Batik coneflowers...

Today's technique challenge on Splitcoast was the batik technique the colourwash way. I have never done this technique before and was quite excited to try it. Complete directions on how to accomplish this technique can be found here.

I used my new "inspired by nature" set for this technique and the colourwash was done using pumpkin pie, old olive and close to cocoa. I added a scrap of Crate dp and then carried on the "polka dots" around my mats using my white gel pen. Some paper piercing in the corners, a "hope" charm and ribbon to finish off the design.

Stamps: Inkspired by nature. CS: old olive, close to cocoa, pumpkin pie, watercolour paper. PP: Crate paper. Inks: versamark, old olive re inker, close to cocoa re inker and pumpkin pie re inker. Access: old olive ribbon, metal charm, clear emboss powder, paper piercer, mat pack, white gel pen, and iron.

This was a fun technique...why not check it out and give it a try...

Late featured cards...

I was late getting to take part in the featured stamper challenge on Splitcoast but actually managed to crank out 2 cards for it! The featured stamper is Terrore3 (congratulations!!) she has an amazing gallery, and it was difficult to choose just one but this is the card I cased here. I changed stamps, colours, occassions, I added some more layers and changed some of the punched shapes.

This is actually the second card I made, but I like it better than the first one I did. I used the same layout in this design as the first card. This set "rain or shine" by MFT (My Favorite Things) is another one I purchased quite awhile ago and never inked it up until now. LOVE this set! I have seen so many cute cards done with her raincoat paper pieced, so I had to give it a whirl. I coloured the rest of the image in Prisma colour pencils, gamsol and stumps. I added crystal effects to the puddle so it's super shiny and slick looking. I used my gel pen to make the white polka dots really stand out. Her umbrella and the sentiments are on dimensionals.

For the sympathy card I stamped the pale plum cs with the floral background stamp in corresponding ink. For the main image I stamped the French script background in perfect plum ink (stamped off) over the lilacs to add some "layering". I stacked the circle punches and oval punch and popped it up onto dimensionals for the sentiment.

Supplies:

card 1: stamps: Rain or Shine (MFT), best yet (SU! hostess set). CS: kiwi kiss, bashful blue, whisper white. Sweet blush cs (Papertrey Ink), PP: Chatterbox. Inks: Blk staz on, bashful blue, basic black. Access: scallop circle, 1 1/4" circle, 1 3/8" circle punches, dble stitched berry sorbet ribbon (Papertrey Ink), white gel pen, blk marker, crystal effects, dimensionals, Prismacolour pencils, gamsol and stumps.

card 2: Stamps: Blossoms abound, warmest regards, floral bg, French Script bg. CS: Basic Grey, elegent eggplant, pale plum, whisper white. Inks: elegent eggplant, pale plum, perfect plum, mellow moss. Access: silver organdy ribbon (Offray), silver cord, 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" circle, med oval punches. dimensionals.

Ciao for now!

Pretty Ballerina's all in a row...

I have had this ballerina stamp from Lizzie Anne Designs (LAD) for quite awhile now but sadly was left un-inked until now. I got off work last night and was feeling creative so I inked up this sweet little ballerina and decided to take advantage of my hugely growing stash of patterned paper scraps. All 4 cards are the exact same layout, stamps, and base colours, the only differences are the patterned papers. The layout is a sketch challenge but for some reason, I had it written down as a mojo challenge but it doesn't seem to be one of Julee's, so I am unsure of who's sketch this is at the moment??

I don't know if you can see in the picture but the cs panel layered over the pp has actually been stamped with the floral bg in sweet blush ink onto sweet blush cs (Papertrey Ink). Then I stamped the sentiment "all you need is toe shoes, a tu tu and a willing heart" onto a strip of vellum. I stamped each ballerina twice and layered her tu tu up onto dimensionals and added some dazzling diamonds onto the tu tu's and her little hair piece, so she is adorably sparkly! Each ballerina panel is up onto dimensionals as well.

Supplies:

stamps: ballerina and sentiment (Lizzie Anne Designs), floral print bg (SU!). CS: sweet blush (Papertrey Ink), whisper white and PP: Basic Grey (Lily Kate), Chatterbox (plaid and large floral print), Love's me designer paper (polka dot's~SU!), vellum. Ink: basic black, blk staz on. Access: dimensionals, prismacolour pencil crayons, gamsol and stumps, dazzling diamonds, 2 way glue pen.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Domino paint palette inspiration...

I finally inked up my new "inspired by nature" set and new right away it would be perfect for today's inspiration challenge on Splitcoast. We were to gain inspiration from these stunning rooms...this is the one that inspired me the most here









I chose to replicate the colour combo of course and the tree silhouette (I used my flower silhouette), and the tiny addition of yellow (my ribbon and small matting on the base of the card). The bedspread pattern gave me the perfect opportunity to use this image with the grid technique. Ever since I saw this set, I have been wanting to do it with the grid technique.

I combined the inspiration challenge with Beate's weekend sketch challenge, but turned the sketch on it's side to suit my needs better. This was one of those cards that no matter what I did, it didn't look right or I had to keep changing and re-doing things. It seriously took me ALL morning! I was tempted to "wash" my hands of the whole thing but I am too stubborn and was going to make this card work even if it killed me...lol!

I used the grid technique on my white panel, stamped the canvas background in creamy caramel and finger walked to get the "patchy" bg look. Then I stamped the "inspired by nature" set in chocolate chip and the grass lightly in close to cocoa. Then I cut the image into 3 strips and matted each strip with chocolate chip and soft sky cs and adhered the works onto a chocolate chip and Papertrey Ink's lemon tart cs. Then I paper pierced the corners, added the satin dotted lemon tart ribbon and adhered it all onto my soft sky card base. I added my ribbon to my sentiment circles by punching a hole into the circles and pulling my ribbon through, topped off with a dimensional.

Supplies:
stamps: inspired by nature, best yet (hostess set). CS: soft sky, chocolate chip, whisper white (SU!), lemon tart (Papertrey ink). Inks: creamy caramel, chocolate chip, close to cocoa. Access: ribbon (papertrey ink), cropodial, dimensionals, score pal, paper piercer, mat pack.

Holly jolly penguins...

For today's limited supply challenge on Splitcoast we were to make a Christmas card with animal stamps and the only embellishment allowed was ribbon. Upon uploading this I realize I used rub on's for my sentiment...is that considered an embellishment?? LOL...oops!

I dug out these cute stamps I purchased from Art Impressions "Winter Penguins". Sadly, only one stamp from the set had ever seen ink :0! so I inked them up and went on my way. I decided to give my hand a try with Taylored expressions sketch challenge this week....super cute layout. I used patterned paper from Basic Grey's figgy pudding 6X6 pad and the rub on's for my sentiment are also Basic Grey. I coloured the penguins on watercolour paper and added liquid applique on the fur trim on their hats. The main image panel is up on dimensionals for some added dimension.

Stamps: Winter penguins (Art Impressions). CS: basic black, white, ruby red, watercolour paper and pp: Basic Grey (figgy pudding). Ink: blk staz on, ruby red, mellow moss, bravo burgundy and pumpkin pie. Access: ribbon (May Arts), dimensionals, glue dots, Basic Grey rub ons, liquid applique, paint brush.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Auto kiwi breezes...

I was unable to take part in most of the challenges on Splitcoast this week due to my new job, etc. So today I have a triple challenge card to share with you. This card follows the colour challenge (kiwi kiss, baja breeze, very vanilla), sketch challenge (SC195) and ways to use it challenge (use a charm on your card). I needed to make a Birthday card for my nephew who is turning 10 very soon and this was the finishing result.

I watercoloured the truck image and stamped and cut out the "hood" of the truck and popped it up on dimensionals. I added some silver bling with my stardust pen on any metallic areas of the truck. I added a "screw" brad on my rounded tab punch to carry on the masculine feel to the card. For my charm I used a square spiral clip (it was the closest thing I had to a charm...lol). Using my stamp a ma jig and my black marker I altered the sentiment and cut off the "they say" part.

Stamps: Classic pick ups, they say it's your birthday. CS: basic black, kiwi kiss, baja breeze, watercolour paper and urban garden designer paper. Inks: blk staz on, kiwi kiss and black marker. Access: rounded tab punch, "screw" brad, dimensionals, square spiral clip, blue bayou dble stitched ribbon, stamp a ma jig, stardust glitter pen, paintbrush.

Your the king!

I needed to make a Birthday card for my darling hubby whose Birthday is on Wednesday. I decided to pull out my Cornish Heritage Farms "finger clickin Elvis" and go to town. I decided to use last weeks "Our creative corner" sketch.

The sketch lent itself perfectly for the design I had in mind. The upper white panel has been scored in a grid design with my score pal and then stamped and embossed with black emboss powder. The patterned paper is from Basic Grey (black tie line). I embossed Elivis and popped up his panel with dimensionals to really make him pop! The sentiment was done on my computer.

Stamps: finger clickin' Elvis (Cornish Heritage Farms), star stamp (Nursery necessities-SU!). CS: whisper white, basic black and patterned paper (black tie-Basic Grey). Ink: versamark. Access: black emboss powder, score pal, heat gun, ribbon (Offray), dimensionals and computer.

Well, off for my last shift at work before my big job change....

Ciao for now!

White out Santa...

For today's limited supply challenge on Splitcoast, we had to make a card using white as the main colour, along with the following rules:

1. White/Vanilla as main color2. Second color MUST be either black, brown (any shade) or gray3. Add a third color to accent the first two colors4. Use ONLY ink that matches the cardstock colors you have chosen – no extra colors here!5. NO patterned paper or background stamps6. Stamp only ONE image, ONE time, somewhere on the white piece of cardstock. Remember that you are LIMITED to only THREE colors – TOTAL!! No cheating by adding extra colors to a line art image that has to be colored in!7. If you use punches or a Nestabilties-type die, please stamp the image on white or vanilla there as well, keeping your top background layer white/vanilla, too!8. Stamp a sentiment and add to your card (this step is optional) – only use it once9. Embellish as you like (ribbons, brads, Cuttlebug embossing folders)10. NO “distressing” the white cardstock – (that would be sponging!) – we want to keep these layers “clean”.

I chose Bravo burgundy as my accent colour and blk as my neutral. I pulled this "santa collage" stamp from my stash (it's made by the Stampington company) I adore vintage style Santa images! I just got a scor pal and finally got to try out the grid technique, I did that for my white bg panel to add some interest and texture. For the burgundy panel, I used the swiss dots cuttlebug folder on it. I added a bunch of fun ribbons to continue my colour scheme and added white dots with my gel pen, once again inspired by Markie's Mom (Faith). I think the white dots really make this card pop. Finally, I added some bridal confetti flowers in the top left corner. I pinched the edges to make them stand out and layered them giving them a poinsetta look, for the center, I added a big dollap of stickles. The layout for this card was actually this weeks mojo challenge from Julee. I made mine a 5.25X 5.25" card.

Stamps: Santa collage (Stampington Company). CS: Whisper white, basic black and bravo burgundy. Ink: Bravo burgundy. Access: grosgrain ribbon (SU!), organdy and Merry Christmas ribbon (May Arts), white gel pen, bridal confetti (Michaels), score pal, scallop punch and 1 3/8" circle punch, cuttlebug, swiss dots embossing folder, and stickles.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and happy stamping!

tree silhouette...

I combined 2 challenges for this card. Today's ways to use it challenge and yesterday's sketch challenge. The ways to use it challenge was to use a silhouette stamp. I am ((not so)) patiently waiting for a SU! order to arrive and it of course has my new silhouette stamps inside. I dug through my stash and came up with Papertrey Inks Father know's best set.

I started by embossing the tree leaves with white emboss powder onto Kraft cs and then sponged all around the leaves with spring moss and always artichoke ink. Then I stamped the tree trunk with chocolate chip ink. I sponged the edges of the main image panel and the ruby red mat with chocolate chip ink as well. Using the retired all in a row set, I stamped faux stitching on all edges of pp and the main image. I added some ribbon and a large button as a finishing touch.

Stamps: Father know's best (Papertrey ink), all in a row (SU!). CS: so saffron, ruby red, kraft. PP: basic Grey (Mellow line) and green with dots pp (Scenic Route). Ink: chocolate chip, always artichoke, versamark. Spring moss (Papertrey ink). Access: sponge, white emboss powder, heat gun, ribbon, glue dots, dimensionals and button.

Thanks for checking out my newest creation!

Colour challenge flakes...

Today's colour challenge on Splitcoast was very similiar to last weeks...Real red, basic gray and always artichoke. Very much Christmas colours so I decided to bust out my snowflake spot stamps.

I'm in a rush today and the card is very self explanatory so I will just leave ya with a recipe...

Stamps: The snowflake spot and many merry messages. CS: real red, basic gray, always artichoke and whisper white. Ink: real red, basic grey and always artichoke. Access: cuttlebug and swiss dot's folder, white taffetta ribbon, snowflake brad.

Peaceful glitter surprise...

The technique challenge on Splitcoast today was to use glitter on your background stamp. (using a glue pad or heat and stick powder) I unfortunately don't have those supplies but wanted to play along so I used some sparkly embossing powder I have had for a long time.

I inked up my paisley bg stamp with versamark ink and then stamped it onto mellow moss cs and embossed it. It's very sparkly and pretty when the light hits it the right way. I decided to go with a Christmas card and broke out my favorite Christmas set (Peaceful Wishes...now retired...boo hoo!). I stamped the pine branch in always artichoke ink and generation stamped it (meaning I kept stamping without re inking it, that was some branches appear lighter). I added some holly berries and a sentiment. The sentiment was stamped twice for two tone look. I added some chocolate satin ribbon and some cut out pine cones. The main image panel has been popped up onto dimensionals as well as the two pinecones.

Supplies:

Stamps: Peaceful Wishes, paisley bg. CS: kraft, always artichoke, mellow moss and very vanilla. Ink: versamark, always artichoke, chocolate chip, and ruby red and chocolate markers. Access: chocolate satin ribbon, dimensionals, glittery emboss powder, heat gun.

Have a fabulous day~

Mellow sympathy...

I made this up for the featured stamper on Splitcoast. The challenge was posted early so I was able to take part and post my card tonight...which is good cause I have to work tomorrow and otherwise would not have time to take part or post in the challenge.

The featured stamper was Lazy Lizard and this is her card I chose to case here. Liz has a wonderful gallery to choose from, I finally narrowed down my decision to this design. I love how the sentiment is front and stage in her design. I kept the layout exactly the same but changed the colours, stamps, occasion and I didn't use any patterned papers.

I stamped the barely banana panel with the floral bg in so saffron ink. The moss panel was randomly stamped with the leaves stamp from "embrace life" in always artichoke ink and then randomly stamped again in versamark and embossed with gold emboss powder. I decided to add the little bit of embossed gold to match the ribbon I was adding to the card. The sentiment was stamped with artichoke ink onto very vanilla cs and the edges were stamped with embrace life in mellow moss ink. The ribbon was added and then the moss panel was popped up with dimensionals.

Supplies:

stamps: embrace life, floral bg, and brighter tomorrow. CS: always artichoke, barely banana, mellow moss and very vanilla. Inks: always artichoke, so saffron and mellow moss. Access: organdy ribbon (May Arts), horizontal slot punch, gold embossing powder, heat gun, versamark ink, dimensionals.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Moonlit Bronco...

For the limited supplies challenge on Splitcoast we were supposed to use a technique using only paper, ink and stamps. We were supposed to go very light on embellishments as well.

So, I decided to cut a circle out of a scrap of paper and lay it over a piece of glossy cs. I sponged the hole in the paper with so saffron ink. Once I removed the paper I covered up my newly inked "moon" with the hole I cut from the paper and taped it in place and then brayered a night sky. I used night of navy but rolled off so the sky wasn't too dark. I then stamped my cowboy and horse using basic black ink.

I am setting a bunch of my cowboy or western themed cards out at work and donating all proceeds to the Equine rescue Society. They rescue horses and find good homes for them.

Supplies:

Stamps: Bronc buster. CS: night of navy, so saffron, glossy cs. PP: Basic Grey. Ink: night of navy, so saffron and basic black. Access: Brayer, sponge, chipboard tag (beary patch), dimensional, hemp thread, "strength" tag ( Signature suite- My minds eye).

Thanks!

Cosmo Beaches...

I happened to stumble across this super cool layout from a card Jen Del Muro made here (it's the second card down. The layout caught my eye so, I made a quick sketch of it for future use). I put this card together last night and happened to see that the ways to use it challenge on Splitcoast was to use a white gel pen on your project. So, I tried my hand at adding some white highlights and love the dimension it added to the card.

I received this image from the PIF (pay it forward) thread on Splitcoast and think it is by Crafty Secrets or maybe inkadinkadoo? I coloured it using prismas, gamsol and stumps and then added the white gel pen to the clouds, bucket handles and shovels and the gingham lines in the little girls dress. The scallopped edges on the main image were made with the small circle punch and just taped to the back of the main image.

Supplies:

Stamps: Crafty secrets or Inkadinkadoo? CS: real red, whisper white, river rock. PP: Cosmo cricket. Ink: blk staz on. Access: Prisma colour pencils, gamsol, stumps, white gel pen, gingham ribbon (dollar store), real red grosgrain ribbon, large brad (Making Memories), small circle punch, dimensionals and sale-a-bration rub ons.

Thanks for popping in and checking out my latest!

A punky sketch for you...

This is for today's sketch challenge on Splitcoast. What a fabulous sketch! This is one I will definately used again. I decided to finally use my little punk girl stamp from Stamping Bella. (I had inked her up and stamped images for the PIF (pay it forward) thread but have not actually inked it and made a card with it).

This little punk chick reminds me of my good friend so I decided why not make her a card with it. I coloured her using Prisma's, gamsol and stumps and popped up her guitar (which is coated in crystal effects so it's nice and glossy). I used my versamark pen and embossed her belts and earrings with silver emboss powder...sooo cute! I mixed 3 different types of patterned paper and a fun glittery Halloween foam sticker to add to my punky theme. Faith (markie's mom on Splitcoast) makes these really gorgeous cards and add's little white dots with her gel pen around her mats and borders and it always looks so good! So, I took the dive and tried my hand at it. Thanks Faith for the inspiration! The main image and skull are up on dimensionals adding to the dimension of this card. This was a really fun card to make and I hope my friend really likes it!

Supplies:

Stamps: all punked up and no where to go and "you rock" sentiment~Stamping Bella. CS: basic black, whisper white, fusia. PP: Pink argyle~ GIN-X, pink stars~ Cactus Pink, blk glittery~ Making Memories (spellbound). Ink: Blk staz on. Access: Prisma colour pencils, gamsol, stumps, versamark pen, silver emboss powder, dimensionals, white gel pen, ribbon (Offray), skull embellishment (Making Memories), and 1 3/8 circle punch.

Ciao!

Gray riding hood galore space cutie...

Today's colour challenge on Splitcoast was to use going gray, riding hood red and green galore!! Quite the combo...lol. Whilst sitting wondering what in the world am I going to do with this combo I remembered some patterned paper I had just bought yesterday that was uber cute. Upon checking...yep, matched those colours pretty well. So I decided to pull out my Lizzie Anne Designs "out of this world" set to play with.

Unfortunately, this card took waaay longer then it should have but I kept having problems with my little stamp scene and had to re-stamp it a few times too many...lol. Because I do not have going gray or riding hood red, I substituted basic grey and real red. I coloured the images using a paintbrush and squeezing the pads to release the ink into the lids. I added stickles to the fire on the rocket and the black holes in the moon. Lot's of dimensionals used to pop up the embellishments. After all the time it took to complete, I think it was worth it, such a fun whimsical set for little boys. What I think is funny is that I do not have a boy but always buy fun "boy" paper. With this particular set, it's easy to make the space set "girl" by just using feminine colours so, that isn't an issue. My daughter is not a girly girl at all (loves dinosaurs, bugs, snakes, animals of any type so when I see paper that works with her interests, I buy it and generally that is boy paper...lol.

Supplies:

Stamps: Out of this world (Lizzie Anne Designs). CS: basic grey, real red, green galore, whisper white. PP: 3 bugs in a rug (Playtime). Ink: Blk staz on, real red, green galore, basic grey, blk marker. Access: stickles, dimensionals, 3 bugs arrow embellishments, paintbrush, ribbon, corner rounder punch.

Have a fabulous day!

Featured horses...

The featured stamper on Splitcoast this Sunday was card crazy (Denise). Her gallery is AMAZING. This is the card I chose from her stunning gallery. For the featured stamper you have to change at least 2 things about the card. I changed the colours and the stamps.

The card is pretty self explanatory so I'm not going to bore ya with fine details.

Stamps: Bareback (Stampin' Up), out on a limb (Papertrey ink). CS: sage shadow, chocolate chip, very vanilla and outlaw designer paper. Ink: chocolate chip. Access: stitched ribbon (May Arts), Satin ribbon (Stampin' up!), hemp twine, eyelets, small and med oval punches.

I love this set! This is a great layout design and one I could see using a lot. The card is 5.25X5.25 square.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

The crow...

I have another combination challenge card to show you today. The inspiration challenge on Splitcoast was to gain inspiration from these incredible animal photography pictures from Catherine Ledner. The photo's are incredible and well worth browsing through...check them out here. I used the picture of the crow 1 as my inpiration and just adore the contrasting colours in that photo. This card came together so easily as the weekend sketch challenge by Beate lended itself perfectly to my patterned paper and "crow" idea.

The patterned paper is by Scenic route, and I embossed my "crow" with black emboss powder. I covered a chipboard tag in matching patterned paper, sanded the edges and embossed my sentiment onto the tag.

Supplies:

Stamps: Always (Stampin Up). CS: basic black, whisper white, patterned paper (Scenic Route). Ink: versamark. Access: ribbon (May Arts), chipboard tag (Beary patch), blk emboss powder.

I wanted to thank everyone that has sent comments about my return. It's so good to be back, taking part in challenges, creating and most of all checking out what everyone else has been up to. Thanks!

It's alive....It's alive!!!!

Picture me saying that in a spooky voice followed by crazy, evil laughter....bwahahahahahaha! I am finally home and re-organizing my life to some degree of normalacy and routine again. I have managed to play around with my stamps a little bit here and there and actually took part in the limited supplies challenge on Splitcoast this morning! I figured I would share my creation from this morning. The challenge was to use coffee themed stamps with the colour orange. I actually combine 2 challenges for this card. This is a sketch for the Cat's pjama's that I found on Leigh O'Brien's blog here (that I visit consistantly) and matched it up with the limited supply challenge.
I paper pieced the coffee cup from "thanks a latte" set by using a marker and only outlining the stamp (not the solid inside portion of the stamp). For the paper bg, I used my bg stamp by Cornish Heritage farms and then distressed and inked up the edges to really distress that paper.

Supplies:
Stamps: Like it a latte (Stampin' up~retired), sentiment (Rubber Romance), lined paper bg (Cornish Heritage Farms). CS: chocolate chip, really rust, whisper white, patterned papers (Fancy pants designs). Inks: chocolate chip, creamy caramel, black marker, really rust and distress ink (Tim Holtz). Access: ribbon (May Arts), 2" circle, mega and giga scallop circle punches (Marvy Uchida), dimensionals (Stampin Up and EK success), paper distresser.

Thanks for checking out my newest creations....