Friday, April 30, 2010

More Inspiration from Bloggers 5

I love going from one blog to another following a trail of inspiration. Here are some places I ended up over the last few weeks: Hermine`s Place - clay buttons Sheila - One Layer Wow!! Kasia - amazing 3D effect (very cool)

Tejal - inchie turtles (I'm finding lots of folks who are falling in love with inchies these days!)

Tammy - Colors on Kraft

I love inspiration!!!

Donelda

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Little Birdie on Black

So I'm totally addicted to putting clear embossing on black card bases!! It makes for such a great background!!
This card is made entirely of scraps (with the exception of the base). I love this striped paper. I've used it on many cards ... never seem to run out!!
Inside says "... it's your birthday"
Stamps: Birds of a feather, Beyond Basic Borders (Papertrey Ink).
Have a great day!!!
Donelda

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

CAS Orange Birthday

So the latest Clean and Simple Challenge #64 over on SCS is a special one!! It is Jen's (Miss Boo) birthday and her favorite color is orange so she asked us to make orange birthday cards, of course!!
As well this week, Katrina Werner did a "five things on my desk" challenge where she took 5 things laying around on her desk and made a card with them. I decided to do that as well. My 5 things - the orange cardstock was from a BasicGrey paper pack that was laying on my desk after making my MIL's mother's day card (you'll see that soon), the vanilla cardstock, the black organdy ribbon, the Demask Design stamp set was also out from making my mother's Mother's Day card (I forgot to photograph it so you won't see it), and my Fiskers Threading Water punch was sitting there on my side table just begging to be used!!
Happy Birthday Jen!!!
Thanks for dropping in!!
Donelda

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Lighthouse

I got this great lighthouse from Cornish Heritage Farms a number of years ago. I think it might be retired. I love it for making masculine cards. Usually I color it in but I felt like making a quick card so I just stamped it onto some of this yummy BasicGrey Granola paper. No coloring required. then I got to thinking of the background and decided to make my own. I used the compass from Father Knows Best (Papertrey Ink) , and the stars and anchor from Out to Sea (Papertrey Ink). There are also some diamonds on there but they are rub ons (not sure what company, I've had them for years!!). The very small birthday sentiment is one piece of the longer sentiment from Around and About (Papertrey Ink). To finish off the card, I added some basic string, did some matting, and popped up the main panel! Another masculine card!!! I hope you have a great week! The last week and a half have been truely crazy around here. My son has started soccer and badminton and that in addition to his guitar lessons we are a bit busy!! I am hoping to squeeze in some crafting time but it is difficult!! Donelda

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Woodgrain Damsel Fly

The latest card challenge on the Cards Blog is to use woodgrain. Oooooooh, I LOVE my Designer Woodgrain background stamp from Hero Arts so I knew I'd be creating a card for this challenge.
I stamped the woodgrain with Chocolate Chip ink onto Close to Cocoa cardstock. Then, I used a Copic marker (E44) to color in some of the grain. I think it gives it a more realistic effect and a ton of dimension. Then, I used a sponge and inked up all around the edges and into the middle. The effect wa a really realistic looking background!! Love it!!!
I decided that this background was masculine looking so I decided to pull out my Pond Life set (Papertrey Ink) and created a great scene using this wonderful damselfly image (dragonflies don't hold their wings up like damselflies do!!). I added some spattered brown ink onto the oval focal point by picking up some brown ink onto a paint brush and flicking it over the image.
I didn't want to cover up all that yummy background so I kept it all pretty clean and simple adding just a bit of hemp and a button.
Supplies: Stamps - Designer Woodgrain (Hero Arts), Pond Life, Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!), Spring Rain, Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink); Paper - Whisper White, Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up!); Other - hemp, vintage button (Papertrey Ink), Coluzzle, sponge, paint brush, dimensionals.
Hope you are celebrating today!!!
Thanks for dropping in!
Donelda

Clean and Simple (CAS) Challenge - 63 - Sketch - 3 Butterflies

Jen's latest Clean and Simple challenge #63 was a great sketch. Is it not a great one ... you could make hundreds of great cards based on this sketch!!
So you might see those colored in butterflies and think - "that's not very simple" but trust me, it is! You see I did the Jennifer McGuire quick coloring technique of using Copics ... nothing is more simple!!
Colored them in, cut them out, pasted them on and drew their antenna. Then I added the pinking sheer cut black cardstock strip. Finally, I added a strip of red 2-sided tape and dumped a pile of purple glitter on it! a small sentiment and a touch of Dazzling Diamonds on the butterfly wings and a finished card! And about time too!!
Supplied: Stamps - butterfly (Rubber Stampede), Around and About (Papertrey Ink); Paper - Kraft, White, Black (SU!); Ink - Brilliance Jet Black; Other - black marker, pinking sheers (Provo Craft), Dazzling Diamonds (SU!), purple glitter (Ritz), markers (Copic).
Thanks for dropping in!
Donelda

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Inchie INKlings - Sketch #3 - Birthday Mouse

So you know how much I love working with inchies!! I decided to play with Ellen's 3rd inchie sketch!
What a fun little card. My neice plays the violin so maybe I'll keep this one for her.
Images were colored with Copic markers in browns and pinks.
Supplies: Stamps - Mouse and Cake - Inchies #3 (smARTworks), inchie swirl - Inchie Flourishes (Inkadinkadoo), Flourishes, Scattered Showers (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Brilliance black, Close to Cocoa (SU!); Paper - Sweet Blush (Papertrey Ink), Close to Cocoa, Basic Black, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!); Other - pinking sheers (Provo Carft), markers (Copic), dimensionals.
Hope you had a great day!
Donelda

smARTworks - Simple Blue Vase

A very simple card using an image and sentiment from smARTworks set Fun Stuff.
Simply stamped the image using Archivers Jet Black ink. Then I used a paint brush and ink to paint the flowers and water in the vase.
I cut around the left edge of the flowers to add some dimensions!!
Hope you have a great day!!
Donelda

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Inspiration from Other Bloggers 4

Here is more inspiration from those who leave comments here..... Elsie - Bird on a Branch (love the scene Elsie created!) Fika - Awesome 3D Projects (what creativity!! and she gives away great blog candy *wink*)

Susan - Clean and Simple Seahorse Beauty (Susan is one of the best CAS stampers!!)

Trish - Moving Bike (can you believe how awesome this is)

Tilly - Inchie Bliss (I love all the bright colors!)

Eveline - Twice the Inchie (More inchie bliss - love it!!)

Hope you get some inspiration too!! Donelda

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Stitched Star - Lucy's Cards Challenge #9

I love Lucy's blog, she is such a talented card maker!! So I like to try to participate in her challenges that hse has recently started. Challenge #9 has to include stitching.
I really like the look of stitching on cards and I had recently made a bunch of stars out of old jeans that I stitched (thanks to inspiration from Char) ... a perfect starting point for this project.
I took inspiration for my background from Donna at three umbrellas. She makes the most amazing backgrounds that I've been meaning to try so I decided today was the day!! I stamped the dots on white cardstock with versamark and clear embossed them. Then I applied distress inks over top. I decided not to add dropplets of water but that looks cool too as you can see on THIS card.
Supplies: Stamps - Polka Dot Basics II, Simple Little Things (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Spiced Marmalade, Faded Jeans, Peeled Paint (Ranger), Paper - Whisper White (Stampin' Up!); Other - old jeans, sewing machine and thread, sponge applicator, Labels 1 die (Spellbinders), dimensionals.
Now I must go see all the other cards created with stitching on them!! Can't wait for the inspiration!! Thanks to Lucy for another great challenge!
Donelda

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Loonie Stamper's Challenge - #87 and 88

The Loonie girls made challenge 88 a casing challenge. You were supposed to pick one Loonie girl and case one of her cards. Well, I couldn't decide who I wanted to case so I just did one from each of the girls!!
I really liked Jewel's awesome card HERE for LSC 71 and used a piece of journalling paper from my Creative Imaginations Journaler's Notebook. This also meets the color challenge for Loonie Stamper's Challenge #87 as well!!
Supplies: stamps-Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Brilliance Jet Black; Paper - Whisper White (SU!), scrap black; Other - black satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink), page from Journaler's Notebook (Creative Imaginations), blue marker (Crayola), corner rounder (We R Memory Keeper), Bind It All (Zutter), dimensionals. Dee's little cards HERE for LSC 83 were so wonderful that I had to case them!! I didn't have the same stamps so I improvised!
Supplies: stamps - Giga Guide Lines, Demask Designs (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Raspberry Fizz, Orange Zest, New Leaf (Papertrey Ink), Brilliance Jet Black; Paper- white and black scraps, Kraft (SU!); Other - dimensionals.
Marie's card HERE for LSC 49 was so sweet and simple that I had to use it as inspiration. As you will see I did make a few changes. Now that I see it here on my blog, I think I'll go back and add faux stitching around the edge of the card.
Supplies - Stamps - Turning a New Leaf, Simple Little Things (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Chocolate Chip (SU!); Paper - Very Vanilla, Kraft (SU!); Other - oval nestabilities (Spellbinders), flower (Prima), half pearl (K&Co.), dimensionals.
HERE is the card that I cased from Wendy from LSC 47. I loved the three big flowers in a row and I've had these wonderful raspberry fizz colored flowers and haven't used them.
Supplies: Stamps - Friends Til the End, Around and About (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Chocolate Chip (SU!); Paper - Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky (SU!); Other - flowers (unknown).
I liked Char's card HERE which she made for LSC 84 so much that I made 2!! In fact, I liked that jean star so much a made a bunch of them so you will see more in the future!!
Supplies: Stamps - Around and About (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Chocolate Chip (SU!); Paper- Very Vanilla, Whisper white (SU!) and various scraps; Other - old jeans, sewing machine and white thread, buttons (Hero Arts), white and beige crochet yarn.
I can't forget my card cased from THIS card by Regan that she made for LSC 76. I love the spotlight technique but haven't done if for a while so I really enjoyed this! The grapes and leaves are colored using my limited supply of Copic markers.
Supplies: Stamps - Fruit Stand (Stampin' Up! -maybe retired), Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Brilliance Jet Black; Paper - Whisper White (SU!); Other - markers (Copics), sponge.
Well, I hope you enjoy all my Loonie cards! Arn't those Loonie girls talented!!! Why don't you case a card or two!!!
Donelda

One Layer Masking Birthday

Susan Raihala is starting a new Clean and Simple challenge on her blog Simplicity. It is called One-Layer Wednesday! Wow, one layer cards are tricky ... but then that is why it's called a challenge, right??!! ETA - coincidently, Kristina Werner has also added a challenge to make a one layer card on her blog. so this card is being submitted for both challenges!! So, while I was thinking about what I could do I was looking through a magazine and came across this advertisement. I really liked how the 3 square bottles of purfume were lines up and decided I could do a similar masking layout for my one layer card!! I took a large Post It Note and using my T!m Holtz ruler, drew rectangles where I wanted them. I cut them out with a hobby knife and then sponged on the colors I wanted. Finally, I added the leaf image and sentiment using black ink. Masking is a great and easy way to add dimension and elements to a one-layer card! Supplies (all products are Papertrey Ink unless indicated): Stamps - Turning a New Leaf, Garden of Life; Ink - Lemon Tart, Spring Rain, Spring Moss, Brilliance Graphite Ink (Tsukineko); Paper - Select White; Other - Post It Note (3M), hobby knife, sponge. Now I'm off to add this post to Susan's and Kristina's blogs and see what their other followers did with this challenge!! Donelda

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

smARTworks Howdy Dotty Girl

I made this card using smARTworks' set called Fun Stuff. I had seen some designer paper that had these large dots in these colors and I loved it so I decided to make my own. I used my sewing machine to stitch around the edges. Next I used white acrylic paint to add smaller dots to the Aqua Mist cardstock and matted it on some Pure Poppy. The girl was stamped and her dress paper pieced using some Pure Poppy Bitty Dots paper. The trim was colored with some Aqua Mist ink and a paint brush. Stamp - Fun Stuff (smARTworks) all other products are Papertrey Ink except sewing machine and thread of course!! Thanks for dropping in. I'm heading to bed for some much needed sleep. Donelda

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Back Home

Hi Everyone! You might have noticed that I've been missing in action this past week! Well we were here:

Enjoyed some great sun and fun in Florida. Today here at home there is a winter storm advisory ... sheesh!!!

I hope to be visiting everyone's blogs soon! I've really missed my creative space :-)

Donelda

Monday, April 12, 2010

Pink, Blue, and Green Hero Arts Stamps

I am loving my Hero Arts stamps!! This circle stamp from the set called Asian Frames is so much fun to color, especially with Copic markers like I did here! I didn't have the right color of paper so I created ones that matched by coloring white paper with the same Copic markers. Supplies: Asian Frames (Hero Arts), 1st year anniversary set (Papertrey Ink); Paper - Whisper White, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); Sweet Blush (Papertrey Ink); Ink - black; Other - markers (Copics), border punch (Fiskers), corner rounder (We R Memory Keepers), dimensionals. Have a great day! Donelda

Friday, April 9, 2010

Masculine Time

Here is another Masculine Card. I am continueing to try to keep my New Year's resolutions - to make masculine cards, use what I have, and actually make some challenges. SEe that awesome paper on there...it is all BasicGrey - from the Granola collection!! This image is from smARTworks. They are 2 different stamps so I masked the smaller one and then stamped the larger watch. Supplies: Stamps - Watch Trio (smARTworks), some set from Papertrey that I just can't think of right now!!!; Paper - 3 different pieces from the Granola collection (BasicGrey); Ink - Walnut Stamin (Ranger); Other - corner rounder (We R Memory Keepers), dimensionals. Hope you have a great day! Donelda

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Umbrella Mouse

This is such a cute little mouse!! I knew that a paper pieced umbrella would be a lot of fun!! I also wanted to create one of these types of cards with the left adhered together and then scored. I colored him in with my Copic markers and then added the Bitty Dots paper for the unbrella. Supplies: Stamps - Fun Stuff (smARTworks); Paper - Summer Sunrise, White, Bitty Dots (Papertrey Ink), designer papers from my scrap bin; Ink -Black, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Other - white eyelets (Stampin' Up!), brown himp, markers (Copics), dimensionals. Hope you enjoyed!! Donelda

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Elegant Birthday Butterfly

This butterfly is one of my favorites! It is an individual stamp from All Night Media. I stamped it onto some vellum with Versamark ink and then heat embossed it with silver and cut it out. I continued the theme by stamping this amazing flower and sentiment on to the card base and used silver embossing powder. I don't have any silver paper so I used my silver marker and colored in a strip then cut it to the size I needed. I added this strip of Soft Sky paper that has some small scallops along the bottom. A white organza ribbon is the right added touch! I think I might save this one for my mom's birthday! Supplies: Stamps - Butterfly (All night Media), In Bloom , Damask Design (both Papertrey Ink); Ink - Versamark; Paper - Soft Sky, Whisper White, vellum (Stampin' Up!); Other - scallop scissors (Provo Craft), silver embossing powder, silver marker, white organza ribbon. Thanks for dropping in today!! Donelda

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Sisterly Love

I created this card for a friend to give to her sister!! She had seen THIS card and liked it so I recreated a similar card for her to give.
I don't create collage type cards very often, mostly because I am not very good at it!! But I try :-)
Thanks for dropping in!
Donelda

Monday, April 5, 2010

Blue Bunny Joy

Happy Easter. I adore gingham papers!! Supplies: Stamps - Bunny Joy (smARTworks); the word birthday comes from Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink); Ink - black; Paper - Whisper White, Brilliant Blue (Stampin' Up!); blue gingham designer paper (Making Memories); Other - sponge, marker (Copics), corner rounder (We R Memory Keepers), scallop scissors (Provo Craft), white crochet thread, dimensionals. Donelda

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Friday, April 2, 2010

Inchie INKlings - Sketch #1 - Chickadee Thanks

I have re-discovered the Inchie INKlings site! When I lost my hard drive a number of months ago, I had to remember and locate all of my favorite blogs. I continue to find some like the Inchie site! Yesterday Ellen announced that they were going to have sketch challenges and posted the very first one. Well, you all know how much I love my inchies so I just had to play along!!!
See the brown and straw colored papers ... they were freebies that I got from our Communications Officer at work. You see, she had a whole box of paper samples from different companies. She didn't want to move the box any more and thought I might be able to use some of the paper. I was so excited!!! You should see all the yummy papers!! So I created this little card to give to her to say thanks using some of the papers she gave me!!!
Supplies: Wildlife Reserve (Stampin' Up!), Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink); Ink - jet black, Chocolate Chip (SU!); Paper - Whisper White (Stampin' Up!), Coastal White, Straw (Domatar), Clove (Fraser); Other - Copic marker, pencil crayons (Prismacolor).
I am off to check out all the inchie projects I've missed out on over the last year!!!
Donelda

Loonie Stamper's Challenge # 86

These colors were so bright and shiny that I had to play (plus it is a day off so I had lots of play time!!). I created this layout based on a larger regular sized layout I saw somewhere (the 3 different shaped squares/rectangles were the full size of the card). All paper is scrap (except the white card base). The stamp set is one I bought at a neighbor's garage sale but I have never used it! I wish I'd noticed that these leaves/flowers look like shamrocks .... I could have used it for St. Patty's day!! Next year!! Supplies: stamps - Fresh Cuts (Stampin' Up!), Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink); Ink - versamark; Paper - White, Kraft, and scraps; Other - white embossing powder, white gel pen, dimensionals. Now I'm going to see what the Loonie gals did this week: Char, Wendy, Dee, Jewels, Regan, Maria Hope you have had a great Good Friday! Donelda

Inspiration from other Bloggers 3

Look at all this wonderful inspiration - No Joking!! I found them from comments that were left here .... Donna - Umbrella Man (I love this t!m stamp and I'm crazy about Deb's use of it here) Regan - Shiny Robot (I am always looking for great 'guy' cards) Kelly - Red, White, and Black (doilies are so 'in' right now) Niki - Vintage Daffodils (one of my favorite flowers done so beautifully!!) Wendy - Pure Innocence (love all those polka dots and gingham!) Enjoy, Donelda