A few tree cards

I've got a few tree-themed cards today. For the first card, I decided to make my own leaves by using the brush tip of 3 different green Copics. It was actually pretty quick! I thought it needed a bit of POP, so I added the cute little red bird.


The second card uses some good old brayering. I went with Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, (possibly Really Rust?) Ruby Red, and a bit of Not Quite Navy to make the background. The trees are embossed with brown embossing powder.

Supplies:
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics, Through the Trees (Papertrey Ink)

DIY Floral Embellishments

A few days ago, I made my own floral embellishment. I really liked it, it was a lot of fun to make, but I didn't know what to do with it. I was thrilled to see what today's PTI contest was- make a sheet of floral embellishments and design a card using one! I quickly put together more embellishments based on the one I made earlier in the week.

I used Stampin' Up!'s Pretties kit (something I have maybe used once or twice). I inked up the flowers with the tea inks then stamped a polka dot or a text pattern in craft ink overtop. The final touch was to stamp a few cream buttons with brown Stazon and attach those to the flowers.
Designing a card around the embellishments wasn't too difficult. I kept with the vintage theme, using kraft, rustic cream and dark chocolate paper.


Supplies:
Stamps: Signature Greetings, Background Basics: Text Style I, Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: Chocolate Chip Craft, Dark Chocolate, Chamomile and Chai Tea
Paper: Kraft, Rustic Cream, Dark Chocolate
Accessories, etc.: Flowers, Polytwill, buttons, twine

Colour Challenge

I loved all the suggestions for today's colour challenge. I had limited time, so I picked one that I was sure I hadn't done before- Dark Chocolate, Raspberry Fizz, Scarlet Jewel, and Terracotta Tile. I really needed a bit of white for my planned card, so hopefully that's okay!



Supplies: Stamps: Blooming Button Bits
Paper: Bitty Box Basics (Raspberry Fizz), White, Terracotta Tile, Scarlet Jewel
Ink: Scarlet Jewel, Dark Chocolate, Terracotta Tile
Accessories, etc.: Chocolate satin ribbon, terracotta button, pop dots

Sketchy Paint by Number

When I saw this sketch I knew I needed to play along. There was a colour challenge element too, which added to the fun. My online username is typically tashers, so my colour challenge was this:
Here's my card- just a fun, quick, and simple friendship card.

Supplies:
Stamps: Friends 'Til the End
Ink: Fresh Snow, Spring Rain
Paper: Kraft, Enchanted Evening, Spring Rain, Bitty Box Basics in Aqua Mist
Accessories, etc.: White Grosgrain, button, thread

Raspberry Cupcake Kind of Day

Here's my take on this week's CPS sketch. I quite enjoy making square cards. I happened to have a piece of already stamped polka dot paper, so I decided to use that. I thought it would look really sharp with black. The rest of the card just kind of came together. It seemed like a cute idea to stamp more dots on the cupcake holder. The card measures 5x5.


Supplies:
Stamps: Cupcake Collection, Polka Dot Basics II, Faux Ribbon
Ink: Fresh Snow, True Black
Paper: Black, White, Raspberry Fizz
Accessories, etc.: Ribbon, String, pop dots, nestabilities, Copic markers, buttons

Hey there, chickadee!

Here's another card, from my "card-fest" last weekend.

Supplies:
Stamps: Everyday Classics, Petal Power, Everyday Button Bits
Ink: Fresh Snow, Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, Dark Chocolate
Paper: Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, Lemon Tart, Dark Chocolate, White
Accessories, etc.: Satin Ribbon, button, twine, scalloped and plain circle nestabilities

Emboss Resist

For some reason this simple technique always seems to take me a while to complete. It takes me forever to choose the background image, then the embossed image, and finally the colours. This card was actually take three. The first two never made it to completion.



Supplies:
Stamps: Background Basics: Textstyle, Floral Frenzy, Birthday Basics
Ink: Summer Sunrise, Orangerie, Dark Chocolate
Paper: Summer Sunrise, White, Dark Chocolate
Accessories, etc.: Clear EP, pearls, sponges, tag die

Celebrate Today!

Just a quick card to share today. I decided to print off Heather's cute cupcake design and make a bit of a hybrid birthday card.
Supplies:
Stamps: Cupcake Collection, Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: Summer Sunrise, Fresh Snow
Paper: White, Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides
Accessories, etc.: brown polytwill ribbon

A few button bits creations

Seriously, I cannot believe how cute this cupcake is! I know it's from a baby set, but I decided to piece together some sentiments to make it say what I wanted. I coloured the cupcake with Copics. I kept the layout very simple, adding a scalloped frame and embossed background. It really is all about the stamped image!


Since I had brought the markers out, I thought I'd colour this adorable teddy bear too. My original idea was to make it like a Care Bear. I stamped a little elephant from Bitty Baby Blessings on its belly. It didn't look as awesome as it should, in fact, it looked awkward- this floating elephant on a bear belly. So I decided to cover it up with this ultra cute button! I waffled with adding flock to the bear, but determined that would be too much.

Pom Pom Flowers

Well, I decided to check out a video tutorial on making these super trendy pom pom paper flowers. I was surprised by just how easy they are so I had to make a few!

First up, I decided to use up a bit of Basic Grey paper. I used the Blossom nestabilities die and cut out 6 flowers.

For my second one, I tracked down a book that I was willing to "donate" to papercrafting. I have multiple copies of The Secret Garden and this version was the dullest. I used the scalloped circle nestabilities die for this one. I also decided to keep things slightly vintage by using rustic cream cardstock and ruffling the ribbon.
That's all for now! It's been a very productive cardmaking weekend so far. I'm up to 8 and I think I may even make some more! Thanks for stopping by!

A few cards

I figured it was time for a mini stamp fest of sorts. Here are 2 of the 3 cards I made this evening. Be on the lookout for the third this Friday at clean & simple stamping. I just sat down and made whatever came to me. I had a few sketches that I used as inspiration, but it was really all about stamping for the fun of it. I really need to do more of that. It's not that I've got hung up on card calls or design team deadlines. I just haven't much felt like being creative. I guess work is a bit stressful, and probably will be for the next year or so. I need to remember to get back to art as a means of relaxation.

I am still loving these leaves from Turning a New Leaf. I don't think that's going to change ever. Leaves are so versatile! I thought orange, brown, and white, with a bit of bling would be nice.


So then, I was sitting there, thinking "what next?". And for some reason "fruit" came to mind. So I took out Fruitful and decided on the strawberries. I stamped the berries on vanilla instead of white to soften them a bit. Plus, I had this fabulous polka dot paper from the Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit (don't you love when you can use seasonal products for other occasions).

A few wedding cards

Well, today is my brother's wedding so I have a few wedding themed cards to share. Having been somewhat involved in the original invitation plans, I knew that yellow and grey were the wedding colours. So I figured I'd use those colours in my creations.

First up, I decided to make a hybrid project. I have the Together Forever stamp set, so I decorated my cardstock with that. I wanted their initials in the fancy circle element, but didn't have the right size font. I used the Stampin' Up colour swatches to make sure it would coordinate with my project once it was printed out.
This second card was 100% inspired by the amazing Silke Ledlow.

She has been doing amazing things with this stamp set. I modified my version somewhat: I used a different punch; I didn't have small silver brads, so I used rhinestones instead; the proportions are slightly different and I used Orange Zest ink and ribbon instead of Dusty Durango.

More leaves!

Seriously, I don't think I can get enough leaf stamps! I have loads of flowers, but I love leaves even more. They can be used for so many occasions! *Oh my goodness, I just came to look over my post, I cannot believe I spelled leaves wrong in my title.*


I had been meaning to make some fun patterned paper using these leaves from the Paradise set, some kraft cardstock, and some pigment heavy inks. After creating quite the swatch with at least 5 different kinds of ink, I settled on using mostly Palette inks. They show up nice and vibrant on the kraft cardstock. I stamped the leaves all over. Next I cut up the paper into 4 pieces 4x5.25 in size. I stamped a few more leaves (this time from Turning a new leaf) then stamped a Textstyle background image over it all in Sahara Sand. Finally, I coloured the edges with Chamomile tea ink. I decided to use some Vintage White cardstock, buttons and jute thread to complete the natural feel.

I had been trying to post more, however life has been bit hectic. Back in early November, my cat was diagnosed with Diabetes. It's been an interesting learning process. Things had been going so well, but she had a hypoglycemic episode the other night (at midnight of course!), so now we have to keep an even closer watch on her, and check her glucose levels more frequently. She is not a fan! And this all comes a mere week before I'm leaving for holidays. So basically, I'm just taking things one day at a time, and hopefully things will settle down by the end of the week.

Happy new year!

Anniversary Wishes!

Today is my parents' 32nd anniversary, so of course I needed a card for the occasion!

I was inspired by the upcoming mini. I saw a card in there and thought I'd try both the layout and colours. After I was done, it was just a bit too much, so I tried the same thing in slightly toned down colours.

Here's the original:Here's the one I'm actually going to use:



Supplies: Stamps: Heart Prints, Everyday Classics (papertrey ink)
Ink: Rosebud, Soft Suede, Fresh Snow, Ruby Red, Sahara Sand
Paper: Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, White, Pattern Pack III
Accessories, etc.: pop dots, scalloped punch, corner rounder

Some leafy goodness

I've made lots of cards lately, but I've been a tad lazy at getting them photographed and uploaded. Anyway, here is a design I decided to do in a few different colour schemes. It's quite a simple design. Basically I really wanted to make some of my own patterned paper with these leaf stamps. I added a little bit of colour using some small circle stamps.

Supplies:
Stamps: Turning a New Leaf, Birthday Basics, Polka Dot Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Ocean Tides, Spring Moss, Terracotta Tile, Vintage Cream
Paper: White, Kraft, Vintage Cream, Spring Moss, Ocean Tides, Terracotta Tile
Accessories, etc.: Various PTI ribbons

Wordy Christmas Tree

The other day, I was looking at my Tree Trimmings Trio set and realized that there were several lengths of words. This got me thinking, perhaps I could make a tree using the holiday themed words. After a bit of playing around on scrap paper, I came up with this. I kept the design classically simple.
Supplies:
Stamps: Tree Trimmings Trio
Ink: Bamboo Leaves, Rhubarb Tart, Rich Cocoa
Paper: Vanilla, Textured DCWV cardstock

Whoops, it's been a while...

Here's a quick type of card. I had it all sketched out and even had my paper all cut out, but for some reason, it took a few evenings to get it pieced together. I would work on it for a minute or two at time, while waiting for my computer to start up.


Supplies:
Stamps: Signature Christmas
Ink: Rhubarb Tart
Paper: Spring Moss, Rhubarb, Ski Slope DSP
Accessories, etc.: Scalloped punch, organdy ribbon, silver cord, felt snowflakes, brad

Release Day!

Woot, the day is finally here. Chicken Girl Designs has a new set out, Birthday Wishes. It's got some adorable partying animals, birthday images, and fun sentiments.

Here's the set in all it's adorable-ness!

Be sure to check out the rest of the team's projects!

Judy

Kendra

Loretta

Lori

Merry

Shelly

Kate

Birthday Flowers

I just recently picked up Stampin' Up!'s For All You Do set and was playing around with it. Since I also have more than enough Loves Me paper I decided to use that with it. Normally I wouldn't put pink, brown, and green together, but I think it worked out nicely! Here's the result.

Supplies:

Stamps: For All You Do, Birthday Basics

Ink: Bamboo Leaves, Hibiscus Burst

Paper: Raspberry Fizz, Confetti White, Loves Me DSP, Hibiscus Burst

Accessories, etc.: Pop dots, Nestabilities Labels 1, Green Satin Ribbon, Rhinestones, Scalloped Punch

Hoppy Birthday!

It's time for a sneak peek of the upcoming Chicken Girl Designs stamp set. Sneak peeks start today with the release on November 16! I have to say, this set is one of my favorites! The images are so adorable and fun for birthdays!

I decided to pair the bunny with the balloon for a cheerful birthday card. I chose my patterned paper first (from Cosmo Cricket's Early Bird collection), then found Copic markers, ribbon, and other cardstock to match.