Faux Cloisonne

What an interesting technique challenge ~ faux cloisonne ~ sure hope I spelled it right! The idea here is to take an outline stamp and stamp it in Versamark ink on a colorful page from a magazine, then emboss it with gold embossing powder and cut it out. It was sooo much fun trying to choose which magazine ad would look right, and would match with colors of cardstock and ink I have.

The name of the butterfly set is Flutterbys, and the CS squares are tempting turqouise and black. I also used tempting turquoise ink ~ the {Thanks if from a new set called "Make it Count" and the BG swirly design is from a wheel (no idea what it's called). I also tried a Fiskars texture plate for the first time. They're actually butterflies and flowers, although they don't show up well in the photo.

The two lines above the greeting are simply scores done on the Scor-It.

This was a really fun technique, very easy, and I'm sure I'll be doing it again.

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately ~ we are getting ready to move, and will be leaving the country in just a few days. I'll try to be better at updating my blog once we get settled again ~ in the meantime, you might not see too many posts from me over the next couple of weeks, but know that I am thinking of you all!

...and Another Birthday Card for Derek

The more I looked at the De-Boss card, the more I decided it really didn't suit a 25yo man.....so back to the drawing board I went! I found this card http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/825738 by a lady named Cheryl, and decided it would adapt very well to a masculine birthday card. Plus, I got to use more of my new tools ~ my Scalloped Circle punch, and my slit punch (for making the scallops).

In addition to the Stampin Up "Loads of Love" set that was used for the truck and the greeting, I got to try out the "Ribbonerie" set from Sassafras Lass. It's stamped on Baroque Burgundy cardstock using white craft ink....I love the way it looks layered on the Close to Cocoa cardstock!

Ink colors used for watercoloring and stamping are Going Gray, Basic Black, Baroque Burgundy and Bordering Blue.

I think Derek will like this one.

Pretties Kit Card ~ So Elegant

I finally broke down and bought the Pretties kit from Stampin Up ~ and all I can say is WOW! I attended a class where we made 5 projects using different techniques and different items from the kit, and they are all GORGEOUS!

The scan doesn't really do this card justice....the BG was stamped with a swirly stamp (not sure which set if was from, Baroque Motifs maybe) and then embossed using Irridescent Ice embossing powder. It is so pretty and sparkly IRL.

We drew lines on the bottom flower with a VersaMarker, and embossed it as well. The pink flower is colored with the pastels, and the top flower was rubbed onto a versamark pad and embossed. Some white ribbon, a hat pin and some beads from the kit finish it off.

I'm sending this card to one of my birthday club buddies ~ think she'll like it?

Happy Hellos

Wow, ladies, I am so sorry...I haven't posted to my blog in like.....forever! Things have been really crazy for us lately. We've been busy negotiating with our insurance company, in hopes that we soon will have an idea where we will be living. After all, we have to be out of the US by the end of this month! Still wondering where we will be going next, but I'm sure it will all work itself out soon.

Isn't this a pretty card? Recently, Debbie Moczek from Stampin Up did a workshop with my scrapbooking group at Sun n Fun. Lots of us mentioned we hadn't used chipboard, so she designed this card to show us how easy it is. We glued the patterned paper onto the chipboard, then sanded the edges and middle, and finally used a dauber to sponge ink onto all the edges. After we glued the chipboard to the card, we stamped the happy hellos, then used a circle punch to cut it out and put it inside the circle. Leaves are from the small oval punch, then send through the crimper on an angle to get the veined effect. I think this card is so pretty, and it was so easy to do that I'm sure I'll use a lot more of my chipboard now.