My Funny Valentine with Blockheads

Hello Everyone!
Today, I have a funny Valentine to share with you.  I used one of The Ghastlie Gang stamps (by Di) from Blockheads Paper Arts.


Stacey( owner of Blockheads) has been sharing some amazing tutorials on using Studio Paints from Ranger in the Blockheads Newsletter.  I was inspired by the tutorials to use the Studio Paints for the background on this card.

Materials List:

Ghastlie Gang Stamp Set

Tuxedo Black dye ink from Memento

CS: Solar White from Neenah, purple, and lavender

Spellbinders Dies:

    Standard Circles Small

    Classic Scalloped  Hearts

Pearls from Kaiser Craft

Copic Markers

Studio Paints:

   Dash of Red

   Clear Canvas (White)

   Smidge of Blue

Studio Paints Gesso

Studio Paints Brushes

**All linked items available from Blockheads Paper Arts.

I  will start with the main image.  The Ghastlie Gang character is stamped with Tuxedo Black dye ink.  Color the image with Copic Markers.  Cut out the image with a heart shaped die.  Cut a circle from the lavender cs with a circle die.

Make a card base from purple CS and layer with lavender CS.  To make the painted background piece:
Start white CS and cover it Gesso using a brush.  Let this dry.

When dry, spray a tiny bit of water on the CS.  Paint on a layer of the Dash of Red Paint with the large brush.

While the red paint is still wet, pick up more red paint and using a wiggle motion pull the paint downwards.

Do this across the whole area of the painted white CS.  Mix the Dash of Red with Smidge of Blue to make purple.

While the red paint on the CS is still wet, pick up some of the purple and pull the paint across the CS in horizontal direction.

Do the same thing with the Blank Canvas (white) paint.  Wipe the brush clean each time before picking up more of the white paint.  You don't want to mix in the other colors with the white.

Let dry.

Now just put all the layers together.  Add some pearls and some ribbon.  And, you are done.

Okay, that was a lot of info.  Let me know if you have any questions.   It really is easy to create the backgrounds...after reading the tutorials!  LOL   Oh boy, this is fun!!  Don't forget the new Blockheads Technique Challenge is open.  The technique is Chalk Attraction.
Have a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Valentine Digi Card

Back again!!

Another post today!  This is another Valentine's Day card that is going out to a fiend.  I used a cute little bear from Meljens Designs.  

I printed the digi out and colored it with Copic markers.  I used dimensional squares to  add the little bear to a lavender card base (Stampin' Up) and DP  (GCD Studios).  

And here is a peek at the inside.  The sentiment and small heart  are from My Sentiments Exactly.

Challenges for Heart Cookie Bear

Meljens Challenge: Hearts and a Meljens image
I Copic Lover: red love
Craft Your Passion: use a bear
Paper Makeup: digi and valentine
Crafty Pad: Valentines
Simon Says stamp: Anything goes

Okay, now that really is all for me today!  Have a fun day!  Love ya.
Karen

Chalk Attraction Technique Blog Hop Challenge with Blockheads

Hello again!
It is time for the new Technique Challenge with Blockheads!!   The new challenge is to use the Technique that Design Team Member, Leigh,  calls  Chalk Attraction.  See Leigh's card and more details HERE.
The challenge/blog hop runs thru Feb 21st.  The Design Team will pick one winner to receive a $25 gift certificate to Blockheads Paper Arts.

I used the Romeo and Juliet stamp from the Grunge Collages Set  It is also available as individual stamp.

I was very pleasantly surprised at how my Chalk project turned out.  I was afraid I would end up with a chalky mess.  But, I followed the Tutorial and my image turned out great!!

Materials List:

Stamps: Grunge Collages; Sentiment from Flowers-Daisies

Ink: VersaMark

Chalks

Cardstock: White, pink, blue. brown

Pearls

Ribbon

Dabbers 

Orange Bag (in photo below)

Brush (in photo below)

Stamp the main image with VersaMark ink and apply the chalk as shown in the tutorial.  I wanted to use the technique for my background too.  I used an usual item to make the background; an orange bag.  You know, the mesh type bag that the fruit comes in (shown above).

I laid  a piece of the bag on pink CS.  I pounched the VersaMark pad over the bag as shown in the photo below.

I used the large brush in the photo above to add the chalk to the background piece.  I came back with the dabbers to add more chalk in some spots to add darker coloring.  Here is a close up of the main image.

To Take our Challenge: Visit Blockheads' Chalk AttractionTechnique Page to see Leigh Snaith Brunton's steps for creating a card with VersaMark ink and chalks.  Then create your own out-of-the-box creation, create a blog post that includes the link code, which creates links to other participants, then submit your URL by clicking the button below.  Links will be removed that don't include the code.
Join the blog hop with your example by February 21st for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate.  Winner is selected by our design team.  Design team members and guest designers are not eligible to win.
Code to Paste into the html code of your blog post:

Have fun with this Technique Challenge!!  Have a great day!!  Love ya.

Karen

Love Notes from The Stampsmith

Hello and Happy Monday!
I am still working on Valentines's Day cards!  I have two cards to share today that I made with The Stampsmith's set called Love Notes Valentines.  This is the whole set.

I stamped with Archival Ink from Ranger on glossy white CS.  I found that this ink is really great for photo stamps.  I picked up a couple pads from Blockheads Paper Arts.  The ink on the first card is Coffee.

I added some Vintage Photo and Tattered roses Distress ink.  The sentiment is also from The Stampsmith's set called Paris.  Her is a close up.  I also stamped the hearts across the top.

And, the inside looks like this.  I stamped the hearts again and a Sentiment from My Sentiments Exactly.

The second card was stamped with Sienna Archival Ink. from Ranger.   I used some papers from K & Company.

I added Vintage Photo Distress ink to the image and one layer of the dp which was dry embossed.  This sentiment is also from the Paris set.   Here is a close up.

Stayed tuned for more cards made with this set!!  Follow me to see them all.   

Hope you had a great weekend.  Love ya!

Karen

Who's Your Valentine?

Hello!
Here we go again with more of the Valentine's Day Cards I made for St. Jude.   I used the Stampin' Up Owl punch for all of these cards.  I used lots of different DP's, die cuts, and embossing folders too.

There are still more cards to come.  Stayed tuned tomorrow for another batch of Owl Punch cards.   I hope you are not tired of Valentine's yet!  I share some baby cards after Valentine's Day.  Have a great weekend! Love ya.
Karen

Valentine's Day Bunnies

Hi Everyone!
More Valentine's Day Cards for St Jude.  The first and second bunny is made with a digital  image from Sweet N'  Sassy stamps.

This cute little bunny is a digital image from The Prairie Fairy.

Challenges:
CardMad Fairy: Ribbons and bows
Card Making Mamas: something old - the dp on the last card is about 2 years old.
Simon Say Stamp: anything goes

I will have lots of Valentine's Day cards  over the next couple weeks.   I will post all the cards I made for St Jude and the ones I made for my friends and family.  Tomorrow I will have a bunch of Owl Valentine's made with the Stampin' Up Owl Punch.  See you then!   I hope you are having a great day!!   Love ya.
Karen

More Valentine's Day Cards for St. Jude

Hi Everyone,

I have a few more of the Valentine's Day cards that I sent to Winter for her St. Jude Card drive.    I used some fun digital images for the cards.  The first card is made with a sweet owl image from Michelle Perkett.  

The image is colored with markers and I used some dry embossing folders to add texture.  

This image is also colored with markers.   The heart is cut with a Spellbinders die.   The next card is made with a cute little bird image from the Doodle Pantry.  I used markers to color.  

The sentiments on this card are from My Sentiments Exactly.  Pretty cool that the sentiments rhyme!  I'm a poet and don't know it.  LOL  Here is a peek at the inside.

Challenges for my Children's Valentine's Day Cards:
Simon Says Stamp: Anything goes
Aud Sentiments: use the word love
Crafty Purple Frog: Valentine's
Craft Us Crazy: Valentine's
Digi Doodles: Anything goes
DRS Designs: Valentine's
Cooking it Up with Katie: Recipe: hearts, punches, embossing

Hope you are having a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Vintage Valentine's Day Card with The Stampsmith

Hello All,
Are you getting any Valentine's Day cards  made?  I finished up all the cards for St. Jude's (see Winter's post here).  So, now I am on to Valentine's for my friends and family.  I decided to go romantic for some of my cards.  And what better stamps to use when you want romance than The Stampsmith??!!  I used two different sets to make this card:  Belinda and Friends; Love Notes Valentine.

I choose my color scheme from the ribbon.  I picked out the reds and blues from the ribbon.  CS: Cherry Cobbler(SU) and Blues are from Bazzill.    The images are stamped on glossy white CS.  I found another ink that works great for The Stampsmith's photos!!!!  It is Ranger's Archival Ink!!  I picked up a couple pads from Blockheads Paper Arts.   I used Coffee on this card.

I stamped the "love" image and cut out the hearts.  They are layered on blue CS.    I added a great big bow with this fabulous ribbon.

Vintage Valentine is also entered in:
Simon Says Stamp: Anything goes

Hope you are having a super fun day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Blockheads Give-a-Way

Hello Everyone!
Blockheads Paper Arts is  having a give-a-way tonight starting at 9:00pm.  Just click over to the Blockheads blog for all the details.

Go to the Give-a-Way post.  Just  Like Blockheads  on Facebook.  Click on the Like button and that's it!  You will be entered in a drawing to win your choice of  4x5 cling stamp set or a 8x5 untirmmed rubber stamp set.  
One set will be drawn for every 15 people that Like Blockheads Paper Arts.
And, since you are here, I decided to post  two photos of a card I made using two of the sets that could be chosen for your prize.  Vintage Portraits and Verses-Special Delivery

I stamped a simple sentiment on the inside:

 The stamping is done with Kaleidacolor Ink Pads.  And, they are on sale right now at Blockheads Paper Arts.   Have a great weekend!!  Love ya.
Karen

Honey Bee Note Card Set with Blockheads Stamps

Hello Everyone,

Check out the new Blockheads Design Team here.

Today, I have a mini note card set made with the set ATC-Honey Bee from Blockheads Stamps.

I found that this is a really versatile set.  I just wanted to keep stamping and stamping.  You know how I get carried away!!  I completed three cards with some of my stamped pieces.    Here is the first card.           Size: 3 1/2" x 51/2"

Materials List:

ATC Set -Honey Bee from Blockheads

Inks:

   Oregano Adirondack from Ranger

   Butterscotch Adirondack from Ranger

   Raisin Adirondack from Ranger

   Tea Dye Distress Ink from Ranger

   Victorian Velvet Distress Ink from Ranger

Butterscotch Adirondack Marker 

Cardstock: yellow, brown, olive green, white, wine, and peach

The clover flower is stamped by inking the flower with Butterscotch, the stem and leaves with Oregano, and the tips of the petals with Raisin.  It is stamped on a pale yellow CS.  I added  Tea Dye distress ink around the bottom of the flowers.  Add some layers and the same yellow CS for the  card's base.  Here is a detail

And, take a peek at the inside.  The sentiment is from the Verses-Feel Better Set.

Card number two uses the bee and honey comb image.  Wouldn't this be a cute Valentine's Day Card???!!!!   I inked the honey comb with Raisin ink and the Bee with  a Butterscotch Adirondack Marker.  I stamped on White CS.  Size: 5" x 3 3/4".

The sentiment is stamped with Raisin and Butterscotch.  "Bee" is cut out added to the card top.   Again, I added Tea Dye DI.    The last card uses the honey comb image.  But this time I stamped the large flower with Raisin ink; cut it out and added it to the card front.  Size: 4 1/2" x 3 1/4".   This Sentiment is from the Verses-Feel Better Set.

Here is a close up.  The shading is added with Victorian Velvet Distress ink.

Challenges:
City Crafter: Decorate the inside too.
Creative Card Crew: Red
Sparkles Forum: use your new stuff-The stamp sets and the Adirondack  inks are all new.
Shelly's Images: Anything goes
4 Crafty Chicks: Summer in January

Whoa!  The power went out in the middle of writing this post.  Of course it was the coldest day of the year.  Got pretty cold in the house without any heat.  We got a big fire going in the fireplace and that took the edge off the chill.  The power came back  on around 1am.  So, I am up and running again!! Yea!  Finally took down the Christmas decorations yesterday.  I still have to pack up a few things, but other than that I am all done with that job.  I put out all Spring colors (pillows, table lines, etc....)  I am ready for Spring already.  LOL  Well, guess that's all for now.  Love ya.
Karen

Valentine's Day Cards for St. Judes

Hi Everyone!
Winter over at Winter Wonderland Crafter is hosting a card drive for St Judes and other Children's Hospitals.  Checkout all the details on Winter's Post.  Winter is asking for Valentine's Day cards for children of all ages.  I have 27 cards made so far.  I will be posting them in small groups.  Today's cards were made using digis from Meljen's Designs.

I used the Out of the Box Technique (Blockheads Technique Challenge open for a few more days!)  The dandelion peeks out over the Spellbinders die.  I colored the image with watercolor pencils.  Here is a detail photo.

I made several cards with this image.  Here is another!

And the last card for today also uses a Meljen digi that was colored with markers.  The sentiment is from a retired Stampin' Up set.

This is what the inside looks like.  The sentiments are from My Sentiments Exactly and Hero Arts.

My Valentine's Day cards are entered in the following fun Challenges:
Meljen's: Anything goes
Incy Wincy: Bold and Bright
Lexi's Creations: Anything goes
The Pink Elephant: Favorite color-RED
Pile it On: fuzzy friends


Stayed turned for more Valentine's Day cards!!  I have some bunnies for the next post.  Have a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Template Tutorial And Lost Coast Design Stamps

Hi Everyone,
I have a tutorial today showing one way to use a Template made by Crafters Workshop.  This template is called Mini Harlequin and is available from Blockhead Paper Arts. 



I used stamps from Lost Coast Designs---Which are also available at Blockheads Paper Arts.  Blockheads carries a nice selection of Lost Coast Design's stamps.      

Here is the project we will make today.

Materials List:
Praying Angel Stamp available at Blockheads Paper Arts
Mini Harlequin Crafters Workshop Template
Ink: Coffee Archival Ink from Ranger
       Vintage Photo Distress Ink from Ranger
 Ink Sprays: Plum and Gold
CS: Black, Wine, and Kraft
Gold Brads
Gold Ribbon  

Start by cutting a piece of Kraft CS.  Layer the template over the CS and spray with the glimmer spray or spray type ink.

Pull up the template.  DON'T clean the template off yet!!  I found that if you flip the template over, you can get a reverse image and don't waste all that ink you have sprayed on the template.  

Press the template into the card stock inked side down.  And, you get this really cool reverse image!!  How cool is that!!??

Now let's finish up the card.  Trim the Kraft CS and stamp the Praying Angel with Coffee Archival Ink.  Stamp a second image on Kraft CS.

Cut out the angel on the second stamped image.  Layer the angel onto the original image.  Distress the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Layer onto some black and wine CS.  Make a card base from Kraft CS.  Add some ribbon and gold brads.  

Here is another example that was made using Terra Cotta Walnut Ink Spray.

And it looks like this:

I used the above reverse image on this card:

Stamps: Steampunk Pony and Buttons Border

I also used a left over piece.  Don't want to waste any.  LOL

And here is the card I made with the left over.

Stamps: Dress Form and Buttons Border

These Templates are a lot of fun.  I now have a  whole stack of backgrounds are ready to be made into cards.  And how about some fun Challenges for my cards??!!

Play Date Cafe: Burgundy, Wine, and Gold colors
Shelly's Images: Roll with it.  My numbers-7-ink, mist; 2-Ribbon; 4-Kraft
Rainbow Lady: Many faces of women
Blogger's Challenge/Lisa Somerville: Wings
Stampin' for the weekend: Out with the old-I have had those gold brads for 2 years.
Artistic stamper: Vintage

Well, that was fun!!  I think that is enough for today.  Have a super great day!!  Love ya.
Karen