I craft therefore I am

Papertrey Ink's Fifth Anniversary

2012-02-05T22:40:00.001-08:00

It's Papertrey Ink's fifth anniversary and I decided to play along with their first challenge. Drop by their website and see check out the festivities.

I was inspired by Danielle Flanders project. The crisp white of the glassine bag is so pretty. This also happens to be the fastest card I have ever made. 15 minutes from start to finish! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! A card that I didn't agonize over and constantly second guess my design? Who knew I had it in me.

Blingage

2011-11-24T08:04:00.000-08:00

I am playing along with the Hero Arts November contest. If you would like to play along also, the details can be found here.

I normally don't add a lot of bling to my projects, just a touch now and then. However the palm tree in the Hero Arts "Lets Chill" stamp set was begging to be decked out for Christmas. Nothing says Hawaiian Christmas like a decorated palm tree.

2011-07-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

I have randonly chosen another winner for the Stamp It! Cards issue.

The winner is...

Robin Gibson
Such a CUTE card! Thanks for sharing!

Robin, please email me with your information (my address is on my contact page)and I will forward it on to the Paper Crafts girls.

Blog hop prize

2011-07-09T00:09:00.000-07:00

I haven't heard from the winner of the Stamp It! Cards issue.

Dee in NH, Please email me with your information so I can get the magazine out to you.

If I don't hear from Dee by Midnight, Monday July 11th, I will pick another winner.

Stamp It Card Meets Stamping Royalty Blog Hop Winner

2011-07-06T06:00:00.001-07:00

Thanks for all your wonderful comments regarding my card for the blog hop. I had a great time hopping along and seeing what the other 13 queens created.

Now on to the winner of the new copy of Stamp It! Cards.

I used True Random Generator for my drawing and it chose...

# 5
By Dee in N.H
Beautiful! Love how that red just jumps right out!

Congratulations Dee. Email me with your information (my address is on my contact page)and I will forward it on to the Paper Crafts girls.

Stamp It! Cards Meets Stamping Royalty Blog Hop

2011-07-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hello. I am so excited to be participating in the Stamp It! Card Meets Stamping Royalty Blog Hop. The 2011 Stamping Royalty winners are helping Paper Crafts Magazines celebrate their latest special issue, >Stamp It! Cards, Vol. 8. This issue has over 300 cards to drool over. No matter what your style, there is something in here for every card maker. I like to call it the"all stamps, all the time" issue.

If you would have told me 6 months ago that I would be one of the winners of the 2011Stamping Royalty contest I would have told you to have you head examined. Me...Stamping Royalty....as Elaine from Seinfield would say "Get Out!" I was amazed that my work was going to be published along with cards from two of my favorite designers, Amber Daigre and Christina Kowalczyk. I started stamping a s a child and picked it up again about two years ago. I love the versatility that stamps offer. A stamped image can have a different look depending on your color, style, or technique.

For this blog hop we decided to create an all-occasion card in a patriotic color scheme using a stamp from our Stamping Royalty prize package. I chose a set from Practicing Creativity called Look Up additions.

I didn't want my card to scream "4th of July!" so I added light blue to my red and navy color combination. I love how the Copic coloring turned out. The red really pops off the card. I will be sending this card on to Operation Write Home, an organization that helps get handmade cards to deployed troops. Sending cards to them is a great way to use this hobby as a way to give back.

For more patriotic inspiration continue on the blog hop and see what the other 13 queens have created.

Amber Daigre
Lynn Darda
Angela Fehr
Mariana Grigsby
Shelly Kurth
Sarah Jay
Cristina Kowalczyk
Karolyn Loncon
Stephanie Nagel
Laura Pryor
Mary Dawn Quirindongo
Kelly Silva-that's me
Julia Stainton
Laurie Willison

Leave a comment here or on any of the blogs participating for a chance to win a copy of Stamp It! Cards, Vol 8 (One winner from each blog, deadline is midnight (MDT) on Sunday, July 3rd)

After that head on over to the Paper Crafts Connection and leave a comment to win one of two fabulous stamping prize packages.

Have a great weekend, go make something, and get inky!

Cupcakes galore

2011-06-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more fun than a pretty cupcake.

Shaped cards

2011-06-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Tried my hand at a shaped card.

I have never really liked shaped cards. They have always looked too "juvenile" to me and remind me of something you would make in grade school. I am presently suprised how much I liked this card. The scored lines and ribbon add some texture so it doesn't seem flat.

I've been dethroned...

2011-06-05T20:53:00.000-07:00

My Stamping Royalty prize package came on Thursday. Within 5 seconds of opening it I was dethroned.

Shortest monarchy ever. All Hail King Nicholas!

Best Buddies

2011-05-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

She really is man's best friend.

Why I love Hero Arts

2011-05-28T22:14:00.000-07:00

I recently found a box of my old stamps at my parents house. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that three of the stamps were from Hero Arts from the 1980's

I started stamping about 2 years ago after seeing a video by Jennifer McGuire. While watching that video I was transported back to my childhood. I remembered stamping in the mid to late 80's when I was around 12. Back then I had every color of embossing powder I could find and used an iron covered with tin foil to melt the powder. I remember sitting around a table with my friends trading stamps and watching as this amazing powder turn to liquid when heated right before our eyes. The very next day after watching that video I went out and bought my first set of clear stamps. The stamp set was from Hero Arts. I made a scrapbook page and was hooked.

I knew there was something special about Hero Arts. I just didn't know how special until I found that box of old stamps. I love Hero Arts. I love the images. I love the fact that they are a local Bay Area company. I love that they still manufacture here in the Unites States. I love that they are environmentally conscious. But most importantly, I love that they are a link to my childhood.

Embellish Challenge

2011-05-28T21:05:00.000-07:00

I decided to to play along with the newest Embellish challenge. Here is my card.

I normally don't add pieces of ribbon to my cards but I felt this card needed a little something at the top. Friend definition stamp from Hero Arts paired with some friendly birdies. Love me some Hero Arts.

Much needed sunshine

2011-05-27T21:35:00.000-07:00

We finally got some sunshine this afternoon today in Northen California. I thought I would spread some around.

Great song and video from the Jive Aces.

Eoin Extravaganze-day 5

2011-04-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the final day of my Eoin Harrington Inspiration week. If you are wondering what this week is about check out day 1, day 2, day 3, and day 4 to learn more and catch up.

I have had so much fun this week. I hope this week has inspired you to look outside the papercrafting world and use something you love to inspire you. Some girlfriends and I are attending Eoin's show tonight at Yoshi's in San Francisco. MMM.. good sushi, good music. Since Eoin is celebrating his birthday at the show....

Viola! A birthday card.

Hero Arts stamps and some K and Company paper. I stamped the ice cream cone image on two different sheets of paper, cut them out and adhered them to the card front.

Before I go I will leave you with one more video. To really appreciate Eoin you must see him perform live. Since you can't be at Yoshi's with me here is the next best thing.

http://vimeo.com/5179296 from Eoin Harrington on Vimeo.

Eoin Extravaganza - day 4

2011-04-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to day 4 of my Eoin Harrington inspiration week. If you are wondering what this week is about check out day 1 , day 2 and day 3 to learn more and catch up.

Today's card was inspired from a lyric in another one of Eoin's songs. The song They Won't Catch Us Now is my favorite song off his first album, Story. The song can be purchased on itunes but if you would like to hear it now use the player below.

flash music player

I really love the line

"We're on the road, on our way, crossing bridges on to better days."

I reminds me of the way I felt right after I got married. My husband and I were starting a new life that was unknown but we knew it was going to be good because we had each other. The line inspired this card.

My favorite card this week. Stamp, ink and paper. That's what I like best. The bicycle stamp is from Hero Arts and the patterned paper is from K and Company.

Come back tomorrow for the final day of the Eoin Harrington Inspiration week. I'll have one final video for you.

Eoin Extravaganza - day 3

2011-04-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to day 3 of my Eoin Harrington inspiration week. If you are wondering what this week is about check out day 1 and day 2 to learn more and catch up.

Today's card was inspired by Eoin's song New Years Day. This is one my favorite songs. It can be purchased on itunes but if you would like to hear it now use the player below.

free MP3 player

This card uses my favorite Practicing Creativity stamp set called You're Dandy. I stamped the rays it two different colors of chalk ink. The circle portion is stamped with the enevelope pattern stamp from Hero Arts. Easy peasey lemon squeezey!

Come back tomorrow for more Eoin Harrington inspiration.

Eoin Extravaganza - day 2

2011-04-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to day 2 of the Eoin Harrington inspiration week. If you are wondering what this week is about go here to learn more and see day 1.

Today's card was inspired from the album art of Eoin's first CD, Story. If you look carefully you will see that the cover design is made out of words and sentences. These are the lyrics to the songs on the album.

Here is what the artwork inspired.

I took some old stencils and some post it notes and created a mask with the H and I. I placed the positive image of the letters on the white cardstock an inked up the cardstock with Bundled Sage Distress ink. I then misted the graph background stamp with water and stamped the paper. The water reacted with the distress ink leaving a faint impression on the paper. I then removed the positive portion of the mask and placed the negative portion down. This negative piece covered all of the green and left the white showing in the H and I. I then repeatedly stamped "hello"in the white open spaces in different colors of inks.

There is one more piece to the card that is directly linked to the name of the album. To discover what that is check out Eoin's electronic press kit below.

Eoin Harrington EPK (Electronic Press Kit) from Eoin Harrington on Vimeo.

Story is available at itunes and cdbaby. His newest album Confess comes out on April 22nd and he is doing a show at Yoshi's in San Francisco on the same day. If you want to hear a song from Confess check out the video below.

Come back tomorrow for day 3.

Inspiration brought to you by...

2011-04-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

Eoin Harrington - Day 1

Inspiration is found everywhere. Most of the time my inspiration comes from one of the many papercrafting blogs I peruse everyday. This week however, I decided to look elsewhere for my "ah ha" moment. I found it in one of my favorite music artists, Eoin Harrington (pronounced Owen). For the next five days all projects shown on the blog will have been inspired by something to do with Eoin.

The inspiration for the above card came from Eoin's music video "Play Your Piano" There is an apartment scene where the actress is wearing a beautiful lace dress. The dress has great texture and color along with a beautiful luminescence. You can check out the video at the end of the post.

I started with some Teresa Collins black and white paper and inked it with Antique Linen distress ink. I added some ribbon and a Tim Holtz Idea-ology key for a bit of shine and texture. The chocolate colored cardstock ties the colors together and keeps the card "warm".

Come back tomorrow for Day 2 of the Eoin Harrington extravaganza. If your interested in learning more about Eoin check out his website at http://www.eoinharrington.com/.

Eoin Harrington "Play Your Piano" - Official Video from Eoin Harrington on Vimeo.

Move over Kate Middleton...

2011-04-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

I'm royalty! Unbelievable!! I am one of the winners in the Paper Crafts Magazine's Stamping Royalty contest. My card won in the Hello/Thinking of you category. You can see the announcement here on the Paper Crafts blog. If you live in San Francisco you probably heard my scream from here in Sonoma County. I can't begin to express how excited I am. There are amazing artists featured every month in the magazine and I didn't think my cards stood a chance. I almost wanted to respond to the email and make sure they had the right person. My card will be published in the November/December issue so can't share anything now. I will say it uses a stamp from one of my favorite companies that is just down the street in Richmond.

Moxie Fab Challenge

2011-04-09T20:48:00.001-07:00

I decided to play along with the In My Beautiful Balloon challenge over at Moxie Fab World.

The clouds have been die cut and then stamped with some white chalk ink. I love the dimension the die cuts add.

More Hero Arts

2011-04-07T20:14:00.001-07:00

You can never have enough Hero Arts! Though I beleive my husband would disagree. He would say you can never have enough paintball.

Practiced my Copic coloring. I love these type of hand drawn images from Hero Arts. They make Copic shading so easy.

Ink and paper seems to be all I can use on a card. I would love to use buttons and ribbons but they never seem to look right.

Make up

2011-04-01T23:27:00.001-07:00

A layout from the "Design Your Life" class from Cathy Zielski. She makes clean and simple look fantastic.

Inspired

2011-03-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

I ws inspired by this picture over on Moxie Fab World. Anything in a rainbow of colors makes me happy.

Hero Arts sentiment, PTI Poka Dot Basics II and a spectrum ink pad. Easy peazy....

Is anyone there?

2011-02-24T21:03:00.001-08:00

After a long hiatus due to some lost creativity and work obligations I am back. To the four people who read this blog.. Did you miss me?

A card for the latest Hero Arts challenge. Kissing.

Some of the black phones were inked and then " kissed" to an uninked stamped. This removed some of the ink and gave the images a little bit of a distressed look. The Hero Arts website has a good video on how to do one version of the technique . The red phone was stamped in a red pigment inked and then embossed with clear embossing powder.

stamps used:

Hero Arts - Envelope pattern
Hero Arts - Just Saying Hi

Feeling Groovy

2010-08-15T22:18:00.001-07:00

Decided to play along at the last minute with the Sign of Peace challenge over at Moxie Fab World. Loved how the distress inks kinda look like tie-dye.

Quick post

2010-08-06T22:18:00.000-07:00

My sons 3rd birthday party is tomorrow.

A card with stamps from two great companies that manufacture in the US. Hero Arts and Practicing Creativity.

Moxie Fab Clean and Graphic Challenge

2010-07-31T20:54:00.000-07:00

I decided to play along with the Moxie Fab Clean and Graphic Challenge. My cards generally aren't Moxie Fab worthy but I thought this might fit the bill for once.

I first inked up the green house in Ice Jade and then inked the rest of the houses in Charcoal. I cut out a piece of pattern paper the same shape as the roof and adhered with glue dots.

Details

Stamps-Row of Houses and Hello Birdie from Hero Arts
Ink-Cat's Eyes Q Chalk ink in Choclate and Blueberries and Misty Meadow from Color Box
Cardtstock-Solar White by Neenah
Patterened Paper-My Minds Eye

I like you a latte

2010-07-29T18:14:00.001-07:00

I have a weakness for coffee. Doesn't matter how it is made. Starbucks. Peets, Bad Ass, Hula Bean, Caribou, or Godiva I love them all and I have never met a coffee drink I didn't like. Right now I love Starbuck's Iced Skinny Vanilla Latte. It is perfect for summer days. My favorite Kona coffee is from Hula Bean. The stores are no longer open on Hawaii but you can order online.

A card with some Hero Arts stamps. I wanted the coffee cup to stand out so I used a gray cardstock. Glossy Accents and a fun colored sleeve give the card a little something extra.

Details
Stamp Sets-Have a Donut and Coffee from Hero Arts
Patterned Paper-Basic Grey

MMMM.. Donuts

2010-07-28T21:50:00.001-07:00

My first submission after a long absence from Hero Arts blog challenges. Broke out the new Copics with a new stamp set I just bought. I used some Glossy Accents to add some shine to the icing. I finally feel like I am getting my crafting groove back.

I am a sheep.

2010-07-26T23:06:00.001-07:00

I have followed the masses of papercrafters into the world of Copic Markers. I am so glad I did! I feel like I am 10 years old again coloring away in a coloring book.

The best prices I have found for Copics is at Ellen Hutson's website. Jennifer Mcguire has a great post here about Copics and some colors combinations to help you get started.

I broke out small stamp set from Hero Arts and started coloring away. Not bad for my first attempt. Below are the colors I used.

It's just not for crafting...

2010-07-24T21:23:00.001-07:00

Who knew that a Broken China distress reinker would be involved in potty training? A drop in the toilet, a deposit, and viola my child made the water green. I have a new motto for Tim Holtz. "Distress ink, it's not just for crafting"

2S4Y sketch

2010-07-23T19:43:00.001-07:00

Due to Guerrilla potty training this will be quick.

Another card based on a 2S4Y sketch using the wonderful "You're Dandy" stamp set from Practicing Creativity. The sentiment on the inside says "Look for the silver lining..."

Practice make perfect...

2010-07-20T22:29:00.001-07:00

An attempt at improving my card making skills by using a 2S4Y sketch. This is loosely based on Kazan's sketch 57.

I broke out my new "Practicing Creativity" stamp set called "You're Dandy". The minute I saw this set I knew I had to buy it. See it sang to me. Yes, it sang to me. I distinctly heard "the sun will come out tomorrow" from Annie.

Who knew stamps were a fan of musical theater?

I found it.....

2010-07-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

my crafty mojo. It went missing for awhile. A hectic time at work is to be blamed. Planning a new fiscal year and closing the old one caused some stressful times where creativity was not a priority. Now that things have calmed down a bit, viola, my missing mojo has returned. Yeah baby!

Balance, again

2010-03-05T21:01:00.001-08:00

Another layout for Cathy Z's "Design your life" class. Even with Cathy's sketches I take forever to assemble a layout. I just can't decide on what to use. I love pattern paper but I find it so difficult to work with. I have so much that it is actually overwhelming. I need to purge my stock.

Balance

2010-02-28T22:05:00.001-08:00

A layout for Cathy Z's "Design your life" class.

I am using this class to catch up on my scrapp'n.
If I complete every assignment I should have 36 layouts done. I am struggling with trying to add a little of my style into Cathy's sketches. She has a clean and simple style that I love but I like a little more texture in my pages. Trying to add something that still fits in the design has been a challenge.

Kelly, kelly, kelly......

2010-02-22T20:41:00.000-08:00

Due to work commitments, not much crafting has been going on. I am taking Cathy Z's "Design Your Life" class and am 6 weeks behind. Now that work has slowed down a bit I can catch up on some "assignments" from Cathy.

I am really enjoying the class. It is all about design and principles. Cathy has a fun and easy way of teaching. I love her video messages. Every now and then she mentions places in Minnesota. I have been writing them down so I can visit them next time I go back there for work. I am trying to find a reason for work to send me back there in September so I can go to "Scrapfest" at the Mall of America. Hmmm, I don't think I could put "be a better scrapbooker" as a development goal on my individual development plan.

This is the first layout for Cathy's class. It was actually "prework" and was to be done before the class started. I chose to do a layout about how I have always wanted a song with my name in it.

The journaling block reads:

"I have always wanted a song that has my name in it. There has been Sherry, Sarah, Melissa, Tracy, Caroline, Susie, Savannah, Sharona, Michelle, Lucy, Sally, Angie, Mandy, Gloria, Jenny, and Eileen. Alas, no Kelly. Well, there was that one “Cheers” episode…"

The "Cheers" episode is the one where Woody wrote a song to his girlfriend for her birthday. Her name was Kelly. I included a hidden journaling block behind the first one with the actual song lyrics.

"Kelly my darling, you are my sunshine;

when we're together I feel fine.

Your smile is so lovely; your hair is so clean;

You make me feel that the whole world is mine.

Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly,

Kelly, Kelly, K-E-L-L-Y ...

Why? Because you're

Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly,

Kelly, Kelly, (pause) Kelly, Kelly,

Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly of mine!

Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine,

Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine ... Mine!"

The clip is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hJjx7jTHA8

Realization

2010-01-28T21:09:00.000-08:00

They say admitting is the first step of recovery. so here goes...

"Hello, my name is Kelly and I am a crappy card maker".

I can admit when I am bad at something no matter how much it pains me too. I just don't have the creativity to make the cards I want to make. They never turn out the way I want them and I feel there is always something missing. There is no more joy in card making for me. Crafting is supposed to be my way to relax.

Instead I am going back to my first love, scrapbooking. I am taking Cathy Z's "Design You Life" class and am loving it. I am behind in the assignments but I don't care.

I am not throwing in the card making towel totally. I am going to work on my cardmaking skills. My goal is to create a card using scraps from every layout I make. No more card challenges, card submissions or card contests for awhile. Just creating for the joy of it.

So with out further adieu, my last Hero Arts card challenge for awhile.

Winter's Butterfly

2009-11-29T23:07:00.001-08:00

Snow is novelty for this California girl. The only time I see snow is if I go to Lake Tahoe.

I stamped the Hero Arts snowflake image on white cardstock using a pearl paintdabber. Once dried, I rubbed distress ink in faded jeans, broken china, weathered wood, and dusty concord all over the cardstock. I kept the sentiment simple to showoff the background.

Autumn

2009-11-28T20:46:00.000-08:00

One more autumn card before November ends. I used the negative portion of a punched piece as a mask. I used distress inks to color inside the mask and then a Hero Arts stamp for the text.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T20:32:00.001-08:00

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Quick card for a Friday night. Hero Arts "Season of Giving" stamp set.

Mittens

2009-11-23T20:45:00.001-08:00

I love mittens. They look so cozy. My love of them probably stems from the fact that I rarely use them. I live in California and it doesn't get that cold here. Though on a 55 degree day I would say "it is freezing outside".

For this card I cut out a mitten shape and used the negative as a mask. I first colored in the space with some chalk and then stamped the snowflakes in Prussian Blue ink from Colorbox. I finished off the mittens by adding a little stickles to the center of each snowflake. The red paper is stamped with the Antique Flower Background from Hero Arts. The light blue cardstock is edged with a Ranger paint dabber in Snow Cap. I love this combination of blue and red!

Holly

2009-11-22T20:31:00.001-08:00

My camera is repaired! I have a backlog of projects to share so let's begin...

This is a submission for the Hero Arts "trimming"challenge. Stamped an image on the buttons with white Stazon and hand cut some holly leaves. The edges are inked with Brushed Corduroy distress ink. The base of the card is stamped with Versamark ink and the Antique Flower Background stamp from Hero Arts.

Blessings

2009-11-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I love fall color and was itching to color in this leaf stamp from Hero Arts.

I first inked the white piece of cardstock with Scattered Straw distress ink. I then stamped and clear embossed the leaf image with versamark and clear embossing powder. I then stamped the leaf image on a scrap piece of cardstock. I cut out the the leaf from the scrap cardstock which created a stencil. I placed the stencil over the clear embossed leaves and colored each leaf with an eyeshadow applicator and various distress inks. The clear embossing resisted the distress ink and gave a beautiful veined look to the leaf. The sentiment is stamped in charcoal ink and the card base is a gray blue. I love how the orange pops against the gray blue.

Season of Giving

2009-11-04T20:35:00.001-08:00

I love this new maple leaf punch by EK Success. I made it the focal point by using half of the negative piece and half of the positive piece. A little distress ink in fired brick and mustard seed make a great orange color. It is hard to tell in the photo, but the leaf is stamped with a wood grain stamp from Hero Arts.

Oh what a wicked web we weave...

2009-10-26T21:56:00.001-07:00

I love this card. Unfortunately these are the best photos of it for now because my digital camera died right after taking these photos. The spider is hand cut and glittered by moi. I had a great time making the web out of sentiments from the Happy Halloween stamp set by Hero Arts.

Treats

2009-10-25T22:02:00.001-07:00

I love candy corn. To me candy corn is one of the ultimate symbols of Halloween. I paper pieced the piece of candy corn using paper and stamps. The white part is stamped and embossed with clear embossing powder. I love the black white and orange. Product info can be found here at 2peas.

Merry Christmas

2009-10-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

I am in the holiday spirit. I think it has to do with some stores breaking out their Christmas decorations before Halloween is over! Christmas is pushing over the other holidays. Watch out Fourth of July, your'e next.

More Hero Arts stamps. I didn't like how plain the Holly Flourish stamped image looked on the paper so I cut out the middle of the holly leaves and used a darker green for my card base. I think it gives the card a little more visual interest.

Happy Haunting

2009-10-16T22:26:00.001-07:00

Since Halloween is just around the corner, I decided to play with a new Halloween stamp set from Hero Arts. The witches hat is a paper piece pattern from the October issue of Scrapbooks Etc. I wanted the hat to open and reveal my greeting and signature. A white gel pen will look great on the black. It turned out just the way I pictured it.

All stamps on this card are from Hero Arts. The hat has been stamped and clear embossed with Antique Flower Background. The acetate tag, which is also from Hero Arts is stamped with white Stazon and Designer Woodgrain. The sentiment is from the Happy Halloween set. More product info can be found here at 2peas.

Moxie Fab Challenge-Gradient is Radiant

2009-10-11T23:31:00.000-07:00

I decided to play along with the latest Moxie Fab challenge. This is the fastest card I have ever designed and created. 30 minutes from concept to completion. That is a record for me. I usually agonize over everything. It was a nice change to actually come up with something and be happy with it right away.

I used distress inks in weathered wood, broken china, and faded jeans to create the gradient. I then spritzed my Antique flower background stamp from Hero Arts with water and stamped it on the paper. The water reacts with the distress inks and produces a very light image of the stamp. I love the way it turned out. The card base is a light blue card stock with white embossed dots.

Cards for Kate

2009-10-04T20:10:00.000-07:00

I just finished more cards for the Cards for Kate card drive. These are for Kate, Olivia and Will. For more info about Cards for Kate go here.

I used colored pencils and mineral spirits on the animals and then cut them out. Glossy accents highlight specific areas of each animal. More product info here at 2peas.

Hero Arts Photo Card Challenge

2009-09-27T20:24:00.001-07:00

A card for the Hero Arts Photo Card challenge. The picture is from the inside of Notre Dame cathedral. It was taken by some friends of mine when they were in Paris.

Cards for Kate

2009-09-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

There is a card drive going on for a little girl who is battling cancer. Jennifer Mcguire and a few other amazing stampers are coordinating the effort. For more info go here. Here is a card for Kate's parents. I can't imagine what they are going through right now.

I applied scattered straw distress ink on white paper and then embossed the flourish stamp with clear embossing powder. I then applied fired brick and brushed corduroy distress inks over the
stamped image. The yellow and red made a super soft orange color. The final touch was the script stamp stamped in scattered straw over the whole image.

Stamps by Hero Arts-DesignBock Flourish, Old Letter Writing, and Playful Animals (sentiment)

Thanks

2009-09-25T22:11:00.000-07:00

I finally finished the thank you notes for my sons 2nd birthday. I wanted something simple that could be easily produced.

The stamps are from Autumn Leaves. I love the colored pencil on the letters. It reminds me of crayons.

Happy Fall

2009-09-12T23:33:00.000-07:00

Another week, another Hero Arts challenge! This week is dedicated to fall colors. There were five color combinations to pick from. I chose #1.

I took an quilt applique pattern from one of my mother's quilting books and shrunk it down to half size. The stamps used are: Raindrop background, Designer Woodgrain, Antique Flower Background, Fanciful Swirl Alphabet.

Moxie Fab World Challenge, Again

2009-09-03T00:07:00.001-07:00

Another challenge for Moxie Fab World. This time it is the stamping challenge.

I masked off a portion of my card. I stamped and embossed my "Raindrop Background" stamp from Hero Arts in white. I then used my ranger inking tool and tattered rose distress ink and inked the edges of the card. I removed the mask and used the channel in my paper trimmer to emboss a a rectangle in the empty space. I used my Hero Arts "Bold Cap Alphabet" stamps with stamp n bond powder and fun flock for the letters. The ornament is from a EK Success punch.

Moxie Fab World Challenge

2009-09-02T00:32:00.000-07:00

I have been visiting the Moxie Fab World blog lately and decided create something for one of their challenges. This is for the "Clean and Graphic" challenge. I used my Hero Arts "Bold Cap Alphabet" stamp set and applied flock instead of embossing powder. The flourish is a stamp from Autumn Leaves. The ornament is from a new EK Success punch I just purchased. I love the overall result.

Scraps

2009-08-24T21:25:00.001-07:00

Just a card I created from some scraps.

Lets get digital, digital....

2009-08-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

Hero Arts has ventured into the world of digital designs and I thought I would try one out. I printed out the image twice. Once with a normal saturation and then again with a very low saturation. I cut out one tulip from the normal saturation copy and covered it with diamond stickles. I adhered it over the other image with dimensional adhesive.

The digital kits and images are for sale over at 2 peas.

Lake Tahoe

2009-07-28T21:20:00.001-07:00

This layout was inspired by the technique articles on the Hero Arts website.

I didn't have many pictures from this trip so I created an "article" around our evening out at the Northstar Resort firepits.

More product info here at two peas

Hero Arts Monochromatic challenge

2009-07-26T20:34:00.000-07:00

This weeks topic on the Hero Arts blog was monochromatic color. I decided to try my hand at another card.

I stamped the heart four times in four different red colored inks. I then punched out each heart with a square scalloped punch. I then took each square and cut it into fourths. I assembled the heart back together by using on piece of each color. The products used are:

Stamps
Patterned Hearts (LP124) by Hero Arts
Design Block Flourish (S5034) by Hero Arts
Verbology by KI Memories

Inks
Rouge chalk ink by ColorBox
Dark Peony chalk ink by ColorBox
Marron chalk ink by ColorBox
Lipstick Red chalnk ink by ColorBox
Versmark Watermark

Paper
Currant Sensation by Bazzill

Vegas Baby!

2009-07-13T22:25:00.001-07:00

A layout for last weeks Hero Arts blog challenge. The theme was "vacation". I decided to scrap our September 2007 trip to Vegas. This was our first weekend away from our son. He was about 7 weeks old at the time.

I painted the chipboard letters with Claudine Hellmuth Studio paint. I then stamped the Hero Arts Raindrop background stamp (shocking, a hero arts stamp, no...), with a glue pad and added some glitter. The Eiffel tower is from Hero Arts' "Paris" set. I just stamped on gray cardstock and embossed with black embossing powder. The Eiffel tower is matted on some Basic Grey paper that has been stamped with the Hero Arts "Screen shadow" stamp and some charcol chalk ink.

Product info can be found here at two peas.

Not everything has to be perfect

2009-07-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

If you want to learn some fun new techniques check out Jennifer Mcguire's "Thinking Inking" class at twopeasinabucket.com

It is a nine week class that has three videos each week. This is the end of week three and the focus was Ranger paint dabbers. I decided to fool around a bit and this is what I came up with.

I normally would not have posted this card because the stamped image did not stamp perfectly. However, I am trying to be more relaxed about my crafting. My new mantra is "Not everything has to be perfect"

I stamped and clear embossed an image on a piece of scrap card stock. I then used the Ranger "pitch black" paint dabber and covered the whole image. Once the paint had dried, I used a baby wipe and wiped away the paint. The embossed image resists the paint. A punched heart covered with diamond glaze finishes off the card.

More product info here at two peas.

Hero Arts Challenge-Photo

2009-07-02T20:39:00.000-07:00

A submission for a Hero Arts blog challenge. It is an actual card! I generally don't do cards but thought I would try something new.

I bought this stampset specifically for the monkey images. We call my son "monkey". I've had a couple ideas for the stampset but when I saw this picture I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

I used my cricut to cut out the word "monkey". I stamped the monkey stamp, on white paper and then colored it in with colored pencils. A little odorless mineral spirits to help blend the colors and viola, instant art. I used rolled up mini glue dots to lift the monkey image and yellow title. The dark blue gems in the left hand corner are actually light blue gems that have been colored with a dark blue sharpie marker.

More product information can be found here at two peas.

Scrapbooking.com

2009-07-01T23:25:00.000-07:00

One of my layouts was chosen for a July article at Scrapbooking.com. You can see the article here. This layout also earned an honorable mention for the Hero Arts favorites challenge on their blog back in February.

You color my world

2009-06-16T21:45:00.001-07:00

I have had this idea for awhile now and finally put it to paper. Just something to show off a favorite picture. The colorful background paper for this layout is inspired by Ricky Tims. Ricky is a quilting designer who creates "convergence quilts" You can check out some of his quilts here. They are stunning!

I took a 12x12 piece of glossy cardstock and cut it in half. Using Tim Holtz distress inks I inked one half in a rainbow pattern. The other half I inked in a more solid pattern. I spritzed both half's with water to help blend the ink a bit. I then cut each half in 1/2 inch strips and adhered them to another piece of cardstock while alternating strips.

I tore the middle strip out of my black cardstock and lifted the edges of each half of cardstock with dimensional adhesive. Hero Arts alphabet letters finished of the title. I kept the layout very simple to show off the vivid colors of background. More product information found here.

Scribble This challenge

2009-06-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

Another "Scribble Challenge" from Lisa Spangler. This week it is about adjusting the levels on a photo. This is a much needed tutorial for me because the lighting sucks where I work. I do most of my crafting at night and never have enough light for my photographs. It makes a big improvement.

Here is the before.

Here is the after.

Scribble This Challenge

2009-06-05T23:07:00.000-07:00

Just came across a challenge from Lisa Spangler. Since I know nothing about my camera I decided to see if I could learn something new. What did I learn? The automatic white balance worked best, but now I know how to change my white balance if needed. Thanks Lisa! Here is what I created. Of course it includes Hero Arts stamps.

Hero Arts stamps: Raindrop Background, Patterned Hearts, Wood Finish, Houndstooth, C'set Chouette

It's all about me

2009-06-05T20:52:00.001-07:00

I figured it was about time to create a page about me. I used my own handwriting, which I hate. I used letter and word stamps to highlight meaningful words in each sentence.

It turned out pretty good. The stamps are Hero Arts, KI Memories, and Studio G. The chipboard letters are from Heidi Swapp.

Easter

2009-05-17T20:59:00.000-07:00

A layout for the Hero Arts "Dots" challenge.

Love the way the title came out. I used white stazon ink on some Heidi Swapp ghost letters.

More product detail here at two peas.

Miracle

2009-05-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

I designed this layout at a fabulous scrapbooking retreat in Ukiah, California last October. If you want to get away and get some serious scrappin' done, this retreat is the place.

The layout took all of 20 minutes, which is amazing for me because I usually agonize over every little thing.

The photo does not do the layout justice. Stupid camera!!

You make my heart flutter

2009-05-07T23:09:00.000-07:00

I had wanted to do something with butterflies and I came up with this. I stamped some Hero Arts stamps on a patterned piece of paper. I then used a Martha Stewart butterfly punche to create the butterflies.

The butterflies, paper and edges of the photo are distressed with Tim Holtz distress ink in Antique Linen. The distress ink is hard to see on the photo but it is on the edges. It helps hide the white core of the photo paper.

Crafterpiece

2009-05-05T21:03:00.001-07:00

Seasons

A true "crafterpeice" if I do say so myself. I created these canvas's for the Hero Arts "Win a day on the blog contest" Each canvas is actually covered with paper, I liked the stamped image better on paper then I did on canvas. I cut strips of cardstock into 3.5 inches tall by 7 inches wide. I took Tim Holtz distress ink in Weathered Wood and Faded Jeans and inked the edges of each of each strip.

I then stamped and embossed my images on the cardstock with brown ink and clear embossing powder. The embossing powder actually gave the branches a nice texture. I masked of pieces of the stamp that I did not want shown with blue painter tape. I taped over specific parts of the image, inked the whole image and then removed the painters tape. It worked out great. The trick is to clean your stamp after each impression.

After the initial stamping was all done, I cut the paper strips into 2.5 inch pieces and adhered each piece of paper to the canvas.

The leaves and flowers are inked with Tim Holtz distress inks. I then stamped over the inked paper with a stamp and chalk ink.

The winter scene is done with Liquid Applique and glitter.

For a more detailed product list go here at two peas.

New York

2009-05-04T21:08:00.000-07:00

Here is a layout about out 2005 vacation to New York. I used my favorite raindrop background stamp from Hero Arts. The other stamps I used were Big Swirls by Autumn Leaves and Slight Alterations by Stampers Anonymous

I cut out the Statue of Liberty and then re-adhered with pop dots.

Pursenality

2009-05-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

I thought I would show off a purse I designed, knitted and felted two years ago.

Felting is the process of shrinking a item that is knitted with some type of animal hair. A knitted item is placed in hot water and agitated until the stitches are no longer visible. The knitted item shrinks down to almost 3/4 of it's original size. The easiest way to felt is in a top loading washing machine. I have a front loader so I had to hand felt this. All I used was a bucket of hot water, some wool wash, and a toilet plunger (yes the plunger was clean, and no it was never used for it's original purpose). I used an up and down motion with the plunger and kept the water moving.

The purse design was meant to have a flower embellishment but I could never find the right one. Then I recently started stamping with Hero Arts stamps and fell in love with some of their large background stamps. I cut two circles out of a lining type dress fabric, stamped on the fabric, and then heat set the ink. Singeing the edges stopped the fabric from fraying and shaped the petals a bit. It turned out perfect. The stamps used are raindrop background and old letter writing. You can buy them at two peas or at Hero Arts.

Welcome to the world of blogging.

2009-05-02T23:05:00.000-07:00

Inagural Post

Well I have jumped on the blog band wagon. Everyone and their grandmother has a blog so why not me? Here is a project that I submittted for the Hero Arts "windows" challenge. I actually won the scrapbook category! If you are a stamper you must check out the Hero Arts blog. They have creative challenges and are a great source of inspiration.

By the way, I told my hubby that today was National Scrapbook day. He didn't believe me. He replied, "Well, then it is also National Paintball Week".