Two Masculine Birthday Cards

Hello Everyone,
I hope you all had a great Christmas/Holiday.  After all the Christmas projects, I thought it would be nice to change things up a bit.  So, today, I have two masculine birthday cards to share with you.  Here is the first.

The moose image is from Mark's Finest.  I did a little color variation by inking the samp with brown and green ink.  I added some gray marker for shading.  The Sentiment is from Victorine Originals.

For the second card, I also decorated the envelope. 

Stamps: Wild Horses Trio - Onyx Xpressions; Background stamp -Blockheads Background and Borders Full Sheet.  I stamped the background stamp in two different inks and masked the horse image.    CS: Black and Sahara Sand from Stampin' Up.

The background stamp is used again on the inside.  I also stamped  sentiments from Victorine Originals.

And, how about a few fun challenges for my masculine birthday cards?!!

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments: Anything Goes + Sentiment
Paper Play Time:Anything Goes + Sentiment
Mark's Finest: Anything Goes
Party time Tuesday: Anything Goes

That's it for now!  I be back in a few days with a new Technique Challenge with Blockhead Stamps!!
Karen

Winter Snowman Cupcake Cards with Third Coast Rubber Stamps

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hello Everyone,

Hope you are having a great Holiday!!  Now, today, I have some cards that would be perfect for all those winter birthdays.  I used two stamps from Third Coast Rubber Stamps.  The first stamp is Snowman Sprinkles Cupcake ( CM-241-J).  

Materials:

1. Stamps: Sprinkles Snowman Cupcake (CM-241-J) – Third Coast Rubber Stamps.  
2. Card Stock: Marina Mist (119682) and Pacific Point (111350) Stampin’ Up; Solar White - Neenah Classic Crest.
3. Ink: Tuxedo Black (ME-900) Memento.
4. Embellishments: Diamond Stickles (SGG17028) Ranger; Holiday Inspirations Ribbon (165-1793) JoAnns.
5. Other: Copics Markers; White Gel Pen (XPGB#50) Gelly Roll; Small Labels (S4-169) and Large Labels (S4-168) Spellbinders; Zots 3-D Clear Adhesive Dots- Therm-o-web.

Make card from Marina Mist CS.  Using the White gel pen, hand draw numerous snowflakes and dots.  Stamp image on Solar White CS with Tuxedo Black dye ink.  Color the image with Copic Markers.  Cut image and Pacific Point CS with Spellbinders dies.   Glue the stamped piece to the Pacific Point die cut.  Add this piece to card front.  Using the Stickles, add dots to Marina Mist card base.  Tie ribbon in a bow and glue to the card front.    

____________________________________________________________________________

The second image is Melting Snowman Cupcake (CM-240-J).  I thought this image would so super cute for a winter belated birthday card.

Materials:

1. Stamps: Melted Snowman Cupcake (CM-240-J) – Third Coast Rubber Stamps.  
2. Card Stock: Medium and Light Teal- Bazzill; Solar White - Neenah Classic Crest; White -Staples.
3. Ink: Tuxedo Black (ME-900) Memento.
4. Embellishments: Aqua Stickles (SGG20578) Ranger.
5. Other: Copics Markers; Wonky Rectangles (S4-306) Spellbinders; Zots 3-D Clear Adhesive Dots- Therm-o-web.

Instructions:

Make card from Med Teal CS and layer with White CS.  Stamp image on Solar White CS with Tuxedo Black dye ink.  Color the image with Copic Markers.  Cut image and Dark Teal CS with Spellbinders die.   Glue the Stamped piece to the Dark Teal die cut.  Add this piece to card front.  Using the Stickles, add dots to White CS background.  

Well, now you have some ideas for those winter birthdays.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas!!   Love ya.
Karen

Country Christmas Card with the Stampsmith

Hello Everyone,
Just a quick post today with one more Christmas card.  This card is made using a stamp from The Stampsmith from the Country Landscape full sheet.   The image is stamped on glossy white CS with black dye ink.

 The CS is from Stampin' Up and the Dp from Anna Griffin.   I added several rows of Stickles around the image and the card.

And check out that lovely black and red checked ribbon!  This is from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  The sentiment is from Mark's Finest.

Merry Christmas to all my blogging buddies!!

Karen

Last Minute Christmas Preparations with Blockheads Stamps

Hi Everyone,
Wow, seems like I have been super busy getting everything ready for the Holidays!  I have been running around getting gifts, making cake pops, wrapping gifts, delivering gifts, and more...... I have a fun card for you today that illustrates my mood.  I did do lots of house cleaning too.  I know, yes, I did take some time to clean.

This fun image is another winner  from Di at Blockheads Stamps.  The image is from the Harried Housewives Set.  I also used a Background stamp from the Background and Borders Full Sheet.

Materials List:

Harried Housewives stamp set

Background and Borders Full Sheet Stamp Set

Ink: black - Memento

       Cinnamon - VersaColor Pigment 

Copic Markers

CS: Solar White - Neenah

       Pink, Red, Purple

Embossing Powder with glitter

Glitter Dome Embellishments

Purple Ribbon

Flower Punch- Martha Stewart

Stamp the Harried Housewife with Tuxedo Black dye ink and color with Copic Markers.   Layer the stamped image with purple and then pink CS.

Make a card base with Red CS and add a rectangle of purple CS.  To create the sparkly background piece stamp the background stamp twice on a piece of white CS with the pigment ink.  Heat emboss with a powder that has glitter in it.  Trim the embossed piece to the desired size and add to the card front.    Use the trimmed off piece to punch two flowers.    Wrap a piece of purple ribbon around the card and tie in a bow.  Add the Harried Housewife to the card front using Dimensional squares..

Punch a few more flowers from the red and purple CS and add to the card front.  Add the glitter dome embellishments.   I used one of the sentiments from the Harried Housewives set on the inside.

Some fun challenges for my Harried Housewife:
Simon Says Stamp: Bingo- I used ribbon, gems, and glitter
I Copic blog: last minute Holiday projects-My card depicts a last minute holiday project. LOL
Wee Memories: Anything goes
Pile It On: Bling

Hope you are having fun getting ready for Christmas!  I am just about ready.  I have to do some more wrapping and I might make some cookies.  Have a lovely day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Design Team Call for Blockhead Paper Arts!!!

Design Team Call now Closed.  Thank you to all the applicants!

Hi Everyone!

I have a fabulous announcement!!! 

Blockheads Paper Arts is looking for 3 creative people to join the Design Team.

And to commit to a 4 month contract from January 2012 through April 2012.

To apply for our Creative Team: please email the design team coordinator with your information with attachments of your work you'd like to have considered and a link to your blog.

Design Team Coordinator: Karen McAlpine blockheadsdt7@hotmail.com  (That's me.)
Be sure to include:
Personal Info: Full Name, Address, Phone
Online Presence: Email Address, Blog URL, Any additional online galleries that include your work, a list of any online groups you post regularly to
Ideas for projects: tell us 3 card sample ideas you have in mind

Your responsibilities if chosen:

• Provide monthly: images of 4 Artistic Cards, 6 ATCs or 1-2 altered items depending on complexity. All projects should use rubber stamps, exclusively from Blockheads and be designed to really make others excited about those stamp(s).
• Post your examples to your blog with instructions and links to pages on Blockheads where the stamps and supplies may be purchased. Put an image/post on our Facebook page to draw people to your blog to view your project.
• Submit at least 2 projects that use rubber stamps, exclusively from Blockheads, during the four month period to stamping magazines, such as Altered Arts, Vamp Stamp News, or Rubber Stamp Madness.

Design Team Members will receive:

• $100 in Blockheads Rubber of your choice ($50 in month 1 and $50 in month 3). Please be prepared to select full, half or ¼ sheets of untrimmed rubber. Each $50 allowance is enough for either 2 full sheets, 3 half sheets or 5 quarter sheets of rubber.
• Your work will be featured in a special Design Team section of our web site where you may provide links to your blog, gallery and/or Etsy store.
• $50 supply allowance ($0 in month 1 and $50 in month 3 if requirements were met for the first two months) toward any inks or paints offered at Blockheadstamps.com. After the first contract, proven design team members will get $25 in products every two months.
• COMMISSION! If you wish to sign up for our affiliate program (available to all bloggers) you can earn 5% of sales resulting from customers following a link you've posted - 10% if taken as products (www.blockheadstamps.com/blogger-links.html).
  Publication incentive awards for any projects published in print publications (details provided on the info page of our web site).

DEADLINE: December 20, 2011

Click over to the Blockheads web page for additional details.

Here's a little something I made using the image "Mother and Baby" from the Grunge Collages set.  The color is added by stippling on ink from a Kaleidacolor pad.

I hope you will apply to the Team!    We really do have lots of fun and learn so much from each other.   Have a great day!

Karen

Snowman Trio Winter Cards with Blockheads

Hello Everyone!
How about some chilly snowman cards!  Today, I have a trio of snowman cards to share with you.  I used the Snowman image from the Illustrated Christmas set by Blockheads Stamps.

The Illustrated Christmas set is such a versatile set.  I have used it many times this Holiday season.  See my Framed Santa Picture too.  Here is the first card.

Materials List for all three cards:

Stamps: An Illustrated Christmas Set

Ink: Onyx black -VersaFine; Stream -Adirondack Ranger 

Cardstock: Gray, Teal, White

Glitter

Silver Pearls

Paper punched snowflakes

Stamp the snowman with Onyx Black ink on gray CS.  Using the Stream Adirondack ink, water color the scarf using a wet brush.  Layer with white CS and add to card base made from teal CS.  

Card number two features the snowman stamped on white CS.  I added some layers and a few silver pearls....keeping it clean and simple.

Here is a close up.

This image is great for CAS cards and would be great for all those last minutes Christmas cars.  And, the last cards has a bit more bling.  The snowflake image from the Illustrated Christmas set was stamped with Stream Adirondack ink on the gray CS.

The scarf was watercolored and glitter was added to the snowflakes.  

Well, friends, I hope you have found some inspiration here for your own Christmas/Winter cards.  I think I would use one of these cards for a winter Birthday too.
Have a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Glittery Winter Scene with The Stampsmith

Hello Everyone,
I have been keeping busy getting ready for the Holidays.  I also changed my studio around.  I have been working on the studio project for about 3 weeks.  I have everything in place and just need to fine tune a few things.  Now I am not tripping over things all the time.  Overall, I am very happy with how the room turned out.
Today, I have a glittering winter card to share with you.  I used a stamp from the Country Landscape Full Sheet by The Stampsmith.

The image is stamped on white glossy CS with black dye ink.  I colored the horse blanket with a red marker.   I added lots of glitter to the snow with Diamond Stickles.  The decorative paper is from Basic Grey and the CS is Night of Navy from Stampin' Up.  I added a strip of burlap too.

 

I think you can see all the glitter in this photo.  I used the Stickles almost like a brush and "painted" the glitter glue on the branches.  This would be a great Holiday card or just a nice all occasion card for the winter months.

Amish Winter Scene is entered in the following challenges:

Do you  Stack Up: Winter
Victorine Originals: Christmas
Scrap Creations: Snow
Creative Card Crew: Christmas
Deep Ocean: Snow
Paper Sundaes: Anything Christmas
Winter Wonderland Christ Blog: Let it Snow

Have a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Quick and Easy Christmas Cards

Hello Friends!
I thought you might enjoy looking at a couple more Christmas Cards.  This design was fairly quick and easy.  I have so many beautiful papers and I wanted to take advantage of them.  I used a retired Stampin' Up stamp to make the poinsettia.

The flower was stamped twice, cut out, and layered to make a poinsettia.  The striped paper is from Anna Griffin.  

I made several (6) of this card design and changed the paper for each one.  Here are some of the other versions.

 The paper in the card above is from Webster's Pages.

Here again, I used the Anna Griffin papers.   I went with a solid background.   

On the card below, I added some dimension by running glossy red CS through the Cuttlebug.  

And , a close up. 

I used the same sentiment for the inside on almost all of my Christmas Cards this year.  It is from Blue Ridge Impressions.

And some Very Fun challenges for my Quick and Easy Christmas Cards:
Paper Sundaes: Sundae Bar-use at least two- Red, Stripes, Die cuts, Stitching.  I used Red and stripes.
Simon Says: Photo Inspiration.- My third card has the subtle color combo shown in the inspiration photo.
Mark's Finest: use favorite embellishment.  One of my favorite ways to embellish a card is by cutting out a stmaped image and adding it to the card with dimentsional tape
Cute Card Thursday: anything goes
Samuel Taylor's : anything goes
ABC Christmas: anything Christmasy goes

Well, that was fun.  I do love a good challenge!  How are your Holiday cards coming along.  Are you making cards?  I still have to get some more decorating done.  I do not put up a big tree.  Just a teeny tiny two footer.  It is not decorated yet.   Maybe I can get to that today.  Still have to address all the Christmas cards.  Maybe I can get to that today.  OOPPs sounds like I am repeating myself.  Well, maybe I can get all that done today.  LOL.  Whatever you have planned for today, I hope you have a great day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Holiday Gift Tags with Third Coast Rubber

Hi everyone!
I hope you enjoying the Holiday preparations.  I have a little bit of inspiration for you today.  A trio of Holiday Gift Tags made using a stamp from Third Cost Rubber Stamps: Log Reindeer (AP-455-H).

Materials:

1. Stamps: Log Reindeer – Third Coast Rubber Stamps.  
2. Card Stock: Green and Red-AC Cardstock; White-Staples.
3. Decorative Paper: Red Flocked-Anna Griffin.   
4. Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908) Stampin’ Up.
5. Embellishments: Assorted Christmas Ribbons; Red Pearls-Kaiser Craft.
6. Other: Copic Markers; Dimensional Adhesive Squares; Labels Eight (S5-019), Deckled Mega Rectangles Large (S5-015), Small Labels (S4-169) Spellbinders Nestibilities Dies.

 Instructions:

On white CS stamp the Log Reindeer with Chocolate Chip ink.  Color the images with Copic Markers.  Cut the stamped images with the dies.  Cut out layers using the next largest sized dies.  Cut two from green CS and one from Flocked Red DP.    Add the stamped pieces with dimensional squares.  Add ribbons.  Add the Red Pearls to the Reindeer’s nose. 

And , here is the third gift tag:

Now, won't these look cute on  a package?  I think they will dress up a plain wrapping paper nicely.  I have all my Christmas cards finished and now I have to address all the envelopes and get them out in the mail.  I had better get busy!!  Have a great day!  Love ya.

Karen

Digital Poinsettia From Blockheads Stamps

Hello and happy Friday!
Here were go with another Christmas card today.  This card is made with a digi image from Blockhead Stamps.   I colored the image with Copic and Le Plume Markers.

 Materials List:

Poinsettia from the A2 Card Set 1Digi Stamps- Blockhead Stamps

Solar White CS -Neenah Classic Crest

Copics:

    R02

    R05

    R35

    R59
    Y06

    YG63

    YG67

Le Plume Markers:

    AG871

    AG875

Red and Black Cardstock

Glitter pearls

Sheer Red Ribbon

Print the image from the computer.  Let the ink dry before coloring with the markers.  The R-Copic markers were used to color the flower and the word "JOY".  The YG Copics were used to color the leaves.  Color the center of the flower with Y06.  The Le Plume AG markers were used to color the background.  The image was layered with white and black CS.  And, then placed on a white card base layered with red CS.

I added a sheer red ribbon bow and some glitter pearls for accents.  

I can't believe how fast this year went by and it is already December.  Well, I will try to enjoy each day!  LOL.   Love ya!
Karen

Shimmer, Sparkle, and Shine Challenge With The Stampsmith

Hi Everyone,
The time is here for a new Stampsmith Challenge.  Hope you all enjoyed the blog hop last month.  Check out the winners and Top Three over on the Challenge blog.  We had some lovely entries last month.

AND, THE WINNERS ARE:

Random.org says last month's challenge winner is... #10 Cathy at Cathy's Corner!! Congratulations - you get to select a sheet of rubber!! Please contact Valerie for all of the details (her link is in the sidebar of the Stampsmith Challenge Blog).

In honor of our anniversary, we have also put the names of everyone who left a comment on any of the Stampsmith or Designers' blogs into a hat and drew a SECOND WINNER!!  Congratulations Dawn at Crafty Dawn - you also get to select a sheet of rubber!!  Please contact Valerie for all of the details (her link is in the sidebar of the Stampsmith Challenge Blog).

And, now, on with the new Challenge for December.   The new theme is:

Shimmer, Sparkle, and Shine

You have all month to complete your project and link it up on the Challenge blog.  As always, a top three and a random winner will be picked.  Oh, you have to use at least one Stampsmith Stamp.  I used the image "Grace Christmas" for my Shimmery, Sparkly, and Shinny card.    

Grace was stamped with Vintage Sepia (VersaFine) on glossy white CS.  I layered the image with Rich Razzleberry (Stampin' Up).

On a piece of Blush Blossom CS (SU) I sprayed two different Glimmer Mists -Vintage Pink and Gold (Tattered Angels).  When dry, I added three rows of gold metallic ribbon and wrapped a piece of Green metallic ribbon around the CS.  This CS is glued to a card base of Rich Razzleberry.  Add the stamped unit. Tie a bow with the green ribbon and glue to card front.  Add dots of green Stickles (Ranger) to the background.  The camera does not really pick up the sparkle from the Glimmer Sprays.  But, it is there!

You will have all month to complete your project.  Let's see what you can come up with to inspire us!!  

Sparkly Christmas Card is also entered in a couple of my favorite challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Victorian Originals : Ribbon

Hope you are having a great day.  Click over and check out the other Stampsmith Design Teamies' cards.  Love ya.

Karen

Clean and Simple Christmas Card with The Stampsmith

Hi Everyone,
I have another Christmas card today.  I went very CAS (clean and simple) with this one.  I used a lovely stamp from The Stampsmith called "Grace Christmas"  I stamped the image on glossy white CS with black dye ink.

The card base is made from Real Red CS from Stampin' Up.  The flowers were cut off their stems, layered, and held together with a gold brad.  I picked up the flower bunches at Michael's for $1 each.

This is a super simplistic card.  As I was making it, I realized it just did not need anything else.  I love the contrast of the white and red CS.   I added a sentiment from My Favorite Things on the inside.

CAS Christmas is entered in the following challenges:
Fashionable Stamping: White Christmas
Paper Sundaes: Winter Wonderland
Stamptacular Sunday: Anything Christmas
Less is more: a bit of bling

Have a great day!  Love ya.  PS: Did not get any Christmas decorations up. I will have to work on this during the week.
Karen