Blogger's Challenge Week #49 - Animals

I didn't realize I was so limited on the stamp sets I owned that have Animals! Florals...yes...TONS...but very little sets that contain animals. I haven't used this Wanted set we got at Convention last year in quite a while, so pulled it out. The horse is subtle, but it IS there!

I started with Western Sky designer paper (I've really been LOVIN' this paper lately!) and pulled the colors Soft Sky, River Rock and Blue Bayou (REALLY going to miss these In-Colors when they go away!). Behind the Blue Bayou WANTED, I stamped off several horses in River Rock to look like they were running. The horse at the bottom follows along the paper pierced track. I used my distressing tool around all of the layers for some added texture. Finally, I added 3 Antique Brass brads along the bottom.

This would be a great card to use for Father's Day! Have a great weekend everyone!

Third time's a charm???

When I sat down yesterday to do Poetic Artistry's Mojo #38 sketch challenge with Mary and Lisa, I had my tin of Die-Cut Blooms sitting out for my class tonight. I thought I would build the card around them. I matched the blooms to some of the Summer Picnic paper, added a Build A Brad for some bling and used my white gel pen around the flower. Getting into the card, I realized that the finish card was deviating too much from the original sketch. I had moved the words, I didn't use the rectangle focal point or the oval...so I set it aside to use as a sample at my class tonight. OK...start over.

I already had the blue Bloomin' Beautiful flower done and sitting in my leftover pile from a previous Ink Wash Technique Class. This technique is in the April/May 2007 issue of Technique Junkies Newsletter! I decided to build the card around that rectangle piece. I love how Night of Navy turns into Almost Amethyst when watercolored, so I matched those two colors together, along with a touch of Always Artichoke green. I also used an oval piece from my Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware and the Almost Amethyst designer prints, along with some white Taffeta ribbon. Cool...happy with how it turned out. Looked at the sketch again to see if I missed anything and saw that a part of the challenge was to use specific colors! Grrrr....

So...now I use the Verve Visual Summertime colors that we were SUPPOSED to use on the challenge (Soft Sky, Cameo Coral or Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Old Olive or Certainly Celery). OK...at this point I should be working on my class samples, so I quickly made up the same card using these Summertime colors. I again used the Ink Wash technique from Technique Junkies Newsletter. I started with the background of Soft Sky. On white I stamped the flower, the Pumpkin Pie watercolored to the So Saffron color. Yeah! Just a hint of the Cameo Coral behind the So Saffron designer prints makes the layers POP! I used the Soft Sky double-stitch ribbon and Antique Brass hardware since those tones seemed to match a little better.

And the best thing? I have 3 birthday cards done! Woohoo!

Canton folks, we are doing this technique next week at our Technique Class, so if you haven't signed up...it isn't too late!!!

Bali Breeze

I've been hoarding the flowers on my Bali Breeze designer paper. I love how big they are, unfortunately you only get 3-4 full ones per sheet...but I know I can use the half ones, too.

I decided to pull out my saved flowers when Mary, Lisa and I worked on a few challenges over the past weekend. This was one of the cards I did using a past MoJo Monday sketch from Poetic Artistry and BLING. Only a small amount of stamping on it. Those designer papers make it EASY to make cards!

The Tempting Turquoise background is stamped with the Twill background stamp (still my favorite!) in Tempting Turquoise and used the ticket corner punch. I cut out the large Bali flower and added an Old Olive and Purely Pomegranate felt flower (Flower Fushion) with yellow Rhinestone brad in the center. The entire flower is popped up with Dimensionals. I first crimped my Old Olive paper, then punched out the leaves with the small oval and placed them under the flower. I also added 3 small pink Rhinestone brads on the left side.

Enjoy! (Anyone have their days mixed up because of the holiday? I feel like it is just Tuesday!)

Liberty for All

I just sold this set this past week to someone who has been looking for it for a long time. I was very undecided whether or not I wanted to let it go. But, I hadn't used it for a couple years, so I decided to sell it so someone else could get some joy from using it.

Sometimes I take cards that I've received in swaps that I especially like and put them with the sets when they retire. This gives me some ideas if I ever pull out that set to use. So, this collage card with the Statue of Liberty was in the case with the set. There is no name on the back, so I'm not really sure who made it (maybe someone on Creative Stamping Friends??) If it is you, let me know...I'd like to give you credit.

The second one I decided to make up quickly to include with the set. I used Ann Clemmer's creative background, but paired it with the Eagle stamp from this set instead of the stars that she used. I also changed up the colors to Night of Navy on Whisper White, instead of Craft White on Night of Navy. I loved how hers looked and I think this turned out pretty nice, too! The larger star is from Sweet Celebrations set and the swirl from Stitched Exotics.

I just want to take the opportunity to thank the men and women who defend our Country and make it a great place to live. Your sacrifices humble me. And, to those family members who are left behind, I can't imagine how hard it is, but I'm very thankful to you, too.

Have a Blessed Memorial Day!

Blogger's Challenge - Red/White/Blue

This week's challenge was to use Red, White and Blue. Now...if I was thinking correctly, I should have waited and posted LAST week's card today! It fit the criteria perfectly! However, during my challenges with Lisa and Mary over the past couple days, I made one that fits both the traditional patriotic holidays AND a necessary "man" card! Lisa and Mary will see that I "tweaked" the sketch a little. I thought the upper left corner was a little empty, so I added the half moon greeting "happy day". My father's birthday is coming up on June 2nd, so I'll save this card for him!

The ONLY stamping on this card is the greeting, the rest are combination designer papers from the Western Sky pack. I also used Ruby Red and Blue Bayou to punch the stars, and added a red Rhinestone brad to the center. Tied some Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon around it (I HOPE they bring back the ribbon in more colors next catalog!)

Enjoy your holiday weekend. We have plans to go to the lake house at least on Sunday...maybe Monday, too. A couple graduation parties to attend, too!

Embrace Life

Last night, before American Idol, Lisa, Mary and I decided to work on some challenges! It had been a LONG while since we'd played! This sketch was one of the challenges, along with the color scheme of Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Mellow Moss and/or River Rock. It was a pretty simple sketch for me...this idea came together pretty easy. Amazingly enough, though, Lisa used the same set and her idea was similar! I can't believe how many times that happens with us...a couple of us will come up with similar end results.

For this one, I used the Twill background stamp with Perfect Plum on the Perfect Plum layer. I watercolored the large flower with markers and the AquaPainter on Watercolor paper. I layered it on two scallop circle punches from River Rock. The center is a 1/2 pearl from the Pretties Kit. I tied River Rock double stitched ribbon around the Perfect Plum layer, too. It has a simple elegance to it, I think!

Well, they challenged some more while I was watching Idol, but I caught up afterwards. So...more coming in the next few days!

Stitched Exotics and Define Your Life

Here is another of the cards I made for Leadership Display Samples. I used the large flower from Stitched Exotics in Purely Pomegranate on Glossy White cardstock. I cut it out, added a Build a Brad using the stripe paper from Cutie Pie in the center. Then used my Cutter Kit to make the curve of the Cutie Pie paper and punched Three for You flowers to cover the seam. I added a touch of White Gel pen to the centers. I wrapped Wild Wasabi Double Stitch ribbon around and tied. Finally, I used "Unique" from Define Your Life. If you don't have that set yet, it really is worth getting. For about $1.83 per stamp, it has a TON of useful sayings.

SO.................who do you think will win tonight? I voted MANY times for David A. I like David Cook, so I wouldn't be REAL disappointed, but I love the pureness of David A's voice. Can you believe he is only 17? Oh my. His life will never be the same, cause you know he'll get a record deal either way. I know I'll buy his CDs. Should be an interesting night! Now...what am I going to watch on Tuesday/Wednesday nights? lol!