Friday, May 23, 2008

Bloomin' Beautiful

Sorry I haven't posted lately I have been so very busy! Last weekend I took 17 students to NYC. Then on Wednesday we had our annual art show my colleague and I hung and took down 400 pieces of art work in 24 hours. Whew I get tried just thinking about it! I have a card to share with you I created this card a few weeks ago and this is the first chance I have had to post it.
I used the bloomin beautiful set from the occasional Mini that is good through the end of June.

Supplies

Stamps Bloomin Beautiful, Sanded, floral
Ink Purely pomegranate, Soft sky, river rock, Always artichoke
Paper Purely Pomegranate, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper white
Accessories Coluzzle, sherbet ribbon, 1 3/8 punch, Blender pen.

I started by stamping and coloring a series of flowers from the blooming beautiful set on whisper white. I used a blender pen and ink to color in the blossoms and the petals and some of the sky. I punched a mask for the moon using a 1 3/8 punch and a post it note. Then using a sponge and soft sky ink I sponged in the Sky around the mask. Using my Coluzzle next to cut 3 circles progressively larger circles from Pumpkin pie, purely pomegranate and whisper white. I love the Coluzzle because you can see and frame what you want to cut out using the Coluzzle was perfect for finding the best composition for this card from my stamped work. Before adhering the three layers I used sanded background stamp and river rock ink to stamp on my the floral center piece. I stamped off before actually putting the background stamp on my image so as to get a softer look. (Stamping off means stamping on scrap paper first so that the second stamp is lighter) To create the background of the card I used purely pomegranate ink and the floral background stamp. Something I have learned is using a brayer you get much better and even coverage when using a background stamp, Then the stacked circles get adhered to the front of the card slightly below half way. Using a scrap of whisper white stamp the sentiment with purely pomegranate ink I then roughed up the edges with Cutter tools from stampin up. I used my crop a dile to punch holes and then inserted brads. before attaching to the card I cut a piece of Velvet ribbon from the sherbet set and tied it to the card.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday Thanks for looking Virginia

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Ever Wonder How to Use a Crop-a-Dial?

Wow I saw this video today on someones blog. I'm sorry I can't remember whose, I spend way too much time on the Internet! It has a great tutorial on the use of Crop-a-dial so I thought I would share it with you. I must confess when I first purchased mine a was a bit perplexed of it's use. After using it at the Stampin 'Up convention and seeing it power and ease I became a convert. I was amazed at how many layers it can punch through and no more getting out my hammer and setter to put an eyelet. So enjoy thanks for looking!

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Look at what I got in the mail!

Look at the lovely card I received from my Upline Debbie Moczek! I love this card so much I had to make my own! So with some help from my Upline Laura Currie here is my version!
This card starts with gluing down designer series paper to a card stock that is already folded in half. I then used a carousel note to create my template for this card and traced the upper half to create the purse and then cut out the pattern on all layers.
I then cut a section of apricot appeal and glued it down to the lower half. With a small strip of Blue Bayou I crimped it and then glued that on top of the card stock. Using the pretties kit I took blue Bayou ink and the polka dots from Lots of Dots and stamped a Daisy flower. I then punched on designer series paper and using scallop punch I cut a scallop out. with a scrap of apricot appeal and the 5 petal flower punch I punched a star burst. I promise to show you how to do this after I teach my stamp groups this month! With a fire brad in peach make a sandwich with all the layers. Next stamp the sentiment at the bottom with blue bayou ink. Using the crop-a-dile punch holes at the top for handle, using large eyelets and the crop-a-dile set the eyelet on the purse. String a section of blue bayou ribbon. Attach the flower to the card. To open and close the card I used a small Velcro closure. this is my mother's day card for this year I just sent them out after I photographed the card! thanks for looking Virginia








Thursday, May 01, 2008

I've been nominated!


I've been nominated for an award!
well, not a real award, but a cyber-award...


I've been nominated by Michele for the award!! The Arte y Pico award. (Thanks Michele) This award was originally designed by Eseya at arte y pico . You pick five blogs that you think earned this award based on their creativity, design, interesting material, and contribution to the blogging community. List the names on your blog and link to their blogs. Leave a comment on one of their posts to let them know of the award! Each winner has to show the award and put the name of the person who gave them the award with a link to their blog. Also show the link to arte y pico.
Here are the 5 girls I'm passing on the award to:


Laura She’s my up line and has been so inspirational to me she has such great ideas!
Deb Olson She is the queen of blogging and is everyone’s favorite!
Angie this woman rocks so many ideas I don’t know how she finds the time!
Jackie Love her blog I visit it every day!
Flaxychick Another great blogger she has such wonderful creations.

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