Thursday, March 29, 2012

Lovely Ladies with The Stampsmith

Hi Dreamers!
I am back with the rest of the cards I made Using The Stampsmith's full sheet Belinda and Friends.  See my original post HERE.  I went all pink and girly, again!  I am just in such a girly mood.




The card base is made from Blush Blossom from Stampin' Up.  The DP is from Basic Grey. The image was stamped with Vintage Sepia from VersaFine.   Here is the second card.



The card base is made from cream CS and completely covered with a med pink DP.  Printed DP is from Basic Grey.   I stamped the image on Blush Blossom with Sienna Archival Ink (Ranger).  

Challenges:
I  found out about a  new Vintage Challenge blog called Frilly and Funky.  (Thanks LeAnne)  The first challenge is to show your favorite vintage style.
Simon Says stamp: Anything Goes.
Crafty Purple Frog: Anything Goes
Cheerful Stamp Pad: Anything Goes
Mark's Finest: Shades of Pink

I have been sewing this week getting the bridal accessories together for my friend's daughter's wedding.  I am working on the veil today.  I finished the wrap for the mother of the bride and a lace covered purse for the bride.   I have several fascinators (decorative  pieces hat are worn in the hair)  to make too.  Fun, fun, fun.
Have a great day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Technique Challenge with Blockheads

Hi Dreamers!
The new Technique Challenge is up and running at the Blockheads Design Blog!  I am hosting the challenge this month and I challenge you to create a project using the Magic Metal Technique.   


Now, check out a couple of my projects.  I used The Leaf Border stamp from the Background and Borders Full Sheet.
Materials to make the Magic Metal:
Heavy Weight Cardstock
VersaMark ink
Gold Embossing Powder
Heat Gun
Stamps that are deeply etched




Materials for Leaf Border Magic Metal Card:
Stamps:
Leaf Border Stamp
 Verses-Feel Better
Ink: Lettuce Adirondack from Ranger
Cardstock: Neenah Classic  #110, Kraft, Dark Brown, Dark and Light Green
Gold and red trim
Red Pearls
3-D Zots.

Make the Magic Metal piece following the tutorial.  Stamp the Leaf Border three times on the Kraft CS with Lettuce ink.   Add  the piece to a folded green card with a light green and brown layer.  Glue the Magic Metal piece to the card with 3-D Zots or a good glue.  Add the red/gold trim and red pearls.  




Here is a peek at the inside with a sentiment from the Verses-Feel Better Half Sheet.  



Materials for the Second Card:
Stamps:
Leaf Border Stamp
Verses-Feel Better
Ink: Creole Spice Kaleidacolor Pad
CS: Neenah Classic  #110, Kraft, Mustard, Navy
Yellow print cotton Fabric
Large Bead
Fabri-Tac Glue


Make this card in the same way as card above.  Feed the strip of fabric through the bead and tie fabric in a knot.  (I used a large needle to get the fabric through the bead.)  Before adding the stamped piece to the card, wrap the end of the fabric strip over and under the Kraft CS.  Glue the bead to the card front with Fabri-Tac Glue.





I repeated the stamping on the inside and added a sentiment. 




To join in with the Challenge head over to the Blockheads Design blog and get all the details!!  Don't forget to add the html code.  (Explained in the tutorial.)  Lets see what magic you can work with the Magic Metal Technique.

Have a great day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Vintage Ladies Birthday Cards

Hi Dreamers!!
I have two vintage birthday cards to share with you today.  And, the cards have a story too.   Here is the story.  My dear stamping friend, Sharon, is getting together 80 birthday cards for her Mother's 80th birthday.  Isn't that just the coolest!!!  I contributed 15 cards to the birthday card basket and here are two of them.



I used some yummy vintage images.  This one is from Treasure Cay stamped in rusty red ink.  I added lace and a pearl.  The sentiment is from Serendipity Stamps.  Distress Ink color- Victorian Velvet 


The second card has an stamp from Acey Deucy and is also stamped in rusty red ink.  I added lots of layers for interest, some Basic Grey DP, and a  magenta ribbon.  Sentiment is from Stampin' Up.



Love these gorgeous vintage images!!  Also used Vintage Photo Distress ink.  


Challenges for my Vintage Ladies-
Basic Grey: girly
The Secret Crafter Saturday: shabby chic/vintage
Sweet Stampin: anything goes
Stampin for the weekend: anything goes
Hope you are having a great weekend!  Love ya.
Karen

Friday, March 23, 2012

Stampsmith Beauty in Blue

Hi Dreamers,
How is your weekend going?  Going good for me so far.  I thought you might enjoy checking out what I have been up to today.  I was experimenting with some of my Stampsmith Stamps -the set is called Belinda and Friends.  I wanted to see how different the stamped images would look on colored cardstock.  I also varied the ink color.  Here are a few of the results.




Starting at the upper left, the ink is Terra Cotta Archival from Ranger  on pink CS.  The next is stamped in Onyx Black VersaFine on tan CS.  Bottom left is Onyx Black again on light blue solid DP.  The bottom right is Coffee Archival ink from Ranger on pink CS.  I will be sharing all of the finished projects over the next week or so.  Here is how the one stamped on the light blue DP turned out.





I added several more layers of blue DP and black CS.  And finished it off with a strip of sheer ribbon and a bow.



I love experimenting.  You never know what you will come up with.  LOL  I like how the Coffee ink looks on the pink CS too.  That might be my fav.

I also wanted to enter my Blue Beauty in the Vintage Challenge over at the  Blue Box babe blog.

I hope you have a great weekend.   I may make a few cards.  Or, I may work on some hair accessories for a friend's wedding.  Should be fun.  Love ya.
Karen

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Girly Girl Birthday Card

Hi Dreamers!
Oh boy, I am really channeling my girly girl side lately!  How girly is this fun dress form birthday card??!!  I made this card for a friend's 13th birthday.  The dress form stamp is from Stampendous.  The Oval is from Endless Creations.



 I stamped with  Blush Blossom (SU), Rhubarb Stalk and Tuxedo Black (Memento) dye inks.    The swirls, dots, and the sentiments are from My Sentiments Exactly.







And, here is a peek at the inside.



And, how about a few fun Challenges!!
2 Sisters Challenge: spots and dots
Sassy Cheryl's: think spring
Cute Card Thursday: anything goes
Paper Play: spring colors
Love to Create: Anything goes


Well, I guess that enough for now.  I should be working on my Blockheads Technique Challenge Tutorial.  New Blockheads Technique challenge coming soon!!  Stay tuned for the new challenge and the winner of the Bleach Technique.

Have a great day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Welcome Baby Card

Hi Dreamers!
And, I would like to say a special "Hello" to all of my new followers!  So glad you are joining us here for lots of dreaming and creating!!  Today, I have a sweet welcome baby card that I made for my neighbor.   I used a Baby Bud digi image and colored it with watercolor crayons.  



The DP is from Debbie Mumm.  The sentiment is from Sweet n' Sassy Stamps.  



The sentiments on the inside are from Stampin' Up.   I under lined the sentiments with a brush and some of the watercolor crayons.  




A few Fun Challenges:

Paper Take Weekly:bingo-ribbons, free, punched shapes
Love to Create: anything goes
Paper Sundaes: photo inspiration











Do It with Digis (CardMad Fairy): digi and add a sentiment
Sweet n' Sassy digi: inspired by green
Simon Says stamp: a bit of green

That's it for me!   Think I'll hit the hay.    Have a great evening!  Love ya.
Karen

Friday, March 16, 2012

Evening Tea with The Stampsmith

Hi Dreamers!
Wow, the weather here is unreal!  70 degrees yesterday.  I wanted  to share another of my Sunday Evening Tea projects today.  I used a stamp set from The Stampsmith called Sunday Evening Tea and it comes in a full sheet of unmounted rubber.  Here is today's card.



The image is stamped with Vintage Sepia VersaFine ink and die cut.  The image is layered onto a dry embossed piece of Blush Blossom CS.  




The Sentiment is from My Sentiments Exactly



This  really is a  charming set.  See my other posts using this set here.  

You can see another of my cards made with stamps from The Stampsmith in the new issue of "Just Cards" Volume 25.  I used one of the Audrey Hepburn photo stamps.  Yummy!

Have a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Peacocks on Parade

Hi Dreamers!
The Blockheads' Design Team is celebrating the launch of a new release.  We have each used the same set and created some fun projects.    The set will be available for purchase next week!


Can't you just see all the "scope" in this set!!??  I spent the last two days or so creating some projects that I'm proud as a peacock over.  LOL  I started with the large background stamp.  Which, by the way, is  perfectly sized to fit a 4 x 5 1/4" layer.  I used a few different techniques for coloring the backgrounds, but all the images are stamped with pigment inks and heat embossed.  Here is the first project.


Start with white CS and stamp the large background feather image with Emboss It ink from Ranger (or other clear embossing ink).  Heat emboss with gold embossing powder from Ranger.  While the embossing powder was still hot, I sprinkled a bit more onto the image and heated it again.  Trim down, punch upper and round the lower corners of the stamped piece.  Round the corners on two layers of cardstock.   I added three different ribbons to the tag, brads, and safety pins.  I made the rosettes with ribbon by gathering the long edges and pulling the threads tight.



Start by adding Antique Linen Distress Stain,  Forest Moss and Broken China Distress Ink Reinkers to a craft sheet (or plastic bag).  Spray a bit of water onto the inks.  Place a piece of Watercolor paper on top of the inks and pull down on the paper.  You will get really cool bands of color.  Now, don't wipe off the craft sheet yet!!!  We will use the ink for the background for the single feather.  Add more water and smush a piece of white Cardstock around in the ink.   Stamp the two images with Indigo VersaColor pigment ink and heat emboss with Clear Embossing Powder.  Layer with Teal CS and add a sheer teal ribbon.  I added some Silver Stickles too.


On the last two cards, the images were stamped first and then the backgrounds were colored.  I stamped the background image with a multicolor VersaColor pigment ink pad (could substitute a Brilliance multi pad on sale now). I mixed Gold and Clear embossing powders in a small container and then sprinkled onto the stamped image- heat emboss.   Trim.   Using a Distress Tool, add Peeled Paint and Broken China Distress inks.   Wrap a piece of  ribbon around this piece and layer.  To make the peacock, use same two Distress ink pads to ink up the stamp.  Apply the Peeled Paint first and lightly go over the stamp with the Broken China.  Fussy cut Peacock and add to card front.


On the inside, stamp the Peacock again and the sentiment.




For the Purple Card stamp the background stamp with Indigo VersaColor pigment ink and heat emboss with blue embossing powder.  Add the Distress inks with the distress tool to color the cardstock - Peeled Paint,
Dusty Concord, and Milled Lavender.  Layer with CS and add a ribbon.  Oh boy, was that fun.


My Peacocks are also entered in the
Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge: Anything goes
Whimsy: emboss it
Do you stack up;:favorite color-Aqua

Well, hope you enjoyed the Proud as a Peacock sneak peek!!  Have a great day! Love ya.
Karen

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Sweet Baby Card

Hi Everyone!
Hope you week is going good.  I am trying to get ready for a Stampin' Up Party I am having on Thursday.  Not sure what kind of nibbles I will serve.  Maybe cheese and crackers-a couple ladies are bringing wine-Yum.  And, then maybe something sweet for those who would like coffee instead of wine.  Have to clean the house a bit too.  But, I am still taking time out to do a quick post.   LOL  Today, I have a very sweet baby card I made for a friend.  The stamps are from Sweet n' Sassy.


The image is colored with Copic Markers.





 I used a Spellbinders die and added a sheer pink ribbon.  And, here is a look at the inside.




The baby carriage is from Endless Creations, and the sentiment is from Blue Ridge Impressions.
Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp: mother/special girl
Paper Sundaes: Feminine flair
Paper Creations: spring
Just Some Lines: Spring cleaning (I used CS and stamps more than 6 mths old)
Okay I gotta run!  Have a great day. Love ya.
Karen

Friday, March 9, 2012

Baby Bud Fairy Card with Green Background

Hello Dreamers!
Happy Friday!  Hope you are having a great start to the weekend.  Today I have another all occasion card to share.  This card is made with a Baby Bud digital image.  Just love those Baby Buds.  This pretty fairy card went to my girlfriend in her card order.



The digi image is colored with Copic Markers.  I used Spellbinders to cut out the circles.   I added some gems for accents.   Here is a closer look.



Ain't she sweet!!???  So, I just have to enter her in a few challenges

Fussy and Fancy: fairies
Totally Papercrafts: favorite things- my fav's are Baby Bud designs, and coloring with Copics
Do you Stack Up: go green
Simon Says Stamp: mother's day or for a special girl -this card is for my BF's granddaughter.
Crafty Purple Frog: pink and girly
Card Making Mamas: a colored image and green
Paper-Crafting Journey: Anything goes
Samuel Taylor: butterflies
Paper Shelter: anything goes
Pixie Cottage: things with wings
Whimsy Stamps: no sentiment

That's all for now!  Enjoy your weekend!!  Love ya
Karen

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Blockheads Badge Contest!!

Hi Dreamers!!
Blockheads Paper Arts is offering a chance to win stamps and a gift certificate!!  All you have to do is add the badge to your side bar and add your link on the Blockheads Design blog.  Here are all the details!!



Simply add our Blog Candy Banner to your side bar for a chance to win the free stamp of the week. The stamp changes each Sunday evening after winners are selected. For now we want you to have a roughly 1 in 10 chance of winning. So if we get 20 participants we'll select 2 names winners and if there are 30, we'll select 3.

To add our banner to the side bar on your blogger page, simply enter design mode and click to add a widget. Select the HTML/JavaScript widget type and enter the following code into the Content Box (Title is optional):
Get the code here.

That will add the banner, which links to our blog.

Once you've done that add your link with the "add your link" button on our blog page.

Here's how you can win an additional $10 gift certificate:

If you are one of the random winners and the link you've submitted by clicking the "add your link" button goes directly to a post on your blog with this banner and some nice comment about Blockheads with a link to our web page http://www.blochkeadstamps.com, you will also be eligible to win an additional $10 gift certificate. I'm only asking for truthful comments so if you've ordered from us you can say what you liked about our service. If you haven't ordered from us your comment can simply be that you like a particular set of stamps or item we carry. Feel free to add any pictures of our products from web site in that blog post and link directly to them.

Only one gift certificate will be given away weekly so if multiple winners have linked to such a post, I'll pick one of them to win the gift certificate.


My Comment:
I shop at Blockheads Paper Arts frequently.  Blockheads carries original artistic stamps in unmounted rubber or on cling.  They also carry a few other manufactures' stamps, like Lost Coast Designs.  The selection of inks and reinkers  is second to none!!   The service is super fast.  My items usually arrive within three days of ordering!! 

And, I bet you would like to see a card.  Well, let me see what I can come up.  I did not plan anything for today.  Imagine you are listening to the Jeopardy theme music while I look for a card.  

Okay, I found one!  This card was published in the March issue of Vamp Stamp News.   The stamps are from the Daisies half sheet.




PS: Check out my Publishing Page which I have just updated.


Good luck on the drawing.  I hope you win!!  Have a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

New Blockheads Technique Challenge-Bleaching

Hello Dreamers!
The March Technique Challenge at Blockheads Paper Arts is under way now and will run until March 21st.  Design Team Member, Leslie, came up with a Bleaching Technique to challenge us.  See Leslie's post here.   I made three projects with the Bleach Technique and will show you two of them today and the third next week.




I did a little testing before I started my projects.  The top sample is Mat Board (the kind used for framing).  The second is a cardstock that has a different color on each side.  The bleached end is on the right; the reverse side on the left.  The last sample is Navy textured cs.  I decide that I liked the results of all of the samples.    Since the Mat Board turned out so well, I thought it would look cool if I applied the bleach directly to some pale blue Mat Board.  And this is how that turned out.  Love it.





For  project number one, I used the pale blue Mat board for the background and the Navy CS for the main image.  And, I thought since I am using Mat Board, why not make wall hanging type projects?  So, that is what I did as you will see.



Materials list:
Stamps: 
   Inspired By Nature
   Backgrounds and Borders (Script)
Inks:
   Dragonfly Black Pigment - Color Box
   Stormy Sky Distress Ink - Ranger
Black Embossing Powder
Papers:
Light Blue Mat Board
Navy Textured Cardstock
Other:
Sheer White wide ribbon
Frame-5 x 7 black
Clorox Bleach


Stamp the large flower from the Inspired by Nature stamp set with black pigment ink and heat emboss with black embossing powder.  I applied the bleach to the inner row of petals with a Q-Tip.  I let is set there and did not rub too much.  The CS kind of disintegrated from the bleach.  I decided not to color the bleached area because I liked the way it looked.


I cut out the flower and stamped the Script stamp with Storm Sky ink onto the bleached light blue Mat Board.   The ribbon was tied around this layer.  I layered this unit onto the second piece of bleached mat board.  I adhered them with Fabri-Tac glue.




I really like the way this turned out and it is going in my living room.  The frame can hang or stand and I think I will put in on one of the end tables.  (My living room is blue and white with yellow accents.)

For the second project, I went with the Brown Mat Board.  I used the same stamp set- Inspired By Nature.




Materials List:

Stamps: 
   Inspired By Nature
Inks:
   Dragonfly Black Pigment - Color Box
   Markers:
Terra Cotta, Pesto, Wild Plum, Raisin Adirondack - Ranger
Angel pink - Memento
Black Embossing Powder
Papers:
Brown and Black Mat Board
Other:
Burlap 
Twine
Stick



I applied the bleach with a Q-Tip and the paper turned yellow.  I colored the bleached area with the  Markers.  I layered onto  black Mat Board, added lots of burlap and twine.  I went out in the yard and grab a small stick.  I used the stick as a hanger: glue six pieces of twine to back and tie the pieces around the stick- trim twine.



Now, let's see what you can come up with using the Bleach Technique.  To enter the challenge for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate paste the HTML code to your post and Linkup on the Blackheads blog.   Can't wait to see your project!!
Have a great day!  Love Ya.
Karen

Monday, March 5, 2012

Fairy and Bird All Occasion Card

Hi Dreamers!
Just had to get one more post in today.  Had a great day hanging out with my dear friend, Reem.  Coffee and chatting.  So fun!   This card is a sweet little all occasion card made with a digital image from Meljens.  The image was colored with Copic Markers.



I used a bright orange CS and some fun DP from KI Memories.  




Fun Challenges:
Meljens Challenge: Orange and Meljen's image
Cheerful Stamp Pad: land of fantasy
Cupcake Craft: Yellow and Red
The Pink Elephant: at least 3 layers
Simon Says stamp: Anything goes

Okay, I really need to get something made for dinner.  LOL.  Have a super evening.   Love ya.
Karen

Love Birds Part Two

Hi Dreamers!
Hope you had a great weekend.  I wanted to share the rest of the Love Bird cards I made.  See original post here.   I made the cards with a cute Ippity (Unity) stamp set that I received from JenMarie who graciously sponsored Winter Sim's St Jude's Valentine's Day Card drive.    I used Comso Cricket DP on the first two cards..








And here is a peek at the inside.






Liked that pretty ribbon?  It is from Stamp Simply.  



Okay, not a lot of talking today.  I just wanted to get the pics up for you.  I will put a couple of these in my "to send" box and a couple will go in my friends card order.

How about a few fun Challenges:

Unity Opportunity: winged things
Fashionable Stamping: make it for a child
Crafting when we can: animals
Stampin Sisters in Christ: wings
catch the bug: anything goes
Simon Says Stamp: anything goes

Gotta run.  Have a great day!!  Love ya
Karen