CDAC Challenge card

Wow! It seems like I haven't been here in forever! I didn't realize that my last post was clear back on the 19th. Things have been busy. I probably won't be posting much in the next couple of weeks. I took on the task to make table favors for our All Daughters Bangquet at church as well as being the main speaker and coming up with the program. This weekend, I and two friends worked on making bookmark tags. Together we inked 56 tags. I still have to do ribbon for some of them (after I buy more) and put the bible verses on. I will be posting them later. For today I am posting my latest creation for the CDAC Progressive Challenge.

This digi image is provided by McMahon Five Designs. I really like the victorian look and wanted to try to give her a vintage look. Using a technique with an alcohol filled aqua brush and copic markers I painted everything a brownish color. I then added some shading. I added some sparkle to her clothing by outlining it with my clear stardust gellyroll pen. I doubt that the sparkle shows up though. I wanted the flowers to really stand out. I covered the design with crystal lacquer (doing each color at a time) then sprinkled it with PK Glitz Glitter Glitz. This really made a bright, sparkly display. The diecut is from Lifestyles. I inked the edges of the die with Vintage Photo distress ink. For the 2nd mat, I just traced around the die and cut it out by hand. I inked the pearl on the pin using a copic marker. The sentiment was cutting out with a punch by EK Success. I tried to stamp it with Staz On opaque white but it didn't transfer good enough. I ended up tracing it with a white pen.

Here's the link to the progressive challenge:
http://priscillastyles.ning.com/group/cdac-progressive-freebie-challenges

I also found some other challenges to enter:
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/simon-saysanything-goes.html
http://midweekmagnolias.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/week-8-open-theme.html
http://polkadoodle.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/week-17-shabby-chicvintage.html

Dragon Birthday Card

My son, Adam, celebrated his 16th birthday on the 14th. We are having family over this Saturday to celebrate. I made this card for him:

I love how pictures make things look better. You can't see the flaws and mistakes:) Anyway, I searched for chinese characters for "Happy Birthday" and printed them out on the computer. I had to print them smaller to fit on the tag. That made them very difficult to cut out. Then I inked the tag using Peeled Paint and Vintage Photo Distress Inks and glued the characters to them. That was kind of time consuming. The dragon was done using a stencil, PK Glitz Wonderfilm and PK Glitz embossing powders. Since wonderfilm is double-sided adhesive, I stuck one side to white cardstock. For my first attempt I just stuck the whole stencil to the wonderfilm thinking I could just pull it back off when I was ready. I filled in the stencil with the Poppy Jasper and Honey EP Max embossing glitter. I discovered that wonderfilm is really sticky! I could barely get the stencil off. It caused the cardstock to bend and wrinkle. I covered the rest of the piece with Meadow embossing glitter and heat set everything. Because the cardstock was wrinkled, you could see the wrinkles through the glitter.

I tried a second time by leaving the slick surface on and taping the stencil to it. Then I took a craft knife and cut through the protective nonsticky surface, tracing the design of the stencil. I then had to peel each little piece off and cover it with the colors I wanted to use. This took a lot longer, but turned out alot better.

The base card is white cardstock that I colored around with colored pencil and blended with Gambit Mineral Spirits. I just used some paper that I had at home for the layers. I attached ribbon and the sentiment (which is also done with the pencils and blending technique). The sentiment was cut out using a punch from EK Success. Use It Tuesday wants you to use things that you have had for a while. Everything here is stuff that I've had for a long time. The background papers are from Creative Memories and I have had them for probably at least 5 years.

This card is going into the following challenges:
http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-136-cute-critters-anita.html
http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/2012/04/no-girls-allowed.html
http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/2012/04/ch-72-say-it-with-sentiments-theme.html
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-31-men-only.html
http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-106-die-cuts-and-punches.html
http://seemsalittlesketchy.blogspot.com/2012/04/sketch-11-sponsored-by-squigglefly-and.html
http://useittuesday.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-29-anything-goes.html
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/2012/04/inspire-me-fridays-54-anything-goes.html

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

Silhouette card

Here is my last card for the week. I have found several fun challenges this week and I have needed a couple of cards anyway, so I have been working hard on cards this week. My daughter and granddaughter have finally moved out after 2 years of living with us and I am taking advantage of not having a 2 year old running around getting into my stuff. Here is my newest creation:

The silhouette and frame were cut out using the Cricut Victorian Romance cartridge. The silhouette was cut at 3 3/4 " and the frame was done at 6". The frame is solid. I wanted her against a blue background to mimic sky, so I drew around the silhouette and cut it out using  a craft knife and scissors. The flowers, leaves, and tag were done using the Art Philosophy cartridge. The flowers are cut at 3", 2 1/2", and 2". The leaves were done at 2". The tag was done at 1". The sentiment was printed on the computer. I cut a tag out of scrap paper then used that paper to match up were to put the words. I printed the sentiment in landscape mode onto my cardstock once I had everything lined up. Then I cut the tag out with the cricut. It didn't match up perfectly, but it looks okay. I applied aqua stickles to the flowers and then made the veins in the leaves and the dots on the frame. To make the base card, I just folded the blue cardstock then traced the frame and cut it out using scissors. This card is going into the following challenges:
http://www.diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-60-pastels.html
http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/2012/04/dysu-67-glitter-bling.html
http://useittuesday.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-29-anything-goes.html
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-74-spotty-dotty.html
http://littlescrappieces.blogspot.com/2012/04/new-challenge-use-sky-blue-and-winner.html
http://cardztv.blogspot.com/2012/03/cricut-cardz-challenge-105.html
http://www.sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-97silhouettes.html
http://www.celebratetheoccasion.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-58.html
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/2012/04/inspire-me-fridays-54-anything-goes.html
For Use it Tuesday's challenge my stash is: cardstock, stickles, my cricut, and my computer.

For the Top Tip Tuesday challenge, my tip is this:

I have been using my computer lately because I just do not have the right sentiments. To print it onto my tags I have found it easier to cut out my tags (using the cricut) on scrap paper first. This allows me to see which way the cricut will cut it and gives me a negative space to use to line up my words. Then I can go into Word and choose either portrait or landscape, depending on which way the cricut cuts. I type the sentiment. I can print it then line the 2 papers up to see if the words appear in the negative space. If they don't, I just reposition the words. This way I am not wasting cardstock. Once I have everything lined up, I print the sentiment on my cardstock, put it on the cutting mat and cut the tag.

Baby Bear Card

A coworker had a son a couple of months ago. I've been so busy that I never got a card made to put with the gift. Of course, I also kept forgetting to take him the gift, so that worked out okay. I finally sat down last night and this morning and put this card together. This teddy is a digi image from the CDAC progressive 15 challenge. The designer is Mami Doodles. I printed him on white cardstock. Using an embossing folder from Darice and myn new Vagabond (I love this machine) I added the designs around the outside. The coloring was done with glitter chalk-because I love glitter. I stamped the sentiment using ink from Close to My Heart. I stamped off first because the blue was too dark and didn't match. The lighter color looked much better.  I used from my stash the white cardstock and glitter chalk. All in all it is one of my quicker cards. It is going into the following challenges:

http://www.diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-60-pastels.html
http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/2012/04/dysu-67-glitter-bling.html
http://decoratetocelebrate.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-22-baby-shower.html
http://priscillastyles.ning.com/group/cdac-progressive-freebie-challenges
http://useittuesday.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-29-anything-goes.html

Nautical Get Well Soon card

A friend of mine had hip replacement surgery on the 9th. I made this card to send to him.

I made this using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. The base of the card is shape 8 cut at 6". I cut out the shape, folded a piece of cardstock in half then traced the shape onto it. I cut it out with scissors. I have yet to figure out how to use design studio to see if I can weld shapes. I just don't have the time. The other shapes are cut at 4 1/2, 5, and 5 1/2. The stamp is from Stampendous. I stamped it in black ink. I then stamped the water with versa mark and covered with white embossing powder. I stamped it again with versa mark, covered it with PK Glitz Crystal Glitter Glitz. I reheat it to help it stick. I stamped water onto the off-white cardstock with versa mark and embossed and glittered it as well. The edges of the top piece are inked with Vintage Photo distress ink. The sentiment was printed on my computer using Microsoft Word. I used a corner rounder on the edges. I wrapped twine around the layers and adhered the sentiment to the knot. I popped the layers off of the base with foam squares. It was my first design using my new Art Philosophy cartridge. I like how it turned out.  For the Use it Tuesday challenge my hoarded supplies are my cardstock, my computer (used to print the sentiment), the embossing powder, and the glitter. The stamp and twine are recent additions to my supplies, but not bought just for this card.

It is being entered into the following challenge:
http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/2012/04/nautical-red-white-blue.html
http://www.diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-60-pastels.html
http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-135-fabric-lou.html
http://useittuesday.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-29-anything-goes.html

Blog Candy Giveaway at sharoncalliscrafts.blogspot.com

I found what looks to be a great giveaway to share with you. Here's the link: http://sharoncalliscrafts.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-blog-candy.html. Below is the info. Check it out!



Inside this kit you will find:

Die-cut message tags x 2

A4 Decoupage die-cut sheet - Party Fun x 2

A4 Decoupage dei-cut sheet - Party Treats x 2

A4 Decoupage Die-cut sheet - Bt The Fire x 2

A4 Decoupage Die-cut sheet - Helping Santa x 2

A4 Decoupage die-cut sheet - Christmas Dress Up x 2

A4 Decoupage/Pyramage die-cut sheet - For Her x 2

A4 Decoupage/Pyramage die-cut sheet - For Him x 2

A4 Pyramage die-cut sheet - Birthday Picnic x 2

A4 Pyramage die-cut sheet - In The Garden x 2

A4 Pyramage die-cut sheets - christmas Day x 2

Outline Sticker, various designs in gold and silver x 6

Embossed transfers x 2

Coloured Stickers - various designs x 6

Velour Stickers - number and alphabet x 2

Clear Stamps - Santas Mini Helpers, Christmas Wishes and Happy Birthday

A6 Plain white cards and envelopes - 1 pk of 12

A6 Coloured cards and envelopes - white,cream, pink and blue 1 pk of 12

Easter Bucket

He is risen indeed! I hope all of you had a great Resurrection weekend. We celebrated in our usual fashion. Dad wasn't with us this year, but we walked out to his grave. That will probably be a new addition to the traditionalal get together, whenever the weather is fitting. I hid 105 eggs and had to look for 25 of them myself after everyone had given up.  We ended up finding all of them except 5. I did manaage to find one that wasn't found last year. It was dirty and faded, but still in tact. That gave my mom and sister a laugh!

I was up until 2 am Sunday morning trying to get gifts together and cards made for prayer partners and our teen for which we are their "guardian angel". I decorated this bucket with some cute little foam shapes my secret pal at work got me. The green paper was cut using my Creative Memories decorative trimmer. Rhinestones and ribbon brightened it a bit. I couldn't get my circle cutting system because my husband was in bed and it was in our room, so I just did my best in cutting out a circle for the lid. The scallops and flowers were made using punches. I used glitter cardstock for the flowers because I love glitter. It brightens everything up. The Scrapbook Queen requires digi images in her challenges. I almost forgot to add one. This cute rabbit is curtesy of CDAC. I can't remember the artist's name. I stuck her on top of the egg as you can see in the picture. I filled it with candy to give to our guardian angel.

I entered it in the following challenges:

http://www.thescrapbookingqueen-challenge.blogspot.com/

http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/2012/04/dysu-66-friendly-critters.html

http://sweetnsassydigis.blogspot.com/2012/04/snsdc48happy-easter.html

http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-73-easter-orand-animals.html

http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/2012/04/tuesday-throwdown-92.html

http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-5-2012thursdaydlart-thankful.html

Buttons and Ribbons

I made this card yesterday. When I checked out RRR's challenge I saw that if I added a bow it would fit in with their challenge.. I bought my first baker's twine at Archivers after going to the Expo and decided to see what it looked like. This is my first try at using twine. I really liked it.  The flower was made using a punch. I added a square of decorative paper behind it. The faux stitching was done with a white pen. I inked around the cardstock. A button in the center of the flower and the bakers twine bring the card to life. I am entering it into the following challenge:
http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/search/label/challenges

Flower card with PK Glitter Glitz

Here is my next card done using things I bought at the Expo. I used PK Gllitter Glitz on a transparency. I adhered the glitter using PK Glitz Wonderfilm. This is a double-sided adhesive sheet that you can cut to size and use for anything. It really works well with glitter and embossing powder-no glue required.

I really like the way this card folds. The part with the flower folds back upon itself. I learned how to make it by doing the make and take at the PK Glitz booth at the Memories Expo. Here are a couple more pictures to try to show you how to do it yourself. Start with one half of an 81/2 X 11 piece of paper. Fold the paper in half length ways. It will be 8 1/2 x 2 3/4. Open it back up. Score in from the left at about 2 3/4 then again another inch in. On the inch section, score diagonally left to right to the half way mark. Score the bottom half diagonally right to left. It will look like a triangle. Then fold it so that it looks like the 2nd picture. Decorate it however you want to. The card will stand up on its own.

This is again going into CDAC's progressive challenge at the following link: http://priscillastyles.ning.com/group/cdac-progressive-freebie-challenges