Mermaid Circle Card

Go round or go home.  That's this month's challenge on the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog.  We sure hope you join in on all the fun.

My circle contribution is this card using one of the adorable mermaid images from Tiddly Inks' Amy and Her Mini Mermaid Friends.  I printed the adorable digital image onto X-Press It cardstock and colored with Copic markers.  I then fussy cut carefully around the image. 

The card base itself was made with the help of some circle frame dies from My Favorite Things.  The "ocean" was made by repeatedly activating Distress Oxides on glossy cardstock with water and then heat-setting.  Once I liked the look I applied some Distress Micro Glaze onto the circle to achieve the brightness of colors.

The sentiment is from a retired stamp set from A Jillian Vance Design and was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black.  A few crystal beads serve as bubbles to complete this card.

Swim on over to the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog for all of the challenge details. 

School Girl with Chalkboard Easel

Old school chalkboard.  Starting tomorrow, I will now be teaching in a school without chalkboards.  Hello, dry erase boards!  2016 indeed!

So call this creation nostalgic, if you will. 

It's Tiddly Tuesday!  Yay!  And the theme is Back to School.  How timely and appropriate.  For my contribution, I created this chalkboard easel, featuring the Tiddly Inks digital image "SchoolGirl and Extras".  I printed the image onto X-Press It cardstock, colored with Copic markers, and fussy cut.  I constructed the chalkboard easel with My Favorite Things Die-namics Blueprints 17.  The sentiment I used was from an old set from The Paper Studio.  I stamped it with white pigment ink and embossed with white embossing powder. 

I like the look of this.  I do.  Glad I was finally able to give the easel die some action too.  'Cause I just had to have it a couple of years ago.

Please go over to the challenge blog to see all of the wonderful back to school creations from the Tiddly Inks Design Team.  They almost make this time of the year bearable. 

Baby Bib Shape Card

It has been quite a while since I've taken the time to make a shape card.  I thought this image from A Jillian Vance Design's stamp set "Hello Spring" would look cute on a baby bib.

I had to dig to find some white eyelets in my stash.  Why did eyelets go so out of crafting fashion?  The image was fun to color with Copic markers.  If you want to read some more about this card, it is featured today on the AJVD blog.  Go take a look.

Easter Dachshund Pop Up Box Card

Just now getting this posted.  I made it yesterday to give to my Mom.  It's my first pop up box card.  I followed the wonderful tutorial by Dina on Splitcoaststampers.

Stamps used include Cowtown, Whimsie Doodles, and dollar stamps from Michaels.  Patterned paper from Pebbles and DCWV.  I used a MFT die for the grass, some acetate to get the Peep to float and a Viva Ice White Pearl pen for the bunny tail and "pearls" around the sentiment.

My Mom seemed to love it.

The hardest part of the whole project was photographing it, LOL.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!  Thanks for visiting my blog.

A Letter Sent With Love

It's Tuesday!  Time to play along again in this week's Sassy Cheryl's Challenge!  This week, the challenge is "Anything But Square", meaning our creations can't take on the shape of a square.  Play along for your chance to win two free digital images at Sassy Cheryl's.

Using Dina Kowal's fabulous tutorial and template on Splitcoast Stampers, I decided to make a word card.  These are so easy to do that I really should do more of them, LOL!

Anyway, I followed the instructions using some pink scraps of patterned paper from The Paper Studio and (source unknown~sorry!) to make the letters.  These letterw were framed with black cardstock.

I added the Sassy Cheryl image of "A Letter Sent with Love" by printing it onto X-Press It cardstock, coloring it with Copic markers, and cutting around the image with detailed scissors.

The postmark is a stamp that was custom-made for our wedding a few years ago (since my husband and I got married in an old post office).  Some pink rhinestones, sheer white ribbon and bow, a pink button and Baker's Twine complete the details on this card.

(If you want to take a closer look of this card, simply click on the photo to make it larger).

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today!  Guess my Valentine for my husband is finished, LOL!

Stained Glass Pumpkin

The challenge on the DRS Designs Blog this week is "Pumpkins A Plenty".  'Tis the season!

I actually completed part of my card at work, LOL.  I used an Ellison die cut machine to cut a piece of X-Press It cardstock and a piece of acetate with a pumpkin die.  Then, at home, I stamped the DRS Designs "Large Stained Glass" onto the cut pumpkin with Memento Tuxedo Black.  I then colored the mosaic pieces (RELAXING!) with Copic markers. 

I added some Copic oranges also to the piece of acetate and merged it together with the paper via glue.  I tied some hemp onto the stem.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today!

Stained Glass Block O

Good Game Day to you!  Today marks the official start of college football.  My favorite team, The Ohio State Buckeyes, will take the field at noon EST today.  To show my support for my beloved Buckeyes, I thought a card was needed.

I stamped the ultra cool DRS Designs image "Ohio Buckeye" with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored it with Copic markers and cut around the image with detailed scissors.

I paired the image with red cardstock cut with an emerald cut (die)mond nesting die set from Spellbinders and a jillian vance design.   I stamped the fun DRS Designs background of "Large Stained Glass" with Memento Tuxedo Black directly on top of the cut "O".  I colored with Copic markers, added the buckeyes and leaves and adhered an overlay of acetate to make "O" shiny just like stained glass.

This was such a fun shape card to make!

Have a great season, Buckeyes!

Heart Air Balloon

Love is in the air.  Or at least a definite chill is the air around here.  Cardmakers always rush the seasons, and so look at me jump to Valentine's Day, LOL!

Time for another Designer's Choice Challenge at Repeat Impressions. Rock Star Patti Gilliam challenged us to use the technique of paper piecing with a Repeat Impressions image. To do this I grabbed the Repeat Impressions image of "Heart Air Balloon" (9114-I) and stamped it with Marvy black dye onto a piece of Echo Park patterned paper.  I cut out the heart portion for paper piecing.

Then using the Cricut Paper Pups cartridge, I cut two clouds from Georgia Pacific cardstock.  I pop-dotted the smaller cloud onto the larger one.  Then I stamped "Heart Air Balloon" (9114-I) again with Marvy black dye directly onto the larger cloud.  I then adhered the image on the Echo Park patterned paper onto the cloud.  I tied a small bow onto the balloon using Baker's Twine.

I stamped a portion "Love Is In The Air" (9103-G) using a Memento Tuxedo Black marker directly onto the larger cloud.  I added a small pink rhinestone next to this sentiment.  Then, I added many pearls using my Ice White Pearl Pen.

Then I made my creation into a shape card by tracing my clouds onto a folded piece of cardstock.

Want to see some more paper piecing?  Just soar on over to the following Rock Stars:

• Cheri Weston
• Christy Schumacher
• Geri Utterback
• Joy Hadden
• Joyce Morien
• Karen Hasheck
• Patti Gilliam

Have a wonderful day.  And don't worry, you have many, many days before you need to run out and get a Valentine.  Now, back to the season of fall.

 

Texting OSU

In just a mere 22 days, my beloved Buckeyes will take the field and start a new era.  Looking forward to what our future may bring with our Urban renewal.

I decided it might be cool to make a word card using the Dina Kowal's wonderful tutorial on Splitcoast.

I constructed the letters O-S-U with black cardstock and patterned paper from American Crafts.

I stamped this football player from Rubbernecker Stamps with Marvy black dye onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored the image with Copic markers and then cut around the image to place onto the card.  Also on the card are various stickers from Sports Solutions, a football punched from a football punch and some Divine Twine bows.

(To get a better look at this word card, you may want to click directly on the photo)

So my husband says he likes all the cards I make.  He really seemed to genuinely like this one. Go Buckeyes!!!

Rubbernecker Father's Day Hop

Welcome to Rubbernecker's Father's Day Hop! So glad you stopped by!

The Stampin' Sisterhood is getting ready for Father's Day (which will be here before you know it) with some great masculine creations using Rubbernecker Stamps.

Make sure you visit each sister's blog and leave some love, and then return to the Stampin' Sisterhood blog to let us know you've completed the hop route. You will be entered into a drawing to receive one free stamp set of your choice from Rubbernecker.

And, as a bonus we will draw an extra winner for a stamp set of their choice, just for sharing our hop on their Facebook page or blog!! After you have shared, just go back to the Stampin' Sisterhood Blog and let us know where you have shared our hop!

Both winners will be announced on April 28th on the Stampin' Sisterhood Blog.

Here's the hop route:

• Charlene Driggs
• Charlene Merrick
• Ellen Taylor
• Jacquie Peifer
• Jen Charboneau
• Jennifer Cuthbertson
• Joan Ervin
• Judy Rozema
• Julia Aston
• Karen Hunsaker
• Kecia Waters [you are here]
• Kittie Caracciolo
• Stampin' Sisterhood

                                        (Click on photo for a closer view)

For my hop creation, I used the Rubbernecker image of  "Murray with Catch" (SKU: 562-02).  I stamped it with Marvy black dye onto X-_Press It cardstock and colored the image with Copic markers.  I then cut around the image with Cutter-bee scissors.  I attached some embroidery floss on the pole to appear as a fishing line.

Then, using the tutorial for Word Cards found on Splitcoast Stampers written by Dina Kowal, I constructed the text D-A-D using beige cardstock and patterned paper from Basic Grey.   I then adhered Murray to the second "D" of the card.

Stampin' Sisterhood, Pupcake

It's Sunday! Time for another Rubbernecker Stampin' Sisterhood Challenge! Remember, if you play along with us this week, you will have chance to win a FREE STAMP from Rubbernecker and be queened Sunday Sister. And, at the end of each month, all the month's Sunday Sisters will be put in a random drawing to win a STAMP SET from Rubbernecker Stamps! Head on over the the Stampin' Sisterhood's blog for all of the details.



This week, we have an inspiration photo:



This photo made me think of the "pupcakes" I buy from Three Dog Bakery for my dachshund, Sloopy. She absolutely loves them, so I decided to recreate a paper version (even though I am certain Sloopy would have preferred the real thing!).

I stamped the Rubbernecker image of "Dog" (SKU: 569-18) onto X-Press It cardstock. I colored it with Copic markers and then cut around the image with my Cutter-bee scissors. I set this aside for the time being.

I then began construction on the "pupcake". I used the Cricut cartridge "Sweet Treats" to cut the cupcake image. Patterned paper from The Paper Studio, Making Memories, off-white cardstock, and pink cardstock were used to form the various layers on the cupcake. I sponged lightly with Distress Ink Spun Sugar on the candle, Vivid Butterscotch dye on the flame, SeaShells Sandal dye on the cupcake, and Adirondack Sail Boat Blue on the cupcake liner. I highlighted some of the cupcake with Crystal Stickles. I adhered some some bone charms on the cupcake to appear as sprinkles.

I then merged the cupcake with the dog to create my "pupcake".



Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Be sure to visit the Rubbernecker Stampin' Sisterhood Blog for more inspiration, along with all the details for playing along with us this week.

Stampin' Sisterhood, Gutter Ball

It's Sunday! Time for another Rubbernecker Stampin' Sisterhood Challenge! Remember, if you play along with us this week, you will have chance to win a FREE STAMP from Rubbernecker and be queened Sunday Sister. And, at the end of each month, all the month's Sunday Sisters will be put in a random drawing to win a STAMP SET from Rubbernecker Stamps! Head on over the the Stampin' Sisterhood's blog for all of the details.



This week's challenge is a the following sketch:



I love making circle cards and shape cards! I was very liberal with the sketch, so I hope the Sisterhood will forgive me, LOL!

For my card I used the hilarious Rubbernecker image "Edna Bowling" (SKU:562-08). I stamped the image with Marvy black dye ink onto X-Press It cardstock. I colored the image with Copic markers and cut around the image using my Cutterbee scissors. For the time being, I set Edna aside.

I made the bowling ball using a Nestabilities circle die, cutting glossy black Cast-Kote cardstock. I then cut the smaller circles on the glossy black cardstock using the smallest Nestabilities circle die. I then mounted this with pop-dots onto a regular piece of black (non-glossy) cardstock, so that the ball appears to have finger holes.

I then conducted a Google image search for a line drawing of a bowling pin, manipulated the size in Microsoft Word, and colored the red lines with Copic markers and a Memento Tuxedo black marker.

Then, I began putting the card together adhering the pin and the ball to a circle card cut from a Nestabilities circle die. I then placed Edna onto the card along with the sentiment.

The sentiment is also from Rubbernecker. It is called "Bowling Ball" (SKU: 563-14) and is stamped with Versafine Onyx Black onto a panel cut with a Nestabilities die.

My guess is that Edna throws a gutter ball, don't you think? Gotta love all of the "Old Characters" images from Rubbernecker!



Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Be sure to visit the Rubbernecker Stampin' Sisterhood Blog for more inspiration. I hope you'll have-a-go at the sketch too!

Woof!

It's Monday! Time for another challenge from the Outlines Blog. This week, the challenge is pay tribute to our four legged friends by using animal stamps from the Outlines Rubber Stamp Company. Well, as soon as I told my dachshund Sloopy about the challenge, she insisted, of course, that I do something for dogs. Make sure you play along too this week, for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate from Outlines.



I decided to do a shape card for this challenge. With the Cricut cartridge, Paper Pups, I cut out the image of a bone and the shadow of a bone using patterned paper from Making Memories and off white/beige cardstock. I paper pierced the patterned paper.

I then stamped the "Split Layering Collage -Woof" (H-1064) with Marvy black dye ink onto X-Press It cardstock. I colored the multiple images within the collage with Copic markers. To add some bling, using Picksey Pick-Ups, I added some Swarovski crystals, Clear Size 9, to the fire hydrant, the flower next to the doghouse, and around one of the dog collars.

I placed my collage onto the bone, added the sentiment "To err is human..." (B-1081), along with a sheer light brown ribbon, and dog paw embellishments.

Make sure to see what the rest of the design team created for this Four Legged Friends Challenge:

Jeanne Streiff
Jenny Gropp
Lisa Silver
Robin Kirkpatrick
Sandy Hulsart
Sue Kment

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today. Sloopy says thanks too. "Woof!"

Jumping Through Hoops

The Stamping Boutique is sponsoring a challenge today over at Sunday Sketch & Stamp. The challenge is 'no corner' - so just round and oval shapes. I thought the image "Jumping Dogs" from The Stamping Boutique worked perfectly with this challenge.

I printed the image onto X-Press It cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. I printed the image a second time and used pop dots to create the illusion of the dachshund actually jumping through the hoop. I cut around the main image with a circle die from Nestabilities, and then proceeded to cut several circles and "hoops" from orange cardstock with circle die Nestabilities. The sentiment is computer-generated, and two orange eyelets act as the O's in the word "Hoops." A ribbon that inspired the color scheme of this creation was also added for a little dimension. Some dots from a white gel pen go around a couple of the orange circles.

I hope all of you are enjoying the weekend. Thank you so much for visiting my blog.

A Special Day...Go Buckeyes!!!

Happy Game Day!!! The one we wait for all year long! GO BUCKEYES!!!

Today is really special. Not only is it The Game, but it is also my Dad's birthday. How incredibly cool is that? A home game against M!ch*g@n on my Dad's birthday. My Dad and I have gone together to Ohio State games for 27 years. A very special father-daughter thing that I wouldn't trade for the world.

So, in honor of my Dad's birthday...of course a card needed to be made. And, given it the day of The Game, it needed to be Buckeye style. (A side note...growing up, my Dad never wanted a store bought card, he always wanted me to make one for him, so perhaps, may paper-crafting can be credited to him).

I stamped the football player bear from Darcie with Marvy dye black ink onto Georgia Pacific cardstock. I colored the image with Copic markers and cut the image out with Cutter-bee detailed scissors. I tried to color the uniform to match what the current Ohio State uniforms look like and not sell out to Nike.

Then, came the hard part. But as Woody Hayes used to say, "anything easy ain't worth a damn." So, the construction of the Block O began using black and scarlet cardstock. I am the most straight-edge, ruler-challenged person on earth and so to me, this was a painstaking doozy. But, I somehow drew it, measured it and once I put all of the Block O layers together, I added a little dotting around the Block O with a white gel pen. I also added a ribbon with a football brad from Paper Studio. I then made a little pennant with a silver strip of cardstock and a piece of Ohio State ribbon.

The inside sentiment is also from Darcie and reads "May your day be filled with touchdowns". YES!!!

Here's to a great day! Go Buckeyes!!! Beat scUM!!! Here's hoping for a victory to make this already special day, perfect.

Proud to be a Featured Sassy!

Imagine my complete surprise when Cheryl Alger of Sassy Cheryl's contacted me to ask if I would be her first Guest Card Designer featured on her blog. I did not hesitate a moment with my response...an emphatic YES!!!!!

I ADORE Sassy Cheryl's images. They are EXACTLY my style. They are cute, whimsical, and because they are digital, they can be enlarged. You all know how I like to color large, open spaces. I think Sassy Cheryl's images show great emotion and attitude, and she is able to convey motion and movement on a two dimensional image. How on earth she creates these "must have" images, image after image is beyond me. I'm just glad she does and that she shares them with the paper crafting world.

The card I created to be featured on her blog is a shape card. This is my first shape card ever, so I know I am taking a risk here. But, I do think I like the way it turned out and that I'll be making some more shape cards in the future.

I decided to pair the Sassy Cheryl's image, "The Sassy Artist", with the shape of an artist's palette.

To make this artist's palette shaped card, I drew the palette image onto a folded sheet of white cardstock, making sure the top of the palette was up against the paper fold. I then proceeded to cut the palette image out. I traced my palette onto a second sheet of Georgia Pacific cardstock and cut the image out again. I drew a small oval on the palette and cut this oval from the palette. I colored the palette with Copic markers, attempting to make it appear as a wooden palette. From there, I dabbed some various colors of acrylic paint onto the palette. When dry, I affixed the paintbrushes with a gold ribbon to the palette, and also placed the darling image from Sassy Cheryl's. I colored the image with Copic markers.

Thank you so much, Cheryl, for featuring me on your blog. You made my season, LOL!