Saturday, July 26, 2014

Runs With Scissors and Mimi

Thanks for stopping by today .. you can find me on the Penny Black blog today; just click here.

Before you go, here's a card I made using an older Mimi stamp from Penny Black.:
4128H Teacher's Pet;  51-054 By the Numbers
Here in Alabama the kids are thinking about back to school ... only a couple of weeks of summer vacation left!!  Mimi looks like she's ready to meet her teacher and do her homework.

Have a great weekend; be sure to check out Runs with Scissors; it's a tribute to one of our favorite card artists!!



Thursday, July 24, 2014

CASE Study Challenge No. 201


I am working on making it a habit to enter the CASE Study challenge every week.  I need to practice creating my own design after being inspired by someone else's work  Shari Carroll is the muse for the month of July.  This is my interpretation of Shari's photo.  I've used all Penny Black stamps and dies.

30-207 From the Heart: 30-226 Kind Words; 51-052 Texting; 51-006 Flutters

And this is the inspiration photo.

I think I captured the essence without copying the design literally.  I've used the negative from two diecuts, one being a butterfly.  And I have lots of words as part of the main design.  I opted for yellow instead of blue, but the yellow and black combo pleases my eye.

I am going to post this at the CASE Study site and have no expectations of winning or losing.  I want and need the practice!!

This Saturday I will be hosting the 89th Scramble on the Hero Arts blog.  Hope you can join me from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm as everyone works to complete a card and post it to the Flickr group within 90 minutes!  It is amazing to see the quality of work when done so quickly!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, July 21, 2014

Purple Polka Dot Sprig


This is one of those stamps that can be used so many ways.  It's Penny Black's Polka Dot Sprig.  I was playing with my new VersaMagic inks this weekend and this is what happened when ink met stamp.

4304H Polka dot Sprig;  51-006 Flutters;  30-117 /Free Flight
Except for the butterfly, it is a one layer card; perfect for mailing.  I love the VersaMagic ink in the Eggplant color. And that little butterfly is one of my favorite dies.  Sadly, the die has gone missing for the second time.  I was so fortunate to find it the last time .. how could I lose it again?  I'm hoping finding it will be a happy surprise sometime soon. 

Today is a low sunshine, perfect-for-cleaning drawers kind of a day.  Hate the process; love when it's done.

Happy Monday!! 

Friday, July 18, 2014

Case Study #200 Challenge

Another week has gone by and it's time for another challenge at the Case Study Challenge blog. 


Here is the photo provided by this months' muse, Shari Carroll.

30-237 Dazzlers; 30-226 Kind Words; 30-244 Let's Chat; 51-055 Shades
And here is my Case of that card.  Still a pretty literal interpretation, but with some differences.
I've used Penny Black stamps and dies which are noted as a caption under the photo.

This is very basic stamping and cutting and diecutting.  The Dazzler medallion was stamped in Delicata silver ink and then cut out.  The circular images are from the Let's Chat transparent set, and smaller Dazzler medallions were stamped onto the circles.  The red heart is cut from the Shades die set.

This was a fun project to assemble! 

It's the weekend and you know what that means ... the British Open Golf Tournament is on all weekend and I am free to hang out in the craft room making pretty things!

Have a great weekend; make time for fun!

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Bon Voyage by Penny Black


It seems I have two new favorite things:  the Penny Black new release which includes the transparent set "Bon Voyage" and my new neon cardstock!


30-224 Bon Voyage;  51-033 Silver linings
I combined my two new loves in this card using the hot air balloon image.  I stamped and embossed it seven times onto my cardstock, and then stamped and embossed it three times on each shade of neon paper.  And then I spent a couple of hours cutting and pasting!  Believe it or not, I had a system for how I placed the colors on each balloon; it kept me sane!  The clouds were made using Creative Die Silver Linings. 
 
And for really happy news, I finally explored the menu on my camera and learned how to set the camera to allow more light, therefore brighter photos.  I have spent countless hours editing my photos in order to make them brighter .. who knew how easy it could be!!  What's that saying: "Too soon old, too late smart".  Yep, that's me!!
 
Anyway, I have a lot to look forward to with this new release .. Don't know if I will take on a paper piecing project just yet ... there are lots of ways to enjoy new stamps.
 
Have a great day .. it's the middle of July already!!  And there's plenty of hot air here in Alabama to keep these balloons afloat!

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Case Study Challenge #199

Shari Carroll is the muse for the month of July on the Case Study Challenge blog.  This is the card she designed for this week's challenge.
 
My first instinct when "CASEing" an inspiration piece is to literally recreate it.  I finally figured out that that is copying, not CASEing!  So here is my take on Shari's card:
51*053 Pocket Full; 51-006 flutters; 51-038 Hooray



Pretty loose interpretation for sure.  but I've used circular elements, it has a sentiment and a butterfly,  and it is matted.  I purposely chose to stay away from the neutral tones which I love.  It's time to have fun with bright jewel tones.  The circular shapes are speech bubbles from Penny Black's new Creative Die "Pocket Full". 
 
The butterfly has been die cut from an orange speechbubble and that negative image has been placed over the raspberry speech bubble.  I added enamel dots just to blend the two areas.
 
I am enjoying the process of CASEing!  I appreciate the artists who take the time to be the muse!!
 
Now all I have to do is remember to post this on the CASE Study blog!

Pocket Treasures Release by Penny Black

 
I am Running with Scissors on the Penny Black blog today!!  I will be using stamps and dies from the new release "Pocket Treasures".  Would love to have you visit.
51-054 By the Numbers;  51-055 Shades

I love this "By the Numbers" die!  It's great just as it is for birthdays and anniversaries, or separate whichever number you need from the group for a specific birthday.  Great for a "we have a new address" card, too.

The Pocket Treasure release includes stamps and dies that would work perfectly for pocket album scrapbooking as well as card making and mixed media projects.

Gotta go ... can't be late for my very important date!



Thursday, July 10, 2014

It's a Beautiful Summer

We are having a lovely summer this year.  We've had enough rain to ensure the grass is still green, the roses are blooming and the pollen isn't flying around.  I wanted to make a card to celebrate what a lovely July this is!

4233K Butterfly Kisses;  51-038 Hooray

I've used Penny Black's woodblock stamp Butterfly Kisses (eliminating the stems)  and colored the image with Copics.    I added the diecut "Enjoy" as a reminder to be grateful for the flowers and butterflies that abound this time of year.

Hope you are having an enjoyable summer wherever you live.  These summer months fly by, it seems! 

Thanks for your visit. 

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Petal Power

I am in the mood for flowers!  Lots of bright and summery flowers! 
 
30-225 Petal Power; 51-027 Triple Banner; 51-026 Pinwheel
I created a flowery background using Penny Black's transparent set Petal Power.  I stamped the flowers and leaves in VersaMark and embossed with white embossing powder.   I used the little round applicator to apply Luxe inks in various summery colors.  I added the diecut banner topped with "Smile".  And just because I wanted one more flower, I added the Pinwheel diecut.  Of course, it was not complete until I added the enamel dots.
 
Cooper and I are hanging out in the air conditioning after being on the patio for a short while.  It's just too hot!  Maybe this evening the patio will seem more inviting!
 
Have a great day!!