Confirmation card

Here is a card I made for my son's best friend.  I used The Greeting Farm stamp and colored it (ages ago) in grey tones.  Base is Basic Black with layers of Whisper White and more Basic Black.  I used some Heidi Swapp spritz in Translucent and Silver Smooch Spritz.  I had some odds and ends to add on and placed the fussy cut image on a spring to give it some movement.  Thanks for looking!  April

Cheeky Teachers

I made similar frames for teachers a few years ago.  They were such a hit, I decided to do these for my youngest child's teachers.  (Sorry for the reflection and slightly blurry pics.  They didn't look bad on the camera screen.)  The image is TGF's Cheeky Geeky, colored in copic and paper pieced.  The coordinating papers are from Bo Bunny's Shabby Princess Pep Rally line.  The chalkboard is made from kraft and basic black.  To make the woodgrain, I used my wood embossing folder, inked it then closed and rubbed firmly.  It's light, but leaves a nice grain.  I forgot to rub the "board" with my white ink, but the writing is done with a chalk writer.  The banner is made from SU Banner Blast in Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Grey and Daffodil Delight.  I punched them with the coordinating punch and mounted them on a string of baker's twine, attaching them to the frame with micro glue dots.  Thanks for looking!  April

Warm Wishes Minty Kisses

Several years ago, I found these adorable glass milk bottles in a grocery store in Iowa.  The kids got a kick out of how milk used to be delivered, and I loved being able to recycle them as gifts.  This one is filled with Candy Cane Kisses and decorated with Stamps from The Greeting Farm's Keep Cozy set, SN@P papers, baker's twine, and Stampin' Up markers in Baja Breeze, Red Riding Hood, and River Rock.  Thanks for looking!  April

Happy Birthday, Cupcake!

This card is a base of Whisper White with layers of Old Olive, retired SU Birthday paper, and Tempting Turquoise.  The image is TGF's Cupcake Anya, colored with copic.  I used cork paper and the SU banner punch for the embellishments and the sentiment is stamped in Basic Grey, using stamps from SU's My Paper Pumpkin May kit and Inkadinkado.  I kept this flat as possible for mailing.  Thanks for looking!  April

Teacher Gifts, part 2

This is for my youngest child's student teacher.  I wanted to give her a little something and I got this little box of chocolates at Hallmark when I picked up the kids' ornaments.  I used kraft and left over patterned paper from DCWV's Christmas stack.  The image is from TGF's Tea-rific photopolymer set.  (I am entering this into the TGF Farm Fresh Friday sparkle challenge.)  The image is colored in copic markers and I added accents in Sukura Stardust clear gel pen to make it sparkle.  It is around the rims, stripes, blooms, swirls and plate.  I can't get a good angle to make it pop, but you can see a bit of it in the photo below.  I cut it out using Nestabilities circle and layered it on a Nestabilities scalloped circle cut from Cherry Cobbler.  Both layers are mounted with dimensionals.  I left two sides of the base open to slide a tag in with a coffee gift card attached.  I used a little jute twine and left over ribbon to make a pull tab for the card.  Thanks for looking!  April

close up of sparkle

 

TGF's Alter Ego!

TGF is hosting a new challenge called Alter Ego.  The idea is to combine two different TGF characters to make a new one. 

I have used this one before, seen here, but this is my Percy Jackson using Mer Ian and WS Flirty Edward digis.  I used Ian's head and Edward's body, but the trick is I copied his left side, flipping the image and moving it to the right, then adding a t-shirt under the open shirt.  His sword, Riptide, is a image I found online.  Percy is colored in copic markers, then cut out using Nestabilities Labels Seven.  I cut him so he looks like he is stepping out of the book (see one foot out of the book?).  I used my fingers to curve the paper and mount the "book" on dimensionals so the book seems to be rising off the base.  The text background stamp is from 7gypsies in Basic Grey.  The paper is Bo Bunny and Recollections on Very Vanilla base.  I used the film strip punch from EK Success for the strip border and some jute twine in a square knot to make it feel more like Percy's connection to the ocean.  I also tossed in some polaroid pics, especially one of his favorite demigod, Annabeth (from TGF's Miss Anya Hats Off).  The polariods are a die from Quik Kutz. Sorry I can't get a better image of the layers, but it kept coming out fuzzy.  Thanks for looking!  April

Percy Jackson SMASH (In Progress)

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday Anything Goes challenge.
I am still working on it, as I am still working on finding pics or treasures (like coins, book covers, etc), but wanted to get what I have finished posted.  I found this fab pic of a Camp Half-Blood map online and the sign is from a Percy-themed party on Pinterest.  The sneaker and small library cards are from Rebecca at Uprintables.  I used some feathers that escaped from a pillow and a brad to make the flying shoe.  I used a page that I removed from another part of the book, using washi tape to attach, to make a triple page layout.

The characters are from TGF, with a little digital tweeking from me.  All characters are colored in copic markers.  First is Tyson (WS Joseph).  I enlarged him, then erased one eye and moved the other to the middle, before making it bigger.  Next is Annabeth (WS Audrey).  I changed the tongue sticking out to a smile and used Dalek font from dafont.com to write on her shirt.  Percy took some extra work.  His head is Mer Ian and the body is WS Flirty Edward.  I copied the left side of his shirt, flipped the image and moved to the right.  I also added a collar for a tee under the open shirt.  I found an image of Riptide (Anaklusmos) online and shrunk it to the needed size.  Last, but not least is Grover (WS Logan).  He was a rubber stamp and I simply drew in the horn sticking out from under the hoodie. 


close-up of Hermes shoe

close-up of (l-r) Grover, Percy, Annabeth, Tyson

So there you have it.  Maybe I will post new pics once the whole thing is done.  Thanks for looking!  April

Birthday Blessings

This is for TGF's Garden Variety Tuesday Sketch challenge.
The base is SU's Pear Pizzazz with layers of Very Vanilla, Peach Parfait, and My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline Dolled Up designer papers.  I used a doily and machine stitching.  The image is TGF's Miss Anya Lifts and is colored in copic, with a paper pieced shirt.  I added some freckles and tried my hand at making the balloons a bit transparent.  She is mounted on dimensionals and the sentiment, from TGF's Miss Anya Celebrates, is stamped in Jet Black Staz-On.  Thanks for looking!  April

Summer SMASH

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday Summer, TGF Retro-Fresh layers, and Anyone for Anya's layers challenges. 
All the papers are SN@P 6x6 sheets.  The bingo cards are from one of the sheets cut apart and the sentiment is stamped on a scrap of leftover paper from the reverse side of the paper used on the sun and the bikini.  I tore up some pieces of sandpaper to make a beach-y scene for TGF's Oliver & Amelia from the OA Summer Fun set.  Oliver and Amelia are colored in copic and there is a little liquid glass on Oliver's goggles.  I paper-pieced Oliver's floatie and Ameilia's bikini.  The sun is cut from Cricut's Pooh & Friends shape cartridge at 1 3/4".  The clear tab is a leftover from a Heidi Swapp photo file class I took at Archivers and is attached with Tim Holtz tiny attacher staples.  The little scrabble tiles are a printable I found online.  I added a little baker's twine to the tag.  Last, is used a little bit of Gold Glow Smooch Spritz. 

close-up of Oliver & Amelia

Thanks for looking and be sure to play along with the TGF and Anyone for Anya gangs!  April

Let It Go SMASH

This is a page that I did that I wanted to play around with more art journal elements instead of scrappy stuff.  I used Tim Holtz tissue tape to form a block and then used a thin coat of sky blue acrylic paint.  I used a bunched up paper towel to sponge on some white acrylic clouds.  After that dried, I used a sharpie to doodle in a frame and sketch the balloon, filling it in with red sharpie.  The first couple of words are Heidi Swapp stickers, then the rest of the lyrics to "Little Wonders" from Rob Thomas on Disney's Meet the Robinsons soundtrack.  The image is from TGF's Miss Anya Lounge and colored in copic markers.  Thanks for looking!  April

Curve Ball Get Well Card

So I learned that a friend of mine was hospitalized and decided to send him a card.  The base is SU Old Olive with layers of Echo Park's This & That Charming 6x6 stack.  The image is Baseball Anya digi from TGF, colored in copic and cut with Nestabilities Deckled Rectangles then mounted with dimensionals.  I also cut the backing piece from the same Nestabilities.  The notebook border punch seen here is from EK Success in Old Olive and layered with scrap pieces of paper that are machine stitched in straight and zig zag.  The sentiment is stamped from and Inkadinkado kids quotes set in Jet Black Staz-On then cut and embossed with Nestabilities Labels One before mounted with dimensionals.  Thanks for looking!  April

Happiness Always Anniversary Card

This is for a friend's wedding anniversary and I am entering it in TGF's FFF Oh Boy challenge.  The base is SU's More Mustard with layers of papers from We R Memory Keepers.  I have a doily layered with scraps from coordinating papers and hexagons cut from Nestabilities.  The border punch is from Martha Stewart.  The mini paper clip is from Tim Holtz and has a scrap of Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon.  The images are from TGF's Miss Anya Hats Off, Special Autumn, and Sitting Lovely and colored with copic markers and paper pieced.  Miss Anya is a slider.  I have her mounted in dimensionals attached to a piece of cardstock behind the bench.  She slides to snuggle with Ian.  The sentiment is from SU's Whimsical Words. Thanks for looking!  April

shown with Anya snuggling Ian

Me in a Moment SMASH

So this is one of the pages with prompts in the black SMASHfolio.  I put some of my favorite things, ramblings, momentos, chocolate wrapper, and pics of my favorite toys.  I have my newest TGF stamp, Latte Anya, colored with copics.  I also have a SMASH pad page, a SMASH tab, and post-it notes.  The Bugs Bunny stamp is a leftover that has set in my desk drawer for more than 10 years.  I know there is a big gap on the right page, but I am still picking a font I like for a title that will run up the side.  Thanks for looking!  April

#1 Teacher frame

This is one of the Christmas gifts I have been working on for the kids teachers.  I am also entering it into the TGF FFF Holiday Memories challenge.  I always looked forward to the class holiday party and my teachers always had something fun planned.  I love making gifts for my kids teachers even now.
I found these frames at Ikea for $1.99 each and they come in black, white or red.  The papers are Bo Bunny's Shabby Princess and Pep Rally.  The chalkboard is made with the Tim Holtz die and the "blackboard" was cut to fit inside then distressed with Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress ink before using a chalk ink writer for the board.  The image is TGF's Cheeky Geeky and is colored with copic markers using the no-line technique and paper piecing.  She also has faux pearl earrings.  Thanks for looking!  April

Love Story

This is for TGF's FFF Cinema (for Romeo & Juliet) and Anyone for Anya's No Patterned Paper challenges.

The base is Very Vanilla that has been printed with the lyrics from Taylor Swift's Love Story.  I printed it twice and cut the second one down and mounted it with Bravo Burgundy that has been accented with metallic gold embossing powder.  The castle from TGF's Charming is stamped with Tim Holtz's Tea Dye distressing ink, as well as Stampin Up's Extreme Elements in Versamark and clear embossing powder.  The knight and lady are also from TGF's Charming, colored in copic markers and paper pieced, before mounting it with dimensionals.  Thanks for looking!  April

TV Tune-in

It's another Chat & Challenge Night at the TGF forum on Splitcoast Stampers.  I am the lucky host this month and I chose a television themed night.  I hope you can join in on the fun challenges and you have until Monday at noon Central time to enter.

For the first challenge, I have Retro Re-run: Make a card or project inspired by a classic TV show or black and white.  For my sample, I made a card inspired by Happy Days.  As a kid, I used to love watching it and it always makes me laugh.  The card base is Very Vanilla with layers of Really Rust, Taken with Teal, Early Espresso, and Simply Caroline from My Mind's Eye.  I love the classic feel of the papers, and both prints came from the same 6x6 sheet of paper.  I used a Martha Stewart scalloped border and the Tim Holtz weathered clock die.  I used my SMASH label maker for the sentiment, cutting a notch with my scissors.  The image is TGF's 50's Sweethearts digi, colored in copic, then mounted with dimensionals.  The design is based on Deconstructed Sketch #73.  I am also enteriend this into Simon Says dies & punches challenge.  What fun!
The second challenge is "I Love Lucy": make a project based on your favorite TV show past or present.  I have liked many shows over the years, but one of my favorites is still Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  It's quirky and has great one-liners...so much better than the movie!  The card base is Tempting Turquoise with layers of Recollections light grey, Basic Black, cocoa, and Very Vanilla that has been stamped with Recollections Damash Bats in Jet Black Staz-On, and text & blood in Timber Staz-On and Blazing Red Staz-On, then inked with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink.  The fence is Martha Stewarts spooky gate border punch.  I hand tore the dirt and the headstone is a Cuttlebug die and emboss set.  The image is from TGF's Miss Anya Rain Snow Shine, colored in copic and mounted with dimensionals.  She is also holding a "stake" made from and inked toothpick that has been cut to size.  The sentiment was made by stamping a sentiment from the Artful Inkables "Into the Moonlight" set and punching with a 1 3/8" circle and mounted behind a die from Cuttlebug.  I am also entering this into the TGF Farm Fresh Fridays Buttons & Bows challenge.

Okay, one more....just for fun!  I was watching a Child Stars All Grown Up and about laughed when I saw Punky Brewster.  Oh my, I had forgotten that I used to watch that!  So, here is my Punky card...I used a base that I had left over from another project, then took a piece of white cardstock and used a ton of Smooch Spritz colors all over it.  Next, I used a polaroid stamp from Lawn Fawn and stamped the smiley and sun, coloring it in a kid-like scribble.  The gem cherry was a clearance I found a Michaels.  The sentiment is stamped from TGF's OA Summer Fun.  The image is TGF's Wild Sprout Audrey.  Doesn't she make a perfect Punky?  A card as bright and colorful as Punky herself! 
Come on over to the TGF Forum at Splitcoast and chat, then play along!  Thanks for looking!  April

How's it Rollin?

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday Recycle and Anyone for Anya's no embellishments challenges.
The card is recycled from a prefinished set I found on clearance at Michael's, as well as the strip of paint chips from Walmart that were left over from a previous project.  The notebook paper is a printable and is punched with EK Success spiral notebook and stamped with a sentiment from TGF's Later Skater in Azure Blue Staz-On.  The image is TGF's Skater Ian and is colored with copic markers.  Thanks for looking!  April 

Fall Retro-Fresh

This is for TGF's September RetroFresh challenge. 

The base is Whisper White with layers of Recollections cranberry, SU Marina Mist and American Crafts papers.  The edge is punched with a Martha Stewart border punch and there is yellow baker's twine with an SU retired "genuine" brad.  The leaf and acorn are extras I had stamped from the SU Day of Gratitude set.  I crumpled the leaft and mounted it with a dimensional.  The images are from TGF's Special Autumn and colored with copic.  I stamped them within the polariod image from Lawn Fawn's Say Cheese set.  The photo background is inked with SU Soft Sky and the clouds were made from a scalloped circle punch that was inked around.  The sentiment is also from the Lawn Fawn set.  Thanks for looking!  April

Need a Lift?

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday Pink Challenge.
The base is Whisper White with layers of Whisper White, pink bubbles patterned paper and a scrap of winter white I had left from another project.  The image is TGF's Anya Lifts and is colored in copic.  Her shirt and balloons are paper pieced.  There is white gel pen details for her freckles and on the balloons.  I wanted to keep it pretty flat for mailing, so there are no other embellishments besides the border punch from Martha Stewart and the full heart punch from SU.  The sentiment is from the same Anya set.  Thanks for looking!  April

Beware

This is for Anyone for Anya's Boy, Deconstructed Sketch #71, Simon Says Anything Goes, and Pixie Dust Studio's color challenges.
The base is Old Olive with layers of basic black, pumpkin pie, and retired SU halloween DP.  Card is based on Deconstructing Jen's latest sketch.  The image is TGF's My Guy Ian and it is the first time I have tried the borderless coloring.  I am not overly thrilled but may try it again and see how it turns out.  I used a black multiliner for the face and to sharpen some of the hair and shirt collar.  I also used a white gel pen for the shirt pattern.  The border is Martha Stewart web punch.  The ribbon is satin from Michael's and the charm is a left over from last Halloween.  I know the colors are halloween-ish, but I think it makes a great teen boy card.  Thanks for looking!  April


close up of image