China Pattern

Hello All!
It is a beautiful Saturday here and I had an enjoyable morning taking a class with a friend at a local scrapbook store.  It is always a good time when you get a bunch of paper crafting women together! 
Today's Inspiration Challenge at SCS uses a site called Fishs Eddy-strange name, I know!  They do have some cool stuff though, despite their strange name. I have a thing for kitchen stuffs and china.  This vintage restaurant plate caught my eye and gave me my inspiration-

Here is my cas take on this challenge-

This was a simple card to make, but hard to photograph; it may be the person behind the camera as I could not photograph the card I made last night either!  I simply sponged Regal Rose ink over my Little Leaves die cuts, embossed the sentiment in gold, added a bow and added a couple of curly ques made out of thin strips of gold cs, and curled with a quilling tool.

Thanks so much for visiting!  Have a blessed weekend!

Lee Ann

Supplies used-
Stamps-Sal-a-bration Elementary Elegance
Paper-Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold
Ink-Regal Rose, Versamark
Other-dimensionals, gold ep, VV seam binding, Apothecary Framelits, Little Leaves die

Loving Featured Stamper Challenges

Good Morning!  Another day of crafting and the beginning of spring break.  Add to that that it is the Lord's Day and you have a great day ahead of you!
I just love playing along with the Featured Stamper Challenge over at SCS.  It really helps get the creative juices flowing!
Here is the card I made for today's featured stamper:

All products for this card are Stampin' Up.  I started with a card base of Daffodil Delight and added a layer of black cs.  I stamped the Lucky Limeade panel with the crown from the Elementary Elegance set and the embossed with the houndstooth embossing folder.  The Poppy Parade Panel is embossed with the Stripes embossing folder.  I stamped 3 balloons in Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade and daffodil Delight- the stamp is from the Party this Way set.  They were cut out and mounted on a piece of black cs that was embossed with the Fancy Frames folder.  The black cs and one of the balloons is popped up on dimensionals.  I used a piece of Lucky Limeade 1/8" organza ribbon and a brad to separate the panels and finished off the card with a sentiment from same set punched out with the Modern Label punch.  Embroidery floss was used for the balloon strings.

What a fun card to make!  Thanks so much for stopping by and your comments are greatly appreciated!
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A great new sketch is up at OWH today.   Broke out a new stamp set, You're My Type, and gave it a whirl. 

I started with a card base of Poppy Parade and then added a layer of white Patterns dsp.  My side panel is from the Attic Boutique Series in the mini catalog and is backed with black cs.  The central panel is So Saffron embossed with the Houndstooth embossing folder (my new fav). The typwriter is embossed in black, cut out, and popped up on dimensionals.  I finished off this card with black and white baker's twine (non SU) and a So Saffron button. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings!

Nature Walk and a Baby

I love nature and I love hiking, so I do not know why it took me soooo long to get this set.  The set has been around for several years, but it is new to me.  Maybe it is new to you, too.  Here is my first card with the set.

It seems fairly basic, but good for a workshop, I think.  I am not a very good judge of these things- hopefully it is not too easy!

Here are the supplies (all Stampin' Up unless noted):
CS- Crumb Cake, Bordering Blue, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Old Olive
Ink-Bordering Blue, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Basic Gray, Versamark, Van Dyke Brown Distress ink
Other-embossing folder (Sizzix), gold EP, adhesive pearl
Stamp sets- Elementary Elegance, Nature Walk
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I worked on a card for a coworker, who is having her first baby next month and combined that with the Clean and Simple challenge over at SCS this week.  The challenge is to sew or use "faux" sewing on your card.

 Boy ( I mean girl!), I just love this stmap from Stampin' Up.  I used Calypso Coral  and Naturals White Cardstock and tried to stipple the background, like in quilting.  A quilter I am NOT!  Anyway, background done, I stamped the image in Stazon black and then watercolored, using Cameo Coral, Basic Gray, Blush Blossom and More Mustard.
Stamps used are Bringing Baby and Teeny Tiny Wishes.  A button was added- not sure I should have or not, but there it is.

Thanks for stopping by!

Handmade Flowers

I never seem to have the right color flower on hand for the card I am working on, so it was time to start making my own.  I adapted this technique from a technique I learned at a scrapbook convention using fabric.  To start, you will need:

• scissors
• pencil
• quilling tool
• adhesive dots
• paper, in the color of your choice
• distress ink, if you want a shabby chic look

Either use a template or freehand a circle between 1 3/4" and 2" in diameter.  The size of the circle will determine the size of your flower.  Draw a spiral around the inside of your circle.  Now cut out the circle, either with a straight cut or freehanding scallops.  Be sure to transect the line of the circle to keep your spiral segments even. 

You will now start cutting the spiral-again, you can either straight cut or you can freehand scallops as I have done.  be sure to transect the spiral line as you go instead of the inclination to cut below the line.  Also keep in mind that the beginning of your spiral cut will actually be the inner part of the floral, therefore you may want to make the scallops smaller, gradually increasing them in size as you go around the spiral.  

Next, loosely wrap the spiral around your finger to condition it so it is not so stiff and easier to work with when you use the quilling tool.   

Now you are ready for your quilling tool.  Starting from the outside edge, you will roll the paper around the tool, towards you.  This is especially important if you are using designer paper- if you roll away from you, the print will be on the back side of the flower.  

Once you are done, you will remove the coiled paper from the tool and allow it to gently relax in your fingers.  It is at this point that you can work with it a little bit to get the shape you want and the tightness/looseness of the "petals" that you want.  Now you need to put adhesive dots on the base of the flower, as pictured right.  I hope you can see this.  

Finally, the hard part.  Some of you may be asking at this point, what is going on in this picture- rest assured, this is the palm of my hand.  You are going to smash your flower. This helps to adhere the paper edges to the adhesive as well as gives it character.  Don't worry, you will love it!  

And Voila- you have made a flower.  If you want that Shabby Chic look, now is the time to sponge your favorite distress ink on your flower.

The beautiful end result-

Thanks for stopping by- I hope this tutorial was helpful to you.  If you found this helpful, please let me know in the comment section.  This is my first tutorial (and maybe my last!), so if there is anything I need to change, please let me know.

This card is entered in the challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ, to use a flower or flowers on your card.  

Blue Cake Mojo

This week's Color Challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers is Night of Navy, Bashful Blue and Crumb Cake.  Refreshing after all of the red, pink and white of Valentine's!  The sketch is from the Mojo Monday team- MOJO228. 

Supplies include-
Stampin' Up cardstock-Whisper White, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue and Crumb Cake
Stampin' Up ink- Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, Versamark
Stampin' Up stamps- Hello Doily, Elementary Elegance; music notes-unknown
Acessories-Stampin' Up Blossom punch, adhesive pearl, Edgelit dies and embossing folders, Simply Scored, embossing powder, square punch, dimensionals; Cheery Lynn Flourish die, Sizzix snowflake embossing folder






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...AND A LITTLE PINK MOJO...
I revised the above card to fit into my plans for my FIRST workshop at the end of the month.  We will be learning techniques with ink (I know that could potentially cover alot, but we are going over basics).

 I have used ALL Stampin' Up products.  Here is what I used:
Cardstock-Whisper White, Regal Rose, Basic Gray, Patterns Designer Series Paper
Ink-Basic Gray, Regal Rose, Blush Blossom
Accessories-Blossom punch, Edgelit and embossing folder, Square punch, Simply Scored, blender pen, adhesive pearls...

and of course the stamps-Greeting Card Kids, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Thanks for visiting!  Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for your comments!