Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Vintage Portrait Card with Blockhead Stamps


Hi Everyone,
I am finally getting back in to the swing of things after the Holidays.   My studio is all re-organized and haven't tripped over anything yet!!  My Christmas card burn-out is over and I am looking forward to another year of fun-tastic crafting!!  Today I have a bright card that I made using   a sketch (see sketch below) from Totally Paper Crafts.   The stamps are all from Blockheads Stamps.  The main image is from the Vintage Portraits set.




Materials List:
Stamps: Silhouette Portrait; Small Flower, Dots, and Thinking of You all from Blockhead Stamps
Ink: Adirondack Stream and Pesto Dye Ink from Ranger
CS: Vanilla, Mint and Cream
Stickles: Aqua
Rhinestones
Lace, ribbon, and pearl cotton
Labels Eight Die cut from Spellbinders



The main image is stamped on cream CS with Stream dye ink and then cut out.  Stamp the same image again with Stream ink on cream CS and once more with Pesto ink on cream CS.  Cut out the lady from the image stamped with Pesto and just the hat decoration from the second image stamped with Stream ink.  Layer the cut pieces on top of the original stamped image (paper piecing).   Make card base from Vanilla CS.  Die cut a piece from the mint CS.  Stamp the dots on die cut with Stream ink.




Stamp nine of the small flowers with Stream ink on the mint CS; cut out.  Glue lace a piece of lace and tow strands of the pearl cotton across the bottom on the card and add the flowers.




I stamped the flowers again on the inside and added a sentiment.






Fun Challenges for my Vintage Lady Portrait:
Totally Paper Crafts: Sketch
Simon Says stamp: Spots and/or stripes
Reasonable Ribbon; Sparkle and Ribbon
Sweet Stampin; Spots and dots
Allsorts: Paper piecing
One Stop Craft: Bingo-I used lace/ribbon, die cut, and paper piecing




Okay, I guess that is all for me today.  My to-do list is a mile long.  I better get to it!  I hope you have a great day.  Love ya.
Karen

Monday, January 9, 2012

Tag Art Challenge with The Stampsmith

Hello Everyone!
Well, the Design Team took a couple weeks off over the Holidays and now we are back with a new Challenge with The Stampsmith.  This months theme is:
Tag Art
Make a tag or use a tag on your project.  Please use at least one stamp from The Stampsmith   The challenges is open until end of January.  Three top picks will be selected and one random winner will take home a full sheet of rubber!!
I used a stamp from the "Shall We Dance" Full Sheet. (please email Estelle if you would like to order this sheet.) I made three tags.  Two are on the card and one is separate and will be used for a gift tag.


Here are the card and gift tag.  I stamped the image of the dancers on glossy white CS with black dye ink.  The corners were rounded on the stamped image and on the brown and black layers.  I punched a hole with a hole punch and added some ribbons and fabric tape.


 The card base is made from cream CS (Staples).  I added a layer of brown CS (TPC) and some DP that looks like sheet music (Hobby Lobby).   The ballet slippers (from Serendipity Stamps) were stamped on Kraft CS and layered with Graphic 45 paper and brown CS.   This piece is added to the right side of the card.  Then I added the large tag.  The word "Dance" (Serendipity Stamps) is stamped on a small die cut tag (Szzix) and added to the top of the card.


 I added lots more ribbons and some die cut paper flowers from Graphic 45.



And here is a close up of the tag.



A few fun Challenges for my Dancers card tag.
Sparkles Forum:Anything BUT a Christmas card
Fashionable Stampers: New stash-first time I have used the Graphic 45 items
Simon Says Stamp and Show: A red letter day.  To me, a red letter day is an exceptional day that becomes a  great memory.  The dancers image evokes to me a performance that would be very memorable.

Well, that's it for now.  Have a great Monday.  Love ya.
Karen

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Fun Birthday Card with The Stampsmith

Hi Everyone!
Today I have a fun birthday to share with you.  I used an image from the"Those Were The Days" full sheet by The Stampsmith.  I just love this stamped image for belated birthday cards.  I think it is funny.  LOL.




I stamped the image on a glossy white pre-cut piece of CS.  I am not sure where I got this cs.  It was either at Michaels or a garage sale.  But, you could use a plain piece of glossy CS and die cut it.    I used black dye ink to stamp.



The purple ink was added with a distressing tool (Ranger).  The card base is made from dark Purple CS from Stampin' Up.  I added some funky ribbon (Michaels), brads, and die cut paper flowers (Hero Arts).  The Yikes sentiment is included with the "Those Were the Days" full sheet.



I added a belated birthday (My Sentiments Exactly) sentiment on the inside.  So, a very fun card.




Some Super Fun Challenges for my Fun Belated Birthday Card
Frosted Designs: No patterned paper
Forever Night: Framed
Samuel Taylor: Distress
Simon Says stamp: New Something- this is the first time I used the die cut Hero Arts Flowers. They were in  a blog candy from SSS. thank you
Mark's Finest: use brads or eyelets


Glad you stopped by today.  Have a great weekend!  Love ya,
Karen

Thursday, January 5, 2012

New Technique Challenge with Blockheads Stamps

Hello Everyone!
It is time for a new Technique Challenge over on the Blockheads Design Blog.  This is a good one and if you are a Spellbinders addict, like me, you will love this technique. It is called "Out of  the Box".   I used one of the Naughty Pets for my Technique Challenge project.


Materials List:
Stamps: Naughty Pet Half Sheet
Inks: Tuxedo Black - Memento
Copic Markers
Cardstock: Solar White - Neenah
                  Pink, Purple, and Lavender
Spellbinders: Classic Ovals Large -S4-110
Lace
Pink ribbon
Pearls
Dimensional Pop Dots




The image is stamped with Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic Markers.   I used the "Out of the Box" tech to cut out the image.  I added another layer of the oval die cut in dark purple CS and some pretty fibers.   finished the card off with some pearls.  Check out the inside too.   The sentiment is also in the Naughty Pets Set.



Have fun!  Love ya.
Karen

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Operation Write Home Blog Hop

Hello Again!
I just saw that Operation Write Home is having a Blog Hop today!  The idea is to show your favorite cards made for Operation Write Home during 2011.  I thought that sounded like  a fun idea and I just ran with it.  Here are a few cards I made and sent in to Operation Write home this year.























Head over to the Operation Write Home blog and check out all the other favored cards and join in the fun.  Have a great day and Happy New Year!!!  Love ya.
Karen

Top Twenty Five Projects of 2011

Hello Everyone,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I dd this top ten of the year post last year and I thought is was so fun, I decided to do it again this year, but I found it way too hard to  pick only ten.  So, this year, I am picking twenty five.  It has been a great year of crafting for me with lots of new adventures, fun design teams, great blogging friends,and so much more!  Now, I choose the cards because they are my favorites, and I hope you will enjoy taking a look at them too.
I would also like to add a great big "Thank You" to all my followers and friends that visit this blog!!!  You are so appreciated!!  And, another super big "THANK YOU" to Stacey at Blockhead Paper Arts, Estelle at The Stampsmith, and Val at Third Coast Rubber Stamps!!  It has been a great year!!

































Check out Debby's Top five of the year post and challenge here!!




Well, that was fun!!  I wish everyone a most happy and prosperous New Year!!
Love ya.
Karen