IBFS #3 and Summer of Color!

I needed a little inspiration to finally create a baby card for my niece who just had a sweet little girl.  When I saw I Brake For Stamps challenge this week and using polka dots for inspiration, I knew what needed to be done.  The picture was copied off my niece's Facebook page, so the quality is not the best, but I think she will just love the idea!  One of my sweet blogging friend's Nan, told me about The Summer of Color, "Pink" challenge, so we are having our visit over there! 

I did the Cuttlebug Highlights technique from the Technique Junkies.  When I saw the reverse side of the embossed and colored folder, I actually liked that better and thought the stamped image would be more detailed.  The baby frame stamp is from I Brake For Stamps and so perfect for welcoming a cutie pie into the world. 

Our cute inspiration!

Thank you for stopping by and there is still time to get in on this weeks challenge.  BTW, I thought the commenting issue was resolved on Blogger, but I noticed I am having problems once again.  Anyone else still battling the comment thing?

Bloggers Challenge!

This is my final design team project for Scrolls Work Stamps!  Knowing how much Jacque loves Steampunk, I decided to create this last assignment solely with that in mind.  Thank you Scrolls Work for giving me the opportunity to design for your company.  This was my first design team assignment and I did learn that I can keep up with the best of them, even with only three years of stamping experience.  So never say never and get out there and play!! Age does not matter and experience does not matter, it is what we love to do that matters!

I used paper from G-45 from their steampunk line. A few of Tim Holtz gears and of course numerous Scrolls Work Stamps images. The focal image is Tim and Tom Travel and that is exactly what this dudes will be doing today, because they are visiting at the Bloggers Challenge "Sketch Challenge." If you want to play along, click HERE for the challenge link.

Have a wonderful weekend and I sure hope you all have some nice weather!  Thank you for stopping by!

CCC #34 Flies with I Brake For Stamps!

When Linda from Studio L3 mentioned that Della from I Brake For Stamps was this week's generous sponsor, to me it was the best of both worlds.  I knew I had to play with Della's stamps using a Tim Holtz Technique.  You can't get better than that!  So you know, if you don't have Tim's book, "Compendium of Curiosities," IBFS has a wonderful price on this book in their clearance section and this would also make a wonderful gift for a crafting friend. While you are there, take a look at some wonderful stamps!

Where to start!  I used a designer paper with very subtle print, I then used IBFS large crackle stamp over the print and a few feathers.  You hardly see those images!  The egg and feather collage elements are 7 Gypsies paper and were cut out and I used the crackle stamp on the egg.  The sentiment (I love that one), was stamped on mulberry paper and inked.  I torn around the edges.  The tab background uses the Antique Glimmers from the Technique Junkies and I stamped more feathers.  All stamps are from IBFS.  This was way more fun than it should have been.  I just wish I could keep glue off my stuff!!!

I can't believe we are at CCC#34 and next week we have finished the book!  I have done every challenge from week #1 and have learned to enjoy Monday's!!!  Linda you rock in so many ways!

Gingersnap Creations GC87

This challenge at Gingersnap Creations is creating a tea bag and a really handy template is provided.  All stamps are Scrolls Work Stamps, Dragon Feathers were used for the embossed Batik background.  Then I used Dried Marigold Distress Ink over the embossed image.  Paper used was Stampin Up Apricot Appeal.  Next I stamped the front with The Bird's Nest, the back is stamped with Watch Face and the letters are from the Type Print stamped and then punched. Everything was shaded to give it a more vintage look.

And to make this a happy day, I just found out that I am a winner twice!!!  As luck would once again find me, Not A Moment To Spare had a lovely blogaversary giveaway and you really need to check this fabby artist out.  I always get a great chuckle visiting CB and I am happy to call her a good friend.  And then, my friend Cindy has started an online magazine, which you have to go check out and I stopped by for a good read and I won something from the most talented Petra.  Well I am beginning to believe the rumors about myself being the luckiest blog winner!  I have struck gold!  Please stop by and say hello to all of these wonderful bloggers.  You never know when you might win!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day tomorrow.

Oh La La at Bella Creations

If you have not checked out Bella Creations, stop by and take a look.  It is a fun online group and another wonderful way for us to share our love of art!  There is something for all, so come take a look.  This tag is for a challenge in the group "Oh la la" and we are using the group Avatar!  I did not do any stamping, but did ink and chalk a little.

I added color to their cheeks, her outfit and the leaves on the tree.  This was fun to play with an image.  I might get use to this! 

Thank you for stopping by and visiting.  It really makes my day to read all the lovely comments!  Have a great day!

Kathy and Donna's 12 Tags of Christmas from Day One!

There is still time to play with Kathy and Donna and do all the tags that Tim Holtz has done from the beginning of time.  Come on and play, because it is fun!  Here is my #2 tag and I am linking it up at Kathy's "Inkin' It Up."

I did not have the snowman collage stamp, so used another TH stamp.  Also did not have the ghost snowflakes.  I attached to way adhesive tape to a piece of plastic and added these iridescent flakes and then ran it through my BS.  I placed them over the larger stamped snowflakes, because I thought it would be too busy with more snowflakes spread out.  I also added some of the iridescent flakes along the edge and of course added a few blings using my i-Rock. 

When I have a blog candy giveaway, one lucky person will be the recipient of a new i-Rock with some fun gems and I will even throw in the batteries. Soon!!  Even my DH has picked out a few items!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

GC84 - Color Challenge

Imagine a challenge using Snow, Pine and Mahogany, then you will know that could only be the Gingers! When I first read this challenge, it took me by complete surprise as to what I was going to do! Even after I went into my craft room, I still was so clueless. I told my DH what the elements of the challenge were and he was home while I was sorting things out loud and on paper. I remembered this pine tree from Stampin Up and how I had never used it. Well there was my pine and I so loved the tree that I did not want anything else accept a snow and sky background. It killed me to not add a bunny or bird, but we wanted this to be about the pine tree. Then it was time for the Mahogany part of the challenge and so Tim Holtz texture fade came to mind and so did the Mahogany distress ink, which was shaded in a darker ink. We stamped the tree with old olive and while the ink was still wet on the stamp added the brown to the tree trunk to give it a more realistic feel. I used a deckled Spellbinders die to cut out the frame. So do you think I did OK with this one? I actually like it quite much and this is now my G-son's Christmas card! Although the DH really liked it and wondered how I come up with these things.

Just in case you missed yesterday's blog post about my incredible anniversary blog candy win from Jan at Paper Craft Pleasures, take a look!!!  Can you believe all of this??  Well as sweet as this blog candy is, the real treat is at Jan's blog.  Really go visit.

This will be my last post until after Christmas, because this person has company coming for Christmas dinner and I still have a ton of things to do. Wishing you all the best of this Holiday season and thank you for taking the time to visit!

Music To My Ears!

This adorable Cherub collage is from Scrolls Work Stamps! I think it works out perfectly for the Technique Junkies "clipped corners and we are entering this at the Artist Stamper Christmas challenge. This was stamped on an ivory cardstock with Stazon. I used water based markers to color the leaves, flowers, bow, horns and wings, oh and the little pinecones!! Then I added some Spica glitter and the leaves have an extra layer of metallic pencil. The little Cherubs were colored with chalk to achieve a softness. I then added the clipped and colored piece to a piece of black cardstock and trimmed to give it that pop! The red background was embossed and I thought about highlighting it, but honestly did not want to take away from the collage. I decided to use a green base to bring out the color of the leaves.

I hope you are all ready for the Holidays and enjoying your time with family and friend. There is still so much I need to do, but I decided I won't stress over what might not get done. Thank you so much for the visit and I am wishing you all the best and happiest of Holidays!

Gingersnap Creations GC82 Supply Challenge: White Glitter

My entry as a "Visiting Artist" at Gingersnap Creations for GC82 Supply Challenge: White Glitter, is an ornament!

I painted a wood ornament using white paint on the bottom and three shades of blue on the top. This was then lightly splattered to give a snowing effect. I added several layers of white glitter to the bottom, because snow is just not flat! After that was finished, I gave a light spray of matte sealer, which did dull my white glitter a tad! Next time I will spray only the painted area!! We added stickles to the brad snowflakes and then sprinkled those with "white" glitter and added a red gem center. The little snowguy is from Scrolls Work Stamps and he was stamped on a ultra-fine white glittered piece of cardstock. After he was colored, he was cut out the top part of him is on little foam pieces for dimension.

I hope you like this ornament and will join us at Gingersnap Creations for some sparkling fun! Have a wonderful day and thank you so much for the visit!

Visiting Artist at Gingersnap Creations!

I am a little past the due date as with getting and setting up the new computer an e-mail went missing in action!  When I opened an e-mail from Ali asking me to be a "Visiting Artist" for Gingersnap Creations, I was both excited and nervous.  What an honor and I hope I live up to their expectations!  I love this group and all of the wonderful artists, so I was very happy to accept.

My first challenge piece as "visiting artist" is for the GC81 Chestnut Theme: Snowpeople!  I used alcohol foil and cuttlebug highlights from the Technique Junkies.  The embossing folder and snowman die are all Tim Holtz products.  The colors are more blue, but the snowman shows up as kind of silver.  Hope you all will join us in for the fun and a great group!

Thank you for looking and commenting!

I am a Ginger Gem!!

What a happy morning to wake up and discover that I was selected as a Ginger Gem over at Gingersnap Creations.

Thank you so much for adding to my list of "all the things I am thankful for."  In this challenge GC76, we used the rich colors of pumpkin, eggplant and avocado and it was so fun to play with that color combination.  Please stop by and check out all the beautiful art.  It will be a feast for your eyes. 

If any of you wonderful bloggers reading this post are not members of Gingersnap Creations, come on and join us!!  It is free and it is truly a wonderful and fabulous group of incredible artists! Each week there is a challenge and so much to learn.

Thank you for stopping by and I wish all of you a wonderful week and Happy Thanksgiving for those who celebrate.  We all have so many things in our lives to be thankful for.   

Blog Candy Win From Shelley's Wild Frog Creations!

Sweet Shelley had a blog candy giveaway and I obviously from the picture below, was the lucky recipient!  Now who of us does not salivate over the presence of new rubber???  Exactly!!  BTW, Shelley has her own stamp line and you can check that out here.
Right now Shelley has a Kimono Card tutorial and challenge that runs until December 2nd and the Kimono's she created are very unique!  Thank you so much Shelley for the wonderful blog candy!  I can't wait to play with your stamps and all the other wonderful goodies!  I wanted you to see the actual stamps!!  Lucky me!

Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend!

CCC Week 22 Alcohol Splatter meets Rogue Redhead Designs!!

This has been said time and time again and not by only me, but Linda sure does give new meaning to reading!!! Each week our faithful instructor takes us on a new adventure. This week alcohol was involved and boy oh boy did we splatter and that was before consumption! Now sure if I did this correctly and I have another one I am working on, but like everything we do in life, practice makes perfect. Oh, but with anything Tim Holtz, we don't seek perfection and extra thinking just does not work!

Speaking of reading and learning, the stamps I used are from Rogue Redhead Designs. This is a new adventure and a first release from Sharon the Gingersnap Creations founder. The background stamp I thought was perfect for this and I did also throw in the "Batik" we learned with a previous lesson at Studio L3. These stamps are so detailed that even with embossing on that little tiny print, you can see the words. The sentiment and book are stamped on acetate. The booking toting young man was completed using the "Artwork Marker Water Coloring" technique from none other than the Technique Junkies. He was cut out and placed on pop dots!

As always, I do appreciate your taking the time to visit and comment.

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #55 and Rogue Redhead Designs First Release!

I was quite excited to receive this new stamp set by a brand new stamp company "Rogue Redhead Designs." Sharon was so quick to send this out and until December 15th, the entire sheet is discounted 20%. This is a huge stamp sheet with very detailed stamps, so go over and take a look!

We decided to enter this card using the current challenge at The Play Date Cafe, PDCC55. BTW, I use "we" often, because Molly (my Dalmatian) is almost always right under feet! She can be so relaxed on the couch, but if I go in the craft room, so does my loyal companion! Rescued dogs seem to be like that!

The "Whisped Frames" technique was used from the Technique Junkies on the Spellbinders die. I framed "Day Dream" to give the faux wall a faux picture. I added a little glass flower, because I felt something was needed in the corner and there was no little pet, puppy or kitty, in the stamp set. Oh, did I just drop a hint? The day dreamer was colored a few different ways, with a couple of different background and this is the one I decided on.

Thank you so much for visiting today and have a wonderful week!

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge Week 16 - GC70 Punches

This week at the CCC #16, we are on page 33 and doing Wrinkle Free Distress! Now when I saw Linda's (that would be our fearless leader) beautiful tag with the airy background, I was so excited. Went to read the instructions and thought, this is easy!!!! Well it is, but I was getting anything but a airy soft feel! Honestly, it looked like crap to me and I hate being that blunt! I thought I had picked out really nice Fall colors, but guess I fooled myself. So we go onto tag #2 and pretty much had the same "crapola" background! Once again, the brilliant ideas I had in my "little" brain, got up and left the room! So while looking at my "not stunning" backgrounds, the new TH Sizzix Alteration dies I picked up, screamed out, "use me" and so leaves were born. After I cut the leaves, I ran them through a TH Textured Fades folder and highlighted the veins, shaded the edges and ran a Copic glitter pen around the outside edges and veins.

I already knew I wanted to use the pumpkin stamps from Scrolls Work Stamps, so did this technique again using orange tones! The leaves and stems were stamped a second time from the previous "unloved tags." cut out and placed on top of the little pumpkins. The sentiment is also Scrolls Work Stamps and embossed on yet another leaf! The green designer paper was also embossed with a CB folder and highlighted using "Cuttlebug Highlights" from the Technique Junkies! Now I want you to check out the Pumpkin eyes!! When I showed this to my DH he said, "that came out really good," but you need eyeballs. Well his idea of eyeballs was to use those weird little wiggly things, but I decided it needed pearls.

So now what do you really think about this card?? Two things I want to say, other than thank you for being here! On October 1st I made an announcement concerning my being a Design Team member for Scrolls Work Stamps and a blog candy offer, so scroll down to enter! The second thing is that I have been a Technique Junkie member for at least two years and if you are not a member, seriously think about it! If you are starting out and want to learn, you can't beat this! There is a cost, but it is the best investment you can make. I have learned so much by being a "Junkie" that I would not have learned otherwise. This is a wonderful group with some of the most awesome ladies you could ever want to know. Being a Junkie also brought me to the Gingersnap Creations group and there is another incredible group with some very fun people, not to mention talent and inspiration.  This is also being linked to the GC70: Spicy Supply Challenge - Punches.

After visiting Rinda, who not only blogged about my giveaway and is having one of her own, she mentioned Something Completely Different is having a "Shades of Autumn" challenge, so we are off to visit and link there!

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge Week 15 and Simon Says Stamp and Show your Grunge.

Week 15 over at Studio L3 and Linda has us in alcohol and grunge and I am loving it!!! Every thing is Tim Holtz and the witch and embossing folder are my new toys that I picked up from Scrapbooking Made Simple the other day. They have something going on as to what I will do or use first! Come on, that should be easy!!! Now here is what I did. I cut out a few of these beauties in black, because I wanted bits and pieces. Her face I cut out of brown wrapping paper, which I wrinkled up first and then adhered with glue. Notice the twinkle in her eye and the shimmer of her hair! The hat is a separte piece that I used stickles on and added a head band of purple and orange! Now her clothes are also cut away from the die and clear embossed! The background, I can't tell you how I did that! Trust me, buy the book!!! This will also work for Simon Says Stamp and Show your Grunge!

Again this was way more fun then it should have been!!  Thank you for flying by!!

Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC47

Today I decided it would be a great day to play! I should have been cleaning house, but the challenge at The Play Date Cafe won over cleaning! Imagine that one! I use the Glitter Ribbons Artwork technique from the Technique Junkies. Stamps are Stampin Up and I added some glass beads for a little snow effect at the base of the trees, which were stamped on white glitter.

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend! Thanks a ton for stopping by!

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge Week 14

Linda has us masking! And to me, this time of year and masks mean Halloween! This was beyond fun! I cut the ghost masks from a Sizzix Die! Scrapbooking Made Simple just called me today to tell me my new TH Halloween Sizzix dies are in! Oh boy do I see his witch flying around. BTW, I did notice on Saturday that Stacey had two more of the "New Not Released Sizzix Die" fans! I know a few of you mentioned wanting this really badly, so give her a call (661-298-1112)! The designer paper on the one bookmark/tag is G-45 AIW. Stamps used are Tim Holtz and sentiments/spider web are Stampin Up! I did a ribbon webbing and glitter on the flower. On the body bones parts are batik - another tech that I just love to pieces and I also did antique glimmers from the Technique Junkies! Ok that was sick, but what can I say?

Can't believe Mommy is on week 14!! Hope you all are enjoying playing with masks! Another item that would have just collected dust. Have a wonderful week and thanks so much for popping by! Until later - BOO!  Molly wanted to say hi to my blog friends!

Red and Black meets CCC13

Well what we have here is another combo challenge for Gingersnap Creations Red and Black and Linda's CCC week 13 Grungepaper Flowers! Obviously the red and black are self explanatory! Now the grungepaper flowers were cut from Tim Holtz Sizzix Tattered Florals. I added two way adhesive paper and then my tissue paper. About the tissue paper. The one with the writing on it, was gift tissue paper that my DH used for our Anniversary in March! When it first came off the die, I was very disappointed in it's appearance. You could hardly see the writing. Once I inked it with the red, it stood out just perfectly! The next tissue grungepaper flower was just plain red tissue and I crinkled it prior to adhering to the adhesive paper and ran black ink across the top. The canvas board was stamped using another technique out of the Compendium of Curiosities and then inked with black and red! Now the beautiful center piece is a romantic stamp from Scrolls Work and I could not wait to use Joan and John!! They were just screaming out to me to use them in the frame. BTW, the frame is another new not released Sizzix die! Is that image not perfect for the frame? I also did a Cuttlebug Highlight technique on the frame from the Technique Junkies Newsletter!

It took me so long to arrange everything and I am not sure if I like the layout! The frame, image, flowers were done yesterday, but I could not for the life of me figure out what was the next step! I realize I could have used just one flower, but I just had to display them all! Thanks again so much for stopping by and having a little visit!

Gingersnap Creations Challenge #66 Paint

This is a background that was painted using a Tim Holtz technique during one of the CCC's at Linda. I knew that someday I would use it for something and since the "Paint" challenge was coming to a quick close at Gingersnap Creations, I thought I better do something with it! It has five layers of paper which includes the grunge paper. The frame around the sentiment is cut from a Nestie and embossed in clear, but I don't think you can actually see that. That is actual chain that I cut and glued down and hopefully it actually stays in place. Oh, did I say layers?? I guess I can add this over at Simon Says Stamp and Show also!! The butterfly is one I had left over from playing the other day with my Kitchen Sink stamps! The stamps and sentiment are embossed and are Tim Holtz! The colors are much nicer in person. Either they came out dull or too bright??? I am photo incompetent!

Wishing you all a safe and wonderful Labor Day weekend! Thank you for the visit and committing!