Happy Birthday Deb!!!

Good morning! Today Deb, from Freckle Faced Printworks, is celebrating her birthday so in honor of that we're having a little hop. You should have arrived here from Imke's blog, Crafting Creations by Imke.

I was originally going to do something grungy because Deb is the "Queen of Grunge", but finally I thought, "Who am I kidding?" and decided the only thing I could do is what I do.... Know what I mean? As much as I like the grunge cards, I just can't seem to pull them off....

One of the first swaps I was in with Deb was a Stampendous swap, so I thought Changito was a safe bet. I also know her favorite color is green, so that's how I came up with my plan. I think this little Changito stamper is so darn cute and knew that one of my hoarded embellies would be perfect for this card. The little stamp embellie is from Hero Arts and I bought it years ago. Actually I was afraid to try to stamp on them in case I would mess is up and ruin it! It was much easier than I thought; I just used Memento ink and stamped away! I used Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #91; I used it earlier this week, but I thought it was such a fun sketch I would use it again.

Image: Stampendous
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Sakura Black Gel Pen
Paper: PTI Stamper's Select and Dark Chocolate, SU! Pear Pizazz, Basic Grey Origins
Embellie: Hero Arts Stamp
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Spellbinceder's Nestabilities, EK Success 3D Dots

Thanks for stopping by today; I hope you will hop along with us and wish Deb a Happy Birthday. Deb, here's to you, I hope you are having a fabulous day! Next stop along the hop is Kelly from Wishin' I was stampin'.

Angela

Cupcake Anyone?

Good Monday morning! How did Monday get here so fast? Today I have a card to share using one of The Cat's Pajamas new release stamps " Coffee, Tea, or Meow?" I like that some of the newer stamps are a bit bigger...this one was perfect for paper piecing. I combined The Cat's Pajama's Tuesday Supply Challenge "Mad for Plaid" with Mercy's sketch "MTSC91"

The basic card came together quickly, but I had a bit of difficulty embellishing this one. I had first planned to used crystals for Sprinkle's eyes and necklace, but they were too big.... Then the flower I wanted to embellish it with wasn't right either.... Next I thought I would use one of my cup/saucer charms.... Oops, I guess I used all of those up for a swap! I settled on some ribbon and a simple bow. Maybe that's all it needs; there is plenty going on with the plaid and the scallops....

Image: The Cat's Pajamas "Coffee, Tea, or Meow?"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Black Sharpie
Paper: PTI Stamper's Select and Dark Chocolate, SU! Pixie Pink, Doodlebug DP
Embellie: SU! Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Spellbinder's Nestabilities, EK Success 3D Dots

Have you decided which cupcake you would like? I call the one with the cherry on top!

Thanks for stopping by today; I hope your day is a good one!

Angela

Tiddly Inks "Happy Birthday" Challenge

Hello! I'm back! I have been out of commission this past week; I was first hit with an extreme case of vertigo which triggered the mother of all migraines. I feel like I have lost a week.... I am just thankful the headache is now managable and I am up walking on two feet; I am also thankful to my DH and my Dr. for taking such good care of me. Even the kitties were concerned; funny how animals seem to know when something isn't right....

Today I have a birthday card for this week's Tiddly Inks challenge. We were to make a card or an invite. Since I have a 12 year old daughter, I thought this might be handy for the stash. I used the digital image "Happy Bugg", and I kept the card simple to focus on her cuteness! She's colored with pencils and doused in glitter. I used Martha Stewart's Crystal Fine for the frosting; it has the look of sugar. Art Glitter was applied to her wings, which are super sparkly. Her eyes are dotted with a black gel pen. I used my favorite birthday go-to DP...the numbers collage from American Crafts. The card is finished off with some PTI baker's twine and a candle. DD has given it her stamp of approval...whew!

I used Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #90...she really has some awesome sketches. Check them out!

Image: Tiddly Inks Digital Image "Happy Bugg"
Ink: SU! Black Marker, Sakura Black Gel Pen
Paper: G.P. 110, PTI Sweet Blush and Dark Chocolate, American Crafts DP
Embellies: Art Glitter in "Angel Dust", Martha Stewart Crystal Fine Glitter, PTI Dark Chocolate Baker's Twine, Cake Mate Candle
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Spellbinder's Nestabilities, EK Success 3D Dots

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you are enjoying this beautiful fall weekend!

Angela

Bellarific Friday: No One Else Can Fill Your Shoes

Good morning and happy Friday! Our challenge this week for Bellarific Friday was to make a "Mom" themed card. Well, my mother's favorite color is purple and she loves bling, so I incorporated them into my card.

I loved Mercy's Tuesday sketch so much, I used it again! It's a fun and simple layout. Bella is colored with pencils; I tried to pull colors from the DP to color the shoe boxes. I used a QuicKutz die for the swirls and added Swarovski crystals in "amethyst". I finished it off with a bit of PTI twill.

Image/Sentiment: Stamping Bella

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette Burnt Umber

Paper: G.P. 110, SU! Perfect Plum, PTI Dark Chocolate, Basic Grey "Kioshi" DP

Embellies: QuicKutz "Flourish" Die, Swarovski Flatback Crystals in "Amethyst", PTI Dark Chocolate Twill

Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Foam Tape

Tips and Tricks:

I love Basic Grey DP. I think the distressing around the edges really adds a lot, but when I cut a small piece for a card, I'm left with some non-distressed edges. I don't know why, but this bothers me.... Yep, goofy I know! To remedy this I took a little tool I found long ago, at a LSS. I'm not sure what it's called, but you can get a stippled effect with it. First I took my Burnt Umber ink pad and applied it directly to the edges of the paper, leaving a few streaks and smears. Next a took my little stipple tool and just dabbed at the edges to mimic the paper's distressing. Basically I just "dirty" the edges a bit. See second photo.

Head on over to Blogabella to see all the other "Mom" creations. I am always amazed at the beautiful cards....

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a great day!

Angela

I Just Love Changito!!!

Hello, and happy hump day.... We are halfway to the weekend!

Today I have a Changito card to share; I love the little guy and havn't played much with him lately.... I chose this image because it is so springy. I can't wait to see the flowers bloom; we have wild violets all over and they sure are beautiful, but our irises are a bit slow this year. Yesterday I glanced over at my neighbor's yard and she has beautiful tulips in full bloom. She has the prettiest little brick house and gorgeous gardens, so it is a delight to look out my kitchen window.

Anyway, back to the card.... I used Mercy's Tuesday sketch. Changito is colored with pencils, and I used a white gel pen to add a few dots to the center of the red flower so it would mimic the DP. I also adhered a strip of the saffron CS underneath the twill on the right side because you could see through it.

Image: Stampendous
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: G.P. 110, SU! So Saffron and Ruby Red, The Paper Studio DP
Embellie: SU! So Saffron Twill
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Signo White Gel Pen, Foam Tape

Thanks for stopping by today; I hope you get a chance to take in the signs of spring all around you!

Angela

Just Bee-cuzzz

Good Sunday morning!

Janet issued the challenge of paper piercing this week on The Corrosive Challenge Blog I love to paper pierce! I have a couple of different tools that I use; the first is a metal template from Lasting Impressions and the second is Tim Holtz's piercing ruler. I used the ruler for this card; I love that it is clear so I can visualize my project better. It also has a very fine grid that makes lining things up very easy.

I used Mercy's sketch; I really thought it was a fun one and I plan to use it again! I also used a new digi image from Pink Cat Studio; I just love the whimsey of Melissa's characters.... Isn't this little Lily just darling? Don't you just love her beehive hairdo? LOL It's so perfect for a little bee!

Image: Pink Cat Studio Digi

Paper: PTI Stamper's Select, Lemon Tart and Dark Chocolate, Heidi Grace DP

Embellie: Barbara Trombley's Art Glitter (wings), Doodlebug Glitter (brown)

Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Sakura Black Glaze Pen, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Tim Holtz Piercing Ruler, Foam Tape

I borrowed a trick from my friend Larissa, and dotted Lily's eyes with a black glaze pen. I also used glitter liberally; Lily really sparkles! Actually glitter is the only embellie I used on this card...I'm not really sure where I would put ribbon or brads.... Have you ever done that? Made a card without ribbon, brads, flowers, etc.? I feel like it "works" for this card....

I hope to try this layout again with butterfly Lily and ladybug Lily. If only there were more time in the day!

I hope you have time to stop by and check out the other DT's cards today; check my sidebar for links to their blogs. Maybe you can even play along!

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your Sunday!

Angela