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.