Ocean Dreams

Hello everyone, things have been pretty quiet around here. After the mad rush of cards before CHA and the new LOTV release, I had to sit back and take it easy for a while. Major paper crafting overload, my creativity muscle was seriously sprained, lol! Not to mention I finally bought a digital cutter, and me and my Gazelle have been getting acquainted as I experiment doing this and that. I have yet to use it for a paper crafting project, but I'm hoping it will be soon! 

Anyway, here's a card a created a little while back, I used an old favorite image from Stamps Happen. This is a huge stamp, so a 6" card was in order. 

The image was water colored with a combination of SU reinkers and Distress Inks. I've said this before, when I'm working with an image of the beach or any nautical theme, they have to be water colored! They go hand in hand, and I love the soft, blurry way the colors flow over the paper. In order to get a good impression with this kind of a large stamp, I needed the smoothest water color paper I could find. My favorite is the Fabriano Artistico hot press block.

I added a row of seashell peel off stickers that I used the burnished velvet technique on along the bottom of the image. They too were water colored with SU and Tombow markers. 


To complete the sea theme, I created a debossed background paper using a Spellbinders impression plate and brayered over with Old Paper Distress ink. It really brings out the detail of the shell design this way. The striped patterned paper was also stamped using an Impression Obsession cover-a-card stamp, Random Lines. 


Wish I were on the beach right about now....


Thanks for stopping by!

Lili of the Valley Thursday Sketch Challenge # 107

Hello blog friends! We have another sketch this week for our LOTV challenge, a pretty simple one by our very own Domi. 

I decided to go back the the adorable girls from our previous release, 'Maisie Two Balloons'. I never got around to coloring this little cutie, and I knew I wanted to do some paper piecing with some pretty papers. Once again, theses papers are digital. These are from Tracy Ann's Digital Art. Gorgeous papers in that shop!

I colored little Maisie with my Copics, added some shading to the paper piecing too. The little flowers were punched from some EK Success flower punches with Viva Decor Pearl Pen centers. 

I added the scallop border around the oval using a straight edge punch. I punched a long strip of paper, then cut tiny little slits all along the un-punched edge vertically every 1/4" or so. It was simple enough to curve the strip around the oval using this technique. You could add scallops to any shape, lol!


Hope she puts a little smile on your face, thanks for stopping by!

Pretty Pot of Poinsettias

Hello everyone, I want to thank each and everyone of you that left a comment on my 'Christmas Puppy' blog candy last week, you have no idea how much I appreciate all the kind words! I know there are a lot of people who are very concerned when they don't get any or few comments on their blogs or gallery pictures, but I am one of those that totally understands if people choose not to. I know it's hard to leave love for everyone - what will all the beautiful blogs and galleries out there! It would take forever! So I truly do appreciate you taking the time to do so. I must admit I need my ego stroked a little bit now and then, I tend to get a little over critical with my own projects, LOL!

Also congratulations to Theresa P for winning the 'Christmas Puppy' stamp, LOTV will be shipping the winners' prizes out shortly.

Now onto my card. I think this stamp is my favorite of the new release, 'Pretty Poinsettias'. A darling little girl in her fuzzy fur with a big pot of beautiful flowers, what more could you want, right?! 

I used Summertime Designs digital papers again from the Old Fashioned Christmas collection. I print them out exactly 5.75" square so there is almost no waste on a 6" card. Can't beat that!

This image was colored with Copics with my favorite color ever BG72 for her coat. Why is that my favorite color? Because it matches my favorite colors of cardstock, SU's Baja Breeze and PTI's Ocean Tides. Love those dusky blue-greens...


That's all for now, thanks for visiting!


Stamps: Lili of the Valley 'Pretty Poinsettia', Happy Circular sentiments, A5 Verses
Ink: Perfect Match, Distress
Paper: Hammermill color copy, SU
Tools & Accessories: SU twill ribbon, McGill circle punch, Copic sketch/Spica markers, Nestabilities, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, Stickles, PTI button, EK Success tiny scallop edge punch, Tonic corner rounder

Cozy Cabin

Good morning everyone, take a look at this new stamp from Impression Obsession, I love it! I want a little cabin in the woods just like this, lol! 

This image was so easy to color, because there's so much snow. I just added a few shadows with my Copic BG0000 and BG72 and the majority of the coloring was done. The cabin didn't need any shading because it was already incorporated into the design, so just some touches of brown and that was done too. 

While I love coloring, sometimes these easy images are just the ticket to whip out a quick card. 

I added the 'Warm Thoughts' sentiment from IO's Sentiments II clear set to a little label punch out.  The papers are from a We are Memory Keepers paper pad. 

Since most of the country is suffering from blistering temperatures all this week, I hope this card makes you feel a bit 'cooler' ha ha! 

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps: Impression Obsession

Ink: Memento

Paper: Hammermill color copy, PTI, WRMK, Bazzill

Tools & Accessories: McGill Label punch, EK success border punch, Copics, Martha Stewart snowflake punch

Christmas Dancer

Good morning blog friends, I have another card using one of the new Lili of the Valley stamps coming out July 25th. This one is called Christmas Dancer. Isn't she just adorable?!

You might be surprised to find out that all the patterned papers I used on this card were printed out from my computer. I LOVE digital papers. I was wading my way through my stash of real patterned papers, trying to find something for Christmas that I haven't used to death yet, when I remembered a bunch of digital paper kits I had gotten last year. I quickly browsed my computer for some inspiration and came upon this 'Believe' paper kit from Summertime Designs. Beautiful patterns and colors, and want to know the best part? They're free! I am amazed at the generosity of fellow crafters. So in less than 10 minutes, I printed out an assortment of papers and quickly got to work creating this card.

I used my Copics, and a few colored pencils to color this little sweetie pie. Added lots of sparkle with some Atyou Spica pens and glass glittered Martha Stewart snowflakes. The stick pin is from Maya Road, I think. 


I hope you've been enjoying all the peeks at the upcoming release, don't forget to enter for a chance to win 'Christmas Puppy' from my post a few days ago. You have till July 24th.


Thanks for stopping by!

Impression Obsession Sneak Peek Week 2011

Hello again everyone! I've got another card using one of Impression Obsession's newest release and a new to IO artist, Hannah Davies. I LOVE this artist's folk art style. The images and designs are so unique! Wait till you see all the rest of the stuff IO has coming...

I used my new favorite technique, Burnished Velvet for this card. The image was covered with a double sided adhesive sheet tape, Glitter Ritz sprinkled all over it, then burnished it down with my finger. After glittering, I went back with some markers and a water brush and water colored the whole thing. I love the way a little bit of the colors bleed with this technique, it's got a bit of a tie-dye look. 

Make sure you stop by all the other DT member's blogs to get peeks of more new stamps coming to a store near you! 



Jeanne


Jenny
Julie
Daniela
Dina
Laura

If you join in on the challenge, using ONLY IO stamps to make any kind of card you like, you can enter for a chance to win some IO bucks. You're gonna need it when you see all the beautiful stamps coming out! Read all the details on the blog. 


Thanks for visiting!

Lili of the Valley/ Wild Orchid Crafts Christmas in July Blog Party

Hello everyone and welcome to the party! We've partnered with Wild Orchid Crafts to showcase some of the new LOTV Christmas stamps coming out next week July 25th, 2011. Oh you are all in big trouble when you see these beauties, you may as well hand over your wallets, lol! Each stamp is more adorable than the last, and they're coming out nice and early so you have plenty of time to get started on your holiday cards. You can buy one less stamp though, if you enter for a chance to win the stamp I've used for my card. I'll explain everything at the end of my post. 

I've used 'Christmas Puppy' for my card today, colored mostly in pencils but I did use some Copics too. Now that I look at him, I wish I had colored him to look like one of my Springer Spaniels Ollie, he's got that same look on his face that Ollie gets when he's waiting patiently for me to throw his ball. 

How about those gorgeous roses in the swag of greenery? I've resisted buying a ton of these from WOC for a long time because I keep telling myself I have waaaay too many punches that I could use to make my own, but I don't think I can resist any longer, lol. These were actually white, because I couldn't decide which colors I would need for my card, but I actually dyed them with homemade shimmer mist. They're just gorgeous aren't they?

So here's the deal, some of the LOTV design team members will be featured on the WOC blog with more new stamps to show off. Each member of our team will have blog candy on their individual blogs and WOC will have a fantastic prize draw on July 24. So, to enter for a chance to win the stamp I've used today (Christmas Puppy) just leave your name and email address in the Inlinkz widget at the end of my blog. I will draw a winner from the list on July 24th. Only one entry per person please, duplicates will be removed.


Don't forget to leave me a comment too, what do you think about the new Christmas release? Thanks for stopping by and good luck!


Stamps: Lili of the Valley
Paper: Neenah, My Mind's Eye, Stardream, Heavenly White card base
Tools & Accessories: Martha Stewart PATP,/fern punches, Wild Orchid Crafts roses, small leaf spring punch from The Punch Bunch, Copics, Colored pencils, OMS, Stickles, Adirondack dimensional pearls, gingham ribbon, Perfect Pearls, Adirondack reinker, Mini Mister

Impression Obsession Sneak Peak Week

Good morning everyone! Impression Obsession is at CHA in Illinois this week so so for those of us who can't get there can have some fun right in our own homes with our Blog Party. All the designers will be showcasing projects using new stamps being released soon. Want to see the new stamps? Here is a link to the Fall/Winter catalog PDF. There are a few new artists for IO and one of my favorite is Claudia Pearl's designs. Look at this little cutie!

There will be a whole collection of stamps of children for fall and winter, they are so much fun! I was so happy to see these, for regular visitor's of my blog, you know they are my favorite kinds of stamps to create with!

I really dug into my stash of DP for this card, this patterned paper is an oldie but goody from Heidi Grace. One of my favorite papers for Autumn cards. I colored the girl with my Copics to coordinate with it. 
The ribbon is actually off a roll of crochet 'yarn' that I've had forever. I don't even know where I got it, but the colors are gorgeous so I knew I'd find a use for it some day.
The little leaf is a copper colored Class A'peel sticker from Stampendous that I've glittered up using the Burnished Velvet technique and colored with markers/water brush. 


Now head on over to the IO blog for all the rules about the Blog Hop. You can be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate for new stamps at the IO store. In order to qualify, you must leave a comment on each designers Sneak Peek blog post, a comment on the IO blog each day this week. 


Here are a list of the other DT members showcasing new stamps on their blogs today:


Jeanne
Daniela
Dina
Deborah
Julie
Laura

Now let's get hopping!


Stamps: Impression Obsession
Ink: Memento
Paper: Heidi Grace, Stardream, PTI
Tools & Accessories: Stampendous sticker, Glitter Ritz, Tombow/SU markers, water brush, Copics, EK Success tiny scallop edge punch, Sakura Glaze pen, SU oval/scallop oval punches, Crochet yarn

Elegant Wedding Box

We're almost getting to all the celebrations going on this week, lots of fun stuff happening! First, Impression Obsession will be having a week long CHA sneak peek party. LOTS of new stamps (new artists shhh..) The DT will be showcasing them on their individual blogs every day, so hold on to your wallets! Gorgeous stuff is coming!

Also celebrating this week is the joint blog party with Lili of the Valley/Wild Orchid Crafts. Sneek peaks of NEW Christmas stamps coming out soon, so don't miss it! There will be some blog candy to give away so come back and spin that wheel!

OK, enough with the announcements! Onto my project... I did this box quite some time ago and just never got around to posting it. I love it so I thought I'd share it with you this morning. 

It's an explosion box of course, a wedding one done in Ivory and gold. I tried to keep it simple and elegant, not too busy. 

The mums were made using punches from The Punch Bunch with instruction from a Leone Emm Floral Punch Craft book. Kind of a complicated, long process but the end results are just amazingly realistic. 

The mirror gold paper I used is so cool, it catches every little ray of light and shimmers and shines casting reflections all over the place. It drives my dog crazy, lol! 

These boxes are a lot of work, but so rewarding. I wish someone I know would hurry up and get married so I could give it away!

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

Stamps: Gina K, unknown butterfly stamp

Ink: Versamark, SU

Paper: Pearl Linen, Gold Mirror, PTI

Tools & Accessories: SU embossing folder, Spellbinders Labels, The Punch bunch md. and sm. Daisy punches, embossing tool, Martha Stewart leaf sprig punch, satin ribbon, pearl brad, gold EP

Lili of the Valley Pink and Blue Challenge

Hello everyone, it's time for our weekly challenge, but I have some news first. Next week Lili of the Valley and Wild Orchid Crafts will be having a Christmas in July party all week long. Make sure to stop by the Inspire blog for all the details.

Now back to the Thursday challenge...

This week we were creating Pink and Blue projects to inspire you. I was feeling a bit blank for a layout and wanted to try something different so I headed over to the CPS blog for a sketch to follow. This sketch was perfect! I've never done a card with large circles, but I thought it would look really pretty. Now, I realized after I had already committed to this sketch that my Nestabilities were not quite as large as I wanted the background circles to be, so I had a dilemma. I thought about tracing and hand cutting them, but with my cutting skills they would be pretty wonky I was sure, lol! Then I remembered an old tool called the Circle Scissors from EK Success. I dig it out and set to work. NOT the easiest tool to work with, and the cuts were less than perfect so I had to distress all the edges. But, I'm pretty satisfied with them.  

I colored Emma's Swing with my Copics. I made the roses from paper with a MFT rolled rose die and the scalloped trim around the largest circle is actually a straight border punch that I cut little slits in so it could curve around the circle. 

We'd love to have you join in on our challenge, head on over to the LOTV blog for more inspiration from the DT, then create your own card and enter for a chance to win a great prize!


Thanks for peeking in!


Stamps: Lili of the Valley, PTI sentiment
Ink: Memento, Distress
Paper: Memory Box, PTI, Hammermill 
Tools & Accessories: MFT rolled rose die, seam binding, Tonic corner rounder, Copics, Circle Scissors, EK Success edge punch, PTI tiny tag die

Marbled Butterfly

Hello blog friends, sorry for being so quiet lately. With summer CHA coming up I've been furiously working at samples to send in next week. If you happen to be there, stop by the Impression Obsession booth to take a look!

I squeezed in a card that I made just for fun using another one of those Quartz Glass backgrounds I made a while back. I lovelovelove this technique!

This one has one of my favorite color combos, blue-greens and greens. The butterfly is one of those Stampendous Class A'peels stickers in silver this time, done the same way I described in this post. 

Once again, I can't get a really good picture with this horrid little table lamp I'm using, everything comes out sooooo yellow and it seems like no matter how much I play with it in my editing software, it doesn't even come close to being as pretty as IRL. My new Ottlite is supposed to be here Tuesday, crossing my fingers!


There's a lot fun coming up next week, several new releases and some fun stuff going on, so don't go too far! Thanks for stopping by!


Stamps: PTI
Ink: Versamark, Adirondack, Perfect Match
Paper: Acetate, Core'dinations, PTI
Tools & Accessories: PTI dies, Stampendous butterfly sticker, Glitter Ritz, SU markers, water brush, Liquid Glass, satin ribbon, EK Success punch, pearl

Impression Obsession 'Hello' Challenge

This week the IO DT are creating cards just to say hello. This one might not actually say hello, but it's a card for no occasion in particular. Perfect if you just want to drop someone a line, let them know you're thinking of them.

I chose this beautiful 'Spiral Shell' stamp, and once again, I've used the burnished velvet technique. Love it! I used some Tombow markers to add a little color right over the glitter with a water brush. 

The papers are Kaisercraft, some Prima lace, and the Martha Stewart shell border punch and we have the perfect card just to say hello!

The sentiment is 'Find the Beautiful'. 


Check out the rest of the DT's hello cards for more inspiration, then create your own card and enter it for a chance to win some IO bucks!




Jeanne

Jenny 
Julie
Daniela
Dina
Laura


Thanks for stopping by!


P.S.- I have two posts up today, to see the LOTV challenge post see here.

Lili of the Valley Thursday Sketch Challenge 104

Hello everyone! Still no Ottlite, so my pictures are seriously edited and not up to par, please excuse. 

I chose this adorable little pup for my card this week, because he goes perfectly with this sentiment from Inkadinkado. I love it. 

(For those of you looking on the LOTV web site for this stamp, please note that it isn't there BUT will be released this autumn.)

Lots of bright primary colors for this card, the puppy got into some paint buckets! I stamped the background paper with a large spatter pattern stamp from Impression Obsession. I colored directly on it with red, yellow and blue watercolor crayons, then misted it with some water and stamped it on water color paper. 

A couple of embossed pieces of Core'dinations paper (sanded) and a bright yellow ribbon. 

I even added a bit of Liquid Glaze to the paint to make it look 'wet'. So bright and colorful, I'm pretty happy with it!


Thanks for looking!


Stamps: Lili of the Valley, Inkadinkado, Impression Obsession
Ink: Memento
Paper: Water color paper, Hammermill, Core'dinations, Heavenly White card base
Tools & Accessories: Nestabilities, Copics, Sizzix texture plates, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Liquid Glass, Caran d'ache water color crayons, PTI ribbon

Blown Glass Silhouettes

Hello everyone, I hope you're all still with me while I wait for my replacement Ottlite, in the meantime I had to go through extreme measures just to get a half way decent picture of some of my cards! LOTS of editing, lol.

A while back while perusing my favorite place on the web (Splitcoast Stampers) I came across a technique I had not seen before called Blown Glass or 'Quartz Glass'. I instantly fell in love. I love the look of blown glass, dichroic glass, lampwork, etc. etc. Just gorgeous, and this technique totally captured it with no blow torches or red hot melted glass! You can see the tutorial here. 

I immediately got to work creating little panels of gorgeous swirling colors to use in future stamp projects. When they were dry, I tried to think of how to use them on a card, and while browsing my stamp collection I came across PTI's limited edition anniversary set Botanical Silhouettes that had never seen ink yet. I decided to risk ruining one of the panels by stamping directly on it. If it worked, I'd have a gorgeous stamped image, if not, oh well... I had a small stash already and am eager to do more. 

I went for the Stazon ink, because the surface is glossy and non porous. Well, it worked perfectly. The rest of the card is history, I used the same set to create the patterned paper and embossed  the bottom panel. These pictures do not begin to do the Quartz Glass justice, IRL it is stunningly beautiful, just like the real thing. I urge you all to try it.


Hope it inspires you to try something new, thanks for visiting!


Most supplies from Papertrey Ink.