Merci Birthday

I made this card using the Beate's Weekend Sketch at Fresh and Fun. The main image is from Merci (Stampin' Up) and the greeting is from Sincere Salutations (also Stampin' Up).


I embossed and used water color pencils for the flower and sponged around the oval with So Saffron ink. To make the green oval, I cut an oval from Certainly Celery card stock and then used my corner rounder to make the scallops. I sponged around the edges with Certainly Celery ink and mounted on a black oval.

I also used Blue Bayou and So Saffron paper, both sponged. The green grosgrain ribbon is from Joann's. The black dots were done free hand, using my black Zig marker.

Blog Candy - If you scroll down, you will see I have blog candy. All you have to do to win is leave a comment on that post and you will be entered. You can participate in the challenge to improve your odds of winning.

A Challenge and Swiss Dots Blog Candy!

The Challenge - Remember the Criss Cross Gift Card tutorial I made a few weeks ago? Well, your challenge is to use that tutorial to make one of your own. Be sure to link up to it in a comment so we can all see what you create.

Here is one I made and if you would like to see another sample, head over to my sister's blog to see one that she made.

The Candy - I put together a small assortment of goodies that you can win. Up for grabs is a Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder, two yards of Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched ribbon from Stampin' Up, two Studio G stamp sets and a pack of Craft Essentials 3 X 3 textured note cards and envelopes (these are the same note cards I used for this project).

There are two ways to win. First, you can enter by leaving a comment on this post. Second, if you participate in the challenge above and post a link to your project, I will enter your name two more times, so that will triple your odds of winning.

The deadline to enter this contest is Thursday, June 5 at 8pm my time (PST). That is one week from today. I will choose a winner by using Random.org or, if that proves beyond my technical capability, I will simply draw a name from a hat, box, bowl or whatever is handy.

Truely Inspired Friend

Beate's Inspiration Challenge this week was a tough one. Once I finally got the colors I wanted and made the medallion, I couldn't seem to pull it all together. I went back to Beate's site this morning, saw the card she posted today and, all of a sudden, I had my layout.

So this is the card I came up with. It is not only an inspiration challenge, but is also a case of Beate's card layout. The background is created by applying River Rock ink to the negative side of the Floral Fantasy Cuttlebug folder and dry embossing with River Rock paper.

The background is mounted on a piece of Basic Grey card stock that was sponged with black ink around the edges. That is mounted on a River Rock card base.


I made the medallion with the large flower stamp from True Friend (Stampin' Up). I inked it with Stazon black and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. Then I colored it with water color pencils and heat embossed over the entire image with clear again. I cut around the image and then sponged the edges with More Mustard ink. That was mounted on a black circle which in turn was mounted on a scalloped circle of Really Rust card stock.

To make the scalloped circle (I don't have nestabilities), I cut a circle and used the SU corner rounder with the guard off to create the scallops. The sentiment is from One of a Kind (Stampin' Up) and was cut out using the word window punch.

Bookmark Card Tutorial

Here is that tutorial I promised you. The green panel and flower of this card are a magnetic bookmark that slides out.

First I will go through the steps to make the bookmark.

I started with a stamped image of the big flower from Embrace Life (Stampin' Up) and colored that in with a yellow craft marker. Then I went around the outside with an orange craft marker. Next I used water color pencils to blend the colors.

After finishing the coloring, I used a Versa Mark pen over the entire image and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. I added a second layer of Versa Mark and embossing powder since this is part of the book mark and needs to hold up to use. Next I cut the image out closely.


Now cut a strip of Wild Wasabi 6-1/2 by 1-1/8 inches and a strip of Certainly Celery 6-1/2 by 1 inch. They should both be scored and folded in half crosswise. Next adhere a small magnet to one end of the Wild Wasabi and another to the other end. Pay attention to the polarity (positive and negative) of the magnets. They should be attracted to one another when the paper is folder.


Now add the Certainly Celery paper to cover the magnets. I used the swirl stamp from Priceless to decorate it first. The two strips of card stock were cut the same length, but when the Certainly Celery is folded over the Wild Wasabi, it will be a little shorter, creating a nice even 1/16 inch border of Wild Wasabi.

In my sample, this is probably not very important since it is covered with a flower, but if you don't use the flower, those dimensions should work pretty well with most SU card stock. If you use thicker card stock, you may need to play around a bit with the length.


Next, just adhere the flower to one side of the open end of the bookmark.

If you would like you can add a sentiment or embellishment. I used the sentiment from embrace life on Whisper White card stock, cut it out with the Word Window punch and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.

For the card, I cut a piece of 4-1/2 inch square So Saffron card stock. I inked up the background stamp from Baroque Motifs with Versa Mark, then Certainly Celery ink, and heat embossed that with clear embossing powder.

To create the slot for the bookmark to slide into, I used a 1/6 inch hole punch and punched two holes 1/2 inch in from the side and 1-1/4 inch apart.

Then I used my craft knife and straight edge to cut out the slot.

When you are done, it should look something like the photo above. If you have a slot punch, that would probably be easier, but I don't have one yet, so I did it the hard way.

I did some sponging around the So Saffron using ink of the same color. Then, I added two strips of 3/8 inch grosgrain ribbon to the right of the slot.

Then I added two more on the left of the slot.


Another Embrace Life sentiment hides behind where the bookmark sits. This will give the card a bit of a finished look even after the bookmark is removed.

The So Saffron is mounted to a piece of Really Rust card stock. Before you glue down that layer, be sure to put the bookmark in the slot so that you can see where to avoid adding adhesive. If you forget to do this, you may accidentally glue shut the area where the bookmark slides in.

To complete the card, I mounted added brads and mounted the Really Rust on a 5 by 5 inch Wild Wasabi card base.

Pun Fun Card

Can you tell I am into sponging these days? This card is for Beate's weekend sketch challenge. I changed it a bit by using a different size card (the sketch is square) and putting the circle on the right instead of the left. I just thought the skunk looked a bit odd looking off the card, so I moved it.

The skunk is from Pun Fun (Stampin' Up) and the sentiment is from Birthday Whimsy (also Stampin' Up). I colored the skunk with water color pencils, then embossed it with clear. I used the 1 - 1/2 inch circle punch, but instead of punching him out (his tail didn't fit in), I just drew the circle, excluding his tail. Then I cut around the circle and tail.

The background is made using a stamp from the Seeing Spots set. I stamped it on Certainly Celery and Really Rust paper and sponged the edges.

Couple of things you might want to check out:

Allison has a new tutorial for making heated Pearl Ex and heated chalks backgrounds. They're pretty cool techniques and create an unique look.

I am probably the last person to find it, but this blog, called Stampin' With Markie's Mom, is so awesome. She makes the most amazing cards and her posts are a hoot. She is having a blog candy giveaway right now, so if you head over there now, you might get a chance to win.

If I can get it finished, I will have a tutuorial up for you next week, and maybe even a challenge with a chance to win a Swiss Dots folder! Yep, I ordered an extra when I bought mine.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

Thankfully Asian

I got out my Artfully Asian set again to make this card. The leaves were stamped and embossed, then colored using water color pencils and embossed again with clear. I sponged around the edges of the circle with blue and purple inks.


On the background I stamped the branch using Versa Mark and then embossed with clear. Next I sponged the background with Purely Pomegranate and purple inks. The lavender layer went through my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder and was sponged with Purely Pomegranate.

Falling Leaves

I made this earlier today. I was trying to come up with a masculine card and chose to use the leaves from Artfully Asian (Stampin' Up). I stamped them on Whisper White and colored them with watercolor pencils, then heat embossed them with clear. The leaves are cut out and mounted on Certainly Celery card stock.

The background is made by stamping the leaves with Versa Mark and then heat embossing with clear. Then I did a combination of sponging and color transfer from Plexiglas. I like how the leaves and background came out, but the paper choice and layout needs a bit of help. I may try this one again sometime.


Blog Candy Alert

Michelleo at Stamps, Paper, Scissors and Donkey Smiles is having some blog candy you might want to check out.

Created by Courtney is having a big Blogaversary celebration. She is having several giveaways.

Rochelle is also having big celebration over at Impressions. Be sure to check it out.

Inspired Flowers

Here is my take on Beate's Inspiration Challenge for this week. I couldn't get a good picture because it is cloudy today, so the colors look very muted and brown.

For the background I used a versa mark pen to draw the lines and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Then brayered over it with So Saffron ink. Masking off with torn paper, I sponged on More Mustard ink.

The flowers are from All Natural (Stampin' Up). I colored those with water color pencils.

Winners
Allison has posted the winners for Stamping Links to Love blog candy. Head on over to see if you are the winner. She needs to hear from the winners by Friday.

Cupcake Card

This is a card using a stamp my mom gave me last week. The cupcake is from a set of four from Hero Arts. She only wanted two of the stamps and let me have one. Thanks, Mom.

Papers used are Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate, Close to Cocoa and Whisper White. The inks are black, Close to Cocoa and Purely Pomegranate. The sentiment is from Lots of Thoughts (Stampin' Up).

A Card For My Dad

This is the card I made for my dad for Fathers Day. I didn't have any stamps that suited my dad so I decided to just draw something. He is an avid fisherman so I did an image search and found a fly fishing fly (is that the right term?) I liked and drew it with pencil on water color paper.

After I had it sketched in with pencil, I went in with a micro tip black pen to make some of the darkest lines. Then I used water color pencils to color it in, starting with the lightest colors first.

I sponged River Rock ink around the fly and mounted it on black, then Close to Cocoa. I also sponged around the edges of the Close to Cocoa with Chocolate Chip ink. The card base is 5 - 1/2 inches square of Blue Bayou that I also sponged using Not Quite Navy ink.

At my husbands suggestion, I didn't add any embellishment or sentiment to the front.

An Inchie Challenge Card - WSC48

I put that stamp from yesterday to use again. This time I used two of the flowers to make inchies. I put the card together using Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge and I also got to use my new Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder for the second time.

It took forever to get a Swiss Dots folder. Those things are so popular and hard to come by, but I finally found a seller on Ebay that had several available. It was worth the wait. I love it.


Don't forget the Stamping Gals are offering Blog Candy!

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Birthday Flowers

This was a fun card to make. I enjoyed using the bright colors and coloring the cute flowers. The stamp is from Stampendous and belongs to my mom, but I managed to stamp a few images from it when she brought it by to show me the other day.

I colored the flowers with water color pencils and used added a little glitter to the centers. I cut out another flower for the center flower and used pop dots to lift it up.

The greeting is from Lots of Thoughts (Stampin' Up). I taped over the third phrase before I inked it and then removed the tape before stamping it.

Got a Sweet Tooth?

The Stamping Gals are offering blog candy! Want to know how to get it? Just head over to Stamping Links to Love and find out what you have to do.

For those of you that have found your way here from Allison's blog, you know us stamping "GALS" are sending you on a scavenger hunt. When you are finished here, head on over to Anna's blog for the next word.

The card above is the one I made for my mom on Mother's Day. I couldn't post it ahead of time because she reads my blog. Or at least she looks at my blog. I am not sure which, but I guess I will know soon.

The branch is from Stampin' Up set, Artfully Asian. I inked it up with VersaMark and then basic black and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. Then I colored it with water color pencils and went over that with a VersaMark pen. I added a bit of PearlEx pigment powder then embossed again.

The image is stamped on So Saffron paper and sponged with Groovy Guava ink. That is backed with black and then Purely Pomegranate. I used large stamp from Baroque Motifs on the background, inked with Groovy Guava. The sentiment is from Wonderful Favorites.

Inspiration Card

The image above is Beate's inspiration piece for this week. I love the clean lines and colors.

Here is my take on it. I used Soft Sky, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black and Whisper White papers and Chocolate Chip ink, all from Stampin' Up. The flowers are punched out of Chocolate Chip paper and the stems are just narrow pieces that I cut and curved. The leaves are make from a 1/2 inch circle punch. The sentiment is from the Lots of Thoughts stamp set.

If you get a chance, check out Beate's card. It is beautiful.

An Embrace Life Card

Wow, since I became a Stamping Gal, I have become familiar with so many wonderful blogs. There just isn't enough time in the day to give them the attention they deserve, but I am having a good time trying.

If you are looking for blog candy this is a good week. Hop on over to Stamping Links to Love and scroll down to the blog candy list. Click on "more" and you will find some great stuff being given away.


Here is a card I made using a stamped image from Embrace Life. I don't have this set, but I managed to stamp up some images while I was visiting my mom yesterday.

The flower is stamped on Whisper White card stock and colored using craft markers and watercolor pencils. First I colored in the entire flower with yellow marker and then went over the outer portions with pink marker. I used water color pencils to blend the colors then covered the image with VersaMark. Next I heat embossed with two coats of clear embossing powder.

I cut the image out and then attached it to a piece of So Saffron card stock that I had sponged with So Saffron and Certainly Celery ink. I also used the edges of some Colorbox petals to make grass. I got the idea of doing the grass like that from Michelle's latest tutorial,

The stem is just a narrow piece of Old Olive card stock and the leaves are made using my 1 1/2 circle punch. Just punch out a circle then slide the punched circle part way into the circle punch and punch again.

Spring Solitude Get Well

This card was originally going to be for Beate's weekend sketch, but I modified it so much it really doesn't fit the sketch anymore. I may still try to do her sketch, but I thought I would share this in the mean time.

I used Spring Solitude stamp set and wheel from Stampin' Up and the sentiment from Simple Salutations. Paper colors are Very Vanilla, Basic Black, and So Saffron. Inks are So Saffron and Chocolate Chip.

To get the edges on the black paper, I used the corner punch without the guard to make the scalloped edge, then a 3/8 inch hole punch to make the holes at each scallop.

If I don't get back on here, I hope you all have a great weekend and a Happy Mothers Day to all you moms.

Sketch Challenge Card

The sketch challenge at SCS is so cool this week, I just had to participate. For this card I used Baroque Motifs and the sentiment stamp from Birthday Whimsy. I also used Floral Fantasy embossing folder with my cuttlebug. Papers are Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Basic Black and two colors of non Stampin' Up purples.

Criss Cross Gift Card Holder Tutorial

I love the criss cross card technique and thought it would make a cute gift card holder if sized down, so I modified the design a bit. It uses a piece of 3 by 11 inch card stock and I wind up with a lot of scraps that size, so this is a good way to get rid of those.



To start you'll need a piece of 3 by11 inch card stock for the base, 2-3/8 by 3-3/8 piece of double sided pattern paper for the front (I used a scrap of Bali Breeze paper), and for the insert a piece of 3-1/2 by 4-3/4 card stock. You can click on the image above to view it larger.


Take a piece of 2 -3/8 by 3 -3/8 double sided printed card stock. Cut that piece on the diagonal.

For the card base, take the piece of 3 by 11 inch card stock and make a vertical score line at 3/8 an inch, then make horizontal score lines 3 5/8 inches in from either side. Trim the narrow rectangular sections as shown in the graphic above. Then make the diagonal cuts as shown.



Now you should have the card base, with scores and cuts as shown, and two triangles of patterned paper.

Adhere the triangles to the side flaps and trim the corners of the bottom flap.


Fold over one of the side flaps. Remember how we cut the corners from the bottom flap? This is because the bottom flap will be sandwiched between the two side flaps and would show if left untrimmed. You really only need to cut one side, but I find it easier just to do both rather that worry about which one needs to be trimmed.


Before adding adhesive to the bottom, go ahead and fold the bottom flap up and then the other side and check to be sure you have trimmed the bottom flap well enough not to show. If everything looks ok, add sturdy adhesive to the bottom flap and fold up.

Note: The bottom flap is sandwiched between the side flaps so that the insert will slide in without hanging up on it. This was a problem with the first one I made so I adjusted the design.

Add adhesive to the other side flap and glue that side down as well.

Embellish as desired. For this one I used punched flowers and a brad with a band of Purely Pomegranate ribbon.


For the insert, cut a piece of card stock to 3 -1/2 by 4 - 3/4 inches. Score it half way on the long side at 2 - 3/8, so that when folded the insert is 3 -1/2 by 2 - 3/8 inches. You can use a circle punch to cut out a semi-circle if you want to add a round tab.


You can see here how I added the round tab to the back to line up with the semi-circle. I also rounded the corners of the insert.

I hope these directions are thorough enough. If anything is unclear, just let me know.

Have fun!