Stampin'B Challenge - Easel Card

Brenda was our challenge hostess this week at the Stampin'B blog, and she wanted us to make a round or square easel card. -- which are always fun. One of the other Mark's Finest Papers design team members, Anne Harmon (a/k/a jdmommy) gave me the courage to try coloring this black-eyed susan in blue, a very non-traditional color.



Following the SCS tutorial for making a round easel card, I cut the blue circles and then a couple of white circles. I didn't want the card to have too many layers, so that strip of blue was cut using two different circle nesties at the same time and gluing it onto the white piece -- after I stamped and colored the flower.

I used a glittery brad for the "bumper" to hold the easel open.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Black-Eyed Susans for Encouragement
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Mark's Finest Papers - Breezy Blue, Snow Storm Smooth
Accessories: Circle Nestabilities, Copic markers, Brad

Stampin'B Challenge - Distressing

The Stampin'Bs challenge this week was to have "distressing" on your card -- not my normal style, but I was going to give it a go. I made a sort-of vintage card, using some lace and a cameo image from Mark's Finest Papers' set, Grandma's Boudoir. I stamped the cameo twice -- once with Memento Potter's Clay and once with ColorBox gold pigment (and then embossed with detail gold embossing powder). I cut the center of the Potter's Clay cameo out and glued it to the gold one.



I tore the edges of both the white panel and the antique gold panel and sponged with Tim Holtz Distressed (how appropriate) Antique Linen. Then I put on the gold cord to look like a gold chain.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Grandma's Boudoir, Background Fun (for the Happy Birthday)
Paper: MFP Corn Husk, Dark Chocolate Bar, Snow Storm Smooth; unknown dotted DP
Ink: Memento Potter's Clay; ColorBox Gold pigment; Tim Holtz Distressed Antique Linen
Accessories: Detail Gold embossing powder, Gold cord, Lace, Sponge dauber

Cabinet Refinish

Some time ago, I inherited a sewing cabinet from my grandmother. We always called it her Martha Washington sewing cabinet, although it is just a replica -- probably made sometime in the 1920's. I had seen several cabinets in a restaurant about two years ago and decided I wanted to change the look of my cabinet, which I keep just inside my front door.

This is what the cabinet looked like before I started my project. My friend Bonnie was quite upset when I told her that I was going to paint it. I looked on-line to make sure I wasn't going to ruin a valuable antique. Because it is a replica, similar cabinets were selling for under $200. So I didn't think it was like I was ruining something that could possibly bring me thousands of dollars!



The "invisible" hinges on one of the side compartments were broken at some point, and my grandfather attached small decorative hinges on that side. So I decided I would look for some decorative hinges for the end compartments. Unfortunately for me, the internal hinges presented me with a problem -- I couldn't screw in all six screws on each hinge because they were hitting the metal within the wood. So I screwed in as many as I could and then cut off the tops of the screws with a bolt cutter and glued them into the remaining holes.



But I'm getting a little ahead of myself -- I did that AFTER I painted the top.



After stripping off the varnish, I painted the base of the cabinet with almond spray paint and the top and legs with aqua -- three coats of each. Then I put on three coats of polyurethane. The cabinets I had seen at the restaurant were stenciled around the top. I had never done stenciling before and didn't want to make this my initial try, so I used rub-on butterfly decals.



I had looked for two years for the right knobs. I finally found them at Hobby Lobby, of all places. The wall against which the cabinet sits was originally peach -- which was fine when the cabinet was a dark color. But the almond color would have melted right into that peach color. So I brought the color of my kitchen around the corner and painted the area below the chair rail the nutmeg color of the kitchen. I love the way it turned out.



I hope my friend will not be too disappointed when she sees the finished product. I'm trying to decide if I want to put some contrasting stripes on the spindle legs. But that will be for another day!

MFP Blog Hop - Fun on the Farm

Hello! Welcome to the August 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement, Butterflies and Wisteria, Forest Gifts, Fun on the Farm. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers. I'm not an official member of the Blog Hop today, but I'm glad you stopped by to see what I've done.

Today's set, Fun on the Farm, is aptly named. This is such a fun set with its cute little farm animals. My first card is a Side-Step card, which is fun to make. I think I used every image in the set on this card.



Paper: MFP Desert Sand, Spring Leaf, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers, MS fence punch, Sizzix border grass die, Word Window punch, Pop dots

My second card brings shades of Robert Redford.



Paper: MFP Hurricane Gray, Blue Skies, snow Storm Smooth
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distressed Tumbled Glass
Accessories: Copic markers, Plaid ribbon, Labels Three, Pop dots

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set:Fun On The Farm? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Fun On The Farm. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Claudine
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Kittie
Markie
Mark’s Finest Papers

Stampin'B Challenge & MFP Blog Hop - Forest Gifts

Hello! Welcome to the August 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement, Butterflies and Wisteria, Forest Gifts, Fun on the Farm. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

While I'm not an official member of the Blog Hop today, I am showing two cards from today's set, Forest Gifts. My first card is also for the Stampin' B challenge, which is to have clouds in your card. I found this set fun to color. My card is pretty CAS, with minimal layers, but I added some interest by scoring an additional frame around the image. I added some stratus clouds to fulfill the requirement of the Stampin'B challenge.



Paper: MFP Dark Chocolate Bar, Corn Husk, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers, White gel pen, Scor-Pal

My second card was a bit more involved. The front is pretty straight forward. I backed the same image as my first card with some DP from a DCWV Photo paper pad and added a banner with the sentiment.



It's the inside that has all the interest -- it pops out! I attached the chipmonk to a piece of twine and hung him in the opening.



Paper: MFP Naturals Ivory, Hazelnut Tan; DCWV Photo 2 paper pad
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Distressed Bundled Sage
Accessories: Creators Companion, Cuttlebug Vintage Corners die, Labels Three Nestabilities, Memento Rich Cocoa marker, Twine

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set:Forest Gifts? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Forest Gifts. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Claudine
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Kittie
Markie
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Butterflies and Wisteria

Hello! Welcome to the August 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement, Butterflies and Wisteria, Forest Gifts, Fun on the Farm. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

Again, I've made two cards with today's set, Butterflies and Wisteria. I stamped the smaller flower onto some lavender DP and used that as my background. I used two different colors of baker's twine to attach the butterfly charm.



Paper: MFP Snow Storm Smooth, Spring Leaf; Prima Sweet Fairy DP
Ink: Memento Grape Jelly, Tuxedo Black, Bamboo Leaves
Accessories: Copic markers, Mega Curved Rectangle Nestabiities, Baker's twine, Charm, Pop dots

My second card uses just one of the sentiments as the focal point, adding a few of the butterflies, which have been stamped on vellum and cut out. There is lots of sponging around the edges of the background paper.



Paper: MFP Lily Pad, Snow Storm Smooth; Prima Sweet Fairy DP
Ink: Memento Bamboo Leaves, Tim Holtz Distressed Wild Honey
Accessories: Labels 13 Nestabilies, White gel pen, Sponge dauber, Pop dots

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Butterflies and Wisteria? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Butterflies and Wisteria. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement

Hello! Welcome to the August 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement, Butterflies and Wisteria, Forest Gifts, Fun on the Farm. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

I've made two cards using today's set, Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement. I recently discovered Nestablings -- strips of pearls/rhinestones in the shape of Nestabilities. What a find! I added white pearls to the Diamond-shaped diecut, and does it ever dress it up!



Paper: MFP Fresh Cream
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Nestabling, Copic markers, Prima pearl flourishes, Ribbon, Stickpin

My new favorite type of card is the center-step card. I framed the image with a Fleur de Lis rectangle shape and mounted that on the center section and added some Basic Grey DP to the other strips.



Paper: MFP Morning Sun, Dark Chocolate Bar, Snow Storm Smooth; Basic Grey Cappella DP
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Fleur de Lis Nestabilities die, Copic markers, Flower Soft, Rhinestones, Pop dots

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Mark’s Finest Papers

Inspiration Challenge & Dare to Get Dirty

As I've mentioned before, the Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampers is my favorite challenge of the week. And, as the annual Dare to Get Dirty challenges were going on this week, I wanted to incorporate both challenges into one card. (As it was, there were 37 challenges in the DTGD event!) I found this canvas artwork on the Inspiration website and thought I could do something with it.



So, this is the card I came up with -- for both the Inspiration challenge AND also one of the DTGD challenges -- to use piercing, suggested by Bev Gerard. My late husband was a huge train enthusiast, and he had a collection of pewter locomotives. That one pictured with my card is a replica of a Japanese Class C-62 locomotive.



Here are some more of my Dare to Get Dirty cards. This one, suggested by Karen B. Barber, was "Marker Layering," but not with Copic markers, which blend so nicely. Karen used Stampin' Up markers, but I used Memento markers.



Suzanne Dean's challenge was a sketch. I used some PTI stamps and papers to create this card.



Betty Wright gave us an interesting challenge -- create a card with products/colors which begin with the first letter of the letters in your name. This is how I went with this one:

L = Labels 21
O = Olive green
I = Indians
S = Sketch Challenge 148

B = Birthday, Brown
A = Arrow
K = Kaleidacolor ink



Holly McMillen gave also gave us a sketch. I love this little ghost from MFP Broom Rides.



Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Stampin'B Challenge

I was the hostess for this week's Stampin'Bs challenge. I asked the rest of the team to make a square birthday card with piercing. In case you'd like to know how I came up with this challenge, there is a story involved. Some time ago there was a challenge involving paper piercing. After making my card, however, I realized that the challenge was "piecing" not "piercing." So I've got a card done and no challenge! What to do? What to do? I know. My next challenge to the Bs will be "paper piercing!"



There's not a whole lot of stamping on my card -- just the birthday sentiment. I stamped it on Mark's Finest Papers Corn Husk and then cut it out with a circle nestie. In my craft supplies are pieces of plastic canvas left from when I was doing plastic canvas needlepoint, so I used a round piece as the template for my piercing. I glued the circle onto a Spellbinders Parisian Motifs diecut in MFP Dark Night Navy and mounted it on a square of Prima Reflections DP.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Flourishes and Frame
Paper: Mark's Finest Papers - Dark Night Navy, Corn Husk; Prima Reflections DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Spellbinders Parisian Motifs Shapeabilities die, Paper piercing tool, Circle Nestabilities, Pop dots

Dare to Get Dirty

Every year over at Splitcoaststampers, they give a wonderul gift to Fan Club members -- the chance to play with the "dirty girls," members of the Dirty Dozen Design Team. For an entire week, present and previous members of the Dirty Dozen issue challenges -- five or six each day. And the rest of us can pretend we're part of the elite! Here are some of the cards I've made so far this week.



This card was for Dini's cupcake challenge and Lisa's polka dot challenge . I used one of the mini sets from Mark's Finest Papers for this.



RoseAnn's challenge was a one-layer card -- not my usual style. But I combined it with this week's Technique Challenge, which was to stamp the sentiment on top of the image stamp. That gave it a little depth. I colored the poppies with the palest shades of Copic markers so that the sentiment would really show off.

These next two cards are sneak peeks of soon-to-be-released sets from Mark's Finest Papers, Fun on the Farm & Butterflies and Wisteria respectively. Look for them next week.



This card was for Amber's sketch challenge. I had some hay DP in my stash and thought it would make a good background for those fun farm animals.



This card, in addition to being for Chupa's sketch challenge, was also for the SCS color challenge of White/Gray/Turquoise.

I'm on vacation this week, so I've got lots of time to play in the dirt pile with the SCS "greats." If you belong to the SCS Fan Club, you can play along too. Thanks for stopping by my blog.