Pure Innocense

Aren't these little girls just precious? Well, my dear friend Frances sent these to me for my birthday a month ago, and I'm just now getting around to putting them on a card. I colored them right away, but the mojo had left the building and I didn't know what to do. I decided that the sweet and simple style of the images warranted a simple layout so as not to over power the charm. So, I used my Labels 8 Spellbinders die to make the base, colored the images with copics, and ink distressed the edges with Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress Ink) The dp is from Anna Griffin's Sierra Collection. I added a couple of buttons (PTI), and some Ice Blue Rhinestones (Kaisercraft) for a little punch, and that's about it. Simple and sweet!!

Here's the card with the image called My Balloon:



Here's the card with the image Flower Girl:


I thought I'd share a quick photo with you too. This was the view out my front bay window yesterday morning. The dairy in the photo is our neighbor. That's really the color too. The sun wasn't fully up yet.

Birthday Bunny for a Birthday Boy

A precious little boy is turning 3 in a couple of days, and I needed a special card. Since I just received some new MFT stamps from my dear friend Frances (StampOwl),

{Thanks Hoots}

I thought it would be a perfect time to do their sketch challenge today. And when I saw that SCS's Ways To Use It challenge today was to use watercolor paper, I thought I'd watercolor this MFT bunny called Cupcake Flopsey!

He's stamped with Black Onyx Versafine onto 140 lb watercolor paper, embossed with Detail Black ep, cut out and mounted onto 110 lb Neenah Solar White paper. The dp is Wild Asparagus (MME), and the stars are cuttlebug diecuts.

I pierced the two side strips and sewed twine into place with scrappers floss, and ink distressed everything with Walnut Stain (Ranger distress Ink).

Finally, since this card is going to a little boy, I made a baseball cap for this cupcake delieverer. However, I couldn't stop myself from adding a touch of sparkle to the cupcake with Frosted Lace Stickles, cause the mom of this sweet little guy is a HUGE cupcake fan, and LOVES bling. What can I say...I love bling too. But notice...no ribbon.

To get the curl in the ribbon floss on the top left star, I just wound it around the needle part of my piercing tool.

That's it y'all!! Hope you're having an awesome day!! Tomorrow is FRIDAY!! Woo-Hoo!! And I get to go to two Gift shop open houses, taste gourmet food, and shop for Christmas gifts!! Can't wait!!

Happy Stamping!
Tosh
Supplies - Cupcake Flopsey, Simply Said (MFT) Paper - Suede Brown Light, Wild Asparagus (MME) Ink - Black Onyx (Versafine),Walnut Stain (Ranger Distress Ink), Latte, Mushroom, Espresso, Stonewashed (Adirondack Dye reinkers) Accessories - Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, twine, Scrappers Floss, piercing tool, sewing needle, dimensional tape, Frosted Lace Stickles

Wishing Comfort

I made this card for two reasons today. First, I needed a card for a fellow SCSer who recently lost a loved one. Second, I wanted to do the Ways To Use It Challenge which was to use punches or scissors to trim corners. I used my SU Corner Ticket punch.

I stamped this MFT Peppermint image onto Neenah Natural White with Tuxedo Black (Memento), and colored it with my copics.

The gorgeous dp is Provence (Memory Box), and the sentiment is Wonderful Wishes by Verve. I think the ribbon is by American Craft, but I'm not sure.

The ovals were cut and embossed with my nestabilities, and I added some dew drops for just a touch of bling. Oh, and as usual (sorry, I can't help myself), I had to ink distress. I used Frayed Burlap and Brushed Corduroy (Ranger Distress Ink. And finally, I matted my panels with Mystic Dark and Spring Willow Dark Prismatics.

Thanks so much for stopping by. It's Friday tomorrow!! Woo-Hoo!!!
Happy Stamping!
Tosh

A much needed break!

I made this card awhile back, and wanted to share it with you today. I love these new images by MFT. Annie LaPoint is quite the talented designer. Her images are fabulous. This one is called Take a Break. It's darling, and so much fun to color and paper tole. The tub and flowers are popped up with dimensionals, and the edges are ink distressed with Latte Adirondack ink. I also sewed a bit around the panel edges, and randomly across the top.

Have a FABULOUS weekend. I hope it's stamping inspired!! ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by.


Supplies:
Stamps
Paper - White, Suede Light (Prismatics), Lucky n Love (Black Market Paper Socitey) White (Papertrey)
Ink - Black Soot (Ranger Distress Ink), Latte (Adirondack)
Accessories - Copics, Pearls (Kaisercraft), Nestabilities (Spellbinders), scallop scissors, Quickie Glue Pen, Ultrafine Crystal glitter, sewing machine, Scotch Mounting tape

Two Hearts as One...

I needed to make an anniversary card today for my BIL and SIL. After looking at the Inspirational Challenge on SCS I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was inspired by the distressed look of the trunk and the headboard. (I know...shocker), and I wanted to use this sentiment by Verve ("Two Hearts, One Lifetime). Those of you who know me, know I don't usually like to work with hearts. I struggle terribly with attaching them to my cards. I don't know why...it's weird, I know. Anyway, I stamped the heart image unevenly on my cardstock, and while groaning, I turned the image the opposite way to fit it onto a scrap piece of paper and stamped it again. WOW!! I made a discovery. Well, you all have probably made it eons ago, but since I don't work with hearts, this idea never even occurred to me until I saw it. I had accidentally made a butterfly!! Woo-Hoo!! I love butterflies!! They are so much easier to work with...IMHO. And (bear with my mushy talk now) it fits with my sentiment so well, and the theme of marriage..."Two Hearts, One Lifetime", and "The two shall become one". How cool is that? Not only that, but a butterfly is a symbol for new life!! I'm done with all my symbolism now. I'm sure you want to hear more about the card instead.

Well, I used a mish-mash of stamps. The 3 panels (represent the trunk at the end of the bed of the inspiration) and the left piece (my headboard from the inspiration), were stamped with the Cornish Heritage Farms Burlap Backgrounder with Lake Mist (Adirondack). The middle panel is stamped with Judikins' Baroque Leaves. The butterfly was stamped with MFT's Boho Blossoms Hearts and is embossed with Judikins black detail embossing powder. I just cut out the middle piece of my butterfly and stamped that with a striped bg and embossed it in black. I don't know who it's by. It's not labeled and is old. The butterfly antennae are just the edges cut off of black grosgrain ribbon.

The flowers are from two punches and the dots are Rain Dots (Cloud 9 Design) I thought the rain dots were a softer, smokier color than brads or rhinestone stickers. I embossed the sentiment with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink (Ranger) and clear detailed embossing powder (JudiKins). All the panels are raised with mounting tape, and are ink distressed with Lake Mist (Adirondack).

Thanks for stopping by. I do hope all of you are having a fabulous weekend.

Supplies:
Stamps - Burlap Backgrounder (CHF), Baroque Leaves BG (JudiKins), Boho Blossoms (MFT)
Paper - Sahara Sand, Black (Stampin' Up), White (Papertrey)
Ink - Lake Mist (Adirondack), Frayed Burlap Distress Ink (Ranger), Black Versacolor
Accessories - Embossing Powder - Black and Clear (JudiKins), Flower Punches, RainDots (Cloud 9 Design), Ribbon (Stampin' Up), Organdy Ribbon, Grosgrain Ribbon (edges), Scotch Mounting Tape

CCEE Friends

As I was making this card for our CCEE weekly challenge I couldn't help but think about how time flies from week to week. Not only that, but a year has gone by since this group started.

A year ago in May, I contacted Cindy (Mothermark on SCS) to see if she'd be interested in starting a group with me. A group that would challenge each other once a week. I was new to SCS and thought it would be a fun way to get to know some other stampers from around the world. Cindy was *on board* from the get-go and from there we asked 6 others if they'd like to participate in the challenges Cindy and I would make each week. We wanted to keep the group semi-small because we wanted to mail supplies once a month that each individual would be required to use. I had no idea that the group would last this long, or that we would become such good friends. After all, I was totally new to the on-line world...I'd never chatted on line, or been involved in any other way except for email and buying Christmas presents. Now I have several awesome stamping friends from all over the world. Way Cool!!!

Okay, enough of the reminiscing...on to the card and the challenge that inspired it. Cindy Haffner was in charge of the challenges this month, and challenged us this week to make a card with this MFT image and to use two different Decorative Papers. Kim was kind enough to send us the stamp set thanks to Cindy's inquiry. Thanks a million Kim and Cindy!!!! I used Art Nouveau - Avant Garde Dream Street Papers that I bought from my LSS. I love this stuff!!

The image is colored with copics, and for the corner treatment I just punched part of a circle out of the center.

To see what the other girls created and to participate in this challenge along with us, stop by our new blog CCEE stampers.


Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies:
Stamps - Friends Furever (MFT)
Paper - Art Nouveau Avant Garde (Dream Street Papers), Kraft, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up), White (Papertrey)
Ink - Black Soot, Frayed Burlap, Walnut (Ranger Distress Ink)
Accessories - Oval Nestabilites, piercing tool, brads, hole punch, circle punch, scotch dimensional tape, Cranberry Crisp stitched ribbon (Stampin' Up)

A Cowgirl and a star...

Can you believe it's Monday again? It's crazy how fast time is flying by.

Since it's Monday, it's time for another CCEE challenge that I do with a small group of SCS friends. Cindy Haffner provided the challenge this week. We were to use a cowboy or cowgirl image and include a star. I was thrilled to do this challenge because I received this darling MFT Ride 'em Cowgirl image from Cindy quite awhile ago and haven't had a chance to use it yet.

Her dress is pieced with crate paper, the rope is SU River Rock and the rest of the image is colored with copics. The stars are Cuttlebug diecuts, and the Howdy was punched with the SU word window punch. All panels were ink distressed with Ranger Brushed Corduroy distress ink, and the ribbon was miscellaneous pieces from my ribbon drawer with a piece of twine tied around it. Thanks for stopping by ya'll!!


Stamps - Ride 'em Cowgirl (MFT)
Paper - Crate Avenue Collection (Crate Paper), Black, Chocolate Chip, real Red (Stampin' Up)
Ink - Black Soot Distress Ink (Ranger)
Accessories - copics, stars (cuttlebug diecut), brads, twine, ribbon, word window punch (Stampin' Up), scotch mounting tape

DDA Journal with Bookmark

The 20th of each month, Jami from SCS gives the Dirty Dozen Alumni a challenge. This month it was as follows:

Challenge Focus: See the Inspiration Photo below. The photo is from BH&G 100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 magazine.
Required Element: Make an Inspiration Journal for yourself or as a gift. It can be any size from tiny to huge.
Restricted Element: No markers (SU, Copic, or any other brand), no watercolor crayons.

Inspirational Photo is HERE

I liked the blue/white/tan combo with the hint of orange/red flowers. I decided to make my journal a prayer journal and used this gorgeous Bible Still Life image by Inkadinkado. I colored it with prisma watercolor pencils and the SU blending pen. I also added some sparkle with my Sakura stardust glitter gelly roll pen.

My scallops were cut with my fiskars rotary cutter.

I made a magnetic bookmark to go with the journal. I figured I could use it in my devotional book. I kept both projects fairly flat so they're easy to keep with me. For the bookmark, I just folded the piece in half and cut with my fiskars rotary scalloped blade cutter. The image Aged and Elegant is by Inque Boutique, and the sentiment heartfelt is a MFT sentiment from Grateful Greetings. I put Basicgrey magnetic snaps, that I got from Eclectic Paperie, on the inside of my bookmark and covered them with a piece of cardstock.
Here's the template I used. I have no idea who designed this template. It was the very first journal I made as a stamper over 12 years ago and was taught to me by my SU demo Laurie Franz. The paper inside is just a 5"x8" pad I got at staples.














I'm including a photo of the back to show how it's attached to the paper pad, and the inside to see how the folder works. You can cover the back of the pad with a 5"x8" piece of cardstock if you like. I left it off to show how you can use just one piece of cardstock to make the journal cover...then enhance it as you like. Here's a photo of the inside pocket too. I've never done a tutorial before, but hopefully you can figure this out by my photos. If you have any questions, email me at www.stamps4fun@hotmail.com.

Supplies:
Stamps: Bible Still Life (Inkadinkado), Remembering and bookmark image: Aged and Elegant (Inque Boutique), heartfelt (MFT)
Paper: Metallic Papers by Marcella K (K&Company), SU Riverrock, Papertrey White
Ink: Versafine Black onyx, Ranger Antique Linen and Weathered Wood distress ink
Accessories: Prisma watercolor pencils, SU blending pen, dew drops (cowboy), oval nestabilities by spellbinders, piercing tool, piercing template, 5x7 paper pad, scor-pal, basicgrey magnetic snaps

Framed challenge

I promised a card this evening, and here it is. This is the card I made with the supplies a few of us from SCS send to each other each month. We were to use the clear frame from Making Memories. I combined two challenges this week. SCS's Featured stamper Stamping Pam, and our CCEE Challenge (Cheers and Challenges Eager Eight) We challenge each other every Monday with a variety of different things. I will always have a card uploaded either Sun. evening or Monday morning for this. Here's Pam's card that I cased: Fall Flowers
Changes: Colors, images, dp, moved the sentiment up to a buckle, circle to square, added scallops to the bottom, and moved my bottom panel up a bit.

Thanks Pam for the inspiration!! I really enjoyed looking through your awesome gallery!!

Now for the deets!!

Main image: Stamped image with Ranger Black Soot Distress Ink onto Papertrey White CS, colored with copics. Glued the frame to peach Bazzill CS with Diamond stickles and framed with Nestabilites square diecut.

The red panel was created by painting Ranger Fired Brick Distress Crackle paint. I painted it on fairly thick so the cracks would show more. It's awesome stuff, and easy to use. The brush is included with the jar. It's connected to the inside lid, so you don't need to clean a separate brush. I then rubbed Ranger Walnut distress ink over it to make the crack stand out a bit more. I think it looks a bit like aged leather!!

The oval sentiment was cut out with oval nestabilities, and all the panels were ink distressed with Ranger Tea Dye Distress ink....sorry, forgot to include that one in the picture. The scallops were created with Stampin' Up's slit punch, and the velvet ribbon is threaded through the horizontal slot punched CS. All panels are raised with Scotch dimensional tape. The scallops were pierced using Tim Holtz Retractable Craft Pick.
Oh, and the inside says....are the perfect blend. Thanks for stopping and taking a look!!



Supplies:
Stamps - MFT
Paper - SU Chocolate Chip, Bazzill, peach, Fancy Pants dp, Papertrey White
Ink - Ranger Black Soot, Walnut, Tea Dye Distress Inks, SU chocolate chip marker to color sentiment
Accessories - Making Memories Frame, Diamond Stickles, Ranger Fired Brick Crackle paint, American Crafts Elements mini brads, SU slit and horizontal punches, Nestabilities, Tim Holtz Retractable Craft Pick, sponge, dimensional tape, velvet ribbon, copics

How Sweet!!

I have two cards to share with you this evening. I used the same colors and the new Basicgrey "Two Scoops" dp.

They're both fairly simple, just a few layers. The first is a standard A2 card and the second is 5 1/4" x 5 1/4".
For the first, I just used SU Chocolate Chip, Bazzill, Papertrey White and the Basicgrey. The MFT image is stamped with Ranger Black Soot Distress ink. I love this ink for many reasons. One is because it does not smear when I color with my copics, and two you can emboss with it also. It also stamps clean and rich. LOVE it!! Anyway, the image is colored with copics and has a coating of Sakura Hobby Craft 3D Crystal Lacquer on it. You can find this image at Stamper's Dream. Michelle also has quite the variety of liquid pearls, stickles, and many different stamp companies are represented. Basically, a one stop shop!! yee-ha! Love that. I have to take a minute to tell you why I love the liquid pearls. I love decorating with embellishments, and I do like using pearls at times, but to put one pearl on each scallop.....OH MY, that would take the whole package and then some. So I get the look without sacrificing my pearls. How cool is that? The lace is by Rusty Pickle!! They have the most awesome ribbons. The squares were cut with nestabilities, as were the tabs where the ribbon is tied. I'm not sure who the ribbon is by since it was a gift. And the scallops have white opal liquid pearls on them.


Supplies:
Stamps - MFT Be Mine, from Stamper's Dream
Paper - SU Chocolate Chip, Bazzill, Papertrey, Basicgrey Two Scoops
Ink - Ranger Black Soot Distress Ink, Adirondack Ginger, SU Chocolate Chip
Accessories - copics, Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer, Ranger Liquid Pearls, nestabilities, Rusty Pickle Lace, sponge

Okay, before I share the next card with you, I'd like to share with you the most awesome stamp cleaner by Judikins. I don't know about you, but I don't always clean my stamps right away. And some of these inks are atrocious to clean off. Well, last year when I went to an Heirloom Productions event in Riverside, CA...which I get to go to this weekend...WOOT...Judikins had a booth there with her cleaning product. Oh, my goodness...that stuff works like magic. And I don't know how, but it moisturizes the rubber too. So I bought a huge refill bottle then and there. I was going to wait to buy it there again this year....but guess what?!?!?! Michelle sells it at Stamper's Dream!!! Ye-ha!! LOVE this stuff. It's Rubber Stamp Permanent and Fabric Ink Cleaner!! Check it out!!

Okay, for this second card I mixed it up a bit...Elzybells (love this little girl) You can find her at Amuse. And MFT that you can find at Stamper's Dream.
The circles and oval were cut with nestabilities, and the tag is the two Stampin' Up tag punches. I put liquid pearls around the circle scallops, and pierced the oval one. Pearls by Joy Crafts are around the square. The sentiment and heart are part of the MFT Be Mine set. The edges are all ink distressed with Adirondack Ginger, and the sentiment is stamped with Adirondack Espresso.

Supplies:
Stamps - MFT - Stamper's Dream Elzybells (Amuse)
Paper - Bazzill, Basicgrey Two scoops
Ink - Ranger Black Soot distress ink, Adirondack Ginger, espresso
Accessories - nestabilities, liquid pearls, pearls, SU tag punches, ribbon, dimensional tape by scotch, copics

Treasure Hunt Tuesday at Rubbernecker!!

Now, head on over to Kittie's blog: Kittie Kraft for the first clue to go on your treasure hunt.

After getting the clue, head on over to Rubbernecker and follow where the clues lead. You could win a free stamp. Not only that...check out their site for more ways to get stamps for free!!

Photo Finish

Since it's Monday, it's time for me to post the card from the challenge that I do with 8 goofy friends from SCS. This week we had to make a card with a photo on it. It could be your own photo or from a magazine. I chose to use one of my own photos. However, my printer started to act up, so I had a hard time getting a clear picture without all of the computer's little marks. So, I printed my (not too clear picture...it is a gorgeous picture, but the printer.....argh)picture on regular paper and gave it two coats of clear embossing powder. I matted it with SU Orchid Opulence and black that were cut out with spellbinder's Nestabilities, as was the medallion on the right and the *love sentiment* at the top.

Supplies:
Stamps - MFT Essential Sentiments
Paper - SU Orchid Opulence, Basic Gray, Black, Papertrey White
Ink - Ranger Black Soot Distress Ink, versamark
Accessories - Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Clear EP, Nestabilities, K&Company Rhinestone stickers, Doodlebug Design Jewels, American Craft Ribbon,

Chillin'

Every Sunday, Splitcoast Stampers features a new stamper for anyone who would like to CASE one of their cards. The only requirement is that you change at least two things. This week, the FS is LZappa. And I chose to case this adorable card of hers. LZappa


I love Whipper Snapper!! Especially their snowmen and penguins, so I used this stamp "think snow". I stamped it with Tim Holtz Black Soot distress ink.....fabulous ink to use with copics...NO SMUDGES!!! You can find this ink at Rubbernecker Stamp Company I colored the image with copics and coated the snow with crystal ice stickles. The flakes above were coated with ultra fine glitter and a Sakura Quickie Glue Pen. The snowflake brads have grape ice stickles in their centers, and the medallion was punched with scallop and circle punches. The center of the medallion has the MFT stamps *chillin* and snowflake stamped with bashful blue and night of navy. I used a sakura white souffle pen for the dots around the scallop! Another favorite tool of mine. It never clogs and always disperses ink. LOVE IT!!

Stamps: Whipper Snapper, MFT
Paper: Memory Box DP, Night of Navy SU and Papertrey White (awesome paper to use with copics)
Ink: Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Ink, Night of Navy
Accessories: blue Marvy oval sallop punch, Nestabilities circles, snowflake brads, stickles, Quickie glue pen, ultrafine crystal glitter, su grossgrain ribbon (navy and elegant eggplant), Michaels Ribbon, dimensional tape