Just Give Me Stamps...

Day 4 Challenge Cards (Part 2)...

I know...these are a day late!  :-)  Better late than never, right?  It got late very fast last night....I'm sure it was faster than normal...heheheee!  Anyway, here are the other two cards I did for yesterday's DD Challenges!

The first card is just a quick and easy card I made for Leslierich's "Out of the box" challenge and Jeanne S's "Paper Piecing" challenge.  I had never actually paper pieced, so this was a first for me!  It's a fun way to add interest to an open-lined image.  All the patterned paper is from Stampin' Up!'s Fall Flowers Designer Paper collection (LOVE it!!!).  For the Out of the box part, I just trimmed my  White cardstock so the flower was sticking out a little.  I felt like it needed something in the corner, so I turned my corner down and added a brad.  (If all else fails, add a brad...that is definitely my motto!!!)

O.K...this next card is something SO completely different for me!  This was made for Toy's "Manly Card" challenge.  It was a Limited Supplies challenge (which means you can only use what they list...nothing more) and we couldn't use any obviously Masculine stamp sets.  We also were not to use and blue or green.  Well, I thought about this circle stamp from In the Spotlight that I had used a while ago on a card to created a "faux metal" medallion.  See this post HERE.  I thought I'd use that same technique to create a masculine card.  For the larger piece of faux metal, I inked up a 3 x 3 1/2 piece of Basic Gray c.s. with Versamark and sprinkled on Silver e.p.  After heating it, while it was still hot I sprinkled on more e.p..  I repeated this quite a few times (I think like 6).  Then, while the e.p. was still hot, I took my uninked Sanded background stamp and slowly pushed down on the hot e.p.  I left it there for a minute or so until it had a chance to cool.  I then, slowly lifted the stamp off.  I LOVED the effect!  I've done this technique many times but I'm still amazed every time!  I did the same thing for the circle stamp...just on a smaller piece of c.s..  After they were finished, I took my sanding block and "roughed" them up a little...to help get rid of a little bit of the shine then sponged some Basic Gray ink into the "cracks" to add depth.  The small strip at the bottom is some that I had left over after trimming around the circle.  I decided to stamp the sentiment on it (I used Black Stazon). 

Thanks SOOOO MUCH for coming by!  Today is another day of challenges and I hope to have lots more goodies for you to look at!  :-)  ~Laurie

Recipe for Birdie Card:   Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes   Paper: W.W., Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Fall Flowers DP   Ink: Basic Black   Other: Old Olive brad, White gel pen, Soft Sky dbl stitched ribbon

Recipe for Faux Metal Card:   Stamps: In the Spotlight, Hugs & Wishes, Sanded   Paper: Basic Gray, Basic Black   Ink: Black Stazon, Basic Gray, Versamark   Other: Lg. black eyelet, black brads, Crafter's Tool Kit, Black wire, Sanding block

Day 4 of the Splitcoast DD Challengs (Part 1)...

Happy Saturday!  My DH took my kids to town with him to run errands...soooo....I've had quite a bit of stampin time!  Of course, I had to start laundry and pick up the house a little, but it's amazing how fast I can accomplish those things when I know I get to go stamp!  LOL!  Well, there are 8 challenges today (yes, your read that correctly...8 not just 4) and I hope to be able to accomplish them all!  These two projects that I'm going to show you now are both 2 challenges combined into one project.

AtomicButterfly's (that's her SCS username) challenge was to create a bag or a box and jbalcer's challenge to use a bright color theme.  The dimensions of this one is 4" wide and deep by 2 1/2" tall.  I created it specifically to hold a set of 3 x 3 mini cards and envelopes...plus a little "wiggle" room to put candy and goodies in!

Next is a close up of the top.  The stampin was pretty easy, (just had to add a little sparkle to the word Friend :-).  I used the 5 petal punch to punch out the flower and my Coluzzle to create the ovals.

The next card is created for cookiestamper's sketch challenge and BadSherry's "monet" cracked glass challenge.

The "monet" part of the challenge is simply to create a wet watercolored background.  I started with some watercolor paper, then I liberally spritzed my paper with squirt bottle filled with water.  While it's very wet, I stamped my roses...the effect you get varies with the amount of water your spritz.  (Bold stamps work better for this technique.)  On the background, I really doused my paper and on the focal image, I didn't use quite as much water.  For the instructions on the Cracked Glass technique, see Beate's tutorial HERE.  I usually don't use purples.  I don't k know why, I don't mind them...I guess they're just not my favorite.  I do like how this came out, though. 

Thanks for coming by!  I'll have more challenge projects to post later!  Enjoy your Saturday!  ~Laurie

Recipe For Box  Stamps: In the Spotlight, All Holidays, En Francais   Paper: Cutie Pie DP, Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate (both textured and regular), Wild Wasabi textured c.s.   Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi   Other: Colluzle, 5 Petal punch, Fire Circle Rhinestone brads, Corner rounder punch, Wild Wasabi and Purely Pomegranate dbl stitched ribbon, white gel pen

Recipe for Card   Stamps: DD Wild Rose, All Holidays   Paper: Watercolor paper, Lavender Lace, Eggplant Envy, Mulberry paper   Ink: Lavender Lace, Eggplant Envy, Mellow Moss, Basic Brown, Eggplant Envy marker   Other: Narrow Celery organdy ribbon, metal cord, decorative brad from Making Memories, Glassy Glaze e.p., Versamark, Spritzer

Finally...BLOG CANDY!!!

This Blog Candy was supposed to be for the 25,000 mark. Well....you all have totally shocked me!!! I'm now almost at 36,000 as I write this (THANK YOU soooo much  ).  You all have been unbelievably kind and supportive!  Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments and super kind emails!

(Click on the picture for a better view!)  So, here I've compiled a few of my absolute favorite stamping accessories (o.k. the stamps aren't accessories, but we all know that I love stamps!).  Included are:  Blooming with Happiness (retired) stamp set, Gorgeous fabric covered brads by K & Co., 4 spools of yummy ribbon (it's almost impossible for me to not put ribbon on a card), Antique Copper brads by Making Memories (these are my all time favorite!), and Diamond Stickles (we ALL know how I feel about sparkle :-).  All you need to do to be "entered" into the drawing for this is to leave me a comment on this post telling me YOUR favorite stamping accessory (or tool).  That's it!  I will randomly draw a name on Tuesday morning! 

I have received several questions as to where I get some of my accessories.  I will answer those this weekend!  Thanks again, everyone...your support has meant so much to me!   Blessings!  ~Laurie

Vintage Pink...

Here's the last card that I did for today's Dare to Be Dirty challenges.  There was actually anther challenge, but my boys didn't nap that long today! 

This card falls under two different challenges...cwilliams'  acetate (or clear transparency) and Cambria's Pink challenge.  The acetate is the clear, shiny stuff the words are stamped on (I know, I know...I'm sooo eloquent in my descriptions..LOL!).  And the pink...well it may be a "vintage pink", but it's still there!

What is hard to see in this photo, is the goldish sparkle on the butterfly and the center of the flower.  I used a Sakura gel pen for that (I can't remember the exact name of it...it doesn't say on it...it just says Sakura and has a shooting star next to the name).  I created the background for the flower using some of the foliage stamps from the A Touch of Nature stamp set in Sahara Sand and River Rock.  I then sponged a little Sahara Sand and Regal Rose over the entire piece.  The background paper is by Basic Grey (Stella Ruby line).  I, in no way, do it justice like Leslie (from Running with Scissors).  She makes a card from this line of paper and posts it every Tuesday (she calls it Ruby Tuesday) and they are amazing...every single week! 

Well, I hope you're enjoying these cards and I'm not "overloading" you or your mailboxes!  Tomorrow is another day of challenges, but instead of 4 they will post 8!!!!  I really doubt I'll have time to participate in all 8 tomorrow (even I don't stamp that fast :-) but I will do as many as I can!  I LOVE these challenges!!  Also, I will be posting the Blog Candy next!  YAY!  Have a wonderful night!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: A Touch of Nature   Paper: Basic Grey's Stella Ruby paper, Chocolate Chip   Ink: River Rock, Sahara Sand, Regal Rose, Black Stazon, Basic Brown   Other: Stampin' Pastels, Sakura sparkly pen :-), pink brads, Ivory narrow organdy, pink fibers, acetate, Ticket Corner Punch

Friend-Ship...

I normally stick to the same old layouts.  That is why I have really been enjoying the sketch challenges!!  This sketch challenge is part of the "Dare to Get Dirty" challenges going on all week at Splitcoast.

I stamped the boat in Black Stazon ink onto watercolor paper.  I then watercolored it (if that's what you can call it...LOL...that is NOT my forte!!!) using a watercolor brush and my ink pads.  The red polka dot paper is from the new Designer Paper Series called Cerise (LOVE it!).  I created some "waves" by tearing my turquoise paper and sponging it with turquoise ink.  That's it!  Lots of fun! 

So...I know, there have been a lot of posts lately (I promise it will slow down next week :-).  I do have one more post (well, besides the BLOG CANDY!!!) for you tonight.  Thanks for coming by!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Boatloads of Love   Paper: Watercolor paper, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Cerise DP   Ink: Black Stazon, Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Basic Black   Other: Large brad, Twill Tape, Sm & Lg Oval punches, Crafter's Tool Kit, Stardust Stickles