Monday, July 8, 2013

It's A Good Day


MFTWSC131  

I really wanted to enter the current MFT challenge as it's been awhile & I love the sketch.  I hadn't had a chance to use this beautiful pink felt, so decided on pink, white & gray for my colors.  I framed the MFT sentiment using the negatives of the MFT Framing Flourishes.  The flower is made with MFT dies: Layered Rose & Prima Donna Petals.  Hoping it is a good day for you!

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Playing with Gesso

Alexandra's Diary
Alexandra's Mask

The current PTI MIM challenge is to make custom paint with Gesso & reinkers.  I knew immediately I wanted to use my paint with a stencil as I've been inspired by Alexandra's use of them.  You can find one example in this post & here are just a couple pictures of her project--click to enlarge the pictures. 
I've actually bought several stencils lately & found the one I used today in the bottom of a drawer.  I mixed some Gesso with a Marvy Pale Violet reinker & got this lovely soft shade.  I used a piece of watercolor paper & brushed it over the stencil that has very small squares.  In places where it was heavily applied it made little mounds which I then spread with a brush.  I actually liked the effect this created for a background.  I stamped PTI Background Basics: Text Style in black that had been stamped off & then softened it more by adding Gesso randomly with my finger.  Next I stamped an image from PTI Turning a New Leaf in Fresh Snow.  It's very subtle, but effective in person.  PTI Lovely Layers dies were cut in felt, attached together & to a small Martha Stewart doily.  The sentiment from PTI Lovely Leaves & the focal image were attached to the background piece which is attached to a vellum panel & then to the card front.  I added a single pearl as the only embellishment.  I'm also entering the current challenge at A Passion For Papertrey since Alexandra's use of stencils inspired me.  I'm really glad you stopped by & hope you have a great week.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Just Playing

Had a couple challenging days at work, so decided to try some techniques without worrying about a deadline or challenge requirements.  I've been wanting to color paper by patting & dragging it through ink that's been spritzed on my craft sheet.  I used watercolor paper with Distress Inks tea dye, bundled sage & peeled paint.  I dried between colors & it was OK, but not quite what I wanted so I sponged on more ink.  Then I stamped Penny Black's verdant, 4310K, with peeled paint & spritzed with Ink Potion #9.    My friend, Sue, makes the most beautiful backgrounds--often dry embossing after stamping. Decided to give it a try with my Cuttlebug folder, Kassie's Brocade.  The effect was magical!  Next I spritzed with Tattered Angels Copper mist & distressed the edges.  It's so beautiful in person I didn't want to cover it up.  Decided to just add a sentiment from Penny Black's edge to edge, 30-164, copper embossed on vellum.  I inked the back using tea dye & trimmed the ends.  Finished off with some green twine (toned down with the tea dye) & a brown button.  I feel renewed & ready to work on some challenge cards now.
If you're looking for inspiration, don't miss the 3 Saturday Extravaganza posts today on the Penny Black blog. 
I so appreciate your taking time to leave me a comment--always makes me happy.  Enjoy your weekend.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Happy Birthday America!

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Wishing all my fellow Americans a Happy 4th of July!  Hope you have a great time with family & friends as we celebrate our country & pray for better days ahead.  The Ten Minute Craft Dash challenge is to make a card with stars.  Yesterday's card would have been great except it took me 11 minutes.  I'll tell you, 10 minutes is not very long--LOL!  Decided to really simplify things & sure enough, hubby timed this card to take 6 minutes & 59 seconds--yah!  Now I have a card ready for next year!  All these stamps are old unmounted rubber that I attach to my acrylic block with Poster Tape.  I don't know the company for the fireworks but the others are by Art Impressions, an Oregon company where I taught some classes until they closed their retail store about 10 years ago.  I added Stickles to the fireworks & the stars--very pretty in person but I couldn't get it to show very well in a picture.  This is my second card for the Simon Says Stamp patriotic challenge.  Have to work this morning, but I'll be visiting your blogs soon.  Thanks for stopping by again.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Celebrate America

  


Obviously too late to mail any more July 4th cards this year, but I'm taking one to a co-worker tomorrow.  When I saw the CASology cue word: fireworks, I knew I wanted to make her card using one of my fireworks stamps.  All the stamps on this card are old unmounted rubber ones I've hardly used, but really like.  If you have any here's a tip: mount them to your acrylic block with Poster Tape--works great!  I know the stars background is by Art Impressions (another Oregon company!) but I don't know about the others--too long ago & no markings on them.  I intended to have this card also be my entry for the 10 Minute Craft Dash, but it took me 11 minutes.  I had everything planned out & written down, so I must just be slow--LOL!  I made it under 10 minutes with another card I'll post later this week.  My inks are Brilliance Rocket Red & Mediterranean Blue--2 old favorites.  I see Simon Says Stamp has a Patriotic challenge now, so I'll enter this card over there, too.  So glad you took time to visit my blog.  

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Christmas in July



I really can't imagine winter right now with our heat wave in full swing!  However, I can make a Christmas card anytime as that's my favorite reason to make cards.  Merry Monday is a month long "anything goes" challenge--right up my alley!  
Today's card uses all Impression Obsession stamps.  The poinsettia was black embossed on 2 shades of blue cardstock.  Then I clear embossed them with the Cover-A-Card screen stamp & brushed on Shimmer Spritz.  The light blue flower was cut apart & glued to the dark blue flower which is mounted with foam tape to the silver Spellbinder die cut.  Love the font of this sentiment stamp which is silver embossed.  I also sponged some silver ink on the card edges & tied on a silver bow. Now I just need to start stamping the insides of the holiday cards I've made & decide who I want to be the recipient so that part isn't left until the last minute.  This will also be my July card for SCS Christmas Card Challenge & thanks to Dawn's reminder I'm entering the Die Cut Diva's flower challenge. Hazel invited me to also enter my card into her Christmas challenge. 

Happy news today when I saw my card was awarded Top 3 at A Passion for Papertrey--a first for me! 

Thank you for visiting my blog.  Enjoy the rest of your week. 

Monday, July 1, 2013

July 4th Card



I really like the current sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!  & used it for my last July 4th card.  The embossed stars (Cuttlebug) have a bit of Stickles in the centers--hard to see in the photo.  The heart with the star is mounted with foam tape.  It's from a local stamp company where I taught some classes & made sample cards for their store until they went out of business. The sentiment is an old one still available from another Oregon company--Peddler's Pack.  I spent the longest time trying a variety of ribbons & finally hit upon this combination which gave me the look I wanted.  Hopefully it will make it to my cousin & his family in time for the holiday.















Check out the happenings on the Penny Black Blog.  There's lots of inspiration & prizes up for grabs!

thetwinery  artglitter2.5inch

Thank you for coming by & leaving me a comment.  Hope you're having a great week.