Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge 16/Seize the Birthday

I love when I make a random card and when I am done - I know JUST who it's meant to be given to. That's how I feel about this one, even though it was the Waltzingmouse Fanatics Sketch that inspired it:

At first this seemed difficult because of that old standby art rule of thirds or fives or any odd number being more pleasing. But I think I hit on something that works:

So my flapper has feathers! See, there is a reason we hoard craft supplies from 20 years ago! The stamps are from two WMS sets. The gold is Delicata, the black is Versafine Onyx Black. I used my Perfect Layers 1/16th ruler to trim the black mats down around the diamonds.

I am entering this in the WMS Fanatics Challenge and also in 

Seize the Birthday. Thanks for stopping by!

El's Peel-offs

Here is a fun card that uses some products from Elizabeth Craft Designs. My local stamp store (Stampers! in Victoria, BC) carries a lot of these things and often demonstrates how to use them. After a recent demo I was inspired to re-visit these techniques.

The black outline is a mylar sticker that I placed on double sided tape that was affixed to white card stock. Then I sprinkled clear glitter over and burnished into the adhesive. I then coloured in the image with (mostly) Distress Ink markers.

The pink iridescent reflective frame is a layer of pink iris Shimmer Sheetz, which is metallic mylar. I used a Cuttlebug Lacy Labels embossing folder to pressure emboss the design, then sanded the high points and fussy cut the outer edges. The inner oval area framed the glittery lady quite nicely. I mounted all on black glossy cardstock, then a layer of pink iris, and then a white card base. Decorative die cut corners on the black layer allowed more of the pink opal Shimmer Sheetz to peek through.

 

I am entering this in:

Creative Knockouts - Anything goes!

Crafty Girls challenge - Anything goes!

Addicted to Stamps and More - Make your mark!

The Crafter's Café - Add glitter!

Crafting by designs - Use (a) flower(s) (Tulips in the corners)

 

It was a fun card to make using some tried and true techniques that I haven't played with for awhile. If any of this seems new to you, be sure to visit the Elizabeth Crafts website. There are lots of videos and great inspiration there and on their blog. Happy crafting!

Dreamweaver Stencil Flowers

Isn't this a lovely thought? It is a Quietfire Design rubber stamp. I stamped it in Martha Stewart Aloe pigment ink, a rich green colour that I felt went well with the cardstocks I used to mat the card. And I hoped the green complimented the flowers that are the focal point.

To make this card I stencilled pearlescent embossing paste through a Dreamweaver Stencil LX7021 (about 6.25 X 4.5 inches). I dusted it with some silver mica powder while it was still wet. Once it was dry, I trimmed it down a tad and went around all of the petals with various Copic markers to highlight and provide colour.

This was a nice technique because the colours are vibrant and happy, but the silver paste petals tone down the effect and are less "in your face."

I am entering this on the Dreamweaver blog (inspired by spring!) and on Seize the Birthday, too. Keep dreaming!

Easter 2014

I hope you have enjoyed a lovely Easter with friends or family. It was quiet here, and a long weekend means I got a bit of time in the craft cave.

I personalized this little pail from the Target dollar spot with some white and blue vinyl and my Silhouette Cameo machine. I think this is my first time layering vinyl.

I added a card to the gift - this box card folds down to 4.25 X 5.5 inches. It was fun to make.

While I was on a roll with the Cameo, I did something for *me* and it is sort of silly, but I am so pleased. Gotta love something practical - these cheap oil bottles at Target were calling out for some black vinyl labels.

As Easter 2014 comes to a close, I have been meditating on this verse and the blessing of hope. Happy Easter to you and yours.

Stamps: Flourishes; Spellbinders Floral Oval

Gasp: I made a card!

That is how it feels these days - like I am never in my craft room. When I saw the new "Mixed Messages" challenge for Waltzingmouse Fanatics, however, I had to play along. I knew right away what I wanted to do.

The challenge is to combine various sentiments from different stamp sets; to mix up the type styles. I used this Big Daddy mold from Ten Seconds Studio to create the sectioned frame for my words and images. I ran my cardstock through the Cuttlebug machine with the mold and embossing plates after first inking up the ridges with Memento Rose Bud ink. This impressed and coloured the lines all in one pass.

Measures 4.75 inches square.

I lost track of how many Waltzingmouse Stamps sets I pulled out to make this card, but there were quite a few. It was fun to find things to place in each box.

I swished my Clear Wink of Stella glitter pen over the patterned paper and the popped-up flowers and egg, but try as I might I cannot seem to capture the shimmer with my iPhone camera. So one Easter card done! Felt good to make something again.