Dance With Fairies

I absolutely love this image from Unity Stamp Co. It came in the Kit of the Month for Nov 2014 (What lies within us) and I've been dying to use it.

I used Spectrum Noir markers to color this beautiful fairy. And the sentiment is from the same stamp kit.

Challenges to Enter:
Less is More #220 - Up, Up, and away
Tues. Throwdown #241 - Up in the Air
Simon Says Stamp Wed - Clean and simple
Inspiration Destination #30 Anything goes
Friends With Flair 4/24

Hello Friend

I'd almost forgotten to create my entry for From the Heart Stamps monthly challenge! By the way if you didn't know yet, if you enter at least one entry into their monthly challenge they will email you a free digi stamp you must use in the following month! Check it out, there is a link at the end of the post.

Well enough of that.. here is my entry!

This adorable image is Hamlet Pigwit Being Shy from From the Heart Stamps. The sentiment is also from that digital stamp bundle. I went clean and simple, because sometimes all you want to do is send a simple Hello.

Challenges to enter:
FTHS Monthly Challenge
FTHS #106 Sketch & twist
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - clean and simple
Inspiration Destination #30 Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #370 Clean and simple

Hydrangea Sprite

I'm absolutely loving my Spectrum Noir markers! I've been coloring everything with them.

This is a Hydrangea Sprite from Aurora Wings. I'm so giddy with the way she came out! She's just so stunning in all her color glory.

The background was made using a stamp from Unity Stamp Co (KoM Nov 2014 What Lies within Us). The sentiment is also from one of their kit of the months.

I hope you enjoy this card as much as I did making it.

Challenges to enter:
Pile it on # 65 April Showers bring May Flowers
Aurora Wings #14 Flowers
Loves Rubberstamps #148 Add Flowers
Inspiration Destination #30 Anything goes

Stampin' Up Retiring list!

It's that time of year. Stampin' Up has released their 2015 retiring list. These items are available starting today. You will be able to order these items until June 2 while supplies last!

CLICK HERE for retiring list PDF.

CLICK HERE to purchase the retiring items in my online store.

Remember these items are only available as supplies last or until June 2, so don't waste time or those items on your wishlist will be gone forever.

Happy Birthday Boy

So as you all know, my brother was amazing and got me some Spectrum Noir markers for my paper crafting. I've spent the past week toying with them mostly on hair and skin and learning how to blend the colors. This card is my first image I've colored with my new markers and I have to say I like the way it's come out. There are spots where it could be blended better but for a first attempt I'm fairly happy.

The weather is crappy here so despite having LED daylight bulbs in my crafting room, it was still hard to get a really good picture.

The image is called My Racing Car from Paper Shelter.

Challenges entered:
Paper Pals Art #248 - Sketch
Paper Shelter #199 Boys
Cutie Pie #86 Boys
Inspiration Destination #29

Late Manly Monday.. #2

Here is my second Manly card. I used Tim Holtz stamps from "The Journey" set.

Image tag I cut out using my Silhouette on cream colored card stock and then sponged on Vintage Photo and Tea Dye distress inks. Then I stamped the car image in Black Soot distress ink.

I went back after with Frayed Burlap and Vintage photo inks and used a spotted stamp from Stampin' Up "Gorgeous Grunge" to add the spotted affect over the image. (I didnt take a picture :( )

Then I used the same cutting file to cut out a frame on a grainy looking grey cardstock I found in my stash. I also have some Colorbox metallic gold and bronze stamp inks that I sponged over the cardstock to try and give it a more bronze like finish. In person you can see it really well but it's iffy looking in the pictures.

I black embossed the Happy Father's day sentiment (random stamp from stash) and the corners (from the same Tim Holtz stamp set). I will say embossing after using that metallic ink is a pain. No matter how much you rub with embossing buddy or blast with the heat gun the embossing powder sticks EVERYWHERE on it and I to blow off the parts around the words and corners.

Then I just put it all together over a black card base and Viola!

I hope you enjoy it!

Challenges entered:
Simon Says Stamp Monday - In the Middle
Inspiration Destination #29 - anything goes

Manly Monday... Late

Sooo I've had a nice hiatus and I think I'm feeling inspired again. I missed Manly Monday so today I made two manly cards to share. The second card I'll share in a separate post.

This card... I'm loving it. I tried out a new technique called Faux Leather and I'm just in awe at how amazing it came out.

Now there are TONS of various tutorials on how to do the faux leather look. These tutorials range from using embossing folders and clear embossing powder to using glycerin/water mixture to "condition" the paper to be soft and get that worn look. I didn't use any of those. Lol.

I started out with a piece of basic kraft paper and I crumpled it up. Then I lightly dipped it in some water to wet the paper while it was crumpled and squeezed the crumpled paper harder. I gently opened the paper and wiped off any excess water and kind of spread it lightly to the still dry areas and then .. yep crumpled it again .. and again. After I was satisfied with the wrinkling, I blasted it with my heat gun and this is what I got.

From just crinkling it with just water it started to get this sad worn look because it is just cardstock after all, but I loved the look.

Now this past weekend Michael's had a bunch of their Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress inks on sale so I bought all the browns and such. I rubbed Frayed Burlap along the paper lightly to color the roughest looking wrinkles and then used an art sponge to sponge on the same color all over the paper. I went back and sponged on Vintage Photo and Rusty Hinge over and over until I got the coloring that I wanted.

Using my Silhouette I cut out the label on white cardstock and sponged on Antique Linen and Tea Dye (distress inks again) and then splashed it lightly with a few water droplets before stamping the vintage car stamp (Tim Holtz, stampers anonymous "The Journey") with Vintage Photo. (The Car on the left is for another project which I'll post shortly.)

Then I made a simple banner and stamped it with a Birthday stamp from Stampin Up "Wetlands", tied a burgundy button to it with some twine and viola!

Hope you enjoy this beautiful card!

Challenges entered:
Simon Says Stamp Monday - In the middle (car image/tag)
ABC challenge - H is for Happy Birthday
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes #29
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Make your own background (faux leather background)

Spectrum Noir markers!

So I have the best little brother ever! My birthday is Sunday and he knows how much I've been putting off buying some Spectrum Noir Markers. Well he bought all 4 of the 24 sets! Now.. I just need to get all the 6pk sets to go with them!

I've been practicing some and making a Reference/Practice binder with images and such. I'll post some pics next week.

I'm also feeling my mojo coming back and less stressed so I'll be back with more cards, starting with Manly Monday.

See you soon!

Stress is an inspiration killer

So much going on at once it seems lately. Hubby works for the oilfield and well it isnt doing so well so there are layoffs and pay cuts being passed out left and right. Thankfully he still has a job. But it is still really stressful as we wait out these low prices and slow times.

Sadly all the stress has been killing my creative inspirations and I spend most of my time staring at my stash of crafty goodness just trying to get motivated. I think I'm going to try out art journaling a little in hopes that I can get motivated and inspired by it. Also it doesn't hurt that I can try out new techniques with it also.

My birthday is coming up in a week! And I already know my brother bought me some Spectrum Noir Markers (not sure how many until they come in) but I'm super excited because they'll be my first alcohol markers to try out!

I hope everyone else is doing great and I'll be back really soon hopefully with new cards or at least some journal pages!