Monday, August 31, 2009

Happy Birthday

I made this birthday card for a girl friend. She is a wonderful person in every way! She is funny, smart, caring, generous, and supportive to everyone who knows her. She doesn't like traditional 'girl' colors, so I selected these-blues and greens!
The card stock (plain and pattern) is from Stampin' Up!. The ribbon is from Paper Trey Ink. The stamp set is from Flourish. I stamped the 'cake' image on retired SU pattern paper. I used white craft ink and white embossing powder to make the 'cake' image p o p. I matted the pattern paper onto solid card stock, and then tied a ribbon around the matted card stock. The greetings came with the stamp set. I thought this card had a simple flare to it. Thanks for looking.
I found some wonderful paper and this most chic Christmas stamp set yesterday. I can't wait to play with all my stuff! I should have a Christmas card or two finished and photographed by next week. I will be working on a Halloween card (or two) for my mom's Red Hatters Club. Please come back and have a look! If you see anything you like, or inspires you, please leave a comment. They really make my day!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Apology Card

I had a card class at my home, here in Tijeras, New Mexico this past Friday. We got a late start, ate dinner, and so we finished very late. I made these cards for my class attendees to apologize for not keeping an eye on the clock. I also enclosed a coupon for any class they attend this year. I felt really bad for the late hour we finished. If you didn't know the time, everyone appeared to have a wonderful time. We learned how to make four different cards, and visit with other ladies who love crafting. And no one had to cook dinner!
The Medallion stamp is too large to do the 'rock and roll' technique. So, I inked the stamp with a brayer using Crushed Curry and used the Dusty Durango marker to add some color on the outer edge of the stamp. I have to give credit to Sheryl J. for the inspiration. I was cruising Split Coast Stampers and saw her card.
I'm on my way to a stamp workshop. I'm looking for some inspiration in completing a retro-christmas card. So, if all goes well, I will be posting that card soon. Please come back and have a look. Thanks for visiting and having a look. :)

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Secret Crafters Challenge #46


I was looking around the web for a different/new challenge. I stumbled upon Secret Crafter. The challenge this week (#46) is a color challenge - turquoise and brown. So, I took a look through my crafting supplies...and this is what I have found to put together! A majority of the card stock is from Stampin' Up!. The background paper is from heidi grace designs -Wildflowers Shimmer with Glitter paper. The stamped image is from Stamping Bella. (This is a new line of stamps that they had come out with earlier this year.)
I originally purchased the stamp for a home decor item I want to alter. I put chunky glitter on the fairies wings. I 'colored' the image with blender pens. This is also my first attempt at doing an accordion flower. I think it looks pretty good. However, I need to figure out how to keep the flower down. It keeps popping up.
There is a lady that I work with, and over time, we have become friends. She is one of those persons, who makes me laugh at the craziest things. Her name is Melissa. I would like to dedicate this card to her. Thank you for looking. :)

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Stamping 411 Challenge

I have completed another card from another challenge. This time, I decided to try my hand at the challenge for this week from Stamping 411. This looked pretty fun, so what the heck.
I was searching a local craft store for some brown flock, when I came across a totally cute Christmas stamp set from Hero Arts. Hero Arts has been doing some adorable oriental girl doll stamps. The stamp set I chose is Holiday Dolls. I thought this set would be fun to work with, so I purchased it. Ok, so you know that I said I originally went into this local craft store for some brown flock (to flock a reindeer) well, I spent alot more than flock costs, if you know what I mean... I also like to use non-traditional Christmas colors in my Christmas cards. Everyone can make a green and red card, or a silver and blue card. But what about a pink and green card? Anyway, I just had to create a card using this stamp set. I would like to dedicate this card to my friend Morgan. She use to live in Japan, and doesn't have one bad story about the time she spent there.
The solid card stock I used, is from Stampin' Up! The pattern paper is from momenta. I used stamps from two different sets and two different companies. The greeting is from Stampin' Up! - Heritage Holiday (retired). The oriental doll is from Hero Arts - Holiday Dolls. The buttons are from Close to My Heart - Winter collection. The velvet ribbon is from Lasting Impressions - cashew. I used watercolor pencils to 'color' the doll, and a brown ink to stamp.
Thank you for looking, and have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Mojo Monday Challenge


I would start by telling you all how busy this week has been, or how I haven't found time to craft. But, why start? Everyone has busy lives, and so let me share the good stuff :)
I am having fun participating in Mojo Monday challenges. But this week, they are celebrating their 100 anniversary! So, every day this week, they are posting a different challenge. I selected the challenge from Monday. I thought I could do something really nice with this layout.
I am participating in at least two different craft fairs this holiday season. So, I decided that I should probably start on my holiday cards. I just the love the 'vintage' look of this stamp sets: Winter Post and Heritage Holiday. This is the card I am submitting. I created the 'cracked' look by heat embossing the stamped cardstock with Ultra Thick Embossing powder 3 times. Placed the embossed card stock in the freezer for a few minutes, then bent the cold card stock. The cracks occur from the bending of the embossed, cold card stock. I think it adds to the vintage look.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Nacho Average Stampers weekly challenge

I have joined 3 different yahoo 'groups' to help me with being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. The challenge for this week, and for this group is to use a new stamp set that will be revealed in the holiday mini catalog due out Sept 01,2009.
Here in Albuquerque, balloon season is right around the corner. Albuquerque hosts the International Balloon Fiesta every year in October. As a host city, we have 500/+ balloonist from all over the country and from various countries all over the world, who attend every year. As a community, we support and attend these week long events. Once I saw this stamp set, I had to have it! :) I hope you like what I came up with. It is a 'post-card' to support the balloonists. I used kraft card stock, along with two of the new in-colors: melon mambo and soft suede. I used the new melon mambo ribbon to give it that finished touch. (ok, so I add ribbon/buttons to everything. They are my favorite embellishments.)

Baby Shower Card

What can I say, I just love this color combination - kraft, certainly celery and sage shadow! I first saw the use of these colors on the Paper Trey Ink blog.
I was invited to a baby shower this past weekend, and this is the card I made for the new mom-to-be. (She is having a baby boy.) I think this color combination works.
The solid card stock is from Stampin' Up!. The stamp sets used were Friends 24-7, and Punches Three (retired). The ribbon is very vanilla from Stampin' Up!. The certainly celery card stock was run through a texture plate by Stampin' Up!. The button is from the collection of random buttons I had sitting on my craft table. To make the background, I used a hybrid inkpad in New Canvas from Palette. The 'bundle of joy' image was stamped in Sage Shadow from Stampin' Up!. I used some twine I had laying around to tie the button.
Thanks for looking!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

W'ink Card Club

I host a card club, W'ink, that meets on the third Saturday each month. We have friendly competitions every now and then. This month, we are decorating 'box'es from a template. You choose your template (there are three different styles) copy your template onto your card stock, and decorate your 'box' with Stampin' Up! supplies (paper, stamps, ribbon, brads, altered chipboard, etc. there is no limit) Here is my sample. I saw this color combination on the Paper Trey Ink blog. I used two different stamp sets (Friends 24-7 & Seeing Spots) and I used 2 different punches (scallop square & 1 1/4" circle). I added vanilla ribbon and a green button.
If you are member of the W'ink Card Club, please add a comment to this post and receive a special prize. However, the comment must be posted by the end of the month. :)

Friday, August 14, 2009

Shoe Box Swap


TGIF! I finally received the stamp set that I have been wanting since the new catalog came out! I don't know what it is about this stamp set that makes it so appealing. Its like my chandelier stamp. Its a random object, but there is this creative 'pull' to use it. :)
I have a shoe box swap tonight with other Stampin' Up!demonstrators. I wanted to make a simple, but classy card. So, here it is. I hope that you like it.
I used soft suede card stock as the base, and layered Kraft on top of that. I stamped the image in soft suede on white card stock. Layered the stamped image on pretty in pink and rose red card stock. The ribbon is the new soft suede ribbon. I used the boho punch to punch en Francais stamped flowers. Layered two of the flowers on top of each other. Used a tiny pink rhinestone brad to hold them together. The 'material' on the mannequin form is clear micro beads. Pretty cute, huh?

close-up

This is a close-up of the mannequin so you can really see the micro-beads.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Cards with Movement Class

Here it is! The last card for the 'Cards with Movement' Class. It is a water-fall card. I actually finished the card Monday night. However, I am not a real pro on photography. So, I needed to wait until I had some really good light. With my busy schedule, I was not able to photograph it until today. For top panel, the witches hat has dimensional glaze on it. The second panel has three ghosts, who have snow white flocking on them. I thought it gave them a fluffy dimension. (They feel like crushed velvet :) The third panel has a bird with a mask on, holding a pumpkin bucket. The bird is colored blue and the pumpkin bucket is orange. The last panel has a skeleton with a dog biting his leg. The dog is colored Sahara sand. Pull the ribbon and the images will flip so you can see them! This card was really fun to make and I'm sure it will put a smile on the recipients face.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Late Night Stampers Challenge

I joined a Stampin' Up! group on-line. They are called the Late Night Stampers. They post various things; messages, challenges, events, etc. Well, they have a challenge this week. Its called monochromatic. You can only use one color, various shades of that color are allowed. And the only neutral color you can use is either whisper white or very vanilla. The main idea for this challenge, is to use your favorite color. Well, my two favorite colors are red and purple. I thought that either of those colors used in this challenge would be to much of a challenge. So, I opted for a color that I haven't seen used too often: yellow. I also needed to make a birthday card for a very lovely lady, so I combined both tasks into one! This is my entry into the challenge. I used blender pens to 'color' the stamped image. (I didn't want the stamped image to take away from the card as a whole.) I used diamond glaze to adhere the glitter on the frosting of the cupcakes. I wanted the glitter to really stand-out. I really like how my card turned-out, and I hope you do too. :}

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Mojo Monday Challenge

Howdy! This is my entry to the Mojo Monday week 98 Challenge. I purchased the stamp set Sense of Time from Stampin' Up! when it was in the mini catalog. I just HAD to have it. Once I got the stamp set, I didn't have any card ideas. So, I sat down at my crafting table and I was determined to use this wonderful stamp set. This is what I cam up with. I hope you like it. I think its great!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Make your own Princess Purse




This is my favorite party favor! It is absolutely cute! This is the purse party favor that was made at my 'High Style' card collection workshop in June. (Hint: print the pattern below onto your cardstock.)


Click Here for supplies list !


Click Here to download & print pattern

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Mojo Mondays

Hello! So far the week has been a bit extra busy. But, for those of you who know me, that won't stop me from taking time to craft! I like to look at different hosting sites, that have contests in paper crafting. This gives me ideas and inspiration using different supplies. I usually 'look', but this time its different! One of my 'go-to' sites is Mojo Monday. They hosts a challenge every Monday. They provide the sketch and you create something great and post your entry. At Mojo Monday, the first Monday of each month, the challenge has a twist, it is a contest. They are providing a free stamp set from verve stamps to each winner. Mojo Monday is giving away one prize for every 50 entries. I am entering and I encourage every one who can, to enter. This blogspot is: Mojo Monday.blogspot.com These challenges are 'closed' on the Sunday of that week. So, grab your crafting supplies and create something great! I'll post my entry here, when I finish. Check back to see what I have created!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Cards with Movement Class

The theme to this card class is 'cards with movement'. There are four cards, but I have only finished three of them, so far. (This has been a busy weekend.) The top left card, is a Shaker card. I added light blue glitter to the 'shaker' material (dazzling diamond glitter and clear micro beads). I thought it added a splash of color to the vanilla and grays. The bottom left card, is a Suspension card. The punched flower spins around when the card is opened. I added a rhinestone brad to the center of the flower to give it a little bling. :) The card on the right, is a Double Slider card. When the card is 'closed', the flower stamped piece and the pink stamped piece, actually slide inside the card. (I photographed the card opened.) These cards were fun to create and assemble. I will be working on the Waterfall card this week. Please check back later this week, and hopefully you like what you see! I will be teaching this card class at my home, here in New Mexico, on August 28th. Space is limited to 10 people. There is a non-refundable fee of $15. Please contact me if you have any questions, and to hold your space.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Altered Clip Board Class

This is the project class for this month. It is an altered clip board, to keep you organized for the 'back-to-school' season! The clip board is standard size (9" x 12 1/2"). The clip board has a Stampin' Up! note pad, a cork pad with three decorated push pins, a 'tear-away' calendar and two decorated clips. This class is being held at my home in New Mexico, on Aug 22nd. Space is limited to 10 people. There is a non-refundable fee of $20. RSVP by Aug 15th. Contact me if you have any questions, and to hold your space.

Spot-Light Technique & Chalkboard Technique

These are the cards we will be making this month @ card club.
The first card uses the Viola stamp set. The technique is 'spot-light'. I used blender pens to color the spot lit image. I added some hardware to the ribbon and a brad to the slit, to give the card a little extra bling!
The second card uses the Best Wishes & More stamp set and the greeting is from the One of a Kind stamp set. The technique is 'chalkboard'. I used sponge daubers to pick up the chalk to color the images.
I haven't decided the other item for card club, yet. I can't decide between a quick note card or an altered chip board project. Check back soon, because I'll have to make up my mind this week :}

August 1st

It's August 1st-that means the Aug newsletter is due. I have been working on both the cards for club and the projects for classes. I have finished the cards, I just need to get them photographed :) I am now working on the projects. These will all be posted this weekend. The newsletter will be out by Sunday evening. The Holiday Card Collection Camp is filling up fast! So, if you are interested let me know ASAP, as seating is limited. Contact me for a registration form. Enjoy your weekend, and craft something that makes you smile! Come back to check out the cards and projects for August!