My Favorite from VSN

Tada! (as my daughter, Bella Rose, always says for everything she does). This is my last and favorite card that I made for the VSN Challenge. I used the Card Sketch Layout for the week...but I had to reverse it because I stamped the script the wrong way...and time was ticking.

The challenge was Monochromatic Flowers. Use Flowers but stick to one color scheme...I picked blue.

The background is The Paper Company Pastel Blue cardstock, embossed with the Cuttlebug Flowers embossing folder then distressed with Palette Starry Night ink pad. The script letting layer was stamped with TAC Beauty of a Woman using Palette Starry Night ink. It was matted with The Paper Company Heritage Blue cardstock. The main flower image is from the TAC Spring Flowers set, stamped in Palette Noir and water colored with Lyra Watercolor crayons. I highlighted the flower centers with Icicle Stickles (blue tint) for an extra bit of sparkle! Although it doesn't show up in the photo :-( I double matted the main image and was pretty impressed with myself because I actually accomplished a really thin mat!

So does anyone see the mistake?

Fraternal Twin Friday

KarensSoaps makes these fun whimsical Nemo soaps (and other fun ones as well). While she says "you're kids will love taking a bath when they get to use Nemo", I'm not so sure that there aren't several adults out there with a little Nemo of their own!!!

This blue Clownfish soap is made with a moisturizing glycerin soap base, and scented with a bubblegum fragrance oil. Your kids will get a great lather, unless you decide it is too cute to use- and display it in your bathroom instead. The price listed is for 1 soap, which weighs 3 oz.

What is the nicest thing about Karen's Soaps is she lists all ingredients, well and the incredibly cute shapes.

I just think my Squishy Fishy card compliments this so well...and the ensemble would make the perfect little gift for the any Nemo loving friend!

Check Nemo out packaged up ready to send!!

I got a Treasury!!!

Okay I am such a complete dork! A treasury is a handpicked list of items usually with a theme. Well my theme is my Fraternal Twin Friday picks...I put them all up there all the artists I've featured...and a few I haven't had the change to feature!

So take a look!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury.php?id=1180104449095U19787

Squishy Fishy Card

I made this a long time ago for a fellow stamping friend's daughter...who at the time loved Nemo (aka Clown Fish). It was really one of my first truly creative efforts.

The fish was stamped and colored, then I used a small cello bag and gave it a squirt of gel in it. This would be the water that the fish would be swimming through. I used my CM circle cutters to make the circle on the front...and then I got stamping! I used the TAC Crackle background with Palette sunflower ink to make the sand then sponged around it. I then used a leaf from the TAC Charcoal Leafs set to make the sea ferns. But the best part was when I used bubble wrap and the Kaleidicolor Caribbean Sea to make the bubble background...I sponged around that as well.

Stamps: TAC Charcoal Leaves, Crackle Background, Fun Fish
Ink: Kaledecolor Carribean Sea
Accessories: bubble wrap

To Quill or Not!!!

I participated in the VSN Challenge (yeah I know...already). But one of the challenges was something I've been wanting to try for a while...so I got a kick in the butt to actually try it...QUILLING!!

And you know what...it isn't that hard! And despite looking fragile is pretty darn tough. Here is my quilling effort (very simplistic as I only had 45 minutes...and those little rolls take a while to make). This incredibly nuclear green is currently my favorite! I call it Springtime after Nuclear Holocaust. Anyway, Not much to say about this card except, twirl 1/8" strips of paper (yes I even cut my own) around a toothpick, then glue the end and squash to form a petal. I tried a black spiral in the middle but it didn't work so I used this fun large brad from Oriental Trader.

I also used my 4 in 1 Fiskars Lace Corner puncher to make the design on the black background. The sentiment is from TAC Keep your Chin Up.

Preakness Inpired VSN Challenge

This was another VSN challenge, something with Black Eyed Susan flowers...but the twist was seeing as real Black Eyed Susan flowers don't bloom around the Preakness and the officials use substitutes...see what you could substitute.

I substituted a Yellow Sunflower from TAC Earth Laughs Stamp set and a wonderfully high tech pencil eraser to change the yellow center to be dark brown! The neatest part of all though is the scalloped yellow background...I made it out of punches from my Word Window punch...yep I punched each scallop separately and glued them side by side! Finally I stamped "Thinking of You" from the TAC More One Liners stamp set in the bottom right corner. The brown background is from the ProvoCraft Slab 5 collection...I didn't think I liked this set but find I use it more and more! And I also stamped an envelope to match...I'm really liking doing that!

Virtual Stamp Night

Last night I participated in a Virtual Stamp Night on SCS, it was my first ever. The theme was May Flowers...they give you a challenge each hour and you MUST finish the card within 45 minutes. I had a blast and was really impressed with the results. It really made me execute an idea quickly...usually I agonize over designs. I'll be posting my creations over the next few days!

The first challenge I did was "Flower...NOT!!!". The idea was to create a flower without using a flower stamp or a flower punch. I used a Heart punch to make this card.

I punched 5 hearts using my Super (Blue) Marvy Uchida Clever Lever punch and cut them in half. I then layered them onto the black 1" circle and flipped. I used a 1" strip of striped paper from the DCWV Stack 3 papers.

Finally I stamped "hello friend" in the bottom right corner with the TAC Tag Tidbits stamp. I thought I would keep it simple so as to not take away from the big flower! Ha, who am I kidding...once I got the flower assembled I had to rush to finish the card in the time limit.



Stamps: TAC Tag Tidbits
Paper: DCWV Stack 3; Paper Company Brights Green; TAC Black Cardstock
Ink: Palette Noir
Accessories: Super (blue) Heart Punch; 1" circle punch

All Occasion 3X3

I think I am an obsessive type person...I get stuck on something and then create entirely in that line of creativity (remember the Paper Jewelry fad). Right now I am stuck on these 3X3 cards. They are just so much fun!

My latest set was inspired by the fact I have several cards to send out! One needs to go to someone in my women's group that just had back surgery and now has to stay at a rehab facility for several weeks. Another 'pick me up' card to another friend that just got into a car accident (17 year old was playing with the radio...didn't stop)...my friend is fine but it has been a long year of injuries so this really just upset her! And now a fellow Etsy Seller has her 7 year old daughter in the hospital and they can't figure out what is wrong. And to end on a final but postive note...my friend is due in July!!! Now she has no idea what she is having...I'm betting a girl! And if it isn't these cards are so quick and easy to make I can whip a blue one up in No time!

So these cards are very simple but colorful! I used the TAC Flower Blocks Stamp Set and various Palette inks that matched the color cardstock I had. I thought they looked a little bland so I stamped lines (a TAC LE lines stamp) around the edges.

Blue Feel Better Soon: Ink:Palette Reflection Blue, Noir; Cardstock: The Paper Company, Pastel Blue; Stamps: TAC Flower Blocks, TAC Le Lines Stamp, TAC All Occasion

Pink Welcome Baby: : Ink:Palette Belle Rose, Noir; Cardstock: The Paper Company, Pastel Pink; Stamps: TAC Flower Blocks, TAC Le Lines Stamp, TAC All Occasion

Green Happy Birthday: Ink: Palette Viridian Green, Noir; Cardstock: The Paper Company, Primary Green; Stamps: TAC Flower Blocks, TAC Le Lines Stamp, TAC All Occasion

Yellow Hi Friend: Ink: Palette Sunflower, Noir; Cardstock: The Paper Company, Pastel Yellow; Stamps: TAC Flower Blocks, TAC Le Lines Stamp

Purple Thank You: Ink: Palette Iris, Noir; Cardstock: The Paper Company, Jewel Purple; Stamps: TAC Flower Blocks, TAC Le Lines Stamp, TAC All Occasion

Red and Black Love You: Ink: Palette L'amour Red, Noir; Cardstock: The Paper Company, Primary Red; Stamps: TAC Flower Blocks, TAC Le Lines Stamp

Fraternal Twin Friday

Here is an original artwork by shauno an artist from Vancouver, BC. Artist has been painting, sketching or doodling for as long as he can remember. His artwork has been purchased by Private & Public collectors around the world. From as far as Australia to Iceland, Europe, and of course, many throughout North America. And he accepts commissions!!!

This piece was painted with acrylics and measures about 24" by 12" (inches) and is painted on 3/4 inch deep, gesso primed wood panel. Edges are painted and a keyhole slot has been routered on the back so this painting is ready to hang.(Framing not necessary). It is signed & dated on the backside.

I think this would be the perfect gift for the art admiring dad! And my card would be the perfect accompaniment!

Good Ole' Dad

Yesterday while trolling around SCS for ideas I happened upon the challenge, Warm it Up! It was an idea on how to keep your stamping karma in shape...make quick and easy 3X3 cards to try out layouts and ideas.

Well that is just what I did, I made this 3X3 card in like 5 minutes flat...completely not like me! I liked it so much I went back and made a full size card.

The full size card is made using white cardstock, a 3/4" X4.25" strip of black cardstock, blue striped paper from the DCWV Stack 3 and brown paper (reminded me of bulletin board...wood look) from the ProvoCraft Slab 5. The little screw brads are from Oriental Trader.

The little 3X3 card is made with the same materials...this is a super easy card. However I really liked the results.

Custom design...great outcome

I received a custom order from Rowley Baby over the weekend for some flower tags. Here are the results. I really like doing custom orders because it is very similar to a challenge. Take some ideas from an individual, visit their shop to get a feel for their style then come up with something.

The striped tags use a bright stripe paper from DCWV Stack 3. The solid colors are from The Paper Company cardstock and the fun fur is either Paton or Fun Fur.

Well this striped paper matches the colors that Rowley Baby has in their shop logo.

Latest Creation...Earring Cards

As you all know I am highly addicted to the paper bead Jewelry. I just had an order come in, but I didn't have any jewelry boxes. I tried to see if anyone on Freecycle had any, no luck. So I had to come up with something...well better than just jumbling it in a cello bag.

Earring Cards!

These two items over on SplitCoast (and a set of Snowman Earrings) were my inspiration.

I apologize for the blurry picture...I had to get these out the door and my lighting was terrible. Anyway, the card is ATC size (2.5"X3.5") although mine is folded over. I used white cardstock for the base then used my Mega Oval punch (god I wish I had the scalloped oval...sigh) to punch a bright green background out of The Paper Company Brights Green. I used a small bow embellishment to hook the earrings to and use glue dots to secure on the card. The paper earrings and the striped strip at the bottom are from the DCWV Stack 3 collection. The caption "for you" is from the TAC All Occasion set and stamped with Palette Claret in the bottom right corner.

Fraternal Twin Friday!!!

This pretty necklace by ReindeerGirl has a 1 inch (25mm) x 1 inch (and 5 mm thick) crackled glass square focal, with clear glass edges and a more metallic or foil-like silver and cerulean blue crackled center. It is reversible, with one side being much more densely silver, with flashes of blue, and the other with much heavier blue tones in the crackle. Above the focal is a 6 mm faceted clear glass bead, and below it dangle 4 bright blue matching glass rondelles dangling on a silver wire wrap. The pendant is strung on a 1/2 inch wide pretty sheer silver nylon ribbon, and finished with sterling silver caps and a lobster claw clasp. Finished length of ribbon is 16 inches; the entire length of pendant as worn is 20 (to the bottom dangle). Brrrrr!!! Beautiful!! :) Sure to get compliments!

I think it compliments my Black and Blue Speckled Flowers card...I even think her orange background picks-up the swirls in the black background of the card.

I love how the swirls are light on the black background and dark on the light blue background. The light blue flowers are hand stamped and watercolored and I think the black does highlight the flowers beautifully and the black sparkle center adds 3-D pop!

Back to your regularly Scheduled progam...almost

Well it has been a long time since I posted anything of any real stamping worth...and we'll have to wait for one more post...and some time in the stamp room for any new creations. What have I been doing, you ask...I donated a few items to a Silent Auction and went to the Maryland Sheep and Wool, where I promoted my Etsy shop...so ~20 more people know about me.

I am the outlier at MD S&W...that doesn't knit, really isn't that into fiber...I actually go for the sheep. But my mom knits and it has emerged as our Mother-Daughter Day...the week before Mother's Day. Which actually works out well...so I can do something just with my family on the actual Mother's Day. Everyone is happy.

So I went to the Sheep and Wool with these little guys in hand. A little Sheep Clippy....so cute.
The clippy was made with a 1.5 "white cardstock square then cut with decorative (postage) scissors to make it look like a sheep. The black face was made with a 1" circle punch out of Black Cardstock (bet you didn't see that coming)...I glue googly eyes and hand drew the mouth with silver gel pen.

The card is actually ATC size (I just found this out)...I used my Mega Scallop Square Punch on the front and the SU Word Window punch on the back (for clip to go into). The caption "you warm my heart" is stamped in Pallette Burnt Umber and comes from the TAC Tag Tidbits. This saying is also on the back of the sheep clippy. Too cute for words.


Here is a pic of all of the promo packs ready to give out.
Included in the promo packs were promos from:
ShelbyB Designs
dragoncat
Hermit Crab Creations