A Sketch For You To Try

Not only is Jen del Muro a very talented stamper, she also has great sketch challenges on her blog! I used the February sketch to create this week's DigiStamp Boutique card.

 Today's card features Barney and present from the February release. I just *love* him! The papers I used are from long ago discontinued "stack" that I bought at Hobby Lobby. I love using stacks because they make matching so-o-o-o much easier! And see the fun little ribbon and button embellishment? I made that for the "Fun with Buttons" challenge over on the 365cards blog. Those ladies have such great challenges! I always find at least one challenge I want to participate in.

And be sure to come back and visit me on Tuesday to see the new March release from DSB. There are some new images that are so adorable I may just have a card or two ready to show them off! See you then. :)

Lisa

Kraftin' Kimmie #66

Note: If you're looking for my Fab Friday post, just scroll down or click here: Fab Friday Technique.

I made this card for two challenges: the Copic challenge (Adding Depth to Hair) on the Outlawz site and Challenge 66 on the Kraftin Kimmie challenge blog. I'm not sure I have the right Copic colors for blond hair and have trouble getting enough depth on my blondes. (By contrast, I have way more brown markers.) I was happy with how Lavender's hair came out, though.

This week's KK challenge was a sketch. Yay! I love sketches because A) you can use any stamp you want/have and B) I don't have think about the layout of my card and can concentrate on the fun part (for me) - the colors and embellishments! :)

Supplies: Lavender the Quilter (Kraftin' Kimmie), pink dotted paper (PTI), Ivory and Aqua Mist cs (PTI), buttons (Doodlebug), Lime Scrappers Floss (TAC), flowers, Noir Palette and black Memento inks, Copics.

I reinforced the sewing theme by using fabric-style printed papers, buttons and floss, and by using paper piecing and stitching on my card. (I am determined to get better at sewing on my cards!)
Lisa

Fab Friday Technique

This week's Wednesday with Wings card featured some bandana print paper. I remembered seeing this technique online several years ago, so I went in search of tutorials. (Using your favorite search engine, a search on bandana technique tutorial will yield lots of results.)  However, all of the tutorials required glossy paper, Staz-On ink, ink refills and a spray bottle. This seemed way too involved for a little piece of paper to use as background on one card! So, I came up with this quick and easy version.

Supplies needed: solid color cardstock (I used TAC's Scarlet), black ink (I used Memento because I wanted something that would show up well against the deep red cs), paisley or other background design stamps (I used a retired TAC set) and a white gel pen.

In the picture below, you'll see the initial steps:
LEFT SIDE: original cardstock
RIGHT, UPPER CORNER:  medium size paisley design stamped onto paper
RIGHT, BOTTOM CORNER: small flowers added to fill in empty spots

Next, white accents were added with a gel pen. I found this worked best when I kept my accents confined to a small area. It was easier to get a smooth, solid application of white gel ink.(Notice the paisley in the middle where I attempted to fill in the outline. I wasn't happy with how it turned out, so I decided to add the white dots around the paisleys instead.)

Some day, I will probably try to make "real" bandana paper with reinkers, glossy paper, etc. But if you want to make some bandana print paper in a hurry, try out my technique. Be sure to let me know if you do!
Lisa

A Western Wednesday with Wings

In keeping with the challenges going on over at the Outlawz Challenge site this week, today's Angel Company card has a Western theme. I remember seeing tutorials years ago for the bandana technique. Being short on Western-ish paper, I decided to try making my own "bandana paper" for my card. I'll post a short tutorial Friday on how I turned some plain ol' Scarlet cardstock into red bandana print paper.

Supplies: Hieroglyph Horses (TAC), Scarlet, Brown, Ivory and Kraft cardstocks (all TAC), light brown cs (DCWV), Burnt Umber Palette ink (TAC), Tea-Dyed Distress Ink (Tim Holtz/Ranger), Memento black ink, white gel pen and antique copper brads.

 Lisa

Not So Wild West

I've been playing along with the challenges on the Outlawz challenge blog, most of which have had a western theme. I don't "do" Western very often but it's given me a chance to play with some unused supplies from my stash. I've had these digi stamps and paper for long and never used any of them.

I made two cards using this sketch challenge, which I rotated and changed up a bit.

Supplies: Cowboy Billy and Cowgirl Lily (Pink Cat Studios), horse dp (Creative Imaginations), Copics, antique copper brads, digital sentiments (DSB).

I'll be back tomorrow afternoon with another Western themed card.

Lisa

Dog-gone Cute

I have two doggie themed cards to share with you today, both based on sketches from the 365Cards challenge blog. They had some great sketches this past week!

First up is this card featuring this cute little girl & her dog from There She Goes stamps. I loved TSG's Color Challenge this week - pink, kraft and ivory! I used some ivory thread for the ivory part of my card. This is the first time sewing on a card. I'm not known for my sewing skills with fabric (nevermind paper), so this was a pretty good first attempt for me. ;-)  For my layout, I used Wednesday's sketch from the 365cards blog.

Next up is my weekly DigiStamp Boutique card. This is another adorable Barney image from the February release. This layout is based on Tuesday's sketch over at 365cards and the color scheme was inspired by the pink, brown and white color challenge on the iCopic blog.

I'm also submitting this card to the Birthday challenge over at the Outlawz Challenge site. I discovered the Outlawz while blog hopping last weekend. It's a fun group and they have some great challenges going on with some AWESOME prizes (including Copics!). Check 'em out!

Have a great week!

Lisa

Fab Friday... Kraftin' Kimmie Style!

What made my Friday Fab was having my new Kraftin' Kimmie stamps arrive yesterday - just in time for a 4 day weekend! :)  My Fab Friday "tip" for all of you is that Kimmie is looking for a guest designer. You can find the details here: Kraftin Kimmie Guest Designer search. (Scroll down a bit - the deets are below last week's Seeing Red challenge.) In order to be considered for the team, you have to play along with all of this month's challenges on the Kraftin Kimmie Stamps blog. (Don't worry if you haven't been playing along - you can finish the challenges any time this month to be considered for the DT spot.)

Here's my card for this week's recipe challenge: 3 main colors (mine were pink, orange and yellow), 2 patterned papers (the sunburst and floral prints), 1 ribbon and 1 button. I used one of my new stamps, Eleanor. I took advantage of a wonderful sale Kimmie had last week in honor of her birthday. (Thank you, Kimmie, so much for sharing your birthday like that!) I have an old picture of my grandparents in their bathing suits and this picture reminds me of my nana, Evelyn. I just had to buy it!

 Supplies: Eleanor (Kraftin Kimmie), Salsa Pad (Junkitz), flower (Prima), button (Paper Studio), Lime Scrappers Floss (TAC), Copics and corner punch (SU!).

This card is also my entry for the Warm Colors challenge on the Copic Creations challenge blog.

Lisa

A Warm WWW!

Mother Nature has finally taken pity on us and sent some warm weather our way! This week's Wednesday With Wings card has spring in mind - the green of freshly emerged foliage and in the happy little tree from the "Love and Laughter" set.

Supplies: Love and Laughter (TAC), Rustic Chic dp (TAC), Burnt Umber Palette ink (TAC), kraft and brown cs (TAC), green and turquoise cardstock (DCWV), sheer ribbon.

This card is also my entry into this week's Ribbon Challenge over on the Do You Stack Up? challenge blog. Check out the DT's cards - there are some great ideas for using ribbon on your cards!

TCP Tuesday

Today's card is my entry for this month's sketch challenge (TCP144) on the Dancing in Pajamas blog.

Supplies: Give a Little (TCP, oval Cutting System (Creative Memories), border punch (Martha Stewart), ribbon (Michaels), brads, flowers (Prima), Copics, sentiment (TAC, and misc. papers from my scrap stash.

I know - this is Valentines Day, so I should be posting a Valentine. Hey, at least the card is pink. Pink is sort of Valentines-y, right? :-) Oh well, to further confuse my holidays this little dog is actually part of a Christmas set (Give a Little), not a birthday set. I love finding alternate uses for my stamps. :)

Cool Mojo!

I managed to get two more challenge cards done this weekend - Yay me! :)

The first card is a combination of TGF's FFF color challenge and this Mojo Monday's Sketch 177.

Supplies: Anya (The Greeting Farm), Raspberry Fizz cs (PTI), Mediterranean Summer dp (TCP Studio), scalloped square die (Nestabilities), ribbon (Michaels), sentiment (TAC), brown dp (CM), Copics, pearls (Recollections) and flower (Prima).

Next up, this card combines the sketch from CPS205 and the Cool Color challenge (#43) from Copic Creations:

Supplies: Teddy with Flowers (LOTV), ribbon (Michaels), Copics, digital sentiment stamp (DSB), scallop punch (CM) and papers from my stash.

Wow, two cards and four challenges - not bad for a Sunday. :)
Lisa

A Doggone Cute DSB Image

If you know me, you know I love my dog, Dixie. So, I was thrilled when Sally-Ann released a new collection of dog images. Barney is just adorable!

I wanted to put the focus on Barney and this cute Basic Grey paper, so I used SCS's sketch 318 again. It's a great basic sketch!
Lisa

Fab Friday Freebie!

For this week's Fab Friday I want share with you the February Freebie on DigiStamp Boutique:

Isn't she the cutest? I made this card with some of the other Love Bugs:

Also, check out this month's specially priced collection of images. This month's Offer of the Month is the adorable little Grace.
Lisa

Seeing Red!!!

No, I'm not having a fit of anger, LOL! Seeing Red is the theme of this week's Kraftin' Kimmie challenge! :) This card is also my entry into Cute Card Thursday's Hearts and Flowers challenge and Sweet Sketch Wednesday's Sketch 88 challenge.

Supplies: Posey (Kraftin' Kimmie), Sweetheart dp (DCWV), scallop border punch (Fiskars), heart shaped brads (Recollections), Copics, ribbon.

I knew I had to use Posey for this challenge. I even gave her red hair, in honor of this week's theme. ;-)
Lisa

A Bellarific Challenge

Wow, it's been so-o-o long since I participated in one of Stamping Bella's Bellarific Friday challenges! This week's was an easy one so I was sure to play along. All we had to do was make a Valentines card with a Stamping Bella image. Easy! :)

Supplies: Wrapped in Love (Stamping Bella), polka dot dp (My Minds Eye), heart swirl dp (Basic Grey), Kraft cs (TAC), Copics, Noir and Burnt Umber Palette inks (TAC), sentiment (retired-TAC), corner punch (CM), ribbon (Michaels), button and twine.

Sweet & Simple

This week's Wednesday with Wings card is sweet and simple. I haven't been feeling well and couldn't muster enough energy to do anything but color in some images last night. Blech. Plus, I wanted this card to be suitable for either a baby girl or baby boy - so I kept the embellishments simple and gender neutral.

 

TAC Supplies: An Udder Birthday, yellow & aqua DCWV cardstock, Brighten My Day striped dp, Copics, Swirly Sentiments (retired), Noir Palette ink, corner rounder.  Other: border punch (Fiskars), star button.

Even though the name of this set is An Udder Birthday, its images can be used for a variety of occasions. This particular stamp reminds me of the line in the nursery rhyme "and the cow jumped over the moon". :)


I hope wherever you are, that it is warmer than here. The temp is finally supposed to rise above freezing (barely) on Friday.Brrr! Good stamping weather, though - it's too cold to do anything else! ;-)

Lisa

DSB card - ICS Sketch 100

I found another sketch challenge site recently - Inspirational Card Sketches. I decided to play along with this week's Sketch 100. I used one of the new Grace images from the DigiStamp Boutique shop. Isn't she the sweetest?

Supplies: Fairy Grace (DSB), square and fancy square punches (CM), sentiment (TAC), Copics, green print dp (Bo Bunny), Blush Gingham paper (brand unknown).

Lisa

Fab Friday - Favorites

I found a few favorite challenges this week to participate in. I entered this first card in the current SplitCoastStampers sketch challenge (#318), The Greeting Farm's FFF Hat's Off challenge and in 365Cards Day 337 Ad Inspired challenge. I really loved this week's SCS sketch because it's so simple and straightforward. (I'm not a fan of lots of circles, too many shapes, etc.) And I loved the 365Cards Ad challenge because it has my favorite color combo - pink and brown!

Supplies: Audrey digital stamp (The Greeting Farm), pink swirl dp (the Paper Studio), Copics, pink self-adhesive rhinestones, sheer brown ribbon, brown cs from scrap stash.

Oh and you know what those nice ladies at 365Cards did? They picked me as one of their Spotlight Designers for my Bliss card! (And now I've got a nifty little badge in my sidebar to prove it.) Wow, I'm honored. :) That made my day.

Next up is another favorite sketch from this week. It's Sketch 100 from the CardPatterns Weekly Sketch Blog. Just like the SCS sketch, this one was also simple and straightforward. Just my kind of sketch. :)

Supplies: Bear's Big Gift (Designed2Delight), stripe/turquoise paper (Wild Asparagus), Copics, button (Buttons Galore), twine, paper piercing tool, brown cs & a scrap of some old CM scrapbook paper. 

Isn't that bear the cutest? I thought this would make a good "guy card".

Whew! I'm off to do a little shopping on the Kraftin' Kimmie site. It's the last day of the birthday sale - get 40% off any purchase of $50 or more. I've been wanting a few more KK stamps so this is a good time to expand my collection!

Lisa

Roses for Tilda

I hope that bunch of roses she's carrying are for Tilda herself. She is one hardworking girl today!

This card is my entry for a whopping 5 challenges:

All That Scraps - Anything Goes Wednesday challenge
 - used a stamp from the ATS store - Tilda with a Bunch of Roses
SplitCoastStampers -  i HEART you Ways to Use It challenge
 - hearts on paper and on sentiment, heart-shaped brads
Magnolia Down Under - Embossing challenge
 - dry embossed lacy square using Nestabilities die
Magnolia-licious Highlights - February Recipe challenge (hearts, pink/silver/white)
  -  hearts on paper & sentiment, heart-shaped brads which are antiqued silver
Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Glitter challenge
 - pink glitter on the heart of the sentiment

Other supplies: Scarlet cs (TAC). Bee Mine dp from the Love Bandit Collection (Bo Bunny), Copic markers, Moulin Rouge and Noir Palette ink (TAC), oval Shape Cutting System (CM), pink ribbon (Michaels)..

Lisa

A Wishful Wednesday with Wings

OK, Mother Nature,  I get it. You are good at making snow. Really, really, really good at making snow. However, I'm tired of it. I want warmth! I want flowers! I want spring!

Well, according to Punxsantawny Phil, spring will make its debut in six weeks. (Personally, I just think he was scared to tell us we might be stuck with 6 more weeks of this. Someone might've turned him into Punxsutawney stew!) In the meantime, I need a little spring so here goes:

Isn't she a cutie? She's one of the girls from the set "Oh No She Didn't!". I just love that set. :) The papers are from the "A Little Whimsy" stack - another favorite of mine. Other supplies: Palette Noir ink, Black & White Ribbon (TAC), greeting (retired-TAC), Copics, flower, button (Lemonade embellishment jar), pink scrap.
Lisa

A Couple of Cute & Krafty Challenges!

Well, if there's one silver lining in being snowbound, it's having time to participate in card challenges! :)

First up is a card that does double duty - the kraft paper is part of the Spotted Chick's Krafty Thursday challenge and the kraft/vanilla/navy colorscheme is part of the Catered Crop Challenge FTR4.

Supplies: Eddie from the Woodland Pals collection (DSB), daisy border punch (Martha Stewart), Kraft and Ivory cardstock (TAC), Sparkle Travel Floral Dots dp (Cloud 9 Design), tan plaid dp (Daisy D's), navy cs (from my scrap stash) Copics and ribbon.

This next card is my interpretation of Cute Card Thursday Challenge 149 sketch. This week's sponsor was Kraftin' Kimmie and, although using a KK stamp was not required, it was the perfect excuse to use my adorable Lisette stamp for the first time!

Supplies: Lisette (Kraftin' Kimmie stamps), birthday stack dp (Imaginisce), Copics, ribbon (Michaels), River Rock cs (SU!), basecard made of Ivory cs (PTI), circle punch (CM), corner punch (SU!),  flower (Prima), button (A Rhonna Christmas - Autumn Leaves).

I'll see you later today with my weekly Wednesday with Wings (TAC) card. I'm off to bundle up and brave the cold to walk the dog (who doesn't understand why in the world I don't enjoy being out in below freezing temps with snow everywhere!). :)

Lisa

New DSB Cuties!

First, a little announcement for any scrapbook-paper-designers who may be lurking out there because apparently they need this info... There are female dogs. There are female humans that own dogs. There are even female humans who own female dogs. Stop making all of your doggie patterned paper in brown and blue! Is it too much to ask for some pretty, girly, dog-themed paper? Apparently, it is! :sigh:

OK, rant over. :) Below is the link for the new February releases at DigiStamp Boutique, as well as a card from yours truly (which does not use "dog paper", but DOES have a hefty dose of pink - of course).

 Sally-Ann has really outdone herself this month! You can check out more of Gracie and the rest of the February releases here: New for February. And be sure to check out the specially priced Februrary Multi-Buy Offer. It's only available for a limited time!

And in case I seem just a tad cranky, this is why:

That's the view outside my craft room as of 5 PM today. We are in the midst of a blizzard, soon to be followed by sub-zero temps. I am not a happy person! Although at least being stuck inside gives me a lot of time to stamp. ;-)

Lisa