Singing Cactus

I cannot resist Southwest images, especially cacti. So, when I saw this singing cactus from Sparkle-N-Sprinkle stamps at Stampaway a couple years ago, I had to have it.

The panel was sponged with various inks to create a desert sunset. I sponged SeaShells Conch Shell dye, Adirondack Sunshine Yellow dye, Adirondack Sunset Orange dye, Marvy English Red dye, and Memories Soft Baby Blue dye onto Georgia Pacific cardstock. I circle punch was used to make a mask, both positive and negative, that allowed me to make the sun. The ground is simply torn beige cardstock that was sponged with Adirondack Latte dye ink, and Vivid Taupe ink. The faint cactus shadow was made using Prismacolor pencils.

The cactus is stamped onto Georgia Pacific cardstock with Marvy dye black ink and colored with Copic markers. It was cut and placed onto the desert scene. The sentiment is from My Favorite Things.

I'm thinking of using this as another retirement card.

Thanks so much for visiting. I have a few more sponging assignments to finish, so stay tuned.

Some Dough For You

It is Mother's Day today and I thought I would share the card I made for my Mom. She and I have had an understanding for years about what she truly wants and uses...CASH. So, for holidays, I don't have to spend hours shopping trying to figure out the perfect gift. I simply go to the ATM, get some cash and she can buy for herself what she wants.

So, when I took a look at this chef from Whipper Snapper, I thought it would be clever to use it with a computer-generated sentiment "Some Dough For You".

The image from Whipper Snapper was stamped using Marvy dye black ink and cut out from Georgia Pacific cardstock once colored with Copic markers. I placed it on a sponged gradient panel (another assignment from the online class) cut and embossed from a rectangle Nestabilies die. Inks I used to sponge the panel include: SeaShells Conch Shell, Distress Ink Mustard, Adirondack Butterscotch dye, Adirondack Willow dye, Adirondack Lettuce dye, and Adirondack Oregano dye. A white gel pen was used to faux stitch. White brads and patterned paper where also used to complete this card.

In a few days, my Mom will let me know what she bought with her "dough."

Night Sky Polar Bears

I know this card doesn't really go with the current season, but when working on my sponging assignment of creating a night sky, I thought this adorable polar bear stamp by Rubber Monger would look great set against a nighttime sky. So, I went for it.

I sponged a Georgia Pacific cardstock panel with the following inks: Vivid Bermuda Blue dye, Vivid Sky Blue dye, Vivid Purple dye, and Vivid Ultramarine dye. I used a Post-It note to mask the snowy ground. I added a few dots in the nighttime sky with a white gel pen and a clear Sakura glitter pen.

I created the snowy ground by adhering Martha Stewart mica flake glitter.

I heat-embossed the polar bear image using Versafine Onyx Black and clear embossing powder. I then cut the image from the cardstock and added it with a Pop-dot. The sentiment is a Michaels $1 stamp, and it was heat embossed as well. White and black cardstock panels were also used to create this card.

Okay. Back to spring we go.

Graduation Blimp

As I continue the online class on sponging, I move into practicing creating a sky. This sky was created sponging around a cloud template with Memories Soft Baby Blue dye ink onto cardstock panel.

Once I had my sky, I thought this blimp image from Hampton Arts would be appropriate. I stamped this very cool customizable stamp onto Georgia Pacific cardstock with Marvy dye ink and colored with Copic markers. The stamp actually comes with a template, which allowed me to do the personalized message. The image was cut and placed onto the sky panel. The graduation cap image is a $1 stamp from Michaels. It too was stamped using Marvy dye ink and colored with Copic markers. I cut the caps and placed them on the sky panel below the blimp. They were adhered with Pop-dots. I drew some dotted lines in effort to make the hats look airborne.

Obviously, a friend of mine, affectionately known as "Big Josh", is graduating. I hope he likes his card.

Best Fishes with Bubbles

Here is a card that I made as a result of masking using shapes. Our assignment was to cut cardstock using a Nestabilities die and use the negative to sponge around the shape. Also, it was suggested we use a negative from a punch also in our creation. The inks I used to sponge are Memories Soft Baby Blue dye ink and Vivid Bermuda Blue dye ink.

The fish image is from Paula Best. I stamped it onto Georgia Pacific cardstock and colored it with colored pencils, both Prismacolor pencils and Caran d'Ache. I cut the image and placed it on top of the masking assignment with a pop dot. I added Stickles to the "bubbles" for a little shimmer and shine. Colored cardstock layers are included on this card.

I'm thinking the sentiment (unknown) makes this the perfect retirement card to add to my stash.

Do Nothing

As promised yesterday, here is another example of my learning from the online sponging class from Kim Teasdale. In this example, I practiced sponging along the edges of a Nestabilities die cut. Pretty cool effect, I think.

The cute buggy image is from Bugawumps. It was stamped using Marvy dye black ink onto Georgia Pacific cardstock that had been cut and embossed with a Nestabilities die. I colored the image with Copic markers, and sponged various dye inks including Sea Shells Conch Shell, Adirondack Sunshine Yellow and Adirondack Butterscotch. Patterned paper, black cardstock, an additional Nestabilities die and a white gel pen were also used to create this card.

The inside of the card has the perfect sentiment, from River City Rubber Works. I intend to send this card to a friend who recently had gall bladder surgery and is spending the next two weeks recovering.

Another sponging example is coming tomorrow. Until then...Relax!!! Do Nothing!

Distressed Classic Car

Do not attempt to adjust your monitor. There really isn't any coloring on this card. Gasp!

I made this card to practice distressing with a sponge, as I am taking an online class on sponging backgrounds from the extremely talented Kim Teasdale via My Creative Classroom. I am woefully behind on the assignments right now, but I'm certain I will catch up by the end of the week.

The car image is some blog candy I won a couple years ago from Laura at Whirlpool of Imagination. Thanks again, Laura! The image is from River City Rubber Works. I stamped it onto Georgia Pacific cardstock with Marvy dye black ink. I sponged the panel using a variety of browns such as Distressed Ink Old Paper, Bantook Charcoal Gray (it looks brown!), and Sea Shells Peach Bellini. The sentiment was taken off a portion of Stamps Happen rubberstamp using a Memento Ink pen. I randomly stamped a Magenta background stamp on one of the panels using the Bantook Charcoal Gray. Various patterned paper and black cardstock were also to create this card, along with brown brads.

Thanks for looking. More of my "learning" will be posted during the week.