TMS #170: Cheery Lights Mailbox

Hi Friends! Time for another Tuesday Morning Sketch challenge! Theresa came up with a really cute sketch, and you're going to love all the different interpretations the DT came up with using it.

This week, we're sponsored by Meljen's Designs. They generously provided images for the DT to work with, and I had a blast with this one. I've been wanting to try a technique that I've seen before that involves multiple images with all the different parts of the image cut out, embossed with a stylus, then layered (I think it's called 3D layering), and this cute mailbox was the perfect image to use for it. I'll show you a close up in a sec.

For the banner, I used a dp that had a banner printed on it, sewing it with a zig zag stitch. I added a small strip of burlap under the image panel and backed it with a pretty striped dp. I added rhinestones for a little extra shine.

Here are a couple of close ups showing the layers. Everything is layered, including the front mound of snow at the bottom of the image. It's a little hard to see in the photos, because I don't have the layers popped up much (I used crimped cs instead of pop dots), and I also embossed the edges of each piece so the edges would curve down just a bit. IRL, it looks so cool and it just begs to be touched! I didn't used a whole lot of layers, but next time I think I will. I thought it would be a time-consuming technique, but really, it wasn't at all. I colored the string of Christmas lights with Copics, then used Glossy Accents on each one. I used a Snow Marker randomly on the snow, and added a little Stickles to it after it was heated.

I used the same striped dp on the inside that I used under the burlap on the front, and the stamp is from Flourishes. I recently bought all the seasonal Distress Inks and my DH made me more blending blocks for all of them, so I was able to sponge the new (to me) Iced Spruce ink, combined with Tumbled Glass ink inside the die to achieve the pretty dusky color edging on the sentiment panel, as well as the image panel on the front of the card.

So, head on over to Tuesday Morning Sketches to check out the awesome samples this week by the DT, and then link up your own creation for a chance to win some Meljen's fun.

AND, you still have one more day to enter the TMS Pink Birthday Challenge! Good luck...the prize is awesome!

Thanks for stopping by today, and for all the wonderful comments you have left. I am so behind on commenting, but I'll catch up soon. :)

Have a spectacular week!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Cheery Lights Mailbox (Meljen's Designs); Christmas Classics (Flourishes)
Paper: Joyeux Noel (Glitz)
Ink: Copic markers; Distress Ink; Snow Marker (Marvy)
Dies: A2 Matting Basics A & B, Reverse Wonky Rectangles (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Burlap; paper crimper; rhinestones; sewing thread; Glossy Accents; Stickles
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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TMS #169: Celebrate a Fall Birthday

Hello Friends! I've put away the summer clothes and have jackets hanging in the mudroom, because fall is finally here. So, for my Tuesday Morning Sketch card today, I decided to go with a fall theme.

Our sponsor this week is Stamp Fairy, and I was thrilled when I saw all the adorable fall images they have to choose from.









Mine came from the super cute Mimi Falltime grouping. This one was perfect for the circle die cut on Melissa's fab sketch this week.

I colored the image with Copics, did a little stitching, and added a bow and some leaf gems. The sketch has a banner, but I stamped my sentiment directly onto the dp in the area left open after adding Washi tape to the top and bottom of the rectangular layers--similar look, different approach. ;)

On the inside, I embossed a Curved Rectangle die cut with a Leafy Branch embossing folder, and sponged Vintage Photo Distress Ink along the edges, as well as the embossed areas. When I cut the leaf dp for the front, I accidentally lined the die up perfectly straight, which left a very thin, very straight L-shaped scrap that I put to use on the inside. I say "accidentally" because if I had been trying to do this, it NEVER would have come out right. ;).  Anyway, I glued the strip to the inside, then used a marker to draw the wavy lines and dots along the edge of it. I really like that it is a bit of an optical illusion. It almost looks like I have put a white cs rectangle on top of a dp rectangle, when in fact, the white part is just the inside of the card base.

Even though the front of the card appears to be a generic fall card, I decided to make this a birthday card for a brand-new Savannah friend who is having a birthday next week, so I added the "celebrate you" sentiment to the inside, along with "Happy Birthday!" Oh, and the pearls on the scalloped die cut are a Pearl Pen.

Well, that's it for my card. So, why don't you click on over to the Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge Blog and see what the rest of the DT, as well as our Best of the Best Guest, Alison, have for your inspirational pleasure, then create your own card for a chance to win some stamping goodness from Stamp Fairy.

And, DON'T FORGET, you have ONE MORE WEEK to get your entry in for the Pink Birthday Challenge. Melissa is keeping the exact contents of the prize a secret, but she did let it slip that there is a Scor-Pal up for grabs in that challenge! Have fun, and Good Luck!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Mimi Falltime (Stamp Fairy); Happy Everything (Stampendous); All Occasion Msgs (Hero Arts)
Paper: Tim Coffey Fall Mat Pad (K&Co)
Ink: Distress; Copics; Memento; white gel pen
Dies: A2 Matting Basics B, Curved Rectangles, Labels 18, Classic Scalloped Circles Lg, Beaded Circles (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Abstract Flower edge punch (EK Success); Leafy Branch embossing folder (Cuttlebug); ribbon (Michaels); leaf gems; washi tape; sewing thread; Pearl Pen; Sharpie marker
Size: A2 (5.5" x 4.25")

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TMS #168: Hoppy Holiday

Hi Friends! Time for another Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge!

Our sketch this week is one of Laura's, and it's great because it works no matter which way you turn it, and the front panel is big enough for an image and a sentiment! Stamping Scrapping is our generous sponsor this week.

I can feel the days slipping away, and decided to make another Christmas card. Don't know if I'll have enough made in time this year, but I'll give it my best shot. The speckled panel was made with my new Dylusions Ink Sprays. If you haven't tried those yet, you should. They are so much fun. I spritzed the colors onto dry, white cs, but you can get an entirely different look if you wet the cs first. 

I picked this adorable stamp set up at the Greenville convention. I colored the frog with Copics, used a Snow Marker on the pompom on his hat, used black Enamel Accents on his eyes, topped that with white Enamel Accents, then covered his eyes with Glossy Accents. I made the light colored dots on his body with my Copic colorless blender. The glittery dots on his hat are from a Martha Steward glitter marker.

For more inky inspiration, head on over to the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog and see what the rest of the DT has to share with you, then link up your creation for a chance to win a Stamping Scrapping prize!

And, while you're at it, don't forget there's still time to enter the Pink Birthday Challenge--the only requirement is "Pink and Birthday!" Easy Peasy!!! And, Melissa is keeping the contents of the birthday prize candy under wraps, but I hear that it includes a Scor-Pal!!!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a fab week!

 

Stamps: Punny Christmas Frogs (Inky Antics)
Paper: Flourishes Classic White
Ink: Memento; Copic markers; Gld Glitter Marker (Martha Stewart); Snow Marker (Marvy Uchida); Dylusions Ink Sprays (Ranger)
Accessories: Mystic M-Bossabilities folder (Spellbinders); rhinestones; button; sewing thread; twine (The Twinery); Glossy Accents; Enamel Accents; Scoreboard (Martha Stewart)
Size: A6 (4.5" x 6.25")

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TMS#167: Girl on Fire!

Hi Friends! I'm so glad it's Tuesday! And, especially that it's this particular Tuesday. Because, not only is it the day we have another sketch for Tuesday Morning Sketches, but our sponsor this week is Sassy Studio Designs, and I LOVE all their digital images! The digi stamp I chose to use for today was so much fun to work with! Just from the title of my post and the teaser photo here, you probably already know who it is, don't you? ;)

That's right, Hunger Games fans...it's Katniss, the Girl on Fire!!! I loved the trilogy, and the movie was fantastic! They're filming the second movie right here in Atlanta. I would so love to be able to be part of that. Anybody got any strings you could pull for me? Could the odds be "eva in my fava?" I fetch a mean cup of coffee. :)

But, I digress. Let me get back to the card. If you've read the books or seen the movie you know about the "girl on fire" scene. Well, for those of you who don't, Katniss has a dress that is rigged up so that when she twirls, it appears that the bottom of it is in flames--a very cool scene, which I tried to capture on the image by coloring the dress red, then adding orange and yellow over the bottom ruffles and outlining them in those colors, too. I used the out-of-the-box technique to die cut the circle and fussy cut the bottom of the dress and top of her head. I was really pleased with how my coloring turned out on this image. I have been practically drooling over the amazing coloring that Shelby and Carla do on their images, and learning to color folds is something I've been working on for awhile. I think I did okay on this one. It literally took me about four hours to get this fiery beauty colored to my satisfaction! I added Stickles to the image a few days after making the card. I was afraid it would completely mess up all my coloring, but since it's supposed to look like fire, I like how it turned out.

Here's what it looked like before Stickles. What do you think--better with or without the glitter???

You probably noticed that there is a bow on the Tuesday Morning Sketch this week. Well, Katniss is definitely NOT a girly-girl, so I left it off, and instead I offset the image layer and put a graduated line of red rhinestones along the left side of it. That's a little more in line with her kick-butt personality! :)

Here's a close up of her "makeup." I added Glossy Accents to her lips. And, as in the movie, Katniss has rhinestones along her shoulder and back, as well as lots of sparkle on her face. For purists, I think the rhinestones were on the other shoulder. ;)

I continued the "fire" theme on the inside of the card, sponging inside the die with several colors of Distress Ink, then I created the sentiment in Word, using a font called "Cheap Fire." I used a rim of red Stickles around the entire circle die cut. IRL they are a very bright, vivid red, but I just couldn't get the color to show up right in the photo. 

At the first AR (Accelerated Reader) party of the year at my DD's school, she surprised everybody (including me) by having more AR points that anyone in the school! She has done that for the past two years, but this year she is competing against 4th and 5th grade students (she's in 3rd), so we knew it would be tough. She's working hard to keep her lead, and I plan to give this card to her after the next AR party. She doesn't know much about Hunger Games, but she IS a girly-girl, and she will love the beautiful girl on the card, and her fancy dress. :)

Okay, now, the info on the challenge this week. Every month TMS has a judged challenge, which includes a sketch with a twist. So, the twist this week is: The Letter "E." It can be anything--elephant, embossing, Echo Park papers, etc. For my card, I have embossed edges on my die cuts, and I used the "Earth" Copic markers for Katniss' hair. And, I know it's stretching it a bit, but I also give myself an "E for Effort" for my coloring this week! ;D What's your "E" going to be? Can't wait to find out!

So, head on over to the Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge blog and check out the rest of the projects by our awesome DT, as well as our new Best of the Best Guest Designer, Alison. By the time you've done that, you'll be "E"nergized to create your own fab work of art. And, remember the winner gets a prize from Sassy Studio Designs! How awesome is that!!!

Thanks for stopping by today, and have a spectacular week!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz Challenge #39: Badda Bing!

Color Me Creative Copic Challenge #53: Bright, Fun Colors!

Do You Stack Up #92 (DYSU92): Warm Colors

Fat Pages With Attitude Challenge #24: Yellow, Red, Orange/Anything Goes

Paper Play Challenge '12-Week 40: Shine On

Simon Says Glimmer & Sparkle

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #184: Photo Inspiration

 

Stamps: Katniss Girl of Fire Sassy (Sassy Studio Designs)
Paper: Forever Fall (Bo Bunny); Shimmer Stack (DCWV)
Ink: Copic markers; Distress Ink
Dies: Std Circles Sm, Peony Nestabilities, Classic Scalloped Circles Lg (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Rhinestones; Stickles; Glossy Accents
Size: 4-1/8" dia. circle

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Merry & Bright Joy!

Hi Friends! I've got a Christams card to share with you tonight.


I used the Mojo Monday 261 sketch as my jumping-off-point. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be in a mad rush very soon to make enough Christmas cards for this year, so I guess it's time to get busy.

The "Joy" and dove stamps are from Taylored Expressions. I first sponged Distress Ink inside the die, then stamped the dove in copper Colorbox ink. When I stamped the "Joy" sentiment, I stamped it three times, in red, green, and brown ink, offsetting the stamp just a little bit each time. Then, I stamped it one more time, with clear embossing ink and used clear embossing powder. It's subtle, but pretty, and looks a little like wax on top of the copper colored dove stamp.

The horizontal strip is a piece of scrap corrugated cardboard. I sprayed it with Dylusions Ink Spray, and, after drying, I added a little bit of Perfect Pearls Mist. Rather than cut the end of the strip into points, I chose to just tear it. 

You might notice that my velvet ribbon doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the card, like it does in the sketch. That was on purpose, because I didn't want to cover up the Merry & Bright text on the dp. 

I worked, for a long time, trying to get the red flower to look right in the photos, and this is as close as I could get. IRL, it is a very rich, but vivid cranberry color. This is more of that fab felt from My Favorite Things. I added some red Stickles to the edges of some of the petals, and gold Stickles to the center. It's hard to see the stick pin, but it's in the upper right corner. It's one I made myself. :)

I used Dylusions Ink Sprays to color the Splendid Circle die cut, which started out as white card stock. I added several festive colors of Stickles around the edge of the die cut, as well as gold Stickles around the perimeter of the stamped circle. 

I usually decorate the inside of my cards, but I haven't done that to this one yet. If I do, I'll edit this post and add a photo of it later. 

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Mojo Monday 261 (MOJO261)

Simon Says Stamp Celebrates World Card Making Day

Simon Says Stamp: Glimmer & Sparkle

52 Card Pickup: Week 40

Charisma Cardz Challenge #39: Badda Bing!

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #226 (PWC226): Flowers!

 

Stamps: Christmas Blessings (Taylored Expressions)
Paper: Lost & Found Christmas (My Mind's Eye); corrugated cardboard
Ink: Colorbox; Distress Ink; Memento; clear embossing ink
Dies: Splendid Circles, Std Circles Lg, Classic Scalloped Circles Lg (Spellbinders); Die-namics Royal Leaves, Die-namics Mini Royal Roses (My Favorite Things)
Accessories: Clear embossing powder; Dylusions Ink Spray; Stickles; Perfect Pearls Mist; felt (My Favorite Things); pin; beads; foam dots; sewing thread; Glossy Accents; velvet ribbon; Distrezz-it-All
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Happy Birthday, Theresa!

Hi Friends! No, it's not Tuesday, but today is a special day at Tuesday Morning Sketches, and we are celebrating! It's Theresa's 50th birthday, as well as her 5th birthday as a breast cancer survivor!!! Whoo Hoo! So, TMS is having a Virtual Birthday Party, and you are invited. :) To play along, just create a birthday card and use pink--not only the official color of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon, but Theresa's fav color, too! No TMS sketch this time--just have fun with it! And, Melissa is going to have special "pink" blog candy for the winner of this challenge!

I thought about creating an all pink card, but Theresa likes pink and green together, so I broke out a new paper pad that had both colors and went from there. I embossed the green dp, then sanded it a little and lightly sponged some Distress Ink over the raised areas. The circle die cut is paper pierced around the edge.

I used the Viva la Verve October 2012 Week 1 sketch, but as is my usual M.O., I gussied it up a bit with a bow, multiple matting, and Stickles.

I embossed the flower images with 3 different colors mixed together, and purposefully left all the loose bits on the paper for a "confetti" look. The pink in the center of the "button" of the flower is Stickles.

The inside is fairly simple, with an embossed sentiment.

I have to apologize for the quality of the photos. I think something is going on with Google, or Blogger, or both. For the past 3 days, I have had a dickens of a time getting my photos to look right on my blog. No matter what they look like in my photo editing program, when I add them to Blogger, they look all funky. Any of you having that problem, too? Does anyone have a solution? This is seriously frustrating for me! I usually use larger photos, but until the problem is fixed, they'll have to be smaller. If you want to see a larger photo, just click on it. They should look okay there.

So, Happy Birthday, Theresa! I hope it's your best one EVER! 

Now, go check out the rest of the DT, as well as some special friends, who created cards to surprise Theresa today on the Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge blog, then create your own card and link up to the party on the TMS blog during the month of October, for a chance to win! The winner will be announced on November 1. And, be sure to stop by Theresa's blog to wish her a Happy 50th Birthday!

Thanks for stopping by today, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Viva la Verve October 2012 Sketch Challenge-Week 1 (VLVOct2012)
Flourishes Think Pink Challenge FLLCOCT12
Charisma Cardz Challenge #39: Badda Bing!
Color Throwdown #212
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #237: Lotsa Ribbon!
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Glimmer and Sparkle
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge 226 (PWC226): Flowers
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #183: It's Your Birthday

Stamps: Nicest Thoughts, Sunny Days (Verve Stamps); Big Birthday Wishes (Our Craft Lounge)
Paper: Madeline (Prima); Sweet Nectar (K&Co)
Ink: Distress Ink; Memento; clear embossing ink
Dies: A2 Matting Basics A & B, Std Circles Lg, Classic Scalloped Circles Sm (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Scallop Diamond Edger (EKSuccess); Kassie's Brocade embossing folder (Cuttlebug); Zing embossing powder; ribbon; sanding block; paper piercer; Stickles; sewing thread
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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TMS#166: Aaaaahhhhh!

Hi Friends! It's Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge time!

Between this week's fab sketch and the cute digi stamp I got from our sponsor, Paper Pretties, I was able to come up with a super fun card for my DD to give to a friend for his birthday.

With The Avengers movie coming out, we had lots of super hero gifts to choose from for the birthday boy, so we went with a Captain America action figure that has a working parachute. This adorable digi stamp, aptly named, "Aaaaahhhhh," was the perfect image for the accompanying card. The image actually comes with clouds drawn around the dog, but I didn't need them since I was making my own clouds, so I removed them in my photo program, then printed it out and colored the image with Copics. I used my new cloud stencil and a light blue Memento ink to make the clouds. I also made the cloud bg paper. The pattern papers are both digital. I didn't have any navy twine, so I used red and white twine and blue Distress Ink to come up with the right colors. The blue frame around the image is popped up with foam dots over the image.

For the inside, I used Spellbinder dies to cut the stars from my leftover digi paper, and the blue circle is the die cut that came from the frame on the front of the card. I heat embossed the sentiment. This was a simple card, but quite enjoyable to make.

I hope you'll join us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches! We always have a great time, and, who knows, you just might win a prize from Paper Pretties! Be sure to check out the rest of the awesome DT's creations over at the TMS site, for plenty of inspiration, then get creative with the sketch and link your project up. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Thanks for stopping by today, and have a great week!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Moving Along With the Times: Seeing Red
ABC Challenges: Y is for Y Chromosome (a male-themed project)
Cards for Men Challenge 20: Animal Magic
Charisma Cardz Challenge #38: Something for the Guys
Creative Craft Challenges 2: Anything Goes
Fat Pages with Attitude Challenge 23: Anything Goes
Little Scrap Pieces: Fun Friday Use Ribbon or Twine
Party Time Tuesday #87: Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #183: It's Your Birthday

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Aaaaahhhhh (Paper Pretties); Birthday Buddies (Paper Smooches)
Paper: Merry Little Christmas Mini Kit by Erica Coombs, For the Boys by Karen Funk (Design House Digital)
Ink: Memento; Distress Ink; Colorbox; Copic markers
Dies: Std Circles Sm & Lg, Labels Three, Stars Five (Spellbinders)
Accessories: White embossing powder; Pearl Pen; Cloud Stencil (Inky Antics); Memory Thread (DMC); buttons; sewing thread; twine (The Twinery); foam dots
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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