Accordion Book Challenge Day 1

 

It is so awesome being retired. I have time to play along with different art challenges and projects. I signed up for the "5 Accordion Books in 5 Days" over at Vintage Page Designs. I have been itching to make some accordion books and would like to teach these in conjunction with my Zentangle.

The above picture is the book closed.

Second picture is the back of the book. I colored the book with distress inks using the smooshing technique.

The next picture is the inside of the book with the pockets and tags. All black and white elements is washi tape.

The last picture are the tags. All colored with distress inks too.

Stay tuned for more books.

Cool Chick

Gosh- I know it has been awhile since I have blogged, but I didn't think I would forget how to use blogger! I had the worst time trying to upload my photos from iphoto. Anyone having problems with that?

Anyway, I figured out a workaround. Grad school has been incredibly stressful and time consuming. This past week was the first time I have had to really sit down and stamp.

Today's card fits the bill for a few challenges. These were supposed to be Easter cards, but since I didn't get to stamp until after Easter, they are spring cards!! 😀 

I used this super cute stamp set from Simon Says Stamp- Some Bunny. The background was done using this fun stencil from Timmy and a rainbow of distress inks. 

This card just makes me splashing in puddles, dancing in moonlight, spinning under the sun kinda happy!

I am entering it in a few challenges:

AAA- stencils

Addicted to CAS- rainbows

CAS on Sunday- stencil

Use a Stencil

I have a few weeks off until I am back at school, so hopefully you may see me again soon. Until then check out these great challenges!

House of Cards March Challenge- Silhouette

Singing birds.... green boughs.... fresh warm air..... yippee its spring, or at least it is almost spring! Its coming you can smell it in the air.

That's why this months challenge at House of Cards made me dig out a very old wood stamp (wood stamps?!!? some of you young pups probably aren't even sure what a wood stamp is!!) by Inkadinkadoo called branchful of birds.   

The theme this month is silhouette. Just think of everything you do.

I die cut a tag die from CAS-ual Friday and using my distress ink cubes, I just did a little DTP and swiped the ink across the tag.  I stamped the birds and embossed in black. Don't make the same mistake I made the first time, make sure the ink is well dry- even hit it with the heat tool before you stamp the birds or you will have black EP everywhere on your card!

 

I knew the card needed something, so I embossed the music folder and with the sentiment it added just the right touch.

Check out what the rest of the DT created this month and play along!

February Blog Hop at Laura's Loft

Are you getting tired of hearts, love and Valentine's day? Well Laura's Loft has fun challenge to get you well ahead on some upcoming holidays. The theme this month is St.Patrick's Day or Easter. It is never to early to start preparing for both of these holidays.

 If you arrived here from Linda's blog I know her creations inspired you! I can only hope I can do the same!

We are also showcasing a guest designer: Noe.  Please be sure to check out her work!

I send cards out for all the holidays, I mean I a cardmaker aren't I. One of my favorite holidays to make cards for is St.Patrick's day. I mean it does feature the most beautiful color in the world- GREEN!! Also, I do know quite a few Irish folk- including my own DH, George. 

Over the years I have collected quite a few St. Patty's stamps. This year I was ready for some new stamps. I headed over to Laura's Loft and picked up some new stamps. Let me show you what I came up with.

I was really thinking outside the box here. I started with My Favorite Things- Abstract Art.

I stamped it using a the distress ink minis,  kits #15, #2, #13, and #14- lucky clover, mowed lawn, cracked pistachio and twisted citron.

 The sentiment and shamrocks were from Newton's Nook- Simply Seasonal and were black embossed.  I thought outside the box on this one huh?

My second card shows how you can use those tiny little stamps that often come in sentiment stamp sets. Again I used Newton's Nook- Simply Seasonal. I took the wee shamrock in the set and created a fun shamrock wreath.

I traced a circle lightly with a pencil to use as a guide and just stamped my shamrocks around the circle using the distress mins again- kits #15, #2 and #14. Lucky clover, mowed lawn and twisted citron.  I stamped the saying in black, added a ribbon and bling and voila there you have it.

What is better in blog hop than some blog love as in a give-away!! Here is an awesome prize that Laura is providing from the Loft!

Fuse tool, basic enamel dots, jewel box exclusive sequins and Wow embossing powder white opaque ultra high

Here are the requirements to be entered in the drawing for the giveaway.

TO ENTER:
1. Follow Laura's Loft on IG @InLaurasLoft, like the IG Hop/Giveaway post and tag as many  
    friends as you like but one tag per comment
2. Follow Laura's Loft store page on facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lauras.Loft.Shop
3. Leave a comment at each stop on the blog hop

Be sure to check out these collections for new additions Laura has this month:
Tim Holtz mini ink kits 
Stamping Bella
Hero Arts
Ranger
New sequins mix for St. Patty's day

Don't forget there is a sale on Christmas stamps going on. All Christmas stamps and dies are 45% off!! No code needed. Please check out the sale page.  

Don't forget Laura always has $10.00 off at checkout for all orders over $75.00 or more. use coupon code $10off75 at checkout.

Next on the hop is Linda Be sure to check out her awesome creations.

I know it it is easy to lose your way and you do not want to miss out on any of the fun, so here is a list of all the hoppers:

1. Laura -  http://www.lauralscott.com/somebunnys-luck

2. Deana Benson -http://www.designcreativelybling.com/2016/02/somebunnies-luck-with-lauras-loft.html

3. Jasmine Burgess - http://journeywithjasmine.blogspot.com/2016/02/somebunnys-luck.html

4. Robbie Rubala - http://inkedx2.blogspot.com/search/label/LL

5. Heart of Craft - http://heartofcraft.blogspot.com/2016/02/lauras-loft-shop-and-hopsomebunnies-luck.html  (Emma)

6. Lisa - http://royalpumpkinart.blogspot.com/2016/02/st-pattyseaster-shop-hop-with-lauras.html

7. Linda-  http://dabblesbylinda.blogspot.com/2016/02/somebunnys-luck-with-lauras-loft.html

8. Sue T.-  http://thecre8tivestudio.blogspot.com/2016/02/february-blog-hop-at-lauras-loft.html

9.Kim- http://angeldreamcrafts.blogspot.com/2016/02/happy-st-pattys-day-with-lauras-loft-dt.html

Fall into Spring at Laura's Loft

Hi everyone! I am feeling like spring into fall over at Laura's Loft! Who says this set of "fall florals" from My Favorite Things has to only be for fall. I am so feeling this set for spring! Especially since it is going to be 63 degrees tomorrow! Yay! And Phil did not see his shadow so spring is right around the corner! Even bigger yay!!

I had fun stamping this set using the distress mini kits # 2, #10, #14 and #15.  The sentiment is from Avery Elle  "laurals" . 

So head on over to Laura's Loft for all the ingredients for this fun card and check out all the other cool stuff she has while you are there!!

Happy Little Stampers CASE challenge

Happy New Year's to all my friends in the down under. It is already 2016 for them. For us in the states we have several hours yet.

This year brings a new type of challenge to Happy Little Stamper. It is CASE the designer challenge. Each month one of the CASE team will post a card for inspiration and you will CASE that design.

Kylie our fearless leader and owner of Happy Little Stampers stamp company is starting out this fun new challenge.

Here is her inspiration card:

What a CAS and yet classy card!

Here is a wee tutorial on how I made my card using my misti. 

I stamped my sentiment first on my card so I could work my butterflies around it. Next I placed a butterfly from HLS's birthday butterflies upside down on my misti so you have the flat bottom up. Make sense? Then I inked up the stamp with distress ink and lightly misted it.

I closed the misti and stamped the butterfly bottom.

Cool huh, you get a rough shape of the butterfly!

I positioned the second butterfly, closed my misti so it would attach. I opened it and inked this one up same as the first.

Closed the misti and stamped the second butterfly.

I repeated the steps for the last butterfly.

When I was done I inked the top of the stamp with black ink and added the definition. Cool huh? Your stamps can do double duty! 

Hope you try this cool technique and join in the fun for HLS new CASE the designer challenge!

The Male Room Challenge: Halloween

Have you noticed how many folks are into Halloween these days? People go all out with costumes, decorating their houses. What a great holiday for creativity. It rates up there with Christmas and Valentine's Day.

This week at The Male Room we are challenging you with a Halloween theme. Coffins of fun huh?!!?
 

Distress inks are perfect for Halloween. You can make such spooky color combos with them. I die cut a circle and sponged it with mustard seed, wild honey, crushed grapes, and chipped sapphire. Splattered a bit of water and I had and awesome background for my spooky scene.

Be afraid, be very afraid!

AAA Cards challenges matches up with the Male Room's this week- Halloween- CAS so I am playing along there also.

 

I hope you join us at the Male Room and play along with this spooky theme!

Happy Little Stampers: October Sketch Challenge

Hi everyone! I hope you all checked into the blog hop for my buddy Kylie's new stamp company- "Happy Little Stampers". She has some awesome stamps in the first release and rumor has it there will be a second release coming up in the not to distant future.

Now onto the sketch challenge for October. You know I had to do something spooky! It's Halloween time! 

No stamping!! Yikes- I hope I don't get tossed out on the street for not using stamps!!??!! My Martha Stewart punch is the perfect focal point for this spooky card. I rarely pull out my punches these days, what with all the dies that are available. Punches are becoming old school.

I masked out the moon and sponged the background with a few distress inks and flicked some water to add texture.

My card has no sentiment on the front. I almost NEVER do this, but it just didn't need it. The scene says it all, dontcha think?

Please  join us at HLS for some amazing challenges and check out what everyone else did for the sketch challenge!