Technique Challenge - Faux Nesties

We all love our nesties, don't we? I'm no exception. I've got a pretty good assortment of them in my collection. But today's Technique Challenge on Splitcoaststampers was to create a card using something other than nesties to arrive at the same look. I chose a Fiskars squeeze punch for the corners of my main panel layers.

I stamped the bunny rabbit from the Spring and Easter 2010 set from Mark's Finest Papers: Speedy the Cat Collection onto the Snow Storm Smooth, and then layered it with spring colors -- Frosty Mint Sparkle, Lemon Slice, and Pink Freeze Sparkle. I had to tape a small piece of the mint cs behind the cut-out portion of the corner punch so that only the green would show through. The way the punch was situated left a small section of yellow showing, and I didn't want that. I colored the image with Copic and Prismacolor markers and then used some sparkly flock from Sparkle and Sprinkle to add some texture to the Easter bunny. The DP is from Basic Grey's Porcelain paper pad, matted with more of the Pink Freeze Sparkle.

I added a little bit of ribbon and the cute little rabbit charm -- and I was finished. What I like about the Technique Challenge is that it gives you the opportunity to try something new. And today, it actually had you doing something old -- back before Nesties became such a big part of the stamping world.

All materials (except flock) available at Mark's Finest Papers.


Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers: Speedy the Cat Collection - Spring and Easter 2010
Paper - Mark's Finest Papers Snow Storm Smooth, Frosty Mint Sparkle, Lemon Freeze; Basic Grey Porcelain DP
Ink - Palette Noir Black
Accessories - Fiskars corner punch, Copic and Prismacolor markers, Sprinkle & Sparkle glitter flock, Ribbon, Charm

Stampin'B's Challenge #23 - 3 x 3 Box

Nicole (ButterflyEars) was the challenge hostess this week on the Stampin'B's Design Team blog, and she had a fun challenge for us this week -- to make a 3 x 3 gift box and four matching cards. I had to check out the tutorial in the Resources section of Splitcoaststampers for the directions for a 3 x 3 box. Actually, I think my box came out around 3 1/4 x 3 1/4, but it was close enough.

The base of the box itself is SU Basic Black, covered with some G*C*D Floral Garden DP I had left over from a previous Twilight project. The base of the lid is SU Real Red, covered with Real Red DSP. As a true Twilight fan, I had purchased the two Artful Inkables stamp sets inspired by the Twilight phenomenon – Into the Moonlight and Fictionally Inspired. The image on the box depicts the covers of all four books in the series. Those images appear singly on each one of the covers. I stamped it with Palette Noir Black and colored with Prismacolor and Copic markers, sponging around the edge with Real Red. I cut out the squares with Nestabilities and tied the silver ribbon around the lid.

The four matching cards were quite simple – Flourishes Classic White, SU Real Red, and some more of the G*C*D Floral Garden DP. I had to make the envelopes using my Ultimate Crafters Companion Enveloper – what a great tool! I stamped the back of the envelope flaps with a small flourish from Swirly Q’s by Fiskars. I have already given this gift away to my daughter-in-law, another big Twilight fan.

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* Stamps - Into the Moonlight and Fictionally Inspired, both by Artful Inkables; Swirly Q's by Fiskars

* Paper - SU Basic Black, Real Red, Real Red DSP; G*C*D Floral Garden DP

* Ink - Palette Noir Black, SU Real Red

* Accessories - Prismacolor and Copic markers, Nestabilities, Silver ribbon, Sponge dauber

Stampin'B's Challenge #17 - Baby Card

Nicole was our hostess on the Stampin'B's DT Blog this week. Her challenge was to make a baby card in colors other than pink or blue. In addition, it had to be a square card.

I like doing baby cards in colors other than pink or blue because you can do them ahead of time, without worrying about what the baby will be. Nicole’s challenge gave us that opportunity. I used a piece of DP from a pack called Victoria Mini Papers from Jenni Bowlin and went with the yellow and green in the paper. As part of Nicole’s challenge was to make a square card, I didn’t even have to trim the DP -- it was already 4 inches by 4 inches. I stamped a heart-shaped sentiment from a set of Fiskars baby stamps and cut it out using my Nestabilities heart dies. I used Barely Banana and then sponged it with So Saffron to make the edges a little deeper shade of yellow than the center behind the sentiment. I had some safety pin-shaped brads, which I attached to the Double-ended tags, also from Spellbinders, for the lower sentiment. The green plaid DP is from a DCWV pad called Nana’s Nursery. The matting and scalloped pieces are cut from Certainly Celery, and the card base is white.

Stamps - Fiskars
Paper - GP White, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, DCWV Nana's Nursery DP, Jenni Bowlin Victoria Mini Papers DP
Ink - Versafine Black Onyx, So Saffron
Accessories - Nestabilities Heart and Scallop Oval dies, Spellbinders Double-ended tags, Safety pin brads, Sponge Dauber

To see the rest of the team's creations, check out the Stampin'B's Blog.