Grunge Birthday Card

I've got a different card today for you. I loved this color combo I used for a previous challenge this month and I wanted to use it again for another card. I always am needing more manly cards for the men in my life who have birthdays. They're tough to please! :) So, here's a card I came up with.

 I used a mask I had and pulled out different spray mists. I used black, white, and the Fireworks Spray in Desert Sand. Once it dried on the paper, which is pretty quick (the Fireworks takes a bit longer), I pulled off the mask carefully. I just simply use painters tape and tape down to my work mat. Then I decided to flick on some black spray here and there. I just love the way it looks. More grunge-like!! Grunge=manly, right??

I diecut a circle out of the mustard patterned paper and used some foam adhesive squares to pop it up off the card. I then took some metallic inks and dabbed them onto my stamp. The happy birthday sentiment is from the Crafter's Companion Sentimentals, Imagine set. After that dried, I used some Distress Ink, Tea Dye around the edges to give it some definition. I then used the same foam adhesive squares to pop that up off the mustard circle.

I went around the card and added some black, mustard, grey and gold star sequins for a little fun element. Hope you enjoyed it! Check out all the awesome products available at Crafter's Companion today!

Lawnscapings Challenge No. 76 - Dust 'em Off

 

Good morning! I am excited to say I'm guest designing for Lawnscapings today. I was thrilled at the opportunity to take the challenge. :) So, the challenge this week is "Dust 'em Off" and I did just that. The challenge is sponsored by Lawn Fawn.

It said to use an unloved stamp/product, so I went with product since I regularly use my Lawn Fawn stamps. I chose to use embossing powder/heat gun as my challenge. I honestly haven't used them in YEARS. Needless to say, they're very neglected. And now I'm wondering what took me so long...I forgot how fun these two items are. On to my card.

I wanted to do something fun with the recent set I finally purchased by Lawn Fawn, Winter Owl. I have a thing for owls. So I went to work creating this fun card to just say hello to someone. 

For the base, I used a simple white card stock, scored and folded like normal. I make all my cards a folded 4.25x5.5 size. Then I grabbed my trusty kraft card stock and cut it to 4x5.25 and rounded the corners. I then laid my Hero Arts Tweed Pattern stencil down on my workspace (I placed a paper towel underneath so it wasn't as messy, but you could use a scrap piece of paper as well) and taped it down. I then took another unloved product-Versamark! I just covered the stencil with the Versamark and when finished, I peeled up the stencil and then sprinkled my clear embossing powder all over it generously. I heat set it with my heat gun and I have this fab background. 

For some fun, I took my new Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Peach and opened up the bottle. I unscrewed the top and dabbed a bit on a piece of paper towel and swirled it on the background in a few spots. The nice thing about doing this is that it will only appear on the card stock not embossed. It's awesome. I then flicked some of the Color Shine on there as well. Set it aside and let dry. Orrrr, you can take your heat gun and speed things along. I *might* have done that.

For the clouds, I took the two clouds from the Lawn Fawn, Into the Woods set and inked them up on my block with Memento Summer Sky and Nautical Blue. I stamped them onto a scrap piece of patterned paper in my stash. I fussy cut around some of them and stuck them down with foam adhesive. 

The hello bubble is also from the Lawn Fawn, Into the Woods set. I stamped that with the Versamark and used black embossing powder and heat set it. Once dried, I cut around it leaving just a thin border. I also stamped that on the patterned paper from my stash. That was also stuck down with foam adhesive.

For the branch, I used that from Lawn Fawn's Winter Sparrows set. I then stamped the owl from Lawn Fawn, Winter Owl on top of the branch. I used the card stock from Crafter's Companion for this because I planned to color it in. Beautiful for coloring your stamped images. I then colored her in with Spectrum Noir markers. 

I also always forget to paper piece (see how many things I did and used that I haven't?? How fun!) and I wanted a fun scarf for my owl, so I used some pretty floral patterned paper and paper pieces that on. I did use one of my Spectrum Noir grey markers and blender to add a little shadow on the scarf. It's hard to see in the photo, but it's there in person. Adds just a little depth. Fussy cut around all of that, stuck them on with foam adhesive and I'm done. 

Hopefully you can see the background and how it
looks shiny because I embossed it!

I had a blast playing around with unloved and forgotten supplies! I encourage you to find something in your crafty closet that needs a little lovin' and make a project to enter in this challenge. I can't wait to emboss some more really soon. Thanks for stopping by!

..................................................................................................................................................................

P.S. For those that like to see how cards are photographed, here's my simple set up. I open my blinds behind my kitchen table, set up my heavyweight cardboard white background. When I worked at my previous job as a graphic designer, these large cardboard sheets would come in our boxes of printing plates. I took several home and that's all this is! Trash to backdrop. I have a small black wooden easel my cards sit on. When I'm not using it for that, a Greek plate sits on it on our china cabinet! Then I open my reflector on the left to the silver side facing the project and snap away. I take my photos with my Canon 5DMKII and my 50mm f1.4 lens. A simple set up you can do yourself! A little secret-I have actually taken these same type of images with my iPhone! ;) Get creative with items around your house! You can make your own reflector as well covering a piece of cardboard with aluminum foil.

I Heart Art

From a very early age, I was creative. And I'm thrilled that both my kids are creative as well! Makes an artists heart happy. So today, I've got a beautifully simple card with one of my favorite sentiments from none other than Picasso.

The sentiment is from the Stamp-It Australia, Time to Dream set. What I did was just stamp it simply in black ink on white card stock and punched it out in a circle shape. I took my Spectrum Noir marker (GB3) and colored the circle in to resemble a sun. I then took my reinker in the blending solution and I dropped a puddle in the center of the sun and let it soak up a little and then I just used my finger to spread that around in a circle. It make the sun come to life. After that dried, I then took my Fireworks Spray in Desert Sand (see the close up photo to see the sheen it leaves behind) and spritzed that onto the center, let it dry a little and spread it around again to blend it in. I love the way this turned out.

Now, the clouds were super fun. I took a coffee filter and just colored in long stripes in no particular pattern with the broad side of my Spectrum Noir markers (DR3, HB1, BT7, PL4, BP4, OR1, JG1, GT3, CG3, FL3). Here's another place the reinker in the blending solution from Spectrum Noir comes in handy. I laid my coffee filter out on a paper towel to soak up the remaining solution that would seep through. I then just put a heavy amount of the blending solution all over the coffee filter. And since they are the cone shaped ones, I had just cut off the edges and laid it flat. So this way, once the solution was soaking in, I folded the filter back in half, pressing it together with another paper towel. This really helped to get the colors all blended together. I did have to set it aside to dry before moving on. But this was so much fun.

I have these little cloud dies that I cut out a bunch of clouds from the filter. I LOVED the way this came out. You could make flowers, circles, squares, doilies, snowflakes, or simply ovals for Easter eggs would be gorgeous. Hmm. Maybe that might be something to do once Easter rolls around. :)

I took a simple white card base and a woven light blue card stock with the corners rounded. Then I made my little scene. I let the sun fall off the edges and trimmed off the excess. Then I started layering the clouds to the left. It looks like the sun is peeking out from behind these colorful clouds.

I hope you have some fun with your Spectrum Noir markers in a different way!! Experiment :)

Every child is an artist.

The problem is how to remain

an artist once we grow up.

-Pablo Picasso

S'More Love

Happy Valentine's Day!! I thought I'd share a cute pic of my kiddos for Valentine's Day. I have used these cards and mailed them to loved ones and friends to brighten their day.

Now, on to the crafty part. I made these adorable little jars with my friend, Betsy, while our kids played together. She found this idea on Pinterest! She brought over the little mason jars, and we made these together! You can find it here as well! LOVE me a Pinterest project!!!! You can find me on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/roxanne_lynn.

In my mini mason jars, I used a layer of Teddy Grahams, M&M's, and marshmallows.

For the pink tags, I freehand cut the bottoms and used Lawn Fawn, Milo's ABCs set for the saying. I stamped them with Memento Luxe, Grey Flannel and the heart is from the Lawn Fawn, Woodgrain Backdrops. The colored portion of the heart I stamped with Memento, Rose Bud. The hearts are actually the center of some heart doilies. I just used VersaMagic, Cloud White ink for those. I stuck the white heart doilies on first with some tiny glue dots to hold into place and then once I had the twine tied around the lid (which was not easy for me!), I used a bullnose clip and clipped on the pink pennant.

For the lid, I used a scalloped punch and some patterned paper. The lettering was done with Sweet Stamp Shop, Monogram Alpha. Just a glue dot in the center holds them in place.

Shabby Chic Birthday Wishes

Hey there! I have a really pretty layered card here. I normally don't do shabby chic, but I really love the elements I pulled together. Plus, it sparkles, so what's not to love?!

I used a stamp set that came free with the Crafter's Companion magazine from Crafter's Inspiration 2 (no longer available). You can get the same dahlia image from the full set of Sheena's A Little Bit Floral. The sentiment was also from the freebie stamp set included with the magazine. You can find the latest issue of the magazine here! There are different stamps, but still super fun items to receive!

You can see the sparkle from the
Spray & Sparkle Varnish!

I used a simple white card stock base. Funny how I came up with the color combination...the grey card stock was lying in my crafty pile with the polka dotted and damask paper and I thought what a great color combo! I stamped the dahlias onto the Crafter's Companion Ultra Smooth Premium Cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black. I colored in my dahlia's with my Spectrum Noir (TN1, TN2, TN2, GB5, GB7, GB9, GB1, GB2, GB4, BGR4, Blender). I then sprayed them with the Spray & Sparkle Glitter Varnish, Iridescent and let them dry. Then I fussy cut them out.

For the sentiment, I took the Memento Tuxedo Black again and stamped it onto a small piece of kraft I die cut out in a little banner shape. I took a small gem and stuck on the end for interest. 

For the pennants, I just freehand cut them. This is a superb way to use up your stash of pretty papers. I just pulled out pieces that went together. I glued all that down to my base and started with the lace bow. I had a small piece that was PERFECT for this card and color combo! 

For the center, I used a chipboard button I had in my stash and colored it in with BGR4. I added the Spray & Sparkle Glitter Varnish in Iridescent to that as well. Then I came back and applied Distress Ink in Tea Dye around the edge to make it more shabby. I took simple jute and looped through the button holes and tied a simple bow. I glued that down to the center of the lace bow. Then I tucked in the dahlias I cut out and the sentiment until it looked like I wanted. 

I did get the idea for the layout from a card I had pinned on Pinterest. I highly recommend going to your Pinterest boards when you need a fresh perspective!! 

Lawnscaping Challenge 75: Dots and Hearts

Hi there! I'm a roll!!

Today I am entering a cute card into the current Lawnscaping Challenge, which is Dots and Hearts. How perfect for the month of love :)

Here's my take on the challenge. I used Lawn Fawn Winter Owl (for the hearts) and stamped that into the circles of my panel which is Centura Pearl card stock. I used my Sizzix polka dots embossing folder. And I actually guess I used the debossed side of the dots. I like that they indent IN instead of OUT. :D Call me different! I then made a little pattern with 4 dots rotating one of the hearts from the Winter Owl set. I just used my Stampin' Up red ink pad. I then adhered that to my kraft base.

I took a red heart doily that I had on hand and glued that down on an angle. I got my new dies I've been anxious to try for this project. They're from MFT and this is Cameras 2. I chose the Instagram die. I added some black paper accents and a little heart from the die set and popped that up inside the camera lens. And since it was Instagram, I used the #LOVE using Lawn Fawn Milo's ABCs set in Memento, Tuxedo Black.

There you go! You can view the challenge deets HERE. Be sure to also check out everything over at Lawnscapings blog. You'll love it there!

BE Inspired Challenge #47

Hi there! I wanted to enter into the TAWS Challenge today because I LOVE this color combo! Here's the challenge photo:

How awesome is grey, black, yellow and mustard?! LOVE it. So, here's my take on the card.

I used an embossing folder with a chevron style pattern on a dark grey cardstock. I then used a pretty strip of scrap paper I had in my stash to pull the yellow in. I also used half a doily because it's just pretty!! For the image of the pregnant woman which is from the TAWS Cover-Ups set. I colored a little wood veneer speech bubble in with one of my Spectrum Noir markers (GB6) and stamped the image onto the bubble with Memento, Tuxedo Black. I then colored in the little heart in her belly with my DR2 Spectrum Noir marker. I tied a simple double bow with grey and white twine. To bring in more black, I used 3 black sequins in a triangle type pattern to keep your eye moving around the card.

I loved this color combo and I had fun playing along. You can go HERE to see the challenge details! Check out The Alley Way Stamps site as well. They've got so many adorable sets to play with. 

The Best Love Story...

Happy Saturday! I have a really adorable card for you today for Valentine's Day. This is perfectly simple and sweet for your love! The saying from the Bebunni Love, Perfect Couple set just got me. I love it. I paired it up with the little furry couple from that set as well. I LOVE Bebunni!!!! Check out all the Bebunni sets at Crafter's Companion.

 

I colored them in with my Spectrum Noir markers (PP1, PP3, PP5, CR8, CR11, TN1, TN2, TN3, FS6, EB6, GB1, GB2, GB3, GB10, IG1, EB1, EB2, EB3, FS4, DR2, DR6, HB1, HB2, Blender). I also colored in the hearts in the actual sentiment for added cuteness. I then took a glitter pen I have and used that to color in the hearts to give some sparkle. I took the photo below on an angle to show you that. Glitter and sparkle is hard to capture! But I assure you, it's there!

I actually free-formed the tag shape you're seeing. I used a cereal bowl to trace around the top for the curved shape and for the bottom of the tag, I just eyeballed it. I wanted to add a little color to the tag, but not too much because I didn't want it to detract from the colored image. I took a small piece of scrap card stock at the bottom, glued it to the front and just cut the edges. Super easy look. :)

I used a khaki and white twine at the top of the tag where I punched a hole and threaded it through. I popped it up on on a simple patterned paper on a white card stock base. I hope you love it as much as I loved making it. Yup. This one's for hubby! Happy crafting!