CTD107 - Gladiolus

Good Monday morning!  Hope you had a nice weekend!  I didn't get nearly enough time in my stamp room, but I did have a chance to play with some new Papertrey Ink stamps that were waiting for me when I got home from being on the road last week.. 

I made this card for this week's Color Throwdown #107, which is to use Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, So Saffron and Pear Pizazz.  I finally pulled out one of my Impressibilities embossing dies and tried my hand at the Letterpress technique, using PTI's Spring Moss ink, for my background layer.  My focal image is from Papertrey Ink's Gladiolus set and was colored using Copic markers.  The sentiment on the tag is from PTI's Mixed Messages set.  My patterned papers are from BasicGrey's Lemonade collection and the scalloped border die is from My Favorite Things. 

I used the leftover strips from my border cut on the front and the main pieces from my die cut on the inside.  The green and ivory gingham ribbon is from Flourishes.


Well, tomorrow is the big day - Tim is scheduled to have his Cubital Tunnel Syndrome surgery in the morning.  We are both a bit anxious about it, but hoping for the best and a speedy recovery.  Wish us luck....
 
Thanks for stopping by!

FireCracker Designs Guest Designer - Week 4

Happy Friday!  Today is my last day as a guest designer for FireCracker Designs by Pamela and for today's card I used this great Sail Away image.  The image was colored with Copic markers and I added a cloud cut from some felt.  I think this image makes a great all purpose masculine card.

I've had this sailboat paper for some time and was glad to be able to use some of it.  I didn't want to cover up the sailboats, though, so I tied my sailor's knot and cut a slit through the middle of the panel to feed the string through.  I added a few Dew Drops in the upper right corner to fill in the white space.

Thanks to Pamela and Shelly for having me as a guest designer this month, it's been great!  Be sure to head over to the FireCracker Designs by Pamela to check out all the great images they have to offer!

Hope you have a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

RI Sketch Challenge - Jacko'lantern Cat

Happy Wednesday!  It's time for another Repeat Impressions sketch challenge!  This time I've used one of my favorite Halloween stamps - Jacko'lantern Cat (#806).  The sentiment is also from Repeat Impressions (#2309-G, Spooktacular).  I colored the kitty with Copic markers and paper pieced the pumpkin.  I cut out the eyes, nose and mouth of the pumpkin and then colored them in using a yellow Spica pen to give it a nice 'glow' from the inside (click on the picture for a larger image). 

The papers for the circle elements are from Reminisce (Jack Stripe, Midnight Stripe and Esmerelda Stripe) and Graphic 45's new Halloween In Wonderland collection. I used several brads (pumpkins, bats and crescent moons) from Making Memories and added some doodles around my image panel using a black Spica marker.

Please be sure to head over to The House That Stamps Built to check out the great cards the rest of the design team has made using this sketch!  While you're at it, why not play along with us? Just use the sketch to the right to make a card and add a link to your project over on today's post on The House That Stamps Built!  We'd love for you play along for your chance at a $25 Repeat Impressions gift certificate! Submissions to this A2510 Sketch Challenge will be accepted until 5pm (EST) on September 7th.

Thanks for stopping by!

RI SOTW - Forty Winks

It's time for another Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week!  This week we are featuring this adorable, sleepy kitty, appropriately called Forty Winks (#2606).  I've paired it with another Repeat Impressions stamp, #6103 - Thinking of You.  My patterned papers are from BasicGrey's Max and Whiskers collection and I added a little ribbon, a kitty button and some pewter nail head stickers to the scalloped ends of my mat layer.  The kitty was colored with Copic markers and the background was airbrushed.

This stamp is available for 50% off this week, but you need to head over to The House That Stamps Built to get the details on how to order it to receive the discount.  While you're there, be sure to check out the other wonderful cards that the design team made using this sweet stamp!


Thanks for stopping by!

FireCracker Designs Guest Designer - Week 3

It's time for another card from FireCracker Designs by Pamela.  This  image is called Soul Take Flight and it immediately made me reach for my Mariposa paper pad!  I colored the butterflies using the same colors as are in the patterned paper, then added some Copic Spica glitteriness on the sentiment, flourish and butterflies.  I used Distress Inks to do a little sponging around the edges of the panel.  There really isn't a lot to this one - just a bunch of sparkly butterfly goodness! 

Have a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

Belli Challenge Meets Repeat Impressions Blog Hop!

Greetings!  It's time for another Belli Challenge AND the second Repeat Impressions Blog Hop (details for the hop are at the bottom of this post)!  This week's Belli Challenge is to use something round and metal, plus there is an optional sketch challenge (head over to the Belli Challenge blog for the sketch and to check out the great cards the design team has made!).  I added some round nail head stickers to the scallops of the card base for the Belli Challenge.

For the Repeat Impressions blog hop, we are featuring another new line of Christmas/Winter stamps - Snow Globes and Ornaments!  I thought this fit perfectly with the theme of the Belli Challenge!  My card features the adorable Snow Kitty snow globe, but there are many snow globes in the set, as well as components to create your own ornaments and snow globes, as you will see when you check the rest of the team's projects!

I used some Polar White Flower Soft for the snow kitty and the snow on the ground and Stickles for the falling snowflakes.  I added a little Liquid Applique to the kitty's cap and the base of my snow globe is silver metallic card stock.  For the inside of the card, I used another Repeat Impressions stamp - Meowy Christmas (#2211).  All the patterned papers are from Kaisercraft's Gypsy Sisters collection.

I made a second card for the Hop, using the candy cane center and 'empty' snow globe.  I stamped the candy canes using Stampin' Up Riding Hood Red and then covered it with Versamark and clear Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE).  I heated it up and then added a second coat, so it's nice and glossy in real life!  The base was done the same way, using platinum UTEE and then I stamped the base portion of the image on top using black StaZon ink.  The base is popped up with foam squares.

As soon as I saw the candy canes, I wanted to pair them with the striped ribbon and the baker's twine and Jen del Muro's sketch for this week (SFYTT) provided the perfect layout!  The sentiment is from the new snow globe set and the patterned papers are from Cosmo Cricket's Jolly by Golly collection.

OK, now for the details for playing along on the Blog Hop!  Each of the design team members has been assigned a word (mine is Inspiration), which you have to collect by visiting each blog.  Once you have collected the words, figure out the phrase they make up and email it to Wendy at Repeat Impressions (wendy@repeatimpressions.com) to be entered in the drawing for a full sheet containing all the Snow Globe and Ornament images.  And that's not all!  If you are kind enough to leave a comment on each design team member's blog, plus the Repeat Impressions blog, your name will be entered a second time for the drawing!  You must submit your comments and email Wendy your guess at the phrase by 10pm EST on Sunday, August 22.  The new set and the winner of the hop will be revealed next Monday, August 23.

For those of you that participated in last week's Penguin Blog Hop, the new stamps and winner of the hop are being revealed today over at Repeat Impressions, so be sure to check them out! And remember to hop over to all of the other blogs to see the wonderful creations my fellow design team members have made!

Ayana Posadas ~ http://www.ayanaposadas.typepad.com/
Dana Joy ~ http://gotjoycreations.blogspot.com/
Darsie Bruno ~ http://www.craftingwithdarsie.blogspot.com/
Harriet Skelly ~ http://allycatcards.blogspot.com/
Joy Hadden ~ http://www.piecesofjoyhadden.blogspot.com/
Julie Smith ~ http://paperandsuch.blogspot.com/
Lynette Neus ~ http://mystampingaddiction.blogspot.com/
Makiko Jones ~ http://makinkstudio.blogspot.com/
Michele Greenwood ~ http://whimsicalcreations.blogspot.com/  
Robin Kirkpatrick ~ http://robins-rubber-room.blogspot.com/  (YOU ARE HERE!)

Whew, I'm exhausted!  Sorry this was such a long post - thanks for sticking with it!

FireCracker Designs Guest Designer - Week 2

Happy Friday!  It's time for me to show you another card I made using a digital image from FireCracker Designs by Pamela.  This week I'm using Spring Walk.  I printed the image out using my ink jet printer and colored it with Copic markers to match the patterned paper, which is from My Mind's Eye So Sophie collection.  The card base is Stampn' Up! Bermuda Bay and the mat layer under the image is the reverse side of the patterned paper.  I paired it all with this wonderful, shimmery ribbon that I bunched up on a strip of ScorTape.  I made the bow using the Bow Easy and tied the little sentiment tag, from Doodlebug Designs, to it using some twine.

That's about it!  Have a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

Repeat Impressions New Stamps Blog Hop

Greetings and welcome to Repeat Impressions' first Blog Hop!  Wendy has put together a set of these adorable penguins and is offering up a full sheet of these stamps to the winner of the hop contest.  In order to participate, you will need to visit the blogs of each design team member (links are provided below).  On each blog, you will find a key word (mine is Hop). 

After you collect all the words, email Wendy (wendy@repeatimpressions.com) with all the words to be eligible for the blog candy. If you can use all the words to create the correct phrase, include it in your email to Wendy and you will have earned two chances for the blog candy.  You will need to send your email to Wendy by 10:00pm EST August 16th.  The complete line of penguin stamps will be released next Wednesday, August 18th.

Please be sure to make your way to the other design team members' blogs to see the wonderful cards they have created  using these cute penguins!

Ayana Posadas ~ http://www.ayanaposadas.typepad.com/
Dana Joy ~ http://gotjoycreations.blogspot.com/
Darsie Bruno ~ http://www.craftingwithdarsie.blogspot.com/
Harriet Skelly ~ http://allycatcards.blogspot.com/
Joy Hadden ~ http://www.piecesofjoyhadden.blogspot.com/
Julie Smith ~ http://paperandsuch.blogspot.com/
Lynette Neus ~ http://mystampingaddiction.blogspot.com/
Makiko Jones ~ http://makinkstudio.blogspot.com/
Michele Greenwood ~ http://whimsicalcreations.blogspot.com/
Robin Kirkpatrick ~ http://robins-rubber-room.blogspot.com/  (YOU ARE HERE!)

For my card, I used this cute trio of penguins.  I paper pieced their little hats and added some Liquid Applique to the 'furry' parts. I dressed them up with a bow tie, a couple of mini buttons and a red and white striped twine bow. 

All of the papers are from Cosmo Cricket's Jolly by Golly line.  They look like they are caroling to me, so I had to include a strip of the sheet music paper.  The sentiment is also from the new set.

Happy hopping and don’t forget to email Wendy when you have completed the rounds!

Thanks for stopping by!

RI Sketch Challenge and Sneak Peek!

Happy Wednesday!  It's time for another Repeat Impressions sketch challenge.  For this week's sketch, I used a few images from some soon-to-be-released Christmas/Winter themed stamps from Repeat Impressions.  Aren't these little penguins adorable?  They are a lot of fun to play with!  For this card I stamped the penguins using Versafine Onyx Black ink and heat embossed using clear embossing powder.  I used Spica markers to give their hats, beaks, feet and the stars some sparkle and then I added some Martha Stewart chunky glitter to the 'fur' parts of the hats and ear muffs.

Here is the sketch - we'd love for you to play along and make a project based on the sketch.  To play along, you will need to upload a photo of your project on today's post on the Repeat Impressions blog for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Repeat Impressions.  While you are there, please check out what the rest of the design team has made using this sketch!

Be sure to stop back by tomorrow for Repeat Impressions' first Blog Hop!  We will all be showcasing stamps from this fun new penguin set!  And there will be a prize for those who play along with the hop!

Thanks for stopping by!

RI SOTW - Portland Head Light

It's time to showcase another Stamp of the Week for Repeat Impressions.  This week's stamp is called Portland Head Light (#1401-P) and it's a beauty.  When I sat down to color this image I searched for photos of it to get the correct colors for all the elements and found this one on their web site.  It's a gorgeous spot and Wendy has done a wonderful job turning it into a versatile stamp!

For my card, I started by coloring the image and then I selected this marble paper for the background because it reminded me of water.  I added a couple of sailor's knots, which I tied using Barbara Anders' tutorial, and adhered them to the strip of blue paper.  My layout is based on FTL93. Pretty clean and simple for me!

This stamp is perfect for all types of masculine cards, so I urge you to take advantage of the 50% off sale price by heading over to Repeat Impressions' blog to get the details on how to order it.  While you're over there, make sure you check out all of the fabulous cards the rest of the design team has made using this wonderful image!

Be sure to stop back by on Wednesday for another What If Wednesday Sketch Challenge!  Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Hope your birthday is Purr-fect!

Happy Friday!  I am pleased to announce that my fellow Belli Challenge team member, Shelly Schmidt, invited me to be a guest designer this month for FireCracker Designs by Pamela.  I will be posting a card using one of their digital images every Friday in August, so be sure to check in each week! 

For my first card, I am using the Bella Kitty image.  I colored it using Copic markers and added some sparkle on the kitty's eyes and the blanket using Spica markers.  It paired nicely with this paper from BasicGrey's Max and Whiskers collection, a little kitty button and some twine - what kitty wouldn't be interested in a little twine?? ;-)  The twine is layered on top of some tan ruffled ribbon.  As always, you can click on the photo to see a larger image.

Thanks for stopping by!   Have a great weekend!

Belli Challenge #97 - Paint

It's time for another Belli Challenge, and this time the challenge is to use paint on your project.  For my card, I cut three flowers out of Grungepaper using PTI's Beautiful Blooms II flower dies.  I painted each flower layer with a Ranger Butterscotch Paint Dabber and then added a layer using a Copper Paint Dabber.  After the paint was dry, I stamped the coordinating flower petals from the Beautiful Blooms II set on the bottom and top layers and embossed them with Renaissance embossing powder from Powder Keg.  I adhered my layered flower using a decorative brad.  The sketch is from Kim Teasdale's Dare to Get Dirty challenge at SCS (DTGD10blondie090277).

The patterned papers are from Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl collection and the scalloped edge ledger paper is from Making Memories' Noteworthy journaling pad.  My sentiment was also embossed using the Renaissance embossing powder.  The butterfly was cut out of vellum and stamped using an image from PTI's Butterfly Dreams set.  I adhered three copper colored rhinestones for its body.  The center panel is Coredinations card stock that was embossed using PTI's Tin Types Impression Plate and lightly sanded to reveal the lighter colored core.

Please head on over to the Creative Belli blog for the details on playing along with us, and while you're there, make sure you check out what the rest of the Belli Girls have made using paint!

One last thing - check out The House That Stamps Built - yours truly is in the spotlight today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Boys and their Toys

Talk about a day late and a dollar short....here is the Father's Day card I made for hubby, but never got around to posting.  I was cracking up the entire time I worked on it - I just love the expression on this guy's face.  He is from Crafty Secrets' Favorite Fellas stamp set. 

The car is an actual photograph of the Porsche 911 that Tim and his brother bought to use for Driver's Education events at race tracks.  These are events where they get to drive on the track, in a 'spirited' fashion, but not in a racing atmosphere.  I re-sized the photo of the car to get it to work with this stamp, and then I had to do a little surgery and cut the roof off the car.  It's not a technically correct representation of the car, but what the heck - call it artistic license!

I used some patterned paper that was a vintage map of the U.S. and then placed a Tim Holtz compass rose mask on top and sponged around it.  The sentiment is from the same set and is so true of my hubby - he is the king of boy's toys!  The Happy Motoring paper is from Graphic 45's Transatlantique collection.

For the inside, I cut a strip of text paper that has some applicable quotes such as, "We do not remember days; we remember moments." and "a happy memory never wears out." and I highlighted them using Copic markers.  I used a checkerboard border punch on some white card stock and then layered on black card stock to replicate a checkered flag.

On a  personal note, we found out recently that Tim has Cubital Tunnel Syndrome which will require surgery.  The surgery will re-route the ulnar nerve so that instead of running under the funny bone, it will be moved so it's on top.  He will end up with a 7 inch incision on the inside of his right arm.  The surgery will only prevent further nerve damage (he currently has numbness and very little strength in his right arm), but it will not reverse the nerve damage that has already occurred.  So we are a little bummed about that at the moment.  But, on a positive note, his retirement countdown clock is reading 331 days today!!

Thanks for stopping by!