In Praise of Sunflowers ~ Power Poppy

Hello again friends!!  I'm back again with another Power Poppy card to share today featuring the clear stamp set In Praise of Sunflowers.  Isn't that a great name for a set?  I ADORE sunflowers.  They are one of my absolute favorite flowers, and this set has two fabulous sunflower images that were originally released as digital.  Now, you can get both images along with some unique building sentiments.

I stamped the sunflower four times, colored them, and cut them out in layers for a 3-D effect.  I also burnished the backs of the center and leaves for some additional texture.  I colored this baby awhile back, and forgot to record the Copics I used, so I'm sorry that I can't provide the list.  But here's a close up angled view so you can see the dimension a bit better.

Now, for some more fabulous inspiration, check out the following Bloom Brigader Blogs:

• Allison Cope
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Katie Sims
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker---you are here

That's it for today.  Stop by tomorrow for a preview of another fabulous Power Poppy set!
  Happy Stamping!

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Stamps:  In Praise of Sunflowers (Power Poppy)

Paper:  X-Press It, Vintage Summer Basics (Maja Designs), Kraft (PTI)

Dies:  Stitched Circle (The Ton Couture Cuts), A2 Curved Borders One (Spellbinders)

Accessories:  Copics, Scalloped Border Punch (EK Success), Sequins, Sewing Machine, Dimensional Tape (Scotch) 

Congrats on your new home...

Hello my creative friends!!  I have a card to share with you that is dear to my heart.  My son is moving this weekend to a new home which he will share with his bride when he gets married this Fall.  We are so proud and excited for him.  We adore his fiance.  However, being from California, you can imagine our literal SHOCK that he would choose to move to "cold country".  That's just a little bit crazy in my book.  (sorry to all my Midwest friends...I love ya...just couldn't live there again.)  So, I decided, since I'm so far away, I thought I would put together a housewarming care package and include one of my "made from the heart" cards.

I was inspired by Monday's TLC484 challenge over on Splitcoaststampers.com.  We were to fill up our backgrounds using border punches or diecuts.  So, I took an EK Success border punch and created the lattice/basket weave type background and added some tags that were die cut using WMS's Stitched Tag Cutting Edge die.  The sentiments are from WMS's Gift Card It stamp set, and the little house is from the Alpine Christmas set.  I stamped it, along with the sentiments with Versamark, and embossed them with white to represent the cold and snow.   I figured I would let him know that we still love him, even though he's moving to the tundra.

That's it for today's card.  I hope I've inspired you to get crafty today!
Have a fun and fabulous week!!
And...
     Happy Stamping!!

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Stamps:  Gift Card It, Alpine Christmas (Waltzingmouse Stamps)

Paper:  Wood paper (MME), Kraft and Smokey Shadow (PTI), Red Bazzill)

Ink:  Versamark, Pumice Stone (Ranger Distress) 

Accessories:  Stitched Tags die (WMS), Classic Heart die (Spellbinders), Border Punch (EK Success), White Embossing Powder (Ranger), Twine (October Afternoon), Clothespins (The Funkie Junkie), Mini-Stapler (Tim Holtz), Dimensional Tape (Scotch)

Sparkly Ornament Tag Tutorial

I have some sparkly ornament gift tags to share with you today.  No stamping involved.  They're easy to make, and oh so sparkly fun!

Here is what you need:  Double sided adhesive sheets (I used Scor-tape's 6x6 double-sided adhesive sheets), dies (I used Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament dies), a border Punch (I used EK Success), and some glitter (I used Vintage & Sparkle Glitter).  I also used some border dies by Spellbinders:  Asian and Persian Accents.  I actually found the punches to work the easiest though.

Start by punching a border with your border punch, then peel the back off of the rest of the sticker paper and attach it to white Cardstock.  You could punch two strips of the border if you like if you want to cover more of your ornament with a pattern.

Then, peel off the sticker paper from the front of the diecut ornament piece.

Peel the back off of the punched border and attach it where you want it on the ornament.  The top of the ornament is very sticky, so try not to touch it or the glitter won't adhere.

Now sprinkle the glitter over the top and burnish it (rub it in with your finger)

Remove the top of the border sticker tape and add the next color of glitter.

Woila!!  There you have it.  A beautiful, sparkling gift tag.

Hint:  It's best to do the background a darker color than the pattern, because otherwise you will see the darker color against the lighter background.

I made two white ornaments, but the red shows up a bit.  I don't mind because irl it's not as noticeable.  Whatever your preference is.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Chevrons are very popular this year, so of course I had to make a chevron decorated ornament tag.  ;)

That's it for today.  Thanks for dropping by!

Happy Stamping!

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Paper:  White (PTI)

Dies:  Heirloom Ornament Dies 2010, 2011, 2012, Persian Accents and Asian Accents (Spellbinders)

Accessories:  Border Punches (EK Success), Hollywood Hills, String of Pearls, The Red Carpet and Aqua Follies Glitter (Vintage & Sparkle Glitter) 6x6 Double-sided Adhesive Sheets (Scor-Pal)

Wish Big

Hello everyone!! It's the weekend, and I'm so excited. A lot's happening around here right now, so we're ultra busy. My son arrives home from college tonight just in time for my daughter's graduation tomorrow! Woo-Hoo!!

Have you checked out the Viva la Verve sketches over in the Verve Forum on Splitcoaststampers? I tell you, those gals have come up with some fabulous designs. I used last week's sketch, designed by Maureen, for this card. (yes, I know I'm a week late....I've had this card done for awhile, just haven't gotten around to uploading it.) Amy has a fantastic one for this week too, so be sure to check them out HERE.

Before I get into all the detail of my card, I have to mention how much I've loved seeing embossing folders used on dp with a bit of sanding. I was inspired by Julee's card HERE to give it a try. Isn't it just gorgeous!?!?!?!

Anyway, I used only two stamped images for my card: The sentiment from the set Birthday Phrases (Verve), and I used the Sweet Scallop Tag (Verve) image. I also used the Sweet Scallop Tag, Charming Oval and Flutterby dies (Verve), as well as the Big Scallop Circle (Spellbinders).

The dp is from the Gabrielle Collection (BoBunny), and I used a Sizzix Embossing folder as well as a EK Success Border punch. Here's a close up of the collage of elements.

That's it for today ya'll.
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!!

Stamps: Birthday Phrases, Sweet Scallop Tag (Verve)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI), Gabrielle Collection (Bo Bunny), Corrugated
Ink: Frayed Burlap and Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress), Vintage Cream (PTI)
Accessories: Sweet Scallop Tag, Charming Ovaland Flutterby Die (Verve), Big Scallop die (Spellbinders), Border Punch (EK Success), Button (PTI), Butterfly Picks (Webster's Pages), Seam Binding Ribbon, Twine (PinkPaislee), Pearls (Kaisercraft), Embossing Folder (Sizzix), Distrezz-it-All (Zutter), Sewing Machine