Thursday, February 28, 2008

Wanted Quilt Card



How cool is this design? I received this from a SUDSOL Demo Friend Barb Mulliken. Barb made my month by sending me a Sale-a-Bration Double RAK AND this beautiful card made with the Wanted Stamp Set. So where does the "quilt" come in, you ask? Well, my scanner strikes again, and you cannot see this subtle detail - BUT, Barb scored at criss cross angles across the larger Always Artichoke piece of card stock after stamping it tone-on-tone with the paisley image in Always Artichoke ink. It is a lovely effect, that adds wonderful interest and texture to the design. And how about this color combination?! I would not have thought to pair Chocolate Chip with Always Artichoke - but Whoa! - what an eye-pleasing and very masculine combo! She also used Confetti Cream Card Stock. HOw was the horse in motion effect created? EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY [borrowing from a fav blogger gal of mine! Hi Erika! :)]TECHNIQUE: Stamping Off - stamp the horse image in Chocolate Chip, then stamp again and again moving the stamp slightly to the left each time, and without re-inking. And then there are the Accessories - the Cutter Kit to distress the edge of the smaller Always Artichoke piece; and BOTH SU! Star Punches, plus a gold Brad for the focal piece accent and a Dimensional to pop it up. THANKS AGAIN BARB! Enjoy everyone!!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Easter Punch


The happy punching is "egged on" - heehee ;)
These punches are so versatile! It seems like you can create endless designs - remember the adorable Scallop Circle Punch turkey from last November? Or the Santa Claus face using only punches?
So here is my basket of Easter Wishes! Stamps: All Holidays, Background Basics & Canvas Background. Cardstock& Ink Colors: Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip & Whisper White. Accessories: Round Tab Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Large & Small Oval Punches, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon & Dimensionals.
I used the flower image from Background Basics to stamp tone on tone on the Almost Amethyst and the Barely Banana for a subtle background. (Use darker ink shades of those colors if you want the flowers to show up more vividly - like Lavendar Lace and So Saffron.) The "basket" is stamped with the Canvas in Creamy Caramel. For the Chocolate Chip top edge of the basket, just punch that part with the Round Tab Punch. The "eggs" are the Small Oval Punch - Tip: Stamp the egg colors before you punch them out if you want eggs with a design on them - use Background Basics, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Boho Backgrounds or Sprinkles sets for this - or any very small image from a wheel, etc. You could also use Designer Series Papers to punch the eggs out of for some seriously funky egg designs!) ENJOY!

St. Patrick's Day Punch!


A card with NO STAMPS?! You betcha! How about this cute card? I didn't have any of the current St. Patrick's Day stamp sets, but the punches came through!
Leprachaun Hat - Round Tab Punch, 1/4" Square Punch and Spiral Punch. Colors: Glorious Green, Basci Black & Brushed Metallic Gold. Stampin' Write in Basic Black.
Pot of Gold - Round Tab Punch& Scallop Circle Punch. Colors: Basic Black & Brushed Metallic Gold, Zig Painty Pen.
Clover - Small Oval Punch & Word Window Punch. (Fold the cardstock in half first and insert at an angle until you see a half heart, then punch!) Color: Glorious Green. I also used the Glorious Green Eyelets, Crop-a-Dile and Black Gingham Ribbon. (Tip: You could also crimp each leaf for added texture.) The Large Oval Punch will make larger leaves!
Card Base: Glorious Green, Basic Black & Whisper White.
ENJOY!

Monday, February 18, 2008

Prayers for NIU




Please pray with my family and I for the hundreds, if not thousands, of people traumatized by the horrendous shooting spree that occurred at Northern Illinois University (NIU) on St. Valentine's Day - February 14, 2008. We are praying for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives that day, as well as for peace, comfort, healing and eventually forgiving hearts for their families and friends. And the same for everyone else. THANK YOU for joining your prayers with ours! For where two or more are gathered in God's name - He promises to be in our midst.
(Note: The newspaper image is copyright Chicago Tribune and was in the Sunday edition. The black ribbon image I received in a NIU prayer chain email.)




Monday, February 11, 2008

St. Valentine's Day Greetings


Here's what I made and sent out for a few Valentine's this year. I used the SU! Level 3 Host set "Time Well Spent" for the heart image, as well as CreativePlayStamps.com for the 'Be My Valentine' sentiment. Colors: SU! Pretty in Pink, Rose Red and Rose Red Prints Double Sided Paper. Accessories: Versamarker, Ticket Corner Punch, Designer Label Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Silver Eyelets, Crop-a-dile, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Two-Way Glue Pen, Dimensionals, Rich Regal Brads and Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon. ENJOY!

Sketch Challenge


Another Mojo Chat & Challenge - another beautiful design that IS the layout sketch. This FAB design comes from Dannie Graves, a fellow demo and Sudsoler. She used a lovely new set called Embrace Life. Now it's YOUR turn! Pick your stamps, color combo and embellishments and create something using the layout of this card - then upload to your Gallery and leave a link here so I (and anyone else who visits here) can go and see your art! ENJOY!

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Sketch Challenge Design


Here's my design for the sketch challenge I am hosting right now! Stamps: Close as a Memory, Print Pattern & Rough Edges Jumbo Wheel. Card stock: Elegant Eggplant, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, & Naturals Ivory. Ink: Mellow Moss and Elegant Eggplant. Accessories: Always Artichoke 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch and Stampin' Writes in Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke and Lavendar Lace. Enjoy!