With Gratitude....

I got some time to stamp today! When my mojo is low, I love to take in a challenge to light that creative spark! Today, I picked jjjjjo-jo and the sets (the theme of today's Featured Stamper on SCS!) I also decided to try a new technique featured on the Flourishes Newsletter courtesy Makiko Jones! It is the coolest thing I have seen lately!! It's Modge-Podging with Mulberry Paper! You can click HERE to check out her fabulous tutorial!

Joanne Grzelak was today's featured stamper. After flipping through her fun gallery, I decided to CASE this card HERE.

Since I didn't have the SU die for the main shape, I decided to swap that out and use Spellbinder's Curved Rectangles die. I used a different CB embossing folder for my background and instead of using a CB folder for the center strip like Joanne did, I used some silk ribbon that I matted to a strip of black paper. Instead of brads in the corner, I used self stick pearls. Plus... I used different stamps! The basic layout of the card is the same though! ;-)

The stamps I used were Bird and Vine and Thank You... both from Flourishes! The background was done with some ivory distressed paper in the Basic Grey Wisteria pack and then accented with Scattered Straw and Tattered Rose Distress Inks. I used Lettuce and Pesto Adirondack inks for my vine and accented with some Ranger Liquid Pearls.

To find out how I got that background texture, you really need to stop on over and see Maki's tutorial! It is a WOW technique! And, for more on the Featured Stamper challenge, just click HERE!

Happy Monday everyone! Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you back here soon!

Sweet Peas for a Sweetie!

Last weekend, SCS picked my bud Stacy Morgan as the Featured Stamper and I couldn't have been more excited for her! So... I quick-like searched her SCS Gallery and found a beauty to case! I just love her crisp and clean design. She does it so well!

So THIS is the card I picked. And below is my version!

For starters, I stamped my Sweet Peas (Flourishes) off the right side using Versamark ink and then embossing it with silver detail embossing powder. Then... let the fun begin! I started by coloring all the flowers with Shimmerz! Many times you will see folks color their image with markers, colored pencils or even Copics and then go over their image with a neutral color of Shimmerz. Well, I opted to paint directly with Shimmerz!

For starters, I used a base coat of Pink Poinsettia. While the paint was still wet, I dabbed on some Pink and Hotty Pink to add some depth to all my flowers. For my leaves, I painted the base in Celery and then added a splash of Sagebrush to add some depth. It you meld these colors while the base color is still wet, these paints blend beautifully!

The rest is pretty self explanatory - my dp is Stampin' Up, Silk ribbon tied in a knot, Scallop created by an SU edge punch, grommets (Mark Richards) and pearls (Kaiser Craft)

Now for a peek at the sparkle! It just looks so soft and feminine in real life!

I am convinced that there are hundreds of ways to use these paints!!But, when in doubt, a simple paintbrush and a lovely stamp to color works beautifully too!

For more details on the Featured Stamper -- click HERE. This is one of my favorite challenges so it was double the fun being able to case a friend!

Thanks for stopping by!

Featured Stamper --She's KEWL!!

I love Sundays when you can go to Splitcoast and be inspired by someone elses gallery with the Featured Stamper! This week's it's all about Karen Dunbrook (FS105)! I went through her amazing gallery and picked THIS one! I loved the simplicity of it - and set off to try to find a stamp set that I could use to make this card "my own!" So, I pulled out some of my Cornish Heritage Farms stamps that had been neglected for awhile -- :-(



I used my Silhouette Blooms I set and two shades of ink (Aqua and Black Vivid) and that was it! This card is pretty self explanatory - stamp, mat it up, add a sentiment and some bling and -- bada boom, bada bing! Done!

So, go check out Karen's gallery and watch out -- your likely to be inspired too!

Happy Monday!

Featured Stamper!

When I found out that Becca Feeken -- one of my bloggin' buds was this week's Featured Stamper on SCS - how could I not play? I love her elegant style and actually, there hasn't been a card that she has created that I didn't like! If you want to check out her gallery, click HERE!

The rules of the game go a little something like this - find a card you like in the featured stamper's gallery (in this case - Becca's)and then CASE it. You have to change at least t wo things though - colors, main image, embellishments etc. I chose THIS card to imitate! For the official details, click HERE!

Now... for my card!

If you clicked over and saw Becca's card, you saw the two panels on the front with the decorative design, the three jewels on the main image and the lush ribbon! Well, I think I've got that! What I decided to change up was the color scheme, the main images and instead of creating the background with a resist technique, I chose decorative paper! The images are Peony and Fragrance both by Impression Obsession.

I am really loving the Featured Stamper challenges. It really forces you to get out of a rut and see the papercrafting world through another stamper's eyes!

Happy Monday!

Getting Ink-e

I have to say, can someone check my head? Do I have a fever? How's my complexion--- do you think I am pale? Seriously, I have gotten more stamping done in the last week than I think should be possible! I must not be feeling well!! LOL!

Actually, I have just finished up some severe work deadlines and I have just rewarded myself with some time in my stamp room! Yesterday morning I grabbed a cup of coffee and my laptop and logged on to SCS to see what kind of challenges they had out there! While I've only played a few times, I really love the Featured Stamper challenge. I love looking and being inspired by other people's work. It is just so refreshing! So, I got Ink-e! That is Emily's screen name for SCS and she was this week's Featured Stamper! (FS89)

THIS is the card that inspired me. I loved the monochromatic look, the layout, well, pretty much everything! To change this up, instead of blue, I chose a black and white combo!
I used different stamps too and then, I added some bling! The Stamps were Spring Ephemerals (Flourishes), Rummage Bin (Cornish Heritage Farms) for the background flourish image and the saying, "Friend," was from the Flourished Words set from Flourishes! Add some sheer ribbon, some Hodge Podge Hardware and some pewter self stick pearls and you're done!

If you need some inspiration, you should really take a trip to Emily's gallery. She has some great cards and some fun layouts too! I had fun just taking a peek at all her recent creations!

I'm am off to go on a cleaning binge! My mom is coming tomorrow and I have to ready the place for the "Queen!" LOL! Just kiddin' ma! Actually, who doesn't want to roll out the red carpet for their mom! ;-)

Until tomorrow!