Owls and some smARTworks news

First off, a card to share. These cute owlies are from the Feathered Friends set - and don't you just love that sentiment?! I stamped the owls first, masked off their feet & then stamped the branch. I colored it all with prismacolor pencils, and then trimmed the panel, leaving a bit of the branches sticking out. I layered it with some old BasicGrey paper to finish it off.

And have you been over to the smARTworks site lately? BIG changes! Rather than individual sets, the images will now be sold in standard sheet increments (with an online shopping cart - hooray!). In the meantime,though, you can score some serious deals as the remaining "singles" are 50% off. You can check them out here.

Also, this month's smART-word has been posted - and we're going monochromatic. Make a card and link up here for a chance to win!

Tag! You're My Friend :)

Can't believe it, but I'm back with a second post today!

I really liked the sketch over at Card Patterns this week, and when I saw that it featured a tag, I immediately started thinking about the 12x12 BasicGrey I have in my stash. I used the Phresh & Phunky pack for this card - no stamps whatsoever, and a minor dip into my embellishments for the twine & buttons. I chose the tag first, and lightened it up a bit with some white ink. I picked which papers I wanted to use for each element, and then started cutting. (I love that the paper is sturdy enough to be used as a card base, and I still have a white "innard") I used the coordinating letter stickers to spell out friend, and trimmed a piece of dotted paper to accent the bottom of the tag. Quick, and ready to pass along to a dear friend for Valentine's Day!

Blessing of Friendship

I wanted to make a card for a friend back in PA, and I already had these Chloe's Closet papers (Making Memories) in mind for her; when I saw the sketch over at the Mojo blog today, I knew that I wanted to play!

I stamped the card base (Pretty Pattern backgrounder from CHF), and then started layering on the patterns. I framed out the sentiment panel (Inspirational Sayings from The Angel Company) just to make the pattern pop a bit more against the others - amazing what a bit of white can accomplish. I tied on some twill tape, and added two little gems (K&Co) for just a bit of sparkle.

Wandering Thoughts...

Well, here it is - the first card made in our new home. It felt soooo good to put ink to paper again!

The card is created using the Journey set. My coloring skills still leave much to be desired, but I did have fun with this. After I cut the main image, the bits of white along the edge just didn't look right, so I swiped the edges with the black pad (a freebie tip :) On the green panel, I repeatedly stamped the marble image with versamark ink - great way to add interest to solid cardstock.

I hope to stamp a few more things before the month is out - plus I just realized that I have some things photographed that I never posted. Yep, I'll be back soon!!

Sorry about the lousy picture - the battery charger for the "good" camera has gone missing...

Tea Party!

Giovana was our hostess for this party, and the theme was stitches and ribbon. Yep, I can definitely do that!

This is a very quick card - I love this patterned paper (Making Memories), and just accented the design with this wonderful sentiment from Friends Trio. I would have loved to do some real stitching on it, but my sewing machine is buried so I settled for the faux variety with a paper piercer and a marker. Still a nice effect, though! I distressed all the edges and then tied on some cute ribbon (Prima) as the final touch.

Hop over to Susan, Dina, Giovana & Donelda to see what loveliness they have to share today!

Glitterin' Good Tea Party

Our first Tea Party of '09, and Donelda challenged us to bring on the bling - specifically of the glittery variety.

I really love the sentiment and the bird in the Shelley set, and thought it would work well for this challenge. I pulled out the granola BasicGrey pad, and selected this simple blue print as well as several coordinating "solids." I stamped the bird and the sentiment onto the lightest one, then trimmed away. I traced the bird with stardust stickles - my favorite way to add sparkle while still allowing color to come through (plus I always seem to make a big mess with loose glitter!). I cut the bottom of the printed paper with decorative scissors to add a bit more interest, and then layered a narrow strip of paper under the sentiment (which is a better option than ribbon if you're planning to mail something out).

Be sure to go visit Susan, Dina, Giovana & Donelda to see what sparkly goodness they have to share! :)

Thankful for You

Quick card to share today, this time featuring Hands Collage. I simply stamped it, colored the hands with prismacolor pencils, then went over the background with a marker. I layered it with some brown (punched with a Martha Stewart border) and accented it with three wooden beads. The sentiment is from the Thankful set; there are so many great sayings in that one! A very easy card to just let someone know that you appreciate their friendship...

Also wanted to let you know that Dina has posted the layout for next week's Tea Party - get all the details here. We'd love to have you join in the fun!

Trust

I love the image in Hands Collage - I think it captures the essence of friendship... and what better word is there for that than trust?

I started out by stamping the image with black versafine onto white cardstock, then watercolored around the hands themselves to really make them pop. I then matted that image with dark gray, and accented it with a black prima flower and a metal word embellishment (K&Co). I didn't want to mount it onto a stark white card, so I pulled out my handy dandy glimmer screen, and misted over it with silver glimmer mist - it's a perfect way to add interest but not detract from the focal image. I also added some black twill to balance the "blackness" from the flower. It went together pretty quickly, and I love the result!

The hand of a friend...

I've been playing around with glimmer mist and the glimmer screens (which are basically plastic templates that you use as masks - you can see more about them here warning: there's music on that blog, so you may want to turn your speakers down) I had made a couple backgrounds using latte & denim blue mists, and then I flipped the screen over onto the white cardstock and "stamped" off the excess. I love the effect it gives, and I thought it made a nice background for this image, too. I stamped the Hands Collage, then added the sentiment and accented with a couple dew drops. I matted it, and after playing around with layout, I eventually settled on this z-fold. I layered some BasicGrey Boxer paper onto the right panel, and it's all done!

Everything's coming up roses!

I had a lot of fun with the Rose Trio #2 set, playing around with inks to see what emerged...

I'm "in the pink" with this first one :) Inks used: palette doudoir blush (stamped off once), palette toile pink, then versamagic pink petunia. I stamped the leaves (Stem Duo) with versamagic tea leaves; this set also has two layers, but I only used one here. I finished off the card by adding the sentiment (Grow Friends), adding some rick rack, and layering with BasicGrey Sultry paper. I generally am not a big fan of pink, but pair it up with brown and you've got me (plus I love the touches of yellow in the paper...)






For this second card, I wanted to use the sentiment that accompanies the set, so I pulled out my reds. The final rose is SU Rose Red, Palette Moulin Rouge & L'Amour Red, then versamagic hint of pesto for the leaves. After I'd stamped it all, I sprayed it down with latte & snowfall glimmer mists just to soften the bright white plus add shimmer. I tied on black grosgrain ribbon (I cut an opening with my x-acto knife), then matted with black and finished it out with a red base. Clean and sophisticated!

Back with another "trio" tomorrow!

Forever Friend

I started packing for my weekend crop last night, but ran across this image ("Hugs" by Paperbag Studios, stamped crookedly on a card front) and this scrap of 7gypsies paper, so felt the need to bring them together. I added a sentiment (Hero Arts), trimmed, tied on a bit of ribbon, matted, and glued. Once again, super fast!

Now back to packing... I always have a hard time deciding what to bring along (because inevitably I'm going to be wishing for stuff I have here). Oh well, I know I'll still have a ball.

Have a great weekend!

Lovey-Dovey Tea Party

Well, Donna was the hostess of our tea party this time around, and challenged us to make valentines. I can do that! I'd made "lovey" cards the last two times around (trying to actually plan ahead for once!) so I decided to take a different approach and make a valentine for one of my good friends (who has been going through a lot lately). I pulled out some patterned paper from Making Memories (Boho Chic Olivia collection) and used that as my springboard. I cut a heart (Sizzlit Primitive Heart #2 die), and then stamped the script (from One Smile) in gray. Subtle, but perfect way to add some texture. I stamped the sentiment (My Heart) onto another pattern, grunged up the edges, and glued some ivory trim onto the bottom. I used yet another print as the base, which I misted with latte glimmer mist to soften the color and add some shine. I added a pin to the sentiment, as well as prima flower and button, and all done!

We're currently experiencing some very dreary weather (snow/ice last night, and now just steady rain) so I took that as a sign to do some more stamping :) I picked up this black frame with white mat last year, planning to make something for my craft space. Well, this is the time! I've been flipping through a lot of Somerset publications lately, so thought I'd play around with some artsy collage. The matted area is only 3x3, so I figured even I could handle such a small working space. I started off with plain old white cardstock, and started stamping. I think everything is pretty self-explanatory - the pink heart is actually mulberry paper, so quite sheer. The accents on the clock hands are tiny little hearts (from Junkitz Bag of Blingz) - what better way to illustrate time for love? I used a LOT of different stamp sets on this one: Bits of Time #1 and #2, Plant Love, One Smile, and Soar.

Feeling inspired yet? Be sure to check out what the other cookies have done, too!
In the Works, Mama Dini's Stamperia, Dee's Studio, Sweet Somethings, Susiestampalot

One Smile...

I think by now everyone is aware that I really like the One Smile set from smARTworks - and I just realized that I have two more cards that I never shared! This one uses the sentiment that comes with the image (thus the name of the set). This time I paired it with some BasicGrey papers I found at the bottom of my paper stash (Black Tie line). I also did a little something special with the girls themselves; I've had microscope slides and metal tape for over a year now, but I had yet to actually use any of it. But these darling girls were deemed worthy of the fancy treatment :) I need to practice a bit more with the metal tape (it's really hard to get everything smooth), but it's not bad for a first try. The final touch was a bit of ribbon and a tiny buckle - which makes me think of a belt over a plaid skirt.

Gotta run - I'll post the second one sometime this weekend.

Carte Postale Friend

Carte Postale is a lovely set - perfect for simple, elegant cards. The sentiment is from God's Blessing (another favorite). Obviously I went with a very simple color scheme, but I wanted to break it up just a tiny bit, so I dyed some Elizabeth fiber with a Creamy Caramel craft reinker. And then of course there's the corner rounder punch - a small detail that just makes the card look "softer."

And let me say that I am truly thankful for friends who strengthen me with prayers, bless me with love, and encourage me with hope!

Coppery Girls

So here's a card that took me about four days to make. It all started with the shimmery piece. I was working on another card, and wanted some gold cardstock to use as an accent. The stuff I had wasn't the right tone, so I thought I'd try making my own with Brilliance ink. Still not quite right, so I dumped on a bit of Pearl-Ex. When I started buffing off the excess, though, I discovered an issue. I had used a scrap of glossy white paper, and evidently when I was using it the first time around I had left behind some serious finger prints - which were now acting as a resist as my ink/Pearl-Ex mix was coming right off. OK, so it won't work for the other project, but it does look pretty neat! I buffed it up more, and then stamped it with the script image that comes with these darling little girls (One Smile, smARTworks).

So now on to my focal image. I tried a variety of inks and papers, and finally settled on this super simple version. I had added some color accents (sort of like my previous card) but it clashed with the background piece. Put it aside to use later and stamp yet another! I then wanted to embellish - I pawed through my little box, and came upon this copper snap that says "Friends Forever." (Sorry, but I have no clue where it came from) Just deciding where to put that was another issue... OK, finally have that taken care of. So I have my basic elements - now what am I going to do? Settled on layering the little girls with some artichoke cardstock (SU) to pick up the green I used on the script, then a banana (SU) card base. But the base looks too stark. Don't want to add too much pattern, though. Another stamp to the rescue! (Marble, smARTworks). I stamped it with Antique Linen distress ink - dark enough to show up , but still subtle. It still needs just a little something. Ooh, copper cord would pull it together nicely! I wrapped it around a few times, then finally glued it all together.

Whew! Now I still need to figure out what I'm going to do for gold cardstock with that other card...

Vintage Friend

Another card made with my new stamps from smARTworks. Aren't these little girls precious?!

I stamped them with Versamagic Jumbo Java ink, then added a bit of color with the Pebbles Pearlescent chalks. I just love the shimmery effect that they give! I then trimmed it with decorative scissors (so glad those are becoming "cool" again!). I covered the card base with squares from the BasicGrey Urban Couture collection, then finished it off with a photo turn, a single word (taken from the original saying: Friendship grows one smile at a time), and a prima flower.

Suh-weeeeeeet!!!!!!!

OK, big news to share today!

First some back story... In the last year or so, it seems design teams have really been on the rise. Or maybe I was just becoming more aware of them through the blogosphere! Well, I thought it would be a really neat thing to do so started paying more attention to design calls. Hadn't actually applied for anything, though. There were several companies that I considered, but once I really looked at all their images I chose not to pursue it. And then there was another team that I thought sounded good, but the call was in December. Um, lousy timing! Anyway, back in May I learned that smARTworks was getting a team together. I'd been introduced to their lovely designs through the fabulous Dina, had browsed their online catalog, and was planning on putting together a good sized order later in the summer when things had calmed down a bit. After talking it over with my hubby, I decided to go ahead and apply. I made it through the first round, and then received some images to make samples for the final decision. Sent them off, and awaited final word. I wasn't chosen, but was asked to be a Guest Designer. Yes, I was a bit disappointed but still super excited. And then Tuesday afternoon I got an email: there'd been a change with the team, and the position was mine if I was still interested. Uh, you betcha!!

So I'm now officially one smART Cookie! (Love that name!) You'll definitely be seeing a lot more of their beautiful images in the months ahead, but for now I'm going to share the cards I submitted for the final round. I must say, these images would not have been my first choice, but it was really fun to challenge myself - and now I absolutely love them!

This first card was created with the crayon resist technique. Sponged on some various colors, then layered with black and Bazzill Bling. The chipboard letter was from Joann's, and covered with Pearlescent Orchid brilliance ink.

This second card is definitely my favorite. I used paper scraps (BasicGrey Perhaps), and assembled them in strips (technique courtesy of Dina). I stamped and embossed the flowers on vellum carstock, then layered them and finished the bloom off with a large rhinestone.

The last card didn't work out quite like I had envisioned, but I still really like the basic idea. I used a punch to create the envelope from vellum cardstock, then "planted" poppy seeds. I also broke up the sentiment using my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (seriously, if you don't already have this tool, you don't know what you're missing! It is a MUST HAVE!). The inside was finished off with flowers stamped on watercolor paper, then trimmed and mounted.

My next batch of rubber has already been shipped, so watch for more goodies! And in the meantime, be sure to check out the smARTworks blog: In the Works.