Valentine Wishes

I'm really having fun making all different Valentines.  This card was inspired by Melissa's PTI MIM video.  My only PTI coverplate is the hexagons, so that's what I used.  I copied her great idea of putting vellum behind it.  My frame is a Sizzix die cut which I spritzed with my 2 Dylusions inks--crushed grape & vibrant turquoise.  Since we can choose any color combo this week for the Colour Me! challenge, I'll enter my card there, too. 

MFT felt was cut with PTI Lovely Layers dies & the sentiment by Savvy Stamps was die cut with MFT Wavy Line. Finished off with pearls.  I could change the colors & sentiment for a variety of occasions.  I'm also entering the monthly challenge at the SSS Blog since the Dylusions inks are new.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hope you have a great weekend.

Stenciled Heart

Quick post before I head to work. Couldn't resist the color combo at Dynamic Duos--Bright Pink & Black, which I love!  I'm working my way through the videos & techniques in the Stencil class & for this card I used embossing through a stencil. The stencil was laid over the Memory Box die cut heart & inked with Distress Ink picked raspberries. Then the stencil was removed & JudiKins Iridescent Sparkle powder was poured on. I'd never thought to emboss with Distress Ink & I'd totally forgotten I had that powder.  Two things from the video I can use with or without stencils.  I clear embossed Hero Arts
beautiful flourish on black & inked a doily with the picked raspberry ink.  The sentiment is by A Muse. One more Valentine ready to mail--yah! Thanks for your visit--I so appreciate hearing from you.

That's What Friends Are For

Last night I went back to Day 1 of the stenciling classes & today I finished a card made with Debby's technique of sponging over a stencil & using a vellum sentiment to let the inking show through.  I'm entering the challenge at ODBD where the requirement is to use only red, pink & white.  I sponged Tim Holtz bubble stencil with Distress Inks festive berries, worn lipstick & spun sugar.  The stamp was one of my first ODBD purchases, as I always loved that song.  Dry embossing wasn't part of the video & I wondered if it would detract from the stencil.  To my eye the card needed something so I did it anyway & I like it. Finished off with a pink & white floss bow, a pearl & 2 COPIC colored sequins.  

So much info just in the videos I've gotten to so far.  It's going to take awhile to try out all the techniques, but I already have another card started.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog.
Edited to add: Entering SSS Wednesday & SSS Work It Wednesday, since using stencils is new to me.

First Online Class

I've never taken an online class, but thought stenciling would be a good one for me.  I've been loving the homework people are showing on their blogs & finally found the link & signed up yesterday!  I started with Day 4 so I wouldn't be behind for one day--crazy, I know! Anyway, one technique was to use dies to make your own stencil & then cover it with a thick layer of embossing paste. Before it dries you cover the paste with embossing powder & heat.  I gave it a try last night & oh my goodness, I'm hooked!  Wish you could see the lovely shine & fabulous texture.

I used the Penny Black heart shaped leaves die, cutting twice in a piece of scrap packaging to make my stencil. The powders are Zing! Grapefruit & Aqua.  I'm entering the first card in the 4EnScrap challenge. Distress Ink worn lipstick 
matched the embossing powder & was used to stamp the little hearts (stamped off once), to edge the panel & to color the sentiment flag mat. I love this Savvy Stamps font which I heat embossed.  Same stencil & same technique for my second card.  I just added some Zing! Rouge ep for 2-toned leaves.  The dotted background is Stickles.  I didn't want to use foam tape behind my vellum ovals so used some pink & white twine to tie on the sentiment which is by A Muse.  Can't wait to try the other technique shown 
today & then catch up with the other videos. I'm entering the second card at Pixies Snippets Playground.

Pink, Yellow, Gold for a Valentine

I try not to miss the Impression Obsession challenges & wanted to use my Heart Flourish, D2145, stamp anyway for a Valentine going to a blogging friend. Emboss resist is one of my all-time favorite techniques, as it works with any type of image & all colors.  Pink is my favorite color & I love using gold. Yellow, on the other hand, is not one I turn to. However, Alexandra inspired me  
with HER CARD for the 4EnScrap challenge, which I'm also entering. 



The inks are Distress squeezed lemonade & worn lipstick & the sentiment is one of my newest IO purchases, Heart to Heart, D6371. I first tried embossing it with a beautiful glittery gold powder, but it was very hard to read, so I redid it using a detail gold. I really wasn't happy with the card until I moved the vellum strip to an angle instead of horizontal & it made all the difference.  I'm having fun using a variety of color schemes for my Valentines.  Are you making any?

Inspired by Muse

Muse Inspiration by Jackie

The Muse challenge is celebrating one year.  I loved the idea of peers voting for the winners & participated in a lot of their challenges.  Usually I did more or less a CASE of the Muse, but for this week I took inspiration from negative die cuts backed with a dotted background. For some reason, I thought of stars, even though I'm in the middle of making Valentines.  Maybe I needed a break--LOL!  My only heart dies are Tim Holtz Stacked Stars which cut all 4 stars at once.  I'm not complaining, though, since I got it in a big close-out after Christmas. My background is Hero Arts Dots stamped in Memento Love Letter & Nautical Blue & sprayed with Glimmer Mist for a wonderful shimmer. The sentiment is from Peddler's Pack--an Oregon company.  I've been saving my last 2 Doodlebug Cute Clips & this one is just what I needed to finish off my card.  I did some faux stitching around each heart with my white gel pen--not as scary since it's pretty subtle.  
At least I have one 4th of July card done for sure! Thanks for visiting my blog--I love connecting through this great hobby.

A Pink Valentine for the Hop

Couldn't miss a PTI blog hop with pink for the theme--that's my favorite color!  I wanted the PTI Hexagon cover plate & stamp set as soon as I saw them, but waited quite a while to send in my order.  Now they've been sitting unused for several months--why do we do that, or is it just me?  Anyway, I was determined to use them & here's the simple card that I came up with--so much fun playing with the hexagons!  My background is made with a watercolor wash of the same pink ink I used for stamping--Distress Ink worn lipstick. The heart is from Heart to Heart #2 & the sentiment is by A Muse. Stickles gives a bit of sparkle to the hearts.  

My weekend to work but I'll catch up with all your projects soon.  Enjoy the hop!
Edited to add: Entering a new to me challenge called Simply Create Too.
Edited to add: Also entering the challenge at JUGS & CAS on Sunday.

Joy

Christmas cards are my favorite to make & I work on them throughout the year.  Last year I discovered the Merry Monday Challenge Blog--made for me--LOL!  So far this year I've pulled out stamps that didn't get used last year.  Today's card is made with Art Impressions wreath stamped in VersaMagic Jumbo Java on cream cardstock.  I used my neglected Liquid Pearls for the berries.  Something seemed to be missing when I laid the red Penny Black die cut Joy on the card.  The cream die cut was on my table & the red one landed on it when I took it off-- ah-ha--just what I needed!  

Don't you love the color combo for the current challenge?  

FESTIVE FRIDAY 

I also love the inspiration photo at Festive Friday & am entering that challenge as well as Pixies Snippets Playground.  Love having you visit my blog--thank you so much.

Friend for Life

Late last year I discovered the Freshly Made Sketches challenge blog.  The idea is to make a "clean" card, which is not the same as CAS.  In fact, details & embellishments are encouraged while torn or distressed edges are avoided.  It became one of my favorite challenges & now I've already missed one this year.  I wasn't going to let that happen again, so here's my card using the current sketch.  
The other night I tried out the marbled paper technique Alexandra showed on Sunday. Found some shaving cream my BIL left here, but it came out as a gel. Filled the bottom of the pan anyway, figuring this wasn't going to work. The little box of 4 food colors in the cupboard is marked 45 cents--must be at least 20 years old!  I dripped in some of the red & to my surprise the shaving cream began to turn to foam as I stirred with a wooden skewer.  It made a LOT of foam--LOL!  I forgot about going for the marbled effect & the red looked orange, but I dipped in a piece of cardstock anyway.  Then I decided to add some of the blue & a tad of the yellow & colored some more cardstock.  It looked kind of cool, so decided the pieces might work for flowers.  
I used Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die & dry embossed the petals. The layers are attached with foam tape after brushing on Shimmer Spritz Gold. The leaves die is Penny Black & they are also brushed with the gold.  MFT Fishtail Flags are sprayed with the same mist & are attached with the flag end slightly bent up.  The sentiment is from Penny Black's edge to edge  (inking just part of it) & is stamped in Memento Jumbo Java.  Love finally using my tiny gold beads which make a great flower center. I'm also entering Penny Black's Sending Hugs & Pixies Snippets Playground. Hope you enjoyed the story behind this creation, even though it made for a long post. Thanks so much for coming by.

Edited to Add: Entering the challenge at A Blog Named Hero since I used a new technique.

Pink & Aqua Valentine

Started the week by having lunch with my good friend Rosemary.  I drove north & she drove south & we had such fun talking in person for the second time.  She gave me a couple MME paper pads I'll have fun using. I brought my Summer 2013 Take Ten magazine & got her to autograph the front where she's listed as the Guest Artist.  Think I embarrassed her--didn't let that stop me--LOL!

I'm all about Valentines right now, so that's what I made using the color combo of soft pink & soft aqua at Dynamic Duos.  It's so nice that the PB Christmas die set includes this LOVE, which I can use for many occasions.  After seeing Jennifer's video at SSS, I was inspired to emboss with the Memory Box row of hearts & I love the look! COPICS were used on white sequins (one went flying, but I found it the next day in my closet at the other end of the house!) & some pretty pink & white twine finish it off.  

I didn't use a Penny Black stamp, but maybe the die will make it eligible for the Sending Hugs contest.  Thanks for stopping by.  
Edited to add: also entering Pixies Snippets Playground since there are pink & aqua snippets used here.

  

Generation Stamping with a Twist

Did you see the PTI MIM video by Dawn? You stamp a lined image multiple times & with 2 or 3 inks.  As she said, it almost gives a watercolor look.  I didn't have a PTI flower image that worked, so I used this butterfly from Quilled Elegance.  My inks are Memento Love Letter & Lilac Posies.  A little heart sticker was added to the bodies & the sentiment is by A Muse.  

I've had a lot of problems leaving blog comments lately & will have to head to Staples if this doesn't resolve soon. Hope you have something fun this week--I do tomorrow!

Surprise, surprise--Traditional Valentine!

Not sure my blue Valentine trend has caught on, so today's card is back to red & pink.  Actually, I couldn't pass up a chance to win a DeNami gift certificate by playing in the Curtain Call challenge. In addition to the red & pink, I also took inspiration from the flowers, doily & twine. The Memory Box Heart die cut is dry embossed, spritzed with pink mist & sprinkled with glitter.  The doily is also spritzed with pink & I added some drops of red.  Bought a package of Bazzill border die cuts long ago--so glad to make use of one here.  The sweet roses were in the package of goodies given to me by Joy when I met her in Indy.  Isn't this Penny Black sentiment (every happiness, 40-198) perfect for a Valentine? Hope you're not tired of seeing them--still have more to make! I'm also entering the challenge at SS Wednesday.

Another Blue Valentine

The other day when I was making my IO entry, I also stamped the CAC Spatter with the 3 blue Distress inks on this white cardstock. Decided I may as well use it--save putting it away--LOL! Had to enter the Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge since 
the prize is Jessi's crocheted mats & they're beautiful! My vellum flags are cut with MFT Fishtail Flags & the circles are Spellbinders.  The heart stamp is old, but one of my favorites from a company no longer in business.  I used my Sakura Clear Star pen for a bit of sparkle. The sentiment is by A Muse. 
Fairly flat, which is nice, as it's going in the mail. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. 

 

  

Pastels

I love pastels, so had to play in the new challenge at Colour Me.  I'm also entering my card in Penny Black's Sending Hugs challenge. I started by stamping the PB die cut butterfly with their gorgeous glory of modesty in VersaMagic Pixie Dust. The PB sentiment from friendship was stamped on a panel of light yellow cardstock using Memento Gray Flannel. I die cut the butterfly in the corner of the panel.  The gray cardstock was dry embossed & then the yellow panel was attached.  I glued the butterfly in place leaving the wings free to bend upwards.  3 tiny pink pearls are the only embellishment. Even though there are no hearts, I plan to send it to a friend for Valentine's Day.
I always enjoy your comments--thanks for taking time to leave them.
Edited to add: Also entering SSS Monday.

Valentine Wishes in Blue

My sis loves blue & silver, so decided to use them for her Valentine.  Quick post before the entries close for the Impression Obsession Blue Challenge.  My IO stamps are CAC Spatter, CC059, Filigree Heart, C2024, Valentine Wishes, D5541.  I used watercolor paper & Distress Inks tumbled glass, broken china & salty ocean.  The silver is a satin embossing powder.  I added a few silver embossed dots to the background, too.  

Hard to believe, but I now have 100 people signed up to follow my blog. I didn't expect to ever have that many. Of course some of them no longer come by, but it's still a milestone to have had that much interest in the almost 2 years I've had this blog. Thank you all for the continued encouragement & sweet comments.
Edited to add: Also entering the SSS Monday challenge.

A Little Note

(Click HERE for my Merry Monday GD Post)

Last minute entry for MFT Sketch challenge & this month's color palette challenge. I used MFT Distressed Diamonds stamped in VersaMagic Pixie Dust & a piece of Teresa Collins printed paper for the background.  The bird cage, bird & sentiment are from MFT Contempo Cage. Gesso was randomly applied to all the pieces. I used some of the paper flowers in my stash, part of a gem flourish & other gems for embellishments.  

A bit towards shabby chic--not my usual style, but I really enjoyed putting this card together. I'm also entering Pixies Snippets Playground. Thank you for stopping by.
Edited to add: Also entering the challenge at SSS Monday.

Red, White & Gold Valentine

Please scroll down for my Merry Monday post.

Can't pass up an opportunity to win the Flourishes release, so here's my Timeless Tuesday entry. This time the challenge is to make a card that isn't square or rectangle. I used Spellbinders Parisian Motifs which works beautifully when cut from heavy weight cardstock. One of my older Flourishes sets is also a favorite.  

Fanciful Flourishes has such beautifully elegant images & sentiments.  I simply stamped the fancy heart & the small design element using Memento Love Letter. All the edges have a bit of Delicata Golden Glitz & small golden gems finish it off.  Have I inspired you to get busy making Valentines? Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.

Guest Designer!

I started the year with a happy surprise when my card was one of the 4 winners for Merry Monday's last challenge of 2013.  Today I join the Merry Monday DT with my snowman--actually, snowgirl card.  

This is a limited edition stamp I got in 1997 & have hardly used--shame on me!  I think she's adorable paper pieced with these sweet MME papers. Her face is covered with Stickles Frosted Lace--great for snow--& I used it on the ball on her hat.  After it dried I lightly added color to the ball with a marker & then a bit more Stickles.  A COPIC marker was used to color the gems. 

Hope I've inspired you to join in the challenge this week. Be sure to check out the fabulous work of the DT & other guest designers.  I made the frame from a scrap & used pp snippets, so I'm entering Pixies Snippets Playground.

Edited to add: My first time playing in the challenge at Just Us Girls.

So Grateful

Please scroll down for my DeNami Blog Hop post.

This week's PTI MIM challenge is to use a single stamp for multiple layers.  I used that technique quite often when I started stamping.  The only PTI stamp set I have that would work is Lovely Layers. 

The small image is clear embossed on Bo-Bunny papers in 2 shades of green & 2 shades of pink.  I fussy cut the sections & layered them together. The dies from the same set were used to cut the green papers for the bottom 2 layers. MFT wavy border die was used on the dark pink paper & a sentiment from the same set was stamped on the light pink. Debated about adding texture to the card front, but I really like it plain as a backdrop for these pretty images & papers. 

Freshly Made Sketches is a fairly new challenge for me & one I really am enjoying. This sketch is so versatile I know I'll use it many times.  Snippets of paper make this eligible for Pixies Snippets Playground. Glad to have another card ready to send to a friend for no particular reason. Thanks for your visit & sweet comments.

  

Glitter Ombre Hearts

Next to Christmas, Valentine's Day is my favorite cardmaking occasion, so I had to participate in this month's DeNami Blog Hop. The other given was that I'd use my old favorite DeNami brushed heart stamp.  I've stamped them in a row like this before, but had never tried an ombre effect with 3 shades of pink glitter. I'm not very trendy, but have to give it a try now & then--LOL! The scallops are a Spellbinders die & the sentiment is done by inking only one word of the DeNami Hello Friend stamp. Michael's trim & pearls finish it off. Lots to see--the whole participant list & giveaway details are on the DeNami blog.  Be sure not to miss the stop before me--Jennifer, who had an adorable card last hop. Next up is one of the talented DT--Tammy Hobbs, who always inspires.  Enjoy!

Edited to Add: Die Cut Divas challenge is to use glitter, so I'll enter this card over there.