Another masculine card

I've been thinking about masculine cards lately. I CASEd this card from Jenn Diercks' blog. I love this To the Nines DSP because it's great for cards for men. This card would be a great way to use up scraps of DSP too. The Always Artichoke mat is 3 X 3 3/4. Each strip of DSP is 2 7/8 X 1. I wanted to use ribbon with linen thread instead of a knot, but I had trouble making it look right. Finally, I cut a slit in the ribbon and pulled the other piece through. I also used the horizontal slot punch to cut a little opening in the fold of the card for the ribbon to go through, and I adhered the ribbon on both edges of the card front so it won't move around.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Sanded; Paper: Kraft, Always Artichoke, To the Nines DSP; Ink: Always Artichoke; Accessories: paper piercer, mat pack, Chit Chat rub ons, Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, linen thread
Happy stamping!

More watercoloring with markers

I only have Bold Bright markers (plus neutrals and Chocolate Chip), so that limits my coloring with them. But I really love the way watercoloring with them tones them down a bit. I decided to color the butterfly from Flores Suaves, one of my all-time favorite images. First, I stamped the butterfly, then I masked it and stamped the words over the mask. I used black StazOn for both. The butterfly body is Glorious Green topped with Brilliant Blue. I used Orchid Opulence for the main part of the wings and Lovely Lilac for the edges. I wanted to use Baja Breeze to simulate the sky, so I swiped my stampin' spot all around the edges and then blended with the aquapainter. I had trouble getting all of the lines out, but I think it gives it a vintage look. Next time, I will wet the paper first before adding the ink directly from the pad.
My card base is Orchid Opulence, and I stamped Sanded on it with white craft ink. (Oops, I burned the bottom corner a bit when I was heat setting the ink. I've never had that happen before!) I cut a band of Lovely Lilac and used the scallop border punch on both top and bottom edges. Then I tied some lovely black ribbon from the Valet Ribbon Originals and added one of the new jumbo grommets from the Occasions Mini over the knot. The grommet has prongs on the back that push right through the cardstock; I used my bone folder to push the prongs down. (The hole in the center is 1/2".) An all-occasion word from Warm Words is the finishing touch.
Happy stamping!

Regional Swap # 1

I hosted a SCS swap for the regional. I love doing SCS swaps because they are such high quality. I did 3 sets of 10 cards and got a bunch of awesome ones in return. Here's my first swap. I wanted to use Real Red grosgrain ribbon and a little bit of Rockabilly DSP, so that determined my color combo. I'm so proud of myself for using an unusual layout, at least it's unusual for me. I have a few standard layouts that I use all the time, and I didn't do that here! I also love the curly label punched Rockabilly DSP with a scallop square layered over it. I got that idea from a swap that my upline Sandi had from Leadership (I think).
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Priceless, Tres Chic, Sanded; Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Real Red, Rockabilly DSP; Ink: black StazOn, Real Red, Old Olive; Accessories: Real Red grosgrain ribbon, scallop square punch, designer label punch
Happy stamping!

Le Jardin Botanique swap card

I signed up for Kim's new catalog swap. I wasn't going to do one, but Kim's are always awesome! I signed up for Le Jardin Botanique, which is one of my favorite new stamp sets. I started planning this card a month ago but didn't get it done before my trip to CA. Friday night was craft night at church, and I got them done! I was so happy with how they came out that I decided we will do this at Pauline's workshop Wednesday night. The only difference is that we will use textured cardstock for the cardbase so we won't stamp a background on it.
The flower is stamped with Basic Brown ink onto Confetti White cardstock and then colored with ink and a blender pen. I cut the Urban Oasis DSP 1/4" wider, punched one end with the scallop border punch and then scored it at 3/4". I adhered the flower image so it just fit under the "awning" I created and then tore the other end to finish the mat. A piece of the new white organdy ribbon finishes it off. This ribbon ties beautifully but still holds its shape.
The Kiwi Kiss cardbase is stamped with the Sanded background in Kiwi Kiss ink and then with the sentiment in Basic Brown down in the bottom corner.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Le Jardin Botanique, Sanded; Paper: Confetti White, Kiwi Kiss, Urban Oasis DSP; Ink: Basic Brown, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss; Accessories: scallop border punch, white organdy ribbon
Happy stamping!

Tea bag staining

A little birdie told me that Patty is planning to do tea bag staining for this week's workshop wow challenge, so I decided to give it a try.
I chose some Confetti White cardstock to stain. I brewed a regular cup of tea and then used some of the tea and the tea bag on the cardstock. I made sure I got some actual leaves on the cardstock for texture. I used a paper towel to make sure I get any excess liquid out and then let it dry overnight. After it was dry, I brushed off any stray leaves.
For my card layout, I used this month's WICKED sketch and chose some Parisian Summer DSP as the basis for my color combo.
For the focal image, I stamped the butterfly in Basic Brown, masked it and stamped the writing in Bravo Burgundy. I stamped the tulip twice in Basic Brown and then punched them out with the 1 1/4" square punch. I colored the images using ink and an aquapainter. The cardbase is Pink Pirouette stamped tone-on-tone with the Sanded background.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Flores suaves, Sanded; Paper: Confetti White, Bravo Burgundy, Pink Pirouette, Parisian Summer DSP; Ink: Basic Brown, Bravo Burgundy, Pink Pirouette; Accessories: clip assortment, Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon, square punches, aquapainter, tea bag

This shows the tea stained cardstock on top of a sheet of Confetti White for comparison.
Happy stamping!

They can't all be fabulous

I thought about not posting this card, but I need to post something and this is what I've got. I guess you can tell by the title and my opening sentence that I'm not in love with this card. I made this for this week's workshop wow. The theme was using ribbon in an unusual way, so I thought we should make ribbon roses. Easy peasy, just do a running stitch along the bottom of the ribbon and gather it up to make a flower. First I tried it with the So Saffron polytwill, and it just didn't work. I think the ribbon is too supple, so it wouldn't hold a good shape. Fortunately, I already had this Regal Rose flower made.
Then I wanted to try color blocking, which is one of the WICKED demo challenges this month. (If you're a demo, get over to SCS and check out Vera's challenges and samples; they are jaw-droppingly awesome!) I used my coluzzle to cut a circle out of the center of the Parisian Summer DSP then I cut the DSP into 4 equal pieces and attached them to Basic Black. It came out okay, I guess, but I think I can do better. I'll have to try it again.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Heard from the Heart, Sanded, Tres Chic; Paper: Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, Parisian Summer DSP; Ink: Basic Black, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette; Accessories: Coluzzle, Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, So Saffron brad, crafters tool kit, linen thread

Oops! Pretend it's Friday!

I just noticed that I didn't post on Friday. Oops! So you'll get posts 2 days in a row. Well, I think this card was worth the wait, don't you? It's not often that I'm as happy with a card as I am with this one. It's just like the picture in my head, maybe even a little better! This was the first card I made for the demo challenge to make a fall card without using Earth Elements. The cut-out leaf has Dazzling Diamond Dust. I used sponge daubers to make the leaves multicolored.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: With Sympathy, Refuge and Strength, Sanded; Paper: Whisper White, So Saffron, Only Orange; Ink: So Saffron, Kiwi Kiss, Only Orange, Real Red; Accessories: Irridescent Ice EP, designer label punch, Styled Silver HPH, Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla satin ribbon, sponge daubers, photo corner punch

CASEing the catalog

I love the new catalog! Not only is it full of awesome new stuff, it also has great projects in it. I've already gone through the catalog and made a list of projects that I want to CASE. When I saw the card on page 86 made with Bloomin' Beautiful, I knew right away that it would also look great with Heartfelt Thanks. So I sat down and made it! I used the faux linen technique for the focal image; I haven't done that one in a while and I just love the look of it! Sanded background added to it even more. The other change I made was the ribbon I used on the right side of the card; the original used a strip of DSP. I didn't use any stitching on my card either; I'm not into sewing plus I think the technique added plenty of texture.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Sanded; Paper: glossy white, Bashful Blue, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip; Ink: Bashful Blue, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel; Accessories: 1/2" circle punch, Pretties kit, Bashful Blue narrow grosgrain ribbon, Kraft taffeta ribbon, sanding block, sponge, Stampamajig
So when you're in need of inspiration, just grab your catalog!
Happy stamping!

Heat & Stick Powder tutorial

Today on SCS, someone was having trouble with Heat & Stick powder. It can be a little tricky to use at first. That made me think I should do a tutorial. I think I already did one, but it was pretty lame. I think this one is much better! Hopefully, you will agree.
Heat & Stick powder is basically a granular glue that melts when heated. It comes in a little jar like embossing powder. The grains are larger than EP, and it tends to clump but the clumps break apart easily.

I keep all of my EP, glitter and Heat & Stick in plastic containers like the one shown above. This allows me to hold my cardstock or chipboard over the container. I use a little scoop to cover the item, and all of the excess falls right back into the container. It doesn't totally eliminate the mess, but it is greatly reduced!

Now, on to the tutorial. For this card, I will be covering a chipboard heart in glitter.

Step 1: Coat the chipboard well with VersaMark. I don't just give it one tap into the pad; I smoosh it if possible. Notice how shiny and well-coated the chipboard is in the above photo.
Step 2: Pour on the Heat & Stick powder and shake off the excess. Step 3: Heat the powder just until it melts and turns shiny. Don't overheat it! Notice that mine still looks grainy. It's okay if it doesn't melt totally. It's better to underheat than overheat.
Step 4: Pour on the glitter. Tap off the excess. Heat again briefly to set the glitter down into the glue. That's it!
Card details: I watercolored the monkey with ink and aquapainter. "Just for you" was stamped with Chocolate Chip craft ink. I used Mono Multi to adhere the twill tape.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Sock Monkey, Sanded; Paper: Confetti White, Rose Red, Close to Cocoa; Ink: Black StazOn, Close to Cocoa, Rose Red, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip craft; Accessories: On Board Basics (retired), fine cosmo glitter, Heat & Stick powder, heat tool, cutter kit, scallop border punch, aquapainter, twill tape
Happy stamping!

Another wicked card

Here is another card from the SCS WICKED challenge. This card uses Jan's sketch and her moonlighting technique. My focal image is a little larger than the one in the sketch, but I made it work. The color combo is So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip and Perfect Plum.
For the moonlighting technique, stamp your image and color it in. Punch out a circle from a post-it note to mask off the moon. Sponge all over the image then color in the moon if desired. A great tip I read on SCS was to use the post-it note left over from punching out the circle for coloring the moon neatly.
I colored the ground Always Artichoke and the tree trunks Chocolate Chip then I sponged Perfect Plum and a little Chocolate Chip over the whole thing. I sponged some So Saffron onto the moon.
Instead of ribbon, I used a strip of Perfect Plum cardstock with a line of paper piercing.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Sanded, Weathered; Paper: Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum; Ink: Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum; Accessories: sponge, small oval punch, crafters tool kit, watercolor crayons, aquapainter, 1 1/4" circle punch

Dare to Get Dirty!

If you are a paid member on SCS, you can take part in this year's Dare to Get Dirty challenges. They are so much fun, plus members of the Dirty Dozen comment on your cards! Last year both Jenn Balcer and JulieHRR commented on the same card, and it was so exciting!
Anyway, Laurie (lauraly on SCS) is a former Dirty Girl, and her challenge on Monday was to use vellum. Well, I had already made these vellum flowers; how great is that? (Come back on Friday for another card using vellum and details on how I made the flowers.) I wanted to use markers on the flowers, and I only have the Bold Brights so that determined the color combo. I don't use these colors anymore, so this was definitely outside my comfort zone! I used the big piece of vellum to soften the Yoyo Yellow cardbase. I thought the Basic Gray would help tone it all down a little.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment, Bud Basics, Sanded; Paper: vellum cardstock, shimmery white, basic gray, orchid opulence, yoyo yellow; Ink: VersaMark, Basic Gray, Orchid Opulence, Yoyo Yellow, Bold Bright markers; Accessories: ticket corner punch, white EP, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, Ice Circles rhinestone brads
Happy stamping!