CPS #246 and a Color Bleed

I wanted to try the OWH Tuesday Tutorial this week - a Copic color bleed technique that produced some awesome samples.

I started out creating the background layer by coloring with BG02, 05, and 07.  Then I dropped colorless blender solution on it, let it dry and dropped some more.  I wanted the primary drops on the darker squares to represent the circles in the sketch

When I saw how the background layer turned out, I knew I had to get out my a la modes Groovy Girl stamps .... it was just too hippie not to.

I actually stamped the girlie twice and did the color bleed technique on her dress as well, although I colored in a spiral pattern hoping for a nice tie-dye effect.  I paper pieced the dress in, then did some light coloring on the rest of the image. 

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Vacation Project #7 - Nice Day for a {Winter} White Wedding

We have 4 pastors at my church.  Two of them have been serving together for 20+ years.   I think its somehow right and proper that 2 of their children are getting married.

Congratulations Jon and Jessica! 

Since its a January wedding I went with a winter theme.  I used all white card stock, die cut some damask snowflakes [PTI].  Using my Xyron, I covered the fronts with adhesive and glittered them up so they sparkle ... A LOT :).  I used my Tiny Tags [PTI] die to make the tag (I chose one with a heart since its a wedding) and used the Mr&Mrs stamp from Tiny Tags II

You may also have noticed the embossed rectangle behind the snowflakes.  I used my rectangle nesties and embossed with it.  I know I learned this technique on Nichole Heady's blog, but I couldn't find it there.  Here is a Splitcoast Stampers tutorial on how to do embossing with a die.

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Vacation Project #6 - One Last Christmas Card

While vacation isn't officially over until Sunday night, I need to get back on a little bit of a routine tomorrow so I won't be able to spend hours upon hours in my little hideaway.  I made this one last Christmas card using his weeks MIM technique

I started with a 4.25"square Garden Green card base.  I die cut the Mat Stack 3 and Mat Stack 3 Layerz dies using Naturals White and Cherry Cobbler respectively.

I stamped the sentiment in graded shades of Cherry Cobbler.  The deer silhouette was stamped in True Black and the pine tree was in Garden Green (both full strength)

I also added a little glitter to the tree image, to go with the sentiment (tree tops glistening)

All stamps are from In The Meadow.

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Vacation Project #5 - Another Birthday Card

Actually another birthday card pretty similar to the other one I made this week.  I loved the layout and so made a bright happy one for my sister.

I used my new TCP stamp set (love the bunnies!) along with the happy block letters from Birthday Bash Sentiments

I stamped the bunny and present stack image twice, once on my layer and once on a scrap.  I did some light coloring on the bunny layer then went a little nuts on the present stack :)  Who wouldn't love a happy stack of gifts like that, I ask you!

I cut out the stack of presents and then adhered it to the bunny with foam tape to really make it look like he was peeking out from the behind all those gifts.

For the plaid layer I used the striped image from Background Basics: Retro and tempting turquoise, melon mambo, and delightful daffodil inks. 

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Vacation Project #4 - Hambo Hoedown #43

This week's Hambo Hoedown was to use something soft on your project.  I made it (barely) by using some wide twill striped ribbon.  See it - yeah over there on the far left side, next the notebook paper punch ... yep that's ribbon.  Its soft and it counts.  I wanted to put a bow or a knot there too, but due multiple attempts at this card, I didn't have enough left to do that.

Here is the whole card.  I really struggled with this one today and I'm not sure why.  I did learn something new though.  If you accidentally die cut paper that has adhesive all over the back, you can clean your steel dies with rubbing alcohol.  It will eventually get the adhesive residue off  *cough don't ask cough*

I used the new Computer digi for the main image and shrunk down my balloon penguin to fit in the computer screen.  I printed the sentiment using Courier font and die cut with the Half and Half die from PTI.

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Vacation Project #3 - A Christmas Card

I finally got to a Christmas card (new design) today.  I mass produced a few already but I've posted those already so didn't re-post.  This is the first new design I've made so far this week.  I used the MIM Layered Background using Sentiment Stamps technique and paired it with this weeks CPS sketch

For the stamps I used In The Meadow and Background Basics: Music, both from PTI.  I stamped off once with the sentiment then stamped multiple times on the card stock.  I stamped the horse and sleigh in True Black.  I distressed the edges with Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green and Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distressing Ink.

I also added a little bit of glitter to the rolling hills background layer.

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Vacation Project #2 - Birthday Cards

OK so its not just Christmas cards I need to get done this week.  I have a few birthdays coming up that I need to make cards for as well. I used this week's OWH Sunday Sketch (#96) as the starting point and paired it up with my new TCP A Beary Good Year stamp set ... I've loved this bear from the first time I saw him on Jen Del Muro's blog and I finally just bit the bullet and bought the set (and a couple others ... those bunnies are adorable too!)

I stamped Mr. Bear on Soft suede card stock to minimize the coloring, then just added darker coloring for his hide.  The little cake is from the same set.  The Happy blocks are from Birthday Bash Sentiments [PTI]

Colors are Cherry Cobbler, Delightful Daffodil, Pumpkin Pie, Navy and Kraft

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Vacation Project #1 - Penguin Tags

I decided that I was taking Thanksgiving week off of work many months ago.  Last week I decided what I would do with my time off (besides hang with the girls).  The winners - bake pumpkin bread and make Christmas cards.  The card making also includes gift tags and since there was a lot of die cutting I started with those first

I used Tag Sale #5 and Winter Penguin (PTI), Lacey Circles and Regular Circles (Spellbinders) dies for these.  I stamped the new Background Basics: Circles background in fresh snow ink then used Simple Alpha and the Winter Penguin stamp set to finish off the medallion

Not sure what it is but I love penguins ... this year any way.  Just so adorable.

Now it's time to head back to the basement and work on the Christmas cards :) 

I Love vacations!

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A Hambo Holiday

The Hambo Hoedown this week is to use a tag in your project.  The Wee Henry Turkey digi was the participation prize for last week's hoedown and I used it to make a simple Thanksgiving card for my parents

I wanted to have a rough linen look, but my linen texture plate was too subtle so I went with the square lattice embossing folder from SU!.  I actually sewed the black embossed layer on with a zig zag stick.  You can tell in person, and it gives a nice subtle texture over the top of the lattice pattern.

I cut the tag with the button card die from PTI, embossed with the square lattice, then distressed the edge with Tim Holtz Tea Dye distressing Ink

Wee Henry and his buddy were colored with Copic Sketch markers.

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My Big Brother's Birthday

I've been focusing a lot on my aunt's 90th birthday which is coming up in a couple of days, but there are some other noteworthy birthday's in the month of November in my family as well.  Today is my big brother's (1 of 3 big brothers) birthday.  He's old - 48 this year.  Hard to believe in another 2 years the same little boy I had Lysol fights with in the basement will hit the big 5-0 (yes you read that correctly ... Lysol fights.  We fought dirty but ended up completely disinfected :)

I'm really liking the "vintage photo" kick I've been on and I found a cute one of my brother and me.  I was probably 3 or 4 in this picture, so he was 5ish.

I added a black background and photo corners to the printed picture.  Kind of reminds me of the photo albums my mom and gramma used to keep. 

No actual stamping on this (I printed the sentiment using CarbonType font).  I aged up the photo and the card base using Tim Holtz Vintage Linen distress ink.

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Last of the Birthday Barrage (and a Hoedown card)

This week's Hambo Hoedown is to use a frame on your card and the new digi set Camera Guy from Hambo Stamps

I just remember always taking a picture of someone taking a picture of me.  Its like a rite of passage in my family.  So since this card is for my aunt who will be celebrating her 90th birthday soon, I thought a little homage to the family tradition was in order

 Its a simple little number but super cute.  I printed the Camera Guy on white card stock and colored with Copics.  Then I punched a hole in some black card stock with my largest square punch and used my spiral notebook punch to make it look like a film strip.  If I was thinking I would have done it in shades of brown so it looked like a negative.  Maybe next time ... but see that little sparkle of light on the camera's lens?

I did have the mental fortitude to add Crystal Effects to the lens so it looks like glass :)

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Birthday Card #5

Here is birthday card 5 of 9 for my Aunt's 90th birthday

Its pretty simple but kinda fun especially since this weeks MIM technique was making your own background papers.  I used Simple Circles [SU! retired] and Birthday Bash Sentiments [PTI].  Colors are Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides and Dark Chocolate.  To get the chocolate twine I took my chocolate striped bakers twine and colored it with an E59 Copic Sketch marker.  It filled in the white nicely but if you look close you can still see a bit of a stripe.

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Another Birthday Barrage Card

I think its 6 of 9 ... kinda losing count I just know I have to send one every day so my aunt gets them all by her birthday :)

I was asked to do a tutorial for Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog for the "embossed kissing" technique on this card.  I love this organization and all they do for deployed soldiers so I said yes.  This was one of the samples I made for the tutorial and I am using it for the birthday blitz

It's pretty simple really.  In the background you can see the scrap of card stock I embossed with my hounds tooth embossing folder.  Then I stamped the flower in Cherry Cobbler.  Next I stamped the flower on plain card stock (without re-inking) to get that amazing hounds tooth pattern on the flower petals.

I just layered and tied some ribbon after that, so the flower gets to be center stage.

I'm not sure when the tutorial will get posted on the OWH site, but I'll add a link to it when it does.

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A completely unintended side effect

11/13/2011 editted:  A tutorial for this "embossed kiss" technique as I've dubbed it will appear on the Operation Wrote Home Stars & Stamps blog on Nov. 22

I was playing along with the OWH Sunday Sketch, and I decided to make a love card with hearts, even though I know the hearts in the sketch are the embellie of choice.  I'm using the hearts because I'm prepping cards for a women's retreat my church is having this weekend and for free time I am going to have stamping stations that attendees can make OWH valentine's cards for our heroes.  And since ODBD is sponsoring OWH with a love theme, it seemed like a win-win

The card was looking rather plain so I decided to use the square lattice embossing folder for my Big Shot.  Then I decided maybe stamping after I embossed may be cool.  THEN I realized I had a perfect kiss technique card

The little heart was stamped on scrap card stock after stamping on the embossed layer.   Same for the big heart

Here's the whole card.  I {big puffy heart} how this turned out.  I almost never get a clean second image when I try a standard stamp to stamp kiss technique, but stamping first on the embossing work beautifully!

So there will be a box with about 20 of these heading to my shipper sometime next week. 

Thanks for topping!

Supplies:
Paper: Poppy Parade Whisper white [SU!]
Ink: Poppy Parade [SU!]
Stamps: Heart Prints [PTI]
Other: Heart punches [PTI], rhinestone [SU!]

Card Patterns Sketch 140

I follow several "challenge" blogs so when I have time I can stretch my creative wings.  One of those is the Card Patterns sketch challenge.  They do an amazing job every week creating fun and interesting sketches and I'm happy to get to play along this week.

Here is my card for this week's challenge

I  love how this card turned out!  Not to crow too much but I think this might be one of the best cards I've done in a long time (maybe ever)  And it was pretty simple really : 1 main stamp set (Harvest Berries), a sentiment (Birthday Basics) and some ribbon buttons and pearls. 

Colors are Black, White, and Cherry Cobbler

I stamped the solid leaf image from Harvest Berries onto the card base using Cherry Cobbler ink.  I used the lined leaf image for the main focal layer, stamping in True Black.  I masked the circle layer using my nestability and sponged Cherry Cobbler ink over it so the white wasn't quite such a stark contrast

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MIM and SFYTT November

Today I got to play with the Make It Monday video (making your own backgrounds with multiple stamps) and the November Sketch For You To Try (early even, thanks to a sneak peek post on FB).

I again made a birthday card for my aunt's 90th birthday card barrage (I just like saying that out loud .... birthday card barrage ... see how that just rolls off your tongue!)

I used the digi stamp I selected as my prize for being Queen of the Hoedown this week from Hambo stamps.  I fell in love with the little penguin the first time I saw him!

I also created a custom dotted background using Polka Dot Basics for both the large white strip and the darker enchanted evening background layer.  I stitched the sentiment layer on with a little zig zg stitch.

I colored the Balloon Penguin using T6 and G99 to simulate black.  The balloon is R24, 29, 59 and the feet and beak are a combo of YR18, 15 12.

The sky was B41 and the "iceberg"  was C1, T1 and T4 along with some colorless blending

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My Aunt's Birthday Card Barrage - Day 1

My aunt Marg will be 90 this month.  She was a big part of my life growing up, being my mom's only sister, and I love her to bits. Her kids send out reminders so we can shower her with cards ... this year it will be a barrage :)

I am planning on sending 9 cards - 1 for each decade.  This one is the first

This is a picture of me about 40 years ago, in front of the twig of a tree in my aunt's back yard.  I know we took a picture of me many {many MANY} years later when my aunt and uncle moved out of this house (the only one they had ever lived in to that point) and moved into  a condo.  My memories of Christmas Day growing up is always at this house and I loved getting pix in front of this tree over the years.

I scanned then printed the photo on white card stock then aged it with Tim Holtz vintage photo distress ink.  I used the Photo Finisher dies to cut the label.  The sentiment is from Take Three: Summer and stamped in the distress ink.

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More Fun With Digis: Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge

This is my first Paper SMooches SPARKS challenge. 

I've seen them posted on the blog feed but haven't had the opportunity to play along before now.  Truth be told I've been a little afraid of digital stamps thinking they were too ... limiting?  Well,  I have been having a blast with them over the last few weeks and when I saw the SPARKS challenge today I just had to play along.

So here's my card:

I got a letter from my cousin in the mail today and my aunt is going to be 90 this month.  I thought a blingy birthday present card was just the ticket.  I was inspired by the challenge photo's colors as well as the repeated graphic image.

I colored the focal image using YR18, YR15, YR12, E53, E55, E57, and B18.  I also used T4 to darken up the gift bag a little and C1 to give that overall outline.

Added just that tiny bit o' bling  to make it sparkly.

Thanks for stopping!

Colors: White and Pacific Point.
Digi: Nov freebie Gift

Another Two-fer ... I is on a roll

Since I get to play in the Hambo Hoedown early this week, I thought I'd combine with the CPS 242 sketch challenge as well ... nothing like it ... I feel so LEAN (my worker peeps will get it :)

So here is my take this week:

The Hoedown this week was to use the Snail Rake and a SCS technique.  My technique was the delft tile technique.  I love the grout look and was hoping when I printed Mr. Snail Rake on the scored paper it would look like it was stamped on tile.  The printer went a little too far into the grout lines, but I still like the end result.

I sponged Pacific Point ink around the card stock to highlight the lines a little bit.  Printed the sentiment and added a little swatch of gingham paper and a glitter H button to finish out the sketch.

Thanks for stopping!