Thank You Card

     Good morning my fellow crafters and welcome to all my new followers. I really appreciate your taking the time to follow me and hope that in some way I can inspire you. This year I am challenging myself to use some of my least (or never) used carts and really explore their potential.
     This week Erica @ My Cricut Craft Room asked us to create a Thank You card so I deided to pull my Sophie cart. Here's the cut from page 45 that I used:

     This is just 2 cuts. I love that it is such an easy card to make. I chose and cut  @ 2.50" for the top and the shadow @ 2.75" for a more layered look. the stamp is from Inkadinkadoo's Just Saying set.

     I also used Spellbinders Large Scalloped Ovals to provide another layer. The stamped label was then applied with pop dots. Since the background card had a touch of blue in it, I decided to add some ribbon and blue rhinestones to pull it all together. I had bought a set of premade cards from DCWV, so, when I am in a hurry or just want to focus on my die, I always go to this set.

     I used the blue rhinestones as the flower centers and also carried it over to the image already on the card base.

     Now pull out those less used carts and see what you can create! Thanks for stopping by and be sure to head back over to My Cricut Craft Room and see more inspiration from my DT Sisters.

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Pixie Get Well Soon

   
     I have been practicing with my Copics and just had to share this adorable digital stamp from Pixie Dust Stamps. Isn't she just adorable? This was a freebie Pixie gave to her Face Book Fans last week and I have been itching to work with her. I thought this would make a great Get Well card for a little girl.

     I still have some work to do to get my facial tones correct but I love how the hair came out. Since I have hazel eyes I just had to try them on this cute little Pixie. I also used some smooch for the cute little nose! Here are the colors I used:

Hair: E000,E00,E01,E13
Cheeks:  R20
Hair: E31, E35, E37
Eyes: G20, G21, G24, G28
Slippers: Ears R20, R22, R24 Slippers: C0, CO1,C3
Blanket: same as bunny ears
Nightie: V12, V15, V17
Teddy Bear: E11, E13, E17, E18
     The stamp sentiment is from Inkadinkado "Just Saying". I usually use papers from my stash ( which I did here) however I just had to get this chevron paper from Recollections @ Michaels the other day. I love how cheery this card came out.
     You can find some awesome Digital stamps @ http://www.pixieduststudio.net/. These stamps are so reasonable and great to use with your Copics.
     I encourage you to become a fan on her page Here. She has just created a wonderful Pixie in honor of the Olympics. Sorry if I sound like a cheerleader for Pixie but I have searched a long time to find images to suit my style and I am in love with these digis! Just wait 'til you see what else I have been coloring!
     Please leave me a comment if you love these stamps as much as I do.

Merry Christmas, Tag #11

     I only wish this season I had more time to try out these awesome techniques Tim Holtz showed for the 12 Tags of Christmas...2011. Although I only had time to complete 4 I know I will continue to try some of the other tags and the great projects he shared.
     This tag by far is my favorite. I always loved this angel image yet for some reason I just hadn't found the right project. I started with Art Philosophy cartridge by ProvoCraft and cut the tag @ 6.25". The background is so easy to make. I used cream glossy card stock and some alcohol inks. The Salt Boat Blue and Stream alcohol inks go together perfectly.
     Next I used a piece of craft plastic and stamped this beautiful sentiment: The most precious Gift of Christmas arrived in a very small bundle with no bow." You have to use Stazon ink or one that can be used on slick surfaces.

     The stars are really cool to make. Unfortunately I only had Shrinky Dink material in white. Tim had used the clear one and the effects are so stunning. Don't worry, I will be getting some to try the other techniques.Any way I like how these stars turned out. First, when working with shrinky dink material you need to cut your images 3x the size you want the shrunken article to be. I cut my stars from "Tis The Season" cartridge @ 2.25", 2.50", 2.75" and 3". this yields finished stars at 1" or less. Here's the fun part. You need to heat UTEE, Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel in a melting pot. Ranger sells these and they are great. All you do is heat the utee, drop your shrinky dink material in the pot and watch it shrivel and squirm! Once it flattens out (in seconds really) gently remove from pot with tweezers and place on a craft mat or another non stick surface to cool. It really is that easy. I finished it off with some Creative Charms rhinestones and also used a gold detail heat embossing to the horn and halo. Add a bow and you are done. Whew, I can't wait to try some more tags.

By The Sea

     I'm back!!! So I told you I have been busy with projects. I'm still working on the spare bedroom ( you know, the nautical themed one). I decided to make a wall plaque using a variety of techniques I have learned from my classes @ My Creative Classroom.
     The shape is from Donna Salazar's Creative Book Pages template from Spellbinders. I used Zutters corrugated card board for the base and used Donna's technique using white opaque ink and some white embossing powder. This gives such a cool effect!
      The stamp in from Inkadinkado ( I incorrectly identified this stamp in a previous post). If you want to see the color combos I used with copic markers just check out the post for the Graduate card.
     The tag is a shipping label that I used smooch spritz on and then used Beacons liquid laminate  to attach the quotes from K & Company Sea stack.I made a little pocket out of craft cork that I backed with card stock to give it a little stability. I also found these fish brads hanging around in my brad drawer just waiting to be used, lol.
     I dug into my treasure trove of embellies and found this metal art that says "Best of Times" and a small one in the corner that says " remember". The top of the tag is finished with some cotton cording and a small silver seashell charm.
     I always love to incorporate something of meaning into my art work and this piece is no exception. Do you see the seashell I used for the hanger? This is from a door tag that was on our hotel room door when we visited Hawaii back in the '90's! How this inspires you a little.

Let Me Count The Ways

     The wonderful people @ Copics Creations have a great challenge #42 going on. It's to use something new, a technique, tool or product, that's it. I REALLY am trying to get more skillful @ using my copics but it's hard because I have a limited number of them.     I stamped my image with tuxedo black Momento inks and then embossed the key with detail gold embossing powders. The image was a stamp by Inkadinkado and colored with the following copic markers: E50, E53, YR00 and E04. Since I don't have a black and coordinating shades I just used my spica copics to add highlights for the hair. I also used the gold spica pen for some of the dots around "Love". The dots around the girl are done with Creative Inspiration paints in burgundy. The background card stock is dry embossed with the cuttlebug folder. My "new" thing was using this paper from DCVW and new gradient gems from creative charms. More importantly was the chance to use my copics. I guess practice makes perfect! This is only the 3rd project I've tried with them. I really hope to get better.

You Rock!

   Hi there! Well, in keeping with my New Years" resolution to enter more challenges, I couldn't resist the one at Creative Inspirations Paint. You had to use texture in your card and did I ever!!
   I received a Yudu for Christmas from 2 of my daughters and decided to practice on a piece of card stock first ( I glad I did because it was a disaster, lol). The background to the stamped image is my "mistake" piece (done with silver Yudu ink).
I used an Inkadinkado stamp for the guitar and the "You Rock" sentiment.
   I used a spellbinders die to cut the image piece and added that to a piece of black card stock. Now the fun part. I distressed the edges with my distress it all for a grungy look. I painted the edges with CIP
winter frost on the edges. Wow did it pop!! Next I used some inkssentials enamel accents for the dots near the guitar.
   More texture? I used the musical notes embossing folder and my cuttlebug for the background paper and then lightly sanded the details.

New Year New Challenge

     What a season this has been. Christmas, 6 birthdays and a baby shower! It was wonderful having the whole family around to celebrate all these events including my son, DIL and 2 of the grandchildren from Florida  as well as my daughter and SIL from HI. It's been a while since all 5 of the kids plus the 8 grandchildren have spent Christmas with us so it was wonderful.

Now that the decorations are down and the house is quiet I am back to creating (which I love). Of course the best way to start off the year is with a good challenge and I love what Color Throwdown 123 had in store. Kristen offered free digital paper and I was just blown away by the colors. I had one last birthday card to complete so this paper was perfect.
     I decided to use the Japanese lantern stamp by Inkadinkado.It just added so much to the paper. I used Tim Holtz forest moss for the ink color and it matched the paper perfectly. I just love when that happens, lol. I also used a M's stamp for the HB greeting and cut with the Spellbinders oval  in 2 sizes and used popdots to "pop" the sentiment.
     Of course no card is complete without some bling. I just love Creative Charms bling. The gradient jewels are so sparkly!
     Part of the challenge was to include a finished inside as well as a lined envelope. I always love to do this , it just seems to complete the look. The patterned paper Kristen designed was perfect for

 cutting out certain elements. I did choose to leave the inside blank as I have a long message convey.
     Happy New Year my friends, I have some great projects to share with you this year.