Friday, March 30, 2012

Unity Friends With Flair

 It is Friday and it is Unity- Friends with Flair.  Unity has had some fantastic sales of late and I have taken advantage of a few of them.  This stamp set Quiet Essence was part of my most recent purchase.  I just loved this set for that lovely diamond background, the gorgeous flowers and the sentiments.  Today I made two CAS cards with two of the flowers in this set and two different sentiments. I stamped the flowers with tuxedo black, Memento ink and colored with Copic markers.  I added some gold glitter highlights to each using Sakura stardust pens. I decided to fussy cut out the images and pop dot them off the background (stamped in bamboo shoots, Memento).
I love this sentiment "the quieter you become the more you can hear".  Sometimes we just need to stop and be still, not get so worked up and convincing ourselves that we can't do something, but get quiet and hear, you will hear, if you allow yourself to.  Sometimes we need to get quiet so we can observe what is going on around us, the feelings of others, we don't need to fill all the space with noise.  Take time and become quiet and see what you can "hear".
For this card, I colored the diamonds on the edge of the background with the gold glitter pen.  Up close it gives a very nice shine.  I love the saying "a smile is the beginning of peace" , think about the last time you say someone with a genuine smile, the one on their face and in their eyes, how did it make you feel?  It melts away everything else, didn't it?  I am so happy you stopped by today.  Please leave me a comment, I love to hear from you.  Have a great weekend and smile.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Inspired Stamps- Release Week

This week is release week at Inspired Stamps.  The DT members will be posting throughout the week using different Inspired Stamp set that will be available at the Inspired Stamps store at noon of Friday.  Today I used the new God's Creatures: Pet set.  I believe that people were asked which pets they would like to be seen in this set.  We have these cute dogs included below.  Belinda used another cute little dog in her project.  There is a bunny and two cats.  There are sentiments that include "congrats on your new pet", sympathy for loss of pet, and general fun sayings, " I love my dog", " I love my cat"  etc... This is a really fun set to work with.  There are also icon stamps, including the paw print that I used to depict "muddy" paw prints after playing outside.

Frame cut from Elegant frames, Cricut
Stamps:  God's Creatures:Pets, Inspired Stamps
Ink:  Tuxedo black Memento; Versa Mark ink
Paper: white cardstock, Georgia Pacific, black carstock, The Paper Company;
light blue card base, DCWV
Techniques: Coloring with Copics and chalk for paw print
Make sure to see other DT blogs throughoout the week.  Check out Belinda's project today using this same cute Pet set.  Make sure to visit Inspired Stamps store at noon on Friday to purchase all the sets that have demonstrated this week by the DT.  I hope you enjoyed my puppy card, thank you so much for dropping by and visiting and have a great week.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Unity- Friends with Flair

It is Friday and Friends with Flair.  I decided to stamp on cotton poplin fabric with chalk inks.  I chose to use the Delight in Beauty set.  I just love all the butterflies and the different textural patterns.  I chose to color block the background with similar cardstock colors as the ink I chose and embossed the background with a Sizzix embossing folder. Fray the edges of the cotton, add a ribbon and voila.

Stamps:  Delight in Beauty, Unity
Ink: Sea Breeze, Aloe Vera, Spring Pansy, Sahara Sand, Versa Magic
Paper: aqua mist, spring moss, PTI; purple scrap; close to cocoa, SU!
cotton poplin printable fabric, JoAnn Fabric
Embellishments: ribbon
Tools: Sizzix embossing folder
Let me know what you think and have a great weekend.  We will try to stay dry here, lots and lots of rain today.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Inspired Stamps HLO plus Scripture Challenge

It is Thursday and the Inspired Stamps DT was challenged to use a His Little One (HLO) image of our choice and a scripture, I chose Romans 8:28.  I find this is a good one to ponder when you are going through tough times and are unsure how things will work out.  Romans 8:28 tells us that "God will cause all things to work together for good".  I just love that, don't you?

I stamped Thankful Girl on dp and cut out pieces of her wardrobe.
I colored her hair, face, hands and shoes with Copic markers.
Finished card size is 5.5 X 5.5.

Stamps: Thankful Girl HLO, Romans 8:28 $3.99 Scripture, Inspired Stamps.
Ink: tuxedo black and rich cocoa, Memento.
Paper: dp Echo Park, Life is Good; cardstock, chocolate chip, SU!; summer sunrise, PTI, parchment, unknown.
Embellishments: lace trim, hobby lobby; spiral clip, unknown
Techniques:  distressing  and hole piercing, paper piecing; coloring with Copic markers.


Please let me know what you think of this sweet girl decked out for spring, with all the spring papers in the background. I had fun distressing the edges with my PC Chizlet tool.  Please check out all the other DT blogs to see their fabulous creations and please make sure to come back and join us next week where each DT member will be designing projects from new release stamp sets.  Each day next week will have a new release, don't miss it.  Have a great day!  Come back and visit soon.

 

Friday, March 16, 2012

Unity- Friends with Flair

It is Friday and time for Friends with Flair.                       

  I tried something new "to me" for this weeks post.  I used Distress ink to make the background for my image.  I used tumbled glass and peeled paint.  I touched the ink pad to my Ranger matte and spritzed with water, then layed my watercolor paper in inky area and lifted.  This is what I got, which I think looks like the grass and sky (which is what I wanted).  I stamped mailbox image and colored with pens and markers.  I cut a flag from Spellbinders pendants and flag die set and stamped sentiment and added three dots of liquid pearl. The background paper is DCWV.  I added a little green for St. Patrick's Day.

Sending my love, Unity; Labels 11, Flag, Spellbinders
scallop border, Fiskars, paper, DCWV

Enjoy your weeked.  Send some love my way by leaving me a comment.


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Inspired Stamps- DT post


Hello Everyone!  It is Spring break and we are having real Spring-like weather, which has inspired my card design today.  Today I chose to use two stamp sets:  Be Still Silhouettes and His Plans for You.  The Be Still Silhouettes was stamped in Versa mark ink and clear embossed and then inked.  It is very subtle but very pretty in person.  I am sorry my photo does not do this part justice.  I used Proverbs 3:56 for the scripture from the His Plans for You set.  This is one of my favorite verses and one that I find I need to say over and over to remind me that sometimes it is ok that I do not understand, because He does.  Isn't that just a great truth?  If we trust Him, He will direct our paths. 
I used a Fiskars butterfly punch and a Martha Stewart border punch.  The die is a Spellbinder die and the ink was rich cocoa, Memento.  I used a chocolate felt flower and a pink button.  I thought this looked "springy". 
Let me know what you think and please be sure to check out the other DT blogs and their great projects.  Also be sure to check out the Inspired Stamps store there is a 40% off coupon until later this week.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Liebster-"dearest" Share the love blog Award


 

 

 
I was so blessed to see that I had been selected to receive the Liebster Blog award by Sillyleanndesigns.
I had met her a few years ago at CHA .  It was quite the adventure, but a great time. I love to see what Leann creates, she has taken some time off from the crafting, she is a busy lady. She is expecting her third child in May, Congrats!  We wish you and your family many blessings.
I had a hard time picking my five blogs there are so many out there that I get inspiration from.  There are so many talented ladies out there sharing their passion for papercrafting.
KariG
I have had the priveledge of being on the Insired Stamps DT with Kari.  She is a very talented papercrafter.  I love her style.  The images she uses are images that I either have chosen for myself or so would.  It is so much fun to go to her blog to see what she comes up with and her coloring with Copics are incredible.
The Paper Parade
Jessica and I met this past summer at a PTI event.  I have been following her blog ever since.  She has such a fun style.  I love seeing her new creations.
The Card Yard
Suzanne and I met at the same PTI event.  I have been following her blog ever since as well.  I love her cards, they are always so gorgeous.
Delightful Details
I have been following Natalie for quite some time.  She has a gorgeous style.  She always has something to share about her sweet family as well.
Antoinette owns her own clear stamp company called Inspired Stamps.  These stamps are made here in the USA and are of excellent quality.  She designs her own stamps and has a release nearly every month.  Her blog showcases new techniques and projects using her stamp line.  Currently she is offering 40% off the most expensive item in your cart, so if you haven't tried her stamps before, now is the time.
I would also like to give a shout out to Sara Mac at The Unhurried Life, she has a lovely CAS design style.  I would give her this award, but she received it from Silly Leann as I did.
I would like to give a shout out to Christina at Sea Glass and Sentiments.  She has such gorgeous cards.  She is so talented.  I could not give her this award, since she has more than 200 followers but please check out her blog and the others I have listed you will love their work.

 
 
Liebster' is German for 'dearest'. The award is a 'share-the-love' arrangement, given to inspirational bloggers with less than 200 followers.

Here's the to-do list of any Liebster award recipient:
  • Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
  • Reveal your five blogger picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog
  • Copy and paste the award on your blog (see above)
  • Hope that those you award forward it to their favorite bloggers.

 

Friday, March 9, 2012

Unity- Friends with Flair

I wanted to play with Unity- Friends with Flair today, but I was having trouble coming up with an idea. I have so much that I would love to play with but so little time.  Anyone feel like that?  I decided to create this tri-fold card and emboss the edge with a Sizzix edge folder.  I wasn't sure what to do with it next, ink it, chalk it, leave it alone.  I chose to leave it alone.  I had cut a piece of Tim Holtz grunge paper with a My Favorite Things spiral flower die. I inked it to match rick rack trim and added a rhinestone to the center.
I used stamps from the Faith set for both the outside and inside of the card.

Stamped large notecard image with rich cocoa and the circle heart in rhubarb stalk, Memento. 
I colored a white button with Copics to match the rick rack trim.

I used a My Favorite Things die and stamped Faith sentiment in rich cocoa, Memento.  I added another heart
circle stamped in rhubarb stalk and punched out with one inch punch.
I wanted to thank all you lovely Unity ladies for sharing the love and commenting on my cards the last few weeks and a BIG thanks to Unity for choosing my comment two weeks ago.  I received my prize package earlier this week.  My DH said, "anyone who sends stamps to his wife is a friend of his"  so a BIG thanks from him as well.  Have a great weekend.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Inspired Stamps- Easter Card

Hello Everyone, it is Thursday and time for the Inspired Stamps DT post.  This week we were asked to create Easter cards.  I decided to make a pop up card.  I thought it would be a great effect to open the card and have the cross pop up.  I stamped the pop up section with Names of Jesus background stamp and the sentiment and cross from His Cross set, Inspired Stamps.

Scripture is from His Wounds, Inspired Stamps.  I stamped the nails
onto silver duct tape (purchased from local hardware store).
I cut out shape and wrapped in twine.  I added liquid pearls to center
of punched flowers.

Inside of card with pop up cross from His Cross set, Inspired Stamps.
I colored the image with Copic markers. I stamped the sentiment and punched out
of cardstock and cut rounded bottom edge off so it would sit flat and added punched flowers.
This card was fun to make and I love the look of the cross pop up.  Hope you enjoyed.  Let me know what you think and please be sure to check out the other DT for their fabulous creations.  Also be sure to check out Antoinette's blog for 31 days of mixed media tutorials.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Unity- Friends with Flair

It is Friday and time to play with Unity- Friends with Flair.  Tonight I wanted to try a new card fold.  I love it, but boy was it hard to photograph.  I am not sure what it is called, but as you scroll down through the photos you can see that the center panel swings out and you can place the sentiment on the backside.
I used Sing a New Song, Unity.  It contains six stamps, of which I used five for this card.


Card front, flat.
I embossed bird image with black embossing powder
and colored parts with Copic markers.  I stamped scallop
in buckaroo blue, SU!  I added black liquid pearls for some
dimension and shine.

Inside of card, open flat.
I stamped the sentiment in tuxedo black and the reeds in
rich cocoa, Memento.  I stamped music notes in tuxedo black off
to the side (hidden under panel when card is closed).

Front of card, standing open

Inside of card, standing open


I hope you liked my card.  Please let me know what you think.  I enjoy hearing from you all and have a wonderful weekend.


Thursday, March 1, 2012

Inspired Stamps-March Shape Up


Hello Everyone, Happy Thursday.  Today at Inspired Stamps, the DT has been challenged to create projects with shape stamps.  I have chosen to use Scenic View, Inspired Stamps.  This set has mountains, grass, water, clouds, a fence, among other scenic items.  I chose to create a window view of the mountains.  I used the Strength set for my sentiment.





Stamps:  Scenic View, Strength, Inspired Stamps
Ink:  Tuxedo black and rich cocoa, Memento and crushed olive, distressed ink Ranger
Paper:  White cardstock, Georgia Pacific
Tools:  Spellbinders label one
Embellishments:  liquid pearls and white enamel paint
Techniques:  coloring, Copic markers; inked sentiment label with distress ink; used pop dots for dimension

Thank you for stopping by, please leave me a comment and tell me what you think.  Also please stop by my fellow DT blogs to see their creative projects using shape stamps.  Hope you have a great day!