Inspired by the Web

This week for the Inspiration Challenge on Split Coast - Stef showed us Bellacor Vases and I found this really fun Halloween Tall Vase.I thought my Spider Web Cuttlebug folder would be the perfect thing to create this card. It worked just the way I envisoned it which doesn't always happen! I thought I might have to add some ink to the embossed image but the embossing made the clear acetate card stock turn milky white so you could see the web. I used a deckled edge rectangle Nestability to cut the window. The spider is from Spooky Sweets from Papertrey Ink.

Here is the inside view of my 6x3 card. I stamped another spider on white and placed it in the same position over the one on the front. I also stamped a spider and sentiment on the inside so it could be seen through the 'web' when the card was closed. I attached the Clear Cardstock from Papertrey Ink to the card with 1/8th inch red line super tacky tape. I thought it looked clean enough to not have to cover the edge. I sponged around all the edges with Close to Cocoa ink by Stampin Up.

I love how this spooky little card came out! I think I'll make some more!

Thanks for coming by today!

Stamps: Spooky Sweets, Spooky Sweets II, PTI
Paper: Pumpkin Pie: SU, Clear card stock, white: PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Close to Cocoa: SU
Accessories: sponge, circle punch: SU, 1/8" tacky tape, spider web cuttlebug folder, deckled edge rectangle Nestability

Fun with Copics and Amuse Stamps!

I took a Copics class Friday night at the Papertree Store in Manchester, NH (Hi Michelle!) that was taught by Amuse Instructor Jennifer Daloisio (Hi Jenn!) Here are the wonderful cards that we made. All of the stamps and papers are by Amuse.

This masculine card below was made using the Pallette Blending Technique - you use this technique when you only have a light and dark color and no third color to make your color blend gradual. This is how Jenn described the technique: "Color lightest color on image. Color darkest color on an acrylic block. Using the lighter color marker pick up the darker color off the acrylic block onto the tip . Starting at the edges that you want the darkest, color pulling it into the center. Repeat until you are happy with the look".

This was the most difficult technique we used and none of us liked it very much (!) as it was hard to control the darkness of the color - but it was good to know in case we were coloring and didn't have the right shades of Copics.

All of the next cards were colored using two or three shades of similar color Copics. We started coloring the whole image with the lightest shade - then added the darkest shades to the edges we wanted to shadow - then added the middle shade next to the darkest shade - then blended over the whole thing again with the lightest shade. We repeated this process until we had the look we desired. (phew!)

Look how cute this elephant with the baby is (and we thought only the Stork delivered babies!) an the little girl swinging in the tree is just adorable.

I loved the trio of cupcakes (they made me hungry for one!) and what a fun carrot car!

I'm posting these from the cottage in NH! (yes - I may not stamp when away but I have to be on my lap top so I can still check out everyone's blogs!)

Thanks for dropping by today.

Hot Tip: Today's the day Waltzingmouse Stamps is releasing 4 new wonderful sets - there's a Halloween set, A Christmas set, a pretty little angel set with different outfits! and a super labels set so there's sure to be something that 'Tickles' as Claire always says!

Celebrate the Journey

I was asked by a coworker to make an upbeat 50th b'day card for a friend who is going to be having a big b'day celebration later this month. He said the friend is into planes so I thought this Cosmo Cricket Lil Man designer paper would work well on it. The Ways to Use it Challenge on Split Coast was to add pleated ribbon or paper on your card - so I tried it here even though it's usually a 'no, no' to put ribbon on a guy's card - and it seemed to work - yes?


My design was inspired by this card by beccabatgirl that I found in the Split Coast gallery when I searched on birthday.


I colored the grunge board numbers with an orange Copic and I stamped Happy Birthday repeatedly over the star (can you see it there?).


Here's what I stamped on the inside of the card. A positive upbeat sentiment don't you think?!

I hope the birthday boy likes it!

We're headed back to the cottage in NH for the weekend - a big 'cousin's' party on the lake - so you probably won't see me again until Sunday or Monday - have a great weekend everyone!

And remember to check out Waltzingmouse Stamps - Claire is posting 4 terrific new sets for sale on Sunday!

Stamps: Birthday basics: PTI , Inside: Going Places: My Favorite Thing, Karen Foster Snap Stamps.
Paper: White, ripe avocado, Bity Star Basics: PTI, Tangerine Tango: SU, DP Cosmo Cricket: Lil Man
Ink: Ripe avocado: PTI, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: saddle stitched ribbon: PTI, Tim Holtz Grunge Board Numbers, copic, spellbinders tag trio, circle punch: Fiskars, Janome sewing machine, nestability classic stars, foam dimensionals, distresser: Heidi Swapp, glue dots, dew drops, Tag Trio Nestabilities.

Boy Oh Boy!

One stamping thing I did do on my vacation was to practice coloring with my Copics - I brought a bunch of stamped Magnolia images, such as the Edwin above, with me to the cottage. So I had this cute little guy all ready for this Split Coast Sketch Challenge card today!

I'm also taking a Copics class at the Papertree in Manchester, NH this Friday - so hopefully I'll learn some good techniques!

I used the Argyle Cuttlebug folder on all the panels. The Edwin is cut out and popped up on foam dimensionals. The sentiment is from a set I've had forever called Classic Baby by Scraptrends. Inside I stamped a happy birthday sentiment.

The papers are all Papertrey ink.

Here's a hot tip!!! Claire Brennan is releasing 4 new stamp sets this Sunday, 8/9, check out her fun sneek peeks and a chance to win one of the new sets over at Waltzingmouse!! She's showing some really wonderful Halloween and Christmas Stamps!

Thanks so much for dropping by today!

Stamps: Baseball Edwin: Magnolia, Sentiment: Classic Baby- Scrapbook Trends
Paper: White, Aqua Mist, Spring Rain: PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Argyle Cuttlebug folder, Copics: BG11, BG10, BG13, BS10, B41, B45, B23, C1, E34, R20, E51, Spica Clear (on wings), Foam dimensionals, scalloped circle punch, & circle punch: Marvy, oval punch: SU

Come On Over Friend!

It is just so great to be stamping again every day! Boy did I miss it! Today's card is for the Color Challenge on Split Coast: to use Close to Cocoa, Blush Blossom & Certainly Celery - I used similar Papertrey Ink colors - Sweet Blush and Spring Moss.


The sketch I used was the Doubledog Dare Challenge from hostess Beverly (Beestamper) who gave us this great sketch to use this week! We'd love to have you join in - just use DDC in the keywords when you load your sketch card in your SCS gallery.


I've been itching to use this fun new On My Couch stamp set by PTI - don't you just love the little pillows??!!


Stamps: PTI: On My Couch
Paper: White, Spring Moss, Sweet Blush, Text style Bitty Star Basics: PTI, Close to Cocoa: SU
Ink: Dark Chocolate: PTI
Accessories: circle & scallop circle punches: SU, spring moss satin ribbon: PTI, foam dimensionals, glue dots, EK Success punch

God is Never Changing

If you've visited my blog this past week - you know that I was on vacation and not stamping! And I'm SO HAPPY to be at it again! I think we all need an occasional break but then it's wonderful to get back to it too! (I know you are all nodding your heads in agreement!)


I just had to do the Featured Stamper challenge on Split Coast - Teresa has a wonderful gallery and I could have chosen several to case. I finally picked this pretty card - first because I love that Stampin Up ribbon and I never seem to use it - and also because I liked the sketch. I changed the designer paper and stamps and I didn't do stitching - I did a little doodling and added corners and a border on the bottom instead.


Instead of a card - I made mine a 6x6 scrapbook page as this project is also for the His Holy Name challenge that I do every other Sunday. For Week 15 Patter gave us God's Attribute of Immutable (never changing). What a comfort to know that God does not change - that he will always be there loving and caring for us!

You can join in on the Holy Name challenges at any time - click the link on my sidebar to get to Patter's blog. She posts them there as well as on Split Coast.


Stamps: In Bloom: PTI, Karen Foster Snap Stamps
Paper: White, Purepoppy, TextStyle In Bloom: PTI, Basic Black: SU
Ink: Menento Tuxedo Black, Pure Poppy: PTI
Accessories: Modern Label PUnch, Photo Corner Punch: SU,, Striped Grosgrain Ribbon: SU, Jumbo Eyelets, SU, Cropadile, Type Key Letter Stickers: Nostalgiques/Sticko, Foam dimensionals, Pinking scissors: Fiskars, Micron Pen Black, Distresser: Heidi Swapp, sponge

All You Need in Life

I made this chocolate card for two challenges today. The Split Coast Clean and Simple Challenge to use stitching on your card - and the Doubledog Dare Challenge I do with some Split Coast friends. Anne (Itsapassion) was our hostess this past week and her challenge was 'Good Enough to Eat' where our main image had to be edible and all our colors had to have edible names! (this was harder to do than it sounds!)

I used Chocolate Chip, Vintage Cream and Raspberry Fizz card stock - I was trying to figure out how to have a silver wrapping on the kiss that would have an edible name - and then realized Silver Ice Stickles would work! and the ink I used is Dark Chocolate. We'd love to have you join in the DDC challenges - just add DDC to the keyword when you load your edible card to your Split Coast Gallery. Scroll down to Post #20 in this forum on SCS. You can see all the DDC cards here.

Stamps: Sentiment: Inkadinkado, Kiss: Rubbernecker
Paper: Vintage cream, Raspberry Fizz: PTI, Chocolate Chip: SU
Ink: Dark Chocolate: PTI
Accessories: tissue paper, sewing machine, Silver Ice Stickles, heart punch, foam dimensionals