Shimmery Dragonflies

This is for Jeanne's Monday
Rubbernecker Color Challenge. The background is from KK Originals. Some of you who have been stamping for several years or more, may have heard of KK Originals, a line of stamps drawn by Kathy Kaberline. KK Originals are fresh and unique images, that the artist has drawn with her own personal twist.Rubbernecker Stamp Company is pleased to announce that they have obtained distribution rights to KK Originals. Starting April 1st, KK Originals will be available for purchase on theRubbernecker site. However, you will be able to see previews of some of the images available, by visiting the blogs of theRubbernecker Design Team.

All inks are Brilliance which have such a wonderful shimmer and work for embossing, shrink plastic and vellum. I used Dew Drops in Lavender and Orchid, Green from the Peacock Triple Pad and Graphite Black full size pad. The black shrink plastic is by Lucky Squirrel and is also available from Rubbernecker. I have better luck putting my shrink plastic in the oven vs. using a heat gun. I use a Pampered Chef small bar pan cooking stone. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and just pop the stone in the oven for a few minutes. The image doesn't curl up and stick to other parts like with a heat tool. If it is fully shrunk but not completely flat, just use a wood or acrylic block to flatten it out while it is hot out of the oven. Oh! don't forget to punch a hole in the plastic before shrinking.
The KK Originals Dragonfly background is item # 4001-S
Dragonfly 603 Stamp Oasis Section & Dragonfly Text 156 Stamp Oasis. The thin black strips were cut on my Tonic table top cutter. I blew the dust off my Xyron machine and ran the strips through with the adhesive cartridge. This is the easiest way to get adhesive on the back of very thin strips or detail punched items or die cuts. The awesome knotted ribbon is an irredescent pink/blue/lavendar and was a steal at $3 for 27 yards on clearance. The dragonfly text is heat embossed with clear powder. Be sure to play along in Jeanne's color challenge to be entered in a monthly drawing and also check out all the awesome new images on Rubbernecker April 1st!

This week’s Rubbernecker Team challenge players:
Sherry
Broni
Kittie
Candy
Shelly
Tosha

Tole Fans

Some of you who have been stamping for several years or more, may have heard of KK Originals, a line of stamps drawn by Kathy Kaberline. KK Originals are fresh and unique images, that the artist has drawn with her own personal twist. Rubbernecker Stamp Company is pleased to announce that they have obtained distribution rights to KK Originals. Starting April 1st, KK Originals will be available for purchase on theRubbernecker site. However, you will be able to see previews of some of the images available, by visiting the blogs of theRubbernecker Design Team. Check out all the awesome new images on Rubbernecker April 1st!

KK originals stamps include: Plum Blossom Fan 3409-J, Mika's Fan 3213-F & Good Fortune 348-01. I also used the symbol BG 187-3 SO & Happiness Text 375-1 SO. The circles were punched with a 3/8" and 1/2" circle punches and highlighted with a Sakura Gold Stardust pen. I used Sakura Gold Stardust pen & Sakura Black Glaze pen on the middle fan. The white strip was DTP'd with Encore Gold ink and embossed with Gold EP. The text was also embossed with gold EP and the background was stamped with Tim Holtz Fired Brick.

Where's my Stud?

Here's my first sneak peek using Hanna Stamps! new set Tool Time that will be available on 4-1

The sentiment was computer generated and printed on Basic Grey designer paper. Hannas clothes and tool box were also paper pieced. I also use SU! sanded background in basic grey and craft white on the navy layer and the white background. How cute is this, tools aren't just for guys any more!

Dining Room Inspiration

Here's my card for today's inspiration challenge. We were to find inspiration around our home. I chose my Dining Room as it is my favorite in the house. The walls took me 3 months to complete. I had to strip wallpaper and scrub all the paste off the walls, painted 4 coats of burgandy paint which is actually called Ruby Lips, and then over stamp with a couple shades lighter. It was worth the time and effort in the end. My card is embossed in clear using Brocade Basis. The strip at the top was sponged with craft white and the edges in craft black. The beaded trim is leftover from my curtains. P.S. don't look at the dust bunnies (or dinosaurs as they may be) I am still waiting on my DD to get up and vacuum!

Happily ever after...

It's Friday and my turn to host the Hanna Stamps challenge. I chose to do more of a ways to use it approach. Glam up your Hanna or Riley/Sophie stamps. Add glitter, rhinestones, stickles, metallic cardstock, spica or stardust pens, crystal effects....Go for it! Be sure to check out HSC10

on Splitcoast and post your sample there or on your blog. Leave me a comment with the link and I'll go check it out. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

The finished size is 4 1/4" square and the folded card is the embossed white layer. Riley and Sophie were colored with copic markers and I added stickles and gemstones. The rings are highlighted with a Sakura Stardust gel pen and the solitare stone is a gem also. The ring is from the Mikey clear acrylic set available from Hanna Stamps. Riley and Sophie are one of 15 new releases and are wood mounted red rubber.

Riley goes Golfing

So, here's another newly released image from Hanna Stamps!

I love the new Riley and Sophie G. images, they are so cute! I always

associate argyle sweaters with golfing for some reason, so here is my

golfing Riley card. I had the boys look in the garage attic for a golf tee

and they actually came up with one! The ribbon was white so I dyed it

with Soft Sky reinker. The main image panel was stamped with Brilliance Graphite black ink, colored with copics and sponged with Wild Wasabi & Soft Sky inks. The card is on a 4 1/4" navy base and the white portion is the actual folded card. Thanks for stopping by!

Art

I created this for today's Ways to use it challenge on Splitcoast, Just Spray it. I chose to use Tsukineko Walnut Ink Crystals dissolved in water to spray on my tag. The images, inks and crystals are all available from
Rubbernecker Stamp Co. I stamped the images using Tim Holtz Distress ink in Black Soot and then spritzed with the walnut ink crystal solution. When that dried, I sponged with TH Tattered Rose and Weathered Wood. Edges were DTP'd with Vintage photo and sponged with Walnut Stain. The word Art was stamped in Vintage photo. The blue card was stamped with Latin Word background in Brushed Corduroy that was stamped off once. The card front is cut down 3/4" and a strip of brown cardstock is attached to the inside and decorative trim attached. Fibers were added to the shipping tag.

A Note of Thanks

The violin and music layers were created with Adirondack Alcohol inks on glossy cardstock. I used Latte, Caramel, Ginger and Copper Metallic Fixative. The images were stamped using Stazon Black. I used a scratch tool to highlight some of the violin. The music scroll background was stamped using Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink, DTP'd with Old Paper, torn and sponged with Walnut Stain. The Sentiment was computer generated using Microsoft Publisher. To use a scrap of desired paper for printing on, first print your sentiment on computer paper. Attach you scrap of paper using Dotto adhesive over the printed image and run through the printer again. I do this quite often so I don't end up printing on a full sheet of cardstock, DP or parchment in this case. The treble clef shaped clip has May Arts ribbon tied through it. I used a paper piercing tool to fray the ends and attached it with a glue dot. All images and inks are available from Rubbernecker Stamp Co. Images include: Music Background 543-SO, Violin 167-2 SO & Music Scroll 167-3 SO.

Oh Happy Tuesday!

It's Tuesday Treasure Hunt at Rubbernecker Stamp Co. &
Blog Candy from the Rubbernecker Team!!!
Go find the Treasure at Rubbernecker Stamp Co. !!! Details can be found ---> HERE
For chances to win Blog Candy go visit:
Broni
Linda
& Tosh
The first Treasure Hunt clue can be found on Kittie's blog!
Happy Treasure hunting!!!

I chose to use 2 backgrounds for today's color challenge. The Herbal Collage is stamped on a window sheet using Stazon Black. I used glossy white CS for the sky blue layer and DTP'd with Brilliance Pearl Sky Blue ink. The Nouveau Background was inked using Tim Holtz Black Soot and stamped off once before stamping on the glossy layer. The window sheet is attached under the pearl/lace trim. The dangling pearls were part of a decorative trim piece from the fabric section at Hobby Lobby.

Travel Flap Fold

I created this for Jeanne's Rubbernecker Color Challenge and Splitcoasts Technique Challenge today. You can click on the Rubbernecker button on my sidebar to find the details of the color challenge and play along! My flap fold card measures 4 1/4" square when closed. The compass layer and the red DP are Cosmo Cricket Dutch Girl. The postage stamp brad was inked using Adirondack Red Pepper alcohol ink and then sponged with Stazon Timber Brown on the edges. The petite passport image was stamped with brown stazon on a window sheet and cut to fit the center. I inked the map background stamp using Tim Holtz Walnut Stain ink and stamped off once before stamping the tan and red layers. the edges were sponged with walnut stain and the compass layer was sponged with Vintage Photo. The twill tape is by Autumn Leaves. Images used are all by Rubbernecker Stamp Co. Be sure to stop by and check out the March madness sale soon! Images are all from the Rubbernecker sections Old World & Travel. Compass 191-03, Bon Voyage Text 44-14, Map Background 193-01, Petite Passport 44-07.

Muse, Discover, Fly!

I made this for today's Ways to use it challenge on Splitcoast. We were to use tags on our projects. Not a big stretch for me because I use them often. The colors however, were a stretch. Gotta think out of the box sometimes. I just chose Tim Holtz Distress inks in colors I imagined a dragonfly would be and then matched the cardstock to my tags. I inked the large dragonfly up with Peeled Paint and used a baby wipe to remove the ink from the wings. The wings were inked in Dried Marigold and rock n rolled in Broken China. The shadow dragonfly's were inked up with Black Soot and stamped off twice before stamping on the tag. Edges, and the allegro embossing were sponged with Dusty Concord. The small tag pulls out of a vellum envelope that was also sponged with concord ink.

And the winner is.....

Stacy from Lost in the Ink has won this weeks Rubbernecker Bucks. Congratulations Stacy, be sure to share what you create with your new rubber!

Journey of Discovery

I am having fun with the images from

Innovative Stamp Creations. They are perfect for collage work, scrapbooking, altered art etc... For this card, I used stamps from rubber sheets Assemblage and Journey of Discovery for the sentiment. The architectural element was stamped on white tissue paper. I stamped the same size layer with a script stamp and the cracked wall stamp and then affixed the tissue using a thin coat of Mod Podge. I also put another layer of Mod Podge over the tissue before sponging. The sentiment was stamped directly on the CS and then I mod podged plain white tissue on top, added more mod podge and sponged the edges when dry. The script background DP is from The Paper Studio and I crumpled it and then DTP'd with Tim Holtz Old Paper distress ink. I love the depth you get from stamping on the opaque tissue and layering over other images. Check out Innovative Stamp Creations images soon, they are awesome and Betsy is a wonderful person to deal with!

Blog Candy & stuff!

A big welcome to Linda Duke & Leslie Miller, the new Rubbernecker Guest Designers!!!

I am giving away blog candy, again this week. Wouldn't you love to have $10 to spend on some awesome Rubbernecker or Stamp Oasis stamps? All you have to do to claim the candy is leave me a comment on this post and tell me what your favorite holiday is. There are 2 other design team members giving away blog candy today as well.
Check out their awesome blogs and enter there too!

Jeanne Streiff/Inky paws

Sherry Cheever/Walkin' on the Bad Side



Leave your comment by midnight Tuesday est. on this post and I will announce the randomly picked winner by noon on Wednesday, March 19th. Good Luck!!!




TUESDAY @ RUBBERNECKER. The Treasure if you find it, will be a free image. However, to receive the Treasure a purchase of any size is required, and your treasure must be claimed between 4:00 am PST until 9:00 pm PST today (7:00 am EST - 12:00 am EST) Not only is today Treasure Hunt Day, but for every $50 in stamps purchased, you will receive one FREE stamp. You can check out more information on the Rubbernecker Home Page.
The first clue in this weeks Treasure Hunt can be found on: Jeanne's Blog
While you are on the Rubbernecker Homepage make sure and read about the Rubbernecker Bucks Monthly Drawing AND the FREE stamp offer:*** Each month you can qualify to win $100 coupon good for Rubbernecker or Stamp Oasis stamps! For every $20 you spend, your name is entered once into a drawing.*** For every $50 you spend on Rubbernecker, Stamp Oasis or KK Originals stamps, you get to choose a FREE stamp!

Window of the Soul

So, here is my Rubbernecker card for today. The Baroque Background and Triangle Angel are a couple of my favorite images. They can be found in the Stamp Oasis section on the Rubbernecker Stamp Co. website. The torn brown layer was stamped using Perfect Pearls medium and Bronze pearls and then sponged with TH Aged Mahogany. The Angel was inked using Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap and rock n rolled in Aged Mahogany and misted before stamping. I punched the tiles using a 3/4" square punch and layered them on 7/8" burgandy squares. They are on dimensional foam tape. I also dusted the tiles with Perfect Pearls. The cream card was stamped with the baroque background/Frayed Burlap, but I stamped it off once before stamping on the cardstock. The hinge is Tim Holtz Grungeboard from the Harlequin Elements line. I painted it with TH crackle paint in Frayed Burlap, let it dry and then sponged with mahogany ink and dusted with Bronze Pearls. The sentiment which says "The eyes are the window of the soul" was computer generated and printed on the cardstock.

Friendship Tag Pocket

I am having fun with new stamps and wanted to share another card with you today. The stamps are all available from Innovative Stamp Creations, Inc. Friendship set of 10. I used 7 stamps from the set. The vellum tag pocket was created with a piece of 5" square vellum. I folded it in 1/2 and then cut the front on a diagonal. Three edges were trimmed using metal tape for jewelry and paper crafts. The tag was stamped in black and sponged with Tim Holtz Distress inks. Colors used include: Black Soot, Weathered Wood, Worn Lipstick, Scattered Straw, Tattered Rose, Dried Marigold, Vintage Photo, Aged Mahagony, Spiced Marmalade. The card base does not open and glossy is layered on burgandy and guava cardstock. I used Adirondack alcohol inks for the polished stone/red pepper, terra cotta & gold mixative. I stamped the detail flowers in black and then used a sponge dauber with Aged Mahagony for the centers. The vellum pocket is attached to the card using small glue dots under the prima's and foil tape.

Art is Passion

This is my first card using stamps from Innovative stamp Creations rubber. I am so hooked, the rubber is deeply etched and high quality. I used images from ATC Elements II for this piece of art. The gate is stamped using black Stazon ink on a window sheet and attached with brads. I highlighted the word passion using Tim Holtz Distress ink in Scattered Straw. The words were stamped in TH Frayed Burlap for the ATC size layer and the same stamp and ink were used for the background but I stamped it off once so it was lighter. I sponged the edges with tH Vintage Photo. The word ART was part of the same stamp and I inked it using a brown marker and a stamp positioner. I must thank Betsy for the wonderful opportunity to design for her. This will be the first of many creations with her line!

Ruffled Romance Collage

I am excited to participate in a new color challenge posted each Sunday night or Monday morning by Jeanne Streiff. Participants that use at least 1 Rubbernecker/Stamp Oasis image will be entered in a monthly drawing for a $25 Rubbernecker Gift Certificate! Click on Jeanne's name or on the Rubbernecker Challenge Blogger button on my sidebar for the details and to play along.


The colors this week are Brown, Turquoise and Green. I chose to use Romance Collage from the Stamp Oasis section. It was inked in TH Distress Vintage Photo and rock n rolled in Walnut stain before stamping on cream cardstock. The edges were sponged with TH Distress Broken China. I layered the turquoise striped ribbon on top of 5/8" wide chocolate Grosgrain and attached vintage brads. The ruffle was made by cutting 2 strips of DP 1 1/8" wide and roughly pleating it. I just ran adhesive down the left side of the card and stuck it down and wrapped the ends around to the back of the turquoise layer.

Faux Cloisonne Butterfly Collage

I finally got to the Technique challenge from Monday. I was so inspired by this stamp from Stamp Francisco that was sent to my by my friend Christine/Chrisations.ink on SC. How lucky am I??? Anyway, I knew the image was perfect for the technique so here is the result. The colors were chosen from the Karen Foster Advertisement I used. The technique calls for embossing with gold powder, but the images just didn't show up well, so I went to plan B and embossed in black.

Double DP Pocket

The card was created using Designer Paper only, no cardstock! You will need double sided DP or 2 sheets of 12" x 8" DP that you attach back to back. I used my Scor-Pal to make the folds. DP used were Basic Grey Scarlets Letter and the Red is from Blush. I used adhesive to attach them back to back. Place in Portrait orientation and score down the middle at 4". Turn to Landscape orientation and score at 6". You will now have score lines dividing the sheet into 4 sections. With the paper at landscape orientation again, fold the top right corner down to meet the center fold. Do the same with the bottom left corner folding it up. Now you just fold it up like a book. Use a border stamp or other dp (I used The Paper Studio) to make a border along your diagonal pocket edges on the outside and inside. I inserted the Angel Sculpture and Ancient Heart images in my pockets, but it would be neat to add a gift card, money, movie tickets etc. The Sentiments were embossed with Clear EP using a pigment black ink on the inside. All images are available from Rubbernecker Stamp Co.

It's Treasure Hunt Tuesday Again!!!

It’s TREASURE HUNT TUESDAY @ RUBBERNECKER. The Treasure if you find it, will be a free image. However, to receive the Treasure a purchase of any size is required, and your treasure must be claimed between 5:00 am PST until 9:00 pm PST today (8:00 am EST - 12:00 am EST). Not only is today Treasure Hunt Day, but for every $50 in stamps purchased, you will receive one FREE stamp. Tosha will have the first clue to the treasure.
While you are on the Rubbernecker Homepage make sure and read about the Rubber Bucks Monthly Drawing AND the FREE stamp offer:
*** Each month you can qualify to win $100 coupon good for Rubbernecker or Stamp Oasis stamps! For every $20 you spend, your name is entered once into a drawing.
*** For every $50 you spend on Rubbernecker, Stamp Oasis or KK Originals stamps, you get to choose a FREE stamp!
Blog Candy!!!!!!!!!!!! For chances to win blog candy go check out:
Kittie’s, Frances’, Broni’s & Tosh’s blogs and leave comments to be entered for their random drawings.

Pomegranate Dragonfly

Today's colors are so elegant, I love the Pomegranate, Black and Gray together. The white layer was done using the faux tearing technique. I cut a piece of scrap paper to 4 x 5 1/4" and tore it in 1/2. I used the bottom 1/2 and used temporary adhesive to attach to the bottom of the white layer. Baroque Background was stamped on the top portion using Gray ink. Leaving the bottom mask on, I sponged the top section with Pomegranate ink. Then, I masked off the top using the other torn section and stamped the French Letter Background on the bottom portion. I used a wet toothbrush swiped with Pomegranate ink and splattered the entire layer and then sponged the bottom edges with black ink. The tag measures 2 1/2" x 4" and I used a tag corner punch. The reinforcement was made with a small oval punch and a 3/8" hole punch. The gray portion of the tag was embossed with silver ep and sponged with black ink. I stamped the pomegranate part of the tag using the word Diamonds stamp in Gray ink. The dragonfly is on glossy cardstock that was done w/ the polished stone technique. I mixed Wild Plum and Red Pepper Adirondack inks and also added some Silver Mixative. The dragonfly was stamped in Stazon Black when the ink was dry. Fibers are from Basic Grey Infuse collection and Silver Cording. I added gray taffeta, narrow organdy and a rhinestone buckle to the bottom of the tag. All images are by Rubbernecker Stamp Co.

Travel Tags

So, here is the making of collage. Not my favorite I have done, but you will get the basics. I am posting photos in stages to give you an idea of how I work when I do collage. I am never sure where I am going when I start so it is like a journey all in itself. I started by stamping images on parchment paper using Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress ink. Tore around them, DTP'd with TH Old Paper and then sponged the edges with TH Vintage Photo. The tag book was white and printed with a french script in black. I used a Tim Holtz applicator tool and applied ink in Frayed Burlap and Scattered Straw. (see photo) Then, I started laying out the torn images on my die cut pre-printed tag. I originally just tacked them down until I got all the images where I wanted them. The 3rd tag from the left features images torn from a contemporary american art book that was a flea market find. "To All Gates was created in Plaster, wood & plastic by George Segal in 1971. All other images are by Rubbernecker Stamp co. Postmarks: Eiffel 193-08, Cote' D Azure 193-09, Ooutier 193-11, Paris 193-07MC 193-04, P2 193-02, MK 193-03. Petite Luggage Tag 44-13, Petite Passport 44-07, Petite Airline Ticker 44-02, Travel map 44-01, Compass 191-03, Eiffel Tower 193-10, Greek Ruins 193-12, Colliuseum 193-06, Travel Background 44-08. After all the images were affixed where I wanted them, I sponged all the tag edges with TH Black Soot ink. Images were then sponged with Tattered Rose, Weathered Wood, Shabby Shutters and Broken China Distress inks. Jumbo black eyelets were put in the tag holes and fibers were tied on to finish off the tag book.

My Best Friend

Here's a sneak peek of 1 of 5 new sets being released by Hanna Stamps on Friday March 14. This set is called My Best Friend, isn't it cute? I hope to make some samples from the other 2 sets soon. They are called Large Breed and Small Breed. Stay tuned! The finished card is 4 1/4" square. I masked the lg. dog and dog house to stamp the grass. I sponged the grass with Garden Green and the sky with Ballet Blue and a cloud template. The photo corner and dog collar were highlighted with a silver gel pen. Images were colored with Copic markers.

Key to the City

I have not stamped since Tuesday. The "crud" is creeping slowly through our household. I am now fighting an ear infection but managed to squeeze in a card for today's Featured Stamper
Paris Otremba. I chose to case an Eiffel card of hers and kept the same basic sketch. I changed the colors and added postmarks instead of Primas. Adirondack alcohol inks (bottle, ginger & gold) were used on the key hole because it was kind of scratched up. While I had the extra on the applicator tool, I decided to dab it over my images and script dp. I cut out the images and embossed them with clear powder. The key is Tim Holtz Grungeboard from the harlequin elements collection and I used the same inks on it. The fibers are BasicGrey infuse collection. All DP's are The Paper Studio. Stamps, inks and Grungeboard are available from

Rubbernecker Stamp Co.

Blog Candy Winner

Random.org chose Kathy Hering as the Blog Candy winner this week. Congratulations Kathy, can't wait to see what you do with your Rubbernecker Stamps!!!

Blog Candy & other fun stuff!

I am giving away blog candy, again this week. Wouldn't you love to have $10 to spend on some awesome Rubbernecker or Stamp Oasis stamps?
All you have to do to claim the candy is leave me a comment on this post and tell me where you would go on a Journey. Typically, I would say that I would go to Paris and I am sure it is lovely in the spring. But right now I want to go on a journey anywhere that is tropical or just warm!

There are 3 other design team members giving away blog candy today as well.

Check out their awesome blogs and enter there too!
Jeanne Streiff/Inky paws
Sherry Cheever/Walkin' on the Bad Side
Candy Williams/Candy's Land

Leave your comment by midnight Tuesday est. and I will announce the randomly picked winner by noon on Wednesday, March 5th. Good Luck!!!

Ahoy ye Matey!
It's TREASURE HUNT TUESDAY @ RUBBERNECKER. The Treasure if you find it, will be a free image. However, to receive the Treasure a purchase of any size is required, and your treasure must be claimed between 4:00 am PST until 9:00 pm PST today (7:00 am EST - 12:00 am EST) Not only is today Treasure Hunt Day, but for every $50 in stamps purchased, you will receive one FREE stamp. You can check out more information on the Rubbernecker Home Page.

The first clue in this weeks Treasure Hunt can be found on: Candy's Blog

While you are on the Rubbernecker Homepage make sure and read about the Rubbernecker Bucks Monthly Drawing AND the FREE stamp offer:*** Each month you can qualify to win $100 coupon good for Rubbernecker or Stamp Oasis stamps! For every $20 you spend, your name is entered once into a drawing.*** For every $50 you spend on Rubbernecker, Stamp Oasis or KK Originals stamps, you get to choose a FREE stamp!

So, if you got this far here are the card details. The Greek Ruins and Latin Word background are images by Rubbernecker Stamp Co. (go figure!) Journey is computer generated. To print on a scrap of vellum, first print your image on computer paper and then use Hermafix removable adhesive to adhere your vellum over the top and run through the printer again. I punched it out while it was still attached to the computer paper and that eliminated the need to remove any adhesive after punching as I used a piece that was bigger than the punch. The punch is by McGill (3" word tags) and the punch has 4 different sizes on it. I used 2 of them here. Tim Holtz Distress inks were used and are also available from Rubbernecker as well as the reinkers. I used Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain and Peeled Paint. The cool clip is from the office section at Wally World and the ribbon is May Arts.

Blushing Embrace

I made this card for the Featured Stamper challenge this week. Petalpusher/Mary had a link to

Nichole Heady/Papertrey Ink Blog and I just had to try this elegant and simple background. The flowers were embossed on CS weight vellum and de-bossed and colored from the back. They are on dimensionals. The foliage is highlighted with a white gel pen. The card is a standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and the blush tiling is affixed to a white card base.

Wanted Invitation

This is a 4 1/4" square card that opens in the center. (Gate Fold) I used my new Scor-Pal for the folds, super easy! The designer paper flaps are 4 1/4" square as well. Fold or score them in 1/2 and then find and mark the 2 1/8" center along one of the edges with the fold in vertical orientation. Now take a paper cutter and cut from the mark up to the fold line creating a triangle on half of the paper. The uncut side is affixed to the inside of the card flaps and the triangles are not glued to the outside. The square on the belly band is 2" sq. and the chocolate chip edge was done with a marker and straight edge. The horse was first stamped in classic ink and then restamped using craft ink slightly offsetting it. I embossed it with clear powder. That layer is attached to the belly band with dimensionals. I used the invitation stamps from Hugs & Wishes on the inside and markered just the you're from the you're invited stamp. So now, it reads You're Wanted! I love making this style card and hope you like it too!

Boho Wanted

My background was created by stamping the small medallions with Chocolate Chip craft ink and embossing with clear powder. The vanilla cardstock was then sponged with classic ink in sage shadow and blue bayou. I rolled it with the jumbo Rough Texture wheel that was lightly inked and then scraped a toothbrush across it loaded with Chocolate Chip ink. I did the same thing on the medallion but punched it with the scallop circle punch. The blue in the center was done with a dauber. The Friend is a rub on from the Sale a Bration catalog. The reinforcement on the tag was made using the small oval punch and a 1/2" circle punch. I used wide chocolate satin, blue bayou stitched ribbon and moss taffeta.

The faux stitching and row of flowers

on the tag were stamped using All in a Row.

I love the way this turned out!

Debossed Friend

Debossing is so much fun and creates a beautiful look. Be sure to check out today's Technique Lovers Challenge on Splitcoast. I chose to use Embrace Life and really like this color combination. To make a no tie bow, you will need to punch 2 1/8" holes about 1/4"-3/8" apart. I started with a piece of taffeta about 14" long. You will want it to be a little longer so you have enough to work with. Using the large ball on an embossing stylus, push the tails through each hole from the front of the card to the inside. Leave a small loop on the front and then even the tails out on the inside. Cross the tails over and push a loop through each hole coming back up on the front of the card. Even out the loops. Now, take the tails and push them through the opposite hole from the loop with each tail. Give it a try and let me know if this doesn't make sense. The results are a perfect bow. I ended up with about 4" left after finishing my bow, but I prefer to have extra to work with.

A new venture!

I have been asked to design for Innovative Stamp Creations, Inc. Betsy is such a sweetie and has the neatest unique stamps. I am looking forward to this venture and will share some samples as soon as I get my hands on some stamps. If you haven't checked out her site, take a peek soon!

In My Heart

I have very little time this morning as our 2nd Son and youngest child is receiving his Arrow of Light award amoung others today. So, I had to do something very quick before getting my potluck food ready and actually trying to be presentable myself. (no easy task)

Today's inspiration was a french blue room from a bed & breakfast. I took my inspiration from the framed heart doilies above the bed. I stamped 2 hearts in black stazon on a window sheet and cut out. To remove a section of the image for the sentiment, use a cotton swab with a little rubbing alcohol. You won't want it to be dripping. After stamping the sentiment, I sponged the back side of the heart with white stazon to make it stand out a little more. The Taffeta is tied through a clear button, then the knot of black hemp was tied through the knot and another piece secured under one end of the button, wrapped around the inside of the card and under the other side of the button. The scalloped template was adapted from something I tore out of a papercrafting magazine some time ago and have no idea of it's source. The finished card size is 4 1/4" square. Oh, I forgot! the Tres Chic background was first stamped in Blue Bayou ink and then stamped again using Going Gray ink. A stamp positioner such as a Stamp a ma Jig is essential to do this. IMO, the Stamp a ma Jig is the best stamp positioner on the market. I have owned many different ones over the years and this one stands out. I use it daily even if it is just to stamp an image on the clear sheet to place over my project to get an idea of how something will look.