Impression Obsession Challenge Time - Stamp a Background

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your wonderful comments this week!

Today I'm posting a card for this weeks Impression Obsession Challenge - STamp a BAckground.  But first I have to warn you - DON"T enlarge the photo of this card - it's really bad, teehee.  I had a copic emergency this morning, my very first.  I ran out of BV00 while I was trying to finish up this card and the blending is not quite what it should be.  You should have heard me talking to it, "come on baby, just a little bit more".  Time to order some of the refills.  Or DH may think I need to be committed!

So for this card I created my background by stamping the same image repeatedly.  You can check out the Impression Obsession Challenge blog to read about upcoming challenges and an opportunity to win $25 gift certificate to their online store. 

This set was designed by Sarah Phelps and it is one of Impression Obsessions clear sets.  You can check out more of their Clear Stamp Sets HERE.  Impression Obsession has a great online store where you can choose between Clear Sets, rubber unmounted or mounted, and cling mount. 

So I created a second card one using this set, minus BV00.  I just love these florals. 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Still the ONe!

Hello ladies.  It's time for another Firecracker Designs by Pamela Blog Hop. 

This months theme is "Romantic Lyrics". All of us will be sharing projects created with this theme in mind. And the best part for you is Pamela will be giving away some awesome blog candy. But to qualify for the drawing you have to post comments. She will randomly pick one of our blogs and then randomly pick from all the comments posted on that blog. So you will want to read ALL the blog hop details below and leave comments on each of the blogs to qualify for the drawing. Make sure you leave your email address in your comment!

I was a little ambitious on this project and didn't complete the whole mini album, but I was so inspired by FCD's "Heart Strings" stamps set and the theme that I wanted to create a mini album.  So when the entire project is completed I will show it off.  But for today I am revealing the cover.  I love the song "Still the One" because my DH is that for me.  We met when I was 15, dated for 5 years and then married.  We have been married for 24 years and he is my rock, my best friend, and the only one for me!

Blog Hop Details ...

The official start time of the FCD Blog Hop is Friday at 8:00am (EST). If you have arrived early, please be patient, as all the links may not be live until 8:00am (EST).

This is a "circular blog hop" where the only beginning is wherever you start. You will know you are at the end of your blog hop when you have arrived back on the blog you started with. (There are only 9 of us, so you should be able to remember where you started)

THE WINNER ... will be chosen by our mystery blog hostess. Who is she ? We want know until after the blog hop. So make sure you leave a comment (with your emial address included in that comment) on EVERY blog to qualify!!

Pamela will contact the winner via email (don't forget to leave your email address with your comment) and post the winner on her blog on Monday 8pm(EST).

You can read on below for more of my project details OR continue on to the next blog !

Next Blogger to check out is Michelle !

Butterfly in a Box

Good Morning!  Today I am sharing with you a Home Decor Project.  As I have mentioned many times, (and will do again for any new readers), I love to use my stamps to create many different type projects and I want to encourage you to do the same.  It's nice to walk through the house and see some of my favorite images on display.  Spring has arrived and it's time to bring out my altered birdhouses and I'm so excited to add a butterfly collection to my Spring Decor this year.  I am using this project for the Copic Creations "Coloring embellishments" challenge.  I colored the 1/2 pearls in window 4 and 5 for this challenge. Scroll down to see those windows.

Before I get to the details, I need to tell you that I am using this project for the Creative Belli Challenge to use butterflies.  But don't forget to hop over and check out the Belli Blog Give-away for this challenge!  $30 worth of stamps!  Check it out HERE!  We hope you will decide to join us for our butterfly challenge!

I spent alot of time working on this one.  I purchased the shadow box on sale at a local scrapbook store. It was solid black, so I started by altering the box, inside and out.  Then I brought out my butterfly binder collection and started stamping some of my favorite butterflies.  Next, I searced for quote, phrased that match.  Alot of what I used is from a Cornish Heritage Farms set called Vintage Butterflies.  Most of the rest of the products used are from The Angel Company. While I was working on my box, I wrote a little poem.  Now, I am NO WRITER, and I'm terrible at english, so try to restrain your criticism, teehee.

Here we go...

Yesterday I caught a butterfly and put him in a box,

So I could enjoy his beauty.

Today I heard a tap on the glass, and the butterfly said,

"M'am, this is not my duty".

He further expained, I have been ordained,

by the one who sits on high,

To share this beauty with many others,

by floating in the sky.

So, I let him out of the box.

Melisa Waldorf 2010

Alright, enough with silly poems!  Lets get to the detailed photos!

Window 1

Window 2

Window 3

Window 4

Window 5

Window6

Window 7

Window 8

Window 9

(quote by me!! and I thought is was very clever)

Window 10

Window 11

Window 12

Thanks for stopping by!

You can view all of my Altered Projects HERE

Paper Flower Tutorial #2

It's time for anoter Just My Sketches Challenge!  Hop over and check out the sketch and 5 songs that Deanne has provided for inspiration!  I was inspired by "Thank You" by Dido.  I was actually inspired by several of the songs, but didn't have time to create more cards with them.  Maybe I'll post another one next week.  Check out what Deanne is giving away to one of our lucky participates this month.

So, I couldn't find any flowers in my stash to match the colors on this card.  Luckily I have my flower punches to rescue me!  I also didn't have the right color paper to punch, so I used the same copics I colored the dress with to create the perfect match for this card.

Paper Flower Tutorial #2

Notice that punch #3 has 3 flowers and one is

larger than the other 2.

For the first or larger flower, use 2 of the flowers from punch #2.  You will also need one of the smaller and  the larger of punch #3.  Begin by creasing the flowers from Punch #3.  Fold it in 1/2 as shown below both ways.

Layer, adhere, rotate, and fluff. 

To create the smaller flower, start with Punch #1.  You will need 2 of these.  Fold this on in 1/2 both ways as well, so that the sides of each petal is curved inward.  Now, use tweezers as shown below to fold the tip of each petal under.  Now pinch each petal as needed, layer the two of them, and adhere.

Create the center using 2 of the smaller flowers from Punch #3 and the shaping technique as used on Flower #1.  Layer and adhere!

As I said in yesterdays Flower Tutorial (scroll down if you missed it) if you have flower punches, you always have matching flowers for your project!

Paper Flower Tutorial #1

Here is another card using FCD's Christian Innies and Outies and Butter/ Dragonfly.  I also used one of FCD's fabulous Swirly Sets.  This one is retired, but she has lots of other sets that are just as beautiful.  To create the frame, I stamped the bottom swirly.  I used one of my Spellbinder oval dies as a template and after figuring out a good placement, I lightly traced the oval shape using a pencil.  I used the top of the penciled oval to help with placement of the swirly along the top.  Then I placed the Spellbinders Oval down again, and used a Micron 05 to draw the portion of the oval I wanted for the frame.  Then I used a white eraser to eliminate the pencil lines.

I want to show you a little butterfly trick as well.  See the bottom of the post.  

Paper Flower Tutorial #1

The lighter blue blooms are by Prima and I made the navy ones using punches.  I used to tell my friends all the time, that if you have flower punches, then you always have matching flowers for your projects.  I love Prima, but I can't always afford to buy them.  I bought these flower punches years ago, and I can't tell you how many times they have come in handy.  The ones I'm showcasing today are by Paper Shapers.  Tomorrow I will be showcasing another kind of paper flowers so stay tuned.

For today's paper flowers I used the Daisy punch in 2 different sizes.  I think mine are the small and medium.  Mine are both green, but I bought them years ago, so EK Success may have changed the color by now.  Here is a photo :

Punch 2 for each flower.  And then adhere together in the center, rotating the top layer so that the petals are staggered.  And don't forget to fluff them!

You can leave them as you see them, but they look even better if :

1. You layer the small in the center of the larger one.

2. Ink the edges with black ink using a eye shadow applicator.

or doodle around the edges with a fine tip (005) Micron pen.

3. Embellish the center with stickles, 1/2 pearls, gems, or little buttons. 

Butterfly Trick

Next I want to share with you a creative way to get the most out of a butterfly images.

I am using my Butterfly/Dragonfly stamp set for this one.  The butterfly image is a full spread of the wings. But for this particular design I thought it would look better with a side view of the butterfly and some dimension.

Start by stamping the butterfly twice.

Color the same side of the the wings depending on which way you want it to face.  Color the body as well.

Cut out as shown below with my preference, cuticle sissors.  Anytime I'm cutting small curved area's I find the cuticle sissors much easier to use.

Fold/crease along the side of the body, so that the wing pops up off the page.  You will actually be adhering it to the page along the body.  Stagger the wings so that the bottom on is visible.

Thanks for tuning in today!  I will be back tomorrow with another Paper Flower Tutorial!

Altered Metal Tin

Tip / Technique : Stamping on Tissue Paper

I had so much fun making this!  I purchased one of those $1 tims from Michaels that already had the black and off white florish design you see in the background.  Did you know you can stamp and emboss on tissue paper.  Thought I'd give it a try, and it worked!!!  I painted a light layer of gesso over the top of the tin.  I stamped the heart, "love", birds, and butterly on tissue paper with pigment ink, and embossed.  I actually stamped the "love" first and then mask it off, stamped the heard and "forever" on the same peice of tissue.  I cut the tissue paper around the images but not close, because I wanted to tear it.  I painted water around the endges so that the tissue would tear and leave a distressed edge.  I used the gesso to adhere the tissue images and repeated the same steps with the birds and butterfly.  I stamped around the edges with a swirl and red pigment ink.  The other qoutes and cupid are rub-ons and the glittery heart is a brad I cut the prongs off of!

Stamps : The Angel Company

I think the rub-ons are Basic Grey, but the package is long gone, these are really old.

thanks for stopping by !

Melisa

You can view all of my VALENTINE projects HERE.

You can view all of my altered projects HERE

Another Candy Pouch - Tree Ornament

Challenge Project for Creative Card Crew "Valentine" Challenge and another entry for Fab an Funky's Shabby Chic Challenge.

Like the one below, I designed this one as a candy pouch as well, hoping to have enough to someday hang on a Vintage Valentine Tree!  These photo's are so inspirational!

So am I crazy or what???  Anyone else have a Valentine Tree??

You can view all of my VALENTINE projects HERE.