Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Sharing a fall lovely!

Hi there. Welcome to my blog. Thanks for stopping by.

I want to share a lovely fall card with you today. This card uses some of my favorites: fall leaves (I do love fall), several of my favorite and well used Spellbinders dies, and these delicious papers by The Paper Company.



This turned out to be a very Clean and Simple card. The center panel is Autumn Harvest Wheat Flourish mounted onto black cs. The small leaves were centered over the printed leaves on the Autumn Harvest Falling Leaves paper before cutting/embossing with Spellbinders Nested Maple Leaf dies. The leaves were mounted onto the reverse shimmery side of the same papers which were cut/embossed with Spellbinders Labels Four and that was mounted onto black cs cut/embossed with Spellbinders scalloped rectangles. These papers are so beautiful, with a metallic flourish, which I don't think you can really see in the photo. The inside of the card was also decorated with another three leaves cut/embossed from the shimmery copper paper.

What do you think?

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Steppin' Out!


I have been creating, it is just things I can't share with you . . . yet!

This card, I can share.

I have a problem. I love high heels, can't wear them, but I can stamp them! I love this stamp set and thought the color combo was perfect to use with it today.

The shoe is stamped onto shimmery white cs with Versamark Dazzle Frost ink and embossed with Lana Pink by Sparkle N Sprinkle. I used the pretty in pink marker to go over elements of the shoe to make it pop. The image was cut out with Spellbinders circle and mounted onto Spellbinders Fleur de Lis pendant. I backed the ribbon with pretty in pink cs and going grey cs. The card front is embossed with a Sizzix folder. The sentiment was stamped onto pretty in pink cs with the Frost ink and embossed. I cut it into the strip and then cut/embossed the end using the Spellbinders Fleur de Lis borderabilities, rounded the other ends and added Crystal Stickers Mosaic tiles to the ribbon and to the sentiment.

What do you think? I love reading your comments.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

A different color combination


but do you think it works? It's interesting.

I stamped the image with Melon Mambo ink onto white cs, coloring in the leaves with the crushed curry marker, then I cut/embossed it using an oval Spellbinders die. It is mounted onto a black oval and popped up. The duo color bg is embossed with Spellbinders Floral and Stone impressabilities with a border of Fleur de Lis. I think the black helps tie it together and makes it pop. What do you think?

Monday, September 21, 2009

Make your own buttons

Today I made a faux button to match my card. It really is easy, just takes a little patience, which I am not good at. lol Punch out five layers of cardstock (it doesn't have to be anything grand) and one punch out of your designer paper. Glue the layers together with the dp on top. Allow to dry (this is the patience part). I could have let mine dry a bit longer. Once dry, sand the edges to make them "one" and give a better appearance of a button. I colored the edge of my button with a black sharpie. Then punch holes. I used the crop-a-dile as it easily punches through multiple layers. Then cover top entirely with crystal effects, being careful to leave your holes open. PATIENTLY allow this to dry thoroughly, or if you are like me, let it dry most of the way and then move on. lol I used black embroidery floss to tie onto my button. Here is something I learned just a bit too late - I marked the holes on the back of my button and punched. Then I turned it over and noticed the buttons weren't level and where I would have wanted them with this pattern of paper. Most patterns probably wouldn't even matter.

The piano image is from a friend, Dawn Mercedes. I used Tim Holtz tea dye distress ink on the edges and mounted it onto black. The right side of the Bravo Burgundy card front is embossed with the Cuttlebug Textile Texture folder. The music panel is mounted on black cs as well. It is a fairly simple card, but takes time and patience.

Now I seriously need to take some time to clean up my stamp room! It has gotten really bad and I am losing things. lol It's gonna take a while.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,
Karen

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Step by step

Double Aperture Triangle Fold Box


You can create these boxes in any size you wish. They are great for small treats or gifts like jewelry.

Supply list:
Spellbinders Nesting Pine Tree S4-220
Spellbinders Holiday Cheer S4-225
Color Core Cardstock by Core’dinations
Green Shimmer Paper by The Paper Company
Ribbon by Creative Impressions
Brad by Creative Impressions
Holiday Tags Stamp Set by Hero Arts
Smooch Moonlight by Colorbox
Glitter Winter Frost by Colorbox
Clear envelope
Clear embossing powder
Dark Green pigment ink


For this sample, cut a piece of cardstock 6 X 12”. Score at 6” and fold. Mark center of each end (3”) and score from that mark to the edge of center fold on each side, creating a triangle. Do this to both ends of the cardstock. Fold on scored lines.





Position die template on front of box, centering in triangle created by folds. Use repositionable tape to hold in place. Cut/emboss.




Cut a triangle just slightly smaller than the one created for the front of the box from the lighter green cardstock.

Apply a thin layer of adhesive to the edges of the lighter cardstock and adhere to the inside of the box. Position smaller tree die template onto lighter green cardstock and cut/emboss.







Cut a piece of acetate to cover the opening and adhere to the inside of the box. I actually used part of a clear envelope.



Fold along center and bring sides together, overlapping front over back. Mark position about ½” from top and centered and punch hole through all layers. Do the same on the other side.



Cut/emboss stocking from shimmery green cardstock. If desired, use Smooch to highlight the snowflakes, heel and toe and add glitter. Stamp front of box. Use brad to attach stocking to box front.

Fill with your small gift or treat.



Thread 16” length of ribbon through the holes, beginning at the outside of one side, through both layers, and from the inside to the outside on the other side. Tie ribbon into bow.




I hope you will try this fun little project. I know you will love it.

Hugs,
Karen

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Fun gift bag


Hi there! Thanks for stopping by.

Here is a little gift bag I created and thought I would share with you. The base for the bag is a white lunch bag. See that cute border on the bottom. Do you know how it was created? I do. Oh, you want to know too! All right. To create this border, I used the Spellbinders eyelets borderabilities. One of them cuts both edges, and one cuts only one edge. For this border I used the one edge one and ran a strip of card stock through twice, cutting both edges,and meeting in the middle. Wasn't that a clever idea? LOL I like how it turned out. Do you? I used the Spellbinders scalloped circle to cut/emboss the main panel with the tree. I used Copic Spica glitter pens for a little bling on the trunk and on the hearts.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Happy Birthday Wendy!!!!!!


Today is my beautiful daughter's birthday. I won't tell you how old she is so you won't know how old I am! lol I made this card for her because she loves a little bling and she loves loves loves shoes. So for this card I used a shoe stamp and added Spica pens for the shine on the shoes and the glitter domes for even more appeal. Of course I stamped in red because red shoes are so awesome, aren't they? The red and white gingham is wrapping paper I used on her gift so it would be all matchy matchy! Am I clever, or what? LOL I hope my darling daughter has a most beautiful day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Baby Mia


What is sweeter than a new baby? Not much! They smell so sweet (most of the time) and they are so soft and snuggly! Delicious! I made this card featuring a photo of my great niece. I used Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Pendant because I think it is so feminine and lacy, the perfect compliment to a picture of a beautiful little lady. See what a perfect frame this die creates! I think that is awesome! What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Looking for a baby!


Hi there! This is an unusual post for my blog, but I need to help my sweet niece Kelly find a baby to adopt. I thought I would just throw this out here and see if anyone knows of a baby that needs a wonderful home with a loving Mommy and Daddy. If you do, please contact me: carrotsoup@hotmail.com. Thanks!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Hope


For this card, I stamped the sentiment with eggplant ink and then cut/embossed with Spellbinders Labels 4. I wanted it to stand out a bit more, so I used my marker to color the embossed edge. I also wanted to mat it with the old olive, but didn't want that solid paper covering the background stamp, so I cut the larger label from vellum and then sponged the color on the back. I got that color, without the density of the card stock. Oh yeah, that's what I wanted. I added the bow and popped the sentiment up with dimensionals. The background is a stamp by Hero Arts which I colored with markers to get both the eggplant and the olive onto it. The card is mounted onto Elegant Eggplant. What do you think?

Friday, September 4, 2009

Something simple

I was just introduced to "scraplings". I had never heard that term before, but it is to basically take a scrap of cardstock 8 X 1-1/2 and make a little note card. I had never tried that size before, but was up for the challenge. Here is what I came up with. I stamped the guitar guy using versamark ink and detail black embossing powder. The full image wouldn't fit on the width of the cardstock, but I think there is enough you get the idea. Rock star was stamped onto white using red pigment ink, clear embossed and punched out. Kind of flimsy. I wanted the black to just peek around the edges, so I mounted it onto black and used scissors to cut the outline. Oh yeah, that's better. So here you have my little Guitar Guy note card. It makes for a great bookmark, don't you think?

Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon.

Hugs,
Karen

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Sandy beach


Today SCS challenge was to incorporate sand or sanding into your creation. I love to sand core'dinations cardstock, so I surprised myself by choosing to create this beach scene with Copic markers and the air brush system. Silly me, I airbrushed the scene and then realized I couldn't stamp the image on it or the background would show through. Hmmmmm, what to do? Not a mistake, but another creative opportunity. lol So, I stamped the image, cut it out and affixed it to the locket. I like the look a lot. What do you think?

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

And laying a finger aside of his nose

I love this Santa from Stampers Anonymous and thought he would be great for today's sketch. I stamped him onto vanilla cardstock with riding hood red ink, then used a sponge with tea dye distress ink and a little more riding hood red to distress it. I cut/embossed it with Spellbindersd large deckled rectangles and matted it with the same shape. The dotted paper was cut/embossed with Spellbinders Curved Rectangles and ink distressed in the same way. The bg dp is also distressed before being mounted onto the riding hood red card. I added the striped grosgrain ribbon and there you have it. I hope you like it. Thanks for looking!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Sympathy

I used some unusual colors for this card, don't you think?


I cut/embossed the leaves using Spellbinders Nested Maple Leaf. After inking the stamp with markers, I stamped the sentiment onto the largest leaf, then sponged with Melon Mambo ink. I cut another of the largest leaves from the Melon Mambo paper and layered it behind. The card front is embossed with D'Vine Swirls and mounted onto crushed curry cardstock. I popped some of the smaller leaves up with dimensionals. I also put one of the leaves on the inside of the card.


The stamp is from JustRite and is from the Thinking of You Set.


I hope you like it. Thanks for stopping by!