Monday, April 27, 2009

Viva La Verve - April...

I love my Verve stamps.  They make me take my cardmaking in an entirely different direction from my usual "cute" cards.  Or maybe it is just the Viva La Verve sketches on Splitcoast.  Hmmm...  

Anyway, here are the cards I made for the last three VLV Sketch Challenges for April.  One of these months I'd love to win the entire Verve Release.  Wouldn't that be a fabulous Mother's Day gift??  You should try it!  You still have 3 days!

The first card was a color challenge - Blue, Mustard & Sun.  I used Floral Symphony as my stamp set and pulled out some ancient Mustard colored dp.  I even got to use my Doily Punch!! 
I distressed by sponging with Mustard and Cocoa inks.

For the next card I got to make my own background paper using the daisies from Floral Symphony and the "Praying for You" sentiment from Circular Sayings.  I used the same mustard dp and the border punch again and just added some buttons, a ribbon and a little tag where the sentiment was to be added.

Last, but not least, we had a sketch that we were supposed to make "spring-y".  I went with pink and flowers.  What's not spring-y about that?? :)  I stamped the lilies on the K&Co dp in brown ink and then colored them in with a white Prismacolor pencil.  I like the look... kind of like faux bleach.

It's a busy day here, so I'm going to run.  Happy Stamping!

Tricia

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Sweet Sammy


Here's Sammy Squirrel in the strawberry patch!  I colored him with Copics and shaded with Prismacolors & OMS.  The clouds were made by tracing a scalloped circle very lightly with a prismacolor pencil and blending it with OMS.  I followed SCS Sketch 224, and attached my layers with stitching.  The "friends furr-ever" sentiment is from Clear Dollar Stamps.

*EXCITING NEWS*
Digital Stamp Oasis has just released 8 more images!!  My favorites are still the squirrels, but there is a panda and a gorilla/monkey, too!!  I'll have a sample or two later this week, but if you'd like to check them out, they are available here!!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Blog Hop Tonight!

The challenge for this month's PaperTrey Ink Blog Hop was to use one of Lauren's Timeless Templates and make a project.  I love some of the templates, but I hadn't purchased any yet - partly because I didn't have a Scor-Pal and it seemed like it would be a lot easier with one.  But... PTI does have two free templates, so I decided to give it a try.

The template I chose to work with is called Recipe Wrap Up.  It's a cute little folder with 6 inside pockets, especially sized to fit the PTI recipe cards.  I made my folder with Sweet Blush cardstock and covered it here and there with some Sweet Pea dp by Basic Grey.  I used my Martha Stewart Doily Punch to edge the brown cardstock that covers the spine, and embellished the front of the Wrap Up with Sweet Blush Ribbon, some primas and a tag stamped with a quilt block from Quilter's Sampler & a sentiment from Holiday Treats.

On the inside I stamped a row of quilt blocks on an angle in Regal Rose ink, and used the template included in the download to make some monthly cards to record upcoming birthdays.  I stamped them lightly with a quilt block and added a cheater's bow to the pockets.

My verdict??  The templates are easy to follow, beautiful and sturdy.
My suggestions??  #1 - Don't use a cheater bow when you have already taped the pockets down with Scor-Tape or equivalent.
#2 - Do not attempt this without a Scor-Pal unless you have oodles of patience.
#3 - After you buy the Scor-Pal, buy more templates!! :)

Thanks for stopping!

Tricia

Friday, April 24, 2009

Weekend Color Challenge

The weekend color challenge for Clear Dollar Stamps is to use the colors Baja Breeze, Barely Banana and Green Galore.  I used Charliene from the April Showers set that was released earlier this month and colored her with copics, shaded with Prismas and OMS.  After cutting her out with my scalloped rectangle nestabilities I ran the entire image through my Cuttlebug with the swiss dots folder.  Looks like raindrops to me - well, probably snow, but I'm not picky!!! :)  I attached a button with a glue dot and sewed the layers together with a zigzag stitch.  The size is 4.25" square and the layout is this week's Mojo Monday sketch.

I've heard that the sneak peeks are about ready to begin for Clear Dollar Stamps and that they'll be choosing a new Guest Designer soon.  Be sure to try out.  It has been *such* fun and I'll be *so* sad when it's over!!

See you tomorrow!  Tricia

ALL CDSTAMPS STAMP SETS USED: April Showers
CARDSTOCK AND PAPERS: Bazzill, Debbie Mumm Mat Pack, ColorBok dp
INK: Palette Noir
MARKERS (if any): Copic... E31, E33, Y21, B05, G99
ACCESSORIES AND EMBELLISHMENTS: Button, Embroidery Floss, Scalloped Rectangle Nesties, CB Swiss Dots Folder, Sewing machine, Fiskars Threading Water Punch
COLORING MEDIUM (if any): Copics & Prismacolors w/ OMS
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES (if any): None!


Thursday, April 23, 2009

It Moose be your Birthday

More Clear Dollar Stamp fun today!!  I colored the Moose from the CDS February Stamp of the Month set with Copics and stitched a bright card together to enter in the Stamp TV color challenge.  Isn't he just precious???  I'll have a card with the rest of his family soon - they just came out last month.  What is it with me and cute animals and little girls without mouths?? :)

Nothing too fancy on this card.  I did pull out my machine and do some stitching.  In fact I think I sewed on *all* the cards I made the other day.  I really like the look - I may adopt it as my style. :)  I colored the flower with my copic marker to get it bright red, and I punched out the layers of the tag with my word window punch.

Here are the details...

ALL CDSTAMPS STAMP SETS USED: February 2009 SOTM - Moose
CARDSTOCK AND PAPERS: Bazzill, Imaginisce dp
INK: Palette Noir
MARKERS (if any): Copic... E31, E33, E37, R29, R02
ACCESSORIES AND EMBELLISHMENTS: Prima flower colored with R29 marker, brad, word window punch, ribbon, sewing machine
COLORING MEDIUM (if any): Copics & Prismacolors w/ OMS
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES (if any): None!



Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Elzybell Sheep


Hi all!  It's been a few days since I posted, hasn't it?!  I had a wedding shower to attend out of state this weekend and I'm just catching up with life again.  Isn't that the way it goes??  I did get to do quite a bit of stamping yesterday, so I'll have a few things to share...

This card is one of my favorites from my stamping marathon yesterday.  It uses the Elzybells clear set From Me to Ewe.  I love sheep - they remind me of my Good Shepherd - so this was a must have set for me and I was *so* excited when Elzybells had the free international shipping special a while back!  Now I just wished I'd picked up the other Farm Animal stamps at the same time!!

Anyway.  My sheep is colored with Prismas & OMS and the flower is colored with copics.  I added some stitching and a sponged, doily punched accent, along with a little taffeta ribbon.  The inside is decorated, too - which I usually don't take time for, but it was the challenge this week, and it turned out so pretty that I might just make it into a Mother's Day card.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!!

Tricia

Blog Candy news!!  Check out Deb's candy here!!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Tilda with Tulips

As other people's Tilda cards seem to get more and more fancy, mine are getting simpler and simpler.  Here Tilda is colored with Copics and set on some green twill.  (Thanks for the image, Cami!!!!)  The beautiful floral background and green scalloped oval were included in my last SU club order card kit.  Isn't it elegant??  I simply stamped the greeting and added some paper piercing and pearls.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Tricia

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Shabby Chic

The challenge over at Digital Tuesday is to make a Shabby Chic card with a Digital Stamp.  Well, I have the stamp part covered with these cute little mushrooms by Digital Stamp Oasis, but, as much as I might like the Shabby Chic look, I definitely don't think it's my stamping style!! LOL!!  I had *such* a brain block with this!!  I finally decided to go with a sepia, vintage type look with a touch of burgundy.  It probably needed some lace or something, but I opted for some stamped swirlies and some pearls instead.  

You have a couple more days to join in if you'd like.  There's even a DT call on!  

TTFN!
Tricia

Friday, April 17, 2009

Verve under the Wire

It's time for a Verve release party... not long now!!  I made a quick card just for fun to enter the Show us your Verve giveaway.  I used a Plain Jane and a sketch from Release week...

Off to share in the fun!!

You Deer!!

I have a fun card to share with you today.  It's really simple, but I just love how it turned out.  I used the colors from the Clear Dollar Stamps Color Challenge over on PaperCraft Planet and pulled out my Woodland Critters set again.  I colored the dear - oops, deer! - with prismas and oms and added some zigzag stitching with my machine.  The little hoofprints add a cute border and the button laced with linen thread is the finishing touch.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tricia

Stamp Sets Used: Clear Dollar Stamps Woodland Critters
Cardstock & Papers: Bazzill Olive, SU Sand and Coral
Inkpads: Palette Black, Cameo Coral, Antique Linen Distress Ink
Accessories: Sponge, Prismas & OMS, button, linen thread, sewing machine
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Tearing, Tone on tone Stamping

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Woodland Friends


I have been having such fun with the stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps this month!!  Today's card features the raccoon from another of the April releases - Woodland Critters.  Not only does the set have adorable animals and cute pawprints, but it is chock-full of sentiments as well.

I used the Mojo Monday sketch as my jumping off place, and colored my raccoon with Prismacolors and OMS.  I added some fun flock so he's furry.  If you double click on the small picture to the left you might be able to see it better.  I stamped the little pawprints in rust on the Kraft cardstock and sponged all the layers with rust to "distress" them a little.  I even used some eyelets so they wouldn't feel lonely in my drawer. :-)

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to hop over to PaperCraft Planet tomorrow for the Clear Dollar Stamp Color Challenge.  See you there!


Sunday, April 12, 2009

Tilda in Hat

My blogging friend, Cami, sent me some wonderful Tilda images to play with.  Thank you, Cami!!!!!! :)  My absolute favorite is Tilda in her pretty hat.  I colored her with copics and prismacolors and tried my hand at making her hair silver.  I love it... especially since my hair is beginning to tend that way now.  The verse is from TAC and the paper is SU.

I hope you have a wonderful Easter celebrating the resurrection of our Redeemer!!  

Blessings,
Tricia

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Birthday Wishes

OK, you can't tell me that this little Party Animal isn't just the cutest thing!! :)  Sammy Squirrel the Party Animal is another image from Digital Stamp Oasis.  The sentiment is from a Clear Dollar Stamp set that I'll show more of next week called Woodland Critters.

I colored Sammy with Copics and Prismacolors.  The spots on his balloon were added with an SU marker.  I used my Swiss Dots cuttlebug folder on the bottom strip (which was cut with a Fiskars Wave Scissors), and on the sentiment (which was punched out with an SU Oval Punch).

Be sure to check out the other DSO stamps and stop by the new challenge blog as well.  Maybe you'll even want to try out as a Guest Designer!! 

TTFN!!  Tricia

Mini Baby Card


Hi gals!  I joined in on the Clear Dollar Stamps Color Challenge over on PaperCraft Planet to make a card with the colors Baja Breeze, Pixie Pink and Celery.  Wow!  That was hard for me!!!  I decided to make a 3x3 baby card using the little ducky from the April Showers set.  It's the same set that has Charliene with the umbrella that I showed a few days ago.  

I paper-pieced the little ducky and the puddle using some SU dp that I had in my stash, did some sponging and paper piercing and added the sentiment and a bow.  Quick and easy!! :)

Have you been stamping lately??  I'm trying to work out a routine like some of the girls have on their blogs... You know - Tuesday is a new technique, Thursday is a certain stamp company....  but I'm not sure my brain works like that!!  I *do* know that I'll have another card using my sweet squirrels from Digital Stamp Oasis to show you later today, so be sure to stop back then!!

-ooOoo-

Card Details...


ALL CDSTAMPS STAMP SETS USED:  April Showers
CARDSTOCK AND PAPERS:  SU dsp scraps
INK:  Palette Black, Certainly Celery
MARKERS (if any):  YR07 Copic
ACCESSORIES AND EMBELLISHMENTS:  Ribbon, Paper Piercer, Sponge, Dimensionals
COLORING MEDIUM (if any):  None
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES (if any):  Sponging, Piercing, Paper Piecing

Friday, April 10, 2009

For God so Loved the World...


"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.  For it is the power of God unto salvation unto those that believe."  "For unto you that believe He is precious."

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Rain or Shine

I got to spend some time last night playing with one of the other sets I got as Guest Designer for Clear Dollar Stamps this month.  This is Charliene in April Showers.  Isn't she precious??  I did her umbrella up in Vera Bradley style... like the Bali Gold one that I just saw in their catalog.  I love it!!  Sorry - sidetracked!  Anyway, I drew in the little flowers on the umbrella and the dots on her boots with a Rose Red marker, and then used my prismas & oms to color around them.  The paper is from my stash... SU's Wanted, I think, and some from a company called Around the Block.  Pretty straightforward, otherwise!

Thanks for stopping by!!

A Flower for all Seasons

I have loved this little set from Stampin' Up! ever since I first saw it.  It's called A Flower for all Seasons and it has 4 different arrangements of flowers  - tulips, daisies, sunflowers, and pointsettias, with a little bird or frog or bug next to each arrangement.  It's not very big, so I chose to mat it with my Mega Square punch, and I only made my card 4.25" square, so it didn't get lost.    You should be able to click on the small picture to the left to see the stamp a little more clearly.  I colored with copics and made the bird a robin, since that seemed very spring-ish. :)

I have lots more stamping to do today, if I can find the time, so I'll have some more fun things to look at tomorrow.  Blessings!!


Tuesday, April 07, 2009

They that trust in Him...

I wanted to make a card for the Magnolia-Licious April Sketch challenge this afternoon with a few parameters.  I knew I wanted to use Tilda with Lamb and the window stamp, I knew I wanted to use yellow and blue, and I knew I had to follow the sketch challenge... well, sortof, anyway!!  I stamped Tilda first on watercolor paper and then masked her and stamped the window behind her.  I drew in the wall and watercolored using a small paintbrush and scribbling my Stampin' Up markers on an acrylic block for a palette.  (There's a close-up of the watercolor part below.  Don't look too carefully, 'cause I'm not very good!)

I ended up scooting the elements around just a little so everything would fit, but I think it's acceptable... at least I hope so.

I love the verse that I found for this.  Tilda with her little lamb reminds me of the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."  "Blessed are they that put their trust in Him!"



Blessings!

Tricia

Easter Elzybells

I was so thrilled to get my Elzybell order from the UK yesterday!  I just *had* to ink up this little chick first... although I realized that I never was much good at coloring Easter eggs!! lol!!  The Elzybell challenge that is on right now is a recipe... 1 circle, 1 ribbon, 1 embellishment.  And there you have it!  The image was colored with copics and prismacolors, and *lots* of stardust Stickles. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I actually may have another post or two, depending how my day goes...

Blessings!

Tricia

Monday, April 06, 2009

What a Day!!

Wow!  What a day I've had!!  This morning I had a message from Diana from Magnolia-Licious asking if she could feature my Spring Cleaning card from yesterday in her card gallery, my Color Challenge card for Clear Dollar Stamps was featured on Shawne's blog, and then I found out that my Wish card was featured on Stamp TV's Center Stage.  Incredible!!   

And better still... (as if I needed anything else), my Elzybell order, last month's Stampin' Up! club order and the Tilda stamps that I won from Claudia's blog candy all came in today's mail.  I feel so overwhelmed and blessed.  

Since I have been blessed beyond measure lately, I'm going to be putting together a blog candy soon so I can pay some of those blessings forward.  Watch for it!!  I'm off to stamp now!! :)

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Spring Cleaning


Tilda is doing some Spring Cleaning for the Stamp with Fun sketch challenge.  Poor Fido jumped up on the chair to get away from the broom... kind of like my dog does!!

Images are colored with Copics... paper, ribbon and brad from my stash.  Easy, peasy!!

Thanks for looking!

Bloom Where You are Planted

When I saw the Viva La Verve Challenge for this week I knew that this was the saying I wanted to use.  This is still one of the best reminders for me.  Be where you are.  With all your heart.  Too often I find myself thinking... "If {such and such} were different, then everything would be fine." or "If I just had {fill in the blank}..."  But that isn't the type of person that I want to be known as.  I want to be a Helen Keller type person, a Fanny Crosby, a Beethoven, a Joni Erickson Tada - a person who realized their limitations, accepted them, and flourished, using both their limitations and their gifts to bring glory to God.  

So what are *your* limitations and gifts?  Especially in the area of crafting, don't feel limited if you don't have it all.  Develop your own style without apology.  Use what you have and enjoy it, and see how God blesses!!!

I used some of my favorite colors on this card - although hardly spring-y ones!  Ruby Red, Mustard and Olive.  The little piece of dp is a scrap from the SU Baja Breeze pack (retired).  The red and mustard layers are stamped with a flower stamp from Verve's Floral Symphony and the main image and sentiment are from that set as well.  I love that the greenery and flowers are separate stamps.  I could ink the greenery in olive and then ink the flowers by themselves.  I inked the flowers first in mustard, and then rolled the edges in Ruby so they would look two-toned.  The half circle was punched with my pink Marvy scalloped circle.  I think that's a Mega... but you'd have to check. :)

I hope you have a wonderful week.  I'm starting to feel some better, but I can't go very far or long right now without feeling exhausted.  Luckily stamping doesn't seem to be too tiring!! :)

Have a blessed week as you look forward to Easter.  He is Risen!!  May I be a sweet reflection of Him always.

Blessings,
Tricia

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Wedding Wishes



Here's an entirely different look from yesterday's post.  I used the April Stamp of the Month from Clear Dollar Stamps again, but this time I aimed for a soft, sweet, elegant look - perfect for a wedding or baby card.   

I sponged the yellow over the image while it was still in the Nestabilities die, and the butterfly was inked in Banana, then rolled in Summer Sun to get the darker edges.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tricia

Details...
Silhouette Wedding Wishes
ALL CDSTAMPS STAMP SETS USED: Silhouette Wishes
CARDSTOCK AND PAPERS: Brocade Blue, Barely Banana, Bashful Blue, GKWhite
INK: Brocade Blue, Barely Banana, Summer Sun
MARKERS (if any): None
ACCESSORIES AND EMBELLISHMENTS: Large Rectangle Nestabilities, 1" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Stamping Sponges, Mounting Tape, Ribbon, Paper Piercer, Half Pearls, CB Swiss Dots Folder
COLORING MEDIUM (if any): None
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES (if any): Sponging

Friday, April 03, 2009

Asian Greetings

I know this isn't my usual style, but I've been seeing the beautiful sponging that Theresa does on her cards, and I just had to try it with this Silhouette Wishes set that you can get free with a $50 purchase this month from Clear Dollar Stamps.

Oh, by the way, the Clear Dollar Stamps are *wonderful*.  As a guest designer this month I got to pick three sets, and I'm *so* impressed!! They stamp clearly and are packaged nicely.  And the cost is so reasonable!!  Sorry... rabbit trail.  Back to the card!!

I made the card for the CDS weekend color challenge over at PaperCraft Planet to use Olive, Mustard and Chocolate Chip.  I did a lot of sponging like Theresa and then stamped my branch and bird in Chocolate Chip.  I think they look very elegant.  To get the white ring around my sentiment I punched a 1 1/4" circle out of a piece of cardstock to make a mask.  I centered the opening over my sentiment and then sponged it with mustard ink.  I then punched it out with a 1 3/8" circle punch, leaving the pretty ring that makes it look like I used nestibilities. :)

Watch for more CDS samples over the month, and be sure to browse the Clear Dollar Stamps store if you haven't been there before!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Details:

ALL CDSTAMPS STAMP SETS USED: Silhouette Wishes
CARDSTOCK AND PAPERS: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Old Olive, Bazzill Brown
INK: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Old Olive
MARKERS (if any): None
ACCESSORIES AND EMBELLISHMENTS: 1 1/4, 1 3/8, Scalloped Circle Punches, Stamping Sponges, Mounting Tape, Fibers, Hardware
COLORING MEDIUM (if any): None
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES (if any): Sponging

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Just Because

I believe I have the lurgy - pronounced with a hard "g" sound - or so I learned from my online research.  Its definition... ‘a humorous way of speaking of any illness which is not very serious but is easily caught’.  It is apparently easily caught -  I think the dog has it too - but I don't believe it is that easy to get rid of.  Uggh. 

On to pleasanter topics! :)  This little ATC is for the Tilda and Friends challenge... "Shine On".  The background paper is shiny - though it's hard to tell in the picture - and the little brad is there for extra measure.

I used the sketch challenge on SCS to make my ATC into a card.  I had to add an extra layer for the sentiment, but that's ok.  I'm sick.  :-)

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay well!!

Tricia

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Exciting News! No Fooling!

Happy April 1st, everyone!  I have a Susie Squirrel card for you today, and some fun *exciting* news!  First the card...

I used the sketch over at Card Positioning Systems for my card today.  It worked perfectly with Susie Squirrel holding the dandelions... or thistles in this case!!  LOL!!  A little simple stitching, a bow, and some paper piercing are all the embellishments I added.  Isn't she sweet??

Here's the details...
Images:  Digital Stamp Oasis
Paper:  K & Co
Coloring Medium:  Prismas & OMS
Misc:  Ribbon, Paper Piercer, Sewing Machine

Now for the fun news!!  I got an email from Laurie at Clear Dollar Stamps this morning asking me to join their design team for the month of April!! :)  How fun!!  Have you been by the CDS site at all?  They have so many stamps to choose from - both classy and cute - and they are all at fabulous prices.  I'm so excited to be able to share some of their new releases with you over this next month!  Keep your eyes open for them!!