Thursday, August 26, 2010

Just Rite Challenge

I needed to get back to making cards just for fun, so I decided to play along with this week's Just Rite color challenge. I didn't want to make a fall card even though the three colors scream "autumn." Instead, I decided to make a coffee card.
One of the things I like about the Just Rite alphabets is that you can spell any saying you want. I decided to spell out "thanks a latte" with my letters and add a coffee cup from the coffee set. I drove myself a bit nuts looking for some real coffee beans to embellish the card, but I have no idea where I put them in my craft organization. I am sure they are around here somewhere! For the patterned paper, I used some of the Basic Grey Archaic line.


Thursday, August 19, 2010

Simple Stamping

The latest IO challenge is to create a "Simple Stamping" project. After I got out my supplies, I was able to make this card in under five minutes. I don't think it could get much more simple!

To make the card, I stamped a kraft notecard using the Cover a Card Woven (CC020) pattern and black VersaFine ink. Personally, the Woven pattern is one of my favorites for Halloween cards. I then stamped the new Pumpkin Trio (G7543) with the same black ink onto more kraft cardstock. I added a bit of orange and green watercolor pencil to the image and then softened everything with a waterbrush.

Need some more "simple stamping" ideas. Check out what Deborah, Dina, Jeanne, Jenny, and Kathy created.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Flower Soft/Impression Obsession Blog Hop

Welcome everyone! Are you ready to play? The Impression Obsession and Flower Soft design teams have joined forces to create a fun blog hop. Not only are there lots of projects to inspire you, but there are prizes as well! Make sure you leave comments on each of the blog hop posts since four comments at random will be drawn to win one four $25 gift certificates (2 provided by Impression Obsession, and 2 provided by Flower Soft). Prize winners will be announced on the Impression Obsession blog and Flower Soft blog on Wednesday, August 18th. Good luck!

If you didn't start at the beginning of the hop, please go to the Flower Soft blog and start with the first post.

My Halloween card features an Impression Obsession Large Square Shaker (SHPO1) filled with an equal mix of Bright Orange and Black Flower Soft. The nice thing about Flower Soft is that you can mix any colors you like together to get the look you want. You can mix orange and black for Halloween, pink and red for Valentine's Day, an assortment of greens for St. Patrick's Day, etc...

To prevent the Flower Soft from sticking to my shaker, I wiped the paper and plastic shaker with a used dryer sheet to cut down on the static. I prefer a used dryer sheet because fresh ones then to scratch the plastic.

Underneath the shaker, I stamped the new Bat Silhouette (D204) using black Versafine ink and colored the moon with a yellow watercolor pencil and a Dove blender pen. To create the two patterns on the card, I stamped the Cover a Card Screen (CC049) with black Versafine ink and embossed the Cover a Card Swirls and Stars (CC054) with black embossing powder.


Here is a closeup of the card so you can see what Flower Soft looks like as a shaker card filler:



I hope you enjoyed my project! It is now time to hop to the next blog:


If you want more inspiration after the hop, be sure to check out Flower Soft TV and the Impression Obsession blog. Both are loaded with great ideas and projects!

Another Video

As I am sitting here getting my post ready for the IO/Flower Soft blog hop, I realized that I hadn't posted my latest video on this blog. I thought it best to link it before I forgot again! If you want to watch a larger version, you can see it directly on YouTube here.


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Thinking of Mom

I made a card with my mom in mind. It has a lot of elements in it that she likes such as books and coffee. It just so happens that they are things that I like too. I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. We both share a love of books and have a bit of a competition going on comparing where we are on library wait lists for certain books. I am still a bit bitter that she is on the list for the latest Margaret Maron, and my library doesn't even list it yet. Of course, I was able to read "Sizzling Sixteen" weeks before her, so I guess it all balances out in the end.

To make the book, I used some Nestability dies to cut an outer cover and pages for the book. For the pages, I cut up an old magazine and then nested all the pieces together to make it look more like a book. I wanted the saying I stamped to be visible, so I painted over the magazine pages with some Adirondack dauber paint. I dabbed enough paint to slightly mute the writing without covering it completely. When it dried, I added a saying on top with brown ink. The saying and coffee cup come from the same Art Impressions clear set. To finish the card, I added some patterned paper by Basic Grey.

I will be posting again tomorrow because Wednesday is the day of the Flower Soft and Impression Obsession blog hop. Be sure to check back again!


Thursday, August 5, 2010

IO Challenge- Home Sweet Home

Time for another Impression Obsession Challenge. This time the theme is "Home Sweet Home." I decided to make a card for someone who has a new home. I used the branch and chickadee stamp from the CL271 Home Sweet Nest clear set and the saying from the CL194 Little Birdie clear set. The nice thing about the little birdie set is that the "little birdie" round saying is separate from the sayings you can stamp inside. You could just as easily say "it's your birthday" or "you need a little cheering up."

To make the background, I made my design using Cover-A-Card Distressed Corduroy (CC047), Cover-A-Card Thick and Thin Stripes (CC008), and Cover-a-Card Greenery (CC018).

Want to see other "Home Sweet Home" ideas? Check out what Daniela, Deborah, Dina, Jeanne, Julie, and Kathy created. Want to play along and make a "home sweet home" card? You could win a $25 Impression Obsession gift certificate. All of the contest info can be found here. Good luck!


Monday, August 2, 2010

Moxie Fab Challenge Classy and Elegant

After not posting frequently, I am posting my second card of the day. This card is for the Moxie Fab "Classy and Elegant" challenge. To make the card, I used images by Impression Obsession and lots of gold materials. I stamped the lines and saying with gold ink and the star with Egyptian Gold (sparkly) embossing powder. To finish the card, I added some rhinestones by Hero Arts.

Moxie Fab Challenge- Clean and Graphic


How did it get to be August? I knew that the Moxie Fab style challenge ended in August, but that turns out to be TODAY. I guess I better post something if I want to play! The style challenge showed four different card styles and challenged you to make a card following a specific style. This card is for the clean and graphic challenge.

To make my card, I used a stamp and rhinestones from Memory Box, a glitter rub-on from EK Success, and Bazzill dot paper.