Purple Tulips

Hi, and welcome to another What If Challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week Wendy has given us a great sketch to work with:

I love sketches; it means I don't have to think about coming up with my own.  : )  As soon as I started with this one, I knew what image and color scheme I wanted to go with, but other than that it came out way different than I had planned.  But definitely in a good way.  I'm totally in love with how it turned out.

I have some gorgeous deep purple (almost black) tulips in my garden in the spring, and that's why I wanted to color these beauties up in purple.  And yellow is the perfect complement to purple.  I used up a piece of cream sheer ribbon from my bits and pieces stash (which makes me happy) and I even used some patterned paper that I've had (literally) forever!  I did some masking on the sentiment to get it to fit on my "banner".
Thanks for stopping by!  Head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the DT has done with this sketch.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "912W Tulip Bouquet" and "1113D Birthday"
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Ovals, large", "Radiant Rectangles" and banner; MFT corner bracket.

Challenges:
Creative Fingers #101--anything goes
Winter Wonderland--something new (the tulip image is brand new, just received it last week)
Aud Sentiments #147--anything goes with a sentiment
Word Art Wednesday #218--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
{Pin}spirational Challenge #157--inspiration photo (I was inspired by that yellow background)

Cards Galore--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow
Crafty Calender--something new (brand new tulip image)
Scrapper's Delights #51--anything goes
Vintage Stamping Challenge #40--anything goes with your new stash (tulip image)
Crafty Cardmakers #156--punches and/or dies
Our Daily Bread Designs--something new and something old
Tuesday Throwdown #278--anything goes
Fantastic Tuesday #121--use some flowers

The Lord has come

So, here's another card that is sort of a result of trying to clean up my work desk.  I have one more of these gorgeous A Day For Daisies images left printed out ready to be used.  I really love this image; it's so sweet, speaks to the true meaning of Christmas and is really easy to color--I used a total of 5 markers.  I used a bunch of fun scraps on this one: the "tag" and bit of twine were in my bits and pieces stash and the burlap ribbon was recycled from a favor I received at a women's retreat this fall.  I had to trim the pearls off from the section that is underneath the circle layer so that everything would lay nicely.  I used some of those left over pearls to decorate the centers of my flowers.  (I feel like a recycling queen!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges:
Hanna & Friends #240--die cuts
Aud Sentiments #147--anything goes
Crafty Ribbons #142--Fabulous flowers
C.R.A.F.T. #347--Christmas
Southern Girls--anything goes
Penny's Challenge #261--cats and/or children
Addicted To Stamps #177--make your mark (ink pads, markers)
Fab n Funky #288--buttons and/or bows (little twine bow on the tag)
Word Art Wednesday #218--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Creative Inspirations #343--anything goes with option of a sketch


Supplies:
Stamps: A Day For Daisies "A Sign I Give"; Verve "Silent Night"
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large" and "Layered Poinsettias"; Verve "Charming Ovals"

Sweet Friends

This card is another result of trying to clean up my desk.  I've had this image for years, and I've had it printed up for nearly as long just waiting to be colored.  She's gorgeous and this little scene is just too adorable.  Also, the bottom two rows of scallops are from a scrap from a paper collection I am trying to use up.  The bow is tied with both a satin black and a sheer black ribbon; the sheer bit was in my bits and pieces stash as was the little banner that the sentiment is stamped on.  Yeay for using scraps!!

I've pretty much forgotten about embossing folders lately, but a couple different challenges reminded me about it.  I'm so glad that did; I love embossing folders.  I embossed the black layer with a snowflake ep and then swiped white ink across the raised parts to highlight them.
 Here's a close up of the sweet image and the glittery snow.  Isn't that little robin the cutest?

Supplies:

Stamps: Whimsy Stamps "Alannah"; Verve "Ornamental Christmas"

Punches/embossing folders: Martha Stewart border punch; SU! scalloped border punch; Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--create with critters
Inspiration Destination #69--anything goes
Penny's Challenges #261--cats and/or children
Inky Impressions #282--all about the borders (2 different border punches)
Addicted to Stamps #177--make your mark (markers and ink)
The Paper Shelter #230--rough it up (I distressed the edges of the red mat behind the image and curled the bottoms of all the scallops)
Fab n Funky #288--buttons and/or bows
Crafting by Designs--winter, glitter, sparkles
Fantastic Tuesday #120--make it girly
Shopping Our Stash #235--3, 2, 1 (3 rows of scallops, 2 stamps {1 digi, 1 clear} and 1 bow)
Simon Says Stamp Monday--Best Friends
Aurora Wings #22--Ice & snow
The Paper Girls #96--Forest Friends
Eureka Stamps #176--Pile it on
Come And Get It--embossing
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps--anything goes (and I used the sketch)

Sweet Stampin--things with wings
Hiding in My Craft Room #234--embossing
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #264--cute or anything goes
Winter Wonderland--glitter & shine
Crimbo Crackers #98--anything goes
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow
Pattie's Creations #118--Fun in the Snow
Card Mania #76--winter fun

Clear winter day

Welcome to another What If Wednesday? from The House That Stamps Built.  This week we have an inspiration photo for you:

Here in Southern New England, this view is what we woke up to Monday morning!  It was our first real snow of the year and the sun came out early and the kids had a great time playing outside most of the morning.  For my card, I was inspired by the colors.  All that white with the bright blue and little pops of dark (I interpreted it as black, but you could definitely use brown) shades in there just really make a stunning color combo.  And here is my card:

I was planning to go a in a different direction, but the blue patterned paper was sitting on my desk from an envelope I had made last week.    And it sort of reminds me of snow falling, so in it went. : )  The black ribbon was in my bits and pieces stash, as was the square focal panel (so I continue my streak of using at least one item from it on every card I've made within the last couple of weeks).  The paper I've had forever!! And the blue rhinestones I recycled from some mosaic projects my girls had.  Don't worry, I didn't take them OFF the projects; they were left overs. : )  I realize I had used these two stamps on every card I've made for the last What If Wednesday challenges.  Partly because they are the only winter themed stamps I have from Repeat Impressions, but mostly because I LOVE this snowflake.  It's so gorgeous!  If you've missed the previous cards, here they are:

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "8912W Snowflake Solid (lg)" and "1141F Christmas"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13"; negative from a polaroid die from Simon Says Stamp

Challenges:

Eureka Stamps #176--pile it on

Sketch Saturday #395--sketch

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #264--cute OR anything goes

Crimbo Crackers #98--anything goes

Holly Jolly--use patterned paper

Through The Purple Haze--anything goes

Clear It Out Challenge--theme: winter, stash: snowflake

Shopping Our Stash #235--3, 2, 1 (3 rhinestones, two stamps, one patterned paper)

A child is born

This card is the result of trying to clean up my craft desk. : )  I have used this sweet image several times in the last couple months, and you will be seeing it a couple more times as I printed out 5 or 6 of the images.  So, the sheet with the images was (hmmm . . . still is) on my desk and the piece of gray card stock was too; left over from a project from last week.

Challenges:
Shopping Our Stash #235--3, 2, 1 (3 gray panels, "stars", 1 image)
Crafty Cardmakers #155--New: baby, house, etc (my card doesn't celebrate a new baby but it is celebrating a baby and babies are always new and I used a brand new die set that I got for Christmas)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #264--cute OR anything goes
Viva La Verve January week 2--sketch

A Day For Daisies #139--stitch it up (the circle stitched die and the top and bottom panels were cut with stitched dies)
Crimbo Crackers #98--anything goes
Emerald Creek Dares--New stuff (dies I got for Christmas)

Supplies:
Stamps: A Day For Daisies "A Sign I give"; Verve "Richly Blessed"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 12"; Spellbinders "Poppy" the yellow 'stars' are part of the flower centers

Right shoes

Hi, everyone!  Welcome to a new challenge from the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog.  It's an all-time favorite: Anything Goes!!  I know everyone loves those.  Our three sponsors are:

Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet

Limited Runs Stamps

Sparkle N Sprinkle

The sponsor I am working with is Sparkle N Sprinkle and I chose this GORGEOUS image to use.  I'm a total shoe girl, so when I saw these slippers and the sentiments that go along with them, I knew I had to use them.  Aren't they stunning?  

I knew I wanted a very soft feminine look to go with them, so I created my own background by die cutting a piece of white card stock with a stitched die.  Then I stamp a musical score background stamp with light gray and added some flourishes in a soft pink.  I used the same pink to sponge around the edges and a little bit of the light gray right on the very edge.  I had the pink doily in my bits and pieces stash and it was the perfect shape for the sketch I used.  When I looked in my flower stash, I came across the pink roses that I didn't even know I had.  Perfect!  I really love how this one turned out.  I hope you will get a chance to play along

Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps--anything goes
Wags N Whiskers #169--anything goes
Fussy & Fancy #135--fashion
As You Like It--Favorite: Paper or non-paper project?  (I also love making jewelry, but haven't made much in a while.  I've been completely caught up in making cards; I just LOVE it.  Cute little bits of art that you can give to others)
Little Miss Muffet #129--anything goes
Fresh Brewed--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #68--anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenges #260--anything goes
Addicted To Stamps #176--anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown #276--Add Dimension
In the Pink #185--anything goes (with lots of pink)
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #217--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Creative Inspirations #342--florals
The Paper Nest Dolls #1--anything goes
Crafting with An Attitude--anything goes
Unicorn Challenge #5--get your glad rags on
Sweet Stamps--anything goes
Viva La Verve January week 1--sketch


Supplies:
Stamps: Sparkle N Sprinkle "Ballet Shoes BW" and "The Right Shoes Saying"; Hero Arts Musical Score background stamp; Clear Dollar Stamps Flourish
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; MFT "Blueprints 13", small doilies, and "Fancy Flourish"

A little bit of spring

Hi!  Today is my day to post a Project of The Week on The House That Stamps Built.  I'm going to show you how to add a plank look to your card.  I wanted a weathered wood look, so I started with a gray piece of card stock that measures 4 in X 5 1/4 in.  You can use whatever color card stock you want and whatever size as long as it is slightly smaller than your card base.  I'm making an A2 sized card and that's why I used the measurements I did.  I used my scor-pal and laid my card stock on it with the long side at the top: 

 I scored at each 1/2 inch mark all along the length of my paper.

 Then I turned my paper a quarter turn so one of the short ends was at the top:  For the next step, you can score at whatever intervals you want, just make sure they are far enough apart so they look like planks.  On my top row, I scored at 1 in and 3 in.  Make sure you only score between the top of your card stock and your first horizontal line.

 In each of the following "planks" you want to stagger the vertical score lines.  My second row was at the 2 in mark.  After the first row, it gets a little tricky to find the grooves, so just go gently until you are sure you are in the groove.  My third row is scored at 1/2 in and 3 1/2 inches.  Continue staggering your score lines until you have scored all the rows.

 Using the direct to paper technique and a tan ink pad (I used Creamy Caramel from SU!), drag your ink pad across the paper in the direction of your planks.  Repeat until you are happy with the look.

 Using the same technique and a white ink pad (I sued white craft ink from SU!), repeat the previous step.

 This step isn't necessary, but I think it adds a bit more interest.  I used a fine point black Sharpie to add two "nails" to each side of the vertical score lines.  And if you think it needs more weathering, keep dragging the ink pads across the paper until you are happy with it.

It's been cold here and we even had snow this week (not much), so I felt like a spring card was in order.  Here's my finished card:

 I used the Out of the Box technique to die cut my branch image and masked my sentiment so I could fit it in the planks.  I was even able to use up an item from my bits and pieces stash: the hot pink zig zag piece.  Yeay!  Here's a close up this gorgeous Repeat Impressions stamp.  I colored the eggs to look like robin eggs complete with little gray speckles.  : )

Thanks for hanging in there!  I hope you'll give this a try.  I created another card with this technique a couple weeks ago.  If you want to see it, you can find it here.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "1703W Bird's Nest Branch" and "9717W Happy Hello"

Dies: Spellbinders "Classic circles, large", "Classic Ovals, large" and "Scalloped Ovals, large"

Challenges:

Tuesday Throwdown #276--Add Dimension

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps--anything goes

Crafting By Designs--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #217--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Creative Inspirations #342--florals

YNS #30--sketch

Cards Galore--anything goes

Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow

Wags N Whiskers #169--anything goes

The Paper Girls #96--forest friends (these little eggs aren't friends yet, but they will be!)