CTS 50: Four Seasons

This is the first time I have inked this stamp up, and I've had it way too long. I'm a bird fanatic and must say this little bird is soOo cute in person. I cannot believe I haven't used him yet, and there are 3 other seasons for me to look forward to using!

Stamps: Four Seasons, Grateful Greetings

Ink: More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Ivory Naturals and Crumb Cake cardstock

Tools: Large scallop punch, 1" circle punch, sponge daubers, 

Extras: 1 1/4" striped grosgrain in Chocolate Chip, orange glitter

I thought this would be the perfect stamp set for this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge. It's not entirely obvious in the picture but I added some random orange glitter to the leaves. Here's a closer view of my birdie...

I sponged the edges of the scallop with chocolate chip. After inking up the stamp in More Mustard, I then dragged my Cajun Craze marker over it randomly. Then colored my bird and branch.

 

Thanks for checking me out! Happy Fall to you!

SUO 81 & CFC 117: Pheasant Love

Although Thanksgiving in Canada has already passed, I think I'm still under the umbrella for the American Thanksgiving! Why is it that I always am more inspired to create cards for an holiday after the fact? Not sure, but I still use that inspiration to push out a few more cards.

I thought this pheasant of mine would make some nice cards that had more of a masculine look, as the SUO challenge this week suggested. I also incorporated some faux stitching in line with the challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays. I was trying to stick to one layer.

(I had also incorporated the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, but missed the deadline, lol...oopss!)

The first of my birds is embossed with not silver but pewter embossing powder. It turns out like a bit of a tarnished silver despite how silvery it looks in the picture below.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Autumn Days

Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso

Paper: Textured Very Vanilla cardstock

Tools: Embossing heat tool, stamp-ma-jig

Extras: Pewter embossing powder

For the card in Crushed Curry cardstock I chose to use a mix of both gold and Early Espresso embossing powders. 

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Autumn Days

Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso

Paper: Crushed Curry cardstock

Tools: Embossing heat tool, stamp-ma-jig

Extras: Gold and Early Esprsso embossing powder

On my last bird I used all gold, and chose to color in my birds feather's in Garden Green and Cajun Craze. As you can see, I ended up distressing the borders and mounting it on Crushed Curry also.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Autumn Days

Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso, Garden Green and Cajun Craze 

Paper: Crushed Curry andTextured Very Vanilla cardstock

Tools: Embossing heat tool, stamp-ma-jig

Extras: Gold embossing powder

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks to the Hand Stamped Sentiments design team for choosing my card in the top 3! 

You must go and check out all the genius designs everybody else came up with:

Click here to check them all out!

Have a great weekend!

SUOC 78: Upcycled Vintage Frame

The SUO Challenge this week is all about ribbons and bows! In moving my craft room's location recently, I found myself going through my stash of embellishments, and  uncovered a lot of reasons to be playing with ribbons and bows.

I found this wooden frame at a thrift store and decorated it with some flowers and other embellishments. It already had a lovely crackle finish, so I only added to and updated the center portion with a whole host of different materials. 

Stamps: Lovely Little Labels, You're a Gem

Ink: Cherry Cobler, Soft Suede

Paper: White Naturals and Ivory Naturals cardstock, corrugated cardboard

Tools: Fun Flowers die, glue gun, mini scallop punch

Extras: mini library clips, vintage trinkets, ribbon sliders, antique brads, other retired hardware, twill tape and natural trim ribbon, corduroy buttons, linen thread, antique tags

I covered the background with an off-white burlap material, and layered the flowers on top. 

This is a project that had been in the back of my mind for awhile but I could never seem to commit to certain colors. I stumbled upon this frame in the second hand store, and found a fun way to re-purpose it with my stash of embellishments.

Oh those Fun Flowers are addictive to play with! So many possible combinations!

Hope you had a great long weekend!

HSSC 167: Vintage Halloween

I really liked the sketch featured at Hand Stamped Sentiments this week, but I seem to have flipped it over on its side and brought the circle on top of the fishtails. Regardless, love the inspiration. I had also browsed through my previous years' Halloween cards and came across This One. I thought I'd try to recreate it with a more vintage feel, some different colors. This is what I came up with...

          

                                             

Ink: Black Stazon, Burgundy, Razzleberry, Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Espresso, Sand 

Paper: River Rock, More Mustard, Espresso cardstock, Watercolor paper, First Edition dsp

Tools: Simply Scored tool, Color spritzer, blender pens

Extras: Pumpkin Pie glitter brad, Victoria crochet trim, pearls, linen thread

Here is the detail I made using the Score It! along the side of the card and then I spritzed it with the color spritzer and River Rock marker. Sorry it's a little blurry, I think it's actually more visible in the above picture :s

Detail of watercolor section...

I think that River Rock, More Mustard and Bravo Burgundy make a great color combo!

Oh how I love those Greeting Card Kids stamp set! I really try to make a new card each year with that little witch atop her pumpkin. Hope you like!

Trio in Cherry

Hello! Oh, where have I been? Well moving is the latest thing...but amidst everything I have been creating here and there. Boy I can't wait until things are settled in! Regardless, I've got a number of projects to share with you. I've seen others taking traditional paper crafting and mixing it with digital scrapbooking, and couldn't wait to try it. Here is one of the projects I've done that falls under the Hybrid umbrella.

                                        

Digital Ink: Lucky Limeade, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso

Paper: Whisper White & Cherry Cobbler cardstock, Christmaslane dsp

Tools: My Digital Studio

Extras: gold brad

Here are some close up details of the Hybrid card...

I find this particular dsp pattern hard to use as a background because it's so busy but it seems to work well here.

Hope you have a good day!

CD release "Time"

A good friend of mine, Aaron Bailey, is a very talented performing artist. He is releasing his new debut CD entitled Time. He needed something a little different than the usual printed invites for special friends and/or media he wished to invite to the CD release performance. So, I tried making up a hand made card for him at his request. 

I used his album cover as a starting point and this is what I came up with...

Stamps: Clockworks, Rough Type

Ink: Versamark, Illuminate pad, Whisper White craft pad

Paper: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, and Black cardstock

Tools: distressor tool, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, heat tool, dimensionals, glue dots

Extras: Cherry Cobbler, Clear, and Silver embossing powders, silver brad

The face of the clock is popped up on dimensionals and distressed. Each letter is punched and distressed, then adhered with a glue dot. The clock itself and the largest gear are embosssed in silver. The clock face is in Whisper White craft ink. The gear with the cross through it is stamped with the new Illuminate pad, the smallest gear is in clear embossing powder.

For the insert, I used a font that matched the old typewriter font on the front of the card. I had some cute packages done up with the card laying atop the CD and wrapped with red ribbon, like a gift for select media persons to receive. Of course, I took pictures of this but cannot find them anywhere!?

Aaron Bailey's CD release performance details:

(insert reads)

You are invited to experience a night

with local artist, Aaron Bailey.

When:

April 7, 2013 from 7:30 to 9:30

Where:

John L. Haar Theatre

10045-156 St. Edmonton, AB

Aaron invites you to experience a live 

performance of his original songs in the 

company of his seven-piece band, 

in honour of his debut album, “Time.”

You may have previously seen Aaron 

perform musical requests at the dueling 

piano bar, The Red Piano, in Edmonton. 

However, on this night, Aaron is excited 

to perform his original material for you!

Come out for a night of instantly catchy

pop-rock songs with melancholy yet

inspiring lyrics that elicit hope, comfort, 

and change.

Hope you can make it! See you there!

Tickets can be purchased at the door or from Tix on the Square