Lost Coast Designs January Challenge--Tags

Hello Dreamers!
Time for a new monthly Lost Coast Design challenge!!  This month the theme is:

TAGS

Make a tag using a Lost Coast Design Stamp and link up on the Lost Coasters Review Design blog.  

Here is a little inspiration.  I made a tag using the Hardware Set from Lost Coast Designs.

Materials:

Stamps: Hardware Set from Lost Coast Designs

CS: White, Aqua, Brown

Ink: Stream, Lake Mist, and Mushroom Adirondack; Versa Mark

Distress Ink: Faded Jeans

Clear Embossing Powder

Brown Brads

Hole punch

Instructions:

• Make tag from Aqua CS and layer with brown CS
• On white CS, stamp the hardware pieces with Adirondack inks
• Distress edges and background with distress ink
• Cover the entire surface of the stamped piece with Versa Mark ink
• Sprinkle on clear embossing powder
• Heat powder with heat gun
• When cooled add to the tag base and punch hole in top
• Add ribbons and tulle in the tag hole
• Add brads

I love this hardware set!  It is so vintagey and chunky!  Can you use chunky to describe a stamp??!!  Sure, I think so!  I made a whole series of projects using this stamp set.  I will have more of them this month.  So, stayed tuned for that!


A Few Fun Challenges for my hardware tag:
Craft Creations: anything goes
Through the Purple Haze: anything goes

Dragonfly Dreams: favorite color---Mine is aqua
Fashionable Stamping: turn up the heat--use a heat gun


Hope you are having a great day!!  See you next time!  Love ya
Karen

Guest Designing with Blessing Ink and A Muse Studios

Hello Everyone,
Welcome!  Today's post is the third post for my Guest Designing spot on Chris' blog: Blessings Ink.

Chris is an A Muse Studios Demonstrator and hosts weekly challenges with  weekly winners and top picks.  The weekly winners are eligible for the monthly prize.   I will be posting projects for each of the weekly challenges all during the month of September.

The Theme of the current challenge is:

Fall Foliage

****Just a few Guidelines for entering  the Challenges:

 2 entry limit and no digis please!

■Link your creation to your paper crafts blog, gallery (SCS or Flickr) before midnight of the following Sunday.

■Use any product but please follow the challenge criteria.

■Double your chances to win by using A Muse Studio products (just leave Chris a reminder in the comments please)

I used a non-fall stamp to make my Fall Foliage.  I just used fall colors instead!! I made three cards using the same stamp set.  Take a look.

Materials List:

Stamps: Floral Duet set from A Muse Studios

Pigment Inks: Nutmeg, Poppy, Papaya, Orange Pigment from A Muse Studios

Cardinal Versa Color

Distress Ink: Dried Marigold

Clear Embossing Powder

CS: cream, kraft, brown, rust, dark red

Buttons: A Muse Studios

Ribbon: Orange and Papaya from A Muse Studio; sheer brown; sheer white

 Instructions:

• Make a card from brown CS
• On Kraft CS, stamp the large flower several time with Nutmeg pigment ink and heat emboss
• Add this background piece to the card base

• On cream CS, stamp the large and the small flower with Nutmeg and Cardinal inks; heat emboss
• Cut out the two flowers and add to card with dimensional adhesive
• Add a button to center of the flower

• Tie sheer brown ribbon in bow and add to card

The second card is made in the same manner:

• On Cream CS, stamp the large flower with Poppy, Nutmeg, Papaya, and Orange inks
• Heat emboss
• Stamp a large  and small flower on another piece of cream CS using Orange and Cardinal pigment inks
• Heat emboss the two flowers and cut out
• Add to the card
• Wrap Papaya ribbon around card and tie bow in Orange ribbon
• Place  buttons in the center of the flower and under the bow

The third card has a distressed background and uses the same ink colors.

Three cards from one stamp set..now that is really using your stamps potential.  LOL  Now, I have three nice cards to send out to someone this fall.

************A few fun Challenges for my Fall Floral cards:
Sisterhood of Snarky stampers: distress

Bloggers: fall colors 

Card making mamas: vintage or shabby chic

Simply create too: fall or autumn

4 Krafty Girlz: anything goes
Alphabet: P is for pretty petals

Is it feeling like Fall in your little corner of the world?  Cooling off a bit here but I like the cool!!  So, I am happy!  Thanks for stopping by!!  See you next time.

Karen

The Twenty-Five Days of Christmas Day Thirteen

Hello  Everyone!!

Welcome to Day Thirteen of The Twenty Five Days of Christmas!!

                                    
And Blog Candy!!

I will be showcasing a different Christmas card each day of December from the 1st through the 25th.  I have three samples today!!  You know me, sometimes when I get started I can't stop.  I found that I could use this same folder and really make different variations easily.  On the three samples here I used the reindeer embossing folder and accented the dry embossing with Distress ink on one card and pigment ink with heat embossing on the other two.

Materials:

CS: Burgundy; Real Red and Night of Navy  from Stampin' Up
DP: My Mind's Eye; gold metallic paper
Vintage Photo Distress Ink

Brilliance Pearlescents Pigment ink
Clear Embossing Powder

Silver and Gold Stickles glitter glue

Gold and Sheer Red Ribbon

Reindeer Embossing Folder-Darice
Corner and Edge Punch- Martha Stewart

And, don't forget the blog candy!!!!!

Ways to Win the Blog Candy:

1. Leave a comment on any of the 25 Days of Christmas posts--each time you leave a comment your name goes in the drawing.  So the more you comment, the more chances of winning.
2. Become a Follower--Leave a comment to let me know!
3. Post about the 25 Days of Christmas on your Blog--Leave a comment to let me know!
4. Post about the 25 Days of Christmas on Facebook--Leave a comment to let me know!

See all the details about the Blog Candy on Day One post here.


See you tomorrow for Day Fourteen!!!     Over half way through the Twenty-Five Days of Christmas!!  Gee, I guess I had better get some Christmas shopping done.  LOL!!     Love ya.
Karen

The Twenty-Five Days of Christmas Day Twelve

Hello  Everyone!!

Welcome to Day Twelve of The Twenty Five Days of Christmas!!

                                    
And Blog Candy!!

I will be showcasing a different Christmas card each day of December from the 1st through the 25th.  Today's formal and traditional card features a heat embossed background and glitter paper

Materials:

Stamps: Ornate Floral Cover-a-Card from Impression Obsession; Holy Triptych from Stampin' Up (retired)

CS: Cherry Cobbler - SU;
Inks: Silver pigment; Stazon Black
Silver Embossing Powder
DP: glitter paper and silver metallic paper
Silver Ribbon
Spellbinders die-Labels Four

And, don't forget the blog candy!!!!!

Ways to Win the Blog Candy:

1. Leave a comment on any of the 25 Days of Christmas posts--each time you leave a comment your name goes in the drawing.  So the more you comment, the more chances of winning.
2. Become a Follower--Leave a comment to let me know!
3. Post about the 25 Days of Christmas on your Blog--Leave a comment to let me know!
4. Post about the 25 Days of Christmas on Facebook--Leave a comment to let me know!

See all the details about the Blog Candy on Day One post here.


See you tomorrow for Day Thirteen!!!     How is everything going??!!   Well, I hope.   Love ya.
Karen

The Twenty-Five Days of Christmas Day Two

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to Day Two of The Twenty Five Days of Christmas!!

   And Blog Candy!!

I will be showcasing a different Christmas card each day of December from the 1st through the 25th.  I have tried to keep most of the cards mail friendly without lots of heavy embellishments.  I send out over 75 Christmas cards and I really  want them to be easy to mail.  On Today's cards I used an embossing folder to create the focal point.

Materials:

Stamps:Various Holiday Sentiments

CS: Cream, Dark Green; Soft Suede and Chocolate Chip from Stampin' Up
Vintage Photo Distress Ink

Brilliance Pearlescents Pigment ink
Clear Embossing Powder

Silver Stickles glitter glue

Silver Ribbon

Reindeer Embossing Folder-Darice
Background made with Template and spray inks

After dry embossing the card stock I used the direct to paper method of applying ink to the raised portion (the reindeer).  On the first card, I used Vintage Photo DI.  On the second card, I used pigment ink and then sprinkled clear embossing powder over and heat embossed.


And, don't forget the blog candy.  I purchased some new items and shared some of my stash.  Here it is!!

Ways to Win the Blog Candy:

1. Leave a comment on any of the 25 Days of Christmas posts--each time you leave a comment your name goes in the drawing.  So the more you comment, the more chances of winning.
2. Become a Follower--Leave a comment to let me know!
3. Post about the 25 Days of Christmas on your Blog--Leave a comment to let me know!
4. Post about the 25 Days of Christmas on Facebook--Leave a comment to let me know!

See all the details about the Blog Candy on Day One post here.


***********Challenges for my Embossed Reindeer:
Christmas Card Challenges: no stamping--card Two
Sentimental Sundays: traditional Christmas colors--card one
Paper Playtime: anything goes
Through the Purple Haze: Christmas

See you tomorrow for Day Three!!!  Hope you are having a great day and enjoying the Holiday inspiration. Love ya.
Karen

Spring Bike Ride with Lost Coast Design

Hi Dreamers!
We are really having nice  Spring weather this weekend!  Got out for a nice walk in the afternoon and ran some errands later.  The temps got up into the high 50's!  So, seems like Spring is on the way!   So, lets take a bike ride today in Dreamland.  Today's project was made with a Lost Coast Design stamp called Bikes Border and measures 8" long.

This is a long narrow card that incorporates shadow stamping and heat embossing.

• Cover an acrylic block with Tan pigment ink (All inks from A Muse Studios) and stamp onto white CS
• Heat set the ink
• Ink the Bike Border with brown pigment ink and stamp over the shadow stamping.
• Heat emboss with clear embossing powder

• Layer with black CS 
• Tie black ribbon around a Kraft card base 
• Add a piece of polka dot DP from Canvas Corp.
• Add the stamped bikes.

And, how about a few super fun challenges for my embossed bike ride card?!!
Creative corner challenge: anything goes
Simon Says stamp: anything goes
Penny's Challenge: anything but square
Love to Scrap: emboss it
Creative Creations: the letter B

I will taking the day off tomorrow to enjoy the Easter Holiday with my family.  My brother is making dinner.   Not to worry!  He is a good cook.  So, I will just enjoy getting together with everyone and celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord!    Hope your weekend is good and filled with the blessing of Easter!  Love ya.
Karen

Paris in the Spring "Time"

Hi Dreamers!
Hope your weekend was great!   Mine was super fun with an all day card making event on Saturday.  Even though we had snow last night here in Michigan, USA, I wanted to share a Spring themed card with you today.  I used lots of Spring colored CS and a stamp of the Eiffel Tower from The Stampsmith's Paris Full Sheet.     I called this project Paris in the Spring "Time".  See why!

• I stamped the Eiffel Tower with a Kaleidacolor Pad - Creole Spice
• Then covered the image with Versa-Mark ink
• Cover with UTTE and heat emboss
• Add another layer of UTTE

Look at the cool effect you get with the UTTE!

• Layer the image with black and white CS
• Add to a white card base layered with green and yellow CS

• Tie the Eiffel Tower ribbon in  a big bow.  I bought this ribbon at Hobby Lobby and have been dying to try it out on something.  This project was prefect!!
• Add the clock with a piece of wire ---Paris in the Spring "Time"---get it!??!  LOL
• Add the yellow rhinestones to the background area. 

What a cheerful card!  This was a fun one to make.  And, I finally was able  to use this ribbon on something!!  

How about a few challenges for my Spring "Time" card??!!

Chocolate coffee and cards: bring on Spring

Crafty Catz Weekly: sparkle and bow

Creative Corner Challenge: layer it up

Simon Says Stamp: spring/easter

Pause dream enjoy: anything goes

Check back tomorrow for a little bit of Steampunk fun!!  See you then.  Have a great day.  Love ya.

Karen

Fairy Garden Wall Hanging with Lost Coast Designs

Hi Dreamers!
Let's dream of a garden full of lovely flowers and magical beings!  Oh dear, I guess I am getting carried away.  But, how could I not get carried away while working with this lovely stamp called Dreamer Collage from Lost Coast Designs.   This stamp is nice and large ---- 5.75" square.    I decided to make a wall hanging with this gorgeous stamp.

Instructions:

• To get this multi-colored effect, I used three colors of pigment ink --brown, light red, and pink.  
• Cover the stamp with the pink pigment ink.  Apply the brown ink on all the edges of the stamp making sure to cover the fairies.
• Add  the red to the flowers.  
• Now stamp onto cream CS.  
• Trim around the flower petals.

Note: I used pigment so that the ink would stay wet while inking this large stamp.

• Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.  
• Distress the edges with Tea Dye Distress ink.

• Layer with pink, salmon, and brown CS.

• Glue brown ribbon loop to the back -- for hanging.
• Tie pink ribbon in a bow around the brown ribbon.

Check out the super cool elements of this stamp!  Love how the brown ink really brings out the Fairy images.

Some really fun challenges for my Dream Collage Wall Hanging:
Craft-room challenge: in the garden/no cards
Love to create: anything goes
Craft my Life: no cards/anything goes
Anything but a card: spring or Alice in wonderland
Crafting for all seasons: anything but a card
Simon Says stamp: spring


Well, I hope you are having a great week!  I am getting some of my submissions finished up and they will go out in the mail today.  Those deadlines just seem to come out of nowhere!!  LOL.  It is all fun!   I think I will share the quick and easy Easter cards with you this week.  So, stay tuned for those.  See you then.  Love ya.
Karen

Faux Batik Technique with Blockheads Butterflies

Hi Dreamers!
Today, I have a pair of butterfly beauties to share with you.  I used a Faux Batik technique  to create the backgrounds.  The stamps are from Blockheads Stamps.

Materials List:

Stamps: Painted Butterflies from Blockheads Stamps

Inks: Coffee Archival, Versa Mark Embossing Ink

Antique Linen Distress Stain

Re-inkers: Scattered Straw, Tattered Roses, Vintage Photo Distress;

Rhubarb Stalk Memento, Cosmic Copper Brilliance

White Embossing Powder

Cardstock: White, Mustard, Tan, Brown

Metallic Rub Ons

Instructions:

• I used the technique outlined on the Blockheads blog.
• Scattered Straw and Tattered Rose are the re-inkers used in this sample.
• To add more depth to the butterflies, I stamped over the butterfly with Coffee Archival ink. 
• With a soft cloth wipe the ink off the embossed area.  A really cool shadow is left around the butterfly.

• I added a piece of lace, tulle, a sheer ribbon, and pearls for embellishments
• I rubbed the Metallic Rub Ons around the edges.

• The second card is made in the same way following the Faux Batik instructions.
• Vintage Photo re-inker and Antique Linen Distress Stain are used in this sample

• I added black lace, black tulle, sheer ribbon, and pearls for embellishments.

I hope you enjoyed all the Butterfly projects made by the Blockheads Design Team during the month of January!!   I know I enjoyed making mine and checking out the other great projects by the other Blockheads!!  For the month of February  we will be showing you all kinds of ways to use Perfect Pearls!  Blockheads has a new selection of single pots of Perfect Pearls to tempt you!!

I will start off the month with two Valentine's Day cards made with Sunflower Sparkle!!  Stay tuned for that on Saturday!

Wow, the weather here in Michigan is totally whacky!  50 degrees and rain.    Well, I hope you are having a great day in your little corner of the world.  Love ya.
Karen

Butterflies with Embossed Script with Blockheads

Hi Dreamers!
I am back after a few days off from blogging.  I have been making cards for charities.  I made 30 Valentines' Day cards for "Cards from the Heart Drive"  --Which, by the way, is being sponsored by Blockheads Paper Arts!!!! 
 I made 30 children's cards for Operation Write Home, and 10 for Card Care Connection.  Whewww!  I'm tired!  LOL.  (I will be showing you the cards through out the month-and probably next month too--there are quite a few cards!)

So,today I am back with more butterflies!!   The Blockheads Designers are going all out showcasing butterflies for the month of January.  For my project, I used several stamps and heat embossing to create a card and tag set.  Perfect for a birthday!

Materials List:

Stamps: 

Lepidoptera Large, Medium, and Small single stamps with cling.  (Also available on a half sheet-Grunge Collage)

Script Background

 Travel Documents

Ink:

Versa Mark

Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw, and Dried Marigold Distress Ink

Coffee and Sienna Archival ink

Other:

Clear Embossing Powder

 Pre-cut Tag

CS: cream and dark green

Wired copper and wide green ribbon

Rhinestones

Instructions:

• On the Manila pre-cut tag and cream CS stamp the Script stamp with Versa Mark ink and heat emboss with clear powder.
• Cover the tag and CS with Scattered straw Distress ink.  Wipe the ink off the embossed image with a soft cloth or paper towel
• Cover the right side with the Dried Marigold ink leaving the far left with just the yellow ink.  Wipe the ink off the embossed image.

• Stamp the butterflies and Travel Document  with coffee Archival ink
• Wrap the green ribbon around this piece
• Stamp additional butterflies with Coffee and Sienna ink - cut out 

• Make a card base from dark green CS
• Add the stamped piece to the card base
• Add the cut out butterflies to the card front with dimensional adhesive
• Wrap the wired ribbon around the card and secure with glue.  
• Add rhinestones and Green ribbon

Tag

I just love the way the embossed image peeks out from the two colors of Distress ink!!  And, all the butterfly action is so sweet!  This will go in my card giving box for someone's birthday.

Well, let's enter a few challenges too!!
Pause, Joy, Dream: use ribbon
Incy Wincy: tic tac toe--I used embossing, anything but a card , and add a tag
Crazy Challenge: no decorative paper
Use your Stuff: collage
Flonz Craft: vintage
613 Avenue: anything goes

Tomorrow, I will have some super cute cards from the Operation Write Home cards!  I used a pretty little dress digi--see you later for that!!  I hope you have a super day.  Love ya.
Karen

Embossed Flowers on Painted Background

Hi Dreamers!
Only a few days until Christmas.  I think I will be baking cookies tomorrow.  I have to make a list and head over to grocery store and pick up the baking items.  And, I need a few last minute gifts too.  Hope I can get it all done!  Well, today's post is very un-Christmasey.  I made a floral card with a painted background.  I used stamps from Blockheads Paper Arts.

Materials List:

Stamps: Flower Garden and Verses- Special Delivery both from Blockheads Stamps

Inks:

Cinnamon Versa Color Pigment 

Royal Satin Kaleidacolor Pad

Various Spray inks

Pine Needles Distress Marker

Orange Embossing Powder

Blank Canvas (White) Studio Paint

Cardstock: White, Peach and light pink

3D Zots

Instructions:

• Make a card base from light pink CS
• On the peach CS paint on the Blank Canvas paint in broad strokes and let dry
• Spray the same piece with gold, red, and peach spray inks and let dry
• Stamp the large Calendula flower with pigment ink and heat emboss with orange powder
• Color the leaves with Pine Needles Marker
• Sponge ink from the Royal Satin pad on the edges and arond the leaves
• Add to card front

• Stamp the image again on White CS with the Royal Satin Kaleidacolor pad
• Cut out three flowers
• Ink edges with the Royal Satin pad
• Add to card front with 3D Zots
• Add three Rhinestones

• On the inside stamp a sentiment and the flowers with the Royal Satin Pad.

Challenges for my Warm and Sunny floral card:
365 Cards: color scheme
Sweet Stampin: seeing double
Crafts 4 Eternity: anything goes
Craft room door: anything goes
Lady Anne's: anything goes


Now we have a nice card for a special someone.  This would be great for a thank you card too.  And , will help us think of warmer days.  We have a light dusting of snow now and I wanted to make something warm and sunny.

See you tomorrow with a Christmas card.  Have a great day.  Love ya. Have to run and get busy on that shopping list.
Karen