Snips & Snails - Baby Boy Paper Tole Layers Tutorial

Today's challenge over at Split Coast was to use Paper Tole - where you stamp your image several times - cut out the main features and stack them one on top of the other to create depth.

I took pictures of the process as I made my card so that you could see how it was done.


Here is the finished product - where I layered the top of the outfit twice, and the pants once. I then added another layer of the cuffs and pockets .

First, I stamped my image by Lockhart Stamps 3 times on vanilla card stock.
Then I colored in all three images with my Stampin Up Sage Shadow marker.


Next, I cut out 2 of my images, separating the top and bottom of the outfit. You can see my small detail scissors that I used. I highly recommend getting small scissors for cutting out small items. It is much easier to cut around the small angles and pieces with them. Note: When I was done - I decided to add a top layer of pockets - so I stamped my outfit another time on a piece of vanilla cs and colored it in and cut out the pockets.

Here you can see that I cut the cuffs off one pair of pants and put the dimensional foam pieces on the back of two tops, one pair of pants and one set of cuffs. I didn't use the other piece of pants. Then I removed the backings on the dimensionals (I use Stampin Up Dimensionals - I find them to be the best) and attached them over the first stamping.

You can see all my layers here on this side view. This is when I decided it would look better to add another layer of pockets.

Here it is finished - with all the layers of designer paper and card stock. I punched the corners of the image and panel with my corner punch. I also doodled the edges of the image as well as the card, added the ribbon and heated it with my hot gun to curl it.
The instructions for the challenge said that this is easy - it just requires patience and good cutting skills - and they were right. But the outcome is well worth the effort - don't you think? I love the look of this dimensional card and I'm sure that I'll try it with other images. And each time I try it - I'll get better at cutting out the small pieces!

Thanks so much for coming by to see my card - have a great night and see you tomorrow!
Stamps: Lockhart Stamps

Inks: Pitch Black Adirondack

Paper: Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla - SU, DP: Autumn Leaves All Occasion Pack
Supplies: small scissors, black Prismacolor Marker, Sage Shadow SU marker, dimensionals, corner rounder, ribbon: Martha Stewart, hot gun

Two Cards to Share - Sympathy and Paper Pieced Father's Day

I have two cards to share with you tonight - my card for the Split Coast Featured Stamper challenge and a Father's Day card using the technique of paper piecing that was a challenge on Sharon's No Time to Stamp blog on Friday.

First up is my sympathy card which is a Case (copy and share with everyone) of a card made by Laura (Scrapnextras on SCS). You can see her card here. She has a wonderful gallery on Split coast and a wonderful blog that you should check out!

When you copy a featured stamper you are supposed to change at least 2 things on your card. I used different stamps and a different edge punch and I used all soft sky instead of adding white CS. I used twill instead of ribbon and did alternating black and white dots for doodling. I put some Diamond Glaze over the blossoms to add a little shine but I don't think you can see it in the photo.

I put a sympathy sentiment inside my card - but this could also be a card for saying you are sorry for hurting someone's feelings or for having a disagreement with someone.

Stamps: Artfully Asian, So Many Sayings: SU
Paper: Soft Sky, Basic Grey SU
Ink: Pitch Black Adirondack
Accessories: white gel pen, Prismacolor markers: tea green, black, cerulean blue, Martha Stewart punch and twill, Diamond Glaze - Judikens, dimensionals
Techniques: doodling

My second card was made for Sharon's Friday challenge on her blog - No Time to Stamp. The challenge was to use paper piecing on your card. The tie on this cute dog is paper pieced. I stamped the dog image on the vanilla card stock. Then I stamped it again on a piece of blue designer paper (same as the background panel). Then I cut out just the tie piece from the stamping on the blue and attached it over the tie stamped on the vanilla. I colored in my dog with my Prismacolor markers. The dog and sentiment are up on dimensionals. The card is small - 4.5 x 4.5 size. I put it in a regular size envelope when I mail it though so it only costs the regular first class postage rate. If you put it in a small envelope it costs more because it is off-size.

This is such a great techique - you should try it if you haven't already. It works really great on the Chef stamp by Stampin Up - and on all the headless figures (!) of My Favorite Things stamps - and the Hanna's dresses, etc, etc!

Look on the right hand column of my blog under "Look Here to Find" and scroll down to Paper Piecing if you click on it - you'll see my other sample of this technique.

I want to thank you for stopping by - come back tomorrow and see what else I've been working on!

Stamps: Dog- Penny Black, Dad - My Sentiments Exactly
Paper: Black, Very vanilla, Ballet Blue, SU DP
Ink: Pitch Black Adirondack
Accessories: Prismacolor markers, dimensionals
Techniques: paper piecing

Art Imitates Life - Pear Tiles Tutorial

Happy Saturday everyone! I didn't get to stamp last night because DH and I went to see a play called Three Tall Women by Edward Albee. Have you seen it?? It's about a woman at the end of life remembering all the parts of her life - and the 3 women in the play each represent a stage - youth, middle age and elderly. It was really interesting!

So - today I was raring to go on the Inspiration Challenge on Split Coast. Today we were to find something in our home that inspired us to make a card.

I chose this tile table above as inspiration. I got it at Michaels on sale last year and use it inside to put plants on and out on my deck in the summer for drinks or food when we are sitting out there.

It was fun trying to make this card look just like the tile. I took pictures of each step in the process for you to see how I put this together.

First I stamped my pear on the left on a piece of Very Vanilla Card Stock. I used markers to color right on the stamp so it could be multicolored. Then I stamped it on a piece of paper and cut it out. This cut out is my mask to tape over the stamped pear on the left so when I stamp the second pear it looks like it's behind the first pear. I use Scotts Double sided removable tape to attach the mask so it comes off easily without damaging my stamping.

Then I stamped my second pear (coloring it with markers and not coloring the leaf ) on the right over the mask. I also stamped my branch 3 times connecting the ends a little so it looks like one long branch. I colored in my branch and it's leaves.

Next I moved the mask to cover the second pear and stamped the leaves and flowers. Again - the leaves will look like they are behind the pears. You can move the mask back and forth as you decide where you want to stamp your leaves.

Next I removed the mask and stamped a few leaves over the pears.

Then I cut up my image in a random pattern. Be sure you lay the cut out pieces back down in order as you cut them or you may have trouble figuring out where they go!! I laid my pieces on a Sahara Sand background piece to space them out evenly. Next I attached the pieces to the background attaching each corner first to try and make it spaced as evenly as possible as I attached everything.

I realized that the pears looked too light on my stamping and were sort of overcome by the dark leaves - so I colored in the centers with my marker and then blended it a little with my aqua painter. The final step is to attach the panel to the black card. This card is 6 x 6 so rather large!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you try it out - I'd love to see what you do with this! Link back your card if you create something!! Have a great rest of your Saturday - see you tomorrow!

Stamps: Pear- Rubber Stampede, Splatter - Hampton Arts, Branch - Stamps by Judith

Leaf - Blossoms Abound Stampin Up, Flower - Bodacious Bouquet Stampin Up.

Inks: Meadow & Lettuce by Adirondacks

Paper: Black, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla: Stampin Up

Supplies: SU Earthtone Markers, Scotts Removable double sided tape, aqua painter

Misty Sympathy - Riding off to Arizona & How to Make Clouds

Hope everyone is having a good day today! We are supposed to be getting some rain but so far it's just cloudy and there is talk of a little snow coming in the next few days - hopefully north and west of here!!

I have two cards to share with you today - the one above is for today's Split Coast Challenge to 'Just Spray It' - to use some sort of spray (water, glimmer mist, airbrush, hairspray - whatever!) on your card.

My second card which will be further down here - is the retirement card I made for my sister to give to her brother-in-law. Finally finished it after talking about it here for 2 days!

For my challenge card - I inked my stamps with Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Ranger and then misted the stamps with water in a spray bottle lightly before stamping them (took several tries to get it not too wet!!!) I used the Paisley background stamp, stamping it on white Papertrey Card Stock and a hydrangea stamp from Anna Griffin that I stamped on watercolor paper. I colored in a few of the petals with my Stampin Up marker just for a little color accent. I pierced several edges - put ribbon around the Brown Bazzill panel and distressed the watercolor edges. The sentiment words are by Papertrey from the Paper Tray set.

I also show the inside where I attached a Very Vanilla cardstock piece and stamped the sentiment on it. That stamp is by Verses Rubber Stamps

Misting a stamp with water is a fun technique - it can give you many different looks depending on how much you mist.

Stamps: Hydrangea: Anna Griffin, Sentiment: Papertrey Ink - Paper Tray, Paisley BG - SU
Paper: Bazzill Brown, Papertreyink White, water color paper
Ink: Vintage Photo Distress Ink - Ranger
Accessories: Distresser, water spray bottle, dimensionals, paper piercer, pad & grid, SU marker, brown satin Ribbon
Techniques: paper piercing, misting

My sister asked me to make a card for her brother-in-law as he is retiring in May. She said he likes car racing and they are moving to Arizona (from MA) after they retire. So this is what I came up with.

I got the Arizona post card image from a book with a CD of images called 'Old Time Travel Posters and Luggage Labels' from Dover Publications They also sell them at Barnes & Noble and Borders Books.

First I made clouds in the sky using a home made template that I cut using scalloped scissors and sponged along the edges with soft sky. I've included a picture below showing my template and sample clouds. I learned this from Mothermark (Cindy) on Split Coast.

I made the road with a piece of black card stock that I cut with my curvy paper cutter from Creative Memories and added the 'lines' with punches from the horizontal slot punch from Stampin Up.

The cartoon race car is a clip art from Word. I stamped a little grass below the 'street'. All the cut outs are up on dimensionals. Inside you can see that I stamped clouds all over. The racing flags are a sticker from a set I picked up at Michaels. The sentiments are listed in the supplies list below.

I think Dave will get a kick out of this card - don't you??!

Stamps: sentiment: Papertrey Ink - Paper Tray, grass - Sutter Enterprises Inside Sentiments: Happy Retirement - American Art Stamp, Always take the scenic route - Inky Antics, and Dave was stamped with Karen Fisher alphabet Snap Stamps.
Paper: Soft Sky, Black, White, Really rust, so saffron
Ink: Soft Sky: Su, Pitch Black & Meadow Adirondack
Accessories: slot punch, clip art, Dover clip art, circle punches, gingham ribbon, curvy paper cutter - Creative Memories, cloud template - home made, racing sticker: Michaels, dimensionals
Techniques: sponging

Here is how I make my clouds. I made a template with a piece of cardstock that I just cut in different curves with my scalloped edge decorative scissors. You hold the template starting at the base of where you want the sky - and just sponge sections just a little over the edges - then keep moving the template from left to right and then move up intil you have your full sky. I find that Soft Sky Ink is a perfect color for clouds. Give it a try - they really come out neat!

Thanks for stopping in tonight - I'd love if you'd leave a comment for me about what you think of my cards - have a wonderful night!

Kent and I are going to a play tomorrow night - so I probably won't be posting again until Saturday - so see you then!

Cat Tail's a la Zindorf

You may have noticed that I wasn't here yesterday??? I was dutifully sitting at my diningroom table pulling my hair out doing my taxes. I 'think' I'm done with the Federal but still need to do the State one and then review the Federal one more time. The forms are so absolutely rediculous aren't they??? - they drive me crazy. There has to be a more straightforward way for these to be done!

So - by hook or by crook - I was going to stamp today. And today is the Sketch challenge over on Split Coast which I always do.

Another thing I have been wanting to do is try out one of the terrific tutorials Michelle Zindorf does on her blog. She is a wonderful artist and shows how she creates her beautiful cards - step by step - so we all can recreate them ourselves !

Since the stamped panel on this sketch is only 1.5 inches wide I knew I would only be making a small sample of Michelles technique so it was less intimidating than trying to fill the whole panel on my first attempt!

Here is Michelle's tutorial for her Sunset Wheat card. I used my cat tails stamp from Stamps by Judith which I stamped using river rock and versamark inks and embossed in clear embossing powder. Then I sponged all the colors on according to Michelle's directions. I sponged rather than brayering as I cannot seem to get good coverage over embossing the way she does with her brayering. I masked for the moon and overstamped the wheat in black ink at the end. See her tutorial for full instructions on all these techniques.

I stamped a portion of the Cheesecloth backgrounder stamp by Cornish Heritage Farms on the back panel using Espresso ink by Adirondack. The sentiment and circle are by Verve Visual. The cat tails panel is up on dimensionals.

I am pleased with how my first attempt came out - I can't wait to have some more time to try out another of her tutorials on a full size card!

Thanks so much for dropping by - for those of you following such things - I have almost finished the retirement card for my sister's brother-in-law that I mentioned on Monday but I'm not totally happy with it yet - I'll post it as soon as I am!

I'm afraid I have to drag myself back to the diningroom table to attack the State Taxes - wish I could stay here longer!>>>>......

Stamps: cat tail - Stamps by Judith, Cheesecloth - Cornish Heritage Farms, Circle & Sentiment - Verve Visual Wonderful Wishes
Paper: River Rock, Really Rust, Black, PapertreyInk White
Ink: River Rock, Really Rust, More Mustard, Cranberry Crisp, Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Versamark Embossing ink
Accessories: sponges, crop a dial, eyelets, dimensionals, clear EP
Techniques: embossing, sponging

What a Pear - Flap Fold Anniversary Card

Well - I went to Jury Duty this morning and I'm happy to say they didn't need any jurors today so we were dismissed a little after 12 noon. The only trial up today chose to let the judge decide the case. Phew!! I believe in doing my civic duty and certainly would have served if empanelled - but I'm just as happy that they didn't need me!

So of course I went shopping at AC Moore and got some nice pieces of designer paper - one of which I used on this card today - it's by K & Company - Amy Butler.

What a great Try a New Technique challenge they had on SCS today - a Flap Fold card - I have been wanting to try one of these. Guest hostess JoLynn found this tutorial by Rose Ann Reynolds on the Scor-pal site.

I made mine an anniversary card - I used my Coluzzle circle and knife to cut the curved top edge and the flap is kept closed with a Magnetic snap Closure by Basic Grey that I purchased on line at Eclectic Paperie. I stamped the pear twice with embossing clear ink and covered it with Denim Embossing Powder from Adirondack. I colored them with my Prismacolor markers. Then I cut one with a nestability circle and cut out the other. I had to stamp an extra leaf to have one going to the left. I put one pear up on dimensionals as well as the sentiment. I sponged the edges of the flap, the circles and the sentiment with Buckaroo Blue ink.

On the inside pictures you can see where I put one piece of the magnetic closure on the top flap - I attached it with a glue dot - the other piece is underneath the verse panel. You add the panel to cover the magnet. You also can see that I stamped the pear over the verse to add a little interest. I used my Soft Sand Shadow ink by Memories so you could still read the words.

I'm also submitting this card to the Caardvarks Homegrown challenge - to use fruit or vegetables on your card. See that challenge here.

Well - I'm off to cook supper for my starving husband who just finished up painting our bedroom walls and ceiling - he really is a handy-man! I love the smell of fresh paint and it's fun to have a room done over - almost like you are in a new house! Now I have to decorate to go with the new color (Marlboro Blue).

I also have to design a card my sister wants for her brother-in law who is retiring - he loves race car driving and is moving to Arizona so I have to incorporate those two things into the card! Fun Challenge!

Thanks for dropping in today - keep your eyes peeled for my retirement card - it may get posted tonight or maybe not until tomorrow! I still have to do my taxes too! (can you tell I'm avoiding that!!??)



Stamps: Pear: Rubber Stampede, Sentiment: Karen Foster Snap Stamps, verse: Verses Rubber Stamps
Paper: River Rock, Buckaroo Blue, Very Vanilla, DP: K&Co Amy Butler
Ink: Buckaroo Blue, Pitch Black Adirondack , Soft Sand Shadow - Memories
Accessories: Coluzzle Circle Cutting System, tag punch, oval punch, brad, Scor-pal, denim EP Adirondack, Hot Gun, paper piercer, sponge, magnetic snap closure - Basic Grey, glue dots, dimensionals, prismacolor markers
Techniques: sponging, coluzzle, embossing

You've Got Male

Well - we all had a busy family day today I think - but we're finally home or the company has left and we've cleaned up.... And off we go to our stamping rooms because we just really need to stamp every day - right!??! or at least look at something that someone else has stamped? We are all nodding our heads.... !

I checked out today's Featured Stamper's gallery late last night and had already chosen which card I wanted to CASE (copy and share with everyone!) and that is this masculine card by Amy - Pickletree on Split Coast. I changed the stamps and the shape of the metal frame but kept the colors and layout the same. I love the Stampin Up colors of Blue Bayou and Soft Sky together - I used it on yesterdays inspiration card in the post below. The added strip of Chocolate Chip just makes it more masculine I think. I used the fun computer stamps I have from the Lizzie Anne Designs set called All Guy. I distressed the edges and then sponged them with Blue Bayou Ink. This card would be great for the computer guy in your life!

Thanks so much for dropping by today - I'm sure you had a lot going on today and I'm so pleased that coming by here was on your list! I have jury duty tomorrow - hopefully they won't need me for a trial! Check back and I'll let you know!!

Stamps: Lizzie Anne Design - All guy
Paper: blue bayou, very vanilla, choc chip, soft sky
Ink: blue bayou; SU, Espresso Adirondack
Accessories: metal tag, glue dots, circle punches, dimensionals, sponge, distresser
Techniques: sponging

The Charming Sea and RAK's

This is my card for today's Inspiration Challenge over on Split Coast Stampers. We were shown this picture below as our inspiration. We can be inspired to recreate the piece itself - or just be inspired by the colors or shapes or where ever it takes us!
I am usually pretty literal in designing the cards I make for the inspiration challenge- don't know what that says about me!!?? but if I have similar stamps, colors, papers - I go with what I see.

I was inspired by the colors - blue and silver - and the bracelet seacost theme. I silver embossed my images and colored the seashell and starfish (from Crab & Co: Stampin Up) with different shades of blue Prismacolor markers. I used some of my brand new PapertreyInk stamps from the It's a Celebration set. I tied on silver charms with silver cording - added glass baubles and cut the Soft Sky card stock with my curvy paper cutter from Creative Memories.

I just loved this inspiration piece - it reminds me of Sanibel Island, FL where Kent and I have gone for several winters and I love to go walk along the beach and pick up shells - there are thousands there all the time! - and it makes me yearn for summer. Actually it would just be nice to have Spring at this point wouldn't it!!! LOL!!!

Stamps: Crab & Co: SU, It's a Celebration: Papertrey, Sentiment: Natures Images
Paper: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky
Ink: versamark clear embossing ink
Accessories: silver Embossing Powder, hot gun, prismacolor markers, curvy paper cutter: creative Memories, charms, silver cording, glass baubles
Techniques: embossing

I have been fortunate to receive several RAK cards and gifts (Random Acts of Kindness) in the mail this week from some of my Split Coast Stampers/Blogging friends and thought I'd share them with you here. It is so much fun to find happy mail in my mail box and to know that people all around the country that share my love of stamping are thinking of me! I am truly blessed by you all!

This card is from Cindy (Mothermark) and look how well it matches my Kitchen wallpaper! I had commented on her card saying just that and she sent it along to me! Cindy lives in CO

This beautiful Easter card and Nail pin are from Carolyn (Snowmanqueen) who lives in OK

This lovely card is from my fellow blogger Linsey (Scrapperlinsey) and she wrote a lovely note of encouragement inside regarding the upcoming workshops I'm going to be teaching. Linsey hails from WA.

This fun gift package arrived from Tina in OH (Gardendiva) and included a fun hand made crimped envelope with 4 cuttled panels inside and some silver charms to use on cards. I just love the eggs stamped on the envelope!

And this lovely easter card with the fun carrot DP and little cellophane and beed carrot was sent by Anne (jdmommy). She lives in MA - not too far from me!

I appreciate your stopping by and looking at my project tonight! Have a blessed Easter Day and I'll look for you again - right back here!

You Make My Day Award from Smilyn Stef!

Smilyn Stef of Ingenious Inkling gave me this You Make my Day Award & my instructions are to pass it along to five bloggers I find inspiring.

Thanks Stef for making my day with this recognition from you!

Please check out these fun inspiring blogs!

Linsey at Outside the Lines

Danielle at Wild Dragonfly Designs

LeAnne at Wee Inklings

Beverly at Beestamper

Michele at Freedom in Creating

Two Different Thanks

First - I just need to reflect on today being Good Friday and remember the great sacrifice that was made in Christian history for us. I served as a layreader at church this evening and it was a very moving service with the altar stripped and just the stark cross there. It was a good time to stop and reflect.

And we have the happy Easter Morning to look forward to! Has everyone cleaned their homes and bought all the food supplies if you are hosting dinner? We are going to my niece, Katie's, home this year so I just need to make scalloped potatoes which I will be putting together tomorrow!

I'm going to bring the supplies to make these two cards with my sister, Marcia, and nieces, Christie and Katie, on Easter - we have fun after dinner on holidays making cards together - and everyone can always use Thank You cards!

Today's Limited Supplies challenge on Split Coast was to make 2 cards using the same stamps and DP's but different layouts, tools and/or embellishments.

I just got a great book called Card Makers Sketch Book that has over 200 card designs in it with colorful samples shown for each sketch. I have found it to be a great help in designing cards. I used this book for the two sketches on these cards.

For the challenge - I used two different sketches, different Cuttlebug folders and different color ribbons on my cards. I held one card horizontal and one vertical and used different ink on the sentiment. I was surprised and happy to see that the Stampin Up Ruby Red Card Stock matches the Papertrey Berry Sorbet ribbon and the Papertrey Spring Moss ribbon goes well with the SU Certainly Celery CS.

Which one do you like best???

Thanks for spending some time with me here tonight - be sure to check out the Easter Carrots on the posting below!

Stamps: PapertreyInk: Mixed Messages, Borders and Corners-Circles
Paper: Bazzill Tan, Ruby Red, Certainly Celery, DP: SU Ginger Blossom
Ink: Pitch Black Adirondack, Ruby Red
Accessories: Marvy scalloped punches, circle punch, Spring Moss & Berry Sorbet Ribbons: PapertreyInk, dimensionals

Carrot Treat Box & Shredded Ribbon Tutorial

I wanted to make some treats for Easter dinner at my niece's home for her guests and I found this fun carrot pattern on SCS and thought they would look so CUTE on the dinner table. I wanted to make the ribbon that ties the top shut look sort of like a carrot top and so tried shredding it and I thought it came out pretty good!

This is also my project for the Ways To Use it Challenge on SCS - to use a tag.

Here is my first (!) tutorial on my blog on how I made this cute treat:


First I cut out and stamped my carrot pattern using a little flowers bg stamp (see supplies list below). Next I scored the lines indicated with a ruler and my scoring piece from my Scor-Pal. You can use a Scor-Pal but the lines are kind of irregular in their placement so I found it was easier using a ruler. I glued the edge using Scotch Quick Dry adhesive that I bought at Michaels.


Then I punched a slot on each of the larger tabs - one on front and one on back for the ribboon to go through.
The ribbon is 8" of 1/2" green grosgrain. I put it through the slot punches with even pieces on each side - then I tied it in a double knot.
Next I cut the bound edges off each side - just a thin sliver so it releases the cross threads. You want to cut up as far as you want to shred.
Then take a slightly thick sewing needle and stick it in the cross threads and pull down - you need to hold onto the ribbon above where you are pulling as it takes some tugging - just keep riping out the cross threads until you are up as far as you want - in other words - until you have the length of fringe that you are looking for - if you want more, just cut off more of the bound edge.
And here is the curly top to the carrot!


The final step was to stamp the cute rabbit from Lockhart Stamps, (it's on sale right now so check it out!), color her in with my Prismacolor markers and cut the petite ovals with my Nestability dies using my Cuttlebug. I attached an eyelet using my Cropadial and tied it around the ribbon using Baker's string from Martha Stewart that I got at Michaels.


Let me know if you try this ribbon shredding on your project and link it here in a comment - I'd love to see what you make!

I've used this ribbon technique on cards too - check out my 'How Frazzled Are You' card in an earlier post. It just adds a fun demension to what ever you put it on.


Thanks for stopping by today - I'd love to hear what you think about my first ever tutorial - you can click on 'comment' below and let me know!


Later Gater!

Paper: Only Orange, So Saffron, Hansome Hunter: Stampin Up
Stamps: Beyond the Basics - Flowered bg stamp: Stampin Up, Bunny: Lockhart Stamp Co., Sentiment: Rubber Soul
Ink: Only Orange, So Saffron: Stampin Up, Pitch Black Adirondack
Supplies: Green Grosgrain Ribbon, yellow eyelet, Cropadial, Slot Punch, Nestatilities Petite Ovals, Bakers Thread: Martha Stewart, Michaels. Sewing needle, Prismacolor Markers

Masculine Ride

I feel like it's a Saturday because I'm on vacation and I've been home all day puttering around!

I needed to create a masculine birthday card for our next card stamping workshop that 2 friends and I run at our church so I used today's sketch challenge as well as Monday's Try a New Technique challenge over at SCS to help me design it. I chose darker colors for my panels and card since it's for a guy. I had this fun cobblestone DP that I thought would look like a road or a wall around my antique truck. I purchased it at Michaels. I rubbed creamy caramel on the cuttlebug mesh folder before embossing it on the Kraft panel. This was the technique challenge - negative cuttlebug and the instructions from SCS are listed below. The edges of the car and sentiment are sponged and the car edges are distressed as well. I just used little pieces for the green around my panel - one on top and one on bottom rather than adding yet another layer to this card!! Both of my stamps are from Stampin Up - Classic Pickups and It's Your Birthday sets.

Here are Ann's instructions for the negative cuttlebug technique:

1. Take your CB folder and open it up so the negative side is facing down on your table. This is the side where the CB logo is. 2. Using whatever color ink, and whatever type of ink, ink up the negative side using either a sponge, brayer or the ink pad itself if you are using spots or the petal chalk inks. 3. Lay your cardstock over your inked side, close the folder and run it through your CB. Make sure to wash your folder ASAP, to avoid any staining from the ink. 4. Now you have an inked and embossed image to add that extra touch to your card!! Remember, if you are using chalk or pigment inks, you will want to wait for them to dry before putting your panel on your card. You can also use your heat gun to help them dry.

Hope you have a great rest of your night! I'm off to bed soon - I need to catch up on some sleep if at all possible!

Stamps: SU: Classic Pickups & It's your Birthday
Paper: Always artichoke, Kraft, choc chip, DP Rock Pathway by Jill Webster (Michaels)
Ink: Espresso Adirondack
Accessories: Cuttlebug folder: mesh, dimensionals, sponge
Techniques: negative cuttlebug, sponging

Just Hatched for Easter

I'm on vacation this week so I'm having fun getting in more stamping time and may even be able to clean up my Stamping Room!!

DH, Kent, and I just spent 3 days up in Vermont visiting his brother and sister-in-law. They have a beautiful post and beam house up there. We went snowshoeing twice - right from their front door into the hilly woods around their home. It was sunny and bright - and not too cold - perfect weather to be out there. Here are a few pics of our outing!




Chad & Kent surveying the land - Kent, Me and Blue - Carol giving Blue a treat.

Now on to my posting today! I made this cute Easter Treat Package using the PapertreyInk set released in February 'Just Hatched'. The stamps, DP's and ribbon are all from PapertreyInk. I had submitted this for their March Guest Star Stamper competition. I got the clear box from Clear Bags but Papertrey also sells them. I used shredded Easter paper inside that I got from Michaels. I love how it matched the Very Vanilla card stock. I cut the ovals with my Nestabilities. The candies are small York Peppermint Patties and I punched & stamped the circles that I put on them. It took a while to get them all in there with the shredded paper evenly distributed around them! The CS papers are Very Vanilla and Soft Sky. I thought this would be a nice gift to bring to a dinner host on Easter Day or to bring someone in a nursing home when you visit etc. A small token that looks nice and festive!

Note I got some inquiries about the size of the container: the clear box is 6" x 4.5" x 1/2" and also fits 4 cards and 4 envelopes if you wanted to package up some cards! They come with little clear bands )like elastics) to loop around the corners to hold the box closed too - what fun!


Here are a few more pics of our trip to VT.






Bear claw marks on a tree. The owl in their yard A Moose Statue outside a shop!

Thanks for spending part of your day with me here - I'll be back later with some cards!

Stamps: PapertreyInk Just Hatched
Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Sky, DP: PapertreyInk
Ink: Pitch Black Adirondack
Accessories: clear box, nestability ovals, ribbon: PapertreyInk, dimensionals, circle punch