BBTB2 Challenge - WinterWonderland-Bunny

Oh Boy! We have a BBTB2 Blog Hop going! Our Challenge this week, that adorable bunny from Cricut Cartridge "Winter Wonderland". I used it twice for this card, I cut out the card with the inset bunny from Liz King Patterned Paper and then did an inside panel for it using the diamond pp by Herbanella. Then the bunny was cut from white cardstock and tea dyed. For his eye I used a button and micro beads (Black). His tail is a piece of cotton ball. Buttons and crystal flowers embellish. The tag on the ribbon is 1 3/8" circle, it was also tea dyed and I hand wrote "Thinking of you Always" and it dangles from 2 orings.


I am offering one of my "Beautiful List Makers" as Blog Candy, it will also come with an extra refill pad and a little special surprise. So please leave a comment and I will draw one winner with Random.com on Friday 2/5/10.

Wonderful background paper by Karen Foster, Metal photo corners, yummy ribbon. Word block with embedded crystals. Ready to keep and make your lists in fashion!






After you make a comment so that you can be entered into my drawing for the "Beautiful List Maker", please hop over to see the very talented Shelly. Enjoy the hop and have a wonderful Monday. Hugs

Sweet Things

Happy Sunday Morning Everyone: This is my first project from Cricut Cartridge "Sentimentals" my tip to you if you are going to order "Heritage" go ahead and throw in "Sentimentals" cause you are going to get it one way or the other. The background paper is Making Memories "Metropolitan". The card size is 6"X6". The heart is cut from George (remember that cart?) lol. The hive and bees were cut with Sentimentals and I could not resist the temptation to put some of Martha's goo at the bottom. All colors were done with Copic Markers and the Copic Airbrush. Photo corners are QK. Have a great rest of your weekend. Hugs

At Peace

There have been a few fleeting moments of sunshine this week, not a lot, but some. So I took advantage and ran some errands, there are little toad stools and mushroom caps everywhere because of all the rain, so from there I took my inspiration. I did a line drawing, scanned it in and printed it out twice, one I cut out for a mask, the other I trimmed to a 5"X5" block, applied my masks over the mushrooms and leaf and sprayed in my sky and grass background. Then added color to my mushrooms, etc. with the Copic Markers. The photo corners are Sizzix, the butterflies are Martha Stewart, the backgound paper is Indian Summer by BasicGrey, butterflies were also punched from this. Misc. ribbon, I also wanted words - not really a sentiment, so I took a QK boarder punch trimmed it down, sprayed it with the Copic Airbrush and stamped with a large background tag stamp by "My Sentiments Exactly" and that is where I got my title from. Happy Saturday and be safe. Hugs

PostScript: Here is a bit of a funny! The card has been replaced because I added the endcaps to the words, this morning I looked and I looked for these EKSuccess staples and could not find them so just went "the heck with it". I am sitting at my table working on a project and POP - just like that my brain quietly says "they are in the stapler" and sure enough there they were! The brain may be slow but it does still work! LOL.

Unmounted Stamp Organizer

I have the cutest project to share with you this morning. I was over at Lori's Blog "Elvies Studio" and she has done a You Tube Tutorial for a pocket made with 1 sheet of 8 1/2 X11" paper, just folding no cutting or adhesive. When I saw it I thought immediately of my Magnolia Stamps, but this would work for just about any unmounted stamps. The finished project has 4 pockets so you can easily fit 4 stamps - 1 for each pocket. I have taken 3 shots so you can get the idea. This one is strictly for storage but you could also decorate it (Lori has a darling one done on her site) to send a stamp set to a friend, it is also perfect to tuck in your bag for a crop or visit with a friend for a day of playing. Happy Friday, Hugs



So this is how the pocket looks with stamp inside.










Here is the inside, I only have 2 stamps but it will hold 4. Now how easy is that?

Beary Hello

This is a 6"X6" card, background paper is EKSuccess, then I cut a block and then a frame from Cricut Cartridge "Stretch Your Imagination", the bear was cut from "Heritage". The metal hello tab at the top is from some old stash and I have no idea where I got it, it was white and I airbrushed it to coordinate with the card. Pearl top dress pin with seed beads on ribbon. The hearts were cut from "Sweethearts" and then glittered. All colors are Copic Markers and the Copic Airbrush System. Happy Wednesday, Hugs

Haiku Tuesday - A Dedication

Welcome to Haiku Tuesday, this is a special one. Some of you know I have a soft spot in my heart for teachers. On my first Haiku Tuesday one of our bloggers commented that she had done a Haiku project with her 4/5th graders, when I read it I knew I wanted to know more so I emailed Sandy and asked her if I could feature 3 of her students for one of The Haiku Tuesdays.
So today is THE day! This is dedicated to all the teachers!

These 3 students used the traditional Japanese way of mentioning a season in their Haikus. They were chosen by their classmates to be the 3 featured today. I think they did a great job. So please, please leave these talented students a comment today for they are so deserving. Also I am posting the link to the school blog where you may view all the Class Haiku.

Ana-

Spring
New grass is growing
New pink flowers are blooming
Spring is the best time

Daughlas-

Fall
Fall is nice and cool.
In fall leaves come down from trees.
Fall is exciting.

Jonathan -

Fall
Fall is so so fun
I like to play fall soccer
Leaves fall off in fall

The card is 6"X6", the blocks are 2"X2" and the illumined letters are "blossom" font by QK. All coloring was done with Copics Markers and Copic Airbrush System. The photo corners are also QK.

And Sandy, thanks for making this a special Haiku Tuesday, please everyone take a look at Sandy's wonderful detail. Hope everyone has a Happy Haiku Tuesday, Hugs

Mrs. Bunnies Parlor-BBTB2 Sweethearts Stamp Challenge

Due to circumstances completely beyond my control I am late in posting this and apologize, I have been building an Ark, just kidding but it is raining AGAIN. Our challenge this week at BBTB2 was to use the "Love Stamp" on the Cricut Cartridge "Sweethearts", so I used it as a frame to frame Mrs. Bunnies esteemed relative. I also used the "Heritage" cart for the chair. The background paper is by Sandy Lion, the photo corners are Cuttlebug. Mrs. Bunny is one of my line drawings. All color was done with Copic Markers and Copic Airbrush System. Hope everyone has a great week, Happy Monday, Hugs

Love

This is a 6"X6" card, the laurel wreath is embossed with a home made embossing folder, for instructions please scroll down to my short tutorial, I used Cricut cartridge "Sweethearts" to create the embossing folder. The photo corners are QK, the hearts are from an Ellison die. "L" is from QK Blossom font and "ove" are from a Spellbinder's font. All coloring was done with Copic Markers and Copic Airbrush system. The "L" was done with Lionet Gold - #Y28, remember that if you are going to use the PearEx with your alcohol inks you must set it with a fixative. To all our friends traveling to CHA today and tomorrow, safe passage and have a wonderful time. Happy Friday, Hugs

"A" Birthday Wish

I love illumined letters and I have been playing with them on blocks 2 1/2" square, the letters I am using are the "Blossom" font QK, they are chuncky and wide and yet can be elegant. This one has a modern drift to it. White and green cardstock. The squares and lattice inset are from a Martha Stewart punch, nestie square is from QK. Misc. ribbon, Cuttlebug Candle Embossing foler, and the sentiment circle is from a StampinUp image. All coloring was done with the Copic Markers and PearlEx. Hugs, Sandi

Play Date Cafe Challenge #13

Welcome to Play Date Cafe Challenge #13, as I type there are a million gallons per second coming down, the sky is black black and the wind is blowing blowing, UGH! But the good news is we have pretty colors. I apologize up front for the photo, my red did not photo right pulled too much blue in and it looks purple but it is not, you think it could be the dark? Please come play with us this week.
My card is 6"X6", the lovely cut is from the Cricut cartridge "Heritage" The photo corners are QK and Cuttlebug. Misc. colored background paper, ribbon and crystals. That feather has been in my feather stash for years and years. The wooden heart is hand painted and edged with gold. Happy Thursday, Hugs, Sandi

Haiku Tuesday-H20

Well this card about sums up our whole entire month so far - RAIN - it is now gusting and howling and pouring. So I decided to devote my Haiku Tuesday to it this week.

Haiku is so much an ode to the senses, the image. Here is a quote from "The Haiku Handbook"
by William J Higgins. "I sense therefore I am!" Descartes might better have said. Our first route to experience is through the senses. Our experiences give rise to emotion. Our language captures this experience very well, for when we talk of our "feelings" or say that something "touched" us we apply to our inner mental state words that literally mean having a physical sensation of the outer world"."

My card today is 6"X6", the background paper is DCWV, the stamped umbrella image is from "Stamps Happen, Inc.". That happy, laughing flower was cut from Cricut Cartridge "Don Juan", love that flower. The tag was hand made and the Haiku was computer generated. All color was done with Copic Markers and the Copic Airbrush System. Happy Wet Tuesday, Hugs, Sandi

The Valentine Tree

I checked and it is safe to say Happy Saturday, lol. I received the Cricut Cartridge "Heritage" this week and had to play a little. The card is 6"x6", the background paper is BasicGrey. The photo corners are Cuttlebug. The tree and fence are from the "Heritage" cartridge, the hearts were punched with a standard hand punch and are double sided so it does not matter if they flip, they dangle on the card and were attached with white cotton thread. All colors by Copic Markers and the Copic Airbrush System. Hugs, Sandi

You Hold the Keys

Good Morning everyone, Happy Saturday, okay so it is Friday! ( I really did think it was Saturday, lol). I received a couple of emails and a blog comment about the brown rubber shim for the homemade embossing folders and am putting the information here again for everyone. The shim is the "Brown Rubber Mat" from Spellbinder's, about every retailer that carries Spellbinder's probably also offers the mat. But this week I did address the shim issue (because I really hate shims) my favorite being the afore mentioned. So I took the folders back to the drawing board, if you cut the item out twice (chipboard) you can eliminate the shim, you just have to make sure that the pieces are perfectly aligned when you mount them to the folder. This is my example. A male Valentine, 6"X6", background paper is by Color Boks, the heart lock was cut from Cricut Cartridge "Sweethearts", the keys are from QK as well as the photo corners. All coloring was done with Copic Markers and the Airbrush System. I have taken a side view so you can see the dimension you achieve with this embossing folder, below.
you can easily see the dimension of that embossing.
this is the home made embossing folder. For more details please scroll down to my tutorial, they are re-purposed from the Cricut cutting mats and so easy to do. Hugs, Sandi

Play Date Cafe Challenge #12

It really is hard to believe it is time to post another challenge, geeze time is going by fast. But look at these colors, Mother Nature is my favorite artist. Please come play with us this week, The Play Date Cafe - you'll be BLUE if you don't.

You might think the heart is familiar because I used it earlier this week it is on of the Spellbinder's Nesties. I am having so much fun with this, I took it to PhotoShop and removed as much color as I could without loosing the drawing, printed it out and then added my blues with the Copic Markers and Airbrush System. The booties are a stamped image from "Hero Arts". Small pastel letter beads and misc. ribbon. The photo corners are QK and the background papers are DCWV and Bazill. Happy Thursday, Hugs

Birthday tied up in Ribbons

Here is a card from one of my handmade embossing folders, one great reason to create your own is that you are able to make them bigger than 4 1/4", this one was done a little over 4 1/2" wide, this is one of my favorite images from the Cricut cartridge "Sweethearts", I just love this ribbon, I embossed it, then colored in with Copic Markers and then over embossed it just a little, I then embossed just above the ribbon with the Swiss Dots folder, you are able to see the size difference
by this emboss. The background paper is BasicGrey, the bee ribbon is from a wonderful speciality store in our neighborhood. The sentiment is computer generated. See the post below for directions on the embossing folders. Hugs

Embossing Folders/Repurposed Cricut Mat

Do you have any old Cricut mats that are no longer usable to cut on? Well if you love embossing folders save them. Cut 4 1/4" wide and 11 1/2" long, fold in the middle, if it begins to crack at the fold you can reinforce on the outside with duct tape. Be sure to clean all the adhesive off the mat with hot water and soap then dry thoroughly.

Use a thin piece of chipboard, one that you could cut with the cricut and cut your image, apply double sided tape to the back of your relief and the back of you image and adhere to the inside of the mat.

You will need a shim to run this through your cuttlebug and the Spellbinders (brown rubber mat) works perfectly. Sandwich is Aplate, Bplate, folder, brown rubber mat,Bplate . You get a nice deep emboss for pennies. Happy Thursday, Hugs, Sandi

Haiku Tuesday

Welcome to Haiku Tuesday, as I posted last week I have awakened my passion for Haiku and have decided to share every Tuesday some of my meanderings.

In review: Haiku is a form of Japanese prose. The name Haiku is rather new, from the late 19th Century. Haiku is meant to evoke the pondering of an idea, an object or place. It is generally 3 lines with a total of 17 syllables. There is no punctuation, an ellipsis or dash is sometimes used for English Haiku to indicate to the reader to stop and reflect. There is often a picture or painting accompanying the prose. For more depth on the subject Google "Haiku History".

Pearl wood seashell thread
button button who made the button
was it function or decor

Another of my minor obsessions are buttons. I have them all over my studio in glass jars, sorted by color, I love how they shadow each other and look all tossed together. I generally research my obsessions and buttons have a long long history, click on this link if you are interested in one of the pieces I found recently, it will answer the question of function or decor.

This card is 6"X6", for the background I scanned in all my clear buttons and then laid a piece of colored cardstock on top for the scan, (if you are going to scan in anything that would scratch your scanner be sure to lay down a piece of clear acetate first). I love how the buttons look as if they are tinkling down the paper. I then used one of my strips embossed with the Cuttlebug Button Boarder embossing folder and then printed my Haiku under the buttons. I hope you enjoy todays wanderings. Happy Tuesday, Hgus

BTBB2 Challenge - A Child's Year and vinyl

Please check out what my design sisters have created BBTB2, great projects this week.

I am not sure how I missed the vinyl call it must have been during one of my computer dramas, but I did have a few scraps and decided to join in. The over all size is 6"X6", the children with flowers cut with the Cricut cartridge "A Child's Year", as well as the umbrella. The photo corners are doubled and are QK. The background paper is Wild Asparagus. The tag was punched with the Martha Stewart corner punch. Small amount of coloring was done with Copic Markers and Airbrush, the silver on the umbrella is PearlEx silver. Happy Monday, Hugs, Sandi

Heart Bound Love

I have to admit this was easier in concept than execution. It took me most of the day, but once done all I have to do is print it out and cut.

The card is 6"X6", the background paper is from a very old Michael's stack. I then embossed white with the heart cuttlebug folder and mounted it. The photo corners are QK cut from aluminium foil sprayed with Copics and Airbrush. The stamped image is DenamiDesign.

The heart was first cut from one of the larger Nesties, I then drew the string and began painting, I used the Copic Markers and Airbrush System. Scanned it in and printed it out on 80lb. cardstock. Then cut again with the nesties heart. It is 3 layers deep and mounted it with pop dots. I did a little distressing around the edges. Happy Sunday, Hugs

Edwin Pedals the Universe

I thought I would give Edwin equal time. The background paper is the same as yesterday, I just used a filter in photoshop on it and printed it out. The hearts are Spellbinder's Nesties, the stars on the hearts are from Martha Stewart punch. Edwin is a stamped image from Magnolia. Misc. ribbon. All coloring was done with Copic markers and the Copic Airbrush System.

When I have posted a card it goes on my highboy in the studio for further review, so I was looking at it and could NOT even believe that I put peddle instead of pedal (LOL), so much for paying attention, so a new heart is being made, hope you have a giggle with this, I know I did.
Happy Satuarday, Hugs

My Take on Tilda Wrapped

I haven't done a Tilda in awhile and I so miss playing with her, they are a delight to work with. I so loved Sharon Caudle's "Wrapped Tilda", I wanted to see if I could get a comparable look. The oversize is 6"X6". The background paper was created using a scrap piece of BasicGrey color 6X6 using one of the Spellbinder's heart nesties as a stencil, I airbrushed the heart with Copic Markers and Airbrush System. Then did squiggle dots, scanned it in and printed it out. 4 small nestie hearts in each corner and one at the bottom of her feet. She rests on one of the larger hearts. The boarder for "love you..." is fom a QK boarder die. The little accent pearls on the hearts are from Martha Stewart's wedding line. Just a touch of diamond glaze on her necklace and bracelet.


This is the inside, two top hearts are from an Ellison Die and the bottom heart was sprayed with Spellbinder's nestie. Happy Friday, Hugs

Play Date Cafe Challenge #11

I am so excited to host the Play Date Cafe Challenge this week. I love Metallics on cards and this week we have brass (gold) and silver, throw in black and white and we have class and I hope a challenge you will enjoy. Can't wait to see.

Since I did my challenge card this weekend it has a Haiku, the background paper is untitled and was found at a specialty store. The silver chain is from a headband found at $Tree and I added the brass ring. The photo corners are from a QK die as well as the stars. The Haiku block was embossed around the edges and then accented with Pearl Ex. Just a drop of burgandy in the ribbon to give those stars some fire. Over all size is 4 1/4" X 5 1/2". Have a terrific Thursday, Hugs, Sandi

Quacks n Feathers

This is my first Valentine this year and it was a fun one to work with. My background was created using tissue adhered to pink cardstock with HeatnBond, I then gilded the edges with Pearl Ex and had to set it, which I did with a glossy glaze by Krylon. The water was created using a QK boarder die, the ducks are from Cricut cartridge "A Child's Year". The heart is a Spellbinder's Nesties, sentiment was computer generated, misc ribbon. All coloring was done with Copic Markers and the Copic Airbrush System. Happy Wednesday. Hugs, Sandi

Haiku Tuesday

I love these embossed strips and this weekend I was trying to figure out what it is that fascinates me about them. It came to me that they remind me of Haiku and I adore Haiku. I used to write it all the time and decades ago belonged to a Haiku reading group before I move North. There is something about the simplicity that speaks to me.

What is Haiku? Haiku is a form of Japanese Poetry. It consists of 17 syllables, in Japanese referred to as "on", these are done in 3 lines, first line 5 syllables, second line 7 syllables and 3rd line 5 syllables. English Haiku is less formal than Japanese, there is no punctuation except for a dash or ellipsis implying a break, indicating to the reader to reflect on the relationship of the parts. The subject matter is normally of nature and in Japan often references a specific season.

The card is 4 1/4" X 5 1/2", tshirt background paper, moon is a 1" circle colored with Copics, the embossed strip was done with the Cuttlebug and Pearl Ex "Silver", the Haiku was computer generated.

So I spent some of my weekend re-bonding with Haiku, it is almost a meditation, and then I decided to do "Haiku Tuesday", if this interests you, you can browse "Haiku Bloggers" or just "Haiku" for more in depth information. Feel free to share your Haiku here and visit every Tuesday for more Haiku. Happy Tuesday, Hugs

BBTB2 Challenge - Graphically Speaking

The New Year brings new beginnings, changes but with old friends and continued awesome creativity. Please check out all the wonderful projects using the Graphically Speaking "In Style" icon on our new Bitten By The Bug2 site.

Throughout the month of January I am concentrating on using my Copic Airbrush System to color coordinate embellishments with background papers. I have been using alcohol inks for the last 2 - 2 1/2 years and they have become my favorite medium, but when I saw the Copic Airbrush System I knew that it was my catalyst for this wonderful medium. I have been using the Airbrush System now for a little over 6 months and every day it gets a little bit better, there are no limits with this tool and wonderful color medium. So please let me know what you think and if you have any questions, please ask away.

The background paper is BasicGrey "Skate Shop", over all size for the card is 6"x6", Cricut Cartridge "Graphically Speaking" was used for the "In Style" icon, a 2" circle for the "live,love,laugh" which was computer generated, the flower is from a Martha Stewart punch. The "In Style" tag is from an Ellison die and the bees are QK. Misc. ribbon and crystals were used. All coloring done with Copic Markers and the Airbrush System. Hugs, Sandi

Floral Thank You

This is another A-2 card 4 1/4"X5 1/2". I used a scrap for the background, I think it came from a stack. The strip was embossed with a cuttlebug folder and then sprayed with the Copic Markers, it is edged with silver Pearl Ex. The photo corners are QK and the sentiment circle was computer generated and the crystals are embedded, I used a Japanese Screw Punch to create the channels. Misc. ribbon.





Another view. Happy Sunday, Hugs, Sandi

Merci

This is a standard A-2 card 4 1/4" X 5 1/2". The background paper is double sided "My Mind's Eye" and was cut in strips and I used both sides. The medallion was done with a cuttlebug embossing folder on 80lb. white cardstock and painted with Copic Markers and the Airbrush System. I then tore around the image. The stamped image is an old PSX stamp and I used misc. ribbon. The gold highlights were done with PearlEx using alcohol as my medium and spray fixative as my binder. Happy Saturday, Hugs
A view from the front.

Happy New Year Everyone

Well my attention right now has been captured by these acrylic bookmarks. The Copic Markers create almost a glistening on the acrylic, which you cannot see with the photograph but it fascinates me. My stamped images are many, bird "Hero Arts", wheat blades "Hero Arts" and the branches, "Tim Holtz". The binding was done with the Bind It All and the yarn has been beaded. I want to take this opportunity to say "Thank You" to all of you who have taken the time to visit and comment on my blog this year, what a year of learning and sharing it was, I am happy to see 2010 and hope it brings all of you good things. Hugs, Sandi