A Christmas Carol Card

This month's challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenges is to create a card inspired by a Christmas Carol.  I found a vintage postcard image of Cristmas carolers and added a poinsettia flower and ivy leaves.  I used sheet music embossed background paper and a piece of vintage lace.  Hop over to Sparkles to show us your creation.  Our sponsor this month is Marianne Design and the prize is two dies or one die and one stamp.

Seems a Little Sketchy Card

 

The current challenge at Seems a Little Sketchy is this new sketch.

 

 

I used the digi image Forget Me Not from Aurora Wings.  I used Distress markers because I love the soft, worn out colors you get with them.  I added diecut flowers from K & Co. and a brass corner filigree from www.drygulch.com.  I piece of vintage lace and pearl gem swirls finish the card.  Be sure to show us your creation using this sketch to be eligible for a prize from our sponsor Aurora Wings.

 

Country Flowers

We have a new challenge at Alphabet Challenges.  The theme is "C" for Country Flowers.  I have chosen a print of colorful sunflowers from Lily of the Valley.  I added a textured mat and glittered paper for the background.  The flowers with their sparkly centers all sit on a ruffled piece of seam binding ribbon.  Join us at Alphabet Challenges to see what our talented team created and be sure to show us your creation. 

Happy Birthday Card

Our new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is Happy Birthday.  I chose bright colors and a medal with a crown.  I used spirelli shapes to make the medal portion with a crown sticker.  The medal has lots of ribbons too.  Stop by and see what the other desaign team members created.  We would love to see your Happy Birthday creation as well.

Seems a Little Sketchy Challenge

It is time for a new challenge at Seems a Little Sketchy.  I chose the image "Popcorn Ellie" from The Paper Nest.  I decided to use the popcorn bowl as a vase for a flower.  I distressed and inked the edges and I added a piece of velvet lace.  Check out our sponsor, The Paper Nest, for great digis.  Join us at Seems a Little Sketchy and show us what you create with this great sketch.

Shamrock Green Card

 

The current challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is all about color.  We want to see what you create with the color green plus one more color.  I went with a shamrock card since it is already March.  The tag is a resist card that I sprayed green and embellished with tissue tape.  I used ribbon and lace and a vintage style safety pin.  The shamrock is a gem sticker from Michaels.  Stop by and show us your green creation.

Noel Card

 

It is never too early to get a jumpstart on your Christmas card stash.  This month's challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenges is to create something using more than 3 embellishments.  I decided to use 3 layered diecut flowers from K & Co. along with a Noel tag at the top.  Every card needs swirly gems and ribbon.  he berry clusters are crystals wired together.  Join us at Sparkles - we would love to see what you create. 

Seems a Little Sketchy Card

New design team!

I am excited to be chosen to be part of the Seems a Little Sketchy design team.  We get to use a different sketch for each challenge and we have lots of sponsors with great prizes.  For my card, I chose the Winter Lisbeth image from Lacy Sunshine.  The prize for this challenge is 3 digi images of your choice. 

I have used vintage lace and rose ribbon along with a gilded brass filigree and pearl gems to make my card old fashioned.  I stitched the Lisbeth image and distressed the edges.  I decided to turn the sketch sideways.  Be sure to stop by and see what my new team mates have created. 

Flowers and Lace Card

Since vintage style cards are my favorite ones to create, I was excited to see the that the current challenge at City Crafters Challenge Blog is flowers and lace.  I started with vintage looking papers and layered a rose bouquet print.  I stitched the layers together and added a little sparkle.  Every card needs distress ink so I distressed every layer.  The lace is vintage (of course) and the resin rose at the bottom adds a little dimension.  I am also entering this card in the vintage challenge at DL.ART.

Winner - GYB Blog Candy

 

We have a winner!

 

From Random Number Generator,  our winner is number 44 - Gypsy Rose.

 

Generate a random number between 1 and 53 = 44

 

I will send out this package of blog candy filled with flowers, handmade paper and more as soon as I hear from Gypsy Rose.  Thank you to everyone for leaving such nice comments.  I enjoyed meeting everyone through the Grow Your Blog event.  In fact, I am still visiting the blogs.

 

 

 

At the Beach

 

The new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is texture.  I chose a textured background paper that I embossed with the Vagabond.  Then I added some teal colored mesh.  The starfish needed a little glitter and I added a couple of cute fish stickers from K & Co.  The corner filigree (which we sell at www.drygulch.com) is a dark antique copper color, so I whitewashed it with distress stain.  Be sure to show us your textured creations at Ruby's. 

Valentine's Day Card

The current challenge at Alphabet Challenges is Always and Forever.  I created this old fashioned looking card with lots and lots of hearts.  I started with old letter paper and added a resist rectangle background that I inked with distress stains.  Then I found the February calendar which is perfect for this holiday.  The vintage lace and sparkly gemstones add the perfect touch.  My lucky husband will be the recipient of this gushy card.

Stop by and show us your work and be sure to check out the other DT creations.

February 2014 Tim Holtz Tag

A month has gone by already so it is time for the next tag for Tim Holtz's tags for 2014.  Visit Tim's blog for explanations on the techniques he used for his tag.  As usual, my tag is quite a bit different than the inspiration tag.  I improvised several different components since I didn't have all of the supplies.  I hope you can see the resemblence.

 

 

 

Tim's tag was made with a heart stencil, but since I don't have one, I used a tiny heart stamp and I stamped the hearts individually.  I added crystal lacquer to give them the shine that Tim added by using embossing powder.  The kraft tag absorbed the ink too quickly so I couldn't emboss them.  The nice red color faded a little too, but pink hearts work just as well as red ones.

 

I was also missing the stamp that he used to stamp the white on the black background.  I did use his embossing powder and chalk technique though.  It really does look like a chalkboard.

 

 

I felt like my chalkboard element was a little too small for the tag, so I added a chipboard frame under it.  It was a piece from a Halloween set, so it needed work.  I decorated part of it with washi tape and then inked it with worn lipstick distress ink.

 

I needed a red sparkly heart, so I made my own red glitter using red dylusions ink and rock candy rock glitter.  I covered a heart shaped piece of chipboard with crystal glaze and then added my new red glitter.  It looks a little chunky, but I like it.

 

Tim's tag has a silver metal border sticker at the bottom.  Once I attached the sticker, it had more adhesive on the part that sticks out under the tag.  A little trick I use for problems like this is to coat the adhesive with baby powder.  Then it doesn't stick to anything.

 

 

 

I finished the tag off with a silver pen nib, in lieu of the silver arrow, and a little ribbon and lace for the top.  I enjoy seeing all of the different tags that people submit to Tim's site. 

Spots and Stripes

 

 

Our new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is Spots and Stripes.  I started with a striped cardstock for my base and added corrugated cardstock with spots.  The flowers and the butterfly are diecuts from K & Co and my sister stamped the sentiment.  I added more spots with the round gem stickers and more stripes with the pink ribbons.  I hope you will share your design with us at Ruby's.

Vintage Birdie Card

 

The current challenge at Fussy and Fancy Challenge is "Vintage".  I chose a vintage bird postcard print.  The little berries on the branches needed a little stickling.  I inked the edges of the bird postcard with a little distress ink.

 

I whipped out my little Singer sewing machine made just for paper.  The machine is very easy to thread and it has 8 different stitches.  I don't use it very often, but I should!

 

I wanted the embossed paper layer around the bird to be a little more shabby, so I started by fraying the edge with a Distress Edge Tool.  I added a little white distress stain but it wasn't bright enough so I added white distress paint too.

 

The background is a map from the phone book with a quilt pattern overlay that I cut with my CraftRobo machine. No vintage card is complete without a little vintage lace and some crystals. I hope you are inspired to create something vintage.

 

 

Seems a Little Sketchy Card

This evening I created a card based on a sketch challenge at Seems a Little Sketchy.  They have great sketches sure to inspire you.  I decided to turn the sketch on its side.  I started by layering rectangles of patterned paper and I topped the last layer with a dressform sticker.  The flowers include Tim Holtz metal flowers that have been tinted with distress paint and stain and paper flowers that have been curled to add dimension.  Pretty much everything has a little distress on the edges.  I like to use Frayed Burlap - I use it the most.  The pearl and crystal swirls add just the right touch.

 

Here is the inspiration sketch.

Sparkles Anniversary Challenge

Welcome to the 3rd anniversary of Sparkles Christmas Challenges.  We are excited to celebrate this milestone with a blog hop filled with blog candy.  Be sure to visit Sparkles for a list of blog hop participants.  Leave a comment on each of the blogs to be eligible for prizes. 

I thought I would share some of the steps I took to make this festive card.  I started with a wreath image from Lili of the Valley.  They carry the prettiest art pads, already colored.  The prints are on very nice, heavy cardstock.

I used distress paint and a toothbrush to create the splattered snow over the wreath image.  I also added green distress ink around the edges.  I also added little white berries dusted with distress glitter.

Most of my cards need vintage lace and this one was no exception.  The red lace is new, but the cream lace was a find at an antique store.

It takes a lot of distress to create a card! Tim Holtz would be proud, don't you think?

Then I added red gems for just the right amount of sparkle. I clustered lots of pretty flowers around the little Christmas tree. The glad tidings sticker at the top is from K & Co.  The red gem swirls are the finishing touch.  I hope you enjoyed the making of this card shown step by step. 

This month's theme at Sparkles Christmas Challenges is Anything Goes so show us your design.  Our sponsor for this months challenge is Dawn Till Dusk.  I hope you will visit the blog hop participants and see their beautiful projects.  Be sure to leave comments to be eligible to win blog candy from the other design team members.  Winners will be announced Feb. 28.

Grow Your Blog

I am excited to participate in the Grow Your Blog event.  My name is Jennifer and I am a paper addict / crafter, primarily creating vintage style cards and tags.  Occasionally I do a little scrapbooking, but cards are my passion.  I design cards for three UK based challenge blogs (I am in the US).  I enjoy the challenges because they often force me to create something I would not have otherwise.  It is always fun to see what other people create for the challenges.  My blog is the perfect avenue to share my designs.

My "go to" card making essential is Distress Ink by Tim Holtz.  I find that almost all paper looks better with a little distress.  The ink really adds depth to my card projects.  If you want to learn more about the distress line, Tim has great instructional videos on his blog.  I also love to use vintage seam binding ribbon.  It can be dyed any color and it always looks old fashioned.

 

   

I am also a lampworker and I run a bead and jewelry store with my mom and my daughters.  You can find our designs at Dry Gulch Beads & Jewelry.  I often incorporate findings like filigrees from our bead store into my cards.

It is always fun to win a prize, so be sure to leave a comment below.  I will choose a random winner from my commenting visitors on Feb. 15.  The prize will be the group of blog candy shown in the photo below.  It includes paper, flowers, gems and other embellishments.

I am looking forward to visiting many blogs and seeing lots of handmade items.  Many thanks to Vicki for organizing this event.

F L Y Tag

The current challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is to use a doily in your creation. I decided to use a tag that I colored with spray ink. I used a white doly and inked the edges with pink distress ink. The bird is a chip board piece that I inked. The little FLY tag at the top was made using tiny alphabet stickers which I love. Stop by Ruby's to see what the rest of the talented design team has created. Be sure and post your doily creation as well.

Keeping it Simple Cards

 

My sister came for a visit this past weekend and we crafted like crazy.  These simple, but pretty cards were the result.  We started with pre-colored flower pictures called Coloured Art Pads from Lili of the Valley.  We worked with Inkadinkado Stamping Gear tools to create coordinating background papers.  We had a great time!

 

Inkadinkado Stamping Gear tools.

 

You can create an infinite number of background paper designs with these tools. 

Ice Cream Birthday Card

The current challenge at Alphabet Challenges is to make a card for a young person.  I chose an ice cream cone shaker sticker with mirrorcard.  The shiny background is challenging to photograph.  This one is for my niece's birthday.  Join us at Alphabet Challenges and show us your card for a young person.