Paris

Bonjour!  This week the challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show is "Inspiration France!  I decided to go to Paris with my creation:

The architecture of the Eiffel Tower is so beautiful in it's design that I decided to make that my focal point on my wall hanging.

I tried to re-create a tower from chipboard tiles.  I cut pieces of chipboard into 1" x 1" squares.  I kept the extra pieces and used them to build my structure.  After I cut the tiles I kept re-arranging the tiles to try to follow the shape of the Eiffel tower and checking with my in house architect (my son). 

After I had my layout for the tower decided I then picked out images that reflect France to me.  I mixed the blue and orange together just because the colors make me happy!

I stamped the images on each tile sometimes lining them up to continue the image across multiple tiles.  I colored all the images using my STAEDTLER watercolor pencils.  After the images were colored I enhanced the tile effect by adding a couple of layers of clear embossing powder.

The background is corrugated cardboard painted white and sponged with orange dye ink. There is a layer of tissue paper with blue and orange glimmer mist.

I hope you like my touch of Paris! 

Products: Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Attic Treasures,  Stampendous - Charm Collection, Flower Trim, Glimmer Mist,  Candy Corn Glimmer Mist, Idea-ology Baubles, Snow Cap Paint Dabber, Hero Arts - Rectangle Doily Lace, Artistic Outpost - Paris Exposition, Stampendous - Royal Butterfly, Artistic Outpost - Flower Market, TIm Holtz - Grungeboard Letters, Ranger Distress Inks - Rusty Hinge, Broken China

Come play along with us for an opportunity to win a $50 voucher from Simon Says Stamp

  Hope you are inspired to play along.

Suzz

Papillion - Pocket Tag

The Simon Says Stamp and Show and the Lessology challenge popped up in my reader this morning and inspired me to create a pocket tag.  The SSSS challenge is a recipe which involves wings and the Lessology challenge is Flights of Fancy.

Here is the tag:

and here is the pocket:

And here they are together: 

The best part is that all of the pieces of the tag were in my scraps file.  I pulled out the pocket already shaped folded and punched.  All I had to do was distress it and add the tissue tape. 

The next step was to pull out the die cuts (in the scrap pile) and stamp and distress them.  I had the tag in the pile which I just had to shorten up to fit in my pocket.  I stamped the flower and colored it.  The butterfly was stamped with no color so I added a touch of color using glimmer mist and watercolor pencils.

Products:  7Gypsies Tissue Tape, Verses Rubber Stamps - Flowers in Bloom - FS1119-D, Ranger Distress Inks - Vintage Photo, Ranger Archival Ink - Black, Memento - Bamboo Leaves, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Starfish, Hero Arts - Classic Tea Rose, Hero Arts - Design Block - Antique Flower Background , Hero Arts - Papillions, EK Success Border Punch

Have a lovely day!

Suzz

Queen of Hearts

 Simon Says Stamp and Show this week is Kings and Queens and the Snazzy Design Team's first challenge is Love/Romance. I mixed them together and re-used my triptych format to create a Queen of Hearts crown.

 I used a combination of stamps and punches to create my crown. Here is the products list: Stampendous Aged Gold Embossing Enamel, Stampendous Amore Frame, Stampendous Time Flies, Stampendous Altered Alphabet, a brand new Alice in Wonderland set from Stampendous that is being released this month!

The hearts are punched using a fun punch with a mix of hearts from Martha Stewart.  I snuck in a few of the Cornish Heritage Farms stamps too. The background is stamped with a Verses Rubber Stamps - How Do I Love thee.

Inks: Ranger Archival Crimson Red, Coffee,  Ranger Distress Inks - Vintage Photo

Hope your Monday is off to a great start!

Suzz

Distressed Lilacs

Oh how I love our Lilacs in the spring. They smell wonderful! I have this lovely set of stamps from Chapel Road Artstamps called Variations Lilacs. (So glad to have this set as I didn't have any lilacs in my stamp garden. :)  

The challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show is to show your distressing which inspired my card using the lovely Lilacs.

The sentiment and butterflies are also from Chapel Road Artstamps Butterfly Squares and Birthday Edwardian.  The background is from Chapel Road Artstamps Old Script. I stamped the script onto a thin sheet of vellum and tore the edges and sponged them with StaZon ink.

The lilacs are stamped with StaZon brown ink and colored with watercolor pencils and accented with white gel pen. The background is sponged with brown dye ink and distressed.

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Suzz

Happy Birthday Lisa! x 2

Happy Birthday Lisa S and Lisa S! I have two extremely talented stamping friends who both have birthdays this month, and they are both Lisa's.  I created two different cards for each of them.

I had a hard time picking out what stamps to use for the first Lisa's birthday card, so I let the papers do the talking. There is this super fun paper pad called Wanted from Cosmo Cricket.  Gorgeous colors and designs on the papers. 

The papers basically designed the card and the sentiment is from a fun set from B Line designs which has the perfect sentiments. The card works for the Simon Says Stamp and Show your stars. (These stars are some favorites of mine and are almost all gone.) :(   They are from Christmas Trim that I purchased at the craft store.

The second Lisa is the one that introduced me to stamping.  Here is a cute card that I think she will like!

The images are from Crafty Secrets and I loved the sentiments and thought the Kewpie angels were adorable.   The circles were created with a mask and coloring the edges of the circle and pulling in the color with a water brush. Love how this turned out and definitely will be doing this again. :)

Lisa and Lisa, I hope your birthdays are wonderful!


Suzz

Workshop Excursion

 

I decided to get going on my masculine valentines after seeing all the challenges based on love Simon Says Stamp and Show some Love, The Artistic Stamper - Love is in the Air and Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - FTCC103 - Valentines Card.  

I did a stealth mission down to my hubby's workshop. I went looking for sandpaper to create my hearts from. The wonderful thing was he had this almost white colored sand paper in addition to the natural tones so I was able to create two tones in my hearts. The other wonderful thing was the back side of the white sandpaper had this wonderful red colored surface. I actually went back down to see what else I could snag. :) Unfortunately my DH is very organized and very neat so there weren't any other scraps or items I could purloin. :)

If your hubby is more messy I bet there would be more fun bits and pieces to sneak back to your crafty space.

The card was easy to put together after the hearts were die cut, stamp Hero Arts image using Ranger Archival ink on sandpaper. Sponge edges with Ranger Archival ink. (I used a sponge that was already ragged and ready to be thrown out as the sandpaper rips up the sponge)

The rest was just cutting the sandpaper to size (used my rotary cutter to handle the roughness and flipped it over to paper side. Distressing the edges and sponging with the black ink. I was going to stamp my sentiment but couldn't find a Be Mine so I pulled out some stickers.

We are waiting for the blizzard to hit. The kids are getting out early today from school and pretty sure they will be home tomorrow for a snow day. (Which they are very excited about). One of the downsides to working from home is if we do get snowed in I still have to work. :)

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

Poppies

This was created for a few challenges: Simons Says Show your New Stamp, Flourishes FTTC99 which is to use flowers, and for the Mojo Monday sketch challenge 172.

Here is the sketch:

My new stamp is actually a retired Hero Arts Stamp and I was so happy to win it recently from Hero Arts. The hare image is Hero Arts - H1835 Mountain Hare.  The flowers on the bunny reminded me of the Poppy Patch set  from Flourishes and I think  they look lovely together. The background is Hero Arts K5191 Kanji Poem.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Suzz

Twelve days of Tags - Day #4

Loved that Tim's tag #4 today featured patterned paper. I used to never use PP and always stamped my backgrounds but there are so many pretty papers out there and you can stamp on them too! :)

Here is my take on tag #4.  I am also going to pop this over into the Simon Says Stamp and Show your Tag challenge and The Artistic Stamper December Challenge. :)

The paper is from the Father Christmas pack of paper from Pink Paislee. The edges are sponged and images stamped using Faded Jeans Ranger Distress Inks. The Postcard and Script are Stampers Anonymous. The tiny snowflakes are from Memory Box. The sentiment is Cornish Heritage Farm.  The snowflakes on the pendant is the Hero Arts DesignBlock. Once again this was really fun to create. I won't mention that I created it twice because I wanted my image to work with the Postcard stamp. :)

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Joy and Blessings to You!

Happy Sunday to you! 

I created this card today for the Simon Says Stamp and Show your Distress Inks. I love using my distress inks. I went looking for some inspiration today in Jacqueline's flickr photo stream and found this beautiful card. I was trying to capture the softness in her hydrangea in the blurry watery edges on my berries.

The Ranger inks used were Aged Mahogany, Brushed Corduroy and Vintage Photo.  The stamps are Hero Arts and Penny Black.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Beyond the Sea

Happy Saturday!

Here is a little card, (for me) that I created this morning. I created it based on the CardPatterns Sketch 91 using a circle which also works for Marks Finest Papers Challenge #30 and for the Simon Says Stamp and Show whatever makes you Happy!

 

The Artistic Outpost lighthouse is stamped using Versafine Black Onyx on October Afternoon SeaSide. 

The background is colored using watercolor pencils and white highlighter. After I finished I clear embossed the entire image. 

The background paper is from the same collection. I embossed the brown cardstock using the Cuttlebug embossing folder. 

I have to confess that after I started playing with the Oz collage plate last time I had to run out and pick up a piece of burlap.  I wanted to have some on hand for the scarecrow.  It has been sitting on my shelf and today after I pulled out my Beyond the Sea lighthouse image I knew I wanted to incorporate the burlap. It works as great texture and you can unravel the edges to create a fringe.  

The stars are from the Christmas trim section at Hobby Lobby and actually are a garland for a tree. I keep pulling them off the wire to use as accents. 

Here is the lovely sketch from CardPatterns. 

I also am happy to share that Artistic Outpost is having a sale! Here are all the details!

Artistic Outpost is running Pre-Black Friday sale now through November 30th, 2010!  The Artistic Outpost Pre-Black Friday Sale features 10% off all rubber stamps, and that's not all! For every $50 you spend, they'll also send you a special $10 gift code to be used on your Artistic Outpost purchases in January**  These gift codes stack! If you spend $100 you will get a $20 certificate, spend $150 get a $30 certificate. You'll also receive free shipping when your order totals $50 US ($150 internationally).

To receive your Pre-Black Friday Savings click here to shop, then use the coupon code BlackFriday to receive your 10% reduction on your rubber stamp purchases. **Gift Codes will be emailed to you in December. (GC valid on purchases January 11 - 31st 2011).

*Please note if you order more than 6 sheets of EZMount cling foam, free shipping will not apply. These items are bulkier and require extra shipping costs.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Simon Says Stamp and Show me spooky

Show us something Spooky is the challenge this week at the Simon Says Stamp and Show.   This is my Halloween card for my daughter. It started out as a card for my son but ended up with the stylish witch from Artistic Outpost.  My dd will like the colors on the card and hopefully the image!

What you can't see on the card from the picture is there is a sheer piece of purple fabric over the embossed paper. I re-cycled the fabric from a bouquet of flowers. Tied the knots to represent a quilted fabric. 

One more Halloween card to go!

Have a lovely day.

Suzz

I believe in Fairies

Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge is grunge.  They left it up to your interpretation. I take that to mean distressing up the project a little. 

I started with this:

 My daughter was using a deck of cards and when she tried to take them out she ripped the box and of course left it lying there after she was done.  I was going to throw it out and then decided to keep it for a future project.

Well when I received my Artistic Outpost stamps I also received this really beautiful set called Neverland with the most adorable Tinkerbell.  I decided she would look so cute in a little shadowbox. So I created this:

The flowers are from another AO set called Bloom and Grow. The little butterflies are actually stamped with Tinkerbell. You can't see it but her face is peeking out on the butterflies. :)

The inks are Memento Bahama Blue, Memento Rich Cocoa, Adirondack Citrus, and Versafine Vintage Sepia.

Hope you have a lovely Saturday. I am hoping to have some inky time! Yeah!

Suzz

Midnight Butterflies and a few challenges

Louise's challenge for Tag Tuesday this week is Butterflies..  Now you know I am not going to pass that up.. :)  Simon Says Stamp and Show's challenge this week is to use layers. (Stamping or layering of anything) another thing I have a hard time refusing...

I started with my tag in the shape of a butterfly and put it onto a card. My picture is of the finished project.

 I saw this dress on the Emmy's last night and I thought it was absolutely stunning because it was black and faded into greys and shades of black.  (Of course on the shows where they reviewed the clothes they hated it! LOL! Oh. well.. I won't be going to any red carpet events)  The dress was the inspiration for my Midnight butterflies! I don't want you to adjust your monitor. I couldn't believe how my picture turned out... I kept adjusting it in my editing software to get the hues to show up.

You can see the faintest hint of color on the flourish as that is actually a silver piece of shiny cardstock.  I think the camera must have done something to translate this into a black and white photo. :)  Here is a second shot that tells me that it is just the fact that I used all the shades of silver, black and grey.

See the little bit of blue in the reflection?  That is from something on my desk in front of the shadow box reflecting on the flourish. All I can say is this is much prettier IRL you can see all the shades and hues of the black and white.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Simon Says Stamp an Show - Tim Holtz Inspired

The Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge this week is Tim Holtz inspired... How fun... I think I went a little overboard...

There is a little bit of everything going on here. :) The colors are mostly glimmer mist. I started with a doily with paper on one side and the front is gold finish. I flipped it over and laid it on white cardstock. Spritzed Daffodil, Key Lime Pie, and Turquoise blue over the doily which gave me two pieces of my card. The doily in the background and the background for my main images.

After that it was stamping and masking with a plastic die mask from the Tim Holtz birdcage die from Sizzix. The butterfly is from white crepe streamers I purchased as the store and sprayed with the same combination of Glimmer Mists.  The ribbon along the right side is from Tattered Angels with similar colors misted on it and scrunched up.

That is the highlights. Hope you are having a fun weekend.  I went to see my youngest cheer today. She looked so cute with her little outfit on and doing her cheers. Very fun!

Have a lovely Sunday.

Suzz

Wee Memories & Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge

Two new challenges for me...

The Simon Says Stamp and Show is a new blog which will have weekly challenges. The first challenge is Things with Wings.  (Great prize! Go check it out!)

Wee Memories challenge this week is Butterflies. One of my favorite embellishments. :)

Now this card  is going to look familiar to my previous card because I created this background as a possible background for my dress form but decided it was the wrong background for my mannequin but it begged me not to put it in the Island of Misfit cards.  I listened and made it into a card with my favorite butterflies.

The background started from a piece of white cardstock. The damask were stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder to create a resist. I then sponged over the surface using a mix of oranges and greens and browns.  I then ironed off the embossing powder on the damasks to stamp over the surface.

I tried something new that I had never tried before after watching too much Design Star. (We are all addicted to that and The Next Food Network Star).  I wanted to see if I could get the rustic torn effect of patches of my background showing through another pattern. So I took a piece of thin copy paper and tore open holes and along the edge to give it a mask but a mask with rough edges. I then stamped over the mask onto my background. It doesn't show up too much here but next time I am going to sponge the edges after I stamp to really show the effect. I like how it turned out.

After that I stamped some of  my flowers and weeds. I then stamped my sentiment with versamark and heat embossed using white embossing powder.

The butterflies were created using the same colors as the background but after they were stamped and sponged I added clear embossing to make the colors pop.

Hope you enjoyed my pattern paper I created. :)

Products:

• Hero Arts - Antique Engravings
• Hero Arts - Real Flowers, Real Watercolor Flowers 
• Hero Arts - Essential Messages
• Hero Arts - Simply Handmade
• Hero Arts - Damask
• Ranger Distress Inks - Crushed Olive, Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Clear and White Embossing Powder
• Flourishes
• Copic - E37 (Colored the gems)

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz