Canadian Crafty Blog Hop

Over at the Made By Jacqueline blog there is a blog hop on that is open to Canadian crafters. Isn't that hop logo adorable? Why not join us?

Today I have an engagement card to share. 

This is a Cuttlebug embossed background with a simple stamp in a flat area in the middle. I used a Bow Easy to tie the satin ribbon double bow.

Linda S. asked how the selective embossing is done. To leave a center area unembossed, you run the paper through an embossing machine (I use Cuttlebug) with something on top that has the center cut out. In this case I used a wooden photo mat that is about one quarter inch thick. I got it at Michaels. They are really cheap, about $2 each, and they have a number of different ones with hearts, ovals and squares for openings. When the mat goes through the machine, extra pressure is on the solid area and less on the opening, so it leaves the opening unembossed. Hope this makes sense. Here is a link to describe it better with photos:

http://indigoinklings.blogspot.com/2008/04/creative-cuttling-in-more-detail.html

Snow Day!

Yesterday we had a freak little mini blizzard that shut down the roads for a bit - so I called a snow day and told my staff to stay home. This meant I got a bonus day to play with some stamps!

I made this Side Step Card. I got the directions here from Julie Davison. The cupcakes are gold peel off outline stickers and I laid them on double-sided tape, then sprinkled clear glitter over all. I coloured the glitter with Bic Permanent Markers. The flourish is a Tim Holtz die and the flowers are Cuttlebug dies. I gave the stem and flowers the same glitter treatment. I gold embossed the Stampin' Up! sentiment.

I had a few extra cupcakes so I got out the Waltzingmouse Frame It set of stamps and put together these two bonus cards.

The snow day could not be stretched to two, alas, but I was pleased to have something to show for my day off! I have entered this in Meredith's week-long Blog Birthday Challenge.

Valentine for my sweetie

Happy Valentine's Day!

Swinging Z-fold Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day, Mom!

I created a Swinging Z-fold Valentine card using Spellbinders dies and Tim Holtz papers and Distress Inks. The Stampin Up Hodge Podge Hardware in silver provided a frame for a small sentiment. I covered the words with Glossy Accents.

I got the directions to make this type of card from here: Splitcoaststampers Tutorial. I actually foolishly used my Cuttlebug to cut the hearts. The front ends up being three layers and the paper and cardstock I used were too thick for  my machine to handle. Next time I would just cut each layer separately and then glue them together, instead of trying to run all three layers through at once. This was an expensive lesson, but I really like the card even so!

Queen of Hearts Challenge

So it's soon Valentine's Day. Must buy chocolate for my sweeties or forget about coming home Monday.

I made a card for the annual Queen of Hearts challenge - and also for the Created byHand weekly challenge. It's a Valentine for my daughter, who is always going at such a whirling pace. She is a list maker and actually accomplishes quite a lot. Some would say she's an overachiever. I know I get tired just watching her zoom around doing things.

The woman is a Chapel Road Artstamps rubber stamp. I think she has her hands up and is saying "Enough already!" The hearts and the sentiment are from Quietfire Design, which is offering prizes for this challenge - so what are you waiting for?

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 31

This week it's Rusted Enamel. I followed Tim's directions to create the background for my tag, but I think I need to practice more. The embellishment (above) was some silver Hodge Podge Hardware from Stampin Up! that I colourized with alcohol inks; I smashed the brad heads a la Tim. I stamped the postmark (Stampington & Company) twice, once on acetate and once on cardstock. I like the depth it provides. The passport image is from Oxford Impressions. I added some pen stitching to Tim Holtz's Tissue Tape.

Details for this weekly challenge are on the Studio L3 blog.

Altered Metal with Paint

The weekly Compendium of Curiosities Challenge over at Studio L3 is on number 30 of 35 challenges. This week we are to focus on page 48 of Tim Holtz's book. Woohoo! This is a great challenge as it had me try something new, which is always fun. I used Red Pepper and Pearl to jazz up my vintage frame.

A couple of Sizzix embossing folders added some pizazz to the Spellbinders hearts. I highlighted the relief with Fired Brick Distress Inks. Tim's designer paper provide background music and the inset hearts. The word Love is from the Michelle Ward Tea and Coffee Collection of rubber stamps for Stampington and Company (Scandal...). Thanks for looking!

Other challenges this has been entered in:  Simon Says Stamp and Simon Says Stamp and Show and The Cheerful Stamp Pad.