photo NavBarImages_Home_zpsc2e2839e.jpg  photo NavBarImages_Challenges_zps86e7a09a.jpg  photo NavBarImages_Techniques_zps72f6d893.jpg  photo NavBarImages_Projects_zpsbe6d3500.jpg  photo NavBarImages_Links_zps0e86b06d.jpg  photo NavBarImages_AboutUs_zpsaa7cd7d3.jpg

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Grateful Hearts ~ September Unity {be inspired} Challenge - Color/Layout

Welcome to my first blog post!  I have chosen the Unity September "Grateful Hearts" {be inspired} challenge to share with you all today.  To be honest, I am not an avid challenge submitter, too much pressure, notorious procrastinator, indecisive design - etc, etc.  Deb has been not-so-subtly hinting that I need to break the blog in and post something. Here goes...

For this challenge, we needed to follow a specific color palette and/or layout as show below.  The colors selected this month are fantastic, earthy, warm and so relaxing and calm.


I have tons of Unity stamps at home, and I encourage anyone out there to check them out if you haven't seen them before.  Choices, choices - but in the end I chose a nature set call Gratitude = Joy as it seemed most appropriate for the topic this month.   Here is the finished card.....


Not too bad for my first challenge in a LONG time.  Perhaps not the best photo as I see there is a little bit of distortion in the center.  Will try to clean up my photography techniques for the next one!!

Construction Details: 
Stamp Set: Gratitude = Joy
Paper: Stampin' Up! Barely Banana, Cool Carribean & River Rock, Vellum
Ink: Ranger Distress Ink Frayed Burlap
Miscellaneous: Sizzix embossing folder,  embossing powder, bleach, ribbon, etc.

Assembly: 
I first started out stamping the leaf pattern on the background paper using the basic bleach technique which yielded the fantastic barely banana color on the paper.  Then I ran it through the quilted embossing folder to give the background some texture.  Using the frayed burlap distress ink, I inked across the background to give it a 3 dimensional look.

To make the vellum piece I stamped the willow/ leaf stamp in the distress ink and embossed with detail clear embossing powder.  Halved the ribbon lengthwise & wrapped it around the matted background.  Added the pin + beads & button along with the metal embellishment from my stash. 

I hope you enjoyed this!  It was a lot of fun to do!!

Amanda

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Penny Black and More Challenge: September Challenge (Sketch and/or Autumnal Colors)


Welcome to the Penny Black Challenge.  Penny Black is a top favorite but I have had so few stamps that I never thought to try a challenge.  Well, a lack of stamps problem can be solved......... :-).  I used two Penny Black stamps on this image - Big Ben colored on Gina Kay with my copics and London Eye.  Both stamps with Memento Tuxedo Black. My copic paper is Gina Kay.  I bought the tags from Staples - really the best place to buy tags - volume for price!!  Also on the tag are Post Card and London from Tim Holtz.  Ribbon and Twine - SU!.  The Tag is distressed with Tim Holtz.  The filmstrip is Tim Holtz attached by the Tiny Attacher.  The calendar is Tim Holtz Patterned Paper.  My background patterned paper is stash and my solid paper is Bazzill.  The camera is Tim Holtz Sizzix Movers and Shapers with Smooch Spritz in silver and gold.  The green/burlap tag is Little Yellow Bicycle (I think?) and the sentiment is SU!

:-) Deb

House Mouse Challenge #152: Transportation


Transportation.......fun.  I immediately thought of this image although I have few of the sliding, skating, and skiing images - I wasn't quite ready for winter.  The image is "Are we there yet?".  The dog is tough to color - the one I posted is my 2nd try.  I colored the image with copics and used 3 different mouse colors - cool grays, warm grays, and my normal brown.  The dog is colored with an E70's group.  The solid cardstock is Bazill and the patterned cardstock is Basic Grey Max & Wishkers.  The Ribbon and Sentiment are SU!.  The sentiment was cut out with Nesties.

On a side note, I have to bit the bullet.  I need an Ott Lite and a Photo Box for my pictures.  I can't seem to take/edit a photo that I'm happy.  It isn't really the money - it is the space.  My craft area in my spare bedroom is packed and I have no room for anything big or bulky.  I need to look for a collapsible photobox.  So anyone ready through my post who has some ideas.  Love to hear them.  

:-( two weeks in a row I am too late to get in the challenge...oh well.  I'm still posting on the blog!

:-) Deb

Mo Manning Challenge #201: Anything Goes!



I think "Bronte Kisses" has to be one of my favorite - if not my #1 favorite of all Mo Manning images.  I made this card for a friend who just lost their dog.  I have stamped a sentiment inside from SU!.  My copic paper is Gina Kay. The solid paper is AC Cardstock and the patterned paper is Basic Grey Max and Wiskers.  The scalloped oval is a Nestie, the rickrack ribbon is stash, the eyelets are SU!, and the tickets are Tim Holtz/Distressed with Tim Holtz.

:-) Deb

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Mo Manning DP2 Challenge #200: Goodbye Summer


Goodbye Summer was a FUN challenge.  I knew immediately what image I wanted to use from Mo - "A Thousand Stars".  One of my favorites.  I colored the image with Copics.  I tried my best to color and shade to appear like a bright moon was shining down on Bella and Bronte.  The sentiment is House Mouse.  The metal embellishment is CTMH.  The patterned paper is from my stash and the vintage paper is Tim Holtz.  The button is stash and the twine is SU!.  I promised to give credit for the felt on Etsy but I can't remember where I bought it - still looking.  The flowers were cut from a Tim Holtz die.  I'm sad to say...I missed the opportunity to get this one loaded on the challenge web site. Next time....

:-) Deb

Monday, August 26, 2013

Mo Manning DP2 Challenge #199: Happy Birthday




For the Happy Birthday Challenge, I used my copics and colored "Kissy" with Stickles on her TuTu and a Spica Glitter pen for the belt.  The paper is Stampin' Up.  The glitter paper is Recollections.  The flowers are Prima and the brad is SU!.  The tag is distressed with Tim Holtz ink with a CTMH embellishment, Tim Holtz ticket stamp, SU! Ribbon, and an embossed SU! Celebrate.

:-) Deb

Sunday, August 18, 2013

House-Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge #151: Liquid Refreshments


 

As my previous post mentioned, it has been a couple of years since I have entered a challenge.  I ended my blog in 2010 with MHMC #78!! I'm glad to re-enter on #151.  For the "Liquid Refreshments" challenge, I used the "Splish, Splash.....a Citrus Bath" rubber stamp colored with Copic Markers, Star Dust Stickles on the flower, and SU! Crystal Effects on the glass.  My image cut out with a Spellbinders Nestability and is distressed with Tim Holtz Victorian Velvet.  The flowers are Prima and the brads are SU!.  Tickets are Tim Holtz distressed with Vintage Photo and Victorian Velvet.   The swirl is a Sizzix die. 

:-) Deb

Mo Manning DP2 Challenge #198: Something Sweet





It has been a couple of years since I have entered a challenge - it feels great to be back in the swing and starting with Mo Manning!  I ended my blog in 2010 with Mo's Challenge number 52, so 146 challenges later...I'm glad to rejoin the fun.  For the "Something Sweet" challenge, I used the Fairy Bee colored with Copic Markers and Star Dust Stickles on the wings.  Fairy Bee is cut out with a small scalloped Spellbinders Nestability.  The honecomb background is from SU! and is distressed with Tim Holtz Victorian Velvet.  The pearls are SU! and CTMH.  The swirls are a Sizzix die. The flowers are cut with a Sizzix die from an amazing felt that I bought from an Etsy shop - I will look it up and repost with the shop because it is by far the best felt I have ever touched.

:-) Deb

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Welcome to Our Blog

Our blog is authored by 3 paper crafters! Amanda, Darci, and Deb. As we launch these pages we have been reflecting on how we started down this paper crafting road. The spark to our crazy and addictive habit was Amanda who introduced a bunch of us to Stampin' Up products, stamping, techniques, and card making. For me, Deb, it was making my own wedding invitations that got me interested. For Darci, a painting and drawing artist for many years,  it was a natural fit.   For Amanda, all it took was creating invitations to a annual Halloween party to hook her on paper crafting.   We have expanded our hobby to include many brands, tools, papers, and inks. We love to try new products and we each bring our own style in using them. We have 3 craft rooms loaded with stamps, embellishments, dies, cutters, paper, and more. We have now developed interests far beyond card making into scrapbooking, banners, tags, and 3D art. We will post our challenge entries, projects, scrapbook pages, and thoughts on new products we have tried. Through our blog you will see our passion for paper, techniques, and inks! Thank you for joining us on our journey!