Succulents in Winter

I was inspired by this Lia Griffith to make my own paper succulents.  I did not use her patterns.  I used the Bouquet Bigz L Die by Stampin Up instead.  I used Bazille cardstock.  For the largest leaves I painted the tips a deep purple to add interest.  I added some faux moss and river rocks around Styrofoam and voila!  Instant, no-care succulents :-)

It was not as hard as I thought it was going to be to make these.  Once I started, it got easier and easier to put them together.

Thank you for looking!

Stamp - A - Faire 2014

On Saturday, Papertrey Ink had some challenges for their Stamp A-Faire day and I joined in some of the challenges.  The theme was stamping through time and it was a lot of fun.


This one was Vintage Patterns for a 1940s look.  I tried to do a bigger pattern across the page but that was a disaster!  (Well, maybe five disasters...)  I finally decided to do smaller patterns and tried to make it like an embroidery hoop.

Materials: Classic Kraft paper, Explore the 1940s with Besty Veldman stamp set and background paper (PTI), lace





This one was called Sparkle and Shine for a 1920s look.  I really liked doing this one.  I used sticky embossing powder for the glitter and it worked like a charm.  The end result was super elegant.

Materials: Fine Linen and Smokey Shadow, Deco Die Cover Plate, Explore the 1920s with Heather Nichols stamp set and paper (PTI), Styled Labels die (Sizzix) embossing powder, Sterling glitter (Martha Stewart) and rhinestones




Antique Embossing is from the Regency Era challenge.  I used silver embossing powder, stamped it, and then used Distress Ink Black Soot for that antique look.  Loved it!  It gives the embossing a look like it had aged.

 Materials: Smokey Shadow paper, Explore the Regency Era with Melissa Phillips stamp set and paper (PTI),  embossing powder, Black Soot Distress Ink (Ranger), sequins (Mon Ami Gabby)




This one is Renaissance inspired.  The challenge was for Velvet Stamping but I had no velvet fabric or even flocked paper that might work.  I really wanted to used the stamp and dies, though.  They are so elegant.  Put together they remind me of the beautiful stained glass rose windows one sees in old churches and cathedrals.  I did not stamp on velvet - just regular paper.  I added little liquid pearls and ribbon.

Materials: Hawaiian Shores and Ripe Avocado paper, Explore the Renaissance with Nichole Heady (PTI), gold embossing powder, gold metallic wax, Viva Decor Pearl Pen, ribbon

Diamond Wallpaper Stamping

Papertrey Ink has a tutorial about making your own background using stamps for Make It Monday #174.  It looked cool so I decided to try it out.  My first couple of tries were duds!  I was rushing things so the diamonds were super crooked.  I was more careful with this one and I am pretty happy with how it turned out. I popped up the Chrysler Building, which is my favorite building in NYC.  I love that Art Deco look.

All the stamps used are from City Scene by Papertrey Ink,  which I was happy to finally use!  Oh, except the sentiment.   That's from their Road Trip stamp set.

My husband and I live near the NYC so I am going to use this card to ask him out on a date.  Of course, he will say yes ;-)

No.1 Dad Box Card

I jumped on the box card band wagon and made one for father's day.  This card will be from the boys to their dad.  Tom loves baseball and the Yankees, in particular, so I tried to make the little guy look like a Yankee with his uniform.  I had to use a blue marker to make the pin stripes.  I also added some stitching for the the hat. Copics were used for the skin and the hair. I also made lines on the baseball bat to make it look more like wood using Copics.

To make the box more complete,  I added a baseball and a label from the Total Sports cartridge.  I stapled them with  my Tiny Attacher to clear plastic to make them look like they are in the air.  The sentiment is from a CTMH stamp set called Kudos.  I added a ton of grass and there is little picket fence, too. 

The phrase is from the Phrases cartridge.  The #1 is colored in with Wink of Stella - so sparkly! But I restrained myself because it is a guy card!

I entered this card in:

* Bitten by the Bug 2 - Fathers Day Challenge

* Fantabulous Cricut - Celebrate Dad

* Pile It On - Use Some Patterned Paper

Princess Tag

I made a princess tag using Julie Nuttimg's princess stamp.  

I would like to enter is tag in:

My Sheri Crafts 3 in a Row - Tag, Pattern Paper, Paper Piecing

 I learned a technique for layering stamp pieces from a talented lady named Collen from Col's Crafty Corner.  It was a lot of work and a lpt of pop dots but worthwhile.  I used  Copics for the skin and hair and  Lindy's Stamp Gang for the shadows in the dress (Tainted Love Teal).The sentiment is from a Fairyopolis stamp set and the tag is from Spellbinders.

The pattern paper is from SEI.  Hard to see but is a very light green with light gold. So pretty!  The shimmery white paper is from Papertrey Ink.  The blue paper is from DCWV.

Here was my tag:

Itsy Bitsy Stencils

I love butterflies.  I think of spring and flowers and beauty when I see them.  So I decided to make a stencil with butterflies to make a card using them.

I placed it on top of cardstock and then I pounced some color. I wanted it to be colorful so I used yellow, blue, green, and a touch of pink to pick up the color of the die cut butterfly.  I like that adding the colors lightly gave the background a soft, watercolor look to it.

The paper is 6 x 6

I only did some of the butterflies not all. 

Next, I cut a butterfly from the Hannah Montana Cricut cart. The butterfly images in this cart are so pretty.

The sentiment also a stencil.  I used the Everyday Fonts cart for it.  I pounced the color and then outlined the letters with a fine line marker to make it stand out a bit more than the butterflies in the background.

I left it simple for the CAS look which I seem to be gravitating towards now :)

I cut the butterflies at .50 in each and the font at .75 which is why called the stencils itsy, bitsy -- plus it sounded cute :)

I used gesso on this card for some texture and a different look.  I used the herringbone image from the Edge to Edge cart.  I cut it at 8 inches and just slapped on some gesso - which shows in some places... I think that if I use a temporary adhesive next time it will give me a sharper image.  I'll try it out next time.

The suave gentleman is from the Suburbia cart.  I was inspired by Nadia from With Glittering Eyes blog here and here to change the image a silhouette to a more dimensional image.  He is no Ryan Gosling but I think he came out alright! :D

I added a "hey, girl" sentiment to it.  If you're not familiar with "Hey, girl" and Ryan Gosling, check out this pinterest board.  I don't know what I am going to put inside it, yet.  Maybe: "hey, girl... the glitter in your hair, ears and teeth really set off your eyes" or "hey girl... let's organize your paper collection by color and texture."  I get a kick out of these!

Froggy Baby Card

I made this CAS card for a co-worker who is going to have a baby.  I am so happy for her and her hubby.

I kept the card very simple - die cut, embossing, one stamp, and some baker's twine.  Oh, and I tried out Wink of Stella on the froggy's spots.  That stuff is great - very sparkly!  The little frog is from the Tiny Treasures Cricut cartridge and I cut him at 2 in.  The stamp is from Papertrey Ink and the embossing folder is from Stampin Up.  It love the random spots all over - it's fun pattern.  I am thinking it could be used as background for snow if you make a winter card, too.

I would like to enter this card in:

Alphabet Challenge Blog for D is for Diecuts

The Sisterhood of Crafters for Animals

"When green is all there is to be 
It could make you wonder why
But why wonder, why wonder?
I am green and it'll do fine
It's beautiful and I think it's what I want to be"

-- Kermit the Frog