Shakin' it up for Dia de los Muertos

I so fun much making a shaker card with these cute stamps, that I had to try it again with this lovely sketch from Addicted to Stamps.

I'm also entering this into the Halloween challenge at Drunken Stampers.

Inspiration:
Addicted to Stamps Challenge #14: Sketch

Drunken Stampers Challenge #76: Halloween

Stamps: Studio g, Queremos Pastel set from Dilo En Español

Paper: Recollections, Core'dinations

Tools: Fiskars papercutter & deckle scissors, stamp block, MS detailing scissors, Marvy heat tool, awl, Cricut, SCAL, Sizzix Texture Boutique & embossing plate

Other: ZipDry glue, Recollections adhesive rhinestones & micro beads, Versamark inks, Copics, Sakura & Elmer's gel pens, Studio g ribbon, Shake It set from Impression Obsession, Stampendous, Recollections & Speedy the Cat (from Mark's Finest Papers) embossing powders, flowers from Sandra

An old-fashioned Family affair

So the other day I was yapping at my doctor and I mentioned the craftosphere and how I follow & am followed by like-minded crafters around the world. He looked at me, like he so often does, like I was some kind of wild hippie with a glue gun & a dream. I do respect him greatly, but it struck me how small we tend to make our personal world, for better or worse; Granted he has a good 40 years on me, but you'd think he'd be a little less surprised that technology has led to the simplest of conclusions: we're all pretty much the same. Culture and location have never really limited those of us who love to decorate our world.

That unnecessarily long introduction is just to say that I had tons of fun with the Technology Sucks challenge at Drunken Stampers. I'm also really loving seeing others' takes on the challenge. Normally, I would have used my Cricut to at least cut templates, but it was really fun to do it the old fashioned way: with my many, many tools.

After choosing the lovely combo of Kraft, Cherry Cobbler, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango + White from colourQ, I started by stamping and coloring the daffodil-and-tulip stamp for the inside; I still can't believe I paper pieced those little pieces! But I really like the resulting subtle texture.

For the flower border on the front, I stamped it three times: in cherry, orange & green. I made one-inch templates for the square and circle and did my best to line them to match the lovely CPS sketch. Then I made bottom layers, using the same inks.

When I had completed the border element, I showed it to my husband, who really loved it but wondered it we could add some color with fun flock (or embossing, but I didn't want to use my electric heat tool for this project). I've had great luck using ZIG 2-way glue to adhere flocking, so I was all over that suggestion. They come in different sizes, so I used the medium chisel for the flowers, and the fine point to trace the stamped sentiment.

Oh, and I decided to use watermark ink to create a shadow for the sentiment, because why not add one more thing?!

Speaking of "one more thing", I didn't want to edge the pieces (it just wasn't the look I wanted), so I used my ball-point embossing tool to create a raised border on the front and inside Kraft pieces. It's a bit difficult to see in the photos, but it adds more subtle texture.

So this is how we spent this Springy Sunday morning, crafting as a family!
Inspiration:
Card Positioning Systems #214: Sketch
Drunken Stampers challenge #63: Technology Sucks / no electric tools
colourQ #80: Kraft, Cherry Cobbler, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango + White

Supplies: Memento, ColorBox and CraftSmart inks, Versamark watermark ink, Copic markers, MS detailing scissors, Fiskars papercutter and finger knife, ruler, Offray ribbon, ZipDry, ZIG and Tacky glues, embossing tool, Hammermill and Recollections cardstocks, pop-dots

Sponge worthiness and other worries

Last night, as I was putting off making dinner, I ran across this fun challenge at Handmade with Love: "Create a project using any stamping technique that you fear or haven't tried yet. It could be as easy as just stamping, if you are really afraid of it till now." To be honest, I'm pretty fearful of stamping in general. Stamping seems like a true art to me, a hailing to classic arts and crafts like Batik and Kings' Seals. Although I possess the kind of personality that leads me to boldly stamp away, I still haven't lost that pang of fear every time I hover a wet stamp over the paper: Eek what in the heck am I doing‽

In the spirit of this challenge, I thought I'd try the Retiform/Grid Technique. That makes me really nervous. Not only does it require precision stamping, it includes sponging and more precision stamping. I decided that I had to try this when I also saw the Are You Sponge Worthy? challenge at Drunken Stampers.

Well, I'm glad I met my fears: I'm so tickled with how this turned out. In fact, I can't wait to try it again! Now! If you go to the tutorial, you'll see that I copied it almost exactly (I took classic colors to mean primary), but now I feel like I can combine other colors too.

I distressed the edges of the retiformed piece just for fun and also because that technique makes me nervous. Hey, why not go all the way‽ I did a little paper piecing and image popping too, because dinner was in the oven for 10 more minutes.

I'd also like to mention that I love Seinfeld pop culture references, but I mentioned the show to a group of 20-year-olds the other day and they looked at me like I was referencing Maude. Sigh, time does go on!

Inspiration:
Handmade with Love: Stamping technique that you fear
Drunken Stampers Challenge #61: Are you sponge worthy?

Retiform/Grid Technique tutorial: Splitcoast Stampers

Supplies: stamps by StudioG, Hammermill and Recollections cardstocks, Smirk For Him paper, Offray ribbon, Memento, Inkadinkado and Versamark inks, ZipDry glue, MS detailing scissors, Fiskars papercutter, emery board

...And that happy little doll in the background is something Mom found in the rummage sale; it's stuffed with sand or something, so it has a wonderfully precious weight that I think reminds us both of childhood, motherhood, and all that stuff. I could tell "he" wanted to celebrate this card and his favorite book!

Like a Rhinestone Cowgirl

I was totally excited to see the current challenges at Crafty Cardmakers (fairies & 2 punches) and Drunken Stampers (Rhinestone Cowgirl), because it gave me an excuse to use the sweet Angel Cheyene digi stamp by PaperFacesDesigns and my border punch. As you can tell, I had TOO much fun! The idea to put PFD's logo in the kerchief was respectfully scraplifted from Jeannie of the Polka Cabana (from her gorgeous project for PFD's Blue Challenge; There's still time to enter, no deadline!), and the pattern is the corner stamp from the K&Company Lotus Floral set. Who would've thunk it? My husband actually owns a much-traveled handkerchief that looks a lot like this one.

Thanks for the inspiration...this is another card I never thought I'd make!

Digi stamp: Angel Cheyene by PaperFacesDesigns

Inspiration:
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #40: Fairies & at least 2 paper punches
Drunken Stampers Challenge #56: Rhinestone Cowgirl

Supplies: Core'dinations, Hammermill and Recollections cardstocks, MS detailing scissors, gemstones and border punch, ZipDry glue, HP printer & ink, Adobe InDesign and Rosewood typeface, Fiskars papercutter and circle punches, InkItUp! inks, corner stamp from K&Co. Amy Butler Lotus Floral set, Stampendous white embossing powder, Marvy heat tool, Michaels cord, Sakura Gelly Roll glitter pen, emery board, Sculpey clay

Copic markers:
vest: E17, E37, 0, E51
skin: RV21, E50, E11, E51, E33
jeans: B32, B23, B05, B39
T-shirt & belt: C-1, C-5, C-7
hat & kerchief: V17, BV08, V06, BV04