Less Is More Challenge--3 Squares

Flower Stamps by Inkadinkado
Flower centers are Black Diamond Stickles
Stamens are colored in with gold Spica Pen

Click HERE for link.
(Please scroll down for second post today.)

THREE OF A KIND--Forest Friends

Thanks to a couple of comments recently, I've decided to start a new category of posts showing how the same stamp can be used in three different ways. Actually, I already started with the last post of "Poppies in the Sun." It was a real challenge to come up with three ways to use this stamp today!

All images were stamped in Black India Ink. For the bottom one, I stamped on white cs and colored it with chalks. After distressing the edges and taping it to black cs, I attached it to the cardfront with dimensionals. The "friends" tag was done using the SU Tiny Tags set and the coordinating punch.

The right top one was stamped on blue cs. The animals and some of the tree trunks were colored in with a black marker, then the image was mounted on white cs and attached with dimensionals to a light blue textured card.

Last, after using colored pencils to color the image, the third card was made to look like a window. The "curtain" was made with a strip of Basic Grey paper and a Martha Stewart punch, then crumpled and attached with sticky strip to the green cs "valance." Another scrap of green cs was used for the "window sill" and attached with dimensionals.

The stamp is from "In the Forest" by Mark's Finest Papers.

THREE OF A KIND--Poppies in the Sun

It never ceases to amaze me how many different looks you can get with the same stamp!

The first one I did was the all-red one, which was also the easiest. After inking up the stamp with Versamark, I stamped it on Cherry Cobbler cs and clear embossed it. After adding a bit of yellow chalk and some black Stickles in the centers, I mounted it on yellow and black cs. The single strand of yellow embroidery floss and three black pearls were all I needed to embellish.

Next, I inked up the stamp in Olive Pastel chalk ink and stamped it directly on the Very Vanilla card. Although they look pink, the poppies were colored with red chalk. The poppy seeds were colored with a black marker. The black twine and greeting are just enough to finish it off.

Last, and most colorful, is the rainbow pad effect. Yellow and black markers for the centers and a matching double bow were all I needed to keep from overdoing it.

For the photo, I positioned the cards to catch the sunlight (a rare presence in the tower lately!) highlighting the elements that make each card unique.

Overstamping Challenge

At first, the name of this challenge (ODBD HERE)threw me a little. Could there be such a thing as overstamping???? ...as in, stamping too much? I think not!

However, the theme was about stamping over another image, which I enjoy doing anytime. It's a nice way to provide a background for any sentiment. For this card, I used the rose image from the Hero Arts set, "Two Birds" and mounted it over a Basic Grey print. I used a charcoal solid from the same set which I placed on a diagonal, added some paper piercing on the corners, and attached a floral "gem" in the upper left. I finished it off with a bow of charcoal and red embroidery floss strands.

I also created this card for the Speedy the Cat challenge on Mark's Finest Papers HERE featuring paper piercing and the use of black, white and one other color. I "sneaked" in a bit of red, but otherwise it is mostly black, white and tan.

Fancy Folds #2

In preparation for the next Mothers Class, I found a way to get two accordion fold cards from one sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock.

The short piece (on front) measures 3" high on the left, and the tall piece (back) measures 5 1/2" high on the right, for a total of 8 1/2", which is the width of a cardstock sheet. By cutting diagonally across from 3" on one side to 5 1/2" on the other, you will have two pieces exactly the same size and shape.

Next, from the thicker side, score at 4" and 8" for the folds. The Scor-Pal makes it easy, but you can use whatever works for you.

For the designer paper, the same measurements apply, giving you two pieces the same size and shape as your cardstock pieces. Simply cut and trim the pieces to fit each panel, leaving the desired amount of border.

The middle panel on the back (not shown here) will show when the card is folded, so you will need to decide how or if you want to decorate it. On this card, I had enough dsp to cut a matching piece. On the Fancy Folds Card posted earlier (scroll down to take a look) I used a coordinating piece of striped dsp.

Now that you have some measurements and simplified instructions, I hope you'll give it a try!

Simple Saturday #20

1 Down and 99 To Go!--OLW

Thanks to Susan's One Layer Wednesday challenge this week HERE, I'm now one card ahead for next Christmas!

This one was super easy. I first stamped the wreath base using the SU set "Sketch It" and a light green ink. The five "poinsettia" blossoms are from another SU set "Growing Green," which I just acquired last week. After stamping them in warm red ink, I used a dark red marker to color them in. I added white lines radiating from the center and used a tiny pearl for each. The pine needles were stamped in dark green using a Rubber Stamp Tapestry peg stamp. The greeting is from the SU set "Sincere Salutations", one of the few Christmas greetings available to me without having to uproot the Christmas storage drawer.

After rounding off the top right corner, the card was done!

FANCY FOLDS CARD

Here's a preview of the card project for Mothers Class next week. Although there's a lot of precision cutting, it's not difficult. Pictured here are views of the card both closed and opened.

Using K and Co. double-sided designer paper makes it very easy to get a coordinated look. I opted for a summery pattern with roses as I looked out over my still-icy driveway! Hero Arts paper flowers suggest a hint of Spring. Keeping with the floral theme, I used the small rose for the cupcake top (also Hero Arts.)

For more fun cards, Chrissy D. of I Brake for Stamps is offering a "Fancy Fold and Motion Paper Crafts" CD HERE featuring 60 tutorials for only $17.95.

AND THE WINNER IS...

...Drum roll, please! Congratulations to: Shelly!

In case you're wondering what my favorite card would be, I chose the vellum snowflake card posted on Nov. 6. It looks so clean and crisp, with lots of contrast. I remember feeling so proud of myself for finding an interesting way to use vellum without the adhesive showing.

As promised, here is my favorite comment of 2010:

"Now, darn it, Doris. I wasn't going to get that Hero cling stamp. You are so mean to post a totally, perfectly CAS card with it. Mean, mean, mean. My husband doesn't like you. Not one bit. I, however, like you very much. *giggle*" Posted by Susan Rahaila of Simplicity on Feb. 27, 2010. Thanks, Susan, for making my day with that one!

Thanks to all of you for participating in this year's survey!

BLOG CANDY for Valentine's Day! (Scroll down for later posts!)

This post is a little overdue, thanks to the distractions of snow and more snow and even more snow!

It's time to look over the past year's cards (2010)that are posted here and choose your favorite. In appreciation for your time and effort, I'm offering some embellishments and a stamp set. The winner will be chosen on Valentine's Day night and announced at the top of this post. Just leave a comment from which I can choose the winner!

In response, I'm going to go back over all the comments you left last year and pick my favorite of those. I will post it with the blog candy winner. Thanks to all of you who have left encouraging words throughout the year! Being a stamper (and especially a blogger) is also being part of a caring community. We are so blessed!

HAPPY STAMPING IN 2011!

MFP SKETCH

This is the card I came up with using the sketch provided on Mark's Finest Papers HERE.

You probably can't tell by this photo that I've used a fancy fold technique featured on the video I just received from Hero Arts. The bottom half of the card pulls down to reveal a hidden message inside. (Sorry, but the opened card just doesn't photograph well.)

Thanks to Jennifer McGuire for the idea!

(Stamps by Hero Arts, dsp by Stampin' Up!, flower painted with Twinkling H2O's)

OLW--Two Stamps

The challenge for this week was to use only two images--no sentiments or embellishments. As usual, this was tough to do!

Now that all my Valentines are in the mail, I got to open my new stamp set (SU Growing Green) and ink up two images for the first time. After stamping the rose in India Ink Black, I used a yellow and peach marker to give it a Peace rose look. After masking it, I stamped the fern over it and used a green marker for the leaves. It looked okay, but made me feel like the images were just "stuck" there in the middle of a vast bare space!

To add interest and a little texture without layering or using another stamp, I got out my Scor-Pal and embossed some vertical lines a half inch apart above and below the image. For a little more interest, I also cut out the bottom right corner around the rose petals.

Now that I've fulfilled the OLW requirements, I'm going to add some yellow gingham on the inside and a ribbon down the left front. Shhh...don't tell!

MOJO MONDAY #177

I'm not completely happy with this one, but it will have to do for now. I think it would look better if I used black ink for the greeting to give it a little more contrast. It should be easy to do by just taping another oval over this one.











UPDATE: WOW! What a difference the change to black ink made!

ONE LAYER WEDNESDAY (Border, Main Image, Bling)

When you say lots of bling, I get really generous with it! I hope you can see all the gems I've added here, as well as the Gelly Roll glitter pen I used on some of the hearts.

For the tiny red gems, I used gemstones cut from the letters in the package shown. In fact, I have several packs in white, pearl, clear, red and black for use on other cards. It's a great way to add to your collection without the high cost. I apply them with a craft knife after cutting them apart with a small pair of scissors. The black ones are great for a bird's eye or a bunch of them in the center of a flower.

Thanks for another great challenge, Susan!

(Click on image twice for a closer view.)

Feeling a Bit Squirrel-y This Winter?

At least you don't have to dig for dinner!

WELCOME A NEW BLOGGER!

My friend, Jackie, has finally started her blog and has posted her first cards! Yippee!

Please drop in and leave a few words of encouragement HERE!

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

NOTHING!
THE SUN IS SHINING!
(If you click on the photo, you'll see some sparkle!)

ANOTHER VIEW FROM THE TOWER

Frosted treetops against a bright blue sky!

MOJO MONDAY SQUARE

I almost opted out of this one, thinking I wouldn't be able to come up with anything using this sketch. Since I've been on a butterfly "kick" lately, I decided to give it a try. This is what I came up with.

For the bottom, I used a piece of scrap dsp that was lying on my table. The stripes are from the same paper pad, so I used it for the top half of the card. After choosing 3 more coordinating purple patterns, I put them through the CB with a Butterfly Sizzlets die from SU and placed the butterflies along the curve.

For the main butterfly, I attached three together to make it "pop" then tied some silver cord around it. I cut the ends long enough to give it antennae. The crystal gems add some sparkle; the "trail" is hand drawn with a black marker.

After posting this, I rounded the top right corner to accent the curve below. Enjoy!

WILDLIFE WINDOW

CLICK ON OVER (HERE) TO MY FAMILY BLOG FOR A GLIMPSE OF THE BIRDS I PHOTOGRAPHED WITH RICK'S CAMERA!

TWO MORE BUTTERFLIES

As you can see, I'm really enjoying these butterfly stickers from K & Co.! The top one uses paper weaving mounted on a square of metallic cardstock. The dsp designs are from a 6x6 pack I had on hand.

The label was die cut from a sheet of butterfly embossed pearlized cs, and the sheer ribbon threaded through. The same cs was used for the scalloped oval under the butterfly.

It's Spring in the Stamping Tower!

K & CO. BUTTERFLIES

Another snowfall, another stamping day!

I came across these 3-D butterfly stickers in my stash the other day and thought they'd make a nice focal point for the paper weaving I've been toying with. There are 4 February birthdays on my list, and I'm tired of snowflakes! Or is there a saying somewhere that snowflakes are winter's butterflies???

I love the colors in these Memory Box dsp's. The dragonfly card is for a Valentine birthday friend. Click on the photo for a closer view of the weaving.