Snappy Birthday

This was for the Featured Stamper this week. I had made the card earlier and totally forgot to take a pic of it to post! Some days (weeks) my brain decides it doesn't want to work for me, I guess this is one of those weeks!

Here's the original card: GG's Frogs by themilesmum

As usual the challenge is to CASE a card and change at least 2 things about it. So, here's my take on her card :)



I changed the colors (but only slightly) actually I only changed 1 color! Amazing how changing 1 color changes the look of the entire card! I also used Crab & Co. from SU and the bubbles embossing folder for my Cuttlebug instead of the mosaic one. I really like the way this turned out!

The crab was colored with Prismacolors and Gamsol. I really love this coloring technique! I think I use it more than any other medium I have! It's just so easy to get great looking images!

New Look

So I decided it was time for a change. Whacha think? I thought I'd bring my chickie back from retirement! Isn't she cool?! She was a birthday present for me from the gals at scrapbooking forum I used to frequent. Unfortunately the gal that made her no longer makes them custom. You have to buy her kits now. I think I was one of the last ones to get a custom chick!

It's been a while since I played around with digi scrapping stuff. I actually used to design papers and such, but I gave that up for stamping :) I think it turned out pretty good, but I'd like your feedback.

Happiness Always

My physical therapist is getting married this weekend and I wanted to make a card for her :) Ok so I've only known her for 1 day, but she was really nice (even though she did torture me!) My problem was that I only know her first name! I don't know her fiancé’s name or her soon-to-be last name, so I was stuck :( I asked on SCS as to what to put on the envie and inside the card and as usual, I got some great advice! Now why my brain shut off and I couldn't think of what to write, I have no clue! LOL Anyway...



I LOVE how this turned out! I got the idea for the background from notimetostamp's card here: A Detailed Wedding I love all the little details she added to a fairly simple card to make it outstanding!

So I used the textile Cuttlebug folder and embossed it on white, then touched my Versamark pad to the raised parts and then brushed it with my Micro Pearl Pearl Ex. WOW! Instant beauty! Of course I forgot to seal it with hairspray, but I did that later and it shows no ill effects. LOL

The flowers are from SU's Happy Harmony set (LOVE that SAB set!!!) and they were stamped with Versamark and then I made a mixture of Micro Pearl Pearl Ex and clear embossing powder and embossed them with that :) It's SO purdy! Then I punch them out with the Giga Scalloped Oval punch and punched the holes with my 1/16th hole punch. I backed that with another scalloped oval in Almost Amethyst, just for a hint of color.

The sentiment is done in silver EP and punched out with my new SU oval punch (now I need the small one!) And I backed that with another oval in Almost Amethyst, but just slightly offset, so it almost looks like a shadow.

I have this Offray ribbon I found at Wal-Mart that matches Almost Amethyst perfectly! So I used it with the sheer white polka-dot ribbon and tied them around the embossed piece. Then I tied the Happiness Always onto the knot to finish the front.

I then went to search my verses file for the perfect sentiment for the inside of the card. When I found this one I couldn't believe how PERFECT it was for this card!

For the two of you,

May you always be warmed
by each other's smile.
Always take time to walk
and talk awhile
Always know deep down
you're each other's best friend
And enjoy the kind of love that
grows and knows no end.
Wishing you an "always"
kind of love!

Congratulations

I printed that on vellum and trimmed the vellum 1/4" or so smaller than the card. I used my new glue pen to run a thin line of glue down the crease and I put the vellum inset inside. I don't normally do this , but for wedding cards I think it adds a really elegant look! See? LOL



I really like how everything turned out! It's funny how you try really hard to make something beautiful for someone you've just met. I guess it has something to do with good first impressions.

Stay Cool

OK so this started out for the Limited Supply Challenge on SCS today. We were supposed to only use things from a list. Well I used 1 thing that wasn't one the list, so I guess I'm disqualified, but I still like my card :)

Here's the list:

Food stamps
Sentiments
Up to 2 backgrounds (stamps)
Hemp or fibers
Brads
Sponging, tearing, distressing
Faux stitching
Paper piercing
CS & Ink: Earth Elements and/or bold brights + neutrals

Ok so the shrimp might be pushing it a little bit as far as a "food" stamp, but I'll say it again, Shrimp are food (even if they have eyes ;) ) LOL Anywho... I stamped my shrimp on a transparency (this is my disqualifying move) and colored them with my Cameo Coral marker. Then I cut them out and ran them through my Xyron X, some facing one direction and some facing the other. It's a great technique for getting a reverse image.

The glass is doodled and if you look ever so closely, you can see "ice cubes" in the glass. I would have LOVED to have used my Crystal Effects to give them an icy shine, but that would have been an even bigger no no.

The background is still one of my favorite things to do with Print Pattern. I love making the little dots with my Signo gel pen. (I figured since faux stitching was on the list, technically the white gel pen was on the list too ;) ain't I a stinka'?)

Clearly fun!

Today's Ways to Use it challenge was to use clear stuff on your cards. I chose a transparency. I saw this on a baby card by Ronie and thought it was such a neat idea. Here's her card: Ronie's Card

The Garden Annuals wheel is stamped in white Stazon onto the transparency. I stamped the Watercolor Vine wheel in Versamark and dusted it with Micro Pearl, Pearl Ex, it really shimmers IRL :) The picture doesn't do it justice, I tried to get the colors right, but the glare from the transparency was making Photo shop do wonky things!

Ok I was never a huge fan of anything that gets all messy (ie. PearlEx, Glitter etc...) But I remembered reading somewhere about using a swiffer duster cloth on your cards after you applied the Pearl Ex and OMG it works beautifully to remove the excess Pearl Ex from the card!! I was so happy! Now I can use all that Pearl Ex I was given :)

A&A Card Front Swap

I joined a swap, I don't usually, cuz I've been burned in the past. I put my heart into making really great cards and I tend to get back crap. I don't mean newbies best attempts, I mean out and out crap. But I decided to go for it this time because of the group of gals involved with this one :)

I won't go into the group, but we are like-minded individuals and the swap focus was to make cards we could send to our friends with the same ideals. Most will go a humorous route, but I chose a more serious direction.

I found this stamp at Viva Las Vegas Stamps. I LOVE the sentiment: "Live your life so that your children can tell their children you stood for something wonderful." No matter your beliefs, I think this is good advice!

I made the card front just smaller than a normal card, so there's a border around the card front when mounted to the base. I would suggest a Mellow Moss or Vanilla base for this card :)

The flowers were colored with markers and then stamped on the oval pieces. I think next time I will stamp the images first and then punch out the images, as not all my flowers are in the middle of the oval. Not that anyone else will notice, but I do and it bugs me! LOL The bottom piece is Mellow Moss with Paisley stamped in Always Artichoke ink. Because this was a swap, I stamped the full 1/4 sheet and cut them in half. Mellow Moss Gingham ribbon and 2 antique brads complete the card front :) I really like how it turned out!