Mojo Monday Sketch

With all the snow we've been getting (another 8" this morning) I've had a lot of time on my hands. Easy to fill when you're a stamper, though!

For the sketch this week, I decided on an Easter card using my peg stamps. Spring is coming, right?

You can see the other cards made with this sketch HERE. (Mine is #186.)

Enjoy!

Coffee Anyone?

In fulfillment of my determination to use stamps in my stash that have not yet seen ink, I came across this one from an Impression Obsession clear set.

The diagonal background from a pad of "Jovial" (Basic Grey) seemed the perfect choice for a mug with diamond shapes. I used markers that matched the colors in the plaid and added some Gelly Roll clear ink over the rising "steam" and the handle. The metallic photo corners were from my stash which I got last summer at an AC Moore sidewalk sale bin.

(After posting here, I remounted the sentiment straight...looks much better now.)

Inspiration from a Special Person

These photos of Elliot were taken during our latest trip to Prague--too cute!

As for the card, it just sort of "evolved" as I tried to find a way to use of all the extra hearts I had punched for a previous card. First came the color scheme from Elliot's PJ's. I used a CB folder to dress up the white space.

Next, I used my SU bird punch to make a "plant" of hearts. The bird wings I used for the leaves, and the hearts for flowers. There's a hidden "secret" underneath: when I needed the scalloped oval and a couple of extra hearts, I discovered this piece of red was the last one I had. So I punched them out of the middle where it would be covered up!

Once everything was mounted, I added the pearls and metallic bow. Three of the hearts have no pearl because they're facing the other way in my imaginary garden.

FROM THE SCRAP DRAWER

Inspiration for this card came from Down Under at Edna's blog with her woven paper strips. What a great way to use up some of my scraps!

After stamping the tulip image and coloring it in, I added a few subtle embellishments. First, I traced along the top edges of the petals with a red Gelly Roll pen and used some tiny black gems for the stamens. The red metallic bow added a bit more glimmer. Then I stamped the word "Love" below the image and used a black marker to add a few dots in the opposite corners. Next, the image was taped onto the red cs and attached to the card with dimensionals. Finally, I placed a row of deep red gems alongside and one larger one at the bottom right.

This would make a nice Valentine--thanks Edna!

PAPERLICIOUS CASE

I just HAD to CASE this one that was posted HERE on January 21st!

Although I layered mine with some textured cs and added a sentiment, it's still quite similar. After all, I didn't want to just copy. To vary mine further, I added an antique brad; but I think the heaviness of it detracts from the elegance captured by Mrs. Paperlicious.

The card base and flowers are Very Vanilla (SU) and the textured tan layer is from a package of AC Cardstock Neutrals. I was happy to make use of the oodles of tiny pearls and the little flower punch from my stash.

What have you CASEd lately?

BLOGGERS CHALLENGE--DSP

Here's a quilted look with designer paper from Basic Grey. The raffia was knotted and spread open to look like a bow. I had some new brads that match, so I added them here.

For the quilt, I punched out 3 squares of 4 designs and taped them down on another piece of lightweight cardstock. The X's were drawn with a black marker to simulate stitches. I then used a Nestability for the shape and mounted it on the brown cs.

Check out the other blogs that entered the challenge HERE!

Impression Obsession Challenge--Purple

This was a fun card to make with a fun stamp set from Impression Obsession. Do you see the coffee beans inside the "pods" growing up around the cups? I didn't, that is until I went to color what I thought were just leaves--too clever!

The tiny green leaves were done with a green Spica pen for a touch of sparkle. The cup "flowers" match the purple cardstock, although they look a little bluish here. The foam on top was colored in with a Gelly Roll clear pen, and the spoons were done with a silver metallic pen. (For a closer view, click twice on card.)

The cups were attached with dimensionals; but next time, I think I'd like to use wire so they "jiggle" as though blowing in the breeze.

OLW-37--SENTIMENTS

This was a fun card to make!

First, I gathered a bunch of my birthday stamps. After stamping the main sentiment in black, I proceeded to stamp the others around it with Versamark ink. Then I added dashes around the main greeting and a strand of black embroidery floss on the left.

The inside says, "Obviously." This card will have to go to someone with a sense of humor...obviously!

OLW 36--Barely There

The inspiration for this week's One Layer Wed. card is this view from the Stampingtower window:

Yesterday, I felt like I was driving a salt lick.
Today, I feel like I'm living in a glazed doughnut.
That's winter!

That says it all.

ME? STYLISH?

I've been chosen to receive this award by Patrice of Old Back Porch HERE.

In accepting this award, I'm to list 7 things about myself, so here's what I came up with:

1. I like to get up early in the morning, sometimes before dawn, and have coffee while checking my emails. No, I don't go back to bed (until nighttime, that is.)

2. Autumn is my favorite season because of all the colors and the crisp, cool (but not cold!) air.

3. My favorite hotels are the Mosaic House in Prague and the Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World.

4. I spent 25 years entertaining at Sr. Citizen centers and nursing homes. For the first 20 years, I sang and played guitar. Then I found a piano accompanist who enabled me to do Broadway Show tunes. It was a lot of fun, but I stopped about 5 years ago in order to spend more time stamping and running the Mothers Club at my church.

5. Yellow is my favorite color. Pink I avoid as much as possible (sorry Dana!)

6. Every winter I host a February Blues Bash for my friends with a different theme each year. Last year, due to my icy driveway, it was delayed until March; so I made the theme "March Into Spring" with John Philip Sousa marching band music in the background.

7. In 1983, several other women and I started an inter-denominational Bible Study which The Lord has been blessing ever since. I never imagined myself as a teacher or public speaker, which just proves what The Lord can do in someone's life.

Next, I'm supposed to pass this on to 15 others. Since I'd rather not impose, I'll leave it up to you readers to decide whether you'd like to accept this award and follow the rules on Patrice's blog. You're all well-qualified!

Sunrise in the Forest

This could easily be the scene outside our window in the morning. In fact, sometimes it is!

The image was colored with chalks, starting with the lightest first. Darker details on the animals were added with dark brown and black colored pencils. The distressed edges, Cuttlebug strip and black embroidery floss provide some texture.

Enjoy!

ODBD Butterfly Stamp Set

I've only just begun to play around with this set, but I love it so far!

The blue one made use of some dsp I had left over with a woodgrain design which you wouldn't expect to work on butterfly wings, but it does here. I used a matching SU marker to add more color to the wings. The rest is blue glitter around the edge of the card front and black glitter for the body.

The gold one was stamped first on Very Vanilla cs with Versamark and chalked. The butterfly was again stamped on a SU dsp scrap and enhanced with some black glitter for the body. After adding the greeting on a scalloped oval, the panel was then attached to the card.

Both cards were very easy and fun to do!

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A COLOR MAKES

Although the difference between these two cards is subtle, the brighter green cardstock gives the card more life. I was happy with the first one, but it just looked dull. After taking off the top layer and re-mounting it on a brighter green, I was finally satisfied with it.

Unfortunately, my camera doesn't capture the glitter very well. The dark green leaves are done with Twinkling H2O's, giving them a nice sheen. The rose leaves were colored with a marker and Spica glitter pen on top, adding just a touch of glitter over the green ink. The rose center was colored yellow and toned down with Frosted Ice Stickles. If you click on the first image twice, you may be able to see more of the glimmer.

The background, green leaf and rose images were all in my file of pre-stamped images from several years ago!

NEW KIND OF CHALLENGE!

OK, it's my turn now to post a challenge! If you decide to play along, just leave a comment that will take readers back to your blog for a peek at what you've done. Meanwhile, you may want to read the post that inspired this challenge HERE. (Scroll down to Goldilocks...Dec. 10th post.)

Since we're often guilty of chasing down and purchasing new stamps and supplies we can't seem to live without, overspending as we go, I'm determined to start making better use of the stamps I already have. Do you have stamp sets where one or two of the stamps were used, but the rest are untouched? As I looked through my collection, I was amazed at how many images are still un-inked. Not only is this a waste of money (and storage space!) but also of creativity. I realize now that I've been CASEing a lot of cards I see online instead of finding new ways to use what I already have. New techniques are fun to learn, but don't require new stamps to do them!

SO HERE'S THE CHALLENGE: Using only supplies you already have in your stash, apply them in a different way to a technique or style you haven't tried yet. Dig deep into your supplies and see what you come up with! Then share it with the rest of us. Meanwhile, here's my entry:

The tree stamp I got for my birthday several years ago. I inked it up in black, stamped off once on scrap paper then on the dp, and then added green and brown inks to the image with a water-color brush. The woodgrain and solid dp is from a Basic Grey 6x6 pad in my collection ("Granola".) The vertical birthday stamp is several years old, as are the deckle edge scissors. I now have a masculine birthday card for future use.

Have fun with this challenge!

OLW--35 Yellow

Here's my entry for Susan's One Layer Wednesday using Yellow.

Using the masking technique, I first stamped a row of Hero Arts blossoms down the side, added a little sparkle with a Spica glitter pen for the edges of the petals and some yellow Stickles for the centers.

Since I had a smudge on the right side, I stamped the butterfly over it and colored it in with a yellow marker. Isn't it amazing how a smudge can help determine the elements of a card! The sentiment below is from Our Daily Bread Designs.

Not being able to layer as I usually do certainly IS a challenge!

Crafts in Prague

One of our activities was to explore a blown glass exhibit at the Bethlehem Chapel in Prague, just a short walk from the Mosaic House where we were staying.

Most of them were Nativity scenes, and all were beautifully done. This one, which captured my attention, was done in black, white, amber and clear glass. Each handblown piece featured intricate details of instruments and musicians--stunning! Though not a Nativity scene, you could almost imagine them playing Handel or Bach in celebration. (Click twice to enlarge.)

There is a lot of emphasis on various artists in Prague, like Mucha (art deco portraits) and the music of Mozart, Smetana and Dvorak; so it's not surprising to see lots of artwork on buildings, walkways and in architecture.

More to post later...

Prague in Celebration!

At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, the sky literally exploded with fireworks! We were able to enjoy a spectacular view from the balcony outside our room at the Mosaic House and listen to the sounds of people in celebration.

The skyline reminds me of a scene from "Mary Poppins." I'm glad we were back at our 6th floor room, safe from all the street revelry and rockets.

The next morning, workers throughout the city were picking up fallen debris off the streets and sidewalks. We were amazed at how much there was!

I tried to post a video here, but for some reason it kept failing. However, you can see it HERE on my other blog. Enjoy!