CAS86 - Splitcoaststampers Sketch

It has been ages since I've done one of the Clean & Simple Challenges on Splitcoaststampers - this time around it is a sketch challenge and those are my favorites so I jumped in to play!

The birdy paper is from my Basic Grey Offbeat 6x6 paper pad.  I made a goal a while back to use every pattern in the collection and this card takes me one step closer - I only have a couple left.  The bird stamp is an Autumn Leaves $1 stamp I got a few years back; sentiment is from A Muse; ribbon from SU!; and Tim Holtz Tissue Tape.  The happy bird is colored with Copics and has a bit of sparkle from a clear Spica pen.  Hope you are having a great day!!  It has gotten so cool out that the air conditioner has not turned on in a few days.  I LOVE Autumn!!  Can't wait until the leaves start to turn colors!

Moxie Fab - Not your Square Granny Squares

Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger time - This card is inspired by the photo below.  The staggered medallions remind me of the offset scallop craze that's going on now - I have a tutorial on how I've been making these if you haven't seen it already.  Copper tape (found in the stained glass section of your craft store) finishes the top and bottom edges and adds a touch of shine.  The strip to the left edge is actually wood paper to bring in the warmth of the wood floor and, of course, this card wouldn't be finished without the turquoise - that's what really jumps from the trigger pic!

Whenever I see anything crocheted I immediately think of my mom!  I can always picture her in "her chair" making so many varied, beautiful afghans, tablecloths (from cotton thread - do you know how long that takes?!!), baby dresses, etc.  That was her therapy like papercrafting is mine!  I'm sure you would agree that there is definitely something very soothing in crafting something with your hands.  Love ya, mom!!

The card is simply finished with a sentiment from my favorite Papertrey Ink stamp set - Signature Greetings.

Embellish Color Challenge - Background Stamping

Time for another Embellish Magazine Color Challenge - This one features black/white/yellow/gray and background stamping.  This is my first time inking my Cornish Heritage Farm Scalloped Tiles Backgrounder.  I picked it up from Ellen Hutson's shop while she had the CHF closing sale!  This card is perfect for the Moxie Fab World's Offset Scallop Gallop.

I had so much fun coloring the butterflies on this card that I felt compelled to try it again.  Shadowing with grey Copic markers and shading with Koh-i-Noor pencils plus some sparkly action courtesy of a clear Spica.

The butterfly and sentiment stamps are from A Muse.

Photo Card Tutorial -

I LOVE flowers and I love taking pictures of flowers.  When you capture a striking picture from nature a nice clean setting is the best way to showcase its beauty.

I used Picasa 3 to print out several pictures at once using the small wallet size.

Nestabilities and the Cuttlebug are the easiest way I've found to cut the pictures out to the size I want.  The Nestabilities die pictured is from the Small Classic Rectangle set - the next to the largest size.  The sandwich I use for cutting is - A plate, B plate, photo, Nestabilities die (pointed down) and C plate.  I realize that this isn't the normal sandwich but I like to see what I am cutting!

LOOK at that pretty pile of beautiful flowers!  Nearly all of those pictures were taken in my yard over the past couple years.

A great way to set off the pictures is to emboss a frame using the largest of the Nestabilities Small Classic Rectangle dies.   The sandwich I use for embossing is - A plate, 2 sheets of paper for shimming, B plate, rubber embossing mat, cardstock, Nestabilities die (pointing down) and B plate.  This step really adds a WOW factor to a finished photo card.

I stamped sentiments with some of my favorite A Muse stamps and now I am ready for finishing these cards "assembly line" style.  I frame out the photos with a piece of black cardstock that is a bit bigger than the photo.  TIP - Remember if you printed your photos on an inkjet printer DO NOT use any type of liquid glue to adhere your photos or disaster will ensue (don't ask how I know this).  I use dimensionals to attach the matted photos to the finished notecards.

Here is a pile of finished cards.  A fun variation is to make photo cards with vacation photos - I've done that for gifts in the past or to use a family picture as a personalized thank you card.

Here are a few of my favorites.  Have fun!
BTW - I won on the CPS blog this week!!  WHOO HOO!!

2S4Y61 - HEY you

This card is based on the 2S4Y - Sketch 61.  The organic colors and textures from the interplay of the wood, twine, metal staples and sparkly stickers make me happy.

This card also incorporates a lot of different text - the background paper, the sentiment stickers and paper tag all have different forms of text on them.  Incorporating text is the September Gallery Challenge from Paper Crafts Connection.

I love this time of the year - my favorite colors are everywhere - Olive greens, browns, beiges!!  The wood leaves are from Kaisercraft; patterned paper is from 7 Gypsies, twinkle stickers are from A Muse.

A Muse Florals

We had a great time last night at the Doodlebug during the A Muse Florals class!  I am definitely not one to leave empty handed - check out my booty (hee hee - that sounded bad)!  I've been waiting a LONG time for the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die!!  AND a Scor-Buddy AND a Birds on a Wire punch - I am, indeed, a happy girl -

Just for fun - Rose Bucket

So this afternoon I am headed to Jasper, IN to the Doodlebug to teach the A Musing Florals class which features a paper rose.  I felt that a few moments this morning should be devoted to making sure that I remember how to make a paper rose.  I make my class samples way in advance of the class so on "C-Day" (class day) I try to make sure my skills haven't all fallen out over the last few weeks.

Surely this has happened to you before - One day you are walking around thinking, "I'm all that and a big ol' bag of chips" and next thing you know you've lost your car and are stumbling around aimlessly in the Neiman Marcus parking lot looking for it (doesn't that sound fancier than the truth - that I sometimes lose my car at Wal-Mart? sigh. . . .)

Anyhoo, I still got it and I proved it by making this rose and using it to decorate this fun little bucket that I picked up at the Target Dollar section (that area can be a very happy place for a crafter!!) - Tomorrow, I'll show pics from class. . .
Everything but the teeny bucket and shipping tag is from A Muse!!