Jingle all the way....

I had chance to ink up one of the new sets from Flourishes and play along in their Tuesday Challenge! The challenge this week was a recipe challenge and your design had to include the following: a flower, ribbon and tag. Find all the details on the Flourishes Blog.

 I stamped and used the matching die to cut out the image and sentiment. I left the images in the die to protect the outside ivory border and then airbrushed, first using Y28, then finished coloring in the background with the other colors.

 Here is the colored image colored and the Copics I used. You can see the additional pieces of the flower that I colored and cut up to layer.

I used a Lattice Die in the background and added small red gems in the intersecting lines. Both the tag sentiment and the image panel are popped up with foam tape. I hand cut an additional red layer around the image and tag. I used Dimensional Silicone to adhere the flower pieces after giving them a gentle curve using my fingers. Card size is a hair larger than an A2.

• Stamps by Flourishes: Tailor Made Classic Keyhole Die Set, Petals and Peace
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Gold DP by Kaisercraft - December 25th Collection, Red Metallic Card Stock, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White (ivory)
• Other: Bow Easy, Ribbon by SU, Black Micron Pen, Lattice Die by Cheery Lynn, Copics, Bow Easy Tool, Perfect Layers Rulers

Outlines is "Hanging it Up" this week!!!

The Outlines Team is hanging it up this week, all of our projects have to hang.... no cards! Outlines has a huge range of Ornament Toppers and also Jewel It stamps that make for super easy templates to create your own holiday decorations.

Play along with the Outlines Team for a chance to win $25, check out all the details on the Outlines Blog.

See what the gals came up with today:

Lisa Silver - Robin Kirkpatrick - Kecia Waters - Sue Kment - Sandy Hulsart - Jeanne Strieff

I altered this Ornament Topper slightly, cutting it down from it's original size and using a smaller portion... putting a few Spellbinder's Picot Edge Circles in the mix.

 Here are all the pieces I used. I heat embossed all the stamped pieces with detail gold EP. I used a heavy weight white shimmer and red shimmer card stock.

 Here are the pieces as they start to come together. I used Glossy Accents as my adhesive, as it hardens when it dries and added a little more heft to my ornament. The two large gold Picot Circles I glued back to back, tucking the gold hanging cord in between them. I aded a white Spellbinder's circle in the middle. You can see the layers coming together.

 Here is the finished layered piece... before adding the Swarovski Crystals. Both sides are identical, but with a different sentiment in the middle. Where the red diamonds over hang the circles, I added glue and pinched them together for a more finished look around the edges.

• Stamps: All stamps by Outlines - Winter Posy Greetings, Cut Away Topper
• Ink: Versamark Ink, Gold Detail EP
• Paper: White and Red Shimmer Heavy Weight Card Stock
• Other: Spellbinder's Picot Edge Circles, Spellbinder's Standard Circles, Swarovski Crystals Sizes 5 and 7, Gold Cord, Glossy Accents

November Birthday Flower

 I love the look of white on white, but always find it difficult to do! So I thought I would challenge myself and try to do only white layers for the card. I added embossed frames using Spellbinder's Dies and also using a CB Folder on one of the layers. 

 You can see here the embossed frames.... I lined up the frames around the image and then embossed only, no cutting. It gives your the multiple embossed lines as it is embossing the cut line and the inside and outside edge of the Nestie. I love this look! Here are the Copics I used too. A subtle little glow around the flowers with BG000, it does not show up well in the pic.

Here is a close up. I added a little white bow made with 1/8" white ribbon. Flourishes has thee stamp sets, that give you the images and tag line for all the month's flowers. Perfect to make a calendar for the new year too!!!

• Stamps: A Year in Flowers Set #3 by Flourishes
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: CB Folder by SU, Bow Easy Tool, Misc. White Ribbon, Small White Adhesive Pearls, Spellbinder's Squares, Grand Scalloped Squares and Labels 9, Copics, Perfect Layers Rulers

Happy Christmas Trio

Hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! I gobbled down food and took lots of leftovers (lol!) at my parent's house here in Atlanta. We had great food and good company! We were lucky and had a beautiful fall day with sunshine too!

 Each week I design cards for Outlines to feature with full tutorials and I thought I would share them this week on my blog too. This little reindeer is called Vixen and he is easy to color and add lots of fun bling and embellishments too! Plus, I had the cutest little reindeer paper that was just meant for him!

 I cut the image down just a tad... it actually has a frame around the edge, but I trimmed that off to have a slightly smaller panel to work with. You can see the colors I added around him, giving the image a fun wintery glow.

Above are the Copics I used to finish coloring Mr. Vixen the reindeer. I also colored a second star to pop up on the finished card.

Here is an up close view. On his nose... I added a tiny bit of Holo Glitter Pen for Sparkle and then add the Glass Effects Gel Pen over it for a shiny round finish. See the little reindeer in the patterned paper... how cute is that with this image! Lots of Swarovski Crystals added makes this image come alive too! A few layers on here... all of the straight line rulers were done with Perfect Layers Rulers <---- use this link for a discount code to order! Bakers twine wrapped around the panel and topped with a loopy bow to finish. The card is A2 and opens at the bottom tent style. A few embellishing pearls along the bottom edge made with the very addictive Viva Pearl Pens.... this one is Bronze. I used a little drop of black pearl pen for his eye.

• Stamps: all stamps by Outlines Rubber Stamps- Vixen Small  <----- ON SALE NOW!
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Pattern Paper from Bo Bunny's pad " Blitzen", Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Red
• Other:  Perfect Layers Rulers, Holo Glitter Pen, Glass Effects Gel Pen, Viva Pearl Pens, Cappuccino Bakers Twine, Bow Easy Tool, Piercing Tool

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Each week I create 3 card tutorials for Outlines Rubber Stamps. Sign up for the newsletter to see them each week, as I don't always share them here on my blog. Here are sneak peeks at the other two cards I created for this week's tutotial. Find all the step by step pictures and instructions for all three card at Outlines. AND all of the images used in these cards are now on sale for 20% off this week! 

Click HERE to find past tutorials with Pictures and Instructions.

She's Gone Country

Today the Serendipity Team theme is "She's Gone Country" and water coloring too...... No Copics.... did you hear my scream of anguish??? 

And a country girl.... I'm not either... a challenge all around for me on this card.

Check out what the others came up with today:

Amy - Anya - Kathie - Miriam - Linda  

 After sitting in traffic for over an hour Tuesday night (to travel 12 miles) I came home to get started...  I read the challenge and the tag of No Copics...  a little tear or two might have welled up in my eye. It has been so long since I watercolored with any medium and I am SO out of practice, that I felt a disaster coming on. And one day I will learn to work ahead... well probably not. 

 This Screen Door was the most "country" looking image I could find in my stash and planned on coloring it kind of rough to have a rustic feel and disguise my poor out of practice skills. I stamped on watercolor paper and then used Tim Holtz Distress Reinkers to create a palette of colors and painted with a small paintbrush. I roughed up the edges of the panel and then used a cat's eye to darken all four sides.

I added this sentiment on the inside, along with a small brown paper scrap that I aded a few embossed lines across it with my Scor Pal.

• Stamps by Serendipity Stamps - 001K Screen Door, 149 Ornament of a House
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Versafine Sepia Brown
• Paper: Neenah Natural White, Watercolor Paper, Brown
• Other: CB Folder, Distress Re-Inkers, Ivory Cord, Bow Easy Tool, Metal Key Embellishment, Perfect Layer Rulers

Money Holder.... Gift Cards...

This week the Outlines Team is showing off "Gift Card" ideas! All sorts of ideas... not just for the Holiday! Play along with us for a chance for a $25 Gift Certificate, check out all the details on the Outlines Blog.

See what the gals came up with today:

Lisa Silver - Robin Kirkpatrick - Kecia Waters - Sue Kment - Sandy Hulsart - Jeanne Strieff

I stamped the Gift Card Holder Template on pattern paper and embossed it with gold.  I layered everything up and when I attached the pocket holder I wasn't thinking ahead and did not cut down the foam tape around the sides... so it turned in to a money holder when the gift card would not fit! 

I stamped the tree twice on green DP and ivory card stock, cutting the layers out and adding foam tape for dimension. I dressed up the little tree with Swarovski Crystals - sized five Clear and Olivine. Also look at the snazzy gold corner clasps! My newest addiction!!!

• Stamps by Outlines: I-925 Gift Card Holder Plain, F-484 Flower Fir Tree
• Ink: Versamark and Gold EP
• Paper: DP by Simple Stories - the 6x6 pad 25 Days of Christmas, Ivory
• Other: Picksey Pick Ups, Glossy Accents, Swarovski Crystals, Foam Tape, Bow Easy Tool, Ribbon by SU, Home Pro LR Tool - to set the corners, Metal Embellishment Corners

Winter Lantern

Today I'm showing off another Prickley Pear image. I loved this Winter Lantern!

Check out what the team is showing off today on the Prickley Pear Blog!

There is also a new Sketch CHallenge from PPRS that you can play along with, find the sketch and all the details HERE!

The Merry and Bright sentiment is part of the paper. I added a few layers and my main image for a quick card. 

Here are the Copics I used to color the lantern. I used E42 to shade around the outer edges of the image. The snow, I added no color to.

I wound jute string through the edges of the Lacey Oval die and tied a little piece through the buttons at the bottom. On top of the lantern I used Crackle Accents.... it had not dried and crackled yet in the pic! I used a Viva Glitter Pen for the snow, which dries with dimension and none of the glitter rubs off!!!

• Stamps: HH0082UM Winters Glow by Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP by My Mind's Eye - Lost and Found Christmas, Kraft, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White, 
• Other: Spellbinder's Lacey Ovals, Spellbinder's Ovals, Jute String, Perfect Layer Rulers, Viva Holo Glitter Pen, Glossy Crackle Accents, CB Folder, Buttons by Basic Grey

Holiday Snowman

Today the IO Team is challenged to use STAMPS ONLY, no pattern paper allowed!

Easy enough with all of the great Cover-a-Card backgrounds!

As always you can play along for a chance to win $25 to buy some new rubber! Find all the details of how to play along on the Impression Obsession Blog.

See what the ladies stamped up today:

 Dina, Julie, Jeanne, Laura, Vicki, Daniela and Deborah.

 I stamped the Christmas background words to use in the background, creating my own printed paper... adding a green strip of embossed card stock along the right side. This little snowman was a quickie to color, since he is mainly all white! I added a little shading around the outside of the snowman to make him pop a little.

 Here are the Copics I used to color the image. I used Spellbinder's Reverse Wonky Rectnlges and the "out of the Box" technique to frame the snowman.

Here is an up close view. I did add some Crackle Accents over the ornament to add a little extra detail. Several layers are popped up with foam tape to add dimension. Finished card size is an A2, opening at the bottom.

• Stamps: by Impression Obsession - Cover-a-Card Christmas Text #CC103, Snowman with Ornament #G7640
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Crimson Red
• Paper: Green, Red and Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Glossy Accents - Crackle, Copics, Mega Mount Stamp Block, Paper Piercer, Spellbinder's Reverse Wonky Rectangles, Perfect Layers Rulers, Bakers Twine, Misc. Button, CB Folder by SU, Bow Easy Tool, Adhesive Pearls

Make every minute count......

Flourishes Tuesday Challenge this week was to use flags or pennants on your card. You can find all the details here on the Flourishes Blog. I love using little pennants on my cards. But did something different today.... just creating them with pattern paper. Usually I stamp a sentiment on them.  This card is all about simple stamping and layers. 

One thing I wanted to point out.... See the striped paper framing the edge of the card.... I used Perfect Layer Rulers to do this.... cutting the layers on the top and bottom, then turning the paper and cutting the layers on the left and right side. So that the stripes are vertical and horizontal, framing the card instead of stripes all just going one way. Does this make sense??? If not leave a comment and I'll do some mini how to pics in a posting.

The Bo Bunny Timepiece Collection was so perfect to pair with Flourishes Moments in Time stamp set... I continued to the inside and also used pattern paper to dress it up. Finished card size is an A2, tent style - opening at the bottom. 

• Stamps: Flourishes Moments in Time
• Ink: Versafine Black
• Paper: Bo Bunny Timepiece Collection 6x6 pad, Kraft, Black
• Other: Misc. "Screw" Brads, Lacey Nested Pennants by Spellbinders, Perfect Layers Rulers

Pumpkin Pie Day!

This week the theme is Thanksgiving.

As always you can play along with us for a chance to win $25! 

Check out all the rules on the Outlines Blog.

See what everyone created this week:

Lisa Silver - Robin Kirkpatrick - Kecia Waters - Sue Kment - Sandy Hulsart - Jeanne Strieff

 My starting point for the card was the round design of the Sizzix Embossing Folder and the new paper from Authentique's 6x6 Gathering Collection. I stamped the leaves twice on the pattern paper, cutting them out. I edged the leaves and some of the layers with brown ink. The leaves were tucked under the center circles and then I used Dimensional Silicone to give them some lift.

 No Copics to color today, just simple stamping. I did use a Copic to dye the ribbon.

A few pearl accents made with a Copper Viva Pearl Pen to finish it up! I used Perfect Layers Rulers for all the straight edge layering.

• Stamps: by Outlines - D-772 Happy Pumpkin Pie Day, E-1046 Posy Leaf 2
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Versafine Sepia Brown
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Natural White, Brown, Orange, Authentique's 6x6 Gathering Collection
• Other: Bow Easy Tool, Perfect Layers Tools, Cat's Eye ink pad - Chestnut Roan, Spellbinder's Circles and Scalloped Circles, Dimensional Silicone, Sizzix Embossing Folder, Viva Pearl Pen - Copper

Winter Kitty

Monday brings another round of cards from the Prickley Pear Design Team. 

Check out what the ladies created this week over at the Prickley Pear Blog.

 My card opens at the bottom tent style.... an easy little winter card made up of layers and a few embellishments.... and of course a KITTY! This is an older image from Prickley Pear Rubber stamps but has always been one of my all time favorite kitty stamps!

 I stamped Scribble Kitty and cut it out with Spellbinder's Labels 7. I added a frame with a fine tip black pen along the inside edge of the Nestie. I stamped a second kitty image on Eclipse Tape and cut it out. I covered the original kitty with my mask and the sponged Tim Holtz's Evergreen Bough ink over the panel. I also sponged along the edges of the ivory panels and also the card base edges.

After taking the mask off, I added a few small touches of color to the kitty with Copics -- C2, E42, RV63 and 0 Blender. I added a little holiday bow to his neck, adding it on with a dab of Ultimate Glue. All of the straight line layers were done with Perfect Layers Rulers.

• Stamps by Prickley Pear Stamps:  Scribble Kitty, Let it Snow
• Ink: Distress ink - Winter Release - Evergreen Bough, Versafine Crimson Red, Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP by Fancy Pants 6x6 pad - St. Nick, Neenah Baronial Ivory, Red, Aqua
• Other: Spellbinder's Labels 7, Paper Piercer, Ranger's Ink Blending Tool, Perfect Layers Rulers, Metallic Cord, Bow Easy Tool, Ultimate Glue

Pumpkins and Mums

I have been coloring this image bit by bit this week and when I saw the challenge at the OCC today, I knew it was time to finish it up! 

Our Creative Corner's challenge today is: to create a project using pumpkins or the color pumpkin pie as the focal point or main color of your project! You find all the deets on how to play along right here at the OCC Blog! 

I miss playing with the OCC each Saturday, after being with them for a year then taking a break.... such a talented group of ladies and I'm trying to get back in the swing of playing with regular challenges ---seeing different styles and challenges spark different creative processes for sure! 

 I think I have the "pumpkin" part of the challenge covered FOR SURE! This is image is from Northwoods stamps and to keep it from being too overwhelmed with color I tried to add some light shading to the steps and then let the pumpkins and flowers be the focus. After coloring, I simply added all my layers using Perfect Layers Rulers to make for a quick card base.

I know I usually show you the Copics I used... but there were a lot!!!! And mums can be any color! I added a sentiment from Flourishes set "A Season of Thanks", adding  few nestie oval layers. I also sponged some brown around the edges on a few layers using a Cat's Eye eye ink pad - Chestnut Roan.

• Stamps: by Northwoods Rubber Stamps - P7584 Steps with Pumpkins, Mums and Leaves, Sentiment from Flourishes - A Season of Thanks
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Sepia Brown, Cat's Eye Chestnut Roan ink pad for edging.
• Paper: DP from Authentique's Gathering 6x6 pad, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Brown
• Other: Brown Jute String, Spellbinder's Oval and Scalloped Oval Nesties, Perfect Layer Rulers, Copics

Flourishes Hanging Ornament

 The challenge over at Flourishes this week was to try out the Double Embossing Technique. Click on the link to read all the details and rules for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge #143. The technique was one I had never done... so I thought it would be fun to try it out... and I loved the look of cards that the Flourishes Gals were showcasing! Here is a link to the Double Embossing Technique.

NOW for the bad part...... I could not get the technique to work as shown in the tutorial. I have a Grand Calibur and a Big Kick Die cutting machine and I (despite seven attempts) failed to get it right with these machines. The technique is shown with a Big Shot machine... so perhaps that is my issue. So I kind of cheated to achieve the desired result. I cut the middle panel out, embossed it with a CB folder and then taped it back in place using tape on the backside. I also created an embossed frame with the same nestie shapes to cover up my cheating ways on the final card.

 You can see here the cut lines where I cheated and replaced the stamped panel. I used Spellbinder's Labels 17. I colored the image with Copics and I also stamped a second ornament to pop up over the first to add a little dimension. The bow tails actually spread out a little wider on the stamp but since they are flexible I bent them in to fit in the nestie shape.

When I added my frame topper, I edged the sides with a black marker to help the edges stand out a little bit. I also put my nestie back in place around the ornament panel and outlined a simple black frame. I used Perfect Layer Rulers to add a 1/16" black edge mat to the embossed panel. I did curve the second stamped ornament and adhered it with Dimensional Silicone. My card is an A2 and tent style, opening at the bottom. I covered the entire front of the card with DP from Lily Bee's 6x6 pad Memorandum. 

• Stamps: All stamps by Flourishes - Holiday Sparkle, Holiday Greetings Stamp Set
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP from Lily Bee's 6x6 pad Memorandum, Neenah Classic Crest Baronial Ivory, Black
• Other: Copics, Spellbinder's Labels 17, Sizzix Embossing Folder, Perfect Layers Rulers

Holiday Wreath

The  Serendipity Team is showing off "Shaped Cards" today. 

Check out what everyone created:  Amy - Anya - Miriam 

 This challenge was right up my alley as I am so enjoying making shaped cards with my Spellbinder Grand Dies! My card base is a folded ivory card.  I cut the same shape from the green checked paper covering the entire front of the card, which hides the small fold line in the ivory card base.

 I used an Xacto Knife to trim the wreath out after stamping in on ivory paper. I used Copics to color the wreath and even thought it's a lot of coloring... it went super quick! You can see the Copics I used in the above picture.

I added a little Glossy Accents over the red berries and popped the wreath up with foam tape. The sentiment I added stitch marks to and then gently curled it using my fingers. I adhered the curled sentiment oval using Dimensional Silicone.

• Stamps by Serendipity Stamps - 935 K Bay Leaf Wreath Large, 665 C Happy Holidays II
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Neenah Peppercorn card stock, All DP from Authentique's 6x6 "Wonder"
• Other: Spellbinder's Grand Circles, Spellbinder's Grand Scalloped Circles, Ivory Seam Binding, Bow Easy Tool, Glossy Accents, Dimensional Silicone