Friday, March 30, 2012

Roots and Wings

Day 2 of the Stamp School sneak peeks and I am using another sentiment from Women In My Life:
My designer paper is Butterfly Garden by Pink Paislee. Love this paper.....
The sketch is Jen's Deconstructed Sketch #43:
Be sure to check out all Stamp School has to offer, and take a look at what my fellow Faculty members have created to show you today:
* Amber * Rochelle * Vicki
Stamp School Owner Lisa will be highlighting her creation on the Stamp School blog, so head on over there to see all the excitement! Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Women In My Life (Stamp School)
Paper: Butterfly Collection (Pink Paislee), Kraft (SU!), Bubblegom (Poptone)
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black
Accessories: doily, corner rounder, distressing tool, paper roses (Wild Orchid), pink crochet lace (Really Reasonable Ribbon), gem circle, Chino pearls (Kaiser), seam binding (French Market), button (Basic Grey) twine (PTI) 

Challenges for this card: 
Delicious Doodles - Textures 
Fairy Fun Fridays - Spring 
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything goes 
Lily Pad - Flower Challenge

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Spring Fun With Felt!

What a simply gorgeous week it has been so far. I absolutely love spring and with all my flowers and crabapple trees budding, I am in spring heaven! Plus, last year for my birthday (summer), I bought and planted a red bud tree. This year, even though it's only six feet tall, it has red and pink all over it and I am ecstatic! You never know through the wind and winter snow if something new like that will make it, but it did! Yay!

Today I am sharing a sneek peek of the beautiful new felt that will be available April 1 at Stamp School/A Walk Down Memory Lane. Honestly, this felt is the softest and most beautiful felt I have ever felt! haha! 

Felt:
Soft to the touch yet sturdy, Stamp School felt is a medium-weight 100% merino wool, imported from Holland.  Be forewarned, once you craft with it you'll have a hard time ever going back to a blend or acrylic.  Approximately 14oz. per linear yard (36x72 inches) and 1mm thick, almost 1/16 inch.  Our felt is not flammable, and safe for babies and children. 

Such scrumptious colors for spring: Banana Split, Grapesicle, Spearmint and Bubblegum! I also added a square of Sno Cone felt. The sentiment is from one of the new April stamp set releases: Women In My Life.
So many wonderful sentiments for mothers and friends!
I stamped my sentiment in Grape Jelly ink on Whip Cream cardstock and then cut out with a Spellbinders pennant die. You can see the beautiful soft texture of the felt in this close-up. ALL new April releases will be available April 1 at A Walk Down Memory Lane. Just type in Stamp School in the search bar, and you can see all there is that you need :)

Be sure to check out all Stamp School has to offer, and take a look at what my fellow Faculty members have created to show you today:
Stamp School Owner Lisa and DT Coordinator Samantha will be highlighting their creations on the Stamp School blog, so head on over there to see all the excitement! Thanks for stopping by today!
Stamps: Women in My Life by Stamp School
Ink: Grape Jelly by Stamp School
Paper: Poptone Whip Cream (available at Stamp School)
Accessories and Tools: Spellbinders Pennant, Square and Classic Heart dies, Bubblegum, Grapesicle, Sno Cone and Spearmint felt (Stamp School), button (Basic Grey), Baker's Twine (Really Reasonable Ribbon)

Challenges for this card: 
Crafty Purple Frog - Anything goes 
Digi Doodle Shop's BestFriendship 
Creative Belli - Three shapes
Freshly Brewed - Spring

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Introducing Hop Art Designs at Hambo Stamps!

Today is a special day at the Hambo Hoedown! Hambo Stamps is launching a new digital line designed by Asela Hopkins! The best part? All proceeds will benefit Operation Write Home!

The release includes eight images and you can check out all the deets HERE.


My card uses Serena Mermaid (click for a close-up!):
I colored the images with Copic Markers and added some fun designer paper to make a water scene.
Be sure to visit the Hoedown blog -- LOTS of fun stuff going on there -- including this week's NEW CHALLENGE!  Play along, and you will get an awesomely FUN new image each week - FREE!!


And have you checked out the Hambo Stamps SALE PAGE?? Oh, do I have a list I want!

Stamps: Serena Mermaid - digi image by Hop Art Designs available at Hambo Stamps
Ink: Copic Markers B00, B21, B93, BG72, BV23, C3, E15, R02, R20, R22, R35, Y06, YG03 and Spica Glitter pens
Paper: Provo Craft DP, Blue Bayou, Bliss Blue, Soft Sky, PTI White
Accessories and Tools: clear gems, swirl sticker, Spellbinders oval and scalloped oval dies, blue mesh webbing, large oval punch, Cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder

Monday, March 26, 2012

Try a Little Faux Patina!

Today at the Splitcoaststampers Technique Challenge, I have a technique for you to try called Faux Patina. It really is simple to do, and not all that time consuming, so I hope you will give it a shot! The results are lovely. Click on any photo for a close-up!

First, you will need to get out your brayer, choose an embossing folder, and four ink colors, from lightest to darkest. Think of combinations that you have seen in metal objects. My four (in order) were  (Stampin' Up!):
1. Sahara Sand
2. Taken With Teal
3. Always Artichoke
4. Soft Suede

Using the Inspired by Belleek Pottery technique, ink the front of your embossing folder with your lightest ink (Sahara Sand):

Next, I sponged on Taken With Teal, to bring out the embossed images better. I think I could have gone a lot darker with this.

Sponge on your next two colors, using varying degrees of depth of color (some parts will be lighter/darker than others as you choose):


Finally, use a clear embossing pad (I used VersaMark) to lightly rub over the raised embossed images. Sprinkle on embossing powder (I used Ranger's Queen's Gold Embossing Powder) and heat!

If you get too much powder covering your design, just wipe some off with a cloth or brush. You don't want the entire piece embossed, only sections here and there.

The end result is a lovely vintage looking background! There are various color combinations that you can try. Check out all of the Technique Challenge gallery submissions to see a variety of styles and colors!

Stamps: Music Collage Quarter Sheet by I Brake For Stamps
Paper: PTI Kraft, Soft Suede, Always Artichoke, River Rock, Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Taken With Teal, Always Artichoke, VersaMark
Accessories: Queen's Gold EP (Ranger), paper roses (Wild Orchid), embossing folder (Cuttlebug), leaf die (Sizzix), crochet lace (Really Reasonable Ribbon), distressing tool 

Other challenges for this card: 
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Shabby Chic/Vintage
Cupcake Craft - The Sound of Music 
Lollipop Crafts - Anything goes 
Squigglefly - Anything Goes

Sunday, March 25, 2012

I Am A New Challenge Hostess!

If you play along with the Featured Stamper Challenge at Splitcoast, and if you played along today, you will already know this news, but if not, I am happy to be able to finally share it! Beginning next week, I will be on a team with three incredibly talented friends hostessing the Featured Stamper Challenge! I am thrilled to have been asked, and LOVE that challenge, so I am looking forward to having a part in it! The other hostesses are Bridget Finlay, Julie Warner, and Stacy Morgan.

Today we said goodbye to the current hostess, Cindy Coutts, as she takes on a new and exciting endeavor in the stamping world. The challenge today was to "case yourself." I chose a recent card to case - my pink Horsin' Around card. This is what I came up with:


I kept a similar layout to the Horsin' Around card. I omitted the ribbon and added an embossed pennant in the middle and moved the sentiment placement. We were to change at least two things.

I just got home late last night from a week-long vacation with my sister, so this is a quick one! Thanks for stopping by! Tomorrow I will have a quick, fun tutorial, so be sure to stop back!

Stamps: Stampin' Up
Paper: Scarlett's Letter (Basic Grey), Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery, True Thyme, Canson watercolor
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Staedler Watercolor Crayons
Accessories: Prima flower, Cuttlebug embossing folder, distressing file, word window punch 

Challenges for this card:
Little Claire's  -  Spring 
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - opposite of CAS/Romans 8:31-39 (different papers, texture)
Sweet Stampin -  Anything Goes 
Fashionable Stamping Challenges -  Spring Is In The Air
Paper SundaesSpring Blossoms
 

Saturday, March 24, 2012

It's A Mother's Day Hop With Rubbernecker Stamps!

Welcome to the Stampin' Sisterhood Mother's Day Blog Hop for Rubbernecker Stamps! Today we are celebrating mothers everywhere! If you arrived here from Joan Ervin's beautiful blog, you are in the right spot! If not, start back at Charlene Driggs' blog, because you will want to see each beautiful creation today, and have a chance at winning a Rubbernecker stamp set of your choice!

Leave some love along the way for everyone, and your name will be put into the drawing! Winner will be announced on 3/30 at the Stampin' Sisterhood blog. As a bonus  we will draw an EXTRA winner  for a STAMP SET of their choice, just for sharing our HOP on their Facebook page or blog!! After you have SHARED, just go back to the Stampin' Sisterhood Blog and let us know where you have SHARED our HOP!!

I made a little bit different kind of Mother's Day card -- but there is nothing like celebrating a new baby in March for a first time mother in May!

I used Little One Text (SKU:62-05) and Pacifier (SKU:88-04) for my images. I stamped on watercolor paper and used a watercolor brush and reinkers to paint the pacifier.

Now onto my lovely friend, Julia Aston, where she has a gorgeous creation for you today!
Here is the hop route if you get waylaid along the way!

Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Cranberry Crisp
Paper: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Rose Romance, Rose Red Prints DP, watercolor
Accessories and Tools: Cuttlebug embossing folder, Kaiser Blush Pearls, Prima paper rose, Really Reasonable Ribbon White Sheer Organza with Satin Center and Cotton Candy Baker's Twine

Friday, March 23, 2012

Just Hangin' Out!

This week I have been just hangin' out in Arizona (where I grew up) with my sister. We have had a ton of fun - shopping, eating at great restaurants, doing nothing and stamping! The week has gone by so quickly. I can't believe I have to go home (and back to reality!) tomorrow. So here is a fun card for what I have been doing this week!

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for a glorious Mother's Day blog hop with the Stampin' Sisterhood at Rubbernecker Stamps!

Stamps: Tree Swing by My Favorite Things
Paper: Authentique Gathering DP, PTI White, Really Rust, Soft Sky
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers
Accessories: button, linen thread, Spellbinders dies, distressing tool

Challenges for this card: 
Card Makin' Mamas - Buttons 
Crafty Ann's - Spring/Easter 
Crafty Catz - Spring 
Delicious Doodles - The Wonder of Life 
Phindy’s Place - Animal Planet 
Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes 
Simply Create Too - Spring 
Stampin' For The Weekend - Anything Goes

Monday, March 19, 2012

Come Join Me in the Art Room~!

Today in the Art Room at Stamp School I have a new color challenge and I hope you will join in! Today’s Art Room Color Challenge is brought to you by a lovely table setting from Tea Time Magazine. I subscribe to this magazine and just love the inspiration I get from table settings, teapots and cups, and yummy delicacies!
The colors I chose are Cotton Candy, Gumdrop Green and Limeade. Sounds delish! Here is what I made (inspired by Amy Sheffer):
My sentiment is from To the Future, one of the two graduation sets that Stamp School released this month. It is stamped in Razzleberry ink and sponged with Cotton Candy ink. Designer Paper is Annalee by Prima.  I used Jen's Deconstructed Sketch 42 and flipped it:
There is a Stamp School prize package awarded to an Art Room participant, so I hope you will join! There are links to the supplies I used at the Art Room post here. Have a GREAT Monday!

Stamps: To The Future (Stamp School)
Paper: Annalee DP (Prima), Sweet Tooth, Gumdrop Green, Limeade, Cotton Candy (Poptone)
Ink: Razzleberry, Cotton Candy (Stamp School)
Accessories and Tools: pink lace and pink satin ribbon (RRR), stick pins, petal punch (SU!), paper roses (Wild Orchid), distressing tool, Circle and Scalloped Circle dies (Spellbinders), embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Blush pearls (Kaiser)

Challenges for this card: 
Always Something Creative - Spring Awakening
Tando Creative Challenges - Spring is in the air 
Cupcake Craftroom - Spring Bouquet 
Quirky Crafts - "For a Special Lady" (plus Circles, Flowers and gems/pearls)
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Card/Project showing something Related to the New Season

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Be As Special

Today Really Reasonable Ribbon is sponsoring the Card Positioning Systems Sketch and I am happy to share my project!
My images are by Hambo Stamps. I stamped Silly Monkey in Black Licorice ink and colored in using Copic markers. I paper pieced his shirt, matching the background designer paper. The sentiment, Be As Special was also stamped in Black Licorice. I used Lemon Baker's Twine from Really Reasonable Ribbon to tie up my banner, thread my button, and around the center of the card.

Here is the sketch:
Come play along!

Stamps: Silly Monkey 4223 and Be As Special 4210 by Hambo Stamps
Paper: This and That Charming Designer Paper (Echo Park)
Ink: Black Licorice (Stamp School), Copic Markers
Accessories: Lemon Baker's Twine (Really Reasonable Ribbon), corner rounder, pennant die cut (Spellbinders), button (Basic Grey)

Challenges for this card: 
Card Cupids - Birthday Cards for Boys 
Heidi's Hobbystuggu - Make a card with an animal in focus 
Lia Stampz Challenge - Anything Goes + a Sentiment 
Sundays with Crissy Animals 
Birthday Sundaes - Animal Birthday Card 
GingerloftHappy Birthday
Kenny K Krafty Girlz - One for the Boys

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Winds of March

Three months of 2012 almost to the wind! Time seems to be fleeting! Do you feel that way?
I have two school music programs coming up in a couple of weeks, and I am sure that has something to do with it. But it's hard to believe that my baby daughter is almost through one year of college. And that this school year will be over in two months! 

I wanted to share this thank you card that I made with some luscious crinkled seam binding. I purchase my seam binding from various Etsy stores -- I would rather pay a little bit than dye it and crinkle it myself! I don't have time! :)

My image is called Script Thank You Circle from a wonderful set by Sparkle N Sprinkle called Thanks A Bunch (stamp set 415). It has so many great fonts and ways to say thank you in this set! It is also available individually.

Anything paired with black seems to become elegant! I probably use more black cardstock than any other color. My favorites? For card bases: Poptone Black Licorice (heavy weight that I love!). For layering and stamping: Stampin' Up Basic Black. I also have some "cardstock" from The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby) that is black, but the weight is very light (I wouldn't even call it cardstock, although they do) and I use it for multi-layered needs. I don't want my card weighing 2 pounds!

Have a marvelous day! It will go fast!

Stamps: Stamp Set 415 Thanks A Bunch by Sparkle N Sprinkle
Paper: Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Basic Gray, Basic Black (SU!), Sweet Tooth (Stamp School), Enchanted DP by Bo Bunny
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: slit punch, Spellbinders dies, twine, button, stick pins, Kaiser pearls, French Market crinkled seam binding 

Challenges for this card:
Just Inspirational - inspiraton photo 
Fab 'n' Funky - Luck of the Irish
Paper Pretties - Thank you card
Sassy Cheryl's - Wearin' Of The Green
ColourQ - Color Challenge (some substitutions for what I had!)
Kaboodle Doodles - Show us some Green 
MyGrafico - St. Patrick`s Day 
Victorine OriginalsGreen and White or Black 

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

It's Geometry Class at Stamp School

Today at Stamp School it's time for Geometry Class, and that means a sketch! I am hosting today and I hope that you will join in the challenge.

I used one of the sentiments from Stamp School’s new March stamp sets, To The Future, and some pretty designer paper and embellishments to make this quick card.
I stamped my sentiment with Hot Fudge ink on Poptone Whip Cream cardstock, then cut out using my Grand Calibur and Spellbinders Labels Three Nestabilities die. The card base is also Whip Cream, with a layer of Poptone Hot Fudge before the designer paper. It really goes together quickly!

You have a chance to win a prize package from Stamp School when you play along!

Stamps: To The Future (Stamp School)
Paper: Whip Cream, Hot Fudge, (Poptone) Portabello Road (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Hot Fudge (Stamp School)
Accessories and Tools: pearls, paper roses (Wild Orchid), Labels Three Nestabilities (Spellbinders, border punch (EK Success) 


Challenges for this card:
City Crafter Challenge - Things In Your Heart (graduation coming up)
Craft Room Challenge - Shabby/Vintage
Crafty Sentiments - Things With Wings
Creative Card Crew - Vintage Week1
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - Anything Goes  Week1 
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Shabby Chic/Vintage

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Hopping Along With Really Reasonable Ribbon!


Each 13th of the month it's the Really Reasonable Ribbon blog hop! LOVE Bonnie's choices for the March ribbon club package. If you really love ribbon and would like to have a wonderful assortment of ribbons sent to you automatically each month, just join the Really Reasonable Ribbon Club! Monthly ribbon club assortments are selected and pre-packed to reflect a specific theme, color, or holiday season. The assortments vary from month to month, but an average assortment has 5-8 different ribbon styles and consists of 10-15 yards of ribbon.  You will love it! Take a peek:
If you arrived here from True's blog, you are in the right place! If you just happened along, be sure to start at the beginning at the RRR Blog (I am the third stop, so you don't have far back to go!) so you don't miss out on the awesome projects, fun news, and a prize from Really Reasonable Ribbon!

The color combo this month reminds me of the beach and ocean. Here is what I made this month:
My images are by Hambo Stamps.

Bonnie will be giving away a February Ribbon Monthly Club kit to a random commenter so please make sure and comment on all of the girls' projects to increase your chances of winning! 

If you are loving this ribbon, you need to apply for the RRR Design Team! The call deadline is March 31, and you can see all of the deets HERE. Bonnie is a gem to work with!

Now off to BONNIE'S blog, where you can see that not only is she an amazing businesswoman and our fearless leader, but she is an amazing designer as well!


Thanks for stopping by today!

If you are in a find-a-deal mood, check out my GARAGE SALE.
 
Stamps: Seahorse - 1421 and Long Time No Sea - 1110 by Hambo Stamps
Paper: Kraft, Melon Berry (PTI), stash blues
Ink: Black Licorice (Stamp School)
Accessories and Tools: Cuttlebug embossing folders, March Ribbon Club assortment (Really Reasonable Ribbon), shell brad, adhesive gem circle, corner rounder, Scor-Tape
 

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Fresh Green Stripes

Today it's all about stripes! I love this fresh green ribbon. It is the perfect touch for my images and colors. Over at the Stampin' Sisterhood blog we have a new challenge for you! It's a beautiful inspiration photo:
I did a little folding and then sewed the folds down with my sewing machine. You can find this Vertical Stripe Green Grosgrain ribbon in two widths: 3/8" and 5/8". I added some Green Apple Baker's Twine to my little button, and some Ice Green Pearls for added embellishment.
My images are from Rubbernecker Stamps' Fall Trilogy set. I stamped the leaves in Gumdrop Green ink (Stamp School) and the sentiment in Black Licorice (Stamp School).
I hope you will join our challenge this week! Thanks for stopping by today!
Stamps: Fall Trilogy (SKU:480) by Rubbernecker Stamps
Paper: Sweet Tooth, Gumdrop Green & Black Licorice Poptone CS by Stamp School, DP by Provo Craft
Ink: Gumdrop Green & Black Licorice (Stamp School)
Accessories: button, Vertical Striped Green Grosgrain & Green Apple Baker's Twine (Really Reasonable Ribbon), Ice Green Pearls (Kaiser), sewing machine, paper piercer, distressing tool