If I Had a Star...

It was love at first sight for this die from Heartfelt Creations (Spellbinders). I cut two of the diecuts from glossy red cardstock to use as my frame for the sentiment (Quietfire). This is my Valentine for my Sweetie. Even though the frame is quite ornate, it is really a CAS card. I love the bright glossy red against the white cardbase.
I am entering my card into these challenges: Bloggers Challenge -- love is in the air; Tuesday Throwdown -- love is in the air; City Crafter --you matter; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; Fashionable Stamping -- black, white, hint of red; Great Impressions - love, love, love; V's Sweet Ideas -- red, white, or pink; Dies R Us -- hearts.

Season's Greetings

Today's project was a Christmas. I started by cutting my tag from kraft cardstock. I die cut the Season's Greetins ornament (Cheery Lynn Designs) twice once in green and once in gold so I could layer the gold season's greetings over the green. I die cut an oval (Cheery Lynn Designs) to use as a background panel. The sentiment (Artistic Outpost) was stamped in green pigment ink and heat embossed. It's a simple design, but sends the Christmas message.
I am entering my tag in these challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- tag, you're it; City Crafter -- Christmas CAS; Fashionable  Stamping -- Christmas tag; Dies R Us -- Christmas; Artistic Outpost -- anything goes using Artistic Outpost stamps; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes.

Woodsy Thinking of You

Today's card uses a die and stamp set from Sweet and Sassy. I've been looking for an excuse to use it.  It worked in so well with several of the current challenges, so I quickly grabbed it and went to work. I started with a blue background panel . I then stamped and die cut the trees, deer, and birds. For the lower background I tore a piece of shimmery cardstock, added a little glue, and sprinkled some distress glitter. The sentiment and frame is from Tim Holtz.
I am entering this card in these challenges: City Crafter -- my deer; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge -- thinking of you; Marks Finest Papers Color challenge -- rust, blue, green; and Fashionable Stamping -- animals.

Golden Autumn Days

My card today is based on the Mojo Monday challenge sketch layout.  My image and sentiment are brand new stamps (to me) from Serendipity stamps. I was really happy to be able to use them. I stamped my image on watercolor paper. I used the distress marker watercolor technique to watercolor the pheasants. The top layering panel was perfect for the sentiment. My background was made by layering leaves which were die cut  (Tim Holtz/Sizix) from an old book page onto a cardstock panel. The leaves were edged with distress ink. I think that the leaves, colors, and image make a wonderful autumn card.
I am also entering my card into these challenges: Ink on my Fingers Sunday Challenge -- add leaves; City Crafter -- leaves; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge -- use watercoloring; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; Fashionable Stamping -- anything goes; Frilly and Funkie --autumn colors; Great Impressions -- autumnal elegance; Serendipity Stamps -- fall.

Welcome Autumn

This will be the last card that I'm sharing today. I'm so happy that I got a chance to use my tree stamp from Kitchen Sink Stamps showing fall foliage. I have to use this stamp at least once every year. My card layout is based on the Mojo Monday tall and skinny sketch challenge. Fashionable Stamping challenged us to show a tree with autumn colors so I pulled out this stamp. Marks finest Papers Simple Salutations challenged us to use a metal embellishment on our card. I thought that the ribbons at the top could use a little embellishment.  The sentiment is an Artistic Outpost stamp.

A Boy and His Dog

It's Bloggers Challenge time again and this week the theme is Dog Days of summer. I went with the dog idea and used this adorable Stampsmith stamp of a boy and his dog. The image was colored using distress markers and some colored pencils. My sentiment is part of a Cornish Heritage Farms Stamp. My background is from my Gelli plate. I used various shades of distress paint. Then I used a stencil and stencil paste to add the dots. I kind of thought they looked a little like dog prints. Over the entire background I added distress stain. As a finishing embellishment I wrapped twine around the panel to keep it boyish.
 I am also entering this card into these challenges: Fashionable Stamping -- child's play; and Cornish Heritage Farms -- use three different mediums (paint, stain, embossing paste, markers, colored pencils).

By the Sea

It's a beautiful summer day in Chicago -- a perfect day to think about enjoying a day at the beach. My card uses the sketch from the Mojo Monday challenge, although I did turn it on its side. I started with a gelli print that I had made a few days ago. I went over the paint with salty ocean distress stain. Then I stamped several versions of Fred Mullett fish. The image of the bathing beauty is from Gecko Galz. I colored it with colored pencils The waves are Cheery Lynn die cuts. The shell and sentiment are from Artistic Outpost. I'm ready for an enjoyable summer day by the sea.
 I am also entering my card into these challenges: Kraft Journal -- sea and sand; Fashionable Stamping -- dreaming of summer; Artistic Stamper -- by the seaside; Inspiration Emporium -- summer fun; Gecko Galz -- beachy keen.

Bon Voyage

Another fun afternoon playing in my art journal! My background started with two shades of blue distress paints. Next came stencils of clouds and distressed stripes. These were added using Dylusions sprays for the clouds and Glimmer mist for the stripes. I then stamped the ship and the sentiment. Once I finished stamping I added more bits and pieces of stenciling. The clocks were done using reverse stenciling and paints. The rest of the stencils were added with distress markers and distress ink.
I am entering my page in these challenges: Fashionable Stamping -- clockwork; Tuesday Throwdown -- paint or mist; City Crafter -- Nautical; Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -- paint.

A Gift for You

I needed a gift box, so what did I do...I made one. I used a couple of book pages glued to a piece of cardstock and cut out the shape using the pillow box die from Tim Holtz/Sizzix. I then put a light coat of gesso over the top. I wanted the strength, but still wanted to see some of the writing. If you look really close, you might still see some of the words.  I used the distress paint marbling technique to color the box and then stamped it with a Stamp Zia stamp. I used the lattice die (TH) over the top. Then I made the faux tea roses from Tim Holtz's book Compendium of Curiosities p. 65 with leaves from Garden green die.
I am entering this gift box into these challenges: Compendium of Curiosities III -- Faux tea roses p. 65; Dies R Us -- May Flowers; Ink on My Fingers Sunday Challenge -- change something (book pages to gift box); Take a Word -- books; Marks Finest Papers Friends of Speedy -- use flowers; Fashionable Stamping -- 3D object.
A special thanks to Inspiration Emporium for sponsoring the CCC3 challenge.

Journey

It's been a fun studio day. I spent lots of time creating. Fashionable Stamping has the challenge theme - Circle the Globe. They want to see circles. Mojo Monday gave us this sketch to follow, and what do we see, but lots of circles. I love it when challenges work together. The car, balloon, sentiment stamps, and globe die cut are all from the Tim Holtz collection. I figured that as long as we were circling the globe, I'd stick to the journey theme. I'm also entering my card in the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge. The theme is "M", so I went monochromatic.

A Man Among Boys

Today seems to have been a Tim Holtz inspired day. Before I go any further, I'd like to thank Linda Ledbetter for holding the Compendium of Curiosities III challenge. This is Tim's third Compendium and the third round of challenges. Thanks also to Inspiration Emporium for their sponsorship of this challenge.
Challenge #1 is paint marbling (p.43 in Tim's book) The background of my card shows the paint marbling technique. Over the background I stamped several Steampunk images (Hampton Arts and Artistic Outpost). Overlooking these images is Tim's man among boys, Umbrella Man.
The monthly  Inspiration Journal challenge is a few of my favorite things. The background technique is one of my favorite techniques. Steampunk is a favorite theme. And Umbrella Man is one of my favorite dies.
Other challenges fitting my card: Mark's Finest Papers Speedy Fox & Friends -- rain; Fashionable Stamping -- flying things; and SanDee and Amelie's Steampunk Challenge -- favorite technique goes steampunk.

Easter Blessings

It's the season of Easter and this week Bloggers Challenge has the theme Easter. I chose this adorable little girl with her bunny as my focal image. The stamp is from SweetStamps, as is the sentiment stamp. The background panel has been dry embossed using a Cuttlebug floral folder. The basket and vines are diecuts (Spellbinders). The basket was cut from wood paper. The flowers are felt flowers (from my stash) with centers of Viva Decor gold (Classy Cards 'n Such). I used a favorite technique on the girl and bunny. Her clothes and hat are paper pieced using design paper. The bunny was cut from a soft paper towel to give a furry feeling. She was fussy cut to layer over the basket.
This card is also being entered into these challenges: Simon Says Wednesday challenge -- Easter or sweet treats; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; Mark's Finest Papers Friends of Speedy -- Easter; Fashionable Stamping -- favorite techniques; Classy Cards 'n Such -- Easter Inspirational Sentiment.

Love Defined

It's been so long that I've forgotten how cool embossing paste is to use. My card background was made with almond colored embossing paste and a stencil.  My focal image was created using the trellis die, miniature rose die, and ivy corner flourish (all from Cheery Lynn Designs).The stamped sentiment and hearts are from the Tim Holtz collection. the result is a texture filled card.
My card is being entered into these challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- die cut flowers; Ink on My Fingers Sunday challenge --heart; Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge -- paste; Tuesday Throwdown -- anything goes; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge -- anything goes with pearls; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; Fashionable Stamping -- anything goes; and Frilly & Funkie -- stencils and texture.

Love Gives us a Fairy Tale

Today's Valentine is a large tag with a little Steampunk influence. Are you starting to see a pattern? To create my background, I started with several drops of distress paint. I pounced the brayer in the paint and then on to the tag. I stamped (all stamps from Tim Holtz) the Valentine words and then letterpressed them using the matching texture fade. The hearts were stamped next. Before stamping the sentiment, I used a bit of picket fence distress stain so the sentiment would stand out better against the darker background. Jacob, the focal image is from Simply Betty. I added the metallic paper die cut wings and an arrow spinner. The tag string was dyed using a distress marker.
I am entering my tag in these challenges: Simply Steampunk -- wings/grunge; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge -- twine or string; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge -- purple; Fashionable Stamping -- tag along; Artistic Stamper -- use distress; and Stampin' for the Weekend -- anything but a card.

Love Letter

Today I had some extra time to spend in my studio, so there will be several posts. I decided to try a new TJ technique, washi shapes which just happens to be this week's Try This Technique challenge. Since I just bought some roles of washi tape a short while ago (which I  have never used) today seemed like the perfect time to try them out. To make my card I started with a red base card. I die cut the background panel using a stamp frame and then I die cut the sentiment "love". I also used an embossing folder to add the Valentine word background. The Cupid, heart and flower were all die cut using washi tape covered cardstock.

These are the blog challenges I am entering: Technique Junkies Try This Technique -- washi shapes; Mark's Finest Papers Color Thursday challenge -- bright colors; Flourishes Timeless Tuesday -- in with the new; Fashionable Stamping -- hearts and flowers

Thank You

Bling it on is this weeks Bloggers Challenge. Creative Belli is looking to see ribbon and pearls. The layout of my card is based on the sketch challenge at Mojo Monday. My base card is kraft cardstock with a layering panel of deep brown. The sentiment on the center panel is from Our Daily Bread Designs. The stamped pumpkin is from Club Scrap. The pearls are from Zva.
Both Kraft Journal and  Fashionable Stamping are looking for Autumn or fall  colors. ODBD has an anything goes theme.

Simple Things

This week the challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs is fluttering or flying. The challenge at Fashionable Stamping is script, books, pages, print.
To make my card I started with  a page from an old German dictionary. I used the peeled paint (with vaseline) technique for the background. I had a few questions on how to do this technique, so I'll give a quick explanation. I adhered the dictionary page to a piece of plain cardstock using gel medium. I added a layer of gel medium over the top to seal the paper. After the gel medium dried, I added swipes of vaseline with my finger. Immediately I painted over the whole sheet with acrylic paint to which I had added a spray of water. After the paint dried I used a paper towel to wipe off the paint from the vaseline areas and to wipe off the remaining vaseline. The result is a grungy, distressed background.
The image and sentiment stamps are from Our Daily Bread Designs. The image label matched and was die cut using a Spellbinders die. The humming bird with flourish was cut using a Cheery Lynn die.

Blossoming

The current challenge at Fashionable Stamping is Flora and Fauna and the challenge at Tuesday Throwdown is anything goes. I am entering my card in both challenges.
To create this card I followed the sketch challenge at Rogue Redhead Designs. Its an easy sketch to follow, but you can do so much with the background. For my card I stamped stamps from the RRD Floriculture stamp set. I then die cut the oval and frame (Cheery Lynn Designs). I gave the image a touch of color using my distress markers. The background design papers are from the Graphics45 "Secret Garden" paper pad.

Mother's Day Gift Project

Mother's Day week is upon us. Here is an easel card box (Technique Junkies technique) that I created for my grandchildren to give their Mom. The image is from Rogue Redhead Designs new release, This N That. The sentiment is from RRD's Bits & Pieces. I used a Spellbinders die for the frame. The flower is cut from a Cheery Lynn Die. The design paper is from Heartfelt Creations.
Although I'm late, I'm entering this card in the Bloggers Challenge which is feminine touch.  Fashionable Stamping has an anything goes challenge, and isn't Midge the most fashionable lady you have seen. Simple Salutations has a challenge of monochromatic. Except for a touch of grey, everything on the project is in shades of purple.

As Long as the Earth Endures

Closed

Open

Mark's Finest Papers Simple Salutations challenge is to create a one layer card. Tuesday Throwdown wants us to focus on a sentiment. Fashionable Stamping want to see sentimental (use a sentiment). SweetStamps asks for a rainbow of color. I think my card meets all of these challenges. I used my Sizzix flip-it die for my card. There are no layers, only one piece of watercolor cardstock. The background was colored with gelatos and then gone over with my water pen. I used a whitewash of picket fence distress stain to tone down the colors a little bit. I stamped over the colors using a SweetStamps stamp. The sentiment on the front is from Our Daily Bread Designs. The flower on the reverse of the circle is from SweetStamps.