Monthly Archives: February 2008

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Anybody have any special plans?  We usually just do a little something extra for each other, nothing fancy or expensive.  This is my little something.   

I tried to “fancy it up” a bit with my presentation.    When I saw the crisscross box here, my first thought was that it could look like a shirt or a robe over pajamas, so I thought I’d make one a bit fancier, to match the wine bottle. 

For the candy bar holder, I followed the pattern and directions from the link above but I adjusted the size to fit the candy bar.  To do that, I laid the candy bar at the top center of my only sheet of black 12 x 12 cardstock.  (The top of the candy bar aligns with the top of the paper.)  I said a little prayer that I didn’t mess up, checked and double-checked, and I scored along each side of the bar, adding in just a smidgeon of extra space.  After that, I pretty much followed the pattern.  The most trying part was worrying that I was cutting in the wrong places.  (The box doesn’t stand on it’s own.  I have some kind of freaky little Pokemon figure holding it up in the back. I can see the tip of it sticking out on the left. lol.)  I used a scallop blade in my Fiskars Rotary Trimmer to cut the little gold scalloped edges.  The “for you” from Cornish Heritage Farms‘ “So Happy” is gold embossed, as is the “Happy Valentine’s Day” on the card.  The larger black piece on the card is also stamped with the Burlap backgrounder but I know you can’t see that in the picture.  It just gives a subtle look of texture.

Thanks for stopping by!  And have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Cardstock:  SU Basic Black; The Paper Company Metallic Golden Luster   Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms  The Rummage Bin “So Happy” and “Burlap” backgrounder   Ink:  Versamark, Brilliance Graphite Black   Accessories:  Ranger Gold ep, heat tool, scallop blade/Fiskars Rotary Trimmer, gold Morex organdy, Karen Foster antique thumbtack brads, pop dots.  Card size 5” x 5”.

We’re off to a late start this morning due to ice so I thought I’d take advantage of the extra time and do today’s sketch challenge.  It’s a good one!   This card came together pretty quickly (which is rare for me as I usually end up torturing myself over one thing or another).

I have a friend who shared some wonderful news last weekend, so I thought I’d send a card with my *best* wishes and congratulations.  I’m so happy for her I’m almost at a loss for words.  (I hope she likes “scrappy.”)

I pulled out some of my favorites here.  The patterned paper is from the Coppered Out Precious Metals line by We R Memory Keepers.  I used the reverse sides of most of the prints, but the one showing is my absolute favorite.

On the solid blue piece, I used the Canvas backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms.  After stamping the blue, I stamped the ivory piece without reinking, then sponged and distressed the edges.  The flowers (also from CHF) are from Silhouette Blooms I.  After inking the stamp, I stamped off onto the Canvas backgrounder, then used my waterbrush and cocoa ink to add a bit of darker shading in spots.  The swirls on the blue piece are from CHF’s new line, The Rummage Bin (the “Beautiful” set).

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great day! 🙂

Cardstock:  SU Naturals Ivory (base only)   Patterned Paper:  WRM Precious Metals Coppered Out “Bloomin,” “Flourish” and “Crochet”   Stamps:  CHF “Beautiful,” “Silhouette Blooms I” and “Canvas” backgrounder   Ink:  SU Close to Cocoa, Ranger Walnut Distress   Accessories:  SU Chocolate taffeta, aged copper hodgepodge clip, edge distresser, sewing machine/thread.  Card size 5” x 5”.

Happy Monday!  I know a lot people dread Mondays, but I actually kind of like them.  It means the house is quiet, I can do the things that need to be done at my own pace and then do the things I *want* to do…or the other way around.  😉

I had a bit of time this weekend to play with my new stamps from Cornish Heritage Farms.  I just couldn’t wait to get back to the distressing and flowers.

I used Silhouette Blooms I from the Kim Hughes Collection, coloring directly on the stamp with Pretty in Pink, Pale Plum and Sahara Sand Stampin’ Up markers.  I stamped, then added a little more detail with the smaller tip of the markers, then added a bit of messy Close to Cocoa smudges using a water brush.  Once the image was dry, I used a clear glitter pen to add just a bit of sparkle to the tiny pink flowers.  (To see the flowers in a bit more detail, you can click on the thumbnail.)  The brown background was stamped with  Canvas backgrounder in Cocoa ink, and the word “friend” is from Mona Lisa Moments Classic Essential Expressions.  Wow, are there ever a lot of useful phrases in that set!

In one of my previous posts, I was asked how I get my edges to look so “scruffed up.”  I use Stampin’ Up’s edge distresser.  I’ve never tried any other brand, so I can’t give a comparison but I do love the one by SU.  I like my edges to look kind of shredded, or maybe “frayed” is a better word.  To get that look, I lay the piece of paper on my thigh, lay one hand flat on the paper to hold it in place, then I scrape back and forth in little movements along the edge of the paper with the distresser.   So I don’t just drag the distresser along the edge.  I move it back and forth in short movements until I get the amount of distressing I want.  I hope that helps! 

I want to send a big thanks to Broni for rating my blog as excellent!  She’s so sweet!!  Thank you, Broni!  (She is *uber* excellent!!!)  …Can I just rate all those on my blog-hopping list? 🙂  So much inspiration!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!  Have a great day!  (Don’t forget about Lindsey‘s sale through Tuesday!)

Cardstock:  SU Confetti White    Patterned Paper:  My Mind’s Eye Wild Asparagus “Happy Birthday” Floral, pink and brown papers    Stamps:  Cornish Heritage Farms “Silhouette Blooms I,” “Canvas” backgrounder, “Essential Expressions Classic”   Ink:  SU Close to Cocoa   Accessories:  SU markers, ribbon, edge distresser, safety pin, clear Sakura Stardust glitter pen, water brush.  Card size 7” x 5”.

I just don’t want to stop using these new stamps from Cornish Heritage Farms!  I hope you all don’t get sick of me using them!  It just seems like it’s been so long since I’ve had sets I can distress, rip, shred, make dirty (lol) and I’m loving it!  🙂 

Here I used Silhouette Blooms II from the Kim Hughes Collection.  I used Chocolate Chip ink to stamp the flower onto a piece of solid paper from Basic Grey’s Periphery paper pad.  After stamping the flower, I used a waterbrush to add some True Thyme ink to the flower center, leaves and stem.  

A lot of the distressing was already on the paper, but I did shred the edges and add some sponging and faux stitching.  The patterned paper is also from Basic Grey’s Periphery paper pad.  (I love the reduced prints.)  After tearing the right corner, I sponged the edges of that piece as well, added the straight faux stitching up the side and the brads in the lower right corner.  The chocolate card base is stamped using CHF’s French Script backgrounder.  The focal image is raised on pop dots and the scrap of copper cord is just tucked into the knot (because I cannot seem to tie ribbon and cord at the same time).

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Tomorrow I will have a sample of the second new release by My Favorite Things, Serenity Now.   Have a great day! 🙂  

Cardstock:  SU Chocolate Chip    Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey Periphery Paper Pad    Stamps:  CHF Silhouette Blooms II, French Script backgrounder    Ink:  SU Chocolate Chip, True Thyme; Ranger Walnut Distress   Accessories:  Wide chocolate organdy, copper cord, mm copper brads, SU mat pack/needle, SU Chocolate Chip marker, waterbrush, pop dots, sponge.  Card size 5 ½” x 4 ¼”.