What If Wednesday Sketch Challenge - J2810

It's time for another sketch challenge over at The House That Stamps Built.  I decided to pair the sketch with this week's Stamp of the Week (Damselfly #4401) for a thank you note I need to send to someone who loves dragonflies and butterflies.  I stamped the damselfly using Aqua Mist ink on a sheet of light colored patterned paper.  I cut around the wings before I cut out the image using a Nestabilities curved rectangles die.  I learned how to do this technique from my friend Julie - you can read her instructions in this post on her blog. 

I adhered almost an entire strip of Memory Box pearls for the body and eyes - that was painful for this tightwad hoarder of embellishments!  I used two different border punches for the two mat layers and adhered the main panel using foam tape.

I painted the wings with some Twinkling H20s to make them shimmer as you can see in the close up.  All of the patterned papers are from Kaisercraft's Gypsy Sisters Collection and my card base is Bermuda Bay card stock from Stampin' UP!.

For the inside, I stamped my image again with the Aqua Mist ink and layered that on another sheet of the patterned paper.  I used an EK Success border punch for the bottom of the patterned paper panel.

That's about it!  Please be sure to hop over to The House That Stamps Built to see what the rest of the design team has done with the sketch.  We'd love for you to play along and make a card using this week's sketch.  The details for participating can be found over on the Repeat Impressions' blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp of the Week - Damselfly

It's time for a new Stamp of the Week at Repeat Impressions!  This week's featured stamp is Damselfly (# 4401).  I love this stamp!  It can be used for so many occasions.  Tim recently mentioned to me on a Friday morning that he needed a birthday card for a friend in New York whose birthday was the following Monday.  So much for planning ahead!  I was able to scrounge up a previously made masculine card, but  decided that I needed to have some more on hand for the next last minute request, so this card was born!

I stamped the Damselfly image on the dotted patterned paper and again on another sheet of card stock and cut the second one out and adhered it on top of the one on the patterned paper.  I ran my Versamark pen over the wings and dusted on some pearlescent powder to make them shimmer.

The patterned papers are all from The Paper Studio's Mirabelle collection.  The dragonfly brad is from Creative Impressions and I used an EK Success border punch  and various Nestabilities dies for the different layers  For the inside I used the same border punch and some of my scraps from the front.

Please head over to The House That Stamps Built for details on how you can get this wonderful, versatile stamp for 50% off.  While you're there, be sure to check out what the rest of the design team has done with this stamp!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wedding Wishes

Today we are going to Tim's nephew's wedding, so obviously I needed to make a card!  I knew I wanted to use this cake from Flourishes' Let them Eat Cake set.  It's supposed to be a birthday set, but to me this cake looks more like a wedding cake.  I paired it with Stampin' Up's Bella Bleu papers, which I thought went well with the flourishes in the cake image, and that set my color scheme. 

The cake layers were stamped with a combination of Versamark and Stampin' Up Blue Bayou, then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  The sentiment, stand and banner (from an old Fiskars clear set called Romance) were all stamped using Versamark and then heat embossed using Powder Keg Metallic Marble embossing powder.  The background for the sentiment tag was airbrushed.

I cut the image out and mounted the bottom layer using a double layer of foam tape, then mounted the middle layer with a single layer of foam tape and the top layer was mounted using Stampin' Up dimensionals, which are thinner than the foam tape.  You can see the dimension in the photo to the right.

I finally tried the scrunched up ribbon technique that seems to be showing up all over blog land.  I placed a strip of ScorTape down on the my patterned paper and then started scrunching the ivory satin ribbon and adhering it to the tape.  I had run the ribbon through the ends of the sentiment panel before I started.  Finally, I added some flat back pearls.

For the inside, I kept it pretty simple and just stamped the heart, from the Fiskars Romance set, and the sentiment, from Papertrey Ink ETA: Flourishes' Tag Lines set, and heat embossed with the Metallic Marble powder. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your weekend!

Belli Challenge #96 - Sketch and Something That Moves!

It's time for another Belli Challenge! This week's challenge is a combination - a sketch challenge, plus something that moves.  In keeping with the Belli philosophy of using long-held items from you stash, I pulled out this ready-made shaker box with the palm tree and waves in the background.  I have had this shaker box from Magic Scraps for probably 5 years...from back in the days when I thought I was going to be a scrapbooker! 

I tossed in a fish charm and starfish and sand dollar buttons and then added some sand to make up my moving element.  Here's a closer shot of it:

I stamped the sentiment, from Impression Obsession, directly on the background paper, which is from Webster's Pages Seaside Retreat 6x6 paper pad.  I added a strip of striped paper, also from this collection, leftover from a previous card and layered it with some fish ribbon from American Crafts.  The ribbon and the shaker box were both white, so I toned them down by sponging them with some Old Paper and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.

For the inside of my card, I used a scrap of wave paper from my stash and added one of the Webster's Pages Journaling Cards, also from Seaside Retreat.  I stamped my sentiment, from Papertrey Ink's Birthday Basics set, directly on the Journaling Card.  I attached them both to a piece of ivory card stock that I had cut the top and bottom edges of using an EK Success border punch.

We'd love for you to play along!  All you have to do is make a card or other project using this sketch and include something that moves.  You can make a shaker card like I did, or a spinner or waterfall card, or you can use an image that appears to be moving.  Most importantly, use something old and neglected out of your stash! 

To play along, link your project over on today's Belli Challenge post.  Make sure you also head over there to check out what the rest of the Design Team made using the sketch and something that moves!

 Thanks for stopping by!

Button Flower Thanks!

Hello!  Sorry I've been quiet lately!  I was out of town for work last week and have been busy with company since I returned.  I'm glad to be back at work so I can get some rest!

This is a thank you card I made recently using an image from Papertrey Ink's Blooming Button Bits set.  I stamped the leaves twice to add a little depth to them and used Berry Sorbet ink for the pot and sentiment.  The buttons are PTI's Berry Sorbet, too.  I cut a butterfly out of the background paper and adhered it with a couple of pearls for its body.  The tag is a Martha Stewart punch, which I added to one of the buttons with a little silk ribbon.  Simple, but pretty, I think.  Hope you like it!

I'll be back Wednesday with another Belli Challenge card!  Thanks for stopping by!

RI SOTW - Great Blue Heron

Hi, all!  It's time for another Stamp of the Week from Repeat Impressions.  This week's stamp is this Great Blue Heron (#1704).  What majestic creatures these are!  I think it would be perfect for any kind of masculine card or sympathy card, as well as for Thinking of You (also from Repeat Impressions). 

I colored and airbrushed the main image panel using Copic markers, then paired it with some papers from BasicGrey's Marrakech collection.  The left side of the orange panel was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and I added some pearls to the embossed swirls and the top of the main panel.  Pretty clean and simple for me!

Be sure to stop by The House That Stamps Built to find out how you can get this stamp for 50% off and to see what the rest of the design team made using this stamp!

Thanks for stopping by!

Belli Challenge #95 - Alter It!

It's time for another Belli Challenge and this week's challenge is to alter something you have lying around.  I won this cute little clipboard from Becca Feeken a few months ago and it's been sitting in my stamp room unfinished ever since.  This challenge was just what I needed to get it altered!

I used Mercy Kerin's sketch from last week for my layout, painted the clipboard with a couple of coats of ivory paint and then covered the front with some October Afternoon papers (Report Card and Fly A Kite collections). I used stamps from Papertrey Ink's Studio Style set and colored the buttons and jar using Copic and Spica markers. 

I usually keep a list of cards that I need to make, for design team assignments, birthdays, challenges, etc.  I used the paper crafting theme because I'm planning to keep this in my stamp room with my list clipped to it for reference.  Hopefully this will keep me a little more organized so I don't find myself in a panic the day an assignment is due because I forgot all about it (which is exactly what happened with this clipboard....).

Be sure to head over to the Belli Challenge blog and see what the rest of the design team has altered!  If you'd like to play along with us, pull a long lost treasure out of your stash (think tins, picture frames, jars, clipboards, notebooks, etc.) and alter it!  Be sure to leave a link to your project over on today's post on the Belli blog or use keyword CBC95 if you post it to Splitcoast Stampers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Old Bird (C4C44, JUGS40)

Greetings! Hope you had a Happy 4th of July!  My closest friend from college had her 50th birthday on Saturday and this is the card I made for her.  I'm most excited about the fact that I will be able to give it to her in person since she and her family are coming to visit tomorrow.  I usually make her something with owls because we were in Chi Omega together.  There is very little stamping on this card - the sentiment is from Inkadinkado and the branch and leaves are from this year's Round and Round anniversary set from PTI.  I cut one of the owls from the  patterned paper and perched it on my branch.

For the inside, I used a sentiment from Heidi Grace, combined with a couple of PTI stamps.  I'm hoping the sappy sentiment on the inside will make up for the sentiment on the front (click on the photo to see it larger)!  I cut out another bird from the patterned paper and popped it up with foam tape next to the sentiment.

The patterned papers are from My Little Shoebox's Whoo Loves You? collection, the pink ribbon is from Stampin' UP, the piece of yellow ric rac is the last bit from my stash and the buttons and twine are from PTI.  The card is based on this week's sketch from Just Us Girls (JUGS40).  The two layers of ribbon on the front qualifes it for this week's Crazy 4 Challenges (C4C44) challenge to use at least two ribbons.

Enjoy the rest of your week!  Thanks for stopping by!

What If Wednesday Sketch Challenge

It's time for another What If Wednesday sketch challenge from Repeat Impressions!  Submissions to this J3010 Sketch Challenge will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. EST on July 13th. All participants are automatically entered into a random drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Repeat Impressions, so what have you got to lose?

There is a very nice fellow who works for one of my long time clients and he is retiring this week, so I made this retirement card using the sketch and this adorable kitty from Repeat Impressions (Forty Winks # 2606). I don't know this gentleman very well from a personal standpoint, but I do know that he is a fellow cat lover, so this image seemed appropriate. 

I paired the image with BasicGrey's Max and Whiskers papers, some kitty-themed twill and a brad from Around the Block that says Cat Nap in the upper left corner.  The sentiment is from Repeat Impressions' Quartet Complements line.

For the inside of the card and the envelope liner, I used some more of the Max and Whiskers paper.  The sentiment is from Stampabilities.

Please play along with us and create a card using this week's sketch!  If you have Repeat Impressions stamps, we'd love for you to use them, but it's not required.  Leave a link to your project over on today's post at The House That Stamps Built, and while you're there, be sure to check out what the rest of the design team has done using the sketch.

Thanks for stopping by!

RI SOTW - Lupine

Happy Monday (that's an oxymoron, isn't it??)!  It's time for another Stamp of the Week from Repeat Impressions.  This week's stamp is Lupine (1711) and it's available at 50% off through July 4th.  All you have to do is head over to The House that Stamps Built to get the details on how to take advantage of this special!

For my card, I searched my stash of patterned papers and found this K&Company Juliana Muscari paper that worked perfectly with the Lupine image.  The other patterned papers are from Memory Box's Gossamer collection and the purple card stock mat layers are Coredinations Nostalgia line.  My image was colored with Copic markers and the background was airbrushed.  My sentiment is from the Quartet Complements series, also from Repeat Impressions.  I added some Rock Candy Stickles to the flowers and used a clear Spica glitter pen on the leaves and sentiment.  My layout is based on this week's sketch over at Taylored Expressions.

Please be sure to check out what the rest of the design team has done using the Lupine stamp over at The House That Stamps Built!

Thanks for stopping by!

Belli Challenge #94 - Sketch and Patriotic

Welcome to another Belli Challenge!  This week's challenge is a double challenge - a sketch plus you must use a patriotic element.  The timing of this challenge was perfect as I was able to use this week's Stamp of the Week from Repeat Impressions - Land of the Free (#3074-I).  The patterned papers are from Stampin' Up and I used the coordinating markers to color my image.  The image panel was outlined with a gold leaf pen.  The buttons are from PTI, as is the sentiment, and I added two star-shaped rhinestones to the red buttons.  Please check out Monday's post over at the House That Stamps Built to find out how you can get the Land of the Free stamp at half price.

I completely messed up when I made my first card for this challenge, because I forgot the patriotic element.  I started out using a new stamp set from There She Goes - Butterfly Happiness.  The background paper is from DCWV's Mariposa collection and I stamped my sentiment directly on the patterned paper and embossed with Fine Detail Gold Embossing Powder.  I stamped the small butterfly three times on black inchie squares and embossed them with the gold powder too.  They were outlined with a gold leaf pen.  I added a layer of crocheted lace and two layers of PTI's satin Spring Moss ribbon.  The ribbon qualifies it for the challenge to use a ribbon border over at Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Please be sure to check out what the rest of the Belli girls have done using the sketch and a patriotic element. We would love for you to play along with us, using this sketch and a patriotic element.  If you do choose to play along, enter your project over on today's Belli Challenge post, using Mr. Linky. 

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy the rest of your week!

Happy Father's Day!

Greetings!  Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there! 

This card was made using Flourishes Guiding Light set.  I stamped all of the images using Sepia Archival Ink and then sponged all the papers using Old Paper and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.   I added a trio of copper pearls in the upper right corner to balance it out.  The layout is based on Taylored Expressions' TESC112 sketch. 

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

RI Sketch Challenge - Thank you grapes

Hello!  It's time for another Repeat Impressions sketch challenge! 

For my card, I started with the Grapevine Border (1504-O), which I stamped on white paper and colored with Copic markers.  Next I stamped the grape cluster from the Daily Red FLIP Set (7506-W) twice and colored those with the same Copic markers and then stamped the Thanks sentiment (8607-D) from Quartet Complements in lavender ink.  The stamped images are all matted on lavender patterned paper and then on dark purple vellum and were distressed with Old Photo Distress Ink.  All the papers are from Laura Ashley. 

For the inside I used a Martha Stewart border punch on the vellum layer and added some scraps from the papers used on the front.  Please be sure to check out what the rest of the design team has made using the sketch over at The House that Stamps Built. 

This card is on its way to my sister to thank her for a beautiful silver tray with a grapevine border that she sent us for our silver anniversary.  She loves purple and grapes so this card is perfect for the occasion - precisely what I love about making cards!

We would love for you to play along with us by making a card using this sketch.  Simply create a card based on the sketch, upload your card to your blog or Splitcoast gallery, then link your card on today's post over on the Repeat Impressions blog. Submissions will be accepted until 5pm (eastern time) on June 29th.

Hope your week is going well!  Thanks for stopping by!

RI SOTW - Life is not measured...

Good morning! It's time for another Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week. This week's stamp is #6113-K Life is not... from the Verticals series. This stamp is available exclusively to Repeat Impressions' blog readers at 50% OFF from June 14 – June 20, 2010 only. (Limited to 1 per person please.) Please see The House that Stamps Built for details on getting this versatile stamp at half off!  While you're there, check out what the other members of the design team have done - it's always interesting to see the different things everyone does with the same stamp!

When we are SCUBA diving, seeing a seahorse is definitely one of those moments that takes your breath away, so I paired the sentiment up with some seahorse patterned paper from Creative Imaginations Oceana Collection and the 4102-D, Sea Horse (sm) stamp, also from Repeat Impressions.  I stamped the sentiment and the seahorse using Versamark and heat embossed with navy blue embossing powder.  I cut the seahorses out and placed one on the ric rac with its tail curled around it, to mimic the way they wrap them around coral in the ocean.

My ribbon treatment is three layers of ribbon - a sheer navy with satin edges, a teal and white striped ribbon and finally a layer of ric rac.  The ribbon layers were adhered using Scor-Tape.  The square brad in the upper left corner is also from the Oceana collection.

For the inside, I used the strip of remaining seahorse images I had stamped and layered it on a leftover piece of the patterned paper.  The blue striped paper mat is is Japanese Watermark paper from Marco's Paper. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!

Feel Better (CPS170, CTD96)

Happy Friday!  This morning I decided to make another card using the CPS170 sketch along with the colors from this week's Color Throwdown 96 (So Saffron, Cool Caribbean and Pumpkin Pie).  I inked up this cute little Pure Innocence image from the My Umbrella set and went to town paper piecing!   The patterned papers are from October Afternoon's Ducks in a Row and Piggytales' Cinderella Collection.

The boots and raincoat were paper pieced using the same paper, then I colored a second set of hands and pieced them on top.  The umbrella was cut out of yellow paper and popped up on foam squares, and I colored the handle with a brown Copic marker and an opaque silver marker.  The wooden flower was added on top of the umbrella. 

I cut one of the cute little ducks out of the patterned paper and added him to my sentiment panel, also with foam squares.  And, in keeping with the rain theme, I added a few tear drops from The Robin's Nest in the upper right corner.  Finally, I thought she needed to be standing in some grass, so I took a strip of grass paper and cut it with a Martha Stewart grass edge punch and added it to the bottom of the main panel.

For the inside, I matted a sheet of white paper with the same patterned paper I used for my mat on the front, then added another piece of the big ric rac ribbon and a leftover square of the patterned paper with some of the baby ducks - can't waste it!

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your weekend!