Happy Little Stampers- Sketch Challenge

Hi everyone! This month at Happy Little Stampers we have an interesting sketch challenge.

I was flummoxed  by this challenge. This sketch almost got the better of me. Then I started thinking about the shapes of color as windows and some how the card came together. 

Using various rectangle dies I cut windows in black card stock. The sentiment window I cut through both the black card stock and the base card. I wanted to have a window where the congrats would peep out from the inside of the card. Instead of sold colors behind the windows, I used a selection of pattern papers.

This card was a bit tricky but I think the results were so worth it. As usual I take these challenges quite literally, so ya have to check out what my fellow DT did. There are some very clever takes on this months sketch. Be sure to  play along at HLS sketch this month!

Melissa over at honeybeelane suggested I link up my card at Virginia's View Challenge. Virginia is looking for geometric patterns. I have never played along with Virginia, but the going back and checking out her blog, I think I will be playing along from now on! Thanks Melissa!

Hope

AAA Cards is having a fun duel challenge. It is all in the interpretation.

The theme is masquerade. You can either use a mask in your creation or mask something on your work. I don't have any mask stamps, so I decided to try my hand a masking. I wanted to do something a wee bit different. Recently, Papertrey Ink had a tutorial on masking sentiments and it reminded me of a technique I used last Christmas.

First I stamped the sentiment on removable tape and I cut closely around the sentiment. I placed it on my base card.

Next, using Penny Black's pretty petals I stamped over the sentiment mask.

I then gently removed the mask.

In the open space left by the mask I stamped the sentiment.

Lastly, I colored the image in with copic markers and added some glitter, because I like glittery things.

As I looked at this card I though this would be a lovely CAS sympathy card if using sympathy sentiments. 

Check out AAA Cards and lets see how you masquerade.

On a sad note, we had to put my sweet 18 year old girl Zephry to sleep last night. God bless her indomitable soul. She will be so missed.

 

The Male Room Challenge #19

What is black and white and read all over? Do you remember that silly riddle? If you do, you are showing your age. I thought that was the funniest joke only a million years ago when I was about seven. 

The answer? Why a newspaper of course. ( I did kinda give it away. The riddle is better not "red")

That is the challenge today over at the Male Room.

Use newsprint on your project. You can barely get a newspaper these days. Most news is online. I grabbed a left over newspaper from our waiting room because, I haven't read a paper in years.

My card is using another adorable pet stamp set. This one is "furry friends" from Avery Elle. I mean just look at that face..... isn't he the cutest. He reminds me of my pupper Cubby. Anyway this guy just wants to please his owner by bringing in the paper.

I added a bit of watercolor wash and a newsprint stamp from Hero Arts to complete this oh so sweet card.

Ok, now it's your turn to dig up a newspaper or a newspaper stamp and enter the challenge over at the Male Room. I can't wait to see what you create!

Melting

I just love the new look of my blog and having the tabs at the top make it so much easier to check out challenges. While going through new challenges, I saw Inkspirational was having a fun word challenge.

Thinking snowmen and snow, I pulled out my Christmas stamps and came across this oldie but goodie from Paper Smooches. When I saw the candle, I was thinking,that makes no sense in this Christmas sense, until it clicked..... the sentiment worked perfectly with the candle. Snowmen went right out the window and my card was created.

Every now and again I give my guy a card just for nothing. This is going to be one of those cards.
Giving cards is my way of showing love and it is a lot less calories than cooking or cheaper than buying a gift......ok that might not be so true..... I do spend money on this craft..... :)!

Anyway check out the new challenge at Inkspiration and show me how you melt.

Happy Little Stamper's Challenge Reminder and Exciting Shopping News!!

Hi everyone! Wow where has the summer gone? Here we are at the half way point at the August challenges over at the Happy Little Stamper! If you haven't played along, there is still plenty of time.

Here is the fun and festive sketch for this month. I went a wee bit more traditional with my reminder card.

Hey big news, if you haven't heard Kylie at HLS has started her own stamp company and guess what she called it?? That's right- Happy Little Stampers!

Please check out her site and support those small online businesses. Remember Kylie is just like you and I- a "happy little stamper"! Rumor has it there will be a BIG blog hop for the release towards the end of September. I will keep you posted as I hear the details.

Oh those crazy birds and a new look!

Oh those crazy birds of Timmy! I have a friend who isn't the biggest fan of all things distress and of Tim's style. Soooooo when she told me she just LOVED the crazy birds by Tim, I had to check her for a fever! 

They are the rage of the stamping community and so hard to find. A wee hint- you can find them on Amazon! 

She brought them with her to annual girl's stamping retreat and soon everyone were using them. I needed to make a good luck card for of my nurses who was getting a new job and I thought the crazy birds were be perfect!

This card had everyone in stitches, from the crazy birds themselves to the wiggly eyes!

This is clearly a must have stamp set for all stampers!

Hey- did you notice all the challenges here at The Creative Studio? I had a bloglift! My good buddy Mynn from the House of Cards did a bit of plastic surgery on my blog and created this CAS and sophisticated blog make over. I could not be more happy. It is so cool and fresh. Mynn does not only do blog make overs she also has her own online digi and designer paper business. Check it out here.

Let me know what you think of the new look!

The Male Room Challenge: Vacation or on the Beach

Hi Everyone! Forgive my crazy location for my picture. I was on vacation this past weekend, got home late on Sunday and off to work on Monday. I have had no time at home to take pictures of my challenge card this week, so I took them at work!

Anyway, this week's challenge at the Male Room is "Vacation or on The Beach".

I spent my vacation in the Pocono Mountains with 4 stamping friends for a crafting weekend. We did a lot of stamping, eating, walking around the lake and of course laughing. This week's challenge card was made in the "NOs". I used a fun stamp from Paper Artsy . I even got to use my new ZIG clean markers. Boy are they fun and they blend so well.

I am entering this card in the challenge at AAA Cards. The Challenge is "It's so hot" Hey it is always hot on the beach. They are  also having a DT call so I am throwing my hat in the ring.

Please join us at The Male Room and show us how you vacation!

House of Cards August Challenge- Metallics

Hi everyone! Today is a new challenge at The House of Cards. We are looking at using metallics in our creations. this is kinda a blast from the past for me. 

 

I went through my studio looking for something that would work. I came across this aluminum tape and remembered a long ago technique from Tim Holtz- before he was a household name in the stamping community.  

I don't really have a name for this technique, may be some of you will recognize it and let me know what to call it.

Here is a photo tutorial on how I created this shiny silvery card.

 

 I used a roll of aluminum tape and a piece of cardboard. ( the cardboard backing from a pack of StampinUp paper worked perfect!)

Using this set of dies from Julie Ebersole, I die cut several flowers and leaves. Depending on your die cutting machine you may need an extra shim. I have a Big Shot and still used an extra metallic shim.

Create a pleasing arrangement. Then apply some strips of double sided tape on the card and adhere the die cuts back on the card.

 

Lay the metallic tape over the die cuts on the card stock panel.

Apply a second strip of the tape so the die cuts are completely covered. Yes, I know you are going to say, "Sue T. there is a piece of the die showing." I know, I trimmed that section off to keep the strips of tape to two.

Using your finger go over the tape and press the tape down on the card base, so the image appears.

 

Using a ball tip stylus go back and really define the image.

 

 

Once that is all done I highlighted the flowers and leaves with Copic markers which will dry on the aluminum tape.

 

 

Just think of all the different dies you can use this technique with. I hope when you enter this months challenge at The House of Cards, I will see some of your creations using this old school technique.