "Lei Day"
• The Kraft Journal "Make it Monday" Sketch Challenge
• Simon Says Stamp & Show "Kaleidoscope" (lots of colors) Challenge -- BTW, Simon Says carries Bombshell stamps!