Heart Journal - week 2

This weeks assignment is "Sandy Sunshine."  We were asked to create a spread incorporating sand, sun, beach, etc. showcasing memories or something related to summer.  This is mine...
I have always loved stories like the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and, now, Twilight because the girls are ones who feel out of place with those around them, but through their own strength and determination, find their own place in the world.  I grew up near the beach, but it was never my thing.  I was the only one of my high school friends to venture out into the big blue world to go to college by going over 2K miles from home.  What I found was the best of people, a new family, and my future.  Who knew?  So this is for my roots near the ocean and my love of strong girls, by using Ariel!



First I used my little cloud template from the last card I posted to ink clouds along the top of the page in Soft Sky.  Next, I defined the ocean, by punching a template of half circles to make waves and inked along that for some definition.  Then I stamped a sheet music background stamp in Timber Brown Staz-On and painted over it with a thin coat of aqua colored acryllic paint.  I set it with a heat gun, then used Sea Breeze smooch spritz to add a little sheen and texture.  Next I added foamy waves with my snow paint pen and set it with a heat gun.  It adds a fluffy, foamy, fairly firm but textured top to my ocean.  Ariel is actually TGF's Mermaid Anya and is colored in copic with accents of Spica shimmer on her fins and hair.  I also added pearls.  She is placed on ripped sandpaper for some extra texture.  The treasure chest, jewels, and coins are from a dollar sticker set from Michael's.  Also is a globe from a Sticko-potamus set I roughed up with a bit of sandpaper, then inked to give it a bit more worn look for under the water.  The broken vase is another Sticko-potamus set of Egyptian pieces that I ripped and spread across the sandy floor.  I journalled a bit, then added my little title that I stamped in Island Indigo on Very Vanilla cardstock, cut, inked in CTMH's Brown Bag, then distressed and adhered to the page.  I doodled a few birds and words from "Part of Your World" along the sky.  Thanks for looking!  April





left side

right side



Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust...

This is for TGF's Mystery Monday CASE with Mercy, Stamptacular Sunday's Friends are heaven sent and Paper Sundae's Clouds & Skies challenges. 

The base is Whisper White with layers of retired papers from Provo Craft and Michael's.  I pierced the edges of the larger layer, then added some white grosgrain ribbon and green satin to the completed layers.  The circle and scalloped circle is from Nestabilities and mounted with dimensionals.  The sentiment is printed on white cardstock using Waltograph (and two other fonts I can't remember!) from dafont.com.  I made the clouds by punching out several scalloped circles and taping them in various pattern, then sponging the edge of the punched image with retired SU color Soft Sky.  Next I stamped Flutter Anya on the image to add dimension and help me with placement.  I made this one with copics on Southworth coverstock, adding details like Spica pen to her hair and glitter to the edges of her wings, then cutting out and mounting her with dimensionals.  The pearls are from Michael's and colored with copic marker, then heat set with a heat gun.  Thanks for looking!  April



showing dimension



Happy Birthday pocket card

 



This card is for Anyone for Anya's sketch, Stamptacular Sunday's Hot Pocket, and Stamps R Us's Happy Birthday challenges. 

The base is Whisper White cardstock cut at 5.5x11", with layers of Basic Black, plum and the designer paper is from Paper Studio at Hobby Lobby.  The image is TGF's Wild Sprout Joyce digi and is colored in copic markers.  Border punch is Martha Steward and the tag in the pocket on the cover is cut and embossed with nestabilities.  I took the SU decorative label punch and cut it down to make a reinforcement for the tag, then used the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher to add the ribbon.  I didn't want the tag to fall out, so I added a strip of paper that was a bit wider, then when I assembled the piece, I put adhesive around the three sides of the image, then a bit along the open side to sort of lock the strip the tag is attached to in place.  The sentiment on the tag is from retired SU Whimsical Words and is stamped in Jet Black Staz-On.  I added scraps to the inside to coordinate.  I worked really hard to keep it flat for mailing and think I did just fine.  Thanks for looking!  April



showing inside & hidden tag



Cast a Spell

This is for Pixie Dust Studio's first sketch challenge. 

Base is Perfect Plum with layers of retired Cast a Spell DSP and Basic Black.  The black is punched using Martha Stewart's drippy goo border punch.  The image is PDS witch and is the second image I have colored (you can tell by her hair!!!) using copic markers on Neenah Solar White.  The ribbon is satin ribbon from Michael's dollar section.  I added a twine bow to her broom, as well as the buttons along the side.  The sentiment is stamped in Jet Black and uses the Studio g mini alphabet from Michael's and is punched using 1 1/4" circle punch on layers of DSP punched with 1 3/8" and 1 1/2" circles and placed on a Basic Black scalloped circle mounted on dimensionals.  Thanks for looking!  April

You're a Sweetie

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday Piece it Together, Deconstructing Jen's sketch, and Stamp Something's embellish something challenges.

The base is Pumpkin Pie with layers from retired Build a Bear print paper from SU and Whisper White.  The layer of blue is Ballet Blue that was run through the cuttlebug embossing folder, inked with Versamark and embossed with blue glitter powder.  The image is TGF's Oliver & Amelia - Just for You and are stamped in Momento Tuxedo Black on Southworth coverstock and colored in Copic markers and paper pieced.  I added touches of Spica pen to Amelia's apron and some Stardust gel to her star.  Her hankerchief, shorts and star are pieced using SU's Yo Yo Yellow and denim from the Paper Studio.  Oliver is paper pieced at his hat and jeans using the same papers and his cookie is Creamy Caramel.  He is cut out and mounted with dimensionals.  The ribbon is Orange grosgrain and the sentiment is cut and embossed with nestabilities.  The buttons are tied with bits of embroidery floss and attached with a glue dot.  Thanks for looking!  April

showing dimension



showing layers

Flutter Anya

I am learning how to use copics, but only have a small selection of colors, so I have just been coloring some random patterns, figuring I would never use this and yet, it worked out.  I have had this paper sitting around and decided to use it for this week's TGF WOW sketch challenge. 

The base is Pumpking Pie with Recollections Butterfly Flower.  Instead of a regular fold card, I decided to make the top part of the sketch a flap.  Image is TGF's Flutter Anya and is cut out with oval nestabilties and mounted on a nestabilities label die cut.  I added a little sparkle to Anya with a Sukura clear stardust gel pen and a Spika clear shimmer pen.  Finishing the card is some skittles, organzana ribbon, and flower made from Brides brand flower confetti and held with a gem brad.  I left off the sentiment for later.  Thanks for looking!  April

Heart Journal - week 1

So this is week one of TGF's Heart Journalling and the theme is wings...planes, butterflies...whatever you want.  Here is my first run.

I used SU inks Soft Sky, Pool Party and Island Indigo to ink the base and stamp along the edges.  Next, I used my Tim Holtz masks and River Mossy smooch spritz to create the background images, then set it with a heat gun.  I used Jet Black Staz-On to stamp the clock on Very Vanilla and butterfly wings on tissue paper.  I scribbled the wings with sharpie markers, then cut out.  I punched out the clock and then inked and crumpled the clock to give it a weathered look.  I ran them through the Xyron sticker maker and added it to the base, doodling around the edges.  Next, I stamped the title and clocks in Whisper White craft ink and embossed with gold embossing powder.  Last, but not least, I added two felt butterflies that I stamped with a swirl in Island Indigo, adding some bling to finish it off.  Thanks for looking!  April

Cruise album

This is an envelope album I put together for my in-laws.  It is from Little Yellow Bicycle's Pack Your Bags line.  There are also inserts in all the envelopes.  Here are a few of the pages.

Thanks for looking!  April

4U

This card is from Anyone for Anya's Interactive card and TGF's Farm Fresh Friday's Double Duty challenges. 

I took the idea for this card from Dawn Griffiths at Dawn's Stamping Studio.  Card base is Real Red with layers of printed paper from Paper Studio and Whisper White.  The base is cut at 5.25x12, scoring at 4 and 8".  Do you want to know the secret of the slider?  A plastic grocery bag!  I know...way to recycle and you know we all have a plastic bag somewhere!  So I cut the slide cards to fit and attached following Dawn's video instructions.  Images are Flirty Edward and Camille from TGF and the retired Things I Love set from SU.  I used rub-ons for the "YOU" and chipboard letters I sponged for the sentiment on the card front.  I punched a tab from my rounded tab punch and used the Tim Holtz tony attacher to staple in place. Just tug the tab and the other card slides out the other end.  A little black satin ribbon finishes the card.  Yea, there are things I would change, but I do like the effect.   Thanks for looking!  April



card right

card front

card left

Fixing an oops...

So I mentioned that I made a mistake in misjudging the size of that window I made for the Christmas card, right?  Here I had a finished base and nothing to use on it...LOL.  So I went to my stash of images I have been practicing copic on and pulled this super cute image from Pixie Dust Studio - King Wink.  Isn't he darling?  I simply matted him on a scrap of Marina Mist and used a scrap of Whisper White to punch the card suit border from EK Success.  The button is tied with some heavy embroidery thread and attached iwth a glue dot.  The sentiment is punched with the SU word window punch and inked with Wisteria Wonder.  Super fast and cute to boot.  Thanks for looking!  April

digi doodles

These are the digis I printed when I was working on the kids little coloring books.  I was trying to figure out how to get them in the books, but it would distort the binding too much, so I used some scraps, a couple of extra large eyelets, and some key rings to make little mini books I can toss in the car for entertaining the kids while out and about.  Super quick and easy little thing and easily refillable!  Thanks for looking!  April

Christmas in July

Many of the challenge blogs are doing Christmas challenges, so I decided to kill a couple of birds with one stone, and use Deconstructing Jen's sketch challenge with Paper Sundaes and Creative Inspirations Christmas challenges. 

 

The card base is Marina Mist and Choclate Chip.  The window is Creamy Caramel and inked with Chestnut Roan cat's eye chalk.  (I already had the base made, then realized that my window was too big, so I had to go back and make a bigger base...whoops!)  I used a 1" square punch and a circle cutter to round the top edge.  The wreath is a circle and scalloped circle punched out from Handsome Hunter.  I used the pinking hearts border punch to punc the little hearts and triangles to make the textured leaves.  I ran the scalloped circle through my xyron, then dipped and pressed the little confetti pieces into the adhesive.  The berries are pearls colored with copic R27 and let dry.  Last, I added a little bow made from a bit of satin ribbon.  The window panes are a recycled piece of plastic that acrylic stamps come attached to and the snowflakes (from SU's Season of Friendship set) is stamped in Whisper White craft and set aside to dry.  The background is Whisper White cardstock that has been torn into rough layers, then edged with snow writer dimensional paint and set with a heat gun.  The tree is from SU's Loads of Love set and is stamped on a scrap of green in Lucky Limeade ink.  I colored the trunk with a colored pencil, cut and mounted on base, adding the pearls and "snow".  The window is mounted on dimensionals to the snow scene.  I added red grosgrain ribbon, mounting the window over that, then adding a present with the hand-written sentiment.  Inside, I stamped a sentiment from Loads of Love.  Thanks for looking!  April



close-up of wreath & background

side vie for dimension

Heart Journal

 



So the uber talented ladies at TGF are picking up the trend of artistic journalling and decided to include the rest of us in the fun!  They are calling it Heart Journalling.  Click on the link and join in!  Over the next 23 weeks, we are going to take on one new topic a week to inspire our creativity.  There are really no rules when it comes to format or structure, so I decided to make my own journal from a Basic Grey chipboard album I had.  It is 6x6 and I replaced the thin chipboard pages for watercolor paper.  These are 8/2x11 and cut to 5.5x5.75".  I realized one side is textured and the back isn't, so I alternated so that every two pages facing each other is matching.  I purposely selected the three ring style so I can pull out pages to work easier and if there are any tragic mishaps, can pull them out and do-over.  I painted the chipboard with white acryllic and sanded the edges and around the grommets.  Next, I used a background stamp from Studio g and stamped around the edges in Dove Gray Staz-On.  After that, I used Blazing Red to stamp the hearts to keep with the Heart Journal theme.  I used a Tim Holtz clock and gears masks, then spritzed in Vanilla Shimmer, Gold Glow, and Black Velvet smooch spritz.  I used a heat gun to dry it faster.  I stamped heart in Whisper White craft ink on the white base and on a scrap of Real Red cardstock I had cut a heart from Doodlecharms Cricut cartridge.  I poured red embossing powder over the ink on the cover, heating to melt.  I distressed the edges of the heart with my fingernail, then lined it up with the rest of the word on the cover.  I used Basic Grey chipboard letters, inked in Jet Black, for the "my" and tied a bit of red ribbon on the end.  The "journal" is stamped in Jet Black and uses an scribble alphabet set I have.  Last, I added bits of coordinating ribbon to the binding rings.  I am looking foward to getting started and will post as we get the weekly assignments done.  Thanks for looking!  April

close-up to show dimension

flat view

Sweet Pea

This is for Pixie Dust Studios Girly Girl and Pink Elephant's photo inspiration challenges. 

easel view

The base is in a retired SU color with layers of Whisper White and printed paper from a stack.  The scallop is cut from Cricut's Mini Monograms at 4/75".  I pierced the scallop by hand.  The circles are cut with Nestabilities and I embossed the one with the image.  The image is the baby pea from PDS and is my first attempt at using copic markers.  (It was before I took the class, but can't bring myself to throw it out...LOL)  I used a bit of white organza ribbon and layered it with a pink button and the sentiment.  The sentiment is stamped with Studio g mini alphabet stamps from Michael's in Jet Black Staz-On, then punched using SU's word window punch.  I finished it off by adding a few pearls along the circle.  Thanks for looking!  April

flat for delivery

Through the Garden Gate...

This card is for Stamps R Us "Through the Garden Gate" challenge. 

The base is Whisper White cardstock.  I cut a layer then ran it through the cuttlebug in the Swiss dots embossing folder.  Next, I cut my image (from my first copic class) and another piece of white through the cuttlebug with nestabilities dies, running the frame back through with the embossing folder.  I used dimensionals to place the frame over the image to add a little depth.  I used all white because I wanted the image to stand out.  I then used some Cherry Cobbler&Whisper White baker's twine wrapped around the card base and tied with a bow behind a red button to finish the look and draw the eye to the center.  Thanks for looking!  April

flat view

My Lucky Charm

I have been going a bit nuts on the challenges and falling even further behind on my scrapping.  This is my daughter wearing her super cute Lucky the Leprachaun shirt for St. Patty's day.  I found this great paper at a LSS in Iowa City and have been sitting on it for ages. 

I just pulled scraps of green I had sitting around to fill out the page.  It is sporatic and whimsical and that is why I love it.  I don't think I would have normally paired these papers together, but the randomness makes me think of a quilt pieced from scraps and it gives it a bit of charm.  Title is stamped with Cactus Green Staz-On using CTMH's giggle lowercase and the bling is My Big Idea.  I used a dark green journalling pen to give it some shadow.  The punch is Martha Stewart and the ribbon is from Michael's.  Thanks for looking!  April

Mystery Monday CASE w/ BeansScrapsandSheep

So here is my card for TGF's MM challenge and Anyone for Anya's Up Up and Away challenge.  I decided to use Beabs design, but make it an easel card for something fun and whimsical.  For Anya, I wanted to draw on the multiple, bright colors, the roundness of the balloons, and the swirls to represent air.  Then I got a bit abstract and starting thinking about romance and love...wouldn't it be romantic to take a ride in a balloon?

folded flat for delivery

The base is retired SU color Green Galore with layers of Tempting Turquoise and Pretty in Pink.  The stripped paper is from Michael's.  The border punch is Martha Stewart's antique lace and is paired with a scrap run through the cuttlebug with the dotted emboss folder, sanding over the embossed image, then wrapping the layered piece with bleached hemp twine.  The image is TGF's Stella stamp on Southworth 25% cotton coverstock and is colored in copic marker.  I am just now learning how to use them, so be patient with me!  (I read about Jen Schulz using it in place of the copic paper and thought I would give it a go.  Can't really tell the difference but my friend says she doesn't like the difference.  Oh, well.)  I cut her out using the circle nestabilites die, embossing, then layering it with a piece of Tempting Turquoise that I cut on the Cricut using Mini Monograms scalloped circle.  I hand cut the little envelopes to match the one in her hand and punched little pink hearts that match the embossed piece.  Last, I added the bling and skittles.  I hope I did Beans justice.  Thanks for looking!  April

easel display

Mummy re-do

I was playing around with some scraps I had and decided to do a card I CASEd from Dannie's Designs a couple of years ago.  Here it is with the updated colors...

The base is Concord Grape with layers of basic black and Pumpkin Pie.  The mummy is made from a base of Very Vanilla and inked with Crumb Cake ink.  The eyes are layers of Pumpkin, Whisper White and Basic Black.  The knot is inked on both sides of the paper, then rubbed along the edge of the table so it is more plyable to form the knot.  I also roughed up the edges of the knot.  I had already tacked the strips down, but I think it would have looked cute to distress the edges of the strips too.  Thanks for looking!  April

Jolly Camille

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Fridays Christmas in July and Paper Sundaes' paper piecing challenges. 

The base is retired SU color Creamy Caramel with Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip papers.  The printed paper is from DCWV christmas stack.  The image is TGF's Wild Sprout Camille (Bella to all you Twihards) and is paper pieced using Blushing Bride, Moxxie textured paper, and matching scraps of the card base.  I stamped the image in Jet Black on all the papers, then cut and reassembled like a jigsaw puzzle.  I added touches of shadow and details using sharpie and colored pencils, then doodled around the edge of the image with words of the season. The border is Martha Stewart's antique lace punch.   Last, I added a bit of white grosgrain ribbon from Michael's.  Inside is matching scraps.  Thanks for looking!  April

Sassy Anya

Here is my entry for TGF's WOW sketch. 

The base is Whisper White cardstock with layers of Basic Black and print paper from the Paper Studio at Hobby Lobby.  The ribbon is from Michael's...isn't it cute???  I also used the spiral notebook border punch from EK Success.  The image is Later Skater Anya from TGF and she is stamped in Jet Black Staz-On and colored with shapie markers and colored pencils.  I have a sentiment, but haven't figured out if I want it outside or inside the card, so I decided to hold off.  I also kept it pretty one-dimensional, for easy mailing.  Thanks for looking!  April

Irritable Grizzly

So here is my entry for Deconstructing Jen's sketch,  Stamp Something's bugs or butterflies and Stamptacular Sunday animal antics challenges.
Card base is forest green general cardstock with layers of brown and the B&T papers are from a stack I got on clearance years ago.  The bottom is ferns, then the plaid and then a splattered watercolor design.  For the half circle, I used a circle cutter.  I then ran a scrap of the green base through a crimper, then tore around the edges to give it a rustic, unfinished look.  The punch is the pawprint border punch from EK Success.  I added some jute twine before adhering to the base, then ran a straight stitch around the entire card.  The image is a Stampin' Up set called Under the Stars.  The sentiment is printed using Almagro font and then punched out using the SU wide oval punch.  The backer is a scrap of the crimped paper cut with the decorative label punch.  I added a scrap of jute twine to the sentiment.  Last, I cut out a couple of colored mosquitos from Under the Stars and mounted them with glue dots and adding a bit of Spica clear sparkle to their wings.  I normally like more dimension, but wanted to add a mailable card to the stash.  Thanks for looking!  April

Lion Pride

My son is finishing summer school, so I wanted to give his teachers a little treat.  I found these little brag books on clearance for just $1.50 at Michael's and decided to alter them.

The print was already on the edge with the spiral binding, so I just added the layers of black and red paper.  I used the paw print border punch from EK Success on the red layer.  The image is the cheerleading pixie from PDS and is colored in watercolor pencils and sharpie markers.  I used the oval nestabilities to cut the image.  The title is printed on stickers from Studio g and come 4 on a sheet.  I used Ravvi font and then stamped the pawprint with Blazing Red Staz-On.  Thanks for looking!  April

Old Photo

This card is for Stamptacular Sunday sketch and Pixie Dust Studio old photo challenges. 
The base is basic black with whisper white and distressed polka dot from Paper Studio.  I sewed around the blocks, then added the image mounted on layers and dimensions.  The image is January Pixie and is colored with gray and black colored pencil.  I added black brads to the buttons on the coat and boots and doodled around the image.  Last, I added a few buttons on glue dots. 
I cut a white scrap and used scraps of the layers and a Martha Stewart punch to decorate the inside.  Thanks for looking!  April

inside of card

Color Splash

This is for Stamptacular Sunday's "seeing double" challenge and TGF's WOW Color Splash challenge.  I technically missed the deadline, but I am still posting...my bad!

So the base is SU's new in color Pool Party.  Other papers include basic black and the patterned paper is Paper Studio from HL.  I cut the two inside pieces from Nestabilities.  The image is Dressy Camille from TGF and is colored in watercolor pencil and Pool Party ink.  I added a little pearl to the middle of her dress, then used a watercolor pencil to shadow around the edges, without blending, then mounted it on dimensionals.  I used scraps to punch 3/16" pieces for the skittles and adhered with liquid glass.  Last, I added a black satin ribbon.  I chose to leave the sentiment off for now, so I can use it for whatever later.  Thanks for looking!  April

Ooodles of Doodles

This week's Farm Fresh Friday Throwback challenge is "Anything but a card".  Now, in a throwback, your can't use any newer images and they give you an excluded list.  Think, think, think.  So I was visiting other blogs searching for some brilliant idea and lo and behold....I come across a blog with a coloring book! 

My kids are constantly begging me to print out my digis for them to color, so I busted out the rubber TGF's and started stamping in one of those Michael's dollar notebooks with the little pens.  I ripped off the covers and pulled out some of my SU paper scraps.  This is Peach Parfait and a retired fusha color.  The covers measure 4.5" tall by 6.25ish".  (I say "ish" because one was closer to 1/2".)  I then inked around the edges in cat's eye chalks - Chestnut Roan, Charcoal, Rouge and Fusha.  Next is scraps of Bo Bunny Pep Rally and the pink hearts are from a stack.  I ripped them at an angle, adhered, then sewed around the edge of the cover.  Next, is a quick spritz of smooch in gold, emerald, berry and cosmic pink.  The brown candy ribbon is from Michael's and the other is Night of Navy from SU.  Images are TGF's Later Skater Ian and Anya, colored in Crayola pencils.  I wanted them to look unfinished to go with the coloring book theme.  The sentiment is printed in Comic Sans font, cut and embossed with a nestabilities circle, then stenciled with coordinating colors Lucky Limeade and Purely Pomegrante, then mounted with dimensionals.  I used SU's brights glimmer brads that are slid through a button to make a shank.  I punched holes in the back to run thick embroidery thread through to make a closure.  I didn't want too much dimension on it because it is a coloring book cover. 

close-up of Ian

close-up of Anya

I'll post pics later of the key rings coloring books I made of the TGF digis to keep in the car for outings.  Thanks for looking!  April