Crafty Secrets Cherish Stamp Set

12x12 Layout

I designed this vintage style layout using the "Flourishes" and "Cherish" stamp sets from Crafty Secrets.  I love their stamps and I can't wait til the new release that is coming very soon!!

Frame and Masking Tutorial

This is a close-up of the frame I built using masking tape.  If you take a look at the stamp sets, you can see that I used a couple from Cherish, but most of the frame was built using one stamp from the Flourish set and stamping it over and over, masking where needed.  I started with a penciled frame (rectangle) as guidelines on off-white cardstock.  I used the photo size to determine the size of the inside window.  I started stamping in the lower left corner and then continued up the left side, across the top, down the right side, and across the bottom.  I stamped the first image on the left lower corner of the frame and again on Eclipse Masking tape.  I trimmed the image from the Masking tape and then layed it over the same image I had just stamped on the project, masking - or protecting it.  Then I stamped the second image up the left side - "love" and again on Eclipse Masking tape.  Trimmed it and layed it over the same image on the project.  At this point I started using the one flourish image to finish the frame.  Again stamped the image on the project and again on Eclipse Masking Tape.  Trimmed it and layed it over the one on the project.  Seeing a pattern?  Here's the good news ... I can use the same flourish mask the rest of the way around the frame!  I know it's a little extra work creating the mask, but it will be worth it once you finish!  Giving you a one of a kind layout.

Now that it is all stamped, I trimmed out the inside of the frame using an exacto knife and a metal ruler.  I cut the "straight" area's first, stopping when a straight line intersected with a curved area of the image. Then I went back and trimmed around the part of the image that exteded over the pencil line.  That's how I got the unique shape on the inside and outside border.  I used a stipple brush to add red ink and distress.  I also traced around some of the swirls and inside the florals with red prismacolor pencil and blended with OMS to add some color.

2 more close-ups

I used Glimmer Chips on corners and here.  I think the patterned paper is Creative Imaginations as well.

Card
For this card I stamped the image on a Creative Imaginations Patterned Paper Frame.  I used Copics to color with.  I think the Creative Imaginations frame works great to create a romantic mood.

Thanks so much for checking out my blog!  I hope you are inspired to create this week!

Chartreuse Anyone??

When is the last time YOU used this color??  I'm not sure I EVER have.  In fact, I didn't even know what the color "chartreuse" looked like.  I had to google it. teehee.  It is a color combined of 50% green and 50% yellow.   The latest issue of Stampers Sampler (dec/jan 2010) issues a challenge to create a project using what I would have referred to as "frog green".  So when I started going through my cardstock, I thought, that's a little bright for me, but I"m gonna give it a try.  So I breezed through my issue of Stamper's Sampler trying to get the feel of what their style is.  I would sum it up as collage.  Here is what I came up with ...

I decided to combine 2 of my most favorite things, stamping and music.  In case the quotes don't look familiar, you can find them in 3 of my favorite songs :

Free to be Me by Francesca Battistelli

Ordinary Day by Vanessa Carlton

Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

Now I'm tryng to decide if I want to connect all 3 with jump rings and hang them on the wall, or put stands on the back of them and just sit them out in my craft room.

Stamps : Lost Coast (I bought this set of girlies a couple of years ago and I'm so glad I finally got ink on them.  I just checked out their site and I love all of their collage stamp.)

Background Stamps : Music & Polka Dots - Cornish Heritage Farms, Diamond - Hero Arts

Paper : Green and brown cardstock.  Yellow distressed paper by Basic Grey (Urban Couture - Chiffon)

Ink : Brilliance Pearlescent Brown

Copics YG03 and YR04 (I had to throw the orange shoes in there because they don't match, and that makes here "Free to be me")

Flowers : Prima

Ribbon : Yellow Antique shop, Green local craft store

Collage paper on #3 DMD Collage Elements

Empemera : sewing Lilly's Treasures (sold locally, email me if you are interested in ordering)

Post card and stamps - Marcella/K&Company

Clock face - Making Memories

ON A PERSONAL NOTE :

My daughter (20)  has started running, and has agreed to run some races with DH!!  Does that mean I'm off the hook and he's going to quick nagging me to exercise with him??  A girl can only wish!  He is so excited and you should hear him giving her advice on how to train.  Her first race will be the "Pirate Run" in february and yes they are going to run in pirate custumes.  Some kids never grow up, teehee.

FCD A Little Birdie Told Me Birthday Card

Happy New Year!!

It seems like it  has been forever since I posted.  I've been busy purging and cleaning my house for the new year.  Getting a few things organized, like my birthday list.  I have vowed to send more cards out this year, instead of hoarding them.  So I have generated a birthday list to keep me on track.  I have tons of birthday cards to make. How do you like the one above?  I'm still trying to get used to using the copics.  Man those things are addicting.  A friend and I found an awesome deal ($4 each for sketch) and we just ordered a few more.  I told DH this could be my wedding anniversary gift.  Yes, most women want diamonds, flowers, candy ...  I want markers, teehee.  I know you girls get it. 

Well as I mentioned above, I've been purging, organizing closets, cleaning the grout (yuck).  I don't know what it is about the new year that makes me want to do this, but I do.  How about you?

I've missed being crafty, playing along with challenges and blog hopping the last couple of weeks.  But now with the holidays wrapping up, I'm ready to GO!!  Time to get my priorities straight, teehee!

This week for my FCD post I'm sharing with you this cute little "Happy Birday" set!!

You can check out the "A Little Birdie Told Me" set at the FCD store HERE.

Paper : My Minds Eye 8x8 Paperpad (1/2 price from Hobby Lobby)  I love the colors of this pad (brown, yellow, aqua, very light lime green)

Ink : Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate (my most used ink pad after Palette Noir and Burnt Umber)

Thick and juicy pigment ink with a slight shimmer ( I sound like I'm at a wine tasting, teehee)

Takes forever to dry though.

Ribbon : my stash

Faux stitching : Close To My Heart stamp from years ago.

Tag punch : Paper Shapers

Spellbinders Labels 1 die set (I am getting ALOT of use out of this one)

That's all for now!  I hope you weekend is a great one!

BLOW OUT SALE at FCD!

BLOW OUT SALE!!  Pamela at FireCracker Designs for Pamela just increased the sale to 70% selected items!  Hop over today and check out these great deals!  HERE


Sale applies to SELECTED INSTOCK ITEMS ONLY so get them before they are gone!
Due to the steep discounts on these items, coupons are not applicable.
Orders recieved AFTER December 15th WILL NOT be shipped until January.

And make sure you check out her ADORABLE Digi Gift Cards!  A $5 gift card to FCD will make a great gift for a crafty friend!

(I will leave the info about the FCD sale at the top until it's over)

Impression Obsession Challenge Time

Quick post with a card I designed for last weeks Impression Obsession Challenge, for those of you who are tired of looking at Christmas Cards, teehee.  This is my first Copic project!  I'm trying to figure them out.

Stamps : Background - "How do I Love Thee",  "Bashful Cherub", and Sentiment - "Tucked Inside"

Tools : Frame - Spellbinders, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Other : stick pin - Prima, glitter on the wings - Prisma Glitter by Stampendous

You can view all of my VALENTINE projects HERE.

Ornate Christmas Ornament

I love to put up Christmas Trees.  It's just another way to express myself artistically.  I hope to have a bigger home someday, and add more.  I have my largest tree in my living room and wanted that tree to SPEAK  the true meaning of Christmas. It's loaded with clear lights, burgandy and gold embellishments and lots of Nativity Ornaments. This year I'm adding these regal cross ornaments.  I think they will fit the theme perfectly.

I created this Ornate Cross Ornament using a stamp I purchased at a stamp show a couple of years ago.  The manufacturer is Holly Berry House.  They sale lots of medallion style stamps that would be gorgeous when stamped in repitition, cut and pieced together like I have above.  In addition, mine are double sided.  It took me a while to get them done ( I started them last year), but it was worth the time, and now I have a handmade ornament to pass down.   I'm going to shop for some gems to finish them off.  And I'm thinking some gold trim as a hanger will be perfect.  You can view more of Holly Berry's  gorgeous cross stamps HERE.

Inchy by Inch Challenge : Chirstmas Carol

Each of these little squares are 1" x 1"

Designed using 3 inchies inspired by the "Chirstmas Carol" Challenge over at Inchy by Inch.

Stamp Set : Crafty Secrets Christmas Joy

Patterned Paper : Penny Black

Ribbon and embellishment from local craft store.

Colorization : Prismacolor Pencils with OMS

I had soooo much fun adding white and red fun flock to the scarf and holiday hat! Then I added a little glitter (stampendous prisma glitter).