Jun 21, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
I’m so glad the Jar of Love carried over to the new 2017-2018 catalog, because I have lots of things to fill those jars. As soon as I saw this little mermaid in the Magical Mermaid stamp set, I knew she belonged in a jar for safe keeping.
This week’s Global Design Project #092 provided the perfect opportunity to put my jars to work!
The Just Add Color Designer Series Paper has a great underwater scene for floating the mermaid’s jar. I added a bit of color to the small fish with a Daffodil Delight Watercolor pencil, and the colors of Pumpkin Pie and Real Red to the coral. I stamped the jar and the little mermaid with Marina Mist, which is also the color of the card base. Basic Black cardstock makes a nice contrasting layer. The jar was easily cropped with its framelit die, and I fussy cut the mermaid. Wanting to add a touch of realism to the jar, I cut a piece of vellum, which I adhered to the jar. The sentiment, “Have a Magical Birthday,” was stamped and die cut with Layering Ovals, and popped up on dimensionals over three strands of Baker’s Twine.
Since mermaids can’t breathe underwater, she will have to surface, but meanwhile she is blowing bubbles of pearls. I appreciate you stopping by, and I’m wishing you a magical day!
Jun 20, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Another new challenge! I was inspired by my Pal, Cheryl McAskill, because her card was so unique and striking. So, I checked out justaddink.com and saw gorgeous cards with a fabulous picture for inspiration, and I HAD to join in the fun!
I immediately thought of Copper Foil, and decided to try the Window Box framelit die for the copper pot. After some snipping it into shape, I liked it. The brick wall, embossed by the Brick Wall embossing folder, and the table from the Wood Textures Designer Series Paper fell into place.
The greenery is from three different die sets: Flourish, Eclectic Layers, and Everyday Jars, all cropped from Garden Green cardstock. The flowers needed to be Itty Bitty, so that’s the punch I used to create them from Whisper White cardstock. The tiny centers were punched from Daffodil Delight cardstock.
The cute, little “Thanks” that fits within the brick was provided by the At Home With You Bundle. I want to say “thanks” to you at Just Add Ink for having this challenge #364, I enjoyed participating.
Jun 20, 2017 | About Me, Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Growing up in San Diego, I was able to spend many weekends at Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. The flamingos were located at the entrance of the zoo, and what a fabulous sight they were! I would feast my eyes on the multitude of gorgeous pink birds, and wonder how they were able to stand on those long, skinny legs. I learned that they get their color from the food they eat, including shrimp. They are highly social, so they move around in groups, eating and sleeping together. While they are eating, they stand on two legs, but they are famous for their one legged resting stance. I’ll leave the research on that to you.
CAS(E) this sketch #226 was the inspiration for this week’s flamingo card. I could see the body of the bird in the rectangle, and the long, skinny legs underneath.
It was easy choosing the card base color, which was Flirty Flamingo. How could I go wrong with that choice? I stamped the bird in that color also, and used watercolor pencils (Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo) for coloring. I fussy cut her, and decided that a Soft Sky background with a frame of Basic Black would bring my memory into focus. There was greenery at the zoo, and lots of palm trees, so I stamped the beautiful branch that comes in the set with Garden Green ink. After positioning and stamping her Calypso Coral legs on the Soft Sky cardstock, I ran it though the Big Shot using our new Dynamic Ruffled embossing folder. If you saw my Magical Mermaid card, you know I’m really liking this embossing folder.
Last, but not least, the sequins. It was such a good memory, I just had to add some sparkle. So, “thanks” CAS(E) this sketch for the inspiration, and “thanks” Stampin’ Up! for the Fabulous Flamingo stamp set.
Jun 19, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
I imagine that years from now I’ll look back, recalling that I was one of the original players in the Tic Tac Toe challenge. You should join in the fun as we head into week two! I chose the middle row across of, “birthday, gray, yellow.” I knew I wanted to use lemons for the yellow from the Lemon Zest stamp set. The stamp gives a realistic skin to the fruit, and I stamped off (stamped a second time without re-inking) the Daffodil Delight for the lighter color. The card base is also in Daffodil Delight, layered with Smoky Slate for the gray. The Seasonal Layers branch was die cut, and placed so it looks like it’s growing from the Smoky Slate layer. The Lemon Builder Punch punched out the lemons perfectly, but I had to maneuver the paper, because one end of the lemon is slightly larger.
The Layered Leaves embossing folder made the perfect background for my lemons, and I used “friend” from the Lovely Words die set for the cover sentiment. Do you like the way it looks like part of the embossing? The branch of leaves from Oh So Eclectic was a must. Do you see how it matches the embossed leaves exactly? Old Olive and Pear Pizazz were used for stamping, and I really like the watercolor effect. Two leaves from the Lemon Builder Punch are attached to the lemon that is popped up on dimensionals. The inside will wish a friend a cheery, happy birthday.
Thank you for the inspiration, Corinne, and Tic Tac Toe designers! I’ll be checking back to see everyone’s projects!
Jun 16, 2017 | About Me, Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
I grew up in San Diego, and spent many happy hours hunting for seashells along the beaches. My grandmother, Mimi, was especially appreciative of shells, and had them displayed around her home. I can picture her in heaven, surrounded by seashells and sunshine.
I thought our Burlap Backgound stamp would make a nice place to display her shells from our So Many Shells stamp set. I was anxious to use these two new sets, and they seemed to go perfectly together. I stamped the mat with Sahara Sand ink on Sahara Sand cardstock, and glued this to a Soft Suede card base.
I double stamped two of the shells. The conch shell was first stamped in Calypso Coral, and then Sahara Sand. Can you see the two stamps pictured in the stamp set? I also double stamped one of the scallop shells, using Sahara Sand and Blushing Bride. A second scallop was stamped just once with Blushing Bride. The round shell ( I can’t recall its name) was stamped once also: one in Wisteria Wonder, and one in Sahara Sand. The two round shells were cut with a Layering Circles die with an edge that was just right for the shell, and the sentiment, “For You,” fit perfectly. Speaking of sentiments, I know this stamp set received many Pal’s votes for the most beautiful sentiments in the Stampin’ Up 2017-1018 Catalog.
The final touch was popping up the shells on dimensionals, and placing three tiny pearls. This is for you, Mimi, forever my playmate.
Jun 16, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
I go through my stash of birthday cards quickly, and I especially need masculine ones for all those males running around getting a year older. This cute, vintage baker from the Birthday Delivery Bundle passed the masculine test, and I stamped him in Chocolate Chip ink on Tip Top Taupe cardstock. I tried stamping him on Whisper White, but preferred having him blend in, rather than stand out. And, I didn’t have to cut him out by hand, because a die in the bundle was made just for him.
I wanted the Happy Birthday cake that was cut with the Party Pop-Up die to take center stage. It is retired, but one I’ll continue to use, at least for a while. Doesn’t the cake look delicious in this multi-stripe Birthday Memories Designer Series Paper? The card base is Tip Top Taupe, which is layered with striped Pacific Point Designer Series Paper. The Tip Top Taupe art piece was embossed with the Oh My Stars embossing folder, which adds a feeling of celebration and texture. I made it a scooch (scooch=1/8 inch) larger than the normal 1/4″ measurement, so just a hint of the blue and white stripe would show. I really like the Stampin’ Trimmer, page 205 in the catalog. It makes cutting, measuring and folding a breeze.
My baker is happily popped up on dimensionals, ready to say “Happy Birthday” to a man. If you’re wondering what test I used, it was the hubby test. I just ask him his opinion, and he gives me an honest answer. I think!
