Me at 45

The challenge this month at Once Upon a Sketch has to do with birthdays, and many of their DT chose to highlight their current age - and I thought that was a great idea.  I wrote about who I am at 45 on a tag, that slides into a pocket underneath my Horizon Coved Rectangle die cut.  You can see the journaling card pulled out in the picture below.

Cheery Lynn Designs Die: Horizon Coved Rectangle, Fiona’s Magic Mirror, Lace Rose and Flourishes 

May Arts Ribbon – Crochet Trim, Satin Pleats, Satin Reversible

Creative Inspirations Paint – Beige

Art Institute Glitter – Ruddy Red

Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive and Ultrafine Metal Tip Applicator

Kaisercraft Rhinestones

Ranger Distress Ink: Barn Door, Vintage Photo, Black Soot

Bo Bunny Patterned Paper, stickers:  Serenity

Worldwin Cardstock:  Kraft

Madeira Metallic Thread

Tools: Grand Callibur, X-acto Tool, Sewing Machine

1/8 Scor-Tape

GlueArts Glue Glider Pro – Perma Tac; U Cut It Dimensional Adhesive; Extreme Tac Adhesive Squares

Challenges:

Once Upon a Sketch: Birthday Sketch

Simon Says: Anything Goes

Great Impressions: Die Cuts

Stamp and Show: Show Some Texture

Vintage Card with Hampton Art and Cheery Lynn

I love everything vintage - so I was really pleased with the results of this card. The stamps, dies and papers all worked so great together.  

Cheery Lynn Designs Dies

 Nautical Wheeler

 Lace Corner Deco D

Hampton Art Stamps

  Butterflies Are Free IC0153

Clearsnap

Donna Salazar:  Honey Mix’d Media Ink

Colorbox Chalk Ink: Dark Moss, Warm Red, Blackberry, Dark Brown

Colorbox Pigment Ink: Curry

Colorbox Archival Dye: Mudslide

Smooch: Log Cabin

Simple Stories papers: Generations

Worldwin Cardstock: Kraft

Want2Scrap Pearls

 GlueArts

 Glue Glider Pro – Perma Tac

 U Cut It Dimensional Adhesive

Designer Notes:

1.      Stamp the image twice using the archival ink.

2.      Shade the background of one of the images using Honey  (center) and Dark Moss (edges).

3.      Color the flowers with sponge daubers and Warm Red, Blackberry and Curry.

4.      Ink the edges with Dark Brown.

5.      Spritz with Log Cabin Smooch.

6.      Using the second stamped image, cut out the area to highlight.

7.      Ink the background with the Honey.

8.      Color the flowers as before.

9.      Use U Cut It foam adhesives to raise the round cut-out shape.

10.  Add pearls.

11.  Ink all pieces of patterned paper using the Dark Brown.

Challenges:

Simon Says: Anything Goes

Great Impressions: Die Cuts
Pan Pastel UK: Something Vintage
Hotshot Craft Blog: Die Cuts

Wishing You the Best Day Ever

I love embossing! and I have a really easy card to share with you today...but it just goes to show how some beautifully detailed embossing, really dresses a project up.  I started with CutMates Cardstock from Worldwin Papers, and embossed it with the Flora M-Bossabilities folder from Spellbinders.  I then took several shades of Faber-Castell's Gelatos, and rubbed over the raised areas.  This added some subtle shading and interest. The Stamp is from Verve, and I added Distress ink around the edges to finish it off.  As my card says, I wish you the best day ever!

Challenges:
Creative Inspirations Paint: CAS
Simon Says: Anything Goes

Using Ribbons In Mixed Media Pieces

I love using ribbons - in fact, most of my projects are going to have ribbon somewhere on them. But, today, I've got a fun new way to add ribbons to your mixed media projects.

I found this paper mache box at a local craft store and loved the shape of it.  I spray painted it a pretty turqouise blue, but it was way too shiny, and just not the right base for what I had in mind. So, I decided it was time to pull out all of my mixed media goodies and go to work.

I went through my ribbon stash and found some very textured ribbons.  It doesn't matter that they clash with each other, because they are going to be covered over. I used May Arts Leaves, May Arts Sheer Woven Rosettes, and May Arts Metallic Crochet.

I used Modeling Paste and stencils, and added the first layer of texture.  After this, I added some die cuts as well. I spritzed the whole box with Smooch Spray, to give my color depth and added my ribbons.

Looks pretty scary right now, huh?

I painted over the entire thing with some inexpensive acrylic paint, letting little bits of my colors show through.  While the paint was wet, I sprinkled Wow Clear Gloss Ultra High embossing powder over it, and heat embossed. It added so much wonderful texture! Some of the ribbons (especially the organza flowers), reacted to the heat gun.  This just added more interest to the piece.

I rubbed Viva Decor Gold over some of the raised areas, sponged on more Smooch Spritz, and ended up with a very layered piece.

Challenges:

Simon Says: Anything Goes

Tropical Travelogue Card with Hampton Art

Did Memorial Day Weekend get you in the mood for summer? I know I am - so my card that I have to share with you today has a perfect tropical mood too! Hampton Art makes the most wonderful stamps that coordinate with Graphic 45 papers - and this is one of the latest...Tropical Travelogue.  Now, I just need to find my tropical getaway!

Hampton Art Stamps:  Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue 2  IC0134

Clearsnap:

Donna Salazar Mix’d Media Ink: Honey, Jasmine

Colorbox Pigment Ink: Aqua

Colorbox Archival Dye: Pinkolicious, Tree Frog

Smooch: Pearlized Top Coat

Graphic 45 papers: Tropical Travelogue

Worldwin Cardstock

Spellbinders Dies: Creative Book Pages 2

Robin’s Nest Dew Drops

Tools: Spellbinder’s Grand Calibur

Adhesives: GlueArts Glue Glider Pro – Perma Tac; U Cut It Dimensional Adhesive

Designer Notes:

1.      Stamp the Flamingo image using the Pinkolicious and heat set.

2.      Shade the background with a sponge dauber using Aqua. Tone it down by adding a bit of Honey and Jasmine.

3.      Color the bird with Copic markers and then add the Smooch Pearlized Top Coat to highlight.

4.      Ink the edges with Tree Frog.

5.      Stamp the Postmark image using the Pinkolicious and cut it out.

6.      Use the Pinkolicious to ink the edges of lighter colored patterned papers.

7.      Ink all pieces of patterned paper using the Dark Brown.

Felt Flowers Tutorial with Cheery Lynn Designs Dies

You know making flowers is one of my favorite techniques - but they don't always have to be made from paper.  Today I have a tutorial to share with you to use your Cheery Lynn Designs Dies and felt to create gorgeous blooms.  And, these flowers don't have to stay just on your paper projects.  Imagine these on your favorite sweater, a cute summer straw hat or purse.  The ideas are endless!

So, let's get started!

Grab some felt (I used  wool felt, but feel free to use the acrylic felt found at any craft store). In order to get a nice clean cut, place a piece of cardstock, then your fabric, then your die.  Having the paper under the felt gives the die a little more "tooth" to cut.  I used the Large, Medium and Miniature Rose dies for my flower.  I also placed my die to the far left of my cutting plates, because I've found on my machine, this is the area with the most pressure.

Cut 2 Large, 2 Medium, and 1 Miniature Rose for each flower.

Instead of stitching through the whole flower stack at a time, add one layer at a time, and stitch with a cross stitch, to secure the petals adjacent to each other.

Continue adding layers, one at a time, until the stack is complete.  I sewed seed beads, one at a time for my center, but you could also add French knots, or other decorative embroidery stitches. 

For the bud, I just took one of the large roses, and stitched the petals together, and then added a green felt calyx around the petals.

I'd love to see your projects that you create using these techniques!  The new challenge is also up - For the Grad - so get those projects in for your chance to win a $20 gift certificate!

Cheery Lynn Designs Dies

Miniature Rose

Medium Rose

Large Rose

Reflections Mini Pearl French Flair  Mega Doily

Reflections Horizon Coved Rectangle Mega Doily

Enchanted Forest Stacker Frame

Lace Corner Deco J

Border Carnivale

Judy's Blooms

Patterned Paper, Crate

Cardstock, Worldwin Papers

Ink, Ranger - Distress

Challenges:
Catered Crop: Felt

So Blessed

Welcome to the weekend! I have an elegant card to share with you today.  I love the elegant look of black and cream together - and thought this October Afternoon paper, would make a lovely statement.

October Afternoon Thrift Shop Papers

Spellbinders Wings of Hope

Spellbinders Moroccan Accents

Spellbinders Nested Pennants

Unity Stamps Fly With Wings of Hope
Unity Stamps So Blessed Itty Bitty

Core'Dinations Cardstock

Antique Linen Distress Ink

Challenges:

The Craft's Meow:  Sketch

Friends With Flair

Have A Blooming Good Day

When I saw this paper (Dilly Dally from MME), it reminded me of a day in the country, surrounded by barns, flowers and fields.  So, it should be no surprise that I paired this paper up with some wonderful Cheery Lynn Designs dies to create a fun and nostaligic card.  I pictured an old church window, with vines and flowers trailing around it.

I used Judy's Blooms and Build A Flower One to create my Camelia.  (Let me just tell you the stamens that come with the Build A Flower are going to become one of your favorite dies!) I took Fiona's Magic Window, and cut away the middle of it, to create a wonderful border. 

Remember, if you would like to add a window or a door to your project, then go enter it in this week's challenge for your chance to win a $20 CLD gift certificate!

For those of you in the States, I hope you have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend!

Cheery Lynn Designs Dies

Judy's Blooms

Build A Flower One

Fanciful Flourish

Window C

Fiona's Magic Window

Victoria Garden Doily Frame

Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye Dilly Dally

Stamp - My Favorite Things

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show : Summer Holiday

Creative Card Crew: Add Dimension

Flourishes: Use a Flower

Sweet Stamps: Anything Goes

MFT: Sketch

Flower Wishes

I've got a fun card to share with you today that uses lots of wonderful embossing powder from Wow!  There are so many ways to use embossing powder, and this card shows you several of them.  First I used Wow's Call Me Stamp Set and embossed it using Suzy West Angel Wings.  After that powder was heat set, then I rubbed the entire image with Versamark ink, and sprinkled it heavily with the Ultra High Clear powder.    Look at all of the texture you get!

The flower is a brass flower from Graphic 45 - so yes, you can emboss on metal too!  I inked the entire flower with Versamark ink, and sprinkled it with Opaque Pastel Pink Regular and embossed it.  Then I took a Versamark pen, and drew detail lines on the petals, and added Suzy West Angel Wings to it.  It's amazing how quickly and easily you can add a few special details.

Wow Suzy West Angel Wings Embossing Powder

Wow Ultra High Clear Embossing Powder

Wow Opaque Pastel Pink Regular Embossing Powder

Wow Call Me Stamp Set

My Mind's Eye Patterned Paper

Cheery Lynn Designs Dies

And remember

It's WOW! Week on the Paper Crafter's Library blog and we've teamed up with Paper Crafter's Library to showcase Wow! embossing powders.

Every day this week our friends at Paper Crafter's Library will be sharing fantastic projects featuring WOW! Embossing Powders created by both the WOW! Design Team as well as the Paper Crafter's Library Designers/Educators.

At the end of this week, one lucky winner from the Paper Crafter's Library Blog will receive a Wow! Embossing Powder Prize Pack consisting of 12 different Wow! Embossing Powders, and one winner from the Wow! blog will win a set of 6 embossing powders. The winners will be drawn from all the comments left either on the Paper Crafter's Library blog or the Paper Crafter's Library Facebook page , and one winner will be drawn from all the comments left either on the WOW! blog or the WOW! Facebook page. Remember, each comment you leave is one entry, so be sure to visit every day not only for the great project ideas, but also to enter your name into our give-away.

Love is the Flower

Have you ordered your new Cheery Lynn Designs dies yet? It was such a great release, I've added more to my wishlist too! The Build - a -Flower I is a must have for anyone who likes making their own flowers.  I used it to create the Clematis for this card.  I used the Princess Tree for my buds.  Something else that you might not recognize is the Wedding Vows die ~ I made two cuts with it, and just used the background portion of it for my rectangular frame.  So don't think that it is limited to wedding only projects. It's such a beautiful die, you will want to use it any time you can!

There is also a new challenge this week - Add a door or window.  This will be the perfect time to try out the new gorgeous window dies!

Cheery Lynn Designs Dies

Build a Flower One

Princess Tree

Lace Corner Deco I

Wedding Vows

Polynesian Sails Oval Doily

Pair of Ferns

Webster's Pages Patterned Paper

Verve Stamps