Wednesday, May 27, 2009

15 MINUTE CARDS (if you can find the ribbon) and a FREEBIE

Lindsay from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff has designed some wonderful new digital card kits. When she told us about the kits she asked that we use one to make a 15 minute card. I totally panicked, you see I am a SLOOOOOOW crafter. Sometimes it takes me a week to finish a card. I have to try everything in every different way before I actually put glue to paper, sometimes I really annoy myself. However, when I saw her kits I was completely relieved. They are so easy to put together and so beautifully coordinated that it was a snap even for me.

In fact, it was so simple that I did a 5, 10 and 15 minute card with the Elegant Black and White Kit . I went from a simple elegant card to a more elaborate one all within the time limit. Keep in mind that the time limit didn't include cutting stuff out which I did while watching the Pens mutilate Carolina (sorry if your a Hurricanes fan... really, I mean that... he he).

The first card took only about 5 minutes to put together using just a few of the basic pieces from the kit (you get enough pieces for three cards on one sheet) a black cardstock base, and some ribbon.


The second one took about 10 minutes. I embossed the card base with a swiss dot embossing folder, added a white and black layer and a flower.

The last card is the most elaborate and actually took ME over 45 minute to make but that was because I spent 30 minutes looking for black satin ribbon that I finally realized my daughter had used for a school project. In reality it probably would have taken a little over 15 min. to put together with the extra pink layers, flowers and ribbon.

I also added an insert inside the card with a different layer from the kit and digital stamp from Lindsay's collection.

If you visit Lindsay's Blog she is giving away a free download of one of her new card kits and a coordinating Digi stamp to try out. Also, don't forget that if you buy 5$ worth of stamps you get one free until May 31.

GO PENS!!!!!!!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

DARING, DUSTIN, SCRAPPY, CAARDVARKS!


SAY WHAT?

I have two cards today that were made with four different challenges in mind. They are both shape cards (and pocket cards) which I love to make. If I had time all my cards would be shaped. I think they are so much fun to make and give. Hopefully, they really make the recipient feel special because they aren't your ordinary card.

First up is the Caardvarks shape up challenge. Their design team has some really cool samples. If you like shaped cards check them out. Both cards fit this one (duh).

This first card is also for the All That Scraps Blog challenge to use the faux metal technique. The handle on my little sand pail is made using this technique. Though you can't see it very well, I embossed seashells on the handle. I also used a couple of their adorable digital stamps stamps for this project. I made my own template for the pail and shovel by finding pics on the internet and making them the size I wanted (~5"). I cut out the center with the scalloped oval nestabilities and put some acetate behind it. On the shovel, I sponged the sea and sky and tore some paper and inked the edges for the sand.


The second card is for Dare U to Digi challenge which was "one for the boys". And Dustin Pike's Blog candy/card for a cause. Dustin is asking that you make a card for Post Pals, an organization that has people send cards to brighten a sick child's day. What a great cause.

I used one of Dustin's super cute digital images for this card.
Again, I used an internet image of a pool to make a template and paper pieced the pool. The image was colored with prisma pencils and gamsol two times and the top half was popped up so that it would look like he was floating.

I know it is a dragon and not a dinosaur but close enough K?


Have a wonderful Memorial Day!
Thank you for your service and we miss you uncle Bud!










Card Stuff
Pail & Shovel
Stamps - All That Scraps
Paper - Inque Boutique, Cabana
Ink - Versamark, various blues
Etc., - Darice flowers, brads, MS branch punch, silver embossing powder, copics, SU reinkers

Swimming Dragon
Stamp - Dustin Pike, floating dragon
Paper - The Digi Chick, Kidstuff
Etc., - brad, prisma pencils, gamsol

Thursday, May 21, 2009

HAVE A FAIRY NICE DAY!


When I think fairy I think pink and glitter so guess what happened when I found out our next SCRAPPY FROG CHALLENGE was to make something with a fairy? Yep, my card is all about pink and glitter. The pink is obvious but the glitter didn't really show up well even though it was everywhere including my hair and clothes.

Hop over and participate in the challenge if you can, the prize this time is - of course- fairy stamps (12 of them!!!) Series 28 from Studio G.
This sweet little fairy is Fairy Chloe from The Greeting Farm.




I used this sketch from Prairie Paper and Ink's Friday Sketch Challenge.

The card came out nothing like I had planned (the last one didn't either). I may have to try it when I have more time (like that is ever going to happen) to see if I can get what is in my head onto paper. Do you ever have that problem? Anyway, it will make a cute b-day card for a girl. I made the little roses using a Martha Stewart heart punch, I think they are so cute but they took forever to make.

Have a fairy nice weekend! (sorry, obvious but i couldn't resist)

Card Stuff
Stamps - The Greeting Farm, Fairy chloe, SU, short and sweet
Paper - SU, Digital Scrapbooking Place
Etc., - Brads, ribbon, nestibilities, cricut storybook cart, MS leaf punch, sticky pearls, glitter, Prisma pencils, gamsol, pastels. copics

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Fall Daffodils?

I am not sure how a spring daffodil ended up looking so fall-like but it just sort of turned out that way as I was coloring it.

The daffodil is a digital stamp from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. She has several versions including one with a stem. Very pretty for feminine cards. I also used one of her vine/flower stamps to create the background on the circle behind the daffodil. I colored the image with prisma pencils on watercolor paper for some extra texure and then used mod podge to give it a little shine.


I made several layers of the petals to give it dimension.


I used this sketch
from the Mojo Monday Sketch challenge.














Card Stuff
Stamps - Lindsay's Stamp Stuff, daffodil, vine
Ink - SU, really rust
Paper - SU, really rust, black - Digital Scrapbook Place
Etc., Smile sentiment computer generated, brads, MS edge punch, Nestabilities square, circle.

Friday, May 15, 2009

GRADUATION CARD


This card was made for my niece (the softball star) who will be graduating from high school (colors are blue and gold obviously)at the end of the month. It also fits with the Digital Tuesday Challenge to make a non-traditional folding or shaped card.

I got the grad hat template from ARC at SCS. The hat flips up to reveal a little pocket on the inside to hold a gift card or check. Very clever and it was so easy to make! The tutorial had a pull out mechanism on the inside that attached to the gift card but I will be putting a check inside and I didn't want to put anything sticky that might tear it.

I Cut a separate top layer of the hat and embossed it with a cuttlebug folder. The edges were trimmed with a Krylon gold leafing pen and the bottom was embossed with gold embossing powder. The tassel came from the home dec section of Joanns. The image is a digital Anya from The Greeting Farm.

This is the first time I tried using my SU reinkers to color. I put a drop in a plastic watercolor tray and used a small aquapainter to color her in. I was surprised that I liked the way it turned out, but it is hard to make anya look bad, she is just too cute.

Card Stuff
Paper - Blue CS
Stamps - The greeting Farm, Grad Anya - SU, Yummy
Etc.,- Krylon gold leaf pen, gold embossing powder, tassel

Thursday, May 14, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!



It is my mom's 88th birthday tomorrow and I made her this watering can with peppermint patty flowers. The flowers and lady bug are some incredible digital stamps from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. Doodling is a hot trend right now and Lindsay has some wonderful new doodled images. She is also having a terrific sale through the end of May. If you purchase $5.00 in stamps you will get one free!

I printed the flower and ladybug images in a size (~1.5") that would just cover a peppermint patty and glued them onto the top of the wrapper. A lollypop stick was inserted into the edge of the PP. I borrowed some modeling clay from my son, put it in the bottom of the can and inserted the sticks into it. The little flower on the front of the can is the center of the flower cut out of two different patterned papers and layered with pop dots.


How cute is that watering can? I found the template for it at SCS. Sammy_nab provided the template. Take a look at her beautiful sample it is just amazing.




My mom loves roses and gardening so I think she will really like this.
This is a picture of her in front of her new computer.


Happy Birthday Mom, Love ya!









Project stuff
Stamps - Lindsay's Stamp Stuff, doodle ladybug and doodle daisy
Paper - The Digi Chick, Le Fleuriste Paper Pack
Etc., pearls, peppermint patties, lollypop sticks, modeling clay

Friday, May 8, 2009

Spinning out of Control!

This week has been crazy busy and has me feeling a little like I am spinning out of control. My kids activities happened all at once this week -2 music concerts, a science fair, karate, and riding lessons. Not to mention that I took an online web design class and my final is due today. Don't know what I was thinkin.

So, this weeks Scrappy Frogs Challenge is completely appropriate for my state of mind. We were asked to create something round and I made a circular card with a flower that spins. PLEASE! go check out this challenge site and try it out. They have the most awesome prizes, it will be well worth your time.



I used my Fiskars circle border punch for the green layer of the card base and cut the edges of the other two layers with my scalloped scissors. The flower and leaves were made with my new SU scallop oval and large oval punch. I LOVE!!!! these punches. I am going to get so much use out of these things. If you don't have an SU demo and would like these check out my fave SU demo Linda and order from her. She is the greatest!



I made the petals by first punching the paper with the large oval punch then surrounding the open area with the scallop punch. This gave a very thin scalloped outline which I layered over another plain oval scallop. I glued one end of the scallop outline to the end of the scallop base, let it dry then glued the other end a little up from the edge so that it would create a sort of bubble. The center of the flower is a shaker with pink beads inside so that when the flower spins it rolls the beads around. The leaves were made with the same scallop oval punch, folded in half and run through my crimper.

I also have to give a shout out to The Digichick - All the papers used for this project (and this past wednesday's also) were downloads from their site. Can you believe it! They have a huge selection and for someone like me who is color challenged it is heaven. You get a whole set of color coordinated papers for a few dollars. I printed the paper on my georgia pacific cardstock from walmart and voila! Awesome baby!

Card Stuff
Stamps- SU, barouque motifs, oval all
Paper - The Digichick
Punches - SU, scallop oval, large ovaland scallop circle, Fiskars, rose circle
Etc. -SU, Ribbon, Pink microbeads pink rhinestones
The pink plastic button is a freebie I got from Stampingbella when i placed an order.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

HEY CUPCAKE!


If you haven't tried digital stamps - WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!! (sorry was that too loud?)- I love how versatile they are. If you are new to digi stamps and would like some tips on how to use them visit The Frugal Crafters blog . She has a yahoo group called Whats digital stamping that will supply lots of help.

I created this cupcake card from a cupcake digi image from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff and it was a really quick card to put together. I downloaded the image and then made the image in several nested sizes in photoshop then printed them out on the wrong side of a few different patterned papers. Then it was just a matter of fitting them together in an order that I liked. I don't think it is apparent in the picture but I ran the cupcake paper layers through my crimper for a realistic effect. It looks and feels really cool in person.


I used a brad and eyelet to make the upper layer of the cupcake flip up to reveal the sentiment. I used the same cupcake image in a 0.6 inch size to make the cute little cupcake inside. See what I mean by versatile?
Lindsay has some new images that are just beautiful so blop on over and check them out. Also, take a look at what the other design team members have done they have some super samples.
Thanks for stopping by!


Card Stuff
Stamp - Lindsay's Stamp Stuff, cupcake#3
Paper - The Digichick
Etc, - Brad, eyelet, rhinestones,