Happy Hour Challenges 1 & 2

Wow. Can I tell you all that I had a great time on Wednesday. Our very own Laura (designer for Cutters Creek) hosted a Happy Hour Challenge for our group. It was a blast creating and chatting with the girls. It did a lot to cheer me and lift my spirits. 

I have to admit that I have not been in the crafting mood for some time and was not interested in purchasing anything either. I allowed all of my Michael's Martha Stewart coupons to grow cold and unused. Nothing tickled my fancy.

When Laura suggested this crop I was all for it. I sat myself down and got ready for Challenge#1: Use the chalk popping technique to make a background for a card of your choosing...but you are only allowed to use the ONE

stamp (sentiment stamps are ok, though).

Here is my completed card.

Both stamps are from Hero Arts: Flower Cluster Sketch (H3129)--using just the flowers-- and Time to Enjoy (F1843)--separated to create two sections. I used the Pebbles Inc Pearlescent Chalking Set. The green satin ribbon is Anna Griffin and the Pearls are Queen and Co--Just Peachy. I used the Spellbinders Octagon Nestabilites and inked using Tim Holtz Peeled Paint and edged with Spiced Marmalade. This flower image was stamped on Ranger Glossy paper using Versamark which I zapped with the heat gun.

Fortified by my success with the first challenge I was ready for Challenge #2: Use one patterned paper and your one chosen stamp as an embellishment. You can color the stamp in using pencils, chalk, markers, whatever.

So here is what I produced.

First I spritzed the white card with Tattered Angels Glacier Mist (love that color) and this time I stamped the entire image and colored it in using EK Success Memory Pencils. I then went over that with various Distress Inks for a watercolor effect. I used the Tim Holtz Glossy Accents on the petals and dotted the centers with Studio G Sparkle Writer in black.


I cut out the image using Spellbinders Labels 6. I edged the card in black and used the leftover yellow ribbon from the first challenge to tie my stalks together. I simply used my craft knife to make the two slits and threaded the ribbon through and tied a knot.


The middle layer is the Spellbinders Pendants: Fleur de lis. I cut two of them from some Brenda Walton paper and layered so that the edges were aligned. I then used the small pendant square, cut it in half and trimmed to fit the space left between the two larger pendants. I used some of my Memories Direct small ink pads to enhance the colors on the edges of the die cut. It was subtle but made a huge difference.

I stamped the background on the black paper using just the flower portion of the stamp with white pigment ink and embossed with white embossing powder. It gives it a real shimmery look on the black card.  The small quote is from Brenda Walton. 


The entire card is attached to a piece of the American Crafts Sky: Pearl Alligator.


Me thinks I spent too much time on that card which put me way behind for Challenge #3: to use your stamp so that you would not know that you used your stamp.


I will leave you with a teaser and hopefully upload the completed project tomorrow along with Challenge 4.

So what do you think I used this to create?

You are in for a treat tomorrow. I certainly had fun inking these first three challenges...all in the name of love.
Until then.

Crop Chocolate On-line Challenge: Altered Item

Ok, this CropChocolate.com challenge sent me running; all over the house that is. The greatest challenge for me on this one was finding something to alter. I went through every room in the house trying to find something. Finally, in my bedroom I stumbled upon a container one of my students gave to me years ago. I thought it was time for a facelift. What do you think?

 

My frugal nature would not let me set aside the unused pieces of Fancy Pants paper from the stepper card and I thought I could give them a new look. After cutting the pieces ( Key Lime Pie and Sweet Spring) to size, I inked them using Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters and Worn Lipstick.

I then added adhesive and randomly stamped using Versafine and the Me and My Big Ideas Sassy-icons stamp.

Love that one. It is currently on loan to me through a stamp swap. Might have to purchase that set.


I then adhered all of the pieces to the box including the top. I used my Crop-a-dile to cut a notch into both pieces (see inked photo above). For a final touch I added a variety of Dew Drops/Skittles using Glossy Accents.

I really think it looks much more inviting and definitely in line with this decade. Of course it was helped along with a bit of ink, in the name of love.

Until then.

Embellishments using Clipart

Hello again. This is August and the month of my birth. I have been having a blast celebrating and creating new things.

I have been receiving samples of clipart images from Dover Publishing for about two years now. These are delivered free of charge to my inbox. I recently had a chance to download several silhouette images. I turned a few of them into tags.

Having Mary Davis send a link to me is a wonderful opportunity to peruse many of the CDs offered and decide which purchases to make. Additionally, I can pull many of these images into my Pink Wishblade software or Inkscape.org (free shareware editing and design program). I have become totally addicted and decided to come up with more creative way to use these fabulous designs on my scrapbook pages, cards and other artwork.

Here's the video:

After cutting them out I have used the Ranger Glossy Accents to give a glazed 3-D look. I have also use the Sakura metallic, glaze and stardust pens to add a bit of bling. These can also be printed and cut in triplicate and them made into an impressive dimensional by placing foam dots between the layers.

Any chance I get to add a bit of ink to a project is a bonus for me. Try your own hand at using this "free" clipart to bring new life to your projects. Don't forget to add a bit of ink---in the name of love.

Until then.