An Inspiring Face

Stephanie over on SCS found a really great website for the Inspiration Challenge this weekend called the Charm School Drop Out. I love collage, and this website has many excellent samples. I was appropriately intimidated since this style has always eluded me, but I know there's no other way to learn it other than to just go for it!! I chose this altered photo of John Lennon as my inspiration piece. Nothing to do with what I think of John Lennon, the photo just appealed to me. So this card is actually my second try. My first try was just a mess, it's on it's way to the City Recycle center. I think I figured out by keeping it simple, it looks like more than it really is, which is good. I think. Oh well. Anyhow, here 'tis!!

The music sheet background is a stamped image Joanne (Sleepy in Seattle) sent me a billion years ago (remember those Joanne??)! I then stamped the face from the "Friends" sheet by Innovative Stamp Creations over the music notes background in Momento Black Tuxedo ink. Next I pulled out the retired SU Best Blossoms set and stamped several of the large flowers in Versamark randomly over the card and covered with clear EP. I heat set them and then sponged the panel all over with Ranger Walnut Ink. I trimmed the whole image down intentionally so it was sort of squatty shapped (I liked that look from the inspiration piece). I mounted it onto a black layer leaving enough of a border on the bottom so I could add a sentiment. I attached a die cut flower I made from the Daisy #2 Flowers die from SU. Finally, I used a white rub on sentiment from the SU SAB rub ons from last year.

Thanks for the awesome challenge Stephanie!!

Innovative Stamp Creations

Hi all! Hope you're having a wonderful Spring weekend!! I'm posting more cards that I made from the giant stash of rubber stamps I received from Betsy at Innovative Stamp Creations. Did I mention how much I love their images?? If you missed the earlier ones, I also posted some here at the beginning of the month. The first card features the very cool bird from the "You're Special" set, prolly one of my fav sets so far! I masked off the center area and created a background stamping the Wood Grain background stamp (which comes with 2 free images when you purchase it!!) and the Canvas background stamp over the mask. I removed the mask and stamped the bird in Momento Tuxedo Black ink. Colored it in with copics and added some red and yellow jewels (from Hobby Lobby). I cut out some swirly Sizzix corners and stamped the sentiment (also from the You're Special set) in the corner. I just love this bird!! Same bird...but this time stamped with Versamark onto velum and heat embossed with white EP. Threaded ribbon across the top to attach it to the card base, and finished off the bird with faux rhinestones by Jolees Jewels. Super simple!! The large sentiment on this card is from "You're Special" and the smaller sentiment and large dragonfly are from "Elegant Artsy Swirls" (I focused on that set earlier this month, it's another fantastic set of stamps!). I heat embossed the dragonfly with gold EP and added "Mother Lode" super fine glitter from Carter's Sequins. The background is DP by Crafty Secrets. The fab brad is from KC and Co. I created a ribbon tail for the brad using textured paper and some smaller brown brads. Thanks for checking in!!

How About a Sketch

Supples: Card base is Very Vanilla CS. All other DP is Basic Grey Lemonade. Sentiment is Innovative Stamp Creations; Flower created with MS Stacking Daisy punch and Leafy Branch. Butterfly created using Purple Daisy Designs Butterfly stamp and accompanying punch (fabulous!!). Hologram glitter added to butterfly. Additional embellishments: Basic Grey coordinating brads, SU flower punch and Purely Pomegranite DS ribbon, Nestibilites Label 2 or 3 or 4, I forget which, Cuttlebug Houndstooth embossing folder.

O.k. Sometimes I can be a real dork. I looked at the sketch challenge over on SCS today when I got home from work and thought it would be simple and fun; and because there were multiple layers, it would be a good way to use up some DP scraps. So I drew out the sketch real quick, took it to my craft room and worked up a card. I did not end up using scraps, I broke open my new Basic Grey Lemonade paper. And proceeded to use a piece upside-down. See the upside down cherries? I used my butterfly stamp and matching punch from Purple Daisy Designs. And then I decided the sketch just wasn't right. So I went back to my computer, looked at the sketch again and realized I had drawn it wrong. Or at least, not completely right. Where was my brain?? Anyhow, that's what I get for rushing through a card after a long day at work!! But you know what they say, a bad day card making is better than any day at work. uhhh, I know... "they" don't really say that, huh? :o) Hugs all!

It's Finally June!!

Oh my gosh...I have been away forever it seems. May became a month of out-of-character events for me that seemed to be pulling in every direction. I have been adrift too long!! But, now I have much to share so back to blogging!!! I'm so glad you stopped by!! First, it's finally June and I can start posting some of the cards I've been making for Innovative Stamp Creations!! The very kind and gifted Betsy Griffin, owner, contacted me and asked me to be a Guest Designer for her stamps...Wooo Hooo!!! What an honor and what great fun!! She sent me tons and tons (and TONS) of her stamps, almost doubling my own collection it seemed!! It was insane (in a wonderful way!!). So I started slowly, and once I got going, I couldn't stamp fast enough!! The designs are so versatile, touching on all kinds of styles from artsy/collage-type, Christian themed, whimsical butterflies and fireflies, to the very current and hot silhouette-type birds and botanicals. There's classic backgrounds and creative ones, lots of verses and so many different types of images, it's been a blast!! So here's my sampling, I'll be posting more as the month goes on. Be sure to check out Betsy's Blog and The Inovative Stamp Creations Web store!!! All the stamp sheet sets can be found HERE. This card uses the "Your Special" set. Multiple textured cardstock in shades of blue were used and layered on a white and aqua background. This awesome butterfly and sentiment come from the "Elegant Artsy Swirls" set. The coral colored cardstock was overstamped with the "Little Specs" background stamp. (Which comes with 3 free verses when you purchase it!!) The DP is SEI. Ribbon by PTI. This dragonfly and harlequin background are also from the "Elegant Artsy Swirls" set. This card was made using 3 different ISC sets. The flourish background that I embossed in gold is from the "Marvels of Nature" set. The turquoise and red flowers are from the "Friendships" set. And the dragonfly is yet another image using the "Elegant Artsy Swirls" set. The "Canvas" background behind the dragonfly was stamped in Creamy Carmel. The Old Olive leaf branches were punched using an EK Success punch. So what do you think?? There's more coming....seriously lots more!! But that's it for tonight. Thanks so much for stopping by!!