Steampunk Thanks

I made the front piece at the same time as I made the background for my Steampunk shaker card.

The accordion card was based on a tutorial from Me & My Big Ideas. I put a message section on the back panel:

building the accordion base

I started with a piece of Tim Holtz's Grunge paper: I stamped it with a stamp & heat-embossed it in gold (ZING); I inked an embossing folder, lightly embossed it in my BigShot, and heat-embossed it in rose gold (Lawn Fawn); I inked it with gold metallic ink and Cosmic Copper pigment ink; I used Tim Holtz dies to cut 3 gears from an aluminum can, added some embossing powders, glued them to the piece, and ran it through my BigShot again with the same embossing folder; I used the same technique with a large paper gear die-cut, and then again with a die-cut sentiment (Spellbinders); I added 3 metal gears that were also heat-embossed. All together, I used gold, silver, copper, rose gold, and aged copper enamel embossing powders. I ended up mixing powders, and that gave it a nice effect.  For the accordion card, I used a coated copperish paper (CTMH, I think) and decorated it with more stamps & embossing powders. I finished the card with a few paper die-cut gears.

Inspiration/Challenges:
SanDee & Amelie's Steampunk Challenges: Steampunk/Industrial
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Grunge It Up
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Make Your Own Background
Stick it Down: Card Sketch

Update: This was chosen as the Top Pick for the Card Sketch at Stick It Down! Wow, can't wait to guest design with them.

Thank you for visiting,

Steampunk Shaker

I got inky this week! I started with a piece of Tim Holtz's Grunge paper: I stamped it with a stamp & heat-embossed it in rose gold (Lawn Fawn); I inked an embossing folder, lightly embossed it in my BigShot, and heat-embossed it in gold; I inked it with gold metallic ink and Cosmic Copper pigment ink; I stamped the corner & embossed it in silver.  For the bottom portion, I cut the border from an aluminum can, added some embossing powders, then ran just the bottom of the card through my BigShot with the same embossing folder. Such a fun effect! The shaker portion is from a Shake It kit; I used StazOn ink to stamp directly onto it. I filled it with die-cut gears & actual metal gear embellishments. I made the frame with two stitched circle dies, and added lots more embossing powder; all together, I used gold, silver, copper, rose gold, and aged copper enamel powders.

Inspiration:
Dream Factory #53: Grease
Make My Monday: #65 Messy Backgrounds
SanDee & Amelie's Challenges: Steampunk/Industrial
Try Stamping On Tuesdays #357: Sketch + optional theme: Shaker Cards

Update: This was chosen as a Top 3 for TSOT #357!

Thank you for visiting,

Forest Love - Pilin' On the Washi Tape & 3D Embellishments

The theme this month at Pile It On is 3D Embellishments (buttons, bows, wood veneer, etc) and/or Stickers/Washi Tape. We're sponsored by Freckled Fawn.

A friend recently sent me this fun 3D plastic sticker, and I paired it with this cute wood veneer fox from Freckled Fawn. The plastic is popped up from the base, but it came empty. I just had to make it a shaker, so I carefully slit one of the ends with a knife and slipped in heart-shaped confetti & butterfly sequins with a Slurpee straw (see photo on right); I sealed the slit with Washi tape, and lined the rest of the edges with the same tape.

I decorated a pre-made tag with green & brown inks, a woodgrain-patterned stamp from Red Rubber Designs, and a "ribbon" made from the Washi tape. I heat-embossed the sentiment (Pink&Main) directly onto the patterned paper with hot pink power. I made the little bow for the wooden fox from pink paper that I covered with a dotted Washi tape and a Elizabeth Crafts die. The little leaves were cut from a wood tape with a Sweet Stamps die. The pretty papers are from DCWV.

Inspiration/Challenges:

Animal Friends Challenge #59: Stripes and/or Dots + Animal
Crafty Gal's Corner #159: Add a Heart
Cute Card Thursday #517: One Word Sentiment
Sweet Stampin: Add a Tag + stamping
Try Stamping On Tuesdays #356: Sketch + (optional) Polka Dots

Thank you for visiting! Hope you'll join us at Pile It On,

Succulent Vibes - Pilin' on Stickers/Washi Tape

The theme this month at Pile It On is 3D Embellishments (buttons, bows, wood veneer, etc) and/or Stickers/Washi Tape. We're sponsored by Freckled Fawn.

I used the glitter masking technique along with vinyl outline stickers from Krazy Kreations. The cactus die-cut & pot are from the Succulent Garden set by Spellbinders. I covered the cactus with glitter & glittery flowersoft. I cut the pot from a patterned paper & heat-embossed a sentiment from Technique Tuesday. The lovely Washi tape is from the Paper Studio. I used a stained glass stamp from DRS Designs and the emboss-resist technique to create the bottom panel. I added some Aged Copper enamel to complete the design.

Inspiration/Challenges:
As You Like It Challenge: Favourite Way to Add a Sentiment & Why (stamping onto a small die-cut piece not really intended for a sentiment; because it's fun to get creative!)
Get Creative Challenges #66: Ribbon and/or Washi Tape
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Die Cut (2nd entry)
Through the Purple Haze #141: Add Some Turquoise (patina)
Tuesday Morning Sketches: Sketch #440

Thank you for visiting! Hope you'll join us at Pile It On,

Out of this World - Stash Only at International Art & Soul Challenge

Our theme this fortnight at the International Art & Soul Challenge, chosen by DT member Chriss, is Use stuff you already own/Stash.

I've had this alien scene rubber stamp for a long time; it managed to organized away from my craftroom, so this is my first time using it. I used colored embossing markers (Marvy) to color the this stamp & the one on the back (V's Sweet Ideas) before heat-embossing in clear powder. I then used the resist technique to add the background. I used circle dies to create the holes & "planets" and used a die to cut the stars from a hand-inked paper. For the alien on the second panel, I fussy-cut just the skateboard part, reversed it, colored it & heat-embossed "rock on" directly into it. Then I added the little stamped alien. I made the blue paper with ink smooshing.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Inkspirational #154: Aperture Card
Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers #103: Galaxy

Thank you for visiting! Hope you'll join us at International Art & Soul,

Castles & Cake -- Special Folds at Crafting with Dragonflies

Our challenge this fortnight at Crafting with Dragonflies is Special Folds.

My dad just turned 81, and some of his favorite memories are working & traveling in Europe. I used dies from Elizabeth Craft Designs, Cuttlebug, Crafter's Companion, & Cheery Lynn Designs, and papers from Graphic 45 & Imaginisce.

Calla Lily Studio inspired me to try an Open center Box pop-up Card; we both used the tutorial from Maymay Made This. I modified the instructions to make a 6x6 card.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Die Cut
Tinker- Dream #62: Birthday/Party

Thank you for visiting & hope you'll join the fun at Crafting with Dragonflies, 

Not-so-coy Koi - New Stash with the UnstampaBelles

Our theme this month at the UnstampaBelles challenge is Anything Goes Without Stamps, with the optional twist of Use something new you have recently acquired. You need to follow the twist to be considered as the DT Favorite, but you only have to follow main theme to win our prize.

I used the Newton's Nook snowglobe die set that I received for Christmas, but I wanted to use it in a different way so I matched it with my koi die from Memory Box.

The lighter fish is cut from a shiny yellow paper and inked orange; the darker fish is heat-embossed with a shiny orange powder. I made the sentiment using the fonts 4 My Lover and De Balme Initials. For the fishbowls, I decorated the shiny white paper by inking an embossing folder and gently embossing it. I sprayed the inked portion with a mix of alcohol and water. I used a scrap to create the punched hearts. The shakers are filled with microbeads & orange, heart-shaped sequins.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Happy Little Stampers: Anything Goes with Dies
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Love

Be sure to check out the fabulous projects by my teammates the UnstampaBelles this month!

Thank you for visiting,

Down-home Wisdom

As soon as I saw this fun Donkey Mail digital stamp by Ike's Art, I knew I had to make a card featuring one of my dad's favorite "from the farm" quotes: "Why are there more horse's asses than there are horses?"!

I colored the Ike's Art image with Copic markers & covered much of it with brown flocking. I inked the patterned patterned paper for the different layers. The middle portion was made with Memory Box dies and ink sponging. The horse rubber stamp was stamped in gray Memento ink, colored with a green Copic, and textured with alcohol. I made the sentiment with the CrimeFighter BB font.

Coincidentally, a Facebook Friend shared this similar joke today: "All people have the right to be asses but some abuse that privilege"!

Inspiration/Challenges:
Cheerful Sketches Challenge: Sketch
Dream Factory #52: The Horse Whisperer
Ike's World #105: Anything Goes + IkesArt image
Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers #102: "F" is for Farm Life

Update: I was chosen as a Princess of Snark at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers!

Thank you for visiting,

Retro Wallet - Pilin' on the 3D Embellishments

The theme this month at Pile It On is 3D Embellishments (buttons, bows, wood veneer, etc). We're sponsored by Freckled Fawn. I decided to do something I haven't done in a long time, and made a mini book: a little wallet to hold business cards. Even with electronic storage, I seem to collect a good deal of business cards that I want to keep, and I also give out a fair amount.

The paper is from Creative Memories. I heat-embossed the chipboard telephones (Grapevine Designs) & wood veneer pieces (Recollections) with neon powders. I added some die-cut bubble borders (Pink&Main) & a notebook edge (Dienamics) on the front flap.

The fun paper clips are from Freckled Fawn. I used jump rings to attach letter buttons to them. 

I used a simple flap method to make the booklet from premade envelopes. I received the envelopes and orange & purple twine from an online challenge years ago; the pink envelope is from my stash.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Country View Crafts' Challenge: Anything but Cute
Cut it Up #140: Organization + Die Cuts
Mini Album Makers Challenge: Any Mini Album
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Update: This was chosen as a Top 3 for Cut It Up #140!

Thank you for visiting! Hope you'll join us at Pile It On,

Royal Shadow - Texture at International Art & Soul Challenge

Our theme this fortnight at the International Art & Soul Challenge, chosen by DT member Hazel, is Texture. I used both visual texture & tactile texture.

This card references two special events occurring this weekend: Groundhog Day & Super Bowl LII. The "dirt" paper is actually from an [American] Football-themed box I got from Amazon Prime last year; I just couldn't throw it away, and stripped the top portion off of the corrugated sheet so that I could easy die-cut it. The grass-patterned paper is (coincidentally) from a Football-themed DP by HOTP. America's own weather-predicted rodent says we're having more winter weather...as long as it doesn't get too cold, I'm fine with that — fewer bugs & allergies!

I've really been enjoying making Box Cards/Card in the Boxes, and just had to use one of my favorite seasonal images from MelJen's Designs. I used flocking and Flower Soft to add texture. 

I used my "Surprise Box" die set from Our Daily Bread Designs. Although just "smooshing" the tabs into the box portion works just fine, when I have more patience I use this method to add the tabs while constructing the box. 

click to enlarge

I prefer to use a traditional paper glue (Tacky, Elmer's, Mod Podge) for this step, because it allows you to move the strips temporarily but is permanent when dry. Add some weight to it for a few minutes to get to adhere and lie flat. Tape or silicone glues can't always withstand the movement of this card; but they're great from adding the layers & embellishments since they won't add moisture to your paper. To make elements "float" just use any scrap plastic.

Inspiration/Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe #189: Humorous
WordArt Wednesdays #320/321: Anything Goes

Update: This was chosen as a Top 3 at Crafter's Cafe!

Thank you for visiting! Hope you'll join us at International Art & Soul,

Sea of Love -- Valentines at Crafting with Dragonflies

Our challenge this fortnight at Crafting with Dragonflies is Valentine/Romantic Card.

I used my "Land Ahoy" rubber stamp from Lili of the Valley and papers from Paper House & Imaginisce to make this heartfelt shaker card.

I made the sentiment using the fonts 4 My Lover and De Balme Initials, printed it on off-white paper, die-cut/embossed it, and inked it with Antique Linen distress ink. The stamp was colored with Copic markers; I pieced it onto a patterned paper, and used the flip side for the frame (this paper has been in my stash forever!) I used square dies for this, and black fun foam to make it pop. I filled the shaker with microbeads & die-cut arrows (Impression Obsession). The blue mesh was packaging for garlic!

Inspiration/Challenges:
Creative Sketchy Girls: Sketch
Paru's Card Making Challenge: Love
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes


Thank you for visiting & hope you'll join the fun at Crafting with Dragonflies,