Monday, April 29, 2013

Beautiful Baby Boy Card with Baby Buds

Hello Dreamers!
Happy Monday!  LOL.  Oh, let's get all cutesy today here in Dreamland!  This was a special order card I made for my friend.  This cute image is a Baby Bud Design.
I added a piece of the DP to cutesy up the envelope too.





The image was Stamped with black dye in and colored with Copic Markers. 





The letters are from My Sentiments Exactly and are stamped on yellow CS.    I added a baby blue bow and some buttons wheels on the carriage.  





I decorated the inside too and left a little room for a little note.  This sentiment is from Blue Ridge Impressions.  


Inside



---------******--------
I would like to enter this Baby Boy card int the
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything goes.
365 Cards: Word Wednesday--Soft
Cutie Pie Challenge: lots of layers
Sweet Stampin: anything but birthday


Well, that's it for my today.  There is a big pile of ironing here that is eyeballing me reproachfully.  So, see you on the First for a new Stampsmith Challenge!!  Love ya.
Karen

Friday, April 26, 2013

Glamorous Girlie Birthday Card

Hi Dreamers,
I am back today with a 16th Birthday Card that is totally GLAM!!!  I used a stamp from Hero Arts for the main image.  I totally glam-ed up both sides of the envelope!




I added a strip of double sided tape to the envelope embellishment.  When the envelope is ready  to be sealed, the sender just has to pull off the paper liner and the embellishment will stick down.   I added a piece of the DP to the front of the envelope.




This card is for a 16 year old that loves to sing.  So, I stamped the music background and added the number 16.  I used a corner rounder on all the pieces.





The main image - Hero Arts- is stamped with black ink and color is added  with the distress inks Tumbled Glass and Crushed Olive.    I gathered the tails of a big turquoise ribbon bow and added some tiny turquoise pearls for embellishments.







The sentiments are all from Gina K Designs.   Here is a look at the inside.




How about a few fun Challenges!!
Simon Says stamp: anything goes
Crafting by Design: anything goes.
Aud Sentiments: birthday

I have lots planned for the weekend.  My brother's birthday is Saturday.  I made him a really cool masculine card.  I will share that with you on Monday.  If I have a spare hour, I will get something posted here for you to look at.  LOL  I have to make a Steampunk card and get it out  in the mail tomorrow!! Yikes, I better get busy!!  I hope you have a great weekend.  Love ya.
Karen

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Funny Face Memory Page with Grungeboard

Hi Dreamers!
How is your week going?  Well, I hope!  Today's project is a fun memory page I made using Grungeboard Letters and shapes.  All of the designers at the Blockheads Design blog have been showcasing Grungeboard all month.  I had this great big letter "k" and was trying to think what I should make with it.  I decided on a memory page with of photo of myself (much younger of course).  I keep paper pads with watercolor paper or mixed media paper.  And, sometimes when I have all my supplies out, I make a background on the pages.  Then I have these nice pages to play with.  This is one of those pages in the watercolor paper pad.




Materials List:
Stamps: Swirls from Whimsical - Take Flight Blockheads stamps
Inks: Forest Moss and Faded Jeans Distress Inks
Royal Satin Kaleidacolor Pad-Green 
Grungeboard Letters and Shapes
Mini Harlequin Crafters Workshop Template
Spray Inks
Teal Ribbon
Photo
Watercolor Paper pad
Brown Sharpie Marker





Instructions:

  • Make the background with the Crafters Workshop template and spray inks on watercolor paper.  I did a tutorial on this quite a while ago
  • Add the stamping--stamp with the distress inks and the green on the Kaleidacolor pad.
  • Distress the edges with all three inks.






  • Paint the Grungeboard letters with Gesso, white paint, or Picket Fence Distress Stain.  Just something to put a base coat on the Grungeboard.  I used Gesso  
  • Let dry
  • Apply the Distress inks to the Grungeboard pieces
  • Using a Brown Sharpie marker, outline the edges of the letters.
  • Glue the large "K" to the page.








  • Layer the photo with Navy, Tan, and dark Green CS and add to page
  • Arrange the smaller letters on the circles and glue to the page.





  • Add a big bow with teal ribbon.


Such a fun project!  I think I will make more of these with other people!


Challenges for my Memory Page:
Simon Says Stamp and show: any color medium
Fashionable Stamping: sentimental
Art With No Boundaries: show your art
Crafting by Design: oh baby
Crafty Creations: no decorative papers


Well, I guess that is it for me today.  I will be back with a Glamours Girly  Birthday Card.  Stay tuned for that!!  See you soon.  Love ya.
Karen

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Bird in a Field of Flowers

Hi Dreamers!
I have a bit a free time this morning and thought you would like to see this cute card I made with a really cool stamp from Magenta called Bird in Flowers.  I used a couple different coloring techniques, some hand sewing, and fussy cutting on this project.  Take a look.




  • Cover the stamp with a green and rust ink.  Then Stamp on white CS.
  • Distress with Frayed Burlap and Spiced Marmalade ink.
  • Ink the stamp with markers and  stamp a second and third image on White CS.  





  • Fussy cut the bird from one of the stamped images and the wing from the third.  
  • Distress with distress inks (listed above)
  • Layer onto the first stamped image.







  • To make the ribbon sewn piece: pierce zig zag DP ( from My Mind's Eye) with a piercing tool
  • Thread 1/8" ribbon in a large eyed needle
  • Sew the ribbon into the holes one color at a time;  tie off the ends
  • Tie an extra bow for the corner of the card
  • Add a few rhinestones





  • Add a fussy cut flower from one of the marker stamped pieces.
  • Stamp a pretty sentiment (My Sentiments Exactly)

Isn't this sweet!?  I would like to enter my Bird in a field of flowers in
*****The Magenta Challenge: fussy cutting and sewing


Well, I think I will go and throw in another load of laundry.  My life is so exciting!  LOL  It is too cold to work in the yard today.  Tomorrow is supposed to be a really nice Spring day!  I need a tall shelf for my studio.  I think I will head out tomorrow and look around for something.   I hope your weekend is just lovely! 
 I will be working on something made with Grungeboard for Tuesday.  See you then!!! Love ya.
Karen

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Pink Steampunk Tag

Hi Dreamers!
Happy Saturday!  I hope your weekend is going along nicely.  I am having a nice relaxing day.  I worked on some submissions this afternoon and was really happy to get those finished.  And, now I want to share a fun project.  I made this pink Steampunk tag using a stamp from Third Coast Rubber, a sentiment from Stampland, and gear face from Artistic Outpost.






I made a watercolored background on the tag and stamped the Anthropomorphic character.  



I added lots of extras.  Including some Piccolo enamels around the edges, a few eyelets with wire, and some gears.








On the top, I stamped a sentiment and added some ribbon and wire.






**This Pink Steampunk tag is entered in the Third Coast Rubber stamps challenge #15: Spring Steampunk.
And, the April Texture Challenge at The Artistic Stamper

Well,  I think I will go and do some relaxing.  I have a cute bird card already and will share that with you in the next few days.  So, stop back for that!  I hope you continue to enjoy the weekend.  See you soon.  Love ya.
Karen

Friday, April 19, 2013

Paris in the Spring with Stampsmith stamps

Hi Dreamers!
Oh, we are back to rainy weather, so no work in the garden today.  Perfect time to get in some blogging and share a Spring theme card.  I made this card with an Eiffel Tower stamp from  Paris Full Sheet by The Stampsmith.   




  • The image was stamped with Blue Breeze Kaleidacolor Pad from Tsukineko on white glossy CS.  
  • Go over the image with Versa Mark ink and add UTTE; heat emboss.
  • Add to a Navy card base layered with DP from DCWV





  • Die cut birds.  I used a die from A Muse Studios and a pale blue CS
I love the high gloss that you get with the UTTE.  Reminds me of my decoupaging days!  LOL.







  • Add a blue bow and a few blue rhinestones for embellishments





Just a reminder that the Stampsmith Challenge is still open and runs thru the end of the month.  The theme for April is Black/white with a pop of color.  There a $21 gift certificate up for grabs!!  

Challenges for my  Paris in the Spring card!
Simon Says Stamp: travel or city scape
365 Cards: Spring


Well, let's see what do I have for you next?  How about a funky Pink Steampunk tag?!  Sounds crazy doesn't it?  I will be back next time with that--so see you then!  Hope your day is filled with good things.  Love ya.
Karen

Thursday, April 18, 2013

I Have My Eye on You with Lost Coast Designs


Hi Dreamers!
I am back with a really fun image from Lost Coast Designs called Face with Butterfly.  I made two pretty different cards with this stamp.  On the first card, I also stamped the Iron Works Border repeatedly on a background of brown packing paper.  On the second I stamped on white tissue paper.  As you can tell, I don't throw out all those interesting papers that come with shipped orders.  LOL  (I purchased all my inks and Markers from Blockheads Paper Arts.)





  • Start by making a card base from Kraft CS and layering with  a bright green CS.
  • On brown packing paper---the kind that is used to cushion items during shipping----stamp the Iron Works border stamp with Rich Cocoa Memento ink repeatedly.






  • Stamp the Face With Butterfly with Tuxedo Black Memento ink.
  • Color some of the stamped areas with Distress Markers by Ranger.




  • Crumple the stamped brown paper and add some Tumbled Glass Distress ink.
  • Add to card
  • Tie a knot in a piece of ribbon and hand gather the tails.






The second card is a bit different from the first card. On this card, I stamped on white tissue paper.  







  • Make a card base from Blue CS and layer with wine CS






  • On a piece of white CS, stamp the Face with Tuxedo Black Memento ink
  • Color this image with Copic Markers using bold colors.  Don't bother to do any shadowing and shading.
  • On  a piece of white Tissue Paper, stamp the face again.
  • Position the Tissue paper over the stamped and colored image matching up the images exactly.
  • Wrap the edges of the tissue paper around the white CS and glue.





Love this soft effect that results from overlaying with the stamped tissue paper!!

I would like to enter my Face With Butterfly card #1 in the Simon Says  Stamp and Show challenge:
Use a background stamp in an interesting way  or use a stamp to create a background.----------
I used a border stamp to create an interesting background.

The weather is beautiful here in good old Michigan today!! Already 70 degrees F!!!  So I am going to head outside and get a bit of work done in the garden.  Lots of old dead stuff to cut down.  Doesn't that sound like fun!!??  Sure!   I will be back later this week with a Spring in Paris card made with Stampsmith stamps.  OHHH!  That will be fun!!
I hope you are having a great day in your little corner of the world.   Love ya.
Karen

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Dreamy Blue Lady with Lynne Perrella and Blockhead Stamps

Hi Dreamers!
Missed you!  I was a bit busy over the weekend.  Spent a great day with my dear friend, Laurie.  Spent the day catching up and having a nice day!  So, now I am back and ready to get some blogging done.  Let's get all dreamy here in Dreamland today.  I have used a Lynne Perrella (Paper Artsy) stamp set that is available in the USA from Blockheads Paper Arts!




Materials List:
Stamps:
Pacific Queen Paper Artsy
Dream Sentiment-Verses Full Sheet from Blockheads
Ink:
Tuxedo Black Memento; Faded Denim  and Spun Sugar Distress; Blue Pigment
Distress Stains: Faded Denim 
Clear Embossing Powder
Black Bakers Twine
CS: blue, white and black





Instructions:

  • Make a card  from blue CS and layer with black CS
  • On white CS, stamp the Lady with blue pigment ink and heat emboss with clear powder
  • Swipe the Distress Stain along the edges of the stamped piece
  • Add a little Spun Sugar Distress ink to the cheeks.  I just used my finger to apply the ink.







  • On White CS, stamp the banner from the Pacific Queen set with Tuxedo Black ink
  • Cut out the border
  • Stamp the word Dream with Faded Denim Distress ink on white CS and cut out in the shape of a banner flag; distress with the same ink
  • Add the banner to the card with dimensional adhesive
  • Glue a piece of bakers twine onto the banner
  • Stamp sun with Tuxedo Black ink and add with dimensional adhesive







I went a bit crazy on the inside of the card!  I think I can still write a short note if I use a black pen.  LOL


  • Stamp the Lady with Faded Denim stamping off once;  apply the Faded Denim to the edges.  
  • Stamp the suns with Tuxedo Black ink stamping off once
  • Layer with Black CS

Inside



Love these Lynne Perrella images!!  Check out the rest of the stamps on the set!  Just so cool!

I would like to enter my Dreamy Banner Lady in the Paper Artsy Blog Challenge!!
Paper Artsy: use Paper Artsy Stamps, Fresco Paints, Wood or Paper Mache 
Take a Word: vintage Beauty
Tomorrow I will be back with something fun from Lost Coast Designs!  See you then. Love ya.
Karen


Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Folded Tag Card with Lovely Sampsmith Lady

Hi Dreamers!
Enjoying a nice rainy day here in Michigan.  Hoping to get a walk in between the raindrops.  And, what a perfect time to do a bit a of blogging and say hello to everyone.  Today's project is an elegant lady pictured on a Folded Tag card.  I used a die cut to cut the card (more on that below).




  • Begin by cutting a folded card with the large tag die.
  • Place the folded edge of the card 1/4 inch away from the bottom cutting line on the die.


                             Cutting edge      Fold of card


  • Stamp the lovely lady---From the full sheet called Belinda and Friends by The Stampsmith on glossy white CS with Coffee Archival ink.
  • Cut an arch on the top of the stamped image.
  • Add it to the folded tag card.







  • Distress the edges with Vintage Photo Distress ink
  • Add some tiny pearls















  • Make the tie: the die will cut the hole in the top of the arch.
  • Place a large button on the front and the backside of the front.
  • Thread a narrow ribbon in a large eye needle and loosely sew the buttons to the card. 
  • Thread a long piece of sheer ribbon through the hole in the back of the card and tie in a knot.
  • Add large beads to the ends of the ribbon.
  • This ribbon will wrap around the buttons to close the card.

View of the inside -card unfolded






































View of outside - card unfolded



What a fun card to make!  I think it would be fun to do a set of the these and use each one of the images from The Belinda and Friends set.   That would be a nice gift to put in a little gift bag for someone special.


Challenges for my lovely lady Folded Tag Card:
Crafty creations: anything but a square
Papercraft Star: use a stamp
Rhedd and rosie: monochromatic
word art Wednesday: anything with an uplifting sentiment

So, let's see.  What will have for you next??  Oh, how about some funky Lost Coast Designs projects??!!  Okay!  Stay tuned for that.  Hope you are having a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Grungeboard Rusty Flowers with Blockhead Sentiments

Hi Dreamers,
I am back after a nice weekend.  The weather was nice and had a nice visit with my brother.  I also spent quite a few hours working on a group of cards for submission.  Those went out in the mail today!  Yeah.  Now, I have four custom order cards for my BF to work on this week.  Now, for today, I have some fun projects made with Grungeboard.  The designers on the Blockheads Design blog, have been showcasing grungeboard this month.
I used a technique in the Tim Holtz's book Compendium of Curiosities- Rusted Grunge.   I thought it would be fun to make some rusty flowers.  LOL.  The flowers are pre-cut Ranger Grungeboard.  You could use any shape for this technique.  I made a Birthday card with matching tag, and another tag.  Let's look at the card first.




Materials List:
Stamps: 
Happy Birthday (Verses Full Sheet or as a single) and For You (Daisies Half Sheet) both from Blockheads.
Ink:
Shabby Shutters, Vintage Photo, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Tumbled Glass Distress Inks -Ranger
Sienna Archival
Embossing Ink ( I used Emboss It)
Other:
Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powder
Manila Pre-Cut Tag
Ribbons
Pearls
Rust, orange, and black CS





Instructions:

  • Rusty Flowers (per Compendium of Curiosities): Cover grungeboard with embossing ink and heat emboss with Vintage Photo Distress embossing powder.
  • When cool, rub off some of the unmelted crystals. 
  • Apply Barn Door and Spiced Marmalade ink over the embossing powder on the flowers. Use Shabby Shutters on the stem.  This just adds a bit more color.  You could do this before the embossing too.  I did not think of it until after the embossing was done.  






  • Make a card from orange CS layered with black CS.  Glue flowers to the CS.  
  • Add ribbon
  • Stamp the sentiment with Sienna ink and add to card.




Matching Tag for a gift bag or wrapped package.

  • Cut a tag from black CS.
  • Add the flowers and sentiment.
  • Cover a grungeboard butterfly with Spiced Marmalade ink and add to tag. 







  • Stamp sentiment with Sienna
  • Tie the ribbons through the hole
  • Knot a piece of ribbon and wrap around.




 A closer look at the rust.




I used three more of the rusty flowers on another tag.  I made a garden-like background on this pre-cut manila tag.






  • Apply Tumbled Glass and Shabby Shutters ink to the tag.  Apply a little bit of Vintage Photo to simulate a horizon type line.
  • Glue the flowers to tag.
  • Tie the ribbons.
  • Add a few tiny pearls.





Super close look at Garden Tag.


So, another fun way to use Grungeboard.  How do you like to use grungeboard?  If you missed my Grungeboard Pins, take a look here.


Challenges for my Rusty Flowers:
Simon Says Stamp: birthday
City Crafter: birthday
Tuesday Alchemy: garden and gold---my gold is rusty.  LOL
Make My Monday: create your own background--my garden tag
Unstampables: no stamping and anything but a card
Stamping for the weekend: anything but a card


Oh, guess that is it for me today.  I will be back tomorrow with a pretty folded tag card with ribbon tie.  Sound good??.. Hope you are having a great day!  Love ya.
Karen