Girlfriends matter!

I love watercoloring with distress inks so the newest challenge from the CCC3 was right up my alley!  The technique is discussed on page 39 of Tim's third book.  Inspiration Emporium is sponsoring the challenge and has a $50 gift certificate ready and waiting for a randomly chosen winner.  And don't forget that the Curiosity Crew will also be choosing a winner.  With all the inspiration that can be seen on the blog we're ALL winners!

#8 tag; watercolor paper; glossy paper; silk ribbon

Ranger:  distress inks, distress paints, archival inks, Perfect Pearls Mist

Stampers Anonymous:  Tim Holtz Nautical Blueprint

Spellbinders:  Anchors Away die

Liquitex:  Resin Sand

Inkadinkado image

The stamped image is right!  Girlfriends do matter!

Partial die cut

Here's the other birthday card I told you about on the 6th.  I saw the idea on a Jennifer McGuire video (her post on 5/16).

Fold a 8.5" x 5" sheet of white card stock in half as usual.  Mark the center on the left side with a pencil.  Stamp (Jet Black Archival Ink) your image over the center line.  Place the Birthday Blueprint framelits die over the image; use some painters tape to hold it in place so it doesn't slip out of place.  The center should be lined up at the edge of the cutting plates so that only the right side will cut.

Color as desired (distress markers to cupcake paper, candle and flame).  Stamp image two more times so that you can cut out the icing, candle and flame.  Color as desired (added Rock Candy Distress Glitter to the icing) and Yellow Stickles to the flame.  Adhere to the card, using foam tape where desired.

I added 2 thin strips of coordinating card stock to the edges of the card.  On a scrap of white card stock stamp the frame and sentiment from Simple Sayings.

To coordinate the envelope I cut out the entire shape from scrap paper and used it as a stencil, coloring inside the image with a very light distress ink.  The name and address were written over the stenciled image.

Stamp out naked mail!

Happpy anniversary to my uber special husband!

We're celebrating #27 (31 including dating) ...despite a friend's mother-in-law and her bff telling me our relationship would never work or last.  Hah!  So there, Norma and Natalie!

Thanks to Tim's June tag challenge I was able to knock out two projects at the same time.  Yes!!!

Ranger:  Superfine Black Detail Embossing Powder, embossing ink, distress watercolor card stock, distress inks, Jet Black Archival Ink, alcohol inks, multi-medium (matte)

Stampers Anonymous:  Merchantile CMS189, Mini Blueprints 2 CMS146, Simple Sayings CMS155, Hearts Stencil THS 107

Sizzix:  Framelits Tag Collection

Idea-ology/Advantus:  Frosted Film, mini numerals, long fastener

Misc.:  repurposed plastic packaging, #8 manilla tag, foam tap, silk ribbon, key


We've been through a lot on our journey; we're still best friends and we still don't go to bed mad.  And I thank him every night.  He always asks 'what for?' and I just say 'everything'.  Love you, Walt!

Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?

Time for another CCCv3 challenge.  This one uses the Layering Stencil - Texture Paste technique found on pg. 49.  I have lots of stencil paste (metallics, translucent, white, black) and you can use a re-inker to change the color to whatever suits your needs.

The Funkie Junkie is sponsoring the challenge and a $25 gift certificate will be awarded randomly.  And don't forget that the Curiosity Crew will be choosing a winner as well.  Have fun and go play!  You have until the evening of June 20th to participate.

Stampers Anonymous:  stencils (chevron, rays); stamps (Remnants, Lost & Found)

Ranger:  embossing ink, detail silver embossing powder, Glossy Accents, distress inks, distress paints, archival ink, distress paints, Glue & Seal, grungeboard

Advantus:  Remnant Rubs, Alpha Parts

Studio 490:  metallic silver embossing paste, Clearly For Art

Misc: fabric, silk ribbons

I've only ridden in a tethered hot air balloon but a full-out ride is on my bucket list.

Happy Father's Day!

My dad passed away 8 years ago but I have a wonderful step-father who is very special to me.  I was looking on Pinterest for something different and found several cards using a number of these elements so I came up with an idea regarding the special chemistry it takes to be a one-of-a-kind dad.

This card is a full sheet of 8.5" x 11" Bazzill brown card stock folded in half.  Using Watering Can and Tree Branch Archival Inks (R) I stamped all the images from Laboratorie CMS173 (SA) in a random pattern all over the card front.

On black card stock I stamped the text from The Chemist CMS172 (SA) using Snow Cap White Pigment Ink (R).  From brown cardstock I cut a frame for the new chalkboard and ran it through the Woodgrain Texture Fade (SA).  Brown and black distress inks were rubbed over the embossed areas.

The chemist and bottles (SA) were stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink (R) on watercolor paper.  I scribbled on my craft sheet with distress markers and pads (R), picking up the color with a waterbrush pen.  The images were cut out and have foam tape behind them.  I stamped the science table on white cardstock in Watering Can Archival Ink, tore it out and applied brown and black distress inks to the dampened edges.

From a scrap of brown card stock I die cut 'dad' using an old ProvoCraft alpha die.  More brown and black distress inks were applied to the edges; a Black Micron pen was used to enhance the letters.  A medium sized metal-rimmed tag was dipped into leftover distress ink/water on my craft sheet.  The sentiment (Simple Sayings CMS155) was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink.  I blocked off the portions so I could alter the alignment.

(R) = Ranger
(SA) = Stampers Anonymous

My folks go to coffee 6 days a week with a regular bunch.  I hope this makes it to 'show-and-tell'!

Another college grad in the family

One of my nephews is graduating from Drexel University today with a master's degree in public health.  I wanted something unique and thought about Dr. Seuss and his words of wisdom. 

card front

coordinating envelope

On white cardstock I used Tim's new Arrows Stencil and Mustard Seed Distress ink.  I computer-generated the words onto that 'new' card stock.  I cut it down to the size and shape then backed it with black.  Of course I didn't have yellow card stock but Mustard Seed Distress Ink smeared on white cardstock works perfectly!  I punched out the dragon (EKSuccess Paper Shaper) and put some foam tape snippets on the back to make it stand out.  The year was die cut from the same 'new' card stock using Tim's Typeset decorative strip die.

I still had ink on the stencil so I misted it and placed it on the envelope.  Cool, huh!?!??  I have covered the envelope with Judikins MicroGlaze to protect the ink from running.  That would NOT be cool!

I love what Dr. Seuss wrote and can see using them again but creating a rebus.  Wouldn't that be fun?

Happy birthday!

Have you purchased any of Tim Holtz's framelits sets?  I thought this one would come in quite handy and versatile for all the birthday cards I send.  On this card I chose just to use the stamp.  I'm pretty sure my canine friend won't care at all.  lol  (What, you don't send cards to your friends' pets????)

The image was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink on white card stock.  The cupcake paper and candle were colored with blue distress inks; the candle with yellow.  I did go over the flame with yellow Stickles.  I also used an air spray tool and more distress markers to add some pizzazz around the edges.  The white cardfront was put on top a black layer and then a yellow layer...on top of another white layer. 

I'll be sharing another card later this month where I do a partial die cut with this stamp.  Oh, the versatility!

Love is

behind that closed door.

Closed panels

Open panels

On gray card-stock I used various colors of distress ink and Wendy Vecchi's brick wall stencil (my favorite!!!).  I cut out Tim's Passage Door then overstamped it with his woodgrain stamp (CMS126).  I carefully cut open the panels then ran more brown distress ink around all the edges.  I cut out a 2nd door and colored it with more distress inks.  Once the 2 were glued together I was able to stamp the sentiment, date and names in Jet Black Archival Ink using old Hero Arts stamp sets (LL761 and LL762) and Tim's a & f (CMS156) that I cut apart.  After the door was glued to the card front I added 2 hearts cut from Tim's mini movers & shapers set (with cupid).

This idea could just as easily be used for birthday greetings.

I always try to look beyond the obvious use when buying new stencils and dies. 

Red roses 4 a blue lady

Uh oh...less than a week to get your entry in to the 3rd challenge that Linda is hosting for the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Book 3.  I've had my idea but it just wasn't happening...until I sat down this morning.  Voila!

For the background I inked up the Regal Flourishes Texture Fade (SA) with Snowcap Pigment Ink (R) and pressed it on the tag.  Heat set then added distress inks (R) until I was happy.  I ran the distresser tool around the edges and inked them up with brown distress inks.

I applied Sticky Back Canvas (R) to grungeboard then die cut the mannequin (Sewing Room die-S).  Blue and brown distress inks and markers were used to color it.  My version of a hoop skirt was cut from a piece of thin chipboard covered with HVAC metal tape.  I used the Caged Bird die (S) then cut off the bits I didn't want.  It was embossed using the Regal Flourishes Texture Fade then smeared blue and copper distress paints (R) over it.  It was adhered to the body with Glossy Accents (R).

I cut the shield out of grungeboard (I) using the Regal Crest Die (S); long pieces of greenery were cut from bits of core'dinations card stock (same die).  The shield was colored with various yellow, blue and brown distress inks and paints.  The #4 was cut from card stock scraps using the Wordplay die (S); sand the edges; roughly outline with a gold marker.

The advertisement was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink (R) on thin chipboard and colored with distress markers and ink.  (Adverts CMS101) (SA)

The flourish (Elegant Flourishes) (S) is another scrap of cardstock, sanded and roughly edged with a gold marker.  The rose leaves were cut from more scraps of core'dination (C) card stock (I don't get rid of scraps until they really are quite small!) using the Spring Greenery die (S).

And now for the challenge part of the tag....Faux Tea Roses.  The instructions can be found on pg. 65 of the book.  You'll be using an unexpected die to create this fab look.

Prizes will be awarded to the Curiosity Crew's choice (goodies from Tim & Mario) and to a random winner will go a $50 gift certificate from Inspiration Emporium.  How can you not participate????

(C)  core-dinations
(I)  Idea-ology
(R)  Ranger
(S)  Sizzix
(SA)  Stampers Anonymous