Artistic Avenger


by 10 Comments

Retro Stocking (MM39)

Well, today is my last day with Merry Monday as a Featured Designer. What a great month it’s been! These ladies really know how to do up the holidays!

For my last card, I had something COMPLETELY different in mind when I sat down. Different colours, different stamp sets, everything. Don’t you love how the creative mind works?

Here’s the sketch.

I started with a Crumb Cake base on which I stamped the snowflake image with Soft Suede. I love this combo.

Next, I used the new (and not really sure I like) colour of Summer Starfruit across the centre and lined it some Pool Party behind.

Next, I added some Soft Suede designer paper to a piece of Soft Suede card stock and added to the card.

For the banner I knew I wanted to do something a little different so I used the Two Big Tagz die and cut one out in Very Vanilla. I added the sentiment from Delightful Dozen in Soft Suede.

Now, to the tag, I added a scallop circle of Real Red. I love this bright pop of colour. To keep it a little more in the card, I added a loop of Real Red grosgrain and affixed it with a Glimmer brad.

I used my stocking punch to make a stocking of Pool Party which I also embossed with the Snowburst embossing folder.

To finish it all off, I added a top and heal and toe of silver glimmer paper.

This was so much fun to see coming together and I hope you’ll play along with us this week at Merry Monday. Check out what the rest of the design team has come up with too!


by 12 Comments

Reaching for the Stars (MM38)

Another Merry Monday card to share today! Next week will be my last….boo…..:-( This is the sketch for this week. As you can tell from my picture above, I turned it on it’s side, I felt this worked better with the stamp sets I wanted to use.

For this card, I decided to use VERY traditional colours but I wanted to use two various stamp sets together that are not meant to be together.

The base of this card is Real Red. I’ve added a strip of designer paper which is scalloped and a sentiment was stamped underneath.

The panel is just a strip of Old Olive card stock. I cut a little nick in the end to make a wee banner and folded it over a few times at the top and, for a little extra detail, I added a couple of staples.

For the image part, I decided to use Snow Much Fun and Lean On Me. I loved the idea of the little boy reaching up into a Christmas tree to either decorate it or look to find hidden treasures.

Of course there is a little bit of sparkle to the tree using some Dazzling Details. This card was so much fun to make!

So I hope you’ll check out that the rest of the Merry Monday design team has come up with this week and that you’ll play along!


by 10 Comments

An Experiment in Colour (MM37)

 

Happy Monday everyone! And today is another instalment of my Guest Designer stint on Merry Monday!

Today’s sketch is awesome and is one that can be used over and over for so many occasions.

I wanted to start this card with a non-traditional colour combination (yes, last week was non-traditional stamps and this week is non-traditional colour….you see where I’m going with this, right?).

The base is Soft Suede and I’ve layered it with a vertical layer of Primrose Petals and Bravo Burgundy. On the burgundy layer, I’ve stamped an image from the Delightful Decorations stamp set.

Next, I needed to tend to the centre area. I cut out an oval with my Big Shot and embossed it. I then added a couple of punches in coordinating colours (Designer Label and Oval) and then I stamped tone-on-tone Crumb Cake and punched out with my Ornament punch.

I added some rhinestones which I actually coloured with my Bravo Burgundy marker to tint them but it’s very hard to tell by the photo.

To finish it off, I added a bow of Linen Thread and some paper piercing with the Essentials pack.

For my sentiment, I used a strip of Crumb Cake card stock and fanned it out over the end of the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by and for enjoying my cards this month. I hope you’ll join me next week!

Check out what the rest of the DT has come up with this week by checking their blogs:


by 10 Comments

Just My Type (MM36)

Well it’s another week at Merry Monday and I’m excited to share my sample with you! This week I wanted to do something COMPLETELY different for the holidays and use a non-holiday stamp but in a holiday way. Got it? With a great sketch to work with I was on my way.

I started with some fun colours – Marina Mist, Lucky Limeade, Basic Gray and Riding Hood Red.

The stamp set I decided to use was Established Elegance. I love that typewriter and have been wanting to use it in some kind of fun and different way.

Starting with the tall horizontal panel, I used some textured Marina Mist card stock and layered it with a large snowflake, folding it around the edges for a fun look. I then tied on some Baker’s Twine.

Next, I cut a circle of Lucky Limeade onto which I put the typewriter, stamped in Basic Gray ink and cut out.

Lastly, I added a little typed note “don’t open till Christmas” from Tags Til Christmas and also a little mini postage stamp which has another stamped image from the same stamp set.

A little bow of Baker’s Twine and a rhinestone finish it all off.

Hope you’ll get some time to play along with us this week at Merry Monday!

Check out what the rest of the Design Team came up with this week too:


by 11 Comments

A Snowy Man (MM35)

 

VERY excited to have been asked to be a Guest Designer on the Merry Monday design team this month!

Here is my first offering. We were given the sketch above to work with and I knew right away I wanted to flip it a bit and play around with the design.

The base for this card is Gumball Green and layered with Pool Party and Night of Navy. The image is from Snow Much Fun. I love this guy. I’ve stamped him in Jet Black StazOn and then water coloured him with coordinating colours.

I used some designer fabric and ribbon to emulate the banners in the sketch. What I found was when using fabric as a ribbon-like detail, it works really well to affix it to some co-ordinating card stock first, then cut in your notch.

Lastly, I added a couple of trinkets and some tags tied on them.

This was a really fun sketch to play with! I do hope you’ll play along at Merry Monday!



by 12 Comments

Happy 31st (PP109)

 

Hello All! Really quick post today…Made this card for the Paper Players latest challenge which you can find here. Super fun! It is my golf instructor’s birthday this weekend and thought I’d make him a little card.

 

I think you can clearly see what I did here with the paper piecing for the numbers and then I used my Crop-a-Dile to punch through and back the “st”. I added a few buttons and then I also added a strip of Old Olive grosgrain ribbon that I pulled apart to emulate grass (come on, he is my golf instructor after all!)

 

Thanks for stopping by!



by 19 Comments

Punched Through Panelling (PPA141, PP108)

 

It’s really HOT here today so I snuck down to my basement room to do some crafting in the coolness. I was inspired by two challenges – The Paper Players and Pals Paper Arts for this little creation.

 

I love Crumb Cake. Love it. Love it. Love it. I use it in pretty much every card I make (in some way). So I knew I wanted the principal colour to be Crumb Cake.

 

In keeping with the sketch, I make a four striped panel. I decided to adhere various strips on another piece of card stock and instead of mounting a piece on top of the stripes, I punched through them with my 2 1/2″ circle punch and added the image behind them. I used an image from the set From my Heart and used the Itty Bitty Banners and the framelets.

 

 

I stamped the image in Not Quite Navy and added a Crumb Cake framelet. I cut out the heart in Cherry Cobbler and then added Dazzling Details in Cherry Cobbler to top it off.

 

Behind this panel, I added a few coordinating ribbons which I tied off with some linen thread. Lastly, I added a few pearls for good measure.

 

Thanks for stopping by today and head on over to Pals Paper Arts and The Paper Players and play along with these great challenges!

 



by 16 Comments

All in a Twitter (CCMC213)

 

Found a few minutes to play and I ran my little fingers over to Create with Connie and Mary to see what their sketch was for the week. I loved it so I decided to play along!

 

I decided I’d use products from the Twitterpated variety (designer paper and fabric) and I just got the new stamp set From my Heart so I was off to the races.

 

I used the colours from the Twitterpated Suite (Basic Gray, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Island Indigo and Riding Hood Red). You’ll notice the back vertical panel…I used Morning Cup images embossed with clear embossing powder, sponged and then faux stitched to keep with the teapot theme in the main image.

 

 

I first used my Big Shot and cut a partial Top Note out of the designer paper. I then tore a strip of fabric, ruffled it a little and tied a bow with some Baker’s Twine. Lastly, I used a small torn and embossed (with Stripes) piece of Certainly Celery to complete the three strips as indicated in the sketch.

 

Next, I punched a large scallop circle in Island Indigo, roughed it up and affixed the stamped image (stamped in Basic Gray). I actually used the second largest circle from the Circles Big Shot die and it worked perfectly with this image.

 

I stamped the image again on Baja Breeze and cut it out and for a bit of extra colour, I added a partial flower from the Boho Blossoms punch in Riding Hood Red on the bottom with a little rhinestone.

 

Thanks for stopping by!



by 19 Comments

All Wrapped Up

 

 

I’m still trying to find a spot in my new house to take my card photos. I like the wicker background from my barstool but I’m not sure I’m “in love” with it. You know? Chime in and let me know your thoughts!

 

This card is inspired by the  Merry Monday sketch challenge. I love sketch challenges! And, I decided to use an old idea, infuse it with something new and I’m quite happy with the result.

 

The base for this card is Poppy Parade and it’s layered with a piece of Chocolate Chip and then some retired holiday designer paper. This is the vertical layer in the sketch. Yes, I took some creative license here with the layering but ultimately the layers are all there!

 

Remember a while back I made that kleenex box card? Well, I used the same idea but changed the size slightly. I stamped the Wild Wasabi card stock with a stamp from Artistic Etchings and sponged it. I then added strips of Poppy Parade to look like ribbons and then I made my paper bow.

 

This super cute bow is made using 3/8″ strips of card stock and my Medium Jewelry tag punch! I will do a wee tutorial to show you how. It is SO easy!

 

I finished it off with some bling and a little tag. Voila! I think this would be super fun as a birthday card using fun bright colours.

 

Oh, on a personal note. THANK YOU so much everyone for your very kind welcome back! I am very touched at every word you’ve sent my way. Really. Thank you.

 

x0x0



by 26 Comments

Daring to Dream (CCQ148)

Okay, didn’t think I’d get another thing posted for a while but here I am! Shocked? What I’ve realized is that I got rid of almost everything so I have very little to work with. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d continue stamping….so bear with me and the same old stuff for a while, would you?

 

This card was inspired by the ColourQ challenge of Tangerine Tango, Poppy Parade, Pink Pirouette, Lucky Limeade and Whisper White. What a combo! I knew instantly what I wanted to do.

 

I took my long clear block and the Stampin’ Write markers of the colours mentioned above. I coloured squares onto my block and then stamped it on some Watercolour paper which I’d spritzed with water. I think in hindsight I should have added a bit more water, but nonetheless, I got the look I was looking for.

 

I then backed it with Postage Punches in the coordinating colours.

 

 

To finish off, I added a spring of leaves and a couple of flowers centred with some Dazzling Details and a little butterfly. When I was finished, I really needed a little something extra in the way of texture so to continue with the butterfly motif, I added a large butterfly which I embossed and sponged lightly with Pink Pirouette.

 

Have a great day!