Thursday, May 31, 2012

CCEE 1222 - Paper Piercing

For Charlene's last challenge for the month of May, she chose a good one -- paper piercing.  Her exact words were:  "make paper piercing the focus of your card."  I like this technique because you can make it simple or give it a flare!  I chose to give it a flare and use a Spellbinders Pierceabilities die to create a pretty pattern on what would otherwise be a simple CAS card.


I cut the edge off my white cardstock with one of the dies from the Ric Rac Scalloped Pierceabilities set and then I pierced the pattern.  I cut the cardstock back by another inch and then scored it at 4 1/4", which made the front piece much shorter than the back.  I then cut a piece of blue cardstock and pierced just one section of the pattern and glued it to the white.  I used a blue marker to trace the opening.  Because of Charlene's directive to make the piercing the focus, I added just a simple sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by today.  If you'd like to play along with the CCEE gals, check out the Blog.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers - Oopsy Daisy
Paper:  Mark's Finest Papers - Snow Storm Smooth, Bang Up Blue
Ink:  Memento Bahama Blue (inkpad and marker)
Accessories:  Spellbinders Ric Rac Scalloped Pierceabilities

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Featured MFP DT Member Tutorial - Reverse Masking

Masking is one of my favorite, rather simple, techniques. I love the way you can get depth on a flat surface.  Regular masking allows you to make a scene come alive, and reverse masking lets you put a background behind your focal image.  This week's MFP Featured Design Team Member is me!  I wrote a tutorial on Reverse Masking -- check it out on Speedy TV.  Here are several examples of reverse masking.


This is the sample I used for my tutorial.  I actually used both regular and reverse masking on this card.  The rose was masked with a post-it note on which I had stamped the rose.  The heart is the negative of a mask created with a Spellbinders heart nestie.

Yesterday's Clean and Simple challenge was all about love.  I'm not a dog owner at the moment, but I have owned dogs in the past.  Dog owners love their pets, so I made a card for all the dog lovers out there.


Again I used both regular and reverse masking.  After stamping the cute little dog, I stamped the image again on Eclipse Tape, cut it out, and placed the mask on the dog.  Once again, the heart is the negative of a Spellbinders heart nestie.

I saw a technique a while ago on Splitcoaststampers where two sections of the card are masked off and then the middle section is sponged.  This is also an example of reverse masking.


Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  I hope you try this simple, yet dramatic technique.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Inspiration Challenge on SCS

Saturday's challenge on Splitcoaststampers is the Inspiration Challenge -- my favorite! Today's inspiration site was Red Envelope -- a site I have visited before. I used the challenge to take the opportunity to show off several stamp sets from the brand-new Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company's new release. My first card was inspired by these floral measuring cups.


As you can, there are four cups in the set, but Oopsy Daisy has only two images -- one single daisy and a bouquet of three. So I used one of my very favorite techniques (MASKING) to create a four-daisy bouquet.


I colored the daisies the same colors as the cups; and to bring in the silver measuring spoons, I used silver cardstock for the base and mat. My background piece is MFP Snow Storm Smooth, embossed with an old but very pretty Cuttlebug Embossing Folder called Floral Fantasy. I thought it worked well with the daisies.

I actually made two cards for today's challenge. I've been playing with a fun technique, the Shaving Cream technique, and I had a background piece made with three shades of blue. So I had to go looking for something that could work as an "inspiration." I think this is actually doing the challenge backwards, but . . . . I found this cute pirate book that had the right colors and theme (water).


My card is made with two of the new sets, Get Reel and Scenic Selections.


The background was made by dropping three different shades of reinkers (in this case SU Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, and Tempting Turquoise) onto a pile of shaving cream and mixing them all together. Glossy cardstock is required for this technique. You smoosh the cardstock down into your shaving cream, pull it out, and wipe it off with paper towels. It's quite messy but makes a great background. I'm probably going to be walking around with blue fingers for a day or two -- but it's so worth it! I created the lake scene by stamping one of the trees from Scenic Selections across the top and brushing pearlescent chalks on. I couldn't resist attaching that cute yellow fish brad. Our little fisherman has to go home with something! 

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my cards today. I hope you come back again.

Friday, May 18, 2012

MFP Blog Hop - Day 4 Flamingos on Vacation

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 
                        May Blog Hop!


This month's New Stamp Set Releases are:

Oopsy Daisy Featured May 15
Get Reel Featured May 16
Scenic Selections Featured May 17
Flamingos on Vacation Featured May 18


Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the blogs listed below (don't forget this one) each day for more chances to win!  (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)  All four winners will be announced on May 19, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog.  You can go back and comment if you missed a day.  (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!)  The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday May 18, 2012.

Again I'm starting out with a CAS card.


I used one of the humorous sentiments from today's set.   Pink, red, and yellow -- definitely a Hawaiian shirt!

My second card is a Joy Fold card. There was lots of masking on this card -- something I really love doing.
 

That color combination always feels so retro!

I hope you have enjoyed this month's releases. They were all fun to use. Make sure you stop by all the rest of the design team's blogs and comment for the chance to win a free stamp set.     Lois (that's me),  Vicky,  Anne,  Pat G.,  Karen H.,  Patty P.,  Mary,  Marilynn,  Pam,  Debbie,  Nancy,  Bonnie,  Kathy,  Brenda,  Toni,  Tangii,  Anna S,  Sue,  Kelli,  Janine,  Mark's Finest Papers

Thursday, May 17, 2012

MFP Blog Hop Day 3 & CCEE 1220 - Scenic Selections

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 
                        May Blog Hop!


This month's New Stamp Set Releases are:

Oopsy Daisy Featured May 15
Get Reel Featured May 16
Scenic Selections Featured May 17
Flamingos on Vacation Featured May 18


Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the blogs listed below (don't forget this one) each day for more chances to win!  (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day!  The names are drawn randomly!)  All four winners will be announced on May 19, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog.  You can go back and comment if you missed a day.  (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!)  The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday May 18, 2012.

Here is my CAS card for today's set, Scenic Selections.  It is also for the CCEE stampers challenge which Charlene gave the team -- to use either heat or dry embossing on vellum.


Again, there isn't much need for a whole lot of explanation on the CAS card other than I stamped the rock first (then masked it), stamped the fence next (then masked it), and finally stamped the tree.  This scene was stamped onto a piece of vellum after I had run it through my cuttlebug with the Grace's Frame embossing folder.  The fence was made by actually stamping the image twice.  The sentiment is from Tuesday's set, Oopsy Daisy.

My other card is a telescoping card, using several MFP sets in addition to Scenic Selections.


And here it is open.


The small panel on the front was stamped in the same way my CAS card was stamped. The center panel uses that same tree (except larger), which is in the set, A Trip to Lancaster, as is the birthday sentiment. The third, largest panel, uses a sentiment from one of last month's sets, Daffodil Greetings, as well as two of the butterflies from Scenic Selections.

Thanks once again for visiting my blog. Be sure and check out the rest of the cards made using this very versatile set. Comment on each blog for more chances to win a free stamp set.  Lois (that's me),  VickyAnne,  Pat G.,  Karen H.,  Patty P.,  Mary,  Marilynn,  Pam,  Debbie,  Nancy,  Bonnie,  Kathy,  Brenda,  Toni,  Tangii,  Anna S,  Sue,  Kelli,  Janine,  Mark's Finest Papers

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

MFP Blog Hop Day 2 - Get Reel

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 
                        May Blog Hop!


This month's New Stamp Set Releases are:

Oopsy Daisy Featured May 15
Get Reel Featured May 16
Scenic Selections Featured May 17
Flamingos on Vacation Featured May 18


Please hop along with us!  You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets!  Just comment on the blogs listed below (don't forget this one) each day for more chances to win!  (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day!  The names are drawn randomly!)  All four winners will be announced on May 19, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog.  You can go back and comment if you missed a day.  (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!)  The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday May 18, 2012.

Here's a CAS card made with today's set - Get Reel:


As much as I love to color, the only coloring on this card was the little bit of aqua on the water rings.

 My second project is an envelope album, made using the tutorial from Splitcoaststampers' Resources section.   Here is the cover:


And here is the open album:



My late husband Tom loved to fish. That's him in the last photo with what was, I'm sure, his motto! The top photo is my oldest son, Doug. And the middle photo is of my late husband, my former son-in-law, and my two grandsons. It was taken during a vacation in North Carolina. The "Gone Fishing" sign comes from my PrintShop program.

 Check out the blogs from the rest of the design team, and be sure to comment for your chance to win a free stamp set. Lois (that's me),  Vicky,  Anne,  Pat G.,  Karen H.,  Patty P.,  Mary,  Marilynn,  Pam,  Debbie,  Nancy,  Bonnie,  Kathy,  Brenda,  Toni,  Tangii,  Anna S,  Sue,  Kelli,  Janine,  Mark's Finest Papers

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

MFP Blog Hop Day 1 - Oopsy Daisy

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 
                        May Blog Hop!
This month's New Stamp Set Releases are:

Oopsy Daisy Featured May 15
Get Reel Featured May 16
Scenic Selections Featured May 17
Flamingos on Vacation Featured May 18


Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the design team's blogs listed below (don't forget this one) each day for more chances to win!  (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on May 19, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday May 18, 2012.

I've decided to try my hand at some Clean and Simple cards during this month's blog hop. So each day I will have one CAS card and one more-involved card. Here is my Oopsy Daisy CAS card:


Even though this card is a one-layer card, it is actually my least clean and simple card of the week. After stamping the bunch of daisies, I colored them with Copic markers. I added the sentiment at the top and drew the "frame line" around the edges. I couldn't help but add the butterflies. Thus, not so CAS!


A few weeks ago Splitcoaststampers had as its Friday Free 4 All challenge the Tent Topper card.  It had been a long time since I had made one of these cards, and I enjoyed it so much that my second card today is a Tent Topper card.  It's pretty self-explanatory.

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my cards today. Be sure to check out all the team members' blogs and comment on them for a chance to win a free stamp set.   Lois (that's me), Vicky,  Anne,  Pat G.,
Karen H.,  Patty P.,   Mary,  Marilynn,  Pam,  Debbie,  Nancy,  Bonnie,  Kathy,  Brenda,  Toni,  Tangii,
Anna S,  Sue,  Kelli,  Janine,  Mark's Finest Papers

Thursday, May 10, 2012

CCEE 1219 - Make Your Own Buttons

Once again Charlene (LilLuvsStampin) is our hostess for the CCEE challenge.  This week she wanted us to make our own designer brads or buttons.  Last year I bought the Sizzix Embosslits Sweet Buttons from Stampin' Up.  I had some fun with them for this week's card.


I followed the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers for making your own buttons, although I used the diecuts rather than punched circles.  I chose cardstock to match my daisies, cutting them out five times and gluing them together.  My daisies, a sneak peek of a soon-to-be-released set from Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company, called Oopsy Daisy, were colored with Copic markers.  Look for this set next week.  

If you'd like to get creative and play along with us, check out the CCEE Blog.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers - Oopsy Daisy
Paper:  MFP Lily Pad, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Bamboo Leaves
Accessories:  Copic markers, Sizzix Embosslits Sweet Buttons, Cuttlebug Wedding Set embossing folder, Burnt Sienna Ultrafine Flower Soft

Friday, May 4, 2012

FRIDAY -- and two challenges

Fridays on Splitcoaststampers have two challenges I like to play.  We get an early invitation for one of them -- the Queen for the Day -- late Thursday afternoon.    I have been a fan of this week's queen for a very long time.  Betty Wright (a/k/a gbedwright) has a wonderful gallery -- full of big bows, fantastic embellishments, and over-the-top creations.  After looking through most of her cards, I chose this card to CASE.  In her description of the card, Betty said she used a paper pad called Lost and Found Christmas, even though her card is a friendship card, not a Christmas card.  So I decided to make a Christmas card.



That church image is one of my favorites from Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company.  Betty's card had more neutral colors, but I went in the other direction!  I even added one of Betty's signature embellishments, the curly wire!

The second challenge on Fridays could go in any direction the hostess takes it.  And so, it's the Free 4 All challenge.  This morning it was a boy's birthday card.  My three-year-old grandson William loves Thomas the Tank Engine.  So I immediately thought -- TRAINS!


I colored the trains in different colors, but I knew the engine had to be blue.  Thomas is definitely blue!  I thought it would be fun to put the birthday sentiment in the smoke.  I'll have to save this card for William's birthday in September.

Card 1
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers - Country Church
Paper:  MFP Fresh Cream, unknown DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Distress Tumbled Glass, Scattered Straw, Wild Honey
Accessories:  Copic markers, Spellbinders Labels 7, MS border punch, Ribbon, Wire, Sponge applicators, Spica glitter gel pen

Card 2
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers - Train Talk, What a Fox (sentiment)
Paper:  MFP Flecked Dirt, Snow Storm Smooth; DCWV DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  (inkpad and marker)
Accessories:  Copic markers

Thursday, May 3, 2012

CCEE1218 Gingham

Charlene (LilLuvsStampin) challenged the CCEE gals to make a card with gingham this week.  Can I say I love gingham?  Well, I do!  I used this week's SCS sketch challenge for my layout, substituting the red gingham ribbon for the horizontal panel, adding a bow in place of the circle.



When I was in Michaels a couple of weeks ago, I found that wonderful rooster DP that is peeking out behind my main image.  The chicken is from a set from Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company, called Flaps My Wattles; and the chicken wire background is from an MFP set, appropriately called Chicken Wire.  (I confess I had never heard that phrase before I got this stamp set.)    I stamped the chicken, masked it, and then stamped the chicken wire.

If you'd like to play along with us, check out the CCEE blog.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers -- Flaps My Wattles, Chicken Wire
Paper:  MFP Cherry Slush, Snow Storm Smooth; Bo Bunny Timeless Collection DP; Recollections Roosters DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Copic markers Y23, Y35, Y38, R24, R27; Gingham ribbon, Corner rounder