Thursday, May 30, 2013

Land of the free

I'm popping in to post a card for the Verve Stamps Diva Dare.  The challenge is to use stars and stripes, so I pulled out my American Hero stamp set.


I created a background pattern using one of the stars inked in Scarlet Jewel and Blueberry Sky.  Of course, I just now noticed that my panel is upside down.  Aaargh!  Oh well, we'll just pretend that I meant to do a tilted star pattern all along.  It'll be our little secret.  lol

I sponged the edges of the cream layer and the sentiments to add a vintage feel.  It's also the reason I chose these particular shades of red and blue cardstock rather than the typical bright colors.  The star behind the sentiment on the flag banner was stamped off first so it's even more muted than the background.  I also distressed the cream layer to add some texture.

I love the vintage Americana feel of this card!  If you want to check out the Verve Diva Dare challenge, you can find it here.

Stamps:  American Hero (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Vintage Cream, Blueberry Sky, Scarlet Jewel, Kraft (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Blueberry Sky, Scarlet Jewel, Fine Linen (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX die (My Favorite Things); Label Four die (Spellbinders); distress tool









Saturday, May 25, 2013

Smile, it's the PTI blog hop!

I have an announcement to make.  I stamped.  Yes, actually stamped.  After a two month break of no mojo, I have finally stamped a card.  It feels great!  I'm not counting the physical act of stamping new images in my inventory book, naturally.  Totally not the same thing.  I did a lot of studio reorganization during that down time, but for some reason, my mojo had deserted me.  Nevertheless, I am here to say, we're back in business, baby!  lol
Today, I'm participating in the monthly Papertrey Ink blog hop.  The challenge is to use floral stamps and pick from several luscious color combos provided on Nicole Heady's blog.  Here's the one that caught my eye:
Aren't those colors gorgeous?  They aren't typical flower colors and that's one of the reasons I picked it.  Plus, it gave me a chance to pull out Limeade Ice again.  :)  I used the Funky Florals limited edition set from Papertrey Ink.


It's hard to tell, but before I embossed the Vintage Cream mat, I stamped it with text in Fine Linen ink (stamped off first to make it lighter) and then sponged the edges to soften it up.  Then it was adhered to Limeade Ice and a Pinefeather card base.


The flowers were stamped with New Leaf on the matching cardstock after I cut out the shapes with the Notched Flower dies.  Not sure if you can see it, but I also stamped the flowers with text with New Leaf ink.  The centers are stamped in Pinefeather ink.  I just happened to have some mini brads that closely match Limeade Ice, so I put several in the center of each flower.  It adds texture and makes them really pop!



The leaves were cut using a Turning a New Leaf die and I used my bone folder to add a scored line down the middle of each leaf.  I bent the ends slightly and then adhered them behind the flowers.  Oh, I forgot to mention that each flower was crumpled up.  I'm a big fan of texture!  :)

My sentiment is also from Funky Florals.  I stamped it in Pinefeather Ink on two layers cut with the Jumbo Fishtail Banners dies from My Favorite Things.  So versatile, plus the sentiment fit perfectly!  I love my finished card and it feels so good to be stamping again.  Time to get inky!  :)

Stamps:  Funky Florals, Background Basics: Text Style (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Vintage Cream, Limeade Ice, New Leaf, Pinefeather
Ink:  Pinefeather, New Leaf, Fine Linen
Misc:  Notched Flowers dies, Turning a New Leaf dies (Papertrey Ink); Jumbo Fishtail Banners STAX (My Favorite Things); Polka Dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug); WC Brite mini circle brads (Making Memories) 

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Speed Scrap

I participated in a speed scrap over at Scrap 'n Pieces this week.  My mojo has been seriously lacking as of late.  I've got stacks of card sketches, but just haven't felt much like creating.  I've done some reorganization, but unfortunately that's all the action my poor studio has seen.  Well, other than a few new acquisitions, of course.  lol  I saw the speed scrap announcement and thought, "Why not?"  The timing was perfect since I had just put another load in the washer and dryer.  Creative break!


I'm quite pleased with the layout.  The speed scrap instructions were pretty easy to follow (thankfully) and I knew exactly what photo I wanted to use.  My digital scrapping skills are a bit rusty, but I had my class printouts to reference when I couldn't remember how to do something.  It's been a year since I did one.  (gasp)  It made for a fun break from chores!

Digital Kits:  Barely kit, Once Upon a Memory kit (Amy Dane Designs)
Font: Sail