Stamping Deets

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Sunflower In Bloom

Time for another Designer's Choice Challenge at Repeat Impressions. Rock Star Lynette Neus challenged us to make a card using one of many Repeat Impressions flower images.

I decided to go fall, since I'm in fall mode. True the weather isn't autumn-like yet around here...but I sure am back to work with my first graders after having the summer off, and my beloved Buckeyes take the field on Saturday...so yes, let's call it fall.

I stamped the image of "Sunflower" (4313-K) with Marvy black dye ink onto X-Press It cardstock. I colored the image with Copic markers and then cut around the flower with my Cutter-bee scissors. In the center of the sunflower I added some brown Stickles.

I cut a circle with a Nestabilities die using patterned paper from Echo Park. I paper pierced this circle and faux stitched using a colored pencil. Then I cut a frame for this circle also with a Nestabilities die from beige cardstock.

I added the Repeat Impressions sentiment "Brighten" (8623-D) by stamping directly onto the Echo Park circle with Versafine Onyx Black. I added a sheer brown bow for the finishing touches.

Join us in this Designer's Choice Challenge on the Repeat Impressions blog, The House That Stamps Built. Read the details and show us your creations...you may just win a little something.

Also be sure to visit the other Rock Stars for some more flowers. Kinda like a little garden walk, if you will.

I appreciate you visiting my blog today.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Cheese, Sweet Cheese

It's Monday! What better way is there to make a Monday more bearable, than with a Stamp of the Week from Repeat Impressions? This week’s SOTW is "Mouse & Cheese" (910-E). The SOTW is available exclusively to Repeat Impressions blog readers at 50% OFF with the special discount code from Monday, August 27 to Sunday, September 2. To get the discount code and more information about the SOTW, please go to the Repeat Impressions blog, The House That Stamps Built.

For my card, I stamped the adorable "Mouse & Cheese" (910-E) with Marvy black dye onto X-Press It cardstock. I colored the image with Copic markers. I cute the image panel with a Nestabilities circle die. I then paper pierced around the circle and framed the circle with some dotted white on black cardstock (source unknown). I proceeded to make more "holes in the cheese" with Nestabilities circle dies and paper piercing. I placed these circles on a piece of patterned paper from Queen & Company. It too was framed with the dotted patterned paper and paper pierced.

With Versafine Onyx black ink, I stamped the Repeat Impressions sentiment "Sweet Things" (9007-E) onto the card. Then I put a gold ribbon on the card for the finishing touches.

Though cheese might not satisfy a human's sweet tooth, I'm just sure it does for a mouse, LOL.

Still hungry? Be sure to visit these other Rock Stars for some more cheese!

Dawn Bennett
Joy Hadden
Lynette Neus

And of course, have a great week!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Lighthouse

(If you are looking for this week's sketch challenge at Repeat Impressions, scroll down)

It's Hambo Hoedown time!

This week the challenge is to incorporate wood into your creation. Suggestions include faux wood, wood embossing folders or wood designer paper.

For my card, I decided to try my hand at some faux wood. In my stash, I had some grooved lined textured white paper. I streaked some Adirondack Lake Mist dye onto the paper rather randomly. I then opened up a jar of white gesso (have had it in my stamping room for at least 5 years) and took a foam brush and just painted the entire piece of paper. When it was dry, I three strips from the paper and added a few more streaks with Adirondack Lake Mist. I sponged some Soft Gray Shadow Ink along the edges of these strips of wood, and then took my paper piercer and punched holes near the ends of the strips to appear like nails. Then I adhered these three faux wood strips to a piece of gray cardstock.

The image is from Hambo Digital Stamps. It is called "Lighthouse". I printed it onto X-Press It cardstock and colored with Copic markers. I cut the image panel with a Nestabilities die and placed it onto the faux wood. I added the sentiment which is included with the Lighthouse digital image. A sheer white bow is the finishing touch to this card.

I hope you can join in on all of the fun with us at the Hoedown this week. All of the challenge details can be found right here on the Hoedown Blog. Remember you must use Hambo images to play along...but that's easy to do (there are some freebies here if you don't have any). If you play along this week, you will be sent next week's Hoedown image for free.

Up, Up and Away

It's Wednesday, which means it is time for a "What If? Wednesday Sketch". You have two weeks to enter your card using the sketch posted on the Repeat Impressions blog...The House That Stamps Built. All participants will have a chance to win a $25 Repeat Impressions gift certificate. I hope you'll play along with us.

This week the sketch looks like this:

I don't know. Sometimes I feel like such a sketch challenge rebel, but I do always start with the sketch and the very best of intentions. If you look closely, you will see the white cardstock clouds I made with my Cricut Paper Pups cartridge. I arranged them onto a piece of light blue glossy cardtock like the arrangement on the sketch. I just had to bunch the clouds up some more so they would look a bit more realistic. I also pop-dotted a couple of the clouds.

Then I stamped the Repeat Impressions image called "Hot Air Balloon" (9113-K) with Stazon Jet Black directly onto this light blue glossy panel with the clouds. I stamped the image again with Marvy black dye ink onto X-Press It cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. Then I cut the balloon part of the image and placed on top of my image stamped with Stazon Jet Black. I omitted the three embellishments at the bottom, and instead added some Baker's Twine to the top of the card.

All corners were rounded, and the card panel was framed with black cardstock.

My school year official takes off today...up, up and away. I sure hope it is a good one. Understand that the next few days for me will be sleep and first grade. That's it. No stamping. (boo-hoo!)

Make sure you visit the other Rock Stars for some more sketch interpretations. They truly are sketch scholars, unlike myself:

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Flowered Prickly Pear

Never ever in my wildest dreams that I would be posting this, but here goes:

Terry Medaris is coming to Ohio! He will be teaching two of his Prismacolor pencil classes at Marco's Paper in Centerville (near Dayton) on Saturday, August 25. If you are anywhere near Dayton, YOU NEED TO CALL MARCO'S RIGHT AWAY AND RESERVE A SEAT! Terry Medaris is an amazing artist/instructor. I flew all the way to San Diego to take these classes, and trust me when I say this...it was worth it! What I learned influences my coloring every day...even when I use different mediums. I am so excited that some Buckeye colorists are going to get treated to such wonderful instruction on shading, blending and color selection. Woot!

I thought I'd better get my Prismacolor pencils ready...you know, make sure they are sharpened and that I haven't lost any or anything. I want to be prepared Saturday. To practice, I stamped the Terry Medaris image of "Flowered Prickly Pear" onto Bristol Smooth paper with Stazon Jet Black Ink. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and sprayed with a Workable Fixative. Then I framed the image panel with black cardstock. The large card panel is patterned paper from Lasting Impressions. It too is framed with black cardstock. I added a sheer brown ribbon and bow to the card for the finishing touches. I don't like to embellish much when it comes to making cards with Terry's images. My eye says none are really needed. Why detract from these amazing images?

I hope if you are in anywhere in Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana you will make the trip for a wonderful day of coloring with one of the best...Terry Medaris!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Rattler

(If you are looking for the Repeat Impressions Designer's Choice Challenge, scroll down)

It's time for another Hambo Hoedown. I'm not a fan of s-s-snakes, but leave it to Hambo to come up with this little cutie pie called "Rattler". He is available in the Hambo Digital Store. Go grab him. He won't bite!

But aging s-s-sure does bite! I couldn't agree with the s-s-sentiment more, LOL!

This week at the Hoedown our challenge is to incorporate a knot somewhere on our creation.

For my card, I printed "Rattler" onto X-Press It cardstock. I colored him with Copic markers. I then used a Nestabilities circle die and cut the image panel, along with green cardstock to frame the circle.

Patterned paper from Queen & Company was used to form the layout of these cards, with the panels being framed with green cardstock.

The s-s-sentiment is also a part of the digital image "Rattler". I made it into a pennant with a Nestabilities die.

For my knot...I tied some Baker's Twine on my card.

I s-s-sure hope you can join in on all of the fun with us at the Hoedown this week. All of the challenge details can be found right here on the Hoedown Blog. Remember you must use Hambo images to play along...but that's easy to do (there are some freebies here if you don't have any). If you play along this week, you will be s-s-sent next week's Hoedown image for free. Isn't that s-s-s-super?!?!

Floral on Kraft

Time for another Designer's Choice Challenge at Repeat Impressions. Rock Star Karen Hasheck challenged us to use scoring on our card.

I decided to stamp the Repeat Impressions image of "Daisies & Butterfly" (9203-) with Versafine Onyx Black onto kraft. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and cut around the image. I added a little bit of crystal Stickles in the center of the daisies.

On another sheet of kraft I dry embossed with a folder from Darice. I then used my extremely neglected Scor-It to create two scored lines to frame the dry embossing.

I stamped the Repeat Impressions sentiment "Happy Moments" (8616-E) onto the larger panel with Versafine Onyx black and added a black bow for the finishing touches of the card.

A corner rounder punch rounded the corners at the base of the card, and I framed panel with black and white cardstock.

I appreciate you visiting my blog today. I hope you have many happy moments in your day.