Be There, and Be Square: A Challenge

I don't believe I have ever made a square card before. I'll never be able to say that again!

This is how I made it:

This card measures 5" square. First, I adhered washi tape I had in my stash to the right hand side of the card. Then, I stamped T!m Holtz's cupcake directly on the card blank using Versafine Onyx. After that, I used my water brush and colored in the image with Distress Inks Mustard Seed, Blueprint Sketch, Barn Door and Antique Linen. I stamped "Happy Birthday" and glued it to a small blue panel of card stock, and I adhered that to the card front.

Sharing with:

Seize the Birthday: 173: Square Card  

Sunday Stamps: SSC212 Circle Around: Sketch Challenge 

Starry-eyed

I really enjoyed making this card. 

How I made it:

I chose an A2 cream-colored card blank. First, I stamped the star border (Paula Best) using Distress Inks Chipped Sapphire close to the right side of the card. Then, I cut away the extra paper to the right, leaving the star border. Next, I stamped the sun/star (Rubber Stampede) using Mustard Seed. I found "starry-eyed" in my stash and glued it to a piece of dark blue card stock and adhered that to the card. Finally, I glued a strip of dark blue card stock to the inside back of the card to enhance the border.

Sharing with:

Creative Crafters: Challenge 19: Anything Goes 

Sunday Stamps: SSC212 Circle Around: Design Challenge 
 

Autumn

Soon, leaves and acorns will litter the ground, and Autumn will be here.

How I made this:

I chose a cream A2 card blank. The first thing I did was stamp the acorns (Inkadinkado), using Distress Ink Gathered Twigs, close to the right-hand edge. With my craft knife, I cut away the paper as seen above. Then, I stamped the oak leaf (Hero Arts) using Peeled Paint. After that, I stamped the word "Autumn" (Hero Arts) in Spiced Marmalade on a golden-colored card stock and glued it to the front of the card. Next, I cut the same card stock into 1" by 4.25" and glued it to the inside back of the card to create a decorative border. Finally, I used my water brush to move around the dye ink into the acorns.

Sharing with:

Sunday Stamps: SSC212 Circle Around: Design Challenge

 











Addicted to Stamps & More: Challenge 356: Anything Goes

The Creative Crafters: Challenge 19: Anything Goes 

Froggie Ballet

I just had to have this stamp! It's called Tu Tu Toad, but I colored it like a frog. Are toads more warty? Personally, I think Stampendous was going for alliteration. Anyway...

How I made this:

I chose an A2 card blank. I stamped the image on Bristol Smooth paper so I could watercolor it. I used Distress Inks Mowed Lawn, Worn Lipstick and Mustard Seed. I picked the color off the ink pad with a water brush. Once the image was dry, I adhered it to the pink border which I then attached to the green card blank.

Sharing this with:

Make My Monday: Dance 

Let's Craft and Create: Challenge 150: Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes: Challenge 224 

Personality Plus

The stamp in this card below is called Woman, Russian Beauty, and I can see why. She's gorgeous and vivacious, and this prompted me to use her for a Feminine challenge.

First, I chose an A2 card blank in black. Then, I cut the two colorful panels the same size and staggered them. I adhered those to the card, then I centered the stamped (Stampington & Company) piece on top of the red-and-white polka dot panel. I glued that down along with the phrase I had in my stash.

Sharing with:

Allsorts Challenge  Week 534/5 - Feminine
 
Addicted to Stamps and More  Challenge #356 - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create  Challenge #224 - Anything Goes

Let's Craft and Create  Challenge #150 - Anything Goes
  
The Creative Crafters  Challenge #19

♪ ♪ ♪ Let's Dance ♪ ♪ ♪ :A Challenge

...put on your red shoes and dance the blues... 

Oh! Here we are! 

I made a card with some dance steps on it. It's a waltz, and I don't think that's what "they" had in mind. Rather than red shoes, it was probably more like powdered wigs.

Anyway, here's how I made it:

First, I chose my card blank. Then, I adhered the lacy paper panel to that. I stamped the waltz dance steps (for Inkadinkado by Dawn Houser) and centered it on the card. After that, I cut out a coordinating banner and used a phrase I had in my stash.

Sharing with: 

Make My Monday  #103 Dance 



Allsorts Challenge  Week 534/5 - Feminine

Addicted to Rubber Stamps and More   Challenge #356 - Anything Goes


Freshly Made Sketches  Freshly Made Sketches #400 (The sketch is directly below.)

Out of a Mushroom Can

I needed a place to story my short pens (I love back-to-school offerings!), so using a small mushroom can was the answer.

First, I covered the can lengthwise with textured paper. Then, I tied a piece of twine around the middle. After that, I glued on some flowers and greenery from T!m Holtz wild flower dies that I cut out of white card stock and colored them with some new highlighters (Did I say I love back-to-school?).

Sharing with:

613 Avenue Create  Anything Goes w/Optional Twist: Create/Decorate A Container

Let's Craft and Create  Challenge #150 - AG + Option EnTWINEed

Paper Piecing Challenge 2

For this challenge, I made a small square paper-pieced quilt card. 

How I made the card:

First I chose a white A2-sized card blank. Then, I chose my patterned paper and ran it through the die-cutting machine using Spellbinders Quilt It dies. Next, I ran each piece through my Xyron sticker maker. Having the sticky on the back helped me to place the pieces on a white piece of card stock. I cut close to the quilt, because the white card would be an appropriate border. I stamped the sentiment underneath in the center.

Here is the die set I used:

 Sharing with:

The Sisterhood of Crafters 

Paper Piecing Challenge

For the Paper Piecing Challenge, I made a quilt -- a PAPER quilt!

How I made the card:

First I chose a white A2-sized card blank and adhered the blue background which was slightly smaller, creating a white border. Then, I chose my patterned paper and ran it through the die-cutting machine using Spellbinders Quilt It dies. Next, I ran each piece through my Xyron sticker maker. Having the sticky on the back helped me to place the pieces on a white piece of card stock. Once I was finished with the placement, I cut around the "quilt", leaving a small white border. I adhered that piece to the blue background.

Here is the die set that I used:

Sharing with:

The Sisterhood of Crafters

Allsorts Challenge: Feminine

WOYWW 534 - What's On You Workdesk Wednesday

(If you don't know what this is all about then please visit the Stamping Ground, our host Julia will explain.)

My desk is full, so full that it has spilled onto the floor on the left and to the guillotine paper cutter table to the right. It's a mess, but I also know where everything is, and it's within reach! Here's the proof:
 

Bottom left: cards that have been made, recent ATCs, blue masking tape (that I just realized my cat has been into), and a package of T!m Holtz's paper dolls (I think they're called). Midway: label maker for the ATCs and the entire collection of Distress Inks. At the back: brushes, gesso and a collection of paper word strips.

Bottom left: the proverbial 12" square of working space. To the right: clutter of experiments, things that don't need to be on my desk, and on top is a tag I am working on. Middle back: the double-stick tape cozy (because said cat likes to chew on tape) and a variety of controls for the TV and DVD player. In the middle foreground: my massive quantity of scraps, which is on the floor, and the guillotine paper cutter on a small TV tray table.

This is what spilled onto the floor. From the left are watercolor tools, Vivid ink pads, a box of fairly new stuff, a pencil case that holds acrylic blocks and the waste basket. As a bonus, there are wet paper towels that are drying. Another cat enjoys ripping the paper towels (and toilet paper) apart. 

Sharing with:

 

Stamping Ground

 

School Days: An ATC for my Swap Group

How I made my Artist Trading Card:

I cut a sturdy background 2.5" by 3.5" and adhered Primary-grade paper to the front. I stamped a ruler (100 Proof Press) and cut it down length- and width-wise and adhered it to the right of the card. Next, I stamped the numbers (Ma Vinci - ?) in Distress Ink Festive Berries and the clock (inkadinkado - Dawn Houser) in Versafine Ink Onyx on the left.  The ball is an old sticker I had in my stash. Then, I scanned the spines of early readers and the front of one and glued them into place. I threaded a pencil charm onto thin red-and-white-polka-dot ribbon and tied it into place through a hole I punched with my Silent Setter. I had to glue the knot in place, too.

Sharing with:

Simon Says Stamp Blog Monday Challenge S is for ...

Poetic Daisies

How I made this:

The base of this card is an A2-sized kraft card blank. The next layer is a golden-colored card stock, and I stamped it with Hero Arts Italian Poetry Background with Distress Ink Brushed Corduroy. The No. 8, stamped in Vintage Photo, comes from Ma Vinci's, I believe. Then, I layered a piece of burlap paper. On top of that, I adhered 2 daisies and  leaf stem from Tim Holtz dies. I colored the leaves with Mowed Lawn and the daisies with Antique Linen and Scattered Straw.

I'm sharing this with:

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog

Country View Challenges 

Try it on Tuesday 

Internation Art & Soul 

It's a Bug's Life 2

How I made this card:

I started with an A2-sized kraft card blank. On top of that, I adhered a piece of burlap paper. Then I stamped Hero Arts Italian Poetry Background on the golden yellow card stock with Scattered Straw and adhered it to the burlap paper. (I think the No. 8, stamped in Vintage Photo, came from Ma Vinci's.) Next, I pounced Distress Inks Tumbled Glass, Evergreen Bough and Scattered Straw onto photo paper with stencil brushes and stamped the winged bug (100 Proof Press). I attached that to the front of the card and added photo corners. After that, I die cut Tim Holtz flower stems. I colored the leaves with Lucky Clover and Mowed Lawn and the flower with Dried Marigold using a water brush. Then, I adhered those to the card.

Where I'm sharing:

Crafty Cardmakers

Stamping Sensations

The Artistic Stamper Creative Blog

Cardz 4 Galz 

Try it on Tuesday 

International Art & Soul 

It's a Bug's Life 1

How I made this card:

I stamped the dragonflies (unmounted, from Stamp Camp) image on erasable typing paper I had on hand. I didn't like how the stamping looked, so I turned it over. I like the frosted look, so I decided to use the image this way. I cut the edge with deckle scissors and adhered it to a red rectangular piece of card stock. Then, I adhered it to an A2-sized black card blank. After that, I stamped All Night Media's Chinese Love in Versamark embossing ink and embossed it in gold.

I am sharing it here:

Crafty Cardmakers

Stamping Sensations

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog

Cardz 4 Galz 

Try it on Tuesday 

CASology 

Another recent Artist's Trading Card

Here is another ATC I made for our swap. I mailed them out on Saturday. At the beginning of next month, I will get three from the other women who are part of the swap.

This one combines my love of sewing with my love of paper crafts.

To make this, I photo copied the front of a Vogue pattern I have. I resized it and printed it on white card stock. I cut around the figure with my craft knife, leaving "Vogue Pattern" attached. I glued that to my heavy ATC card blank. I used short applique straight pins I have and ran it through the fabric swatches so they appeared to be a part of a fashion idea board. Then, I glued a button and the two swatches of fabric to the right side of the card.

I'm also sharing this ATC with Simon Says Stamp Blog Monday Challenge. 

You can see the contest here:  https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/

A recent Artist Trading Card

Here is an ATC I made recently. ATCs measure 2.5" by 3.5", so when I gave her wings, I needed to make sure they fit inside the card. When closed, she peeks out; when open, she flies.

How I made this: I found both images on The Graphic Fairy's site. I printed the little girl and the butterfly onto white card stock. I cut the little girl image down to 2.5" by 3.5" and glued her to my ATC blank. Then, I used white gesso and the tip of my paint brush to color in the flowers in her hair and on her corsage. I fussy cut the butterfly wings, eliminating the body. I punctured two holes into the card with the hole maker from my Silent Setter, and using paper fasteners, I pinned each wing to the little girl's shoulders. I made sure they could move easily into open mode, then I closed them for mailing.

I am submitting this to Simon Says Stamp's Monday challenge, and since it's my birthday, I have to win. Simple! lol  

Here's the link: Simon Says Stamp Blog

My Art: Two Artist's Trading Cards

I belong to a group of Artist's Trading Card, or ATC, enthusiasts who trade cards once a month. The first one was for Summer Memories, and the second is Mermaid Lagoon for June and July, respectively:

Artist's Trading Cards measure 2.5" by 3.5", and they are traded, never sold.