Dots of Hello!

Clever post title, huh?  Well, maybe not.  But that's the best I could come up with!

This has been such a busy week and today was no exception.  After my workout this morning, I hurried to get ready to head out.  My hubby and I accomplished a lot today, though.  And the weather was unusually warm for this time of year, so it was a great day to be out and about.  We even had sunshine.  Gasp!  Yes, I'm whining about the gray winter weather here in the Midwest. :)

Ok, let's get back to paper crafting.  I'm playing along with the ColourQ #273 challenge today.  Here's a look at the challenge colors.

I chose not to use the Christmas theme, but only the colors.  Here is what I created.

If you follow my blog, you may remember THIS card that I created several weeks ago, using this same technique.  It was all inspired by a coffee mug I saw on Pinterest HERE.

I used one tiny dot stamp to create this "hello".  After die cutting the word from a piece of copy paper, I used temporary adhesive to attach the mask to my card panel.  After that it was just lots and lots and lots of stamping, using the challenge colors.  That may seem monotonous, but it really wasn't.  I loved it.  The best part of the process was lifting the hello mask off of the panel to see the results!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supply list ~
card stock: hello honey, calypso coral (SU), white (Recollections)
ink: poppy parade, calypso coral, old olive, hello honey (SU)
stamps: harvest berries (PTI)
die: small hello (SSS)

Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking Magazine Special Thanks! Blog Hop

Hello!!!!  I'm participating in a very special blog hop to say "Thank you" to all of the editors and staff at Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking Magazine.  You should have arrived here from Lori Techler's blog (if you need to jump back just click on the link in her name.)

If you're a paper crafter, you probably know that the final issue of PC and S will be published in February of 2015.  This is such a loss for  us paper crafters, so when I was invited to be a part of this (huge!) blog hop...of course I said YES!  You should see the entire blog roll at the end of this post...that is, if I followed the instructions correctly.  :)


I've been a subscriber of Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking Magazine for many years.  Poring over each issue as soon as it arrived in my mailbox.  But, my most exciting memories of PC and S is when I received those emails from Susan Opel.  The emails that we paper crafters refer to as Happy Mail.  "Congratulations, your card has been accepted for publication!"

When I read that first email from Susan, my jaw actually dropped.  Seriously.  I had to read the message several times before that bit of news really soaked in.  Eeeeeekkkkk!
What is really unbelievable is that the first card I ever submitted for publication, was actually accepted and published.   I only had 2 cards published in PC and S, over the years.  But those are events that I'll never forget.

So...I want to say a HUGE thank you to all of the editors and staff, for years of inspiration, information, ideas, sweepstakes and fun.  Through the opportunities that this magazine gave me, I've met (on line) SO many other paper crafters from all over the world.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for that.

For my Thank You card, I die cut a "thanks" mask from copy paper, then stamped dots of ink over and around the mask.  That tiny dot is the only stamp I used on this card.  One tiny stamp...over and over and over.  Time consuming, but I love the result!
I got the idea for this card from (where else?) Pinterest.  It was on a coffee mug HERE.

Now, click HERE to hop over to Jocelyn Olson's blog!

Supply list ~
card stock: white (Recollections), raspberry ripple, brushed gold (Stampin' Up!)
ink: raspberry ripple (SU), delicata golden glitz (Tsukineko)
stamps: party kit (Mama Elephant)
die: wet paint cuts (Papertrey Ink)
other: copy paper

Walking in a Winter Wonderland - CAS(E) this Sketch #97

Hey, I'm back with one more quick post tonight!  This time I'm playing along with CAS(E) this Sketch #97.  Here's the sketch provided by Sam Simpson.

Here's what I created.

I've been using my distress inks more and more lately.  I love creating scenes and these inks blend so well...perfect for the look I wanted to create.

I die cut the birch trees from a die by Taylored Expressions, then masked off the two sides to create a narrow scene down the center of the card.  Three shades of ink were sponged over the die cut negative spaces to create the sky.  After removing the birch tree die cut piece and masking...there was my sky!  It's always fun to lift away a piece of masking, to see how the inked areas turned out.

To finish the card, I stamped a sentiment in black ink then stamped 3 little Cardinals on the tree branches.   Done!

Thanks for taking a look!

Supply list ~
card stock: white (Recollections)
ink: stormy sky, broken china, faded jeans, fired brick (Ranger distress inks), onyx black (Versafine)
stamps: in the meadow (PTI)
other: birch tree cutting plate (Taylored Expressions)

CMCC No. 9 - With a Grateful Heart

This is my final post as the February Guest Designer at Colour Me...!  It's been so much fun to be a part of this talented team for 4 weeks.  Thank you Tara and Hayley!!!

Hey, it's time to take a look at the colors for this week's challenge...don't you think?

CMCC No. 9

Don't those berries look delicious?  Reminds me of summer...and warmer weather!

Click on a photo to see a larger view.

I used a technique that I haven't used in a while.  Masking and stamping.  I measured, then masked off that diagonal strip with large post-it notes.  I used the challenge colors + crumb cake to stamp my pattern.  It still needed a little something, so I added some sparkle to a few of the flowers with my Stardust Glitter pen.

Every time I use this technique, it's so much fun to pull of the masking and reveal the finished pattern.  It always makes me smile. :)

The 2 lines were done with a SU black marker, then I added the Hello sentiment.  Done.

Thanks, again...to Hayley and Tara!  It's been an honor to join you for the month of February!

Supply list ~
Card stock: basic black (SU), white (PTI)
Ink: bermuda bay, real red, smoky slate, crumb cake (SU), onyx black (Versafine)
Stamps: birds & blooms (PTI)
Other: stardust clear glitter pen (Sakura)

Dynamic Duos Challenge #76 - And the end of a term

This is my final post as a member of the Dynamic Duos design team.  This team's 6 month term has come to it's end.
I've enjoyed working with and getting to know my awesome team mates.  They are an extremely talented group of women and I've learned so much from them.  A big thank you to Lesley for giving me this opportunity!
It's tough to say goodbye, but I'm so excited to see the new team.  I've seen so much talent in the crafters that play along in our weekly challenges.  Will some of you be members of the new team???

Hey, let's move on to this week's challenge, shall we?

Oh...purples.  One of my favorites!   I chose to use this color combo to create a Christmas card.  Not your traditional holiday colors, but I'm really liking it.

This turned out to be one of the quickest cards I've ever made.  I used sticky notes to mask the area over my sentiment, then stamped my snowflakes in Perfect Plum, Wisteria Wonder and Crumb Cake.  After removing the masks, I drew a few lines with a black marker.  The final touch was adding a bit of sparkle, here and there, with a Stardust Clear Glitter pen.  This would be a very easy card to mass produce AND an easy one to mail.

Thanks so much for stopping in.  I know I'll be popping to in play along with some of the DD challenges, so I'll see you there!   If you haven't done so already, become one of my blog followers so that I can visit you too!

Supply list ~
card stock: white (PTI)
stamps: snowflake medley, love lives here:holiday (PTI)
ink: perfect plum, wisteria wonder, crumb cake, basic black (SU), onyx black versafine
other: stardust clear glitter pen (Sakura)

Hello! It's a Lawnscaping Challenge

Hi, I'm back with my second post for today.  This time, to play along with Lawnscaping Challenge No. 63.
This was such a fun challenge, but it took me so long to decide on a theme.  Anyway...take a look at the challenge.

I finally decided to mask a rectangle, then sponge a few clouds in the background.  Then I drew in a line (hmmm, either a telephone line or power line) for my little flock of birds.  I colored them in with my Prismacolor pencils, then stamped my sentiment.  I used a linen textured cardstock, which shows through my colors.  I think it adds so much interest though.  Fun stuff!
I'm so glad you stopped by.  I hope you'll leave a comment!

Supply list ~
Cardstock: linen textured white (Ellen Hutson)
Ink: bashful blue (SU), tuxedo black (Momento)
Stamps: critters in the burbs, critters in the forest, a birdie told me (Lawn Fawn)
Other: rectangle die to create a mask (Spellbinders), Prismacolor pencils

A One Layer Christmas Card

Hi, just a quick post to share a one-layer card that I made yesterday.  I wanted to experiment with stamping- off multiple times from one inking.  I'm adding this card to Jackie Rockwell's one-layer holiday card challenge #1.

I cut a "slope" from a piece of scrap card stock to use as a mask for my sledding hill.  Then, I sponged the sky with Bashful Blue ink (SU).  I inked the little sledding stamp with Midnite Muse ink(SU), stamping multiple times without re-inking.  I'm pleased with the results!  I added stamped some stars and a sentiment (PTI) and I was done.  I'm now thinking that I should have placed the sentiment a little higher, it seems a little lost...hmmm.  Too late now, huh?

Thanks for taking a look!

Thank You - and a Lily Pad Challenge

Hello!  It feels like a long time since I've posted, even though it's only been a week.  I usually only have the time to create and post on the weekends, since I work full time.  But watch out when I retire!  Um...that's still a few years away, though :)

Anyway.  I'm playing along in the Purple Onion Designs Presents Kathy's Lily Pad Palette Challenge.
Kathy's colors are so pretty.

This is what I created.

I masked the blooms before stamping the leaves, so that it would appear that the leaves are behind them.  Well, hopefully it does!  I used Creamy Caramel ink for the leaves.  But, on my first try, that color was too strong.  So I started over and stamped off onto scratch paper before stamping the image on my card panel.  Much better!  The matted panel is attached with dimensional adhesive to give it a little lift.  The sentiment is stamped in Early Espresso.
Well...that's it from me today.  It's been a very busy weekend, so only 1 card to post.  It looks like all of our March weekends are filling up, so you might not hear much from me this month.  But I'll try!
Thanks for taking a look,

What's in it?

card stock: stampers select white (PTI), whisper white, crumb cake (SU)

ink: pink pirouette, crumb cake, creamy caramel, early espresso (SU)

stamps: rosie posie, think big favorites (PTI)

other: kraft satin ribbon (PTI)

Peace on Earth

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Yes, I'm forcing myself to get back into Christmas card making.  Don't get me wrong.  I love creating Christmas cards.  It's just a little difficult to think about the holidays when the weather is so hot and humid.  Heat, humidity and bugs.

Ah well. I digress.
I saw a card on Pinterest last night, that used heat embossing followed by sponging.  It was a floral theme, but I thought it would work with snowflakes, just as well.  THIS is the card on Pinterest, that inspired my card.

My card:

I heat embossed the entire front of the card with white EP.  Then masked the area to be sponged.  I used 3 shades of blue, in different areas - varying the intensity of color.  Then I stamped my earth ornament and sentiment after removing the mask.  Since the surface was uneven, I filled in any "missing" areas with a black stampin' write marker.  I added a tiny ribbon bow at the top of the ornament.
This will be an easy card to mail, since the only embellishment is the bow.
Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

card stock: stamper's select white (PTI)

stamps: peaceful season, serene snowflakes (SU)

ink: bashful blue, marina mist, pacific point (SU), onyx black (Versafine)

other: winter white EP (SU), black ribbon (Offray)