Playing with Distress Paints

Today I had some time to play with Distress Paints. I used some of the new colors we just got in at Creativ You & Co.- Squeezed Lemonade, Tumbled Glass and Dried Marigold. When used together, these colors made some very pretty backgrounds.

The colors remind me of Spring (hurry up and get here!) and Easter, so I made some Easter eggs with the distress painted papers. I used the Cheery Lynn Lace Egg Five die (also new in the shoppe) to cut some gold and black card to layer on the marble painted eggs. The die cut beautifully. All of the little pieces just fell out as I removed it from my Big Shot. Yay, no need for the pokey tool! 

After adhering my lace eggs to the painted eggs, I tried using different mists on them to add some shine.

The shimmer doesn't show up very well in my photo, but the A Muse Stardust Finishing Spray and the Dazzling Diamonds Glitter Mist are very shiny. The Perfect Pearls Mist has a more subtle shimmer.

I'll be using these on an Easter card for a class at Creativ You & Co. for next month. I'll be sure to share what I make with them here.

Take some time and just allow yourself to play. You'll be happy you did.

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!

Amazing Birthday

I cased a card that Vicky from Clips-n-Cuts shared the other day. I have the same stamp set from Simon Says Stamp, but not the die she used, so I used a Balzer Designs mini punchinella stencil from Crafter's Workshop.

Using a q-tip, I applied my inks on the stencil. The popped up stars are made from punches and colored with the same inks. I also used those inks on the sentiment. My panel is matted on purple card stock, and then adhered to my card base. 

This card is for my great-niece who is turning 13 this week. The inside sentiment says Happy 13th Birthday, and was made with the Take a Number stamp set from Fresh Squeezed Stamps. It's a great set.

I hope my great-niece likes her card and has an amazing birthday.

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!

Happy Valentine's Day

I just wanted to share a Valentine's Day Prima doll tag I made a couple of weeks ago. If you are local and would like to see it, it's on display at CreativYou & Co.  It's no secret that I love these doll stamps designed by Julie Nutting. (No, we aren't related.) I have quite a few of her stamps, and I have so much fun creating tags with them. (Of course, I had to pre-order some of Julie's new Prima dolls, too. Can't wait to get them!)

This tag was made with the original Doll #2 stamp. I fussy cut her dress and crown from pattern paper, added a few tickets, and button hearts. The flower is from Jolee Boutique. I added gesso to the Tim Holtz ornate plate and placed it over a Tim Holtz adage ticket. After covering my tag with a Prima paper, I added lace from my stash to the bottom. A word band was adhered with twine. The doll is popped up with foam squares. Dyed seam binding and a few charms finish off my tag. Love how she turned out. 

I hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day.

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!

Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge #1

The first challenge is: What's Your Style?

In case you don't already know, the fabulous Gloria Stengel of Scraps of Life, has started a new challenge blog, Craft Hoarders Anonymous. I have to wonder why Gloria chose that name. Crafters, hoarders? Really? Oh, my goodness, not us! Well, maybe a bit. 

I love making shabby, vintage cards with Graphic 45 paper. I chose an image from the Place in Time collection for this card. The edges of the image are distressed with an edge distresser and distress ink, and then layered on black card stock. The striped piece is also distressed and layered on black. My seam binding is colored with Fired Brick Distress Stain. I crinkled the seam binding, and made a double bow. A small tag made from a border piece on the paper is tied with twine to my bow. I added strips of the border piece to the top and bottom of my card. I love the stamps that G45 includes in their collections. I cut one with my postage scissors and popped it up on the panel. The panel is also popped up from the red card base.

Graphic 45 paper, distressing, seam binding, double bows, twine and dimension = my style!

What do I hoard? Graphic 45 paper, of course! I especially am hanging onto (hoarding?) my Place in Time papers, because they are being discontinued. (Oh, no!)  In fact, I had to cut into my last (gasp!) piece of the February Cut-Aparts to make this card. I just love that image of the hearts raining down. 

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

The newest Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Have a Heart.  After seeing this tutorial on Splitcoaststampers, I've become obsessed with making these darling pop-up box cards. I've made a few for Valentine's Day so far, and can't wait to find some time to make some for other occasions. They are so fun!

Aren't they adorable? I just love them!

I'm entering these into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blue Challenge

I love CAS-ual Fridays Stamps! I recently received an order from their new Valentine Release. The Love Notes stamp set was sold out when I placed my order, so I emailed the wonderful owner, Michelle, and she let me know as soon as it was back in stock. Thanks, Michelle!

Due to a winter storm, today was a snow day, and I had lots of time to play. A new challenge just began at CAS-ual Fridays, so I used my new Love Notes set to make some cards. This challenge is to use the color blue, which I normally do not use for Valentine cards, but I'm so glad I did. 

I made several cards, but this is my favorite. Using Versamark black and Salty Ocean distress ink, I stamped  the images onto white card stock. I also splattered a blue Smooch spray onto the panel before adding it to a top folding Memory Box card base. The bottom corners of both the panel and card base were rounded with my 1/2" Corner Chomper. I used my clear Wink of Stella brush to add some shine to the blue notes. There is a matching Heart Note Fri-Die that I also bought. I'll probably make this card again using the note die cut in place of the note stamp. I love the way this turned out, and I think the music teacher in my building will like it as well. 

Hopefully, it will stop snowing soon. I think we've had about 8" so far today. If not, another snow day tomorrow would make me happy.

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting! 

CASE Study Challenge #176

Today I decided to play along with CASE Study Challenge #176. This is my very first attempt at a challenge. This week was the final week to case the fabulous Donna Mikasa of three umbrellas, and her card is stunning. I loved her combination of bright pink ink, gold embossing on vellum and gold sequins.

Here's my version of Donna's card using the same combination.

I stamped an older Stampin Up heart doily stamp with Picked Raspberry distress ink. A sentiment from the Handwritten Greetings set from Simon Says Stamp was embossed with gold embossing powder onto vellum and added to the stamped panel. I used foam dimensionals to pop the panel up from the card base. A cascade of gold sequins finishes off my card. 

I hope you like my first CASE Study challenge card. It was fun playing along.

I am also entering this card into theSimon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!