Artsy Thoughts

It's time for the monthly Papertrey Ink blog hop!  It's been awhile since I've participated.  I got a little artsy on my card, mimicking the inspiration photo for the most part.

I added swaths of color to watercolor paper using my Papertrey ink pads and a waterbrush.  Very simple and organic.  I used Melon Berry, Canyon Clay, Americana, and Vintage Cream inks.  After it was dry, I embossed a sentiment from Graceful Greetings with black powder.  I deliberately left specks of powder on the paper to get the spattered effect.  I also smudged my VersaMark ink pad in two places and embossed in black.  It almost looks brushed on.  Then I did the same thing along the edges of the watercolor paper with vanilla embossing powder.  It gives the card even more of a cool, artsy look!  Click on the photo to see it better.  I adhered the piece to a Melon Berry card base that I cut with the Noted: Scalloped Square die by Papertrey Ink.

Stamps:  Graceful Greetings (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Melon Berry, Canyon Clay, Americana, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink); VersaMark
Paper:  Melon Berry (Papertrey Ink); watercolor paper
Misc:  Noted: Scalloped Square die (Papertrey Ink); Black embossing powder (Powder Keg); Opaque Vanilla White embossing powder (Wow!)

Ink It Up with Leigh Penner: Cutie Pie

Isn't this fun?  It's about time I pulled out the Easy as Pie stamp set by Reverse Confetti.  I bought it last November and it has sat unused since.  I love the matching dies and knew it would be perfect to make cards for my sister-in-law, who makes delicious pies!  I just had to use it for the newest Ink It Up post.  Leigh Penner of To the Full and I make a card twice a month using our uninked stamps, posting on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays.

I found the darling cherry print paper in the Farmhouse 6x6 pad by Crate Paper and paired it with a Kraft card base.  I also cut a strip of Kraft cardstock with a Pierced Fishtail Flags STAX die.  You just can't tell because I cut off the ends to fit the width of the card.  I stamped a sentiment from Easy as Pie on the strip in Dark Chocolate ink. 

I cut a scalloped circle from Rustic Cream cardstock, which echoes the background print rather nicely.  I chose another patterned paper from the Farmhouse pad for my pie pan.  For the crust, I cut Kraft and Cherry Cobbler cardstock, pieced them together, and covered the whole thing with glitter.  (wishing now that I had sponged it first for some shading)  I added some steam using the Fancy Flourishes stamps and dies by Papertrey Ink.  It's done in Dark Chocolate ink on Rustic Cream cardstock.

I layered everything together, popping up the crust just slightly for dimension.  It turned out very cute!  Make sure you check out Leigh's card here.  Thanks for dropping by.

Stamps:  Easy as Pie (Reverse Confetti); Fancy Flourishes (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Kraft, Rustic Cream (Papertrey Ink); Cherry Cobbler (Stampin' Up); Farmhouse 6x6 pad (Crate Paper)
Misc:  Easy as Pie dies (Reverse Confetti); Pierced Fishtail Flags STAX die (My Favorite Things); Classic Scalloped Circles Small die (Spellbinders); Crystal fine glitter (Martha Stewart);glue pen 

Aqua Lucite Trumpet Flower Earrings

Today is something a bit different.  I have long been interested in making jewelry and consequently have collected many years of beading magazines.  I made a few simple things in the distant past, but never took pictures of them before they were given as gifts.  I'll admit to fear of failure preventing me from doing much more than that.  Recently, I spent a lot of time looking through those magazines and bookmarking favorite projects.  I came across instructions for this pair of earrings in the BeadStyle May 2012 issue. 

Love.  Then a thought of...that doesn't look too hard.  Maybe I could do this.  I had even recently watched a video about making wrapped loops.  When my husband encouraged me to go ahead and get the beads to make them, I decided to do it.  Why not?  I already have the tools.  Sometimes I just need a little push.  So I did! 

You know what?  It took me less than two hours.  One evening.  I used Lucite trumpet flower beads and Swarovski crystals.  They're not perfect, but I love them anyway.  I've already worn the earrings several times.  They sparkle in the sunlight and look so pretty!  I am immensely proud of myself for pushing past the fear.  Once I get more chain, I'll make a simple necklace with the leftover beads to match.

Camp Create: Sweet Chocolate

Well, here's my last card for the final session of Camp Create by My Favorite Things!  It's for the Monochromatic Magic challenge.  I had a difficult time choosing which color to use until I saw the Chocolate Sentiments stamp set in my stash.  It went together pretty quickly after that!

Naturally, I selected to use several shades of brown for my monochromatic color scheme.  I stamped the circle image on Close to Cocoa cardstock with the matching ink in a repeating pattern.  I stamped the main sentiment on Chocolate Chip cardstock, again with matching ink, and cut it with a Fishtail Flags STAX die.  I also cut some brown polka dot patterned paper with the same die and layered them together.  I matted everything on Chocolate Chip cardstock and adhered it to a white card base.  For a final touch, I added Brownstone glitter to the heart in the sentiment.

I love that the glitter pops even though it still stays within the monochromatic design.  You know how I love sparkle!  This would work great for a masculine Valentine's Day card or some other occasion.  My teenage son really liked it.  :)  Here's my final Camp Create badge.  It's been fun!

Stamps:  Chocolate Sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up); Snap Color Vibe 6x6 pad (Simple Stories)
Misc:  Fishtail Flags STAX die (My Favorite Things); Brownstone glitter (Martha Stewart); glue pen

Camp Create: Ombre Snow

Here's my card for the Awesome Ombre challenge at Camp Create, the third and final session.  I love the Snowfall Background stamp by My Favorite Things.  It's so pretty on its own, so I sponged an ombre background to complement it.

First, I embossed the Snowfall Background on white cardstock using white embossing powder.  I sponged Sno Cone, Summer Splash, and Blue Raspberry inks over top, doing the resist technique like one of the other challenges.  I adhered the panel to a white card base.

I cut the word snow with the Wonderful Words: Snow die by Papertrey Ink from white cardstock and sponged Sno Cone ink over the top half.  Then I added Sugar Cube glitter over the whole word.  I love the glittery ombre effect!  See the close-up pic below.  I stamped a sentiment from Holiday Hugs with black ink and cut a narrow strip to place under the glittered word.  Both are popped up with a second layer for dimension.

Here's the badge I earned!  Only the monochromatic challenge left to do now.  :)

Stamps:  Snowfall Background, Holiday Hugs (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Sno Cone, Summer Splash, Blue Raspberry (My Favorite Things); Tuxedo Black (Memento); VersaMark
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Wonderful Words: Snow die (Papertrey Ink); white embossing powder (Filigree); Sugar Cube glitter (Martha Stewart); glue pen; sponge tool

Camp Create: Stacked Elephants

Oh, these elephants were fun to color!  I made this card for the Bonfire - Single Layer Savvy challenge.  I did masking to stack my elephants and had a ball coloring the whole scene with Copic markers.  I was glad to find the Adorable Elephants stamp set by My Favorite Things last week when I was at a local LSS.  It's been on my wish list for a while.

Everything was done on one piece of white cardstock and then mounted on a Soft Stone card base.  Just stamping and coloring.  Simple, yet highly satisfying!  So here's my badge.  Only two challenges left to go.  :)

Stamps:  Adorable Elephants (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White, Soft Stone (Papertrey Ink)
Copic:  0, C1, T1, T4, T6, W1, W3, W5, B000, YG93, YG95, YG97, Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17, R20, R30, R32

Camp Create: Hog Heaven

Isn't this set just darling?  It's called Hog Heaven and is, of course, by My Favorite Things.  I had to have it when it was released this year!  Birdie Brown illustrates some fun stamp sets and they are hard to resist.  This card is for the Divine Dry Embossing challenge.

I created a mask using a die from Blueprints 3 by My Favorite Things.  I sponged Sno Cone and Limelight inks to create a shaped background on white cardstock.  I also stamped the pig (from Hog Heaven) and flowers (from Adorable Elephants) in the grassy area.  Now that I'm looking at it on my computer screen, I should have added a little shading underneath to ground the images.  I colored the flowers with a Baked Brown Sugar marker and a white gel pen.

I stamped the pig on a separate piece of white cardstock, colored it with Copic markers, and cut it out.  Before gluing it in place, I dry embossed the background area with the Blueprints 3 die.  I'm not sure how, but the bottom edge of the die shifted during the process, making a slight curve.  Guess I need to practice this a few more times.

I embossed my sentiment from Hog Heaven in white powder on a black Fishtail Flags Layers STAX die cut.  After gluing it down, I decided to stamp a small butterfly from Adorable Elephants above it.  I colored it with Copic markers, adding white spots at the last minute.  It just needed a little something and I can never resist polka dots!  I adhered the whole panel to a black card base.  Here's my earned badge.

Stamps:  Hog Heaven, Adorable Elephants (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Limelight, Sno Cone (My Favorite Things); Tuxedo Black (Memento); VersaMark
Paper:  White, True Black (Papertrey Ink)
Copic:  Y00, Y02, Y06, R01, R20, R24, R29, R30, R32, R59
Misc:  Blueprints 3 die, Fishtail Flags Layers STAX die (My Favorite Things); white gel pen (Uni-ball Signo); white embossing powder (Filigree); Baked Brown Sugar marker (Stampin' Up) 

Camp Create: Heart Shadows

I'm doing these Camp Create challenges out of order, but I suppose it doesn't really matter.  Inwardly, I'm shuddering though.  lol  :)  This card is for the final challenge, Stunning Shadow Stamping.  I chose to use Homespun Hearts by My Favorite Things for the technique.

As per the instructions, I stamped the hearts on Autumn Rose cardstock in Sweet Tooth pigment ink and then again in Autumn Rose ink, slightly offset to create the shadow effect.  It looks pretty cool!  I didn't manage to get all my shadows the same width though.  Shrug.  I still like it.  I added tiny dots using a stamp from Primitive Pumpkins.  I stamped a sentiment from Day Dreamer in black ink.  (a long-retired B.C. Dzyns set by MFT)  I stacked two Scripty Hugs die cuts from white cardstock and placed it underneath the sentiment.  Then I simply glued the whole thing to a white card base.  Done!  Here's the challenge badge I earned.

Stamps:  Homespun Hearts, Day Dreamer, Primitive Pumpkins (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Sweet Tooth (My Favorite Things); Autumn Rose (Papertrey Ink); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White, Autumn Rose (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Scripty Hugs die (Lawn Fawn)

Camp Create: Butterfly Resist

I'm popping in to post a card for the third and final week of Camp Create over at My Favorite Things.  I hope to get them all done before the deadline.  This card is for the Remarkable Resist challenge.  For some reason, I've been having trouble getting started so I used the same layout as the example card.

I pulled out Blissful Butterflies by My Favorite Things for my resist images, stamping them in VersaMark and embossing with clear powder on white cardstock.  I sponged several colors of Distress Ink over top - Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Seedless Preserves, and Milled Lavender.  Apparently, I was in a purple mood!  I lightly sponged Pumice Stone ink around the edges.  I ended up trimming the panel down a bit so I'm not sure how well it shows.  I cut a narrow strip of Smokey Shadow cardstock and piece of grey herringbone patterned paper for the side.  Finally, I stamped a sentiment from Blissful Butterflies using Smokey Shadow ink.  All of the pieces are mounted on a white card base.

Here's the badge I earned!

Stamps:  Blissful Butterflies (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Smokey Shadow (Papertrey Ink); Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Seedless Preserves, Milled Lavender, Pumice Stone (Distress Ink); VersaMark
Paper:  White, Smokey Shadow (Papertrey Ink); Garden Party 6x6 pad (Pebbles)
Misc:  clear embossing powder, sponge tool

Ink It Up with Leigh Penner: You're Adorkable

Life has been busy lately, so I haven't had much time to stamp.  I finally got back in the studio yesterday and made this fun little card using an adorable stamp set by Paper Smooches for the latest Ink It Up post with Leigh Penner.  We post on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays using stamps that haven't been inked yet.

I drew diagonal lines with a pencil spaced a half inch apart and stamped two different glasses from Incognito along the lines in black ink.  I stamped my sentiment on a narrow piece of Hawaiian Shores cardstock and glued it down at an angle.  Wish I had thought to border it with black before then!  I adhered the stamped panel to black cardstock that I cut with the Sunshine Layers die by Wplus9 Design Studio.  The Hawaiian Shores card base is just a bit smaller than A2, because I wanted a narrower frame of color.  My daughter Emily squealed when she saw this card.  It fits our family perfectly.   :)

Make sure you drop by Leigh Penner's blog, To the Full, to see her Ink It Up today!

Stamps:  Incognito (Paper Smooches)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White, True Black, Hawaiian Shores (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Sunshine Layers die (Wplus9 Design Studio)