Curtain Call: Sunflower Surprise

Hi there! I'm taking a break from cleaning and sharing a card with you for Curtain Call Challenge: Sunflower Surprise. Curtain Call Challenge was my first ever design team! I remember being soooo excited when Stacy asked me to join. I had only started card making then so I was a bit nervous as well. But my team members were all so great that it was absolutely wonderful to be a part of the team. I had wanted to join since their very first challenge, but I've been busy. So finally, here I am! 

Here's the inspiration photo. And here's my card. I combined a lot of stamp sets from 5 stamp companies! YES! 5! I wonder if you can tell which ones. lol.

I stamped this lush background and added shading with a brush and some ink pads. I just had an acrylic block where I pressed my ink pad and another where I had water. Then I used a small brush to make the shaded areas of the leaves and flowers. What do you think?

 After the background dried, I added my sunflowers using foam tape. My cards have become less layered than before. But a lot of times, I still can't stand it being flat (one layered), so I always try to add an element with foam tape.

There you go! I'm so glad for card challenges! If you haven't read my posts lately, I've been in a creative slump lately. Sadly, I've been watching more tv than spending time on my craft table. This wonderful challenge brought me out of my slump! I had a lot of fun with it! Thanks for stopping by today! I'll see you again soon! 

Oooh! Before I forget! I have a new tutorial over at A Cherry On Top. Check it out over here. It's a tutorial on how I made those beautiful Perfect Pearls vellum feathers. 

Waltzingmouse Stamps September Release Blog Hop

***This is my second post for the day. Please scroll down for my CASE Study Challenge post.***

You made it! It's the Waltzingmouse Stamps September Release Blog Hop! Welcome! I hope you found your way here from Jeanne's blog. If not, head on over to the WMS blog and start there.

Since we've spent the past two days showcasing Halloween cards, I thought I would make a card using Art Deco and Putting on the Ritz. I have to tell you, I can't stop using gold embossing on this!!! lol!

I made a little patterned background, using these diamond images. One is stamped straight onto the cardstock. While the other I heat embossed, hand cut and adhered onto the cardstock. I wanted to add dimension to it aside from the embossing itself.

I had so much fun with these. I hope we've given you a lot of inspiration these past few days. Now remember, you have to leave a comment on each of the blog hop's participants in order to win a prize. You have until 6:59am on September 22 to leave a comment. If you're all done here, head on over to Karin's blog for more inspiration! I hope you had a lot of fun! Thanks for stopping by today!

Waltzingmouse Stamps September Release Previews - Day 3

Hello again. Welcome back to Day 3 of the Waltzingmouse Stamps September Release Previews. We have two more stamp sets to preview before the big Blog Hop. Today, we're featuring Spooky Tree and Vintage Witch. 

For my first card, I used Spooky Tree to make my background. Isn't this background stamp amazing?! Absolutely spooky!

I stamped my sentiment on a Vintage Labels No. 18 and adhered it onto my card with some foam tape and twine. Then I decorated my card with the spooky crow from All Hallow's Eve. 

For me second card, I stamped the image of the witch and placed it inside a black frame. I made the background paper with Heirloom Patterns. I used distress inks to color it in.

For the sentiment, I just stamped it and fussy cut it. Then I inked the edges with more distress ink.

Tomorrow is the DT Blog Hop. Make sure you come back for more inspiration as well as a chance to win some prizes! Thank you for stopping by today! If you haven't yet, head on over to the other DT girls' blogs, you can find the complete list of participants in the WMS blog. See you tomorrow!

Waltzingmouse Stamps September Release Previews - Day 2

Hello! Welcome back! It's day 2 of the Waltzingmouse Stamps September Release Previews. October is just around the corner, so for those of you who celebrate this fun and candy filled day, we're featuring Halloween stamp sets: All Hallow's Eve, The Count and Splat That.

For my first card, I used All Hallow's Eve and Splat That. All Hallow's Eve is a vintage Halloween stamp set. So for those of you who love vintage style, this is for you. If not, it's versatile enough to be used in other styles. Just like what I did here.

I made a little background patterned cardstock using Splat That. Then I added a strip of kraft cardstock and stamped my favorite image from Hocus Pocus on it.

For my second card, I made a little Halloween scene. I used All Hallow's Eve and The Count for this, as well as Hocus Pocus.

I love how the black pops off the white cardstock. I heat embossed the sentiment in silver and added a strip of kraft above it with the All Hallow's Eve stamping on it.

There you go! It's a break from all the cutesy Halloween cards we always see. It would be perfect for your next adult Halloween party! :) Thanks for stopping by today. Make sure you head on over to the other DT ladies for more inspiration. Start at the WMS blog to see the full list of participants.

Waltzingmouse Stamps September Release Previews - Day 1

Hello there folks! It's finally that time again. Welcome to the Waltzingmouse Stamps September Release Previews - Day 1. Today we're featuring three stamp sets, Art Deco, Putting on the Ritz, and Opera Tags Christmas.

For my first card, I used Art Deco and Putting on the Ritz. These sets remind me so much of The Great Gatsby. Gold and glamour, and this is what I came up with.

I used Perfect Pearls and gold embossing powder to make a little "skirt" for my card. 

I decorated it with some feathers I stamped on vellum. I made a tutorial for this and will share it in a few days. I actually made it before I made this card. lol. 

***Update: You can find my tutorial here.***

For my second card, I used the same background pattern and decorated it with this from Opera Tags Christmas. I thought this would be great as a thank you card for a bridal shower. :)

 That's it for me! Thanks for stopping by today. Make sure to stop by again tomorrow for more inspiration.

The Shabby Tea Room - Week 180

Hi there! It's going to be a bit busy around here again. I have a release feature and some challenges for this week. So let's start with a challenge! It's Monday again, and time for another The Shabby Tea Room Challenge. 

If you've only joined me today, I've been guest designing for TSTR this month of August. Here's our inspiration photo for this week. The challenge is to use the colors in the inspiration photo as well as to use fabric flowers in your project.

Here's my interpretation of the inspiration photo. If you look closely at the photo it looks like the dress actually has small pinstripes on it. So I made a pinstripe background for my card as well using my pinstripe background stamp from WMS. And instead of having lace, I heat embossed a clock face from Hands of Time on my background paper. 

I wanted a vine that looks like it was crawling on top of the clock face so I took my Harvest Berries, die cut it, stamped it and adhered it with foam tape over the background panel. The vine was a perfect place to position my silk flowers.

And I absolutely love this cute little fox from Hello Foxy. It was a perfect addition to my little card. The sentiments from Bigger Blooms are some of my favorites, so of course I had to add it here. 

There you go! My card for The Shabby Tea Room - Week 180. I hope you enjoyed it. Please join us for a little inky fun over at The Shabby Tea Room! See you there! :)

Waltzingmouse Stamps August Release Blog Hop

Welcome back! You made it to the last day of the Waltzingmouse Stamps August Release! Today, we're doing one last round with a Blog Hop and a prize to be given away to a lucky winner who comments on all the blog participants. You have until August 12 at 11:59 PM (GMT), 5:5 9AM Central, 3:59 AM Pacific and 6:59 AM Eastern to leave comments.

Let's begin! If you just came from Jen's blog then you're right where you should be. If not, head on over to the Waltzingmouse Stamps blog and start from the top. Remember, comment on all the blog participants for a chance to win the prize!!!

For my project today, I made a Save the Date/Wedding Announcement card with a matching Thank You card. It's simple and quite easy to make in bulk. 

This is for a beach themed wedding. I started by stamping the Pinstripe Background stamp in aqua mist. Then I heat embossed the seahorses and sentiment from Ocean Bound in gold. That's it! Didn't I tell you it was easy?! For sure you can make these in bulk for an actual wedding! :)

I lined the envelope with aqua mist cardstock. But for an actual set, you will need to use a lighter paper than cardstock. Doesn't it look beachy?! :) I'm waiting for my youngest sister to get married and I'm super excited in helping with the preparations. She's always wanted either a garden or beach wedding. So when I saw Ocean Bound, I knew I had to try to make something for a wedding. heehee. :)

That's it for me! If you're all done here, you can head on over to Karin's blog for more inspiration! Don't forget to leave those comments for a chance at the prize!!! Thank you for stopping by today! I'll see you again soon!

Waltzingmouse Stamps August 2013 Release Previews - Day 3

Welcome back! It's Day 3 of the Waltzingmouse Stamps August Release Previews. Have you been enjoying the release so far? Well, it's not over yet! We have more samples prepared for you this week! We have another three stamp sets to preview today before the Blog Hop on Saturday. We have Another Big Day, Pinstripe Background and Zigzag Background.

Before we begin, I'm really hoping that the pictures came out ok. It was so gloomy when I took these pictures. The sun just didn't want to cooperate with me. lol. Anyway, my first project for today is another nautical card. The Pinstripe Background is so perfect for this set! You've seen me use this is my previous projects. I just love it!

I used Ocean Bounds for most of my card. I made a background pattern with the life savers which I colored in with some light Copic colors.

 I also heat embossed the sentiment using a dark gold/ bronze embossing powder. I thought it went quite well with the colors of my card.

And as much as I love making backgrounds, I'm so happy to finally have a chevron background I can stamp once.

The sentiment and lovely frame are from Another Big Day. I surrounded it with flowers from Two Step Sprig.

That's it for me today! I hope you were inspired by my creations today! Come back again tomorrow for the Blog Hop! And don't forget to check out the other WMS DT ladies! Thanks for stopping by today! See you again tomorrow! :)

Waltzingmouse Stamps August 2013 Release Previews - Day 2

We're switching things up today. Welcome to Waltzingmouse Stamps Release Previews - Day 2! Today, we're previewing three floral stamp sets: Two Step Sprig, Funky Flowers, and Simple Sprig.

I've been seeing a lot of floral cards on Pinterest lately. They've been such an inspiration. I was at the big Paper Source store in Manhattan last weekend. And I saw this color combination on one of their cards. When I saw it I knew I wanted to make a card with it. So here it is!

 I used Funky Flowers for this one. I also used some of the leaf veins from Two Step Sprig. The sentiment is part of a new set being released as well. But we'll get to that tomorrow! :) The two toned flowers were made by inking the edges of the stamp a darker color than the base color. I also used my watercolor pencils to outline the centers of the flowers. 

Have you used the new Wink of Stella Brushes?! They are gorgeous!!! I don't know if you can see it, but the centers of my flowers are all glittery!!! :)

 For my second card, I used Two Step Sprig. Again, the background and sentiment will be previewed tomorrow! Can't wait for you to see my projects then!!!

This flower set is absolutely gorgeous!!! I know that two step stamping is all the rave these days. So I'm sure you're all going to LOVE this!!!!

 Ok. Last one for today. This one was made with Simple Sprig. It's a lovely mini floral stamp set! 

Claire wanted a floral set that was fast and easy to use. And if you're planning on making a whole bunch of these, as a gift set maybe, then this is the set for you! I just stamped these flowers and then die cut them using my circle dies. If I had circle punches of the same size it would have been even faster!  Isn't this set adorable?! :)

There you go! Let me know which set you liked the most ok? I would really love to know!!! ;) If you're all done here, head on over to the Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog as well as the other DT ladies' blogs for more inspiration! Thank you so much for stopping by today! I'll have more for you tomorrow. So make sure to come back!!! See you then! :)