Friday, January 30, 2009

Simply Prayers

Today's Limited Supply Challenge at SCS was to make a CAS card - (Clean and Simple). It generally means limited layers, simple embellishments, very clean look. And if you know me you know that's a huge challenge for me!

But...I received a whole box FULL of brand new goodies from SU :) so I thought I'd ink up this beautiful new set and try it out.




Here the tree is embossed in Winter White EP and then Baja Breeze is sponged around it. The sentiment is popped up and I added some simple ribbon treatment. It's so hard for me because I look at that tree and think "gasp...it's nekkid!" (lol). Well, ok, I do like the simplicity of the design, and I think it's eye-catching, just out of my comfort zone!

We had a candle lit family dinner last night with our kids. It was fun, we had roast and potatoes and gravy, and vegetables and bread with oil and balsalmic vinegar. We dimmed the lights and had sparkling apple juice - for no reason at all! But it was fun and they loved it. My daughter said "I love that we always have meals together". A good word to hear :) Sometimes, simplicity that celebrates is a good thing.

Have a great Friday!


Recipe: Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers; Ink: VersaMark, Baja Breeze; Paper: Whisper White; Accessories: Sponge, Embossing Powder, Key Tab Punch, Wide Grosgrain, White Taffeta Ribbon, Hodgepodge Hardware.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Copic Polished Stone

Today's Ways to Use it Challenge on SCS is to use any alcohol based product on your creation in a new way. So even if you've used for example, copics, to now try to use them in a new way. Well I saw Marianne Walker use them on her blog I Like Markers on glossy cardstock so I thought I'd give it a try.


It really has the look of the polished stone technique. You know where you used inks and dab on alcohol on a cotton ball or use metallic inks...it all bleeds with a hard edge, giving you the look of polished stone.

This new set is Botanical Blooms and it will be available for Sale A Bration this year. I stamped them on glossy cardstock (I used Stazon, though I think I'd use a different ink next time - it did bleed despite heat setting). Maybe I'd emboss the outline images, that would look cool. Then I colored in with copics.

You could get more blending with these markers, but I kind of liked the hard edge of color and between the colors. It's always good to try something new!


I added the outline images in the three colors on the base white card and the inner images on the 3 panels and cut a few extra out to add as accent.

This will be for one of our volunteer leaders. She had a really rough day yesterday, and could use a word of hope. And isn't good to sometimes remind ourselves that we need to be kind to "us" too.
Recipe: Stamps: Botanical Blooms; Ink: Stazon, Regal Rose, Lavendar Lace, Always Apricot; Paper: Whisper White, Glossy White, Regal Rose, Lavendar Lace, Always Apricot; Accessories: Sponge, Copic Markers, Piercer, Dimensionals, White Taffeta Ribbon.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Big Shot Valentine

Well I had a really fun night with my 10 for 10 girls Tuesday night. We did a whole workshop around utilizing the Big Shot, and making Valentine projects.

The first card was a cute pocket card using the Top Note, I found this idea on the SU website on the demo side. A lady named Marci Baldwin sent in a sample showcased on Jan 21st, but a bit different from this on. I thought it was such a cute idea I created one for the girls to make with A Happy Heart . Perfect for patterned paper and the little felt flowers!



This second one was a way to show off the Birds and Blooms Sizzlits and pair it with my favourite background Bella Toile, the words were cut from the Join in the Cheer die. So simple but with such pretty effect because of the color contrasts. And don't you love the Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware?



This little Valentine basket is just using the Baskets and Blooms is so sweet (especially with the Smarties...a wonderful chocolate Canadian treat :) ). I used Boho Backgrounds for the background stamping, the new Hostess set A Little Somethin' and Raspberry Tart DSP accents.


And LOOK!!! I made a cute little basket with FELT in the Bigz die! Isn't it darling! Oh I love this one. Simple rhinestone brads to hold the posies on and sticky tape on the seams....eeee happy dance!



Monday, January 26, 2009

Sweet Love

The color challenge tonight is a pretty one, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, and Garden Green.

I've been working on some designs that I can't show you YET :) but soon!

But I put this one together tonight, and I like it's sweetness.


The main image and the little butterfly are colored with Copic Markers, and Bella Toile is used as the lower portion of the Top Note. I hardly ever use the Pretties Kit...I think it intimidates me! But I put together a pretty hat pin and ribbon as accent.

Thanks for stopping by today!


Recipe: Stamps: Dreams Du Jour, Bella Toile; Ink: Palette Noir, Pacific Point Paper: Pacific Point, Garden Green, Gina K Luxury White, Baja Breeze Patterns DSP; Accessories: Pretties Kit, Copic Markers, Dimesionals, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon

Friday, January 23, 2009

My Red Bird

When I first received this Home Tweet Home set by Marcella...I had all these great ideas in my head for creations. There's just something so beautiful and delicate about a well-drawn bird.

The Inspiration Challenge (IC164) the week is of some beautiful Lang Calendars....gorgeous illustration and when I saw the beautiful bird calendars I knew this set would be perfect.

I liked these two pictures, but wanted a red bird...so it's sort of a combination.




















Here's my card:





I think it might be my favourite one I've done so far with this set. I really like the simplicity of the design yet the pop of red in the bird. Bird is watercolored and cut out. I love the colors of Chocolate, Riding Hood Red and Artichoke. And the Top Note really gives it lovely shape. I sponged the edges of the Watercolor paper to give it a softer yet richer look, added some pretty piercing details around the edges. Doesn't he look SO real? Happy Saturday everyone!

And just a note to all of you I have a special invitation from Flourishes:

Here is the scoop:

Flourishes Stampers Dream Weekend February 21-22, 2009

Join us for a full weekend of stamping with some of the best Flourishes Designers! In addition to making cards with artistic elegance, you'll learn techniques and have a chance to sit in on a free lecture given by Marianne Walker on the theory of color.

What: Flourishes Stamping Weekend

Where: 4140 Lyric Lane, Pensacola, Florida

When: Saturday February 21:

Stamp the day away with a morning and afternoon class featuring Flourishes designers Becca Feeken and Faith Hofrichter. You'll learn how to create wonderful cards in their original style. Instruction, lunch, snacks, and all supplies are included.

Sunday, February 22: The morning is free for you to sleep in or enjoy some of the sights. Join us in the afternoon for a class with Jan Marie Caruso, where you will come away with finished cards and a limited addition stamp set. Then join us afterwards for a lecture on Color Theory by Copic Instructor Marianne Walker. We'll provide an afternoon snack and all supplies.

Price: $150 per person Payment is due by February 8 AND IS NONREFUNDABLE!

Space is limited for these classes. To register and pay for the Flourishes weekend go to the Flourishes website: www.flourishes.org; click on the CLASSES category

Monday: Copic Certification Class with Marianne Walter. See the I LikeMarkers blog ilikemarkers.blogspot.com

Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes- Home Tweet Home; Ink: Brown Stazon, Chocolate Chip; Paper: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Watercolor, Always Artichoke Prints; Chocolate Chip Prints DSP; Accessories: Oval Punches, Top Note, Big Shot, Piercer, Antique Brads, Dimensionals, Riding Hood Red Taffeta, Reinkers, SW Markers

Happy Chocolate Cupcakes!

Yum!

I'm so excited! Taylor VanBruggen (Taylored Expressions), asked me to be her Featured Cupcake Sampler this week! How cool is that?! I'm so honored!

So she gave a fabulous sketch here:


and I created this!

I started with the cute cupcake platter from Crazy for Cupcakes, watercolored the chocolate icing and paper pieced the wrappers. Then I cut it all out carefully, cutting off the legs of the platter so that it fit the sketch better and popped it up on the DP ovals (cut with my Coluzzle).

Taylor's sketch has buttons....if you know me you know I am button challenged. I just don't quite know why...I just rarely use them. But here I added a couple on each side and gave them a little zing by adding Crystal Effects dots on the opposite sides of the holes. I also added CE on the edge of the Kiwi Kiss oval and on the cherries. Can you see it a little? It gives it great shine and dimension.



Yummy ribbon and piercing. All a girl needs for the sweetest cupcakes!

Thanks again Taylor! You're a gem!

Come play in this weeks sketch with me at Taylor's blog!

Recipe: Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes; Ink: Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip; Ppaer: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Bella Rose DSP, Riding Hood Red, Watercolor; Accessories: Coluzzle, Kiwi Kiss Ribbon, Chocolate Satin Ribbon, Buttons, Scallop Edge Punch, Piercer, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Crystal Effects, Reinkers.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

For the Love of Reading

The challenge over at SCS today is the Ways to Use it challenge. Today's theme is patterned paper, using what you have in patterned paper and giving it a new look.
Well I'll tell you the story first and then you can see what I created...so keep reading please!

My mom has been a seamstress and a very good one for most of her life. She has worked professionally and privately sewing, has sewn myself and the kids countless treasured items. Truly beautiful work. She's retired now from work. And still does sew, but she also has arthritis badly in her hands, and sometimes I think you just need a break from your original hobby. She was looking for a new one to keep her busy, especially in the evenings.

I kept encouraging her to read. She knows how much I love it and what it means to me, but she kept arguing that reading was boring and put her to sleep. I told her "well, you're not reading the right books then!" So I lent her some of my favourites....and guess what?! She's hooked! She's just LOVED reading often staying up till 1 am because the story is so good. She's discovered a new passion and hobby. It just makes me happy. But she told me the other week when I was at her house and we were both on the couch reading our books (so funny), that she needed a bookmark. I said, "Well, I can make you one".


And here it is. I love the chair and books from the new Flourishes set Chairs to You, and wanted to create with them together. I had this idea of giving the strip of patterened paper (from Holiday Treasures) overstamping of books and adding gold Zig Painty to make it look like special editions of books. So though it's a subtle effect with the designer paper, it really gives it depth and texture.

I watercolored the large chair and added gold accents for the upholstery tacks. I also put the layers of the bookmark through the reverse side of the Top Note die on my Big Shot to give it the look of an open book (picture laying your paper outside of the die, and only hanging the top edge over the cutting section of the die where it just cuts the top edge this way - the result - a reverse image of the die looking like a book).


I added ribbon to one side, so as not to cover up the book feel, but also to make it look like a ribbon bookmark in a bookmark. I added some beads to some of the ribbons too. I kept the details pretty simple and flat so it won't interfere in the books.

Recommended Read: So what book did I giver her? Well, I gave her about 4 books from one of my very favourite authors, Linda Nichols. She weaves story and character masterfully, I have not read one book of hers that I haven't LOVED and have been completely wrapped up in!

My favourite is the first one I read - "At the Scent of Water" (I've read it at least 3 times now). It's a beautiful story of loss and longing, and coming back to faith, of forgiveness and redemption. Her writing really moves me and inspires me. I highly recommend it!


Back tomorrow with something SUO! :)


Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes - Chairs to You; Ink: Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red; Paper: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Holiday Treasures DSP, Watercolor; Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Reinkers, Gold Zig Painty, Oval Punch, Sticky Tape, Striped Ribbon, Flirty Ribbon, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Clear Beads, Gold Cording




Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Toonie Tuesday - You Crack Me Up!

Well, the day is almost gone and I finally had a chance to get my color challenge card up. Today was full of Dentist appointments...(no cavities! woohoo!) and this afternoon I finally had a chance to use a gift certificate from friends for a massage :) (another woo hoo- it was glorious).

So, last night I was thinking that no matter what the color challenge would be today that I'd try to use A Good Egg....today's colors are Bravo Burgundy, Regal Rose and Kiwi Kiss...so not entirely Easter like...but a fun challenge.




I watercolored the egg and little chick and used my Top Note and some ribbon to tie it all together. So cute don't you think? I love the sentiment too You Crack Me Up! It will be a fun card to give.


Recipe: Stamps: A Good Egg; Ink: Black Stazon, Regal Rose, Bravo Burgundy; Paper: Regal Rose, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss Patterns DSP; Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note, Brads, Dimensionals, Reinkers, SW Markers, Ribbons - Striped Kiwi, Wide Burgundy and Regal Rose Grosgrain, Oval Punches, Piercer.

Toonie Tuesday - Dirty Dozen Valentine Challenge

Love Birds



Well, it's the 20th of the month and time for another roundup of the Dirty Dozen girls, current and alumni for a challenge! This month Jodi - Kharmagirl challenged us to make a Valentine creation....Required Element: Texture, Restricted Element: NO RED!


So, I pulled out my precious birds from Flourishes new release *Home Tweet Home* and made some Love Birds.



A few weeks back I played around with this color combination and really liked it (Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron and Kiwi Kiss), so since I couldn't use any RED, I made a very rich but springlike Valentine.


I stamped the birds on watercolor paper and watercolored them and cut them out. Cut out my watercolor frame with my Nestabilities die (and the other two frames as well), then sponged the watercolored piece with Kiwi Kiss and watercolored it as well. And I added a little free-hand watercolored heart between them.


The burgundy is old old DSP, before SU went to double sided DSP, so I haven't got a clue which one it is. I turned the frames in different directions and added some pretty piercing throughout.


So what are my texured items? I scored the So Saffron DSP which I wish you could see better, and I added felt and satin ribbon and a felt flower.



Sentiment is computer generated.

I'll be back later with my color challenge card...we have dental appts in the AM!

Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes - Home Tweet Home; Ink: Black Stazon, Kiwi Kiss; Paper: So Saffron, So Saffron Prints, Bravo Burgundy DSP, Kiwi Kiss, Watercolor Paper; Accessories: Scor-it, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Felt Ribbon, Wide Burgundy Grosgrain, Felt Flower, Brad, Word Window Punch, Scalloped Edge Punch, Dimensionals, Reinkers, SW Markers, Piercer, Nestabilities, Big Shot.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Charlie's Love Story Continued

We join with you for Part Two of the Sweet Love story of Charlie Chocolate Cupcake. As some of you know from our early chapter....Charlie has been struck by Cupid Cupcake's arrow of love....we find him here today.


Charlie knows what he must do...he must create a hand-made Valentine for his love! Every woman would want a hand-made creation! That will win her heart! So he sets about with his pencil to declare his love to the girl of his dreams. "Be Mine" he tells her...and signs it with x's and o's.

But Charlie realizes that to be crafty is not the only way to a girls heart. Chocolate is the sure thing! Every girl love chocolate, so he races to the candy store and purchase a large box of decadent chocolates to give her with his Valentine card. Will it win her heart? Stay tuned for our next installment to meet Charlie's intended...and see what her reaction will be!


Recipes: Be Mine Valentine: Stamps: SASI - Love is Sweet, SU - Simply Said; Ink: Palette Noir, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White Craft; Paper: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, Loves Me DSP, Whisper White, Gina K Pure Luxury White; Accessories: Flirty Ribbon, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Vintage Brads, Corner Rounder, Piercer SW Markers, Copic Markers, Dimensionals

Valentine Chocolates : Stamps: SASI - Love is Sweet; Ink: Palette Noir, Chocolate Chip; Paper: Close To Coal, Taken With Teal, Cool Caribbean, Gina K Pure Luxury, Regal Rose; Accessories: Big Shot, Scalloped Circles Die, Copic Markers, Flirty Ribbon, Dimesionals, Vintage Brads, Piercer

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Cherish Heartfelt Friendship

Today's Featured Stamper is an awesome one! stamp_momma or Lori Craig. She is a wonderful woman! Her's was the very first blog I subscribed to, she is full of creativity, great style, and she has a faith that is evident and a blessing that I appreciate. She's a great part of the SCS community.

I've been wanting to make some cards for a group of friends that have been instrumental in my life the past few months. They are a group of women that I meet with on Thursday mornings for prayer, accountability and study. They are AWESOME women. Strong, and yet fragile. A beautiful mixture!

So, in the next week I'll be sending them some of these cards.

Cherish Friendship




For this card I cased Lori's card HERE, I changed the color palette, papers and added an extra large flower, but kept the basic theme because I loved it so much.


Heartfelt Friendship



For this card I cased Lori's card HERE, I changed the set, color palette and added piercing, and changed the scallops to be peaks to follow the paper design. I haven't used this set it probably a year and a half! Pretend you don't notice my lack of straight piercing. OY! I'll fix that with something!

I'll be back tomorrow with our continuing LOVE story of Charlie the Chocolate Cupcake!

Recipes: Cherish Friendship: Stamps: Baroque Motifs Ink: Rose Red, Cameo Coral, Kiwi Kiss; Paper: Rose Red, Cameo Coral, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Raspberry Tart DSP; Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Bigz Die, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Rose Brads, Piercer, Dimensionals

Heartfelt Friendship: Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks; Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray; Paper: Very Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Muirfield DSP, Coluzzle, Kiwi Kiss Striped Ribbon, Sponge, Dimensionals

Saturday, January 17, 2009

A Cupcake Love Story

It's an inspirational love story (IC163) ....and here's where it all began...

And with that loveseat's inspiration of color and pattern... Love is in the air! Cupid Cupcake is off to bring love to some little lonely cupcake's heart this Valentine's Day! His arrow shoots straight and true, and he is on a mission! Find that cupcake! He searches high and low. Avast...he spies a little cupcake, who might it be? Why it's Charlie Chocolate Cupcake our lovelorn bachelor! TWANG! Off goes the arrow......what will happen next???


His arrow hits its mark! Charlie Chocolate Cupcake is struck dumb with the arrow of LOVE. He feels as though he has been hugged and kissed right on his big ol' chocolate cheek with lips of LOVE! The arrow falls to the ground at his feet. He is stunned! He is amazed! He's never felt this way before! He knows what he must DO! Hokey X's and O's Batman....we have a romance on our hands!

What will happen next Cupcake Fans????? Stay tuned...more of the sweet chocolate story of love is coming your way!

Recipes: Cupid Cupcake: Stamps: Taylored Expressions/SASI - Love is Sweet; Ink: Palette Noir Ink, Taken with Teal; Paper: Cool Caribbean, Loves Me DSP, Regal Rose, Gina K Pure Luxury White, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Flirty Ribbon, Sewing Machine, Build a Brads, Large Circle Punch, Scallop Punch, 1 1/4 Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Copic Markers, Sponge

Charlie Chocolate Cupcake: Stamps: Taylored Expressions/SASI - Love is Sweet; Ink: Palette Noir Ink, Chocolate Chip; Paper: Taken With Teal, Whisper White, Loves Me DSP, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Gina K Pure Luxury White; Accessories: Copics, Circle Punch, Antique Brads, Flirty Ribbon, Dimensionals


Thursday, January 15, 2009

Three Chairs for You!

You know, when I opened this set I literally gasped...it is so unique and beautiful! This is another design by Lauren Pope. So versatile too, you can create classic design, design with whimsy....or masculine. I know I'll use it often.


Three Chairs



This set has such beautiful sentiments, I love this one by Thoreau: "A house needs these chairs, Ones for solitude Ones for friendship and Then those for society"...isn't that sweet!?

So I watercolored these three styles of chairs very spring-like and differently. I have it lots of scalloping and Flourishes ribbon ...do you see the cute watermark of the dog on the pillow in the lower right? He's so cute!

Ornate Chair



Look at this fabulous chair!!! You can do so much with it. I just received some beautiful glittery paper from Flourishes and thought...that pattern almost looks like a textile for upholstery...that would make a perfect chair! So, I stamped it twice, once on copper metallic and once on the glittered paper and then pieced the chair together. To give dimension to the chair I also added copic shadows within the seat and then on the wood.


For the sentiment I wanted to create a little flag but it looked too plain without some stamping so I added some of the leaves from Autumn Flourishes which match the pattern in the paper and stamped them in copper and gave them some depth with a copic marker as well.

See the other creations of the girls at the Flourishes Blog

Here are the other girls creating today!

Cindy Lawrence, Faith Hofrichter, Julie Koerber, Latisha Yoast, Laura Fredrickson, Kimberly Crawford, Cindy Haffner, Dee Jackson, Becca Feeken, Silke Ledlow, Jan Marie Caruso, Nancy Kirk, Sharon Doolittle

Please join the team for our release party tonight (Friday) from 7 - 9 pm Eastern in the Splitcoaststampers Flourishes forum. All of the sets will be unveiled and it's your chance to win prizes, and the winner of the Celebrating Home challenge will be revealed. Yippee!

Marcella does it Again! Flourishes New Release Day Two


I {{{heart}}} Marcella Hawley. If you don't already know...Marcy is one of the illustrators of Flourishes stamps and I love her work, today's release is no exception!

This SWEET set is called Home Tweet Home and oh my word, you'll love it! And I have two great cards to show you! Very spring...since it seems determined to snow here forever...

Home Tweet Home


Look at these sweet birdhouses! I stamped the birdhouses first in Basic Gray ink and then masked them and added the branches with Certainly Celery ink on watercolor paper. Watercolored the houses and then I gave the border a wash of color in teal and a deeper outline in a teal marker. Do you see they each have BLING??? They are fashionably *chic* bird houses :) it's SO 2009! (lol). Did you also notice there's a bird outline stamped on the background?


What's the Word?


This gorgeous bird sigh...isn't it beautifully illustrated? And I Love the colors in this Urban Prairie Basic Grey paper from Flourishes, warm yellows, pinks, corals, almost a Baja Breeze blue. So I gave this sweet bird some deep Baja blue and Aprico yellow watercolor and trimmed him out carefully.
The main panel with the branches is stamped first, then I trimmed around the edge of one of the branches (like out of the box technique), and then snuck it under my Nestabilities template and cut it out. I gave the sky a pretty was of color like it was sunrise or sunset and gave some of the leaves a yellow sheen too. It's even more richly colored IRL. I really love some of the sayings in this set, like this one: *What's the Word?*...like he's ready to break out into song! Very cute.

Wanna win this set...or the other two in the new release??? I mean seriously why would you say no? Then head on over to the Flourishes Blog to find out how you can!

And be sure to join the party at the Splitcoaststampers Flourishes Forum on Friday night, 7 - 9 pm Eastern where you'll see ALL the sets and can chat with some of the Flourishes peeps!



Recipes: Home Tweet Home: Stamps: Flourishes Home Tweet Home; Ink: Basic Gray, Certainly Celery, Taken with Teal; Paper: Certainly Celery, Basic Gray, Watercolor, Urban Prairie - Basic Grey DSP; Accessories: Nestabilities, Big Shot, Reinkers, SW Markers, K & Co gems, Rhinestones, Corner Rounder Punch, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Rectangle Slit Punch, Dimensionals

What's the Word: Stamps: Flourishes Home Tweet Home; Ink: Black Stazon, Rose Red; Paper: Regal Rose, Basic Grey - Urban Prairie DSP, Baja Breeze, Watercolor, Always Apricot; Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Big Shot, Nestabilities, Wide Baja Grosgrain, Apricot Grosgrain, K & C Gems, Urban Prairie Brads, Piercer, Reinkers, Dimensionals

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Release Week Celebration! Yum Cake!



Yippee! Release week is finally here! I'm so excited to show you the three wonderful new sets by Flourishes this week, I'll be showing you something with a new set everyday! This months' releases are all designed around the theme Celebrating Home and will be available Friday night at our first ever release party at the Flourishes SCS Forum .... and also remember our contest to win all three fabulous sets! See the Flourishes Blog for more details:


Today it's all about CELEBRATION, with Yum Cake!






This adorable set called Birthday Celebrations is designed by a new illustrator for Flourishes Lauren Pope...it's full of whimsy and yet still in a Flourishes style! I actually started this card with the paper....this yummy Basic Grey Two Scoops, and also some Urban Prairie. I love the colors and since this is for my niece who LOVES pink....it is very girly! I stamped this great cake in Stazon and watercolored it with pinks and greens. To mirror the gingham in the paper pattern, I wove some ribbon as accent and added pretty felt flowers. The little cupcake has white gel pen sprinkles and a pink cherry brad on top!



CUTE and YUMMY!

Here's a second one I added today with the Sketch Challenge:

Celebrate Cake!


On this card I used Copics to color the cake and cupcakes and then added touches of chunky glitter on Crystal Effects...I love the adorable sparkle it gives. The patterned paper is Basic Grey Urban Prairie...I love the pattern in these sheets with the depth of the black.

Check out all the other samples from the Flourishes girls at the Flourishes Blog....or these other rainbow of fabulous designers blogs...


Cindy Lawrence , Faith Hofrichter , Julie Koerber, Latisha Yoast, Laura Fredrickson , Dee Jackson , Sharon Doolittle , Jan Marie Caruso , Nancy Kirk

Recipe: Yum Cake! Stamps: Flourishes - Birthday Celebrations Ink: Black Stazon, Rose Red Paper: Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi, Watercolor, Basic Grey - Two Scoops and Urban Prairie Accessories: Felt Flowers, Brads, White Gel Pen, Striped Wasabi Ribbon, Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Piercer, Dimensionals, Reinkers



Celebrate Cake: Stamps: Flourishes - Birthday Celebration; Ink: Palette Noir; Paper: Cool Caribbean, Basic Black, Basic Grey Urban Prairie DSP, Pure Luxury White (Gina K); Accessories: Copics, Organdy Ribbon (Flourishes), Brads, Circle Punches, Corner Rounder, Chunky Glitter, Dimensionals

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Urban Thanks

Every other year we take our High School students on a Mission trip to Mexico City. When we go we like to bring things along for the church we work with for the kids and families in the community. When my sister-in-law's Dad heard about what we were doing he said, 'let me send some things along with you'. He owns a wholesale business. He's so generous and you can't imagine how much the Mexican people appreciate it.

But he is now retiring and selling the business, but before he closed the doors he asked my husband to come by again so that he could pick up some things to take along again to Mexico in the summer of '10. Very kind to be thinking of what we do.


So...this is a thank you card for him. Today's color challenge is really nice, and has a masculine feel to it. Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy and Kraft.

I love coloring with white on Kraft, so after I stamped the heart in Not Quite Navy, I colored over it with Prismacolor pencils. I used my BRAND NEW Nestabilities for the frames :) Colored in the bird a little big with my Stampin Write Marker, cut it out and sponged it a bit. A little bit of accents, nothing too feminine.

I may not have a second sample for you today....I have one in my brain...but I also need to do some baking for my stamp club tonight...my Cheesy Chicks are coming over! BUT I will be back every day this week with BRAND NEW releases from Flourishes....you won't want to miss them...or the contest for free stamps see the Flourishes Blog for details!


Recipe: Stamps: Always, Beautiful Borders; Ink: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze Paper: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Urban Garden DSP, Kraft, Whisper White; Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Nestabilities, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Earth Elements Brad, Felt Fusion Too, Wide Baja Ribbon, Piercer.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Lovely Locks

When I was little my mom would never let me grow my hair long. She had heard that fine hair would get thicker if you kept it cut. So I always had short hair. I hated it! And once I got to JH I started growing it. I've cut it short again several times, but even now my hair is pretty long.

So, when we had a little girl....I knew that I wanted her to have LONG hair. All things girly and feminine. So, our daughter has really almost always had quite long hair. She has gorgeous hair too, thick and beautiful shades of blonde. But, despite her mother's opinion she would rather have short hair! (go figure!). She likes the low maintenance of hair that's not so long.

So I made a deal with her. Grow it out for a year and then cut it for Locks of Love. Most of you have probably heard of this great organization...they collect hair and make it into wigs for kids who are Cancer patients (or lose their hair through other medical conditions). Since Cancer has touched our lives very personally with my husband, we really like causes like this.

So....Saturday was the big day. You need at least 10 inches of hair for a donation. Our girl had at least 13. Her hair was about to her waist.

Here is she is before:


And....drumroll please! ....
Here she is after! (also with her glasses on that really need replacing!)....
She's SO cute! I love it and she loves it too. It very much suits her personality. Fun, a little sassy (in a good way), and easy going. She also likes that her earrings show better with short hair too. I mailed her 2 pony-tails off to Locks of Love in Florida today!


I'm proud of her. And she really looks so grown up too! Ok...she can have short hair. I'll just keep mine long thank you :)

Saturday, January 10, 2009

A Taste of Summer

After days and days of absolutely COLD weather...today it was above freezing. What a beautiful respite...one of our sons asked me today how long winter would last...oy...it will be a while, but I'm so ready for spring!

How about those warm days of summer though...when the flowers are blooming!? The Featured stamper challenge this week is Jaydekay....a fabulous gallery full of wonderful coloring and layout.

I wasn't going to stamp tonight, but my husband is away with our HS students on a ski trip, and the kids are in bed, and the dishes are done, and the laundry folded, so I pulled this one together.


Here's a link to HER CARD, I loved this card's use of the sunflowers in non-traditional colors. I don't have that stamp set, but I have a new Sunflower image in my Gina Kay set... I *fake* watercolored it. Inking the stamp directly with SW Markers stamping right on watercolor paper, letting it sit just a bit and then using an aquapainter to blend the ink a little.


Changes: Color, stamp sets, a little on the layout, addition of a sentiment and different ribbon.


Recipe: Gina K's A Year of Flowers, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds; Ink: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip; Paper: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Watercolor; Accessories: SW Markers, Sponge, Wide Grossgrain Ribbon, Circle Punches, Dimensionals

Let's Get Together...Valentine


Three new stamp sets for Flourishes are fresh off the polymer presses and we're happy to say,this release is one that truly celebrates the different occassions that matter to you - a new home, a birthday, big events. Each stamp set definitely has a "Celebrating Home" flavor. How
would you like to win all three of the brand new stamp sets? Visit the Flourishes blog to find out about our "Celebrating Home" challenge! The winner will be revealed on Friday January 16 at our release party chat over at the Splitcoaststampers Flourishes forum!



This card was inspired by our silverware at home. This is the special occasion silverware for guest and special occasions, but wouldn't this be a very *inviting* Invitation to your Sweetheart for a lovely dinner for two?


The card is made from beautiful clear cardstock from Flourishes, and stamped with the flourish from the Siberian Iris set with White Stazon. Because of the way I trimmed it with the Top Note die, it left spaces in the fold where I could fit ribbon through, so I tied these elegant ribbons through it.


I've stamped the place setting from the You Are Invited set, 2 x, coloring the first set with Copics, A silver Zig Painty (for the silverware), and Lumiere (to give the plate and cup the look of fine china). Then I trimmed out the place setting raising up the plate and cup with dimensionals and just gluing down the silverware. Very elegant I think!






So pop on by to the Flourishes blog...you don't want to miss out on winning these new release sets...it's going to be a great week ahead showing them to you! And if you're ever inspired by something I make and want to make a purchase at Flourishes - would you be so kind to put my name christineo (as in lower case o not zero) in the promotion code box when you order? Flourishes gives me a little bonus when you do! Have a great Saturday!


Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes- You are Invited, Siberian Iris; Ink: Black Stazon, White Stazon; Paper: Riding Hood Red, Gina K Pure Luxury Cardstock; Clear Cardstock; Accessories: Decorative Scissors, Coluzzle, Satin Ribbon, White Organdy Ribbon, Zig Painty, Copics, Lumiere

Friday, January 9, 2009

Calendar Inspired Hugs and Wishes

I realized today..sheesh I have a swap due on Tuesday, and all these girls are also coming to my house, and I'm making the food too....I better get on this.
So tonight when we came home I saw the IC challenge was up. Some really cool Japanese designs called Tenugui. I went to their Calendar site HERE, and had an idea for the February calendar:

And here's my design:

If you know me, you know that clean design is not my forte. I really struggle with it. So it took me a while to make my idea feel *right* to me. Red Riding Hood cardstock is scored at 1/2 " on each side. I made some slots for ribbon and tied. Then I used my Birds and Blooms Sizzlit to cut out a whole wack of little white flowers, and then put some up on dimensionals, and some just flat. I didn't like how it looked...almost too simple (see my wacky dilemma - I get very paralyzed by this point). Then inspiration came, my 3/4 inch circle punch and my 1/2 inch circle punch, raised up centers....still simple, but more me.




Whew! Done for Tuesday! Now I have to think about the food and cleaning my workshop room! See ya tomorrow...or later today depending on what time you are in!


Recipe: Stamps: Hugs and Wishes (sentiment); Ink: Riding Hood Red; Paper: Riding Hood Red, Whisper White; Accessories: Big Shot, Sizzlits, Dimensionals, Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon, Slit Punch, Scorer

Hearts and Chocolate

Valentine's cards are fun to make ...I really love making cards in rich reds so today's Limited Supply Challenge was perfect .

Here's the rules: Any Stamps - bonus if hearts
Paper: Any + red
Dies/Folders/Accessories: Heart shapes or red
Designer paper: Hearts or red.

So....with all those rules here's what I came up with:



I was browsing Laurie's blog and saw this great sketch challenge from Stampers' Dream. So I incorporated most of it for the card. The hearts are embossed in clear EP, the solid heart just straight on RHR paper, and the other two with Chocolate Craft Ink and Clear EP on DSP. I've sponged all the layers too, it looks more rich IRL.

I realized after I photographed it that it doesn't have a sentiment....but sometimes the images just convey what you want. Or I can always add it later!

Thanks too for all your kind and generous comments and emails lately...it's been very humbling to me that you keep coming here and I appreciate your compliments and words of encouragment. Just to let you know - I'm really behind on answering my emails, comments and questions. I'm trying to get to them...!

Back tomorrow with some LOVELY flourishy things....and a challenge for you! Free things are on the line!


Recipe: Stamps: Simply Said; Ink: Riding Hood Red, VersaMark, Chocolate Chip Craft; Paper: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red Prints; Accessories: Sponge, Dimensionals, Red Brads, Riding Hood Red Striped Grosgrain, Clear EP, Piercer, Slit Punch