Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Another Wedding Card


Happy Wednesday, I don't usually lift projects, this one is pretty close, so I decided to give Shelley over at Artful Achievements a call out. She used most of my favorite embossing folders and I just loved her sketch and her Tilda is awesome.  One of my favorite things about Blogging is the inspiration from all the so many talented people, what a blessing. I was mulling over another wedding card and it just popped into place as soon as I saw her card.  I used totally white on white and a couple of touches of black and the gold of the rings.  The sentiment is from the fabulous Barbara Williams you may find her collection at http://www.cuddlybuddly.com/.  I always keep wedding rings on hand and I think these are from The Dollar Store.  The flowers are Prima and then added some pearls.  All the embossing folders used were Cuttlebug except for the square which is from QK.



Tuesday, February 28, 2012

A Wedding Card

This is a wedding card, over all measurements 6X6.  The background papers and embellishments are all from "Bits of Ivory" Barbara Williams (I love her work) "Wedding Bells".  I added the Blessings to the bells and created the smaller outside corners using scraps from her background paper and the EKSuccess photo corner punch.  There was some extreme fussy cuts but it was worth it.  The small hearts on the wreath are from the Martha Stewart "Confetti" punch. I have been slammed this week, so back to the grindstone, hope everyone has a great day. Hugs

Friday, February 24, 2012

Peonie (maybe)



Good Morning, can you seriously believe it is Friday, I think I am living at warp speed, lol.  I have been playing with flowers and backgrounds.  One of my most favorite flowers is the peonie and so I spent a couple of hours on UTube this week, looking at different paper flower projects.  This is as close as I could come to one, which I am not that in love with but close, I think if I do more layers it will be closer and I will explore that at a later time.  However the it was a great UTube project and I wrote her name down and now I cannot find it, if I come across it I will input.  She used the flower from Plantin Schoolbook, all of the petals are smooth, she then took her decorative scissors and snipped just the tinest amount form the top leaving no two the same, so I decided to try it.  I cut the petals at 1.8, 1.5 and 1.25. I then rolled the petals to the inside.  Now on to the background.  I took a 4X6 index card and spritzed it with Smooch red spritz, then wrote love across the entire card, let that dry and then spritzed it with Smooch glimmer.  I then tore the card apart and adhered it to a spray sheet from my spray box and covered with gel medium and gave it a slight dusting of glitter.  When that was all dry I then used Tim Holtz distressing ink (butterscotch" and a dauber, then cut with a Spellbinders Oval.  The photo corners are EKSuccess and were cut from the collaged piece also.



this horrid shot is just to show the glitter
since it did not really show up in the first pic.
Hugs

Thursday, February 23, 2012

More Smashbook pages and cover

Here is the cover to my version of a Smashbook, it is a store bought mini journal overall size is 4"X6", it has 150 pages and I will divide it into 6 sections, Nature, color, ribbon, friends, stamps and paper.  These are the main categories from which I take inspiration.  Then I will see if I am up for another one, lol.


cover


I decided I wanted to number the pages, font is a small Spellbinder's, The fern and rose petal are encased in a clear trading card holder, the photo corner EKSuccess, the Natuare tag is computer generated.  The Nature tab is from "Ivory Bits" Alonzo's Kitchen. The stamped dragonfly image is from Stampers Anonymous.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Smashbook Pages

The end of last year I vowed I was going to get back to this blog and re-incorporated my art and creating on larger priority than last year.  I am a researcher by nature, if it interests me, I want to find out all there is to find about it.  Since I had not been blogging and was pretty much out of the loop, I began first looking for what new papers and if there were any new designers out there that I had missed.  One of my favs is K&Co. and started finding info on Smashbooks, I loved the idea right off the bat. I am a journaler and especially love art journals.  I put this at the top of I have to do this list.  The got distracted, LOL.  Almost a month ago a friend and I were talking and she asked me what inspired me?  I told her everything and laughed and then told her it was hard to explain and made a mental note to think on that.  I did think on it and there are a million of my little slips of paper, lol,  on my art table with those thoughts, I have moved them from one corner to another for a month, reminding myself I want to do this.  Then last week while out to lunch with a couple of friends, we stopped by Hobby Lobby and in a clearance bin were 3mini jounals bundled and on sale, so I took them. Then yesterday I was on Krista Smith's Blog (The Saturated Canary) and she had shared a page from her SmashBook, okay, okay, I am doing this.  Yesterday I played with my slips of paper and some other items sitting on the table and am ready to share my first SmashBook pages, the theme of this sb is "Inspiration".  Happy Wednesday, Hugs

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Proceed to Party

I am laughing here, I love music all kinds, classical, guitar, piano, jazz, but what a lot of my friends don't know is that I love County and Western and have my car radio on a Country Station.  Every time I get in the car, there is Toby Keith and "Solo Red Cup" an almost moronic song, but I am here to tell you, it makes me smile, it makes me laugh and sway!  If you have not heard it, just google for a giggle. So if you ever want to make me smile just put ole Toby Keith to singin "Solo Red Cup".  PROCEED TO PARTY.
This card is for a friend I am going to see for the first time in about 10 years, we always stay in touch, we just don't cross paths that much, so Las Vegas here I come March 16th.  The background paper is from "Ivory Bits" Celebrate.  The cup is my drawing, arrow is a QK as well as the photo corners. Happy Tuesday.

Monday, February 20, 2012

FlowerLove

A pretty simple card for my sister.  The file page was cut from a brown paper bag and then I added 3 more from white card stock to give it enough weight so the flower would not overpower it.  The flower is from a QK die, there are 3 different petals cut 2 times, secured with a brad and then colored with copic markers and purple smooch, then glittered, the leaves are from the same die.  The hearts are from the Martha Stewart Confetti punch and some misc. ribbon.  A touch of the white pen at the top.  Have a great week. Hugs

Saturday, February 18, 2012

An Easter Card

Happy Saturday All!  Here is my finished project.  The overall size is 5 1/2" X 7", I used the Spellbinder's Scalloped Ovals to make the card blank and the background pieces, the card blank was cut from "BasicGrey" Oh Baby Girl, Recollections Dark Brown and then my glittered background oval.  This adorable digi image is by Krista Smith from "Saturated Canary" entitled "Murray", what an amazing talent this woman has. The card blank scallops are embellished with oval pearls from my stash cannot remember who mfg. is. Then the little ovals on the dark brown were done with a Martha Stewart punch residues, lol.  The glitter background was embossed with a Cuttlebug Folder.  The card opens from the top down to retain the egg shape of the oval.  It is finished off with a bow from some wonderful pink, brown and white floral ribbon.
The Saturated Canary Challenge this week is anything but square or rectangle, so I think I will submit it to the challenge.  Everyone have a safe and happy weekend. Hugs

Friday, February 17, 2012

Creating your own glitter backgrounds-tutorial

 I am sharing a fun background tutorial today, how to create your own glitter backgrounds, these are just as good as the ones you find in the stacks, maybe even better, once done and dry that glitter does not spread all over your project, honest!  All supplies are photographed except for the last step which is the Cuttlebug "flower" embossing folder which comes with the V-2 Cuttlebug, I figured everyone knew what the folders were and this is pic heavy already.   Choose your background cardstock, a nice higher weight works best 90#s or higher.  Smooch Spitz, color of your choice, why am I using a glimmer as my undercoat? It gives the whole background piece depth.  After I have smooched I did use brown distress ink on the edges. A spray box, just find an appropriate size for your table and cut sides. I always line mine, when it becomes glitter coated or completely paint spattered I change it.  Golden Gel Medium "Regular Gel - Gloss", you can find this at Dick Blick and most of the time at Arron Bros. or check your stores artist area.  A small dish for your gel medium  It is a very thick paste and is intended for canvas so I water it down a bit, approx. 1 to 1 be sure to mix it well but try not to aggitate it as that will form bubbles.  A mop brush, I use a mop brush instead of a foam brush to decrease brush strokes. Apply 2 coats letting the applications dry between coats, Some Art Institute Fine Glitter, I have tried every glitter out there and this is the only I have found that is really fine, I want the background to have a very light look and this gives it.  I also put my glitter in a spice shaker bottle, it just distributes the glitter on your project better.  You apply the glitter immedately after applying the 2nd coat.  Be sure to let the project dry for 1 to 1 1/2 hrs.  If it is not completely dry, the last stage of the project which is your embossing, the project will stick in places to the folder, so let that really dry.

project getting ready for spritz

background after smooch spray and distressed edges

getting ready to apply gel medium

ah the fun part, the coat of glitter

your basic supplies all together

side view of the spray box

the finished background, the top right flare is the flash off the glitter.

And that is it! I will try to share project with you tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Got Yarn?

Another Lilyboo I could not resist, especially being a cat mom, ribbon, yarn, string, they love it all.  Background paper is by My Mind's Eye "Cherish". The ovals are from Spellbinders, the background yarn on the smaller oval, I scanned in to create my own background.  Font on the tiny oval "Accent Dot Writer". Color for the cat and ball of yarn, Copics.

Inside

One of my favorite things about digis is that you can resize so that you can do fun things like using the character inside or as an envelope seal.  Enjoy your Wednesday. Hugs


Tuesday, February 14, 2012

I have grown out of my house

Happy Tuesday, what says Spring better than a baby bird?  This is a standard A-2 card.  The background paper is from "Bits of Ivory" Kitchen Garden Add-on 2.  The tag is from Cricut, the string was colorized with copics to match card.  The bird houses are "Tim Holtz" On the Edge die, I don't think he intended for them to be bird houses but.......  The little bird is one of my line drawings and he is perched on a skewer all color by Copics.  Inside the card says "May I use yours? Still dreary and rainy looking this morning.  Hugs

Sunday, February 12, 2012

I am ready for Spring



I am so ready for spring, consistent temps, not too cold, not too hot, the greens you only get in the spring, pale butterflies making love to flowers and fat bees busy spreading pollen and making honey, yep that is what I am ready for.  I am finished with Valentine's they are all mailed out mine and other peeps, YEAH!  It is after 5-6 weeks of creating that I truly realize I do not breath at my table, well I take in little wisps but not life giving breathing, so I have gotten into the habit of turning on my favorite TV channel "Veria Living" when Yoga segments are one and every once in a while will step away and do a couple of the yoga positions, it has helped tremendously when I remember to do it, lol.  So Friday night I have this red flag, my top of the list stress indicator, the dreaded cold sore on the top right corner of my mouth, hate, hate, hate that, stingy and pulsing to remind me I stress out!  BUT, I watched a documentary last week on Mutant Bees, oh my goodness, I have shared with friends for years that local raw honey will help eliminate outside, pollen related allergies, 1-2 tablespoons in the morning are a remarkable help, what I did not know are the headways drs. and scientists are making in realizing the other healing properties of honey.  They are using it for flesh eating viruses with unbelievable success, so Friday night I took some of the honey and rubbed it on the irratating cold sore, Saturday morning it was not there, so tuck that in your bonnet for future reference, who would have thought it?  Enough of my rambling, the card, I finally did a lot of me time, just surfing the internet, enjoying blog land and creating.  The card is a standard A-2, the scalloped oval is "Spellbinders.  The line drawings are mine.  I took the butterfly and daisey's and cut for a mask, masked them onto the oval with my Copics and airbrush, then cut another  two butterflies adhered them together, used Copics again and when I was ready to attach to the card I slit the upper and back wing and adhered only the back wing to the card and pulled the front wing forward for dimension.  The background papers, my new love "Bits of Ivory" the bees and frame  from "Soups On".  Did a small bow and added a pin with misc. beads.  My own little of piece of spring until it really gets here.  Happy Sunday, Hugs

Saturday, February 11, 2012

lunch bag gift tote

I really wanted a coordinated gift bag for my little card below and a candy bar for my friend.  I keep these white lunch bags on hand and went to work on one.  I cut 2 1/2" off the top and then folded the top in about 2".  I then printed out some of my FAV "Bits of Ivory" Alonzo's Kitchen Chocolate paper and cut 2 panels one for the front and back and adhered.  I then punched with the Martha Stewart "Confetti" punch, perfect size for these hearts from red card stock and adhered.  I then threaded Martha Stewart Baking String  through the top to create the handles and whaaaalaaa, I have a coordinated gift bag.  Have a great weekend. Hugs

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Who wouldn't adore a chocolate lovin, bow tie wearin Zebra?

Okay I loved the bear but I ADORE this zebra, is he not just the cutest?  This is a Liliboo Design, the background paper is Bits of Ivory "Alonzo's Kitchen Chocolate".  EkSuccess photo corners and hand punched hearts on his little hooves.  He was colored with Copic Markers and misc. ribbon for his bow tie.  Yep, he is a fav! Hugs

Monday, February 6, 2012

A Tea Tote


Hi All, this is kinda of late in the day for me to post but won't be able to do it tomorrow, so decided to do it this afternoon.  Ever since the first release of BasicGrey, it has been my favorite.  But, there is something out there that has stolen my heart and it wouldn't take much to push it up to my all time favorite.  "Bits of Ivory"
and they are digi, I found them on http://www.cuddlybuddly.com/.  This is for my hair dresser, she is wonderful and tomorrow she is cutting my hair into a bob, she has been working on getting it to the right length for a couple of months and tomorrow is the day, lol.  So I wanted to have her Valentine done to take with me.  I did not have a lot of time to spend and started out on a different path this AM, got frustrated and decided to look at what BBT2 was up to this week.  I found this site on one of the design team members blog.  The background paper is from "Alonzo'skitchen" and the tea cup is from "Get Well Soon", I printed the tea cup out three times, then ran string from the back through a small cut slot and then adhered it right to the top of the tea title, which hangs freely, they were both perfect. 
My hair dresser is an avid tea drinker and I usually bring her my newest favorite, which right now is Zhen's Gypsy Tea "Coconut Chi" oh yuuuuuum. But I wanted it presented in a special way, so I made this little Tea Tote (easy to throw in purse or set on desk when working)  The sleeves for the tea are the artist trading card sleeves, PERFECT.  Misc. ribbon, the name plate "Spellbinders", photo corners EKSuccess and it is all ready for tomorrow.  Hugs

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Alphabet Series - "I"

Happy Saturday everyone, enjoy your weekend.  This is one of my Alphabet Series cards, the letter "I".  It is 5 1/2X51/2".  EKSuccess photocorners, the font is QK "Blossom". Her wings are Spellbinder hearts, the butterfly and fairy queen are from my Cricut carts I used about 4 of them and at this moment I cannot remember which ones, I have too much going on, lol.  The fairy was colorized with Copic Markers and the airbrush.  Inside the card says, "I" is for Imagination, without it there would be no Fairy Queens.  My goal for this weekend is to get all Valentine projects finished and ready for the post office Monday.  It looks like cupid threw hearts all over my table, LOL.  Have a great weekend and enjoy the game for those of you gamers.  Hugs

Friday, February 3, 2012

Valentine Candy and Shower Favor


Thanks to all who posted to the wax paper rose yesterday, I always so appreciate the input.  After I thought about it, played with the rose on the wrapper, it was much to ethereal and got lost, so I went back to my original design, but I will find something to use the wax paper rose on, it is just too wonderful.    The candy wrappers were cut fit to page, it is the bonus cut on the Imagination "Santa's Village".  After the wrappers are cut, I then run them through my printer for the words. You get 2 wrapapers from one 12X12 sheet, one with scalloped edges and one with pinking sheared edges.  I used the cut only feature for these two hersey bars.  The first one is for my shower favors and the second one is for a dear friend for Valentine's Day. Roses and chocolate in one bundle, LOL,  the rose was pulled from an old book page.  Both roses were sprayed with my Copic markers and airbrush.  The letters are QK "Blossom" font.  I think my favorite thing about the roses are that each one turns out different, just like in real life. Have a great weekend. Hugs

Thursday, February 2, 2012

wax paper rose

Okay, I have to share.  I am working on some shower favors for a friends, daughter.  I am using the Spellbinders Flower Blossom plate 1.  I use wax paper between the paper and the die because it sticks otherwise.  Somehow some of the glitter got on the wax paper and when I removed it and threw it in the trash, it caught my eye and I wondered how it would look as one of the roses.  Oh my goodness it looks like a porcelain rose.  After I spray it with my Copic Markers and airbrush, I apply a little bit of glaze and then sprinkle it with Art Institute barley pink.  I love trash retrieval.  Happy Thursday, I am going back to work, I have not decided yet if I am going to redo all the roses out of wax paper, maybe another cup of java to think it over. What do you think?  Redo?  Hugs